TEASER
FADE IN:
EXT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - NIGHT
Establishing shot.
ERIN (O.S.)
So, what do you say?
VI (O.S.)
I think I'm ready to go all the
way.
ERIN (O.S.)
Are you sure?
CUT TO:
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
VI MORGAN perches on the edge of the couch. She cracks a
grin and shrugs.
VI
We've come this far.
ERIN FOWLER shakes his head, laughing, as he pops a disc
into the DVD player.
ERIN
That's the spirit.
He joins Vi on the couch as she picks up the remote. The
familiar Star Wars theme song begins to play.
VI
I feel like I should be holding a
plastic light saber or something.
ERIN
Why?
VI
Sitting here watching Star Wars
all day? You've turned me into a
total nerd, Fowler.
ERIN
You know you love it.
Vi smiles and turns back to the TV. Erin watches her for a
few moments, finding her far more interesting than anything
happening on the screen.
A beat.
ERIN (CONT'D)
Y'know, Vi - -
He's interrupted by the SLAM of the front door and loud,
fitful SOBBING as someone THUNDERS up the stairs.
ERIN (CONT'D)
What was that?
VI
(not caring)
My sister.
ERIN
Aren't you going to see if she's
okay?
(quickly)
I mean, I would do it but I'm not
good with... well... that.
VI
Crying?
ERIN
Blondes.
Vi sighs and heaves herself off the couch.
CUT TO:
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - PENNY'S ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Vi pushes open the door to find PENNY MORGAN slumped on her
bedroom floor, tearily ripping up photographs of her and - -
PENNY
Jake! Thinks he can just... and
then expect me to be fine... like
I'm not going to even care about
it. Jesus! He's such a moron! I
hate him.
She looks up at Vi with red-rimmed eyes. Mascara runs down
her cheeks.
PENNY (CONT'D)
I hate him like Hitler, Vi. He's
just as bad. No... No, he's
worse. He's like... Hitler's evil
twin.
Vi sinks down onto the floor.
VI
I don't think he's quite that - -
Penny grasps Vi's shoulders and shakes her.
PENNY
He broke up with me!
VI
(shrugging away)
Okay, Hitler's evil twin. Got it.
There's a long awkward pause as Penny looks down to stare
at the torn photos.
PENNY
And right before Valentine's Day,
too.
(beat)
Loser.
VI
Do you want some, uh, ice cream
or something?
No answer. As Vi stands...
VI (CONT'D)
Well, I guess I'll just - -
PENNY
Like you even care.
VI
Hey, I offered you ice cream.
Penny wipes her eyes and climbs her to feet as well.
PENNY
Just because you have a
boyfriend, you think you're so
much more important.
Vi rolls her eyes.
PENNY (CONT'D)
But you know what? Your so-called
"relationship"? Totally not even
a blip on the true love radar.
Vi frowns. This has suddenly gotten serious.
VI
What's that supposed to mean?
PENNY
Have you ever wondered why mum
and dad don't seem to care that
you're dating? Or leave you and
lover boy alone in dark rooms
together for hours and hours?
(beat)
Because they don't see you two as
a proper couple. No one does.
There's a tension filled pause as Penny's words sink in. Vi
opens her mouth to object but nothing comes out.
CUT TO:
INT. MORGAN RESIDENCE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
Vi, looking a little shell shocked, sits back down next to
Erin. He tosses the remote from hand to hand.
ERIN
Everything okay?
VI
Um. Yeah.
(beat; re: TV)
They're not moving.
ERIN
Paused it for you.
This softens Vi a little. She almost smiles but then turns
to Erin - suddenly in serious mode.
VI
Do you think we're a proper
couple?
ERIN
What do you mean?
PETER MORGAN enters and begins hunting around the room for
something.
PETER
Don't mind me. Just looking for
my sodoku.
(beat; re: TV)
Hey, they're not moving.
ERIN
Paused.
PETER
Right.
Vi perks up.
VI
Yeah. Because we don't want to
miss anything important. Y'know,
while we're making out and stuff.
ERIN
(shocked)
Violet!
Peter nods.
PETER
Makes sense.
