"Around the Fire" > Hardcore

Cut to: Rehab. Joe and Simon walking both wearing a black t-shirt.

Simon: You must have shit in your pants when you saw those lights behind you.

Joe (laughing): I don't even remember getting in the truck.

Simon: That's hardcore man.

Joe: Oh shit, that ain't nothin'. The fucked up thing is I keep getting caught.

Simon: I hear ya.

Joe: This time it's gonna be different though.

They stop.

Joe: Man I could use a drink.

Joe laughs, and taps Simon on the shoulder, he walks past the camera. Simon smiles and walks away too.

Cut to: Kate's room, therapy for Simon.

Simon: So I fucked up once, I guess, I guess I'm just supposed to forget all the good times right.

Kate: No Simon I'm trying to get you to forget about the good times, I'm trying to let you see that the good times are getting scarce. I mean first there's fun. Then there's fun with problems, and then there's just problems. That's the way it works.

Simon is standing up at the desk with a white mug in his hand. While Kate is getting a chair from the circle and moving it around.

Simon: But you know what the thing is, the thing is I got friends that do drugs and deal drugs and they have no problems so ya know...

Kate: I don't give a shit about them. I want to find out what works for you Simon and I'm gonna tell you somethin'. In the end you're all on your own. I mean this place can't help you, your friends can't help you, your past can't help ya. Until you find out how to be honest with yourself, you're just shit outta luck.

Simon looks down, nods.

Cut to: Burning candle. Young Simon is walking through the hallway a long time ago.

Young Simon: Mommy.

Young Simon's heart is pounding. He hears some moaning. Suddenly...

Cut to: Present day, Simon wakes up in his bed from having a nightmare. He's in rehab and sees Joe in the bathroom smoking.

Simon: What are you an idiot?

Joe: Simon don't call me an idiot, alright?

Simon: Look if you wanna get kicked outta here that's your choice just don't get me involved — put that shit out.

Joe: It's only one fucking cigarette, I mean what's the big deal.

Simon: Put the God damn cigarette out Joe.

So Joe listens and puts the cigarette out.

Cut to: Simon's graduation from boarding school. Mr. Whitney, the principal, is calling out the students' names to give out their diplomas. Simon is the next caller up.

Mr. Whitney: Simon Harris.

Simon wearing his graduation outfit, walks up to the principal who is standing on the stage. Lauren and Matt, both sitting down, clap for Simon and are smiling. Simon and the principal shake hands, and Mr. Whitney hands Simon his diploma. There's a crowd around 10 of Simon's friends including Jennifer, Trace and Andrews cheering him on! Simon walks over to chair's and sits down.

Principal (calling another graduate): Dean Zingus.

Principal: Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the graduating class of 1996. Have a great summer! All the graduates stand up and throw their hats up in the air, screaming, shouting for joy. Simon runs over to where Jennifer is and gives her a big hug.

Jennifer (to Simon): I am so proud of you.

Jennifer gives Simon a kiss.

Simon (to his friends): You guys came. Wow!

Simon walks over and they all hug Simon, big group hug!

Simon: High five. High five.

Trace: Aw, look at you baby.

Lauren and Matt begin to walk over. Trace smacks a big kiss on Simon's lips, Simon really gets away from Trace.

Matt (walking over to Simon and his friends): Simon!

Simon: Dad.

Matt (smiling): Congratulations son.

Simon: Thank you Dad, thank you.

Matt: Terrific!

Simon: It's all here. (he says while holding is diploma up high)

Simon (to his parents): Oh these are my, these are my friends.

Simon points to his friends.

Simon: Uhm, Alphi, Jason, Jennifer and this is—

Trace: Traccce!

Simon: This is Trace.

Trace (to Lauren): Hi. It's good to meet you.

Lauren: Good.

Trace gives her a handshake and kisses her on the cheek.

Trace: Mua!

Lauren: Good to meet you too.

Trace (to Matt): Good to meet you.

Matt (to Trace): Nice to meet ya.

Trace goes to kiss Matt on the cheek, but Matt stops him.

Matt: No, please don't do that.

They all laugh.

Matt: Well you were all quite a cheering section! Yeah, thanks for coming really.

Jennifer remembers something she brought for Simon.

Jennifer (grabs a white gift that Trace was holding): Oh Simon! We have a gift from you and this is from all of us.

Jennifer hands it to Simon.

Simon: Aw you guys shouldn't have.

Simon begins to open it up.

Simon: Aww, look at this. Ha. Wow. That's awesome! That's so cool.

It shows a picture of Trace, Kevin, Simon and Jennifer together. They all smile.

Trace: So Mr. Harris what'd you get your kid? Matt: Well it's kind of, it's kind of a surprise. Trace: Goood! I love surprises.

Trace winks at Matt.

Matt: Apparently.

The crowd of friends bust out laughing. Lauren looks at Matt, kind of hinting him to give Simon his gift now.

Matt: Well, okay. Simon you stuck it out and uhm, before you go off to Princeton, Lauren and I wanna take you on a trip to Europe.

Matt shows him the ticket.

Matt: All this summer. London, Paris, Rome. You're gonna stay in the most amazing hotels, you're not gonna believe them.

Simon looks down at the ticket, he's not happy, neither is Jennifer, Trace or any of his friends there.

Simon doesn't look the happiest, and tries to say something nice.

Simon:...good.

Trace: Sounds like so much fun.

Simon: Yeah, thank you.

Lauren and Matt are smiling, while the rest of them are sad — cause they wanted to hangout with him this summer.

Jennifer (tears in her eyes): Yeah.

Cut to: Simon in his bedroom lying down wearing only boxers. He's smoking some pot. He coughs and then eats a pop-tart. It's nighttime, Simon gets up from his bed, walks over to his desk with the picture of his mom on it. He takes the picture and picks it up. He walks back to his bed, sits down takes another glimpse of the picture, packs it in his bright blue book bag and lies down, eating his pop-tart.

Back 12.31.2007.