ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. MCQUEENS' UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - MORNING

Jane comes down the hall and stops in front of the door to
Brooke and Sam's bedroom. She knocks, and after a moment
passes without any response, she opens the door and pokes her
head through.

CUT TO:

INT. BROOKE AND SAM'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Outside, birds are chirping, and sunlight is streaming through
the window—but inside the room the only (barely) identifiable
sign of life is a lump under the covers of Sam's bed.

JANE
Sam! Up and at 'em!

From the bed comes an unintelligible groan and the slightest
of movements. Jane walks over, sits on the edge of the bed,
and pulls the covers back, to find Sam with her head buried in
the pillows.

JANE (CONT'D)
Come on, Sam. Time to get up.

SAM
(mumbling)
Go 'way.

Sam blindly reaches for the covers and pulls them back over
her head. Jane resolutely yanks them down again.

JANE
Come downstairs and have
breakfast. You don't want to be
late.

SAM
I'm skipping.

JANE
You can't skip the first day of
school, Sam.
(shaking her shoulder)
I'll see you downstairs.

Jane gets up and walks out, while Sam picks her head up.

SAM
(calling)
I meant, this year!

With that brief burst of energy spent, Sam collapses back into
the pillows, pulling the covers back over her head again.

CUT TO:

INT. MCQUEENS' DOWNSTAIRS HALLWAY

Mike walks up to the door of the den and knocks on it.

MIKE
Brooke?

BROOKE (O.S.)
(from the other side)
Come in!

CUT TO:

INT. MCQUEEN DEN - CONTINUOUS

The door opens and Mike steps through. Brooke is sitting at a
makeshift vanity table, putting on makeup. He comes over,
hugging her around the shoulders.

MIKE
Ready for the first day of school?

BROOKE
(rueful)
No.

MIKE
C'mon—you'll be a champ.
(looking down)
Is this the outfit I keep hearing
about? Let's see it.

Sighing, Brooke stands up, reaching for the cane that is
propped against the table, and carefully steps away, showing
off a very fashionable ensemble.

MIKE (CONT'D)
(grinning)
You look like a million bucks.

BROOKE
Sorry I can't spin around.

MIKE
You'll be spinning before you know
it.

BROOKE
(neutrally)
Yeah.

Mike steps over and holds her.

MIKE
Honey, you've come so far since
you've been home. I know it's
hard...but you have to be patient.
It's only a matter of time.

BROOKE
I just wish I didn't have to go to
school like this. I feel like a
total invalid.

MIKE
Didn't the doctor say, a few more
weeks and you'll practically be
good as new?

BROOKE
A few more weeks... It feels
like this summer's taken forever.

MIKE
Well, honey, most people's summers
aren't as eventful as yours.

BROOKE
I didn't have an eventful summer.
I had an eventful five seconds,
and then spent the summer in a
hospital bed.

MIKE
(sighs)
You're past all that now. Come
on—Jane's making some kind of
scrambled waffle thing?

BROOKE
(perking up)
Oh! I love those.

CUT TO:

INT. MCQUEEN DINING ROOM - LATER

Brooke is busily eating those scrambled waffle things.

MIKE
(watching)
Wow, you've got quite an appetite
this morning.

Brooke stops with her fork halfway to her mouth and broods at
her father.

BROOKE
You think I eat too much now?

MIKE
(holding up his hands)
No, no. I never said that.

BROOKE
(to Jane)
These are really good. Mom never
cooked like this.

MIKE
Your mother couldn't boil water.
(to Jane)
We ate out a lot.

JANE
Mike, don't compare me to Kelly.

Mike pauses and regroups.

MIKE
So, Brooke... Given any thought
to your college applications?

BROOKE
(sighs)
Dad, can I get through one day of
my senior year before having to
think about college?

MIKE
Is it me, or am I just digging
myself a hole this morning?

JANE
(nodding)
It's a pretty deep hole.

BROOKE
(looking around)
Where's Sam?

Jane looks around as well, and then casts an eye towards the
stairs.

JANE
(calling)
SAM!

BROOKE
(fretting)
I really did want to get to school
early today...

MIKE
(leading)
Jane?

JANE
You go take Brooke. I'll wake up
Sleeping Beauty.

BROOKE
(getting up)
Thanks.

CUT TO:

EST. CITY STREET

Mike's car moving through traffic.

CUT TO:

INT. MIKE'S CAR - MOVING

MIKE
Brooke?

BROOKE
Hmm?

MIKE
Is everything okay with you and
Sam?

BROOKE
Sure...why?

MIKE
I don't know... Look, I know I'm
just the parent, I'm not supposed
to be tuned into these things,
but...it seemed like you two got
really close there for a while,
and then...

BROOKE
(shrugs)
She lives upstairs, I live
downstairs. That's it.
(pause)
You know, I think not having to
share a room is doing both of us a
world of good. You should look
into expanding the house.

