The Group Chat Incident

# THE SHARED WALL

## Episode 3: “THE GROUP CHAT INCIDENT”

### INT. TESSA’S APARTMENT - MORNING

TESSA sits before a laptop, perfectly dressed from the waist up. Below frame: pajama pants and one slipper.

On-screen: **“FINAL INTERVIEW — CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.”**

The Wi-Fi symbol vanishes.

No. No, no, no. I have prepared twelve answers and only one facial expression.

Her laptop freezes. She smiles at the blank screen.

This is fine. I’m projecting calm. The router is projecting betrayal.

Through the paper-thin wall, MARCUS shouts.

MARCUS (O.S.)

Nisha! Did you unplug the internet?

NISHA (O.S.)

Why would I unplug the internet?

OWEN (O.S.)

Because your blender is plugged into the router!

A beat.

NISHA (O.S.)

That explains the smoothie.

Tessa’s phone DINGS.

INSERT — GROUP CHAT: **WALL PEOPLE**

MARCUS: Internet dead.

NISHA: I’m checking the modem.

OWEN: I have a signal booster.

TESSA: I need Wi-Fi in four minutes.

OWEN: Define “booster.”

### INT. HALLWAY / THREE APARTMENT DOORS - MOMENTS LATER

The neighbors emerge carrying household objects: a mixing bowl, a broom, aluminum foil, and Owen’s enormous homemade antenna.

The signal seems strongest near the wall.

That’s not a signal. That’s Tessa crying.

I’m not crying. I’m moisturizing under pressure.

Owen climbs onto a chair and raises the antenna. Everyone’s phones briefly ping.

I have one bar!

The group cheers.

It’s gone.

Then we need height.

They stack the chair on a table. Marcus holds the router. Nisha wraps it in aluminum foil.

Why are we wrapping it?

I saw it online.

We don’t have internet.

I saw it before.

### INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

The setup now resembles a bizarre human relay. Marcus holds a tablet over his head. Nisha stands on a stool. Owen points the antenna through the wall. Tessa clutches her laptop.

The call connects.

INTERVIEWER (ON LAPTOP)

Tessa, what makes you an effective leader?

I delegate.

A loud CRASH from Nisha’s apartment.

My lasagna!

Another crash from Marcus’s apartment.

The dog is in the laundry!

You don’t have a dog.

Then something is in the laundry!

The signal flickers.

Nobody move!

Everyone freezes.

The connection stabilizes.

INTERVIEWER (ON LAPTOP)

Tessa?

I believe leadership is—

She sees Nisha struggling with a smoking oven, Marcus wrestling a bedsheet, and Owen’s antenna slowly tipping toward her.

Actually, leadership is noticing when your team needs help.

She drops the laptop and springs into action.

Tessa grabs the lasagna. Nisha frees Marcus’s mystery creature: a robotic vacuum. Owen catches the antenna.

The Wi-Fi returns full strength.

INTERVIEWER (ON LAPTOP)

You’re back.

Yes. Sorry. We had a minor infrastructure issue.

The router sparks. Every light goes out.

Silence.

Good news. We’re all connected.

Bad news?

The building is on fire.

A beat.

That’s not the building.

He points to the smoking router.

TESSA looks into camera.

I’m going to list “crisis management” as a skill.

The group chat DINGS.

OWEN: Should we get a new router?

NISHA: We need a new building.

MARCUS: I know a guy.

TESSA: Does he have Wi-Fi?