ACT I
FADE IN:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL—CLASSROOM—DAY
We find GORDO and LEI (first seen in Season Two's episode, "El Oro De Montezuma") working on some school project. In walks Lizzie.
LIZZIE
Gordo, it's lunchtime.
She notices Lei.
LIZZIE (CON'T)
(brightly)
Oh, hi, Lei. How're you doing?
LEI
Good. Thank you.
LIZZIE
Your English is really improving.
LEI
Thank you. I have been practicing.
LIZZIE
Hey, why don't you come with us for lunch?
LEI
Thank you. But I cannot.
LIZZIE
Sure you can. You can't work on your project by yourself.
GORDO
No, Lizzie. He means he can't eat lunch today.
LIZZIE
(quizzically)
Huh? Why not?
GORDO
Because it's Ramadan.
LIZZIE
(confused)
Rama—-what?
GORDO
Ramadan. It's the Islamic holy month. During the day, those of the faith aren't supposed to eat anything.
(beat)
It demonstrates their piety. Lei's from Indonesia, and Islam is big there.
(to Lei)
Right, Lei?
Lei nods in confirmation.
LIZZIE
Oh. I didn't know that. So this Rama—-Rama—-
GORDO
Ramadan.
LIZZIE
Ramadan. It lasts a whole month?
ANIMATED LIZZIE
Wow. Talk about working up an appetite!
LEI
Yes. But it is not as bad as it sounds. Each night there is feasting to be had, and banquets are laid out for those too poor to afford food.
LEI (CON'T)
It is a time of reflection and of giving thanks.
GORDO
Think of it as if Thanksgiving lasted for a whole month.
ANIMATED LIZZIE
That's a lotta turkey!
Lizzie stands there, thinking about the differences and similarities of their different cultures.
CUT TO:
EXT. MCGUIRE'S BACKYARD—-DAY
We see MATT and JO waiting around for SAM, who is in the house. Neither look all that happy.
MATT
Mom, do we have to do this again this year?
JO
The annual company games your father's office throws mean a lot to him.
MATT
But we always lose.
JO
Well, that's not what's important… The important thing is that we have fun.
MATT
Where's the fun in losing?
JO
Now, that's not fair. We almost won the Potato Sack Race last year, didn't we?
MATT
That's because Lizzie got stung by a bee.
JO
Oh. Well, what matters is that we try.
MATT
(slyly)
Even when it means falling on your face in a mud puddle?
CUT TO:
DIGITAL STILL:
Jo in a mud puddle with her face covered in mud, all the while contest participants race by her and spectators point and laugh at her.
JO
(abruptly)
I'll talk to your father.
At that moment, SAM comes outside. He's pumped about the upcoming company picnic games.
SAM
(smiling)
Okay, who's ready to train!
JO
Um, about that, Sam…
SAM
(oblivious)
Come on, let's line up!
JO
Sam, is all of this really necessary?
SAM
Sure. This is going to be our year, I can feel it!
MATT
(humoring Sam)
Right, Dad. You bet. We've got it in the bag…
Matt rolls his eyes.
JO
Maybe—-Maybe we should just hold off on training right now, Sam. After all, Lizzie isn't even here.
SAM
That's no problem. She can catch up in no time.
(beat)
How about we start with the Whipped Cream Challenge?
MATT
This won't be like the last time, will it?
SAM
(dismissive)
Nah. Besides, that rash cleared right up, didn't it?
Matt and Jo are stuck, and their faces show it.
CUT TO:
INT. HIGH SCHOOL—-HALLWAY—-DAY
Lizzie and Miranda are walking to class.
MIRANDA
Wow. A whole month without eating, except at night? I'd pass out by lunch!
LIZZIE
Tell me about it. I didn't realize that giving thanks could be such hard work.
ANIMATED LIZZIE
And here I thought it was a holiday. There isn't supposed to be any work on holidays; that's the whole point!
