Desperate situations call for desperate measures. That’s what Patrick had to tell himself everyday for the rest of his life. One dark night he was walking home with the love of his life, Georgia, and they came across an angry homeless man with a gun. He tried to kill Georgia and to save her Patrick hit him over the head with a loose brick he found on the floor. Later he found out he had killed the man. He felt intense regret, he had only wanted to escape not murder. But ever since there was a weight on his shoulders.

I hid in the shadows, under the table, watching from afar. My best friend was fighting with the man, punching and kicking trying to stay alive. I wanted to help, but I was tired and done, my ribs hurt from all the fighting and I felt like I could pass out at any moment. But I couldn't let her struggle alone, I had to be there with her. I saw the glass table next to me and knew what I ahd to do. I smashed it with all the strength I could muster from inside of me breaking the glass into millions of tiny shards. Grabbing the biggest one I could find I ran up behind the man and jabbed him as hard as a could somewhere between his lungs or ribs. I looked into his face, he was the reason my parents were dead, he was the man that ruined so many lives. I felt a sudden wave of anger, I wanted to get revenge, for the first time in my life I wanted to kill. And I did. The shard of glass I pierced into him over and over was like the shard of glass that was pierced into my own heart. My friend and I left him unconcious. He was later found to be dead. I couldn't believe that I had killed a man with my own hands. I was completely dishonered and could never look at myself the same way again. But I felt no remorse.

By Shaivi Gupta

Please comment if you read

Four friends, JOHN, ROSE, ALEX, and DAPHNE, are sitting in JOHN’s apartment in New York City. They are all 15 years old. JOHN is a laid back teenager dating ROSE, a brilliant perfectionist. DAPHNE is rather stupid but nice, and ALEX is always trying to find a way to make a quick buck. They all get in rather stupid scenarios but have fun along the way.

ROSE: So, JOHN, I have a tea party thing and I need a date.  It’s on Saturday.

JOHN: Why do I have to go?

DAPHNE: Because you are her boyfriend.  This is one of those things you signed up for with the verbal contract.

ROSE: Thank you, Daphne.  You really keep this relationship together

DAPHNE: I am the cream cheese

Laugh track

JOHN: Excuse me?

DAPHNE: You know, you, JOHN, are the bottom of the bagel, Rose is the top of the bagel, and I am the cream cheese that holds your relationship together.

Laugh track

ALEX: Where do I fall into this scenario?

DAPHNE: Um you know the little nuts and seeds on the top of some bagels?  Some have little onions.  The part that no one really cares about, but they make a nice touch.

ALEX: I’m honored

Laugh track

Opening credits

WILLIAM ATWOOD and JOHN’s DAD, ERIC, are sitting in ATWOOD’s apartment talking about ATWOOD’s fiancee, Nella.

ATWOOD: Have I shown you Nella’s wedding ring yet?

ERIC: No, you haven’t shown me.

ATWOOD: Well it's right here

He puts his hand in his pocket and there’s nothing there

ATWOOD: Well it was right there. It isn't there anymore.

ERIC: When was the last time you saw it?

ATWOOD: I don’t know when I put it in my pocket this morning. Nella’s going to kill me. She told me my only job was to have the ring, something about how I can't be trusted with anything.

ERIC: Well I can understand why.

Laugh track

ATWOOD: What do we do? I’ve been all over this stupid city since then.

ERIC: We’ll just have to start at the beginning and trace your steps.

ATWOOD:Okay let’s start at my apartment. Oh I’m going to be murdered my own fiancee. I’ll make the local news.

Laugh track

Cut to:

Alex is sitting with a bagel in his apartment.  He is picking off the nuts and seeds on the top and eating them.

Barbie, his mother walks in.

BARBIE: What are you doing?

ALEX: Eating the me part of the bagel.

Laugh track

Cut to:

DAPHNE is sitting in her apartment with her mother, ANNA, a hard working mother of three.

DAPHNE: Mom, I’m so happy you’re off!  This is so exciting.

ANNA: I know.  I never sit around.  What do I do first?

DAPHNE: Nothing, we just sit and relax.

ANNA: Okay.

ANNA sits and looks at the wall

ANNA: Okay, this is kind of boring.

DAPHNE: You should watch some TV.

She puts on the TV and sits.

They watch for a minute

ANNA: You know what I should do.  Fold laundry.  I can watch TV and Fold  laundry at once.

DAPHNE: You never sit still do you?

ANNA: I can't, it's a problem.

She runs and grabs some laundry.

She leaves

ANNA(Off camera): You know what we’ve never done?  Organized the shoe closet.

DAPHNE: Yeah, and let’s keep it that way!

Laugh track

Cut to:

Barbie and Alex are sitting on their sofa

ALEX: You know, Mom, I was thinking.  Remember when we went to your friend Darla’s house in Detroit.

BARBIE: Yeah

ALEX: Well they're selling their house aren’t they?  Darla and Matt.

BARBIE: Yeah.

ALEX: Remember that door they had?  The really nice wooden one.  But it wasn’t the main door because behind it there was another one, the boring plain one.  Well no one really needs two doors, so I was wondering if we could take the interesting door and um sell it.

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BARBIE: Alex, why would they give us their door?

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ALEX: Yes, but they don’t need two doors.  We could have one.

BARBIE: Okay, Alex, for some reason if Darla decided to give you her door, fine.  But she already sold the house.  To someone else.  And how are you supposed to get a door from Detroit to Manhattan anyway?

ALEX: I have it all figured out.

He picks up a big poster board.  It’s pretty big, not as big as a door, but big.  He holds it out in front of him so his arms are straight and he is holding it straight out in front of him.  He starts shuffling sideways

ALEX: I will shimmy

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BARBIE: You are going to shimmy the six hundred miles from Detroit to New York.  With a door!

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ALEX: Well I was hoping to get a train somewhere on the way.

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ALEX: I mean think about it.  That was one hell of a door.  The basement is loaded.  We could make some big bucks here.

BARBIE: Alex, honey, I love you, and please don’t take this the wrong way.  Where did I go wrong?

Laugh track

ALEX: I am going to get that door, I will give it my all.  I will get that door.

BARBIE: And I will take a nap.

Laugh track

Cut to:

ATWOOD AND DAD are in the hallway of the apartment discussing where they left the ring and GERTRUDE AND LUKE overhear. GERTRUDE AND LUKE are teenagers, GERTRUDE is a huge gossip and LUKE a hypochondriac.

ATWOOD: If Nella finds out, she’s going to kill me.

DAD: Oh my gosh she’s not going to find out.

ATWOOD: I’m so nervous.

GERTUDE(whispering): Oh my gosh, I think he’s cheating on her.

LUKE: ATWOOD wouldn’t do that.

GERTRUDE: You heard him, he literally said that if Nella finds out she’ll kill him, what else could that mean?

LUKE: Look, they're leaving, let's follow them.

GERTRUDE and LUKE follow ERIC and ATWOOD out of the building.

ATWOOD:I was at the department store this morning. Maybe I left them here.-

ERIC:That's like fifty blocks from here.

ATWOOD:We’ll take the subway.

GERTRUDE(whispering): I don’t have any money for the subway do you?

LUKE: No, I left my wallet at home. And I refuse to ride the subway, it’s disgusting. You know how many people touch those seats and railings. There is no way I am getting on that train.

Laugh track

GERTRUDE: Then you’re out of the mission.

LUKE: Oh fine, screw it.

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LUKE: But we still have no money

GERTRUDE: Wait, I have an idea.

She runs into a cafe and comes back with two empty coffee cups, handing one to Luke.

She then starts singing opera surprisingly good.

A couple of people drop change into their cups.

GERTRUDE: Oh my gosh it worked.

LUKE: I didn’t know you could sing like that

GERTRUDE: I don’t tell everyone everything.

LUKE: That’s a huge lie

GERTRUDE: I know

Laugh track

They walk into the subway station following ATWOOD and ERIC

ATWOOD: I can’t believe I’m doing this. I mean what’s wrong with me, how could I be so stupid?

ERIC: I know I keep wondering that

Laugh track

LUKE: Does he have no shame? Poor Nella! What would she think of all this?

GERTRUDE: I wonder who she is. His side girl. How old do you think she is?

LUKE: She’s got to be young.

GERTRUDE: Do you think she’s pretty?

LUKE: She can’t be prettier than Nella.

GERTRUDE: Nella is very pretty.

ERIC: I’m very uncomfortable, I feel like someone is following us.

GERTRUDE and LUKE exchange scared looks

Laugh track

Rose and John at a big tea party.  Rose’s parents are there with many other people.  They are all very fancy.

JOHN: Okay, here we are.  At a tea party.  What do I have to do?

ROSE: Just smile, shut up, and put your pinky in the air when you drink.

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JOHN: You know, just because I’m your boyfriend doesn’t mean I always have to listen to you.

ROSE: Not always.  But it can’t hurt once in a while.

Cut to:

Daphne and her mom

DAPHNE’S MOM: Why aren’t the twins awake?  Should I wake them?

DAPHNE : No

ANNA: Okay um I organized the closets, did the laundry, dishes, refilled the hand soap, and waxed the kitchen floors.

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ANNA: What do I do now?

DAPHNE: I dunno, sleep?

ANNA: I can’t sleep.  There has to be something productive.  When was the last time the smoke detector batteries were changed?

DAPHNE: Never.  Those things don’t work anymore.

Laugh track

ANNA: Great, now I have something to do.

She gets a screwdriver out of the drawer and goes to change the batteries.

ANNA: I’ve never had a day off before, is this what people do?

DAPHNE: Not in a million years

Laugh track

Cut to:

Alex’s house, he is on the phone, the scene cuts between Bob’s office and Alex’s house as they each speak

ALEX(On the phone): Hi, this is Alex, you don’t know me. Is this Bob Balakin, the real estate agent?

BOB: Yes.  Why Are you calling, may I ask?

ALEX: Well, a couple weeks ago.  You sold a house for Darla and Matt?  Um 673 River Street? Well there was this door that was part of the house and I want it.

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BOB: Excuse me?  I sold the house, why do you want the door for?

ALEX: You know I could sell it for big bucks.

BOB: Well I already sold it.

ALEX: You sold the house.  I just want the door.

