Ashley experiences the first of many micro-aggressions with her cameraman, Vinnie. After a night of drinking, Ashley gets pulled over at a DUI checkpoint.
Ashley experiences the first of many micro-aggressions with her cameraman, Vinnie. After a night of drinking, Ashley gets pulled over at a DUI checkpoint.
CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
Ashley Allen – Natalie Wachen
Vinnie Valient – Brian N. Taylor
Wahlid Walid – Eddie Goines
Elizabeth Ellis – Nan McNamara
Stephen Sly – Joe D. Reitman
Officer – Chris Osbrink
Janica Jefferson – Andia Winslow
CREDITS:
Written & Directed by Natasha Lewin
Produced by DaVida Chanel Smith of Creating, Etcetera
Engineered by Tom Fritze at LoLA Studios
Casting Director Medge Ross
Music courtesy of J. Wells
Music courtesy of Bleu
Copyright 2020
A listener note: This episode contains adult content.
EXT. HIGHWAY TRAFFIC
ASHLEY
... the accident is now cleared and traffic on the 405 has returned to normal. This is Ashley Allen, reporting live. Back to you, Roger.
VINNIE VALIENT
And that’s a wrap. Great work, Ash.
ASHLEY
Please, I’m talking about gridlock.
VINNIE VALIENT
You make a traffic report pretty.
A GUY WOLF-WHISTLES at Ashley.
GUY
I love you Ashley Allen!
VINNIE VALIENT
See, that guy agrees with me. But he shouldn’t be so rude about it.
ASHLEY
Okay I’m good, fine. You’re good too.
VINNIE VALIENT Well I should be. I’ve been a cameraman since college.
ASHLEY For Sly??
VINNIE VALIENT Yup, been here a long time.
ASHLEY Can I ask you a question?
VINNIE VALIENT Sure, anything. Shoot.
ASHLEY
Is Sly as... you know, what everybody says about it?
VINNIE VALIENT
What does everybody say about it?
ASHLEY
Oh um you know that they’re uh --
VINNIE VALIENT
I’m teasing ya. No, we’re not like that. All news is skewed one way or the other, but Sly has the best paycheck.
ASHLEY I like that.
VINNIE VALIENT
So whaddya say, should we grab a drink before we head back?
ASHLEY Really?? Yes! Please.
INT. BAR Bar NOISE.
ASHLEY
Pick an animal, any aminal, and I betcha I did color for their race.
VINNIE VALIENT Okay, turtles.
ASHLEY
Ugh, yes. Have you ever been to a turtle race? It takes hours.
VINNIE VALIENT Cows.
ASHLEY Cow patty bingo. Twice.
VINNIE VALIENT Jesus, where'd you grow up?
ASHLEY In O ---
Ashley’s iPhone RINGS.
ASHLEY (CONT'D) Oop, I have to get this.
VINNIE VALIENT
Oo yikes, we should get going. I’ll grab the tab and meet you outside.
ASHLEY Great.
A chair SLIDES out. HEELS on the floor as she exits.
ASHLEY (CONT'D) (on phone) Hiiii.
EXT. STREET - / INT. CAR Street NOISE. Bluetooth STATIC.
WAHLID (on phone) Hello?? Is this the Ashley Allen? I’m happily avoiding the 405 thanks to you.
ASHLEY
You saw that?? It’s so cheesy. Ooh, but I got recognized today.
WAHLID
I’m very happy for Ashley, now I want to see Esther. What time tonight?
ASHLEY
I’m not sure yet. I still have to get back to the station.
WAHLID Where are you?
ASHLEY A bar.
WAHLID
It’s noon, you’re drinking now??
ASHLEY
I had to, I’m with a higher up.
WAHLID
Ah, networking with white execs. Martinis and lobster rolls, I hope.
ASHLEY Martinis at least.
WAHLID
Then you’re definitely going to need to eat, let me know what ti--
VINNIE VALIENT Ready to go?
Ashley ENDS THE CALL. Click.
ASHLEY Vinnie! Yeah! Let’s go.
VINNIE VALIENT
Is everything okay? You seem a little --
ASHLEY
My dentist. I gotta cavity. So how’d you find this place? I love it.
INT. SLY NETWORK
Soft MUZAK. A KNOCK at the door.
ELIZABETH ELLIS You rang, Stephen.
STEPHEN SLY
Have you seen today’s numbers?
ELIZABETH ELLIS For who, Charlie?
STEPHEN SLY Traffic.
ELIZABETH ELLIS Traffic?? No, why would I.
STEPHEN SLY They’re the highest ever.
ELIZABETH ELLIS Higher than Carmageddon?
STEPHEN SLY Higher than OJ.
ELIZABETH ELLIS Why??
STEPHEN SLY
Ashley. Look at all these emails. Not only for traffic, but her zoo segment, the mall opening. The girl’s a hit. Better than a hit, she’s a walk-off grand slam.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
Is that a sports reference or a breakfast at Denny’s?
STEPHEN SLY
Give her more airtime, today. But put her on the real news. No more of that easy stuff.
INT. SLY OFFICE LOBBY
Elevator doors DING. Office MELEE. Quick HEELS.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
Jesus, it’s almost 1, Vinnie. Where have you been?
VINNIE VALIENT Showing Ashley around.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
Show her here. It seems she’s our viewers want to see more of her.
ASHLEY They do??
ELIZABETH ELLIS
There’s a fire in Elysian Park and Sly wants you on it.
ASHLEY A fire? Already??
ELIZABETH ELLIS
Vinnie, take her down to Tom. Tom’s your cameraman on this.
ASHLEY
Why can’t Vinnie do it?
