Connection is made; Putting it all in perspective…
A flashback and a realization…
FADE IN:
INT. JULIE’S HOUSE
Mid-way between Julie’s living room and bathroom, Fran is sitting on the floor, leaning against a wall. She has a far away look in her eyes.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. FRAN’S OLD APARTMENT
There is only a solitary streak of sunlight coming through the blinds. Otherwise, the room is dark. A television is on and a Bugs Bunny cartoon is playing. Pull back to see a disheveled looking Fran sitting, leaning against the wall (in a position similar to the one in Julie’s house). She’s watching but not reacting to the television. The phone is ringing and she doesn’t move.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. JULIE’S HOUSE
Return back to Fran is sitting on the floor, leaning against a wall. It’s very quiet. A door slams. And at the same time, out of the bathroom door walks Julie. She is bare-footed and has a hooded t-shirt on and baggy shorts. Carrying her workout clothes in a bundle, she nearly trips over Fran.
JULIE
What the…? No way! What the hell are you doing here? How’d you get in?
Fran jumps up clearly caught by off guard. Before she can reply, she notices Julie’s attention has turned toward the front door.
JULIE
And what’s he doing here?
Doogie, also caught by surprise, moves backwards toward the front door. Fran steps between Julie and Doogie.
FRAN
Hey girl. Sorry to catch you off guard like that… it’s just… well, we were worried about you… when you didn’t come back…
JULIE
So what? You HAD to come over to check in on the loser, is that it?
Please… I’m not your project.
Doogie, having steadied himself, slowly walks towards Fran, who is slowly backing up towards Doogie.
DOOGIE
(whispers) Ouch!
Julie looks towards Doogie.
JULIE
Yours either!
FRAN
(whispers to Doogie) Double ouch!
Julie turns her anger towards Doogie.
JULIE
And what? Like YOU came over to … to comfort me! Yeah right! Excellent timing fly boy. Got it all scripted out..
Julie is waving her arms as she speaks.
JULIE
The “Charming Prince” gallops in and rescues damsel in distress,right? Like, how Disney is that?!
Fran whispers to Doogie.
FRAN
Triple-ouch.
Julie continues her rant.
JULIE
Okay kids. Freak show is over. Move along now. See, I’m (air quotes) “okay.” But yeah, I won’t be going back this afternoon.
Doogie and Fran have been backing up and are just about at door.
JULIE
Go on…
She motions them towards Fran’s car. Doogie has let himself out and is halfway down the front walk. He doesn’t notice that Fran has not followed him and has, instead, turned around.
Julie is about to slam the door when Fran puts her arm up to stop the door from closing completely. She talks through the crack.
FRAN
Hey girl. Hang on a minute. (pause) Please hear me out.
JULIE
Why should I do that…Please, just leave me alone alright? There’s nothing I need or want to hear from you right now.
FRAN
Oh yeah? How about this? I know how you feel. (pause)
You may think what you’re going through right now is unique, but believe me when I tell you that it happened to me (pause). Seriously. I know the pain. It is like … like it happened just yesterday.
Julie starts to soften. The door starts opening up more.
FRAN
You see… When it happened to me I walked out of the office and stayed out for days.
Julie’s eyes get wide.
JULIE
Days?
FRAN
Lost track of time actually. I sat at home watching cartoons. Couldn’t do anything else really but stare at the TV. And the thing is, nobody called. Nobody checked in on me. Nobody cared. And when I finally snapped out if it … can’t remember but I think I must have gotten hungry or something… anyway, I found the energy to pick up the phone and call in. You know what happened?
Julie shakes her head.
FRAN
I got yelled at. That’s right. I was chewed out by my boss and then suspended without pay for 3 days. Something about taking vacation time without filling out the proper paperwork.
JULIE
What? You’re kidding… That really happened?
The door is wide open and Julie motions Fran to come in and have a seat. Then Julie clears off a chair and sits nearby. And for a moment things are silent.
JULIE
That’s F’d up… Seriously F’d up.
All goes silent as the words sink in. Then Julie starts laughing. Like a spontaneous, belly laugh. At first Fran is astonished. Then, seeing tears of laughter streaming down Julie’s cheeks leads Fran to laughs along with her.
JULIE
Oh… that’s good. Real good.
FRAN
That I got suspended? Or, perhaps you are anticipating what I did next.
JULIE
Which was?
FRAN
I quit. When my suspension was up, I walked in with my resignation. And the funny thing is, they actually had plans for me… to send me to a trade show or something… like the suspension didn’t happen.
JULIE
So you quit… but… Did you have a job to go to?
FRAN
No. I just knew that I had given too much of myself to that place and those turkeys. To have it pulled away and then… a suspension? Yeah… wasn’t going to happen. I took a leap and it worked out.
Julie gets really quiet. Then she looks up at Fran…
JULIE
I guess that means…
Anticipating Julie may be reading too much into the story, Fran jumps in.
FRAN
I’m not suggesting that you quit.
JULIE
Quit? I’m not that crazy. What I was about to say … that means that I got initiated today… right?
Fran looks at her and smiles.
JULIE
Dang! So that’s what you and Gayle were talking about? That’s the Lucy’d thing?
FRAN
‘Fraid so… Sucks huh?
JULIE
Yeah… it does. Some weird sort of initiation if you ask me.
FRAN
You got that right.
There’s a knock at the screen door. Fran looks at Julie.
JULIE
Yeah. Okay. Let him in.
DOOGIE
Everything alright, ladies? Heard some laughter and figured it was safe. (to Fran) Is it safe?
Before Fran can answer, Julie jumps in. She walks right up to him, poking him in his chest.
JULIE
Alright? Are you kidding? This is YOUR fault!
DOOGIE
Huh?
JULIE
Come on… Don’t act surprised. This whole trip idea. It was yours wasn’t it? You pressured Fran into inviting me.
She pushes him hard with both hands, causing him to stumble backwards but not fall.
JULIE
And if I had just stayed home, like I do every weekend, I would have been on the pitch team today. (sarcastically) I’m such an idiot for listening… for letting myself get distracted by you (looking at Fran) and YOU (looking at Doogie).
Getting Lucy’d could have been prevented…
Doogie is visibly shaken by the look Julie is giving him.
JULIE
It’s NOT alright. Go! Just go! And stay away from me… Seriously, you and your cookies… No more!
Julie is holding open the door for Doogie to leave. Fran jumps in and motions Julie to sit down.
FRAN
Yeah, we both will go. But first, please look at the piece of paper Doogie has in his pocket.
Fran motions to Doogie to get the paper.
DOOGIE
Oh yeah…
Doogie reaches into is pocket and pulls out a piece of paper that he hands to Fran who then hands it to Julie.
FRAN
Take a look at this.
Julie turns away, reads it and then turns back around and looks up at both of them.
JULIE
No way. No… This can’t be right.
DOOGIE
As right as rain. I got this from the receptionist. She booked the reservation. I knew you wouldn’t believe either of us, so I had her print out the confirmation.
Julie crunches up the paper and flings it across the room. Doogie remarks to Fran.
DOOGIE
Hey, she’s got a good arm. Sign that girl up.
###
To be continued in Toll House Tales #128
[…] Toll House Tales: All Fired Up – 127 –A flashback and a realization… Fran and Doogie are in pursuit of Julie… […]