ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. CHEMISTRY CLASS - MORNING
Moments before the bell rings. Most of the class is already
in their seats. Then Sam breezes in, cell phone in one hand,
PDA in the other, fully loaded shoulder bag tucked under one
arm.
SAM
(into the phone)
Yes, I got that part...no, I
understand that...
Miss Glass, lounging in h3er chair, leaps up at the sound of a
student having the nerve to use a cell phone in class.
GLASS
McPherson!
Sam stops in her tracks, turns around, and—
as best she can—holds up a finger.
SAM
(into the phone)
Hold on, Mr. Krupps.
(to Miss Glass)
Yes, Miss Glass?
The realization that Sam is on the phone with Principal
Krupps—and that therefore there's nothing she can really do
about it—resutls in Miss Glass rolling her eyes and skulking
away.
GLASS
(disgusted)
Nothing.
Dismissing her instantly, Sam returns to her call:
SAM
(into the phone)
I'm back... Okay...
While she's talking, she dumps her shoulder bag on the table
in front of her stool.
SAM (CONT'D)
...Sure, I can take care of that...
She fishes a couple of papers out of the bag.
SAM (CONT'D)
...No, it's no problem...
Sam trots to the front of the room, lays the papers down in
front of an unsmiling Miss Glass, and heads back to her seat.
SAM (CONT'D)
...Uh-huh... Can I see that
report?... Great...
As she hops onto the stool, the bells rings.
SAM (CONT'D)
...Yeah, gotta go, that's the
bell... Okay...
(laughs)
...You too, Mr. Krupps.
She snaps the phone closed and tucks it away, then turns her
attention to Miss Glass, who seems to be steaming just under
the surface. She picks up the papers Sam had left and scans
them.
GLASS
Are these your chapter reports,
McPherson?
SAM
Uh-huh. I did them last night.
GLASS
(snorts)
You did this in one night? This
oughta be fun.
She promptly tosses the papers to one side.
GLASS (CONT'D)
All right! Today's lesson: how to
build your very own hydrogen bomb.
Just kidding! Wanted to get a rise
out of Little Miss Peacenik over
there.
Lily stonily refuses to be baited.
GLASS (CONT'D)
Don't worry! By the time you get
done studying hydrogen isotopes,
you'll wish you had your own
H-bomb, just to put yourselves out
of your misery! Ha!
She slaps the table merrily.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - LATER
Harrison is traversing the corridors warily, looking around
and behind him at frequent intervals, then dashing up the
stairs.
CUT TO:
INT. UPSTAIRS HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
Upstairs, the hallways are less crowded. Harrison goes to the
end of the hall, takes one more furtive glance around, and
ducks into a secluded alcove—where Natalie is waiting, pacing
the narrow width of the space nervously. Her anxiety only
seems to increase when she sees him.
NATALIE
Thanks for coming.
HARRISON
(holding up a hand)
The only reason I'm here is to say
I'm not interested.
Natalie seems to crumble inside, though she tries to put on a
brave face.
NATALIE
(cracking)
Well...I guess that saves me a lot
of talking, huh?
HARRISON
Natalie...
NATALIE
New Year's Eve, what was that? Was
it nothing? You can't stand there
and tell me it was nothing.
HARRISON
(struggling)
I...I don't know what it was.
NATALIE
(almost whispering)
You know what it could be.
Harrison puts his fingers to his temples, as if trying to ward
off a headache.
HARRISON
Argh! I can't do this! I went
through this once, with Brooke and
Sam. It was pure hell. There's no
way I'm going through it again with
Brooke and you.
NATALIE
And that's it? Without even giving
yourself a chance to find out how
you really feel?
HARRISON
I know how I feel. I'm committed
to Brooke.
NATALIE
(muttering)
Insert straightjacket joke here.
Harrison glares at her.
NATALIE (CONT'D)
Okay! Fine! You tell me on New
Year's Eve you felt nothing, that
it was all in my over-active
stalker imagination—and I'll go
away, and you'll never have to
worry about me again.
For a moment, it looks like Harrison is struggling with the
temptation to do just that.
HARRISON
(capitulating)
I can't...say that. You know I
can't say that.
Natalie looks up at him intently.
NATALIE
I know.
HARRISON
No! Natalie... I have to think
of Brooke, how she feels. Don't
you care about that? She's
supposed to be your friend—or at
least she was.
NATALIE
First of all, I'm pretty sure she's
not my friend. And anyway, I'm not
acting any differently than she
did. She knew how Sam felt about
you, and she didn't care—and now I
don't care how she feels.
HARRISON
Yeah, I heard about your little
declaration.
NATALIE
(groans)
Okay, I wasn't being diplomatic
then—I was just pissed! I was
tired of listening to Brooke's
holier-than-thou attitude, thought
she deserved some of her own back
for a change.
HARRISON
Brooke's not—
NATALIE
Oh, she is SO! Selfish, self-
centered, egomaniacal, possessive,
insanely jealous...
HARRISON
(incredulous)
Where are you getting this from?
Brooke's not anything like that.
She's—
But Harrison doesn't get the chance to rattle off Brooke's
qualities—he is cut off by an angry shout:
BROOKE
NATALIE!
They turn to see Brooke standing there, steaming. She marches
forward and pushes Natalie away from Harrison.
NATALIE
Hey!
BROOKE
I see you couldn't wait to start
throwing yourself at my boyfriend.
She steps towards Natalie menacingly, crowding her against the
wall.
HARRISON
We were just talking.
Brooke doesn't spare him a glance.
BROOKE
Stay out of this, Harrison.
(to Natalie)
Remember your first day?
Backed against the wall, Natalie looks up at Brooke, fists
clenched.
NATALIE
You don't have your posse with you
now.
BROOKE
(grinning)
That's okay—I can kick your ass
all by myself.
Then Harrison is standing at Brooke's shoulder.
HARRISON
Natalie, get out of here. Brooke
and I need to talk.
NATALIE
I don't need—
HARRISON
Natalie, go!
Natalie slides away from Brooke with as much grace as she can
muster, then takes off down the hallway. Brooke starts to
take a step after her, but Harrison catches her firmly by the
arm.
BROOKE
Harrison!
HARRISON
(smoldering)
Brooke, do me a favor, okay? The
next time I'm telling someone that
you're NOT egotistical, possessive
and jealous, try to cooperate, huh?
BROOKE
Oh, no. You don't get to get out
of my being mad at you by being mad
at me.
HARRISON
Come again?
BROOKE
I'm the one who's mad here, dammit!
I can't believe you were talking to
her!
HARRISON
Yeah, the operative word there is
"talking".
BROOKE
I don't care!
HARRISON
Well, I do. And I hope you're not
thinking of ORDERING me not to talk
to Natalie. Remember that little
chat about trust?
For a moment Brooke looks like she's going to explode; then
she leans against the wall, fists ballled not in anger but
frustration.
BROOKE
I... It's so hard, Harrison. SO
hard. I don't want to be like
this, I HATE being like this... I
just...KNOW she wants to take you
away from me. Just standing
there...watching... I...
Brooke trails off, exhausted and sniffling. Harrison gathers
her up in his arms.
HARRISON
Shhh...she's not taking me
anywhere.
BROOKE
(plaintive)
Promise?
HARRISON
Promise.
BROOKE
You don't feel anything for her?
Not at all?
Doubts flicker across Harrison's face, out of Brooke's sight.
HARRISON
(soothing)
Not at all.
CUT TO:
EST. THE QUAD - AFTERNOON
Students dispersing after class.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY
Sam and Krupps are walking briskly down the corridor. Sam is
loaded down with her shoulder bag, and Krupps is carrying a
thick binder.
SAM
I'm really sorry about this, Mr.
Krupps. I know you wanted to go
over some ideas. I don't know why
Mr. Doyle wants me at the paper so
early—all I've been doing is
shadowing other people, watching
them work. "Studying", Mr. Doyle
keeps saying.
KRUPPS
Well, I have no objections to your
studying, Sam. Besides, you're
getting paid for it. You should
enjoy it.
SAM
Oh, I do! I just wish...
KRUPPS
(chuckling)
You're eager. Another fine
quality. In fact, perhaps just a
touch TOO eager. This report can
wait, you know.
SAM
No, no.
She holds out her hand expectantly; he hands over the binder.
