The Brothers Sebastían (I/II)

WANDERING MIND STUDIOS PRESENTS:

THE BROTHERS SEBASTÍAN Starring:

SEBASTIAN GOLD as Bani Sebastían.

And introducing:

DIO SEBASTÍAN as Dio Sebastían

Based on Real Life Events

Adapted by Sebastian Gold

FADE IN:

EXT. PUBLIC PARK - DAY Two boys, wearing cloth masks and pillow-case capes, film themselves playing 'Superheroes' in a sunny public park. The small, slimmer one, BANI SEBASTÍAN (Age 10), wears the bright colors of a hero topped off with a gold headband.

He strikes a 'karate' pose and yells at the top of his lungs.

BANI NOW, DARKMASK, your reign of terror stops here!

DIO SEBASTÍAN (12) is twice Sebastian's size, huskier, and taller. He towers over our diminutive hero, engulfing Bani in shadow.

DIO You fool! I will feed you to my pet Sarlacc! Just like I did your father!

SFX: The deafening ROAR of some terrifying off- screen monster.

BANI NOOO!

Bani throws a surprisingly solid roundhouse kick that nails his older brother in the shoulder.

DIO OW! That hurt!

BANI That's not your line!

DIO That almost hit my head!

BANI Ugh. We'll do this one later.

Bani walks over to the camcorder. BANI Move it, DIO! We're losing light for the big fall! (He turns to his older brother.) Are you gonna cry? DIO (tears welling up) No.... BANI There's NO CRYING in movies unless they're for girls. Now, come on! CUT TO: EXT. BACK PORCH - CONDO COMPLEX - DAY

The kids are on a high porch overlooking a communal backyard. Cardboard boxes and pillows are piled up on the grass. Bani, still in his superhero getup, surveys the drop. About two stories. Shouldn't be a problem.

BANI Don't wimp out again.

DIO I'm not gonna push you! This is so stupid.

BANI Come on!

DIO We're gonna get in so much trouble.

BANI Not if it's cool! CUT TO:

EXT. SAME.

Moments later. Both boys are now in character. Bani's hero is 'on the ropes' with DIO's villain about to deliver the final blow.

DIO This is the end for you, Golden Flyer! Join your precious father IN HELL.

With complete conviction, Dio tosses Bani off the porch and then runs to the railing to look over the side. A millisecond of silence.

SFX: THUD! BANI (Off-camera) AHHHHHHHH!

DIO Oh no...

DIO runs off-frame in a panic. CUT TO: EXT. THE BACKYARD - DAY

Moments later. DIO is hyperventilating over BANI, who clearly missed the 'cushioning' and now has a leg bending the wrong way.

DIO Ohmygodomygodohmygodmygod

BANI YOU PUSHED...TOO FAR...FUCKER

Neighbors start coming out to their porches from the commotion. DIO (muttering) YOU TOLD ME NOT TO WIMP OUT! DAD'S GONNA KILL ME!

BANI Call someone!???

DIO Who do I call???

Overwhelmed, DIO starts balling loudly.

BANI A...are you crying???

DIO (face covered in tears) It looks like it hurts so muuch

BANI It does!

DIO I dunno who to caaalll--

In a moment of panic or inspiration, Dio hugs his injured brother, keeping himself well away from the injured leg. A distorted voice chimes in from somewhere else:

A VOICE Your call...

The noise attracts neighbors to their own adjacent porches.

NEIGHBOR What is all this noise - oh my god!

A VOICE Your call...

CUT TO: HOTEL ROOM, SPOKANE, PRESENT DAY

"Your call is very important to us."

Two days before the show, Sebastian sits in a hotel room practicing that great American tradition: holding for an insurance rep.

His face is listless as he listens to the hold music while watching Crash's old matches.

"His Flying DDT is faster than mine..." he mumbles. "How does he do that..."

Gold goes onto Crash's socials for more match footage but stops on a picture of Crash and his father. They look really happy...

Maybe it's the pressure of the match or the hold music driving him to insanity, but Sebastian begins pacing around his hotel room, talking to the picture like a therapist.

"Why aren't I hyped, Crash? I should be hyped, Crash. I'm going up against another true athlete who can put on a show on my level. Win or lose the crowd at Spokane Arena is about to get their money's worth from us, no distractions, no dirty tricks, only the real stuff, what I came here for!

It's the battle of the show-offs, 'Bastian, and you've never lost one of those in your life...

He looks at the happy family picture again.

"It's shitty of me. But I still get real bitter when I see a good dad. Having him in your corner must give you a lot of strength.

He stops pacing.

"I shouldn't complain. Who needs a dad when you have a brother like mine, or....had, I guess. When he was in my corner, it felt like I could really fly."

He looks out the window at the clear sky and goes somewhere else in his mind.

CUT TO:

INT. THE BOYS' BEDROOM - SEBASTIAN RESIDENCE

The boy's bedroom is lived in, cluttered but cozy. The walls are littered with movie posters and even a few PRIME PPV posters. DIO (17) sits on his bed, writing in a journal. His now long hair hangs past his eyes. He's wrapped in a black hoodie with a blood-splattered band logo.

SFX: From outside the room, a monster's roar, It is the same as the monster from the boys' movie, only dying down when Dio turns on the TV.

SFX: An action movie starts playing; loud explosions and gunfire fill the room.

The roar goes away.

BANI (16) huffs in, brows furrowed, still in his gear from soccer practice. He plops down on his bed and starts watching the movie.

DIO What is it this time?

BANI Tita Marie saw Dad with that girl from the Y again. I missed how it became Mom's fault.

The roar gets louder. Bani reflexively turns up the volume on the movie. He starts changing out of his gear.

BANI (Pointing to the screen.) Hey, hey here's the bit where Johnny does that fall off the skyscraper, they're really up that high, it's sooo sick dude. Hey, is it chill if Julio comes over tomorrow? He's helping me with the Geo test.

DIO Dad gonna be here?

BANI Nah.

DIO Sure whatever.

A guitar chip falls out of Bani's pocket. It's got the number '13' written on it in black marker.

DIO What's that?

BANI Oh...uh. Nothing.

He grabs the chip and puts it away. DIO tilts his head, not buying it.

DIO Come on!

BANI It's the pecking order for the dance.

DIO Excuse me?

BANI Rule is Captain gets to ask whichever girl he wants first then the co-captain gets to ask, and so on. You can't ask anyone until every guy before you has a date.

DIO Ew.

BANI And don't you dare even look at a chick a higher-up is into. (He shrugs.) It's male bonding.

DIO That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

BANI Nah, man it makes you want to wingman for your teammates. It builds teamwork!

DIO With girls as prizes?

BANI See, you get it! Now I'm stuck trying to figure out who has the thirteenth-best tits in class. (He laughs, DIO doesn't) What?

DIO You didn't used to say shit like that. You sound almost like-.

BANI What? Like Kyle?

DIO Like Dad.

Bani freezes for a moment, then shrugs it off.

BANI You scolding me now? Dude, lighten up it's just stuff the guys say in the locker room.

DIO Well, then say it in the locker room with your 'guys', it's fucking gross, Bani.

BANI Sure...for sixty bucks?

DIO Smooth, bro.

BANI Come on, I neeed it!

DIO For what?

BANI There's this crazy boxer doing lessons at the gym, next month only before he moves on. I'm just a little short for the fee. I'll pay you back!

DIO You already know how to punch people.

BANI Nah I really fucked up my left the other day-

DIO And you get into enough fights as it is!

BANI All the more reason!

DIO It's already spoken for. (A smile creeps across his face) I'm going to Warped Tour with Angelica.

BANI DUDE!

DIO (smiling and nodding) Yeah...

BANI You finally did it. Bro, I mean this with so much love, I never thought you'd grow the spine to ask her out. I told you she liked you!

DIO (smile fading) Oh, well, I didn't...um-

BANI Dio. Place your hand on The Black Parade and tell me you didn't invite her as a friend.

DIO (mumbling) It's a multi-step plan....

BANI So then she's paying for the ticket?

Dio pulls the strings on his hoodie and turtles.

Bani lets out a frustrated sigh and collapses onto his bed.

BANI I don't get how you don't get how cool you are.

DIO Fuck off.

BANI No, I'm serious. You know much I wish I could be as smart as you? Notice things like you? But all you do is let people walk all over you. You gotta stop doing that.

DIO Yeah, whatever you say.

The brothers settle in to watch the action movie. The roar is barely audible under the gunfire.

CUT TO:

EXT. OUTSIDE SCHOOL - DAY

A few days later. Dio is leaning against a tan stone wall, seemingly waiting for someone.

SFX: A school bell rings.

Hands grab onto Dio's collar out of nowhere and slam him against the wall.

Three guys surround him, wearing a similar jerseys to Bani's.

KYLE What do you think you're doing?

DIO I-

KYLE You are making moves on my territory. Didn't your brother tell you?

DIO What is the pecking order thing? Dude I don't care about your formal dates.

He tries to walk away casually but Kyle stops him.

KYLE Oh you don't? Then explain to me why you're making moves on Angie Diaz while I, the one she really wants has to wait his turn. Does that sound fair to you?

