FADE IN:



AUTHOR’S NOTE: At some points in this screenplay, the directions include what seems to be, but is not, dialogue. It is rather the silent message that should be conveyed by a character’s actions.

FADE IN:

INT. ANDY’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

ANDY, a high school senior, lies asleep in bed. The room is dark except for the green glow of his digital clock, which reads 12:27 AM.

In one corner of the room sits a computer, with a television above it. Music posters, golf-themed wall hangings, and Chicago Cubs memorabilia adorn the walls.

The phone next to the bed RINGS suddenly, as if it might wake the dead, and Andy, half-asleep fumbles for it in the dark. He knocks a Kleenex box off the nightstand before finally finding the phone.

ANDY

(the voice of a zombie)

Hello?

INTERCUT PHONE CONVERSATION – ANDY AND AMY

AMY, a tall senior with dark hair and deep tan skin, leans up against her sports coupe, parked on the side of a poorly lit residential road. She wears a dark sweatshirt and a winter hat. The leaves of the giant oak trees along the road RUSTLE in the gentle breeze.

AMY

Are you awake?

ANDY

Huh? Uh...oh...yeah...

AMY

Don’t lie, Andy. It’s not

nice. Get out of bed. We’re

late already. We have to get

going.

ANDY

Going where?

AMY

Come on! Don’t make us any

more late!

ANDY

Wha...never mind. Okay. Give

me five minutes.

AMY

Make it three. We gotta go.

Andy clicks the phone off and puts his hands to his face. He runs them through his short hair and groans. He swings his legs off the side of the bed and tries them out.

Halfway out of bed, Andy rummages through the giant pile of clothes next to the bed for a pair of jeans. He slides them on and stands up.

He stretches his muscles, yawning. He rubs the dark skin on his bare arms and stumbles to the closet. He sticks his head through a yellow T-shirt.

Andy slips on a pair of shoes and grabs his phone and wallet from the dresser and slides out the door without a sound.

EXT. ANDY’S HOUSE – NIGHT

The front door to the house opens a crack and Andy squeezes through. He crosses the lawn and the street quickly to where Amy’s car is parked.

Amy still leans against the car, drinking a frappucino.

AMY

Four and a half minutes. That’s

shameful, Anakin.

ANDY

I told you five. And since when

did you call me that?

AMY

Starting now. You know, I could

have done it in three.

ANDY

Well I didn’t ask that, did I?

AMY

You call that a shirt?

ANDY

Well, you didn’t say--

AMY

--Never mind. It’ll work,

I guess.

She sighs deeply, disappointed about something.

AMY

Get in the car.

They climb in and slam the doors shut.

INT./EXT. AMY’S CAR – NIGHT

Amy drives at high speed down a tiny country road. Cornfields line either side of the pavement, which is barely wide enough for one car, let alone the other car which speeds by their side at an even faster speed.

Andy fights to keep his eyes open.

AMY

You have to be awake! We

have work to do.

ANDY

(yawning)

How ‘bout you tell me what

kind of work?

AMY

Nah. More fun this way.

She flashes a big goofy grin at him. He lets his eyelids drop.

AMY

Well, aren’t you just loads

of fun?

ANDY

I’m tired, okay?

Amy doesn’t respond, but she turns the car onto a long gravel driveway leading to a big house. Two other cars are parked at the end of the drive, next to a tractor. Two shadows stand in face to face, moving and gesturing as if talking.

Amy whips the car into the line with the others. She yanks the key out of the ignition and gets out of her seat. Andy just sits there, watching her and then watching nothing, somewhere between awake and asleep.

JEN, her tall frame wrapped in a dark jacket, leans down and RAPS on the car window.

JEN

Hey! You alive in there?

ANDY

(waking up)

Oh...uh huh.

Andy slowly gets out of the car, like a geriatric.

JEN

Nice shirt, buddy.

Andy looks around. Amy, Jen, and BRAD, a well-built senior who looks like an athlete, are all dressed from head to toe in very dark colors, so that in the moonlight all he can see well is their faces.

ANDY

Why are you...

AMY

Sorry we’re late. Sleeping

Beauty here is a slowpoke.

Jen laughs loudly, throwing her head back.

