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Obsession · written by Curry Barker · 2026
Scene 13 of 61 · ≈ 7 min on screen · First scene of act two
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.
At trivia, Bear blurts out that his cat died as Nicky, Ian, and Sarah crowd the booth, and Nicky comforts him with an embrace that lingers past friendship.
In the parking lot, the group splits over going to karaoke; Nicky asks Bear to drive her home instead, brushing off Sarah's plea for him to stay.
Driving Nicky home drunk, Bear listens as she confesses she wants to quit her job to write, then hints she has hidden feelings for someone before cutting the moment short.
This scene
Before she shuts the door:
BEAR
(desperate)
Nicky wait.
She bends down, peering through the car door opening. Almost bothered.
BEAR (CONT'D)
I wanted to tell you, uhm...
Nicky waits. Bear loses his courage.
BEAR (CONT'D)
I lost my train of thought.
NICKY
Silly Bear.
Nicky begins to shut the door.
BEAR
(talking fast)
Remember in Mr. Deedo's class when I forgot my mouthpiece? And he was in a pissy mood that day, but during scales, you told me you had an extra, so you gave me yours. But that was a lie. You only had one. So... instead, you just got in huge trouble-
NICKY
Yeah, I remember.
Bear senses Nicky's not as sappy about this memory as he is.
BEAR
You always go out of your way for me, and not just me, for everyone-
NICKY
Bear, Deedo liked me, you were on thin ice.
Bear's speech is interrupted. He sits back in his disappointment.
NICKY (CONT'D)
Goodnight.
Ian was right about the sappy stuff; one final attempt.
BEAR
Alright, goodnight... Freaky Nicky.
Nicky gives Bear a disgusted look.
NICKY
Ew! Don't call me that.
BEAR
(chuckles nervously)
I'm just kidding.
Bear maintains a smile.
NICKY
Not even as a joke. Ever.
BEAR
Sorry!
NICKY
Bear, you know I don't like that.
BEAR
I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
NICKY
(stern)
Goodnight.
The car door shuts, and Bear's expression falls, shoulders slumping. He watches Nicky enter her house and close the door behind her, pain washing over him.
BEAR
Fuck. Fuck.
A long beat. Bear reaches into his backpack in the back seat and pulls out the ONE WISH WILLOW. Seeing it, he laughs, then glances at Nicky's empty porch and opens the box — Pop! A spark lights the stick. The box drops into his backpack, prompting another laugh.
BEAR (CONT'D)
(half serious)
I wish Nicky Freeman loved me more than anyone in the fucking world.
He BREAKS THE BRANCH IN HALF, resting his head on the steering wheel.
Starting the car, Bear startled by NICKY on the porch, looking at him, lost. She looks back at her house, confused, as if not recognizing it, then turns to Bear, points at herself questioningly, and walks to the car with a wide, eerie smile.
BEAR (CONT'D)
(under his breath)
What the fuck?
Bear glances at his broken stick, shoves it into his backpack, and hurriedly throws it to the back seat. He rolls down the window as Nicky approaches.
BEAR (CONT'D)
(confused)
Hey, just had to pull up directions.
NICKY
You said you had something for me?
A beat. Bear nods, a mix of realization and relief crossing his face. He gets it now.
BEAR
Oh... yeah I- well- I- It's at my house.
NICKY
Oh, okay.
Silence stretches. Nicky's gaze on Bear is expectant, tapping her fingers on the window frame.
BEAR
I can bring it to work tomorrow.
NICKY
Um ok...
BEAR
Okay, goodnight.
NICKY
Actually, you could use some company tonight. I mean, I did just lose my cat, Bear-
BEAR
You lost your cat?
NICKY
Oh wait, I mean, you lost your cat. I'm sorry. I am so sorry for your loss. What should we- are you-
(shakes her head)
Are you gonna come inside or?
A beat. Bear looks over to the One Wish Willow in the back.
BEAR
Nicky, are you okay...?
NICKY
Are you okay?
Silence.
BEAR
What- like, because of the cat?
NICKY
Yeah.
BEAR
Yeah, I'm ok.
NICKY
(genuine and slow)
Why don't you come inside, and we can have a few drinks? Talk about-
BEAR
The cat?
NICKY
The cat, yeah... I'm so sorry... yeah.
The repeated "yeah" in the same tone is eerie and makes Bear a bit wary.
BEAR
Nicky, I'm a little confused. I think you're drunk.
NICKY
No, I'm not, actually.
BEAR
Maybe you should get some sleep.
Nicky crosses her arms like a child who didn't get her way. It's strange seeing her this way; her body language contradicts her personality.
NICKY
(like a child)
Actually, no, no, no.
BEAR
What?
Bear is thrown off.
NICKY
(still childlike)
I know what you're trying to do.
BEAR
I uhh-
NICKY
Fine, let's go to your place.
Nicky opens the passenger door, sliding into the vehicle.
BEAR
Nicky, you're kinda freaking me
out.
Nicky's body language returns to normal.
NICKY
(disappointed)
Really?
BEAR
I mean, I have never seen you act
this way.
NICKY
Oh, Jesus. Gross. I don't know
what's...
(trails off)
Bear is relieved, but confused.
NICKY (CONT'D)
I must be pretty fucked up.
BEAR
Yeah... I know. That's why I think
you need water and sleep. You know?
Nicky rests her head on the dash and closes her eyes, arms dangling by her side. Her posture and silence are strange, unpredictable. Nicky takes a deep breath, unsure what to do next.
NICKY
Actually.
BEAR
What?
A beat.
NICKY
My dad's dying.
BEAR
Nicky, no-
NICKY
Leukemia. I don't know that much.
Apparently, he hasn't been to work
in weeks. My mom called *asking me
to go see him*, so I know it's
serious.
BEAR
I'm so sorry.
NICKY
It's okay. Honesty It's okay, I
just... I'm actually fine with it.
I just needed to...
Nicky starts to BAWL. It all makes sense now.
NICKY (CONT'D)
I took one step into my house and I
couldn't...
BEAR
No... god, I'm so, so sorry...
Bear doesn't know what to say.
BEAR (CONT'D)
Nicky...
Nicky falls into Bear's arms weeping!
NICKY
(through the tears)
It still hurts, you know?
BEAR
No, I know. I'm sure it still
hurts.
NICKY
And I can't really afford a plane
ticket over there right now.
BEAR
I can pay for that, Nicky.
NICKY
No, it's like, I don't even want to
see him, you know?
Bear holds Nicky.
BEAR
And that's okay, Nicky.
NICKY
And I feel bad!
BEAR
It's not your fault.
NICKY
No, I feel bad but... I never saw
him before, so why should I see him
now? You know?
BEAR
No, that's okay!
She calms down a little. A long beat.
NICKY
Can we go, please?
BEAR
Where do you want to go?
NICKY
I just can't sleep in my bed. I
don't want to be alone.
BEAR
Uhm, okay, yeah.
Bear holds her a bit longer.