CHRIS"Give me five minutes. I'll dry off and come out."
Matt slowly nods, still stunned.
CHRIS'S MOM(sighing, shaking her head)"With him... I don't even know what to do anymore."
She walks toward the hallway. As she passes Matt, she glances at him with concern, noticing how worn out he looks.
CHRIS'S MOM(worried)"Are you okay?"
MATT(forcing a smile, trying to mask his exhaustion)"Yeah, I'm fine."
CHRIS'S MOM(still concerned, raising an eyebrow)"Did you get any sleep? You look stressed. You should learn something from your useless friend — how to actually get some sleep."
Matt smiles at her words, but in his mind, he—
MATT(quickly, to Chris's mom)"Yeah, I do."
She nods absently and walks into the hall. The moment she's gone, Matt rushes into Chris's room.
Inside, Chris is rubbing his hair dry with a towel, one hand tugging at it while his eyes dart around the room. He looks like a man on a mission — searching under the bed, in the laundry basket, across the desk, rifling through cupboards, and even peeking out the window.
MATT"What the hell was that?"
CHRIS(whipping his head around, hissing under his breath)"Shush!"
He makes a gesture, lowering his hand like telling Matt to keep his voice down.
MATT(defiantly, his voice rising)"No! Don't shush me — what is happening?!"
Chris freezes for a second, holding the towel mid-air, clearly trying to find words while Matt stares at him, desperate for answers.
CHRIS(shrugging, frustrated)"I don't know."
MATT(incredulous)"You don't know?"
CHRIS(snapping)"Yes! I only have a theory..."
MATT(arms crossed)"What theory? The soul-swap thing?"
CHRIS(hissing again)"Again — shush! Mom will hear!"
MATT(throwing his hands up)"Mom will hear you? So what?!"
Just then, the bedroom door swings open. Chris's mom walks in, clearly having overheard.
CHRIS'S MOM(raising an eyebrow)"What do you want to tell me?"
CHRIS(groaning)"Mom! How many times have I asked you not to barge in without knocking?"
CHRIS'S MOM(smirking)"Oh, okay. Now, Matt — what do I need to know?"
Chris, standing behind his mom, starts shaking his head vigorously, mouthing "No!" and making exaggerated "don't say anything" gestures.
MATT(watching Chris's silent pleading, pauses… then smirks)"He… wet the bed."
CHRIS'S MOM(blinking)"What?"
She turns around slowly, eyes landing on the soaked bedspread. Her confusion deepens.
CHRIS'S MOM(staring at the mess)"...What the hell happened in here?"
CHRIS(muttering to Matt, sarcastic)"Thanks, dude. Seriously. Now I'm dead."
Chris tries to regain composure, turning to his mom with a weak smile.
CHRIS"I… spilled a drink. I don't know. There was a smell… I couldn't ignore it, so I just tried to wash it."
CHRIS'S MOM(eyeing the drenched bed)"Wash it? Like this?!"
CHRIS(shrugging)"Yeah. I mean, how else do you wash it?"
Beat. His mom just stares at him like he's lost his mind.
CHRIS'S MOM(flat)"I don't know whether to yell or call a psychiatrist."
She turns and walks out, still muttering to herself.
The door closes behind her. Silence lingers for a second. Chris drops the towel on the bed, sighs, then looks at Matt.
CHRIS(deadpan)"Great. I'm officially a lunatic now. Thanks."
MATT(smirking)"Hey, you started the nonsense."
CHRIS(grumbling)"You said I wet the bed!"
MATT(shrugging)"You weren't waking up. I warned you."
CHRIS(dryly)"Really, that's your best bet? Let's just go before she comes back with a mop and life advice."
Chris quickly grabs a fresh uniform from the wardrobe and throws it on over his still-damp skin, muttering as he struggles with a button. He snatches up his half-packed school bag from the chair.
MATT(heading to the door)"She's already halfway to sending you to therapy."
They walk out of the room and head down the hallway. As they reach the door, Chris's mom shouts from the kitchen:
CHRIS'S MOM(from inside)"—AND WHO WASHES A MATTRESS WITH A BUCKET?! DO YOU THINK WE'RE RUNNING A SWIMMING POOL HERE?!"
CHRIS(cringing, walking faster)"Oof..."
As Chris steps ahead onto the sidewalk, Matt suddenly grabs his wrist, stopping him.
MATT(firm)"Stop. You're not walking off like that. Explain everything. Now."
Chris glances around nervously, then tilts his head toward a nearby park bench across the street.
CHRIS(in a hushed whisper)"Not here. Come on."
