Lock-In: A Teen Dramedy (6)
Amy And you like him. Mia Whatever. Amy You do! Ryan The feeling is mutual. Mia Yeah well he’s not gonna ask me out…he’s too busy smoking up with Eddie all the time. I can’t be around that. Ryan You never know, I think he just may surprise you. Mia (examining the pill bottle) Maybe… Amy What is it? There is a brief pause. Mia Nothing. She throws the pill bottle in a nearby trash can. INT. THEATRE/BATHROOMS—MUSICAL SEQUENCES (MORNING) Time warps again. People wake up, start getting their stuff together, and getting dressed and ready. “Use me” by Bill Withers is playing. There is a long line to use the girl’s bathroom. Eddie laughs at all the girls waiting. There are people talking to one another “Can you give me a ride home?” is asked by someone. Stills and Curran fence with toothbrushes. Janni slaps them both in the head. Then they attack him; Lokey jumps on his back from behind. Rob doesn’t talk to anyone. Neither does Zoe. Leah and Zoe use the sink at the same time. Leah gives her a look that is one of pity and disgust. More shots of people packing up. Liefert wakes up and falls out of his chair. As the song winds down, everyone is sitting in the theatre in their original cliques. Amy and Leah and Mia have more people in theirs however. Liefert is doing grades in his grade book. Liefert Ok folks. I just finished the grades. Ummm… everyone pretty much got a hundred percent for last night’s skits. Like I say I was pleased for the most part with them. I saw some good things, and I hope you’ll be ready to get back to work on Monday. With that said, I hope you had fun, that you learned a little, and grew a little. Maybe you didn’t but I hope you gained something out of this. A brief shot of every character. Liefert Does anyone need to make a call to his or her parents? Several people raise their hands. Liefert Okay, anyone who needs to make a call to get a ride home or whatever, come with me, we can do it in my office. Have good day folks. Liefert gets up to leave. Several kids go with him. They exit. Everyone else has gotten up as well and most are standing around talking. Sarah and Brenna are back with Maryruth, who is all smiles again. She winks at Jan. Rob and the boys are once again together as well. Though this time Jan is doing the talking. Jan She’s really not that bad of a person. Stills Is this the same Maryruth we’re talking about? Jan Yes Stilling. Stills Okay, just checking. Jan We talked almost all night; I straightened things out between her and Rob, even though she understood you were upset. Rob Thanks man. Jan And we have a date tonight. Curran Dude, are you serious? Jan Yep. Stills Wow! Lokey Yeah dude, you are now officially God. Stills I just wanna know what’s up with The Rob? Ryan He had a rough night. Rob You can say that again. Curran Dude, what happened? Rob Too much. I really don’t feel like talking about it. The camera switches to Zoe in Maryruth’s group. Zoe Seriously guys. I don’t want to talk about it. Maryruth Are you sure? The camera switches back to Rob. Rob Yeah, I’m sure. Ryan We’re here for you if you need it. Then back to Zoe. Zoe Thanks guys, but I’ll deal with it in my own way. Maryruth Do you want me to have Jan talk to Rob for you? Then back to Rob. Rob I don’t she has anything to say to me. And I definitely don’t have anything to say to her. Not anymore. Curran Well we gotta wait outside for Stilling’s mom. We’ll see you guys later. Rob, I hope you feel better man. Rob See you on Monday. Curran and Stilling walk away. As they are leaving, Curran jumps on Stilling’s back and he carries him out of the theatre. Lokey runs after them. Coming through the double doors, they walk past Mike, Eddie, and Josh. Josh (as Andy, Curran, and Lokey exit) Now there’s something you don’t see everyday, but you assume it happens anyway. Mike and Eddie laugh. Eddie So are we going to your house Josh? Josh Yeah. I just got the new Resident Evil game a couple days ago. Eddie Alright. We out then. You comin, Mike? Mike (hesitating) Yeah, I guess so. Eddie Let’s go then. They begin to leave. Mike Hold up! Wait here a sec. I forgot my sweater inside. Eddie Alright. We’ll wait. Mike goes back into the theatre. Eddie Wait, was he wearing a sweater? Now, inside the theatre, Mike seeks out Mia, who is by the exit out to the parking lot. There is hardly anyone inside save for Mia and Amy at the front. Amy My mom’s outside. Are you ready? Mia (distracted with things in her overnight bag) Yeah, I guess so. Mike (calling as he’s walking down the isle) Mia! The girls both look up. Then they exchange a glance. Amy I’ll be waiting in the car. Mia Thanks. Amy exits, Mike comes over to Mia. Mike Hey. I was hoping I’d catch you before you left. Mia Really? Mike Yeah. I came to tell you the news. Mia What is it? Mike I decided to stop smoking. Period. Mia Seriously? Mike Yeah. Mia When did you decide? Mike Last night. Eddie and I were out last night smoking and he said: EXT. HIGH SCHOOL (NIGHT) Flashback to last night. Eddie, Mike, and Josh are standing to the side of the building. Eddie I don’t think we should smoke up anymore. Mike I’ve been thinking about that too. I don’t think I really want to anymore. Josh I really don’t care either way. Mike (V.O.) But then this morning they were like: Now it’s morning, they’re in the same spot. Josh Do you have the stuff? Mike I thought