2 nd Network Draft (CLEAN)
W/EP: Jason Katims NW/EP: Jeni Mulein NW/EP: Danna Stern
UNT. JASON KATIMS (fka ON THE SPECTRUM) Based on the Israeli Series “On the Spectrum” Written by Jason Katims
2 ND NETWORK DRAFT (CLEAN) 1/25/2019 True Jack Productions
© 2018 Universal Television LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOT TO BE DUPLICATED WITHOUT PERMISSION. This material is the property of Universal Television LLC and is intended solely for use by its personnel. The sale, copying, reproduction or exploitation of this material, in any form is prohibited. Distribution or disclosure of this material to unauthorized persons is also prohibited.
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INT. CHICAGO - COPPER DAMN PUBLISHING - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY 1 CLOSE ON JACK (25), his face stoic but intense. We HEAR the world around Jack as he hears it -- an exaggerated tap of a pen against the table, the whoosh of air coming through the vents, a passing siren in the distance outside. These sounds all underline Jack’s agitated state making it hard for him to focus on his boss AUSTIN (late 20s), an up and comer in management who addresses the I.T. TEAM currently sitting around the conference table at this medium sized publishing house. Bits and pieces of what he’s saying emerge through the cacophony of other sounds... AUSTIN’S VOICE
...bound to be tweaks... Re-think how we approach these changes... Many complaints about the new interface...
Jack, growing more and more unnerved, begins to involuntarily mumble back partial phrases of Austin’s, raising the eyebrows of his fellow I.T. Team. AUSTIN
JACK Baby...bathwater...
Rest assured we’re not going to throw out the baby with the bathwater. But this is coming directly from the top. Suze called me directly about her issues. She said she needed to go on a treasure hunt just to get to access the P&L’s.
Directly from the top...
Treasure hunt...
Growing more agitated, Jack rises and starts pacing . Austin becomes more and more distracted by Jack. RICH (early 30s), black, Jack’s co-programmer, chimes in for Jack... RICH He does that. It’s okay. AUSTIN The plan is to go back to the old interface and incorporate as much of the new programming as possible underneath it. Jack can’t take it any more -- he chimes in matter of factly-- JACK That is a very asinine statement. AUSTIN I’m sorry...? RICH Jack...?
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JACK It demonstrates a complete lack of understanding of programming. AUSTIN Maybe my terminology isn’t-- JACK It’s okay. I don’t blame you. You have inferior intelligence.
Well that sucks the air out of the room. Austin is boiling under his skin. Rich tries to salvage the situation. The other I.T. Members perk up, this is getting interesting. RICH He doesn’t mean that. JACK Yes, I do. You know he’s an idiot. You say it every day. RICH (flustered, and no longer standing up for Jack) I never... I never said anything remotely-- AUSTIN (to Jack) Okay, I think you should go talk to Jennifer in H.R.? JACK
H.R.? Am I being fired? Will I get paid through the end of the pay period? AUSTIN I think you should discuss that with Jennifer-- JACK Because I’m saving for a Roomba. If I get paid through the end of the pay period I can get the Roomba 7063. Otherwise, I’d have to settle for the Roomba 5063 which is vastly inferior. AUSTIN (to Rich) You really need to get him out of here.
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INT. PORTILLO’S HOT DOGS - DAY 2 VIOLET (25) stands at the register of this fast-food style restaurant. She is striking, with a subtle but distinct speech impediment which makes her sound much younger than her years, one of the many signs we will learn about her other- ness. Index cards are pasted below the register -- reminders. “Welcome to Portillo’s.” “Smile.” “Give change.” “Fill soda to top of cup.” “Thank you for your patronage.” ANDREW (early 30s), flannel and jeans, steps up. She smiles. VIOLET Welcome to Portillo’s. Violet finds herself distracted, attracted to him. ANDREW Yeah, hi. Can I get a chili dog, a Maxwell Street Dog. Two cheese fries please and two medium Cokes. She rings him up. Smiles again. VIOLET That’s twenty-two dollars and forty- five cents. You have nice eyes. ANDREW Oh. Thanks. She laughs. Her laugh is a little off. But he is flattered, not the kind of guy used to being flirted with. She fills two Cokes from the machine... VIOLET We should have a date. He laughs a little. She laughs again. Again her laugh feels a little off. His body language pulls back, but she doesn’t read it. VIOLET (CONT’D) The first date could be something fun and silly -- like an arcade. That’s what Cosmo online says. She hands him two three-quarter filled sodas. Realizing, she grabs them back -- takes them back to refill them-- ANDREW Oh, um--
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VIOLET And the second date should be at a restaurant. So we can get to know each other. We can’t have sex on date one or date two but on date three we can fuck, okay?
