INT. PALISADES HIGH - HALLWAY - DAY
AMAN stood at his locker, dialing the combination . He pulled out a calculus textbook, checked his phone, and prepared to shut the metal door.
"Hey."
The voice was raspy, trying for sultry but landing somewhere near nervous.
Aman didn't turn. He knew that voice. He knew the person attached to it. And more importantly, he knew he wasn't interested in the drama that followed her .
OLIVE PENDERGHAST leaned against the locker next to his. She was wearing a bustier top, dark sunglasses, and an attitude that screamed "look at me, don't look at me."
"Aman," Olive tried again, lowering her glasses. "I... I wanted to talk to you."
Aman finally turned. His expression was blank.
"I'm busy, Olive," he said, turning back to his locker.
"I know, I know," Olive stammered, dropping the femme fatale act for a split second. "I just... look, about Halloween. The party. What I said outside."
Aman paused. He remembered it clearly. Greasy Indian. It was a cheap shot. A low blow from someone he had actually thought was interesting.
Olive speak, rushing the words. "I was defensive. And I said something really ugly. And I am sorry. Really."
Aman looked at her. He slammed his locker shut. The sound echoed, making her jump slightly.
"Apologies are just words, Olive," Aman said, his voice even but sharp. "You showed me who you were. You went for the easiest, laziest insult in the book ."
He didn't wait for a response. He hitched his backpack over one shoulder and walked away, cutting through the stream of students.
"Wait! Aman!"
Olive pushed off the locker, scrambling to catch up. She ignored the whispers from the jocks ("Hey, olive after aman .only aman could pull like this") and the glares from some female students.
"Aman, stop walking so fast! Your legs are unfairly long!"
Aman didn't slow down. He pushed through the double doors leading to the parking lot.
EXT. PALISADES HIGH - PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
The winter air was crisp. The noise of the school faded slightly as the heavy doors swung shut behind them.
Olive ran around him, planting herself in his path. She was breathless, her perfectly messy hair actually messy now.
"Hey, give me a chance!" Olive pleaded. She looked desperate. The "cool girl" mask was completely gone, leaving just a frantic teenager. "I will not say anything like that ever again. I swear. Please, Aman. Let's just be friends. I don't have many of those left who aren't trying to sleep with me or save my soul."
Aman stopped. He looked at her.
He studied her face. He saw the heavy eyeliner, the provocative clothes, the red 'A' stitched onto her bag. But beneath that, he saw the panic in her eyes. He saw the girl who used to be invisible and now soon would be drowning in visibility.
He sighed, the tension leaving his shoulders.
"Fine," Aman said.
Olive let out a breath she'd been holding. "Really?"
"We're good," Aman said. "But if you call me a stereotype again, I'm telling everyone about your fake persona."
Olive froze. Her smile faltered.
"Hey," she laughed nervously, adjusting her bag. "What do you mean 'fake persona'? I am living my truth. I am a woman of the world."
Aman raised an eyebrow. He gave her a look that said 'Please.'
"Look, Olive," Aman said, stepping closer, dropping his voice so the passing students wouldn't hear. "You can fool this mass of hormonal idiots. You can fool the teachers. But you won't fool me."
He gestured to her outfit.
"Like I said at the party... you aren't that type of girl. You're smart. You're witty. This?" He waved a hand at her "Easy A" getup. " Not you"
Olive bristled, crossing her arms defensively.
"Hey, now you are stereotyping me," she countered, trying to regain the upper hand. "Just because I'm smart doesn't mean I can't be... adventurous."
"Give it a rest, Olive," Aman interrupted gently. "I read the book. The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne?"
He pointed to the red 'A' patch she had stitched onto her bag.
"Symbolism can be decoded," Aman smirked. " You're not a slut, Olive. You're a literary critic making a point about puritanical hypocrisy. And you're getting addicted to the attention."
Olive stopped. Her mouth opened, then closed. She looked around to see if anyone was listening.
She slumped, the act evaporating entirely.
"Okay," Olive whispered. "You got me. Happy?"