BOB: Well the door is part of the house.  I’m sorry I really have to go.

ALEX: Well I was just wondering if you could ask the owners if I could have the door.

BOB: No I can’t.

ALEX: Fine, I’m just going to have to get it myself.

Laugh track

Cut to:

Rose and John’s tea party. ROSE, JOHN, and ROSE’S PARENTS are at a tea party. They are eating biscuits.

Rose’s Dad: This is awful

ROSE’S MOM: Shut up, someone’ll hear you.

ROSE’S DAD: Am I wrong?

Laugh track

A woman comes by serving tea

WOMAN: Tea?

She pours tea for everyone

JOHN takes a sip and chokes.  Rose hits him

Laugh track

JOHN: You know that really disgusting cough syrup you have to take when you're sick as a kid.  This tastes like that mixed with old socks and seaweed.

Laugh track

ROSE’S DAD: John’s not wrong.

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Cut to:

Daphne’s house.

Her mom is hanging up pictures on the wall, cooking, and talking on the phone all at once.

ANNA: I can’t believe it either!  Okay so you move to managing, and send Lauren downstairs.  No!  She quit?  Okay um what about George?  I forgot he’s in Miami!  No!  Yes, go ahead.

Laugh track

She ends her phone call.

ANNA: Okay, Daphne, what do we do now?

DAPHNE: There’s nothing left for you to do.

The phone rings again.

ANNA: I miss one day of work, and everything’s falling apart.

DAPHNE: I hate to break it to you, but I think a national insurance company is going to be okay if ANNA YANG doesn’t come in one day.

Laugh track

Cut to:

Alex’s house, he and Barbie are there

ALEX: Okay, Mom.  I am going to Detroit.

BARBIE: There is no way on this planet I am going to Detroit to get a door.  Why do you even want this door?

ALEX: It’s pure wood.  You know how much that could sell for?  Over 150 bucks.

BARBIE: Paying for transportation, me missing work, paying someone to remove that awful door, don’t you think that’ll cost more than $150?

ALEX: No.  Because I have figured it all out.  The school band is taking a trip down to Detroit to perform.  I just hop on the bust with them, pretend I play the tuba or whatever.  Once I’m there, I run to Darla’s old house and ask the new residents for the door.  I’ll bring a drill, grab the door, shimmy down to the school bus, and voila bring it back home.

Barbie puts her head in her hands

Laugh track

Cut to:

Alex sitting in his house, later in the day

He dials up the phone

ALEX: Hi, Bob, this is Alex again. I was wondering if you got any progress on the door?

BOB: I told you no!  Now stop calling, kid!

Laugh track

Daphne enters

DAPHNE: Hi, you got any flour.

She goes to the pantry to look and grabs some.

DAPHNE: My mom’s baking.  She’s bored out of her mind, she’s never been off before.  She cleaned every closet, tightened every door knob, and did every puzzle in the house.  So now she’s baking cookies for the soup kitchen.

Laugh track

ALEX: Well I am going to Detroit to make big bucks.  I am so smart

DAPHNE: All the words I think of to describe you right now, smart is not one of them.

Laugh track

DAPHNE: So basically you will go all the way to Detroit. Go to this woman’s house, you’ve never met her, but you’ll go to her house. And ask for her door. Which you will bring back to New York and sell here.

Laugh track

ALEX: Yep.  I am a genius, Daphne.

He pats her head.

DAPHNE: You’re shirts backwards, Alex.

ALEX: Dammit!

DAPHNE: How is your mom even letting you do this?  Go to Detroit.

ALEX: Well honestly I think she’s just happy to get me out of the house and have some peace.

Laugh track

An auditorium.  The band is sitting there, Alex in the corner with a tuba.  Everyone starts playing really nice.  Alex plays a really awful note and everyone stares at him

Laugh track

TEACHER: Okay, are we all ready to go to Detroit?  ON the bus everyone.

Everyone goes outside and boards a bus.  Alex sits next to a pretty girl.

GIRL: Are you in band?  I’ve never seen you before.

ALEX: Oh yeah, I just normally sit in the back.  Alex.

GIRL:Birdie.

They shake hands.

ALEX: You’re very pretty.

BIRDIE: Thank you

They start making out

Laugh track

Cut to:

Barbie is coming home.  She starts reading a book.  The phone rings.

BARBIE: Hello?

BOB: Hi, this is Bob.  Is Alex home?

BARBIE: No.

BOB: Okay, well when you see him please tell him I am changing my number, and I will not get him that door.

Laugh track

Cut to:

Nighttime.  Daphne is asleep in her bedroom.  The fire alarm starts going off.  She wakes up with a jolt.

She gets up and meets her parents in the living room who are carrying crying twins.

DAPHNE: What’s wrong?

ANNA: No idea, but we better get outside

Cut to everyone in the apartment sitting outside.

The firemen come out of the building.

FIREMAN: Nothings wrong.  There is no fire.  Something was wrong with one of the fire detectors. Someone put the wrong batteries in.

Laugh track

ANNA: That may have been me. Sorry everyone

Laugh track

MAN  : I have to get up at five am tomorrow, thanks for ruining my sleep.

Laugh track

Cut to:

The next morning.

ALEX is waking up at a hotel.

He gets dressed and leaves.

Cut to:

Him outside DARLA’S house.

ALEX lady opens the door:

LADY: Hi, can I help you?

ALEX: HI, I’m ALEX LABUDDE.  You don’t know me, and I don’t know you.  But my mom’s friends used to live in this house, but they sold it to you.  Anyway, I want your door.

Laugh track

LADY: Excuse me?

ALEX: Well you have two doors.  This one and another one inside.  I just want the outside door.  It has no purpose for you.  I want it.  And I’ll even pay you.  $20 seems fair?

Laugh track

LADY: Okay, listen I don’t know who you are, or what you want, but please leave.

ALEX: I will leave with that door.

Laugh track

ALEX: Let’s just talk.  That’s an amazing door.

LADY : I know.  It’s also attached to my house.

Laugh track

ALEX: I could fetch I don’t know, 200 dollars for that.  How about I pay you 50.

LADY: How about you leave before I call the police.

ALEX: $100.  I will give you $100.  That’s not bad.

LADY: Honey!  Come downstairs please!

A guy comes down.

LADY: This kid wants our door.  He says he’ll pay us a hundred bucks for our door.  Make him leave please.

ALEX: You don’t understand, I don't want both of your doors.  Just one.  You don’t even need two doors.  I’ll just take this one and go.

Cut to:

Daphne's house.

Her mom is playing with the twins.

ANNA: Isn’t this nice.  Me and my three daughters.  Maybe I should just be a stay at home mom.

DAPHNE: No! No offense, Mom, but if you stayed at home much longer you’d have cleaned every closet in Manhattan.

Laugh track

The phone rings

SHe picks up

DAPHNE’S MOM: Hello?

MAN: There’s a big problem.  I’ve been working here for six years, and never had anything like it.

ANNA: Oh my gosh.  What does he want? How much? Never anything like it.

DAPHNE’S MOM: There’s a kid in Detroit, who wants the door off a house we sold last month.  He’s very persistent.

DAPHNE: Oh my gosh.

Laugh track

Cut to:

ATWOOD: I can’t believe it! They’re not here! Oh my gosh

LUKE: “They’re not here” There’s more than one girl!

Laugh track

GERTRUDE:  I mean I know Atwood’s good looking and all, but more than one!

Laugh track

LUKE: Shh listen.

ATWOOD: I can’t believe this. I’m calling Katherine. She better answer. Hello? Katherine? Where are you? Not here? What do you mean Miami? You have to tell me wherever you go! You’re not allowed to leave the city! No I’m not trying to sound controlling I’m just saying. Oh my gosh well what about Marissa? She’s with you too? Oh my gosh.

Laugh track

GERTRUDE: He’s leaving Nella for a Marissa and a Katherine.

Luke: This is bad.

Cut to:

JOHN and ROSE sitting in Rose’s apartment

ROSE: SO the party didn’t suck

JOHN: Obviously we have different definitions of “didn’t suck”

Laugh track

ROSE: It wasn’t that bad.

JOHN: Who has tea parties anyway.  I mean we’re not in 1714 England anymore here.  So now I’m your boyfriend, I’m obligated to go to these kinds of things.

ROSE: Yep.  It’s the rule

JOHN: You know that’s a stupid rule.  I mean a couple of people get together all of a sudden there's all these stupid rules.  I don’t remember signing any kind of contract.

ROSE: It’s more of a verbal agreement.

JOHN: Okay, so tomorrow I’m watching the twins, after school, because Daphne’s mom is going back to work, so because of this verbal agreement you should have to be there with me.

ROSE: Yes, but see, this verbal agreement doesn’t work if the other person is extremely busy.

JOHN: And are you extremely busy?

ROSE: yes

JOHN: Doing what?

ROSE: I don’t know, I’ll think of something

Laugh track

Cut to Alex getting ready to board the bus.

He sees a free ugly chair outside someone’s house and picks it up and loads it on the bus.

He sits on it in the aisle of the bus.  He sees the girl he kissed before.

A: Hi.

BIRDIE: Hey, why do you have a chair?

ALEX: Well funny story.  I actually came here for a door and then

Cut to:

BIRDIE: You are a complete weirdo.  Who lies about band to get a door!

ALEX: Me.

Laugh track

She shakes her head and starts talking to another girl.

Cut to:

Daphne’s apartment.

ANNA: This is fun.  I can’t believe I have to go back to work tomorrow.  Maybe I should just take a week off.

DAPHNE: NO! Look, mom, I love you a lot.  But please go back to work.  You're going crazy here.  And taking everyone with you.  I mean most of us are already there, we were there long ago, but still.  You need to go back to work.  For the sake of America.  Please.  I am begging you.

Laugh track

ANNA: I am going crazy here.  I mean there’s just nothing for me to do.  I’m used to being so busy and always working.  I just feel so bad, you girls are growing up and I want to be here.

DAPHNE: MOM, you are here.  Every night.  But you know you have your work and home and you have to balance it.  Not overdo too much of either.

ANNA: You're right.  Gosh, you smart.

DAPHNE: There’s a sentence I’ve never heard before.

