Notes: (Re-edited and re-uploaded September 2010)
Guest Cast:
Mr. Osbourne: Erick Avari
Principal Krupps: Robert Gant
Jaycee: Eliza Dushku
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
THE QUALITY OF THE COMPETITION
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - MORNING
Outside the Novak: Lily comes walking up just as Natalie is
exiting the restroom. Without missing a beat, Lily grabs
Natalie by the arm, neatly spins her around, and propels her
back through the door.
CUT TO:
INT. GIRLS' RESTROOM - CONTINUOUS
Inside the Novak door, Lily confronts Natalie, arms akimbo.
LILY
Natalie, we have to talk.
NATALIE
(amiably)
Okay.
Lily seems greatly put off by Natalie's nonchalant attitude.
LILY
"Okay"? What does that mean,
"okay"?
NATALIE
(slowly)
Okay...fine...all right...sure
thing...you know—okay?
Lily throws her arms up in frustration.
LILY
Argh! Natalie!
NATALIE
Did you want me to say something
else?
LILY
How can you stand there and act
like nothing happened?
NATALIE
(confused)
What, did something happen?
LILY
NATALIE!
NATALIE
What? You said we had to talk,
but I don't know what about?
LILY
Last weekend? The ski trip?
NATALIE
Oh! Hey, that was fun. Real
honest-to-God snow, great skiing,
plus I made a friend—
LILY
(sourly)
Sam.
NATALIE
Well, remade, I guess. And I got
this really cool new job.
LILY
And you told Brooke you were going
after Harrison!
NATALIE
Oh, yeah, but that's between me and
Brooke. I thought you meant
something between us.
LILY
(exasperated)
Natalie! How am I supposed to
stay uninvolved?
NATALIE
(frowns)
Well...you don't get involved with
all that stuff between Brooke and
Sam.
LILY
Only technically. These days Sam
has other reasons to be mad at me,
apparently.
NATALIE
I could talk to her, if you want.
LILY
No!
(considering)
Well, maybe it could—
(back on track)
No! Natalie, this isn't about me
and Sam! It's about you and
Brooke!
NATALIE
(biting)
I tried, Lily. I tried several
times. For my trouble I got
insulted and screamed at. So
forgive me for not continuing to
beat my head against the wall that
is Brooke McQueen.
LILY
But, Natalie! Using Harrison?
NATALIE
I am NOT! I like Harrison! I
think Harrison and I could be good
together.
LILY
But Brooke—
NATALIE
What, I'm supposed to forget about
Harrison just because Brooke was
there first? The way I hear it,
Harrison and Sam were like THAT—
(crossing her fingers)
—for ages, and it didn't stop
Brooke from swooping in and
snatching him for herself.
Lily opens her mouth for a rebuttal, until she realizes she
doesn't have one, and snaps it shut again.
NATALIE (CONT'D)
So why can't I do the exact same
thing to her?
LILY
Is that what this is, Natalie?
Revenge on Sam's behalf?
NATALIE
(despairing)
You're not LISTENING to me! I LIKE
Harrison! Maybe more than like, I
don't know! But I'm going to find
out. And I'm not going to let
Brooke—or anyone else—stop me.
LILY
What about Harrison?
NATALIE
(thoughtful)
I think he likes me. He could like
me, if he got the chance.
LILY
So, you're just going to offer
yourself up...
NATALIE
Stop it! You make it sound...
dirty.
LILY
Sorry. This is just really weird.
NATALIE
All I want is a fair shot. A
chance to let Harrison choose who
he wants to be with.
LILY
What if he chooses Brooke?
Natalie shrugs faintly.
LILY (CONT'D)
(incredulous)
So it's just, what, may the best
woman win?
NATALIE
(considers)
Yeah. And, Lily?
(pause)
That would be ME.
WHITE OUT.
END OF TEASER