JEN

You’re a mess tonight, Andy!

What’s wrong? You’re off your

game.

BRAD

Yeah, you should have been the

most prepared of everybody.

ANDY

Would somebody mind telling me

what we’re doing here?

The three friends look at each other nervously, not sure how to handle the situation.

ANDY

Jen, don’t leave me hanging.

Amy shoots a biting glance at Jen. She seems to say, “I thought you had told him.”

Jen shrugs her shoulders. “Wasn’t my job.”

JEN

You promise you won’t quit on

us, Andy?

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL – DAWN

The bright spring sun peeks over the farm fields, making the dew on the grass and trees glow in many colors. The rays spill vibrant color across the clear, clean rural sky.

The only sound is a light wind RUSTLING through the branches of stately old oak trees. An empty two-lane country road runs off winding into the distance.

A small red car turns onto the road, headlights on. It moves slowly past the fields and some trees, turning onto a road heading up a small hill.

At the top of the hill sits a large building, the community high school. An American flag SNAPS in the breeze, waving on a pole in front of the school.

Inside the red coupe, BARBARA PETERSON, a teacher at the high school, sips coffee from a thermos. She is nearing retirement, but aging fairly well. As usual, she wears a dress and has her makeup carefully applied. She is a strong woman, and one glance shows it.

She slows to park the car, but then slams on the brakes suddenly. The tires SQUEAL. She turns the car off.

BARB

(her hand to her mouth)

Oh...

She looks as if she might cry at the sight.

Along the side of the school tall trees sway gently. Toilet paper FLUTTERS from the branches. It covers almost every part of the trees. Some has flown off to the ground or onto a nearby building.

Closer to the building, three desks sit overturned on the grass. The legs have been broken and twisted. Someone must have thrown them there from the side door, which is propped open by a chair.

Barb rifles through her attaché for something, and then pulls out a cellular phone. Except for the BEEPING of the keys, there is total silence. She puts the phone to her ear and it RINGS loudly.

A MALE VOICE picks up on the other end.

MALE VOICE (on phone)

Downs Police Department. Hello?

Barb sighs, wondering if she should do it. They are her students, after all. They might hate her.

BARB

I think something happened here

at the school last night. You

might need to come down.

Will the silence ever end?

The voice takes a deep breath.

MALE VOICE

(hesitating, disappointed)

I had a feeling about that. Tried

to get someone to go over there

around two this morning.

BARB

I...can’t believe they would do

this...

MALE VOICE

All right. I’ll send O’Fallon

over in a bit. Don’t go inside.

BARB

Wasn’t planning on it.

The line CLICKS dead and Barb SNAPS the cell shut. She is at a total loss for words or actions. She looks frozen. A tear trickles down her face.

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL – MORNING

OFFICER JOHN O’FALLON, a stout mustached man in his late forties, steps out of the building, a handkerchief over his face.

Barb sits on a bench waiting for him. As he opens the door, she stands and walks over to him.

BARB

What happened in there? Why

the handkerchief?

O’FALLON

Get everybody you can think of

out here right now. If you

want to have school today, you

have to start cleaning right

now. I’m serious.

BARB

What are you talking about?

Damn it, these are good kids,

John. They wouldn’t do this.

O’FALLON

Why don’t we worry about that

later...

(taking a notepad

from his pocket)

Do you have the key to the

janitor’s closet?

BARB

Well, yeah...

Barb nods without really understanding and heads for the doors. She opens them and disappears inside.

O’Fallon finishes scribbling on his pad and puts it away. He presses the button on his radio.

O’FALLON

Jimmy, we need more guys down

here. This is a big mess.

JIMMY (on radio)

Copy, I’ll see what I can do.

INT. HEALTH CLUB – DAY

IN THE POOL

Andy and his friend TERESA, a lifeguard at the club, race each other down the lanes of the lap pool. The SPLASHING of water ECHOES loudly through the room.

They reach the wall at almost the same time, pulling up and sucking for air. Andy rips his goggles off and looks over to Teresa, smiling.

ANDY

Got ya.

TERESA

Bullshit, I...had you by a second

at...least...

ANDY

Hot tub?

