Post by Dale on Jul 21, 2009 12:54:59 GMT -5
for those that remember, this was the proposed collab tv show project. well the collab part pretty much fell apart, but it's an idea to good to give up on. so here's the teaser that i wrote earleir.
Fragments
"Pilot"
TEASER
INT. SMITH HOME, DINING ROOM -- NIGHT
JOHN SMITH, a rather average looking man, dressed in rather
average looking clothing, in his rather average house sit
at a dining table.
Next to him is a young girl, approximately five years of
age. All sweetness and light, like butter wouldn't melt.
She is LAUREN SMITH, John's daughter and as they play snap
with one another, her mouth twitches into a mischievous
grin.
JOHN
Are you watching?
She giggles in reply.
JOHN (CONT'D)
Watch closely now.
John turns his card and it doesn't not match.
JOHN (CONT'D)
Now it's your turn.
Lauren reaches out, shifting forward in her seat to reach
the cards.
Lauren turns the top card of the deck, peaking at as she
does. She giggles adorably once more, before placing it
down on the table. It matches the previous card turned and
she quickly shouts...
LAUREN
Snap!
John looks at her for a moment.
JOHN
You little cheater.
John reaches over and tickles his daughter, Lauren squirms
in her chair, laughing sweetly as she does.
John lifts her out of her seat, spinning her around
playfully as he holds her in his arms.
JOHN (CONT'D)
You're daddies little cheater,
aren't you.
Lauren squeals as John's wife, HELEN SMITH enters the
dining room. Her hair is pulled back tightly, an apron
wrapped around her waist.
She carries a large bowl of mash potato, narrowly avoiding
John and Lauren playing their little game. Helen shoots
John a glance that says "Careful, put her down"
Lauren sulks as she is put back down in her chair.
HELEN
So, Lauren. What did you do at
pre-school today.
Lauren, still angry her game was abruptly ended replies.
LAUREN
Nothing.
Helen sighs, she just can't win with this kid.
HELEN
John?
John scoops mash potato from the bowl absentmindedly. Now
he is no longer keeping Lauren occupied, he retreats into
his own thoughts.
He reads a piece of paper off to his right.
HELEN (CONT'D)
John?
John continues to read, dumping the contents of his spoon
onto his plate.
JOHN
Huh?
Helen puts her knife and fork down, they ring with a CLANG.
John looks up at her.
JOHN (CONT'D)
What?
HELEN
It's dinner. Can you put that
damn thing away.
JOHN
It's work stuff. I can't just --
HELEN
John, please.
John relents. With a sigh, he takes the sheet of paper and
places it on a nearby cabinet.
JOHN
Happy?
HELEN
Ecstatic.
For a moment, they eat in quiet.
LAUREN
Daddy?
John nods, as he turns towards his daughter.
LAUREN (CONT'D)
Guess what I did that pre-school
today.
HELEN
I thought you didn't do anything.
Lauren stumbles over her words.
LAUREN
I did't -- I didn't, want to tell
you.
HELEN
Well, why do you want to tell
daddy and not mommy?
HELEN (CONT'D)
Because I love my daddy.
Helen seems some what hurt by this statement.
HELEN (CONT'D)
You don't love mommy?
Lauren snaps back with her reply.
LAUREN
No.
Helen tries to compose herself. She fails as he once again
slams her cutlery down on her plate.
She leaves the room, heading back to her own domain; the
kitchen.
Lauren is oblivious, she doesn't quite know what she's
done. But she knows she's done something. Her lip
quivers...
LAUREN (CONT'D)
Daddy...
JOHN
It's Ok, sweetie. Mom is just a
little tired.
John gets to his feet, kissing his daughter on the forehead
before heading after his wife.
Lauren is left playing with her food in the Dining Room.
CUT TO:
INT. SMITH HOME, KITCHEN -- CONTINUOUS
Helen leans over a unit in the kitchen,clearly upset by her
daughter's comments.
John enters.
JOHN
Hey --
Helen wipes a tear from her eye, brushing her hair out of
her face as she does.
HELEN
Sorry. It's just -- sometimes
that girl...
JOHN
I know. She's just a kid. She
doesn't understand.
HELEN
It's not that. Why do I always
have to be the bad guy?
JOHN
You're not.
Helen scoffs.
HELEN
Come on John. You're in there,
playing snap and spinning her
around like a human merry-go
round. I'm like the wicked witch
of the west, coming in there
breaking it up.
John walks towards Helen to comfort her.
JOHN
You're not the wicked witch of
the west. You're not green for a
start.
