FADE IN:
INT.  OFFICE - MORNING
An elderly man in his late fifties, Mr. HUTCHIK sits behind a desk of an elegantly modern office.  He smokes a cigar. 
Hutchik clears his throat and presses a button on his phone.
HUTCHIK
Sara, you can send him in.
SARA
(phone)
Okay, sending him in now.
HUTCHIK
Thank you, Sara.
Beat.
The door swings open.
BARRY, a young man in his early twenties, walks in.
HUTCHIK
Barry.  Barry.  Barry.  
BARRY
Hello Mr. Hutchik.
HUTCHIK
Oh please.  None of that non-sense. Call me Dave. 
BARRY
Alright... Dave.
HUTCHIK
Please.  Please, have a seat.
Barry sits. 
HUTCHIK
Cigar?
BARRY
No thanks.
HUTCHIK
I suppose you want to know why I called you in here.  Boy oh boy, where to begin.  Your article.
Barry's face lights up.
BARRY
I'm not being fired am I?
HUTCHIK
Let me finish. 
BARRY
Sorry.
HUTCHIK
Your latest article.  Wow.  Controversial to say the least.  
BARRY
I know sir, I mean Dave. I just care passionately about the matter at hand.
HUTCHIK
You care passionately about homosexuals? 
BARRY
Absolutely.  It's something near and dear to my heart.  I just had to get it off my chest.

HUTCHIK
Well, it certainly paid off.
Barry loses his smile.
BARRY
What?
HUTCHIK
Oh yeah, big time.  People love controversies, Barry.  People have always loved controversies.  The Beatles, Elvis, Madonna, Howard Stern.

Barry, now wretched.
BARRY
Pardon? 
HUTCHIK
We're the hottest magazine out there right now.  People want definitive opinions, Barry.  It doesn't matter about what.  You know that.
BARRY
I'm sorry, I know what?
HUTCHIK
You know what people want.  That's why I think you deserve this promotion. Which is why--
BARRY
Promotion?  I deserve a fuckin' promotion?  Are you insane?  I write a three page bullshit article about a bunch of faggots, and... and I get promoted?  
HUTCHIK
Barry, calm down.
BARRY
NO, YOU CALM DOWN.  
Beat.
BARRY
I'm sorry.  I'm so sorry.  I don't know what came over me just now.  I think my dog is dying and I've had such a bad week and I'm all -- I don't know what's wrong with me.  
HUTCHIK
You're something really special, kid.  And I don't want to lose you.  Tell you what,  take some time off, get your head together.  Sometimes life is just too much.  Escape for a while, enjoy yourself, have fun.  Okay?  Perhaps find yourself a lady friend?  Y'know, someone to yank the old chain.     
BARRY
I think that'll be good for me.
HUTCHIK
Believe it or not I was quite the ladies man back in my day.  Word of advice, never get married.  By the time you reach my age, you'll be as impotent as a paraplegic. 
BARRY
Mr. Hutchik...
HUTCHIK
Sorry.  Here I am rambling.  Well go on, get out of here.  Enjoy yourself.
BARRY
Okay.

Mr. Hutchik walks Barry to the door.  They shake hands.
HUTCHIK
So I'll be seeing you in a couple weeks.
BARRY
Yes.  Thank you.
INT. SPORTS BAR - NIGHT
Smoky.  People cheer at the baseball game being shown on the big screen TV.
Barry sits at a table with two of his friends, AARON (23), and GREG (24).  Each with a beer in hand.
AARON
Buddy, it's official.  You're my hero.
GREG
What'd I miss?
AARON
Dude.  I read that article.  That was brilliant, man.
BARRY
It's not big deal.
GREG
What was it about?
BARRY
Nothing really.
AARON
This man starts writing about how queers use their sexuality as a false sense of unique identity or some shit.
Greg and Aaron both laugh
GREG
Are you serious?
AARON
Something like that.  I don't know.  I didn't read it all, but it was hilarious.
GREG
How'd you get away with something like that?  You get in trouble or something?
AARON
He got a promotion.
GREG
Nice.
BARRY
Let's talk about something else.  
GREG
Say... Barry, do you think you could hook me up with a job?  I think I could be good at that sort've stuff, y'know?  I really do.
AARON
Be good at what sort've stuff?  You don't even have your grade 10 English.  I'm sure that's one of the prerequisites of a columnist.
GREG
Shut up, Aaron.  At least I got innovative.  
Aaron bursts out in laughter.
BARRY
I think you mean, "Initiative."

