1.) INT. NEW YORK HIGH SCHOOL – REHEARSAL STUDIOS – DAY
KEVIN, 26, daily inspires his students quoting the Dead Poets Society, “Seize the day” & “Words change lives” were his recent comments to them. They’re having a rehearsal for their dancing-theatrical performance near the end of their school year.
KEVIN
There’s only one thing I should remind you kids in the midst of acting classes. You should get trained in stop listening to other voices.
BRENDA, 16, an actor, looks awkward while playing, listening to his realizations. They’re playing next to a piano while having several moments for breaks and coaching. This time was one of them, at the moment of ending their scene.
BRENDA
Getting us disillusioned professor? Let’s see where this will lead us…
Kevin also plays the piano. He sits in front of it, and they prepare for their next scene.
KEVIN
Becoming spectators and hands clappers is a worse case than merely being disillusioned folks…
BRENDA
And you won’t stop until you save the world, right?
Students gossip silently and laugh while listening to acting advices. They look absorbed and over performing in their numbers while the atmosphere has something of the magic of early youth actors.
Kevin starts playing a piece of music and one by one his students listen and some of them start participating and following his rhythm.
CUT.
LATER…
STUDENTS, talk and gossip while at a break in the rehearsal studios.
BRENDA
Someone should get interested about his trajectory. I hate seeing him decay…
JASON, who has listened to his classmate’s comment approaches her sarcastically.
JASON
You are having a crush Brenda, right?
BRENDA
Worrying to match words with actions affects all of us Jason. I feel sorry for you as well…
JASON
The school diva… Who got As in his class and believes the world is at her feet!
BRENDA
I have found my voice, Jason. Pity for those like you, who still wear masks!
As Kevin re-enters their company, they’re getting prepared for the play.
2.) INT. NEW YORK HIGH SCHOOL – STUDENTS’ CLASSROOM – BREAK – DAY
Students nearly finish their math class. As their professor leaves their classroom, they take sometime to talk. Brenda sits next to JULIE and they start talking.
JULIE
Kevin worries about our voice and you, decided to weight all of them Brenda, right?
BRENDA
Hey, lose the attitude Julie, OK?
JULIE
Kevin believes that if he becomes more professional and less an ecologist, he will lose something of his treasured creativity. I’m fed up! I might decide of letting go of my part. See ya…
Julie ends the discussion with a sarcastic smile, stands up and leaves the classroom…
As Brenda shakes her head buffled, she stands up as well and heads outside the classroom straight towards the lockers. The atmosphere inside school halls is cheerful and there’s music and talk doing coming from the megaphones of the school radio. Space and time during these moments get something from the sparkle of eternity.
As two girls, KELLY and MYRIAM from their class next to theirs gossip on Brenda, she reaches the lockers. Meanwhile they decide to approach her.
KELLY
The entire high is talking about your performance Brenda. Has the protagonist part been locked on you, by now?
As Brenda takes her books and locks her lockers, she shows she has nothing to say to her competitors and weaves goodbye with minimal words.
BRENDA
You bet so, little girls…
Near the exit of their school hall towards the campus, Kevin stares at Brenda from apart and decides to reach out to her. Brenda has a mixed outlook whenever she talks to him outside from some school performance. As she walks towards the exit, she weaves at him and walks a little bit faster to meet him. Kevin takes off his earphones listening to music and starts talking.
KEVIN (enthusiastically)
What’s up Brenda? Are you still passionate to act? The performance is in less than 3 weeks.
BRENDA (partly ironic, partly content)
Light my fire Mr. Robinson!
KEVIN
Take away the other world’s influence my dear… For no matter how hard you try, you still struggle to come to life…
BRENDA
So, I should make bigger mistakes of feeling complete with it?
KEVIN
The devil is in the details…
BRENDA
If only you could listen to your raw material and listen to the words you say…
They greet each other and leave.
3.) INT. NEW YORK – HIGH SCHOOL PARTY – BASKETBALL STADIUM – NIGHT
Students are having a party while the former cheerleaders of their previous events perform a dancing number. The school year has finished and there’s a sense of melancholy in their face. They look more mature than usual in the face of time.
As Brenda talks with some rest of her classmates, they’re holding a drink while feeling excited about the future. JACK, an antagonist of Brenda in the play takes the floor. He looks content with finishing the year but partly disappointed with Brenda.
JACK
I only have one complaint about you, Brenda…
BRENDA
I’m all ears!
JACK
From the very first day you started mingling with theater and other school projects, you seem to believe the rest of us exist outside of you…
BRENDA (partly hostile)
Failing to become a double personality like you?
JACK
There’s a timing you have to listen at, Brenda, make it count…
Brenda looking partly arrogant and moving her head towards the opposite direction, she pays attention to her best friend at the other side of the stadium and beckons him to come closer.
BRENDA (to JACK)
There’s always something you have to give and take Jack… Not very good with compromising…
JACK
Unless you’re forced to confess your true self…
BRENDA (turning the argument to the other side)
Willing to try Jack? You have a long road to walk.
Meanwhile, Brenda’s best friend ROBERT arrives and she makes a few steps outside of her previous company.
The party goes on.
Photo Credits: Menelaos Gkikas
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