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"Pilot" Written by Matt Murray and Kal Penn Directed by 0z Rodriguez UNIVERSAL FULL YELLOW 3/20/19 TELEVISION FULL PINK 3/12/19 FULL BLUE 3/11/19 Shooting Draft 3/7/19 Copyright 2014 OPEN 4 BUSINESS LLC ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOT TO BE DUPLICATED WITHOUT PERMISSION. This material is the property of OPEN 4 BUSINESS LLC and is intended solely for use by its personnel. The sale, copying, reproduction or exploitation of this material in any form is prohibited. Distribution or disclosure of this material to unauthorized persons is prohibited.
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List of Characters for SUNNYSIDE - “PILOT” FULL YELLOW SHOOTING DRAFT - 3.20.19 GARRETT MODI KAL PENN MALLORY MODI KIRAN DEOL BRADY MOSES STORM GRISELDA DIANA MARIA RIVA SAMBA SCHUTTE MET LIN POPPY LIU JUN HO JOEL KIM BOOSTER DIANA BAREA ANA VILLAFANE DRAZEN TUDOR PETRUT BILL NYE BILL NYE RANDY ROEL NAVARRO RECEPTIONIST REGINA DAYE ALLEN OFFICER STARKS LARRY BATES ANDREA . KAMALA JONES
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Sunnyside 1. Full Yellow 3/20/19 COLD OPEN EXT. SUNNYSIDE, QUEENS STREETS - 2004 DAY (ON VIDEO) (FB-D1) GARRETT MODI (mid 20s, charismatic) walks toward camera, flanked by people wearing “MODI 2004” t-shirts. GARRETT I'm Garrett Modi and I'm running to be your next city councilor. My parents moved here in 1975 with one dream. To raise their kids in the greatest country on Earth in the greatest city on Earth. We continue to hear Garrett’s voice as the camera pops to photos on a shelf in PRESENT DAY: Garrett (5) in a Yankees cap with his parents. A newspaper clipping: “MODI LEADS COLVIN HIGH TO PSAL CHAMPIONSHIP” with a pilcture of Garrett (17) pitching. Garrett (22) receiving his diploma from Fordham. Garrett (26) speaking at a podium on his first campaign. GARRETT (V.O.) It wasn’t easy, but the people of this community supported them, and made sure that they would succeed. Now I want to return the favor. As your next city councilor, T promise one thing: to work as hard for you and your family as you did for me and mine. I'm asking for your vote because we all came from somewhere, but we all chose to be here. So let’s get to work. The video ends. Back in the office, we pan across more photos. A newspaper headline: “MODI ELECTED IN UPSET, WILL BECOME YOUNGEST NEW YORK CITY COUNCILOR.” Garrett posing with Michael Bloomberg and Bill Clinton. We hear SNORING. Pan across more framed photos, which become more tabloid-y: Garrett drunker and drunker at various celebrity parties. We also see some junk on the shelf next to the photos -- some empty Chinese takeout containers, a slice of half-eaten plzza, WAY too many Skittles wrappers. And then we see GARRETT HIMSELF: asleep in his DESK CHAIR. Locks terrible. (CONTINUED) 1
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Sunnyside “pilot” 2. Full Yellow 3/20/19 CONTINUED: 1 A desk nameplate reads: Councilman Garrett Modi, District 53. Or we think it does —- there’s a dirty sock covering some of it. A KNOCK rouses him and he shuffles over to the door, opening it to reveal DIANA BAREA (30, sharp), holding a box. GARRETT Oh hey, Diana! What's up? DIANA “What’s up?” It’s been a week. This is my office now. GARRETT (Clintonian) Diana. I appreciate your passion. And I congratulate you on a hard fought race to replace me. You should be proud of what you accomplished. But this... “thing”-- (waving it all away) it’s gonna blow over. DIANA The council voted to remove you. Unanimously. GARRETT “Unanimously?” What does that even mean? DIANA Okay, I've asked you several times to pack up. And now scmehow, you have more stuff here... (it dawns on her) Garrett, are you living here? GARRETT Absolutely not. DIANA Is this your shower caddy I found in the bathroom? She holds up a SHOWER CADDY. GARRETT Yes! Thank you! I was looking for that! DIANA There’s not even a shower in there! (CONTINUED)
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sunnyside “pilot” 3. Full Yellow 3/20/19 1 CONTINUED: (2) GARRETT With the right attitude, any place with running water is a shower. DIANA Get out of my office. GARRETT C’'mon. Work with me here. I was the youngest person ever elected to the New York City Council. I've been on Anderson Cooper. Twice. I won a high-school baseball championship. DIANA And there’s nothing cooler than a guy in his forties talking about his high school sports achievements. GARRETT I'm not “in my forties.” I'm forty. That's practically thirty. DIANA Can I tell you something? When you got elected I was so excited. Finally a young person in office who was going to make a difference. Then you spent most of your time partying with Wall Street douchebags and D-list celebrities instead of, you know, doing your job. GARRETT I did stuff! I once brought Elon Musk to Sunnyside and he almost agreed to dig one of those tunnels no one wants here! Diana slams the door in his face, leaving him in the hallway. END OF COLD OPEN
