INT. KENNEDY HIGH - THE NOVAK - NIGHT
NICOLE stands, arms crossed, posing -- she faces away from the mirror.
NICOLE
Tell me again why you ripped me away
from my pre-banquet evening peddy?
Someone sits on the pouf in front of her with a drawing board propped up against her legs -- MARY CHERRY'S head peeks from behind the board.
MARY CHERRY
Why, you *know* that this very pouf is
the source of my inspiration! Now
quit movin' or else yer lips are gonna end
up by yer ear!
NICOLE
I know I said I'd help you, but isn't it a little
too late now?
MARY CHERRY
It's *never* too late when there's a Cherry
involved.
NICOLE
How much longer? My kneecap's starting to
crack.
MARY CHERRY
Hush up, complainer! Artistic vision takes
time...and sometimes, like in the classic campy
Aussie flick Priscilla, a rainbow assortment
of eyeliner.
NICOLE
Yeah, well we're not running a drag show, hon.
Let's move along, hm?
MARY CHERRY
Well I can't very well finish if yer squirrellin' all
over the place like an epileptic jackrabbit!
(pauses, peeks out from behind her board -- sinisterly
serious)
Is there somethin' botherin' you? I could very well
scrap this art thing in favor of an award in psychosocial
services.
NICOLE
Psycho being the operative word.
She straightens her back and retakes her pose.
NICOLE
Nothing's bothering me. I'm fine. Let's get
this over
with.
MARY CHERRY
Well you know, I *have* been watchin' alot of the
Discovery Channel's Eye on Psychology and they
said
that it can be physically unhealthy for someone to keep
their problems buried deep inside --
NICOLE
It's gonna be physically unhealthy for you to keep
stalling because I'm gonna bury that pencil so far up
your --
MARY CHERRY
I sense alot of anger --
NICOLE
(angry, eyes wide)
DRAW!
MARY CHERRY
(sheepishly)
*Okay*.
There is silence save for the sound of Mary Cherry's pencil running over the paper.
MARY CHERRY
Almost finished...
She scribbles a few more lines.
MARY CHERRY
...There!
Nicole sighs, her body relaxing.
NICOLE
Let's see it.
Mary Cherry walks over to the leather seating and props the drawing board up -- it's GOD AWFUL stick figure drawing of Nicole.
MARY CHERRY
D'ya think I made ya too fat?
NICOLE
Okay, so art isn't quite your forte, either.
MARY CHERRY
Oh, Nic -- Mama Cherry is right. I'm just a talentless
fixture on the landscape of shame!
She snarls and breaks her pencil in half with her hands and throws the pieces at the wall.
MARY CHERRY
I'm doomed!
NICOLE
There, there.
MARY CHERRY
You don't understand! Mama Cherry's flyin'
in from Dallas tomorrow mornin'! She thinks
I'm gettin' an award! What am I gonna do?
NICOLE
Don't lose hope, Mary Cherry. There's gotta be
something you're really good at.
MARY CHERRY
WAIT -- Nicole Julian. You have just released me
from the burden of praise worthy work. What I have
to do has been starin' me smack in my well-moisturized
face all along!
NICOLE
And what's that?
MARY CHERRY
Now now, gotta save some surprises.
NICOLE
I'll second that.
Nicole starts to leave but turns back and rips the drawing down from the board.
MARY CHERRY
Well, what are you doin' with my drawing?
NICOLE
(rolling it up)
I'm saving it for posterity.
MARY CHERRY
(flattered)
Why Nic --
NICOLE
Serial killer art goes for big bucks on eBay.
Nicole starts to leave.
MARY CHERRY
Oh.
Just as the door closes, she turns and waves her hand, following.
MARY CHERRY
Wait, I forgot to sign it!
INT. McQUEEN/McPHERSON HOUSE - KITCHEN - SAME
LILY steps up to the front of the kitchen.
LILY
First, I'd like to thank you all for being here.
PAN to the other side of the kitchen, where BROOKE, JANE McPHERSON, MIKE McQUEEN, and JOSH sit as an "audience".
LILY
It means alot for Carmen to be able to do this
in front of an audience before her speech for
the banquet tomorrow night. In a minute,
she will take the first brave step to conquering her
fear of public speaking.
CUT TO
THE HALLWAY where SAM bangs on the door of the bathroom.
