Setup: Outside the auto shop room, Virgil and Zeke are plotting how to get the wire. Zeke is looking into the shop.
Zeke: Okay, no one's there. Come here.
[Virgil comes over to his side and looks in. Zeke points to a cabinet on the far wall.]
Zeke: You see that cabinet over there? That's where the wire is. I need you to go in there and grab the thickest wire on the top shelf.
Virgil: Got it.
Zeke: Oh, and you'll need a stool to get to it.
Virgil: Okay.
Zeke: Oh, and the stool wobbles, so be careful.
Virgil: Can we just get the wire already?
Zeke: Okay, Go!
[The two run in to the shop, and Virgil grabs the stool. He climbs up on it, and looks for the wire. Zeke is keeping watch.]
Zeke: (Whispers) Hurry up!
Virgil: I'm getting there!
[Virgil looks feels around for the wire, until he finally finds it. He pulls out a large amount of thick, rolled up wire.]
Virgil: I got it!
[Suddenly, he looses balance and falls to the floor.]
Virgil: Ow!
[Zeke comes over to help him up.]
Zeke: (Whispers) Shush, someone might…
[Zeke picks up the sound of someone's approaching footsteps.]
Tolkan: One moment Miss Carrol, I think there's someone in the Auto shop.
[Zeke shoves Virgil into a closet and grabs a toaster. He pretends to be working on fixing it. Then, Tolkan walks in.]
Tolkan: Oh! Mr. Thompson! What are you doing in here?
Zeke: I needed to fix this toaster.
[Tolkan looks around the room, and notices the open cabinet.]
Tolkan: Why is the cabinet open?
Zeke: I needed some new wire for part of the inside.
Tolkan: Really?
Zeke: Yep.
Tolkan: Do you mind if I watch you fix it? I've been having trouble with my toaster lately. Just yesterday, it started burning my toast all the time instead of toasting it properly, and I had horrible stomachaches, which make working very hard.
[While Tolkan is talking, Virgil sneaks out of the closet and out the door with the wire.]
Zeke: (looking inside the toaster) Actually, it looks like I need a pair of mini pliers to fix this, and the school doesn't have any, so I guess I'll just take this home with me.
[Zeke shuts the cabinet door and grabs the toaster.]
Zeke: Have a good evening, sir.
Tolkan: You too, Mr. Thompson. Good luck with the toaster.
Zeke: Thanks.
[Zeke walks out of the room, and walks casually down the hallway. Then he meets up with Virgil]
Zeke: (Whispers) Do you have it?
Virgil: (Whispers back) I got it. Why do you have a toaster?
Zeke: Don't worry about it. Just go!
Virgil: Okay!
[The two of them sprint back to Room 77.]
Virgil: Yes! We made it!
Karli: Did you get the wire?
Virgil: Right here.
[Virgil hands her the wire.]
Karli: This looks good… but you guys got the wrong size.
Virgil: WHAT?!
Karli: I'm just kidding! This wire's just fine.
[Virgil breathes a sigh of relief.]
Karli: Zeke, why are you holding a toaster?
Zeke: Hey, be glad it's not a detention slip instead!
Jeanette: Did it really go that bad?
Virgil: Tolkan almost busted us.
Zeke: The toaster was a cover story. In other words, we got really lucky.
Virgil: Yeah, we are not doing that again!
Karli: You guys won't have to. Besides the wire, we can get the rest of the stuff cheap.
Charlie: (Annoyed) But I'm still paying for it.
Karli: Hey, a bet is a bet.
Charlie: Yeah, yeah, whatever.
Karli: Now let's get to work on this thing.
[The 5 start on the repairs. The next day, the machine is ready. Karli comes up to the others in between classes.]
Karli: Hey guys, let's test the you-know-what after school today.
Zeke: Actually, I can't make it. My dad needs me at the shop.
Charlie: Neither can I. Jeanette and I are going to the aviary.
Virgil: And I'm driving them.
Karli: Okay. How about I test it, and I tell you about it later?
Virgil: That works.
Karli: Okay, talk to you later.
[The bell rings for class, and the guys go where they need to go.]
[Later, Virgil gets back from the museum and checks his email. At the top is a message from Karli. He clicks on it. It reads:]
Message: Guys, we are ready for action!
Virgil: Yes!
Scene 8Setup: It's the middle of the afternoon two days after recruiting Jeanette. A sophomore named Sam Wilcox, who's been considered a dork by the popular kids, is walking by the vending machines in the cafeteria and runs into some punk kids. The leader, Brad, comes forward.
Brad: (mocking Sam) Oh, look guys; it's little baby Wilcox.
[Brad's crew laughs.]
Brad: We missed you in the bathroom yesterday, Sam. What happened? (Imitates little kid talking) Did wittle baby Sam wun home to Mommy cwying? (The guys laugh again)
Sam: (summons up his courage, but clearly nervous) No, Brad. (Takes a deep breath) I didn't show up because I didn't want to. You can't tell me what to do anymore. (Pauses, Brad starts to loom over him) I'm not scared of you, Brad.
