Election Page #12

TRACY:

Wait - are you accusing me? You're not

serious.

(indignant)

I can't... Mr. McAllister, we have

worked together on SGA for three solid

years and... I mean, I can't believe it.

I'm... I'm shocked!

JIM stares at her.

TRACY (CONT'D)

Mr. M., I am running on my

qualifications. I would never need to

resort to, you know, to vandalism like

a, you know... Plus, my own best banner

was torn down. Did I do that too?

JIM:

Were you or were you not working in the

Watchdog office over the weekend?

TRACY:

I was. So? Mr. Pecharda let me in.

As you know, with all my

responsibilities I often come in on the

weekend and have permission to do so.

But I left very early, around 6:30.

JIM:

6:
30. How do you know what time the

posters were torn down?

TRACY:

I don't. I just know they were there

when I left. I'm giving you helpful

information is all. You know, instead

of wasting time interrogating me, we

should be out there trying to find out

who did this.

JIM:

Okay, Tracy, so who do you think did

it? Whom should we "interrogate?"

TRACY:

well, I don't know. It could have been

anybody. There are a lot of, you know,

subversive elements around Millard. You

know, like Rick Thieson and Kevin Speck

and those burn-outs. Or Doug Schenken -

what about him? Or what about Tammy

Metzier? Her whole thing is being anti-

this and anti-that.

JIM shifts gears

JIM:

You're a very intelligent girl, Tracy.

You have many admirable qualities. But

someday maybe you'll learn that being

smart and always being on top and doing

whatever you need to do to get ahead,

and yes, stepping on people to get

there, well, there's a lot more to life

than that. And in the end, you're only

cheating yourself.

TRACY:

Why are you lecturing me?

JIM:

This isn't the time or the place to get

into it, but there is, for just one

example, a certain former colleague of

mine, who made a very big mistake, a

life mistake. I think the lesson there

is that, old and young, we ail make

mistakes, and we have to learn that our

actions, all of them, can carry serious

consequences. You're very young, Tracy

underage, in fact -- but maybe one

day you'll understand.

TRACY:

I don't know what you're referring to,

but I do know that if certain older and

wiser people hadn't acted like such

little babies and gotten all mushy,

everything would be okay.

JIM:

I agree. But I also think certain

young and naive people need to thank

their lucky stars and be very, very

grateful the whole school didn't find

out about certain indiscretions which

could have ruined their reputations, and

chances to win certain elections.

TRACY:

And I think certain older persons like

you and your "colleague" shouldn't be

leaching after their students,

especially when some of them can't even

get their own wives pregnant. And they

certainly shouldn't be running around

making slanderous accusations.

Especially when certain young, naive

people's mothers are para-legal

secretaries at the city's biggest law

firm and have won many successful

lawsuits. And if you want to keep

questioning me like this, I won't

continue without my attorney present.

JIM draws a long breath as he tries to control himself

JIM:

Okay, Tracy. Have it your way.

There's a KNOCK. JIM and Tracy turn to see

TAMMY METZLER timidly poking her head in.

TAMMY:

You wanted to see me, Mr. M.?

JIM:

Just wait outside. Tammy.

TAMMY:

Okay. But is this about the posters?

JIM:

Possibly. Please just wait outside.

TAMMY:

Okay.

(looking at Tracy)

Because I know who did it. So.. I'll

just be outside.

Tammy manages to squeeze in a naughty little smile before closing the

door.

INT. OUTER OFFICE DAY

Tammy sits patiently in a chair, bobbing to an unheard song. The door

opens, and Tracy emerges.

JIM:

Tracy, don't go away. Come in, Tammy.

As Tammy and Tracy cross, Tracy speaks in a low voice but loud enough

for JIM

to hear.

TRACY:

This ought to be good

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM -- DAY

Tammy sits facing Jim, cradling her backpack.

JIM:

So... what do you have to tell me?

TAMMY:

Well, this is hard for me, but I think

it's important to be honest. Don't you?

JIM:

(impatient)

What is it. Tammy?

TAMMY:

I'm the one. I did it. I tore down

Paul's posters.

JIM:

Looks at her skeptically doesn't say a

word.

TAMMY (CONT'D)

I did it.

JIM:

And when did you do it?

TAMMY:

This weekend.

JIM:

Exactly when?

TAMMY:

I don't know. Yesterday. Sunday.

JIM:

And how did you get in the school?

TAMMY:

Door was open.

JIM:

Which door?

TAMMY:

I don't know. All I know is I did it I

JIM:

I don't believe you.

TAMMY:

I have proof.

She burrows in her backpack.

INT. OUTER OFFICE -- CONTINUOUS

Tracy stands up from her seat and manages to PEEK THROUGH THE WINDOW

of the conference room. She sees --

pulling out a handful of POSTER SHREDS from her backpack and handing

them to Jim.

Tracy turns away and covers her mouth with one hand.

INT. CONFERENCE ROOMCONTINUOUS

THE POSTER FRAGMENTS in Jim's hands. TILT UP to Tammy really hamming

it up.

TAMMY:

You don't know what it's like to grow

up in the shadow of an older brother

like Paul. it's always Paul, Paul,

Paul, Paul. Never Tammy. I'm only

Paul's little sister. You must be

Paul's little sister. He's so perfect,

and I'm so troubled. I hate him! I

hate him! And I tore down his posters,

It was a horrible, cowardly act, but I

did it,.. I did it... l did it... And

I'm not sorry...

JIM watches her performance until he can't take it anymore he's got

other fish to fry.

JIM:

Final I don't know what your problem

is, but if that's the way you want it,

that's the way it'll be. I don't have

time. You're out of the election, and

I'm turning you over to Dr. Hendricks.

He throws the door open.

JIM (CONT'D)

Tracy?

INT. OUTER OFFICECONTINUOUS

Tracy is frightened but still plays the indignant victim.

TRACY:

Yes?

JIM:

Looks like today's your lucky day

What does he mean?

TRACY:

What do you mean?

JIM:

You're off the hook. Tammy here has

confessed.

It takes Tracy a second to figure out how to react. But once she's got

it, she runs with it.

TRACY:

I told you! I told you!

(pointing at Tammy)

You're going to pay for my banner!

JIM:

That's enough, Tracy. Quit while

you're ahead, okay? I'll handle this.

(to Hiss Seeder)

Could you ask Walt to come in?

STAFFROOMDAY:

JIM is feverishly TYPING.

JIM (VO)

The rest of the day was unbearable. I

kept smelling Sherry on my clothes and

on my fingers and I just couldn't wait

to get out of there.

He yanks the paper out of the carriage and hurries away.

INT. XEROX ROOM -- DAY

A PHOTOCOPY COLLATOR in operation.

JIM pulls sheets out and stacks them.

JIM (VO CONT'D)

I wanted everything to be perfect that

afternoon, so I decided to give myself a

little time to prepare during eighth

period.

INT. JIM'S CLASSROOMDAY

Students are settling into their seats. JIM breezes in, a sheaf of

papers f***ed under his arm.

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