Notes: (Re-edited and re-uploaded September 2010)

"California Dreamin'" was originally supposed to be the sixth or seventh episode, with the boy band music video storyline as the main plot. In the fall of 2001, I realized that I needed to do a 9/11 episode, so this got moved forward and rearranged slightly. The result is a little scattershot, but I think in keeping with the "Popular" tradition of mixing serious issues with over-the-top silliness.

Guest Cast:
Art Fleischer: Brett Cullen
Billy: Adrian Grenier

Formatting: The main differences between the way the episodes are presented here and true script format are that on this website, everything is left-justified, while script format has specific block-margins for dialog, etc., and that scripts are still traditionally printed in Courier (monospace) font. These episodes are also available on my Popular website (link is in my info) if you would like to read them as though they were printed scripts.

Legal whatchamacallit: Pre-existing "Popular" characters and situations are ©1999-2001 Touchstone Television, et al. For what it's worth, original material is ©2001-2010 by yours truly, the Wild Pikachu. Please don't steal this without asking first.

POPULAR: SENIOR YEAR

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'

TEASER

FADE IN:

INT. MCQUEEN DEN - EVENING

SUPER: September 10th, 2001

Harrison and Brooke are sitting side-by-side on the edge of
her bed, not looking at each other and very carefully not
touching each other.

BROOKE
Harrison—

HARRISON
Tomorrow. I'll tell her tomorrow.

BROOKE
What? What are you going to tell
her?

HARRISON
(grimacing)
I'm still kinda working on that
part. I think—maybe I'll just go
with the "needing space" thing.
Girls understand that, right?

BROOKE
(distantly)
Oh—yeah. Right.

Harrison starts to lay his hand on hers, but she shies away.

BROOKE (CONT'D)
Don't...please. you promised—we
promised—not until you break
things off with Sam.

HARRISON
I know, but—I miss you, Brooke.

BROOKE
(bleakly)
Please, don't make this harder.
It's already—

Brooke turns away.

BROOKE (CONT'D)
Where is she?

HARRISON
Upstairs.

BROOKE
You shouldn't be here.

HARRISON
(exasperated)
Brooke, we aren't DOING anything.

Brooke runs her hand through her hair.

BROOKE
(forlornly)
I know.

CUT TO:

INT. SAM'S BEDROOM

Humming, Sam is on her way out the door when the phone rings.
Turning on a dime, she heads back across the room and picks it
up.

SAM
(into the phone)
Hello?

PETE (V.O.)
(over the phone)
Sammy?

SAM
Uncle Pete?

PETE (V.O.)
Hi, Sammy.

SAM
Where are you? Hang on, I'll get
Mom.

INTERCUT WITH:

INT. A JETLINER CABIN

Pete McPherson is sitting on the aisle, airphone in hand.

PETE
Naw, I've only got a couple of
minutes. We're just about to
start heading down to JFK.

SAM
You're in New York? I thought you
were still in Egypt!

PETE
Wrapped up there a week ago. I
was SUPPOSED to be back here last
Thursday, but I got held up in
Cyprus, and my flight from Rome
got canceled, and...well, better
late than never, I guess. So, you
up for a visit from your long-lost
favorite uncle?

SAM
You're coming here?

PETE
You got it, kiddo. I need to
check in at the office tomorrow
morning, and then I'm officially
on vacation—and on the first
flight out to L.A.
(pause)
Oh, I got you something.

SAM
What is it?

PETE
You'll see.

SAM
Come on—give me a hint at least!

PETE
(thinking)
It's...educational.

SAM
(rolls her eyes)
Yeah, right.

A passing flight attendant taps Pete on the shoulder.

PETE
Oops, I gotta go now.

SAM
I can't wait to see you—I love
you.

PETE
Love you too, kiddo. See you in a
couple of days.

Hanging up the phone, Sam jogs lightly out of the room.

WHITE OUT.

END OF TEASER