He places his hands on her shoulders, looking in her eyes.
She does not succumb to her comforting tactics.
HELEN
This isn't a joke John.
JOHN
I know. But tomorrow, you'll say
she looks pretty in some dress
and you'll be her favorite.
Helen lets out a slight laugh. She knows this is likely
true, however it doesn't do much to improve her mood.
JOHN (CONT'D)
Are you gonna come back and
finish dinner?
HELEN
No, I'm not all that hungry. I'll
clean up in here. Make sure
Lauren is Ok. then get her ready
for bed, ok?
JOHN
Consider it done.
John kisses his wife, brushing flour out of her hair as he
does.
CUT TO:
INT. SMITH HOME, HALLWAY -- LATER
Lauren, in her pajamas, runs through the hallway. Passing a
family portrait featuring John, Helen and Lauren as she
does.
At the end of it, John scoops her up, lifting her off her
feet. He carries her back the way she came, placing her
back down outside the bathroom door.
JOHN
Brush your teeth.
LAUREN
No.
Lauren giggles at her defiance.
John bends down, looking at his daughter dead in the eye.
He feigns a serious expressions.
JOHN
Brush your teeth, or no ice cream
... Ever again.
Lauren gasps before hurrying back into the bathroom
herself. John smiles, amused by his ruse.
INT. SMITH HOME, MASTER BEDROOM -- CONTINUOUS
John enters his bedroom, pealing off his shirt. He throws
it across the room, the last shirt to be thrown on an ever
growing pile.
Helen, having changed into a nightgown emerges.
She spots the pile.
HELEN
When are you gonna pick those
dirty clothes up? We have a
hamper for a reason.
She makes a point of placing her own clothing into a
laundry hamper.
JOHN
I'm waiting.
HELEN
For what? For astronauts to walk
on Mars.
JOHN
I'm trying to save you from
having to wash my clothes
everyday.
HELEN
Sure, you saving me work. That'll
be the day. Besides, you're just
making more work for me, when you
finally get off your ass, walk
the extra few feet to the hamper
and put them in. Because I’ll have to do
two loads of laundry that day instead of
one.
Helen doesn't want to wait for this day that may never
come. Instead, she collects the clothes and deposits them
herself.
This is clearly an argument they have gone through several
times before.
JOHN
Fine. Next time, I'll put them in
the hamper.
HELEN
It's always next time. Always
next time John.
JOHN
I promise, scouts honour.
John performs the scout salute, much to Helen's annoyance.
HELEN
You didn't go to scouts.
She crawls into bed, ignoring him. With a sigh, John
follows.
HELEN
Can you shut off the light?
John reaches over and turns off the lamp by their bed.
For a BEAT they lay in uncomfortable silence.
HELEN (CONT'D)
Aren't you gonna say it?
JOHN
Say what?
HELEN
"I love you"
JOHN
After seven years, do I really
have to keep saying it every
night?
HELEN
Fine, don't say it then.
JOHN
Well, if you're gonna be like
that, I might as well say it.
HELEN
That's not the point John. You
always miss the point.
JOHN
Whatever. I miss the point.
John and Helen seem content to leave it. After a moment
John utters the words...
JOHN (CONT'D)
I love you.
HELEN
To little to late.
Helen rolls over onto her side ignoring him. John sighs,
having cocked up such a simple thing like saying good night
to his wife.
He hits his pillow, supposedly fluffing it, before resting
his head down and closing his eyes.
CUT TO:
INT. SMITH HOME, MASTER BEDROOM -- MORNING
An ALARM sounds as John stirs in bed. He reaches out,
shutting it off.
John spins out of bed, his eyes still tightly closed. He
doesn't not noticed the decor of his bedroom has seemingly
magically changed.
He tries to navigate through his room with his eyes closed,
a process he has done several hundred times. However on
this occasion, he stubs his toe on a rogue lamp.
JOHN
Damn thing.
Finally, John reaches the door.
INT. SMITH HOME, HALLWAY -- CONTINUOUS
John rubs the sleep from his eyes, passing the family
portrait in the hallway.
Lauren and Helen are no longer present in the picture,
instead there is an unknown brunette woman.
John does not notice anything is amiss. As heads for the
stairs.
INT. SMITH HOME, KITCHEN -- CONTINUOUS
John enters the kitchen, wiping the final piece of sleep
out of his eyes. He opens them wide, to see the Brunette
Woman (ANGELA).
She stands over the hobs of an oven, preparing scrambled eggs
John is stopped dead in his tracks as she turns to greet
him.