SAM
Carmen, come on!
CARMEN
(from inside)
No, uh-uh. No way I'm doing this.
SAM
It's not like it's a big crowd or anything!
CARMEN
It's not the crowd...it's the material.
SAM
Trust me, Carm...we could've done alot
worse.
(pauses at the silence)
Don't even think about slipping out the
window, it won't work...Carmen?
Carmen unlocks the door and shyly steps out.
CARMEN
I already tried...it's too small even for Brooke
to crawl through.
(squints her eyes)
I hate you guys for this.
Sam drags her out through the hall.
BACK TO THE KITCHEN
LILY
Up, and here she is.
The people present clap. Lily pats her on the back, urging her along.
LILY
You can do it, Carm.
Carmen, visibly nervous, glances at her audience as Sam and Lily take their seats. She clears her throat. She delivers her speech calmly without singing (but a little nervously).
CARMEN
You like to dance...on the hip hop spots.
And you cruise to grooves to connect the dots.
Not just urban, you like the pop, 'cuz she was
...livin' la vida loca.
Jane and Mike glance at eachother in confusion.
CARMEN
(swallows nervously)
She had dumps like a truck...truck...truck.
Thighs like what...what...what.
(pauses)
Baby move your butt, butt, butt...I think I'll
sing it again.
Lily smiles at her as Brooke and Sam smile widely at the amusement.
CARMEN
She had dumps like a truck...truck -- truck.
Thighs like what, what, what...all night long,
let me see that thong.
Josh looks thoroughly confused -- but intrigued.
CARMEN
I like it when the beat goes duh-dun-duh...
baby, make your booty go duh-dun-duh.
Baby I know you wanna show that...thong
th-thong...thong --
(pauses)
-- thong.
(pauses, shrugs)
That's it.
Lily starts to clap excitedly as Brooke and Sam join in. Josh is still dumbstruck, but claps slowly, nodding...as Jane and Mike follow in the claps.
JOSH
Whoa -- I didn't know Sisquo could sound
so poetic!
Jane and Mike are completely confused.
JANE
Um...Carmen, honey? I hope that's *not*...what you'll
be saying tomorrow night.
CARMEN
It's not...thankfully.
BROOKE
Lily had this fantastic idea where Carmen would
recite the dumbest thing imaginable --
SAM
-- so that *if* people started laughing, she'd realize
that they're not laughing at her, but the words.
MIKE
(nods)
Ah, the ol' transference bit.
LILY
Did it work?
Jane and Mike hesitate.
JANE
Uh -- sure did!
MIKE
We definitely weren't zeroing in on you.
LILY
Great! Well, Carm -- how did *you* feel
about it?
CARMEN
I felt ridiculous.
SAM
Yeah, but you did it without freaking out.
BROOKE
And just think -- you'll be totally prepared
for tomorrow.
CARMEN
Not really...I kinda have to work on what I
want to say -- Sam? Help???
SAM
No dice, Carm -- I've got an article to work on.
Carmen winces. Lily and Josh gather their stuff.
LILY
Come on, Carm...Josh and I'll help you.
JOSH
Yeah...we'll make sure you survive the spotlight.
They start to leave.
JOSH
It was nice seeing you again, Mr. McQueen, Ms.
McPherson --
MIKE
No problem...come by any time.
Jane shakes her head and chuckles as they leave. She sighs.
JANE
So how *is* that article going, Sam?
Sam nervously glances at a glaring Brooke.
SAM
It's...it's coming along.
JANE
Well, do I get a sneak peek?
Brooke cocks her head. Sam shakes her head.
SAM
Um, it's really not that far along, and besides...
my coverage of the banquet will be a big part
of it.
JANE
Oh...okay, then what about the video? How'd
it come out?
SAM
Good. It came out really awesome.
BROOKE
Harrison's working on it right now...Sam?
SAM
Eeyeah, I think so. I saw him earlier and he said
that that's what he'd be doing tonight.
Mike hugs Jane from behind.
MIKE
(kisses her on the cheek)
So much for having the parental privilege of
inside scoop, huh?
JANE
That's o.k....sometimes it's good to be pleasantly
surprised.
(to the girls)
I'm sure you girls did a wonderful job.
Sam and Brooke glance at eachother and smile.
