INT. WAGON'S WORTH GROCERY STORE
Twenty Minutes Later...

Gavrial puts a big coffee tin on the checkout counter, and sighs. The clerk turns around, and immediately scowls. It's Calliophie Vida, and she has it out for him.

Calliophie
(Being sarcastic.) Big spender, huh?

Gavri
My room-mate can't steal it from work if it doesn't fit in his pockets.

Calliophie
(Targeting weak points.) Must be nice to have a job.

Gavri
(Letting it bounce off.) Right?

Calliophie
You know, our former chemistry teacher is still looking for one. He has to do odd jobs, like cleaning gutters.

Gavri
Really?

Calliophie
(Pressing keys on the till.) Yep. Two years of unemployment, all because of you. If he wasn't my best friend's dad, I wouldn't give a shit.

REEL CHANGE: INT. MOONSHINE HIGH – DAY
Two Years Ago

In that old eerie silent monochrome style, with accompanying orchestra, Mr. Herzog Astor stands at the front of his science classroom. The music starts out light, mostly wind instruments, calm and fascinating. Next to him is a water cooler, nozzle-up. It contains a little bit of clear fluid, and when Herzog brings his light (a lit match taped to a meter stick) to the nozzle, a short burst of flame erupts. Musically, a brass rise to signal danger, that quickly returns to a windy calm. The students 'wow' in awe, and laugh a little. Cut to Mr. Astor placing the bottle on its side in the hallway, giving a 'gather-round' gesture followed by a 'stand back'. He strikes a match, and hands it to a large young man next to him, and pats him on the back. The music grows tense, and quiet. The boy bends over to light the fumes, and FOOM! The music swells with wonderment and splendor! The bottle rockets away, propelled by the flames. The boy jerks back up that very second, shaking his hand with pain. His words ring up a title card so they can be read.

Boy
"Ye-owch, that hurts!"

The song becomes dark, and dire. Cut to the boy being loaded into an ambulance. The principal (a short, round woman) waves her arms at Herzog, demanding an explanation. Gavrial approaches, holding the spent match. From behind his back, in his other hand, he pulls out the meter stick, with tape still stuck to the end. Gavrial speaks, and then his words become visible.

Gavrial
"He forgot to use this!"

Herzog throws his head back, and hangs it in shame. The principal wags her finger at him, and Gavrial pushes the meter stick in his face, as he covers his eyes and shakes his head. A round hole in black swallows the view, as the music concludes.

REEL RETURN

Gavri
That kid got third-degree burns, all I did was explain why.

Calliophie
Well, you're the reason my best friend cuts coupons for every meal. You're the reason everyone calls her dad 'Hertz'.

Gavri
Mr. Astor made the mistake, I didn't fire him.

Calliophie

You GOT him fired. That's the same thing.

Calliophie shoves the tin at Gavri across the counter, and Gavri looks hurt catching it. He walks outside.

Calliophie

(Behind him.)

And you wonder why you don't have any REAL friends.

Gavri winces as the door shuts between them.

INT. MOONSHINE TIMES – A BIT LATER

Gavri returns to work with the tin, and heads to the break room counter. Making a fresh pot, he sees Harley Astor sitting over in Aditya's office, with Mr. Astor behind her. Hertz turns to look at Gavri in the distance, as the colors lose hue, deepening into dramatic noir, while his scowl deepens. Gavri shakes his head, and the colors come back. Aditya waves Gavri in, and Gavri reluctantly walks in.

Aditya
You two went to the same school, right? Same class, same year?

Harley
(Nose turned up, dismissive.) I don't recall.

Hertz glares at Gavri, as little film scratches surround him, deepening as they dig their way into the film itself. Gavri looks at Harley, to clearer film.

Gavri
Yeah, we did.

Aditya
(To Gavri.) I've written some questions to ask Ms. Astor, I want you to conduct the interview.

Gavri
(Nervous.) Really? It's only my first day here.

Aditya
Like you said, you were born for this. You can even borrow my office! Just write down what she says on the sheet there.

Gavri settles into the desk chair, suddenly feeling too small for the room. Hertz stares him down, and a dutch angle threatens to turn grey. Aditya puts a hand on Herzog's shoulder.

Aditya
Let's take a walk, you and I will have our own little interview.