ANGELA
Morning hon. Do you want coffee
with your eggs?
John just stares wide eyed. Words failing him.
END OF TEASER
"Pilot"
TEASER
INT. SMITH HOME, DINING ROOM -- NIGHT
JOHN SMITH, a rather average looking man, dressed in rather
average looking clothing, in his rather average house sit
at a dining table.
Next to him is a young girl, approximately five years of
age. All sweetness and light, like butter wouldn't melt.
She is LAUREN SMITH, John's daughter and as they play snap
with one another, her mouth twitches into a mischievous
grin.
JOHN
Are you watching?
She giggles in reply.
JOHN (CONT'D)
Watch closely now.
John turns his card and it doesn't not match.
JOHN (CONT'D)
Now it's your turn.
Lauren reaches out, shifting forward in her seat to reach
the cards.
Lauren turns the top card of the deck, peaking at as she
does. She giggles adorably once more, before placing it
down on the table. It matches the previous card turned and
she quickly shouts...
LAUREN
Snap!
John looks at her for a moment.
JOHN
You little cheater.
John reaches over and tickles his daughter, Lauren squirms
in her chair, laughing sweetly as she does.
John lifts her out of her seat, spinning her around
playfully as he holds her in his arms.
JOHN (CONT'D)
You're daddies little cheater,
aren't you.
Lauren squeals as John's wife, HELEN SMITH enters the
dining room. Her hair is pulled back tightly, an apron
wrapped around her waist.
She carries a large bowl of mash potato, narrowly avoiding
John and Lauren playing their little game. Helen shoots
John a glance that says "Careful, put her down"
Lauren sulks as she is put back down in her chair.
HELEN
So, Lauren. What did you do at
pre-school today.
Lauren, still angry her game was abruptly ended replies.
LAUREN
Nothing.
Helen sighs, she just can't win with this kid.
HELEN
John?
John scoops mash potato from the bowl absentmindedly. Now
he is no longer keeping Lauren occupied, he retreats into
his own thoughts.
He reads a piece of paper off to his right.
HELEN (CONT'D)
John?
John continues to read, dumping the contents of his spoon
onto his plate.
JOHN
Huh?
Helen puts her knife and fork down, they ring with a CLANG.
John looks up at her.
JOHN (CONT'D)
What?
HELEN
It's dinner. Can you put that
damn thing away.
JOHN
It's work stuff. I can't just --
HELEN
John, please.
John relents. With a sigh, he takes the sheet of paper and
places it on a nearby cabinet.
JOHN
Happy?
HELEN
Ecstatic.
For a moment, they eat in quiet.
LAUREN
Daddy?
John nods, as he turns towards his daughter.
LAUREN (CONT'D)
Guess what I did that pre-school
today.
HELEN
I thought you didn't do anything.
Lauren stumbles over her words.
LAUREN
I did't -- I didn't, want to tell
you.
HELEN
Well, why do you want to tell
daddy and not mommy?
HELEN (CONT'D)
Because I love my daddy.
Helen seems some what hurt by this statement.
HELEN (CONT'D)
You don't love mommy?
Lauren snaps back with her reply.
LAUREN
No.
Helen tries to compose herself. She fails as he once again
slams her cutlery down on her plate.
She leaves the room, heading back to her own domain; the
kitchen.
Lauren is oblivious, she doesn't quite know what she's
done. But she knows she's done something. Her lip
quivers...
LAUREN (CONT'D)
Daddy...
JOHN
It's Ok, sweetie. Mom is just a
little tired.
John gets to his feet, kissing his daughter on the forehead
before heading after his wife.
Lauren is left playing with her food in the Dining Room.
CUT TO:
INT. SMITH HOME, KITCHEN -- CONTINUOUS
Helen leans over a unit in the kitchen,clearly upset by her
daughter's comments.
John enters.
JOHN
Hey --
Helen wipes a tear from her eye, brushing her hair out of
her face as she does.
HELEN
Sorry. It's just -- sometimes
that girl...
JOHN
I know. She's just a kid. She
doesn't understand.
HELEN
It's not that. Why do I always
have to be the bad guy?
JOHN
You're not.
Helen scoffs.
HELEN
Come on John. You're in there,
playing snap and spinning her
around like a human merry-go
round. I'm like the wicked witch
of the west, coming in there
breaking it up.
John walks towards Helen to comfort her.
JOHN
You're not the wicked witch of
the west. You're not green for a
start.
He places his hands on her shoulders, looking in her eyes.
She does not succumb to her comforting tactics.
HELEN
This isn't a joke John.
