POINT PLACE, WISCONSIN

DECEMBER 8, 1976

3:18 P.M.

POINT PLACE HIGH SCHOOL

Eric and Buddy are standing in front of the building, talking after school.

"Alright, this is basically all you need to know about Bohr's theory of atomic structure." Eric says, as he hands his notes over to Buddy.

"Cool, man, thanks, I appreciate it. Listen, you don't mind me being your chemistry lab partner?" he asks.

"No. Why would I mind?" replies Eric.

"Just 'cause, I, uh, you know, I tend to blow things up." Buddy looks a little nervous and approaches a red Trans Am parked next to Eric's old Vista Cruiser.

"Whoa, whoa, Buddy, what are you doing?" asks Eric, looking startled as Buddy seems to be stealing the hot Trans Am.

But Buddy just shoots him a confused look. "Unlocking my car…"

"No way! This is your car? Oh, so you're the guy I hate!" exclaims Eric in awe and envy.

"Yeah, yeah, that'd be me." Buddy grins, puffing out his chest in pride.

"Can I just?…" asks Eric, motioning toward the car.

"Yeah, yeah," says Buddy, as Eric runs to the passenger side.

"I'm so glad you're my lab partner!" exclaims Eric.

"I could take you for a ride if you want."

"No way! Oh, let's go!" Eric exclaims excitedly. Inside the car he immediately begins playing with the power window.

"Hey, don't do that!" Buddy warns. Eric stops, looking ashamed of his excitement.

"I'm kidding!" Buddy exclaims with a grin on his face.

Eric grins back, and starts playing with it again.

SCHOOL PARKING LOT

"Where the hell is Forman man? This isn't like him," says a rather irritated Hyde. It's cold as hell out here, and I wanted to get home in time to see Donahue, man.

"I'm really starting to get worried. What if something happened to him?" Kelso replies, looking concerned.

"Nothing happened to him," snaps Hyde.

"What if he's lost or hurt somewhere?" asks Kelso.

"Calm down Lassie. I'm sure Timmy's just fine," retorts Hyde, sarcastically.

"Yeah. Maybe we should check the school morgue," replies a rather ignorant Kelso.

"Kelso, the school doesn't have a morgue." Hyde says, rolling his eyes.

"Then why do we pay all those taxes for?" asks Kelso, indignantly.

"You know what kills me? You do better in school than I do." Hyde replies thinking, Just how dumb is this guy?!?

"I'm worried man," says Kelso, who snuggles further into his coat.

"Ok, fine, now let's just be logical, right? I mean, Forman's not gonna just ditch us. The Cruiser's battery's probably dead or something." Hyde replies, trying to find a good reason for Eric to have ditched them. He tries to open the door of the Vista Cruiser, only to find it locked up tight.

"You know what, it's starting to get late. Maybe we should just start walking," says Kelso in resignation.

"No, no, no, I am not walking. If God wanted us to walk, he wouldn't have given us Forman,"

Hyde snaps, determined to wait for Eric, and hopeful that he hasn't forgotten them.

THE HUB

Eric and Buddy get out of the Trans Am in the Hub parking lot and stop to talk for a few minutes. 

"Oh my God! That's Buddy Morgan!" exclaims Jackie, spotting the guys through the window.

"Oh man, I had such a crush on him in the seventh grade," replies Donna.

"He's driving the fiery chariot of the sun God," says Fez, with a dreamy expression on his face.

"Wait, he's with Eric? This is a serious clique breach!" exclaims Jackie, dumbfounded.

"A serious clique breach, well, that's the worst kind!" replies Donna, rolling her eyes at her cheerleader friend.

Jackie doesn't pick up on the sarcasm. "You see, Buddy is in the rich kid clique," she starts trying to explain the high school social structure. She picks up a mustard bottle from the table to represent the rich kids. "They mingle with the jock clique," she continues, picking up a ketchup bottle. "Then you have your smokers and your heads," adding the salt and pepper. "Ok?"

Donna is watching in amazed amusement. I can't believe she's putting this much work into cliques when she can't even do her homework!

But Jackie was already continuing, "Rich kids can be smokers, and jocks can be heads. But jocks can not be smokers unless they're rich!" The bottles mixed and swirled in complex patterns only fully understood by the mind of the tiny cheerleader. She seemed quite proud of her little demonstration.

