Synopsis: In the first two installments (001, 002), the owner of the Jedemi Cafe, Viv, has been talking with a “voice” who says his name is Frankie. He and “The Gang” have been hanging out at the cafe for awhile observing the goings-on while pondering their level of involvement. Frankie has galloped ahead –taking matters into his own hands– while The Gang tries to gently reel him in.
We pick up the action as The Gang discusses what they observed from Frankie’s most recent encounter with Viv. We learn more about them and a unique way of communicating they’ve developed.
INT. JEDEMI CAFE – ABOVE
JOEY
Looks like you’ll need to change
your plans, buddy boy. She’s off
to The Stanford to take in a
show… and perhaps get a break
from you.
FRANKIE
Don’t be so sure about that.
JOEY
Oh? And why is that? You aren’t
going to tag along, are you?
FRANKIE
Don’t need to. The cool thing is
that she’ll end up with a nice dose
of me… and not even know it.
JOEY
Really?! (sarcastically) And what
makes you so darn sure of that?
FRANKIE
Well… I just happen to know The
Stanford is showing
“Lady for a Day” this evening.
JOEY
Lady for a…? With one with Apple
Apple and Dave the Dude –YOUR
Lady for a Day ?
FRANKIE
Yup.
JOEY
How convenient! Sounds like you
had a game plan all along and were
holding back. Seriously, did you
set this up?
FRANKIE
Me? (laughs) Set up? Nah! It’s
karma, I tell ya.
JOEY
Karma, yeah right…
FRANKIE
Okay. Chalk it up to karma and
perhaps a little help from my
friend.
JOEY
You actually have a friend?
(pause) Just kidding. Who’s your
partner on this one.
FRANKIE
X… He relished the challenge too.
JOEY
I see. So now you’ve got X
tag-teaming with you on this little
project?
FRANKIE
Not intentionally. He just
happened to mention that he’d be
swinging by The Stanford to see
what’s playing. Thought it would
be nice to get out and about. Then
he came back with a ticket — which
conveniently landed in the hands of
Viv from “an admirer.”
JOEY
Really?
FRANKIE
Yeah. X said the folks around here are
all all buzzing about who this admirer is.
JOEY
And is it you?
FRANKIE
You’ll see soon enough.
JOEY
Okay, so with Viv out of the
picture for the evening, what are
your plans?
FRANKIE
I figured that while waiting for X
to get back, I’d…
Joey interrupts.
JOEY
What? So you sent X to the movies
with her?
FRANKIE
Not exactly. He’s just going to
hang out, observe and then report
back.
JOEY
On what?
FRANKIE
On where she laughs during the film
and how she reacts to it overall.
That’ll help me when I talk to her
next time.
JOEY
Ah ha! Those wheels are turning…
Okay. So what were your evening
plans? Sorry for interrupting you
before.
FRANKIE
No worries. I need to settle into
some prep work. Specifically, I’ve
got to figure out clever sayings
for the napkins. You noticed that
she read the napkin last night.
JOEY
I noticed she attempted to read
your napkin.
FRANKIE
Yeah, I know. That’s one of the
biggest challenges of using this
approach.
(pause) Wait…how’s your handwriting?
You got plans for the evening? Perhaps
you can…
JOEY
Hold ‘yer horses pardner! My
handwriting is passable, but I’ve
got a prior commitment.
FRANKIE
Really? Working on your own taming
project? What is this, a “tame
off”?
JOEY
Nah. You are the taming guinea
pig. No point in me flaying about
when I can learn from watching you.
FRANKIE
Nice. Real nice…
JOEY
Seriously. It’s a much better use
of time.
FRANKIE
Which we have an unlimited supply
of anyway, right?
JOEY
It’s just that, I told the boys
downstairs I’d participate in a
design review. I don’t get half of
what they’re talking about, but I
told them I’d go when they asked me
earlier today.
FRANKIE
That’s nice of you.
JOEY
I wanted to see if you were
available — to help out. With
your Cal-Tech degree, I figured
you’d have more valuable input for
them.
FRANKIE
I am sort of curious. But first
thing’s first. Nail the napkins.
JOEY
Okay… in that case, why not get
Frannie to help you out.
FRANKIE
Frannie, huh? And why’s that?
The view cuts to the other side of the cafe, where there are several chalkboards and boxes of colored chalk.
JOEY
Don’t you remember her background?
Her work was all about writing
messages on signs that connected
the scenes during those silent films.
FRANKIE
Oh yeah. That’s right — she’s
from “back in the day” — cut her
teeth before sound.
JOEY
And speaking tag-teams, you two
would be awesome. I’m surprised
you haven’t worked together before.
FRANKIE
Harry mentioned it, but at the
time, I was really into the whole
“one-man, one film” thing, ya know
what I mean? But you’re right.
Besides, we are approaching a woman
– so a woman’s touch would be
helpful. Good idea.
JOEY
Awesome. I’ll go downstairs and
see if those guys are ready for me.
FRANKIE
I promise that if I wrap early,
I’ll come down and check on you.
JOEY
Nice of you. But don’t rush your
project. If you want to succeed at
this “taming thing”, you need to
stay focused.
FRANKIE
Yeah… you’re right. Thanks,
buddy!
JOEY
Alrighty then… Carpe moment!
FRANKIE
What?
JOEY
Get going, Silly!
FRANKIE
Okay, I’m outta here.
FADE OUT.
FADE IN:
INT. JEDEMI CAFE
The chalkboard shows Thursday’s Specials on the top and then a quote of the day on the bottom.
The scene opens on the opposite side of the cafe. Near a chalkboard that shows the daily specials.
The bottom part of the board has a sketch of Viv’s Famous Mocha Chai with the phrase “Try our Chai” in script underneath it. It looks a lot like the writing in the old Coca Cola ads.
A piece of chalk can be seen lightly adding detail here and there.
The angle moves to above.
FRANKIE
(voice clearing) …er a..Hey girl!
FRANNIE
Oh… Hey Frankie! What brings you
to these parts? Your ‘taming’ mate
take the evening off? She could be
avoiding you, you know…
FRANKIE
She’s at the movies…at the
Stanford Theater in downtown PA.
FRANNIE
Oh yeah. I’ve heard of it …
that’s the theater that shows
oldies, right?… the one with the
good ol’ fashion balcony. What a
nice treat!
FRANKIE
She works so hard… she really
needed a night off.
FRANNIE
Yeah right… Though I really do
think she’s avoiding you. (pause)
Don’t give me that look. I’m just
kidding. It’s a really good thing,
what you are trying to do. I know
I was getting kind of bored just
hanging out. If you work out this
taming thing, we’d all have
something more productive to do.
FRANKIE
Thanks, Frannie.
FRANKIE
You’re quite welcome. I think it’s
great that you are showing us The
Way … but you realize that you
gotta be patient, right? This is
going to take time.
FRANKIE
Yeah I know. I hear you.
FRANNIE
So what do you know about what’s
showing?
FRANKIE
Lady for a Day…
FRANNIE
Really? That’s such a cute story.
She’ll like it for sure.
FRANKIE
Cute? You called it cute?
FRANNIE
Yeah, cute. What’s wrong with
cute? Ya know (sounding all
serious) get over yourself. (then
she laughs) Whatever… cute is a
good thing. It means repeat
business. Now… let’s circle
back. So what’s has brought you to
this neck of the woods.
Frankie starts hemming and hawing…
FRANKIE
Well… eh… I always wondered
where you disappeared to in the
evenings… Yeah like… Wow! You
did this? It’s fantastic!
FRANNIE
Oh this? Yeah, it’s kind of fun to
be drawing again. I forgot how
much I missed it.
FRANKIE
You’re quite the talented lady.
So, have they noticed? Said
anything?
FRANNIE
Nah! That’s the beauty of it, I
suppose. It kind of fits in
naturally. And these folks are so
busy, it really hasn’t dawned on
them that it wasn’t created by
someone on the staff.
FRANKIE
Wow! Even Viv missed it?
FRANNIE
She thinks one of Nicole’s pals
from school does it.
FRANKIE
Funny. (pauses to admire her
work). No doubt about it — Girl,
you’ve got some talent!
FRANNIE
Uh, Frankie — you kind of said
that already.
FRANKIE
Yeah… yeah I did. But that was
part of my sweet-talkin’ guy
patter… And now that I’ve looked
closely at what you’ve done — it
really IS impressive.
FRANNIE
You don’t need to be sweet talkin’
me. If you want something — step
on up and ask, silly.
A napkin flutters down and lands near the chalkboard.
FRANNIE
What the heck is this? Is this
supposed to actually say something?
If so, what language? I don’t
quite recognize…
Frankie cuts her off.
FRANKIE
I know, I know. Never was much for
long hand… Cursive-style is fast and
but for me, highly illegible. And hand
hand printing takes way too long to
get an idea across.
