27- KIRA`S KITCHEN - EVENING
Kira`s mother is washing dishes and Kira is leaning over the kitchen counter looking at a magazine.
MOTHER: Well, he seems like a pretty decent young man. But I really don`t want you to have him giving you rides home on that motorcycle anymore, Kira. That`s so dangerous.
KIRA: But mom, Leo`s not just some amateur. He rides in races competing with people much older than him. He`s been on motorcycles since he was six years old.
MOTHER: That may be, but even so...He seems kind of reckless to be hanging out with you, Kira, don`t you think?
KIRA: (quietly) Just because the guy who killed daddy was on a motorcycle, doesn`t mean Leo`s bad, too.
MOTHER: I didn`t say that. I was just-
KIRA: (turning around to face her) You`re just judging him by the way he looks!
MOTHER: (surprised) Kira?
KIRA: That`s such an easy way to choose and eliminate people. But even people who look perfectly honest can do horrible things behind closed doors!
Very short flashback of the doorknob to the art studio, the door shut tightly by Mr. Landman.
Kira walks quickly out of the kitchen.
MOTHER: Kira! Kira, wait!
28- KIRA`S BEDROOM - EVENING
Kira enters her room and shuts the door behind her, leaning back against it. She slides down into a sitting position against the door. She reaches up onto the desk by the door and picks up her sketchbook. She opens it up to a sketch of Leo, sitting in the chair he modeled in and looking down with long-eyelashed eyes. Kira touches the drawing with her fingers and closes her eyes briefly.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: I was just judging him by his appearance, too. I never thought he was the kind of person to do anything kind for me.
Flashback of Leo`s hand holding the box cutter with Mr. Lanman far in the background, staring at it.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: I thought he was just thoughtless and dangerous. But I don`t sense any selfishness in him.
Flashback of Leo playing basketball.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: Leo isn`t selfish at all. He`s just confident. And he`s so selfless that he doesn`t know what`s good for him.
POV shows only the drawing of Leo.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: The world is so full of selfish people you can`t tell who you can trust. You can`t stop them. No matter what you do, selfishness seeps out slowly, spreading its awful stench...
Fast flashback of Mr. Lanman`s hand moving under Kira`s shirt.
Kira blinks, staring at the drawing.
LEO`S VOICEOVER (FLASHBACK): I`ll protect you.
Kira closes the sketchbook and holds it against her chest.
HANNA`S VOICEOVER (FLASHBACK): I`m not going to be easy on you next time.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: (as she smiles) I`m not afraid.
29- OUTSIDE LEO`S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Leo rides his motorcycle to a stop and lifts off his helmet. POV shifts to a farther distance so we can see the back of Hanna leaning against a bike rack.
HANNA: Took you long enough.
Leo looks up but hardly looks surprised.
LEO: What do you want?
HANNA: Just an explanation of something I heard.
Leo just sighs, knowing what`s coming.
HANNA: So talk. What was that bitch doing riding on your motorcycle?
LEO: That`s pretty harsh. What did she ever do to you?
HANNA: What did *I* ever do to you? How could you do this to me?
LEO: Why are you taking it so personally? Somebody took Kira`s shoes, so I gave her a ride home.
HANNA: What, that? *That`s* why you took her home?
LEO: You mean you knew about it? (pauses, examining her face) Oh. So it was you.
Hanna grinds her foot into the street and looks down, avoiding eye contact.
LEO: That`s so low.
Hanna looks back up at him seriously.
HANNA: Why did you sleep with me, Leo?
LEO: Because you invited me to. And I felt like it. I was in the moment.
HANNA: Well, it was real for me! Why can`t you take any girls seriously? Have you even known that this whole time I`ve still liked you?
LEO: (heading for his door) Yes. And what should I have done about it? (looking straight at her) I don`t have anything to give you, Hanna. I`m not even good for anything. You should know that.
He goes inside and leaves her alone, her arms crossed angrily.
30- LEO`S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Leo takes off his outer shirt and throws it onto the bare floor.
LEO`S OVERVOICE: What am I, an accessory? Everybody just says what they want.
Sighing, Leo falls back onto his bed and sits back against the wall tiredly.
LEO`S VOICEOVER: What a joke.
POV goes to outside his window, showing him inside.
31- SCHOOL HALLWAY - MORNING
Aaron is at his locker and Leo approaches him from behind, kicking his foot into one of his legs.
AARON: Ow! (turns) Leo, you cold-blooded traitor. Just go ahead and leap at the first opportunity to get Kira with you away from school.
LEO: It was nothing like that, she needed a ride. Besides, I thought I could casually bring up your name in a conversation and get a head-start on the match-making process.
AARON: (cocking an eyebrow doughtfully) ...You didn`t even mention me, did you?
LEO:...No. But listen, I`m sure that once I get you guys properly introduced she`ll be willing to give you a try.
AARON: You mean you`re gonna help me?
LEO: Of course. How else is it going to work?
AARON: So that`s completely okay with you?
LEO: Yeah, what are you talking about?
AARON: What I`m saying is, you didn`t want her for yourself, did you you? Cause when you first started hanging out with her, that was the impression I got.
LEO: (laughing) No, I have no interest in her that way. Trust me.
AARON: (almost overly relieved) Oh, good.
KIRA: (waving as she walks by) Good morning.
AARON AND LEO: (as they smile exagerratedly to hide suspicion) Hi, Kira!
