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Idea for a TV show about young adults in rehab. Episode 1.

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By

Chris Campos

-A Black truck drives down an empty street. It’s late at night. Fog settles across the roads and trees and a sliver of moonlight paves the way. Music can be heard blaring from the truck as embers from a lit cigarette bounce along the pavement. It’s Nathan, he’s driving the truck with a concerned look on his face, as if he is heading somewhere…

Nathan- [picks up phone and dials number, gets voice mail] Hey man it’s me! Pick Up, pick up! I know you’re there man! [Silence] [Dials number again] Look if you don’t wanna answer me that’s fine. I just have some really good green and was seeing if you wanted to toke with me. But I guess not. [Hangs up and sparks another cig]

-The car goes through a red light and takes an immediate left onto a random neighborhood street. Most of the houses are dark except for a few with their porch lights still on. He slowly prowls by each house as if he is looking for something. Then all of a sudden a look of pure surprise overcomes his face, followed by extreme anger. In his friend’s driveway sits his ex-girlfriend’s car. He stops the car and just sits there, paralyzed with disappointment. Cigarette ash falls on his seat burning a hole.-

- {Tom Petty, Only a Broken Heart} Cuts to him driving to the nearest grocery store. He whips his car into a parking space and slams the door as he gets out. Comes back out with a grocery bag full of cans. Montage of him driving hitting the can, and sitting in random parking lots half-passed out. He sparks a cig and cracks the tab off of a new can and takes a big hit and holds it in. Watching people pass by into a s****y bar, he exhales. Then he slouches back into his driver’s seat in false ecstasy.-

-Cuts to the daily group meeting at Chestnut Health Facilities. Everyone is sitting in the room waiting for the counselor to walk in. Nathan looks over at his friend Joe, Joe looks back and gives him a wave of acknowledgement, Nathan just looks forward with discontentment. Finally the counselor walks in.-

Perkins- So class today we are going to talk about dependency and how it affects those around you, and when I say affect, I mean emotionally, physically, any way possible. Okay. So does anyone want to start and give an example of how their dependency has affected those around them?

-Nathan raises his hand.-

Perkins- Yes, Mr. Jones!

Nathan- Well my drug use, I’m sorry, my dependency has made those around me, well not wanna be around me.

Perkins- What do you mean?

Nathan- I mean. The people I used to hang out with, like let’s say my friends or my girlfriend, stopped hanging around with me because I couldn't stop hitting cans.

Perkins- You mean huffing?

Nathan- [pissed off look] Yes.

Perkins- That’s a good example. So you’re saying your friends, girlfriend, stopped hanging out with you because they disapproved of your use, or they didn't like the way you acted while using?

Nathan- [looks over towards Joe] Well, I guess both…..maybe.

Perkins- Hmmm, that’s interesting. So obviously it’s had a negative effect on your personal life then?

Nathan- Obviously.

Perkins- Okay. Anyone else?

-Erin raises her hand-

Perkins- Ah yes, Erin?

Erin- Well maybe those people just didn't like the fact that you changed.

Perkins- What do you mean?

Erin- Well maybe you became a different person whenever you were huffing and that drove those around you away.

Perkins- Now when you say a different person, what do you mean?

Erin- I mean. [Looks at Nathan] Whenever you would start huffing, you became this really irritable person. Mean for no reason. The only thing you seemed to care about, was getting another can. You were in your own little world. Never mind the fact that those around you tried to get close to you or were worried about you. You would change from a smart, caring person into an egotistical, one-track minded a*****e. You didn't care about how others felt. I guess, that’s what I mean.

Perkins- Okay, okay. I can see we are getting a little too personal in here. Maybe we should switch topics, hmmm?

            -Cut to a kid outside smoking a cigarette by himself. A tall, lanky kid with short, curly hair and glasses and tattoos all along both his arms. He takes several drags, tosses the butt and immediately lights another. As he inhales deeply he hears a voice come from behind him.-

 

Nathan: Got another one of those?

