YOUNG JANICE
Don’t…
YOUNG ERIC
It’s okay.
YOUNG JANICE
It’s not okay. I feel weird. Like… like I’ve got a battery on my tongue. I don’t think I like this.
YOUNG ERIC
Shit. You only took half a hit. (he sits up)
I’m leaving in like a week, you know.
YOUNG JANICE (quietly)
I know.
YOUNG ERIC
And, I don’t know, since I’m going to be in LA, and we’ll only be able to see each other on weekends… I don’t know, maybe we should start thinking about… about…
There is a loud CLATTER from just overhead, then something large and dark DROPS down from the roof above them and lands with a SLAM on the porch, making ERIC and JANICE shout and jump in shock. It’s TOPHER, very wired and grinning. He’s got his shirt off and tied around his waist. He looks like a wild man. TOPHER
Take me to your leader! (cocks an ear to music)
What is that queer shit? (shouts)
Zengerdenger! Put on some Zep or some Sabbath or I’ll kick your ass into next year! (leans over ERIC and JANICE)
Man, I’m so fucking thirsty — let’s make a run for brews. C’mon, Erky, you drive.
YOUNG ERIC
I’m not driving, man. The acid’s just starting to come on.
TOPHER
Then we’ll walk. C’mon. Janice, make your fuckin’ boyfriend get off his ass. Come on, come on!
YOUNG JANICE
Why do we need beer?
TOPHER
Why do we need beer? Why do we need anything? Why do we need fucking music? Why do we need dope? Because life is shit and I’m so fucking high I can’t believe it! (he laughs and shadow-punches the air, circling ERIC and JANICE like a dog excited about going for a walk)
Party time!
TOPHER throws back his head and howls like a wolf, a rising, hoarse note that turns into ERIC yelling:
ADULT ERIC
Janice! Janice!
As we DISSOLVE TO:
INT. — BRENT’S HOUSE — EVENING
ADULT JANICE is staring at the mirror, at her own grown-up face. She looks at her hand on the counter. There’s an ANT crawling on it. JANICE gasps and flails until she brushes it off. ADULT ERIC appears in the bathroom doorway, obviously upset. The house is dark, but there’s light behind him from (as we’ll find out) a camping lantern in the living room.
ERIC
Where have you been? JANICE (near tears)
You were going to break up with me, you bastard! Before anything of that other stuff even happened!
ERIC
What are you talking about?
JANICE
We were sitting on the porch, and you were just about to tell me we should break up…
ERIC
I have no idea what you’re talking about, Janice. Where the hell have you been? I’ve been looking for you for half an hour all over the house. I’ve been screaming your name! I was worried to death!
JANICE
I’ve been right here… (a beat)
Half an hour?
ERIC
Brent’s not doing too well. Where were you?
JANICE suddenly grabs him.
JANICE
Oh my God. I am going crazy. (looks around)
It’s dark!
ERIC
Yes, it damn well is. That’s why I’ve been looking all over for you — I didn’t know what happened. Where were you? JANICE
Back there. Back there, Eric.
BRENT stumbles into the hallway, haggard, haunted.
BRENT (even more overwhelmed than E. and J.)
Can’t get away. He’s in our heads! We’re fucked.
ERIC
Come on, pull yourself together.
BRENT
You think I’m useless, don’t you? But I know how to end this. (he produces his GUN)
It’s easy. One bullet in Topher Holland’s brain and everything’s over…
ERIC
Jesus, Brent, put that thing away! That’s all we need, you pulling some cowboy shit like that.
JANICE
Why is this happening to us? He was our friend!
BRENT
You have no idea how hard I worked to make a life for myself. Worked damn hard. It was a nice life, too. I just wanted to forget…
BRENT pauses; then, as if he has really noticed ERIC and JANICE for the first time, he looks at them sorrowfully.
BRENT (cont.)
I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It’s all my fault. I…
He turns and straggers out of the hallway. A moment later a CRASH startles ERIC and JANICE. They run to the living room.
BRENT has knocked over the coffee table.
ERIC Jesus, you almost busted the lantern…! (realizes BRENT is staring in horror at the front door)
Brent, what’s…
As JANICE comes up beside him, the three of them standing close together in the middle of the living room, the DOORKNOB of the front door turns a little, clicks, turns again. They stare at it, frozen. After a moment, the door clicks and slowly swings open… BRENT makes little panting noises of terror. JANICE and ERIC grab for each other’s hands.
The door is all the way open. The street outside is dark. The doorway is EMPTY.
ERIC (hoarsely)
Who…?
He picks up a broken table-leg and the lantern and slowly moves toward the open door. JANICE grabs a heavy vase and moves up beside him. BRENT is on his knees on the floor behind them. They reach the doorway and