1. EXT. SMALL TOWN THEATER, AFTERNOON
2. INT. THEATER, CHILDREN'S BEAUTY PAGEANT
There are TEN GIRLS 8 - 10 years old, in formal dresses, lined up on stage, along with SHANNON and HEATHER, both 9 years old. The AUDIENCE is filled with parents, including Shannon's mother TERRY, and Heather's mother SAMANTHA. SHANNON walks up to the microphone, and SINGS and DANCES. She sings "Stupid Cupid" TERRY mouths the words while SHANNON is singing. TERRY CHEERS and YELLS out words of encouragement. When she finishes, the AUDIENCE APPLAUDS. Then HEATHER walks up and SINGS and DANCES incredibly well. She sings "The Shoop Shoop Song - It's in his Kiss". Afterwards, the AUDIENCE APPLAUDS. TERRY looks unhappy, and SAMANTHA smiles at her. The female ANNOUNCER comes up to the microphone.
(on PA system)
Thank you very much. It was very difficult decision for the judges. Third place winner goes to Jennifer Jackson.
The AUDIENCE APPLAUDS, and a GIRL walks over the ANNOUNCER and she hands her a trophy.
Second place goes to Tiffany Smith.
The AUDIENCE APPLAUDS, and a GIRL walks over the ANNOUNCER and she hands her a trophy.
(melodramatic)
And this years first place winner for the America Sweetheart Peach Pageant is -
TERRY and SAMANTHA are looking at the stage, and then look at each other, SMILING menacingly.
Heather MacMillian!
The AUDIENCE roars with APPLAUSE. TERRY's smile vanishes. SAMANTHA beams a huge smile, and gloats, and then starts applauding her daughter, hooting and hollering. SAMANTHA then stands up. The AUDIENCE then stands up, and gives HEATHER a standing ovation. HEATHER walks up to the ANNOUNCER who puts a crown on her head, gives her bouquet of roses, and a giant trophy. SHANNON crosses her arms, and looks mad.
3. EXT. THEATER, AFTERNOON. Members of the AUDIENCE and other GIRLS are walking back and forth in the background.
TERRY is berating SHANNON.
You have to stand straight with your back straight when you walk, and now show me how you walk!
SHANNON then demonstrates her walk.
(angry)
And you did not project your voice! I told you to sing with your diaphragm, and try the song again!
SHANNON SINGS a bit of her song.
(angry)
No! Do you think people in the back in the back can hear? You're singing to the angels remember? You're an angel singing. Sing so the other angels will hear you and say, wow what a beautiful little girl with a beautiful voice! Now try again.
SHANNON SIGHS in exasperation.
Well, you're going to be practicing tonight when we get home.
SHANNON
I have homework tonight.
TERRY
This comes first. You know that. When I'm satisfied, you can do your homework.
SAMANTHA and HEATHER walk up.
(gloating)
Hi Terry! Look at Heather's trophy!
TERRY
(coldly)
Hi Samantha. That's very nice.
SAMANTHA
Wow! You've got a room full by now, don't you sweetheart? We're running out of room to put them all aren't we?
TERRY
We've entered Shannon in the talent show next week.
HEATHER
I won the talent show last year, and the year before that also.
SAMANTHA
I heard there's going to be a talent scout in the audience looking for the next child star.
TERRY
Oh really?
SAMANTHA
Maybe you could hire a singing coach to help her with her singing.
TERRY GRIMACES as if stuck with a cattle prod.
Hiring professionals is not important when your child has natural talent. Shannon can sing very well, and not only that but she can dance also. Show them your dancing.
SHANNON starts DANCING. HEATHER bursts out LAUGHING.
I hope you don't think you're going to win the talent show with that!
SAMANTHA
Well, It's been wonderful, but we've got to get going. Bye!
SAMANTHA picks up HEATHER's giant trophy, and SAMANTHA and HEATHER walk off.
4. EXT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, MORNING
5. EXT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PLAGROUND, MORNING
CHILDREN are PLAYING on the playground equipment. CAITLIN and MACKENZIE, both 9 year old girls, are talking when SHANNON walks up to them. CAITLIN and MACKENZIE are jumping rope, and quit jumping when SHANNON walks up.
Did you win at the pageant?
SHANNON
No
MACKENZIE
What pageant?
CAITLIN
Shannon was in a beauty pageant
MACKENZIE
Did you win?
