SIDE 8

TIA LUPE & ISABELLA

"The Family Secret"

Characters

• Tia Lupe Flores (50s)

• Isabella Flores

Location
Family Cookout

Character Notes

Tia Lupe

• Maria's younger sister

• Family gossip queen

• Brutally honest

• Funny

• Loves Isabella

• Notices everything

Think:
The aunt who knows everybody's business before they do.

EXT. FAMILY COOKOUT – DAY

Music.

Food.

Family everywhere.

Tia Lupe watches Isabella from across the yard.

Finally walks over.

TIA LUPE

Who is she?

ISABELLA

What?

TIA LUPE

The woman.

ISABELLA

What woman?

TIA LUPE

See?

That right there.

That's guilt.

Isabella nearly chokes on her drink.

ISABELLA

I don't know what you're talking about.

TIA LUPE

Baby.

I've been Latina for fifty-five years.

You think I don't recognize panic?

A beat.

ISABELLA

There isn't a woman.

TIA LUPE

Okay.

Silence.

TIA LUPE

Is it Jayda?

Isabella freezes.

Completely.

Tia Lupe smiles.

TIA LUPE

Ay Dios mío.

It is Jayda.

ISABELLA

Please stop talking.

TIA LUPE

Oh, this is better than television.

ISABELLA

Tia.

TIA LUPE

Fine.

I won't say another word.

Beat.

TIA LUPE

But for the record...

she's cute.

ISABELLA

I'm leaving.

TIA LUPE

Tell Jayda I said hello.

Isabella walks away.

Tia Lupe laughs to herself.

TIA LUPE

That girl is absolutely in love.

SIDE 7

DIEGO FLORES & MARCUS

"Man To Man"

Characters

• Diego Flores (34)

• Marcus Reed (32)

Location
Apartment Balcony

Character Notes

Diego Flores

• Older brother

• Former college athlete

• Protective

• Successful

• More relaxed than Manuel

• Sees through people quickly

EXT. BALCONY – NIGHT

Marcus leans on the railing.

Diego joins him.

Both holding beers.

A long silence.

DIEGO

You know my father doesn't trust you.

MARCUS

That makes two of us.

Diego laughs.

DIEGO

Fair.

A beat.

DIEGO

You really gay?

Marcus nearly chokes.

MARCUS

That's a crazy opener.

DIEGO

Answer the question.

MARCUS

I feel attacked.

DIEGO

Good.

Marcus laughs.

DIEGO

Relax.

I know something weird is going on.

MARCUS

What makes you think that?

DIEGO

Because my sister can't lie.

Marcus smiles.

DIEGO

Neither can you.

MARCUS

That's hurtful.

DIEGO

And accurate.

A beat.

DIEGO

You know what I think?

MARCUS

Probably.

DIEGO

I think you're lost.

Marcus looks away.

That one hit.

DIEGO

But I don't think you're bad.

Silence.

MARCUS

Most people don't separate those two things.

DIEGO

Most people are lazy.

SIDE 6

SOFIA FLORES & ISABELLA

"You're Not Telling Me Something"

Characters

• Isabella Flores (28)

• Sofia Flores (22)

Location
North Dallas Apartment

Character Notes

Sofia Flores

• Younger sister

• Recently graduated college

• Smart but more rebellious than Isabella

• Social media savvy

• Family truth detector

• Loves Isabella deeply

INT. APARTMENT – AFTERNOON

Sofia enters carrying coffee.

She immediately notices Isabella working.

Again.

SOFIA

Are you ever not doing homework?

ISABELLA

It's not homework.

SOFIA

You're twenty-eight.

Everything is homework.

Isabella smirks.

Sofia studies her.

SOFIA

What's wrong?

ISABELLA

Nothing.

SOFIA

You inherited that from Dad.

ISABELLA

Inherited what?

SOFIA

Pretending.

A beat.

ISABELLA

I'm not pretending.

SOFIA

Okay.

You're stressed.

You're tired.

You're working all the time.

You don't date.

You don't sleep.

And somehow that's normal?

ISABELLA

I'm focused.

SOFIA

No.

You're hiding.

That lands.

ISABELLA

You think you know everything.

SOFIA

No.

I think I know you.

Silence.

SOFIA

And lately...

you don't seem happy.

For the first time—

Isabella doesn't have a response.

SIDE 5

Manuel & Maria FLORES

"Are We Losing Her?"

Emotional Parent Scene

Characters:

• Manuel Flores

• Maria Flores

Location:
Flores Family Home – Kitchen

INT. FLORES FAMILY KITCHEN – NIGHT

The kitchen is quiet.

Dishes are done.

The house is clean.

Maria wraps leftovers.

Manuel sits at the table reading.

A comfortable silence.

The kind built over decades.

Maria closes a container.

Looks toward Manuel.

