Great Pretender: Part 1

Four  Months  Later

Scene One: TACare

[ Jenni walks through

the open door of her

shared office, joining

Jai inside. ]

JAI: Do you think I look

like a professional in

this scene?

[ He unpauses the screen &

Jai is shown sitting in

a chair at TASalon.

 The camera points up to

Lorenzo as he removes Jai's

cover up & he stands. ]

"Thanks Renzo. This style

is sleek."

[ Jenni starts to smile. ]

JENNI: You look fine.  It's a

journey around TA in under a

minute.  Seems to me to be

exactly what they asked for.

JAI: Yeah but I'm no actor.

JENNI: Still can't believe

Landyn got sick at the last

minute but you did.

Alright.  

[ She teases, walking toward

the door. ]

JAI: I'll find out tomorrow.

JENNI: Right so relax. I'm

gonna go do room checks and

see if the girls need any-

thing.

[ Jai gets up & starts packing

his bag. ]

"Okay.  See ya when I get back

from class."

[ Picking up his phone from the

desk, he sends a text to an

unsaved number. ]

"I have dinner with the fam at

six. I'll be a couple hours 

late."

[ Jai waits for a response &

gets one immediately. ]

"Bet. You know where to 

find me."

Scene Two: 

[ Inside the activities

room, sitters are busy

overseeing the kids.

Tonya approaches Jenni. ]

"How are things going?"

[ Tonya looks in the

direction of a co-worker

who is leading a game

on the floor. ]

TONYA: Everyone's fine.

No freak outs so far.

JENNI: That's a relief.

TONYA: I'll go start

on some snacks.

[ She walks off & Jenni

goes to find her boss

Sunshine.

Up front, TACare. ]

SUNSHINE: Hey. Jai just

left for school.

JENNI: Okay. I got the email

list of things you want

us to focus on for corp-

orate tomorrow.

SUNSHINE: Thanks. Pass it on

to Jai too.  We all know he

forgets to check.

[ Just as Sunshine is about

to return to her office

a stranger's harsh tone

in the entrance catches 

her off guard. ]

"Where the hell is a

manager?"

Scene Three: MSPrep Hall.

[ Jai arrives. Walking towards

his class he catches up with

Kiilyn. ]

JAI: See told ya I'd make 

it.  And with five minutes 

to spare.

KIILYN: Well bravo.  Your

attendance last year almost

got you kicked out.

JAI: Thankfully you're the

only other person who knows

that still.

I have two weeks to improve

or I lose my half days too.

KIILYN: Damn.  Didn't even

know they could do that.

JAI: Yeah. I'll have to pick

up other classes and no more

work.

As far as my Dad's know I'm

doing great with the balance

and I plan on keeping it that

way.  

KIILYN: Good thing it's Friday

then.  You look like you need

to crash.

[ They stop outside the room. ]

JAI: I'll be there in a second.

Hello?  Yeah.  That's perfect.



Scene Four: Back At TACare.

"Now I understand why you went
for the blackout entrance."

[ Sunshine walks toward the desk
while Mark follows behind
laughing at her expression. ]

MARK: I know it's your first
time so I just wanted to make
sure you were clear on the
schedule for tomorrow.

SUNSHINE: Let me guess. They
want to start here.
MARK: Yup.  Around 9.
It should take about an hour
for you to walk them through
everything they'll want to
see.

[ Sunshine looks surprised. ]

MARK: They are very particular
just warning you.  But if every-
thing goes according to plan.
They'll just walk through, say a
few things, smile and bounce.

SUNSHINE: Hopefully. 
MARK: Don't worry about it. I
am disappointed that you and
Jeszyca won't be joining us
for dinner tonight.

[ She looks away. ]

MARK: Is something wrong?

[ Sunshine turns around as
the tears start to trail 
down her face. ]

MARK: Sorry.  I wasn't trying
to bring up anything.
SUNSHINE: It's fine. I mean,
well it's not.

[ She wipes her eyes with
a tissue. ]


I might need to move out.

