MANHOOD
(it used to be
easier)
written by Charles Deemer
FADE IN:
EXT. SOUTHERN CALIF - PASADENA -
AERIAL VIEW - NIGHT
LIGHTS, as far as the eye can see.
Patterns emerge:
the blue-green jewels of SWIMMING POOLS;
the weaving paths of FREEWAYS;
and, in the distance, the bright
oval illumination of the
ROSE BOWL, the granddaddy of all football stadiums.
EXT. ROSE BOWL - FIELD - NIGHT
A football game is in progress,
though only a few hundred
fans sit in the huge stadium.
The inept team of the Western Institute of Technology
is
playing Whittier
College.
MANHOOD
- 1
2.
The scoreboard shows that Whittier leads 70-0 in the final
quarter.
A Whittier College HALFBACK, pretty
as a pro in his unsoiled
uniform, turns the corner on an end run. An open field
stretches invitingly before him.
Tech defensive PLAYERS dive at the halfback and
miss.
Their soiled and
torn uniforms provide visible evidence of
the mismatch.
The Whittier halfback is running for a touchdown.
EXT. ROSE BOWL - STANDS -
NIGHT
Sitting high
in the stadium are MERIWETHER and K-MAN.
K-MAN, a Tech freshman, is disheveled and over-weight,
with
a comic demeanor
that hides considerable intelligence.
MERIWETHER, a high school senior, wears a red baseball
cap
backwards. Some of her hair is visible, and this
evening
she has dyed it
florescent green.
Meriwether is working on a laptop computer, to which an
auxiliary hardware component is
attached. K-Man gets to his
feet.
K-MAN
Hang in,
Techies! Keep 'em under a
hundred points! Defense, defense!
Meriwether stops working on the
computer and picks up a pair
of binoculars. She looks at a
section of the stands about
fifty yards across the way.
MERIWETHER
Greg's drooling over
cheerleaders
again.
Across the way sit GREG, Meriwether's brother, and QUENTIN.
Both, like K-Man, are Tech
freshmen.
GREG is
sensitive-looking and shy. Like his
sister
Meriwether, he's
working on a laptop computer to which an
external hardware component is attached.
But presently he has a pair of
binoculars trained on the
field.
MANHOOD
- 2
3.
QUENTIN, who looks like a Future
Engineer of America,
glances over Greg's shoulder.
QUENTIN
Didn't I tell you she
was hot?
The
binoculars are focused on a particularly pretty Whittier
CHEERLEADER, who is strutting her
stuff.
GREG
How the hell does a
guy meet
someone like her?
QUENTIN
Face it, Greg - guys like us don't.
So we make holograms
of them
instead. You ready to try
this
out?
Greg
keeps looking at the cheerleader.
Across the way, Meriwether gets to her feet and
starts
waving her arms,
trying to get her brother's attention.
MERIWETHER
Greg! Yoo-hoo!
Testoster-Drone!
EXT. ROSE BOWL - FIELD - NIGHT
The halfback has scored, and the
extra point sails between
the goal posts.
The scoreboard changes to Whittier 77, Tech 0.
Whittier cheerleaders jump and
celebrate, leading their
small crowd of loyal fans in a victory chant.
On the other side of the field,
scattered Tech fans are few
and far between.
EXT. ROSE BOWL - STANDS - NIGHT
Quentin notices Meriwether's
signal.
QUENTIN
I think Meriwether's
ready to
start.
Greg
stops gawking at the cheerleader, giving the binoculars
back to Quentin. He waves his arms at Meriwether.
MANHOOD
- 3
4.
Across the way, Meriwether is relieved.
MERIWETHER
Finally. Why do all guys think
with their
dick?
She sits down
at the computer and begins typing in commands.
K-Man starts to say something - but changes his
mind.
Greg sits
down at his computer and also begins making input.
QUENTIN
Nervous?
Greg ignores the question.
QUENTIN
Well, I am.
Across the way, K-Man hovers over
Meriwether as she works.
K-MAN
It's critical that
the reference
beam come in at the right angle.
MERIWETHER
Duh.
K-MAN
I'm trying to be helpful.
MERIWETHER
Drool over the cheerleaders or
something. I know what I'm doing.
EXT. ROSE BOWL - FIELD - NIGHT
Whittier kicks off.
The Tech receiver drops the
ball.
The first
Tech man trying to retrieve it kicks the ball
forward.
The ball continues to scoot around as players dive for
it,
missing.
Tech players are tripping over one
another.
Finally
there's a big pile up for the ball. The
referees
blow whistles
and begin to peel players off the heap.
MANHOOD
- 4
5.
A ref makes the hand signal: Tech retains possession.
EXT. ROSE BOWL - STANDS -
NIGHT
In another
area of the stands, PROF. BRONSON gets to his
feet, loyally shouting out encouragement to his son,
the
Tech
quarterback.
PROF.
BRONSON
Come on, Tom! Let's get a
first
down! You can do it, son!
Bronson, dapper in a sporty way,
looks more like an ad man
than a prof.
K-Man is on his feet.
K-MAN
Way to go,
Techies! Holo-gram!
Holo-gram!
MERIWETHER
K-Man, will you shut up!
K-MAN
Somebody's gonna hear
me up here?
MERIWETHER
Sleep with
tarantulas.
Across
the way, Greg is visibly nervous. He takes a deep
breath, his eyes focused on the
field, waiting for the right
moment.
EXT. FIELD - THE HUDDLE - NIGHT
Tech is in its offensive huddle. The quarterback is TOM
BRONSON, a senior, movie-star handsome, a rare Tech
student
with athletic
ability.
TOM
Fullback off
left-tackle.
FULLBACK
Bullshit.
I'm done.
HALFBACK
Don't look at me,
Tom.
MANHOOD
- 5
6.
TOM
Somebody's got to take the goddamn
ball.
FULLBACK
I gave coach a note from my doctor,
no more than 30 carries tonight.
HALFBACK
You give it to me, I'll drop the
sonofabitch. I'm serious.
TOM
Assholes. Ends go long.
They break and move slowly toward
the line of scrimmage.
The Tech team is a motley crew of the brightest college tech
and science students in America -
but clearly they are also
young men with limited athletic gifts.
EXT. STANDS/FIELD - NIGHT
Quentin holds one arm up, ready to
signal Meriwether that
it's time to begin.
Meriwether is waiting to respond to the signal from across
the way.
The Tech team is lined up, and Tom
looks over the defense.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER
Come to papa,
candy-ass.
TOM
Ready . . .!
In the stands, Greg takes a deep
breath.
GREG
Now!
Quentin drops his arm. K-Man sees
the signal.
K-MAN
Now,
Meriwether!
Both
Greg and Meriwether make quick commands into their
computers.
MANHOOD
- 6
7.
Suddenly LASER BEAMS shoot out of the hardware components
attached to the laptops.
Just as suddenly, a BALL OF LIGHT
appears at the end of the
Tech offensive line, swirling, very bright, an image of
light trying to take form as a
hologram.
The
emerging HOLOGRAM suggests the red 49er uniform of JERRY
RICE, number 80 - but out of focus,
not quite forming
coherently, pulsating ominously.
Then, suddenly, it takes perfect shape: a HOLOGRAM OF JERRY
RICE, looking as real as life.
A referee BLOWS his whistle.
REFEREE
Time out!
The refs gather and cautiously
approach the hologram.
Players are wondrous and confused, not sure what is going
on.
Greg is both proud and amazed that
the hologram is so
realistic
looking.
GREG
Quentin, I did
it. I actually did
it.
Quentin looks down at the field with
his mouth hanging open
in
amazement.
Greg starts entering more data into the
laptop.
Across the
way, Meriwether can't stop grinning.
MERIWETHER
My brother is a
genius.
Suddenly,
on the field, something goes wrong:
the hologram starts PULSATING, turning into a globe
of
light, then EXPLODES
and sends beams of stark white light
around the field.
Greg gets to his feet, disbelieving.
GREG
What the hell happened?
MANHOOD
- 7
8.
He quickly goes back to the computer, trying to figure out
what is going wrong with the program
he is running.
Meriwether looks down at the field in alarm.
MERIWETHER
Help! I don't know if I'm
supposed
to do something here!
K-Man hurries to her computer.
K-MAN
The reference beam must be
drifting!
The ball of light continues to
explode, strong beams of
light zapping this way and the other, all around the field,
like a laser light show.
On the field, players duck. Others run from the field.
A beam of light hits a goal post,
immediately setting it on
fire.
Another beam hits a part of the stands, which burst into
flame.
Greg is back on his feet, screaming
at Meriwether.
GREG
Turn everything off! Shut it all
down!
Meriwether is frozen at the
keyboard. K-Man takes over.
K-MAN
We gotta shut it down, Meriwether!
Hit the power!
Both computers are shut down, and
the laser beams go dead.
The globes of light bouncing around the field disappear.
One goal post is burning.
Several areas of the stands are on
fire.
Prof. Bronson
looks amazed by what has happened. He
is
scanning the stadium,
trying to identify the students behind
this technical prank.
In other area:
MANHOOD - 8
9.
K-MAN
At least the game
gets called. We
held them under 100
points.
MERIWETHER
Kevin, I think we're
in trouble.
A
SECURITY GUARD stands behind K-Man, arms akimbo, not at
all amused by the holographic
prank.
Across the
way, Greg sits slumped with his head in his
hands.
QUENTIN
We'd better get the
hell out of
here, Greg.
Greg looks up just in time to see two SECURITY GUARDS
arriving behind Quentin.
INT. ROSE BOWL - SECURITY OFFICE -
NIGHT
Greg's
mother, FLO APPLE, is signing some papers.
She is a
pretty
woman in her 40s.
Greg, Meriwether, Quentin and K-Man sit in chairs along one
wall.
Mrs. Apple hands the forms to a
SECURITY CLERK.
FLO APPLE
Are we free to go
now?
SECURITY CLERK
Yes, ma'am.
EXT. ROSE BOWL - PARKING AREA -
NIGHT
Mrs. Apple is
leading the way to her car.
FLO APPLE
I wish your father
were here. I
don't know what to do
with you.
GREG
Mom, it's going to be
okay.
FLO APPLE
What if they expel
you? Or take
away your
scholarship?
MANHOOD
- 9
10.
K-Man whispers something in Greg's ear as they reach the
car.
MERIWETHER
Tech has a tradition of doing Rose
Bowl pranks, mother.
She gets in the car first, climbing
into the back seat of
the
family car.
GREG
I'll get a ride with
Quentin.
FLO APPLE
I don't know if
that's--
But Greg
is already trotting off with his buddies.
With great fanfare, Meriwether comes out of the back seat
to
move to the front
seat.
MERIWETHER
Why are guys so
weird?
FLO APPLE
I wish your father
were alive.
Maybe he could talk to him.
MERIWETHER
Father was a guy,
right? What do
you want, the weird
leading the
weird?
She
gets into the front seat, leaving her mother puzzled by
the remark.
POV BINOCULARS - JULIANNA'S WINDOW -
NIGHT
Binoculars
are on JULIANNA, a pretty college coed, who is
doing a bump and grind at her bedroom window.
She teasingly dances, wearing only
bikini underwear.
K-MAN (O.S.)
Just take it off,
Julianna . . .
Julianna drops her bra strap off one shoulder.
K-MAN (O.S.)
Yes!
Do it!
MANHOOD - 10
11.
EXT. JULIANNA'S HOUSE - STREET - NIGHT
Quentin's van is parked across the
street from Julianna's
house.
INT. VAN - NIGHT
K-Man and Quentin are in the front
seat of the van, looking
at Julianna with binoculars.
Quentin looks out the driver's window. K-Man has the
passenger door open to look up over
the van roof.
In
the back seat, Greg is not watching at all.
He looks
depressed.
GREG
I can't believe the
hologram wasn't
stable. I must've screwed up the
code.
K-MAN
You are screwing up now, Greg.
Her
thumb is in her panties.
QUENTIN
We learn from our mistakes, buddy.
Next time you'll keep
him in focus.
GREG
There may not be a
next time.
QUENTIN
We got a plan here, Greg. The
Dream Girl, remember? A hologram
of the perfect woman?
K-MAN
Julianna, drop the damn bra!
GREG
Look at us. This whole scene is
depressing.
QUENTIN
Since when?
GREG
What's the point of
making a
holographic woman? You can't
lose
your
cherry with a hologram.
