DANTE (30’s, jacked, suave) finishes a set of shoulder presses with an impressive grunt, dropping the weights and whipping out his phone.

He scrolls through social media and sees a video of a POSH WOMAN at a party. He sighs and flips to the camera.

The takes a selfie in the mirror and looks to post it on social media.

Working out when your opps are partying. #shoulderday #workoutlife

He looks through his previous posts and they’re pulling abysmal numbers for someone this handsome. He reads some of the comments. They are pretty ugly and rude.

He looks over at the squat rack and sees a beautiful and fit woman ROSE (20’s, jacked, smartly dressed). She takes a selfie and posts it up. Notices Dante looking at her and roll her eyes.

Dante picks the weights back up angrily and reps out a few more.

Dante throws his gym bag in the passenger seat and smacks the steering wheel in frustration. He pulls out his phone and dials up JORDAYNE, his connection.

It’s J. Sup?

Need to get some more Gear.

The usual? I just got some new stuff in that’s really amazing. Only handing it out to my favorites.

I’m flattered. But just what’s tried and true.

You sure about that? You should see what this new stuff can do. Here, look.

Dante’s phone dings as he gets a text. He checks it.

It’s a JACKED and MASCULINE picture of JORDAYNE (30’s) that’s ever existed. Too much to be real.

Damn. What is this shit?

It’s new mRNA stuff. They’re calling it The Dream. Because once you get on it you’re living the fucking dream man.

Shit. I’ll be right over.

Dante knocks on a nondescript door that opens for him. Standing there is a handsome man in his early 30’s, JORDAYNE, who almost glows with sex appeal. They dap.

Come in.

Dante walks inside.

Jordayne’s apartment is fashionably modern, and not too cluttered for a bachelor. There’s a paused video game on the TV that both guys plop onto the sofa and start playing.

So what’s this new shit you got?

The Dream? I got a special plug for it. Works for the company that’s testing it. It’s not even officially a thing yet. Plug says it’s unreal how good it works though.

Is it safe? Tested?

Yea, I’m pretty sure. It’ll get you in the best shape of your life. I’ve been on it for a few weeks myself and I feel fucking amazing. Best shape of my life. It’s like I’m glowing. Just like. Look.

Jordayne pulls his shirt up, he’s ripped! Dante looks him up and down and nods.

Jordayane takes a bong off the table in front of him and takes a hit. Coughs.

Well shit.

Best part is it makes your body release a bunch of attraction pheromones too. Makes you irresistible to the opposite sex.

I don’t believe in that shit man.

Alright well you will once you start. Your fucking social shit is gonna explode. A billion likes!

Dante laughs at this.

I’m serious man. I’m having to hide out from like three or four tinder dates right now, they all want a piece of me.

Alright Alright. I’m sold.

They both stand up and dap again. Dante leaves.

Dante comes in the door with a cardboard box full of steroid gear. Sharps kit. Bottles of pills.

He plops the whole box full on his living room table and flops onto his couch. Scrolls through social media and sees a bunch of hot people on it. He sighs and turns his attention to the box.

He pulls out a small cardboard tube and looks it over. It’s labeled with “The Dream” on it. He rips open the end and takes out a small plastic injector. He dials the end and then rolls up his shorts over his thigh.

He closes his eyes and jams it into his leg. A small ‘whoosh’ and the injection is done.

He looks over at himself in a full length mirror, he shakes his head. Then pulls out his phone and snaps a pic. He uploads it to social media “Big changes coming! #thedream”.

He tosses his phone on the couch and then slumps down onto it himself, head in hands.

Dante is pumping away on the lat pulldown. He checks his phone after a set.

He scrolls through some old photos of him posing with the same POSH WOMAN, out on a date of some sort. He sighs, puts his music back on, squirts water in his mouth and keeps lifting.

Dante does another injection.

He saunters over to the kitchen and pulls out a tray of rice, broccoli, and chicken from the fridge and yeets it into the microwave with a huff.

Dante is crushing a massive deadlift. He looks over after he drops the barbell and there’s the beautiful gym bunny staring at him again. He winks and she walks over, playfully annoyed.

How many more sets do you have there hulk? It’s leg day for me too.

Dante gets a ping on his phone. It’s a DM. There’s a fashion brand asking him to do a promo.

Dante opens a new package on his living room table. It’s a bunch of fashionable clothes.

Baby’s first brand deal!

Dante is walking into a coffee shop. KELLY (30’s, bright, plain) stops him.

Hey Fit Dante. How’s the channel going?

It’s going. Getting there ya know.

Yea I love it! You’ve really been crushing it lately. How have you been? Haven’t seen you since acting class!

