Treading Water

FADE IN:
EXT. SAGUARO LAKE - DAWN
DARREN, a handsome man in his late 20’s with the weight of the world on his shoulders, drives a small boat with an outboard motor towards the center of the lake. He is dressed in business casual attire and drives the boat with a small amount of trepidation. He drives as far as he can from land and then sets the boat in tight circles.

A bird flies overhead. He watches it fly past, acknowledging its beauty. His sadness deepens. He looks back at the loading dock, now just a speck in the distance. The engine SPUTTERS as it begins to run out of gas.

DARREN
Well. I guess this is it.

He aims the boat back toward the loading dock. The engine sputters again. He takes a deep breath and jumps out of the boat into the cold water. The empty boat heads back toward land.

EXT. SAGUARO LAKE - UNDERWATER
Dark, peaceful silence. Darren looks around resignedly.

CUT TO:
EXT. OAK CREEK CANYON’S SLIDE ROCK- UNDERWATER
Darren looks up at the sunlight coming from above the water. He swims upwards towards it.

He breaks the surface and wipes the water from his eyes. He is at Slide Rock State Park in Sedona, AZ. He looks down to see he is standing in shallow water and wearing a swimsuit. He walks up the banks of the river and begins to climb out. A voice from behind him.

KEITH
That was fun, huh?

Darren spins quickly to see KEITH, his friend from college. Darren is very disoriented.

DARREN
Uhhh, yeah. That was awesome.

KEITH
Your ass is going to hurt for days after today. But it’s all worth it.

DARREN
Oh, I uh, I definitely hope so.

Darren turns and watches a young boy slide down the rocks of Slide Rock, bouncing on the rocks as he slides. He subconsciously rubs his backside.

KEITH
Hey, just check out the eye candy. That will make any amount of ass pain worth it.

Keith points to a section of red rock with four beautiful college-age girls, DANIELLE, ERICA, MICHELLE and BRIDGET sunbathing in bikinis. Darren focuses on Danielle and is incredulous.

DARREN
Danielle?

KEITH
What? You know one of those girls?

DARRENNo, I--

KEITH
You better introduce me. Don’t hold out on me man.

DARREN
Wait, I--, I just have a class with her I think. One of my Comm classes.

KEITH
Well then get to talking. Tell her we’re throwing a party tonight and you want to invite them.

DARREN
A party tonight?

KEITH
Yeah, if they say yes then we’ll just have to figure out how to throw a party. We can throw one at your house, your parents are out of town.

Darren is nervous but succumbs to the peer pressure.

DARREN
Okay. I’ll talk to them.

He walks over to where the girls are sunbathing and clears his throat. None of the girls take much notice. Darren clears his throat again. Danielle leans up and peels her sunglasses back to look him in the eye.

DANIELLE
You’re standing in my sunlight.

Darren quickly steps out of her sunlight.

DARREN
Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to. Just wasn’t thinking.

He looks familiarly at Danielle.

DANIELLE
What were your thinking?

She meets his gaze with a slight bit of confusion. She KNOWS this guy from somewhere. He tries desperately not to stare at her near-naked body.

DARREN
Well, I--

DANIELLE
Do I know you from somewhere?

DARREN
Yeah. I mean, no. Not really. Well, sort of. We have a class together.

DANIELLE
Economics?

DARREN
No, um, Comm 201.

DANIELLE
Comm 201 huh? Are you a communications major?

DARREN
Um, yeah, kind of. I, I just started with it, and, well--

DANIELLE
You might want to rethink that major, given the substance of this conversation.

MICHELLE
Leave him alone Danielle.

ERICA
Yeah, do you have to be rude to every guy that tries to talk to you?

DANIELLE
Hey, I’m just trying to help the guy out.
(to Darren)
Do you need a tutor for Comm 201? Is that what you came over here for?

DARREN
No, I, well, my friend Keith and I--

He points to Keith who is standing near the water and standing with his muscles flexed, trying to look as buff as possible. When he sees the girls look at him he stiffens.

DARREN (CONT'D)
Are having a party tonight and we wanted to know if you ladies would be interested in coming to it. It should be a good time.

Bridget and Erica give Keith a once-over and nod.

BRIDGET
He’s kind of cute. I’ll go.

ERICA
Me too.

DANIELLE
What’s in it for me? Besides you getting out of my sun for a little while?

DARREN
Well, we have a couple of kegs, a fire pit, beer pong and, um, a live band.

MICHELLE
A live band? Anybody I’ve heard of?

DARREN
I can say, with little doubt, that you have never heard of this band. But the beer will make up for that.

Danielle looks at Darren skeptically.

DARREN (CONT'D)
And you can tutor me, at Comm 201, if you think that will help.

Danielle smiles for the first time.

DANIELLE
Erica, give him your number so he can call us and tell us where the party is.

ERICA
Why don’t you give him your number?

DANIELLE
Because you’re the driver, so if you decide you don’t want to go then none of us will go.

BRIDGET
Plus you’re the hooker of the group. You’re used to random guys calling you.

