A/N: Heidy ho, faithful readers... or those of you that are left after the
long absense. Anyway, I just thought I'd let you all know that I've been
tweaking and rehashing Mallrats 2, and all the original five chapters have
been reuploaded with typos corrected, and little bits of new information
that will all add to the ending I have crafted. There're also only two
chapters left after this, but I'm going to wait to see if anyone's still
READING before I bother finishing up. Also, you will notice there is no
introduction with genuine Kevin Smith characters. In all honesty, I had
only intended to write just that first Intro in chapter one, but it got
such a good reaction, I forced myself to add more... and as it went along
they got less and less funny, and it became painfully obvious that I was
just throwing them together. Plus, I figure the stories far enough along
to stand on its own now. So no more introductions, no more Jay, or Silent
Bob, or Holden McNeil, or crazy, cooky, me. At least for now. So, now,
here it is, part six of Mallrats 2: The Next Generation. I hope you enjoy.
END OF SCENE
NEXT SCENE OPENS: INT. MALL, BEDDING DEPT.
(The scene opens showing the bedding department of the Mall's Sears store. Lying on a particularly comfortable looking bed, is SILENT ZACH. To his right, on a slightly larger and more comfortable looking bed is PAUL. Both have their eyes closed and look very relaxed.)
PAUL: Alright, I'll admit it. This is pretty comfortable. But I still say it's gay lookin'.
SILENT ZACH: (Nods, not really paying attention. Suddenly, his eyes pop wide open, and he sits straight up.) Spider-sense tingling!
PAUL: (Sits up now, too. Angrily.) Dude! No talkin'! No...friggin'....talkin'! How many times do I have to tell you! You're Silent Zach. Si-lent!
(Suddenly, a winded SHEILA comes rushing onto the scene. She pauses next to the bed PAUL is lying in, hunched over, with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.)
SHEILA: (To PAUL and SILENT ZACH.) I need you two!
(PAUL and SILENT ZACH pause for a minute and slowly look at eachother. They then smile broadly and nod.)
PAUL: (Turning back to SHEILA.) Well, alright. Bed's right here, let's go!
SHEILA: (Confused.) What? (Suddenly realizes what he's implying.) Ew! No! That's not what I meant! Look, you guys are friends with Corey Ryker, right?
PAUL: Only until this five bucks he gave us runs out.
SHEILA: (Pausing again.) Whatever. He needs your help! Sean Williams is getting ready to stomp a hole in his head at the Natural Wonders store, if he hasn't done it already!
PAUL: (Looks at SILENT ZACH.) Looks like it's time to kick some ass, Lunchbox! (SILENT ZACH nods, and the the two of them leap to their feet. PAUL turns to SHEILA.) Lead the way!
(SHEILA nods and she, PAUL, and SILENT ZACH dash offscreen, exitting the scene.)
END OF SCENE
NEXT SCENE OPENS: INT. MALL, INSIDE THE NATURAL WONDERS STORE
(The scene changes just in time for us to see SEAN's fist collide with COREY's face. COREY goes sprawling back into another shelf, sending miscellaneous objects flying everywhere. It's pretty apparent, judging from COREY's ruffled and bruised demeanor, that he's been losing this fight. Badly.)
SEAN: (Smiling down at COREY, rubbing his knuckles.) This is getting sad. My hands are actually starting to hurt from pouding your face so much. Oh well. It's about time I ended this anyway. I've got things to do. (SEAN raises his foot, preparing to stomp down hard on COREY, when KATJA suddenly flings herself at him, smacking him across the face so hard, she actually draws blood. SEAN staggers, reaching a hand up to his lip, touching the blood. He snarls, and suddenly grabs KATJA by the wrist again.) You wanna get in on the fight too, huh? Alright! You're in! (He raises a hand to strike her, when suddenly, PAUL leaps onto the scene out of nowhere, wrapping his arms around SEAN's neck from behind, in a sleeper hold.)
PAUL: Yeah! What's up now, bitch?! Didn't think you'd have to deal with such a badass mofo like myself, didja?! Whatcha gonna do now, huh?! Whatcha gonna- (At that moment, SEAN kicks up his right foot behind him, nailing PAUL in the crotch. PAUL's eyes bug out, and he immediately releases SEAN, hunched over in pain. SEAN then punches PAUL in the side of the head, sending him sprawling to the ground.)
SEAN: (Shaking his now sore hand.) What the hell was that all about?!
(Before he even has a chance to regain his composure, SILENT ZACH comes charging in, with an aluminum baseball bat raised above his head. SEAN dodges him in the knick of time, just as SILENT ZACH is bringing the bat down. The bat misses SEAN, instead hitting a display full of bouncy balls. The bat ricochetes off the balls and into SILENT ZACH's forehead, knocking him to the ground. SHEILA, who arrived on the scene with PAUL and SILENT ZACH, sighs, smacking her hand to her forehead.)
SEAN: (Looking back and forth between the now fallen PAUL and SILENT ZACH.) What is this?! You're those two idiots from school, aren't you? The ones that're in detention every single week! (He now notices SHEILA shaking her head.) And you! You brought them here, didn't you?! (Turns to COREY, glaring.) Why the hell is everyone taking your side?!
KATJA: (Cradling her wounded arm, she steps up to SEAN, angrily.) Why is everyone taking his side?! You mean over your's? Well, hmmm, gee, Sean, lets think about this. Corey is a wonderful, caring individual, who appreciates his friends and their advice and input. That's why he has lots of friends who care about him and are willing to stick their necks out for him. He may get a little mopy at times, but, so what? Who wouldn't when they have to deal with people like you all the time! People who are arrogant, preppy, jerks who expect everyone to do what they want, when they want, and yell and scream, and hit people when they don't get their way! Now... why would anyone want to take Corey's side over your's? (Heavy sarcasm.) I have no idea!
(The beaten COREY gazes at her, wide eyed, from the floor. SEAN meanwhile, is fuming at what KATJA has just said. He starts to take a threatening step toward her, when SILENT ZACH, still reeling slightly from his blow to the head, suddenly steps in his way.)
SEAN: (Glaring.) You'll get out of my way if ya wanna keep your skeletal structure intact! (SILENT ZACH doesn't move, instead reaching into his jacket and producing a playing card of some sort. He hands it to SEAN, who eyes it suspiciously before taking it. He looks it over.) Charizard? What the hell is a Charizard? (He flips the Charizard Card over, reading the back.) A Pokemon Card?
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
(The scene suddenly cuts to the Comics Store, halfway across the Mall. ERIK and JASON of course are standing behind the counter, while LYLE is sitting on it. PONTI, who is currently scuttling around the store, abruptly stops, as if he hears something. He suddenly drops the box he is carrying, as an enraged expression forms on his face. He then charges out of the store. LYLE, ERIK, and JASON watch him leave in confusion.)
LYLE:...the hell?
CUT TO: INT. MALL, INSIDE THE NATURAL WONDERS STORE
(The scene then cuts back to the Natural Wonders store, where SEAN is still looking at the Pokemon card. He then shakes his head and tosses it to the side, looking up at SILENT ZACH, who is still standing between him and KATJA.)
SEAN: (Sarcastically, to SILENT ZACH.) Well, gee, thanks for the gift. I'll keep it in mind when I'm breaking your head open!
(SILENT ZACH shrugs as if to say "Whatever." Without warning, PONTI suddenly comes flying onto the scene out of nowhere, tackling SEAN to the ground, and battering him with his fists. SILENT ZACH smiles, nodding once, before walking over to COREY and helping him up. KATJA follows. As soon as he is able to regain his footing, COREY quickly moves to KATJA.)
COREY: Are you alright?
KATJA: (Moving her arm.) Yeah, I'll be okay... what about you? (She takes COREY's hands in her's, looking at him, concerned.)
COREY: (Winces slightly when she takes his hands.) I'll be alright... eventually. I'm just a little bruised... severely... all over the place...
(KATJA nods slowly, still looking at him with concern. COREY gazes back at her. The two stand silently, watching eachother for a moment, until suddenly, KATJA leans forward and kisses COREY. COREY's eyes go wide momentarily, in shock. Then, he realizes what's going on, and slowly the shock leaves his face as he kisses her back. SILENT ZACH is then shown helping PAUL up.)
PAUL: (Standing gingerly, holding his groin.) Oooogh... thanks, Silent Zach. (Glaring offscreen, where sounds of PONTI still beating SEAN can be heard.) Yeah! Kill that son of a bitch! Make him bleed! (He winces slightly, shifting his stance.) Ow... I think I may have to put Little Paul's social life on hold for a while, you know what I'm sayin', Silent Zach?
(SILENT ZACH just looks at him incredulously, shaking his head slowly. At the same time, SHEILA walks up to the two of them, with her arms crossed, looking over her shoulder where PONTI still hasn't let up on SEAN.)
SHEILA: (Smirks, then turns to PAUL, raising an eyebrow.) What social life?
PAUL: Oh, you're hysterical, you prissy, uptight, little bi- (SILENT ZACH quickly covers PAUL's mouth before he can say anymore.)
(SHEILA glares at PAUL, before turning her head back to where SEAN is getting beaten. A quick shot is shown of him, still lying on the ground, while PONTI is now holding him by the shoulders and bashing his head repeatedly into the floor. The scene then shifts back to SHEILA, PAUL, and SILENT ZACH.)
SHEILA: (To SILENT ZACH.) How'd you get that guy to come flying in here and attack Sean like that?
PAUL: Silent Zach made Williams say the magic word!
(SILENT ZACH produces another Pokemon card, and shows SHEILA the back.)
SHEILA: (Looking at the card, raising her eyebrows.) A Poke- (SILENT ZACH quickly covers her mouth, preventing her from finishing.)
PAUL: (To SHEILA.) I wouldn't say that if I was you!
(The scene then shifts again to show the entrance to the store, where ERIK, JASON, and LYLE have all arrived on the scene. LYLE is now wearing a hoody, sunglasses, and a baseball cap that barely fits around his large afro. He is clearly in "disguise".)
ERIK: (Pauses, seeing PONTI beating SEAN. Slowly a grin spreads across his face. He points.) Heh heh heh!
JASON: (Noticing PONTI as well.) Woah... (He walks over to the enraged little clerk and kneels down next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.) Uhhh, Ponti? I think you got him.
(PONTI pauses looking up at JASON, then back to SEAN. He gives the prep one last punch, before looking back at JASON, nodding, and standing. The scene then shifts to show LYLE, who is walking toward COREY and KATJA. They are all joined by ERIK, JASON, PONTI, PAUL, SHEILA, and SILENT ZACH.)
LYLE: (To COREY and KATJA, who have stopped kissing, but are still holding eachother.) Hey, there you guys are, I've been wondering where you went... sorta. Um... why are you guys hugging?
