ACT THREE
FADE IN:
INT. NURSE'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
Brooke breaks away from Harrison's kiss, holding onto his
arms.
BROOKE
Harrison! Oh my God, you scared
me!
HARRISON
You weren't expecting me? You did
get my note, right?
BROOKE
(turning away)
I wasn't expecting you to go
sneaking up behind me! God!
HARRISON
(taking her arm)
Ohhere.
Harrison leads Brooke over to the side of the bed and sits her
down, sitting beside her. She looks down forlornly at her
hands, intertwined in her lap.
BROOKE
Harrison...this is wrong. Wewe
can't do this anymore.
HARRISON
Brooke
BROOKE
No... It was bad enough before,
but...we're in school now! I'm
sneaking around, cutting class...
we're in the nurse's office, for
God's sake! We justI just can't
do it.
HARRISON
(stroking her hair)
Brooke...
BROOKE
(turning)
Harrison, what are we DOING?
HARRISON
I don't know.
He takes her face in her hands and starts to kiss her; she
makes a feeble attempt to turn away.
BROOKE
Please...
Harrison continues to plaster her face with kisses.
HARRISON
Do you want me to stop?
BROOKE
(weakly)
Yes...
HARRISON
(still kissing her)
Yes?
BROOKE
...no...
As he gathers her into a more serious lip-lock, they fall back
onto the bed together.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - LATER
Sugar Daddy and Carmen are holding hands just outside the
boys' locker room.
SUGAR
So, how's the...you know...coming?
CARMEN
Well, if we can get Brooke on
board, then...
SUGAR
Brooke? I mean, she doesn't
seem...
CARMEN
Oh, not to do any of the...you
know...just as kind of a symbol.
You know.
SUGAR
Oh, I get it.
CARMEN
Anyway, she's not real thrilled,
but Mary Cherry says she'll come
around.
SUGAR
I dunno...I mean, I like Mary
Cherry and all, but...she's a
little...you know.
CARMEN
Yeah, but...and, you know, she's
our best shot, so...
SUGAR
Right...okay.
CARMEN
So, I guess I'll see you at
practice?
SUGAR
OhI got my wrestling tryout this
afternoon.
CARMEN
Great! Can I come? Or, would
that be like, breaking your
concentration or something?
SUGAR
Hey, you can come. It's not gonna
be much, thoughjust me and some
other guys on a mat.
CARMEN
I-I don't mind.
SUGAR
Sounds like a plan, then.
CARMEN
Okay, then...I guess I'll...see
you then...
Carmen awkwardly backs away with a silly grin and a little
wave.
CUT TO:
INT. BOYS' LOCKER ROOM - CONTINUOUS
As Sugar Daddy steps into the locker room, the two jocks from
before start snickering in his direction.
JOCK #1
Hey, look, here comes half of the
BIGGEST couple on campus.
Sugar Daddy pulls up short and turns to narrow his eyes at
them.
SUGAR
Say what?
JOCK #1
We were just sayin' how sometimes
opposites DON'T attract.
JOCK #2
Yeah, sometimes SIZE matters.
As the two jocks start laughing again, Sugar Daddy takes a
threatening step towards them.
SUGAR
You got a problem?
JOCK #1
Us? Naw, we ain't got a
problem...unless you and your
girlfriend decide to jump up and
down at the same time and cause an
earthquake.
Josh, who has walked in in time to hear the last of the
exchange, rushes forward.
JOSH
Hey, knock it off, man!
JOCK #1
(mocking)
Oooh, listen to him. In case
you've forgotten, Ford, you aren't
the big-shot quarterback anymore.
At that, George steps into the fray.
GEORGE
No, I'm the big-shot quarterback.
So I'LL ask: you got a problem?
The two jocks lose some of their steam.
JOCK #1
No, we were just
GEORGE
You were just disrespecting the
guy who's gonna keep defensive
linemen off my ass. Now how do
you suppose I'm gonna feel about
that?
