SCENE E

INT. GUIDANCE OFFICE – MOMENTS LATER

Ariella enters. Mrs. Shannon observes her suit.

MRS. SHANNON

Nice outfit.

ARIELLA

I always thought you could use more color. Just a suggestion.

SHANNON

Noted. You know the drill.

Mrs. Shannon exits. Ariella sits behind the desk and skims through the appointment log.

ARIELLA

Naptime.

She puts on her headphones and makes herself comfortable. A student enters.

ARIELLA

(shouting) Oh, hey!

She removes her headphones.

ARIELLA (CONT'D)

Sorry. I wasn't expecting anyone.

The student helps himself to a chair.

VOLUNTEER STUDENT

Every Tuesday I go over my volunteer work with Mrs. Shannon.

ARIELLA

Oh yeah? What do you do?

VOLUNTEER STUDENT

I plant trees in the park...

Ariella assesses his outfit as he continues.

ARIELLA

Uh huh. You know what would be great for that kind of work? Waterproof khakis.

VOLUNTEER STUDENT

I'm sorry?

ARIELLA

I bet you do a lot of kneeling. Waterproof khakis will help you stay dry, and the pockets will give you a place to keep your tools.

VOLUNTEER STUDENT

Actually, that would be convenient.

ARIELLA

Speaking of convenient, let's talk boots.

MONTAGE

Ariella offers other students fashion advice:

-She gives shoe suggestions showing pictures on her phone.

-She takes out her mobile accessory case and offers a free sample

-She gestures for a student to hand over one of Caleb's headbands they're wearing. She drops it on a pile of others and gives them the okay sign.

END OF MONTAGE

INT. HALLWAY – LATER

Mrs. Shannon enters the hallway surprised to see a long line waiting to get into the guidance office.

INT. GUIDANCE OFFICE – LATER

Ariella consults twins.

ARIELLA

Just because you're twins that doesn't mean you have to dress like it. Have a fabulous day.

As the twins exit, Mrs. Shannon squeezes her way through the door.

ARIELLA (CONT'D)

Don't you just love it when you send them away happy? Brings a tear to my eye.

MRS. SHANNON

Is everything okay? Right in the middle of Ricardo's confession that he was Victoria's true love and her evil masked ballroom dance partner I heard there was a clogging. Are you too overwhelmed?

ARIELLA

Everything's fine. I'm just really booked. A lot of people need me.

MRS. SHANNON

Really? My office has never been this full.

ARIELLA

That's because they're not here for guidance counseling. They're here for fashion advice.

SHANNON

Fashion expertise is not part of the job description.

Ariella gestures toward the door.

ARIELLA

Are their issues any less important than anyone else's?

MRS. SHANNON

Of course not. Just don't forget your main purpose here.

ARIELLA

Got it.

The phone rings. She answers it.

ARIELLA (CONT'D)

Ariella Clarke, Fashion Consultant at your service.

She mutes the phone and turns to Mrs. Shannon.

ARIELLA (CONT'D)

Stylist/client privilege. But while you're here...

MRS. SHANNON

I know. I need color. I'm working on it.

She exits, squeezing back through the long line.

FADE OUT.

END OF ACT ONE