Neglected and rejected at home and bullied in school, young tween Isaac turns to still-dead, offensive comedian, Lenny Bruce, to help find his identity and voice.

SYNOPSIS:

2022 Table Read My Screenplay = Semi-finalist

Tweener ISAAC FOX displays a quick mind and humor, masking heartaches suffered navigating through his sexuality and a broken home. Self-involved entrepreneur, MOM FOX only wants Isaac to be a “regular” Texas boy. But playing baseball and chasing girls is not Isaac’s cup of tea. On the weekend he stays with DAD FOX, a failed musician who does small gigs at night then sleeps and practices during the day – negating Isaac’s quality time. At school, Isaac’s best friend, GEORGIE, says that if Isaac performs in the talent show, both of his parents’ attention will finally be on him. But Isaac has no idea what talents he possesses.

Dangerously depressed, Isaac goes alone to the attic and contemplates suicide. Unable to tie a noose, he erupts and stumbles into a stack of old comedy records. Suddenly, LENNY BRUCE (long-dead comedic legend) appears, questions Isaac’s motives. Unsure himself, the two strike up a friendship.

Seeing Isaac’s quick wit in action, Lenny convinces him to do stand-up comedy in the talent show. While struggling with the material and style for his act, the class bully, RONALD (jerk jock), makes Isaac’s life a living hell – until BROYDEN (cute jock) steps in. Smitten with Broyden, Isaac agrees to help him write his paper on Romeo & Juliet.

Humiliated by Ronald then betrayed by Broyden during a baseball game, Isaac is demoralized further when an embarrassed Mom Fox turns her back on him. Isaac gets surprised when Dad Fox asks if he wants to emcee his gig. But after Isaac bombs, disappoints Dad Fox and sinks deeper into misery. Doubting his comic abilities, Isaac goes to Lenny’s records for inspiration. But Isaac finds a bit so shocking that Lenny appears and says that “you can’t control what other people say, only how you respond.”

Determined to prove himself, Isaac takes the stage at the talent show. With Mom Fox nervously supporting him, Isaac sees that Dad Fox and Lenny are nowhere to be found. On-stage, Isaac starts strong but then gets a text from Dad Fox saying that he cannot be there because of a last-minute gig. Devastated, Isaac freezes, unable to perform. Only when Ronald heckles him from the crowd, Isaac finds the strength to verbally annihilate him. In doing so, Isaac wins back the crowd and wins over Mom Fox. But when Isaac goes outside to find Lenny and celebrate, Ronald, Broyden and their goons confront Isaac and attack him. Bruised, Isaac lashes out that he will succeed one day, not because of his fists but his brains. Mom Fox rushes to Isaac’s rescue. Later, Lenny appears, proud of Isaac and his accomplishments and asks, “How was the stage?” “I never wanted to get off,” Isaac says. “Then whattaya talkin’ to me for?” at which point Lenny disappears, leaving Isaac to his writing.