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THE LUNCHROOM
Episode Three
"Special Needs"
Teleplay by
Max Majernik & Melinda Waterman
Story by
Max Majernik
Created by
Bruce Snyder
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Bruce Snyder
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
Vincent Biga
CAST LIST
Will Cooper.................................
Joel Mayberry...............................
Brian Vandele...............................
Brock Warner................................
Reicther....................................
Casey Jennings..............................
Chris Hughes................................
Stacy Cifaretto.............................
Mr. John Parker.............................
GUEST CAST LIST
Jill Reicther...............................
Mrs. Hackford...............................
James.......................................
Learning Disability Teacher.................
Cathy.......................................
Richard.....................................
Copyright © Bruce Snyder
TEASER
FADE IN:
INT. CLASSROOM – DAY
There are about thirty students at desks. On the
chalkboard, it's written "Standardized Testing." Near
the back of the room, sits Reicther. Reicther whistles
and is calmly reading a question.
REICTHER (V/O)
Which best represents Maria? A Bead?
A Rope? A Grin of Salt? Or a Marble?
He thinks.
REICTHER (V/O)
They all sound right to me.
He circles in all of the answers.
TEACHER (O.S.)
Okay. Pencils down.
Reicther looks up, shocked. He looks down at his paper.
REICTHER'S POV:
The page (with the exception of the previous question)
is blank. A hand comes over and turns the page. It's
also blank. The hand quickly turns the page a few more
times. Each time the page is blank.
REICTHER
(calmly)
Whoops.
OPENING CREDIT SEQUENCE:
Marvin Gaye's "Ain't That Peculiar" plays over the
credits.
AFTER CREDITS:
EXT. OUTSIDE HACKFORD'S OFFICE – DAY
Reicther sits on the bench.
INT. HACKFORD'S OFFICE – CONTINUOUS
Mrs. Hackford is sitting behind her desk, looking over
some papers. Across from her is JILL REICTHER.
JILL
How low did he score?
HACKFORD
Well your son's scores were greatly
down. They went down about 80% from
last year.
JILL
That low? Isn't that impossible?
HACKFORD
Well it would seem like it. But
what we think is, that your son
might have be having some problems
that are hindering him.
JILL
So what your saying is....
HACKFORD
That your son has a learning
disability.
Jill nods, Mrs. Hackford hands her the papers.
HACKFORD
Here, take a look for yourself.
Jill examines the paper.
JILL
16% in math?! How can he do so bad?
Hackford shots her a look.
JILL
Oh right, the disability.
Jill hands Hackford the papers.
JILL
Okay then, so what should I do?
EXT. HACKFORD'S OFFICE – MINUTES LATER
Jill comes out of the office. Reicther stands. Jill
quickly hugs him.
JILL
I'm so sorry I've neglected you.
I'm a horrible mother. We should
have seen this disability earlier
when we could have treated it. I'm
so sorry.
REICTHER
It's about time – wait, what? A
disability?
JILL
Yes honey. Your scores were so low
that we're forced to enroll you in
special education. I have to go in
on to fill out the paper work.
Reicther looks stunned.
INT. LUNCHROOM – HOUR LATER
Will, Brian, Joel, Brock, Casey, and Chris sit around
the table. Reicther enters and comes over and sits down.
He still seems a little confused.
BROCK
Hoi, Reicther.
REICTHER
Hey guys.
JOEL
Why did you have to go down to the
office for?
REICTHER
You wont believe it.
WILL
What?
REICTHER
I'm gonna be in the "happy" hall
from now on.
BRIAN
Man shut up, that's only for the
foreign kids and crazies.
REICTHER
I kid you not. My test scores were
so low they think I have a
disability.
BROCK
Which one?
REICTHER
I dunno. (thinks; shrugs) All of
them?
WILL
You're such in idiot..
REICTHER
You see, usually I'd be angry at you
for that remark, but today I'll let
it slide.
Reicther smiles. The others give each other glances.
INT. HAPPY HALLWAY - NEXT MORNING
Reicther's mom is in the hallway talking to the Special
Education teacher.
JILL
Ok, so its all set?
TEACHER
Yes, and I assure you, your son
will get the education he should
have gotten a long time ago.
JILL
Are you calling me a bad mother?
TEACHER
Excuse me?
JILL
I'll take you down a notch if you
get that tone again with me missy.
Reicther cuts in.
REICTHER
Its ok mom just go to work. I'll be
fine.
Jill gives him a huge hug and looks at the Teacher
menacingly while doing it. His mom then leaves. The
Teacher and Reicther begin to walk down the hallway
toward the class.
