Well, hello there ladies and gentleman! It has been a minute since I have written, and I am back with new inspiration! I will get into that a little more in a couple of future posts about my inspiration for this as well as my inspiration for this new writing outlet: the teleplay.
This is the beginning of a teleplay that I’m working on as a sitcom pilot for a show tentatively called Covers. The show would deal with the local music scene in a midwestern city. The show would specifically follow the rivalry of two local cover bands after the lead singer of one band is fired to be picked up by another cover band.
This part of the pilot is the cold open. In case anyone is unfamiliar, a cold open is the first scene of a show that appears before you see the opening credits or title sequence of the show. It usually sets up the mood of the episode, and in the case of a pilot it sets up the tone for the show in general.
This is the first draft, without any edits. Pretty much I just regurgitated what was in my head onto the page so that I can refine it later. So if things are spelled out well enough or if some of the dialogue is clunky, I still have yet to refine it. Hopefully it still reflects where the show is going.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it, and feel free to let me know what you think in the comments!
INT. ACE OF SPADES - EVENING
MICK BAKER and TRENT GORE set at the end of a bar sipping pints of beer. RONNIE BUTLER walks up from a stage on their left filled with band equipment.
Ronnie places a set of DRUM STICKS on the bar and sits down on the bar. He holds up a finger and a bartender comes over.
BARTENDER
What ya havin’?
RONNIE
The usual.
BARTENDER
I don’t know what the usual is.
RONNIE
Seriously? We’ve been playing here once or twice a month for the past year, and I’m here a couple of nights a week besides that and I always order the same thing. How do you not know what that is? Everyone knows what that is!
BARTENDER
I just started on Monday.
RONNIE
Oh. I guess I haven’t been in here since Saturday, have I?
BARTENDER
I wouldn’t know.
RONNIE
I s’pose. I’ll have a rum and coke.
BARTENDER
What kind of rum d’you want?
RONNIE
I don’t know, whatever they normally give me.
BARTENDER
(Exasperated)
Okay…
Bartender walks away to get Ronnie his drink. Ronnie turns to Mick and Trent.
RONNIE
Is Zak here yet?
MICK
Not since I set up.
TRENT
It’s just like him though. Well, like every lead singer really, to show up after everyone else has set up all the equipment.
MICK
That’s one of the things everyone loves about drummers, y’all gotta be one of the first to set up, and if we’re lucky you’re done early to help the rest of us.
TRENT
Until you start writing songs, then ya gots to go!
RONNIE
Trent, you know all bassists do is follow the bass line I set up for you. And Mick, we gotta fill all the holes you can’t on guitar. So really, we write most of the song, so screw you!
A bar patron walks up to the band members from between the bar and the stage.
BAR PATRON
Hey, I think your lead singer is in the back bar. I’m pretty sure he’s about to get your band kicked out.
Mick, Trent, and Ronnie look at each other and back to the patron.
TRENT
What’s he doing?
BAR PATRON
I suggest you go check it out yourself. He’s putting on quite a show.
The band get up and run left toward the stage.
CUT TO:
INT. BACK BAR ACE OF SPADES - EVENING
The three band members stand in the doorway looking into the room. Looks of horror and amusement mix across their faces.
MICK
Is he f…
TRENT
(Interrupts Mick)
Yeah, he is.
MICK
On the pool table?
TRENT
It would appear so.
RONNIE
That can’t be good for the felt.
Trent and Mick both turn to look at Ronnie incredulously. As the Bartender walks up behind them, they turn their attention back to the action in the back bar.
BARTENDER
He can’t do that here.
MICK
I’m pretty sure he can’t do that at most of the bar in the city mate.
The band members and the bartender all tilt their head to the left in unison with a quizzical look on their faces.
Trent
I’m pretty sure you can only get away with that at that little speakeasy on Main Street. They might actually encourage it.
Mick, Ronnie, and the Bartender all look at Ronnie incredulously, think about it, then nod in agreement.
BARTENDER
I’m sorry guys, but we’re going to have to ask your band to leave.
Bartender walks away from the band.
TRENT
(Sarcastically)
Well, I didn’t see that coming.
BARTENDER
(Calling back to the band)
And since you’re not playing tonight, you’ll have to pay for your drinks.
MICK
(Angrily)
Dammit, I did not see that coming!
Trent and Ronnie look at Mick incredulously and shake their heads as they walk away.