TERESA

You bet.

IN THE HOT TUB

The two settle in and relax, pressing against the jets and closing their eyes. They enjoy a long silence.

Andy slowly cracks one eye open.

ANDY

I got you. And you know it.

TERESA

You little...

She splashes water across his face. They share a laugh and settle back in to the bubbles. The song on the radio quits PLAYING and a DJ comes on.

DJ (V.O.)

This is 101.5, WBNQ, today’s best

music. How’s it going out there

Central Illinois? It’s a beautiful

day out there. We’re gonna toss

it over to the news desk now, with

Greg. Gregory?

GREG (V.O.)

Our top local story today is the

reported damage at Tri-County High

School. Some forty to fifty students

broke into the school late last night

and did about four thousand dollars

in criminal damage--

The sound fades out as Andy opens one eye again. This time, Teresa is sitting straight up and looking right at him.

TERESA

Oh my God, how could you guys do

that? That’s terrible! I can’t

believe you--

ANDY

--No, no! I didn’t go! Really!

TERESA

(getting nasty)

You little liar! Don’t do that

to me! I’m not stupid! Just

because I didn’t go with you

idiots doesn’t mean I didn’t know

you were going!

ANDY

(leveling his eyes on her)

I swear, Teresa. I didn’t go.

TERESA

That’s not even good.

They both just sit there, the water churning around them like their minds and stomachs. Neither one wants to leave and admit defeat.

Teresa sinks into the water up to her chin. She sighs and tries her hand.

TERESA

I went to Steak n’ Shake earlier.

ANDY

Yeah?

TERESA

Yeah. Real good milkshakes.

ANDY

The best.

That conversation starter having failed miserably, Teresa sinks even a little lower into the steaming hot tub.

After a long silence, Andy SPLASHES the water hard with his hand.

ANDY

(eyes flaring)

Damn it, you don’t believe me,

do you?

TERESA

No, I really don’t.

ANDY

Come on, Teresa, you’re my

friend. Just trust me, please.

I didn’t go. We didn’t go.

TERESA

That’s not what everyone else

told me...

ANDY

Like who?

TERESA

I saw Tom and Nate at Steak n’

Shake. They told me you guys

all showed up.

ANDY

You’re gonna believe those

idiots over me? I’m...I’m

being honest here. Really.

Damn it! You’re gonna believe

them over me?

TERESA

Well, I know you guys were going.

So, yeah, I guess I believe them.

ANDY

What did I do to--

TERESA

--How do you go but not go? How?

Think about it! It doesn’t make

any sense, Andy. It’s not about

believing anybody. It just

doesn’t make any sense.

Andy looks at her, saying silently, “So what’s the joke here?”

Teresa stares down at the foam. “There’s no joke, Andy.”

ANDY

I thought you trusted me...

She doesn’t move.

Andy gets out of the water and grabs his towel. He walks down the stairs and out of view.

Once he is gone, Teresa puts her head under the water.

EXT. MAIN STREET – DAY

This is the epitome of small town, middle-class Midwestern suburbia. A narrow road is lined with a small few commercial buildings, all preserved from the turn of the century.

Beyond the buildings lie some old homes, falling somewhat into disrepair. Tall oak and sycamore trees cast dark shadows over the road as it goes by the homes.

A few cars drive slowly by the buildings, almost stopping as they watch the shopkeepers at work out on their porches.

An OLD WOMAN who runs a flower shop tugs at a large Tri-County Spartans flag hanging in her window. Her face is twisted in disgust.

Next door, a TAN WOMAN wipes words of encouragement for the high school baseball team clean from her front window. The window paint smears in greasy streaks across the glass.

Outside the post office, a FARMER buys a newspaper from a case on the street. He reads the headline beneath the fold on the front page. “LARGE STUDENT GROUP RANSACKS LOCAL SCHOOL.” He shakes his head in disgust.

INT. OFFICE – DAY

Principal Coleman sips coffee out of a Tri-County mug and reads his e-mail. His tie is loosened around his neck. It has already been a long day.

TOM, a husky three-sport athlete in a baseball jersey, and his buddy NATE, also in a jersey, posing as he always does for some imaginary camera, ready to take the cover photo for GQ or the like, enter the office.

