Screenplay data
After twin brother Rudy is killed and friend Leonard is left with anosmia by bullies Jeff and Kenny, Jacob struggles with his identity while his parents grieve and seek different forms of closure. Leonard embarks on a fitness journey, even trapping his mother to force her into a healthier lifestyle, while Malee develops a crush on Gus, a construction worker, and attempts to seduce him after learning of his past trauma. Jacob, still seeking revenge, obtains a gun and, after Jeff dies by suicide, he lures Kenny to a construction site and shoots him, burying his body in the foundation. Malee returns the gun to Gus and apologizes as Jacob watches cement being poured over Kenny's grave, forever sealing his secret, consumed by guilt and relief.
Save the Cat beat sheet
A group of 12-year-olds navigates bullying, family trauma, and grief after a prank escalates to tragedy.
Open full beat sheetJacob Carges is listed as Twin brother. 12 years old, wears a hockey mask, has a large strawberry birthmark on his face. In the parsed data, Jacob Carges is connected to 32 scenes, 135 dialogue lines, 137 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
32 scenes / 135 dialogue linesLeonard Fisher is listed as Friend. 12 years old, severely obese, later develops Anosmia. In the parsed data, Leonard Fisher is connected to 27 scenes, 95 dialogue lines, 96 text mentions, first appearing around scene 11.
27 scenes / 95 dialogue linesMalee Chung is listed as Friend. 12 years old, daughter of a psychiatrist, wears thick-rimmed glasses. In the parsed data, Malee Chung is connected to 26 scenes, 120 dialogue lines, 121 text mentions, first appearing around scene 9.
26 scenes / 120 dialogue linesGRACE is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, GRACE is connected to 17 scenes, 64 dialogue lines, 165 text mentions, first appearing around scene 37.
17 scenes / 64 dialogue linesYacco Chung is listed as Malee's mother. 35 years old, Asian-American, uptight psychiatrist. In the parsed data, Yacco Chung is connected to 16 scenes, 49 dialogue lines, 49 text mentions, first appearing around scene 8.
16 scenes / 49 dialogue linesKenny is listed as Antagonist. 14 years old, trailer park punk. In the parsed data, Kenny is connected to 14 scenes, 53 dialogue lines, 249 text mentions, first appearing around scene 5.
14 scenes / 53 dialogue linesGus Maitland is listed as Construction worker. 30s, long-haired, former firefighter, patient of Yacco. In the parsed data, Gus Maitland is connected to 13 scenes, 59 dialogue lines, 60 text mentions, first appearing around scene 33.
13 scenes / 59 dialogue linesRudy Carges is listed as Twin brother. 12 years old, athletic, aggressive. In the parsed data, Rudy Carges is connected to 12 scenes, 38 dialogue lines, 40 text mentions, first appearing around scene 3.
12 scenes / 38 dialogue linesJim Carges is listed as Rudy and Jacob's father. 30s, father of twins. In the parsed data, Jim Carges is connected to 9 scenes, 32 dialogue lines, 34 text mentions, first appearing around scene 16.
9 scenes / 32 dialogue linesAshley Carges is listed as Rudy and Jacob's mother. 30s, mother of twins. In the parsed data, Ashley Carges is connected to 8 scenes, 39 dialogue lines, 39 text mentions, first appearing around scene 16.
8 scenes / 39 dialogue linesPATRICK is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, PATRICK is connected to 7 scenes, 20 dialogue lines, 48 text mentions, first appearing around scene 20.
7 scenes / 20 dialogue linesKeith Gardner is listed as Adopted brother. 10 years old, African American, adopted by the Carges family. In the parsed data, Keith Gardner is connected to 4 scenes, 16 dialogue lines, 18 text mentions, first appearing around scene 114.
4 scenes / 16 dialogue linesCOACH is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, COACH is connected to 2 scenes, 19 dialogue lines, 47 text mentions, first appearing around scene 46.
2 scenes / 19 dialogue linesNURSE is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, NURSE is connected to 2 scenes, 8 dialogue lines, 21 text mentions, first appearing around scene 39.
2 scenes / 8 dialogue linesGABE is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, GABE is connected to 2 scenes, 6 dialogue lines, 20 text mentions, first appearing around scene 19.
2 scenes / 6 dialogue linesHALEY is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, HALEY is connected to 2 scenes, 4 dialogue lines, 10 text mentions, first appearing around scene 75.
