MATT'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Matt lets out a long breath. He glances over at Chris, still sprawled on the couch, unconscious and dead to the world.
MATT
(muttering)
What the hell happened to you?
He walks to the bathroom, returns with a towel, and dries Chris off as best he can — his movements slow, deliberate, a mix of concern and irritation. He pulls out a spare blanket and makes up the bedroom sofa.
MATT
(sighing, heading to bed)
What a damn day...
He collapses under the covers, struggling to sleep. The clock reads: 10:03 PM.
MATT'S BEDROOM – LATER THAT NIGHT
Somewhere in the fog of sleep... Scratch. Scratch. Tap.
Matt blinks. Rolls over. Checks the clock: 12:00 AM.
He groans, still half-asleep, turns toward the window.
A flash of lightning.
A black cat sits on the outside windowsill — its yellow eyes glowing, locked onto him.
MATT
(sitting up, startled)
What the hell...?
He gets up, slams the screen shut, heart thumping.
MATT
(shaking his head)
Just a damn cat... Relax, Matt.
He rubs his eyes, heads back to bed.
KITCHEN – FIVE MINUTES LATER
SFX: THUD. CLINK. ...RATTLE.
Matt freezes.
MATT
(whispering)
...What was that?
He steps cautiously down the hallway and pushes open the kitchen door.
Moonlight reveals... the same black cat — now inside the house, on the counter.
MATT
...What the—how did you get in?!
The cat hops down.
Matt lunges, but it slips away into the hallway.
MATT
(chasing)
Out! Shoo! Get out!
He grabs a dish towel, flapping it.
MATT
Shoo! Get out—this isn't a stray hotel!
The cat hisses, bolts from the kitchen, moves to the living room, and jumps upon Chris.
LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Chris lies motionless under the blanket.
Matt follows the tiny paw sounds... and stops.
The cat is perched on Chris's chest, sniffing, pawing forcefully at his shoulder.
MATT
What the hell are you doing...?
He steps closer, waves the towel.
MATT
Off! Get off him!
The cat turns, ears flat, and lets out an angry MRAAAOW — refusing to move.
Matt scowls.
MATT
I'm not doing this tonight.
He lunges.
The cat leaps off Chris, lets out another meow, and starts circling Matt, brushing his legs.
MATT
(backing away)
Nope, nope — not doing this—
He throws a pillow. Then an old slipper.
The cat dodges, still meowing.
Frustrated, Matt grabs the laundry basket, flips it upside down — SLAM!
The cat is trapped. The basket rattles violently.
MATT
Oh god—what even is this night?!
The basket starts sliding.
Matt drops his heavy duffel bag on top.
It stops.
He stands there, panting.
One friend out cold. One furious cat rattling beneath a basket.
MATT
(muttering)
...So... what do I do now?
LIVING ROOM – LATER
The cat keeps scratching.
Matt groans, rubbing his forehead.
MATT
(to the cat)
If I let you out now, you'll wreck the place again... Neighbors'll kill me.
The cat meows louder.
MATT
(talking to it)
Look... just stay in there tonight. I'll let you out in the morning, alright?
The cat growls in response.
Matt walks to the kitchen, pours some milk in a bowl, sets it beside the basket.
MATT
You're hungry, aren't you? That's why you came in... here.
The cat knocks the bowl over. Milk spills.
MATT
(frustrated)
What is your deal—Ch...
He catches himself.
Sighs.
Cleans up the mess with a cloth as the cat keeps pacing.
MATT
Enough already...
BEDROOM – MOMENTS LATER
Matt pulls out noise-canceling headphones.
He puts them on, exhales.
LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Matt walks into the living room.
Seeing the cat still stumbling inside the basket, he slumps onto the sofa and pulls a blanket over himself.
The cat keeps meowing under the basket.
Matt hears nothing.
His eyes slowly close.
The cat watches from inside. Tail flicking.
Matt drifts off.
FRONT DOOR – UNKNOWN TIME
SFX: BEEP. (Door sensor.)
Matt stirs. Blinks. Confused.
He stands, walks groggily to the door.
HALLWAY
Panic replacing fatigue, Matt peeps through the peephole at the front door.
Still processing the sudden appearance of "Chris's mom," Matt looks over at Chris — still on the bed, completely unresponsive.
His mind races, scrambling to figure out what to do.
The doorbell rings again, louder now.