SHANNON
No
MACKENZIE
Who did?
SHANNON
Heather
MACKENZIE
How come?
SHANNON
Because
CAITLIN
She's so pretty!
SHANNON
I guess
KAITYN
Are you going to be in the talent show?
MACKENZIE
When is it?
SHANNON
(proud)
Next week, and yes I'm going to be in it.
CAITLIN
Cool
MACKENZIE
I hope you win.
SHANNON
My mom will be so mad if I don't win.
CAITLIN
(suddenly)
Hey! You know what?
SHANNON
What?
CAITLIN
Y'know that old lady at the library?
SHANNON
The librarian?
CAITLIN
Yeah, you know what? She's got a fake leg.
MACKENZIE
For reals?
CAITLIN
Yeah, it's fake
SHANNON
Nuh-uh
CAITLIN
Uh-huh!
SHANNON
Nuh-uh
CAITLIN
Yeah, it's wood. You can take it off. I'll show ya. C'mon!
6. INT. SCHOOL LIBRARY. CAITLIN, MACKENZIE, and SHANNON sneak up behind an extremely elderly LIBRARIAN sitting at a desk, hunched motionless over a book.
(whispering)
Now up sneak behind her, and grab her leg, and it'll come right off!
SHANNON
(whispering)
No way!
MACKENZIE
(in normal voice)
How do you know?
CAITLIN
(whispering)
Ssssh! Now look, I'll show you. Shannon?
SHANNON
(whispering)
What?
CAITLIN
(whispering)
Sneak up behind her, grab the leg, and it will come off!
SHANNON
(whispering)
What do you want me to do?
CAITLIN
(whispering)
Get down on the ground.
CAITLIN, MACKENZIE, and SHANNON KNEEL on the ground.
(whispering)
You're going to get in trouble!
CAITLIN
(whispering)
Now just sneak up on her and grab her leg.
MACKENZIE
(whispering)
I'm gonna tell.
SHANNON looks nervous, but she starts creeping along the ground, getting closer to the LIBRARIAN. When SHANNON is right behind the LIBRARIAN's chair, she looks back.
(yelling while whispering, sort of yelling without using your vocal cords)
Which one??!!
CAITLIN
(whispering)
What?
SHANNON
(whispering)
Which one?
CAITLIN
(whispering)
The right! No, wait, the left!
SHANNON grabs the LIBRARIAN's left leg. The LIBRARIAN jumps up and SHRIEKS. The LIBRARIAN reaches down and grabs SHANNON. CAITLIN and MACKENZIE run out of the library.
(stern)
What is the meaning of this, young lady?
SHANNON
(afraid)
Nothing!
LIBRARIAN
(stern)
Just what do you think you're doing?
SHANNON
Caitlin told me to do it.
LIBRARIAN
I don't care who told you to do it.
SHANNON
Caitlin and Mackenzie were here too!
LIBRARIAN
No more monkey business! You're going to the office!
SHANNON looks worried, as the LIBRARIAN writes out a note and gives it to her.
Take this to the office!
SHANNON sheepishly leaves the library.
7. EXT. SHANNON'S HOUSE, MORNING
8. INT. SHANNON'S HOUSE, LIVING ROOM, MORNING
SHANNON's mother TERRY, and father BOB are talking.
This is too expensive.
TERRY
It's one of the cheapest dresses they sell.
BOB
Why does a nine year old need a 750 dollar dress?
TERRY
You don't think Shannon's worth it?
BOB
I don't think the dress is worth it. She already has an expensive dress.
TERRY
Do you have any idea how embarrassing it was for me for her to be wearing the same dress at the American Sweetheart Peach Pageant as she wore at the Fairy Tale Princess Pageant? I heard the other mothers snickering when she showed up wearing the same dress!
TERRY then calls out SHANNON, and her brother TOMMY, 6 years old.
(yelling)
Shannon! Tommy! You're going to be late for school!
SHANNON and TOMMY come out. TOMMY is pretending to fly around like Superman. BOB is trying to read the newspaper. TERRY goes in the kitchen, and is putting dishes in the dish washer.
How do you make milk shake?
TERRY
I don't know.
TOMMY
Give it a good scare
TOMMY LAUGHS at his own joke.
Why kind of ant is good at math?
SHANNON
What?
TOMMY
Account-ant
SHANNON rolls her eyes.
What kind of hair does the ocean have?
SHANNON
What kind?
TOMMY
Wavy!
TOMMY
What goes ha ha bonk?
SHANNON
A man laughing his head off.
BOB
Why did the ant elope?
TOMMY
Why?
BOB
Nobody gnu.
This elicits a blank look from TOMMY
Eloping is if nobody knows you get married. An antelope is a type of deer. A gnu is also a type of deer.
TOMMY
So they got married?
SHANNON
Yes, dear
BOB
No, it's a joke.
TERRY
Now, remember Shannon, the talent show is on tonight, and I want you to practice before you go, so I need you to come right home after school, you understand?
SHANNON
(sighing)
Yes
TERRY
You can�t go to Caitlin�s house or Mackenzie�s house after school, because you have to get ready for the talent show.
SHANNON
Ok, yes, I know
TERRY
Ok, now both of you hurry up or you�ll be late for school.
SHANNON and TOMMY kiss their mother goodbye, and leave the house.
9. EXT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AFTERNOON
10. INT. CLASSROOM - The TEACHER and a boy named named LEWIS are standing in front of the class. SHANNON, CAITLIN, HEATHER, and other KIDS are sitting in the desks. There is a large clay model of a volcano on a table in front of the class.
Wow, Lewis, that is a very impressive science project. I can't wait to see it. Everyone give a big hand for Lewis.
There is some hesistant APPLAUSE from the class.
Ok, Lewis, let's hear about your project.
LEWIS is an awkward skinny nerdy boy with glasses.
(awkward)
Well, ok ... uh... this is a volcano, and ... uh...a volcano is geological feature where the magma that is in the mantle of the Earth comes to the surface like in the islands of Hawaii, where ... um...the plates...se from plate tectonics, the plates of the Earth's crust move over the hot spot in the ocean forming a chain of islands which are the islands of Hawaii...
TEACHER
(interrupting)
great, so this is a volcano.
LEWIS
what? Oh right, yeah, this is a volcano or a model of a volcano.
TEACHER
You made it yourself?
LEWIS
Oh, yeah, yeah, I made this in the garage.
TEACHER
So, do we get to see it erupt?
LEWIS
Yeah, ok, everyone so now we'll see if we can demonstrate the volcano erupting...so, ok...
LEWIS then pours vinegar into the top of the clay volcano, which then erupts with enormous force. Masses of thick oprage molasses spew out in every direction. We see it splatter on the celing, the chalk board, all the KIDS sitting in the class. KIDS raise their arms to try to shield themselves from the onslaught. KIDS SCREAM.
Ewwww!!!
TEACHER
Class! Class! Quiet!
11. EXT. PLAYGROUND - AFTERNOON, KIDS are playing. SHANNON is sitting on a bench with a lunch box. CAITLIN and MACKENZIE are playing jumprope with another GIRL. HEATHER is sitting on the ground playing with barbie dolls with other GIRLS. In the background near the school, there is a CUSTODIAN sweeping the floor. Focus on SHANNON who opens the lunch box, and takes out a thermos, a sandwinch, an apple, and a bag of potato chips.
That was funny when the volcano exploded.
CAITLIN
Did you see Heather screaming that it ruined her dress?
SHANNON
She's got like two hundred dresses. One of the bedrooms in her house is a walk in closet filled with all her pageant clothes.
MACKENZIE
And her trophies?
SHANNON
(grumbling)
I guess.
CAITLIN
You know what would be funny? Tell Heather that that custodian is actually an undercover talent scout looking for a girl to be on a tv show.
MACKENZIE
Yeah!
SHANNON
I can't do that!
CAITLIN
Yeah, you can! Just walk over there, and point to that janitor, and say hey look there's a talent scout. Yeah, just go ahead and do it. That would be funny.
SHANNON
really?
CAITLIN
Yeah, go ahead, do it. Go on.
SHANNON
uh...ok..
SHANNON gets up, and walks over to HEATHER who is aitting on the ground playing with her barbie dolls. She stops when SHANNON walks up. SHANNON crouches down next to HEATHER.
Yeah, Heather, how is it going?
HEATHER
What do you want?
SHANNON
Do you see that custodian over there?
SHANNON points to the CUSTODIAN.
yeah
SHANNON
My mom said that he was not really a custodian. My mom said that he was really a talent scout, and he's undercover so people don't know who he is, and he's really here to find a girl to be on a tv show.
