ACT FIVE
FADE IN:
EXT. SKI VILLAGE PARKING LOT - CONTINUOUS
Brooke and Lily turn as one to gape a Mary Cherry.
BROOKE
What?
LILY
Mary Cherry, you're insane.
MARY CHERRY
What about all that?
Brooke looks stymied, but Lily has things under control.
LILY
First of all, even Sam at her
dumbest isn't THAT dumb. Second
of all, if she and Mr. Krupps
WERE...you know—
(shudders)
—doing it, wouldn't they be acting
the exact OPPOSITE of that?
MARY CHERRY
Uh, well...
(flash of insight)
Unless it's one o' them double
blinds! So we don't know they know
we know. They know.
BROOKE
Which leads us directly back to...
LILY
(finishing)
...Mary Cherry, you're insane.
Mary Cherry harrumphs and walks off in a huff; but Brooke and
Lily are preoccupied with this new problem.
LILY (CONT'D)
Brooke?
BROOKE
Hmm?
LILY
I know I said Sam couldn't possibly
be that dumb, but... You don't
think she COULD be...?
BROOKE
(flatly)
No.
(long pause)
Does it matter?
LILY
(outraged)
WHAT? Brooke, how could you ask
that—? Of COURSE it—!
BROOKE
I didn't mean it quite like that.
I mean, in terms of power,
prestige... Fact it, Sam is the
most influential student in the
whole school right now. She's
probably higher up than some of the
TEACHERS. She might as well be
sleeping with him.
LILY
Brooke, wouldja stop saying that?
The thought is making my skin
crawl.
BROOKE
(imploring)
Lily, I'm trying to be serious!
How are we going to tell anyone
Sam's in trouble? Who's even
gonna want to listen?
Lily mulls that over.
LILY
(uncertain)
I guess...we just have to hope that
Mr. Osbourne is convincing enough.
BROOKE
I'd be more hopeful if Mr. Osbourne
had help.
LILY
(cautiously)
What do you mean by that?
BROOKE
(darkly)
I don't know yet.
(pause)
But I'll think of something.
CUT TO:
INT. SAM'S CABIN - LATER
The word "cabin" doesn't quite cover Sam's weekend domicile;
it's more like a scaled-down version of the (as-yet unseen)
lodge: a great central room, huge fireplace, and loft space,
all luxuriously furnished, of course. Sam is in her ski suit,
wandering around and exploring things more-or-less at random,
when the ponderous knocker on the oversized front door makes a
ponderous sound. Sam cuts her tour short and goes to the
door, knowing who is waiting. Krupps is standing on the
stoop, and despite the nature of their relationship, she seems
almost giddy to see him.
After Sam opens the door, Krupps invites himself in, looking
up and around.
KRUPPS
Nice, very nice.
SAM
Are you kidding? It's wonderful!
She spins once; then her mood falters precipitously.
SAM (CONT'D)
I think maybe it's...TOO wonderful.
I don't want it to be too
wonderful.
KRUPPS
Should I give you a tour of my
cabin?
She practically clutches at him, acting just
a bit...off.
SAM
It IS bigger, isn't it? Please
tell me it's bigger. I couldn't
stand having the biggest cabin of
all.
Krupps, interestingly enough, seems to be treating her like a
wayward child in need of reassurance.
KRUPPS
(smiling benevolently)
It's bigger. You don't have the
biggest cabin here—far from it.
He touches a finger to her chin and raises her face.
KRUPPS (CONT'D)
So don't worry, okay?
SAM
(entirely TOO compliant)
O-kay.
KRUPPS
Good! So, are you ready to hit the
slopes?
SAM
Ready and willing, Calvin.
CUT TO:
EXT. SAM'S CABIN - MOMENTS LATER
Krupps' skis are perched near the front door, next to Sam's.
By the time they reach them, Sam seems to have gotten over
whatever was affecting her mood. They start off towards the
lift station.
KRUPPS
(making conversation)
Haven't you been here before? It's
fairly close to home.
SAM
(nodding)
Once. I was about eight. My dad
brought me.
KRUPPS
(slightly discomfitted)
I'm sorry, I don't want to stir up
painful memories.
SAM
Oh, no! I never mind talking about
my dad. He was a great man.
KRUPPS
(appraising)
Yes, I think I see that everyday.
Sam blushes.
SAM
I want to ask you a question. Are
you having dinner later?
KRUPPS
(dryly)
I try to at least once a day.
(pause)
Are YOU having dinner later?
SAM
(matching his tone)
It's a long-standing McPherson
family tradition.
A long, long silence stretches between them. Finally:
SAM (CONT'D)
Are WE having dinner later?