MANHOOD - 11
12.
K-MAN
Try me.
QUENTIN
You're just depressed about
tonight.
GREG
We're probably the only virgins in
the entire freshmen class. I'm at
the
peak of my sexual powers - and
nobody knows but the toilet. It's
an embarrassment to my manhood.
QUENTIN
So go get laid, Mr. Studman.
GREG
Well, maybe I
will.
QUENTIN
Great. I assume you have someone
in mind?
GREG
No.
QUENTIN
I rest my case.
K-MAN
Go screw Mrs. Rollins,
she's
probably out of mourning by now.
GREG
Fuck you.
QUENTIN
Cold, K-Man. Definitely cold.
Greg slides open the door to get
out.
QUENTIN
Greg, I'll drive you
home.
Greg stops
but doesn't get back in.
K-MAN
Lighten up, Greg. It was a sick
joke.
I'm sorry, okay?
MANHOOD
- 12
13.
GREG
No, you're not. You're loving it.
Quentin quickly interrupts a
potentially heated situation.
QUENTIN
Party's over, K-Man. Greg, get in.
K-Man holds up the binoculars for
one last look, as Greg
climbs back into the van.
Quentin starts the engine.
EXT. APPLE HOME - NIGHT
The van pulls up in front of Greg's
house. He gets out and
heads for the house as the van pulls
away.
INT.
APPLE HOUSE - FOYER - NIGHT
Greg comes into the dark house to see a note taped at
the
bottom of the
stairs.
INSERT: THE NOTE
which reads: "If you're hungry, heat
up some meatloaf. The
Dean called. He wants to see you at 9 tomorrow
morning. I
am so worried. Mom"
INT. FOYER - NIGHT
Greg wads the note into his pocket
and heads up the stairs.
INT. GREG'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Greg comes into the bedroom without
turning on the light and
plops down on the bed.
He stares up at the ceiling, his mind filled with
inarticulate thoughts, most of them
hormonal and
frustrating.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
(O.S.)
It's a bitch, isn't it, son?
Greg turns to see something that looks like a HOLOGRAM
OF
HIS DECEASED FATHER
across the room, sitting at Greg's
computer desk.
He's a handsome man in his forties.
MANHOOD
- 13
14.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
It gets harder to grow up with
every
generation.
GREG
Dad?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You look like you can
use some
sleep.
Greg
just stares at him.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You also look like
you've just seen
a ghost. I told you I'd always be
with you, didn't I? I know you've
got a lot on your
mind.
GREG
I almost made an animated hologram
tonight. I was so close.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
I know.
I'm proud of you.
GREG
I told the guys we'd make a
holographic
woman. Like, we can't
meet real girls, we
have to make
phony ones.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
I understand, son. You try to get
some sleep. We'll figure all this
out tomorrow.
The hologram disappears.
Greg blinks, not knowing if he was
hallucinating or what.
He
closes his eyes.
EXT. WASHINGTON D.C. - DAY
Establishing shot of the nation's capital.
INT. WASHINGTON D.C. - DEPT OF
DEFENSE - DAY
BOB
JOHNSON, 40s, stands in front of the desk of Research
Dept Chief MCDONALD, 50s.
MANHOOD
- 14
15.
McDonald is reading from the newspaper.
MCDONALD
"...a three-dimensional moving
hologram of San Francisco 49ers
receiver, Jerry
Rice." Apparently
before it exploded, the kid was
damn close to having
it operative.
BOB JOHNSON
Which puts him ahead
of the rest of
us.
MCDONALD
That's why I'm
sending you to find
out what's going on. You fly out
of Dulles at two.
BOB
JOHNSON
Be there or be
square.
INT.
CAB - DAY
ANDERS,
30s, Swedish, is reading the local morning paper in
the back seat of a cab. The large front page headline
reads, "Tech Prank Starts Fire
in Rose Bowl".
EXT. TECH CAMPUS - DAY
The cab pulls up in front of the Western Tech campus,
and
Anders gets
out.
As Anders is
paying his fare, Greg and Quentin are among the
students passing by on their way to classes (about
one-quarter of the students are
female).
QUENTIN
What if they expel
you?
GREG
I don't know. I transfer to
Berkeley or
something.
They
move off across campus.
Anders heads toward a nearby building.
MANHOOD
- 15
16.
INT. DEAN'S OFFICE - DAY
DEAN MCINTYRE, 50s, sits at his
desk, looking at the
newspaper with the same headline.
He is a graying,
overweight academic.
Greg sits across the desk,
visibly nervous.
DEAN MCINTYRE
I have to put you on
probation.
Greg
looks relieved.
GREG
My scholarship?
DEAN MCINTYRE
No problem - this
time. But this
won't happen again,
will it?
GREG
No, sir.
The dean puts down the newspaper and his mood
changes
dramatically.
He leans forward over the desk, speaking in a hushed,
excited tone.
DEAN
MCINTYRE
What an extraordinary experiment!
Prof. Bronson wants you to stop by
the holography
lab.
INT.
DEAN'S OFFICE - HALLWAY - DAY
Greg, looking pleased with himself, comes out of the
Dean's
Office and starts
down the hallway. He is approached
by
PROF. PAULEY and his
pretty daughter, HEATHER.
Pauley, 50s, is slender and athletic, with the body of a
marathon runner.
Heather, who is Greg's age, has eyes that can put young
male
hormones into
overdrive.
PROF. PAULEY
Morning, Greg.
GREG
Morning.
MANHOOD
- 16
17.
PROF. PAULEY
This is my daughter, Heather.
HEATHER
Hello.
GREG
Hi.
PROF. PAULEY
I hear you almost put
Jerry Rice
into the game last night.
I'm
impressed. Everything okay
with
the
dean?
GREG
It could've been worse. I may be
working in the holography lab.
PROF. PAULEY
Then you'll be working with Prof.
Bronson. I was hoping to convince
you to be my research
assistant.
GREG
Nothing's set in
stone yet.
PROF. PAULEY
Good. Keep your
options open, and
we'll talk later.
The professor and Heather are starting away.
HEATHER
Nice meeting you.
GREG
Nice meeting you, too.
He stands in the hallway, watching
them go.
Then he
breaks into a huge grin.
INT. BRONSON'S OFFICE - DAY
Bronson is serving Anders coffee. The professor's office is
a room chaotically crammed with
computer equipment.
Anders speaks with a Swedish accent.
MANHOOD
- 17
18.
ANDERS
I assumed the hologram was your
doing.
Then he's not your student?
PROF. BRONSON
Not yet.
ANDERS
We need him on the team. My
people
are
getting very impatient.
PROF. BRONSON
I told you I can't meet deadlines.
No one's done
holographic animation
before.
ANDERS
But this student must be very close
to a solution.
PROF. BRONSON
I'll certainly be talking to him.
ANDERS
Professor, the people I work
for
are
bugging me, so I have to bug
you.
"Bugging" is the right term?
PROF. BRONSON
You're bugging me, yes.
ANDERS
It's important to be the first in
Sweden to offer this. We think the
Japanese are getting very close as
well.
When will you be talking to
this student?
PROF. BRONSON
I'm having the Dean send him over
to the lab.
INT. CAMPUS - BRONSON HOLOGRAM LAB -
DAY
Working alone
in the lab is Tom Bronson, quarterback of the
football team. He
is setting up a hologram experiment when
Greg enters.
GREG
Tom Bronson?
MANHOOD
- 18
19.
TOM
Well, Mr.
Celebrity. Dad told me
you might be by. Nice to meet you.
They shake hands.
TOM
I'm impressed with what you did
last night.
GREG
I expected better. I hope
it's
just
a coding error.
TOM
Well, it's bound to
be, isn't it?
Greg
gets red, feeling like an idiot for saying something so
obvious.
TOM
Dad's in class til five. Can
you
come
back - or make it earlier
tomorrow?
GREG
Sure. See you tomorrow
then.
He starts
out.
TOM
Greg?
Greg turns to him.
TOM
It's going to be great working with
you.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - DAY
Greg is walking home, looking like
he's on top of the world.
He is in a middle-class neighborhood of shade sycamores and
trimmed lawns.
Working outside is JESSICA ROLLINS,
30s, Greg's high school
algebra teacher.
He sees her and stops.
MANHOOD - 19
20.
GREG
Mrs. Rollins?
Jessica looks up from her work in a
flower bed along the
house. Attractive in shorts and
a halter, she is slender
and angular, dark and a little mysterious-looking.
JESSICA
Greg! How nice to see you.
GREG
I've been meaning to come by.
JESSICA
I'm so glad you
did.
INT.
JESSICA'S HOME - KITCHEN BAR - DAY
They are sitting at a wet bar in the kitchen, drinking
iced
tea.
GREG
I meant to come by over the summer.
Did you get my card?
JESSICA
It meant a lot. Thank you.
GREG
I'm really sorry.
JESSICA
David was much too young to suffer
the way he did.
GREG
It shocked everybody. How are
you
doing?
JESSICA
I can't get used to being a widow.
At least it's easier
now that I'm
busy at school again. The
summer
was
hell.
There's an awkward
silence, which Jessica suddenly breaks.
JESSICA
Are you in a
hurry?
MANHOOD
- 20
21.
GREG
Not really.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - DAY
Greg is up on a ladder, repairing a drain. Jessica watches
from below.
GREG
I think that should do it.
JESSICA
You're a
life-saver.
He
climbs down the ladder.
GREG
Mrs. Rollins?
JESSICA
It's Jessica.
GREG
Thanks for not mentioning
what
happened last night.
JESSICA
What happened?
GREG
You didn't read the paper?
JESSICA
I get depressed
enough without
paying attention to the news.
What
did I miss?
GREG
Nothing really.
Greg looks uncomfortable standing
this close to her. His
shyness is mixing with physical
attraction to her, bubbling
into a brew of sexual anxiety.
GREG
I'd better get
home.
Jessica
embraces him, maternally. Then they
quickly
separate, and
Greg heads off.
MANHOOD
- 21
22.
JESSICA
Don't make it so long next time.
Greg waves and quickly continues on.
INT. DINING ROOM - DINNER TABLE -
NIGHT
Mrs. Apple
and Meriwether are already at the dinner table
when Greg enters.
Meriwether's hair is pink.
GREG
Sorry I'm late.
He sits down and starts helping
himself to food.
FLO APPLE
Well?
GREG
Well what?
His mother just looks at him.
GREG
Everything's fine, mom. Prof.
Bronson wants me to work in the
hologram lab.
MERIWETHER
Wow, that sounds like big
stuff.
FLO APPLE
I don't
understand.
MERIWETHER
Mother, it's a
tradition for Tech
freshmen to do something
wild in
the Rose Bowl. I bet we did
the
wildest thing in school history!
FLO APPLE
So they rewarded
you?
GREG
Not exactly. I'm on probation.
FLO
APPLE
Oh
my God--
MANHOOD - 22
23.
GREG
I still have my
scholarship. And
working in the lab
really is an
honor.
Hearing it put this way changes Meriwether's mood to a
feeling of abandonment. Greg, in his enthusiasm and hunger,
doesn't see the change in her.
INT. APPLE HOME - UPSTAIRS HALLWAY -
NIGHT
Meriwether is
hurrying toward her room with Greg in pursuit.
GREG
It doesn't mean we have to stop our
research together.
Meriwether stops and turns around.
MERIWETHER
Now you have a lab. You don't
need
me. I'm just your flunky
anyway.
GREG
You know that's not true.
MERIWETHER
I know it. Do you?
GREG
Of course I do.
MERIWETHER
Good. Because I know what went
wrong. And I fixed it.
Greg looks at her to go on, but
Meriwether turns and goes
into her bedroom. Greg quickly
follows.
INT.
MERIWETHER'S ROOM - NIGHT
Meriwether goes straight to her laptop computer, which is
part of an elaborate setup on her
desk.
MERIWETHER
Sit down, shut up and watch.
Greg grins but obeys. Meriwether starts entering data into
the computer.
MANHOOD
- 23
24.
A beam of light comes out of
the peripheral laser hardware,
striking several mirrors set up in
the room, so that two
beams can intersect.
Meriwether's cat, WONDER WOMAN, is watching the
scene
suspiciously, ready
to split at a moment's notice.
Meriwether enters data into the computer, and suddenly
a
perfect HOLOGRAM OF
WONDER WOMAN appears where the laser
beams intersect.
GREG
Jesus . . .
MERIWETHER
You ain't see nothin' yet.
Meriwether enters something into the computer, and
the
hologram suddenly
turns at them, hunches its back and
hisses.
Wonder Woman hisses back and races out of the room.
GREG
Meriwether, that's incredible!
MERIWETHER
I left out a bracket in the code.
That's all that was
wrong. Your
theory works!
Meriwether makes another entry, and
the cat relaxes, rolls
onto its back and stretches, as if basking
in the afternoon
sun.
Greg
moves quickly to the computer.
MERIWETHER
Am I the sweetest
sister a boy
genius ever had or what?
Greg puts his arms around her.
EXT. HOTEL - DAY
A cab pulls up in front of the
hotel, and Bob Johnson gets
in.
MANHOOD
- 24
25.
EXT. TECH CAMPUS - DAY
Students cross the campus between classes. As before, most
are male, about a quarter
female.
Greg is
walking with Quentin and K-Man.
GREG
I was absolutely
right. Once you
digitize the video,
you can project
it along the beam.
QUENTIN
Very elegant.
GREG
If Meriwether hadn't made a typo in
the code, Jerry Rice would've been
stable.
QUENTIN
This gives incredible
new
possibilities to the Dream Girl.
K-MAN
Gentlemen, we are on the verge of
making scientific
history. The
girls of our dreams
come alive!
Julianna, Mrs. Rollins-- ...
GREG
I told you to leave her out of it--
...
QUENTIN
Gentlemen!
They reach an intersection of walkways.
GREG
Virtual jacking off
is still
jacking off. I'm going over to
the
lab.
Greg
heads away, as K-Man shouts after him.
K-MAN
You had any dates lately!
He turns to Quentin.
MANHOOD
- 25
26.
K-MAN
The man definitely
needs help.
QUENTIN
Don't tease him about
Rollins.
K-MAN
I thought he'd have a
sense of
humor about her by now. He
acts
like
he's still got a crush on her.
INT. BRONSON LAB - DAY
The professor and Tom are at work
when Greg enters.
GREG
Professor
Bronson?
Bronson
looks up from what he is doing.
PROF. BRONSON
Greg Apple. What a pleasure to
meet you
finally.
He quickly
moves to Greg, one arm outstretched, and they
shake hands.
PROF. BRONSON
You came very close to
something
remarkable the other night.
GREG
I found out what went
wrong. Last
night my sister and I
made a
holographic
animation of her cat.
TOM
Are you
serious?
GREG
I can show you. I have the program
with me.
Greg takes out a computer disk, and
Prof. Bronson smiles
with
delight.
PROF. BRONSON
The boy just walks
in, takes a disk
out of his pocket and walks off
with the prize.
MANHOOD
- 26
27.
But Greg looks tentative, unsure how to take his remark.
PROF. BRONSON
I'm kidding, Greg. Show us what
you've got.
EXT. TECH CAMPUS - DAY
The cab pulls in front of campus and
Bob Johnson gets out.
He
stops a passing student to ask directions.
INT. CAMPUS - ADMIN BLDG - DAY
Johnson waits at a counter. A CLERK approaches and hands
him photocopies of several
documents.
CLERK
This is his class
schedule. And
his profile.
BOB
JOHNSON
Thank you. You've been a
great
help.
CLERK
We always cooperate with the
government.
Johnson smiles.
EXT. BUILDING - CAMPUS - DAY
Greg and Tom are coming out of the
building where the lab
is.
TOM
Now the challenge is
making the
animation last more than a few
seconds.
GREG
Challenges are what
it's about,
right?
TOM
Right.
Greg, very pleased with himself, moves
off with vigor and
confidence.
MANHOOD
- 27
28.
Watching him go, Tom's expression changes to one of concern.
EXT. CAMPUS - STREET - DAY
Greg is walking off campus when a
car pulls over. Heather
is behind the wheel.
HEATHER
Need a lift?
GREG
Thanks.
Greg moves around the car to get
in.
INT.
HEATHER'S CAR - DAY
Heather is driving Greg home.
HEATHER
Dad speaks very highly of you.
Greg looks embarrassed to hear
this.
HEATHER
I think he's jealous
that you're
working with Prof. Bronson.
Dad
and Bronson don't get along.
Greg doesn't reply.
He looks very ill at ease in her presence.
HEATHER
So if we don't talk about you, we
can always talk about me.
She smiles at him.
HEATHER
I started at Occidental this year.
I really love it.
GREG
What's your major?
MANHOOD
- 28
29.
HEATHER
I'm not sure. Dad would like me to
go into the sciences, but I really
like music best. I play the viola.
Do you like music?
GREG
All kinds.
HEATHER
Do you like to
dance?
GREG
Sure.
HEATHER
The school's having a
dance
Saturday night. I'm looking for
a
partner.
Greg doesn't respond. He looks
out the window.
HEATHER
Some people call that
a hint. You
could say,
"Well, I'm available."
Greg turns to her.
Nervous, he finds the courage to charge
ahead.
GREG
I'm available.
He looks surprised that he said it.
He grins, half out of
embarrassment, half out of delight at his own courage.
HEATHER
Good. I was hoping you would be.
I'll give you a call
with the
details. Are you in the
book?
GREG
Sure.
She smiles at him.
EXT. APPLE HOME - STREET - DAY
Heather drops Greg off. He waves as she pulls away.
Then he starts walking to the front
door.
MANHOOD - 29
30.
Meriwether comes out of the house.
Today her hair is jet
black, and she is wearing several nose rings and too many
earrings to count, dressed Madonna-like in black
leather.
GREG
That's extreme even
for you.
MERIWETHER
There's no accounting
for taste.
Who's the girl?
GREG
Heather Pauley.
MERIWETHER
You like her?
GREG
Sure.
MERIWETHER
You want to go to bed with her?
GREG
Jesus, Meriwether,
what kind of
question is that?
MERIWETHER
The obvious one,
Testoster-Drone.
All men think with their dicks,
don't they?
GREG
No, they don't.
MERIWETHER
Tell that to the rest of your
species.
GREG
We're a gender, not a
species.
MERIWETHER
Wrong.
She makes PANTING NOISES, like some
animal in heat - and
then
she's on her way.
MANHOOD
- 30
31.
INT. GREG'S ROOM - NIGHT
Greg is studying at his desk. It's a long desk with room
enough on top for his computer, printer, and piles of
books.
There's a
tap on his closed door.
FLO APPLE (O.S.)
Goodnight,
dear.
GREG
'Night, mom.
FLO
APPLE (O.S.)
Don't stay up too late.
Greg's expression says: "Mothers!"
GREG
I'm almost
done.
Before going
back to work, he stands up and stretches.
He
sits back down
at the computer.
He
stares at the screen. He looks
distracted, as if
something besides homework is on his mind now.
He looks to the door, then back to
the computer screen.
He minimizes the application he was using and clicks on
another icon, then on another.
On the screen, a gallery of
thumbnails of nude women
centerfolds comes up. He clicks
on one.
The slender
naked woman is dark, vaguely suggesting Jessica
Rollins.
Greg looks at the image, then splits the screen.
In the new window he brings up his
high school annual,
clicking pages until he finds a color photograph of his high
school algebra teacher, Jessica
Rollins.
Working
quickly now, with technical skill but also
increasing erotic energy, he cuts out Jessica's face,
drags
it to the
centerfold in the other window, and places the new
face on the naked body.
He blows it up. The screen fills with a naked picture
of
his algebra
teacher.
MANHOOD
- 31
32.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You really know your
way around
that keyboard.
Greg turns to find the hologram of his father across the
room. Embarrassed, he quickly shuts down the computer.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Don't worry about
it. It was
Playboy and Penthouse
in my day.
French postcards in your
Granddad's.
GREG
Dad, were you . . . you know . .
?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
A virgin at your
age? I'm not
answering that
because the
information isn't important.
Despite your considerable wit.
GREG
What wit?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You're at the top of
your sexual
power, and only the toilet knows.
That's a great line. Woody Allen
would love it.
GREG
It's so true it's depressing.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
But you've got a date
to a dance.
GREG
Big deal.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You've got to start
somewhere.
Don't you like the young lady?
GREG
I hardly know
her.
HOLOGRAM OF
DAD
A good
point. So take her to the
dance and see how it
goes. What
have you got to
lose?
MANHOOD - 32
33.
INT. OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE - GYM - NIGHT
The Oxy dance is in progress.
Greg and Heather enter. Greg looks a little out of place in
slacks, sports coat and tie. Heather is looking very good.
They watch the dancers on the floor
for a minute, and
Heather
waves to someone she knows.
HEATHER
Shall we get some punch?
GREG
Sure.
They
head off for the refreshments table.
INT. REFRESHMENTS TABLE -
NIGHT
Greg goes to
the punch bowl and fills a glass for Heather,
handing it to her.
Then he fills his own.
As he moves to join Heather, someone BUMPS him - and
he
spills his punch down
the front of Heather's light-colored
dress.
Heather is devastated by the accident.
Greg quickly grabs a handful of
napkins and starts rubbing
the front of her dress - until he realizes what he is doing.
He stops, embarrassed.
Heather turns and hurries off for
the ladies room.
Greg looks around, embarrassed and conspicuous.
INT. GYM - RESTROOM AREA -
NIGHT
Greg is
hovering around the restroom area, looking like
someone who would prefer to disappear.
Greg sees the hologram of this dad
leaning against the wall
nearby.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Bad break, son. Nothing to do but
go with the
flow.
MANHOOD - 33
34.
A woman comes out of the restroom and passes by, taking no
notice of the hologram. Only Greg can see his dad.
GREG
I'm such a
klutz.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
It wasn't your
fault.
GREG
I ruined her dress.
I ruined the
night.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Don't count yourself out yet. Here
she comes.
Heather comes out of the ladies
room.
HEATHER
I have to go home and
get my dress
in the washer.
GREG
I'm really
sorry.
HEATHER
It wasn't your
fault.
Heather
turns and heads for the exit.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
See there? Follow her, son. The
night's still young.
INT. HEATHER'S CAR - NIGHT
Heather is driving, Greg beside
her. In the back sits the
hologram of Greg's dad.
After a silence, Heather turns to
Greg.
HEATHER
You're still not
thinking it's your
fault, are you?
GREG
Kind of, I guess.
MANHOOD -
34
35.
HEATHER
It was the clumsy oaf
who shoved
you.
There's
an awkward pause.
HEATHER
We could watch a
movie at my place.
Greg looks like he doesn't understand the question.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Tell her that's a
great idea.
GREG
Great idea.
He voice cracked, and Greg clears
his throat.
HEATHER
Good.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
She likes you, son.
Greg takes a deep breath.
EXT. PAULEY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Heather's car pulls into the driveway.
INT. PAULEY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Greg and Heather enter. Heather, moving quickly to get her
dress in the washer, gestures toward
a hallway as she
leaves.
HEATHER
You should find Dad in his office.
Second door
down.
And she's
gone.
Greg
hesitantly moves down the hallway.
INT. PAULEY'S OFFICE - NIGHT
Prof. Pauley sits at his desk,
working, when Greg appears in
the doorway.
MANHOOD
- 35
36.
PROF.
PAULEY
Greg! Back so early?
GREG
I spilled punch on her dress.
PROF. PAULEY
Oh boy.
GREG
Somebody shoved me from behind.
PROF. PAULEY
Well, at least it
wasn't your
fault. Heather's washing the
dress, right?
Greg nods.
PROF. PAULEY
Are you going back to the dance?
GREG
She mentioned
watching a movie.
PROF. PAULEY
Ah. Then we'd better make popcorn.
INT. PAULEY'S HOUSE - NIGHT
The professor is shaking popcorn on
the stove, making it the
old-fashioned way, as Greg watches.
PROF. PAULEY
Has Bronson offered you a deal yet?
GREG
I'm not sure what you
mean.
PROF. PAULEY
To commercialize that
holographic
program of yours. He's always
got
his
fingers in the corporate pie.
GREG
He hasn't said
anything about it.
PROF. PAULEY
He will.
The hologram of Greg's dad is
leaning against the wall.
MANHOOD
- 36
37.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You know what he's
talking about?
Greg
looks nervous and confused.
GREG
I haven't the
slightest idea.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Keep your eyes and
ears open. And
you're doing great,
by the way.
GREG
I'm really
nervous.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Relax.
Go with the flow.
