PAR FOR THE COURSE<BR>
<BR>
By M Man<BR>
<BR>
Author's note:  This was, at one time, supposed to be the pilot episode
for my Stacy spinoff series.   It was to be a IIFY-IICY-length story taking
place after IICY and provide a transition between "Daria" and "Stacy!"<BR>
<BR>
I eventually decided to go with my original-original plan of starting the
"Stacy!" series with "Match Point" and scrap this fic, but I thought some
might be interested in the Stacy-Tom summer romance and a few other bits.<BR>
<BR>
So here are some fragments from "Par for the Course":<BR>
<BR>
------------------<BR>
<BR><BR>
(SCENE - Nighttime, early summer, a party taking place on the veranda of the
clubhouse at Winged Tree Country Club.  Although everyone is casually
dressed, you call tell that the attendees are well-off - expensive golf
pants and sport-shirts.   Andrew Landon is visible, talking to an 60ish man
who looks like a CEO.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy Rowe, dressed in sandals, shorts and a sport-shirt, enters the picture,
craning her neck to see over the other guests, as if she's looking for
someone.  She doesn't watch where she's going, and bumps into Jodie Landon.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Oops!  I'm sorry, I ...<BR>
<BR>
Jodie:  Stacy?  Stacy Rowe?  Hey, it's OK, I wasn't watching where I was
going either.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Jodie!<BR>
<BR>
Jodie:  I haven't seen you at Winged Tree before.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Well, I've never been here before.  I'm, uh, looking for George ...<BR>
<BR>
Jodie:  George ... ?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  ...  Van Rupp, my date.<BR>
<BR>
Jodie (a bit shocked):  George Van Rupp is your date?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy (a little defensive):  Uh, yeah.  Why?<BR>
<BR>
Jodie (evasively):  Uh, no special reason.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Have you seen him?  He disappeared about ten minutes ago.<BR>
<BR>
Jodie (uneasily):  I think I saw him go into the clubhouse ...<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  OK, I'll look there!  Thanks!<BR>
<BR>
(She start toward the clubhouse.)<BR>
<BR>
Jodie:  Stacy, wait ...<BR>
<BR>
(Too late.  Stacy has gone inside.)<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Inside the Winged Tree clubhouse.  After passing a bar, Stacy is
going through a hallway alone.  She passes doors labelled "Men's Locker
Room" and "Women's Locker Room"  She hesitates before a door labelled
"Club Room - Private".  The door is cracked a few inches and she can hear
laughing voices coming from inside.  She gently pushes the door open and
peers inside.<BR>
<BR>
She sees George Van Rupp on a leather couch, kissing a gorgeous blonde girl
a few years older than Stacy.  The girl has her hand up George's sport-shirt.)<BR>
<BR>
George (barely perturbed):  Uh, hi, Stacy, this is, uh, Patricia ...<BR>
<BR>
Patricia (smirking):  Just call me Tish.<BR>
<BR>
(Stacy bursts into tears and runs back down the hallway.  She hesitates
at the door leading to the veranda, stops to compose herself a bit, then
slowly walks out, her eyes still wet from crying.  She sits down on the
edge of the veranda and sobs quietly into her hands.<BR>
<BR>
Tom Sloane sits down beside her.)<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Are you OK ... ?<BR>
<BR>
(She uncovers her face.)<BR>
<BR>
Tom (look of recognition):  Oh, I remember you, you're Quinn's friend ...<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  ... Stacy.  Stacy Rowe.  And, uh, you're Tom, right?  Daria's
boyfriend?<BR>
<BR>
Tom (sad smile):  Well, not anymore.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Oh, damn it, I'm really sorry, Quinn *did* say something about that ...<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  It's OK.  You look like *you're* the one hurting tonight.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  I just caught my date making out with some girl in the clubhouse.