ANDREW’S WIFE has arrived just in time to hear this, their toddler in her arms. Andrew’s wife has her own anger issues. ANDREW’S WIFE Excuse me? (to Andrew) Who is this? ANDREW I never met this woman. JOHN (30s), store manager walks up... JOHN Everything alright here? ANDREW’S WIFE This bitch just told my husband she wants to fuck him. In those words. In Portillo’s ! (to Violet) Are you retarded? JOHN Violet, why don’t we talk in the office? (to Andrew and his wife as he leaves) I’m so sorry. The meal is on us. ANDREW’S WIFE Oh, big whoop. Jesus. John begins to lead Violet to the office. Violet remembers something and turns back to Andrew. VIOLET Thank you for your patronage. 3 HARRISON (mid 20s) stands in the foyer of an apartment in a 1920’s 3-story row house. He could use a shave, a haircut and to lose 40 pounds. 50, if we’re being honest. He is definitely impacted by his disability (more so than Violet and Jack), but there is a charm to him. INT./EXT. CHICAGO - APARTMENT FOYER/STREET - DAY
3
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He lives life in the moment - he’s all Id. MANDY (early 20s), the group’s sweet yet quietly forceful therapeutic aide, stands beside him. Harrison gazes out at the busy street outside. Thinks better of leaving. HARRISON Let’s do it tomorrow. MANDY Harrison, you need to be able to leave the building. HARRISON Why? MANDY Why? To do things. See friends. Go to a movie. Shop. Eventually get a job. That’s the goal right? I’ll talk you through every step of the way. Mandy takes out her phone and dials. Harrison’s phone buzzes. He looks at the caller. HARRISON It’s Mandy! It’s you! MANDY Yes. I know, Harrison. Harrison accepts the call. Speaks through his bluetooth headset. HARRISON Hello? MANDY Hello. Harrison finds this to be the funniest thing in the world. He starts to laugh hysterically. HARRISON Hello. MANDY Hello. HARRISON Hello. MANDY Okay. I get it. It’s funny. Ready?
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The moment Mandy opens the door we are flooded with a cacophony of SOUND! Harrison steps outside and from his perspective the world is a fucking war zone. A passing bus sounds like a fighter jet passing inches away. A teenager sails by him a little too close on a skateboard, terrifying him. The sunlight is blinding. Every ambient sound amplified. To Harrison, there is no way you could tell he is walking through this idyllic street of row houses in Chicago. MANDY (CONT’D) (through headset) You’re doing great. How do you feel? HARRISON Very, very bad. MANDY (through headset) Just a half block more. HARRISON What if that person looks at me! MANDY (through headset) It’s okay. HARRISON He’s looking at me!! MANDY (through headset) It’s fine. I’m right here. Harrison puts his open hand over the side of his face, shielding him from seeing the person he is passing. HARRISON There it is! Harrison is within steps of the coffee shop. A CUTE WAITRESS who is clearing an outdoor table flashes a smile at Harrison. Harrison literally yelps. HARRISON (CONT’D) That waitress just smiled at me. MANDY See? Good things happen when you go outside. BARK BARK BARK! A dog appears out of nowhere, violently barking at Harrison. Harrison goes into an immediate panic screaming, his arms flailing, which only incites the dog.
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HARRISON
DOG! DOG! DOG!
DOG OWNER
(to Harrison) Hey. Calm down. Stop flapping! You’re upsetting him! (to the Dog) Down. Down boy. Mandy has leapt down the stoop and runs full steam to Harrison and gets between the dog and Harrison. MANDY Harrison it’s okay. It’s okay. It’s okay. (to the dog owner) Jesus, control your dog. DOG OWNER He provoked him. As Harrison retreats back toward the apartment, Mandy can only watch. This just set them back months. MANDY (to herself) Shit. 4 Harrison, Jack, Violet and Mandy sit around the couch and chairs in the living room of an apartment. Think IKEA/college dorm. Barely decorated. MANDY Who would like to begin? JACK Harrison smells. MANDY Jack... JACK (CONT'D) It’s probably from being so fat. VIOLET INT. APARTMENT - EVENING
4
MANDY Violet, we need to have one conversation...
They put me in the kitchen by the french fry machine. How am I supposed to meet a man and fuck and get married if I’m at the french fryer.
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HARRISON (laughing uncontrollably)
She said the fuck word... MANDY
Violet, please watch your language. Jack, is that the way friends talk to each other? JACK He’s not my friend. HARRISON You’re my best friend. We’ve known each other since preschool. JACK You’re not even qualified to live here with us. MANDY Of course he is. Your families rented this apartment for all of you. JACK So we could become independent. Harrison will never be able to be independent or have a job. His parents are filthy rich and pay for most of the rent and your salary otherwise he would never make the cut. MANDY Jack! VIOLET HOW! HOW! HOW! How am I ever going to meet a man?! MANDY
VIOLET (CONT'D) Drama club! No! I want to meet someone normal. VIOLET (CONT'D) Douglas? Kiss Douglas? Ew. Guess again. I’m not going to fuck Douglas.
How about someone at drama club? MANDY What about Douglas? You two seemed to hit it off.
Harrison starts laughing again.
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JACK I’m going to be here much more often now so I need this place to smell less like Harrison. MANDY What do you mean you’re going to be here more often? I’m going on Tinder right now to find a love connection. MANDY Violet, you know Tinder is off limits. And we don’t use cell phones during group. Jack, what do you mean you’re going to be here more often. Did something happen at work? VIOLET I’m 25 years old. You can’t stop me from going on Tinder, Mandy. MANDY Violet, give me one second. Please! Jack, what happened at work? JACK I got terminated. MANDY Why? JACK For being a genius. MANDY Why did they say you were terminated?
Violet takes out her phone. VIOLET
Mandy gets a ping on her phone. She glances down at it -- and seeing what it is it immediately commands her complete focus. It’s from Duke University School of Medicine, Office of Admissions. Her body tenses. Holy shit. VIOLET
I don’t care that it’s off limits. I’m going on Tinder and you can’t stop me. Okay? Okay?
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Mandy reads the email... “Duke University School of Medicine regrets to inform you...” As Mandy’s world crashes before her eyes. VIOLET (CONT’D) Mandy, I’m breaking the rules, okay? MANDY (to Violet, completely distracted) Yeah, yeah, sounds good. OFF Mandy, a huge curve ball thrown... 5 Mandy is being comforted by her boyfriend JOEL. They’ve just finished a late takeout dinner. MANDY I’m a loser. JOEL You’re not a loser. MANDY INT. MANDY’S APARTMENT - NIGHT
5
You’re going to Harvard Law School. You’re going to become a Senator or a Governor and I’m going to be trying to get Harrison to walk to the coffee shop without freaking out. JOEL You’re going to retake the MCAT, reapply to med schools and you will
become a brilliant, famous neurologist and cure autism. MANDY Is that right? JOEL Come here.
He pulls her into him. Kisses her tears. Kisses her. She melts into him. It turns into getting-rejected-from-med- school foreplay. They fall onto the bed. In the moment he whispers to her--
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JOEL (CONT’D) Move to Cambridge with me. For the year. While you reapply. We can be together. MANDY Really? JOEL Yes. MANDY And what about the guys. I just leave them...? JOEL Maybe? I would really love it. Really love it. She is conflicted, but drawn to Joel’s proposal. She maneuvers from under him, and pushes him back on the bed...
