The Lost Weekend
INT. MACLAREN'S PUB - NIGHT
TED, MARSHALL, LILY, BARNEY, and ROBIN are seated around their usual booth, sharing a light moment.
TED (voiceover)
Kids, let me tell you about the time we had the craziest weekend of our lives.
BARNEY
(slams table)
Alright, here's the plan. Next weekend, we're all gonna get together for an epic bro-out. I'm talking laser tag, karaoke, and possibly a magic show...
MARSHALL
(rolls eyes)
...with your lame magic tricks, Barney?
BARNEY
(sternly)
The term is 'illusions,' Marshall. And they're not 'lame.'
ROBIN
(rejecting the idea)
I don't know, Barney. It sounds sort of... lame.
LILY
(excitedly)
Wait, why don't we rent a beach house for the weekend and just... you know, relax? I think we could all use a break.
..
Everyone seems to agree.
INT. BEACH HOUSE - DAY
The gang arrives at the beach house, their weekend getaway spot. Beautiful and serene, the beach house works its charm on them.
TED (voiceover)
The beach, somehow, was even better than we had imagined.
...
Everyone is settling down at the beach with their drinks and beach chairs.
TED
This is going to be the best weekend ever.
MARSHALL
Amen, brother.
LILY
We should all make a pact. A weekend without problems, work or... magic.
BARNEY
(points at Lily)
Illusions, Lily! Illusions!
ROBIN
(interjects)
C'mon Lily, life without a little magic... or illusion would be boring.
TED
(to himself)
You have no idea!
The entire gang cheers together.
..
TED (voiceover)
But what I didn't know then was that this weekend was going to change our lives forever.
TO BE CONTINUED
The Unexpected Premonition
INT. MACLAREN'S PUB - NIGHT
(Older Ted narrating) TED: Kids, in the fall of 2010, your Uncle Barney came up with a new 'brilliant' idea that he believed would change our lives.
Ted, Marshall, Lily, and Robin are sitting at the table. Barney rushes in, visibly excited.
BARNEY: Guys! I just had the most legen - wait for it - dary idea ever!
LILY: If it's another one of your stupid bets, I swear...
ROBIN: Yeah, Barney. The hot air balloon bet didn't end well for any of us.
MARSHALL: (traumatized) I just can't handle heights.
BARNEY: This one's different. I woke up this morning with the perfect idea! We should all go and get psychic readings!
TED: Psychic readings? You actually believe that stuff?
BARNEY: No, but Ted, think about it. If we know our futures, we can make better decisions, and you can finally meet the love of your life!
(Older Ted narrating) TED: Kids, over the years Barney has come up with plenty of terrible ideas. But for some reason, this one didn't seem all that bad.
TED: You know what, Barney? I'm in. Let's get these psychic readings!
MARSHALL: Well, if Ted's doing it, I'm in too!
LILY: (rolling her eyes) Fine. I'll join, but I'm only doing this for you guys.
ROBIN: This is completely ridiculous. But fine, let's do it.
INT. MADAME ZELENA'S PSYCHIC PARLOR - DAY
The gang enters a dimly lit room filled with candles, incense, and various mystical objects. MADAME ZELENA, an eccentric woman draped in colorful fabrics, greets them with a mysterious smile.
MADAME ZELENA: Ah! Welcome, my friends. Have a seat, and I shall reveal your futures.
Madame Zelena proceeds to give each of them a reading. Finally, she reaches Ted.
MADAME ZELENA: (looking intently at Ted) You, my dear. Your future is full of love and challenges. This journey will lead you to the one who completes your soul... But I see a yellow umbrella...
Ted looks puzzled, and the gang shares skeptical glances.
(Older Ted narrating) TED: That night, we all went to MacLaren's to discuss our psychic readings.
INT. MACLAREN'S PUB - NIGHT
TED: So, a yellow umbrella? What is that supposed to mean?
LILY: Well, when you think about it, umbrellas protect us against the rain, so maybe it symbolizes someone who protects you from life's storms!
