CHAP#9:STRANGERS -

HELGA:(LOOKS AT HER WATCH)Oh wow! 5:23 already?.

SMITTHY:Time really went by so fast.

HELGA:Funny thing for it to do especially for a day at a book fair.I'm pretty hungry, I'll go get us a couple of hotdogs.

(SMITTHY NOTICES A BOOKSTALL HE HASN'T CHECKED OUT YET.)

BOOKSTALL GIRL:Can I interest you in anything?.

SMITTHY:What's this book about? 'The ring poem book'.

BOOKSTALL GIRL:It's a collection of poems I wrote about different topics but are still connected to each other.

SMITTHY:Topics like what?.

BOOKSTALL GIRL:You know like how sometimes a friendship progress to love ... that stuff.

SMITTHY:Hmmm ... I think I'll buy it.

BOOKSTALL GIRL:Cool. And since you're my first customer I'm giving you this chain necklace with a ring, it's free for the first ten customers.

SMITTHY:Helga's gonna love this.

HELGA:Love what?.

SMITTHY:Oh hi Helga! ... uh I just bought this book of poems, it sortof has all these poems connected to each other, and then I got this chain and ring necklace as a free gift and ...

HELGA:ring? Omigosh!.

SMITTHY:What's wrong?.

HELGA:A couple of days back at Rhonda's party I promised Brainy I'd help him celebrate his third anniversary with Ronnie.

SMITTHY:Brainy?.

HELGA:and he wanted to give her a ring to celebrate and ... oh I can't believe I completely forgot about the whole thing!.

(HELGA GOES OVER TO A NEARBY BENCH AND SLUMPS, SMITTHY FOLLOWS HER)

SMITTHY:Ok I don't really know what's going on, but you said third anniversary and celebration ... I think I can help you with that.

HELGA:How?.

(THEY GO OVER TO THE THEATER WHERE SMITTHY AND OLGA ACT IN)

SMITTHY:Since the play will start next week they'll start decorating it and the props the day after tomorrow which means we only got the theatre to be vacant tomorrow.

HELGA:Wow it's pretty big, no wonder Olga seems so excited to act here. Wait a minute, what's your plan?.

SMITTHY:Well I got this idea from a play where the guy wants to finally reveal his feelings to his girl best friend so he brings her to the theatre where he works in, she steps on the stage and is showered with glitter dust and the whole romantic bonanza ... you get the picture?.

HELGA:So you'd ... ?

SMITTHY:Do this for your Brainy friend yes, and save your friendship and your butt.

HELGA:(Laughs) but why?.

SMITTHY:Why?.

HELGA:Why are you doig this? for me, a girl you barely know and for Brainy, a complete stranger?.

SMITTHY:Well I've known Olga for the last four years of my life so basically a family of Olga's is ... friends with me. You get what I you're a pretty cool person, I've never met many girls who share a passion for poetry as much as you.

HELGA:Oh Smitthy.

SMITTHY:O.k., so got any ideas for the big 'showdown'?.

HELGA:Let's see ... how about I do the same scene as that play you told me about and I'll round up the whole gang. I'll pay for the glitter dust and extra decorations.

SMITTHY:Great idea, but you can skip the glitter dust and decorations ... the theatre is well budgeted that they got a lil extra props that they leave lying around for years ... plus they don't use much glitter dust in recent plays so that's covered. You just round up your friends and call me up later tonight so we can agree on what to do and when.

HELGA:Cool.

SMITTHY(LOOKS AT HIS WATCH):Well I think you should be heading home now, before your dad notices how long you've been gone.

(HELGA ALMOST COMMENTS THAT BOB HAS NEVER REALLY NOTICED HER ABSENCE, EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE TIME DURING THANKSGIVING 10 YEARS AGO. SHE DECIDES NOT TO, SEEING THAT SHE BARELY KNOWS THIS GUY AND WHO KNOWS WHAT HE'LL DO WHEN HE FINDS OUT THAT HER PARENTS BARELY TAKE NOTICE OF HER. LIFE HAS TAUGHT HER TO BE A LITTLE MORE CAREFUL AROUND EVERYONE.)

THEY FINALLY REACH HELGA'S HOME.

HELGA:Thanks for today Smitthy I'll call up the gang immediately and get back to you tonight.

SMITTHY:No Problem.

HELGA:Bye.

SMITTHY:Bye.

(SMITTHY WALKS AWAY AND THEN WHEN HE'S SURE THAT THE COAST IS CLEAR HE RETREATS TO A CORNER FACING HELGA'S ROOM.)

SMITTHY:Oh sweet Angel with locks of bright gold and turquoise eyes, how I've prayed every night for your arrival into my seemingly routine life, how pure and genuine your heart is, how quick was cupid to shoot me that you must be my long awaited Juliet (sighs) oh if you could only return these feelings that I harbour so heavily in my heart for you.

WOLFGANG:Practising for your play out of nowhere?.

MAURICE:(laughs) talk about dedication.

SMITTHY:(clears his throat and fixes his poise) Not that it's any of your buisness.

WOLFGANG:Whatever, we're just here to tell you that we don't need your services anymore. We finally got what we needed.

SMITTHY:O.k that's great, pleasure doin' buisness with ya. (STARTS TO WALK AWAY.)

WOLFGANG:Hold on a sec. (TAKES OUT SOME MONEY FROM HIS WALLET)$100, just like we agreed.

SMITTHY:(LOOKS AT THE MONEY AND THEN BACK AT WOLFGANG)I need to ask you, does the plot you're making against Helga's ex by any way involve Helga?.

WOLFGANG:Don't worry lover boy, I'm just getting back at the football head. Take the money.

SMITTHY:How about you pay me back with something other than money.

WOLFGANG LOOKS AT SMITTHY, GIVES HIM A SMILE AND PLACES A HAND ON HIS SHOULDER

WOLFGANG:Hey Micks.

MICKEY:Yeah?.

WOLFGANG:Be Smitthy's eyes and ears for that girl will ya? Just don't stalk her too much.

SMITTHY:Thanks man.

ARNOLD WAS WALKING BACK AND FORTH IN HIS ROOM.

ARNOLD:Helga there's something I've been meaning to tell you ... I met Dr. Bliss the other day and ... turns out you're not the rebound girl after all ... no no she's gonna maime me ... let's see, Helga I ...

HIS PHONE RINGS.

ARNOLD:Hello?.

HELGA:Hey Arnold.

ARNOLD:Helga! uh hi!.What's up?.

(HELGA EXPLAINS THE WHOLE PLAN)

HELGA:So, you in?.

ARNOLD:Sure. I'll call up the rest of the gang.

HELGA:Great, tell them we'll meet up outside the theatre at 5.15 sharp. And make sure Ms. Wellington-Lloyd shows up on time too.

ARNOLD: (LAUGHS)Don't worry. I'll make sure she'll be the first one to arrive.

HELGA:Cool. And also make sure Ronnie doesn't find out about this till tomorrow.

ARNOLD:O.k. Bye.

HELGA:Over.

(ARNOLD CLOSES THE PHONE AND LOOKS AT IT)

ARNOLD:Tomorrow, I'll make you mine again.