2 scenes / 4 dialogue linesMR. FARMER is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, MR. FARMER is connected to 2 scenes, 3 dialogue lines, 12 text mentions, first appearing around scene 48.
2 scenes / 3 dialogue linesJeff is listed as Antagonist. 14 years old, trailer park punk. In the parsed data, Jeff is connected to 2 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 52 text mentions, first appearing around scene 26.
2 scenes / 2 dialogue linesSARA is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, SARA is connected to 2 scenes, 2 dialogue lines, 7 text mentions, first appearing around scene 75.
2 scenes / 2 dialogue linesTEACHER is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, TEACHER is connected to 1 scene, 9 dialogue lines, 24 text mentions, first appearing around scene 45.
1 scenes / 9 dialogue linesDOCTOR is identified from the parsed character and dialogue data. In the parsed data, DOCTOR is connected to 1 scene, 6 dialogue lines, 14 text mentions, first appearing around scene 38.
1 scenes / 6 dialogue linesThis scene block serves as the title page for the screenplay, displaying the title "12 AND HOLDING," the writer's name, and the date, before transitioning into the story with "FADE IN."
Twin brothers Rudy and Jacob Carges ride their bikes through a suburban neighborhood and then into the woods, with Jacob struggling to see due to a hockey mask.
Rudy and Jacob arrive at a clearing with a tree house, cautiously looking for others, but are ambushed by two boys, Jeff and Kenny, who throw rocks at them, forcing Rudy and Jacob to take refuge inside the tree house.
Rudy Carges, Jacob CargesJacob questions Rudy about a bucket of liquid, which Rudy reveals is piss before dumping it on Jeff and Kenny.
Rudy Carges, Jacob CargesJeff and Kenny jump from a tree house, drenched in urine, and Kenny angrily threatens the boys responsible.
KennyJacob removes his hockey mask, revealing a large birthmark on his face, and Rudy calls out to Kenny.
Rudy CargesKenny exclaims that "they're fucking dead" as he and Jeff walk off, with Jeff then running off-screen to throw up.
KennyThe Fisher family, all overweight, silently eats a large breakfast in their kitchen before the scene transitions to an exterior shot of the Chung Residence where an off-screen character, Yacco, angrily demands a check.
Yacco ChungIn an upstairs hallway, Yacco, engrossed in a phone call, ignores her daughter Malee's plea for help, causing Malee to retreat into the bathroom, deflated.
Malee Chung, Yacco ChungMalee, wrapped in a towel, attempts to use a tampon for the first time, reading the directions from the box, which leads to her feeling confused and then disgusted.
Malee arrives late to meet Leonard at a neighborhood entrance, where he is waiting by a rock advertising a 4th of July picnic. They engage in a brief, somewhat awkward conversation about Malee's menstruation and her ability to conceive, before Leonard reminds her about meeting "the twins" and declines her offer to race.
Malee Chung, Leonard FisherJacob and Rudy argue in their tree house about Jacob's head wound and Rudy's prank on Jeff and Kenny, which leads to a fight between the two boys as Malee and Leonard arrive.
Malee Chung, Rudy Carges, Jacob Carges, Leonard FisherIn Yacco's office, therapist Yacco discusses self-harm with patient Debbie Poole, whose session is briefly interrupted by Yacco's daughter, Malee.
Malee Chung, Yacco Chung, DEBBIEAn angry Yacco confronts Malee in the reception area about her whereabouts and then orders her to practice the flute outside after finding it in her car.
Malee Chung, Yacco ChungMalee sits on a stoop and reluctantly plays her flute, attracting a small audience whom she then dismisses.
Malee ChungRudy and Jacob celebrate their birthday, with Rudy receiving a PlayStation and Jacob receiving a pamphlet for plastic surgery to remove his birthmark, which deeply upsets him and causes him to leave the room.
Jim Carges, Ashley Carges, Rudy Carges, Jacob Carges, RUDY/JACOBRudy attempts to comfort his twin brother Jacob, who is crying over an insecurity about his face, but Jacob lashes out at Rudy, blaming him for his perfect appearance, leading to Rudy angrily leaving the room.
Rudy Carges, Jacob CargesThe scene depicts a lively Fourth of July block party in a neighborhood, filled with families, food, and children. Malee and Jacob are seen enjoying snow cones on the side.
Gabe Artunion, a real estate agent, tries to convince Jim Carges to sell his 30 acres of land, which Jim initially refuses to do. Gabe then writes down a number, which, upon seeing, causes Jim's eyes to go wide.
