THE REST OF MY DAMN LIFE (SERIES TWO): A Ranting Klown Series

 

 

EPISODE 19

RATS WITH PRADA

(Trent comes to town, while the Raft student body mourns the loss of Neill's kicking prowess)

 

Scene I (INT, Midday, Jane and Lucy's Dorm)

 

DARIA

So then he pretends I'm his mom and hangs up.

 

JANE

Calling Dr. Freud...

 

DARIA

Please, if he had an Oedipus complex he would've asked me put on an apron and sing a lullaby to him while we were dating

 

JANE

Hmm...you do have a point...

 

DARIA

To be honest with you, I'm a little spooked by the whole thing...

 

JANE

Hmmm....(pondering)

 

DARIA

What?

 

JANE

Okay, I'm going to try to explain this to you, now, you have to promise me you wont go into a spiral and try to change yourself again...

 

DARIA

I think I can do that...but I'm not making any promises

 

JANE

Okay, it's like this. Let us examine the evidence...

 

DARIA

Yes Sherlock, let's...

 

JANE

Time dear Watson, time. Number one. He's on the phone to his ex-girlfriend

 

DARIA

I'm with you so far

 

JANE

Two. A young woman's voice is heard in the background

 

DARIA

Check

 

JANE

Three. He hears this voice and freaks out.

 

DARIA

Okay

 

JANE

I don't know how to tell you this Daria, but he's moved on.

 

DARIA

What?

 

JANE

Think about it. Why else would he hang up on you? Young Woman enters; Tom doesn't want her to know he's talking to his ex....understandable...

 

DARIA

But I dumped him. Aren't I supposed to be the one to move on?

 

JANE

You know our Tom, always moving on quickly....

 

DARIA

Ugh, I don't even want to think about it...

 

JANE

Fine...makes sense...How's Neill?

 

DARIA

I don't think he cares that he's got a broken leg and in a wheelchair. He sees it as an opportunity to pop a wheelie....

 

JANE

Maybe I should go over and see him, bring him some chicken soup...or hard liquor, whatever one brings in the event of a fractured leg...

 

DARIA

Good luck, if you can bypass the football team, cheer squad and the mourning fans, then I think you may be able to see him....

 

JANE

Wow, they're really taking this hard aren't they?

 

DARIA

I just had to get out of there, before another cheerleader cried....hang on, why do you want to see him?

 

JANE

Because

 

DARIA

Because what?

 

JANE

You know...I was there...when it happened...

 

DARIA

So he gets himself injured, and you blame yourself?

 

JANE

Well...he was trying to explain something to me...and you know...

 

DARIA

No, I don't

 

JANE

He was trying to impress me....

 

DARIA

He tries to impress everyone, it's nothing personal...

 

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

 

(Daria and Jane are walking along a hallway, flooded with mourners and well wishers)

 

(Daria and Jane bump into several annoyed people)

 

GUY

Hey! No cuts!

 

DARIA

It's my dorm

 

WOMAN

Oh, you're that weird girl Neill boards with....

 

(The crowd part to let Daria and Jane through)

 

(Daria and Jane enter dorm, to see Neill surrounded by people)

 

NEILL

I'll be right in about 6-8 weeks, so all in all, it's a pretty weak fracture, so I should be back then...

 

COACH

I told you not to play that game!

 

NEILL

And I told you if I'm not playing rugby, I'm not going to play your game....

 

(Cheerleader breaks down and cries)

 

NEILL

She'll be right Tiffany...what did I teach you?

 

TIFFANY

(Stops crying momentarily) No....worries?

 

NEILL

There you go! (Spots Daria and Jane) OK, People, that's enough for one day, I need my rest so I'll be bigger and better than ever before!

 

STEVE

Man, this sucks....

 

(Crowd depart, leaving Neill, Daria and Jane)

 

NEILL

Ladies

 

JANE

Quite the crowd there

 

DARIA

Like a freak show

 

NEILL

What can I say? People respond to my sunny personality...

 

DARIA

And the fact that the football team are on a 12 match winning streak doesn't figure into it...

 

NEILL

Nah mate...it's all good

 

(Knock at the door)

 

JANE

I'll get it

 

(Jane leaves)

 

DARIA

So...how does...the leg feel?

 

NEILL

Like it's fractured...

 

DARIA

I...suppose it would...

 

NEILL

Yeah...fractured legs generally do feel like fractured legs...

 

FROM DOOR

Trent! What are you doing here?

 

TRENT

Daria said I could stay here for the gig...

 

(Trent enters with Jane)

 

TRENT

Hey Daria, guy

 

NEILL

Its Neill mate

 

TRENT

Right....so how are you Daria....?

 

DARIA

Fine....how are you?