At least he's not my steady boyfriend or anything like that ...<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Who's your date?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  George Van Rupp.<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  George Van Rupp?  Stacy, he's a total sleazeball!  Why are you seeing
him?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Well, I really don't know him that well, but he asked me to this
party, and I know his family is pretty rich ...<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Yeah, they are.  That's kind of par for the course at Winged Tree.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy (smiling a little):  "Par for the course"?  I get it.<BR>
<BR>
Tom (smiling too):  That wasn't intentional, but I guess it is an apt
phrase at a country club.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Yeah.  Look, Tom, could you drive me home?  I really don't want to
be here if George comes out with that girl Trish or whatever ...<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Trish?  You mean Tish?  Tish de Lance?  God, she's a sleazeball, too.
At least he's found someone worthy of him ...<BR>
<BR>
(Stacy starts crying again.)<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Stacy!  I meant, you're too *good* for him!<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Really?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Of course.  I'll drive you home right now if you like.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Yeah, thanks.  I'd like that.<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  I rode here with my parents, so wait here a minute while I ask if
I can use their car.  I'm sure they'll say it's OK.<BR>
<BR>
(Tom walks away.  Stacy pulls a tissue out of her shorts pocket and dabs
her eyes.)<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Tom and Stacy in the car.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  I guess I was all impressed by George being a rich college boy and
me still in high school ...<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  I guess I'm sort of a rich college boy myself.  At least, I've
finished prep school and start at Bromwell in the fall.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Bromwell?  That's a pretty good college, isn't it?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Yeah, and also kind of a Sloane family tradition.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy (pointing):  Here's where I live.<BR>
<BR>
(Tom stops the car in front of her house.)<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  You're sure you're OK now, Stacy?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Yeah, I'm OK.  It's not like this hasn't happened to me before.
It's sort of, uh, par for the course. (weak smile)<BR>
<BR>
Tom (laughs):  OK, Stacy.  I'll see you around.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Yeah, see ya.  (She exits the car and starts up the walkway to the
house.  As Tom drives away, she turns around and looks thoughfully at his
car.)<BR>
<BR>
-------------<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - The Lawndale YMCA.  A volleyball game of young teenage girls is
in progress.  Tom Sloane is standing among some other spectators watching. 
Elsie Sloane is serving.  She serves the ball low into the net.  Tom grimaces. 
Stacy, dressed for volleyball herself, comes out of a locker room door,
spots Tom, takes a deep breath, smiles, and walks up to him.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Tom?  What are you doing here?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Well, my little sister (pointing) there wants to play volleyball for
Fielding Prep next fall, so she's playing here this summer to learn the
game.  I drove her here tonight.  I didn't know you played volleyball.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  I played intramurals one year in middle school, not since then.
Until now, that is.  I'm getting some tutoring this summer, and not working,
so I needed something else to keep me busy.  My team goes on the court after
this game is over.<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Is the rest of the Fashion Club playing volleyball?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Actually, we kinda dissolved the Fashion Club.  But the four of us
still hang around together as much as ever.  I wish I *could* get them
interested in something like this.  We still end up talking about stuff like
nail polish half the time.  And I guess we'll all be going to the Landons'
Fourth of July party together.  Are you going?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  I don't know.  The Landons invited me, my whole family in fact, but
well, it's going to be awkward.  I went with Daria last year, and she'll
probably be there.  I might just give it a pass ...<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Well, I'd sorta planned on going with George, but you saw what
happened there ...<BR>
<BR>
(In the background, Elsie's volleyball match is ending. Some of Stacy's
teammates appear.)<BR>
<BR>
Jen (one of the teammates):  Let's go, Stace, we're on!<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  OK!  See ya later, Tom!  (she gives him a flirtatious smile)<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Have a good game, Stacy!<BR>
<BR>
(Elsie, coming off the court, passes Stacy.)<BR>
<BR>
Elsie (to Tom):  Why didn't you tell *me* to have a good game?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  I tried that the last two times we were here.  It didn't help.<BR>
<BR>
Elsie:  Smartass.<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Daria and Jane, in their respective bedrooms, talking on the
