ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. MCGUIRE HOME – KITCHEN – NEXT DAY
JO and SAM are having their morning coffee. Matt and Lizzie haven't come down yet.
JO
(wistful)
I can't believe our little girl is already in High School!
SAM
Tell me about it. It seems like only yesterday that she was skinning her knees learning how to walk.
JO
I know. And learning her first word.
SAM
(brightening up)
"Da-Da".
JO
(grumpily)
Yeah.
(beat)
Anyway, where has all the time gone? Pretty soon she'll be off to college and we'll be left all alone.
SAM
With Matt.
(beat)
I'll board up her room.
JO
I'll change the locks.
They rush off.
CUT TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL – HALLWAY – LATER
Lizzie, Gordo and Miranda all stand together looking out at the masses. They are about to embark upon a new phase of their lives.
LIZZIE
(barely containing her excitement)
Here we are!
GORDO
(more prosaic)
Here we are.
MIRANDA
Come on Gordo, you could at least try to act excited!
GORDO
You forget, I've been here before. It's old hat to me.
MIRANDA
Old hat?
GORDO
Yeah, you know, "been there, done that?"
LIZZIE
(laughing)
Come on, let's go.
She pulls them both out into the hallway. As they walk to their lockers they see all the 'strata' of the High School social system.
The Nerds (we see TUDGEMAN talking with them, he waves to our gang who wave back).
The Jocks (we see ETHAN talking with them, he waves to our gang who wave back).
The Artsy types.
The Bad Crowd.
The Popular Kids. Here we see KATE, who hesitantly/shyly smiles over at Lizzie. Miranda, seeing this, turns to Lizzie.
MIRANDA
(to Lizzie)
What was that?
LIZZIE
What was what?
MIRANDA
That! Since when does Kate acknowledge our existence?
LIZZIE
It's… Complicated.
ANIMATED LIZZIE
(bemused)
Yeah, that's one way to put it.
LIZZIE
Come on, let's get to class. Wouldn't do to be late on the first day.
GORDO
Right.
Our gang grab their books and head off to class.
CUT TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL – CLASSROOM
The class is all seated, waiting for their teacher to arrive – which he does. Who should come through the door but MR. DIG.
LIZZIE
(surprised)
Mr. Dig! What are you doing here?
MR. DIG
Your regular teacher's out for the week – ringworm.
GORDO
Ugh.
MR. DIG
Indeed Mr. Gordon.
(beat)
Well then, let's get down to the fascinating world of High School Geography!
CUT TO:
INT. MIDDLE SCHOOL – HALLWAY – DAY
Matt, Melina, and Lanny scope out the place like they own it. Matt raises his arms in the air.
MATT
(in stentorian voice)
Hear me my people! Pay homage to your new king!
MELINA
Subtle.
Lanny points to their lockers.
MATT
(still in character)
Ah, yes Lanny, let us sally forth to our lockers! Ha-ha!
Melina roles her eyes as she follows behind.
INT. MIDDLE SCHOOL – HALLWAY - ANOTHER AREA – CONTINUOUS
Matt struggles with his locker, he can't get it open.
MATT
This thing won't open…
MELINA
Let me 'your highness'.
Melina deftly opens the locker.
MATT
(back in character)
Thank you young damsel. Thou shalt be rewarded.
At this point the school bell rings.
MELINA
Come on 'your grace', let's get to class.
MATT
(in character)
Onward to destiny!
CUT TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL – HALLWAY – DAY
Our trio has just gotten out of their first class.
MIRANDA
Whew! Who knew High School was so much work!
LIZZIE
Tell me about it! It's the first day of school and we already have homework!
ANIMATED LIZZIE
Shouldn't there be some sort of summer vacation amnesty period?
GORDO
We are in High School now. Things are going to be tougher.
MIRANDA
You could at least be sympathetic!
GORDO
Sorry.
LIZZIE
Well, if that was any indication, today is going to be a long day.
