~~~{ Act II }~~~

Unloading the band.

Scene opens with a very wide shot of the field where "Lawndale-stock" is taking place. It is relatively early in the morning, as the steam from lots of coffee cups is evident. People of every description are unloading all sorts of instruments from vehicles of every description, make, model, and era. Central to the shot is a large split stage covered with amps, lights, and lots of exposed beams and girders. Off to the right of the stage is a bright orange trailer with the words STAGE MANAGER painted on it in white.

Shot switches to a right to left pan shot of various groups unloading various instruments from their vehicles. The first group passed is two teenaged boys wearing hellaciously loud colors (with hair to match) unloading a set of electronic drums from the back of a battered Gremlin. The next group is three well dressed preppies unloading a very sophisticated keyboard from the back of a moving van. The third group passed is two women (?) dressed in lots of leather and metallic studs, leaning against a minivan that is more at home in the shopping mall parking lot, tuning two guitars that resemble giant battle axes. (The sound is flat and quiet, as the guitars are not hooked to any amps.) Finally, the pan stops on The Tank and Trent's car, where the girls are struggling with the base drum from Max's set, trying to remove it from the back doors of The Tank. Max and Nick are removing various equipment from the side door, while Trent and Jesse are examining their guitars, which they are taking from the trunk of Trent's car.

Jane (looking around): Madre de' dios, there sure are a lot of people here!

Daria (giving Jane a "look"): Tell me again why we're doing this? I thought Max and Nick were supposed to have this done by the time we got out here.

Jane: They had a mechanical breakdown on the way over, all right?

Daria (looks like she heard that one before): You mean they didn't have enough money for gas.

Jane (shrugs): Same thing?

When Jane shrugs, they drop the drum and it lands with a "thomp" sound.

Max (off screen): Hey, man! Be careful, okay?

Daria: Sorry!

Jane and Daria look at the drum. This time Daria shrugs, and the two begin rolling it as if it were a tire, around to the front of the van. As they do this, the shot tightens in on Trent and Jesse, who are looking around at the several dozen bands that have shown up for the concert.

Trent (sounding slightly intimidated): Oh man, I didn't think that there be this many bands out here.

Jesse: Me neither. You think we got a chance?

Trent (slipping on his guitar strap): I don't know, man . . .

At this point, Daria and Jane come walking up from wherever they deposited Max's drum.

Jane: You gentlemen look awfully intense. What gives?

Jesse: There's an awful lot of bands here.

Trent: We weren't expecting this kind of turnout.

Daria: And you're feeling a little intimidated?

Trent (while Jesse nods): Uh . . .Yeah. That's one way of putting it, I suppose.

Jane (trying to sound cheerful and confident): Hey c'mon! Where's that Mystic Spiral spirit we've come to know and expect! You guys are gonna kick butt! (Takes Jesse by the arm) C'mon, Jesse, Nick needs help with the amps... (Adopts pseudo southern bell accent and bats her eyes) And Ah is just too, too delicate to carry those big speaker thingies all by my little lonesome!!

Jesse (caught flatfooted): Uh . . . Okay.

Trent and Daria turn and watch as Jane and Jesse walk away.

Daria: That girl needs help.

Trent (with a smirk): Big time.

Shot changes to center of stage, where a youngish executive type in a business shirt, loosened tie, sunglasses, and carrying a Styrofoam cup of something hot (coffee?) walks up to the one microphone stand. With his free hand, he taps the mic to see if it is on and is rewarded with a blast of feedback from the sound system, and a chorus of protests from the gathered bands.

Exec (chuckles): Sorry about that, everybody. Anyway, we need all of the bands that are here now to come and sign in at the stage manager's trailer in fifteen minutes. Judging by the turnout we're seeing at the moment, as well as the looks on most of your faces, there's quite a few more entries out there than we were expecting. (Takes a sip from his cup) All that means is a longer show for the fans, and a little more work for us judges. Everybody still gets a three song set, and the order you get heard is the order that everyone gets signed in.

Shot changes back to Daria and Trent exchanging a glance at that, then back to the Exec.

Exec (continues): And if you think that hanging back to get signed in later is gong to help, it won't. Any band not signed in by eleven a.m. will not be performing. (Another chorus of protests) Sorry kids, but them's the rules, I don't make 'em up. Remember, signup starts in fifteen minutes and ends at eleven, so lets hustle. And let's give everyone that shows up tonight a show that they'll tell their grandkids about!