"What about Larry Mosely? He's a rich jock smoker head." Donna couldn't wait to see how Jackie would explain that one, and it gave her time to check out the Trans Am some more through the window.

"Ok, well now you're just being difficult," replies an indignant and ignorant Jackie, giving up on the clique-jumping lesson as Buddy and Eric walked in.

"Hey, guys, um, Buddy, you know everyone, right?" Eric asks.

"Hi. Uh, no I don't think we've actually met," replies Buddy, pointing at Fez.

"No, I am Fez."

"Hi."

"My Gosh, Buddy, with a car like that, you must be knee deep in whores," exclaims Fez, looking rather envious. Buddy looks confused, and Eric decides to spare him a long explaination of Fez-Speak.

"Okay! Let's head back to my house."

THE BASEMENT

The gang, minus Kelso and Hyde but plus the mustard bottle that is Buddy, are watching Gilligan's Island.

"Hey, they're finally getting off the island!" exclaims Fez, excited.

"No, Fez, they're not getting off the island," a bored Eric assures him. 

"But they have a clock and a radio, what could go wrong?" asks Fez, indignantly, with a touch of excitement. But a few moments later, as Gilligan yet again messes up the plan, "Oh Jilligan!"

Hyde and Kelso walk in looking cold and very, very angry.

"Oh, there you guys are, hey, where have you been?" asks Eric innocently.

"Where have we…" Kelso breaks off in disbelief. "Where have you been? We've been worried sick about you!" A mix of concern and anger are evident in his voice.

"We had to walk all the way here man! My feet are killing me!" Hyde sounds far angrier than his friend.

"Are your finger broken? You can't use a phone?" Kelso continues.

"Do you know that it's freezing outside? And I'm wearing my uncle's boots so now I have a blister!" Hyde exclaims with disgust.

"Hey you two, quit bickering. We have company," says Donna. Hyde catches a quick look of pity on her face before she turns away, pointing to Buddy sitting in the old white chair.

"Huh, Buddy Morgan. Yeah, I know you…" Hyde replies calmly. He's in my chair. And what was that with Donna?

Buddy begins to explain, "Yeah, I guess it's my fault. I gave Eric a ride home so…"

"Get outta my chair!" Hyde interrupts loudly. As soon as he says it he regrets it. I sound like I'm four years old. I sound like I'm four and I need a nap. Damn boots. He keeps the scowl on his face as Buddy quickly jumps up from his chair. It wasn't a comfortable chair, but it was his.  

Donna watches Buddy and Hyde and is struggling not to smile. Buddy may be rich, but Hyde would kick his ass in a second. Especially if he's in Hyde's chair. Especially since Hyde really does look tired. Pretty dumb of Eric to forget about his friends like that. 

Buddy was shifting nervously. "Okay, I really had to be going anyway, so…" He looks at Eric, and suddenly remembers the Vista Cruiser. "Oh, hey! Your car's still at school, huh?" At least he sounds like he feels a little guilty, Eric's just standing there basking in the clique, Donna thinks, forcing her eyes back to Gilligan and off of Hyde.

"Yeah you're damn right it is!" Kelso was obviously still upset.

"I could drop you off." Buddy offers Eric.

Eric's face lights up "Oh, yeah! Sure! And, hey guys, I'm real sorry I forgot about you." Eric says, trying to sound contrite. Unfortunately, Buddy ruins the attempt with his offer to let Eric drive.

"HELL YES!" exclaims Eric, grabbing the keys and racing up the basement stairs. Buddy follows him out.

"I call backseat!" Fez shouts, and trails them up the stairs.

Kelso looks incredulous. "See that? He just ditched us again!"

Jackie was far from sympathetic, however. "Do you even know how difficult it is to clique jump? Eric has achieved something very special and you are both ruining it for him!"

The snippy tone from her friend further irritates Donna. "That still doesn't mean he should ditch his other friends!" she exclaims, glaring at the midget.

"Who cares? I'm tired, and I never wanna walk anywhere again," Kelso falls onto the couch just as Jackie jumps up.

"Michael walk me home!" she orders him.

Without any argument, Kelso gets back up again, "Okay," and follows her out the door.

