“Home Movies” Spec Script – “To Write Or Not To Write?” – Scene 5

INT. STROMBOLI OLIE’S – NIGHT

Coach McGuirk sits at a table across from Clara.

CLARA

Thanks for inviting me to dinner, John.  It’s so great to be able to sit down with other writers and talk about writing.

COACH MCGUIRK

Yeah, you know me, I love writing so much, I can hardly stand it.

CLARA

I’m so fascinated by your novel.  It’s so sexy when a man can come up with good ideas and turn them into words on a page.

COACH MCGUIRK

That’s kind of what I wanted to talk to you about, Clara.  You see, I’m not the person you think I am from my novel.

CLARA

What, do you think I’m stupid?

COACH MCGUIRK

No, I…

CLARA

I know you’re not a secret double agent, John, I know it’s just a book.  You’ve never killed a whale with your bare hands, you probably don’t have a yacht, and there’s no such thing as marshmallow volcano lava.

COACH MCGUIRK

What?  Of course there is.  It’s not that, Clara.  The truth is, I’m not a real writer.  What I submitted was the most I’ve ever written in my entire life and I plan to keep it that way.

CLARA

I see.  That certainly changes things.

COACH MCGUIRK

It does?

CLARA

Big time.  Unfortunately, I’m only attracted to writers, so if that’s not you, I may have gotten my hopes up.

COACH MCGUIRK

There’s gotta be another way.  I like you so much, there has to be a way we can make this work.

CLARA

Well, truth be told, I haven’t been honest with you either, John.

COACH MCGUIRK

You haven’t?

CLARA

Yes, I’m an aspiring author, but I’m also a prostitute, John.

COACH MCGUIRK

Uhh, wait, what?

CLARA

I’m a prostitute, John.  So you can have me if you can afford me.

COACH MCGUIRK

And how much is that?

Clara leans over the table and whispers in his ear.

COACH MCGUIRK

Oh.  Is there any chance you would accept 20%-off coupons to Bogurt’s Yogurt?

CLARA

That’s a confirmed no on the yacht, huh?

COACH MCGUIRK

Wait a minute.  I did write what I submitted.  You’re telling me, all I have to do is keep writing and you’ll be my girlfriend?

Clara smiles.

FADE TO BLACK.

Continue to: “To Write Or Not To Write?” – Scene 6

“Home Movies” Spec Script – “To Write Or Not To Write?” – Scene 4

EXT. SOCCER FIELD – DAY

Brendon sits on the soccer field alone with a pen, pad of paper, a copy of Coach McGuirk’s printed novel, and an empty ice cream bowl.  He flips through McGurik’s manuscript.

BRENDON

I just can’t follow Double Agent John McGuirk’s character arc.  He starts on a whaling ship, then the ninja assassins come out of no where, and somehow the Russian spy sub can pass through the marshmallow lava.  This source material is garbage!  I can’t work with this.

Brendon throws the manuscript a few feet away.  SHANNON walks over and picks it up and begins to read it.

SHANNON

After snapping the neck of the last ninja with a swift high kick, Double Agent John McGuirk grabbed Clara for one last kiss before he dove into the marshmallow lava.  Did you write this crap, Brendon?

BRENDON

No, I didn’t write it, Coach McGuirk did.  He paid me to finish writing it for him.

SHANNON

Oh, so you’re a prostitute.

BRENDON

A what?

SHANNON

A prostitute.  You’re a prostitute, Brendon.  You sell yourself to men so they can get off.

BRENDON

Is that what I’m doing?

SHANNON

How much did he pay you?

BRENDON

Twenty dollars.

SHANNON

Oh, so you’re a cheap prostitute.

BRENDON

I don’t think you’re using that word correctly.

SHANNON

Oh, I’m using it correctly.  You think you’re the only one Coach asked to write for him?  He practically begged the entire basketball team.  You’re the only pretty woman who said yes to him.

BRENDON

I really don’t appreciate that reference.

SHANNON

How does it feel to know that you’re helping an old desperate man get his rocks off?