The Exec walks off the stage as the gathered bands cheer at the last statement. The shot cuts back to Trent and Daria. Daria is clapping, still wearing her deadpan expression, Trent has two fingers in his mouth and is whistling. As the cheers die down, the two of them start walking. They pass The Tank, with Jane slinging a set of cables over one shoulder and Jesse, and Nick struggling with a large amp.

Daria: Come on, we better get Mystik Spiral signed up before all of the good places are gone. (waves at Jane) Have fun, Janice*.

[*She's referring to Janice Joplin]

Jane (shouting after Daria): You're supposed to save the victory celebration for after the concert, Madonna!

Daria (blushes and frowns): Oh, go hurt yourself.

Jane laughs at Daria's statement, knowing that she doesn't mean it. Yet.

Trent: We don't want to go too fast. If we're on later, we'll be fresher in the judges minds.

Daria: Oh, okay.

Trent is looking over the crowd of bands again, some of them heading in the same general direction that he and Daria are, others still working on instruments for the moment. Daria looks back and sees that Trent is starting to look worried again.

Daria (looking concerned): You okay?

Trent (distracted): Yeah . . . maybe . . . I don't know.

Daria (v/o, as she looks at Trent with her eyes): If he goes on stage like this, he's not going to do any good at all. There has to be a way to get his mind back on the right track. (sighs) Maybe this will work. Once again, I'm going to do something stupid for a guy. (Speaking) Listen, um, Trent, I doubt that I could go up on stage with you . . .

Trent (smiling): That would be cool. You and Jane know enough of our stuff, and backup singers wouldn't hurt our chances any...

Daria (looks slightly panicked for a second): That's not what I meant! (Softer) Remember, on Jane's last birthday, you took me to Axl's on Dega Street, and got my navel pierced? How you held my hand?

Trent (Different kind of smile this time): Yeah, I do.

Daria: Well, I'd kind of like to do the same for you..

Trent (raises an eyebrow): What do you mean?

Daria: Well . . . gulp ( with an "oh god, I can't believe I'm saying this" look on her face) If you win, I'll go back to Axl's and get it pierced again. And I'll . . . leave it in this time.

Trent (chuckle/cough): You don't have to do that.

Daria (with that look she gets around Trent): I know. I . . . I think I want to, this time.

Trent (Putting his hand around Daria's shoulders): Daria, you're the coolest.

Daria blushes fiercely at that, and Trent looks at her with a slight smile on his face. Shot changes to one of Trent and Daria walking away from the camera's p.o.v. and showing the gathering at the stage managers trailer.

Trent (teasing): You're not getting that rash again, are you?

Daria (shaking her head): Dammit! I am gonna kill Jane for telling you about that!

Quinn's party kicks off.

Scene opens with a wide exterior shot of the Morgendorffer home. It is mid- to late afternoon. Sandi's yellow convertible (from Road Worrier) sits in the driveway. Scene cuts to a shot of the living room, where the Fashion Club is preparing it for the party of the weekend. The sofas have been pushed back out of the way, and a few bands of streamers are hanging from various parts of the room and banister. Stacy and Tiffany are organizing a sizeable pile of CDs on a table next to the sound system, Quinn is putting drinks in to a large tub filled with crushed ice, and Sandi is standing in the middle of the room with her hands on her hips, looking imperious.

Sandi (looking things over): Well, Quinn, I must say...you have done rather impressively for using so little. I didn't know that the "minimalist party look" was still in this season.

Quinn (still pushing bottles into the ice): For get looks, Sandi, try common sense. After what happened last time, I've got to be a little more discreet about what kind of decoration I put up for parties. (Looks up and groans in disgust) I was carrying out garbage all night. Ugh (shudders)

Shot changes to medium shot of Stacy and Tiffany. Tiffany is still sorting as the scene continues.

Stacy (Shudders): Eww! All I remember is being trapped in the "Make out closet" with Upchuck!

Tiffany (looking at the back of a CD): Well, it waaaaaasss Truuuth or Darrrrreee.

Sandi (smirking): And you had had how many shots?

Stacy (apprehensive): Well...

Shot changed to one close up of Sandi with the POV so that Quinn is seen over her shoulder. Quinn turns around and looks at Sandi with her hands on her hips.