They walk quickly to the bench and sit. Chris stays silent for a moment, looking around again.
CHRIS(quietly, dead serious)"Aliens are here."
MATT(deadpan, sighing)"Hmm… right. Go on."
CHRIS(confused)"Go on what?"
CHRIS(serious)"Okay, listen. I told you, right? When I went to the temple?"
MATT(confused)"Yeah…?"
CHRIS"There, when I tried writing my wish to put in the wishing well…"
MATT(interrupting)"You did what? Wrote a wish? Okay, continue."
CHRIS"So, when I was writing it, I heard this metal creaking sound. At first, I ignored it. But then it got louder, more intense. So I went to check."
CHRIS(pausing, voice lowering)"There was this cat — it was trying to slip into the well. I reached out to stop it, to save it… and then this light — this blinding, pulsing light — just exploded out of nowhere. I couldn't even look."
CHRIS(intensely)"Next thing I knew... I wasn't me. I was the cat."
Matt just stares, trying to absorb it. Chris continues.
CHRIS"And then... the next morning, I was back in my body. Like nothing happened. But yesterday? It happened again. I woke up, and boom — back to me again."
MATT(deadpan)"So... let me get this straight. You made a wish at a temple, tried to save a cat from falling into a wishing well, got blasted by some kind of alien flashlight — and now you're switching bodies with a cat… on and off?"
CHRIS(nodding solemnly)"Exactly."
MATT(blank stare)"That's the dumbest sci-fi I've ever heard."
CHRIS"You seen me, man. Do you have any better explanation?"
MATT"If there is, why would I sit and listen to your theory."
CHRIS(whispering)"I'm telling you, it's not over. Something's going on. The lights. The weird noises. That shadow thing I saw last night."
MATT(sighing)"And let me guess... aliens?"
CHRIS(nodding seriously)"Aliens."
MATT (sighing, looking at Chris): "So… now what will happen?"
CHRIS (quietly, eyes narrowing): "I don't know. That's the scary part."
(A beat of silence. The street is calm, but Chris keeps glancing around like something might drop from the sky any second.)
CHRIS (continuing, voice low): "I don't know if it'll happen again. Or when. Or why. But every time it does… it's like I'm stuck. Watching my own life from the sidelines."
MATT (still trying to process): "And the cat? Where's it now?"
CHRIS (hesitating): "That's exactly my question — where does the cat go? Where is it? What if it's not even a normal cat? What if aliens turn into cat at night by taking people's souls… and then vanish by morning?"
MATT (staring at him): "What? Oh my god. This is getting stranger than strange."
(He rubs his temples, trying to keep up.)
MATT (continuing): "Okay, look — forget alien cats for a second. The only thing we do know is this: you go into that cat's body at night… and by morning, you're back in yours."
CHRIS (nodding slowly): "Exactly. Like clockwork. Except it's not a clock. It's a nightmare with whiskers."
MATT (thinking aloud): "So we have to start with what we know — the time it happens… and the cat. We need to observe tonight. Track everything."
CHRIS (nodding, frustrated): "Right. But that's the thing — I don't know when exactly it starts. It just… happens. Boom. Cat."
MATT: "Then we need a plan. If it's going to happen again tonight…"
CHRIS (interrupting): "Lock me up."
MATT (blinking): "What?"
CHRIS: "If I turn into the cat again, and you keep me contained, then by morning — if it's like before — I'll be back in my body… and we'll have the cat. Like, proof. Right in front of us."
MATT: "What? Oh dear... So apart from that, you feel normal other times?"
CHRIS: "Yeah, unless I see Emma, my heart aches."
MATT: "Barf."
CHRIS (side-eying Matt, suspicious): "Ch... What do you know about breakups?"
MATT (mock-thoughtful, smirking): "Well, Emma got away from you using that fancy breakup word... I dunno, is there a word like that to get away from you?"
CHRIS (grabbing Matt in a headlock): "There's no such word in human history. You're stuck with me forever, buddy."
MATT (tapping Chris's arm, half-laughing): "Okay, okay — let go, man."
(Chris releases him. They sit in silence for a beat.)
MATT (quietly): "I don't know what to do. What to think."
CHRIS (nodding): "Yeah. Me neither."
(He glances up. The morning wind is picking up, and clouds drift slowly overhead.)
CHRIS (half to himself, half to Matt): "If I ever come face to face with the alien… I'd definitely want you with me."
MATT (raising an eyebrow): "What, moral support?"
CHRIS (grinning): "No. Bait."
MATT (groaning): "Knew it."
MATT (looking around, still tense): "So… what do we do now?"
