Ishine Knect is a Tween sitcom seen weekly by almost a million viewers on TBN, JCTV and Smile of a Child network. I co-wrote the sitcom element also known as the "Club iShine" part of the show. We wrote 13 episodes, but only had 12 filmed as production ran over time. The entire season was filmed over three weeks at the TBN studios in Nashville.
You can stream the entire series now on Amazon Prime.
You can stream the entire series now on Amazon Prime.
Episode 4 - Mission Commission
by
Alan Tregoning
INT. CAFE - DAY
The Rubyz struggle to wheel in a dolly loaded with boxes of
canned food.
They finally make it to the counter.
Troy looks over the groceries with suspicion.
CAMMIE
Here you go.
CAMMIE
From our show last night.
TROY
You played a show in a grocery
store?
ALEXIS
No.
TROY
You got paid in groceries?
CAMMIE
No, They're for Mr Bridges.
TROY
Is he paying me in groceries?
MR BRIDGES (O.S.)
Only if you want me to.
Mr Bridges walks over and inspects the boxes.
MR BRIDGES
Wow, looks like you had a good
show.
ALEXIS
We have more cases outside.
MR BRIDGES
Awesome.
Alexis and Cammie head out to get more food.
TROY
Mr Bridges, there's a crazy rumor
flying around that you're turning
the cafe into a grocery store. Do
you care to comment?
MR BRIDGES
Don't worry Troy, the cafe's safe.
The Rubyz played a show last night
and charged a can of food for
admission. They're donating these
to the local food bank.
TROY
Well that does make sense--what is
that?!?
Troy grabs a can of food from the pile.
TROY
Frank and beans! In the same can.
Why was I not informed? That is
genius. Can I have these?
MR BRIDGES
Are you homeless or in need?
TROY
I'm in need of frank and beans.
Troy pleads for his frank and beans.
MR BRIDGES
I don't think so.
Troy replaces the can.
TROY
Yeah, you're probably right.
Jonnie and Brookie walk in carrying their guitar cases.
JONNIE
Two lattes.
BROOKIE
Sugar free.
JONNIE
Non fat.
BROOKIE
Half caff.
JONNIE
No whip.
BROOKIE
No foam.
JONNIE AND BROOKIE
To go.
TROY
Wow, that's so weird.
JONNIE
What?
TROY
When you finish each others
sentences like that. It's like
you're sisters or something.
BROOKIE
Something like that.
JONNIE
And can you hurry, we need to get
to the hospital.
TROY
Oh no! Did Noah fall off the stage
again?
BROOKIE
Not that I know of.
JONNIE
We go down there once a month and
play a free show for the kids.
BROOKIE
It's a cool way to minister to
people.
Jonnie and Brookie grab their drinks and leave.
TROY
You guys are awesome.
Troy is lost in thought for a moment.
MR BRIDGES
Troy? What's up?
TROY
It's like everyone has this cool
ministry they do. Except for me.
And Jasmine. Where is she anyway?
MR BRIDGES
Serving meals at the homeless
shelter.
TROY
Argh, of course she is. And the
Mission Six guys?
MR BRIDGES
Building a habitat home.
TROY
Jamie-Grace?
MR BRIDGES
Retirement home.
TROY
I'm a failure.
MR BRIDGES
Why do you say that?
TROY
I don't have a cool ministry like
that.
MR BRIDGES
Well why don't you just pray and
ask God to show you an opportunity
where you can help others.
TROY
You sir, are like frank and beans.
Genius.
INT. CAFE - LATER
Jasmine and Jamie-Grace sit at the counter.
Troy walks in from the kitchen dressed for the beach.
Hawaiian shirt, sunglasses, etc.
TROY
(bad Australian accent)
G'day sheilas, fair dinkum it's a
no worries kind of day 'eh mate?
JASMINE
It's like he's speaking, but the
words make no sense.
JAMIE-GRACE
What are you doing?
TROY
Just practicing, for my mission
trip.
Troy slides a travel brochure across the counter.
JASMINE
Cool!
JAMIE-GRACE
Where you going?
TROY
A six day, seven night snorkeling
adventure on the great barrier
reef. That would be in Australia.
JASMINE
That would be a vacation.
TROY
I believe the Australians call it a
"holiday".
JAMIE-GRACE
You really think that's a mission
trip?
TROY
Yep, I thought I could find Nemo,
and then he could find Jesus.
JASMINE
Troy, you know a mission trip is
not a vacation, right?
TROY
Yeah. It's not?
JAMIE-GRACE
No, a mission trip is about giving
up your vacation.
JASMINE
To help those that are less
fortunate.
TROY
Australian's are less fortunate.
All those snakes and spiders and
those giant, shrimp, on the barbie,
covered in butter. Yummy.
JASMINE
Yeah, sorry but the "Paradise
Lagoon Resort and Spa" does not
really qualify as less fortunate.
TROY
OK, you're right. I guess I could
go with my back-up.
JAMIE-GRACE
What was that?
Troy holds up a pair of skis.
TROY
Skiing on the Swiss alps. The
hills are alive with the sound of
Jesus. Yodel-ay yodel-ay yodel-ay
heee hooo.
JAMIE-GRACE
No.
TROY
African safari?
JASMINE
No.
TROY
International space station?
The girls just shake their head.
TROY
OK, fine. So where can I go?
JASMINE
I dunno, Romania.
JAMIE-GRACE
Somalia.
TROY
Peoria.
JASMINE
South Africa?
TROY
Illinois.
JAMIE-GRACE
Illin-no.
TROY
OK fine, I'll show you. I'm going
to find the most remotest most
neediest most unillinoist place
ever to go on my mission trip.
JASMINE
Cool.
TROY
Do either of you have a map of the
world and some darts I can borrow?
INT. CAFE - LATER
Jasmine and Jamie-Grace are seated at a table.
Troy rushes in carrying a globe.
TROY
I got it! I got it!
Troy sets the globe in the middle of the table and gives it a
spin.
TROY
Check it out.
Troy stops the globe by pointing his finger at a spot near
the North Pole.
TROY
Zambonia.
JASMINE
Sounds...made up.
JAMIE-GRACE
Does anyone even live up there?
TROY
A thousand-year old tribe descended
from Canadian pond hockey players.
JASMINE
They're Canadian?
TROY
Zambonian. Apparently they got
lost when a blizzard blew in during
a game and, well, let's just say
they're still in overtime.
JAMIE-GRACE
They played hockey a thousand years
ago?
TROY
They're a society completely devoid
of teeth.
JASMINE
Ewww.
TROY
And their only form of
communication is through referee
hand signals.
JAMIE-GRACE
Do you speak...referee?
TROY
Do I speak referee?
Troy responds via hockey referee hand signals. Hooking,
interference, high sticking, holding, cross checking.
JASMINE
Looks like you've got it all
figured out.
JAMIE-GRACE
When are you leaving?
TROY
As soon as I book my flight.
Troy goes to the counter and dials the phone.
TROY
(on phone)
Hello, yes, this is missionary Troy
and I'd like to book a ticket to
Zambonia...really, that much
huh?...Anything cheaper in the
back?...No?...Fold down wooden
seats?...No?...How about the cargo
hold? Hello?
Troy hangs up.
JASMINE
Problem?
TROY
Well, once you factor in the cost
of the charter flight, taxes,
security fee, snowmobile insurance,
sled dog rental.
JAMIE-GRACE
How much?
TROY
Twenty-three thousand dollars.
JAMIE-GRACE
Yikes.
JASMINE
How much do you have?
Troy checks his wallet.
TROY
Eleven dollars and thirty seven
cents. And a coupon for a free
game of bowling, shoe rental
included.
JAMIE-GRACE
So what are you going to do?
Troy thinks for a moment, then...
TROY
Can I borrow twenty two thousand
nine hundred and eighty eight
dollars and sixty three cents?
JASMINE
I have five.
JAMIE-GRACE
I have the sixty three cents.
TROY
Hmmmm.
Troy holds up the bowling coupon.
TROY
(to cafe)
Any takers for a twenty three
thousand dollar game of bowling?
Crickets chirp.
TROY
Did I mention shoe rental is
included?
INT. CAFE - LATER
Troy is behind the counter putting up a fund-raising
thermometer sign titled "Save the Zambonians".
Mr Bridges is loading up the food for the food pantry.
MR BRIDGES
So how's the fund-raising coming
along?
TROY
Well as you can see from my handy
thermometer here our goal is twenty
three thousand dollars. Our
current total is...
Troy whistles his finger down to the bottom of the sign.
TROY
...less Than that.
MR BRIDGES
Fund-raising can be tough,
especially in this economy.
TROY
Well, luckily I have a few
unconventional ideas to help move
things along.
Jonnie approaches the counter with her bill in hand.
JONNIE
Um Troy, I have a question about my
bill.
TROY
Sure, what's up?
JONNIE
Well all I got was a salad and an
ice water, but my bill is for over
a thousand dollars.
TROY
Really, well let me take a look.
Troy takes the bill and looks it over.
TROY
Ok, you see right here you have
your salad, and here's your water,
that was free. Sales tax is here.
Tip goes here, I see you left it
blank, but you can fill that in
later. And down here is the ah,
missions surcharge, which as you
can see is a thousand dollars.
Jonnie stares at him in disbelief.
TROY
I tell you what, why don't we just
ah, forget the tip on this one and
it's cool.
MR BRIDGES
Let me take care if this.
Mr Bridges takes the bill from Troy's hand.
Jonnie leaves shaking her head.
TROY
Hey!
MR BRIDGES
Troy, you can't be slapping on a
thousand dollars to each bill to
pay for your mission trip.
TROY
You think five hundred's more
reasonable?
No.
TROY
How about a twelve month advance on
my pay?
Not a chance.
TROY
Do you like bowling?
MR BRIDGES
Troy!
TROY
But, it's for a good cause right?
MR BRIDGES
That's not the point.
TROY
But I've only raised...
(checks thermometer)
One hundred and seventy seven
dollars. That's it?
MR BRIDGES
That's great.
TROY
How can I help anyone for a hundred
and seventy seven dollars?
MR BRIDGES
There's a lot I can think of.
TROY
Well, forget it then. If I can
serve others then what's the point.
Troy takes the fund-raising thermometer and tosses it in the
trash.
INT. CAFE - DAY
A pouty Troy sits at the counter rolling a hockey puck back
and forth between his hands.
Jasmine cautiously approaches and offers Troy a coin.
JASMINE
Here, I found a quarter behind the
couch cushions.
TROY
The Zambonian International
Missionary fund is closed for
business.
JASMINE
But who will provide teeth for
those little Zambonian children?
TROY
I'm sure God has a plan for them.
It just doesn't include me.
JASMINE
So what are you doing with the
money?
TROY
I guess I'll have to give it back.
JASMINE
So why did you want to go on a
mission trip anyway?
TROY
You guys do all this cool ministry
stuff and I guess I just wanted an
opportunity to help others too.
JASMINE
You don't need to go on a mission
trip for that.
TROY
But I could never build a homeless
food pantry for retired sick kids.
JASMINE
I don't know about that, but you
could come with me and serve meals
at the shelter, right?
TROY
Well I do have some experience in
the food service industry.
JASMINE
What about building a house.
Troy makes a house shape with his hands then caves it in with
a loud crash.
TROY
(as trapped people)
Ahhh, help me. Why Troy, why?
JASMINE
OK, but you can visit a hospital,
or stock a pantry, right?
That catches Troy's attention.
TROY
You ma'am, are a genius.
Troy runs out the door.
CUT TO:
LATER
Mr Bridges is at the counter.
Troy struggles to wheel in a dolly loaded with food.
He finally makes it to the counter.
Mr Bridges eyes the food with suspicion.
MR BRIDGES
You know we have food in the
kitchen?
TROY
It's not for the kitchen. It's for
the food pantry.
Troy grabs a can from one of the boxes.
TROY
One hundred and seventy five
dollars worth of Frank and beans.
Oh snap.
MR BRIDGES
Fantastic, but isn't that your
mission trip money?
TROY
Yeah, but it turns out there's lots
of ways to help others right here
in town.
MR BRIDGES
So no Zambonians?
TROY
When God opens that door I'm ready
to go, but until then--
Troy pats the boxes of food.
TROY
I'm going to serve him faithfully
right here doing the little things.
Including a brand new ministry I'm
starting up.
MR BRIDGES
Cool what?
Troy holds up the bowling coupon.
TROY
Bigger brother bowling. Shoe
rental included.
FADE OUT.