HEATHER
(excited)
Really? Is that really true?
SHANNON
Oh yeah, I swear it's true. God honest!
HEATHER
Oh wow! Thanks!
HEATHER gets up and walks over to the CUSTODIAN who is sweeping the floor.
Hi
CUSTODIAN
Hi
HEATHER
You know, I've won the talent competition every year. I've done modeling and acting, and I can sing and dance too! Do you want to see?
CUSTODIAN
Well, I'm kind of busy...
HEATHER then launches into an elaborate broadway-style song and dance routine. She sings "Paint with all the colors of the wind" from "Pocahontas" while dancing ballet. When she finishes, other GIRLS gather around and APPLAUD.
Wow! You should be on tv!
HEATHER is so excited, she runs back to SHANNON, CAITLIN, and MACKENZIE.
(gloating)
I'm going to be on tv! That talent scout said that I'm going to be on a tv show!
SHANNON, CAITLIN, and MACKENZIE burst out LAUGHING.
(laughing)
That's no talent scout! That's just a custodian!
SHANNON
He's not a talent scout. I just made that up! You were singing and dancing to a janitor! You're not going to be on tv!
HEATHER
(angry)
Why of all the rotten...well ask the other girls what they think of my beautiful voice, and if they think I will win the talent show!
SHANNON
ok, fine
SHANNON, CAITLIN and MACKENZIE get up and walk over to the other girls. While they are gone, HEATHER digs through the dirt, and finds a worm. The camera focuses on the squirming earthworm. Then HEATHER walks over to SHANNON's sandwinch. HEATHER takes off the top bread, places the worm on the sandwinch, and replaces the top bread. SHANNON, CAITLIN, and MACKENZIE return.
They all say that I'm a much more beautiful singer than you.
HEATHER
Ok, we'll just see that on the talent show won't we?
HEATHER skips off. SHANNON sits down on the bench and starts eating the sandwinch.
Heather thinks she's so perfect, oh look at me, I'm little miss perfect...
SHANNON starts GAGGING and making sounds of revultion.
What's wrong?
SHANNON
What's wrong with this sandwinch?
SHANNON lifts up the top bread, and starts SCREAMING.
What's wrong?
SHANNON starts frantically spitting on the ground.
12. EXT. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, AFTERNOON
The school bell RINGS, the classroom doors open, and KIDS pour out. SHANNON walks out. SHANNON is walking home when CAITLIN and MACKENZIE run up to her.
Hey, Shannon!
SHANNON
Hi, Caitlin
CAITLIN
Are you coming over?
SHANNON
No, I can�t.
CAITLIN
Are you coming to my house?
SHANNON
No, I can�t. I gotta go home. My mom will be mad.
MACKENZIE
How come?
SHANNON
Cuz we got to go to the talent show.
MACKENZIE
Isn�t it tonight?
SHANNON
Yeah
MACKENZIE
Then ya don�t hafta go home now.
CAITLIN
Hey, you know what?
SHANNON
What?
CAITLIN
Ya wanna go to my grandma�s house?
MACKENZIE
Why?
CAITLIN
Cuz there ain�t nobody there.
SHANNON
Why not?
CAITLIN
Cuz she�s dead.
SHANNON
Oh
CAITLIN
So wanna come?
MACKENZIE
So what�s to do there?
CAITLIN
All kinds of neat stuff. There�s lizards and if you grab their tail, their tail will come off. There�s a pond behind her house. You skip rocks across it.
MACKENZIE
Ok
SHANNON
I gotta go home.
CAITLIN
Why?
SHANNON
(wavering)
My mom will be mad
CAITLIN
We�ll just go there for a few minutes, and then you go home after that.
SHANNON
(reluctantly)
Oh, ok
CAITLIN, MACKENZIE, and SHANNON run off.
13. EXT. POND, SURROUNDED BY TREES, AFTERNOON
CAITLIN, MACKENZIE, and SHANNON are walking along the edge of the pond.
I wish I could stay here all the time.
MACKENZIE
Don�t you like going to school?
CAITLIN
I like going to school, and I like coming home. I just don�t like the time in between.
CAITLIN picks up a rock and tries to skip it across the water, but it just plops in.
My dad can make it skip across the water.
CAITLIN tries to again to skip a rock across the water, but it just splashes in.
I�m bored. Is there anything else to do here?
CAITLIN
(suddenly)
Hey! You wanna go swimming?
SHANNON
I don�t have a swimming suit.
CAITLIN
You don�t have to wear a swimsuit. You can swim naked.
SHANNON
What?
CAITLIN
You can swim naked. I did it before. There�s nobody here.
MACKENZIE
People will see you.
CAITLIN
No cuz nobody�s here but us
SHANNON
Are you sure?
CAITLIN
Yeah, I�ll show you.
CAITLIN starts taking her clothes off.
Ya shouldn�t be doin� that!
CAITLIN
Why not?
MACKENZIE
I don�t think this is a good idea.
SHANNON
I ain�t doin� it.
CAITLIN
Why not? Ya chicken?
SHANNON
No
CAITLIN
Then prove it.
CAITLIN, MACKENZIE, and SHANNON take off all their clothes so they are in the nude. CAITLIN is exhibitionist. MACKENZIE and SHANNON try to cover their bodies with their hands, and glance around nervously.
See? It�s no big deal!
MACKENZIE
I�m naked.
SHANNON
Are you sure nobody�s here?
MACKENZIE
Make sure there are no boys looking!
CAITLIN
Wanna go swimming? C�mon!
CAITLIN, MACKENZIE, and SHANNON go in the water, and start LAUGHING and SPLASHING.
I thought it was a fake leg.
SHANNON
Nuh-uh. It was real.
CAITLIN
(suddenly nervous)
Wait! Wait stop!
MACKENZIE
What?
CAITLIN
Wait, shut up!
There�s an awkward silence.
What?
CAITLIN
I thought I heard somebody coming.
SHANNON and MACKENZIE immediately put their hands over their bodies, and get worried expressions on their faces.
(afraid)
Oh my gosh! Is it a boy?
CAITLIN
(yelling)
If there�s anybody here, show yourself!
All of a sudden, HEATHER walks up. HEATHER points and LAUGHS.
(amused)
No, I�m not a boy, lucky for you, and I�m not going to show myself as much as you are.
MACKENZIE
Go away! We�re naked!
SHANNON
Heather, what are you doing here?
HEATHER
I followed you. I�m telling your mom!
CAITLIN
Go ahead!
SHANNON
(to Caitlin)
No! No! My mom would kill me if she knew.
HEATHER
I won�t tell your mom if you don�t go to the talent show.
SHANNON
My mom will kill me if I don�t go.
CAITLIN
(to Heather)
Why? Are you that afraid she�ll beat you?
HEATHER
Then I�ll make sure you don�t go.
HEATHER picks up all of SHANNON�s, CAITLIN�s, and MACKENZIE�s clothes, and runs away.
(angry)
Hey! Stop that!
CAITLIN
Wait! Get back here!
CAITLIN, MACKENZIE, and SHANNON climb out of the water, and run to where their clothes were, but they�re gone.
She took all of our clothes!
CAITLIN
Heather! Get back here! Bring back our clothes!
SHANNON
Heather! Where are you? Come back here! Please please my clothes back!
CAITLIN
We�ll have to chase after her.
MACKENZIE
You chase after her! We�re naked!
SHANNON
Oh God! My moms going to kill me!
MACKENZIE
For reals?
SHANNON
If I don�t go home.
CAITLIN
Then go home.
SHANNON
It�s five blocks away!
CAITLIN
Ok, listen. When I don�t show up to dinner, my mom and dad will come looking for me, and they�ll come here, and then they�ll get clothes for us, and we can get home.
SHANNON
But that will be too late cuz I gotta go to the talent show and I gotta practice before I go.
MACKENZIE
Why doncha practice now?
SHANNON SINGS the beginning of �Tomorrow� from �Little Orphan Annie�.
14. INT. SHANNON�S HOUSE, LIVING ROOM, EVENING
BOB is sitting down, holding TOMMY in his lap. TERRY is frantically pacing back and forth.
(furious)
Where is she?
BOB
(trying to calm her)
She probably went to a friend�s house.
TERRY
(hysterical)
I called Caitlin�s house, and Mackenzie�s house, and the school, and the police, and nobody knows where she is. Oh my God, where is she?
BOB
(reassuring)
She�s only been gone for a couple hours. She�s been out this long before. If she�s not home by dinner, I�ll be worried.
TERRY
She knows we have to be at the theater by 7:30!
BOB
That�s what this is about isn�t it? You�re not afraid something�s happened to her. You�re just afraid you won�t make it to the talent show on time!