CHRIS (deadpan): "What do you mean, 'what'? We have school!"
MATT (uncertain): "You sure that's the move right now?"
CHRIS (gesturing dramatically): "Well, it's either sit under this tree all day waiting to turn into a cat, or stand here hoping aliens beam me up. Personally, I'd rather surround myself with students. If they try to take me, at least I'll give 'em a little struggle. Don't you think?"
MATT (dry): "No. I think if it really was aliens… how dumb would they have to be to pick you?"
CHRIS (mock-offended): "Wow. Harsh."
(They both start walking off toward school. After a few steps, Matt suddenly stops.)
CHRIS: "What? You're not coming?"
MATT (savagely sarcastic): "Unlike you, I'm somewhat concerned about self-care — like, you know, bathing. And actually bringing my bag to school."
CHRIS(pulls a series of exaggerated, goofy faces at Matt): "Pfffft."
MATT (shaking his head, smirking): "You're impossible."
(He turns and walks off. Chris grins to himself and heads toward the school with a bit of a bounce in his step.)
[LUNCH BREAK – SCHOOL HALLWAY]
(Chris, Matt, and a couple of friends are chatting near the lockers. Chris suddenly notices Emma walking past in the distance. He stiffens slightly, looking down to avoid eye contact.)
MATT (still talking to the group, not noticing): "So, anyway, did you hear about the test results?"
(As Emma passes, Chris leans in closer to Matt.)
CHRIS (quietly): "I forgot the thing."
MATT (turning, confused): "What?"
CHRIS (sighs, trying to be casual): "I saw Emma."
MATT (smirking): "Yeah, I too have eyes, man."
CHRIS (looking around nervously, whispering): "No, not now. I mean — yesterday. As a cat."
(Before Matt can even process that, one of their friends overhears the word "cat.")
FRIEND (grinning): "What cat?"
(Chris and Matt exchange a quick, oh-no glance.)
FRIEND (teasing): "Chris, don't tell me you're planning to gift another cat to Emma?"
MATT (mocking): "See? Told you it was a terrible idea the first time."
CHRIS (hastily): "No, no — never again. I hate cats."
MATT (grinning wide): "Oh, but I like cats now…"
(Chris glares at him while trying not to smile. The group laughs.)
CLASSMATE (shouting across the hall): "Hey! Break's over, people!"
(Everyone groans. As the group heads to class, Chris lightly kicks Matt on the leg. Matt gives him a side-eye but says nothing. Chris struts into the classroom like he just won something.)
[AFTER SCHOOL – WALKING HOME]
(Chris and Matt trail behind a group of friends. The street is buzzing with students heading home. Matt glances sideways at Chris.)
MATT (casually): "So… when did that whole Emma thing happen?"
CHRIS (thinking): "When I realized I was stuck in a cat's body, trying to escape that little monster. Thought I finally found a way out — and then bam, Steve."
MATT (startled): "Steve? Our Steve?"
CHRIS (eye roll): "Yes, Steve. Apparently, he forgot I was human and chased me like I was an alley rat. I barely survived."
MATT (laughing): "You're kidding. That's insane!"
CHRIS (grinning at the memory): "Then Emma shows up — out of nowhere — and pulls Steve off me like it's nothing."
MATT (doubled over with laughter): "Dude… you got rescued by your ex while being a cat? That's the weirdest full circle I've ever heard."
CHRIS (smug): "At least I was saved by Emma. You? You've got to live with the embarrassment of everyone watching."
(Matt laughs for a second, then quiets. Chris watches him, amused.)
CHRIS (grinning): "Now that's fun."
(They reach Matt's front door and stop. Chris glances at him, eyebrow raised.)
CHRIS (rolling his eyes but amused): "Alright, alright. So why are we even here then?"
MATT (glancing at him with a smirk): "We're here just to pick up a recorder with GPS and a pet carrier for the cat."
CHRIS: "Why do you have a pet carrier or GPS tracker?"
(Matt tries to open the front door, but to his surprise, it's already unlocked. He and Chris exchange a confused glance.)
CHRIS (whispering, looking around): "Uh, did you forget to lock it?"
MATT (frowning, also puzzled): "I'm sure I locked it."
(Matt and Chris are standing in front of the door, about to react, when the door suddenly swings open from the inside. Matt and Chris both freeze in shock, wondering who it could be.)
LUNA(Matt's older sister, smiling teasingly): "Oh, look who's home straight from school. What a good boy!"
MATT (in surprise, raising an eyebrow): "Luna, what are you doing here?"
