The Juli Project

(First scene opens to a normal, neighborhood in a busy city. It is fall as seen by the brown leaves barely hanging onto the oak trees and the piles of leaves children are jumping into. Sounds of laughter and joy fill the air as the parents shake their heads and continue raking. Teenagers sit out on the porches and stoops talking about everything and nothing at once.)

(A moving van is seen pulling up to a plain, dark brown townhouse as well as an SUV. The man who is driving is young in his late 30’s and early 40’s. His dark hair lighting to an auburn-brownish color and his dark eyes hide behind the wire-framed glasses resting on his high nose. He is dressed in semi-casual clothes for fall. He is tall and skinny and seems excited as he looks through the neighborhood.)

MR. DRAKE: *still staring outside* What do you think, Heather? *looks around* Looks beautiful here. Very picturesque. You’ll love it here. *turns to the passenger seat*

(‘I’m No Angel’ is faintly heard on the radio. A girl about the age of 11 sulks in her seat. She is petite with dirty blonde hair from her mother that cascaded down past her shoulders a bit and green eyes hiding behind glasses. She glares at her father before resuming her glare out her window. She is wearing a black shirt with a rainbow on it with bleach spot cut offs.)

HEATHER: *acidly* It’s so spiffy. *folds arms across chest* I want to go back to San Diego. At least, I had friends there. I had a girlfriend there too.

MR. DRAKE: Of course you did, Heather. *turns the SUV into the driveway* She was a girl and she was a *stresses* friend. *turns to Heather and talks in a soft yet fatherly tone* Heather, I want you to go out with BOYS. That’s how life is supposed to be. Now get your stuff out and pick a room. They’re upstairs. *Turns off the radio and kills the engine and unlocks the doors*

HEATHER: *sighs disgustedly and rolls her eyes before hopping out. She grabs her large duffel bag with her toiletries and ignores the casual ‘hey’s from the popular crowd with the latest fashions and ogling over manufactured boybands. She walks through the double oak doors and up the steps, walking and looking at the ceiling until she finds a long chord. She takes it and gives a quick yank. Stairs cascade from the top leading to an attic. She climbs the stairs and into a white painted room. She sets down her duffel bag and shouts down the ladder* Dad, I want the attic!

MR. DRAKE: *shouts back* OK! You want the attic! Go hang out with the kids while we get everything settled in!

HEATHER: *groans and goes back down the ladder. She goes out the double doors and steps onto the stoop. She frowns, knowing she wouldn’t fit in with the popular crowd. She looks around to see if her neighbors were ‘normal’ as well. She sighed and sat down on the stoop. Her back leaning against the building. She closed her eyes and imagined the warm San Diego sun. her eyes open at the sound of a guitar strumming to a likeable tune*

(A girl also sits on the side of her stoop in front of her firebrick townhouse. She is dressed in a dark blue, long sleeved shirt with a large black t-shirt over it with the sign of Libra on it along with a white triangle. She is also wearing slightly baggy sea green boy pants. She is holding a guitar and is concentrating before scratching out something on a sheet of paper. She finally looks up in Heather’s direction. Her eyes are very dark, almost black and her hair is black as night with one lone red streak on the layered right of her bangs.)

HEATHER: *shouts* Hey! What’s your name?

JULI: *smiles and shouts* I’m Juli Saunders! What’s yours?

HEAHTER: I’m Heather Drake!

JULI: I think it’d make a lot more sense if you came over here! then we wouldn’t have to shout 10 yards! *laughs*

HEATHER: *smiles and walks over, then sits on the same ledge as Juli* So why don’t you hang out with those guys over there? *points to the popular crowd*

JULI: They wouldn’t be able to understand me if I spoke plain English. When’d you move in? And why aren’t you going to hang out with those Twinks?

HEATHER: Well…Today, I guess. I moved from San Diego with my dad. Well, I never did fit in with popular people. I usually hang around people who are…well, let’s say, different.

JULI: *laughs and suddenly throws her arms wide open* Welcome to LA! Where you gonna go to school?