Anyway, I’m bugging you because I
had this idea on how we can kind
interact with folks around here.
FRANNIE
Yeah? Go on.
FRANKIE
Well… the Jukebox was a dunk, you
know… There’s quite a bit that
can be communicated subliminally
with music.
FRANNIE
Uh huh…
FRANKIE
The thing is… I’ve been watching
folks around here and it seems like
when they are inspired, they draw
on napkins. Words, ideas… it’s
how something gets from the head to
the start of making it real, you
know what I mean.
FRANNIE
Yeah. I’ve done my share of napkin
drawings.
FRANKIE
So I figured, what the heck. Let’s
get some stuff onto some napkins,
leave them around and see what gets
read.
FRANNIE
I don’t know… I mean… sketches
and jottings on napkins are a kin to
journal writing… you know? Kind
of private…
FRANKIE
Yeah, you got a point. That’s why
I’m getting Viv involved.
FRANNIE
Ah ha! So it does circle around.
FRANKIE
Just think about it… She’s
created this great environment
where people find inspiration…
and now she has an opportunity to
kind of take it to the next level,
with our involvement.
FRANNIE
Oh no you don’t… Remember,
we’re not here to interfere…
FRANKIE
Nice rhyme. (pauses) But seriously,
we’re not interfering, we’re just
think of it as proactive nudging,
that’s all.
FRANNIE
Nudging?
FRANKIE
It’s like pointing out the way.
They still need to choose to go or
not go. Do or not do.
FRANNIE
Go on…
FRANKIE
The way I see it, we’ll be creating
“nudging napkins.” Some will have
sketches. Others will have words or
sayings. The whole point is to help
folks find the courage to take what
they’ve imagined or what’s kicking
around in the back of their mind
… and do more. You know? The way
I see it, it’s like making sure their
personal napkins don’t go to waste.
FRANNIE
Wow. You thought this up yourself?
Impressive.
FRANKIE
X and I got talking one night and
before long, we had it worked out.
I’m telling you, it’s highly
addictive!
FRANNIE
Yeah. I can see your point. This
place is pretty darn energetic
anyway. But I suppose that with
our nudging, that energy can be
channeled —
FRANKIE
… (completing her sentence) For a
higher purpose. You know, it’s
that bliss thing Joey is always on
about.
FRANNIE
Ah, yes. Follow your bliss.
FRANKIE
When you think about it — his
whole “Follow your bliss” thing
makes a lot of sense. And it just
so happens to be something that you
and me and the guys downstairs do
naturally… like breathing.
FRANNIE
Yeah. But it wasn’t always that
way. I mean… it seems as
effortless as breathing now… but
it took me awhile to get to this
point.
FRANKIE
Yeah. Me too. I just thought that
we might be able to help accelerate
the process for some of the folks
who come here. Or at least help
make sure they don’t give up their
dreams quickly just because they
think “I could never do that.”
FRANNIE
You’ve got a point. There were
several times in my life where it
seemed like the right person
showed up at the right time — and
doors opened where and when I least
expected.
FRANKIE
Yeah. Happened to me too. Will
Rogers tapped me… gave me the
opportunity to provide him with a
gag a day — I was just a hack gag
man at the time. This was like
being called up to the majors ya
know. And I was so hungry, pun
intended, that I did it for
doughnuts and coffee. Believe me,
I got a lot more out of that deal
then he did.
FRANNIE
Serendipity.
FRANKIE
Yeah — Serendipity.
FRANNIE
Okay… So circling back around…
You need my help with what? The
getting stuff onto napkins?
FRANKIE
Yes. Sketches, writing, words and
phrases… the whole kit and
caboodle.
There’s a slight pause before she responds.
FRANKIE
Come on…(pleading) This project
needs really could use a woman’s
touch. Ya like donuts, don’t ya.
I can set you up with…
FRANNIE
No need to grovel. I was actually
thinking of different things we
could do. Of course I’ll help you.
FRANKIE
Sweet! Thanks Frannie! Can we
get started this evening?
FRANNIE
Sure, why not? The night’s still young.
Let me wrap up this little project
and then I’m all yours.
FADE TO BLACK.
In the next episode (The Taming of Viv – 004), we find out there is a “MI” in the basement of the cafe. We also learn what’s on those “Nudging Napkins.” Most important, “Taming” is introduced.
You can learn more about “Lady for a Day” here. Also, here’s a clip that YouTube says is a trailer.
[…] the next episode (The Taming of Viv – 003), we learn more about The Gang. Also, the concept of “Nudging Napkins” is […]