Room for 7: an intruduction

I created "Room for 7" a few years ago while watching the popular sitcom "Friends." As a fan, I have all ten seasons on DVD which includes bloopers, behind the scenes footage, and actor interviews. Teri Garr, who played Phoebe's biological mom, commented on the sitcom in one of those interviews which gave me the idea for "Room for 7." She had commented how it is not possible to have a close group of friends who are all "hot and good looking." She also said there is at least a fat one or an ugly one in a close friendship. She may or may not be right but it gave me inspiration.

    "Room for 7" is the story about seven college students living in one house. They work, study, and have different backgrounds.

Nathan Garland: He is a smart, geeky and shy student at USC. He works as an intern at Garland Investments, his grandfather's company. His Grandfather retired and is going to give him the company after he graduates. While his grandparents are living in France, they allowed him to live in their large house and use their car while in school. He did not want to have the large five bedroom home all to himself for four years. He decided to invite his friends live with him rent free while they too are in college. They do have to split the bills and maintain the house. 

Katie Sung: Also a student at USC. She is a geeky, petit and nerdy Korean girl and Nathan's childhood friend. She is a barista at a coffee shop. Her parents and Nathan's are close friends and partners at Garland-Sung Accounting. She has her own bedroom.

Eduardo "Eddie" Trinidad: He is Nathan's elementary school friend. He is a Latino student at Cal State Los Angeles. He works as a server. He shares the master bedroom with Jacob and Dylan.

Jacob Kendrick: He is also Nathan's high school friend and Eddie's best friend. He is a student at Cal State Los Angeles. He works as a car mechanic at his Uncle's Shop in downtown L.A. He is African American.

Dylan Hunter: He is the tallest of the seven. He is a student and basketball player at UCLA. He is a barista at a coffee shop. He is Nathan's childhood friend. His dad is an Accountant. 

Carmen Esperanza: She is a pretty Latina and student at UCLA. She works as a server. She is Eddie's cousin from her mom's side. She has her own room.

Samantha Harman: She is a student at Cal State Dominguez Hills. She works as a server. Her dad is a police officer and good friends with Nathan's parents. She is a vegetarian. She has her own room.

Room for 7: kiss

NATHAN: My parents think we're dating.

KATIE: Mine think the same.

NATHAN: They even suggested the use of birth control. At least from my part.

KATIE: My mom said, "No babies until you graduate and get married and thirty." She was louder and angrier. I told her just because we're best friends and live close, literally, doesn't mean we are having sex or something.

NATHAN: I'm not used to hear the word "sex" in our conversations. The only time I used that word with you is when I asked you to fill my roommate application. What do you mean by "or something?"

KATIE: You know stuff like kissing, holding hands, touching places. Stuff couples do.

NATHAN: Oh. It's weird thinking about us moving forward in that particular direction.

KATIE: Do you think our friendship would be ruined if we move in that direction?

NATHAN: I don't know. I do have pondered what would feel to be in a close relationship with you. (long pause) Katie, Do you want to kiss?

KATIE: Yes. (they kiss)Do you want to go out on a date with me?

NATHAN: Absolutely.

Room for 7: ferrari

JACOB: Hey Nathan.

NATHAN: How can I help you?

JACOB: Did your grandpa ever owned a Ferrari?

NATHAN: I don't think so. He has been loyal to BMW since he could afford one. Why do you ask?

JACOB: That Ferrari up there. Is that his?

NATHAN: Yeah.(brings it down)Its actually a VHS rewinder.

JACOB: No way. This is so cool. I thought it was one of those model cars. This is an antique man. Does it work?

NATHAN: I believe it does. There's a box in the garage with VHS tapes. Would you like get one?

JACOB: Yes. Let's go.

(They go to the garage)

NATHAN: I found it.

JACOB: Nice. Look at all these videos. Die Hard, The Lion King, Titanic, Apollo 13, My Cousin Vinny, Congo, Notting Hill. Cool, is that relic a TV-VCR unit?

NATHAN: Yeah, it's my grandpa's. Pick one and we'll try the rewinder.

JACOB: Cats. Lets go.

(they go back to the living room)

NATHAN: Ok. Its ready to go.

JACOB: (takes tape out)Hello, What's this? This is not Cats, its an "X" rated video. This is your dad's porn. Or your grandpa's.

NATHAN: So sorry you had to see that. This box used to be in my dad's room.