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Sunnyside “Pilot” 4. Full Yellow 3/20/19 ACT ONE 2 EXT. QUEENS APARTMENT DAY (D-1) Garrett struggles to carry various garbage bags and boxes down the sidewalk. 3 INT. QUEENS APARTMENT - LATER (D-1) The door opens, revealing his sister, MALLORY (30s, sarcastic) in medical scrubs. She smirks. MATLORY Councilman. GARRETT Hey, sis! Little help? MALLORY (thinks, then) Nah. She walks back inside. He follows her, lugging his bags. 4 MATTORY'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS (D-1) Garrett drags his stuff through Mallory’s living room. MATLORY So, your girlfriend kicked you out of the apartment, and then the new councilwoman kicked you out of the office? Double kick- out? GARRETT Yes, but the girlfriend one was mutual. MALLORY Really? GARRETT Yes, we mutually agreed that I would get out of our place or she would beat me up. But she’ll come around. I just need to talk to her. I can see why you think that. GARRETT What'’s that supposed to mean? (CONTINUED)
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Sunnyside “Pilot” 5. Full Yellow 3/20/19 CONTINUED: 4 MATLORY Talking is the only thing you’ve ever been truly good at. You talked your way into office, and college. When you were 8 you convinced me to give you the top bunk. What was I thinking? I won the coin toss! Bottom bunk sucks! GARRETT You know studies have shown that those who sleep lower to the ground tend to become more successful, confident people. MATLORY I guess that makes sense. I was always-- hey wait! You’'re doing it again! Bottom bunk sucks! INT. GUEST ROOM - CONTINUQUS (D-1) They walk into a small guest room... GARRETT Hey, I tried to be a good city councilman. I worked my butt off for two solid months. MAT.LORY And as soon as it got the slightest bit difficult, you bailed on work and used your office to score Knicks tickets. GARRETT Well. Politics is hard. And those Knicks tickets were insane. Once I was so close I could hear Michael Rapaport not getting recognized by Jerry Seinfeld! MATLORY What are you even doing here, man? Why can’t you stay with mom and dad? GARRETT Because a guy my age living with his parents is pathetic. But a guy my age living with his sister: slightly less pathetic. (then) Besides it’s only temporary. He pulls a small white board out of one of his boxes, which has five bullet points written on it. (CONTINUED)
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5 Sunnyside “Pilot” 6 Full Yellow 3/20/1§ CONTINUED: GARRETT I have a five step Path to Redemption. Step one: lie low. People will eventually forget... the thing. Step two: get a job, save some money, make some powerful connections. Haven’t figured out steps three and four. Step five: get re- elected! America loves a good political comeback story. Counterpoint: Richard Nixon. Elliot Spitzer. Anthony Weiner. Anthony Weiner again. GARRETT (remembering) Man, he really did do it again! That guy cannot help himself! MALLORY It’s bonkers. GARRETT Don’t send pictures of your wiener to people. MALLORY GARRETT (CONT'D) Especially if your name is Especially if your name is Weiner! Weiner! MALLORY It’s too much! Garrett smiles for a beat. He turns on his political charm. GARRETT Isn’'t this great? You and me living together. I regret how we lost touch over the years: me in the high-flying world of city politics, you doing your heart surgery-- MATLORY Hand surgery. GARRETT And what are the hands but hearts that live outside and have fingers? Come on, just let me stay here for a week. Or...let’s say year.” A year-plus. (CONTINUED)
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5 Sunnyside “Pilot” 7. Full Yellow 3/20/19 CONTINUED: (2) 5 MATLLORY (sees right through him) You don’t have any money. GARRETT Completely broke, yes. MALLORY How is that possible? GARRETT Because all my savings are tied up in my investments. MATILORY Jet skis are not investments—- GARRETT I can’t even tell you how stupid you sound right now. MALLORY Get a job. And don’t mess up my office. GARRETT Coin toss for your bedroom? MATLLORY No! She leaves. INT. GARRETT’S BEDROOM - LATER (D-1) 6 Garrett opens his laptop and pulls up LinkedIn. On his page, we see headline after headline with some variant of the following: DISGRACE! HARD PARTYING COUNCILMAN MODI ARRESTED ON BQE. He clicks on a video link. EXT. BROOKLYN QUEENS EXPRESSWAY - NIGHT (ON SCREEN) (FB-N2) 7 Police dashcam footage: a cruiser approaches a clearly drunk Garrett, who is walking in the middle of the rightmost lane of the BQE. The siren flashes and we hear an OFFICER: OFFICER STARKS (OVER SPEAKER) Please step to the shoulder. Garrett turns around, wobbly. GARRETT (ON SCREEN) What seems to be the problem, officer? (CONTINUED)