32- SCHOOL CAFETERIA - DAY
Leo, Kira, and Aaron are sitting in a circle at a round table, saying nothing. The only sound is that of mass conversation from the students surrounding them. Every once in a while someone looks back and forth at the other two expectantly. Close-up: Leo`s left hand plays with a gold bangle bracelet around his right rist. Aaron hangs a spoon from his nose and Leo looks at him and rubs his forehead as if thinking something like, "God, you idiot."
At another table, a group of girls are watching them.
GIRL #1: What a weird picture.
GIRL #2: I know. It was strange enough to see Leo giving all that attention to her, but now she`s sitting with him and Aaron?
Aaron`s spoon drops onto the table with a clash.
LEO: (grinning forcefully) So anyway. (clears throat) Kira, you and Aaron have been going to school together since junior high, you know. So you may not talk to him, but you two know eachother.
Aaron looks clueless as if being reminded of why he`s there.
AARON: ...Yeah. It`s kind of strange that we only start talking to eachother when we both meet Leo...Hey, how did you meet Leo anyway? I know you met some time before that incident in Lanman`s class.
LEO`S VOICEOVER: (as he closes his eyes hopelessly) Don`t talk about me. Tell her about yourself, you idiot.
KIRA: Oh. Well. We just sort of met by coincidence and didn`t recognize eachother then. We didn`t know we went to the same school, and then...
LEO`S VOICEOVER: (overlaps with Kira`s dialogue as she keeps talking) This is so lame.
LEO: (interrupting) Okay, listen. Here`s the deal.
He puts an arm around a flabbergasted Aaron.
LEO: Kira. Aaron wants to go out with you.
Aaron looks at Leo in disbelief.
KIRA: What? Go out?
LEO: Yeah, you know. You`re both alone now and you`ve been in the same school for so long. You could get to know eachother, and...I think you could hit it off real well.
KIRA: Hit it off? I...
LEO: Good, so it`s cool. You guys can start as friends. (gets up from his chair) I`m gonna go play some ball with the guys now and let you two get acquainted.
AARON: (shocked) What?! Leo! (grabs Leo by the collar of his shirt) What are we supposed to do by ourselves?!
LEO: Gee, Aaron, I don`t know! This isn`t a menage-a-trois. (smiles at Kira) Well, good luck. I`ll see you guys later.
He walks away as Kira stares down at the table not looking anyone in the face. But Leo looks over his shoulder back at her - seriously, almost sadly, watching her - almost as if it haunts him to leave. Then he turns his head back away and leaves.
AARON: (sighing) Sorry this is kind of sudden. But you see, Leo hasn`t fully evolved to man yet, and he doesn`t know much about taking things a step at a time with dating.
KIRA: Oh. It`s allright, I guess.
AARON: So, I guess this is kind of weird for you...But did you ever actually notice me before? Sure, we went to the same middle school, but that doesn`t neccessarily guarantee you`d remember me.
KIRA: (surprised by the question) Oh...Yes, I guess. I`ve always been more concerned about who it is who actually notices me.
AARON: Really? You know, you`d be surprised. You stand out a lot more than you know. You`re just not real outgoing or showy, so nobody tries to talk to you. Leo`s the first guy who`s had the guts to approach you. In fact, I was pretty surprised when you started talking to him. He kind of seems like the type you would like the least.
KIRA: Yeah. I wouldn`t have thought I would be talking to him either. But he said he liked this drawing I did. He even wanted to keep it...And it made me happy. I never would have expected it from someone like him.
AARON: (laughs) Did this drawing happen to be of a nude?
KIRA: ...No. It was just of a mother holding her baby.
Aaron`s face becomes more serious.
AARON: No kidding? That seems so unlike Leo...Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Leo doesn`t have a mother.
KIRA: (eyebrows raising) He..he doesn`t?
AARON: No. Leo`s mom died when he was young, and I don`t think he remembers her barely at all. I don`t know...Leo is and always will be a stupid pervert. But maybe his girl-craziness comes from the fact that he was never able to be his mother`s baby. (pauses) Hm...No wonder he wanted your drawing.
Hearing this, Kira is staring away at nothing in particular, her expression very calm. A slight hint of a smile is even detectable on her face. Aaron looks at her like this and his expression becomes slightly dissettled.
AARON: Oh my God.
KIRA: (snapping back into reality) What?
AARON: You`re in love with Leo.
KIRA: What? Why do you say that?
AARON: I don`t know...It`s not like I`d be able to tell. But I guess this is the kind of thing where you know it when you see it. Your eyes just kind of light up whenever I talk about him.
KIRA: (caught off guard)...Oh.
She looks like she had no idea she was acting that way.
KIRA: No...It`s not like I`m in love with him or anything...Nothing like that. But I guess I like Leo. I have a crush on him, you know. I love Leo`s outlook and his strength. I would probably feel the same way...if he was a woman.
AARON: (laughs) Haha. If Leo was a woman, the male population would be doomed.
Kira doesn`t laugh, but she looks at Aaron kindly. Any feeling of being unfamiliar and uncomfortable is gone between them.
33- SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
Kira and Aaron walk down an empty hall.
KIRA: You`re a nice guy, Aaron. I`m really sorry, you know...
AARON: It`s okay, don`t apoligize. It`s really not a big deal. It was actually Leo that put me up to this anyway.
Kira looks to the side at him.
AARON: No, that came out wrong. I meant it was his idea.