telephone split-screen.)<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  So, are you going to Jodie's Fourth of July party?<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  I don't know.<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  C'mon, Daria, forget what I said about dragging you to parties in
college, I'm going to start dragging you to parties now.<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  You already did that.  Literally.  The graduation party, remember?<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  Uh, Daria, is this because Tom may be at this party?<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  No.  (pause)  Well, maybe.  It's like you said, dumping him made me
feel like a bastard.  I guess I don't want to face him.<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  So ... now you wish you hadn't dumped him?<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  I didn't say that.<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  Well, I guess I'm going to have to drag you again ...<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Grab me by the ankle this time, will you?  You almost pulled my arm
out of the socket last time.<BR>
<BR>
(Jane smirks.)<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Tom laying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling, thinking.  He
sits up, opens the drawer of his nightstand and starts to pull out his
telephone book.  He stops and looks at a framed picture of Daria laying
face-up in the drawer.  He picks it up and turns it face-down.<BR>
<BR>
Then he pulls out the telephone book from his nightstand.  We see his
fingers go down the listings under "Rowe")<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Adam Rowe - Main Street? No.  Chester Rowe - South Street?  No.   Jack
Rowe - Spruce Street, that's it.<BR>
<BR>
(He dials the phone.)<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Stacy sprawled out on her bed, reading a large book "Volleyball
for Dummies".  The phone rings.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy (shouting):  I'll get it!<BR>
<BR>
(She picks up the phone.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Hello?<BR>
<BR>
(split-screen of Tom and Stacy.)<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Stacy?  It's Tom.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Oh?  Hi, Tom!<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  How'd the volleyball game go?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy (wrinkles her nose):  We lost.  It was close, though.<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Sorry.  Hey, about that Fourth of July party.  Sorry about what
happened with George.  But maybe you'd give us rich college boys another
chance?  I'd like to go with you.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Uh, sure!  OK!  Great!<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  How 'bout if I come by at eight?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Perfect!<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  OK, see you then.  'Bye!<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  'Bye!<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Morgendorffer living room.  Daria is reading the newspaper.  Quinn
is talking on the phone to Stacy.)<BR>
<BR>
Quinn:  So, Stacy, we were planning to all meet at Sandi's house and go to
the party from there .... (pause)  Oh, you have a date and he's picking you
up?  OK.  Who is it?  (wide-eyed)  WHAT!!??  YOU'RE KIDDING?!?  (pause)
You're *not* kidding?  (She looks over at Daria)  No, Stacy, I'm not
*totally* shocked, at least not completely.  Uh, talk to you later?  'Bye!
(hangs up)<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  So what happened?  Is Stacy coming to the Landons' party with
Tom Cruise?<BR>
<BR>
(Quinn's eyes get wide at the mention of the name "Tom")<BR>
<BR>
Quinn:  Uh, no, his last name isn't Cruise.<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Probably no-one I know anyway.<BR>
<BR>
Quinn:  His first name is Tom, though (grimaces and closes her eyes) and his
last name is ... (deep breath)  Sloane.<BR>
<BR>
(big pause)<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Quinn, if this is a joke ...<BR>
<BR>
Quinn:  No, Daria, I mean, you coulda knocked *me* over with a featherduster!<BR>
<BR>
Daria (unconvicingly):  Well, why should I care?  He's free to date anyone
he likes.  Um, except you.<BR>
<BR>
Quinn:  What about my best friend?<BR>
<BR>
Daria (tense monotone):  Fine.  Great ...<BR>
<BR>
Quinn:  Isn't he, like, supposed to be all depressed and stuff that you
dumped him?<BR>
<BR>
Daria (sharply):  No.  Of course not!<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - The Landons' Fourth of July party.  It looks at lot like it did the
previous summer, in "Is It Fall Yet?".  Jane and Daria are standing together,
drinking from paper cups.)<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  Sooooo!  Our mutual ex is coming to this gala affair with a Fashion
Clubber!<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  An *ex*-Fashion Clubber...<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  Daria, there are no ex-Fashion Clubbers, only former Fashion Clubbers.<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Are there ex-boyfriends?<BR>
<BR>
Jane (uneasily):  Um, sure, of course.<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Quinn, Tiffany and Sandi together at the party.)<BR>
<BR>
Tiffany:  Oh, loook, therre's Stacyy!<BR>
<BR>
(Stacy enters, holding hands with Tom.  She walks up to the other three.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Hey, guys!  Do you all know Tom?<BR>
