FACE IN THE CROWD

created by OC,SH’s founder & Erika E, while in college, spring 1995
further written by OC,SH’s founder & now adapted for publication here

 

LAST TIME:
2nd of 3 parts of the 3rd fully-scripted episode, Acts 3-5.

 

NEXT TIME:
Synopsis continues, starting with Month 2, Week 4, Day 5.

 

NOW: TALE CONTINUES
3rd of 3 parts of the 3rd fully-scripted episode [Month 2, Week 4, Day 4 (a Thursday), Acts 6-7] I wrote for my college honors thesis, spring term 1996. When Erika & I originally created this, we didn’t consider timelines or how long it would stake for the action to transpire on TV. Thus, when I started academic work on this, I had to consider how the action might work on screen. With a general breakdown, I mapped out action from Month 1 – Week 1 – Day 1 to Month 3 – Week 4 – Day 5.

 

Episode Structure
(minutes in bold are what are included in this post)

MINUTE ON AIR
1 FC (Act 1)
2 FC
3 FC
4 INTRO-FC / COMMERCIAL
5 COMMERCIAL
6 COMMERCIAL
7 FC (Act 2)
8 FC
9 FC
10 FC
11 FC
12 FC
13 FC
14 COMMERCIAL
15 COMMERCIAL
16 COMMERCIAL / FC
17 FC (Act 3)
18 FC
19 FC
20 FC
21 FC
22 FC
23 FC / COMMERCIAL
24 COMMERCIAL
25 COMMERCIAL
26 FC (Act 4)
27 FC
28 FC
29 FC
30 FC
31 FC
32 FC
33 COMMERCIAL
34 COMMERCIAL
35 COMMERCIAL / FC
36 FC (Act 5)
37 FC
38 FC
39 FC
40 FC / COMMERCIAL
41 COMMERCIAL
42 COMMERCIAL
43 FC (Act 6)
44 FC
45 FC
46 FC
47 FC
48 FC
49 COMMERCIAL
50 COMMERCIAL
51 COMMERCIAL / FC
52 FC (Act 7)
53 FC
54 FC
55 FC
56 FC / COMMERCIAL
57 COMMERCIAL
58 COMMERCIAL / FC CREDITS
59 FC CREDITS
60 FC CREDITS

ACT 6
Scene 1

FADE IN:

INT. HOPE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN FELLOWSHIP HALL — AFTERNOON

As the scene opens, Michael, Cathy, Adam, Barry, Timothy, Erika & Tammy are seated at the 1st table. Desmond, Virginia, Donnie, Amy, Carl, Richie, Matthew, Michelle & Christine are seated at the 2nd table. Steve, Jackie, Julia, Jake & Laura are seated at the 3rd table. A total of 4 tables are set up, each sitting ~10 people. Thus, EXTRAS are seated at the 4th table, while other EXTRAS are interspersed with the main characters. Everyone is talking & eating, as in any potluck, but the focus is on 1 table at a time, starting with the table at which Tammy is seated.

TAMMY
(That was) a good sermon this morning, Pastor Cathy. It really said a lot to me.

CATHY
Well, thank you, Tammy. I hope you really do mean that it spoke to you. I believe that we all need to listen to what God has to say.

ERIKA
(jokingly)
Yeah, Tammy.

CATHY
(to Erika)
It’s not a joking matter.

ERIKA
Oh, I know. I…I just, well…I don’t know.

The group at the 1st table eats in silence for a little while before Timothy speaks up.

TIMOHY
(somewhat nervously)
Well, Tammy, how do you like Manchester?

TAMMY
So far?

TIMOTHY
Yeah.

TAMMY
Well, it’s OK. I’m finding that I fit in better than I thought I would. So, that’s nice.

MICHAEL
Well, that’s good. Glad to hear it.

Michael glances at Adam & Barry who have started a slight food fight.

MICHAEL
Hey, you 2! Stop that now! We don’t do that, especially not at church.

ADAM
(undeterred)
Sorry, Dad. But, he started it.

BARRY
(dejected)
I did not!

ADAM
Did too!

MICHAEL
Boys, boys. That’s enough. You’re 14 years old, for pete’s sake.

CATHY
(trying to ignore her boys’ behavior)
Well, Tammy, if there’s anything you need, be sure to ask. Everyone is generally open to newcomers here in this town.

TAMMY
Thanks. I appreciate that.