JOCK #2
Hey, we didn't mean
GEORGE
Especially coming from someone who
drops half the balls I send his
way.
JOCK #1
That was ONE
GEORGE
Yeah, I'm sure Coach'll keep that
in mind, when he asks me what
deadwood needs to be cut.
JOCK #2
Now, hold on
GEORGE
Look, this is real simple. You
got a problem with my guy, you got
a problem with me. You got a
problem with me, you got no place
on my team. Nowyou got a
problem?
JOCK #1
(sullenly)
No. No problem.
GEORGE
Good. Keep it that way.
After the two jocks slink off, Sugar Daddy turns to Josh and
George.
SUGAR
Hey, man, I don't wanna sound
ungrateful or anything, but I can
handle a couple of busters myself.
GEORGE
Hey, I like Carmen. She's good
people. There isn't gonna be any
crap about her, not in my locker
room.
(pause)
Hey, I hear you're double-dipping
again this year.
SUGAR
Yeah, if I can get on the team.
Tryout's today.
GEORGE
Well, just don't go getting
yourself hurt or anything. I hear
there's a couple of guys over at
Eleanor Roosevelt High that want a
piece of me, and I need everyone I
can get on my line.
SUGAR
Well, don't you worryyou can sit
back there all day. Nobody's
coming though me.
George claps Sugar Daddy on the shoulder.
GEORGE
That's my man. See you at
practice?
SUGAR
Got it.
JOSH
Hey, good luck, Shug.
SUGAR
Thanks.
Josh and Sugar Daddy shake hands, and Sugar Daddy heads off.
GEORGE
Hey, Josh...this swearing off
football thingis it a total,
cold-turkey prohibition thing?
Like A.A. or something?
JOSH
(frowning)
I dunno...why?
GEORGE
You remember red-twenty-two?
JOSH
(nods)
Double cross-over rollout.
GEORGE
I can NOT get it to work, man. I
got guys trippin' over their own
feet out there. If I try it
tomorrow night against Roosevelt,
my ass is gonna be grass. As in,
pounded straight into the turf.
JOSH
It's the timing. You gotta get
your wide-out to break in front of
the short coverage.
GEORGE
Look, would you mind stopping by
the practice field this afternoon
and, you know, taking a look?
Maybe you can see where we're
screwing up at.
JOSH
(shrugging)
Sure. No problem.
GEORGE
Thanks. You're really saving our
butts.
He looks up as the bell rings.
GEORGE (CONT'D)
I'm gonna go grab lunch. See you
after school.
JOSH
Right. See you.
CUT TO:
INT. NURSE'S OFFICE
Harrison and Brooke are lying side-by-side under the sheet on
the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
HARRISON
It's lunchtime. We should get out
of here. People will miss us.
BROOKE
Yeah.
However, neither of them move.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
Sam suspects something.
HARRISON
No, she doesn't.
BROOKE
She knows something's wrong. She
knows you're pulling away from
her.
HARRISON
I can't help that.
BROOKE
(rubbing her eyes)
This is such a mess. God, I can't
believe we're doing this to her.
I mean, the first time
HARRISON
No. This isn't like the first
time. She can't know. She can't
find out.
BROOKE
We can't keep it from her forever.
HARRISON
Why not?
BROOKE
Harrison...
She pulls back the sheet and swings her legs over to sit up on
the side of the bed. Harrison reaches out to touch her back,
but she flinches away, taking her blouse and pulling it on.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
We have to end this. YOU have to
end this, Harrison, because...I
don't know how to.
HARRISON
I...can't. Brooke, I love you.
BROOKE
You love Sam.
HARRISON
(frustrated)
I... I need...time. Time to end
things with Sam, somehow.
She turns to look back at him for the first time.
BROOKE
Really?
HARRISON
I'll...find some way to let her
down easy. Then...then there'll
be time for us. I'm not losing
you, Brooke. Not again.
She twists around and snuggles up against his chest.
BROOKE
Don't hurt her. Promise me you
won't hurt her.
HARRISON
I promise.
