Jun.

27

Magnolia Girls: `"vibeology"`

FADE IN:

INTERIOR: THE MONTROSE HOTEL–DAY

MAYLEE is walking through the lobby of an exclusive and beyond chic boutique hotel. She walks passed the restaurant filled with DC movers and shakers waving selectively as she makes her way towards the hotel’s front entrance where she greets RICHARD, the doorman.

MAYLEE
Good morning, Richard. It seems the Ambassador is running a few minutes late.

RICHARD
Yes, Janet made me aware of the delay.

MAYLEE
I appreciate you coming in at such short notice.

RICHARD
No problem, Ms. Manning. It’s my pleasure to help.

A Black Towncar with diplomatic license plates pulls up. RICHARD opens the passenger door and the AMBASSADOR steps out.

RICHARD
Good morning, Mr. Ambassador. Welcome to The Montrose.

The AMBASSADOR nods at RICHARD and walks toward MAYLEE extending a handshake to her.

MAYLEE
Good morning, Mr. Ambassador. Welcome to The Montrose.

AMBASSADOR
Thank you, Ms. Manning. It’s a pleasure to be here.

MAYLEE and the AMBASSADOR turn and walk through the sliding doors into the hotel.

MAYLEE
Your guests are waiting for you in the private dining room. Please allow me to show you to your table.

MAYLEE and the AMBASSADOR walk through the lobby towards a private door inside the restaurant.

AMBASSADOR
So, Ms. Manning, how is your mother? I haven’t seen her in a while.

MAYLEE
She’s great. Busy as usual, but making a difference and that’s what’s important.

AMBASSADOR
An admirable lady.

MAYLEE
Thank you, sir. I’ll be sure to tell her that I spoke with you.

MAYLEE opens the door to the private dining room and steps aside so that the AMBASSADOR can enter.

MAYLEE
Sir, if I can assist you with anything, please contact my office directly.
Please enjoy your meeting.

EXTERIOR: NEW YORK CITY–DAY

An AERIAL VIEW of the NEW YORK CITY skyline, then morning rush hour with taxis whizzing by and people walking with purpose on the street.

INTERIOR: A POSH HOTEL LOBBY–DAY

MARISA is walking through the lobby and talking on her cellphone. She looks up to push a revolving door and sees an old friend staring back at her. CAMERON SHAW, a handsome man in his mid 30s is dressed in business attire and smiling as if he just won the lottery.

CAMERON
Marisa, is that you?

MARISA
(squinting her eyes)
Cameron? Oh, my god. I can’t believe it’s you!

MARISA pulls back from the door and they stand to the side.

CAMERON
How are you?

MARISA
I’m fantastic. How are you?

CAMERON
Doing very well. Thank you. So, what brings you to town?

MARISA
Business as usual. Buying some things for the store.
(looking at her watch)
In fact, Cameron, I’m really sorry, but I’m already late for a meeting.
It was…

CAMERON
(cutting her off)
We have to catch up. I have a dinner meeting, but are you available for drinks later in the evening?

MARISA
Oh…Cameron, I don’t know…oh, what the hell. Sometime after 8?

CAMERON
(smiling)
Perfect. Let’s meet at the Four Seasons bar at 8 o’clock?

MARISA
It was great running into you. I’ll see you at 8.

CAMERON and MARISA rush off in opposite directions to their meetings.

INTERIOR: WASHINGTON ADMIRALS PRESS ROOM- DAY

REPORTERS and CAMERA MEN are milling about, a JANITOR is steaming the linens on the dais table, an AUDIO VISUAL TECHNICIAN is testing the microphones, and TWO SECRETARIES are passing out press packets to the REPORTERS. ALDEN enters the room and walks toward the podium.

ALDEN
How’s it going? Do we have everything we need?

AUDIO VISUAL TECHNICIAN
Yes, ma’am. I’m just double checking the microphones for feedback and static. Is that the podium you wanted?

ALDEN surveys the podium and bends down to wipe some of the smudges and scratches with a cloth. She looks up and sees the team OWNER and GENERAL MANAGER walking towards her. She stands up and straightens her clothes.

OWNER
Good morning, Alden.

GENERAL MANAGER
Good Morning, how’s it going?

ALDEN
Good morning, gentlemen. It appears we are all set here. We’re just waiting for Trent Reyes and his agent to arrive. They telephoned to say that they were stuck in traffic on 495, but expect to be here shortly.

GENERAL MANAGER
Well, we can’t start the press conference without our new star quarterback, so I guess we have no choice but to wait.

ALDEN’S cellphone buzzes and she sees a TEXT from her assistant saying that Trent Reyes is in the building.

ALDEN
(to the men)
Excuse me. He’s arrived. Let me get the journalists seated.
(tapping the microphone)
Good morning, journalists. Thank you for coming out this morning for the Trent Reyes press conference. It will be just a few minutes before we begin, if you could please take your seats.