Shannon picks up Brendon’s empty ice cream container.

SHANNON

And what’s this?  Ike Dream’s Ice Cream and a receipt for exactly $20 in ice cream?  How did it feel, Brendon, going down your throat?  Did it feel like guilt?

BRENDON

Ok, Shannon, I’ve had enough of this conversation.  Unless you can help me write this, you’re wasting my time.

SHANNON

Unlike you, Brendon, I’m not a prostitute.  So, no, I can’t help you write McGuirk’s jizzfest.  But what I can do is give you advice.

BRENDON

Advice?

SHANNON

Don’t write it.

BRENDON

But Coach McGuirk already paid me.

SHANNON

You’d think he would have learned by now not to pay a hooker until after she’s finished.

BRENDON

So you’re saying I shouldn’t write it?  I’d have to feign my death, grow a mustache, learn French and move to Canada.

SHANNON

You’d really go through all that?  What’s the worst he could do to you?  He’s just a soccer coach.

BRENDON

Yeah, but he gets that look where his eyes go all black, like a shark about to strike, but instead of rows of teeth, it’s smells of vodka.

SHANNON

He’s not a shark, Brendon, he’s a whale.  Didn’t you see the title?  Moby McGuirk.  He’s a big fat white whale.

BRENDON

I don’t think I want to anger that whale.

FADE TO BLACK.

Continue to: “To Write Or Not To Write?” – Scene 5

“Home Movies” Spec Script – “To Write Or Not To Write?” – Scene 3

INT. BOGURT’S FROZEN YOGURT – DAY

Brendon and Melissa follow Jason along the line of frozen yogurt dispensers and toppings, as he adds them to his bowl.

JASON

Are you guys seriously not getting any yogurt?

MELISSA

No, it’s too expensive and it’s not that good.

JASON

Not that good?  Step aside Melissa, because you’ve never seen a pro decorate yogurt.

BRENDON

(to Melissa)

So how much did Coach pay you to write for him?

MELISSA

He didn’t pay me anything.  I told him no.

BRENDON

You told him no?  I didn’t even know that was an option.

MELISSA

He wouldn’t go higher than $20 and I’m not that cheap.

JASON

Wait he paid you $20?

BRENDON

Yeah.

MELISSA

Now do you feel stupid for accepting the 20%-off yogurt coupons?

JASON

No, Melissa, I don’t.  Yogurt is amazing and worth it.

BRENDON

Meh, I’d go for Ike Dream’s Ice Cream over Bogurt’s Frozen Yogurt any day.

JASON

That’s because you don’t have a refined pallet.  I don’t even know if I want to be writing the same novel as you with that lack of judgment.

MELISSA

Can I have one of those coupons?

JASON

No, Melissa, get your own 20%-off coupons.  I worked for these.

BRENDON

Well, technically, you haven’t written anything yet.

JASON

I’m going to write so well, I’ll be filled up to here with 20% free yogurt.  You’ll be joining the ranks of Melissa in begging for yogurt coupons.

MELISSA

Brendon, aren’t you supposed to submit to the writing competition?

BRENDON

Yeah, so?

MELISSA

Well, where are you going to find the time to write that and Coach McGuirk’s novel?

BRENDON

That is exactly why I have you two!  I was thinking we could sit down at Ike Dream’s Ice Cream and bounce a few ideas back and forth.  We’ll be done in no time.

JASON

Oh sure, punish the yogurt-eaters in the group.  We don’t all eat ice cream, Brendon!

MELISSA

I told you I’m not doing it, Brendon.  I’m also submitting to the writing competition and I want to win this year.

BRENDON

Wait, what?  You’re submitting?  But Mr. Lynch didn’t force you to.

MELISSA

I know, I just want to prove to myself that I can do it.

BRENDON

Well if our movies suffer as a result, we will certainly have to revisit your contract.

MELISSA

I can still do the movies, Brendon.  You’re the one who isn’t going to be able to work on movies with all your extracurricular activities.

BRENDON

Fine, I’ve seen your work ethic and I don’t need it.  Jason and I can finish that novel in no time.

