PART 2
FADE into DM Collection, New Store on Wilshire Blvd.
Last minute preparations for Donna's grand opening were fully underway. Racks of plastic covered clothing were being rolled to the backroom, and crewmen stood positioning a prefabricated white stage for the mini-fashion show that was to follow the party.
Donna: (standing and leaning against a dark blue marble top counter, briskly speaking on the phone with a catering company) Okay! Thank you! Oh and please make sure the shrimp dumplings aren't soggy! Right, see you in the afternoon.
Carrying a brown clipboard, which held the main checklist for the evening's event, David walks towards Donna.
Donna sighs as she hangs up the black office phone. David garners her attention.
David:(reading from his checklist and using his pen to guide him from task to task) OK so, lighting is set, (Donna turns around to face him) stage is on key, live band is in, the cosmetologist and stylist should drop by in about a half an hour…and the press will be here tonight—by 5 pronto.
Donna: and I just called Rusland Catering to confirm our order—ordurbs should be here by the afternoon.
David: Great…
Donna: and the Models, Photographer?
David: Well, I left Antonio a message, he'll probably call back soon…its only 8:30 anyway Donna
Donna: (nervous) But we were supposed to rehearse the catwalk with the models in the morning David, with the music and the lighting
David: (tries to calm Donna down, holds her by her shoulders as he places the clipboard on the counter in front of them) Babe, would you relax? This is your 5th opening and it's going to be a fantastic—I mean what do you have to lose?
Donna: I know…I know… (sighs) It's just that last time things didn't go so well with Jared and his band in New York and the variation of the clothes wasn't as vast as I wanted it to be. and I can't (places her right hand on her forehead. It was obvious she was concerned) afford to mess up anything this time.
David: (trying to mitigate her) Donna, we're not in New York. We're in Beverly Hills, California. I'm this show's backstage manager, and the party's entertainment manager (cut to Donna, her arms folded across her chest), and your promotional manager.
Cut back to David
David: (continued) Trust me; you've got nothing to worry about. I mean, last time, yeah alright I agree there really wasn't a theme in place, but this time (both DD turn and gaze at the center of the massive store)…this time you've got a little somethin' for everybody. I mean, you got the "Minimalist" with the thick clean lines, simple colors, and blacks and whites, Creams and grays. Sophisticated and grown up (Points at another direction, camera follows) And over here we've got the bold, striking and flamboyant – bright, garish colors, crazy, wild and natural –greens, browns, totally screaming "Mother Nature" and "Go Green."
Donna :( a bit relieved; lightly sighing and smiling) Yeah and the "EMO—Goth/Punk" – blacks, reds, purples. (Camera cuts to another corner of the humongous store). And then the "Childhood Innocence" collection with the pale colors, softer shapes… (David interrupts)
David: Yeah, so y'see? (Places his arm around Donna' shoulder) Just relax, I'm here, all of our friends will be here. Its going to be unbelievable
Donna: (sighing and looking away) I hope your right. (PAUSES and turns around, placing her elbows against the marble counter top, grabs a yellow pencil and looks over at David's checklist).
Donna: So, what time did you get home after dropping off Brenda last night?
David: (internally shaken upon hearing the name "Brenda"): Um (looking at the checklist with Donna, his arms folded as he took a seat on a stool next to him) around midnight. Yeah…she locked her keys in her car…I was trying to help her get 'em out somehow, but failed.
David was lying and it was his guilty conscious that morphed his pessimistic attitude towards Donna's new store, into a more jovial and optimistic one. He wanted to be truthful about what had occurred between him and Brenda, but how could he provide an explanation for something he himself never expected? David was still dazed by the incident, but concealed it extremely well—or so he thought.
Donna: (writing a note on top of the checklist) Yeah I didn't even hear you coming in. I must have been totally out.
David: (close up of David) Yeah you were. Listen Donna, (PAUSES and looks at Donna) I'm sorry about being late last night.
Donna: (turns to face David) Oh, that's okay. I just didn't get a chance to see you this morning because I had to leave early to get here.
Before he could answer, David's phone began ringing. Taking his cell out from his jean's side pocket, David saw that it was Antonio, the photographer.
David (to Donna before answering the phone): Well I'm here now (Gives a quick peck on her cheek). It's Antonio, let's see whets up. (holding the phone to his left ear, he walks away towards the backroom).
Donna: Don't forget to remind him about the catwalk rehearsal please! (turns around to pick up the phone and makes a few more quick calls).
CUT TO WBHH, RYAN MATTHEWS's class
Watch clip of the next scene on YT: y o u t u b e dot com/watch?v=e7FudAx2lvc [copy and paste in your browser, no spaces]
12:05PM, Lunch, KELLY TAYLOR in her Office, WBHH
Kelly sat in her office and as promised, decided to give Steve a call. Hopefully, he would have some idea about Dylan McKay's whereabouts. (Close-up of Kelly who holds her phone while calling The Sanders).