COREY: (Looking at LYLE and raising an eyebrow.) Why are you dressed like that?
(The scene then shifts to show a beaten and bloody SEAN lying on the floor. He slowly raises his head and looks at the group around LYLE, COREY, and KATJA. The scene then shifts again to show the group from SEAN's point of view. Each one around COREY is shown semi-individually. First, COREY and KATJA. Then LYLE and ERIK. Then JASON and PONTI. Then, finally SHEILA, PAUL, and SILENT ZACH. The scene then shifts back to SEAN.)
SEAN: (Shaking his head, weakly.) I still don't get it... (he coughs, before letting his head drop back down to the ground with a thud.)
(With that, LYLE, COREY, KATJA, PAUL, SILENT ZACH, JASON, ERIK, and PONTI all leave the store, exitting the scene. SHEILA walks over to SEAN, leaning over him.)
SHEILA: (Smiling down at SEAN.) Looks like your "belonging" just got your ass kicked. (She gives him a good kick in the gut.) Jerk. (With that, she too exits the scene.)
(The NATURAL WONDERS CLERK then walks up to SEAN, holding a small, white slip of paper, watching SHEILA leave.)
CLERK: (Shaking his head.) Wow... hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn, huh? Ah well. (He bends down and places a slip of paper on SEAN's chest.) There's your bill for all the things you broke during your fight. Most business this place has had in a long time! Cha-ching!
(SEAN lets out a long groan.)
END OF SCENE
NEXT SCENE OPENS: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
(The scene opens showing the inside of the Comics Store just as COREY, KATJA, LYLE, JASON, ERIK, PAUL, SILENT ZACH, and PONTI all walk in. LYLE removes the sunglasses and hat he is wearing and resumes sitting on the counter, as the others gather around, save for PONTI, who goes back to arranging boxes. ERIK and JASON resume their posts behind the counter.)
COREY: (To LYLE.) So, Mr. Bennting's the one that stole the signature comics?
LYLE: Yeah! And what's worse is, he made it look like I'm the one that did it! Remember when he ran into me, down at the convention? Turns out, that during the ensuing confusion, he managed to switch my back pack, with another one that he'd put the comics in! (He pauses as if something dawns on him for the first time.) Which means that bastard still has my back pack! (He pounds his fist on the counter.) Dammit!
(ERIK, meanwhile, has flipped on a small TV that he has retrieved from under the counter, and has begun staring at it, in true mezmorized-by- television fashion. JASON watches this for a moment, and sighs, shaking his head.)
JASON: (To ERIK.) I swear, what are they paying you for?
ERIK: (Shrugs.) Beats me. (Turns up the TV. Perks up a bit as he does so.) Hey! That reporter girl's a hottie!
JASON: (Rolling his eyes.) Wonderful. That helps the situation, Erik, thanks.
ERIK: (Ignoring JASON, still watching the TV. He suddenly makes a face.) Aww, but she's standin' next to that Bennting freak! That just ruins it!
(An almost simultaneous "Huh?!" erupts from the rest of the group, and their focus immediately goes to the small TV. The camera zooms in on the screen to show an attractive, female REPORTER holding a microphone and standing next to BENNTING, HICKS, and the two SECURITY GUARDS from earlier.)
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
(The scene cuts to where the REPORTER, BENNTING, the GUARDS, and HICKS are all standing.)
REPORTER: (Speaking to a camera.) I'm here at the Fairview Heights Mall, where three extremely valuable stolen comic books were recently recovered from the teenage delinquent that masterminded the theft. (Gesturing to BENNTING.) Here with me is the man responsible for the recovery of the comics, local Lutheran High School Art Teacher, Mr. Quentin Tyra Bennting, who-
BENNTING: (Interrupting.) Um, pardon me, but Tyra is not my middle name.
REPORTER: Oh, I'm sorry. What is your middle name?
BENNTING: Not important! What is important, is this... (He turns and smiles deviously at the camera.) I got you, Grant! I finally got you! Now everyone shall realize what I have been trying to convey all this time! That you are a no good, vile, law-breaking, worthless slacker!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
(The scene momentarily cuts back to the Comics Store where LYLE and the others are intently watching the TV.)
LYLE: (Glaring at the TV.) I'm not a law breaker, Nutt-less! You're the one that took those comcs!
ERIK: (To LYLE.) Cause, ya know, he can hear you through the TV.
LYLE: Shut up...
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
(The scene then cuts back to the REPORTER and BENNTING.)
REPORTER: So, you're saying that you've seen this kind of behavior apparent in this young man before?
BENNTING: Oh, yes. Being his art teacher, and having been so for the past four years and gotten to know Mr. Grant, let me tell you, that delinquent has had nothing but criminal activity on his mind since the day I met him!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
(Scene cuts straight to LYLE.)
LYLE: What a load of bull-
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
(Scene quickly cuts to LYLE again.)
BENNTING: He's an irresponsible vandal, who either cannot or chooses not to feel remorse for the life of ill conduct that he leads
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
(Scene cuts quickly to LYLE again.)
LYLE: Lies! Lies!!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
(Scene cuts back to BENNTING and the REPORTER.)
REPORTER: Can you give us an example of these supposed acts of vandalism?