He continues searching the room. Vi, not giving up, slides
closer to Erin and flings her arms around his shoulders.
PETER (O.S.) (CONT'D)
Ah-ha!
Vi, barely suppressing a triumphant grin, looks over at
Peter. She's expecting some kind of fatherly outrage but
instead...
... He's holding up a booklet of sodoku puzzles.
PETER (CONT'D)
Found it!
He smiles at them.
As he walks past the couch, he flicks off the side lamp -
leaving the kids illuminated in the glow of the TV.
PETER (CONT'D)
Don't wanna get that glare, now.
He exits. Erin turns to Vi, confused.
A beat.
She drops her hands and shuffles away from him, smiling
awkwardly.
CUT TO BLACK:
END OF TEASER
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. ELEVATOR - DAY
The doors open, allowing Vi (dressed for school with her
backpack over one shoulder) to enter.
She's distracted. So distracted, in fact, that she does
nothing to stop the doors closing when ANDREW FRIAR throws
his body between them.
After a moment (and with Andrew safely inside), the
elevator WHIRS and starts to move.
Andrew throws Vi an irritated glance. A beat. He sighs
defeatedly.
ANDREW
Okay. What's the matter?
VI
Nothing.
ANDREW
Nothing meaning something.
(beat)
A Company something? Because I
thought you've decided to try
that "new perspective" thing.
Vi says nothing.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
Is it a school something? Cindy
Cinderson beat you for first
place in the spelling bee?
Vi glares.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
A family something? You aren't
grounded again, are you?
Vi sighs.
ANDREW (CONT'D)
(quiet; to himself)
Okay. So if it's not the Company,
not school, not... oh God.
(slightly fearful)
It's about a boy.
And this opens the floodgates.
Vi turns to him, suddenly very talkative.
VI
Do you think I'm a normal
girlfriend?
ANDREW
Oh God!
He shuts his eyes tightly and starts banging his head
against the wall. Repeatedly.
VI
Like, it is weird that my parents
don't seem to be worried about me
having a boyfriend? They should
be worried, right? Or they should
at least acknowledge the fact
that I'm dating. I mean, it's not
like they don't know. I'm sure
that they do. But there hasn't
been like a... discussion or
anything. Erin and I have
technically been dating all
summer - long distance, I guess,
with the grounding and everything
- so do you think I should have
at least gotten the sex talk by
now?
Andrew blinks and shakes his head a little - possibly to
remove the stars and cartoon birds from around it.
A beat.
VI (CONT'D)
So... What do you think?
The elevator doors open.
ANDREW
Girls are complicated.
The pair exit...
CUT TO:
INT. THE COMPANY - RECEPTION - DAY
... And walk right into a waterfall of red and pink crepe
paper. It hangs in strips from above the elevator doors.
Fighting their way out of the rustling assault, Vi and
Andrew take stock of their surroundings.
The room is, like usual, bustling with activity but someone
has also done some decorating.
Pink and red hearts hang on ribbons from the ceiling,
plastic cherubs are pinned to the walls and some sort of
classic romantic hits mix plays over the PA system.
GLENDA MORRISON waves at them from behind the front desk
and points to a basket of heart shaped goodies - a sign in
front saying "TAKE ONE IF YOU LOVE LOVE".
ANDREW
Girls are really complicated.
DIANA CROSS is standing nearby, picking at a heart shaped
cookie.
DIANA
Maybe girls are complicated,
Friar, but that just means we're
better. You've heard that saying,
"the best things in life are
complicated".
Andrew scoffs.
ANDREW
I think you should stop buying
your fortune cookies from the
petrol station, Diana. It's
actually "the simple things in
life are best".
(beat; to Vi)
Isn't it?
VI
What if I only think I like him
because I know he likes me? What
if I'm leading him on?
DIANA
That's the only way to have a
good relationship, sweetie.
She turns right back to Andrew.
DIANA (CONT'D)
And it's not "the simple things
in life are best". That's totally
ridiculous.
ANDREW
Then where'd they get the title
for that Paris Hilton show, huh?
JENNA (O.S.)
The eighth circle of hell?