<BR>
Sandi:  Hello, Tom, I'm Sandi Griffin.<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Hi, Sandi.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  And this is Tiffany.<BR>
<BR>
Tiffany:  Goooodd to meeet youuu.<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Same here, Tiffany.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy (hesitantly):  And, uh, of course you know Quinn.<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Good to see you again, Quinn.<BR>
<BR>
Quinn (uneasy):  Uh, yeah.<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Daria and Jane watching the introductions from across the yard.
Both are holding paper cups.)<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  This isn't bothering you, is it?<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  No.  Of course not.<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  You seem a little ...<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Why should it bother me?  I dumped *him*, remember?<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  Well, you keep trying to drink from an empty cup.<BR>
<BR>
(Daria looks at the cup, then glares at Jane.)<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Tom and Stacy run into Jodie and Mack.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Hi, Jodie!<BR>
<BR>
Jodie:  Hi, Stacy, hi, Tom.  (pause)  So you two are here together?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Yeah.  (pause)  You know I Daria and I broke up?<BR>
<BR>
Jodie:  She told me.  No, I wasn't about to put my foot in my mouth like last
year.<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Well, I wouldn't say you ...<BR>
<BR>
Jodie:  Yes, I did, way up past the knee.  You both know Mack?<BR>
<BR>
Mack:  Hi.<BR>
<BR>
Tom (shakes hands with Mack):  We've met before.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Hi, Mack.<BR>
<BR>
(Andrew Landon comes upon the four of them.)<BR>
<BR>
Andrew:  Hi, Tom!  And Stacy!  How's your father Jack?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  He's good.<BR>
<BR>
Andrew:  I don't see Jack so much anymore since I joined Winged Tree.  Does
he still play golf at Lawndale Municipal?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Yeah, every weekend, pretty much.<BR>
<BR>
Andrew:   Great!  Well, you kids have fun!<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Jane and Daria.)<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  Look, Daria, if you'd rather go home ...<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  No!<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  You *say* it doesn't bother you, but you can't take your eyes off Tom
and Stacy ...<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  What are you saying?  That I'm all upset because, unlike me, she's
tall and cute and bubbly and flirtatious and ... ?<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  No, *you* just said all those things...<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Um, well, I didn't mean any of them.<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  No, of course not.  Look, Daria, it's natural that you'd expect Tom
to take a little longer than ...<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  It's been over a month!  I don't expect him to mope around all
summer!  You sound just like Quinn!<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  Whoa!  What did I say to deserve ... ?<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Uh, sorry.  (big sigh)  I guess I've never had an ex-boyfriend
before, and I don't quite know what to do.<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  Like I said, if you want to leave ...<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  No.  I'm going over and say hi to him, uh, her, uh them.<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  Are you sure you want to ... ?<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Sure I'm sure.<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  I'll go with you.  He's *my* ex, too, remember?<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Daria and Jane approach Tom and Stacy.)<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Oh, hi, Daria, hi, Jane!  I think you know ...<BR>
<BR>
Jane;  Yeah, we both know Stacy.  How's it going?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Pretty good.  Are you two enjoying the party?<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Oh, yeah.<BR>
<BR>
(Awkward pause, Daria is fishing for something to say.)<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  So, uh, Stacy, I heard the Fashion Club broke up, how are things
going now without it ... ?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Yeah, well, we're all still friends, so I guess some breakups are
for the best, huh?<BR>
<BR>
(long awkward silence.)<BR>
<BR>
Jane (breaking the silence):  Uh, yeah, I guess so!  Well, good to see you,
Tom, Stacy!<BR>
<BR>
(Jane pulls Daria away.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Oops!  Sorry about that!  I guess that was the wrong thing to say?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Actually, it was the right thing to say.  Otherwise we would have
awkwardly danced around the subject for another fifteen minutes...<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  OK, you're right.  Uh, I want to go talk to my friends for a few
minutes.  Is that OK?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Sure, I'll go over and check out the food table.<BR>
<BR>
(They depart.)<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Sandi, Tiffany and Quinn are talking to the 3 J's.  Stacy walks
up to Quinn.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Quinn, could I talk to you a minute?<BR>
<BR>
Quinn:  Uh, sure, Stacy.<BR>
<BR>
(They step away from the others.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Does it bother you that I'm here with Tom?<BR>
<BR>
Quinn (slowly):  Uh, no ...<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Really, Quinn, does it?<BR>
<BR>
Quinn:  Look, Stacy, Tom and Daria were together so long, I'm just having
trouble getting used to their not-being-together, and now you ...<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Look, Quinn, I really think I like the guy.  A lot.<BR>
<BR>
Quinn:  Uh, Stacy, you know he goes off to college at the end of the summer?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Yeah, I know ...<BR>
<BR>
Quinn:  It's OK, Stacy, really.<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - At the food table.  Tom is loading up a plate.  Daria walks up and
starts filling up a plate.)<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Stacy Rowe?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Stacy Rowe *what*?<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  You know what I mean.<BR>
<BR>
Tom (annoyed):  Daria, excuse me, but you're the last person in the world
with any business criticizing who I come here with ...<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Hey, look, she's my sister's best friend and I think I know her
well enough, you just saw how she couldn't spit out one sentence without
saying something dumb ...<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  What are you saying?  That Stacy's an airhead?<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Hey, if the shoe fits ...<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  You know, I spent a good bit of the last year listening to you mocking
your sister and her friends, Stacy included, for being stupid and shallow.
Have you ever thought that maybe you could actually learn a few things from
them, that is, unless you want to take as long to find a boyfriend at college
as you did in high school ...<BR>
<BR>
(Stacy walks up, just catching the last few sentences.  Daria angrily throws
her food plate at Tom.  She misses and it lands on the grass.)<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  You goddam bastard!<BR>
<BR>
(Daria looks at Stacy a few seconds, then runs away.)<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Sorry you had to hear that, Stacy.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Uh, I guess you just got even with her for dumping you.<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  That wasn't what I intended ...<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  You know, she'll probably feel better knowing the guy she dumped
isn't the nicest guy in the world.<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Tom and Stacy run into Brittany and Kevin at the party.)<BR>
<BR>
Kevin (to Tom):  Hey, uh, guy, where's Daria?<BR>
<BR>
Brittany:  Kevvy, Daria broke up with Tom, remember?<BR>
<BR>
Kevin:  So, like, you're Stacy's brother?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Nope.<BR>
<BR>
Kevin:  So ... ?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  I'm her father.<BR>
<BR>
(Stacy suppresses a smile.)<BR>
<BR>
Kevin:  Aw, man!  You're always confusing me!  Didn't you used to be Jane's
father?  I mean ...<BR>
<BR>
(Brittany grabs Kevin and pulls him away.)<BR>
<BR>
Brittany:  C'mon, Kevvy, I'll explain it to you.  'Bye, Tom!  'Bye, Stacy!<BR>
<BR>
------------<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Tom and Stacy in Tom's car.  They pull up in front of Stacy's
house.)<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  I had a great time tonight, Stacy.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Yeah, me too.  Tom?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Yes?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Can we talk for a few minutes?  Could you turn the car off?<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Sure.  (He turns it off.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Tom, I know you dated Daria a long time ...<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  Stacy, I really don't want to talk about her.  Really.  I'd like
to keep seeing *you*, if that's what you want to know ...<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Um, yeah, that sounds good.<BR>
<BR>
Tom:  As for Daria, I didn't want to go to that party because I thought
I'd be thinking of her the whole time.  But I just forgot about her after
she left because I was with you.  It's the first time since we broke up
that I've been able to do that.<BR>
<BR>
(They stare at each other for a few seconds, then embrace and kiss.)<BR>
<BR>
------------<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - locker room at the YMCA)<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Hey, Stace, ya got a minute?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Sure, Jenna.<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Just "Jen".<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  OK, Jen.<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  You're doin' pretty good out there.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Well, maybe better than I thought I'd do.<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Y'ever thoughta goin' out for varsity?  Next fall?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Varsity?  Me?<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Yeah, why not?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  I know you and some of the other girls played varsity last year.