ERICA
That’s true. Okay.

Keith watches as Darren takes a small piece of paper from Erica. Darren smiles weakly as he comes back to Keith.

KEITH
Dude, you got her number? Awesome!

DARREN
Yeah, but we’re in deep.

KEITH
Why?

DARREN
I told them we had a live band at our party tonight.

KEITH
Oh crap.

DARREN
Yeah. We’d better get going if we’re going to get a live band by tonight.

KEITH
Okay, but let’s do one more run before we bail.

DARREN
Okay.

They go to the top of Slide Rock and slide down one after another. When Darren hits the water he slips underneath the surface. It is dark and peaceful. He looks up to the light coming from above the surface and swims toward it.

CUT TO:
EXT. OAK CREEK CANYON MILE MARKER 377 - UNDERWATER
He breaks the surface to CHEERS. He wipes the water from his eyes. His college friends Keith, JOE, and TIM line the banks of Oak Creek at a deep spot in the river. Behind them stand Erica, Michelle and Bridget, all clapping. He spins in the water to look behind him to see a sheer rock wall about 50 feet tall.

TIM
That was awesome buddy! Awesome!

DARREN
What the hell did I just do?

Darren dog paddles to the bank of the river and rolls over onto his back, basking in the safety of dry land.

DARREN (CONT'D)
What, the hell, did I just do?

JOE
You jumped, dumbass. And it was awesome!

Darren turns to look at everyone on the bank of the river. Someone is missing. Suddenly a FEMALE YELL from behind him. He turns just in time to see a flash of a body hitting the water behind him. Everyone on the bank CHEERS.

DARREN
What was that?

He waits a long few seconds, looking at the surface of the water. Suddenly it breaks and Danielle comes splashing out of it, smiling from ear to ear.

She hits the banks of the river and slicks her hair back. She is the most beautiful thing Darren has ever seen. She looks at him quizzically.

DANIELLE
What?

Darren smiles.

DANIELLE (CONT'D)
What?!

DARREN
Nothing. Just, that was awesome.

DANIELLE
You think?

She looks up at the top of the cliff.

DANIELLE (CONT'D)
We should do that again.

DARREN
What, jump? From up there?

DANIELLE
Yeah jump. From up there. You already did it once and lived.

DARREN
Yeah, but I don’t want to press my luck.

DANIELLE
Then let me press your luck for you. You’re jumping. We’re jumping.

She grabs him by the hand and pulls him toward the trailhead that leads to the top of the cliff. Darren follows Danielle up the trail to the cliff, admiring her body as he follows. She truly is breathtaking.

EXT. OAK CREEK CANYON MILE MARKER 377 CLIFF - SAME
Danielle and Darren walk to the edge of the cliff and look down. The drop is staggering.

DARREN
I think jumping once was enough, don’t you?

DANIELLEYou only live once Darren.

DARREN
Live once, jump twice? Is that your motto?

DANIELLE
Sounds good to me.

Darren looks over the edge and gulps heavily. Danielle grabs his hand and squeezes it.

DANIELLE (CONT'D)
Jump with me.

DARREN
What?

Danielle steps off the edge of the cliff, pulling Darren with her. They fall towards the water in silence.

The water roars around them as they enter. Then dark, peaceful silence. Darren looks around underwater, Danielle is nowhere to be found. He sees the light coming from above the water and swims to it.

CUT TO:
INT. SHOWER - NIGHT
CLOSE ON Darren’s face as he stands in the shower with powerful jets of water hitting his face. Unable to breathe he steps back from the shower head and wipes the water away from his face.

He looks around, momentarily confused at his surroundings, which consist of a very girlishly decorated shower and bathroom. He recognizes this place.

DARREN
(whispering, to himself)
Danielle’s shower?

The shower curtain slowly slides back behind him. He jumps slightly. Danielle enters the shower.

DANIELLE
I’m coming in.

DARREN
Danielle?

DANIELLE
Yes?

DARREN
Um, hi.

Danielle wraps her arms around him from behind and whispers in his ear.

DANIELLE
Hi yourself. You sure were a tiger last night. And again this morning.

She kisses his neck then moves in front of him to get closer to the shower head.

DANIELLE (CONT'D)
Wash my hair.

Darren stands behind her and gently washes her hair for her. She enjoys his hands on her. She backs up into him.

DANIELLE (CONT'D)
Ooh, feels like someone is fully awake down there. Is there a gun in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

He spins her around.

DARREN
I’m very, very, VERY happy to see you.

DANIELLE
I’m not sure if you’re happy enough to see me yet. Let me just go check. Gotta make sure to make you as happy as you make me.

She crouches down in front of him. He smiles and leans forward so his hands are on the shower wall in front of him. CLOSE ON Darren as the water from the shower head sprays directly in his face, creating a dark, peaceful silence.

CUT TO:
EXT. OAK CREEK CANYON MILE MARKER 377 UNDERWATER - NIGHT
Darren breaks the surface of the water and gasps for air. The full moon illuminates the water. A campfire burns next to the banks of the river. He looks to his right as Danielle breaks the surface next to him.