HEATHER: *giggles at Juli’s crazy act* Jackson Jr. High.

JULI: *eyes widen* Really? Me too! Hey, don’t worry about rides. I can get you one. Maya is getting me another broom today from town. *bobs her head proudly*

HEATHER: *questioningly* A…broom?

JULI: Yeah, a broom. Let’s just call it a stereotype come true. *grins* I practice elemental magic. *shrugs happily* It’s a hobby to keep me busy at least. That and my music. Gotta work on it until I can score a deal.

HEATHER: *amazed* You’re looking for a record deal too? Maybe we can be a duo act!

JULI: *smiles* Sorry, honey, but I work alone. Until I can see that we click real well together, we’re just gonna be swapping music. *She looks to the west, shades her eyes with her hand and squints her eyes.* Uh-oh, it’s sundown. Maya’s boyfriend doesn’t like it if I stay outside.

HEATHER: *gives a strange look*

JULI: She adopted me. Not my real mother. She gives me my space but she only asks for me to obey some rules so that I won’t get taken away. She’s really cool. *a little less enthusiastically* Her boyfriend is cool too. *shakes her head* You’ll have to come over again and meet her one day. *She gets up and gathers her papers.* Laters. *Opens the large, green door and steps inside.*

HEATHER: *gets up and walks down to the sidewalk and walks back over to her home*

ASHLEY: *taps Heather’s shoulder* Hey. Why are you hanging out with Juli? She’s weird and crazy. She thinks she can fly on brooms. I’m Ashley, I can make you popular.

HEATHER: *smiles nicely* I don’t think so. I wouldn’t want to be a Twink if you paid me. *hops up the steps and into her new home* Maybe LA won’t be so bad. Maybe it’ll be fun.

(Sunlight streams through the window of Heather’s attic. Heather is seen sleeping in a four-post bed with blue and red comforters, pillows, and blankets.)

MR. DRAKE: *calls from the kitchen* Heather, wake up! It’s almost time for school!

HEATHER: *groans and opens her eyes. She grabs her glasses from the table next to her and places them on her nose. She sits up and yawns. She looks at the digital clock that reads 7:15. Her eyes widen as she springs out of bed and down the ladder, into the bathroom.* Why didn’t you wake me up earlier, dad?!

MR. DRAKE: I tried but you were so sweet asleep in your bed. By the way, your friend Juli’s here!

HEATHER: *races down the stairs in black tear-aways with her black t-shirt. She grabs her backpack from the chair and grabs a piece of toast. She looks at Juli who grins from her black shirt and red, pleated kilt. She wore red and black striped stockings with not so clumpy black boots* Broom?

JULI: *shrugs nonchalantly* Nah, I thought we’d take the normal way since it’s your first day.

HEATHER: *rolls her eyes and drags Juli out of the house. They laugh and start walking* So what’s Jackson like?

JULI: I wouldn’t know. I don’t do anything. I just do whatever the assignment is and ignore everything else. What’s your schedule? *grabs the schedule out of Heather’s hands and examines it* Ha! No classes with me! Seems that you got lucky. *grins* I’ll wait for you at the flagpole.

HEATHER: *open and closes her mouth* What happened to your parents?

JULI: *stops for a second before continuing to walk* I thought I told you I was raised in an orphanage before Maya came along. End of story.

(Heather looks at her questioningly before continuing to walk. They arrive at a large school. Juli separates from Heather and into the mess of students that are crowding since the bell has rung. Heather stares up at the intimidating building before treading up the school steps and through the doors. Time passes. Heather enters room 317 after a slightly lost lunch and sees a young woman about her early 30’s. The woman is dressed in a wine red turtleneck and black dress pants. Her brown hair is a bit fluffy but mostly straight and long to past her shoulders with half of it clipped back.)

MS. AMOS: *sees Heather walk into the classroom. She smiles a warm smile and holds out her hand* Hello, I’m Miss Amos. You must be Heather. Welcome to English and World History. Why don’t you have the seat behind Juli over there? *points to a corner of the room. We see Juli with her head bobbing to music that plays in her head and writing something*

HEATHER: *silently walks towards the seat and sits at the desk. Whispers* Hey. You lied.