REICTHER
Sorry about that. My mom is just
upset about my (finger quotes)
"special disease."
TEACHER
Well, there's no need for worry. We
take "extra" care with our students.
They reach the room and enter.
INT. HAPPY CLASS ROOM - CONTINUOUS
The Teacher and Reicther enter and stand in front of the
class. We notice that they're about ten other students
in the room who look like ordinary students. The Teacher
claps her hand to get everyone's attention.
TEACHER
Everybody...this is Reicther and
he'll be with us for the rest of the
year.
REICTHER
Hello.
CLASS
HELLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
The teacher show Reicther his desk and walks back to hers.
JAMES, another SPED student, is sitting across from him
staring him down.
REICTHER
Uh hi (looks at nametag) James.
JAMES
I cut things.
An awkward moment between them.
REICTHER
Ok, I think I'm gonna go to the
computer now.
Reicther walks over to the computer and looks back at
James, who is stabbing the desk with an eraser.
REICTHER
Hmm, nice guy.
INT. GYM CLASS – MINUTES LATER
Joel is standing by a bench press. Next to him a wheel
chaired student, RICHARD, is messing with his chair.
Richard then gets out and lays down on the press.
JOEL
Um...are you sure you can do this?
RICHARD
Why does everyone ask that?
Right before Richard begins, Cathy comes up behind Joel.
CATHY
Joel are you okay?
JOEL
Last time I checked. Why?
CATHY
Oh. Is it all right if I talk to
you for a sec?
JOEL
Uh, okay. Richard I'll be back in a
few minutes.
Joel and Cathy walk away.
INT. SUPPLY LOCKER – SECONDS LATER
Joel and Cathy stand in the middle of a locker that has
dozens of different gym supplies such as balls, sticks,
etc.
CATHY
I've heard that some seniors are
going to pull a prank against you.
JOEL
A prank?
CATHY
And I think your friends too.
JOEL
Jesus. Wait, why would they pull a
prank against us for?
CATHY
I'm not sure. But Craig Keller was
talking to his football buddies and
he mentioned that he was going to
get that little bastard Joel.
JOEL
Craig Keller?
Joel begins to think.
FLASHBACK TO:
EXT. STREET – EARLY EVENING
The CAMERA pulls back and we see that Joel is spraying
painting "Sorry, it's My Car" on a car while humming.
Joel looks up and waves at Casey.
CASEY
What the hell are you doing?!
JOEL
Revenge!
Just then, the Senior comes running up.
SENIOR
What the hell are you doing to my
car!
Joel drops the spray can and starts to run.
JOEL
The jig's up! Everyone scatter!!
Casey, confused, starts to run away too, the senior
chasing him.
FADE TO:
INT. SUPPLY LOCKER – PRESENT
Joel looks embarrassed. He now knows who it is.
JOEL
Oops.
INT. HALLWAY - LATER
Chris and Casey are talking in between class breaks.
CHRIS
He's really in SPED now? I never
thought some one dip that low from
sheer laziness.
Pause.
CHRIS
Good for him.
CASEY
Oh, I almost forgot. Will told me
about "Senior Haze" starting this
week.
CHRIS
A haze? What's that?
CASEY
Basically make our lives miserable.
CHRIS
Oh. Wait a damn minute, where's the
principal or the teachers during
all this?
EXT. TEACHER'S LOUNGE – SAME
There's a sign on the door that reads "Teacher's Meeting
in Progress."
INT. TEACHER'S LOUNGE - CONTINUOUS
There's about eight teachers gathered around a TV. One
of them is MR. PARKER.
FEMALE TEACHER #1
Wait a second, that's her baby!
PARKER
Bullshit. That's impossible. She
could never give birth again.
Remember?
MALE TEACHER #1
It's a clone, that's it. There's no
other explanation.
MALE TEACHER #2
Bet you five dollars you're wrong.
MALE TEACHER #1
You're on.
Everyone watches the TV for a few more seconds
PARKER
Oh, its adopted! Time to pay up.
Male Teacher #1 reaches into his pocket and then pulls
out his wallet. The other teachers laugh at this.
INT. HALLWAY - SAME
Chris and Casey continue to walk down the hall.
CASEY
Yeah well I didn't get to the best
part. Were on some kind of hit list
made by the seniors.
CHRIS
Why?
CASEY
Well so much bad shit happens to us,
I've just stopped asking "why."
SUDDENLY a book flies and hits Chris in the head and
falls to the ground. Casey sees this and runs away.
