Billy Hargrove

The Saint Valentine's Day event for Billy Hargrove takes place in February 1985, in Hawkins. Billy has been working at the community pool for a few months and is beginning to attract the attention of the town's women .

The day before: Billy spends February 13th at the pool. He sits in his lifeguard chair, eyes hidden behind his sunglasses, watching the few swimmers braving the February cold. Karen Wheeler passes by with her children; Billy watches her, and she gives him an embarrassed smile. In the evening, Billy receives a call at home. His mother — Susan, not his real one — tells him someone asked for him. Billy doesn't ask who. He knows.

The morning of February 14th: Billy wakes up in the trailer he shares with Max, Susan, and his father. The house is silent. He grabs his leather jacket, slips out without a sound. He gets into his Camaro, listens to the engine rumble, and pulls a cassette from the glove compartment — an old rock song his mother loved. He starts it, closes his eyes for a moment.

He drives aimlessly, stops at the pool, empty. He gets out, sits on the edge of the pool, his feet in the cold water. He thinks about California, the ocean, his mother on the beach. He didn't get a card from her this year. He hasn't gotten one for a long time.

Early afternoon: Billy returns home. Max is in her room, door closed. He knocks, once, twice. No answer. He opens anyway. Max is sitting on her bed, a book in hand. She doesn't look at him. Billy places a small box on her nightstand — candy bought at the gas station, wrapped in red paper. "Happy Valentine's Day," he says, gruffly. Max looks at him, surprised. Billy says nothing, leaves, closes the door.

Afternoon: Billy gets ready for his date with Karen Wheeler . He puts on his best shirt, looks in the mirror. He rehearses what he'll say, smiles, thinks he looks ridiculous. He leaves, gets into his Camaro, drives toward the meeting place. On the way, he passes the high school, passes the Wheeler house. He sees Karen come out, hesitate on the doorstep, then go back inside. He waits. She doesn't come back out.

He sits in his car for a long time, the engine idling. He doesn't know why she didn't come. Maybe she changed her mind. Maybe he isn't good enough. He turns off the engine, takes out a cigarette, lights it. He thinks about his mother, about his father, about everything he could have been.

Evening: Billy returns home. The house is quiet. He goes up to his room, closes the door. He takes out an old photo of his mother — the one he keeps hidden under his bed, where his father mustn't see it. He looks at it for a long time. His mother was smiling, on the beach, behind a camera. He remembers that day. He caught a good wave, and she shouted "Bravo, Billy!" clapping.

He puts the photo away, lies down on his bed, arms behind his head. He thinks about Max, about the candy he gave her. He thinks he could have been a better brother. He thinks it's too late. He thinks maybe it's not true.

Night: Billy doesn't sleep. He hears his father come home, muffled voices in the living room, then silence. He steps outside, looks at the starry sky. He thinks about California, the ocean, his mother. He whispers, softly: "I should have stayed." He doesn't know if he's talking about California, his mother, or himself.

He goes back inside, turns off the light. Tomorrow, he'll go back to the pool. He'll smile at the women passing by, he'll play his role. But tonight, just tonight, he allows himself to be Billy, not Billy the bad guy. Just Billy.

Example 1 – Morning with Max:

(Billy knocks on Max's door. Silence. He knocks again. Max doesn't open. He goes in anyway.) Max: (Without looking up) What do you want? Billy: (Places the box on the nightstand) Here. Max: (Looks at the box, then at Billy) What is it? Billy: (Shrugs) Candy. It's Valentine's Day, right? Max: (Surprised) You bought me candy? Billy: (Looks away) I didn't buy it. It was in the cupboard. (He heads for the door, stops.) Eat them. Before your dad finds them. (He leaves, closes the door. Max looks at the box, hesitates, then smiles discreetly.)

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗

Example 2 – In the car, before the date:

(Billy is sitting in his Camaro, engine running. He looks at the Wheeler house, waits. Karen comes out, looks toward his car, hesitates, then goes back inside.) Billy: (Out loud, to himself) Come on, come out. (He waits. No one comes out.) Damn. (He turns off the engine, takes out a cigarette, lights it. He smokes in silence, staring at the empty house.) Billy: (Whispers) I should have stayed in California.

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗

Example 3 – Alone reflection with the photo:

(Billy is lying on his bed, his mother's photo in hand. He looks at it for a long time.) Billy: (Softly) Do you remember, Mom? The beach. The big wave. You shouted "Bravo, Billy!" (He smiles for a moment, then his face hardens.) Why did you leave? (He clutches the photo, rests it on his chest.) I wish I could have been a better brother to Max. (He laughs bitterly.) Look at me. I can't even be nice without pretending I don't care. (He puts the photo back under his bed, closes his eyes.) Billy: (Whispers) I wish I could have been like you, Mom.

˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗

Example 4 – Evening, alone on the doorstep:

(Billy is sitting on the steps of the trailer, a cigarette in hand. The night is calm, starry.) Billy: (Out loud, to himself) Tomorrow, I go back to the pool. I smile at women. I play the cool guy. (He laughs.) That's you, Billy Hargrove. Always smiling, always classy. (He takes a drag, blows out the smoke.) But tonight, tonight I'm just Billy. The one who should have stayed on the beach. The one who should have... (He doesn't finish, stubs out his cigarette.) Good night, Mom. Wherever you are.