Jim Carges, GABELeonard's family is eating at picnic tables when two Soccer Moms make disparaging comments about their weight, which Leonard overhears. Embarrassed, Leonard tries to suggest his father, Patrick, shouldn't have seconds, but Patrick dismisses him, leading Leonard to also take a large portion of food.
PATRICK, SOCCER MOM # 1, SOCCER MOM # 2, Leonard FisherRudy is confronted by Kenny, who threatens his treehouse, leading to a physical altercation that is broken up by a neighborhood father.
NEIGHBORHOOD FATHER, Kenny, Rudy CargesRudy tries to convince Leonard, Jacob, and Malee to sneak out and stop Kenny and Jeff from tearing down their treehouse, leading to an argument with Jacob before Leonard agrees to join Rudy.
Rudy Carges, Jacob Carges, Leonard FisherRudy wakes up his twin brother Jacob in the middle of the night, chastises him for being a "pussy" and not fighting back against bullies, then leaves through the window to fight alone.
Rudy Carges, Jacob CargesLeonard and Rudy arrive at a treehouse late at night, where Leonard brings snack cakes for their wait, and Rudy reveals a baseball bat intended to scare Jeff and Kenny, emphasizing the need to stay awake and listen.
Rudy Carges, Leonard FisherLeonard and Rudy are asleep in a treehouse when Leonard is woken by a mosquito, leading to a brief conversation before Leonard decides to go home; however, as he prepares to leave, a flaming cocktail is thrown through the window, hitting Rudy and engulfing him in flames.
Rudy Carges, Leonard FisherJeff and Kenny stand outside a burning treehouse, throwing cocktails at it, until they hear screams from inside.
Jeff, KennyRudy is engulfed in flames and screams for help, while Leonard's attempts to put out the fire are futile as he discovers the treehouse wall is also burning.
Rudy CargesJeff and Kenny are frantic, and Jeff, after exclaiming that "They're in there!", turns and runs back home through the woods.
JeffLeonard backs away from Rudy and unknowingly approaches an open door in the floor.
Leonard falls from a burning treehouse, hits his head, and is found unconscious by Kenny, who desperately tries to wake him up.
KennyAshley wakes up in a panic, realizing she forgot to deposit Jim's paycheck, leading to a brief discussion about their finances. After promising to deposit it the next day, she returns to bed, and the scene ends with a phone ringing over a black screen.
Ashley Carges, Jim CargesJim and Ashley attend Rudy's funeral, watching his casket being lowered into the ground alongside other mourners, including a grieving Jacob and Malee.
PRIESTMalee, still veiled from a funeral, enters her mother Yacco's office and briefly interacts with a patient, Gus, before speaking with Yacco, who is a therapist. Malee expresses her grief and frustration with her mother's detached demeanor, eventually breaking down in tears after Yacco leaves.
Malee Chung, Gus Maitland, Yacco ChungThe scene opens on Jacob's home, where numerous cars are parked in the driveway and along the street, suggesting a gathering or event.
Mourners gather in the living room of Twin's home, engaging in hushed conversations, while Jim sits in his recliner, crying.
In the kitchen, a grieving Ashley obsessively prepares deviled eggs, but her search for paprika escalates into a frantic breakdown as she dumps out the garbage and cries out for her lost son, Rudy, while other mothers try to comfort her.
Ashley Carges, MOTHER # 1, MOTHERGrace visits Leonard in the hospital, bringing him McDonald's food, and expresses her fear and anger over his accident while Leonard reveals he can no longer taste or smell due to his condition and mourns his dead best friend, Rudy.
GRACE, PATRICK, Leonard FisherIn the doctor's office, Patrick and Grace learn that Leonard has Anosmia, a loss of smell and taste due to head injuries, and are advised to focus on food textures, with the doctor's insensitive comment about weight loss earning him a death glare.
GRACE, PATRICK, DOCTORA nurse attempts to get Leonard to eat his hospital food, but he refuses due to taste, eventually finding enjoyment in the crunch of an apple she offers.
NURSE, Leonard FisherJacob holds Rudy's old baseball glove, triggering memories, then opens a lock box filled with childhood mementos, including a photograph of him and Rudy that makes him smile.
Jim desperately tries to convince Gabe to buy and develop a piece of land, expressing a strong desire to never recognize it again, as the scene ends with the sound of a chainsaw.
