Sly throws a catered bash. Ashley celebrates a promotion with booze and bad decisions. Spencer threatens to cancel his interview. Wahlid shows up unexpectedly.
Sly throws a catered bash. Ashley celebrates a promotion with booze and bad decisions. Spencer threatens to cancel his interview. Wahlid shows up unexpectedly.
CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
Elizabeth Ellis – Nan McNamara
Ashley Allen – Natalie Wachen
Vinnie – Brian N. Taylor
Stephen Sly - Joe D. Reitman
Wahlid Walid - Eddie Goins
Spencer Wilson– Chris Osbrink
Charlie Cole – Ashley Chaney
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.
INT. EVENT SPACE
Bottles POP. Party NOISE. A knife hits a GLASS.
ELIZABETH ELLIS (in mic) Sly family, friends.
People QUIET. APPLAUSE.
ELIZABETH ELLIS (CONT'D) Tonight we celebrate Sly’s highest ratings since 1992.
ASHLEY What happened in ‘92?
VINNIE
We hired the acquitted cops from Rodney King on as correspondents during the riots.
Ashley COUGHS. Would you get me a martini?
VINNIE Sure!
STEPHEN SLY (in mic)
34 years ago I had this crazy idea to build a network that dominated the 24-hour news cycle. 24-hour news didn’t even exist back then. And I was a nobody. I didn’t have a background in broadcast or a degree in journalism. All I had was a dream. And in America that’s all you need. That and a million dollar loan from your folks.
LAUGHTER
STEPHEN SLY (CONT'D) Thank you for helping me reach my goal of network domination.
APPLAUSE.
ELIZABETH ELLIS And thanks Charlie Cole. Charlie’s promo with Spencer Wilson catapulted Sly’s numbers across the board.
STEPHEN SLY
Maybe. Or it could be our little grand slam, Ashley Allen. Where you at, Ashley?
ASHLEY Here. Hi. Thank you.
STEPHEN SLY
The most Sly News fan mail ever came in because of her. Grand slam. So celebrate! The bar and buffet are open!
APPLAUSE. Party NOISE.
VINNIE
Here’s your martini. Three olives. Just like you like it.
ASHLEY
Thanks, I’ll be right back.
HEELS on ground.
ASHLEY (CONT'D) Hi Stephen. Congratulations.
STEPHEN SLY Congratulations to you. You know I’m fixing to have you replace Charlie on the 7.
ASHLEY I’m making anchor??
STEPHEN SLY Our audience loves you.
ASHLEY
I actually got fan mail for the first time ever.
STEPHEN SLY
Prepare for more of that, my dear. You’re a rising star. I’m putting you as lead correspondent on the WELL rally. You’ll lead into Charlie’s 8.
ASHLEY
Maybe one day I’ll have my own 8.
STEPHEN SLY
You’ll have better. You’ll have 9. Hold up you, let me get two of those glasses. (to Ashley) A toast to celebrate your long, lucrative career at Sly.
ASHLEY Cheers!
Glasses CLINK.
INT. EVENT SPACE - HEELS on ground.
ASHLEY The exit’s that way?
EXT. EVENT SPACE
HEELS as PARTY fades out. Crickets CHIRP. Phone RINGS.
WAHLID (on phone) Esther, where are you?
ASHLEY
Oh my God, I’m making anchor.
WAHLID
Okay, but that doesn’t explain why you haven’t you returned my calls.
ASHLEY
I’m at work. Why aren’t you happy for me?
WAHLID
I don’t understand what is happening to you. You don’t call me back, you flake on plans. You’re passing as white!!
ASHLEY
This is why I don’t call you. You don’t care about me. Or my career.
WAHLID
Your career turning your back on your people??
ASHLEY My people? (quieter)
My people who thought I was too light for their piddly ass shows? Please, they turned their backs on me long ago. And now I’m making anchor so fuck ‘em.
WAHLID You’re drunk again.
ASHLEY
And fuck you too if you can’t be happy for me.
CLICK!
ASHLEY (CONT'D) Hello?? Hello?? Asshole.
VINNIE
Who’s the asshole? Not me I hope. I brought you a martini.
ASHLEY
Vinnie, heyyyy. Perfect timing.
VINNIE
Whoa, slow down that’s straight booze.
ASHLEY Wanna get outta here?
VINNIE
Sure. Wanna go to a diner?
ASHLEY How bout your place.
VINNIE
M-my... absolutely, let’s go.
INT. HOUSE- newsreel MUSIC --
SPENCER WILSON (O.S.) ...It’s the diversity of America that’s dividing us, not racism. The white race is the master race. And white supremacy’s been proven to benefit Black Americans. It’s fact.
CHARLIE (O.S.) Celebrate Martin Luther King Day with full Sly News coverage of the largest white nationalist rally ever held in the LA area. Then stayed tuned in with me, Charlie Cole, as I sit down with one of the most polarizing people in politics: Pro-white activist, Spencer Wilson. All day January 20th, with me, Charlie Cole at 8 p --
The TV CLICKS off.
