"HEATHERS" (1988)

STATS103pages181scenes23,606words32%dialogue76characters

Words

  • dialogue7,46432%
  • action15,11364%
  • other1,0294.4%

Scenes

location
  • INT 114
  • EXT 31
  • UNKNOWN 36
time
  • DAY 14
  • NIGHT 18
  • DAWN 1
  • DUSK 1
  • UNKNOWN 147
1

EXT. SAWYER'S BACKYARD--DAWN | . .

An Original Screenplay

FINAL SHOOTING SCRIPT

Elegiac music murmurs as three female and barefoot PAIRS OF LEGS in skirts break from tableau to gently engage in Croquet. - A blue mallet hits a blue ball through a wicket, a green Mallet knocks a green ball, and a yellow mallet pushes forward a yellow ball, all in an enticing syncopation.

Suddenly a red ball rockets through the dew covered grass and hits the green ball. The LEGS all stop moving as a FOURTH PAIR OF LEGS, this one in stylish shoes and stockings, marches to the red ball and steps on it. A red mallet is brought down hard on the red ball causing the adjacent green ball to thunder out of view. The Pair of Legs manuevering the green ball departs. This process of elimination is grimly repeated with the yellow ball and yet again with the blue ball. |

However, when the BLUE MALLETED PLAYER makes her sad exit, the viewer's viewpoint glides along with this particular Pair of Legs. A red ball whizzes by. The Legs stop. Another red ball malevolently sails past the Legs. Then yet another red ball. A fourth red ball makes brutal contact with the Legs causing the Player to fall to her knees and into the frame. Thr Player is VERONICA SAWYER.

2

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM--DAY :

VERONICA SAWYER, a sullen seventeen year old beauty, lies atop her bed dressed in a chic but understated ensemble, her eyes glazed open in a morning reverie. She blows up at her bangs then slides off her bed, launching into voice-over narration over the empty bed.

VERONICA (V.0.)
Heather told me she teaches people Real Life.|
3

INT. HIGH SCHOOL HALLWAY~--DAY .

Continuing her narration, VERONICA glides through a bustling — high school hallway with a frozen ‘smile.

VERONICA (v.0.)
She said Real Life sucks Losers dry. If you want to fuck with the eagles, you have to learn to fly.

aeSIMRORemesSEE Mant& pina o% ENDRotoseeeteeipeyate ee aaneingeonHeANTRE5Haas aweesmE De mere ee eaten RE.eee TAae ade ile ee NE meen te neseaeete,‘: ‘ PeteoSEeeeeePOeggtSg keTYPeepsteeeeeTaeSSaeeeemenx~eaemmweptSee aeaewepve(imagePwegadea

5

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE CAFETERIA -~ DAY 4

With her back turned to the viewer, VERONICA stands at the outskirts of the cafeteria entrance. The viewer's viewpoint approaches and.finally curls around VERONICA to reveal that she is writing in a diary, wearing a monocle.

VERONICA (V.0O.)
I said so you teach people how to Spread their wings and fly. She said Yes.

THE DIARY PAGE

VERONICA'S pen sways across the diary page forming the words echoed by her voice-over.

VERONICA (V.0.)
TI said You're Beautiful.

A sudden off-screen bark from HEATHER MCNAMARA causes the pen to recklessly rocket across the written words.

_ HEATHER MCNAMARA {0.S.e) God, come on Veronica!

VERONICA coolly pops the monocle from her eye before angrily addressing theamusingly robust, conventionally beautiful, trendily coiffed HEATHER MCNAMARA.

VERONICA
What's your damage, Heather? You ruined my... ~-
HEATHER MCNAMARA
God, I'm so sure. Don't blame me, nM blame Heather. She told me to haul your ass into the caf pronto. Back me up, Heather.

From behind HEATHER MCNAMARA emerges a similarly trendily accessorized but noticeably more inhibited waif, HEATHER DUKE. She is clutching a tattered copy of "The Catcher in theRye."

HEATHER DUKE
Yeah, she really wants to talk to you.
VERONICA
Okay, I'm going, I'm going. Jesus...
6

INT. INSIDE THE CAFETERIA -— DAY 5

A5

VERONICA, flanked by HEATHER MCNAMARA and HEATHER DUKE, strides into the lunchroom pandemonium.

(CONT.)

etea sles

mYteondtENEpet iAHoeyongageEEoy aNioe,ep we

The stunning HEATHER CHANDLER turns from the fray before her toward her incoming comrades. She is dressed stylishly and expensively but not trendily; her hair, dramatically tied back. °

el , VERONICA (submissively) Hello, Heather.

Pulling out a crumpled piece of yellow paper, HEATHER CHANDLER smiles. The content of what Heather says is consistently offensive but the tone in which she speaks issexy, danerous, and mysterious. She is a mythic bitch.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Veronica. Finally. Got a paper of Kurt Kelly's. I need you to forge a hot and horny but realistically low-key note in Kurt's handwriting and we'll slip it onto Martha .Dumptruck's lunch tray.
VERONICA
Shit, Heather. I don't have anything against Martha Dunnstock.
HEATHER CHANDLER
You don't have anything for her either. Come on, it'll be Very. The note'll give her shower nozzle Masturbation material for weeks.
VERONICA
I'll think about it.
HEATHER CHANDLER
(looking off)
Don't think.

