Synopsis of I'm With the Band
Written by TK
Nick is in his basement practicing his drumming. He's got head-phones on, and he's listening to a professional recording while drumming along. In his mind, he sounds great, but when his father walks downstairs and listens in for a moment, Nick really sounds terrible.
Sam, Neal and Bill are in gym class. The coach announces that it is now mandatory for everyone to shower after gym. Sam is horrified, and while they're climbing ropes, he talks about how he's going to refuse to shower. He doesn't want to stand around naked with all the other boys.
At lunch, Millie and some other nerdy kid come in and do a hokey ad for the school theatrical production, "Oklahoma!" Lindsay is sitting with the freaks who are talking about how they're going to rehearse the band this afternoon.
In the locker room, Sam has talked Neal and Bill into not showering with him, and they're wetting their hair in the sink to make it look like they showered. The coach catches them, but they get out of showering that day because the bell rings and the coach can't make them late for their next class.
The band is practicing in Nick's basement. Even though they sound terrible, everyone's having a good time, and Kim and Lindsay are groovin' along on the couch. When they're done, Nick tells everyone that Linsday has some cool band names for them, but when she tells them they rag on her. Nick's dad comes downstairs and says he wants to talk to Nick. Everyone else takes off and tells Nick to meet up with them later. Nick asks them to wait, but they won't. Lindsay says she'll wait for him. He goes upstairs, and Lindsay overhears as Nick's dad tells him he shouldn't be playing after 5pm, and really he should be concentrating on his school work and not his drumming, since he has to maintain at least a C+ average or he gets sent into the army on his eighteenth birthday. Nick says he really thinks he can make it as a drummer, and his dad scoffs at his dream. Nick comes back downstairs and is obviously upset. Lindsay tells him she overheard, and says that he can do anything he sets his mind to. This is the first time Nick has ever heard that. They head off to meet everyone else.
In the locker room after gym class, a really skinny Harris comes over to Sam to have a totally normal conversation about classes, but he's completely naked. Sam asks him to put a towel on, and Harris doesn't see why he should. Neal and Bill head for the showers. Sam tries to stop them, but they insist that they're sweaty. Neal and Bill get towel-whipped mercilessly by the bullies. Meanwhile, Sam tries to just walk out, but the coach catches him. He pulls sick, and even though the coach doesn't really buy it, he lets Sam get away with it.
Lindsay stops by Nick's, expecting the band to be practicing. Instead, Nick is just hanging out and everyone has gone to the junk yard to get a part for Kim's Gremlin. Lindsay says they need to practice of they want to be good, and they have to be good to show Nick's dad that he really can make it as a drummer.
The band is practicing. Nick is stressed instead of having fun, and Lindsay is making faces when they screw up, although Kim is still groovin' out. They finish a song, and Nick says they should do it again and get it right this time. Everyone thinks he's being weird and they just want to have fun. He tells everyone that Lindsay was right, no one else cares and he's the only one who wants them to be good. So they practice Nick's way, but no one has fun. They yell at Nick and Lindsay and quit and leave.
Sam, Neal and Bill are sitting around on the curb watching the jocks with their girlfriends and bitching about how they'll never get women.
Lindsay goes out to the smoking patio where the freaks normally are, but Ken is sitting there by himself. He thanks her for breaking up the band and takes off. Daniel walks up, and Lindsay tries to convince him that she only wanted to help Nick 'cause he has to make it as a drummer. Daniel says Nick will never make it as a drummer... his dad is right, the army is probably the right place for him.
It's gym class, and Sam doesn't even show up. He hides in the bathroom until he is busted by Mr. Kowchevski.
Nick is depressed and mowing the lawn. Lindsay comes by and gives him a flyer. A band called Dimension is looking for a drummer. Nick knows and likes the band and is really excited. He gives Lindsay a huge hug.
At dinner, Sam is trying to explain to his parents why he doesn't want to get naked in front of the other boys. His parents assure him that he has a beautiful body, and say that the other boys are probably just jealous.
At the audition, Nick talks a good game, but his playing is terrible. Lindsay watches him, and suddenly realizes how awful a drum a player he really is.
Outside the audition, Nick knows he sucked, and resigns himself to entering the army. Lindsay is desperate for something to do to help him, but Nick is hopeless. Nick is almost in tears, saying how scared he is of the army. Lindsay realizes the only thing she can do: she kisses him.
Neal and Bill are coming out of the locker-room shower, and they're ambushed by the bullies whipping them with towels. They walk up to Sam, who has finally given in, and wearing his own towel around his waist, is resolutely going to shower. Alan White, the leader of the bullies, stops him, and with help from his bully friends, throws him out of the locker room into the school hall. Sam is left standing in the empty hallway pounding on the door, asking to be let back in. He's yelling for Coach Fredericks, but the coach is busy flirting with another teacher in the gym. Alan opens the door for a second, grabs Sam's towel, and leaves Sam out there now completely naked. Bill and Neal watch in horror as Alan tosses their friend's towel over to them. Sam looks around in abject horror. At least the hallway is empty. He remembers that he has a pair of shorts in his locker, so he makes a run for it. Just then, the end-of-class bell rings, and all the hall doors open and student start coming out. Sam starts running for his life. Everyone sees him and yells, "Streaker!" Suddenly, he sees Cindy, and before she can spot him he turns and runs the other way. He ends up outside, and comes running in the back door of gym. Coach Fredericks, still flirting with the cute teacher, asks him what he's doing and tells him the showers are the other direction.
At school, Nick pulls Lindsay aside and tells her that he can't stop thinking about that kiss. She's flattered, but a little uncomfortable. They head out to the patio, 'cause Nick says he's all made up with the freaks. They're all out there, and they start joking around about Nick's disastrous audition. Kim pulls Lindsay aside and calls her a little slut and says that she heard that Lindsay jumped Nick.
Sam is walking down the street with Neal and Bill, and is incredibly depressed about yesterday's naked event. He's thinking maybe he should transfer schools. Alan White rides up on his bike and starts taunting Sam. Then a Jeep full of cheerleaders, including Cindy, drives by and they all cheer Sam for streaking the school. Sam is suddenly the coolest guy in town. Alan rides off fuming.
Nick is back in his basement, playing his drums with head phones on and once again completely killing a great rock song. Lindsay is there listening to him with a pained expression on her face. He says he plays better when she's there. He asks her to put another piece of dry ice in the bucket so that he can play another song. She does so, feeling rather trapped.
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