Real Genius Page #10

MAKEUPMAN:

Off-hand, I'd say television.

ATHERTON:

(angrily to make up man)

Just get rid of the crows' feet!

(to Carmichael carefully)

There's nothing more important than " crossbow," but when went from blue sky to black you turned into Bigfoot.

The STAGE MANAGER approaches.

STAGE MANAGER:

Ready to go, Dr. Atherton.

He exits.

ATHERTON:

Pushing me doesn't help. You tell them that.

He walks away. There is definitely no love between them.

ATHERTON (CONT'D)

(under his breath)

Son of a b*tch.

CARMICHAEL:

(under his breath)

A**hole.

ANGLE ON ATHERTON as he walks over to the cue card man and checks through the cards. KENT enters in a rush.

KENT:

I have something to...

ATHERTON:

(cutting him off)

Did you pick up my dry cleaning?

KENT:

Yes I did... there's something you should know.

ATHERTON:

The gravy stain?

KENT:

No, that came out.

(very pleased)

Chris and Mitch aren't working. They're at a party.

Atherton begins to seethe.

ATHERTON:

I want to show me where, right after I'm finished here.

KENT:

(all smiles)

My pleasure.

STAGE MANAGER:

In five...four...

Kent forgets to move. Atherton shoves him off. We HEAR an off-stage CRASH.

STAGE MANAGER (CONT'D)

...three...two...and...

We PUSH in on nearby monitor. the show's logo comes on, along with its theme MUSIC.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

WELCOME TO "SCIENCE," WITH YOUR HOST, Dr. JEROME ATHERTON. FUNDED BY...

A NEW CARD SHOWS ON THE MONITOR.

ANNOUNCER (V.O.)

... A grant from Pacific Electric Instruments. PEI. And now, Dr. Atherton.

Atherton appears on the monitor.

ANGLE ON ATHERTON IN THE STUDIO

He smiles broadly and reads from the cue cards.

ATHERTON:

Good evening. Tonight we're going to look at something most of us take for granted... the colon. What's it look like?

KENT WANDERS BY IN THE BACKGROUND.

INT. WAVE TANK ROOM-LATER THAT NIGHT

THE PARTY IS STILL GOING STRONG.

ANGLE ON JORDAN:

She tosses a volleyball up into the air in a one-woman game of catch. Mitch approaches forlornly.

JORDAN:

Wanna play?

MITCH:

I'm not very...

HE GETS SMACKED IN THE HEAD BY THE BALL.

MITCH (CONT'D)

Sure, all right.

Through the following, Mitch and Jordan volley the ball between them.

JORDAN:

Some party, huh?

MITCH:

I guess.

(hesitant)

How come you're not...

JORDAN:

Necking?

MITCH:

well...

JORDAN:

I'm not gay.

MITCH:

(embarrassed)

I didn't... I wouldn't even...

JORDAN:

Look, I'm seventeen. I'm brilliant, and I'm hyper kinetic. Guy are a little afraid of me, you know. It'll pass...I hope.

ANGLE ON MITCH:

MITCH:

(softly)

I think you're very nice.

Mitch gets smashed on the head with the ball, sending his glasses flying.

Suddenly, Atherton burst into the room, followed closely by Kent.

ATHERTON:

(seeing Mitch)

Simon!

He passes the tape deck and snaps it OFF. Everything comes to a stop as Atherton heads for Mitch, all eyes trained on the pending drama.

ATHERTON:

You were supposed to be in the lab tonight.

KENT:

(chiming in)

Weren't you!

MITCH:

I was and...

ATHERTON:

You are at Pacific Tech to work, not to behave like a philistine.

KENT:

That's right!

MITCH:

I was working, I...

ATHERTON:

Where's Kinsley. I imagine this was his idea.

KENT:

No doubt!

ATHERTON:

(annoyed)

Kent!

KENT:

(stiffening)

yes?

ATHERTON:

(to Mitch, very angry)

I took a big chance recommending a fifteen-year-old. I guess I made a mistake. I hope you're proud of yourself.