Jason reaches the checkout counter and hands the coupon to the TELLER.

TELLER

Sorry sir, but this coupon is expired.

JASON

Oh.  Now I feel stupid for accepting the coupons.  I’m not doing it either, Brendon.  It’s like, if you have to pay more than 80% for yogurt, what’s even the point?

Jason and Melissa head for the door.

BRENDON

What?  Really?  Neither of you will help me on this.  Not even for yogurt?

Jason turns around before leaving.

JASON

Oh, I got my yogurt, Brendon, and I’m eating it, too.

FADE TO BLACK.

Continue to: “To Write Or Not To Write?” – Scene 4

“Home Movies” Spec Script – “To Write Or Not To Write?” – Scene 2

EXT. SOCCER FIELD – DAY

Brendon walks up to the bench where Coach McGuirk is sitting.

COACH MCGUIRK

Brendon, I’m glad you’re here.  Listen, buddy, I need your help on something – and you know what, all your little friends can help out, too.

BRENDON

You’re not going to make us put lotion on your varicose veins again, are you?

COACH MCGUIRK

No, Brendon, this is serious.  I have a girlfriend now.  I’m the happiest I’ve ever been in my entire life and it’s killing me inside, because soon Clara’s going to figure out that I’m not a real writer.

BRENDON

But didn’t you write that submission to the writer’s group?

COACH MCGUIRK

I did, Brendon, and it wore me out.  I’m like that chick who toured with The Rolling Stones and then afterward, her voice didn’t work anymore.  I’m spent, Brendon.  I’m a fraud.

BRENDON

So what do you want me to do?

COACH MCGUIRK

You’re a creative.  Your brain is still young and ambitious with the imagination that only comes from being really small; like the smile of a child, or something.

BRENDON

Coach, what are you talking about?

COACH MCGUIRK

You see? I can’t even form sentences anymore, my brain is cooked.  I need you to finish my novel, so I can submit it to the writer’s group, so Clara won’t dump me.

BRENDON

No, I don’t care if Clara dumps you.

COACH MCGUIRK

Please, Brendon, I hate writing so much.  I can’t do it anymore.

BRENDON

I hate writing even more.  Just ask Mr. Lynch how I do in English.

COACH MCGUIRK

I don’t need to talk to that guy.  I’ve seen your movie collection, Brendon.  You write scripts all the time.  You’ve written more in your short life than I’ve ever written in mine.

BRENDON

I’m in the fourth grade.

COACH MCGUIRK

I’m going to tell you something you might not know about me, Brendon.  I dropped out of school in fourth grade, so my writing level is probably on par with yours.  You could just finish where I left off and no one will know the difference.

BRENDON

Why did you drop out of school?

COACH MCGUIRK

My father was an alcoholic and couldn’t hold down a job.  He was abusive and made me drop out to work in a textiles factory.

BRENDON

In the fourth grade?

COACH MCGUIRK

Luckily, I’ve always been freakishly large, so no one knew I was only thirteen.

BRENDON

You were thirteen in fourth grade?

COACH MCGUIRK

Cut me some slack, Brendon, I need your help on this.  I have the spirit and testosterone of James Bond, in the body of Jabba the Hutt, with the intellect of a fourth grader.  Have the pity on me my father never had.

BRENDON

I really don’t want to.  I already have too much homework.

COACH MCGUIRK

I’ll pay you.

BRENDON

How much?

COACH MCGUIRK

I have a whole stack of 20%-off coupons to Bogurt’s Frozen Yogurt.  That’s all I can afford right now.

BRENDON

I hate frozen yogurt.  It’s like, hey, yogurt, have you ever heard of ice cream?  It’s only better in every way.

COACH MCGUIRK

Fine, twenty dollars.

BRENDON

Sold!  But I’m not splitting it with Jason and Melissa.  You’ll have to bribe them separately.

COACH MCGUIRK

I’m already regretting this.

FADE TO BLACK.