(Luna greets Chris with a smile as she steps out of the doorway.)
LUNA (cheerfully): "Hey, Chris! How's it going?"
(She looks Chris up and down, then smirks.)
LUNA (teasing): "Wow, you've really grown tall and handsome, huh?"
LUNA (playfully): "So, what's the deal? Shouldn't you be out with your girlfriend, making the most of your school days? But instead, you're stuck with him?"
(Chris scratches his head, grinning awkwardly, his face turning a little red.)
CHRIS (laughing nervously): "Uh, no, nothing like that."
(Matt glares at Luna, clearly annoyed.)
MATT (irritated): "Luna, stop it. You still haven't answered my question."
LUNA (raising an eyebrow, smirking): "What? The way you're asking makes me wonder... what are you hiding? Don't tell me it's a girl."
(Matt is momentarily stunned, looking like he didn't expect her to say that.)
MATT (quickly recovering): "No, nothing like that. I just want to know if everything's okay."
(Luna's expression changes, pretending to be emotional, wiping away an invisible tear.)
LUNA (mockingly dramatic): "Aww, what's this? You care about me now?"
MATT (annoyed): "Enough, stop that."
LUNA (teasing): "But you know, you're so much fun to tease. I think you were made for it."
(Chris grins and nods in agreement.)
CHRIS (laughing): "That's right, sister! That's what I'm saying, too!"
(They both high-five each other. Matt shoots them a death stare, clearly irritated.)
LUNA (smirking, teasing Matt): "Well, for your question… Mom asked me to check on you. She said you've been looking pretty tired lately."
MATT (frowning, confused): "Wait, what? She called you?"
LUNA (nodding): "Yeah, she was worried. Apparently, Chris's mom called her and said you looked exhausted — and, oh, she mentioned something about a cat in your room."
(Matt's eyes widen, panic setting in as he looks at Chris.)
MATT (panicking): "A cat? What?!"
(Chris gets goosebumps, visibly shuddering from head to toe as he hears 'cat'.)
LUNA (teasing): "A cat, Matt? Really? You've been keeping a pet? I'm so proud of you!"
(Luna gives Matt a playful look, clearly enjoying the situation.)
MATT (quickly, nervously): "It's not what you think. Mom probably remembered my allergy to cats from when I was younger. I've told her so many times not to worry about it."
LUNA (squinting, thinking): "Wait... your allergy to cats? Oh, right! I remember. You nearly ended up in the hospital when you were 10 because of one. I thought she said no cats were allowed at home because of that?"
MATT (awkwardly): "I'm fine, really. So tell her not to worry."
LUNA (with a smirk): "You think that works?"
LUNA (playfully): "If you had any idea of raising a cat, forget it."
(Matt hangs his head down, looking defeated. Chris watches the conversation unfold between them in silence, clearly confused about the whole situation.)
LUNA (teasingly): "Well, now I know you're fine. I'm gonna go catch up with my friends and get my bus tonight."
LUNA (calling out as she turns to leave): "Oh, Matt, get my bag. It's in your room."
(Matt walks off to get Luna's bag, and Luna turns to Chris with a more serious expression.)
LUNA (softly but firmly): "Even though he's fun to tease, take care of him. If anything happens, do call me."
(Matt returns with the bag, handing it to Luna. She grabs it from him with a playful grin.)
LUNA (teasingly, heading for the door): "Don't bore me, Matt. Chasing a cat? Next time I come to check on you, I'd rather be looking for girls, not cats."
(She pauses at the door, smirking over her shoulder.)
LUNA (mockingly): "Don't get too attached to the wrong thing, alright?"
(Luna waves as she walks out, the door clicking shut behind her. Matt stands there for a moment, his face flushed with annoyance. He shakes his head, muttering under his breath.)
(After Luna leaves, Matt looks at his watch, clicking his tongue.)
MATT (muttering to himself): "Ch, time flies..."
(Chris stares at Matt, as if searching for an answer in his expression.)
MATT (noticing Chris's stare): "What?"
CHRIS (curiously): "What's that whole allergy thing again?"
MATT (pauses, sighing): "Hmm, oh that..."
CHRIS (raising an eyebrow): "I don't remember you having an allergy... I mean, when I'm a cat."
MATT (looking down, sheepishly): "So, you know... I lied to Mom."
MATT (sighing, looking at Chris): "I wonder why I lied. I think you've got more problems than that."
CHRIS (looks at Matt, confused): "What do you mean?"
(Matt suddenly throws the recorder with GPS, attached to a cat collar, at Chris. He also hands him a box.)
MATT (determined): "Let's go."