>Be Evan.

>Be 7.

>Jason's 9.

>They're at the old house in Livonia.

>They're in the living room waiting for their parents to come downstairs so they can go to some function.

>Their mom is playing the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack on their stereo. The Celine Dion/Peabo Bryson duet version of the title song comes on.

>Jason sits on the couch, bored, listening. Evan sits next to him. They're both dressed in uncomfortable tuxes. They look at each other.

>Jason looks into Evan's eyes and begins lip syncing the lyrics.

>Jason begins ostentatiously performing, being goofy out of boredom.

>Evan laughs. This is entertaining.

>Jason gets more into the show, he stands up and begins gesturing grandly, a overblown presentation.

>During the instrumental break, Jason grabs a blanket from the easy chair and drapes it around his shoulders like a cape, swoops it around with a dramatic, faraway look in his eye. He runs over to the window, looks out theatrically.

>Evan is laughing, hysterical.

>The family dog Alfred comes in in the room, drawn to the commotion, his tail wagging. He's a young, high-spirited black lab, just out of puppyhood.

>Jason gets down on his knees and begins singing the song to Alfred, who's named after Batman's butler.

>The dog gets excited and begins circling and playing with Jason, who tries to hold him in place so he can sing to him like they're in love.

>Alfred won't cooperate, thinks it's a game, keeps dodging Jason, tears out of the room, thinks he's being chased.

>Jason follows, his arms outstretched, singing about it being bittersweet and strange.

>Their dad roars from down the hall to stop getting the dog riled up, they're about to leave.

>Evan rolls with laughter on the couch.

>He laughs until his cheeks hurt and his stomach hurts and his eyes are watery.

>Jason comes back into the living room. He takes off his cape and takes a bow as the song ends.