KRUPPS
I don't want to overburden you.
SAM
Don't worry about it. I'll look at
this in the car.
Without pause, they march through the double doors at the end
of the hallway.
CUT TO:
EXT. KENNEDY HIGH PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
Sam and Krupps head down the sidewalk to the curb.
KRUPPS
We'll teleconference later.
SAM
It might be late...
KRUPPS
(reproachfully)
Sam.
SAM
Okay, okay. But if I wake you up,
it's your fault.
They've reached the parking lot. Sam looks back and forth
expectantly.
SAM (CONT'D)
(under her breath)
Come on, Jaycee, where are you?
KRUPPS
Perhaps I could—
Krupps is cut off by the sound of a gunning engine. Jaycee's
convertible tears into the parking lot and screeches to a
stop in front of them. Sam tosses her shoulder bag in the
back and climbs into the passenger seat, balancing the binder
on her lap.
SAM
(to Jaycee)
To the paper, quick!
JAYCEE
(throwing up a hand)
Javohl, mein kommandant!
Sam slaps her hand down, then looks up at Krupps as Jaycee
pulls away.
SAM
(calling back)
I'll call you!
Krupps watches them go, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - LATER
The corridor is deserted, except for Natalie, who is rummaging
through her open locker. As she steps back and closes the
locker door, a hand comes to rest on her shoulder. Instantly,
she spins and throws a body blow—which catches Harrison
square in the midsection.
HARRISON
Oof!
As Harrison doubles over, Natalie's hands fly to her gaping
mouth in shock.
NATALIE
Oh my God! Oh my God! Harrison,
are you okay?
HARRISON
(wheezing)
Me...? Yeah...sure...any day now...
Distraught, Natalie leads Harrison—who is still bent in the
middle—through a nearby door.
CUT TO:
INT. A CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS
Natalie guides Harrison into the empty classroom and settles
him into a chair.
NATALIE
(bending over him)
I'm SO sorry. I thought you might
be Brooke.
Still gasping, he looks up at her warily.
HARRISON
Forget about...protecting you...
from Brooke... I oughta be...
protecting HER...from YOU...
NATALIE
Aww, Harrison! Were you trying to
protect me? That's so sweet!
She promptly takes his face in her hands and kisses his
forehead.
HARRISON
(groans)
This is hopeless.
NATALIE
No, it's not, Harrison. You're
protective of me. That means a
lot.
Harrison is sufficiently recovered to scoot away a bit.
HARRISON
No! No, it doesn't mean a lot!
Believe me, it means little! Very,
very little!
NATALIE
Don't be shy about it. This is a
really good sign.
HARRISON
(desperate)
Natalie, no! It's not a sign!
It's no kind of sign!
NATALIE
You see? I knew if you gave
yourself a chance, your feelings
for me would come out.
Harrison just buries his face in his hands.
CUT TO:
EXT. COUNTY ANNEX - AFTERNOON
Coincidentally, the same building where Sam's New Year's Eve
adventure took place. Krupps' car pulls into a spot near the
front dood, and Krupps gets out. He seems distracted, and
just before he gets to the doors, they open and Mr. Osbourne
comes out, also looking distracted. They barely manage to
keep from bumping into one another.
OSBOURNE
Oh! Excuse me, Mr. Krupps.
KRUPPS
Erick! Fancy meeting you here.
OSBOURNE
Indeed. Just researching old
records.
KRUPPS
Yes, I'm here on a sort of research
mission myself.
OSBOURNE
Another of the Board's...
esoteric...demands?
KRUPPS
No, no...just some information for
a personal project.
The exchange stalls awkwardly.
OSBOURNE
Well... I won't keep you.
KRUPPS
I'll see you tomorrow, Erick.
OSBOURNE
Tomorrow. Of course.
Osbourne steps aside, allowing Krupps to enter the building.
CUT TO:
INT. MCQUEEN DINING ROOM - EARLY EVENING
Brooke, Lily and Carmen are gathered around the dining room
table, amid various books and papers: a study session.
LILY
(standing up)
I'd better go, guys.
Jane happens to walk in, catching Lily's statement.
JANE
Oh, Lily, honey, why don't you
stay? You can call Josh and have
him come over for dinner. Mike's
bringing home pizza.
