Lulu in Honolulu (18 page)

LULU

(pointing)

Look! A phone booth! Let's go.

Lulu and Noelani take off toward a dirty, neglected, old telephone booth near the beach park's picnic area.

NOELANI

Do you know how to use it?

LULU

Sure. I've seen people do it tons of times in old movies.

Lulu and Noelani squeeze into the small, grimy booth. Lulu snatches the receiver and dials Alexis's cell phone.

LULU

(into the receiver)

ALOHA
? HELLLOOO!! It's me, Lulu.

The girls slam heads as they both try to put their ear to the phone receiver.

NOELANI

I don't hear anything.

LULU

(trying to keep the panic out of her voice)

Me neither. Just like a dead tone.

Lulu slams the phone back on the receiver, picks it up again, and dials, again.

LULU

(shouting)

Hello! Lex. Are you there?

NOELANI

Lu! Look on the phone. It says you need to put in money.

LULU

How much? I might have some in my tote bag.

Noelani pulls a crumpled dollar from her pocket and holds it out to Lulu.

NOELANI

Here. Have this.

Lulu tries to figure out where to stick the dollar bill. It doesn't seem to fit anywhere.

RRRRUUUUMMMM. RUUUUUUMMMMM.
Military truck motors rattle the glass booth. The trucks stop a few feet away.

Twenty big and tough-looking MARINES in khaki and green camouflage uniforms move out onto the beach.

RAPPING on the phone booth door makes Lulu and Noelani JUMP. It's a MARINE SERGEANT.

SERGEANT

Excuse me, you'll have get out now. We need to secure this area.

Lulu and Noelani tumble out.

LULU

Pardon me but I need to find Colonel Adams. He has my ph—

SERGEANT

No way anyone's bothering Colonel Adams now, ma'am. He's about to land a chopper on this beach by sixteen fifteen hours.

Sergeant swaggers away.

NOELANI

Lu, how soon is that?

LULU

Not exactly sure, but soon.

The girls shuffle toward the beach parking lot, where a crowd gathers.

LULU

Now I remember! We need coins to make that phone booth work.

NOELANI

(smiling)

We'll know for next time.

Almost at the parking lot, Lulu sees it and takes off.

Noelani catches up to her.

LULU

Do you see what I see?

NOELANI

I see people everywhere. Why are we running again?

LULU

There's an ice cream truck! Those guys always have coins.

At the truck, there's a long line. Since people had to get off the beach, the ice cream truck's doing a booming business.

Lulu, hair wild; clingy wet clothes; greasy, sandy face, looks part human and part sea creature. She impulsively starts jumping and waving her arms above her head, kinda like an off-timed jumping jack.

LULU

Hey! I'm trying to get my mom her job back! She's gotta make a movie! I need some change and fast.

Everyone in line at the truck notices her, including the TEEN BOY selling the ice cream. He leans his head out the service window.

TEENAGER SELLING ICE CREAM

Sure!

(reaches behind him and jangles a box full of change)

But that's not enough to make a movie.

LULU

Well, I need to make a phone call. My friend and I tried to use that phone booth but we only had a dollar bill and—

TEENAGER SELLING ICE CREAM

You just need to make a call? Why didn't ya say so?

(reaches in his pocket)

Just use my phone.

Teenager hands it down to her.

LULU

(to Teenager in the truck)

Mahalo
!

TEENAGER

Hey, always happy to lend my phone to someone making a movie!

Lulu immediately dials Alexis.

Lulu stands still while it rings. After awhile…

LULU

(yelling)

No! Lex, don't hang up!! It's not Ice Scream's a Scream calling. It's me, LULU!

EXT. BELLOWS BEACH AND PARKING LOT—2:55 P.M. (or 1455 in military time)

Lulu spots Alexis's black Bug first. She swings her tote bag over her head like a lasso to stop the car.

It halts and the passenger door opens.

LULU

Aloha,
Maxwell! Are my parents with you?

Lulu peers into the car.

MAXWELL

Behind us.

An exhausted-looking Maxwell pushes his moppish curly bangs off his forehead every few seconds. He has a cell phone pressed against his left ear. Alexis, wearing a navy strapless sundress with a flirty short skirt, hops out. Her silky hair shines and her red lips glisten.

MAXWELL

(looking from Lulu to Alexis)

You sisters don't look anything alike, but you are BOTH making me crazy.

Lulu and Alexis shoot each other a quick smile.

LULU

(whispers)

Lex, you got them to come?

ALEXIS

(pointing to an Escalade behind her)

Yup. But I'm warning you. Linc is freaking and Fiona may come out swinging a hatchet.

Noelani retreats toward the woods behind the parking lot. Lulu runs after her.

BELLOWS PARKING LOT—CONTINUOUS

A car door clicks open.

Fiona steps out. The navy pants and stiff white blouse she's been wearing since this morning still look fresh. Even the striped sweater hasn't slid an inch off her thin shoulders. Her long, dark hair, however, is now pulled back into a ponytail. Her mouth seems held by a coil about to spring open.

FIONA

(hissing)

Maxwell. I don't see
any
aircraft of
any
kind here. I only see, ahhh, ahhh public carnival!

Fiona tugs off her sunglasses. Her narrowing eyes blaze fury. She surveys the beachgoers crowding the beach park and parking lot.

MAXWELL

(stuttering)

R-r-r-right. I s-s-see what you mean b-b-but—

Linc approaches. An olive-green messenger bag stuffed with a screenplay is slung over his shoulder.

LINC

(shouting)

I'm already reading the new script from the new director.

(pulls script from his bag and shakes it at Fiona)

For your information: I'm one of America's hottest action stars!

Linc turns back toward the Escalade.

Meanwhile, the Sound Engineer and Camera Man set up their equipment. They're not sure what's going on. Maxwell got them to head out with Fiona. He promised she was directing the end of the movie. Of course, Maxwell just did and said what Alexis told him to.

Fiona spots Maxwell.

FIONA

(seething)

I hope you like cold, wet England. You can get your bags and leave tonight.

Fiona turns to get back into the Escalade but spins back around to Maxwell.

(continues)

Just wondering how you could be such a daft idiot! Making us traipse out here!

MAXWELL

Alexis said that—

Fiona turns around to see Alexis. She's furiously tugging the ends of her long hair.

LULU

(huffing and puffing)

Hi, Mom!

(grabs her left side)

I've got a cramp. Sorry. I was trying to get Noelani to help me explain.

FIONA

Sorry?!

LULU

I can clear things up.

Linc hurries back over when he spots Lulu.

ALEXIS

(finding her voice)

See, this morning Lulu told me—

LINC and FIONA

LULU?!!

LULU

First, don't blame Maxwell.

Maxwell's too busy pushing curls from his forehead to think of anything to say.

LULU

Lex and I—

Lulu looks at Alexis, who's cowering near Maxwell.

FIONA

(deep anger)

Alexis was also involved in this disaster?

LULU

Well…no is the answer. It really was me. She was just involved because of
koa
and
ohana
.

LINC

You're not even speaking English!

FIONA

(yelling)

We're standing in the middle of…who knows where…looking ridiculous because Maxwell insisted a special helicopter was coming to a secret spot.

Marine Sergeant 1 approaches Lulu.

SERGEANT 1

Ma'am, these are compliments of Colonel Adams.

Marine Sergeant 1 from the front gate hands Lulu binoculars. She drapes the strap around her neck.

LULU

(to her parents)

See! Maxwell's right. There will be a helicopter here.

VRRRUUUM
of motors.

Television NEWS TRUCKS SCREECH into the parking lot. Camera people and reporters rush toward the sand. A woman in a frosty-pink pantsuit waves her pink nails as soon as she sees Lulu.

MRS. LYONS

(calls out to Lulu)

Helloo-ha! I told you I know everyone on the island! I got all the TV stations.

She approaches Lulu, Linc, and Fiona.

MRS. LYONS

(trills to Linc and Fiona)

Hi! You two are the only people I don't know in O'ahu. I'm Clarissa Lyons. I looove that Lulu planned all this!

FIONA and LINC

She did?!

MRS. LYONS

So exciting. Off to get a great view! Toodles!

