TOTAL KNOCKOUT

written by Karina & Malia Achico

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FADE IN:

1 INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT 1

KNOCKOUT is fighting a headache. She is sitting on a couch at a party staring down at a drink in her hand which appears to be glowing. She’s at RODDY’s birthday party where people are vaguely outlined around her. The music and chatter have grown louder and KNOCKOUT breaks away from the hypnosis, allowing her head to fall onto the back of the couch.
MAIN TITLE: TOTAL KNOCKOUT
RHEA:
Hey are you doing ok?

RHEA, a friend, approaches to make sure KNOCKOUT is alive. Dazed, KNOCKOUT takes a moment before promptly sitting up.

KNOCKOUT:
Yeah. I am good.
Her head drops back down.

RHEA:

Right.

RHEA calls out for reinforcements to help get her off the couch. SASHA and JOSEPH arrive on the scene and attempt to awkwardly lift her up. SASHA gracefully pulls KNOCKOUT while holding her drink before taking another sip. JOSEPH attempts to lift KNOCKOUT as he struggles to hold his cup. Sparing a possible spill, he places his cup down and re-adjusts his position.

JOSEPH:
Why are you like this?

SASHA:
We literally got here like twenty minutes ago. The group manages to lift her from the shoulders and begins to carry her towards the door.

RHEA:
It’s too bad really. I heard Sami just got here.

KNOCKOUT:
Sami?

KNOCKOUT sobers up, faster than lightning, and turns back to see
her party crush, SAMI, talking with some friends.

KNOCKOUT:
You mean the coolest guy to ever come to Roddy’s
parties?

SASHA:
More like the guy you never talk to.

KNOCKOUT stares thinking about every missed connection when SAMI looks in their direction. KNOCKOUT panics rushing herself and her friends into a nearby hall. When she is sure he has stopped looking, she turns to the group.

KNOCKOUT:
I have to talk to him.

JOSEPH:
Weren’t you dying like two seconds ago. KNOCKOUT disregards the statement and begins to pace.

KNOCKOUT:
There’s gotta be a way to get him to talk to me. She turns to her friends for solutions.

SASHA: (staring)
It might be your outfit?

JOSEPH:
Don't look at me.

RHEA:
How about just saying hi, and show him what you’ve
got?

KNOCKOUT:
No, that's all too obvious. I need something
bigger.

WADE, the omnipresent attendee, emerges from the background seemingly looking for new players for an upcoming game. He
approaches our main group.

WADE:
Are you guys joining this next game or not? Not hearing WADE, KNOCKOUT experiences a lightbulb moment.

JOSEPH, RHEA, SASHA:
Oh no.

KNOCKOUT:
If he see how great and awesome I am at the game- The group aggressively shakes their head in disagreement.

KNOCKOUT: (CONT’D)
Then he’ll have to notice me!

RHEA:
How about we get some fresh air before-
KNOCKOUT turns to Wade.

KNOCKOUT:
Let’s do it!

WADE nods and leads KNOCKOUT back through the crowd.

RHEA:
Wait!

RHEA turns to SASHA and JOSEPH who look just as lost. SASHA rolls her eyes before grabbing the nearest water bottle and pushing through the crowd. JOSEPH looks at RHEA and shrugs before accompanying SASHA. Stunned by this situation, RHEA reluctantly follows. The group walks up to the first drinking game.

WADE:
The rules are simple. All you have to do is

listen-
A quiet laugh pulls KNOCKOUT’s attention back to its owner,SAMI

who is refilling his drink. Voices begin to blur into a mumble as if SAMI has the power to slow down time. She watches from afar. If only I could make him laugh like that. He looks over and she
averts her gaze.

WADE: CONT’D
Does that make sense?

Time speeds up and KNOCKOUT is brought back to reality as another glowing beverage is placed in front of her. The hypnotizing light glimmers with hope. She nods.

WADE: CONT’D

Alright. On the count of three. Ready? 1, 2, 3!
Go!

We montage quickly through various drinking games, some almost too abstract and exaggerated to even be real. RHEA remains sober simply watching the fun, JOSEPH is trying really hard but not Succeeding, SASHA is a natural, and KNOCKOUT is losing terribly. Grinning in the warm humor of drunkenness, KNOCKOUT’s vision starts to blur as SAMI is lost in the delirium. The chatter and laughter around her distort and become heightened as individuals pass by. In the drunken daze, the team is slumped in a corner. RHEA is providing support with water and cool napkins. KNOCKOUT
unknowingly slaps JOSEPH who was on the verge of falling asleep.

KNOCKOUT:
Is he looking now?

JOSEPH staggeringly looks over to SAMI who is now talking to a really (really) cool girl, BIANCA. This shocks him awake.

JOSEPH:
Ohh.

SASHA:
Who’s she?

RHEA:
Who’s who?

KNOCKOUT:
Who?

JOSEPH:
It’s Bianca.

The entire group looks over to SAMI then back to KNOCKOUT who is now panicking. She falls to her knees where she is struck with a spotlight.

KNOCKOUT: (Dramatically)
Nooooooo.

She wistfully places a hand over her eyes.

KNOCKOUT: (Even more dramatic)

(Sniffle) She’s a total knockout.

The spotlight cuts as the group lifts her off the ground before relocating to the couch. KNOCKOUT pushes her face into her hands.

RHEA:
Now. Now. Don’t get all dramatic. Plus the ground
is dirty. Don’t do that.

Rhea dusts her off.

RHEA: (CONT’D)

You gotta finish what you started.

SASHA:
And yeah. I mean- she can’t be that cool and
awesome.

They look over once more to see that BIANCA is literally sparkling from being so cool and awesome.

SASHA:
Why do I even try? I’m just gonna- SASHA points to the direction of drinks before walking away.

RHEA: CONT’D
Don’t worry. Maybe scratch this and just be
yourself.

JOSEPH: CONT’D
At this point why not just fight it out.

RHEA: CONT’D
No.

KNOCKOUT looks up.
KNOCKOUT: (Mumbling)

I could so fight h—

RHEA: CONT’D
What?

RODDY, the guy who knows a guy, approaches the group during his rounds as host hearing the mumbles of a potential fight sparking

his interest.

RODDY:
Fighting? What’s all this all about a fight?

RHEA:
HEY! Happy Birthday!

JOSEPH: (Slurring)

She thinks she could take down (burps) in a fight
(burps)

JOSEPH points then fall over. SASHA rushes to pick him up. This piques RODDY’s attention as he turns to KNOCKOUT.
RODDY: (Surprised)

Really!?

KNOCKOUT’s headache worsens. WADE comes around with another round.

KNOCKOUT: (flustered)

I mean-
WADE:

Who’s ready for another round?

RODDY:
Well~ do you think you could take on a
professional wrestler?

The next shot is sat down. She looks over at Sami. She grabs the drink.

KNOCKOUT:
Psh- Of cours-
As KNOCKOUT takes the shot, she is unexpectedly kneed in the face.