Laugh track

They hug

Cut to:

Alex getting off the bus with the chair.  A teacher talks to him.

TEACHER: I heard you playing trumpet.  Please never come back, you’re horrible.

ALEX: I won’t.  Between you and me I never was in the band I was just pretending.

TEACHER: What are you doing with a chair?

ALEX: Well it’s actually a very funny story.

Cut to:

Rose and John are sitting around.

JOHN: Oh, I almost forgot next week I am touring the sewage plant and I would hate to go alone, and don’t worry I know you’re free because your plans were to hang out with me.

Laugh track

ROSE: You win!  I give up! Screw the verbal agreement!  Okay, happy you win!

Cut to:

Alex getting off the bus with the chair.  He shimmiess from the best stop to his apartment.

Cut to ALEX coming home

He rings the bell

MOm: Hi sweetheart, you’re home!

ALEX(Shimmying with the chair): Shimmy, shimmy, shimmy shimmy shimmy

Laugh track

MOM: What happened with the door?

ALEX: Well apparently the lady didn’t want to give it up.  So I took this free chair.

MOM: Why is it so um ugly?

Laugh track

ALEX: It is not.  It’s beautiful.  And it’s got to be worth something.

Cut to:  JOHN’s apartment the four are sitting there

A: So this guy is threatening to send me to jail, so finally I give up and grab this free chair.  But the good part is I got a chair and I kissed a girl.  The bad part is I didn’t get the door and I broke up with the girl.

J: Why, ALEX, why?

Laugh track

ATWOOD and DAD are in the elevator, Gertrude and Luke join them.

ATWOOD: I can’t believe Marissa and Katherine aren’t here.

LUKE: You’re cheating on Nella? With this Katherine? Nella’s going to kill you.

ATWOOD: I’m not cheating on anyone. I lost Nella’s wedding ring. Katherine and Marissa are girls I bought the rings from. I need to buy another one.

GERTRUDE: You lost the rings? Nella’s definitely going to kill you now.

Laugh track

By Shaivi Gupta

Please comment if you read!

Four friends, JOHN, ROSE, ALEX, and DAPHNE, are sitting in JOHN’s apartment in New York City. They are all 15 years old. JOHN is a laid back teenager dating ROSE, a brilliant perfectionist. DAPHNE is rather stupid but nice, and ALEX is always trying to find a way to make a quick buck. They all get in rather stupid scenarios but have fun along the way.

ROSE: So, JOHN, I have a tea party thing and I need a date.  It’s on Saturday.

JOHN: Why do I have to go?

DAPHNE: Because you are her boyfriend.  This is one of those things you signed up for with the verbal contract.

ROSE: Thank you, Daphne.  You really keep this relationship together

DAPHNE: I am the cream cheese

Laugh track

JOHN: Excuse me?

DAPHNE: You know, you, JOHN, are the bottom of the bagel, Rose is the top of the bagel, and I am the cream cheese that holds your relationship together.

Laugh track

ALEX: Where do I fall into this scenario?

DAPHNE: Um you know the little nuts and seeds on the top of some bagels?  Some have little onions.  The part that no one really cares about, but they make a nice touch.

ALEX: I’m honored

Laugh track

Opening credits

WILLIAM ATWOOD and JOHN’s DAD, ERIC, are sitting in ATWOOD’s apartment talking about ATWOOD’s fiancee, Nella.

ATWOOD: Have I shown you Nella’s wedding ring yet?

ERIC: No, you haven’t shown me.

ATWOOD: Well it's right here

He puts his hand in his pocket and there’s nothing there

ATWOOD: Well it was right there. It isn't there anymore.

ERIC: When was the last time you saw it?

ATWOOD: I don’t know when I put it in my pocket this morning. Nella’s going to kill me. She told me my only job was to have the ring, something about how I can't be trusted with anything.

ERIC: Well I can understand why.

Laugh track

ATWOOD: What do we do? I’ve been all over this stupid city since then.

ERIC: We’ll just have to start at the beginning and trace your steps.

ATWOOD:Okay let’s start at my apartment. Oh I’m going to be murdered my own fiancee. I’ll make the local news.

Laugh track

Cut to:

Alex is sitting with a bagel in his apartment.  He is picking off the nuts and seeds on the top and eating them.

Barbie, his mother walks in.

BARBIE: What are you doing?

ALEX: Eating the me part of the bagel.

Laugh track

Cut to:

DAPHNE is sitting in her apartment with her mother, ANNA, a hard working mother of three.

DAPHNE: Mom, I’m so happy you’re off!  This is so exciting.

ANNA: I know.  I never sit around.  What do I do first?

DAPHNE: Nothing, we just sit and relax.

ANNA: Okay.

ANNA sits and looks at the wall

ANNA: Okay, this is kind of boring.

DAPHNE: You should watch some TV.

She puts on the TV and sits.

They watch for a minute

ANNA: You know what I should do.  Fold laundry.  I can watch TV and Fold  laundry at once.

DAPHNE: You never sit still do you?

ANNA: I can't, it's a problem.

She runs and grabs some laundry.

She leaves

ANNA(Off camera): You know what we’ve never done?  Organized the shoe closet.

DAPHNE: Yeah, and let’s keep it that way!

Laugh track

Cut to:

Barbie and Alex are sitting on their sofa

ALEX: You know, Mom, I was thinking.  Remember when we went to your friend Darla’s house in Detroit.

BARBIE: Yeah

ALEX: Well they're selling their house aren’t they?  Darla and Matt.

BARBIE: Yeah.

ALEX: Remember that door they had?  The really nice wooden one.  But it wasn’t the main door because behind it there was another one, the boring plain one.  Well no one really needs two doors, so I was wondering if we could take the interesting door and um sell it.

Laugh track

BARBIE: Alex, why would they give us their door?

Laugh track

ALEX: Yes, but they don’t need two doors.  We could have one.

BARBIE: Okay, Alex, for some reason if Darla decided to give you her door, fine.  But she already sold the house.  To someone else.  And how are you supposed to get a door from Detroit to Manhattan anyway?

ALEX: I have it all figured out.

He picks up a big poster board.  It’s pretty big, not as big as a door, but big.  He holds it out in front of him so his arms are straight and he is holding it straight out in front of him.  He starts shuffling sideways

ALEX: I will shimmy

Laugh track

BARBIE: You are going to shimmy the six hundred miles from Detroit to New York.  With a door!

Laugh track

ALEX: Well I was hoping to get a train somewhere on the way.

Laugh track

ALEX: I mean think about it.  That was one hell of a door.  The basement is loaded.  We could make some big bucks here.

BARBIE: Alex, honey, I love you, and please don’t take this the wrong way.  Where did I go wrong?

Laugh track

ALEX: I am going to get that door, I will give it my all.  I will get that door.

BARBIE: And I will take a nap.

Laugh track

Cut to:

ATWOOD AND DAD are in the hallway of the apartment discussing where they left the ring and GERTRUDE AND LUKE overhear. GERTRUDE AND LUKE are teenagers, GERTRUDE is a huge gossip and LUKE a hypochondriac.

ATWOOD: If Nella finds out, she’s going to kill me.

DAD: Oh my gosh she’s not going to find out.

ATWOOD: I’m so nervous.

GERTUDE(whispering): Oh my gosh, I think he’s cheating on her.

LUKE: ATWOOD wouldn’t do that.

GERTRUDE: You heard him, he literally said that if Nella finds out she’ll kill him, what else could that mean?

LUKE: Look, they're leaving, let's follow them.

GERTRUDE and LUKE follow ERIC and ATWOOD out of the building.

ATWOOD:I was at the department store this morning. Maybe I left them here.-

ERIC:That's like fifty blocks from here.

ATWOOD:We’ll take the subway.

GERTRUDE(whispering): I don’t have any money for the subway do you?

LUKE: No, I left my wallet at home. And I refuse to ride the subway, it’s disgusting. You know how many people touch those seats and railings. There is no way I am getting on that train.

Laugh track

GERTRUDE: Then you’re out of the mission.

LUKE: Oh fine, screw it.

Laugh track

LUKE: But we still have no money

GERTRUDE: Wait, I have an idea.

She runs into a cafe and comes back with two empty coffee cups, handing one to Luke.

She then starts singing opera surprisingly good.

A couple of people drop change into their cups.

GERTRUDE: Oh my gosh it worked.

LUKE: I didn’t know you could sing like that

GERTRUDE: I don’t tell everyone everything.

LUKE: That’s a huge lie

GERTRUDE: I know

Laugh track

They walk into the subway station following ATWOOD and ERIC

ATWOOD: I can’t believe I’m doing this. I mean what’s wrong with me, how could I be so stupid?

ERIC: I know I keep wondering that

Laugh track

LUKE: Does he have no shame? Poor Nella! What would she think of all this?

GERTRUDE: I wonder who she is. His side girl. How old do you think she is?

LUKE: She’s got to be young.

GERTRUDE: Do you think she’s pretty?

LUKE: She can’t be prettier than Nella.

GERTRUDE: Nella is very pretty.

ERIC: I’m very uncomfortable, I feel like someone is following us.

GERTRUDE and LUKE exchange scared looks

Laugh track

Rose and John at a big tea party.  Rose’s parents are there with many other people.  They are all very fancy.

JOHN: Okay, here we are.  At a tea party.  What do I have to do?

ROSE: Just smile, shut up, and put your pinky in the air when you drink.

Laugh track

JOHN: You know, just because I’m your boyfriend doesn’t mean I always have to listen to you.

ROSE: Not always.  But it can’t hurt once in a while.

Cut to:

Daphne and her mom

DAPHNE’S MOM: Why aren’t the twins awake?  Should I wake them?

DAPHNE : No

ANNA: Okay um I organized the closets, did the laundry, dishes, refilled the hand soap, and waxed the kitchen floors.

Laugh track

ANNA: What do I do now?

DAPHNE: I dunno, sleep?

ANNA: I can’t sleep.  There has to be something productive.  When was the last time the smoke detector batteries were changed?

DAPHNE: Never.  Those things don’t work anymore.

Laugh track

ANNA: Great, now I have something to do.

She gets a screwdriver out of the drawer and goes to change the batteries.

ANNA: I’ve never had a day off before, is this what people do?