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
LYLE: (Snidely.) No!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
BENNTING: Certainly. For example, last year in Art class, he refused to do any of his work correctly. I told the class to sculpt a scene showing motion. He throws two globs of clay together and hands it in!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
LYLE: (Jumping to his feet, shouting at the TV.) It was supposed to be a meteor hitting a building, asshole! (The others pause and look at him.) What? It was!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
BENNTING: And to top it all off, when I asked all my students to sculpt clay models of their own faces, he has the audacity to fill his with shards of dry clay, and give it no ventelation holes, so that the abomination explodes in the kiln and ruins everyone else's projects! And he did it all just to spite me!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
LYLE: Lying sack of... (Pauses.) Actually, that last part is true... (The others again pause and look at him.) What?!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
(HICKS suddenly steps forward and takes the microphone from the REPORTER.)
HICKS: And not only has he done all that, but he's also tormented me since the first grade, constanty mocking me and hurling nasty names at me just cause the teachers happen to like me better than him! But we finally got him this time! Mr. Bennting's plan has succeeded! We-
(BENNTING quickly clamps his hand over HICKS's mouth to keep him from revealing any more.)
BENNTING: (Smiles quickly at the REPORTER, who is now looking at him strangely.) You'll, ah, have to forgive my associate here. He tends to ramble idiotically when he gets flustered.
REPORTER: (Nods.) Perfectly understandable. From what you've told me it sounds like this Lyle Grant has put you and your life partner here through a lot.
BENNTING: Yes, he certainly- (What the REPORTER just said suddenly hits him.) What?! Life partner?!
REPORTER: Well, yeah. Aren't you two, uh... well, ya know.
BENNTING: Dear God, no! I am a teacher, and he is merely my student! Nothing more!
GUARD #1: (Standing of to the side with GUARD #2, whispers to him.) Funny... I kinda thought it'd be the other way around.
BENNTING: (Fuming now.) That's it! This interview is over! (And he storms off, exitting the scene, HICKS following closely behind.)
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
(The scene cuts back to LYLE and the rest.)
ERIK: (Still watching the TV.) Heh heh... she thought they were gay.
LYLE: (Angrily pacing now.) I can't believe this!
ERIK: (Shrugs.) I can. They come off as pretty gay.
JASON: (In an exasperated tone.) Erik... (ERIK looks at him expectantly. JASON looks as if he's about to say something, then shakes his head.)... nevermind.
COREY: (Watching LYLE pace.) So, you're sure it was Mr. Bennting that took the comics?
LYLE: Of course I'm sure!
KATJA: But the description of the thief said it was a teenager.
LYLE: Well, obviously, Bennting had his little slave flunky, Hicks, steal them for him! That way, even if he did get caught, he'd still have the perfect patsy to blame it on!
KATJA: Wow... this was a really elaborate plan, just to get back at you for misbehaving in class.
LYLE: See? I always told you guys Bennting was a psychotic evil mastermind, but you just wouldn't listen to me!
PAUL: So what you're sayin' is 'bout the only way we're gonna get you off the hook, is if Bennting fesses up himself?
LYLE: Yeah, and like that'd ever happen.
PAUL: (Pounding his fist into his palm.) It will if me and Silent Zach beat a confression outta him! (SILENT ZACH nods in agreement.)
COREY: (Rolls his eyes. Sarcastically.) Yeah, good idea. Let's attack the guy who's surrounded himself with mall security.
PAUL: Yeah! Now you're talkin'! Let's go kick some ass! (He and SILENT ZACH start toward the door. COREY grabs them by the arms and stops them.)
COREY: Oh, knock it off, idiots!
(PAUL and SILENT ZACH look at him for a moment, then grumble and take to sitting on the counter. KATJA, meanwhile, is shaking her head. She lets out a deep sigh.)
KATJA: Well, Lyle, unless you can somehow trick Mr. Bennting into admitting that he was behind the theft, I don't know how we're gonna get you out of this.
LYLE: Yeah... so in other words I'm more screwed than Pamela Anderson at a white trash rockers convention.
KATJA: (Raising an eyebrow.) Well... I guess that's one way of putting it...
(At that moment, the P.A. System beeps loudly, and once again, the P.A. VOICE rings out.)
P.A. VOICE: Attention mall shoppers. Ms. Ima Queere, you left your car's lights on. Repeat, Ima Queere...aw, dammit! (Laughter is heard in the background.) I hate you guys! I really do!
LYLE: (Looking around, appearing very annoyed.) Alright! Where.... in the freaking hell is that coming from?!
JASON: What, the P.A. System?
LYLE: Yes!
ERIK: (Sarcastically.) Hmm, gee, I dunno... could it possible be coming from that speaker over there? (He points to one of the wall's corners above a shelf. A small, white speaker is located there.)
JASON: Yeah... they got speakers like that all over the mall. They're all wired to the broadcasting radio in the management office in Sears.
LYLE: (Pauses, as if something is dawning on him.)...All over the mall, you say?
JASON: Yeah.
LYLE: (Stroking his chin.) Hmmm... (After thinking a moment, he turns to KATJA.) Well... tricking Bennting into confessing is the only way to get me out of this, eh?
KATJA: I don't see how else we would-
LYLE: (Interrupting, putting one arm around COREY's shoulders, the other around KATJA's.) Well, then that's exactly what we're gonna do!
COREY: (Giving LYLE an incredulous look.) And just how do you plan on accomplishing this?
LYLE: (Grinning now.) You'll see. Follow. Paul, Zach, I'm gonna need your help too. I've got a brilliant plan!
(And with that, he walks out of the comics store, exitting the scene. PAUL and SILENT ZACH look at eachother and shrug, before following, exitting the scene as well. COREY shakes his head, and looks at KATJA.)
