ROLL OPENING CREDITS

Starring:

Nicholas Brendon as Alex Harrison

Jonathon Taylor Thomas as Taylor Brookdale

Leonardo DiCaprio as Devin Barbieri

James Van Der Beek as Jeff Moore

Final Appearances By:

Larisa Oleynik as Amber Newell

Matt Damon as Derek Davis

Claire Danes as Meredith Lillywhite

Amy Jo Johnson as Stephanie Bahr

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DARK ALLEY - EARLY MORNING

Amber wakes up, her eyes darkened from the tears she has shed and the little amount of sleep. She is sleeping in an alley on some blankets and a pillow she managed to to grab on her way out of the house. She glances at her watch, and it reads 6:00am.

Amber starts to weep. A once honor student, with such a future ahead of her, and so much potential. Amber was a role-model to her siblings and peers, with immaculate grades, being an all-star volleyball player at school, and and being accepted to one of the finest colleges in the country.

But within 24 hours, her life has been destroyed. Amber sits on the blanket she has set out, shivering from the cold air of the early morning.

"What have I done wrong?" Amber whispers, as tears roll down her cheeks. "What have I done to deserve this?"

She had loved. And she was punished. Her one true love shunned her for being pregnant, her parents kicked her out of the house for having pre-marital sex. Her graduation was in 12 hours, and she lay a wreck in some alley, her future no longer so bright.

"All I did was love...All I did was love..." Amber murmurs, weeping to the beat of rain drops beginning to fall to the earth.

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DEVIN'S ROOM - MORNING

Taylor is sitting in Devin's room, talking to him. It is 8:45, with about 9 1/2 hours to go till graduation.

"So you just broke up with her?"

"Well, what was I supposed to do? She threw it at me, and I can't hold a responsibility like that!" Taylor says, his eyebrows furrowed in distress.

"Well, I'm not taking sides here, but you should have been more of a man. Her parents kicked her out of the house and she came to you. What did you do? Break up with her! Now she's completely alone on the streets with this huge responsibility which is 50% yours." Devin says, defending Amber.

"Hey! I didn't do it out of anger! I loved her and I still love her!" Taylor defends his actions.

"Then go! Find her! Tell her you love her and accept this responsibility before she's gone and it's too late! Our lives are going to change today and for the rest of your life you may regret doing this!"

"Ok. I know what I have to do. I'll see you tonight." Taylor says as he gets up and leaves.

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JEFF'S HOUSE - 11 AM

Jeff opens the door to his house, and walks into the living room.

His eyes are tired and weary. He has been in a police station all night and in the last two weeks with the whole cult situation, he has gotten little sleep. His nail polish and temporary hair dye have been scrubbed out, and he is wearing some normal clothes that the police station had serviced him.

"Mom? Dad?" Jeff says as he enters the quiet room, where his mother and father sit in distress on a couch. As they look over, their eyes brighten with relief and joy.

"Jeffrey? Oh My God!" Judy laughs in happiness as she jumps up and gives Jeff and strong, and long embrace, tears beginning to stream from her face.

Jeff's dad stands up and joins in the group hug.

"I though you were gone forever! Thank God! Thank God!"

Jeff's dad releases the embrace and goes to the other room. He comes back with Jeff's black graduation uniform and a letter.

"Jeff, we saved your graduation uniform and we paid the check to Brown University! Your set, buddy!"

Jeff smiles, tears forming at his eyes. He jumps into a hug with his dad. He is happy. He has actually achieved happiness, an emotion that he hasn't experienced for a long time. The tears roll as he hugs his parents.

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MIDDAY - RESTAURANT

Derek and Meredith sit across from eachother, looking into eachother's eyes.

"I don't want to say goodbye. We fought so hard to be together, and as fast as it happened we are going our seperate ways."

"This is hard for me too!" Derek frowns. "I just don't want to accept that we are going to be away from eachother."

"I was accepted in to Florida State. And you were accepted into NYU. We are so far from eachother." Meredith says, tears falling from her eyes. "I don't want to say goodbye. I don't. So after the graduation, I'm just going to leave one way and you go the other. Lets not go through the pain..."

"But--"

"Please..."Meredith cries.

Derek looks down at his feet. As fast as their relationship had sparked, it had ended. The sadness in their hearts was great, but not as strong as the sadness of two others.

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WOODBRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL - 6:30PM

Music plays as students walk formally in a line and take their seats in front of the principal, and other trustees of the city, and behind them sits the parents, guests, and other family and friends. Devin and Taylor sit next together, and Stephanie sits next

"Congratulations, Class of 99. I would like to offer you a few tips for the future, on this precious day in all your lives. A day of great change, and a new beginning. Your high school career is finished as we know it!"

The kids cheer in a happy frenzy. Among the crowd, Taylor sits attentive, looking around. For Amber.

"What, didn't you find her?" Devin whispers, looking for him.

"No! I went to look for her and her parents said she was gone and they slammed the door in my face! God, I can't believe this is happening. She's missing her own graduation! This was what she had been waiting for for a long time!"

"She'll be here," Devin says, comfortingly patting Taylor on the back, but with a doubtful look on his face, "She'll be here..."

Jeff walks into the room and sits down next to Taylor and Devin. "Hey guys."

"Jeff! Where have you been?" Taylor and Devin seem to say in unison.

Jeff rolls his eyes. "Long story."

The principal continues. "And now, I would like to introduce to you, this years speaker and valedictorian, who managed to keep an honors status while battling with rough times...Alex Harrison!"

Taylor, Devin, Jeff, and Stephanie perk up like they can't believe what they are hearing. The graduating class begins to applaud as, yes, Alex makes his official return as he enters the auditorium.

Taylor, Devin and Jeff smile in awe and happiness to see their best friend right there before them, so they stand, applauding. Soon, they entire class has stood, applauding for Alex. After all, they know the troubles that this poor boy has gone through, and the fact that he is still standing, and on top, inspires the class. They applaud, and cheer. Alex looks at Taylor, Devin and Jeff, and smiles, his eyes moistening up a bit.

As the crowd dims down, Alex speasks into the microphone. "Hey!"

The parents and students laugh.

"I guess I should just go. Hello fellow students, friends, and peers. Welcome to the beginning of a new life. Through 4 years, we have battled through thick and thin, through the good times and the bad. We have laughed, and cried. We have loved and hated. And now, after 4 years of such a rich experience, we are here, moving on. Leaving our families and our friends, our loves and our homes. It is the end, but a beginning! Before us lays a new opportunity, a chance to start fresh. Forget the bad times of the past, and grasp the life that lays before you. The future that holds so much potential. We are the future. Together we will make up the great leaders of this world. As you all may know, I have gone through Hell and back this year. But here I am. I made it. I survived. And if you guys just persevere and do the best you can, you will succeed..." Alex looks at Taylor, Devin, and Jeff. They look right back, knowing exactly what he is talking about.

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BUS STOP - SAME TIME

As Alex words are being spoken, Amber approaches a bus stop on the outskirts of Pine Valley, wearing an old black sweater and some sweat pants. She pulls her hair back. There is a great sadness beyond imagination lying in her soul, a dark sadness which has been inflicted upon her by the wrath of great change. She boards the bus, and the doors close directly behind her.

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AUDITORIUM - SAME TIME

Alex gets down from the podium, and sits next to Taylor. Alex, Devin, Taylor, and Jeff all smile. For the first time in a long while, they are all smiling. They are happy, secure, and ready now to completely move on. THe principal moves tothe podium.

"Class of 99', please move your tassles..."

They do so, with anxious glee to hear the final words that would release them into the world.

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BUS - SAME TIME

Amber looks out the window as the bus begins to roll, and then starts to drive off. Amber catches a quick glimps of a street sign. Her eyes begin to water.

'Now Leaving Pine Valley. Please come back soon!'

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AUDITORIUM - SAME TIME

"Congratulations Class of 99!"

The auditorium is uproarious with cheers and hats tossled above. The Group stands up, cheering, smiling, laughing in joy as they throw their hats in the air and enjoy their last defining moment in Pine Valley.

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ROLL CLOSING CREDITS

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