TITLE: MODERN FAMILY - "THE MORNING GRIND" (FAN EDIT)
EXT. SUBURBAN STREET - DAWN
The sun is just cresting over the horizon, painting the Los Angeles sky in hues of purple and orange. The streets are empty, save for the occasional newspaper delivery van.
AMAN is jogging. His pace is steady, rhythmic. He isn't listening to music .
AMAN (INTERNAL MONOLOGUE) Well, Joe has been born. The new Pritchett heir. And Manny had his first kiss on his birthday. He keeps thanking me for the tips, even though I try to deny his thanks. My advice helped, sure, but that girl kissing him? That was all Manny.
Aman turns a corner, his breath puffing in the cool air.
AMAN (INTERNAL MONOLOGUE) Then there's Haley. She cleared the air with the family. Phil and Claire have accepted her back, but... looking at it closely? She's a brat. She throws everything away, shows zero signs of progress, and everyone just resets to baseline the next week. Any sane parent would have already wooped her but maybe that coming from my previous life.
He frowns, his pace slowing slightly.
AMAN (INTERNAL MONOLOGUE) It's one thing to watch a sitcom character make the same mistakes for seven seasons. It's another to live with it. Adults are set in stone, but the kids... they should be growing. But they aren't no one grows in sit-com in favour of compfort. It makes me wonder. Is this a simulation? A dream? Or just a really long, really weird episode?
A shiver runs down his spine that has nothing to do with the cold. The hairs on his arms stand up.
AMAN (Out loud, shaking his head) "Focus on the front. One foot in front of the other."
EXT. JAY & GLORIA'S HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
Aman slows to a walk as he approaches Jay's house. He hops the low landscaping wall and jogs to the front door.
He pulls a shiny house key from the side pocket.
[FLASHBACK]
INT. JAY'S LIVING ROOM -
JAY and GLORIA are sitting on the sofa. Jay looks skeptical, holding a key.
JAY "So why do you want a key to our house? We have a doorbell."
GLORIA "Ay, mi amor, Manny asked Aman to help him exercise. It is a brotherhood of fitness!. That what manny called it."
JAY "Well, you can have a key, but I already gave one to your parents. Mitchell has a spare. You could use that."
AMAN "I agree, Jay. But I workout at 5:00 AM. Do you really want me waking you up at dawn just because Cam forgot where he put the key? i am gonna come daily."
Jay shudders at the thought.
JAY (Tossing the key) "Sold. Don't let stella out."
[END FLASHBACK]
INT. JAY'S HOUSE - FOYER - CONTINUOUS
Aman unlocks the door silently.
STELLA, the French bulldog, is sitting in the middle of the hallway, staring at him.
AMAN (Whispering) "Hey, Stella."
He reaches into his pocket and tosses a dog treat. Stella catches it mid-air, chews once, and waddles back to her bed without a sound. A successful bribe.
Aman creeps down the hall to Manny's room. He goes to second key in keychain . (for the bedroom door privacy lock—Jay gave him that one too) and clicks it open.
INT. MANNY'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
It is pitch black. A lump under the covers is snoring softly.
Aman walks over and rips the duvet off the bed.
MANNY (Waking up with a yelp) "What?! Who goes there?!"
Aman is already on the floor, dropping into a plank position.
AMAN "Calm down, Zorro. It's just me. Get up. Gear on. Two minutes."
Manny groans, rubbing his eyes. He looks at the clock. It reads 5:15 AM.
MANNY "Aman? Are you serious? Joe was born yesterday. It was my birthday. I didn't get much sleep. I am exhausted . Maybe you go alone today?"
AMAN "No. That's an excuse. Get ready fast. The more you prolong it, the longer the distance today. I'm timing you."
MANNY "Ugh."
Manny rolls out of bed, stumbling toward his dresser.
AMAN "What was that?"
MANNY (Grumbling) "Aye aye, sir. You are a slave driver, Aman. Is it because I am Mexican? Is this systemic?"
AMAN (Standing up, stretching) "I am Indian, Manny. We don't dabble in slavery just because of your skin. Now, for that comment, today's distance increased by one extra mile."
Manny's eyes go wide. He shuts his mouth instantly and starts pulling on his shorts with frantic speed.
EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD STREET - DAY
The sun is fully up now. The birds are singing.
CLAIRE DUNPHY is jogging. She looks happy. Her ponytail is bouncing.
CLAIRE (INTERNAL MONOLOGUE) Haley is back. Phil and her had that sweet moment. The new baby is healthy. I am going to snuggle that baby so hard. Sure, Gloria will be slim again in a week because she's a witch, but you win some, you lose some.
She turns the corner near the park, feeling lighter than she has in months.
Up ahead, she hears voices.
She squints. It's Aman and Manny. They are jogging, both covered in sweat.
"Aww," Claire smiles. "Look at them bonding."
She slows down, deciding to surprise them. But then, curiosity gets the better of her. She ducks behind a large oak tree, creeping closer to listen.
AMAN "...so once you get the girl, you shouldn't have let go."
MANNY (Panting) "What do you mean?"
AMAN "Manny, you have watched so many romantic movies. How do you still ask such questions?"
MANNY "Well, what else could I have done? We were seen by everyone! The girl got embarrassed and ran away!"
AMAN "And you ran away too! You shouldn't be embarrassed, Manny. Like Jay told you, you should have been proud. You conquered 1 base ."
MANNY "I see the logic. But what do you mean prior?"
AMAN "Hey, girls like a grand gesture. You running after her right after she gave you your first kiss? That would have been romantic. You could have easily wooed her. You just have to reassure her it's nothing, just your crazy family, and it would have been a joyous occasion."
MANNY (Nodding thoughtfully) "Well, you are right. I will keep this in mind for the next courtship."
Behind the tree, Claire is beaming. She clutches her chest. He's such a good mentor even with The concquering bit, she thinks.
AMAN "Exactly. You played it too safe. You could have easily scored some."
Claire's smile falters. Scored some?
MANNY "Aman, it should be consensual and emotional."
Clarie 'yes manny , you sweet boy.'
AMAN "Manny, please. "
AMAN "As if any girl could say no to you if you had actually gone after her with some confidence. Maybe you could have really gone to second base."
Claire gasps. Her foot slips on a loose root. She flails, stumbling backward and crashing into a metal trash can set out for collection. That cause noise and get boys attention .
CLANG-CRASH.
MANNY (Jumping a foot in the air) "Madre de Dios!"
Manny spins around, eyes wide, looking at the bushes.
MANNY "Who's there?! Is it a coyote?!"
Aman smirks. He looks back at Manny, whose eyes are darting around in panic.
AMAN (Whispering intensely) "Run, Manny. You better run."
MANNY "What? Why?!"
Manny doesn't ask questions. The fear of being eaten takes over. He takes off, sprinting down the street faster than he has ever run in his life.
AMAN "Knees up, Delgado! Knees up!"