JULI: *turns and whispers* Yeah, well, I scanned it. *shrugs a bit* Anyhow, you’ll love Ms. Amos, she’s real nice. Unfortunately, Ashley is also in this class. Don’t worry, though. Ms. Amos doesn’t really care for Twinks. *points to Ashley walking up to Ms. Amos*

MS. AMOS: Ashley, you can complain as much as you want, but I won’t transfer Juli out of my class now go sit back down.

ASHLEY: *huffs and stomps back to her seat while glaring at Juli*

JULI: *smiles at Ashley* See?

(Both laugh as the class starts. Hours pass when finally, the school bell rings. We see Juli and Heather walking down the street back home)

JULI: So, how was school?

HEATHER: *grins* I wouldn’t know. Man, I love how we just click.

JULI: How’s this? *turns to Heather* We promise to be best friends.

HEATHER: *turns to Juli* Yeah, for now and forever. *Both shake hands and laugh before throwing an arm around each other’s shoulders* You know, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship. *both laugh*

(Laughter lasts until we see a slightly older Juli waiting in front of the Drake residence. She is holding two brooms in her hand. She rolls her eyes and whistles towards Heather’s attic room. ‘Strange Little Girl’ plays in the background.)

JULI: *in a slightly whiny tone* Feather! Mr. Rhinestein isn’t gonna like to spend detention with me again so hurry your butt up!

HEATHER: *the door swings open and close as Heather runs down, shrugging her jacket and backpack on in one move* I do NOT make us late.

JULI: Yes you do, now grab a broom. *hands one to Heather who takes it and sits on it. Juli sits on her own and looks at the sky* On the counta 3. 1…2…*Heather zooms into the sky, laughing at Juli’s aggravated expression* HEY! *Juli zooms into the sky and speeds ahead* Oh, you wanna race, huh?

HEATHER: Talk, talk, talk. *smiles then blasts ahead so they are at neck and neck* Hey look, there’s the parking lot! *points to Marston High School* We better land soon or else we’ll get flagged by the police again!

JULI: *nods and steers her broom down. Both land safely and part as the bell rings* See you at lunch!

(Scene changes to Lunch as ‘Let’s Get Down Tonight’ plays. Various students bob their head to the music as others laugh and talk and eat. We see Heather, Juli, and others like them laughing and eating as well. Juli has her guitar out and they play a little bit of music since they are so far from the mainstream crowd.)

GIRL1: Hey, you guys get word from the record company yet?

JULI: Nah. If we don’t hear by tomorrow or today, we’re trying someone else.

(The bell rings as everyone groan and start throwing their trash away. An elderly teacher stands in the doorway of a classroom, waiting for his art class to arrive. Everyone splits up as Juli and Heather head to their Freshman English. They arrive in the small class and take their seats, not really concentrating on Greek Mythology.)

MR. ALGROVE: Juli and Heather. *the girls look at him as he waves two blue slips in the air. He is grinning so they are both a bit suspicious. At that moment, a man dressed as a chauffeur appears at the door. They look at the passes and their eyes widen. They look at each other before jumping up and down in excitement*

BOTH: We have the audition! *They gather their things and flash out the door. ‘Everywhere’ plays. We still hear them whooping as the limo peels out of the school. The scene changes to them sitting in the waiting room. Juli is holding her dark opaque guitar and Heather is holding sheet music*

JULI: Which song should we do? *tunes up her guitar*

HEATHER: I think we should do a good song. The Michelle Branch song?

JULI: *scrunches her nose* We have to? *Heather pouts* Hold on, lemme test it. *plays a few notes and plays a few chords* Yeah, I got it.

SECRATERY: Heather Drake and Juli Saunders?

(Juli and Heather stand up and walk into the office. They sit on chairs in front of the desk. The chair facing the window turns to reveal a businesswoman with brown hair and green eyes. She stares at them as if judging their talent by looking in their souls.)

