Spoiled Milk Series "The Bake-off" Nicole Ellis

Nicole Ellis Copyright c 2011

Nicole Ellis ni193875@arbor.edu 307-575-5311

SCENE ONE- INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY Staff members of Buckleys Food Market are gathered in the conference room for a meeting. WILLOW, the bakery manager sits towards the back, near BEN the bag boy. DWAYNE, the butcher, is relaxed; arm over back of chair. CHUCK, in charge of dairy, sits left of Dwayne, his legs crossed. MICHELLE, who helps run the registers, sits with arms folded, looking bored. BRENDA, the store manager, is standing in front of the group, anxiously pacing back and forth. BRENDA All right everyone, today is the big day. Weve been planning this bake-off for the past two weeks and every store in the area will be here competing.Everything needs to be spotless and we need to put our best faces forward... Michelle gives a sarcastic snort. BRENDA (Turning to Michelle) Especially you Michelle. I want to see you smile.. (Pauses, as if counting) at least five times today, or youll be stuck on bathroom duty for the next week, got it? Dwayne elbows Michelle and grins stupidly. Michelle glares, but says nothing. Willow laughs loudly and covers her mouth in a fit of giggles. Everyone turns to look at her, slightly confused. Michelle does not look amused. WILLOW (Still giggling) Im...sorry... She finally quiets down; though keeps smiling to herself, as if she is enjoying some personal joke. BRENDA Okay...Guys, we need to take this seriously. This bake-off is exactly what we need to help boost our sales. If we dont get our numbers up, we could lose our store to ShopQuick. Is that what you want? (CONTINUED)

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(With some hysteria in voice) Do you want Debbie Reynolds to be your new manager? Employees murmur an unintelligible, "No". DWAYNE Wait, which Debbie Reynolds? MICHELLE Really, Dwayne? DWAYNE Im sorry, I just get confused... Brenda shakes her head. She takes a deep breath a moment to calm herself. BRENDA (Looking to Ben) Ben, I want to see the floors sparkle, okay? Ben just stares, mouth slightly open. BRENDA Ben. Ben continues to stare, there is no response. BRENDA Ben!! BEN Uh, yeah. I got it. BRENDA (Hand to forehead,eyes closed) Okay, just...get to work everyone. Nobody moves. BRENDA I said go!! Chairs scrape as everyone gets up. The group makes their way out of the conference room.

3. SCENE TWO - INT. OUTSIDE OF CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY Brenda steps in front of Willow and pulls her aside. BRENDA Willow, a word please? WILLOW Um, yeah...am I in trouble for laughing? (Speaking fast) I was just thinking about my cat falling into the toilet this morning and when you said.. BRENDA (Cuts Willow off) What? No...you arent in trouble. I just wanted to talk to you about the bake-off. Its important that we win. (Grabs Willows shoulders) You know ShopQuick is also competing and I refuse to let that Debbie Reynolds beat us in anything, do you understand? WILLOW (In mock excitement) Debbie Reynolds!? Brenda glares. WILLOW Okay, okay...I understand. BRENDA Good. So what are you making? WILLOW My mom use to make these...special brownies, and I thought Id try them out. BRENDA (Commandingly) Well, whats so special about them. WILLOW (Her face flushes) Its..uh..sort of a family secret. Brenda looks unimpressed.

(CONTINUED)

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WILLOW Theyre legit. Im sure we can win with them. BRENDA (Letting Willow go) Okay, just...dont let me down, Willow. This is really important. Willow nods, smiles, and hastily backs away. SCENE THREE - WILLOW TALKING HEAD WILLOW How confident am I that my brownies will win? Pretty freakin confident. (Pause) Im not going to tell you the secret recipe, so stop asking. CAMERAMAN (O.S.) I didnt ask.. WILLOW Sure. SCENE FOUR - INT. BREAK ROOM - DAY Ben is sitting alone at a table, eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Willow is sitting a table with Michelle. Chuck and few other employees are also in the break room. Willow is even happier than usual. She has some batter on her cheek and flour down her front. She is eating a salad. WILLOW (To no one in particular) I cant believe the competition is in an hour. Im a little nervous, you know. Its a lot of pressure. CHUCK What did you end up making? WILLOW (Excited at Chucks response) The best brownies youll ever get your lips on. She smiles big and flirty at Chuck. He smiles back. (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: Michelle rolls her eyes and sighs. WILLOW (Turns to Michelle) Oh Michelle, dont you know that a man loves a woman who can bake? I could give you lessons if youd like. (Gasps) You could totally make something for Dwayne! Nothing says, "I love you" like a freshly baked cake.

