Under Your Spell, chapter 2: “Two, For The Show”  

             	COLD OPENING

               	SCENE 1

INT. SANDRA'S APARTMENT - MIDNIGHT 

(PHIL SEAWRIGHT IS SEATED ON THE SOFA, WATCHING TV AND DRINKING A SODA, WHEN SANDRA SEAWRIGHT UNLOCKS THE DOOR AND COMES IN.)

			PHIL 

	So you're back from clubbing. Just how was that Sunset Strip?

(SANDRA SMILES AS SHE HANGS UP HER JACKET.)

			SANDRA 

	Fun, as usual, and guess who I ran into? Your show's star, Marjorie Garwood!

			PHIL 

	I've heard she likes the nightlife.

			SANDRA 

	An understatement -- she makes me look sedate! Anyway, during those few moments she wasn't dancing, I told her I'm your sister, and wished her well on the series.

			PHIL 

	Glad I stayed up for such big news.
(SHUTS OFF THE TV.)

			PHIL 

	Let me convert the sofa.

			SANDRA 

	No, I'll take care of it.

(SHE SNAPS HER FINGERS, AND THE SOFA MAGICALLY CHANGES INTO A BED, WITH A JOLTED PHIL AWKWARDLY ON TOP OF IT.)

			PHIL 
	Give me a chance to change, okay?

(SIGHS)

			PHIL 

	I have got to find my own place!

               	CUT TO:

               	MAIN TITLES

               	ACT ONE

               	SCENE 2

INT. OFFICE - EARLY MORNING 

(PHIL SEAWRIGHT AND VALERIE POST ARE SITTING NEAR HER RECEPTION DESK AT GALLAGHER ENTERPRISES. HE'S SIPPING TEA, SHE'S DRINKING COFFEE.)

			VALERIE 

		(OVERHEARS RADIO)

	That's Louis Armstrong they're playing -- "I'm A Ding-Dong Daddy From Dumas"!
			PHIL 

		(SMILES)

	Then you know it's public radio.

(WHISPERS)

			PHIL 

	You know, I saw Louis perform down in Culver City in 1930.

			VALERIE 

		(WHISPERS AS WELL)

	When you were Joseph Davis.

(PHIL NODS.)
			PHIL 

	Man, some of those notes he played sent chills down my spine.

(SCOTT GALLAGHER AND RANDOLPH HENDERSON ENTER; THEY'VE APPARENTLY BEEN TALKING TO EACH OTHER.)

			RANDOLPH 

		(ICILY, TO PHIL)

	Nice you're here -- let's get to work.

(CONTINUES WALKING PAST THE DESK AND INTO THE HALL; SCOTT STOPS AT THE DESK.)

			VALERIE 

	Anita's already in her office.
			
			SCOTT 

		(MORE WARMLY THAN RANDOLPH)

	Very good. I hope we can make some headway today in honing "Under Her Spell."

(PHIL GETS UP, BUT BEFORE HE DOES, VALERIE SUBTLY SNAPS HER FINGERS. RANDOLPH'S SHOELACE UNTIES AND HE TRIPS OVER HIMSELF, NEARLY FALLING BEFORE REGAINING HIS BALANCE.)

			VALERIE 

		(WHISPERS TO PHIL)

	Well, you can't say I didn't try.

               	SCENE 3

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING 

(PHIL, RANDOLPH AND ANITA DeVESTY ARE GATHERED AROUND A SMALL TABLE. EACH HAS A BINDER IN FRONT OF THEM.)

			RANDOLPH 

	Before we begin, let me invite both of you to a party I'm throwing tonight at my place in the Hills.

			ANITA 

	Thank you so much.

			PHIL 

	Looking forward to it.
			
			RANDOLPH 

	I'll print directions for you two later this morning. Now, Phil, we have the show's bible here -- that is, an explanation of "Under Her Spell's" premise, detailed background on each of its characters, and the story arc, from debut episode to first-season finale, we hope.

			ANITA 

		(PERTURBED)

	Don't you think he knows this already, Randolph? You needn't patronize him.

			PHIL 

		(SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS)

	Ah, it's all right.

			RANDOLPH 

	Now our lead character, Josie, is a big-city newspaper reporter--
			
			PHIL 

	Is it too late for this to be modified? I mean, that "girl reporter" cliche goes back to the days of Lois Lane and Hildy Johnson.