SPENCER WILSON (in phone) Why’d you use that terrible clip of me? My hair looks like shit. And she says her own name twice. Who’s the talent here, me or her?
ELIZABETH ELLIS (O.S.) (in phone) Charlie’s a draw for our audience.
SPENCER WILSON I’m a draw for your audience. Fix it or I’ll go elsewhere.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
We have a contract, Spencer...
SPENCER WILSON
And if you’ll read that contract you’ll see it says I have final approval, and I don’t approve.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
Fine, we’ll change it. It won’t be a problem. Anything else?
INT. BEDROOM -Birds CHIRP.
VINNIE
Wakey wakey sleepyhead.
ASHLEY Wha? Vinnie??
VINNIE
Made you blueberry pancakes. They’re vegan.
ASHLEY Thanks.
VINNIE
Thank you for last night. That was amazing.
ASHLEY
Shit! I’m gonna be late for work.
RUSTLING bed covers.
VINNIE
Whoa, we don’t have to be there til 10. It’s only eight.
ASHLEY
I need to get ready.
VINNIE No breakfast?
ASHLEY Where are my ... dammit!
She SIGHS.
VINNIE You okay?
ASHLEY This was a bad idea.
VINNIE
Because my uncle owns Sly.
ASHLEY
Because of many reasons. Can we keep what happened between us?
VINNIE What about how I feel?
ASHLEY Vinnie, I made a mistake, I was super drunk.
VINNIE You weren’t that drunk.
ASHLEY You’re right. I was excited about my promotion.
VINNIE You haven’t got the promotion yet.
ASHLEY Excuse me??
VINNIE
I wasn’t saying it like that. I mean you can still be seen with a lowly cameraman, so why not me?
ASHLEY
Okay, because I’m not interested.
VINNIE
It sure didn’t seem that way last night.
ASHLEY
It’s not gonna happen Vinnie. I’m sorry.
She WALKS out.
INT. OFFICE - MUZAK
CHARLIE
What the fuck? You cut out my name??
ELIZABETH ELLIS It sounded like you were the story.
CHARLIE
I am the story. Charlie Cole’s Interview Hour. Duh.
STEPHEN SLY
You're the faucet, not the water.
CHARLIE
How’s this one, asshole: If it goes, I go.
STEPHEN SLY Whoa. Nice language madam.
ELIZABETH ELLIS Come on Charlie --
STEPHEN SLY
Honestly I’d love for her to go. Because I know exactly who I’m hiring to replace her.
LOUD HEELS out the door.
ELIZABETH ELLIS
Charlie! Nice job Stephen. Charlie!
INT. APARTMENT
JAZZ radio. A SHOWER stops. Intercom BUZZES. Wet FEET run.
ASHLEY Hello??
Over CRACKLING --
WAHLID (O.S.) It’s me.
ASHLEY (to self) Shit.
Intercom BUZZES. Footsteps HURRY.
ASHLEY (CONT'D) Aw fuck.
A KNOCK at the door. Door OPENS.
ASHLEY (CONT'D) Heyyyy.
WAHLID Hey. Can I come in?
Footsteps ENTER. The door CLOSES.
ASHLEY Take a seat.
CREAKS of a chair. Ashley SIGHS.
ASHLEY (CONT'D)
Are you here to make me choose between you and my career?
WAHLID
Is this your way of apologizing?
ASHLEY
Seriously Wahlid, this is my dream. I know it’s for a fucked up company but I’m gonna be working as an anchor. And that’s all I care about.
WAHLID
I thought you cared about me?
ASHLEY
You know what I mean.
WAHLID
What do you want me to do?
ASHLEY
Support me. Do you know how hard this is? I don’t have anybody on my side. Not you or Effie or my mom...
WAHLID
If I support you, will it fix us?
ASHLEY Yes. Absolutely. for a while. And harder time than having. Just bear with me stop giving me a I’m already
WAHLID
Okay. Fine. I’m sure it must be hard, lying about who you are. You’re right. When your day is done you should feel loved for who you are not what you do. I’m sorry I haven’t been there for you.
ASHLEY Thank you.
WAHLID
I am your man, and my job as such is to make sure I keep you happy, even in times of trouble, right?
ASHLEY Yeah, that’d be nice.
WAHLID
Then I’m glad I brought this.
ASHLEY Brought what?
SHUFFLING noise. A muffled BANG on the ground.
WAHLID
Esther Edelman, would you do me the honor of being my wife?
ASHLEY Wahlid....
WAHLID
Unless there’s somebody else?
ASHLEY No!
WAHLID
No, you won’t marry me??
ASHLEY
No, there’s nobody else.
WAHLID So then ...?
ASHLEY
Yes. Yes! I’ll marry you!
For the next 6 weeks tune in every Friday for a new episode of WHITE PRIVILEGE Season 1.