MIRANDA
I guess people celebrate things in different ways.
LIZZIE
Yeah.
(beat)
But the weird thing is that while the customs are different, it's the same thing that everyone is celebrating.
MIRANDA
I see what you mean. Like with Halloween and Day of the Dead. They're basically the same thing, only they fall on different days in different countries.
LIZZIE
Exactly. Different cultures, but the same function.
Lizzie is deep in existential thought as the duo continue to walk.
CUT TO:
EXT. MCGUIRE'S BACKYARD—-DAY
Sam is addressing Jo and Matt in regards to their training. There's a makeshift obstacle course laid out.
SAM
The Egg Toss Relay is one of the most important activities. It requires balance as well as speed. Holding the egg thusly, you weave your way around the obstacle—-
JO
(interrupting)
Sam, we know how to play.
SAM
Oh. Okay then. Let's give it a go!
(to Matt)
How about you start off, Sport?
Matt takes the egg, makes his way through the obstacle course, then tosses it back to Sam, who catches it without its breaking. Sam then makes his own way through the course and back, hurrying throughout.
Just as he's approaching Jo, he stumbles, causing the egg to fly and hit Jo in the face—covering her with egg yoke.
Matt backs away as Sam looks on in horror. Jo's facial expression shows her intense displeasure.
CUT TO:
INT. DIGITAL BEAN CAFÉ—-DAY
Kate, Miranda, and Gordo are sitting at a table casually eating/drinking.
Enter Lizzie with an armload of books.
MIRANDA
We wondered where you were.
(beat)
What're those?
She indicates the armload of books that Lizzie gratefully puts down on the table.
LIZZIE
Research.
GORDO
Research?
KATE
For what?
LIZZIE
I've been thinking. Lei made me realize that there are so many different ways cultures celebrate the same things.
MIRANDA
Yeah, so?
LIZZIE
So, I thought with Thanksgiving coming up, it'd be the perfect time for us to bone up on them.
MIRANDA
Why?
LIZZIE
Because, Miranda! There's more to Thanksgiving than mashed potatoes and stuffing!
ANIMATED LIZZIE
(speaking through a mouthful of stuffing)
Yeah!
KATE
Sounds cool to me. Where do we start?
LIZZIE
Here.
She hands out books.
ANIMATED LIZZIE
Just call me Miss Multicultural!
CUT TO:
MUSICAL MONTAGE
INT. TEA SHOP—-DAY
Lizzie is researching Chinese Thanksgiving practices, but the research seems to go too well as she finds all manner of oriental trappings heaped upon her until she is overwhelmed.
CUT TO:
EXT. PARK—-DAY
Gordo is doing some research of his own on ethnic African Thanksgiving holidays, thus he's at a large family get together. His research also goes too well, in that the various family members try to feed Gordo food that he wants nothing to do with.
CUT TO:
INT. CONVELASENT HOME-—DAY
Miranda is finding out more about her Mexican 'roots' by way of researching Hispanic Thanksgiving traditions the best way she knows how: by talking to old people. Unlike Lizzie or Gordo, she's having an easy time of it.
CUT TO:
INT. A HOME—-DAY
Kate is interviewing two ethnic Indians (from India) who are in traditional dress, in an effort to learn more about Indian Thanksgiving customs. She too is having an easy time of it.
END OF MUSICAL MONTAGE
CUT TO:
INT. MIRANDA'S BEDROOM-—DAY
Lizzie, Gordo, Miranda, and Kate are comparing notes.
GORDO
Okay, we've found out how different cultures celebrate Thanksgiving.
KATE
Some through dance…
MIRANDA
Or story telling…
LIZZIE
Or decorations…
GORDO
(shuddering)
Or food.
GORDO (CON'T)
Now what?
LIZZIE
Now we get to work.
ANIMATED LIZZIE
I'll be thankful when all this work is done! Sheesh!
FADE OUT:
END OF ACT I