CUT TO:
INT. PRINCIPAL KRUPPS' OFFICE
There is a knock on the open door, and Sam pokes her head in
to find Principal Krupps sitting at his desk.
KRUPPS
Ah! Come in, Ms. McPherson.
Close the door.
As instructed, Sam closes the office door behind her.
KRUPPS (CONT'D)
(gesturing to a chair)
Please.
Sam sits down and folds her hands in her lap, waiting.
KRUPPS (CONT'D)
Miss McPhersonSamyou've been
the editor of the Zapruder
Reporter for, what...over two and
a half years, right?
She immediately becomes distressed and holds up her hands to
stop him from going any further.
SAM
Mr. Krupps, I realize that last
year I might have been a little
distracted, but I swear
KRUPPS
(waving her off)
Please, there's no need to explain
yourself. Mr. John's illness was
a strain on the entire school.
It's perfectly understandable that
your mind wasn't always on the
newspaper. In fact, I think you
did an admirable job under the
circumstances.
SAM
You do?
KRUPPS
Indeed I do. Sam, the reason I
wanted to talk to you is...since
you have been the editor for such
a long time, I'm sure that you've
developed a close working
relationship with the rest of the
students who work on the paper.
SAM
Well, of course. I couldn't do it
without them.
KRUPPS
As you know, the Principal names
the editor of the Reporter. Now,
I confess that I don't know the
first thing about running a
newspaper, even a high school one.
So I'd appreciate your input.
SAM
Input on what?
KRUPPS
On who should be editor after you.
Your successor, that is. Don't
misunderstand meyou don't have
to make the decisionsome
suggestions are all I'm looking
for.
SAM
(shaking her head)
Mr. Krupps, II don't understand.
Are you taking the editorship away
from me?
KRUPPS
Oh, I imagine you'll be too busy
to continue on at the Reporter.
Sam looks thoroughly confused. But before she can ask
anything else, there is another knock on the door, and before
Principal Krupps can answer, it swings open and a tall,
somewhat rakish man in his late thirties strolls in.
FLEISCHER
Cal! Sorry I'm latethere must
be a freeway closed somewhere:
traffic is just murderous.
A bit late, he notices Sam sitting there.
FLEISCHER (CONT'D)
WhoopI do have the right day,
don't I?
KRUPPS
Come on in, Art.
As Sam automatically rises, a gleam of recognition appears in
her eyes.
SAM
(growing excited)
Waityou're Art Fleischer, aren't
you? With the Chronicle? I never
miss your column! Mondays,
Wednesdays and Saturdays, page
five.
Fleischer wags an eyebrow in Principal Krupps' direction.
FLEISCHER
High-schoolers who read the
newspaper? Now I know I'm in the
wrong place.
KRUPPS
This is Sam McPherson. The person
I told you about?
FLEISCHER
(a bit taken aback)
Oh! Uh, I'm sorry, it's just...
When Cal said "Sam", I was
expecting, well...
SAM
Don't worry. It's not the first
time.
FLEISCHER
(recovering)
Well, I'm extremely pleased to be
mistaken.
He extends his hand, and after a nervous moment, Sam shakes
it.
SAM
But Wait, I'm confused.
KRUPPS
I'm afraid that's my fault. I
should have waited for Art to get
here before saying anything.
SAM
W-what did he mean, he told you
about me?
FLEISCHER
Well, you see, Samcan I call you
Sam?every year at the Chronicle,
a couple of slots open up for
promising young writers, kind of
like an apprentice program. Now,
usually they're college kids, but
when Cal here told me that he had
someone I should look at, I had
him clip a bunch of your articles
and send them over to my office.
Frankly, I was impressed. And,
frankly, so was my associate
editor. So...I'm here to see if
you're interested in a job.
SAM
(dumbfounded)
Ahj-just like that?
FLEISCHER
Well, technically, there's a
review process, but
(waving dismissively)
that's all politics, anyway. As
far as you're concerned, just say
the word, and you're in.
