E.K. Season 1

[George WK Newman]

E.K. Season 1

1.01 - "Pilot"
1.02 - "Missing"
1.03 - "Monte Carlo"
1.04 - "We'll Go on Living Separate Lives"
1.05 - "Courted"
1.06 - "But Dreams Remain"
1.07 - "Saturday Night's All Right"
1.08 -
1.09
1.10
1.11
1.12
1.13
1.14
1.15
1.16
1.17
1.18
1.19
1.20
1.21
1.22

[George WK Newman]

1.01 - "Pilot"
Opening credits
Opening theme “Summer of 69” Bryan Adams (acoustic version)

"Oh when I look back now
That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Ya - I'd always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life

Man we were killin' time
We were young and restless
We needed to unwind
I guess nothin' can last forever - forever, no

And now the times are changin'
Look at everything that's come and gone
Sometimes when I play that old six-string
I think about ya wonder what went wrong

Standin' on your mama's porch
You told me it would last forever
Oh the way you held my hand
I knew that it was now or never
Those were the best days of my life

Back in the summer of '69 "

Scene 1 – “Graduation Dance”
music “Grade 9” by the Barenaked Ladies
That song fades out though (because it wasn’t out yet then) and we fade to
music: Cruel Summer by Bannanarama

Caption: June, 1983
The opening scene takes place at Junior High Graduation, we see lots of guys and gals celebrating at the school gym dance, in suits, some tuxes, formal dresses. One group stands to the side of the bleachers, not because they are wallflower nerds but because they are celebrating together. Standing in a circle, arms on shoulders celebrating.
These characters are introduced by Max in a voice-over.
Max – fragile, thin, kind of geeky, smart looking, bad taste in formal clothes, long unkempt thick blonde hair, presently sporting a nasty looking black eye.
Graig- huge guy, neither fat looking nor athletic looking, in between. Already balding at the age of 15, simple taste in clothes
Ryan- glasses, smart looking, well kept, a few pounds overweight but rugged looking
Steve – not a big guy, but tough looking, wearing a “Poison” rock shirt under a black blazer that looks like its had better days. Long black hair.
Christine – blonde, pretty but big boned, Graig’s sister. The reason she’s standing to the side is because she’s a year younger, she came as “Steve’s date” to get her in because she’s one of the gang. She has nothing to celebrate other then seeing her friends all leave for high school without her.
>>>Graig “let’s blow this place”
>>>Steve “the sooner the better”
>>>Max “what, it’s only 9:30 we still have a couple hours yet…they haven't even played Stairway to Heaven”
>>>Graig”why you going to get lucky with some chick?”
Laughter from everyone but Max
>>>Ryan “you guys go, I’ll be out in 5 minutes I just want to thank some teachers”
Groans from everyone else.
>>>Graig>>>At least we’ll be getting away from that witch Miss Martel
>>>Steve>>>glad I didn’t take French
>>>Max>>>yeah but she was smoking hot
>>>Graig>>>Whatever, I care about what’s inside that’s what beauty is all about, and that woman is dark and evil inside. Ryan make sure you give her a smack on the butt for me.


Scene 2 – “Outside”
Music “Sister Christian by Night Ranger”
“Hey hey” the boys shout and run as they meet up with two other guys standing in the school’s lot.
Bert – another huge guy, looks tough but does have a bit of a pot belly. Sporting a crew cut, jeans, and a dirty t-shirt. Finishes drinking down a gallon of chocolate milk, tosses the container away and greets his buddies with a huge burp.
Al – dark hair, olive skin, dark glasses. Could be mistaken for Arabian, sometimes mistaken for Native, but is actually Hungarian. He flashes a pearly white smile
Al>>> “nice clothes f*gs”
After some useless banter they decide on a course of action for the rest of their grad night. Walk to 7-11 get some slurpees and big gulps, Al has a six pack stashed in his garage, and take it to the park.


Scene 3 – “Leaving”
It’s several hours later as can be witneesed by how dark it is as the group congregates in a playground, some empty beer bottles nearby. A couple of them return from taking a wiz.
Christine is cold so Bert takes the jacket he’s been carrying and wraps it around her, and looks at her wishfully. His look is lost on Christine, but not with her sister Graig who is glowering.
The talk turns to next year, the gang is breaking up. Al and Bert are a year older and already in high school this year. Steve is going to join them at the local HS. But Max, Graig, and Ryan are all going to be bused to a school with a more advanced academic program. Bert says not to worry, by this time next year they will all have their drivers licenses and cars. Max looks away and says fat chance, he has no money and no one to teach him. Al says he’ll teach him once he’s off probation himself.
Bert suddenly yells “COPS” and Max says “Christ” and jumps to his feet to run. Everyone else laughs at his expense.
Max >>>Don’t do it....
Bert>>Maxxxx’ssssss a pannsssyyyy
More laughter.
Max>>Jerks
They all share a laugh this time including Max.
Max>> I’ll miss seeing Tammy every day, what a smoking body.
Graig>>yeah but that face…train wreck. She's been your "friend" for two years now, get the hint.
Max>>incredible butt…absolutely amazing.
Steve>>>yeah and she’s the reason that her new boyfriend gave you that shiner
Max>>actually this is your little brothers’ fault for prank calling her. He took it out on me instead.
Steve>>ya should have fought back.
Max>>he’s a grade higher, 3 years older, a total moron but he’s also got about 100 pounds of muscle I don’t have.
Steve>> doesn’t matter Max you should have fought back.

As they get to their feet and begin to cross the soccer field for home the talk turns to Summer holidays.
Graig, Ryan, Bert, and Al are all off to Naval cadet camps on the coast. They all can’t wait, they love it.
Steve and Max are the only two who are staying at home. Steve has a job lined up on the docks of a trucking company. Even though he’s only 15 he got in because of his older brother working there.
When asked what he plans to do for the summer Max is at a loss. Says he doesn’t have any plans, but he did borrow one of Ryan’s guitars and plans to learn to play.
Graig makes a crack about chicks loving musicians, and they all laugh at his expense again.
They all stop at a fence, saying see ya’s to each other. Some go left, some go right. Bert climbs the fence straight ahead.
Christine calls out to Bert about his jacket. He yells “keep it, I wont need it on the coast”
Graig says “great that way we’ll remember you all summer”
Max “yeah by the smell”
Everyone has disappeared down different roads, out of sight, jumping green mothers chirping in a middle class neighbourhood, the odd car squeal can be heard.
Al yelling from somewhere ‘f*gS”


Scene 4 – “Home”
Max walks up to his house. It’s all dark no outside light on. All the windows are dark except for a bedroom window in the back of the house. He pats himself down “no key”. He knocks on the bedroom window for his sister, but gets no response. Grabbing a garbage can he uses it as a stool to peak in. The bedroom is empty.
After fretting what he is going to do, he checks the back door, and its not locked so he walks in. His mom is sitting at the kitchen table, a clank of a beer glass on the table. 5 or 6 more empties on the table mixed in with a overflowing ashtray.
She gives him the “where you been, its 1:00am”.
“Grad was tonight”
“Oh yeah, but still its kind of late you should have called”.
She’s slurring her speech, drunk.
“Yeah sorry. Good night.”
Max slips off to his room. The floor is covered in dirty clothes, records and sports cards. Max finds a sheet somewhere, a pillow with no case. Puts a cassette in the player.

Music :”What Kind of Love is This” by Streetheart
Clank…Music…Clank…the sound of the beer bottle touching down on the glass kitchen table with each sip. Getting up he puts the music louder, lies back down, pillow over his head. Crying. Sits up with his head in his hands putting on the light. He stares at the electric guitar standing in the corner of his room. On the floor he looks at a tube of shampoo beside his swimming trunks.
Clank…clank…ARRRRRR, he throws the tube at the wall, it hits and explodes, shampoo dripping down the wall.
Turns off the lights.

Caption “Two Months Later”

Max sits up in bed..
Clank…clank..turns on the light. His room is still a mess, the guitar is still propped up in the corner.
“Mom…for Christ sake, please go to bed, I have my first day of high school tomorrow”
Clank…clank…
Max puts his pillow over his face again, turns off the light. Crying.


Scene 5 – “The Bus”
Radio Alarm clock going…flashing 7:00am…obviously being ignored.
“Good morning. It’s 8:00am, Monday Spetember 4th, and here is what is happening in the world as youngsters across the nation prepare to go back to school. Montreal police reported questioning American Thomas Brigham about yesterday's terrorist bombing of a Montreal train station. Soviet journalist Victor Louis reported claiming USSR President Konstantin Chernenko, absent from public view recently, will appear at ceremony tomorrow honoring cosmonauts. E. German President Erich Honecker reported canceling scheduled visit to West Germany; USSR pressure on him continues. Rioting in South Africa's black segregated townships also continued through the weekend. On the music charts “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr. continues to dominate but look out because Tina Turner’s smash “What’s Love Got To Do With It” is poised to take over the top of the charts. This past Labour Day long weekend saw the Warner Brothers thriller “Tightrope” with Clint Eastwood rake in over $7 million good enough to stay at #1, while Ghostbusters retained at #2, Bolero starring Bo Derek opened this week at #3, Karate Kid rose again to #4, and Purple Rain starring Prince dropped a spot to #5. Now here’s something to get you back in the mood for school from the movie Grease 2”
Music “Back to School” by the Four Tops

Spending my vacation in the summer sun,
Gettin' lots of action and a lots of fun.
Scorin' like a bandit 'til the bubble burst -
Suddenly it got to be September First.

Max wakes up, he’s running late. Grabs some clothes off the floor..jeans and a t-shirt (passes the sniff test), after looking in the fridge and finding it barren he grabs a couple of dollars from his mom’s purse looking guilty, combs his hair, looks longingly at his toothbrush, grabs his Adidas bag with a broken strap, and runs out the door. Chases down the bus just in time and piles into a seat beside Graig who looks calm and composed in contrast.
Graig introduces Max to a guy sitting in front of him Rob. He’s a year older and is into playing Dungeons and Dragons. Rob tells Max he runs a game at lunch time and sometimes after school if he’s interested. Graig says Max hasn’t played yet, he didn’t join our game. Rob opens his backpack and shows Max its filled with D&D books and magaizines, and he shows him with great glee “miniatures”. Graig is digging it but Max just brushes him off.
The bus stops and picks up another kid that sits across from Max and says hi, it’s “Stone”. He’s wearing a Yankee cap. Stone and Max it seems both like sports and Stone says he can’t figure out why Max hangs with those other guys who aren’t into sports. Graig ignores Stone and talks to Rob instead.

They arrive at the school and meet Ryan getting off another bus. Max, Graig and Ryan head into school together.
Max>>> what’s with that Rob guy?
Ryan>>>who?
Graig fills him in.
Max>>>I think he was wearing eye liner or shadow or something.
Graig>>> yeah maybe, so?
Max>>f*g.
Ryan>>Max you should try D&D it’s a blast.
Max>>I will, geez you guys only played like twice before summer. Sorry I missed it. Next time for sure okay?
Graig>> How about today at lunch time with Rob?
Ryan>>>I’m in
Max>> All right.
They enter their class.
Music “Hot For Teacher” by Van Halen

We see a pair of lycra clad fit female legs, the camera pans up to the rest of her exercise apparel and the boom box she is carrying.
“Sorry class, I have an aerobics class in the morning before school and didn’t have time to change before home room”
She bends over and puts the boom box on the floor.
The camera shows several jocks sitting with their mouths gaping open.
Next we pan to Graig who looks in shock.
The teacher turns around and we see it is Miss Martel.
“I see some familiar faces from the school I taught in last year..well that should make the transition that much smoother for both of us. But that will have to wait until next time because 4th period French Class is cancelled today as there will be a day end assembly in the gym for all students, we have a special guest.”


Scene 6 – Lunchtime
Several unidentified students (geeks mostly) find their way to a tree in the schoolyard. They open lunches, books, and dicebags. Max, Ryan and Graig arrive. Rob isn’t there yet but the others make them feel welcome to join. Two girls in particular, Sherry a dark hair, shy, VERY buxom girl, and her best friend Janice, a fiery redhead, slim and fit, and very outgoing. She takes a liking to Ryan right away and has no problem ignoring Max. Graig takes a liking to Sherry immediately, but she seems shy, and he is overly mushy already. They are both freshman too, but they know Rob from a summer game, seems that Sherry’s parents own the local gaming store in town.
Several students point and gasp across the field as they see Rob arriving, walking towards them with his hands in the sleeves of a full length black clock with a rope belt. His hood is up over his head despite the September heat. Several other groups of students eating lunch, talking, or playing hackey-sack look over, point and snicker. Ryan sits impassive, Graig has a smile on his face, but Max is embarrassed and tries to hide from sight behind Graig who doesn’t notice. Rob gives a flowery introduction speech to the game.

Scene 7 – Assembly
Graig, Max and Ryan are sitting together, there is a general hum to the theatre which is semi-dark as students pile in and teachers stand around on the outside. Graig yells down a couple rows to Sherry and Janice saying “hi”,. The girls turn around as do two twins sitting beside them. Max makes as if to cover as Graig’s outburst causes about 50 students to look his way.
Ryan>>>Hey Max, aren’t those the cute twins from home room?
Max>>Yeah, Courtney and Kelly.
Graig>>Not my type, look like preppies.
Ryan>>Max which one you like better?
Graig>>>why you guys going to double date them? “snickers”
Max>> I don’t know, Courtney I guess.
Ryan>> cool, I like Kelly a bit more anyway.
Max>> they look too preppy anyway. I mean who wears turtle neck ski sweaters, and earrings that don’t match
Ryan>> they match, one;s a bucket and one’s a shovel. They’re cute.
Max>>whatever
Ryan>>>hey not everyone thinks to wear jeans and a t-shirt that says “I don’t own an iron” on them for the first day of a new school.
Max>> whatever, yeah that Rugby shirt and pants is really you Ryan. tu madre buy you those?
Graig>>>HEY COURTNEY AND KELLY…..HI, HOW ARE YOU…LOVE YOUR EARRINGS COURTNEY
Again Max dives for cover and even Ryan looks uncomfortable and looks away red faced.
Graig>>>there they noticed you now
Max & Ryan in stereo>> jackass.

The principal comes to the front and addresses himself. He says he is out of place here in the mid-west, its his first year. He moved from Brooklyn so excuse his accent. He welcomes the freshmen and says that the school has a wide mix of students from the advanced academic program that some of you bright minds have elected to dedicate yourself to, to the special needs students who come to the school for its high level or resources and experienced and compassionate teaching staff. The camera pans to some kids who appear to be mentally challenged.

The principal introduces todays special guest, recently retired from being the American Ambassador to Chile. The man thanks them, and launches into a spiel about American values, and the cold war with Russia being on their minds. He is suddenly interrupted by a student at the back who stands and asks him about American imperialism. He rants about the CIA toppling freely elected governments, spying on its own citizens, President Reagan being senile and having control over enough bombs to explode the planet. A teacher enters the row and tries to get the student. Max looks back, and laughs, the student is Rob. Rob walks away from the teacher to the other side of the row and continues to shout at the diplomat about the invasion of Grenada. Finally a male teacher grabs Rob and escorts him out of the auditorium. But other students bring up the cause now asking about Grenada, while others are less obvious making anonymous whistles and shouts out at the ever increasingly mad diplomat. Finally order is restored and the diplomat tries to make a joke of it by saying to the students “I didn’t know I was giving a lecture today to a group of card carrying communists”. His face drops though when he receives no response from the hostile audience. The principal announces the assembly is over to return to home room for the last 20 minutes of the day. He rebukes them on their behaviour.

Scene 8 – After School
Max, Graig, and Ryan make their way over to the buses. They meet up with Rob. He’s been suspened for two days but they had to let him stay to take the bus home. Max notices that the principal is outside watching them. He tells Graig and Ryan he’ll catch up and goes the other way to the soccer field. He meets up with three jocks from home room who had stared open mouthed looking at Miss Martel.
Max says hello and asks about Soccer, is there a school team? When are tryouts. But they just brush him off. Max says he’s pretty good, played Striker for years, just gave it up last year, might want to play though for the school. They continue to just “whatever” him. Finally one of them walks up to him and says “the only letters on your letterman jacket will be D&D, geek”. They all laugh and turn away.
Humiliated Max walks back but see’s the buses pulling away. He tries to run for it but the other strap on his Adidas bag gives out. He has to pick it up by two broken straps, pressed against his chest. He watches the bus pull away. Patting down his pants “no change for the city bus. Perfect end to the perfect day. Two and a half mile walk with all my textbooks in a broken bag.” He begins to walk.
“Hey wait up”
Max turns around to see Ryan walking with his backpack.
Ryan>>> “I waited for you. It’s going to be a long walk”
Max>>“Thanks. I take it Graig didn’t?”
Ryan>>>“Nah he was too busy making eyes at Rob”
Max and Ryan>>>Jackass.

[end of episode credits]

[George WK Newman]

1.02 - "Missing"

Opening credits
Opening theme “Summer of 69” Bryan Adams (acoustic version)

Scene 1:
We see Max running through empy school halls, obviously late and frantic. He passes the twins Courtney & Kelly in the hall, and stops as they wave him down. He explains that he is late for a test and can't afford to fail. They say they want to talk, won't you stop and talk to us. Max says he can't, but he can't get his feet to move away either...a bell rings, students start to file out of class...he see's his teacher Miss Martel...she has a wicked smile (not to mention a lot of cleavage)...she mouths "you failed" to him....he despairs...turns around..the twins are gone...a bell rings again...it's an alarm clock...

Scene 2:
"Good morning, this is the news for September 17th, 1984.
The USSR continues to imprison United States seamen seized recently off the Alaska coast. This is the same situation as when the USSR seized a Greenpeace vessel last year. United States criticism of the situation is said to be doubtful in light of upcoming meetings between President Reagan and foreign minister Andrei Gromyko.
The dates and locations have been agreed upon for debates between President Reagan and Walter Mondale and between George Bush and Geraldine Ferraro.
Congress has compromised on amnesty for illegal aliens in an effort to reach an agreement on immigration reform which will be a long term solution.
A labor strike by Disneyland workers in California looms over the happiest place on earth.
There has been another Palestinian terrorist attack, this time on a bus near Bethlehem, Israel,
North of the border Brian Mulroney was sworn in as Canada's new prime minister today.
Running advocate James Fixx has died. He is best known for his television commercial and "The Complete Book of Running".
Running's popularity in US has been attributed in large part to Fixx despite a lot of controversy over the long term negative health impacts. Dr. Charles Kleeman fears runners consider themselves invincible.
In entertainment news, Ghostbusters is back on top of the weekend box office after slipping last week to #2, it regains its crown in its 15th week of release and will pass the $200million mark today. "What' s Love Got To Do With It" by Tina Turner continues to be the #1 song in the nation, but we would like to play the beautiful #2 song for you right now.
Song: “Missing You” John Waite

We see Max getting ready for school, showering, picking his clothes off the floor, scooping his books into his adidas bag (the straps have been wrapped together with electrical tape), brushing his teeth, etc. Running to the bus.
"Missing You" continues to play in the background as Graig sits and talk with Rob, while Max sits across from Stone exchanging baseball cards, and pointing out every hot chick on the street they see.

Scene 3:
Chemistry class. The teacher is an anuthoritative, short, German with a short temper. He obviously favors the jocks of the class, and judging by the memorbillia in his class he is the school's soccer coach.
Max and Ryan are lab partners, the class is doing an experiment regarding different boiling temperatures and its obvious that Max doesn't know what he is doing because he hadn't read the lab work in advance. Ryan though is a wiz and walks him through it. Ryan is also called upon to help a pair of girls behind him including one outgoing girl Lois who decided it was a good idea to make macaroni and cheese with her water. She is obviously a friend of Courtney & Kelly's as well. The teacher is oblivious to all this because he is going over soccer strategy with the jocks instead. The bell rings and they're off to gym class.

Scene 4:
In gym class they are doing field hockey, inside today because its raining outside. It's obvious here that this is Max's forte and Ryan is a bit out of it, but Max helps him along. When one of the jocks takes the ball from Ryan and calls him a nerd under his breath Max waits until the teacher isn't looking and deftly gets his stick into the path of the same jock, and he goes flying. He's back on his feet and mad, but Max claims it was an accident, and the teacher breaks things up.

Scene 5:
Lunchtime, Ryan, Max, and Graig meet in the library. There are seperate study rooms and they take one of them with Rob, Sherry, and Janice to eat lunch and play D&D. It's obvious that Max doesn't know the rules and is flipping through some guide books trying to read up on it. One of the jocks shows up, Keith and asks if he can play. This makes Max very uncomfortable, figuring the guy is just there to make trouble, but Keith insists he used to play in junior high. He tells Max that not everyone in this school is two-dimensional. They are then interrupted again, this time by the librarian. She doesn't like them playing D&D in the library even though noise is not a factor because they are in the study room. She asks if they booked the room. Rob says the rooms are first come first serve. She says she will allow it this one time, and because its raining outside, but not to play here again.

Scene 6:
Bus ride on the way home. Max gets there just as its about to pull away. It's full. Max passes Rob and Graig sitting together, passes Stone sitting with another friend. He comes to a seat with a tough looking kid (Paul) sitting in the aisle spot with the window seat open. Max asks Paul to move over please, but he doesn't acknowledge him. Max's arms are full so he nudges Paul with the gym bag and asks him to move over again. He does so but then proceeds to stare directly at Max the entire bus ride. He's stills staring as they pull up to the unloading spot. As they get off the bus Paul comes up to Max who looks worried. He tells Max if he ever touches him again he'll slit his throat, and flashes him a switchblade. Max doesn't move as Paul calmly walks away.


Scene 7:
Max arrives at Graig's house (he's only 3 houses down the same street) with Ryan in tow, its Friday night and they plan a long game. Bert & Steve are already there working out with some dumbells. Al & Christine are dubbing together a mix on cassette tapes currently playing
Song "Against the Wind" by Bob Segar
Graig is getting set up for the game.

Max gives Graig back the player's guide and says he's been reading it, and he really wants to play a Thief. Max is worried how that will work with the rest of the group, and Graig suggests playing one that is honorable to his friends even if not to the outside world. Max likes this suggestion very much.
We see glimpses of the game. The group is under attack and things seem very tense. Bert is playing "super-defender" trying to impress Christine by saving her character, Al rolls a dice and then proclaims a 20 although its obvious to Steve and Max that it was not, and he is cheating, unknown to Graig. Everyone is waiting for a crucial decison from Steve. He looks down, fidgets, finally sits tall and asks Graig "What color is my horse?". He's serious and everyone is dumbfounded, then they begin to laugh and throw things at him.
The game is winding down and its turned more into a round table out of character discussion.

Bert & Al are razzing Steve unmercifully over an incident at school where he was caught by the headbangers in autoshop listeing to "Warrior" by Scandal on his walk-man and singing aloud "I am the Warrior". Bert says Steve will probably get kicked out of the Headbangers crowd and have to start wearing pink shirts.
Steve says "I like the song, I don't care what those guys think"
Graig let's it be known that he has begun to date Sherry. Christine says its good that he's got over his break-up with Kim. They rehash how Graig and Kim had gone out for almost two years, meeting secretly because her parents did not approve as they were Jehovah Witnesses. When they finally found out she had no choice but to end it. He was bitter about it all summer.
Bert says that Sherry should get him over that with her "ample" attributes (he grabs his own pecs).
Ryan says he has turned down the advances of Sherry's friend Janice, she's not his type.
Max says that mean's she'd rather go bowling then study.
The discussion goes to bugging Christine about her friends' fashion tastes with the "Life" baggy shirts etc. Bert says he can't stand guys wearing fashion berets, its disrespecful to the military. The guys give each other a loud "whoo-rahhh", that makes Graig cringe. It's well after midnight and his Mom is sleeping. They break it up for the night.

Scene 8:
Outside Graig's house, some of them are sitting on his fence talking quietly.
Music: "Sunglasses at Night" by Cory Hart
They see a pair of kids about 13 years old walk by. It's one of Steve's younger brothers and a friend of his. He goes to talk to them and seems mad he's still out this late. Meantime Bert tries to have a moment of connection with Christine, looking into her eyes, its terribly forced, he seems smitten and it really irks Christine's brother Graig. Graig tells his sister to get in the house that Mom will be pissed if she gets caught outside this late. After she leaves Bert and Graig get into it over Bert putting the moves on his sister. Al and Steve have to pull them apart.
Steve and Max split for home. As they walk Steve tells Max that the real reason Graig is so pissed off lately is that his parents are breaking up, happend this summer. They stop to reflect. Max's parents split up 4 years ago, he hardly see's his father, and his mother is a functioning alcoholic. Ryan's parents also got divorced last year, and Al's parents were divorced when he was very young. That leaves only Steve's parents and Bert's parents together.
Max >>> that's probably why we are all so screwed up
Steve>> maybe that's why we need each other so much.
Max>> see you tomorrow.
Steve>>every day.

Scene 9
Max arrives home. It's all dark except for his sister's room. Max uses his key to get inside and turn on some lights. the kitchen is a disaster and Max has to wash a glass to pour himself some milk. He see's his sister still up in her room.
Max asks about Mom, and is told she never came home after her shift at the hospital, and didn't call. Max looks at his younger sister who's about 12 and doesn't know what to say. He asks if she got supper and she says she made herself some Chef Boyardee. He says good night and heads for bed.
Lying down in his bed he puts on the radio
Song: "Missing You" by John Waite.

Every time I think of you
I always catch my breath
And I'm still standing here
And you're miles away
And I'm wondering why you left
And there's a storm thats raging
Through my frozen heart tonight
I hear your name in certain circles
And it always makes me smile
I spend my time
Thinking about you
And its almost driving me wild
And theres a heart thats breaking
Down this long distance line tonight
I ain't missing you at all
Since youve been gone
Away
I aint missing you
No matter
What I might say
Theres a message
In the wild
And Im sending you
This signal tonight
You dont know
How desperate Ive become
And it looks like Im losing this fight
In your world
I have no meaning
Though Im trying hard
To understand
And its my heart thats breaking
Down this long distance line tonight
I aint missing you at all
Since youve been gone
Away
I aint missing you
No matter
What my friends say
And theres a message that Im sending out
Like a telegraph to your soul
And if I cant bridge this distance
Stop this heartbreak overload
I aint missing you at all


[end of episode]

[George WK Newman]

1.03 - "Monte Carlo "

Opening credits
Opening theme “Summer of 69” Bryan Adams (acoustic version)

Scene 1:
In slow motion we see Max running to catch the bus in the morning. He's wearing brown chords and a green t-shirt, looking very frazzled.
Voice over "It's Friday morning, October 5th, 1984. Ronald Reagan and Walter Mondale prepare for Sunday's all important Presidential debate in Louisville Kentucky. Everyone wonders whether Mondale will do better then Jimmy Carter did back in 1980 when Regan destroyed him in the debates. Space shuttle Challenger has been succesfully launched into space, aboard is Sally Ride making her second trip into the great unknown. Reagan's administration claims that Hizballah, or Party of God, is responsible for terrorist attacks on United States embassies and institutions in Beirut.
At the Box office it's opening weekend for "Teachers" staring Nick Nolte and Ralph Macchiao, as it tries to take the #1 spot away from another comedy, "All of Me" starring Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin.
On the local charts "Missing You" by John Waite will try and stave off a tough challenge this week from Prince's "Let's Go Crazy".
But right now young Max has missed the bus and faces a two and a half mile walk to school meaning he will miss first period and therefore fail his chemistry test. So this one goes out to Max, #25 in last week's charts.
Song: "Some Guys Have All the Luck" by Rod Stewart

Scene 2:
Max having lunch with Ryan, Graig, Sherry, and Janice in the cafeteria. Rob is said to be sick today. Ryan asks Max about this morning and when he tells him, Ryan suggests that Max needs to study more and get his life in order or he's going to fail. This advanced academic program is a killer and it takes lots of hard work to succeed. Ryan tells Max he can come over in the evening and study if he wants. But when Graig breaks the big news that Steve bought himself a car last night, a blue Monte Carlo with a white hardtop, plans immediately shift to go cruising that night.

Scene 3:
English Lit class. The female teacher is older, wears no make-up or anything to help her appearance, wearing black flannel pants and a lime green blouse. Max comments to Ryan that she smells like mothballs. The teacher calls upon Courtney to answer a question about the book they are studying and while Max stares intentley at her he can't seem to understand her. He's kind of dreamy and her words get scrambled. The teacher asks Max to comment on what Courtney just said and when he is unable to string a coherent sentence together she reams him out about not listening. Making it even worse is that Courtney has gone beat red from the attention.
After the bell as they are leaving Ryan reiterates to Max to get his stuff together. Max says "I couldn't understand her for some reason, I didn't want to embarrass her." Ryan seems to have had enough of Max today.

Scene 4:
Max, Bert, Al, and Graig are all at Steve's house hanging around the parking pad at the back. They are getting ready to take out the Monte Carlo. Steve's two younger brothers are begging for a ride but Steve tells them to get lost, but in a friendly manner. Steve bought the car to work on, but he can't drive yet, he's only 15 so Bert takes the wheel. He throws in a tape as the car leaves the driveway
Song: "Had A Dream (Sleeping With The Enemy) by Roger Hodgson"

Scene 5:
The Monte Carlo cruises by a football field where a group of young guys are playing a game of pick-up. The car is filled to the brim as Bert is in the front with Steve, and the other 3 crammed in the backseat. There are 3 cute girls watching the guys play football from the bleachers, and as the car cruises by they definetly check it out. The group decides to circle the block and take another look. This time as they do two of the three girls give them a wave. The group decides to do it one more time, and circles it again. This time as they cruise by the guys are no longer playing football. When the Monte Carlo slows down across from the bleachers and Al yells out ot the girls, the football players suddenly make a break for the car at full speed. Bert steps on both the gas and the brake at the same time, causing the tires to smoke and squeal, and then at the last second lets go of the brake and the boys take off at a good clip waving to the girls as they go.
Song "Boys in the Bright White Sports Car" by Trooper"

Scene 6:
The guys have stopped at McDonalds, going through the drive-thru. Graig asks where Ryan is and Max says he's studying, and that he thinks he's kind of pissed off at him. Al keeps pestering Bert to let him drive, calling him a f*g, until finally he relents. Bert says "this way at least I can eat my food". Al tries to eat and drive at the same time until Steve tells him he can't do that in his car. Bert laughs at Al, of course Al's usual retort of "f*g".

Scene 7:
The boys are cruising through a resedential neighborhood, checking out every chick they can. Max points out one cutie, and Al turns to look, and totally misses a stop sign plowing through into the intersection and nailing another car. Steve's food is smeared across the dash, and Max is rubbing his head after being nailed in the back of the head by a speaker. After exchanging insurance info with the other driver the boys sit down on the curb to reflect. The cute girl they had been looking at comes over, and examines the car. "Too bad" she say's "such a nice car, I would have loved to have gone for a ride." Steve hangs his head in his hands for a second, then gets up, opens up the passenger door, scrapes his burger off the dash, sits back on the curb and begins to eat it.

Scene 8:
It's Sunday night and Max shows up to Ryan's to study. Max says hi to Ryan's Dad and is introduced to a guy "Scott" who looks like he is around 18. Ryan shows him his new computer and they try and play a word adventure game on it, but they can't seem to create the right syntax to make the game recognize anything. Then the game freezes up. Ryan says that happens a lot because the game is a pirated copy. As they open their books to study Max asks who Scott is. Ryan lowers his voice and tells Max that he is his half-brother. Max is shocked and Ryan says yeah, I just found out this week. He says a lot of the reason his parents split up was his Mom found out last year that her Dad had a mistress for the first couple years of their marriage, and even had a son (Scott). Now that his parents have been split for a year his Dad is trying to reconnect with his other son. The two just sit in silence for a minute.
Max finally breaks the silence. "Steve says that's why we need each other so much"
Ryan>> Steve said that?
Max>>>yeah, after he told me about Graig's parents splitting up.
>>>Silence
Ryan>>I'm not sure I can handle this.
Max>> having a brother?
Ryan>>god no, I mean Steve first listening to Patti Smythe & Scandal, now saying something like that...
>>>Silence
Max>>f*g
Song "No More Lonely Nights" by Paul McCartney

Scene 9
We see Steve in his room with an Iron Maiden t-shirt on, pumping weights to
Song "The Warrior" Patti Smythe & Scandal

[end of episode]

[George WK Newman]

1.04 – “We’ll Go On Living Separate Lives”

Scene 1 – a dream sequence, Max is in chemistry class, the Russians are attacking, air raid sirens are blowing. Max hides under his desk as we see flashback films to the 1950’s where all the kids would take shelter under their desks. The air raid sirens stop, and Max peaks out to see he is the only one hiding. He is humiliated, obviously there had been no air raids, he must have been day dreaming.
The jocks are laughing, Max turns around and goes beat red when he see’s the twins Courtney & Kelly giggling.
The class bell goes off…no it’s an alarm..wake up Max.
Voice over from the alarm clock. “Good Morning Max, its Tuesday morning October 9th, 1984. In your world this morning Ronal Reagan's campain is under attack this morning, with suggestions that the incumbent President's age may be a factor for voters to look at. There have been leaks that Regan frequently falls asleep during cabinet meetings, and has even drifted off during an audience with Pope John Paul II. In other news Jordan and Egypt have taken the first steps towards opening relations between the two nations since the 1979 peace treaty between Israel and Jordan's King Hussein. In sports tonight will see the opening game of the world series between the heavily favoured Detroit Tigers and the underdog San Diego Padres.
And it just wouldn't be 1984 without a little Huey and the News, so here you go Max
Song: “If This is It" Huey Lewis & The News


Scene 2 – Max is on the bus. Graig tells Max that Rob says that D&D has been outlawed at the school. Rob doesn’t look at Max and just says to Graig, “he doesn’t care”. Max is sitting beside Stone and after they scope out their favorite chick at the bustop at the other side and wonder what school she goes to, Stone invites Max to play tennis after school. His friend Marc has use of a private court so they are going to try and get some doubles going. Max says he’s in.

Scene 3 – Archery instruction in gym class. Max and Ryan are doing quite well. One of the jocks in passing says this must be their fantasy, shooting a bow and arrow, like they are really faerie elfs. Max is reloading and he hears a thunk in his target, dead center. He and Ryan look and “the stereotypical smart but weird Asian guy in the class” Dave, is looking at them with a grin. They exchange pleasantries and the class seems to relax as the teacher leaves to her office for a few minutes. The students begin to shoot at random targets. Dave shows Ryan & Max his baby fingernail which is grown long and to a point. He says its done in Chinese culture as a symbol of power. Ryan see’s Courtney having problems with her bow so he offers to help her. Max looks on in obvious jealousy as Ryan wraps his arms around her and helps her lift the bow up and into a steady position. They let fire but it sails a couple feet above the target.
Song: “Rocket Launcher” by Bruce Cocburn

Scene 4 – It’s lunchtime and Max and Ryan find Graig along with Rob, Sherry and Janice under a tree, along with a couple others playing D&D. Max says it looks like trouble but Graig says, no that they all have their character sheets in their study books, and they are not using any reference books or manuals so no one can tell. Rob hides his dice beside him from view. Max says okay and sits down to play but Ryan says he has too much homework and heads away. Rob tells Max he’s impressed with his daring, not so with his friend Ryan. The principal walks up and looks at the group. He tells Rob there is a ban on playing D&D. Rob says they aren’t playing, they are only eating their lunch and talking about the game. The principal uses his foot to move around some books and lunch bags but doesn’t find anything. He looks at each of them as if memorizing who is here and staring them down. Rob puts the hood of his robe up over his face and the principal just storms away. After they finish they agree to meet after school to play for a bit here but Max says he can’t he’s playing tennis.

Scene 5 – After school and Max is playing tennis with Stone, Marc, and Ted. Stone and Marc are into sports but they aren’t part of the jock crowd, they still get good grades and are in the advanced program. They refer to the jocks as meatheads. The 4th for tennis is Ted, who is not very athletic in skill or look (wearing black socks and sandals) but very eager to play. They have a “boom box” set up courtside. Stone and Max exploit Ted to beat Ted & Marc even though Marc is obviously the best player on the court. This doesn’t sit well with Marc. After the game he begins to razz Max a bit about his choice of friends and playing D&D. Max admits that his friends are not into sports but that they are his friends and always will be. To change the subject Max asks about the tape that’s playing. Marc says it’s a Christian heavy metal band Stryper. This sets Ted off on a tangent from right field about how they are just exploiting that angle, that just because they say they are Christians doesn’t mean they are, and that the music is not something Christians would listen to. He starts to compare them to Reverend Sun Moon, until Marc just tells him to shut up.
Song: “Loud 'N Clear” Stryper

Scene 6 – Max goes home to find the house empty. He see’s a note from his sister that she has gone to Dad’s. damn, Max swears out loud, I forgot Mom’s working the night shift and I have to sleep at Dad’s. I’m late, damn. Max grabs his school bag and some clothes and heads out the door.

Scene 7 – Max and his sister, and Max’s older brother are eating supper with their Dad. Dad tells them how the older brother is working now, but should be going to school but he cant decide what he wants to do. He asks how things are with Mom, and looking down at their food both Max and his sister say fine. His Dad tells Max not to be late again, its disrespectful when he is staying at his apartment, under his roof. He says maybe that kind of stuff goes on in his Mom’s house but not here, this is a clean environment. He asks Max if he likes the Ribs, reminiscing about how they used to the kids’ favorite whenthey were young, and then says better then that Mac & Cheese your mom makes you for almost every meal.
Night time, and Max is sleeping on the couch. He can’t sleep, tossing and turning thinking about wrapping his arms around Courtney like Ryan did in Archery. She leans back right against his crotch. Max finally just sits up, looking down at his pajama bottoms in frustration. “Go away” he says. He walks over to a vanity cabinet and takes out his brother’s stack of comic books. He starts to leaf through them when at the bottom he finds them to be porn mags instead. “Now this is more like it bro.”
Song: “No More Lonely Nights” by Paul McCartney

Scene 8 – Max’s Dad drops him off at bus stop the next morning. After they do the usual ogling of the girl at the bus stop Max passes Stone a porn mag. “Look at the centerfold, the blonde with the massive jugs, black lingerie, now that is a dream.” Stone checks it out” ah right…Beverly Hills…now that’s a name.”.

Scene 9 – History class. Max gets his paper back and gets an A. Ryan gets a B. Ryan asks how he did it, and Max answers because I actually enjoy history. The teacher overhears this and smiles, telling Max it was an excellent paper and that he has a good mind for history. He doesn’t just regurgitate what he reads. He tells Max to keep up the good work.

Scene 10 – Max leaves Graig’s at night after a D&D game, runs into Steve’s younger brother and friend walking home. They try and sell Max some weed. He says no, and then they start to harass him about not telling his brother Steve anything. Max says he won’t but the brother’s friend continues to press, and calls him a nerd and a wimp. They offer him some free weed, but again he declines. Max starts to walk away but the friend jumps Max. Max wrestles with the kid who is a couple years younger and 4 inches of so shorter but the other kid ends up on top with Max holding on for dear life in a clinch. Steve’s brother hauls his friend off and they leave. Max walks home, its dark, he enters the kitchen. His mom is sitting at the table, drinking and crying. Max quietly creeps by to his room. He lies down on his be and can hear his mother’s sobs. He closes his eyes, still in his clothes and the tears begin to fall down his face.
Ending Song: “Separate Lives (Love Them From White Nights)” Phil Collins

[Max thinking/picturing his Mom when they were younger]

Well I held on to let you go
And if you lost your love for me, well you never let it show
There was no way to compromise
So now were living (living)
Separate lives

Ooh, its so typical, love leads to isolation
So you build that wall (build that wall)
Yes, you build that wall (build that wall)
And you make it stronger

[Max thinking/picturing Courtney]

Well you have no right to ask me how I feel
You have no right to speak to me so kind
Some day I might (I might) find myself looking in your eyes
But for now, well go on living separate lives
Yes for now, well go on living separate lives
Separate lives

[end of episode]

[George WK Newman]

1.05 - "Courted"

Scene 1 – Max is playing soccer. He’s about to take the final penalty kick. A teammate tells him its all tied up if he scores they win. Another teammate says don’t worry Max always scores, he’s the best player on the pitch. Max lines up and looks over at the coach, who he see’s is in the process of packing up the balls and cooler, confident. Max looks at the goalie. He locks eyes, approaches the ball, it’s a solid contact. The ball goes up towards the top corner…and keeps going…over the bar. He missed.
Buzzzzz…..the alarm clock goes off.
“Good Morning Max, it’s Friday morning October 19th, 1984.
In the world this morning the CIA is facing questions from the press and congress on why one of their planes has crashed in either Nicaragua or El Salvador considering congress had put a halt on the CIA funding anti-Nicaraguan guerrillas. On a related note Walter Mondale is reported to be preparing to attack Ronald Reagan in upcoming debates over the CIA manual which instructs anti-Nicaraguan guerrillas in techniques on terrorism and political assassination. Actor Jon-Erik Hexum, perhaps best known for his show “Cover-Up” is reported as deceased today after accidentally shooting himself.
At the box office the hit movie “Teachers” will try and stave off challenges from last week’s #2 movie “Places in the Heart” as well as new releases “Thief of Hearts”, “the Little Drummer Girl”, and “The Razor’s Edge”.
On the local charts #1 song “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince is posed to fall from that spot as the country is taken by storm at this smashing hard hit. Here we go..
Song: “We’re Not Going To Take It” Twisted Sister

Scene 2 – Max is waiting for the bus on time for a change. It’s Graig scrambling to reach it on time. They file in. Graig and Stone both notice that Max is not wearing the normal jeans and a t-shirt, instead wearing some funky silver-grey chords and a red sweater. They ask what’s up and he says "nothing". Graig asks him about D&D at lunch and he says he can’t, he’s going to check out the meeting for the student group for Greenpeace. Both Stone and Graig break out laughing. Max is blushing. Stone say’s this must have something to do with a girl.

Scene 3 – Gym class is just breaking up, and Max is putting away a basketball. A male gym teacher is talking to the regular female gym teacher and she points to Max. The male comes forward and introduces himself as the High School Basketball coach.
Max>>>I know who you are, its nice to meet you.
Coach>>>Did you play ball last year in Junior High?
Max>>No. I tried out but was cut. Just as well though because we had such a great team I would have ridden the pine.
Coach>>Yeah, well that great team, 4 out of 5 of their starters have gone up and are starting junior varsity with E.K. this year.
Max>>Oh, what happened to the 5th?
Coach>>Chuck. He was good enough to go straight to starting Senior.
[pause]
Coach>>look Max, I’ve been watching you. You’re good enough to make our JV team, as starting forward or guard. How about coming out to practice and checking it out?
Max>>>it’s pretty bad isn’t it?
Coach>>>well it could be better.
Max>>>I dropped soccer this year because I wanted to concentrate on my studies. So, I don’t think so, I came here for the advanced academics program.
Coach>>all right Max. But if you change your mind…listen…we’re playing E.K. tonight in their gym. From what I understand you live close by. Come check it out, okay?
Max>>cool. I’ll try and make it.

Scene 4 – Song: “I Can Dream About You” by Dan Hartman
Lunchtime and Max nervously walks into the school’s office. The secretary directs him to a back room where the Greenpeace students are meeting. Max walks in quietly and sits towards the back. There is a teacher there and a Greenpeace activist, and about a dozen students, led by a preppy girl named Karly. Actually as Max looks around nervously they’re all preppy girls, including one of the twins Courtney. Karly puts Max on the spot about what he believes the group and Greenpeace should be doing and what it stands for. Max has no idea, which is obvious, and says he just thinks it’s a good idea and wants to know more. He shrinks further down in his seat. The door opens and the other twin Kelly comes in and finds an empty seat next to Max. This makes Max even more nervous but Kelly whispers hello to him which he takes as a good sign.


Scene 5 – Max, Graig and Ryan decide to walk home. Ryan and Graig have a full bag of books but Max is only carrying one textbook. Ryan tells him again he needs to concentrate more on his studies. The talks turns to the Greenpeace meeting and Max recounts the horror of sitting in “Gloria Vandebilt land”. He says he did get to talk to Kelly after the meeting. She’s not going back either, says it’s all pretentious and silly. Graig says I don’t see what you guys see in those twins. Max and Ryan just look at each other and say “hot”.


Scene 6 – Song: “Eye of the Tiger” Survivor
At the basketball game. Graig, Ryan, and Max are there cheering for their school while Steve, Bert, and Al are also there cheering for their school, which is the opponent EK. Max watches as his school gets slaughtered. The two point guards are extremely short and non-athletic, and the only decent forward is huge but uncoordinated and has a nervous tick that he pats down his hair every step as he runs. Max holds his head between his legs in despair as his EK friends razz him. When he looks up he catches the eye of the coach looking at him pleading.

Scene 7 – D&D game around the dining room table at Graig’s. Graig seems to be very short tempered and in no mood to run a game. They break it up early and go outside for some fresh air.

Scene 8 – Song: “Coming in the Air Tonite” Phil Collins
Lot’s of tension tonight. Graig tells Bert to back off when he starts to put the moves on Graig’s sister Christine again. Bert turns his attention next to confronting Steve. He tells Steve that his little brother is selling dope. Steve just shrugs and says that’s his business. Bert says if I ever catch any of you guys doing drugs I’ll beat the crap out of you, I kid you not. Bert tells Steve to tell his little brother that if he ever asks him again to smoke that crap he’ll beat the crap out of him. This sets Steve off defending his little brother, telling Bert to mind his own business. A couple of guys show up as the group is talking along Graig’s fence. They obviously know Christine from school and have come to see her. They make small talk about how’s it going..and they are obviously underage and drunk. Finally Bert tells them this is a private conversation, to beat it. They agree but Christine says she’ll go with them to wait while she goes to grab her jacket. The two guys are giggling waiting and Bert has had enough. He asks them if they know where he can score some dope. They say no problem, they didn’t think he would be into that, and they reach into a pocket and pull out some weed.
Steve tries to react in time, but its premeditated and quick. Bert’s fist comes out like a jackhammer and smashes the kid in the face, dropping him into a crying fit with one punch. Bert grabs the small bag of weed and starts to stuff it down the sewar drain. Christine comes running out having heard the commotion, and gets into Bert’s face about it. She says she already has an older brother, she doesn’t need two.


