First Stop, New York Read Online Free Page B
Author: Jordan Cooke
JB.”
JB sank in his chair. Rocco shot him a smile.
“So. We’ll read through our first episode and then I’ll send you home. I’ll expect to see you bright and early tomorrow on location at the beach,” Max said as he took his seat at the head of the table. “And now, the history of
The ’Bu
begins…”
The ’Bu
Pilot Episode
EXT. MALIBU BEACH—2:30 P.M.
TRAVIS, 18, all-American, blond, model good looks, sits high atop his lifeguard station. He surveys the beach like a prince on his throne. Crystal clear sky. Perfect swells. Suddenly, his face grows dark. He leaps to his feet and blows his WHISTLE.
TRAVIS
Too far out!
He waves in a PACK OF TWELVE-YEAR-OLDS who are splashing one another on their boogie boards. But that’s as tough as it’s been
all day, and he smiles his perfect smile.
GIRL’S VOICE
What are you smiling at?
It’s TESSA, a lanky brunette beauty who’d caught his eye earlier that week. Just 17, she’s standing beneath his station in a butterscotch bikini. Travis hops off his booth and plays it cool.
TRAVIS
Isn’t a lifeguard allowed to smile?
His expression turns grave. The depths of sadness behind his bright exterior are suddenly revealed. Tessa can’t see this yet, however, and she continues, flirtatiously.
TESSA
Sure a lifeguard can smile—if
a lifeguard has a legitimate reason.
Travis looks past her to the ocean where children cavort, and to the beach where families laugh.
TRAVIS
Maybe I just take pride in guarding the sanctity of life.
Tessa is now deeply moved. Travis’s eyes grow moist.
TESSA
That’s an awesome responsibility.
TRAVIS
It is, yes.
TESSA
My name is Tessa, by the way.
But Travis is now looking into the far distance, remembering something he wishes he didn’t. Tessa gazes into his empathetic eyes. There she sees a man, not a boy. Unknowingly, they move closer.
TRAVIS
And my name is Travis.
That’s when ALECIA, 19, appears. Magnificent-looking with buckwheat-colored red hair, her lunar blue eyes regard Travis coldly. Trent senses her immediately, but he does not turn to face her.
TRAVIS
Hello, Alecia.
ALECIA
Is there someone you need to introduce me to, Travis?
TRAVIS
This is Tessa, Alecia.
She’s good people.
Alecia gives Tessa a withering look.RAMONE, 18, approaches the group. A tower of immaculately sculpted muscle, with inky black hair that curls around his thick neck, he instinctively flexes his massive pecs.
RAMONE
Alecia, I’ve been searching the beach for you—only to find you here. With him.
There’s no love lost between Travis and Ramone. The two handsomest men on the beach, they regard each other warily.
ALECIA
(caught off guard)
Ramone…what are you doing here?
Suddenly, OLLIE, 17, runs up. All skin and bones, he is totally out of breath.
OLLIE
Tessa, where did you go? I grew concerned when you weren’t where we said we’d meet. Is everything okay?
Tessa looks at Travis with great feeling. He returns her look. Something undeniable is rising between them.
TESSA
I think so, Ollie. More okay than it’s been in a long, long time…
Two
Trader Joe’s Parking Lot—12:45 P.M.
Corliss pulled her car out of the lot and onto La Brea. The infuriatingly calm GPS voice was telling her to make an immediate right on Third Street.
“Okay,” Corliss repeated. “Right on Third…”
“Thath wrong—keep on La Brea,” Legend yelped from the passenger seat.
The backseat was crammed floor to ceiling with cases of Poland Spring, so many that Corliss couldn’t see out the rear window. She was doing her best to ignore Legend—until she caught sight of the shards of rosemary crackers that were piled up in his lap.
“Legend, Max specifically asked for those crackers!”
“But they thuck.”
“I don’t care if they thuck—
suck
—they’re for Max! And they’re not supposed to be good—they’re low fat!” Corliss shrieked. “Okay, okay,” she said, taking a few deep breaths. “I’m sorry,
JB sank in his chair. Rocco shot him a smile.
