INT. SCHOOL – MORNING
(Chris and Matt meet up in the school hallway, both trying to act normal while exchanging glances like they just came back from a top-secret mission—which, in a way, they did.)
CHRIS (low voice):
"Hey... did you see the time this morning?"
MATT (nodding quickly):
"7:02. On the dot. You just... dropped into your body like a USB reconnecting."
CHRIS (still rattled):
"I don't even remember falling asleep. It's like I blinked and—bam—I was back."
MATT (checking his phone):
"And guess what? The GPS on the cat collar? Completely blank. No data. Just vanished after 6:58."
CHRIS (frowning):
"Of course it did. The universe just loves playing hide-and-seek with logic."
(They enter class and take their seats. The teacher begins the lesson. Matt leans slightly toward Chris, whispering without taking his eyes off the board.)
MATT (whispering):
"So what did it feel like? The moment you... shifted?"
CHRIS (whispering back):
"Cold. Like... falling. But inside your skin. It's not pain, it's just wrong."
MATT (thinking aloud):
"If this is tied to time, maybe we can track patterns. Like—"
TEACHER (snapping):
"Matt. Chris. If you're so passionate about research, I suggest you present today's topic."
(Both freeze. Silence. Then slowly shake their heads.)
TEACHER (firm):
"Then zip it."
INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA – LUNCH BREAK
(The bell rings. Chris, Matt, and their friends walk toward the cafeteria. The mood is lighter now. One friend offers cheerfully—)
FRIEND 1 (excited):
"So, what do you guys want? I'll grab it!"
(Chris suddenly turns to Matt, serious.)
CHRIS:
"Give me your phone."
MATT (handing it over, confused):
"...Okay?"
(As Chris checks the phone, another friend leans in, eager to share some local gossip.)
FRIEND 2 (grinning):
"You ever heard of the flying fish?"
MATT (blinking):
"What?"
FRIEND 2:
"Yeah! There's this fish that keeps flying and flopping into a pool at the old temple. Mornings it's dead silent, but come evening? That fish goes airborne!"
MATT (squinting):
"You serious? A... flying fish. In a temple pool?"
CHRIS (returning the phone, dry):
"What's next? Talking squirrels doing your homework?"
FRIEND 3 (returning with lunch trays):
"Sorry, no flying fish today—but I got sandwiches!"
MATT (grabbing his tray):
"Good. Let's eat before someone says the fish started giving TED Talks."
EXT. SCHOOL VENDING MACHINE – MOMENTS LATER
(After lunch, Matt heads to the vending machine. He notices Maya struggling with it—kicking it lightly in frustration.)
MATT (walking over):
"Need help?"
MAYA (irritated):
"Yeah. I want a Sprite. The thing ate my money."
MATT (checking the machine):
"Looks like it's stuck. Last one too."
(He puts in a coin, gives the machine a gentle thump. A can of Sprite and two sodas fall out.)
MATT (handing the drinks):
"There you go. One Sprite, two—"
(Before Maya can grab the Sprite, a hand swoops in and snatches it. Chris. He pops it open and walks away, sipping it like nothing happened.)
MATT (genuinely baffled):
"Did you just—?"
CHRIS (casually):
"What?"
MAYA (watching Chris walk off, then quietly):
"...It's fine. I'm good."
MATT (apologetic):
"I can grab another—"
MAYA (soft smile):
"Seriously. I'm fine."
EXT. SCHOOL BENCHES – MOMENTS LATER
(Matt catches up with Chris and throws a soda can at him. Chris catches it mid-air, deadpan.)
MATT (irritated):
"Want to tell me what that was for?"
CHRIS (snapping):
"That? That was for yesterday."
MATT (blinking):
"What happened yesterday?"
CHRIS (gritting his teeth):
"Maya. She took me—cat-me—to Emma's house."
MATT:
"Wait. What? Why?"
CHRIS:
"I don't know. Maya was standing outside like some secret agent. They snuck me in. Like I'm some shared pet now."
(He kicks the ground, clearly pissed.)
CHRIS (growling):
"Then while feeding me like a damn stray, Maya tells Emma I'm not worth caring about. Said she should change her relationship status and move on."
MATT (quiet, to himself):
"So… ego bruised and feelings hurt. Got it."
CHRIS (defensive):
"She brainwashed her! Told her I didn't get her feelings—like I was the villain!"
MATT (dry):
"And you proved your emotional depth… by stealing her drink."
CHRIS (furious):
"She's not some queen to make decisions for Emma! I always wondered what triggered the breakup. Now I know."