Oh you know, living the dream! See ya later!

Dante laughs at his own joke and saunters off.

Dante does an injection while eating chicken and rice. He’s engrossed with his phone. Tons of notifications. Packages piled up on his couch.

Dante is packing up his bag to walk out the door when Rose jogs up.

Wait up!

Dante turns

You’re different.

Just been eating right finally.

Is that so? Could I persuade you to have a cheat meal?

What do you got in mind?

Dante and Rose are in Dante’s bed, having voracious sex. She’s on top of him.

Jesus Christ you’re so fucking HARD.

She leans down and bites him on the chest.

Ah. Ouch!

Oh shit, sorry!

Dante, in his boxers, sits on his couch and eats chicken and rice. He takes another injection.

He looks down at his chest, an imprint is starting to form from the bite.

Damn, she bites hard.

He looks over at his door where a pile of clothes, workout equipment, and sex toys are mounting.

He scrolls through his phone and sees a video of the POSH WOMAN having coffee with her friends.

His phone goes off with a call. It’s Jordayne. He picks up.

Jordayne! What’s up man?

Dante. Thank fucking god. I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for days.

I’m busy living the dream. That shit you got me is the best! I’m telling you this is IT.

Yea man that’s why I’m calling you. You gotta cut that shit out. It’s no good.

The hell are you talking about? That shit’s amazing. It changed my life. I’m Hollywood now bro. No going back.

That’s just it man. It’s-- uhh. It’s making me-- soft.

Dante takes a beat, sits back into his couch and furrows his brow.

What? Like you can’t get it up? Just get a viagra or something and relax.

There’s a pause on the line, Jordayne is breathing hard. Dante leans forward.

It.. It’s not like that dude. It’s-- um.. kinda hard to explain. Can you just come over?

So you’re like emotional? That shit happens. Just play some video games and chill.

No man, not like that. It’s--

--What is it then?

Like. My body. It feels... Softer.. I’m like.. I --

Dante makes a face like he just smelled a fart.

Fuck that shit dude. I’m the most jacked I’ve ever been. I’m fucking hot chicks. My social media is popping off. I’m living it finally. This is what I always wanted!

Just listen okay. I feel -- different. I can’t explain it but it’s fucking up my guts man. I’m--

--Dude that weed you’re on makes you paranoid as fuck dude. Just play some more on your playstation and call me in the morning, okay?

Dante, just calm down. I know you’re still upset over Veronica--

Man fuck that bitch. This isn’t about her!

Dante hangs up on him.

Dante comes into the gym in his workout attire. The girl behind the front desk does a double take on how good he looks. She elbows a coworker who’s not paying attention and her head snaps up.

Morning Dante!

Looking fit!

Thanks ladies!

Dante beeps in his gym pass.

Dante is doing a squat on the rack. He winces and puts it back. Looking over the bar with confusion. He touches his back and shoulders where the bar made contact and winces.

He starts to pull his shirt off his neck a little to examine the spot but is interrupted first by a swat on the butt by Rose, who’s snuck up behind him.

Something wrong cowboy? Or just tired from last night?

Dante winces, laughs it off, and she gives him a wink.

Here, i’ll film your set, gotta feed the machine.

She grabs his phone out of his front pocket with a smirk.

Dante’s phone is going off non-stop. He can barely see that he’s gotten millions of views. He’s completely overwhelmed with the attention and amount of messages.

He’s got quite a few lewds in his inbox and flicks rapidly between them.

He gets a call from Jordayne, but immediately sends it to voicemail.

Dante is walking into the coffee shop and gets stopped again by KELLY, who’s now with her friend AMBER (30’s spunky, heavy).

Well if it isn’t Fit Dante! Wow I didn’t expect to run into you again.

-- You told me he comes here?

Kelly shoots her a look that could kill. Then laughs abruptly.

I guess amber isn’t into the whole subtlety thing ha!

Uhh. Yea.. Y’all want a selfie?

Oh sure! Since you offered!

Both women take out their phones, they all clump together and put their hand on his back, which makes Dante wince.

Oh come on, smile!

Dante smiles. Selfies are taken.

Well, I gotta get a move on. Nice to see you again.

The women are excited about their pictures.

You look like you’re doing amazing. Happy to see it. I know a lot of fitness influencers are coming down with some sort of weird cold right now.

Dante starts walking away.

Oh man, that’s crazy.

Like they’ve all gone totally soft.

Dante stops dead in his tracks. Turns around slowly.

What?

Oh you haven’t seen? It’s all over the internet.

Dante hurries back to her as Amber flips her phone around and shows him a couple stories.

-- and then all of a sudden I just felt fragile-- -- It’s like my bones just don’t want to-- -- Started taking some new gear called GoodLife-- -- cant lift like before, and the bruises--

Dante can’t look away. These guys LOOK to be the most incredibly fit people ever, but are talking like they’re wasting away.

I think it’s just a new social movement to try and get sympathy. It’s like they’re on their periods or something. Just suck it up like women have to. Am I right?

Kelly is mortified by her friend, grabs her by the wrist.

Amber! Let’s go.

They scurry away. Dante is confused. Worried.

Dante is in his bathroom. He strips his shirt off gingerly and looks at himself. He’s got quite a bruise developing from the bite. He looks at the back of his neck, there’s a bar shaped bruise developing there too.

He absently washes his hands in the sink and recoils as he touches his palms. There’s bruising from holding the barbell!?

Dante stares down at his hands above the running water.

The fuck?

Dante walks into his living room and looks at the box of steroids. He grabs the container for ‘the dream’ and looks it over. There’s not much written on it.

He pulls out his phone and dials Jordayne. The line rings a few times, and goes to voicemail

It’s J. Leave me a message. *BEEP*

Yo Jordayne. Uhh, I was having a weird day yesterday. Can you call me? What’s in this dream shit man? It’s giving me weird bruising... Yea, Call me.

Dante walks into Silver’s gym. This time there’s four women behind the desk, all trying to look busy but obviously ogling him.

As a matter of fact, the whole gym has women in it. Tall, short, thin, plump. All types doing their best to look busy as they’re eyeballing Dante.

They’re all watching his every move. Rose, territorial, walks briskly up to Dante.

What the hell is up with this huh?

She nervously laughs, then leans in to kiss him and he recoils.

Babe, Is something wrong?

I’m.. Uh. Not feeling so good today. Sick.

Oh? Not you too! Poor thing. Maybe I could put you to bed?

She seductively walks her fingers up his arm. Each touch sounds like a war drum to Dante, who panics.

Actually! I think I better get going.

He turns and reaches for the door, which slaps against his palm with an angry WHAP. He winces a bit as he leaves.

All the women in the room act like someone is taking away their favorite toy and they instinctively reach towards him with longing.

Dante pulls open the door to his car and sits inside. He scrolls through is social media feed.

-- Started falling out -- -- Just feel totally weak -- -- bruises, can’t-- -- was taking steroids but never thought-- -- the dream -- dream -- called the dream -- phermones -- having tons of sex -- lifting -- traps and lats were huge -- the dream -- bruises -- going soft -- soft -- soft body -- completely soft -- SOFT -- SOFT -- SOFT

Dante calls Jordayne, full panic.

It’s J. Leave me a message. *BEEP*

Dante hangs up. He tries to calm himself down. When he drives off we see the whole gym full of women are looking out at him like kids with their faces pressed against a candy shop window.

Dante knocks on the door lightly. It hurts like hell.

(in pain)

Ah.

He looks down at the door. There’ something blackish LEAKING from the bottom of the door and onto the DOORMAT.

Jordayne! You in there man?

No reply.

Dante reaches down under the doormat and finds a key. He unlocks the door gingerly and opens it.

Dante steps around the puddle of black goo, into the apartment.

Jordayne, you here bro?

The door closes behind him and we see black good handprints on the door!

The trail of slime leads off into the apartment.

This isn’t funny man. What’s in that shit you hooked me up with? It’s making my skin get all fucked up man. I got brand deals to do now man. Hotties. I can’t be all bruised up for them. You gotta put me right.

Dante rounds the corner into the living room, and finds the videogame system on pause, backlighting Jordayne on the couch, sitting in front of his bong.

J, what the hell is going on here man. I’m freaking out. If you don’t stop playing with me--

Dante slowly turns the corner to see Jordayne on the couch.

A BLACK GOO COVERED SKELETON. He’s literally MELTED from being so SOFT.

Fuck. FUCK! FUCK!

Dante runs out, tracking goo with him on his way out.

Dante puts the box of steroids into a trash bag and looks at his phone in the other hand, there’s a text from Rose. It says “Dinner?” He shakes his head like this is the LAST thing he wants right now.

Trash bag in hand, he opens the door and Rose is STANDING RIGHT THERE. He gasps.

Oh, did I scare you babe? Didn’t know if you got my text, so I thought I’d come by and see if you wanted to grab dinner? It might make you feel better.

He backs into the apartment, still holding the trash.

Uhh.. Sure. Let’s eat something.

Does my hunk want a manly steak? Let’s go to Vinny’s Rooftop. It’s where all the big industry people go.

She winks at him.

Uhh. Can you drive? Still not feeling one hundred.