Continue to: “To Write Or Not To Write?” – Scene 3

“Home Movies” Spec Script – “To Write Or Not To Write?” – Scene 1

INT. CLASSROOM – DAY

Brendon sits in the back of the classroom drawing, while Mr. Lynch teaches at the front.  Brendon is drawing a picture of Mr. Lynch being usurped by the students in dramatic revolutionary-war style.

MR. LYNCH

Brendon?  Brendon?  Brendon!

BRENDON

The answer is 1776, the revolution began.

MR. LYNCH

No, I asked you to read the freewrite you’ve been working on the entire class period.

BRENDON

This isn’t history class?

MR. LYNCH

No, Brendon, this is English class.

BRENDON

Oh, that explains a lot.

MR. LYNCH

Brendon, I’m starting to get the impression that you’re not enthused about writing.

BRENDON

You’re just getting that impression now?

MR. LYNCH

That’s it, Brendon.  I’m mandating that you submit to this year’s writing competition.

BRENDON

What?  That nerd-o read-a-thon with all the kids that wear glasses?

MR. LYNCH

Hmm, I guess they do all wear glasses.

BRENDON

I just wouldn’t fit in with that crowd.  We come from different worlds, them with glasses, me without glasses.

MR. LYNCH

You’re doing it, Brendon.

BRENDON

No no no, what do you call this?  Extracurricular activity?  No thank you.  Keep that extra because all my school activities are strictly curricular.

MR. LYNCH

Not anymore.  Your participation grade is non-existent, so if you don’t participate in the writing competition, I’m failing you.

BRENDON

What?  When is the deadline?

MR. LYNCH

Next Friday.

BRENDON

That is not nearly enough time for me to sit down and write something.

MR. LYNCH

That is not my problem.  It’s just a twenty page minimum to submit.  I know you can handle that.

BRENDON

And what if I can’t handle it?  Do you really want that on your conscience?

MR. LYNCH

I think I’ll manage.

FADE TO BLACK.

Continue to: “To Write Or Not To Write?” – Scene 2

“Home Movies” Spec Script – “Moby McGuirk” – Scene 4

(Original picture source: Adult Swim)

EXT. SOCCER FIELD – DAY

Brendon walks to the bench.  Coach McGuirk is sitting on the bench, resting his laptop on a soccer ball.  He is still writing.  He clearly hasn’t slept.

BRENDON

Coach?

COACH MCGUIRK

For art thou – what Brendon?!  Don’t interrupt me!

BRENDON

What are you doing?

COACH MCGUIRK

What does it look like?  I’m writing!  Never interrupt a writer, Brendon.

BRENDON

Why?

COACH MCGUIRK

What?  Do you just walk up to a firefighter and say, ‘hey, why are you putting out that burning building?’

BRENDON

No.

COACH MCGUIRK

That’s right, no.  They stop to answer your little feeble-minded question, and in the mean time, people burn alive.  You want that on your hands?

BRENDON

No.

COACH MCGUIRK

Well, the burning building is my mind, Brendon.  Every second you waste yakking, it gets hotter and hotter.

BRENDON

What happened to marinating those idea pearls?

COACH MCGUIRK

Oh, get off your high horse, Brendon.  It’s not a good look for you.

BRENDON

Where does that cable go?

Brendon points to the extension cord attached to McGuirk’s laptop, which extends out of frame.

COACH MCGUIRK

Don’t worry about it and don’t bug me, I have three hours hours to finish this chapter.  Do you have any idea how long it takes to write?  I’ve been at it for fifteen hours and I’m barely at four and a half pages.

Brendon looks over Coach McGuirk’s shoulder.

BRENDON

Are you copying Moby Dick?

COACH MCGUIRK

Not anymore.  The book was just a jumping point, but I’ve reached a new plane and the ideas are excreting out of me faster than ever.

BRENDON

Reading is hard, too, huh?

COACH MCGUIRK

I couldn’t stomach another word of that garbage.

Coach McGuirk throws the book as hard as he can over the bleachers.

MELISSA

Ow!

Melissa walks into frame carrying the book.

MELISSA

Who threw this?  Was it you Brendon?

