Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story

Morning, brothers and sisters.

Thank you for such a beautiful start to the day.

I've been thinking a lot about this life.

Last night, one of my former mission companions

passed away.

He had been struggling with demons,

not attending church.

The last time I spoke with him,

I reminded him that our Heavenly Father loves us

and He wants us to spend eternity with Him

and our families.

But, that is a privilege, one we must earn

by living the way He wants us to.

By making the right choices.

My heart aches for him,

and the regret he must feel right now,

knowing that he might be alone forever.

I ache even more for his wife and children,

they'll never see him again.

I share this to remind each of us,

that every day we have breath in our lungs,

we have an opportunity to look inward and ask ourselves,

"Are the choices we're making

bringing us closer to the Celestial Kingdom,

or further away?"

There's nothing in this life, no matter how tempting,

is worth losing eternity in the next.

We in the Bishop Brick are here if you need us.

We love you.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Amen.

You promised you'd help me.

They're garbage bins, what's to decorate?

If they don't say recycling on them,

people will think they're trash.

Plus, they should like nice.

Like hey, use me, save the planet.

It's 90 degrees outside,

can't we save the planet another day?

I told Mr. Puma I'd have them ready for Earth Week.

The mall's air conditioned and we can get fro-yo,

chocolate drizzle and chocolate chips in a waffle cone.

Earth to Alex?

Since when do you like them?

What, who?

Oh my gosh, you're as subtle as a fart in a bathtub.

The meatheads, you were drooling.

They're cute, so what?

I wasn't drooling.

Recycling bins this week, I buy froyo next week.

Fine, but we're going to my house.

Someone should invent a portable cloud machine.

Something to block my face from the sun.

Or, you could try a baseball cap.

Hey, what are you guys working on?

Alex is doing her recycling drive for Earth Week.

Cool, you guys remember Collette?

Yep.

Okay.

That's Hannah's girlfriend.

Like, girlfriend girlfriend.

I mean, can you imagine if our parents found out?

I'm sorry.

Guys, this is Frankie.

Frankie this is my sister Daniella and her friend Alex.

-Hi. -Hi, yourself.

Hannah, are your friends staying for dinner?

Yeah, is that okay?

The more the merrier. Alex, what about you?

Sure, great. Sure.

-Hi again. -Hi.

I'm Alex Cooper.

Alex Cooper, in case you didn't... um...

I've never seen you at school before.

Are you over at Silverado?

I was, yeah. I graduated last year.

Oh, cool, yeah. I'm graduating soon, too.

I mean, I'm a sophomore,

so soon is relative.

But, given the age of universe, it's practically like tomorrow.

Future scientist?

-Lawyer. -Ah.

I want to live in New York in one of those

Sex In The City penthouses

and have a driver take me to work every day.

That sounded totally lame.

No, I was gonna say fancy.

What about you?

I dunno, I haven't figured it out.

I can't think of anything that I'd actually want to do

for the rest of my life.

Travel maybe?

Backpack or first class?

Backpack. You?

Both, I guess.

No, you have to pick one.

Okay, first class.

Snow or tropical?

-Snow. -Tropical.

Hotel or home?

-Home. -Home.

But not in Victorville.

Definitely not, no.

So, how do you know Hannah and Collette?

I met them at a rave in LA.

Same night they met each other, actually.

I hear Colette's gay.

Does that bother you?

No, not at all.

It's fine, whatever.

Good, cause I am too

and I was kind of hoping we could be friends.

Goodnight!

If you guys are all about love,

why does Daniella care if her sister's happy?

It's complicated.

Have you ever been religious?

Oh my God, you're not going to try to convert me are you?

No, I was just curious.

I like churches, like the ones in Europe

that are centuries old.

I see pictures them and I feel, I dunno, quiet.

I think if I ever visited one, I'd probably pitch a tent

in the back and never leave.

Why don't you go visit those churches?

You're done with school.

My mom needs me. Someday.

Hey, I really can't stomach the pizza in this place.

Are you guys up for the buffet or the burger joint?

-We can do tacos again? -Let's go to LA.

What?

Like, right now, why not?

Because it's two and a half hours away

and I have a history test on Monday.

Plus, you'd be grounded for like five years.

Collette?

I have work tonight, sorry.

I'll go.

-Hey. -Hi.

-So. -So.

Can I hold your hand?

Yeah, sure.

I wish this were the real world.

It is.

You know what I mean.

Let's pretend we're on a deserted island.

Just you, me and some coconut trees.

We can't live entirely on coconuts.

Okay, you and me, some coconut trees

and a personal chef to cook us whatever we want.

But he stays on the other side of the island, right?

We don't want him hovering.

Yeah, of course not, that would just be weird.

We can have this, Alex.

All you have to do is say yes.

Yes.

What's going on?

I'll assume this is her, then?

I'll leave you to it.

Thank you for your help, officer.

No problem.

I didn't mean to worry you guys.

I left a note.

Don't disrespect us by lying any more

than you already have.

Your mother called Sister Lopez.

Daniella said you went into the city.

Were you at a party?

No.

Was there any alcohol there?

Were there boys?

I'm not a kid, Mom.

So, that's a yes.

I'm not doing anything stupid.

I can take care of myself.

Is ditching school taking care of yourself?

And last year with the pot smoking?

I said I was sorry.

If you were sorry, you wouldn't keep putting yourself in danger.

We were up all night.