MOGGED

by

Jared Battaglia

COPE HARDER

EXT. OGDEN UNIVERSITY - DAY

A private campus bathed in late-summer light. Students flood the walkways during Welcome Week carrying designer luggage. Athletic bodies. Luxury SUVs parked along the curving paths.

INT. DORM ROOM - DAY

Sleek, contemporary design. Quad views.

JOHNNY, 18, unpacks a duffle bag on his bed. Good-looking. Tallish. Relaxed vibe.

The door opens. MYLES, 18, likable and eager, walks in.

MYLES Hey. Looks like we’re roommates. Hope it’s cool I picked a side. Didn’t know if we had to draw straws or not.

JOHNNY No, you’re good. I’m Johnny.

MYLES Myles.

They shake hands. Friendly smiles.

MYLES (CONT’D) Honestly, I’m just glad you seem normal.

Johnny laughs a little.

JOHNNY Thanks. I think.

MYLES You hear horror stories about nightmare roommates who turn out to be total psychos. At least you look like you have good hygiene.

JOHNNY Did you eat already?

MYLES Kind of. But I can roll with you to the dining hall if you don’t want to go alone.

2.

JOHNNY I can go alone. Thought I’d ask.

MYLES I could eat again.

Johnny smiles.

JOHNNY Okay cool.

INT. DINING HALL - DAY

Johnny and Myles move through the food line.

MYLES The fried chicken is so good. I crushed like three pieces earlier. You should try it.

JOHNNY I don’t really eat fried foods.

MYLES Oh. You on Keto or something?

JOHNNY No. Just try to watch what I eat.

MYLES I should do that more.

Across the way, Johnny catches sight of OLIVIA, 19, a sophomore. She’s laughing with friends near the salad bar.

Naturally pretty and put-together. Olivia notices him looking. They share a small smile.

INT. DINING HALL - MOMENTS LATER

Johnny eats grilled chicken and roasted asparagus. Myles digs into mac and cheese across from him.

MYLES I couldn’t say no to the mac and cheese. I should probably eat healthier like you.

JOHNNY My parents didn’t keep a lot of processed foods in the house.

3.

MYLES That’s smart. My mom was more a “Costco pot pies” for dinner type.

Johnny spots Olivia again across the dining hall. He tries not to stare.

JOHNNY I feel better when I eat clean. That’s all.

MYLES Yeah, I get that. Did you play sports? Look like you did.

JOHNNY Soccer mostly. Swam in the winter.

MYLES Ogden doesn’t have soccer.

JOHNNY I know. I kind of moved on from it.

MYLES You thinking about joining any clubs?

JOHNNY I’m open.

MYLES Know about Apex?

JOHNNY What’s Apex?

MYLES Kind of like a fraternity. But apparently they’ve got crazy connections. Internships. Networking. All that.

JOHNNY You trying to join?

MYLES I don’t think I have a shot. I heard you gotta be at least six foot.

4.

INT. CAMPUS STORE - LATER

Johnny tries on an Ogden hooded sweatshirt over his t-shirt and checks himself out in the mirror. Tasteful and understated.

Olivia walks past carrying a coffee.

OLIVIA Good pick.

JOHNNY Thanks.

OLIVIA Freshman?

JOHNNY Is it obvious?

OLIVIA Only because I’ve never seen you before. Olivia. Welcome crew.

She extends her hand. He shakes it.

JOHNNY Johnny.

OLIVIA Want to walk? I can show you around.

JOHNNY Sure.

EXT. OGDEN UNIVERSITY - CAMPUS - GOLDEN HOUR

They drift through campus together. Somehow, the conversation comes easy.

OLIVIA You look like you belong here already.

Johnny smiles, a little caught off guard by that.

JOHNNY I’ve been here like four hours.

OLIVIA Some people show up looking terrified. You seem weirdly calm.

5.

JOHNNY Internally? Different story.

She laughs.

OLIVIA Relatable.

JOHNNY Can I get your number?

Olivia smiles, takes his phone, and puts it in.

OLIVIA Oh, before I forget. I don’t know if you saw, but mixer tonight at the Commons, you have to go.

JOHNNY I’ll be there.

OLIVIA Good. Nice meeting you, Johnny.

JOHNNY Likewise.

He watches her go, intrigued.

INT. DORM ROOM - NIGHT

Johnny stands in front of the mirror adjusting his shirt collar. Myles digs through a pile of clothes on his bed.

MYLES You think this is too much?

He holds up an oversized shirt.

JOHNNY For what?

MYLES I don’t know. College.

Johnny smiles faintly.

JOHNNY You’ll survive.

Myles throws it on anyway.

6.

INT. DORM BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Bright overheads. Too bright. Johnny fixes his hair in the mirror beside Myles, who leans in close to inspect a breakout near his chin.

MYLES Great timing.

JOHNNY I can barely see it.

MYLES I can see it.

JOHNNY Don’t think about.

A few other freshmen drift through behind them getting ready. One guy sprays too much cologne. Another flexes quickly when he thinks nobody’s looking.

MYLES Everybody here looks like they already know each other.

JOHNNY Nobody knows what they’re doing.

Myles nods like Johnny gave him real advice. Johnny checks himself one last time in the mirror.

For a brief moment, he studies his reflection a little too closely. “Why Am I Here” by Presley Regier continues under:

EXT. THE COMMONS - NIGHT

String lights glow overhead. The Welcome Mixer is in full swing. Students weave between food tables and lawn chairs. Drinks in hand.

Everyone looks slightly overdressed for a campus event. Johnny leads Myles into the crowd.

MYLES This feels like a movie.

JOHNNY A bit.

MYLES Guess we should talk to girls.

7.

Olivia appears beside them, smiling at Johnny.

OLIVIA Glad you made it.

MYLES (under his breath) Already?

JOHNNY This is my roommate Myles.

OLIVIA Hi Myles.

She waves.

MYLES Hey.

OLIVIA I’ll introduce you guys around.

MYLES Uh... okay. That was easy.

They meet and greet. A DJ spins near the center of the lawn. Students sway and dance beneath the string lights. Olivia pulls Johnny towards the music.

OLIVIA Come on.

He goes with it.

OLIVIA (CONT’D) You’re actually a decent dancer.

JOHNNY Don’t act surprised.

Johnny sees a crew of guys across the Commons. Confident. Well-dressed. Polished without looking polished. People subtly move out of their way as they pass.

At the center, BLAISE moves through the crowd, early 20s. Button-down shirt. Sharp jaw. Calm eyes, almost hypnotic. Like he’s never doubted himself once in life.

He clocks Johnny and Olivia. Unreadable.

JOHNNY (CONT’D) Do you know that guy?

8.

Olivia looks at him with playful suspicion.

OLIVIA What guy?

She follows Johnny’s gaze. The group is gone.

JOHNNY I don’t know. There was this guy looking over here. Thought maybe it was your boyfriend.

Olivia grins.

OLIVIA I would’ve told you if I had a boyfriend.

JOHNNY Right.

They almost kiss.

INT. LECTURE HALL - DAY

A packed freshman seminar. Johnny sits beside Myles taking notes. A PROFESSOR paces slowly at the front of the room.

PROFESSOR The biggest lie people tell themselves is that merit and status are the same thing.

A few students glance up from laptops.

PROFESSOR (CONT’D) They’re not. But most institutions depend on you believing they are.

John listens engaged. His phone buzzes.

Olivia: That was fun :)

Another text: What are you up to this week?

Johnny smiles slightly before catching himself. Myles spots the grin.

MYLES Already texting you?

Johnny flips the phone over.

9.

JOHNNY Shut up.

Myles smirks.

INT. REC CENTER - DAY

Music pulses. Bodies in motion. Johnny crushes a heavy set on bench. Controlled. Focused.

Myles struggles through dumbbell curls nearby.

MYLES (low) I think those are the Apex guys.

Johnny eyes them. Blaise and the same group spotted at the Welcome Party move through the gym together. Relaxed posture. Expensive workout clothes.

JOHNNY Saw them last night.

They take over an entire section, moving station to station. Nobody says anything, people work around them.

REX, early 20s, spots Blaise on incline bench. Big frame.

MYLES That dude’s a unit.

KAI scrolls through workout stats between sets. Pretty face. Dead eyes.

EASTON bangs out pull-ups like he’s being graded.

TATE stretches silently on a mat.

Johnny watches them a second too long. Blaise picks up on it. He sizes him up without being obvious.

BLAISE Good form.

Johnny racks the weight.

JOHNNY Thanks.

BLAISE Most freshman ego-lift their first week.

10.

Myles suddenly pushes harder on his curls, trying to look stronger than he is. Blaise notices that too.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Consistency matters more than intensity.

Myles nods immediately.

MYLES Yeah. Totally.

Blaise glances between them.

BLAISE You guys new here?

JOHNNY Freshman.

BLAISE Enjoy that while it lasts.

Blaise walks off.

MYLES Okay. Those guys are cool as hell.

Johnny doesn’t answer right away. A few of the Apex guys look in their direction.

INT. COFFEE BAR - DAY

Johnny and Olivia sit tucked into a corner booth. Iced coffees between them.

OLIVIA Exciting first week?

JOHNNY Reading list is brutal, but feels good to be here. No curfew.

OLIVIA Were your parents strict?

JOHNNY Not really. Yours?

OLIVIA Full helicopter. But they did a good job.

11.

JOHNNY I agree.

She smiles warmly.

OLIVIA You’re funny.

Olivia takes another sip of her drink.

JOHNNY Do you know about Apex?

Olivia nods.

OLIVIA Oh, yes. They take themselves very seriously.

JOHNNY I met one of the them at the Rec Center. I think he’s in charge.

Olivia pauses a fraction too long.

OLIVIA Be careful with those guys.

JOHNNY Just making friends. Or friendly acquaintances.

OLIVIA Trust me, they’re a different breed.

INT. DORM ROOM - EVENING

Johnny and Myles are back in their room. Johnny is reviewing notes. Myles is still buzzing from the gym encounter.

MYLES Bro, the Apex president actually talked to us. That was insane.

Johnny shrugs, playing it cool.

JOHNNY It was just gym talk.

12.

MYLES Still felt good to push weight with people who actually know what they’re doing.

A firm knock at the door. Myles opens it. Standing there is Easton. He holds two sleek black envelopes and a small tablet.

EASTON (flat, professional) Johnny and Myles?

MYLES Yeah...?

Easton doesn’t smile. He glances at the tablet once.

EASTON Blaise asked me to stop by. You’ve both been extended a provisional visit to Apex.

He hands them each a minimalist black envelope. No logo. Just a subtle metallic silver emboss of an upward arrow.

EASTON (CONT’D) Bring nothing but yourselves. No phones. No outside bags. Dress like you understand standards. This isn’t a party. It’s an evaluation. Most don’t get a second look.

Easton nods once and walks away without waiting for a reply. Myles closes the door, wide-eyed.

He opens his envelope. Inside is a single heavy card:

APEX

9:00 PM

1742 Ridgewood Lane

Potential recognized. Prove it.

MYLES I can’t believe they invited me. I’m not six foot. I mean, I’m not short either.

He catches his reflection in the mirror across the room for a second.

13.

Johnny doesn’t say anything. He opens his. Same card, but at the bottom in small elegant text:

Your baseline is higher than most. Don’t waste it. - B

MYLES (CONT’D) This is wild, man. You’re gonna go, right?

Johnny stares at the card, a flicker of intrigue mixed with unease.

JOHNNY I mean, I guess?

MYLES What do you mean you guess? Guys on this campus would kill to step into that house.

JOHNNY Feels a little fast.

MYLES We have to go. Please?

Johnny exhales.

JOHNNY Fine.

EXT. APEX HOUSE - ESTABLISHING

A stately off-campus house tucked back from the street. Historic bones but modernized. Johnny and Myles approach from the sidewalk. Button-ups, dress pants.

Myles slows down.

MYLES This place is sick.

Johnny gazes up at the house. Impressed.

JOHNNY Damn.

Myles checks his watch.

MYLES Come on, I ironed my shirt for this.

14.

Myles grips the brass knocker. The door opens. Rex appears behind it. Eyes them over skeptical.

REX Who are you?

Myles freezes. Johnny stays calm.

JOHNNY We were invited.

Rex cracks a faint grin.

REX I know. I’m messing with you.

He steps aside to let them in.

INT. APEX HOUSE - GRAND FOYER - NIGHT

They cross the threshold. Johnny takes it in. Dark wood. Smart mirrors. Cold LED lighting.

BLAISE (O.S.) Glad you could make it. Welcome to Apex.

They see Blaise descend the staircase. Kai and Tate follow.

BLAISE (CONT’D) The rest of the prospects are in the main room.

He guides them there.

INT. APEX HOUSE - MAIN ROOM

Sterile blue-white interiors. Sleek minimalist furniture.

A dozen attractive guys fill the space. Some full members. Others nervous prospects standing a little apart by a station with stacks of protein bars and supplements.

Johnny and Myles join them. Blaise faces the group.

BLAISE I know you’ve probably heard the rumors about this house. Most of them are exaggerated. Not all.

Some smiles. Others don’t know how to react.

15.

BLAISE (CONT’D) We don’t accept many full members. This is a get-to-know you period. We believe everyone here has potential. Potential means nothing without discipline.

Kai steps beside him holding a small tablet.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Everything here is designed to make us better. Apex is a brotherhood built on helping each other become undeniable.

KAI We have people who believe in us. Most members already have opportunities lined up for after graduation. Quant firms. Frontier tech. Specialized funds. Even sophomores like Tate.

BLAISE So let’s get started.

Blaise claps once. The group follows him and Kai towards the glass hallway.

BLAISE (CONT’D) First rule: what happens in the house stays in the house. Not because it’s a secret. Because it’s yours.

They pass a sleek digital directory on the wall. Member names glow softly next to metrics: BF%, sleep score, projected value.

KAI We track everything. Not to shame you. To beat yesterday.

INT. APEX HOUSE - RECOVERY LOUNGE

Soft red lighting. Float tanks line one wall. Sauna in b.g. Massage chairs that look like they belong in a $500k spa.

Easton lies hooked up to an IV drip while reading market reports on his tablet.

16.

BLAISE Best recovery setup on any campus. You’ll need it, if you advance.

Tate is already settled into a recovery chair. Johnny catches himself comparing.

INT. APEX HOUSE - MIRROR ROOM

Blaise opens a heavy door. Every surface is covered in mirrors. Strategic lighting makes everyone look carved.

Digital symmetry lines flicker across their reflections.

KAI Most guys never really see themselves. Here you learn to. Then you fix it.

Johnny stares at his own reflection. For a second the overlay flickers on. Subtly enhances his shoulders, jaw, and posture.

He stands a little straighter without realizing it.

MYLES (on the sly, to Johnny) ...Fuck.

EXT. APEX HOUSE - OBSERVATION DECK

A sweeping view of campus. A few members in hoodies lounge on outdoor sectionals around fire tables, casually reviewing pitch decks on tablets and laptops.

Rex laughs on a video call.

REX Yeah, tell them we’ll circle back after finals.

Blaise stops, letting the view and the quiet power sink in.

BLAISE You don’t have to be perfect when you walk in. But you won’t leave here the same. And the world already has a seat waiting.

He looks straight at Johnny.

17.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Question is, are you ready to earn it?

INT. APEX HOUSE - PERFORMANCE LOUNGE

Low amber lighting. Multiple high-end sim racing rigs with triple monitors.

LOGAN, 19, a prospect, stands at a VR station. Focused. He finishes a lap and pulls off the headset.

LOGAN Forty-two point eight. Beat my last by six-tenths. Still chasing Kai’s number though.

Rex adjusts posture in the mirror. Tate and Easton do light posture drills in front of a mirror wall, while trash talking.

BLAISE We don’t hang out and do nothing. We do this.

Johnny watches Logan send a sim lap. The screen shows lap time. Heart rate. Focus score.

KAI Winner gets priority on the cryo chamber tomorrow.

Rex sinks a shot. A digital display pops up. Vertical Jump: 38.4”. New Personal Best.

Myles grins, shoots a look at Johnny.

MYLES This is how they unwind.

Kai observes them. He swipes his finger across the tablet, turns to Blaise by his side.

KAI Frame potential is solid on both. Johnny’s got better leverage. Myles... we can work with.

Myles laughs it off. A flicker of insecurity.

MYLES I’m down to work. Whatever it takes.

18.

Easton drops down from the pull-up bar, sweating.

EASTON That’s the mindset. You walk around campus and you can feel it. People gave up on themselves. Scrolling, coping, repeating. We don’t do that here.

TATE (quiet, intense) We optimize. Small edges compound.

EASTON Standards are contagious.

The room buys in.

BLAISE (soft, paternal) No one here is perfect yet. Most people stop once they’re ahead. We don’t.

Johnny looks around. Warmth feels real. Myles is already hooked, eyes bright.

Blaise claps Myles on the shoulder, then nods towards Johnny.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Johnny. Walk with me.

INT. APEX HOUSE - SIDE HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

Laughter from the lounge fades. Blaise stops, sizing Johnny up. Like a sculptor eyeing marble.

BLAISE You’ve got better levers than most who walk through that door. Good frame. You carry yourself like you already know you’re better than the average cope. But knowing isn’t enough.

Johnny listens, locked in.

BLAISE (CONT’D) A lot of people grind because they think they’re supposed to. You’re gonna grind because you finally know what’s possible.

19.

Blaise’s expression softens. Just slightly. But still hard.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Let’s see if you’re who I think you are.

Johnny nods. Something clicks behind his eyes.

JOHNNY No pressure, right?

Blaise gives him a firm grip on his shoulder. They head back.

INT. APEX HOUSE - GRAND FOYER - LATER

The night is winding down. Johnny and Myles are being walked out by Easton and Kai. The vibe is positive. But controlled.

Blaise appears from the main room, walking up casually. Everyone subtly straightens.

BLAISE You both did well tonight.

He stops in front of them, pulls out two matte-black wristbands and two sleek pouches. Offers each one.

BLAISE (CONT’D) These contain your baseline scans. When you return, scan them at the door. No phones in the house. We value focus.

Myles takes his eagerly. Johnny hesitates for a half-second before accepting. Blaise then hands them the pouches.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Optional introductory protocol. We only give this to those we see real potential in.

MYLES Score.

Johnny opens his. Inside is a beautifully designed single- serve protein pack and a heavy note card.

The future belongs to those who edit themselves first. - B

JOHNNY Thanks.

Blaise looks directly at Johnny.

20.

BLAISE You felt it tonight, didn’t you?

JOHNNY Yeah.

BLAISE Good. Friday same time.

Blaise gives them a knowing smile. He turns and goes back inside the house.

EXT. APEX HOUSE - NIGHT

Myles buzzes as they walk away.

MYLES That was unreal. When do we get to move in?

Johnny raises his brow.

JOHNNY Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

MYLES Probably not until spring or next year, if all goes well. I bet the bedrooms are like hotel suites.

JOHNNY It’s a nice house.

Myles stares ahead at campus.

MYLES You think I would’ve gotten invited had I not been with you at the gym?

He lets out an uncomfortable chuckle.

JOHNNY Don’t overthink it.

MYLES Yeah, you’re right.

INT. DORM ROOM - NEXT MORNING

Johnny wakes up first. He’s already doing push ups on the floor. Myles stirs in bed.

21.

MYLES Dude, give it a few months. You’re gonna be huge. I’m calling it.

Johnny finishes his set without stopping.

JOHNNY Just trying to wake up.

Myles squints at him, still half asleep.

MYLES Nah. That house got to you already.

JOHNNY It was motivating. I’ll admit.

Johnny stands, slightly out of breath. He glances at the mirror. Checks his posture.

MYLES See? You’re doing it right now.

Johnny looks away from the mirror.

JOHNNY Doing what?

MYLES Apex posture.

Johnny fights a smile and loses.

JOHNNY Whatever.

MYLES I’m serious. By next semester you’re gonna be telling me my cortisol levels are ruining my jawline.

Johnny grabs a bottle of water off his desk.

JOHNNY You talk too much in the morning.

Myles notices Johnny’s bed already made perfectly.

MYLES And they got you making the bed too? What is this the Marines?

22.

INT. OGDEN UNIVERSITY - STUDENT UNION - DAY

Johnny enters, spots Olivia on a bench with her friends. She sees him, excuses herself, and heads over.

OLIVIA You look good today.

JOHNNY Thanks.

OLIVIA Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you look bad yet. But you’re kind of... glowing.

JOHNNY That’s a new one.

OLIVIA I heard there’s a party on your floor this weekend. I’m friends with your RA. You going?

JOHNNY Might’ve heard about that. I’m still figuring out my schedule.

OLIVIA Bummer. I thought we could all pre- game or something.

JOHNNY I want to yeah. I just, last night, Myles and I got invited to Apex.

OLIVIA Did you say yes?

JOHNNY We checked it out already. They want us back.

OLIVIA Oh.

JOHNNY Is the dorm party Saturday or Friday?

OLIVIA Saturday.

23.

JOHNNY Then we’re good. Apex is Friday.

She squeezes his hand.

OLIVIA All right.

INT. REC CENTER - EVENING

Johnny works out alone. Lifts heavier. Checks his form in the mirror. Myles comes over.

MYLES You think they’re watching us already?

JOHNNY Who?

MYLES Apex.

JOHNNY No.

MYLES Would it even shock you?

JOHNNY Guess not. You hear about the party on our floor Saturday night?

MYLES I totally forgot.

JOHNNY Olivia mentioned it. She’s friends with the RA.

MYLES But after going to that house, doesn’t a dorm party feel a little...

JOHNNY A little what?

MYLES I don’t know. Basic.

Johnny racks his weight.

24.

JOHNNY It’ll be okay.

INT. DORM ROOM - NIGHT

Myles is hunched over, typing aggressively at his desk.

MYLES There’s no website. Nothing. I tried Apex, Apex Ogden. It’s a ghost.

JOHNNY They said what happens in the house stays in the house.

Johnny can’t help a slight smile.

MYLES That’s not normal though, right? For something this connected?

JOHNNY It’s not unheard of.

Johnny sits on the edge of his bed. He opens the sleek matte- black pouch Blaise gave him. Baseline protocol. Single dose.

MYLES Gonna take it?

JOHNNY Blaise said it was optional.

Johnny pours the powder into a shaker bottle, adds water from a filtered pitcher. Dissolves instantly.

He takes the first sip. Then a full drink.

MYLES How does it taste?

JOHNNY Expensive.

Myles watches him like he’s waiting for Johnny to suddenly grow wings.

MYLES Feel anything?

JOHNNY I don’t think you’re supposed to.

25.

After a few seconds, Johnny rolls his shoulders slightly. Weirdly alert.

MYLES You just did a thing.

INT. APEX HOUSE - HALLWAY - NIGHT

Black curtains drawn. Led by Blaise, Johnny, Myles and the prospects file through the house.

INT. APEX HOUSE - OPTIMIZATION LAB - NIGHT

Blaise moves over to Johnny at a sleek station with a large monitor.

BLAISE We don’t guess here. We measure. You ready for this?

Johnny shrugs and smiles.

JOHNNY Yeah.

Kai taps the screen. A 3D scan of Johnny’s face appears. Golden ratio lines overlaid. Small red flags on minor asymmetries.

KAI You’re a natural 8.1. With minor mid-face projection and jaw gonial work, you hit 9.3 easily. We modeled it.

The screen morphs: Johnny’s projected “optimized” self. Sharper, more commanding. He can’t look away.

MYLES (quietly) Holy shit.

BLAISE We build the filter into reality.

KAI Potential isn’t theoretical anymore.

TATE Average is the new poverty.

26.

Logan discreetly adjusts his posture after seeing his score.

INT. APEX HOUSE - MAIN ROOM - LATER

Low music. Members and prospects mingle. A few compare stats on the Apex app. Others mix protein shakes at the supplement station. Blaise sits back next to Johnny and Myles.

BLAISE I know it’s a lot to absorb. But this place changed my life. It’s a golden ticket.

He sips from a nootropic mocktail.

JOHNNY Feels like it.

BLAISE You guys can come to me whenever. Do you have any questions?

Myles glances around.

MYLES How do you afford all of this?

BLAISE There are people who are paying attention to what we’re building. I’m not saying you’re set for life if you go through with this, but I’m not saying you’re not either.

He flashes a grin. Myles looks to Johnny.

MYLES We’re going through with this.

JOHNNY I get why everyone’s obsessed with this place.

Blaise raises his glass.

BLAISE Like attracts like.

INT. DINING HALL - NEXT DAY

Johnny and Logan exit the food line. Grilled salmon filets and cucumber tomato salad on their trays.

27.

LOGAN You almost grabbed the quinoa.

JOHNNY Thought about it.

LOGAN Quinoa’s solid if you’re bulking. Tate says it holds water though.

They find a table.

JOHNNY I’m just used to my mom having it with dinner.

Logan snorts.

LOGAN Moms love it. Got that 2017 wellness bowl energy.

Johnny cracks a smile. They start to eat.

JOHNNY (between bites) So Apex. Feeling good about it?

LOGAN Oh yeah. Half the prospects don’t even make it past the first night. We got fast-tracked.

JOHNNY I didn’t even know about it before Myles told me.

Logan hesitates.

LOGAN I know he’s your roommate. Not trying to be a dick, but did they only invite him because of you?

Johnny considers.

JOHNNY I don’t know about that.

LOGAN He doesn’t exactly fit the profile. Blaise sees something in you.

28.

JOHNNY I appreciate him showing an interest.

LOGAN Trust me. That doesn’t happen by accident.

Johnny lets the words land.

INT. DORM PARTY - NIGHT

Bass rattles the walls of a crowded dorm floor lounge. Beer pong table. Solo cups everywhere. Johnny and Myles enter.

Myles is wearing a new fitted shirt. Johnny looks sharper than everyone else in the room without trying.

Olivia zeroes in on him. Hugs his waist.

OLIVIA You came! I was starting to think Apex kidnapped you already.

Johnny smiles.

JOHNNY Not yet.

Olivia nods at Myles.

OLIVIA Myles, some of my other friends are coming. You should meet them.

Myles surveys the party.

MYLES What are they like?

OLIVIA Um, I don’t know. Nice?

MYLES Way to sell it.

Myles beelines for the drinks table. Olivia frowns. She eyes Johnny. They grab drinks.

OLIVIA He okay?

29.

JOHNNY Just Myles being Myles.

He catches Myles leaning back against the wall with a drink, looking like he’s over it already.

“PPL R” by TwoLips kicks in.

OLIVIA Oh my God, I love this song. Dance with me.

She pulls him towards the middle of the room, showcasing her moves and playfully teasing Johnny.

Myles doesn’t look impressed. He checks his phone for Apex texts. A drunk guy bumps into him, spills beer on his shirt.

MYLES Fucking kidding me dude?

Myles peers down at his shirt.

DRUNK GUY It was an accident. Chill.

Johnny and Olivia dance. Easy, flirty. His eyes drift to Myles, now in a corner talking intensely to a girl, while constantly adjusting his posture.

Johnny’s phone buzzes in his pocket. He checks it discreetly.

Text from UNKNOWN NUMBER: Form check tomorrow morning 7:30 am. Don’t be late. - B

OLIVIA Everything okay?

JOHNNY Yeah. Just an Apex thing.

OLIVIA My competition.

JOHNNY Nah, it’s not like that.

He pockets the phone and kisses Olivia. It’s a real one. For a moment he looks like any other college freshman having a good night.

30.

INT. DORM ROOM - MATCH CUT

Johnny and Olivia slip inside, making out. Door shuts tight. He scoops her up, lowers her down to his bed.

Her head sinks into the pillow. She bites her lower lip, staring back up at him as his shirt comes off. Johnny gets on top.

Afterward, they fall asleep in each other’s arms.

EXT. CAMPUS - MORNING

Johnny jogs across campus in perfect form. Earbuds in. Black wristband on.

EXT. APEX HOUSE - MORNING

Rex opens the door before Johnny even knocks.

REX Blaise is expecting you.

INT. APEX HOUSE - PRIVATE TRAINING ROOM

Johnny steps inside. Blaise is doing slow pull-ups on a bar mounted in the corner. Shirtless.

BLAISE You came alone?

He drops down.

JOHNNY Yeah. Myles has a bad hangover.

BLAISE Good. I like one-on-ones. You get a different feel for people.

Johnny glances around.

JOHNNY I didn’t realize you had a gym here.

BLAISE Because we met at the Rec Center?

31.

JOHNNY Yeah. If I had this setup, I’d never leave.

BLAISE This is where we do the real work. But it’s important to also have a presence on campus.

JOHNNY Makes sense.

Blaise tosses Johnny a weighted vest.

BLAISE Put it on.

Johnny slips it over his shoulders. Heavy. They start moving through lunges across the room.

Blaise watches everything.

BLAISE (CONT’D) You’re holding tension in your neck. Release it.

Johnny adjusts.

BLAISE (CONT’D) There. People rarely see themselves clearly.

JOHNNY What do you mean?

BLAISE They think confidence is internal. It’s mechanical first.

Johnny keeps moving.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Posture. Breathing. Eye contact. People decide what you are before you even speak.

Johnny tries correcting his shoulders. Blaise notices.

BLAISE (CONT’D) See? Fast learner.

That tiny bit of approval hits harder than it should. Blaise walks beside him now.

32.

BLAISE (CONT’D) You know why most guys plateau?

JOHNNY Why?

Johnny looks over at him.

BLAISE They want results without identity change. You can’t optimize your life if you’re still emotionally attached to the version of yourself that created it.

INT. APEX HOUSE - RECOVERY LOUNGE - LATER

Johnny sits hooked up to a compression sleeve device. Drinks from a matte black bottle.

Blaise sits across from him. Relaxed.

BLAISE We don’t rush people. But we recognize when someone’s ready for more. There’s a dinner Tuesday night. Inner circle only. I want you there.

Johnny tries not to show how much that means to him.

JOHNNY What about Myles?

Small pause.

BLAISE Bring him.

A beat.

BLAISE (CONT’D) But between us, he’s forcing it a little.

JOHNNY Forcing what?

BLAISE The image.

Johnny listens carefully.

33.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Some people build on top of what’s already there. Others are trying to manufacture a whole new identity overnight.

The compression sleeve tightens around Johnny’s arm.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Myles wants people to see him differently. You already carry yourself like someone who belongs in rooms before you enter them.

CUT TO:

MONTAGE

- Johnny and Myles stand shirtless in the Optimization Lab as body scans ripple across their frames. Symmetry mapping. Posture analysis. Muscle density overlays.

- Black Apex wearables lock around their wrists. Real-time biometrics stream across minimalist screens. HRV. Sleep recovery. Testosterone trends. Stress load.

- Johnny’s metrics stabilize quickly. Myles keeps checking his own numbers, determined.

- Johnny runs stadium steps at sunrise wearing the black wristband.

- Myles throws up in the dorm bathroom after taking supplements on an empty stomach.

- Johnny sits in class. Better posture. More eye contact. He’s starting to notice the attention he used to ignore.

QUICK FLASHES - Apex notifications:

- RECOVERY SCORE UP

- PROTOCOL COMPLETE

- SMALL EDGES COMPOUND

END MONTAGE

INT. DORM ROOM - NIGHT

Johnny sleeps deeply. Myles is awake at 3:14 A.M scrolling the Apex leaderboard in the dark. He wipes his face with his sleeve. Refreshes the rankings again.

34.

INT. DORM BATHROOM - MORNING

Myles stares at himself in the mirror pulling at the skin beneath his jaw.

INT. STUDY LOUNGE - DAY

Johnny tries to focus. Myles is next to him, but distracted. He secretly looks at Apex metrics on his phone. Johnny notices, feels split.

INT. CAMPUS WALKWAY - SUNSET

Johnny and Olivia lean against a brick wall outside a lecture hall. She fixes the collar of his jacket.

OLIVIA You’ve changed in like five days.

JOHNNY Good or bad?

She smiles.

OLIVIA Still deciding.

They kiss. His phone buzzes. Apex notification. Johnny glances down at it for a half a second before kissing her again.

INT. APEX HOUSE - DINING ROOM - NIGHT

A long black dining table under soft light. Johnny enters with Myles. Every member is there.

Logan is already seated halfway down the table in a fitted black shirt, trying too hard to look relaxed. Easton pours mineral water into crystal glasses.

Blaise sits at the head of the table.

BLAISE Glad you made it.

They take their seats. An impeccably plated dinner is set down by catering staff. Lean steak. Microgreens. Black rice.

Nobody touches the food yet. Blaise looks around the table.

35.

BLAISE (CONT’D) You know what’s funny?

Silence.

BLAISE (CONT’D) People talk about equality right up until the results show up.

A couple guys smile.

TATE Facts.

BLAISE The world says competition is unhealthy. Then quietly rewards the winners with everything.

Rex cuts into his steak.

REX Money. Access. Girls.

Blaise nods slightly.

BLAISE Most people spend their lives negotiating with reality instead of adapting to it.

A moment passes.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Society only pretends not to rank people. Every room does.

Kai takes a sip of water.

KAI Dating apps. Internships. Social circles. Hiring. It’s all filters.

MYLES People definitely judge looks way more now.

The table goes quiet. Myles suddenly sounds younger than everyone else. Blaise rescues him smoothly.

BLAISE Looks are signals.

He gestures lightly towards Johnny.

36.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Health. Discipline. Self-respect.

LOGAN So many guys never even realize they’re losing.

REX They cope instead.

A few knowing laughs. Johnny notices Logan watching Blaise constantly. Waiting for approval.

BLAISE Average is comfortable because average has company.

A server refills glasses silently.

BLAISE (CONT’D) But winners? Winners are usually alone for a while.

That lands differently on everybody. Especially Johnny. Myles too. Blaise finally starts eating. The rest of the table follows.

“All Eyes on Me” by Phoenix seeps in under:

EXT. OGDEN UNIVERSITY - CAMPUS - DAY

Johnny walks with Blaise, Rex, Kai, Tate, Logan, and Myles across campus. Clean jackets. Good posture. Quiet confidence.

Students walk by like a different species entirely. People notice. Girls glance over. Guys glance over too, measuring themselves against them.

No one in the group seems to seek attention. Which somehow makes them more magnetic.

INT. MIRROR ROOM - NIGHT

The prospects stand under the lights in athletic wear like specimens. The members observe. Blaise watches from the back, arms folded.

KAI Logan, step up. Full exposure.

Logan steps forward. Harsh lighting hits him. His flaws become brutally visible. Slight asymmetry. Softer jawline.

37.

REX Posture. Chest up. You’re shrinking, man.

LOGAN (forcing a smile) Yeah, been grinding through. Added twenty pounds on bench.

Kai checks his tablet.

KAI Frame is still behind. Mid-tier at best right now. We can push the jaw and mid-face ratio, but it’s going to take commitment.

Logan’s smile collapses. Sweat beads under the lights.

EASTON We’ve all been there. Last year I was six-eight. Now I’m holding steady at eight-two.

TATE But you plateaued. That’s the test.

Myles shifts uncomfortably. Johnny watches closely.

LOGAN I’m all in. Whatever it takes. I don’t want to stay like this.

REX Good. Because getting mogged by your own reflection every day? That shit eats at you.

Blaise circles behind Logan. Studying him.

BLAISE We only break what needs breaking. Then we rebuild stronger.

The mirrors reflect Logan from every angle, multiplying his insecurities. Johnny looks uneasy.

INT. DORM ROOM - NIGHT

Johnny wakes up. Blue glow on his face. He sees Myles obsessively measuring his face with a phone app in the dark. Myles doesn’t notice him watching.

38.

INT. DORM BATHROOM - MORNING

Johnny brushes his teeth. He stares at his reflection. For a split second, the lighting shifts. His face looks slightly off. He blinks. It’s normal again.

MYLES (PRE-LAP) They say not everyone gets invited to the next stage.

INT. LECTURE HALL - DAY

The Professor paces slowly at the front of the room.

PROFESSOR In every society, hierarchies naturally form. The question is whether we accept them or try to flatten them.

Johnny sits midway up, notebook open. Myles is beside him. He checks an Apex group chat on his phone.

MYLES (whispers) Rex just sent the Mirror Room schedule. You in tonight?

JOHNNY I’ve got a paper due.

Myles shrugs like it’s a weak excuse.

PROFESSOR The danger is when the hierarchy becomes all-consuming. When staying on top justifies anything.

Johnny shifts in his seat.

EXT. OGDEN UNIVERSITY - CAMPUS - DAY

Blaise crosses campus in a dark coat, headphones around his neck. He’s deep in conversation with two sharply dressed students from an upper-level seminar.

Blaise notices Johnny approaching before Johnny says anything. The other two peel off toward a modern building.

BLAISE Come by early tonight.

39.

Johnny falls into step beside him.

JOHNNY I got the schedule. I just have this paper coming up.

BLAISE Skip it or finish it fast. You’re learning how to balance everything. One of our mentors came through seminar. Guy’s building things ten years ahead of everybody else.

Blaise clasps Johnny’s shoulder. A quiet grin.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Trust me. Tonight’s going to be worth it.

INT. APEX HOUSE - BLAISE’S PRIVATE STUDY - NIGHT

Books on optimization, subtle medical diagrams. One large mirror. Johnny sits across from Blaise. Tension underneath the calm.

BLAISE You feel it already, don’t you?

JOHNNY I think so.

BLAISE Most men drift through life accepting whatever hand they’re dealt. They settle.

He leans forward slightly.

BLAISE (CONT’D) We don’t settle Johnny. We adjust. We rise. The world is a hierarchy whether people admit it or not. And once you see it clearly, you can’t unsee it.

Johnny listens, conflicted.

JOHNNY Yeah.

BLAISE Some of the guys downstairs, they’ll give everything to climb. (MORE)

40.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Every piece of themselves. Because staying at the top isn’t optional. It’s survival. The alternative is being slowly erased. Diminished. Forgotten.

He looks at Johnny, eyes steady.

JOHNNY What do I do?

BLAISE You’re already ahead of most. Natural advantages. Good instincts. But even you, if you stop optimizing, life will move past you. And once you’ve tasted what we have? There’s no going back to ordinary.

Johnny holds his gaze.

INT. MIRROR ROOM -LATER

The prospects stand beneath the harsh spotlights. The members observe from the edges of the room.

KAI Johnny, step forward.

Johnny makes his way into the circle. The lights intensify. His reflection multiplies infinitely.

Kai studies the tablet.

KAI (CONT’D) Interesting. You adapted fast.

Blaise says nothing. Almost proud. Johnny steps back out of the light.

Myles steps forward, feigning confidence. The critiques start.

TATE Relax your jaw.

EASTON You hold tension weird.

A few laughs. Myles laughs too, trying to stay in on it. Then the energy changes.

41.

REX No, seriously. Why are you standing like that?

More laughter.

KAI You disappear the second attention lands on you.

MYLES I’m fixing it.

REX Then fix it faster.

The room laughs again. Johnny watches Myles force a smile that barely holds together.

Logan under the lights next. Already tense. The mirror catches him from every angle.

KAI Chest up.

Logan adjusts instantly.

REX Too much. Now you look scared.

A few chuckles.

LOGAN I’m good.

Kai glances between Logan and biometric feedback rolling across the tablet.

KAI You’re losing control of the room.

LOGAN No, I’m not.

KAI Look at you.

The pressure of the room closes around him. Logan tries to hold eye contact with the mirrors. Can’t.

Then he suddenly starts crying. Not loud. Which somehow makes it worse. The room goes dead silent.

42.

REX We don’t cry. We fix.

Logan wipes his face. Humiliated. Blaise walks over slowly. Places a hand on his shoulder. Calm. Almost compassionate.

BLAISE Take a breath.

Logan nods rapidly. Can’t stop shaking. Blaise motions towards the door. Logan leaves with his head down, unable to look at anyone.

The mirrors catch him the entire way out. Johnny watches, visibly disturbed. He glances at Blaise, expecting some mercy.

JOHNNY That was pretty harsh.

Blaise turns his head slowly at Johnny. The other members shift slightly, surprised someone spoke up.

BLAISE Harsh is watching someone waste their potential and saying nothing.

He steps closer to Johnny, eyes locked on him.

BLAISE (CONT’D) If we coddle weakness here, we become weak. Logan needed to hear it. You know that.

Johnny holds his gaze. Doesn’t back down. For the first time, real tension sits between them.

But he eventually nods. Reluctant.

INT. DINING HALL - NEXT DAY

Logan eats alone at a small table near the back wall. Pale and withdrawn.

Johnny walks in with his tray, scanning for a seat. He freezes when he sees Logan.

Logan slowly looks up, dejected. Their eyes meet. Johnny stops mid-step, visibly torn.

Logan quickly lowers his head again, staring at his tray.

43.

INT. OGDEN UNIVERSITY - SCULPTURE GARDEN - DAY

Abstract sculptures. Reflecting pool. Johnny and Olivia sit together at the edge of a fountain. Coffee cups beside them.

Olivia scrolls through Johnny’s phone, laughing.

OLIVIA No way. Your middle school haircut was insane.

JOHNNY It was a different time.

She bumps her shoulder into his.

OLIVIA You should bring it back.

JOHNNY Not likely.

Johnny watches her for a beat. Genuine smile.

OLIVIA You’ve been disappearing a lot lately.

JOHNNY Classes. Apex stuff.

OLIVIA Right. The mysterious optimization cult.

JOHNNY It’s not really like that.

OLIVIA Mm-hm.

Johnny reaches over, pulls her closer. She melts into him naturally.

BLAISE (O.S.) Johnny.

They both look up. Blaise stands a few yards away near the sculpture path in a dark coat. Headphones around his neck again. Impossible to read.

But Olivia instantly stiffens beside Johnny. He notices.

44.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Didn’t mean to interrupt.

OLIVIA Hey.

A strange beat. Blaise studies her. She doesn’t look away.

BLAISE You look good.

She gives a tight smile.

OLIVIA Thanks.

Johnny clocks the tension.

BLAISE (to Johnny) I’ll see you tonight.

JOHNNY Yeah.

Blaise nods.

BLAISE (to Olivia) Take care of yourself.

And just like that, he keeps walking. Johnny watches him disappear down the pathway. Things click.

JOHNNY Wait. You know Blaise?

She exhales through her nose.

OLIVIA We dated for a few weeks last year.

Johnny stares at her.

JOHNNY Why didn’t you tell me?

OLIVIA Because it was weird and brief. I didn’t think it mattered.

JOHNNY You literally warned me about Apex. What happened?

45.

Olivia hesitates.

OLIVIA At first he makes you feel like you’re the most important person in the room. Then one day he just recalculates you.

Johnny says nothing.

OLIVIA (CONT’D) Everything with Blaise felt ranked. Evaluated. Like he was constantly deciding who deserved access to him. One day he just looked at me and said we weren’t aligned anymore.

Johnny gazes out towards the path where Blaise disappeared.

OLIVIA (CONT’D) Can you say something? Are you mad at me?

JOHNNY No. I just wish you would’ve told me before.

OLIVIA I’m sorry.

JOHNNY It’s fine.

Then he leans in and kisses her.

INT. APEX HOUSE - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

Different energy tonight. Music low. Attractive girls. Upperclassmen. Expensive alcohol. Johnny and Myles slip inside.

MYLES Okay. This is unexpected.

He stares, slack-jawed. Kai passes by carrying drinks.

KAI Two drinks max. Stick to tequila. Least inflammatory.

He keeps moving.

46.

Around the room, Apex members effortlessly work the crowd. Rex leans against the bar laughing with two girls.

Easton debates crypto with a finance major, while another girl hangs onto his arm.

Tate sits low on a couch beside a stunning brunette while she talks far more than he does.

Johnny takes it all in.

PAIGE, 21, strikingly beautiful, glides through the room with cool confidence. High-end influencer meets old money.

Blaise chats with a small group of upperclassmen. She reaches him. He rests a hand lightly against her waist without interrupting the conversation.

Paige’s eyes briefly land on Johnny. Assessment. Blaise catches it.

BLAISE Johnny.

Johnny approaches. Myles follows half a step behind.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Paige.

Paige gives Johnny a hint of a smile.

PAIGE You’re the new favorite.

Johnny laughs awkwardly, unsure if she’s joking.

JOHNNY Am I?

BLAISE He adapted fast.

Paige studies Johnny a moment longer.

PAIGE You can usually tell who belongs here within five minutes.

Johnny glances around again. Still processing all of it. Blaise pats Johnny on the back.

BLAISE Remember you’ve got options. Mingle.

47.

JOHNNY That’s the assignment?

BLAISE Pretty much.

Kai comes up to Myles.

KAI How many approaches tonight?

MYLES What?

KAI Three. Minimum. You’re not here to watch other people have fun.

MYLES Got it.

Kai leaves his side.

Across the room, the front door opens. Logan steps inside. Something about him feels different tonight.

Hair styled perfectly. Sharper clothes. Hyper-controlled posture. Trying very hard not to look like he’s trying.

Myles quickly notices, sidles up next to Johnny.

MYLES (CONT’D) Okay. What happened to Logan?

Logan scans the room. His eyes quickly land on Johnny. A flicker of something crosses his face. Then it’s gone. He walks deeper into the party.

A pretty blonde intercepts Johnny before he can move.

BLONDE GIRL You’re the freshman everybody’s talking about?

JOHNNY That sounds dangerous.

She laughs. Logan watches them, sips his drink.

PAIGE (quietly to Blaise) He’s trying too hard.

Paige means Logan. Blaise observes.

48.

BLAISE Everybody does at first.

PAIGE Not him.

She glances towards Johnny. Blaise follows her gaze.

BLAISE That’s why I’m being careful with Johnny.

Logan joins a conversation near the bar. He laughs a little too loudly. Nobody really laughs back.

Next, Johnny gets an easy laugh from a group of girls. Logan notices. Kai appears beside him.

KAI Long night?

LOGAN I’m fine.

KAI You don’t look fine.

Logan says nothing.

KAI (CONT’D) The guys who make it here learn pretty quickly.

LOGAN Learn what?

Kai watches Johnny across the room.

KAI Natural talent matters. But it isn’t everything. Come by the house tomorrow. We’ll talk.

EXT. APEX HOUSE - OBSERVATION DECK - NIGHT

The party has trickled upstairs. Paige sees Johnny and goes over, champagne flute in hand.

PAIGE Johnny. The man of the hour.

JOHNNY What did I do now?

49.

She leans on the railing beside him.

PAIGE They like you. Really like you.

JOHNNY I like them too.

PAIGE You could take this place over when Blaise graduates. I believe that.

JOHNNY Just trying to keep up with the program for now.

PAIGE Good because the program’s about to get more interesting.

JOHNNY Yeah? What else should I know?

PAIGE For starters, it’s in the nascent stage but Blaise is helping me create a sister society. Apex, but sharpened for women. We’re calling it Echelon.

She lets the name linger, tasting it.

JOHNNY Has a punch to it.

PAIGE No legacy admissions. No polite networking. We’re selecting for potential. The kind that scares people. Girls who already know how the world works and are ready to rewrite the rules in their own image. Beauty as currency. Intellect as a blade. And loyalty absolute.

Her eyes catch the light, feverish with ambition.

JOHNNY Seems inevitable

50.

PAIGE We won’t just climb the ladder. We’ll own the fucking building. And the ones after that.

Johnny smiles.

JOHNNY Does Blaise know you talk like this?

PAIGE He loves it.

JOHNNY I can tell.

Paige smiles, leans in closer. Her perfect face inches from his.

PAIGE But while the boys downstairs are playing at power, we’ll be deciding who even gets to step on the board.

Paige pulls back with a radiant smile, like they’d only been discussing the weather. She raises her glass.

PAIGE (CONT’D) To new beginnings.

They clink glasses. Myles appears carrying two drinks.

MYLES I got three numbers.

JOHNNY Three?

MYLES One might’ve been fake.

Paige watches Johnny disappear into the crowd with Myles. Blaise steps up beside her. She puts her hand on his chest.

PAIGE I like him.

BLAISE Hopefully not too much.

“More of You” by Harry Hayes trickles in.

51.

EXT. OGDEN UNIVERSITY - QUAD - DAY

Johnny meets Olivia between classes. He’s riding high from Apex. He approaches her and takes her hand.

JOHNNY Hey. There you are.

OLIVIA Did you do something new?

Johnny glances down at himself.

JOHNNY Just been hitting the gym harder. I want to take you to dinner Friday night. Got plans?

OLIVIA I was keeping my options open.

JOHNNY Good. There’s that new restaurant on Main.

OLIVIA I’ve been meaning to try it. And thanks for not making the Blaise thing awkward.

JOHNNY I had a minute there.

OLIVIA Fair.

He puts his arm around her.

JOHNNY Friday?

OLIVIA Friday.

INT. DORM ROOM - DAY

Johnny enters. Myles is getting dressed. New haircut. New clothes. Cleaner. Sharper.

JOHNNY You going somewhere?

52.

MYLES No.

Johnny looks him over.

JOHNNY Okay.

MYLES What?

JOHNNY Nothing.

MYLES Kai said graphic tees are a crutch. So I decided to switch it up.

Johnny nods.

JOHNNY Looks good.

INT. REC CENTER - DAY

Johnny finishes his workout. Face sweaty. He wipes his brow. Takes off the black Apex wristband for the first time all day. Rubs the mark it left.

Just stands there for a second, staring at himself in the mirror. No vanity about it. Then puts the wristband back on.

INT. APEX HOUSE - RECOVERY LOUNGE - NIGHT

The core group. The vibe is noticeably looser. A few guys in hoodies instead of carefully curated fits.

Music plays in the background. They’re sprawled on couches and lounge chairs.

Tate grins, kicking back.

TATE Remember when I showed up last year? I was 5’11 on a good day and my jaw looked like a fucking door knob.

The guys laugh.

EASTON Bro, you looked like a thumb.

53.

KAI I still have the pictures. We should frame them as a warning.

They all chuckle. Blaise is relaxed in a big chair, legs stretched out.

REX I used to hide in my room taking gym selfies with filters. Now I don’t even need the filter.

BLAISE We were all unfinished at some point. That’s the truth most men refuse to accept.

Easton raises his protein shake towards Johnny and Myles.

EASTON You two are lucky. Most freshman never get past the front door.

Johnny smiles despite himself. Myles looks happier than we’ve ever seen him.

BLAISE This is the only place where you can be honest about wanting more. Everywhere else they shame you for it.

He lets that marinate.

INT. RESTAURANT - NIGHT

Busy but intimate. Johnny and Olivia sit across from each other. A basket of bread between them. Empty appetizer plates.

OLIVIA So what were you like in high school?

JOHNNY Pretty much like this.

OLIVIA No way.

JOHNNY What?

54.

OLIVIA You definitely had a cringe phase.

JOHNNY Everybody has a cringe phase.

OLIVIA Not everybody.

JOHNNY Okay. What was yours?

Olivia groans.

OLIVIA Horse girl.

Johnny nearly chokes on his drink.

OLIVIA (CONT’D) Don’t.

JOHNNY No, no. That’s incredible.

OLIVIA I had the boots.

JOHNNY The hat too?

OLIVIA The hat too

Johnny laughs. Olivia can’t help laughing with him. Then Johnny’s smile fades.

Logan stands outside the restaurant window. Watching. Motionless. Olivia notices Johnny staring.

OLIVIA (CONT’D) What?

Johnny blinks. Concern washes over him.

JOHNNY Give me a second.

He stands, starts walking towards the entrance. Logan remains in place, his gaze unwavering.

55.

EXT. RESTAURANT - CONTINUOUS

Johnny steps outside. Logan turns towards him.

JOHNNY Logan, do you need something?

LOGAN I have to talk to you.

JOHNNY You could’ve texted. I’m on a date. How did you even know that?

LOGAN I followed you.

An awkward moment.

JOHNNY What?

LOGAN Look, I know this is going to sound crazy...

JOHNNY Did something happen at Apex?

LOGAN It’s not what you think.

An uncomfortable beat.

OLIVIA (O.S.) Johnny, the waiter brought your food out.

Johnny faces her.

JOHNNY I’ll be right there.

He looks back over. Logan is gone. Johnny scans the sidewalk. No trace of him.

Johnny stares out at the street, completely dumbfounded. Olivia looks at him.

OLIVIA Everything cool?

56.

INT. RESTAURANT - SOON AFTER

Johnny cuts into a thick pork chop.

JOHNNY That was so strange.

OLIVIA He was probably messing with you.

JOHNNY I get the sense he’s a little competitive with me.

He takes a bite.

OLIVIA Do you blame him?

Johnny finishes chewing.

JOHNNY I’ve always kind of stayed out of that stuff.

OLIVIA Just be careful. Some of those guys at Apex treat life like a video game with leaderboards.

JOHNNY I don’t want to think too hard about it.

OLIVIA Maybe Logan has some trouble navigating social skills. Being good looking doesn’t magically make you normal.

JOHNNY Oh you think he’s good looking?

She gives him a coy smile.

OLIVIA It is a prerequisite for Apex.

Johnny shakes his head.

JOHNNY Myles is with a girl tonight.

57.

OLIVIA Hope she meets his standards.

JOHNNY We’ll probably have the room to ourselves if he doesn’t screw it up.

Olivia raises an eyebrow.

OLIVIA Oh yeah?

INT. DORM ROOM - NIGHT

Johnny and Olivia are tangled on his bed, making out intensely. Clothes come off with urgency.

They start having sex. Johnny is clearly performing well. Olivia seems genuinely into it. Feels passionate and connected.

But soon small cracks in Johnny. He’s too focused like he’s performing a task.

He glances at his own reflection in the dark mirror, checking himself even during sex.

Afterwards, they lie together. Olivia curls up against his chest, catching her breath. She looks satisfied and affectionate.

OLIVIA (smiling) That was... really good.

Johnny stares at the ceiling. The optimization mindset is already creeping in.

INT. DORM ROOM - MORNING

Johnny wakes up feeling groggy. Checks a text from Olivia.

Had fun last night :)

His wristband vibrates.

58.

INT. APEX HOUSE - METRICS ROOM - DAY

Johnny follows Rex in. Wall displays show sleep rankings. Headbands charge on docking stations. Blackout masks hang beside lockers.

REX Blaise is tied up today but wanted us to walk you through the next steps.

A red light therapy panel glows softly in the corner.

JOHNNY What is this?

REX The easiest edge no one takes seriously.

Johnny notices a digital display mounted on the wall: SLEEP SCORES. Names. Rankings. Hours. Deep sleep percentages.

Johnny scans the rankings. Blaise. Number one.

JOHNNY You rank sleep?

REX We rank everything.

Easton sits nearby drinking from a shaker bottle.

EASTON I haven’t had caffeine after noon in three months.

REX That’s why your score finally broke ninety.

Easton seems genuinely proud.

REX (CONT’D) Discipline doesn’t stop because you’re unconscious.

JOHNNY Have you guys seen Logan?

A brief look passes between them.

EASTON He’s having a rough adjustment.

59.

REX Freshman year hits some people harder.

EASTON We’re helping him through it.

Johnny still can’t shake what he saw.

JOHNNY He’s lucky to have this place.

Rex nods.

REX We all are.

INT. LECTURE HALL - DAY

The Professor stands at the front of the room.

PROFESSOR Why do people willingly participate in systems that rank them?

A few students avoid eye contact. The Professor scans the room.

PROFESSOR (CONT’D) Johnny.

Johnny looks up from his notes. A brief beat.

PROFESSOR (CONT’D) What do you think?

Several students turn. Johnny answers carefully.

JOHNNY Because everybody already knows the rankings exist.

The Professor gestures for him to continue.

JOHNNY (CONT’D) People say they want equality. But they still compete for jobs, relationships, money, attention. The system doesn’t disappear just because you stop talking about it.