DAPHNE: Not in a million years

Laugh track

Cut to:

Alex’s house, he is on the phone, the scene cuts between Bob’s office and Alex’s house as they each speak

ALEX(On the phone): Hi, this is Alex, you don’t know me. Is this Bob Balakin, the real estate agent?

BOB: Yes.  Why Are you calling, may I ask?

ALEX: Well, a couple weeks ago.  You sold a house for Darla and Matt?  Um 673 River Street? Well there was this door that was part of the house and I want it.

Laugh track

BOB: Excuse me?  I sold the house, why do you want the door for?

ALEX: You know I could sell it for big bucks.

BOB: Well I already sold it.

ALEX: You sold the house.  I just want the door.

BOB: Well the door is part of the house.  I’m sorry I really have to go.

ALEX: Well I was just wondering if you could ask the owners if I could have the door.

BOB: No I can’t.

ALEX: Fine, I’m just going to have to get it myself.

Laugh track

Cut to:

Rose and John’s tea party. ROSE, JOHN, and ROSE’S PARENTS are at a tea party. They are eating biscuits.

Rose’s Dad: This is awful

ROSE’S MOM: Shut up, someone’ll hear you.

ROSE’S DAD: Am I wrong?

Laugh track

A woman comes by serving tea

WOMAN: Tea?

She pours tea for everyone

JOHN takes a sip and chokes.  Rose hits him

Laugh track

JOHN: You know that really disgusting cough syrup you have to take when you're sick as a kid.  This tastes like that mixed with old socks and seaweed.

Laugh track

ROSE’S DAD: John’s not wrong.

Laugh track

Cut to:

Daphne’s house.

Her mom is hanging up pictures on the wall, cooking, and talking on the phone all at once.

ANNA: I can’t believe it either!  Okay so you move to managing, and send Lauren downstairs.  No!  She quit?  Okay um what about George?  I forgot he’s in Miami!  No!  Yes, go ahead.

Laugh track

She ends her phone call.

ANNA: Okay, Daphne, what do we do now?

DAPHNE: There’s nothing left for you to do.

The phone rings again.

ANNA: I miss one day of work, and everything’s falling apart.

DAPHNE: I hate to break it to you, but I think a national insurance company is going to be okay if ANNA YANG doesn’t come in one day.

Laugh track

Cut to:

Alex’s house, he and Barbie are there

ALEX: Okay, Mom.  I am going to Detroit.

BARBIE: There is no way on this planet I am going to Detroit to get a door.  Why do you even want this door?

ALEX: It’s pure wood.  You know how much that could sell for?  Over 150 bucks.

BARBIE: Paying for transportation, me missing work, paying someone to remove that awful door, don’t you think that’ll cost more than $150?

ALEX: No.  Because I have figured it all out.  The school band is taking a trip down to Detroit to perform.  I just hop on the bust with them, pretend I play the tuba or whatever.  Once I’m there, I run to Darla’s old house and ask the new residents for the door.  I’ll bring a drill, grab the door, shimmy down to the school bus, and voila bring it back home.

Barbie puts her head in her hands

Laugh track

Cut to:

Alex sitting in his house, later in the day

He dials up the phone

ALEX: Hi, Bob, this is Alex again. I was wondering if you got any progress on the door?

BOB: I told you no!  Now stop calling, kid!

Laugh track

Daphne enters

DAPHNE: Hi, you got any flour.

She goes to the pantry to look and grabs some.

DAPHNE: My mom’s baking.  She’s bored out of her mind, she’s never been off before.  She cleaned every closet, tightened every door knob, and did every puzzle in the house.  So now she’s baking cookies for the soup kitchen.

Laugh track

ALEX: Well I am going to Detroit to make big bucks.  I am so smart

DAPHNE: All the words I think of to describe you right now, smart is not one of them.

Laugh track

DAPHNE: So basically you will go all the way to Detroit. Go to this woman’s house, you’ve never met her, but you’ll go to her house. And ask for her door. Which you will bring back to New York and sell here.

Laugh track

ALEX: Yep.  I am a genius, Daphne.

He pats her head.

DAPHNE: You’re shirts backwards, Alex.

ALEX: Dammit!

DAPHNE: How is your mom even letting you do this?  Go to Detroit.

ALEX: Well honestly I think she’s just happy to get me out of the house and have some peace.

Laugh track

An auditorium.  The band is sitting there, Alex in the corner with a tuba.  Everyone starts playing really nice.  Alex plays a really awful note and everyone stares at him

Laugh track

TEACHER: Okay, are we all ready to go to Detroit?  ON the bus everyone.

Everyone goes outside and boards a bus.  Alex sits next to a pretty girl.

GIRL: Are you in band?  I’ve never seen you before.

ALEX: Oh yeah, I just normally sit in the back.  Alex.

GIRL:Birdie.

They shake hands.

ALEX: You’re very pretty.

BIRDIE: Thank you

They start making out

Laugh track

Cut to:

Barbie is coming home.  She starts reading a book.  The phone rings.

BARBIE: Hello?

BOB: Hi, this is Bob.  Is Alex home?

BARBIE: No.

BOB: Okay, well when you see him please tell him I am changing my number, and I will not get him that door.

Laugh track

Cut to:

Nighttime.  Daphne is asleep in her bedroom.  The fire alarm starts going off.  She wakes up with a jolt.

She gets up and meets her parents in the living room who are carrying crying twins.

DAPHNE: What’s wrong?

ANNA: No idea, but we better get outside

Cut to everyone in the apartment sitting outside.

The firemen come out of the building.

FIREMAN: Nothings wrong.  There is no fire.  Something was wrong with one of the fire detectors. Someone put the wrong batteries in.

Laugh track

ANNA: That may have been me. Sorry everyone

Laugh track

MAN  : I have to get up at five am tomorrow, thanks for ruining my sleep.

Laugh track

Cut to:

The next morning.

ALEX is waking up at a hotel.

He gets dressed and leaves.

Cut to:

Him outside DARLA’S house.

ALEX lady opens the door:

LADY: Hi, can I help you?

ALEX: HI, I’m ALEX LABUDDE.  You don’t know me, and I don’t know you.  But my mom’s friends used to live in this house, but they sold it to you.  Anyway, I want your door.

Laugh track

LADY: Excuse me?

ALEX: Well you have two doors.  This one and another one inside.  I just want the outside door.  It has no purpose for you.  I want it.  And I’ll even pay you.  $20 seems fair?

Laugh track

LADY: Okay, listen I don’t know who you are, or what you want, but please leave.

ALEX: I will leave with that door.

Laugh track

ALEX: Let’s just talk.  That’s an amazing door.

LADY : I know.  It’s also attached to my house.

Laugh track

ALEX: I could fetch I don’t know, 200 dollars for that.  How about I pay you 50.

LADY: How about you leave before I call the police.

ALEX: $100.  I will give you $100.  That’s not bad.

LADY: Honey!  Come downstairs please!

A guy comes down.

LADY: This kid wants our door.  He says he’ll pay us a hundred bucks for our door.  Make him leave please.

ALEX: You don’t understand, I don't want both of your doors.  Just one.  You don’t even need two doors.  I’ll just take this one and go.

Cut to:

Daphne's house.

Her mom is playing with the twins.

ANNA: Isn’t this nice.  Me and my three daughters.  Maybe I should just be a stay at home mom.

DAPHNE: No! No offense, Mom, but if you stayed at home much longer you’d have cleaned every closet in Manhattan.

Laugh track

The phone rings

SHe picks up

DAPHNE’S MOM: Hello?

MAN: There’s a big problem.  I’ve been working here for six years, and never had anything like it.

ANNA: Oh my gosh.  What does he want? How much? Never anything like it.

DAPHNE’S MOM: There’s a kid in Detroit, who wants the door off a house we sold last month.  He’s very persistent.

DAPHNE: Oh my gosh.

Laugh track

Cut to:

ATWOOD: I can’t believe it! They’re not here! Oh my gosh

LUKE: “They’re not here” There’s more than one girl!

Laugh track

GERTRUDE:  I mean I know Atwood’s good looking and all, but more than one!

Laugh track

LUKE: Shh listen.

ATWOOD: I can’t believe this. I’m calling Katherine. She better answer. Hello? Katherine? Where are you? Not here? What do you mean Miami? You have to tell me wherever you go! You’re not allowed to leave the city! No I’m not trying to sound controlling I’m just saying. Oh my gosh well what about Marissa? She’s with you too? Oh my gosh.

Laugh track

GERTRUDE: He’s leaving Nella for a Marissa and a Katherine.

Luke: This is bad.

Cut to:

JOHN and ROSE sitting in Rose’s apartment

ROSE: SO the party didn’t suck

JOHN: Obviously we have different definitions of “didn’t suck”

Laugh track

ROSE: It wasn’t that bad.

JOHN: Who has tea parties anyway.  I mean we’re not in 1714 England anymore here.  So now I’m your boyfriend, I’m obligated to go to these kinds of things.

ROSE: Yep.  It’s the rule

JOHN: You know that’s a stupid rule.  I mean a couple of people get together all of a sudden there's all these stupid rules.  I don’t remember signing any kind of contract.

ROSE: It’s more of a verbal agreement.

JOHN: Okay, so tomorrow I’m watching the twins, after school, because Daphne’s mom is going back to work, so because of this verbal agreement you should have to be there with me.

ROSE: Yes, but see, this verbal agreement doesn’t work if the other person is extremely busy.

JOHN: And are you extremely busy?

ROSE: yes

JOHN: Doing what?

ROSE: I don’t know, I’ll think of something

Laugh track

Cut to Alex getting ready to board the bus.

He sees a free ugly chair outside someone’s house and picks it up and loads it on the bus.

He sits on it in the aisle of the bus.  He sees the girl he kissed before.

A: Hi.

BIRDIE: Hey, why do you have a chair?

ALEX: Well funny story.  I actually came here for a door and then

Cut to:

BIRDIE: You are a complete weirdo.  Who lies about band to get a door!

ALEX: Me.

Laugh track

She shakes her head and starts talking to another girl.

Cut to:

Daphne’s apartment.

ANNA: This is fun.  I can’t believe I have to go back to work tomorrow.  Maybe I should just take a week off.