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Willow winks at Michelle, gets up, dumps the rest of her salad into the garbage,and leaves the room. Michelle timidly looks around the room to see people staring at her. She looks at the camera with a worried expression and puts head on table. SCENE FIVE - MICHELLE TALKING HEAD MICHELLE Of course I dont like Dwayne. (Pause) But did you see how everyone was looking at me? God knows what they must be thinking! SCENE SIX - DWAYNE TALKING HEAD DWAYNE You know, Im not really a fan of cake. SCENE SEVEN - INT. BAKERY - DAY Willow is in bakery, cutting up finished brownies into squares and placing them on a plate. You see all of the ingredients used, spread out on the counter. Attention is drawn to a small, clear bag that contains a green and leafy substance. It is almost empty. Dwayne walks by and stops to talk to Willow. DWAYNE (O.S.) Dang girl, those smell awesome. Willow, surprised by the visitor, quickly shoves the bag out of view.

(CONTINUED)

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WILLOW (Catching her breath) Oh, thanks Dwayne! DWAYNE Ive got the tables all set up, want to come claim a spot? WILLOW All right, but I want to take a brownie to Brenda first. All this stress is not good for her Chi. Dwayne and Willow exit the bakery. Willow has a brownie in hand. SCENE EIGHT- INT. FRONT OF STORE - MICHELLES REGISTER - DAY Michelle and Ben are at Michelles register. Ben is down by the bags. There are no customers in line. Michelle keeps glancing at Ben. They can see the front of the store where the tables are set up for the bake-off. Willow walks by with Dwayne. MICHELLE Hey, Ben? Ben looks up at her. MICHELLE Did you hear anything in the break room? BEN I heard a lot of things in the break room. MICHELLE You know what I mean. BEN No, I dont know what you mean Michelle. Michelle just stands there, obviously absorbed in her own thoughts, not listening to Ben. Suddenly she gets excited. MICHELLE I know exactly how to get Willow and her big mouth back. (Pause) (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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MICHELLE (contd) You know that "secret recipe" she wont shut up about? Well, its about to become not-so-secret. Michelle grabs Bens arm and starts pulling him into the direction of the Bakery. MICHELLE Cmon, I need your help. Ben wordlessly follows. SCENE NINE - INT. - BAKERY - DAY Michelle and Ben stand at the bakery entrance. Michelle looks nervous and Ben expresses no emotions. MICHELLE I need you to...stand here, okay? Just tell me if anyone comes back here. Can you do that? BEN Fine. Michelle heads into bakery and starts snooping around. Her goals is to find Willows "secret recipe" and expose it. However, in her search, she stumbles across the clear bag Willow tried to hide earlier. MICHELLE Oh my god. She lifts it to her nose and smells it. A loud crash is heard and she jumps, shoving the bag into her apron pocket. She runs over to where she left Ben, to see that he has knocked some bowls onto the ground. MICHELLE Nice going Ben... (Pause) Your moves like Jagger suck. BEN I dont even know what that means. Michelle, annoyed, hurries out of the bakery.

8. SCENE TEN- MICHELLE TALKING HEAD Michelle holds up Willows bag of "leaves" and looks at the camera with wide eyes. She mouths "Oh my god." SCENE ELEVEN- INT. - BAKERY - DAY Willow goes back to the bakery. She looks tired and as if she has a headache; not at all her usual, bubbly self. She sees the bowls on the floor and picks them up with some difficulty. She seems agitated and begins to frantically search around the counter, looking for her clear bag. She cant find it and begins to panic; her searching becoming desperate. WILLOW (To herself) Oh no...where is it?? Finally, she stops...looking defeated. WILLOW (CONT.) Oh god, its gone. If Brenda finds out whats in those brownies, Im dead! Her eyes land on the plate of brownies. The camera shows her pick one up and look at it for long time; then she takes a big bite. SCENE TWELVE- INT. FRONT OF STORE - BAKE OFF - DAY Everyone has arrived for the bake-off. The tables are set up with place cards and goodies. Willow and her brownies are missing from the table. The judging is about to begin. Brenda is standing a little ways away from the tables, watching from a distance. Dwayne and Michelle are near her. Brenda sees Debbie Reynolds. BRENDA (Horrified) Debbie Reynolds! DWAYNE (Excited) Where?! (Pause. Disapointed) Oh.