MIKE
A year from now, you're going to
be crammed into an eight-by-ten
dorm room with a roommate.

BROOKE
Dad...

MIKE
Okay, no more college talk. At
least not today.

BROOKE
Thank you.

MIKE
So, you're sure there's nothing
between you and Sam?

BROOKE
(neutrally)
I'm sure.

Mike sneaks a peek at his daughter's expression, but lets the
matter drop.

CUT TO:

EST. KENNEDY HIGH PARKING LOT - LATER

As Mike's car pulls up to the entrance.

CUT TO:

INT. MIKE'S CAR

MIKE
Now, I'll pick you up right after
school to take you to your
physical therapy session.

BROOKE
Thanks, Dad.

Brooke opens her door and carefully climbs out.

MIKE
And remember—think positive!

BROOKE
(playing along)
Right, Dad.

Brooke shuts the door, and Mike watches her turn and slowly
climb up the front steps and into the quad.

CUT TO:

EST. KENNEDY HIGH PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS

As Mike's car motors away, Lily's car pulls into a nearby
parking space.

CUT TO:

INT. LILY'S CAR - CONTINUOUS

After Lily shuts the motor off, she and Josh take a moment to
just look at each other.

LILY
Well... It's the first day of
school. Our first first day of
school as husband and wife.
(grinning)
We're seniors. And we're married.
We're married seniors.

After she thinks about that for a moment, the grin disappears.

LILY (CONT'D)
Wait—that makes us sound like
we're old or something. Right,
Josh?

She looks over to see him staring down glumly.

JOSH
(listlessly)
Yeah.

LILY
Josh? Baby, what's wrong?

JOSH
I don't know, Lily, it's just...
Do you know that this is the first
time since eighth grade that I
haven't been on the football team?

LILY
So? Do you want to be on the
football team?

JOSH
No! I mean, don't get me wrong—I
don't want things to be like they
were before. But...I always used
to know what was ahead. My whole
life was planned out—an athletic
scholarship to a big-name college,
maybe even the pros after that.
Now... I'm supposed to know what
I want to be when I grow up, and I
don't know anymore.

Lily sighs, and pats his shoulder.

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - LATER

Brooke is limping along when she sees Mary Cherry and Carmen
heading towards her. She stops and holds up a warning finger.

BROOKE
Oh, no—stay away from me. You
two are demented.

The two girls quickly surround her.

MARY CHERRY
No, wait, Brooke, listen, we have
a plan, really!

CARMEN
Yeah, a really good plan!

BROOKE
You want ME to help YOU bring back
the Glamazons. Guys, reality
check, okay?
(spreading her arms)
Not exactly Glamazon material.

MARY CHERRY
(poo-poohing)
Oh, Brooke, that's just temporary.

CARMEN
Yeah, and, and, you put me on the
squad when I sprained my ankle,
remember?

BROOKE
This isn't a sprained ankle! I
had big metal pins in my leg!
It'll be weeks before I can get
around without this stupid cane!

She bangs the cane against the lockers angrily, making Mary
Cherry and Carmen jump.

MARY CHERRY
O-okay, but, you don't have to do
any of the routines yourself.

CARMEN
Right, you could be like, Honorary
President.

MARY CHERRY
(hands on hips)
Brooke McQueen, you are still one
of the most popular people at this
school. You could be a rallying
point, around which all the
popular people could...well,
rally!

She looks at them as if she were lecturing six-year-olds.

BROOKE
I'm a senior. I'm supposed to be
thinking about college. I'm
supposed to be thinking about my
future. I don't want to be a
cheerleader when I grow up.

Stolidly Brooke shoulders her way past Mary Cherry and limps
off down the hall, leaving her and Carmen staring after her.

MARY CHERRY
(confidently)
She'll come around.

CUT TO:

INT. CHEMISTRY CLASS - LATER

Brooke walks in and makes her way to her seat next to Sam, who
appears to be conked out over the table; for some reason,
Harrison is sitting on the other side of the room. As she
sits down, Brooke and Harrison exchange a glance. She taps
Sam on the shoulder; and Sam jerks upright.

SAM
Huh? Wha'd I miss?

BROOKE
Nothing, Miss Glass isn't here
yet. Are you okay?

SAM
(yawning)
Yeah...

Sam looks over at Harrison, and manages to hold his gaze for a
moment before he looks away.

SAM (CONT'D)
See?

BROOKE
What?

SAM
(shaking her head)
Nevermind.

Miss Glass strides in full force, plopping a stack of
materials down on the front table.

GLASS
All right, listen up! Since this
is our last year together—for
those of you who manage to
graduate, that is—I want to take
this opportunity to say that, in
my long years of teaching here at
Kennedy High, YOU are the laziest,
most obnoxious, self-centered
bunch of no-good ingrate slackers
to ever disgrace my classroom!

She picks up a stack of flyers and starts to hand them out.

