Happy Days: the Lost Episode - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Jumeenski · 10-16-2005, 03:12 PM

A friend of mine in L.A. just sent me a script for an episode of HAPPY DAYS, written by D.H. Brennekar, which was filmed but never aired.

Apparently ABC boss Fred Silverman felt that it was "too dark" and pulled it from the lineup with no fanfare. It's sort of a shame though because it provided a lot of answers to some of the mysteries surrounding the Cunningham family and their friends.

I won't post all of it, just a few selected scenes. Without going in detail, I'll just say that as the show opens a tearful Joanie is at the police station telling the cops that her oldest brother Chuck "did things to her." What follows in the script is even more shocking.

INT. CUNNINGHAM LIVING ROOM - NIGHT- CONTINUOUS

HOWARD and MARION sit on the floor. Marion is CRYING.

MARION

I can't believe this is happening, Howard.

HOWARD

I know, dear.

MARION

He was my baby. My precious little Chucky. I brought him home wrapped in a blanket and gave him all the love he could ever want. How could he turn into such a monster?

HOWARD

I don't know, Marion. But I can promise you one thing right now. We will NOT let this destroy our family. As far as I'm concerned, Chuck is no longer our son. He will never be mentioned again. Not by you...or me...

MARION CRIES even harder.

HOWARD (CONTD)

...or Richie or Joanie. No one will ever mention his name. Or that he even existed. We will bury his memory down deep and never discuss the pain he's caused. That's the only way we can deal with it.

MARION

I know. You're right. It's just...there are so many things here that remind me of him. Like the front door for instance. I look at it, and remember that it's the door we came through when we first brought him home from the hospital. That it's the door he came running through when he made the basketball team. And every time it opens, I'm gonna expect to see my little Chuck walk through it.

Howard gets up, walks to a closet, and removes an axe.

MARION (CONTD)

Howard, what are you doing?

HOWARD

Cleaning out the closet, Marion.

Howard begins attacking the front door with the axe. Marion SCREAMS. Howard destroys the door, the entire frame, and part of the wall.

HOWARD (CONTD)

I'll call the construction men tomorrow, dear. They'll put up a new wall here and make another door on the other side of the room. That way it'll be a door we can look at and think happy thoughts. A door that our only two children, Richie and Joanie, can use without feeling afraid or ashamed.

Marion curls into a fetal position and SOBS like a baby.

Then there's this scene, which just floored me:

EXT. SECRET LODGE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS

A secret council meeting is taking place. At the table are men in hooded robes, including ARNOLD, AL (Note: the same Al who would resurface years later as a regular--Richard), a man described only as PICCOLO (Note:Jenny's father maybe?--Richard), and several others.

ARNOLD

We have endowed you with super powers so that you may protect the family which guards the Chosen One.

The camera pulls back and we see another individual, also in a hooded robe, kneeling before the council.

ARNOLD (CONTD)

You shall have free reign at an establishment I have set up as a cover for our mission. You will be given "an office," but not one which will reveal the true nature of your work. You will infiltrate the inner-sanctum and serve as the watcher and guardian for the Chosen One.

Close shot of the kneeling individual. His head is down, revealing only his chin.

ARNOLD (CONTD)

Above all else, you must be willing to lay down your life for him, and for his family and friends if necessary...for they are essential for his growth...growth which must occur in order for him to fulfill his duties as the Chosen One.

The kneeling individual SPEAKS but his voice is electronically altered via Harmonizer.

KNEELING INDIVIDUAL

Who is this Chosen One you speak of?

ARNOLD

He is someone you already know. He is the one they call Cunningham...Richie Cunningham.

The kneeling individual removes his hood and raises his head, revealing that he is in fact FONZIE. His eyes are a glowing bright yellow.

FONZIE

Red.

And of course the climax, which may be the most disturbing thing I've ever read:

EXT. ARNOLD'S PARKING LOT - NIGHT- CONTINUOUS

RALPH and POTSIE are beating CHUCK bloody with baseball bats.

RALPH

You sonofabitch! You wanna hurt little girls?! You think that makes you a man?!

POTSIE

Get up you piece of...

Potsie WHACKS Chuck again with his bat. Suddenly, we hear the offscreen voice of Fonzie.

FONZIE

Hey! Get outta here you nerds.

RALPH

Not this time, Fonz. We came to do a job so you can just 'Sit on it.'

