PUSHING DAISIES

" LA MODE"
Written by
Diane Carol Harder

Liliath & Penumbra

(323) 647-5327
Dch@liliathandpenumbra.com

 La Mode
ACT ONE
EXT. LONGBOROUGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS - DAY (PAST)
Its Outdoor Games Day, and numerous different game stations
are set up around the school. All the BOYS and TEACHERS are
outside, dressed in their gym clothes and divided into teams.
They are laughing and cheering and playing silly games like
Egg on a Spoon, Wheelbarrow Race, etc.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
At this very moment at the
Longborough School For Boys, young
Ned was 9 years, 42 weeks, 15 hours
and 2 minutes old - and very
lonely.
While the rest of his team stands cheering, YOUNG NED (9)
sits to the side, dejected, watching two of his TEAMMATES
compete in a three-legged race.
These boys have their arms wrapped tightly around each other
and move as a unit, laughing with glee as they cross the
finish line in first place. They high-five each other as the
rest of the team surrounds them to congratulate them.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
For despite all his efforts
assuring himself that he didnt
care whether or not his classmates
accepted him, he was still jealous
of their friendships with each
other.
Ned quietly walks away, his head down and his hands in his
pockets.
NARRATOR (V.O.) (CONT'D)
And he couldnt help remembering
his own best friend - the girl
named Chuck.
CUT TO:
EXT. NEDS HOME/CHUCKS HOME - DAY (PAST)
Its summertime and very hot. Ned sits, sweating, on his
front porch. DIGBY lies beside him. They both look very
bored.

2.
Just then, he looks over to CHUCKS HOME to see YOUNG CHUCK
(9), as she emerges from her front door, dressed in a flowery
bathing suit and dragging a sprinkler behind her.
She looks up. Ned grins.
EXT. NEDS HOME/CHUCKS HOME - LATER (PAST)
Ned, Chuck, and Digby run through the sprinkler, squealing
(and barking) with glee.
EXT. NEDS CHILDHOOD HOME - LATER (PAST)
Ned and Chuck are toweling off on Neds front porch.
NEDS MOTHER emerges with an ice cream cone for each of them.
They both smile and reach for them - but the ice cream falls
off of Chucks cone.
She frowns, looking at it, until Ned offers her his cone. She
smiles up at him.
EXT. NEDS CHILDHOOD HOME - LATER (PAST)
Ned and Chuck sit on the porch, sharing the ice cream cone.
CLOSE UP on their hands, their pinkies touching on the step
between them.
CUT TO:
EXT. LONGBOROUGH SCHOOL FOR BOYS - DAY (PAST)
Activities have finished. All the boys sit scattered around
the lawn in groups of twos and threes, enjoying a special
treat of ice cream cones after a hard day of activity. Bursts
of laughter erupt now and then.
Ned sits alone by the tree, holding his untouched ice cream.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
He couldnt help but miss her. She
had been his first love and only
friendSuddenly, theres a small BARK and Ned looks up to see---Digby standing in front of him, wagging his tail and
waiting for his attention.
Ned smiles and offers Digby his ice cream cone.

3.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
-aside from Digby, that is.
CUT TO:
INT. PIE HOLE - DAY (PRESENT)
NED (28) sits across from CHUCK (27) in a booth, with EMERSON
beside him. They are eating bowls of ice cream and discussing
possible new cases. It is insanely hot.
Ned turns to Emerson, who is fanning himself.
NED
You mean theres nothing? No crime?
Emerson shakes his head.
Too hot.

EMERSON

CHUCK
Doesnt extreme heat usually cause
a surge of crime?
Ned looks at her, surprised.
CHUCK (CONT'D)
I mean, I heard it somewhere.
People go nuts, cant take it
anymore, and take it out on that
person that always annoyed them.
Emerson shakes his head.
Too hot.
Huh.

EMERSON
NED

Just then, Chuck finishes her ice cream. She sighs.

CHUCK
That was good. Hit the spot.
(hinting)
Couldve used one spoonful more,
though.
NED
Be my guest.

4.
Smiling, she reaches across the table and takes a spoonful of
Neds ice cream. She lets her spoon graze his spoon,
lingering meaningfully for a moment.
Ned looks up, swallowing hard.
They both smile at each other - first sweetly, but then a
little sadly. They know they cant touch.
Watching them is OLIVE, sitting on a stool by the counter and
eating her own dish of ice cream, her face filled with
longing for Ned. Digby lies at her feet.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Now, Olive Snook was also in love
with Ned the Pie Maker.
Olive swings her feet back and forth and sighs.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
And being around him and watching
his and Chucks love for each other
grow had proven to be a difficult
situation for her heart to
navigate.
Emerson rolls his eyes at Ned and Chuck.
EMERSON
Will you two cut it out?! Its too
hot! This heat alone is enough to
make a man sick - I definitely
dont need the two of you on top of
it.
Olive frowns.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
But love had not always been this
complicated for Olive Snook.
Olive sadly eats another spoonful of ice cream, while Digby
whines.
CUT TO:
EXT. CHERRY TOP HIGH SCHOOL - DAY (FLASHBACK)
Sitting atop a tall, round hill is a bright and shiny red
brick structure. This is Cherry Top High.
The BELL RINGS, signalling the end of the day, and STUDENTS
burst out of its doors and down the hill, creating an
overflow of colors.

5.
Among these students is TEENAGE OLIVE SNOOK (17), with cutesy
pigtails and shining eyes. With her arms full of books and
her horseback riding helmet tied to her backpack, she
meanders with ROCKY RHODES (18), her high school sweetheart.
They are followed, unnoticed, by CANDY SUCRAY (18), a girl
who seems to be the dark doppelganger of Olive in every way.
Olive gazes adoringly at Rocky.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Back in the days when Olive
attended Cherry Top High School,
she was in love with a sweet boy
named Rocky Rhodes.
OLIVE
I love you, Rocky!
He smiles back at her.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
The feeling was mutual.
ROCKY
I love you, too, Olive.
Candy looks disgusted at them.
CANDY
(to herself)
Barf.
Rocky gallantly takes Olives books with one arm, then uses
his free hand to hold one of hers. She beams at him. They
keep walking.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Then one day, when Olive was 17
years, 18 weeks, 3 days, and 16
hours old, something special
happened.
Rocky suddenly stops and grins at Olive, as if hes suddenly
got an idea. Olive looks back at him questioningly.
He lets go of her hand and pries his CLASS RING off his
finger, handing it to her.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Rocky gave Olive his class ring.

6.
ROCKY
Here Olive - I want you to have my
class ring.
Olive gasps. So does Candy.
Olive gives Rocky a big hug, then tries on the ring. Its so
big, itll only fit on her thumb - loosely.
Candy narrows her eyes.
CUT TO:
EXT. RIDING CLUB - LATER (FLASHBACK)
Olive, dressed in a riding habit, rides her horse slowly
around the track, not noticing the other riders who are
zooming past her left and right. She gazes dreamily at the
ring, now draped on a chain around her neck.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
At riding practice that day, Olive
could barely concentrate - because,
as any young girl knows, when a boy
offers you his ring, it means he
will love you forever.
She gently kisses the ring.
CUT TO:
EXT. SENOR SORBETS ICE CREAM PARLOR - LATER (FLASHBACK)
A surreal Mexican-styled ice cream parlor. A large sombrero
sits atop the building, with bright scoops of pastel-colored
sorbet surrounding its brim. A sign reads: Seor Sorbets Ice
Cream Parlor.
Olive approaches, carrying her helmet. She sees Rocky through
the window, and smiles and waves---until she realizes that he is already sitting with someone.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
So suffice it to say, Olive was
shocked when she went to meet Rocky
at Seor Sorbets Ice Cream Parlor
later that afternoon and found him
there with another girl.
Olives smile drops.

7.
INT. SENOR SORBETS ICE CREAM PARLOR - BOOTH - MOMENTS LATER
(FLASHBACK)
Olive stands, her hands on her hips, in front of Rocky. They
are in the midst of a heated argument (MOS.).
Sitting across from Rocky is none other than Candy Sucray,
smugly enjoying the scene - and her ice cream.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Apparently, noticing that Rocky was
sitting alone that afternoon, Candy
had asked if she could join him.
One thing led to another, and
before he knew it, Rocky was
sharing his usual triple fudge
marshmallow macadamia nut sundae
with her.
ROCKY
Olive - I swear! It didnt mean
anything!
Olive tears the chain holding Rockys ring from her neck and
throws it on the table.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
Before that day, he had only ever
shared it with Olive.
OLIVE
No - Im sure it didnt.
Olive stalks off, wiping the now free-flowing tears from her
eyes.
Rocky watches her sadly. Seizing the opportunity, Candy moves
to his side of the booth and puts her arm around him, in a
comforting gesture.
I/E. SENOR SORBETS ICE CREAM PARLOR - CONTINUOUS (FLASHBACK)
Olive looks back one last time, only to see Candy with her
arm around Rocky. Candy notices.
CLOSE UP OF CANDY SENSUOUSLY ENJOYING A SPOONFUL OF ICE CREAM
She smiles triumphantly at Olive.
CAMERA FOLLOWS HER GAZE as Olive bursts into fresh tears and
runs away.
CUT TO:

8.
INT. PIE HOLE - DINING AREA - DAY (PRESENT)
Olive dreamily wipes a tear from her cheek, still gazing at
Ned.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
The last Olive had heard, Rocky and
Candy had gotten married.
The bell from the front door JINGLES as someone enters.
Olive?

ROCKY (O.C.)

Olive turns to the door, only to see---GROWN-UP ROCKY (30s), handsome, well-dressed, and
obviously wealthy, with a big bouquet of flowers.
NARRATOR (V.O.)
So she was obviously very surprised
the day he turned up at The Pie
Hole, looking just for her.
Rocky?

OLIVE

He holds out the flowers to her.

ROCKY
You always have been and always
will be my 31 flavors, Olive Snook.
Olive FAINTS.
FADE TO:
INT. PIE HOLE - MOMENTS LATER
Olive comes to, and finds Ned, Chuck, Emerson, Digby and
Rocky all crowding around her in concern.
Chuck and Ned help her up. She has a nasty bump on her
forehead. Reaching for something cold to put on it, Olive
uses the quart of ice cream she was just eating.
Everyone stares at Rocky, who fidgets awkwardly.
CHUCK
Olive, who is this man?
They look at Olive, who just smiles stupidly---so they turn back to Rocky.

9.
ROCKY
Um, my name is Rocky Rhodes.
Emerson reacts with shock.
EMERSON
THE Rocky Rhodes? As in the ice
cream magnate with the billion
dollar empire, Rocky Rhodes?
Rocky smiles shyly and nods.
OLIVE
(dreamily)
We dated in high school.
Ned jumps in shock. Emerson almost swoons. He vigorously
shakes hands with Rocky, while handing him his business card.
EMERSON
Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Rhodes.
The name is Emerson Cod, Private
Detective - at your service.
Rocky nods distractedly, not listening. He points to the
quart of ice cream Olive is holding to her forehead and
chuckles.
ROCKY
Triple fudge marshmallow macadamia
nut sundae.
Olive blushes and quickly puts the quart back on the counter.
NED
(coldly)
So what brings you here to The Pie
Hole today, Mr. Rhodes?
Chuck looks at Ned, surprised at his tone.
Olive, on the other hand, shakes her head, as if coming out
of a stupor. She becomes stern.
OLIVE
Wait a minute - yeah! What are you
doing here, Rocky?
Rocky moves closer to her.
ROCKY

10.
Ive come here today, Olive,
because I have finally freed myself
from Candy and needed you to be the
first to know.
Olive narrows her eyes.
Really?

OLIVE

Rocky nods.
Olive tilts her head and looks deep into his eyes. Without
flinching, he returns her stare.
After a moment, she takes a deep breath and offers a
tentative smile. He smiles back.
CHUCK
What do you mean you freed yourself
from candy? Are you diabetic?
Olive glares at Chuck.
OLIVE
No - Candy was his wife.
NED
So you freed yourself from your
wife? How exactly did you do that?
Rocky doesnt take his eyes off of Olive.
ROCKY
I divorced her.
NED
But why? Why did you divorce her?
Chuck moves to put a warning hand on Neds arm, but stops
herself just in time.
ROCKY
Because I still love Olive. Always
have and always will.
Olive giggles like a schoolgirl.
NED
So, if you always loved Olive, why
did you marry Candy in the first
place?
Emerson gives Ned an odd look.

11.
Rocky gets down on his knees in front of Olive.
ROCKY
Olive, I have come to prove my
undying love for you. Candy was
just a shadow of you all along.
Will you let me prove to you that
it was always you that I loved? I
will do everything I can...
He takes her hand and kisses it. Olive visibly melts.
Chuck cant help but sigh. Now its Neds turn to look at
her.
Meanwhile, Olive hasnt noticed any of this.
OLIVE
But how can I trust you, Rocky?
ROCKY
All I ask is that you try.
She thinks for a moment.
Okay.

OLIVE

Ned storms into the kitchen. Chuck follows him.

INT. PIE HOLE - KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
Ned noisily begins washing dishes.
CHUCK
Whats wrong with you?
NED
Nothing. I just remembered these
dishes needed to be washed. I told
Olive to do them but she didnt do
them, so I need to do them.
Chuck watches Ned with disbelief.
CHUCK
Are you jealous?
NED
Its just Olives such a sweet
girl, and I dont want to see her
get hurt-

12.
CHUCK
You ARE jealous!
Ned squirms and shrugs. He throws up his hands.
NED
Maybe a little bit! But I dont
know why! Youre my girlfriend! And
Im very happy that youre my
girlfriend. Extremely happy.
Chuck shakes her head.
CHUCK
You should want her to be happy.
(to herself)
I should want her to be happy.
Suddenly, they hear a load SQUEAL from Olive in the other
room. They both run back out to see INT. PIE HOLE - DINING AREA - CONTINUOUS
Olive looks up when they enter, smiling brilliantly. Emerson,
meanwhile, is energetically shaking Rockys hand again.
Olive holds up something thats hanging around her neck.
OLIVE
Look! Rocky gave me his class ring
again!
Ned and Chuck both scowl.
END OF ACT ONE.

13.
ACT TWO
INT. PIE HOLE - DINING AREA - DAY
Ned sits on the floor by one of the booths, a small pot of
paint and paintbrush in his hands. He dabs at the booth, with
a stern look of concentration and sweat beading on his brow.
THE CAMERA PULLS BACK TO REVEAL a fresh and beautiful BOUQUET
OF FLOWERS---on EVERY table.
Olive flounces back and forth in the background, grinning
from ear to ear and humming.
Emerson enters, wearing hideous shorts and a Hawaiian shirt
with a blazer over it. These are obviously his only summer
clothes.
He comes and stands at the booth Ned is working on, looking
over his shoulder.
EMERSON
What are you doing?
NED
Im touching up the booths. Its
something Ive been meaning to do
for a long time, but havent had
the time because we were so busy
before, what with all the murder
cases we had to solve. Now I have
more time than I want.
Beat. Ned refuses to look up.
NED (CONT'D)
Did you know that Rocky Rhodes used
to buy Olive a different flower for
every day they were together back
in high school?
Emerson looks around at all the tables. He nods at the
bouquets.
EMERSON
Is that where all these came from?
NED
Hes buying her bouquets now to
make up for all the days hes
missed.