SENIOR (O.S.)
CLASS OF 2005 RULES!
INT. LUNCHROOM – LUNCHTIME
Will, Joel, Brian, Brock, Casey, and Chris sit around
the lunch table. Chris is holding his head with an ice
pack.
WILL
Really Joel, I would like to thank
you for basically killing us all.
JOEL
I'm sure there's some way we can
get outta this.
BRIAN
We can fake our deaths.
WILL
Nah, that never works...or at least
for us.
BRIAN
How about we jump them, teach them
a little lesson.
WILL
The whole senior class?
BRIAN
Uhh...maybe some of the smaller
ones.
WILL
Fuck that. If that happens I'm
hiding behind two tons of fun other
there.
CASEY
It feels good to be appreciated.
JOEL
Why don't we split up? Or maybe
hide in the principals office.
WILL
And be labeled "pussies" that'll
hurt us more than a book to the--
A book is thrown and hits Brian in the face.
BRIAN
SON OF A BITCH!!!
Everyone looks around.
JOEL
Where the hell did that come from?!
Everyone slowly gets (except for Brian) and slowly head
for the door. When they get close to the door they just
end up running away.
INT. HAPPY CLASS ROOM – AFTERNOON
The class is turned around talking to each other. The
Teacher walks in front of the room.
TEACHER
Class, Class. Can I have your
attention please.
The room quiets down.
TEACHER (cont'd)
I'm pleased to announce that our
new member of the special class,
Reicther, has just gotten a perfect
on his last test. A round of
applause please.
The class claps. A big smile comes across Reicther's
face.
REICTHER
Life is perfect
BEGIN MONTAGE
(Tom Petty's "A Mind With A Heart of It's Own" plays
over the montage.)
INT. HAPPY CLASS ROOM – LATER
Reicther is playing a "Special" student in chess.
Reicther moves a piece.
REICTHER
Checkmate.
CUT TO:
Reicther playing another "Special" student.
REICTHER
Checkmate.
CUT TO:
Reicther playing another "Special" student. This time
Reicther is deep in thought. Reicther points to
something off camera. The Student looks. As he looks,
Reicther switches the board around. The student looks
back. Reicther moves a piece.
REICTHER
Checkmate!
The student smiles and shakes Reicther's hand.
INT. HAPPY CLASS – ANOTHER DAY
Reicther and James are sitting at a table, reading from
a book. Reicther whispers something to James, who then
pounces on another kid like a lion. Reicther just points
and laughs.
Shot of the Teacher staring at him. Looking confused and a
bit angry.
INT. SHAKE SHOP - AFTER SCHOOL
The group sits around a table (except for Brian and Chris.)
REICTHER
Well I'm just gonna say it...I'm
living the perfect life.
WILL
Kinda like the one eyed king among
the blind people. Or better put a
jackass among idiots.
REICTHER
(sarcastically)
Oh funny, funny.
CASEY
You know there gonna find out. You
can't keep this going.
REICTHER
3 steps ahead of the game. I'll
just complain about the voices in
my head that wont stop screaming.
Brock is looking out the window. He taps his foot and
looks worried.
BROCK
You know we're still gotta a
pretty bad situation on our hands.
It's only Wednesday and they've
gotten Brian and Chris.
JOEL
I'm telling ya. We're like
chameleons when were alone.
WILL
(confused)
Chameleons?
REICTHER
I wouldn't worry too much about it,
Casey is next on the list.
CASEY
How do you know SPED boy?
REICTHER
Cheap shot...but anyways I saw the
list.
The group looks shocked.
CASEY
How can we believe what this retard
says?
REICTHER
You know what, I don't like your
attitude right now.
Reicther stares down Casey, and begins to talk again
REICTHER
As I was saying, one of the seniors is in
my class and he ain't exactly the
brightest of the bright. So he gave
me a look at it.
The group looks stunned.
REICTHER
Casey is next, then Brock, then
Will, then me, and they seem to be
saving Joel for last.
Brock quickly stands up and begins to leave.
WILL
Hey! Where are you going?
BROCK
These people are really after Joel.
I don't want to be here when they
do come after him.
Brock leaves.
WILL
Casey go bring his ass back. He's
part of this group...he'll be
tortured and embarrassed with the
rest of us.
Casey gets up and leaves.
WILL
Well what are you going to do?
JOEL
Um...tell my mom I have Cancer.
From outside we can hear a faint thumps.
WILL
What the hell?
Will, Joel, and Reicther get up and go outside.