Fonzie SNAPS his fingers. Ralph and Potsie run like little girls. Fonz then walks over and grabs Chuck by the hair and stoops over his bloodied and battered body. Chuck's eye is swollen shut and he is GASPING for air.

FONZIE

See, Chuck, it ain't goin' down like that. As uncool as you are, I ain't lettin' those nerds go to jail dealing with a lowlife jerk like you.

CHUCK

Let me go, Fonz. You kill me and what do you think'll happen? I come from a respected family. My father is the most beloved hardware store owner in the greater Milwaukee area. You? You're just a low class street thug who's family doesn't love him.

Fonzie punches Chuck.

CHUCK

See. You're a barbarian. I got a future, Fonzarelli. I got a basketball scholarship and all the poon on campus I could ask for. When I graduate, the world is my oyster. You on the other hand will be lucky if you don't see the electric chair, Scum Boy.

Fonzie roughly pulls Chuck by the hair so that Chuck's ear is closer to Fonzie's mouth.

FONZIE

Scum Boy? Is that what you think I am? Well, what about you, Chucky? What kind of Scum lays his hands on Shortcake like that. What kind of Scum breaks his mother's heart. Do you know what this did to Mrs. C? Do you? She started popping pills again because of you.

CHUCK

My parents love me!!

FONZIE

Your parents have erased you from their minds. You no longer exist, Chuck. And as far as I'm concerned, you shouldn't.

Fonzie pulls out a gun and sticks it to the back of Chuck's head.

CHUCK

Noooooo! Please don't.

RICHIE (OFFSCREEN)

Don't do it, Fonz.

RICHIE is sitting on Fonzie's bike.

FONZIE

Get outta here, Red. I got this under control.

RICHIE

I can't let you do it, Fonz. I can't let you kill him.

FONZIE

He hurt Shortcake, Red, and now he has to pay!

RICHIE

But he's my brother, Fonz.

Fonzie pauses, stares at Richie, then Chuck. He pulls the gun away from Chuck's head, shoves Chuck face first to the pavement, then puts the gun inside his jacket, and gets up.

As he starts to walk away...

CHUCK

Thank you, Richie. Thank you. I love you.

Fonz's bike starts up. Fonzie turns suddenly and watches as Richie speeds toward Chuck with the bike.

FONZIE

Noooooooooooooo!!!!!

SPLAT.

CUT TO BLACK

robyrob · 10-16-2005, 04:07 PM

i'm have a very hard time believing that script would even get past a first draft, let alone get to the filming stage - they cut ideas much tamer than that for being too "dark"; this was a family show, that episode would've been shot down immediately

Elvis Fonzie Dean · 10-16-2005, 06:14 PM

LOL

Chad22 · 10-16-2005, 06:18 PM

LOL Holy Crap, I Never thought i'd see that again.

robyrob · 10-16-2005, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C Doody

LOL Holy Crap, I Never thought i'd see that again.

and HOLY CRAP - I never thought I'd see you here again

welcomen back Mr Doody-san

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 10-16-2005, 11:26 PM

OMG DIES!!!!!!!!!!! We've been searching foreveerrrrr. *saves*

Stormtracker TF · 10-24-2005, 02:07 AM

DUDE, I thought I'd never see that. I missed the original posting in January 2003. "You sonofabitch! You wanna hurt little girls?! You think that makes you a man?!" LOL HILARIOUS.

MikeLutton · 10-24-2005, 04:05 AM

wow damm hey is that episode for real or what they call Fan Fiction.because ti was great but more suited for Happy days to Happy Darker Days the Drama years lol.

signed Mike

dave insinga · 10-27-2005, 03:23 PM

but this was so unrealistic and who really cares about CHUCK

MikeLutton · 10-30-2005, 08:05 PM

i never did chuck sucked i was glad he disapperd dont really care how he left show was awesome without him

Dr. Thong · 10-30-2005, 08:33 PM

Yeah, I could see why that show never made it to air. Maybe Quentin Tarantino could use the script as a basis for a Happy Days movie.