Donna watches them go, rolling her eyes. I'm not sure which one of those two is worse. As the basement door shuts behind them, she turns back to Hyde. He really does look tired, she thinks. It's like, four miles from school to here!

"Ok, what's your problem with Buddy? I mean, he seems nice enough. Technically it wasn't his fault that Eric ditched you guys." Donna asks him. He was still frowning at the TV, and she felt slightly obligated to distract him from whatever revenge he was plotting. Because I'm Eric's girlfriend. I think.  

But she picked the wrong tactic. Hyde snorts resentfully, "Screw him, man. I mean, he's got the money, the car, the family, the teachers like him, the counselors like him, everybody likes him! I hate him." Man, I need to stop acting like an idiot around her. 'I hate him,' what kind of whiny crap is that? I sound like Forman.

"Hyde, don't you think you're overreacting just a little bit?" asks Donna. She didn't want to provoke him more, but she kind of liked it when he went off on his rants about the government and the status quo and paranoid stuff like that. He sound crazy, but smart. And passionate. Very passionate. He looks over at her, and she quickly stops that line of thinking.

"Donna," Hyde replies impatiently, "Let me tell you something. Ok? When high school's over, Buddy Morgan's going to a great college. You know where I'm gonna be? Sitting right here in my uncle's boots." I know she's pretty and smart and everything, but sometimes she just doesn't get it.  

His tone throws Donna completely off guard. I forget he isn't like the rest of the gang,with nice happy parents and a college fund. But he hates pity. She's floundering with her reply, and finally comes up with a lame, "Well, at least you got great friends." That sounds pathetic. She finds herself continuing without even meaning to, "And, um, I'll always be your friend." And that sounds obvious. Add "Only friends", hurry up, add "Only friends" and finish your sentence, you can't leave it like this.

"Thanks Donna," says Hyde, before she gets the chance. To make matters worse, he actually reaches out and puts his hand on her leg. If I weren't tired and cold and cranky I'd know better than to be doing this, he thinks to himself. And that's exactly what I'll tell anyone if they catch us. I've got the excuse, now I just have to...

Donna looks down at his hand and smiles. "That was sympathy, Hyde. Not an opening for you to put your hand on my knee." And only you would take it to be that.

"Sorry." Hyde responds, keeping his face carefully neutral. Play it off like a joke. If she smacks you, it's a joke, if she likes it, you meant to do it. He doesn't move his hand. She's warm.

Donna is trying not to laugh. "Move your hand!" she tells him half-heartedly. His hand was cold, but somehow it made her warm. Warm in all the wrong places.

Hyde responds to Donna's request by simply moving his hand up and down her thigh. I'm really, really tired right now. That's it. I'm not actually rubbing one of my best friend's thighs while her boyfriend is out driving around in a Trans Am. It's some kind of weird hallucination brought on by the fresh air and exercise. And while we're hallucinating, why not a little...

Donna laughs as his hand slowly moves across her leg. OK, that's feeling way too nice.  She grabs his hand and is about to shove it off her leg when she notices him leaning closer. Donna gets a dreamy look on her face as she realizes he's making a move. His hand is so cold, but my face feels so hot.

Just as his lips are about to meet hers the basement door upstairs opens. Reacting like it's a gunshot, they drop hands and pull away from each other. The footsteps on the stairs give them both time to recover and stare at the TV. When did the program change? Donna thinks, confused. I can't believe I almost let him kiss me again.

Kitty comes down the stairs with a pile of laundry, "Don't mind me," she says cheerfully, "I'm just throwing in a load of wash."

Hyde focuses on the TV, and clears his throat. That was close. And stupid. I should go home and take a nap or something. If only I didn't have to walk. She smells good.

Hyde and Donna continue watching TV as Kitty hums behind them, both wondering what the other is thinking.

THE HUB

Kelso is playing pinball and Hyde is sitting with his head on a table. I can't believe I almost kissed her. We talked about it, we're just friends, she's with Forman. Just because I want to kiss her doesn't mean I should let stupid circumstances drag me into... I can't believe Kelso lost again, that guy sucks at pinball. Except she really didn't seem to mind, she looked like she wanted kissed.