DIO She...hates being called 'Angie.'

Dio smiles against his better judgment. Kyle sucker punches him in the gut.

KYLE What you're gonna do is-

A rusted tire iron slams into Kyle's shoulder. He screams in pain and crumples.

KYLE Goldie, what the fuck?

BANI No what the fuck are you doing?? I thought we were teammates.

Kyle grips his shoulder and gets back to his feet.

KYLE Not anymore, Goldie. You're done, you're so fucking done.

BANI (brandishing the tire iron.) Come at him again, and it's your knee.

Kyle backs away, the other three follow his lead.

KYLE So fucking dead...

BANI Anytime, bitch!

KYLE Pffft.

He laughs and says to the other guys:

KYLE He still doesn't know. You're not as slick as you think you are, Goldie!

The fight drains from Bani. He watches the bullies leave, laughing at a joke he can guess the punchline to. He turns to Dio.

BANI You okay?

DIO ...yeah. Why'd he call you 'Goldie?'

BANI Stupid nickname. Doesn't matter anymore anyway.

He still looks troubled.

DIO Okay...is everything al-

BANI We should get home, mom's gonna yell at us.

DIO (gesturing to the parking lot) After you.

CUT TO:

INT. BOYS' ROOM - AFTERNOON

DIO But how did you find out?

BANI Dude, I was thirteenth on the ladder. You know the network of gossips I had to cultivate to get some of those guys.' dates? You were easy. I told Ashley H. You were interested in who told Nicole C. Who told Yolanda who told Angelica she had a secret, which made Angelica ask Ashley H about why Yolanda texts cold all the time and—-well you get the idea.

DIO I get it. Your power is awesome and terrifying.

BANI I'm sorry 'bout Kyle. I didn't think he'd go after you like that.

DIO All that to find out she was into me the whole time. See? A Multi-step pl-

BANI You had no idea and I'm responsible for your love. You're welcome.

DIO Thanks, bro.

BANI No problem. You're gonna need to stick around me for a little. He's gonna come after you. But don't worry.

He takes the tire iron out of his duffel and looks at it almost lovingly.

BANI I'll take care of him.

Bani looks more excited about that prospect than Dio's comfortable with it.

DIO Hey, why'd he really call you Goldie?

BANI I said it was nothing. Stupid nickname.

DIO You didn't react like it was just a nickname.

BANI Okay, fine. It's short for...Goldilocks.

Pause.

DIO Oh.

BANI You know cause I'm...picky.

DIO Right...So does Julio come by practice a lot?

BANI (Shrugging) Sometimes. Just to hang.

DIO Uh-huh.

BANI What? You got a problem with him?

DIO No. No. Uh. You two seem to get along great. That's all. Hey, I gotta run over to Angelica's for a bit-

BANI I bet you do.

DIO For test prep.

BANI Whatever you say, bro.

DIO But I have to talk to you about something when I get back. It's important.

BANI We can't talk now?

DIO No.

BANI Alright...

DIO Don't worry, shouldn't be that long.

CUT TO:

INT. BOYS' ROOM - NIGHT

The middle of the night. DIO sneaks into their room in the dead of night, Bani sleeping. He tiptoes to his brother and gently wakes him.

DIO Bani? Bani, wake up, we gotta talk.

Bani goes from groggy to alert in a second

BANI What? What did he do-

DIO No, no, no. I...wanted to wait till everyone was sleeping.

DIO Bani, you and Julio need to be more careful.

BANI (Nervous laugh) Haha...what are you talking about?

DIO It's okay! I don't care. You know I'm there for you no matter what, right?

BANI We just...hang out...

DIO Bani, I have eyes. The way you look at each other...I'm not stupid.

BANI Nah you're real fucking stupid. I'm not. I'm not that.

DIO Okay.

BANI I'm not.

Pause. Bani's breathing is shallow and fast like he's about to have a panic attack.

BANI Has Dad said anything?

DIO No. Nothing from Mom either.

BANI (instantly relieved) Thank god. (he lets out a dark chuckle.) Remember when you tried to wear guyliner?

DIO I know, right? I thought he was gonna kill me. Looked like shit too.

SFX: The roar plays. The boys laugh over it.

BANI You had to wake me up for this?

DIO Nah. For this.

He takes sixty bucks out of his pocket and hands it over. Bani's mouth drops.

BANI But...but-

DIO I figured it out.

BANI So where did this come from?

DIO Don't worry. I figured it out.

BANI No, no I can't let you-

DIO Shut up.

