THE G.Y.M. — PILOT ACTS 2 & 3

Table Read

THE G.Y.M. — PILOT, ACTS TWO AND THREE By Dani Hanks

Pick up where Act One left off. Valerie still cannot get her commercial. The film crew is still in her face. The Solstice gym across the street is still winning. And things are about to get considerably worse.

Bryan is teaching group fitness despite not knowing what "happy baby" is, and every senior in the building keeps asking when Reggie is coming back. Kayla is supposed to be training her client. Her client is currently turning purple under a barbell. The cameraman looks weirdly familiar to her and she cannot place it. Chris is somewhere in the locker room going through a smoothie situation he did not ask for. Wade the IT guy is crawling through a server closet stuffed with the unpaid invoices Valerie has been hiding in her clipboard. And Valerie, our hero, has just told the cute IT guy that her anaconda doesn't want his real estate funds.

It's fine. Everything is fine.

By the time we get to the pool, Alexa is jumping off a diving board she has no business being on, Bryan is leading a secret back room of seniors through a yoga pose he learned thirty seconds ago, Wade is sitting next to a soaking wet Valerie holding the worst envelopes she's ever seen in her life, and the truth about who's been filming all day is about to drop in the middle of the room like a brick through a window.

Underneath the chaos, this is what the show is actually about: a woman trying to save the only place she ever felt at home, with a crew of misfits who have nowhere else to go either. Norman Lear would recognize this gym. So would anybody who's ever worked at one.

Meanwhile, across the street, in a chrome office at the new Solstice, a Southern silver fox in a tall cowboy hat is watching the whole thing through binoculars. He is having the time of his life. He is not done with The G.Y.M. Not even close.

Recorded live at Podcast Movement at SXSW in front of a packed house of our peers, and you can hear it in the room. Video version available on YouTube and across our channels.

CAST

Heather Foster - Narrator Allison Dunbar - Valerie Yasmine Al-Bustami - Kayla and Spin Client Kensington Tallman - Alexa and White Trash Spin Diva Shaan Sharma - Wade, Bored EMT, and Johnny Joe Nemmers - Gary Hughes, Cocky Newscaster, Television, and Gruff Driver Jacob A. Ware - Bryan and Sam Brian Villalobos - Chris, Weak-Armed Client, and Handyman Amy Bailey - Mary, Gem, Peppy Newscaster, First AC, and Phone Scott Hervey - Client Carlin (special guest appearance, our attorney from Weintraub Tobin)

Produced by Manifest Media. Created by Jack Levy, Mark Knell, and Shaan Sharma.

This live read benefits Best Friends Animal Society, selected by Allison Dunbar, dedicated to bringing no-kill to every shelter in the country. Save Them All. bestfriends.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2026-05-12 22 min Transcript