6
INT. APARTMENT - NEXT MORNING
6
Jack is pacing, on his cellphone. JACK (into phone)
Forrest, please? Yes, I’ll hold. Violet is at the table, dressed in her Portillo’s uniform, eating cereal. Harrison is also eating cereal. His way. Which is to thrust his hand into the box and shovel untold amounts of Lucky Charms into his mouth, a large percentage of which ends up on the floor. Violet is disgusted. VIOLET What are you doing? HARRISON Eating breakfast. VIOLET That’s not how you eat cereal. It’s revolting. I want to vomit. He just keeps doing it. VIOLET (CONT’D) Close your mouth! Close your mouth! Harrison! JACK Shut up! I’m on a business call! (into phone) Yes? (MORE)
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It’s Jack Hoffman, calling about the Roomba 7063. -- Yes, I’m calling again. I was unjustly terminated from my job and I’d like to know if there are any upcoming sales to help me subsidize the 7063. -- No, credit isn’t going to work for me. I won’t be eligible
for credit for another several years as a matter of a court directive which I’d prefer not to go into. -- Okay, I’ll wait to hear from you then. Jack hangs up. Violet and Harrison look at him, hopeful: VIOLET Are we getting the Roomba? JACK Unclear. 7 Mandy is taking cookies out of the oven. Joel is at his computer. JOEL Holy smokes. Mand? Look at this... He comes over with his computer and shows her a listing... MANDY You already found an apartment. JOEL I’m not going to have you move into INT. MANDY’S APARTMENT - DAY
7
that hovel. Look at this-- two bedroom, walking distance to Cambridge Square, bay windows, original molding. It’s our dream apartment. He reaches for a cookie. She grabs it from him. MANDY Those are for Harrison. JOEL Are you seriously bribing him with cookies? MANDY
Absolutely. He was so close to getting to the corner yesterday. That fucking dog should be shot.
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JOEL This apartment is going to go in a second. What do you think? MANDY It looks insane. But this is all so sudden. I need to think about it. JOEL Okay. I’ll try to put a hold on it. (willing this to happen) This is going to be amazing. MANDY It will be.
OFF Mandy, uncertain.
8
INT./EXT. VAN’S TRUCK/PORTILLO’S HOT DOGS - DAY 8 On Violet as she stares out the window, her big eyes, staring vaguely at the world passing by. We hear a man’s voice -- slowly breaking through the barrier of her mind. VAN’S VOICE You okay? (she doesn’t answer) Violet. Violet? Finally she turns to him. This is VAN (late 20s) her working class hero, rough-edged, contractor brother. VAN So you’ll work the french fry
machine. Better than no job at all. Maybe one day John will give you another shot at the register. I’ll talk to him. VIOLET Will you take me shopping? I need to show more boob. (Van ignores this) Celeste says I have good boobs and I should show them off more. VAN Brothers and sisters don’t talk about that stuff. VIOLET Why?
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VAN They just don’t. VIOLET I’m twenty-five. I want a
boyfriend . It’s normal to have a boyfriend. I want to be normal. VAN Have a good rest of the week at work and maybe we can go shopping over the weekend. I made you new cards. VIOLET
This weekend is too late. I might have a date. I’m on Tinder now. VAN What ? We’ve been over this a thousand times. You’re not allowed to go on Tinder. It’s full of creeps. VIOLET Mandy said I could. VAN I’ll talk to Mandy. You didn’t get a match did you? VIOLET No. VAN Good. No more Tinder. VIOLET Mandy’s the boss. VAN I’m the boss. VIOLET You’re a terrible boss. I don’t want you as my boss anymore. VAN Believe me, I don’t want to be the boss. They come to a stop outside the restaurant.
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VIOLET You’re the worst brother in the world. VAN Just focus on your job, okay? Staying focused. Staying organized. VIOLET (slamming the door, angry) Okay . VAN Violet! She turns and he holds out her index cards. VAN (CONT’D) Your cards.
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INT. APARTMENT - DAY 9 Harrison watches The Price is Right which he appreciates as the totally engaging television that it is. Mandy tries to get him to focus. MANDY Harrison, you want a cookie don’t you? HARRISON Yes. MANDY
Just get through the front door and you get a cookie. Make it all the way to the coffee shop you get two. HARRISON I’m not going out there. MANDY You did so great yesterday. Remember the pretty waitress? HARRISON I’m watching The Price is Right. MANDY Okay, but after this episode we’re going out there. Okay?
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HARRISON Family Feud is on next. Then Wheel of Fortune. I’m swamped. There’s a knock on the door. Mandy opens the door. It’s Van with a head of steam. VAN Did you tell Violet she could go on Tinder? MANDY No. VAN Well, she said you did. MANDY I might’ve gotten distracted for one minute-- VAN
I’m paying a third of your salary to make things easier for me, not more difficult. MANDY I’m truly sorry if she misinterpreted-- VAN I know you’re halfway out the door on your way to Duke but you need to be on this. You know how literal she takes things. MANDY I know-- VAN It’s gotta be black and white. Any gray area, she takes advantage. MANDY Okay. I’ll talk to her. And I’m not half way to anywhere. I didn’t get in to Duke.
