Thumbsucker Page #4

- It's something, huh?

That is something.

How would you know?

You don't even show up.

I work.

Actually, I have some news.

I'm being transferred

to the Maple Glen facility.

- The celebrity rehab place.

- Yeah.

I went today

for the introduction session.

- This was in the works?

- Yeah.

It's actually a pretty big promotion.

So did you see any celebrities?

- It's not just for celebrities.

- Right.

- Well, you seem happy.

- Yeah.

Yeah? That's great.

So who'd you see? Matthew Perry?

Whitney Houston? Robert Downey Jr.?

You know, I signed an agreement.

I'm can't leak names.

- But you can tell us. We're your family.

- Well, I can't. I'm sorry.

Come on.

They're my patients, people with

problems. I'm there to help them.

So now these celebrities

are more important than your family.

Justin.

I think working at Maple Glen

is a bad idea.

Well, I don't think I asked you.

I just won the regionals.

I come home, you can't say

what celebrities you're working with?

- Hey, easy.

- I'm done.

- I'm out too.

- Where you going?

I'm just afraid places like that

pamper to those big star egos.

I mean, statistics show most addicts

don't recover anyway.

What statistics?

- I read it.

- Well, we're not having a debate.

This is my life.

You found something

to make you happy.

Let me be happy.

What happened

to that Health Valley contest?

God, Justin. Nothing.

You must have heard by now.

You know,

it's none of your business.

It was just a distraction.

It was something to do.

My grades...

...are below your standards.

But I see this as...

As a strength.

Not a weakness.

I've had to overcome...

Overcome. Overcome...

...unusual obstacles.

Both my parents...

Both my parents...

...suffer from mental illness.

It's made my life difficult.

Mental illness.

This has made my life difficult.

But also...

...given me a valuable perspective.

I would like...

...to apply this sensitivity

to a career in TV journalism.

I wanna show the world

what's really happening...

...the way I've had to with my family.

I just can't deal with him right now.

Well, you two are arguing.

Oh, he can be such

a little sh*t sometimes.

Easy.

He doesn't need anybody to go.

- Isn't it the state finals or something?

- He'll be fine.

- Oh, I'll go.

- No, you don't have to do that.

No, I wanna see him.

- Really?

- God. Yeah, I'll go.

That's $3.20. Thanks a lot.

Perry.

You look different.

- Nice tie.

- Debate team.

I've been meaning to call you.

I owe you an apology.

I've been meaning to call you too.

I wanted to thank you.

Really?

I was lost in a cloud

of hippie psychobabble.

You helped bring me

back down to earth.

I've rewritten my whole philosophy

of life.

Found new answers

to my questions.

Yeah, me too.

There's no try. There's only do.

That's something that I've learned.

What do you think?

How's your dad?

- He's fine. Same.

- Your mom?

She's got a new job

working with drug addicts.

And what about your thumb?

Have you been sucking it?

Actually, I was diagnosed

with attention deficit disorder.

It's a real problem.

Now I'm on medication.

I was just concerned.

Well, I'm better.

I'm leading the team

at the state debates tomorrow.

Medication, huh?

Yeah, I feel great.

Euphoric, even?

Aren't you just my orthodontist?

I like to think of myself...

...as more than that.

Take care, Justin.

- What are you doing?

- No wonder. This stuff's just speed.

- It calms me down.

- That's what they say.

But you focus. Three molecules

different than cocaine.

A doctor gave it to me.

I saw the special on PBS.

Teachers are overmedicating kids- -

TV is a great source

for our information, isn't it?

Whatever, speed freak.

I think you're confusing tone

and content.

I mean, tone has tone,

but content is silent.

Silent?

It's not quite silent.

It's just that the tone is muted.

A tone that you shouldn't hear

in the content.

- You're missing the point.

- Look, if silence is neutral...

...then the tone...

...will be quieter.

And the content

would be neutral but heard.

What are you saying?

Hey.

- Finally got to see you.

- Don't patronise me.

Come on, I'm just trying to say

something, you know?

I think I'm gonna quit

the debate team.

- You were doing well.

- Too much pressure.

- It's no reason to quit.

- Mike.

What?

You're not helping.

Well, you should...

- What am I supposed to say?

- I don't know.

All right, come on. Let's go home.

Come on.

Come on.

Justin, it's...

...in my professional opinion

that you've become a monster.

What?

- You used to love me.

- Don't get grandiose with this.

What was that all about my gift?

And you told me- -

You built it up.

You told me I had a talent.

Yeah, you do.

You have a real intensity.

You have a great understanding

of group dynamics.

But there's also a lot of things

that you need to work on, Justin.

Like glibness,

arrogance, self- control.

Shall I go on?

At least I still have a dream.

Well, that's great.

Is that how you see me?

That's what we've come to, Justin?

I already decided.

I'm quitting the debate team.

That's my fault.

Thank you very much.

Good luck to you.

You look terrible.

You okay?

- I'm not sick.

- Let me see.

I stopped taking my pills.

They're just speed.

They're just three molecules

different than cocaine.

You know, it's not good for you

to quit cold turkey.

But I can.

What?

I need to talk to you.

Come in.

What's up?

How did you feel

when you had to quit football?

Horrible.

- How did you deal with it?

- You have to, you know, tough it out.

You know, tough it out.

- Mike.

- What?

- I just thought you could help for once.

- Hey, I help.

Then how did you do it?

Why can't you ever tell me anything

about how you deal with things?

- Hey, Justin.

- Hey. How's it going?

- So I hear you're the debate star now.

- Not anymore.

- You look the same.

- You don't.

Not really.

- I need to talk to you.

- Look, Justin, I'm sorry.

- I just don't wanna- -

- No, not that.

Did you ever feel like...?

Like you really wanted to...

...I don't know, change?

Maybe.

Why are you telling this to me?

Do you have any pot?

I heard you were doing it.

Gossip.

It's true, though, right?

What, you want me to get you high?

Yeah. Maybe.

Really?

- Hey.

- Hi.

I finally found this.

I didn't know which house it was.

Are you stoned right now?

You don't make a big deal out of it.

You still want some, right?

Yeah.

You're not still all weird, are you?

I wasn't weird.

Really?

Suck.

Suck.

It gets easier.

Did you just give that to him

for free?

I would've made him pay.

Do you want some?

Yeah.

Tell me the boys...

...who have assne.

- Have what?

- Assne.

Ass acne.

I'm sure that you've seen them

in your P.E. class.

Billy Rydell.

Mike Green.

Rian Stevenson. Brent Bregman.

Brent.

" I will not compare my insides

to others' outsides. "

- What's that?

- Nothing.

- No, it's something. What is it?

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