NETWORK is one of The TV Ratings Guide's first ORIGINAL SERIES, an original feature ONLY on The TV Ratings Guide.
Network – 1x02
“Flashback to Where We Used to Be”
By: Jessica Boggs
COLD OPEN
FADE IN:
LEAH, paces back and forth, and is apparently stressed out about a deadline. KASEY enters with what appear to be a stack of papers.
INT. LEAH’S OFFICE – A FEW HOURS LATER
LEAH
(sighs, then smiles)
Kasey! There you are! I see you got the reports with you.
KASEY
From what I can report, we have two weeks until up-fronts. Pilot season has not been going well for us so far. From what I can tell, Psych-Med is one of two pilots we have.
LEAH
Yes, I am aware. Jesse is getting test groups together. Then we'll decide which show gets to series.
LEAH remembers that she assigned JESSE to the task of getting test groups together for all the pilots. But little did she know, there were only two pilots that she had at hand according to the reports, even though there were ten to start out with. What happened to the other pilots? Let’s find out.
END OF COLD OPEN
FLASHBACK TO:
INT. BREAK ROOM – A MONTH AGO
NIGHT
LEAH and JESSE meet, to discuss matters at hand. The pilots needed to be decided on right away, before the upfront presentation.
LEAH
Now, Jesse.
JESSE
Yes?
LEAH
(whispers)
Do me a favor.
JESSE
What is it?
LEAH
Well, there are pilots we need to decide from. Your job is to find some test groups from these pilots.
JESSE
(confidently)
I’m on it! But…wait!
LEAH
(puzzled)
What is it?
JESSE
You know...I have been wanting to tell you what has been going on since we were last together like this. I hope we can talk about what happened between us.
LEAH
(visibly stunned)
Jesse, what happened between us is the past. We cannot work like this knowing that we were close at some point. We broke up and we should move on.
JESSE
(saddened)
But it’s just not that simple.
JESSE then trembles and grabs LEAH’s hand. The tension in the room is apparent. A while back, LEAH and JESSE were a couple. Since they are working together in the same workplace, the two characters are trying their best to prevent the old romantic feelings from surfacing. If JESSE was still in love with her, it would be apparent.
LEAH
(trembles)
I loved you once and I still love you, Jesse. But…
JESSE
I love you too, but this has been hard for the both of us. I can’t move on, knowing that we are supposed to have a working relationship.
LEAH
You’re right. It’s not that simple.
JESSE
Why don’t we just forget about the pilots for now...let’s just talk about us.
LEAH
But there is no us right now.
JESSE
(depressed)
I know, but if only we could give this one last chance.
LEAH
(angrily)
Stop asking me to give you another chance when I’ve given you chance after chance for you to make things right.
JESSE
Shhhh…stop talking.
JESSE pushes LEAH against the wall and kisses her on the lips, with intense passion. LEAH pushes back.
LEAH
(with a surprising look)
This is a mistake. We shouldn’t even do this.
JESSE
Alright. So, what are the pilots do I need to schedule test groups for?
LEAH hands JESSE huge packets of reports.
LEAH
Psych Med, Lucy, What’s Your Problem, the untitled President’s Daughter sequel, Plastic, Sorority Sisters, the untitled science fiction project, and Marietta.
JESSE
Sounds like a good crop. I’ll schedule for test groups for these.
LEAH
(shrugs)
Sounds good.
LEAH exits. JESSE then sits at his desk and takes the stack of pilot reports. He then reads them carefully, page by page. He is puzzled, when he comes to the report for Psych Med. He is intrigued.
FADE OUT:
FADE IN:
INT. LEAH’S OFFICE – PRESENT DAY
KASEY
Why not we just chill during lunch?
LEAH
Kasey, I don’t think we have any time.
KASEY
(puzzled)
Why not?
LEAH
There is an executives’ meeting in about fifteen minutes.
KASEY
Fifteen minutes?!?
LEAH
Yeah, fifteen minutes. We might as well get our stuff together before…
LEAH looks at her watch.
LEAH
...we need to hurry up and head to the office right at this very moment.
KASEY
(dismayed)
But...how?
LEAH
Ash wants to see us in his office before we have this meeting.
KASEY
Well, let’s go.
KASEY and LEAH rush out of the office.
CUT TO:
INT. BUSINESS HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS
JESSE walks out of his office, and notices the two women (KASEY and LEAH) in a hurry. Drips of perspiration streams down his face. The three characters meet in a sense of urgency.
JESSE
What is going on, ladies?
LEAH
(stressed out to the max)
We are going to be late for this meeting. It’s important.
JESSE
(horrified)
Oh no! I need to go grab my pilot reports.
KASEY
We don’t have time!
JESSE
Of course we do. We have fifteen minutes!
JESSE rushes back into his office.
CUT TO:
INT. JESSE’S OFFICE – CONTINUOUS
JESSE rushes towards his desk for the reports. Suddenly, papers are flying everywhere, and some flew out of the open window.
JESSE
(screams out)
Oh crap! Where are the reports?
LEAH rushes into the room. She gasps in horror.
LEAH
What is going on here?
LEAH notices the piles of papers on the floor. She is noticeably mortified.
LEAH
(in anger)
What is this?
JESSE
The test group reports. They fell out of my desk as I was getting them together.
LEAH then sighs.
LEAH
(picks up the papers)
I’m picking the papers up right now.
After picking up the papers, JESSE starts crying hysterically.
JESSE
They are gone! Most of the pilots’ test group results were gone. All we have left is Psych Med and Marietta…
LEAH
(in distress)
This would have never happened if you weren’t such in a freaking hurry.
JESSE
What are we going to do?
LEAH
Well, I guess you will have to lie about having a bad development season.
JESSE
(gasps)
Why would I lie about something like that?
LEAH
(retorts)
Just like you lied throughout our whole relationship.
JESSE
As if it was the worst thing I ever did. Leah, you had a part in this break up, too, you know.
LEAH
(angrily)
That’s not even the worst part. You cheated on me with some chick you met at a bar. You made the choice to throw away everything we have and were. After five years!
JESSE
Look, calm down. Five years is a long time to ever be in a relationship. But please do not drag my girlfriend into this.
LEAH
Oh really? The one who is a product of passion and lust? You had to trade years of love and respect over that? I can’t believe you!
JESSE
Let’s just get back to work. What do I need to tell him again?
LEAH
(shrugs)
That there was a bad development season.
JESSE
That is what I may have to do, but don’t blame me when this network goes down in the ratings.
LEAH and JESSE exit. Would ASH be disappointed? Would his job be on the line? Would his job be placed in the dumpster fire? The reports flew out the window due to his rushed planning. He was not very organized. What results are the papers flying out the window like the witches from Hocus Pocus on broomsticks. Imagine that!
FADE OUT:
END OF EPISODE
WRITTEN BY: Jessica Boggs
CREATED BY: Jessica Boggs
PRODUCED BY: Jessica Boggs, TVRGO
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