This stops Van.
VAN Oh. You didn’t?
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MANDY I didn’t get in anywhere. 0 for 5. Yay me.
There’s a beat.
VAN So are you staying here in the cuckoo’s nest? MANDY Joel asked me to move to Cambridge with him. VAN (clearly not a Joel fan) Ah. Joel with the Dockers... And...? MANDY And I’m thinking about it. VAN You should get out while you can. I’ve got one to worry about. That’s a paid vacation compared to three. We probably need someone around here who’s a little tougher anyway.
Mandy is hurt by this.
MANDY I’ll talk to Violet. VAN Good. See you Harrison. HARRISON You wanna watch? The Showcase Showdown is coming up. VAN Sounds good, but I’m due back in the world.
10
INT. PORTILLO’S HOT DOGS - DAY 10 Violet is at the French Fryer machine staring longingly out at another worker who has taken her place at the register. She puts an order of fries into the oil. Her phone pings. She picks it up, looks. Her eyebrows raise, intrigued.
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INT. PORTILLO’S HOT DOGS - LATER 11 Violet is with her coworkers on a break. She sucks the last dregs of her 7 Up out of her straw as she leans over her phone looking at Tinder. Her coworkers CELESTE (20s) and TIFF (30s) look at the phone and egg her on. VIOLET It’s a match! He matched me. I have a match! CELESTE Sweet. VIOLET He wants to meet! Seven o’clock tonight at The Violet Hour. CELESTE The Violet Hour. Ooh, he’s got coin. TIFF (looking at the picture) I’d hit that. Another message pops up on the screen. Violet almost jumps out of her skin. VIOLET He super liked me! 12 Wood panels. Card tables. Octogenarian crowd. Something charming and old school about it. Jack intensely finishes playing out a hand across the table from his father, LOU (60s), haimish, funny but a little world-worn. RUTH and IRIS are their elderly opponents. JACK INT. DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB - EVENING
12
Jack of clubs from the table... Six of spades... And the rest are good.
He throws the cards down in triumph-- JACK (CONT’D) Bid four made six, doubled, vulnerable. IRIS Well played, Jack.
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JACK I didn’t play well, you played poorly.
Iris and Ruth laugh.
JACK (CONT’D) Why are you laughing. If you came back a heart you could have run the
suit and I would have gone down two. You’re very old so maybe you have Alzheimer’s so you forgot about the hearts. LOU I’m sorry. He has Asperger’s, he doesn’t mean it. JACK I do mean it. She tanked that hand. Iris and Ruth look mortally offended, but then they both just break out laughing. RUTH You have to bring your son more often. He - is - delightful. LOU That’s one word for it. RUTH
The world needs more young men who speak their minds. Maybe next week you can be my partner, Jack. JACK You’ll need to improve your game first.
Ruth and Iris laugh again.
13
INT. THE VIOLET HOUR - EVENING 13 Violet sits at a table at this hip establishment. She has unbuttoned a couple buttons on her top and keeps adjusting it, obviously not comfortable. BRAD (late 20s) walks in. He doesn’t seem like a creep. Violet waves at him (a little too enthusiastically). VIOLET Brad!
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He sees her, smiles and walks over. BRAD Hi. VIOLET Hi! BRAD
So nice to meet you. You have such an amazing smile. VIOLET Really? BRAD A million people must have told you that. He sits, taking his chair and moving next to her so they’re sitting close together. VIOLET No. BRAD Come on. She laughs, he laughs. He puts his hand on top of hers. Takes her hand. She laughs. We worry for her -- this naive girl out there in the big bad world. VIOLET This place is called The Violet Hour. My name is Violet! BRAD (moving in closer) I know. That’s why I chose it. VIOLET It has the same name as my name. He looks at her, starting to get that something is off with her. VIOLET (CONT’D) Do you like to bowl? BRAD Oh, sure, I guess. He takes his hand away. Starting to get weirded out.
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VIOLET We can go bowling after. Or to Navy Pier. I just have to text Van so I don’t get in trouble. BRAD Who’s Van? VIOLET My brother. My mother and father are dead... BRAD ... oh, wow, I’m sorry... VIOLET ...so my brother makes the rules and if I don’t follow them he’ll take my phone away. He’s a strict asshole. BRAD Oh, but you’re... It said on your profile. You’re 25, right? VIOLET Yes. BRAD So I don’t understand. Your brother takes your phone away?