SAM
I, uhI mean, I-I don't know what
to say...
KRUPPS
(leaning across)
I might suggest, "yes".
SAM
Ahyes. Yes! I meanof course!
FLEISCHER
(grins)
Good. Give me your number, and
I'll call sometime next week to
set things up.
SAM
Ohrighthere...
Sam digs a piece of paper and a pen out of her bag, scribbles
down her phone number and hands it to him.
FLEISCHER
(holding out his hand)
Good. I think you'll make a fine
addition to the Chronicle.
Sam takes his outstretched hand and shakes it profusely.
SAM
Mr. Fleischer, you have no idea
what this means to me. Really.
FLEISCHER
It's Art, pleaseMr. Fleischer's
my father. And I know how you
feel. I reacted about the same
way when I got my first newspaper
job.
(looking over at Mr. Krupps)
Right, Cal?
KRUPPS
Seems to me, you haven't changed
much since then, either.
Sam spins around to Principal Krupps.
SAM
(gushing)
Mr. KruppsI can't even begin to
thank you. Nobody's ever done
anything like this for me
before...
KRUPPS
I'm sure you'll do the school
proud.
FLEISCHER
(breaking in)
Look, Cal, I know I said we'd have
lunch, butI'm sitting on a
source, and...
KRUPPS
(laughs)
Like I said, you haven't changed.
We'll do it next week.
FLEISCHER
Sure.
(finger-waves)
Catch you later.
Fleischer turns and walks out.
SAM
(calling)
Good-bye, Mr. Fleischer! And
thank you!
FLEISCHER
(over his shoulder)
Art!
After he is gone, Sam turns back to Principal Krupps, still a
bit dazed.
SAM
Mr. Krupps, I...
KRUPPS
(waving her off)
No need, Sam. I was happy to
help. It's always good to see a
student excel, and I'm sure you'll
make the most of this opportunity.
But I would like your thoughts on
your replacement as editor.
SAM
Oh, ah, yes, I mean, I'll think
about it.
KRUPPS
Good. Well, enjoy the rest of
your day.
SAM
Oh, I will, Mr. Krupps! I will!
With that, Sam fairly flies out of the office, leaving the
principal to return to his paperwork, chuckling to himself.
CUT TO:
INT. CAFETERIA
Brooke is sitting alone at one of the tables, eating lunch and
idly working a crossword puzzle, when Carmen and Mary Cherry
sit down across from her.
BROOKE
(without looking up)
No.
CARMEN
Come on, Brooke! Please? We
really, really, really need you.
I mean, really.
BROOKE
(annoyed)
Guys, you can argue until you're
both old and gray
That mere thought brings a horrified expression to Mary
Cherry's face.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
but you're not going to get me
to go along with this insane
scheme of yours.
Across the room, Harrison has (luckily) just set his tray down
when he gets blindsided by Sam, who flings herself into his
arms, spins him around and smothers him with a long kiss.
HARRISON
Whoa, Sam...are you okay?
SAM
I am so much better than okay!
You won't believe what just
happened to meI got a job!
HARRISON
A what?
SAM
A job! With the Chronicle! I'm
gonna be a reporter! Come over
tonightwe'll celebrate.
With that, she wraps him up again. Neither of them notice
Brooke watching them, while Carmen and Mary Cherry are
doggedly continuing their sales pitch.
CARMEN
...It'll barely take any of your
time, I swear. And nobody'll
expect you to do any cheering,
even when your leg gets better.
Not even a little bit. Just, you
know, show up at rallies, and make
a couple of speeches about how
great the Glamazons are, and
BROOKE
(interrupting)
Okay. I'll do it.
CARMEN
(taken aback)
You will? I mean, we won't take
you away from anything else that
you're doing
Mary Cherry nudges her under the table.
MARY CHERRY
(hissing)
Shhh! She SAID she would. Don't
try and change her mind!
BROOKE
No. You won't be taking me away
from anything.
She sneaks another peek at Harrison and Sam.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
Nothing at all.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT THREE