Sure! Anything for my famous boyfriend!

Rose takes the trash from him and leans in to kiss him. He backs up.

Boyfriend?

Rose rolls her eyes, smells something. She inhales deeply.

God you smell good. What is it you’re wearing?

Cologne? I didn’t put any on.

That can’t be true. Here give me a kiss.

She leans forward even more, expectantly, intimidatingly.

Shouldn’t we get going?

Fucking come on Dante. Kiss me!

He leans over and gives her a peck on the lips. It impacts him like a punch to the face. He coughs and winces.

A little bit of his lips peel off on her face. Rose licks it off her lips like it’s delicious.

Mmmm.

Dante touches his lips, which are bleeding and chapped now.

Rose is sitting down at a table while Dante gingerly seats himself. The waiter helps him sit as he groans.

Damn. I guess you’re really not feeling well.

I’m not.

Man up already Dante.

Rose counts off with her fingers the next bit.

Tonight you’re getting a beer and a steak and a blowjob tonight buddy so get ready for it.

Dante looks around, every single women in the room are doing their best not to stare at him, but many just can’t help it. They whisper to their friends. They take out their cell phones and record him.

Yea, I guess.

Their food comes. A steak is sat down in front of Dante. He stares at the knife and fork in front of him.

Meanwhile Rose has dug into a plate of ribs. She’s chewing the meat right off the bone with vigor.

What’s wrong? Wanna jump straight to desert?

She winks at him and does a ‘blowjob’ pantomime with meat stuck in her teeth. Dante smiles politely and laughs it off.

Uh.. Let me try and eat something.

Rose has barbecue sauce on the edges of her mouth as she slurps meat off another bone.

Ugh. God these ribs are so tender. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.

Dante gingerly picks up his fork and knife and winces in pain as he saws at the steak. He manages somehow to saw a piece off it.

It’s red and bloody. He delicately puts it in his mouth.

It’s so masculine to eat a bloody, raw, steak.

Dante smiles with the piece still in his mouth. He tries to chew it with as little pressure as possible. A single tear forms on his eye.

Yeah baby. Eat that fucking steak for me.

Dante chews with stifled revulsion as we hear the meat squish in his mouth. He gasps and spits the piece out. It’s barely chewed, but there’s a TOOTH in it.

Rose doesn’t seem to notice at all that he’s in pain. She talks loud for the whole restaurant to hear.

A real fucking man in my life for once who eats meat, lifts weights, and fucks like a god.

Dante palms his mouth horrifically. It bleeds all over his shirt, a dark black blood.

(muffled)

I-- I have to go.

He gets up with a substantial groan.

What about desert?

Rose slaps her palm at Dante’s hand as he snatches it away just in time. He starts to shamble to the exit.

EVERY SINGLE WOMAN ON THE ROOFTOP STANDS UP. They all start calling after him.

Where are you headed sweetie?

Leaving?

Dante, wait! Please, what cologne are you wearing?

He’s at the door to the restaurant. It’s a turn handle. He puts a hand on it.

(agony)

Augh!

The flesh of his hand is FLAKING OFF as he’s trying desperately to grip the door.

Both hands. Both hands SLIP and BLEED a dark black goo as the metal door handle CUTS into his palms.

Where are you headed sweetie?

Wait! I need you. Come back!

He finally succeeds and opens it, black bloody goo left on the handle. He starts shuffling down to the elevator, wounded.

(muffled)

HELP! HELP!

The women from the roof POUR THROUGH THE DOOR BEHIND HIM. All full of LUST and dying to get a piece of him.

Come here. Fuck me.

I’ll blow your mind.

I like it rough.

Just put it in a little bit.

He makes it to the elevator and jams the button with his back against the doors. It leaves a black bloody goo on the button as he calls the elevator over and over.

No. No. Stop. Don’t!

The women stalk over to him from the doorway, eyes wild with carnal lust and HUNGER.

DING. The elevator doors open and Dante stumbles inside.

Ladies. Please. I’m-- I thought that if I was handsome and popular that I could get back at my ex! I’m just a normal guy okay? I just want to be liked ya know? You can’t be mad at that, right?

How could we ever stay mad at you?

You’re so handsome

And fit.

I just want you so much. I WANT YOU.

Rose steps into the elevator and GRABS A HUNK OF HIS FLESH with a SKLURP! She caresses it and then RUBS IT ALL OVER HER FACE with a primal yell.

I WANT YOU.

A SWARM of women jump into the elevator, ravenous.

WANT. YOU.

Just before the doors close we see them descend on Dante like locusts, each grabbing a handful of black, bloody, gooey flesh and SMEARING all over their face.

DING. The elevator doors close.