ELIZABETH ELLIS You want to work with Vinnie?
ASHLEY Yeah, he’s great, why?
VINNIE VALIENT
Aw jeez, thanks Ashley. You’re great too.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
Well, um. Vinnie knows that some reporters find him rather... opinionated.
ASHLEY
I think he’s refreshing.
VINNIE VALIENT
See? They complain over nothing.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
Okay, you and Vinnie. I’ll email him the specs. Go. Now.
ASHLEY Thank you!
HEELS hurry to the elevator.
EXT. STREET
City NOISE. iPhone RINGS.
WAHLID (in phone) Hello my love. You ready for me?
ASHLEY Hiii.
FANBOY (O.S.) You rock, Ashley!!
WAHLID Who was that?
ASHLEY
A fan I guess. Did you see me?
WAHLID
I did. A fire, woo. Are you ready for me to come get you now?
ASHLEY
I’m sorry, but I’m going out with some people from Sly. Can we push to tomorrow?
WAHLID
Push?? You said we were --
ASHLEY
I know, but I worked really hard for this.
WAHLID
You lied about your race to get that stupid job. How hard is that?
ASHLEY
Extremely. You have no idea. But I promise I’ll make it up to you. Wahlid SIGHS.
WAHLID
Fine. You owe me. Have fun.
ASHLEY
Thanks, I’ll call you lat --
CLICK
ASHLEY (CONT'D)
Hello? Wahlid?? He hung up on me.
She SIGHS.
INT. BAR
Bar NOISE, HEELS, CHAIR.
ASHLEY
Did you order already?
VINNIE VALIENT
I was being gentlemanly and waiting for you. Thanks for making me look so good with Liz back there. Her and I never really gotten along.
ASHLEY
She does seem a little cold.
VINNIE VALIENT
Drinks on me. What’re you having?
ASHLEY
Definitely a glass of champagne.
VINNIE VALIENT
You sure earned it. I haven’t seen anyone rise the ranks in Sly so fast since me.
ASHLEY You??
VINNIE VALIENT You don't know?
ASHLEY Know what?
VINNIE I’m a nepotic hire.
ASHLEY
I don’t know what that means.
VINNIE VALIENT Stephen Sly’s my uncle.
ASHLEY
Hah. Oh wow! I had no clue.
VINNIE VALIENT
I thought so. I was only kidding when I said we should get a drink after your traffic segment, but since you said yes...
ASHLEY
Oh no, am I in trouble?
VINNIE VALIENT
No! No way. As long as your numbers are high, Unky Steve doesn’t care what we do or who were are or who we date --
ASHLEY
Why would he care about who we date?
VINNIE VALIENT
I was just saying that, he doesn’t care. Not really. This one time Elizabeth brought some Black guy to the Christmas party. Unky Steve lost his mind. But since then there’s been this unspoken understanding. And we’re all white anyway.
ASHLEY
No one of color’s ever worked at Sly?
VINNIE
There’s a couple Japs in IT.
WAITER
Hi, what can I get you guys?
ASHLEY
A supersize Ketel martini, three olives and a shot of Jack.
WAITER
Martinis only come in one size.
VINNIE
What about your celebration champagne?
ASHLEY
Right. Celebration. And a glass of champagne too, please.
WAITER
So no on the shot and martini.
ASHLEY
No, I want all three drinks.
INT. CAR
RAP MUSIC loud in the car. Ashley SINGS along, drunk.
ASHLEY
This is the people in my hood!
WHOOP of a police siren.
ASHLEY (CONT'D) Shit shit shit!
The MUSIC lowers. WINDOW rolls down. FOOTSTEPS.
ASHLEY (CONT'D)
Hi, officer. Is everything okay?
OFFICER
We’re stopping cars before they see our DUI checkpoint ahead and turn around. Have you been drinking?
ASHLEY Well I had a --
OFFICER
Wait a minute, you’re that reporter from Sly. Ashley Allen.
ASHLEY
Whoa. You recognize me?
OFFICER
Bill, it’s Ashley Allen!
ASHLEY
I’m so flattered, I just started and people already know who I am.
OFFICER
Hey! That joker’s pulling a U-ey! (to another car)
HEY YOU! YOU! PULL OVER!! Pull the car over RIGHT NOW! Right here!
A car PULLS UP, engine IDLES.
OFFICER (CONT'D) Where do you think you’re going?
JANICA JEFFERSON
I’m sorry officer, I saw police cars and didn’t know what was happening so I turned around.
OFFICER
Really, you’re not trying to squirm out of a DUI?
JANICA JEFFERSON
DUI? No. I don’t drink. I see cops and go the other way.
OFFICER Get out of the car.
JANICA JEFFERSON For what?
OFFICER OUT OF THE CAR, NOW!
ASHLEY
Whoa, don’t draw your gun on her!!
A car door OPENS.
JANICA JEFFERSON Okay, okay, I’m coming. See? My hands are up.
OFFICER
Be on your way Miss Allen.
ASHLEY
Look, she’s out of her ---
OFFICER On. Your. Way! (to Janica Jefferson) Face the car!
ASHLEY
She didn’t do anything!!
JANICA JEFFERSON Listen to the white lady.
OFFICER FACE THE CAR!!
A BODY thumps onto the car.
ASHLEY
HEY!! You have no right to --
OFFICER
Leave or you’re going with her!
ASHLEY
Okay, don’t point your gun at me. I’m going. Sorry I’m going going I’m sorry...
Ashley’s car PEELS away. As she hyperventilates --
ASHLEY (CONT'D) I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m --
She GASPS for air as she breaks down.
For the next 6 weeks tune in every Friday for a new episode of WHITE PRIVILEGE Season 1.