EPISODE 3, SCENE 17: 
The Universe Said Stop! 

**FLASHBACK**
[LIGHTS UP]

[Setting: Post-My Own Worst Enemy hush. Casey sips from the same cold mug. Kat slides the lyric printout back into the folder. Lorenzo sits, holding his vape like a prayer candle.]

KAT:
Yikes. That one felt like a scar.

CASEY:
Yeah. That song was always good — but not that true until tonight.

KAT:
Who knew Lit had a breakup ballad in ‘em?

LORENZO (grinning, drained):
They didn’t. They just thought it was about booze and bad decisions. 
We made it about the moment right before everything crashed.

CASEY (mutters):
And then the world said, ‘Hold my beer.’

KAT:
So… what did happen next?

LORENZO (sits up, deadpan):
Covid-19.

[The word lands like a cymbal crash. Every sits still.]

KAT (to herself):
Ahh, that chapter.

LORENZO:
We were about to peak. Bars were packed. Songs were tight. 
Myra and I? Still smiling at least.

KAT:
So the universe hit pause?

LORENZO:
It hit stop. Then turned the volume down on the whole damn world.

CASEY (softly):
Shit, man. I remember. 
They even shut down karaoke.

LORENZO (nods):
Ha-ha. And for the first time in years… I didn’t know who I was if I was no longer working and no longer singing.

[Pause. Kat adjusts the mic stand near Lorenzo, like she knows what’s next.]

KAT:
Let’s hear it then.
What does a man sing… when the world goes silent?

SCENE 18:
***MUSICAL NUMBER: “COVID!!”***

[Frantic, edgy, ironic anthem.]

[Lorenzo rants melodically — panicking about toilet paper, broken routine, the silence of karaoke stages.]

[Kat and Casey join in like a masked Greek chorus.]

[Social distance blocking: 6 feet apart, sanitizing between lines.]

[Casey drums on a Lysol can; Kat sings backup with her voice muffled behind a comically oversized KN95.]

ENDING IMAGE:
[Lorenzo alone under a spotlight.
He sings the last line into a mic wrapped in duct tape.
Silence falls.
The word “CANCELLED” flashes briefly on the back wall.]

SCENE 19:
She Always Knew Her Name

[Setting: Lorenzo walks Morgan under a cold evening moon, bundled up and foggy-eyed.
His headphones are on. His vape pen glows blue between puffs.
Morgan trots ahead confidently, tiny but certain. Always leading the way.]

LORENZO (Voice-Over):
I didn’t even mean to fire him. 
All I said was ‘Rickles, I’m done. You’re done’
It could’ve meant this meeting, or this topic, or for now.

But he left. Didn’t say a word. Didn’t look back.

[Morgan stops at a familiar corner. Lorenzo pauses too, distracted.]

LORENZO (V.O.):
I’ve never fired anyone in my life. 
As long as he is making a sincere effort, that’s good enough.

[Morgan gives a soft huff, sits, and looks up at him.]

LORENZO (softly):
You think I blew it, Girlie?

[He kneels down, rubs under her chin.]

LORENZO (V.O.):
Morgan, you always know when something isn’t right. 
You’ve seen me buzzed, broken, prayerful, and lost. 
But you never panicked. You never pulled away. 
And no matter what name I called you — 
Lady Morganstern, Poopbutt, Smokey, Girlie.
You always knew who you were.

MORGAN (V.O., very soft):
We can fix it. But not tonight.

LORENZO (smiles slightly):
Thanks, Lady Morganstern.
I dunno what I’d ever do without you, girlie.
But I sure am grateful for you!

SCENE 20: [MUSICAL NUMBER: “She Always Knew Her Name”]

[Lorenzo stands again, breath hanging in the cold.]

LORENZO (aloud):
I sure do hope Rickles comes back tomorrow. 
Just so this ain’t the way it ends.

[FADE OUT]

SCENE 21:
Another Empty Chair

[Setting: The table’s been mostly cleared. Fresh coffee. Whiteboard wiped clean. Casey is early, scribbling a lyric idea. Phil Lundy is quietly typing in the corner. No sign of Rickles.]

[Lorenzo enters — sunglasses, coffee mug, vape pen in hands. Still groggy from another night with minimal sleep. He pauses in the doorway. Notices it immediately. He also notices a quietness over the room.]

LORENZO:
…No Rickles, huh?