Coleman smiles as they enter.

COLEMAN

Ah! Boys, I’m happy to see you.

Now, I’ve heard some things about

you boys being involved in the

prank on Thursday, but Coach

Warren assures me you weren’t there.

I just want to hear it from you.

TOM

Oh, Mr. C, we did go to the gas

station.

NATE

Yeah, we admit to that. But we

didn’t stick around.

They are really sincere.

COLEMAN

That’s good enough for me.

TOM

Yeah, things were looking bad.

NATE

So we tried to stop them, but

when they wouldn’t, we left.

TOM

Sorry we couldn’t do better for

you, Mr. C.

COLEMAN

No, boys, it’s all right. Just

give me a name. Someone who

was involved in this mess. Who

I can get some answers from.

Just that and I can make sure you

don’t miss any games.

Tom and Nate look at each other. Should we really do it? Yeah. We want to play, right?

NATE

Uh...Andy Larson was there. Does

that help?

COLEMAN

Andy? No. Are you sure? I can’t

believe that.

TOM

He was there, Mr. C. He talked to

us. We couldn’t believe it either.

COLEMAN

That’s very unlike him.

(shakes his head,

disappointed)

Okay, well, I guess I’ll have

a talk with him. Thanks boys.

Have a nice day.

INT. CLASSROOM – DAY

SARAH HALL, a motherly teacher in her middle ages, walks down the rows of desks holding a stack of papers. She places one on each desk and the STUDENTS flip through them quickly. She speaks with a soothing Virginia drawl.

SARAH

Please come see me if you have

questions or concerns about your

papers.

She places a thick document on Andy’s desk.

SARAH

Really nice work...again. I loved

the conclusion.

ANDY

Yeah?

SARAH

I did. Really super.

Sarah moves on down the line and Andy flips to the back of his paper. Sarah has written a note at the bottom of the page. “IT IS AN HONOR TO READ YOUR PAPERS, ANDY. THIS IS MAGNIFICENT WORK. DOSTOEVSKY WOULD BE PROUD.” And next to it, a grade: “99%.”

INT. OFFICE – DAY

Coleman sits in his reclining chair behind a large oak desk. Light pours in from a large window behind him. He reads some papers on his lap through his thin bifocals.

Andy enters, holding his backpack at his side, dressed in his typical “preppy” chain store clothes and wearing puka shells and a shark tooth against his tan neck.

In contrast to his flawless dress, his face betrays sleeplessness and worry.

ANDY

You wanted to see me, Mr. C.?

COLEMAN

Yeah. Sit down, please.

He gestures toward a tiny vinyl-backed chair on the other side of the desk. Andy sets his pack down and takes a seat.

ANDY

What’s up?

COLEMAN

Is there something you’d like

to tell me? About Thursday night?

ANDY

No, I don’t think so...

COLEMAN

Well, in that case, I think you

should know that several people

have come forward with your name

in connection with the prank.

ANDY

That’s ridiculous!

COLEMAN

Well, that’s what I said the first

few times, but after so many...

ANDY

I don’t understand...you’re going

to take their word over mine?

COLEMAN

It’s a numbers thing, Andy. I

need you to tell me exactly what

happened. It will be much better

for you that way. It’s the only

way I can help you.

ANDY

All right, I’ll tell you...

DISSOLVE TO: FLASHBACK

EXT. GAS STATION PARKING LOT – NIGHT

Amy’s coupe swings into the deserted parking lot and Amy cuts the headlights. A large group of STUDENTS gathers around their own cars, alternately SHOUTING and SHUSHING each other.

Amy, Brad, Jen, and Andy get out of the car and join the group. It is fairly obvious that most had been out drinking and the others were the designated drivers.

Tom and Nate, his arm around Tom’s shoulders, come stumbling up to Andy.

They both slur their words and we can almost smell the pungent odor of their breath.

TOM

Dude, you said you were going to

the club with us. So what gives?

NATE

We waited for you for...well, I

guess we didn’t.

TOM

You shoulda came, dude, it was so

great.

NATE

Yeah, I got a--

TOM

What happens at Vegas, stays at

Vegas. That’s it.