Kent is in seventh heaven as Atherton turns and heads for the door. As they exiting, they pass Cornell and his date.

CORNELL:

Dr. Atherton?

ATHERTON:

What!

CORNELL:

Are you wearing makeup?

Atherton can only stare in his rage.

LOUISA:

Is it too try and hide those crows' feet?

He growls and exits.

ANGLE ON MITCH:

He is truly at a loss in the face of this cruelty. Everyone is staring at him. He runs out the door.

ANGLE ON JORDAN:

She watches Mitch go, feeling very badly for him

INT. ATHERTON'S LAB-THE NEXT NIGHT

Mitch, tired, looking like a kid who's been working for hours, is staring at a formula on the blackboard. Frustrated, he throws his screwdriver against it in anger and runs into the adjacent room and begins disconnecting the capacitor bank.

INT. LAB HALLWAY-EARLY MORNING

Kent, Bodie and Carter cross toward the lab. Just then, Mitch comes out. He looks exhausted and very upset. As he passes Kent, he turns away from his stare.

KENT:

(mock concern)

Gee, he looks depressed.

The other guys yuk it up. They turn and watch Mitch go into Atherton's office down the hall. They follow in time to HEAR:

MITCH (O.S.)

I'd like to make a collect call to Mrs. Bill Simon.

Kent's eyes light up with an idea.

INT. ATHERTON'S OFFICE

Mitch is on the phone. He's very upset.

MITCH:

I know, but I don't like it here anymore. I want to live at home with you...

(reluctant)

Yeah, and dad. I want to go back to high school. I-dad did what?

Rented out my room? ...Well, why can't Mr. Echevarria and I share it?... Please, ma, I want to come home.

INT. KENT'S LAB-TIGHT ON A MINI TAPE RECORDER

Its reels are spinning. It's being held up to a telephone receiver.

MITCH (V.O./FILTER)

(crying)

Please let me come home. I don't want to stay here.

WIDEN to reveal Kent holding the recorder as cater and Bodie watch. The workbench area in Kent's lab is covered with a drop cloth. Kent chuckles as MITCH pleads with his mother.

INT. DORM HALL-DINING ROOM-NEXT MORNING

The dorm population is eating their breakfast. Kent and his unholy two are smugly downing their "shredded wheat" Mitch is alone off in the corner. It's obvious he hasn't slept.

Chris enters and crosses to Kent. A WAITRESS, middle-aged, is serving coffee.

CHRIS:

Kent...let's never fight like that again.

KENT:

What?

CHRIS:

We've been lovers too long to have a silly argument come between us.

The waitress stares disgustedly at Kent.

KENT:

Chris...

CHRIS:

Please. Don't speak. You were right. Tonight I'll wear the cowboy suit.

CHRIS EXITS:

KENT:

(sputtering)

You...

WAITRESS:

Do your parents know about this?

KENT:

Of course not!

She nods and exits. Kent calls after her.

KENT (CONT'D)

Nobody knows. I mean, there's nothing to know.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Chris walks over to Mitch.

CHRIS:

Where were you all last night?

MITCH:

The lab. Where you were supposed to be.

CHRIS:

Jordan told me about Atherton coming down on you...what exactly did...

Mitch abruptly turns his back to Chris and continues eating. Chris sees the conversation is over.

CHRIS (CONT'D)

(referring to the sentence he never finished)

...Let me hold that thought and get back to ya.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Ken, Bodie and Carter. The gentle strains of classical music fill the room.

KENT:

Something soothing to eat by.

The tape is abruptly interrupted by the RECORDING Kent made of Mitch on the phone to his mother.

ANGLE ON MITCH:

He can't believe his ears. His expression runs from surprise to embarrassment.

ANOTHER ANGLE:

Everyone stops eating and listens to Mitch begging his mother to come home. They share his embarrassment and lower their heads. Even Kent's friends are uncomfortable. Kent, on the other hand, is laughing it up, having a great time.

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