BETTER THINGS is a comedy series created by Louis C.K. and Pamela Adlon. And it’s pretty good (so far). The pilot introduces us to Sam (Pamela Adlon), a divorced actress raising her 3 kids in LA. You’ve heard the saying: “There’s nothing new under the sun.” The premise of this show fits that, however, it’s a nice remix of the “bad moms” formula.
To me, Sam is off-color. To you, she might be exactly what your mom was like growing up. She’s open enough about talking to her daughter about smoking weed and having sex. She wants Sam to get her some organic weed. That is, she’s pretty open about her daughter hiding those things from her. Sam has no desire to hear about it. An “ew” exits her mouth as her daughter says that she should be glad she wants to talk to her about those things.
Script in pdf format: Pilot Hell: LeeThomson: script in pdf format: Pilot Hell: Zen 134237. Script in pdf format: Weeds: Zen 134237: script in pdf format: Weird. Usually, scripts for drama series are around 60 pages, though a fast-talking show like The West Wing sometimes went to 70 pages. On networks that break shows (for example Lost) into five acts plus a teaser, writers are stuck with reduced screen time, and find themselves with eight page acts and scripts coming in around 48 pages.
Although it seems like Sam doesn’t care, she really does. Remember: she’s an actress. And keep in mind that Sam is Adlon. It’s inspired by Adlon’s own life, so I am sure she is in the writer’s room trying to keep a good balance of her wanna-be cool Mom moments and super-sweet tender moments, the sweetest of which is when she tucks her daughter into bed burrito-style and falls asleep next to her, upon her daughter’s request.
What’s interesting is that after this tender moment, Sam finds her older daughter high in her room with two friends. She is obviously peeved but says nothing. As an LA resident, I can attest to how easy it can be for anyone to score pot. I mean, maybe that’s everywhere, but especially here because we have dispensaries, so there’s no negative stigma attached to it anymore. I’m not sure whether we have “organic weed” here, but it sounds very L.A. I assume it will replace kale as our staple greenery.
Back to what I think is interesting – Although Sam was peeved, I am trying to figure out whether she was peeved because of one of two things: 1). her teenage daughter got high and snuck her two friends into the house or 2). the weed she smoked wasn’t organic. Knowing Sam for only 30 minutes, I would guess a little bit of both. Organic weed sounds nice. Sounds like the future, and Sam is all about that. Maybe she’s regretting not being open to getting that for her, maybe?
Speaking of the future, Sam’s career seems to be in the crapper. She’s booking work, which I think is excellent, but she’s not happy with it. She’s doing voice-over work for a child’s cartoon, and she’s in some B project where her “husband” is kissing her bosom awkwardly. She tries to suggest cutting out the scene where her “son” stumbles upon her “husband” kissing her in the nether regions. She’s met with a comment about how that’s the funny part and an abrupt exit from her presence. This is her professional life.
Oh! And she might be having an affair with someone. “Nobody” texts her and says that he is thinking of her. She asks whether he is alone. She sees the iPhone texting bubble appear and then disappear. Uh – I am pretty sure that’s a no. These are all signs that’s she’s dealing with a married man. I’m quite interested to know about this man. Wouldn’t it be awesome if it’s her ex? That would be comedy gold.
Despite the sarcastic energy that surrounds her life, she does have a great sense of dark humor through it all. She’s actually damn funny and should consider a career in comedy.
This leads me to Adlon herself. She is funny. She is allowing us to see a somewhat true representation of herself through Sam, and so far, so good.
P.S. Thank her for being the voice of Bobby Hill from King of the Hill. Brilliant.
Season 1, Episode 1 (S01E01)
Better Things airs Thursdays at 10PM on FX
Read all of our reviews of Better Things here.
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Jennifer Ford writes by night and secures insurance for TV shows by day.
Twitter: @reneseford
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Twitter: @reneseford
Keep up with all Jennifer’s reviews here.
1 NEWSBROADCAST - VARIOUS SCREENS, VARIOUSPLACES 1
Weeds Pilot Script Pdf File
ANCHOR:
A “race war” has erupted at one of
the nation’s oldest and most
prestigious institutions.
Glued to this are our story’s subjects, who we meet in...