Cut to Casa Sanders Living Room, Janet
Janet rested her head against the beautiful ivory colored sofa, accessorized with red cushions. Her right hand clutched onto a hunter green, carry on phone. She had been awaiting a call back from The LA Times, and hoped the news was of positive response.
The phone rang.
Janet: (jumping, speaking a bit brashly) Hello?!
Cut to Kelly
Kelly: Janet? Hi. Its Kelly.
Janet: (shrugging and sighs as she closes her eyes momentarily) Hey Kelly.
Kelly: Got a call back from the paper yet?
Janet: No, not yet. I think if I keep staring at this (cut to Janet) phone, my nerves may just finally give in and explode.
Kelly: (smiles) Don't think like that. I got my fingers crossed—(cut to Kelly) for the job of course. (PAUSE) Did you talk to Steve about…?
Cut to Janet
Janet: Pregnancy? (pauses) Affirmative.
Cut to Kelly
Kelly: and the verdict is…?
Janet: Let's see (getting off the couch, pacing around)…hmm…well, he cleaned the kitchen, made Middy breakfast (cut to Janet) without burning the place down, and was suspiciously peculiar about being positive. He left about a half an hour ago to get some take-out from Nat's.
Cut back to Kelly
Kelly (reassuring): Well, that's good! Positive is good. Trust me Janet (raising an eye brow as she drank from an Evian water bottle), I speak from personal experience. (Cut to Janet) You'll get through this. It isn't easy, but it's not impossible either. (Cut to Kelly) Listen um; when he gets back could you have him call me back? Brenda and I are worried about Dylan. Apparently, he didn't check back in last night.
Cut back to Janet
Janet: Really? Well, that's strange. After their little elevator incident, Steve mentioned that Dylan decided to head out to the Peach Pit for some dinner with an old friend.
Just then Steve unlocked the front door and entered with two brown paper bags containing freshly made Mega burgers, fries. He had a couple of sodas with him on hand as well.
Steve: (walking in with the food) Lunch is served my lady.
Janet (to Kelly on the phone): You're in luck. He just got back, here talk to him.
Kelly :( concerned over who the "old friend" may be) Okay...great
Cut to Janet and Steve
Janet (to Steve): It's Kelly, wants to talk to you about something important. (Hands the phone to Steve and takes a seat, reaching out for one of the two paper-bags that rested on the coffee table in front of her).
Steve: Hey Kel! What can I do for ya?
Kelly: Hi Steve. (Cut to Kelly) I was just talking to Janet about Dylan. Any idea where he might be? And who's this old friend I'm hearing about?
Steve: Well, D said that he was gonna head out to the Peach Pit with Jonesey for some dinner. Then back to the Bel-Age for the rest of the night.
Kelly: (taken aback) Jonesey!? Mexico—Jonesey?
Steve: (sipping on the soda from his straw, taking a seat next to Janet who was enjoying her burger) Yup. It was a total surprise. He now works for the City of Los Angeles as a serviceman and freed us yesterday from that hell-hole cell. That's where we met him.
Kelly (slouches back in her office chair with her black cell phone): Well, apparently, Brenda checked in with the receptionist at the hotel this morning only to find out that Dylan didn't come back to his room last night.
Steve: (devilishly smiles) Well…he's always been a mysteriously busy boy…maybe he got lucky?
Kelly: (replies in a firm yet calm tone) Steve…I'm serious okay? Brenda's worried and so am I.
Steve: (unaware of any further details) Well, it does sound kinda fishy. (Shrugging his shoulders) Maybe he checked into another hotel? I really have no idea, Kelly.
Kelly: (sighing) Alright. Well, I'll stop by the Pit on my way from work, and see if Nat knows anything. You and Janet coming tonight to the store?
Steve: (turning towards Janet smiling) Yeah, absolutely. We'll be there.
A couple of knocks are heard on Kelly's door
Kelly: Okay…will see ya tonight then. Oh and take care of Janet. She needs you now more than ever.
Steve: Yeah I know. Thanks Kel and if I hear anything I'll let ya know.
Kelly: Thanks. Bye (ends the call) Yes? Come in please
The man opened the door and entered.
Kelly: (subtle) Mr. Matthews? Hi.
Ryan: (closes the door on his way in, stands before her) Hey, I'm sorry to interrupt you…I know its lunch time.
Kelly: Oh no, it's alright. It's your break time too (smiles)
Ryan: (slightly blushes) Um, yeah—yeah it is.
Kelly: Sit down.
Ryan: (taking a seat in front of Kelly, whose office table becomes a barrier between them) Thanks. I—I was just in the faculty lounge and found neither you nor Brenda there …so I figured I'll try my luck here.
Kelly: (stacking a couple of papers aside) Well, Brenda had to go and meet a couple of TV producers, so I decided to have lunch right here in my den (smiles)
Ryan:(nodding) TV producers? Wow, that's uh, impressive
Kelly: Yeah its Gabe and Jeff, from Sachs-and-Judah Production House. She was excited in the beginning, but after hearing some of their ideas, I don't think she's quite interested in their offer--but you never know.
Ryan: Well, hey its still pretty cool to be approached by famous TV people. I hope it works out for her—whatever it is.
Kelly nods in agreement. Both she and Ryan momentarily gaze at one another. Kelly finally breaks the ice.
Kelly: So, Ryan…what's up?
Ryan (tapping his fingers against the arm chair) Uh, nothing, I was just was wondering if you'd like to go to the musical with me tonight…and maybe dinner afterward?
Kelly: Well, actually I have plans tonight after the play. (Ryan nods as he looks away) But-uh yeah I guess we could attend the play together, sure why not.
Ryan: (getting up from the chair, gleefully) Okay, great. So, I'll uh pick you up at 5:30?
Kelly: (smiling) Okay sounds good. I just need to arrange a sitter for Sam and we should be good to go.
Ryan: (turning the knob to open the door with his right hand as he still managed to look at Kelly) Alright then. See ya tonight.
Kelly: Bye… (Ryan exits; Cut to Kelly)
Kelly slouched up from her chair and gazed back at her desk. Glancing up to the window at her right, her inquisitiveness strolled into thoughts trailing back to Dylan McKay, "where the hell could he be?" she wondered.
It was obvious that Kelly was worried—especially after hearing about Dylan's little reunion with the infamous J-Jay Jonesey Jones.
Cut to WBHH hallway, ETHAN and NAOMI
Naomi: You should've stopped George if you didn't like his play
Ethan: Its not that simple, we're teammates
Naomi: So what? Why back someone you don't even like? See this is why I hate lacrosse Ethan; you're not even like those guys…
Ethan: (closes his locker and begins walking towards his class quickly, Naomi follows) You're not into anything, so you don't understand.
Naomi (walks briskly around him and stops in front of Ethan) I'm not into anything? What is that supposed to mean?
Ethan: You're not into sports, or music, or anything other than shopping! You shop--that's all you do Nay!
Naomi: (amused out of disbelief) You think that's all I'm into.
The school bell had just rung and lunch was over.
Ethan: We were talking about me and all of a sudden it turns into something about you (cut to Naomi looking away)…look just forget it…(cut back to Ethan) I gotta get to class (begins to walk away and towards his class, Naomi turns around)
Naomi: Your coming to the party tonight aren't you?
Ethan: (turns around as he walks to face Naomi) I don't know Naomi sighed; Irritatingly placing her hands around her waist.
Cut to WBHH, Annie and Silver
Annie and Silver were headed towards the auditorium. It was time for the final dress rehearsal before the musical that evening.
Annie: (walking along with Silver) I'm so stumped for tonight. I can't figure out what to wear at all and I thought that maybe talking about it with my mom might help—y'know get another opinion and all (PAUSES). Big mistake. (Silver smiles)
Silver: Why? What happened?
Annie: I told her I'm going to DM's party and needed an appropriate dress for the occasion, and instead of helping me, she couldn't stop talking about how great she thought Donna Martin's clothes were.
Silver: Well, you gotta admit—they are pretty feisty. (Amused) Your mom is so cute.
Annie: Trust me; it isn't as fun as it seems Silver…
Silver: (going up the steps, approaching the main entrance of the auditorium) Look Annie, I know Beverly Hills may feel like some great ritzy haven of glitziness, but trust me, it's far from perfect. (Cut to Annie) I mean, to you your mom may seem nuts, but behind all the plastic lives that people live in this town, (cut to Silver) I bet they all wish they had a mom as real and down to earth as yours. In fact (PAUSES to push the main entrance open, enters) why don't you bring her tonight?
Annie: (following Silver inside) are you kidding me? Silver—no.
Silver: C'mon it'll be fun. I met your mom before, and Donna could care less what you two wore.
Annie: But isn't the whole point of me coming to this party in the first place, about proving Naomi wrong?
Silver: Look, the only reason Naomi is even coming is because her mom is one of Donna's top clients. Don't worry about her, you let me handle that. But, bring Mrs. Wilson—trust me. (Placing their backpacks on one of the front row seats of the auditorium) Just put on your best—whatever it is you got y'know—no sweat. (walks upon the mini stairway, leading to the stage)
Annie:(closing her eyes nodding, whisper like tone) Yeah…that's easy for you to say. (Follows Silver)
Scanning through the costumes which hung from the rack backstage, Tabitha stood behind a makeup mirror that beamed with eight light bulbs.