JOHN
I know. But tomorrow, you'll say
she looks pretty in some dress
and you'll be her favorite.
Helen lets out a slight laugh. She knows this is likely
true, however it doesn't do much to improve her mood.
JOHN (CONT'D)
Are you gonna come back and
finish dinner?
HELEN
No, I'm not all that hungry. I'll
clean up in here. Make sure
Lauren is Ok. then get her ready
for bed, ok?
JOHN
Consider it done.
John kisses his wife, brushing flour out of her hair as he
does.
CUT TO:
INT. SMITH HOME, HALLWAY -- LATER
Lauren, in her pajamas, runs through the hallway. Passing a
family portrait featuring John, Helen and Lauren as she
does.
At the end of it, John scoops her up, lifting her off her
feet. He carries her back the way she came, placing her
back down outside the bathroom door.
JOHN
Brush your teeth.
LAUREN
No.
Lauren giggles at her defiance.
John bends down, looking at his daughter dead in the eye.
He feigns a serious expressions.
JOHN
Brush your teeth, or no ice cream
... Ever again.
Lauren gasps before hurrying back into the bathroom
herself. John smiles, amused by his ruse.
INT. SMITH HOME, MASTER BEDROOM -- CONTINUOUS
John enters his bedroom, pealing off his shirt. He throws
it across the room, the last shirt to be thrown on an ever
growing pile.
Helen, having changed into a nightgown emerges.
She spots the pile.
HELEN
When are you gonna pick those
dirty clothes up? We have a
hamper for a reason.
She makes a point of placing her own clothing into a
laundry hamper.
JOHN
I'm waiting.
HELEN
For what? For astronauts to walk
on Mars.
JOHN
I'm trying to save you from
having to wash my clothes
everyday.
HELEN
Sure, you saving me work. That'll
be the day. Besides, you're just
making more work for me, when you
finally get off your ass, walk
the extra few feet to the hamper
and put them in. Because I’ll have to do
two loads of laundry that day instead of
one.
Helen doesn't want to wait for this day that may never
come. Instead, she collects the clothes and deposits them
herself.
This is clearly an argument they have gone through several
times before.
JOHN
Fine. Next time, I'll put them in
the hamper.
HELEN
It's always next time. Always
next time John.
JOHN
I promise, scouts honour.
John performs the scout salute, much to Helen's annoyance.
HELEN
You didn't go to scouts.
She crawls into bed, ignoring him. With a sigh, John
follows.
HELEN
Can you shut off the light?
John reaches over and turns off the lamp by their bed.
For a BEAT they lay in uncomfortable silence.
HELEN (CONT'D)
Aren't you gonna say it?
JOHN
Say what?
HELEN
"I love you"
JOHN
After seven years, do I really
have to keep saying it every
night?
HELEN
Fine, don't say it then.
JOHN
Well, if you're gonna be like
that, I might as well say it.
HELEN
That's not the point John. You
always miss the point.
JOHN
Whatever. I miss the point.
John and Helen seem content to leave it. After a moment
John utters the words...
JOHN (CONT'D)
I love you.
HELEN
To little to late.
Helen rolls over onto her side ignoring him. John sighs,
having cocked up such a simple thing like saying good night
to his wife.
He hits his pillow, supposedly fluffing it, before resting
his head down and closing his eyes.
CUT TO:
INT. SMITH HOME, MASTER BEDROOM -- MORNING
An ALARM sounds as John stirs in bed. He reaches out,
shutting it off.
John spins out of bed, his eyes still tightly closed. He
doesn't not noticed the decor of his bedroom has seemingly
magically changed.
He tries to navigate through his room with his eyes closed,
a process he has done several hundred times. However on
this occasion, he stubs his toe on a rogue lamp.
JOHN
Damn thing.
Finally, John reaches the door.
INT. SMITH HOME, HALLWAY -- CONTINUOUS
John rubs the sleep from his eyes, passing the family
portrait in the hallway.
Lauren and Helen are no longer present in the picture,
instead there is an unknown brunette woman.
John does not notice anything is amiss. As heads for the
stairs.
INT. SMITH HOME, KITCHEN -- CONTINUOUS
John enters the kitchen, wiping the final piece of sleep
out of his eyes. He opens them wide, to see the Brunette
Woman (ANGELA).
She stands over the hobs of an oven, preparing scrambled eggs
John is stopped dead in his tracks as she turns to greet
him.
ANGELA
Morning hon. Do you want coffee
with your eggs?
John just stares wide eyed. Words failing him.
END OF TEASER