			RANDOLPH 

	Hildy who?

			PHIL 

	Rosalind Russell's character in "His Girl Friday" with Cary Grant.
			ANITA 

	Oh, I love that movie -- what rapid-fire dialogue. And the in-jokes!

			RANDOLPH 

		(HAUGHTILY)

	Never seen it.

(PHIL IS INCREDULOUS.)

			PHIL 

	It was a remake of "The Front Page." It's in public domain -- you can buy it on DVD for a dollar.

			RANDOLPH 

	Was it in black and white?

(PHIL AND ANITA NOD.)

			ANITA 

	Well, it may have been colorized in the late eighties.

			RANDOLPH 

	If it was in black and white, then I didn't see it. Well, unless it starred the Three Stooges.

(PHIL SUBTLY SHAKES HIS HEAD, MAKING SURE RANDOLPH DOESN'T SEE IT.)

			ANITA 

	Let's move on. I think Phil has a valid point. If Josie's going to be a single professional witch, at least let's give her a job that's different. I'm sure there are plenty of things we could have her do.

			RANDOLPH 

	You never said that when I was creating the show's bible.
			
			ANITA 

		(UPSET)

	Perhaps if I had been given some actual input into it, I might have.
			RANDOLPH 

	If you can come up with something better, I'll go for it. Otherwise, she stays a reporter.

			PHIL 

	We need to relax and think of something...

               	CUT TO:

               	SCENE 4

INT. SANDRA'S APARTMENT - NOON 

(SANDRA IS AT HER COMPUTER WHEN AN E-MAIL IMAGE SAYING, "FROM PHIL SEAWRIGHT. DO YOU WISH TO OPEN?" COMES ON THE SCREEN. SHE PRESSES "YES," AND PHIL'S IMAGE MAGICALLY APPEARS ON SCREEN.)

			PHIL 

	Just wanted to make sure no one else was there.

			SANDRA 

	Why would I have a guest here this time of day? But how'd the first day go?
			
			PHIL 

	I'll tell you.

(PHIL SNAPS HIS FINGERS ON SCREEN, AND MAGICALLY LEAPS FROM THE COMPUTER MONITOR TO FULL SIZE, STANDING NEXT TO SANDRA.)

			PHIL 

	Not bad, although I can't believe our showrunner has never seen "His Girl Friday." Hell, I'm surprised he's even heard of Cary Grant.

			SANDRA 

	Yeah, he's a -- er, sounds like a real jerk.
			PHIL 

		(BEFUDDLED)

	Huh?
			SANDRA 

	Listen, we have a few hours to check out apartments for you before I have to go to work. Are you sure you want to live in Hollywood? I mean, it's not as seedy as it used to be, but...
			
			PHIL 

	You don't understand my emotional ties to that place. There are still plenty of entertainment-related offices in the area, our studio's nearby, and heck, you can now even take the Metrorail downtown.

(SMILES WISTFULLY)

			PHIL 

	From the Red Cars to the Red Line.

			SANDRA 

	I'm sure you can find a decent place there -- but after last night's runaround, I'm not driving there.

			PHIL 

		(HOLDS SANDRA'S HAND)

	So we do the next best thing...

(HE SNAPS HIS FINGERS, AND BOTH HE AND SANDRA DISAPPEAR FROM THE APARTMENT)

               	SCENE 5

(PHIL AND SANDRA RE-EMERGE IN A HIDDEN CORNER OF A LARGE, EMPTY HOLLYWOOD NEWSSTAND. THE PROPRIETOR, BOB GORDON, SEES THEM AT THE OTHER END AND SMILES.)

			BOB 

	You caught me on a slow day, and I always enjoy serving fellow witches. But next time, be a bit more discreet, please?

			SANDRA 

		(SMILES)

	Bob, I'm Sandra Seawright, Mitchell's son, and here's my brother Phil.

			BOB 

	Hope Mitch and Eloise are doing well.

			PHIL 

	They are indeed -- popped in on them in Philly last night.

			BOB 

	So what brings you out here?

			SANDRA 

	Phil got a job writing for a sitcom and is looking for a Hollywood apartment. For now he's staying with me in Santa Monica.
			
