Neutron Dance
(The band is practicing in Craig�s garage)
Craig: OK. That sounded a bit�tighter?
Spinner: Keyboard was a bit off on the bridge, so�
Ashley: Really? �Cause the drums threw me off, only it was more on the verse.
Marco: OK, it sounded like this tape of whales my aunt Pea has.
Craig: We have to do better.
Spinner: Dude, we only have three days.
Craig: Well we aren�t gonna win $10,000 worth of free recording again and we have to use it now and we have to be
better.
Marco: Yeah, and we could be if�if Jimmy could play with us.
Craig: I wish he could too.
Ashley: Well, what if we tried �Everything�s Dust�?
Spinner: Sure, the song that just so happens to be all about you.
*Spinner points to Ashley and she gives him a glare*
Marco: I think what Spinner means is that uh�we�ve come a long way since that song.
Craig: But it�s how we won the contest. I mean, we know it works for us.
Spinner: Yeah, worked for you anyway.
Craig: What?�Let�s just try it.
Spinner: Yeah, all right. So what�1, 2, crap, 4?
(Craig is visiting Jimmy in the hospital)
Craig: So, um�Ash thinks that we should do that song from last year. You know, �Dust?�
Jimmy: Ashley?
Craig: Yeah. She�s been uh coming to rehearsals�advising and stuff.
Jimmy: OK. Is that what you�re calling it these days?
*Craig shakes his head*
Craig: No�we�re�there�s nothing going on with me and Ash. We�re friends.
Jimmy: OK, look. I may be crippled�man, but I�m not blind.
Craig: Don�t. You�re not crippled, OK?
Jimmy: I guess I won�t be for long. Just like I imagine that you and Ashley won�t be just friends for long either.
*Craig laughs*
Craig: What, did you get brain damage too? Ashley and I are not gonna happen again.
Jimmy: Whatever�whatever.
*Craig makes the �hmm, maybe we will happen again� face*
(The band is practicing again. This time it�s just Ashley playing the keyboard and Craig is going over the lyrics)
Ashley: So what do you think?
Craig: I think you�re brilliant!
Ashley: Well, your song�s brilliant.
Marco: Um, doesn�t it sound kind of�pretty? I mean, we are a rock band.
Craig: Hey, hey it�s good contrast. It�s counterpoint.
Ashley: Well, maybe it would help if we worked on the bass line�you know, made it less simple.
*Spinner walks in and Manny is trailing behind him*
Spinner: Hey, guys. Sorry I�m late.
Craig: Spinner, we�ve been here an hour!
*Spinner makes an �I�m sorry, but not really� gesture with his hand and then talks to Manny*
Spinner: You wanna sit on a chair?
Manny: Thanks, Sticks.
*Craig is very annoyed*
Craig: Who�s Sticks? And why is SHE here?
Spinner: I�m sticks and I figure since any and all chicks are welcome in the band, I�d bring my own amuse.
*Craig looks at Manny who smiles at him kinda in a condescending way which he returns with an extremely fake smile of his own*
Craig: You mean muse?
*Spinner waves his hand and makes a face like �whatever� and Craig slaps his hand to his face, frustrated*
(Spinner, Marco and Manny are grouped together for a band interview with Liberty, while Craig and Ashley are off talking with one another by themselves)
Spinner: I don�t know why we bother, because it�s obvious we�re just the backup band for Ashley and Craig�s Variety Hour.
Marco: Spin, stop being a drama queen OK? It�s not like that.
Spinner: It�s like�you and I aren�t even in the band.
*Camera cuts to Craig and Ashley*
Ashley: You know, I can see us going really far�with the band, I mean.
Craig: You gotta start somewhere.
Liberty: Well, let�s commence. Deadline looming.
*Ashley and Craig move to where the rest of the band is, but they sit together in the front and control the interview*
Liberty: So, where do you see your band going?
Craig: Far�
Marco: Actually, we�
Craig: Really far.
Liberty: Uh, who are your major influences?
