Chapter 8:
It's the first week of school Gosalyn and Ali are walking down the hall, Gosalyn slightly in front. There is obvious tension between the two.)
"I think I'm finally finding out what it feels like to be a Mallard." Ali said.
"That can't be, Ali. Since its only afternoon and you're already out of bed." Gosalyn said with a tone.
"I mean my mom told me that I should join some school programs. I'm turning into you."
"Well, you've got so much else of mine, you might as well have my identity."
(slightly indignant) "Hey... Gosalyn!"
"Take a joke, Ali . Anyway, que ironico. You don't have new plans, I do." Gosalyn said.
"Ironico's not a word."
"Janice from the film school called me last night. I got accepted for the school year."
(no enthusiasm whatsoever) "That's great..."
"That sounds sincere."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"I didn't want to jinx it. Plus, I didn't think that I needed to tell you. A year in L.A. to work on movies. Starting this weekend." Gosalyn said.
"Does this college town have a name, or do you just turn left at the kid with the tractor?"
"Cheer up, Ali . Without me around, you'll have that much more time for your budding social life."
( Ali makes a face at that; things obviously aren't going well between them, and apparently this was not the first comment of this type from Gosalyn.)
(And in yet another hallway, Gosalyn and Ali are headed for their lockers, the tension between them thicker than ever.)
"I think we should talk."
"Okay. (stiffly) We are now talking."
"About the Honker thing."
"That I don't want to talk about."
"If you're still upset about it, we should deal with it now. Especially since we won't be seeing each other all year."
"You don't get it, do you? I don't want to talk about it. I don't want to think about it. I told you, I'm not mad at you about . Now let it freaking go, okay?" Gosalyn asked.
"Can I at least take you out for a good-luck pizza before you leave for your big film adventure?" Ali asked.
"Ali, I said let it go."
(And Gosalyn leaves a dejected Ali in the dust. It's going to be a loooong school year)
Gosalyn is in her room packing for her trip.
Drake comes walking in.
"Gos, are you sure that you want to do this?" He asked.
"Right now this is the only thing I'm sure about dad. I need to get away from this place." She said.
"Why are you so upset with Honker?" He asked.
"I'm just mad at this whole situation dad. I need to get away from everything for awhile." Gosalyn said.
"Who know Honker didn't do anything."
"Dad, just drop it!"
She just kept stuffing things in a box.
Honker is washing his car when Ali walks by.
"So, did you hear about Gosalyn?" Ali asked.
Honker nods his head. "Yeah, her dad told me. I can't even get near her right now."
"I can't believe that she's leaving. " Ali said.
"I know, either can I." Honker said.
Ali just looked at him.
A long Pause between the two of them.
Honker was about to walk away when Ali stopped him.
"Hold on I want ask you... do you, you know... feel the same way about me?"
Honker looked at her. "What?" He asked.
"Do you like me the same way?" Ali said.
"No I don't!"
"Am I just imagining the feelings between us." Ali asked.
Honker just looked at her. "I got to go." Honker said.
He headed back in his house.
Ali just looked at him.
The next day…
Gosalyn and the gang are at the airport saying goodbye,
"Bye Gos. You take care." Morgana said.
"Thanks Morg." Gosalyn said.
Drake was trying to act strong but it wasn't working.
"Gos, I'm going to miss you so much." Drake said.
"Dad, I'll be back on the weekends." She said.
"I know. But I'm going to miss you."
"I'll miss you too."
They hugged and then Gosalyn headed into the plane.
Drake waved to her and they headed back. Honker comes running in just as the plane takes off.
"No! Gosalyn wait!" Honker exclaimed.
Gosalyn is sitting in her seat listening to music on her ipod. Tears come running down her cheeks. She's remembering everything that she did with Honker.
'Honk, you was the only one besides my dad that I could trust and now that it's gone. I don't know what to believe anymore.' She thought.
She shook the thoughts out of her head and fell asleep.
An hour later…
The director is escorting Gosalyn cabin.
"Here we are." She said.
The director opens the door of the cabin to reveal a group of young women, all of who are lounging around the common area of the cabin. They're all dressed in black, and sport oh!-so-trendy haircuts complete with offbeat colors.)
"I'm not saying his work didn't have a place.."
" That's not fair. You can't evaluate the work outside the context of its time."
" You can if it's good."
(clears throat) "everyone, I'd like you to meet your new housemate, ... Jett, Anais, and Paris. This is Gosalyn."