Aditya takes Hertz out of the room. Gavri and Harley stare at one another. Harley looks away, deciding he isn't worth the gaze.

Harley
Just get it over with.

Gavri sweats, and reads off the sheet on the desk. He grabs a pen for the blank spaces under each question.

Gavri
"When did you decide to get married?"

Harley
(As if speaking to someone else.) It was VERY sudden. It all happened so fast.

Gavri
I didn't know you were even engaged-

Harley
(Pointing at the sheet.) Read your lines!

Gavri
(Disgruntled.) "How did you and..."

Gavri stares at the question in disbelief.

Gavri
(Choked.) Oh my god.

Harley taps her foot impatiently. Gavri blinks, eyes wide. He wipes the sweat off his brow. The view warps as the reel wobbles.

Gavri
(Alarmed.) You're marrying THUROP?!

Harley smiles as she watches Gavri panic. The reel gradually settles.

Harley
He tried to tell you, but you kicked him out.

Gavri
(Clutching his chest.) That's funny, I thought he was just grabbing coffee.

Harley
Next question!

Gavri
(Anxiously confused.) What the hell are you thinking?!

Harley
FROM. THE PAPER.

Gavri steals a sip from his grandfather's coffee, and takes a deep breath. He steadies his vision, and searches for the questions shaking around on their page. They stop, and he adjusts his tie, and begins again.

Gavri
(Fighting a voice crack.) How did you and Turp meet?

Harley
(Smiling.) I've always had a thing for greasers on motorcycles. Write down that I said that while smiling.

Gavri
(Clearing his throat.) Got that. Well, he's certainly got the grease.

Harley narrows her eyes.

Gavri
Last question: "How long have you known that you were..."

Harley
(Rolling her eyes.) Go ahead.

Gavri
How long... that you were...

He looks down at the page, and then looks up at Harley.

Gavri
(In total disbelief.) ...pregnant.

Harley
Oh my god, just shut up and let me write it down myself.

Harley snatches the page, turns it around, and writes her reply in cursive. Gavri grabs his grandfather's coffee again, and gets out of the chair. The view fixes on his face, and follows him as he leaves the room.

Gavri
Cool, thanks. I-I'm gonna need a minute.

Harley
(Behind him.) This had better make the front page!

EXT. GABE & THOR'S APARTMENT – EVENING

Gavri raises a hand to the doorknob, and his hand touches Calliophie's. He pulls his hand away, alarmed.

Calliophie
Relax, I don't have cooties. I came to kick your room-mate's ass.

Gavri
What a coincidence.

Calliophie
What, are you surprised? Didn't he brag about bagging a high-school graduate?

Gavri
No, I think his guilt got the better of him. At least, I hope.

Calliophie
Sure, let's bet on that.

Calliophie turns the knob and busts open the door. Beer bottles and pizza boxes fly off. Turp lays sleeping on the couch, snoring. Flies dance in the thick, oily musk.

Calliophie
(Disgusted.) Oh, yuck! Don't you clean this place?

Gavri
(Holding his nose.) I did, this morning.

Gavri grabs a half-full trash bag, and loads up whatever's on the floor. Clink, clink, bottles meet bottles. Calliophie takes one with a few drops left, and holds it over Turp's face until it drips.

Turp
(Annoyed.) Oy, just what d'you think you're doin'?

Calliophie
Long day, guvna?

Turp
(Protecting himself with a lingerie catalogue.) Quite. Haven't you heard? I'm gonna be a father.

Calliophie
(Dropping the bottle.) Oh, I heard.

Turp
 So, let daddy get some shut-eye, eh? He's got work tomorrow.

Calliophie
(Angry.) Damn you.

Calliophie stomps on Turp's nuts, causing him to writhe in pain.

Turp
(Holding his crotch.) OOOAWGH!! I sure hope we don't need a second one, sheesh!

Calliophie starts to cry, and slams the door behind her as she leaves. Gavri is finished collecting trash, but makes sure to grab the magazine.

Turp
I was reading that!

Gavri
Not anymore, "dad".

Gavri ties the bag and opens the door.

Turp
While you're up, can you grab me a beer-

Gavri
Get it yourself. You're about to be responsible for a family, you might as well start somewhere.

Gavri closes the door gently, leaving Turp alone. Turp shrugs, gets up, and gets the beer himself.

Turp
Great... idea.