POV: YELP SCREEN.
‍
REVIEW: MAY 17TH, 2025. 0 STARS. COULDN’T BOOK A TABLE IF I TRIED. DON’T BOTHER. SPINELESS CUSTOMER SERVICE CHICK MADE ME WANT TO RELAPSE ON STEVIA. AGAIN.

BACK TO DEWIE.

DEWIE LANGDEN
The F, Ginnie! This is from this
morning!

We zoom to the back of the room to, GINNIE, Customer Service Rep. She’s on the phone.
‍
GINNIE
And your Irish Slut Settler isn’t
the issue. (Groans. Fake chipper)
Yes, sweet girl, I will get her
spayed, are you going to put him
down, though --

She looks up.

GINNIE
Sup, gorgie?

Hot One by Denzel Curry, TiaCorine, and A$AP Ferg plays.
‍
OPENING TITLE:
THE REVIEW
REAPPEARS ON THE
SCREEN AND IS
SUDDENLY BURNT
TO REPLACE THE
SCREEN WITH THE
TITLE “TORCHED”.

INT. MONSOON O’MANNEYS- 12 HOURS EARLIER
‍
Typically the host stand by night, now a makeshift portable wooden office for Ginnie. The desk attached to the structure is cluttered with rogue jewelry, skincare products, and devices ranging from digital fans to silicone enemas. Below lies her year-old puppy, Rascal Flats, snoozing on the floor. Grunting in anguish is heard, followed by a THUMP. An at home Pilates Reformer is kicked out from behind the desk
expeditiously. Ginnie jumps up, causing Rascal Flats to sprint.

GINNIE
(Yelling after Rascal)
Rascal! I can’t be the hottest one
here without you, my girl!

She sighs while bending down. Struggle buss-ing, she tosses and turns her pilates mat to roll it up. Immediately, she realizes it is not malleable and leans it against her post.

GINNIE (CONT’D)
Don’t mind if I grind.

THE ANGLE SWITCHES TO BEHIND THE DESK ALONG WITH GINNIE. WE SEE HER LOG IN TO THE EMPLOYEE PORTAL. SHE THEN CLICKS RESERVATIONS.

HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL BY TAVARES BLASTS.
‍
CUE MONTAGE!

WORK MONTAGE:A SEQUENCE OF GINNIE’S WORK DAY UNFOLDS. SHE STREAMS THROUGH EVERY RESERVATION BOOKED AND CALLS TO CONFIRM.
‍
After a few calls.

GINNIE
Of course, mother lover! A hundred
percent, your table is not the
mood, let me bring you to the front
of house so you can get your ab
fix.

CUT TO:
INT. STAGEFRONT
‍
Ginnie chats with the choreographer, EM, of Monsoon O’Manneys nightly “” spectacle. They giggle. Em directs the performers draped in traditional New Zealand Haka clothing. The
performers exit.
‍
EM
Like I need your thoughts.

GINNIE
You know what I came here for.

Music returns to its original volume. The Emcee, AKELA, reenters to introduce the next number.

Suddenly, a young male performer, KALEO, enters with blazing fire sticks that he balances on his shoulders to eventually
his feet.

CUT TO:
GINNIE. SHE SQUEALS AND REACHES FOR DOLLARS TO THROW AT THE STAGE. EM PULLS HER HAND BACK.
‍
EM
How would that be safe.

BACK TO:
INT. INDOOR GARDENS
‍
Ginnie lies on a gurney while getting a B12 IV done by her nurse practitioner.
‍
EXT. OUTDOOR GARDENS
‍
She stumbles around, chugging water from her cheetah print patterned Owala water bottle. She slowly falls over into the decor. And by decor I mean a miniature oasis guarding a
waterfall. Rascal Flats runs to her side, yapping.

INT. HOST STAND
‍
She continues to review the clientelle webspace. Holding Rascal and blow drying her side bangs with an eyelash dryer.

EXT. OUTDOOR TIKI BAR
‍
She sips on a Shirley Temple from a tall martini glass, scrolling on her phone.
‍
POV: GINNIE’S PHONE SCREEN
‍
It’s Raya, a dating app for the elite. She views her messages to find several. She clicks on the first available and views
his profile. Ben Amos, financial advisor/ model. In his initial picture, he’s dressed as the Ghostbusters marshmallow ghost, shirtless (bottom half) . The caption reads, “You down to get spooky? I love to cuddle, while watching Hereditary.”

CUT TO:
GINNIE. SHE LOOKS AGHAST.
‍
GINNIE
No, but you’re welcome.

A car approaches from afar. Three HONKS catch her attention. Out comes an UberEats driver, SAMSON.

GINNIE (CONT’D)
Super star, I miss you!

Samson walks to her holding a takeout bag from Pick and Poke, a local Poke restaurant.

SAMSON
For Ginnie?
‍
GINNIE(Cheeky)
Don’t act like you don’t know!

SAMSON
Huh.

Ginnie takes the bag from him.
‍
GINNIE
I love us. Thank you for nourishing
me with the gas-ass bowl, James.

Music stops.

SAMSON
I’m Samson.
‍
GINNIE
Oh!

Music resumes. She looks down, pretending to kick rocks like a child. He walks away.
‍
INT. “” INDOOR BAR
‍
She feeds Rascal Flats a broccoli sprout from the side of her mouth on a swivel barstool. She spins them.
‍
INT.KITCHEN
Ginnie, with her gamer chic pink gingham-patterned headphones, has a virtual session with a therapist. The kitchen staff preps for dinner entry. Music volume lowers.
‍
GINNIE
Hate that idea. No, I will not beg
my Poppi to send me his
periodontist worm friend just
because I’ve been using coconut oil
instead of toothpaste to brush for
a year!

POV:
GINNIE’S SCREEN, SHE’S ON GOOGLE MEET WITH HER THERAPIST. WE SEE HER THERAPIST RESPONDING YET WE DON’T HEAR
HER.

GINNIE (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Most def, Taylor. I’ll cave so I
get a free cleaning. I’m sure as
shit not in an independent era or
anything!
‍
BACK TO GINNIE.

GINNIE (CONT’D)
Yeah, I really want to practice the
conversation with you. “Oh Papá! My
gums are disintegrating, but I’m a
professional now, so don’t we think
it’s inheritance time?”

INT. INDUSTRIAL BAR
‍
Ginnie sobs about her life, and tosses her to-go bowl into the trash can. Sous Chef, REFF, rolls his eyes.

REFF
We have Poke on the menu!

Ginnie scream-sobs at him.

END OF SEQUENCE.

INT. HOST STAND- 1 PM
‍
Ginnie finger paints on her clear iPhone case. She’s deflated but self-soothing. Rascal Flats lies on her lap. RING! Ginnie removes her paint-covered fingers from the phone and answers the landline.
‍
GINNIE
Monsoon O’Manneys. It’s Ginnie. I
know you were wondering.
‍
She places the call on speaker.

RILEY(V.O.)
Hey, Ginnie--
‍
GINNIE
You don’t have to repeat my name.
Not a call-and-response kind of
deal.

RILEY(V.O.)
Sure, I just wanted to book a
reservation for tonight?

GINNIE
If you must. Ugh, give me fifty-
five.

She hangs up. She leans her head back and places Rascal Flats onto her neck.

GINNIE (CONT’D)
Let me go, Father.

RING!
‍
She answers.

GINNIE (CONT’D)
Monsoon O’Manney’s, whatcha need?

Places the call on speaker.

RILEY(V.O.)
Sorry, I just called?
‍
GINNIE
Your name.

RILEY(V.O.)
Riley? Think you got cut off back
there.

GINNIE
Our system is bug and cookie free,
so no.

RILEY (V.O.)
Sorry, saying sorry again. Haha.
Been working on that in therapy.

Ginnie is utterly disturbed by this human.

RILEY(V.O.)
Are there any tables tonight during
the 6:30 show?

GINNIE
Probably not.

Beat.

RILEY(V.O.)
How can you check?
‍
GINNIE
I’m checking, god damn. (Whispers)
Feist...
‍
A few moments pass.

GINNIE (CONT’D)
Full capacity.

RILEY(V.O.)
What?

GINNIE
We’re fully booked, Gorgeous.
‍
RILEY (V.O.)
What if it’s just for one body?

Confused.

RILEY(V.O.)
One person, sorry. (Realizes he
said sorry once more) Shit!

GINNIE
Nothing I can do, but thank you so
much for calling in. Feel free to
book with us online for a future
visit.

RILEY(V.O.)
How can you tell me you can’t make room? I was thinking the “” bar but
it’s stuffed like a freaking cyst
that I.... Don’t have on my ear
carilage... why did you ask?

GINNIE
Thanks, Girlie.She hangs up.