Matt turns back to the door.
The sound demands his attention, and he's stuck in a state of confusion.
He steps aside to let Chris's mom inside, not wanting to leave her standing outside in the cold.
MATT
(mumbling)
Uh, hang on.
Matt moves toward the bedroom to wake up Chris.
He tries to shake Chris, nudges him — but there's no response.
The doorbell rings again, more insistently now.
Chris's mom stands there, impatient.
Matt feels trapped — unsure how to explain, frustrated with the situation, and unable to wake up Chris.
MATT
(muttering)
That's it.
He pulls open the door.
Chris's mom stands there, looking at him with a raised eyebrow.
ENTRYWAY – MOMENTS LATER
Matt looks at Chris — still fast asleep.
The doorbell rings again, louder.
Matt opens the door fully.
Chris's mom enters, eyes sharp.
CHRIS'S MOM
I've been standing outside for fifteen minutes! What on earth are you two doing?
MATT
(stammering)
Sorry, Mom... slept right through it.
CHRIS'S MOM
And Chris? Where is he?
MATT
(avoiding eye contact)
Sleeping... inside.
CHRIS'S MOM
If he's going to school from here, doesn't he need his uniform? Is he still in bed?
MATT
(gesturing vaguely)
Yeah... he'll wake up soon.
She notices the basket.
CHRIS'S MOM
That cat — did you always have one?
MATT
Yeah, that's... yeah. I think.
CHRIS'S ROOM – MOMENTS LATER
Matt rushes in.
MATT
You fool, get up. Your mom's here—hey, wake up!
Chris doesn't move.
Chris's mom hurries in, alarmed.
CHRIS'S MOM
Still not up? How long has he been like this?
She taps Chris on the shoulder with her purse.
The cat swirls around their legs.
CHRIS'S MOM
(heart beating fast, anxious and concerned)
Why's he not even moving?
MATT
(quiet, trembling, worried)
Mom, actually, yesterday—
CHRIS'S MOM
(turns to look at Matt, trying to understand what he's saying)
Before he can finish—
CHRIS
(groggy, barely awake)
Mom...?
They both freeze.
Chris's mom gasps in relief.
CHRIS'S MOM
You scared me. Are you okay?
CHRIS
Bad dream.
CHRIS'S MOM
(stern)
Enough. Get up, or you'll miss school. And take your brother to piano — I'll be back tomorrow.
She glances at Matt.
CHRIS'S MOM
What happened to you? Bad dream too?
MATT
(hollow)
Something like that.
CHRIS'S MOM
(heading out)
You young people... I'll see you tomorrow.
LIVING ROOM – MOMENTS AFTER
Chris closes the door behind her.
He and Matt stare at each other — silent.
Chris sinks to the floor.
Matt drops onto the sofa.
MATT
Care to explain?
CHRIS
(rubbing his eyes)
I don't even know where to start...
MATT
(rising, frustrated)
Don't give me that crap!
(He storms over to Chris, practically seething with anger.)
Because of you, my blood pressure is through the roof! It's like it's up in the sky at this point!
CHRIS
(his voice almost a whisper, still struggling to focus)
Did you see the black cat?
MATT
(pauses, blinking in confusion)
Yeah, where'd it go? Wait—
(his eyes narrow in suspicion)
Is that so important now?
CHRIS
(sighing, his mind racing as he tries to make sense of the situation)
Kind of... it is.
MATT
(highly irritated, clenching his fists)
Don't play with me. I'm highly irritated. Just explain what you've done?
CHRIS
(still groggy, his eyes half-lidded as he tries to focus)
I didn't do alcohol, like they said.
MATT
(frowning, confusion evident on his face)
Like who said?
CHRIS
(looking frustrated, his voice shaky but firm)
The people in the crowd, that person just slipped and spilled alcohol on me.
MATT
(his brows furrowing deeper, hands on his hips)
What, who? The person who inspected you?
CHRIS
(shaking his head)
No, the person in the crowd, who said about youngsters doing drugs.
MATT
(exasperated, throwing his hands up)
How do you know all that? You were actually unconscious.
CHRIS
(his voice lowering to a whisper, a strange calm settling over him)
I'm conscious... from another body.
MATT
(eyes widening, his frustration turning to panic)
What?
(Matt's mind voice)
Oh God, he's gone nuts or what?
