1x01 – "Pilot/Falling Down Again"

TEASER

EXT. Vera's Home – Early Morning

All is silent. Suddenly, we see a figure rush past the window that looks over the hillside.

INT. Vera's Home – Kitchen – Early Morning

MUSIC CUE: "Lost Art" by Mere Mortals.

We first see VERA FULLER, a twenty-something Michelle Rodriguez, as she rushes into the kitchen, dropping her bag onto the chair beside the kitchen's archway entrance. Her two roommates, CARI BURNELL, a twenty-something Drew Barrymore, and NADINE CLARK, a twenty-something Rosario Dawson, are already up. A breakfast of bacon, eggs, and French toast is being made.

CARI:

Whoa, sweetie, what's the rush?

NADINE:

Yeah, hun, what's with the crazy Cheney 'tude?

VERA:

It's my first day, and I'm already running late!

VERA grabs an apple from the fruit bowl on the counter, grabs her coat and bag, and rushes out the back door. NADINE twirls back around on her chair by the island and faces CARI.

NADINE:

Cheney, I tell you.

EXT. Parking Lot – Vera's Work – Morning

MUSIC CUE: Louder on "Lost Art" by Mere Mortals.

Aerial shot: VERA swerves into the parking lot, causing the driver of the car behind her to honk their horn. She races into one of the last parking spots in the lot and gets out.

We switch to a closer shot. VERA grabs her bag from the passenger seat and closes the door. She beeps her alarm, making sure the car is locked. Fixing her hair and straightening out her outfit, she power-walks to the front sliding-glass doors.

MUSIC CUE: Fade out "Lost Art" by Mere Mortals.

INT. Newsroom – Morning

VAL MARTIN, a blonde bombshell with a permanent scowl on her face, is already beginning the lecture with the interns. She stands by her editors desk while the interns, including KIYA SOPHRONIA, an innocent-looking brunette, JAMES KELLERMAN, a brunette with boyish good-looks, JASON LANE, a cocky, jock-looking dirty blonde, TAYLOR JACKSON, an innocent-looking blonde, and ALEX DAVIES, a heavier-set brunette beauty, stand in front of her, paying close attention. Some hold notepads and pens in their hands. VERA rushes in, the wooden door behind her slamming loudly. Everyone turns to look. VERA is clearly embarrassed.

VAL:

Name?

VERA:

Vera Fuller.

VAL marks something down on her notepad and continues with the lecture.

VAL:

As I was saying, you bunch are merely interns at the Calgary Herald. You are at the bottom of the food chain, and will not be getting any special attention from myself or any of the other long-timers. This is a learning experience, I know, and you will find out that the best way to learn is the hard way. If you'd like to cover anything of interest, you're going to have to do a damn good job of convincing me that you deserve it and that I won't regret it, or don't bother getting your hopes up.

Beside VERA, JASON whispers to ALEX.

JASON:

Jeez, has she starred in Mission Impossible lately or something?

VAL:

I will not give you any lee-way for mistakes. If you screw up, you get pushed even further down the chain. You pick up and move on. You get over it and work your ass off on your next assignment. This week, you'll each be assigned to a low-key story, letting you familiarize yourself with the newsroom and your new co-workers. This is the only babying you will receive from here on in. Have fun.

VAL grabs a stack of papers from her desk and begins handing them out to each of the interns. VERA uncomfortably shifts her position as she waits behind JASON to get her assignment.

INT. Newsroom Archive – Afternoon

MUSIC CUE: "Gold Rush" by Kissinger.

VERA sits in a corner of the library with her legs crossed. She has papers all around her, as well as books. Currently, she is flipping through the pages of a magazine. JASON enters. VERA looks up, and JASON looks around.

(beat)

JASON:

Having fun?

VERA:

Oh, a blast. I'm now up to hour five of researching this guy. Doctor Philip Retterman: Ph.D. from Stanford, written ten books—two about the history of lyme disease—what could there possibly be about that to write an entire book about?—and officially the most boring person on the planet. But, of course, he's in town this weekend headlining a life science conference, and moi has to interview him.

JASON:

Be nice, now. You don't want to displease the fourth Pasha, do you?

VERA:

It's my first assignment. I'm going to kick ass.

END OF TEASER

Opening Credits ("La Femme De'Argent" by Air). Regulars: Vera, Jason, Val, Keith, Cari, Nadine.

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