Los Angeles, inside an ordinary two-story villa in Pasadena.
16-year-old Howard was idly pressing the remote control.
He had originally planned to go see a movie with two fellow outcasts from school.
But because of his mother's sudden mental breakdown, he had to stay home.
"Still, it might be for the best. Those two wanted to see different movies, one was 'Jerry Maguire' starring Tom Cruise."
"The other was something called 'I'm so rich.'"
Go see another movie when there was one starring Tom Cruise?
Howard found his companions' decision utterly perplexing.
He often fantasized about being as handsome as that megastar, becoming the talk of the school.
By then, wouldn't the cheerleading captain and the prom queen be competing for a date with him?
"Heh heh…" He snickered lewdly, lost in his fantasies.
At that moment, the alarm clock suddenly rang, jolting Howard awake.
He immediately pressed the remote and started watching the premiere of 'Jerry Maguire.'