Talent Show Family/Transcript

== Brighton Middle School ==
(The scene starts at the school's cafeteria. Andrea is live showing an "Announcements" board.)
Andrea: Check this out! A talent show! AKA, another chance to share my incredible gifts with you, my devoted Fawn-dreas!
(Scene changes to Molly. She is eating her lunch. Scratch who's hiding inside the lunch box, opens it.)
Scratch: A talent show?! Oh, this is gonna be the best day of my afterlife!
Molly: What- really? You're into talent shows? Doesn't seem like your type of thing, Scratch.
Scratch: Molly, you could not be more wrong if you tried. I love talent shows! You see, in the Ghost World, they're the gold standard for misery.
Molly: Oh, boy...
Scratch: I mean, look, you got your stage fright, you got backstage meltdowns, your face plants and forgotten lyrics... and then there's always someone whose confidence is so huge, it crushes everybody else!
(Scene moves to Kat, who is practicing with a yo-yo for the talent show.)
Andrea: Aww, so cute...that you think of that as a talent!
(Kat stops and almost starts to cry.)
Scratch: See?!
Molly: Kat, I love yo-yo tricks! And I can't wait to see you perform!
Scratch: Your positivity is exhausting.
Libby: Ohh, the Talent Show sign-up sheet is up.
Molly: Yep. And everybody's got a talent to share. What's yours, Libby?
Libby: Oh, no, no, no, no, Molly. I have no talent. But I do like to help out backstage.
(While she is talking to Molly, Libby doesn't realize she wrote her name in the "Talent" list instead of "Tech" list in the sheet.)
Libby: I mean, sure, I admire the bravery of those kids who face the blinding spotlight, but with all my anxieties that is definitely not--AAHH!
Molly: What? What's wrong?
Libby: I- I signed up on the wrong list! In pen!
Scratch: Yes!
Libby: I-I'll just cross it out.. Huh?!
(The sheet isn't on the wall anymore, Libby notices that one of the teachers took it.)
Libby: I gotta get that sign-up sheet back!
Molly: Whoa whoa whoa whoa, Libby! Don't you see? This was no accident!
Libby: It wasn't?
Molly: No! This was your subconscious telling you that you actually want to perform. Deep down, you know you have a talent and you want to share it!
Libby: Well, I guess I can, uh, sing?
Molly: Huh?! You sing?! How did i not know this?!
== Libby's Home ==
(After school, Molly goes to Libby's home to hear her singing voice.)
Libby: (singing poorly) ♪I have a voice, Hear my battle cry, The spotlights blind me And my fears confine me!♪
(As Libby sings, Molly is stunned while Scratch is amused; outside, different animals react to Libby's terribly out of tune voice. Some try to hide while other cover their ears.)
Libby: (speaking) Molly, why are you looking at me like that?
(Molly is both shocked and horrified by Libby's singing.)
Scratch: Stee-rike! Misery is back in the game, folks!
Libby: Oh, no. You hate it!
Molly: No, no, no. That's not it! Um, to be honest, I thought it was, um...
Scratch: Awful? Atrocious? Appalling?
Molly: Um, awesome!
Libby: Really, you liked it?
Molly: I've never heard anything like it!
Scratch: All right, that's true.
Libby: You know, Molly, knowing you think I can do it makes me think I really can do it!
Scratch: Oh, she really can't! She's going to be a disaster!
Molly: Yeah... Yeah.
== The McGee's Home ==
(After lying to Libby about her singing, Molly head home to try and find ways of telling her the truth without hurting her.)
Molly: Oh! Libby's going to humiliate herself in front of the entire school! How do I stop this?
Scratch: (eating chips) You can't! You either let your friend humiliate herself in front of the whole school, which is a solid option, or you crush your friend with brutal honesty.
Molly: Is there a "tender honesty" option we're overlooking?
Scratch: Nope! All honesty is brutal.
Molly: (groans and accidentally sit on Scratch's chips) Okay, Okay, Okay. Think , think. Hey! How about this? If the music industry has taught us anything, it's that a little studio magic can make anyone a star!
Scratch: You sat on my chips...
== Singing Practice ==
(Molly helps Libby with her voice issue by adding auto-tune when she sings.)
Libby: (singing poorly even with auto-tune) ♪I have a voice... ♪(normal voice) Molly, what the heck is this?
(The phone says "Help me" and catches on flames in comedy manner. Molly steps on it to turn off the flames.)
Molly: Just, uh, giving your song a little oomph! A little pizzazz! Pizzoomph if you will.
(Scratch appears in two forms next to Molly's shoulders. One is the "Devil" and the other is the "Angel".)
"Devil" Scratch: Give up, Molly, you can't save her!
"Angel" Scratch: Yeah, he's right. Give up.
(Molly hits both Scratches and makes them disappear.)
Libby: I appreciate your help Molly, but what I really need is--
Molly: A backup dancer! To distract- I mean, dazzle the crowd with movement!
(Molly starts dancing in the stage, stopping Libby from singing.)
Libby: (singing) ♪I- I have a voi-♪
(Molly makes Libby dance with her. The microphone falls.)
Libby: Molly, I know what's going on here.
Molly: You do?
Libby: Yes, but singing is my gift, Molly. You need to find your own talent. And don't take this the wrong way but.. it's not dancing.
(Libby checks her phone.)
Libby: Oh, My mom's waiting outside. See you tomorrow night!
Scratch: See? She could be brutally honest!
== Outside ==
(Molly quickly runs to the school entrance. She abruptly opens the doors. Libby is about to enter inside the car.)
Molly: Libby, wait! I've gotta tell you something!
Ms. Stein-Torres: Molly! Libby just told me she's going to be in the talent show! And it's all thanks to you.
Scratch: Muahahaha!
Libby: And mom's closing the bookstore early to see me perform tomorrow!
Molly: Wait, but... it's "Slam Poetry Saturday"! You and Libby never miss it.
Ms. Stein-Torres: No one takes slam poetry more seriously than me. NO ONE! But I wouldn't miss my Libby's performance for anything!
Libby: Yeah! Oh, sorry, Molly. You had something to tell me?
(Molly enters inside the vehicle.)
Molly: Uh, Yes. But it's not going to be easy to hear-
Scratch: For anyone but me! Hahaha.
Molly: Um, well... the truth is..
Scratch: Get in there.
Molly: Um, there's, uh...
Scratch: You got it!
Molly: There's no reserved seating! So if you want good seats, get there early! Okay, bye!
(Molly jumps out of the car. Libby waves to Molly and the cars starts moving.)
Scratch: Bold choice, doublin' down on the misery. You've got skills. (Scratch grabs Molly's hand and does a high five with it.)
== Talent Show ==
(Backstage. It is the next day and the talent show is minutes away from starting. Scratch flies around the room laughing at other students failing with their talents, including Libby.)
Scratch: A veritable feast of fear! A cavalcade of calamity! And our dear little Libby will be cherry on the top of the fiasco sundae.
Molly: No, Scratch, No, Okay? I can still find a way out of this. A way that doesn't hurt Libby's feelings or humiliate her.
Scratch: Like what? I mean, the talent show is here, man. What could you possibly do?
(Scratch grabs a clarinet and starts to play it.)
Molly: There's only one thing I can do.
Scratch: Yeah?
Molly: I gotta stop her from performing.
Scratch: No, you're not stopping anybody! I need those misery numbers!
Molly: I'm doing it!
(Scratch plays the clarinet in a funny manner.)
(Next scene shows the variety of ways that Molly uses to stop Libby from performing.)
♪Obstruction♪
♪I’m gonna get in your way♪
♪Obstruction♪
♪Cause a major delay♪
♪I’m gonna slow you down, impede your speed♪
♪Gonna make you wait like the DMV♪
♪Obstruction♪
♪Obstruction♪
♪I’m talking total disruption♪
♪Stop the presses and pause the production♪
♪I’m gonna break your will and waste your time♪
♪I’m gonna make you give me feedback on how I mime♪
Molly: (as a mime) Now I’m in a box, and I’m er..
Libby: Molly, I don’t have time for this!
♪I’m gonna hold you up♪
♪I’m gonna slow you down♪
♪Like a sadistic gym coach, I run you around♪
♪I’m a herd of cattle that you can’t drive through♪
♪I’m blocking the road like♪
♪Obstruction♪
♪I’m gonna change your location♪
♪Send you away on a forced vacation♪
♪Whatever you do I’m gonna stall up♪
♪Next on the program nothing at all♪
♪Obstruction♪
(The song ends with Molly sending Libby inside a package to a US postal car. Scratch is seen driving the vehicle to stop Molly from trying to get Libby away from the stage.)
== Improvise ==
(Andrea sings her song ¨Everything’s a Bargain at Davenport.)
Andrea: ♪Don’t you want a toast bread like me♪
♪With a toaster on sale for $29.93♪
♪At Davenport’s (Davenport’s, Davenport’s)♪
♪Everything’s a bargain at Davenport’s♪
Scratch: I am sold! She's got me. From this day forward consider me a Fawn-drea. I'm gonna go buy a T-shirt.
Molly: See? Libby couldn't follow that! Good thing she's in the capable hands of the US postal service!
Scratch: Oh, yes, which reminds me. Ahem! A ding-ding! (Scratch takes the package where Libby was trapped in) A special delivery for Miss Molly McGee... (Scratch drops the package. Libby comes out of it.)
Libby: Phew! That was close. I'm up next! (Libby looks at the audience from behind the curtains.) And my mom's in the front row.
Molly: (nervous) Oh, good. Great. That's good.
Scratch: Oh, just look at her! All full of false confidence.
Molly: So much confidence...
Scratch: Not to mention...mom is the front row.
Molly: She's in the front row...
Scratch: I mean, it's the perfect storm. And all thanks to so-called "best friend" Molly McGee...
Molly: Libby, you can't go out there!
Libby: Why? Did I lose a sequin?
Molly: No, you can't go out there, because... (to herself) Brutal honesty time (back to Libby) you're a terrible singer!
Libby: But you said...
Molly: I know. I lied. I'm sorry. I didn't want to hurt your feelings.
Libby: So you waited until now to tell me?! When I'm about to go on?!
Molly: Well, uh, don't worry! Because there's a trap door in the stage. And we can tunnel away and escape into the night! Like criminals! New name, new faces maybe. We'll live on our own on the road! In the trains! Just... just nobody. Just us two.
Libby: No. I am done being scared. I have to go out there.
Molly: What are you gonna do?
Libby: Improvise! (Libby suddenly changes her clothes to dark ones, resembling a poet.)
Molly: Oh, no...
Scratch: Oh, Yes!
== Stage ==
Andrea: Thank you, Brighton Middle School! Don't forget to follow me on all platforms and shop at Davenports!
(Libby enters in the stage. She installs a music stereo on the floor. The stage light focus on Libby.)
Scratch: Ooh! This is gonna be so good!
(Libby starts reciting "I Have a Voice".)
Libby: I have a voice.
Hear my battle cry
The spotlights blind me
My fears confine me
I’m scared, but I still gotta try
Thrown in a fire
Kiss my comfort goodbye
I feel the heat on my skin
My head starts to spin
I’m scared but I still gotta try
I’m not giving up
Gonna look my doubt in the eye...
Molly: She’s actually good, and for real this time. Ha! Go Libby!
Scratch: Booo! Libby! Her misery was going to set me up for afterlife, that’s it, I’m going in!
Molly: Oh no. (Molly tries stopping Scratch from ruining Libby's performance. Libby continues to recite while Molly and Scratch roll in the background.)
Libby: I’m facing my fears
Gonna hold my dizzy head high
I won’t be cowed by the crowd
Gonna make my mom proud
I’m very scared, but I still gotta try
Do not stay silent
Don’t clam up cause you’re shy
If you have something to say
Speak up, don’t delay
You can be scared by you still gotta try
You can be scared by you still gotta try
(The audience claps and cheers at Libby's performance.)
Ms. Stein-Torres: Whoo! Slam dunk, Libby!
(Libby happily jumps into her mother's arms. She gives her a hug.)
== Backstage ==
Scratch: (sobbing) Hugs? Happy tears?
Molly: Mm-hmm.
Scratch: This was supposed to be the most miserable night of the year! And now the only miserable one is me! Little Scratch...You think that counts for my misery numbers? (Scratch summons a book that reads "Official Ghost Council Scare Guide".)
Molly: Well, you well right for all the wrong reasons, Scratch. From now one, I'm going to be completely honest with Libby, no matter what!
Libby: (Libby comes to Molly's side) Hey, Molly. Who are you talking to?
Molly: (Molly quickly pushes Scratch away) No one!
Category:Family Transcripts