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Transcript

Back Too, Interior Free Weights Area Day. The camera walked
up to Kayla, who's distracted on her phone. Hey hey, hey,
do you know what ju William stands for? No idea.
The camera starts to drift, but Kayla stops. Cameraman Sam wait, do.
I know you?
You look familiar? No?
No, no? Do you know a client that's it's fine?
Behind them? Weak armed client flails under a barbell. Crush it,
get that one, red Max. The client chokes and turns red.
Bryan runs over and lifts the barbell. The client gas prayer.
Kayla squints the cameraman Sam, what's your name? Brian pulls
Kayla from the conversation. Cameraman Sam takes the opportunity to escape.
Your client almost dinner.
I think I knew that camera.
Quaen focus, just focus, Okay, we need this commercial.
We got to bring in some fresh meat.
I am I heard of working at.
The old Folks Care Capiche.
Interior Smoothie Area day. The camera catches Valerie gazing at
a giant bulletin board of old photos. Cameraman Sam pipes
up from behind the camera old employees, Oh yeah.
And famous clients.
Yeah, this is where Johnny Cash brought us ostriches. I
don't mean to brag, but big boy from out past?
How is Owl's here?
Valerie points out photos. The camera zooms in on a
different one, a man with a tall cowboy hat his face.
E'sed out? Who's that in the cowboy hat? Valerie rips
down the photo and glares at the camera. We don't
talk about Gary Interior, Treadmill Area day. Brian's's Kala sneaking
a photo of cameraman Sam with her phone. But if
she's there, where's He notices client Carlin eighties fit nosy
speed walking to Valerie. Brian intercepts and he directs them
to a treadmill.
Hey, how can I help beings?
Sir? I heard that Johnny is out. I wanted to
ask a Valerie about group fitness.
I'm doing the fitness class I'm teaching group fitness.
Is Reggie coming back? Uh?
Reggie?
Interior Smoothie Area Day. Chris and Mary sixties to seventies,
spunky bit jaded watch. Valerie press buttons on a high
tech blender. Nothing happens.
What do you mean the blender won't run without WiFi?
Well, Valerie, you're the one who bought it all new tech,
this op to cold that she won't even let me
put a fucking cocaine mix in the movies anymore.
I mean that was a real fucking energy drink.
Am I right? I?
Oh, so the WiFi is out? Not the pos.
Alexa will sixties?
Okay, okay.
Marry pulls out an ancient blender and hugs it to
her ample bosom like a lover.
Oh fucking beastlible.
How I Mission Interiors, Server room day. Wade crawls through
a jungle of dusty cables and plug. Wade crawls through
a jungle of dusty cables and plugs his laptop into
the server. He sees some papers jammed in the rack.
Their envelopes invoice urgent, overdue.
Sexy techie, you're terminally online? Who is this?
Wade hides the envelopes in his bag as Caleb barges
in with her phone. He examines the shoddy picture of
cameraman sam.
Uh No whole idea.
But with a better photo you could like put it
into reverse spooble immage search and then you could know
what never mind? What's the server? Password?
Interior Treadmill area day, Brian hovers around Clan Carlin on
the treadmill. The best part of group fitness is happy baby.
Reggie loves happy baby.
What's happy baby now?
Kayla shows up? Wait in toe?
What's the super password?
I don't know? Check the fruit desk. She ups the
incline and speed on Carlin's treadmill.
Carlan, good job today. This is your final pose.
You'll be right back.
Wait.
Can we turn on the TV? If the group keep walking?
Interior smoothie area slash, treadmill area intercut. Valerie blends strawberries
and milk. Mom, look chickpins all the boys of the
yard and they're life.
It's better than y'alls loose intolerance.
But Valerie is distracted. But Valerie is distracted. She sees
Karlin across the room, struggling to keep pace. He reaches
up to turn the TV on. Carlin stumbles, then scrambles. Thump.
Brian and Kayla whip around to see Carlin on the floor.
Hould up one second? Can we from Chris's line, I'm
lactose intolerant. Start there, I'm lactose intolerant. But Valerie is distracted.
She sees Carlin across the room, struggling to keep pace.
He reaches up to turn the TV on. Carlin stumbles
then scrambles bump. Brian and Kayla whip around to see
Carlin on the floor. Valerie abandons the smoothie and starts
across the room. Brian and Kayla rush back to him.
Kayla offers a hand. I'm fine, I'm fine. Back in
my day, there were no treadmills. If you fell outside,
you got asphalt in your hands. I haven't felt this
good since the war.
Thanks a little, lady.
Carlin shakes Kayla's hand, then winks at Brian. I'll see
you and Reggie later. Valerie shakes her head and returns
to her smoothie interior front desk. Moments later, kayleb Brian,
and Alexa rummage through drawers. Wade waits. Suddenly a loud
groan and dry heaving from across the room. Hu oh.
Brian looks up to see Chris sprinting, hands over his mouth,
Vomit drips through his fingers. Valerie rushes behind him, Aboard, aboard, aboard,
Who's right? Meet Bryan ducks behind the desk. Kayla and
Wade follow. Brian pulls Alexa down the galeries sprints after Chris.
No, no, not the employee bathroom. Look, I have my
first kiss in there.
Oh me too.
Brian gets an idea. He turns to Wade.
I'm going to ask the old timers.
Brian and Wade creep around the desk, secret agent style
interior interior sauna day. Jim fifties eats, breathes and ships crystals,
sits in full lotus Anya blaze. Brian clears his throat,
No answer, Wade.
This is Jemini, Jemini about that.
That's this month's happy birthday? No, yo, man, I'm a sagittarius. Jim,
do you know the servant password?
No?
Brother, No, but I can text the key wall.
You can text in. Jim Waite escapes the hot steam.
Brian hesitates at the door.
Do you know what happy baby is?
What? Jimsy staff open Cosmic? I created group fitness interior
pool room date. Hayla and the commercial crew follow Valerie
into the pool. Okay, so what.
We're gonna do in here is we're gonna start hell
is jem he.
Has one job.
Wade shuffles into the pool room. Excuse me, ma'am, No, no, no, no, no.
Valerie whips around and notes his outfit. She sices him up.
Listen to me, we are not selling this property, okay.
Not for a million, not for a dime, So just
scram and I don't care. Listen, I do not care
if your company sent their cutest agent to come in
here and flirt me up, all right, because you can
be hot, you can be nerdy all you want, but
my Ana Conda don't want none your real estate.
Fun tom wide eyed. Wade dashes out.
She is here to fix the life by.
Valerie turns beat red. End of back two. Here we
are at three interior front desk day. Alexa answers the phone.
There's a muffled announcement from the under line.
Call mister Keith. Yes, I can write it down.
You.
Valerie rushes to the front desk and hangs up the phone.
Yeah, you cannot call prison on a company line.
They're gonna think we're still in court. Hoots. Did Nelle
mentioned me?
Tap tap tap? It's Wade outside the glass doors. He waves,
Valerie gestures him in, then turns on Alexa.
You call it I guys next door. I sent to
call the Wi Fi company.
Brian knew you were stressed with the commercial so he
told me to gryand it interiors see Fitness Room Day.
Heavenly Harp sing as Jim guides Brian into heavenly harp
sing as Brian guides a heavenly harp sing as Jim
guides Brian into Happy Baby Possy.
But all you're worries out on the ex hail like this.
My rap instructor screwing ut.
That's okay, hey, let me get an exhale from everyone.
Don't want to be Leo.
I deserve to flow and I want to work against Solstice.
Just brow forward to the emersh.
There we go and dr Pool Room Day. Chris, Kayla,
and Alexa perch on a pool side bench. The commercial
crew loiters as Valerie smashes buttons. Why would they even
make a Wi Fi controlled Later, out of the earshot,
first Ac turns to cameraman Sam.
Oh so, hey, hi, yeah, who are you?
Yeah, I'm just a crew. The commercial crew glances at
each other. No you're not. I mean they hired me
for some additional behind the scenes bs. First Ac nods
suspicious back at the ranch.
Okay, cold water never killed anybody with penguins, all right,
Chris he points to.
The sign persons with diarrhea shall not enter the pool. Grumble.
He runs to the locker room.
Okay, Kayla Mosca.
Valerie turns to her last resort.
Our resident actress. It is your moment of Flory.
Alexa looks at the camera and forces a smile. Interior
Secret Fitness Room Day. When chimes twinkle, Jim claps a
hand on Brian's back. It's it's Brian, Jim Clients fifties
eighties file in. Client Carlin turns to Brian.
Oh no, Reggie.
Brian looks for Jim, but he's disappeared in the smoke.
Oh I guess Reggie didn't sign up.
Interior Pool Room Day commercial crew rolls. Alexa stands on
the diving board. Kyla snaps a photo of set. Kayla
snaps a photo of cameraman Sam and uploads to Google.
Are we getting reverb? Loo?
You?
I mean if I get closer, We're gonna I'm gonna
blow up. It's gonna get It's gonna get worse. Okay,
you got it. Here we go. Interior Pool Room Day
commercial crew rolls. Alexa stands on the diving board. Hayla
snaps a photo of cameraman Sam and uploads to Google.
She lifts her phone in the air for service. Ah
stupid wi Fi. Valerie shout to Alexa, okay, as van
Halen would say, go ahead and jump. Alexa grits her
teeth jump and starts to drown between knuckles of water.
Valerie jumps in. The camera zooms in as Vowel rescues Alexa.
That Kayla shoves her phone's Google resorts resorts who. Valerie
jumps in the camera zooms in as vowl rescues Alexa.
But Kaylas shoves her phone's Google results in the frame.
That's how I know you.
You're from bail Finders at YouTube Canal that makes documentaries
on bailing businesses.
You're just here to get footage for your stupid show.
Give me that.
Caleb bum rushes the camera trying to grab it. Cameraman
Sam runs as Allery pulls Alexa out of the water.
You know I better not see you here again. I'm
gonna call the police.
Interior Secret Fitness Room Day. Everyone rolls around in happy
baby bows and.
Then Brian hits the gong Go Jim plants grown and
vent their frustrations rolling around.
Someone farts. Brian smiles behind a curtain. Jim turns to
cameraman Sam Brother, Gee, why am What does it mean?
Man?
It means everything to me Man.
Interior Front Desk Day. Alexa shivers an oversized vomit green
gym shirt. Hala hands Alexa her purse and smooths her hair.
I got the front desk, you go pull.
Alexa wattles toward the door. Ale Alexa wattles toward the door.
Halea gritmases at the wet spot in the chair and
pointedly pulls up another.
Can you grab my phone?
Kayla hands the phone over as Alexa leaves. Wade approaches,
where's your router?
Server says it's disconnected under the desk.
She moves aside, conceding her flirtatious act. Wade traces the
Wi Fi cable to the power strip. It's unplugged in
its place, alexis charger. He sighs. He smacks his head
on the desk as he comes up. Oh. He hands
Kayla the charger, then refreshes the computer, BINGO, that was it.
You should go tell the boss. Lady.
Wade heads to the pool as Brian brings Carlin and
other gym clients to the front desk. Oh, God, don't
forget your membership form.
You can't get proof fitness head sol stairs, happy baby,
am I right?
Big chair? A few grab forms. Brian turns to Kayla.
How's a commercial?
She gestures to the pool room through the window. Valerie
slouches pool side, still fully closed and stopping. Wet You
no idea. Brian settles into a chair, then jumps up.
Why is it wet? Cayla watches Way approach ballerie and
sit next to her. Oh, interior pool room day.
Everything is fixed.
If you're good, I am so sorry.
I said you're good.
They look at each other. Wade pulls letters out of
his bag. I thought you might want these.
I wouldn't say want, but thanks.
Interior pool locker room, same time, Chris slumps next to
a toilet from the other room. Valerie's words echo through
the tiled bathroom walls.
I put all my money into this place. Honestly, I
don't know how much longer I can keep us open.
Hearing this, Chris looks sadly at his vomit. Interior pool
room day.
I feel like Radiohead. What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here?
Yeah, well, you know by everybody hurt some time.
R M.
Yeah yeah, I mean listen, you could appeal the foreclosure notice.
Did that from my mom anyway, bought her a few
months to get the money together. And you know, maybe
you can pay me with the free membership.
He offers her the letters. Valerie looks up hopeful. They
smile and hold the envelopes between them a little too long. Oh,
I think we can manage that interior front desk day.
Calessy's cameraman Sam filming through the indoor window. Don't you
m Rack pops out of the pool room.
Kayla, it's all right, it's all right.
Valerie squares up with cameraman Sam.
Hey, hey, look at me. You know what, you can
keep the footage.
In fact, you know I'm gonna pay you to come
film Amory's single day.
The gym is going to be the first success on
that little show of yours, because we are not going
to fail.
Okay, She smiles at Wade. She smiles at Wade. He nods,
can you do the line before so there's no overlab readering.
Oh we can't hear you? What I seed you to
read in your line?
Oh?
The whole thing Okay, you know what, you can keep
your footage.
In fact, I'll pay you to come film every single day.
The gym is going to be the first success on
that little show of yours, because we're not going to fail, buddy.
She smiles at Wade. He nods, I'm sure. Kayleb turns
to camera. You wanted to know what gyn means?
Get you'r me?
Yeah, girl, pre lab pop, pre lab pop. Commercial music
starts playing.
The gym isn't just a place, It's the place.
Fade to interior, various gym locations, day commercial montage. Alexa
chats with clients at the front desk. Kyla turns up
the treadmill for client Carlin. Brian does Happy Baby with Jim.
Chris takes a smoothie from Mary Good. It's a community,
a culture, a lifestyle.
It's home.
Kyleab poses in her at Kayla Karma shirt. Chris drinks
the smoothie. About the hurl.
It's a place to grow your mind.
Brian barely keeps up with clap push ups, get your muscles,
smash cuts. Chris, Kayla Bryant games yoga mindfulness. Alexa Johnson
to the pool. Johnny fits on the bike. We cut
a second too late, and he grimaces as he smashes
his ball walk.
Gym is personal. You decide what it stands for. Gross
yolo machines.
The shots showed the full scope of the Rundown Place
interior front desk Day. Valerie, Alexa, Kayla, Chris, and Brian
crowd around the TV above the front desk as the
commercial plays live the g y m.
You know what it means? Call us?
At five, the TV cuts to a different adspot. Alexa vlots,
Kayla and Brian shaa.
Look.
Valerie turns to her.
Friends, you know what, all things considered, I think it
went pretty well. You might even say that we're.
Strong, Lenesta Day end of at three.
Nice So the tag and we have a tag. Interior
exterior cycling studio night camera watches through the window as
Valerie addresses Alexa, Kayla, and Chris as Brian tries to
fix the broken handlebar.
Okay, from here on out, we have to be on
our a game. We can't let him see any mistakes,
no more secrets. We are all in this together.
Gym on three, Alexa puts her hand in the center
for another cheer.
How are you? How are you? Gonna pay the camera guy.
We have like zero clients.
Reggie, a handsome humbold penguin and a bow tie, waddles
into the room. Jim follows with a bucket full of fish.
Heigie bro good black hair. Oh no wait wait wait
wait wait wait, yes, I told you no more penguins.
We cut to an exterior shot of the gym from afar.
The only light comes from that cycling studio window. Zoom
out to interior Solstice office. Continuous camera pans to reveal
Gary Hughes' fifties clever gay Southern silver fox in Solstice
swag and a tall cowboy hat. The man from the photo.
He watches supinoculars and cackles, hm hmmm.
And they said y'all could come by anytime.
Well, ain't that a peach.
Bs A need to hire you from longer than I
expected the end, think I'll give them one.
For all right, real quick, real quick.
You forgot to do something that we always do. I'm
gonna say one, two three, and then you all exclaim,
uh table reading the g y m.
Be right, okay, all three, two three, thank you, thank
you guys for me here. That's so STUFI thank you guys.
We can record p s A there, best Friends, you
have that p s A ring?
Yes, right, so welista take that down real quick and
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Yeah, thank you. Good

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