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Sunnyside “Pilot” 8. Full Yellow 3/20/19 CONTINUED: 7 OFFICER STARKS (ON SCREEN) Can I see some ID? GARRETT (ON SCREEN) Pfft. Bro. You don’t know who I am? You really know who I am? OFFICER STARKS (ON SCREEN) I know who you are. You’'re on the city council. GARRETT (ON SCREEN) More like I am the city council, dude. It‘s me and a bunch of Zeroes. Just total wastes of crap. Couple of full on sex-creeps in there too, if I'm being honest. Real weirdos. As Garrett monologues, he walks toward the cruiser and begins unzipping his pants, then urinating. OFFICER STARKS (ON SCREEN) Sir-- GARRETT (ON SCREEN) I can’'t wait to get out of that dump. Couple more years with those idiots, then I run for congress. Win. Then governor. Win. Then, guess what? I’m gonna be Presgident, babayyyyyyEUGHGGH! ! Garrett barfs everywhere, including on the police officer. Three WOMEN in minidresses stumble into frame. WOMAN (ON SCREEN) Can you hurry up? We‘re almost out of cocaine. OFFICER STARKS (ON SCREEN) Ma’am, I would maybe not admit to cocaine possession in front of a police officer. WOMAN (ON SCREEN) No, it’s fine. He’s like the mayor or gomething. OFFICER STARKS (ON SCREEN) Okay, I'm going to put... I guess, all of you under arrest. GARRETT (ON SCREEN) Waltwaitwaitwait. Wait. (then, serious) (MORE) (CONTINUED)
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7 10 Sunnyside “Pilot” 9. Full Yellow 3/20/19 CONTINUED: (2) 7 GARRETT (ON SCREEN) (CONT'D) Officer. If you let me go... I’'ll give you ten thousand dollars. OFFICER STARKS (ON SCREEN) Sir, you don’t want to do this. Bribing an officer is a felony. GARRETT (ON SCREEN) .. .Hundred thougand. OFFICER STARKS (ON SCREEN) Sir, think about what you’re doing. GARRETT (ON SCREEN) You drive a hard bargain and I respect the hell out of that. Million bucks. OFFICER STARKS (ON SCREEN) GARRETT (ON SCREEN) Ten million. OFFICER STARKS (ON SCREEN) Sir-- GARRETT (ON SCREEN) Okay. Okay. Okay. (beat, dead serious) One billion dollars. Garrett closes the video. He sees a link to Air BnB Experiences, where people offer their time and expertise for money. Museum tours, bar crawls, photo shoots, etc. Garrett gets an idea. He beging typing. “SPEND THE DAY WITH NOTORIOQUS EX-POLITICIAN GARRETT MODI. ASK ME ANYTHING!” He thinks for a beat, then adds “THE BQE PUKER” after his name. He clicks submit, and a MONTAGE begins... EXT. NEW YORK CITY - DAY (D-2) 8 Garrett smiles as a group of tourists take a selfie with him. EXT. NYC BUILDING - ANQOTHER DAY (D-3) 9 Garrett, less enthused, with some FINANCE BROS, who make fun of him. He forces a smile. EXT. NEW YORK CITY - DAY (D-4) 10 Garrett halfheartedly reenacts his arrest for a group of old pecple, who film with their phones. He is humiliated.
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11 Sunnyside “Pilot” 10. Full Yellow 3/20/19 INT. BAR - WEEKS LATER (D-5) 11 Garrett walks into a bar. A college age guy, BRADY, waves him over to a table full of people. Garrett ig all business, having done this several times now. GARRETT Okay, fifty bucks an hour -- each -- up front. I will not actually puke on you. No nudity of any kind. Pictures are 20, t-shirts are 30 —- BRADY Nah, dude, we don’t want any of that. We need your help. We're trying to become citizens. GARRETT Citizens? You seem pretty American to me. BRADY Yeah, no crap, ‘cuz I am American. Well, I thought I was. Then I went to get my driver’s license and I find out my friggin’ mom brought me here when I was two and overstayed her visa and never told me. Now I have to take some dumb history test just go I don’t get sent back to Moldova. GARRETT Where even is Moldova? BRADY I don’t know man! What do I look like, a book? This is our little study group. That’s Griselda, she’s Dominican and she’s old. Hakim, he’s a nerd from Ethiopia. Mei Lin and Jun Ho, rich as hell and won’t actually say where they’re from. JUN HO, (20s, Asian, wealthy) gets off his phone. JUN HO Technically, our dad now lives in international waters. Jun Ho's sister, MEI LIN (20s, Asian, wealthy) nudges him, like, “Dude, shut up!” MEI LIN He means we have no knowledge of his current whereabouts. (CONTINUED)
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11 Sunnyside “Pilot” 11. Full Yellow 3/20/19 CONTINUED: 11 GRISELDA (60s, Latina, sweet, FedEx Uniform) pulls up a chair for Garrett. Loud Euro GRISELDA For the last few weeks we were all taking a class that was helping us with the paperwork and the test, but it shut down when someone bought the building. MEI LIN It’s getting turned into one of those shared work spaces. It's like, ew. GARRETT Yeah, it seems like every building is getting turned into one of those. MEI LIN No, I mean, like “Ew. Work.” And *ghare.” BRADY Point is, it’s like, impossible to get into a new class. They’re all booked up, and the wait lists are super long. We need your political connections house music plays. BRADY -- Dammit, Drazen! Not now! DRAZEN (50s, Eastern Furopean) has a small DJ set up. DRAZEN (can’t hear) Yes, it’s good, eh? BRADY That music sucks! DRAZEN Adrian Copilul Minune! Number one in Romanial! BRADY No one knows who the hell that is! Drazen presses pause and walks over. DRAZEN Is this the man who will help? The man with the vomit and the pee pee? He will save us! This was a great idea, brother! (CONTINUED)