Heather bounds into the room, wearing casual clothes now.
HEATHER
Take off your tie and get comfy.
She moves to Greg
and loosens his tie for him.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
See? She's crazy about you.
But Greg looks more awkward than
ever.
PROF. PAULEY
By the time you get the movie cued,
popcorn'll be
ready.
Heather
takes Greg's hand, moving out of the kitchen.
HEATHER
What do you want to watch?
INT. PAULEY'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM -
NIGHT
All three sit
on the divan, watching a movie. We hear
the
sound-track, the end
of "Casablanca" or something equally
classic and romantic.
The mood is interrupted by the
snoring of the professor, who
has fallen asleep in his corner of the divan.
The movie ends, and Heather punches
rewind on the remote.
MANHOOD - 37
38.
HEATHER
I never get tired of
watching that.
GREG
Me, neither.
HEATHER
It's almost my bed time. I'll
give
you a
ride home.
GREG
I can walk.
HEATHER
Don't be silly.
GREG
I walk all the
time.
HEATHER
You're not walking.
INT. HEATHER'S CAR - NIGHT
Again, the hologram is in the back
seat.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Are you thinking of
kissing her
goodnight?
GREG
What if she doesn't
want me to?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Kiss her hand.
GREG
What?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Trust me.
Kiss her hand.
EXT. APPLE HOME - NIGHT
Heather's car pulls up in front of
Greg's house.
MANHOOD
- 38
39.
INT. HEATHER'S CAR - NIGHT
There is an awkward moment now, as Greg hesitates either
to
make a move or to get
out of the car. But Heather saves
the
moment by becoming
aggressive.
She
moves over and gives Greg a kiss on the lips.
HEATHER
Will you call
me?
Greg,
dumbfounded, nods.
HEATHER
Good.
Greg doesn't make a move.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
It's time to get out of the car,
son.
Greg fumbles for the door handle,
finally finding it.
EXT. APPLE HOME - NIGHT
Greg comes out, and Heather pulls way.
The hologram appears beside Greg.
GREG
Jesus. When do I call her?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Tomorrow would work.
EXT. TECH CAMPUS - DAY
Students cross campus between
classes.
INT.
HOLOGRAM LAB - DAY
Greg is working on something when he is interrupted.
TOM
Dad would like to see you in his
office before you go home.
MANHOOD
- 39
40.
INT. BRONSON'S OFFICE - DAY
The professor and Anders are conferring when Greg appears
in
the open
doorway.
PROF. BRONSON
Come in, Greg. There's someone I
want you to
meet.
Anders stands
up.
ANDERS
Anders Nielssen. I've heard a lot
about you.
He offers his hand, which Greg
shakes.
PROF.
BRONSON
How about we do this over drinks?
INT. COCKTAIL LOUNGE - NIGHT
The threesome sit around a table,
sharing a pitcher of beer.
Greg looks like he's beginning to feel it.
PROF. BRONSON
Of course, they have a much more
liberated view of
erotica in
Sweden. It's popular
entertainment
over there.
ANDERS
My company is on track to be first.
That's the important thing.
PROF. BRONSON
And reward where reward is due
-
that's
important, too. That's why
I want to be upfront
with you from
the beginning, Greg. Your
commission on this
should pay for
graduate school. So what do
you
think?
Greg
looks overwhelmed, the clarity of his thinking not
helped by the beer he's
consumed.
PROF. BRONSON
You don't have to decide tonight.
Spend a few days with
it.
(MORE)
MANHOOD
- 40
41.
PROF. BRONSON
(cont'd)
It'll take that long for my lawyer
to put together the papers. Fair
enough?
Greg nods.
PROF. BRONSON
Do we want another pitcher?
GREG
I've got to go.
Greg has a little difficulty getting up from the table.
PROF. BRONSON
You're on the ground floor of
something big,
Greg. Virtual
Erotica is the tip of the iceberg.
You won't believe the
future
applications for this technology.
GREG
It's a little overwhelming.
PROF. BRONSON
Take it to bed, boy. We'll talk
more tomorrow.
And Greg moves off, leaving the
others to exchange a glance
of concern - will he come around to their way of thinking or
not?
ANDERS
What do you think?
PROF. BRONSON
He's in.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD - NIGHT
Greg is walking home, staggering a little.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Greg approaches Jessica's home and
sees a front window lit
up. He stops.
He moves onto the lawn, crosses to
the front window, and
peers in.
MANHOOD
- 41
42.
Inside, Jessica is in her robe, sitting alone on a divan,
watching television.
Greg watches her for a moment.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM -
NIGHT
Greg is still
watching Jessica when suddenly she turns his
way - and her startled expression shows us that she
sees
him, or something,
outside her window.
She quickly stands up.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Greg, realizing he's been seen,
turns and starts back across
the lawn, wobbling a little.
The porch light comes on, the front door opens, and
Jessica
hurries out onto
the porch.
Greg is
moving down the sidewalk.
Jessica recognizes him.
JESSICA
Greg!
Greg stops in his tracks. Slowly he turns toward her.
JESSICA
Is that you,
Greg?
He retraces
his way back across the lawn.
GREG
Hello, Mrs. Rollins.
JESSICA
Were you at the window?
GREG
I saw your light
on. I'm sorry if
I upset you.
JESSICA
You startled me. Why don't
you
come
in?
Greg doesn't
move.
MANHOOD - 42
43.
JESSICA
Please. I can use some company.
Greg steps forward.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN BAR -
NIGHT
Jessica is
pouring Greg coffee.
JESSICA
Out drinking with the
boys?
GREG
With Prof. Bronson
and his business
friend.
JESSICA
Really?
GREG
He told me he's working on
a
virtual
porno machine to sell to
Sweden.
We're going to get rich
together.
Jessica laughs.
JESSICA
Well, that should be
stimulating
for you.
Greg, who is easily embarrassed, blushes.
GREG
I thought we'd be doing pure
research.
JESSICA
Does anybody do pure research any
more?
GREG
That's what science is.
JESSICA
Welcome to Reality 1-A.
Greg looks puzzled by her remark.
MANHOOD
- 43
44.
JESSICA
Corporations and University labs
have been sleeping in the same bed
since before I was in school.
Greg looks depressed to learn
this.
JESSICA
Does that bother
you?
GREG
I didn't come to Tech to go into
business. I'm a pure scientist!
There's a pause.
JESSICA
I was about to watch a movie.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM -
NIGHT
Greg is
falling asleep on the divan as they watch the movie
together.
Jessica studies him and seems about
to reach out and touch
his face. But she catches
herself first.
The
movie ends with Greg sound asleep at one corner of the
divan. Jessica lovingly puts a blanket over him.
She softly touches his hair, the
first man she has touched
this way in too long.
Then she looks down at her hand, as if wondering what
she
has done and what it
means.
EXT.
JESSICA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
All the lights in the house are out.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM -
NIGHT
On the divan,
Greg tosses and turns in an uneasy sleep.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - BEDROOM -
NIGHT
In bed,
Jessica stares at the ceiling, unable to sleep.
MANHOOD
- 44
45.
Finally she slips out of bed and
puts on her robe.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Jessica comes through the living
room on her way to the
kitchen.
She stops to check on Greg and sees that he
is sleeping
fitfully.
She moves closer to the divan and looks down at him.
Greg's eyes open.
GREG
What time is it?
He gets up and loses his balance, saved from falling by
Jessica. They stand very close, their eyes locked.
Then Greg has to look away.
JESSICA
What's the matter?
He looks at her again. What he
has to say doesn't come easy
for him.
GREG
You're so
beautiful.
JESSICA
You think so?
I haven't been
feeling very beautiful.
Greg looks very confused, part of
him embarrassed and
wanting to run away, another part of him desirous and
wanting to make a move on her - if
only he knew how.
But Jessica saves the situation by acting first.
JESSICA
You'd better go home, Greg.
Greg's expression changes to disappointment and quickly
to
full
embarrassment. He turns and moves
quickly to the door.
JESSICA
Greg?
He turns and faces her. Desire comes out of every pore.
MANHOOD - 45
46.
JESSICA
Would you like to
spend the night?
Greg
takes a deep breath.
She moves toward him, and Greg opens his mouth as if to
speak - but no words come.
Jessica embraces him.
JESSICA
No words. Okay?
Her face moves close to his. Greg closes his eyes, letting
her take control, nervously letting
what is about to happen,
happen.
Jessica kisses him, softly. Greg
doesn't kiss back.
JESSICA
Please kiss me.
She kisses him again. Greg's lips part slightly, as he
begins to kiss back.
Suddenly, as if exploding, Greg is
seizing her and kissing
her hard, almost violently.
Jessica pushes him away, and Greg is upset by what
feels
like
rejection. But Jessica moves quickly,
before his
embarrassment
ruins the moment.
JESSICA
Slowly. Gently.
She takes his hand. They look at one another, and Jessica
smiles.
She leads him to the stairway.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - BEDROOM -
NIGHT
Greg and
Jessica are making love.
Both are full of passion,
Jessica's rekindled, Greg's newly
discovered - and in their lovemaking, Jessica leads
with
tender and gentle
direction.
MANHOOD
- 46
47.
INT. BEDROOM - LATER - NIGHT
Greg is alone in bed. Through the open door of the
bathroom, we see Jessica stepping
out of the shower and
wrapping
a towel around her.
The HOLOGRAM of Greg's Dad stands in the doorway.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
And I was trying to figure out what
advice to give
you.
Greg is too exhausted and too
overwhelmed to reply. He puts
both hands on his head.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
This is going to get more
complicated than you
can imagine,
son.
GREG
You shouldn't be
here.
Greg steps
out of bed and moves toward the hologram in the
doorway.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Be careful, is what I'm trying to
tell you. Don't set yourself up
for a broken
heart.
And in an
instant, as Greg arrives, the HOLOGRAM disappears.
Jessica enters, wrapped in a towel,
to find Greg at the
doorway.
JESSICA
Won't your mother be
wondering
where you are?
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - PORCH -
NIGHT
Jessica opens
the door to let Greg out.
GREG
Will I see you
tomorrow?
JESSICA
Give me a call.
MANHOOD
- 47
48.
She kisses him on the cheek, rather maternally considering
their recent passion.
Then she closes the door.
Greg moves off the porch, breathing deeply.
Suddenly he breaks into a run. He sprints down the
sidewalk, an explosion of energy and
hormones.
INT. APPLE HOME - DAY
Mrs. Apple opens the door to find
Bob Johnson on the porch.
BOB JOHNSON
I'm looking for Greg
Apple.
He holds up
identification. Mrs. Apple strains to
read it.
CLERK
Defense
Department. Is he here?
FLO
APPLE
Please come in.
Johnson steps inside.
FLO APPLE
If you wouldn't mind waiting in the
living room . .
.
BOB JOHNSON
Thank you.
Mrs. Apple points the way and
Johnson heads to the living
room. Then she hurries up the
stairs.
INT.
HALLWAY - DAY
Mrs.
Apple comes upstairs, walking swiftly to Greg's room.
The door is closed. She knocks.
Meriwether hears the knock and comes
out of her room into
the
hallway. Her hair is beet red.
MERIWETHER
He's really sleeping in this
morning.
I think he's sick or
something.
MANHOOD
- 48
49.
Mrs. Apple cracks open the door.
She enters the bedroom,
with Meriwether following behind her.
INT. GREG'S BEDROOM - DAY
Greg is asleep. His mother and sister approach the
bed.
FLO APPLE
It's not like him to
sleep so late.
She
gently shakes her son.
Greg stirs, rolls over and opens his eyes.
FLO
APPLE
Are
you feeling okay?
Greg groans.
FLO
APPLE
There's a gentleman to see you. He
says he's from the Department of
Defense.
This doesn't register with Greg yet
but Meriwether quickly
jumps to conclusions.
MERIWETHER
Department of
Defense! I bet
they're going to give
you a prize!
She
hurries out of the bedroom. Mrs. Apple
turns back to
her
son.
FLO APPLE
Can you come
downstairs to see him?
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
Bob Johnson is surveying the room
when Meriwether enters.
MERIWETHER
Hi.
BOB JOHNSON
Hello.
MERIWETHER
I'm Greg's sister.
Meriwether.
MANHOOD
- 49
50.
BOB JOHNSON
Bob Johnson.
MERIWETHER
I did most of the
dirty work.
BOB JOHNSON
Pardon me?
MERIWETHER
Writing in all the
code and stuff.
That's what you're here about,
isn't it?
The holographic
animation.
BOB JOHNSON
As a matter of fact,
yes.
MERIWETHER
He's a genius. He deserves
whatever prize you're giving him.
I'm not too dumb myself.
BOB
JOHNSON
I'm sure you're not.
You're
familiar with the program then?
MERIWETHER
I was beside him every step of the
way. It's all his ideas, of
course. But somebody's got to do
the grunt work,
right?
BOB JOHNSON
Right.
Mrs. Apple enters the room.
FLO
APPLE
He'll be right down. Meriwether,
I
hope
you're not bothering Mr.
Johnson.
BOB
JOHNSON
Not at all!
MERIWETHER
Not at all,
mother.
FLO APPLE
Would you like a cup of coffee?
MANHOOD
- 50
51.
BOB JOHNSON
No thanks.
Greg enters the room, still
buttoning up his shirt. He
looks like a man who didn't get
enough sleep last night -
which he didn't.
FLO APPLE
Here he is.
Johnson moves forward with an
outstretched hand.
BOB JOHNSON
I'm Bob Johnson,
Greg. I'd like to
buy you breakfast so we can talk.
This takes everyone by surprise,
Greg most of all. He looks
to his mother, as if looking for
permission.
FLO APPLE
I could make
breakfast here.
BOB JOHNSON
No need. What do you say?
GREG
Sure.
INT. JOHNSON'S RENTAL CAR - DAY
Johnson looks over at Greg in the passenger seat, who
has
been staring out the
window.
BOB JOHNSON
You know why I'm
here, don't you?
GREG
No.
Should I?
BOB JOHNSON
The Department of
Defense is very
interested in the research you've
been doing.
GREG
You know what happened in the Rose
Bowl?
BOB
JOHNSON
It
made the national press.
MANHOOD
- 51
52.
GREG
Jesus.
BOB JOHNSON
I'm surprised you didn't know.
GREG
I don't watch the news.
He starts staring out the window again.
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Greg and Johnson sit in a
booth. A WAITRESS moves off,
having just taken their order.
BOB
JOHNSON
I
don't believe in beating around
the
bush, Greg, so I'll get right
to the point. We're worried about
what you plan to do with this
software you're
developing.
GREG
I don't believe
this.
BOB JOHNSON
Hear me out. Does a
holographic
army mean anything to you?
Soldiers who explode into laser
rays. That's not far removed from
your Jerry Rice
caper.
Greg glances
away, looking very much out of his comfort
zone.
BOB JOHNSON
You probably haven't
given
something like that much thought.
GREG
As a matter of fact,
I haven't.
I'm doing pure research. I
haven't
thought of any applications at all.
BOB
JOHNSON
Ah, youth.
GREG
You think I'm naive,
right?
MANHOOD
- 52
53.
BOB JOHNSON
I think in the wrong hands, your
software could become
very
dangerous.
GREG
So why are you
here? What do you
want from me?
BOB
JOHNSON
We'd like to offer you a grant to
work for your country.
GREG
Whatever happened to knowledge for
its own sake? Everybody wants to
make a buck on this.
BOB
JOHNSON
I
didn't mention making a buck. I
was thinking along the lines of
keeping this out of
the wrong
hands.
GREG
Well, this is too
much stress. I
don't need it.
I quit.
He
gets up from the table.
BOB JOHNSON
Pardon me?
GREG
I'm not doing any more research.
I
have better ways to occupy my time
anyway.
So I can't work for you
because I'm no longer involved in
it.
He starts away.
BOB JOHNSON
You can stop, just
like that? What
the hell kind of a
scientist are
you?
Greg,
ignoring him, moves out of the restaurant as Johnson
watches, dumbfounded, seeing the
very last thing in the
world he expected.
MANHOOD
- 53
54.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM -
DAY
Jessica has
just let Greg in. She looks
angry.
JESSICA
I told you to call
first.
GREG
I was too excited
about quitting.
JESSICA
You're going too fast
for me.
Quitting what?
GREG
I'm not doing any more research.
I'd rather spend my
time with you.
The
hologram of Greg's dad appears in the room.
JESSICA
Now wait a minute. You're taking
me for granted here,
Greg.
GREG
I thought you'd be
glad.
JESSICA
I don't want you barging into my
life.
GREG
But last night-- . . .
JESSICA
Last night is
something that just
happened, that I made happen. I'm
not sure how I feel about that.
Especially now, with
you barging in
here unannounced.
GREG
Well, that's
great.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Give her some space,
son.
GREG
Why are you always snooping in my
business?
MANHOOD
- 54
55.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Just trying to give
you some
perspective on this.
JESSICA
I don't want to
regret what
happened, Greg, but
that's how
you're making me feel. I think
you
should
leave.
GREG
You don't want to
ever see me
again?
JESSICA
I didn't say
that. I want you to
call me this
afternoon like we
planned. We'll go from
there.
Greg hesitates to respond.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Son . . .?
GREG
Okay!
He
turns and storms out. The hologram of
Greg's dad lets
out a
deep breath, looks at Jessica and shakes his head.
Then he follows Greg outside.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - STREET -
DAY
Greg comes
storming out with the hologram of his dad
catching up with him.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
I told you this would get
complicated.
GREG
I thought last night was-- . . .
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
The most amazing
thing that ever
happened to you. You'll
never
forget it. Which is great. Just
don't try to base the rest of your
life on it.
MANHOOD
- 55
56.
GREG
What do you
know?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Not a hell of a lot,
son,
especially about women.
The hologram of Greg's dad stops and lets Greg move down
the
sidewalk alone.
EXT. TECH CAMPUS - DAY
Greg and Quentin are walking across
campus. Greg is doing
the talking, and Quentin the
listening.
Suddenly
Quentin stops, taking Greg's arm to stop him as
well.
QUENTIN
You did what?
GREG
You heard me.
QUENTIN
You and Mrs. Rollins
. . .?
Greg nods,
looking none too excited about his experience.
QUENTIN
Then why do you look so down in the
dumps?
GREG
I don't think it's going to happen
again.
QUENTIN
Why not?
GREG
Gut feeling. I think she used
me.
QUENTIN
She used you? She fucking used
you?
You should be doing
cartwheels across the goddamn lawn!
He stops, realizing other students
are looking at them. He
puts his arm around Greg, and they
move off again.
MANHOOD - 56
57.
QUENTIN
I want a
blow-by-blow, my friend.
Christ, I bet that's a pun, isn't
it? I can't believe how calm and
reserved you
look! This is
history, Greg. You'll remember her
forever for
this.
Greg still
looks glum.
EXT. APPLE HOME - DAY
Quentin's van pulls up in front of Greg's house.
INT. VAN - DAY
Quentin is behind the wheel, Greg in
the passenger seat,
K-Man
in the back.
QUENTIN
What are you going to
do?
GREG
I don't know.
K-MAN
Count your blessings, man. You've
reduced the freshman virgin
population by
thirty-three and a
third percent.
QUENTIN
Maybe it's not over.
GREG
I'm supposed to call her.
QUENTIN
See there.
GREG
I'm afraid to.
He opens the door and gets
out.
K-MAN
What's he want, a
long-term love
affair? I never thought of
an
older woman before.
(MORE)
MANHOOD
- 57
58.
K-MAN
(cont'd)
There was a widow back home who was
always nice to me - probably
lusting for my body
and I didn't
even know it.
Quentin pulls away.
INT. APPLE HOME - DAY
Greg enters to find Meriwether
coming down the stairs. Her
hair is white.
MERIWETHER
Hi. Where have you been
keeping
yourself?
Greg shrugs and starts up the stairs.
MERIWETHER
I thought we were going to keep
going with the research.
Greg's mom enters.
FLO
APPLE
It's
been like Grand Central
Station around here. You have
messages from Heather Pauley, Mr.
Johnson, Prof.
Bronson and Mrs.
Rollins. What makes you so
popular
all of a sudden?
GREG
Mrs. Rollins called?
FLO
APPLE
Something about needing help with
her computer.
Greg leaps down the stairs and
quickly moves for the door.
MERIWETHER
I have an idea for lengthening the
animation.
But Greg is already going out the
door. Meriwether and Mrs.
Apple exchange a look of
confusion.
MERIWETHER
He couldn't be.
MANHOOD
- 58
59.
FLO APPLE
Couldn't be what?
MERIWETHER
This could be heavy.
She goes out the door.
EXT. APPLE HOME - DAY
Meriwether comes onto the porch to
see Greg sprinting down
the sidewalk.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - DAY
Greg races all the way to Jessica's house.
He reaches the porch and bends over
in exhaustion.
The
door opens, and Greg moves inside.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - DAY
Jessica embraces him.
JESSICA
I missed you so much today.
They kiss, their passion renewed.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT
After lovemaking, Greg is admiring
himself in the bedroom
mirror. Jessica returns from the
bathroom.
GREG
Maybe I should start
lifting
weights.
JESSICA
Why?
GREG
To get some muscles. I'm
so
scrawny.
JESSICA
You look just fine.
MANHOOD
- 59
60.
GREG
I was wondering . . .
JESSICA
Yes?
GREG
Am I, you know, okay in bed and
everything?
Jessica laughs.
JESSICA
You're doing just fine.
GREG
I want to be the best lover you
ever had.
JESSICA
Just be yourself, Greg.
GREG
I want to spend all
the time with
you I can.
JESSICA
I believe you. But I am not going
to be responsible for
you flunking
out of Tech. We need to talk about
what we're doing,
Greg.
But Greg
doesn't say anything.
JESSICA
I know I've taken
advantage of you,
and I feel a little guilty
about
that. But I need this. And I
think you do, too.
GREG
Absolutely.
JESSICA
But it's not permanent. I'm old
enough to be your mother.
GREG
I know. So how long do we
have?
MANHOOD
- 60
61.
JESSICA
Until it stops
feeling good. Until
we start hurting one
another.
GREG
That can be a long
time.
JESSICA
We'll see. But I need my space,
Greg. Don't crowd me.
GREG
Okay.
JESSICA
Now I'm sending you
home so you can
do your homework.
GREG
No problem.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOME - PORCH - NIGHT
Jessica, still in her robe, lets
Greg out. They kiss one
more time.
GREG
Same time tomorrow?
JESSICA
Call me first.
GREG
Right.
She blows him another kiss and
closes the door.
The hologram of Greg's dad appears as Greg moves off the
porch.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You going to be able to handle
this, son?
GREG
Sure, why not?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
If something comes
up, I'll be
around.
MANHOOD
- 61
62.
GREG
Don't show up when Jessica and I
are alone, okay? Give me your
word.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You've got it.
GREG
Thanks.
Greg breaks into a grin and, full of
energy, starts running
down the sidewalk. The hologram
of his dad just watches him
go, looking a little amused but also a little concerned.
EXT. APPLE HOME - NIGHT
As Greg approaches his house, Anders
gets out of a parked
car
and walks toward him.
ANDERS
Greg?
Greg doesn't look pleased to see
him.
ANDERS
Can we talk for a
minute?
Greg
doesn't respond.
ANDERS
You stopped going to
the lab.
Prof. Bronson is worried about you.
GREG
I quit the lab.
ANDERS
Really? I don't think he knows
that.
GREG
He'll figure it out.
Greg makes a move for the house, but Anders steps in
his
way.
ANDERS
If you're not happy
with the
business arrangement he offered
you, perhaps I can do better.
MANHOOD
- 62
63.
GREG
I'm not interested in any business
arrangement.
ANDERS
I don't think you realize how much
money could be in
this for you.
GREG
I'm not interested in
money.
ANDERS
Everyone is
interested in money.
GREG
Goodnight.
Greg tries to move around Anders to
go into the house, and
Anders stops him again.
ANDERS
If you change your
mind, give me a
call. I'm in room 517.
He hands him a card from his
hotel.
Greg shoves
the card into a pocket and heads for the house.
INT. GREG'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Greg is at work on his computer when
Meriwether steps into
the
doorway. Her hair is still white.
MERIWETHER
Knock, knock.
GREG
I'm busy, Meriwether.
MERIWETHER
You're busy a lot
lately.
Greg doesn't
reply. He punches in something into
the
computer.
MERIWETHER
Are you having an affair with Mrs.
Rollins?
MANHOOD - 63
64.