Scene 9 – Max returns home, its about midnight. His mom is sitting up waiting for him. She’s sober. She wants to talk. She asks Max about school. He says its going good. She asks about the program he’s in again, and he reminds her about it being an advanced academic program. Then she says its must be nearly time for the fist report card but Max says no, not until end of term in January. She turns her attention to sports and asks why he gave up soccer. He says the old team was breaking up, most of the kids were going to play at EK, and he doesn’t like his school’s coach. Mom says it would be a great way to make friends, and Max says he has all the friends he needs. She says “girl friends?”. Max says “none”. She says he was always good at sports he should play. It doesn’t look like he is getting off the hook so he finally turns it up a notch. “How am I supposed to get to the games? Most of the time I played I took my bike. High School now we play all over the city. Your never around to drive me.” Max’s mom remains calm and says “we’d figure something out, we always do.” Max says he’ll think about it and tries to leave. But then she gets into it about sports being better for him then that D&D. He says its just about hanging out with his friends and having fun. She says it sounds weird and that she heard it even was outlawed at school. Max just storms away to his room slamming his door shut.

Scene 10 – Song: “You’ve Got Another Thing Coming” by Judas Priest
In his room Max presses play on the cassette in his stereo. Judas Priest screams from his tinny sounding speakers. He pulls out his report card from the back of his pants. He scrolls down, A in History; D in Chemistry; B in Gym; C+ in English; C in French, and oh yeah there it is F in Math. He finds a pen, puts the report card onto his stereo and signs his mom’s name on the signature line. As Judas Priest screams out from the stereo Max is crying…he lashes out punching the cassette player with his fist.


[end of episode]

[George WK Newman]

1.06 – “But Dreams Remain”

Scene 1 – Max is sitting in a rec-room, smoking a joint, mellowing out. With him is his junior high crush Tammy. They start to kiss until Kelly (one of the twins) shows up, she’s yelling at Max about him cheating on her but Max is all confused saying “we’re not even going out”. Then Bert shows up and punches Max in the head for smoking dope.
Ring….ring…"good morning Max, it’s Friday morning November 2nd, of 1984. The United States has been placed under a terrorism alert based on intelligence reports which indicate a possible terrorist attack against American interests somewhere in the world. I wish we could be more specific about the information but that might actually be a calming influence. The attack however is expected as retaliation for US interests in Lebanon. In other news the death toll in India is still ticking in the violent aftermath of the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
At the box office “the Terminator” looks to hold onto the #1 spot for the second straight week with no major new releases planned for the weekend.
On the local pop chart this weekend “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder looks to hold onto the #1 spot, while the novelty hit “We’re Not Going To Take It” by Twisted Sister is expected to plummet from the #2 spot. But right now we have another top 5 hit this week, an appropriate morning song, and one that we know you hate Max so here it is
Song: “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” by Wham

Scene 2 –
On the bus. Max asks Graig why Rob isn’t on today. Graig says he talked to him last night and he was suspended from school for playing D&D.

Scene 3 – Song “Hot For Teacher” by Van Halen
Home room in the morning with Miss Martel. She’s reading out school announcements but Max is having a hard time concentrating on what she is saying. He keeps thinking of her in her aerobic gear bending over. Just before the bell rings she asks Max and Graig to stay behind for a minute. One of the jocks passing by gives Max an elbow in the ribs and whispers “give her one for me buddy”.
She tells them about Rob and that she was asked by the principal to speak to them. She says it wouldn’t be good for them as advanced students to be suspended. They might even be kicked out of the advanced program. Max is willing to let it go and says “okay, no problem”. But Graig is mad and goes into it with her about how stupid the rule is. She isn’t happy with him but has to send them on to their next class.

Scene 4:
After gym class again and the Basketball coach comes to speak to Max. After talking about how it was such a disaster against EK he asks him again to join the team. Again Max says no, he has to concentrate on his studies. The coach gives it one more shot saying if Max joins the team he will talk to the Soccer coach and make sure he makes that team as well. Again Max is grateful but declines.

Scene 5 -
Graig, Ryan, and Max meet at their lockers after school. The atmosphere is festive as everyone gets ready for the weekend. They try and set up a time for a D&D game but there are too many conflicts. Ryan and Graig have to go to cadets for practice for the Remembrance Day military parade. Graig also mentions having basketball practice. Max asks “WHAT?”. Graig says oh yeah, coach noticed me sitting with you at the EK game told me I could make the team if I wanted. Max says “you’ve never played basketball in your life, other then gym class.” Graig replies that coach said with my size I could play forward and just work the boards. Great Max says with no D&D game this weekend what’s he supposed to do? Ryan starts talking about all the homework and tests, and Max just tunes him out.

Scene 6 – Song “Stone in Love” by Journey
Max is lying in his room on his bed. Bouncing a tennis ball off the roof and listening to tapes. His floor is littered with hockey and baseball cards, wrestling magazines, tapes, and dirty clothes. He plays a little air guitar. Looks in his school bag, takes out Albert Camus’ “The Plague” and begins to read a page of it before throwing it back into his bag. He calls Steve and sets up a game for tonight. With no Graig around Max says he will start his own game as Dungeon Master, he’ll think of something this afternoon.
Max goes out to the yard. It’s a mess, leaves covered, some debris, much messier then the neighbors. He finds an old rake and begins to clean it up.

Scene 7 – Song “Young Turks” by Rod Stewart
That night playing D&D at Steve’s house. Just wrapping up around midnight and everyone seems to be in a good mood telling Max it was a great game. Al says it felt like we actually got to do something where with Graig’s games we’re always getting screwed. Steve’s younger brother comes into the room and the tension goes through the roof. He looks at Max with daggers in his eyes. Max just looks away. Bert though looks at him and says “what’s your problem.” Steve’s brother starts calling them a bunch of “jerk-offs” and Steve gets mad and throws a chocolate bar at him, nailing him hard in the head. The brother takes off when he see’s how mad Steve really is.

Scene 8-
Walking home from 7-11 they all have slurpees, its about 1:00am, nothing on the street is moving except for them. Al asks Bert what his big deal is over drugs. Bert doesn’t really answer just saying they are for losers and reiterates what he will do if he ever see’s them doing them. Al says not all drugs are the same, a little pot is nothing. He tells Bert that at cadet camp this summer on the coast he smoked weed several times, no big deal, and he isn’t hooked. Bert stops in his tracks with a “WHAT?” and starts yelling at Al that he’s an idiot. Al gets into his face and says “are you going to beat me up over it?”. It looks like Bert is going to punch him but doesn’t really want to, so Steve steps between them. Max just looks on in fear. Steve says to call it a night and Al and Bert go their seperate ways.
Steve and Max are walking together towards home. Max asks Steve what Bert’s deal is, and he says he doesn’t know. Max asks Steve if his brother thinks he ratted him out and Steve says “yeah, and by the way you did, so he’s right.”

Scene 9 –
Max has separated from Steve and is headed home and he spies Steve’s brother and his friend further up the path waiting for him by the back of Max's house. They haven’t seen him yet so Max takes off the other direction and works his way to the front of his house. It’s locked and he doesn’t have a key so he has to knock and ring the door bell, still on the look-out. His Mom comes to answer the door and lets him in. She looks like she had been sleeping. She asks if everything is all right and he says yes he just didn’t have his key. She gets into him about coming home so late, its almost 1:30 and he’s only 15. She asks where he’s been and he tells her the truth, but she’s mad because he was playing D&D so late, saying its not good for him. She asks if he was the one who raked the leaves today, and he replies yes with hope written all over his face. She says that next time he needs to finish the job and put them in a bag, they’re still in a pile and are just going to scatter or kill the grass. He says he’ll do it tomorrow and heads for his room.

