12 of 12 for May

Here we go again with the 12 of 12...enjoy.

TITLE: "No-Win Situation"

INT - BEDROOM - 8:02 AM

Today was a going to be a great day. Not because this was the day of the Revlon Run-Walk or KIIS-FM's Wango Tango...no. Although those were great reasons to get out of bed, this was going to be a great day because Sean would be seeing his face on the big screen at the Folsum Theater at Chapman University in the short film "Life Bingo" at 11 AM. He remembered how stoked he was seeing Robin's short film last week and that feeling returned when he opened his eyes this morning. After showering and getting ready, he noticed the baby birds that had nested just outside his kitchen window were not singing as loud. Was it because there were only 2 left out of the 5? Or maybe, just maybe, they knew something he did not.




INT - LIVING ROOM - 9:46 AM

Returning home from his daily weekend ritual of Starbucks and Western Bagel, he made sure he was prepared for this outing. Grabbing postcards to hand out (in that small case that someone would notice his work and sign him to a 3 year contract on the next big sitcom), he glanced down at Max who, in his canine wisdom, was telling him not to leave on this tragic day. Sean would ignore these signs, after all, what does a dog know? Plenty, indeed.

INT - CAR ON 5 SOUTH (GLENDALE, CA) - 10:15 AM

After sitting in 5 mile and hour traffic for a half hour, Sean began to realize the he was not smarter than the average dog or 2/5's of birds. Only traveling 4 of the 43 miles he had to cover, the blood started to flow through his body hotter than the sun on a solar eclipse. Realizing that made no sense, he asked Robin to pull out her Sync phone, jump on the Internet, and see if Google Maps could tell them where the hold up was. Was there an accident? Was there a Dodger Game? Was it all Max's fault? They would not find out. All they knew was for the next 5 miles they were not going to go much faster than the sun on a solar eclipse. As he pumped the brakes, he decided to never use that analogy again.



EXT - CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY (ANAHEIM, CA) - 11:07 AM

They had arrived with no time to spare. Sean parked the car and looked at the Marion Knott Studios; somewhere inside the festivities had started. He just hoped that his film was not first. Luck would still not be on his side. He exited the car and walked over to Robin's side where he heard her say "I know it's here." She was looking at the floor of the car for something but decided she would have time later. Little did she know, she would have a lot of time later. They ran into the building and found the screening room, and even though their film had started, Sean's scene had not been shown yet. He sat there watching, knowing that one day...he might actually be on time for something.

EXT - EL POLLO LOCO (ANAHEIM, CA) - 1:02 PM

Sitting through two additional short films, Sean turned around and noticed the director leaving with her family. This would be the time to leave, too. He met her in the lobby and congratulated her on a job well done. He was happy with the way the film turned out and would be getting his copy soon. Things were looking up, or so he thought. When Sean and Robin arrived back at there new Yaris, Robin began to look again at the floor of the car. She informed Sean that her phone was here but she couldn't find it. After looking throughout the 3 square feet of interior over twenty times and still not finding the phone, their heads began to pound from lack of nutrition. After they ate, they would surly find the phone.

With full belly's and more searching, they both decided that the phone was lost in the time/space continuum that was created by the sun's solar eclipse. Getting in the car, Sean did not realize that the traffic was not on his side. Was everyone returning from Wango Tango and the Revlon Run-Walk? He would have the next hour and a half to ponder this. All Sean could think about was "Damn that Max, why can't he talk?"



INT - BEDROOM - 3:05 PM

Arriving at home, exhausted by the combined 3 hours in the car, Sean realized that he still had not looked over the lines for the short film he would be shooting tomorrow. While Robin was on the phone with AT & T (the former Cingular) trying to figure out what to do with the 'lost phone' situation, Sean sat on the bed and tried his best to concentrate. This would be futile. He would need help, and that help would come in the form of...



INT - KITCHEN - 3:52 PM

...a Sugar-Free Red Bull. Downing the liquid caffeine did not help, it only made the solo tenor vocalist that was there before join the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in their rendition of "Bang Your Head" from Quiet Riot. It was not a pretty sound. He needed to clear his mind; he needed to get outside and get some fresh air.



EXT - BURBANK, CA - 4:14 PM

This was just what the doctor ordered. As he walked hand-in-hand with Robin (and hand-in-leash with Max), he took in all the beauty that was Burbank, California. Kids riding bikes, fellow dog owners walking their companions, yards that were quenching their thirst from the friendly sprinkler heads. Yes, the choir was still there, but their voices were melodic and peaceful...at least for the time being. He would head home, enjoy a nice meal and prepare for the evening; a relaxing evening with his wife and friend at a high school production of "Le Miserables" at 8 PM.



INT - CAR ON 405 SOUTH (LOS ANGELES, CA) - 6:16 PM

Jumping in their Yaris one more time, they would give themselves plenty of time to get to Culver City by 7 PM. In the back of Sean's mind, he could hear the vocalist start singing off-tune. After a smooth ride on the 101 North, he took the 405 South ramp. It was clear. He didn't understand why the vocalist was still singing a half-step flat. As they reached the top of the Foothill by The Getty Center, the whole choir joined in. Not only were they all singing a little flat, but they were all singing different songs. That was when Sean saw the red river of tail lights ahead. He screamed "I'M IN THE CARPOOL LANE!!! COME ON!!!" Another hour and a half in the car. By the time they arrived at the Starbucks to meet their friend, Sean was just counting the hours till this day would be over.

EXT - HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL (CULVER CITY) - 7:34 PM

Here he was, out of the car. He couldn't believe that he was actually on time for something...and with 26 minutes to spare. They walked into the lobby, purchased their tickets and waited...and waited...and waited.



INT - HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL (CULVER CITY) - 8:01 PM

And waited. As the tickets holders started to pile into the lobby, the doors to the theater were still closed. The undiagnosed claustrophobia started to set in as Sean's nerves became a little frazzled. When would the doors open? Where was the nearest fire escape? Why did he just pay $50 for a high school production? Just as the pores in his skin began to leak, the theater doors opened and I was transported into a world of war, prostitution and death. As he sat in seat J26, he thought about how much he missed high school.



INT - LIVING ROOM - 11:48 PM

Sean and Robin walked into their home and plopped onto the couch. Sure, they missed the first 18 minutes of SNL (with host Molly Shannon), but at least the day was almost over. As Sean propped his feet up on the coffee table and gazed at the pixels on the box in front of him, the soloist who was torturing him earlier sang a lullaby so sweet, it put him to sleep.

If you listen closely, you can hear him mumbling "This is going to be a great day".



ADDITIONAL PHOTO - "DREAMSCAPES"

Sean lay still on the bed, dreaming of how the previous day went down. Feeling like he was drowning, he looked toward the light above...a light that would save him...the light of a new tomorrow.