LILY
Thanks, Mrs. McPherson, but there's
a veggie casserole waiting.
The phone rings. Brooke jumps up.
BROOKE
(brightly)
I'll get it!
As Brooke jogs into the kitchen, Jane turns to Carmen.
JANE
Are you staying, Carmen?
CARMEN
Sure, I can always go for pizza.
Mom's at a meeting anyway.
JANE
(to Lily)
Are you sure I can't convince you
to stay? I'm sure we could make
one of those pizzas vegetarian.
LILY
It does sound tempting—
Suddenly there is a crash in the kitchen, startling everyone.
Jane makes a rush for the kitchen, followed closely by Lily
and Carmen.
CUT TO:
INT. MCQUEEN KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Jane and the girls find Brooke backed up against the
refrigerator, her hands clamped over her mouth, horror plainly
visible in her eyes. The telephone is swinging from its cord;
the crash apparently was Brooke dropping it.
JANE
(rushing over)
Brooke! Brooke? What is it?
As Lily and Carmen crowd around Brooke, Jane makes a grab for
the phone, hauling it up by the cord.
JANE (CONT'D)
(into the phone)
Hello? Hello!... No, I'm... I'm
his wife. What's— Oh, God... Is
he...? We'll...be right there.
She manages to hang up the phone.
CARMEN
Mrs. McPherson? What is it?
Jane is struggling to keep her composure.
JANE
There's, uh...there's a fire. In
Mike's building...
LILY
Oh my God. Is he okay?
JANE
They...don't know... We have to
go.
She fumbles for her purse, then puts an arm around Brooke.
JANE (CONT'D)
Honey, I don't know if—
BROOKE
(panicky)
You can't leave me here.
CARMEN
(interposing)
We'll watch Mac.
Jane stops to pat Carmen's hand in appreciation.
JANE
Thank you. Just...call Miss Feeley
if it...gets too late.
She guides Brooke gently towards the patio doors, while Lily
and Carmen trade worried looks.
CUT TO:
EST. L.A. SKYLINE - DUSK
Actually, just a part of the skyline: a cluster of mid-rise
office buildings, one of dozens of such clusters that are
scattered throughout the L.A. basin. Against the smoggy
sunset, a plume of black smoke is clearly visible.
CUT TO:
EXT. A PARKING LOT
A scene of barely-controlled chaos: fire trucks, along with
what seems to be miles of hose, are scattered across the side
of the lot closest to the burning building. A throng of
onlookers and others crowd the other side of the lot, held
back by police barricades. The street beyond is a mess—cars
abandoned across all the lanes.
Jane's car creeps up the street, inching along the curb as far
as it can. The moment Jane stops the car, she and Brooke hop
out. They run across the street towards the crowd, weaving
around the abandoned cars.
JANE
Mike? Mike!
BROOKE
Dad!
They frantically cross along the front edge of the crowd,
calling and trying to scan the sea of faces, until suddenly
Mike appears, looking slightly disheveled but otherwise none
the worse for wear.
MIKE
Brooke! Jane!
Brooke, who is a couple of steps closer, throws herself into
her father's arms. Jane is just a moment behind, joining in
the clinch.
MIKE (CONT'D)
It's okay! I'm okay!
He manages to maneuver Brooke and Jane into an embrace that's
not quite as bone-crushing.
BROOKE
Daddy, I was so scared...
MIKE
I'm fine, sweetheart. It wasn't
close.
BROOKE
What happened?
MIKE
Don't know what started it. But it
was three floors above us. I was
never in any danger.
A strobe of light illuminates them for a moment: the wayward
spotlight of a television camera, one of several clustered at
the far edge of the lot.
MIKE (CONT'D)
I've been staying away from the
media. They've been going after
anyone who was in the building.
JANE
You're sure you're okay?
MIKE
(laughing)
I'm fine! I may have to work from
home for a while, but—
The sudden sound of screeching brakes makes them all turn. At
the corner, a late-arriving TV van has just been cut off by a
white compact. The compact swerves around the van, and comes
closer to the lot than most of the other cars by jumping the
curb, driving down the sidewalk and nearly topplijng a sapling
tree planted at the edge of the lot.
