EXT. KENNEDY CHERRY HIGH - LOT - NIGHT
Several limos, including Mary Cherry's truckmousine, pull up as Aerosmith's "Jaded" plays on the soundtrack. A WHITE FLASH goes off...
INT. PHOTO BOOTH
EMORY and APRIL TUNA sit in a small booth, making faces at the camera
through three flashes.
CUT OUT TO
INT. KENNEDY CHERRY HIGH - AUDITORIUM ENTRANCE
where there is a line in front of the instant photo booth. EMORY and APRIL exit, APRIL with her photos and EMORY with his video camera (NOTE: Even April's dress has her prison number emblazoned on it). They and a large, inept PRISON GUARD go towards the entrance where VICE PRINCIPAL KRUPPS stands with BOBBI GLASS. BOBBI GLASS has a handheld metal detector in her hand, waving it around the student's spread arms and legs.
April whips her head towards Krupps. Krupps nods Miss Glass to waive their search.
KRUPPS
Miss Tuna. So glad to see you were
able to make it.
TUNA
I wouldn't miss this once in a lifetime
opportunity to reacquaint myself with
high school ritual for all the fresh soap
in the world.
She looks him over -- she whips her left arm up along with his, revealing a similar electronic bracelet on her wrist.
TUNA
Nice bracelet, Sir.
She pushes by him as Emory follows, taping Krupps's reaction. The security guard attempts to follow, but Miss Glass steps in front of her.
SECURITY GUARD
(gruff)
You need to move.
BOBBI GLASS
You need some manners. Can I ask
why you're here?
SECURITY GUARD
I've been assigned to make sure the
bird doesn't fly outta the cage.
(pauses)
Miss Tuna's a risky one.
BOBBI GLASS
Maybe, but the rest of the doors around
the perimeter have been bolted shut.
The only way in and out of this city of bad
lights is through me.
(pauses)
Deal with it.
SECURITY GUARD
Yes Ma'am.
The security guard steps next to her...there is certain sexual tension between the two. BACK OVER TO th photo booth line, where HARRISON, NICOLE, SAM, BROOKE, JAMIE, JOSH, and LILY stand behind SUGAR D. and EXQUISITE.
SAM
I don't get it...why the photo booth?
BROOKE
Mary Cherry thought it'd be a great idea
for kids to be able to take instant memory
pics that they could carry around with them.
For fun.
SAM
Yeah, but a booth? Why not just set up
a Polaroid?
Sugar D. and Exquisite enter the booth and the kids move up.
HARRISON
Come on Sammy, lighten up. This is better
than that -- don't you think those spontaneous
pics-on-a-strip hold a kind of...strange magic?
NICOLE
Yeah, it'd take some kind of strange magic to
make Spam look good in any photo.
HARRISON
What I'm saying is that these are unplanned,
unrehearsed clips...pieces of time preserved
in black and white.
(pauses)
Don't you think it'd be worth it?
They step up to the front as the flashes go off inside and Sam turns around.
SAM
Do you think it's worth it for that price?
The kids eyes widen as they see a sign that reads "$25.00".
LILY
Are you sure that's not a misprint?
BROOKE
There was one catch to the fun.
(pauses)
We needed to recover some of the costs for the
amount for the catering since the first company
we went to went out of business after their
hepatitis scare.
The kids wince.
LILY
Remind me not to eat anything.
Sugar D. and Exquisite exit -- Sugar's overjoyed.
JOSH
Hey Sug, how'd they come out?
SUGAR DADDY
Totally worth it, man! Me and Boo,
we're forever on this!
HARRISON
Well...what do you say, ladies?
SAM
You go on ahead...I'm just gonna go
inside.
NICOLE
Yes, please do. I don't want your unpopular
aura to cloud the lens.
Sam shakes her head and moves around them. Brooke is about to say something as Nicole walks to the booth.
NICOLE (cont'd)
Please save your penny thoughts for
a rainy day, Brookie.
Harrison pushes into the booth with her. He starts stuffing the slots with cash.
HARRISON
You could at least try to be civil to her --
if not for you, then for me.
NICOLE
Just because we're brother and sister
doesn't mean everything else has to
change in our lives, Harrison. Maybe
you would be able to suffer through the
monotony of watching Spam and I make
like good little girls and play hopscotch
in the parking lot at recess, but I know I
can't.
(pauses)
This is me -- and whether you like it
or not, I am the title of Dennis Rodman's
tell-all autobiography -- As Nasty As I
Wanna Be.
She straightens her back and looks at the lens.
NICOLE (cont'd)
Take me as I am or leave me as you wish.
Harrison looks at her, enthralled.
NICOLE (cont'd)
Ready for your Kodak moment?
She smiles and the FLASH goes off a few times to reveal: PIC 1: Harrison looks at Nicole, his mouth agape. PIC 2: Harrison looks at the camera, Nicole's arm draped around him. PIC 3: Harrison finally manages to smile widely as he holds "his sister". PIC 4: Both kids warp their expressions, creating a horrifying, yet funny, photo. PIC 5: They embrace eachother, faces squished cheek to cheek -- but they look genuinely happy. MATCH CUT TO:
Nicole's fingers around the strip as she looks at it and is stopped at the entrance. BOBBI GLASS stands in her way.
BOBBI GLASS
Nice dress, Miss Julian. Makes my job
much easier. Now spread 'em.
NICOLE
Right. I suppose it isn't see-through
enough for you to just see that I'm not
carrying any weapons.
Miss Glass leans to her.
BOBBI GLASS
You're lucky I didn't bring the dogs.
(pauses)
They can sniff out things hidden in
the tightest cracks. Though I don't
suppose that'd be a problem with you.
(pauses)
Now let's see that infamous spreadeagle.
Nicole reluctantly spreads her arms out her sides as Miss Glass runs the metal detector from her shoes up...when she gets to Nicole's breasts, the device goes off.
LILY
(whispers to Josh)
I always knew they were fake.
NICOLE
At least I've got some.
BOBBI GLASS
You're clear...just don't let the puppies
out of their metal pen.
Nicole huffs as she and Harrison ENTER the
AUDITORIUM, where the theme is from the 50's flick "Rich, Young & Pretty": The 50-foot pink replica of the Eifeel Tower rests onstage with the theme banner across the top.
Lily looks at her pictures with concern as she walks with Josh through the crowd towards the buffet.
LILY
These look horrible, Josh...couldn't
you've at least tried to smile?
JOSH
Wanna dance after I get something to
eat?
LILY
Didn't you even hear me?
JOSH
Yeah, I heard you and believe me, I'm
trying.
LILY
What's that supposed to mean?
JOSH
It means that I'm sick of trying, Lily. The
whole lonely limo ride over I was thinking
about it and I can't get it out of my mind.
(pauses)
You know how I feel about you and
you know that I'm always supporting
you and your causes, but...
LILY
But what?
JOSH
But this time it's unreal.
(pauses)
It was just a magazine, Lily -- wasn't it just
a little extreme, even for you? God, the
next thing you know you'll be trying to
pull the plug on the Tex Avery toons on
Cartoon Network.
LILY
I can't believe you're standing there calling me
extreme while you compare the sale
of deadly weapons to animated rabbits
and pigs.
JOSH
Those classic toons depict wanton violence
in their medium, but you don't see anyone
complaining about them.
(pauses)
This kind of...extremity leads to paranoia --
LILY
You're calling me paranoid now?
JOSH
I didn't mean it the way it sounded. I
mean, just a few weeks ago on the news, I
heard some eight year old got charged with
making terrorist threats because he was
playing cops and robbers with a PAPER
gun.
(pauses)
He was just a kid, Lily.
LILY
Well...what if that kid had had a real gun?
JOSH
But he didn't, just like I didn't when me and
my brothers used broken tree branches as
bazookas when we were little. You don't
see me going gun crazy now.
LILY
But you almost did...my club would
send out an important message that fun
doesn't have to be tainted by violence
or the threat of violence, and that we have
a choice to let these images proliferate
by buying into their glorification of gun
violence or to stop it before something
bad does happen.
(pauses)
You may think that a John Travolta dance
club is an important thing, but --
JOSH
But what? But it's not important like your
latest "save the world from destruction"
cause?
LILY
No, that's not what I meant --
JOSH
Yeah, it is.