Quinn (with a knowing smirk): As I recall, she wasn't the only one lost in her shots that night.

Sandi (turn to Quinn, shocked): What?! I am always in complete control!

Quinn (Now with an evil, knowing smirk): Now, just exactly whose bra was it that my Dad had to untangle from the chandelier, hmm?

Sandi (Sticks her chin up in the air) :You'll never prove it!

At that moment, the door bell rings. Bing bong!

Quinn: (v/o as she starts walking to the door) You want to make a bet? (Turns back to the girls as she walks, and switches to a cheerful tone) Smiles, everyone, smiles!

Sandi (to herself): What is this, a 'Fantasy Island' re-run?

Shot changes to a shot of the front door and Quinn walking up and opening said door. (Start background music - Pink; Get the party started) Outside are the Three J's, Kevin, Brittany, several other football players, including Robert and Evan, and the rest of the cheer leaders, as well as a few other various students.

Quinn: Come on in, everyone!

With that, the kids of Lawndale begin to flood the Morgendorffer home. Quinn is surprised when Mack and Jodie turn up at the end of the line of kids entering the house.

Quinn (genuinely surprised): Mack! Jodie! I didn't expect to see you two here!

Mack (shutting the door behind him): Well, Jodie was starting to look like she needed a break from the extracurriculars, so I kidnapped her on her way to the congressman's office.

Jodie (gives Mack a look): It wasn't quite like that. It was a slow night, so I begged out.

Mack (shrugs): Hey, you were getting too close to burning out. You've gotta relax once in a while.

Jodie: I don't know...I just worry about how I'm going to explain this to my parents.

Mack: We'll worry about that later, all right?

Jodie: Well....

Quinn: Mack's right, Jodie. You'll kill yourself with all that extra stuff (Starts making "shoo" motions with her hands) Go! Dance! Have fun!

Mack and Jodie smile a little at Quinn as they walk off. Quinn starts to walk in join the party when the doorbell goes bing bong again!

Quinn (opening the door) Hhiiiiii!!!

The door opens to reveal Upchuck in his red smoking jacket.

Quinn: Ew.

Upchuck: Rrrrowwwrrrrr. Would your seductress sister happen to be attending this day's proceedings, hmmmmmmm?

Quinn slams the door in his face and heads for the party without a glance backward.

Upchuck (heard through door): Feisty!!!

Scene changes POV to a shot of the living room from to an angle higher above the milling group of kids. Several of them have began dancing. Quinn can be seen walking into the dance floor, snagging one of the Three J's along the way (it doesn't matter which one, because the other two follow) and joins the dancers. Scene fades as Quinn starts to "shake her thang!"

A Surprise at "Lawndale-stock"

Scene opens with another wide shot of the "Lawndale-stock" field, at bout the same time as the beginning of Quinn's party, mid to late afternoon. This time, there aren't so many vehicles, as they are parked relatively neatly off to the left of the shot. Stage hands are sitting up rows of chairs ahead of the stage. A partial crowd has gathered and several judges are sitting at tables partway back from the stage, making notes on clipboards. The participating bands are sitting in lines on either side of the stage, checking instruments in preparation for going on.

On one side stage, the two women (?) with the battle ax guitars are performing with two other women (?), one on drums, the other with a guitar / keyboard combination. The band is rather badly blasting their way through a cover version of something of Lita Ford's. On the other, another band is setting up for their set.

Off to one side, and a fair distance from the stage, Trent, Jane, Daria, and company, are watching the proceedings on the stage as they check their instruments for the umpteenth time. Daria is holding a couple of sheets of paper as she watches the performance onstage. From the direction they are looking, they are in the line off to the left of the stage.

Jane (looking somewhat exasperated): Just exactly how many bands are still ahead of us?

Daria (consults list): About ten or twelve.

Jane: And there's how many band's total?

Daria: Forty-two.

Jesse (worried and surprised): Forty two?? Oh wow!

Jane (puts her hands on top of her head and shakes her head resignedly): I had no idea that there were that many bands in the state!

Daria (holding the sheets in both hands and looking between them): Well, according to this, they came from allover the tri-state area. (reading from sheets) Oakwood, Leeville, Brentwood. There's even a couple here from St. Louis and one from Boston.

Trent (both eyebrows go up): Boston? Oh man! We don't stand a chance against big city bands like that!