DANIELLE
That never gets old.

Darren looks deeply in her eyes.

DARREN
Nope. It sure doesn’t.

DANIELLE
Do you want to go again? That was twice as exciting at night.

DARREN
Sure, I’ll go again.

The fire sparks and crackles. Darren gets out to go look at it. He reaches down into the sand and grabs something.

DARREN (CONT'D)
Danielle, come check this out real quick. I think you should see this.

DANIELLE
What is it?

DARREN
I don’t think you’re going to believe it.

She gets out of the water and walks next to him.

DANIELLE
What is it?Darren gets down on one knee and holds out the item he picked up from the sand: a box with a ring in it.

DARREN
Danielle, will you marry me?

Danielle is shocked.

DANIELLE
What? I--

DARREN
This is the exact spot I fell in love with you and I want you to be with me forever.

DANIELLE
Yes. YES! Of course I will marry you!

Darren puts the ring on her finger. She admires it for a second before rushing into his arms so forcefully they both fall into the river. There is a dark and peaceful silence.

CUT TO:
INT. LAS VEGAS HOTEL ROOM - NIGHT
CLOSE ON Darren as he wipes a liquid from his eyes. Keith, Tim and Joe surround him and spray him with champagne. Darren has trouble breathing or seeing his surroundings. Finally:

DARREN
What the hell?

The champagne bath stops as the bottles run out of bubbles. Keith hands him a bottle. Beer cans and empty bottles litter the room. The four of them are clearly drunk.

KEITH
Drink up, asshole.

TIM
Bottoms up, dumbass.

Darren takes the bottle from Keith and takes a swig. He chokes on it.

DARREN
Ugh, what is this crap?

JOE
You didn’t think we’d waste the good stuff on you did you? We decided to spend our money on better things.

DARREN
What kind of better things?

JOE
The kind of better things that you are going to be missing out on when your dumb ass gets married.

DARREN
Keith, what’s he talking about?

KEITH
Hey, I plead the fifth on this one.

DARREN
Keith, what is he talking about?

TIM
He’s talking about this evening’s entertainment.

DARREN
Entertainment? I thought I told you guys I didn’t want a stripper. I just wanted to hang out with you guys in Vegas for my bachelor party.

TIM
Don’t worry, she’s not a stripper.

DARREN
What?Joe leads a beautiful prostitute, AMANDA, from the bathroom.

JOE
Darren, this is Amanda. Amanda, Darren. Now that you’ve met, we’ve got a thing we’ve gotta go do in the lobby for, oh, an hour?

Amanda nods.

TIM
An hour it is then. See you then.

DARREN
What? No! You guys can’t leave me alone with her.

TIM
Darren, this woman has been paid handsomely to lick all of the champagne off of your body.

DARRENBut I--

TIM
Handsomely, I said. And on that note . . .

Tim pours his bottle of champagne down the front of Darren’s pants. He gestures to the wet area on Darren’s crotch as he speaks to Amanda.

TIM (CONT'D)
I think this would be a good area to start in. Just a suggestion.

Tim, Joe and Keith turn to leave.

JOE
See you in an hour.

DARREN
Guys, I--

AMANDA
Don’t worry Darren. I guarantee my services are worth every penny your friends spent. Every penny.

She pushes him back on his bed and begins to undo his belt. He leans back on his elbows while still holding the bottle of champagne. He takes a long swig and chokes on it when she suddenly and violently removes his belt, spilling champagne all over his face. CLOSE ON Darren’s face.

CUT TO:
INT. FIBBER MCGEE’S IRISH PUB - NIGHT
CLOSE ON Darren’s face as he wipes liquid out of his eyes. He is wearing the same clothes as he was wearing on the boat in the first scene. Danielle is standing facing him, an empty glass in her hand. She is livid.

DANIELLE
I can’t believe you did this! I can’t believe you did this to us! You said you loved me.

DARREN
I do! I do love you! That’s why I-

DANIELLE
Don’t tell me that. Don’t tell me that you fucked some other girl in the same sentence you tell me you love me.

DARREN
Look, she was a prostitute, she wasn’t--

DANIELLE
Oh, a prostitute! That’s supposed to make everything better? Are you kidding me?

DARREN
Danielle, I--

DANIELLE
You know what? I don’t want to hear it! I don’t!

She rips her engagement ring off and drops it in his drink.

DANIELLE (CONT'D)
Why don’t you give that to your prostitute. I’m sure she could find a better use for it than I ever will.

Danielle begins to storm off before coming back to grab another patron’s drink and throwing it in Darren’s face. CLOSE ON Darren’s face.

CUT TO:EXT. SAGUARO LAKE - DAY
CLOSE ON Darren’s unmoving pale blue face as water drips off of it. He is on his back on a boat, surrounded by Search and Rescue workers. The CHIEF zips up a body bag over Darren’s face.

CHIEF
Another floater out here. I wonder what convinced this guy that the sun wasn’t going to shine tomorrow?

THE END