-          Joe turns around “I don’t know. I might have a few left.” Followed by a short pause.

Nathan: Well smart a*s can I have one?

Joe: Sure man. Go for it.

Nathan: [grabs a cig out of the pack and lights it and holds in the inhale] So. Where were you this weekend?

Joe: Busy. Doing s**t with my family.

Nathan: Is that why you didn't answer my phone calls?

Joe: Yea. Like I said I was busy, and didn't have my phone with me.

Nathan: So, that’s what you did all weekend? You didn't hang out with anyone?

Joe: [takes another drag and just stares at Nathan for a second] Nope. Didn't have any gas in my car so I couldn't really go out and do s**t. Just sort of chilled at my place with my family.

Nathan: Couldn't hit up a gas station?

Joe: No money man. Dead broke right now.

Nathan: Hmm. [Nathan ponders for a second whether or not to bring up Erin. He almost does, the words are on the tip of his tongue, but at the last second he decides not to] Well that’s too bad. I had some really good s**t that I wanted to smoke with you. But some a*****e decided not to answer his phone so he missed out.

Joe: F**k man. I’ll just have to smoke with you next time, I guess.

Nathan: [staring menacingly] Yea, I guess so. Maybe next, I won’t even bother calling your a*s.

Joe: [no reaction] Right. Like you have anybody else to smoke with.

Nathan: Hey f**k you! I have plenty of people to smoke with. People who actually you know, answer their f*****g phone when someone calls them.

Joe: F*****g A. I get it already. I’ll answer my phone man. Jesus, give it a f*****g rest.

Nathan: Just saying. You never answer you f****n phone. Sometimes I think you get home and just chuck it into some f****n bushes [throwing motion] and leave it there all day.

Joe: [finishes his cig and flicks the burning embers out into the grass] You would think that? Wouldn't you? Well I’m gonna head back in. I’ll see you in there.

Nathan: What are you doing after class?

Joe: I’m heading home first. Then probably going out to Peoria.

Nathan: Really? I thought you said your car was low on gas and you were broke as s**t right now?

Joe: [pauses and remembers he indeed said that] Did I? F**k. I mean I was out of gas and money, but I eventually got some money.

Nathan: Doing what?

Joe: Donating plasma?

Nathan: When, I thought you were busy all weekend?

Joe: Sunday afternoon.

Nathan: They’re closed on Sundays.

Joe: [puts chewing tobacco in his mouth] See you in there man. [then walks away]

 

-Cut Back to class. Everyone is sitting in silence as the the counselor sits in front of the class staring at them waiting for one to say something. He's tapping his foot vigorously and then finally stands up and starts to talk.-

Perkins: So we got off track before we went on break. I think things got a little too personal in here. Let's get back on track. We're going to talk about, or at least I am. You can listen. About why we use? What compels us to keep using? 

[random kid raises his hand]

Perkins: Yes?

Dylan: What do you mean?

Perkins: I mean. What is the thought process that goes through our minds when we decide we want to use. Because let me tell you something. You are conditioned to feel this way. You are conditioned by society, and in some ways condition yourselves to think that you need to feel better and the only way you can accomplish this is by getting "high". Trust me  I know how you feel. I have about 10% of a functioning liver left. That's because I did so much heroin and my body is so damaged that I now have to take 15 different medications a day, just so I can die slower. I knew what it was doing to my body. But I kept doing it anyways. Know why? Because I was conditioned to feel this way. Following me here?

Amy: Kind of.

Perkins: It all has to do with Rational Emotive Theory. R.E.T. Does anyone know what this is?