10-16-2005, 03:12 PM	#1
Jumeenski Member First Time Poster Join Date: Oct 16, 2005 Posts: 1	Happy Days: the Lost Episode A friend of mine in L.A. just sent me a script for an episode of HAPPY DAYS, written by D.H. Brennekar, which was filmed but never aired. Apparently ABC boss Fred Silverman felt that it was "too dark" and pulled it from the lineup with no fanfare. It's sort of a shame though because it provided a lot of answers to some of the mysteries surrounding the Cunningham family and their friends. I won't post all of it, just a few selected scenes. Without going in detail, I'll just say that as the show opens a tearful Joanie is at the police station telling the cops that her oldest brother Chuck "did things to her." What follows in the script is even more shocking. INT. CUNNINGHAM LIVING ROOM - NIGHT- CONTINUOUS HOWARD and MARION sit on the floor. Marion is CRYING. MARION I can't believe this is happening, Howard. HOWARD I know, dear. MARION He was my baby. My precious little Chucky. I brought him home wrapped in a blanket and gave him all the love he could ever want. How could he turn into such a monster? HOWARD I don't know, Marion. But I can promise you one thing right now. We will NOT let this destroy our family. As far as I'm concerned, Chuck is no longer our son. He will never be mentioned again. Not by you...or me... MARION CRIES even harder. HOWARD (CONTD) ...or Richie or Joanie. No one will ever mention his name. Or that he even existed. We will bury his memory down deep and never discuss the pain he's caused. That's the only way we can deal with it. MARION I know. You're right. It's just...there are so many things here that remind me of him. Like the front door for instance. I look at it, and remember that it's the door we came through when we first brought him home from the hospital. That it's the door he came running through when he made the basketball team. And every time it opens, I'm gonna expect to see my little Chuck walk through it. Howard gets up, walks to a closet, and removes an axe. MARION (CONTD) Howard, what are you doing? HOWARD Cleaning out the closet, Marion. Howard begins attacking the front door with the axe. Marion SCREAMS. Howard destroys the door, the entire frame, and part of the wall. HOWARD (CONTD) I'll call the construction men tomorrow, dear. They'll put up a new wall here and make another door on the other side of the room. That way it'll be a door we can look at and think happy thoughts. A door that our only two children, Richie and Joanie, can use without feeling afraid or ashamed. Marion curls into a fetal position and SOBS like a baby. Then there's this scene, which just floored me: EXT. SECRET LODGE - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS A secret council meeting is taking place. At the table are men in hooded robes, including ARNOLD, AL (Note: the same Al who would resurface years later as a regular--Richard), a man described only as PICCOLO (Note:Jenny's father maybe?--Richard), and several others. ARNOLD We have endowed you with super powers so that you may protect the family which guards the Chosen One. The camera pulls back and we see another individual, also in a hooded robe, kneeling before the council. ARNOLD (CONTD) You shall have free reign at an establishment I have set up as a cover for our mission. You will be given "an office," but not one which will reveal the true nature of your work. You will infiltrate the inner-sanctum and serve as the watcher and guardian for the Chosen One. Close shot of the kneeling individual. His head is down, revealing only his chin. ARNOLD (CONTD) Above all else, you must be willing to lay down your life for him, and for his family and friends if necessary...for they are essential for his growth...growth which must occur in order for him to fulfill his duties as the Chosen One. The kneeling individual SPEAKS but his voice is electronically altered via Harmonizer. KNEELING INDIVIDUAL Who is this Chosen One you speak of? ARNOLD He is someone you already know. He is the one they call Cunningham...Richie Cunningham. The kneeling individual removes his hood and raises his head, revealing that he is in fact FONZIE. His eyes are a glowing bright yellow. FONZIE Red. And of course the climax, which may be the most disturbing thing I've ever read: EXT. ARNOLD'S PARKING LOT - NIGHT- CONTINUOUS RALPH and POTSIE are beating CHUCK bloody with baseball bats. RALPH You sonofabitch! You wanna hurt little girls?! You think that makes you a man?! POTSIE Get up you piece of... Potsie WHACKS Chuck again with his bat. Suddenly, we hear the offscreen voice of Fonzie. FONZIE Hey! Get outta here you nerds. RALPH Not this time, Fonz. We came to do a job so you can just 'Sit on it.' Fonzie SNAPS his fingers. Ralph and Potsie run like little girls. Fonz then walks over and grabs Chuck by the hair and stoops over his bloodied and battered body. Chuck's eye is swollen shut and he is GASPING for air. FONZIE See, Chuck, it ain't goin' down like that. As uncool as you are, I ain't lettin' those nerds go to jail dealing with a lowlife jerk like you. CHUCK Let me go, Fonz. You kill me and what do you think'll happen? I come from a respected family. My father is the most beloved hardware store owner in the greater Milwaukee area. You? You're just a low class street thug who's family doesn't love him. Fonzie punches Chuck. CHUCK See. You're a barbarian. I got a future, Fonzarelli. I got a basketball scholarship and all the poon on campus I could ask for. When I graduate, the world is my oyster. You on the other hand will be lucky if you don't see the electric chair, Scum Boy. Fonzie roughly pulls Chuck by the hair so that Chuck's ear is closer to Fonzie's mouth. FONZIE Scum Boy? Is that what you think I am? Well, what about you, Chucky? What kind of Scum lays his hands on Shortcake like that. What kind of Scum breaks his mother's heart. Do you know what this did to Mrs. C? Do you? She started popping pills again because of you. CHUCK My parents love me!! FONZIE Your parents have erased you from their minds. You no longer exist, Chuck. And as far as I'm concerned, you shouldn't. Fonzie pulls out a gun and sticks it to the back of Chuck's head. CHUCK Noooooo! Please don't. RICHIE (OFFSCREEN) Don't do it, Fonz. RICHIE is sitting on Fonzie's bike. FONZIE Get outta here, Red. I got this under control. RICHIE I can't let you do it, Fonz. I can't let you kill him. FONZIE He hurt Shortcake, Red, and now he has to pay! RICHIE But he's my brother, Fonz. Fonzie pauses, stares at Richie, then Chuck. He pulls the gun away from Chuck's head, shoves Chuck face first to the pavement, then puts the gun inside his jacket, and gets up. As he starts to walk away... CHUCK Thank you, Richie. Thank you. I love you. Fonz's bike starts up. Fonzie turns suddenly and watches as Richie speeds toward Chuck with the bike. FONZIE Noooooooooooooo!!!!! SPLAT. CUT TO BLACK