COREY: Hoo boy... this should be interesting.
(And with that, he and KATJA too leave the comics store and exit the scene. ERIK and JASON watch them leave, and stand for a moment in silence.)
ERIK: Ya know... I'd follow them to see how this all turns out... but I really could care less.
(JASON nods slowly in agreement as we reach the...)
END OF SCENE
TO BE CONTINUED....
END OF SCENE
NEXT SCENE OPENS: INT. MALL, BEDDING DEPT.
(The scene opens showing the bedding department of the Mall's Sears store. Lying on a particularly comfortable looking bed, is SILENT ZACH. To his right, on a slightly larger and more comfortable looking bed is PAUL. Both have their eyes closed and look very relaxed.)
PAUL: Alright, I'll admit it. This is pretty comfortable. But I still say it's gay lookin'.
SILENT ZACH: (Nods, not really paying attention. Suddenly, his eyes pop wide open, and he sits straight up.) Spider-sense tingling!
PAUL: (Sits up now, too. Angrily.) Dude! No talkin'! No...friggin'....talkin'! How many times do I have to tell you! You're Silent Zach. Si-lent!
(Suddenly, a winded SHEILA comes rushing onto the scene. She pauses next to the bed PAUL is lying in, hunched over, with her hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath.)
SHEILA: (To PAUL and SILENT ZACH.) I need you two!
(PAUL and SILENT ZACH pause for a minute and slowly look at eachother. They then smile broadly and nod.)
PAUL: (Turning back to SHEILA.) Well, alright. Bed's right here, let's go!
SHEILA: (Confused.) What? (Suddenly realizes what he's implying.) Ew! No! That's not what I meant! Look, you guys are friends with Corey Ryker, right?
PAUL: Only until this five bucks he gave us runs out.
SHEILA: (Pausing again.) Whatever. He needs your help! Sean Williams is getting ready to stomp a hole in his head at the Natural Wonders store, if he hasn't done it already!
PAUL: (Looks at SILENT ZACH.) Looks like it's time to kick some ass, Lunchbox! (SILENT ZACH nods, and the the two of them leap to their feet. PAUL turns to SHEILA.) Lead the way!
(SHEILA nods and she, PAUL, and SILENT ZACH dash offscreen, exitting the scene.)
END OF SCENE
NEXT SCENE OPENS: INT. MALL, INSIDE THE NATURAL WONDERS STORE
(The scene changes just in time for us to see SEAN's fist collide with COREY's face. COREY goes sprawling back into another shelf, sending miscellaneous objects flying everywhere. It's pretty apparent, judging from COREY's ruffled and bruised demeanor, that he's been losing this fight. Badly.)
SEAN: (Smiling down at COREY, rubbing his knuckles.) This is getting sad. My hands are actually starting to hurt from pouding your face so much. Oh well. It's about time I ended this anyway. I've got things to do. (SEAN raises his foot, preparing to stomp down hard on COREY, when KATJA suddenly flings herself at him, smacking him across the face so hard, she actually draws blood. SEAN staggers, reaching a hand up to his lip, touching the blood. He snarls, and suddenly grabs KATJA by the wrist again.) You wanna get in on the fight too, huh? Alright! You're in! (He raises a hand to strike her, when suddenly, PAUL leaps onto the scene out of nowhere, wrapping his arms around SEAN's neck from behind, in a sleeper hold.)
PAUL: Yeah! What's up now, bitch?! Didn't think you'd have to deal with such a badass mofo like myself, didja?! Whatcha gonna do now, huh?! Whatcha gonna- (At that moment, SEAN kicks up his right foot behind him, nailing PAUL in the crotch. PAUL's eyes bug out, and he immediately releases SEAN, hunched over in pain. SEAN then punches PAUL in the side of the head, sending him sprawling to the ground.)
SEAN: (Shaking his now sore hand.) What the hell was that all about?!
(Before he even has a chance to regain his composure, SILENT ZACH comes charging in, with an aluminum baseball bat raised above his head. SEAN dodges him in the knick of time, just as SILENT ZACH is bringing the bat down. The bat misses SEAN, instead hitting a display full of bouncy balls. The bat ricochetes off the balls and into SILENT ZACH's forehead, knocking him to the ground. SHEILA, who arrived on the scene with PAUL and SILENT ZACH, sighs, smacking her hand to her forehead.)
SEAN: (Looking back and forth between the now fallen PAUL and SILENT ZACH.) What is this?! You're those two idiots from school, aren't you? The ones that're in detention every single week! (He now notices SHEILA shaking her head.) And you! You brought them here, didn't you?! (Turns to COREY, glaring.) Why the hell is everyone taking your side?!
KATJA: (Cradling her wounded arm, she steps up to SEAN, angrily.) Why is everyone taking his side?! You mean over your's? Well, hmmm, gee, Sean, lets think about this. Corey is a wonderful, caring individual, who appreciates his friends and their advice and input. That's why he has lots of friends who care about him and are willing to stick their necks out for him. He may get a little mopy at times, but, so what? Who wouldn't when they have to deal with people like you all the time! People who are arrogant, preppy, jerks who expect everyone to do what they want, when they want, and yell and scream, and hit people when they don't get their way! Now... why would anyone want to take Corey's side over your's? (Heavy sarcasm.) I have no idea!
(The beaten COREY gazes at her, wide eyed, from the floor. SEAN meanwhile, is fuming at what KATJA has just said. He starts to take a threatening step toward her, when SILENT ZACH, still reeling slightly from his blow to the head, suddenly steps in his way.)
