Lulu in LA LA Land (15 page)

Well, there's no time. Look!

A truck chugs up the long driveway. Alexis dashes off to direct it.

ALEXIS

(arms waving)

Hey, park over here! Don't run over any fancy English roses.

LULU

Hey, don't forget the bugs! If he squashes those rose bushes, he'll kill a world of ladybugs living under the leaves!

The truck comes to a safe stop around the side of the house. Petals and pests are spared.

LULU

(bursting with excitement)

Geez peas! It's my
compleaños
. I wanna start celebrating!

ALEXIS

Well, you may want to chill on that for a moment.

(pauses and points at Lulu)

You're still wearing your pajamas!

Lulu lets out a loud “AHHHHH” and scampers into the house.

EXT. HARRISON DRIVEWAY and GRASSY LAWN—10:00 A.M.

Now wearing their party outfits, Lulu and Alexis return to the action. Alexis looks runway-ready in a mega-short, form-fitting, hot pink scalloped strapless Herve Leger dress and towering, suede, beaded Prada platform sandals complete with hand-sewn crystals. She's fully accessorized with gold and silver bangles.

The Harrison grounds are a hive of activity—food, flowers, tables, and chairs, moving in all directions. Alexis plays her role as party planner
extraordinaire
. She's Queen Bee at her finest, telling people where to go and what to do. Lulu bops around handing out frosted lemon bars and chatting with every person.

Soon, Lulu watches a great white party tent rise. She dashes over to Alexis.

LULU

Lex, seeing that tent come to life reminds me of those bouncy houses I used to have at my birthday parties. Remember? They'd be limp on the ground and within minutes…poof! They'd blow up huge!

ALEXIS

Hmmmmm, I confess…

(looking right at Lulu)

I don't remember actually going to any of your birthday parties before.

LULU

No prob. Eleven's a perfecto time for you to start coming.

Lulu grabs Alexis's wrist and pulls her inside the tent.

LULU

C'mon. Let's see inside!

INT. PARTY TENT—CONTINUOUS

The top of the tent is clear, letting in the natural sunlight. White orchids and tulle cover tables. Ivy is wrapped around the sides of the tent. There are five hundred balloons tied to silky white ribbons. The whole tent is scented with lavender tea candles.

In the corner, musicians warm up on guitar, bongos, and bamboo flute. Seeing Lulu, they break into a snappy version of “Happy Birthday.”

LULU

(twirling around)

It's like a fairyland! I wanna go and grab silk wings from my playroom attic.

Lulu flaps her arms.

ALEXIS

Stop! You look très chic in what you're wearing. And, before you go flying off, check out the surprise color.

Lulu's green eyes instantly dart from one table to another. Bright orange California poppies gracefully stand in small glass vases.

LULU

You used my favorite native wildflower in my FAVORITE color!

ALEXIS

Jennifer, from Floral Art, thought of it…after I finally decided to break the serene white theme with a touch of pure Lulu.

INT. SPA TENT—5 MINUTES LATER

Josette, Director of the Bel-Air Hotel Spa, arrives with her team of employees, who wear white lab coats and have bright, glowing skin. They frantically set up spa stations: massage tables, facial steamers, and small tables covered with every potion and lotion known to man or woman.

Lulu uncaps and smells all the creams. She quizzes the spa staff about the ingredients.

The very elegant, French Josette, with her hair in a French twist, swoops over to Lulu so her employees can work.

JOSETTE

Ma cherie Lulu. Excited about this celebration?

Josette does that kissy on each cheek thing to Lulu.

JOSETTE

Alexis tell me that you and nature—amour, amour! All our fantastique products you and your friends will be sampling are made from environmentally happy, organic, biodynamic ingredients.

LULU

Really? Alexis told you that? Well, like my fave tote bag says, “Save Earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.”

Lulu hears her name. She looks up and sees Sophia walking toward her. Lulu, despite her fancy outfit and neatly combed hair, runs at full speed. Sophia thrusts a lumpy package into Lulu's arms. With her own arms now free, she gives Lulu a tight hug.

SOPHIA

Happy birthday, Lu.

(Sophia looks around the tent)

Look at the flowers and candles. Everything's so beautiful.