KRUPPS
That DOES see to be the question,
doesn't it?
SAM
(conceding)
Not the one I'm going to ask at
dinner, but for the moment...
And in her voice, in her eyes come the first hints that Sam
may have some kind of handle on this complicated game of
almost-flirtation that she and Krupps are playing.
KRUPPS
Well... I guess the question
REALLY is...can a principal—mind
you, a visionary principal—
SAM
(interposing)
Who's still a man of tradition.
KRUPPS
—who is still a man of tradition—
have a non-working, yet completely
appropriate meal with his best and
brightest student—who is pretty
visionary herself?
Another blush from Sam.
SAM
Well... I happen to think that any
principal who can construct a
question like that ought to be able
to, yes.
KRUPPS
And I happen to think that any
student who can follow a question
like that ought to be able to, as
well.
SAM
There you go, then. Just remember—
KRUPPS
Yes, I know. The question. I'll
consider myself forewarned.
They are close to the lift station, and Sam spies:
SAM
(peering ahead)
Is that...Mr. Osbourne? I thought
he didn't ski.
Krupps follows her squint, and sure enough, it's Osbourne,
seemingly playing traffic cop to a throng of students.
KRUPPS
Oh, yes. Miss Glass took ill at
the last moment. Mr. Osbourne is
her replacement.
SAM
Ah.
That non-committal sound is the only comment from Sam
CUT TO:
EXT. - THE LIFT STATION - MOMENTS LATER
A slightly different scene, from a slightly different point of
view: Osbourne looks up from his traffic-directing to
critically study Krupps and Sam catching one of the lift bars,
obviously quite comfortable with each other.
CUT TO:
INT. DINING HALL - EVENING
Three conversations tackling more-or-less the same subject.
First up: Brooke, Lily, Carmen, Josh, Sugar Daddy, and
Harrison, sitting around an oaken version of their table in
the cafeteria at school.
BROOKE
Frankly—I don't even know where to
start. I have no frame of
reference for this.
SUGAR
Yo, what about being a Glamazon?
Didn't that—?
Brooke carefully separates each word, so it's impossible to be
misheard.
BROOKE
Being a Glamazon...doesn't...
BEGIN...to compare. Being STAR
QUARTERBACK...doesn't...BEGIN...to
compare.
Just then George walks by, carrying his plate.
GEORGE
Compare to what?
BROOKE
Uhhh...
Without even looking up, Harrison spoils everyone's fun.
HARRISON
George knows about Sam.
BROOKE
Well, uh, I mean, everyone's seen—
GEORGE
I know about the pills, Brooke.
BROOKE/LILY/CARMEN
(simultaneously)
HUH?
Harrison looks the girls over.
HARRISON
What, you were the only ones who
could blab? Jeez...
Gamely, Brooke motions for George to sit, which he does.
GEORGE
Let me guess. Sam has a problem.
BROOKE
Sam definitely has a problem.
CARMEN
(chiming in)
A b-i-i-i-g problem.
BROOKE
Pills.
Carmen nods.
LILY
We hope it's just pills.
George shakes his head discouragingly.
GEORGE
It won't stay that way.
Brooke nods in agreement with THAT, a gesture Lily catches
with considerable surprise; apparently Brooke had never shared
that opinion with her.
GEORGE (CONT'D)
You have a problem, too. You want
to tell people about Sam's problem.
But...somehow, during the past
week, she's managed to become
Principal Krupps' invaluable right-
hand girl. Which makes saying
negative things about her...
complicated.
CARMEN
That pretty much sums it up.
(aside to Lily)
We shoulda had HIM on the team a
long time ago.
BROOKE
Okay, we've got the problem down
pat. What's the solution?
GEORGE
(blankly)
Uhhh...huh.
George is clearly all played out.
JOSH
I hate to say it, but I have to
agree with that "huh".
BROOKE
(imploring)
Come on! Nobody has any ideas?
We have to do SOMETHING!
Unfortunately, Brooke quickly rising temper happens to meet an
unintended target: Natalie, who walks over at this precise
moment.
NATALIE
Brooke, I—
BROOKE
(short)
We'll have to talk later.
Brooke seems to have forgotten that Natalie is actually a
member of this little group; as Lily and Carmen try to remind
her, Natalie, who was momentarily taken aback, pressed
forward.
NATALIE
Okay, I just wanted to say I'm
sorry for—
BROOKE
(barking)
NOT NOW, DAMMIT!
Natalie's mood plummets instantly into frustration, and she
turns away. Brooke continues her exhortations, unheeding.
BROOKE
How do we fix this?
GEORGE
(biting)
Ask Sam. She seems to be the
person to talk to about fixing
problems around here.
