THE REST OF MY DAMN LIFE (SEASON TWO): A Ranting Klown series

 

 

EPISODE 17

NOW YOU SEE ME, NOW YOU DON'T

(Preston begins his new radio gig, while Christie has some problems with Sandi)

 

 

Scene I (INT, Night, Radio Station)

 

NEILL

And that's it for me! I'd like to thank Krazy Karl's fish supply for all their support! I'd also like to thank all you crazy guys and girls for taking a shot on Mick Dundee on the mic, this has been Neill Hayden on the Alfie Langer Hour! Until next time, signing off. Stay tuned for Brother Tim's half hour of power!

 

(Neill hits console)

 

RANDY

Good show, good show.

 

NEILL

Thanks mate, I'm off to see a man about a dog

 

RANDY

Have you thought about our offer?

 

NEILL

The uhh 'black doves'?

 

RANDY

Yes

 

NEILL

Yeah, I thought about it, but I realised that joining a secret order would just be a pain in the arse. I mean, I got everything I need, so thanks anyhow... (Begins to leave)

 

RANDY

Of course you know that our request wasn't really a request, it was an order...

 

NEILL

You threatening me?

 

RANDY

Let's just say things around the station could get a bit messy for you....

 

NEILL

Well, you could put my shift a 3AM mate, and I'd still pull an audience...and you can't pull me off, because I got a loyal audience!

 

RANDY

Oh, I know, but I may just your friend's slot to someone else....

 

NEILL

Damn...

 

RANDY

Yes...so you can see you're quite clearly outplayed....

 

NEILL

Not yet mate, I've got one ace up my sleeve...

 

Scene II (INT, Day, Daria and Neill's Dorm)

 

(Daria is typing on the computer)

 

(The phone rings)

 

DARIA

Hello?

 

TRENT

Hey...

 

DARIA

Trent?

 

TRENT

Last time I checked...

 

DARIA

Did you need Jane's number?

 

TRENT

No...I have that...

 

DARIA

So....

 

TRENT

So...

 

DARIA

Yes?

 

TRENT

I called you Daria...

 

DARIA

Oh...

 

TRENT

So...what's up?

 

DARIA

Nothing much....still slaving over the hot coals...you?

 

TRENT

Still waiting for Mystik Spiral's World Tour to begin...

 

DARIA

Playing Tokyo yet?

 

TRENT

Nah, but we're playing a gig up in Boston a couple of weeks time....

 

DARIA

Cool

 

TRENT

Yeah...

 

DARIA

So...was there a reason you wanted to call me?

 

TRENT

Yeah...I need a place to crash...

 

DARIA

What about Jane?

 

TRENT

Room's way too small

 

DARIA

What about the Tank?

 

TRENT

I drew the short straw...the Tank only sleeps 3

 

DARIA

Well, I guess it's OK, I'll have to ask Neill though...

 

TRENT

Oh yeah...that guy...he seems pretty cool...

 

DARIA

You wouldn't say that if you knew....

 

TRENT

Knew what?

 

DARIA

Uhh...nothing...how about I call you when Neill comes back...?

 

TRENT

OK, sounds like a plan....

 

DARIA

Bye...

 

(Daria hangs up)

 

(Neill enters)

 

DARIA

Hey, can Trent stay here a couple of days?

 

NEILL

Jane's brother...sure....he seems like the kinda bloke who's fun to get drunk with...besides, if we get him pissed, you may just have a shot....hey, you know where Preston's dorm is?

 

DARIA

Preston? Uh...building 6, room 351

 

NEILL

You bewdy, thanks

 

(Neill leaves)

 

DARIA

Now back to whatever it was that I was doing...

 

(Phone rings)

 

DARIA

Hello?

 

CHRISTIE

Hey!

 

DARIA

Hey, what's up?

 

CHRISTIE

Nothin' much, just got back from class...you?

 

DARIA

Writing an article

 

CHRISTIE

You got the job?

 

DARIA

How can it be a job if I'm not being paid for it?

 

CHRISTIE

I don't know....you get paid with the respect of a journalist...

 

DARIA

You mean rotten tomatoes in the street?

 

CHRISTIE

The very same, hey, I bet Neill could whip something up with those...

 

DARIA

So...why you calling?

 

CHRISTIE

No reason, just wanted to talk...

 

DARIA

You know, we seem to be hanging out a lot...anything you want to tell me?

 

CHRISTIE

Nothing as such...

 

DARIA

So...How's Sandi?

 

CHRISTIE

I wouldn't know...

 

DARIA

What?

