Monkey See Monkey Do – Chapter 2

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Establishing shot: Ext. of Middleton High

Sign: Middleton High School – As seen in Asbestos Monthly Magazine

Int. of High School hallway

RON STOPPABLE is walking down a hallway engrossed in a magazine called "Insane" (which is a take-off of "Mad"). RUFUS is on his shoulder reading, too.

Ron: This is it, Rufus! The special, double-sized, year-end, "Best Of" issue of "Insane" magazine! I am so stoked!

Rufus: Mmm-hmm. Mmm-hmm.

Ron: (Laughing) Bwaa! Ha! Ha! Ha! Look at this…a "Law and Order" parody called "Slaw and Disorder"….now THAT's comedy! How do they think of this stuff?

The hallway grows dark and ominous – Ron is still occupied with his magazine. Rufus tries to get Ron's attention.

Rufus: Uh-ohh….hey…(taps Ron on shoulder).

Ron: What? (looks around) Oh…uh-oh, Rufus, we've wondered into D-Hall. We better get out of here before –

D-Hall Thug 1: Hey, dweeb. Whatcha got there? The new issue of "Insane"?

Ron freezes in terror.

Rufus: Oh no. (Runs down Ron's leg and into his leg pocket – a hand reaches out of the pocket and closes the zipper)

D-Hall Thug 1 (turns to Thug 2): Y'know what, Butch, I lost a magazine just like that yesterday. Doesn't that look like MY magazine?

D-Hall Thug 2 aka Butch: Uuuh, yeah, Pete, that might be the magazine you lost yesterday…you want I should inspect it for, uhhh, distinguishing characteristics.

D-Hall Thug 1 aka Pete: Yeah, we should. Hand over the 'zine, dweeb. I need to inspect it to see if it's mine.

Ron starts backing away.

Ron: Oh, man, c'mon. I just got this at lunch….I haven't even gotten to the picture-thingy that you fold up and it turns into another picture...thingy.

Butch: (steps closer to Ron) He said 'hand it over'.

Ron stops backing away and holds up a hand as if saying "Hi".

Ron: Oh, hi Mr. Barkin!

Pete and Butch: What? Oh…um….we weren't –

As the two thugs turn around nobody is there. They quickly realize they've been duped.

Ron has already turned and is running in the other direction while stuffing the magazine in his backpack. The magazine is halfway sticking out of the backpack.

As Ron runs down the hallway, the hallway takes on a design-lookreminiscentof the interior of the temple in the previous scene.

A third, very large bully appears and tries to block Ron's path.

Ron slides between the legs of the third bully. As Ron is sliding, a fourth bully dives towards Ron.

Ron sees the bully headed towards him.

Ron: Ahhhhh!

Ron stops "on-a-dime" and stands up to stop the slide. The bully goes flying past him into a locker.

SFX: KKRAAAASHH!

Ron looks back and sees the three remaining bullies running towards him. Ron is nearing the stairs but sees that they are too full of people for him to escape. Instead of running down the stairs, Ron runs, leaps,and jumps off a railing on the second floor landing and grabs onto a banner that says "Catch the Spirit / Mad Dog Pride".

The banner rips in half (long-ways) and Ron finds himself swinging in a manner similar to Dakota swinging over the chasm in the previous scene.

When Ron lands on the floor below, he slides across the floor.

The slide soon turns into a roll and Ron rolls right into…..MR. BARKIN. Mr. Barkin is standing in an authoritative stance with his hands on his hips. He has a stern look on his face.

Mr. Barkin: Stoppable. What, in the name of all that is good and proper, do you think you're doing?

Ron: B-B-But Mr. B. I wasn't – I was being – they wanted my magazine!

Mr. Barkin: (Looking over Ron) What maga- Oh, THAT! Hand it over, Stoppable. You should know that "Insane" magazine is considered contraband at Middleton High.

Ron: But the bullies! I was –

Mr. Barkin: I see no sign of these bullies you are speaking of – report to my office first thing tomorrow morning before school and we will discuss the consequences of your actions.

Ron: (handing over his magazine) Oh, man.

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CUT TO KIM'S LOCKER…

Kim's locker is open. She is busy putting books in and taking books out whilehalf-listening to Ron. Rufus is sitting on Ron's shoulder listening. Ron is busy telling Kim about his experience with the bullies and with Barkin…

Ron: …so that's when Barkin (making 'quotation' hand gestures) CON-FI-SCAT-ED my brand new copy of 'Insane' magazine! Isn't "confiscated" like French or something for "steal"?

Kim: What's the big deal, Ron? It's just a silly comic book.

Rufus: (slapping himself in the forehead in disbelief, shaking his head back and forth) Hnnh-uh.

Ron: A SILLY COMIC BOOK! Kim! Is that what you think? (makes 'buzzer' sound') Wrong! 'Insane' magazine is the very pinnacle of intelligent, sophisticated social satire and commentary!. It's written at a very high level, one that far surpasses anything Barkin could ever appreciate.

CUT TO the interior of Barkin's office.

Mr. Barkin is reclined in his chair with his feet propped-up on his desk. He is clearly enjoying reading the issue of 'Insane' magazine.

Barkin: (chuckling to himself) Heh heh heh heh….(reads from the magazine) "Huh? I'm not concerned."….Oh, Albert E. Newport, you slay me every time with that line.

CUT BACK TO Kim's locker. Ron is still looking dejected.

Kim's locker computer: Do do doo do…

WADE appears on the monitor.

Wade: Hey Kim. Hey Ron. Just got a – (notices Ron) what's wrong with him?

Kim: Barkin took one of his comic books.

Ron: Not a comic book, Kim! The special, double-sized, year-end, "Best Of" issue of "Insane" magazine. I was so stoked.

Kim: Yeah, what he said. So what's the sit-

Wade: (interrupting) That's horrible, Ron. This year's "Best Of" issue was the best since…(thinking)…since…

Ron: No! DoNOT say the –

Wade and Ron: (together) Triple-sized "Harry Blotter and the Mystical Closet of Never-ending Sequels" issue!

Ron: (dejected) Oh man.

Kim: (rolling her eyes) Oh brother. Anyway, I hate to end this stimulating conversation but what's the sitch, Wade?

Wade: Huh? Oh…yeah! Got a hit this morning. It's from renowned archaeologist/explorer Dr. Dakota Smith from Upperton A and M University. He says he was kidnapped by Monkey Fist. Dakota says he was able to escape, but not before Monkey Fist got away with much of Dakota's research work.

Kim: What's the ish? Isn't this something for the Upperton police?

Wade: No. Dr. Smith says he needs to keep this hush-hush. There are larger ramifications involved and he wants to meet with you right away. The university's helicopter should be there (Wade looks at his watch / Helicopter sound effects can be heard) …now.

Ron: Oh man. First bullies, then Barkin takes my special, double-sized, year-end, "Best Of" issue of "Insane" magazine away, and now Monkey Fist…and where there's Monkey Fist there's bound to be monkeys. I have gone from stoked to bummed in less than 10 minutes.

Kim: Ten minutes, huh? Is that a new record?

Ron: Sadly, no. Remember last year when we going to the regional Cheer-off and I drank that gallon of lemonade right before we got on the bus?

Kim: Eww….yeah, I remember that.

Ron: Yeah….

Silence. Both Kim and Ron are trying to avoid eye contact with each other.

FADE OUT…

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End of Chapter 2