JACOB: Very nice, the ol' hiding-the-video-where-mom-wont-find-it trick. Your dad was cool.

NATHAN: I'll dispose of it.

JACOB: Don't throw it away yet. I'd like to hang on to it. Just curious. Wanna watch?

NATHAN: No thanks. You can keep it and...uh, I don't need it back.

JACOB: Thanks man. I'll be in the garage.

Room for 7: cappuccino

EDDIE: (comes in) Hey everyone! I brought donuts and coffee.

JACOB: Sweet! Hands off the maple bar.

NATHAN: I was never allowed to consume donuts as a child.

SAMANTHA: You poor thing. Your folks must have had you on croissants and tea.

NATHAN: They did actually.

SAMANTHA: Here. Start with this glazed one. Then work your way up to a bar, baked, jelly, sprinkles, coconut, French curler, sugar, crumb and twist.

KATIE: Wow. You sure know your doughnuts. Is your dad a cop?

SAMANTHA: Just because you see all those cops eating doughnuts on t.v. doesn't mean all of them do. But yes he is.

CARMEN: Did you bring my croissant and cappuccino?

EDDIE: Yeah. The croissant is in the white bag and the cappuccino is right here.

CARMEN:(sips)What the hell is this? This tastes like that cheap powder stuff in that dumb square tin they sell at the ninety-nine cent store.

SAMANATHA: You describe it like you used to drink it every morning.

CARMEN: Unfortunately yes.

EDDIE: I didn't go to Starbucks what'd you expect? This is donut shop cappuccino. They just press the button next to the hot chocolate and down it pours. No steaming required.

JACOB: Not only that but they spell cappuccino with a "K." Hot water and powdery vanilla goodness.

CARMEN: Here Nathan. This will be your first taste of real-cheap donut shop cappuccino. I'm off to Starbucks. Later.

NATHAN: Bye. This is good actually. Very sweet.

JACOB: Since princess left. I get to eat her croissant.

Room for 7: perfect steak

JACOB: What are you eating man?

DYLAN: (Sitting in couch, watching t.v.) Steak.

JACOB: There's some steak sauce in the kitchen. Want some?

DYLAN: Don't need it.

JACOB: I always use steak sauce on my steak.

DYLAN: I know. I always use steak sauce when you cook steak too.

JACOB: What's that supposed to mean?

DYLAN: You always overcook it. I like my steak medium, buttery and perfectly seasoned. 

JACOB: Wow! you just insulted my cooking skills, man.

DYLAN: You're a good cook. I really like your baby back ribs and fried chicken. You suck at steak though.

JACOB: Can I try a bite of your royal steak your majesty?

DYLAN: Sure.

JACOB:(takes bite)Damn. It's really good. I didn't realize steak sauce is an insult to steak. How'd you cook it?

DYLAN: I found a video on YouTube. Chef Ramsay taught me how to cook the perfect steak. I'll send you the link. So next time you cook steak, I better see the bottle of steak sauce in the trash.

JACOB: Can I have some more?

DYLAN: Nope.

Room for 7: drive thru

CASHIER: Hi welcome to Mike's my name is Candace can I take your order?

EDDIE: Hi Candace. Yes, I will have a cheeseburger with fries, extra pickles and a Sprite. Please.

CANDACE: Would you like a small, medium or large Sprite?

EDDIE: Go big or go home.

CANDACE: What?

EDDIE: Sorry. Large please.

CANDACE: Anything else?

EDDIE: Yes, my friend would like a burger, no dressing, no onions, and a large diet Coke. Please.

CARMEN: Burger means no cheese! And make sure the lettuce doesn't have brown spots, the tomatoes are fresh sliced and my fries are freshly cooked! I don't want fries left under the heat lamp! I can tell the difference between those and fresh cooked ones as soon as I eat the first one when I get home!

CANDACE: Will that be all?

EDDIE: Yes. That will be all. Thank you for your patience. Jeez Carmen, do you have to do this every time we get a burger? And I though I was the annoying one.

CARMEN: I don't care. I pay for my food and I expect to get what I pay for.

EDDIE: This is not a gourmet burger joint. This combo is only $7.99 plus tax. I bet they're laughing their ass off in the kitchen.

Room For 7: gardening

EDDIE: Nathan, who told you to hire those gardeners?

NATHAN: No one. I saw them working on the house across the street and asked them to work on my house. Why? Do you think I am paying them excessively?