 

CHRISTIE

It's just that we haven't been able to hang out together lately...with her work and my studies...it's just hard...

 

DARIA

Umm...hang in there?

 

CHRISTIE

I will, but it's really getting annoying...anyhow, I bet you don't want to hear about my problems, I'll see you around...

 

DARIA

Yeah

 

(Daria hangs up)

 

Scene III (INT, Day, Preston's Dorm)

 

(Neill knocks on door)

 

GUY

Hey, it's Neill Hayden! What's up man?!

 

NEILL

Do I know you?

 

GUY

No, but I listen to your show! It's awesome!

 

NEILL

Always nice to meet a fan mate, so, is Preston around?

 

GUY

Yeah, sure...

 

(Guy goes in, and Preston comes to the door)

 

PRESTON

Neill?

 

NEILL

Last time I checked. So, what's up?

 

PRESTON

Just writing some tight rhymes...

 

NEILL

Really?

 

PRESTON

No...so, what is this about?

 

NEILL

What do you want first, the bad news or the good?

 

PRESTON

Okay...Bad

 

NEILL

I'm afraid you no longer have your own show on RCR

 

PRESTON

Damn...I was actually looking forward to that as well, so what happened?

 

NEILL

Randy tried to recruit me....uh...I probably shouldn't be talking about this...

 

PRESTON

Ok......so what's the good news?

 

NEILL

I'm looking for a co-host...

 

PRESTON

You've got to be kidding me...

 

NEILL

Nah mate, I'm not...coming up with an hour every couple of days is getting harder and harder, I need someone there to share the load as such...

 

PRESTON

No, I mean, what the hell do we have in common?

 

NEILL

What do you mean?

 

PRESTON

You're the Big Man on campus. I am not. You're white. I am not. You're Australian. I am not

 

NEILL

I get your point. But that's just it!

 

PRESTON

What?

 

NEILL

We're completely different!

 

PRESTON

I'm pretty sure that's not a winning formula...

 

NEILL

We can either look at this in a negative light and thus say it wouldn't work, or we can say that our differences will complement each other...

 

PRESTON

I don't know...

 

NEILL

Listen, just do one show, if it doesn't work, money back guaranteed!

 

PRESTON

What money?

 

NEILL

It's just a saying

 

PRESTON

Cracker

 

NEILL

You see, this is the type of banter that could work!

 

PRESTON

I see you point, but you're still a cracker

 

Scene IV (INT, Day, Jane and Lucy's Dorm)

 

(We see Jane at her easel, working away)

 

(Lucy enters)

 

LUCY

How's it going partner?

 

 JANE

Pretty good Lucy, Pretty good.

 

LUCY

Hey, you're producing some stuff!

 

JANE

Yeah

 

LUCY

So the assignments got better?

 

JANE

No, this is an extra-curricular activity...

 

LUCY

Speaking of extra-curricular activity....

 

JANE

Yes?

 

LUCY

You had that guy in our dorm again last night...

 

JANE

And?

 

LUCY

So you got something going on with him?

 

JANE

Not that I know of...

 

LUCY

Not according to our neighbours....

 

JANE

What?

 

LUCY

Let's just say that you're quite loud...and that's saying something, because they didn't know that there was a violin in the dorm...

 

JANE

Well, it can't be helped (Jane blushes)

 

LUCY

It probably could if you went over to Raft...

 

JANE

Yes, but his roommate would lose all respect for me

 

LUCY

Huh?

 

JANE

Don't worry...

 

LUCY

I almost forgot, you got a phone call today...

 

JANE

Did you get a name?

 

LUCY

Dariuh?

 

JANE

Close but no cigar...

 

(Walks over to phone and dials)

 

DARIA

Dispatch.

 

JANE

Yo

 

DARIA

Hey

 

JANE

You rang?

 

DARIA

Yes Lurch, just wondering if you wanted to go get pizza

 

JANE

Sounds cool, I'll be there in half an hour...

 

DARIA

Bye.

 

Scene V (INT, Early Afternoon, Neill and Daria's dorm)

 

(Daria hangs up)

 

(A knock at the door)

 

(Daria opens)

 

BRAD

Hey...did I leave my pick here?

 

DARIA

Not that I know of...but feel free to rummage through our personal possessions...

 

BRAD

Cool...

 

(Brad starts searching)

 

DARIA

Brad?

 

BRAD

Yo?

 

DARIA

I know why you left the Random Pigeons....

 

(Brad looks up)

 

BRAD

You know what? I can always buy a new pick....I think I'll go... (Starts to depart)

 

DARIA

Brad. Wait.