Mrs. Lyons dashes off to catch the news crews.

Uncle Akamu's battered blue van CHUGS around the TV vans. Ohana kids wave little American and Hawaiian flags out the window.

LULU

(shouts)

Aloha,
you guys!

FIONA

(shrieking)

I'm all about being in control! This situation is totally OUT of control! All I need now is that heartless, cheap, career-killing Sanyo to see me here!

With the clamor, Fiona hadn't heard Mr. Sanyo clear his throat. But Linc did. He taps Fiona's shoulder and points.

They turn and are face-to-face with a very angry Mr. Sanyo.

Fiona takes three practiced deep breaths and exhales slowly after each one. Linc is too stunned to do anything.

MR. SANYO

(glowering)

What the—

Lulu pounces in between them. Before she can open her mouth, Noelani yanks at her shirt.

NOELANI

(whispering)

Lulu, I'm so sorry. I can't find him.

Lulu squeezes her friend's arm.

LULU

Geez peas! When was the last time we saw him?! I can't even remember.

NOELANI

At the ice cream truck?

LULU

In the phone booth?

LULU and NOELANI

The beach!!

Lulu turns back to the cluster of adults.

LULU

I can explain later, but right now I've gotta get to the beach. I have a crisis.

All gape at her.

LULU

Well, I mean, another crisis.

LINC

My anger right now is way beyond—

FIONA

(harshly)

Whatever you did here today, Lulu, was unacceptable. You've ruined so much.

LULU

(looking her mother in the eye)

I didn't mean to. I wanted to do the opposite. I got the end of your movie all staged and ready. You just have to direct it.

HEAVY SILENCE.

ALEXIS

And, Fiona, if you don't get everything set and ready to roll, like, ASAP, you're going to miss your final scene!

Alexis winks at her sister.

ALEXIS

(to Lulu)

Now go find that disgusting dog of yours before it drowns again. I'll handle this gang.

CAMERA PULLS BACK to show Fiona barking orders, Linc and the crew scrambling, and Maxwell scurrying off.

LULU

(shouts)

MR. SAAAANYO!

As soon as he looks in Lulu's direction, she tosses him the binoculars from around her neck. He grabs them in midair and presses them to his eyeglasses. Alexis gives Lulu a thumbs-up.

EDGE OF BELLOWS BEACH—FIVE MINUTES LATER

OUUUU OUUUUU OUUUUU.
Howling noises drift over the noise of the waves and the blowing wind.

LULU

Oh no! That's Watson!

NOELANI

He hears the blades already.

(pointing)

Look behind that cloud!

A huge black helicopter blocks out the sun for a moment.

Twenty Marines have made a huge circle with orange flares in the sand.

LULU

(yelling to Noelani over the roar of the approaching copter)

How am I going to find puggie?

Noelani, who had been staring down at her toes, slightly lifts her head to answer.

NOELANI

I don't know.

Lulu climbs on top of a picnic table and looks around.

CAMERA SHOWS Lulu's POV. Vehicles jam the beach parking lot. Hundreds of people stand frozen. All look toward the sky. Some have climbed up on their cars. Lulu spots Uncle Akamu, Auntie Moana, and her Ohana pals sitting on the roof of the blue van. She waves, but they don't see her. Like everyone else, they're watching the sky.

One sharp voice cuts through the noise.

FIONA

The lighting is perfect right now. Roll tape!

WHIRRR WHIRRRR
drowns out every other noise. The blades make more wind than the usual late-afternoon wind blowing off the Pacific Ocean.

Marine Sergeant 2 approaches. Lulu recognizes him. It's the other Sergeant from the guard gate.

SERGEANT 2

Miss Nui, come with me, please.

Noelani's eyes open wide. Shocked and scared, she blinks nervously.

NOELANI

(weakly)

Me?

LULU

Noe! It's OK. We know this guy.

Sergeant 2 stands at attention, waiting.

Lulu gives Noelani a light shove.

LULU

Go on. And look! Watson wants to go too.

Watson, who had been scrounging up food left on the beach, trots up to Sergeant 2. Memories of picnic scraps are fresh in his doggie brain. If someone's going back out on the beach, he's coming along.