GLASS (CONT'D)
Now that the pleasantries are out
of the way, I need to remind you
that Career Day is Friday. For
most of you, that means
illustrious names like
"MacDonald's" and "Burger King".
However, there will be a few
people here representing more
demanding careers, should you want
to attempt to match your laughable
abilities to them. Those of you
who have parents with careers—and
NO, collecting unemployment checks
does NOT count—will be able to
bring them.

MARY CHERRY
Damn! Mama's on a business trip
to Taiwan this week.
(to Miss Glass)
Miss Glass, could we put off this
Career Day thingee until next
week?

GLASS
No, Miss Cherry. Despite what
your mother thinks, the world does
not revolve around her.

She stops in front of Josh and Lily.

GLASS (CONT'D)
Mr. Ford, I don't suppose your
father, successful and wealthy
businessman that he is, will be
available?

JOSH
Probably not, no.

GLASS
(mocking)
Well, don't worry. Maybe you can
bring the manager of the local
Taco Bell.

LILY
Miss Glass—!

But Josh puts a restraining hand on her arm.

JOSH
No, it's all right.
(to Miss Glass)
I'll find someone.

Miss Glass laughs and rolls her eyes theatrically.

GLASS
I'm sure you will.

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - LATER

Carmen is at her locker when Sugar Daddy comes strolling up.

SUGAR
Yo, Carm!

She turns around, grinning, and hugs him.

SUGAR (CONT'D)
So are you coming to practice this
afternoon?

CARMEN
I might not be able to make it.

SUGAR
(frowning)
What's up?

She looks around suspiciously, then pulls him aside.

CARMEN
Don't tell anyone, but Mary Cherry
and I are working on a plan to
depose Bring It and bring back the
Glamazons as the cheerleading
squad for the football team.

SUGAR
(brightening)
Now, that's what I like to hear!

CARMEN
Shhh! We don't want anything to
jinx it.

SUGAR
Got it. Top secret. My lips are
sealed.

CARMEN
So I might not be able to make it
this afternoon.

SUGAR
Hey, no problem. You gotta do
what you gotta do. I want my
cheerleaders back!
(grins)
As long as you're one of them.

CARMEN
You better believe it.

She holds out her hand.

CARMEN (CONT'D)
Walk me to my next class?

Sugar Daddy takes her hand; as they walk off, two jocks in the
background point at them and snicker.

CUT TO:

INT. JOSH AND LILY'S LIVING ROOM - EVENING

Josh is on the phone; Lily is nowhere to be seen.

JOSH
(into the phone)
...listen, thanks a lot for doing
this. It really means a lot to
me... Right... I'll call you
with the details... Okay...bye.

Josh hangs up the phone just as Lily emerges from the kitchen.

LILY
Josh? Who was that?

JOSH
Oh—nobody.

LILY
(concerned)
Josh, you didn't change your mind
and decide to ask your father to
go to Career Day, did you?

JOSH
Naw. He'd just use it to bust my
chops.
(imitating his father's voice)
"Why, of course, son, I'd be happy
to dispense all the advice that
you've rejected."

LILY
Look, don't let Miss Glass bother
you. She's just being Miss Glass.

JOSH
I know. It's okay.

Lily takes a step towards him, concerned.

LILY
Are you sure? If you want to talk
about it—

JOSH
(annoyed)
I said it was okay, okay?

She stops in her tracks, nonplussed.

LILY
O-okay. Whatever you say.

Lily turns and walks away. Josh looks dismayed for a moment,
then shakes his head and turns in the opposite direction.

CUT TO:

INT. MCQUEEN DINING ROOM

Mike, Jane, Brooke and Sam are all sitting at dinner.

JANE
So, Sam... How was the first day
of school?

SAM
(noncommittal)
Fine.

MIKE
It's funny—that's the exact same
thing Brooke said when I asked
her.

BROOKE
Dad...

MIKE
Sorry, sorry...
(to Jane)
Are you doing Career Day Friday?

JANE
What Day?

MIKE
(faltering)
Ah...Career Day...? You know...go
talk about your career...?

As he trails off, he and Jane both turn their attention to
Sam, who is picking at her food listlessly.

JANE
Were you going to tell me about
this?

SAM
(shrugs)
I guess.

JANE
Sam, do you not want me there?

SAM
Yes! I mean, no. I mean—I don't
not want you there. I just...
wasn't thinking about it, that's
all.

JANE
Seems like you aren't thinking of
a lot of things lately.

The phone rings, and Sam bolts from her chair.

SAM
I'll get it!

She runs to the phone and picks it up.

SAM (CONT'D)
(into the phone breathlessly)
Hello?

A moment later her face falls.

SAM (CONT'D)
Oh...yeah. Hang on.

She holds the phone out in Mike's direction.

SAM (CONT'D)
It's for you. It's your office.

As Mike comes over and takes the phone from Sam, Jane also
gets up.

JANE
Sam...

But Sam tosses her napkin on the table and brushes by her,
running out of the room; leaving Brooke to stare down at her
food morosely.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE