Lies Magazine: The TV Series

Backstory

A small magazine suddenly gets loads of media attention and "strikes it rich," so to speak. As subscriptions and distribution rises exponentially, the core group of editors and artists have to deal with fame, fortune and taxes. Set in Albuquerque, NM, the show begins as the magazine moves into a real office, causing cat-calls of "sell-out" from the 'zine community and other headaches. Two brothers are the head editors (Mattman & Aaron), while their roundtable of writers and artists fill out the rest of the cast. Lisa, third in command under the brothers, flirts endlessly with everyone except Mattman. Zep, a character who never talks, walks in and out of the office with a cigarette trailing from his fingers. His entrances and exits always causes a large group of the writers to follow him out on their own smoke breaks. Danny, recently named art director, fights for "less words, more pictures." Nina, the receptionist, does not have red hair. A large cast of writers (always changing, but including Dave, Jen, Dennis, Lucas, Rodney and Ruth) continually stop by, spit long rants about creative freedom at the brothers, and take two or three CDs with them as they leave. Willie is a staff/music scene writer who hangs out at the office 24-7 because of domestic problems. Many times he brings his dog along. Occasionally Mattman will go to the post office and talk to one of the clerks he's known for years--kind of a guru of sorts for Mattman. Calls from editors on the coasts (Scott & Jon) are conference calls over speaker phone--these characters are never seen (at least in the first season). Characters are a mix of Hispanic and white people except Aaron (and his half-brother, Chris Jungle), who, of course, is black. The theme song for each episode is a different song from up and coming (or favorite) bands.

Pilot: "The Magazine That Is Not Just About Pot Anymore"

This week's theme song, "Albequerque" by Buck-O-Nine. So they spelled it wrong, so does everyone.

Setting: The office is a casual mess. There is a line of Mac computers on the side of one wall. The receptionist desk is near the door. A couch facing the camera is the focal point of the room. There is a large chair to its right. Mattman's office is to the right of the camera. Everything looks second hand. Lots of music posters line the walls, some are already falling off.

Mattman and Lisa walk into the office from lunch. Nina looks frazzled at her desk (a mess with papers, cans of Coke and a bong) and begins to read off her list of messages. Lisa sits down on the couch next to Zep, who is asleep. Willie is reading the newspaper in the chair.

NINA

Steve called. He says he came up with the entire concept for the magazine and if we don't FedEx him $25,000 and a pound of pot by tomorrow, he's going to sue.

MATTMAN

A pound?

LISA

I think we could have him killed for $10,000.

MATTMAN

No, we did that to Ronrath. People might get suspicious. Nina, write a check for $500 and get it in the mail to Steve. Also put in a note that says he gets no more money until we get a fucking column.

NINA

On it, Mattman.

Willie looks up from his newspaper.

WILLIE

Hey, does this couch fold out into a bed?

LISA

Not when Zep's asleep on it.

Zep wakes up at the mention of his name, pulls out a joint, lights it, takes a hit and offers it to Lisa.

MATTMAN

Zep, you can't smoke in here.

Zep, Lisa, Willie and Aaron, who comes out of Mattman's office at the mention of pot, head outside, stage left.

MATTMAN

Nina, where'd they all go?

NINA

Out on the veranda to smoke a joint.

MATTMAN

Is that the office pot?

NINA

No, that is in the locked right drawer of your desk.

MATTMAN

Right. How many days till deadline?

NINA

Fifteen not including weekends.

MATTMAN

Do you want to have sex?

NINA

I've got a girlfriend now, Mattman. It's not like it was before Lies was making money.

MATTMAN

Yeah. Damn, I miss pity sex. Now I've got to settle for groupie sex.

NINA

It can't be all bad.

MATTMAN

Too many blowjobs and very little sincerity.

NINA

Yeah, blowjobs suck.

Aaron walks in from the veranda.

AARON

Matt, I'm kicking off for today. Gonna go up the south side of the Sandias with Dennis and 'shroom.