Vi, Andrew and Diana look curiously at JENNA COOKE as she
joins them. She shrugs.
JENNA (CONT'D)
That was a joke.
DIANA
Oh.
(beat)
Maybe you shouldn't do that
anymore.
She glances at a folder in Jenna's hands.
DIANA (CONT'D)
Is that my assignment?
JENNA
Yes. Here's yours.
She slips out a piece of paper and hands it to Diana.
VI
What about me?
JENNA
Hmmm, nope. Not today.
Vi sighs, exasperated.
VI
Then what the hell am I doing
here? I'm going to school.
She heads off to the elevator. Diana slips her sunglasses
out of her purse and onto her nose.
DIANA
Me too.
(beat)
About the going part. Not the
school part.
And Diana's off as well. That leaves Jenna and Andrew. They
stand in silence for a moment.
JENNA
So.
ANDREW
Yeah.
JENNA
How are you?
ANDREW
I'm fine. How are - -
JENNA
It's free.
ANDREW
Umm... What's free?
Jenna leans over and takes a heart shaped cookie from
Glenda's basket.
JENNA
The best things in life are free.
She hands it to Andrew.
JENNA (CONT'D)
That's the saying.
She flashes him a small smile, turns and walks away.
CUT TO:
EXT. GARRETON ACADEMY - DAY
Establishing shot.
CUT TO:
INT. GARRETON ACADEMY - HALLWAY - DAY
A CRYING GIRL runs down the hall, pushing past Vi and SHANE
EVANS.
VI
What is that, like, number four?
Did Fall Out Boy break up or
something?
SHANE
Valentine's Day's coming up and
there's the big dance on Friday,
remember? All that pressure to be
"the perfect couple". It's
sending everyone into re
evaluation mode.
VI
Meaning?
SHANE
Everybody's gettin' dumped!
(then)
I guess I'm lucky I'm alone then.
I don't have to worry about
getting kicked to the curb like
all those other...
(beat; awkward)
So, biology next, huh?
Dissections! Yaaaay!
They near the door to a classroom. Vi grabs the back of
Shane's shirt - yanking him backwards.
SHANE (CONT'D)
Calm down. God. I'll cut Kermit
open if you want.
VI
No. It's just...
She peeks around the door frame.
ANGLE ON BIOLOGY LAB
Erin sits at a table near the back of the room.
BACK TO VI
She bites her lip.
VI (CONT'D)
Do you think Erin and I are a
normal couple?
Shane rolls his eyes, groaning. He moves into the room...
CUT TO:
INT. GARRETON ACADEMY - BIOLOGY LAB - CONTINUOUS
... And sits down at empty table.
VI
Seriously, I just - -
ERIN
Vi! Over here!
Vi glances over at Erin, gives him a dismissive smile and
sinks down next to Shane.
Erin looks hurt.
VI
Tell me the truth.
SHANE
The truth? I think you're crazy
and you need to talk to someone.
VI
I am!
SHANE
Someone else.
TEACHER (O.S.)
Is there a problem?
Shane throws Vi a "see what you've done!" look and turns to
the front of the class.
A MALE TEACHER is looking at a STUDENT who's gathering his
books together. He's not talking to Vi and Shane at all.
STUDENT
I just remembered... here.
Moving to the front of the room, the Student hands the
Teacher a slip of paper. The Teacher sighs.
TEACHER
Very well. Off you go. But no
more appointments during my
class, okay? These are life
skills I'm teaching here.
He whips down a diagram of a dissected frog.
Vi and Shane look to each other and smile in amusement.
CUT TO:
INT. THE COMPANY - RECEPTION - DAY
ALISTAIR BENSON looks over Glenda's shoulder as she works
at her computer.
They are both agitated - but for different reasons.
BENSON
There isn't anybody?
GLENDA
Sir, there's no one.
BENSON
Well, where the bloody hell are
they?
GLENDA
Assignments, sick leave or
vacation - which you approved, by
the way.
BENSON
Can't you check again? Here, just
let me do it.
He leans around her, reaching for the computer mouse.
Glenda stiffens.
GLENDA
Okay. That's it. Get out!
BENSON
What?