BS POV ON CAFETERIA LINE a BS

| i

Unattractive and quite overweight, MARTHA DUNNSTOCK/DUMPTRUCK guiltily plops two jellos on her tray and clunks forward in line. ;

cs CAFETERIA ENTRANCE . C5"

VERONICA's arm, seemingly involuntarily, latches onto the outstretched pen.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Splendid. I'll dictate. Veronica needs something to write on. Heather, bend over.

Both HEATHER MCNAMARA and HEATHER DUKE bend over. HEATHER CHANDLER violently laughs.

7

HEATHER CHANDLER

How nice. Two assholes; no waiting.

HEATHER MCNAMARA and HEATHER DUKE stand erect, embarrassed.

| HEATHER CHANDLER - . . Heather Duke, back down.

VERONICA scurries to the contorting HEATHER DUKE.

“ HEATHER CHANDLER Dear Martha, you're so sweet..

DS THE JOCKS' TABLE D5

The traditionally handsome KURT KELLY and the massive RAM sit with other typical Jocks taking in VERONICA and the HEATHERS.

KURT
It'd be sorighteous to be ina “Veronica Sawyer-Heather Chandler sandwich. Punch it in, Ram.

KURT and RAM raise their right arms and slam their fists together.

RAM
Hell yes. I wanna set a Heather on my Johnson and just start spinning her like a fucking pinwheel.

RAM makes a frantic spinning motion.©

E5 CAFETERIA ENTRANCE . , ES

In slow motion, VERONICA finishes the note and rises up along with her makeshift desk, HEATHER DUKE.

HEATHER MCNAMARA hawkishly gazes toward the cafeteria ‘Line. .

VERONICA hands the note to an impressed HEATHER CHANDLER.

MARTHA DUNNSTOCK/DUMPTRUCK pays the CASHIER and then, grasping her lunch tray with both hands, moves toward VERONICA andthe HEATHERS. :

HEATHER MCNAMARA excitedly tugs on HEATHER CHANDLER'S arm as MARTHA approaches. With a tranquil smile, HEATHER CHANDLER passes the note to her frantic disciple.

fo” In a self-consciously clandestine manner, HEATHER MCNAMARA pa saunters past MARTHA then wields around to sneakily tuck the ey note onto MARTHA'S tray.

De

The slow motion concludes as their plump victim shuffles past a magnetic preppie PETER DAWSON and a thin, black, ee bespectacled DENNIS. The guys are working a large stand which eas, has a cashbox reading THE FOODLESS FUND and a banner reading WESTERBURG FEEDS THE WORLD.

“PETER Come on people, let's give that leftover lunch money to people without lunches! Those tater tots you threw away today are a delicacy in Africa! They're Thanksgiving dinner!

FS HEATHERS' TABLE — . FS

The Girls reach their table with HEATHER MCNAMARA and HEATHER DUKE sitting themselves down first.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
| (looking to the stand) God, aren't they fed yet? Do they even have Thanksgiving in Africa?
VERONICA
(low key sarcasm)
Oh sure, Pilgrims, Indians, tater tots; it's a real party continent.

’HEATHER CHANDLER draws up a clipboard.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Sawyer. Guess what today is?
VERONICA
Ouch....the lunchtime poll. So what's the question?
HEATHER DUKE
Yeah, so what's the question?
HEATHER CHANDLER
God-damn Heather, you were with me in Study Hall when I thought of it. Such a pillowcase. ©
HEATHER DUKE
(hurt)
I forgot.

G5 ANOTHER ANGLE GS

VERONICA and HEATHER CHANDLER briskly bop away from the table as a wounded HEATHER DUKE retreats to The Catcher in the Rye.

’ VERONICA Hey, this question wouldn't be that, bizarro thing you were babbling about over the phone last.e.e...

HEATHER CHANDLER
Shut up, it is. I told Dennis if he gave me another topic that was political, I'd spew burrito chunks.

VERONICA shakes her head and looks off. She's suddenly captured by the sight of a JAMES DEANESQUE GUY sitting stark ina long, tan gunslinger coat, behind aRebel Without a Cause lunch box. They make eye contact.

Transfixed, VERONICA crashes into seated BETTY FINN, a Slightly overweight, unstylishly dressed, sweetiesurrounded by clones.

BETTY
'Sorry Veronica. =~
VERONICA
Betty Finn. Gosheeee.

VERONICA crouches down, embarrassed and rueful.

VERONICA
I'm really sorry I couldn't make it to your birthday party last month.
BETTY
That's okay. Your Mom said you had a big date. Heck, I'd probably skip my own birthday party for a date.

VERONICA gently laughs at BETTY's innocent awe.

VERONICA
Don't say that.
BETTY
Oh Ronnie, you have to look at what Idug up the other day. —

BETTY pulls from her purse a picture showing a YOUNG BETTY FINN AND VERONICA SAWYER, arm-in-arm, dressed in Halloween costumes: BETTY is an angel, VERONICA is a witch.

VERONICA glows at the photo until HEATHER CHANDLER tows VERONICA away causing the picture to fall face up on the floor.

HS ANOTHER ANGLE H5

pea VERONICA

I was talking with someone!

HEATHER CHANDLER
Color me impressed. I thought you | Grew out of Betty Finn.

THE COUNTRY CLUB KIDS' TABLE

A coolly coed cabal of Country Club Kids icily eye the approaching VERONICA and HEATHER CHANDLER. Country Club kid COURTNEY sourly speaks out.