[Lundy glances up, says nothing. Casey doesn’t look up.]

LORENZO (sitting slowly):
So it’s gonna be that kinda morning. 
Is this musical chairs or just bad vibes?

[Silence. Casey finally glances over.]

CASEY (too casual):
He’s not here.

LORENZO:
I meant—did he quit?
Or did I… I mean — what did I say last night?
I said, ‘Rickles, You’re done.’
But I didn’t — hell, I didn’t mean it like that.

[Casey and Phil share a look. Casey dodges.]

LUNDY (softly):
He left pretty quiet.

LORENZO (half-laughs):
Well shit. Maybe I did fire him. 
That’ll be an absolute first. 
Dammit, man!

[Casey says nothing. Lorenzo watches him carefully and reaches for the vape again.]

LORENZO (muttering):
I kinda hoped he’d be back.
Just so… this wasn’t how it ended.
I’m really sorry, gang.

[Phil Lundy types a little louder, trying to diffuse the vibe.]

LORENZO (quietly, almost to himself):
Weird how a chair looks different …
when the wrong person’s not in it.

[FADE OUT]

SCENE 22:
Bev’s Morning Devotional

[Setting: A soft glow through the window. Coffee is brewing. Kat enters with a few fan messages and one printed
email in hand. LORENZO and CASEY are still waking up — vape, coffee, groggy wit.]

NARRATOR:
One letter stands out. 
It’s from Lorenzo’s own Aunt Bev. 
She writes that the song Hot Damn & Cheap Whiskey made her feel “tingly in the wrong way.”
She had tried to share the album with her Bible study group. 
It did not go well.

KAT (cheerfully):
Your Aunt Bev says she “found Jesus in her yogurt this morning” 
(pause, flipping page)
—but “lost Him halfway through Track One.”

LORENZO (deadpan):
She didn’t finish the yogurt?

CASEY (matter-of-fact):
She didn’t finish the track.

KAT (reading):
She’s “concerned… but hopeful.”

CASEY (mock regret):
Well, there goes the senior discount tour.

LORENZO (smirking):
I warned her not to play ‘Cheap Whiskey’ right after her hip replacement.

CASEY (nods):
Still. She’s got a gift. 
We should put her on the liner notes.

[Our trio dissolves into soft laughter. Light resets, pacing slows.] 

NARRATOR:
But beneath the humor, something deeper settles: People are listening…..

Maybe even Bev. 

SCENE 23:
Now I’m Just Disappointed

[Setting: Kat tidying lyrics, Casey cleaning his glasses. Lorenzo sipping coffee, looking at the empty fourth chair. Everyone's seated. A note is stuck to the whiteboard: “We Miss You, Rickles… Sorta.]

LORENZO (offhand):
Did Rickles die?

KAT (smirking):
Probably just molting.

CASEY:
He said something about needing to ‘rebalance his chakras’ and vanished.

LORENZO (tilting head):
That chair’s been empty three days. 
Think we need to… uninvite him?

[They sit with the idea. The humor fades into silence.]

KAT (checks her phone, casually scrolling):
It’s weird, right?
I miss the bastard.

So… Rickles changed his Facebook status to: ‘In a Relationship with Chaos.’”

CASEY:
Still more stable than last time.

LORENZO:
Did we actually fire him?
Or did he just… fade?

KAT:
Maybe he’s testing if we’ll chase him.

LORENZO (sipping):
I’m not chasing anyone who shows up bald and offended that we wrote a song called ‘HAIR!’

KAT:
Last group text to Rickles.
Read it.

LORENZO (reading):
“Hey Rickles, you alive?”

(pause)
That’s it?

CASEY:
We thought brevity would earn a reply.

KAT:
He left it on Read.

LORENZO:
Only Rickles can ghost someone while still judging them…..
The Roastmaster’s silence is louder than his insults.”

CASEY:
You worried?

LORENZO (shrugs):
Nah. But he owed me a comeback line three days ago. 
Now I’m just disappointed.

SCENE 24:
One Step at a Time

[Setting: The Writer's Room is empty. One light remains. Lorenzo is pacing, barefoot in his socks. Morgan is curled up nearby. A vape glows briefly in Lorenzo’s left hand. Rickles’ empty chair sits untouched. Lorenzo approaches it slowly. He sits. The seat creaks. A soft hum. No music this time. Just the low thrum of silence.]

LORENZO (quietly, to himself):
I’ve never fired anybody in my life. 
Not even an incompetent freelancer. 
As long as someone’s trying, that’s enough for me.
Always was.

(Rests his head in his hands)
I don’t even know if I fired him. I just… couldn’t stand how it felt in here.

JESUS (Voice-over, soft):
Mercy don’t make you weak, Lorenzo. 
It makes you Mine.

[Lorenzo glances toward the whiteboard.
“We Miss You, Rickles… Sorta.”]

LORENZO (quietly, to himself):
Was that me giving up on somebody?

Or just… protecting the room?

[Morgan stirs. There’s no voice at first — just a clarity.]

JESUS (V.O.):
He was funny. But you were fair. 
Yes, as always. 
That’s why it hurts.

[Morgan barks once, loudly]

JESUS (V.O.):
You know what I always say,  Lorenzo:
One step at a time.
Then look for my next guidance. 
I only lead one step at a time.

(pause)

Trust in My good will,
Like Morgan trusts in you.

[Lorenzo’s head lifts, his breathing evens. He glances at Morgan, who’s now watching him — calm, eyes steady. He slowly leans back into the chair, gripping his vape like a rosary.]

[Music fades. Lights dim. Lorenzo sits still in the chair. Morgan curls up beside him.]

SCENE 25 :
Get the Hell Out!

[Setting: Lorenzo is seated cross-legged on the beat-up couch, cradling his vape pen like a worry stone. Morgan is asleep on a blanket nearby. Casey is in his usual chair, notebook open but untouched.]

LORENZO:
What have we gotten ourselves into here, Casey?
I mean…Rickles and Lundy are good…really good.
But I don’t know if I can stand being around the constant sarcasm and Rickles’ MAGA mindset.

CASEY:
They are a lot.

LORENZO:
We all know how rotten Rickles can be.
But do you know what Phil said today in the meeting?
‘Lorenzo hides from company; hides from people.’

CASEY (tries to pass Lorenzo a roach, even though he knows LC only vapes):
And how did that sit with you?

LORENZO (exhales):
I didn’t like it.
One of my biggest pet peeves is when someone tries to make other people feel small -- especially in front of others -- just to get a laugh.   

CASEY:
Yeah, that’s not nothing.

LORENZO:
I’ve met some really cool people -- and damn talented individuals these past several months.
But for a long time now, I feel like I’m surrounded by a cavalcade of oddball sit-com characters and -- hell, maybe my own imagination.

CASEY:
I know exactly what you mean, brother.
It’s like a 1960s TV comedy if everyone was an INFJ and the laugh track was real.  

LORENZO (tearing up):
When you’ve been through four years of that crap, Casey, you really appreciate when you finally meet someone trustworthy and empathetic.
I just wanted you to know that.

[Casey watches him closely. He taps the pen on the notebook once…twice…
Then closes it.]

CASEY (softly):
I fired him, Lorenzo.

LORENZO (frowns):
…What?

CASEY:
Rickles.
This morning. He came in hot, started running his mouth.
I let him get under my skin.
He called me a freeloader.
Said I was riding your coattails.

LORENZO (quietly):
Jesus.

CASEY (shaking head):
I told him we don’t do that kind of bullshit here.
We don’t take shots at each other.
Not in this room.
And I told him to get the hell out.

LORENZO (sits back, processing):
So… I didn’t fire him?

CASEY:
You almost did.
But no. That was me.

LORENZO:
I was halfway through a walk the other night trying to figure out how to un-fire a guy.
Had Morgan lookin’ at me like: ‘Dad, why you talkin’ to the moon again?’

CASEY (grinning):
I knew I had to tell you.
Just didn’t want to dump it on you before I knew where your head was at.

LORENZO (nods):
I appreciate that.
But next time?
Just tell me.
Even if I’m buzzed.
Especially if I’m buzzed.

(Pause)

LORENZO (gently):
He made me laugh, Casey.
Like, really laugh.
And I wasn’t ‘Easy-Laugh Lorenzo’ so much for a while there, ya know.

CASEY:
I know, man. Me, too.
The guy was a prick, but he had his moments.

[They sit in silence for a beat. Then—]

LORENZO:
I’m actually proud of you, Casey.

So… we really are down a man now?

CASEY (leans back, grinning):
Only if you think Rickles was the man.

LORENZO (chuckles):
That’s fair.

[FADE TO BLACK]

[END OF EPISODE 3]