Lulu in LA LA Land by Elisabeth Wolf Page A

just talking about.
    LULU
    (confused)
    I know I’m not the world’s best technology user, but I’m not an alien. And I’m definitely learning about this stuff from you guys.
    JADE
    (robotic tone)
    Now hear this: it’s time for you to return to your weirdo planet.
    Not thinking, Lulu licks the new cotton candy lip gloss she’d been wearing and then rubs it off with the back of her hand. She gobbles a few chips dunked in salsa from her lunch.
    JANA
    And, like, when you leave, take that food with you. It turns you into a salsa-breathing dragon.
    LULU
    (trying to recover from the unraveling of her new friendships)
    Guys, I just thought we’d plan for the party this weekend.
    JADE
    There’re lots of parties this weekend.
    Cell phones go off. Jade and Jana reach into their purses, glance at their screens, then crack up. Jenna, who’d been sitting quietly, just sent them texts.
    Lulu decides to get up before she drowns off the coast of Pop Girl Island.
SCENE 20: HOLLYWOODED
    INT. MONOGRAMMIT—FRIDAY AFTER SCHOOL
    Monogrammit is a tiny but stuffed store. They monogram anything, in any style. Colored spools of thread stand on white shelves lining a pink wall. Neatly stacked pajamas, slippers, cosmetic bags, pillows, scarves, and blankets wait, ready to be purchased and initialed.
    Lulu scoops fun-size candy bars from a glass urn. She knows Sophia would love this place, especially hearing the sewing machines hum from the back of the store. Before she gets too s’bad, Lulu pushes this thought out of her head and pops a mini Mounds bar in her mouth.
    Alexis, Elana, and the kind and creative storeowner, ELISA, examine the personalized waffle fabric slippers and plush robes Alexis ordered earlier that week.
    ALEXIS
    These are WAY adorable.
    She holds up a pair of white slippers with “Jade” monogrammed in silver.
    LULU
    Can I see whose names we got?
    ALEXIS
    (ignoring Lulu and talking to Elisa)
    These need to be wrapped in cellophane.
    ELANA
    We all help. Where’s the ribbons?
    Elisa ducks in back to find cellophane and raffia.
    LULU
    Lex, the Pop Girls were so mean to me today. They made me feel like a freaky alien.
    ALEXIS
    Guess who’s imagining things? YOU.
    LULU
    When girls crack mean jokes about you and play with their cell phones, it’s a message that you don’t belong.
    ALEXIS
    No, the message is: get a cell phone!
    LULU
    Lex, those girls don’t want to come to my party.
    ALEXIS
    They all RSVPed that they’re coming.
    Lulu, Elana, and Elisa get busy wrapping the slippers. Lulu tries to read each monogrammed name.
    ALEXIS
    (strolling around the store instead of wrapping)
    And, Lu, you’ve gotta get over your babyish thing about having Linc and Fiona at your party.
    LULU
    (almost yelling)
    That’s the WHOLE reason why I agreed to this party in the first place!
    Lulu stops wrapping and swallows hard to steady her voice.
    LULU
    (trying to sound calm)
    You said Spa-tacular was the type of party Mom and Dad would come to! Geez peas! As if I even need a reason for my parents to come to my birthday party!
    (pause)
    Did you even ask them, Lex?
    ELANA
    (looking up from wrapping)
    You both are in a tienda . Not your casa. Alexis, what’s the story now? I know your parents are muy busy this weekend. They coming? Yes or no?
    Jade and her mother, DANA DEVINE, enter the store before Alexis can answer.
    LULU
    (from behind the counter)
    Oh, Jade, hi! I just saw your name on one of my party favors.
    JADE
    (quietly)
    I don’t think I’ll be needing that.
    Jade nervously glances toward her mother, who gives Jade a warning look. Lincoln Harrison might be winning an Academy Award in two days! She wants to tell people their daughters are “best friends.”
    Alexis observes Dana and figures out in a second: she’s the type who’s attracted to the rich and famous, like a moth to cashmere.
    DANA
    (to Lulu, who’s tying raffia)
    You look busy,