"What do you cherish most in your life?"
An audio series produced by MLA Entertainment.
Episode 1 Now Streaming on Youtube and Spotify!
Cerulean Summer premieres September 25th on Spotify and Youtube!
Melissa Del Toro Schaffner - Minny
Blake Cogdill - Trace
Caden Yungwirth - Gramma
Rich Summers - Papa
Chloë Elmore - Sandra
Indi Schaffner - Charlotte
Keiko - Director, Writer, Producer, Character Artist, Additional Background Artist
Jeffrey Penn Johnson - Composer
mBOsco - Background Artist
Want to share fan art with us? Interview a cast or crew member? Review the show? Or just want to say hi? We'd love to hear from you!Reach us at: mlaentertainment[dot]info[at]gmail[dot].com
Visit us at: mlaentertainment.carrd.co
Cerulean Summer - Episode 1 - Promise TranscriptSC. 1 — LOST IN MY MEMORIES
EXT. SUMMER SKY
We SLOW FADE in to reveal a stunning blue sky. The soothing
sounds of the ocean and seagulls are heard.
MINNY NARRATION
(soft, reflective)
Let me ask you a question. Just
between you and me…
What do you cherish most in your
life? For some, it’s the hope that
comes with a new day. For others,
it’s their family or maybe their
keepsakes.
As for me, it’s my memories. No
matter where I am in life or what
problem I might be facing, I can
always close my eyes and return to
a better time. A time I cherish.
The summer of my youth. The summer
in Cerulean…The summer when…we
first met.
FADE TO WHITE:
OPENING THEME
SC. 2 – ARRIVAL
INT. AIRPLANE - DAY
We FADE IN to MINNY riding an airplane and looking out the
window.
FLIGHT ATTENDANT
(calm, pleasant)
Attention passengers, we are
approaching our destination.
Please fasten your seat belts and
make sure your tray tables are in
their full upright position. Thank you for flying with us.
MINNY NARRATION
(calm, casual)
June 2000. Before my junior year
of high school, I went to spend
the summer with my grandparents in a small coastal town called
Cerulean. I flew all the way from
Egypt to meet my grandparents at
the airport…
Minny is shown disembarking the plane.
MINNY
Gramma! Papa! Hi!!!
GRAMMA
Minny! You’ve gotten so tall! You
look beautiful!
PAPA
Your personal transport awaits,
little lady! Lemme take that
luggage off your hands.
MINNY
(playfully strained)
Thanks, Papa! Feels like I brought
the pyramids with me!
PAPA
Appreciate the souvenir.
(hearty chuckle)
MINNY NARRATION
We hopped in Papa’s yellow jeep
and were on our way. Cerulean’s
about an hour’s drive out from the
city. The country roads and wideopen sky are always sure signs
you’re nearly there.
We CUT to them riding into the town of Cerulean.
MINNY NARRATION
Thing is, my parents are both
renowned archaeologists. They had
sorta dragged me from place to
place all my life, and frankly, I
was all traveled out.
EXT. CERULEAN - DAY
PAPA
There it is, Minny! Cerulean’s
been waiting for ya.
GRAMMA
And it hasn’t changed a bit!
MINNY
(laughs)
Wow! It’s exactly how I remember
it!
(inhales and exhales in
satisfaction) Ah man, I
needed this!
MINNY NARRATION
I had spent several summers there
when I was little and during
middle school. My memories of
Cerulean hadn’t faded in the
slightest. The steady music of the
cicadas. The lush green hills. The
little houses painted every shade
of the rainbow with all the
windows swung open. The sound of
children playing in the distance,
and the smell of something
delicious always lingering in the
air. Something about that coastal
town always put my mind at ease.
A summer to remember. That was the plan, and that was exactly what I got…
SC. 3 - TRACE
EXT. MINNY’S GRANDPARENTS’ HOUSE - DAY
Minny, Gramma, and Papa pull up in the driveway of their
home. They all exit the jeep.
PAPA
Well, little lady, home sweet
home.
GRAMMA
Your room is waiting for you
exactly as you left it. Well, I
did give it a good cleaning, but
you know what I mean.
(chuckles)
MINNY
I’m so happy to be here. Thank you
both for taking care of me.
PAPA
We were tickled to death when your
parents called. It’s our pleasure,
baby girl. Oh, that reminds me.
This is from your Gramma and me.
Papa hands Minny a small gift.
MINNY
Ooh, a present?
Minny opens the present to discover a disposable camera.
MINNY
(gasps softly)
A disposable camera? Oh my gosh,
this is perfect! I keep breaking
the expensive cameras Mom and Dad get me so they haven’t been
keen on replacing them yet.
GRAMMA
(chuckles warmly)
We heard. Now you can remember
this summer forever.
PAPA
And you know what? That sucker can take a good beating and still work.