"Number ten, your order is ready!" Frank, the manager of The Hub, yells from behind his counter.

Kelso doesn't look up from the game second game he's losing. "Yeah, I'll be right there!"

Frank yells out again, "Number ten, I have limited counter space. Please remove your hot dog."

"Alright!" Kelso shouts as he stops playing. "I don't see why you can't just serve us our food, Frank. We are paying customers, you know." Man, Kelso should know better than to match wits with Frank. Or anyone, really, Hyde thinks as he watches his friend at the counter. What the hell was I thinking with Donna!

"Hey, I did not lose a leg in Vietnam so that I could serve hot dogs to teenagers." Frank is testy now, and Hyde can almost appreciate the tone of voice he's using with Kelso. I've gotta try that on Forman some time.

Kelso rolls his eyes. "You have both your legs, Frank," he replies, completely missing the warning tone in Franks voice.

"Like I said. I did not lose a leg in Vietnam!" Frank repeats in the same aggravating tone of voice. Kelso gives up and walks back to Hyde's table. Another moron falls in the face of logic, Hyde smirks, as he watches Kelso approach.  I wonder if I can snake that hot dog from him…

Donna walks into the Hub and Hyde tries to turn off his mental dialogue. It's never going to go anywhere good anyway.

"Hey guys." Donna says and sits down.

"Hey man, where's Forman?" asks Hyde abruptly. God, she's beautiful. How does she do that?

"I don't know. He's not with me." Donna replies, wondering why he's acting ticked off.

"He's with that damn Buddy again. You know, he only hangs out with Buddy 'cause he's got a Trans Am." Hyde says with obvious envy.

Oh. Buddy again. He acts like Eric is his only friend. It's like Kelso and I aren't even sitting here! The more Donna thinks, the more she herself gets ticked off. "So? You guys only hang out with Eric 'cause of the Vista Cruiser and the basement!" Donna replies.

"We've been friends with Forman since he was a kid, man. Way before he had any of that stuff," explains Hyde. And before he had you…

Kelso stops messing with his hot dog long enough to join the conversation. "That's right. Remember when he used to have that tree house and a go-kart?" Kelso starts grinning at the memory, missing the slightly angry undercurrents between Donna and Hyde.

Frank comes over to their table and points at Hyde.

"Hey. You. Buy something, or get out! I've got a big wedding coming in." Frank yells.

OK, that's less funny when he's doing it to me. "Frank, you don't have a big wedding coming in!" Hyde wasn't about to leave, with no transportation and now with Donna upset at him about something…

"Oh, did I say wedding? Because I meant to say, buy something, or get out!" Frank exclaims and walks away.

"Fine, I'll go someplace else then!" Hyde calls after him. He stands and turns to look back at Donna and Kelso. "Come on, let's go!" If I've gotta walk, it's not going to be alone. Maybe Kelso will get distracted by a bird or something and Donna and I can…

Kelso wasn't moving. "I'm not going anywhere, I just bought a hot dog!"

Donna rolls her eyes. "Hyde, there's no reason for you to leave, I'll get you something." She begins digging through her purse for change and misses the raised eyebrow Hyde gives her.

"Actually, I'm in the mood for a  walk anyway. Thanks," he adds sarcastically. So not only am I less than Forman, I have to have her buy me food? I don't think so.

Donna slams some quarters on the table, causing Kelso to jump and spill ketchup on his shirt. "Hyde. Get a damn Coke and stay." She keeps his gaze as Kelso leaves to wipe off his shirt in the bathroom. "Just stay." She raises her own eyebrow to match his. Because you here and pissed is better than you not here. Dillhole. "You can pay me later. Whatever."

"Whatever. Fine. God." Hyde took the quarters and went to deal with Frank. There was something in her expression. I think she actually wants me to stay. We really need to have another talk.

MONTAGE

Eric and Buddy play pinball and basketball; go shopping; do a chemistry experiment.

CINEPLEX'S PARKING LOT

"That was a great movie, huh?" asks Buddy.

"Yeah. I mean, who would've thought that working at a car wash could be so much fun?" replies Eric, as he and Buddy get into the car.

"So, what do you wanna do now?"

"I don't know. Uh, Oh, ugh!" Eric says guiltily.

Buddy looks at him, concerned. "What?"