GREG
You think you're so superior, Aaron.
BARRY
Can you both shut up. Please?
AARON
What's wrong with you?
BARRY
Nothing.  I mean, I don't know.  I'm going away for a couple weeks, and I need someone to take care of Brewster.  I really need some time to myself, okay?  So no questions, no stupid remarks, okay?  I just need someone to look after Brewster.  That's it.
AARON
Where you going?
BARRY
I don't know.  Someone just tell me they'll do me this one little favor.
GREG
Okay, Bare.  Don't worry about it.  I'll look after him for ya..
BARRY
That's all I ask.
INT.  APARTMENT - NIGHT
Barry staggers in.
BARRY
Brewster?  Here boy.  Come here boy.
No response.  Barry sighs.  He throws his coat on the couch.
BARRY
Come on Brewster.  Here boy. 
Still no response.
Barry plops down on the couch. 
He feels something nibbling on his pant leg.  It's Brewster, a little beagle.
Barry looks down.
BARRY
Hey boy.  I didn't see you there.
Barry picks him up and starts to pet him.
BARRY
Hey buddy, I'm going to be going away for a bit, alright?  Uncle Greg is gonna be looking after you for while I'm gone.  It won't be so bad.  I'll bring you back something nice, I promise.
The phone RINGS.
Barry let's it ring.
It stops.
ANSWERING MACHINE
This is Barry, leave a message.
(voice)
Hi, Barry, honey.  It your mother calling.  I just heard about your big promotion.  Congratulations.  Me and your father... we're so proud of you.  Please call us back so we can celebrate.  We miss you, Barry.  Anyway.  Again, congratulations, that is wonderful news.  Take care, bye.

INT. APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT
The walls are crammed with a life time of framed achievements.
Barry, lays face down on a bed, his head buried in pillows. SOBBING is heard from underneath.
Barry takes a moment and sits up.
BARRY
It's okay. Relax. It's gonna be okay. 
Barry calmly stands up. He takes a moment.
In a surge a rage, Barry starts tearing frames off the wall, smashing them to pieces.
The room is now in shambles. The walls are now bear, pierced with hundreds of holes.
Barry collapses on the bed and buries his face underneath the pillows, SOBBING.
INT. AIRPORT - EVENING
Barry, luggage in hand, waits in line to buy a ticket, he stares out the window at the planes landing and taking-off.
A LADY at the counter calls Barry over.
LADY
Can I help the next person in line, please?
BARRY
Hi.
LADY
Hi.  So what can I do for you?
No response.
LADY 
Hello?
BARRY
Well I'm not really sure.  You see I'm suppose to be going on vacation, and I'm not sure where yet.  I'm sorry.  
LADY
You look like you could use a vacation.
Barry gathers himself. Smiles.
BARRY
Florida.  Yes, Florida.  I love palm trees, especially this time of year.  They're so wonderful.  Miami, Florida.  That sounds good, right?
LADY
Miami sounds nice.  I wish I could take a vacation to a tropical paradise.  Instead I'm stuck in this rut.
They both chuckle.
LADY
So, Miami?
BARRY
Yes, please.
The Lady fiddles around with the computer in front of her.
LADY
Okay, our earliest flight leaves in an hour to Miami, Florida.
Barry glances at his watch.
BARRY
Yes, that'd be fine, thank you so much.
EXT. MIAMI, FLORIDA - BEACH - DAY
Hot. The sun is shining. Waves from the Atlantic crash against the shore. Palm trees and beautiful women roller blading in bikinis fill the atmosphere.