That bit of dark irony brings a fresh round of depression to
the table—but a few paces away, unnoticed, Natalie's head tilts
oddly. Meanwhile, Lily has actually grabbed Brooke by the
wrist—hard—to get her attention.
BROOKE
(irritated)
What?
But it's Carmen—who has less of a clue, and therefore more of
a reason—who jumps in first.
CARMEN
(hurt)
Why'd you yell at Natalie, Brooke?
Lily gives Brooke a highly significant look, as it begins to
penetrate her brain that A) Carmen doesn't know about the
discord between her and Natalie, and; B) she did, in fact,
just finish yelling at Natalie, who; C) was, in fact, trying
to help with Sam. Crestfallen, she rubs her eyes for a moment
before twisting in her seat. She spots Natalie's now-
highlighted french braid moving towards one of the doors.
BROOKE
Natalie! Natalie!
But there's no indication at all that Natalie heard THAT.
Instead, she just keeps walking, out the door. Brooke twists
back around.
BROOKE (CONT'D)
(sighs)
Yep. I used to be lots better at
this.
CUT TO:
INT. ANOTHER PART OF THE DINING HALL
The huge dining facilities haven't deliberately been
partitioned into separate areas; but most of the students HAVE
congregated in one place, leaving the faculty to gather in
another. Sitting around a window-side table are Mr. Osbourne,
Ms. Ross, and about half a dozen other assorted (anonymous)
teachers. One of them, a bespectacled algebra instructor,
stands awkwardly.
ALGEBRA TEACHER
Should I, um, ah, call the meeting
to order?
Ms. Ross grabs his arm and yanks him down into his seat.
ROSS
This is not the Roman senate,
Eugene. Keep your speeches to
yourself.
OSBOURNE
Technically speaking, this is a
meal. Definition: a shared dining
experience involving familial or
like individuals, at which various
pleasantries may be discussed.
AMELIA
Or unpleasantries.
This contribution from a slight but formidable young Life
Sciences teacher. Osbourne acknowledges her riposte with a
nod. Another teacher, a middle-aged woman, snorts.
FEMALE TEACHER #1
I'd call it unpleasant all right,
watching those two.
FEMALE TEACHER #2
Yeah, expecting us to put up with
his little mini-harem?
ROSS
(rounding on her)
Hey! You just put a lid on THAT
thought.
AMELIA
How can you sit there and defend
his actions?
OSBOURNE
His ACTIONS are questionable. His
MOTIVES, however...
FEMALE TEACHER #2
What? They were practically
acting like newlyweds!
OSBOURNE
(smoothly)
Which, to the discerning eye,
indicates that this potential part
of their relationship is,
thankfully, furthest from their
minds. Certainly she may be
infatuated with thim, as an
approving authority figure,
possibly the first significant one
her father. And he might well...
be...
He trails off while everyone listens intently, as though he
were just working something out on the fly.
ROSS
(prompting)
"He might well be"?
But Osbourne has apparently also decided to keep this new-
found insight to himself. He turns a consumately bland smile
on the group.
OSBOURNE
Amateur pop psychology. Hardly
useful here.
(moving on)
As for the rest— I said his
actions were questionable, and they
are. But there's little profit to
the questions now. My humble
suggestion is that everyone stay
watchful—
(suddenly admonishing)
—KEEP QUIET—and see if anything
untoward happens.
FEMALE TEACHER #2
Isn't something "untoward" ALREADY
happening?
OSBOURNE
Only if the National Enquirer has
gained jurisdictional control of
our district. But if you're
speaking of appearances, I agree
there is a danger. That's an
appropriate subject on which to
speak to the principal.
Ms. Ross' eyes flick off in the distance.
ROSS
Well, they're here. Who wants to
do the honors?
CUT TO:
INT. YET ANOTHER PART OF THE DINING HALL - CONTINUOUS
The matre d', after a brief huddle with Krupps, escorts him
and Sam up a narrow staircase and seats them at a table on the
balcony rail—conveniently visible to most of the people below,
a large percentage of whom are staring, either obviously
(students) or not (faculty).
After they are seated—with Krupps holding Sam's chair, of
course—a waiter magically appears.
WAITER
Drinks, Sir, Ma'am?
KRUPPS
Hmmm...scotch. And for the lady—
SAM
(interrupting)
Ginger ale.
The waiter bobs his head and moves off, while Krupps eyes Sam
speculatively.
KRUPPS
(echoing)
Ginger ale.
A hint of a smile plays across her lips.
SAM
(slyly)
I think it would be inappropriate
for one of Kennedy's best and
brightest to use her fake I.D. to
get alcohol while dining with her
principal.