As Tammy says her last line, the CAMERA pans over to the 2nd table, where Desmond is seated.

DESMOND
(Well, it’s) nice to have the whole family here today.

CHRISTINE
(under her breath)
Minus 1.

CARL
Oh, c’mon, Christine. You don’t need to remind us. We all know Jenna is gone. We will get through this.

VIRGINIA
(interrupting)
Come, now. Let’s not go at each other’s throats, OK? Let’s just enjoy this wonderful meal.

DONNIE
& a good 1 it is, too, Nanna.

VIRGINIA
(leaning towards Donnie)
Yes, sweety. It is very good, isn’t it?

Donnie nods & takes another bite of food. Virginia sits back up straight.

AMY
(to Matthew & Michelle)
So, have you 2 lovebirds set a date yet?

MATTHEW
For the wedding?

AMY
of course, for the wedding!

MATTHEW
(somewhat shyly)
Well, no. We haven’t yet.

MICHELLE
(jumping in)
We’re waiting for a little while. I mean, we didn’t think it would be very appropriate to get married so soon after Jenna’s death.

VIRGINIA
(rather shocked)
Nonsense! We need a wedding!

AMY
Mom’s right. A wedding would give us something to be thrilled about.

MATTHEW
(somewhat hurt)
But, can’t we just be thrilled about our engagement?

DESMOND
Son, you 2 have been engaged for what…3 months now? C’mon.

MATTHEW
Well, Dad. We want to take it slowly. We want to be absolutely sure.

DESMOND
You’re not absolutely sure after 3 months?

MICHELLE
(jumping in again)
Look, I think what Matthew means to say is that while we love each other very, very much, we just want it to be very right.

AMY
I think that’s admirable.

CARL
(to himself)
I wish I’d done that.

VIRGINIA
(angrily)
Carl! How could you say that? & right in front of Christine?!

CHRISTINE
It’s OK, Mrs. Rockingham. Really.

Virginia is dissatisfied with Christine’s acceptance of Carl’s remark, but Virginia can only shrug her shoulders. She is speechless. At this point, the CAMERA pans to the 3rd table, where Steve is seated. EXTRA 1, male, age 22, & EXTRA 2, female, age 22, are also seated at the table. Both are dressed in their Sunday best.

STEVE
(This food) is very good, as usually, for a Hope C-O-B potluck. You did a nice job, Laura, with getting things ready.

LAURA
(somewhat sheepishly)
Why, thank you. But, I really didn’t want to be here.

JACKIE
Oh? Why not?

JAKE
(interrupting Laura; afraid she will talk about their financial problems)
Uh, she’s just tired, aren’t ya Rox?

LAURA
Uh, yeah. That’s right. I’m very tired.

JAKE
& she wouldn’t be so tired if you hadn’t interrogated her so much, Steve.

LAURA
Jake….

STEVE
Look, Jake, I was just doing my job, OK?

JAKE
Yeah, well….

LAURA
(interrupting)
Jake, honey, drop it, OK?

JULIA
Look, people. Let’s not fight now, OK? This food is too good to get an upset stomach, which is exactly what you all are giving me.

EXTRA 1
(to Steve; somewhat ignoring Julia’s plea)
How is the investigation going?

STEVE
Well, as you know, we’re at a stand-still right now.

EXTRA 2
I heard that Alicia didn’t like Jenna all that much. Why not investigate her, too, like you did your wife?

JACKIE
(very angrily)
OK. That is enough. Let’s just drop this about the murder investigation. Let’s try to remember what Pastor Cathy said this morning, OK? Forgive & move on. Please!

There is a stint of stunned silence after Jackie’s last plea. Everyone pays close attention to their food. The CAMERA pans briefly to table 4, where the other EXTRAS are discussing all sorts of topics & news from Manchester, the nation & the world, even including Pastor Cathy’s sermon.

FADE TO BLACK: END ACT 6. GO TO COMMERCIAL.

 

ACT 7
Scene 1

FADE IN:

INT. ALICIA’S BEDROOM IN THE MANSON HOME — MID-AFTERNOON

As the scene opens, Alicia is still sleeping. The clock now reads about 1:30 in the afternoon. Suddenly, Alicia wake up, once again not recognizing where she is at 1st, but it does quickly dawn on her this time. She looks at the digital alarm clock radio.

ALICIA
Oh my! It’s 1:30 already! They’ll be back soon. Oh, goody. I guess I should get up now, huh? Then again, why? So they find me still in bed, rather on the bed. Dead? Ha. Ha. I wouldn’t be so lucky.

