This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. 
This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express 
written permission of the author.

Alex Burchfield's
Good Morning Merit Brown

"Pilot"


Written By: Alex Burchfield
INSPIRED BY ACTUAL EVENTS



ACT: I

FADE IN: LIBRARY. WE MOVE THROUGH THE SHELVES AS WE HEAR:

KEITH:
If camera one wasn't so shaky…

ALEX:
'Ya know the strange thing about cola?

KEITH:
But camera two is pretty steady.

ALEX:
It's not allowed on campus, yet I'm drinking it right now.

WE COME UPON TWO KIDS, AROUND 13 YEARS OLD, ALEX & KEITH, ALEX OF 
COURSE HOLDING A CAN OF COKE, KEITH WRITING ON A PIECE OF PAPER 
ATTATCHED TO A CLIP-BOARD.

KEITH:
Maybe if we switched Sheena from camera one to camera two, and Steph to 
camera one…

ALEX:
And no one can stop me.

KEITH:
(RE: ALEX'S COKE) Some one can stop you, tall, female, goes by the 
title of The Principle. And will you put down the soda and check out 
this new layout for the studio. 

KEITH HANDS ALEX THE CLIP-BOARD, ALEX EXAMINES IT.

ALEX:
It looks good, but announcer two is… Me?

KEITH:
Well, if you don't babble as you were previously, I think you can do a 
good job. 

ALEX:
Announcer one is… You?

KEITH:
Yeah.

ALEX:
Why? Aren't you on sound?

KEITH: 
I just can't be in the control room anymore. Alana is just to (finding 
the words)… Controlling. 

ALEX:
Hmm. Haven't noticed. 

KEITH:
Not to mention, she's a raving Bi-

ALEX:
(HAULTING KEITH'S WORDS) WE, should go run this new layout by Mr. 
Hillshire. 

KEITH:
I was just gonna say-

ALEX:
Some thing that was against the rules.

KEITH:
Yes. And rules are rules.

ALEX:
Rules are rules.

KEITH:
(GETTING UP) 'Ya know what else is against the rules.

ALEX:
What?

KEITH:
Cola on campus.

ALEX:
(GETTING UP) That's the rule?

KEITH:
That's the rule. 

ALEX:
(WALKING OFF SCREEN) 'Ya know what is strange about rules?

KEITH:
(FOLLOWING ALEX) What?

ALEX:
Coke.

CUT TO: CONTROLL ROOM. ALEX ADJUSTS SOME KNOBS ON THE SOUND BOARD AS 
ALANA QUES UP A VIDEO FOR THE BROADCAST.

ALANA:
You and Keith were missing earlier.

ALEX:
Yeah, we were going over the new layout. 

ALANA:
Yes I've seen it. Now I understand why he moved you into the studio, 
but why did he move himself to announcer one? He's supposed to be here 
in the control room. 

ALEX:
Yeah, he finds you controlling.

ALANA:
Controlling?

ALEX:
Controlling. 

ALANA:
I'm not controlling! 

ALEX:
I didn't say you were.

ALANA:
But Keith said I was controlling.

ALEX:
Yes he did.

ALANA:
But I'm not controlling.

ALEX:
We've established this delusion. 

ALANA:
I am not controlling! Now you go tell Keith that!

ALEX:
(RE: HER COMMAND) No, you're not controlling.

ALANA:
Listen little boy! You quit patronizing me or else, or else, or else 
something!

ALEX:
He was right about another thing too.

ALANA:
Right about what?

ALEX TURNS FROM THE SOUND BOARD AND LOOKS RIGHT AT ALANA.

ALEX:
That you're a raving BI-

CUT TO: STUDIO, KEITH IS GOING OVER THE NEW STUDIO-CONTROLL ROOM LAYOUT 
WITH MR HILLSHIRE NEXT TO ONE OF THE CAMERAS, MR HILLSHIRE IS A MAN WHO 
IS ABOUT IN HIS MID FOURTIES AND HAS A *GREAT* SENSE OF HUMOR. 

KEITH:
And we could move Broke to sound and Alex to announcer two. 

MR HILLSHIRE:
Alex to announcer two?

KEITH:
Yes.

MR HILLSHIRE:
But he babbles.

KEITH:
Yes he babbles.

MR HILLSHIRE:
Then how can he be the main announcer, giving all the important news to 
the school, when, he babbles?

KEITH:
I told him, that as long as he doesn't babble, he can do a good job.

MR HILLSHIRE:
And you believe this.

KEITH:
Yes.

MR HILLSHIRE:
And he believes this.

KEITH:
Yes.

MR HILLSHIRE:
Okay, go inform the others about your reformation.

KEITH:
Okay.

KEITH STARTS OFF, THEN STOPS AND TURNS BACK TO MR HILLSHIRE.

KEITH (CONT.):
This isn't a reformation.

MR HILLSHIRE:
Yes it is.

KEITH:
No its not, it's a rearrangement.

MR HILLSHIRE:
No, it's a reformation.

KEITH:
Never mind, I have to tell them about the new layout. 

KEITH WALKS OFF AS WE—

CUT TO: THE CONTROLL ROOM. ALANA IS QUEING UP ANOTHER VIDEO & BROOKE IS 
JEREMY IS WORKING ON THE GRAPHICS CONSOLE AS KEITH WALKS IN.

KEITH:
Hey everyone. We got a new layout.

JEREMY:
We do?

KEITH:
Yeah, you're on sound now. 

ALANA:
Yes, Alex advised me of this new layout.

KEITH:
Really?

ALANA:
Yes.

KEITH:
Good. Now—

ALANA:
I'm controlling?

JEREMY:
(RE: ALANA'S STATEMENT) Yeah, so I gotta go ask Alex about the sound 
board.

JEREMY WALKS OUT.

ALANA:
So I'm controlling?

KEITH:
You're not controlling.

ALANA:
I'm not controlling.

KEITH:
No.

ALANA:
You didn't say I was controlling.

KEITH:
Of course not. 

ALANA:
'Cause Alex said you said I was controlling. 

KEITH:
I said no such thing.

ALANA:
Stop lying!

KEITH:
Okay, I said you were controlling.

ALANA:
I am not controlling!

KEITH:
Not only are you controlling, but you're in denial as well.

ALANA:
Would you shut up you annoying little frustration!!

KEITH:
I also said another thing that was true; you're a raving BI—

CUT TO: LIBRARY ENTRANCE. A SLIGHTLY TALL GIRL WHO HAS DARK SKIN NAMED 
ANIKA. ALEX WALKS UP TO GREET HER AS HE'S DRINKING A COKE.

ALEX:
Hello Anika.

ANIKA:
Hi Alex. Why are you drinking a cola on school grounds?

ALEX:
Because no one can stop me.

ANIKA:
Actually yes. A female, has the highest authority, 'ya know, the 
Principle.

THEY START TO WALK TOWARDS THE CONTROLL ROOM.

ALEX:
How come everyone thinks she can just, strip me of my carbonated liquid 
beverage?

ANIKA:
Because she can.

ALEX:
Whatever.

ANIKA:
Yes, whatever. So, what do you know about Ms. Nightler's class's 
fundraiser?

ALEX:
Ms. Nightler's class has a fundraiser.

ANIKA:
Yes, Ms. Nightler's fifth period class is raising money to get the gym 
re-floored.

ALEX:
The gym is getting a new floor?

ANIKA:
Well, I don't know, how is Ms. Nightler's fifth period class's 
fundraiser going?

ALEX:
I didn't even know that there was a fundraiser. How come I wasn't 
notified about this?

ANIKA:
Well, if you weren't to busy smuggling cola into the school you might 
have been let in on this piece of news.

ALEX:
Hey, I'm gonna rebel.

ANIKA:
You rebel! 

ALEX:
I am.

ANIKA:
Go get 'em tiger.

ALEX:
I will!

ALEX WALKS OFF SCREEN WITH THAT "LOOK" IN HIS EYE AS ANIKA CONTINUES ON 
HER WAY.

CUT TO: KEITH WALKING THROUGH THE LIBRARY TO THE STUDIO CARRING HIS 
CLIPBOARD. ALEX WALKS UP TO HIM DRINKING HIS COKE.

ALEX:
Keith, did you know that Ms. Nightler's class is raising money for a 
new floor in the gym?

KEITH:
Ms. Nightler has five classes and one prep period.

ALEX:
Then Ms. Nightler's fifth period class is doing the fundraiser. 

KEITH:
Yes, I know.

ALEX:
So you were aware of this?

KEITH:
Yes I was aware of this (RE: ALEX'S COKE) and why the hell are you 
still drinking that?

ALEX:
Cola! The drink of the gods.

KEITH:
Cola isn't the drink of the gods.

ALEX:
Cola isn't the drink of the gods?

KEITH:
No.

ALEX:
Then what's the drink of the gods?

KEITH:
Honey wine.

ALEX:
Honey wine?

KEITH:
Honey wine.

ALEX:
I thought it was mead. 

KEITH:
What the heck is mead?

ALEX:
The drink of the gods.

KEITH:
Honey wine is the drink of the gods.

ALEX:
From what I heard it was mead.

THEY PASS JEREMY AND KEITH GETS HIS ATTENTION.

KEITH:
Jeremy, go online and find out if honey wine is the drink of the gods 
or mead is.

JEREMY:
I thought it was mead.

ALEX:
HA!

KEITH:
Just go check on it.

JEREMY NODS HIS HEAD AND WALKS TOWARDS THE COMPUTER LAB. KEITH AND ALEX 
CONTINUE TOWARDS THE STUDIO.

ALEX:
Coke is a high-quality soda none the less.

KEITH:
Alex, how much do you really know about cola?

ALEX:
This isn't just a cola it's Coca-cola. 

KEITH:
Then how much do you know about Coca-cola?

ALEX:
An American corporation founded in eighteen ninety two and today 
engaged primarily in the manufacture and sale of syrup and concentrate 
for Coca-cola, a sweetened, carbonated beverage that is a cultural 
institution in the United States and a symbol around the world of 
American tastes. 

KEITH:
Where do you get these useless facts?

ALEX:
Might I remind you that we broadcast from a studio that is located in 
the library.

KEITH:
'Nuff said.

THEY REACH THE HALLWAY WHERE THE STUDIO AND THE CONTROLL ROOM IS 
LOCATED. THEY PASS THE CONTROLL ROOM AND ENTER THE STUDIO.

CUT TO: THE STUDIO. ANIKA SITS AT THE DESK; SHEENA IS BEHIND CAMERA ONE 
AS STEPH STANDS BEHIND CAMERA TWO. KEITH AND ALEX STEP IN,

KEITH:
Hello everybody. I am to tell you of our "reformation."

ALEX:
"Reformation"? 

KEITH:
That's what Mr. Hillshire is calling it.

ALEX:
But I thought this was a rearrangement.

KEITH:
That's what I said, but he says it's a reformation.

ALEX:
What's he smoking?

KEITH:
I don't know, but I wish he'd let me have some sometimes.

ANIKA:
Here, here.

STEPH:
So what's this rearrangement?

ALEX & KEITH:
Reformation.

STEPH:
Whatever!

KEITH:
Well, Anika is on sports, Alex and I are the new announcers, Steph 
camera one, Sheena camera two.

SHEENA:
What about the control room?

KEITH:
Jeremy on sound, Brooke on graphics and Alana still director.

ANIKA:
Alex, why do you still have that coke?

KEITH:
He says it's the drink of the gods.

ALEX:
It was a joke.

ANIKA:
The drink of the gods is honey wine.

KEITH:
(TO ALEX) HA!

ALEX:
Let's just wait for Jeremy's results.

KEITH:
(WALKING OUT) I'm telling you, its honey wine.

ALEX:
(FOLLOWING) And I'm telling you, its mead!


ANIKA:
(CALLING OUT TO KEITH) Ask Mr. Hillshire about Ms. Nightler's fifth 
period fundraiser.

KEITH:
(O.S.) Will do.

ALEX:
(O.S.) Are you sure there's a fundraiser. 

CUT TO: CONTROL ROOM, MR HILLSHIRE IS AT A MONITOR QUEING A PICTURE AS 
KEITH WALKS IN.

KEITH:
Hey, Mr. Hillshire.

MR HILLSHIRE:
Hello Keith, have you reported the new layout to the crew?

KEITH:
Yes, I've notified everyone about the rearrangement.

ALEX WALKS IN DRINKING HIS COKE

MR HILLSHIRE:
Reformation, (RE: ALEX'S COKE) and why are you drinking a cola on 
school grounds?

KEITH:
He thinks it's the drink of the gods.

ALEX:
That was a joke! And the drink of the gods is mead.

KEITH:
No, its honey wine.

MR HILLSHIRE:
They're the same thing.

ALEX & KEITH:
What?

MR HILLSHIRE:
Honey wine and mead is the same thing. 

KEITH:
(CALLING TO JEREMY OFF SCREEN) Jeremy.

JEREMY:
(O.S.) He's right.

KEITH:
So, neither of us was wrong?

MR HILLSHIRE:
Correct.

ALEX:
Weird. One of us is always wrong.

KEITH:
Usually you.

ALEX:
Yeah. 

KEITH:
So, Anika wants to know how Ms. Nighter's fifth period class's 
fundraiser is going.

MR HILLSHIRE:
They have about fifteen hundred dollars now.

KEITH WRITES THIS ON HIS CLIPBOARD

ALEX:
Fifteen hundred dollars?!

MR HILLSIRE:
Fifteen hundred dollars.

ALEX:
Doing what?

MR HILLSHIRE:
Um, selling candy bars. 

ALEX:
There aren't enough people in this town to have that many candy bars 
sold to!

KEITH:
Not unless there is a major choc-o-holic in the midst of this urban 
area.

ALEX:
(SARCASTICALY) Ha, you're so amusing.

KEITH:
(WALKING OUT) I am, aren't I?

ALEX:
(FOLLOWING) A comedian!

MR HILLSHIRE CHUCKLES AT THE BOYS AS WE—

CUT TO: KEITH & ALEX WALKING THROUGH THE LIBRARY.

ALEX (CONT.):
So, Ms. Nightler's fifth period class has raised fifteen hundred 
dollars.

KEITH:
Fifteen hundred dollars, so far.

ALEX:
Fifteen hundred dollars, so far.

KEITH:
Yes.

ALEX:
Selling candy.

KEITH:
Yes.

ALEX:
What kind of addictive drug are they placing into this candy?

KEITH:
They aren't putting any drug into the candy.

ALEX:
Then how the hell did they sell fifteen hundred dollars worth?

KEITH:
Why can't you accept the fact that people in this town like candy, 
addictive drug additive or not.

ALEX:
Because no one likes candy enough to pay a small amount of fifteen 
hundred dollars for it.

KEITH:
Perhaps they do.

ALEX:
Do you even know what kind of candy it is?

KEITH:
(BEAT) No.

ALEX:
So you're not sure weather or not they have put an addictive drug into 
it?

KEITH PONDERS

ALEX (CONT.):
Or if the candy doesn't already have an addictive drug in it.

KEITH:
(BEAT) You're starting to make sense. 

ALEX:
Damn strait I am.

KEITH:
Why don't you go find out what kind of candy they're selling.

ALEX:
I will.

ALEX WALKS OFF SCREEN WITH THAT "LOOK" IN HIS EYES. KEITH CONTINUES 
THROUGH THE LIBRARY.

CUT TO: THE STUDIO. KEITH WALKS IN. ANIKA SITS BEHIN THE DESK READING 
THE SPORTS SECTION OF THE NEWS PAPER. 

ANIKA:
Where's Alex?

KEITH:
He's out trying to figure out what kind of candy they're selling in Ms. 
Nightler's fifth period class.

ANIKA:
They're selling "morning upperz."

KEITH:
"Morning upperz?"

ANIKA:
"Morning upperz."

KEITH:
What the heck are "morning upperz?"

ANIKA:
Coffee in the form of candy bars.

KEITH:
Coffee bars?

ANIKA:
Yes.

KEITH:
Coffee contains caffeine.

ANIKA:
Yes it does.

KEITH:
A drug.

ANIKA:
Yes.

KEITH:
An addictive drug.

ANIKA:
Correct again.

ALEX WALKS IN

ALEX:
I found out what kind of candy bars they're selling.

KEITH:
Morning upperz?

ALEX:
(BEAT) Yes.

KEITH:
A coffee bar.

ALEX:
(BEAT) Yeah.

KEITH:
Which contains caffeine, an addictive drug.

ALEX:
(BEAT) Yes.

KEITH:
These "morning upperz" are easier to consume than a hot cup of coffee 
in the morning.

ALEX:
Yeah, and when you spill it on you, you don't get burned.

KEITH:
Let alone it being capable of being spilled at all.

ALEX:
This is why there are so many sold.

KEITH:
Yes.

ANIKA:
Do you guys do this all the time?

KEITH:
Yeah.

ALEX:
Most of the time.

MR HILLSHIRE POPS HIS HEAD INTO THE DOOR OF THE STUDIO

MR HILLSHIRE:
Three minutes to air.

MR HILLSHIRE LEAVES AND ALANA WALKS IN

ALANA:
You heard the man we have three minutes to air, Anika, do you have your 
sports report ready?

ANIKA:
Locked in my head, only to be rel—

ALANA:
Good, Alex, get your announcements together, Keith, have you written 
your introduction?

KEITH:
It's on the clipboard in fron—

ALANA:
Good, let's do a good show.

ALANA WALKS OUT AS ANIKA GETS UP AND FOLLOWS TAKING HER PAPER WITH HER, 
KEITH AND ALEX TAKE THEIR SEATSBEHIND THE DESK, SHEENA AND STEPH WALK 
UP BEHIND THEIR CAMERAS AND GET READY FOR THE SHOW.

CUT TO: THE CONTROLL ROOM. JEREMY SITS ON A STOOL INFRONT OF THE SOUND 
BOARD, ALANA STANDS IN FRONT OF A MONITOR WITHT THE INTRO QUED WEARING 
A HEADSET WITH A MIKE IN FRONT OF HER MOUTH, BROOK SITS ON ANOTHER 
STOOL IN FRONT OF THE GRAPHICS MACHINE. MR HILLSHIRE WALKS IN

ALANA:
Intro one qued up and ready to go.

JEREMY:
Lapel mike one is up, tell Keith to shut up until the camera is on him.

Brooke:
Graphic one ready.

ALANA:
Go graphic one. Intro one running. Three—

CUT TO: THE STUDIO. STEPH COUNTS DOWN WITH HER FINGERS, MIMING: 3, 2, 
1.

KETH:
Good morning Merit Brown. This is the morning announcements on MBTV. 
It's a cold cloudy morning out there and you've got six more periods to 
go, so let's get you started, we're gonna move over to Alex who has the 
announcements, Alex.

ALEX:
Thanks Keith. Our first story regard's Ms. Nightler's fifth period 
class's fundraiser—

ALEX CARRIES ON AS WE FADE TO BLACK.


END OF ACT: I



ACT: II

FADE IN: THE STUDIO, TOWARDS THE END OF THE 
BROADCAST. ALEX IS GIVING OUT ONE LAST ANNOUNCMENT 
AS STEPH CONTROLS CAMERA ONE WHICH IS FOCUSED ON 
HIM, WE CAN ALSO SEE HIM ON ONE OF THE MONITORS 
CLOSE BY THE CAMERA(S) AND KEITH SITS NEXT TO HIM 
AWAITING TO SAY HIS GOODBYE. 

ALEX:
Ms Garl's math tutoring has been canceled today, 
and, well, darn, I'm sure I'll need help on her 
homework. That's the news today, I'm Alex 
Burchfield.

KEITH:
And I'm Keith Feildney.

ALEX & KEITH:
Signing off.

STEPH:
……. And--- We're out. 

WE SEE THE CREDITS ROLE ON ONE OF THE MONITORS AS 
KEITH AND ALEX TAKE OFF THEIR LAPEL MIKES AND GET 
OUT FROM BEHIND THE DESK.

KEITH:
Well, that was one of the worst broadcasts this 
week.

ALEX:
You think this was a bad episode?


KEITH:
Yes.

THEY WALK OUT INTO THE HALLWAY

ALEX:
How so?

KEITH:
Well, Brooke was late on graphic three, Jeremy didn't turn up Ms. 
Davis's mike, Sheena took longer than molasses adjusting the camera for 
Mr. Lee, all though Alana, of course, was flawless, and did nothing 
wrong, and on top of everything else, you mispronounced Lombardy, as in 
Ms. Lombardy.

ALEX:
I did?

KEITH:
You did.

ALEX:
What did I say?

KEITH:
Lombrady.

ALEX:
I said that?

KEITH:
You said that.

ALEX:
Lombrady.

KEITH:
Yes.

ALEX:
As in "Brady Bunch?"

KEITH:
Yes. 

THEY ARE NOW WALKING THROUGH AN AREA OF THE LIBRARY

ALEX:
I mispronounced Lombardy.

KEITH:
Yes.

ALEX:
The eighth grade math teacher?

KEITH:
Yes.

ALEX:
I know what subject she instructs and yet I mispronounced her name.

KEITH:
Correct again.

ALEX:
How did I mispronounce her name?

KEITH:
You hit your head when you were learning how to speak.

ALEX:
Perhaps… Hey, if you were so freaked out about how bad the show was, 
how come you don't take Alana's job?

KEITH:
Because I like announcer one.

ALEX:
How do you know you don't like Alana's job?

KEITH:
Well, how 'bout I point this out, if I take Alana's job, she'll be 
announcer one, right next to you.

ALEX:
(BEAT) Good point. (BEAT) Then maybe we could write up a new 
arrangement.

KEITH:
We could do that.

MR HILLSHIRE (O.S.):
New reformation?

KEITH:
Rearrangement!

ALEX:
(BEAT) Hey, I talked to Lindsay yesterday.

KEITH:
Yeah? What was your conversation about?

ALEX:
Well, I wouldn't really call it a conversation, but, we talked none the 
less.

KEITH:
What did you say?

ALEX:
Hi.

KEITH:
And she said?

ALEX:
Hi.

KEITH:
And you call this a conversation?

ALEX:
We both said something.

KEITH:
Then wouldn't it just be a small dialogue rather than a conversation?

ALEX:
(BEAT) Maybe.

KEITH:
Face it, you're a hopeless romantic.

ALEX:
Be that as it may, I still had a girlfriend for about two weeks, and 
Lindsay will surly be different.

KEITH:
You delusional retard.

ALEX:
Whatever.

CUT TO: A HALLWAY WHERE A BUNCH OF BACKPACKS LAY, KEITH AND ALEX WALK 
UP AROUND A CORNER.

ALEX:
Today at lunch, I'm sure I'll actually carry on a conversation with 
one, beautiful Lindsay Jakes. 

THEY FIND THEIR OWN BACKPACKS AND SLIP THEM ON

KEITH:
Sure, in "Alex World."

ALEX:
Hey, I like "Alex World."

KEITH:
Well, you, as the president of "Alex World" are obligated to like it. 

ALEX:
Well, when you put it that way.


KEITH:
Okay, you go endure three mind-numbingly boring periods of education, 
and then we'll find out how well "Alex World" helps you in your parlous 
quest for the great female: Lindsay Jakes.

ALEX:
We will.

THE TWO WALK BACK AROUND THE CORNER AND OFF SCREEN

CUT TO: THE CONTROL ROOM, ALANA IS TALKING TO MR HILLSHIRE

ALANA:
I know, but I was in here and they were out there and how could I help 
them, I can't do everything.

MR HILLSHIRE:
Alana, perhaps, director isn't the best job for you.

ALANA:
What?

MR HILLSHIRE:
I know you like to be in, uh, control, an—

ALANA:
Are you saying I'm controlling?

MR HILLSHIRE:
No.

ALANA:
But you were implying that I was controlling.

MR HILLSHIRE:
Alana, I didn't say or imply that you were controlling, okay, so 
listen, I think you will enjoy a different job, maybe in the studio. 
(BEAT) Out of the control room. (BEAT) Out there.

ALANA:
You think?

MR HILLSHIRE:
Yes. So, I'm gonna have Keith write up a new layout, and I was thinking 
about giving him a shot at director and you could see how it is in the 
studio.

ALANA:
I've been in the studio before.

MR HILLSHIRE:
No you haven't.

ALANA:
Yes I have.

MR HILLSHIRE:
No you haven't. You've avoided being in the studio, you wanted to be in 
the control room, and you landed the director job three times.

ALANA:
Three times?

MR HILLSHIRE:
In a row.

ALANA:
(BEAT) Okay. 

MR HILLSHIRE:
Okay. I'll see the rest of you at lunch.

ALANA PICKS UP HER BACKPACK

ALANA:
Bye.

MR HILLSHIRE:
Bye.

ALANA WALKS OUT OF THE CONTROL ROOM AS MR HILLSHIRE TURNS TO ONE OF THE 
MONITORS

MR HILLSHIRE:
Out of the control room.

CUT TO: THE COURTYARD OF MERIT BROWN MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE BELL RINGS AND 
KIDS BEGIN TO POUR OUT INTO IT, SOME GO TO SIT ON BENCHES OTHERS WALK 
INTO THE CAFITERIA, ITS LUNCH TIME

CUT TO: AN AREA OF THE COURTYARD, ALEX IS THERE EATING HIS HOME-MADE 
LUNCH, KEITH WALKS UP TO HIM

KEITH:
Brown-bag it today?

ALEX:
Yeah, I'm not eating the school's excuse for food, only had to make 
that mistake once.

KEITH:
Ah. So, I'm guessing that you haven't spoken to Lindsay yet.

ALEX:
The bell just rang.

KEITH:
True. But you'll have to talk to her eventually.

KEITH SITS NEXT TO HIM

ALEX:
Yes. Eventually.

KEITH:
Eventually meaning today. 

ALEX:
"Alex World" days, or regular?

KEITH:
Regular.

ALEX:
Damn.

KEITH:
Why are you so afraid?

ALEX:
Why are you so anxious for me to ask her?

KEITH:
You can't answer a question with a question.

ALEX:
Fine. (BEAT) Would you guess that I'm afraid of rejection?

KEITH:
Really? You?

ALEX:
Yes, me.

KEITH:
You never had a problem before.

ALEX:
Yeah but I was also more confident.

KEITH:
What has killed your confidence?

ALEX:
Not sure, I think it was that jerk James.

KEITH:
You still hang out with him?

ALEX:
Yeah, me him and Jeff are, like, just a few friends. (BEAT) Just a few 
friends. (BEAT) I kind of like that.

KEITH:
Okay. You still have to go ask her. 

ALEX:
Fine, I'll go see her; you go to the studio before Mr. Hillshire freaks 
out.

KEITH:
Fine, I'm trusting you, you better go talk to her.

ALEX:
I will. 

DISSOLVE TO: THE CAFITERIA. JEREMY SITS WITH ANIKA EATING A SANDWICH.

ANIKA:
You think he'll ask her?

JEREMY:
What?

ANIKA:
Alex, do you think he'll ask her?

JEREMY:
Ask who?

ANIKA:
Lindsay.

JEREMY:
Who's Lindsay?

ANIKA:
Alex's new love interest.

JEREMY:
Yet another one?

ANIKA:
Yeah, he met her a few weeks ago.

JEREMY:
Hm, glad I'm the last to know.

ANIKA:
Well, he was talking about it all the time, didn't you hear him this 
morning?

JEREMY:
No, I didn't hear him this morning I was stuck in the control room with 
Alana.

ANIKA:
Oh yeah. I heard you didn't do to good of a job on shooting the 
basketball game the other night.

JEREMY:
Hey, it's not my fault; Keith said he wanted a ground shot.

ANIKA:
I guess Alana thought other wise.

JEREMY:
Yeah, she told me other wise this morning.

ANIKA:
That's where you two were.

JEREMY:
That's where I was.

ANIKA:
 I thought it was quiet.

JEREMY:
Yes, it was abnormally quiet wasn't it?

ANIKA:
Yes it was, but Alex's talk about his new love interest almost made up 
for it.

CUT TO: THE LIBRARY, KEITH WALKS IN, HEADING FOR THE CONTROL ROOM AS 
ALEX WALKS OUT OF THE COMPUTER LAB CARRYING A PIECE OF PAPER.

ALEX: 
(NOTICING KEITH) Hey.

KEITH:
Hey. (REALIZES ALEX IS THERE) Hey!

ALEX:
What?!

KEITH:
You're supposed to be speaking to Lindsay.

ALEX:
I did.

KEITH:
You did?

ALEX:
Yes.

THEY START WALKING DOWN A PART OF THE LIBRARY

KEITH:
That fast?

ALEX:
Yes. I walked up to her, and said: Hi.

KEITH:
And she said…

ALEX:
Hi.

KEITH:
Ah, this again.

ALEX:
You never stated what I was to say.

KEITH:
Be that as it may, but you knew what the subject matter was to be.

ALEX:
I did?

KEITH:
You did.

ALEX:
You never told me what I was to say.

KEITH:
It was implied. 

ALEX:
No it wasn't.

KEITH:
Yes it was, in our last encounter, I remember saying something like: 
Ask her, or something.

ALEX:
(BEAT) Perhaps. (BEAT) Tomorrows' another day.

KEITH:
Tomorrows' another day.

ALEX:
The sun will come out. 

KEITH:
Bet your bottom dollar.

CUT TO: THE CONTROL ROOM. MR HILLSHIRE IS WORKING AT THE GRAPHICS 
MACHINE AS KEITH WALKS IN AND OVER TO A SHELF, WHICH IS FILLED WITH A 
BUNCH OF VIDEO TAPE, HE STARTS TO LOOK FOR A PARTICULAR ONE.

MR HILLSHIRE:
Hello Keith.

KEITH:
Hello Mr. Hillshire. 

MR HILLSHIRE:
How is your day so far?

KEITH:
Well I had the idea that Alex was going to ask Lindsay out, apparently 
he's not, I'm pretty sure that I bombed on the test in third period, 
and this morning's show was just about the worst one in a while.

MR HILLSHIRE:
(BEAT) Ok.

KEITH:
(BEAT) I'm guessing when you ask: how my day is, I'm guessing the 
response should just be: ok.

MR HILLSHIRE:
That's usually what I get.

KEITH GRABS A VIDEO TAPE OFF OF THE SHELF.

KEITH:
(AS HE'S WALKING OUT) I'll keep that in mind.

CUT TO: PART OF THE LIBRARY. ALEX IS READING A PIECE OF PAPER AS KEITH 
WALKS UP TO HIM AND HANDS HIM THE VIDEO.

KEITH:
I need you to find the big three pointer shot that won the big game 
back in '98.

ALEX:
Ok.

KEITH WALKS AWAY.

CUT TO: LIBRARY ENTRANCE. JEREMY WALKS IN FOLLOWED BY ANIKA.

JEREMY:
So, this girl was at the walk-in recreation at the gym?

ANIKA:
Yeah, when he was doing the report on it.

JEREMY:
We did a report on the school's walk-in recreation?

ANIKA:
At the gym.

JEREMY:
And we did a report on it?

ANIKA:
Yes.

JEREMY:
When?

ANIKA:
When Alex met Lindsay.

JEREMY:
Ok, here's where I get lost.

KEITH WALKS UP TO JEREMY, HE IS CARRYING HIS CLIP BOARD

KEITH:
Jeremy, Alex is queuing another part of the basketball tribute to our 
sorry excuse for a team, and I need you to edit it into the final copy.

JEREMY:
Will do.

JEREMY WALKS OFF SCREEN AS KEITH WRITES ON HIS CLIP BOARD.

ANIKA:
Where's Brooke?

KEITH:
She's with her posy. 

ANIKA:
Cheerleaders.

KEITH:
I hear ya.

CUT TO: THE STUDIO. SHEENA SITS ON THE DESK READING THE SCHOOL PAPER, 
STEPH WALKS IN.

STEPH:
Hello Sheena,

SHEENA:
Hi Steph.

STEPH:
(RE: SHEENA'S PAPER) You see the gossip column?

SHEENA:
Yeah, it seems that Brooke has a new boyfriend.

STEPH:
Football player.

SHEENA:
On our crappy football team.

ALEX WALKS IN HOLDING THE PIECE OF PAPER

ALEX:
Hello.

SHEENA:
Lindsay turn you down?

ALEX:
Nope.

STEPH:
She didn't?

ALEX:
She didn't.

SHEENA:
Because you didn't talk to her about it.

ALEX:
Never touched the subject.

SHEENA:
Alex! I thought you were gonna talk to her.

ALEX:
I never said I didn't, I just didn't talk about my flame for her 
inside.

STEPH:
Your flame for her inside?

ALEX:
My flame for her inside.

SHEENA:
When will this flame level a forest and Lindsay will know the truth?

ALEX:
When this flame is in Hell and it freezes.

STEPH:
You have to talk to her.

ALEX:
You guys are just as bad as Keith.

SHEENA:
If you don't talk to her, you'll just always be wondering "what if."

KEITH WALKS IN, WRITING ON HIS CLIP BOARD

SHEENA:
(RE: KEITH'S ENTRANCE) Keith, don't you think if Alex doesn't ask 
Lindsay, he'll always be wondering "what if."

KEITH:
I think he will always be wondering "what if."

ALEX:
I am not going to be wondering "what if," because I am going to ask her

EVERYONE STARES AT HIM

ALEX:
(BEAT) Eventually.

ALEX WALKS OUT. KEITH FOLLOWS

CUT TO: THE HALLWAY, ALEX AND KEITH ARE WALKING\

KEITH:
You do realize that if you keep saying "eventually," you actually will 
have to talk to her.

ALEX:
Yes I do, but can we please talk about something else?

KEITH:
Like what?

ALEX HOLDS UP THE PIECE OF PAPER

ALEX:
Like this.

KEITH TAKE THE PAPER

KEITH:
What is it?

ALEX:
Search results.

KEITH:
What search results?

ALEX:
Earlier I went on the computer and searched my last name and that's 
what I came up with.

KEITH:
(BEAT) I'm sorry, but I still don't see the significants of this.

THEY ARE NOW WALKING THROUGH A PART OF THE LIBRARY

ALEX:
Look at the third link.

KEITH:
(READING) www.fan-fiction.com?

ALEX:
Fan-fiction.com. 

KEITH:
What is Fan-fiction.com?

ALEX:
A website on which I submitted a few short stories, I clicked the link 
and it took me to that page where all my stories are located.

KEITH:
(BEAT) Ok.

ALEX:
Don't you see?

KEITH:
(BEAT) No.

ALEX:
The internet isn't a big powerful thing of the future; anyone can just 
find anything out about you. 

KEITH:
(BEAT)  You didn't know that.

ALEX:
I thought it was just something that they said.

KEITH:
And it wasn't.

ALEX:
I'm freaking out.

KEITH:
You're looking a little paranoid.

ALEX:
Ya think?!

KEITH:
Just a little.

ALEX:
Well, maybe I'm just a little freaked out. 

KEITH:
Once again, just a little.

CUT TO: THE CONTROL ROOM, ANIKA IS WATCHING A VIDEO AS JEREMY WALKS IN.

ANIKA:
Hey.

JEREMY:
Hey.

ANIKA:
Did you finish the editorial?

JEREMY:
Yeah, I just gave it to Mr. Hillshire.

ANIKA:
Did you show it to Keith?

JEREMY:
No.

ANIKA:
Did you show Alana?

JEREMY:
Alana's not here yet.

ANIKA:
Alana's not here yet?

JEREMY:
No. 

ANIKA:
Where is she?

JEREMY:
I don't know, if any of us knew I figured it was you. 

ANIKA:
Apparently I don't.

JEREMY:
Well, at least she's not jumping down out throats right now.

ANIKA:
At least indeed.

JEREMY:
(RE: THE VIDEO ANIKA IS WATCHING) What are you watching?

ANIKA:
The Usher concert from last Friday, I recorded it.

ALEX POPS IS HEAD INTO THE DOOR

ALEX:
Alana has arrived.

ALEX LEAVES

ANIKA:
Looks like the meeting is to start.

CUT TO: A TABLE IN THE LIBRARY. THE MEETING IS ABOUT TO START. ALANA, 
KEITH STEPH & SHEENA SIT AT THE TABLE, ALEX WALKS UP AND TAKES A SEAT, 
FOLLOWED BY ANIKA AND JEREMY

ALANA:
First let's talk about this morning's show.

KEITH:
I know—

THEY CARRY ON THE MEETING AS WE PULL BACK TO SEE THE WHOLE LIBRARY. 
KIDS BROWSE THROUGH THE SHELVES AND MR HILLSHIRE WALKS UP TO THE TABLE. 
AS WE:

FADE OUT

THE END