there is a mix-up

Next installment! I believe this is what they call the catalyst, or the mcguffin, according to my old co-writer. (Who once named a dog in his script 'McGuffin'.) :)

INT. CLUB SPACELAND ENTRANCE -- LATER

Long Wolf is visible packing up their gear through an open door into the small backstage area. Fans and friends hang out around the door, chatting with the band and getting in the way.

Greta and Peter stand nearby, Peter obviously a bit drunk.

PETER
You'll never guess who I saw, you'll never guess who I saw.

GRETA
(watching the band unload)
Who?

PETER
Anita. By the bathrooms.

GRETA
Really? Did you say anything?

PETER
I didn't know what to do! I sincerely wish I was with Justine at the moment, I wish her bladder and mine had been synced up just at that moment...

GRETA
(distracted)
I doubt she would've thought you were together.

PETER
Hey! What is that supposed to mean?

Greta looks guilty.

GRETA
Oh, sorry, I didn't mean that the way it sounded.

PETER
(seriously offended)
Right.

MAXWELL (39), in a blazer with a skinny tie and mod buttons, steps out of the backstage doorway and sees them.

MAXWELL
Oh, are you the photo girl?

GRETA
Oh, yeah, hi.

PETER
Hi.

MAXWELL
(offering his hand)
I'm Maxwell, I work at Willows Green. Christian told me the guys would like you to go on the road with them? Take some pics?

PETER
(snippy)
I'm afraid she'll be too busy insulting me, actually. You should try again in the summer.

GRETA
Shut up! I said I'm sorry!

Christian brushes by them with his GUITAR CASE, complete with DEERHOOF STICKER.

GRETA
I'd love to.

MAXWELL
Great! We're heading out to Phoenix tomorrow though, do you think you can meet us there? We don't actually have room on the bus. Or do you want to meet us in Albuquerque on the 12th? I'm sure you've got some commitments to work out.

PETER
It's all right, there's no one she cares about here.

Greta elbows him.

GRETA
I can go to Phoenix tomorrow.

MAXWELL
Cool! Modified Arts. We'll see you there.

He waves and walks off.

PETER
Your car will never make it.

GRETA
Stop, stop, I said I was sorry, okay? Jesus.

PETER
(surprised)
...No, I'm serious, Greta. Your car probably won't make it.

She frowns.

EXT. ROAD -- DAY

The Lake's van trundles along.

INT. VAN -- CONTINUOUS

The guys ride quietly, looking tired. GRAM PARSONS plays on the tape deck and Tim drums along on the steering wheel.

Sylus looks lost in thought, slumped in the passenger seat. Micah sits in the back, looking worried. He starts to say something, and then stops.

MICAH
...Sylus?

SYLUS
Yeah.

MICAH
Hey, man, you know you and the Long Wolf guy had the same guitar case?

SYLUS
Yeah?

MICAH
I just realized I didn't look inside. I just grabbed one of 'em. I mean it was closest to our stuff...

Light dawns slowly on Sylus's face and Tim looks up at Micah in the rear view mirror.

TIM
Wait, what are we saying?

MICAH
Well, what if I... I mean, if it would really suck if -

SYLUS
Stop the car.

EXT. ROAD -- CONTINUOUS

The van SCREECHES to a halt, dust flying up behind it. Another car HONKS and swerves around.

INT. LONG WOLF VAN -- DAY

The band members are all sprawled across the seats, magazines, bags of chips, and headphones scattered around them. DEERHOOF plays on the stereo up front as TODD (40), their tour manager, drives. Todd has long red hair in a braid down his back.

Anthony beats on the back of a seat with his drumsticks until Neil grabs one of them.

NEIL
(beyond irritated)
Fucking stop it.

ANTHONY
Jesus. I'm bored, what do you want me to do?

NEIL
Let's stop again. I need a cigarette.

JOHN
Are you serious? Even I don't need one yet.

CHRISTIAN
(languidly)
Should we all sing "Tiny Dancer"?

NEIL
I fucking hate that movie.

ANTHONY
Man, why do you always turn into an ass on the road?

CHRISTIAN
Because...
(Todd's phone rings)
his heart is two sizes too small.

TODD
(into phone)
Hello?
(beat)
Yeah, what'd we leave?

The band listens. Todd bursts out laughing.

TODD
Seriously? What, the opening band's? That's a riot.

ANTHONY
What happened?

TODD
Hey Christian, you took the wrong guitar, man. You got that dude from The Lake's guitar!

The other guys all look surprised and start grinning.

CHRISTIAN
(amused)
How about that. I wanted a new one.

TODD
Yeah, they called Spaceland. What do you wanna do, have 'em drive out here?

JOHN
Out here? They're from Portland, right?

NEIL
Have him ship it.

CHRISTIAN
Shut up, I'm not having my Gibson shipped.

JOHN
He's got a Tele. You hate Fenders.

ANTHONY
Hey, aren't we playing Portland anyway?

JOHN
No, that got cancelled. We're done after Chicago.

TODD
(into phone)
Just tell 'em we'll figure it out when we get back. Christian doesn't want his shipped out here.
(beat)
Well, that dude probably doesn't want to do it either, and he's gotta play something.

CHRISTIAN
Tell The Lake they can use my Gibson if they take very special care of it.
(smiles)
Maybe they'll sound better.

The band laughs, not actually maliciously but just mildly amused.

EXT. DINER -- DAY

Sylus, Micah, and Tim sit at a booth, drinking coffee. They look grim.

MICAH
Well, how long are they gonna be out?

TIM
Probably a month. They're going all over.

SYLUS
I can't go that long.

TIM
Well, we don't have any shows coming up -

SYLUS
I don't care! What if he puts a dent in it? What if he breaks the switch? He doesn't know it sticks.

MICAH
Call them and tell him. We can get the number from Spaceland.

SYLUS
What if he scratches the neck? What if their van gets broken into?
(irate)
I mean, Jesus, what if he switches it out for someone else's damn guitar??

People in the booth nearby turn to look at them.

MICAH
How many Fender cases can there be with Deerhoof stickers?

SYLUS
Who knows? I don't care! I'm not playing his stupid Gibson, and I don't want him playing my grandad's guitar!

He thumps his mug down and it spills, coffee splashing onto his lap. He grabs a bunch of napkins furiously.

TIM
Sylus.

Sylus says nothing, but he slows down, mopping up the coffee.

MICAH
How come they're skipping the whole northwest? Even Seattle would've been all right, we could've driven up there...

TIM
If we wait till after the tour, you'll have to drive all the way back down to L.A. to get it.

Sylus looks up, light dawning.

SYLUS
Or we could go after them now.

MICAH
Go after them? I gotta work on Monday.

SYLUS
They're only heading to Phoenix, we could call them on the way out and ask them to meet us there!

Tim looks at his watch.

TIM
Yeah, we could catch them after the show, maybe.

MICAH
Aw, come on, I'm tired, man.

They both glare at him.

MICAH
Hey, it's not my fault! You two were getting drinks, I was packing everything by myself...

They still glare.

MICAH
Oh yeah, neither of you care about your damn jobs! But I'll get fired if we don't make it back Monday.

TIM
No, you won't, Kara's in love with you.

MICAH
Yeah, and if I turn her down one more time, and not show up, she's sure as hell gonna fire me.

SYLUS
Then her dad can hire you at his other store. It's no big deal, Micah.

Micah sighs.

MICAH
I'm tired of working at stores. Grocery stores, hardware stores, photo development...

SYLUS
Well, let's get my guitar back and play some more shows. Now we know that girl at The Lake blog likes us, we can send her our demo.

TIM
EP.

SYLUS
What?

TIM
(a bit like Peter)
It's not a demo, it's a self-produced EP. And don't you forget it.

He takes a big sip of coffee and Sylus and Micah burst out laughing. Tim frowns. He gets up and pulls his cap on.

TIM
It wouldn't do either of you any harm to start reading those blogs occasionally. Least I know what we're dealing with!

He walks out and Sylus raises his eyebrows at Micah, who puts his chin in his hands, wearily.

SYLUS
He's right, as usual.

MICAH
Yeah.

SYLUS
Ready to go cause trouble?

MICAH
As usual.

They haul themselves up and head out.