10-16-2005, 06:14 PM	#3
Elvis Fonzie Dean Member Moderator Forum Star Join Date: Jan 02, 2003 Location: theUSofA Posts: 16,671	LOL
	__________________ Richie:Your lucky this is your jacket because next time its gonna be you! The Fonz:Tell me something Dean...how did he get his jacket inside the bed? http://www.lindapurl.net/gallery/career/hday1.jpg

10-16-2005, 11:26 PM	#6
¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ MISS APRIL Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: Parsonsfield ME Shaws - Screwing my way up the employment ladder! Posts: 68,780	OMG DIES!!!!!!!!!!! We've been searching foreveerrrrr. saves
	__________________ DAVID COOK FOR AMERICAN IDOL

10-24-2005, 02:07 AM	#7
Stormtracker TF Happy Easter! Moderator Forum Idol Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: Detroit, Michigan Posts: 102,598	DUDE, I thought I'd never see that. I missed the original posting in January 2003. "You sonofabitch! You wanna hurt little girls?! You think that makes you a man?!" LOL HILARIOUS.
	__________________ i s .. i t ... s t i l l .. t h e . n e w .. a g e . ? . . . o r .. a m .. i ... t o o .. l a t e .? █║║▌║█ ║▌║▌│║▌║▌█║▌║█ ║▌║▌│║▌║▌█║▌║█ ║▌║▌│║▌║▌█║▌║█ ║▌║▌│║▌║▌█

10-24-2005, 04:05 AM	#8
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,886	reply wow damm hey is that episode for real or what they call Fan Fiction.because ti was great but more suited for Happy days to Happy Darker Days the Drama years lol. signed Mike

10-16-2005, 04:07 PM	#2
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,192	i'm have a very hard time believing that script would even get past a first draft, let alone get to the filming stage - they cut ideas much tamer than that for being too "dark"; this was a family show, that episode would've been shot down immediately

10-16-2005, 06:18 PM	#4
Chad22 Captain Juke N Jive Moderator Forum Addict Join Date: Nov 23, 2002 Location: Caribou, Maine Posts: 71,661	LOL Holy Crap, I Never thought i'd see that again.

10-27-2005, 03:23 PM	#9
dave insinga Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 19, 2005 Posts: 590	great script but this was so unrealistic and who really cares about CHUCK

10-30-2005, 08:05 PM	#10
MikeLutton Mike Lutton DVD Legend! Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 05, 2005 Location: usa pennsyvania Posts: 6,886	reply i never did chuck sucked i was glad he disapperd dont really care how he left show was awesome without him

10-30-2005, 08:33 PM	#11
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Yeah, I could see why that show never made it to air. Maybe Quentin Tarantino could use the script as a basis for a Happy Days movie.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."