MIRANDA
You can say that again.
CUT TO:
A SHORT MUSICAL MONTAGE:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL – MATH CLASS – DAY
The teacher is up at the chalkboard writing out a complex algebraic equation. Miranda is wearing a stupefied/mystified look on her face.
INT. HIGH SCHOOL – ENGLISH CLASS – DAY
The teacher is talking to the class while pointing to the chalkboard. She's discussing all sorts of arcane English 'rules'. Prepositions, hanging participles, conjugal verbs, etc. Lizzie franticly writes the stuff down in her notebook as she looks from the teacher to the book with a frantic/lost look on her face.
INT. HIGH SCHOOL – AUTO CLASS – DAY
Gordo is dwarfed by a large group of 'grease monkeys' looking down at an engine block as the teacher points to various parts. Gordo wears a look of intense concentration mixed with a bit of incongruity.
ANGLE ON: A wall clock, the hands swirl around to indicate the passage of time.
End of Montage
CUT TO:
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL – DAY
Lizzie, Gordo and Miranda have just gotten out for lunch break. They're frazzled.
MIRANDA
I'm glad that's over with.
GORDO
It's only lunch. There's still half a day to go.
LIZZIE/MIRANDA
Not helping Gordo.
MIRANDA
Anyway, at least we can have lunch in peace.
Enter two GIRLS walking up to Lizzie hesitantly.
GIRL #1
Aren't you Lizzie McGuire?
ANIMATED LIZZIE
Unless someone stole my underwear, yup.
LIZZIE
(slightly confused)
Uh, huh.
GIRL #2
And weren't you at the International Music Video Awards?
LIZZIE
(brightening)
Yeah, that's me.
GIRL #1
Can we have your autograph?
LIZZIE
(wonderingly)
Uh, sure.
From off camera someone shouts Lizzie's name. Soon our trio are mobbed by autograph seekers.
GORDO
(to Miranda)
You were saying?
CUT TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL – HALLWAY – DAY
Lizzie, Gordo and Miranda are walking to their next class when Lizzie is approached by GEORGETTE SKYLER, an older girl and Captain of the Cheerleading Squad.
GEORGETTE
Lizzie, right?
LIZZIE
Yeah…
GEORGETTE
Well, some of us kids are having a party Thursday. And I, we, thought you'd like, might be interested.
LIZZIE
Um, thanks.
GEORGETTE
(glancing at Gordo and Miranda)
Oh, and you too.
GORDO
Thanks.
GEORGETTE
(uncomfortably)
So, um, I guess that's it. Hope to see you there.
Georgette leaves.
LIZZIE
What was that?
MIRANDA
(ecstatic)
'That' was cool!
(to Lizzie)
Autograph seekers. The captain of the cheerleading team inviting you to parties. Lizzie, it's official. You are popular.
GORDO
More than popular. She's famous.
ANIMATED LIZZIE
Me? Famous?
A hand fan suddenly materializes and she begins to flutter it along with her lashes.
ANIMATED LIZZIE (CONT.)
Well, I do declare.
LIZZIE
(concerned)
But I'm not sure I want to be famous.
LIZZIE (CONT.)
Remember when I got that modeling contract?
CLIP: LAST YEAR'S MODEL – Gordo, Miranda and others fawning over Lizzie instead of treating her like a friend.
BACK TO SCENELIZZIE
And the time I dated Frankie Muniz?
CLIP: LIZZIE IN THE MIDDLE – Gordo and Miranda forswearing to hangout with Lizzie as long as she is dating Frankie.
BACK TO SCENE
GORDO
I don't think you have a choice now. You're already out there.
Lizzie looks on worryingly.
CUT TO:
INT. MIDDLE SCHOOL – CLASSROOM – DAY
Matt is engaged in cutting up the students in class while the teacher's back is turned as she's writing on the chalkboard. He is the center of attention and all eyes are riveted on him.
TEACHER
(O.S.)