Daria (looks up): I wouldn't be too worried. The band playing now is one of the one's from St. Louis. (looks at list) "The Leather Valkyries," according to this.

Jane (smirking): The Leather Strangled Cats, you mean. I've never been much of a Lita Ford fan, but these chicks are bad!

Daria: No worse than those guys who did the techno version of "Bohemian Rhapsody" a couple of hours ago.

Trent (shudders): Eww, tell me about it. If Freddy Mercury wasn't already dead, that would have killed him for sure!

Jane: I thought I heard someone turning over in their grave. (Puts arms down and turns to Trent) Maybe you guys ought to try and get some rest. The way things have been going, it could be about four hours before you're up. You don't want to be sleeping on stage, later, do you?

Trent: Well. I suppose we ought to at least try and relax, but it won't be easy.

Jesse: We could figure out what were going to play.

Trent (Smacks forehead): Aw, Hell! I knew we were forgetting something!

Daria and Jane exchange a You've-got-to-be-kidding-me! look, and then they both turn on Trent, who flinches under their glare. (Poor guy!)

Jane (angry): Why didn't you get that figured out before you came here this morning!?

Trent (defensively): We've been practicing everything that we know for the past two weeks almost non-stop! We figured that we'd decide once we got up on stage. I didn't think it was going to be anything like this!

Jane (sarcastically): Well, guess what...

Daria (looking from person to person as she speaks): Hold it. There's no time to get into recriminations now. Jane, go and get their music binder out of the van and we'll pick out the songs that the band will play.

Jane (as she leaves): Check.

Daria (continuing): Guys, the way things have been going, you probably have about three or four hours to work out the last minute kinks in whatever you're going to play, so you don't have any time for creative differences, or whatever it is that you decide to call it. If you can't work it out fast, at least for the short term, then play something different. All right?

Trent, Jesse, Max, and Nick (muttering and nodding): Yeah. All right. You got it.

Nick: Man, Daria, you sound like a manager.

Daria (as Jane returns): No thanks, I'm too young for children.

The band all gets a chuckle out of that, and at Jane's confused expression at hearing the last line.

Jane (holds out the binder, while looking very confused): Here's your lyrics book. Now someone tell me what the hell I just walked into the middle of.

Trent: Later. (Takes the book) All right, guys. Let's do this.

Jesse, Max, and Nick: Yeah!!!!!!

Begin Montage Sequence with BG music

Cut to Daria looking at her watch - time is 420 pm.
Cut to another band performing on stage
Cut to Trent looking worried as the band sits by their equipment, consulting their binder.
Cut to Jane checking her watch - time is 510 pm.
Cut to the punk band that had the Gremlin performing onstage.
Cut to Jesse and Max as they practice - Max is using his sticks on his knees and Jesse's guitar isn't connected.
Cut to Trent checking his watch - time is 630 pm.
Cut to the three well dressed preppies on stage.
Cut to Trent and Nick consulting the binder and playing their guitars (unplugged, obviously.)
Cut to Jane and Daria checking Daria's watch - time is 705pm - and exchanging unsure looks.
Cut to another band hammering out a song on stage.
Cut to all of Mystik Spyral - sitting on the grass and practicing with determined looks on their faces.

Montage and BG music ends as Trent nods once, looking confident, determined, and ready for anything.

Trent: We're as ready as we're going to get. Let's win this thing!

Trent puts his hand out in the center of the group. Max, Nick, and Jesse put their hands in as well. Trent shoots a look to Jane and Daria, who looks skeptical. After a beat, first Jane and then Daria walk over. POV changes to above the group's hands. First Jane reaches in and puts her hand on top of Jesse's, then Daria reaches in and puts her hand on top of Jane's

Jane: Mystik Spiral rules!

Everyone: (Marine style) Oo-RAH!!!!

POV shifts back as the six break their grips. The Exec from earlier comes walking up. He's carrying his clipboard in one hand, his coffee in the other, his sunglasses are hooked on his shirt pocket, and his tie is missing.

Exec (consults his clipboard): You folks Mystik Spiral?

Trent (confident): Yes, sir. That's us.

Exec: You're just about up. The stage hands will help switch drum sets and get you hooked into the amp systems as soon as these kids are finished. (turning to leave) Good Luck, everyone.