INT. KENNEDY HIGH - A/V ROOM - SAME
HARRISON sits, arms crossed, staring at a blank screen. He rubs his eyes, sighs and pushes the tape into the VCR -- he then presses the play button. A CLOSE UP of Nicole is in view.
SAM'S VOICE
Tell us a little about yourself.
NICOLE
Well, last year I was co-captain
of the Kennedy High Glamazons, and this
year...well, this year I admittedly haven't done
much of anything since I was barred
from the squad for attempting to seduce
our narcissistic Vice Principal, Calvin Krupps.
Okay? Next question.
SAM'S VOICE
(huffs)
You know, we're probably going to edit that
out.
NICOLE
Oh but why, Spam? I thought you were all
for truth in reporting.
BROOKE'S VOICE
Why don't we try talking about more
stuff like friends and family.
NICOLE
And you know alot about that, don't
you, Brookie.
SAM'S VOICE
Ooookaaaay, *moving on* --
Harrison shakes his head and fast forwards the tape.
SAM'S VOICE
-- about organ and tissue donation.
Why did you choose to donate bone
marrow to a fellow student?
NICOLE
Why? Because he's my b --
Nicole stops herself -- she snaps out of it quickly.
NICOLE
He's my lab partner. I'd probably end up
flunking if he kicked on me. And besides,
Harrison is a sweet guy. People like him.
SAM'S VOICE
Did you think people would like *you* if you
did this?
NICOLE
(huffs)
Wouldn't that be the assumption. No Spam,
I didn't do it to make people like me. I did it...I
did it because he needed it and...for once in my
life, someone needed something from me that
didn't have to do with my body in a sexual way,
as you know my reputation precedes me.
SAM'S VOICE
You guys are lucky...you knew eachother
beforehand. Most donor/recipients don't
until the procedure. With that in mind, would
you have done this for anyone else?
NICOLE
If the situation arose.
Harrison fast forwards again.
SAM'S VOICE
-- How has your relationship changed with
Harrison because of this?
Harrison swallows.
NICOLE
We never had a relationship before this. We
were lab partners, yes...since last year. I've
said some really nasty things about him -- to
his face -- and he never was phased by it. If
he was, he never showed it. I do admire him
for that.
SAM'S VOICE
Yes, but what about now?
Nicole masterfully avoids the question for the time being.
NICOLE
He gave me this thing here --
The camera ZOOMS in on Nicole's horseshoe pin as she pats it.
NICOLE
-- that was really sweet. He knows I've been
having family problems...and I guess he wanted
me to feel like I had someone I was permanently
bonded to.
SAM'S VOICE
Do you feel bonded to him?
Nicole pauses. She contemplates her answer as Harrison leans forward in his chair. The camera ZOOMS in on her expression.
NICOLE
He's been there for me...when others haven't.
The sad thing is that I don't think anyone even
cares *to* be there for me -- hell, I've never
been there for anyone. Well, until now.
(pauses)
The past few days -- months -- have been
enlightening, to say the least.
(pauses, looks at the camera)
I guess the short answer is that I feel bonded to
him in more ways than he'll ever know.
She winks at the camera.
Harrison fast forwards again.
SAM'S VOICE
-- last thing before we wrap this up:
You've described your past and current
relationship with Harrison...can you tell us
what you see for your future?
NICOLE
If there is one...all I can say is that there
will be alot of explaining to do. Alot of
apology and forgiveness.
(pauses)
Alot of moving on. Don't get me wrong...
I don't have any regrets about what I did.
I just regret not getting to know him
better before all this happened.
(pauses)
I think I've missed out on everything
wonderful about Harrison John...and that
bothers me.
SAM'S VOICE
But you can still remedy that.
NICOLE
(shakes her head, looks down)
No Spam. There are some things better
left undisturbed.
Harrison FREEZE FRAMES Nicole's expression as she glances into the camera -- her bright blue eyes look glassed over, and she bites her bottom lip. He stops, rewinds, hits play --
NICOLE
-- I feel bonded to him in more ways
than he'll ever know.
Harrison freezes that tape. He starts to grow angry as he looks
at her haughty, unremorseful stare into the lens. He stops the tape
completely and looks around -- the door to the A/V room is thankfully closed.
He reaches into his backpack and pulls out an unmarked tape....
END OF ACT 4