"Not really," Aman said seriously. "Because Olive, you are playing with fire here. You think you're controlling the narrative, but you're not. Rumors have momentum. You're gonna have a problem down the line. A big one."
Olive looked at the ground, kicking a pebble with her boot.
"I can handle it," she muttered, though she didn't sound convinced. "It's just... high school. It's not real life."
"It feels real when you're in it," Aman pointed out.
He watched her for a moment. He knew he couldn't stop her. She had to ride this train until it crashed. Only through pain and suffering , one learn.
"I know you are not going to listen to me," Aman sighed, shaking his head. "So let's make a deal."
"A deal?" Olive looked up.
"I forgive you," Aman said. "I won't blow your cover. I'll let everyone think you're the scandalous vixen of Ojai. But... when you inevitably crash and burn, and when you need help digging yourself out of this hole..."
He looked her right in the eye.
"...you call me."
Olive stared at him. She saw the genuine concern in his face. It wasn't judgment. It wasn't lust. It was just... care.
A small, weak smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
"Deal," Olive said softly.
She smirked, tilting her head.
"But why are you so helpful?" she teased, batting her eyelashes dramatically. "Do you have a crush on me? Is that it? You want to save the bad girl?"
Aman chuckled, adjusting his backpack strap.
"Hey," Aman shrugged. "Who wouldn't want to be a knight in shining armor for a damsel in distress? It's a classic trope."
Olive rolled her eyes, but she was smiling for real now.
"Hey, I am not a damsel," she declared, striking a pose. "Have you seen me? I am a top-of-the-food-chain predator now. I eat boys for breakfast."
"Yes, yes," Aman laughed, turning to walk toward car, claire was waving. "So we're friends?"
"Okay," Olive called out. "Friends."
Olive watched him go. For the first time in weeks, she didn't feel like she was performing.
====
INT. MITCH & CAM'S DUPLEX - KITCHEN - NIGHT
It is New Year's Eve, 6:00 PM. The kitchen is a flurry of activity.
CAMERON is rushing around wearing a tuxedo jacket, no pants but shorts, and dress socks. He is frantically searching for his cummerbund.
AMAN is sitting at the kitchen counter, casually eating a slice of pizza. He is wearing sweatpants and a hoodie. He looks extremely comfortable.
AMAN "I don't see why I have to go to Phil's. I can watch Lily here. I have a movie queue and a pizza. We're self-sufficient."
CAM (Stopping in his tracks, adjusting a cufflink) "Aman. You are the same age as Alex. You are not a bachelor uncle; you are a minor."
AMAN (Pointing a thumb toward the ceiling) "I have my own bachelor pad upstairs."
CAM "We will talk when you buy one with your own earned money And you need my permission before going out to parties. Or staying in. The point is, you need supervision. And Haley needs backup. She's fragile right now."
AMAN "There's Alex there. She's supervision enough for a small army."
CAM "Alex is a buzzkill. We need you to mingle with your cousins . Now, go put on real pants. Go be young!"
Aman sighs, sliding off the stool.
AMAN "Fine. But if I get bored, I'm teaching Lily how to play poker."
EXT. DUNPHY HOUSE - NIGHT
The house is glowing warmly against the dark street.
INT. DUNPHY HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
It is 7:00 PM. The parents (Phil, Claire, Jay, Gloria, Mitch, and Cam) have all departed for Jay's favorite hotel for a 'grown-ups only' dinner. The house is quiet.
In the background, LUKE and MANNY are huddled in the corner near the front door. They are whispering frantically. Manny spritzes breath spray into his mouth. Luke sniffs his own armpit.
In the foreground, LILY is standing on a chair in front of the hallway mirror, holding a tube of bright red lipstick. She is about to apply it .
AMAN (Walking in, snatching the tube) "Lily! No clown makeup! We talked about this! ."
He wipes a smudge off her cheek and hands her a juice box instead.
AMAN "Go sit."
He walks over to the couch. HALEY and ALEX are sitting there. Haley is scrolling through her phone, looking bored . Alex is reading a book.
Aman sits down , tearing open a bag of fruit snacks he confiscated from Lily.