You're all way better than the rest of us, especially me.<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Honestly, Stace, I don't think ya could make varsity right now today,
but you're gettin' better and better each week.  Think about it.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  OK, I will.<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Now I'll betcha ya want to get out with that boyfriend of yours.  Don't
blame ya.  He's somethin'.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Yeah, Tom's cute, and smart, and nice ...<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Whoa?  How'd ya land a guy like that?  Sorry, that came out wrong,
nothin' wrong with you, ya understand ...<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  I guess I caught him on the rebound.  His girlfriend ditched him.  My
best friend's sister, would you believe it?<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Lucky you.  In the right place at the right time, that's good in
volleyball too.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Um, I  guess so ...<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Well, see ya next time, Stace.  Think about what I said, though, about
varsity in the fall.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  I will, Jenna - uh, Jen.<BR>
<BR>
------------<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Daria walks into her bedroom and goes to her computer table.  She
looks through some books and papers lying on the table, doesn't find what
she's looking for, then walks out of the room.<BR>
<BR>
We see Daria walk down the hallway and to Quinn's room.  The door is partway
open.  Daria pushes it open.  She sees Quinn and Stacy sitting cross-legged
on the floor, looking at magazines.)<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Quinn, did you ... ?<BR>
<BR>
(Daria notices Stacy)<BR>
<BR>
Daria (coldly):  Oh, hi.<BR>
<BR>
Stacy (timidly):  Hi!<BR>
<BR>
Quinn:  Did I *what*, Daria?<BR>
<BR>
Daria (to Quinn, but glaring at Stacy):  Did you borrow my Internet guide?<BR>
<BR>
Quinn (getting to her feet):  Uh, yeah, I was looking for some websites.  I
hope that was OK with you ...<BR>
<BR>
(Quinn picks up the book off her dresser and walks over to Daria.  Stacy is
staring at her magazine, not looking at Daria.  Quinn hands the book to
Daria.)<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Yeah, it's OK.  No problem.<BR>
<BR>
(Daria glances back at Stacy once more as she leaves, just as Stacy looks
up.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Uh, Quinn, maybe I shouldn't come over here for a while ...<BR>
<BR>
Quinn (reluctantly):  Yeah, maybe ...<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Quinn, tell me the truth.  She dumped him, right?  She broke up with
*him*, not the other way around, right?<BR>
<BR>
Quinn:  Yeah.  She did.<BR>
<BR>
------------<BR>
<BR>
(SCENE - Pizza King.  Stacy and Jen are at a table together.  Jane and
Daria are at a booth.)<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  ... so we had this looongg bus ride back after the playoff game, an'
of course we're all pumped after pullin' off this big upset, so we started
singin' "A Hundred Bottles of Beer" only we started at a *thousand* instead
of a hundred ...<BR>
<BR>
(Stacy glances over at Daria.  Daria glares back.)<BR>
<BR>
Jen: ... uh, Stace, are ya listenin'?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Oh, yeah!  Um, a thousand bottles of beer?  Did you finish the song?<BR>
<BR>
Jen (big grin):  Nowhere close.  I think we got down ta the seven hundreds,