*Marco and Spinner try to answer but can�t*
Ashley: Well, we all love Death Cab, uh�
Ashley and Craig: Neutral Milk Hotel
*They laugh at each other �cause they can finish each other�s thoughts*
Liberty: OK, uh�where do your songs come from?
*Marco starts to talk*
Marco: We like to look�
Craig: Well actually, they all come from a bunch of different sources of inspiration.
Liberty: OK, um any solo projects coming up?
*Spinner gets excited and tries to talk*
Spinner: Uh, ya. Marco and I�
Ashley: God, n-n-n-n no. This is only our first single.
Liberty: OK, um what would you like to say to your fans?
Ashley: Just keep watching us and you ain�t seen nothin� yet.
*Liberty takes out her camera to take a picture of the group. Manny tries to peak through from the back, but really it�s just a Craig and Ashley picture (and it�s a very cute one at that!)*
Liberty: Which, everyone say, �The Mysticlees (?)
Ashley: The Mysticlees
Liberty: Fabulous.
Craig: All right.
Ashley: That was really cool.
Craig: That was good.
Ashley: That went really well.
Craig: That was great.
Ashley: Thanks, Liberty.
Liberty: It�s gonna be an interesting article.
(Marco and Spinner sort of corner Craig and force him to make a tough choice)
Craig: Hey.
Marco: Hey Craig, um�we have a problem.
Craig: O-K, so let�s talk.
Spinner: Ash has gotta go.
Marco: Whoa, hey Sticks. Slow it down�Ash has gotta go.
Craig: Has everyone gone nuts?
Marco: She�s not in the band, Craig. We never agreed to it.
Craig: Yes you did.
Spinner: Dude, it used to be our band. Remember, it used to be about us?
Craig: It�s still about us.
Marco: Ash lost the contest, OK? To us, and to Jimmy. So why does she get to be on the recording?
Craig: Look�recording this single, it means everything to me OK?
Spinner: Dude! Either she goes or we do, OK? �Cause it�s not working.
Marco: You have to fire her.
(Ashley walks out of class and Craig comes up to her in the hallway prepared to give her the bad news)
Craig: Remember the recording session?
Ashley: Uh�hi and yeah, how could I forget?
Craig: Yeah, um�I don�t know how to tell you this�
Ashley: Hey, look. I�m nervous too, but I mean you�ll be there. All I have to do is look over at you and I�ll be fine.
*This is when Craig isn�t even listening to a word she�s saying. He�s just staring at her lips*
Ashley: So you wanted to tell me something?
*He full on kisses her. She doesn�t kiss back, but that�s a minor detail. When he pulls away, his eyes are still closed. When he finally opens them, Ashley has a �what the hell just happened?� look on her face. And he looks at her the same way, as if he isn�t the one who just kissed her! ;-) She walks away looking very much confused, but keeps turning back around to watch him as she�s leaving*
(Craig, Marco and Spinner meet at The Dot)
Marco: Look, you did the right thing, OK? I�m sure it was painful for you and Ash, but hey, at least us guys can be us guys again.
Craig: Painful? The opposite. Ashley and I�we�re�we�re back�we�re back together.
Spinner: Oh gee, I thought she would�ve been all mad when you FIRED her.
Marco: Uh, yeah, he didn�t fire her Spinner.
Craig: Well, like I could kiss her and then do it. Marco, come on. Cut me some slack. Come on, it�s not that big of a deal.
*Marco and Spinner leave*
(Ashley is at Ellie�s place)
Ashley: So, one minute we�re talking first recording session butterflies and the next�full on liplock.
Ellie: Don�t do it.
Ashley: Yeah, a little late for that.
Ellie: Not the kiss, the rest.
Craig: Well�he�s different, I think.
Ellie: Guys suck, Ashley. They enjoy messing with our feelings and then sticking us with the rent. Just don�t come crying to me when he Craig�s out on you.
(Ashley�s talk with Ellie freaks her out and she decides to meet Craig)
Craig: Everything OK? Your uh�your text was all in caps.
Ashley: Yeah, I just figured we should talk before rehearsal�about yesterday.
Craig: Right. OK, well um�it sort of took me by surprise.
Ashley: Yeah, join the club.
Craig: So, you�re confused too?
Ashley: You know, maybe we�re just uh reaching for something familiar. You know, given Jimmy, everything that�s happened?
*Craig has a disappointed look on his face*
Craig: Oh�never thought of that.
Ashley: Well, we have been doing great as friends. Right?
Craig: Right�and who would want to screw that up?
Ashley: Yeah, who would?
Craig: Good. Great. I�m glad we got that settled.
Ashley: Yeah. Well at least we still have the band.
Craig: Yeah.
(Marco and Spinner are still fed up with Craig. Spinner decides to let Manny play tambourine and Marco is going to play the accordion.
*Ashley walks in with drinks*
Ashley: Hey, guys.
*She looks at Marco�s accordion and Manny with the tambourine with a �wtf?� look on her face*
Ashley: Did I miss something?
Marco: Yeah Actually, Craig�why don�t you tell Ashley about the changes we made to our band.
Ashley: They include the accordion? Playin� a nice polka? OK um, we record tomorrow. Why are we making changes now?
Spinner: Tell her why, Craig.
*Craig is left speechless and Ashley is confused�again*
Spinner: No. All right. And a 1, still crap, 4.
*They play the song �new and improved� and Craig shrugs, giving Ashley a helpless look, and starts singing while Ashley watches dumbfounded.*
(Everyone is in the recording studio, but Ashley is held up)
Ashley: Hey. Sorry I�m late. Cab driver got lost. My luck.
Craig: Come on, guys. We�re on the clock.
*Marco�s accordion slips and makes noise*
Ashley: Um�um, I�m sorry. I don�t�I don�t mean to be a diva, but are we really gonna record like this?
Spinner: Well, what do you mean your highness?
Ashley: With the accordion and the tambourine? Craig?
*Awkward silence, then Craig nods to Spinner to let him know that he�ll tell Ashley she has to leave the band*
Spinner: Yeah. OK, guys. Let�s go get some more free food, eh? Here, hold this.
Manny: Dibs on the cinnamon buns.
*He puts the tambourine over Marco�s head and they leave Craig and Ashley alone*
Ashley: Uh, Craig�what�s going on?
*Craig doesn�t answer her at first*
Ashley: Look, I�m not stupid�you have to tell me.
Craig: OK. Um�you need to leave. You�re out of the band.
Ashley: And um�the whole band wants this?
Craig: Yeah�but I don�t! It�s just�
*It�s obvious Ash is getting upset*
Ashley: No, no. It�s just business.
*Ashley walks out and Craig looks like his puppy just died*
(The band starts recording their single, but Craig keeps looking down at the empty keyboard. He gets to the end of the song and can�t finish. He takes off his headphones and starts walking out of the recording studio, and the guys ask him what is going on)
Spinner: N-n-no, where are you going?
Craig: Um�everything�it was all about Ashley. It wasn�t about a single or�or making it big�just Ashley.
Spinner: No, Craig�
*It�s too late. Craig runs out of the studio and after Ashley*
Craig: Ashley!�Ashley!
*He catches up to her and does a little jump and puts his hands on his hips and smiles*
Craig: Hey.
Ashley: What are you doing here? You�re recording.
Craig: I couldn�t. I couldn�t do it�especially a song that meant so much to us.
Ashley: What, so you�so you just left?
*She slaps him on the arm and he kinda laughs*
Ashley: How could you throw a chance like that away?
Craig: Look, the recording studio will always be there, but�but you, I wasn�t�I wasn�t so sure.
Ashley: What?
*Craig�s face falls and he�s all awkward and embarrassed*
Craig: I�I�sorry�sorry�I thought that�oh god.
*He puts a hand on his face and starts to walk away but she grabs his arm*
Ashley: Hey�if you think you�re just gonna walk away�
*This time, she kisses him. They pull back and smile*
Ashley: So um�do you think we can uh�
Craig: Yeah! Yeah I do.
Ashley: So do I.
*They kiss again and can�t wipe the cheesy grins off their faces, it�s adorable!*
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