MS. ADAMS: So, you’re the duo team of Heather and Juli. Are you separate artists that are together? Are you a duo? Explain.

JULI: *looks hesitantly between Heather and Ms. Adams* Um…well, we’re friends. And I guess we’re a pair. Yeah, we’re a duo.

MS. ADAMS: Hmmm…Play for me. *motions to Juli’s guitar and Heather* I want to see how well you work together.

Heather: Um…ok. *looks over at Juli* On the counta 3. 1…2…3…*Juli begins to play a soft and simple tune. Heather takes a deep breath before singing* Turn it inside out so I can see….The part of you that’s drifting over me…Cause when I’m awake you’re…you’re never there…And when I sleep, you’re…you’re everywhere…you’re everywhere. *continues. As the song continues, the girls become more and more relaxed. Ms. Adams watches intently*

MS. ADAMS: *eyes are unreadable* I’ll call you girls when I have reached my decision. *busies herself with papers. Heather and Juli leave. After hearing the door close, Ms. Adams picks up the phone and dials a number* Hello, Mr. Buxton? Janine Adams here. I have an act you can book for that Rookie Tour.

(Scene changes to Juli laying on her bed on her stomach, reading a book. The soft orange glow of her bedside gives enough light for her. Her guitar sits propped up next to the mauve themed bed. The walls are white with dotted orange lilacs. An Americana Top Bell Wall Phone hangs on the wall near her guitar. Paintings and sketches of anime drawings cover a cork message board. The door is locked. A sharp ring from the phone snaps Juli out of her reverie.)

JULI: *picks up the receiver* Hello?

MS. ADAMS: Hello, am I speaking to Juli Saunders?

JULI: *curious* Yes, this is Juli speaking. Who would this be?

MS. ADAMS: I would be your new manager, Janine Adams. Congratulations, you and Heather Drake will need to stop by my office tomorrow to sign the papers. Then Monday, you start rehearsals for your tour.

JULI: *squeals with excitement* Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We’ll drop by tomorrow to sign. I’ll call Heather right now. *hangs up then dials Heather’s number*

HEATHER: *a bit grouchy* Better be a good reason for interrupting my Friday night movie…

JULI: *laughs* A very good reason. WE GOT THE CONTRACT!

HEATHER: Are you pulling my leg? We seriously got the contract?!

JULI: YES! *Both scream with happiness* We have to head to the office tomorrow to sign the contract, though. Then we start rehearsals for the tour Monday.

HEATHER: We have a tour?!

JULI: Yes and no. Yes, we are gonna be on tour and no, it’s not our own. It’s the Rookie Tour! You know, the one that comes around each year with new artists?

HEATHER: WHOOHOO!

(Scene changes to Heather’s home.)

MR. DRAKE: *runs up the ladder and into Heather’s room* Heather, what happened? I heard you screaming.

HEATHER: *hugs her father* We got the deal! Ok, Juli, I’m-a have to call you tomorrow. I’ll come over at 10:00 so we can go to the studio.

JULI: *a bit too quickly* No. I’ll come over your house. Uh…Maya and her boyfriend like sleeping in late so I’ll be over at 9 or so.

HEATHER: *a bit confused* Ok…yeah, come over. We’ll be up at 8 anyway. *Hangs up*

(Scene changes to the next morning. It had rained the night before and it is still a bit sprinkling now but the sun is peaking out from the east. A figure hobbles along to the Drake residence and knocks on the door. Heather answers the door and lets in Juli.)

JULI: *slips off the hood of her poncho* Boy, did it come down hard last night or what?

HEATHER: *gasps* Juli, where did you get that bruise on your cheek? *makes a move towards Juli*

JULI: *moves away as a hand moves up to her face. She looks in a mirror and sees a bruise* Oh that. *becomes worried* Um…I ran into the coat rack. It was pretty dark at my house. *Heather is about to interrupt but Juli changes the subject* So your dad’s driving us?

HEATHER: Uh…yeah. *Mr. Drake walks in*

MR. DRAKE: You girls ready to roll?