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11 Sunnyside “Pilot” 12. Full Yellow 3/20/19 CONTINUED: (2) 11 He hugs Brady, who squirms. BRADY We are not brothers! DRAZEN We are Moldovan! We are countrymen! You and me are the same, Bojan! BRADY My name is Brady now. And we’re not the same. I'm awesome, and you use the word “disco” as a verb. DRAZEN You want to disco? Let’s gol! We disco right now! GARRETT Look guys, I don’t know if you heard, but I'm temporarily...out of office. GRISELDA We know, and it’s not temporary. You're done, baby. GARRETT (small) ...Matter of opinion. HAKIM Ethiopian, dorky) leans over. HAKIM We need a teacher and we need a place to study. And we need you to call someone to make that happen. Preferably someone who has not humiliated himself as flagrantly as you have. JUN HO Or you could just like, make us citizens. GARRETT A city councilor can’'t Jjust make someone a citizen. MEI LIN Uch, whatever, do it. GRISELDA Please. We're asking you to make one phone call. You can convince anyone to do anything. (MORE) (CONTINUED)
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Sunnyside “pilot” 13. Full Yellow 3/20/19 11 CONTINUED: (3) 11 GRISELDA (CONT'D) I saw you give that speech at the opening of the Wahlburgers on Northern Boulevard. It almost made me want to eat there! Garrett melts a little. GARRETT (what the hell) ...Sure. I’1ll give it a try. Garrett steps away from the group and dials his phone. GARRETT (CONT'D) Hi, I'm looking to speak with Councilman Webber? This is Garrett Modi. (beat) Sorry, go what myself? (beat) what I thought. (to group, covering) Bad connection. I’1l try someone else. He dials again. A RECEPTIONIST in Diana’s office picks up. INTERCUT. GARRETT (CONT'D) Hi, Garrett Modi for Councilwoman Barea? RECEPTIONIST (to Diana) Garrett Modi. DIANA Hmm. Tell him to go get hit by a truck then hang up on him. RECEPTIONIST The councilwoman invites you to get hit by a truck. Have a nice day. Bye-bye. She hangs up. The group looks at him expectantly. GARRETT She was out of the office. GRISELDA No problem. Call someone elge. He thinks for a beat, then dials. Mallory picks up. MALLORY What do you want? (CONTINUED)
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Sunnyside “pilot” 14. Full Yellow 3/20/19 11 CONTINUED: (4) 11 GARRETT Councilman! How are you? MALLORY What the hell are you talking about, Garrett? I'm at work. GARRETT MATTLORY (CONT'D) Look, I’ve got this great What? Whatever you’re doing, group of folks here who need leave me out of it, man-- some help with their citizenship applications. You will? That’s fantastic! Great. Talk soon. GARRETT (hangs up, then) He’ll be in touch! The group looks happy. Garrett forces a smile. END OF ACT ONE
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12 Sunnyside “Pilot” 15. Full Yellow 3/20/19 ACT TWO INT. BAR -~ LATER (D-5) 12 The group studies. Textbooks and papers are strewn everywhere. GRISELDA What is the difference between the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior? GARRETT Great question, and I thank you for it. And... the answer to that... is... that Interior... is responsible for the management and conservation of most federal lands. GRISELDA Did you just look that up on wikipedia? GARRETT I did, but only to check that my initial answer was right. Which it was, almost verbatim. Listen -- as much fun as it is to do homework as grown adults, when I said “Ask Me Anything” I meant things like “who is the coolest celebrity you ever made out with?” Not “how many amendments does the Constitution have.” HAKIM Too bad. Until your friends call back, this is what we're paying you for. You will be our teacher and this is where we will study. It’s not Philadelphia in 1787, but it will do. (off Garrett’s blank stare) That’s where the Constitution was signed. GARRETT I mean, obviously. That’s why I didn’t say anything. And by the way, it’s Rihanna’s cousin, if you’re wondering. I made out with Rihanna’s cousin. It was awesome. Mei Lin and Jun Ho approach Garrett. JUN HO We have a proposition for you. (CONTINUED)
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Sunnyside “Pilot” 16. Full Yellow 3/20/19 12 12 CONTINUED: MEI LIN We pay you to take this test for us. GARRETT ...First of all, that’s definitely illegal. Second, how would that even work? I look nothing like either of you. JUN HO Oh, our dad has a guy. He can make anyone look like anyone. MEI LIN He’s like Picasso with a scalpel. GARRETT Okay, well, no one wants to look like a Picasso, so that’s a no from me. RAUL, the bar's manager, leans over. She pulls RAUL Griselda! You're up. a shirt with the bar‘s logo over her FedEx shirt. GARRETT I thought you worked at FedEx. GRISELDA I do, during the day. I work here at night. GARRETT Wow, two jobs. GRISELDA Kind of. In the mornings I delivex newspapers. GARRETT GRISELDA Then I teach a Zumba class at 7 before work. GARRETT At FedEx? (CONTINUED)
