The Shortcut

I'm so happy you didn't

have to go to the Marines yet.

Me too. But they said I have

to report in 2 weeks though.

- Do you know where you're going?

- Yeah. I'm stationed in Germany.

Isn't it gonna be dangerous?

Yeah, well,

we gotta stop the Nazis.

- I'll write to you while you're there.

- Thanks.

By the way,

thanks for walking me home.

Are you kidding?

You're my favorite girl.

(both chuckle)

Hey, c'mon.

Let's cut through the woods.

It's so dark.

Come on,

it's just a shortcut.

I've always been

a little scared of the woods.

Really? Well, don't worry.

I'll protect you.

Oh, you're so sweet.

- Oh gosh.

- (both chuckle)

- Fantastic.

- I'm tired. My feet hurt so much.

- That's from all the dancing.

- We didn't stop the whole time.

Well, we tried, yes, but we

couldn't stand back and watch

- Danny and Jess, right?

- Yeah, we did, but then we came out

- and gave them a little bit of a--

- We gave 'em a show.

We gave 'em a show.

Yes. Yes we did.

- What is it?

- It's--

you look beautiful.

- Stop it.

- Come on.

I'm not ready for that.

Oh, I think you are.

Let's just keep walking.

Come on, Irene.

What are you running away for?

I ship out in 2 weeks.

Irene, wait.

Okay, that's enough.

Stop it.

I like that.

I mean it.

- Too hard.

- (grunts)

(cries out)

Dougie, no.

- No.

- Shut up. Shut up.

(grunts)

You b*tch!

(grunts)

(girl crying)

I should kill you, b*tch.

Thank God you're here.

Please help me.

Go tell someone

to get the police.

Hurry, please.

Can you hear me?

Are you deaf?

What's wrong with you?!

(shrieks)

Why?

So who do you like

in the fight this weekend?

- Is there UFC this weekend?

- No.

- MMA?

- Dude, it's the heavy weight championship

- of the world.

- You follow boxing?

I follow everything

in case you haven't noticed.

- Hey, Howard.

- I don't even know who the champ is.

Awesome. Well, if you ever

want to make a bet,

then just let me know.

I'll help you out.

Why, do you know

a bookie or something?

- Yeah, my dad.

- Come on.

I swear I haven't known you that long.

You could be a narc for all I know.

Didn't want to get busted

by the new kid.

Wait.

You're serious?

(sighs)

Hey, Brad,

you had the Celtics

last night, didn't you?

Hey, can I-- can I

get that to you on Friday?

No.

Thursday?

Fine, but don't bring me

a bag of change this time.

- Thanks, Lisa.

- No sh*t.

- Told you.

- I hate Paul Pierce.

Do your parents do anything else

besides break people's legs?

Yeah, my mom's

an elementary school teacher

so it kind of balances stuff out.

What about you?

Well, my dad's not around.

My mom is working

on her real estate license.

Cool. So where

do you guys live then?

- With my grandma.

- Nice.

Yeah, it's great.

Woo-hoo.

Voulez-vous coucher

avec moi ce soir?

Yeah, we got like

Looks like I'm getting laid 3 times.

- You're such a virgin, Mark.

- Idiot.

So what up? Yo, where's your

crew shirt, man? It's a practice day.

Yeah, I kinda--

kinda quit.

What? When? You moved here

- You bastard.

- What can I say? It sucked.

Damn, man.

Now I'm all alone again.

Everyone else on the team

is an arrogant prick.

I know. That's one

of the many reasons that I left.

Well, cherish your freedom,

you dick.

I'd probably walk too

if it weren't for my dad,

- but what are you gonna do?

- (chuckles)

- You working tonight?

- Yup.

- Cool. Me too. See you guys later.

- Bye.

- Later.

- I don't blame you for quitting.

You know, I just never understood

the excitement of rowing a boat.

Exactly.

See you.

Ow.

- Hi. Here to see Mr. Armstrong.

- Sign here.

Man on P.A.:

Attention, students.

There will be a mandatory fire safety

meeting this afternoon in the auditorium.

Armstrong:
So soccer.

Soccer's going well?

Yeah. We're doing better.

We have a big game on Tuesday.

I'm sure you guys

are gonna be fine.

- Girl:
Hope so. Plan on it.

- That's good.

Any thoughts about school yet?

I'm thinking about Columbia.

I really want to be in a big city.

Columbia's great,

- but it's also ivy league.

- I know.

Why? You think

I can't get in?

No. No.

I just, uh-- I want you

to pick a few safety schools,

you know, as insurance.

It's just not an easy one

to get into.

So we'll just keep

thinking about that.

- We still have some time.

- Okay.

- All right.

- Thank you, Mr. Armstrong.

No problem, Christy.

Make it a great day.

- I always do.

- Good.

- Hi.

- Hello.

Mr. Lucas, you can come in now.

So how are you?

Pretty good.

I was talking to your mother today.

She said she's still worried

about your transition.

- I'm fine.

- You sure?

I heard the crew team

didn't go very well.

According to Coach Klein,

you told him that crew

was "stupid, boring

and meant for kids

that suck at any other sport."

Does that sound about right?

Yeah, that actually

sounds about right.

Well, you're entitled

to your own opinion,

but quitters are usually frowned

upon by colleges, Derek.

Even Columbia?

Even Columbia.

(school bell rings)

I had the sickest

triple-kill last night--

took out 3 noobs

with a Spartan Laser.

Man, I'm so bored of Halo.

I like the new Metal Gear Solid.

The graphics look so real.

Hey, Tobey,

do you have a 360?

Yeah, but I can't play it.

Grounded.

- That sucks.

- Hey, are you guys in Scouts?

- You signed up for that?

- So lame.

Shut up.

My mom's making me.

So why are you grounded?

I got in trouble

at my old school.

What happened?

Some kid stole my bike,

so I beat him up.

So you think you're tough?

Tougher than you.

Okay. Then why don't you

take the shortcut?

Oh yeah.

What shortcut?

We'll show you.

Okay.

Boy #1:
So do you know karate

or something?

Tobey:
No.

I just use baseball bats.

- Boy #2:
Yeah, right.

- Tobey:
It's true.

Boy #1:
One thing though: You can't

let anyone see you cross the fence.

- Tobey:
Why?

- It's an automatic detention.

This is it.

Does anybody ever use it?

Boy #2:
Sure.

Boy #1:
Most kids are

too chicken though.

It's just a stupid path

through the woods.

Have you guys

taken it before?

- Y-yeah.

- Sure.

Where does it go?

Right to your neighborhood.

Boy #2:
Way faster

than walking around.

Boy #1:
Just go for it.

See you later.

See you later, tough guy.

Boy #1:
Hey. Didn't Brian Whitley's

sister die out there?

Boy #2:
I'll bet you the crazy

old man got her.

Do you like blood, boy?

Do you?!

Huh?!

Do you like blood, boy?!

Huh, boy?!

Huh?!

- Do ya?

- (whimpering)

Next time it's your blood!

Man:
It is not at all uncommon

for a boy his age

to get into a little trouble

from time to time.

I did my fair share

of hell-raising.

Normally, I would agree

with you Mr. Hartley,

but there have been several reports

from his teachers

and other children

about his violent outbursts.

And after this last incident

in which he struck

a young boy in the face,

he was brought to my office

where he expressed

some disturbing thoughts.

Isn't everyone overreacting?

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