Falling With Style Teaser

[Smooty]

EXT. OUTSIDE LOCATION-DAY

(Camera set on a close-up of Michael's face from a side profile)

MICHAEL (played by Justin Long)
"I know this is a big change for me. New city, new school, new friends, basically a new life. I just wanted to let you both know how much you mean to me, and how the only reason I'm the person I am today is because of the sacrifices you've made along the way. When I was the worst kid on the team and couldn't catch a fly ball to save my life, you both still showed up for every one of my little league baseball games. And then in high school when I only had one line in my one and only venture into the world of theater, you both still came to every showing. You loved me unconditionally and always knew the right thing to say in every situation. For that, and much more that words cannot express, I will always be grateful. And don't worry, I plan on coming back to visit soon, and I'm sure I'll have plenty of great stories to tell when I do, but something tells me, you'll both already know each and every one of them. I love you mom and dad."

Michael places his hand on his parent's grave and walks away. The camera pans directly over the grave, which reads "John Bailey: Apr 4, 1959 - Jun 13, 2008" "Kathryn Bailey: Jun 27, 1962 - May 14, 2009"

(Cue Opening Theme Song and Video Package)

[yankeesrj12]

Wow! It was a only a small portion, but I love it! Quite sad how both his parents are dead, yet very touching.

[Fifty]

The script is utterly incredible. I know many won't have time to read it in full but you all really should when it becomes available.

[Smooty]

[Smooty]

Originally Posted by yankeesrj12

Wow! It was a only a small portion, but I love it! Quite sad how both his parents are dead, yet very touching.

Thank you so much for the support. It's got some tough competition out there, so I hope everyone gives it a shot by reading at least through the synopsis I'll have posted along with the full pilot episode script that Fifty is alluding to. Thanks for the kind words Fifty as well, and thank you for believing in the project enough to select it first. Hope you like the new banner I just put together. I'll be in touch via PM's about further episodes (I've been working on the episode synopsises for the past week or so and should have the next batch of episodes to you soon)

[Smooty]

Here's the synopsis of the show originally posted on the other forum for those who aren't familiar with it.

Falling With Style
Justin Long: Michael Bailey
Minka Kelly: Ashley Reed
Michael Cera: Jimmy Cooper
Emma Roberts: Jennifer Ward
Richard Dean Anderson: Professor Harper (he never lets anyone know his first name)
Bronson Pinchot: Pierre Moxley

Guest/Recurring Roles
Jeffrey Dean Morgan- John Bailey
Diane Lane- Kathryn Bailey
Clive Owen- Daniel Reed
Jennifer Connelly- Samantha Reed
Zooey Deschanel- TBD
Bree Turner- TBD
Lacey Chabert- TBD
Taylor Lautner- TBD
Ryan Reynolds- TBD
Kellan Lutz- TBD


This show follows Michael Bailey as the main character. Michael is your standard nice guy (very focused on his studies, doesn’t spend much time partying, and works full time to put himself through college after his parents passed away from cancer within one year of each other when Michael was 19). He starts to think about where his life is heading, and what he wants to do after he graduates. In the pilot episode, he goes to his first class, where he meets Professor Harper. Michael is captivated by the teacher, and as the season progresses, their connection grows stronger as Professor Harper takes on a much more important role in Michael’s future. Also in this first class is Minka Kelly’s character Ashley Reed. Ashley and Michael have a history with each other, as they spent several summers together years ago when their parents had summer homes nearby each other. Michael is shocked to see her again, recalling how her parents and Ashley moved away when they were 17 and sold their summer home. As the season progresses, these two become closer and closer, but there is a secret Ashley is keeping from Michael that kills her inside to keep.

As mentioned previously, Michael works at a Greeting Card Factory Outlet store called “Kramllah” (Hallmark backwards). The store is run by the always eccentric Frenchman Pierre Moxley (played to perfection by Bronson Pinchot). Everyone in the store dislikes Moxley, and out of this dislike comes strong bonds between Michael and fellow worker (and balloon handler) Jimmy Cooper (played by Michael Cera). Some of the things that Moxley does to upset his associates: makes them dress up based on the holiday being celebrated, threatens to fire them if they don’t say his last name with a French accent, and talks down to everyone as if they are his slave. Also working at “Kramllah” as a cashier is Jennifer Ward (played by Emma Roberts). Jimmy Cooper desperately longs for her affection, and relies on Michael (who has little enough experience as it is) to help him court the lovely cashier. As the season continues, this quest leads to quite a few hilarious mishaps as Jimmy tries to impress Jennifer and win her over. Several obstacles present themselves over the course of the first season, and Jimmy has to ask himself if he should just give up or is it worth it to stick in there.

This series can be best described as a splash of Comedy and Drama. There are many twists and turns that take place over the remainder of the year, and more characters join in as the season progresses. I think this type of show works best with a 1 Hour format.

As for the title, I have to admit that I stole it from a line in Toy Story. It doesn’t have to relate to falling in love, it really relates more to how a person reacts to having obstacles thrown their way.

[Julie]

It's very good. We wanted this one, but MBN got lucky. I do plan on reading all the scripts and episode descriptions of every show once we launch on Monday, so I'm looking forward to reading this one in whole!

[Smooty]

Fifty has just posted the full script for the Pilot episode. It can be found (and downloaded) at the following link:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/20127968/F...dn2fs5nlzwnfie

For those who can't get through the entire thing, I've posted another excerpt below of when Michael meets the eccentric store manager Pierre Moxley. I'll post more of these as we get closer to the premiere date on 9-29-09.

INT. KRAMLLAH-DAY
Michael walks in and heads up to the cashier on duty, Jennifer Ward.

MICHAEL
Excuse me, I saw the "Help Welcomed" sign out there and was hoping to fill out an application to apply.

JENNIFER
Oh, I gotcha. Well I just actually started here myself. I'm Jennifer by the way. Let me get the store manager for you... (paging over the intercom) Pierre to Register 13, Pierre to Register 13.

MICHAEL
Register 13 eh?

Michael has a quizzical look on his face as the camera pans over the only two registers in the store.

JENNIFER
Oh, yeah, well that's Pierre's call. He likes to make it seem like we're a humongous store, and it's really not worthwhile to argue with him.

Pierre Moxley strolls up to the register

PIERRE
(in a thick French accent)
What seems to be the problem Jennifer? Have you already forgotten how to refill the receipt paper?!

JENNIFER
No problem Pierre, we're all good on receipt paper. This gentleman happens to be interested in an application to work here.

PIERRE
Application? Application?! I don't have time for applications. We may sell loads of it, but I hate paper. It is so wasteful and uncivilized.

Pierre looks over Michael.

PIERRE
Come with me. I will interview you now!

Pierre strolls away quickly, and Michael has a confused look on his face as he follows him. He looks back at Jennifer with a look of comical fear and she lets out a slight laugh and smiles back.

INT. PIERRE’S OFFICE-DAY
Michael takes a seat across from Pierre. In Pierre's office, Michael notices a life size portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte shaking hands with Pierre. He also notices France's flag hanging behind Pierre's desk. The nameplate on Pierre's desk reads: "Pierre Moxley: directeur de magasin." Pierre notices Michael looking at the nameplate.

PIERRE
Do you have any idea what directeur de magasin means?

MICHAEL
Ummm, I actually never took French. If I had to guess, I'd say magazine director?

PIERRE
(shaking his head)
You Americans are all the same. It means store manager. Which means, anything that goes on in this store, I manage it. And when you step foot into my store, you shall respect it as if I were having you over for dinner at my home.

MICHAEL
Definitely.

PIERRE
And don't think I would ever invite you over to dinner at my actual home, don't even get the idea of it in your head.

MICHAEL
It is not in there sir, no worries.

PIERRE
Look, I am but a simple man from Paris, trying to make an honest living in a disgusting city. I expect much of my employees, and am often disappointed. Do you think you can meet my expectations?

MICHAEL
I definitely do sir.

PIERRE
We shall see. I will ask you a series of questions, and based on your responses, I will either give you the job or tell you to leave and never return, got it!?

MICHAEL
Ummm, yes, yes I got it.

PIERRE
And don't think of lying one bit. I have a BS detector unlike anything you have ever seen. First question, what is the name of this store?

MICHAEL
Kramllah (mispronounced Cram-La as he heard it from the truck driver earlier)

PIERRE
No No No No No No No! It is not cram! There is no cram in this store! This is a beautiful, luxurious location. Why would there be a need to cram anything?

MICHAEL
I...I... I definitely agree.

PIERRE
When you are royalty, what do you feed to your servants?

MICHAEL
Uh, food?

PIERRE
You dolt, I'm not an idiot. Of course you feed them food, but a specific type of food! You feed them the crumbs. That is why this store is called Kramllah. I am the royalty, and these greeting cards are the crumbs I provide to society. So that is why it is pronounced "Crum-La."

MICHAEL
Oh. I kinda just assumed that you called it Kramllah because it's Hallmark backwards?

PIERRE
(in disbelief)
Hallmark, what is Hallmark?

MICHAEL
You know, not important Pierre, never mind.

PIERRE
(slightly annoyed)
You know, I'll let it slide this first time. But I would appreciate it, if you would roll the rrrrrrrr's when pronouncing my name.

MICHAEL
Oh, ok. I gotcha Pierrrrrre.

PIERRE
Better. Not much though. So, have you ever sold greeting cards before?

MICHAEL
No, no sir I haven't.

PIERRE
Do you have any experience or special talents with balloons?

MICHAEL
Um, no, I can't say that I do.

PIERRE
Hmmm... do you have any thoughts on the French and Indian war?

MICHAEL
Well, I, uh, it's been a while since I've taken a history class, so I really wouldn't feel right commenting on that since it's not fresh in my mind.

PIERRE
From where you're sitting, just how visible is my bald spot?

MICHAEL
(pretending like he's looking closely at Pierre's head)
Well, um, what bald spot?

PIERRE
Ah-ha! I knew the Rogaine was working. I saw three new hairs this morning. If it's one thing Americans are good for, it is hair restoration products. Bunch of narcissists.

Pierre leans forward and motions for Michael to look at his bald spot.

PIERRE
See, you see them???

MICHAEL
Oh yes, they're definitely there, all three of them.

Pierre smiles as he holds a mirror up to his head, admiring his new three strands of hair.

PIERRE
Ahhh, yes. So where were we? Hmmm, what kind of work experience do you have?

MICHAEL
Well I used to work at an electronics store back home. I started when I was 16 and just recently left there when I moved to Chicago.

PIERRE
Hmmm, electronics eh? I have some computer stations here that aren't quite up to par right now. Do you think you could get them up and running?

MICHAEL
Yeah, I should be able to. I'm pretty handy with computers.

PIERRE
Well then, as for the job. It's minimum wage, 30-40 hours a week. We have an opening right now stocking shelves. How interested are you?

MICHAEL
Very sir.

PIERRE
Alright then, you start today. Follow me.

Michael follows Pierre out of the office.

MICHAEL
Well is there any paperwork you need me to fill out first?

PIERRE
Ah Ah Ah! What did I tell you about paper?

MICHAEL
Oh, ok, alright.

Pierre opens the warehouse door and Michael sees over 100 boxes stacked up on the loading dock from floor to ceiling.

PIERRE
Did I mention this position has been vacant for a few weeks? You should be able to get this done in a snap, but first, let's get you working on one of our broken registers up front.

MICHAEL
Broken, I thought you said it was running but just not up to par?

PIERRE
Technicalities. You say toe-mah-toe, I say poe-tah-toe.

Pierre walks away and Michael follows him with a confused look on his face, turning around once more before he leaves to look at the huge pile of boxes.