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INT. CARMELA'S ROOM - EVENING
CARMELA is in her room getting ready. Soft boom bap beat. The phone rings, she answers.
CARMELA Hello?
JOHN SIMON
Baby, it's me.
CARMELA
Well, well, well. Are you calling to apologize?
JOHN SIMON
Yes. Well, I just think there was a big misunderstanding because I didn't think you looked bad--
CARMELA
Oh really? Because you implied that I was hideous.
JOHN SIMON
I wouldn't be dating you if you were hideous.
CARMELA
Well you won't have to worry about that anymore, John Simon.
Carmela slams the phone on the receiver. Knock, knock, knock.
CARMELA (CONT'D) What?
DALE (ENTER)
Carmela, you're not going out tonight, are you?
CARMELA
Yes dad, I told you a million times, it's Mark's party.
DALE
Well did you help your sister with her math homework?
CARMELA
I don't know. Am I a fucking math teacher?
INT. BACKSEAT CAR
CANDACE is holding Carmela. OLIVIA is going thru makeup bag.
CARMELA
I just love him so much.
CANDACE
Carmie. You know he doesn't deserve you.
CARMELA
He was perfect.
OLIVIA
Girl we're gonna get some dick right now. Weren't you just talking about how you missed your freak era?
CARMELA
I'll never freak again.
Cut to full car with BILLY and MARTIN in front seat.
BILLY
Wait I thought we were taking you to Joe's Pizza.
Olivia reaches over and punches Billy in the arm. Car swerves.
BILLY (CONT'D)
Ow! What?
OLIVIA
You shouldn't be listening to us, fucker.
BILLY
It's my backseat! It's my car!
OLIVIA
Billy. Shut your rude ass up right now and mind your business.
Candace shoots Olivia a side eye.
MARTIN
How are you gonna get dick at Joe's. Are you gonna fuck Joe?
Olivia proceeds to chew their heads off.
CANDACE
We can just chill at my place if you want.
CARMELA
Respectfully, I wanna get crunk.
MARTIN
You better not get us banned from Joe's.
EXT. CLUB, DTLA
Candace and Carmela are out on the curb with PIZZA. Olivia is at front of line.
OLIVIA
They're letting us in, leave the fucking pizza!
CANDACE
Girl just go we'll just meet you. Olivia walks in.
CARMELA
I'm sorry I never told you we were back together.
CANDACE
Girl please. I been knew.
CARMELA
You did, huh?
CANDACE
All the kissy kissy. The way you lit up when he walked in.
CARMELA Girl stop.
CANDACE
It was really sweet to watch. I just never got it.
CARMELA Got what?
CANDACE
What you saw in that man.
CARMELA
You know how much he meant to me? I would do anything for him.
CANDACE
Melly, you deserve someone who would do that for you.
Candace leaves her hand on Carmela. Carmela doesn't move hers. Carmela kisses her. Candace is taken aback in shock.
CARMELA
I'm sorry.
CANDACE
Don't be!
CARMELA
That was too much.
CANDACE
No I was just surprised.
CARMELA
Bye!
Carmela runs off, leaving Candace frozen.
EXT. DOWNTOWN STREET
Carmela is walking, fully dissociated, pulls out cassette, puts headphones on. She arrives at an empty bus stop. 'DUE: 30 m'. She walks past it passing a dark alley.
JOHN SIMON (V.O.)
Help!
Carmela runs toward the alley.
CARMELA
John Simon?!
JOHN SIMON (V.O.)
Carmela! Help me!
CARMELA
Where are you?
Carmela runs down the alley, getting deeper into darkness until the alley disappears and she's in a dream realm.
CARMELA (CONT'D) Where am I?
She looks back at the street. The once busy street is dead quiet. And there is the silhouette of a MAN.
CARMELA (CONT'D)
John Simon? Is that you?
John Simon's voice comes out again saying the same thing like a soundboard, but the man doesn't move. Then, he runs toward her with terrifying speed. Carmela tries to run, she trips, loses her left shoe. she screams, and suddenly we are back to the real world. The only thing left is her shoe as buzzed groups and pairs walk past the alley.
- INTRO SONG STARTS
-
INT. LIVING ROOM
Candace walks through the door. Her dad, JAMESON, is sitting on the couch, smoking a cigar, lounging.
CANDACE Dad! You're here!
JAMESON
I pay the bills--why is that so surprising?
CANDACE
Oh right, it is Saturday night, huh?
JAMESON
Hey young lady. You know how much I'm working to give you those little short shorts you traipse around in.
CARLA, Candace's mom, is stowing dishes angrily in the cabinets.
CARLA How's business down in the Garment District?
JAMESON It's busy.
CARLA Busy. Right.
JAMESON
Where do you think those dishes came from? (MORE)
JAMESON (CONT'D)
Or the money for the food in the fridge? You think a fairy gave it to me?
CARLA
I think you're getting a lot of things.
JAMESON Okay.
Meanwhile, Candace stands there awkwardly.
CANDACE Where's Billy?
CARLA
Your brother's out doing god-knowswhat.
JAMESON
When that boy gets home he's gonna have hell to pay.
CARLA
Oh yeah, I'm sure he'll listen to the man who deigns to stroll in one night out of the week.
JAMESON
When I don't have to drive up to San Francisco every week for my biggest client then we can have a fair conversation, how about that?
CARLA
I'm sure you'll tell us all 'I told you so.'
CANDACE
Okay I'm going to bed.
JAMESON Candace, wait. Remember. If you give the milk out for free there's no reason to buy the cow.
CANDACE Jesus, dad!
JAMESON What?
CARLA Jameson, you're sick.
INT. CANDACE'S ROOM
Candace shuts the door behind her and switches on the CRT in her room. Static.
CANDACE
Ugh.
She finagles with the antennas, when her head starts to feel as fuzzy as the TV.
CANDACE (CONT'D)
Oh God, not this again.
She sees an alley on the screen. A man in the alley.
CANDACE (CONT'D)
Nope. Uh-uh. Not this.
She bangs the TV with her first hard a few times, distorting the image with each hit, until it snaps into a news channel. Candace lies down on the bed with headphones.
- SONG SEQUENCE CONTIpNUES -
EXT. ALLEY - DREAM
We see the man in the alley again. It feels dream-like. JOHN SIMON is in the alley. He turns around and sees CARMELA.
CARMELA
I thought you loved me.
JOHN SIMON
I do love you. Always.
CARMELA
Then why did you let this happen?
John Simon turns around and sees the man coming towards her with a knife.
INT. BEDROOM - MORNING
6:00AM. Alarm is going off. John Simon starts, sitting up in his bed. Snoozes alarm. Looks around, disoriented. Shakes it off.
JOHN SIMON Jesus.
INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
John Simon is sitting at his desk. Theo is sitting right in front.
THEO
What's a-matter, John Simon? You ain't get no sleep?
JOHN SIMON
Fuckass dreams Theo. Word to the wise, don't ever stop smoking weed.
THEO
You should be a guidance counselor.
JOHN SIMON
Not the one this school deserves but--
LIZ comes and smacks her little brother upside the head.
JS Ow! Fuck is your problem?
LIZ
That girl would die for you bro and you made her look like a damn fool.
JS
Well for your information--you know what, it's none of your business.
LIZ
It's everyone's business now bro. I swear you're such a little gremlin.
Liz exits.
THEO
Your sister's kind of a bitch.
JS
Don't call my sister a bitch Theo.
MRS. BEANSLY walks in the room. She looks flushed.
MRS. BEANSLY
Happy Monday everybody. Sorry I'm late, I had to take my kid to the ER.
JANNA clears her throat and motions to her collar. Mrs. Beansly looks down and buttons up her collar
MRS. BEANSLY (CONT'D)
Now, we were discussing Hamlet were we not?
John Simon looks over to the empty seat next to CANDACE: Carmie's usual seat, empty. He zones out, mind running. He meets eyes with Candace, who is staring back at him. John Simon goes back to pretending to take notes.
INT. HALLWAYS - AFTER CLASS
We hear a bell chime just to make the transition. Candace, Janna, and Liz are talking.
CANDACE
And so Olivia went in the club without us.
LIZ
No.
Silence.
CANDACE
She went in without us. While we were still pizza, mind you. And then...
CANDACE (CONT'D)
Well, she just ran off.
JANNA
That doesn't sound like her.
LIZ
Well, you know my little brother really does a number on these women. He's a menace. I don't know how we came from the same womb.
CANDACE
Oh she was a mess. Poor girl.
JANNA
It must take a lot for her to miss school. I mean any of us? Common behavior. But she loves this shit.
LIZ
We should go to her house after school. Maybe she's just sick.
CANDACE
I don't know why I've had a knot in my stomach all day. And that's not helping.
Everyone looks. Olivia approaches, cunty stride, with VIVICA (skinny, light complexion) in tow.
OLIVIA
Oh, hey Candace. Thanks for abandoning me last night.
CANDACE
If anything you abandoned us.
OLIVIA
Oh yeah. That makes perfect sense. So we make plans to go to the club. And they watch me go in and leave. And I abandoned them.
VIVICA
If you didn't want to go to the club just say that.
CANDACE
Who asked your opinion?
LIZ
Okay Candace this is getting out of hand.
VIVICA
Excuse me?
CANDACE
You weren't even there.
OLIVIA
Wow, Candace. Just wow.
Candace slams her locker and leaves, Liz follows. Janna, the peacemaker, lingers.
JANNA
You guys she's having a bad day.
OLIVIA
I don't care. That's not an excuse to just blow up at Vivica for no reason.
VIVICA
You know what? I think she's just a bitch.
JANNA
Don't talk about her like that.
VIVICA
And what are you gonna do about it?
JANNA closes her locker and quickly follows her friends.
OLIVIA
Huh. Thought so.
JOHN SIMON and THEO are at his locker talking. JS is making a call
RECIEVER (v.o.)
Your call has been...
JS exhales.
Nothing.
JS
THEO
You're in the doghouse, mate.
JS
I mean, this is an overreaction. Don't you think?
THEO
Oh yeah. Girls are crazy.
JS
I mean, 'hey John Simon. I'm okay. I don't want to talk right now. Beep.' Is that so hard?
As JS is walking backwards he accidentally bumps into CANDACE, who is turning the corner. Suddenly, they are both transported...
EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT
The two of them are suddenly in a dark alley. No more fluorescent hallway.
JS
What the fuck?
CANDACE
My thoughts exactly. They look around.
CANDACE (CONT'D)
This place gives me a really bad feeling.
JS
Me too. Do you think--
CANDACE What?
JS
I mean, I don't want to say it.
CANDACE
Me neither. But why'd you have to do her like that man?
JS
Look. I fucked up and I was trying to apologize. I just don't get you guys.
CANDACE
Us?
JS
Girls. Women. You overthink everything.
CANDACE
Well you're a bunch of unbothered brutes.
Suddenly a flash and...
INT. HALLWAYS - DAY
They're back. Everyone is staring at them. Someone coughs. They take a second to blink and get adjusted. Candace is the first to turn and walks away.
CANDACE
Y'all got nothing better to do?
THEO
What the fuck was that.
JS
I'm telling you Theo. I just have a really bad feeling.
THEO
About what?
JS
Carmie. I think...I think something might have happened. I'm not sure.
THEO
Dude, you do this all the time. You overthink shit and assume the worst.
JS
Yeah, yeah. You're probably right.
JS closes his locker and they turn around. He sees a street sign at the hallway intersection: 'Hayworth Place'. There is a dark energy where it's pointing.
JS (CONT'D)
Umm, Theo.
THEO
What's up my man?
JS
Has that always been there?
JS points to the sign but it's gone now.
THEO
Okay you're freaking me out.
JS Hayworth Place.
JS exits.
THEO
Okay. He's officially lost it. I always knew he was on-the-brink but. You never think the day will actually come, you know? Fuck it. John Simon where are you going?
Theo exits.
INT. CANDACE'S HOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON
Candace walks through the door and is about to storm up the stairs when she catches her mom alone at the table.
MARSHA
Oh hey honey.
CANDACE
Hey mom. I've had a long day.
The fridge door shuts and Billy comes out of the kitchen with a banana.
BILLY
You've had a long day? Man work was crazy today. They're trying to kill me.
Candace goes up and hits him on the chest.
BILLY (CONT'D) Ow.
CANDACE
You didn't come home at all last night. You scared the shit out of me.
BILLY
Sorry I stayed at Martin's place. Are you good sis? You seem a little shaken up.
CANDACE (to her mom) You're okay with this?
Marsha shrugs, tired.
MARSHA
He's a man now Candace. That's what they do.
There's a sad silence. Billy goes to his mom.
BILLY
I'm sorry mom. I'll let you know next time.
CANDACE
Yeah you had us worried man.
BILLY
Candace why are you being a snitch right now? I thought you were chill.
Candace grunts.
CANDACE
I just don't want to not know where you are, ok? I just want to know you're okay! Why can't you just let me know you're okay?
There is a stunned silence.
BILLY
Candace, you good?
Candace grunts and runs up the stairs.
INT. CANDACE'S ROOM
Candace throws herself on the bed and curls up in a fetal position. She takes out her phone and calls Carmie. No response. Janna calls. Candace answers.
CANDACE
Hello?
JANNA
Hey girl. Just seeing how you're doing.
CANDACE
I just freaked out on my brother. Why won't this bitch call me. I just, Janna, I have such a bad feeling.
Candace starts crying
JANNA
Girl, girl it's okay! You know you've always been sensitive. She's okay! Just give her some time.
-OLIVIA-
EXT. ALLEY - DAY
JS and THEO are in the alley, smoking cigarettes.
THEO
So remind me why we're here in this dingy fucking alley.
JS
Something happened here.
THEO
What happened?
JS
I have no fucking idea.
JS looks back and sees a flash of night with the killer standing with a knife. Flash back to reality. JS stares off in horror.
THEO
Hey maybe we can ask this guy.
A bum THE SCARECROW rustles under newspapers. He stands.
THE SCARECROW
Everything here is quite alright. But when night strikes sometimes there's a fight.
THE SCARECROW walks off.
THEO
Did he just talk in a limerick?
JS grabs his head and falls to the floor.
THEO (CONT'D)
Woah, JS what's the problem?
JS rubs his head.
JS
Oh, I don't feel too good.
JS looks up and sees a shoe -- Becky's shoe.
- cue outro song sequence -