Academy Mission: Supermarket Sweep!!

Ch 2: Burbank, California

Chapter 2: Burbank, California

"Oy!! I fucking love it here!! Everything is so bright and shiny...let's move to California!" Gabriel shouts as we look out the window of our rental car.

We've already dropped off our bags at a hotel and now Kota is driving North, Gabriel, Luke and me to the studios where the show is being filmed. Nathan and Kota will compete during tomorrow's filming. As I look out the window I can't help but wonder what Gabriel sees in this city that's so exciting. It looks just like any other major city. I don't see anything sparkly, I've yet to see a celebrity...although I don't watch much television nor many movies so I doubt I'd recognize one.

North grunts in the passenger seat and shifts to turn towards the back, "Gabe, it's just old buildings, get over it."

"Yeah and most are historic! And look you can see Downtown LA from here, look at all the tall buildings!!" Gabriel says pointing towards the skyline behind us.

"Yeah and fucking smog!" North exclaims. "The air here is dirty, it's not good for Sang Baby."

"People live here their entire lives, baby brother," Luke says with a laugh, "Sang's not going to die from just two days here." North just grunts in response and turns back towards the front of the car.

"Where's the Hollywood sign?!" Gabriel shouts while he grabs Kota's seat and starts shaking it.

"Gabe calm down, we can sight-see later." Kota says while trying to maintain focus on driving.

"But why aren't we going to Hollywood? I thought this was going to be Sang's big break! She can't be a breakout star without being in Hollywood!!"

"Gabe, films and shows aren't actually filmed in Hollywood." Kota explains.

"WHAAAAATT?!" Gabriel and Luke both exclaim at once.

"Yeah, any films or shows actually filmed in California are usually filmed in Burbank. They have tons of studios out there people rent and stuff. Even now though, most films are filmed on location in states or countries with low tax rates."

"Awww, now I'm sad. Burbank is boring! We aren't going to see any celebrities if we aren't in Hollywood",  Gabriel whines.

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"Welcome!" The P.A. says while holding a clipboard. "I see all of today's contestants are present. First things first, you need to sign this waiver stating you won't sure us if a shelf falls on you or something." He passes out the waivers and I start to read it; it's super long and I barely get halfway though when North tells me it's okay to sign.

"How do you read so fast?" I whisper to him.

"Practice." He says with a shrug.

The P.A. gathers up the signed forms from Gabriel, Luke and the other couple, a boy and a girl who will also be competing. "Okay, you will spend the next hour reading this booklet about the game and what you'll be doing and then you will watch an old episode to get a feel for the format. Head on over to the green room to get started." He motions for us to walk down a hallway and at the end I see a door marked 'green room'.

Opening the door I'm surprised the walls are not green, I wonder why they call it green room? We each take a seat on the available furniture. Well, everyone except me and Luke. Both of us spotted a table with food and we start eating the cookies.

"Don't eat too many." Gabriel says, "We're going to be running around soon and I want to win."

"Why the fuck do you care? We've got a job to do that's it." North says and it scares me because the others might hear. I look over and notice they have earbuds in and are watching the old episode on iPads.

"We can do our job and win too, you know." Luke tells his brother.

"Whatever, this game is stupid. Answering questions about pricing, running around getting items. It's pointless." North says as he flips through the booklet with game rules and directions.

"Awww, look at that, North doesn't want to play. He must be scared he's going to lose!" Gabriel says mockingly.

"I don't care if I win or lose, it's just a fucking game." North says begrudgingly.

"You're just trying to downplay it because you know I'm going to be good at this game. I do all the grocery shopping, so of course I'm going to be a natural at this." Luke teases.

"I do shopping too and I'm not downplaying the game. I'm just saying we got a job to do."

I jump in at this, "And part of the job is fitting in, so we have to give it our best if we don't want to be figured out. We have to play, North."

"Yeah, North, play the game!" Gabriel says.

"I'm going to fucking play, okay."

"Yeah, but will you win?" Luke challenges.

"I can win." North says, "And if I do-- you're not eating sugar for a week."

"And if we win, you are eating ten chocolate chip cookies!"

"Deal, I'm not fucking losing. Sang Baby get over here, let's read this together." North grabs my hand then maneuvers me into his lap and we read the game directions and rules together, then watch the episode they gave us. It looks like a lot of fun.

The only way to have a chance of winning is to make it to the Bonus Sweep. To make it to the Bonus Sweep we need to collect the most groceries that amount to the most money during the Big Sweep. To have the best shot at winning the Big Sweep we need to get as much running time as we can, which means answer the most questions and maybe even winning a Mini Sweep. I'm excited and can't wait to play.