MINNY
(chuckles)
Thanks so much! I’ll take pictures
of everything. I guess I should
probably unpack first?
PAPA
(lifting heavy luggage)
I’ve got this, little lady.
Dontchu worry. Go have fun.
GRAMMA
Just be back by sundown. We’re
having your favorite: fish and
chips Cerulean style! Think your
empty stomach can hold out until
then?
MINNY
Mmm sounds great! I’ve still got
half a bologna sandwich so I’ll be
fine. I think I’ll go shoot some
hoops down by the seawall. See ya
later!
GRAMMA AND PAPA
See ya!
MINNY
(Minny hums merrily to
herself)
EXT. HILLS - DAY
Minny makes her way over to a grassy hill by the house. She
stops to take a photo.
MINNY
(under her breath)
Ooh, now that’s a nice shot. Man,
this hill still has the best view
of the ocean.
(inhales and stretches)
It feels so freakin’ good here. I
needed this so bad.
PORCO emerges from some nearby bushes.
PORCO
(curious sniffs)
MINNY
Hm? Where
did you come from? So cute. You’re a, what are they called…a Bichon-a Bichon Frisé, right?
PORCO
(sniffs incessantly)
MINNY
Oooooh. You totally smell my
bologna sandwich, don’t you? Here,
knock yourself out.
Porco gobbles the sandwich up.
PORCO
(gobbling sound)
MINNY
(chuckles)
Wow, you really like this stuff,
don’t yo – !
PORCO
(sniffs incessantly)
Porco comically begins sniffing and crawling all over Minny.
She remains stunned before grabbing Porco and holding him
away from her.
MINNY
U-Uhhhh…Dude, what
the heck?! I’m all out! I’m all
out! Ever heard of personal space,
ya little bologna monster?
Suddenly, TRACE appears a few feet away.
TRACE
(slightly panting)
Porco? Porco! There you are! Oh…
MINNY
Hm?
Minny and Trace stare at each other for a moment.
MINNY NARRATION
I locked eyes with a tall, skinny
boy I guessed to be around my age.
His thick head of hair was so
blonde that I fought the urge to
stare out of sheer admiration.
TRACE
(polite, kind, slightly
embarrassed)
Sorry about that, he’s mine.
MINNY
(friendly)
That’s okay. He sure is crazy
about bologna.
TRACE
Yeah, he loses his mind over it.
He’s such a pig that I named him
Porco.
TRACE AND MINNY
(giggle)
MINNY
I’m Minny, by the way.
TRACE
Trace. Nice to meet you, Minny.
Did you just move here?
MINNY
No, I’m only staying here with my
grandparents for the summer. My
parents are in Egypt.
TRACE
Woah! That’s really cool. I’ve
always wanted to go there.
MINNY
They’re archaeologists so they
kinda travel a lot. I thought I’d
switch things up and stay here for
a little while instead.
(chuckle)
I used to come here a lot when I
was younger.
TRACE
How old are you if you don’t mind
me asking?
MINNY
Sixteen. I’m a Sagittarius, if
you’re into star signs.
TRACE
Sorry, completely inept, but I’ve
always been curious about them.
(chuckles) I’m sixteen, too! My
mom and I just moved here. Maybe
we could be friends then? F-for
the summer, I mean?
(warm chuckle)
MINNY
Sure! I was just heading down to
the court. Wanna shoot some hoops?
Trace’s friendly disposition suddenly changes. His expression
turns cold and distant.
TRACE
(serious, very soft)
What?
MINNY
Basketball. There’s a court by the
seawall. It’s been forever since I
last played so I’m probably rusty.
(chuckles)
TRACE
(cold, distant)
Mm…That’s okay. I’d better get
home. Bye, Minny.
MINNY
Hm?
TRACE
Come on, Porco.
Trace picks up Porco and walks off. Minny is blank and
confused with what just happened.
MINNY
(soft, confused)
Did I…say something wrong?
SC. 4 - FISH AND CHIPS
We hear cicadas, ocean
waves, and children playing. Teenagers can be heard playing
basketball.
MALE BASKETBALL PLAYER
(pumped up, pleasant)
Try to keep up!
(make some effort sounds)
FEMALE BASKETBALL PLAYER
(laughs happily)
Watch me go!
The girl makes a basket.
FEMALE BASKETBALL PLAYER
Woohoo! Did ya see that?!
MINNY
Hey! Do ya mind if I take your
picture? The sunset is perfect
right now.
FEMALE BASKETBALL PLAYER
Yeah, sure! Go ahead.
MINNY
1, 2, 3. Got it! Thanks!
MALE BASKETBALL PLAYER
Can we get back to the game now?
FEMALE BASKETBALL PLAYER
Okay, you asked for it!
(laughs)
MALE BASKETBALL PLAYER
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
As Minny heads home, Gramma calls to her from the porch of
the house.
