How to Make It In America - Pilot Outline

Iconic show that was ahead of it's time.  Many lessons to learn from this.

Written by 
Ian Edelman and Rob Weiss 
​​

1. Montage of Brooklyn
2. Meet Ben in his studio apartment, trying to do pushups then giving up and smoking a secret cigarette. 
3. On the street. Meet Cam, who is riding the pegs of a bike that belongs to a young Hasidic kid. 
4. Cam bursts in to Ben's apartment. He has to pee. Cam reveals he's not up early, he just never slept because he was having sex with a presumed lesbian who makes "exceptions for black dudes." Cam accuses Ben of smoking, Ben denies it. Establish they have a deal - Ben has to pay Cam $100 if he smokes. 
Then, there's a discussion of a bunch of skate decks Ben has lying around - he can't seem to sell them, Ben thinks it's his design, Cam says no. Ben doubts himself, Cam doesn't. They have a meeting at 8 am but Cam wants to nap. Ben blasts Nelly furtado. 
6. Subway - talk about how Cam banged lesbian 3 times and Ben thinks that sounds tiring. Also, reveal that Ben has an ex - Rachel - who he is not yet over. Then, a guy enters their subway car trying to sell candy. He fails, then we learn that he knows Ben and Cam and he tries to buy Ben's sneakers. 
7. Art gallery - meet Gingy, who's throwing an opening tonight and needs Ben and Cam's help hanging her art. The walls are empty. There's a bit about whether or not Gingy takes her dad's money. 
8. Later - the guys hanging the art. Gingy trying to set Ben up with her friend Jane who'll be at the opening tonight. Ben's skeptical about attending because Rachel might be there. 
9. Ben at his day job in Barney's, selling clothes. He doesn't want to wear his name tag, but does when his boss threatens to dock his pay. A customer enters, and it's an old classmate of Ben's. He is sleazy and with a Russian escort. David shakes Ben's hand and Ben wipes the shake off. David reveals he manages a huge hedge fund. He recalls that Ben used to design shirts, Ben swallows his pride and helps David shop. 
10. Meet Cam's grandmother in his apartment. Very humanizing. She is cooking. Then, reveal Cam's cousin got an early release from prison. Grandma is thrilled, Cam is upset, tries to run away but Rene arrives before he can. WE DON'T LEARN WHY CAM IS WORRIED. 
11. Cam picks Ben up after work in Gingy's car and reveals that he is taking Ben to the docks to pick up bogus leather jackets. Ben wants to go home and nap before the opening but Cam reveals he needs this "easy money" to pay back his cousin. Ben is annoyed because Cam lied to him about the loan from Rene. But he agrees to go to the docks and pick up the leather IF Cam will allow him to smoke with no $100 penalty. 
12. The docks. Deal with a dock worker that showcases Cam and Ben's fashion expertise. They haggle for the leather jackets and get them. 
13. The gallery opening. Tim, the photographer whose work is on display, is insufferable. He talks to an interviewer. 
14. Cam and Ben enter the gallery. "They know everybody and everybody knows them." Ben asks about Rachel, Gingy says she's not here but Jane is - an introduction happens. Jane reveals she once crashed Ben's birthday party. Ben is weird about coming to Jane's apt for an after-party. 
15. Meanwhile, Cam has been pitching Gingy's dad Donny on a build your own donut restaurant and Donny talks about how he'll never loan someone money until they prove they can hustle, which is a little bit of a theme. 
16. Ben spots Rachel with a new guy, Darren, who may or may not be her BF. It's a little awkward, then Cam interrupts and says, we're going to Jane's. 
17. At Jane's. Jane is happy to see Ben show up. Then some very gay seeming guy, Marco, encroaches on the convo. Ben is not threatened until Marco says, I'd tear that ass up, re: Jane. Cam shows up and thanks Ben for being a friend, then says he's bouncing if Ben is cool. Ben is cool. 
18. Later - Ben, Marco, Jane, and a dancing couple are the only people left. The couple decides to go, leaving just Jane and Ben and Marco. Marco and Ben bicker over who has to leave, Ben accuses Marco of being gay. Ben is vindicated when Rachel brings Marco's jacket in for him -- clear sign that she wants him to go. Ben waits on the couch for Rachel to come back, but she doesn't. He gets up to go and sees that she is making out with Marco in the hallway. 
19. Ben drunkenly goes to Rachel's apartment and demands that she talk to him, but she says go home. Reveal: Darren is there, they're an item. Ben makes a fool of himself, insists he's not a loser. And says he's gonna make jeans. 
20. Cam wakes Ben up to go sell the leather jackets. Ben is hungover and angry. 
21. Cam and Ben make good money illegally selling in Soho at one of those vendor booths. Cop rolls up and Cam runs with the jackets but then Ben gets caught and makes Cam come back. The cop takes the jackets. 
22. Later. Cam is pissed. Ben is like, I don't have the energy to run from the cops or do any of this. I have to grow up and admit my dreams are dead. Ben says they can pay Rene back, he thinks. 
23. In a fancy uptown luxury apt. Ben and Cam go to see David. They try to sell him one of Tim's photos, but no go. David says he'll just lend Ben the money, and Ben will get David into a club. 
24. Going to pay Rene back. Rene makes them drink a Jamaican energy drink, and Ben kinda gets a second wind. Asks Rene to loan him another 3 grand. He wants to make jeans. 
25. Ben and Cam with a huge spool of denim, as Cam announces that Ben is making premium denim now. It's triumphant, then the cart topples.