KRUPPS
(deadpan sigh)
Yes, you're probably right. Ah,
well.
CUT TO:
INT. THE DINING HALL - FACULTY TABLE - LATER
The group of staff has thinned out and rearranged itself
slightly; Osbourne and Ross are sitting side-by-side, keeping
an eye on the proceedings above. Their conversational tone
is very low.
ROSS
You wanna tell me again why I
should be the one doing this?
OSBOURNE
There are several reasons. First,
I have been attempting to have a
private chat with our principal for
several days, without success.
Now, that may be due to Mr. Krupps'
busy schedule—or he may be avoiding
me.
ROSS
(shocked)
Why?
OSBOURNE
I don't know. I'm not even sure my
perceptions are correct there.
Second, my concerns regarding Miss
McPherson are quite...serious. I
can't risk them being lost amid the
hulabaloo of this.
ROSS
(grabbing his arm)
Now hold on right there, Mr.
Osbourne. You keep talking about
these "concerns" of yours. Now I
understand about being discreet,
but if you're sending me into that
lion's den, I think I need to know
what you know, right now.
Osbourne turns and appraises her for a moment.
OSBOURNE
Fair enough.
He puts his mouth to her ear and whispers a few words, which
make her eyes go wide. He immediately makes a sushing sound.
For several seconds she does nothing but shift her gaping
stare from Sam to Osbourne and back again.
ROSS
(boggled)
No...REALLY? That's...no.
OSBOURNE
I assure you, it's quite true. And
it is IMPERATIVE that this be kept
under wraps. A rumor at this point
would guarantee an unmanagable
situation.
ROSS
Oh, I hear you, Mr. Osbourne. I
hear you.
SWEEP TO:
INT. DINING HALL - KRUPPS' AND SAM'S TABLE - CONTINUOUS
Despite the seething chaos below, the principal and his
student seem engrossed in their own little world. A busboy
clears the dessert plates, leaving them looking at each other
over their after-dinner drinks.
KRUPPS
See? A non-working but totally
appropriate meal. As promised.
Sam raises her glass in salute.
SAM
And it's been very nice...so far.
Krupps leans back, fingers steepled.
KRUPPS
Ah. So that trend could change?
Sam's smile fades; she suddenly finds the rim of her glass
fascinating.
SAM
I'm not sure.
KRUPPS
Your question, I take it?
SAM
I've asked you this before, you
know. I decided I didn't like the
answer I got.
KRUPPS
Oh! Well, that IS interesting.
Please, ask away.
Sam drains her drink, sets the glass down, and fixes Krupps in
an unwavering gaze across the empty table.
SAM
WHY?
KRUPPS
(smiling pensively)
What what?
SAM
Why THIS?
The makes the same sweeping, all-encompassing gesture.
SAM (CONT'D)
Why all this?
KRUPPS
(relaxed)
I'm afraid my answer is the same as
last time, Sam. You're the best
and brightest, and I want you on my
team.
SAM
(simmering)
I'm the best and the brightest?
(hard)
Then please don't act like I'm the
class idiot. Why—this—WAY?
Krupps gazes at Sam impassively as she ticks points off on her
fingers.
SAM (CONT'D)
The Teachers' Dining Room...the ski
trip...
(laughs shortly)
...this dinner! Up on the royal
balcony, presiding over everyone.
My God, Calvin—you haven't made me
a member of your team; you've made
me the object of an accension.
She slaps her palms down on the table; her voice goes as high
as it can without carrying across the room.
SAM (CONT'D)
For the last time—WHY?
For a long time Krupps just sits there, with Sam half out of
her seat, hands on the table, staring him down. Finally—
KRUPPS
Because you deserved it.
THAT answer stops Sam in her tracks; she plops back down in
her seat. It takes a moment or two of effort for her to find
her voice.
SAM
I...huh?
KRUPPS
(patiently)
I saw you start to struggle. I
knew you could do better. That
you could blossom, become the woman
I know you can be. With enough
power, enough status... And now
you have them.
Sam looks as though she's lost the ability to breathe. She
gapes at him, dumbfounded, and several times her mouth opens
but nothing comes out.
SAM
You...you did...all this...for ME?
KRUPPS
Of course, Sam. All for you.
SAM
B-b-but...
KRUPPS
Oh, Sam. You can't look back on
three and a half years of work
you've done at Kennedy, and
possibly have to ask why.
Overcome, Sam leaps out of her chair, rounds the table, and
catches Krupps in a full-on, leaning-over neck clinch. After
a moment, the startled principal gets an arm free, and pats
her back awkwardly.
SAM
(in his ear)
Thank you thank you thank you...
KRUPPS
(with a beatific smile)
The girl to put your money on.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT FIVE