Jim Carges, GABEMalee, Jacob, and Leonard observe a construction crew tearing down the woods, which upsets Malee and Jacob, who is still grieving Rudy's death and blaming himself. The friends discuss Jacob's fears about his family's financial situation, offering him support, before Malee is distracted by a shirtless construction worker she recognizes.
Malee Chung, Jacob Carges, Leonard FisherGrace prepares a large, spicy meal for Leonard, hoping he can taste it, but he refuses to eat it, leading to an argument about his unhealthy apple-only diet.
GRACE, Leonard FisherStudents arrive at Jefferson Junior High School for the first day, greeted by a 'WELCOME BACK' sign.
A new teacher calls out the name of a deceased student, Rudy Carges, during roll call, leading to an awkward revelation by Rudy's brother, Jacob, that Rudy is dead. The teacher, realizing her mistake, offers to leave Rudy's seat empty in his memory.
TOMMY, Jacob Carges, TEACHERCoach Gilmore introduces the Standardized Fitness Test to his gym class, much to their dismay. Leonard struggles immensely with both chin-ups and sit-ups, culminating in an embarrassing moment that causes the class to erupt in laughter.
COACH, Leonard FisherAfter Leonard struggles to complete his laps, the coach pulls him aside to offer guidance and resources for him to play high school football, despite Leonard's current poor physical condition.
COACH, Leonard FisherThe school band, including Malee, performs a terrible rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, after which their conductor, Mr. Farmer, dismisses them while announcing an upcoming fall recital and inviting students to sign up for solos, leaving Malee to ponder the opportunity.
MR. FARMER, MR FARMERMalee repeatedly approaches a sign-up sheet outside Mr. Farmer's office, showing indecision by almost signing, then scratching out her name, before finally committing to signing it.
Jacob enters the den to find his parents, Jim and Ashley, arguing intensely about the lenient sentence given to the boys who killed Rudy. Ashley is distraught and furious, while Jim tries to calm her, leading her to storm out of the room.
Ashley Carges, Jacob Carges, Jim CargesLeonard wakes up in his bedroom, silences his alarm, and takes a moment to gather himself.
Leonard attempts to go for a run but quickly becomes winded and out of shape, stopping after only a short distance and eventually throwing up on his way back home.
Malee surprises Gus at a noisy construction site, inviting him to a picnic, and he agrees to join her after his break.
Malee Chung, Gus Maitland, WORKERGus and Malee share Chinese food, where Malee reveals her post-funeral resolve to take chances by playing a flute solo, and Gus promises to attend her recital, sparking a crush.
Malee Chung, Gus MaitlandJacob, Leonard, and Malee discuss the short sentence given to those responsible for Rudy's death, with Jacob expressing a desire for revenge. Malee and Leonard try to convince Jacob to move on, with Malee suggesting he confront the perpetrators to find closure.
Malee Chung, Jacob Carges, Leonard FisherJacob quietly enters his parents' bedroom, where Ashley is sleeping, and steals approximately 60 dollars from her purse.
Jim sits lost in thought as his son, Jacob, enters and says goodbye before leaving.
Jacob CargesJacob loads his bike onto a bus with the driver's help, boards, and the bus departs.
Jacob and Kenny have an intense and hostile conversation in a juvenile hall booth, where Jacob expresses his deep hatred and graphically details his plans for Kenny's murder, while Kenny blames Jacob for their predicament.
Kenny, Jacob CargesLeonard is in his bedroom, reading nutritional manuals and writing down a list of ingredients.
Grace discovers Leonard in the kitchen surrounded by food boxes, as he obsessively researches ingredients, leading to an argument about his behavior and her food choices.
GRACE, Leonard FisherMalee rides her bike on the sidewalk and observes Gus exiting his car to enter her mother's office.
Extraction failed.
Malee listens through a heating grate as Yacco and Gus discuss their week, with Gus revealing he still can't sleep and has nightmares.
Gus Maitland, Yacco ChungYacco, a therapist, discusses post-traumatic stress and repression with Gus, a former firefighter, suggesting his recent nightmares are linked to an unconscious trauma stirred by his move to a new town, which Gus explains was for a construction job.
Gus Maitland, Yacco ChungIn an upstairs office, Malee intently listens, having written "GUS - NIGHTMARES - FIRE" in her notebook, as Yacco's voice from below asks about other recurring dream elements.
Yacco ChungGus tells Yacco that "Light My Fire" is always playing and sings a part of the song, making Yacco self-conscious. Yacco then responds with a simple "Interesting."
Gus Maitland, Yacco ChungIn an upstairs office, Malee repeatedly circles the words "Light My Fire."