It’s an awkward moment. Violet doesn’t understand what he doesn’t understand. At this point Brad has clearly grown dubious. The WAITRESS walks up. WAITRESS Can I get you something? BRAD (figuring out his exit strategy) I’ll have a Mule, please. WAITRESS Coming up. Another Seven Up, hon? VIOLET Yeah! The waitress leaves. Brad rises. BRAD I just need to use the bathroom.
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VIOLET
Okay.
BRAD I’ll be back.
VIOLET
Okay! He walks away. He’s obviously out of there. Violet has no idea. 14 Knock knock knock. SALENA (20s) Iranian, tough, wounded underneath, opens the door and her face immediately sours seeing Van. SALENA Are you fucking serious? She closes the door but he sticks his hand out and holds it open. VAN Just talk to me. SALENA What do you want? VAN You’re not even taking my calls. SALENA Oh, now you can’t get in touch with me. How does that feel, Van? VAN I’m gonna be more on it, okay? SALENA On it? What does “on it” mean? VAN You know... Committed. SALENA You can’t even say the word can you. He just looks right at her. INT. SALENA’S APARTMENT/APARTMENT HALLWAY - EVENING
14
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VAN
I miss you. She looks at him. Despite all the tension here we feel an attraction. And suddenly they are kissing. Passionately. Urgently. The front door closes. As they make their way to the bedroom-- SALENA
My sister set me up on a date with a nice Persian guy. A serious guy. VAN Sounds nice. SALENA Fuck you.
His cell phone buzzes. Hiding it from Salena, he takes a quick look at the caller. Shit. Violet. He picks up. SALENA (CONT’D) Are you serious? Van holds a finger, one sec-- VAN (into phone) I’m in a meeting. I’ll call you back. INTERCUT WITH: 15 Violet sits at the table, several empty 7 Ups in front of her and an untouched drink in front of Brad’s empty chair. They talk to each other on the phone: VIOLET INT. THE VIOLET HOUR
15
I need you to send me money on Apple Cash. The waitress wants me to pay because she thinks my date isn’t coming back but he is coming back. He just went to the bathroom. VAN Date? (realizing) Goddamnit, Violet. Where are you?
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VIOLET I told you. On a date and he went to the bathroom twenty minutes ago but he’s coming back. VAN He’s a creep, Violet. VIOLET No, he isn’t. His name is Brad and he super liked me. He’s got coins and Tiff said she’d hit that. VAN Wait there. Don’t move. I’ll be there in ten minutes. VIOLET Don’t come here! Van!
He hangs up. Looks at Salena. VAN It’s... SALENA Your sister. VAN
I’ll be back in an hour. I promise. SALENA Don’t bother. VAN I can’t leave her in some fucking bar-- SALENA Van, like I told you last time. I’m moving on. VAN Look... SALENA Go get your sister.
16
EXT. CHICAGO PIZZA JOINT - NIGHT 16 Jack and Lou eat at this old school pizzeria. Every ounce of Jack’s core being is focused on the slice of deep dish in front of him.
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LOU Jack, can we talk for a second? JACK I don’t like to have conversations while I’m eating. LOU That’s what people do. They go out to dinner. They talk. JACK When I go out to eat, I like to eat. LOU So we’ll talk after we eat? JACK After I eat I like to digest. LOU So when do you like to talk? JACK I don’t like to talk. LOU
Can you see how that might be a problem? I mean, just in terms of socializing, so forth? JACK I don’t like to socialize. Jack continues to eat. Lou watches him a minute. LOU Jack, I need you to go and fight to get that job back. Jack doesn’t say anything in response. He just keeps eating. LOU (CONT’D)
Jack please. This is serious. You were doing great. You had three good months. Three beautiful months. But this is a definite setback. Nothing we can’t bounce back from but it’s a setback.
He looks at Jack. Nothing.
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LOU (CONT’D) I called in. Spoke to Suze. Told them the whole thing was a misunderstanding. They’re ready to hear you out. You can go back. Talk to them. But you’ve gotta fight, Jack. You want that job back you’ve gotta fight for it.
Nothing.
LOU (CONT’D)
You hear me?
JACK
Yeah.
