INT. KENNEDY HIGH - ADVANCED JUNIOR ENGLISH CLASS - DAY
MISS ROSS sits at the edge of her desk as the students sit.
MISS ROSS
Seeing that I'd be out of luck if I asked for
volunteers, I will now assign parts to run
through a scene...so y'all can get a feel for
the words of classic indignation.
The class groans.
MISS ROSS
Mmhmm, I thought so.
She looks down at her copy of the play.
MISS ROSS
Ms. Julian, naturally, you will be Antigone.
Nicole smiles and her face reads, "Of course."
MISS ROSS
Mr. Dick -- you will play the part of Creon.
Nicole's mouth drops -- the class giggles.
MISS ROSS
And...Miss McQueen, you will come in as
Ismene, towards the end.
She moves out of the way of her desk. Brooke's eyes widen, and she pages through the play. Sam smiles and shakes her head.
MISS ROSS
Well come on, people -- I don't have all
day.
Nicole trudges up to the front of the class as Emory hops up excitedly -- he strikes an overly dramatic pose as Nicole rolls her eyes.
MISS ROSS
Antigone, you can start at the last line after your
statement about the glory of burying your brother.
Around line 500.
Nicole clears her throat and reads from her copy.
NICOLE
But royalty, blest in so much besides,
hath the power to do and say what it will.
EMORY
(animated)
Thou differest from all these Thebans in that view.
NICOLE
They also share it, but they hold their tongues for thee.
EMORY
Art thou not ashamed to act apart from them?
NICOLE
No -- there is nothing shameful in reverence to a brother.
EMORY
Was it not a brother, too, that died in the opposite cause?
NICOLE
Brother by the same father and the same sire.
MISS ROSS
Unless they had artificial insemination and surrogate
mothers in ancient Greece, the line is "Brother by
the same mother", Ms. Julian.
NICOLE
Whoops -- my bad.
MISS ROSS
That's all right. Continue.
EMORY
Why, then, dost thou render a grace that is irreverent
in his sight?
NICOLE
The dead man will not say that he so deems it.
EMORY
Yay, if thou makest him but equal in honour with the wicked.
NICOLE
It was his brother, not his slave, that perished.
EMORY
Wasting this land...while he fell as its champion.
NICOLE
Nevertheless, Hades desires these rites.
EMORY
But the good desires not a like portion with the evil.
NICOLE
Who knows but this seems blameless in the world below?
EMORY
A foe is never a friend -- not even in death.
NICOLE
'Tis not my nature to join in hating, but in loving.
SAM
(mutters)
Yeah, right.
Brooke elbows her.
EMORY
Pass, then, to the world of the dead, and, if thou must
need love, love them. While I live, no woman shall rule
me!
MISS ROSS
Enter Miss McQueen, lo, yonder Ismene comes forth, yadda
yadda,
next line, Mr. Dick.
Brooke snaps out of thought and rushes up to Emory.
EMORY
Come, tell me now, wilt thou also confess thy part in
this
burial, or wilt thou deny all knowledge of it?
BROOKE
I have done the deed and share the burden of the
charge.
NICOLE
Nay, justice will not suffer thee to do that. Thou
didst not
consent to the deed, nor did I give thee part in it.
BROOKE
But now that ills beset thee, I am not ashamed to sail
the
seas of trouble at thy side.
Nicole becomes agitated as she gets into her role. Brooke also gets into her role as she sees Nicole possibly incorporating her own current feelings into her lines.
NICOLE
Whose was the deed, Hades and the dead are witnesses:
A friend in words is not the friend that I love.
BROOKE
Nay, sister, reject me not, but let me die with thee,
and
duly honour the dead.
NICOLE
Share not my death, nor claim deeds to which thou
hast not commit...my death will suffice.
BROOKE
And what life is dear to me, bereft of thee?
NICOLE
Ask Creon -- all thy care is for him.
BROOKE
Why vex me thus, when it avails thee nought?
NICOLE
Indeed, if I mock, 'tis with pain that I mock thee.
BROOKE
Tell me, how can I serve thee, even now?
NICOLE
Save thyself, I grudge not thy escape.
BROOKE
Oh, woe is me...and shall I have no share in thy fate?
NICOLE
Thy choice was to live...mine, to die.
Miss Ross claps.
MISS ROSS
Braaa-vo, ladies -- excellent reading.
Please, retake your seats.
She waits until the kids re-take their seats -- Emory puckers his lips at Nicole as she gags.