			PHIL 

	Nothing fancy, mind you -- I don't want to be stuck with a huge rent if the show's not successful. I'm only guaranteed 13 weeks' pay.

			BOB 

	You may be in luck. My garden apartment complex has a vacancy or two. It's not chic, and it's aging a bit, but it's clean. And the rent is reasonable.

(HE POINTS.)

			BOB 

	It's down that way a few blocks. A nice stopover for you on your way to the top.

			PHIL 

	Aw, what a nice thing to hear, but who's to say you shouldn't be joining me there one of these days?
			BOB 

	Thanks, but be real. Your best days are ahead of you, mine behind me -- at least in this life. I'm resigned to being a struggling newsstand owner who can't make a buck and flops with women.

			SANDRA 
	Keep the faith. Your day will come.

(LOOKS AT WATCH AND TURNS TO PHIL)

			SANDRA 

	We don't have much time. Let's check out that complex.

               	SCENE 6

EXT. HOLLYWOOD STREET - EARLY AFTERNOON 

(PHIL AND SANDRA WALK DOWN THE STREET TO THE APARTMENT COMPLEX, AWAY FROM THE NEWSSTAND.)

			PHIL 

	Remember, all I need is a one-bedroom. Heck, I'll settle for an efficiency if I have to.
			
			SANDRA 

	What a gloomy Gus that Bob was. So defeated.

			PHIL 

	He's still a good guy -- just never got the right break. That can happen to anybody, even witches. Who knows...it may happen to me.

(PAUSES)

			PHIL 

	Though I don't plan on it.

			SANDRA 

	Philip Winthrop Seawright, you're too good to fail. And you know it.

			PHIL 

	Yes, but one hundred percent correct judgment isn't one of our magic powers.

               	ACT TWO

               	SCENE 7

INT. EMPTY APARTMENT - EARLY AFTERNOON 

(PHIL AND SANDRA ARE BEING SHOWN AN APARTMENT BY JOCELYN KARKOVICE, THE COMPLEX'S DIRECTOR.)
			
			JOCELYN 

	This one-bedroom is in the oldest part of the complex, built in 1927.

			PHIL 

	I kind of like that it has some history to it. As long as it isn't dilapidated.

			JOCELYN 

	We refurbished this and the other units a few years ago when our company bought the place. There's new bathroom fixtures and plumbing, and an upgraded kitchen.

			SANDRA 

	And I like the carpeting.

(RUBS SHOES ON RUG.)

			PHIL 

	Do you have laundry facilities?

			JOCELYN 

	Yes, in the central basement of this building. It serves the entire complex.
			
			PHIL 

	A friend of the family lives here and said nice things about the place.
			JOCELYN 

	Who, if I may ask?

			SANDRA 

	Bob Gordon.

			JOCELYN 

		(SMILES)
	Oh yeah, the greying guy who owns the newsstand. What a sweet man.

			PHIL 

	Anyway, I'll take it.

               	CUT TO:

               	SCENE 8

INT. APARTMENT OFFICE - MID-AFTERNOON 

(PHIL IS SEATED AT A DESK, SIGNING PAPERS, WITH SANDRA STANDING ABOVE HIM AND JOCELYN SEATED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DESK.)

			PHIL 

	That's the last thing I need to sign, right? I'll be back tomorrow to start moving in.
			
			JOCELYN 

	Very good. We look forward to having you here.

(PHIL LOOKS AT WATCH.)

			PHIL 

	I really need to get back to the office.

(SANDRA NODS.)

			SANDRA 

	Me too.

(THEY QUICKLY RUN OUT OF THE ROOM, CHECK TO SEE THE HALLWAY IS CLEAR, AND SIMULTANEOUSLY SNAP THEIR FINGERS AND DISAPPEAR. A SECOND OR TWO LATER, JOCELYN RUSHES INTO THE HALLWAY LOOKING FOR PHIL.)

			JOCELYN 

	I forgot to tell you we have high-speed Internet service available!

               	DISSOLVE TO:

               	SCENE 9

INT. PHIL'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON 

(PHIL POPS INTO HIS SMALL OFFICE, SITS DOWN, AND TWO SECONDS LATER, ANITA KNOCKS AND COMES IN.)

			ANITA 

	Were you out to lunch this long? I've been looking for you.
			PHIL 

		(SMILES)

	Just popped back in after finding an apartment in Hollywood, about 10 blocks from here. I told Randolph I'd be out for a bit.

			ANITA 

	Well, congratulations!

(SHE COMES OVER TO SHAKE HIS HAND. MARJORIE, PASSING IN THE HALLWAY, SEES THIS.)

			MARJORIE 

	Congratulations about what? Oh, by the way, Phil, I met your sister last night. She said all sorts of nice things about you.

(PHIL SMILES.)

			ANITA 
	He found a place to live, though it's probably no Long Island mansion like what you and your daddy have.

(MARJORIE IS SURPRISED.)
			
			MARJORIE 

	How do you know about my father?

			ANITA 

	Stewart Garwood is one of the most respected men in the banking industry. I read the business news.

(AN IDEA COMES TO PHIL.)

			PHIL 

	Business news -- that's it!

			MARJORIE 

	What's it?

			PHIL 

	We've been trying to come up with some sort of job alternative for your character Josie, something a little different than being a newspaper reporter.

			ANITA 

	And?

			PHIL 

	Why not make Josie a reporter for a business newswire? That could provide a lot of Wall Street corporate intrigue and such.

			ANITA 

	Fighting white-collar crime with magic? That has potential!

			MARJORIE 

	It could work!
(PAUSES)

			MARJORIE 

	Just don't make villains of any wealthy bankers from Long Island, okay?

			PHIL 

	They will all be off limits, promise. And because you'll still play a reporter, any changes to the bible should be minimal.

			MARJORIE 

	I like it! I'm on my way to see Scott, and I'll recommend it to him. By the way, where's Randolph?
			ANITA 

	He left early to plan his party. You've been invited, right?

			MARJORIE 

	Of course.

			PHIL 

	We'll see you there. Oh, Anita -- before I go to the party, I'll work on some proposed slight cast and story arc changes to fit Josie's new job.

               	SCENE 10

INT. RANDOLPH'S HOME - EVENING 

(A MAID OPENS THE FRONT DOOR AND PHIL WALKS INTO RANDOLPH'S SWANKY HOUSE OVERLOOKING LOS ANGELES. ABOUT 15 PEOPLE ARE GATHERED ABOUT. PHIL SEES ANITA, WHO'S CHATTING WITH ALEXANDRA STEFANO, AND HEADS HER WAY.)

			PHIL 

		(TO ANITA)

	This is one impressive house.

			ANITA 

	But he confided to me a few weeks back that he actually rents the place. He'll buy it if the show goes into syndication. Phil, I'd like you to meet Alexandra Stefano, who's Marjorie's agent.

			PHIL 

	Pleased to meet you.

(SHAKES HER HAND.)

			ANITA 

	Phil's one of my writing cohorts.

			ALEXANDRA 

		(ENTHUSIASTICALLY)
	Well, I'm sure you're going to do a great job with her. I've never represented a witch before!

			PHIL 

	Ah, we, er, they're no different than anyone else.

(PAUSES)

			PHIL 

	I write humor better than I say it, believe me.
			
			ALEXANDRA 

	While you folks give her a hit, I'll be talking to producers about movie properties she can work on over hiatus.

			ANITA 

	If everything goes as we plan, she won't have one till spring. Oh look, she's over there.

			PHIL 

	And in the corner I see Randolph talking with a bunch of guys -- probably his old Harvard buddies. They tend to be rather cliquish, or so I've heard.

(RANDOLPH TAPS A SPOON AGAINST A WINE GLASS.)
			RANDOLPH 

	First of all, I want to thank everybody for attending and trust you're enjoying the hospitality.

			ALEXANDRA 

	Indeed! 

(SHE RAISES HER GLASS FOR A TOAST.)
			
			RANDOLPH 

	I have some excellent news to pass along: We're creating a new situation comedy, and got word today that it's been picked up by a network!

(APPLAUSE; RANDOLPH JOINS IN AFTER PUTTING DOWN HIS GLASS.)

			PHIL 

		(BEAMING)

	Hooray, hooray, hooray!

(HE AND ANITA CLINK GLASSES.)

			PHIL 

	To many, many years of "Under Her Spell."

(APPLAUSE GRADUALLY DIES DOWN.)

			RANDOLPH 

	The series will be titled "Under Her Spell," and our lovely and talented Marjorie Garwood will star as Josie, a newspaper writer who's also...a witch.

(MURMURS FROM CROWD)
			
			MARJORIE 

		(LOOKS AT RANDOLPH)

	Uh, Randolph, there's been one minor change. Scott Gallagher and I have decided to make Josie's character a business wire reporter, rather than one for a newspaper.
(RANDOLPH IS STUNNED, BUT TRIES TO PUT ON A FRONT.)

			RANDOLPH 

	Ah, that's the creative process, ladies and gentlemen -- always changes, right down to the last minute.

(PAUSES)

			RANDOLPH 

	Oh, and I need to see Marjorie, Anita and Phil in the kitchen, please.

               	SCENE 11

INT. RANDOLPH'S KITCHEN - EVENING 

(PHIL, ANITA AND MARJORIE ENTER THE KITCHEN, WHERE RANDOLPH STANDS WITH AN UPSET LOOK ON HIS FACE.)
			
			RANDOLPH 

	Marjorie, I'm sure you meant well, but did you have to announce this in public?

(TURNS TO ANITA AND PHIL.)

			RANDOLPH 

	And did you two have anything to do with this...humiliation?

			ANITA 

	Chill out, Ran. You said if we came up with something better, we could use it. And we did.

			PHIL 

	Marjorie liked the idea and ran it to Scott on her own.

			MARJORIE 

	He liked the concept, too. I'd have brought it up with you earlier tonight had I been able to get in a word with you. But you were so wrapped up in talking with your Crimson horde that I never had the chance.		

(RANDOLPH SHAKES HIS HEAD.)

			RANDOLPH 

	But now we'll have to redo the story arc, the bible, everything.

			PHIL 

	I've already looked things over and have typed up some suggestions. Trust me, it won't be major surgery by any means. You'll see it first thing tomorrow.

			RANDOLPH 

	Okay. Now excuse me while I get another glass of wine.

(HE LEAVES.)

			ANITA 

	In this case, is that spelled with an "h"?
			PHIL 

	I don't blame him for being upset. Had he been in the office this afternoon, I certainly would've informed him.

			MARJORIE 

	So what do we do now?
			
			PHIL 

	Drop it and move on, I guess.

			ANITA 

	Speaking of moving on, if I don't get home soon, Gerald will have a fit.

			MARJORIE 

	I guess it is getting near bedtime for kids.

			ANITA 

	I have no children. Gerald's my husband.
(LAUGHS AND LEAVES.)

			PHIL 

	So, tell me a bit more about your acting career and what you're looking for here with "Under Her Spell."

			MARJORIE 

	I got sick of making all those teen thrillers. Haunted house, wild man with a knife, that sort of thing. It got boring -- I feared being typecast.
			
			PHIL 

	Really?

(SHE NODS AND THEY CONTINUE TALKING, THOUGH WE DON'T HEAR THE DIALOGUE, DURING FADE OUT.)

               	TAG

               	SCENE 12
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING 

(PHIL AND RANDOLPH ARE GOING OVER THE SHOW'S ALTERED BIBLE WHEN ANITA WALKS IN.)

			ANITA 

	I'd have been here earlier, but 101 from the Valley was a -- well, you know, rhymes with witch.

			PHIL 

		(WITH A GRIN)

	Just because we're doing a show about a witch doesn't mean you have to continually make off-hand references to it.
			
			RANDOLPH 

	Phil and I have been going over the changes to Josie's character and story arc, and as much as I hate to say it, this will indeed be better. Showed it to Scott this morning, and he liked it too.
			PHIL 

		(BETWEEN SIPS OF TEA)

	Again, Randolph, I'm sorry for the way it all went down. 

			ANITA 

	Randolph, I want to thank you for inviting us to the party last night, and as a way of showing my appreciation, here's a little gift.

(SHE OPENS UP HER HANDBAG AND PULLS OUT A DVD CASE.)

			ANITA 

	A copy of "His Girl Friday." Set me back a buck.

(SHE HANDS IT TO RANDOLPH, WHILE PHIL LOOKS CAUTIOUSLY AT HIM, UNSURE OF HIS REACTION.)
			
			RANDOLPH 

		(SLOWLY SMILES)

	Want to watch it on our lunch break?

			PHIL 

		(WHISPERS TO ANITA)

	You like living dangerously, don't you?