Nate laughs drunkenly and buries his face in Tom’s chest. Tom pushes him away with disgust.

TOM

You’re so wasted, dude. Get out

of my face.

NATE

Sh--look at you, you alcoholic!

ANDY

You guys should go home and sleep.

He takes a good look at them. “You guys are pathetic.”

ANDY

You’re gonna have a helluva

hangover tomorrow.

TOM

Nah. We both took that pill, that,

uh...

ANDY

(not convinced)

Oh, well, okay, then you’re fine.

TOM

Okay, so here’s the plan. We just

got toilet paper and confetti like

you wouldn’t believe.

NATE

(throwing his hand up)

And window paint.

TOM

We’re throwing it everywhere.

NATE

You forgot the window paint.

TOM

No, I didn’t.

ANDY

No, he didn’t.

TOM

Anyway, I’ve also got a little

surprise. Follow me.

The three walk over to Tom’s car and he opens the trunk. We can’t see in the darkness, but we hear loud CHIRPING coming from inside.

ANDY

Don’t you think that’s--

TOM

--Isn’t that awesome? This is

going to be great.

ANDY

That’s really the best you’ve got?

Nothing better? Nothing?

NATE

It’s a good plan, Anakin.

ANDY

Since when do you call me that?

NATE

What did I call you?

ANDY

A--never mind.

Andy leaves the two of them and walks back to his friends, who are talking to a TALL BRUNETTE and a SHORT BLOND. The girls walk away as he approaches.

ANDY

Guys, we need to talk.

JEN

About what? Ya feeling chicken?

ANDY

No, not really. Just not suicidal.

AMY

Suicidal? Explain.

ANDY

They don’t have a plan. They’ve

got nothing. At all.

BRAD

Well, then we should help.

ANDY

This is a disaster waiting to happen.

JEN

What did you expect?

ANDY

If you hadn’t noticed, they’re all

drunk and the best idea they have

is putting a bunch of crickets in

the school.

AMY

Oh...that sucks.

JEN

Yuck. I don’t want to deal with that.

ANDY

Me either, Jen.

BRAD

So you guys are going to quit just

like that? Amy?

She looks at him. “I don’t know, I guess so.”

ANDY

Looks like it. Don’t wanna deal

with getting caught.

BRAD

Aw, they’re not gonna get caught,

Andy.

ANDY

Probably they are, Brad.

JEN

Andy’s right. We can’t do this.

BRAD

Fine. Whatever.

ANDY

I’ll handle it.

Andy walks back to Tom and Nate, who sit on the hood of a car smoking cigarettes.

ANDY

Those things’ll kill ya. And

that can’t be good during

baseball season, can it?

TOM

Aw, shut up.

He throws his cigarette on the ground and Nate, for the sake of conformity, does the same.

TOM

Happy?

ANDY

You should be.

(tastes the words

in his mouth)

Listen, we’re gonna...go get

some more toilet paper. I don’t

think we have enough.

TOM

Fine. If you want to. I think

we do, but...fine.

ANDY

We’ll call you.

Andy leaves them and the four friends get in Amy’s coupe and drive away.

DISSOLVE TO: COLEMAN’S OFFICE

Coleman has a finger to his mouth in contemplation.

COLEMAN

That’s an interesting story.

ANDY

It’s the truth, Mr. Coleman.

COLEMAN

Well, I don’t know about this.

You are suggesting that two of

my best baseball players were

drunk and smoking?

ANDY

Yeah. I am.

COLEMAN

I just won’t accept that. I

can’t accept that. Those are

fine, upstanding young men. I

just don’t see how that is true.

ANDY

So you don’t believe me, either?

COLEMAN

I’m not sure yet.

Andy grabs his backpack in anger.

ANDY

You asked for the truth and you

got it. What more do you want

from me?

COLEMAN

There’s a difference between truth

and honesty. You gave me honesty.

I want the truth.

ANDY

You want me to lie? Sugarcoat?

COLEMAN

I didn’t say that. You did.

Andy slings the pack over his shoulder. “That’s enough of that.”

He storms out of the office and Coleman returns to his papers as though nothing had happened.

