Detroit Rock City Page #5

SLAM! They shut their lockers in unison.

INT. STUDY HALL - DAY

The STUDY HALL TEACHER grades papers. On the wall a picture

of President Carter hangs next to Old Glory. The words "Be

Quiet" are written on the blackboard.

Students study, read, doodle, sleep. Jam is at his desk

touching up the word "Mystery" on his drumstick. Next to him

sits BETH. Quirky, but cute, she stares longingly at him

wanting to say something, but not having the guts.

Pleased with his work, Jam puts the drumsticks on the desk

and opens a Peter Criss album cover notebook depicting

countless doodles of the KISS logo, the Mystery logo, and

renderings of Peter Criss.

Beth SIGHS and opens her own notebook. Drawings of hearts

fill the pages. In them is written "Beth + Jeremiah" and "I

love Jeremiah."

Then, one of Jam's drumsticks rolls off the desk and onto

the floor. Beth quickly reaches down to grab it for him just

as he bends to get it too. THUD, they bash heads.

JAM:

Oof!

(whispering)

Sorry.

Rubbing her head, she smiles and hands him the drumstick.

BETH:

No problem.

JAM:

Thanks.

He stuffs his drumsticks in his socks pulling his pantlegs

down. Jam and Beth stare at each other. There's a mutual

crush, but both are apprehensive about making the first move.

Both want to speak, neither does. They awkwardly go back to

their notebooks.

Mustering the nerve, Jam breaks the ice and whispers...

JAM:

Beth?

Beth spins too quickly. Her pen flies out of her hand.

BETH:

Yes?

BOINK! The pen hits Jam in the eye.

JAM:

Ow!

Feeling awful, Beth moves in to help. The teacher looks up

sternly.

STUDY HALL TEACHER

Mr. Bruce, Miss Bumsteen, is there a

problem?

BETH:

No. No problem.

Jam points to his eye.

JAM:

Just a little pink eye. No reason to

panic.

Unamused, the teacher goes back to grading.

BETH:

(whispering)

Sorry.

JAM:

(handing back pen)

It's okay.

Beth resumes doodling feeling like an idiot. Jam does too.

Ah, teenage awkwardness. Finally, Beth musters up some

courage.

BETH:

Jeremiah?

JAM:

Yeah?

She hems and haw, then...

BETH:

I wanted to tell you something...

I...

Suddenly, Beth is rudely interrupted by HIGH-PITCHED FEEDBACK

coming from the P.A. The PRINCIPAL'S VOICE ECHOES over it.

PRINCIPAL'S VOICE

Jeremiah Bruce, come to the office

immediately...

Jam throws a startled glance to the speaker as the class

sings in unison.

WHOLE CLASS:

Oooo, you're in troubaaaallll.

PRINCIPAL'S VOICE

Your mother's here and would like to

see you right away...

More FEEDBACK as the mike on the other end changes hands.

MRS. BRUCE'S VOICE

Give me that microphone... Jeremiah,

you get your sorry self down to this

office, mister!

All the kids except for Beth burst into hysterical laughter.

Mrs. Bruce's tirade continues over QUICK SHOTS of...

INT. HAWK'S SCIENCE CLASS - DAY

Hawk sits at his lab table burning an eraser with his Bunsen

burner. His eyes widen with horror behind his goggles as the

other STUDENTS laugh till they hurt.

MRS. BRUCE'S VOICE

I found some things in the pockets

of your jacket while I was picking

up your disgusting laundry today...

INT. LEX'S GYM CLASS - DAY

Lex's eyes bug with terror. The basketball game is at a

standstill as everyone is crippled with laughter.

MRS. BRUCE'S VOICE

Cigarettes! Marijuana! Prophylactics!

INT. TRIP'S HEALTH CLASS - DAY

Trip dozes at his desk as an out-of-date film about VD

sputters on. The room is deafening with laughter. Then, as

if hit by a ton of bricks, Trip wakes up alarmed by the

familiar, shrilly voice.

MRS. BRUCE'S VOICE

And something much, much worse!

TRIP:

Holy sh*t, my jacket!

4-WAY SPLIT SCREEN

We see Jam, Hawk, Lex, and Trip agog in dread.

MRS. BRUCE'S VOICE

If you know what's good for you,

you'll get down here... NOW!

INT. JAM'S STUDY HALL - DAY

Jam slowly sinks in his chair under the profoundly humiliating

weight of an ENTIRE SCHOOL'S ECHOED LAUGHTER.

INT. WAITING AREA - DAY

Mrs. Bruce sits next to a stand-up ashtray in the high

school's waiting area. Scowling, she fans the KISS tickets

out with one hand. Jam sits across from her, one leg jittering

anxiously.

They sit for an uncomfortably long time until... Mrs. Bruce

pulls a cigarette and lighter out of her purse.

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