" Hey."
(All of the girls murmur greetings.)
"Enjoy. I'll see you later."
(she leaves)
"Thanks."
"Nice haircut."
"Thanks, I..."
"Anyway, color is not something you just fling around like a dog marking its territory."
(The girls murmur responses as Gosalyn looks on and wonders what to make of her new roommates.)
She then walks over to her side of the room and sets her bags down and starts unpacking.
She pulled out a picture of her and Honker together and puts it in the dresser drawers.
Her room mates walked out of them room leaving Gosalyn alone.
"Well Gos, you wanted to be alone. And now you got it." She said.
She sighed and sat on her bed.
The next morning….
Gosalyn is now in her first class.
Daniel Dotson, world famous film maker in his own mind. a lecture before the assembled residents of the film school.
"When I unveiled "Paper Plate Genocide" in 1991, it was hailed as intriguing, provocative, even brilliant. And not just by me."
(scattered laughter)
"No, we all know critics tend to get carried away. But what was I thinking when I created a work that seems to have turned out both seminal and semiotic?" Gosalyn asked.
"I can't believe I'm getting away with this?" Gosalyn thought to herself.
(Sitting beside her, a young woman 18 or 19 years old, with tattoos on her arms and long, dark hair – Madison glances at Gosalyn and smirks; she obviously appreciates Gosalyn's
sarcastic remark.)
"Excuse me, Mr. Dotson?"
"Please... Paris, isn't it? Call me Daniel."
"Daniel. I just want to say, I think you're the greatest living film maker of our time."
"And not just because I have no taste." Gosalyn said.
"I was wondering, where do you get your inspiration?" Paris asked.
"My alimony bills." Madison said.
(This time, it's Gosalyn's turn to look impressed. Gosalyn and Maddie
exchange a look that needs no translation: they're on the same wavelength regarding this full-of-himself poseur.)
"I don't sit around and wait for inspiration. I grab it -- in the glint of the sun on a frozen peak... in the pain of an arthritic's hobble... in a lover's whisper in the dark So I'd have to say, my inspiration comes from life itself. "
"Wow. "
(Now Gosalyn and Alison are frowning. If anything, their hatred of this clown is getting deeper, if that's possible.)
"Well, that's enough of the old windbag's ramblings for today. We'll pick up here tomorrow."
(The other students sigh with disappointment, then applaud as Daniel leaves.)
"Hi. I'm Madison."
"Gosalyn."
(They shake hands.)
"Our Mr. Dotson's really something, isn't he?" Madison asked.
"Well, he certainly doesn't let substance get in the way of self-congratulatory yap." Gosalyn said.
"At least we'll never have to worry about him intimidating us with his talent. "
(Gosalyn lets out a small smile, thinking that this place might not be so bad after all.)
"Say, Gos. I'm going out shopping and going to the hair stylist. Want to came with?" Maddie asked.
Gosalyn gasped. "Yeah, sure I'd love. Since I don't have another class till an hour."
"Cool, meet me bye the doors hon." Maddie said.
"Okay, just let me put my bags in my room first." Gosalyn said.
Maddie nodded her head and the two headed off to their bedroom.
Honker is at lunch break and he picks up his cell phone and debates rather or not to Gosalyn.
He picks up the phone and dials the number. He got Gosalyn's voice mail.
"Great. Uh.. Gosalyn this is Honker. I really need to talk to you. Please give me a call." He said.
He turns off the phone.
He sees Ali standing in front of him.
"Ali? What do you want?" He asked.
"Care to go out after school?" Ali asked.
"Ali, I don't feel too good."
He just walked to his next class.
Ali is standing there looking confused.
Gosalyn walks back to her bedroom, sets her stuff down on her bed.
She picks up her cell phone from her dresser and sees Honker called her.
She rolls her eyes and puts her phone into her dresser with her other stuff.
She grabs her messenger bag and heads out of the room.
She closed the door behind her and walked into the hall way.
"Hey Maddie!" She exclaimed as she Madison next to the doors.
"Hey Gos. Ready?" Maddie asked.
"You bet! A new school, a new year. I'm ready to start over."
"Didn't fit in at you're old school huh?"
"I rather not talk about it. So let's go!" Gosalyn exclaimed.
They both walked out of the building.
Maddie has a corvette and Gosalyn gasped.
"That's you're car?" Gosalyn asked.