COURTNEY
Oh great. Here comes Heather.

KEITH

I5 MARTHA DUNNSTOCK/DUMPTRUCK'S TABLE I5

Alone at a table in the Siberia of the cafeteria, MARTHA finishes a forkful of chicken. She spears her plate again and -brings the fork up. The note is wedged inside it.

JS THE COUNTRY CLUB KIDS'TABLE J5

HEATHER CHANDLER, Veronica in tow, hits the Country Club Kids with a salvo of false pleasantness, capped by a scowling smile.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Hi Courtney. Love your blouse. Coh, let me snare a tater.

COURTNEY expresses elation in spite of herself as HEATHER CHANDLER delicately takes a tot and turns around to face VERONICA. HEATHER CHANDLER inserts her finger in her mouth doing the "induce-vomiting"” signal before devouring the tot and turning back around.

COURTNEY
Thanks. I just got it last night at the Limited. Totally blew my allowance.

HEATHER CHANDLER raises her clipboard. VERONICA closes her eyes and shakes her head with a half-smile.

HEATHER CHANDLER
That's pretty very. Now check this out. You win five million dollars from Publishers . Sweepstakes, but on the same day what's- his-face gives you the check, aliens land on earth and say they're going to Dlow up the world in two days. ee What would you do? PEERRoeIDLETweeeneweOitaOgoeTEwen,amea Lise

A stunned tableau; until Country Club Kid KEITH speaks.

KEITH
That's easy. I'd just slide that wad over to my father. He's like one of the top brokers in the state.
VERONICA
Wake up. In two days, Earth's going up like a Roman Candle. Crab Nebula City.
KEITH
Man, in two days, my dad could double my money. Triple it.
COURTNEY
T£ I got that money, I'd give it all to the Homeless. Every cent.

| VERONICA “you're beautiful. =."°:

K5 THE FOODLESS FUND STAND ; eee KS

PETER reaches in the Foodless Fund Box and takes some bills.:

PETER
Dennis, my man, run over to Mickey D.'sand get me a Big Mac and some fries.
DENNIS
But that's the Foodless Fund money.
PETER
Hey, even Bob Geldof's got to eat. If it makes you feel better, bag the fries, and nab yourself an Apple Pie.

' L5 CAFETERIA THOROUGHFARE . Lé

HEATHER CHANDLER drags VERONICA down a cafeteria lane.

HEATHER CHANDLER
T£ you're going toopenly be a bitch....
VERONICA
(submissive)
I'msorry, it's just why can't we talk to different kinds of people?

C) HEATHER CHANDLER e Fuck me gently with a chainsaw. Do I

look like Mother Theresa? If I did, Iprobably wouldn't mind talking to the Geek Squad.

She points to a table of unfashionably dressed and coiffed students. Some wear glasses, some wear braces, some wear both.

MS THE GEEKS! TABLE MS

The GEEKS react to being pointed at. Their boney leader RODNEY splatters milk over himself.

RODNEY
Did you see that? Heather Number One looked right at us.
BIG CYNIC
It must be love.

N5 CAFETERIA THOROUGHFARE N5

VERONICA confronts HEATHER CHANDLER.

Doesn’ t it bother you that everyone in the school thinks you're a pirahna?

HEATHER CHANDLER
Like Igive a shit. They all want me, as a friend or a fuck. I'm worshipped at Westerburg and I'm only a Junicr.
VERONICA
Pretend you're a missionary saving a colony of cootie victims.
HEATHER CHANDLER
(giving in)
Whatever. I don't believe this. We're going to a party at Remington University tonight and we're brushing up our conversational skills with the scum of the school.

P5 MARTHA DUNNSTOCK/DUMPTRUCK'S TABLE PS

Her sweaty lips moving rapidly, MARTHA anxiously reads the note.

Q5. THE GEEKS' TABLE Q5

The nervous GEEKS fidget and roughhouse each other in an involuntarily immature reaction to their beautiful interviewers.

GEEK WITH BRACES
No seriously, I'd probably go to Egypt. With a girl.

freihe'iacaaleSeucakTnetaSLaer eeeeReae*

BIG CYNIC
Taking a hooker to the Pyramids on the last day of Mankind. You sentimental old fart.
BRACES
Geez, forget it.
VERONICA
What about you Rodney?
RODNEY
(quietly to the others)
t told you she knew my name.
(beat of contemplation)
I'd change my life. New clothes. New haircut. New house. New home.
HEATHER CHANDLER
_ ,, How sad! Blowingall your cashon_.. “two days of trying to be hips 0"

R5 ANOTHER ANGLE ; R5

VERONICA tugs HEATHER CHANDLER away from the table.

VERONICA
Tf you' re going to openly be a bitch....

As HEATHER CHANDLER continues to guffaw, VERONICA again catches sight of the JAMES DEANESQUE GUY. Hewraps his fingers around an egg and unfolds them back. The egg is gone. He smiles. VERONICA smiles back.

Her trance is broken by a boisterous HEATHER MCNAMARA and HEATHER DUKE who careen into the two pollsters.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
God, scan on Martha Dumptruck.

35 POV ON MARTHA * $5

MARTHA looks up from the note to the JOCKS" table and KURT KELLY, then flustered, back down at the note.

