The Shortcut Page #2

He's just an 8-year-old boy.

Thank you, Mrs. Hartley.

So what would you

have us do?

Unfortunately, what you do

about his condition

is no longer my concern.

My attention is focused

on the well-being of my schools.

You've got a lot of nerve

saying that to me.

Sir, while your family's history

in the area is greatly is appreciated,

I must tell you that Benjamin

is no longer welcome

in our classrooms.

Excuse me?

I'm sorry,

but he can't stay.

Are you out of your mind?

You expect him

to have no education?

He's a smart boy.

He'll behave.

Sir, you're lucky enough

to be able to afford some kind

of treatment that could help.

He doesn't need any treatment!

He's a Hartley.

There are many

fine institutions--

Institution?!

You son-of-a-b*tch!

That damn school

was built on my family's land!

You're trying to tell me

that one of my boys can't go there?!

Administrator:

I think I should be going.

Hartley:
Damn right you should be going.

Get the hell out of my house!

Administrator:
Mr. Hartley, please

consider the well-being of your family.

- Hartley:
Get out!

- Sir, I truly believe your son is deranged.

Hartley:

You'd better stay the hell off my land!

Mrs. Hartley:

Frank, what are we gonna do?

Mr. Hartley:

I don't know.

(dog barks)

- (loud thud)

- (dog yelps)

Hey, what's up

with Christy Doyle?

Christy Doyle?

(snorts)

- Why?

- She flirted with me

- in the guidance center today.

- Oh, she flirted with you, huh?

Then why are you

asking me questions, mister?

Well, you've known her

a lot longer than I have.

Like what's she all about?

Fill me in. (sniffs)

Derek, it's not like we hang out.

I don't know anything about the girl.

Take it easy.

Just help me out.

- Is she dating anybody?

- (sighs) Matt Fink; fullback.

They've been dating for,

like, 2 years.

Really?

She's not a cheerleader, is she?

- No, she's a soccer player.

- Nice.

So what's wrong with their relationship?

There's gotta be something.

I don't want to talk

about Christy Doyle.

Come on, Lisa. 2 years?

You know it's getting stale.

I don't know, man.

Sorry.

- I gotta go to work.

- Okay.

Thanks for the advice.

Call you later.

Bye.

- Tobey!

- I took the shortcut!

- What shortcut?

- The dog, he killed it!

Tobey, what are you talking about?

Did you do something?

- No, I didn't do anything.

- Tell me what happened.

These kids just

showed me this path

and there was this dog

all cut up and I fell in the blood.

It wasn't me.

It was the old man.

He said if I went back,

I was next.

- What old man?!

- I don't know who he is.

You know you can

tell me the truth, right?

I am.

Don't tell Mom, okay?

It really wasn't me this time,

I swear.

Did anybody else see you?

All right, come on.

I'll find out who this old man is.

Where's this shortcut anyway?

(cell phone rings)

(beeps)

- Yo.

- Mark:
We're freakin' slammed here, man.

(reception crackling)

Where are you?

We're--

- Hello?

- Come on, man. We're slam--

I've got really crappy

reception here.

We're short-staffed. You aren't here,

I'm gonna beat off in your apron.

(stammers)

I'll be there in like 5 minutes.

All right.

(beeps)

- Girl:
Hey, Derek.

- Hey, Julie.

Hey, you're here. Good.

- Yeah, sorry I'm late.

- No, it's great. It's great.

Man, Coach is so

pissed off at you.

He told everyone what you said,

which was actually quite amusing.

Really. So awesome

to be hated by people.

Number 89.

Are you okay, bro?

I'm in the kitchen talking

to Lisa on the phone,

Tobey comes in

with blood all over him.

What? What happened?

Is he okay?

Yeah, he's fine.

It was dog's blood.

Dog's blood?

Yeah, he found one

all hacked up in the woods.

Some old man was in there.

He thinks that maybe he did it.

Bastard scared Tobey

half to death.

He took the shortcut.

Yeah, how'd you know?

Come on. Everyone knows about

the crazy old man on the shortcut.

Bro, I've been here 2 months.

Thank you.

Yeah, the story

goes back a long time.

The old guy's

a freakin' psycho.

Everyone always said he was

connected to some missing people

or murders or something,

but nothing's ever happened to him.

You know all that land

near Hartley Elementary?

- Yeah.

- It's his.

Sh*t.

Kids used to take the shortcut

all the time back in the day.

Then he showed up

and started chasin' 'em around

with shovels or some sh*t.

I can't believe your

brother actually took it.

That takes some balls, man.

I went to that school.

- I never once went down there.

- Huh.

- That's 'cause you're a p*ssy.

- That's true.

Dick.

Number 90.

Now watch it.

Always away from you.

- Okay.

- (door opens)

- Dear.

- (sighs)

- Hey, Grandma.

- How was work?

Not bad.

Kind of slow.

Brought you some

ice cream though. Butterscotch.

My favorite.

Thank you, honey.

- How's the car coming, Tob'?

- Fine.

He's been working at it

all afternoon.

Really?

I thought Scouts was lame.

I like this part.

Well, easy, man.

Knife looks sharp.

Enjoy.

(sighs)

Hey, Mom.

Hi.

Wait.

- So I got a call today.

- Wow, that's awesome.

It was from your school,

smartass.

You wanna tell me why

you quit the crew team?

Yeah.

It was a waste of time

and I just didn't want

to do it anymore.

It's not like you to quit.

It's kind of disappointing actually.

It's not a big deal, Mom.

I went to like 3 or 4 practices.

What exactly are you

gonna be doing then?

- I have school and work.

- It's your senior year, Derek.

You know, it's just crew. I'm not

the one that you need to be worried about.

You should be setting

an example,

especially now that

your father's not around.

You mean "dead," Mom.

(bag rustling)

- Hey, Tob'.

- Can I have a ride to school?

Sure.

Hey, come here.

Come here.

How you doin'?

You still okay?

- Yeah.

- Well, don't let your friends

talk you into doing

anything stupid today.

- Okay.

- All right.

I'll pick you up after too.

Did you eat your

breakfast, sweetie?

Yeah, Mom.

Good morning.

Look, I know how important your

senior year is 'cause I've been there.

Sorry it had to be this way,

but we're doing the best we can.

- I love you, you know?

- I know.

It just sucks.

Van Gogh was

a complete loon--

crazier than me,

if you can believe it.

Some say

he was born that way;

others believe

he was driven to madness.

Man, you are super perv today.

Give it up, man.

She's Fink's girl. He'll kill you.

Teacher:
Oh dear.

I could go on and on.

I got to go for it.

Unlucky in love,

nobody appreciated or recognized

his work during his day.

He may have only sold one painting.

Yet today he's revered...

Hey, do you think

I could get one of those?

I'm Derek.

From Mr. Armstrong's office.

Oh yeah.

The new guy, right?

Now let me just zoom in here

and get you some more details.

- (clicking)

- This darn thing's not working again.

Not good with technology.

So you ever played

Truth or Dare?

Yeah, I have.

Give me one.

Okay. Truth.

Did you really come over here

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