ACT THREE
FADE IN:
EST. KENNEDY HIGH - MORNING
SUPER: "Tuesday"
Stock shot of the quad.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY
Brooke is walking down the hall, smiling and making small talk
with the people she passes. Everything is fine until she gets
to her locker, twirls the combination lock—and it won't open.
Brow furrowing, she tries the combination again. Nothing.
After a third attempt, she starts to beat on the locker with
her fists. That's when George comes up. He catches her hands
in his, preventing her from doing any more damage to herself.
GEORGE
Hey, hey! What's going on?
BROOKE
(crying)
Nothing! I'm fine! My stupid
locker—won't—open!
She punctuates the end of that sentence with one final swipe
at the locker, then slumps back against it.
GEORGE
Okay...let's talk.
He puts his arm around her and shepherds her away.
CUT TO:
INT. JAYCEE'S APARTMENT - MORNING
ANGLE: SAM
Sam is out cold, lying half off of Jaycee's bed. Slowly,
sluggishly, one eye comes open. Then the other. After a long
time of staring blankly into space, Sam's head shifts
slightly, and then, with immense effort, she lifts her head
up. That's when she realizes that she's naked. With a gulp,
she rolls over onto her stomach, reaching for something to
cover herself with. She grabs a blanket and wraps it around
her. That disturbs Jaycee, who is sprawled out on the bed.
JAYCEE
Huh? Wha?
Sam, meanwhile, sits up suddenly, and immediately sways
dizzily, grabbing her head.
SAM
Oh—
She reaches for a bottle of pills on the table by the bed and
quickly swallows a few. Then she looks around the room
frantically.
SAM (CONT'D)
Where—?
(shaking Jaycee)
Jaycee, where are my clothes?
Jaycee makes a unintelligible grunt, and a gesture that might
indicate anywhere else in the apartment. Sam slides off the
bed, none too steadily, and begins to wander around shakily,
picking up various articles of clothing. As she gets dressed,
she shakes Jaycee again, more insistently this time.
SAM (CONT'D)
Jaycee! What happened?
Jaycee finally opens her eyes and (sort of) focuses on Sam.
She gropes at the empty bed.
JAYCEE
Guess they left.
SAM
WHO left?
Jaycee lets her brain catch up to that question.
JAYCEE
Nnnmm—the guys.
SAM
(mortified)
WHAT—GUYS?
JAYCEE
Oh, those cute surfer dudes. At
the party.
Sam closes her eyes, trying to process this.
SAM
WHO?
JAYCEE
(lazily)
I d'no. Don't think they ever
said their names.
(giggles)
They were busy doing other stuff.
Sam just groans at that thought, and quickly finishes
dressing.
SAM
I have to go.
JAYCEE
Why? Take th' day off.
SAM
I can't.
She looks at her watch.
SAM (CONT'D)
I am SO late.
JAYCEE
(singing brokenly)
Just another manic Monday... Wish
it was Sunday...
SAM
Okay, I can't deal with this right
now.
She makes a half-turn for the door before turning back.
SAM (CONT'D)
Is my car downstairs?
Jaycee just shrugs faintly. Sam rubs her eyes tiredly.
SAM (CONT'D)
I have to...go. I'll call you
later, okay?
JAYCEE
(little wave)
Bye-bye.
Sam still looks stricken as she heads out.
CUT TO:
INT. KENNEDY HIGH GYM
George and Brooke are sitting in the bleachers (the same place
they sat in IKWYDLSB).
GEORGE
So...want to talk?
Brooke just gives him the evil eye.
GEORGE (CONT'D)
Okay...let me guess. Your life's
ruined. And it's Sam's fault.
Brooke's eye gets even more evil.
GEORGE (CONT'D)
Hey, I heard about what happened,
with your grades. Are you really
sure—?
At this point, Brooke starts to get up. George has to reach
out quickly to stop her.
GEORGE (CONT'D)
It's okay, I believe you!
BROOKE
No you don't. No one does.
GEORGE
I'm sorry, it just doesn't sound
like the Sam I knew. Know.