He stands, looking at her. MARY CHERRY and CARMEN come along.
MARY CHERRY
Hey there, Lil' Lily -- are you enjoyin'
your time here in Gay Paree?
LILY
It's lovely, Mary Cherry. Just lovely.
JOSH
I think I should go cool off, maybe
find Sug and --
LILY
Take your time.
MARY CHERRY
If yer lookin' fer Sugar D., he and his
little China Doll 'er at the Bocce Ring
in the corner.
FLASH OVER TO kids surrounding Sugar on the dirt-covered corner, gently throwing a bocce ball and hitting another. FLASK BACK TO Mary Cherry & the others.
JOSH
Thanks.
He takes off as Lily scowls.
MARY CHERRY
I'd love to stay and chat about your
obvious relationship problems, but I've
got to change the battery on the
remote for Calvin's bracelet.
(sweetly)
See ya huns!
CARMEN
Are you and Josh o.k.?
LILY
Sometimes he can be so pig-headed.
CARMEN
Is this about your new club?
LILY
On the outside, yeah, but I think
there's something even deeper than
that.
CARMEN
Hey, don't worry about it...I'm sure you
two can get over it.
She looks a little uneasy.
LILY
I'm sure we can too, hey -- why the long
face?
CARMEN
I dunno...I'm not sure that the purchasing
of this school by Mary Cherry was such a
great idea after all.
LILY
Why not?
CARMEN
Everything, it...it just seems a little unequal.
I mean, you've seen the boy's room, right?
LILY
It's appalling.
CARMEN
Why couldn't we have gotten such cool
stuff in the Novak? It's kind of sexist in
a way.
LILY
It's very sexist, Carm.
CARMEN
I mean, maybe I'd like to play a few rounds
of Resident Evil myself while...taking care of
business too, you know?
LILY
Then why don't you ask her to give our
bathroom the same makeover since you
two seem to be so close these days?
CARMEN
I've already asked...she won't go for it. She says
that boys will be boys and that we girls don't need the
callouses from the controllers. I don't even
have a pass card for the timers.
Lily looks at her and sighs. She starts to dig into her little purse and pulls one out.
LILY
Have fun, Carm.
CARMEN
Wait, how did you get one, I couldn't get one --
LILY
I confiscated it from Josh earlier when
he started mumbling something about
saving his scores in stall number three.
(hands it to her)
I might as well stop being an extreme
downer.
CARMEN
Are you sure --
LILY
I'm sure.
Carmen smiles and skitters off with it. She walks briskly past Brooke and Sam at a table as Jamie approaches with some punch. They notice Nicole and Harrison at a table a few tables away, chatting it up with Mary Cherry. Jamie sets the punch down.
JAMIE
Hey girls...either of you wanna hit the
dance floor after we sit n' sip?
SAM
I'm fine.
JAMIE
Brooke? Hello, Brooke?
BROOKE
Oh, uh...yeah, sure. I'll have one.
JAMIE
You'll have one what, a dance?
He notices her staring at Nicole.
JAMIE (cont'd)
Uh, Brooke, can I talk to you for a moment?
BROOKE
Wha? Why?
JAMIE
Come, let's slow dance.
BROOKE
But this isn't s slow song.
JAMIE
And there are rules dictating how we
choose to dance?
(hold out his hand)
Come.
Brooke reluctantly takes his hand as Sam nods. Sam notices GEORGE AUSTIN in a new crowd, along with LADY T -- before he can catch her stare, she turns her head as Lily sits down next to her with her punch.
SAM
So, are we having fun yet?
LILY
Loads.
SAM
It's a load of something, that's for sure.
INT. BROOKE & SAM'S HOUSE - LAUNDRY ROOM - SAME
JANE sets a heavy load of laundry on the washing machine as MIKE comes in and helps her.
MIKE
Whoa, whoa, hold on there -- you shouldn't
be lifting this alone. You should be in bed.
JANE
I know. I couldn't help it...I guess knowing
that the kids are at their junior prom gave me
my second wind. All the glitter, the glamor...
they all looked so beautiful, it just gave me
a rush.
MIKE
How's this for beautiful.
He hands her a pile of the instant pics.