 

TRENT

(Sighs) Okay I guess...I didn't know there was a line to get here though. If I had known there was a line, I would have brought a sleeping bag or something.....

 

NEILL

Sorry about that mate...but I can't stop them...so its better they line up then have me mobbed....

 

TRENT

Whoa! What's with the leg?

 

NEILL

It's fractured

 

TRENT

Dude...that sucks...

 

NEILL

It sure does Trent...it sure does....

 

DARIA

I should probably show you to your room...or something....

 

TRENT

Room? I have been grossly misinformed about college....

 

(Daria and Trent leave)

 

NEILL

And how may I help you today Miss Lane?

 

JANE

Me...nothing.....

 

NEILL

Jane...look at me...look at me, look at me (Kath and Kim impression). Now look at the ficus plant...now look at me. I've got two words for you Jane; what's up doc?

 

JANE

It's just that....

 

NEILL

Yes?

 

JANE

When you decided to...take on those other guys....

 

NEILL

Yes?

 

JANE

Were you doing it to just impress me?

 

NEILL

Yes and no...

 

JANE

Yes and no?

 

NEILL

Well, I wanted you to get the full taste of the game they play in heaven, so yes, but I always try to break the line. Remember, it's my mantra...

 

JANE

So...you would've done it if I wasn't there?

 

NEILL

9 times out of 10 luv

 

JANE

Nine times out of ten?

 

NEILL

Well, if I was pissed I wouldn't do it....

 

(Trent and Daria enter)

 

TRENT

I have got to come to college...

 

JANE

That would require work and effort....

 

TRENT

Good point...

 

NEILL

Well, this has been good, but I've got to go and prepare for the show, and then class...so I'll see you all later...

 

(Neill wheels away)

 

(Neill comes back)

 

NEILL

Oh yeah, by the way Daria, you got a message from Thommo...says he's sorry he had to hang up on you.... (Looks at Trent) And Daria?

 

DARIA

Yes?

 

NEILL

Don't do anything you might regret...

 

(Neill leaves to bemused looks by all)

 

Scene III (EXT, Day, Raft Coffee House)

 

NEILL

Welcome to the Alfie Langer Hour! Coming today from the surrounds of the iconic Raft Coffee House! Oh boy do we have a show for you today! Isn't that right Preston?

 

PRESTON

Sure...why not?

 

NEILL

We're running another competition today...

 

PRESTON

Hopefully it won't end like the last one

 

NEILL

Who knew the middle of summer could be so chilly? No, I can pretty much guarantee to our listeners that there will be no nudity....besides...I have a cast on, It's a little impossible for me to get nude...

 

PRESTON

We'll also be opening up the lines again, what's our topic today Neill?

 

NEILL

Well, it was going to be about beer, but events have conspired for me to consider another topic. Where does baggage come from? I'm talking emotional baggage. I'm talking that crap that causes us to do things that we may regret.

 

PRESTON

But that's coming up later, now, Cappadonna.

 

(Preston hits Console)

 

NEILL

You're getting better at this!

 

PRESTON

Thanks....I thought I would suck at this Radio stuff, but I've got to say, you handle the pressure well.

 

NEILL

Well, just imagine you're talking to mates...several hundred mates...

 

(Christie walks up with coffee)

 

NEILL

You're a lifesaver Luv!

 

CHRISTIE

I knew that course in CPR would come in handy.....

 

PRESTON

So...what's up?

 

CHRISTIE

Just trying to work through some stuff...Neill...how did you choose the topic today?

 

NEILL

What do you mean Christie?

 

CHRISTIE

Baggage....

 

NEILL

Just some stuff Daria's going through...

 

CHRISTIE

Oh...so it's Daria......

 

PRESTON

As far as I can tell by being an impartial viewer....

 

(Christie walks off)

 

PRESTON

What was that all about?

 

NEILL

I don't know much, but I know this one thing. Chicks will sometimes freak out for no particular reason, that, and we're back in 3 seconds....

 

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

 

(Daria typing on computer while Trent lies on couch)

 

TRENT

Man...I wish I could study like you could....I just never got the handle on working for long periods of time...

 

DARIA

Well, you can practice for 10 hours straight....

 

TRENT

That's different...that's music....

 

DARIA

I don't see a difference....

 

TRENT

Hmmm?

 

DARIA

You study music, I study words.

 

TRENT

I suppose your right...

 

DARIA

Besides, I'm not doing work, I'm emailing Quinn.

 

TRENT

Who's Quinn?

 

DARIA

My sister....allegedly

 

TRENT

Right...that chick....

 

DARIA

You really are oblivious aren't you?

 

TRENT

Not about everything....

 

(A long Pause)

 

(Brad enters)

 

BRAD

You know, I still can't find that pick....who's the guy?

 

DARIA

Brad, Trent, Trent, Brad

 

TRENT

What's going on?

