LUCKY IN LIFE, UNLUCKY IN LOVE Pilot, "Date From Hell" by Paula McColm copyright(c)2020@paulamccolm This screenplay cannot be used for any puposes including educational purposes without the permission of the author. [email protected] INT. CAREGIVERS' SUPPORT GROUP MEETING - DAY TEN Participants of the group are sitting in folding chairs that form a circle in the middle of the 15x15 foot room as TOM, 40, is sharing with the members. MIMI LIMERICK, 28, 5'8", athletic built, auburn hair in dredlocks, dressed in blue scrubs and a white lab coat with a name tag titled, RN ICU Supervisor, is sitting next to... JOEN GOMEDA, 35, 5'7", of slender graceful stature, long silky black hair with olive complexion, carrying an over-sized Louis Vuitton Hand Bag bulging with samples of colorful upholstery fabric. TOM It's not that I don't love my mom, but at times she has a way of getting on my nerves-- Especially when she criticizes my husband while I'm caring for her- MIMI I know what you mean, Tom-- My Dad's been pointing out more and more how I haven't found the right person to settle down with-- Maybe it's because he has more time on his hands since his stroke- JOEN Listen, everyone it looks like we've gone over our time-- Does anyone else have a burning desire to share before we close? No one speaks out then Tom continues- TOM I just want to say that since I've been coming here, I'm not feeling as overwhelmed with my mother being on Chemo-- And thanks for all of your support- JOEN Thank you, Tom, and it's so good to hear you share today. Okay, everyone take care until our next meeting- Everyone begins to stand up as a few have gone over to give kudos to Tom. Joen and Mimi start to catch-up with one another before leaving. MIMI Hey, Joen, you did a good job of leading the group today-- 2. JOEN Oh, thanks, Mimi-- It's been a while but it feels good to be back. MIMI Oh, and how's your mom doing since her breast surgery? JOEN Well, she has her good days and bad days, but she's definitely getting better. Like they say, one day at a time-- How bout' yourself? Things coming along alright for you? MIMI Oh sure, my Dad can't wait to get back on his audio board for remote TV shoots. His recover is steady but slow, so he's been mopping around right now-- JOEN Can't keep a good man down for long-- So you up to anything else, lately? MIMI Oh, Joen, I met someone that I feel has potential. I'm so excited about going out with him tonight at a comedy club- JOEN Wow, that's great. You have a great time. You deserve it. Just keep me posted later, okay? MIMI Oh, sure will. I better run, Bye- JOEN See ya, Mimi- Mimi rushes out the double-door as Joen walks behind her. EXT. CAREGIVERS MEETING PLACE - SIDEWALK/STREET - CONTINUOUS After getting in her late-model blue ROVER parked on the street, she drives away. EXT. THE JUICE BAR - NIGHT Before heading toward her high-rise condo Joen, stops by the juice bar and peers in an open top Dutch-door of the closet-sized hot spot. LOUD POP MUSIC is playing. Lights are on, but nobody's there. She pounces the bell on the lower half-door ledge. 3. A MALE, 20, in a half apron, quickly stumbles out of a side door. He points to the posted CLOSED sign. She half-smiles pulling out a twenty for change. As he fumbles for ones and fives, she gazes across the street at people in evening attire schmoozing in front of a place. Two Men, late 20's, in white shirts and black pants, are carrying guitars toward an audio set-up on the sidewalk. A Woman, 25, in a safari jacket, takes photos of Two Babes, 20s, wearing silky gowns in casual poses on a red carpet. She walks away with her change and crosses the street. EXT. THE C GALLERY ON BROADWAY - CONTINUOUS Joen gingerly passes through A CROWD OF TEN, 25-60, sipping drinks from clear plastic cups outside of the 1930's newly restored two-storey brick Mission-style building. Two tall posters texted with: "C Gallery On Broadway Grand Opening" are propped against the building on the periphery of two open doors and two large bay windows housing Art. At twilight, two guitarists warm-up and play FLAMENCO MUSIC as more couples sway out of the doors. Joen moves toward one of the open doors. INT. THE C GALLERY ON BROADWAY - CONTINUOUS After entering the gallery, Joen is stun by the well-lit paintings and sculptures on exhibit. The Gallery Owner, 50, short red hair in a red lace dress, greets her and hands her a list of the