Forest High School

ACT TWO

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EXT. FOREST HIGH SCHOOL -- MORNING

Josh and Jordan stand across the street from the high school, waiting for the first bell to ring. Jordan holds a coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other, while Josh paces with clenched fists.

JOSH
Hey man, sorry I didn’t go last night. I got fucked up and completely lost track of time.

JORDAN
It’s okay; I found someone else to go.

JOSH
So you saw it? Good. I was worried you’d have to deal with the hassle of getting your money back.

JORDAN
I don’t think "Eddie" would allow it.

JOSH
Who?

JORDAN
Nothing, just some random guy that was gonna kick my ass last night. Inside joke, and not really a funny one at that.

JOSH
Yeah, err... okay. So who went?

JORDAN
I asked Chris to go... so no big deal, don’t worry about it. (avoiding the question)

JOSH
Cool, well... sorry again.

JORDAN
Don’t worry about it. Really... I was pissed at first, but the night worked out...

The first bell rings, and a school coach stands in the parking lot across the street, watching them.

COACH MC'DAVON
(yelling)
You two ladies coming to school today? Or were you planning on getting your nails done this morning?

JOSH
(whispering)
God, I hate that fucktard...

JOSH
(CONT'D)
We should go before he radios the school cop for a drug bust or some shit.

JORDAN
Yeah.

They wait for a few cars to pass before leisurely walking across the street. Coach Mc'Davon stands with arms crossed, watching their every move.

JOSH
(speaking to Coach)
I know I’m pretty, but you don’t have to watch me so closely.

COACH MC'DAVON
Funny, what I’d expect from a little faggot like you... Skip enough school, and you’ll end up—

JORDAN
(cutting off Coach)
A coach at a high school in a small town? At least screwing the cheerleaders is a plus...

COACH MC'DAVON
That’s enough out of you; one more word and I’ll send your ass home. Wouldn’t bother me a bit; you’d still be failing...

JORDAN
But wouldn’t your life be forfeit if you didn’t see our faces in gym today?

COACH MC'DAVON
(laughing)
I don’t ever see your faces; I forgot you two are even in one of my classes. If you skip today, I’ll fail you. Will I see you today?

JOSH
Yes, yes... you’ll see us. Smiling and all.

COACH MC'DAVON
Great, 'cause I’m working your ass off for making me stand out here. Now get your ass to class before I make you do 50 push-ups.


INT. JORDAN'S HOUSE -- AFTERNOON

Jordan walks into his house, throws his backpack on the floor, and heads to the kitchen phone. He picks it up, opens the kitchen window, and steps out onto the overhang—where he last spoke to Kate when she was at the house with Josh.

He dials Kate's number on the rotary phone.

KATE
(slightly out of breath and annoyed)
Hello?

JORDAN
Hi, bad time?

KATE
Um, hi... bye, I have to go.

JORDAN
Oh, okay... just to let you know, I told Josh I took Chris to see that movie. So don't mention it to him.

KATE
Too late... (Josh is heard yelling in the background)
JOSH
SPEAK OF THE FUCKING DEVIL! TELL ME THAT'S HIM!

KATE
(yelling at Josh)
JESUS, RETARD! IT'S NOT, SO SHUT THE FUCK UP ABOUT IT. IT'S THERON...

KATE
(talking to Jordan now)
Okay, Theron... well, I still have to go. So I'll talk to you later.

Kate hangs up, and the yelling in the background quickly silences.

JORDAN
FUCK! Fuck fuck fuck... ah, oh well... time to face it now.

Jordan tosses the rotary phone out of the window, pulls a pack of Camel Lights from his jacket pocket, and takes out a cigarette. He lights it with an orange D-jeep lighter from his other pocket.

* * *

INT. FOREST HIGH SCHOOL -- DAY

Jordan gets a Coke from the vending machine, but it doesn’t drop completely. He steps back, looking around—only one art kid is nearby, pretending to be a human statue.

JORDAN
Statues don’t tell on people later. (smiling, addressing the art kid)

Jordan lifts his right foot and kicks the side of the machine. The Coke drops, and he kneels to retrieve it. When he stands up, Josh is there with his fists clenched, standing to the right of the machine.

JOSH
Hey, we need to talk, man. Walk with me.

JORDAN
I need to get to class.

JOSH
Fuck class, walk with me for a sec.

Josh turns and walks down the A-wing hall, with Jordan reluctantly following.

JOSH
(CONT'D)
So, you forgot to tell me Chris really didn’t go, and you actually took Kate instead. Why'd you lie to me?

JORDAN
'Cause I knew you’d freak out.

JOSH
Are you fucking her?

JORDAN
JESUS! Fuck man, no...

JOSH
Have you ever touched her?

JORDAN
No man! I just didn’t want to waste the ticket.

JOSH
So you took my girlfriend on a date?

JORDAN
It wasn’t a date; it was two friends hanging out in your absence.

JOSH
Well, it’s over... the "Biz," the friendship... all of it. It’s fucking over, you fucking liar.

JORDAN
But...

JOSH
(cutting him off)
No! Fuck you! It’s over!

Josh locks eyes with Jordan for a moment before turning away and walking off. Jordan stands motionless as Josh leaves.

Coach Mc'Davon approaches from behind.

COACH MC'DAVON
Jesus, is this some more art-fag shit? I already told the last kid to go to class. I know you art kids think it's funny to be statues, but get your ass to class before I carry you.

JORDAN
(smiling)
Carry me.

COACH MC'DAVON
(blowing him off)
Screw you; go to class or 50 push-ups right now.

JORDAN
Yeah, yeah... going.

* * *

[Screenwriter's Suggestion: Cut quick to black and white text that reads "Year Two"]


What a difference six months makes. Last year, I was selling hits to friends from high school. Now, I’m in a different world, selling to movie producers and people in the music industry in Orlando. From the projects to penthouses in one year. I still go to the seaports in Miami and pick up books, but now I buy 15-40 at a time. I’m making more money than I ever thought I would make doing this. I’m finally living the American dream, and I’m taking my friends for the ride.

I heard that Josh has gone to selling crack and got kicked out of school because of it. From what I gather, he dropped my name, and now I look around paranoid everywhere I go. I swear I see someone in a car snapping pictures of me, so I’ve stopped using my phone in the house and only use pay-phones now. I also heard that Josh has been in some serious trouble with owing people money, so I give Kate money once in a while to lend to him, telling her it’s her money, of course. I think he may be starting to suspect something.

In the meantime, I moved out of the motel and into a beautiful studio downtown in my hometown, Ocala. I didn’t want to leave Ocala because I knew I’d get into more trouble living in a bigger city. So I lay low in my small hometown. I still see Kate once in a while; we go out for dates, but only in Orlando. That leads me to believe that she’s still seeing Josh, so I give up on her and focus more on work. That works out for months until I hear that she had an argument with him at some crackhead’s house and broke up with him.

I call her cell phone, but her message says: "I need to be normal; stop calling me fuckers." So with that, I stop calling her... but I start thinking about her all the time. She stops coming by, and I start getting lonely living in that big studio all by myself, so I ask Chris to move into the living room. Jack said he wanted to live in my coat closet, so I agree.

So, year two down, and everything is going well. I almost forget about Kate until I receive an email from her wishing me a happy 4th of July. I invite her to my party, and she replies, "ok." And that brings us to now.