ACT I

FADE IN:

INT. HIGH SCHOOL—HALLWAY—DAY—LATER

Miranda is at her locker when Lizzie and Gordo show up.

MIRANDA
(stiffly)
So, where's your new best friend Kate?

LIZZIE
Miranda, don't be like that.

MIRANDA
Like what? I just asked where wonderful, sweet, oh so great friend Kate is at. That's all.

GORDO
Miranda, come on.

MIRANDA
What? I don't have a right to ask where she is?

LIZZIE
(peeved)
If you must know, we're going to meet her at the Digital Bean after school.

Miranda slams her locker shut.

MIRANDA
I'm afraid I won't be able to make it. I feel a headache coming on.

Miranda walks away abruptly, leaving a concerned Lizzie.

CUT TO:

INT. DIGITAL BEAN—DAY

Kate is saving a table when Lizzie and Gordo enter.

KATE
Hey guys. Where's Miranda?

LIZZIE
Oh. Uh, she couldn't make it…

Kate's face drops, she's caught on.

KATE
Oh. I see…

LIZZIE
No, really. She, uh, has a lot of homework to do…

KATE
Sure…

Lizzie sits down, feeling bad for Kate.

LIZZIE
Look Kate, she just—

KATE
(interrupting)
Doesn't want to hang around with me.

ANIMATED LIZZIE
Got it in one.

KATE
I understand…

LIZZIE
It's just, when you left, well, it hurt Kate. It hurt all of us. We were your friends.

This subject is obviously difficult for Kate to talk about.

GORDO
(gently)
Why did you do it Kate?

KATE
You guys don't know what it's like. When you come home there's always someone waiting. But my parents are always working. I know they love me and all, but it gets so lonely not having anyone around…

LIZZIE
But, you had us Kate.

KATE
I know, but it didn't seem like enough.

GORDO
(understanding)
Ah, over compensation. Classic occurrence.
(off looks)
Hey, both my parents are shrinks, remember? What can I say, I absorb things.

ANIMATED LIZZIE
Okay, confiding in Gordo is one thing, but being diagnosed by him is quite another.

LIZZIE
(to Kate)
So, since you weren't getting attention at home you decided to get it somewhere else, is that right?

KATE
(nodding)
Yeah. I realized that the popular kids are always surrounded by people and get tons of attention. They're the ones people want to be around.

GORDO
They're also the ones who end up working at Burger Buddy.

LIZZIE/ANIMATED LIZZIE
Gordo!

KATE
I figured, since everyone likes the popular kids, then if I became popular they'd like me too…

GORDO
But that's not true. It only seems that way.

LIZZIE
So, you became popular. Did it make you any happier?

KATE
It did at first. Everyone wanted to hang around with me and asked me for my opinions and stuff. But after a while I kind of realized that they weren't liking me for me, but for what I could do for them. But still, I told myself it was enough…

LIZZIE
But it wasn't?

KATE
It was the pits. But I couldn't just stop. I mean…

LIZZIE
(cutting to the chase)
Kate, do you want to be friends with us again?

Kate nods, downcast.

LIZZIE
Well then, that's that.
(beat)
Gordo?

GORDO
Well, she has been a pretty big witch…

LIZZIE
(threateningly)
Gordo!

GORDO
Okay, okay. I guess, if you want to be friends with us again Kate, you've got my okay.
(beat)
But good luck with Miranda.

Kate's smile, which had been beaming, dims somewhat.

LIZZIE
You leave Miranda to me.

CUT TO:

MUSICAL MONTAGE TO "YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME" BY RANDY NEWMAN:

INT. HIGH SCHOOL—CAFETERIA—DAY

Miranda is in the lunch line not able to find any forks. Kate pops up, hopeful, with a container of them. Miranda's face clouds as she turns away. Kate looks dejected as Lizzie and Gordo comfort her.

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL—QUAD—DAY

Miranda is searching through her bag for some lip-gloss. Up comes Kate offering a tube. Miranda scowls and walks away. Kate's crestfallen, as Lizzie and Gordo comfort her.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL—HALLWAY—DAY

Miranda is at her locker looking for a book. She closes her locker to reveal Kate standing there, with a book in her hand and a smile on her face. Miranda, frustrated, storms away. Kate looks glum.

End of Montage

CUT TO:

INT. SCHOOL—HALLWAY—DAY

Kate is standing with Lizzie and Gordo outside class.

KATE
This isn't working Lizzie.

LIZZIE
You just have to give it time Kate. Miranda will come around.

KATE
Maybe we should just forget about it.

Kate walks off distraught. Lizzie looks at Gordo concernedly.

FADE OUT:

END OF ACT I