[blank stares]

Perkins: Well it works like this. [drawing a model on the board] You have an event happen to you. Bad or good, in this case let's say bad. For example, your car breaks down. You have this event happen to you and whats the first thing that you do when this happens. You interpret it. It goes through your senses. You know sight, taste, smell, etc. and you process this event. And from this you get emotions. Based off your observations. Now considering this was a bad event. You can assume you are going to have negative emotions from this, so what do you do with these emotions. You act, you make a decision. And for all of you, that decision most if not all the time was to use and abuse a substance to get high in order to feel better. Right? Which is not why you really used, but we'll delve into that later. And this keeps happening time after time. So how do we break this cycle?

[Nathan raises his hand]

Perkins: Yes?

Nathan: We rationalize?

Perkins: Exactly. Instead of making decisions based of your emotions. You need to think about the situation rationally, objectively instead of letting your emotions control the situation and make the decision for you. I you can [draws an arrow] bypass or move your thought process around. Cause let's face it, you can't get rid of your senses or how you observe something happen to you. Right? You can't. It just happens and you react. And you can't stop your emotions or how you feel when something happens to you. But you can change how your thought process works. You can start to think about things more rationally and make decisions based on facts instead of your emotions. Is everyone following me?

Dylan: So you're saying, that if we basically get rid of our emotions and make choices based of logic. It can help us make better choice?

Perkins: well yes and no. Like I said, you can't get rid of your emotions. But you can, I liked the word you used, take those thoughts you get with those emotions and make more logical decisions by looking at the situation objectively instead of subjectively. But you have to condition yourself to think this way. Because everybody is conditioned to think the other way. To have something bad happen to them, to process it and get upset or angry or sad, and then they go out and make decisions, most of the time bad, based off of their emotions instead of logic. It takes time, a lot of time to change your thought process and the way you think. Because your brain is gonna want you to think the other way. Because when we use we get a rush of endorphins and serotonin to our brains, and we what? We feel better. But after awhile, the drugs stop working and we stop feeling better. No matter how much you do. 

-As class empties and everyone heads for their cars. Someone stays behind to talk to Perkins the counselor. It’s Amy. A gorgeous girl with long black hair and dark eyes. She has piercings and tattoos on her forearms. She approaches Perkins and asks him a question.-

Amy: So. That was a real informative class.

Perkins: Why thank you? You actually paid attention?

Amy: Yeah…

Perkins: I’m surprised. Most people don’t. They think I can’t see them f*****g with their phones in the back, but I can.

Amy: Well. Most of what you say is so interesting, I find it hard not to pay attention.

Perkins: Ah. I try and make it seem that way. You know it’s not easy teaching this stuff. I used to be an addict so I know most of you don’t wanna hear this crap. So I try to talk about things I think you guys would want to hear about.

Amy: You've done good so far. I have trouble organizing my thoughts a lot, so it helps having this binder to put it down on paper.

Perkins: Well that’s good. That’s what they’re there for. To help you better understand the concepts I talk about.

Amy: I just had a quick question.

Perkins: Yes?

Amy: These cards that you gave us. They’re color coded, so I have to take a drug test when?

Perkins: Whenever your color is called. See call this number here [points to the back of the card] everyday early in the morning and you’ll find out what the color of the day is. If red is called since that’s your number you have to come here and leave a urine sample and a BAC.

Amy: I have to leave a breathalyzer? Why? I don’t even drink.

Perkins: It doesn't matter. You still have to leave one.

Amy: So what would happen if I tested positive for something?

Perkins: Then you get what’s a basically a warning. Get three of them and you’re discharged from the program.

Amy: What?

Perkins: You’re discharged. And if you’re here by a court order then you’re going to have to explain to the judge why you were discharged and probably face legal fees and a lot of other crap you don’t want to deal with. So I suggest, you don’t risk it and don’t do anything stupid.

Amy: Right. Well I was just wondering. Thanks, see you tomorrow?

Perkins: Oh and by the way Ms. Glynn. A missed drop when your color is called counts as a positive result, so make sure you call that number every day and don’t miss your drop.

