ORLANDO, FLORIDA CIRCA 1994

NICKY, HOWIE, AJ, AND PHOENIX ARE REHEARSING.

OPERA MUSIC IS PLAYING.

KEVIN WALKS OUTSIDE THE REHEARSAL PLACE.

HE HEARS THEIR VOICES DRIFTING OUT.

HOWIE - NO, NICKY, TURN THAT WAY. AND THEN TO THE LEFT AND THE STOMP STOMP.

AJ - YO, YOU GUYS. IT GOES STOMP, LEFT, THEN STOMP STOMP.

PHOENIX - THIS DANCE SUCKS!!

AJ - SHUT-UP!

NICK - YEAH, YOU'RE NAMED AFTER THE CAPITAL OF CALIFORNIA!

HOWIE - THAT'S ARIZONA, NICKY.

NICK - OH.

AJ - WE HAVE TO PRACTICE, COME ON!

KEVIN WALKS PAST THE WINDOW.

NICK SCREAMS LIKE A LITTLE GIRL.

KEVIN RUNS OFF.

AJ RUNS OUTSIDE AFTER HIM.

KEVIN - I'M... SOR... RY.

AJ - HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

AJ WALKS INSIDE THE BUILDING A FEW MINUTES LATER.

KEVIN COMES IN BEHIND HIM.

AJ - THIS IS KEVIN. HE SAYS LOU PEARLMAN SENT HIM.

KEVIN - UM... YEAH... HE SAID YOU NEEDED... A... NEW... MEMBER.

HOWIE - OH, YEAH. HI, I'M HOWIE.

NICK - I'M NICKY.

AJ - I'M AJ. AND THE UGLY ONE IS PHOENIX.

PHOENIX - GRRRRR.

KEVIN - SO... THIS IS WHERE... WE REHEARSE.

NICKY - YEAH. WE SING AND DANCE IN HERE.

HOWIE - DUH, NICKY.

KEVIN - UH... DANCE?... I... CAN... DANCE.

HE STARTS DANCING REALLY SLOW AND AKWARD LIKE.

KEVIN - 1... 2... 3... 5... 9...

HE STOPS AND LOOKS AT THEM. HE SLOWLY SMILES. THEN HE LAUGHS.

KEVIN - HEE... HEE... JUST... KIDDING.

HOWIE - UM... I'M HOWIE.

1 WEEK LATER DURING REHEARSAL.

OPERA MUSIC IS PLAYING.

NICK - DAMNIT PHOENIX, YOU SUCK!!!

PHOENIX - YOU SUCK!!!

AJ - YOU'RE UGLY!!!

PHOENIX - I QUIT!!

HE STORMS OUT.

HOWIE - OH NO. WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO NICKY?

NICK - I DON'T KNOW, BUT YOU BETTER BACK THAT THANG UP.

HE STARTS SHAKING HIS ASS AT HOWIE.

NICK - BACK THAT THANG UP! BACK THAT THANG UP!

HOWIE - (THINKS) HOW COME I NEVER NOTICED HIM BEFORE?

AJ - NOW WE'RE SHORT A MEMBER. WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?

HOWIE - WHO'S MEMBER YOU CALLIN' SHORT?!!!

AJ - ...NOT THAT.

HOWIE - *WINK WINK*

NICK - IS THERE SOMETHING IN YOUR EYE?

HOWIE - I DON'T KNOW. IT JUST STARTED TWITCHING A SECOND AGO.

AJ - GUYS WE NEED ANOTHER MEMBER. WE HAVE A SHOW AT SEA WORLD TOMORROW.

HOWIE - WE'LL JUST HAVE TO DO IT - WE'LL HAVE TO PERFORM WITHOUT HIM - JUST US - THE 4 OF US.

AJ - WE CAN'T.

KEVIN - LET'S CALL BRIAN.

HOWIE - WHO'S BRIAN? I'M HOWIE.

KEVIN - HE'S... MY... COUSIN. HE'S IN ENLGISH CLASS RIGHT NOW... OR MAYBE HISTORY... I CAN NEVER..... REMEMBER.

THEY CALL BRIAN. HE FLIES DOWN THE NEXT DAY AND AUDITIONS FOR THEM.

NEXT DAY AT THE AUDITION

BRIAN - (THICK COUNTRY ACCENT) I'M BRIAN LITTRELL.

KEVIN - HE'S ... MY...COUSIN.

BRIAN - (SINGS) MY SHATTERED DREAMS -

LOU - WELL, I WOULD SLEEP WITH YOU.

THEY ALL STARE AT HIM.