KIRA: Don`t worry, Aaron. I`m not the least bit preoccupied with the way Leo feels about me. I know who I am.
AARON: What`s that supposed to mean?
KIRA: Never mind, it doesn`t matter. I`m not even worried about it.
AARON: No no, you listen. You are a beautiful girl, okay? It doesn`t mean anything that-
He stops when he sees her eyes go wide at who she sees ahead. Aaron looks up to see Laurie and Tina standing against the lockers in front of them.
TINA: (smiling convincingly) Hey, Aaron, you think we could borrow Kira for a moment?
AARON: (confused) Uh...I-
LAURIE: Thanks a bunch.
Laurie and Tina both put their arms around Kira`s shoulders and lead her away. Kira is speechless, her mouth opening as if to say something but not knowing what to do.
TINA: (looking back at him and winking) See you later, Aaron.
Aaron watches them leave and scratches the back of his head in confusion.
34- SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - DAY
Laurie and Tina enter the empty, dimly lit gym where there are weights and exercising items all over the place. They throw Kira onto the floor before Hanna, who is turned away. Hanna turns her head just enough to see Kira behind.
HANNA: I guess I didn`t make myself very clear, Kira.
Kira breathes shakingly as Hanna turns around. Hanna takes a lighter from her pocket and flicks it, the flame illuninating Kira`s frightened face. Kira`s eyes stare at it in her hand as she is frozen in fear. Then Hanna puts a cigarette in her mouth and lights the end. She takes a drag on it and exhales a stream of smoke, staring at Kira. Every move she makes is to make Kira afraid.
HANNA: I suppose I have to try a different approach.
Kira looks up at her and slowly shakes her head.
KIRA: Please...why are you doing this? It`s not like I could actually come between you and Leo. I don`t even want that. And you said yourself that I don`t have a chance with him.
Hanna takes a few steps closer to her.
HANNA: I`m not stupid, you know. And even leaving Leo out of this, I can still get some enjoyment out of you being tormented.
Kira coils back on the floor.
HANNA: It`s your very existence that annoys me, not just that you get in the way. Every time I look at you it makes me pissed off. People like you are just a waste of room in the world. Nobody would care if you were gone.
Kira looks down, her face sad, half-believing what Hanna says.
HANNA: What, you didn`t think Leo actually cared about you, did you? Someone like you...imagine that. He`s just playing around, and when it stops being fun he`ll ignore you again.
A flashback of Leo walking away from the cafeteria table as Kira thinks about what he did that day. With those thoughts Kira stares into space with a crushed expression, silent. Tina and Laurie smile and giggle against the wall.
HANNA: You`re in love with him, aren`t you?
Kira`s eyes widen at the question.
Screen floods with various flashbacks: Leo pulling Kira`s hair braid to get her attention, Leo nudging her to sit up after her ride on his motorcycle...
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: What??...I`m not in love with Leo!
...Leo closing his eyes as he`s sitting in the modeling chair.
HANNA: That`s so pathetic.
Kira is still silent, and Hanna moves a step forward and kicks her foot across Kira`s face, violently pushing her to the side. Kira moans like a yelping puppy and curls up on the floor.
HANNA: (bending over to yell in her face) Say something!
KIRA: (as she pushes herself back up on her arms) I`m not...I`m not in love with him. You`ve got it all wrong, it`s not like that...
Hanna puts her cigarette in her mouth for a moment.
HANNA: I`m sorry if you thought I was kidding before. Or maybe you didn`t hear me right.
Laurie and Tina are covering their mouths snickering as Hanna bends over and grabs Kira`s arm.
HANNA: (holding the burning end of her cigarette right above Kira`s arm) You better stop showing off with Leo or I`m gonna give you a tatoo that`ll make you cry for a week, you understand?
She lets go of her arm so that Kira falls back a little onto the floor. Hanna steps back a few steps and Kira is now crying. She wipes her face, trying to stop the tears streaming down her face.
KIRA: One week.....If I cry for one week, will you forgive me...
Brief flashback of only Leo, looking over his shoulder.
KIRA: ...if I am in love with Leo?
Close-up: Hanna`s eyes narrow in fury. Then a close side-view of Hanna`s feet, where her cigarette drops to the floor and Hanna`s foot moves to crush it angrily.
35- FLETCHER`S CLASSROOM - SAME TIME
Aaron is sitting in a desk with his cheek in his hand, rolling a pencil in the other hand. Leo comes up behind him and hits his shoulder.
AARON: (unenthusiastically) You`re here. I`m impressed. Usually Fletcher`s class is your favorite to skip.
LEO: Never mind. How did it go with Kira?
AARON: (sarcastically) Oh, beautifully.
LEO: What? What went wrong?
AARON: (wanting to change the subject) Nothing went wrong.
LEO: Well, tell me she at least stayed with you for ten minutes.
AARON: Sure, she stayed. She would have stayed longer but these girls showed up wanting to see her and she left with them toward the gym.
LEO: Wait a minute...Girls?
AARON: Yeah. It was Laurie and Tina. You know, those two that Hanna`s always with?
Leo immediately stands up straight from bending over Aaron`s desk and looks frantically around the classroom.
LEO: Hanna`s not here...
AARON: Why-
He doesn`t get the chance to finish before Leo dashes away from his desk and runs out of the classroom.
AARON: (standing) Leo! Where the hell are you going?!
As if getting a bad feeling, Aaron`s expression suddenly changes and he runs out of the class after him.
36- SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - DAY
We see just Tina and Laurie by the wall as we hear Hanna`s following dialogue:
HANNA: Hand me one of those weights.
TINA: Huh?
LAURIE: (bending over and picking up a small dumbbell) Is the five pound one okay?
Then we see Kira on the floor by Hanna`s feet. She tries to move back but then Hanna stops her by stepping on her wrist and holding her hand in place on the floor. She looks up and we are faced with an ant`s-eye view of Hanna, the view of her that Kira sees.
HANNA: Yeah...I`m just crushing some fingers.
We see Kira`s face as she gasps, her eyes becoming frightened again.
37- SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - SHORTLY LATER
All four girls are on the floor now, Laurie and Tina holding Kira`s arm down and Hanna in front of all of them. Hanna is holding the dumbbell weight over her shoulder.
HANNA: I want you to say that you`re not going to get any closer to Leo.
Kira remains silent but Hanna is patient. She brings the dumbell from her shoulder and rests the end over Kira`s fingers.
HANNA: Do you feel that? It`s a lot of weight for your fingers, Kira. If I break your hand, you won`t be able to draw anymore. Is that okay with you?
Close-up: Kira`s tear-streaked face looking at her hand, terrified. But then as the camera goes to Hanna, Kira`s voice doesn`t sound as weak as she looks.
KIRA: Even if I do what you say, Leo will talk to me. No matter what you threaten to do to me. He`s not afraid of anything, or the consequences of anything. Besides, he said he would protect me.
Hanna hits Kira across the face and grabs the collar of her shirt.
HANNA: Liar! Stop bluffing! I know you`re scared! I can tell that you are!
Kira looks away from Hanna`s face, her expression not changing. Hanna drops her grip on her so that Kira falls back. Kira lays her head down sideways on the floor so that she`s laying with her arm extended out. Laurie and Tina are barely having to hold her hand in place anymore.
HANNA: Promise that you`ll never speak to Leo again. That you`ll give him up. Or else you`ll never hold a pencil again.
Close-up on Kira`s face as her eyes grow desperately sad at the thought. Then a flashback of Leo bending over and talking to her in front of the easel after getting rid of Lanman. Kira`s eyes close almost determinedly. We see the faces of Laurie and Tina as she says her next line, both of them shocked at how she`s not caving in.
KIRA: I`ll use my left hand. I could do that, if I tried. If I can`t use my left hand I`ll draw with my feet. And if I can`t use my feet...I`ll hold a paintbrush in my teeth. (opens her eyes and looks up at Hanna almost challengingly) Or are you going to smash my teeth in, too?
Hanna`s face is furious at Kira`s defiance. Finally she lifts the dumbell up above her, and that is the last thing we see before the screen goes white only for a second, then immediately is bombarded with pale, discolored images and flashbacks. Kira`s drawing of the mother and child...
KIRA`S VOICEOVER(FLASHBACK): Why did you bother holding onto my drawing?
Leo in front of the statue of Mars, touching its face...
AARON`S VOICEOVER(FLASHBACK): No wonder he wanted your drawing.
Leo talking to Kira in the hall after telling her that he kept her drawing.
LEO`S VOICEOVER(FLASHBACK): Because it was beautiful.
Leo shaking hands with Kira`s mother outside her house...
AARON`S VOICEOVER(FLASHBACK): He doesn`t have a mother.
The drawing again...
The dark colors return as we are back in the present, seeing Kira lying on the floor waiting to feel her hand crushed. Close-up of her hand being held down on the floor.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: That painting...I can`t paint it anymore!
38- SCHOOL HALLWAY - SAME TIME
One second of footage of Leo running quickly down the hall toward the gym...
39- SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - DAY
Close-up of Kira`s face: her eyes are heartbreakingly sad, like she`s waiting for a bullet that`s going to kill her, and tears are flowing out from them. We see Hanna`s arm coming down in slow motion and her angry, determined eyes.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: I`m sorry, Leo...I`m sorry I can`t give you that painting...
LAURIE: Hanna??
Hanna`s hand coming down. Then suddenly there is complete silence and we see only the large window far up at the top of the gym.
40- SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
Leo, breathing heavily from running, comes down the hall, his footsteps the only sound. He pushes the gym door open and sees...
Kira is sitting on the floor holding her right hand with her head bowed down so we can`t see her eyes. Sitting on the floor in front of her is the dumbbell, speaking quietly of everything that just happened. The other girls are gone.
Kira, still holding her hand, looks up and sees Leo standing before her, his eyes wide and worried.
KIRA: Leo...
He immediately drops to the floor in front of her and grabs both of her hands in his, examining them. Then he looks up at her with concern.
KIRA: I`m okay. I`m fine. They didn`t do anything; they just threatened me.....I`m okay.
Close-up: Leo`s hand moves to Kira`s neck under her hair. Then he pulls her quickly forward and holds her to him tightly, his eyes closed with relief.
Close-up of Kira`s face over his left shoulder, her eyes widening in surprise. Then a distant view of them as one dark figure far away. Close-up of Kira`s eyes relaxing and closing. Close-up of her right hand on his back, sliding up.
Then running footsteps are heard, and Aaron appears in the doorway.
AARON: Leo??
Close-up of Leo`s face with his eyes snapping open. He instantly pulls away from Kira and holds her away at arm`s length. They both have shocked looks on their faces. Aaron looks at them in confusion.
Close-up of the dumbbell lying still on the floor.
