May.

9

Magnolia Girls:
`“welcome to wonderland”`

FADE IN:

INTERIOR: FRATERNITY PARTY–NIGHT (FLASHBACK)

An overhead view of party goers in an overcrowded, sweaty apartment livingroom joyfully dancing to Rob Base & DJ Easy Rock’s “It Takes Two”. There is a red spotlight in the center of the dance floor shining down on five 20-something women dancing with each other and clearly in their own world.

MAYLEE (V.O.)

We protected each other’s secrets. We had been joined at the hip since freshmen year, so other girls on campus were jealous of us because we appeared to have it all. And we did. But what no one knew, especially those of us dancing and laughing at the Gamma party that night was that after graduation our lives would separate us in ways we never imagined. We swore we would be faithful to each other no matter what and that no man, woman or child would ever separate us. It was a dream, a fantasy really, a fantasy that would turn into our nightmare.

EXTERIOR: CAPITOL HILL-WASHINGTON, DC–PRESENT DAY

East Capitol Street. Morning rush hour. MAYLEE MANNING, a beautiful and well-dressed young woman in her 30s is running across the street and up the steps of the U.S. Capitol Building. She enters the Capitol building through two large glass doors.

DOORMAN
Good Morning, Ms. Manning.

MAYLEE
(smiling)
Good morning, sir. Thanks for holding the door.

INTERIOR: U.S. CAPITOL–DAY

Maylee walks through the Capitol Rotunda past historic photos and statues toward a set of gold elevator doors. She enters the elevator and presses a button. Outside the elevator doors, she notices CONGRESSMAN JORDAN LOWELL, a tall, handsome, and well-dressed man in his late 30s reading the Washington Post. Jordan suddenly looks up, notices Maylee and raises his hand to wave hello. Maylee smiles. Jordan smiles. The elevator doors close.

INTERIOR: CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE–DAY

Maylee walks through a maze of offices waving to busy staffers on the telephone and enters the office of Congresswoman VERONICA MANNING who is sitting at her desk on the telephone and reading the Washington Post.

MAYLEE
Good morning, Madam Chairwoman.

A secretary enters and places a cup of coffee on Veronica’s desk.

VERONICA
(glancing up)
So, lady, how did it go last night?

MAYLEE
How did what go, mother?

VERONICA
Your date, my dear, with my colleague.

MAYLEE
It was…fine. I just saw him and all we could do was smile.

VERONICA
And you’ve said since you were a little girl that you didn’t want a career in politics.

MAYLEE
I still don’t. And that is exactly why I don’t know what the hell I was thinking accepting his invitation to dinner last night. It’s a slippery slope and another situation where…

Two staffers enter talking about a Washington Post article engaging Veronica and cutting Maylee off. Maylee smiles, shakes her head knowingly, stands up, adjusts her clothes and waves goodbye to Veronica who is too deep into discussions with her staffers to notice.

EXTERIOR: CAPITOL BELTWAY I-495–DAY

An aerial shot of a speeding BMW and then inside the car we meet ALDEN WASHINGTON, a 30-something, well-dressed, but less conventional beauty juggling a Starbucks coffee cup while putting her cellphone earpiece in her ear. Music is blasting inside the car and Alden swerves the car slightly to insure that she does not miss her exit ramp. A close-up of the exit sign reads FOOTBALL STADIUM. The car races off the ramp, down the street, and towards the stadium. Alden drives into an underground garage and parks her car in a reserved parking space. Still on her cellphone, Alden gets out of the car, gathers her handbag and some paperwork from the backseat, and walks into the modern building.

INTERIOR: WASHINGTON ADMIRALS OFFICES–DAY

Alden enters a set of double doors with the name WASHINGTON ADMIRALS engraved on the glass. Still on her cellphone, Alden walks passed a group of cubicles full of busy secretaries, towards her office at the end of the hall.

INTERIOR: ALDEN’S OFFICE–DAY

When Alden enters her office, a handsome, but aging FOOTBALL PLAYER is leaning on her desk.

FOOTBALL PLAYER
So, you have everything arranged for the youth center at 3pm, right?

ALDEN
(sitting down behind her desk)
Yes.

