Election Page #15

JIM sits at his desk and carries out his absurd task. He stops and

stares. His thoughts wander far, far away.

WALT (OS CONT'D)

. .. sophomore Tammy Metzier has

been... Metzier has been determined

ineligible - I repeat: ineligible -- for

SGA president. You may not vote for

Tammy Metzier. All other candidates are

eligible. Now please pay attention to a

very important, uh, audio-visual

presentation.

(irritated,

thinking he's off)

Linda, who typed this thing? I said I

need all caps....

INT. TV AND MILLARD CLASSROOMSDAY

CLOSE ON A TV-- mounted in the corner. An educational video is just

beginning. Host CLARK NAYLOR sits on the edge of a desk in a generic

office set.

During the video, we cut to CLASSROOMS, where from the TV's point of

view, we see the students watching: English class shop class, gym

class, biology class.

CLARK (ON TV)

Hello, students, I'm Clark Naylor of

Joslyn's Educational Resources. It's

election day, and how you vote will make

a big difference in the activities,

events, and perhaps even the policies of

your school. Over the past few days or

weeks, you've heard candidates for the

various offices make their speeches and

tell you where they stand. You've

probably seen their posters. Maybe

you've even had a chance to speak with

them personally.

CLOSE-UPS OF STUDENTS

Now replace the wider shots of classrooms. Photographed as though

from a Soviet propaganda film, some students look up nobly and

attentively, while others watch with dead eyes and open mouth, and

still others goof off.

CLARK (ON TV CONT'D)

Well, today marks the end of

campaigning, and now the spotlight turns

to you. Voting is your privilege and

your responsibility. Remember, no one

needs to know for whom you've voted.

That's between you. . . and you.

An AFRICAN-AMERICAN TEENAGER walks up to Clark.

CLARK (ON TV CONT'D)

Now I'd like to introduce you to Tony.

Tony's going to show you how to cast

your vote. Are you ready, Tony?

TONY (ON TV)

I think s0

CLARK (ON TV)

Good. Let's get started

INT. MILLARD HALLWAY NEAR OF-PICE -- DAY

JIM slinks down the hall and ducks into a PHONE BOOTH. He fishes

change out of his pocket and dials. We hear the echo of the video

emanating from all the classrooms.

SHERRY'S VOICE (VO)

Hi. You've reached the Novotnys. We're

not around, but we'll call you back real

soon. Have a nice day.

JIM:

Are you there? Sherry, are you there?

It's Jim.

(suddenly angry)

Why did you do that? I trusted you.

Completely. You've ruined my life. Do

you know that? Do you realize that?

Huh? Do you? You've ruined Diane's

life. You ruined my life. is that what

you wanted?

(recovering)

I'm sorry. It's just... I'm going nuts

here. Okay, all right, so... Really,

I'm sorry. I just think we should talk,

okay? I love you.

INT. TEACHERS' OFFICES -- DAY

JIM crosses out more ballots, this time with perverse intensity.

JIM (VO)

If only my own life could be corrected

so easily, with nice fat black lines

drawn neatly through my sins.

CLOSE ON TAMMY'S NAME -

as it is blackened. We WIPE with the motion of the magic marker to:

INT. LITTLE SALLY ANN SHOP DAY

SWISH!

The curtain of the dressing room is drawn back, and there's Tammy. She

beams and walks toward --

A THREE-PANEL MIRROR,

where she takes herself in, dressed in her new Catholic schoolgirl

UNIFORM.

The SALESLADY converses nearby with Jo Metzier.

SALESLADY:

And Sacred Heart is such a good school.

Excellent school. The public schools are

going downhill, as far as I'm concerned.

JO:

Well, we've had good luck at Millard,

but for this one it's time for a change.

Tammy spins and admires the flip of the skirt.

SALESLADY:

So what do you think? Sacred Heart has

the prettiest. They have that nice hint

of purple.

TAMMY:

(lying)

I hate it.

JO:

You're just going to have to get used

to it.

TAMMY:

Please, morn. Please don't make me go

to Sacred Heart. I beg you.

JO:

(to saleslady)

We'll take two.

INT. MILLARD HIGH CAFETERIA DAY

Makeshift POLLING BOOTHS are set up just outside the cafeteria. Behind

two tables sit TWO TEACHERS who cross out voters' names on big master

computer lists. Tracy stands in line, not-so-patiently waiting her

turn.

TRACY (VO)

When the time came to cast our votes, I

stood in line just like everyone else.

She finally reaches the front of the line.

TEACHER:

Hi, Tracy

TRACY:

Tracy Enid Flick.

TEACHER:

I know.

Tracy goes into a VOTING BOOTH and quickly hands her ballot. sophomore

PHIL CHOY stands nearby with his CAMERA.

TRACY:

Phil you ready?

PHIL:

Ready.

Tracy exits the booth and heads toward the BALLOT BOX. She inserts

her ballot halfway and freezes, smiling. Phil snaps a picture, but -

PHIL:

Just a second. My flash.

Tracy remains perfectly still while Phil fiddles with his camera. A

STUDENT stands behind her, waiting to put his ballot in the box.

STUDENT:

Come on, Tracy.

TRACY:

(through her smile)

Just wait.

FLASH! Phil gets his shot and Tracy drops her ballot in.

TRACY:

Thanks, Phil.

On her way out Tracy passes Paul at the end of the line. He gives her

an enthusiastic THUMBS UP.

PAUL:

Way to go, Tracy! Isn't this exciting?

TRACY:

(awkward)

Yeah.

PAUL:

Hell, good luck!

TRACY:

(reluctant)

Good luck to you too, Paul.

PAUL:

Thanks!

INT. VOTING BOOTH Paul scans his ballot, struggles with his decision.

PAUL (VO)

It's so weird. DO people always just

vote for themselves? 'Cause looking at

my own name on the ballot, I just... I

don't know, I just felt like it's not

right to vote for yourself.

THE BALLOT - as Paul's pen puts an "X" next to the name "Tracy Flick

INT. MILLARD HALLWAYSDAY

THE BALLOT BOX is being carried through the halls and up some stairs

by Larry Fouch and three other STUDENT COUNCIL MEMBERS. The music

suggests the weighty importance of its contents and the sacred mission

of its bearers.

INT. JIM'S CLASSROOM - DAY

JIM is hunkered over his desk. He's a wreck: dark, dark circles under

his eyes; his hair didn't dry right -- frizzy here, matted there.

And he's near tears.

Larry Fouch and his retinue enter cheerfully

LARRY:

Okay, Mr. M.

Larry drops the ballot box on Jim's desk

JIM:

What? Right. So let's start counting.

LARRY:

Well, I thought that... well, the way

it always works is that SGA president

does a count, then the SGA advisor, you

know, for the two independent counts.

JIM:

Fine. So do your count. Start with

president, and I'll be right back.

LARRY:

You have the key, Mr. McAllister.

JIM doesn't understand at first, then

JIM:

Right. I know.

JIM proceeds to sort through his cluttered desk drawers but can't seem

to find the key. The council members exchange concerned looks as

Jim's search becomes frenzied.

LARRY:

Are you okay, Mr. M.?

ANOTHER STUDENT:

What happened to your eye?

JIM:

I'm fine. It's just a bee sting, a

simple little everyday bee sting. Some

people, they get stung, it's no big

deal. Me, I swell up. Okay?

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