(CONTINUED)

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Debbie, a woman in her 40s, smiles, waves, and begins to walk over. She is trying to be glamorous like her name sake, but looks like a Cougar instead (Leopard jeggings, big fake blonde hair, bright red lipstick, spray tan. Unattractive). Brenda pretends to not notice. She quickly turns around and walks away, giving the camera a comical, "This is hilarious" look. Brenda stumbles and bursts out laughing. Michelle and Dwayne watch her go. SCENE THIRTEEN- BRENDA TALKING HEAD BRENDA (Laughing) Did you see the look on Debbies face just now?! (More laughing) Hil-a-ri-ous. (Laughing, then serious) You know, Debbie and I went to high school together...always had to one up me on everything...the bitch. (Pause) And you know what? (Loudly whispers) Her bundt cake seriously sucks. Brenda looks as if she has just said something really shocking and continues to giggle about it. SCENE FOURTEEN- INT. - FRONT OF STORE - BAKE OFF - EVENING The bake-off is coming to a close and Debbie Reynolds is being named the winner. Michelle looks around for Willow and leaves. Camera follows Michelle to bakery. She sees the plate of brownies on the floor, most of them missing...the rest ruined. MICHELLE Willow? She hears no response. Camera follows Michelle to womans bathroom.

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SCENE FIFTEEN - INT. - WOMANS BATHROOM - EVENING Michelle finds Willow in the second stall, teary eyed. Shes clearly been throwing up. Willow looks up at Michelle. She has never seen Willow upset like this before and her heart softens towards her. MICHELLE Hey. Hows it going? WILLOW Oh you know, having a blast. MICHELLE (Smiles) Looks like it. I saw the brownies; figured youd be in here. WILLOW (Weak laugh) Yeah, Im a hot mess. Willow looks at Michelle with sadness. WILLOW (CONT.) I totally blew it with the competition. Brenda was really counting on me. MICHELLE Dont worry about it. I dont even think she noticed you were missing. You must have given her a really good brownie. Michelle pulls out Willows bag and shows it to her. Willow gives her a sheepish smile. MICHELLE You know, I was pretty mad at you today for saying that thing about Dwayne. WILLOW (Looking confused) Wait, what? (Pause) oh...the cake...Michelle, Im so sorry. I didnt even think about it.

(CONTINUED)

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MICHELLE Yeah I know, thats why I was mad. Youre the only person Ive told about liking Dwayne. WILLOW I am? Michelle, thats really sweet. Michelle gives Willow a disgusted look. WILLOW Look, I dont think you have to worry Michelle... but if anyone mentions it, Ill just tell them I was trying to set you two up...thats all. (Pause) I really didnt mean to hurt you. MICHELLE I know...I guess thats why I couldnt hurt you either. Michelle hands Willow the clear bag and gives her a little smile. MICHELLE Although, I really dont know what you were thinking. You couldve gotten yourself fired. WILLOW (Playfully) Oh come on Michelle, its only herbs. MICHELLE (Sarcastic laugh) Yeah, tell that to Brenda. Shes high as a kite. Willow and Michelle laugh a little, and Michelle offers her a hand up. MICHELLE Cmon, lets get you cleaned up.

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SCENE SIXTEEN - WILLOW AND MICHELLE TALKING HEAD WILLOW You know, over all, I think this day couldve gone a lot worse. CAMERA cuts to scenes of bake-off and people cleaning up. Cuts back to Willow and Michelle. WILLOW I mean, I didnt win the bake-off... MICHELLE But at least you didnt get caught putting "herbs" in your brownies. People are leaving the store, and lights are being shut off. Cuts back to Willow and Michelle. WILLOW Michelle, really. No harm done. Girls look at each other and grin. CAMERA cuts to Brenda, who is sitting at her desk, completely passed out and snoring. End