This gets Greg's attention. He
leaps out of his chair, goes
to the door and drags Meriwether inside, closing the door
behind her.
Having done this, Greg takes a deep
breath, wondering what
to
do now. Meriwether watches him
closely.
GREG
No, I'm not. What gave you that
idea?
MERIWETHER
Men.
She turns and walks out of the
bedroom.
Greg
follows her into the hallway.
INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT
Meriwether is heading for her
bedroom.
GREG
Who told you
that?
MERIWETHER
Duh. Anybody can figure it out,
Testoster-Drone.
She walks into her bedroom, closing the door behind
her.
Greg stares at
the closed door for a moment, then turns to
go back to his own room.
EXT. TECH CAMPUS - DAY
Prof. Bronson and his son are
walking across campus.
TOM
If we had the source
code, we
wouldn't need him.
PROF. BRONSON
Think you can manage that?
TOM
Leave it to me, Dad.
MANHOOD
- 64
65.
INT. CAMPUS - BUILDING HALLWAY -
DAY
Bronson is
coming down the hallway to his office and finds
Bob Johnson at the door.
PROF. BRONSON
Are you waiting for
me?
BOB JOHNSON
If you're Professor
Bronson, I am.
Bronson unlocks his door.
PROF. BRONSON
I have a class in fifteen minutes.
BOB
JOHNSON
I
won't take ten.
Bronson enters the office, with Johnson following.
INT. BRONSON'S OFFICE - DAY
Johnson takes out his identification
and shows it to the
professor.
PROF. BRONSON
I wondered how long
it would take
you people to come by.
BOB JOHNSON
You were expecting
me?
PROF. BRONSON
I know there are
applications of
the new technology that would
interest you.
BOB
JOHNSON
Indeed there are.
PROF. BRONSON
When I've secured
patents, I'll be
glad to talk to you. Good
day.
BOB JOHNSON
A student, Greg
Apple, is working
in your lab.
PROF. BRONSON
You've been doing your homework.
MANHOOD
- 65
66.
BOB JOHNSON
He doesn't seem to be interested in
the
applications.
PROF. BRONSON
Youth is
idealistic.
BOB
JOHNSON
We'd be interested in seeing the
source code for what he has so far.
PROF. BRONSON
I bet you would! When I have
patents, we'll speak. Thanks so
much for stopping by.
The professor is escorting Johnson
to the door.
BOB JOHNSON
We could confiscate the code if
necessary.
PROF. BRONSON
Big Brothering, are we? Fear is
not a motivation with me, Mr.
Johnson. Quite
the opposite.
He
shuts the door on Johnson. The
professor looks worried.
He thinks a minute, then goes to the phone and dials.
PROF. BRONSON
(on the phone)
Tom, the government's
snooping
around. We need that source
code
sooner rather than later.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Greg is walking to campus when a car pulls over beside
him.
Heather is at the
wheel.
HEATHER
Want a ride?
Greg hesitates but gives in and gets
into the car.
INT. HEATHER'S CAR - DAY
Heather waits for Greg to begin but he doesn't.
MANHOOD
- 66
67.
The hologram of Greg's dad appears in the back seat.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Just here in case you need help.
Greg sighs.
HEATHER
I should be mad at you. I
left
three
messages you didn't answer.
GREG
Really? Meriwether must've
forgotten to tell
me.
HEATHER
I left them with your
mother.
GREG
The older she gets,
the worse her
memory is.
Heather considers this thoughtfully.
HEATHER
At any rate, are we having fun yet?
GREG
I'm not sure what you mean.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
She means those excuses were pretty
lame.
HEATHER
Are we going to go out again or
what?
GREG
Ah, well - why not? I'm just
real
busy
right now.
HEATHER
How's the project
coming?
GREG
Great. It just takes up all of my
time.
Heather lets this digest, weighing
its true meaning.
MANHOOD - 67
68.
HEATHER
Does that mean you
really don't
want to go out with me again?
Greg looks like he's being backed into a corner. He turns
to the hologram of his dad.
GREG
So get me out of this one.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Ask her to a movie.
GREG
I don't want to take her to a
movie.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Why not?
She's a sweet girl, and
she likes you a lot.
GREG
I want to spend all my time with
Jessica.
HEATHER
I take it silence
means no, you
don't.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Tell her you
do!
GREG
I do. I mean, if I had time I
would.
HEATHER
Okay. So will you give me a
call
when
you have some free time?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Of course.
GREG
Of course.
EXT. CAMPUS - DAY
Heather's car pulls up and Greg gets out. He waves as
Heather pulls back into traffic.
MANHOOD
- 68
69.
Greg is walking across campus when Quentin and K-Man join
him.
GREG
Hey, guys.
Quentin and K-Man exchange glances.
K-MAN
Look at you. You're getting it
again.
Greg smiles.
QUENTIN
You must be in heaven!
K-MAN
I'm definitely
considering older
women now.
QUENTIN
What made her change
her mind?
GREG
She missed me.
K-MAN
What a stud you must be!
GREG
I'm late for
class. Talk to you
later, okay?
He trots off.
Quentin and K-Man look at him with jealousy
and near-reverence.
K-MAN
Is there a taboo against aunts?
QUENTIN
How do you mean?
K-MAN
My Aunt Hilda thinks I'm the cat's
pajamas.
INT. CAMPUS - CLASSROOM - DAY
Greg sits in a calculus class with about a dozen other
students, young men and women.
MANHOOD
- 69
70.
The TEACHER is scribbling an equation on the board when the
bell rings. Students gather their books to go.
TEACHER
Quiz next Monday, people!
INT. HALLWAY - DAY
Greg comes out of class to walk down the hallway.
Tom has been waiting for him and
follows.
EXT.
CAMPUS - BUILDING - DAY
Greg comes out of the building.
A moment later, Tom comes out of the building.
EXT. CONVENIENCE MARKET - STREET -
DAY
Tom watches as
Greg talks on a pay phone outside a
convenience market.
Greg hangs up and moves on.
Tom follows.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - DAY
Tom watches Greg go into Jessica's house. His interest is
perked, wondering what he might be doing there.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - LATER -
NIGHT
Tom is still
watching the house from across the street.
He
is getting a
camera ready.
Tom
crosses the street.
INT. JESSICA'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Greg and Jessica are making love again.
MANHOOD
- 70
71.
EXT. JESSICA'S BEDROOM - TREE -
NIGHT
Tom has
climbed into a tree, from which he gets a good view
into the bedroom. He is taking photographs of their
lovemaking.
INT. PAULEY'S HOUSE - BREAKFAST NOOK
- DAY
Prof. Pauley
and Heather are having English muffins and
coffee together in the morning. The professor looks up from
his newspaper.
PROF. PAULEY
I heard Greg quit the lab.
HEATHER
Really?
PROF. PAULEY
Which pleases me no
end, as you can
imagine. Bronson uses
students
like slaves for his hair-brained
business ventures.
HEATHER
When did this happen?
PROF. PAULEY
A week or more ago, I think. Greg
mention anything about it to you?
HEATHER
Why would he mention it
to me?
PROF. PAULEY
I thought you two
were dating.
HEATHER
I don't think so.
She gets up and leaves, to her
father's concern.
INT. APPLE HOME - DAY
Meriwether answers the door. Her hair is purple.
Heather stands on the porch.
HEATHER
Hi. Is Greg home?
MANHOOD
- 71
72.
MERIWETHER
He already left.
HEATHER
When do you expect him back?
MERIWETHER
Good question. You're Heather
Pauley, aren't you?
HEATHER
Yes.
MERIWETHER
I'm Meriwether.
EXT. PARK - DAY
Meriwether and Heather are swinging
at a park playground.
They keep the same rhythm, their swings arcing side by side.
MERIWETHER
Can I ask you something personal?
HEATHER
Sure.
MERIWETHER
Do you like Greg? Like in
a
special
way?
HEATHER
The question is
whether or not he
likes me. Does he have a
girlfriend or
something?
Meriwether pauses, as if considering whether or not to tell
her the truth.
MERIWETHER
He's never had a girlfriend that I
know of.
He's really shy.
HEATHER
I guess that explains
some things.
Meriwether lets it rest, as they continue to swing.
MANHOOD
- 72
73.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Meriwether is pacing back and forth,
getting up the nerve to
go to the door.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Jessica passes by the living room
window and notices
Meriwether on the sidewalk
outside. She starts to go to the
door, then thinks better of
it.
JESSICA
Greg?
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - OFFICE -
NIGHT
Greg sits at
Jessica's computer, doing homework.
JESSICA
Your sister's
outside.
GREG
Doing what?
JESSICA
I think she's trying
to get the
nerve to knock on the door.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
The door opens and Greg comes
outside. He walks to
Meriwether.
MERIWETHER
What you're doing really isn't cool
at all.
I know you think it's the
coolest thing that ever happened to
you, but that's the testosterone
talking, your
hormones making you
think crazy and everything, and if
you would just step
back and look
at this rationally-- . . .
GREG
Go home,
Meriwether.
MERIWETHER
Heather really likes
you, Greg.
MANHOOD - 73
74.
Greg stops and comes forward again.
GREG
What did you tell Heather?
MERIWETHER
Nothing. She came by to see you.
She said you're not
working in the
lab anymore, which is pretty
obvious since you spend so much
time banging my
algebra teacher.
As
if speaking of the devil, the front door opens and
Jessica steps out onto the
porch.
JESSICA
Why don't you two
come inside?
GREG
She was just
leaving.
MERIWETHER
Thank you very much,
I will.
She moves
past Greg to go into the house.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN BAR - NIGHT
An awkward silence fills the
room. Jessica is pouring
everyone coffee.
JESSICA
I suppose I should be
first.
MERIWETHER
I want to be
first. I want to know
how you could do
this.
The question
is directed to Jessica, who uses returning the
coffee pot as an excuse to avoid it for the moment.
GREG
We're talking about two consenting
adults here, Meriwether.
MERIWETHER
Duh. I don't think so.
JESSICA
She's right. I started
this.
MANHOOD - 74
75.
GREG
It takes two to
tango.
JESSICA
No, I'm
responsible. You were in
no position to
refuse.
GREG
Why would I refuse
you? I love
you.
MERIWETHER
Oh my God. Now he gives his dick a
heart.
JESSICA
That's pretty harsh, Meriwether.
Greg stands up and
makes a move to go, but suddenly the
hologram of his dad blocks his path.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You don't want to miss this, son.
GREG
I don't have to defend how I feel
about her.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You're doing some fast growing up
here - but this may
be the most
important experience of all.
Sit
down.
Greg
hesitates.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Sit down, goddamn
it!
Greg sits back down.
JESSICA
I hope we can all salvage something
here.
MERIWETHER
How could you do this?
JESSICA
It happened,
okay? I wish I could
take it back but I
can't.
MANHOOD
- 75
76.
GREG
I'm glad it
happened.
JESSICA
I acted selfishly,
and then I
convinced myself something good
could come from this.
GREG
It has! I love you, and
Meriwether
has no right to criticize us.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Son, I think you'd learn more by
listening.
GREG
No!
I have feelings, too.
He turns to Jessica.
GREG
Don't you ever regret what you did.
Because I'll never forget it.
JESSICA
But we can't
continue.
Greg
ponders this.
JESSICA
Greg, we just
can't.
GREG
I know.
JESSICA
If you really mean
that . . . I'll
never forget what we shared, Greg.
MERIWETHER
Is this where the violins come in?
She stands up from the table.
MERIWETHER
I think I'm going to go outside and
puke.
JESSICA
Why do you think this
has something
to do with you?
MANHOOD
- 76
77.
MERIWETHER
Because you used to be my favorite
teacher, and Greg and I spent the
whole summer doing
this really cool
research, but ever since you took
advantage of his stupid dickhead
testoster-drone mind,
nothing's
been the same!
She runs out of the kitchen.
Jessica turns to Greg, as if
asking him to follow her.
GREG
She'll be all right.
JESSICA
You'd better go after
her.
Greg stands
up.
GREG
Can we be
friends?
JESSICA
I hope so.
There is desire growing between
them, but each is resisting
responding to it.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
That was your exit
line.
Greg leaves,
with the hologram behind him.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Greg comes out to find Meriwether
still out front. He turns
to the hologram.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Your sister is one of a kind, son.
You're on your own here.
Greg walks to Meriwether
alone.
MERIWETHER
Did you really break
up with her?
GREG
Looks like.
