RC at The SEA: What. Comes. Next...

The usually confident RC The STORYTELLER is now at a loss of words… literally as he can’t conjure up what he’ll talk about during the next “@ The SEA” session. Will he run or rise? Read on! —The Gang

Run away, run away, run away and save your life…
Run away, run away, run away if you want to survive…

…It’s time to break free,
oh oh oh oh,
run away,
oh oh oh oh
You better break free,
oh oh oh oh,
run away,
oh oh oh oh…

This song just so happens to be looping in the head of RC THE STORYTELLER as he roams seemingly aimlessly through the darkened back alleys and dimly lit parking lots of THE WESTSIDE.
He’s got an internal discourse going on in his mind. Let’s listen in…

RC THE STORYTELLER
You did it to yourself… Threw them a bone… a distraction to buy some time… but really…

WHAT. COMES. NEXT.??

He crosses the street and takes a path that goes light pole to light pole, while the song continues to loop.

LOOPING SONG
…It’s time to break free,
oh oh oh oh,
run away,
oh oh oh oh
You better break free,
oh oh oh oh,
run away,
oh oh oh oh…

Wandering and pondering. Not really paying attention to his surroundings he continues deep in thought.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. SWIFT STREET COURTYARD / PARKING LOT

As RC THE STORYTELLER runs through various scenarios in his mind of how to deal with his “@ The SEA” sessions, an UBER-mobile rolls up and toots the horn.
The passenger side window is fully rolled down. The UBER DRIVER happens to be KIMBA THE HAPPY BARISTA from CAT & CLOUD.

KIMBA
Dude, you know you can get yourself killed wandering around like that in a darkened parking lot.

Recognizing the voice, RC looks over and smiles.

RC THE STORYTELLER
Hey you. Got a pickup this way?

KIMBA
Yeah… It’s you, silly! Now hop in. Let’s take a ride…

The song is STILL looping in RC’s head.

LOOPING SONG
Run away, run away, run away and save your life…
Run away, run away, run away if you want to survive…

And he’s still walking… while Kimba patiently follows along.

KIMBA
Face it buddy… Time to break free of… whatever’s going on in that silly head of yours. Let’s get you some… fresher air.

RC THE STORYTELLER
At this time of night?

KIMBA
Closing time,
You don’t have to go home…
But you can’t stay here…

He’s not budging so she stops the car. Gets out. Opens the passenger door (co-pilot side). And “cups her ear” as she speaks.

KIMBA
I know you’re hearing whatever you’re hearing… But to me, the sea beckons… the soothing sounds of the waves… So, Mr RC…

She motions for him to hop in.

RC THE STORYTELLER
Sure. Fine. Whatever…

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. WESTSIDE – NEAR THE SHORE

Taking off down SWIFT to WEST CLIFF, she parks in a residential area where they get out and start meandering to the seaside. For a while, it is just the steady sound of the waves.

Then Kimba gets things started.

KIMBA
Alright now… Let’s try to right this ship, shall we?

RC THE STORYTELLER
Ship? Oh… You mean, ME as in The Little DINGY That Could…?

KIMBA
Could?

RC THE STORYTELLER
Could continue my RC “@ The SEA” gig IF… I knew WHAT. COMES. NEXT.

RC is Looping…

They walk along as Kimba ponders.

What Story to tell? Is that what’s troubling you?

KIMBA
WHAT…? As in, What Story to tell? Is that what’s troubling you? Really?

It is silent for a beat before he responds.

RC THE STORYTELLER
Don’t “Really?” me. It’s… troubling… But perhaps… yeah, how would you know… so …Time for a REWIND.

KIMBA
A WHAT?!

Now he’s smiling…

RC THE STORYTELLER
Say WHAT again…

KIMBA
Are we detouring… PULP FICTION?

RC THE STORYTELLER
That would be a gear shift… and another diversion. This particular “REWIND” starts with ME…
Quite literally…

She stops and gives him a look.

KIMBA
Now, whatcha on about?

RC THE STORYTELLER
Uh… RC… Remote Control… You didn’t know?

KIMBA
Just saw the other you springing from KATIE’s SLABBY THING one day at work.

RC THE STORYTELLER
Ah! Right… Our mutual friend, the FORMER SUIT, MS KATIE, was stoked to bring … RC THE GREMLIN… back to life.
And yes, I’m enjoying this shapeshifting gig.

KIMBA
Until now I guess…
You can always shift back, right?

RC THE STORYTELLER
Well… That IS one way to break free from what’s troubling me… However…

They continue to walk and talk.

