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THE LUNCHROOM
Episode 3.01
"Instant Karma"
WRITTEN BY
Bruce Snyder
and
Vincent Biga
CREATED BY
Bruce Snyder
CAST LIST
Will Cooper.................................
Joel Mayberry...............................
Brian Vandele...............................
Brock Warner................................
Reicther....................................
Casey Jennings..............................
Chris Hughes................................
Stacy Cifaretto.............................
Mr. John Parker.............................
GUEST CAST LIST
Mrs. Hackford...............................
Cathy Phenis................................
Margie Mayberry.............................
Eric Bishop.................................
Beautiful Mexican Girl......................
Eric Bishop.................................
Copyright © Bruce Snyder
TEASER
EXT. BEACH – DAY
It's a beautiful summer day. The sun is just setting
creating a very beautiful glow. Near the water we can
see TWO PEOPLE kissing very passionately. They stop. The
man pulls his head back to reveal it's WILL. We see that
the woman he has been kissing is a BEAUTIFUL MEXICAN
GIRL (who sorta looks like Salma Hayek.)
GIRL
Oh my. I've never had such an
experience.
WILL
Well, it's just about to get better.
They begin to kiss again.
WILL (V/O)
Sometimes life treats you so good
that it's almost hard to believe
it's real.
INT. WILL'S ROOM – MORNING
Will lays in his bed, with a big smile. He rolls over
and hits his head against the NIGHT STAND.
WILL
OW!!!
He rolls the other way and falls out of the bed.
WILL (V/O)
Then the cold harshness of reality
kicks in.
OPENING CREDIT SEQUENCE:
Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar" plays over the
credits.
AFTER CREDITS:
Blackness.
TITLE CARD:
What Happened Over Summer
MONTAGE (The Rolling Stones' "Beast of Burden" plays):
FADE IN:
INT. WILL'S ROOM – DAY
Will is sitting on his couch watching the movie "On the
Waterfront." He seems deeply interested in it.
INT. BRIAN'S HOUSE – COMPUTER ROOM – DAY
Brian sits at his computer, typing very fast.
CLOSE UP ON COMPUTER:
It reads "Demon of Truth: The Chronicles of Haven by
Brian Vandele."
Brian continues to type.
EXT. SUMMER HOUSE – EVENING
The sun is just going down. It's beautiful.
INT. SUMMER HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Joel sits on the couch, playing a video game. The sun is
in eyes. He gets up and closes the blinds on this
beautiful sunset.
JOEL
There.
He goes back to playing.
INT. BROCK'S HOUSE – KITCHEN – DAY
LOIS, Brock's real mother, sits at the kitchen table,
reading over some papers.
CLOSE UP ON PAPER:
They are divorce papers.
Lois sighs.
INT. BROCK'S HOUSE – COMPUTER ROOM – SAME
Brock sits at his computer. He stares at his computer,
waiting for something.
BROCK
C'mon, c'mon.
ON THE COMPUTER –
Suddenly an icon pops up an says "SarahRose" is now
online.
Brock smiles.
BROCK
Finally.
He begins to type her a message.
INT. WOODS – EARLY MORNING
Reicther sits near the bay of a small river. He is
sitting in a lawn chair. Near him is a small tent. He
looks very relaxed. He closes his eyes, leans back, and
goes to sleep.
The CAMERA PANS over to the LEFT to see a fishing pull.
It's mounted in the ground. It's being tugged furiously.
This happens for a few more seconds before it is pulled
out of the ground.
INT. COLLEGE – SMALL ROOM – DAY
There's about twenty kids in this room. One of them,
sitting in the very back, is Casey. He looks bored. He
looks around the room. He sees something.
CASEY'S POV:
He sees KAY JOHNSON. A blonde who is a little chunky but
cute.
Casey seems to smitten.
EXT. STREET – LONDON – DAY
The street has very few people walking along it.
Suddenly Chris turns the corner and begins to walk down
the street. He is eating from a bag and enjoying the
England scenery.
INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
Stacy is sitting in the front of this room filled with
about 15 other students. Each of which, are making
something out of clay. Stacy is making a bowl. When she
stops molding it, she lets it sit.
Pause. It collapses in on itself. Stacy frowns.
INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
This one is filled with eight students. In the front is
Will. On the board it reads "Filmmaking for Young
Adults." There is an old, bearded man presided over the
class. Will plays close attention.
INT. BRIAN'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
Brian is sitting on his bed. He reading from a piece of
a paper.
WE PULL BACK...
...Until we can see all of his room is absolutely
covered with paper. There has to be over 500 pages.
Brian looks satisfied and sits the paper down. He looks
about his room, pleased. But suddenly he looks worried.
BRIAN
Oh crap. I forgot to number the
pages.
He tilts his head in frustration.
INT. JOEL'S HOUSE – KITCHEN – EARLY EVENING
We can see MARGIE MAYBERRY, Joel's mother, is sitting
with ERIC BISHOP, a doctor. Both are smiling and having
a good time looking at a magazine.
INT. JOEL'S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Joel is sitting on the couch, watching TV. He can hear
the laughter coming from the kitchen. He looks over his
shoulder and into the kitchen. He turns back to the TV,
angry and frustrated.
INT. BROCK'S ROOM – LATE NIGHT
It's about three in the morning. Brock is still typing.
He stops and sighs.
BROCK
Oh Sarah.
He sits back in his chair.
INT. REICTHER'S ROOM – LATE NIGHT
Reicther sits on top of his bed. He is deeply involved
in watching an old episode of "The X-Files." Instead of
being scared, he has a smile plastered on his face.
EXT. COLLEGE – NIGHT
Casey and Kay are walking down a paved path. Casey says
something to which Kay busts out laughing. Casey says
something more to which Kay playfully hits him in the
shoulder for.
EXT. CHRIS' HOUSE – DAY
A TAXI pulls up along the sidewalk. Chris gets out of
the back, carrying two suitcases. He looks at the house.
He smiles.
CHRIS
Home again.
He walks up to the front door.
INT. STORE – DAY
Stacy is walking down an aisle of pants, looking
carefully at each one. She looks ahead and sees MARILYN.
Marilyn is looking at some red sweater, not even
noticing Stacy.
Stacy quickly runs away.
EXT. STORE – CONTINUOUS
Stacy quickly comes out and catches her breath.
STACY
That was close.
She walks away.
SLOWLY FADE TO BLACK.
TITLE CARD:
"Falling Back Into Place"
FADE IN:
INT. SCHOOL – HALLWAY – BEFORE SCHOOL
Will and Chris are walking down the hallway, talking.
CHRIS
Okay. I got a good one.
WILL
All right.
CHRIS
What do you call it when hooters
starts it's own door to door
business?
WILL
What?
CHRIS
Knockers.
Chris laughs. Will smiles.
WILL
Talk about cheesy. Did you learn
that from your little trip to
London? By the way, how was it?
CHRIS
Well it was still the same place
that I remember. What about you,
how was your summer?
WILL
Well, I was either constantly on
the computer, constantly listening
to old blues albums, constantly
masturbating, or constantly fearing
coming back to this hellhole.
Awkward pause.
CHRIS
Old blues albums you say?
They walk out of frame.
INT. LUNCHROOM – BEFORE SCHOOL
At a table sits Casey and Joel. Casey is frantically
trying to finish a paper while Joel just sits in silence
watching Casey.
Will and Chris appear and sit down.
WILL
A big hello to my real friends and
a big fuck you to my fake ones.
JOEL
Hey guys.
Chris notices Casey.
CHRIS
What are you doing, Casey?
CASEY
Finishing my English Project.
Will and Chris seem confused.
WILL
Wait a minute. You have homework...
on the first day of school?
CASEY
Yep. It's all a part of being in
the Smart English class.
(under his breath)
Lousy school system.
WILL
Casey, I think that says something
very bad about you if you had
homework over summer vacation. Or
even worse, the fact that you
didn't get done.
CASEY
I'm sorry, okay. Three months just
go by very, very quickly.
JOEL
Oh yeah, they zoom by.
CHRIS
Aren't you in that class Joel?
JOEL
Yeah. But I got it done.
CASEY
SHUT UP! Alright Joel!
WILL
Well, someone's hormones are rising.
Reicther, head hanging down, slowly walks up and sits.
When he sits, his head continues to hang.
REICTHER
(depressed)
Hey guys.
JOEL
What's wrong with you?
REICTHER
I feel ashamed of myself.
WILL
Reicther...feeling...ashamed?!
Jesus Christ. That's usually the
one of those things you don't feel,
Reicther.
CHRIS
Why do you feel ashamed, Reicther?
REICTHER
Well...Saturday...my church had this
teen dance.
CASEY
(quietly to Joel)
Reicther goes to church?
JOEL
Shhh.
REICTHER
And at this dance was Kinsey.
WILL
Oh that one, overweight girl that
was stalking you last year.
REICTHER
That'd be her. Anyway, halfway
through the dance she comes up to
me and asks me to dance with her.
And...I ran away and hid in the
men's room.
Everyone begins to laugh.
REICTHER
And ever since then I've felt
horrible.
Brian and Brock appear and sit down.
BRIAN
What are we laughing at?
WILL
Casanova over here, ran away and
hid in the men's room after a girl
asked him out.
BRIAN
(to Reicther; jokingly)
You bastard.
Reicther sighs again. Suddenly the bell rings and each
person goes off in different directions.
INT. MR. PARKER'S ROOM – AN HOUR LATER
The class is filled with about 20 kids. On the board it
is written "Latin American Studies." MR. PARKER presides
over the class. Brian and Brock sit in the very back.
PARKER
Okay. The next paper you get
contain my home phone number and my
email address. I put my home number
down because that's usually where
my phone is. Now, feel free to call
me or email me about any of the
homework assignments.
A PUNK KID laughs. Parker takes notice.
PARKER
(fast)
And before your little minds begin
to race with millions of ideas on
how to prank call me or send me
dozen of pornography images via
email, I'll let you know that I do
have caller idea and I am friends
with computer teacher who will
trace the emails to you and I will
hunt you down and get sweet, sweet
revenge.
Punk Kid looks afraid now.
PARKER
Okay, now on today's lesson plan.
INT. HACKFORD'S OFFICE – SAME
MRS. HACKFORD, the guidance counselor, sits at her desk.
Stacy sits across from her. Hackford is carefully
looking over a certain paper.
HACKFORD
Well, Stacy. It seems that if you
pass all these classes on your
schedule you will only be 3 credits
away from graduating.
STACY
Really? That's great!
HACKFORD
Okay. Now, did you send in the
applications?
STACY
...What applications?
HACKFORD
College applications. You did send
them in, right?
Stacy looks embarrassed.
STACY
I forgot.
HACKFORD
Oh Stacy.
STACY
I know, I know. I just keep telling
myself "I'll do it tomorrow, I'll
do it tomorrow." And I guess, I
prolonged it...for 4 months.
HACKFORD
This is very bad, Stacy. It's going
to be very difficult to get into a
good college this late in the game.
Hackford sighs. Stacy looks ashamed.
HACKFORD
Well, we should still get you to
send in some applications.
STACY
Okay.
Hackford gets out a piece of paper.
HACKFORD
Okay, Stacy. What are your plans
after you graduate from High
school?
STACY
What am I doing to do after school?
(giggles)
As little as possible.
Stacy laughs. Hackford doesn't laugh at all.
STACY
Sorry.
HACKFORD
Do you always avoid questions with
jokes?
STACY
I don't know. Do you avoid jokes
with questions?
Hackford sighs.
HACKFORD
This is very serious matter, Stacy.
STACY
I know. It's just...I don't know. I
don't know what college I want to
go to. I don't know what job I want.
HACKFORD
You don't know? But what about all
those seminars and career days we
had?
STACY
Never really took it seriously. Sad
ain't it?
Stacy looks depressed.
INT. TREADMILL ROOM – SAME
Joel is running on a treadmill. He is sweating a lot and
having trouble breathing. Suddenly CATHY enters. She
takes notice of Joel and looks worried.
CATHY
Oh my. Are you okay?
JOEL
(breathing problems)
Yeah...this is just...how...fat
people run.
Cathy smiles.
CATHY
Mind if I join you?
JOEL
(breath problems)
Not...at all.
Cathy gets on the treadmill next to Joel's. Before she
starts, Joel quickly gives up. He stops running and lets
the machine take him off it.
CATHY
Are you sure your okay.
JOEL
Well...am I'm not dead yet. That's
a plus.
CATHY
Maybe the treadmill isn't your
thing.
JOEL
I'm starting to think exercise
isn't my thing.
Joel begins to take deep breaths.
JOEL
I'm Joel Mayberry, by the way.
CATHY
I'm Cathy.
JOEL
Let's see if I can't give this big
bastard another shot.
Cathy smiles, as Joel turns his machine on.
INT. STUDYHALL - SAME
Will, Brock and Reicther are all sitting at a table,
Reicther is hunched over drawing something while Brock
and Will are making small talk.
WILL
So why did the gods flood the
world?
BROCK
Because the Hero of Time didn't
come.
WILL
...Why not?
BROCK
I don't know he just didn't.
WILL
So how did people survive the
flood?
BROCK
They all went to the mountain tops.
WILL
Oh...How did they know there was
going to be a flood?
BROCK
The gods told them.
WILL
Oh...So if the gods had the power
to flood the earth why didn't they
have the power to kill this evil
sorcerer guy who wanted to do all
that bad stuff?
BROCK
I don't know the logic behind the
game's story line.
WILL
It seems pretty weak to me.
Will looks down at a paper.
BROCK
Yeah but your boat can talk.
Will looks up.
WILL
That's kick ass.
Will notices Reicther.
WILL
What the hell are you drawing?
REICTHER
I dunno.
WILL
Why do all those stick figures have
frowny faces on them?
REICTHER
Because I'm depressed that's why.
WILL
I didn't know 'depressed' was in
your vocabulary.
REICTHER
Shut up Will. I'm going to the
bathroom.
Reicther stands up and walks away.
BROCK
I think you have to ask...
The teacher says nothing as Reicther leaves.
BROCK
Never mind.
WILL (V/O)
I'm getting sick and tired of all
this depression stuff from you
guys! First its Casey over Lacey,
then its Brian with Cathy, now its
Reicther because he DOESN'T like
some fat chick! The whole thing is
really pissing me off, quit
bitching about it and move on with
your life!
Brock sighs.
BROCK
I can kind of relate to what he's
feeling.
(pause)
I'm depressed over Sarah.
Pause. Will seems conflicted.
WILL
Um...I totally feel for you.
INT. GYM ROOM – SAME
Joel is now just walking on a treadmill. Cathy is beside
him jogging at a steady pace.
CATHY
So, why did you guys go running
through a forest full of thorns?
JOEL
Well, it seemed like a good idea at
the time.
GYM TEACHER (O.C.)
Its time to go people!
Joel and Cathy shut down the machines.
CATHY
Nice talking to you.
Cathy leaves, Joel watches her in bewilderment.
INT. STREET - AFTER SCHOOL
Will and Joel are walking home.
JOEL
Brock's on a girl too?
WILL
Yeah, sad isn't it?
JOEL
Why can't we just settle crushes
like the good old days?
WILL
This is High School my friend,
nothing about it is good.
JOEL
I'm getting tired of all our
friends getting depressed over
girls.
WILL
Yeah, We're the only ones left,
they've gotten every one but you
and me.
JOEL
And Chris.
WILL
Just what I said, you, me, and
Chris.
They walk up to Will's house
INT. WILL'S HOUSE – WILL'S ROOM – MINUTES LATER
Will and Joel enter. Joel takes a seat on Will's couch.
JOEL
Oh man. You're never going to
believe what happened to me today
in Gym.
WILL
Hold that thought. Mother nature is
calling and I must accept the
charges.
Will leaves. Joel sits and drinks. He looks around the
room. He notices a piece of paper, scrunched up on the
floor. He picks it up. Joel unfolds it and it says "For
Cathy." He begins to read.
After a few seconds we hear:
BRIAN
(voice over; reading note)
"Unfortunately I can not say who I
am. All I can tell you is that I am
one of Will Cooper's friends."
Realization hits Joel.
INT. CASEY'S ROOM - LATER
Casey and Kay are talking on the phone we are intercut
between them.
CASEY
So how about a movie this Sunday?
KAY
Sorry I can't, I have church.
CASEY
Oh.
KAY
What about Thursday?
CASEY
No I have therapy.
KAY
Oh...well...
She begins to flip through a date planner.
INT. BRIAN'S HOUSE - SAME
Brian and Brock are playing a game. Brian is focused on
the game, while Brock seems more interested in talking
about Sarah.
BRIAN
Die you damn Ewok!
BROCK
Ewoks look like teddy bears...Sarah
likes teddy bears...
BRIAN
That's nice. You can give her a
stuffed Ewok once we kill them all.
BROCK
Nah, she wouldn't want anything to
do with me
BRIAN
Damn, dirty Rebels. STOP SHOOTING
ME!
BROCK
I bet the Ewoks are Sarah's pets
and the Rebels are guarding her
pets.
Brian looks greatly confused.
BRIAN
What?
Explosions from the game.
BRIAN
Speaking of guarding, make sure the
Rebels don't take the temple back.
BROCK
Why?
BRIAN
What do you mean why? We need the
temple, FOR THE GLORY OF THE EMPIRE!
BROCK
There's no use the temple would
just crumble because Sarah's Ewoks
are so strong.
Brian looks at Brock with a weird face.
BRIAN
(under his breath)
Please tell me this is isn't how I
acted about Cathy.
INT. CASEY'S ROOM - A LITTLE LATTER
Casey and Kay are still talking on the phone, they each
have a big pad of paper and a pen.
CASEY
So how about Wednesday?
KAY
No I'm volunteering at the Senior
center on Wednesdays. What about
Saturday?
CASEY
(under his breath)
Over achiever.
KAY
What was that?
CASEY
Thursday's no good, I have practice.
What about Friday?
Beat.
KAY
I'm free Friday.
CASEY
Me too!
KAY
So Friday it is then.
CASEY
Okay, see you in two weeks.
They both hang up.
INT. BRIAN'S ROOM – LATER
Brian and Brock are sit sitting on the couch, playing
video games.
BROCK
I think –
BRIAN
- Brock if that sentence ends or
even contains the word "Sarah" I
don't want to hear it.
Long pause.
BROCK
Maybe –
BRIAN
Brock, please don't piss me off.
I'm running out of places to hide
bodies.
Brock quiets up.
CUT TO BLACK.
FADE BACK IN:
INT. HALLWAY - MORNING BEFORE SCHOOL
Will and Chris are walking down the hallway talking,
they look up and see Reicther talking to a pretty girl.
Reicther asks her a question and she shakes her head
'no' then she walks away.
Reicther notices Will and Chris and walks over to them.
Reicther seems happy.
WILL
What was that all about?
REICTHER
I just asked her out and now I'm
guilt free!
CHRIS
(confused)
What?
Chris puts a hand up to a wall.
WILL
Why did you ask her out for and how
Are you guilt free?
REICTHER
Well, I figured that if I asked
someone out and got rejected I
would see how it would be like to
be Kinsey. NOW I'M MORALLY OFF THE
HOOK!
WILL
I guess...that makes sense.
Reicther walks away, with a big smile on his face.
CHRIS
That's the stupidest idea I've ever
heard
Chris takes his hand away from the wall that he was
leaning on, he looks at his hand, its been painted blue.
Chris looks down the hall a bit to see a sign reading
"Freshly Painted."
Will begins to laugh.
CHRIS
Great. Now it looks like I gave a
smurf a handjob.
FADE OUT.
(Over the end credits, "Instant Karma" by John Lennon plays
over them.)
END OF EPISODE
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