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.
THE LUNCHROOM
Episode Four
"Hope for the Best, Expect the Worst"
Written by
Vincent Biga
Created by
Bruce Snyder
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Bruce Snyder
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Vincent Biga
STORY EDITOR
Melinda Waterman
CAST LIST
Will Cooper.................................
Joel Mayberry...............................
Brian Vandele...............................
Brock Warner................................
Reicther....................................
Casey Jennings..............................
GUEST CAST LIST
Cathy Matthews..............................
Emily.......................................
Josh........................................
Jeremy Davis................................
Jennifer Matthews...........................
Copyright © Bruce Snyder
TEASER:
INT. BROCK'S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM - DAY
Brian and Brock are sitting in the living room, deep in
playing a video game.
BRIAN
All those peons are doomed.
BROCK
Because their idiots who don't know
how to fight, they were just given
swords and shields. So of course
their doomed.
BRIAN
Like me.
BROCK
How so?
BRIAN
Woman wise.
Brock lets out a small chuckle.
BROCK
Oh that. Well, don't worry I'm
doomed too.
BRIAN
No your not. You’re more desirable
than I am.
BROCK
So?
BRIAN
So if you actually put your mind to
it you could get a girl. Me on the
other hand...I'm doomed.
BROCK
You could get one too if you tired.
BRIAN
Yeah a really fat one. Not the one
I want so what's the point in
getting a girl if I don’t like her?
BROCK
So you want a girl that you actually
like...like Ca-
BRIAN
Shut up, if I think about her then I
get depressed. Best save depression
for the weekdays.
BROCK
You’re obsessed.
BRIAN
So...you're a time bomb.
BROCK
What do you mean?
BRIAN
When we saw Akira you went nuts
when you saw that bike go backwards,
then started bitching about it
saying it’s not possible.
BROCK
So...it's not.
BRIAN
The main character had physic
powers and was turning into a giant
blob and yet you jump all over the
fact that a bike can go backwards.
BROCK
So?
BRIAN
That was like the lighter to the
fuse. I'd hate to see what happens
when you really get pissed off.
They play for a few seconds in silence.
BROCK
Where is Will tonight?
BRIAN
Apparently he had very important
business to attend to.
INT. RESTAURANT – SAME
There is a group of people gathered about a small stage.
On stage, the ANNOUNCER has a microphone.
ANNOUNCER
Now here to sing "I Melt With You"
...Will Cooper.
Will walks onto stage and takes the microphone. The
music starts up.
WILL
(singing)
Moving forward, using all my breath
Making love to you was never second
best.
I saw the world rushing all around
your face.
Never really knowing it was always
mesh and lace.
Will smiles at a girl in the audience (which consists of
mostly middle aged people and some Asians.) who are
going crazy for him.
WILL
(singing)
I'll stop the world and melt with you
You've seen the difference and it's
getting better all the time
There's nothing you and I won't do
I'll stop the world and melt with you.
QUICKLY CUT TO:
INT. BROCK'S LIVING ROOM - SAME
BRYCE WARNER, Brock’s younger brother, enters with a
homemade KAMA.
BROCK
Jesus Christ on acid! Get that
thing out of here it's freaking
dangerous.
SIDE NOTE:
Kama's are basically sickles put on the end of a chain
and swung around as a weapon, Bryce’s is held together
by tape.
BRYCE
I was going to give it to you Brock.
BROCK
I don't want that stupid thing.
BRYCE
Why? I saw a drawing of it in one
of your notebooks with all that
other stuff about-
CUT TO BLACK
TITLE CARD:
"5 Minutes Later"
FADE BACK IN:
INT. LIVING ROOM – 5 MINUTES LATER
In the corner of the room, Brock is sitting on top of
Bryce. Repeatedly hitting him with a box. Bryce, so
banged up from the beating, doesn't say anything and
looks ready to go unconscious any second.
Brian is playing the game for Brock.
BRIAN
Told ya'...time bomb.
OPENING CREDIT SEQUENCE:
Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar" plays over the
credits.
AFTER CREDITS:
INT. BROCK'S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – MINUTES LATER
Brock re-enters, and sits down. He still looks angry.
BRIAN
You went off on him.
BROCK
Little bastard deserved it.
BRIAN
We can go to my house after your mom
gets back.
BROCK
Good idea.
INT. BRIAN'S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
DEBBIE VANDELE is sitting in the armchair. She is
watching "Four Weddings and a Funeral." The scene in
which Hugh Grant is telling Andie McDowell that he loves
her.
Brian enters, carrying an empty pizza box.
BRIAN
What's this?
DEBBIE
Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Brian takes the box into the kitchen.
INT. BRIAN'S KITCHEN – SAME
As he puts the box in the garbage can, Brian listens in
on the movie.
HUGH GRANT (O.S.)
In the words of David Cassidy...I
think I love you.
BRIAN
(to himself)
Lucky British bastard.
He begins to walk out. Before he does, he stops and
thinks. He seems to be stricken with an idea.
INT. BRIAN'S ROOM – MINUTES LATER
Brian and Brock are playing a fighting game.
BRIAN
I've been thinking.
BROCK
What about?
BRIAN
Cathy.
BROCK
I thought depression was best saved
for weekdays.
BRIAN
Ever since Friday I can’t stop
thinking about her in turn making
me depressed.
Brian sighs.
BRIAN
That damn shirt.
BROCK
The skirt?
BRIAN
The skirt... and the boots.
INT. SCHOOL – HALLWAY – DAY (FLASHBACK)
Brian is putting up his books he looks over his
shoulder to see Cathy in a short skirt and leather
boots, every one else is moving in slow motion and the
noise of the hallway dies down.
(BEGIN SONG: "Rich Girl" by Hall and Oates)
Brian continues to look. She does many different things
such as swish her hair over her shoulder and bend over
to get a fallen book, he then puts a book over his
crotch and heads for class, he walks away.
BRIAN
(looking upward and
mouthing the words)
Thank you!!
INT. BRIAN'S ROOM – SAME (PRESENT)
They've stopped playing. Now they just talk.
BRIAN
That was probably the only time I
ever used my math book.
BROCK
Not many guys would get depressed
from that.
BRIAN
I was like ‘THANK YOU GOD’ at first
then I started thinking
BROCK
That's never good.
BRIAN
That there is no way in hundred
million years that I could ever get
her.
BROCK
You mean you thought you stood a
chance?
BRIAN
No, I always told myself it would
never happen but on that day I
started believing it.
BROCK
I see.
BRIAN
And...I'm not mad at him or
anything but what Will said after
lunch didn't help the situation
either.
INT. LUNCHROOM – DAY (FLASHBACK)
Brian picks up his books when the bell rings, the
others disperse, Will walks up to Brian.
WILL
And they say we don't have any good
looking girls in our class.
BRIAN
What?
WILL
Have you seen Cathy today?
BRIAN
Yeah.
WILL
That short skirt...I mean, just look
at her. She is the definition of
female beauty.
BRIAN
Come on we’ll be late to English you
know how that Irish bitch is.
Brian and Will head towards English class.
INT. BRIAN'S ROOM – PRESENT
Brock and Brian are back to playing the game.
BRIAN
So...
BROCK
So what?
BRIAN
I'm going to try.
BROCK
Try? Try what?
BRIAN
I'm going to write her a letter.
Brock looks wide eyed at Brian and we hear a scream
from the game as Brock’s character dies. Brian notices
this.
BRIAN
What?
BROCK
Are you really comprehending what
your saying?
BRIAN
Yeah, something that's been bugging
me I always hear about people talk
about the 'one that got away.'
BROCK
Isn't that a fishing term?
BRIAN
Shut up, what I mean is that I don't
want to be sitting at home 25 years
from now thinking 'what if...'
BROCK
Here, I'll speed things up. What if
she says no?
BRIAN
Then I’ll know at least.
BROCK
Won't that make you even more
depressed?
BRIAN
Maybe but I don’t care then I can
focus my full attention on not
being depressed.
There's silence. Brock seems extremely unsure about this
idea, while Brian looks set on the idea.
BROCK
Do you think it will work?
BRIAN
Think or hope?
BROCK
What?
BRIAN
I’ve come up with a new motto that
applies to this situation perfectly.
BROCK
And that is?
BRIAN
Hope for the best...expect the
worst.
Brock seems confused.
BRIAN
Simply put, no I don't think it will
work but I’m hoping it will.
BROCK
That's a fuck up way of thinking.
BRIAN
I know...but I’m a strange person
Brian points at the weapons displayed on his walls.
BROCK
True...
Pause.
BROCK
So...how are you going to do it?
BRIAN
You owe me a favor.
Brian pulls out a folded up piece of paper.
BRIAN
Just give it to her that’s it.
BROCK
Are you sure you want me to give it
to her?
Brian begins to think about his idea.
INT. STUDY HALL – DAY (BRIAN'S THOUGHT)
Brock walks up to Cathy in a crowded study hall
BROCK
I have something for you.
CATHY
Me? What is it?
Brock hands her the letter.
BROCK
It's a love letter from Brian
Vandele.
Brock just realized what he's said.
BROCK
Oh shit! Quick! Forget the name I
just told you!
Brock begins to run off, before he runs back.
BROCK
By the way it's not a love letter!
He runs off.
INT. BRIAN'S ROOM – PRESENT
Brian now seems to hate the idea.
BRIAN
Yeah your right...but who then?
BROCK
Will?
Brian thinks a moment.
BRIAN
Well there’s no doubt he’d do it,
we’ve known each other since
pre-school.
INT. PLAYGROUND – DAY (FLASHBACK)
A young Brian is playing in the sandbox. A few feet
away, we can see a young Will standing by a girl. He
quickly grabs the young girl, and kisses her.
GIRL
Ewwwww! He kissed me!
She pushes him into the sandbox. Young Will lands right
in front of Young Brian.
BRIAN
Hi, I’m Brian.
WILL
I’m Will.
BRIAN
I like Power Rangers.
WILL
Do you like girls?
BRIAN
Well, not really.
WILL
Doesn't matter. Hey, lets go play
on the seesaw!
BRIAN
Okay!
INT. BRIAN'S ROOM – PRESENT
Brian has now paused the game.
BRIAN
And he is better at this kinda
thing that I am.
INT. PLAYGROUND – DAY (FLASHBACK)
Younger Brian and Will (but older than pre-school
Brian and Will about 2nd grade) are both talking to a
girl, the girl kicks Brian in the crotch and hugs Will.
INT. BRIAN'S ROOM – PRESENT
Brian seems a little embarrassed by his memories.
BRIAN
Yeah I think I’ll go with Will.
INT. LUNCHROOM – FOLLOWING MONDAY
Will and Brian are sitting at a table, talking. No one
else is around.
WILL
Just give it to her?
BRIAN
Yeah, I don’t give a fuck how just
get it done.
Will shoves it into his pocket.
BRIAN
By the way, where were on Saturday?
Will looks nervous.
WILL
Um, no where.
INT. RESTAURANT – NIGHT (FLASHBACK)
Will is on stage, in the middle of singing "Crocodile
Rock" by Elton John.
WILL
(singing)
Well Croc Rocking is something shocking
when your feet just can't keep still.
I never knew me a better time and I
guess I never will.
Oh mama mama those Friday nights
when Suzie wore her dresses tight
and the Crocodile Rocking was out
of sight.
Now in a really high pitch voice Will begins to sing the chorus.
WILL
(singing)
Na-na-na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na
na-na-na-na-n.
INT. LUNCHROOM – PRESENT
Will tries to change the subject.
WILL
Any real reason you’re doing this?
BRIAN
To prove something to myself.
WILL
All right. Hey, I'll be right back.
I'm going to get something to
drink.
Will gets up and leaves.
INT. HALLWAY – SECONDS LATER
Will is walking down a deserted hallway. He begins to
whistle. He reaches a locker and opens it, still
whistling.
EMILY (O.S.)
Hey, Will.
Will freaks, and closes the door. He holds his back up
against.
WILL
Hi, Emily.
Emily walks up to him.
EMILY
What the hell are you doing?
WILL
Whadda you mean?
EMILY
That's Cathy's locker.
WILL
Oh, well...I'm returning a homework
thing she let me copy.
EMILY
Oh.
She still looks at him suspiciously.
WILL
See ya'.
Will has a big fake smile on his face. He nods. She
slowly walks away. He waits until she is gone before
opening the locker again.
JOSH (O.S.)
Whadda you doin', Will?
Will, again, closes the door by putting his back against
it. This time he seems more annoyed then scared.
Josh walks up to him, carrying a basketball.
WILL
Nice to see you too, Josh.
JOSH
What the hell are you doing?
WILL
Just giving her...
He thinks for a brief second.
WILL
CD, she let me borrow back.
JOSH
Oh.
Silent.
JOSH
Well gotta go.
He walks off. He waits until she is gone before opening
the locker again. JEREMNY DAVIS walks up.
JEREMY
Hey, Will.
Will, annoyed, turns to Jeremy.
WILL
Oh for Christ’s sake, fuck off
Jeremy! I'm trying to do something
here.
Jeremy, surprised, slowly walks away. Will opens the
locker and puts the note in.
INT. LUNCHROOM – MINUTES LATER
Will sits back down at Brian's table, with a big smile
on his face.
WILL
It is accomplished.
BRIAN
What do you mean?
WILL
I slipped it into her locker.
BRIAN
How can you tell them apart?
WILL
She’s a cheerleader, its hard to
miss a sign that says "Cathy
Matthews" on it.
BRIAN
I guess so.
WILL
Don't worry, Brian. The hard part
is over. Now all you have to is
wait.
BRIAN
Yeah...for the inevitable
EXT. SIDEWALK – A FEW MINUTES AFTER SCHOOL
Brian is walking to the buses. Brock catches up with
him.
BRIAN
Hey.
BROCK
Hey.
BRIAN
So...
BROCK
She was writing something.
BRIAN
What?
BROCK
Cathy, she was writing something in
SRT –
(SRT is study hall)
I couldn’t see what it was though.
BRIAN
So I’m assuming Will told you.
BROCK
Yep.
BRIAN
I see, did Reicther find out?
Reicther runs up to join them.
REICTHER
She was writing something.
BROCK
I already told him.
REICTHER
But she didn’t give it to Will like
it said to in the note.
BRIAN
(Sarcastically)
Gee I wonder why.
BROCK
What do you mean?
BRIAN
This is school. Think about it a
second. Just because she was
writing something in SRT doesn’t
mean it was a note.
REICTHER
What else could it be?
BRIAN
Maybe an assignment.
REICHTER
Why would she do that?
Brian looks at Reicther like he’s an idiot.
BROCK
Don’t pay attention to him he
counts his pencils during SRT.
They reach the bus as they get on the screen fades to
black.
INT. HALLWAY – NEXT DAY
Will is throwing something away in a trash can. Brian
comes up.
BRIAN
Any response?
WILL
No not yet.
BRIAN
Damn.
Brian looks over his shoulder to see Cathy talking
with her own friends.
WILL
You put your e-mail in the note
didn't you?
BRIAN
Yeah.
WILL
Maybe she’ll e-mail.
He sighs.
WILL
No need stress out about it.
BRIAN
Maybe you’re right.
FADE OUT
BEGIN MONTAGE:
We see a montage of days passing by from Wednesday to
Thursday, to Friday, of Brian asking Will if there was
a response, Will shakes his head no, we also see Brian
checking his e-mails and becoming frustrated.
INT. BRIAN'S ROOM – SATURDAY NIGHT
Brian’s Room Brock and Brian are playing a fighting
game again.
BROCK
So still no word?
BRIAN
No and it’s driving me crazy.
BROCK
Its starting to piss Will off too.
They don’t say anything for a while
BROCK
I thought you didn’t think it would
work.
BRIAN
I don’t but...
BROCK
You just wanna know?
BRIAN
Exactly, if I don’t find out soon I
feel like I’m going to explode. To
bad Will isn't here.
INT. RESTAURANT – SAME
Will is up on stage. This time is in the middle of
singing Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising."
WILL
(singing)
Come on up for the rising
Come on up, lay your hands in mine
Come on up for the rising
Come on up for the rising tonight
(sings the chorus)
Li,li, li,li,li,li, li,li,li
QUICKLY CUT TO:
INT. BRIAN'S ROOM - SAME
We hear a character scream from the game, we can tell
from his reaction that Brian just died.
BRIAN
Stupid bitch.
Brock is surprised.
BROCK
Cathy?
BRIAN
No, no, no, Talim, your too good
with her, and she’s annoying.
They start playing another round they don’t speak for a
while.
BROCK
Well you could always go for one of
her sisters.
Brian glares at Brock but continues to play, we hear a
character die on the game again, we can tell it’s
Brock’s from his reaction, the then notices that Brian
is starring.
BROCK
What?
BRIAN
(serious tone)
Funny.
Camera fades out on their backs as they play again, we
see Brock’s character is loosing badly.
FADE TO:
INT. CATHY'S ROOM – SAME
Cathy is sitting at her computer typing. Her sister
JENNIFER is reading a paper.
JENNIFER
Thanks for printing it off for me.
CATHY
You're welcome.
Jennifer leaves the room, while reading the paper. Cathy
looks up to make sure she's gone. She quickly reaches
into her pocket and pulls out Brian's note. She opens
in up and begins to read it. She smiles. She takes a pen
from her desk and begins to write on the paper. Just
before she gets started, her mother calls her.
VOICE (O.S.)
Cathy! Robert's here!
She looks up. Then back down to the note. She seems
conflicted.
CATHY
Coming!
She slowly stands up. She takes another look at the note
before shoving it into one of the desk drawers. She
closes the drawer and walks out.
We stay on the drawer for a few more seconds.
FADE OUT.
END OF EPISODE
Return to Simply Scripts