LOU - ... IF YOU WERE A GIRL....YOU'RE HIRED!! NOW LET'S GO HOME AND GET READY FOR OUR SEA WORLD SHOW.

THEY GO BACK TO LOU'S HOUSE.(THEY ALL LIVE THERE)

HOWIE AND AJ ARE IN THE BEDROOM THEY SHARE.

OPERA MUSIC IS PLAYING.

HOWIE - WHICH SHOES SHOULD I WEAR, RED OR BLACK?

AJ - ARE YOU WEARING A JACKET?

HOWIE - YEAH... WELL... NO... MAYBE.

AJ - I'D GO WITH THE BLACK.

HOWIE - ARE YOU SURE?

AJ - TRUST ME, I HAVE A SENSE FOR FASHION. I SHOP MORE THEN MOST WOMEN.

NICK COMES IN.

NICK - HOWIE, WILL YOU TEACH ME TO PLAY BASKETBALL?

HOWIE - SURE, NICKY.

NICKY RUNS OFF EXCITEDLY.

THEY MEET UP OUTSIDE AND GET INTO LOU'S VAN.

NICK AND BRIAN SIT TOGETHER.

HOWIE GLARES JEALOUSLY AT THEM AS HE CLIMBS INTO THE SEAT BEHIND THEM.

AJ SITS NEXT TO HIM AND LIGHTS UP A CIGARETTE.

KEVIN SITS IN THE FRONT WITH LOU.

OPERA MUSIC STARTS PLAYING.

NICK TURNS AROUND AND FACES AJ.

NICK - WHATCHA DOIN'?

AJ - SMOKING. WANT A SQUARE?

NICK - I DON'T DO ACID.

AJ - NO, I MEANT A CIGARETTE.

NICK - YEAH!!!

AJ HANDS NICK A CIGARETTE

HOWIE - NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

EVERYONE LOOKS AT HIM FUNNY.

HOWIE - I MEAN... (SINGS)NOOOOOOO, BABY, DON'T GO.

EVERYONE GIVES HIM THE SAME LOOK.

NICK TAKES A DRAG FROM THE CIGARETTE.

NICK - *COUGH COUGH* GROSS!!! TAKE IT AWAY!!

HE HANDS THE CIGARETTE BACK TO AJ.

NICK - HOW DOES THAT SAYING GO?... UM... I GOT IT... THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE MIC, IS THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE MIC.

HOWIE - I THINK YOU MEAN ROCKS THE WORLD.

NICK DOESN'T ANSWER HIM. HE RUBS HIS NOSE.

BRIAN - STOP PICKING YOUR NOSE!!

NICK - I'M NOT PICKING MY NOSE!!! I'M DOING THIS.

HE RUBS IT AGAIN.

BRIAN - DON'T LET YOUR GIRLFRIEND SEE THAT.

AJ - LITTLE NICK HAS A GIRLFRIEND?

NICK - YES.

HE SEES GIRLS PASSING BY THE VAN. HE STICKS HIS HEAD OUT THE WINDOW.

NICK - I'M JUST KIDDING! I DON'T HAVE A GIRLFRIEND! ALL YOU GIRLS OUT THERE... YOU'RE MY GIRLFRIENDS!

THEY LOOK AT HIM ODDLY AND RUN OFF.

THEY GET TO SEA WORLD.

THEY SING, BLAH BLAH BLAH.

THEY GO TO A PARTY AFTERWARDS.

NICK AND BRIAN HANG OUT THE WHOLE TIME.

HOWIE EAVES DROPS ON A CONVERSATION.

NICK - BRIAN, WILL YOU TEACH ME TO PLAY BASKETBALL?

BRIAN - SURE.

HOWIE RUNS INTO THE BATHROOM. HE STEPS INTO A STALL.

HE PICKS UP THE PLUNGER AND STARTS HITTING THE WALLS WITH IT.

HE SCREAMS AND KICKS THE WALLS.

AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE NERVOUS BREAKDOWN SUBSIDES.

HE WALKS BACK TO THE PARTY.

HE SEES NICK HUGGING BRIAN.

HE GOES BACK INTO THE BATHROOM AND HAS AN ASTHMA ATTACK.

HE TAKES OUT HIS INHALER AND TAKES A FEW PUFFS.

1 WEEK LATER

BRIAN WALKS INTO THE KITCHEN WHERE LOU IS EATING A BIG HAM SANDWHICH.

OPERA MUSIC IS PLAYING.

BRIAN - LOU, I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.

LOU - WHAT'S UP, SON?

