ACT ONE
1.
INT. Vera's Home – Living Room – Night
MUSIC CUE: "I Know I Know I Know" by Tegan & Sara.
VERA is working on her research still, though she has begun writing. NADINE is sitting on the Laz-E-Boy, reading.
VERA:
"Retterman has always been a very…" He's been a very what? Not something as simple as "smart". He's been a very…
NADINE:
Intelligent?
VERA:
No…
NADINE:
Acute?
VERA:
No…
NADINE:
Keen?
VERA:
No…
NADINE:
Scintillating?
VERA:
Okay, you've been having way too much fun with your thesaurus.
NADINE:
I'm going to marry it.
(beat)
NADINE:
(continued…)
Don't stress; you'll do fine. You're an amazing writer.
VERA:
Yeah, but the editor is vicious. I swear, she's like a female Bush.
NADINE:
You'll be fine.
(picking up phone)
What do you want on your pizza?
MUSIC CUE: Stop playing "I Know I Know I Know" by Tegan & Sara.
2.
EXT. Vera's Home – Night
We see VERA still sitting on the floor by the coffee table, writing, while NADINE orders the pizza.
3.
INT. Vera's Room – Night
VERA is sleeping. The window is open, and the wind blows a soft breeze against the thin white curtains. It's spooky, but not in a Ghost Whisperer kind of way, just in that it's dark and windy. Suddenly, a flash of yellow and blue light fills the screen. In VERA's dream, a clerical worker jumps behind the lobby desk. The yellow and blue flash fills the screen again, and we see VERA shift uncomfortably as she sleeps. Again, a yellow and blue flash fills the screen as we see the longer, second part of VERA's dream. Several hotel guests are running, but running from whom? And what hotel is it? Cut back to VERA, with the flash again, as she jumps up in bed, breathing heavily. Clearly, she is startled.
4.
INT. Vera's Kitchen – Morning
VERA sits at the island, reading the newspaper and sipping coffee. She's been up for a while, as is noticeable from the mess at the sink. CARI walks in, yawning and stretching.
CARI:
Yo.
(beat)
CARI:
(continued; grabbing coffee mug and pot)
What's up?
CARI finishes pouring her coffee and sits down on the stool across from VERA, looking at her confusedly.
CARI:
Earth to Fuller.
VERA looks up, as if just realizing CARI'S presence.
VERA:
Oh, hey.
CARI:
Hey. Got your mind on something?
VERA:
No.
CARI:
Hun, I've known you since high school. I can tell when you're lying.
VERA:
I'm not lying.
CARI:
Please. Don't be another Frey.
VERA:
I just had a weird dream. It kind of freaked me out.
CARI:
What was it about?
VERA:
Nothing. I better shower and get going.
VERA goes to the bathroom, leaving CARI to wonder.
5.
INT. Newsroom – Morning
VERA is working on a laptop, her research notes and some books written by Philip Retterman beside her. JASON sits at the same desk opposite her, on his own laptop. VAL walks up behind him.
VAL:
Can I have a word?
JASON:
(without looking behind him)
Anthropomorphic. It's all yours.
VAL clears her throat, and JASON, realizing his mistake, turns around to face her.
JASON:
I thought you were someone else. Sorry.
VAL:
I can take a joke. I actually wanted to speak with Vera.
(to Vera)
Do you mind?
VERA:
No. Actually, I could use a break.
VAL:
Good. Come with me.
JASON:
(quietly, to Vera as she passes)
Don't get lost in Brigadoon.
6.
INT. Val's Office – Morning
MUSIC CUE: "I Don't Know" by Starsailor.
VAL walks into the office first, with VERA following closely behind. VAL sits down at her desk, inching the mug filled with pencils and pens a little bit closer to VERA. It seems to be a compulsive thing. VERA sits at the chair across from VAL, clearly nervous—after all, it's only her second day.
VERA:
So what did you want to talk to me about?
VAL:
I heard through the grapevine that you were bad-mouthing your weekend interview. That, to me, doesn't sound like a person who is dedicated to her job, or responsible.
VERA:
I—
VAL:
Are you worthy of doing this interview? Or better yet, getting assigned to another story?
VERA:
Yes! I swear, I'll keep my personal opinions to myself from now on.
VAL:
In news pieces, yes. But don't forget about your opinions—you may need to work on an editorial piece in the future.
VERA:
Okay.
VAL:
Just be careful who you talk your mouth off to.
VAL walks out of her office, taking a stack of papers with her. VERA exits, closing the door behind her, with a worried and avenging look on her face.
7.
INT. Newsroom – Day
MUSIC CUE: Stop playing "I Don't Know" by Starsailor.
VERA walks up to JASON, standing beside him with her arms crossed as he works on his laptop. He looks up with a smirk on his face.
JASON:
I don't want sprinkles. For every sprinkle I find I shall kill you.
VERA:
What did you think you were doing?
JASON:
I have no idea what you're talking about.
VERA:
You told Val what I said about Retterman.
JASON:
(still sarcastic)
I did no such thing.
VERA:
Then how did she find out?
JASON:
Look, I wouldn't do that.
VERA:
(disbelieving)
Sure. I'm probably your biggest competition, why wouldn't you want to do anything you could to destroy me?
As VERA speaks, JASON gets a tinge of hurt on his face. He quickly covers it up.
JASON:
Well, I'll be sure to send my assistant over next time to do the dirty work. Tootles.
JASON closes his laptop and walks off. VERA walks back to her spot and sits down, opening another textbook and preparing to type. ALEX walks up to her and sits down. VERA looks busy, so ALEX just stares, waiting for VERA to notice her. VERA looks over, subtly startled.
VERA:
Hey, Paris Hilton, where'd you come from?
ALEX:
Huh?
VERA:
Never mind. What's up?
ALEX:
So, I'm researching this woman—her name's Jillian Bloom—and she's head of the annual "save-our-friends" campaign. I have to interview her on Saturday.
VERA:
"Save-our-friends?"
ALEX:
It's a walk-a-thon against animal cruelty.
VERA:
(with a tinge of sarcasm)
Of course. What do you need?
ALEX:
You don't know anything about her, do you?
VERA:
I can't say that I do.
ALEX looks disappointed.
VERA:
(continued)
Did you think I would?
ALEX:
Well, I just figured, since you're a vegetarian…
VERA:
Oh.
ALEX:
My grandma's a vegetarian. She hates meat.
VERA:
Well, most of us do.
(beat)
Anything else?
ALEX:
Nope!
ALEX skips off.
8.
INT. Vera's Home – Living Room – Night
MUSIC CUE: "Smoke It" by the Dandy Warhols.
All is quiet, save the background music. We hear a key struggling to unlock the front door, and VERA pushes open the door. She stumbles in, laughing. CARI and NADINE are behind her. They are dressed up, clearly just arriving home from a club. The three drop their bags on the floor by the front hall closet, and kick their shoes off. NADINE walks downstairs to her room. VERA and CARI are now in the kitchen.
NADINE:
(off camera)
Good night! Sleep tight! Don't let the bed bugs bite!
CARI:
(in the same tone)
Good night! Sleep tight! Don't—
VERA:
(holding finger over Cari's lips)
Don't you dare.
CARI:
Fine. I'll see you tomorrow!
VERA:
(lightly laughing)
'Night.
CARI prances off to her room. VERA walks upstairs. The camera pans to the open balcony window, with the wind slightly blowing the curtains around. Someone has been inside.
MUSIC CUE: Abruptly end "Smoke It" by The Dandy Warhols.
END OF ACT ONE
8