Maria

Did you notice?

MANUEL

Notice what?

Maria

Isabella.

Manuel lowers the paper.

MANUEL

She seemed tired.

Maria

Not tired.

Different.

A beat.

MANUEL

She's getting older.

Maria

That's not what I mean.

Maria sits.

Concerned.

Maria

Did you see her when we left?

MANUEL

Yes.

Maria

She looked sad.

MANUEL

She always looks serious.

Maria

No.

I know my daughter.

Something's bothering her.

Manuel thinks.

Maria

Maybe she's overwhelmed.

School.

Work.

Everything.

MANUEL

She has always handled pressure.

Maria

That doesn't mean she should carry it alone.

A beat.

Manuel nods.

Reluctantly.

MANUEL

I talked to her.

Maria

And?

MANUEL

Same answer.

"I'm fine."

Maria sighs.

Maria

When women say they're fine, they're never fine.

MANUEL

You say you're fine all the time.

Maria

Exactly.

They share a smile.

Long-married rhythm.

Comfortable.

Familiar.

Then silence returns.

Maria

Do you think we're too hard on her?

That lands.

Manuel doesn't answer immediately.

MANUEL

We want the best for her.

Maria

That's not what I asked.

A longer silence.

MANUEL

Maybe sometimes.

Maria looks surprised.

Maria

Wow.

You admitted it.

MANUEL

Don't get excited.

It's probably a one-time event.

Maria laughs.

Then grows serious.

Maria

I just don't want her living her life trying to make us happy.

MANUEL

Every parent wants their child happy.

Maria

No.

Every parent says that.

Different thing.

Manuel leans back.

Thinking.

Maria

What if she wants something different?

MANUEL

Different how?

Maria shrugs.

Maria

I don't know.

Different career.

Different city.

Different life.

Different dreams.

Whatever.

A beat.

Maria

Would we even know?

That question hangs in the room.

Longer than either wants.

MANUEL

I don't know.

Maria studies him.

Maria

That scares you.

MANUEL

Yes.

Maria

Why?

MANUEL

Because she's my daughter.

And one day she's going to stop needing us.

Maria softens.

Maria

Manuel...

MANUEL

I know that's supposed to happen.

I just don't have to like it.

Maria reaches across the table.

Takes his hand.

Maria

She'll always need us.

Manuel looks down.

Maria

Just maybe not the same way.

They sit quietly.

Holding hands.

Years of love.

Years of worry.

Years of parenting.

Maria

You know what else I noticed?

MANUEL

What?

Maria

That Marcus boy ate eight empanadas.

Manuel laughs despite himself.

MANUEL

Nine.

Maria stares.

Maria

Nine?

MANUEL

I counted.

Maria shakes her head.

Maria

That child is starving.

MANUEL

He's thirty.

Maria

He's starving.

MANUEL

You're going to start feeding him now.

Maria

Of course.

MANUEL

Maria—

Maria

Don't worry.

I'm only sending enough food for a week.

Beat.

Maria

Maybe two.

Manuel smiles.

Because he knows exactly how this story ends.

FADE OUT.

SIDE 4

BIG MIKE & JAYDA

Father-Daughter Scene

Characters:

• Big Mike Monroe

• Jayda Monroe

Location:
Apartment Living Room

BIG MIKE
You eating?

JAYDA
Hello to you too.

BIG MIKE
That wasn't an answer.

JAYDA
Yes.

BIG MIKE
You sleeping?

JAYDA
Yes.

BIG MIKE
How many hours?

JAYDA
Six.

BIG MIKE
That's not enough.

JAYDA
Daddy—

BIG MIKE
I'm serious.

You look tired.

A beat.

JAYDA
I've been busy.

BIG MIKE
I know.

Another beat.

BIG MIKE
You know why I check on you?

JAYDA
Because you're controlling?

BIG MIKE
Funny.

JAYDA
Thank you.

BIG MIKE
Because nobody checked on me.

Jayda's smile fades.

BIG MIKE
Nobody asked if I was sleeping.

Nobody asked if I ate.

Nobody cared if I was okay.

I don't want that for you.

Silence.

JAYDA
I know.

BIG MIKE
Do you?

Because lately it feels like you only see the pressure.

Not the love.

That lands.

JAYDA
Sometimes they're hard to separate.

BIG MIKE
That's fair.

Jayda looks surprised.

BIG MIKE
What?

JAYDA
You admitted I had a point.

BIG MIKE
Don't get used to it.

SIDE 3

MARCUS, JAYDA & ISABELLA

Living Room Triangle Scene

Characters:

• Marcus

• Jayda

• Isabella

Location:
Apartment Living Room

ISABELLA
Rule Number One.

No guests.

MARCUS
Define guest.

ISABELLA
People.

MARCUS
Too broad.

JAYDA
Already tired.

ISABELLA
Rule Number Two.

No business ventures.

MARCUS
That's discriminatory.

ISABELLA
No crypto.

No podcast.

No motivational speaking.

No consulting.

No seminars.

No masterminds.

No brands.

No subscriptions.

No launches.

No webinars.

No courses.

No—

MARCUS
You made this personal.

JAYDA
She did her research.

ISABELLA
Rule Number Three.

No borrowing food.

Marcus immediately closes the refrigerator.

ISABELLA
You literally had your hand inside.

MARCUS
I was observing.

JAYDA
The defendant rests.

ISABELLA
Rule Number Four.

No drama.

Marcus and Jayda both laugh.

ISABELLA
What's funny?

JAYDA
You invited Marcus to live here.

The drama already moved in.

Marcus puts his hand over his heart.

MARCUS
That was hurtful.

JAYDA
And accurate.

MARCUS
You and accuracy need a break.

SIDE 2

ISABELLA & MARCUS

Hallway Scene

Characters:

• Isabella Flores

• Marcus Reed

Location:
Apartment Hallway

ISABELLA
My parents cannot know you're straight.

MARCUS
You saying that out loud is wild.

ISABELLA
Marcus.

Focus.

MARCUS
I'm focused.

ISABELLA
No.

You're Marcus.

Different thing.

Marcus laughs.

ISABELLA
This matters to me.

MARCUS
I know.

ISABELLA
Do you?

Because everything matters to them.

School.

Church.

Marriage.

Career.

Everything.

MARCUS
Sounds exhausting.

ISABELLA
It is.

Marcus studies her.

Really studies her.

For the first time.

MARCUS
You ever get tired?

ISABELLA
Of what?

MARCUS
Being perfect.

A beat.

ISABELLA
I'm not perfect.

MARCUS
No.

But you work overtime trying.

That lands.

ISABELLA
Just...

Please help me.

Marcus softens.

MARCUS
Okay.

ISABELLA
Okay?

MARCUS
Okay.

One fake gay roommate coming right up.

Isabella finally laughs.

MARCUS
There it is.

ISABELLA
What?

MARCUS
The laugh.

You should keep that.

SIDE 1

MARCUS & JAYDA

Balcony Chemistry Scene

Characters:

• Marcus Reed

• Jayda Monroe

Location:
Apartment Balcony overlooking Dallas

JAYDA enters carrying a drink.

Marcus leans against the railing.

Watching traffic below.

Neither speaks for a moment.

JAYDA
You know...

You're weirdly comfortable for somebody who technically homeless.

MARCUS
Residentially flexible.

JAYDA
See?

That.

MARCUS
Words matter.

JAYDA
Apparently not to landlords.

Marcus laughs.

MARCUS
That's fair.

A beat.

JAYDA
You really got put out because you cheated?

MARCUS
I prefer "mismanaged expectations."

JAYDA
You cheated.

MARCUS
Allegedly.

JAYDA
Marcus...

You literally admitted it.

MARCUS
I admitted confusion.

JAYDA
You admitted another woman answered the phone.

MARCUS
That doesn't automatically mean cheating.

JAYDA
Boy...

Marcus grins.

JAYDA
How are you this calm?

MARCUS
Because panic don't pay rent either.

JAYDA
Neither do you.

MARCUS
Okay.

That was unnecessary.

JAYDA
But accurate.

Marcus studies her.

MARCUS
You always this mean?

JAYDA
Only to people I like.

Marcus pauses.

MARCUS
That sounded promising.

JAYDA
Don't do that.

MARCUS
Do what?

JAYDA
Whatever this is.

MARCUS
Charm?

JAYDA
Delusion.

MARCUS
The haters always call it delusion first.

REAL ONES PAY RATES

 Main Cast ($100/day)

·       MARCUS JOHNSON

·       ISABELLA FLORES

·       JAYDA MONROE

Supporting Cast ($50/day)

·       BIG MIKE MONROE

·       MR. MANUEL FLORES

·       MRS. MARIA FLORES

·       DIEGO FLORES

·       SOFIA FLORES

·       TIA LUPE

 Extras (No compensation)

• Vanta Black Television is looking for the next stars of The Real Ones!

  We are officially casting for our upcoming urban comedy-drama series, ""The Real Ones"", and we want to see YOU in the room!

  If you’ve got the talent, the drive, and the authenticity to bring these complex characters to life, this is your moment.

  Swipe left to meet some of the roles we are casting for right now, including:

  THE DETAILS:

  WHEN: June 20th | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM

  WHERE: 9550 Forest Ln, Building 6, Suite 618, Dallas, TX

  PRODUCED BY: Vanta Black Television

  Tag your favorite Dallas actors in the comments below, share this to your story, and pull up ready to show us what you've got. Let’s make something legendary.