DAPHNE: NO! Look, mom, I love you a lot.  But please go back to work.  You're going crazy here.  And taking everyone with you.  I mean most of us are already there, we were there long ago, but still.  You need to go back to work.  For the sake of America.  Please.  I am begging you.

Laugh track

ANNA: I am going crazy here.  I mean there’s just nothing for me to do.  I’m used to being so busy and always working.  I just feel so bad, you girls are growing up and I want to be here.

DAPHNE: MOM, you are here.  Every night.  But you know you have your work and home and you have to balance it.  Not overdo too much of either.

ANNA: You're right.  Gosh, you smart.

DAPHNE: There’s a sentence I’ve never heard before.

Laugh track

They hug

Cut to:

Alex getting off the bus with the chair.  A teacher talks to him.

TEACHER: I heard you playing trumpet.  Please never come back, you’re horrible.

ALEX: I won’t.  Between you and me I never was in the band I was just pretending.

TEACHER: What are you doing with a chair?

ALEX: Well it’s actually a very funny story.

Cut to:

Rose and John are sitting around.

JOHN: Oh, I almost forgot next week I am touring the sewage plant and I would hate to go alone, and don’t worry I know you’re free because your plans were to hang out with me.

Laugh track

ROSE: You win!  I give up! Screw the verbal agreement!  Okay, happy you win!

Cut to:

Alex getting off the bus with the chair.  He shimmiess from the best stop to his apartment.

Cut to ALEX coming home

He rings the bell

MOm: Hi sweetheart, you’re home!

ALEX(Shimmying with the chair): Shimmy, shimmy, shimmy shimmy shimmy

Laugh track

MOM: What happened with the door?

ALEX: Well apparently the lady didn’t want to give it up.  So I took this free chair.

MOM: Why is it so um ugly?

Laugh track

ALEX: It is not.  It’s beautiful.  And it’s got to be worth something.

Cut to:  JOHN’s apartment the four are sitting there

A: So this guy is threatening to send me to jail, so finally I give up and grab this free chair.  But the good part is I got a chair and I kissed a girl.  The bad part is I didn’t get the door and I broke up with the girl.

J: Why, ALEX, why?

Laugh track

ATWOOD and DAD are in the elevator, Gertrude and Luke join them.

ATWOOD: I can’t believe Marissa and Katherine aren’t here.

LUKE: You’re cheating on Nella? With this Katherine? Nella’s going to kill you.

ATWOOD: I’m not cheating on anyone. I lost Nella’s wedding ring. Katherine and Marissa are girls I bought the rings from. I need to buy another one.

GERTRUDE: You lost the rings? Nella’s definitely going to kill you now.

Laugh track

As fireworks burned loudly in the sky, Maryanne looked at her husband of thirty years. He had been a Vietnam War veteran during the early years of their marriage, and she could still remember the long nights she spent alone worrying about his safety overseas. But seeing the pride he had for his country all these years later she knew why he went and did what he did and how it was all worth it. And she felt it too, at that moment, with everyone wearing red, white, and blue shirts, with sparklers in their hands.

“Happy fourth of July!”

The New York City streets were filled with people of all ages walking quickly even at midnight. Among these people was John Bianchi, a twenty two year old second generation Italian-American. Bianchi, tall, skinny, and young, was on his way to negotiate with Michael Ricci, a banker who moved to New York from Florence decades ago. Ricci came from old money, probably dating back to the Renaissance, and both families had a Capulet and Montague type feud going on. Bianchi’s family owed money to the Riccis and eventually it all turned violent. Even approaching a Ricci as a Bianchi was stupid and guaranteed to get you killed however John was out of options.

His mother was due to get an invasive heart operation, and he finally found a doctor at an underground illegal hospital who would perform the surgery. He was asking for an exorbitant amount of money, all in cash, but he was Bianchi’s only hope. His mother had been involved in gang violence back and illegal drug dealing back in the 70’s, and to escape prison she faked her own death. No one knew she was alive, there had been a fake funeral, fake body, and everything. Her health insurance had been completely cut off.

John approached Ricci’s apartment building, it was in the bad part of Manhattan, even though Bianchi knew Ricci could afford living in much better places. He buzzed the bell and gave his name. After a long pause he heard a low male voice whisper, barely audibly in a rather chilling voice, come in. Bianchi entered the apartment, it was dark and filled with cobwebs. It looked neglected and sent chills down his spine. He pressed the elevator button and waited but nothing happened. It seemed that the elevator had stopped working and not been used in years. He decided to go up the stairs. Four flights later he reached Ricci’s floor completely out of breath. Regaining himself he straightened his blazer and fixed his hair looking in a cracker mirror.

The whole apartment looked like the set of a high budget horror film. He regretted not telling anyone where he was in case he didn’t make it out. He knocked on Ricci’s apartment door. Ricci opened the door, looking the exact opposite of Bianchi. His eyes were bloodshot and smelled of weed. He reminded Bianchi of the homeless man who lived at the end of his block.

“John Bianchi,” Ricci said, sounding extremely tired. “Long time no see.”

“I need money,” Bianchi said. He decided there was no time for pleasantries, he wanted to get straight to what he needed and leave. “Someone I know needs an operation, I found a doctor, I’ll pay you back.”

“I wasn’t born yesterday. You’re dirt poor you ain’t payin’ no one back. Why should I lend you money? After everything your family has done.”

“I’m selling my share of my company. I’ll have the money in two months.”

“You’re selling?”

“Yes. I have no choice.”

What Ricci didn’t know was that Bianchi’s company had gone bankrupt and there was no money left. Bianchi was out of money, he didn’t have two dimes to rub together. But before Ricci would figure this out Bianchi and his mother would be in New Jersey living under new identities.

“How much do you want?” Ricci asked, reaching for his checkbook.

Bianchi sighed in relief.

Please comment if you read!!

Set in the early 1980s, in an apartment in Manhattan. Centered around the lives of four fifteen year old friends: ALEX, ROSE, DAPHNE, and JOHN.

ALEX, ROSE, and DAPHNE are sitting in JOHN’s apartment.

JOHN comes in from his bedroom wearing hideous, pink, large glasses.

JOHN: I’m rejecting contacts.

ALEX: Weird.  I only reject ugly girls

Laugh track

JOHN: My eyes are rejecting my contacts.  And these are the only glasses I could find.  I’m blind without my glasses.

ROSE(smirking): Suddenly I wish I was blind.

Laugh track

DAPHNE: Where did you get those anyway, JOHN?  Your great-great grandmother’s book club?

Laugh track

JOHN: Very funny, DAPHNE. I’ve had them since I was six.  I haven’t been wearing glasses since I was eleven, they’re all I could find.

ALEX: I’ll be back in a second.

Alex gets up leaves

ROSE: Where’d ALEX go?

DAPHNE: Don’t know.

ALEX comes back with an old fashioned camera

He takes a photo of JOHN.

JOHN: No way, get rid of that!

ALEX: Not a chance.

ALEX runs out with the camera, JOHN following.

Laugh track

Opening credits

Cut to DAPHNE’S kitchen. Her mother, Hailey, and her father, Adam are there with her twin sisters, Ashley and Ariana

ADAM YANG: DAPHNE, can you watch the twins tonight?  We are going out for our anniversary.

DAPHNE: Sure.

She picks up her sisters

DAPHNE: We are going to have a lot of fun.  We’ll go through magazines, try out the best hairstyles.  Buy some of the clothes.  Doesn’t that sound like fun?

ASHLEY and ARIANA don’t react.

HAILEY YANG: I’m so excited.  What do you want for breakfast, honey?

DAPHNE: Um toast.

MRS. YANG: I can’t wait for tonight.

She kisses her husband.

DAPHNE mocks vomiting.

DAPHNE: You know I’m not hungry anymore.

Laugh track.

Cut to: in an English classroom.  Many students are there including ROSE, DAPHNE, ALEX.  The teacher is talking.

TEACHER: Class, we are having a new student, who will come in later.  CLAYSON is showing her around. We will be starting our new assignment, for which you’ll need partners.

PATRICK REEDY(To ROSE): Want to partner?

ROSE: Oh, sure.

JOHN walks in with a girl, SARINA.

TEACHER: Class, this is SARINA BALMER.  You may remember her, she used to live here.  She moved to Brazil.

SARINA waves and the class waves back.

TEACHER: I was just about to explain the assignment.  You both can partner.

ROSE leans over to whisper something to JOHN.

ROSE(whispering): SARINA BALMER?  Your ex-girlfriend.

A pretty girl, MAY, is sitting next to ALEX.

MAY: Hi, ALEX.

ALEX: Hi.

MAY: Are you free this weekend?

ALEX:I definitely am.

M: Want to go out with me.

A: You mean like a date.

M: Yeah what else would I mean

Laugh Track

A: Is that even a question?  Heck yeah I want to go on a date with you.

M: So I’ll see you on Saturday.

A: Oh, I will be there, baby.

Laugh track

The teacher explains the assignment and it cuts to later.

DAPHNE and ROSE are sitting in DAPHNE’s living room.

DAPHNE: PATRICK asked you to be partners?  But it’s me  that’s liked him since fifth grade!

ROSE: Believe me I know, he’s all you talked about for five years.

Laugh track.

Flashback to fifth grade DAPHNE and ROSE.

YOUNG DAPHNE: Rose, look, it’s PATRICK!  Isn’t he so cute?

YOUNG ROSE: Meh

D: One day I am going to be Mrs. Patrick Reedy.  Daphne Yang-Reedy.  Or should it be Daphne Reedy?

Laugh track

YOUNG DAPHNE: He’s a complete dream.

Cut to:

Switch back to the present day.

DAPHNE: And now you’re partners!

ROSE: Oh, it doesn’t mean anything.  We’re just doing an History assignment together.  What about JOHN and SARINA?  They dated, remember?

D:That doesn’t mean anything.  JOHN loves you.

R: I know but they have history. One year of history.  A whole year.

D: It seems like a lot now, but when you’re 83 and dying one year will seem like 10 seconds.

Laugh track

ROSE: Yeah I guess and anyway like I said it’s an English project.  You’re partnered with ALEX, I’m partnered with PATRICK, JOHN’s partnered with um-you know-her.

Laugh track

Gertrude, an extremely rude, annoying, and insensitive teenage girl walks in.