Maddie nodded her head. "Yes," She said.
The two got in the car and took off.
There at the hairstylist and the lady is putting the streaks in Gosalyn's hair that she wanted.
"That's what I wanted!" Gosalyn exclaimed.
"You look absolutely beautiful Gosalyn!" Maddie said.
Gosalyn smiled at Maddie.
"Now we need to get you new clothes."
Gosalyn looks over at her clothes. "What's wrong with the clothes that I have on?" Gosalyn asked.
"Nothing, I love you're clothes. It could use some touching up that's all. So come on!" Maddie said.
Gosalyn followed Maddie out of the hairstylist.
And now are in a store Maddie is handing Gosalyn an outfit.
"Now go try them on, Gos. I know that you'll look cute in them." Maddie said.
Gosalyn headed into the changing room.
Seconds later she's wearing a blue t-shirt that says "You're not the boss of me" with wide legged bottom jeans.
"You look amazing Gos!" Maddie said.
"Really? I think I look better in my own clothes. I tried this stuff before and it didn't go well."
"Well it doesn't hurt to wear them once in a while does it?" Maddie asked.
Gosalyn sighed and shrugged. "No." She replied.
"Alright then, come on it's getting close to lunch time." Maddie said.
Back with Honker and Ali in study hall.
Honker is doing his history work when Ali passed him a note.
"Pssst, Honk." Ali said.
Honker just crumbled it up into a ball and put it in his backpack, continued to work on his assignment.
Ali just sat there not knowing what to say or do.
Gosalyn and Madison enter the dinning room. Caring a tray of food.
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this." Gosalyn said.
"You can't eat in your room forever. Why go to a film's school. You're not going to mingle with you're fellow film makers."
"That's like saying why go to a penal colony if you're not going to mingle with your fellow... I think I'll stop there."
"Come on, I know they'll warm up to you if you give them a chance." Maddie said.
"Um, are we by any chance conversing across parallel dimensions?"
"I'll bet you dinner I'm right. "
"You're on, sucker. "
The girls approach the table where Paris, Jet, and some unidentified guy are sitting.)
"Mind if we join you?"
"Not at all."
"How's everyone liking the colony so far?"
"I love it. It's so... freeing."
"And Daniel? That man is brilliant. He said my white-on-white painting was a stroke of inspiration."
"I'll bet you two have explored all sorts of strokes together."
(Jet laughs)
"Oh well, I suppose genius does have its prerogatives. "
Gosalyn looked at them confused.
"Well, I don't know if Daniel's a genius." Gosalyn said.
"No offense, Gosalyn but aren't you still in high school? How much can you know about art at this point?"
"Excuse me?" Gosalyn asked.
"Paris, we all had to submit a movie to be accepted here. I'd say knows quite a bit about art."
"I'm sure you're right. I apologize. Are you guys ready to go?"
(the three bid their goodbyes to Gosalyn and Alison as they get up and leave)
"Gee, that was fun. But in the future, let's save time and just roll around on gravel."
"Sorry about that. I guess I owe you one."
"You owe me dinner."
"A bet is a bet." Madison said.
"But I'll have to take a rain cheek on that for when I get back."
"Where you going?"
"Home for the weekend. My dad's wedding is in a month. So I have to try on wedding dresses and all that stuff."
"Sounds like fun."
Gosalyn rolled her eyes. "Oh, yeah. A barrel of fun for the whole family." She said.
"Wish I could go."
Gosalyn looked at her confused. "You want to go to St. Carnard and watch me try on dresses?" Gosalyn asked.
"It will beat staying here and do nothing." Madison said.
"No reason why we both should suffer. You stay here and have fun." Gosalyn said.
Honker is in his room, reading a book, when the phone rings)
(shouting from off-screen) "Honker phone."
(picks up phone) "Hello?" He asked.
"Hey it's me. I was wondering what you're doing tonight."
Honker is getting very annoyed now.
"Actually, I'm... not feeling that well."
(split-screen between Honker and Ali)
"Still? Then can I bring you a bowl of soup? I'll even throw in a couple of goldfish crackers. Or real goldfish, if you prefer."
"Thanks, but I'm kind of beat. I think I'll pass."
"Honker is everything all right?"
"Never better. I mean, except for this cold."
"All right. Call me if you feel like getting out, okay?"
"Sure."
(As they hang up, Honker leans back and gets a "dammit, why is this happening to me?" look on his face)
To Be Continued…..