ALex "Why are you even here? I thought you'd be at some cool party. You know, with the people you charmed at the talent show."
HALEY "Yeah, even I heard about it. It's all the talk. The piano man."
AMAN (Chewing a gummy) "I promised Lily I'd ring in the New Year with her. She wants to bang pots and pans at midnight."
ALEX "How did you do it?"
AMAN "Do what?"
ALEX "You transferred here, and within months, you're popular. You hang out with the Plastics, the Jocks, and the Burnouts. I've been here for years and no one has been able to do that. Not even Haley."
Haley smacks Alex's forearm lightly.
HALEY slightly smiling "Hey!."
Aman leans back, resting his head on the couch cushion.
AMAN "Alex, 'The fundamental cause of the trouble is that in the modern world the stupid are cocksure while the intelligent are full of doubt' — Bertrand Russell."
The room goes quiet.
HALEY (Blinking) "Who is Bertrand?"
ALEX "I know the quote. But what does that have to do with you?"
AMAN "Think about it. Your intelligence makes you doubt yourself. It corrodes your confidence. You overthink every social interaction because you overthink it. But stupid people? They don't have that burden. They are full of confidence. Like Haley."
HALEY (Indignant) "Hey!"
AMAN " It's a strength on its own ."
AMAN "I'm saying that's the difference between Jocks and Nerds. Jocks trade their potential for high school status. Nerds trade social status in high school for future potential and status."
He turns to look at Alex.
AMAN "Alex, you have nothing to worry about. In your later life, you will be the boss. You might run the world. But for now... you are a nerd. Own it."
HALEY (Smirking) "So that means I win high school. Boom."
AMAN (Turning to Haley) "Yes. You win high school. But what about the future, Haley? Look at yourself. You were cool in school. You focused on that. And that's why you had a problem getting a college ."
The smirk vanishes from Haley's face. The room goes dead silent. Even Lily stops slurping her juice box.
HALEY (Quietly) "Yeah. And when I finally got one... I got expelled."
Alex looks at Haley. She sees the genuine sadness in her sister's eyes. She realizes the conversation has shifted from banter .
AMAN "I'm sorry if I'm crossing a line. But you were stupid, Haley."
ALEX "Aman..."
AMAN "No, listen. I heard Mitch talking about the hearing. You coming clean to the board? Admitting to everything? That was brave. But you came too clean. You didn't leave yourself an out. "
Haley's eyes start to water. She wipes at them angrily.
HALEY "I know. I fucked up. I really fucked up."
ALEX (immediately) "Hey! You don't have to be insensitive, Aman."
Alex wraps an arm around Haley.
HALEY "No, Alex. He's right."
Aman softens his tone. He leans forward, elbows on his knees.
AMAN "That doesn't mean everything is finished, Haley. It just means the 'Easy Mode' is over. You still have a chance. You have smarts of yours own kind of. You have charm. You just need to apply them towards something constructive."
Haley sniffles, leaning into Alex's shoulder.
HALEY (Wiping tears) "You think?"
AMAN "I know."
ALEX (To Aman, quietly) "Thanks."
Aman nods. He turns back to Alex.
AMAN "That is how I became popular, Alex. I don't get intimidated by things. Not by Regina George, not by expulsion hearings, and not by the fear of failure. Confidence is just refusing to let the doubt win."
DING DONG.
The doorbell rings loudly.
Aman looks at the door. He points to the door.
AMAN "Speaking of failure... you two should compose yourselves. Your have guests."
Haley sniffles, looking confused.
HALEY "Guests? Please. They ordered pizza."
Luke rushes to the door, with Manny smoothing his velvet blazer right behind him. Luke swings the door open.
Two actual, real, living teenage girls are standing there. They are smiling. They are cute.
GIRL 1 "Hi! "
LUKE "Welcome !"
Luke and Manny gesture broadly for them to come in .
On the couch, Alex and Haley stare at the door, jaws dropped. They look at each other, then back at the door.
AMAN (Smirking, popping another fruit snack) "See? Never underestimate the power of confidence."
===
Happy new year