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12 Sunnyside “Pilot” 17. Full Yellow 3/20/19 CONTINUED: (2) 12 GRISELDA No, at my paralegal job. Then I head over to the Genius Bar, fix some iphones for a couple hours. Then FedEx. Let me get you a refill. She heads to the bar. Garrett flips through a textbook. GARRETT Man, this is a lot of stuff to learn. BRADY Dude, this is the easy part. You know how much crap we’ve had to deal with just to get here? First, you got to get a green card, which... good luck. I don’t know if you heard, but they looocove giving those out these days. HAKIM You have to maintain residence for 5 years. Assuming you can find a job and a place to live. And the rent in New York makes the rent in Mek’ele look like Aleta Wendo! (off their looks) Where from that is a wvery trenchant observation. JUN HO You have to keep a clean record. Like, why? MEI LIN Or you have to tell your dad to get certain “incidents” or certain “people” to “go away.” BRADY Gonna move? Gotta fill out an AR-11. Traveling? That’s an I-131. And who knows? Maybe while you’re visiting your sick grandma they might just decide no one from your country is allowed in anymore —-— Loud Euro house music begins to play. BRADY (CONT'D) Dammit Drazen not now! In fact: never! Never play that music! (CONTINUED)
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Sunnyside “Pilot” 18. Full Yellow 3/20/19 12 CONTINUED: (3) 12 HAKIM That’s why we need your help connecting with someone powerful. GARRETT Well, your hour’s almost up and they haven't called back. So, good luck. I'm glad I never had to learn this stuff. HAKIM You were an elected official. Garrett shrugs. JUN HO You’'re really gonna leave? We were going to hire you for the week. Now we have to start over? Garrett stops in his tracks. GARRETT Sorry, did you say “for the week?” That’s like 15 thousand bucks. JUN HO The way you're saying that makes me think you think that’s a lot. Oh no! (to Mei Lin) I think he thinks that’s a lot. Mei Lin pulls out an insane amount of money from her purse. MEI LIN Here. Take whatever this is. It smells welird. Garrett stares at the money...he’s in! 13 INT. MALLORY'S HOUSE - DAY (D-5) 13 Garrett bursts into Mallory’s house. GARRETT Guess what, Mal? I'm already at step two of my plan. I got a job! And this one doesn’t involve humiliating myself. MATILORY What’s the job? GARRETT This group of people wants me to help them become citizens. (CONTINUED)
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13 14 Sunnyside “Pilot” Full Yellow CONTINUED: MALLORY Do you know anything about how to become a citizen? GARRETT I do not. But I'll be like, a *“cool teacher.” Take some field trips, do that thing where you sit in a chair backwards. Maybe wear a cool leather jacket. (then, brandishing cash) Plus, I'm getting paid! I can hire a PR team. Can you imagine how good look for my reelection campaign if it gets out that I‘m helping these poor people out of the goodness of my heart? MATLORY Except you’re very clearly not doing it out of the goodness of your heart. You’re doing it for your reelection campaign. GARRETT Tomato to-mahto. MATLLORY And if you have cash now, you can pay me rent. He quickly pockets the cash. GARRETT And I will do that, Mal, just as soon as I take care of some very pressing financial obligations, lawyer’s fees, jet ski payments, and so forth. Once I'm solvent again, I promise: anything I have is yours. MALLORY (noticing) Are those new Jordans? GARRETT Thanks! You're the best bye! He disappears into his room. INT. BAR - THE NEXT DAY (D-6) 19. 3/20/19 13 14 The group studies intensely. They all seem a little stressed. Drazen hands a paper to Garrett. DRAZEN N-336 form finished. (CONTINUED)
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Sunnyside “Pilot” 20. Full Yellow 3/20/19 14 CONTINUED: 14 BRADY Dude, you haven't even done your N-400. DRAZEN But 336 is before 400. Why does 400 go first? BRADY I don’t know, man! I shouldn’t have to know any of this stuff! I’'m American! DRAZEN No, you are Moldovan. Like me! BRADY Stop saying that! MEI LIN Uch. Why can’t this be like high school? When we had trouble, our dad would have one little conversation with our teacher, and we’'d get all HAKIM He bribed them? JUN HO I wouldn’t call getting your family back a “bribe.” BRADY Yo gquys, it’s becoming clear that your dad 1s a legit supervillain. JUN HO I plead the third to that. GRISELDA The third amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in private homes. {proud) I studied today while I waited tables at the Olive Garden. JUN HO Okay, then I don’t know which one I plead. Why does everyone all of a sudden expect me to learn things?! It’s not fair! Garrett stands up to calm the situation. (CONTINUED)