ROBIN: (mocking) Or maybe it just means you'll lose another umbrella during the next storm.
BARNEY: (laughs) Classic Schmosby!
MARSHALL: (serious) You know, Ted, I know we're just doing this for fun, but something tells me that this yellow umbrella could actually be significant. Life always has a way of surprising us.
(Older Ted narrating) TED: And kids, that day was the starting point of one of the most intriguing chapters of my life...
TO BE CONTINUED...
The Not-So-Perfect Date
INT. MACLAREN'S PUB. NIGHT.
The gang, TED, MARSHALL, LILY, BARNEY and ROBIN all sit miserably holding their empty glasses as if they've been there all night.
TED
(sighs)
Man, that date was a disaster.
BARNEY
(smirks)
You failed, Ted. She was never going to work out. Ha!
LILY
Actually, Ted, what was her biggest flaw?
TED
(thinking)
I guess... her inability to learn new facts.
MARSHALL
Now that's bad.
ROBIN
But it's not like you gave her a shot. It's not entirely her fault.
TED
Maybe. But she was so… superficial.
BARNEY
(confident)
I can prove to you that the date could have gone better.
TED
(doubtful)
Then do it.
INT. THE APARTMENT. NIGHT.
TED walks in as BARNEY takes the bet. LILY, ROBIN and MARSHALL follow.
BARNEY
(to Ted)
If I can show you that your date would've worked with me, you have to wear Barney's 'The Man' t-shirt for a full week.
TED
(shakes hands with Barney)
Deal.
BARNEY
(steps back and pretends to spray himself with cologne)
I'm warning you buddy – I'm irresistible when I pull off 'The Barney Sabotage'.
INT. MAUREEN'S APARTMENT. NIGHT.
BARNEY stands in front of the door, holding a peacock feather and dressed immaculately. He pushes the doorbell.
MAUREEN (Ted's Ex-Date) opens the door looking intrigued.
BARNEY
Maureen, your dream man cometh.
MAUREEN
(smiling)
What?
BARNEY
(motioning towards Ted's date)
You, my dear, are my not-so-perfect date!
INT. THE APARTMENT. NIGHT.
The rest of the gang watches from the apartment window, using binoculars and eating popcorn.
LILY
(looking through binoculars)
Ooh… he's looking dapper.
MARSHALL
(skeptical)
I don't think Barney's charms will go far. Let's see how this unfolds.
ROBIN
(agreeing with Marshall)
It's a matter of time before he screws up.
INT. MAUREEN'S LIVING ROOM. NIGHT.
BARNEY and MAUREEN sit on a dimly lit couch, glasses filled with wine.
BARNEY
(swooning)
Maureen, you look absolutely stunning tonight.
MAUREEN
(confused but flattered)
I like the peacock feather.
BARNEY
I always go with what works. Fun fact - peacocks use their feathers for mating signals. Speaking of which…
MAUREEN
(rolling her eyes, laughs)
So what's your… mating signal?
BARNEY
(grinning)
Funny you should ask.
INT. THE APARTMENT. NIGHT.
The gang gazes out the window, peeking into Maureen’s apartment.
LILY
This is so wrong! But I can't look away.
TED
(getting defensive)
Why does it look like they’re… bonding?
ROBIN
Maybe Barney's method is working.
MARSHALL
(puppy eyes)
Lily, don't give him ideas for us.
INT. MAUREEN’S LIVING ROOM. NIGHT.
BARNEY pulls a small flipbook out of his pocket.
BARNEY
(showing the flipbook)
This, my dear, is my mating_display_flipbook.exe. It demonstrates my killer moves for when I want to woo a lady.
MAUREEN
(astonished)
Seriously?
BARNEY
It's a preview to my life's masterpiece.
TO BE CONTINUED.
The Curious Case of the Cursed Ring
INT. MACLAREN'S PUB - NIGHT
The gang (TED, MARSHALL, LILY, ROBIN, and BARNEY) sit at their usual booth, casually chatting and enjoying their drinks.
