"Around the Fire" > 96 on Math test

Cut to: Simon opens the door to his and Andrews' dorm room. He's smiling. He's wearing an nice suit and carrying a bright blue backpack. Simon closes the door, hard.

Simon: We got our tests back today. Where were you?

Simon takes out his test paper and hands it to Andrews who is still in bed.

Andrews: Well Math sucks man.

Simon: Check it out.

Andrews sits up in bed. Simon walks over to the chair and sits down.

Andrews: A 96? Dude, this is definitely a cause for celebration. In honor of your 96.

Simon goes right to smoke the bong. Suddenly someone knocks at the door. The principal opens the door. Simon who just inhaled the smoke, let's it out.

Simon (to the principal): You want one?

Cut to: Simon sitting down in the principals office while his parents, Lauren and Matt are sitting down beside him.

Principal: Now I want you to think before you answer this question. Are you a doper?

Simon (laughs): Am I a doper? Doper.

Lauren: Uh, Mr. Whitney, what is the usual procedure when this kind of thing happens?

Principal: Essentially we are looking at a 1 week suspension of all school privileges. Now, from if Simon ties the line and his grades remain high, I see no reason why Princeton or any college needs to hear about this incident.

Matt (nods): Thanks Dan.

Simon: What's gonna happen to Andrew?

Principal: He was caught once before, he's being expelled.

Simon: Well this sucks.

Matt: That's enough. And you should know that I asked the school to put you on restriction for the entire spring semester. So you better plan on spending your weekends here at school from now on.

Simon: Oh come on! You gotta be kidding me?

Lauren: Simon you can't afford to be distracted right now.

Simon: Why don't you guys get off my back?

Matt: Don't you dare speak to us that way. I will not allow you to ruin this chance. Now you will bare down and pull it together right now. Am I perfectly clear?

Simon (looks down, sad): Yes sir.

Cut to: Rehab. Simon and Joe are sitting down. Simon received a package in the mail. He opens it up finding a picture of his mom, and a picture of him and his friends together. There's also a card that reads (Jennifer has a voice over):

Dear Simon,

I don't know what it is you need, but I do hope you find it. You always have this picture of your mom so I wanted to send it to you. I hope the other one brings you a smile. We miss you.

Love always,
Jennifer

Cut to: Simon's dorm room. Jennifer is standing nearby.

Jennifer: Simon. Simon.

Simon is seen sleeping on his books, but Jennifer wakes him up. Simon sees Trace, who smiles. Then he looks up at Jennifer. Simon gets up.

Simon: Hey! What are you guys doin' here?

Jennifer (who looks mad): Why haven't you called?

Simon: Been studying for exams and stuff. You know how it is.

Trace: Too busy for your friends huh?

Simon: No...

Jennifer: That's no excuse Simon.

Simon (nods): Yeah. Where's Kevin?

Trace (looks sad): Kevin's dead.

Cut to: Funeral scene, by the water. Only Jennifer, Simon and Trace are there.

Trace: Somewhere standing by gladly beyond any experience. Your eyes have the silence. your most frail gesture are things which enclose me though I have closed myself, you open always, peddle by peddle. Nature's first flower. I forgot the rest. Wait, the last line is um. Nobody, not even the rain has such small hands. Good bye babe.

Trace says all that stuff about Kevin, to Kevin holding his ashes that are in a box. He hands the box of ashes to Jennifer. Jennifer looks down at the box, sad, and hands it to Simon. Simon opens the box and kneels down to the water. He dumps the ashes in the water. Jennifer starts to sing Kevin's song, "I'm not failin' in this world. I'm not failin' in this world. They watch the ashes carry down the river.

Back 12.31.2007.