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14 15 Sunnyside “Pilot” 21. Full Yellow 3/20/19 CONTINUED: (2) 14 GARRETT Guys, I can sense you’'re all getting a little stressed out. I think you‘re too focused on what you have to know. Being American is as much about how it feels. Grab your stuff. We’re taking a field trip. EXT. RICHMOND COUNTY BANK BALL PARK - EVENING (N-6) 15 The group is now sitting in a baseball stadium, home of the Staten Island Yankees. Drazen returns from the concession stand with two hotdogs piled with several pounds of onions and religh. BRADY Drazen. You can’t take that much relish! DRAZEN (shrugs) It’s free. They don’t want me to take it, they should make it cost money. GARRETT (to Mei Lin and Jun Ho) These seats are great. How'd you get them so quickly? JUN HO Our dad supplied all the steel that was used to build this stadium. GARRETT That’s cool. MEI LIN Not really. If people start jumping up and down? Run. GRISELDA So, why did you bring us here? What does this place have to do with us? GARRETT Are you kidding? Look at those guys out there. You got immigrants from everywhere. (pointing) Dominican Republic. South Korea. Mexico. Cuba. Taiwan. Puerto Rico. HAKIM Puerto Rico’s in the U.S. (CONTINUED)
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15 16 sunnyside “Pilot” Full Yellow CONTINUED: GARRETT Yeah, that was a test. Only Hakim passed. (then) Part of what makes baseball so cool is that it’s always been an immigrant’s sport. Thirty percent of all major leaguers were born outside the US. Guys like Jose Altuve, Ichiro Suzuki, Miguel Cabrera, Albert Pujols. How much worse would the game be without those guys? How much worse would America be without all the people who came here from all over the world and brought their culture and history with them? We like to say that this country is a melting pot. I say: nowhere is that more clear than out there, on that green grass, on this warm gummer night. The group smiles, a little impressed. BRADY Wag that actually the reason you took us here, or did you just want to go see a baseball game, then we called you on it, and you just pulled all that out of your ags just now? GARRETT Little of A, little of B. But you have to admit I did make some good points. GRISELDA You did. Thank you for the field trip. It has been very inspiring to be here. (beat) Welp, back to work! 22. 3/20/19 Griselda puts on a Yankees cap and straps on a soda tray. INT. HAKIM GRISELDA (CONT’D) (then, yelling) Soda! Soda here! 'S TAXT - THAT NIGHT (N-6) Hakim drives Garrett home in his taxi. GARRETT Thanks for the ride, man. HAKIM No problem. 15 16 (CONTINUED)
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Sunnyside “pilot” 23. Full Yellow 3/20/19 16 CONTINUED: 16 GARRETT So, must be guite a change, Ethiopia to New York City. HARIM I guess so. I'm not making as much money as I used to, but that’'s okay. GARRETT Wait, what? What did you do in Ethiopia? HAKIM I was a cardiothoracic surgeon. Had a pretty sweet condo in Addis Ababa, lake house by the waterfalls in Bahir Dar. But, I won a green card lottery and this was my chance to come to America. I had to take it. GARRETT If you're a doctor, why are you driving a cab? HAKIM Can’t get certified yet. Citizenship should help, but it will still take a few years. Then, I will be able to bring my family over. And I mean everybody. My brothers and sisters, nieces, nephews. I have an 85 year plan. GARRETT You’ll be like 120 years old. HAKIM I have a plan for that, too. I'm a very good dector. GARRETT I gotta say... all the bureaucracy, the background checks, the test... it all seems like a lot of work. You gave up a nice life in Ethiopia. Why not stay? HAKIM Because America is the besgt! Here, anything is possible. So I have to fill out some papers, drive a cab, leave my jet ski back home-- GARRETT You have a jet ski?! I have a jet skil (CONTINUED)
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Sunnyside Full Yello 16 CONTINUED: “pilot” W (2) Jet ski buddies! GARRETT Aw, that sucks you had to give it up. It’'s worth it. I'm here because I love America and I want to be a part of it. We all do. They pull up to Mallory’s house. Garrett hops out. 17 INT. BAR - GARRETT That’s... really awesome, man. Thanks for the ride. HAKIM Hey, uh, America is great and anything is possible, et cetera et cetera... but only if you pay people for their work. You owe me 27.50. GARRETT Oh. Right! Yup. THE NEXT MORNING (D-7) Garrett enters with a coffee, a little bounce in his GARRETT What’s up, y'all? Who's ready to learn? I stayed up late last night, watched a couple youtube videos about American History, somehow ended up watching three hours of people unboxing Legos, which is weird because I don’t even like Legos—- He stops, noticing that the group all looks shaken. GARRETT (CONT’D) What happened? GRISELDA They took Drazen. GARRETT What? Who did? MEI LIN Immigration. GARRETT ...But he had a green card. 24. 3/20/19 step. 16 17 (CONTINUED)
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17 Sunnyside “Pilot” Full Yellow CONTINUED: The group stares at Garrett, shocked. He’'s frozen. The group disperses, shooting disappointed looks at Garrett. BRADY I guess he messed up his paperwork. That’s enough sometimes. Gah! He was so bad at that crap! This blows! GARRETT I didn’t think you even liked Drazen. BRADY I mean, yeah, he sucked, but nobody deserves this. HAKIM Can you call one of your City Council people and at least figure out where they’re holding him? GARRETT I doubt it. No one will return my calls. They haven’'t spoken to me in months. JUN HO You said someone was going to help us. GARRETT I did say that, and it was a lie, and that was a crappy thing to do. The truth is, even if I had gotten through, politicians don’t exactly spend their days trying to help people like you. But Hakim and I had a great talk last night! I want to help you. BRADY Yeah, well I don’'t think we need your help anymore. END OF ACT TWO 25. 3/20/19 17
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sunnyside “Pilot” 26. Full Yellow 3/20/19 ACT THREE INT. HOUSE ~ OFFICE THE NEXT DAY (D-8) 18 Garrett, depressed, watches the end of his arrest video. GARRETT (ON VIDEO) One billion dollars. He hits replay and it starts over from the beginning. It’s clear he’s been watching it over and over. Mallory pokes her head in the doorway. MALLORY If you watch it too much, it gets less funny. But if you keep watching it, it comes all the way around the other side and gets really funny again. GARRETT Remember those people I was helping? One of them got taken by ICE last night. Can you believe that? MATLORY I mean, that’'s awful, but yeah, I can believe it. You know how many of my patients have family members who got deported? GARRETT Drazen was doing everything right! He had a green card. It’s messed up. MALLORY Yeah, it is. And it’s been happening for years. Maybe you should have done something about it while you were in office, instead of partying on Alec Baldwin’s yacht. GARRETT It was Daniel Baldwin’s catamaran. I wish it was Alec’s yacht. MATLORY Gross. GARRETT No, you’re right, I'm a screw-up. Maybe I just should have become a doctor like you, and mom, and dad, and Harendra Uncle, and Bipin Uncle and Falguni Auntie, and-- (CONTINUED)
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18 19 20 Sunnyside “pPilot” 27. Full Yellow 3/20/19 CONTINUED: 18 MALLORY I'd rather be a cliche than someone pretending to be Mr. All American. “Oooch, I'm a politician, I played baseball.” GARRETT ("tearing up”) You know why I played baseball? Because I was good at it. And when kids saw I was good, nobody wanted to bully me anymore. They didn’t see me as different. They accepted me. (in Hindi) Oh, get over yourself. GARRETT (in Hindi) Hey! We were arguing in English! That'’s not fair! MATLORY So, this guy got taken. What are you going to do about it? GARRETT I mean, nothing. What can I do about it? MALLORY Of course. Things got hard, and you're bailing again. Is that step three or four of your “five step plan?” She leaves. Garrett looks at his computer screen, sees a link to his old campaign ad from the cold open. He clicks it. EXT. SUNNYSTDE, QUEENS STREETS DAY (ON SCREEN) (FB-D1) 19 The same video from before. GARRETT (ON SCREEN) I'm Garrett Modi and I'm running to be your next city councilor. My parents moved here in 1975 with one dream. To raise their children in the greatest country on Earth in the greatest city on Earth... INT. MALLORY'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS (D-8) 20 As the video plays, Garrett gets a look of determination on his face. He gets up and runs out of the room past Mallory on the couch. He drops his five point plan in her lap. (CONTINUED)
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20 21 22 Sunnyside “Pilot” Full Yellow CONTINUED: GARRETT New plan! INT. HAKIM'S TAXI -~ LATER Garrett jumps into the backseat of taxi. Hakim puts GARRETT A-ha! Found you! Look, before you say anything, I'm sorry. I messed up. I'm sorry for lying to you, I'm sorry for being a dick. But, in a way, lying about your credentials and putting your own happiness above others is one of the most American things you can do, so I guess that’s another lesson you learned from me and welcome. Point is, I want to make it up to you. HAKIM (beat, then) How many taxi cabs did you jump into before you found me? GARRETT A lot. There are a lot of very angry cab drivers out there. What do you say? Want to help me get everyone else on board? the car in drive. HAKIM Let’'s go. INT. INSANE TRIBECA LOFT LATER (D-8) We’re in the largest apartment anyone has ever seen. Somehow, 3/20/19 20 21 22 three Ferraris are parked inside. A very chic young assistant leads Garrett and Hakim in, and from across the massive loft they see a bored Mei Lin and Jun Ho staring at BILL NYE, who stands at a white board. BILL NYE ...And we call that the Electoral College. But this is one college that doesn’t have a football team! He waits for a laugh that doesn’t come. METI LIN Ugh, what are you even talking about? (CONTINUED)
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22 Sunnyside “Pilot” Full Yellow CONTINUED: BILL NYE Look, I told you. I'm more of a science guy. 28A. 3/20/19 22 (CONTINUED)
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Sunnyside “Pilot” 29. Full Yellow 3/20/19 22 CONTINUED: (2) 22 GARRETT Guys, I know you’re probably pissed at me, but I think I can really help you. And Drazen. Will you come with me? JUN HO Oh thank god, yes. Bill Nye suuuuucks. MEI LIN So boring. (directly to Bill) Be less boring! They all leave together. BILL NYE Do I still get paid? 23 EXT./INT. TLIBRARY - LATER (D-8) 23 Garrett, Hakim, Lin, and Jun Ho enter a typically beautiful New York City Public Library. They see Brady across the room, studying intently, wearing glasses. GARRETT Brady. Come with us. We're getting the gang back together. BRADY (to everyone but Garrett) You guys cool with this? They nod. BRADY (CONT'D) (relieved) Sweet. (then, threatening) If you tell anyone you saw me in a library, I will mess you up, understand? GARRETT Yup, I get it. Now we just need to find Griselda. GRISELDA (0.S.) I'm right here! Reveal Griselda, pushing a cart, restocking the shelves. GRISELDA (CONT’D) It’s almost my lunch break anyway. Where are we going?
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24 Sunnyside “pilot” 30. Full Yellow 3/20/19 INT. CITY COUNCIL OFFICE LATER (D-8) 24 The group bursts into Diana’s office. DIANA Oh, come on. GARRETT Wait! I want to apologize. I got to sit at that desk, basically because I was good at talking. I talked this city into electing me, and then I never did anything. You’re not going to make that mistake. And you’re going to be a better city councilor than I ever was. DIANA ...I mean, that’s a pretty low bar. GARRETT Harsh, but fair. What I'm trying to say is: I'm sick of talking -- I want to start doing. Their friend Drazen got taken by ICE last night. Can you help us find him? DIANA I can try, but they let anyone into those facilities. But I‘1l see what I can do. BRADY Also, we need to get into a citizenship class, and they’re all booked up. GARRETT (smiles) Actually, that part I have covered. Garrett turns to the group. GARRETT (CONT'D) When you’re born in America, you never really have to learn how lucky you are. You guys are already working way harder than I ever did, just to get what I was randomly given at birth because my parents happened to live here. I don't want to take that for granted anymore. If you'll have me as a teacher, learn whatever I have to. I'll help you get your paperwork in order. I'1l help you study. (MORRE ) (CONTINUED)
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24 25 sunnyside “Pilot” 31. Full Yellow 3/20/19 CONTINUED: 24 GARRETT (CONT'D) I'11 know the Constitution better than... the guy who wrote the Const-- HARIM GARRETT (CONT'D) James Madison. James Madison! I said it at the same time as you. GARRETT going to be right next to you, and we’'re going to figure out how to get through this together. And here’s your money back. Minus a few hundred for teaching expenses, shoes count as teaching expenses. (to Diana) Is it okay if we come to you if we ever need help navigating this process? DIANA Fine. But I'm only helping them. Also, for your information there were a lot of drugs left in your desk... GARRETT (proud) Those days are behind me. You keep them. DIANA I threw them away, you maniac. INT. MATTORY'S HOUSE - DAY (D-8) 25 The gang studies in living room. Garrett flips to a page featuring Benjamin Franklin. GARRETT Okay, can anyone tell me who Benjamin Franklin is? MEI LIN Oh! He’'s the guy on the hundred. Those are my favorites. Why does anyone use the other ones? GARRETT Okay but what did he do? GRISELDA He flew a kite in a storm and that was smart for some reason? GARRETT That is true, but not what I'm looking for. (CONTINUED)
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Sunnyside 32. Full Yellow 3/20/19 25 CONTINUED: 25 BRADY Is he Hamilton from “Hamilton?” GARRETT ...That’s Hamilton. Mallory enters, bedraggled from a long day at work. MATLORY ...Garrett, I’ve been in surgery all day. You can’t just bring a bunch of strangers into my house. JUN HO Actually, it would only be illegal if we were soldiers and the government was telling you to let us in. Boom. Third amendment. GARRETT Jun Ho! You learned something! The gang congratulates Jun Ho. JUN HO Oh my god I did! I'm amazing! They all HIGH-FIVE and celebrate. Hakim approaches her. HAKIM What kind of surgery? We talking arthroplasty? Fasciectomy? (excited) Composite tissue allograft?! MAT.LORY Who are you? HAKIM I'm Hakim! END OF ACT THREE
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