July 3rd, 2021. 8:22am.
The camera turns on for the first time, a thumb covering the lens.
"Like that?" a prepubescent boy's voice can be heard.
"That's ri-"
July 3rd, 2021. 8:22am.
The camera flickers back on. The deeper voice we heard responding to the boy is now speaking. "-press that button unless you want to stop filming. Is it back on?"
"Uh, yeah, I think so," the voice cracks. The camera trembles in the boy's hand as he points it aimlessly. We see the cardboard box it came in, a battered old box for a Canon SX10 IS, as well as the ripped wrapping paper on the floor around it. Shakily, the boy turns the camera for a rather unflattering close-up. Pimples on his chin, unwashed, messy hair, and blue eyes glowing with excitement behinds his glasses, we see the fourteen-year-old Peter Parker for the first time. Today is his birthday. He quickly turns the camera to his uncle, Ben Parker, who is sat on the sofa behind him. He laughs and waves.
"Cool, huh?" Ben asks, patting Peter on the back.
"It's great!" Peter's voice cracks as he points it around the room. We see their aging TV with an obsolete VCR player hooked up to it, as well as glimpses of other gifts.
"Look - if you use that, you can zoom in and out..." we hear Ben instruct. Subsequently, the lens zooms in and out on the cover of a graphic novel, losing focus in the process.
"Cool!" Peter exclaims as a set of feet walk into frame. Peter zooms out fully and points the camera up. For the first time, we see his aunt May, married to Ben. She smiles proudly.
"I'm not on TV, am I?" she jokes, placing her hands on her hips.
"Broadcasting to millions!" Ben laughs as Peter reaches up to May, handing her the camera. We see her looking at it, her face showing slight confusion before turning it around to face Peter, kneeling on the floor in his pyjamas, and Ben, who reaches down and wraps his arms around him, grinning happily at the camera.
"Look at you both!" May says lovingly, "My two boys!"
"Careful you don't mess it up!" Peter warns, referring to the new camera.
"Like you know how to work it!" Ben teases, "You'll get the hang of it, I suppose."
"Here, I'll let you have it," May offers the camera back to Peter.
"It's amazing!" Peter grins widely, "Thank you both so much!"
"It's a little old, I guess, but I got it out the box before we wrapped it and it still works fi-"
July 3rd, 2021. 8:36am.
"Here is the living room," Peter announces nervously in a squeaky voice, standing in a doorway and presenting the whole of the living room. We see one three-seater sofa and an old armchair. There's a coffee table that has been moved against the opposite wall to make room for Peter to open his presents. We see another room through an open doorway across the room from Peter. "But I guess you've already seen that. C'mon, let's go to the kitchen..." Peter carefully treads into the living room, gasping as he almost slips on a rogue piece of wrapping paper before kicking it aside. The kitchen seems far lighter than the living room, and we hear the sound of bacon crackling. "Say hello again, Aunt May!"
The camera focuses on May, stood at the stove and watching a pan before she looks up, laughing and waving. "Hello, world!"
Peter moves the camera to the rest of the kitchen. We see the cluttered counters, the small dining table with an emergency fourth chair in place. "Where'd we get the other chair from, Aunt May?"
"The neighbours had a yard sale before they moved out," May explained, "They practically gave it to me for free. That was nice of them."
"Nice," Peter clicks his tongue.
"When's Seymour coming?" May asks, the camera still pointing at the extra chair.
"Uhh, two o'clock-ish?" Peter guesstimates.
"Will he text you when he's leav-?"
July 3rd, 2021. 8:41am.
We see the back yard of the Parker residence. It's nothing much to behold; a freshly cut lawn, a small shed, and a short fence creating a border with next door's lawn. As Peter films, the wind blows gently into the camera's microphone.
"This... is the back yard," Peter walks down the steps of the back porch. "Nothing crazy, I guess. It's nice to sit out here in the su-"
Peter cuts off and he awkwardly fumbles the camera, pointing it down at his bare feet. "H-hey."
"Hi," we hear a girl's voice respond. She sounds friendly. "Happy birthday!"
"Oh, th-thanks!" Peter responds, awkwardly raising his voice before we hear the neighbour's back door close. We hear Peter take a deep breath.
"Romeo," Ben calls off-screen from the open porch door, "Breakfast's ready!"
"Oh, shut u-"
July 3rd, 2021. 8:43am.