INT./EXT. SCHOOL – NIGHT

Rain pours down, CLICKING on the pavement. It falls in sheets off the roof of the school.

Andy stands in the threshold of an open door, watching the rain. BOB MURRAY, a young teacher and theatre director at the school, stands next to him, holding a play script.

ANDY

Looks bad.

BOB

Yeah. Sit down a minute.

The two of them sit on flimsy wooden chairs near the door.

BOB

What’s going on with you?

You seem...distracted.

ANDY

No.

(avoiding him)

I’m fine.

BOB

You’re not a good liar.

ANDY

Do you trust me? I mean

really trust.

BOB

Of course.

ANDY

I think you’re the only one.

BOB

I don’t know what you’re talking

about.

Andy shakes his head in frustration with himself and stands up.

BOB

Do you need to talk?

ANDY

Yeah...no...I need to go.

BOB

Are you sure?

ANDY

Yeah. See you tomorrow, Bob.

Andy heads for the door, stopping for a moment as he sees the rain. Determined, he steps out into the night.

It doesn’t take long for the rain to soak through his clothes. The walk to the car isn’t far, but it seems like forever.

He reaches his car, a sporty convertible, and presses the remote unlock on his key ring. Nothing happens. Again. Nothing.

Andy reaches the car and tries putting the remote up to the window. Still nothing. He tries opening the door, but it is futile.

He bends down to put the key in the door, but in the dark he cannot see well and he fumbles around for what seems like a very long, wet time. The water runs down his face, obscuring his vision. His anger builds as he struggles.

Finally, the door opens and Andy plops down with a SPLASH into the driver’s seat. The anger passed, he feebly puts his head against the steering wheel.

INT. ANDY’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Andy lounges in comfortable clothes on his bed, watching a movie with the lights off. He drinks a soda from a can on the nightstand. The light from the screen flashes on his face.

The phone RINGS and Andy looks over to it. He groans and puts a pillow over his face.

INT. LUNCHROOM – DAY

Amy, Jen, Brad, and Andy sit around a round lunch table, eating slices of pizza and drinking sodas.

Sarah Hall comes up to the table, looking distressed.

SARAH

Andy, can I talk to you?

ANDY

(dreading the

possibility)

Yeah. Sure.

They walk over to the side of the raised stage, where no one can see or hear them. Sarah puts her hand on Andy’s shoulder.

SARAH

I know you’re having a bad week.

Andy gives a tired laugh.

SARAH

And I also know that you don’t

deserve it.

CUT TO:

Meanwhile, Coleman walks up to the table where the rest of the group eats and sits down in the empty chair.

COLEMAN

Just a quick question. Why did

Andy come here the other night?

BRAD

What? What are you...

COLEMAN

I just don’t understand it.

JEN

I think you’re confused, Mr. C.

CUT TO:

Sarah looks Andy dead in the eye.

SARAH

I know you weren’t here. If you

say you weren’t, it’s the truth.

ANDY

I don’t even know anymore.

SARAH

Don’t let them bring you down.

Stick to the truth. Stick to

what you know.

CUT TO:

Jen finishes giving an explanation to Coleman.

JEN

...so we left. That’s it.

COLEMAN

You went home?

AMY

Yep. Straight home.

BRAD

Andy had nothing to do with

any of this.

COLEMAN

Well...thanks for your help.

He stands, unsure of what to do.

CUT TO:

Sarah looks around Andy to see what is happening at the table.

SARAH

Your friends came to me and

told me everything. I know

the truth and it’s what you’ve

said all along. Your friends

know it, too. They’re talking

to Principal Coleman right now.

I don’t know why some people

are so selfish.

ANDY

What are you talking about?

He stares at her, eyes clouded with confusion.

SARAH

Well, they needed someone to

take the fall for this. You

were an easy target.

ANDY

Who’s they?

SARAH

It doesn’t matter. Coleman

is coming over right now.

ANDY

Thank you...for your help.

Sarah hurries away and Coleman comes up behind Andy. He taps Andy on the shoulder and he spins around.

COLEMAN

I think I owe you an apology...

The pain begins to lift from Andy’s face, and a smile begins to form at the corners of his mouth as we...

FADE TO BLACK.

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