HEATHER CHANDLER
This is the part I hate. The waiting. I'd say we're like twenty minutes from major humiliation. Come on, Veronica.

HEATHER CHANDLER floats off. A disturbed VERONICA takes:a moment to react.

HEATHER CHANDLER (0.S.)
Veronica?

VERONICA follows the leader. She calls out.

ll.

VERONICA
Damn. 's
8

EXT. — SCHOOL PARKING LOT -= DAY , 6

VERONICA and HEATHER CHANDLER march into the school parking ‘lot toward four HEAVY METALERS (one female) hanging out on a car hood. The girls’ conversation is heard in voice-over.

VERONICA (V.0-)
eeyou Heather. Deep down all teenagers are the same. Didn't you see The Breakfast Club?
9

INT. CAFETERIA -- BETTY FINN'S TABLE -~ DAY 7

A?

VERONICA and HEATHER CHANDLER set themselves down with BETTY FINN and her LOOK~-ALIKEFRIENDS.

Seed peal Mee pene Gi NDE ER (co.

Look at me. I look great. I’mthe girl in the commercials and the videos.

B7 JOCKS' TABLE - | B7

VERONICA and HEATHER CHANDLER warily stand at the outskirts of the JOCKS’ bastion of vulgarity.

10

HEATHER CHANDLER (V.O0.)

I'm the blonde in the bikini on the horse holding a Pepsi can.

_ INT. STONERS! HALLWAY <- DAY . 3

In a dark, smoky hallway, VERONICA and HEATHER CHANDLER cough toward a batch of STONERS in tattered forms of dress.

HEATHER CHANDLER (V.0.)
I'm the princess being spanked on the throne by Billy Idol's guitarist's guitar.
11

INT. THE FOODLESS FUND STAND <-~DAY ; 9

VERONICA and HEATHER CHANDLER accost PETER DAWSON at the Foodless Fund stand.

HEATHER CHANDLER (V.O.)
What do I get out of being friends — with losers. I give them a piece of a winner and they stain me with loserness.
10

EAT. PARKING LOT -- DAY .

Heavy Metaler MATT grins.

MATT
You get five million dollars but some Martians are going tozap you in two days. You hear that, Clyde? That's got to be the most spooky~ass question I've ever heard.

ll INT. CAFETERIA =--BETTY FINN'S TABLE ~~ DAY 11 All Al BETTY FINN daintily peeps up.

BETTY FINN
I think we should use the money for an End-of-the-World get- together. We could invite guys.

Bll JOCKS' TABLE | Bl

RAM sputters out some chicken to bellow.

iae as1aeeageteeth“DAMee,+"er5wfale*weeawo*’:slat**3+t.®atn.+‘aA2ae“=*‘ee*gosraweSeeet.a oa oer‘: voteaeeH‘~arsre*aFenayaNe*wy*OHsee&

I'd pay Madonna one million dollars to ride my face like the Kentucky Derby. She should be paying me, though.

12

INT. STONERS' HALLWAY -- DAY |

A FEMALE STONER IN ARMY JACKET starts to speak, then staps...

FEMALE STONER IN ARMY JACKET What?

13

INT. CAFETERIA -- THE FOODLESS FUND STAND

PETER DAWSON lashes out.

PETER DAWSON
This is important. With taxes, I'd be only getting 3.5 million and....
14

EXT. PARKING LOT -— DAY

Heavy Metaler CLYDE turns from his friend MATT.

CLYDE
If you want a good way to go out before the aliens land, get a lion from the zoo. Put a remote control bomb up its butt. When the lion starts tearing you up, press the bomb button. You and the dion Gie like as one.

Two Heavy Metal lovers, JACKIE and STEVE, intertwined against the windshield blankly respond.

JACKIE AND STEVE
Cool.

L5 INT. CAFETERIA THOROUGHFARE -- DAY 15 Al5 Al!

VERONICA and HEATHER CHANDLER continue their conversation chugging through another busy cafeteria lane.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Just imagine somebody like your quasi-fat, goody-good friend Betty Finn doing a Crest commercial. No one would buy Crest.

| VERONICA Don't tell me. Crest would be stained with loserness.

REATHER CHANDLER
Yeah, and who wants that on their teeth?

HEATHER MCNAMARA and HEATHER DUKE burst back between them.

BAF ae ay tt “HEATHER MCNAMARA © Oh God, here WE GOoee

POV ON MARTHA DUNNSTOCK/DUMPTRUCK | Bl

“MARTHA, with awkward apprehension, stumbles toward KURT and

the JOCKS. VERONICA and the HEATHERS stop breathing.

MARTHA mumbles something unintelligible from where the girls stand. KURT'S head detonates with a terrifying cackle. MARTHA flees the cafeteria in horror. VERONICA spins away from her mirthful friends in disgust and makes aye contact with the Similarly disturbed JAMES DEANESQUE GUY.

VERONICA lurches away. She brakes against the Foodless Fund stand where PETER DAWSON is hollering away.

PETER
A dime increases the time! A buck brings good luck! Hi Véronica. A five keeps the neighborhood alive! A ten and you die without sen}

HEATHER CHANDLER wings a twenty dollar bill into the cashbox.

HEATHER CHANDLER
{to Veronica) | You wanted to become a member of the most powerful clique in the school. If I wasn't already the head of it, I'd want the same thing.
VERONICA
I'm sorry? What are you oozing about?

2SPNREOTR StteOTOPERemsRNREt

a

HEATHER CHANDLER
That episode with the note back there was for all of us to enjoy, but you seem determined to ruin my day.
VERONICA .
(slapping her knee)
We made a girl want to consider Suicide. What a scream. What a jest.
HEATHER CHANDLER
Come on you jerk. You know you used to have a sense of humor.
16

INT. GIRLS BATHROOM -- DAY

Combing their hair in the bathroom mirror, the HEATHERS speak in comically whining-and-pathetic imitations of Martha Dumptruck as VERONICA shakes her head with a half-smile.

Bomb Beer “HEATHER CHANDLER. +) irflee te ttt oe Ku-urt, let's pa~arty. ‘

HEATHER MCNAMARA
Ku-urt, I ne-ed an orgasm.

HEATHER DUKE's gentle off-screen voice slices in.

HEATHER DUKE (0.S.)
Veronica, could you come back here?

HEATHER CHANDLER AND HEATHER MCNAMARA Gross!i

VERONICA
A true friend's work is never done.

VERONICA reveals her right index finger is cut noticeably short, then walks over to the stalls.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Grow up, Heather. Bulimia's so '86.
HEATHER MCNAMARA
Color me nauseous.

THE STALL

VERONICA stands in a tight stall with an ashamed HEATHER DUKE.

VERONICA
Maybe you should see a doctor.

HEATHER DUKE | Yeah, maybe.

apertenegSpiersanges

ee teen

17

HEATHER CHANDLER (0.S.)

Come on Heather. We want another Look at today's lunch.

VERONICA
Geez, don't listen to then.
HEATHER MCNAMARA (0.S.)
Did she have the pie or the ice cream for dessert?
(like a game show host)
And the answer is.

HEATHER DUKE holds up her copy of The Catcher in the Rye and

makes a bizarrely defiant smile.

HEATHER DUKE
Yeah, you know Holden Caulfield in the Catcher in the Rye wouldn't put. MP with. Eheir Pogus nonsense.
VERONICA
Well, you better move Holden out ef the way or he's going to get spewed.

HEATHER DUKE puts down her book and opens her mouth. VERONICA sticks her finger in.

17 CAFETERIA ENTRANCE . 17 Al? : . Al’ A gnarly melange of chicken and potatoes is scraped offa plate into a cafeteria trashcan as VERONICA and the HEATHERS

stroll by outside. VERONICA pauses to peer in at the JAMES DEANESQUE GUY.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
God Veronica, drool much? His name's Jason Dean. He's in my American History
VERONICA
Give me the clipboard.

As VERONICA walks off, HEATHER MCNAMARA oinks out some amusing

sexual noises. =

B17 CAFETERIA/JASON DEAN'S TABLE Bl

VERONICA saunters to JASON DEAN.

VERONICA
Hello Jason Dean.
JASON
Greetings and salutations. Call me J.D. Are you a Heather?

reae

1é.

VERONICA
No, a Veronica. Sawyer. This may seem like a stupid question....
J.D.
There are no stupid questions.
VERONICA
If you inherit five million dollars the same day aliens tell the earth . they're blowing us up in two days, what would you do?
J.D.
(suavely)
That's the stupidest question I've ever heard.

C17 JOCKS' TABLE C17

“*** “THe “JOCKSwitnéss ‘VERONICA and J.D. 0 +

RAM
- Who does that new kid think he is with that coat? 80 Diddley?
KURT
Veronica is into his act. No doubt.
RAM
Let's kick his ass.
KURT
Shit, we're seniors, Ram. Too old for that crap. Let's give hima scare though.

D17.J.D.'S TABLE DL”

An intrigued J.Q. laconically answers the question.

J.D.
Probably just row on out to the middle of a lake. Bring along my sax, some tequilla, and some Bach.
VERONICA
How very.

HEATHER CHANDLER breaks VERONICA's daze of admiration.

\ HEATHER CHANDLER oe, eee, Come on.

VERONICA (to J.D.)
Later.

BUSTOSoreesSgay ere ew

J.D.
Definitely.

KURT and RAM move into the exiting VERONICA's place. RAM sticks his finger through a piece of pie on J.D.'splate.

RAM
You going to eat this?
18

KURT

What did your boyfriend say when you told him you were moving to Sherwood, Ohio?

RAM
Answer him dick!

KURT : Hey Ram, doesn't this cafeteria aaheye aNo.Fags. Al towedRuler:

It seems to have an open door policy for assholes though, doesn't it?

KURT
What did you say dickweed?
J.D.
T'll repeat myself.

J.D. gracefully stands, reaches’ in his coat, and pulls out aa 0357 Magnum. He fires twice at the viewer.

18 EAT. THE SAWYER BACKYARD-~DAY 48

Croquet wickets have been set up in standard form. VERONICA and the HEATHERS stand at various positions in the yard holding different colored mallets next to matching balls. HEATHER CHANDLER knocks her ball through the middle wicket.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
God, they won't expell him. They'll just suspend him for a week or something.
HEATHER CHANDLER
He used a real gun. They should throw his ass in jail.
VERONICA
No way. He used blanks. All J.D. really did was ruin two pairs of = pants...Maybe net even that... abating
(giggling)
Can you bleach out urine stains?