LOU Will you do that? Will you go in and apologize? JACK Apologize for what? I wrote a perfect program. LOU You told your boss he has inferior intelligence. JACK He does. LOU You don’t say that to your boss. JACK I won’t apologize. LOU You need this job. JACK I’ll get a different job. LOU You will? It took a long time to get this job. Do you remember how long? And this place -- they were willing to look past some things. See how smart you are and look past the other stuff. But not everyone will do that. You can’t just waste this opportunity.
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JACK Can we talk about the Roomba? LOU Jack, fuck the Roomba, okay? The Roomba is a stupid meaningless toy-- JACK Actually, it’s a robotic vacuum that happens to be a brilliant piece of engineering. LOU You’re 25. Do you want your Dad to be supporting you forever? JACK Yes. LOU (blurting this out) Jack, I have cancer. I’ve been fighting for my life, believe me. And I’m gonna keep fighting but things... They’re not going my way. You need to have a job. You need to remember to pay your rent, and talk to people when they look at you, and when a girl smiles at you, smile back. I need to know you’re going to be okay, Jack. Do you hear me?
Well, that got Jack’s attention. LOU (CONT’D)
There’s a beat.
JACK
Yes. Okay. There’s a silence. We wonder what Jack is thinking. What he’ll say. Will he express anything to his father after hearing this news. JACK (CONT’D) Can I eat in silence now? I’d like to focus on my last slice. LOU Sure, Jack.
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Lou sits and watches Jack who continues to eat. It can be lonely being Jack’s dad.
17
INT. VIOLET HOUR - NIGHT
17
Van comes charging in. Violet is still seated at the restaurant. VIOLET What are you doing here? Go! VAN Let’s go. VIOLET No! I’m on a date. VAN I said no Tinder. You broke the rule. Let’s go. VIOLET NO! He pulls her up by the arm. VIOLET (CONT’D) Hey! Stop! Don’t touch me! Now people are watching. SOME DUDE comes up to Van. SOME DUDE The lady said not to touch her. VAN Stay out of it. SOME DUDE How about you just leave the girl alone. Van pulls Violet away. Some Dude makes a move to get between them and Van pushes the guy back hard. SOME DUDE (CONT’D) Motherfucker. VAN I’m a motherfucker? I’m a motherfucker? VIOLET VAN! STOP! Van pulls Violet out--
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VIOLET (CONT’D) I hate you! I hate you! I hate you! VAN Right back at you.
As he drags her out of the bar.
18
EXT. FOYER / STREET - NIGHT 18 Harrison walks down the street as Mandy stands in the foyer, guiding him through his bluetooth. A bike delivery guy shoots past him on the sidewalk, yelling at him in Spanish. HARRISON I’m going to turn back. MANDY No. HARRISON I am. MANDY No you’re not. He sees a dog. He looks terrified. Mandy too is terrified. HARRISON Please can I turn back? MANDY No Harrison. You can’t. HARRISON There’s a dog. MANDY Just go right past it. HARRISON I can’t. MANDY Yes, you can. I know you can. Harrison continues. Walks the gauntlet. Passes the dog. Gets to the coffee shop. Success! HARRISON I did it.
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MANDY (through headset)
You did it.
(to herself)
You did it. Mandy runs up to him and gives him a big hug. Harrison goes into an uninhibited and uncoordinated celebratory dance right there in the middle of the street. Mandy can’t help but feel completely charmed. Jack walks by holding a plastic bag from Best Buy with a Roomba. JACK Harrison, you’re acting
inappropriate in a public setting and you’re making yourself look retarded. MANDY How was your night out with your dad? JACK I made a six no-trump doubled contract and got pizza. MANDY Sounds pretty amazing. JACK I’ve decided to apologize to Austin. He’s a dick. But I’ll apologize. MANDY That’s so great. So you talked to your dad about it? JACK He has cancer. He’ll probably die. So I need the job. MANDY What...? Jack...? JACK My father lent me money for the Roomba. I’m going to set it up now. MANDY Jack, wait. Let’s talk about this...
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But Jack just heads past them.
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INT. APARTMENT - LATER
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Jack sets up the Roomba. Harrison and Mandy are there. Violet and Van enter mid-argument. VIOLET You can’t tell me what to do and what not to do! MANDY What happened? VAN
She went on Tinder and some creep blew her off and it could have been a thousand times worse. VIOLET
MANDY Oh my God, Violet, I texted you five times not to...
He’s not a creep!
