Synopsis/Details
We open on Miles, having just been put to sleep at the vet. Roman sits beside him, numb. At first, Roman shrugs off the impact of the loss as being the cold reality of owning a dog. He pushes everyone away who tries to console him, including Kelly. But she’s no fool. She knows how big a deal it is. Miles was there at the beginning, before it all fell apart. Back in LA, when Roman was excited to leave behind his “childish” dream of being a comedian in favor of the “adult” dream of suburban contentment, with her at its center.
Without Miles, there was no tether to his former self, leaving Roman truly alone. So, when he stumbles upon his old yearbook, a wave of nostalgia leads him to take Sam’s advice and accept friend requests from old high school mates on FaceBook. Well, all but his former best friend, Jonny, who he just can’t bring himself to “friend”.
The next day, he visits one of these “friends", Eric, who isn’t surprised that Roman lost touch with everyone. Why? Because Roman was the definition of toxic. The only thing that made him tolerable was that he was friends with Jonny — and that he was funny. Eric asks Roman if he’s changed and it becomes clear to Roman that he hasn’t. The realization sits with him long after his visit with Eric. He’s still thinking about it when he picks up Miles’ ashes from the vet. The weight of it all triggers such strong emotions in Roman that he collapses in the parking lot from a massive panic attack, landing him in the hospital.
After, Roman takes inventory of his life, culminating in a message he’s composed on FaceBook but can’t bring himself to post. That is, until Kelly comes over for some whiskey and sympathy. Finally, Roman lets his guard down and recounts Miles’ last moments — and it’s heartbreaking. Miles was the only thing he hadn’t fucked up in his entire life. And now he’s gone.
He shows Kelly the post he drafted: “Dear FaceBook, in case you were wondering how I ended up, I failed as a comic, my wife left me, my son pities me, and my dog died. Some of you may be thinking, ‘good, you got what you deserved, you fucking prick.’ And you’d be right. I WAS a prick. Truth is, I still am. But maybe I don’t have to be. Gonna drive west to scatter Miles’ ashes out across the Pacific. If any of you are cool with it, I’d like to stop by and say sorry for all the terrible things I’ve done. XOXO. Roman -- from high school.”
With pride, Kelly hits “post”. The next day, Roman awakens to find that the online community has responded. And while some people are nasty, most welcome the idea of having him visit. And so, after Kelly and Sam agree to go along for the ride, Roman sets out on a grand apology tour, where he hopes to atone for his sins and maybe reconnect with the family he’s pushed away. Their final destination — Zuma Beach in Los Angeles, where they'll spread Miles’ ashes out over the Pacific, find closure, and build a better tomorrow.