CHRIS
(meeting Matt's gaze, serious, voice trembling slightly)
Matt...
MATT
(muttering, rubbing his forehead, trying to process)
What? Yeah. Are you listening to yourself?
CHRIS
(pausing, then speaking with surprising clarity and acceptance)
I'm... that cat.
MATT
(staring blankly, trying to wrap his mind around it)
Right...
CHRIS
(calm but urgent, almost pleading)
I know what you're thinking, Matt... I'm not going nuts. I didn't get hit, alright? Just listen to me for five minutes straight, and you'll get your answer.
MATT
(his mind spinning, patience thinning but nodding reluctantly)
Okay...
CHRIS
(his voice steady but laced with urgency, recounting the bizarre events as they happened)
Yesterday, after you went, I started walking towards Emma's house. I saw an old temple. I went there to write a post on the wishing well, for good luck or whatever. Suddenly, a light blinded me — thunderstorm struck. I felt dizzy... and when I regained consciousness, I started running towards a shed to escape the rain. That's when I saw a man pouring something on someone, and the crowd quickly gathered around them. Then, I heard your voice calling my name. I moved closer to see what was happening... and that's when I saw my own body on the ground.
CHRIS
(his voice softening, his eyes distant as though reliving the moment, the memory haunting him)
In that instant, I thought I was dead, having some kind of out-of-body experience. But then you lifted me up and got me into a cab. After that, I chased behind the cab, but when I looked into the mirror... that's when I realized. I'm inside the cat, no—I was a cat.
MATT
(sarcastically, rolling his eyes, clearly losing patience)
Okay, what did I just hear? Cat? Out-of-body? Wishing well? Is he messing with me? Or is this concussion-level crazy?
(He shakes his head, muttering under his breath.)
MATT
(out loud, trying to sound casual but clearly doubtful)
Alright, Chris... real quick—what's our school's name?
CHRIS
(confused, rubbing his head)
Uh… Maple Ridge High?
MATT
(nods, forcing a small smile, then snaps)
Okay, now—your house address. Don't mess this up.
CHRIS
(half-asleep, still disoriented)
123… Elm Street?
MATT
(nods)
Okay, maybe you're not nuts. But you're still the worst liar I know.
CHRIS
(smiling faintly)
I guess I'll take that as progress.
CHRIS
(smirking, thinking to himself, trying to brush it off — Honestly, I think if I told anyone that, they'd probably lock me up or think I'm nuts. And honestly? I don't even fully get it myself.)
CHRIS
(casually, with a sly smile)
Anyway, enough of that spooky stuff. Aren't you curious about what happened after? I'm so curious but we have to wait on for next chapter until tomorrow. The story was epic, right?
CHRIS
(seeing Matt's concern, Chris lied, laughed)
You were seriously buying whatever I am saying.
MATT
(frustrated, boiling over)
Great. Try telling that to your mom. I'm calling her now.
(He reaches for his phone.)
CHRIS
(rushing to stop him)
Wait, wait! Hear me out—
MATT
(quickly dodging him, serious)
Shut up.
CHRIS
(sighs)
Okay, okay... The temple part is true. At one point, I felt dizzy. That's the last thing I remember.
(Matt stops and looks Chris dead in the eyes.)
MATT
Why did you feel dizzy? Did you hit your head or something?
CHRIS
(shaking his head)
Not that I know of.
(Matt sits, staring at Chris, his mind racing, trying to make sense of it all.)
CHRIS
(his expression growing more serious, sensing Matt's doubts)
Don't look at me like that, Matt... I'm not going crazy.
MATT
(staring at Chris for a moment, then speaking with concern but still unsure)
Don't you think you should tell your mom or see a doctor?
CHRIS
(rolling his eyes, sighing in exasperation, trying to brush it off as if it's no big deal)
Tell 'em what? I'm totally fine. No need to freak anyone out.
MATT
(still staring at Chris, his expression one of disbelief and worry)
CHRIS
(rolling his eyes again, trying to lighten the mood but still sounding serious)
Chill, bro. I'm good. Not going nuts.
MATT
(pausing for a moment, rubbing his temples as his mind races with confusion, then letting out a strained laugh)
No, no... I think, at last, I'm losing it. I'm just thinking… I must've hit my head yesterday or something.
CHRIS
(grinning, slightly amused)
That's another way to look at it. Now, think about this — on the way to class, and we're already late.