Kira`s mother is washing dishes and Kira is leaning over the kitchen counter looking at a magazine.
MOTHER: Well, he seems like a pretty decent young man. But I really don`t want you to have him giving you rides home on that motorcycle anymore, Kira. That`s so dangerous.
KIRA: But mom, Leo`s not just some amateur. He rides in races competing with people much older than him. He`s been on motorcycles since he was six years old.
MOTHER: That may be, but even so...He seems kind of reckless to be hanging out with you, Kira, don`t you think?
KIRA: (quietly) Just because the guy who killed daddy was on a motorcycle, doesn`t mean Leo`s bad, too.
MOTHER: I didn`t say that. I was just-
KIRA: (turning around to face her) You`re just judging him by the way he looks!
MOTHER: (surprised) Kira?
KIRA: That`s such an easy way to choose and eliminate people. But even people who look perfectly honest can do horrible things behind closed doors!
Very short flashback of the doorknob to the art studio, the door shut tightly by Mr. Landman.
Kira walks quickly out of the kitchen.
MOTHER: Kira! Kira, wait!
28- KIRA`S BEDROOM - EVENING
Kira enters her room and shuts the door behind her, leaning back against it. She slides down into a sitting position against the door. She reaches up onto the desk by the door and picks up her sketchbook. She opens it up to a sketch of Leo, sitting in the chair he modeled in and looking down with long-eyelashed eyes. Kira touches the drawing with her fingers and closes her eyes briefly.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: I was just judging him by his appearance, too. I never thought he was the kind of person to do anything kind for me.
Flashback of Leo`s hand holding the box cutter with Mr. Lanman far in the background, staring at it.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: I thought he was just thoughtless and dangerous. But I don`t sense any selfishness in him.
Flashback of Leo playing basketball.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: Leo isn`t selfish at all. He`s just confident. And he`s so selfless that he doesn`t know what`s good for him.
POV shows only the drawing of Leo.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: The world is so full of selfish people you can`t tell who you can trust. You can`t stop them. No matter what you do, selfishness seeps out slowly, spreading its awful stench...
Fast flashback of Mr. Lanman`s hand moving under Kira`s shirt.
Kira blinks, staring at the drawing.
LEO`S VOICEOVER (FLASHBACK): I`ll protect you.
Kira closes the sketchbook and holds it against her chest.
HANNA`S VOICEOVER (FLASHBACK): I`m not going to be easy on you next time.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: (as she smiles) I`m not afraid.
29- OUTSIDE LEO`S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Leo rides his motorcycle to a stop and lifts off his helmet. POV shifts to a farther distance so we can see the back of Hanna leaning against a bike rack.
HANNA: Took you long enough.
Leo looks up but hardly looks surprised.
LEO: What do you want?
HANNA: Just an explanation of something I heard.
Leo just sighs, knowing what`s coming.
HANNA: So talk. What was that bitch doing riding on your motorcycle?
LEO: That`s pretty harsh. What did she ever do to you?
HANNA: What did *I* ever do to you? How could you do this to me?
LEO: Why are you taking it so personally? Somebody took Kira`s shoes, so I gave her a ride home.
HANNA: What, that? *That`s* why you took her home?
LEO: You mean you knew about it? (pauses, examining her face) Oh. So it was you.
Hanna grinds her foot into the street and looks down, avoiding eye contact.
LEO: That`s so low.
Hanna looks back up at him seriously.
HANNA: Why did you sleep with me, Leo?
LEO: Because you invited me to. And I felt like it. I was in the moment.
HANNA: Well, it was real for me! Why can`t you take any girls seriously? Have you even known that this whole time I`ve still liked you?
LEO: (heading for his door) Yes. And what should I have done about it? (looking straight at her) I don`t have anything to give you, Hanna. I`m not even good for anything. You should know that.
He goes inside and leaves her alone, her arms crossed angrily.
30- LEO`S APARTMENT - NIGHT
Leo takes off his outer shirt and throws it onto the bare floor.
LEO`S OVERVOICE: What am I, an accessory? Everybody just says what they want.
Sighing, Leo falls back onto his bed and sits back against the wall tiredly.
LEO`S VOICEOVER: What a joke.
POV goes to outside his window, showing him inside.
31- SCHOOL HALLWAY - MORNING
Aaron is at his locker and Leo approaches him from behind, kicking his foot into one of his legs.
AARON: Ow! (turns) Leo, you cold-blooded traitor. Just go ahead and leap at the first opportunity to get Kira with you away from school.
LEO: It was nothing like that, she needed a ride. Besides, I thought I could casually bring up your name in a conversation and get a head-start on the match-making process.
AARON: (cocking an eyebrow doughtfully) ...You didn`t even mention me, did you?
LEO:...No. But listen, I`m sure that once I get you guys properly introduced she`ll be willing to give you a try.
AARON: You mean you`re gonna help me?
LEO: Of course. How else is it going to work?
AARON: So that`s completely okay with you?
LEO: Yeah, what are you talking about?
AARON: What I`m saying is, you didn`t want her for yourself, did you you? Cause when you first started hanging out with her, that was the impression I got.
LEO: (laughing) No, I have no interest in her that way. Trust me.
AARON: (almost overly relieved) Oh, good.
KIRA: (waving as she walks by) Good morning.
AARON AND LEO: (as they smile exagerratedly to hide suspicion) Hi, Kira!