SEAN: (Glaring.) You'll get out of my way if ya wanna keep your skeletal structure intact! (SILENT ZACH doesn't move, instead reaching into his jacket and producing a playing card of some sort. He hands it to SEAN, who eyes it suspiciously before taking it. He looks it over.) Charizard? What the hell is a Charizard? (He flips the Charizard Card over, reading the back.) A Pokemon Card?
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
(The scene suddenly cuts to the Comics Store, halfway across the Mall. ERIK and JASON of course are standing behind the counter, while LYLE is sitting on it. PONTI, who is currently scuttling around the store, abruptly stops, as if he hears something. He suddenly drops the box he is carrying, as an enraged expression forms on his face. He then charges out of the store. LYLE, ERIK, and JASON watch him leave in confusion.)
LYLE:...the hell?
CUT TO: INT. MALL, INSIDE THE NATURAL WONDERS STORE
(The scene then cuts back to the Natural Wonders store, where SEAN is still looking at the Pokemon card. He then shakes his head and tosses it to the side, looking up at SILENT ZACH, who is still standing between him and KATJA.)
SEAN: (Sarcastically, to SILENT ZACH.) Well, gee, thanks for the gift. I'll keep it in mind when I'm breaking your head open!
(SILENT ZACH shrugs as if to say "Whatever." Without warning, PONTI suddenly comes flying onto the scene out of nowhere, tackling SEAN to the ground, and battering him with his fists. SILENT ZACH smiles, nodding once, before walking over to COREY and helping him up. KATJA follows. As soon as he is able to regain his footing, COREY quickly moves to KATJA.)
COREY: Are you alright?
KATJA: (Moving her arm.) Yeah, I'll be okay... what about you? (She takes COREY's hands in her's, looking at him, concerned.)
COREY: (Winces slightly when she takes his hands.) I'll be alright... eventually. I'm just a little bruised... severely... all over the place...
(KATJA nods slowly, still looking at him with concern. COREY gazes back at her. The two stand silently, watching eachother for a moment, until suddenly, KATJA leans forward and kisses COREY. COREY's eyes go wide momentarily, in shock. Then, he realizes what's going on, and slowly the shock leaves his face as he kisses her back. SILENT ZACH is then shown helping PAUL up.)
PAUL: (Standing gingerly, holding his groin.) Oooogh... thanks, Silent Zach. (Glaring offscreen, where sounds of PONTI still beating SEAN can be heard.) Yeah! Kill that son of a bitch! Make him bleed! (He winces slightly, shifting his stance.) Ow... I think I may have to put Little Paul's social life on hold for a while, you know what I'm sayin', Silent Zach?
(SILENT ZACH just looks at him incredulously, shaking his head slowly. At the same time, SHEILA walks up to the two of them, with her arms crossed, looking over her shoulder where PONTI still hasn't let up on SEAN.)
SHEILA: (Smirks, then turns to PAUL, raising an eyebrow.) What social life?
PAUL: Oh, you're hysterical, you prissy, uptight, little bi- (SILENT ZACH quickly covers PAUL's mouth before he can say anymore.)
(SHEILA glares at PAUL, before turning her head back to where SEAN is getting beaten. A quick shot is shown of him, still lying on the ground, while PONTI is now holding him by the shoulders and bashing his head repeatedly into the floor. The scene then shifts back to SHEILA, PAUL, and SILENT ZACH.)
SHEILA: (To SILENT ZACH.) How'd you get that guy to come flying in here and attack Sean like that?
PAUL: Silent Zach made Williams say the magic word!
(SILENT ZACH produces another Pokemon card, and shows SHEILA the back.)
SHEILA: (Looking at the card, raising her eyebrows.) A Poke- (SILENT ZACH quickly covers her mouth, preventing her from finishing.)
PAUL: (To SHEILA.) I wouldn't say that if I was you!
(The scene then shifts again to show the entrance to the store, where ERIK, JASON, and LYLE have all arrived on the scene. LYLE is now wearing a hoody, sunglasses, and a baseball cap that barely fits around his large afro. He is clearly in "disguise".)
ERIK: (Pauses, seeing PONTI beating SEAN. Slowly a grin spreads across his face. He points.) Heh heh heh!
JASON: (Noticing PONTI as well.) Woah... (He walks over to the enraged little clerk and kneels down next to him, placing a hand on his shoulder.) Uhhh, Ponti? I think you got him.
(PONTI pauses looking up at JASON, then back to SEAN. He gives the prep one last punch, before looking back at JASON, nodding, and standing. The scene then shifts to show LYLE, who is walking toward COREY and KATJA. They are all joined by ERIK, JASON, PONTI, PAUL, SHEILA, and SILENT ZACH.)
LYLE: (To COREY and KATJA, who have stopped kissing, but are still holding eachother.) Hey, there you guys are, I've been wondering where you went... sorta. Um... why are you guys hugging?
COREY: (Looking at LYLE and raising an eyebrow.) Why are you dressed like that?
(The scene then shifts to show a beaten and bloody SEAN lying on the floor. He slowly raises his head and looks at the group around LYLE, COREY, and KATJA. The scene then shifts again to show the group from SEAN's point of view. Each one around COREY is shown semi-individually. First, COREY and KATJA. Then LYLE and ERIK. Then JASON and PONTI. Then, finally SHEILA, PAUL, and SILENT ZACH. The scene then shifts back to SEAN.)