Scene Five: Audi's Bar/Grill

[ Jai, Trailyn, Ski, Mark, Chais
& Jenni are sitting around the
table. ]

JAI: Whoever is playing footsies
with me, it doesn't feel nice.

[ He looks around the table &
everyone is staring at him
except Mark. ]

JAI: Dad!

SKI: I hope you don't have
your shoes off.

[ Mark looks guilty as he bends
down a little.

Later after ordering, Jai &
Trailyn excuse themselves to
the front lobby area. ]

"What's up?"

JAI: I'm going to hang with
my friend after dinner.

Is it cool if Ski gives
you a ride home?

TRAILYN: I mean. I guess.
What friend?
JAI: You don't know him.
He studies Japanese with
me and he's not getting
the homework.  
TRAILYN: What's his name?
JAI: A'myan. We better
get back to the table.

[ He takes her hand, kisses
her on the lips & they
start to walk back. ]


Scene Six: 

[ While they were gone. ]

"Oh no."

CHAIS: What, did you break
a nail?

JENNI: No.  Care got a bad
review online.
MARK: Really, what does it
say?

JENNI: It's a parent com-
plaining about the snacks
we give.
MARK: Oh that's it.

[ He shakes his head. ]

SKI: Yeah I wouldn't worry
about it. Everyone is well
aware of the food before
they bring the kids in.
CHAIS: No one's gonna care
babe.

JENNI: It still doesn't look
good.  
MARK: I'll find out about some
alternatives then but everything
has to be approved.

Plus the kids have to want to
eat it.  
JENNI: That's the real problem.

[ Jai & Trailyn return as the
table gets silent. ]


Scene Seven:

[ Jai parks in his friend's
back lot.  Gets out & walks
up to the door.

Knocking a little, he notices
it's open. ]

"Bro! Come on down."

A'MYAN: Sit. I know you've
been waiting on this all 
day.

[ He hands Jai a glass pipe
as he removes a torch lighter
from his pocket. ]

JAI: This is from the same
place right.
A'MYAN: Yup.  This is Tori
and Kayla.

JAI: Hey. How's it going?

[ He quickly smiles but his
focus stays on the piece that
is now tightly in his grasp.

Holding the light underneath,
he waits for the heat to work
its magic.  Soon he is laid back
 inhaling the thick white smoke. ]

Clip Clop & A Hard Place

scene one:

Between TA & The Salon.

[ After their shifts, Lorenzo &

Hahn are sitting down at the

outdoor table. ]

"Thanks for inviting me.  I

don't get to have a lot of

bro time anymore."

LORENZO: Why?  Has Syria 

cracked the whip since your 

engagement?

HAHN: No it's Charles.  Ever

since he took over my lease.

I've seen less and less of him.

LORENZO: Well you know where

he lives.  Just show up one night.

[ Hahn looks away, ending the

subject & they stay quiet for

awhile.  Thankfully Pierre shows

up to break the silence. ]

HAHN: Nice man.  Those layers

are on fleek.

[ Pierre sits, staring him down. ]

PIERRE: Uhh thanks.  Who is this

again?  

LORENZO: He's a manager at TA.

PIERRE: Nice to meet you. So

what do we have planned

for the night?

HAHN: Apparently it's a mystery.

LORENZO: Yeah and we should

get going.  The dinner part starts

in just an hour.

[ They pile In L's car & head for

Maison City. ]

scene two: 

Meanwhile, on the highway.

[ Dyminic is driving on a country road.

He pulls into a driveway, gets out

fast & knocks on the door.  Excited.

Waiting, he looks over at the stables

& miles of stretched out land. ]

"Dime.  Come in."

DYMINIC: Everything looks the same.

[ They hug and he follows his friend

back behind the house. ]

SANDERS: Here.  I already have one

ready for you.

[ Dyminic smiles & they lead their

horses out on his massive track. ]

DYMINIC: I should bring my wife out

here.  She would love the views.

[ Sanders doesn't answer & rides on

ahead.  Changing from a brisk jog

to a steady sprint.