BROOKE
(peering)
Is that—?
The driver's-side door—which has the L.A. Chronicle logo
painted on it—opens, and Sam clambers out.
JANE
Sam?
Plainly she doesn't see them. She pulls a pad and pencil out
of the car, and pins a press badge to her blouse. Then she
jogs up to one of the officers manning the barricade. The
McQueen family watches, just out of earshot, as Sam and the
policeman have a brief exchange. The officer points, then
moves the sawhorse barricade enough to let Sam slip through.
MIKE
(confused)
Do interns do that?
Jane can only shrug helplessly, watching as Sam conducts an
interview with one of the fire department officials, jotting
notes on her pad.
JANE
(reluctantly)
I guess...if she's working, we
shouldn't bother her.
BROOKE
(shaking her head)
I don't believe this... Like,
taking over the school wasn't
enough—now she's everywhere. It's
a curse, I keep telling everyone.
Jane looks at her strangely.
JANE
What do you mean, taking over the school?
Brooke's mouth drops open as she considers how to explain that.
BROOKE
If we can get out of here, I'll
explain in the car.
MIKE
We might as well. I'll have to
pick up my car in the morning.
So, with one last longing glance back from Jane, they head for
the car, leaving Sam oblivious to their presence.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. HARRISON'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
It could be a coal mine, thought—it's pitch black. The phone
rings. Twice. Three times. The light snaps on; Harrison
sturggles to sit up in bed, and grabs the phone.
HARRISON
(half-asleep)
H'lo?
NATALIE (V.O.)
(over the phone)
Hey, Harrison. Did I wake you?
HARRISON
Uh-huh.
NATALIE (V.O.)
Oh. Sorry. I just wanted to say
thanks for protecting me. And
sorry for...you know...hitting you.
HARRISON
(still not awake)
Natalie? Can we talk about this
tomorrow?
NATALIE (V.O.)
Well...sure. I just thought...
with Brooke and all...
The mention of Brooke wakes Harrison up; his eyes snap open.
HARRISON
Uh, uh, wait! Natalie, you're not
going to tell Brooke about this,
right?
NATALIE (V.O.)
(thinking)
I...dunno. Why? Brooke might be
happy to hear that I hit you.
HARRISON
(groans)
No, please, Natalie, don't tell
Brooke.
NATALIE (V.O.)
Okay, Harrison, don't worry. I
won't tell Brooke a thing.
(pause)
Thanks for protecting me.
HARRISON
Natalie, go to sleep.
NATALIE (V.O.)
Okay. Sweet dreams, Harrison.
The line goes dead. Harrison groans again, hangs up the
phone, and buries his head under his pillow.
CUT TO:
INT. KRUPPS' BEDROOM - NIGHT
From what can be seen, a finely decorated room. Krupps is
wearing a classic red smoking jacket, sitting up in his four-
poster bed, reading by the light of a bedside table lamp.
The phone rings; he picks it up before it can ring again.
KRUPPS
(into the phone)
Calvin Krupps.
CUT TO:
INT. SAM'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Sam is pacing around her little table.
SAM
Oh, Mr. Krupps, did I wake you?
INTERCUT BETWEEN KRUPPS AND SAM
KRUPPS
Of course not. I've been expecting
your call.
SAM
Oh God, you haven't been sitting
there waiting for me to call, have
you? I didn't mean to be so late,
I swear!
KRUPPS
(soothing)
Sam, you worry entirely too much.
(pause)
Is something wrong? You sound...
agitated.
SAM
I'm sorry, Mr. Krupps, it's just
been...SUCH a night. Really.
Unbelievable.
KRUPPS
Unbelievable in a good way or a bad
way?
SAM
Oh! In a good way. A very good
way!
KRUPPS
Well. You've piqued my interest.
What about this night is so
unbelievable?
SAM
Well, I was— Wait. What about
the report? We were going to go
over ideas?
KRUPPS
Oh, but this is so much more
interesting. The report can
wait—tell me all about your
evening.
Sam settles on her bed.
SAM
Okay—when I showed up at the
paper, Mr. Doyle said that I'd done
enough shadowing, and it was time
for me to cover something real. On
my own. So there I was, just
sitting and listening to the police
scanner...
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE
