INT. PBS KIDS HOTEL STUDIO – LOBBY DAY

The lobby glows with warm light. Dark blue floors shimmer beneath a long sparkly red carpet leading toward the hotel rooms. Cream arches divide the space, holding up green walls. Purple couches circle a wooden coffee table. It’s peaceful… until Tom Kenny’s voice carries from the sound booth.

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TOM KENNY (cheerfully, over the intercom) “Good morning, everyone! Today’s No Producers Day — which means… we can do whatever we like!”

Maria, lounging across the purple couch with her pastel sketchbook and glitter pens, rolls her eyes affectionately.

MARIA (smirking, half-focused on her drawing) “Uh-huh… that’s what you said last time, Tom. And somehow, Chris still managed to start a coffee war.”

CHRIS (from his armchair, lifting his flat white with rainbow sprinkles) “I call it creative caffeine distribution.”

He glances up just as the red carpet ripples faintly — Dannah Phirman steps out of her WordGirl room, latte in hand, moving carefully across the lobby.

CHRIS (amused, softly smiling) “Some of us have been underweight since eight o’clock.”

Maria looks up, eyes darting toward Dannah with a protective flicker — she knows the secret Tom doesn’t.

MARIA (lightly, but cautious) “Careful there, superstar. Floors are slicker than they look.”

TOM KENNY (playfully teasing over intercom) “Maria, are you being mom again? You sound like me when I remind the interns not to drink paint water.”

Maria snorts, sketchbook half-shielding her grin.

MARIA (teasing back) “At least I don’t tease the pregnant ones—”

She stops herself. Chris’ eyebrow raises. Tom laughs, not catching it.

TOM KENNY (laughing, oblivious) “Pregnant ones? Who— wait, what did I miss?”

Dannah says nothing — just adjusts her grip on her caramel iced latte, gives a quiet smile, and continues down the red carpet, the quiet hum of the lobby settling into calm again.