She screams annoyingly.

D: You hear it so often but it never gets less annoying.

Laugh track

GERTUDE: ROSE, you will never believe what I just heard?  John is back together with SARINA!

ROSE: He is not.  They’re partners for an assignment.  They’re just business partners not life partners.

GERTRUDE: For now.  This is the start.  Remember how devastated he was two months ago when she left.  He cried.

DAPHNE: According to him he had allergies.

Laugh track

GERTRUDE: This is the start to something amazing.  Not really the start though more the resume of something.  One day they can get married and have lots of babies.  And name their first daughter Gertrude Jr.

Laugh track

ROSE: They’re going to get married?

DAPHNE: There’s going to be a Gertrude Jr?

Laugh track

GERTRUDE: I mean I personally wanted to see JOHN and Daphne, but he can settle for SARINA.

ROSE: What about JOHN and me?

GERTRUDE: Oh you’re just not the right fit in my opinion.  He’s so handsome and you're too ugly for him.

Laugh track

ROSE: Do you even hear yourself talking?

Cut to:Wiliam ATWOOD and his fiance, Nella’s apartment. They are planning their upcoming wedding.

NELLA: I think caviar would make a good appetizer for the wedding.  And for the main dish Oysters.

ATWOOD: There’s going to be kids there!  Kids don’t want to eat caviar, and frankly neither do I!

Laugh track.

NELLA: Fine what do you think we should serve?

ATWOOD: Chicken wings and pizza.  Easy and everyone’ll eat it!

NELLA: No way!  Everyone will get grease and sauce all over their nice clothes.

ATWOOD: I’d rather get grease on me than raw fish eggs!

Laugh track.

NELLA: Serving pizza at a wedding is so tacky.

ATWOOD: Serving caviar at a wedding is so high maintenance.

NELLA: It’s my wedding.  I want to be special and important one day of my life.

ATWOOD: It’s my wedding too. I want to relax and have fun one day of my life.

NELLA: I am not eating pizza, I’m getting married, not going to a football game.

Laugh track

NELLA: Let’s take a vote.  We’ll go around and ask everyone what they would rather have.

ATWOOD: Fine.

They run over to ROSE’s apartment where her parents, RHONDA and RYDER are sitting.

NELLA: RHONDA, would you rather have pizza or caviar at the wedding?

RHONDA: Caviar, it’s fancy.  It’s your wedding. You should keep it classy.

RYDER: No, that stuff is too fancy.  Keep it casual and something everyone will eat.  Pizzas a standard.

ATWOOD: Thank you.  It’s settled, pizza.

NELLA: It’s a draw, you idiot.  We need a tie-breaker.

ATWOOD: Fine let’s go to Mrs Gibson upstairs.

They leave the apartment.

ATWOOD: Honey, don’t you think it’s a little silly to go around taking a vote?  I mean what is this the presidential election?

Laugh track

NELLA: Yeah, you’re right.  How about we serve chicken?

ATWOOD: Sounds good to me.

They kiss

Cut to: Later that night, DAPHNE’s apartment.  ALEX and DAPHNE are working on their project

ALEX: So how do you feel about SARINA coming out of nowhere? I mean ROSE didn’t seem to be happy.

DAPHNE(sarcastically): Big surprise.

Laugh track

Cut to JOHN’s apartment.  He is fiddling around, visibly nervous.  He adjusts the furniture.

The doorbell rings.

He goes and answers opening to SARINA dressed in a red dress completed with matching lipstick.

JOHN: Holy Ravioli!

Laugh track.

SARINA giggles.

JOHN: A little overdressed aren’t we?

SARINA: Only the best for you, my JOHN.

She kisses him on the cheek.

Cut to:

ROSE’S apartment.  She is sitting with PATRICK

PATRICK: Want to do the assignment.

ROSE: Yeah.

They sit down and start work.

PATRICK: So is it true?  Are you really dating JOHN CLAYSON?

ROSE: Yeah, it’s true, why?

PATRICK: What do girls see in Clayson?

ROSE: He’s nice, smart, funny. . .

PATRICK: I’m nice, smart, and funny.

ROSE:P, I like John.  And I couldn’t like you even if I wanted to.  Daphne likes you and she’s my best friend.

PATRICK: But I don’t like DAPHNE.  I like you, Rose.

ROSE: Let’s just do the assignment

They start writing and compare different books for a little while.

Some time passes.

They are finished.

ROSE: Finally.

PATRICK kisses her just as DAPHNE walks in.

She pulls away disgusted.

DAPHNE: How could you do this to me?

She runs out.

ROSE: How could you do this to me?

She runs after her.

DAPHNE’s apartment, DAPHNE is sitting on her bed.

ROSE: DAPHNE.

DAPHNE: I don’t want to hear it.  You knew he liked me.  But you had to go and kiss him.  What did I ever do to you?

ROSE: DAPHNE, I didn’t kiss him.

DAPHNE: Don’t lie!  I have great eyesight.  The vision test is the only test I’ve ever gotten a perfect score on!

Laugh track.

D: You broke the first law on the girl constitution.  Never kiss your friends crush or dad

Laugh track

ROSE: He kissed me.  I didn’t want to, really.  He said he liked me and–

DAPHNE: Of course he liked you.  Everyone always likes you.

ROSE: That’s not true.

Tears form in DAPHNE’s eyes.

DAPHNE: Remember CARSON CLUTTERBUCK.

ROSE: How could I forget?

Laugh track.

ROSE: DAPHNE, if there’s one thing I’ve ever learned, it’s don’t take the word of CARSON CLUTTERBUCK.

Laugh track

DAPHNE: It’s just not fair.  You are smart, funny and beautiful.  And so many guys like you.  And JOHN he loves you.  Sometimes I wonder if I will ever meet anybody for me.  I get jealous of all those people who have a special somebody

R: You’ll find someone I promise. You’re fifteen. You have years ahead of you.

They both hug.

DAPHNE: I just worry because you have John and I have no one.  And one day you’ll both forget about me and I’ll be all alone.  I don’t want to lose you because you're my best friend and I love you.

She starts crying

ROSE: That is never going to happen.  No matter who and I mean anyone in this world comes I will always be your best friend.  I love you and no one can change that.  No one can come between us, DAPHNE, no one.   I love you

DAPHNE: I love you too.

They both hug

ROSE:  I get jealous too.  Johns with his ex-girlfriend.  I worry so much that he’s going to find someone better than me.

DAPHNE:Honey, he loves you.  He never ever looked at SARINA the way he looks at you.  He will always love you.  And so will I.

ROSE: Thanks

They both hug

Cut to:

JOHN’S apartment

SARINA: So now we’re all done, want to have some fun?

JOHN(A little nervous): Are you saying writing History papers isn’t fun?

Laugh track.

She leans over and kisses his cheek.

SARINA: Remember Valentine’s Day?

Cut to a Flashback Valentine's Day, 11-year-old JOHN and 11-year-old SARINA are sitting .

John is holding a rose.

JOHN: SARINA, will you go out with me?

SARINA: Yes I will.

Cut to:

A fancy restaurant, La Chic, 11-year-old SARINA is wearing a dress and 11-year-old JOHN is in a suit.

JOHN: I love you.

SARINA: I love you

She comes over and slides into his side of the booth.

Cut to present day:

SARINA: That was a school-famous date.  You were the most romantic person I’ve ever met.

JOHN: What can I say, the ladies do dig me.

Laugh track.

SARINA: Come on, JOHN.  What happened?

JOHN: I got a girlfriend.  And I love her.

SARINA: Remember the night I left?

Flashback to a year ago JOHN’s apartment.  He is sitting watching something on TV.

SARINA walks in.

SARINA:JOHN?

JOHN jumps startled.

JOHN: Holy Ravioli!

Laugh track.

JOHN: SARINA, you scared me.

He turns off the TV and gets up to her.

SARINA: I have some bad news.

JOHN: Oh no, did your mom eat bad chili again?

Laugh track.

SARINA: My family and I are moving to Brazil.

JOHN: What?

SARINA: We leave tonight.  My dad found a better job.  His company’s transferring him and there’s a huge jump in the salary.

JOHN: You’re leaving the country tonight?

SARINA nods.

JOHN: But what’ll happen to us?

SARINA: I don’t know.

JOHN: I don’t know what to say.  I’ll miss you so much.

Tears form in JOHN’s eyes.

SARINA: JOHN, are you crying?

JOHN: No, I’m not crying.  It’s–an allergic reaction.

SARINA: To what?

JOHN: Um–he looks around–the microwave.

Laugh track.

SARINA: You’re allergic to microwaves?

JOHN: Yes, terribly allergic.  Um–

He fake sneezes.

Laugh track

SARINA: Um-God  Bless You?

JOHN: I might never see you again.  I’ll miss you.

SARINA: I’ll miss you too.

They kiss.

SARINA: John, I don’t know what to do.  I miss you so much already, and I’m still here.  It hurts thinking about it.  We had a future together.  We had us.

JOHN: I know.  It’s so sudden.  You didn’t know?

She shakes her head.

SARINA: I found out today.  I didn’t know how to tell you.  What’s going to happen, JOHN?

JOHN: I don’t know.  When will you come back?

SARINA: I don’t know.  It could be a month, a year, ten.

JOHN: So it’s over?  I can wait for you.

SARINA: I mean, JOHN, we have to move on.  We can’t keep waiting for something that might never happen.

SARINA sniffles.  A tear pours down her face.

JOHN: This wasn’t supposed to be how it went.  I mean SARINA, I was ready to grow old with you.

SARINA: Me too.

A beat

SARINA: I love you.

JOHN: I love you too.

They hug

Cut to present day.

SARINA: You missed me so much.  You even cried.

JOHN: I did not cry!  I had an allergic reaction to the microwave!

Laugh track.

A beat.

SARINA: Don’t you miss us?

JOHN hesitates.

JOHN: Look, SARINA, when you moved to Brazil, I missed you.  I really did.  But I moved on.  I’m with Rose now.  I love her.

SARINA: But I can give you things ROSE could never.  We have history.  We dated for a year. You and Rose have dated for a month.

JOHN: Maybe.  But I don’t want those things.  I love ROSE.  You’re a great girl SARINA, just not a great girl for me.  I’m sorry.