BRENDON

No, it wasn’t me, it was, uh, the wind.  Blew it right over there.

MELISSA

It’s not even windy, Brendon.

BRENDON

Oh, it was, just a moment ago.

MELISSA

Well now I don’t remember because I was just hit in the head by Moby Dick.

Melissa trips on the extension cord and falls down.

MELISSA

Ow!  What the?

Melissa stands up.

MELISSA

Coach this wire is a safety hazard.

COACH MCGUIRK

No it’s not.

MELISSA

Yes it is, I just tripped on it, it’s a hazard of safety.

COACH MCGUIRK

Well now you know it’s there and you won’t trip again.

MELISSA

No!  First I get hit with a Dick!

COACH MCGUIRK

Could you change the wording, please?

MELISSA

Then I trip on your computer wire.  This isn’t okay, I’m about to call Mr. Lynch over here.  Mr. Lynch!

COACH MCGUIRK

Okay, okay, Melissa.  Technically, I’m not allowed to have my laptop on the field.  But technically, girls aren’t allowed to play on the soccer team and I allow you to play any way.

MELISSA

Is that true?

COACH MCGUIRK

No.  But if it were, wouldn’t you appreciate me for that?

MELISSA

Yeah.

COACH MCGUIRK

Well there you go.  And technically, I threw the book that hit you in the head.  Hehe.

MELISSA

What?  Brendon you knew about this?  And you lied to me?

BRENDON

What?  No?

MELISSA

Why would you lie about something so trivial?

BRENDON

No I didn’t lie!  It was simply a misjudgment.  I had my back turned and I didn’t see it.  I really did think it was the wind.

MELISSA

Well you’d have to be pretty stupid to think that, it’s a really heavy book.

BRENDON

Okay, Melissa, I admit I am very stupid.

MELISSA

Well that’s true.  Okay I have to go.

Melissa exits frame.

COACH MCGUIRK

Wow, Brendon that was incredible.

BRENDON

What was?

COACH MCGUIRK

A female catches you in a lie and you dodge claiming stupidity.  Haha.  To think, fifty years of lying to women and I’m still learning new tricks.

BRENDON

So what are you writing about?

COACH MCGUIRK

James Bond, well it started out like Moby Dick, but Double Agent John McGuirk is way too cool to be stuck on some whaling boat sausage fest.

FADE TO BLACK.

Continue to: “Moby McGuirk” – Scene 5

“Home Movies” Spec Script – “Moby McGuirk” – Scene 3

INT. JOHN MCGUIRK’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Coach McGuirk sits on the floor, talking on the phone, his laptop propped up on a box.

COACH MCGUIRK

So, Clara, when will I see you again?

CLARA

You’re still coming to the writing group on Wednesday, right?

COACH MCGUIRK

Yeah, of course.

CLARA

Great, I’ll see you then.  You’re submitting part of your novel, right?

COACH MCGUIRK

Yeah, definitely.

CLARA

Great, just email it to me by Friday, so the group has enough time to read it.

COACH MCGUIRK

Friday?  That’s tomorrow.

CLARA

Is that a problem?

COACH MCGUIRK

Not at all, since I already wrote it.

CLARA

Great!  I’ll talk to you tomorrow then.

COACH MCGUIRK

Great.

Clara hangs up the phone and Coach McGuirk sighs heavily.

COACH MCGUIRK

Okay, John, you got this.  Just read Moby Dick and copy down the good stuff and change anything you don’t like.  McGuirk it up a little.

Coach McGuirk opens the book Moby Dick, typing in his laptop as he goes.

COACH MCGUIRK

Let’s see here.  Chapter one.  Call me Ishmael.  Well that sucks.  Let’s change that to: Call me Coach McGuirk.  Wait, no.  Call me McGuirk, comma, John McGuirk.  Yeah, like James Bond did it; and look how much action he got.  Moving on.  Some years ago–never mind how precisely–having little or no money in my purse.  Purse?!  No, McGuirk doesn’t own a purse.  When does it get to the part about the boat?

