1 Step Ahead

SCENE 1:

Late afternoon, the Salon.

[ Karie is talking to Hithe

in the break room while

Little H is busy on his phone. ]

KARIE: It’s getting toward

the end of the month and

we haven’t even reached

half of last month’s sales.

HITHE: We’re going to have

slower months though.  Pretty

sure that’s normal.

KARIE: We we’re pretty consistent

last year at this time.

HITHE: That’s true.  What does

Acer think?

KARIE: He’s not concerned.

[ There’s a break in the conversation

and they start to hear loud music. ]

HITHE: Hey H!  Turn it down.

Anyway, we should get going.

Someone complains if they

don’t get fed by a decent

hour.

LITTLE H: No I don’t.

KARIE: So what sounds good?

[ Karie questions him. ]

LITTLE H: We’re going to Kristyn’s.

KARIE: Well, have fun.  See ya

tomorrow Hithe.

SCENE 2:

That night, at TA.

[ Larrie, Tiesun, & Airynn are

waiting up front for their shift

to start. ]

LARRIE: So yesterday me and

Tiesun we’re visiting the

corporate store.

AIRYNN: I really don’t care to

hear about you two making

out in every aisle.

[ Larrie laughs & Tiesun rolls

her eyes. ]

LARRIE: Just listen.  I

have an idea for the team.

TIESUN: You’re helping?  That’s

a far cry from when you wanted

to leave.

LARRIE: Hey, no one knew that.

[ He looks up at Airynn. ]

LARRIE: Anyway, they wore monitors

while they were stocking to see

who covered their area the fastest.

AIRYNN: Yeah.  What’s the point?

LARRIE: They use it to determine

hours, bonuses, different things.

I think Ski would like this.

AIRYNN: I don’t know, man.

We’re followed close enough

as it is.

SCENE 3:

At Acer’s apartment.

[ Him & Karie are relaxing

on the couch, watching TV. ]

KARIE: I feel like we’re going

backwards.

[ She looks at Ace & he stays

silent. ]

KARIE: Babe, are you listening

to me?

[ He slides closer to Karie,

messaging her arm. ]

ACE: How could we be?  I

think we’re hotter than ever.

KARIE: Not us!  The Salon.

ACE: Alright.  I’ll do some

research on it.  But until

then, you need to relax.

[ Ace sits up & lets Karie

lay across him.  She leans

up, kissing him on the cheek. ]

ACE: Isn’t that better?

[ Just as Karie is getting

comfortable, Ace’s phone

starts to ring & he sits up. ]

ACE: It’s Mark.  Hold on.

SCENE 4:

Break time, at TA.

[ Larrie is talking to Joh

outside. ]

JOH: It’s a cool idea.  I’m just

not sure I want to be monitored.

I mean, think about it.  Me and

Airynn have been here the

longest.  We don’t want an

hour decrease just because

we take our time one night.

LARRIE: Yeah, I know what

you mean.

JOH: Don’t worry though.  I’m

sure you can think of something

else.

[ Joh leaves him outside

& Tiesun comes out. ]

TIESUN: Any luck so far?

LARRIE: Everyone hates it.

TIESUN: So?  Ski is the only

one who matters.

LARRIE: That’s true but he

tends to make his decisions

with everyone in mind.

TIESUN: I would still bring

it to his attention.  You never

know.

SCENE 5:

Back at Acer’s.

KARIE: So what did Mark

say?

ACE: He said it’s no big deal

unless it goes on for a few

months.  Then he would

look into it.  I mean, with

the holiday season we

should be getting more

customers.

KARIE: Maybe Landyn could

mention us in one of the TA

commercials.

ACE: That’s a good idea.  And

we could do a sale of some

sort.

You feeling any better?

KARIE: Yeah, now that we

have a plan I do.

ACE: Good.

KARIE: It’s just the Salon is

important to me and I

don’t want it to fail.

ACE: I know.  It’s important

to all of us.

[ He smiles at her, picks her

up & heads toward their

bedroom. ]

KARIE: Ace!

SCENE 6:

At The Aisles.

[ Larrie is on the phone. ]

SKI: So I got your text message.

LARRIE: It’s cool, man.  No one

wants to be monitored.

SKI:  We’re being watched

anyway.

LARRIE: Yeah, I know and the

kids don’t get that this is

something that could help them.

SKI: Yeah.

[ There is a pause on the line &

Larrie waits. ]

SKI: Well I think it’s a great idea.

LARRIE: You serious?

SKI: Yup.  I’ll talk to Marks’ boss

and see about the process to

get it started.  Thanks Larrie.

LARRIE: You’re welcome.

[ After they hang up, Larrie

looks around then starts

jumping up and down. ]

LARRIE: Yes!

(Updated 12/24)

Sliced Up

SCENE 1:

Outside the Telazon’s.

[ Airynn is sitting on his

porch when Joh arrives

& sits next to him. ]

AIRYNN: Hey, surprised you

showed.  I’m guessing all

of your besties are busy.

[ Joh laughs at him. ]

JOH: That’s right.

So why are you moping

around here on your

weekend off?

AIRYNN: My girlfriend left

me last week.

JOH: You had a girlfriend?

AIRYNN: Yes, smart ass.

She was staying here.

JOH: Oh, I didn’t know.

AIRYNN: And look.

[ Airynn hands him a piece

of paper. ]

JOH: Renter’s application?

AIRYNN: I was working on

getting this sweet pad

for us too.

JOH: That sucks, dude.

Too bad we’re full at

my place.

AIRYNN: Imagine me and

Weis living together?

Anyway, my plan’s ruined

now.

SCENE 2:

Meanwhile, at the Salon.

[ Lorenzo approaches Hithe

& Ace after the meeting. ]

LORENZO: Hey, can we talk?

ACE: Sure man, what’s up?

LORENZO: I was just thinking.

We should have a guys day

at the Salon.  Bring more

men into this place.

HITHE: Yeah but we don’t

want to exclude our regulars.

Most of them are women.

LORENZO: Then let’s do

the event after hours.

ACE: And who would host?

[ Later on, at the front desk. ]

JESZYCA: What’s wrong Renzo?

LORENZO: I had a great idea

and they basically shot it

down.  I need to do something

huge and then maybe I’ll get

some respect around here.

SCENE 3:

Airynn’s bedroom.

[ After Joh leaves, Airynn is

laying down flipping through

the channels.

He stops at an interesting

news story. ]

“Tonight we follow the lives

of a local, private religious

group and learn of their

rather different traditions.”

[ Intrigued, Airynn settles

back, paying attention. ]

AIRYNN: I wonder where

these people stay at.

[ Getting on his laptop, he

searches for some deeper

insight on the matter. ]

AIRYNN: Hmm, Palaseto Clan.

Very interesting.

[ He looks to see if he can

find an address, when his

brother walks in the room.

Airynn shuts the laptop. ]

BILLY: What was that about?

Gross.  Were you watching

porn?

SCENE 4:

Next night, the Salon.

[ Lorenzo meets Sascha

at the front door while

she goes to unlock it. ]

LORENZO: Hey, thanks for

your help.

[ They walk in. ]

SASCHA: No problem.  I can’t

believe Ace and Kare didn’t

wanna be a part of this.

Should I text them and

make sure?

LORENZO: No, no.  I’m pretty

sure they’re going out. 

I got drinks, food, and we

should have a lot of new

faces here.

SASCHA: Sounds good.

I’ll get the table from

the break room for

refreshments. 

LORENZO: Good idea.

SASCHA: Oh, and Pierre

Is coming too.

LORENZO: Nice.  We should

work together more often.

[ Sascha smiles at him before

walking away. ]

SCENE 5:

Outside of TA.

[ Airynn arrives to see Larrie

& Tiesun being cozy outside. ]

AIRYNN: Hey, what’s up?

TIESUN: What are you doing

here on your day off?

LARRIE: Yeah, are you that

bored?

[ Airynn doesn’t say anything

& Tiesun gets up, walking over

to him. ]

TIESUN: She left, didn’t she?

[ Airynn nods his head. ]

LARRIE: Who?

TIESUN: The girl he had staying

with him. 

AIRYNN: I was this close to

moving out.

TIESUN: You know, you don’t

have to be with someone to

have your own place.  I live

alone.  So does Stuu.

AIRYNN: Yeah, I know.

[ He sighs & goes silent again. ]

SCENE 6:

Back at the Salon.

[ Sascha is busy cutting

hair while Lorenzo is

entertaining the clients.

Sipping a glass a wine,

he finishes telling a joke

to the crowd. ]

LORENZO: So anyway, whose

next?

“I am!”

[ Recognizing the voice, he

Immediately turns around. ]

SASCHA: Hey Acer.

[ She yells from her station. ]

ACE: What the hell is going

on in here?

I didn’t authorize this.

[ Sascha looks at Lorenzo,

coming over immediatly. ]

LORENZO: I’m proving that

this was a good idea.  Look

at all these people.

[ Ace takes a second to

look around. ]

ACE: It is a nice crowd.