KIMBA
Sorry to distract Mr Remote Control Shapeshifter … now please to REWIND.

RC THE STORYTELLER
As you may recall, I recently closed out SEASON 1 of Duckin’ Tales… and the gatherers cried out for more.

KIMBA
Yes, and… You did a redirect… Something about checking out the BREAK-DANCIN-KAT up on FAIR, right?

RC THE STORYTELLER
Yup. The timing seemed right… Plus, there’s lots to experience up on FAIR.

KIMBA
Agree! Been going there a bit… Hanging out… until this (pulls out phone from her pocket) pings and I do a pickup.

RC THE STORYTELLER
Your UBER gig, and thus, full circle…

KIMBA
Yes, and… Here’s a flash for ya…

RC THE STORYTELLER
Oh?

KIMBA
It seems that every time I stop in… at every pseudo-impromptu performance, I’ve been hearing murmuring about that Kat…

RC THE STORYTELLER
As in…?

Who is he? Where’d he come from? How’d he learn to…? Does he live near?

KIMBA
Who is he? Where’d he come from? How’d he learn to…? Does he live near? Et cetera. Et cetera.

RC THE STORYTELLER
Really?

KIMBA
Yup… They can’t get enough of his moves… but what they really want is his backstory.
It’s kinda amusing, actually, that without anything concrete, they seem to be coming up with some really imaginative scenarios of their own for him.
I’ll admit, there’s a whole lot of creative going on AND I suppose, if you wanted to do Open Mic Storytelling as a stop-gap…

She stops rambling and they continue walking with RC pondering what she said.

KIMBA
Okay, Dude… Just kidding. You know that Open Mic would be a terrible idea. Once you hand someone a mic…

RC THE STORYTELLER
There’s no PLAY-YOU-OFF music. We’d have to have PLAY-YOU-OFF music or a ginormous… GONG! And that’d be rude…

There’s more silent walking, and then Kimba pipes up again.

KIMBA
Got it!

She motions with her hand: Thumb touches head. Pinky finger pointed to the sky. He gives her a questioning look and she blurts out what she’s thinking.

KIMBA
How about if you REWIND… and give them… Something like… “The Wonder Kat Adventures” ?

RC THE STORYTELLER
Ah! THE WONDER KAT!! Might could…

She continues her thinking on the subject.

KIMBA
Yes, and… Maybe shape it as a play off Wonder and Wander… That KEE-KEE probably does a fair share of wandering about, I bet.

RC THE STORYTELLER
Good point. So… Wander and Wonder, eh?

KIMBA
Sure! I had an urge recently to compare and contrast those words.

She stops and pulls out her phone. Taps on it and shows the screen to RC.

MOBILE SCREEN
Wonder – > To think curiously or doubt, or to feel amazement or awe.

He hands it back to her and she taps some more, then returns it to him.

MOBILE SCREEN
Wander – > walk or move in a leisurely, casual, or aimless way…

KIMBA
Come to think of it, that, my friend, was you just a while ago… wandering SWIFT STREET.
But somehow… I’m thinking there’s a…

She gently pulls her phone back.

KIMBA
One more itch I gotta scratch… Hang on.

MOBILE SCREEN
Physical vs. Mental: Wander is a physical activity, while wonder is a mental activity.

And once more, she shows the screen to RC.

RC is holding the phone and starts walking again. Kimba silently follows along.

RC THE STORYTELLER
Ah… I think I… see…

KIMBA
The PLAY on words??

RC THE STORYTELLER
Definitely a good hook..

She watches as RC seems to be running a bunch of ideas through his head… So she piles on some more.

KIMBA
And think about it… there’s all those WANDER and WONDER quotes you can use.

RC gives her a look.

KIMBA
Let’s head back. You can GOOGLE later…

RC THE STORYTELLER
Gotcha…

DISSOLVE TO:

INT. KIMBA’S UBER MOBILE

At first, they drive along in silence. RC is looking out the window. Kimba reaches over and presses the ON button to her car’s stereo.

CAR-TUNES
Shine sweet freedom
Shine your light on me
You are the magic
You’re right where you wanna be
Oh sweet freedom carry me along
We’ll keep the spirit alive
…on and on
Oh-oh-oh…

KIMBA
There you go, Buddy…

She pulls over and let’s RC out.

RC THE STORYTELLER
Did you just … Play-Me-Off?

KIMBA
Who me?

RC THE STORYTELLER
Never mind. Thanks … for your time AND I have to say… incredible timing.

KIMBA
My pleasure…

She waves and pulls away.

FADE OUT.