SARINA: I’m sorry too.

A beat.

SARINA: JOHN, you were ready to spend the rest of your life with me.  And I was ready to grow old with you.  If I didn’t leave last June, would you still love me?

JOHN: I don’t know.  Look I don’t know what could’ve happened.  But I do know what did happen.  I can’t change the past, and the truth is even if I could I wouldn’t.  I loved you.  But now I’m in love with someone else.  SARINA, the timing isn’t right.  But the truth is you’re amazing.  And it hurt me when you left.  And if it wasn’t for Rose I’d take you back.

SARINA: I was stupid coming here wasn’t I?  You love Rose.  I can see it in your eyes.  I love you, JOHN.  And honestly I didn’t come here to take Rose’s place.  You both are so happy, and all I really wanted to see was you happy.  I just wanted to know that maybe if it weren’t for Rose you would take me back.  That you loved me.

JOHN: I love you.

SARINA: I love you too.

They hug for a moment

SARINA: That’s all I wanted tonight.  I’ll go now.

JOHN nods.

SARINA leaves.

JOHN(muttering): Rose.

He gets up and runs to ROSE’s apartment.  He lifts her off her feet and kisses her.

DAPHNE:What happened between you and Brazilian Beach Body.

Laugh track.

A baby cries. DAPHNE leaves

ROSE: What did happen between you and Brazilian Beach Body?

Laugh track.

JOHN: Doesn’t matter.  Rose, you’re amazing.

ROSE: Thanks, but your not getting out of answering my question

Laugh track

JOHN: Nothing happened.  Look, ROSE, SARINA  is my past.  You are my present.  My present from GOD and you are the greatest gift I could ever have.  I love you

Audience Awwww

J: I love you.

ROSE: I love you too

They kiss again.

ROSE:I know it’s stupid.  But sometimes I worry what if you find someone better than me.  And I get jealous of Sarina. You were so happy together, John, you were ready to spend the rest of your life with her. It would have been so much easier if you ended things in a huge fight and hated each other. But you didn’t. Neither of you wanted to end things.  And  sometimes I worry what if you loved her more.

JOHN: ROSE, that’s not true.

ROSE: You wouldn’t have broken up with her if you didn’t have to. Our whole relationship started because you couldn’t have the girl you wanted. It wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

JOHN: Well, ROSE, it did happen. And I’m happy it did. Look, it doesn’t matter how we got here, it matters that we’re here now.

ROSE:Why do you always sound like a Hallmark card?

Laugh track

They sit on the sofa and kiss.

Cut to end

SARINA leaving the apartment.

She sees Patrick.

PATRICK: Hi.

SARINA: What are you doing here?

PATRICK: Nothing. This girl, Rose, picked this guy, JOHN, over me.

SARINA: Well, this guy, JOHN, picked this girl, Rose, over me.

They make out

End

Set in the early 1980s, in an apartment in Manhattan. Centered around the lives of four fifteen year old friends: ALEX, ROSE, DAPHNE, and JOHN.

ALEX, ROSE, and DAPHNE are sitting in JOHN’s apartment.

JOHN comes in from his bedroom wearing hideous, pink, large glasses.

JOHN: I’m rejecting contacts.

ALEX: Weird.  I only reject ugly girls

Laugh track

JOHN: My eyes are rejecting my contacts.  And these are the only glasses I could find.  I’m blind without my glasses.

ROSE(smirking): Suddenly I wish I was blind.

Laugh track

DAPHNE: Where did you get those anyway, JOHN?  Your great-great grandmother’s book club?

Laugh track

JOHN: Very funny, DAPHNE. I’ve had them since I was six.  I haven’t been wearing glasses since I was eleven, they’re all I could find.

ALEX: I’ll be back in a second.

Alex gets up leaves

ROSE: Where’d ALEX go?

DAPHNE: Don’t know.

ALEX comes back with an old fashioned camera

He takes a photo of JOHN.

JOHN: No way, get rid of that!

ALEX: Not a chance.

ALEX runs out with the camera, JOHN following.

Laugh track

Opening credits

Cut to DAPHNE’S kitchen. Her mother, Hailey, and her father, Adam are there with her twin sisters, Ashley and Ariana

ADAM YANG: DAPHNE, can you watch the twins tonight?  We are going out for our anniversary.

DAPHNE: Sure.

She picks up her sisters

DAPHNE: We are going to have a lot of fun.  We’ll go through magazines, try out the best hairstyles.  Buy some of the clothes.  Doesn’t that sound like fun?

ASHLEY and ARIANA don’t react.

HAILEY YANG: I’m so excited.  What do you want for breakfast, honey?

DAPHNE: Um toast.

MRS. YANG: I can’t wait for tonight.

She kisses her husband.

DAPHNE mocks vomiting.

DAPHNE: You know I’m not hungry anymore.

Laugh track.

Cut to: in an English classroom.  Many students are there including ROSE, DAPHNE, ALEX.  The teacher is talking.

TEACHER: Class, we are having a new student, who will come in later.  CLAYSON is showing her around. We will be starting our new assignment, for which you’ll need partners.

PATRICK REEDY(To ROSE): Want to partner?

ROSE: Oh, sure.

JOHN walks in with a girl, SARINA.

TEACHER: Class, this is SARINA BALMER.  You may remember her, she used to live here.  She moved to Brazil.

SARINA waves and the class waves back.

TEACHER: I was just about to explain the assignment.  You both can partner.

ROSE leans over to whisper something to JOHN.

ROSE(whispering): SARINA BALMER?  Your ex-girlfriend.

A pretty girl, MAY, is sitting next to ALEX.

MAY: Hi, ALEX.

ALEX: Hi.

MAY: Are you free this weekend?

ALEX:I definitely am.

MAY: Want to go out with me.

ALEX: You mean like a date.

MAY: Yeah what else would I mean

Laugh Track

ALEX: Is that even a question?  Heck yeah I want to go on a date with you.

MAY: So I’ll see you on Saturday.

ALEX: Oh, I will be there, baby.

Laugh track

The teacher explains the assignment and it cuts to later.

DAPHNE and ROSE are sitting in DAPHNE’s living room.

DAPHNE: PATRICK asked you to be partners?  But it’s me  that’s liked him since fifth grade!

ROSE: Believe me I know, he’s all you talked about for five years.

Laugh track.

Flashback to fifth grade DAPHNE and ROSE.

YOUNG DAPHNE: Rose, look, it’s PATRICK!  Isn’t he so cute?

YOUNG ROSE: Meh

D: One day I am going to be Mrs. Patrick Reedy.  Daphne Yang-Reedy.  Or should it be Daphne Reedy?

Laugh track

YOUNG DAPHNE: He’s a complete dream.

Cut to:

Switch back to the present day.

DAPHNE: And now you’re partners!

ROSE: Oh, it doesn’t mean anything.  We’re just doing an History assignment together.  What about JOHN and SARINA?  They dated, remember?

D:That doesn’t mean anything.  JOHN loves you.

R: I know but they have history. One year of history.  A whole year.

D: It seems like a lot now, but when you’re 83 and dying one year will seem like 10 seconds.

Laugh track

ROSE: Yeah I guess and anyway like I said it’s an English project.  You’re partnered with ALEX, I’m partnered with PATRICK, JOHN’s partnered with um-you know-her.

Laugh track

Gertrude, an extremely rude, annoying, and insensitive teenage girl walks in.

She screams annoyingly.

D: You hear it so often but it never gets less annoying.

Laugh track

GERTUDE: ROSE, you will never believe what I just heard?  John is back together with SARINA!

ROSE: He is not.  They’re partners for an assignment.  They’re just business partners not life partners.

GERTRUDE: For now.  This is the start.  Remember how devastated he was two months ago when she left.  He cried.

DAPHNE: According to him he had allergies.

Laugh track

GERTRUDE: This is the start to something amazing.  Not really the start though more the resume of something.  One day they can get married and have lots of babies.  And name their first daughter Gertrude Jr.

Laugh track

ROSE: They’re going to get married?

DAPHNE: There’s going to be a Gertrude Jr?

Laugh track

GERTRUDE: I mean I personally wanted to see JOHN and Daphne, but he can settle for SARINA.

ROSE: What about JOHN and me?

GERTRUDE: Oh you’re just not the right fit in my opinion.  He’s so handsome and you're too ugly for him.

Laugh track

ROSE: Do you even hear yourself talking?

Cut to:Wiliam ATWOOD and his fiance, Nella’s apartment. They are planning their upcoming wedding.

NELLA: I think caviar would make a good appetizer for the wedding.  And for the main dish Oysters.

ATWOOD: There’s going to be kids there!  Kids don’t want to eat caviar, and frankly neither do I!

Laugh track.

NELLA: Fine what do you think we should serve?

ATWOOD: Chicken wings and pizza.  Easy and everyone’ll eat it!

NELLA: No way!  Everyone will get grease and sauce all over their nice clothes.

ATWOOD: I’d rather get grease on me than raw fish eggs!

Laugh track.

NELLA: Serving pizza at a wedding is so tacky.

ATWOOD: Serving caviar at a wedding is so high maintenance.

NELLA: It’s my wedding.  I want to be special and important one day of my life.

ATWOOD: It’s my wedding too. I want to relax and have fun one day of my life.

NELLA: I am not eating pizza, I’m getting married, not going to a football game.

Laugh track

NELLA: Let’s take a vote.  We’ll go around and ask everyone what they would rather have.

ATWOOD: Fine.

They run over to ROSE’s apartment where her parents, RHONDA and RYDER are sitting.

NELLA: RHONDA, would you rather have pizza or caviar at the wedding?

RHONDA: Caviar, it’s fancy.  It’s your wedding. You should keep it classy.

RYDER: No, that stuff is too fancy.  Keep it casual and something everyone will eat.  Pizzas a standard.

ATWOOD: Thank you.  It’s settled, pizza.

NELLA: It’s a draw, you idiot.  We need a tie-breaker.

ATWOOD: Fine let’s go to Mrs Gibson upstairs.

They leave the apartment.

ATWOOD: Honey, don’t you think it’s a little silly to go around taking a vote?  I mean what is this the presidential election?

