Beyond Graduation

(sighs) (fingers continue tapping) MAN: Thank you-- next.

Okay.

Good, good.

Oh, you need to fill this part out.

Have you decided on a major yet?

- (inhales) LUNA: So, this is me.

A blank slate with a bright future, an open universe of possibilities.

The driver of my very own destiny.

(trips) (grunts) LUNA: Oh, bull(bleep).

I feel like when I was young, my life was so small, and the world felt very big.

But now the world feels so small for everyone, just so fast, you know?

Like a constant series of social media notifications.

And now it's like my entire future depends on all these choices that I'm just so not ready to make.

Do you feel like that, too?

- I don't know.

Yeah, I guess.

- Well, it's always been so much easier for you.

You've always known what you wanted.

- You can just be my assistant.

I'd never hire you.

- We would kill each other.

(laughing): Shut up.

Yes, you would.

- I'm just glad you're over that Hawaii phase.

- Making surfboards is definitely still a possibility.

- You don't even surf.

WOMAN (on TV): There's too much bleeding.

- You see, that's just what doesn't do it for me.

- The blood?

- No, blood is fine-- it's just my hands.

- The sweat.

Are you sweaty now?

- Now that we're talking about it, yeah.

- Let me see.

- Here.

- Oh!

Eww!

Yeah, they are.

- You know, it'd be fun to save people and all, but... Just handling those instruments... Oh, God, now my feet are sweaty, too.

(medical devices beeping on TV) - So, I guess that rules out medicine, law, real estate-- which I'm not sure why... - It's just stupid to pay money if I don't even know what I want.

- Yeah, but it's been a year, though.

- Yeah, and I'm still clueless.

MAN (on TV): I've never seen so much blood in my life.

JACE: See ya, Luna.

LUNA: See ya.

JACE: Hey, Craig.

CRAIG: What's up, Jace?

- Hello.

JACE: So, how'd it go?

LUNA: Good.

Yeah, it went well.

Yeah.

But I was looking into that new show, and it looks right up our alley.

I mean, it's more of a horror than a suspense, but...

But if you're down, I'm in.

But wait, but, uh-- did you pick a major?

You all set?

LUNA: Yeah, just...

But we do have popcorn, right?

'Cause... - Hey, isn't the deadline this week?

- Umm...

Listen, Benny said he could give me a raise.

So I'm fine there.

- (sighs) - What?

Look, I'm trying.

- I have to do some work.

Let's watch the show another day.

(register drawer closes) WOMAN: Thanks, have a good one.

- You, too.

(sighs) (door chimes) (talking softly) (talking softly) LUNA: I've been having this dream where I meet my younger self.

It feels so real, but also so sad.

It's, like, she's a blank canvas, full of hopes and dreams.

And I'm some 50-year-old's Expressionist piece-of-(bleep) doodle that he likes to call art.

(door chimes) KAYLA: Hey, Luna.

- Hi.

I didn't know you still worked here.

Yeah, uh, do you have an I.D.?

(music playing in background) Okay, that'll be $10.75.

Thanks.

(computer beeps, register drawer opens) (shuffling bills) (paper bag rustling) Here you go.

Thank you.

See ya.

Bye.

(door chimes) JACE: Is it a red?

KAYLA: Yeah, yeah.

- Do you want to drink first or go get something... KAYLA: Umm... We should probably get a flask.

CRAIG: Was the chicken that bad?

- No.

Why?

- Because you look miserable.

What's up?

You haven't spoken to me all night, and we both know that that is a very rare thing.

Come on.

Give me a smile.

(The Climates' "Breaking Up Again" playing on radio) Okay, that's scary.

Hold on.

LUNA: Dad... (song gets louder) - Come on.

- Dude, I'm not... - Listen.

MAN: And you'll tell me this time... - Come on.

MAN: You won't like me like you should - Oh, my God.

- (laughing): Yeah, yeah-- oh, yeah.

- (laughing): Okay.

You're such a bad dancer.

MAN: You up and found somebody new Yeah That's good, girl, 'cause I have, too We're breaking up again And I don't care We won't be making up again - I was watching those TV shows with the lawyers and the doctors' assistants and the firemen, and I just... (crying): No idea what I'm going to do.

- Luna...

This is not a TV show.

- Well, TV shows definitely feel a lot more fun, don't they?

- No, they shouldn't be.

You know, just go ask around.

Go see real people, what they do.

- How would that help?

- You could learn a bit about real life.

The stuff no one tells you about in school.

Like... Like one of those movie sequences?

Where I run around, and there's music playing, and, and I learn and grow and change because I talk to people?

- Probably not.

(both laugh) - Yeah.

I'm okay, I'm okay.

I'm okay.

- Can I help?

- Oh, sorry, yeah.

I was, um, just doing some personal research and I was wondering, what do you do?

It's a constant amount, it's a constant flow of sweat.

You know, like a, a disgusting amount, but it's only when I think about it, so... Yeah.

- Okay.

Well, I'm a junior financial analyst's executive assistant for a large equity consulting firm.

Cool.

(leaf blower running) (calling loudly): Sir?

Excuse me?

Sir!

I literally have the same exact job as you do.

You do know we can wear gloves, right?

- Oh, yeah.

(both laugh) Duh-- yeah, yeah... Yeah.

I definitely knew that, um... - Um, did you have any more questions?

WOMAN: It just makes me feel at peace and, well...

The silence, and the breeze.

- I can imagine.

WOMAN: Yeah.

(inhales and exhales deeply) The only downside is that the pay's (bleep) bad.

You know?

(grunts) (shouts into pillow, objects clatter) TV HOST: What a fantastic performance.

Now, how did it all start?

WOMAN: Well, I wasn't sure what I was going to do at first, and then one day, I just went for it.

TV HOST: And what do you plan on doing next?

WOMAN: Well, I'm going to take a little break, but I've been talking to some producers... - And what do you going to do with your life?

Me?

No, your dad.

(Craig inhales) Yes, you.

I don't know.

TV HOST: Time is running out, Luna.

(TV audio distorting): Time is running out.

WOMAN: And changing the world through my work, of course.

TV HOST: That's always been the goal.

Now, how did you prepare for the singing part of it?

WOMAN: Well, it was difficult.

There's a lot of emotions to deal with already... CRAIG: So proud of you.

(TV continues in background) (sniffs) LUNA: I wish I knew sooner, but I guess that's part of the process.

We're too young to know, anyways.

CRAIG: Luna?

(laughing) LUNA: Oh, I swear to God, if we get caught...

GIRL 1: It's fine...

GIRL 2: Come on, chill.

GIRL 1: All right, ready?

One, two, three... (splashing) GIRL 1: Come on, Luna!

GIRL 2: Come on, let's go!

I'm telling you!

(both whispering and shushing) Just follow me, okay?

Luna.

GIRL 1: Just do it!

BOY: All right?

Come on.

Jump.

LUNA: I've considered all my options.

And I've decided that I need to jump.

Even before knowing where I will land.

GIRL 1: Jump!

Come on!

GIRL 2: Jump!

- Whooo!

(exclaiming) - Oh, my God.

LUNA: I guess a step forward is better than no step at all.

(laughing, splashing) CRAIG: Luna.

LUNA: All I know is that life will somehow help me find my way.

I still don't have all the answers, but I'm trying to start with the questions.

CRAIG: Good luck.

LUNA: Or to just start somewhere.

The hardest part is taking the leap.

- Ah, Luna.

Major?

- I don't know.

MAN: You have to declare a major, Luna.

- Well, can I change it later?

You can always change it.

LUNA: But at least I'm moving forward, even though I don't know exactly where I'm going.

No one ever does.