Matt (deadpan):
"Right, you can strut around like a raccoon—grabbing whatever you want like you own the place. But someone else gives a friend a suggestion, and suddenly it's betrayal? Real emotionally mature of you. So proud."
Chris (offended gasp):
"Emotionally mature? Bro, I just came back from being a cat. Let me process things before you psychoanalyze me like some discount therapist!" and "If I wanted a moral lecture, I'd ask the fish than you."
Chris (grabbing Matt by the back of the neck, frustrated):
"And I can't even figure out how to be myself anymore!"
(He gives Matt a rough shake, causing the soda Matt was sipping to splash all over his shirt.)
Matt (choking mid-sip, sputtering):
"Ack—! Dude!"
(He holds up the dripping can, glaring.)
"What is wrong with you?! You almost Sprite-baptized me!"
Chris (still worked up, ignoring the mess):
"Do you even get how messed up this is? I'm stuck like this, Matt! I'm not even human half the time!"
Matt (dryly, brushing off soda):
"You already acted like an animal with just five senses. Now you've got fur to match."
(Chris lunges again. Matt ducks away, narrowly avoiding him.)
Matt (holding up his hands):
"Okay, okay! Truce!"
(Chris glares, breathing heavily like a feral cat.)
Matt (sighing, serious now):
"So. GPS isn't working. We didn't find the other cat. And the library's still a dead end."
(He glances at the time.)
Matt (grim):
"All we know is you're gonna be a feline again in just... what? Five hours?"
(Chris looks away, jaw clenched.)
Matt (frustrated, throwing his hands up):
"So what are we even doing, man?"
(The group has dispersed after the cafeteria scene. Chris leans against the wall by the lockers, eyes lowered, clearly frustrated. Matt stands beside him, trying to think.)
CHRIS
(sighs deeply)
"I've got nothing, man. No leads. No clue. Just this stupid routine—cat by night, coma by day."
MATT
(softly, trying to encourage)
"Hey. Don't check out on me now. We'll figure this out. We've got time. Not a lot, but enough to fix this before you're stuck chasing mice forever."
(Chris doesn't respond. Matt's about to say more—when his phone vibrates.)
MATT
(checking screen)
"...What the—?"
CHRIS
(lifting his head)
"What?"
MATT
(excitedly)
"I found the cat!"
CHRIS
(snapping up)
"What?!"
MATT
(turning screen toward him)
"Yeah, look! GPS tracker finally pinged back."
CHRIS
(squinting at the screen)
"Near... the library?"
MATT
(confused)
"Library again? That's the second time…"
(As they stare at the map, a voice calls out behind Chris.)
MRS. POSS (O.S.)
"Chris?"
(Both boys turn. It's the school nurse, Mrs. Poss, walking toward them with a curious look.)
CHRIS
(awkwardly)
"Oh… hi, Mrs. Poss."
MATT
(nods politely)
"Hey."
MRS. POSS
(stopping in front of them)
"Is everything okay?"
(Both boys stiffen. Chris hesitates. Matt stays silent.)
MRS. POSS
(looking pointedly at Chris)
"Did you get hurt recently? Any head injuries I should know about?"
(Chris blinks. Matt glances at him, speechless.)
MRS. POSS
(sternly)
"Chris."
CHRIS
(stammering)
"No! I'm fine. Completely fine. Human-level fine—I mean, normal. Totally normal."
(Mrs. Poss raises an eyebrow.)
MRS. POSS
"Then why, may I ask, did you take a scan for head trauma last week?"
CHRIS
(eyes wide)
"Me? When?"
MRS. POSS
(tilting her head)
"Buddy, time to tell the truth. Or I can always call your parents. How about that?"
(Chris suddenly straightens.)
CHRIS
"Ah—yeah! Yeah, I remember!"
MRS. POSS
(flatly)
"I know you do."
CHRIS
(grinning nervously)
"Oh, that! That was just… you know…"
MATT
(jumping in)
"A prank."
CHRIS
(nods quickly)
"Yeah! Exactly. A prank. Some guys at school said I was brainless, so we were like—haha, let's scan my head. For fun. Totally just for laughs."
MRS. POSS
(sighing, pinching her nose)
"You boys are in high school. You should know the difference between a hospital and a joke shop. A diagnostic lab is not the place for games."
CHRIS & MATT
(in unison)
"Sorry!"
MRS. POSS
(serious)
"Last time, alright?"
CHRIS & MATT
(nodding rapidly)
"Got it. Yes. Of course."
(Mrs. Poss walks away, shaking her head. The boys exhale deeply, then look at each other.)
CHRIS
(low voice)
"We are so bad at lying."
MATT
(grinning)
"Speak for yourself. I nailed it."