LULU

(halting, unsure of Sophia's words)

Really, you like it? You don't think it's, ya know, too glitzy-glammy?

SOPHIA

It's really magical!

(in a serious, quiet voice)

Lulu, this is the fanciest party I've ever been to, and it's perfect that it's for my best friend's birthday.

Lulu hands Sophia back the lumpy gift and gives her friend a hug.

Sophia is dressed hippie chic in leggings (which look great on her because she's a beanpole) and a billowy floral print dress. And her major dress-up item: plastic ballet flats instead of her Converse sneakers. She looks perfect.

SOPHIA

Oh, I know this isn't the kind of party where a homemade gift is what you're supposed to bring, but, well, I did anyway.

Lulu nabs the gift back. She rips off the orange tissue paper. When the paper falls away, Lulu holds up a small, pretty, patchwork blanket.

SOPHIA

It's scraps of our old clothes. It's a friendship blanket. I meant for it to be bigger but stopped working on it when…ya know, that week we didn't really talk. So it just came out this size.

LULU

(roaring with joy)

This is the most perfecto gift ever! It'll be our picnic blanket! We'll really use this, Soph! And it's SO like you, not another in the universe!

ELANA

(seeing the blanket)

Muy bonita! I remember all those clothes you have patches from!

Jenna walks up behind Lulu and Sophia and puts her arms around their shoulders.

JENNA

(playfully)

Boo!

LULU

Hey. You came!

JENNA

Promise is a promise. And besides, I know the food here is gonna be fantabulous!

Jenna looks hyper cool girl in layered tank tops over a zebra-striped miniskirt. She angles the arm draped around Lulu's shoulder to crook pinkies and cement the pinkie promise. Sophia looks confused, maybe even a bit hurt.

Chip comes up to the girls. He's sandy and damp from the ocean.

CHIP

Great! A towel! Just what I need!

Chip reaches for Sophia's gift. Lulu yanks it away.

LULU

(laughs)

It's not a towel! Sophia made it for my birthday.

JENNA

(looking at Sophia)

That rocks. You made it?

CHIP

(still mock grabbing)

Not a towel for me? Kidding. Happy birthday, gnarly Lulu! Hey, check out who was also out surfing this morning. Hope it's cool that he's in for the bash.

Robbie shuffles up to Lulu and musses her hair.

ROBBIE

(joking to Chip)

Dude, this Lulu had her sister so busy yesterday that she canceled our date.

LULU

Ooops.

CHIP

Hey, man, can't stay sore at a girl named Lulu.

Everyone laughs. Chip and Robbie give Lulu birthday fist bumps.

Hernandez and his family arrive, as does Johnny Walker with Watson in tow. They swallow Lulu up in hugs, presents, and ooohs and aaahs about how the party tent looks.

Everyone pulls back to notice the snazzily dressed Watson. Despite his very English name, the pug sports a very French outfit—orange and fuchsia striped cashmere sweater and an orange beret. Not to be out-dressed by a dog, Johnny Walker wears an orange velvet jacket and a fuchsia beret. He's got a vintage The Who T-shirt underneath his jacket.

Officer and Mrs. Gale's arrival is announced by the patrol car's siren. Officer Gale snaps it on and off as he drives up to the party tent entrance.

EXT. HARRISON GROUNDS—CONTINUOUS

The unmistakable smell of frying tortilla chips wafts through the tent. The musical
toot
from the Garzas' taco truck follows just moments behind the scent.

Lulu can't believe her eyes! She dashes across the long lawn and bounces alongside the Garzas' shiny silver truck chugging up the Harrison driveway. She's waving her arms as if trying to stop a runaway horse.

The Taco Truck rolls to a stop.

Mr. Garza and Miguel jump out. Within minutes, they've opened the truck and set out bags of hot, fresh, homemade chips and mega-sized bowls of salsa.

MR. GARZA

(bellows)

Feliz compleaños, Señorita Lulu!

MIGUEL

Happy b-day!

Mr. Garza smothers Lulu in a bear hug then hands her a flower-shaped
piñata
. Miguel gives Lulu a brand-new football.

SOPHIA

(teasing)

Miguel! You gave Lulu a football? Ya know she's never caught one of those in her life!

MIGUEL

Hey, it's like, the only thing I could think of that she didn't have in this house!

LULU

I love it, Miguel!

MR. GARZA

(climbing back into truck)

Niña, Lulu! Now I gotta fry up more chips for your fiesta!

LULU

(follows him into the truck)

Oh, Señor Garza, are you using up food you should be selling? Miguel says maybe you can't keep the truck.

SENOR GARZA

Today is mi amiga Lulu's birthday. Making food for her is exactly what this truck is for.

Lulu bends down to get bowls and baskets for Mr. Garza as a way to hide her tiny tears about to leak out.

Alexis dashes over.

ALEXIS

(freaking out)

Lu, everyone is arriving sooooo early. The food buffet isn't done! Should guests start their spa treatments? Josette!

(yelling in half panic/half nerves)

Josette! Is everything ready?

Lulu jumps out of Mr. Garza's truck.

LULU

Lex, seems like everything's under control. Chillax. Hey, let's just be guests instead of party planners, OK? At least till Mom and Dad arrive. Then I don't know what we'll be—

ALEXIS

In megaton trouble! That's what we'll be.

Chip and Elana walk by, chatting and chuckling. They're wearing soft robes with a ladybug patch on the left side.

Chip gives Lulu “OK” signs with his hands.

LULU

(to Alexis)

Hey, what's that they've got on?

ALEXIS

Oh, another surprise! I asked Elisa at Monogrammit to sew ladybugs on all the robes and butterflies over the formerly monogrammed slippers.

LULU

She did all THAT?!

ALEXIS

Sure. Elana made a secret run for everything last night.

LULU

Geez peas! This party must've made people, well, lulu!

(watching someone wander up the driveway)

I can't believe it! I think that's Mr. Ling!

ALEXIS

The Crosswinds science teacher?

Sophia approaches Lulu, spots Mr. Ling, and waves him over.

SOPHIA

(to Lulu)

Oh, I invited him.

(giggling)

I know Mr. Ling's been your favorite teacher since third grade.

Lulu leaps toward Mr. Ling then introduces him to her friends. Jenna tries to talk him into a facial. Just then, Miguel joins the group.

MIGUEL

(challenging Mr. Ling)

I will if you will.

INT. PARTY TENT—CONTINUOUS

Lulu brings organic lemonade to the kids and sucks one down herself. Chilled water with cucumber and honeydew is served for the adults. Waiters pass tempeh spring rolls. Everyone giggles and mingles. Lulu is about to slip into her guests' joyful spirit when she realizes that her parents haven't come back yet!

Lulu frantically searches for Alexis. She finds her in the pool cabana, tweaking the food buffet.

ALEXIS

Lu, check this out. I called Joan, mastermind of Joan's on Third, and made serious changes. So, surprise! Mac and cheese, sliders, AND French fries in silver cups. It all goes great with, ta-da! Your trademark chips and salsa, and your hyper-fave Garza-made tamales.

LULU

(beaming)

Now that's a feast fit for my friends!

ALEXIS

Couldn't celebrate Lulu without the right food!

Alexis beams with her fabulousness as a party planner.

LULU

(worry in her voice)

Look, Lex, everything's perfecto. But where are Mom and Dad? Ya know, I was just wondering about our strategy when they get here.

ALEXIS

(serious panic!)

Wait! Are you kidding? You don't have any plan for that?

LULU

Not yet. I can't get calm enough to focus because I feel like there's a monster storm coming.

Alexis catches movement from the corner of her eye.

ALEXIS

(starts to scream)

The cupcakes! Watson's about to…

The tower of Sprinkles cupcakes crashes to the ground. Frosting plunks everywhere. The pug hoovers up the yummy treats as fast as he can.

ALEXIS

That stinky, pooping pug! Johnny! Where are YOU?!

LULU

(cracking up)

I think he's collecting his reward for stopping that cell phone yesterday.

ALEXIS

Nothing about this is funny! What am I gonna do? I need fifty cupcakes immediately.

Johnny Walker enters, wearing his spa robe, and surveys the disaster.

JOHNNY

Pug party!

ALEXIS

(shrieking)

This animal is outta control!

(to Johnny)

Can't you stop this beast?

JOHNNY

I think the first thing I'll do is get this pug's stomach pumped! Look at him going for the chocolate!