Now who can tell me the answer to this problem?
Matt continues to entertain, oblivious.
The teacher comes into frame.
TEACHER
Perhaps you Mr. McGuire?
Matt, caught unawares, gulps, chagrined. The other students suddenly snap back to attention.
MATT
Uh, excuse me?
TEACHER
I said, perhaps you can show the class the answer to the problem on the board.
MATT
(wilting)
Um, uh, okay?
Matt makes the long march to the front of the class to the chalkboard. On it is a complex fraction problem. He looks at it, having not the least little notion as to how to solve it. Hesitantly, he takes a wild stab at it and takes up the chalk and writes the number '1'.
TEACHER
(impressed)
That's right. One is the answer. Very good Mr. McGuire, you may be seated.
Matt makes his way to his desk, cockier than ever now, as his teacher looks on admiringly.
CUT TO:
INT. MIDDLE SCHOOL – HALLWAY – DAY
Matt, Melina, and Lanny are walking down the hallway.
MELINA
(to Matt)
You were so lucky in math class.
MATT
(mock offended)
Luck? My dear Melina, that was skill!
MELINA
Uh, huh.
Lanny grabs for Matt's attention, gesturing towards a soft drink vending machine.
MATT
Good idea Lanny. We could all use a soda. I'm buying!
MELINA
Big spender.
But by the time they get over to it PRINCIPAL TWEEDY is already standing in front of it, peeved. It just took his change without giving anything back.
PRINCIPAL TWEEDY
(miffed)
Argh! And that was my last quarter too!
Matt, sensing an opportunity to further ingrain himself with the faculty, clears his throat.
MATT
Allow me.
Principal Tweedy steps aside as Matt steps up to the machine. He makes a show of cracking his knuckles, loosing up his neck, etc, as though he's preparing for an extreme effort. Melina roles her eyes. Finally ready, Matt unleashes a 'kung-fu yell' as he gives the machine a karate chop. A soda pops forth, much to Principal Tweedy's pleasure.
PRINCIPAL TWEEDY
(pleased)
Mr. McGuire, it's a real pleasure to have you in this school full time. I see great things in your future.
Principal Tweedy leaves whistling.
MATT
Hail to the king baby.
CUT TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL – GYM – DAY
Our trio are in gym class doing their stretching exercises.
LIZZIE
-I mean, sure I feel different. But not 'diva' different.
MIRANDA
Different how?
LIZZIE
I feel more confident. More sure of myself.
GORDO
You're growing as a person Lizzie. It's a sign of maturity.
ANIMATED LIZZIE
Maturity? I still sleep with Mr. Snuggles!
Animated Lizzie holds her stuffed pig, Mr. Snuggles, close to her chest while sucking her thumb.
MIRANDA
And besides, don't you like having found your talent?
GORDO
Yeah. You were always telling us how you felt 'left behind'.
CLIP: OVER THE HILL – Lizzie complains to Gordo and Miranda about how she doesn't have a special talent.
BACK TO SCENE
LIZZIE
That's true…
MIRANDA
Of course it is. Besides, think of all the perks!
LIZZIE
(indulgently)
Such as?
MIRANDA
Moolah. The Green. Dinaro. Money.
ANIMATED LIZZIE
Now that is a perk.
Lizzie laughs.
GORDO
The bottom line Lizzie is that you've found something you're good at. And a side effect of that is fame.
MIRANDA
(greedily)
And fortune. Don't forget fortune!
GORDO
Yeah. That too.
ANIMATED LIZZIE
French fries for life. Heck, I could buy France itself!
LIZZIE
I know, but—
Lizzie is interrupted as the P.E. teacher calls out to get ready for an activity.
GORDO
See? No matter how big you get you've still got to run laps like the rest of us.
LIZZIE
(teasingly)
I could always hire someone to run for me you know.
ANIMATED LIZZIE
Hey, I'm starting to get the hang of this fame thing already!
CUT TO:
END OF ACT ONE