Orange Ya Glad: Part 1 [ #Surprise25 ]

[TA Care. . .Meeting Room.]

 

[ Tiesun, Jenni, & Jai are sitting around

the table while Sunshine is standing. ]

 

SUNSHINE: Based on the RSPVs we

have so far, there should be about 150

people in attendance on Saturday.

 

JENNI: That’s great news! Hopefully

this will get some new clients into

Care.

SUNSHINE: That is the plan.  And

then maybe we can expand our

business hours. 

 

TIESUN: Did Mark let you know

what all activities there would be?

Will we be needed to assist?

 

SUNSHINE: Yes, well he mentioned

pony rides, games and small animals

the children could interact with. 

Some TA store members are going

to be there to help.

I’ll have more specifics on this today.

 

[ A few minutes later Jai & Sunshine

are left inside the room. ]

 

SUNSHINE: You were quiet during the

meeting.  Is everything alright?

 

JAI: Sorry I’m fine.  And very

enthused about tomorrow. 

 

SUNSHINE: Another late night?

 

JAI: Kii doesn’t get a lot of gigs

so I feel bad if I miss one. You

know?

SUNSHINE: I get it.  You’re being

an active friend.    

 

[ Jai gets up & they walk out. ]

[TA Store. . .Mark’s Office.] 

MARK: Er-men-sau (*saw) Towne.

[He slowly pronounces each syllable.]

That’s a very distinguished name.

ERME: Thank you.  It was my grandfather’s.

 But everyone just calls me Erme. (*Ermie)

 

MARK: Erme.  Nice. 

So, Mr. Towne. . .You wouldn’t happen

to have any affiliation with this, would

you?

 

[ Mark rotates his computer screen so

 Erme can see the local news article. ]

 

ERME: Yes.  My family owns Towne Ranch.

We just moved here a few months ago.

 

[ Mark looks up at him with phony surprise. ]

 

“You don’t say. . .”

 

ERME: Yeah, I just graduated, and my family is

pushing me to get more involved but

their business is not really my thing. 

 

MARK: That’s understandable.  Good thing

you have plenty of time to figure out

what is.   There’s nooo rush. 

Well today you’ll be training with

Scott in F/D.  He’ll be waiting for you

downstairs. 

 

[ Erme exits & Mark sees a new message

in his store manager’s group chat. ]

 

MONICA: I know the new hire has

no experience with this type of work. 

But from his interview and open

personality, I felt he could still be

an asset.  What do you think?

 

MARK: I agree.

 

“Oh, he’ll be an asset all right”

 

[ Mark thinks to himself as he dials

the number to Towne Ranch. ]

[ TA Care. . .Outside Field.]

 

[ Stuu & Kaori are watching over the

children playing outside. ]

 

KAORI: I’m glad it warmed up enough

for us to come out here today.  The kids

get too restless inside. 

 

[ They start walking over toward

some boys tossing snowballs

around at targets. ]

 

STUU: We’re getting in more older kids.

It will be good to vary the task a bit.

Plus. Focusing your energy can

help to get rid of aggression.

KAORI: I see.  So is this about them or

something closer to home?

STUU: It’s for everyone.

 

[ He waves at two assistants walking

by. ]

 

[ Meanwhile, on the field, a snowball

from across the way lands squarely

in the back of an older boy’s head.

 

Stuu turns around in time to see

him approaching the little kid fast

and pushing him repeatedly. ]

 

“HEY!”

 

STUU: That is not how we solve

our issues.  Get over here, now! 

 

[ He comes over, staring the kid down

 as Kaori escorts him inside.  Stuu walks

over to check on the little boy. ]

 

STUU: You okay buddy?

 

JOEY: Yeah. Dad is here though.

 

I need to go.

 

[ Stuu watches as his Dad enters the area

& takes him away. ]

[ Employee Lot (Between Store

& Care)]

 

[ Mark meets Sunshine near the door. ]

 

“Hey Sunnie, how’s it going?”

 

SUNSHINE: Better.  Now that we are

able to spread out more.

MARK: Awesome.  I just want to go over

some final additions for the Petting Zoo

Event tomorrow afternoon. 

 

SUNSHINE: Additions?  Right.

 

MARK: I got ahold of the Towne’s and

for a . . .somewhat manageable fee they

agreed to loan us more than the ponies.

SUNSHINE: Uh huh.  What more?

I thought this was supposed to be small

attractions with the point being for

new parents to want to drop off here.

 

MARK: That’s still the goal.  But as far

as the event goes. 

MARK: There will be horses, sheep, and

goats. 

 

Oh, and I hired a band to play during

as well. You won’t have to worry about

any set up though.  I have people for that.

 

SUNSHINE: Great, sounds festive!

 

[ She states, hiding her concern. ]

 

MARK: I have to get back inside.

I’ll see you tomorrow bright and early.

[TA Care. . .Back At The Field.]

 

[ The next morning; Scott, Maxx, & Brian are

helping Erme set up the Petting Zoo Event. ]

 

“So the pony rides are done. Kay & Stuu

will be here to assist with those.

 

And we have all the animals out so the

kids can see them.  Anything else?”

 

[ Scott finishes & they all look over towards

Erme. ]

 

ERME: No, that should be it.  Mark said

the band will be here soon to set up

near the parking lot. 

 

MAXX: I still can’t believe your parents

let you do this alone. I bet these animals

are expensive.

ERME: Oh yeah but they trust me.

And I’ve helped with events like this

before.

 

BRIAN: Well, we have about 30 minutes

left before people start to arrive.

Let’s go get some of that breakfast

buffet. 

 

[ They all head inside. ] 

[ ( An Hour Later. . . ) ]

 

[ A large crowd has now gathered on

the field.  Kids are riding ponies, petting

animals, & playing various games.

 

Trailyn & Mark walk through as

a camera man follows them. ]

 

“We’re here at TA-Magic Springs

Care Petting Zoo Event and this is

their owner Mark Simon. “

MARK: Hello everyone.  Please come

out and support Care.  We have rides,

games and food.  And we’ll be here until

6 tonight.  Come see what we’re all about. 

 

TRAILYN: The atmosphere out here is

amazing, Mark.  All the families and happy 

children around.  I’m sure the city really

appreciates events like this.  Thank you.

 

[ After the interview wraps up, Mark

finds Sunshine. ]

 

“ I know you were a bit skeptical

of my ideas. . .”

 

SUNSHINE: Are you kidding me? 

We’re getting so many new sign ups

and referrals from this. 

 

[ She shows Mark a lengthy list. ]

 

SUNSHINE: This was the best idea! 

MARK: I know. The band just got here

so I’m going to meet them by the lot.

See ya soon.  

[TA Care. . .Band Performance.]

 

[ Everyone is outside on the field waiting for

the band to start playing.

 

Meanwhile; Erme, Scott, Brian & Maxx

are about to gather the animals into their

carrying vehicles. ]

 

ERME: Just do it exactly as I showed you.

I’ll worry about the horses and you guys

can usher in the smaller animals. 

 

[ Now on the field everyone is silent. Mark,

Sunshine & other TA members are standing

in the back.

 

Without warning, the band roars into a loud

and fast paced song.  Blaring slightly over

the speakers. ]

 

MARK: It’s a bit loud!

SUNSHINE: It’s okay I think. 

[ Suddenly they see dozens of horses, goats,

and sheep running in their direction from the

parking lot. ]

 

“Everybody run.  Get back inside now!

 

Go!”

 

[ Mark & Sunshine yell, hastily rushing the

families toward the doors as the stampede

gets closer. Chaos starts to ensue and people 

grow frantic to get through the crowd. ]