01x19 - Playing Caitlin

[bunniefuu]

- Drama is character in action.

The way a fictional character grows,

or is destroyed, by his behavior

is the basis for dramatic arts.

(Eric gagging)

- Huh? (Eric coughing deeply)

- Ms. Resnik?

(Eric coughing deeply)

(classmates laughing)

Can I be excused

'cause I swallowed my-- - [Ms. Resnik] Your spitball?

- Yeah. - [Ms. Resnik] Get a drink.

- All right, thank you. - Way to go.

- Good one. (Eric coughing)

(classmates murmuring) - That's an example

of character in action creating drama.

Here's a better one.

Nikki walks from the store,

the camera in her pocket.

She's psyched, nobody saw her lift it.

(intensifying music) She's home free.

Nikki. She freezes.

It's Trent, a cop.

She ignores him, moves past him.

Then, she pulls out the stolen camera.

She should hide it from him.

Instead, she focuses, and takes a photo.

Instead of hiding her crime,

she flaunts it by taking the photo, why?

- To capture her act of rebellion.

- Good.

- To show the cop that she's not afraid of him.

- Good.

(bell ringing)

All right, next week.

(classmates conversing)

And these are great plays, everyone.

Good job.

- [Student] Hey, guys, wait up.

(classmates conversing)

Fascinating drama, Caitlin.

The way you wrote about your life as a street kid-

- Wait. - It was bold.

- It wasn't about me.

I made it up.

- Oh?

- Look, it was just an assignment.

Why'd you read it out loud, anyway?

- (sighs) I'm sorry if I embarrassed you,

but I think you've captured the voice of teenagers.

- (scoffs) Whatever.

- (sighs) Whatever.

- Why do adults always wanna get inside teenager's heads?

It's like we're freaks.

Maybe it's not teenagers.

Maybe it's me.

They wanna pry into my life and find out who I am

because who I am doesn't make any sense.

(dramatic music)

(Caitlin breathing heavily)

(rock music)

♪ There's a devil standing on my tail ♪

♪ But I don't have to beat him ♪

♪ And there's an angel that is tempting me to fail ♪

♪ But I don't really need him ♪

♪ And the waves just keep rolling along ♪

♪ We can drift if the current prevails ♪

♪ Here we are in this slow boat ♪

♪ Wishing for a sail ♪

♪ Wishing for a sail, a sail, a sail, a sail, a sail ♪

♪ I'm wishing ♪

♪ I'm wishing ♪

♪ I'm wishing for a sail ♪

(upbeat music)

- (Girl) Yeah, Brett. - Nice.

- I think my play's better.

- Yeah, I know.

- So I just talked Resnik

into doing one of the plays we wrote.

- You volunteered us for extracurricular academics.

- Yes, brainball, I did,

because by doing the play, we get out of doing a paper.

- Cool. - That's a good idea.

- Let's do yours, man.

- Okay.

- No, we can't do your play.

- [Griffin] Why not?

- It's got no girls in it.

- [Griffin] Somebody has to have a play with girls in it.

(Eric sighing) (rock music)

♪ Go take a walk in my shoes ♪

- Hers does. Caitlin.

Caitlin, (whispers) Caitlin.

Listen, we wanna put on your play.

- (scoffs) Forget it.

- But it's good.

Everybody should see how talented you are.

I didn't write it for everybody.

I wrote it 'cause I had to.

- Please, Caitlin, come on.

No one ever comes to our plays.

Not after last year's production of Cats.

Please, you can direct.

- Like I know how.

- (laughs) Caitlin, any moron can direct.

Griff'll do it.

- [Brett] Look, just let us do it.

I promise you won't have to do anything.

- Really?

- [Eric] Nothing.

- [Griffin] It beats doing one of Resnik's papers.

- Okay.

- Okay? (Brett laughing)

All right.

- Okay, I need to hold auditions.

- But no one's gonna see it, right?

- No.

- [Brett] So who's the director?

Can I help you cast the street babe?

- Why'd I say yes?

- [Griffin] It's in the literary tradition of the Outsider

with stylistic reference to the Phantom Menace.

It's gonna be totally cutting edge.

- Oh, that's awesome.

