About My Friends

SCENE ONE :

Overnight shift, The Aisles. 

[ Joh & Weis are watching

Castle Watch feeds in the back

room while chatting. ]

"I thought Ski was getting rid

of all the temps.  Why is she

still here?"

[ Joh stands up & starts pacing

around the room. ]

WEIS: What's the problem?

JOH: Jacki is nosy and runs her

mouth too much.  I made the

mistake of talking to Ski about

my registry situation and she

walked by.  I'm screwed.

WEIS: It's likely she's didn't

even hear you.  Calm down.

[ He sits back at the table

& continues spooning

pudding into his mouth. ]

JOH: I know she did because

ever since then she's been

making little comments.

WEIS: Who cares.  Ignore her

then.  Everyone else knows

the truth.  

Anyway, I have a question for

you.

JOH: Yeah, what's up?

WEIS: Do you think I'm mature

enough to raise a child?

JOH: I mean you have grown

up a lot since I first met 

you. Wait, whose kid?

[ Suddenly Stuu enters the room

& trades places with Weis. ]

STUU: I feel like I was interup-

ting something. What's his deal?

[ Slowly putting it together, Joh 

just looks at Stuu & shrugs his

shoulders. ]

SCENE TWO :

Afternoon, the day before.

[ Jeszyca, Acer, & Hithe

are taking a break while

Karie is sitting by herself.

Her cell rings & she happily

answers it, leaving the room. ]

"So about that game."

[ Hithe attempts to steer the

conversation but Acer isn't

having it.  He rolls his eyes,

before breaking in. ]

ACE: No one cares that she's

moved on.  I don't know why

she finds it necessary to keep

throwing up little signals.

JESZYCA: She was just answer-

ing her phone.  Could've been

anyone.

ACE: Yeah.  You didn't see the

look Karie made though.

HITHE: You agreed to be cool

with her working here three

months ago.  Can't exactly go

back on that now.  

JESZYCA: If it's bothering you

that badly then talk to her

about it.

ACE: I'll try but you know she's
like a brick wall.

JESZYCA: Here's the papers for

your evaluations later on.

ACE: Shit thanks.  I almost

forgot about that.  

JESZYCA: No problem.

[ She looks up, seeing Acer's 

stale expression. ]

SCENE THREE :

Early AM, the next day.

[ Joh is returning from break

& he sees his gossip victim

talking with Tiesun.

As he goes to confront her,

Mark appears in the building

& he walks toward him instead. ]

"Hey, long time no see."

JOH: Glad you're here actually. 

Can we talk in private?

[ Joh looks around before

following Mark upstairs to 

his office. ]

"You've never called me in

here before.  It's kind of

exciting."

[ Mark teases him a little. ]

JOH: I'd laugh but this is serious.

Normally I'd just go to Ski

but I was hoping maybe

you could do it for me.

MARK: I'll see.  What about?

JOH: You know that new girl

Jacki.  She's been saying some.

[ He looks up at Mark. ]

JOH: Discriminatory type things

to me and I want her to be

let go.  

SCENE FOUR :

Back at the Salon.

[ Jeszyca is busy checking in

clients.  Acer walks out of his

office & goes right up to Karie. ]

"You don't have to hide."

KARIE: Hi.  And excuse me?

ACE: You don't have to be all

secretive around here. I can

take a hint.

KARIE: I wasn't.  I just don't

think it's appropriate to

talk about certain things

anymore.  You need to

understand that and mind

your own business.

[ She walks away, carrying her

cleaning supplies to the back.

Acer joins Jeszyca at the desk. ]

JESZYCA: Look, you two should

get it together.  We're too busy

and people are starting to notice.

ACE: I'm sorry. I tried to talk to

her and it backfired.  I don't

know what else to do.

JESZYCA: I suggest you figure 

something out then.  More 
sooner than later please.

SCENE FIVE :

[ End of shift, Joh & Stuu are

waiting for Weis outside. ]

"I can't believe you lied."

JOH: It wasn't a lie exactly.  And

hey we don't need someone

like her messing up our family

vibe.  

STUU: You're slick.  You know

they're actually in there discuss-

ing what to do right now.

JOH: I figured.  So can we talk

about something a little more

serious?

STUU: What' s more serious?

JOH: What are you planning

on doing about the baby?

[ Stuu stands up, caught off

guard. ]

JOH: You know we'd talk.

STUU: It's not that.  I just 

wanna do the right thing

and I'm not sure what

the right thing is.

I'm running out of time to

make a decision.

JOH: Just talk to Weis.  What-

ever you decide, it seems like

he just wants to help.

SCENE SIX :

[ Jeszyca is outside when

Ace comes out after locking

up. ]

"She put in her two week."

JESZYCA: As much as I love

Karie, I think that would

be the best for both of you.

ACE: You're right.  We do

need some time apart.

JESZYCA: Besides the Salon

is getting bigger everyday.

You're going to be plenty

busy.

What are you doing tonight?

ACE: Going home and sitting

in a dark room sounds good.

JESZYCA: I think not.  You're

coming over to watch movies

with us.  Larrie is always say-

ing you never wanna do

anything.  That changes

this weekend.  

ACE: Well yes ma'am.  

( CLICK THE PICTURE FOR A STAND: TRAILER )