MISS ROSS
As you can see, Antigone is one
tough cookie -- a woman who
stands by her convictions because
she believes in a higher judgement
than that of man's judgment. Creon
doesn't budge, either -- for he cannot
understand why a woman would go
against the laws of man, especially
if it means certain death.
(pauses)
On a broader scope, sometimes
people do things that others don't
understand, never knowing the real
reasons -- if there are any -- for their
actions.
Harrison perks his ear and glances towards Nicole, who files her nails.
MISS ROSS
But hear this, children -- in Antigone's
case, Creon thinks he knows her
reasons because of who she is...but he
doesn't fully understand them until the
consequences of his chosen actions come
back to destroy him.
Brooke glances at Harrison. Sam catches the glance.
INT. KENNEDY HIGH - HALLWAY - DAY
BROOKE and SAM walk down the hall after English.
BROOKE
I am soooo glad Harrison's in on this
project. Sure takes a little pressure
off, you know?
SAM
Um, yeah, but we were supposed to do
this whole thing by ourselves.
BROOKE
Sam -- be glad that he's even involved.
Besides, it's just editing.
(stops at her locker)
Look...I know how hard it was for you
yesterday. But at least you guys talked...
and it was *good*.
SAM
Yeah, I guess you're right. But it was so --
awkward. It was like I was interviewing
someone I didn't know.
BROOKE
Well...obviously whatever was bothering him
changed him a bit.
SAM
Obviously.
BROOKE
How's the article going?
SAM
Oh -- don't even ask. I'm sooooo
behind, but I think I can fix that by
integrating it with the actual
event.
BROOKE
Kill two birds with one stone.
SAM
Exactly. I don't wanna bore everyone
with statistics and stuff...I'd like to
actually cover the banquet. That way I can
get everyones' reactions to our video.
BROOKE
Sounds good.
(pauses)
See? I told you it wouldn't be that bad.
(pauses)
I've gotta run. I want to catch up with
Nicole to go over some minor details
about our project.
SAM
Me too -- I mean, I've got to go too. I've
got to go log on to see what I can find
about tissue donors and their recipients.
BROOKE
I thought you said that you didn't want to bore
people with statistics?
Sam hedges.
SAM
It's just background, Brooke. I won't be
publishing numbers or anything.
BROOKE
Mm. Okay. Catch up later?
SAM
Yeah, definitely.
BROOKE
Don't worry -- it'll turn out fine.
She leaves Sam standing at her locker. Sam leans against the locker
and closes her eyes -- she's troubled, but didn't let on to Brooke about
it.
INT. KENNEDY HIGH - LUNCHROOM - DAY
NICOLE sits alone, pensive, lightly tapping a light blue index card against her cheek. She brings it up to VIEW and it reads in fancy script:
You and your family are cordially invited to attend
KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL'S
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS BANQUET
to take place this Saturday Evening at the Chilton Hills Grand Hotel
where we will be honoring
NATIONAL ORGAN AND TISSUE DONOR MONTH
with Guest of Honor
NICOLE JULIAN
and special presentation by
BROOKE McQUEEN and SAM McPHERSON
7:00 P.M. SHARP
Free Buffet and Valet Parking - Limit Two Guests Per Student
NICOLE
Family...right.
BROOKE sits down across from her, as she slips the card back into her bag.
BROOKE
Hey Nicole.
NICOLE
Hey Brookie.
BROOKE
I wanted to talk to you about the video
we shot yesterday.
NICOLE
Something wrong?
BROOKE
You tell me. You seemed preoccupied.
NICOLE
Yeah, well...I was just a little concerned
about those horrible filming conditions.
Natural light might've been good
for Gwenny in Emma, but not for me.
BROOKE
It's more than that...I...I so totally thought
that you might --
NICOLE
Come clean about Harrison being my --
(stops herself, aware of the others in the lunchroom)
Fat chance.
BROOKE
Well, why not? This video would've been the
perfect opportunity for you to --
NICOLE
Destroy the already tattered pieces of my
reputation?
BROOKE
For you to have some emotional relief. I can
tell that this whole idea of him...being related
to you is eating you up inside. I mean -- what's
the big deal?
NICOLE
What's the big deal? I'll tell you what the deal
is,
fair Brookie. You may have bonded with your
soon-to-be step-Spam, but that's nothing compared
to a blood tie that bonds classy popularity...to
unsightly loserdom. Yeah, I admit it -- I'm not
as
popular as I was when I was a Glamazon, but I
still hold the power in this school to make or break
someone. I don't plan on giving that up anytime
soon -- especially not for someone I don't give a
broken heel for.
BROOKE
I think you do care. In fact...I think you care
more than
you're letting on.
NICOLE
Please.
BROOKE
No, I know how you are, Nicole. I saw how you were
on that tape and damned if I didn't see you almost *cry*
when you started talking about Harrison.
NICOLE
I see you fell for my Oscar worthy performance --
BROOKE
That was no performance. This thing is not important
enough for you to make the effort.
(pauses)
I *know* there was something going on between
you and Harrison before you found out that he's blood.
I just want you to know that *I'm* not here to judge
you because...it wasn't your fault that you didn't know.
Nicole thinks for a moment, staring into the table. She snaps out -- quickly.
NICOLE
You don't know JACK about what did or didn't
happen. And Goddess forbid if anything *did* happen,
it's
nice to know that I'd have Brooke McQueen -- she of loyalty
and understanding -- on my side. But not everyone
is as
nonjudgemental as you. Reality bites the big one,
Brookie,
and I promise you -- it'll have ALOT to chew on when I
make my speech at the banquet.
(pauses)
We've all gotta lose some time, right?
She abruptly picks up her bag and exits, leaving Brooke shocked and
alone to think.
INT. KENNEDY HIGH - A/V ROOM - DAY
SAM sits in front of the editing module, watching the action onscreen. A CLOSE UP of Harrison is in view.
HARRISON
You never know what you have until
you've come thisclose to losing it. Only
then do you start appreciating the little
things, you know? Like how the sky
looks first thing in the morning...or how
the air tickles the hairs in your nose when
you inhale...it's all silly and stupid stuff
until...until you come to that spot when you
realize that you may never be able to do
any of these silly, stupid things again.
Sam fast forwards the tape.
SAM'S VOICE
Have you ever actually lost someone like
that?
HARRISON
Yeah...my friend, Clarence. He was a great
guy...taught me alot about myself. I mean, his
loss though -- was physical. I can still feel his
spirit around. I swear, though...the worst kind
of loss is when you lose someone spiritually.
SAM'S VOICE
Spiritually?
HARRISON
I was close to someone...it's a strange situtation.
Without going into detail, she was beautiful both
inside and out and...she didn't know it. Or if she
did, she didn't let on that she did. She
never showed it to anyone, except maybe
her closest friends...and even then I'm not
exactly sure whether she did or not. The
one thing I was sure of was...that she shared
it with me. Her inner beauty. It really
killed me when I realized that I'd lost it.
SAM'S VOICE
How did you lose it?
HARRISON
I...I don't want to talk about it. I just know
that there must be a reason for it...I just
haven't figured it out yet.
Sam fast forwards again.
HARRISON
-- the importance of organ and tissue donation.
SAM'S VOICE
Generally, people who receive organs or tissue
from others don't know who their donors are.
That's not the case in your situation. Can you
tell us how you feel about your donor and
classmate, Nicole Julian?
Sam watches the screen as Harrison's expression drops slightly and he hesitates.
SAM'S VOICE
Harrison? You --
HARRISON
(nervous)
She saved my life.
(shrugs)
What else is there to say? We weren't friends before
this procedure. In fact, she teased me mercilessly
throughout my sophomore year, and...well, people
make mistakes. Underneath all of that sheet metal
exterior, Nicole is a truly gifted and wonderful person,
and I'd give my life for her to know that I am thankful...for
sharing a part of herself with me like this. I know
I've made
my share of mistakes. I've said some things that
I deeply
regret and -- I'd just like to apologize.
(looks into the lens as Brooke zooms in on his face)
Nicole, I know you'll be watching this, so...I'm sorry
for whatever I said about you before. Our experience
in this whole...donation thing has made me realize how
valuable you are to me.
There is a long silence after the last line as the camera focuses on a thoughtful Harrison.
Sam pauses after the last line and rewinds a tiny bit -- she starts the tape again.
HARRISON
-- whole...donation thing has made me realize how
valuable you are to me.
Sam focuses on Harrison's mouth after the line, and it looks like he starts to mouth something, ever so subtlely. It looks like the beginning of "I love you", but he bites his lip before he finishes.
Sam cocks her head in question. She rewinds back, near to where she started.
HARRISON
-- She never showed it to anyone, except maybe
her closest friends...and even then I'm not
exactly sure whether she did or not.
The one thing I was sure of was...that she
shared it with me.
Sam fast forwards again.