TED
(with excitement)
Guys, you won't believe the story I just heard! Apparently there's a cursed engagement ring going around that's wreaking havoc on relationships!
ROBIN
(skeptical)
Cursed? Come on, Ted. There's no such thing as curses.
TED
No, really! I met this guy at work today who told me all about it. He proposed to his girlfriend with that exact ring, and the next day she dumped him, moved to Paris, and became a mime!
MARSHALL
(surprised)
Wait, a mime? That is pretty cursed.
LILY
I don't know, Ted. It sounds like a plot to one of those cheesy romantic comedies we watch on Friday nights.
BARNEY
(smirking)
You mean, the ones you make us watch, Lily?
TED
I'm telling you, the ring is real! There've been so many eerie and inexplicable breakups connected to this ring!
ROBIN
(eager)
So, how do we find this cursed ring?
TED
We don't just find it, Robin. We track down the guy who has it and try to save him from making the biggest mistake of his life.
BARNEY
(grinning)
Like a superhero league for relationships? I'm in.
INT. TED'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
The gang gathers around Ted's laptop as they do some research on the cursed ring.
MARSHALL
(pointing at the screen)
It says here that the curse dates back to a romantic tragedy that happened over 100 years ago!
LILY
(genuinely intrigued)
Seriously? Wow, Ted, maybe there's some truth to this curse after all.
TED
(smiling)
I told you it's legit! So, anyone up for a little stakeout of the cursed ring?
BARNEY
(hesitant)
Well, I did have a date tonight...
ROBIN
(encouraging)
Come on, Barney! It'll be fun!
BARNEY
(sighing)
Alright, I'll do it for love... or, to prevent heartbreak... or whatever.
INT. CAR - NIGHT
The gang, minus Barney, is staking out their suspect from the car. Barney joins them by phone as he is still on his date.
TED
Barney, is there any sign of the ring on your end?
BARNEY
(on phone)
Well, I couldn't find the ring, but I did find something interesting.
TED
(anxious)
What is it?
BARNEY
(on phone)
A photo album from one of the relationships the ring allegedly destroyed. It's filled with tiny mimes!
ROBIN
(in disbelief)
No way!
LILY
(gasping)
The curse is real!
MARSHALL
(determined)
Alright, we need to find that ring and put an end to this curse once and for all.
TO BE CONTINUED
The Awkward Proposal
INT. MACLAREN'S BAR - NIGHT
Ted, Marshall, Lily, Robin, and Barney are sitting around their usual booth, engaged in conversation.
TED
So, you guys will never guess who I bumped into today.
MARSHALL
Was it the guy who mugged you for your hot dog last year?
LILY
No, maybe it was that girl who asked him for directions and somehow got his phone number!
TED
No! It was Victoria! From the wedding cake bakery! We dated before she went to Germany!
ROBIN
Oh wow, I didn’t think we'd hear about her again. How is she doing?
TED
Well, she moved back to New York and we had a great conversation. It felt just like old times.
BARNEY
(Excited)
You know what that means, Teddy boy!
TED
(Groans)
What, Barney?
BARNEY
It's time for round two! You need to make a move!
LILY
Barney, stop it. They broke up like five years ago. Sure, it's nice to catch up, but let's not push Ted into something he may not want.
MARSHALL
Yeah, I agree with Lily on this one. I mean, what’s the chance that she's still into Ted?
TED
You know what? Who cares? It was great to see her again, and that’s that. We’re going to grab coffee this weekend, and I'm looking forward to it.
ROBIN
See, it's just coffee. Good for you, Ted.
BARNEY
But you do know if you're going to reignite that flame, you'll need a legen - wait for it - dary plan!
TED
Seriously, Barney, just relax. We're not getting back together. We're just reconnecting.
INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY
Ted and Victoria sit across from each other sipping their coffee, chatting, and enjoying each other's company.