BROOKE
Why am I the only person who
realized that underneath that
sanctimonious crusading reporter
there was a scheming psychopath
waiting to get out?
GEORGE
That's not fair, Brooke. She's
got a problem.
This time Brooke shakes off his hand when she rises.
BROOKE
And I'm TIRED of everyone making
excuses for her!
GEORGE
Whoa, whoa, whoa! I'm not making
excuses for anybody. She's got a
problem, but that doesn't make
what she did any less wrong.
He pauses long enough to make sure that Brooke is still
listening to him.
GEORGE (CONT'D)
I'm not worried about Sam. I'm
worried about YOU.
BROOKE
I'm fine.
GEORGE
You said that before, when you
were trying to kill your locker.
I've known players like you.
BROOKE
(offended)
Excuse me?
GEORGE
Wait, I'm serious. They keep
everything all bottled up inside,
and then the slightest little
thing and—
(blowing-up motion)
—BOOM!
BROOKE
Well, I'm not going to—
(mimicing)
—boom.
GEORGE
Right. That's why you were trying
to kill your locker. Here, let me
see.
George takes Brooke's hands in his, examining them gently.
She winces slightly as he traces the faint bruises.
BROOKE
I'm tired of fighting her, George.
I never get anywhere, and...
(pause)
Why is it that when I was the
superficial pop princess and she
was Miss Do-Gooder, I was on top,
and now that I'm trying to be an
adult she's the one getting away
with everything?
GEORGE
She's not. It's might not seem
like it, but sooner or later,
everything's going to come back to
her.
CUT TO:
INT. SAM'S OFFICE - LATER
The door to the hallway opens and Sam rushes in. She tosses
her stuff onto the desk before noticing that Art Fleischer is
sitting there.
SAM
Hey! What are you doing here?
He looks up at her, a grave expression on her face.
SAM (CONT'D)
What is it? What's wrong?
FLEISCHER
Sam, where's the piece on the
waste disposal dispute in
Riverside? You were supposed to
turn it in to Metro.
SAM
(taken aback)
That...that's not due until
Monday.
FLEISCHER
YESTERDAY was Monday.
Now Sam looks totally lost.
SAM
No, but...today is...?
Distracted, she hums a few notes of "Manic Monday" to herself.
FLEISCHER
Sam—
SAM
I am SO sorry. Look, I admit it,
I totally spazzed on what day it
was, I don't know why—
FLEISCHER
(rising)
Sam...I don't know what's happened
to you. You don't make meetings,
I can't even get hold of you half
the time anymore...
SAM
I know, I've been...busy. But I
swear, I'm on top of everything.
I've got notes here—somewhere—
Frantically rifling through her desktop, she knocks a stack of
papers onto the floor. As she bends down to gather them up,
Fleischer gets up and squats down by her.
FLEISCHER
Forget about the story, Sam. It's
taken care of.
SAM
What?
FLEISCHER
I've talked to the editorial
board. We think...you need to
take a break for a while.
They stand up together.
SAM
(astonished)
Wait—you're FIRING me?
FLEISCHER
It's my fault, okay? I forgot
that you're still a teenager. I
shouldn't have... I just put too
much pressure on you.
Fleischer turns away, and Sam clutches at him.
SAM
(desperate)
No, no, don't do this, please, I
promise I'll never miss another
deadline again, it's not too much
pressure, really, I swear, I can
do it—
He stops her by grabbing her shoulders.
FLEISCHER
You just concentrate on taking
care of you. When you're ready,
we'll talk about your coming back.
SAM
Please—this job is everything to
me!
FLEISCHER
(gently)
You just can't handle it right
now, Sam.
Fleischer releases her and walks to the door.
FLEISCHER (CONT'D)
I mean it—take care of yourself.
As Fleischer leaves, Sam slumps against the desk—but quickly
rights herself when the other door opens and Principal Krupps
walks in.
SAM
Oh—Mr. Krupps! I, uh—
She spins around and makes a show of rifling through her
desktop.
SAM (CONT'D)
—I've got the, um, the last
reports right here.