Alicia sits up on her bed.

ALICIA
Then again, I could play dead. Wouldn’t that be fun? Ain’t it too bad that Jenna can’t play dead!? Ha. Ha. Sure is….

Suddenly, Alicia hears the phone ring. She stares at the phone receiving behind the digital alarm clock radio on her nightstand.

ALICIA
Who could that be?

The phone continues to ring.

ALICIA
Should I answer it? Should I? I could. But if I did, it could be someone I don’t like. On the other hand, if I don’t, they could get mad at me. But, how would they know I’m here to answer the phone? …. Geez, didn’t Mom put the answering machine on?

The phone stops ringing.

ALICIA
Good! That solves my problem. I didn’t want to answer the thing anyway.

The phone begins to ring again.

ALICIA
Ah, damn. I thought my troubles were over. Alexander Graham Bell sure knew how to wreak havoc on so many people.

Alicia grabs the receiver.

ALICIA
Hello?

MALE VOICE
(off-camera)
Yes, is this the Manson residence?

ALICIA
Yeah….

MALE VOICE
Good. Is Captain Manson there?

ALICIA
Uh, no. Could I take a message?

MALE VOICE
Uh, I don’t think so. Uh, will he be back anytime soon?

ALICIA
I think so.

MALE VOICE
(growing rather impatient)
Well, when?

ALICIA
He should be back any moment now.

MALE VOICE
Good. I’ll call back then. I have some information for him regarding the Jenna Rockingham case.

Alicia’s face turns pasty as she hastily slams the receiver down.

 

ACT 7
Scene 2

CUT TO:

INT. HOPE CHURCH OF THE BRETHREN NARTHEX — MID-AFTERNOON

As the scene opens, people are preparing to leave after the potluck. Everyone is more or less in the Narthex despite having to deal with the crowdedness.

STEVE
(to Cathy; over the hum of conversation & coat rustling)
Well, Pastor Cathy, thanks again for your message this morning. I will keep it in mind even as I work on the investigation this week.

JACKIE
(squeezing Steve)
I’ve taken it to heart already. I’ve forgiven Steve for having me investigated.

CATHY
Good! I’m very glad to hear that. Steve, I still don’t see why you had to do that.

STEVE
I was just doing my job, I keep telling people.

JACKIE
C’mon, honey. Let’s go on home. I bet Alicia is waiting for us there.

Steve, Jackie & Julia exit.

DESMOND
(to Cathy)
On behalf of all of us, thank you for the wonderful service & potluck dinner today. Both were very nice.

CATHY
I’m glad you enjoyed both.

RICHIE
(to Christine)
Well, listen, I’ll take you home if you like.

CHRISTINE
Sure.

DESMOND
(to his family)
So, who’s all coming with me? Let’s see, Virginia & Donnie, for sure. Carl, what about you?

CARL
Oh, I’ll bring Amy with me.

DESMOND
That’s fine. & Matthew, I suspect you’ll be taking Michelle home?

MATTHEW
But, of course!

The Rockinghams all leave. Tammy nods her head in salutation. Cathy & Erika say goodbye to her. Timothy tries to say goodbye to Tammy, but can’t quite get the words out in time before Tammy leaves. Jake & Laura are the last to leave. They don’t say much, partially because Laura is still visibly worried about the overdue bills waiting for them at home. The 2 do nod goodbye before exiting. Once everyone has left, Michael & Cathy, with Erika’s help, round up Adam & Barry.

CATHY
Well, c’mon family. Let’s go home & relax this afternoon. What do ya say to that, huh?

ERIKA
Sounds good to me!

ADAM
But, Mom. I wanted to go out & play for a while.

CATHY
We’ll see, Adam. I make no promises.

TIMOTHY
(to Adam)
Hey, buddy. How about you & me go to Boulevard Park for a little while this afternoon? Whatdya say?

ADAM
(perking up a bit)
Could we Mom, could we?

CATHY
Well, I guess.

BARRY
(to Cathy)
I’ll stay home with you & Dad, Mom.

CATHY
(smiling)
Thanks, Barry.

MICHAEL
Well, shall we?

CATHY
Yep. What a day!

The Croswells walk out with Cathy turning off the lights & closing the door behind them.

FADE TO BLACK: END ACT 7. GO TO COMMERCIAL & RUN CREDITS.

THE END.

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