Ground Floor Page #4

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(MORE)

GROUND FLOOR:

"Pilot" Rev. Network Draft 6/29/12 29.

I/M

MANSFIELD (CONT'D)

(OFF LOOK) That’s a girl who says

things that make you look at your life

in a new but mostly negative way.

BRODY:

Yes, yes! That’s exactly what she

did. She made me feel like my life is

empty. And that all I do is work.

Maybe she’s right: maybe I’m not-MANSFIELD

You’re not having any fun, are you?

Do you think I have fun, Mr. Moyer?

BRODY:

Um... well, you wore a Chewbacca

costume to the Christmas party and you

seemed to enjoy that very much.

MANSFIELD:

I’m crazy rich, I work three days a

week, I haven’t missed my kid’s Little

League game in five years, and I take

my family on vacations whenever I

want. And do you know why I have all

that? Because I worked my ass off

until I was forty. Those ground floor

people - I know they have fun, now,

but you know where they’re going to be

in ten years? Nowhere.

(MORE)

GROUND FLOOR "Pilot" Rev. Network Draft 6/29/12 30.

I/M

MANSFIELD (CONT'D)

Struggling to make rent and no future,

and I’m telling you right now - that’s

not as much fun as a beach house. You

do what you have to, now, to live the

life that you want to later, Brody. I

first-named you so it would have more

impact.

THIS REALLY SINKS IN FOR BRODY.

BRODY:

It worked, sir. I can’t believe I let

that girl twist me up, but no more.

You know what you are: you’re a life

raveler.

MANSFIELD:

(LAUGHS, THEN) You remind me of a

young me - only less handsome and

impressive.

BRODY SMILES. THREEPEAT DUCKS HIS HEAD IN.

THREEPEAT:

Sir, in regards to finding a

replacement word for beast: how do you

feel about “fandango”?

MANSFIELD:

(BEAT, SINCERE) I like that very

much.

TRANSITION DOWN:

TO:

GROUND FLOOR "Pilot" Rev. Network Draft 6/29/12 31.

I/P

ACT ONE:

SCENE P:

INT. GROUND FLOOR BULLPEN - DAY (DAY THREE)

(BRODY, JENNIFER, DERRICK, HARVARD, TORI)

EVERYBODY (EXCEPT TORI) IS WORKING.

DERRICK:

I’m telling you, if I put on my going-

out suit, I could go upstairs and

they’d just think I was another money

manager.

HARVARD:

No, they would not. And why would you

want to do that?

DERRICK:

Have you seen their snack room? It’s

got like six different types of

crackers.

BRODY (O.S.)

(PISSED OFF) Mother--!

BRODY ENTERS, FIXING VENT-MUSSED HAIR.

BRODY (CONT’D)

I just wanted to let you all know that

I will not be coming down here again.

JENNIFER:

Well, thanks for coming down here to

tell us.

GROUND FLOOR "Pilot" Rev. Network Draft 6/29/12 32.

I/P

BRODY:

Everything I’ve ever wanted in my life

is just around the corner.

DERRICK:

Tell them about all the crackers.

TORI ENTERS.

HARVARD:

Hey, Tori:
the sad upstairs guy’s

back.

BRODY:

I’m not sad! You know whose lives are

sad? Yours. (RE:
TORI) Sleeping

Girl. (RE:
HARVARD) Wrong Nickname.

(RE:
DERRICK) Liar, Liar, Pants on

Fire. (RE:
JENNIFER) And the life unraveler.

You guys go back to doing...

What do you all do anyway?

JENNIFER:

I’m Building Maintenance. (RE:

HARVARD AND TORI) They’re in charge

of Archives.

HARVARD AND TORI WAVE.

DERRICK:

I’m actually the company’s O.S.U.

BRODY:

What is that? Is that real or are you

lying again?

GROUND FLOOR:

"Pilot" Rev. Network Draft 6/29/12 33.

I/P

DERRICK:

No, it’s real. I’m the Office Setter-

Upper. New guy comes in. He needs a

desk, chair, whatever. I hook him up.

BRODY:

You do computers?

DERRICK:

Of course, that’s part of it.

BRODY:

Where’s the laptop I asked for three

weeks ago?

DERRICK:

I don’t know; I don’t do computers.

BRODY:

(EXASPERATED) Why? (THEN) I mean,

do any of you even want to do anything

with your lives?

TORI:

I want to dance.

BRODY:

Well at least someone has some

ambition. Are you studying somewhere?

TORI:

Oh no, I don't want to do it as a job.

That would take the fun out of it.

Why do you have to ruin everything?

GROUND FLOOR "Pilot" Rev. Network Draft 6/29/12

34.

I/P

BRODY:

On that final crazy note, I will now

say a final goodbye and good riddance -

(RE:
JENNIFER’S SYMPATHY LOOK) Oh my

God, why are you giving me that look?

What is that look?

JENNIFER:

It’s just that I’m worried that you’re

going to feel bad later about all the

stuff you said down here.

HE LOOKS AT HER, FRUSTRATED, THEN AS HE TURNS TO WALK OUT:

BRODY:

(QUIETLY, TO HIMSELF) Stop asking her

questions, Brody.

HE LEAVES.

JENNIFER:

He talks to himself a lot.

CUT TO:

GROUND FLOOR "Pilot" Rev. Network Draft 6/29/12 35.

I/R

ACT ONE:

SCENE R:

INT. BRODY’S APARTMENT - EVENING (NIGHT THREE)

(BRODY, JENNIFER)

BRODY (STILL IN SHIRT AND TIE) SITS, BUMMED OUT, ON THE COUCH

IN HIS VERY ANTISEPTIC APARTMENT. SINCE HE WORKS SO MUCH, IT

DOESN’T LOOK VERY LIVED IN: UNPACKED BOXES, SPARSE WALLS.

THERE’S A KNOCK ON THE DOOR. HE GETS UP, OPENS IT TO REVEAL

JENNIFER.

JENNIFER:

Hey... I know this is weird - me

coming here--

BRODY:

Jenny, it’s not weird; I can’t stop

thinking about you either.

HE KISSES HER. IT’S A GOOD LONG ONE. THEN:

JENNIFER:

I just came because I left my scarf

here the other night.

SHE CROSSES AND PICKS A SCARF UP FROM BEHIND THE COUCH.

BRODY:

Oh, okay. Super.

JENNIFER:

See ya.

AS JENNIFER LEAVES, BRODY GIVES HER THE COOL PEACE SIGN AND

WALKS BACK INTO HIS APARTMENT. THE SECOND THE DOOR CLOSES,

HE COLLAPSES, FACE-DOWN ON THE COUCH.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE:

GROUND FLOOR "Pilot" Rev. Network Draft 6/29/12 36.

II/T

ACT TWO:

SCENE T:

INT. UPSTAIRS CONFERENCE ROOM - MORNING (DAY FOUR)

(BRODY, THREEPEAT, DERRICK, KYLE)

BRODY AND THREEPEAT ENTER FOR THE MORNING MEETING. A BUNCH

OF OTHER MANAGERS ARE MAKING SMALL TALK. IT HASN’T STARTED.

THREEPEAT:

Hey, who’s the new guy?

BRODY LOOKS AND SEES DERRICK IN A NOT-GREAT SUIT, MAKING

SMALL TALK WITH KYLE. HE HAS CRACKERS IN FRONT OF HIM.

KYLE:

He just started here. He came over

from Goldman.

DERRICK:

Glad to join the team. Let’s manage

some money today.

BRODY:

Hey, New Guy, can I talk to you in the

hallway for a second?

DERRICK:

(MOUTH FULL) I’m actually kinda busy

being a money manager right now, so...

no.

THREEPEAT:

I was over at Goldman for two years.

Why don’t I remember you?

GROUND FLOOR "Pilot" Rev. Network Draft 6/29/12

37.

II/T

DERRICK:

I guess because you’re lying. (TO

OTHERS) Guys, what’s the deal with

this liar over here?

BRODY USHERS DERRICK OUT.

BRODY:

Sorry, it’s really important.

THEY’RE GONE.

THREEPEAT:

That dude was really close to getting

what I like to call an atomic ball

tap.

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