Amy: [doesn't say anything, just nods and walks out]

 

 -As Amy walks outside and lights up a cigarette. She sits down on a bench and looks up at the moon. While she sits there for a few moments thinking to herself she catches a whiff of something funky and hears a deep raspy voice come from the darkness behind her. As the light from a single ember glows in the thick darkness and a scruffy looking kid stumbles into the light from the streetlamps.-

Nathan: Want a hit?

Amy: What?

Nathan: Do you want a hit?

Amy: Do I want a hit of what?

Nathan: This fine herbage I got here? [he shows her his loosely rolled joint]

Amy: No thanks. I’m good.

Nathan: Are you? [he looks at her] That’s too bad? This is some really good s**t. [takes another hit]

Amy: I’m sure it is.

Nathan: So. What are you in here for? What’s your D.O.C.?

Amy: My D.O.C.?

Nathan: Your drug of choice.

Amy: My drug of choice? I like most drugs, but if I had to choose one. I’d probably pick Coke.

Nathan: So that’s what got you in here? Coke? What did you do? Did you get pulled over and got caught with some in your purse or something?

Amy: No. That’s not how I got in here. [with disdain in her voice]

Nathan: I didn't mean to be rude or anything. You just look like someone who does coke.

Amy: How are you able to smoke that s**t anyways?

Nathan: Well you know doctors nowadays, well some doctors anyways, ones that probably live in Washington or Colorado say that this stuff is actually pretty good for you. Or at least it has its benefits. [in a sarcastic tone]

Amy: No.

Nathan: Well if you have cancer or have insomnia or something like that.

Amy: No, that’s not what I meant.

Nathan: What did you mean? [coughs]

Amy: I mean. Don’t you get drug tested weekly or something in this place? How can you smoke weed while you’re in rehab?

Nathan: First of all I’m not in here for weed. I’m in here for huffing. Second of all, it’s not mandatory for me, it’s voluntary.

Amy: What do you mean?

Nathan: I mean I’m not in here because I got arrested or anything. I voluntarily checked myself in here.

Amy: Why?

Nathan: Because I could feel it. I could feel it all spiraling out of control. I would do more and more. Until I was doing so much, I couldn't even get a high off of it anymore. So I would do even more. I think the night I hit rock bottom was the night I woke up in the hospital. The bright lights were the only thing I could see at first. I thought I had died. Until I realized I wasn't dead, not yet. Then I looked down and saw my family all sitting in that hospital room staring at me. But it wasn't anger or worry in their eyes. No. It was the look of disappointment. Shame. Like they weren't even worried about me dying. Because I was doing it to myself. I couldn't stop. That’s when I decided I needed to get help.

Amy: So. Has this place helped at all? Or is everything still spiraling out of control?

Nathan: Well Perkins has a lot of interesting things to say in his class. I you actually listen to him. So yea it’s helped a little. Plus it helps meeting other people with similar problems.

Amy: Yea. I like knowing that I’m not the only who has major problems right now. But I have a question?

Nathan: Yea what?

Amy: aren't you trading one problem for another?

Nathan: What do you mean?

Amy: I mean. You said you were addicted to huffing cans, so I assume you stopped when you came here. But aren't you doing the same thing with pot.

Nathan: Well…

Amy: Using it to escape from your crappy reality. To feel something other than numb all of the time.

Nathan: Yes. I guess.

Amy: That’s not gonna help you get better. Doing something that only masks the pain you feel instead of confronting it. You’re just conditioning yourself back to an addictive personality. And remember [as she leans in close to Nathan like she is going to kiss him], like Perkins says [she grabs the joint out of his mouth takes a big drag] you've gotta break the cycle on your own. Not with more drugs. [She takes the joint with her as she walks away]

 

-          {Timbre Timbre, Demon Host} starts to play as Nathan watches Amy walk away to her car. She waves as she drives off. He takes another drag off his cigarette and throws away the rest of his pack away.-

                          

                                                          End Of Episode