"Nothing. I forgot to call Donna."

"Oh, Donna." Buddy's tone is casual. "So, she's like, your girlfriend?"

"I don't know, it's, I don't know." Eric replies, flustered.

"Yeah, it's…it's ok to be confused, Eric."

"Yeah, you know, sometimes, I feel like…I don't know. Like, we're in a movie, right? And, um…I'm nervous around her. And I feel like I'm playing this part, right? But it's not me."

"Mhmh," answers Buddy. Eric misses the longing look on his face. Suddenly, Buddy leans over and kisses Eric, who pushes away as he realizes what's happening.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa…whoa," replies Eric, dazed.

"What?" Buddy responds defensively.

"You! You are…you, you're gay!" Eric exclaims, realization dawning.

"Me? No, I'm not gay," denies Buddy.

"You're not? But you…you just kissed me!"

"Ok, I'm gay." Buddy concedes.

"Can you take me home now?" Eric squeaks out, panicked.

THE CAR, LATER

"Look, I'm not gay," says Eric, defensively.

"Yeah, yeah." Buddy pauses. "Are you sure?" Buddy asks with a question in his eyes.

"Yes!" responds a rather adamant Eric.

"Because I just thought that…" Buddy trails off.

"Well, why would you think that?" Eric asks, genuinely curious.

"'Cause we've been spending so much time together…" Buddy explains. "And if you were with Donna, like, her boyfriend, then you'd be spending more time with her."

"Because we're friends! I spend time with my friends all the time. And I'm…I've been friends with Hyde for years and spent lots of time with him and I never put the moves on him."

"I wouldn't blame you. That guy's a jerk." Buddy replies with a scowl on his face.

"Yeah, well…yeah, but that's not the reason! It's because I'm not gay."

"Right. I'm sorry for kissing you." Buddy responds contritely.

"That's ok. I mean, it's…let's just forget about it." Eric says, trying to cause the incident to blow over.

"Do you wanna listen to the radio?" Buddy asks as he moves his hand towards the radio.

Eric panics, thinking that Buddy's making a move on him again. "Hey! I told you I wasn't gay!" he exclaims.

THE BASEMENT

"I miss Eric," Kelso pouts out loud.

"Well, you still have me," replies Jackie.

"It's not the same Jackie! I can talk to Eric about things that…that I can't talk about with you." Kelso responds crankily.

"Ok, well like what." Jackie replies, an angry glint in her eyes.

"Well, for instance, the annoying things that you do." Kelso replies, completely ignorant of the fact that Jackie's already angry.

Jackie takes the opportunity to shove him and get up off the back of the couch. "Michael!" she exclaims, clearly furious now.

"See, I can't talk to you!" Kelso shouts.

Eric walks in the basement amidst this chaos, a dazed look on his face.

"Hey, Eric, how's it…" Donna starts, but gets cut off by Eric, who pulls her to him and kisses her.

Everyone looks shocked. No one notices that Hyde looks angry as well. 

"So, what's everyone looking at?" Eric says defensively, as he pulls Donna closer to him. OK that was definitely weird. And not completely bad. Donna doesn't make a move to pull away and tries to avoid looking at Hyde.

"What are we looking at? Man, we haven't seen you in days!" yells Hyde. And we're looking at a little freak that ignores us for a week, then swoops in and kisses Donna like that and she looks happy about it. Like she wasn't as blown off as the rest of his friends. 

"Oh, what, Hyde, you had to walk all the way home from school again?" Eric responds sarcastically, adding fuel to the anger he doesn't even know exists.

"That's not the only reason we're upset with you," adds Kelso. At least Kelso can sound angry without it being suspicious. Is she trying to avoid looking at me or is it my imagination? Hyde wondered.

"It's my only reason." Hyde informs Kelso. Whatever Forman is pulling, it looks like it's working.

"I thought you had another reason," replies Kelso, confused.

"No, that's pretty much it." Hyde replies defensively. Kelso has no clue, right? I mean, he seems completely out of it most of the time, but what if he's seen stuff? Nah... I'd better chill out either way. He's still got his damn arm around her.

"Where's Buddy?" Donna asks Eric. He's really holding me pretty tight here. That was some kiss. There's that warm feeling again.