though ...<BR>
<BR>
(Stacy looks back over at Daria.  Just then another teenage couple, Brig
Zellner and Megan Monaghan, walk up to Jen and Stacy.  Brig is tall, brown-
haired, lanky and has a good-natured expression.  Megan is a redhead with a
perfect figure but a hard expression on her face.)<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Hey, Brig!  Howzit goin'?<BR>
<BR>
Brig:  Great, Jen.<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Stace, ya know Brig and Meg?<BR>
<BR>
(Brig reaches out to shake hands with Stacy.  Megan looks tense as this
happens.)<BR>
<BR>
Brig:  Brig Zellner.  And this is my girlfriend, Megan Monaghan ...<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Uh, yeah, I've seen you two around ...<BR>
<BR>
Megan (coolly):  Stacy Rowe, isn't it?  Of the famous Fashion Club?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Uh, well, we decided to end the Fashion Club ...<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Brig here's got a shot at a state championship in cross-country.<BR>
<BR>
Brig (grins shyly):  Well, maybe an outside shot.<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  C'mon, Brig, seventh in the state as a junior?<BR>
<BR>
Brig:  Yeah, well, a couple juniors finished ahead of me ...<BR>
<BR>
Megan (stares hard at Jen, then pulling Brig away):  I think we need to go,
Brig.<BR>
<BR>
Brig:  OK.  Good to meet you, Stacy!  'Bye, Jen!<BR>
<BR>
(they leave)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Uh, Jen, what's up with her?<BR>
<BR>
Jen (grins):  She's so damn jealous she can't stand it if any girl even
talks to Brig.  It's actually kinda fun to yank her chain ...<BR>
<BR>
(Stacy looks over at Daria again.  Daria glares back.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy (low voice, to herself):  ... speaking of jealous ...<BR>
<BR>
Jen:  Whadya say, Stace?<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Uh, Jen, could you wait for me outside?  I want to talk to somebody
here.  Without you around.<BR>
<BR>
Jen (puzzled):  Uh, sure, OK.<BR>
<BR>
(Jen leaves.  Stacy gets up and firmly walks over to Daria.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  STOP GLARING AT ME!<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  I'm not ...<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Yes, you ARE!!  What the HELL did I ever do to YOU?!?  From the first
day you moved to this town you've made your nasty little cutting remarks
about me and my friends, your own sister included!!  And NOW you tell your
boyfriend to take a hike, and you just can't freakin' STAND it that he hiked
on over to ME!!  Hey, I didn't STEAL him from you!!  From what I've heard,
that's YOUR specialty!!  You're supposed to be some sort of goddam BRAIN,
you ought to be able to figure this out!!  WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR FREAKIN'
PROBLEM??!!<BR>
<BR>
(Stacy turns and angrily walks toward the door.  She stops at the
door and turns back for a parting remark.)<BR>
<BR>
Stacy:  Oh, yeah, I forgot:  HAVE A NICE DAY!!<BR>
<BR>
(Stacy leaves.  Daria looks like she's in shock.  There's a long silence.
Some people are staring at Daria, but soon they go back to their pizza.)<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Well, are you going to say anything?<BR>
<BR>
Jane:  Um, well .... I guess she told you?<BR>
<BR>
Daria:  Oh, yeah.  (pause)  Uh, Jane, am I acting like I'm, uh, y'know,
insanely jealous or something?  About Tom and Stacy?<BR>
<BR>
(Jane gets a pained expression, but doesn't say anything.  Daria sighs and
hangs her head.)<BR>
<BR>