Scene 10 – Song “Desert Moon” by Dennis DeYoung
Max takes off his socks and climbs into bed, putting on a tape. He begins to drift off and dreams of Courtney and Kelly.

"Is this the train to Desert Moon?" was all she said but I knew I'd heard that stranger's voice before. I turned to look into her eyes, but she moved away She was standing in the rain Trying hard to speak my name They say first love never runs dry”

Max suddenly wakes up with a start. He hears a banging sound and his mom yell out in pain. She sounds like she is in trouble. Fishing for his glasses and putting them on, he grabs his baseball bat from the corner of the room and runs down the hall to her room. He pushes the door open and see’s (under covers of course) his mom and the back of a guy.
“Are you all right Mom?” the words are out of Max’s mouth as his brain is still processing what he is seeing. He’s embarrassed now, his mom is mortified, and the man buries his head down into the bed. Max just pulls the door shut and stumbles back to his room. He peaks in on his younger sister, who is fast asleep, and pulls her door shut. He does the same to his own and lies in bed. He rewinds the tape and puts the song on again, turning up the volume some more.

“Those summer nights, when we were young We bragged of things we'd never done We were dreamers, only dreamers Moments pass, and time moves on But dreams remain for just as long as there's dreamers All the dreamers"

"On Desert Moon On Desert Moon On Desert Moon Desert Moon”

[end of episode]

[George WK Newman]

1.07 – “Saturday Night’s All Right”

Scene 1 – Good morning Max, its another Friday morning in your adolescent torture chamber of a life, this time its November 16, 1984. Sad news today as Baby Fae has passed away after receiving a heart transplant from a baboon, the US Navy continues to work with Venezuela, Columbia, and Panama using blockades in the effort to curb the drug trade, and President Reagan and his cabinet are reported to have failed to come to some agreement on tax reforms in an effort to get the rising federal deficit under control. At the box office this week Chuck Norris’ Missing in Action will be released and will try and try and knock off Oh God! You Devil for the top spot. Now here’s a song trying to stay in the top 10 this week, Flesh for Fantasy by Billy Idol.

Scene 2 – Music “Flesh For Fantasy” Billy Idol
In chemistry class Max and the usually hard to distract Ryan are talking excitedly about a dance tomorrow night at the armory being run by the cadet corp. They catch the attention of the twins (Courtney & Kelly) but they don’t show any interest in the subject so Max doesn’t ask. It does attract the attention of the jocks though who begin to razz Max about being a geek. The chemistry teacher (the soccer coach) decides it’s a better time to leave the room then to say anything to a couple of his star players.

Scene 3 – Music “Saturday Night’s All Right For Fighting” Elton John
Max, Ryan, Bert, Al, and Graig, are racing through a deserted downtown park area making a general nuisance of themselves. They are all drinking beers and also swigging from a bottle of rum. Ryan asks where Steve is, and Bert says he has already started to pick up some hours on the docks so he’s going to miss the dance but he’ll meet us at midnight. Al starts to bug Bert about being henpecked by his new girlfriend Lynda only to receive a half empty beer can to the head. Max says he doesn’t see what those guys see in Lynda, and Bert and Al both laugh and gesture that she is well endowed. They stop beside a walking bridge. Graig says “hey a pair of shoes”, and reaches under the bridge, but then he curses when he pulls at them “there’s a pair of legs attached.” Bert yells out “it’s a rubby”. Max screams and begins to high-tail it out of there getting a good laugh from the rest who slowly walk away from the passed out man.

Scene 4 – Music “Run To You” Bryan Adams
Sitting at a table at the dance. Bert is slow dancing with Lynda, Al and Graig are also dancing with some girls. Ryan motions to Max a girl he has his eyes on but won’t ask. There’s a girl sitting with them, and Ryan whispers to Max, that “Lori” likes him and he should dance with her. Max says he’s not interested in her and points to another girl who is more attractive at the next table. Ryan says “Max, she’s deaf you know”. Max just says that she isn’t dancing with anyone so maybe he has a shot. Ryan says Max will never ask her, and is flabbergasted when Max actually walks up to her and asks her to dance. The girl signs something to a friend who tells Max, “she says thanks, but no thanks”. Max just walks away dejected and sits next to Ryan who tries to cheer his buddy up.

Scene 5 – Music “Helter Skelter” Beatles
Al leads Max and Ryan running down a hallway at the dance. Bert is holding his hand, its swollen and purple. Max asks what the hell, and Al tells him that Lynda pissed him off so Bert punched the wall. Ryan just shakes his head and whispers to Max “Bert’s psychotic”. Al tells the guys he’s going to take Bert to emergency (of course Bert plays tough and says he doesn’t want to go), and tells the rest to wait for Steve and then meet them there after. Al tells Bert he better have a couple more drinks to numb the pain.

Scene 6 – Music “Stairway to Heaven” Led Zeppelin
It’s last dance time, and everyone is paired up except for Max, Ryan, and that Lori. Ryan is still eyeing up the same girl. Steve walks in wearing his big bulky winter jacket and hi-fives his friends. As they talk Steve eyes up a sexy looking girl dancing wearing a skimpy shirt that says “10”, skin tight jeans, and a cowgirl hat. She is obviously friends with the girl Ryan was eyeing. Ryan says to Steve, “how about if you ask 10 to dance and I’ll ask her friend 9 ½”. Max groans, and looks even more dejected when Steve and Ryan both find themselves dancing with the girls. Max says to himself, “the guys been here 2 minutes”. His musings are broken up when Lori surprises him asking him if he wants to dance. He says sure and as Zeppelin breaks into the chorus all of them are paired up now.


Scene 7
At the emergency room. Bert, and Al are still waiting and are joined now by Max, Ryan, Steve, Graig, his sister Christine, and Lori. It seems Lori is a new audience so its time to break out the stories. When Steve rolls up his sleeve and shows off the phone number written on his arm, Al says “you wouldn’t be so tough on super slider snow skates”. Al then recounts how Steve once picked a fight with another kid while wearing what amounted to short ski’s. The kid just kept pushing Steve away who would slide on the snow each time getting more frustrated all the time. They each take turns telling embarrassing stories until they are laughing so hard in emergency that the nurses send security over to kick all of them except for Bert out. Bert says no problem as he has to wait for his parents anyway.

Scene 8
A bunch of them are packed into Al’s mom’s car and they drop Lori off at home. Max walks her to the door and she gives him the head crook and eyes closed, so Max kisses her quickly on the lips and says good night. She tells him to call her, he says sure. Back in the car the other guys razz Max but he looks embarrassed saying “finally a chick likes me and I have no interest in her what so ever.” Graig suggests he lower his standards, but Ryan tells him to just keep looking for the right one. He tells Max that asking that deaf girl to dance tonight was one of the few times he ever took a risk or did something brave. But the other guys pounce on this not knowing what had happened and have a good howl now at Max’s expense. The car is quiet as they pull up to Max’s house which looks dark. Ryan asks Al what Lynda did to make Bert mad enough to punch a wall. Al quietly says “she’s pregnant”. After a couple awkward seconds Max asks, “Has Bert been even going out with her that long?”. Ryan elbows Max in the ribs. Al says “maybe, or maybe it’s mine”. Max just replies “damn”. Graig, sounding drunk says “Al and Bert are such good friends only they could have this happen and still take one another to the hospital and laugh about old times” As Max climbs out he shakes his head as he says good night, “you ask 10, and I’ll ask 9 ½, you guys are too much.”

[end of episode]