Great Pretender: Part 2

Scene One: At Mark & Ski's.

[ Jenni & Billy are sitting across

from each other at the island

while Chais stands. ]

"What do you want babe?"

JENNI: Waffles sound good.

[ Billy is off into space. ]

CHAIS: What about you heathen?

[ He raises his voice. ]

BILLY: Whatever is cool. Who is

passed out on the couch?

JENNI: I didn't even notice.

[ Chais answers without turning

around. ]

CHAIS: It's Uncle Ace.  I guess

it was someone's birthday

last night.  He drank so much

Dad had to carry him from

the car.

[ He turns to see Billy preparing

to get up. ]

CHAIS: Leave him alone or no

food for you.

[ Suddenly Jai walks into the

kitchen. ]

CHAIS: And where have you

been?

JAI: At a friends.  Not that it's

any of your business.  

[ He sits Jenni & Billy's plates

down. ]

CHAIS: I was joking.  Anyway

sit, eat.  You still haven't told

me about this A'myan guy.

JAI: I'm not hungry.

JENNI: Kaori is on her way if

you wanna meet her.

[ She calls but Jai is already

heading for his room. ]

Scene Two :

[ Locking the door behind him,

Jai enters, grabs his laptop &

lays out on his bed.

Minutes fly by as he stays 

still daydreaming & focused

on the music around him. ]

[ Later Jai hears a crash that

seems to be coming from the

hallway. He springs up to check

on it but no one is out there.

Getting a quick idea, he opens

up his window.  Grabbing the

pipe from his backpack. ]

[ After hiding the evidence

& freshening the room.

Jai turns up the music &

begins to dance around

in circles. ]

[ A sudden knock on the

door puts him to a halt. ]

JAI: It's open.

KAORI: Sorry I was using the

restroom and I heard your

music.  I like Russ too.

[ Jai looks around the hall. ]

JAI: What's everyone doing?

KAORI: They're watching a

movie.

Your Dads are still sleep.  I

can tell that's what you were

getting at.

JAI: Yeah thanks.  Come in.

[ As she walks in & sits down,

Jai freezes noticing what is

still out on the nightstand. 

Kaori turns around & immed-

itely picks up his torch, gaz-

ing at the bluish flame. ]

Scene Three:

[ In the living room, Jenni
is getting off the phone. ]

"What was that about?"

JENNI: Just Sunshine letting
me know we passed our
evaluation.

CHAIS: Hooray.  Now she can
stop riding you guys' 

[ He is stopped by her phone
ringing again. ]

CHAIS: Grand central station.

[ Jenni motions for him to
be quiet. ]

JENNI: It's Trailyn.

[ Billy wakes up & rolls over. ]

BILLY: Tell her about the movie.

[ Jenni walks into the kitchen. ]

BILLY: Is Ace ever getting up?
CHAIS: Oh he did.  Long enough
to run to the bathroom and
back.  

[ Kaori enters the living room. ]

CHAIS: You've been gone awhile.
Must have hit it off with my
brother.
KAORI: Yes.  We like a lot of the
same music.  

CHAIS: Interesting.


Scene Four:

[ Jai is sitting on a chair near
his television screen, remote
in hand, & driving around
on the game.

Focused, he talks through
his headset. ]

JAI: Where are you at?  I
can't find you.

A'MYAN: Turn left and go down
a few blocks.  You'll see me by
the white pickup.
JAI: Okay.  I'm on my way.

[ His phone vibrates & he pauses
the game. ]

"See you at the movies.
Love, Trailyn."

JAI: Sorry I'm back.  This house
is so full it's hard to get away
sometimes.
Even in my own room.
A'MYAN: That sucks.  You can
come back over here tonight
if you want to.

JAI: I'm suppose to be going to
a movie with all my friends.
A'MYAN: What do you want
to do?
JAI: I think you know. I'm just
worried about school and
work on Monday.

A'MYAN: You'll be fine. Just
crash all Sunday.

[ Jai goes silent as the game
gets a little more hostile. ]


Scene Five:

[ That night, at the theater. Mairya

Micaa, Little H, Dean, Chais, & Billy

are waiting to go in the movie.

Jenni takes Trailyn off to the side. ]

"Have you heard from Jai?"

TRAILYN: No he isn't texting me

back.  

JENNI: He's suppose to be bring-

ing my sister.

TRAILYN: I know.  I haven't gotten

a chance to meet her.

[ Mairya comes over. ]

MAIRYA: We're going in.  I'll save

you a seat.

[ Jenni & Trailyn wait while the

group walks on.

Meanwhile, on the road Kaori

is laughing at Jai's off behavior. ]

KAORI: I don't care that you experi-

ment.  I did my fair share of it

when I was your age.

JAI: Well I really don't.  I just like

the feeling I get.  And I only do it

on the weekend.

KAORI: Right. You seem to have

things under control.  How far

until we get to the theater?

[ Jai takes a sudden right and

heads toward a country road

highway. ]

JAI: We're not going to the movie.

I want you to meet my friend.

Scene Six:

[ The next morning, at the Simon's.

Mark walks up to the front door,

opens it & Trailyn is outside. ]

MARK: Hey.  Come in.

TRAILYN: Sorry to come by so

early but Jai never showed

up to the movies last night.

MARK: It's fine.  You know you

can come by anytime.

I'm not sure if he is awake

yet but you can go and see.

[ Mark walks off & Trailyn

starts toward the hallway.

Reaching his door she is sur-

prised that it is unlocked.

Slowly it opens & she sees

Jai passed out on the bed

with Kaori next to him. ]

[ Trailyn immediately goes to

the side of the bed and starts

shaking him. ]

"Jai.  Get up!  What is going

on?"

[ He doesn't wake up.  ]

"I can't believe this."

[ She walks out, slamming the

door behind her. ]