ACT ONE
FADE IN:
EXT. AN OUTDOOR MALL - DAY
Amongst the throngs of post-Christmas shoppers walk Lily and
Natalie. Lily is carrying several small bags; Natalie is
empty-handed.
NATALIE
I never figured you for a
shopping fool.
LILY
Oh, Josh'll love these.
NATALIE
(snorts)
Right, I always had Josh pegged
as a embroidered-cow-doily kind
of guy.
Lily gives Natalie a mildly annoyed look.
LILY
Why haven't you gotten anything?
NATALIE
This, it's all just...kind of
weird.
Lily shrugs her question.
NATALIE
(abruptly)
How do you have Christmas without
snow? It's just...unnatural,
that's what it is.
Lily laughs good-naturedly.
LILY
It's L.A.
NATALIE
Like I said...weird.
Lily starts to say something else, but suddenly something in
a store window catches Natalie's eye, and the rest of the
world fades away...
FLASH CUT TO:
DREAM MONTAGE
Harrison decked out in a tux and diamond cufflinks,
seemingly at some glittery event. Then Natalie there as
well, dressed in a glamorous evening gown. Finally, as
Harrison leans in ever closer—
FLASH CUT TO:
THE MALL
Something pulling on Natalie's sleeve snaps her out of her
reverie.
NATALIE
What?
The "something" turns out to be Lily.
LILY
That's what I was asking!
"What?"
Natalie just stares at her, dumbfounded.
LILY (CONT'D)
(nodding)
I hate diamonds. You wouldn't
believe the conditions the
miners live in.
In the shop window, we see a mannequin in a tux, with those
diamond cufflinks attatched.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SAM'S APARTMENT - DAY
Sam is doing nothing in particular when, without warning, the
front door opoens and Jaycee pops her head in.
JAYCEE
Hey, girl! Rave tonight!
Sam arches an eyebrow in Jaycee's general direction.
SAM
Again?
JAYCEE
It's the holidays, man!
SAM
You need a holiday to rave?
JAYCEE
No, but it sounds more festive.
Aww, c'mon, Sam!
SAM
Okay, okay...
JAYCEE
There ya go! You'll meet new
people—you have GOT to make new
friends.
The door closes.
SAM
(to herself)
Yes. That I do.
CUT TO:
INT. BROOKE'S BEDROOM - DAY
Picking up right where we left off.
BROOKE
You think I'm WHAT of WHO?
HARRISON
I don't get it. I'm here, you're
here, she's not here. Why are
you the one who's jealous?
BROOKE
(flabbergasted)
That's what I'm SAYING! Why
would I be jealous?
HARRISON
That's a good question.
BROOKE
Harrison, I'm serious. I WILL
strangle you.
HARRISON
Look, I'm not the one who's always
acting like Sam is sitting here
between us.
BROOKE
But she is! Every time I turn
around, it's Sam this or Sam that,
or "I wonder what poor Sam is
doing," or...
Harrison reaches out and grabs an increasingly hyper Brooke by
the shoulders.
HARRISON
Just stop it! This is crazy!
She shrugs him off.
BROOKE
Admit it, Harrison. There's a big
white elephant in the room with
us, and the elephant's name is Sam
McPherson. You wanna know what
the problem is? It's her.
HARRISON
No, it's not. She's not even
here. YOU'RE the problem.
Brooke's eyes narrow dangerously.
BROOKE
Don't call me a problem. YOU'RE
the problem, with your ruts and
your ditches!
Harrison throws up his hands.
HARRISON
Fine. I'm outta here.
He walks out of the room in a huff. For a moment Brooke looks
like she might call after him—but she doesn't.
CUT TO:
INT. JOSH AND LILY'S APARTMENT - LATER
Lily comes into the living room to find Josh looking
disapprovingly at what can only be described as an extremely
odd holiday display.
JOSH
Lil, how long is this thing going
to stay like this?
LILY
(a bit confused)
Like what, Josh?
JOSH
You know...up.
LILY
What's wrong with it?
JOSH
Well, first off, it's not a tree.
Or even very Christmasy.
LILY
Baby, we've been through this. The
idea of chopping down a defenseless
pine tree just so it can be
displayed like some floral-cidal
trophy is morally repugnant.
(gesturing)
Besides, these are very Christmasy.
They just happen to also be non-
discriminatory and religion-
neutral.
JOSH
But it's already five days after
Christmas!
LILY
So?
JOSH
(pointedly)
In my home, all the Christmas
decorations are down by noon on the
26th.
Lily stands before him, hands on hips.
LILY
And why do you want OUR home to be
like YOUR home?
Josh stops in mid-rant, finger raised.
JOSH
You know, that's a good point.
LILY
(grinning)
I know.
Josh gets a mischievious gleam in his eye, and suddenly sets
upon Lily with an attack of tickling fingers.
JOSH
Oh, you do, do you? Huh? Huh?
Shrieking, Lily falls back into the sofa, followed closely by
Josh.
