Lulu in LA LA Land (8 page)

Lulu and Sophia laugh. Lulu is relieved.

LULU

OK, just this once.

Lulu turns to swim the turbulent social seas back to Pop Girl Island.

FADE OUT.

INT. HARRISON DINING ROOM—WEDNESDAY EVENING

Once a week the Harrisons try to have dinner together. The weekly dinner only happens when both parents are available on the same night. Sometimes weeks go by without a family dinner.

Lulu, Alexis, Fiona, and Linc sit around a huge, oval, polished wood table. It's set with sparkling silver and crystal. Linen napkins rest on each person's lap. Elana directs A SERVER who places food on each person's plate.

LULU

There's an essay contest at school, and the winner represents Crosswinds at the California Global Warming conference. Can you guys help me? Ya know, just look over what I wrote?

Fiona moves a sparse fava bean salad around her plate.

FIONA

Lu, this is such a busy time of year. When is your essay due?

LULU

Next week. It's mostly done. Mom, you're such a leader saving the rainforests. Please read it! You'd love what I wrote!

FIONA

Email it, Lulu. Get it to Lilac and include the turnaround time.

LINC

I could read it too.

LULU

Geez peas, Dad! I'd love that! I did a section about how you went surfing in Mexico twenty years ago, and when you went back to surf the same spot last year, you said the water, reef, and marine life had changed.

LINC

(gives Lulu a wink)

I'm in your report? Crazy cool. That's the closest I've ever gotten to academic success.

FIONA

(to Linc)

OK, enough with the dumb hick idiot act! I've got too much riding on
Silver Water.
Have you been learning to answer reporters' questions so you sound confident?

Fiona grabs the iPhone resting next to her plate and checks calendars and schedules.

FIONA

(ignoring the girls)

Is your agent getting you ready for the Academy Awards? What about your hair? Lilac keeps asking me because she hasn't heard back from your assistant, what's his name?

LULU and ALEXIS

Leif!

LINC

(anger in his voice)

You could just ask me.

FIONA

(cold, sharp tone)

You cannot blow this one. Your nomination is not just about YOU.

LINC

I speak English, babe. You're saying my nomination is because YOU directed me! Told me how to talk, move, even breathe in each scene. So I better win.

FIONA

(anger seeping from each word)

That's crazy and totally unfair.

ALEXIS

(unmoved by her parents' warring words)

Being a stylist is my DREAM job.

LULU

(voice trails off)

I'd like to be a marine biologist. Or gardener. Or chef. Or, ahhhh…well, a secret thing…

LINC

(to Lulu)

Like a secret agent? A spy?

FIONA

(to Alexis)

You do NOT want to be a stylist. You hustle stores and designers for clothes, shoes, and jewelry. Then, the star you're dressing usually doesn't like what you bring them. So back you go to your designers and beg for another wardrobe, more shoes, and bigger jewels.

ALEXIS

(delighted to be engaging her mom)

I bet I'd get tons of free stuff from designers who'd want my actor or actress to wear their stuff.

LULU

(to her mother)

How long does it take? Like when do you have to start getting ready for the Oscars?

FIONA

Dressing a star for one night can take weeks.

LULU

I mean, how long will it take you and Dad to get ready?

FIONA

(testy and impatient)

Well, Lulu, as you can tell, we're getting a trifle more ready each day.

Alexis realizes that Lulu is zeroing in on the conflict between her Spa-tacular and Academy Awards. She's seriously furious that Lulu interrupted her conversation with Fiona.

Alexis shoots Lulu a look to BACK OFF.

The server clears plates while Elana enters holding a tray of mini sundaes. Watson waddles behind, his nose raised high. He sniffs loudly. Toddling in a dessert parade is his favorite exercise.

ELANA

Dessert?

LULU

I think Watson wants one.

Linc flashes Lulu a smile.

FIONA

No, thank you, Elana.

LULU

Mom, does that mean Watson can have two?

FIONA

I'm concluding dinner. Thanks, girls.

Fiona gets up from the table and glances at Linc, who's shoveling pudding into his mouth.

FIONA

Linc, for the next couple weeks, lay off the cream, butter, and egg foods.

Fiona exits.

ALEXIS

See, Lulu, I tell you the same thing.

Linc twirls his spoon toward Lulu, takes another bite, then abandons his dessert. Apparently, his appetite has faded.

INT. FRED SEGAL—THURSDAY AFTER SCHOOL

CUT!! You gotta know how hard shopping is for me. Shopping takes time away from other things I'd rather be doing, like saving one redwood tree, one acre of rain forest, one sea turtle…even one taco truck. Besides, clothes should be (1) orange; (2) soft and cozy; (3) able to get muddy, buttery, or ripped; and (4) long enough to cover my pale, freckly skin. Back to: ACTION!!

Lulu and Alexis enter Fred Segal, a haven for trend-setting L.A. fashion. This L.A. style destination is made up of small, stylish boutiques all under one roof. Alexis strides directly into the children's shop.

Lulu slumps into a chair and pulls tortilla chips from her tote bag.

Alexis finds SERENA, the most warm, fun sales gal. Serena's sweet, natural charm draws Lulu right in. Alexis likes Serena's mid-back-length blond hair.

SERENA

(approaching Lulu)

It's your birthday soon?! Awesome. Try some dresses on so I can get a feel for what you like.

ALEXIS

(quietly to Serena)

Please, don't ask her what she likes. You'll be stuck hearing about her geeky ideas.

LULU

(to Serena)

OK, here's what I don't like: anything tight or short, and positively nada with ruffles. I like clothes that cover my arms and thighs. So NO micro-mini clothes. And orange, please! I love orange.

ALEXIS

Whoa!!

LULU

(plunging on)

If possible, I'd like a skirt, and, of course, natural, organic fabrics that don't use chemical dyes.

ALEXIS

Forget it! Just try on dresses.

Serena and Alexis pull dresses off racks.

Lulu ducks into a curtained changing area. Serena carefully hands dresses in to Lulu.

After a few minutes, Alexis yanks open the red velvet curtain to reveal Lulu, half-dressed. Lulu immediately FREAKS. She's extremely shy about her newly developing body and desperately tries to cover herself.

ALEXIS

(annoyed)

OMG—would you get over it! How can I possibly see the dresses when you're hiding in here?

LULU

I'll come out and show you! Go away!

Lulu drags the curtain closed.

LULU

(shouts from inside the dressing room)

These dresses are all too small. What size are they, a kids' 4?

ALEXIS

I can't imagine you need bigger sizes.

LULU

(frustrated)

If I try these dresses on, they might rip AND be mucho short.

SERENA

(gently)

Ya know, I'm gonna dash into one of the women's boutiques and see what I can find. Back in a sec.

Alexis stomps over to a nearby full-length mirror to examine her own outfit: tight moto jeggings with leather paneling on the sides paired with trendy leopard loafers and a sheer short-sleeved button-down that shows off her naturally tan, slender arms.

LULU

(still inside the changing room)

Lex, I'm not like you. I have my own style, and I like how I look in my clothes!

Alexis doesn't respond. She adjusts the deep purple cashmere sweater tossed over her shoulders while squeezing her forest green clutch under her arm. She LOVES looking like she's between photo shoots!

Lulu sits on the dressing room floor feeling overwhelmed: big, bored, and hungry. Alexis doesn't believe in lunch stops.

Serena returns.

SERENA

(hands Lulu two dresses)

Here, cutie. Try these. I think they'll feel better. They're from an awesome boutique next door.

A hanger clacks to the floor.

LULU

(relieved)

Hey! These aren't so short. Thanks, Serena. I really like this sparkly one.

Alexis rips open the curtain to inspect the outfit.

ALEXIS

Not happening! Sequins are for evening only. Try on that one.

Alexis points to a silk and wool navy women's tunic. On Lulu it
could
fit like a dress.

Command given, Alexis turns on her heels. Lulu draws the curtain tight.

Lulu emerges from the changing room.

LULU

Geez peas! This dress fits and doesn't look bad. It's just, kinda, my arms stick out. Does it come in long sleeves?

ALEXIS

It's perfect! I SHOULD be a stylist. You don't want to look like Princess Geek. It's fashionable to wear dresses above the knee and to show a little arm. Don't you ever read
Teen
Vogue
?

LULU

(fed up)

What about a scarf to cover my neck and shoulders? I feel naked without another layer.

SERENA

I saw the perfect one!

Serena dashes out to another boutique, grabs some limp fabric, and swoops back.

SERENA

(opening the scarf)

Ta-da! These two-toned scarves are from next door. The material's soft, and this navy and orange combination just pulls the outfit together.

Serena drapes the scarf around Lulu's neck.

ALEXIS

Oh, fabulous. I normally don't like orange, but this scarf rocks! Lulu actually looks fashionable. Well, except for those Vans.

LULU

What's wrong? They go great with this outfit.

ALEXIS

You're kidding, right? We'll go to Madison and get you some Lanvin ballet flats. Metallic. Goes with everything. They'll be the icing on the cake.

LULU

And speaking of cake, how 'bout we stop at Sweet Lady Jane down the street?

ALEXIS

Not even.

INT. CROSSWINDS SCHOOL—BEFORE SCHOOL

Lulu, Sophia, and other members of the Cleanup Club wander the hallways picking up candy wrappers, crumpled papers, broken pencils, and even uneaten food. They pitch everything into see-though plastic trashbags that say “THROW ME OUT.” Mr. Ling, the club advisor, walks up.

MR. LING

I am continually confused by students throwing garbage on the ground when trash cans stand a few feet away.

LULU

It's not just kids, Mr. Ling. When I do beach cleanups, there's tons of garbage thrown away by grownups too.

MR. LING

I stand corrected. Litterbugs come in all sizes. How is your next beach cleanup project coming?

Kids pass by on way to their lockers. They mutter, “gross” or “barfy.”

SOPHIA

Lu, I think kids don't like these bags.

Sophia raises her bag and shakes the mess inside.

LULU

(wide smile spreads across her face)

Well, I ordered these clear bags just so people CAN get grossed out by seeing what washes onto the beaches.

MR. LING

That's clever as long as those who throw the trash come to help pick it up.

The Pop Girls, dressed alike in black leggings and sleeveless blouses, come down the hall and stop to open their lockers. They sniff and then fake gag.

LULU

Hi, guys. I'm organizing a big beach cleanup, so we're trying out these cool bags.

JADE

Just looking at those bags rates way high on the totes disgusting meter.

JANA

And going to the beach to get smelly trash sounds worse than going to the beach in the rain.

LULU

But it's easy and important to pick up trash. Any plastic wrapper or bottle can be swept up by wind or the tide and carried into the ocean or a lake or stream. Ya know, all places trash shouldn't be.

JENNA

(to Jade and Jana)

Don't you guys think it's kinda funny that the bag says “THROW ME OUT”?

JADE and JANA

NO!

JENNA

Yeah, I guess. But I once saw a story about this island of trash floating in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. That was gross.

LULU

You're right! It's hundreds of miles wide and mostly made of plastic.

Jade slams her locker.

JADE

Now that I think about it, you're right, Lulu. Stinky garbage is way bad. How 'bout we all come over and plan the cleanup?

MR. LING

(looking at Jade, Jana, and Jenna)