A 20-something girl, Katie, laying on the floor, of her bathroom with one hand still gripping the toilet, eyes half-closed. Breathing heavy-has been sobbing/throwing up. A plastic cup and jug of water are nearby. Her phone rings but it’s just out of reach. Eyes open, no effort is made to grab phone. Takes a sip of water, spits it in toilet. Phone rings again.
Katie: (covering ears) make it stop, please. (flops back to floor)
She struggles enough to reach phone & tilt it in her direction. She squints & sees it her best friend Claire that’s been calling. She hits speaker on the voicemail message and listens.
Katie: Uhhh!! (lowers volume a little)
Claire: MY BEAUTIFUL KATIE!!! HOW ARE YOU?? OH MY GOD I MISS YOU SO MUCH!! Listen though, I have to talk to you…it’s about Levi.. so call me back. OKAY LOVE YOUUUUU!!!
Katie: Fuck. Bitch. (struggles to hit call back button, leaves phone on speaker, drinks some water)
Claire: You okay? What’s up?
Katie: I’m fine! How are you?
Claire: I’m fantastic. What’s wrong with you though? Are laying down right now?
Katie: No. (struggles to sit up) I’m just waking up though. I probably sound a little groggy. I took a nap.
Claire: Have you gotten out of bed in the last 48 hours?
Katie: Yes Katie! I’m fine! Okay? What’s up with Levi?
Claire: Oh nothing-I just needed something to get you to call me back. I had a feeling you were just staring at the phone not answering.
Katie: You’re psychic. Listen, I love you. But fuck you. I hope you’re doing well. We’ll catch up soon. But I’m getting off the phone now.
Claire: Holy shit you sound like shit.
Claire: No, wait!! Please! I know you’re not running off to do anything right now-just lemme vent for a second. I need to vent to someone.
Katie: Fine. (rests head on toilet)
Claire: Thank you… I’m really sad and I feel completely hopeless sometimes Kate.
Katie: What the fuck are you talking about?
Claire: I’m talking about you bitch! Now that you’re on the other side of the country I don’t know what to do when you get like this! Are you on your meds?
Katie: Sure. I’m on meds.
Claire: YOUR MEDS Katie. Please tell me you haven’t been doing meth again.
Katie: Oh my god Claire that was like one time. No meth. No heroine. Promise.
Claire: Can you please make an appointment to get a doctor out there and refill your prescription?
Katie: What is the point Claire? I’m never gonna be anything anyway. I can’t help my mom, no one gives a shit out here anyway. I don’t give a shit. I don’t even know what I’m doing. We’re all doomed to a dreadful human downfall. Who gives a shit?
Claire: You’re not even making sense.
Claire: Bitch you better not hang up that phone.
Katie: Oh my God. Seriously Claire, you’re lucky I love you but I really don’t want to talk right now. I don’t feel good.
Claire: Ya ya whatever. You probably only have stomach acid left to throw up anyway.
Claire: Sorry. Okay look, you gotta get on your meds.
Katie: Why? So that I’m actually clear and present to how shitty and pointless my life is. At least when I’m abusing other drugs I don’t have to witness it.
Claire: You know it’ll make you feel better.
Katie: Okay then what Claire? So then I can continue to be a complete fucking failure, do absolutely nothing with my life, and never meet my family’s expectations? “You can do better, Katie. I’m so disappointed Katie. Why aren’t you doing more Katie?” I’m always gonna be a failure-might as well just-uhh
Claire: Okay good. Now shut the fuck up. Fuck your family. And fuck your self-pitying self. Lots of other people care about you too and want to see you happy.
Katie: Ya I know you care. I get it. Thanks Claire.
Calire: Okay then quit being so selfish and giving up on life.
Katie: Claire, all my friend is 2,000 miles away. I have nobody here. I am nobody. I’m just trying to disappear. Please let me.
Claire: NO. Fuck you. Okay, so you need to make some friends out there. That would help. Start there.
Claire: I mean real friends, like me, you dick. You just said you have no friends.
Katie: Red is my friend. And so is Tasha.
Claire: Who the fuck is that-your drug dealers?
Katie: Red is my drug dealer. I just made up Tasha.
Claire: Oh my god Katie! You need to join November Project!
Katie: What kinda cult is that?
Claire: Only the best. It’s that workout group I do! When’s the last time you worked out?
Katie: Last time we worked out in high school 7 years ago. Wow. I’m pathetic.
Claire: No. Stop that. You never got THIS depressed when we were rowing. I’m going to look it up for you. Just show up. Get some endorphins going.. meet some people. It’ll be good.
Katie: If I say I’ll go, will you shut the fuck up?
Claire: Nope. You actually have to go. That or you have to three-way a doctors office right now with me on the line. Those are your options.
Katie: I hate you so much.
Claire: I love you too babe. Whatcha picking?
Claire: Okay great! I’m still gonna hound you about getting back on your meds, but that’s for a later date. Okay I’m gonna look it up for you. I love you so much! Get some rest! I’ll text you!
Claire: Byeeee! Oh I’m so excited! Yay! Bye!
Katie drinks some water. Reaches up to the back of the bathroom door and pulls down a bathrobe. Balls it up and uses it as a pillow. Just as her eyes shut her phone dings with texts. Tilting & squinting eyes to read it, it’s a screenshot of November Project West LA Instagram.
She sees that it says “Wednesdays 630 am” and scoffs. Falls asleep.
Two days later. Katie awkwardly walks up to Drake stadium. Headphones in. Hoodie up. Hat on. Sunglasses on. It’s overcast. Sees everyone gathering at bottom of stairs. Sets her phone, headphones, keys, glasses, hoodie, and water down next to everyone else’s stuff. Tara walks up to her.
Tara: Hi! Welcome to November Project! Is today your first day?
Katie: Ya, my friend from Boston told me about it.
Tara: Oh that’s great! Thanks for coming out! What’s your name?
Tara: Awesome Katie! I’m Tara! So glad you’re here!
Tara: (yelling) Alright everybody gather round! Get in close!!
Katie actually indulges in a small smile for the first time in a long time.
(HYPE UP/GOOD MORNING SEQUENCE)
Katie is exhausted. Making her way to the top of the stairs she flops to the ground to do sit ups. Struggling through her 12th when Maggie hobbles her way over on crutches.
Maggie: Hey, what’s your name? First day?
Maggie: Fuck ya Katie! I’m Maggie! You’re killing it!
Maggie hobbles over to someone else.
Maggie: You think you can come up a little higher on that next one Alex?
People start flying by Katie as she walks up the stairs. She watches them and laughs. Getting to the top of the stairs she feels that familiar feeling of backward digestion so she slowly makes her way down to do her sit ups. She does about 5 when she lays flat on the concrete. Dizzy. Looking around. Feeling like a failure. She shuts her eyes to avoid crying in public. Maggie hobbles over.
Katie: Hey! (fake smiles)
Katie: Great! Dying a little-but in a good way!
Maggie: (laughs) You can-
Katie: I know-you’re gonna say that I can do more.
Maggie: No- I was gonna say you can do anything. You’re doing great Katie! (Hobbles away, yelling) ALRIGHT AMANDA-LOOK AT HOW STRONG YOU ARE!
(GET KNOCKED DOWN BURPEE MONTAGE-including Maggie participating with her broken foot/boot)
(WRAP UP SEQUENCE ON BLEACHERS)
Walking away back to her car Katie takes out her phone and sends a text to Claire that reads: “Thank you. I love you.” She smiles & her eyes start to water. She puts her sunglasses on. Makes a phone call.
Katie: Hi, yes I need to schedule an appointment. No-first time. Okay thank you.