32- SCHOOL CAFETERIA - DAY
Leo, Kira, and Aaron are sitting in a circle at a round table, saying nothing. The only sound is that of mass conversation from the students surrounding them. Every once in a while someone looks back and forth at the other two expectantly. Close-up: Leo`s left hand plays with a gold bangle bracelet around his right rist. Aaron hangs a spoon from his nose and Leo looks at him and rubs his forehead as if thinking something like, "God, you idiot."
At another table, a group of girls are watching them.
GIRL #1: What a weird picture.
GIRL #2: I know. It was strange enough to see Leo giving all that attention to her, but now she`s sitting with him and Aaron?
Aaron`s spoon drops onto the table with a clash.
LEO: (grinning forcefully) So anyway. (clears throat) Kira, you and Aaron have been going to school together since junior high, you know. So you may not talk to him, but you two know eachother.
Aaron looks clueless as if being reminded of why he`s there.
AARON: ...Yeah. It`s kind of strange that we only start talking to eachother when we both meet Leo...Hey, how did you meet Leo anyway? I know you met some time before that incident in Lanman`s class.
LEO`S VOICEOVER: (as he closes his eyes hopelessly) Don`t talk about me. Tell her about yourself, you idiot.
KIRA: Oh. Well. We just sort of met by coincidence and didn`t recognize eachother then. We didn`t know we went to the same school, and then...
LEO`S VOICEOVER: (overlaps with Kira`s dialogue as she keeps talking) This is so lame.
LEO: (interrupting) Okay, listen. Here`s the deal.
He puts an arm around a flabbergasted Aaron.
LEO: Kira. Aaron wants to go out with you.
Aaron looks at Leo in disbelief.
KIRA: What? Go out?
LEO: Yeah, you know. You`re both alone now and you`ve been in the same school for so long. You could get to know eachother, and...I think you could hit it off real well.
KIRA: Hit it off? I...
LEO: Good, so it`s cool. You guys can start as friends. (gets up from his chair) I`m gonna go play some ball with the guys now and let you two get acquainted.
AARON: (shocked) What?! Leo! (grabs Leo by the collar of his shirt) What are we supposed to do by ourselves?!
LEO: Gee, Aaron, I don`t know! This isn`t a menage-a-trois. (smiles at Kira) Well, good luck. I`ll see you guys later.
He walks away as Kira stares down at the table not looking anyone in the face. But Leo looks over his shoulder back at her - seriously, almost sadly, watching her - almost as if it haunts him to leave. Then he turns his head back away and leaves.
AARON: (sighing) Sorry this is kind of sudden. But you see, Leo hasn`t fully evolved to man yet, and he doesn`t know much about taking things a step at a time with dating.
KIRA: Oh. It`s allright, I guess.
AARON: So, I guess this is kind of weird for you...But did you ever actually notice me before? Sure, we went to the same middle school, but that doesn`t neccessarily guarantee you`d remember me.
KIRA: (surprised by the question) Oh...Yes, I guess. I`ve always been more concerned about who it is who actually notices me.
AARON: Really? You know, you`d be surprised. You stand out a lot more than you know. You`re just not real outgoing or showy, so nobody tries to talk to you. Leo`s the first guy who`s had the guts to approach you. In fact, I was pretty surprised when you started talking to him. He kind of seems like the type you would like the least.
KIRA: Yeah. I wouldn`t have thought I would be talking to him either. But he said he liked this drawing I did. He even wanted to keep it...And it made me happy. I never would have expected it from someone like him.
AARON: (laughs) Did this drawing happen to be of a nude?
KIRA: ...No. It was just of a mother holding her baby.
Aaron`s face becomes more serious.
AARON: No kidding? That seems so unlike Leo...Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Leo doesn`t have a mother.
KIRA: (eyebrows raising) He..he doesn`t?
AARON: No. Leo`s mom died when he was young, and I don`t think he remembers her barely at all. I don`t know...Leo is and always will be a stupid pervert. But maybe his girl-craziness comes from the fact that he was never able to be his mother`s baby. (pauses) Hm...No wonder he wanted your drawing.
Hearing this, Kira is staring away at nothing in particular, her expression very calm. A slight hint of a smile is even detectable on her face. Aaron looks at her like this and his expression becomes slightly dissettled.
AARON: Oh my God.
KIRA: (snapping back into reality) What?
AARON: You`re in love with Leo.
KIRA: What? Why do you say that?
AARON: I don`t know...It`s not like I`d be able to tell. But I guess this is the kind of thing where you know it when you see it. Your eyes just kind of light up whenever I talk about him.
KIRA: (caught off guard)...Oh.
She looks like she had no idea she was acting that way.
KIRA: No...It`s not like I`m in love with him or anything...Nothing like that. But I guess I like Leo. I have a crush on him, you know. I love Leo`s outlook and his strength. I would probably feel the same way...if he was a woman.
AARON: (laughs) Haha. If Leo was a woman, the male population would be doomed.
Kira doesn`t laugh, but she looks at Aaron kindly. Any feeling of being unfamiliar and uncomfortable is gone between them.
33- SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
Kira and Aaron walk down an empty hall.
KIRA: You`re a nice guy, Aaron. I`m really sorry, you know...
AARON: It`s okay, don`t apoligize. It`s really not a big deal. It was actually Leo that put me up to this anyway.
Kira looks to the side at him.
AARON: No, that came out wrong. I meant it was his idea.
KIRA: Don`t worry, Aaron. I`m not the least bit preoccupied with the way Leo feels about me. I know who I am.
