The Emersons: Episode 3 - Let's Make a Deal

[Zuzzy]

CAST
Kris Emerson (16): Stella’s fraternal twin –Jack
Stella Emerson (16): Kris’s fraternal twin - Michelle
Ann Emerson (mom) - Katie
Paul Emerson (dad) - roby
Cassie Emerson: Kris and Stella’s little sister - Lynn
Clark Curran: Stella’s crush - Chad
Brian Fitzpatrick: boy who likes Stella - Jonathan
Mike Phillips: Kris’s best friend - TF
Alicia Simms: Stella’s best friend - Jackie


ACT I.

SCENE I.
(KRIS and MIKE are in KRIS’s room, playing air guitar to loud rock music. STELLA opens the bedroom door and comes in.)
STELLA: [straining voice] Could you keep it down? I’m trying to study!
(The guys don’t respond, so she walks over to the stereo and turns it off.)
STELLA: I guess you didn’t hear me. I’m studying right now.
KRIS: Oh, we heard you. We just chose to ignore you.
STELLA: I have a very big test tomorrow, and I don’t want you two idiots to ruin my
perfect record in that class.
KRIS: What class is it? Uptight 101?
MIKE: [laughing] Good one! [stops laughing] I didn’t know they offered that course at
our school.
STELLA: Please keep the volume down.
(STELLA leaves. KRIS turns the music back on full blast and shuts the door.)
KRIS: I wish we could play guitar like this.
MIKE: My parents are getting me a bass guitar for my birthday. If you got your parents
to buy you an electric guitar, we could start a band.
KRIS: That would be awesome!
MIKE: [looking at watch] I have to go. And thanks for letting me listen to music here.
My parents don’t let me blast music anymore.
KRIS: Why not?
MIKE: They said that if I kept doing it, they wouldn’t get me a guitar.
KRIS: Well, when you get good enough, you’ll be able to turn your stereo as loud as you
want and just say it’s you playing.
MIKE: You’re brilliant!
KRIS: Not really. Just compared to you, I am.
MIKE: [laughing] Yeah, true.
(The scene fades as they continue talking about their plans for a band.)

SCENE II.
(Later that evening, KRIS approaches his parents in the living room. He glances at a note card in his hand and then stuffs them into his pocket.)
KRIS: Mom, that’s a really nice skirt you’re wearing.
ANN: [eyeing him suspiciously] Thanks. You’ve never complimented me on my clothes
before. [to Paul] He’s trying to get us to do something for him, isn’t he?
PAUL: That he is. And where’s my compliment?
KRIS: Uh…I didn’t think of a compliment for you, so…that’s a nice skirt you’re wearing, too.
PAUL: Kris, I’m just a tad concerned about your gender confusion. But thank you.
ANN: Now what is it you want from us?
KRIS: You see, Mike and I are going to start a band, and in order to have a band, we
need instruments to play.
ANN: Please say you want a harmonica.
KRIS: Nope. I want an electric guitar.
ANN: Then my answer is no.
KRIS: You can’t say no! I didn’t ask for it…I just said I wanted one.
PAUL: Kris, if you get a guitar, you’ll need an amp, plus music lessons. That adds up to
a heck of a lot of money.
KRIS: But wouldn’t that all be worth it when our band goes professional?
ANN: There are thousands and thousands of bands that never reach the professional
level. You can’t waste your life on the basis of…of a dream!
PAUL: I learned that lesson the hard way when I played guitar for a band.
KRIS: You did?
PAUL: I’m telling you from my first hand experience, the struggle wasn’t worth it. Sure,
we got a few gigs…traveled a bit…[gets ‘reminiscing’ look on face]…partied
non-stop…met the most amazing women…
ANN: Paul! I don’t think you should share THAT aspect of the band lifestyle with Kris.
PAUL: But you were one of those women…
ANN: You’re supposed to be discouraging Kris, who is NOT getting an electric guitar.
KRIS: You’re not being fair.
ANN: And what do you want us to do?
KRIS: Why don’t we make a deal? Like…um…
PAUL: I’ve got one. Kris gets a guitar if he starts working and pays for it himself.
KRIS: [laughing] That’s silly!
ANN: I think that’s a great idea. Kris, you get a job and pay for the guitar and the amp.
Then your father and I will take care of all the rest of the expenses.
KRIS: [laughing harder] Stop it, stop it, I can’t take it! That’s hilarious!
PAUL: We’re serious, you know.
KRIS: Huh?
ANN: Which means that if you really want that guitar, you have to work for it.
KRIS: Oh.
(PAUL and ANN go into the kitchen.)
KRIS: This is so unfair!