Jacob hears the sound of clanging pots and pans coming from downstairs and exits his room to investigate the noise.
Jim, in a manic state, is aggressively cleaning the kitchen when Jacob enters, and Jim expresses his newfound joy for life and love for Jacob, asking him to join in a symbolic cleaning, which Jacob declines.
Jacob Carges, Jim CargesParents and students arrive at the Jefferson Junior High School Auditorium for the Fall Recital.
At a school auditorium, Malee is introduced for her flute solo, but after spotting Gus, she changes her planned song to "Love Story" to "Light My Fire" by The Doors, impressing the audience and Gus.
Malee Chung, MR. FARMERAfter a recital, Malee, initially with Leonard, tries to get rid of him when her crush, Gus, approaches to compliment her performance. Malee flirts with Gus, who then gives her an innocent kiss on the cheek before leaving, leaving Malee ecstatic.
Malee Chung, Gus Maitland, Leonard FisherLeonard attempts to jog but quickly gets winded, and a series of superimposed shots illustrates his gradual progress over time as he becomes stronger and loses weight.
Leonard exercises intensely on the stairs while Grace and Patrick discuss his activity. Grace then asks her daughters, Sara and Haley, about their Halloween costume plans, with Haley proposing an unusual idea.
SARA, GRACE, PATRICK, HALEYExtraction failed.
Grace hands out candy to trick-or-treaters at her front door, wishing them a good night.
GRACEHaley and Sara burst into the kitchen upset because their brother, Leonard, threw away all their Halloween candy. A heated argument ensues between Leonard and his parents, Grace and Patrick, about his actions and his seemingly extreme views on health and Halloween, culminating in Leonard revealing his resentment about his parents' past lack of concern for his weight.
GRACE, GRACE/PATRICK, Leonard Fisher, PATRICK, HALEY, SARALeonard confronts his father, Patrick, about their family's unhealthy eating habits and weight, explaining his motivation to get in shape for high school football.
PATRICK, Leonard FisherMalee gives Gus her Halloween candy, explaining she wants to maintain good eating habits. Gus then reveals that a boy named Rudy died at the construction site where he works, and Malee confirms she knew him, unsettling Gus.
Malee Chung, Gus MaitlandJIM (CONT'D) (cont'd) I went to work today. For the first time in weeks. It was as if I had just gotten out of college! I was fearless! I went after accounts I had avoided for years because I thought they were out of my league. I spoke to presidents, vice presidents, business managers, sales reps. I was amazing. I was magic. But when I came home to share the news with your mother, I discovered her asleep. When I looked around the house, I realized that her "office", for lack of a better word, was also piled up. So, I took to the house. I have made it my duty to clean this place from top to bottom. Even if it takes me all night, I don't care. Jacob?
GUS One of the last fires I ever fought was a brownstone, beautiful. The place was burned from roof to basement. Whole family was wiped out. When I was upstairs, inspecting, I found a girl. She couldn't have been more than 12. GUS (cont'd) The whole right side of her face was burnt off, but her eyes were open. She was alive. The pain must have been excruciating. She was begging for me to... kill her.
JACOB First I'm going to take a kitchen knife and chop off your fingers then your nose then your tongue. Then I'm gonna poke out your eyes with the end of a broomstick. Well, not really poke them out, but I'm gonna push them back into your brain. Then I'm gonna take scissors and cut off your ears. When they find you, it's gonna be like putting a jigsaw puzzle back together.
DOCTOR Leonard's association with food is no longer about taste. It's about texture. While we may be partial to sweet or salty foods, Leonard will become partial to crunchy or smooth ones. Once he settles on a texture he likes, his appetite will increase.
YACCO Sometimes we experience something so horrific, our memory blocks it out. That way we won't have to relive the pain. It's called repression. Our bodies are not so forgiving, however. Inside, we feel the effects of trauma even when we don't know why.
LEONARD Since I was in the hospital. They said, any adoption agency worth its salt has at least a three year waiting list. By the time your parents get a kid, you'll be in college. You think they'll want to start over again with that baby shit?
MALEE See that, age wasn't an issue, yet you still wanted different things. I don't think it's about age. MALEE (cont'd) I think when two people connect, they connect for other reasons. And since soulmates are eternal, they have no age.
GRACE Leonard, my mother died at 52. We had to cremate her body because they didn't make a coffin big enough for her to fit in. Even if they had, no one could have carried it. I loved her so much. I don't want that to happen to me.
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