Sunday 10 January 2010

Two: Discovered.

ACT TWO.
SCENE FOUR.
THE BELL RINGS
All pupils make their way to fourth period.
CASSANDRA'S ENGLISH CLASS.
SEBASTIEN and DEMETRIA are already seated beside each other and talking as other students enter the classroom.
ENTER CASSANDRA

SEBASTIEN and DEMETRIA stare at her as she enters the room and takes her seat next to them.
CASSANDRA notices and looks at the pair.
SEBASTIEN and DEMETRIA continue to stare back.
CASSANDRA
(confused. forcefully cheerful)
Hi! ..?
DEMETRIA and SEBASTIEN continue to lock onto her.
CASSANDRA shifts her eyes between them, bewildered.

DEMETRIA
(sternly)
...And where were you at break?

CASSANDRA
(sighs)
Oh... sorry guys.
Prit kept me behind for my coursework, or lack of. So she was having a go at me and then after that...
(she pauses)
(slowly, as she thinks)
...she...
(quickly and becoming infuriated)
just kept going on and on and on. God, that woman knows how to babble on, AND in that irritating French --

SEBASTIEN
(rapidly interrupting)
Heeeey!
(smiles)
It's okay, we were only joking!

TEACHER
(shouting to the now, full, class of pupils)
Silence please!
...
the class of noisy pupils begin to become silent

Ok!
Today we are continuing with our study of 'Havisham' and i hope you all have your homework completed for me to collect at the conclusion of this lesson.

CASSANDRA
(feeling slightly ridiculed, whispers)
Oh...

DEMETRIA
(in a quiet sing-song voice)
Gotchaaaa.
CASSANDRA
(whispering still)
I am becoming a little bit TOO gullible these days.
SEBASTIEN
(to CASSANDRA, whispering)
Buuuuuut... you owe me.

CASSANDRA
(smiles)
(replies quietly)
Sorry, i haven't done the homework so no copying this lesson.

SEBASTIEN
(in a low voice)
Damn.

DEMETRIA
(to CASSANDRA, quietly enquiring)
So what's up with all this homework not being done? I mean, i don't want to sound like a teacher or anything relating. But, you're getting into trouble here, there and everywhere recently... over poncey homowork. You okay?

CASSANDRA
(giggles at her, then sighs and whispers)
... I don't know. I keep getting really... sleepy recently. As in, when i get home from school i just become overwhelmingly tired and need to rest. Then i just... doze off. So, i don't really get any work done.

DEMETRIA
(confused, whispering)
Uh Huh...
SEBASTIEN
(exclaiming comically)
Okay Grandma!

TEACHER
(glances at SEBASTIEN and shouts sharply)
Sebastien!

SEBASTIEN instantly focuses his attention on her.
So then, considering you feel the need to not pay attention to my teaching, YOU can point out some of the key emotions featured in this poem?

SEBASTIEN
(pauses)
Um...
Well...
Carole Anne Duffy based this poem on a fictional character who was, quintessentially, a woman scorned. So, the key emotions i would say, are featured in this poem are hatred, revenge and anger.
(he smiles arrogantly, knowing himself that he just gave a honorable response).
TEACHER
(unobtrusively surprised)
Well done.
(intently)
Now stop talking and pay attention.
SEBASTIEN turns his head back to DEMETRIA and CASSANDRA.
CASSANDRA and DEMETRIA'S jaws drop, they are shocked.

SEBASTIEN
(smiles, egotistically whispers)
What's my name bitch?!
The girls hold in laughter.
DEMETRIA
(begins to again mutter to CASSANDRA)
So, go on, you have.... this, sleeping problem.

SEBASTIEN
(interrupting, humorously)
Granny disease.

CASSANDRA and DEMETRIA grin at him.
CASSANDRA
(whispering)
I know, i sound like a right weirdo but i just, it's, i don't... it's hard to explain.

DEMETRIA
(nods, reassuring)
Well okay, but if anything more happens, let us know, kay?
CASSANDRA nods and the three begin taking notes.
Suddenly someone knocks on the classroom door.
The teacher nods and signals for the individual waiting outside to enter.
ENTER MR.GUISE.

MR. GUISE
(to teacher, seriously)
I need to see Cassandra Clarke in my office.