 

BRAD

Not much...you?

 

TRENT

Here for a gig...

 

BRAD

Wait...The Pimento on Saturday?

 

TRENT

Yeah...

 

BRAD

I'm playing there too....

 

TRENT

Cool

 

DARIA

It's like a meeting of the minds....

 

Scene V (INT, Late Day, Back Room/Raft Coffee House)

 

(Christie walks into the back)

 

(Christie finds the phone and dials)

 

SANDI

Hello?

 

CHRISTIE

Hey

 

SANDI

Oh....hey.

 

CHRISTIE

So...what's up?

 

SANDI

I wanted to apologise for not showing up. I'm a bitch. I know. I just fell asleep...one minute I'm putting lipstick on, the next I'm dreaming about putting lipstick on....

 

CHRISTIE

I wanted to apologise....

 

SANDI

For what? I'm the bitch...

 

CHRISTIE

For flipping out like that...

 

SANDI

Oh...what's a girlfriend with the occasional irrational outburst?....

 

CHRISTIE

Hey!

 

SANDI

I'm sorry, that was uncalled for...

 

CHRISTIE

It's just...that you haven't been around lately...and then you ditch me....

 

SANDI

I'm not seeing anybody else if that's what you're implying. I know it must be hard going out with a bi girl...wondering about twice the betrayal...

 

CHRISTIE

It just made me feel, I don't know, abandoned....

 

SANDI

Oh...I get it...Christie...I'm not going anywhere....

 

CHRISTIE

You don't know how much I wanted to hear that....

 

SANDI

I'm afraid you're going to have to put up with my ass for quite a while...

 

CHRISTIE

Put up with your ass? Hardly.

 

SANDI

Where are you at the moment?

 

CHRISTIE

Doing the publicity thing at the Coffee House...

 

SANDI

I think I could go for a latte' right about now....

 

CHRISTIE

What about the bar?

 

SANDI

I think they can survive without little old me for a day...

 

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

 

(Brad and Trent sit, playing the acoustic guitar)

 

BRAD

Dude, those are some pretty sweet tones there....earthy...yet....

 

TRENT

Existential?

 

BRAD

No...

 

TRENT

Elemental?

 

BRAD

No...more....cosmopolitan...

 

TRENT

Cool.....

 

BRAD

I should probably go now...I was probably meant to be in class about an hour ago....

 

(Brad leaves)

 

TRENT

Cool guy...

 

DARIA

Sure...

 

TRENT

Hmm....anything to eat around here?

 

DARIA

Try the kitchen...

 

(Trent leaves, and Daria picks up the phone and dials)

 

WOMAN

Hello?

 

DARIA

Uh...hi...Is Tom there?

 

WOMAN

And who may I say is calling?

 

DARIA

Daria Morgandorffer....

 

WOMAN

So you're the infamous Daria?

 

DARIA

Infamous?

 

WOMAN

Of course...I'll go and get him for you.....

 

TOM

Hello?

 

DARIA

Hey

 

TOM

What a pleasant surprise....

 

DARIA

Neill told me that you left a message?

 

TOM

Yeah...

 

DARIA

And that message would be?

 

TOM

I'm sorry for hanging up on you when you last called....

 

DARIA

It's okay, you hang up on me a lot, and I hang up on you....no biggie...

 

TOM

Biggie? What have they done with your brain?

 

DARIA

Shut up

 

TOM

Anyhow...that was the message...

 

DARIA

Tom?

 

TOM

Yes?

 

DARIA

Who was the woman on the other end of the line, and the woman who answered just now?

 

TOM

(Sighs) I suppose you had to find out some time...

 

DARIA

Find out what?

 

TOM

I'm....going out....with....somebody...

 

DARIA

Oh....

 

TOM

Yeah...

 

DARIA

So....who's the lucky....girl?

 

TOM

Uhh...Anne...uhh...you'd like her....

 

DARIA

I'm sure I would.....so anyway...I'm...going to go now....

 

TOM

Yeah...uhh...bye....

 

(Tom hangs up)

 

FROM KITCHEN

Hey...I didn't know you had chocolate spread....

 

DARIA

We don't

 

FROM KITCHEN

Where's your bathroom?

 

DARIA

First on the left

 

(Trent runs out of kitchen)

 

DARIA

Vegemite. Does it to people every time.

 

Scene VII (EXT, Late Day, Outside Raft Coffee House)

 

CALLER

Baggage sucks

 

NEILL

It sure does...

 

CALLER

Yeah...

 

PRESTON

Did you have a point you'd like to bring to the party, or are you just proclaiming that baggage sucks?

 

CALLER

It sure does...

 

(Preston hits console)

 

PRESTON

Oops, it seems like we've been disconnected

 

NEILL

Oops?