Real Genius Page #12

DECKER:

She happens to be my daughter.

CHRIS:

Oh, then I guess you have.

CARMICHAEL:

(to Atherton)

I'll be reporting to him every day.

DECKER:

Coming, Don?

CARMICHAEL:

Yes, Sir.

They exit.

ATHERTON:

What do you think you're doing?

CHRIS:

You said come over.

ATHERTON:

Take off those shoes.

Chris removes his shoes to reveal even dirtier socks.

ATHERTON (CONT'D)

Stay off the rugs.

INT. STUDY-CONTINOUS

CHRIS:

What's up, Doc.

ATHERTON:

I'm withdrawing your recommendation to PEI.

CHRIS:

What?

ATHERTON:

I'm giving Kent the job.

CHRIS:

Did you suddenly find humor?

ATHERTON:

You haven't solved my power problem.

CHRIS:

I'm trying.

ATHERTON:

No, you're not. So, I'm going to fail you, so you won't graduate, so you can't take the job. Q.E.D.

CHRIS:

I'll pass your exam.

Atherton just smiles a "so what" smile.

CHRIS (CONT'D)

We had a deal!

ATHERTON:

Did we? That doesn't sound very ethical.

CHRIS:

You can't do this. I'll go to Dr. Meredith.

ATHERTON:

(enjoying this)

Go ahead. What are you going to tell him. Don't forget, like most scientists, he is an honorable, moral man who thinks everyone else is too. I'll just deny anything you say.

CHRIS:

You dick!

ATHERTON:

Count on it.

EXT. DORM ROOF-NIGHT

Chris sits, lost in thought, outside the window of his room, Mitch appears at the window, sees Chris and climbs out to join him.

MITCH:

What are you doing?

CHRIS:

Self-realization. I was thinking of jumping, but it's only twelve feet.

MITCH:

Something wrong?

CHRIS:

No. Atherton is going to flunk me out of school.

MITCH:

But you had a deal.

CHRIS:

Yeah, and he says I didn't deliver. You sleep with pits, you wake up smelly. I think Aristotle said that. It was him or Eva Gabor. At least Hopsfield still has his integrity.

MITCH:

Excuse me?

CHRIS:

I thought I was so smart. I didn't want to be like the other dumb geniuses like Hopsfield. I though I could use Them., instead of Them using me. But, Guess what?

MITCH:

I have to agree. It does appear that you've been the victim of your own erroneous logic.

CHRIS:

Thank you.

MITCH:

However, this doesn't mean that you can't get yourself out.

CHRIS:

How?

MITCH:

Hard work?

CHRIS:

But that's the old way.

GRINDING MONTAGE

A series of shots showing Chris hard at work, underscored by an original song.

INT. LASER LAB

Mitch and Chris dismantle part of the laser.

INT. DINING HALL

Mitch, Jordan and Ick are listening as Chris shows them diagrams and formulas for a laser supercharger while they try to eat.

INT. BIOCHEMISTRY LAB

Chris and Ick search for a new gas combination for the laser supercharger.

INT. ATHERTON'S LAB

Mitch and Chris work hard on a second laser. Kent is both upset and suspicious of Chris' new interest in work.

INT. ATHERTON'S CLASSROOM

Chris enters carrying books and a note pad. Kent sees this and is shocked. Atherton gives Chris a "you haven't got a chance" grin.

INT. CHRIS AND MITCH'S ROOM-NIGHT

They both study for exams; on the wall is a chart of exam week showing Mitch's exam schedule, a big red square around Chris' exam with Atherton and, in every free hour is written " Laser".

INT. DORM LIBRARY

Many students, including our gang, study for exams. Suddenly, Milton can't take the pressure any longer and momentarily goes out of his mind and runs from the room.

INT. ATHERTON'S LAB

A tired looking Chris and Mitch attach a second laser to the original but nothing improves. They check their notes and diagrams. Kent, Bodie and carter chuckle in the corner.

INT. AN EXAM ROOM

Mitch is taking an exam with a bunch of people he doesn't recognize from the Professor who everyone tape recorded. One of the students appears to be near panic as he deals with a pile of mangled tape.

INT. JORDAN'S ROOM-VERY LATE NIGHT

Chris and Jordan use a blackboard diagram to discuss the engineering difficulties of Chris' laser supercharger assembly.

INT. DORM HALL

Chris runs down the hall and enters his room. Mitch is sprawled out asleep under a math text. Chris feels bad about it but wakes him up.

INT. ATHERTON'S LAB

A wasted Chris and Mitch build the new assembly that will allow a second laser to shoot at the gas jets of the principal laser.

INT. DORM LIBRARY-NIGHT

Chris is studying hard. Mitch is asleep, his head on the table.

MITCH:

(in his sleep)

Please, Vito, not in the mailbox again.

CHRIS:

Mitch!

Mitch wakes up.

MITCH:

Oh... I was just reliving some high school highlights.

CHRIS:

Look, you don't have to stay up with me. It's not like we're driving. Get some sleep. You're a growing boy. I hope.

Hopsfield enters carrying two large boxes of what appear to be file cards. Mitch is stunned. They all stare for a beat.

CHRIS:

Hi, Laslo.

HOPSFIELD:

I thought you might want some help so I dug into the computer and got every question Artherton's ever asked on every final he ever given.

CHRIS:

Gee, I didn't get you anything. Is that them?

HOPSFIELD:

No, these are entries for McDonald's Sweepstakes. No purchase necessary. Enter as often as you want. So, I am.

CHRIS:

Really?

HOPSFIELD:

This box makes it one million, six hundred thousand. I should win thirty two point six percent of the prizes, including the car.

CHRIS:

Kind of takes the fun out of it, doesn't it?

HOPSFIELD:

I suppose so. But they set up the rules, and lately, I have come to realize that I have certain materialistic needs.

CHRIS:

So where are the questions?

HOPSFIELD:

(insulted)

I memorized them.

Chris and Mitch look at each other, impressed and a little frightened.

MITCH:

I have to go to sleep now.

HOPSFIELD:

Want my pajamas?

MITCH:

Uhhh...thanks, no.

HOPSFIELD:

Smart kid. He's going to grow five inches in the next year.

CHRIS:

How do you...never mind.

INT. MITCH'S ROOM

He opens the door and enters. It's dark.

FEMALE VOICE:

Mitch?

MITCH:

(surprised)

Jordan?

He turns on the light. Much to his surprise and ours, seated on his bed is Sherry Nugil, the girl Chris met at PEI - the genius groupie. She's dressed for the occasion.

SHERRY:

Mitch Simon?

MITCH:

Who?

SHERRY:

I'm Sherry Nugil. And I've been waiting three years for this.

MITCH:

For what?

SHERRY:

For you to be old enough.

MITCH:

For what?

SHERRY:

For this.

She kisses him.

SHERRY (CONT'D)

Are you ready?

MITCH:

For what?

SHERRY:

Why do you keep saying, 'For what?'

MITCH:

'Cause so far it's working great.

INT. JORDAN ROOM-NIGHT

Jordan is using a big machine to sand her floors. There's a knock on the door.

JORDAN:

(shouts)

Come in.

Mitch enters, He appears dazed and disheveled.

JORDAN:

Oh, hi, Mitch. I'm just sanding the floor.

MITCH:

Could you turn that off a second?

She does. She starts moving the furniture back.

JORDAN:

What's wrong? Why are you sweating?

MITCH:

I...I just...I came back from helping Chris and there was this woman in my room.

Jordan stops, It's the first time we've seen her doing nothing.

JORDAN:

A woman?

MITCH:

(with emphasis)

A woman. I mean she was...blessed

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes