Table Read - THE G.Y.M. — PILOT, ACT ONE

Episode Date: May 5, 2026

THE G.Y.M. — PILOT, ACT ONE By Dani HanksWelcome to the run-down fitness shithole at the end of the strip mall. Two buildings left standing, a tech repair shop and The G.Y.M., and across the street a brand new chrome-and-barbell luxury chain called Solstice is having its grand opening on the same day Valerie is trying to film her grand re-opening commercial.Valerie inherited her childhood sanctuary the hard way. The previous owner got hauled off in handcuffs as "The Flamingo King," the FBI took the penguins, and she sank her life savings into keeping the bulldozers off the lot. Now the bike handlebars are snapping mid-shoot, the wifi is down, the POS is down, the smoothie blender is wifi-controlled (a mistake), and a real estate vulture in pinstripes will not stop circling the parking lot. Her ragtag crew, an Insta-thirsty trainer, a Finnish golden retriever on a visa, a chaos-gremlin receptionist who cannot swim, a buttoned-up IT guy from next door, a smoothie-bar veteran who misses the cocaine era, and a crystal-worshipping yogi with prison connections, is the only thing standing between Valerie and the wrecking ball.It's a found-family workplace comedy in the bloodline of Cheers, Superstore, and The Bear, but make it the gym. HBO sitcom material with prime-network legs. Dani Hanks' pilot won the 2024 Austin Film Festival Josephson Entertainment Fellowship, the year-long development deal AFF hands to the one teleplay it bets the most on, and ISA named Dani one of the Top 25 Screenwriters to Watch in 2025.We recorded this live at Podcast Movement at SXSW in front of a packed house of our peers, and you can hear it in the room. The energy, the laughs landing in real time, the cast riding the wave together. Video version available on YouTube and across our channels. Lean in with that, then let Act One take you the rest of the way.CASTHeather Foster - Narrator Allison Dunbar - Valerie Yasmine Al-Bustami - Kayla and Spin Client Kensington Tallman - Alexa and White Trash Spin Diva Shaan Sharma - Wade, Bored EMT, and Johnny Joe Nemmers - Gary Hughes, Cocky Newscaster, Television, and Gruff Driver Jacob A. Ware - Bryan and Sam Brian Villalobos - Chris, Weak-Armed Client, and Handyman Amy Bailey - Mary, Gem, Peppy Newscaster, First AC, and Phone Scott Hervey - Client Carlin (special guest appearance, our attorney from Weintraub Tobin)Produced by Manifest Media. Created by Jack Levy, Mark Knell, and Shaan Sharma.This live read benefits Best Friends Animal Society, selected by Allison Dunbar, dedicated to bringing no-kill to every shelter in the country. Save Them All. bestfriends.org/donateSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Okay. All right. I don't know where Mark, but... Oh, there's Mark. Were you ready, Mark? Heather, take it away. All right. Trailer. Over obnoxious pop music, like an early 80s, 2000s ad spot. Welcome to the GYM, your favorite rundown fitness shithole. In this pilot episode, we follow neurotic girl boss Valerie and her ragtag employees as they attempt to film a commercial for the grand reopening of the GYM.

Valerie grew up in this shitty local gym as her second home and purchased the failing establishment after the former owner was exposed as the Flamingo King in a scathing tell-all documentary. The FBI took the birds and Valerie spent her life savings to keep the place from being bulldozed. Can she restore the GYM to its former glory so it lives up to her childhood's rose-colored memories or will it pale in comparison to its sleek and modern competitor across the street? Solstead. To find out, come on down to the GYM

and get a full ab workout laughing in the comfort of your own home. All right. The GYM pilot, written by Danny Hanks. Cold open, interior cycling studio day, feet work fast on a stationary bike, rock hard quads bulge through super tight biking shorts with the brand the GYM. Johnny, late 30s, a T-Move version of Atlanta.

Armstrong cycles on a bike at the front of an indoor cycling studio. The thump, thump of workout music pulses as lights, oh there we go, as lights dance over peeling paint, scratched mirrors, and a few scattered bikes labeled out of order. A voice speaks over the music. The GYM isn't just a place. Behind Johnny, Brian, 30's eye candy and he knows it, copies Johnny's movements to a tea.

It's the place. It's a community. Chris, 20s, eye candy and completely oblivious, wobbles offbeat. This guy skips leg day, and it shows. A culture, a lifestyle. It's home. Kayla, mid-20s, just here for the gram, bikes at an even pace. She puffs her chest out.

Her shirt reads at Kayla Karma. Cut, come on, cut, cut, cut, cut. Camera reveals a commercial crew packed in this tiny room. Valerie, mid-30s, type A, socially awkward, and stuck in the... nostalgia land glares at Kayla. Kayla, I told you, only our clothes for the commercial. But it's my Insta. Oh, my God.

Valerie throws a t-shirt at her. It's vomit green and hugh. Havel, do we have any other shorts? Guys, look, this is all we have in stock, okay? So like Tim Gunn says, make it work. I don't like them. Pax him in tight. Brian flaps his own butt and shimmies his cheeks.

If I wear my handle, I can purpose. remote us without an ad disclaimer. Valerie concedes. Kayla tosses the giant shirt back to her. Okay, here we go. Grand reopening commercial. Take two. Action.

Trainers reassemble on their bikes. Commercial crew rolls. Johnny begins to work out again. Valerie clears her throat and puts on her sales voice. The GYM isn't just a place. Johnny stands out of the saddle, leans on one handlebar, and pulls his shorts to adjust luggage

that's shifted in transit. A handlebar creaked under his body weight, then snap. Johnny slams into the seat right on his balls. His testicles squish and twist. He groans and collapses in pain. Another one bites the dust. The bicycle, you guys, he'll be fine. End cold open.

All right. Act one. Exterior GYM parking lot day. Only two buildings are left standing in this otherwise demolished strip mall. A tech repair. Air Shop and the GYM, where two handymen are hanging a banner, grand reopening. A bored EMT and a gruff driver load Johnny into an ambulance. This used to be that bird place, right?

They had like, what, ostrich yoga? Yeah, yeah, and pair of Pilates. Did you hear what happened to them? Yeah, it sucks. The birds were the only good thing about this dump. But hey, at least we got a new gym. The ambulance pulls away through the impetus. parking lot and passes a full parking lot across the street.

This is solstice with a barbell as the eye and a sign that reads, grand opening. Valerie sighs, Brian, Kayla, Chris, and Alexa, 20s, not the brightest crayon in the box. Watch the ambulance drive away. For real, torsion is no joke. Is that what happened to, is that what happened to Neil Armstrong? The trumpet player? No, no, no, no. You're thinking of Neil Diamond.

Okay, you guys, please, circle up. Look, they said that Johnny's going to be out for two weeks, so I don't know. I guess I have to cover his classes and his clients. Well, wait, what about the commercial? I don't know. I don't know, Kayla. I mean, we can't cancel on our members,

but the film crew is only here for today, so if I reschedule them, it's going to cost me an arm and a leg. Any testicle? Spirit of Alan has helped me. This is the rain on my wedding day. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, and we can help. Okay. Okay, if we split Johnny's work between the three of us and keep the place running, you can focus on the commercial.

And whenever we're free, we can be in it like you planned. Right, guys? Yeah. I'm happy to be on camera if you need an extra. I'm a professionally trained actress. Kayla Malzalong, professionally trained actress, then shoots a smirk at Brian. Valerie checks her clipboard. Okay.

if we're really going to do this, Chris, you're going to teach spin class. Kayla, you take Johnny's clients. Brian, that leaves you with group fitness. But first, you're with me. Valerie leads the brigade back inside. She snaps at one handyman struggling with the grand reopening sign.

Can we put that up any faster? We are losing customers. Interior, entryway day. Can you give me a little more of a snap on that, a little more attitude on the customer line? Yeah. Can we put that up any faster? We're losing customers.

Entryway. Interior Injury Way Day, Brian, Kayla, and Chris split off. Alexa heads toward the mailbox that Valerie beats her to it. Don't worry, I've got that, thank you. Alexa proceeds to the front desk. Valerie flips through the mail,

invoice, urgent, overdue, notice of default, failure to play will result in foreclosure. She hides the letters in her papers. Atop her clipboard is a Polaroid of young Valerie and her mother in front of the GYM. Valerie smiles at the memory.

Breaking news. The camera zooms in on a TV above the front desk. A cocky newscaster narrates footage of an FBI raid on the YM. Again? No, kick up. A cocky newscaster narrates footage of an FBI raid on the GYM. A redneck man is arrested with an ostrich on a leash. Nelson Withers, the Flamingo King, was sentenced to five years today

after a former employee testified that his business was a money laundering scheme for trading exotic pets. Withers was illegally housing and selling hundreds of birds, including a flock of penguins in the saltwater pool. Valerie stands between the camera and the TV to obscure view. Can we turn that off? A loud snack. Interior front desk area, same time. As Alexa, crouched, slams into the underside of the desk,

she pops up and rubs her head. Got it! Alexa turns off the TV, then crawls back under the desk with her iPhone charger. She traces wires through the power strip. Uh, wiffy? Computer. Printer? She unplugs one and plugs her phone in.

It lights up. Hello. Alexa stands and hits her head with another smack. Shy spin client 30s grimaces. Alexa plaster's on a smile. Hi. Oh, hello. Welcome to the gym.

How can I help you? GYM. GYM. Oh, that's my bad. I know. Heather, Reader. from Alexa stands? Yep. Alexa stands and hits her head with another smack. Ah! Shy spin client 30s grimaces. Alexa plasteres on a smile.

Hi! Welcome to the GYM! How can I help you? I'm here for a spin class. I got the buy-to-get-one tree deal. I think I'm bike number five or seven. Alexa clicks on her point-of-service system but only gets error. The system is down. down. I'm so sorry. My singy isn't loading. Uh, oh, here. Alexa pulls out a sheet of paper. If you put your name down, I'll check you in when the system's backup. Any bike should be fine. Shy spin client signs and wanders off. A tall man in a pinstripe suit, real estate vulture, approaches the desk with a briefcase and a shit-eating grin. Hi, welcome to the GYM. Are you here for our spin class promotion?

From across the room, Valerie sees real estate vulture lean in to talk to Alexa with a slick smile. Valerie charges over and shoes him out like a dog. This property is not for sale, buddy. Not last week, not today, not next week. So make like MJ, just beat it. Brian sees the exchange and rushes toward the front desk. Oh, Val!

The point of service system isn't working. Oh, my God. That's what they call it a POS. Alexa doesn't get it. Valerie breaks down. Oh my God, I knew I should have upgraded that old thing. Like, we're already behind schedule. No, well, girl, breathe, breathe.

Just scale back, scale there. Right. Frankie says relax. Frankie says, relax. Relax. Don't do it. When you want to get to it? I'm going to stop you right there

because you set up with the film crew and I'm right behind you. Alexis got this. Okay, call the service agent. No, no, no, no, no. She's got it. Valerie paces towards the way there. Once she's gone.

You got this, right? Alexa blinks at him. Hold on, don't, don't run over the narration. Alexa blinks at him. She does not got this. Okay, how about you just called the IT guys next door? Why are we calling the IT guys? Kayla swoops in to hear the hot goss.

Chris follows behind her. He speaks in broken English with a Finnish accent. I. The system is down. Brian pulls him into a huddle. All right, fam. Johnny's out. The system is out.

This place is the Titanic. Okay? We're Leo. We got to keep Kate aflick. Oh, who are Kate and Leo? We just have to support Val. The GYM needs this commercial. Kayla, it'll promote your Insta.