AARON: What`s that supposed to mean?
KIRA: Never mind, it doesn`t matter. I`m not even worried about it.
AARON: No no, you listen. You are a beautiful girl, okay? It doesn`t mean anything that-
He stops when he sees her eyes go wide at who she sees ahead. Aaron looks up to see Laurie and Tina standing against the lockers in front of them.
TINA: (smiling convincingly) Hey, Aaron, you think we could borrow Kira for a moment?
AARON: (confused) Uh...I-
LAURIE: Thanks a bunch.
Laurie and Tina both put their arms around Kira`s shoulders and lead her away. Kira is speechless, her mouth opening as if to say something but not knowing what to do.
TINA: (looking back at him and winking) See you later, Aaron.
Aaron watches them leave and scratches the back of his head in confusion.
34- SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - DAY
Laurie and Tina enter the empty, dimly lit gym where there are weights and exercising items all over the place. They throw Kira onto the floor before Hanna, who is turned away. Hanna turns her head just enough to see Kira behind.
HANNA: I guess I didn`t make myself very clear, Kira.
Kira breathes shakingly as Hanna turns around. Hanna takes a lighter from her pocket and flicks it, the flame illuninating Kira`s frightened face. Kira`s eyes stare at it in her hand as she is frozen in fear. Then Hanna puts a cigarette in her mouth and lights the end. She takes a drag on it and exhales a stream of smoke, staring at Kira. Every move she makes is to make Kira afraid.
HANNA: I suppose I have to try a different approach.
Kira looks up at her and slowly shakes her head.
KIRA: Please...why are you doing this? It`s not like I could actually come between you and Leo. I don`t even want that. And you said yourself that I don`t have a chance with him.
Hanna takes a few steps closer to her.
HANNA: I`m not stupid, you know. And even leaving Leo out of this, I can still get some enjoyment out of you being tormented.
Kira coils back on the floor.
HANNA: It`s your very existence that annoys me, not just that you get in the way. Every time I look at you it makes me pissed off. People like you are just a waste of room in the world. Nobody would care if you were gone.
Kira looks down, her face sad, half-believing what Hanna says.
HANNA: What, you didn`t think Leo actually cared about you, did you? Someone like you...imagine that. He`s just playing around, and when it stops being fun he`ll ignore you again.
A flashback of Leo walking away from the cafeteria table as Kira thinks about what he did that day. With those thoughts Kira stares into space with a crushed expression, silent. Tina and Laurie smile and giggle against the wall.
HANNA: You`re in love with him, aren`t you?
Kira`s eyes widen at the question.
Screen floods with various flashbacks: Leo pulling Kira`s hair braid to get her attention, Leo nudging her to sit up after her ride on his motorcycle...
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: What??...I`m not in love with Leo!
...Leo closing his eyes as he`s sitting in the modeling chair.
HANNA: That`s so pathetic.
Kira is still silent, and Hanna moves a step forward and kicks her foot across Kira`s face, violently pushing her to the side. Kira moans like a yelping puppy and curls up on the floor.
HANNA: (bending over to yell in her face) Say something!
KIRA: (as she pushes herself back up on her arms) I`m not...I`m not in love with him. You`ve got it all wrong, it`s not like that...
Hanna puts her cigarette in her mouth for a moment.
HANNA: I`m sorry if you thought I was kidding before. Or maybe you didn`t hear me right.
Laurie and Tina are covering their mouths snickering as Hanna bends over and grabs Kira`s arm.
HANNA: (holding the burning end of her cigarette right above Kira`s arm) You better stop showing off with Leo or I`m gonna give you a tatoo that`ll make you cry for a week, you understand?
She lets go of her arm so that Kira falls back a little onto the floor. Hanna steps back a few steps and Kira is now crying. She wipes her face, trying to stop the tears streaming down her face.
KIRA: One week.....If I cry for one week, will you forgive me...
Brief flashback of only Leo, looking over his shoulder.
KIRA: ...if I am in love with Leo?
Close-up: Hanna`s eyes narrow in fury. Then a close side-view of Hanna`s feet, where her cigarette drops to the floor and Hanna`s foot moves to crush it angrily.
35- FLETCHER`S CLASSROOM - SAME TIME
Aaron is sitting in a desk with his cheek in his hand, rolling a pencil in the other hand. Leo comes up behind him and hits his shoulder.
AARON: (unenthusiastically) You`re here. I`m impressed. Usually Fletcher`s class is your favorite to skip.
LEO: Never mind. How did it go with Kira?
AARON: (sarcastically) Oh, beautifully.
LEO: What? What went wrong?
AARON: (wanting to change the subject) Nothing went wrong.
LEO: Well, tell me she at least stayed with you for ten minutes.
AARON: Sure, she stayed. She would have stayed longer but these girls showed up wanting to see her and she left with them toward the gym.
LEO: Wait a minute...Girls?
AARON: Yeah. It was Laurie and Tina. You know, those two that Hanna`s always with?
Leo immediately stands up straight from bending over Aaron`s desk and looks frantically around the classroom.
LEO: Hanna`s not here...
AARON: Why-
He doesn`t get the chance to finish before Leo dashes away from his desk and runs out of the classroom.
AARON: (standing) Leo! Where the hell are you going?!
As if getting a bad feeling, Aaron`s expression suddenly changes and he runs out of the class after him.
36- SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - DAY
We see just Tina and Laurie by the wall as we hear Hanna`s following dialogue:
HANNA: Hand me one of those weights.
