SCENE FROM EPISODE THREE - "RIDIN' THAT TRAIN" - OF PL'S TV SERIES: "CITY ROCK!"

This is one of my favorite scenes from my series for television, "CITY ROCK." Marva is a pregnant teen in a group home in which the heroine of City Rock, Jennie Silverman, a high-energy, Janis Joplin throw-back type, is the social worker. Darryl is a street-tough teen who thinks Marva is pregnant with his child and wants her out of the group home so he can control her. Jennie dices Darryl up here quite nicely in Episode 3: "Ridin' That Train."

INT. ST. THERESA’S GROUP HOME - DAY

The front door bell rings. A heavy-set, middle-aged woman, ANNIE, goes to answer it. She is a house mother at the group home. She opens the door and there stands a very hostile-looking Darryl.

ANNIE
Can I help you?

DARRYL
I come to pick up Marva.

ANNIE
Oh? Pick her up for what?

DARRYL
Just get her, okay?

MARVA (O.S.)
It’s okay, Annie.

Annie turns around to see Marva. Darryl slips inside.

MARVA
Darryl, I can’t leave. You got to go. Don’t make trouble for yourself.

DARRYL
Trouble for my-self?! I don’t think so. But there’s gonna be trouble for you and this... this damn lesbo hotel if you don’t get your stuff.

JENNIE (O.S.)
Sounds like we have a closet case of severe homosexual anxiety here, ladies.

Everyone turns to look at Jennie, who moves into the fray with an easy authority.

DARRYL
What’d she say?

JENNIE
I said, it sounds like your having a problem with your sexuality, Cool.

Darryl’s nostrils flare as he glares at Jennie, still not totally sure what she’s saying. Before he can speak, she keeps going.

JENNIE
Dig. I’m just playing with you.
(sidling up close to him)
Listen, Darryl... can I call you “D?” D, Marva has to stay here until we say she can go. That’s the deal, and the law. But I hear that you’re really into claiming your parental rights - very righteous of you. That’s the kind of brother I like! So, I just put in a call to the Bureau of Child Welfare and they insisted on having you pay for part of Marva’s room and board and expenses while she’s here - and check it out, we could really use the bread! And of course, they’ll want to fingerprint you so they can keep track of you down the road, you know, make sure you keep up those child support payments and all. You’re a real man to step up like this, Darryl. You don’t have a criminal record, by the way, do you? I mean, nothing that would show up from the fingerprints?

Darryl’s jaw is flapping up and down without words as he looks back and forth incredulously from Jennie to Marva.

JENNIE
Cool! So, you want to come in for a cup of joe or something and we’ll talk about signing you up to take birthing classes with Marva? I could tell you’re the kind of dude that would definitely want to be there when that beautiful, bloody little mess of a child comes poppin’ out of your honey's honey pot! Dig. It’s a sight!

Darryl, still flapping, confused as hell, looks at Annie, who is containing a smile, once more at Jennie, like she’s the devil, and then, he points his finger at Marva.

DARRYL
Later!

He leaves in a hurry. The women wait, then laugh together.

JENNIE
Dig!