HARRISON
-- Underneath all of that sheet metal exterior, Nicole
is a truly gifted and wonderful person, and I'd give
my life for her to know that I am thankful...for
sharing a part of herself with me like this.
Sam stops the tape and leans back in her chair. She shakes her head, attempting to dismiss a foreboding feeling.
HARRISON
Sam?
Sam nearly jumps out of her skin as she turns to see Harrison at the door to the A/V room.
SAM
Harrison -- I...I was just reviewing the tape.
HARRISON
Oh? Well I hope the camera didn't catch that
massive snot dangling out of my nose.
SAM
(laughs)
No, of course not...it's great...it looks great.
There is a tense moment of silence between them.
SAM
Are...you here to work on it?
HARRISON
Nah, I was just walkin' by and couldn't ignore
the sound of my cracking voice...I thought
maybe Brooke was in here.
SAM
It's just me.
(pauses)
But if you want to work on it now --
HARRISON
I've got some things to do first...my mom --
she wants to take me out n' get me suited up for
this gala event. She thinks it's a big deal.
SAM
Well, you are -- in part -- the main attraction.
HARRISON
Yeah...well. Yay for me.
They laugh an uncomfortable laugh. Sam nods her head as Harrison stares at the ground. She gathers her books.
SAM
I'm just gonna go, the tape's right there --
HARRISON
I heard that you and George broke up.
Sam turns back and closes her eyes.
HARRISON
I know we didn't get a chance to talk about
it yesterday, but --
SAM
And I don't want to talk about it now --
HARRISON
I just want to say that I'm sorry.
(pauses)
I know how it feels.
SAM
I've heard you moved on.
Harrison turns his head.
HARRISON
It's not that simple.
He approaches her.
HARRISON
Sam...Sammy. I...I've just had a really screwed
up week. And...I don't want to add to either of
our problems by dwelling on our mess. I care for
you, Sam...deeply. But I'm not here to take
advantage of your pain. I'm just here.
SAM
I'll remember that.
HARRISON
Good, because I don't know what I'd do if I
felt that I could never speak to you again,
especially now.
SAM
Why now?
HARRISON
It's...complicated.
SAM
I see.
HARRISON
Sam, I swear -- if I hadn't made a solemn
promise to someone, you'd totally be in
the know.
SAM
No, I like -- totally understand.
HARRISON
Good.
They smile.
HARRISON
Friends again?
SAM
Definitely.
Harrison puts out his fist -- she knocks it with hers, but he grabs her for a big, friendly hug and they laugh.
IN THE HALL by the A/V room, NICOLE walks by unnoticed, but steps back -- she sees Harrison and Sam hugging. She slips around the corner.
BACK TO Harrison and Sam breaking the hug -- they hold eachother close, but stop themselves in the awkward moment.
SAM
I've -- I've got to go.
HARRISON
Yeah.
SAM
(leaving)
Can you lock up?
HARRISON
No problem.
SAM
Promise me you won't get yourself
into any trouble?
HARRISON
Scout's honor.
Sam leaves. Harrison stands for a moment, watching her go. He then leans over to the module and removes the tape from the VCR and stuffs it in his bag -- he exits
INTO THE HALL and starts walking when Nicole startles him.
NICOLE
Wow, I think even Michael Jordan
would be impressed by your rebound.
HARRISON
What are you talking about, Nicole?
NICOLE
It doesn't matter, Wonderboy. What
I've got planned for you won't compare
to any amount of bleeding heartache
that you unload upon poor little Spam.
She turns her heel abruptly but he grabs her arm.
HARRISON
Okay, wait --
He realizes his grip and lets go. She turns, livid.
HARRISON
I'm not afraid of you anymore, Nicole.
NICOLE
You should be.
HARRISON
I'm not. You see...you're not the only one with
the power to destroy someone. Remember --
I've seen you completely naked.
NICOLE
Your deniable rumors are of no threat to me.
HARRISON
I wasn't talking about your body, Nicole. I
was talking about *you* -- your soul. People
say it's nonexistent, but I know it's there. I know
how it works. And...once I found out how it
works, I also figured out that there's nothing
to fear because I too can and will use what I
know to defend myself.
(pauses)
So...you can go on believing that you can
humiliate me at will, or...you can start worrying
about how I can humiliate you.
He starts to walk off.
HARRISON
See you at the banquet, Nicole.
He leaves her standing alone in the hallway, her expression reflecting
the uneasy feelings inside her.
END OF ACT 3