ALDEN looks at the head table and realizes that the bottled waters are missing, so she walks toward a side table to get them.

TRENT REYES, a handsome Latino in his mid 20s walks into the press room immaculately dressed with perfectly coiffed hair followed by the team’s COACH, his AGENT, and his PARENTS. The REPORTERS scramble to take their seats and cameras start flashing. TRENT walks toward the OWNER and GENERAL MANAGER.

TRENT
(extending a handshake to the Owner)
Sir, our apologies for being late, but we are extremely excited to be here today.

OWNER
Trent, son we are glad to have you.

GENERAL MANAGER
(acknowledging Trent’s parents)
Mr. and Mrs. Reyes, you must be so proud. We are pleased you both could join us for today’s announcement.

ALDEN places a water bottle on the table in front of each chair and then walks over to the group to escort them to their seats. When ALDEN and TRENT make eye contact they immediately recognize each other, but both play it off and remain professional.

ALDEN
(gesturing to the group)
Mr. and Mrs. Reyes, you will be seated here on the front row. Gentlemen you will be seated here, Coach you’ll be seated here after you introduce Trent and Trent you will stand to the right of Coach. After Coach introduces you, make a short statement and then take 10 minutes of questions.

TRENT
(whispering and coy)
Nice to see you again…minus the birdcage.

ALDEN
(stepping away)
Good Luck.

INTERIOR: COLLIN’S APARTMENT–AFTERNOON

COLLIN is playing the piano and singing.

COLLIN
Love me in a special way
What more can I say
Love me now

The doorbell rings, COLLIN walks across the room and opens the door. Her musician friend, JAKE is standing in the hallway with his saxophone case looking sweaty and frazzled.

COLLIN
There you are. I thought I was going to have to send the FBI to find you.

JAKE walks into the apartment and starts unpacking his saxophone and sheet music.

JAKE
Sorry I’m late. Traffic was at a standstill on 495.

COLLIN
I’ve been working on the El Debarge cover, but now I’m thinking I want to open with Eva Cassidy instead. What do you think?

JAKE
I was thinking Eva Cassidy too, but let me hear the Debarge cut before we make a final decision. I want to have everything mapped out when we rehearse with the rest of the band.

COLLIN
Great. Before we get started, would you like a glass of water or some tea?

JAKE
Hot tea would be great. Thanks.

COLLIN walks to her kitchen and prepares the tea. JAKE starts playing his saxophone.

INTERIOR: FOUR SEASONS BAR–NIGHT

CAMERON walks in and spots MARISA sitting at the bar. She is already drinking and reading her emails on her blackberry. CAMERON walks up behind MARISA and kisses her on the cheek.

CAMERON
Hello, lovely lady.

MARISA
Cam, hi. How was your meeting?

CAMERON
It went well, but I kept wanting to be here instead.

MARISA
(blushing)
What a nice thing to say.

CAMERON
(sitting down)
So, what’s going on?

MARISA
I’m tired to be honest. These buying trips are grueling.
I almost fell asleep waiting for you.

CAMERON
I’m glad you didn’t. I’ve been looking forward to this all day.
So, how are the rest of the girls?

MARISA
They’re all good, great in fact. How’s Gabby?

CAMERON
I wouldn’t know. Gabby and I are no longer together.

MARISA
I’m sorry to hear that.

CAMERON
So, how long has it been, Marisa?

MARISA
Six years at least.

CAMERON
Six years since the last time I ran into you in New York. Incredible.

MARISA
Yeh, considering…that is pretty incredible.

CAMERON
What are you drinking?

CAMERON waves the bartender over to take their drink order.

MARISA
Grey goose martini, dirty with extra olives.

CAMERON
(to the bartender)
Another one for the lady and one for me as well.

INTERIOR: FOUR SEASONS HOTEL ROOM–THE NEXT MORNING

Clothes are scattered on the floor and on chairs and there are empty champagne bottles turned over in ice buckets. A room service table is full of barely touched food. MARISA and CAMERON are in bed sound asleep basking in the after-glow.

MAYLEE (V.O)
The morning after…when you wonder how the hell you got there. Clearly Marisa and Cameron had such a great time catching up they decided that the after party would take place up an elevator and down a long hall…

CAMERON rolls over and cuddles MARISA before kissing her on the forehead and hopping out of bed to take a shower.

MAYLEE (V.O.)
It’s even worse when you can’t remember whether the experience was rock-my-world or just so-so, so Marisa pretended to be sleep when Cameron wanted to cuddle and was relieved when he made the first move for the shower.

MARISA sits up in bed, listens for the shower to be turned on, then grabs CAMERON’S blackberry from the night stand and scrolls through his telephone and email lists.

MAYLEE (V.O.)
But instead of agonizing over how she would explain what did or didn’t happen last night to the girls, Marisa turned into Nancy Drew.
Was last night a part of some grand plan on Marisa’s part
or was it the biggest mistake of her life?

FADE OUT:

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.