Bandslam Page #6

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No way, my little friend. I'm not facing

the Neanderthals without you.

Besides, if you change schools,

then you can't gain access to this.

-What's that?

-Something private.

Something I would only show

the manager of my band.

Or my best friend.

Scooch.

Okay. You said we needed one song

that says who we are.

Well, these say who I am.

Little brothers.

Little brothers again.

-For your dad?

-No.

Not for him, exactly.

Inspired by him, I guess.

You know, things he said to me.

But it's not just about my dad anymore.

That'd be, hello, weird.

It's about everything.

Wow, that's articulate.

You know, there's other stuff in here, too.

-I'm not saying any of it's good...

-Thanks.

Hey. By accepting this, it means that there

will be no more talk of changing schools.

Agreed?

-Man, I'm good.

-Charlotte!

-Charlotte! My mom is in the...

-I knew you were ticklish.

You are so ticklish, I knew it.

Somebody wanna tell me

what's going on in here?

Get off his bed.

Wait. You don't think...

(EXCLAlMS lN DlSGUST)

I saw you kiss him in the car.

Well, that was

for educational purposes only.

WlLL:
I wanna die.

Did you hear that? He wants to die.

He needs help, Karen.

Then I'll help him. I'm his mom.

But I am wise in the ways of Will.

I'm actually here, you know. These covers

don't literally make me disappear.

You know what I think?

I think you're full of it, Charlotte.

And when I think someone's full of it,

I don't trust them.

Mom, will you stop interfering?

Sorry, I'm not your friend,

I'm your mother. That's my job.

No, Mom, you're supposed to give me

a little breathing room so I can have a life,

instead of just saying that's what you want.

-He's got a point, Karen.

-And you, I'm not a manager.

I don't take on the biggest band

in school and change destiny. I can't.

Will you both just please leave me alone?

Get out.

-Somebody called me Dewey today.

-What? How?

-He must've found out about Dad.

-I hate them all.

-Me too.

-You, however, I love.

Yeah, but you married Dad.

We can't really trust your taste.

I was 19. And he was a drummer.

And overnight it made my mother

finally take me seriously,

which is really all I wanted.

-Mom?

-l... What?

You're doing that thing

where you talk to me like I'm Oprah.

I'll tell you this, though.

I'd marry him all over again to get you.

I promise you're going to get

everything you deserve out of life.

And a little bit of the next guy's.

(PLAYlNG SOMEONE TO FALL BACK ON)

(SlNGlNG) I'll never be

A knight in armor with a sword in hand

Or a kamikaze fighter

Don't count on me

To storm the barricades and take a stand

Or hold my ground

You'll never see any scars or wounds

I don't walk on coals

I won't walk on water

I am no prince

I am no saint

I am not anyone's wildest dream

But I will stand behind

And be someone to fall back on

That's the song.

Some comedy

You're bruised and beaten down

And I am the one who's looking for a favor

Still, honestly

You don't believe me

But the things I have

Are the things you need

You look at me like I don't make sense

Like a waste of time

Like it serves no purpose

I am no prince

I am no saint

And if that's what you believe you need

You're wrong

You don't need much

You need someone to fall back on

And I'll be that

I'll take your side

If I'm the only one

I'm used to that

I've been alone

I'd rather be

The half of us

The least of you

The best of me

And I will be

I'll be your prince

I'll be your saint

I will go crashing through fences

in your name

I will, I swear

I'll be someone to fall back on

I'll be the one who waits

And for as long as you let me

I will be the one you need

I'll be someone to fall back on

Someone to fall back on

One to fall back on

WlLL:
Dear David Bowie,

just when it looked like things

might be okay,

disaster struck.

What's going on? Where is everybody?

-Art class is canceled today.

-Why? What happened?

Charlotte's father passed away.

I assumed you knew.

No.

This was a mistake. We shouldn't be here.

She didn't return any of my calls.

-You going to be okay?

-Yeah.

Okay.

Go, she's your friend. She needs you.

-CHARLOTTE:
Boys...

-I got them.

Charlotte?

I'm sorry.

I called.

I don't know if you got any of my messages.

Yeah, I got them. Thanks.

I wish you would've called me back.

Why?

"Why?"

I don't know. I mean, you told Ben.

So?

Is anything wrong?

Yeah.

Yeah, my dad died.

No, I know.

I wish I could've met him.

I'm sure he was a great man.

He was.

I got to do this.

Charlotte.

Charlotte.

-What do you want, Will?

-What do I want?

I just want you to know that I'm here

for you.

Okay, got it. What else?

And not to worry about the daycare.

I can handle that until you come back.

That's it.

Listen, I'm sorry, okay.

It's just a lot to deal with right now,

and I sort of want to be alone.

Okay. I get it, yeah.

And look, about the band...

Don't even worry about the band, okay?

We'll use Phil's Song for Bandslam.

Or not. We don't have to use Phil's Song.

We can find another song, or...

Hey, go ahead. Knock yourselves out.

I mean, it's a beautiful song, Charlotte.

It would make your dad proud.

It would be like he's there.

Stop! Please, just stop!

There is no us, Will. I'm not in the band.

What? No, no, no.

Okay, we'll find another song...

It's not about the song. I quit. I just quit.

-Why?

-I don't do "why"!

No, you have to. You just have to!

Please.

You really want to know why?

Last summer, when my dad got sick,

I promised God, the universe,

anyone who'd listen,

that I'd be different.

Better. Nicer.

My dad hated the way I acted

when I was with Ben.

The way I treated kids who weren't popular.

So, I changed.

I started volunteering with the monsters.

I left my friends. I left my band.

I left everything that set me apart

from people like...

Me.

People like me.

So we were just this

experiment to try and make your dad okay?

No, I know how crazy this must sound...

Honestly, Charlotte,

the thing that never made sense

was you being my friend in the first place.

Hey!

While you're up there on your high horse,

ask yourself who are you

to judge me about lying?

Dewey!

That stands for DWl, right?

Driving while intoxicated?

I don't know what's worse.

Losing a father you love so much

you change your whole life for him,

or having a father you're so ashamed of,

you make up a whole life for him.

Can I have some beef jerky?

Is he kidding?

You warned me about her.

I didn't listen.

She can't help it.

It's how girls like that are hardwired.

How are we hardwired?

I mean, sure, right now, I am just a kid.

Whatever.

What's going to change?

Nothing.

I'm just going to be

unhappy,

alone,

scared of, like, everything.

You're not alone, Will.

Experiment? We were just her experiment?

I keep thinking...

What?

Well, if you were just part of

Charlotte's experiment this whole time,

then, what is reality?

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