SCENE III.
(The next day at school, STELLA is sitting in class talking to ALICIA.)
STELLA: I’m so nervous about this test. My brother was playing loud music when I was
trying to study.
ALICIA: I listened to loud music after I studied.
STELLA: Why would you do that?
ALICIA: I wanted to drown out those pesky facts that were stuck in my head.
(STELLA raises one eyebrow.)
STELLA: I have to get an A on the test.
ALICIA: Don’t put so much pressure on yourself. You’re the smartest girl in class.
STELLA: Aw, Alicia…thank you.
ALICIA: Well?
STELLA: Well what?
ALICIA: Don’t I get a compliment?
STELLA: Oh. Right. You are…um…you have a great sense of style.
ALICIA: I was hoping you’d say how smart I was.
STELLA: Oops. You’re – relatively smart – for a cheerleader.
ALICIA: [grinning] Thanks, Stella! That’s so nice of you to say that!
(The camera cuts to CLARK, who walks up to BRIAN’s desk.)
CLARK: Listen, Brian. I forgot to study for this test and I was wondering if you’d –
BRIAN: No.
CLARK: Or maybe let me –
BRIAN: No.
CLARK: Couldn’t I –
BRIAN: No.
CLARK: Come on, Brian! I’d let you cheat off my test if you didn’t study.
BRIAN: Firstly, why would I want to copy off one of your tests? Secondly, I always
study – for academic AND recreational purposes.
CLARK: You’re the smartest kid in school! I need to cheat off you. Who’s the second
smartest in class?
BRIAN: [sighing] My beloved Stella. Although her IQ is significantly lower than mine.
CLARK: Thanks. I’ll just be my charming self and she’ll let me cheat.
BRIAN: We’ll see about that. Stella has integrity.
(CLARK walks over to STELLA’s desk and leans over her shoulder.)
CLARK: Hey, Stella.
STELLA: Um…hi, Clark.
CLARK: Alicia, go sharpen a pencil for me.
ALICIA: Yes, sir!
(ALICIA hurries off.)
STELLA: So…
CLARK: Is it hot in here, or is it just me?
STELLA: [dreamily] It’s just you.
CLARK: You know, Stella, I never noticed how – um – ear-like your ears are. And your
hair is so…brown.
STELLA: Wow. Coming from you, that’s really flattering.
CLARK: Anyway, would you do me a little favor?
STELLA: Anything.
CLARK: Can I sit next to you during the test?
STELLA: Of course!
CLARK: And could I sort of glance at your paper when I get stuck?
STELLA: You want to cheat off my test? I don’t know…
CLARK: There’s nothing wrong with cheating. Besides, we could celebrate our good
grades with an evening out together.
STELLA: A date? This just doesn’t seem right.
CLARK: If you get me an A, I’ll pick you up at seven tomorrow night.
(The teacher enters the room and starts passing out test papers. ALICIA returns to her seat, handing CLARK a pencil. CLARK sits at the desk to the other side of STELLA. As STELLA starts to write, she nervously glances at CLARK, who’s peering over her shoulder.)

[commercial break]

ACT II.

SCENE IV.
(Later that afternoon, KRIS enters the house, out of breath. CASSIE hands him a towel to wipe his sweaty forehead on.)
CASSIE: How’s the lawn mowing business going?
KRIS: It’s exhausting. I’ve done four lawns already and all I have so far is five dollars.
CASSIE: You shouldn’t work so cheap!
KRIS: I had forty dollars, but then I smashed all of Mrs. Smith’s flower pots with the
mower.
CASSIE: Sounds like a bad accident.
KRIS: Oh, I did it on purpose. It was a lot of fun.
CASSIE: No offense, but you’re never going to get a guitar if you don’t take your job
seriously.
KRIS: I know, I know. But I hate working.
CASSIE: Then find a job you like, and one that pays more than mowing lawns.
KRIS: That’s pretty good advice.
CASSIE: Thanks. That’ll cost you five bucks.
(CASSIE snatches the money out of KRIS’s hand and walks away, waving the dollar bill in the air behind her. STELLA comes down the stairs.)
STELLA: [sadly] Hey, Kris.
KRIS: Cassie swindled me out of five bucks!
STELLA: I guess she’s raising her prices. She only charged me one dollar for advice.
KRIS: What’d you ask her?
STELLA: I asked her what I should do if I let a guy I liked cheat off my test so I could go out on a date with him.
KRIS: And what’d she say?
STELLA: She said don’t go out with him, because he’s not good enough.
KRIS: Are you going to take her advice?
STELLA: [laughing] Turn down a date with Clark Curran? I don’t think so.
(STELLA leaves the room and KRIS sits down on the couch, shaking his head with
disgust as the scene fades.)

SCENE V.
(The next day at school, STELLA approaches CLARK at his locker. He’s with a group of friends.)
STELLA: Hey, Clark.
CLARK: Hey, um…what’s your name again?
STELLA: Stella.
CLARK: Oh, yeah. [turns to entourage] You’re all free to go. Buy some lunch for
me, and then finish my homework.
(The group shuffles off.)
STELLA: What did you get on the test? I got an A.
CLARK: [surprised] Really? All I got was a lousy C.
STELLA: So – you didn’t cheat off my paper?
CLARK: I couldn’t read your handwriting!
STELLA: Oh, well…I’m sorry about that. It is kind of bubbly.
CLARK: Kind of bubbly? It looked like all your were writing was a bunch
of “O’s.”
STELLA: [laughing] Whoops. Well, then…I guess I’ll see you at seven tonight, then.
CLARK: Um…no.
STELLA: What?
CLARK: I didn’t get an A…so we’re not going out.
(CLARK walks off. STELLA slumps down in front of the lockers. BRIAN walks up to her.)
BRIAN: Uh…Stella…
STELLA: Not now, Brian.
BRIAN: Would you mind –
STELLA: I am not going out with you again, Brian. I don’t like you.
BRIAN: Could you please –
STELLA: Ugh, fine! What do you want?
BRIAN: I want you to move. You’re blocking my locker.
STELLA: [standing up] Oh. Sorry.
(BRIAN opens his locker and starts taking giant reference books out of it.)
BRIAN: I heard about what happened with Clark.
STELLA: What, did he tell everyone in school that I’m so desperate, I’ll let a guy cheat
off me in exchange for a date? Or, even worse, that my handwriting is less than
perfect?
BRIAN: Well, you could try to make it a little less bubbly…
STELLA: [angrily] For your information, girls are supposed to have bubbly handwriting!
BRIAN: All right, all right.
STELLA: Now how did you find out about me and Clark?
BRIAN: I helped the school install their security camera system, and I made sure I’d be
able to monitor the school from my laptop.
STELLA: Isn’t that illegal?
BRIAN: Maybe. But anyway, I turned Clark in for cheating off you. That’s probably the
real reason he was so mean to you. He’s got detention for the next two weeks.
STELLA: Wow…I don’t know how to thank you.
BRIAN: You could let me install a security camera system at your house.
(STELLA slams BRIAN’s locker door against his head and walks down the hall.)

SCENE VI.
(Later that evening, ANN, PAUL, and CASSIE are sitting at the kitchen table, eating dessert.)
PAUL: Kris has been working pretty hard. I think he’s learned his lesson.
ANN: You can’t let him off the hook that easily! I refuse to spend one cent on that
guitar.
CASSIE: Why don’t you let him get it now and then make him keep working until he
pays you back for it.
ANN: That’s a great idea, Cassie!
CASSIE: [holding out open-palmed hand] Ten dollars, please.
ANN: You’re charging us for advice?
PAUL: Cassie, just add that to my tab.
CASSIE: No problem, Dad. It was nice doing business with you two. Here’s my card.
(CASSIE hands ANN a business card and leaves the room.)
ANN: Are you actually going to pay her?
PAUL: I sort of owe her twenty bucks already.
ANN: Well, she certainly has a good business sense.
(STELLA and KRIS come down the stairs at the back of the kitchen. They both start talking at once.)
PAUL: [holding his hand up] One at a time.
KRIS: I’ve decided to get a real job. Anything’s better than mowing lawns, right?
ANN: That’s great! And your father and I decided that we’re going to pay for the guitar –
as long as you pay us back later.
KRIS: Yes! I can’t wait to tell Mike.
(KRIS dashes out of the room.)
STELLA: I’m going out.
ANN: Who are you seeing?
STELLA: [grinning] Clark.
PAUL: You have a date with Clark? I thought he was unapproachable and out-of-reach.
(ANN gives him a funny look.)
PAUL: I – um – heard Stella say that once.
STELLA: Actually, I don’t have a date with Clark.
ANN: Then who’s your date?
STELLA: No one. I’m just going to follow Clark around. So technically, I am going to be
seeing him.
ANN: That’s kind of…creepy.
PAUL: Speaking of creepy, I just installed a new surveillance system in our house.
STELLA: What?!
PAUL: It was in a package on the porch, and it was really easy to set up.
STELLA: [making a fist] I am going to kill Brian Fitzpatrick!
(STELLA marches out of the room.)
PAUL: What an interesting non sequitur.
(PAUL and ANN shrug and continue eating.)

[Cactus Jack]

Thats awesome!

[robyrob]

great stuff Zoie - can't wait to see what happens next week!

[Chad22]

Great Job!

[robyrob]

so when is ep #4 coming?