HEATHER CHANDLER knocks her red ball into HEATHER DUKE'S green

19

4

one. ¥ SartmyisAahSeaeeacapaiEe ee°raneeeeea%eeaacrereeerrr ef

HEATHER CHANDLER
J.D.? You seem pretty amused. I thought you were giving up on high school guys.
VERONICA
Never say never.
HEATHER DUKE
What are you going to do, Heather? Take the two shots or send me out?

The Girls look to the doelike HEATHER DUKE with incredulous faces.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Did you have a brain tumor for breakfast? First you ask if you can be red, knowing that I'm always red...

_HEATHER CHANDLER places.her foot on her red ball. She swings. . “'hSr mallet down hard onthé red Ball’ sending thé adjacent’ ~~ green one rocketing into a flower bed.|

HEATHER DUKE

HEATHER CHANDLER's next shot falls short of the next wicket.

HEATHER CHANDLER
(to HEATHER DUKE)
Damn. It'syour turn Heather.
HEATHER DUKE
No, it's Heather's turn.

HEATHER MCNAMARA hits her ball through a wicket and squeals.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Anyway, I can say never to high school. I've got David.
HEATHER MCNAMARA
King David.
HEATHER CHANDLER
Maybe when you hit maturity you'll understand the diff between a Remington University man like David anda Westerburg boy like Ram "Wham-bam- thank-you~maam" Sweeney.

HEATHER MCNAMARA misses her next shot.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
Ram's sweet. Yo Heather, you're up.

HEATHER DUKE tries to navigate a shot from the flower Ded.

Dgei eenspeeoe“EhMEMESmenereeeeenambeefrSTUNaOecentAU gmstettanraemttyGengt MELt

1g.

wmf ‘HEATHER MCNAMARA oe) No way, no day!

VERONICA
Give itup girl!

As her friends howl, HEATHER DUKE slams her ball out ofthe flower bed. The ball bounces off a tree and amazingly goes through a wicket. HEATHER DUKE squeals in delight.

VERONICA | HEATHER MCNAMARA Holy shit! God, that was unbelievable!

20

HEATHER CHANDLER

HEATHER DUKE's next shot falls short of the next wicket. VERONICA begins setting up her shot.

21

; “HEATHER MCNAMARA

“So tonight's” the night. Are you" two excited?

HEATHER CHANDLER
I'm giving Veronica her shot. Her first Remington Party. Blow it tonight giriandit's keggers with kids all next yar.
VERONICA
(missing her shot)
Crap. So who's this Brad guy I've been set up with? Witty and urbane pre-lawyer or albino accountant?
22

HEATHER CHANDLER

Don't worry. David says he's very so he's very.

HEATHER CHANDLER again hits her ball into HEATHER DUKE'S.

HEATHER DUKE
Why?

HEATHER CHANDLER _ Why not?

HEATHER CHANDLER slams HEATHER DUKE's ball back into the Elower bed. VERONICA'’SMOM calls out the back screen door.

|C) MOM moe Heather, your Mother's here.

' HEATHER MCNAMARA Come on whoever wants a ride.

“PremtaryreuedtentetenoeRameegedASAbFNGAZIOnlAsiarES

fT As the HEATHERS head into the house, VERONICA picks up HEATHER ao DUKE'S ball and exuberantly throws it back toward the wickets.

See ~ Veronica's MOM, carrying a tray of pate, and DAD, carrying a “Robert Ludlum book, place themselves around a patio table.

DAD
Take a break Veronica, sit down.
VERONICA
All right.

VERONICA sinks into the empty middle deck chair.

| DAD So what was the first week of Spring Vacation withdrawl like?

VERONICA
aw. F Gon't know, tt was okay, I guess.

MOM | Hey kid, isn't the prom coming up?

VERONICA
I guess.
MOM
Any contestants worth mentioning?
VERONICA
Maybe. There's kind of a dark horse now in the running.
DAD
(looking up)
Goddamn. Will somebody please tell me why I read this spy crap.
VERONICA
(smiling)
Because you're an idiot.

“DAD Oh yeah, that's it.

DAD immediately returns to reading with a wide grin.

MOM
(shaking her head)
YOu LwWOecee.

VERONICA : Great pate, but I'm going to have to motor if I want to be ready for the party tonight.

19

EXT. OUTSIDE 7-LI-~NIGHT

Ge A Volkswagen Cabriolet pulls up in front of a 7-11 with ee HEATHER CHANDLER at the wheel. VERONICA pops out of the car, into the store. HEATHER CHANDLER clamors to her.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Corn nuts!
20

INT. 7-11 -- NIGHT

Stylishly dressed-to-massacare, VERONICA reaches out to a bag of Corn Nuts as J.D.'soff-screen-voice disarms her.

7 | : J.D. (0.8.)

You going to pull a Big Gulp with that?

VERONICA
No, but if you're nice I'll let — you buy me a Slurpee. You know

Wap ee TareSE“a your 7=kispeak® pretty well. °- *

J.D.
I've been moved around all my life; Dallas, Baton Rouge, Vegas, Sherwood

® Ohio, there's always a 7-11. Any = _. town, any time, I can pop a Ham and

Cheese in the microwave and feast on a Big Wheel. Keeps me sane.

VERONICA
Really? That thing in the caf today was pretty severe.
J.D.
The extreme always makes an impression, but you're right, it was severe. Did you say a Cherry or Coke Slurpee?

| VERONICA I didn't. Cherry.