JULI: *applies concealer to hide the bruise* Yeah, let’s go. Come on, Feather. As soon as we sign, we’re on a one-way ticket to stardom! *spreads her arms wide. Grabs Heather’s arm and drags her outside to the car.* Hey, if we go to San Diego on this tour, we probably could see your girlfriend.

HEATHER: *wistfully* Yeah…

MR. DRAKE: Take one last look at the neighborhood, girls. You won’t see it often from now on.

HEATHER: *looks back, smiling*

JULI: *sits back in her seat. Quietly whispers* Bye-bye…*zones off*

(Scene changes to a hotel lobby that is practically empty except for a recently-turned-15-year-old Heather who is anxiously pacing the floor. Mr. Drake sits in a chair, as anxious as his daughter. A blonde man sits across from all of them, intensely studying papers of their music. He is William Buxton.)

JULI: *walks through the doors gingerly with a lost look in her eyes and her jacket. The radiance that danced in her eyes dies. Heather runs up to her and envelopes her in a big hug*

HEATHER: Juli, we were very worried about you.

JULI: *face softens at Heather’s touch as a fake radiance returns* Hey, hey it’s ok. I’m back. I’m sorry I forgot to call to say I was gonna be out a bit late.

HEATHER: Hey, tomorrow’s our San Diego show. I can show you Holly. Oh, you’ll love her. Come on. *Steers Juli towards the elevators* Let’s go to bed, ok?

JULI: Ok. *leans her head on Heather’s shoulder. The elevator arrives at the floor. Juli takes a silent trek to her room. She changes into her pajamas then curls into the fetal position on her bed with one lone tear streaking down her face. She finally goes to sleep with Heather watching from the doorway that connected their rooms. The phone rings in Heather’s room. She leaves her post to pick up the phone*

HEATHER: *softly* Hello?

OFFICER: Hello, is this Heather Drake? This is Officer Juanita Rameirez.

HEATHER: Hello, officer, what’s wrong?

OFFICER: I’m calling to tell you that your friend Holly McNamara was raped and killed tonight. The same sick-o raped one Juli Saunders and nearly 2 others. But apparently, Miss Saunders got away before he could kill her. Don’t worry, though, we caught the sucker and he’ll be in jail for a long, long time. Although, Miss Saunders will need to appear for the trial. Is she up to it?

HEATHER: *realizes Juli’s strange behavior* Um, officer, I don’t think Juli will be able to testify. She was acting very strange and lost tonight. Are there others that can testify?

OFFICER: *sighs* Yes, the other two girls. They witnessed the whole thing. Ok, I’ll let her slip.

HEATHER: Thank you, officer. *hangs up. Returns to her post, looking over Juli.* Oh Juli… *Juli begins to whimper and move around on the bed. Heather crawls in and holds her* Shh…it’s ok, it’s ok, Juli. I’m right here. It’s ok. *smoothes her hair* It’s ok, Juli. I’m right here. *The next day, the baggage is being loaded onto the tour bus. Juli seems to be back to her normal self as she boards the tour bus. Heather sits next to Juli on the couch.* Hey.

JULI: *smiles* Hey.

HEATHER: You ok? Cause you know you can talk to me about anything.

JULI: *eyes seem to be alarmed for a minute before replying* Of course, I’m ok. When am I not? Ok, let’s not count when I go a bit loco. I know I have you, chick, for now and forever. Just like you’ll have me.

HEATHER: *puts an arm around Juli* Yeah, we’ll always have each other.

(Scene changes to Juli laying on her stomach, intensely writing something into her journal. She is now 21 along with Heather. Her hotel room has sparse floral patterns but all the modern conveniences. Heather bursts through the door, very much different from when she was a child. She had thinned out and grew her hair to mid-back. Juli grew her hair long enough to braid it so it reached her lower back and her features grew from innocent to mature.)

HEATHER: Juli! Juli! Juli! Juli! *starts jumping on the bed but Juli quickly puts away her journal so Heather wouldn’t see anything* Juli, guess what?!

JULI: *holds Heather still* Stay still for one. *smiles* What?

HEATHER: We’re. Performing. At. The. Grammy’s.

JULI: *shakes her head slowly* What’s the difference between performing and arriving?

HEATHER: All this time, they didn’t want us to perform because they didn’t know us well enough, Julie. Now, they do. They like our music and want us to perform. Isn’t this great?! *Juli’s eyes widen as she jumps up and down with Heather* Now which song are we going to perform? It has to be perfect.

JULI: Leave it up to me. But, girlfriend, we have a rehearsal to get to. Come on! *heads out the door, dragging Heather behind her*

(Grammy Night)

MR. DRAKE: *from outside Juli’s Room and in the hallway with Heather and William Buxton* Come on, Juli! We’re leaving for the Grammy’s right now!

JULI: *calls back* Ok! *Juli hastily packs her music, journal, stage outfit and shoes as well as a bottle of pills and zips up her duffel bag. She grabs her guitar as well and heads out the door*

MR. DRAKE: *looks at Juli’s bag* Whoa, Juli, planning to move out or something?

JULI: *smiles* You got it, Mr. Drake.

(Backstage)

DIRECTOR: Here is Juli’s dressing room and here’s Heather’s dressing room. By the way, my son is a BIG fan of you two.

(Both laugh and agree for an autograph later as they head into their separate rooms)

JULI: *sits in front of the vanity. She opens her duffel bag and takes out her journal. She unlocks it and places it on the table. She dresses into her stage outfit, which is a green shirt with sparkles and dark denim jeans and black boots. She takes the sheet music in one hand and the bottle in the other and walks over to the couch*

HEATHER: *is dressed in blue jeans with a blue shirt and black boots. Her hair is partly tied back. She excitedly knocks on Juli’s dressing room door* Juli! *walks in but her joy disappears when she sees that everything is still in order.* Juli? *she looks around and gasps out loud at the sight on the orange couch. Juli lies on the couch as if she was sleeping. Papers were on her chest and an open bottle of pills were on the floor near her hand. Heather stars to weep.* Juli…*she notices the open book and begins to read through it*

JULI (o/v): “Well Diary, I guess you want to know about the rape and the beatings, huh? They’re all the same person. Maya’s boyfriend. Who killed Maya? Her boyfriend. Who would beat me if I ever did something he didn’t like? Her Boyfriend. Who raped me, killed Heather’s former g/f, and nearly did the same to two others? Her Boyfriend. Bastard that he is. Destroyed what dignity I had left. Maybe all that’s left is for me to join Maya. Yeah…I’ll watch over Heather too. God knows how much I love her. Well, see ya. Love, Julia Angel Saunders.”

HEATHER: *continues to read through the worn book*

DIRECTOR: *an hour later* One minute for Heather and Juli!

HEATHER: *walks over and grabs the papers and guitar. The papers have a little stickie on it.* “Heather, sing this song for me. I wanna rise to heaven (or fall to hell) hearing your beautiful voice one last time…” *Heather walks out and onto the stage. She sits on one solitary stool with one lone spotlight on her. She adjusts the microphone and runs a hand through her hair. We see the tear streaks shining in the light* This new song is called the Juli Project. *sings the Juli Project.*

(Scene changes to a very rainy day weeks after the Grammy’s. Fans are weeping at home and some manage to show up at the funeral site. Everyone is crying and wearing black, expressing their sorrows for Juli. The tombstone is an angel sitting leisurely with her Adidas-clad feet hanging over the edge. The writing below says: “Daughter, Friend, Performer, Lover. You’re always with us, for now and forever.” Heather doesn’t cry. Rain is dripping off of her black hat. She looks at the casket at Juli’s peaceful face. She doesn’t cry because she had cried enough the nights before. Everyone begins to leave. Heather stands alone. She kisses her fingers then places them onto the casket. Amongst all of the black roses, Heather places a blue-white rose on top before turning and leaving.)

HEATHER: *As she finishes the song at another concert, an awed hush falls over the crowd. Heather looks up to see Juli’s spirit above the audience with wings and a soft golden ring. Heather breathes just one name in awe* Juli…

End.