Network
1×11 – “The Fall”
By: Jessica Boggs
FADE IN:
INT. AUDITION STAGE – FIVE MINUTES LATER
The trailer for Marietta just played and it got positive reception from the crowd. ASH is extremely pleased with the response.
ASH
(ecstatic)
So, what did you think about Marietta?
The audience cheered.
ASH
I’m happy to hear that. Make sure to tune in to Marietta Tuesday at 8:30! And now, here is Psych Med.
CUT TO:
INT. GREEN ROOM – CONTINUOUS
The security guard shows up into the green room. CHARLIE is badly maimed, with clothes ripped and face bruised with a black eye.
GUARD
Okay, ladies! Stop all this commotion!
JESSE
(sighs)
I feel like I’m seeing an episode of Monday Night Raw.
KASEY
No s*** Sherlock. I thought I was watching Dynasty.
ACTOR #1
I wish I was on the upcoming reboot.
CHARLOTTE
Shut your d**n mouth, you twat!
GUARD
(sternly)
All right! Enough! I’m going to have to pull you both away from the scene and report this to Ash.
JESSE
Right on, partner!
KASEY
(glares at JESSE)
Jesse! That is not how you talk to a security guard. You’re not even on the force.
JESSE
(sighs)
Sorry.
CUT TO:
INT. AUDITION STAGE – CONTINUOUS
The audience stares blankly at the screen for Psych Med.
CRITIC #1
(shouts loudly)
This show f****** sucks!!!!!
The rest of the audience boos loudly. Embarrassed, ASH looks at the audience.
CUT TO:
INT. GREEN ROOM – CONTINUOUS
LEAH freaks out after seeing Twitter reception.
LEAH
(cross-eyed)
Wait to go, Jesse. You got a drama that everybody hates. Happy now?
JESSE
(slumps)
No! What is it like, again?
LEAH
(hands over phone)
One critic yelled, “This show f****** sucks” in the middle of the trailer.
JESSE
(in shock)
Oh s***! What the hell have I done this time?
LEAH
Beats me.
CHARLIE
(picks up phone)
Hmmm, some juicy s*** is about to go down!
CHARLIE types on her touchscreen phone. She is about to send a tweet. This is about to feel like xoxo, Gossip Girl here.
KASEY
Charlie! This is not the appropriate time to do so. We are going through a network crisis!
CHARLIE
Oh well, already did.
HOLLY enters, in stunning fashion.
HOLLY
Why does this have to happen?
HOLLY faints. KASEY is mortified.
KASEY
(startled)
Holly, are you okay? Holly?
KASEY gets HOLLY up. HOLLY bawls. They leave the room.
CUT TO:
INT. BUSINESS HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS
The girls have a conversation in the hallway. Then HOLLY admits something shocking.
HOLLY
I’m pregnant…
KASEY is mortified.
KASEY
What?!?!? You haven’t told Jesse yet, have you?
HOLLY
I’m afraid not. I might as well wait.
KASEY
I think we need to sit down. So what happened?
HOLLY
It happened to be a case where one thing led to another. We kissed, and the next thing I knew we were in his room. Things got hot and heavy real quick.
KASEY
This is eye-opening. Let’s just go to the green room and tell everyone.
The girls leave.
CUT TO:
INT. GREEN ROOM – CONTINUOUS
The girls enter back into the room.
HOLLY
Jesse!
JESSE
(startled)
Holly? What is it? Are you okay?
KASEY
Holly’s pregnant!
LEAH, JESSE, CHARLIE, and HOLLY all freeze in confusion.
CHARLIE
(in shock)
So, that’s the juicy s*** I missed? This is scandalous.
JESSE
Pregnant?
HOLLY
(sadly)
Yep. This is true.
JESSE paces back and forth.
HOLLY
How can this be happening? We used protection.
LEAH
(mortified)
Do you realize pregnancy can still happen even with protection?
JESSE
Now we are going to be parents. We may have to find a way to co-parent this child. As for this relationship, I don’t think we can continue on like this.
HOLLY
(shocked)
What? I thought you loved me!
ASH enters, mortified at the turn of events.
ASH
This is a disaster! Never in my ten years as a network executive have we ever have a show that bombed so badly with the critics. Never in my tenure has a trailer been received so poorly.
CHARLIE
The suspense continues. This has got to be embarrassing for this network. How to recover from this I am not sure about.
ASH
Pack your things, Jesse. I’m putting you on administrative leave. With the disaster that is Psych Med and now a rumored pregnancy, we do not need any more controversy. Until you correct things, then you are welcome to come back. Is that clear?
JESSE
Yes, sir.
ASH, HOLLY, LEAH, and CHARLIE exit. KASEY and JESSE remain.
JESSE
Well, I messed up badly. There may be a chance my job will be nonexistent.
KASEY
Well, we both messed up. It’s okay.
JESSE
After all of this, there’s no going back.
JESSE immediately kisses KASEY in the heat of the moment.
KASEY gradually pulls back.
KASEY
(surprised)
Well, what was that?
JESSE
Look, I like you. I really like you.
KASEY
I like you too, Jesse. You’re right. There is no going back.
JESSE and KASEY embrace, then kiss again. A fitting end to an episode.
Stay tuned to see what happens the rest of the season of Network!
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