Transcript for Chapter 5A
Title Page
PopChromatic
Chapter 5 - Meeting
Jade sits at a desk with an open sketchbook in front of her. She holds a marker in one hand and taps the cap against her bottom lip.
Opens outside the hotel at night.
Voice: Yes, Thank you. Tomorrow at eight. I'll definitely be there.
Inside the hotel room, someone hangs up the phone with a click.
Amber: Whew, Round Three, here I come.
Jade sits on one of the beds with an open box of pizza in front of her.
Jade: You're not going to break down and bawl this time?
Amber starts to put her hair up into a ponytail. She's holding the tie betwen her teeth.
Amber: I don't have time to feel things anymore, Jade. I only have time to practice.
The scene pulls back and we see that Amber's wearing clothes she can dance in, including black leggings that have the word "Maximum" written down each leg. She has a look of determination on her face.
Amber: I'll be dancing in the hall if you need me!
She smiles and waves as she leaves the room.
Amber: Tah!
Jade takes a bite from her pizza. Her phone buzzes and she picks it up. She holds the pizza in her mouth as she scrolls through her phone.
The phone has a message from Justice, which Jade has written "Pustice."
Text message: You're in! :)
Jade chews a giant bite of food and tosses the phone behind her. It bounces on the bed.
Jade: Bully for me.
Jade's mother is on the other bed, feeding Mica as she holds him in her lap. Mica's wearing a bib and the mother is holding a little spoon and a jar of food.
Mom: So, can I assume that buzzing sound coming from your phone means you also made it to Round Three?
Jade: Yeah.
Suddenly, Jade whips around to look at her mother.
Jade: Wait, what?
Jade gets more and more flustered as she tries to figure out what to say. Meanwhile, her mom stays completely calm and focuses on the baby.
Jade: I mean, how did you...what?
Mom: While you girls were gone today, a handsome young man came to this room and had me sign a bunch of forms.
Jade frowns, not believing it.
Jade: Handsome?
Mica tries to grab the spoon and feed himself, but Mom keeps a good grip on the spoon. Mica's face is a mess.
Mom: I told him he was making a mistake, because I'd already signed those forms for Amber two months ago. But he just laughed and said, "No, ma'am, these are for your other daughter."
Jade looks away, disgusted.
Jade: Aw, man.
Mica's finally got the spoon, but Mom's focus is on Jade now.
Mom: Jade, listen. It's not that I have a problem with you auditioning. But I'm not sure you've thought about the trouble is could cause between you and Amber. What if one of you gets in and the other doesn't?
Jade: Not gonna happen.
Mom: Why not?
Jade: I made them put a clause in my contract that says I only have to join if Amber gets in, too. It's both or neither.
Mom: Just because your contract says that, it doesn't mean Amber's does.
Jade: Mom, listen carefully to me.
Mom gives Jade her attention. Jade speaks very meaningfully.
Jade: It was always both or neither.
Mom's eyes widen as she gets the full meaning of what Jade has said.
Mom's quiet for a while, thinking. Mica smiles up at his mommy as she slumps back onto a pillow.
Mica: Buh!
Jade lets the rest of the pizza get cold and gazes at nothing. Finally, her mother speaks.
Mom: You're a good sister, Jade.
Jade: Thanks.
Mom: But changing your while future for Amber...I don't know. You should have to do this.
Jade forces herself to smile.
Jade: Too late, now. I'm already doing it.
The next day...
There's a closeup of a left hand, covered in little bugs and monsters drawn in black marker. Behind the hand we can see Justice in the background. He's angry.
Justice: What are you doing? What the heck are you wearing?
His head lines up perfectly between the thumb and forefinger of the hand. When we pull back, we see that the hand belongs to Jade. She's wearing a black t-shirt, a long black jersey skirt, and unlaced combat boots. She's holding a Sharpie in her other hand. She mashes her thumb and finger together and makes a squishing sound, like she's squeezing Justice's head.
Jade: You told me to wear a skirt.
She glares at him.
Jade: I'm wearing a skirt.
Justice: It's unacceptable. You look like the homeless love child of Morticia Addams and G.I. Joe. And why is there ink on your hand again? Jade, you can't keep writing on yourself!
Jade shouts.
Jade: What difference does it make?
Justice leans in toward her, annoyed.
Justice: To be frank, your body is our canvas now, not yours. Don't you have a sketchbook?
Jade: I have dozens of sketchbooks, and they're all full.
Justice is looking at his phone.
Justice: We don't have time for this. You're supposed to be in the meeting, and you're out here loitering around in the hall like the paps.
Jade: What meeting?
Justice: The Round Three meeting! The mandatory Round Three meeting! Do you have no awareness of what's going on here?
Jade yells at him. She might be losing it a little.
Jade: Of course I don't! You came into my life like a tornado, sucked me up, and dumped me in the middle of idol auditions! I've just been doing what you tell me to ever since! What happens to me if I win? When is this all over? Tomorrow? A month from now? I have no idea!
Justice tries to hold his temper.
Justice: And that's why you need to go to the meeting! They're going to spell out the rest of the auditions for you-
Jade: And they're going to be speaking idol-tongue and I won't comprehend a darn thing! Can't you just explaint his whole thing to me yourself? Like, from the beginning, so I won't be confused?
Justice: Actually...yes.