EXT. SHAKESHOP – CONTINUOUS
Will, Joel, and Reicther walk out and notice Brock
laying on the ground, covered with welds and paint. A
few feet over Casey is in the same condition.
REICTHER
The next two on the list...what
luck.
Reicther dust himself off and walks away. While Will and
Joel start to panic because they know they're next.
EXT. STREET – MINUTES LATER (NOW NIGHT)
Will and Joel walk along the sidewalk. Joel looks
worried while Will doesn't seem to care anymore.
WILL
You know I always thought we die
because we would piss the wrong
people off...but that was just my
fantasy death.
JOEL
Don't worry about this. We've been
friends for five years, Will.
WILL
True.
JOEL
And how many times have I helped
you out of a rough situation.
WILL
(slightly overlapping)
About 134, give or take.
JOEL
Then trust me when I say I can get
us out of this.
WILL
Okay...I trust you.
JOEL
Good. Tomorrow will be better. I
promise.
FADE TO:
EXT. WILL'S HOUSE - NIGHT
Will is about to get in his house when he hears sounds
Near his garbage cans. Will looks scared.
Two seniors get up from behind the garbage cans. They
slowly walk toward Will.
WILL
Oh, c'mon guys. We can work this
out.
SHOT OF WALL -
We see the shadows of the Seniors grab Will. He starts
screaming out in pain.
INT. LUNCHROOM - NEXT MORNING
Joel is sitting at the table alone.
JOEL
Stupid mom, wont believe I had
cancer...
Joel looks around and sees groups of people.
JOEL
Like a chameleon
Joel walks over into a group of people and starts to mingle.
He then over hears two seniors nearby, talking.
SENIOR
Wait the next guy on the list is in
SPED? This is the most screwed up
group of friends ever.
SENIOR 2
Ya I know. But it doesn't matter.
That means we get to go after the
last kid now.
SENIOR
Nice, where does he usually sit at?
Senior two begins to look around
SENIOR 2
Damn it. He was just over there.
When the seniors look away, Joel quickly runs out of the
room.
INT. HALLWAY – CONTINUOUS
Joel runs down the hallway. He slows down and looks
behind him.
JOEL
Oh man.
Joel stops and begins to rest. He looks up.
JOEL'S POV:
He sees a TALL STUDENT walk toward him. He is staring at
Joel.
Joel begins to breath heavier.
The Tall Student gets closer.
Joel closes his eyes, preparing to get hit.
Suddenly, the Tall Student walks right by him. Joel
let's out a sigh of relief.
JOEL
I'm safe for another moment.
Joel begins to walk again. After only a few feet, one of
the doors opens and a PAIR of ARMS grab Joel and pull
him in.
For the next ten seconds all we can hear is THUMP after
THUMP and Joel screaming in pain. Suddenly it becomes
quiet.
About FIVE SENIORS leave the room.
INT. ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Joel lies in the middle of the room. Arms and legs
spread far apart. Part of his shirt is ripped. He is
covered with bruises. There's a large red bump on his
forehead. He stares at the ceiling.
JOEL
(weakly)
Ouch.
INT. HAPPY CLASS ROOM – NEXT DAY
The teacher is sitting at her desk and watches Reicther beat
all the kids in RISK.
REICTHER
Now see. I take this country and
you are now out of the game.
TEACHER
Can you come over here, Mr. Reicther.
Reicther walks over.
REICTHER
How can I be at your service?
TEACHER
Good news. Your test scores are up
and so Mrs. Hackford thinks your
ready to enter the regular classes
again.
REICTHER
What?! There's no way you can send
me back!
TEACHER
I'm sorry, but the decision has
been made.
REICTHER
You can't do this to me! I cant go back
into the real world! Its bright and
scary!
TEACHER
I'm going to have to ask you to
leave my classroom! I'm
transferring you today.
A SENIOR begins to stare at Reicther.
REICTHER
I cant leave...uh...I hear voices.
TEACHER
I'm fed up with your excuses. Now
leave.
Reicther sighs and leaves the room. We FOCUS on the
door. After a few seconds we can hear a series of very
loud THUMPS. JAMES walks over and opens the door.
Laying on the floor on the hall is Reicther. He's eyes
are wide open.
REICTHER
(high pitched; in pain)
My spine.
TEACHER
James, come away from the door.
James walks away. The door slowly closes on Reicther.
REICTHER
(weakly)
Help...me...
The door shuts.
FADE OUT.
("Don't Pass Me By" by The Beatles plays over the end
credits.)
END OF EPISODE
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