ACT ONE

SCENE A

FADE IN:

INT. CLARKE CONDO - KITCHEN – DAY

Ariella Clarke, 14, eats breakfast with her mother Karen and her sister Ren, 9. She nudges at her tight hair bun and tugs at her lab coat, clearly uncomfortable.

KAREN

And he said, "Triangulum Australe? I thought it said Triangular Australia."

Ren cracks up while the joke goes right over Ariella's head. Karen dabs at the corners of her eyes.

KAREN (CONT'D)

Ariella, how do you feel about your first day of high school?

ARIELLA

Stellar. You know what would make me even more excited? Leaving right now.

She grabs her Wonder Dome Planetarium tote bag and gets up from the table.

REN

I can't want to go to high school. You get to learn about Kepler, Herschel, and Copernicus. "My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nine Pizzas" is getting a little old.

KAREN

Ren, I know it's hard, but Pluto's with his new friends now, honey.

REN

For now.

Ariella fakes a smile, clueless.

ARIELLA

Right. Gotta go.

She turns and slams into an astronaut suit.

ARIELLA

Looking good, Dad. Very spacey.

Dave removes his helmet.

DAVE

Just came in the mail this morning. Can you believe how authentic this looks? Here, try it on.

Ariella dodges the helmet and makes a break for the door.

ARIELLA

Really wish I could, but you know how it is. Gotta go get my Copernickle on.

DAVE

You mean Copernicus?

ARIELLA

Exactly. See ya.

She opens the front door. Mae Mendoza stands in the hall of their condominium with her fist in the air.

MAE

You have really good timing.

ARIELLA

Ditto. Let's go.

Ariella smiles and waves at her family as she and Mae exit.

INT. CONDOMINIUM HALL - CONTINUOUS

Ariella shuts the door behind her.

ARIELLA

Mae, you have no idea how much harder this is getting. Ten more seconds and I would have blown my cover.

She unbuttons her lab coat to reveal a fashion masterpiece. She releases her hair from its tight bun and removes a cuter bag from her decoy bag.

ARIELLA (CONT'D)

Now I'm ready.

MAE

I don't know why you just won't tell your parents the truth. Your gift is designing clothes not analyzing glowing gas.

ARIELLA

First of all, ew. And second, if I tell my parents that I'd rather be a fashion designer than their astronomy protege, it will break their hearts. Besides wearing a disguise isn't so bad once you get used to it.

MAE

You forgot to swap shoes.

Ariella looks at her feet.

ARIELLA

Whoa! That would have been a fabtrocity.

She comes out of her shoes, hands them to Mae and switches into a cuter pair.

ARIELLA

High school, here we come. (beat) Right after I go to the little girls' room.

She holds out her palm. Mae returns the decoy shoes.