Brad: (In Sam's face) Is that right? (Sam nods, but tries to keep a straight face) Well then, since you missed yesterday, why don't we make up for lost time, huh? (Grabs him by the collar) Let's go, guys! (The guys cheer and follow brad as he pulls Sam along. He whispers to Sam.) It's your lucky day, Sam. You, my friend, are about to find out what happened when you mess with Brad Anderson.
[A ways down the hall, Virgil and Charlie are walking and making plans for after school.]
Charlie: So I was wondering if you want to come over today. I just got this new computer program, and - (looks up, and stops talking) Oh, boy.
Virgil: (looking at the same thing Charlie sees) Wow.
[In the cafeteria, Brad and his buddies have hung Sam on a coat rack – by his underwear.]
Sam: Come on, guys! Help me down! Please?
Brad: See you later, sucker. (Walks away with the other guys laughing)
Sam: Aw, man. (Vice Principal Tolkan walks by)
Tolkan: Well, well, well. What do we have here? Samuel Wilcox, am I right? Looks like you got yourself in a bit of a fix.
Sam: Yes! It was Brad Anderson! Please help me down!
Tolkan: I would if I could, but we have a social system here that must be respected, so, hang in there. (Smiles in a smug way, then walks away. Kids are still laughing at Sam.)
Charlie: Well, Verge, it looks like our afternoon is already booked.
Virgil: Yep. (Ripping sound and a thud come from Sam's direction. More laughter. Virgil grimaces) Ooh, that's gotta hurt.
[Down in room 77, the guys are suiting up, and the girls are setting up the machines. The guys finish and get ready to go]
Virgil: Okay girls, are we ready?
Jeanette: I'm good.
Karli: (Typing) Give me a sec. (Hits the enter button) Ready.
[Jeanette starts the machine. The guys jump into the vortex and are sucked out of sight.]
Jeanette: This is so incredibly cool!
Karli: I'm with you, Jeanette.
[On the other side, Brad is head on with Sam.]
Sam: I'm not scared of you, Brad.
Brad: Is that right? Well then, since you missed yesterday, why don't we make up for lost time, huh?
[Brad goes for Sam's collar, but Zeke, Charlie, and Virgil intervene. Virgil shields Sam and Zeke grabs a startled Brad by HIS collar, lifts him away, let him go, and Brad slides underneath a cafeteria chair. He stays down out of shock.]
Zeke: Let's not and say you did, okay? (Looks over at Brad's group menacingly, and the guys scatter.)
[The Minutemen leave the scene, and people start to cheer. The demonstration does intrigue two in particular.]
Tolkan: (Walks in on the scene as the boys are leaving, eating a banana) Hmm. Interesting. (Takes a bite)
Stephanie: (In the cheering crowd) Wow. Talk about being profound. (Walks over to Derek)
[Back on the other side, the guys emerge. The machine shuts down, and the rift-closer starts up, and finishes quicker than usual, but no one except Karli notices this. The guys watch the rift closer until it finishes.]
Virgil: Well done, guys. Well done.
[After the group undresses, the guys and Karli walk upstairs, and are confronted by Chester and Eugene.]
Eugene: Where have you been guys? You just missed it!
Virgil: (innocently) Missed what, Eugene?
Chester: Sam missed his 'session' with Brad yesterday and Brad was going to teach him a lesson, but-
Eugene: These guys came out and one of them shoved Brad away. Scared the pants off him!
Chester: It was awesome, man! We need more guys like them here. (Under his breath) Sure hope they stick around.
Charlie: (Innocently) Really?
Chester: Yeah! There were 3 guys, dressed in white snowsuits. Couldn't see their faces, though. I hear Tolkan really wants to find them. Later dudes! (Walks away)
Karli: Okay, was that, how exactly did you save Sam, and what did you do to that guy?! (Catches sight of Brad during her sentence.)
[Brad is jammed underneath a chair, still lying in shock.]
Zeke: Whoops. I guess my aim was off.
Karli: Ya think?!
[Later that day]
Tolkan: …so students, please do not leave any items lying out in the locker room. Finally, yesterday, a group of students dressed in white ski suits tried to stop a bully. While I applaud them for their help, please remember that if there are problems with bullies, inform one of the teachers or myself, instead, and we will take care of the situation. Will those 3 students please stop by my office today? Thank you.
[Meanwhile, the guys and Karli are sitting in the library, listening to the announcements]
Karli: Yeah, right. He probably wants to give you detention slips.
Charlie: Hmm. That wasn't what I expected though.
Virgil: What did you expect? A SWAT team?
Charlie: No. More like, less kind mention, more discipline.
Zeke: Why should they?
Charlie: What?
Karli: He's got a point, Charlie.
[The guys give her a "What are you talking about?" look]
Karli: Uh, yeah, he does. Listen. Did you do anything wrong? Against school policy? Anything at all, besides what you had to do?
Virgil: Um, no.
Karli: Exactly. Last time, if what you tell me is correct, you smashed up a diorama belonging to Tolkan, so he had a reason to punish you. This time, you followed restrictions. So he has no reason to discipline you. By the way, how exactly did you manage to smash a diorama?
Charlie: Long story.
Karli: Remind me to ask you later about it. But guys, don't be concerned about what bad that could happen. If you set your mind on a grim issue that hasn't happened, and probably won't, it's gonna come back and bite you in the rear. Don't focus on failure, or you're going to look it in the face at the worst time possible.