- Uh huh, so what are you gonna be reading from?

- It's a techno, kinda dance, kinda thing.

- (whispers) okay.

(dance music)

(country music) - Miss Watson would say,

"Why don't you try to behave, Huckleberry."

(dramatic piano music) - Deny thy father,

and refuse thy name.

(dance music) - Press control and home,

move the cursor to the top.

Choose buying you a place,

and don't you stop.

(dramatic piano music)

- Be but sworn by (hiccups) love. (clears throat)

(upbeat music) - Then she told me

about the bad places.

(dance music) - Get funky, get funky.

(dramatic piano music) - And I'll never

be a cap-- (hiccups) u-- (hiccups)

- And I said I wished I was there.

- I'll never be a cap-- (hiccups) u-- (hiccups)

- [Both] A Capulet.

- Home, place, choose, find.

Home, place, choose, find.

- Next.

(Caitlin laughing)

- Uh, whew.

- I was just, sorta, walking by,

and I decided--

- Oh, no, no, its your play.

You should get involved.

- What are those?

- Oh, they're tickets.

I got 200 printed.

We've already sold 60.

We're gonna sell out the run, I know it.

- Wait, you promised no one would see this.

That's the only reason I said yes.

- Caitlin, we could have a breakaway hit here.

Except, um, we don't have an actress.

(lights clicking off)

(thunder rolling)

- Whoa, what's going on?

- When shall we three meet again?

In thunder, lightning, or in rain?

When the hurleyburley's done.

When the battle's lost and won.

Where the place?

Upon the heath.

There to meet with Macbeth.

(light clicking on)

- Oh, (laughs)

(Griffin clapping) Yeah, that was great.

You never see blonde witches, no.

- We see her every day.

- So when's the first rehearsal?

I want my own makeup person.

- Uh huh.

- 10 free tickets, - Uh huh.

- to opening night, - Uh huh.

- and transportation to and from rehearsal.

- No problem.

- Good, so I guess now all we have to do is cast the cop.

- I already did.

(suspenseful music)

- Man wears the uniform.

The uniform equals power.

Man, therefore, is powerful.

- Afternoon, ladies.

- Afternoon, officer.

They just get younger, and younger.

- (sighs) You were speeding.

Those are sweet glasses, man.

- (sighs) Inline skates,

even on sidewalks,

are subject to the same rules and regulations

as all motor vehicles are.

- You totally have the cop talk, man.

It's great.

(paper ripping)

- This is a citation for surpassing the speed limit.

- (laughs) Dude, it's a piece of paper.

- (sighs) We can do this the easy way,

or we can do this the hard way.

You decide.

You know what I was thinking?

I know how to make this

totally real, okay?

Trent, picture this, Trent is a motorcycle cop, okay?

He comes screeching in the alley on this--

- [Librarian] Quiet.

- on this Harley, right?

- You're so delusional.

- (mimicking) You're so delusional. (sighs)

You're so delusional.

(recorder clicking)

Black everything, cheap jewelry, sullen makeup.

(recorder clicking)

- Caitlin, the hog

says power, okay?

- And the script says he's walking a beat.

- (mimicking) And the script says

he's walking a beat. (Eric grunting)

And the script says

he's walking a beat.

(Eric breathing heavily)

- You know what you lack, Caitlin?

You know what you lack?

- [Librarian] Quiet, please.

- You lack vision.

- [Librarian] No talking in the library.

- Vision, Caitlin.

- [Librarian] Come on, guys.

Take it outside, thank you.

(suspenseful music)

(Eric sighing)

(hammer banging) (drill spinning)

- So above, and behind, the alley are the skyscrapers.

- They look like spaceships.

- Oh, yeah, look, modeled after the Phantom Menace.

- No, no, where are the trash cans?

- Oh, well, those spoiled the look--

- No, the alley has to be filled with trash.

It's gross and dirty,

but it's where Nikki has to go (sirens wailing)

to hide from her foster parents, and the cops.

(dramatic music) (sirens coming closer)

- [Caitlin] Tell her.

- [Griffin] What?

- She's been running three blocks.

She doesn't look tired.

- She kinda does.

- (sighs) You're being chased.

Act like it.

- I have to save something for my lines.

And could you stop interrupting me?

It's hard for me to stay in character.

- You're not in character.

That's my whole point.

- Oh, why don't you go ahead and take it from the panting.

- Fine.

(Taylor panting)

(suspenseful music)

(Eric sighs)

- Let's go, come on. - Ah, ow.

I didn't do anything.

- Oh, really?

Well innocent people don't run.

- You have really nice eyes.

That's not in your script. - [Eric] What?

- Hasn't anyone ever told you that before, officer?

- [Eric] Well, (chuckles) actually they have,

(sirens wailing) all the time. (laughing)

- That's really stuck, move.

(rock music)

(officer grunting)

- Why didn't you just leave the camera?

- What do you care?

Go ahead, bust me.

(Eric laughing)

- I can't do this.

(somber music)

(water splashing)

- What did you run out for?

You blew my concentration.

- Like you had any.

- Uh, so this is babe central?

- And stop hitting on Trent, it's all wrong.

He's a cop, and he's old.

- No, you're wrong.

Nikki does have a thing for Trent, okay?

Her need to be loved is what makes her so troubled?

- No it's not.

- Then why is she so messed up?

- Because stuff has happened to her.

- Well, stuff has happened to millions of kids,

but they're not all juvenile offenders.

- Yet, Nikki is sorta hard to get, like,

why did she let herself get caught?

- Because she wants the camera.

- (scoffs) That's not a very good reason.

- It is to me.

Look, why can't everyone

just do the play the way I wrote it?

- Because Nikki doesn't make sense.

- Uh, you know,

maybe you should try

and get inside her head a little more.

- Yeah, like you know anything about acting.

Wait, get inside her head?

- Uh huh.

- Gah, You're brilliant.

(soft dramatic music)

(recorder clicking)

- The streets are quiet as the sun goes down.

I have to find a way to make the streets my own.

I have to find a way to get into Nikki's head.

The smells are (sniffs)

totally gross,

but I have to find a way to make the smells my home.

Okay.

(recorder clicking)

(trash rustling)

(whispers) Who is that?

(eerie music)

Oh, man.

(person grunting)

(Taylor screaming) (Griffin screaming)

- Griffin?

- Taylor?

- What are you doing here?

- I'm getting trash for the set.

(Taylor breathing heavily)

Hey, hey, it's okay.

- No, it's not. (sniffs)

Oh, what is that?

Do you smell that?

(Griffin sniffs)

- (gags) Oh, It's cat pee.

- Uh, I'm going home.

This is, like, way too real.

- Excuse me.

(suspenseful music)

You realize this is private property, don't ya?

- Eric?

- (sighs) Eric, come on, turn that off.

- Those boxes yours?

- They are now.

- Okay, prove ownership?

- Eric, it's trash.

- Look, we can do this the easy way,

or we can do this the hard way.

- You can't prove I stole it.

- (shouting) You think you're cool, don't you?

You think you're hip?

You think you're not like anyone else?

Let me tell you something.

I bust a dozen kids like you every week.

(Taylor crying) Every week.

- Wait, what are you doing?

Nikki doesn't cry.

She's really angry.

Nikki's a girl, and she's been busted.

She's gonna cry.

- No, she's not.

- (shouting) You're such a control freak.

You're gonna ruin this play.

- No, you are.

And just so you won't,

I'm calling it off.

- Whoa, whoa, the dress rehearsal's tonight.

- Yeah, we could have a big hit on our hands.

The casting agent's coming.

- You're breaking your promise, Caitlyn, okay?

You are in violation of a legal contract.

You can't just call off the play whenever you want, okay?

- Well fine, but take my name off of all of the programs,

because I don't want any more to do with it.

- Good, now we can do it exactly the way we want it.

(soft music)

- But it's Caitlin's play.

- [Taylor] You heard her,

she doesn't want anything to do with it.

- [Brett] That's just great,

now what are we supposed to do?

- [Eric] I guess it's up to us to figure it out.

(horse whinnying)

♪ Leave behind something I ♪ - They're right.

♪ Can't render ♪

- The play stinks.

♪ You know that you are right ♪ - Just--

Nikki doesn't make any sense.

How could she?

(horse whinnying)

I don't make any sense.

I let myself get caught.

- Fancy schmancy.

- All the great photographers use it.

- So you took it because it's cool.

- No, I took it 'cause it takes great photos.

- Ah, you took it for your art.

You risked everything to prove it to the world

that you could take pictures.

- No, I don't have to prove anything to the world.

Can we just get this over with?

- Your foster parents are gonna be ticked off.

- Well, at least they'll know I'm home.

Maybe they'll turn off the stupid TV for five seconds.

- Is that why you did this?

Just so they'd pay attention to ya?

(melancholy music) - You know they call me

by the wrong name sometimes?

I got my report card yesterday.

My grades were pretty ugly.

I came here to hide from them.

I figured they'd freak.

I spent the whole night out here.

When I got home this morning,

they didn't even know I was gone.

(hopeful music)

I'm okay, boy.

(papers shuffling)

- [Ms. Resnik] Don't be so nervous,

it's only a dress rehearsal. Hi.

(crowd conversing)

- Wow, great set.

- Are those my boxers?

- Caitlin asked to borrow a few things.

- Do you know what this could do to my credibility?

- Honey, at least they're clean.

(upbeat music)

- Wow, hey, Taylor, you look really hot.

Um, good luck.

- Thanks.

By the way in the theater,

we don't say "good luck" before a performance.

We say "break a leg."

- (laughs) Really?

Well, then, uh, break a leg.

(Griffin thudding onto the floor)

(Eric grunting)

- (shouting) The greatest. I'm the police officer.

(whispers) I'm gonna be the star, okay.

You're innocent, well innocent people don't, don't

run, innocent people--

Uh, I'm losing it. (breathes heavily)

(Eric belching)

(Eric regurgitating)

(Eric breathing heavily)

(suspenseful music)

Listen, you have to do it, okay?

- Do what? - Play Trent. (coughs)

- What? Are you kidding? - I can't--

I can't do it, man.

I'm too nervous.

- No, no, no, no, no.

You have to.

- Guys. - Hey.

- I made some changes to the play.

You were right, the characters didn't make sense, until now.

- But I already learned the part.

I can't go on with these new pages.

- Aw, great, great, just great.

I got a play with no actors.

- Then I'll go on.

- You'll totally humiliate yourself.

- No, I should have taken the part to begin with.

- Yeah, you're the only one who could play Caitlin.

- Nikki.

- If you say so.

- (whispers) Listen to me.

If I hurl, you'll cover for me, right?

- (sighs) Yeah.

- Let's go. - Okay,

it's showtime.

(soft music)

- You can tell me what to wear.

You can tell me what to eat.

You can make me go to school,

and you can make me follow the rules.

But when I take that camera, and I walk out of that store,

and no one catches me,

I'm outside of the rules.

It's wrong, and I know it,

but taking stuff makes me free.

It proves that I don't belong to you.

I don't belong to anybody.

(crowd clapping)

- Oh, the curtain.

- Oh.

- [Ms. Resnik] Well done, bravo, bravo.

- She was talking about foster parents.

- Parents are like that, though.

"My kids," it's like we're not people, we're possessions.

Forget that, I don't belong to anybody.

- That's like my dad.

He won't let me shave 'cause I'm too young.

This is my face.

- Yeah, we've got house rules,

but me and my sister, we don't have any say in them.

- (laughs) Adults make up these rules,

and we're supposed to obey them just 'cause they say so.

- It's a joke.

(soft music)

- (laughs) Look what you started.

- Well, maybe it's

about time High River had a small rebellion.

So do you think I'm a freak now?

- Yeah, but since I got everything you said,

maybe I'm a freak too.

- I was afraid to show my feelings,

the dark ones, the messed up ones.

But it turns out

that those are feelings everyone else has too.

- [Griffin] Let's go home.

(rock music)

♪ Wishing for a sail ♪

♪ Wishing for a sail, a sail, a sail, a sail, a sail ♪

♪ Wishing for a sail, a sail, a sail, a sail, a sail ♪

♪ Well, all right ♪

♪ I'm wishing, I'm wishing, I'm wishing, I'm wishing ♪

♪ I'm wishing for a sail ♪