Sam snatches a bunch of papers up, but he waves her off.
KRUPPS
It's not important. Was that Art?
She looks towards the outer door apprehensively for a moment.
SAM
Oh, um, yeah, but, it was—
KRUPPS
I know. We had a chat.
Sam bites her lip, trying to keep her emotions in.
SAM
I suppose you want to fire me,
too.
Krupps looks at her like she's just announced that the sky is
polk-dotted.
KRUPPS
Where'd you get an idea like that?
SAM
Everybody thinks I'm this great
big loser. Nobody believes in me.
Sam turns away from him; but he uses a finger to turn her head
back.
KRUPPS
Sam, I am not firing you. And I
will always have faith in you. No
matter what.
SAM
You're just saying that. You
can't possibly believe in me, not
after—
Sam breaks off (perhaps realizing what she was about to say).
Krupps may or may not think something of it—it's hard to tell
from his expression.
KRUPPS
(prompting)
After?
SAM
(covering)
You know...after all of the money
was stolen out of the fund I was
supposed to be managing.
KRUPPS
Now, Sam, that wasn't your fault.
Sam looks quite guilty at that (but only to the audience).
KRUPPS (CONT'D)
And don't worry about the loss.
The insurance will cover it.
SAM
You're sure?
KRUPPS
I'm sure. The police will have to
finish their investigation, of
course...
SAM
Oh, right...the police.
(pause)
Have they said anything?
KRUPPS
They haven't arrested Natalie
James yet.
(confidentially
But I'm sure they will soon.
The conversation dies for a moment.
SAM
What about Brooke? I...heard the
police were questioning her?
KRUPPS
I hope she didn't have anything to
do with it. She's a very good
student.
Sam makes an annoyed face at that—away from Krupps.
CUT TO:
INT. CAFETERIA - NOON
It's the normal bustling lunchtime; Brooke is waiting in line.
Just as she gets to the trays, a couple walk by, with a giggle
and hand gestures that might—or might not—be referring to her.
Nevertheless, she sneaks a peek back at them as she picks up
her tray. Then, the entire atmosphere of the room changes,
and she sees everyone pointing at her and talking. Brooke
cringes, and people start to rise from their seats and advance
on her. As the taunting crowd presses in, Brooke shrinks
back, holding her tray up as a shield, until—
FLASH CUT TO:
INT. CAFETERIA - CONTINUOUS
The scene—all in Brooke's head—vanishes and the room reverts
to normal. Brooke throws down her tray with a clatter and
runs off, while George, behind her in line, watches.
SLAM CUT TO:
GEORGE
GEORGE
Rule number one...
He stops and frowns.
GEORGE (CONT'D)
I don't remember rule number one.
It's got something to do with chop
blocking.
SLAM CUT TO:
INT. CAFETERIA - CONTINUOUS
As Brooke runs off.
SLAM CUT TO:
GEORGE
GEORGE
But rule number two is: if a
friend's in trouble—be there.
SLAM CUT TO:
INT. CAFETERIA - CONTINUOUS
George takes off after Brooke.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER
Brooke runs to a deserted section of the corridor and stops,
hugging herself tightly; a moment later George catches up to
her.
GEORGE
Hey! What happened?
BROOKE
(shaky)
I...I just can't face everyone.
They all think—
GEORGE
No they don't. And even if a few
of them do, who cares?
BROOKE
I do! You don't understand,
George. I told you. I'm tired.
GEORGE
That doesn't sound like the Brooke
McQueen I know.
He takes her by the arm and leads her around a corner.
CUT TO:
INT. A CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS
George pulls Brooke inside and closes the door.
GEORGE
You've got to snap out of this.
You're not a quitter, you're a
fighter.
Brooke just turns away. George persists.
GEORGE (CONT'D)
You can't let Sam do this to you.
You can't let anyone do this to
you. You're better than that.
Brooke chews that over.
BROOKE
You really think I'm a fighter?
GEORGE
Are you kidding? You're one of
the toughest people I know.