The camera zooms in on a plate with two slices of toast, two eggs, and two rashers of bacon. Peter zooms it back out to reveal two other plates with the same contents, one in front of him and another in front of the chair on the opposite end of the table, where we see Uncle Ben sit.
"Birthday bacon and eggs!" Ben smiles at Peter, clapping his hands together before going to tuck in. The camera turns and we catch a glimpse of May taking her seat before Peter sets it down facing towards him.
"Did we get a card from the neighbours?" Peter asks non-chalantly, clearing his throat before picking up his knife and fork.
"Yeah, actually," May confirms off-screen, "They all signed it. Nice of them, I suppose. We should really make an effort to get to know them; our last neighbours were so nice."
"Didn't want to ask her out to the movie?" Ben teases. We see Peter's cheeks turn red as he immediately becomes defensive.
"Oh my God, Ben, shut up!" he whines, "I just said hello, that's all."
"What?" May asks, confused.
"The neighbour's girl - Mary Jane - she wished me a happy birthday, that's all; but Uncle Ben's trying to make a big thing out of it..."
"I'm not!" Ben laughs, "I'm only messin', Pete. Anyway, are you excited to go watch the film?"
"Yeah," Peter's tone lightens up a little as he speaks between mouthfuls of toast, "We haven't been to the theatres in ages."
"Which one are you going to see again?" May inquires.
"Empire Strikes Back," Peter and Ben reply simultaneously. We see Peter look up past the camera and smile.
"Oh, you must have seen that film hundreds of times!" May exclaims, "Why don't you go to see one of the new films?"
"Because there's nothing else on that's as good as Empire!" Peter insists, piercing a strip of bacon, "Besides, I've always wanted to see it in theatres. I think they're playing all of them, actually; I know they had New Hope on last week."
"Well, if you save up then maybe we can take you to see some of the others," Ben suggests. Peter shakes his head.
"I don't really mind," Peter says, chewing on bacon, "I'm only really interested in seeing Empire in the theatres."
The sound cuts. The rest of the footage is sped up. We get the impression that the conversation continues as Peter's eyes flicker between May and Ben while his mouth opens every so often. Whatever dialogue is being said seems to be lost. In just a few frames, Peter reaches for the camera, picks it up, and switches it off.
July 3rd, 2021. 9:29am.
The camera is propped on a desk. We see Peter, freshly showered, his scruffy brown hair towel dried. He's dressed in a pair of grey cargo joggers and a blue-grey zip-up hoodie. He stands awkwardly in front of the camera, shuffling as he guesses whether he's in frame or not.
"So, this is a new top I got..." Peter motions to it, "It's pretty nice. Comfy. I like wearing stuff like this. And then..."
He reaches over to the end of his bed where he picks up a pile of three books. "I also got these..." he separates the top book, holding the cover up to the camera. It's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, by Frank Miller. "I read Batman: Year One not long ago; this is written by the same guy, I think. I'm really keen on getting into Batman. And then..." he shuffles the Miller graphic novel to the back, showing the next book. It's Arkham Asylum: A Serious House on Serious Earth, by Grant Morrison. "Yeah, Batman again. I flicked through it before. The art's a little creepy, I guess. And finally..." he dismisses the two graphic novels, placing them back on the bed before holding a final book up to the camera. It's not a graphic novel. "'The Theories of Cross Species Genetics', by Dr Curtis Connors," Peter reads the book's title. On the cover we see a portrait of a man with thin, greying brown hair. "I really like science. I hope to be a scientist one day. I'm not really sure what I want to specialize in, but I'd heard about this book. It sounded pretty interesting. Anyway..."
Peter places the book down by the camera's side. He returns to the edge of his bed where he shows two action figures to the camera. "These are Star Wars Black Series. Chewbacca, and Emperor Palpatine. I'm hoping to build a collection..." Peter says humbly. Holding the two figures in one hand, he adjusts the camera, moving it along the desk and turning it. We see Peter's hands adjust the figures, putting them in action poses. Peter scoffs, amused with himself, before picking the camera up and holding it close to his face. "Oh, and I got this, obviously."
He smiles. "I'm pretty happy with it."
June 3rd, 2021. 9:57am.
We're looking out of an upstairs window, the camera pointed down onto the driveway. A cream coloured Oldsmobile Delta 88 backs out of the drive and turns right down the road.
"Maybe he's getting the cake," we hear Peter theorize.