TINA: Huh?
LAURIE: (bending over and picking up a small dumbbell) Is the five pound one okay?
Then we see Kira on the floor by Hanna`s feet. She tries to move back but then Hanna stops her by stepping on her wrist and holding her hand in place on the floor. She looks up and we are faced with an ant`s-eye view of Hanna, the view of her that Kira sees.
HANNA: Yeah...I`m just crushing some fingers.
We see Kira`s face as she gasps, her eyes becoming frightened again.
37- SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - SHORTLY LATER
All four girls are on the floor now, Laurie and Tina holding Kira`s arm down and Hanna in front of all of them. Hanna is holding the dumbbell weight over her shoulder.
HANNA: I want you to say that you`re not going to get any closer to Leo.
Kira remains silent but Hanna is patient. She brings the dumbell from her shoulder and rests the end over Kira`s fingers.
HANNA: Do you feel that? It`s a lot of weight for your fingers, Kira. If I break your hand, you won`t be able to draw anymore. Is that okay with you?
Close-up: Kira`s tear-streaked face looking at her hand, terrified. But then as the camera goes to Hanna, Kira`s voice doesn`t sound as weak as she looks.
KIRA: Even if I do what you say, Leo will talk to me. No matter what you threaten to do to me. He`s not afraid of anything, or the consequences of anything. Besides, he said he would protect me.
Hanna hits Kira across the face and grabs the collar of her shirt.
HANNA: Liar! Stop bluffing! I know you`re scared! I can tell that you are!
Kira looks away from Hanna`s face, her expression not changing. Hanna drops her grip on her so that Kira falls back. Kira lays her head down sideways on the floor so that she`s laying with her arm extended out. Laurie and Tina are barely having to hold her hand in place anymore.
HANNA: Promise that you`ll never speak to Leo again. That you`ll give him up. Or else you`ll never hold a pencil again.
Close-up on Kira`s face as her eyes grow desperately sad at the thought. Then a flashback of Leo bending over and talking to her in front of the easel after getting rid of Lanman. Kira`s eyes close almost determinedly. We see the faces of Laurie and Tina as she says her next line, both of them shocked at how she`s not caving in.
KIRA: I`ll use my left hand. I could do that, if I tried. If I can`t use my left hand I`ll draw with my feet. And if I can`t use my feet...I`ll hold a paintbrush in my teeth. (opens her eyes and looks up at Hanna almost challengingly) Or are you going to smash my teeth in, too?
Hanna`s face is furious at Kira`s defiance. Finally she lifts the dumbell up above her, and that is the last thing we see before the screen goes white only for a second, then immediately is bombarded with pale, discolored images and flashbacks. Kira`s drawing of the mother and child...
KIRA`S VOICEOVER(FLASHBACK): Why did you bother holding onto my drawing?
Leo in front of the statue of Mars, touching its face...
AARON`S VOICEOVER(FLASHBACK): No wonder he wanted your drawing.
Leo talking to Kira in the hall after telling her that he kept her drawing.
LEO`S VOICEOVER(FLASHBACK): Because it was beautiful.
Leo shaking hands with Kira`s mother outside her house...
AARON`S VOICEOVER(FLASHBACK): He doesn`t have a mother.
The drawing again...
The dark colors return as we are back in the present, seeing Kira lying on the floor waiting to feel her hand crushed. Close-up of her hand being held down on the floor.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: That painting...I can`t paint it anymore!
38- SCHOOL HALLWAY - SAME TIME
One second of footage of Leo running quickly down the hall toward the gym...
39- SCHOOL GYMNASIUM - DAY
Close-up of Kira`s face: her eyes are heartbreakingly sad, like she`s waiting for a bullet that`s going to kill her, and tears are flowing out from them. We see Hanna`s arm coming down in slow motion and her angry, determined eyes.
KIRA`S VOICEOVER: I`m sorry, Leo...I`m sorry I can`t give you that painting...
LAURIE: Hanna??
Hanna`s hand coming down. Then suddenly there is complete silence and we see only the large window far up at the top of the gym.
40- SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY
Leo, breathing heavily from running, comes down the hall, his footsteps the only sound. He pushes the gym door open and sees...
Kira is sitting on the floor holding her right hand with her head bowed down so we can`t see her eyes. Sitting on the floor in front of her is the dumbbell, speaking quietly of everything that just happened. The other girls are gone.
Kira, still holding her hand, looks up and sees Leo standing before her, his eyes wide and worried.
KIRA: Leo...
He immediately drops to the floor in front of her and grabs both of her hands in his, examining them. Then he looks up at her with concern.
KIRA: I`m okay. I`m fine. They didn`t do anything; they just threatened me.....I`m okay.
Close-up: Leo`s hand moves to Kira`s neck under her hair. Then he pulls her quickly forward and holds her to him tightly, his eyes closed with relief.
Close-up of Kira`s face over his left shoulder, her eyes widening in surprise. Then a distant view of them as one dark figure far away. Close-up of Kira`s eyes relaxing and closing. Close-up of her right hand on his back, sliding up.
Then running footsteps are heard, and Aaron appears in the doorway.
AARON: Leo??
Close-up of Leo`s face with his eyes snapping open. He instantly pulls away from Kira and holds her away at arm`s length. They both have shocked looks on their faces. Aaron looks at them in confusion.
Close-up of the dumbbell lying still on the floor.