Fallen | Episode Pilote

Off of a massive central open space with kitchen and living area, we see FRED through a doorway inside his very small, cramped bedroom, with no wall decorations, just a bed and a desk. He is working at his computer with headphones on.

GASTON bustles into what we discover is a well-appointed New York loft apartment. He simultaneously takes off his coat, puts his bag down and sorts through the mail, all the while texting/looking at his cellphone. He sees two similar large envelopes sent by the Annual Law Gala, opens his, drops everything and brings both to FRED's room.

Knocks and enters at the same time.

GASTON
We got it!

FRED
What?

G
Invitations to the Annual Law Gala!

F (not taking off his headphones)
Oh, that’s great.

G
Finally!
How long do you need to practice law in this town before getting invited?!! This is going to be the best party,
All the most powerful, all the most beautiful,
the most famous people will be there—
We will connect with the best of the best!

F
You’re overconnected as it is.

G
Never enough!
And this, my small-time public defender friend, is your chance to finally get a real job,
with real cases, and real money.

F (finally takes off his headphones and turns to G)
Never enough, huh?

G
Never! Aah, I can’t wait to tell my lovely Loreen!

F

Oh, right— this is the thing you need a plus one for? Then you can count me out.

G
Whaaat?

F
I don’t have a date.

G
What are you talking about?
Errr... what was her name again... Christine?

F
Kristin you mean? It’s over, never even started.

G
And that cute paralegal in your office?

F
Mixing work and romance is a recipe for disaster.

G
Ah? You who work eight days a week
and never go out,
where do you think you’re going to find romance?

F
Look, Gaston,
Not everyone can be as dashing and successful as you are.

G
Oh come on, I know you and your history with the ladies!

G swipes F's cellphone from the desk and starts clicking through it.

Let's go through these contacts!

F
Hey— Give me that!

F grabs for the phone, G pulls it out of his reach. F leaps out of his chair and starts chasing G around the apartment. G swerves around adroitly, avoiding him while manipulating the phone. After a scuffle, G still has the phone. F flops on the couch in a gesture of exhausted submission.

CONTACTS DUET

G
Let's see... Annabelle?

F
She's sexy but so selfish. Now give that back!

F swipes again, misses.

G
What about Brooke?

F
She’s selfless, but... uhhh.

F makes a gesture indicating she's less than sexy.

G
Ohhh.... Ah, there’s Chloe!

F
The boss’s assistant.

G
And Diana?

F
That’s the boss! Now can we stop this?

G
Wait! Erin?

F
Writes inexcusably bad poetry.

G
Fiona?

F
Has a scary knife collection.

G
Who’s Gretchen?

F
Her idea of culture is Lulu Lemon.

G
Helena?

F
Moved to Nebraska.

G
Ooh! That’s ugly. Irina?

F
Hates me for no reason!

G
Janet?

F
She's way too into me.

G
Kevita?

F
She calls me once per season.

G
Lilly?

F
Hey, that’s my sister!!

G (embarrassed)
Ah! That’s right - how is she by the way? How are the wedding plans?

F
She’s fine,
Her fiancé’s family is very WASP-y.
At least my father is happy. Grasps for the phone
Are we done here?

G
Hmmm, not yet. Marissa?

F
In love with herself.

G
Narcissa?

F Insecure!

G
Olivia?

F
Way too young for me.

G
Who’s Pam?

F
Older than she reports.

G
What happened to Quinn?

F
A shopaholic.

G
And Robin?

F
Narcoleptic.

G
How ‘bout Sally?

F
Alcoholic!

G
And Tam?

F
Her cat has claws.

G
Who’s Ursula?

F
Ran off with her naturopath.

G
Vivian?

F
Electrocuted. In her bath.

G
Yikes! And Wilhelmina?

F sighs, suddenly misty
I should have never let that one go!

G
There’s Xenia?

F
Don’t feel her.

G
Yasmina?

F Yasmina?

G
Yes, Yasmina?

F
Our seventy-year-old cleaner??

G
Oh, maybe not.
So that leaves...
Ah, Zoe and Zephyr, the twins? Two for the price of one?

F
STOP IT!

G throws F his phone back in frustration.

G
What’s your problem man??
You’re a straight male living in a city of women!

