The Power of One Page #6

(facetious)

Very apt, Mr. Levy. We look

forward to the experience.

(pause)

All right.

The boys bolt for the door.

ST. JOHN

P.K.

PK approaches.

ST. JOHN

Well-written.

PK:

Thank you, sir.

ST. JOHN

I've received notice from the

14.

Oxford selection committee. You

are to appear before them in

three weeks. I assume you'll be

reading a piece of your fiction

as your presentational.

PK:

Yes, sir.

ST. JOHN

A word of caution. Contemporary

to most of these fellows means

the seventeenth century. Try and

keep your theme, um, classical,

if you know what I mean.

PK:

Yes sir. I will.

(beat)

Will the scholarship be decided

at the same time, sir?

ST. JOHN

Money's a different matter.

Different committee.

PK:

Very good, sir.

St. John picks up a book and opens the pages. He begins

to read. PK takes it as a cue for his dismissal. He

goes to exit.

ST. JOHN

And P.K...

PK turns at the door.

ST. JOHN

Good luck tonight.

PK:

Thank you, sir.

St. John returns to his book. PK exits.

CUT TO:

21 EXT. HALL 21

Morrie waits in the now nearly-empty hall, taking some

money from another boy and making notations in a black

book. PK comes up to him.

15.

PK:

How we doing?

Morrie consults the book.

MORRIE:

You win and your dream comes true.

You lose, we're back to bread

and butter sandwiches till term's

end. What'd he want?

PK:

My appointement before the Oxford

committee came through.

MORRIE:

A snap.

PK:

For a brain like you, maybe.

MORRIE:

Come on, you'll read one of your

pieces, they'll be begging you to

attend.

PK:

But will they pay for the

privilege?

MORRIE:

Well let's bloody hope so. It'll

be a lonely time without you

there.

PK:

Morrie Levy. Is that the voice

of sentimentality I hear coming

from you?

MORRIE:

Sentimentality my ass.

Practicality. Where am I going

to find a sure thing like you to

make book on at bloody Oxford?

PK:

Go on.

He shoves Morrie playfully out the door and follows.

CUT TO:

16.

22 22

INT. LONG HALLWAY - CLOSEUP - PK AND MORRIE

as they walk down the long hall looking straight ahead.

Sweat dapples PK's face. Both boys are focused on

double doors at the end of the hall. There is the

distant MUFFLED sound of a CROWD CHEERING.

MORRIE:

You hear Sutcliffe screwed

Bartlett's sister when he stayed

with them over holidays?

PK:

I don't believe it.

MORRIE:

I heard it from Bartlett's own

lips. He's selling reservations

for next holiday. A pound for

one night; three pounds for four.

PK:

You register?

MORRIE:

For both of us. Took the whole

holiday.

The CHEERING crowd grows LOUDER the closer they get to

the double doors.

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