VAN No more Tinder. No Tinder, no Twitter, no Facebook, no Instagram. VIOLET How am I supposed to meet guys? I’m a french fry technician! VAN You can meet guys at drama club. VIOLET Normal guys! NORMAL GUYS! NORMAL GUYS! VAN YOU’RE NOT FUCKING NORMAL! This stops everything. Her anger turns to betrayal. She gets emotional. VIOLET
I have speech lessons. When I’m done with speech lessons I’ll be like everyone else. VAN Okay, okay...
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VIOLET
I hate you. She slams into her bedroom and then comes out and just opens up and screams at him in an unadulterated way that gets everyone’s attention. VIOLET (CONT’D)
You don’t know Van. You think you know it all but you don’t know. Mom told me I was beautiful. Every day Mom told me I was beautiful and any boy would be crazy not to love me. And she’s dead and Dad’s dead and I’m stuck with you and Hashtag you’re an idiot. VAN That doesn’t mean anything. VIOLET Yes it does.
She curls into a ball on the floor, rocks back and forth and cries. Mandy who has watched all this, feeling for Van, moves toward Violet. But Van reaches a hand to stop her. VAN Give her a minute. MANDY I’m sorry. I tried texting her. VAN It’s okay. (then...)
I shouldn’t have said what I said to you before. You’re trying your best. I’d shoot myself in the head if I had your job. MANDY You have the right to get frustrated. And I may suck at this job but I love Violet. I love all of them and I’ve been trying really hard to make a difference for them. VAN Are you moving to Cambridge? MANDY I don’t know.
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VAN What are you going to do up there -- play housewife while Joel goes to
law school? You’re too good for that. Stay. We need you around here. She looks at him, touched by this. Do we sense a spark between them? JACK Violet: SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! Jack has yelled loud enough so Violet stops crying and looks up. Jack holds up his phone with a serious expression as if something very important is about to happen. JACK (CONT’D) The Roomba is ready. HARRISON The Roomba! The Roomba is ready? Mandy, the Roomba is ready? MANDY I heard. Mandy thinks of something, then... MANDY (CONT’D) Hey, Jack, what if you let Violet do the honors? JACK Violet? No. I can’t trust her with something this complex. MANDY Isn’t it just pressing a button? Jack, come on. (she starts a chant...) Jack... Jack... Jack... Everyone chimes in... MANDY/HARRISON/VIOLET/VAN Jack... Jack... Jack... Jack... Finally, Jack reluctantly holds out the phone to Violet. Van is amazed -- looks at Mandy, can’t believe what she is doing for his sister. JACK You break it, you pay for it.
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Violet, honored, takes the phone. Jack indicates which button. She hits the button sending the Roomba on its maiden voyage. As we hear a string quartet accentuated by choral voices, we watch Harrison, Jack and Violet watch, completely absorbed by the Roomba. They watch delighted as it turns, shucks and jives around the apartment avoiding the walls, couches and other objects. They smile, laugh, engaged with each other as they share this communal moment. Van watches his sister smiling like a little girl, forgetting for a moment about the burden she causes him and reminded instead of the little sister he loves so fiercely. Mandy looks at the three of them -- her little ducklings, basking in this rare moment of cohesion. Mandy feels Van looking at her, and smiles at him -- they share this moment. Then a call comes in on her cell -- Joel. She considers, then hits ignore. OFF our three heroes wholly absorbed as only they could be. 20 Jack and Mandy sit outside of Austin’s office. Jack nervously taps his foot on the floor. The moment is stoic. MANDY Eye contact. Calm. Breathe. If you start getting upset, do your counting. JACK If I were my true self I would never apologize. MANDY (with a smile) Then, don’t be your true self. INT. COPPER DAM - AUSTIN’S WAITING AREA - DAY Even Jack has to crack a smile. The door opens. Austin stands there waiting, betrays little. Jack takes a deep, nervous breath. So much riding on this. Mandy reaches out, touches his shoulder. JACK I don’t like to be touched. MANDY I know. I don’t care. You can do this. You’ve got this. Jack walks to the door. Looks back to Mandy who nods at him -- courage. Austin gives Jack a slight nod that seems to say, I’m not going to make this easy. Mandy sits in the waiting room -- nothing to do now but, well... wait. And as Austin closes the door, all we can do too is wait, as it’s the... END OF PILOT
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