FADE IN.

INT. SMOKIN' PARLOR, BRIMSTONE PEAKS - DAY

The bar is filled with busting chatter, and clinks of pint glasses. Some people are laughing, playing board games, and maybe on their phones.

DAHL looks over Kellie's shoulder; gazing at her phone. She is playing an idle RPG.

DAHL

Well? Did Tom say anything?

KELLIE

He said no.

DAHL

Bummer.

BAILEY sighs to KELLIE's words.

BAILEY

I mean, who's to say? You should expect this from him, he's always busy.

KELLIE

Right. Maybe we should leave 'im alone.

The conversations continue. The audio fizzles for a moment, but returns back to normal.

Was that a voice?

INT. SMOKIN' PARLOR, BRIMSTONE PEAKS - MOMENTS LATER

BAILEY

Did I even tell about how this dude turned itself into tape right after his death? Freaky stuff.

Everyone 'ooo's and 'ahh's..

THEODORE

I know a guy who turned into complete fog once. In fact, I had a couple of dreams where I turned into a flesh monster.

AUGUST

Pahh! As if I believe any of this stuff. That's like saying Kellie is a sidekick.

KELLIE

Psychic. And I do believe in this stuff. I know a couple of people who were like this.

AUGUST

Psychic, sidekick, pretty much the same thing. Kellie, you're not fooling anyone.

KELLIE

I-!

Suddenly, the door opens, and everyone's chatter comes to a halt. Who is this? Is this someone we know?

The shadow becomes clearer. Yes, yes! It is! It's Tom!

TOM

Hey guys! Sorry 'M late.

BAILEY

(loud)

TOM?!?!??!?

TOM

Uh, yeah?

COLLIE

We thought you weren't coming.

TOM

I, um, changed my mind.

BAILEY

(in disbelief)

Wow. Wow.

DAHL

Tom! So glad you could join us. Have a seat.

TOM

Alright!

Footsteps. Chair creaking.

KELLIE

Tom, I'm sure you've met Dahl a couple times, so... I want to meet the rest of the band.

TOM

Kellie, I didn't know you were friends with the lead singer! An' the band as well!

KELLIE

Pahaha... yeah, Ranger Danger's pretty underground. Not that popular.

DAHL

Don't say that! I'm sure we're relatively popular. Even that one guy that goes by two names, Mino and Hoss, would agree.

KELLIE

Isn't that the cre–

DAHL

Hush.

THEODORE

Dahl, you gotta stop telling people we exist. Next, you'll tell us that a person named Iris comments "banger" on every single release. You'll tell us that's the only comment we ever get.

DAHL

That's not going to change my mind-gears. You guys are no fun.

TOM

Ummm...

KELLIE

Oh, Tom! Forgot you were there. Um... Tom, this is Theodore, Bailey, August, and Collie. Grace didn't want to join us since she was helping her dad with some stuff, and... yeah. Theodore's the bassist, Bailey's the drummer, August does the synths, Collie's the lead guitarist, and Grace is the rhythm guitarist, I help Dahl with the lyrics.

DAHL

It's mostly indie rock.

BAILEY

All of our stuff is about death/rebirth. It's pretty sick.

COLLIE

In a cool way.

AUGUST

What she said.

TOM

Sweet. If you don't mind, can I get your number? So we can get to know each other better.

DAHL

Oh uh, sure. Just lemme get a piece of paper...

DAHL takes out a post-it note, grabs a nearby pen, and scribbles his number on it.

He smiles when giving the number to TOM.

TOM

Thanks.

DAHL

No problem.

The camera zooms out into the outside of the bar. A

TAPE-LIKE FIGURE

is watching someone, watching them, maybe even watching you.

What does it want? What does it need? The hell if I know, I'm just the narrator. I'm just a voice.

It turns to the camera. Does it know something?

TAPE-LIKE FIGURE

YOU. I KNOW YOU.

Wait, what? It stalks towards what it thinks is a person and then–

And then–wait why can't i why can't i i iiIIIIiiiiIiiT Ttto Mmm

JUMP CUT TO:

EXT. SMOKIN' PARLOR, BRIMSTONE PEAKS - NIGHT

Dahl, Bailey, Theodore, August, Collie, Tom, and Kellie are outside. The dark blue night sky is gleaming with white speckles of stars, almost like a old Van Gogh painting. The moon is always brighter.

TOM

It was nice meeting you guys!

DAHL

You too. We had fun.

THEORDORE

Will you come visit us at the PCSD?

TOM

Aw, I wish but... I'm...

Tom looks away, mumbling.

KELLIE

Look, Tom. If you're happy with your new job, then you're happy. Don't feel pressured to take on your old job. Not after, you know...

TOM

You're right, Kellie.

I shouldn't.

There is a moment of silence.

TOM (CONT'D)

So why...? Why do I feel this urge...?

That I should come back?

FADE OUT.