June 3rd, 2021. 10:22am.
The cameraman rushes to the same window, where he films the car pulling into the drive.
June 3rd, 12:20pm.
Peter holds the camera to his old laptop. The screen is on and it's not coming through very well on the video. "So, I found a way to make more room on this camera," Peter explains, pointing at the screen, "Basically, I got all the stuff I'd filmed on this camera's SD card and transferred it to a folder on my laptop. That way I can film more stuff, take more pictures, without having to delete anything. Pretty handy."
June 3rd, 2021. 2:20pm.
"-nd here we have... Mr Seymour O'Reilly!" Peter makes a dramatic introduction, hastily turning on his camera and pointing it at a boy walking through the doorway to his bedroom. He has fluffy, dirty-blonde hair, short at the sides and back. He laughs, looking into the lens of the camera.
"You just got this today?!" Seymour grins, leaning in and getting up close to the lens. His voice is noticably deeper than Peter's.
"Uh-huh!" Peter's voice cracks, "Aunt May and Uncle Ben got it for me. Plus all this, look - take the camera for a sec..."
Seymour obliges, carefully holding the camera and turning it around to face Peter, who we see picking up his books and action figures. "Check these out," he shows them to Seymour.
"Batman, huh?" Seymour remarks without much enthusiasm before Peter shows him Connors' book, "Who's that guy?"
"Dr Curt Connors," Peter replies, somewhat smug with the knowledge he knows something Seymour doesn't, "He's a scientist."
Seymour reaches for the book, which Peter hands to him. He films as he flicks through to a random page. "Dude, do you even understand any of this?"
"I will one day," Peter says quietly.
"Good luck. It's like reading another language," Seymour hands it back. "What are those?"
"Star Wars," Peter shows off Chewbacca and Palpatine, "Pretty cool, huh?"
"I mean, I guess," Seymour winces, "I don't know how cool it is to be playing with action figures and reading comic books when we're going into high school, though."
"C'mon," Peter retorts, "You don't care about any of that."
"The camera's pretty cool, at least," Seymour turns it to face himself before quickly moving it to and from his face, making a sound like an ambulance siren before his finger slips, accidentally stopping the recording.
July 3rd, 2021. 2:17pm.
"...so if you want to zoom in, just use that," Peter instructs Seymour, who holds the camera.
"Alright - action!" Seymour directs as Peter steps back, a small wrapped present in his hands.
"You know, I wasn't expecting you to get me anything," Peter confesses, "So whatever it is, thank you."
"It's nothing much," Seymour answers dismissively, "Go ahead; open it!"
"Alright!" Peter says, quiet with anticipation as he peels back the layer of wrapping paper. We see a small, white cardboard box. Peter looks at the front of it and beams. "No way! That's sick!"
"I know you're getting into Batman and all, so..." Seymour sounds pleased while Peter lifts the front of the box to the camera. It's a Batman-style projector light.
"C'mon, we have to try it out!" Peter exclaims. The camera shudders in Seymour's hand as the boys rush to block out all the light possible. Now, the only light we can see is the daylight shining around the edges of Peter's blackout curtains.
"You got it?" Seymour asks as Peter fumbles to turn the light on before a beam projects onto the ceiling. Pointing the camera up, Seymour adjusts the zoom and we see the bat-signal. The boys laugh together.
"That's so cool!" Peter says in a hushed tone, overjoyed. The footage abruptly cuts.
July 3rd, 2021. 2:46pm.
The camera is set down on the back porch, facing out over the steps. We see Seymour holding a tennis racket, using it to aimlessly bounce a battered old tennis ball up in the air. We see him mouthing numbers, counting to himself. Peter sits down on the porch step.
"Yeah, I just didn't really feel like inviting anyone else," Peter continues their conversation that started pre-recording, "I mean, I know you know some people. I just think it's nicer to celebrate small."
"I mean, without sounding rude - ah!" Seymour loses focus on the ball, letting it drop to the grass. "I've never really seen you, like, hang out with anyone else, you know?"
"I don't know..." Peter sighs, "I got on with the our old neighbour's kid pretty well, but he was, like, two years older than us. I doubt he'd have wanted to come."
"What about the new guys?" Seymour looks over towards the fence, "You seen much of 'em?"
"We met them when they moved in," Peter explains, "A mum, dad, and two girls. One's our age, I think."
"Huh," you could see the cogs spin in Seymour's mind. "So you had the chance to invite a girl over, and yet..?"
"C'mon," Peter hushes, "I don't know her that well. I did see her this morning, actually."
"Yeah?" Seymour grins cheekily, "What's she like?"
"Dude, shut up! You're as bad as my uncle..."
"Okay, okay. Sorry!"
"It's fine," Peter shrugs, "But what we were saying before. I only really know you. Maybe I get on with some of your friends, but I don't know them as well as I know you."
Seymour stares at Peter, an expression of slight surprise on his face. "Huh. Well, maybe things will change at Midtown."
"You think?"
"Yeah," Seymour nods encouragingly, "Maybe, y'know... I don't know, you might come out of your shell a little."
"Maybe," Peter shuffles awkwardly while Seymour resumes bouncing the tennis ball, "I might join a science club. Or maybe apply for the school paper or something, if they do that."
"That'd be cool," Seymour says while keeping his eyes fixed on the yellow ball, "You've just got to find a way to put yourself out there. You're a nice guy; you should be more popular than you are, really."
"Being nice doesn't make you popular," Peter sighs, "I don't know, I guess I've always been a little awkward socially..."
"Yeah, I get that," Seymour scoffs, "But it's better to at least make an effort to put yourself out there, right?"
"Yeah, I guess," Peter reaches over to the camera, seeming to realise he caught a vulnerable moment. He switches it off.
July 3rd, 2021. 3:09pm.
We're in the back of a moving car. Peter holds the camera up to Seymour, who is sat in the back seat on the left. Seymour is looking out the window, not noticing the camera pointing at him. The camera then shifts to Ben, focused on the road ahead.
July 3rd, 2021. 3:16pm.
The camera switches back on as the car pulls into a parking spot.
"Alright, boys," Ben speaks, switching the engine off, "You both ready?"
"Uh-huh," Peter confirms.
"Yep," Seymour replies. Ben turns to them, seeing Peter with the camera.
"You taking that in with you?" Ben laughs, "I think they'd kick us out if they caught us filming, Pete."
"I know, I know," Peter lowers the camera.
"Just make sure you put that where no one can see-"
July 3rd, 2021. 5:40pm.
Peter is now the star of the screen, with Seymour holding the camera up to him. The car is pulling out of the cinema's parking lot.
"So, Peter Parker," Seymour begins, putting on a transatlantic accent, "How would you rate The Empire Strikes Back after your millionth viewing?"
Peter snickers, looking up at Seymour behind the camera. "It never gets old, Seymour."
Ben audibly scoffs.
July 3rd, 2021. 6:03pm.
"Alright, it's on," Ben says. The camera faces the front door. "Ready, babe?"
"Yeah!" May whispers excitedly.
"Boys!" Ben calls loudly, "You can come in!"
The door opens and the first in is Peter, whose face lights up. Into frame steps May, holding a chocolate birthday cake. The numbers on the candle spell '14', the flames burning brightly atop them. We see Seymour follow Peter in, whose eyes widen with delight at the sight of the cake.
"Happy birthday to you..." May begins on her own before Seymour and Ben join.
"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Peter! Happy birthday to you!"
"Oh, thank you!" Peter exclaims, more than happy with the cake. "It looks so good!"
"Shame about the candles," Ben jokes behind the camera, "They sent us ones for a 41st instead."
"Har har," Peter exaggerates a fake laugh and goes to blow them out before Ben interrupts him.
"Ah, ah!" Ben exclaims, "Make a wish before you blow 'em out, remember?"
"Alright, alright," Peter pauses in silence for a moment before leaning in again, blowing out the candles atop the cake, prompting a cheer from everyone.
"What'd you wish for, Pete?" Seymour asks, patting him on the book.
"If he tells you, it won't come true!" Ben warns.
July 3rd, 2021. 6:06pm.
It's not clear who's holding the camera. It focuses on Peter and Seymour, sloppily eating their slices of cake from plastic plates, before the recording stops.
July 3rd, 2021. 6:10pm.
Ben holds the camera, following May into the kitchen with Peter and Seymour.
"Alright, boys," May motions to the small but packed dining table, "We've got sandwiches, chips, little cakes, biscuits, the whole shebang. Tuck in!"
"Awesome!" Peter exclaims, grabbing a clean plastic plate, "Thanks, Aunt May!"
"Yeah, thank you, May!" Seymour says gratefully.
"Don't eat too much too fast, boys," Ben teases.
July 3rd, 2021. 6:34pm.
The camera points at Seymour, sat on the edge of Peter's bed. The two are snickering about something.
"Alright, middle school review!" Peter announces, "Seymour, how does it feel to be leaving middle school?"
"Honestly?" Seymour winces, "I was getting pretty bored of it, not gonna lie. Definitely looking forward to starting High School. What about you?"
"I'm just looking forward to learning more stuff," Peter answers, "And I guess it might be nice to be with new people."
"So you're thinking of taking up photography, huh?" Seymour asks, "You were saying you might join a school paper or something?"
"Yeah, or like, some kind of equivalent to it," Peter shrugs off-camera, the camera tilting slightly, "Or like, a photography club or something. It's something I've been interested in, I guess."
"Why don't you become a photographer instead?" Seymour suggests, "It's gotta be easier than studying a load of scientific word-vomit."
"There's a lot more to it than 'word-vomit'," Peter scoffs arrogantly, "No, science has always been my thing. Photography on the side, maybe."
"So what, you're gonna be like, a scientist? Or a doctor?" Seymour inquires.
"Scientist, of some kind. I don't really know what yet."
Seymour nods approvingly. "You'll get paid a lot, at least. Right?"
July 3rd, 2021. 6:58pm.
We're downstairs again. The camera is zoomed in on a new face; Sara O'Reilly, Seymour's mother. We can gather that she's talking to Ben and May. Their conversation can be heard, but it's difficult to make out what's being said.
"Alright, man," Seymour hugs Peter, "I'll see you around. You doing anything to celebrate tomorrow?"
"Uh, I think someone on our street invited us to a barbeque," Peter answers, not sounding particularly interested in it, "What about you?"
"We're headed to my uncle's," Seymour replies, "Should be a nice time, I guess. Let me know how your thing goes."
"I'm gonna see you before we start High School, right?" Peter asks, almost pleadingly.
"Of course, man!" Seymour affirms, "Hit me up, we'll get something planned, alright?"
Sara takes notice as Peter walks over with Seymour. "Happy birthday, Peter!" she greets him before noticing the camera, "Is that new?"
"Stephen Spielberg over here!" Ben jokes, "He's hardly put it down."
"Very funny," Peter deadpans, "Thank you, Mrs O'Reilly - and yeah, I got it today."
"Oh, great!" Sara smiles, "Well, I'm sure you boys will be seeing plenty of each other before you start at Midtown. You got everything, Seymour?"
"Yeah, I'm good to go," Seymour confirms, his back to the camera.
"Well, have a safe drive!" Ben wishes them, "Thank you for coming 'round, Seymour."
"Thanks for having me, Mr Parker," Seymour waves as he walks through the front door, "And thank you for the food, Mrs Parker! See you, Pete!"
"Bye, Seymour!" Peter calls after him while Sara bids farewell to Mr and Mrs Parker.
July 3rd, 2021. 7:10pm.
Ben Parker points the camera at his nephew, who sits slumped in the armchair by the sofa. "So, Peter Parker, how does it feel to be fourteen years old?"
"Same as being thirteen years old," Peter croaks tiredly.
"Hey, make the most of these birthdays while you can! Did you have a good day?" May asks, sat behind the camera with Ben.
"I had a great time," Peter emphasized, "And I love the new camera, honestly. The cake was amazing, too. So good."
"Well, we're glad," Ben sighs happily, "You tired?"
Peter jumps into a new position, sitting upright in the chair as if to appear more awake or alert. "Nope."
July 3rd, 2021. 8:58pm.
Peter sets the camera on his desk. He's sat in his computer chair and looks into the lens, adjusting his glasses. "So, that's my birthday done. I had a good day. I think Seymour did, too. I really enjoy hanging out with him. I'm really happy with all my presents; honestly, I wasn't even expecting as much as I got. I mean, the camera was a complete surprise. I guess Ben or May got lucky. So, yeah. Another year older." Peter chuckles as he reaches for the camera, turning it off.
July 3rd, 2021: 9:36pm.
The footage is blurred to begin with before it refocuses as Peter adjusts the zoom. We see the Batman projector, casting the image of the iconic hero's symbol onto the bedroom ceiling. After a few seconds pass, we hear the flick of a switch, and the symbol disappears, casting the room into darkness. Moments later, the camera turns off.