you guys said we were gonna quit? Eddie Why do you always believe things I say when I’m high? That was last night fool! The camera rejoins Mike and Mia in the theatre. Mike I decided to keep my promise. I didn’t smoke up this morning at all. Mia (smiling) Awww, that’s great. You should be proud. I’m glad you stuck to your guns. Mike Thanks. (pauses thoughtfully) Oh wait before I forget I wanted to ask you something. Mia What? Mike Will you go out with me tonight? Hang out for a while? Mia (smiling wider) Sure, why not. Mike Oh good. I’ve always wanted to go out with a badass. Mia (scoffing) Whatever. Mike So, I’ll call you later. He begins to walk away. Mia Mike! Mike (turning around) Yeah? Mia Amy and I were gonna grab some breakfast. You wanna come? Mike (grinning) Yeah sure. Eddie opens the door at the back of the theatre. Eddie Mike! You comin? Mike No I’m gonna catch a ride with Mia! Eddie Whatever, Dude. Catch ya later! Eddie closes the door. Mike looks at Mia. He offers her his arm, and takes her bag. Mike (in a fake British accent) Shall we go M’lady? Mia (playing along and taking his arm) Yes we shall. They exit the theatre. The camera goes to Ryan who was behind them, on the stage behind the curtain. Ryan I saw that one coming. He gets down from the stage and goes over to the opposite door. He goes through, then around the corner where he meets up with Jan and Rob standing by the elevator. Jan She actually said that to you? Rob Yeah. Jan That sucks. (looking up to see Ryan) Hey Ryan, did you hear what happened last night? Ryan Yeah, I actually happened to catch some of it as it was happening. They start walking toward the exit. Rob It’s just…I’m not going to talk about it anymore. I’m just going to put her out of my mind. She wants to be that way, fine. I can’t change her mind so I’m not going to bother myself with it. Jan (sarcastically) Right. They approach the exit. Leah is sitting on the bench near the exit. Rob Hey I’ll meet you guys at the car. Jan Okay. Ryan and Jan exit, talking to each other. Rob Hi. Leah Hey. Rob Look, I just wanted to apologize for last night. Leah (standing up) Good! Cause you were a real jerk! (softer) But I understand what you were going through. Rob Plus I wanted to thank you for “helping me out” this morning. Leah (smiling) You owe me so much now. Rob (smiling) How would you like to be paid? Leah Oh let me think about it over the weekend. That way I can make it something real good. Rob (groaning) Oh God! (pausing) But we’re good though? Leah Yeah, we’re fine. Are you gonna be ok? Rob No. I don’t think so. Leah Is there anything I can do? Rob No this is something I’ve gotta work on by myself. They hug. Leah (as they hug) It’s not your fault. Rob Maybe… (she gives him a look) I’ll keep it in mind. Leah Call me if you need to talk ok? Rob Thanks Leah. Do you need a ride? Leah No. I’m waiting for Tyson; he should be here in a few minutes. Rob Okay. See you on Monday. EXT. PARKING LOT (DAY) Rob exits, leaving Leah with a smile on her face. The camera goes to Jan and Ryan at Rob’s car. “Not Quite Paradise” by Bliss begins to play. Jan Here he comes. Rob What’s up? Jan Ryan and I were taking bets on how long you can stay away from Zoe. Rob What kinda odds am I getting? Ryan You really don’t wanna know. Rob Where is she? Ryan (pointing) Over there. Zoe is standing with Maryruth and the gang by Maryruth’s car. They are talking to some guys who are in a nearby car. Rob and Zoe catch each other’s eye. He looks away. Rob I don’t see her. Jan Hmm. Rob Who’s up for breakfast? Jan’s treat. Jan What? Rob Just get in the car. Ryan we’ll meet you at Bateman’s right? Ryan Yeah. Rob Okay. He gets in the car. Ryan goes over to his truck. As he opens the car door, he turns to the camera. Ryan I’ve been thinking. Maybe high school isn’t so much about surviving, as it is, preparing you for life. Teaching you how to about heartbreak, how to deal with people, peer pressure, drugs, and authority figures. It all comes to play in this place. It also teaches you how to deal with change, and how to be ready for it to come at any time. Things will definitely not be the same in school on Monday. So much will have happened. I like to think that I, myself am the rock. That I don’t change. Because frankly, I like who I am. And I don’t want to try to change people. I just watch other people change. High school can be painful; it can also be great. But either experience will help to shape who you are as a person. So make the most out of it while you can. From behind him, three hot girls in short clothing walk up. “Not Quite Paradise” stops playing. The Ferris Bueller theme starts to play. Girl One (seductively) Hey Ryan? Ryan (turning around) Yeah? Girl Two We were wondering--- Girl Three Can we get a ride? Ryan Sure. Wanna go to breakfast? Girls (simultaneously) Okay. Ryan (turning to the camera) What’d you expect? (back to the girls) Hop in. They get in. “Not Quite Paradise” starts back up and it’s louder now. There is a shot from behind Ryan’s truck as it drives off behind Rob and Jan. Zoe looks sadly at Rob’s car as it leaves. Jan waves excitedly to Maryruth. Rob keeps his eye on the road. The girls get in Maryuth’s car. The last shot is of all the cars leaving the parking lot, an Arial view from atop the school as “Paradise” continues to play. FADE OUT. CREDITS.
Copyright © 2001 Robert G. Hagans |