Dyminic watches as Sanders' horse gains

momentum, ready to lap his own. ]

[ Later inside.  They are talking over

their glasses of whiskey. ]

SANDERS: I have some guys coming

over tonight to race.  You in?

DYMINIC: I don't know bud.  I've

never really tried.  I'm more into

the relaxation of it all.

SANDERS: It's cool.  I can show you.

Once you start, you can't get

enough.  Trust me.

[ Dyminic takes a drink, unsure. ]

scene three:
Later that night.

[ Lorenzo parks in a back lot. Hahn
& Pierre follow him toward the
entrance. ]

LORENZO: You may want to stick
with me.  If there's a murderer
inside, I can sniff it out.
PIERRE: Alright Rover be my
guest.  I'm just here for the
steak.  

[ They stop talking when Hahn
reaches in front of them. Looking
over the gate, they see two people
dressed in costume arguing. ]

"If this is how she wants to
do things.  I'll celebrate my
last night."

"You don't mean that, we
can talk to the boss."

"I'm done talking.  After to-
night she will know."

[ Later inside. Lorenzo & Pierre
are watching Hahn tear through
his sirloin and potatoes.  ]

LORENZO: You should be paying
attention.  There are clues every-
where.

[ Hahn looks up for a second. ]

HAHN: Stuff 'em.  Mmmmm.
PIERRE: We all know the lights
are going to go out at some
point.  Whatever you do
don't scream.

[ He teases Hahn and they laugh
getting in their last bites.

Soon the lights start to flicker in
the room and everyone stops.

Trying to gain some insight. ]


scene four:
Back at the Ranch.

[ Dyminic is eyeing the track. 
Hearing the signal, he readies
his horse but all the other riders
have already taken a lead. 

Once he gets back around, he
gains confidence and starts to
pass other participants. ]

[ He sees Sanders a little ways
ahead & attempts to pick up
the pace.

Head to head now, Dyminic
keeps his glance steady on
the approaching finish line. ]

"I got this."

[ Dyminic thinks to himself
already imagining getting
there first.

Just when Sanders passes
him at the end. ]

SANDERS: Not gonna lie.  That
was decent for your first time.
DYMINIC: Decent?  I'm almost
beat your butt.  

[ Suddenly they hear footsteps
and a few men in uniform 
approach the bonding riders. ]

"You are all going with us."

[ Dyminic stands there in shock
as officers surround, putting
everyone in handcuffs. 

Sanders is being brought out. ]


scene five:
At the event.

"Everyone needs to evacuate
the building.  This way please."

[ Lorenzo, Hahn, & Pierre join
the crowd that is being gathered
from the tables.

They hear a scream in the back-
ground. ]

PIERRE: Is this part of it?

[ Lorenzo just nods, looking around. ]

[ Everyone is gathered in the
front room where the one actor
from earlier & a female are
positioned in the middle. ]

People stand back to listen. ]

"It was you the whole time."

[ The audience is glued but the
participant looks perplexed by
her coworkers choice of ad
lib. ]

"I'm not sure what you mean."

"You're sleeping with my brother."

[ The other man from the alley
appears & immediately a fight
breaks out.

Horror sweeps over the crowd
as the situation quickly turns
to a very, scary real. ]


scene six:

[ In a holding cell close by. ]

"Don't worry I got the bail.  We'll
be out of here asap."

DYMINIC: That's not the point.  You
didn't tell me what we were doing
was illegal.  I thought you of all
people would have the proper
license.

SANDERS: I did but they ran out.  
And of course my regular racers 
aren't going to understand.
DYMINIC: So you shut it down.

Take a break.

[ Dyminic stands up, pacing. ]

SANDERS: It's fine.  We'll go to
court and everything will get
worked out.  Like a slap on the
wrist.
DYMINIC: It's not that simple.

If this is charged as a felony.
I could be barred from my
practice.  
SANDERS: That's not going to
happen.

"Mr Jones?"

DYMINIC: Yeah?


"You can go.  Your wife is here."

DYMINIC: You better hope not.