A Time to Remember

Synopsis

JESSIE RHODES (17) ends his ‘My Crazy Life Tour’ at Madison Square Garden. Mobbed by fans and struggling with the workload, he feels the pressure as the world’s biggest pop star and dreams of life as a regular teenager at high school. He tells his uncle and manager BARRY ADAMS (39) and the owner of the record label NORMAN WRIGHT (54) about his plans to go back to school in Oceanside, California. Norman tries to dissuade him, but his mind is made up. Meanwhile, his ex-girlfriend and famous model, MORGAN MAGAN (19), is trying to win him back.

Jessie attends Granville High in Oceanside. The school is buzzing about the arrival of a superstar. The girls all want to get to know Jessie. He meets EMMA LORRAINE FLOWERS (17). After the recent death of her father, who fell off an oilrig, her mother, CONNIE (40), is struggling to pay the bills. PRINCIPAL WHITAKER (42) tells Emma that if she tutors Jessie in science and math, she will improve her GPA.

LUKE COLLINS (17) is the school’s star quarterback. He and his friends have their doubts about Jessie joining the team. Jessie befriends school nerd KIPERTON WAGENBRENNER (17), who is troubled by a bully. Jessie’s English teacher is LAURA KEMP (37), an old friend of Barry’s when he used to play in a rock band. The pair reconnects.

Norman visits Barry, expressing his fear that Jessie will quit music for good. He wants Jessie to leave school in three months so that he can start production on a studio movie he has signed on in the leading role. He convinces football coach, SWEENEY, to put Jessie on the team but to not play him because he might get injured. Always the opportunist, Norman hires documentary filmmaker VICTOR MORENO to stalk Jessie and make a film about him to use as marketing for his new album and film.

Showing some skill, Jessie makes the team and is elated. Playing receiver, Jessie thinks Luke is intentionally sabotaging him with bad passes. Jessie misses the first few games - Sweeney says he isn't ready. With practice, Jessie improves, and Sweeney tells him he's playing the next match. However, Principal Whitaker won't let him play unless he passes an algebra test, and Jessie has been missing classes with Emma. Jessie apologizes to Emma, and she helps him to study. He passes the test and begins to play games, helping the team to victory by scoring touchdowns. Meanwhile, Morgan gets jealous of his friendship with Emma.

Emma's family finds out that the company her father worked for isn't paying out the insurance, claiming his death was a suicide. Connie is going to lose the house. Emma tells the principal that she will be leaving soon – the family has to move to Nevada.

Jessie’s relationship develops with Emma when he kisses her. Jessie drops a pass and costs the team a perfect season. Luke and the rest of the team turn on him, but Emma confronts them, pointing out that Jessie has been a great player all season. Emma helps him to plan for his upcoming birthday party on Halloween. Norman threatens to replace Jessie in an upcoming Hollywood movie with a new up and coming pop star. Jessie sees some homeless people and starts a charity. He then helps Kip deal with his bully.

Jessie throws the party. The football team makes amends with him. Morgan crashes the party and, jealous of Emma, gives him his birthday present – a Ferrari. Emma leaves the party believing Jessie is more interested in Morgan than her.

The football season ends, and Jessie decides to leave school. He visits Emma one last time. His dad, a lawyer, found out her father’s employers are crooked and got them their insurance money - $3 million. They can stay in Oceanside after all.

Just as Jessie is about to leave for LA, he has a change of heart. He stands up to Norman, tells him he will be back when he’s ready, and returns to Emma. Morgan is furious. Jessie decides to stay in school for the rest of the year.