Aaron says this while walking into Mattman's office, barely glancing at Nina and Mattman.

MATTMAN

Hey, Aaron.

Aaron is rummaging around Mattman's office, throwing hiking boots and canteens out of the door. Aaron sticks his head out to answer.

AARON

Yeah?

MATTMAN

Is this better? I mean compared to when we had no money and had to work a bunch of day jobs to keep the magazine going?

AARON

Well, I get more blowjobs now.

Nina and Mattman exchange pained glances. Aaron goes back to throwing hiking equipment into the main room of the office.

Scene 2

Mattman is alone in the office sitting at the receptionist's desk. He's opening CDs from their cellophane wrappers and placing them in a large stack. Lisa walks in from the veranda smoking a cigarette.

MATTMAN

Hey Lisa, you know you can't smoke in here.

LISA

Oh c'mon, Zep and I just fucked on the veranda. I need to cool out.

MATTMAN

Where's Zep?

LISA

Smoking on the veranda.

MATTMAN

Put it out.

Lisa turns her attention to the veranda.

LISA

Zep! Come here!

Zep walks in from the veranda with a smoking cigarette in his hand. Lisa hands him her own burning cigarette, and he walks out to the veranda again. Lisa walks over to Mattman and sits on the desk.

MATTMAN

So, you and Zep an item now?

LISA

(laughing) Fuck no! But, y'know, sometimes you just have to get laid.

MATTMAN

On the veranda?

LISA

Anywhere.

MATTMAN

So why haven't you ever, y'know.

LISA

What?

MATTMAN

Y'know. Asked me to have sex on the veranda.

LISA

We just got the veranda, y'know. Besides, I always thought you were gay.

MATTMAN

For the last six and a half years you've thought I was gay?

LISA

No. Just the last four.

MATTMAN

But I had sex with your friend Carrie. And there's always Nina.

LISA

Nina's gay. Or something. Obviously the spark wasn't that great between you two. Besides, you broke up with Carrie after, like, two weeks.

MATTMAN

She had hair between her breasts!

LISA

So do you, big boy.

MATTMAN

What about you?

Lisa pulls her shirt up, revealing her chest (no bra).

LISA

I get it waxed every season.

MATTMAN

That's impressive. The waxing thing, at least.

LISA

Hey, not all of us are Carmen Electra, honey.

MATTMAN

Why'd you think I was gay?

LISA

I think the fact that your longest sexual relationship has been with your bi-sexual friend turned receptionist who only did it because you'd get cranky. It's like PMS with you.

MATTMAN

I keep thinking I'll find someone who wants to fuck me for me.

LISA

Never happens. Fucking is all about hormones and attraction. Love is all about disillusion. Life is all about following the rules of nature.

MATTMAN

If you've got all the answers, why do you even hang around here anymore?

LISA

Free CDs, free pot and fucking Zep on the veranda. Oh yeah, your little brother's pretty cool, too.

MATTMAN

Maybe that's my problem. My brothers and I all had different fathers.

LISA

Makes for interesting family pictures. And then there's Chris.

MATTMAN

Yeah. Chris Jungle. He's Aaron's brother, but not mine.

Nina walks in the door and looks at Mattman and Lisa lounging around her desk.

NINA

This is why you have a separate office, Matt.

The two jump away from the receptionist desk.

MATTMAN

Sorry, Nina.

Nina gives Mattman another acid look and then smiles wide at Lisa.

NINA

Hey Lisa. Just a little tip. The parking lot is right below the veranda.

Scene 3

Mattman walks out of his office with his car stereo in his hands. Willie looks up from the couch, as does his dog.

WILLIE

Hey, Mattman, where are you going?

MATTMAN

The post office routine. It's an exciting life I lead.

WILLIE

Am I on the list at the Dingo?

MATTMAN

Don't they know you by now at the Dingo?

WILLIE

Yeah, but it's cool to have my name on the list anyway. Makes me feel wanted.

MATTMAN

No kidding. (pause) You ever wonder if you life has a plot or if everything just meanders into a confusing and ultimately disappointing ending?

WILLIE

I think there's a plot, but the only way to see it is to look at my life in large incriments of two years or longer.

MATTMAN

There's something in that thought, man. Just remember to write it down, or people will just think it's all just drunken rambling.

WILLIE

Well, it's better than stoned rambling.

MATTMAN

Different strokes.

WILLIE

Different cliches.

MATTMAN

I need stamps.

WILLIE

I need a woman.

MATTMAN

I'm betting I'm satisfied before you.

Scene 4

Mattman has been going to the same post office for five years. He's developed a friendship with one of the clerks--who remains nameless due to Mattman's inability to remember people's names. Post Office Guy is in his late 30s, Hispanic and has a very calm and soothing demeanor. He serves as therapist to Mattman, dispensing advice and gentle jibes when Mattman is out of sorts. Mattman is still trying to understand the cult success of his magazine, which has solved financial, but not social problems. They talk while a large line forms behind them, probably pissing off a great amount of customers who will just have to wait until the conversation is over.

MATTMAN

Hey, man. I need 100 regular stamps.

POST OFFICE GUY

So, how are things at the new office?

MATTMAN

Good and bad. I think I miss working out of my bedroom.

POST OFFICE GUY

So what? You have to put on clothes to go to work now. It's okay to be successful. Actually, it's good.

MATTMAN

I just don't feel comfortable telling my friends what to do. It used to be I just told them to drink beer. Now I'm running their lives. Freaky, man.

POST OFFICE GUY

Well, when you put yourself in the position of being the boss, sometimes you actually have to give orders. That's the whole point of growing up and becoming responsible.

MATTMAN

I don't want to be responsible. I want to be the same old gently wasted friend I was a year ago. Y'know, they thought I was mildly pathetic, but also mildly creative and insane. It was so much easier back then.

POST OFFICE GUY

Don't worry about it. They're your friends. They'll listen to you. Think about it, they wouldn't even be around anymore if they didn't like listening to your crap.

MATTMAN

Yeah. Good call! How much?

POST OFFICE GUY

Thirty-two bucks.

MATTMAN

Thanks.

POST OFFICE GUY

So why don't you have other people doing this kind of work?

MATTMAN

I've got to do something. I can't just sit on my ass all day. Besides, I gotta talk to you. It's like habit.

POST OFFICE GUY

Well, it's cool being part of your habit.

MATTMAN

At least this is a healty habit.

POST OFFICE GUY

Have a good day, Matt. Next?

Scene 5

Aaron and Lisa are sitting in Mattman's office. Lisa is going through her little black book.

LISA

Carrie Sampson?

AARON

Went out in 1995, two dates, a little lip. She got scared because I wanted to see A Clockwork Orange at the Lobo on acid.

LISA

Oh yeah. She's non-toxic. Okay, how about Terri Mondragon?

AARON

Matt screwed her on the first date and never called her back. He said she had very dry nipples or something. But I never follow where Matt has gone before.

LISA

Well, that won't cut down my list much. (pause, writing) Dry nipples? Has he looked at his fucking elbows lately?

AARON

Hey, that's all I remember. You've got to have some new single friends I can go out with.

LISA

Why am I always the one finding new friends? What the hell is wrong with you?

AARON

Hey, we'll talk about my social skills later. You know how hard it is being a black man in a town full of everything but?

LISA

Okay. How about Carla Del Baca?

AARON

Is Del Baca one word or two?

LISA

Two.

AARON

Okay, sounds cool. Are you gonna call?

LISA

Sure, where are you gonna take her?

AARON

How about Los Cuates and a movie?

LISA

I knew you could figure out a good date scenaro if you put your mind to it.

AARON

Well, y'know. I've got a little bit of money now. And not much to do.

LISA

Yeah, we should really think about going monthly. This every two months thing really gives us all too much time to do drugs and have sex.

AARON

Is that so wrong?

LISA

I guess not, but I think we could up our circulation and advertising if we went monthly. Of course, then I'd have to write more.

AARON

Take it up with Matt. He's been thinking about it for a while. Especially since our big subscription burst a few months back.

LISA

I keep wondering if he really wants to be big man on campus, or if he's just a freaky paranoid little boy who needs to find someone to have consistant sex with.

AARON

Can't he be the big man and a paranoid freak who needs to get laid?

LISA

Yeah, but then we can't make fun of him as much.

AARON

Yeah. If you don't have laughter, what do you have?

LISA

The rest is silence.

AARON

Huh?

LISA

It's Shakespeare. "The rest is silence."

AARON

How about, "If you don't have laughter, you have an overweight, neurotic, drunken fool with a penchant for late night USA titty movies."

LISA

Too specific. It's not enough to be funny, you have to be classic as well. It's a nod to upper-class comedy. Besides, that long rant, list, spit and hurl shit only works on "Duckman."

Scene 6 Nina is sitting behind her desk, aiming a mini-cassette recorder at Lucas, who is reciting a possible column. While he is talking, Lucas is sifting through the large pile of CDs on the desk.

LUCAS

...Furthermore, intoxication brings a freedom to one's mind, which allows it to think in ways it would not normally thing. This extra freedom is what brought us Jimi Hendrix, Axl Rose, Bob Marley, Earnest Hemmingway, Kurt Cobain, the Grateful Dead, Timothy Leary...

NINA

Shannon Moon.

LUCAS

Huh?

NINA

Shannon Moon, from Blind Melon.

LUCAS

No, I don't think so.

NINA

C'mon, you mentioned the Grateful Dead. How about Jimmy Buffet? The Black Crowes?

LUCAS

Hey, this is my column, isn't it? If you want to write something, why don't you sleep with Lisa?

Nina clicks the tape recorder off, puts in on the desk and dials a number on the phone.

NINA

Hey, Shelly. What's up? (pause) Oh nothing much, y'know, fourteen days to deadline, not much goes on. (pause) I was thinking about a cheap movie later. (pause) No, not that one. I don't think I can handle Johnny Depp today.

Through the conversation, Lucas just stands and watches as Nina talks on the phone.

NINA

Just a second, okay? (turns to Lucas) It looks like the computers are open. Why don't you go ahead and type that column in yourself.

LUCAS

Is this about the Shannon Moon thing?

Scene 7

Lisa is reading through stories while sitting on the couch. No one else is in the office. An electric disturbance preceedes the appearance of TIME DISPLACEMENT MATTMAN, who appears almost out of nowhere to talk to Lisa.

TIME DISPLACEMENT MATTMAN

No, it's not time yet. But it will be soon, I can promise you that.

LISA

What do you do when you're not popping by to tell me it isn't time yet?

TIME DISPLACEMENT MATTMAN

Oh, I've got a lot more free time now. I'm rich.

LISA

I figured there had to be some money behind your electrical entrances.

TIME DISPLACEMENT MATTMAN

You'll understand someday. And I will rock your world--in a way that's never been done before.

An electric matrix swallows up Time Displacement Mattman a second after he finishes talking.

LISA

Well, the ego has changed a bit.

Mattman walks into the office from outside. He's carrying a large load of mail.

LISA

Hey, your alter-ego from another universe just came by. He said he was gonna have some way delicious sex with me someday.

MATTMAN

Must be an alter-ego. He's got better lines.

LISA

And a better tan.

Mattman smiles and takes the mail into his office.

LISA

If I hadn't seen him naked a few years ago, I'd probably be more curious.

Scene 8

Rodney, Dennis, and Chris come into the office to talk to Aaron. Chris sits in one of the corner chairs, while Dennis and Rodney push Willie's dog off the couch.

AARON

How was the show last night?

CHRIS

Didn't go.

AARON

Not you. I'm referring to the two guys who were on the list.

RODNEY

Zen Guerrilla was way cool but we didn't make it in for the first band.

AARON

Man, the first band is always 'the little band that could.' We run a cult magazine, you know. We're supposed to care about the little guys.

DENNIS

Yeah, but the 'little guys' are also that group of guys who really should've practiced another month before getting a gig at the bar.

AARON

But it was free. It's not like it cost you anything to listen to a crap band.

DENNIS

Do you know how many crap bands I've heard? I can't even tell you how many. I have to buy an extra pitcher just to calm myself down.

AARON

Oh yeah, that reminds me. Mattman says he'll only pay for one pitcher a prson at shows from now on.

DENNIS

Cheap bastard.

AARON

Don't bitch too loudly, I might have to start sending other people to shows. People who don't mind getting free beer and a free show.

RODNEY

If you're so high and mighty, why didn't you go?

AARON

I thought I was going to have a date last night, but it didn't happen.

RODNEY

It didn't happen? What didn't happen?

AARON

The date. I don't know.

DENNIS

Did you talk to her on the phone?

AARON

Yeah.

DENNIS

Did you tell her about your theory of world domination using dogs as your evil minions of death?

Aaron shrugs his shoulders.

RODNEY

Just because dogs can detect drugs doesn't mean they'll do your bidding, and it's not something you tell a girl during the first phone call.

AARON

She was gonna find out sooner or later.

DENNIS

Well, let it be later.

Aaron sighs and looks at Chris sitting alone in his chair.

AARON

What do you want, Chris?

CHRIS

Nothing. I just haven't been here in a while.

RODNEY

Yeah man. Everybody wants to be seen.

End Scene (9)

Nina and Lisa are talking at Nina's desk. Nina is sitting in her chair, and Lisa is sitting on top of the desk in a small cleaned off space. Willie is sleeping on the couch. His dog is on the floor, also sleeping.

LISA

And then he said, "If anyone asks where you got that hickey from, you tell them you got it from Richie Sambora." I was so frost at that moment.

NINA

That's fucking cool. I never meet anyone.

LISA

And then his road manager told me it was time for the band to leave. So it's not all glamorous.

NINA

How long did the hickey last?

LISA

Three days or so, but I've got a picture of it in my hope chest.

NINA

I threw my hope chest away the first time I slept with a girl. It was like all that shit didn't matter anymore.

LISA

I keep thinking wishes will come true if you wish hard enough. (pause) You know who I really want to meet, devour, consume, have meaningful conversations with--I mean, I really want to know this person. The most Chewbacca fly of all the Chewbacca flyers.

NINA

Who?

LISA

Jodie Foster.

NINA

Yeah, but would you want to be her friend--or just fuck her?

LISA

Be her friend--definitely.

NINA

Yeah...

LISA

And then I'd fuck her.

NINA

(laughing) You are such a guy, Lisa!

LISA

I know, isn't it wicked?

NINA

Speaking of...

Mattman walks in the office carrying a load of mail.

NINA

No one called.

MATTMAN

Just like the old days.

LISA

Hey, Matt. Sorry that Hollywood writing gig didn't work out. It would have been pretty cool to move to L.A.

MATTMAN

I know. And I was so ready to sell out, too.

Mattman walks into his office and shuts the door.

LISA

Is he any good in bed?

NINA

Only when he's inspired. (pause) It's very rare.

LISA

Kinda like rain in Albuquerque?

Willie sticks his head up from behind the couch.

WILLIE

That's the thing about women, they're only happy when it rains.

NINA

Y'know, I don't understand why your wife left you at all, Willie.

Ending Credits Scene (10)

Buck-O-Nine's "Albequerque" plays over entire scene.

Willie is sleeping on the couch. His dog licks his arm, but Willie doesn't wake up. The dog then goes out on the veranda and comes back holding a small back of pot in its mouth. A few seconds later Zep comes in smoking and walking quickly after Willie's dog, who is headed into Mattman's office. A few seconds later, Willie's dog comes out without the pot, followed by Zep, who is trying to explain something to the dog (by miming something between the bag of pot and the dog's eyes). Mattman looks out of the office at the dog and Zep and then closes the door.


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