Aren't you the one who walked away
from the whole cheerleader
stereotype? Hey, I wouldn't want
to go up against you.
Brooke does some more thinking, and finally nods slowly.
BROOKE
You're right.
Then she catches him in an unexpected hug.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
Thanks.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - LATER
Brooke is strolling down the hall, looking remarkably calm.
Her stride falters, though, when she hears indistinct sounds
coming from a supposedly empty classroom. She stops and
listens discreetly outside the slightly-ajar door.
CUT TO:
INT. A CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS
Inside the empty classroom, Natalie is in the middle of a
conversation on her phone, her back to the door. She doesn't
sound very happy:
NATALIE
(into the phone)
...no...no, you don't
understand...
(sniffle)
...nobody LIKES me here.
Natalie starts to pace a bit, but keeps her back to Brooke.
NATALIE (CONT'D)
(into the phone)
Yeah...there were these girls, and
I thought they liked me...but
everyone just stabs everyone else
in the back all the time...
ANGLE: BROOKE
In the doorway, Brooke watches her hand do an off-handed
little mimic of a backstabbing motion, a quizzical expression
on her face. Meanwhile:
NATALIE (CONT'D)
(into the phone)
...no, I thought...that's not
working either...
More sniffles, and a sob.
NATALIE (CONT'D)
(into the phone)
...I don't like it here, Grandad.
I wanna come home.
CUT TO:
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
The approach of a couple of students forces Brooke to step
away from the classroom doorway and pretend to be doing
something or other. When they have passed, Brooke steps back
to the doorway.
CUT TO:
INT. CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS
Natalie has gotten off the phone and is sitting in one of the
chairs, clearly moping. Brooke slips into the classroom, and
closes the door behind her with an audible click. The noise
makes Natalie twist around.
BROOKE
(quietly)
Can we just...talk?
CUT TO:
INT. GIRLS' RESTROOM - LATER
Sam is at the sink, daubing water on her face. She looks up
into the mirror and unexpectedly sees Lily standing behind
her, which makes her jump and spin around.
SAM
Hi!
(uncertainly)
Did I...were we supposed to do
something?
Lily shakes her head slowly.
LILY
No-o-o.
SAM
(relieved)
Whew...I thought I might have
forgotten something. I've had a
rough few days.
LILY
(muttering)
You're not the only one.
SAM
What?
Instead of answering, Lily changes the subject.
LILY
Did you know Brooke found out who
messed up her grades?
SAM
(disinterested)
Hadn't heard. I've got more
important things to worry about.
LILY
Yeah, some kid hacked into the
computer here.
SAM
Really...a kid. Hmmm.
LILY
You really hadn't heard?
SAM
(shrugging)
First time.
LILY
Brooke found him. The kid. AND
he told her who put him up to it.
Sam turns away for a moment, putting both hands on the sink
and getting herself into a good outrage.
SAM
Let me guess—she's going around
telling everyone that I'M the Big
Bad.
LILY
I—
SAM
Look, I don't what Brooke
McQueen's been saying, and
normally, I wouldn't give a damn.
But if she's got some story about
me doing something to her records—
No matter what that Delbert kid
said, or what Brooke CLAIMS he
told her, I had nothing to do with
it. And it really hurts that you
believe her, even a little.
Lily thinks that over, her face unreadable.
LILY
Okay.
Lily turns away, leaving Sam at a loss.
SAM
Wait a minute! Is that it?
When Lily looks back at Sam, her expression is more sad than
anything else.
LILY
I don't think we should talk to
each other for a while.
SAM
(trying to regroup)
Wait, wait, wait...I TOLD you I
didn't have anything to do with
what happened to Brooke. Why are
you acting like you don't believe
me?
LILY
Because I don't believe you.
As Lily walks to the exit, Sam acts both astonished and
indignant.
SAM
Lily, we've been friends for
years—I swear to you, Delbert and
Brooke are lying. How could you
possibly believe them over me?
Lily stops at the door.
LILY
(without looking back)
Because I never said what the
kid's name was.
Then she is gone, leaving Sam staring dumbfounded at the door.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