14.
He looks up at Emerson, the frustration clear on his face.
NED (CONT'D)
Do you really not have ANY new
cases to solve?
Emerson scowls and sits down at the booth.
EMERSON
Not one damn thing. This lack of
crime is going to make me a poor
man. I wish our Mr. Rhodes would
share a little of his wealth.
He pulls out some knitting hes been working on.
EMERSON (CONT'D)
I had nothing to do in my office,
so I thought I may as well come and
see what you fools were up to.
Ned shrugs.
Just then, Olive skips up to them and holds out a flower to
Emerson. He gives her a look like shes crazy, so she just
puts it in his lapel. Then she takes another flower and puts
it in Neds hair. She giggles and skips away.
Ned and Emerson give each other a look.
EMERSON (CONT'D)
Is she for real?
NED
Shes been like this all day.
Suddenly, a DELIVERY MAN enters, carrying a package. He walks
up to Ned and Emerson.
DELIVERY MAN
Is there an Olive Snook here?
OLIVE (O.C.)
Thats me!!!
She runs up to him and signs for the package. The Delivery
Man leaves.
Chuck emerges from the kitchen.
CHUCK
Ooh! A package?! What is it?

15.
Olive looks up at her and shrugs, smiling. She eagerly tears
the package open.
Inside is a very fancy, engraved silver spoon. Olive reads it
aloud.
OLIVE
For all of our future sundaes.
She sighs with happiness.
CHUCK
Thats so sweet!
Ned and Emerson snort with derision.
EMERSON
(under his breath)
Thats so cheesy, is what that is.
Ned suppresses a laugh.
Olive dances past them, holding the spoon to her heart,
without noticing.
All at once, she has a thought.
OLIVE
I should get him something! For
when I go meet him later!
She rushes to Chuck, a pleading look on her face.
OLIVE (CONT'D)
Will you help me?
Me?
Sure!

CHUCK
OLIVE

She grabs Chuck by the arm.

OLIVE (CONT'D)
We can go shopping - itll be fun!
A girls thing. You know - two
girlfriends shopping for their
boyfriends.
Before she knows it, Chuck is being pulled halfway out the
front door. She looks at Ned.

16.
CHUCK
I guess Ill be back later?
Olive pulls her outside, impatiently.
EXT. PIE HOLE - CONTINUOUS
Olive tugs Chucks arm.
OLIVE
Come on! I know just where to go!
Both women turn and bump into---ALFREDO ALDARISO, who was just about to enter The Pie Hole.
Hes carrying a suitcase and a bouquet of flowers.
He quickly puts the bouquet under one arm so he can remove
his hat.
ALFREDO
Olive! Hello!
(noticing Chuck)
And hello Ms. Charles.
But, as usual, Olive isnt paying attention to him. Shes
already halfway down the sidewalk.
Chuck shrugs apologetically.
CHUCK
Bye Alfredo! Cant talk now! See
you later!
And the women disappear around a corner.
Alfredo sighs and turns back to The Pie Hole. Hes a patient
man and is used to waiting. He opens the door -INT. PIE HOLE - DINING AREA - CONTINUOUS
--and FREEZES when he sees all the flowers. His poor little
bouquet is tiny in comparison.
Ned and Emerson look up.
NED
Oh, hi Alfredo!
ALFREDO
Whats all this?
Emerson just shakes his head with disdain.

17.
NED
Rocky Rhodes.
What?

ALFREDO

Ned turns back to his painting.

NED
The ice cream guru. Hes in love
with Olive. He sent her all these
flowers.
Emerson clucks his tongue like an old woman while he
continues his knitting.
EMERSON
If you ask me, its shameful the
way a woman can make a powerful man
stoop so low. Hes losing all
respect in my eyes.
Beat. When neither Ned nor Emerson hear a response from
Alfredo, they look up.
Hes gone.
CUT TO:
INT. TOP TOPPINGS SHOP - LATER
Aisles and aisles of sprinkles, nuts, and candied fruit. Its
like Willy Wonka in here. Olive and Chuck are in the aisle
marked NUTS, and Olive is looking for something in
particular.
Suddenly, she shouts triumphantly and holds up a can.
Aha!

OLIVE

CHUCK
What? What is that?
Olive smiles.
OLIVE
(reminiscing)
Well, Rocky was always a big fan of
his triple fudge marshmallow
macadamia nut sundae.

18.
CHUCK
Hence the special flavor for his
ice cream line.
OLIVE
Right. It was the nuts. He was nuts
for em, you know? But I actually
always preferred pistachios. It
actually caused quite a bit of
tension between us. We almost broke
up over it once.
(shudders)
It was horrid.
Beat. She smiles again, dreamily.
OLIVE (CONT'D)
Then after we made up, he went out
and hunted down this special mix of
nuts for us to share.
CHUCK
(reading the label)
Bennys Mixed Macadamia Pistachio
Special.
OLIVE
It was so sweet. We would sit
there, and hed feed me pistachios,
while I fed him macadamia nuts.
She sighs. So does Chuck. She looks like she might cry.
CHUCK
Youre right - this is perfect. Im
sure hell love it.
OLIVE
What are you going to get Ned?
CHUCK
(shrugging)
Ill find something.
CUT TO:
INT. PIE HOLE - DINING AREA - LATER
Olive and Chuck enter, Olive carrying the nuts while Chuck
carries a small package, only to find---a very nonplussed Ned and Emerson immersed in packages of
candy.

19.
Chuck picks up one of the packages and reads the card.
CHUCK
Saccharine confectioneries for my
saccharine confectionery.
Olive squeals and runs back toward the door.
OLIVE
(over her shoulder)
I cant wait anymore! I have to go
thank him right now!
The bell jingles behind her.
CHUCK
Okay, now I really am jealous.
NED
Really? You dont think hes going
a little overboard?
Chuck puts the package she was carrying into her pocket.
CHUCK
I like flowers. I like candy.
NED
But I gave you flowers - for your
bees, remember?
Emerson shakes his head at him, warning him.
Chuck gives him a look.
CHUCK
This is different.
NED
Okay. Duly noted.
Theres a moment of awkward silence.
Emerson clears his throat.
EMERSON
If you ask me - and nobody did - it
all seems a little suspicious to
me.
CHUCK
What do you mean?

20.
Emerson motions toward the excess of flowers and candy piled
around them.
EMERSON
All of this? Sweet way of
overcompensating, dont you think?
Ned nods, getting his drift.
NED
Yeah - you think hes hiding
something?
Chuck throws up her hands and lets out a frustrated sigh.
CHUCK
Just because the man is romantic
doesnt make him a criminal! I LIKE
HIM!
(beat)
And maybe the two of you should
actually take a few notes from him
instead of criticizing him!
She storms out of the room.
Ned and Emerson look at each other and shrug.
NED
I still dont trust the man.
Just then, the door JINGLES again.
Its Alfredo, and hes wading through Olives gifts toward
them, waving a newspaper article in the air.
ALFREDO
Wheres Olive?
NED
Where else? With Rocky Rhodes.
Alfredos eyes widen.
ALFREDO
Where specifically?
NED
At his factory, I guess.
Alfredo slams his newspaper article down on the table.

21.
ALFREDO
We have to go save her!
CUT TO:
INT. ROCKY RHODES ICE CREAM FACTORY - SIMULTANEOUS
Olive eagerly walks down a long corridor of ice cream
freezers displaying Rockys ice cream. She is carrying the
can of nuts she bought him, and his office can be seen in the
distance at the end of the hallway.
ALFREDO (V.O.)
Rocky Rhodes wife went missing and
there are rumors that shes been
murdered!
Olive begins to notice some of the names of the different
flavors of ice cream and smiles, reminiscing.
Then, seeing a freezer full of triple fudge marshmallow
macadamia nut sundae, she just has to stop and take a look.
She pulls open the door.
Taking out a quart, she smiles at it---but then notices a bluish something that looks like a HUMAN
HAND peeking out from behind the rows of ice cream.
She quickly shifts some of the quarts, only to discover---THE FROZEN CORPSE OF CANDY SUCRAY.
Olive GASPS.
Suddenly, two LEATHER-GLOVED HANDS appear from behind her,
covering her face with a cloth.
She faints, dropping her can of nuts to the floor. They
scatter everywhere.
END OF ACT TWO.

22.
ACT THREE
EXT. ROCKY RHODES ICE CREAM FACTORY - DAY
A huge, candy-colored building. Ned, Chuck, Emerson, and
Alfredo arrive on the scene to discover a gaggle of POLICE
and REPORTERS.
Ned turns to Emerson.
NED
I thought you said there werent
any cases.
Emerson looks at him with disdain.
EMERSON
This is a missing persons case. I
dont do missing persons. Its not
my area of expertise.
Rocky, wearing leather gloves and sunglasses, shyly addresses
the crowd.
ROCKY
Im s-s-sorry, but I have n-n-no
information for you at this t-ttime.
Emerson approaches a nearby REPORTER.
EMERSON
Whats going on?
REPORTER
Candy Sucrays body has been found.
Emerson raises an eyebrow.
EMERSON
Okay. Now it really is my area of
expertise.
Just then, Rocky notices Olives friends and motions them
aside.
ROCKY
(to reporters)
Excuse me, p-p-please.
The police push the reporters away.
Ned, Emerson, Chuck, and Alfredo join Rocky away from the
crowd.

23.
Rocky removes his sunglasses. His eyes are brimming with
tears.
ROCKY (CONT'D)
Wheres Olive?
EMERSON
We were just about to ask you the
same question.
ROCKY
She was supposed to meet me at my
office, but never showed up. Im
concerned about her.
The men all look at him suspiciously.
NED
Arent you upset about Candy?
Rocky reacts with shock.
ROCKY
Of course I am!
CUT TO:
INT. DARK ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Olive sits, bound, blindfolded, and gagged, struggling to get
loose.
ROCKY (V.O.)
But Im also worried that whatever
happened to Candy is going to
happen to Olive.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROCKY RHODES ICE CREAM FACTORY - CONTINUOUS
Chuck looks at Rocky, who looks genuinely upset. She pats him
on the shoulder.
CHUCK
Dont worry, Rocky. Well find
Olive.
Rocky has to fight to hold back his tears.
ROCKY
Thank you. I just found her - I
cant lose her again.

24.
He cant bear it anymore - he retreats into his factory.
Emerson turns to Ned.
EMERSON
I guess we have to make a visit to
our friendly neighborhood coroner.
Ned and Chuck nod - then the three of them look at Alfredo.
Alfredos still looking at the door Rocky used to enter his
factory.
ALFREDO
(suspicious)
You guys go ahead. Ill stay here
with Rocky.
CUT TO:
INT. MORGUE - LATER
Ned, Chuck and Emerson stand staring at the frozen corpse of
Candy Sucray. Ned is just about to touch her, when he has a
question.
NED
(to Chuck)
Whyd you comfort the bad guy?
What?

CHUCK

NED
The bad guy. Rocky Rhodes. Whyd
you pat him on the shoulder to make
him feel better?
CHUCK
To make him feel better.
Why?

NED

CHUCK
I dont think he did it.
Emerson is getting impatient.
EMERSON
Can we just get on with this,
please?

25.
NED
(ignoring him)
Why not?
CHUCK
(shrugging)
I can just tell.
Ned raises an eyebrow.
How?

NED

CHUCK
He was really sad.
Emerson snorts.
Please.
He was!

EMERSON
CHUCK

EMERSON
Aw hell! Enough with the lovers
bickering! How about we find out
from someone who actually knows?
He grabs Neds hand and forces him to touch Candys blue
nose. She gasps to life.
NED
Hey! I feel violated!
EMERSON
Just start your stopwatch, you
fool.
Ned meekly obeys.
Candy looks at them.
Hello?
Candy?

CANDY
CHUCK

CANDY
No thanks. Im diabetic.
She snorts at her own joke.

26.
EMERSON
She means youre Candy Sucray,
right?
CANDY
No, officer, Im not - except from
9 to 5.
Candy laughs a brittle laugh that sounds as if its frozen.
EMERSON
Firstly, Im not a cop. And
secondly, what do you mean?
CANDY2
Well, Im Ms. Sucrays publicity
double. I make public appearances
on her behalf.
They all stare at her. Emerson holds a picture of Candy next
to her face.
CHUCK
Wow! You sure look just like her!
Candy2 smiles.
CANDY2
Well, that is my job.
(proudly)
It took several good plastic
surgeons, but now you cant even
tell that Im not her. Even her
husband keeps getting us confused.
Ned checks his watch, and Candy2 glances around.
CANDY2 (CONT'D)
Wait a minute - where am I? This
doesnt look like a celebrity
birthday partyJust then, Ned touches her and she returns to being dead.
EMERSON
So where the hell is the real Candy
Sucray?
CUT TO:
INT. DARK ROOM
A DARK, FEMININE FIGURE approaches Olive and removes her
blindfold.

27.
Olives eyes widen. She gasps something that is
indecipherable because of her gag.
The figure laughs. Its Candy.
CANDY
Im assuming that was my name.
Olive nods.
CANDY (CONT'D)
Id hoped the next time we met
wouldve been a better opportunity
for me to gloat over you about my
success, but I guess thisll have
to do instead.
Olive mutters something else indecipherable that sounds like
a question.
CANDY (CONT'D)
No, Im not going to kill you yet. Even though you deserve it. I
need to find something out first.
Candy throws a crude LETTER written with CUTOUT LETTERS on
the table in front of Olive and watches her reaction.
Olive is puzzled, and the letters far too long to be a good
threatening letter so it takes her a minute to read it. But
when she finishes, she reacts with shock.
Candy looks her closely in the eye.
CANDY (CONT'D)
I dont trust you. I cant read
your reaction. I cant tell whether
or not you actually had anything to
do with this death threat.
Candy looks down and notices Rockys ring on the chain around
Olives neck.
She touches it gently, and her eyes harden.
CANDY (CONT'D)
He always did love you, you know.
He wouldnt shut up about you. How
much he missed you. How much he
regretted what hed done. And he
always wore this ring. As a
reminder, he said. So if he ever
got a second chance, he wouldnt
mess it up again.

28.
Candy looks like she might cry. But she laughs instead.
CANDY (CONT'D)
Its enough to drive any wife nutsShe pulls out a HYPODERMIC NEEDLE and injects Olive with it.
CANDY (CONT'D)
-dont you think?
She re-blindfolds Olive and leaves, slamming the door behind
her.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROCKY RHODES ICE CREAM FACTORY - ROCKYS OFFICE - DAY
Big and imposing. Alfredo sits in a chair, watching Rocky
carefully and with distrust. Rocky goes on with his work.
Ned, Chuck, and Emerson enter. Rocky stands.
ROCKY
Have you found anything?
EMERSON
How about you tell us about Candy.
ROCKY
(surprised)
Okay.
CUT TO:
INT. SENOR SORBETS ICE CREAM PARLOR - DAY (PAST)
It is again that fateful afternoon, but Olive has not yet
arrived. In fact, Rocky is still sitting alone, waiting for
her and eating his sundae.
Candy approaches him and sits down.
ROCKY (V.O.)
Id always kind of known Candy from
school. Then one day while I was
waiting for Olive to finish riding
practice, she joined me at Seor
Sorbets.
Candy looks at Rocky, ever-so-innocently.
CANDY
Why, hello there, Mr. Rocky. How
come youre all alone?

29.
ROCKY
Hey Candy. Olives meeting me after
shes done riding practice.
Candy draws with her finger on the table.
CANDY
Whats that youre eating?
ROCKY
This? Its my usual triple fudge
marshmallow macadamia nut sundae.
Candy licks her lips, seductively.
CANDY
Mmm! Sounds yummy! Can I try?
Rocky blushes.
ROCKY
Uh - I d-d-dont think thats such
a g-g-good idea, Candy.
Candy widens her eyes.
CANDY
Why not? Just a teensy weensy taste
wont hurt anybody, will it?
ROCKY
Well, its j-j-just that Ive never
shared it with anybody-but before he can finish, she has taken a spoon and dipped
it into the ice cream. She relishes it with genuine and
almost orgasmic glee.
ROCKY (CONT'D)
(to himself)
-b-b-but Olive.
CANDY
This is fantastic!
Rocky smiles, relaxing.
ROCKY
Really? Its my special
combination.
CANDY
You came up with this yourself?

30.
ROCKY
(shrugging)
I like to experiment with flavors.
(beat)
One day I hope to make my own ice
cream.
Candy leans her elbows - and her chest - on the table,
placing her chin in her hands.
CANDY
Well, you know, my father is the
richest man in town - he could
finance your business(beat, she leans forward
and whispers)
-if I asked him to.
Rocky looks into her eyes, considering the offer.
At that moment, Olive enters the restaurant and catches them
together. She and Rocky begin fighting (MOS.)
ROCKY (V.O.)
And thats how Olive found us. In
that stupid, incriminating tte-tte. She had every right to be
angry.
Olive throws down Rockys ring and storms out.
Rocky looks like hes about to cry.
Candy maneuvers herself into his side of the booth and puts
her arm around him.
CANDY
Im serious. My father will finance
your business if I ask him to. My
daddy likes whoever I like.
Rocky looks at her.
ROCKY
What are you asking me to do?
Candy just smiles at him. Then she notices Olive watching
them and takes a big, sensuous spoonful of ice cream.
CUT TO:

31.
INT. ROCKYS OFFICE - DAY (PRESENT)
Emerson, Ned, and Alfredo are all pacing, while Chuck stands
still, rapt with Rockys story.
ROCKY
It didnt take long for Candy to
put me in a position where I had to
marry her in order for my dream to
come true.
He looks at Chuck, pleading.
ROCKY (CONT'D)
And Olive had left - I knew shed
never come back.
(beat)
But Ive regretted it ever since.
The men are still pacing. Rocky finally turns to them.
ROCKY (CONT'D)
Why? Whats going on?
EMERSON
Would Candy have any reason to hurt
Olive?
ROCKY
(confused)
Well, she always knew I loved Olive
and not her - but what does that
matter?
Ned cant keep it in any longer.
NED
Candys still alive!
Rocky turns very, very pale.
ROCKY
B-b-but shes been g-g-gone for
more than three d-d-days already
anyway...
Emerson looks at him suspiciously.
EMERSON
Does Candy have any secret
hideouts?

32.
ROCKY
(nodding)
Follow me.
END OF ACT THREE.

33.
ACT FOUR
EXT. DARK ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Rocky leads them to a big door and pulls out a key.
ROCKY
Candy had this room built for
storage of all her private papers.
She wouldnt let me have a key every wife has her secrets, she
said - but I made a copy one day
anyway.
He unlocks the door.
ROCKY (CONT'D)
Just in case.
He opens the door and turns on the lights to discover-INT. DARK ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Candy, passed out and tied up in a chair. Olive holds her
captive.
OLIVE
Thank goodness youre here! Ive
had a lot of trouble keeping her
still.
Now that the lights are on, the walls are visible - and
theyre covered with surveillance photos of Olive.
Chuck looks around.
CHUCK
Wow. She sure was obsessed with
you.
OLIVE
I know - right?
Rocky runs to Olive and takes her in his arms.
ROCKY
I was so scared! I had no idea
about all this - Im sorry.
Olive looks up at him and smiles.
OLIVE
Its not your fault. And Im safe
now.

34.
They kiss.
Alfredo looks away. So do Ned, Chuck, and Emerson.
Emerson notices something and moves to a corner of the room.
He picks up a business card.
EMERSON
Oh no she did not - she actually
hired Thomas Fish as her P.I.?
Ned and Chuck give him a look.
EMERSON (CONT'D)
That man is the bane of my
existence. He steals all my best
customers.
Olive and Rocky pull away from their kiss. She looks up to
him and smiles seductively.
OLIVE
Now we can follow through with our
plan.
Rocky tenses.
Emerson turns back, his curiosity piqued.
What plan?

EMERSON

No one listens.
Instead, Rocky narrows his eyes and peers closely at Olive.
Then he pulls away.
ROCKY
Youre not Olive.
Alfredo turns back to her, now also curious. So do Ned and
Chuck.
CHUCK
Whats going on Rocky?
OLIVE
(laughing, to Rocky)
What do you mean?
But Rocky just walks to the others, pleading with them.
ROCKY
Thats not Olive!

35.

Rocky?

OLIVE

He turns back to her, frustrated.

ROCKY
Olive didnt know anything about
the plan.
Emersons getting frustrated.
What plan?

EMERSON

Alfredo, Ned, and Chuck look back and forth from Olive to
Rocky, awaiting an answer.
Theres a long beat.
Finally, Olives expression changes to one of contempt.
She reaches up - and pulls off her WIG.
She is actually Candy!
Alfredo, realizing that its Olive tied up in the chair, runs
to her and begins untying her.
CANDY
(to Rocky)
So you wrote that death threat all
by yourself?
Alfredo, Chuck, and Ned all gasp and look at Rocky.
He gives in and nods.
ROCKY
Howd you know it was me?
Candy slowly approaches him and plants a big, unwanted kiss
on his cheek.
She chuckles.
CANDY
The cut-out letters all came from
labels of your ice cream.
He shrugs, sheepish.

36.
ROCKY
I guess it wasnt a very wellthought-out plan.
Candys eyes flash, and she grins.
CANDY
You know, I think Im actually
proud of you.
Rocky hangs his head, ashamed.
CUT TO:
EXT. ROCKY RHODES ICE CREAM FACTORY - LATER
Ned, Chuck, Emerson, Alfredo, and Olive stand and watch as
the police take both Rocky and Candy away in handcuffs.
Olive is a little woozy, so Alfredo puts his arm around her
to steady her.
Chuck shakes her head.
CHUCK
I cant believe that, this whole
time, Rocky actually was a
murderer.
EMERSON
A man can only handle so much
manipulation before he cracks. This
one just cracked on the wrong girl.
Olive fights back tears.
OLIVE
Rocky didnt actually KILL anybody.
(quieter)
He just had the INTENT to kill
somebody.
Chuck puts her hand on Olives shoulder.
CHUCK
(gently)
Actually, he DID kill Candys
publicity double, thinking it was
her.
Olive breaks down.

37.
OLIVE
That bastard! I cant believe Im
losing him all over again!
Alfredo takes her into his arms to comfort her. She hardly
notices.
Ned is oddly quiet. Chuck notices this, and moves beside him.
CHUCK
(quietly, to Ned)
Whats wrong?
Ned glances at Olive.
NED
I feel bad for her. I cant help
but be sorry that her heart has
been broken, you know?
He looks directly into Chucks eyes. Theres a deeper meaning
to what hes saying, and she knows it.
Chuck looks away, hiding that shes wiping a tear from her
own eye.
They walk in silence for a moment. Then Chuck leans closer to
Ned and points at Alfredo, whos tenderly guiding Olive
along.
CHUCK
I think Olive will be OK.
Ned looks at Chuck, seeing the pain on her face. She feels
guilty too.
He just smiles and nods.
INT. PIE HOLE - DINING AREA - LATER
All of the bouquets and packages are gone. Ned sits at a
booth, quietly eating a slice of pie. He is very
contemplative.
Suddenly, Chuck emerges from the kitchen, smiling shyly. She
sits down across from him and just watches him eat for a
moment.
Ned smiles back.
Chuck pulls a small package out of hiding and puts it on the
table.

38.
CHUCK
I got you something.
Ned looks at her quizzically.
Open it!

CHUCK (CONT'D)

Ned carefully puts down his fork and picks up the package.
He slowly tears off the paper.
Inside is a box of COOKIES.
NED
Ladyfingers?
He looks up at Chuck, puzzled.
CHUCK
I know its not much, but when
Olive and I went shopping, I was
trying to think of what to get you,
and so I tried to think of what it
is you most might want.
(she takes a deep breath)
But all I could think of is what I
most wantShe looks up at him, smiling, with tears in her eyes.
CHUCK (CONT'D)
-and what I most want more than
anything is to be able to touch
you. For you to be able to hold my
hand. REALLY hold my hand - with
our skin touching and everything.
He looks back down at the box. Understanding dawns on his
face.
NED
So these Ladyfingers are supposed
to stand in for YOUR lady
fingers?
She nods. Tears are slowly trickling down her face.
CHUCK
Its cheesy, I know. But it was
just supposed to be a silly gift
from a girlfriend to her boyfriend.
He smiles.

39.
NED
I like them. Thank you.
Chuck begins to cry harder. Ned becomes concerned.
NED (CONT'D)
Whats wrong?
CHUCK
I love you.
NED
I love you, too.
Chuck hiccups a little, trying to regain composure.
CHUCK
So I understand if its too much
for you. With someone like Olive,
you could do all those things you
cant do with me.
She looks at him. She cant make herself say any more.
Ned sighs.
NED
The same goes for you, you know.
Chuck stops crying. She hadnt thought of this.
NED (CONT'D)
You could always leave me for
someone else. It goes both ways.
Chuck looks down.
NED (CONT'D)
But you dont. And I dont.
Ned pulls a TOWEL off of the string of his apron and drapes
it over Chucks hand. Then he puts his hand on top of hers.
He smiles reassuringly.
NED (CONT'D)
And I wont.
Chuck smiles back. Then she sniffles and dabs her tears away
with a hankie.

40.
I/E. PIE HOLE - CONTINUOUS
From outside the window, Olive watches Ned and Chuck as they
share their tender moment.
EXT. PIE HOLE - CONTINUOUS
She frowns and turns away.
OLIVE
(singing)
I'm through with love
I'll never fall again.
Said adieu to love
Don't ever call again.
For I must have you or no one
And so I'm through with love.
I've locked my heart
I'll keep my feelings there.
I have stocked my heart with icy,
frigid air.
And I mean to care for no one
Because I'm through with love.
She walks away, sadly.
Meanwhile, from around the corner, Alfredo stands watching
her as she leaves, again holding a bouquet of flowers.
ALFREDO
(singing)
Goodbye to spring and all it meant
to me
It can never bring the thing that
used to be.
For I must have you or no one
And so I'm through with love.
He throws the bouquet in the trash and walks away in the
opposite direction that Olive just went.
Chuck and Ned continue on in their tender moment, oblivious
to anything going on outside.
END OF ACT FOUR.