"Oh, Buddy! Um. Well, Buddy got busy, so…" Eric trails off.

"Yeah, I mean, I'm sure he has a lot to do. He is 'popular'." Jackie replies, obviously still impressed that Buddy would hang around with Eric in the first place.

"Yes and so obviously gay." Fez responds, out of the blue. Eric looks uncomfortable.

"Buddy is not gay!" exclaims Jackie.

"Please, Fez. That's just stupid! If Buddy was gay he would have been all over me!" Kelso replies, stroking his own ego, while everyone turns and silently stares at him. "Well, he would've!"

FORMAN DRIVEWAY

Jackie and Kelso walk off through the Forman garage. "See you guys later," calls Donna. She turns and heads for her own house but is stopped by Hyde, who grabs her arm and turns her around. He puts his arm around her, and they walk toward Eric. Two guys, one night. I kinda like this. But I shouldn't. Bad Donna, she tells herself.

"So, Foreman? Now that the scary kids are gone, is Buddy gay?" asks Hyde.

"Well, I don't think it's really my place to…" Eric trails off, panicked.

"He's gay!" Donna and Hyde say in unison. Hyde rubs his hand up and down Donna's back, feeling guilty and naughty at the same time. Right in front of my best friend man! I bet she's going to smack me. But Donna doesn't, and Eric notices nothing strange as he tries to figure out what to tell his friends.

"Ok, guys. Hypothetical situation. Crazy scenario, wouldn't happen, in, like, a million years, let's just, let's say, ok, that Buddy made a move on me." Eric says, looking completely and thorougly unconvincing.

"Eric, he's not gonna make a move on you if he knows you're straight." Donna tells him somewhat shakily. If Hyde would stop moving his hand I could enjoy this more! Look at Eric squirm!

Hyde looks Donna in the eyes and says, "I don't know, I mean, Foreman is pretty irresistible."

"I don't think he'll make a move on me again." Eric finally concludes.

"Again?!" Hyde and Donna exclaim, obviously shocked.

"Or for the first time? You know? I gotta go." Eric replies nervously, and he goes into the house.

Hyde turns Donna around, and runs his hand through her hair. "You know, Donna," he begins, sounding sincere, "If Forman ever decides to dabble in the love that dare not speak it's name, I'm here for you." There is only a slight smirk on his face.  But his eyes are totally serious. 

Donna forces a laugh. Realizing she won't be able to respond while he's looking at her like that, she just turns and walks away.

SCHOOL PARKING LOT

"Hey, Buddy! Um, I'm gonna need those chemistry notes back." Eric calls to Buddy.

"Oh, yeah. Listen, man, if you don't wanna be my lab partner anymore, then, I'll, I'll understand."

Buddy responds nervously.

"No, no, oh, I didn't mean it like that. Um, look, we're still friends." Eric replies falteringly.

"Really?" asks Buddy, afraid to sound too hopeful.

"Yeah. Actually, Buddy, um…I wanted to ask why, um…why, why me?" stammers Eric.

"I don't know, man, it's probably, it's probably the same reason that Donna likes you, you know? You're smart and sensitive and…nice looking.  Plus with Donna looking so  'chummy' with Hyde, I figured, what the hell." Buddy explains.

"Ok. Well, first of all, what do you mean about Donna and Hyde?  There's nothing between them, they've been friends for years.  I mean, Donna's my girlfriend, and Hyde's my best friend.  They would never do that…"  Or would they?  They seem to think that I miss all the little looks they've been tossing each other lately.   I'm not blind man!  And ever since the disco, they have seemed different around each other, friendlier…And the gestures…I mean, it's right there, but I  thought I must be imagining things, but now that even Buddy's mentioned it, I wonder…But Donna would never cheat on me!  She's not that kind of girl, and I don't think Hyde would ever do something like that to a friend.  I'm probably just taking things out of proportion.  Yeah, that's it…he convinces himself.  "Also, I'm not really that smart. Those notes I gave you? Copied. Ok? And as for sensitive, sometimes I can just be downright mean." Eric says, to try and dissuade him.

"You're so cute!" Buddy exclaims, with a look of longing on his face.

"Well, that is…well, I guess I am!" Eric replies, puffing his chest out in pride.