CASSANDRA, instantaneously looks up at him.
She then glances at her friends, who are equally clueless.
TEACHER
Cassandra, off you go.
Reluctantly, CASSANDRA gathers and packs away her belongings and leaves the room, in no rush.
The door closes.


SEBASTIEN
(to DEMETRIA, staring at the closed door and whining)
Now that's not fair.

DEMETRIA
Yeah i know, she has enough teachers at her at the minute.

SEBASTIEN
No, i mean, she's going to get away with not handing in the homework.
DEMETRIA looks at him and rolls her eyes.

SCENE FIVE.
SCHOOL CORRIDOR LEADING TO GUISE'S OFFICE.
CASSANDRA follows Mr. Guise to his office along many corridors.
She is unaware with what concerns he has with her.
Eventually they get to the door.
CASSANDRA takes a silent deep breath and steps inside the room, after Mr.Guise.
MR. GUISE'S OFFICE.
MR. GUISE
(sternly)
Put your items down there
(his eyes move to view the corner of the room)
CASSANDRA, concerned, confused and somewhat nervously, slowly places her bag and coat onto the floor and then stands facing MR GUISE.
Poker face.
Do you know why you are here?
CASSANDRA
(hesitates whilst she contemplates the appropriate answer. she stares at him directly in the eyes)
If...
(she begins to babble)
If it's about all the homeworks, I, I apologise and I'll get them in soon. Th, there have just been...
MR. GUISE
Factors?

CASSANDRA
(suspiciously)
Yes....

MR. GUISE
Like... when you have a dream. And on the next day.. whatever happens in said dream... comes true.

CASSANDRA
(quietly shocked. sternly and defensively)
What do you know about my dreams?


One: Dream.

SCENE ONE.

CASSANDRA'S BEDROOM.ENGLAND, UK.
CASSANDRA is tossing and turning in her bed asleep.
She is clearly uncomfortable and slightly distressed.She is having a nightmare.
She is having visions of a man brutally strangling an adolescent female who has a box in her hands.
The female hits the floor, lifeless.CASSANDRA wakes with a start.She takes a few deep breathes and glances over at the clock beside her bed.6:45AM.CASSANDRA sighs and then eases out of bed slowly.

SCENE TWO.

HARRINGTON HIGH SCHOOL.
ENGLAND, UK.

CASSANDRA walks down a straight corridor and then enters a classroom to her right.
INSIDE THE CLASSROOM

SEBASTIEN
(enthusiastically)
Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas!

CASSANDRA
(still half asleep)
Morning.

(walks over to him and DEMETRIA -who are seated opposite the entrance of the room on chairs facing each other - and sits down near them)

SEBASTIEN
(smiles then turns to DEMETRIA, who is seated beside him)
So where was i? confused) Oh yeah! (he grins) And then, in a gorgeous, hot pink string bikini:(slowly nodding his head and smiling) Megan Fox.

DEMETRIA
(rolls eyes)
You boys and your obsession with Megan Fox!

CASSANDRA smiles at DEMETRIA, who smiles back.

SEBASTIEN
(jokingly)
Hey! I don't have a choice in my dreams!

CASSANDRA'S smile begins to fade into an emotionless daze.

DEMETRIA
(sarcastically)
Yeah sure...
SEBASTIEN
(again, jokingly)
So you didn't dream about, hmm.. Zac Efron, Robert Pattinson last night then, eh?
(winks seductively)

DEMETRIA
(smacks him lightly on the shoulder and smiles)
How stereotypical of you!I'll have you know that Zac Efron is too much of a pretty boy ponce for my liking. And as for (uses an 'inverted commas' action with her hands) 'R-Patz', he looks like he has AIDS.
(smiles like a smartarse)
then, she notices CASSANDRA in her daze and becomes slightly concerned
(to CASSANDRA) Hey?
CASSANDRA sharply looks up at her.

CASSANDRA
Oh.. sorry. Yeah... hi.

