Homegrown Page #6

CHARLIE:

We waste our physical superiority

if fail to use our intellectual

superiority...

WILL:

I’m sorry, Father.

31.

Fire flashes in Charlie’s eyes, vicious. The most animated

we’ve seen him:

CHARLIE:

Never apologize! Apologizing is

weakness! Belittling yourself...

Learn - then never repeat a

mistake.

END FLASHBACK.

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

Ganthon lectures, mid-slideshow. The images are glamorized

colonial portrayals of interaction with Native Americans.

Will eyes his desk, frustrated.

GANTHON:

Some tribes had positive relations

with settlers and coexisted in

peace. Others refused to cooperate,

so relations became violent.

Will glares at Ganthon with disdain. OFF HIS LOOK, we...

FLASHBACK - INT. CABIN - DAY

Will holds Friedrich Albert Lange’s Geschichte des

Materialismus (the German language edition). Charlie stands

looking down at him.

WILL:

I sympathize with his plight, but I

cannot directly relate. I’d like to

encounter the outside world.

CHARLIE:

You have the opportunity to live

and think freely without being

corrupted by this rotting society.

A superior existence. I would give

anything for that opportunity. You

alone are pure, William.

WILL:

You’re right. Of course. However my

knowledge is purely theoretical...

I’d like to observe, just a bit, to

confirm my beliefs.

32.

CHARLIE:

Your senses cannot be trusted out

there. It’s all mind tricks and

manipulation.

Will nods, unconvinced, looks away.

END OF FLASHBACK.

INT. CLASSROOM - RESUMING

Will stares a hole through Ganthon - lost in his memory -

anger on his face.

Ganthon has noticed and stopped lecturing. The whole class

looks at Will and his frightening expression.

GANTHON:

Will..? Are you okay? Will?

Will looks up -- nods -- looks down at his desk. Ganthon,

still uneasy, realizes he’s short on time:

GANTHON:

Quick. I want to plant a seed about

the Presidential Scholars Program.

Mostly groans and yawns. Renee perks up.

GANTHON:

Scholars receive an all-expense

paid trip to Washington DC and meet

the President of our great United

States. Looks amazing on a college

application. Great opportunity but

extremely competitive. Only the top

students in the country. Let me

know if you want more info.

The bell rings, and the students explode toward the door.

GANTHON:

Have a safe weekend. Good luck to

our football players tonight.

The students flee. Renee follows closely behind Will.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS

Will trudges through the crowd. Renee catches up.

33.

RENEE:

A few friends and I are going to a

movie tonight. Wanna come?

(Will eyes the floor)

It’ll be fun. What else would you

do - go to the big game?

WILL:

What do you think?

RENEE:

I think people like us wouldn’t be

caught dead there. Bunch of dumb

a**holes running around with a

ball, trying to cream the crap out

of each other.

WILL:

What do you mean ‘people like us’?

RENEE:

Outsiders. Losers. Different kids.

WILL:

We are nothing alike.

RENEE:

I moved here last year. I know what

it's like to be new. To hear people

talking about you in the hall. You

don’t have to face it alone.

For a moment, Will's shield drops. Renee notices the glimmer.

WILL:

You know nothing about me.

Renee pulls out her smartphone.

RENEE:

What’s your number? I’ll text you

about the movie.

(off Will’s blank stare)

No number - got it. How about I

swing by your place on the way. If

you want to come, be outside at 7.

If not, no big deal.

Will watches her walk away.

34.

EXT. CABIN - DUSK - LATER THAT DAY

The sun begins to creep below the mountains. Will unlocks the

cabin -- enters.

EXT. CAHILL HOME - DUSK

Renee parks in front. A hippie girl, POLLY (16), and a

stoner, POPS (16), ride along.

Renee scans the porch: no Will. Disappointed, she drives away.

INT. MOVIE THEATER - LATER

Renee, Polly, and Pops watch the film. Renee regards the

empty seat next to her -- turns pensive.

EXT. CABIN - NIGHT

Will strikes the homemade punching bag with a newfound vigor.

He strikes and strikes until the bag rips, spilling dirt.

Oblivious, he continues to strike.

INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY - DAY

Will shuts his locker. Renee is waiting.

RENEE:

You should apply for the

Presidential Scholarship.

(blank stare)

The school only nominates one

student. I’m applying.

WILL:

So why would you want me to apply?

RENEE:

Healthy competition. I like a

challenge. It would make us both

work harder. Get to know each

other. I can go on...

WILL:

I’m not a strong enough student.

RENEE:

(scoffs)

You’re not fooling anyone.

35.

Will is taken aback. Renee doesn’t belabor the point:

RENEE:

You missed a good movie last

weekend. We’re going again

Saturday. I’ll swing by at 7.

She doesn’t wait for a reply.

INT. PRISON CELL - NIGHT

Charlie does push ups, eyes straight ahead, unblinking.

INT. PRISON VISITATION ROOM - DAY

Charlie sits opposite Will.

CHARLIE:

Does anyone question you?

WILL:

Not really.

CHARLIE:

Elaborate.

WILL:

Most people leave me alone, but

there’s a girl.

CHARLIE:

Trouble. I told you to remain

completely inconspicuous.

WILL:

I have. She’s harmless. But she’s

persistent.

Charlie’s exhales hard, losing interest.

WILL:

She wants me to apply to a scholar

program for the top students in the

country. To meet the President in

Washington. It’s comical. Who would

want to compete to meet that

conniving puppet?

Charlie’s eyes dart back to Will.

CHARLIE:

You would meet the President?

36.

Will nods. Charlie processes the information... then:

CHARLIE:

Perfect. This is your opportunity.

This is your destiny.

Will’s eyes search Charlie, perplexed.

CHARLIE:

It’s time to achieve, William.

Integrate yourself. Do what you

must. The President will meet you.

The world will know our strength.

They lock eyes. Will wavers, then nods. Charlie leans in --

starts whispering plans to Will.

EXT. CAHILL HOME - DUSK

Will sits on the porch. Renee pulls up. Will freezes, hoping

he hasn’t been spotted. Her voice pierces the night:

RENEE:

Come on, Will. We’re running late.

Will nervously plods toward the car.

INT. RENEE’S CAR - MOVING - MOMENTS LATER

Renee drives. Polly texts in the front seat. Will and Pops

ride in back. Pops nods ‘what’s up’ to Will.

Bob Dylan's Tangled Up in Blue thunders from the speakers,

forcing the conversation to consist of near-yelling.

Will studies Pops. Renee smiles back at Will.

RENEE:

Glad you came.

Will gives a slight nod. Polly turns the volume down.

POLLY:

Dylan sold out, man. If he hadn’t

gone electric, folk scene would

still be huge. He ruined folk

music. Period.

RENEE:

He evolved as a musician. His

electric stuff just shows

versatility. Interests can change.

37.

POLLY:

Sold out.

RENEE:

If he hadn’t come along, the folk

scene never would have gotten as

big as it was...

Polly turns to address Pops, whose full attention is occupied

by watching his own hand dip and rise in the wind.

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