FADE IN:

INT. DENNYS RESTARAUNT - 2 AM

The Dennys restaurant is filled with college-age kids. There are two noticeably sized groups in either corner of the room. One group is loud and rambunctious (drunk). The other group is equally loud and rambunctious, but not drunk. Instead they are all well dressed and energetic.

One well-dressed guy gets up and heads for the bathroom. On the way he does a little dance move and spins around.

one of the drunkest members of the other group is TOM EVERETT, 21.

TOM
Look at those fairys over there all
hopping around.

The girl, RACHEL, 21, sitting next to Tom, almost as drunk, leans over

RACHEL
what? Those (holds up fingers to quote)
SWING DANCERS?

TOM
Is that what you call em?

RACHEL
well sure, you've seen those flyers on
campus right?

TOM
Yeah but I've sure as hell never been...
how do you know that's what they are??

RACHEL
I went the first two weeks. It was fun.

TOM
Yeah I'll bet.

The guy sitting across from Tom, KYLE FRANCIS, 21 looks over at Rachel.

KYLE
Wanna invite em to our party Rach?

RACHEL
Be quiet Kyle.

KYLE
What???

The waitress comes with food and they all begin to eat.

TOM
So anyway, we need to get going on
this party if we're gonna be ready
after our game on Saturday.

KYLE
Like what bud?

TOM
Well, who's gonna get the kegs, who's
gonna clean and go shopping. We need
cups, we need trashbags, we need...

KYLE
Condoms?

Kyle puts his hand up to give Tom a high five but Tom is looking across the room.

The group of dancers all get up and put on their coats. A guy, RICK 20, goes up to pay the bill.

As he walks by Tom...

KYLE
Fairy.

At this, Rick stops.

RICK
What was that friend?

Tom looks up from his omelet. Kyle smiles. The others at his table fall silent.

TOM
What? Are you talking to me pretty
boy?

RICK
Pretty Boy???

Rick's friends have caught up with them now and are urging him to drop it. As he turns away he says:

RICK
Sleep it off moron.

TOM
Maybe I should wear some khakis too huh???

Rick's group leaves, as the last one goes through the door, all of Tom's table starts laughing.

After they stop laughing, Rachel looks around on the table.

RACHEL
Hey where's the check?

KYLE
What's your hurry? It's only 3:30...

RACHEL
Some of us have classes on Friday Kyle,
not all of us can play soccer all week.

TOM
Whatever. I have lab at 9 AM tomorrow
and you don't see me whining do ya?

INT. ANATOMY LAB - DAY

The anatomy lab is basically a large room with gray concrete walls and hanging fluorescent lights. There are rows of cadavers with two people at each one.

We see Tom, looking VERY hung over, and his lab partner ALLISON MONTGOMERY, 23, working over a cadaver. Allison is working away somewhere on the midsection while Tom is poking at the head with his pencil.

ALLISON
Out late last night?

TOM
Kinda... We went out after our game.

ALLISON
Do you guys always go out after your
soccer games?

TOM
Most of the time.

ALLISON
Sounds like fun. Or something. Plus
you get to be bright and cheery in
the morning when you see me.

TOM
You know I look forward to it Ally.

Allison chuckles.

ALLISON
I bet you do.

TOM
So you never told me why you're even
taking this class. I've never seen you
in any other of my Bio classes.

ALLISON
That's because I'm not a Bio student.

TOM
Yeah, so what gives?

Allison looks over at Tom

ALLISON
Give me a hand with this?

Tom puts his hand inside the cadaver's abdomen, holding the liver so Allison can look underneath it.

ALLISON
Well... I wanted to know more about
the Figure.

TOM
The Figure??

ALLISON
Yeah. I'm having a problem with my
Figure.

Tom gives a quick glance up and down Allison's body while still keeping his hands in the cadaver.

TOM
No you're not!

Allison laughs.

ALLISON
No dork! Drawing the figure! I can't
draw the human figure!

TOM
Oh.
(beat)
So you signed up for this?

Tom motions to both sets of hands inside the dead body.

ALLISON
Well... it's something new ya know?
I've taken all the illustration classes.
I guess I thought that a more complete
knowledge would help me draw it.

TOM
I guess.
(beat)
So... you ready for the test on Monday?

Allison looks at him and grins.

ALLISON
Well no, I haven't studied for it yet
if that's what you're asking.

Tom smiles.

INT. ALLISON'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Allison's bedroom is very neat and clean. A massive bookshelf covers one wall, filled with novels and school books of all kind. An Illustrator's Figure model stands on a desk outfitted with a large rack of markers and pencils. On the wall at the head of her bed is a giant painting of a man's back, muscles corded and knotted with strength and stress.

Allison and Tom are sitting on her bed, books and notes strewn all about.

TOM
So the Latissimus Dorsi extends from
the spine to the intertubucular groove.

ALLISON
No, it originates at the spine and inserts
at the floor of the intertuburcular groove.

TOM
Yeah, that's what I said.

ALLISON
Ok then Mister Man, what's its action?

TOM
Uh... to extend the arm and rotate it medially?

ALLISON
Right! See? It's not so hard.

Tom takes a sip of a Coke.

TOM
Hey Ally... I know I'm not supposed to
do this but... what are you doing Saturday
night?

Allison stops reading her notes and looks up at him.

ALLISON
Are you asking me on a date Tom?

TOM
Well... uh... yeah I guess I am.

Allison smiles.

ALLISON
Ok, on one condition.

TOM
What's that?

INT. TOM'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

CLOSE UP - KYLE'S FACE

KYLE
SWING DANCING!!!!????

TOM
I know dude... what am I gonna do?

KYLE
Easy. Don't go! Have you forgotten
about the party?