 

(Brad stops and sighs)

 

DARIA

It's okay

 

BRAD

It is?

 

DARIA

I know what it's like to be tricked

 

BRAD

It's uncool...

 

DARIA

Yeah...

 

BRAD

So...we still friends?

 

DARIA

As far as I can see...

 

BRAD

Cool....how were you tricked?

 

DARIA

What?

 

BRAD

You said you were tricked?

 

DARIA

Yeah...it's half the reason I have this stuff on...

 

BRAD

What?

 

DARIA

You know...this will make a good article....

 

BRAD

What?

 

DARIA

Nothing, hey, I have to go...but...yeah...I guess I'll see you around...

 

BRAD

Yeah...

 

DARIA

Oh, and Brad

 

BRAD

Yeah?

 

DARIA

You know how you liked me?

 

BRAD

Yeah...

 

DARIA

Well....

 

BRAD

What?

 

DARIA

(She pauses) Nothing Brad, nothing.

 

(Daria exits)

 

BRAD

Now, I know I either left it here, or behind building 2...

 

(Goofy grin appears on Brad's face)

 

BRAD

Probably behind building 2, I should probably go there now...

 

(Brad exits)

 

Scene VI (INT, Early Afternoon, Christie's Dorm)

 

(Christie is sitting down, studying)

 

(The phone rings)

 

(Christie answers)

 

CHRISTIE

Bert's Mortuary, you bring them, we embalm them.

 

SANDI

Hey

 

CHRISTIE

Hey! Long time no see!

 

SANDI

Yeah, well, work...

 

CHRISTIE

Yeah....sure...

 

SANDI

I have some bad news

 

CHRISTIE

Batteries go up in price again?

 

SANDI

No, I'm afraid I'm going to be pretty busy with work over the next week...so...yeah...I guess we won't be seeing much of each other...

 

CHRISTIE

We're not seeing that much of each other anyhow...what's another week...?

 

SANDI

I know...it sucks

 

CHRISTIE

Yeah...it does...

 

SANDI

Are you okay?

 

CHRISTIE

Never better...

 

SANDI

Okay then...I'll try to call....

 

CHRISTIE

Sure... (Hangs up)

 

(Christie ponders and walks over to dresser)

 

(She takes out a small piece of paper)

 

(She walks back to the phone and dials)

 

MAN

Hello? (American Italian accent)

 

(Christie hangs up)

 

(Christie lies down on her bed and looks up at the ceiling)

 

CHRISTIE

I'm pretty sure this isn't healthy...

 

(Christie gets up and walks out of dorm)

 

Scene VII (INT, late afternoon, Pizza Palace)

 

(Daria and Jane sitting, ordering Pizza)

 

DARIA

So then the cougar gets really mad....

 

JANE

I missed this

 

DARIA

What?

 

JANE

Ordering bad pizza and reminiscing over animal attack stories...

 

DARIA

So...how are classes?

 

JANE

Good, apart from all the learning, the work and total lack of creativity...but apart from that, good.

 

DARIA

That sucks...

 

JANE

But I found a gallery downtown that sells work, so I've been able to get some inspiration to create from that...

 

DARIA

I'm not sure if money should inspire

 

JANE

Hey, it's inspired our elite athletes for years...besides, I'm not in it for the money....

 

DARIA

Then what?

 

JANE

I guess I'm just creating because I know I'll have an audience...

 

DARIA

Your inner Stacy crying for approval?

 

JANE

You know me too well...

 

(Christie enters and sits down next to Daria and Jane)

 

CHRISTIE

Hey

 

JANE

Hey

 

DARIA

Hey...

 

CHRISTIE

So, what are we talking about?

 

DARIA

When heart surgery goes wrong

 

CHRISTIE

Hey, Jane, does she ever talk about puppy dogs and babies?

 

JANE

I thought she was about to once, but it turns out she was just talking about the ideological corruption of our young inherent in the Disney brand...

 

CHRISTIE

Groovy

 

DARIA

So...what are you doing here?

 

CHRISTIE

Just felt like some sisterhood...

 

JANE

You know I'm not gay right?

 

CHRISTIE

Yes, for the fiftieth time, yes...

 

DARIA

(Sighs) Do you want to...talk about it?

 

CHRISTIE

Not really, I just want to eat Pizza, and not worry about my figure, I want to drink soda and not worry about breakouts. I want to not worry about reasons behind certain things...

 

JANE

Umm...neat?

 

CHRISTIE

But enough about me, met any cute guys Jane?

 

JANE

Uhh...