2 A SERIESOFSHOTS 2
TROY FAIRBANKS, 21, Black. He drags a brushthroughhisfingerwaves anxiously. The look of guilt is the only markofimperfection in his privileged and chiseled demeanor.
ANCHOR (O.S.)
Outrage over an “African American
Airline Pilot Script
Themed” partyorganized by
predominately whitestudentsofManchesterUniversity has resultedinrioting and property damages.
2A KURT FLETCHER, 21, white. No sympathy in his jadedblueeyes as he watches on an iPad in a lavishparlor room.
2A
ANCHOR (O.S.) (CONT’D)
Guests were invited to “liberate
their inner Negro, fry up chicken,
enjoy a sugarwaterconcoctionknown as Purpledrank and wearoversizedBarackObama T-shirts.”
2B COLANDREACONNERS (COCO), 20, Black with blue contactsadjusts the straightbangs of her weave to better see thesmallTV in her dorm. A smirk on her glossy pink lips.
2B
*
ANCHOR (CONT’D)
Officials claim an investigationisunderway to find thoseresponsiblefor the event and subsequent riot.
2C SAMANTHAWHITE (SAM) 21, records the broadcast in an 2C
Weeds Pilot Script Pdf Combiner
edit bay. Despite her light skin, the Afro pick in her fropompadourleaveslittledoubt she identifies as Black.
ANCHOR (CONT’D)
In an effort to address diversityissues, the schoolappointedAfricanAmericanscholar Dr. Walter
Fairbanks as Dean of Students.
2D LIONEL HIGGINS, 20, Black, watchesthrough dark rimmed 2D
glasses in a bustlingindifferentDining Hall. A guiltpainshisotherwiseboyish face.
2.
ANCHOR (CONT’D)
Last year the Dean’s office
celebrated slightgains in diverse
applicants but with many now
calling for Fairbanks' resignation,
that may have been pre-mature.
2E
DEAN WALTER FAIRBANKS, a well adornedBlack man in his 2E
50’s fights a panic as he watches in a stately office.
ANCHOR (CONT’D)
Up next, a cat that loves to water
ski? That and more after the break.
DEAN FAIRBANKS:
How could this happen?
TITLE CARD:
FIVEWEEKS AGO
FIVEWEEKS AGO
3
EXT. MANCHESTERUNIVERSITY - DAY 3
This sprawlingimpressive mix of Colonial, Gothic and Modern
architecture is presented like a living brochure.
SUPERIMPOSE:
MANCHESTERUNIVERSITY - “NOSCE TE IPSUM”
MANCHESTERUNIVERSITY - “NOSCE TE IPSUM”
As we cut through the living brochure, we’re presented with
groups and programs. TheirCRESTS and titles SUPERIMPOSED.
SERIES OFSHOTS - TOPACADEMIC PROGRAMS
3A
White kids with “Trump” blazers and glares - DESMOND 3A
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS.
3B
Kids with dark eye circles and unkempt hair standbefore 3B
the BINGSCHOOLOF HISTORY.
3C
A cluster of skinnyjeans and expressivehandsbefore the 3C
GOODMAN MEDIA SCHOOL. ONEBLACKKIDstands in the back.
SAM (V.O.)
Dear White People. The minimum
requirement of Blackfriends needed
to not seem racist has just been
raised to two.
4
INT. STUDIOBOOTH - DAY 4
Samantha White (Sam) watches the campusthrough a one way
window with the cool but knowing gaze of someone much older.
She gets off on sensing and pushingbuttons - with a
subversive deliverystyle that boarders on deadpan.
SUPERIMPOSE:
SAMANTHA WHITE, SENIOR, VISUALANDNEW MEDIA
SAMANTHA WHITE, SENIOR, VISUALANDNEW MEDIA
3.
SAM (CONT’D)
Sorry, but your weed man Tyrone
does not count.
She fades in JAZZ on her controlboard and leans back to
address a box of pamphletsizedbooksbearing the title
“EBONY AND IVY: A SURVIVAL GUIDE.” One by one she scribbles
her autograph on the books.
5
EXT. ELLINGTONLIBRARY - DAY 5
SERIES OFSHOTS - NATIONALLYRENOWNEDSTUDENT GROUPS