EDDIE: Not if they do a good job! It doesn't matter how much you pay them. Look at the front yard? It looks terrible.

NATHAN: It looks normal to me.

EDDIE: Maybe to the untrained eye. The grass is uneven; The bushes on the right need some trimming; The palm by the pool needs a haircut. Jeez, I'm already getting a headache just talking about it.

NATHAN: Can you be the one--

EDDIE: Hold it man! I know I'm Mexican but that doesn't mean I'm born with the gardening skills.

NATHAN: I meant, can you find someone for me? I would like you to vet them and hire them.

EDDIE: Easy. Here's the card.

NATHAN: (reads card)"Rodrigo's Landscape. Rodrigo Trinidad, Landscape Artist. Los Angeles." This is first time I hear a gardener call themselves "Landscape Artist." 

EDDIE: Yeah, my uncle doesn't like to be called a gardener anymore. Once he learned how to master the art of Topiary, he upgraded his official title.

NATHAN: What was the most impressive work he has done?

EDDIE: You know regular stuff like elephants, rabbits, that twister thingy, a penis.

NATHAN: Did you just say, Penis?

EDDIE: Yes I did. He wanted to piss off one of my cousins and he trimmed his front bushes into the shape of a penis. I would call that impressive all the way. That was a good day laughter and joy.

NATHAN: Hire him please. Professional work, nothing of phallic nature.

Room for 7: nathan's parents

NATHAN'S PARENTS DINING ROOM

MR. GARLAND: You know if you feel managing your grandfather's home is too much, you can always move back in. Your room is still your room.

NATHAN: Thanks dad. I find grandpa's house quite convenient. Its close to USC and the firm. 

MRS. GARLAND: Are your roommates giving you any trouble?

NATHAN: Not at all. They are good friends and helpful. Jacob for example is a mechanic and  just did my brakes and did not charged me anything. I did buy the parts. Carmen likes to cook. Eddie, well you have know him since we were kids. Samantha likes to clean the house. Katie is my best friend. Dylan is, well he does not like to clean or cook but he helps all of us when we need something.

MR. GARLAND: You should let me buy you a new car and avoid any major repairs. I don't like the car you drive.

NATHAN: I like Grandpa's BMW. Brakes are disposable items. Any car new or old will need brake pads. Besides, with grandpa out of the country, the car would have been dormant in the garage.

MRS. GARLAND: If you change your mind let us know and we'll go to the Lexus dealer immediately. Also, If you decide the firm is becoming stressful we will support you if you decide to leave.

NATHAN: Mom, I like working for grandpa. If I am going to take over the company when I finish college, then I need to work there and learn everything about Garland Investments. There is nothing stressful about working part-time at my future business. I love grandma and grandpa. If you two cannot get along with them, I should not be placed in the middle. I love all of you. If we are going to have dinner once a week, I would really appreciate it if we could avoid any family-business conversations. Anything else is fine.

MR. GARLAND: Fine, we'll change the topic. If you and Katie decide to be more than friends, make sure you use a condom.

NATHAN: Dad!

MR. GARLAND: You said talk about any other topic. Add sexual relations to the list then.

Room for 7: utilities

NATHAN: Listen up everyone, I have a copy of everything due for this month for each one of you. It will show an equal, consolidated amount we all have to contribute to pay for the bills: Internet, water, gas, electricity, landscaping, trash, and pool maintenance.

(Hands out copies)

JACOB: $42.71. That's all? Cash all right?

NATHAN: I take cash, credit, PayPal, money order, and personal check. Though if the personal check gets rejected you will have to pay the fines associated with it.

EDDIE: Oh man, I only have Bitcoin.

NATHAN: I will look into cryptocurrencies if such method is preferred by you Eduardo.

SANDRA: I think he's kidding Nate.

EDDIE: Please call me "Eddie." Eduardo sounds so formal. It also sounds like when my dad was about to whoop me with the belt. Eduardo!

NATHAN: Ok, Eddie. Give me the money but no later than tomorrow please. I will give you a receipt.

DYLAN: Will it be a paper receipt or electronic?

(Everyone laughs)

NATHAN: Both actually. I have your e-mail addresses in file if you request going paperless.

KATIE: I want to go paperless!

NATHAN: Consider it done.

CARMEN: Not me. I want paper. If you look at my email banner on my phone you'll see over a thousand unread emails.

NATHAN: One thousand? I can't close my phone until I have checked every single one.

JACOB: You read all your e-mails? You are one weird dude. All I do is delete, delete, delete. If I get one from you man, I would probably delete it.

DYLAN: You know what I want to delete? My grades.

SANDRA: I want to delete myself from this centure for I belong in a different era.

EDDIE: Ok Miss Miniver Cheevy...I want to delete what i just heard.

NATHAN: Edwin Arlington Robinson. Very good refrence Edua--Eddie. Can I please have my money?

Miniver Cheevy (poem)

Room For 7: of tips and men

EDDIE: (lays on couch) Man, what a night.

KATIE: What happened?

EDDIE: It was busy at work. I had so many tables I lost count. But the worst part was the tips. I got stiffed a couple times.

KATIE: Does that mean you didn't get a tip from them?

EDDIE: Yeah and It sucks. If you can't afford to tip, go to McDonalds.

KATIE: I don't really tip. Its not necessary is it?

EDDIE: Not legally. What do you mean you don't tip? You get tips from the coffee shop. I've seen your tip jar. I have put money in your tip jar. So you really don't tip when you go out to eat?

KATIE: No. I just don't see the need to.

EDDIE: Do you accept the tips from the coffee shop?

KATIE: Yes. But that's different.

EDDIE: How is that different!? If you believe it's not necessary to tip then you should not be accepting those tips. Its the same thing. The only difference is that I get taxed on all the food and drink people consume because the government has found a way to tax me on my tips. I get taxed so much, my checks are like I work for a few bucks an hour. I'm actually shocked. I live with a stiffer.

KATIE: Sorry, I didn't know servers got taxed so much. I'll tip next time, five percent.

EDDIE: I can't talk to you right now. (gets up and leaves)

KATIE: What did I say?

Room for 7: coffee and bacon

JACOB: Is that bacon I smell?

CARMEN: Yes, I'm making breakfast. Did you smell the bacon from your room?

JACOB: I sure did. If there is anything that'll wake me up is the smell of sizzling bacon.

CARMEN: Did you even smell the pot of coffee?

JACOB: I don't like coffee. I tried it and it was nasty. I even tried it with sugar and cream and nothing. There are three kinds of people in this world: those who like coffee, those who like bacon and those who like both...just like you.

CARMEN: That's the dumbest think I've ever heard.

SAMANTHA: (walks into the kitchen) Yes, coffee. Thank you so much for making coffee.

JACOB: WOuld you like some bacon?

SAMANTHA: No, you already know I'm a vegetarian.

DYLAN: (walks into the kitchen) Yum, bacon. Has everyone had some?

CARMEN: Dont eat all of it big guy. Would you like some coffee.

DYLAN: Nope, all I need is bacon.

KATIE: (Runs past kitchen and grabs bacon) Bye, Bye, Bye, I'm late, I'm late. 

JACOB: I guess she likes bacon. And since she works at a coffee shop, then she likes both.

EDDIE: (walks into kitchen) The bacon smells delicious. Is there any o.j.

NATHAN: Good moring everyone.

CARMEN: Good morning Nathan. Would you like some coffee or bacon?

NATHAN: No thanks. I'll just make myself some oatmeal and some green tea with honey.

CARMEN: There! He doesn't like either one.

JACOB: Wait, he's a nerd so he's is automatically disqualified.

Room for 7: the bathroom

SAMANTHA: (knocks on bathroom) Hurry up! You've been there for an hour!

DYLAN: Chill you crazy lady! I'm almost done. (flushes toilet, opens door) There! Just so you know, my body likes to eliminate solid waste in the morning.

SAMANTHA: What the hell die in there? Gross! We eat the same things. How can men make the bathroom stink like a sewer treatment plant?

DYLAN: I'ts a guy thing, get used to it.

SAMANTHA: Really, an iPad? So magazines and newspapers are not good enough for you.

DYLAN: I don't read when I'm in the toilet, I play Candy Crush. Helps me relax.

SAMANTHA: My nose is starting to sting. I'm going to pass out if I go in there.

DYLAN: You can either wait until the smell dissapears or go in and get ready for work. Wow, look at the time, you're gonna be late.

SAMANTHA: Fine! I hate you for this. I hope you get constipated with your lunch. (slams door)

NATHAN: Does she know we have two other bathrooms?