BANI (taken aback) Uh-

DIO It's your turn to be the doormat. It's just a rumor, but the more kids talk about it, the more likely it gets back to them.

Bani nods.

DIO I never got why you spent so much time at the gym or picking fights. I was worried those guys were turning you into a real meathead. Now I see that you were just...staying ready...for if he-

BANI Yeah...

The end of the sentence falls away into silence. A beat. Then, in a moment of panic or inspiration, Bani hugs his brother tight and sobs into his shoulder.

BANI Thank you.

DIO You're in my corner. I'm in yours. No matter what.

BANI (Still tears in his eyes.) No matter what.

Dio breaks away from the hug.

DIO You wanna watch The Matrix Reloaded?

He nods.

BANI But just the highway chase.

DIO Obviously.

CUT TO:

HOTEL ROOM, SPOKANE, PRESENT DAY

"Thank you for holding. There are *6* customers in the queue ahead of you. Please stay on the line and our next available representative will assist you."

Sebastian stares at the picture of Crash's family. What are you doing? He thinks. Stop being a creep and do what you have to do. Do you think Crash lives with regret?

He looks at this phone.

"The things I'd take back..."

He closes his eyes.

CUT TO:

INT. SEBASTIAN GOLD'S HOTEL ROOM - SPOKANE, WA

Present Day. The real SEBASTIAN GOLD sits on his hotel couch, disassociating.

BANI (Age 18) and DIO (Age 20), drift in like ghosts, but ones that use Facetime. They don't acknowledge the hotel room or anyone else but each other.

Sebastian opens his eyes and watches the past.

DIO I'm supposed to call you what?

BANI Sebastian!

DIO Like the crab?

BANI No! Like me! Say it with me: Sebastian Gold.

DIO 'Sebastian Gold'...huh...

BANI Look, my agent said no one's gonna cast Bayani Sebastian. It was the only way she'd sign me.

DIO So, you're white now?

BANI Oh and you're so Filipino? Speak Tagalog to me right now.

Dio opens his mouth.

BANI With no swearing.

Dio closes his mouth.

BANI My point exactly. I'm finally getting out, bro. Hollywood! Soon you're gonna see me kicking the ass of the biggest stars in the business. How crazy is that!?

DIO No, no it's great. I'm so happy for you, really...

BANI But?

DIO I worry about you. You know that. You lose yourself trying to fit in sometimes, Bani, and-

BANI This isn't one of those times. And dude, it really is 'Sebastian' from now on. You should get used to using it.

DIO I don't think I ever will, Ban-shit...

BANI Pfffft. Great job, bro.

DIO I'll work on it. Anything else you need to tell me?

BANI Nah that covers it. Later bro.

DIO Love ya. Bye.

He hangs up. Sebastian picks up the remote and hits:

[REWIND]

All the past figures rewind around Sebastian until he hits:

[PLAY]

DIO I'll work on it. Anything else you need to tell me?

[PAUSE]

The memories freeze. Sebastian walks over to DIO (Age 20) and speaks to the paused memory.

SEBASTIAN Yes. So much more. Every fear you have about me is gonna come true in Hollywood. A few years from now, I'm gonna arrive on your doorstep a broken addict and you're gonna take me in even though Angelica doesn't want you to....then I'm gonna betray that trust. You're gonna cut ties with me, and I'll understand why.

BANI (Age 10) and DIO (Age 12) run into the hotel room, still managing to play even with Bani on crutches.

SEBASTIAN I'll think about calling you every day. And every day I'll chicken out because I don't think I can take you still wanting nothing to do with me. Too many years will go by until one day, I'll be booked against this pretty chill bro, Crash Jackson.

BANI (Age 16) and DIO (Age 18) enter in suits for the Spring Formal. They smile for pictures taken by someone we can't see.

SEBASTIAN I'll see his father giving him support, and I'll realize I need that too. And that I won't last long against Crash or at PRIME without you in my corner. It'll be now or never.

Sebastian hangs up his call just as a representative picks up. He doesn't seem to notice and dials, acting out his narration as he gives it.

SEBASTIAN I'll leave you a long, rambling voicemail. Apologizing for everything. Then...I'll wait.

The phone goes back down on the table. He doesn't take his eyes off it.

SEBASTIAN I'll pretend like I'm watching more of Crash's matches when I know that doesn't matter. The only way I know if I'm gonna be able to make that Hot Dog toast is if I get to say at least one more time...

The phone rings and Sebastian picks up. A milliseconds of silence.

Then the anxiety dissipates from his body and collapses back onto the couch, laughing like a dumb teenager again, the life returning to his face. He's hyped.

SEBASTIAN Hey Bro.

(to be continued...)