SEAN: (Shaking his head, weakly.) I still don't get it... (he coughs, before letting his head drop back down to the ground with a thud.)
(With that, LYLE, COREY, KATJA, PAUL, SILENT ZACH, JASON, ERIK, and PONTI all leave the store, exitting the scene. SHEILA walks over to SEAN, leaning over him.)
SHEILA: (Smiling down at SEAN.) Looks like your "belonging" just got your ass kicked. (She gives him a good kick in the gut.) Jerk. (With that, she too exits the scene.)
(The NATURAL WONDERS CLERK then walks up to SEAN, holding a small, white slip of paper, watching SHEILA leave.)
CLERK: (Shaking his head.) Wow... hell hath no fury like a woman's scorn, huh? Ah well. (He bends down and places a slip of paper on SEAN's chest.) There's your bill for all the things you broke during your fight. Most business this place has had in a long time! Cha-ching!
(SEAN lets out a long groan.)
END OF SCENE
NEXT SCENE OPENS: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
(The scene opens showing the inside of the Comics Store just as COREY, KATJA, LYLE, JASON, ERIK, PAUL, SILENT ZACH, and PONTI all walk in. LYLE removes the sunglasses and hat he is wearing and resumes sitting on the counter, as the others gather around, save for PONTI, who goes back to arranging boxes. ERIK and JASON resume their posts behind the counter.)
COREY: (To LYLE.) So, Mr. Bennting's the one that stole the signature comics?
LYLE: Yeah! And what's worse is, he made it look like I'm the one that did it! Remember when he ran into me, down at the convention? Turns out, that during the ensuing confusion, he managed to switch my back pack, with another one that he'd put the comics in! (He pauses as if something dawns on him for the first time.) Which means that bastard still has my back pack! (He pounds his fist on the counter.) Dammit!
(ERIK, meanwhile, has flipped on a small TV that he has retrieved from under the counter, and has begun staring at it, in true mezmorized-by- television fashion. JASON watches this for a moment, and sighs, shaking his head.)
JASON: (To ERIK.) I swear, what are they paying you for?
ERIK: (Shrugs.) Beats me. (Turns up the TV. Perks up a bit as he does so.) Hey! That reporter girl's a hottie!
JASON: (Rolling his eyes.) Wonderful. That helps the situation, Erik, thanks.
ERIK: (Ignoring JASON, still watching the TV. He suddenly makes a face.) Aww, but she's standin' next to that Bennting freak! That just ruins it!
(An almost simultaneous "Huh?!" erupts from the rest of the group, and their focus immediately goes to the small TV. The camera zooms in on the screen to show an attractive, female REPORTER holding a microphone and standing next to BENNTING, HICKS, and the two SECURITY GUARDS from earlier.)
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
(The scene cuts to where the REPORTER, BENNTING, the GUARDS, and HICKS are all standing.)
REPORTER: (Speaking to a camera.) I'm here at the Fairview Heights Mall, where three extremely valuable stolen comic books were recently recovered from the teenage delinquent that masterminded the theft. (Gesturing to BENNTING.) Here with me is the man responsible for the recovery of the comics, local Lutheran High School Art Teacher, Mr. Quentin Tyra Bennting, who-
BENNTING: (Interrupting.) Um, pardon me, but Tyra is not my middle name.
REPORTER: Oh, I'm sorry. What is your middle name?
BENNTING: Not important! What is important, is this... (He turns and smiles deviously at the camera.) I got you, Grant! I finally got you! Now everyone shall realize what I have been trying to convey all this time! That you are a no good, vile, law-breaking, worthless slacker!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
(The scene momentarily cuts back to the Comics Store where LYLE and the others are intently watching the TV.)
LYLE: (Glaring at the TV.) I'm not a law breaker, Nutt-less! You're the one that took those comcs!
ERIK: (To LYLE.) Cause, ya know, he can hear you through the TV.
LYLE: Shut up...
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
(The scene then cuts back to the REPORTER and BENNTING.)
REPORTER: So, you're saying that you've seen this kind of behavior apparent in this young man before?
BENNTING: Oh, yes. Being his art teacher, and having been so for the past four years and gotten to know Mr. Grant, let me tell you, that delinquent has had nothing but criminal activity on his mind since the day I met him!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
(Scene cuts straight to LYLE.)
LYLE: What a load of bull-
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
(Scene quickly cuts to LYLE again.)
BENNTING: He's an irresponsible vandal, who either cannot or chooses not to feel remorse for the life of ill conduct that he leads
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
(Scene cuts quickly to LYLE again.)
LYLE: Lies! Lies!!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
(Scene cuts back to BENNTING and the REPORTER.)
REPORTER: Can you give us an example of these supposed acts of vandalism?
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
LYLE: (Snidely.) No!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
BENNTING: Certainly. For example, last year in Art class, he refused to do any of his work correctly. I told the class to sculpt a scene showing motion. He throws two globs of clay together and hands it in!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
LYLE: (Jumping to his feet, shouting at the TV.) It was supposed to be a meteor hitting a building, asshole! (The others pause and look at him.) What? It was!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
BENNTING: And to top it all off, when I asked all my students to sculpt clay models of their own faces, he has the audacity to fill his with shards of dry clay, and give it no ventelation holes, so that the abomination explodes in the kiln and ruins everyone else's projects! And he did it all just to spite me!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
LYLE: Lying sack of... (Pauses.) Actually, that last part is true... (The others again pause and look at him.) What?!
CUT TO: INT. MALL, NEAR THE ENTRANCE
(HICKS suddenly steps forward and takes the microphone from the REPORTER.)
HICKS: And not only has he done all that, but he's also tormented me since the first grade, constanty mocking me and hurling nasty names at me just cause the teachers happen to like me better than him! But we finally got him this time! Mr. Bennting's plan has succeeded! We-
(BENNTING quickly clamps his hand over HICKS's mouth to keep him from revealing any more.)
BENNTING: (Smiles quickly at the REPORTER, who is now looking at him strangely.) You'll, ah, have to forgive my associate here. He tends to ramble idiotically when he gets flustered.
REPORTER: (Nods.) Perfectly understandable. From what you've told me it sounds like this Lyle Grant has put you and your life partner here through a lot.
BENNTING: Yes, he certainly- (What the REPORTER just said suddenly hits him.) What?! Life partner?!
REPORTER: Well, yeah. Aren't you two, uh... well, ya know.
BENNTING: Dear God, no! I am a teacher, and he is merely my student! Nothing more!
GUARD #1: (Standing of to the side with GUARD #2, whispers to him.) Funny... I kinda thought it'd be the other way around.
BENNTING: (Fuming now.) That's it! This interview is over! (And he storms off, exitting the scene, HICKS following closely behind.)
CUT TO: INT. MALL, COMICS STORE
(The scene cuts back to LYLE and the rest.)
ERIK: (Still watching the TV.) Heh heh... she thought they were gay.
LYLE: (Angrily pacing now.) I can't believe this!
ERIK: (Shrugs.) I can. They come off as pretty gay.
JASON: (In an exasperated tone.) Erik... (ERIK looks at him expectantly. JASON looks as if he's about to say something, then shakes his head.)... nevermind.
COREY: (Watching LYLE pace.) So, you're sure it was Mr. Bennting that took the comics?
LYLE: Of course I'm sure!
KATJA: But the description of the thief said it was a teenager.
LYLE: Well, obviously, Bennting had his little slave flunky, Hicks, steal them for him! That way, even if he did get caught, he'd still have the perfect patsy to blame it on!
KATJA: Wow... this was a really elaborate plan, just to get back at you for misbehaving in class.
LYLE: See? I always told you guys Bennting was a psychotic evil mastermind, but you just wouldn't listen to me!
PAUL: So what you're sayin' is 'bout the only way we're gonna get you off the hook, is if Bennting fesses up himself?
LYLE: Yeah, and like that'd ever happen.
PAUL: (Pounding his fist into his palm.) It will if me and Silent Zach beat a confression outta him! (SILENT ZACH nods in agreement.)
COREY: (Rolls his eyes. Sarcastically.) Yeah, good idea. Let's attack the guy who's surrounded himself with mall security.
PAUL: Yeah! Now you're talkin'! Let's go kick some ass! (He and SILENT ZACH start toward the door. COREY grabs them by the arms and stops them.)
COREY: Oh, knock it off, idiots!
(PAUL and SILENT ZACH look at him for a moment, then grumble and take to sitting on the counter. KATJA, meanwhile, is shaking her head. She lets out a deep sigh.)
KATJA: Well, Lyle, unless you can somehow trick Mr. Bennting into admitting that he was behind the theft, I don't know how we're gonna get you out of this.
LYLE: Yeah... so in other words I'm more screwed than Pamela Anderson at a white trash rockers convention.
KATJA: (Raising an eyebrow.) Well... I guess that's one way of putting it...
(At that moment, the P.A. System beeps loudly, and once again, the P.A. VOICE rings out.)
P.A. VOICE: Attention mall shoppers. Ms. Ima Queere, you left your car's lights on. Repeat, Ima Queere...aw, dammit! (Laughter is heard in the background.) I hate you guys! I really do!
LYLE: (Looking around, appearing very annoyed.) Alright! Where.... in the freaking hell is that coming from?!
JASON: What, the P.A. System?
LYLE: Yes!
ERIK: (Sarcastically.) Hmm, gee, I dunno... could it possible be coming from that speaker over there? (He points to one of the wall's corners above a shelf. A small, white speaker is located there.)
JASON: Yeah... they got speakers like that all over the mall. They're all wired to the broadcasting radio in the management office in Sears.
LYLE: (Pauses, as if something is dawning on him.)...All over the mall, you say?
JASON: Yeah.
LYLE: (Stroking his chin.) Hmmm... (After thinking a moment, he turns to KATJA.) Well... tricking Bennting into confessing is the only way to get me out of this, eh?
KATJA: I don't see how else we would-
LYLE: (Interrupting, putting one arm around COREY's shoulders, the other around KATJA's.) Well, then that's exactly what we're gonna do!
COREY: (Giving LYLE an incredulous look.) And just how do you plan on accomplishing this?
LYLE: (Grinning now.) You'll see. Follow. Paul, Zach, I'm gonna need your help too. I've got a brilliant plan!
(And with that, he walks out of the comics store, exitting the scene. PAUL and SILENT ZACH look at eachother and shrug, before following, exitting the scene as well. COREY shakes his head, and looks at KATJA.)
COREY: Hoo boy... this should be interesting.
(And with that, he and KATJA too leave the comics store and exit the scene. ERIK and JASON watch them leave, and stand for a moment in silence.)
ERIK: Ya know... I'd follow them to see how this all turns out... but I really could care less.
(JASON nods slowly in agreement as we reach the...)
END OF SCENE
TO BE CONTINUED....