artists. She gawks in awe at a large abstract watercolor painting, then circles the artist's name, "Susan Moss". Joen ends up going into an opening where A Bartender, 30, with tattoos covering her forearms, serves her champagne-- She places down a five from her hand bag as a tray of salmon circulates from a petite server dressed in black. As Joen checks out the appetizers, she's bumped by PATRICIA BONILLA, 4O, short cropped black hair with wide framed glasses, dressed in avant-garde fashion made of a clear raincoat slashed with paint. BONILLA Oh my God, is that you, Joen? It's been years- JOEN Patricia, I can't believe it- Where've you been hiding? They LAUGH LOUDLY while having an old chum bear hug. 4. BONILLA I never hide; I just wear a lot of camouflage to stay under the radar- JOEN Wow, I missed you-- So, tell me what are you doing now? BONILLA Listen, you must come over to my Mural Painting Project near our old stomping ground around the corner from the Fashion Institute in the Santee Alley Public Gallery- JOEN Oh, yeah, haven't been there for over five years-- When? BONILLA (pulls out a card) How about next weekend? Listen, here's my card. Just give me a call anytime- JOEN Sure, let's do it. Oh, by the way, I just live across the street- BONILLA Fine, gotta go Joen, but hey, we will connect again, right? JOEN No doubt, It'll be amazing, and can't wait- They exchange kisses on each other's cheeks before parting. INT. MIMI'S CONDO - LIVING ROOM - EVENING Mimi drags into her place, kicks off her Nikes, CRANKS-UP DAVE MATTHEWS BAND on an old CD player, unsnaps her surgery scrub jacket, and tosses it on a topple laundry basket on the other side of the couch. She sorts through a pile of mail and rips open the bi-weekly auto-deposit paycheck statement from her employer, UCLA Medical Center. She NODS while fingering the 16 hours of O.T., then SOBS over the 40% tax amount taken out. A Felix-the-Cat CLOCK in the kitchen reads out "5:45" as she heads into the bathroom. INT. MIMI'S BATHROOM - CONTINUOUS She ties up her long dredlocks and gets into a steamy shower. Soon after, the water pipes RATTLE, she shivers, hops out, and stumbles on a Yoga Mat rolled-up on floor. 5. INT. MIMI'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS Two outfits are laid-out on the bed-- one's a red form-fitting DRESS, and the other is AN ENSEMBLE of vintage ripped jeans with a loose draw-string peasant top. She flings the red one back in her crammed closet. INT. MIMI'S LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS After she polishes her teeth with PRONAMEL, she runs to the Sofa-Table and picks up and kisses a couple of TICKETS: "Dave Matthews Band / LA Staples Center" MIMI (mouths to herself) For my nest big date with Mr. Right, Yeow- The door bell RINGS, she turns off the music then opens the door to JAMES MENKEY, 32, a dead-ringer for Russell Brand coming off a bender. He JIGGLES his keys on a BMW key chain, then points to: 7:00 on the face of his TISSOT WATCH. MIMI Oh, Hi, James, wanna come in- JAMES Hey, I think we better get a move on-- Traffic is kinda heavy, but we'll just make it on time if we leave now- MIMI Okay, just let me get my purse- She picks up her purse on a table near the door then walks out and SHUTS the door. EXT. MIMI'S CONDO - CONTINUOUS JAMES Wow, Mimi, you look amazing- MIMI Thank you, James. Okay, let's go- INT. 1986 RED BMW - MOVING - CONTINUOUS MIMI Wow, you weren't kidding about the traffic- JAMES LA is one big giant freeway, like the old song- MIMI Funny, my dad used to play that song when I was growing up- 6. JAMES Oh, yeah, what does your old man do for a living? MIMI He's been in the music and television industry most of his life- JAMES Hum, I'm impressed. He must know all the rappers, like Jay-Z MIMI Oh, yeah, he's met quite a few since working the audio equipment for most shows like American Idol and the Voice. JAMES Well, I grew up around a pretty famous guy that I think you'd know- MIMI Oh, yeah, who's that? JAMES Trentin Sarentino- MIMI Oh my God, Really? I love all his movies- JAMES We were pretty tight all through middle school in the South Bay-- Even back then, he was sort of a rebel- MIMI What do you mean? JAMES Well, let's put it this way, he had these raw and edgy ideas for movies going on in his head even before he made his first big film- MIMI Sounds like a true visionary- JAMES Yeah, well, that's a story for another time.