FRED’S ARIA

F
Having choice doesn’t mean I can’t be choosy.
As I wait to hear the voice that truly soothes me,
As I seek the eyes that will see deep into me,
I’m well enough alone,
Well enough alone.

I don’t need someone else who doesn’t know me,
I must be free to follow justice and truth,
I can’t waste my heart on someone who has nothing to show me.
I’m well enough alone,
Well enough alone.

I used to want to have a date
With every beautiful girl,
But lately I can’t tolerate
The slightest distraction away from my mission
To make the world a better place!

I’m well enough alone
Well enough alone.
I’m well enough alone.

G huffy
Well great! You’re alone! Congratulations!

F

And what’s wrong with going to the party alone?
Will the dating police be there?
Sorry Sir, no arm candy, no entry?

G suddenly inspired
Wait— that’s it!
We’ll find exactly what you need.
A beautiful, perfect, brilliant, luscious piece of arm candy for the night!

G types on F’s computer and brings up paid escort websites.

F
Are you crazy? A prostitute?

G, lecturing
No, they’re called paid escorts—
and you certainly don’t have to sleep with them if you don’t want to.
Although it would be a shame not to... look at that!

G is clicking through photos of scantily-clad, lasciviously-posed women.

F
Gaston, are you insane?
I will not participate in a transaction
That is inherently degrading to women,
All my life and my work are geared to freeing and protecting such innocent—

F stops abruptly as he sees PURRPLE's image come up on the screen.
G notices it and clicks on her profile.
A video comes up where she sings a song.
As she sings F is seen melting, transfixed by the screen. He's clearly falling in love. G witnesses this transformation with eye-rolling incredulity.

PURRPLE’S ARIA

Purrple
You think you’ve seen it all?
You think you’ve known the best?
You think you’ve been with all 

the smart, the great, the good, the blessed?

You think you’re like a god?
You think you’re such a king?
Allow me to suggest I’m not impressed with that kind of thing!

Most people aren’t worthy
Of my faintest little smile,
What makes you think you’ve got what it takes
To shake with me a little while?

Aah, think you’re the best?
And that gives you the slightest right
This beauty to possess?

You think you’re like a god?
Some kind of king?
Allow me to suggest
I’m not impressed with that kind of thing!

Most people aren’t worthy
Of my faintest little smile,
What makes you think you’ve got what it takes
To shake with me a little while?

Go find someone else to play.
Unless you’re the best in every way
Unless you’ve got the looks, the goods, the glory, and the sass—
Purrple will take a pass,
Purrple will take a pass.
Find some other lass!
‘Cause Purrple will take a pass.

P waves derisorily, which image turns into a GIF, playing constantly backward and forward. F continues to gaze adoringly at the image during the subsequent exchange.

G smirking
So that has you hooked, huh?

F
I’ve never seen such a beautiful soul.
Look, behind the facade, can you see it?
The vulnerability? The deep deep sadness?
She needs someone to see her for what she really is.
She needs someone to take care of her, forgive her, to love her.
She needs someone like me.

G still incredulous, but sees advantage in this turn of events
So you’re just like the rest of us after all,
Mr. Public defender?
Well, you want her, you can have her

For the small nightly fee of...

clicking at the computer, he trails off

F leaving his reverie
What is it? What’s the matter?

G
Her nightly fee…

F
Is?

G
Seventeen thousand dollars!

F
Seventeen thousand dollars!

G
Seventeen thousand dollars!

F
Seventeen thousand dollars!

G
Seventeen thousand bucks!

F
But that’s a quarter of my yearly salary!

G
Well, there you have it-- she IS out of your league.

F
I know I need to reach her,
I have so much to say,
I need a chance to tell her,
There is another way,
She’s better than this!

G
Can’t you see she’s out of your league?

F
I need to show her.

G
Seventeen thousand dollars!

F
I really need to show her
She doesn’t have to live like this.

G
You’ll never find a way to ever say it.

F
I need to find a way!

Enregistré les 25 et 30 janvier 2021 aux studios The Bridge à Williamsburg, New York.

Orchestre: Metropolitan Opera Chamber Players
Violon 1: Yoon Kwon
Violon 2: Angela Shen
Alto: Milan Milisavich
Violoncelle: Joel Noyes
Piano: Jonathan Kelly
Percussion: Satoshi Takeishi

Ingénieur: Amon
;
Mixage: Tom Lazarus, ClassicSound

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