TOM
Yeah, I was gonna ask her!

KYLE
So call her up, say: Hello, I'm no
swing geek, let's go to a real party
instead.

TOM
I can't do that. I like this girl,
Going to this stupid dance is the
only way she said she'd see me.

KYLE
Oh well, you can't miss your own party
dude. Do you know how that makes you look?

TOM
Yeah...

KYLE
Alright so it's settled. Let's go shopping.

INT. BALLROOM - NIGHT

(scene set to "Bizet has His Day" by Les Brown)

Tom and Allison enter, Tom looking very uncomfortable in a shirt and tie and Allison looking radiant in a dress underneath her coat.

Tom sees the coat check

TOM
Can I take your coat?

ALLISON
Why thank you kind sir. Oh look! Rick's
already here! I'll be over there k? think
you can find me?

Tom smiles

TOM
It shouldn't be a problem.

Tom takes her coat and we follow Allison through the crowd until she meets Rick, dressed in a pinstripe suit complete with fedora.

RICK
Ally!!!!

They hug.

ALLISON
Hiya handsome! How have you been?

RICK
Not too bad, not too bad. And you?

ALLISON
Great! Listen, I brought someone with
me. It's his first time dancing and I
want you to be nice to him.

RICK
Of course!

We see Tom break through the crowd to meet them, his smile disappearing as he recognizes Rick.

Rick recognizes Tom and gives out a little chuckle.

RICK
Hello friend, glad you could make it

TOM
Uh... yeah.

Tom and Rick stand there and have an uncomfortable silence. Allison notices.

ALLISON
Have you guys met before?

TOM
Uhh...

RICK
Not formally. I'm Rick Thompson, nice to meet you.

Rick holds out his hand.

Tom hesitates a second then smiles as he shakes it.

TOM
Tom Everett, nice to meet you Rick.

ALLISON
Come on Tom, I'll teach you to dance.

Tom and Allison disappear into the crowd.

INT. BALLROOM - 3 HOURS LATER

The band is packing their equipment and everyone is talking on the dance floor and putting on their coat.

Tom, Allison, Rick, and several others are all in a group talking and laughing.

RICK
... And then she just hopped right up
and kept on going!

Everyone laughs.

ALLISON
So is everyone going out to eat?

RICK
Sure Ally, I'll round everyone up.

Allison looks at Tom with a smile

TOM
Well... I should go see how my
party's going.

ALLISON
Come on Tom, you know you're party's
going exactly like every other party
goes, why don't you come out with us?

TOM
I know, it's just that...

ALLISON
Just that what? You don't want to spend any more time with me?

Tom looks at her smiling, then starts himself.

TOM
Ok, ok, you got me. Let's go.

INT DENNYS - NIGHT

Dennys is filled with college-age kids. A large group of loud and rambunctious kids are in one corner. Kyle is among them.

Tom enters after the rest of the swing group with Allison. He immediately puts his hand up to cover his face.

ALLISON
What's wrong?

TOM
Nothing... let's just sit down.

They all sit down in the corner opposite Kyle's group.

We see Kyle recognize Tom.

KYLE
WHAT THE FUCK!?

Kyle gets up and walks over to Tom's table

KYLE
First you skip out on your own
fucking party, now you're hanging
out with these goons rather than
even come over to fucking say hi??

TOM
Sorry Kyle, I...

KYLE
Fuck you man... what about us huh?

A waitress comes over and asks him to please quiet down and return to his seat.

KYLE
I'm leavin man... Fuck this!

Kyle storms out and a few friends from his table follow after him.

Tom looks back at the table he's sitting at and all the faces are looking at him.

TOM
...Sorry...

RICK
Hey man, it's ok. That guy's drunk
as hell anyway. He probably wont
even remember tomorrow morning.

TOM
Yeah...

Everyone slowly starts looking at their menus again.

Tom leans over to Allison

TOM
I'm gonna get out of here.

ALLISON
Yeah?

TOM
Yeah... I'm not too hungry anymore.

ALLISON
Can I walk you out?

TOM
Sure.

Tom and Allison stand up.

TOM
It was great meeting all you guys.
Thanks for not laughing at my pathetic
six-count skills.

Rick stands up and offers his hand.

RICK
Same here friend. Hope to see you soon?

Tom shakes it.

TOM
Definitely.

The rest of the crowd yells goodbye as Tom and Allison walk toward the door.

EXT. DENNYS PARKING LOT - NIGHT

Tom and Allison walk silently to Tom's Car.

ALLISON
I had a great time tonight Tom.

TOM
You know Allison, I did too.

ALLISON
I could tell you did. I hope what
happened in there didn't ruin it
for you.

TOM
No... Kyle's just like that. He's a
good guy though, once you get to
know him.

ALLISON
I'll bet.

They both chuckle.

ALLISON
So... I'll see you on Monday for the
test?

TOM
Yep. And... can I ask you a question?

ALLISON
Sure.

TOM
Can I see you again?

Allison smiles and looks like she's thinking.

ALLISON
I think that can be arranged Mr. Everret.

TOM
Wonderful news Ms. Montgomery.

They both smile.

Tom leans in for a kiss.

Allison switches from a cheek to lips at the last moment.

TOM
Whoa!

Allison smiles.

ALLISON
That's for luck.

TOM
Well in that case, you know that test
is coming up and I sure do need all the
luck I can get...

ALLISON
Yeah yeah get out of here before I take
it away.

Tom opens his door.

TOM
I'll call you tomorrow.

ALLISON
Looking forward to it.

Tom smiles and closes his door. He starts up his car and watches Allison go back inside.

TOM
Me too.

FADE OUT.

BRIAN MILLER
Eh... It sucks.