Pariah Page #5

15 INT. MATH CLASSROOM - DAY 15

The MATH TEACHER glides up and down the aisles passing out

graded tests. A chorus of groans follows in her wake.

MATH TEACHER:

As promised, I will be grading

these on a curve.

Alike is folded into the backmost corner of the classroom.

The desks in front her and beside her are empty. She is

ignored as the rest of the class chatters and passes notes.

MATH TEACHER (CONT’D)

But the highest grade on the test

was a 98.

The math teacher puts Alike’s test on her desk and gives her

a little smile. Alike doesn’t smile back.

The lunch bell rings and the class is a tornado, clearing the

room in a rush of limbs, shouts, and backpacks. Alike jabs

her headphones into her ears and packs her bag very

deliberately, letting the eye of the storm pass over her

before heading toward the door.

16 INT. SCHOOL CAFETERIA - DAY 16

The cafeteria is a whirl of activity and social jockeying.

Clusters of girls and boys loud-talk, flirt, fight and

horseplay at tables and in tight little groups against the

walls. Alike walks alone, staying at the fringes of the crowd

and shrugs through the cafeteria line.

17 INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY 17

Alike flees the cafeteria, tray laden with rubbery cuisine of

dubious nutritional value. She raps on the door of a

classroom and slips in.

MRS. ALVARADO (O.S.)

Hey there!

13.

18 INT. AP ENGLISH CLASSROOM - DAY 18

ALIKE:

Hey!

MRS. ALVARADO, a middle aged Californian ex-hippie type

reclines with her feet on her desk, munching on celery sticks

and sunflower seed paste. Her small desk radio plays

alternative rock. Sun beams into the empty classroom and

Alike squints as she yanks the headphones out of her ears and

pulls up a chair next to her desk.

MRS. ALVARADO

Whaddja bring me?

ALIKE:

Nothin’ you can eat.

MRS. ALVARADO

You shouldn’t be eatin’ that crap,

either.

ALIKE:

(over a mouthful of pizza)

I know.

MRS. ALVARADO

Sooo, where’s the new stuff?

Alike hands over her purple and white composition book. Mrs.

Alvarado thumbs the pages, reading silently.

MRS. ALVARADO

Hmmm.

ALIKE:

Did you see the one in the back?

Mrs. Alvarado flips to the back of the book and her mouth

moves silently as she reads.

ALIKE (CONT’D)

I’ll probably do it in class.

Mrs. Alvarado hands the book back to Alike and digs in to

another celery stick.

ALIKE:

So?

MRS. ALVARADO

So what?

14.

ALIKE:

What do you think?

MRS. ALVARADO

They’re okay.

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