Tabitha: (mumbling to herself)…the hell sort of material is this? I'd rather shoot Mary Poppins to smithereens and wear her bloody umbrella than perform in this cheap polyester.
Brenda Walsh entered the dark auditorium as she opened the entrance that led directly to the back of the stage. She wore a white shirt and a black vest that matched beautifully with her dress pants. She clutched onto her cell phone, gazing at it as she searched through its "Contact List" directory.
Tabitha: (walking towards Brenda) Good you're here. (Brenda looks up to meet Tabitha)
Brenda: Tabitha, hi.
Tabitha: (grabbing her purse from a table nearby) Hi. Brenda, please excuse me from this afternoon's rehearsal, I have a very important hair appointment right now and have exactly ten minutes left to reach Robertson Blvd.
Brenda:(startled) Tabitha the show is in four and a half hours, we need to run a final dress rehearsal with the kids...you're the main director of this play.
Tabitha: (putting on her posh sunglasses, walking towards the exit, passed Brenda) I understand dear, but you're the second director and quite a natural, might I add. I trust you can handle things around here quite well.
Brenda: (frustrated, turning around to stop Tabitha) …but Tabitha, we're on a deadline!
Tabitha: I know you can pull it off—good luck! (Exits)
Heavily sighing, an aggravated Brenda walked down and off the stage, towards the main director's table. Silver had already placed her headset on and was ready to roll as stage manager. The students began entering the auditorium and others who had arrived earlier, had already begun rehearsing their lines.
Brenda: (to the kids) Alright everyone, (the students face her) I'll be supervising our last and final dress rehearsal for today because Mrs. Wilson had some things to take care of this afternoon (students begins clapping and cheering)
Students: Woooh! YEE-AH; Finally!
Annie seemed a little embarrassed, but managed to let out a smile.
Brenda: (smiling) Now I know it can be a little nerve wracking, but you've all worked so hard these last few weeks, and I know you're going to rock tonight. (The kids cheer once more) So, put on your costumes, take your positions and we'll start in about ten minutes. (The students leave to check out their costumes, some open up their backpacks to take their scripts out)
Brenda nervously began pacing around, finally finding the name she was searching for in her contact list, "Dylan McKay." Hearing his phone ring on the other side of the line, Brenda prayed that he would pick up and inform her that he was safe and sound.
The phone kept humming, but there was no answer. Brenda hung up and earnestly tried once more—still hearing nothing, but a recorded voice mail message. She shut her eyes and heavily sighed with worry as she dropped her hands down to her waist, placing her phone back in her pocket. All she could do now was wait patiently and try calling again later. "This isn't like him," she said to herself.
Cut to The Beverly Hills Hotel
The camera slowly cuts into a well furnished room. An empty bottle of whiskey was tipped over on the side table. His flaccid arm drooped down from the side of the bed next to a trashcan that occupied a withered bouquet. Dressed in nothing but a white undershirt and a pair of dark blue jeans, Dylan McKay lay fast asleep after what seemed like quite a harsh night of boozing.
A knock on the door is heard, but it wasn't loud enough to wake Dylan up. He groaned annoyingly and after four louder knocks, he finally decided to get up and open the door.
Dylan: (yelling loudly as the continuous knocking irritated him) Hang on a second will ya'?!
The wall-to-wall bright beige carpet on the floor was littered with pieces of torn pink petals and green leaves, as he approached the door. His hair was a mess, his face carried a stubbly beard, and his eyes blazed with red fury. Clearly, Dylan McKay wasn't in a good mood.
Dylan: (opening the door obnoxiously) Yeah, what is it?!
Waiter: (wearing white satin gloves, clutching onto a golden trolley that held a shimmering silver tray of food): Room service for Mr. Dylan McKay
Dylan: (rubbing his nose with his right hand and grasping onto the doorknob with his left) Look man, I think you got the wrong room; I didn't order any room service.
Just then a familiar voice emerged from the corner of the hallway.
Voice: That's right Dylan, you didn't. I did.
Dressed in dark gray pants, adorned with high-heeled red pumps and a silk bronze-green blouse, she poked her head from the side of the door.
"Good Afternoon," she said, greeting a distressed Dylan with her seductive smile.
Dylan:(stunned) Valerie?! What the hell are you doing here?
Suspenseful music begins as Valerie smiled seductively gazing upon a shocked Dylan.
***
At present, I am working on part 3 and I believe you'll enjoy that portion of the story more. You know the drill to make me writer faster: read and review! Your feedback is important to me and I'd like to know what you think. Did you love it or absolutely loathe it? Was it something you were expecting and what do you predict will occur next?
Thanks for reading! Cheers!