TERRY
Is that bad? You know how hard she�s worked on this! She spends hours practicing every day!
BOB
Only because you make her do it.
TERRY
Only because I want her to do well. She would be so disappointed if she didn�t win.
BOB
Would she be disappointed or would you be disappointed?
TERRY
Of course I would be disappointed! There�s going to be a talent scout in the audience! This could be her big break! This could give her the exposure she needs.
BOB
If it means as much to her as you claim it does, she�ll show up at the theater. Why don�t we go down there, in case she shows up there?
TERRY
But she�s got to come home to put on her dress. She can�t show up without wearing a good dress! She can�t go to the talent show in her school clothes! It would be like going naked!
BOB
Someone�s talent doesn�t depend on what they�re wearing. The talent scout won�t choose someone based on what they�re wearing. Let�s just go to theater in case, she shows up there.
15. EXT. POND, EVENING
SHANNON, MACKENZIE, and CAITLIN are sitting on the ground, in the nude.
I�m sorry I said we should go skinny dipping.
SHANNON
I gotta go to the talent show!
CAITLIN
My mom will come here looking for me.
SHANNON
My mom will kill me if I don�t go to the talent show!
CAITLIN
(excited)
Hey, you know what? I got an idea!
MACKENZIE
No, not another idea!
CAITLIN
We could steal clothes from someone�s clothesline!
MACKENZIE
Yeah!
CAITLIN
Mrs. Petaluma�s got a clothesline, and there�s always clothes on it.
SHANNON
Alright, let�s go.
SHANNON, MACKENZIE, and CAITLIN stand up.
MACKENZIE
Wait! Somebody will see us!
CAITLIN
Nah, it�s right near here. We�ll go through the alley. Come on.
SHANNON, MACKENZIE, and CAITLIN walk away.
16. BACKYARD WITH CLOTHLINE, EVENING
There is backyard with a clothesline stretched across it, with clothes hanging on it. SHANNON, MACKENZIE, and CAITLIN walk into the backyard, in the nude, and walk towards the clothesline with trepidation.
This is stealing! We�re gonna get in trouble!
CAITLIN
I�m sure it would be ok just this once.
As SHANNON, MACKENZIE, and CAITLIN near the clothesline, they suddenly hear a dog BARKING. A BARKING DOG suddenly appears and runs towards them. SHANNON, MACKENZIE, and CAITLIN start SHREIKING, turn around, and run away.
17. EXT. THEATER, EVENING
18. INT. THEATER, EVENING
10 KIDS, HEATHER, and the ANNOUNCER are on the stage. In the rest of the theater, sits the AUDIENCE, TERRY, BOB, TOMMY, SAMANTHA, and the TALENT SCOUT.
(to a member of the audience)
Have you seen Shannon?
ANNOUNCER
(on PA system)
Our next contestant is Heather MacMillian.
HEATHER walks up to the microphone, looking gorgeous. HEATHER SINGS her song. She is fabulous, and does extremely well. The TALENT AGENT SMILES and takes notes. SAMANTHA SMILES at TERRY. After the song, SAMANTHA APPLAUDS and stands up. The rest of the AUDIENCE, except for SHANNON�s family, stands up and gives HEATHER a standing ovation.
That was wonderful! Our next contestant is Shannon Richards!
There is silence. TERRY slings down into her chair.
Our next contestant is Shannon Richards.
There�s a long awkward pause. The AUDIENCE starts to MURMUR.
Shannon, are you there?
TERRY
(whispering to Bob)
Where the hell is she?
ANNOUNCER
Last call for Shannon . . . Alright, I guess she�s not here.
The camera then focuses on a window of a theater. We can see the faces of SHANNON, CAITLIN, and MACKENZIE looking in.
19. EXT. THEATER, EVENING
SHANNON, CAITLIN, and MACKENZIE are in the nude, and are looking in the window into the theater.
I have to go in.
CAITLIN
Then go in.
SHANNON
I can�t.
CAITLIN
Then don�t.
SHANNON
But I have to. This is my last chance.
CAITLIN
Then go in.
SHANNON
I can�t.
MACKENZIE
She has to but she can�t.
SHANNON
I need clothes! Any clothes!
CAITLIN
(suddenly)
Hey, you know what? I have an idea.
MACKENZIE
Not another idea!