MANHOOD
- 77
78.
Meriwether offers her hand for a shake.
MERIWETHER
Congratulations.
GREG
It hurts,
Meriwether.
Greg is
fighting back tears, and Meriwether can't believe
her eyes, she's never seen him this
way before.
She
steps forward and embraces him.
In her embrace, Greg lets loose and the tears come
flowing.
INT.
JESSICA'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Through the front window, Jessica sees what is going
on
outside. She bites her lip, holding back her own
grief.
EXT.
JESSICA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Greg and Meriwether break their embrace.
MERIWETHER
Want to play miniature
golf?
GREG
Do what?
MERIWETHER
Play miniature golf. It's what
I
do whenever
I feel crappy.
GREG
Well, I feel crappy,
that's for
sure.
EXT. MINIATURE GOLF COURSE - NIGHT
Greg and Meriwether are playing miniature golf.
MERIWETHER
Why didn't you tell me all this was
going on?
If it was me, I would've
quit the lab in a heartbeat. Pure
research shouldn't sell out.
MANHOOD
- 78
79.
GREG
I think we're a minority of two.
MERIWETHER
So what? Look what we've done
so
far. The government wants to
give
you a
prize, right?
GREG
I'm not sure they're
much better
than business.
MERIWETHER
So screw them all. We did without
them all summer. Who needs them
now?
GREG
I need to hear that, Meriwether.
She repeats herself with great histrionics, imitating
Betty
Davis.
MERIWETHER
"So screw them all. We did
without
them all summer. Who needs
them
now?"
This lightness is just what the doctor
ordered, and Greg
loosens
up a little.
INT. APPLE HOME - NIGHT
Greg and Meriwether come through the door to find the
mail
on a small table in
the foyer. There is a manilla
envelope
for Greg, which
he starts to open.
Mrs. Apple hurries into the foyer.
FLO APPLE
Where have you two
been? The
federal government came
in and
confiscated both your computers.
MERIWETHER
Are you
serious?
FLO APPLE
Mr. Johnson said that
what you are
working on concerns national
security.
MANHOOD
- 79
80.
GREG
That's a crock.
Saying this, Greg has pulled a photograph out of the
envelope and quickly sees what it
is, a photo of his and
Jessica's lovemaking.
He shoves the photo back into the envelope, blushing
a
little.
FLO
APPLE
Greg, you promised me you were
going to keep out of trouble.
But Greg already is hurrying
upstairs.
Meriwether, wondering what is going on, heads after him.
FLO
APPLE
Meriwether, please try to talk to
him.
Mrs. Apple is left alone, at a loss of what to do.
The hologram of her husband appears
in the foyer. He looks
lovingly at his wife and speaks,
although he knows she
cannot see or hear him.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
I'll see what I can
do, honey.
The
hologram heads up the stairs.
INT. APPLE HOME - HALLWAY - NIGHT
Greg comes upstairs and hurries into
his room, closing the
door behind him.
Meriwether arrives at the closed door.
MERIWETHER
Greg, what's going on?
The hologram comes up and walks right through the
door.
INT. GREG'S ROOM - NIGHT
Greg pulls out the
photographs.
MANHOOD
- 80
81.
A half-dozen PHOTOGRAPHS show Greg and Jessica making love,
the shots that Tom took from the
tree.
Greg notices
the hologram.
GREG
These are
private.
The
hologram raises his hands, as if to say, "I'm keeping my
distance."
GREG
There's a note.
Greg pulls out a note from the envelope. He reads it:
GREG
"You can have the negatives in
exchange for the
source code for
the holographic animation.
Bring
hard copy of code and program disk
to
West End Park, gazebo, at
midnight Saturday."
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You're being blackmailed.
GREG
What am I supposed to do?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
I'm not sure you have a choice,
son.
Meriwether bangs on the door.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
See you
tomorrow.
The
hologram disappears, as Greg opens the door.
Meriwether
steps
into the room, and Greg hands her the note.
She reads it.
MERIWETHER
Negatives of . .
.?
Greg nods.
MERIWETHER
Who would do something like that?
MANHOOD - 81
82.
EXT. CONVENIENCE MARKET - DAY
Greg is at a pay phone, reading a phone number from
the
hotel card that
Anders gave him, dialing it.
Anders answers.
INTERCUT PHONE CONVERSATION
ANDERS
Hello.
GREG
This is Greg Apple. I know you're
the one, and I'm
about to go to the
police.
ANDERS
Greg? I don't understand.
GREG
The negatives in
exchange for the
source code.
Anders pauses - on his face, we see the decision to go
along.
ANDERS
And . . . ?
GREG
I may not show up at the gazebo.
ANDERS
I see.
GREG
How do I know you'll give
me all
the
negatives?
ANDERS
In exchange for the
source code?
GREG
That's what your note said.
ANDERS
Why would I want to keep the
negatives? I have no use for them.
As soon as I get the source code,
I'm home to
Sweden.
MANHOOD
- 82
83.
GREG
Maybe I'll be there, maybe I won't.
ANDERS
How long should I wait?
GREG
If I'm coming, I'll
be there at
midnight.
ANDERS
Very good, Greg. Thank you.
Anders smiles, as Greg hangs
up.
EXT. WEST
END PARK - NIGHT
The van pulls up outside the park.
INT. VAN - NIGHT
Quentin is driving with Greg in the
passenger seat. In back
is K-Man.
QUENTIN
You going to be okay?
GREG
No problem, long as
they give me
the negatives.
K-MAN
I'll have binocs on
you all the
way, buddy.
He proudly holds up a pair of
binoculars, as if he were
protecting Greg with a weapon.
Greg gets out of the van. He carries a small envelope
holding the code and program disk.
EXT. PARK - NIGHT
Greg crosses the street and enters the park.
In the shadows, the outline of the
gazebo is visible up
ahead. Greg slowly walks toward
it.
MANHOOD - 83
84.
The HOLOGRAM of Greg's dad appears from behind a tree and
walks along with Greg.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
How are you holding
out?
GREG
Okay, I guess.
Suddenly a VOICE, electronically
distorted, comes out of a
speaker attached to the gazebo.
ELECTRONIC VOICE
Don't come any
farther.
Greg
stops, looking for the source of the voice.
ELECTRONIC VOICE
If you have the printout and disk,
hold them up
high.
Greg holds up
the envelope.
ELECTRONIC VOICE
Take them out of the
envelope.
Hold them high so I can see them.
EXT. PARK - STREET - NIGHT
Tom's car is parked on a service
road beyond the gazebo.
INT. TOM'S CAR - NIGHT
Tom speaks into a microphone while
watching Greg through
binoculars.
EXT. GAZEBO - NIGHT
Greg is holding up a printout of the source code and a disk
of the software.
ELECTRONIC VOICE
Approach the gazebo.
Greg steps forward, the hologram
following.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
This fellow watches
too many
movies.
MANHOOD
- 84
85.
ELECTRONIC VOICE
Step into the
gazebo.
Greg moves
up the stairs into the gazebo, with the hologram
coming up behind him.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Oh my.
GREG
What?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
This is where I
proposed to your
mother. I haven't been here
in
years.
ELECTRONIC VOICE
Look in the envelope
taped to the
railing.
Greg finds the envelope, pulls it free and looks inside.
The negatives are there.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
He's in the car there.
Greg sees the car parked beyond the
gazebo.
ELECTRONIC VOICE
We have you
surrounded, so don't
try anything stupid. You have the
negatives.
Leave the code and disk
and get out of here.
GREG
How do I know there's not other
negatives?
ELECTRONIC VOICE
You have to take my
word for it.
Greg
turns to the hologram of his dad.
GREG
I don't feel good
about this.
HOLOGRAM
OF DAD
You
see another way?
MANHOOD
- 85
86.
INT. VAN - NIGHT
Quentin and K-Man are getting nervous, hearing the
electronic voice, watching Greg
hesitate in the gazebo.
EXT. GAZEBO - NIGHT
Greg has the envelope with the negatives but hasn't put
down
the one with the
code and disk.
ELECTRONIC VOICE
Leave your stuff and
get out of
here.
GREG
I don't think I trust you.
Suddenly the car starts up, the
headlights come on, and the
automobile maneuvers so that high beams are straight on
Greg.
GREG
Okay! I'm leaving it!
Greg gently puts down the envelope.
ELECTRONIC VOICE
Get out of here!
Greg turns and, feeling sudden
panic, jumps off the gazebo
and runs to the van. The hologram disappears.
INT. VAN - NIGHT
Greg quickly comes into the
van.
GREG
Let's get out of
here!
The van peels
off.
The car in the
park skids to a stop in front of the gazebo.
Tom gets out and hurries up the steps.
He opens Greg's envelope and finds
exactly what he wants.
Suddenly, Anders appears behind him, knocking Tom hard over
the head with a blunt
instrument.
MANHOOD
- 86
87.
Tom falls to the floor of the gazebo. Anders grabs the
envelope and rushes off.
Tom is out cold.
INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT
Greg, Quentin, and K-Man are having
sodas at an all-night
restaurant. The hologram sits
beside Greg.
GREG
You know what pisses
me off the
most? The greed of it. The feds
just barge in like Big Brother, the
sleezeballs act like
they're in the
mafia, the lab at school is corrupt
- all for what? If any of them had
asked me for the code, I'd've given
it to them.
QUENTIN
Are you
serious?
GREG
I don't think the
laws of Nature
should be a secret. Or
commercialized. They tried to buy
me out when all they
had to do is
ask.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
I never knew you felt
that way.
GREG
Science belongs to
everybody. No
secrets. No special interests.
K-MAN
No hologram of Julianna.
GREG
Why not?
I've give you the code.
QUENTIN
You have a
backup?
GREG
Jesus, Quentin. Of
course I have a
backup.
MANHOOD
- 87
88.
EXT. APPLE HOME - DAY
A police car pulls up in front of the Apple home the
next
morning.
INT. APPLE HOME - GREG'S ROOM -
DAY
Greg is reading
when Mrs. Apple steps into the doorway.
FLO APPLE
Greg?
EXT. APPLE HOME - DAY
Greg is brought outside by two
policemen. He is in
handcuffs.
Meriwether and Mrs. Apple follow
along. Meriwether's hair
is purple.
FLO APPLE
I don't
understand. If he's not
being charged with
something, why
did you read him his rights?
Why
is he in handcuffs?
POLICEMAN
We're just taking him
in for
questioning, ma'am.
MERIWETHER
We're calling our
lawyer!
The police
put Greg into the back seat and drive off, as the
women watch.
MERIWETHER
Do we have a lawyer?
INT. POLICE STATION - INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
Greg is being questioned by JASON
KING, 40s, a burly police
investigator.
JASON KING
Then how do you
explain this?
He
hands Greg a slip of paper.
MANHOOD
- 88
89.
JASON KING
Your name. The place and time of
the rendevous.
GREG
Where'd you get this?
JASON KING
It was on him.
Greg looks trapped.
JASON KING
The man won't be in a
comma forever
son. His signs look good,
the
doctor
says, he could come around
any minute. When he does, what do
you suppose he'll
have to say?
GREG
Okay, I was
there. But all I did
was make the exchange
and left.
JASON KING
And what exchange was
that?
GREG
I'd rather not
say.
JASON KING
You're not helping yourself here.
Greg looks around, hoping the
hologram of his dad would
appear to give him advice.
JASON KING
Looking for something, son?
Greg just looks at him.
INT. JAIL - CELL - DAY
Greg sits in his cell, head down,
depressed. Suddenly he
looks up and around.
GREG
Dad, where the hell are
you?
An inmate
voice comes from another cell:
MANHOOD
- 89
90.
INMATE VOICE (O.S.)
Does the little boy
miss his daddy
and mommy?
Laughter breaks out down the way.
INT. CELL - LATER - DAY
A GUARD comes to the door of Greg's
cell.
GUARD
You have a
visitor.
INT.
JAIL - VISITING AREA - DAY
Greg enters a low-security visiting area to find his mother
and Meriwether waiting for him.
MERIWETHER
We got a lawyer. You'll be out
in
no
time.
Mrs. Apple
looks like she's about to cry.
FLO APPLE
Oh Greg . . .
By his expression, this is the last
thing Greg wants to
hear.
EXT. JAIL - NIGHT
Greg comes out with his mother, Meriwether and DICK WALLACE,
30s, a good-looking young lawyer
fresh out of school.
The family car is parked across the street but Greg moves
away from it, to head quickly down
the street.
GREG
I'll be home later.
FLO APPLE
Greg!
GREG
There's something I have to do.
The lawyer calls after him:
MANHOOD
- 90
91.
DICK WALLACE
Be in my office at 9
tomorrow!
Flo Apple
shakes her head, then turns to Meriwether.
MERIWETHER
Don't ask me.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Jessica opens the door to find Greg on the porch. She lets
him in.
JESSICA
I heard the
news.
There's an
awkward moment between them, and then Jessica
opens her arms to receive him.
INT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - KITCHEN BAR - NIGHT
Jessica is drinking a glass of wine,
Greg a pop.
JESSICA
I appreciate your
valor, Greg, but
you're going to have to tell them
the truth.
GREG
But then-- . . .
JESSICA
I can handle
it.
GREG
You'd lose your
job.
JESSICA
You're of age and no
longer my
student. I could fight it. But to
be
honest, it would be as good an
excuse as any to get away from
here.
GREG
You want to move?
MANHOOD - 91
92.
JESSICA
There are too many
ghosts here.
Greg, I want you to tell the
police
exactly what happened.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Greg is walking home when the hologram of his dad
appears
beside him.
GREG
Where the hell have you been?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Is that any way to talk to your
father?
GREG
I needed you in
jail.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You did fine without
me. I think I
need to spend more
time with your
mother.
GREG
I believe it.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Watch your tongue. She's doing the
best she can.
GREG
What the hell have I
done wrong
here? I was doing
research,
minding my own business. I
was
doing
something for the challenge
of it, for the pure knowledge of
it.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
And then you stopped.
GREG
Then I . . . Christ,
I still think
about her all the time.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Maybe it's time to
put your energy
back into research.
MANHOOD
- 92
93.
GREG
What is totally
absurd is that I
would've given them the code.
All
they had to do is ask.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
You said that at the
restaurant.
GREG
Right. I forgot you were there.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
See, I'm dispensable.
GREG
You can't put science
up for sale,
is the point. You can't barge
in
unannounced and kidnap the human
mind.
I wish I could-- . . .
He abruptly stops, a glow of realization lighting up
his
face.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Could what, son?
GREG
I can! It would work.
He starts running off for home. The hologram smiles, happy
to see Greg taking charge
again.
INT.
APPLE HOME - MERIWETHER'S ROOM - DAY
Greg bursts into his sister's room.
GREG
How many of your friends have
computers?
MERIWETHER
All of them. Why?
GREG
I need to round up every
computer
we can get. You call them up,
I'm
going
to the dorm to get Quentin
and K-Man in on this.
MERIWETHER
In on what? What's going on?
MANHOOD
- 93
94.
GREG
We're going to beat them at their
own game!
And he's gone as quickly as he
arrived. Meriwether hurries
to the phone to start dialing her
friends.
INT.
CAMPUS - DORM FLOOR - DAY
Greg is running what appears to be some kind of an assembly
line on Quentin and K-Man's floor of
the dorm. Everyone who
lives on that floor seems to be
involved - along with their
friends. Great excitement is in
the air.
What Greg
is overseeing is a massive setting up of computers
and laser hardware, each directed
out a window of the dorm
to the campus grounds below.
Greg moves from room to room, overseeing that everything
is
going well.
He moves into K-Man's room, where
K-Man is making copy after
copy of the holographic animation program disks.
GREG
How's it going?
K-MAN
You sure you're going
to need this
many?
GREG
I want as many as we
have time to
copy.
Greg
moves into an adjacent room, where several students are
scanning as many different kinds of
images as they can, as
fast as they can, from magazines and books.
GREG
We'll need all the
images you have
time to scan.
STUDENT
You looking for any
images in
particular?
GREG
Give me
Americana. Give me what
we're bombarded with
every day.
MANHOOD
- 94
95.
EXT. CAMPUS - DAY
A pickup pulls up, filled with
computers and high school
girls - Meriwether and her friends.
They start unloading
the equipment, carrying it toward the dorm. Meriwether's
hair is purple.
Passing male students chivalrously offer to help.
Heather drives by and sees the
unusual activity on campus,
wondering what is going on. She
parks her car.
INT. DORM ROOM - DAY
Greg is holding court to a dozen Tech students in
Quentin's
dorm room. Quentin, K-Man and Meriwether are
there.
GREG
Okay, this is command
post.
Nothing happens unless it starts
here.
Everybody got that?
Heads nod, and students mutter affirmatively.
K-MAN
Greg, you are a genius. You also
are a very sick man.
MERIWETHER
When do we start?
GREG
Bronson should be
crossing the quad
in about thirty minutes.
EXT. TECH CAMPUS - DAY
Heather is crossing campus toward
the dorm when she crosses
paths with her father.
PROF. PAULEY
What's all the activity about?
HEATHER
I don't know. But there's
something in every
window in the
dorm.
MANHOOD
- 95
96.
The professor takes a look, and indeed there is - out of
each dorm window, pointing like a
cannon at the ready, is
the laser hardware of an adjacent computer.
PROF. PAULEY
Have you seen Greg?
HEATHER
No. Did he do this?
PROF. PAULEY
I'd bet on it. This should prove
to be very interesting. I don't
know about you, but I'm going to
get comfortable and
watch the fun.
Pauley escorts his daughter to a tree, where they sit down
in the shade and wait for the action
to begin.
EXT. PARKING LOT - CAMPUS - DAY
Prof. Bronson pulls into the lot and parks. He gets out and
heads for campus.
EXT. CAMPUS - DAY
Bronson starts across campus. The dorm is in the distance,
across the way the building where
his office is.
INT. DORM ROOM - DAY
Quentin, on lookout, sees the professor.
QUENTIN
Target has entered the area!
GREG
Everyone to stations!
Students quickly rush to
pre-designated areas.
INT. DORM FLOOR - DAY
The whole floor is a beehive of
activity.
MANHOOD
- 96
97.
EXT. CAMPUS - DAY
Prof. Bronson passes near the tree under which Prof. Pauley
and Heather relax.
PROF. PAULEY
Beautiful day, isn't
it, Prof.
Bronson?
PROF. BRONSON
Prof. Pauley, I
believe that's the
first decent thing you've said to
me in the past
fifteen years.
PROF. PAULEY
Enjoy it while you
can.
As if on cue,
an EXPLOSION OF HOLOGRAMS bursts upon the
campus.
There are LIONS, ELEPHANTS and
MONKEYS, roaring, playful;
FOOTBALL PLAYERS, BASKETBALL PLAYERS and HOCKEY PLAYERS,
showing off their skills;
MALE, FEMALE, AND CHILD MODELS,
strutting about in the
latest fashions;
A GO-GO DANCER OR TWO gyrates;
A POLITICIAN OR TWO
pontificates;
- the
campus area fills with DOZENS OF HOLOGRAMS
representing all aspects of America as reflected in
its
images.
The holograms are very
realistic. It's as if every
magazine
and video image
in the country decided to be in the same
place at the same time.
Prof. Bronson, surrounded by this
explosion of images,
reacts between horror and doubt of his own sanity. He
throws up his arms, as if protecting himself against
an
onslaught of bats, as
the holograms dance all around him.
Prof. Pauley starts applauding, and Heather joins
in.
PROF.
PAULEY
Bravo! Bravo!
MANHOOD
- 97
98.
INT. DORM ROOM - DAY
Looking down at the scene below,
Greg grins as wide as his
genius. Meriwether puts her arm
around him.
GREG
Okay, distribution
crew, hit the
quad!
EXT. CAMPUS - DAY
Students gather around the show of holograms, amazed at what
they are seeing.
Greg's crew, including Tech students
and Meriwether's high
school friends, stream out of the building, passing out free
copies of the program on disk.
STUDENT
Free software! Make your
own
holograms! Free software!
Pauley notices that the program is
being given away.
PROF. PAULEY
It's a stroke of
genius. A
brilliant
counter-attack. He's
made the program
non-commercial by
giving it away.
INT. DORM ROOM - DAY
Most of the students have gone down
below where the action
is. Greg and Meriwether look out
a window, admiring their
accomplishment.
The hologram of their dad appears beside them.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Good work, son.
GREG
Thanks. Can Meriwether see
you?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
I'm afraid not.
GREG
I wish she could see you.
MANHOOD - 98
99.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Well, that could be
arranged.
The
hologram disappears. In the next
moment, Meriwether
screams. She throws her arms
around Greg.
The
hologram appears again.
GREG
Are you all
right?
MERIWETHER
I think I saw a
ghost.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
I was afraid that
would happen.
MERIWETHER
Dad was standing here, as real as
life.
GREG
What do I tell her?
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
Whatever you
want. You're on your
own now. I'm off to help your
mother.
GREG
Thanks for everything, Dad.
HOLOGRAM OF DAD
I'm proud of you, Greg. You're
quite a young man.
GREG
Thanks.
The
hologram disappears.
MERIWETHER
You think I'm crazy,
don't you?
GREG
I saw him, too.
MERIWETHER
You did!
MANHOOD
- 99
100.
GREG
We can't tell anyone
about this,
Meriwether.
MERIWETHER
This is really
something, isn't it?
She moves back into the comfortable embrace of her brother.
GREG
Your image loop is
really working.
We can keep the holograms going as
long as we want.
EXT. CAMPUS - DAY
Bronson is moving through the dance
of holograms, trying to
get to his office. Someone comes
up and gives him a disk.
PROF. BRONSON
What's this?
But the student has moved off. He looks at the disk.
PROF. BRONSON
But this is valuable! You can't
give this away! This program is
worth a fortune!
He runs in panic toward his office
building.
Prof.
Pauley gets to his feet. He helps
Heather up.
PROF. PAULEY
Want to join me in
congratulating
the author?
HEATHER
I'd love to.
INT. DORM ROOM - DAY
Greg and Meriwether are getting
ready to go.
Quentin and K-Man come in. K-Man
is clenching a program
disk
as if it were gold.
K-MAN
Julianna Hologram,
here I come!
MANHOOD
- 100
101.
He moves off to his room to get
started.
QUENTIN
Life's never going to
be the same
around here. You're going to have
every student on
campus making his
own holograms.
MERIWETHER
HER own
holograms.
Meriwether gives Quentin a smile that would kill.
GREG
That's the way it goes.
Knowledge
is meant to be public.
Pauley and Heather enter the room.
PROF. PAULEY
Here is the young genius. Greg,
that is the most amazing
accomplishment I have
seen in
years. We need to talk about a
few
prizes
and fellowships you're
eligible for.
GREG
If I don't go to jail.
HEATHER
Tom regained consciousness
and
cleared you. I heard it on
the
radio
as I was driving over.
PROF. PAULEY
Will you and your
sister be my
guests for dinner?
Greg and Meriwether exchange a
glance that says, Why not?
GREG
I need to clean up
and change.
MERIWETHER
I feel like being pink tonight.
PROF. PAULEY
Excellent. Say about seven? We
can all go in my
car.
MANHOOD - 101
102.
GREG
Great.
HEATHER
I can give you two a
lift home.
INT. HEATHER'S CAR - DAY
Greg sits beside Heather, with Meriwether in the back
seat.
HEATHER
I'm not sure I understand
all the
nuances of what happened, but Dad
is very proud of you.
MERIWETHER
Tell her, Greg.
GREG
Tell her what?
MERIWETHER
You're so shy. What you
were
telling me about wanting to ask her
to a movie and all.
HEATHER
I'd love to go to a movie.
GREG
Meriwether, I can
make my own
dates.
There's a pause.
MERIWETHER
Duh.
GREG
Want to go to a movie
Saturday?
Heather
gives him a big smile.
HEATHER
I'd love to.
EXT. JESSICA'S HOUSE - DAY
Jessica is working in her flower bed
as Heather's car passes
by. She looks up and notices
Greg in the passenger seat.
MANHOOD
- 102
103.
Jessica waves at the passing car.
INT. HEATHER'S CAR - DAY
Heather notices that Jessica is waving at them.
HEATHER
Someone you know?
GREG
My high school
algebra teacher.
MERIWETHER
And mine at the
moment.
GREG
She's very
special.
HEATHER
Good teachers are so important.
Greg and Meriwether exchange a
knowing look.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Heather's car drives into the distance as Jessica watches it
go.
Greg's manhood has begun.
FADE OUT.
MANHOOD
- 103