“So. We’ll read through our first episode and then I’ll send you home. I’ll expect to see you bright and early tomorrow on location at the beach,” Max said as he took his seat at the head of the table. “And now, the history of
The ’Bu
begins…”
The ’Bu
Pilot Episode
EXT. MALIBU BEACH—2:30 P.M.
TRAVIS, 18, all-American, blond, model good looks, sits high atop his lifeguard station. He surveys the beach like a prince on his throne. Crystal clear sky. Perfect swells. Suddenly, his face grows dark. He leaps to his feet and blows his WHISTLE.
TRAVIS
Too far out!
He waves in a PACK OF TWELVE-YEAR-OLDS who are splashing one another on their boogie boards. But that’s as tough as it’s been
all day, and he smiles his perfect smile.
GIRL’S VOICE
What are you smiling at?
It’s TESSA, a lanky brunette beauty who’d caught his eye earlier that week. Just 17, she’s standing beneath his station in a butterscotch bikini. Travis hops off his booth and plays it cool.
TRAVIS
Isn’t a lifeguard allowed to smile?
His expression turns grave. The depths of sadness behind his bright exterior are suddenly revealed. Tessa can’t see this yet, however, and she continues, flirtatiously.
TESSA
Sure a lifeguard can smile—if
a lifeguard has a legitimate reason.
Travis looks past her to the ocean where children cavort, and to the beach where families laugh.
TRAVIS
Maybe I just take pride in guarding the sanctity of life.
Tessa is now deeply moved. Travis’s eyes grow moist.
TESSA
That’s an awesome responsibility.
TRAVIS
It is, yes.
TESSA
My name is Tessa, by the way.
But Travis is now looking into the far distance, remembering something he wishes he didn’t. Tessa gazes into his empathetic eyes. There she sees a man, not a boy. Unknowingly, they move closer.
TRAVIS
And my name is Travis.
That’s when ALECIA, 19, appears. Magnificent-looking with buckwheat-colored red hair, her lunar blue eyes regard Travis coldly. Trent senses her immediately, but he does not turn to face her.
TRAVIS
Hello, Alecia.
ALECIA
Is there someone you need to introduce me to, Travis?
TRAVIS
This is Tessa, Alecia.
She’s good people.
Alecia gives Tessa a withering look.RAMONE, 18, approaches the group. A tower of immaculately sculpted muscle, with inky black hair that curls around his thick neck, he instinctively flexes his massive pecs.
RAMONE
Alecia, I’ve been searching the beach for you—only to find you here. With him.
There’s no love lost between Travis and Ramone. The two handsomest men on the beach, they regard each other warily.
ALECIA
(caught off guard)
Ramone…what are you doing here?
Suddenly, OLLIE, 17, runs up. All skin and bones, he is totally out of breath.
OLLIE
Tessa, where did you go? I grew concerned when you weren’t where we said we’d meet. Is everything okay?
Tessa looks at Travis with great feeling. He returns her look. Something undeniable is rising between them.
TESSA
I think so, Ollie. More okay than it’s been in a long, long time…
Two
Trader Joe’s Parking Lot—12:45 P.M.
Corliss pulled her car out of the lot and onto La Brea. The infuriatingly calm GPS voice was telling her to make an immediate right on Third Street.
“Okay,” Corliss repeated. “Right on Third…”
“Thath wrong—keep on La Brea,” Legend yelped from the passenger seat.
The backseat was crammed floor to ceiling with cases of Poland Spring, so many that Corliss couldn’t see out the rear window. She was doing her best to ignore Legend—until she caught sight of the shards of rosemary crackers that were piled up in his lap.
“Legend, Max specifically asked for those crackers!”
“But they thuck.”
“I don’t care if they thuck—
suck
—they’re for Max! And they’re not supposed to be good—they’re low fat!” Corliss shrieked. “Okay, okay,” she said, taking a few deep breaths. “I’m sorry,
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