Chris, you need this place to stay open for your visa. Being in the commercial would look great on my resume. Yeah, we'll see what we can do. And any issues come up, we handle them ourselves. Deal? Okay, come on. Hands in. G. Y, Y, M, on three.

One. Brian lays his hand down. Alexa puts hers on top. Chris is confused. Kayla rolls her eyes and walks away. One, two, three. Brian! He rushes off.

Chris leaves. Alexa is alone. Yeah! GYN? Read her in. Okay, he rushes off. Chris leaves. Alexa is alone.

Cameraman Sam, 20s, no nonsense, taps Alexa on the shoulder. Alexa smiles and presents herself to the camera. Hey, uh, excuse me. What does GYM stand for? It stands for something? Interior freeway's area day. Valerie watches Brian Flob push-up claps

through a monitor. Brian, I'm going to be honest. I've only seen you land one of these drunk off your ass at a gay bar. Oh, I got this. I get this. I did like four. In my interview for solstice. Um, gym that shall not be named.

Oh, group fitness. Uh, do we have a, uh, um, a program written up? Yes, it's in the system. Alexical the company number, right? Yeah. Interior front desk day. Wade, 30's people pleaser, shuffles in the door with a messenger bag and his shirt buttoned all the way to the top. Oh, no.

Oh, no. Is it your Nemo? Yes. And we're good. Okay. Hi, I'm from... Why do we read? Can we read them in?

Interior front desk day. Wade, 30s, people pleaser. Shuffles in the door with a messenger bag and his shirt. buttoned all the way to the top. I'm from Tech Warrior. Uh, next door. Thank God. The system is down.

I can't log in. Nothing is loading. She turns the screen towards him and rapidly clicks refresh. Okay, okay, okay. Yeah, that's all right. That doesn't help. Could be an issue with the server. Do you know where the box is?

Kayla spots Wade from across the room and hurries over. I'll show you. I'll show you, handsome. Interior free weights area day. Brian cues for another push-up but sees Kayla leading weight into the server closet. Valerie turns to follow his gaze, but Brian fumbles a push-up.

Valerie helps him up. You're going to break something. What's the matter with you? Kayla hurries weight into the closet. Valerie none the wiser. The TV above Brian displays a local new spotlight. Thanks, Dan. That was the old and in with the new.

Ludgery gym chain solstice. It's opening a brand new location. We're the remote for this thing, anyone? Interior front desk day. White trash spin diva, 50s, thrifty chic, struts past Alexa without stopping. You know me, sweetheart. Bike number one.

Sorry. Chris approaches the desk. Classful. Huh? How? We have ten people. Only nine bikes working. Johnny broke one this morning.

Shoot. Bike number one just. got here? They share a look and run. Interior Cycling Studio Day. Chris and Alexa round the corner just as White Trash Spin Diva notices shy spin client on bike one. Who the hell do you

think you are? Oh, shoot. My left. Oh, Interior Freeweights area day. Brian finally lands a perfect clap push-up when? I spin a bite number one since Richard Simmons was sweating to the oldies. White Dress Spindiva chases

shy spin client out the front door, ruining Valerie's shot. Interior front desk day. Valerie confronts Alexa, Brian hot at her heel. What is going on? Brian grimaces and gives it a cut-it-out motion. The class is full because of the promotion. Are you on something?

A bright commercial blare is on the TV above the front desk. Sleak aesthetics, modern machines, sexy fitness trainers. Solstice gym. Now near you. Want to get fit? Your first month is free. Valerie slaps the off button. All TV.

are conspicuously off for the rest of the episode. Hey, can we get the TV commercial again? And while you do it, I'd like to get some, you know, reactions, you know, booze, as that commercial plays. Okay? So we'll read it and you can do it right over the commercial. Solstice gin. Oh, that's stupid.

Want to get fit? I don't. Your first month is free. Blah. Bah. Bow. Valerie slaps the off button. All TVs are conspicuously off for the rest of the episode.

End of Act 1. Yeah, nice. Good job. Okay, now pretend you're all listening the next week in your car.