The Assist Sides Courtney (1) (PDF)

THE ASSIST (THIRD DRAFT)
“PILOT EPISODE”

MR. RILEY, THE OWNER OF POPPY’S COFFEE ENTERS BEHIND MAXINE
MR. RILEY
If you made drinks as good as you dance
you might’ve been a manager by now. A
manager leads by example – you don’t
see me two stepping and electric
sliding all over the place do you?
MAXINE
No disrespect Mr. Riley but you too old
to be stepping in the name of love.
Your two-step probably look like this –
MAXINE DOES HER DOUGIE DANCE AS THOUGH SHE WERE MR. RILEY
AND PRETENDS TO HAVE BACK SPASMS
MR. RILEY
That’s funny. We’ll see who’s laughing
come payday.
MAXINE’S CO-WORKERS ERUPT IN LAUGHTER. COURTNEY, A BARISTA
WITH A HEAVY VIETNAMESE ACCENT ANXIOUSLY SITS NEARBY THE
RADIO, GLUED TO EVERY SOUND.
MAXINE
Courtney, you’ve been sitting by that
radio all morning. You damn sure ain’t
going to be laughing on payday.
COURTNEY
I need to be caller 97 to win tickets
to the game tonight. Brooklyn playing
LA. I want to see Jamal Rockwell, he so
hot!
MAXINE
Are you serious? Don’t nobody want to
see that sell-out!
COURTNEY
He from Brooklyn. Why you no like him?
MAXINE
Oh please. Jay Z’s from Brooklyn! Jay Z
brought Oprah to Marcy projects.
(BEAT)
I’m not lying. I shook her hand and

4

5

THE ASSIST (THIRD DRAFT)
“PILOT EPISODE”

everything! What has Jamal done for
Brooklyn? He got that contract money
and went Hollywood, ain’t been back
since.
COURTNEY
Oh well girl! He can get it.
(BEAT)
All of it.
MAXINE
(AWKWARD) Courtney...you really need to
stop hanging out in Jersey.
RADIO DJ (V.O.)
OK callers, now it’s time for the bigticket giveaway! We’re looking for
caller 97, is it you?
COURTNEY BEGINS EAGERLY DIALING INTO THE STATION
MAXINE
Girl! Give it up! Don’t nobody care
about that game or Jamal.
RADIO DJ (V.O.)
Caller 97, who’s this?
COURTNEY
(INTO PHONE)
Hello?
(ECHOS)
Oh my God, I’m caller 97?
(ECHOS)
RADIO DJ (V.O.)
Turn your radio down. Turn your radio
down.
MAXINE GRABS THE PHONE
MAXINE
(INTO PHONE)
Hello? Yo! I want to give a shout out
to all my friends. Sugar Foot, Tyease
Honey Minaj! Brooklyn! We did it!
MAXINE GIVES COURTNEY BACK THE PHONE