View From Under The Bus by Yezall Strongheart (english novels for students txt) 📖

Maryann: Easy going, likes most people, dresses uniquely, played by Emma Stone

Matthew: Quiet, goes with the crowd, sporty dresser, played by Ian Somerhalder

Colleen: Career driven woman, dresses well, likes the finer things, and thinks she deserves them, played by Megan Fox

David: Looking for Mrs. Right Amazingly handsome, played by Nathan Fillion

Lily: Normal girl who works for a living, dresses appropriately, cute and friendly, played by Christina Hendricks

Mr.Barrymore: Older, yet good-looking owner of the business likes to be surrounded by pretty women, played by George Clooney

1st Fellow Office Worker: Amy Ryan

2nd Fellow Office Worker: Greta Gerwig

Opening Music: Crusin’ Gweneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis

EXT BOAT DOCK – EARLY EVENING

Two women and two men stand under a sign: ANDERSON’S DINNER CRUISE. One of the women starts up the ramp.

MARYANN
Hurry up! This will be fun and I’m hungry!

MATTHEW
Great idea Colleen. And congrats on the promotion.

The rest of the group follows Maryann while they talk.

COLLEEN
Well, it’s not official but Mr. Barrymore should make the announcement tomorrow morning. I’ll be making a lot more money and a little evening fun like this will be common place as I show you slobs how to live.

They all laugh as they continue on, boarding the boat. As they wait to be seated, David leans close to Colleen’s ear.

DAVID
This will cost a bundle for all of us. If you need help with this just ask.

Offended, Colleen gives him a small shove.

COLLEEN
Right, if I want your help I’ll ask for it

.

They do a lot of laughing during dinner and there are many toasts to Colleen. They all finally say goodnight and go their separate ways.

COLLEEN
See ya’ll in the morning!

VOICIES OF ALL OVERLAPPING (OS)
Congrats! Wooo Hooo! See Ya!

INT OFFICE HALL OF BARRYMORE MANUFACTURING – MORNING BREAK

Several people rush by a stationary group gathered by a water cooler.

COLLEEN
Soooo, have you met the new girl?

MATTHEW
Yep, kinda cute. Not my type though.

COLLEEN
She seems snooty to me.

Maryann laughs.

MARYANN
You just think she’s cuter than you.

COLLEEN
Oh don’t be stupid Maryann.

DAVID
I think she will be an asset to the company.

COLLEEN,MATTHEW,MARYANN
(In unison)
You just want to date her.

David rolls his eyes and looks at his watch

DAVID
Time to go.

They all go different ways. Colleen returns to her desk. She looks across the room watching her boss helping the new girl get settled. Colleen mumbles something under her breath.

INT OFFICE FLOOR MID MORNING

Mr. Barrymore leans on Lily’s desk, smiling.

MR. BARRYMORE
We are so glad to have you Ms. Tate. If you need anything at all don’t hesitate to ask

.

LILY
Why thank you Mr. Barrymore. I hope I can live up to your high standards.

Colleen (OS)
Nya nya nya nya nya nya

INT BARRYMORE MANUFACTURING - LUNCH ROOM

Employees enter lunch room and smaller groups form at nearby tables. Lily enters and looks around. David waves to her.

DAVID
Lily! Come sit with us!

COLLEEN
David! Why would you do that?!

Lily smiles, waves back and heads over to the table where David, Colleen, Matthew, and Maryann are sitting.

DAVID
Oh stop it Colleen…

LILY
How kind of you David!

Lily sits at the table and starts to unpack her lunch.

COLLEEN
So how do you intend to set this company on its ear Lily?

Lily looks up confused. Matthew squirms quietly.

MARYANN
Oh look! She has those cute little yogurt things!

Colleen glares at Maryann

LILY
What do you mean, Colleen?

COLLEEN
Well Mr. Barrymore thinks you are the best thing since sliced bread.

MATTHEW
I heard you have a Master’s degree.

Lily looks over the others at the table. David coughs.

LILY
I feel I’m qualified for my position and I hope to do well.

COLLEEN
You should probably know that we don’t like a lot of change here Lily. If you have any ideas like that you should drop it now.

Colleen rises from her chair and leaves the room.

MARYANN
Don’t pay any attention to her Lily (whispering) PMS…

EXT STREET IN FRONT OF BARRYMORE MANUFACTURING END OF WORKDAY

Employees are pouring out of the building exiting left and right. Lily steps out and rummages through her purse. David exits the door and approaches Lily touching her elbow.

DAVID
Everything okay Lily?

LILY
I can’t find my bus pass.

DAVID
I’d be glad to give you a lift.

LILY
Oh I couldn’t possibly impose…

DAVID
Don’t be silly my car is in the garage across the street.

Still lightly holding her elbow; David motions with his other hand to the direction of the car. They walk together smiling. Colleen exits the building and watches them cross the street.


Background Music: Cuz I Can - Pink

INT COLLEEN’S APARTMENT – THAT EVENING

Colleen is on the phone with a friend

COLLEEN
Ya so she flirts with the boss and everyone is like “oh isn’t she the cutest thing”, and she’s like “I have a Master’s degree bow down to me”. She thinks she can just come in and take over!

Unintelligible voice can be heard from the phone.

COLLEEN
I know! Ya okay talk to you later.

INT.COLLEENS APARTMENT/KITCHEN

Colleen hangs up the phone and walks into the kitchen. She opens the refrigerator and peers in. A cat purrs and rubs against her legs. She speaks into the refrigerator.

COLLEEN
Someone was mean to your mommy Mr. Snuggs. We need something yummy to make us feel better huh?

The cat answers with a loud meow as Colleen pulls out a quart of ice cream for herself and a can of tuna for Mr. Snuggs. She opens the tuna can and sticks spoon in the carton of ice cream and returns to the living room couch.

INT.COLLEENS APARTMENT/LIVING ROOM EVENING

She places the can of tuna on the floor and then eats a big spoonful of ice cream.

COLLEEN
I need a plan to take the wind out of miss
goody-two-shoes sails and I think I know how
to do it.

INT OFFICE OF BARRYMORE MANUFACTURING – NEXT MORNING

Colleen arrives early and slips the catch on the drawer containing the office petty cash with a paper knife. She removes all the bills and closes the drawer. (VO) He won’t think too much of his new employee who steals from petty cash!

Lily and a few others enter the room.

COLLEEN
Lily, can I talk to you a moment?

Lily puts her purse on her desk and walks over to Colleen.

COLLEEN
Look I feel bad the way I treated you yesterday. You wanna score some points with Mr. Barrymore? He loves Starbucks, run down and get him a latte and the biggest cinnamon roll they have. He’ll be in your pocket. I’ll even give you the money for it.

Colleen extends her hand forward with money in it, smiling.

LILY
Oh that’s very sweet of you but not necessary.

From behind them a cart is rolled in by a caterer with sweet rolls and a large coffee urn on it.

LILY
My friend is a caterer and offered to bring us breakfast this morning!

Lily runs over and gives her friend rolling the cart a big hug.

MR. BARRYMORE
Ooooo what’s this?

LILY
A small thank you for the wonderful job you gave me!

Colleen leans against the far wall looking sick.

(VO) Aw hell…

A fellow office worker notices money in Colleen’s hand.

1ST FELLOW OFFICE WORKER
There’s no charge for the rolls, Colleen. It’s Lily’s treat.

INT OFFICE FLOOR

Colleen smiles weakly and turns away. She walks down the hall to the rest room.

INT OFFICE RESTROOM

She enters the restroom and throws the money on the ledge below the mirror. She looks at herself in the mirror a moment then with a groan she splashes a little water on her face.

INT OFFICE FLOOR

Everyone is getting back to work after selecting a roll and coffee.

2ND FELLOW OFFICE WORKER
Lily I would like about nine dollars to go buy some stamps. Can you sign out some petty cash for that?

LILY
Sure! Just let me get the key.

Lily reaches into her large purse for her keys. She finds them and opens the drawer containing the petty cash. She gasps.

LILY
Oh dear there is nothing but change in here. What the heck?

She looks up and around the room at those close to her. One of her co-workers comes closer.

1ST FELLOW OFFICE WORKER
I saw Colleen looking weird about the time the rolls came in and she had a wad of money in her hand.

LILY
Where is Colleen?

1ST FELLOW OFFICE WORKER
I think she went toward the bathroom.

Lily sits for a moment thinking over the situation. She gets up heading for the restrooms.

LILY
Not on my watch!

She marches toward the restrooms with most of the office behind her.

INT OFFICE RESTROOM

She reaches the door and flings it open startling Colleen.

COLLEEN
What the hell?

Lily sees the crumpled money fall from the ledge into the sink below. She looks at Colleen.

LILY
Did you steal that money from petty cash, Colleen?

Maryann sticks her head under Lily arm and pokes her head in the room.

MARYANN
You sure did spend a lot of money last night…

Colleen stares at the group in disbelief.

COLLEEN (VO)
That bitch just threw me under the bus!

Scene freezes as music comes up
THE END
Ending Music: You can’t always get what you want – Rolling Stones