DEMETRIA
(concerned)
You okay?
CASSANDRA
(nods)
Yeah, I'm just... tired, is all.
DEMETRIA
(smiles, re-assured by her friend that it is nothing)
So, what did you dream about last night then?
SEBASTIEN
(turns and whispers to DEMETRIA)
If the words 'hot' 'sexy' 'Zac' 'Efron' 'Rob' 'Pattinson' come up you owe me a cake from the canteen.
DEMETRIA
(turns to him and raises an eyebrow.Whispers.)
.... Bring it.
They both quickly swivel back and focus all their attention on CASSANDRA eagerly.
CASSANDRA
(emotionless, questioning) How come we're talking about dreams?
DEMETRIA
(rolls her eyes)
Because Mr. Hormones here (does a hitch-hiking hand action in the direction of SEBASTIEN) was a little too excited and eager to inform me of his, most likely wet,
(SEBASTIEN drops his jaw in a sarcastic and comic manner)
dream he had last night. Not forgetting Megan Fox's cameo.
SEBASTIEN
(more enthusiastically)
Not forgetting Megan Fox's cameo.
(smiles)

DEMETRIA
(again rolls her eyes at him)
So then.... dream?
She then glances over at SEBASTIEN, who glances back.The pair eager for CASSANDRA'S response.
CASSANDRA
(emotionless)
I had a nightmare.
SEBASTIEN and DEMETRIA both silently and slowly edge themselves back into their seats as their excitement is shattered.

DEMETRIA
(frowns, acts concerned)
Oh...
SEBASTIEN
(quick to make light of the situation)
Did you go all 'Buffy' on the bad guy?
(smiles at CASSANDRA)

After a short emotionless pause, CASSANDRA smiles back at him.
THE BELL RINGS.
The trio sit properly in their seats - DEMETRIA and CASSANDRA sat on a table of two with SEBASTIEN and an empty seat behind them.

SEBASTIEN
(leans forward to talk to DEMETRIA and CASSANDRA)
So guys, where we meeting for break, cause we all have different lessons today?
DEMETRIA
(turns in her seat to face him)
Well, providing the room isn't locked, we could all meet back here?
(turns her head to CASSANDRA)
That okay with you Cass?
CASSANDRA
(turns to her, forces a smile)
Yeah, that's fine.
ENTER, TIFFANY, AMBER and ISOBEL.
SEBASTIEN
(noticing them, rolls his eyes, stares at them)
Enter the Bitch Patrol.
CASSANDRA
(turns and sees them. then turns back to her inner circle)
Eurgh.
FROM AFAR...

TIFFANY
(to all of the other pupils in the room, enthusiastically and over-dramatically)
Hi Everyone!
AMBER
(simply turns her nose up at the seated pupils)
All three walk over to their seats - which are right at the back in the corner of the room.
Opposite to CASSANDRA, DEMETRIA and SEBASTIEN.
DEMETRIA
(watching them)
I don't think I've ever seen anyone faker than Tiffany.

CASSANDRA
(agreeing)
Yeah and as for the sheep that follow her...
SEBASTIEN
EURGH.

THE BELL AGAIN RINGS.
The trio stand and begin to exit the room.
DEMETRIA
(to CASSANDRA and SEBASTIEN)
So then, back here after second period?
SEBASTIEN
(chuckles at her)
DEMETRIA
(sarcastically)
You are so mature.
(laughs)
SCENE THREE.

THE BELL RINGS.
BREAK TIME.

All school pupils are heard enjoying their break.

CASSANDRA'S FRENCH CLASSROOM.

CASSANDRA is the only pupil left in the room after the lesson concluded, she is talking to her teacher.
MS. PRIT
(sternly, to CASSANDRA)
Cassandra, i will not ask you for this coursework once more. If your work is not in for NEXT LESSON, i WILL give you a zero as your final grade.
CASSANDRA is looking at her teacher, emotionless.

Suis-je me faire comprendre?!
CASSANDRA
(snapping back to reality, slightly confused and taken back)
... Oui?

MS. PRIT
(snappily)
Good.
CASSANDRA turns her back on the teacher and raises her eyebrows and sighs in relief.

She then leaves the classroom.

She starts walking to her destination at a steady pace down another corridor.
She passes a large television, which displays latest general and educations news.
She glances at it briefly as she walks past.
She stops walking to a halt.
She recollects what she think she just saw.
She takes a few steps back and stands in front of the television screen.
It reads:
GIRL, 18, FOUND STRANGLED.
CASSANDRA'S eyes widen and bulge.
Her jaw drops slowly.
He expression becomes confused and concerned.
[From afar... Someone is watching her.The angle is from their perspective.They watch as CASSANDRA is frozen in front of the television screen.]

THE BELL RINGS...