CUT TO:
INT. A RAVE - NIGHT
Hundreds of ravers crowd the floor of an old warehouse, and in
their midst are Sam and Jaycee, dancing up a tempest of epic
proportions for the entertainment of those around them. Soon
Jaycee spots a smoldering blonde wearing next to nothing, and
beckons provocatively. The pair become a trio, though Sam is
too amped up to really notice.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SAM'S APARTMENT - MORNING
Sam shuffles listlessly into the kitchen area, the victim of
severe morning-after pains. She takes the mini coffee pot and
pours a cup of coffee into a mug—except that nothing comes out,
because the pot is empty. Sam puzzles over this for several
long seconds, peering into the pot from above; then finally
holding it over her head, tipping it and examining it from
below. After finally accepting that no coffee will be
forthcoming, she sets the pot down and heads for the door.
CUT TO:
INT. SAM'S APARTMENT HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
The door to Sam's apartment opens, and Sam appears, still
looking like death warmed over. She makes the long, ten-foot
trek to Jaycee's door, and knocks feebly.
No answer.
Visibly mustering a burst of energy, she knocks again, loudly.
Still no answer.
After a few more seconds of deliberation, she tries the door,
and finds it unlocked.
CUT TO:
INT JAYCEE'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Sam walks into Jaycee's place cautiously, but the apartment
seems to be empty.
SAM
Jaycee—?
The bathroom door opens behind Sam, and when she turns around,
she sees the blonde from the rave standing in the doorway
naked—though Sam obviously doesn't recognize her.
SAM
(flustered)
Uhhh...
The blonde, however, seems completely at ease with the
situation.
REYANNA
Hey! You're Sam, right? From last
night. I remember you.
Sam is obviously still three steps behind.
SAM
I, um...
Reyanna steps forward, holding out her hand.
REYANNA
Man, I guess you really WERE
flying last night, huh? I'm—
SAM
(breaking in)
Nude.
Reyanna looks down at herself, laughing.
REYANNA
Kinda dumb taking a shower with
clothes on, huh? I'm Reyanna.
Sam shakes her hand, more because it's there than anything
else.
SAM
Hi. Sam. So—
Suddenly Jaycee appears in the bathroom doorway, also naked.
JAYCEE
Babe, I thought you were gonna—?
(catching sight of Sam)
Oh, hey, Sam.
SAM
(lamely)
Hey.
Jaycee pulls out a towel from somewhere behind her and wraps
it around herself.
JAYCEE
You remember Reyanna, from last
night, right?
REYANNA
No way, Jay, she had her sights set
on other things, huh?
SAM
(trying to keep up)
Huh?
JAYCEE
Yeah, huh?
REYANNA
(to Sam)
I saw you scoping that Latino rock,
huh?
SAM
Uhhh...
JAYCEE
Rey..."rock"?
REYANNA
Hey, just because I don't eat
sausage doesn't mean I can't watch
how it's made, huh?
Jaycee concedes the point with a shrug. By this time Sam has
turned beet red.
SAM
I, um, just... I came... I mean,
I'm here because...uhhh...
Sam gives up trying to talk and flees the apartment. Reyanna
shrugs at Jaycee, who looks vaguely worried.
CUT TO:
EXT. THE MALL - DAY
New Year's Eve: The mall is still moderately crowded, and
Natalie is out shopping again, solo this time. Also
different: she's carrying two small bags. Suddenly someone
knocks into her from behind, making her stumble forward a
couple of steps.
NATALIE
Hey!
She turns around and sees Harrison standing there,
embarrassed.
HARRISON
Oh! Sorry, sorry!
NATALIE
(annoyed)
Harrison, watch where you're going!
But something in Harrison's hang-dog expression makes her
anger melt away.
NATALIE (CONT'D)
What's wrong with you?
Harrison just shakes his head, demurring.
NATALIE (CONT'D)
It is...Brooke? Are you guys...?
HARRISON
(tired)
We're ALWAYS...
NATALIE
Oh. I'm...sorry. Is it...?
HARRISON
I don't know WHAT it is. SHE
thinks it's Sam.
A long moment of silence.
NATALIE
(prompting)
And?
Harrison shrugs.
NATALIE (CONT'D)
You don't KNOW?
HARRISON
Oh, I know. The only interfering
Sam is doing between us is in
Brooke's over-active imagination.
NATALIE
You're sure?
HARRISON
She's not AROUND. She lives—I
don't know exactly. Downtown,
somewhere. How much can she
interfere when I don't even know
where she lives?
Natalie thinks that over for a moment.
NATALIE
Well...you still see her at school,
right?
HARRISON
Not hardly. I'm not even sure she
goes anymore.
NATALIE
Ummm...yeah. I guess I'm not going
to be seeing her much either,
after—
Belatedly sensing that she's on dangerous ground, she breaks
off. Harrison isn't willing to let her off the hook, though.
HARRISON
After what?
NATALIE
(covering)
Oh, uh...nothing.
HARRISON
Did you guys have a fight?
NATALIE
Uh, yeah. That was it.
Any hope Natalie has that Harrison might let the subject drop,
though, are quickly dashed.
HARRISON
About what?
NATALIE
About what? Uh, uh, just...girl
stuff.
HARRISON
(laughs)
This is Sam we're talking about.
She doesn't know what "girl stuff"
is.
NATALIE
I mean, nothing important. We had
an argument, and she got mad at us,
end of story—
HARRISON
Wait, wait, wait. Who's "us"?
NATALIE
Oh! Ah...me and...Carmen.
HARRISON
(slowly)
You and Carmen...had a fight with
Sam.
Natalie gives up, backing away.
NATALIE
I think...yeah, I have to go now.
Before Harrison can stop her, she turns and runs off.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