GRAMMA
There you are, perfect timing!
Supper’s on the table!
INT. GRANDPARENTS’ HOUSE - SUNDOWN
That evening, Minny has dinner with Gramma and Papa. The
doors and windows are open, and the sounds of summer surround
their cozy dinner table.
MINNY
(mouth full)
Mmm!! Your food is so good, Papa!
PAPA
(laughs warmly)
Well, I’m glad you like it, little lady.
GRAMMA
So did you have fun at the court?
MINNY
(mouth still full)
I didn’t play actually. I took
lots of pictures though. I went to
the beach and collected some
seashells. Just relaxed really.
I’ve missed this place so much.
And your food.
(chuckles)
GRAMMA
Summer’s just getting started.
Maybe you’ll make some new friends
with some kids here. Teenagers, I
mean.
MINNY
(swallows food)
I was thinking of sleeping over at
Page’s soon. Oh! I did meet this
boy named Trace on my way down to the seawall. He had this crazy dog named Porco with a bologna
problem.
(chuckles)
Ugh, I didn’t get a picture of them
though…
GRAMMA
Making friends already, huh?
PAPA
That’s Minny for ya.
MINNY
Friends…
SC. 5 – LOST IN THOUGHT
INT. MINNY’S ROOM - NIGHT
It starts to rain. Minny is lying wide awake in her bed,
thinking about the day’s events.
MINNY NARRATION
I didn’t do much sleeping that
night, but I did plenty of staring
at the ceiling.
MINNY’S THOUGHTS
Trace seemed so nice at first. We
got along right away like we
already knew each other or
something. What did I do to make
him change all of a sudden? It’s
so weird. I just don’t get
it…whatever, I’m exhausted…
(yawns)
Minny tries to sleep. The sound of thunder and rain is heard.
Then, a dog starts barking.
MINNY
(groans groggily, speaks
in a flat tone)
I can’t be hearing this. Ugh, I’m never gonna fall asleep like this.
Minny gets up and looks out her window.
MINNY
Huh? That’s Porco! Crazy thing,
what’s he doing? It’s pouring rain
out there!
Minny goes to the front porch to meet Porco outside.
MINNY
Okay, okay! I’ve got your blasted
bologna. It’s like four in the
morning, you nut. Don’t you
realize it’s storming?
PORCO
(whines)
MINNY
That’s weird. You don’t want it?
Then what are you barking for? Is
something wrong?
Porco runs to the end of the yard, turns to face Minny, and
continues barking.
MINNY
Is it Trace? Maybe he’s trying to
lead me to him?
A loud thunder crack is heard.
MINNY
Ah, maaaan.
(sighs)
You’d better not be messing with
me, dog.
SC. 6 – THE RESCUE
EXT. THE SEAWALL - THUNDERSTORM NIGHT
MINNY
(slightly out of breath)
Phew…it’s really coming down…slow down…where in the…?
Minny follows Porco a good distance before they wind up on
the seawall adjacent to the beach. The storm is picking up
and becoming more threatening.
MINNY
You’re stopping here?! The
seawall?! Oh, come on. Nobody’s
out here, Porco!
Minny thoroughly scans the area, trying to give Porco the
benefit of the doubt. Then, she spots a LITTLE GIRL standing in the middle of the road.
MINNY
(gasps in concern)
Who’s that little girl over there?
Hey! Excuse me!
Minny runs to join her.
MINNY
(worried)
Little girl, what are you doing
out here?! It’s really dangerous!
LITTLE GIRL
(cautious but very
worried)
You…you have to save him!
MINNY
Who?!
LITTLE GIRL
The nice boy! You have to save
him!
MINNY
Little girl, who are you talking
about? I-is he around my age? Real
tall? Blonde hair?
LITTLE GIRL
(hesitant)
Y-yes! Yes, that’s right!
MINNY
That’s Trace! Where is he?!
LITTLE GIRL
(worried)
You have to save him! Down there!
It’s Trace! He’s in the water!
MINNY
Huh?!
TRACE
(desperate, drowning)
HELLLP!!!! SOMEBODY HELP!!!
MINNY
(gasps in horror)
What?! Oh my gosh! It is Trace!
He’s in the water! TRACE!
TRACE
(distressed)
MINNY?! (coughs) HELP!!! I CAN’T
SWIM!!!
MINNY
Don’t worry, I’m coming!! Little
girl, stay right here! I’ll be right back!
(pants as she runs down
to the beach)
TRACE
I can’t swim! HELP! I can’t stay
up!
MINNY
Hold on! I’m coming to you!
(fights the water and
coughs)
Don’t panic!! Kick towards me!
TRACE
I-I’m trying!!
(coughs)
MINNY
(intense and worried but
bravely in control)
Gah! TRACE!! Trace, hold on! Unh!
Trace, I’ve got you! I’ve got you!
TRACE
(losing strength)
Minny…!
We hear them get swept underwater for a moment before
resurfacing.
MINNY
(coughs and strains as
she swims them to shore)
I’m pulling us in! You’re okay!
Keep kicking! I’ve got you! I’ve
got you…
MINNY AND TRACE
(exclaim as they plop
onto the shore and then
pant for several
seconds)
The two are safe at last. They are exhausted. Porco joins
them with joy.
PORCO
(barks happily)
TRACE
(coughs, out of breath)
I’m okay, Porco. Sorry…I must’ve
worried you a lot.
MINNY
(panting and exhausted
but relieved)
Phew…safe. Safe at last…Phew, I
feel like…I feel like I just swam
the Nile.
TRACE
(panting)
Minny…Thank you…so much!
(coughs)
I-I thought I was a goner!
MINNY
(lighthearted, worn out
but sweet)
D-don’t mention it…I used to be on
the swim team so it’s no big deal.
You’re lucky. If it hadn’t been
for Porco and that little girl, I
wouldn’t have known you were in
trouble.
TRACE
Huh? What little…Unh!
(groans in pain)
Trace grips his chest.
MINNY
(serious, concerned)
Trace! What’s wrong? D-does your
chest hurt? Trace!
TRACE
(in pain)
I’m okay…just gimme a second.
At that moment, Trace’s mother SANDRA pulls up in her car on
the seawall. She immediately gets out and spots Minny and
Trace below on the beach.
SANDRA
(extremely worried)
Trace?! Trace!!! Darling, what are
you doing down there?! Hold on!
I’m coming to get you!!
Sandra drives Minny to her and Trace’s home.
SC. 7 - THE TRUTH
MINNY NARRATION
What a beautiful woman to wear
such a scary expression. With the
way she looked at me, I wondered
whether saving her son had been a
heroic act on my part…or if I’d
volunteered for my own execution.
The drive to Trace’s house was
completely silent. And awkward.
And wet.
INT. TRACE’S HOUSE - NIGHT
MINNY NARRATION
Trace’s house was nothing like my
grandparents’ house on the green
hill. It was sleek and modern.
There were cardboard boxes
scattered everywhere since they
had only recently moved in. The
scary, beautiful lady gave us
towels and dry clothes. My
favorite part was the hot cocoa.
Although as I drank mine and felt
its warmth rush through my body,
part of me wondered if she had
secretly poisoned it.
We mostly just stared at each
other. Yeah, pretty awkward. She
was wearing scrubs and a long
black ponytail that fell
gracefully over her shoulder. She
kept her red lips pursed tightly,
and I could’ve sworn I never saw
her blink once.
Finally, Trace popped the awkward
bubble and explained that I had
nothing to do with him ending up
in the ocean and, in fact, I had
rescued him from the water. His
mom gave me a venomous glance up and down before finally softening
her beautiful stone face.
SANDRA
(intelligent, very calm,
focused)
Hm, I see. In that case, I want to thank you for saving my son. You are…?
MINNY
Minny, ma’am.
SANDRA
Call me, Sandra. Thank you. My son means everything to me.
MINNY
Porco’s the real hero tonight.
SANDRA
I'm sorry, Porco?
MINNY
Yeah. I was in bed at my
grandparents’ house when he
started barking at my window. I
could hear him from the second
floor! He led me straight to the
seawall where I found Trace. And a
little girl. Hm, I sure hope she
got home alright…
TRACE
Porco deserves extra bologna
tonight.
(chuckles)
SANDRA
(stern but nurturing)
Baby, I’ve told you a million
times not to go near the water at
night. Especially in this kind of
weather. I was terrified when I
got home from the hospital and you
were missing.
TRACE
(gentle, embarrassed)
I’m sorry, Mom. I was…exploring
and lost track of time.
MINNY
(lighthearted)
I’m just glad everything worked
out okay. You really freaked me
out when you were holding your
chest like that, Trace. I thought
something was wrong for a second
there.
(chuckles)
The room goes silent.
MINNY
(awkward)
I…I did it again. Didn't I? I said something wrong. What did I do
this time?
TRACE
(soft, solemn)
It’s okay, Mom. You can tell her…
MINNY
Tell me what?
SANDRA
(sighs)
Minny...my son may look healthy and strong on the outside…but he’s not. He used to love playing basketball.
He was good, too. Really good. In
middle school, it looked like he
was going to go really far,
but…that’s when we found out…
SC. 8 - TIME OUT
INT. BASKETBALL COURT - DAY
We temporarily flash back to a basketball game Trace was
playing in during middle school.
COACH
(pumped up)
Time out! Time out! Alright, boys,
listen up. Joey, you can’t keep
letting them block you like that.
JOEY
(determined, slightly
short of breath)
I know, Coach.