As the Exec walks off, two stage hands - one African American, the other Caucasian (bald and a goatee) - come walking up. Both are wearing bright green, but rather dirty, coveralls.

Black Stage Hand: You kids about ready to rock and roll?

Jane: You bloody bet!

Black Stage Hand: All right! Let's get you moved up to the stairs.

Trent: You got it. (Looks at the others) Everyone grab some gear.

All eight of them mill around for a moment, all talking at once and grabbing instruments, drums, cables, etc., and walking toward the stage in one's and twos, carrying something.

Cut to Daria and Jane walking with some stuff. Jane has amp cables slung over her shoulder and is carrying the hi-hat cymbal in one hand and the snare in the other. Daria has the other two drums (from above the base) in her hands and about a dozen drum sticks under her arm.

Daria: You know, Jane, that this isn't exactly what we signed on for. We just came to support the band, but instead we get drafted into being Mystik Spiral's roadies.

Jane: Hey, don't worry about it, amiga! I've got an "in" with the band leader. Just say the word and we could be promoted to Fly Girls in no time!

Daria (glaring): Watch how you use that word "fly." That stage is pretty high up there.

Jane (a little hurt): Hey, come on, Daria. I was only joking.

Daria: I know. (sighs and looking apologetic) I'm just nervous for Trent and the guys. I know how much this means to them. I'd just hate to see them disappointed.

Jane: Me too, Daria. But don't worry, we're not the ones that have to go up there. They're going to do just fine. You'll see.

Daria and Jane put the stuff that they are carrying down with the rest of the band's instruments. The rest of the band start sorting while Trent, Daria, and Jane converse with the Caucasian stage hand. They have to shout to be heard over the band that is playing.

White Stage Hand: These kids ought to be done in a couple of minutes. When they're done, we'll be hauling their stuff down at the same time yours is going up!

Trent: Got it!

Trent goes to help the band as Daria and Jane look over the crowd that has formed over the course of the day. Daria crosses her arms and settles back to wait as Jane puts her hands in her pockets and leans against the stairs as she looks around.

Shot cuts to a head and shoulders close up of Jane as her gaze pans from (her) right to left as she looks over the crowd with a critical eye. She looks all the way over to the other side of the stage. Suddenly, her face lights up as she sees someone she recognizes.

Shot changes to Jane's POV of the opposite side of the stage, where various other bands are standing and checking their instruments. Next to the opposite stairs, conversing with a relatively normally designed group is Tom Slone. Shot fast-zooms in tight on Tom as the man he is talking to turns around, revealing a pony tail tied with a leather string.

Shot changes back to Jane and Daria as Jane stands up and takes her hands out of her pockets.

Jane (puts hand on Daria's shoulder as she speaks): Hey! Look who's here!

Daria (looks at Jane, and then around): Huh? Who's where?

Jane (points): Over there. It's Tom!

Daria looks where Jane is pointing. Shot changes to Daria's POV, starts wide, then fast-zooms in of Tom as the man with the tail turns back to him. They see Tom talking, but obviously hear nothing.

Shot returns to Daria and Jane, standing as they were when Jane pointed out Tom. Daria glares in Tom's direction for a moment before turning slightly to Jane. Daria manages to hide her glare, but her tone of voice makes it obvious she is not happy.

Daria (flat and angry): What's he doing here? I didn't know that he was in a band.

Jane (missing Daria's tone): He isn't. At least, I didn't think that he was! I'm going to go and find out!

Jane runs off screen as the shot pans slightly to the left and Trent walks up to Daria, who looks after. He looks after Jane and then turns to look at Daria. Trent obviously missed Tom

Trent: Where's she going? We need to get set up in a minute.

Suddenly, the band that's playing finishes and the crowd that's gathered cheers and applauds, though it is scattered. The two stage hands are seen behind Trent and Daria, taking the stairs two at a time on the way up. Trent watches the stage hands, then turn his attention back to the band.

Trent (walking o.s.): Daria, you want to go and grab Janey? We need all the hands we can get!

Daria just stands there for a moment, glaring in Jane and Tom's direction with a really angry (okay, seriously pissed off) look on her face. Then she whirls around and stalks o.s. after Trent.

Scene ends and fades into split montage of Trent smacking his forehead on left and high angle shot of Quinn's party on right. Chorus of Joan Jett's "I love Rock and Roll" plays.