A few students nod, interest piqued.

60.

PROFESSOR So what’s the alternative?

JOHNNY Probably making sure the rankings don’t become the only thing that matters.

The Professor smiles slightly.

PROFESSOR Good answer.

Johnny looks down and returns to his notes. Across the aisle, Logan watches him, like he wants to say something.

INT. APEX HOUSE - PERFORMANCE LOUNGE - DAY

Johnny and Myles sit with Easton between sets. Easton scrolls through his phone.

MYLES How long did it take you to put on all that size?

EASTON Depends which year.

MYLES What do you mean?

Easton smirks.

EASTON Freshman year took forever.

MYLES And after that?

EASTON I got serious.

Johnny notices the look exchanged between Rex and Easton. Something knowing.

MYLES You mean steroids?

Easton smiles, leans in.

EASTON I mean results.

61.

Rex laughs.

REX Don’t ask questions you don’t want answers to.

Easton’s eyes linger on Myles, appraising him like livestock.

INT. DORM ROOM - NIGHT

Johnny works on a paper. Myles scrolls through fitness videos. Screen grows blue against his face.

MYLES Can I ask you something?

JOHNNY Depends.

MYLES Would you ever do it? Steroids or whatever.

Johnny glances up.

JOHNNY No.

MYLES Just no?

JOHNNY Pretty much.

MYLES What if it got you there faster?

Johnny considers the question.

JOHNNY Got me where?

Myles doesn’t answer yet. He looks at a video on his phone: A guy flexing. Veiny arms. Thousands of likes.

MYLES I don’t know.

Johnny goes back to work. Myles keeps staring at the screen.

62.

INT. APEX HOUSE - MAIN ROOM - DAY

Tate shows Easton a photo on his phone. They study it.

TATE You can tell.

EASTON Immediately.

Johnny looks up from the supplement station.

JOHNNY Tell what?

Tate turns the phone around. The guy in the photo looks good. But something’s off.

TATE Cheap filler.

EASTON He looked better before.

TATE Way better.

JOHNNY You guys notice that?

EASTON You don’t?

Johnny studies the photo.

JOHNNY Honestly? No.

TATE That’s because you’re still looking at faces.

EASTON We’re looking at decisions.

Easton leans back. The lights hit his face. Too perfect.

INT. DORM ROOM - MORNING

Johnny searches for his laptop charger. As he reaches behind the desk, Johnny accidentally knocks over Myles’ gym bag.

A small vial rolls across the floor. He freezes.

63.

Another vial peeks out from the open bag. A syringe packet. Not hidden very well.

Myles steps out of the bathroom. He sees what Johnny found.

Beat. Myles picks up the vial, turns it over in his hands.

MYLES It’s not a big deal.

JOHNNY Myles.

MYLES Half the guys at Apex are doing something.

JOHNNY That’s not an answer.

MYLES I got tired of being the weakest guy in every room.

Johnny looks at him, realizing how much pressure he’s been carrying.

JOHNNY You don’t need this.

MYLES Maybe not.

JOHNNY I’m serious.

MYLES I know.

A beat.

MYLES (CONT’D) I’ll chill out, okay?

Johnny nods.

JOHNNY Promise?

MYLES Promise.

64.

INT. APEX HOUSE - MAIN ROOM - NIGHT

The party throbs. Music thumps. Colored lights cut through the haze. A private app is being passed around like contraband. Live “Apex Value” scores hovering over people’s heads in augmented reality.

Johnny watches his own numbers climb. +4. +7. He allows himself a small, satisfied smile.

Myles’s score plummets in real time. His smile falters as people subtly angle their bodies away from him like he’s radioactive.

Johnny’s stomach tightens.

BLAISE You okay?

JOHNNY Yeah.

Suddenly the energy in the room shifts. A few heads turn. Paige saunters over.

PAIGE (soft, surprised) Um, what do we have here?

On the other side of the room, Logan stands near the speaker stack. Eyes closed. Head slightly tilted back. The bass rattles his ribcage.

He’s just receiving it. Not dancing exactly. More like he’s letting the music move through him while holding an unconscious, slightly predatory pose.

Shoulders back. Chin up. Jaw fixed. One hand loosely grips the back of his own neck like he’s mid-stretch after a killer workout.

Completely lost in it. Serene. A little terrifying. His score on the app is spiking. Everyone looks at him like a spell has been cast.

MYLES (staring) Why is he standing like that?

Johnny cocks his head.

JOHNNY Like what?

65.

MYLES Like Batman.

A couple people laugh. But it dies quick. Because it’s working. Girls are staring. Guys are doing that unconscious assessment where they’re annoyed but can’t look away.

Logan’s score keeps climbing. Higher than Johnny’s snapshot. Johnny watches the numbers.

PAIGE (to Johnny, half-joking) You might have some competition.

INT. APEX HOUSE - HALLWAY - NIGHT

Logan studies himself in a mirror, searching for something only he can see. Kai steps beside him.

KAI You’re doing it again.

LOGAN Doing what?

KAI Looking for problems.

LOGAN Maybe they’re there.

Kai pauses.

KAI You seem better now.

LOGAN I feel better.

KAI Don’t doubt yourself again.

INT. DORM ROOM - DAY

Myles stands drinking a low-sugar canned seltzer, mixing with electrolytes.

MYLES I heard Logan got work done.

Johnny turns at his desk.

66.

JOHNNY What kind of work?

MYLES Jaw filler.

Johnny laughs.

MYLES (CONT’D) I’m serious. Do you know Apex has their own doctor?

JOHNNY For what?

MYLES All kinds of stuff.

JOHNNY That seems a bit much.

MYLES Logan doesn’t seem to think so.

Myles turns towards the mirror, somewhat evaluating himself.

INT. DINING HALL - DAY

Logan sits alone. Johnny takes a second look.

JOHNNY You do something?

He sits down across from him. Logan meets his eyes.

LOGAN What?

JOHNNY You look different.

A faint grin touches his lips.

LOGAN Thanks.

JOHNNY I just wanted to talk about what happened outside the restaurant the other night.

LOGAN I was fucking with you dude.

67.

Johnny leans in.

JOHNNY It didn’t feel like you were. Felt like you were scared.

LOGAN I said it was a joke.

JOHNNY If you change your mind, come talk to me.

LOGAN I beat your score.

JOHNNY What?

LOGAN Your value score. I beat it at the party.

JOHNNY I didn’t notice.

Logan smiles.

LOGAN Sure you did.

Johnny isn’t sure how to respond to that.

JOHNNY Good talk.

He gets up and leaves.

INT. APEX HOUSE - PERFORMANCE LOUNGE - DAY

Easton opens the mini-fridge. Inside: military rows of neatly labeled supplements. Proteins. Recovery shots. Injection pens.

Myles stares. The fridge light reflects in his pupils.

MYLES What are those?

He points to the injection pens.

EASTON Semaglutide.

68.

MYLES I thought that was for obese people.

REX You’d be surprised who’s using it.

Myles moves closer. His hand twitches towards the pens.

MYLES Can I try it?

Easton closes the fridge slowly. Clicks shut.

EASTON Last week you wanted twenty pounds of muscle.

MYLES Yeah.

EASTON This does the opposite.

Myles doesn’t blink.

REX You want size? You want aesthetics? Pick a lane.

MYLES What if I want both?

Rex just laughs.

INT. APEX HOUSE - BASEMENT - DAY

Johnny follows Blaise downstairs. The air drops ten degrees. This part of the house feels different. Cleaner. More clinical.

BLAISE Been meaning to bring you down here.

Tate sits in a recliner receiving an IV drip while scrolling his phone. Kai has blood drawn from a nurse.

Johnny slows. His eyes sweep the room. Pulse quickens.

JOHNNY What’s all this?

69.

BLAISE Every week we check in with our team.

A man in his forties approaches. Athletic. Expensive watch. White coat. His smile is practiced. Too wide.

BLAISE (CONT’D) Johnny, this is Dr. Mercer.

They shake hands.

JOHNNY Nice to meet you.

DR. MERCER I’ve heard good things.

Johnny notices Easton seated nearby reviewing bloodwork results on a tablet. His eyes widen.

JOHNNY I thought Myles was exaggerating.

BLAISE Biomarkers are a key part of our program.

The doctor gestures towards a monitor displaying lab results.

DR. MERCER We monitor sleep, recovery, inflammation, hormone levels. We don’t wait until something breaks.

Blaise walks past the refrigerator.

BLAISE Winners get upgrades.

Johnny looks over.

JOHNNY Upgrades?

BLAISE Additional protocols. Depends on how far you want to go.

The doctor opens the refrigerator. Inside: dozens of identical vials. Neatly labeled with names and dates. Some crossed out.

70.

DR. MERCER You’d be surprised how many people optimize the wrong variables.

A nurse approaches with a syringe.

DR. MERCER (CONT’D) BPC-157. Excellent for recovery.

Johnny takes a small step back. He narrows his brow.

JOHNNY I’m okay for now.

The nurse moves on.

DR. MERCER Suit yourself.

He picks up Johnny’s file. Flips through it casually.

DR. MERCER (CONT’D) Blaise tells me you’re one of the promising ones. We’d love to run a baseline.

Johnny watches Tate roll up his sleeve without hesitation.

JOHNNY I’ll think about it.

BLAISE Fair enough.

Blaise locks eyes with Dr. Mercer.

INT. DORM HALLWAY - NIGHT

Logan keeps his eyes forward as he walks towards the bathroom.

INT. DORM BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS

Logan stands in front of the large mirror. Shirtless. Veins popping. He stares at his reflection. Manic intensity.

LOGAN (whispers) Come on...

He presses his fingers hard into his cheeks and jawline. Pulls the skin back.

71.

He suddenly slaps himself across the face. Then again. Harder. Eyes glistening with tears.

His breathing quickens. Still not enough.

EXT. OGDEN UNIVERSITY - GRAND STEPS - DAY

Johnny walks with Olivia.

OLIVIA You seem stressed out. Are you okay?

JOHNNY I don’t know.

OLIVIA Lemme guess, Apex?

He takes a deep breath, conflicted.

JOHNNY I’m getting the feeling they pressure guys into risky stuff.

OLIVIA That doesn’t surprise me.

Johnny ponders.

JOHNNY Maybe I’m jumping to conclusions.

OLIVIA Maybe you’re not.

JOHNNY Did you see anything when you were there?

OLIVIA I never got the official tour. But people say things.

JOHNNY What kind of things?

OLIVIA Grey markets. I went down the rabbit hole after Blaise broke things off with me.

72.

JOHNNY I could imagine.

OLIVIA He really fucked with my head. I found out later he had an app that tracked girls’ fertility windows and pairing value.

JOHNNY That’s messed up.

A contemplative beat.

OLIVIA Did you ever think of backing out?

Johnny nods.

JOHNNY But they’re like my friends now. And I honestly do feel... better. Stronger.

OLIVIA You’re fine the way you are.

JOHNNY That’s the thing. I don’t want to be fine. Being around them, makes me think about how far I could go.

Olivia inhales.

OLIVIA I saw guys change. I saw what they do to each other there. Promise me you’ll know when it’s enough.

JOHNNY I will.

EXT. APEX HOUSE - OBSERVATION DECK - SUNSET

Johnny stares at a text thread with Olivia open on his phone. He types, then deletes. Types again.

Blaise comes up. Two glasses in hand. One whiskey, one water. He hands Johnny the whiskey.

73.

BLAISE You looked like you had questions yesterday. I want to make sure you’re good.

JOHNNY I am.

BLAISE I told you, you can always come to me. You’re my guy, Johnny.

JOHNNY I’ve just never done any of that before. Injections. IVs. Your own doctor on call. It feels like another level.

Blaise sips his drink.

BLAISE It is another level. That’s the point. A lot of guys spend their whole lives hoping genetics and luck will carry them. We don’t hope. We engineer.

Johnny swirls the whiskey but doesn’t drink.

JOHNNY Olivia thinks I should pull back.

BLAISE Olivia’s smart. She cares about you. That’s rare. But she’s protecting the version of you she already likes. You’re a natural like me. Yet, there’s still that little voice inside asking... what if I could be undeniable?

Johnny looks away. He does feel it.

BLAISE (CONT’D) You just need a slight edge. A safety net.

Johnny exhales slowly.

JOHNNY What would that even look like for me?

74.

BLAISE Start simple. Baseline bloodwork with Dr. Mercer tomorrow. Then one recovery IV a week. That’s it. High- dose vitamins, a little BPC for tissue repair. Maybe a micro-dose of something to turn the dial up on what you already are.

Johnny rubs the bridge of his nose, thinking.

JOHNNY And if I don’t like how it feels?

BLAISE You stop. It’s that simple.

Johnny looks down at the whiskey in his hand.

BLAISE (CONT’D) By the way, I mentioned you to someone.

Johnny glances up.

JOHNNY Who?

BLAISE The mentor who spoke at my seminar. His firm has a summer internship program. I recommended you for it.

JOHNNY Already?

BLAISE He’s always looking for people with upside.

Johnny gazes out at the view.

JOHNNY Guess I could be more open to everything this place offers.

Blaise smiles.

BLAISE Wouldn’t hurt.

75.

INT. DORM ROOM - NIGHT

Johnny lies in bed staring at the ceiling. A small bruise from an IV line is visible on his inner arm. He flexes his hand once, testing.

His skin already looks tighter. Eyes clearer. He picks up his phone. Sees a new message from Blaise: Baseline results look excellent. First protocol started. Welcome to the next level.

Johnny exhales, half-nervous. Half-excited.

INT. APEX HOUSE - MAIN ROOM - DAY

Kai and Myles watch Johnny hold court with a few members. Nothing dramatic. People just naturally listen when Johnny talks.

KAI You know what your problem is?

MYLES I have several.

KAI You yield too much.

MYLES What does that mean?

KAI You keep waiting for permission.

Myles follows his gaze towards Johnny. There’s a subtle sharpness to his jaw and cheekbones.

MYLES But he’s way ahead.

KAI You think Johnny’s better than you.

MYLES Isn’t he?

KAI You decided that before he even opened his mouth.

Myles chews on that.

76.

MYLES I love the guy, but he is kind of low key full of himself. Won’t even eat mac and cheese.

KAI People don’t hand out status. They take cues.

MYLES So what am I supposed to do?

KAI Stop assuming the other guy should go first.

Myles looks briefly towards Johnny.

INT. LECTURE HALL - DAY

Johnny is exhausted. He zones out. Professor notices.

PROFESSOR Care to rejoin us, Johnny?

A few students turn to look. Johnny blinks his eyes open. Some chuckle. Before Johnny can answer -

MYLES We keep going back to hierarchies.

The Professor looks surprised. Myles sits up straighter.

MYLES (CONT’D) Maybe people participate because they want the rankings. They just don’t like admitting it.

Johnny flinches. A few students nod. Myles notices. And he likes it.

PROFESSOR That’s an interesting perspective, Myles.

MYLES It’s not my perspective. It’s reality.

77.

INT. LIBRARY - NIGHT

Johnny sits at a small study carrel, surrounded by books and his laptop. His face looks sharper, but also exhausted.

Olivia is across from him working on a paper.

OLIVIA Mid-terms are killing me.

JOHNNY Tell me about it.

OLIVIA I kind of want a Cortado.

JOHNNY Go for it.

OLIVIA I’ll get you one.

JOHNNY I’m not doing caffeine after twelve.

OLIVIA Oh right, that’s one of Apex’s rules.

JOHNNY Can you not right now?

He rubs his eyes, trying to focus on the dense textbook page. A drop of blood hits the paper.

Johnny touches under his nose. Blood. Starts slow. Then steady. He tilts his head back slightly.

Olivia looks up, alarmed.

OLIVIA Johnny...

JOHNNY It’s nothing. Just a nosebleed.

She takes a tissue and helps pinch the bridge of his nose.

OLIVIA Are you taking something?

Olivia searches his face. He tilts his head back.

78.

JOHNNY Please, stop. I’ve just been pushing harder. The IVs they gave us this week, they were supposed to accelerate everything. Recovery, skin, whatever. Guess my body’s still adjusting.

OLIVIA You already won the genetic lottery, Johnny. You don’t need to do anything else.

Johnny composes himself, wiping the last of the blood. He forces a half-smile. Still charming, but strained.

JOHNNY It’s working though, right?

Olivia leans back in her chair, frustrated.

OLIVIA I can’t do this again.

JOHNNY Do what again? I’m not Blaise.

OLIVIA It’s the same patterns.

JOHNNY I don’t know what you want me to say.

OLIVIA I think I need some time and space.

JOHNNY Okay.

Olivia collects her things, stands up, and walks off. He glances back at the bloodstain on the paper.

INT. DORM ROOM - NIGHT

Johnny returns. Myles is standing in front of the mirror, studying himself. His shirt is off. Phone in hand.

The screen display side-by-side photos of his face taken days apart. Myles zooms in on his jaw line.

JOHNNY Everything good?

79.

Myles doesn’t look over.

MYLES Everything’s great actually.

JOHNNY Were you at Apex?

MYLES For a bit.

Myles eyes stay fixed on his reflection.

MYLES (CONT’D) I finally get it now.

JOHNNY Get what?

MYLES I’m never gonna hold myself back again.

JOHNNY You shouldn’t.

Johnny watches him, unsettled.

CUT TO:

“Hot Tub Hotel” by Cailin Russo & Don’t Scare Billy floats in.

EXT. ROOFTOP - NEXT NIGHT

Infinity pool, private cabanas. Stunning views. Bartenders shake cocktails.

Paige is in her element. She’s hosting an invite-only mixer for a group of carefully selected young women. Champagne flows.

PAIGE Echelon starts tonight. We simply become undeniable. That’s the standard.

She raises her glass. The girls follow.

The elevator doors open. Blaise, Johnny, Myles, and the Apex guys step out onto the rooftop.

80.

Several heads turn. A few smiles appear. The groups merge naturally, as if this has happened a hundred times before.

The groups circulate. Talking, flirting, evaluating each other under perfect lighting.

BLAISE (to Johnny) You’re single now. Act like it.

Johnny works the room with easy charisma. A natural magnet.

Logan orbits nearby. Too close. Too intense. Jaw sharply defined from fresh filler. Skin tight from whatever he’s been pounding. Pupils blown wide. Veins crawl across the whites.

Myles channels Blaise, the best he can, surrounded by a clutch of Apex and Echelon members.

MYLES Honestly, most guys don’t take optimization seriously enough.

TATE No lies detected.

Paige eases towards the infinity pool. Blaise joins her. She slips her hand into his.

PAIGE Good mix tonight.

BLAISE A few standouts.

PAIGE I noticed.

They gaze out at the view. Paige leans in and kisses him. He kisses her back.