SHANNON
Whatever it is, I don�t want to hear it! You got us into this mess!
CAITLIN
People donated used clothes at the church, right?
MACKENZIE
Those clothes are for the needy.
SHANNON
We�re needy! Nobody needs them as much as us!
MACKENZIE
You can�t steal from a church! That�s like stealing from God.
CAITLIN
Well, I�m going.
SHANNON
Let�s go!
SHANNON, CAITLIN, AND MACKENZIE run away.
20. INT. THEATER, EVENING
ANNOUNCER
That�s the last of our contestants, and we�re now ready to choose this year�s winner. It was a tough decision for the judges. This year�s winner of the talent show is. . .
HEATHER is beaming with pride. SAMANTHA is on the edge of her seat, her fingers crossed. All of a sudden, SHANNON, CAITLIN, and MACKENZIE burst into the room, wearing old clothes that had been donated. They are very worn out, and have patches. SHANNON is wearing clothes like an old man would wear.
(yelling)
Wait! I�m here!
MACKENZIE
There�s one more contestant.
A MURMUR goes through the AUDIENCE. TERRY has overwhelming relief wash over her face. HEATHER looks WORRIED and DISTRESSED.
ANNOUNCER
(flustered)
Excuse me? Who is this?
TERRY stands up.
This is my daughter Shannon Richards. You�ll see she�s on the list.
ANNOUNCER
Oh, Oh, I see, ok. She wasn�t here when I called.
TERRY
She�s here now. You haven�t chosen the winner, yet. We�ve already paid the registration fee. She�s on the list of contestants. Let her go now.
ANNOUNCER
Ok, I guess you can go right now, then.
That was breathtaking. I believe the judges have revised their decision. This year�s winner of the talent show is�Shannon Richards!
The AUDIENCE bursts into APPLAUSE. The ANNOUNCER hands a giant trophy to SHANNON. TERRY, BOB, and TOMMY hug each other. SHANNON runs over to CAITLIN and MACKENZIE and they hug each other. SAMANTHA and HEATHER look furious. SAMANTHA and HEATHER storm out of the room. TERRY, BOB, and TOMMY walk over to SHANNON.
Congratulations, sweet heart!
TERRY
I am so proud of you!
SHANNON
(beaming with pride)
Thanks, mom!
TERRY
(suddenly noticing she has different clothes on)
Where are your clothes?
SHANNON
Uh..That�s a good question...
The TALENT SCOUT walks up.
TALENT SCOUT
Are you Shannon�s parents?
TERRY
(flustered)
Yes. . . yes
TALENT SCOUT
I�m a talent scout. We would be interested in signing a contract with Shannon.
SHANNON, CAITLIN, MACKENZIE, and TOMMY start jumping up and down for joy.
(excited)
Are you serious?
TALENT SCOUT
Yes, I am serious. What told me that she was serious was that she dressed the part.
TERRY
(not understanding)
What?
TALENT SCOUT
It looks ridiculous when someone sings a song from Little Orphan Annie, and they are dressed up like a supermodel. Shannon actually decided to wear clothes appropriate for the song. She actually got into the character, and wore clothes like a poor orphan in the 1930�s. That impressed me.
TERRY
Oh yeah, right, yeah that was the idea I had with this outfit.
SHANNON
That�s what I was thinking. That�s why I was late because I was looking for these clothes.
MACKENZIE
(truthfully)
We were late because we had to get these clothes.
TOMMY
Would you like to hire me too? I can tell jokes. Why did the clock get sick?
TALENT SCOUT
Why?
TOMMY
It was run down.
TALENT AGENT
That�s nice ...Here�s my card
The TALENT AGENT hands his business card to TERRY.
Call me and we�ll set up an audition for her.
TERRY
Thanks a lot!
The TALENT AGENT walks away.
How did you think of the idea of wearing those old clothes?
SHANNON
It was Caitlin's idea.
CAITLIN
Shannon refused to come in without them.
TERRY
That was very a daring risky thing to do.
SHANNON
I was afraid you would be mad.
TERRY
I wouldn't be mad if you didn't want to do it.
BOB
Yes you would.
TERRY
When you missing, I was so worried, I just wanted to make sure you're safe and sound. I was hoping that I hadn't pushed you away by putting too much pressure on you.
SHANNON
No mom, it's ok. I want to do it.
TERRY and SHANNON hug each other.
So where are your clothes?