FOOTBALL PLAYER
(stands up, turns toward Alden, and takes a seat)
And, after?

ALDEN
No. Absolutely not.

FOOTBALL PLAYER
All work and no play…

ALDEN
(cuts him off)
Allows me to keep my sanity. Besides, you forgot one thing.

FOOTBALL PLAYER
And what would that be, Alden?

ALDEN
(smiling)
If I have to tell you…
(laughing)
Just get out of my office and go study film or something.

FOOTBALL PLAYER
Oh, here we go. You just can’t allow yourself to explore anything beyond the confines of your control. Can you?

ALDEN
With you? No. Just get out of here before you make me curse.

FOOTBALL PLAYER
(stands up and walks towards the door to leave)
This is getting old, Alden. I’ll leave, but this conversation is not over. I’ll call you tonight.

ALDEN
Do NOT call me tonight. I mean it. Do NOT call me tonight.

INTERIOR: ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CLASSROOM–DAY

COLLIN HAYES, an All-American girl next door in her 30s is going over lesson plans at her desk while the students in her classroom read quietly at their desks. Collin’s cellphone rings, she looks to see who is calling and steps outside the classroom into the hallway to talk.

COLLIN
Hello.

DYLAN’S TEACHER
Collin?

COLLIN
Yes.

DYLAN’S TEACHER
I’m calling to let you know that Dylan did not have his book report this morning, and unless I receive it by the end of the day, Dylan will fail my class.

COLLIN
I apologize. I saw him working on it, but I forgot to double check this morning to see if Dylan put the report in his satchel. I will go home on my lunch break and bring it to you personally. I appreciate you working with us to give Dylan the chance to improve his final grade.

DYLAN’S TEACHER
Collin, I’ve already extended one too many courtesies to you, and I realize that you are busy with your classes, but I really hope to see you in a few hours.

COLLIN
You will. Thank you. I appreciate your support. Thank you.

Collin hangs up and dials another telephone number. The phone rings, but she gets voice mail, so she leaves a message.

COLLIN
Marisa, it’s Collin. I won’t be able to meet you all for drinks this evening after all. Dylan forgot to turn in his book report, so I have to go home on my lunch break and then meet with his teacher. Afterwards, I need to prepare for tomorrow’s tests, so you ladies will just have to have a lemon drop for me. Love.

Collin hangs up the telephone and walks back into the classroom.

INTERIOR: DEPARTMENT STORE BUYER’S OFFICE–DAY

MARISA ANDERS, a stunning, fashion-forward woman in her 30s is sitting at her cluttered desk reviewing purchase orders. The small office is organized chaos filled with open boxes, books and magazines are stacked everywhere, and clothing samples hang from bookshelves. Marisa picks up her cell phone to check messages and hears the voice mail left by Collin. Then her assistant walks in with a stack of mail and fashion look books for Marisa to review.

ASSISTANT
Your 4 o’clock canceled, but Mr. Ogden would like to meet with you regarding the upcoming sales trip to New York. Should I tell him that you’re available?

MARISA
I was planning to leave early. Tell him that I have 30 minutes available and hopefully I can still get out of here.

The assistant walks out just as Marisa’s telephone rings. Marisa answers.

MARISA
What’s up, girl?

SPLIT SCREEN with Alden’s Office.

ALDEN
Girl, so much to tell you. Are we still on for spirits and sustenance tonight?

MARISA
Maylee and I are in, but Collin can’t make it.

ALDEN
Dylan?

MARISA
Always.

ALDEN
At some point, she has to get his father involved.

MARISA
I agree. So many times I’ve been tempted to call him, but I realize it is not my place, it’s not OUR place to go there.

ALDEN
It still ain’t right, though. Dylan needs his father. But, hey c’est la vie.

MARISA
(sighs)
C’est la vie.

ALDEN
Well, let me run to a meeting. See you tonight.

MARISA
Love.

ALDEN
Love.

FADE OUT:

***So, What Do You Think Happens Next?***

Disclosure: Magnolia Girls™ is a work of fiction written by Yolanda, editor of Zavvi Rodaine.com. Any similarities to past or present events or people living or dead is purely coincidental. Magnolia Girls™ may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used without prior written permission of Yolanda, editor of Zavvi Rodaine.com.