Rule of None

SCENE 1:

Morning shift, TA.

[ Landyn cautiously enters the

store.  Looking down, he heads

quickly toward the break room

but instead bumps into Kristyn. ]

KRISTYN: Hey, I know you’ve been

busy running lines for our next

commercial but I figured after

the other night you would at

least call me.

LANDYN: You’re right.  We do need

to talk about things.  But right now

Mark needs me in his office.

KRISTYN: Oh, alright.  I’ll see you

later then.

[ Kristyn smiles at Landyn as he

walks by & waves. Moments later

Monica comes up to floral. ]

MONICA: That looked cozy.  Is

there something you’re not

telling me?

KRISTYN: Well let’s just say

Landyn becomes very bold

In private.

MONICA: Okay, and what does

that mean exactly?

KRISTYN: It means that he kissed

me.

MONICA: You’re kidding! 

KRISYN: No, I’m not.  And it was

long, hot, and extra extended.

[ Monica stares in surprise. ]

MONICA: Girl, you wild!

SCENE 2:

[ Marisa is driving downtown

when her phone rings. ]

“Hey, sorry it took me so

long to get back to you.”

MARISA: It’s cool, I’m glad that

you finally did. 

AIRYNN: We haven’t talked in

a long time.  What’s going on?

MARISA: I guess you haven’t realized

the damage your dumb dare has

caused your so-called friend.

Joh is facing serious charges

because of this.

AIRYNN: Hey, it’s not my fault.

I didn’t think he would do it.

MARISA: That’s not the point.

We’ve all three known each

other for most of our lives.

Through all of school &

even two years of college.

Are you ever gonna mature?

AIRYNN: I’m sorry.  It was just

a stupid joke.   Anyway, Stuu

told me how Joh has been

lately and maybe it serves

him right. 

So, what are you gonna do

now?

MARISA: I’ll take him to court,

 but If Joh doesn’t start acting

right I’m not going to stick

around.

SCENE 3:

Back inside TA.

[ Hours later, Kristyn meets

up with Landyn in the front

break room. ]

KRISTYN: Finally, we’re alone.

[ She gets closer to Landyn,

not noticing his expression. ]

LANDYN: Wait, just a minute.

[ Kristyn immediately backs up. ]

KRISTYN: What is it?

LANDYN: Look, the other night

when I kissed you.  I have no

idea what I was doing.  Literally.

KRISTYN: Well, it sure seems like

It.  You kept it going for an hour.

LANDYN: I know, I know.  And

It seems like I led you on.

Not to mention, it was

very unprofessional of

me to take it there in the

first place. 

KRISTYN: But I don’t care.

We can keep this just to

ourselves. 

LANDYN: I don’t think you

understand me.  The ex I

told you about.  That’s a guy

who works nights here.

 

I’m sorry.  I thought you

knew.

[ Kristyn stands there in shock. ]

SCENE 4:

Downtown at the Court House.

[ Marisa meets Joh inside. ]

MARISA: The security here is

tight.  I hate going in places

like this.

JOH:  Right, it sucks.  Bet

I know something else

that’s tight. 

[ Joh starts to laugh as people

begin looking in his direction. ]

MARISA: Knock it off.  I can’t

believe you smoked before

you got here.  What if the

judge realizes your high?

JOH: I’m sorry but I was

freaking out.  You would be

too, if you were in this

situation.  Trust me, it’s

no big deal.  Not like I do

it all the time.

MARISA: Fine, let’s just get

this over with.

[ Joh takes Marisa’s hand.  As

they attempt to walk into the

court room, an officer stops

them. ]

OFFICER: This is a closed session.

[ He points to Marisa. ]

OFFICER: She can wait out here.

SCENE 5:

A Café, near TA.

LANDYN: Thanks for meeting me,

man.  I had to get away from

Kristyn and her cold stares.

I feel so bad right now.

KYLE: I can’t believe you kissed

a chick.  Huge surprise for this

time in the morning. 

LANDYN: Right.  Leave it to me

to mess up again.  Hope

she’ll talk to me soon.

KYLE: I wouldn’t stress too much.

Kristyn’s pretty chill.  I’m sure

she’ll forgive you.  I’m the real

idiot though.

LANDYN: Why? Don’t tell me

you regret quitting TA now?

KYLE: Not at all.  I love what I

do, man.  It just.

LANDYN:  You also love Monica?

KYLE: Yeah, exactly.  I wish there

was some way to have both.

[ Suddenly Kyle receives a text

message on his phone & stops

talking. ]

KYLE:  Shit man, I gotta run.

LANDYN: But we haven’t even

eaten yet.

KYLE: It’s Ace.  Something’s wrong.

He needs me to drive him to

the hospital.

SCENE 6:

[ Marisa hears people talking

in the court room & she waits

for Joh to come walking out

Finally in sight, Marisa notices

the drained expression on his

face. ]

MARISA: What happened?

What did the judge say?

[ Joh looks up at Marisa. ]

JOH: Say hello to the newest

soon-to-be registered

sex offender.

MARISA:  If you’re playing games

with me, I promise Johsef.

JOH: Babe, I’m not.

[ He sits down on the bench. ]

JOH: For once today, I’m not.

MARISA: Well, what can we do?

This isn’t fair.  We have to fight

this.

[ Joh stands up facing her. ]

JOH: Maybe this was someone’s

plan to snap me back into reality.

Show me that unless I do what

I was taught from birth my life

will always go wrong, right?

Well, it didn’t work. 

MARISA: Wait, are you talking

about God?

You made the bad choice!

I can’t handle you like this

anymore.  You can’t even

own up to your own crap.

Joh, I’m done!

[ Marisa drives off with Joh 
still standing inside the 
court house. ]

 NEW PREVIEW: 11/27 ! 

(Updated 11/24)

Payin' Dues

SCENE 1:

At Mark & Ski’s house.

[ Ski rolls over in bed

& answers his phone. ]

 “Hey man.”

SKI: So, I got your text last

night.  How did you get that

crazy to leave the Salon?

HITHE: I paid him off.

SKI: Wow, I’m surprised.

HITHE: Yup.  Used the last

of the money I got from the

hospital.   Quite frankly I won’t

miss it. 

SKI: I can see why.  You heard

from Amber lately?

HITHE: Yeah, a couple of days

ago she said she was going

out with some new guy

but wouldn’t tell me who.

SKI: Weird, normally she wants

to talk about everything.

HITHE: Right.  Remember when

she was all secretive about her

vacation?

SKI: Oh yeah, that’s true.

[ Suddenly the bedroom door

opens.  Seeing the expression

on Mark’s face when he enters,

Ski soon hangs up the line. ]

SKI: Hey, what’s wrong?

[ Mark sits down on the bed ]

MARK: It’s about Ace.

SCENE 2:

At Weis’ apartment.

[ Weis is sitting in the living

room, dialing a number off

a piece of paper. ]

MARISA: Hello.

WEIS: Hey, it’s Weis.  Sorry for

the random call.  I got your

number out of Joh’s phone.

Hope it’s alright.

MARISA: Oh, you’re fine. 

WEIS:  Cool.  He didn’t come

home last night and we we’re

hoping he was with you.

MARISA:  No, I had no idea.

He’s been calling me like normal

but with school and meetings

I haven’t been able to get on

that side of town.

WEIS:  Wow.  Isn’t his court date

next week?

MARISA:  I’m taking him Monday

but now I’m starting to get

worried.

If he doesn’t straighten up there’s

no way the judge will rule in his

favor. 

WEIS: Yes, I know.  Me and Lee

are trying to get him to chill

out some.

MARISA:  Have him call me as

soon as he gets in please.

[ As soon as they hang up Joh

comes stumbling in the door. ]

SCENE 3:

Back at Ski’s place.

SKI:  So it was too dangerous to

remove from his arm.

What are they gonna do now?

MARK:  Try radiation, I guess.

SKI: Oh man.  This has to be so

hard on him.  I can’t imagine.

MARK: Yeah, he tries to hide

it but I know he’s scared.

[ Ski puts his arm around Mark

as he sits quiet with his head

down.

Chais enters the room. ]

CHAIS: Jenni’s coming to get

me soon. 

[ He tries to leave but is stopped

by Ski. ]

SKI: What did I tell you last night?

CHAIS: Keep our clothes on and

my hands above the waist.

SKI: Got it.  Have fun.

[ He leaves & Mark climbs into bed. ]

MARK: So, who is Jenni?

SKI: You don’t know?  Seriously.

The same girl that just started

bagging at TA on Am’s shift. 

MARK: Oh yeah, I met her the

other day.

SKI: Right.  She’s also your son’s

girlfriend. 

[ Mark looks stunned. ]

SCENE 4:

Meanwhile, at Weis’.

“Where the hell were

you dude?  People are

worried, in case you care.”

JOH: Sorry.  I just wanted

to celebrate my last few

good days on this earth.

WEIS: What are you talking

about?

JOH: Hello. Once I’m found

guilty people are just going

to cut me out.  Might as

well start being solo now. 

WEIS: Okay.  You’re being

a little ridiculous.  All you

can do is wait.

In the meantime, it would

be good to work on  your

alibi.

JOH: Yeah.  Alright.

[ The doorbell rings. ]

JOH: Get it.  My head is killing

me.  I’ll be laying down. 

[ Weis opens the door &

to his surprise sees Trey

standing in front of him. ]

WEIS: What are you doing here?

SCENE 5:

“So he’s been dating her

all summer and no one

thought to run that by me?”

[ Ski sits back a little. ]

SKI: Wait a minute, I’ve

been telling you for awhile

now to get to know Chais

but you’re always doing

things with Jai only. 

MARK:  Need I remind you

Chais has held a grudge over

me for a long time now.

SKI: The mom thing is a little

old, Mark.  He's still your son

and you should talk at least.

He wishes that you did.

If you’ve been paying any

kind of attention, you

would know that. 

MARK: Look, I don’t understand

where this is all coming from.

[ Ski starts to say something

until Chais walks in & stands

in front of them. ]

CHAIS: Hey, Jenni’s here. Can

you at least calm down until

we leave?

Thanks guys.

[ He walks out, sighing & 

rolling his eyes. ]

SCENE 6:

Outside Weis'.

WEIS: Is that what you

came back to tell me?

TREY: No, it’s not the only

reason.  I thought you should

know about my baby girl.

I wasn’t sure how you

we’re going to handle it.

WEIS: Yeah, I’m sorry about

the way I acted that night.

That wasn’t the real me. 

Thanks for the suggestion.

As much as I didn’t want to

admit, I needed the help.

This summer was good

and I can honestly say

that I’m not that guy

anymore. 

TREY: I never thought

you were.

[ Weis smiles. ]

TREY: Well, I have to go

pick up my daughter.

[ Trey starts to walk

away but turns around

to Weis’ call. ]

WEIS: Bring her around some

time, okay? 

[ Trey nods & gets in his car. ]

NEW PREVIEW: 11/20!

(Updated 11/24)