Coach McGuirk flips through the book.

COACH MCGUIRK

Here we go.  The whaling voyage was welcome; the great flood-gates of the wonder-world swung open. Oh, that’s good.  That’ll swing open her flood gates.  I don’t even know what it means, but it’s good.  Let’s see, crap, I keep losing my place.  Here it is.  And in the wild conceits that swayed me to my purpose, two and two there floated into my inmost soul, endless processions of the whale.  Oh, yeah, that’ll get her wet.  She’ll be begging for the endless processions of my whale.  Mid most of them all, one grand hooded phantom – that sounds dope – like a snow hill in the air.  Hmm.  Okay, dial it down, Shakespeare.  We’ll change that to: like my private yacht, which I use to go on whaling expeditions.

Coach McGuirk turns the page.

COACH MCGUIRK

Alright, chapter two.

FADE TO BLACK.

Continue to: “Moby McGuirk” – Scene 4

“Home Movies” Spec Script – “Moby McGuirk” – Scene 2

(Picture Source: Adult Swim)

INT. BRENDON’S BASEMENT – NIGHT

Brendon stands behind the camera.  Jason and Melissa stand in front of the camera, Jason in an over-sized suit, holding a cup of coffee, Melissa in a barista apron.

BRENDON

And action!

MELISSA

Brendon, you didn’t give us a script.

BRENDON

I know that, I’m trying something different.

MELISSA

Well how am I supposed to know what my lines are if I don’t have a script?

BRENDON

Melissa, this is all part of the process, okay?

JASON

Um, Brendon?

BRENDON

Yes, Jason?

JASON

Who am I again?

BRENDON

You are the famous American musician, Moby.

JASON

And why am I upset about my cup of coffee?

BRENDON

Well, it’s less about the coffee itself, and more about the fact that Moby is being a dick right now.

JASON

And why am I being a dick?

MELISSA

Brendon, have you ever read Moby Dick?

BRENDON

Yes I have, Melissa.  What’s your point?

JASON

This is based on a book?

MELISSA

You know this isn’t what the book is about, right?

BRENDON

Yes Melissa, I know that.

JASON

It’s not?

MELISSA

No, Jason.  It’s about a whale.

JASON

Why is Moby mad at a whale?  I never thought Moby was a mad guy, I’m confused.

MELISSA

No, Moby’s not in the book, Jason.

JASON

So then why am I dressed like Moby?

MELISSA

Ask Brendon.

BRENDON

Look, I just thought, all of our other movies had scripts, why not try to make one without a script, you know?

MELISSA

You mean improvise?

BRENDON

Yes, exactly!

MELISSA

But then we’re writing the script, Brendon.  And it was your job to write the script.

BRENDON

I understand that, Melissa, and maybe this is a learning process for everyone.

JASON

Brendon, I’m already sweating a lot as it is.

BRENDON

Uh huh.

JASON

I’m just worried I’m gonna ruin your dad’s suit if I get nervous on what to say.

BRENDON

Just give it a shot, you guys will be great!  Let’s start with Moby flipping out about the cup of coffee.

JASON

Wait, so Moby isn’t in the book, right?

BRENDON

Yeah, we already went over this.

JASON

Oh, so this is like a parody, like a play on words, using Moby to make fun of the book, since he’s not in the book.

BRENDON

That’s about right.

JASON

Oh, okay, I get it now.

BRENDON

And action!

JASON

Oy!  You listen here, pretty!  This is the worst blimey roast of cuppah I’ve ever tasted in me whole bloody life!

MELISSA

Whoa.  I mean, sorry, sir.  I can remake that for you.

JASON

Um.  No!  Nothing you can do can make this better!  I just want you to have to stand there, while I yell about this coffee.

MELISSA

Moby, you’re such a dick.

BRENDON

And cut!  I think that was some of our best work, you guys.  I don’t know where that accent came from, Jason, since Moby isn’t British, but I really liked it.

JASON

It came from within me.

FADE TO BLACK.

Continue to: “Moby McGuirk” – Scene 3