31 Plays in 31 Days, #24 - "Shelley Duvall"

[breakinglight11]

Furthering building on the "rough time at the Emmys" idea I've been noodling with for Dream Machine. I was thinking of developing the connection between actors Josie Carraway and the new leading man, Tom Vincent, until he reveals himself to be a cad and a turncoat, leaving Josie to feel like both her personal and professional lives are destroyed. I also thought she'd get nominated for an Emmy for her performance in the season finale, but because of the circumstances, not have the reaction that the rest of the team is expecting from her.

I notice the Dream Machine scenes I've been drafting this month haven't been very funny for a comedy. But I've always said moments of high drama always come much easier to me than jokes or structure. I can always punch up if need be later.



Day #24 - Shelley Duvall
From Dream Machine
By Phoebe Roberts

MEREDITH BARRY, writer’s assistant and apprentice producer, mid thirties
LEAH LUCCHESI, showrunner at Dream Machine, mid thirties
JOSIE CARRAWAY, star of Offcomer, mid thirties

Los Angeles, 2021
~~~

PAMPLEMOUSSE STUDIOS – DAY

MEREDITH: …and best lead actress in a drama series… for Josie Carraway.

Every head turns to look at Josie. She is quiet and still.

LEAH: Oh, my God. Josie… you did it.

Beat.

JOSIE: For which one?

MEREDITH: What?

JOSIE: Which episode did you submit?

MEREDITH: Which one? “Though Hell Should Bar the Way”— the— the finale, of course!

JOSIE: No.

LEAH: What? What do you mean, no?

JOSIE: I don’t want it. I don’t want the nomination.

LEAH: Excuse me?

JOSIE: You have to tell them— tell them to take it back. I don’t want it.

She turns and rushes out of the room. Leah hurries after her.

LEAH: Josie! Josie, wait!

PAMPLEMOUSSE STAIRWELL - DAY

Leah corners her in the stairwell.

LEAH: Have you lost your mind?

JOSIE: You don’t understand.

LEAH: After everything we went through— after how close it all came to falling apart— after everything you went through— you got recognition for your work!

JOSIE: But it isn’t for my work!

LEAH: What do you mean?

JOSIE: In “Though Hell Should Bar the Way”… I wasn’t acting. That was… Shelley Duvall, after being tortured by Kubrick. That was Brad Pitt getting punched in the ear in Fight Club. I had a meltdown, and you happened to catch it on film.

LEAH: No. No. You worked through a meltdown—

JOSIE: You had to drag me through it. You did more of that work than I did.

LEAH: Josie— I know we haven’t always been on the same page— but of all the actors I’ve ever written for, none of them ever worked as hard at their craft as you do.

JOSIE: And for what? To have this outclass everything else I’ve ever done?

LEAH: it’s not just this one episode. It’s the whole season. You were top-notch every step of the way.

JOSIE: Yeah. A season of television where I fell for some asshole who ended up screwing up my life. Are you so sure I was acting then?

Beat.

JOSIE: I don't deserve this. And I don't want to be Shelley Duvall.