Crazy Ex-Girlfriend by Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna (outline)

Great script. It sparkles. Great script to reference as we write our musical short... Outline on next page.

ACT ONE
1. ON STAGE: Rebecca sings. Eyes Josh Chan.
2. AFTER THE PERFORMANCE: Josh tells Rebecca their summer fling is over. Rebecca’s crazy mom JANICE pulls her away.
3. TEN YEARS LATER - NYC: We learn that Rebecca grew up to be an overworked lawyer. She is briefly mesmerized by a commercial that asks “When was the last time you were truly happy?”

GREAT ACTION LINES: On Rebecca’s night stand is a vibrator, an empty bottle of dessert wine and a row of prescription meds.
In the bed is: a half-eaten pastrami sandwich, a stretched out bra and her computer, nestled where a person might go.

She looks over at the computer which is open to a dating profile with a forced smile photo of Rebecca, the rest of it blank.

She closes the page, revealing a medical site: “How long can a person go without sleep?”.

4. DINER: Rebecca has a breakfast date. The guy is a dick because he won’t blow off work and go to Six Flags with him.
5. LAW OFFICES: Rebecca finds out she’s getting promoted and freaks out and leaves. Once again spots the “when were you happy ad”
6. STREET: She tries to convince herself she’s happy about the promotion. She spots JOSH CHAN as if he’s a divine presence in the street (along with another reminder of “when were you last happy?”
 NOTE: Rebecca has a crazy strong voice as a character. That’s why this show is so successful. She’s distinct but you feel like you know her 100%. 
7. STREET: Rebecca talks to Josh. Great chemistry but OH NO HE’S LEAVING TO West Covina!
GREAT TRANSITION TECHNIQUE: We push in on Rebecca’s happy, glowing face. We’ve never seen her like this. We pull out to find we are… INT. CONFERENCE ROOM — DAY …in the conference room. The PARTNERS beam at Rebecca.
8. CONFERENCE ROOM: Rebecca rejects the promotion for “another opportunity”
9. STREET - Rebecca bursts into song about moving to West Covina.
NOTE: This pilot is great without the songs. The funny songs only strengthen what is already sparkling writing.
10. West Covina STREETS: She keeps singing happily.
11. VARIOUS LOCATIONS: The song continues. Rebecca explains that she’s not here because of Josh. Josh just happens to be here. The sequence explodes in pure Broadway musical jubilation. The end of the song is the Act Out.
ACT TWO
1. APT: Rebecca texts Josh trying to be casual.
2. VARIOUS SHOTS: She keeps thinking he texted back but he didn’t.
3. LAW OFFICE: Rebecca at her new job. PAULA the paralegal is suspicious of her.
4. Boss DARRYL’S OFFICE: Daryl breaks down and begs Rebecca to be his Jewish lawyer in his custody case for this kid.
ACT OUT: Rebecca gets an alert that Josh just checked in at a bar. She leaves.
NOTE: This act was only 7 pages.


ACT THREE
1. BAR: Rebecca gets the scoop on Josh. Gonna be at a party tomorrow night. Bartender GREG asks if he can take her to the party as his date.
2. OFFICE: Rebecca is in a good mood. Paula the paralegal is suspicious about it.
3. HOME: Rebecca gets ready. It’s the SEXY GETTIN’ READY SONG. Comedic game: she sings about being sexy and getting ready but it’s not a glamorous process.
ACT OUT: Greg picks Rebecca up.
ACT 4
1. AT THE PARTY: Rebecca makes Greg search for Josh but pretends she’s into him.
2. BEDROOM AT PARTY: Rebecca asks about Josh while jacking Greg off basically. Greg reveals Josh has a gf. Rebecca starts to cry.
ACT OUT: Greg calls off the hook up.
NOTE: It’s cool how the act outs are all Greg based, even though ostensibly the story is Rebecca’s search for Josh.  This is all kind of a set up for a fish out of water show. Ultimate neurotic NYC girl in chill West Covina town. They did a great job juxtaposing those things, and that provides so much of the engine of the comedy etc.

ACT 5
1. PARTY: Paula shows up. She’s just there to chat with Rebecca. Has a threatening vibe. Drags Rebecca outside.
2. OUTSIDE: Paula presses for the truth about Josh. Rebecca breaks down. Admits she might be crazy. Paula turns. Re-assures Rebecca that Rebecca is just in love, not crazy. And thus her best friend is born. THAT’S A DEFT MOVE RIGHT THERE.
3. THAT SAME CONVO: Josh finally responds to Rebecca’s text and invites her to dinner.
4. IT BECOMES A SONG:  It’s a reprise of West Covina. Rebecca and Paula are swept up by the romance and pursuit of Josh.
ACT OUT: Paula suggests driving by Josh’s house (she’s even crazier!?!?) and Rebecca is excited. “You found out where he LIVES!?”