BRIAN - I THINK KEVIN IS MOLESTING NICK... I THINK HOWIE IS TOO.

HOWIE WALKS IN.

HOWIE - I DON'T MOLEST HIM, HE LETS ME DO IT.

THEY LOOK AT HIM FUNNY.

HOWIE - UM... NEVERMIND.

HE SLOWLY BACKS OUT OF THE ROOM.

LOU AND BRIAN GO INTO KEVIN'S BEDROOM.

BRIAN FINDS A PAIR OF NICK'S UNDERWEAR STRATEGICALLY PLACED ON TOP OF KEVIN'S PILLOW.

BRIAN - LOOK.

LOU - OH NO.

THEY KICK KEVIN OUT OF THE GROUP.

HE PACKS UP HIS STUFF AND SOLEMLY LEAVES.

NICK - WHY IS KEVIN LEAVING?

LOU - HE HAS TO GO NICK.

NICK - NOOOOOO!!!!

HE RUNS OFF.

1 WEEK LATER.

BRIAN IS AT THE RECORDING STUDIO ALONE.

HE RIGGS UP ONE OF THE BOOTHS TO FALL.

AT THE SAME TIME -

AJ IS SITTING AT THE KITCHEN TABLE READING A NEWSPAPER.

AJ - (SINGS)IF IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BENJIMAN'S, THEN WHAT ABOUT US?

HE COMES ACROSS AN ARTICLE.

THE BACKSTREET BOYS ARE A NEW GROUP IN TOWN. YOUNG FANS LOVE LOVE THEM, BUT OLDER PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF. THE DEMISE OF ANOTHER BOY GROUP, NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK, HAS LEFT A BAD TASTE IN AMERICA'S MOUTH. LATE IN '92, BRIAN LITTRELL, A KENTUCKY NATIVE JOINED THE GROUP AND SLOWLY KILLED OFF ALL THE MEMBERS TO BECOME WHAT HE CALLED "THE LEAD".

AJ - CRAP!!!

HE RUSHES TO THE RECORDING STUDIO TO WARN THE OTHERS.

HE ARRIVES AND RUNS INSIDE.

BRIAN IS THE ONLY ONE THERE.

AJ - ... WHERE ARE THE GUYS?

BRIAN - I DON'T KNOW. YOU NEED SOMETHING?

AJ - I NEED A BOYBAND MURDERER. KNOW OF ANY, MR. LITTRELL?

BRIAN LOOKS AT HIM SHOCKED.

AJ - WHERE'S HOWIE?

BRIAN - HE'S... IN THAT BOOTH OVER THERE.

HE POINTS TO THE ONE HE HAD RIGGED UP.

BRIAN - BUT PLEASE DON'T TELL HIM!

AJ RUSHES INTO THE BOOTH.

AJ - HOWIE!! HOWIE!!!

AS HE OPENS THE BOOTH DOOR, THE WHLE BOOTH COLLAPSES ON HIM.

HE IS KILLED INSTANTLY.

BRIAN SMILES AT A JOB WELL DONE AND EATS A HUSH PUPPY.

HE PICKS UP ALL OF HOWIE'S INHALERS AND SQUIRTS THEM OUT.

NICK ARRIVES AT THE STUDIO A FEW MINUTES LATER.

NICK - HI.

BRIAN - HI.

BRIAN HEARS HOWIE'S CAR PULL UP. HE SITS CLOSE TO NICK ON THE BENCH - A LITTLE TOO CLOSE.

HOWIE WALKS IN.

HE SEES BRIAN PUT HIS ARM OVER NICK'S SHOULDERS.

BRIAN - ... THEN YOU PUT YOUR HANDS AROUND IT...

HIS VOICE TRAILS OFF AS HOWIE STARTS TO GASP FOR BREATH.

HE FINDS HIS INHALER, BUT IT'S EMPTY.

HE RUNS TO ONE OF THE OTHER BOOTHS LOOKING FOR ANOTHER.

HE RUNS INTO THE COLLAPSED BOOTH. HE SEES AJ'S BODY.

HOWIE - GASP!!!

HE HYPERVENTILATES AS HE STUMBLES AROUND LOOKING FOR AN INHALER.

HE GETS OUT THE BACK DOOR AND FALLS TO THE GROUND.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, NICK COMES OUTSIDE.

HE SEES HOWIE ON THE GROUND.

NICK - AUGH!!!!!!!!!!!

HE CALLS AN AMBULANCE.

BRIAN COMES RUNNING OUT 10 MINUTES LATER.

HE RUNS TOWARDS HOWIE.

BRIAN - HOWARD!!

THE COP STOPS HIM.

