HAPPY BIRTHDAY
INT. CHLOE'S STUDIO - NIGHT
CHLOE'S chopping onions on the cutting board in the kitchen. There are birthday decorations strewn about. The front door slightly opens.
CHLOE
Archer?
ARCHER enters.
ARCHER
Damn, how did you know it's me
CHLOE
Cause you are always first!
Archer goes past the living room into the kitchen.
Archer opens the fridge and grabs a beer. He tries to find a bottle opener.
ARCHER
Where'd you hide it?
CHLOE
I moved it to top of the fridge.
Archer lets out a chuckle. Archer opens the beer and drinks it as he hugs Chloe.
ARCHER
Happy Birthday, Chloe.
Chloe smiles. Archer leans against the counter, he takes a chip from the plate.
CHLOE
So how's dating going? Last time when we
met you were dating a girl.
ARCHER
Yeah, Becca.
CHLOE
Yeah, how is she?
ARCHER
Oh, we aren't together anymore.
Chloe looks at Archer silently.
ARCHER (cont'd)
I'm okay, don't worry about/it.
CHLOE
Well, you liked her a lot though.
Archer smiles at Chloe.
ARCHER
She is good. I don't know. I guess I
just wanted to be more... career oriented.
CHLOE
Well. That's a good excuse.
ARCHER
It just wasn't working I guess.
Archer is dispirited.
EXT. STREET PARKING CHLOE'S STREET - NIGHT
A gray car sits alone across the road. BEAU is in the driver's seat.
Meanwhile, we see DANA with a large bag and ERICK briskly walking past the front of the car, into the entrance of the apartment.
Beau watches them enter.
INT. CHLOE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Archer, Dana, Erick and Chloe are in the Chloe's place.
There's a large cake next to a big bag in the kitchen.
Archer goes past the kitchen into the living room and asks Alexa to play a song.
Godzilla by Blue Oyster Cult comes out.
DANA
Oh, come on.
Archer looks at Dana.
ARCHER
What?
Erick chuckles and shakes his head.
DANA
Seriously? You are so annoying! You literally play this song all the time.
ARCHER
Not all time.
ERICK
Yes, all the time! You played it the last time we met too.
Chloe comes out from the kitchen and smiles.
CHLOE
Leave him alone, we can play it at his funeral too.
Everybody laughs at Archer.
EXT. STREET PARKING CHLOE'S STREET - NIGHT
Beau is still in the car. He plays with his key, turning the ignition on and off. He sighs. He looks at the passenger seat. A bottle of wine lays there.
He stares at the wine. He grabs the bottle and leaves the car. He walks into the front entrance of the building.
INT. CHLOE'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Everybody is at the table having dinner together.
ERICK
Would you rather have four eyeballs
or four hands?
DANA
Four hands probably. I think that's
too easy.
ARCHER
I don't know. Could I put the extra
eyeballs wherever I wanted?
CHLOE
Oh my god, where are you going to put your eyeballs Archer?
ARCHER
In the back of my head, or in my hands like that creepy monster in Pans Labyrinth. What would you do with four hands Dana?
DANA
Wouldn't you like to know, eyeball boy.
Beau enters. Archer smile turns sour. He chuckles.
ARCHER
(slightly mumbled)
What are you doing here?
CHLOE
Beau! I'm so glad you could make it.
Chloe gets up. Archer takes another swig of beer. Beau gives Chloe the bottle of wine.
CHLOE (cont'd)
Oh you're so sweet. You really didn't have to bring anything.
BEAU
It's okay.
CHLOE
Go ahead, sit down!
Chloe takes the bottle into the kitchen. Beau sits at the seat closest to the front door.
ERICK
Four hands or four eyes Beau?
BEAU
What?
ERICK
Would you rather have four hands or
four eyes?
BEAU
Eyes I guess.
Archer looks at Beau. Beau avoids Archer. Beau eats a chip. It's a little tense.
Chloe comes backs to the table carrying some plates and silverware.
CHLOE
Really? I'd rather have hands I think.
BEAU
I just don't know what I'd do with
four hands I guess.
ERICK
Yeah.
Dana gets up and goes into the kitchen. Archer crushes the last of his beer.
CHLOE
So Beau, whats new? We haven't seen
you in awhile, where have you been?
ARCHER
Is there any more beer?
CHLOE
Beau brought a bottle of wine, its in the kitchen.
ARCHER
I'm not drinking that.
CHLOE
Why? I'm sure it's okay with-
ARCHER
I'm not drinking his wine.
Chloe gives Archer a puzzled look
BEAU
Hey Arch, Can I talk to you outside?
Dana exits the kitchen but stops before she reaches the table.
ARCHER
No. I don't want to talk to you outside. I don't want to see you ever again, and you're lucky I don't kick your ass.
BEAU
Archer, I'm sorry.
ARCHER
You're sorry? You're a piece of shit
is what you are.
Erick looks at Chloe, Beau and then at Archer. Chloe is looking at the empty plates. Beau is looking at Archer. Archer sighs. Archer grabs his jacket.
ARCHER (cont'd)
I have to go, I'm sorry.
Archer heads towards the door. Beau gets up and turns towards Archer who's in front of Dana at this point.
BEAU
Archer, please I know I can't take it
back, but I want you to understand me.
ARCHER
You want me to understand you? You got drunk fucked my girlfriend.
Everyone in the room freezes. Archer goes to the door.
BEAU
I'm sorry.
ARCHER
Fuck you.
Archer slams the door behind him.
Silence.
DANA
Happy Birthday, Chloe.
END.