GLENDA
Out! My desk. My computer. My...
my... clicky thing. You - out!
Benson, rather shocked, scampers around to the front of the
desk.
BENSON
That's just wonderful, Glenda.
Really. And how am I supposed to
find someone who's available?
Andrew steps into frame, leaning his elbows on the
reception desk.
ANDREW
What's the haps, kiddies?
Moving into sitcom territory now, an almost devious smile
slides across Benson's face.
CUT TO:
INT. THE COMPANY - CONFERENCE ROOM - LATER
WHAM! A heavy cardboard box hits the table top.
PULL OUT to reveal Andrew sitting behind it, looking rather
daunted. Benson stands over him, dusting off his hands.
BENSON
W.R. Crenshaw. The missing piece
of the puzzle.
ANDREW
What puzzle?
BENSON
Peter Morgan's book.
ANDREW
I thought that whole thing was
over.
BENSON
So did I until various
representatives from Head Office
decided that it wasn't.
(beat)
We need to find out who this man,
or woman, is and how they helped
Mr. Morgan realise his... vision.
ANDREW
And by "we", you mean "me"?
BENSON
I got started for you.
ANDREW
Really? What did you do?
BENSON
I checked the phone book.
ANDREW
And?
BENSON
They're not listed.
ANDREW
Shocker.
BENSON
Well, get started, then.
He gives Andrew a nod and turns to leave the room. Andrew
stands.
ANDREW
Hang on! You really expect me to
go through all of this - by
myself?
He spreads his arms out dramatically.
A change in camera angle REVEALS the room is filled with
dozens of boxes stuffed with files.
Benson thinks for a moment.
BENSON
You're getting paid over time.
ANDREW
'Nuff said!
Andrew almost throws himself back into the chair and rips
the top off the first box.
CUT TO:
EXT. WICKER RECORDS - DAY
Establishing shot.
CUT TO:
INT. WICKER RECORDS - CAFE - DAY
Vi and Shane sit side by side at a table, sipping from
milkshakes and staring intently at something off camera.
VI
It's sort of...
SHANE
Yeah.
VI
Like a baby horse...
SHANE
Yeah.
VI
Or a clog dance...
SHANE
Yea - - The baby horse is clog
dancing?
VI
I was moving onto another analogy
there but okay, a clog dancing
baby horse is pretty close to
what I'm seeing right now.
ANGLE ON JIMMY AND TABITHA
TABITHA McMILLAN lifts CDs out of a box and hands them to
JIMMY EVANS who places them on the shelves.
As Tabitha goes for another handful of CDs, Jimmy pauses to
watch her. She turns back and, unaware of how close he is,
bumps into him.
CDs start to fall from Tabitha's hands and they both fumble
for them.
Clenching the saved merchandise between them, their hands
touch. They look into each other's eyes. They are close
enough to kiss.
Then, Jimmy pulls away, embarrassed and blushing.
BACK TO VI AND SHANE
Still watching.
VI (CONT'D)
So how did this...
Shane looks sheepish.
VI (CONT'D)
You didn't!
SHANE
I had to do something! Jimmy was
being this huge jerk, going on
about how Bowie is better than
Prince and I just... I had to
shut him up.
VI
You told him that Tabitha was in
love with him! After she made you
promise to keep your mouth shut.
SHANE
And it all worked out for the
best, didn't it? Look at them.
They're... sort of together and
it's... sort of sickening.
He sighs.
SHANE (CONT'D)
Oh God. He'd better not start
playing love dedications over the
sound system.
VI
Let's just hope they don't go the
way of all the couples at school.
Then you'll be hearing break up
songs for six months.
There's a moment as Vi stops. Something has just occurred
to her.
VI (CONT'D)
Hang on... Do you know anyone
else who's broken up recently?
Who doesn't go to school with us?
SHANE
No... I don't think so.
VI
But it can't just be Garreton
Academy. I mean, if it is then
that means something must be
causing it, right?
Shane takes a slurp of his milkshake, not really caring
where Vi is going with this.
SHANE
Or someone.
VI
Like who?
Shane shrugs.
SHANE
I dunno.
CUT TO:
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