BRIAN - HE HAS ASTHMA!!

COP # 1 - HE'S GONNA BE FINE.

COP # 2 CALLS OUT FROM INSIDE.

COP # 2 - COP # 1, YOU BETTER COME IN HERE.

HE GOES IN TO FIND AJ'S LIFELESS BODY.

THAT NIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL.

NICK IS SITTING IN HOWIE'S ROOM.

HOWIE WAKES UP.

HOWIE - (WHISPERS) NICKY?

NICK COMES OVER TO HIM.

NICK - IT'S ALRIGHT, HOWIE. YOU'RE IN THE HOSPITAL.

HE KISSES HOWIE'S FOREHEAD.

HOWIE'S HEART FLUTTERS AND HIS LEFT EYE TWITCHES UNCONTROLLABLY.

THE NEXT DAY.

HOWIE COMES HOME FROM THE HOSPITAL.

HIM, BRIAN, AND NICK ARE IN THE HOUSE. LOU IS IN THE BATHROOM EATING STEAK AND RIBS.

KEVIN IS STANDING OUT IN THE RAIN WATCHING THE HOUSE.

INSIDE

HOWIE COMES DOWN THE STAIRS. HE SEES NICK AND BRIAN WRESTLING IN THE LIVING ROOM.

HE SWALLOWS HEAVILY AND WALKS INTO THE KITCHEN.

HE SEES THE SAME ARTICLE THAT AJ WAS READING.

HOWIE - OH MY GOSH.

HE WALKS INTO THE LIVING ROOM.

NICK AND BRIAN STOP WRESTLING AND LOOK UP AT HIM.

BRIAN - FEELING BETTER?

HOWIE - (JEALOUSLY) YES.... NICKY, I GOTTA TALK TO YOU.

BRIAN - NICKY IS KIND OF BUSY RIGHT NOW.

HOWIE PUNCHES HIM IN THE FACE.

HE GOES FLYING ACROSS THE COFFEE TABLE.

NICK - HOWIE!!

HOWIE - HE KILLED THE NEW KIDS, NICKY!!

NICK - HE WHAT?

BRIAN STANDS UP.

BRIAN - HE'S CRAZY, NICKY. HE DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HE'S SAYING.

NICK - MAYBE YOU SHOULD LEAVE BRIAN.

BRIAN - WHAT? NICKY, YOU TOLD ME THERE WAS ONLY ONE MAN FOR YOU.

NICK - I MEANT HOWIE.

BRIAN - ... OKAY... FINE... I'LL JUST TAKE MY NICKY AND I'LL BE ON MY WAY... I MEANT... MY THINGS.

HOWIE - NO, LEAVE NOW.

BRIAN - FINE THEN.

HE WALKS TO THE FRONT DOOR. HE LOOKS BACK AND THEN LEAVES.

HOWIE - CALL THE POLICE.

NICK - CALM DOWN.

HOWIE - I THINK HE RIGGED THE STUDIO FOR ME.

THEY CALL LOU DOWNSTAIRS.

THEY TELL HIM EVERYTHING.

LOU WALKS DOWN THE STAIRS TO BRIAN'S ROOM.

OPERA MUSIC IS PLAYING.

LOU - BRIAN?

BRIAN'S ROOM IS EMPTY.

HE SHUTS THE MUSIC OFF.

HIS PAGER GOES OFF.

LOU - AAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... OH.

HE SHUTS THE PAGER OFF.

HE HEADS UP THE STAIRS.

BRIAN COMES AROUND THE CORNER HOLDING A MIC STAND.

HE KNOCKS LOU IN THE HEAD WITH IT.

NICK AND HOWIE HEAR THE NOISE UPSTAIRS.

NICK - HOWIE, WHAT WAS THAT?

HOWIE - I DON'T KNOW, NICKY. YOU STAY HERE AND LOCK THE DOOR. I'LL GO CHECK IT OUT.

HOWIE SNEAKS QUIETLY DOWN THE STAIRS.

HOWIE - LOU?

HOWIE - BIG POPPA?

HE WALKS INTO THE BASEMENT.

A HAND GRABS HIS FOOT.

HOWIE - AAAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGHHHHHH!!!!

LOU - HOWIE, IT'S ME!!

HOWIE - LOU!!

LOU IS LAYING ON THE GROUND.

LOU - HE'S IN THE HOUSE. YOU HAVE TO GET OUT. I CAN'T MOVE. I ATE MY OWN LEGS. CALL THE POLICE.

HOWIE GOES UPSTAIRS TO THE PHONE.

HE YELLS UP TO NICK.