JANE
Oh, my...Harrison looks so handsome,
and Sammy...oh, she's gonna like this one --
She stops for a moment, tears filling her eyes.
MIKE
Honey...what's wrong?
JANE
It's just my hormones getting the best of me.
(pauses)
Seventeen years ago I couldn't have imagined
how it would feel like to stand there watching
my little girl grow up.
(pauses)
And now I'm at that place again...but I have
some idea of what to expect.
(pauses)
I'm just worried that it'll all go by too fast.
MIKE
Ah...I don't think you have to worry about that.
The crying, the screaming, the messy diapers...
you'll be wishing for an end in no time.
JANE
(laughs through her tears)
Don't remind me.
(pauses)
Instead we have crying, screaming, and
teen PMS.
(pauses)
I just hope they're having fun, you know?
INT. KENNEDY CHERRY HIGH - AUDITORIUM - SAME
OVER TO BROOKE and JAMIE on the dance floor, dancing slowly to the Goo Goo Dolls's "Broadway". Jamie tries to lead but notices that Brooke keeps leading, making sure she has a clear view of Nicole and Harrison.
JAMIE
Do you want me to leave?
BROOKE
What?
JAMIE
I asked if you wanted me to leave.
BROOKE
No, why?
JAMIE
You just seem a little "out there" tonight.
BROOKE
I'm sorry. Hey, why don't we just
dance.
They keep dancing, but Jamie can feel her looking at Nicole and Harrison.
JAMIE
Do you want to talk about what's
bothering you?
BROOKE
Nothing's bothering me --
JAMIE
Sure.
BROOKE
Why?
JAMIE
Well, I thought you'd asked me here to
be with you at your prom...but how can
I be with you when you're miles away?
BROOKE
This has nothing to do with you --
JAMIE
I can see that. Very clearly.
BROOKE
Jamie --
JAMIE
No, look...it's o.k. I know how much
your friends mean to you, but...I dunno,
I just kinda feel out of place here. Not
welcome, you know?
BROOKE
But you are welcome --
JAMIE
No, I'm not.
He steps away.
JAMIE (cont'd)
Maybe this whole thing wasn't mean to be.
BROOKE
What? Wait, are you saying you don't
want to be with me anymore?
JAMIE
I'm saying that...maybe we should take
some time to think about it. Maybe we
moved a little too fast after that party,
you know what I mean?
BROOKE
OhmyGod...you are breaking up with me.
JAMIE
It's not what I want to do, but --
BROOKE
No, it's fine. It's o.k. Fine. I'm fine,
just --
just go.
JAMIE
Brooke, I really do care about you --
BROOKE
I bet.
JAMIE
Don't make this into something it's not --
BROOKE
It's too late because it looks like you already
beat me to the punch.
Jamie steps back, a little suprised.
BROOKE
I'm sorry --
JAMIE
No, it's o.k....I'll go.
BROOKE
Jamie --
JAMIE
I'll give you a call sometime...
later.
She watches in despair as he turns and leaves her on the dance floor. She looks over to Nicole and Harrison's table. Harrison is now sitting alone. She goes over...
BROOKE
Where did Nicole go?
HARRISON
I think she went to the bathroom. I
think she was feeling a little sick. Why?
BROOKE
No reason.
She heads out to the bathrooms...MATCH CUT TO:
EXT. KENNEDY CHERRY HIGH - PARKING LOT - SAME
Jamie opens the doors and makes it out to a row of cabs waiting. He passes JEREMY on his way out and Jeremy stops to watch Jamie enter his cab. He watches them pull away and then turns to open the doors...MATCH CUT TO:
INT. KENNEDY CHERRY HIGH - THE BOY'S ROOM - SAME
...the bathroom door opens and CARMEN cautiously enters.
CARMEN
Hello?
Surprisingly, nobody's in there. She steps in and marvels at the plush seating and the big flat screen TV on the wall. She scurries into one of the stalls as she hears someone approaching -- close call, no dice. She breathes a sigh of relief and looks at the P2 console in front of her. She slides the card into its place and startles as the video screen turns on.
CONSOLE
Welcome, Josh Ford. Would you like
to continue your record breaking winning
streak or start anew?
CARMEN smiles as she picks up the controls.
(ACT 4 CONTINUED TO ACT 4B)