Laugh track

NELLA: Yeah, you’re right.  How about we serve chicken?

ATWOOD: Sounds good to me.

They kiss

Cut to: Later that night, DAPHNE’s apartment.  ALEX and DAPHNE are working on their project

ALEX: So how do you feel about SARINA coming out of nowhere? I mean ROSE didn’t seem to be happy.

DAPHNE(sarcastically): Big surprise.

Laugh track

Cut to JOHN’s apartment.  He is fiddling around, visibly nervous.  He adjusts the furniture.

The doorbell rings.

He goes and answers opening to SARINA dressed in a red dress completed with matching lipstick.

JOHN: Holy Ravioli!

Laugh track.

SARINA giggles.

JOHN: A little overdressed aren’t we?

SARINA: Only the best for you, my JOHN.

She kisses him on the cheek.

Cut to:

ROSE’S apartment.  She is sitting with PATRICK

PATRICK: Want to do the assignment.

ROSE: Yeah.

They sit down and start work.

PATRICK: So is it true?  Are you really dating JOHN CLAYSON?

ROSE: Yeah, it’s true, why?

PATRICK: What do girls see in Clayson?

ROSE: He’s nice, smart, funny. . .

PATRICK: I’m nice, smart, and funny.

ROSE:P, I like John.  And I couldn’t like you even if I wanted to.  Daphne likes you and she’s my best friend.

PATRICK: But I don’t like DAPHNE.  I like you, Rose.

ROSE: Let’s just do the assignment

They start writing and compare different books for a little while.

Some time passes.

They are finished.

ROSE: Finally.

PATRICK kisses her just as DAPHNE walks in.

She pulls away disgusted.

DAPHNE: How could you do this to me?

She runs out.

ROSE: How could you do this to me?

She runs after her.

DAPHNE’s apartment, DAPHNE is sitting on her bed.

ROSE: DAPHNE.

DAPHNE: I don’t want to hear it.  You knew he liked me.  But you had to go and kiss him.  What did I ever do to you?

ROSE: DAPHNE, I didn’t kiss him.

DAPHNE: Don’t lie!  I have great eyesight.  The vision test is the only test I’ve ever gotten a perfect score on!

Laugh track.

D: You broke the first law on the girl constitution.  Never kiss your friends crush or dad

Laugh track

ROSE: He kissed me.  I didn’t want to, really.  He said he liked me and–

DAPHNE: Of course he liked you.  Everyone always likes you.

ROSE: That’s not true.

Tears form in DAPHNE’s eyes.

DAPHNE: Remember CARSON CLUTTERBUCK.

ROSE: How could I forget?

Laugh track.

ROSE: DAPHNE, if there’s one thing I’ve ever learned, it’s don’t take the word of CARSON CLUTTERBUCK.

Laugh track

DAPHNE: It’s just not fair.  You are smart, funny and beautiful.  And so many guys like you.  And JOHN he loves you.  Sometimes I wonder if I will ever meet anybody for me.  I get jealous of all those people who have a special somebody

R: You’ll find someone I promise. You’re fifteen. You have years ahead of you.

They both hug.

DAPHNE: I just worry because you have John and I have no one.  And one day you’ll both forget about me and I’ll be all alone.  I don’t want to lose you because you're my best friend and I love you.

She starts crying

ROSE: That is never going to happen.  No matter who and I mean anyone in this world comes I will always be your best friend.  I love you and no one can change that.  No one can come between us, DAPHNE, no one.   I love you

DAPHNE: I love you too.

They both hug

ROSE:  I get jealous too.  Johns with his ex-girlfriend.  I worry so much that he’s going to find someone better than me.

DAPHNE:Honey, he loves you.  He never ever looked at SARINA the way he looks at you.  He will always love you.  And so will I.

ROSE: Thanks

They both hug

Cut to:

JOHN’S apartment

SARINA: So now we’re all done, want to have some fun?

JOHN(A little nervous): Are you saying writing History papers isn’t fun?

Laugh track.

She leans over and kisses his cheek.

SARINA: Remember Valentine’s Day?

Cut to a Flashback Valentine's Day, 11-year-old JOHN and 11-year-old SARINA are sitting .

John is holding a rose.

JOHN: SARINA, will you go out with me?

SARINA: Yes I will.

Cut to:

A fancy restaurant, La Chic, 11-year-old SARINA is wearing a dress and 11-year-old JOHN is in a suit.

JOHN: I love you.

SARINA: I love you

She comes over and slides into his side of the booth.

Cut to present day:

SARINA: That was a school-famous date.  You were the most romantic person I’ve ever met.

JOHN: What can I say, the ladies do dig me.

Laugh track.

SARINA: Come on, JOHN.  What happened?

JOHN: I got a girlfriend.  And I love her.

SARINA: Remember the night I left?

Flashback to a year ago JOHN’s apartment.  He is sitting watching something on TV.

SARINA walks in.

SARINA:JOHN?

JOHN jumps startled.

JOHN: Holy Ravioli!

Laugh track.

JOHN: SARINA, you scared me.

He turns off the TV and gets up to her.

SARINA: I have some bad news.

JOHN: Oh no, did your mom eat bad chili again?

Laugh track.

SARINA: My family and I are moving to Brazil.

JOHN: What?

SARINA: We leave tonight.  My dad found a better job.  His company’s transferring him and there’s a huge jump in the salary.

JOHN: You’re leaving the country tonight?

SARINA nods.

JOHN: But what’ll happen to us?

SARINA: I don’t know.

JOHN: I don’t know what to say.  I’ll miss you so much.

Tears form in JOHN’s eyes.

SARINA: JOHN, are you crying?

JOHN: No, I’m not crying.  It’s–an allergic reaction.

SARINA: To what?

JOHN: Um–he looks around–the microwave.

Laugh track.

SARINA: You’re allergic to microwaves?

JOHN: Yes, terribly allergic.  Um–

He fake sneezes.

Laugh track

SARINA: Um-God  Bless You?

JOHN: I might never see you again.  I’ll miss you.

SARINA: I’ll miss you too.

They kiss.

SARINA: John, I don’t know what to do.  I miss you so much already, and I’m still here.  It hurts thinking about it.  We had a future together.  We had us.

JOHN: I know.  It’s so sudden.  You didn’t know?

She shakes her head.

SARINA: I found out today.  I didn’t know how to tell you.  What’s going to happen, JOHN?

JOHN: I don’t know.  When will you come back?

SARINA: I don’t know.  It could be a month, a year, ten.

JOHN: So it’s over?  I can wait for you.

SARINA: I mean, JOHN, we have to move on.  We can’t keep waiting for something that might never happen.

SARINA sniffles.  A tear pours down her face.

JOHN: This wasn’t supposed to be how it went.  I mean SARINA, I was ready to grow old with you.

SARINA: Me too.

A beat

SARINA: I love you.

JOHN: I love you too.

They hug

Cut to present day.

SARINA: You missed me so much.  You even cried.

JOHN: I did not cry!  I had an allergic reaction to the microwave!

Laugh track.

A beat.

SARINA: Don’t you miss us?

JOHN hesitates.

JOHN: Look, SARINA, when you moved to Brazil, I missed you.  I really did.  But I moved on.  I’m with Rose now.  I love her.

SARINA: But I can give you things ROSE could never.  We have history.  We dated for a year. You and Rose have dated for a month.

JOHN: Maybe.  But I don’t want those things.  I love ROSE.  You’re a great girl SARINA, just not a great girl for me.  I’m sorry.

SARINA: I’m sorry too.

A beat.

SARINA: JOHN, you were ready to spend the rest of your life with me.  And I was ready to grow old with you.  If I didn’t leave last June, would you still love me?

JOHN: I don’t know.  Look I don’t know what could’ve happened.  But I do know what did happen.  I can’t change the past, and the truth is even if I could I wouldn’t.  I loved you.  But now I’m in love with someone else.  SARINA, the timing isn’t right.  But the truth is you’re amazing.  And it hurt me when you left.  And if it wasn’t for Rose I’d take you back.

SARINA: I was stupid coming here wasn’t I?  You love Rose.  I can see it in your eyes.  I love you, JOHN.  And honestly I didn’t come here to take Rose’s place.  You both are so happy, and all I really wanted to see was you happy.  I just wanted to know that maybe if it weren’t for Rose you would take me back.  That you loved me.

JOHN: I love you.

SARINA: I love you too.

They hug for a moment

SARINA: That’s all I wanted tonight.  I’ll go now.

JOHN nods.

SARINA leaves.

JOHN(muttering): Rose.

He gets up and runs to ROSE’s apartment.  He lifts her off her feet and kisses her.

DAPHNE:What happened between you and Brazilian Beach Body.

Laugh track.

A baby cries. DAPHNE leaves

ROSE: What did happen between you and Brazilian Beach Body?

Laugh track.

JOHN: Doesn’t matter.  Rose, you’re amazing.

ROSE: Thanks, but your not getting out of answering my question

Laugh track

JOHN: Nothing happened.  Look, ROSE, SARINA  is my past.  You are my present.  My present from GOD and you are the greatest gift I could ever have.  I love you

Audience Awwww

JOHN: I love you.

ROSE: I love you too

They kiss again.

ROSE:I know it’s stupid.  But sometimes I worry what if you find someone better than me.  And I get jealous of Sarina. You were so happy together, John, you were ready to spend the rest of your life with her. It would have been so much easier if you ended things in a huge fight and hated each other. But you didn’t. Neither of you wanted to end things.  And  sometimes I worry what if you loved her more.

JOHN: ROSE, that’s not true.

ROSE: You wouldn’t have broken up with her if you didn’t have to. Our whole relationship started because you couldn’t have the girl you wanted. It wouldn’t have happened otherwise.

JOHN: Well, ROSE, it did happen. And I’m happy it did. Look, it doesn’t matter how we got here, it matters that we’re here now.

ROSE:Why do you always sound like a Hallmark card?

Laugh track

They sit on the sofa and kiss.

Cut to end

SARINA leaving the apartment.

She sees Patrick.

PATRICK: Hi.

SARINA: What are you doing here?

PATRICK: Nothing. This girl, Rose, picked this guy, JOHN, over me.

SARINA: Well, this guy, JOHN, picked this girl, Rose, over me.

They make out

End