HOWIE - NICKY?! WHAT'S THE NUMBER FOR 911?!!

NICK RUNS TO THE EDGE OF THE STAIRCASE.

NICK - UM... LOOK IN THE PHONE BOOK!!

HOWIE PULLS OUT A PHONE BOOK.

NICK - LOOK UNDER N!!!!

HOWIE - DAMN!! I CAN'T FIND IT!!!..... OH WAIT, I REMEMBER!!

HE DIALS 911.

OPERATOR - 911, WHAT'S YOUR EMERGENCY?

HOWIE - HI. I'M HOWIE. *WINK WINK* I'M IN THIS GROUP, AND ONE MEMBER QUIT AND STUFF. AND THEN KEVIN CALLED HIS COUSIN TO JOIN THE GROUP. SO HE FLEW DOWN AND AUDITIONED AND STUFF LIKE THAT. AND NOW HE'S TRYING TO -

BRIAN SNEAKS UP BEHIND HIM AND HITS HIM IN THE HEAD WITH THE MIC STAND.

HOWIE COLLAPSES.

BRIAN - THIS IS MY GROUP.

BRIAN WALKS UPSTAIRS.

BRIAN - NICKY. IT'S JUST YOU AND ME NOW. WE'RE GONNA START A REAL GROUP.

NICK - ... OKAY. WELL, YA KNOW.... WHY DON'T WE GO IN THERE AND WE CAN PRACTICE?

HE POINTS TO A BEDROOM.

BRIAN WALKS IN. NICK SLAMS THE DOOR BEHIND HIM AND LOCKS IT.

BRIAN - HEY!!!! LET ME OUT!!

NICK - NOOO!!!

NICK LOCKS HIMSELF IN THE ATTIC.

BRIAN BREAKS THE DOOR DOWN. HE WALKS ALL OVER THE HOUSE LOOKING FOR NICK.

BRIAN - NICKY?... NICKY?... YOU'RE BEING VERY BAD NICKY... COME OUT NICKY AND I'LL TEACH YOU TO PLAY BASKETBALL.

HE GOES TO THE ATTIC WITH A MICROPHONE IN HIS HAND.

KEVIN IS CLIMBING IN THE WINDOW.

BRIAN - YOU.

KEVIN GRABS NICK.

BRIAN - GIVE HIM TO ME.

KEVIN - ... N... O.

BRIAN - NO?

KEVIN - NO.

BRIAN - GIVE ME NICKY, OR I'LL BASH YOUR SKULL!!

HOWIE - BRIAN!!!

HOWIE COMES IN THE ROOM WITH A MIC.

HOWIE - THIS IS MY GROUP!!

THEY FENCE WITH THE MICS.

BRIAN KNOCKS HOWIE'S MIC OUT OF HIS HAND AND KNOCKS HOWIE TO THE GROUND.

NICK - DON'T HURT MY HOWIE!!

HOWIE TAKES HIS SHIRT OFF.

BRIAN - (GAY VOICE) CENSER!!

HOWIE STARTS FAKING AN ASTHMA ATTACK.

BRIAN SMILES.

BRIAN - SOMETHING WRONG?

BRIAN LEANS DOWN AND WHISPERS IN HOWIE'S EAR.

BRIAN - WHEN NICK IS WITH YOU, IT'S MY FACE HE SEES. LOOK AT YOU... WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE... YOU CAN'T EVEN BREATH.

BRIAN WALKS OVER TO KEVIN.

HOWIE STOPS GASPING FOR BREATH.

BRIAN - GIVE HIM TO ME.

KEVIN - NO!

BRIAN RAISES HIS MIC TO HIT KEVIN.

HOWIE CHARGES AT HIM AND KNOCKS HIM OVER.

BRIAN - OW!

HE GETS UP AND HITS HOWIE TO THE GROUND.

HE GOES AFTER KEVIN AGAIN.

BRIAN - GIVE ME NICKY!!

HOWIE - NOOOOOOOO!!!

HE RUNS INTO BRIAN AND SENDS HIS FLYING OUT THE WINDOW.

HE TAKES NICK FROM BRIAN AND HUGS HIM.

KEVIN - HE'S...OK... I DIDN'T... HURT HIM.

THE 3 OF THEM EMBRACE.

THEY GO DOWNSTAIRS TO LOOK FOR LOU.

THEY FIND HIM LAYING ON THE BASEMENT FLOOR.

NICK - HE HAS NO LOWERHALF!!!! HE'S EATEN HIS OWN LEGS!!!

POLICE ARRIVE AND THAT IS THE END.