TED
It's really great seeing you again, Victoria. I can’t believe it's been five years.
VICTORIA
Neither can I, Ted. Time flew by so fast. So, what have you been up to all this time?
As Victoria chats with Ted, she plays with her coffee cup, revealing what seems to be an engagement ring.
TED
(Checking the ring, feeling a bit sad)
Well, uh, you know, I’ve been designing this skyscraper, hanging out with my friends, and dealing with some crazy adventures. How about you?
VICTORIA
It’s been a whirlwind. Living in Germany, expanding my baking business, and meeting some interesting people.
TED
(nervously pointing at the ring)
So, I can't help but notice that ring. Is there someone special?
VICTORIA
(smiling)
Funny you should ask. I got engaged last month, but it's been a bit weird. But let's not talk about me; tell me more about what you've been up to.
INT. MACLAREN'S BAR - NIGHT
Ted returns to the booth, looking dejected.
TED
So... Victoria's engaged.
MARSHALL
Aw, buddy, I’m sorry. But don’t worry, you're not in love with her. It’s just catching up, right?
TED
Yeah, it's just... You guys ever think about how we're all growing up? What's happening with our lives?
LILY
There's no point in dwelling on it, Ted. We're here for each other through all these changes.
BARNEY
Plus, if you really think about it, now's the perfect time for a bro-posal!
TED
What on earth is a bro-posal?
BARNEY
A proposal for you and me to become official bros for life! It’s a legen - wait for it - dary idea!
TO BE CONTINUED
The Forgotten Anniversary
INT. MACLAREN'S PUB - NIGHT
TED, MARSHALL, LILY, ROBIN, and BARNEY sit in their usual booth, a round of drinks on the table.
TED
(offhandedly)
You know, it's mine and Zoey's 2-month anniversary tomorrow.
LILY
(surprised)
You haven't talked about Zoey in a while. How's that going?
TED
(looking confused)
Yeah, it's been going fine, nothing crazy. Just the usual relationship stuff, I guess.
MARSHALL
You know what they say, Ted. The two-month anniversary is the most crucial. Eriksen family tradition states that if you don't do something special by then, the relationship is doomed.
LILY
(sarcastically)
Yes, because Eriksen family traditions are so reliable. Like the 'seven-layer salad'?
BARNEY
Hey Ted, maybe you should get Zoey flowers. Boring people love flowers.
TED
(genuinely concerned)
Is it really necessary? I mean, it's just two months!
ROBIN
Come on, Ted. Even I find it cute when a guy remembers the little anniversaries.
Ted hesitates, but finally agrees with the rest of the gang.
TED
Alright, I'll plan a nice dinner and get her some flowers.
INT. TED'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Ted and Zoey are seated at the dining table with takeout Japanese food and flowers as their centerpiece.
ZOY
(smiling)
So, why the surprise dinner? Not that I'm complaining.
TED
It's our two-month anniversary, Zoey! Landmark day in any relationship.
ZOEY
(confused)
Really? Our anniversary? Ted, that was a month ago.
TED
(disappointed)
Oh, I forgot.
ZOEY
(smiling)
Well, I forgive you. Happy 3-month anniversary then!
TED
(shaking head)
Can you believe it? I was off by a whole month. How could I not know my own relationship's timeline?
INT. MACLAREN'S PUB - NIGHT
The gang is gathered around the booth again, Ted looking defeated.
TED
Somehow I forgot my own anniversary. How does that even happen?
LILY
It happens to the best of us, Ted.
MARSHALL
Remember when Lily and I almost forgot our first anniversary?
They all laugh.
BARNEY
Let's make the anniversaries more interesting then! Let's have a bet.
ROBIN
A bet? What kind of bet?
BARNEY
(smiling)
The couple who can create and execute the best anniversary celebration within 24 hours wins. Losers have to pay for the winner's next anniversary dinner!
TED
(excited)
Alright, challenge accepted!
The rest of the gang agrees with mixed levels of enthusiasm.
TO BE CONTINUED