VERONICA smiles at her Coolness. J.D. returns the smile.

21

EXT. 7-11 PARKING LOT -- NIGHT

VERONICA and J.D. slurp by J.D.'sferocious motorcycle.

VERONICA
Great bike.

HEATHER CHANDLER sounds her car horn with a grimace. VERONICA glares at her then turns back to J.D.

J.D.
Just a humble perk from my Dad's Construction company or should I Say Deconstruction company?

aA RROe .See5 ot sete

VERONICA
I don't know. Should you?
J.D.
My father seems to enjoy tearing things down more than putting things up. Seen the commercial? "Bringing every State to a Higher State.”
VERONICA
Time out....Jason Dean. Your Pop's Big Bud Dean Construction. Must be rough. Moving place to place.
J.D.
Everybody's life's got static. Is your life perfect?
VERONICA
(gently joking)

~ ‘atRemington University. -

VERONICA grows serious as the car horn sounds again.

VERONICA
It's not perfect. I don't really like my friends.
J.D.
I don't really like your friends either.
VERONICA
It's like they're just people I work with and our job is being popular and shit.
J.D.
Maybe it's time for a vacation.

The car horn blares again.

22

INT. DORMITORY ROOM--NIGHT .

DAVID, Heather Chandler's fine looking college beau, leads VERONICA and HEATHER CHANDLER into a cramped, eclectically tacky dorm room. Music pounds the door.

The semi-handsome BRAD chats atop a desk with BRAD'S FRIEND.

a DAVID re, Throw your coats on the bed, girls. fe‘,.ae Sea | BRAD

That exam was so bogus.

BRAD'S FRIEND
Oh I know. Which exam?
DAVID
Veronica, this is Brad.
BRAD
Excellent. Did you girls bring your partying slippers?
HEATHER CHANDLER
Yeah, let's party.
DAVID.
She loves to party.

| As they head out the door, BRAD whispers something in BRAD'S — ' FRIEND's ear causing the pair to snarl off a laugh.

23

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM--NIGHT

The viewer is taken back and forth from a shattered post- party — ‘lelWERONICA to the “traumatic dormitory party itself. The: sobbing.: monocoled VERONICA writes at her desk.

VERONICA (V.0.)
Dear Diary, I want to kill and you have to believe.....damn pen!

VERONICA frenziedly scribbles, trying to get her pen to write.She throws the pen across the room and pulls out another.

VERONICA (V.O.)
You have to believe it's for more than selfish reasons. More than a spoke in my menstrual cycle. You have to believe me.
24

INT. DORMITORY HALLWAY ~- NIGHT AR

| The chaotic hallway rumbles with beer cups and loud music. VERONICA and HEATHER CHANDLER's stylish garb clashes with the laid-back dress of the COLLEGE STUDENTS.

BRAD anxiously hands VERONICA a cup of beer as he watches DAVID and HEATHER CHANDLER move through a.staircase door.

'BRAD So, are you a cheerleader?

Co) VERONICA as (dealing with a jerk) oy "No, not at all.

BRAD
You're pretty enough to be one.

VERONICA

I Gee, thanks. eee aeSorCAREE,SeaiAtOOESERCeT

AhemeToreoakateaemenasahiEatalesSekeUteEanieases6maoeneevan*“4

-BRAD It's so great to be able to talk to agirl and not have to ask “What's your major?" I hate that.

-They uncomfortably sip their beers. A deadly pause ensues.

| BRAD | So when you go to college, what kind of subjects do you think you'll study?

25

INT. DAVID'S DORM ROOM

HEATHER CHANDLER and DAVID sit on the latter's bed, surrounded by a PC and a series of obnoxious Ferrari posters. They kiss. DAVID doing most of the work. |

HEATHER CHANDLER
Come on David, let's go back to the party.

(unzipping his pants)- Don't worry, we will. You're just so hot tonight. I can't control myself.

DAVID pushes HEATHER CHANDLER's head down.

26

INT. DORM HALLWAY -- NIGHT ~ .

BRAD has given up on conversation.

BRAD
So what do you say we head up to my room and have a real party. I've got the best Windham Hill C.D. collection in the dorm.

BRAD'S FRIEND approaches before VERONICA can show disqust.

BRAD'S FRIEND
Brad-ley, Hennesey's looking for you. He says he owes you for blow and he just got some product himself.
BRAD
You're kidding. That pecker actually scored something on his own?
BRAD'S FRIEND
(ambling off)
He's in Sheila's room, big guy. Party up.
BRAD
Excellent. Veronica, ever do cocaine?
VERONICA
Ever since Phil Collins did that anti- drug thing on MTV I refuse everything.
BRAD
Phil Collins? Are you sure he isn't drinking and driving?

a VERONICA Jeez, right, then why don't I do drugs?

BRAD
Right. Hey, don't run away Now.

With a wink, BRAD squirms off. VERONICA dashes into the room with the coats.

27

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM -~- NIGHT

VERONICA rampages through her diary.

VERONICA (V.0.)
Seventeen is the last year Mom buys

furvcarLeviesoethe-Pwinkles.When you make the sscVthweltu et eae

jump from working weekends at Pizza Hut to thirty years at I.B.M., you lose something. Not innocence--power.

JoF.«Kethe cat jumps onto the Diary.

VERONICA
JeF.K.L

VERONICA flings the screeching cat off and continues.

