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Obsession · written by Curry Barker · 2026
Scene 10 of 61 · ≈ 6 min on screen · Act one
Bear wishes the woman he loves would love him back. The wish comes true — and her devotion becomes a violence neither of them can stop.
Bear in his comfort zone of quiet, unspoken longing for Nicky, grieving his cat and coached by Ian to stay silent rather than confess.
Browsing the crystal shop for a gift, Bear spots a shelf of recalled "One Wish Willow" novelty wish-sticks and grabs one for Nicky.
At checkout, Bear jokes with clerk Viola about the Willow's recall and dark rumors, and she deadpans that people who open them die or wish they were dead.
Driving to trivia, Bear rehearses confessing his feelings to Nicky on speakerphone, but Ian talks him out of it and coaches him to tease her instead.
This scene
An upbeat retro bar, buzzing with trivia nerds. Bear sits with his best friends — Nicky, Ian, and Sarah. The focus stays tightly on Bear, not yet revealing his friends.
NICKY (O.S.)
And this woman was asking me why the mallets were thirty dollars over and over again!
IAN (O.S.)
It was insane.
NICKY (O.S.)
"Well, ma'am, they're made with wool and birch wood." "Okay well, why are they thirty dollars?"
SARAH (O.S.)
Are you serious?
IAN (O.S.)
(to Sarah)
You didn't see this?
NICKY (O.S.)
"Ma'am, these are very high quality." Then she said, "You're not answering my question. What makes these thirty dollars?"
Bear forces a smile, listening to the gang. His gaze keeps returning to Nicky, despite attempts to look away.
SARAH (O.S.)
Jesus Christ.
NICKY (O.S.)
Finally, I was just like, "Why don't you ask the company who made the fucking mallets?"
SARAH (O.S.)
Who are you?!
IAN (O.S.)
You definitely didn't say fuck.
NICKY (O.S.)
No. I didn't.
Laughter. We cut from Bear to Ian's hand gently resting on Nicky's shoulder in comfort. Bear, disturbed, forces a laugh and joins in.
BEAR
What did she say to that?
NICKY (O.S.)
She stopped.
SARAH (O.S.)
Really?
NICKY (O.S.)
Yeah, maybe she realized I didn't fucking make the mallets.
BEAR
What did she say tho-
They laugh over Bear's words.
NICKY (O.S.)
(aggravated)
Maybe she realized I wasn't in the back carving birch wood and weaving wool.
A long silence.
IAN (O.S.)
Yeah...
SARAH (O.S.)
(teasing)
And Bear, what did you do all day?
Ian laughs.
BEAR
Well actually-
IAN (O.S.)
(to Nicky)
Next time, you should get the gun in Carter's safe.
SARAH (O.S.)
Jesus, Ian-
NICKY (O.S.)
There's a gun?
SARAH (O.S.)
Ian, how do you know about the gun?
IAN (O.S.)
The other day it was just me and Carter closing, and I had to open the safe. There's a tiny silver revolver in there.
SARAH (O.S.)
Yeah, and if my dad knew you touched his gun, he would kill you with it.
NICKY (O.S.)
Sarah, why does your dad have a gun in the store?
SARAH (O.S.)
Maybe to protect your happy ass.
NICKY (O.S.) (CONT'D)
I don't like that.
SARAH (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Here we go.
NICKY (O.S.)
You know you're thirty percent more likely to die from a gun accident by owning one.
SARAH (O.S.)
And you're one hundred percent more likely to die in a gunfight without a gun.
NICKY (O.S.)
(aggravated)
And how many gunfights have you been in Sarah? I need to pee.
As Nicky exits, we shift to SARAH, 25, cute, effortlessly cool, with a large bass clef tattoo on her left arm and a heart tattoo above her left breast. She's unknowingly sporting a beer mustache.
SARAH
Okay, Karen.
(to Ian)
You had to tell her about the gun? I know she's gonna make a whole ass deal about it with my Dad.
IAN (O.S.)
No, she's not. Stop being an ass.
BEAR
Why is Nicky acting weird?
IAN (O.S.)
She had a rough day today, bro. Saw her crying in the break room.
BEAR
Did you ask her what's wrong?
SARAH
(sarcastic)
Maybe she realized nobody wants to read her dumb novel.
IAN (O.S)
Shut up, Sarah. You're getting declined by tattoo schools.
SARAH
It's art school. And I've applied to several. That's the difference.
BEAR
(to Ian about Nicky)
So I probably shouldn't...
Bear makes a face like "you know."
SARAH
Shouldn't what?
IAN (O.S)
(to Sarah)
Nothing.
(to Bear)
No, you should tell her.
SARAH
Tell her what?
Sarah looks confused.
NICKY (O.S.)
Tell me what?
We hear Ian jump! Bear laughs.
SARAH
JESUS!
IAN (O.S)
Approach a motherfucker, Nicky, damn.
Nicky sits back down.
SARAH
Not everything is about you, Nicky.
NICKY
Well, I knew it wasn't about you, Beer Stache.
Sarah shoots a look of embarrassment at Bear as she wipes the beer from her mouth. Ian and Nicky laugh.
NICKY (O.S.) (CONT'D)
So, how was your day, Bear?
BEAR
I had a shitty day.
NICKY (O.S.)
Wait, didn't you say you have a crazy story?
BEAR
Oh yeah. I don't know about crazy, just kinda sad.
NICKY (O.S.)
What happened though?
The TRIVIA GUY, 40s, starts announcing as Bear is about to speak.
TRIVIA GUY (O.S.)
Hey, hey, hey! Thanks for coming out tonight! Drinks are thirty percent off for the next twenty-three minutes so get your beer on!
Bear tries to talk over the man.
BEAR
(yelling)
My cat died!
TRIVIA GUY (O.S.) (CONT'D)
And as always, if you're new here the winner of tonight's trivia will win a one hundred-dollar visa!
The crowd cheers!
NICKY (O.S.)
What?
BEAR
(still yelling)
My cat died!
NICKY (O.S.)
Oh no!
IAN (O.S.)
How'd that happen?
BEAR
Got into some pills!
TRIVIA GUY (O.S.)
And tonight's theme is going to be early film trivia!
The crowd cheers. NICKY, 24, steps into frame, a mix of intelligence, beauty, and effortless charm. She has the cool, girl-next-door appeal.
NICKY
Oh Bear, that's horrible.
Nicky crawls into the booth, hugging Bear in a way that lingers beyond friendly. She kisses his cheek, enough to confuse any man.
IAN (O.S.)
Jeez dude, Sandy? That fucking sucks!
TRIVIA GUY (O.S.)
Ok, this first one is a two-parter, You have to answer both. Here we go. This animated film stars a blue genie that could grant three wishes. What is the name of this movie and what year did it come out?
As the crowd quiets, writing down answers, Bear clings tightly to Nicky. He lives for moments like this.
TRIVIA GUY (O.S.) (CONT'D)
What classic movie features a famous landmark in New York City that's often associated with making wishes by throwing coins into its fountain?
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