VERONICA (V.O.)
Christ, I can't explain it, but I'm allowed an understanding that my parents and these Remington University assholes have chosen to ignore. I understand I must stop Heather.
28

INT. DORM "COAT" ROOM -- NIGHT ES

'Panting, VERONICA collapses at a desk in the “coat" room. She draws a Vodka bottle from a stockpile of liquor and pours some in her beer cup, slouching down in her chair.

VERONICA lights a match from a 7-11 matchbook. She eeriely brings her hand closer and closer to the fire until it touches.

With an eek of pain, she tosses the match away into the Vodka cup, setting it afire. VERONICA laughs to herself before tossing the flaming cup out the window.

29

EXT. ALLEY OUTSIDE THE DORMITORY NIGHT

“The flaming cup lands ina large rusted Garbade can filled with other cups and various refuse. The flames spread...

26...

30

INT. DORMITORY BATHROOM NIGHT

A dejected HEATHER CHANDLER walks into a multi-mirror-and-sink bathroom. Using a glass off one of the sinks, she gargles some water and then spits at her own reflection.

31

INT. THE DORM "COAT" ROOM -~ NIGHT

VERONICA closes the window as BRAD opens the door.

BRAD
How's my Little cheerleader? Now I know everyone at your high school isn't so uptight, come on..
VERONICA
.Hey really, I don't feel so great.

~ BRAD

36

LETTS DO IT ON HE COATS.EEL

_ ee ee . nena wires.ty becexcellentsse.c'| ete ty pw bt oo deibie

37

BRAD plops down on the bed of coats and begins bouncing.

| VERONICA “I have a little prepared speech I give when my suitor wants more than I'd like to give him.... Gee Blank, I had a nice....

BRAD
Save the speeches for Malcom X. I just wanna get laid.
VERONICA
You don't deserve my fucking speech!

VERONICA yanks up her coat from beneath BRAD on the bed causing him to slide off onto the floor.

32

INT. DORM HALLWAY -- NIGHT |

‘VERONICA storms into the hallway but slows down when she sees she's attracting attention. She notices an incited BRAD slither to the smiling DAVID who chats with some STUDENTS, HEATHER CHANDLER on his arm.

BRAD causes DAVID's smile to ever-so-slightly diminish. DAVID whispers to HEATHER CHANDLER who proceeds to set down her beer and walk toward VERONICA.

winoees EXT. DORMITORY ALLEY -- NIGHT 33

The fire in the trashcan is raging.

34

INT. DORM HALLWAY -- NIGHT

ato A steel faced HEATHER CHANDLER comes face-to-face with VERONICA.

HEATHER CHANDLER
What's your damage? Brad says you're being a real cooze.
40

VERONICA

Heather, I feel awful, like I'm going to throw up. Can we jam, please?

HEATHER CHANDLER
No. Hell no.

VERONICA'S eyes fall shut in a near-faint. She flings herself ‘down off-screen with some ugly wretching sounds.

35

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM =. NIGHT : |

*. ere.ee*Togyawaeaeyes«Se, an.wa4e” see “x

VERONICA ‘savagely.‘acrawis. in her diary, tears burning fierce.

VERONICA (V.0.)
Betty Finn was a true friend and I soid her out for abunch of Swatchdogs and Diet Cokeheads. Killing Heather'd be like offing the Wicked Witch of the West. Or is it East? West! I sound . like a psycho. Tomorrow I'll be kissing her aerobicized ass but tonight let me dream of a world without Heather. A’ world where I am free.
36

INT. DORM HALLWAY -- NIGRT .

VERONICA rises into view with tinges of vomit on her mouth. A smile breaks across HEATHER CHANDLER's granite puss. VERONICA runs off as STUDENTS laugh in the background.

37

EXT. DORMITORY ALLEY -- NIGHT

VERONICA charges into the alley. She whips around to face a screeching HEATHER CHANDLER. In back of VERONICA, the trashcan bellows like Mt. Vesuvius.

HEATHER CHANDLER
You stupid cunt!
VERONICA
You goddamn bitch!

The flickering flames cast HEATHER CHANDLER in a demonic light.

SENET TMCcytemewateRETTFISewarsmete ITatTN.8GMemeraeee”Kate"MeyiH eureSageeSparewhy-weSaseoperaniteda,ole

HEATHER CHANDLER
You were nothing before you met me!- You were playing Barbies with Betty Finn! You were a Brownie, you were a Bluebird, you were a Girl Scout Cookie! I got you into a Remington Party! What's my thanks? It's on the hallway carpet. I get paid in puke!

VERONICA

HEATHER CHANDLER
(tetally in control)
Monday morning, you're history. I'll tell everyone about tonight. Transfer to Washington. Transfer to Jefferson. No one at Westerburg's going to let you play their reindeer games.

werycsrmMareenry*maMos*way “INTs -VERONICA"S BEDROOM == «NIGHT 3.0 ntrpmeeeCet a ene LB BY

VERONICA flings her diary across the room where it hits the wall behind the stunning figure of J.D. VERONICA gasps.

J.D.
Dreadful etiquette. I apologize.
VERONICA
(exhaling deeply)
S'okayece.

* J.D. I saw the croquet set-up in the back. Up for a match?

VERONICA is simultaneously dismayed and exhilarated. She seems ready to burst out all her anxieties but instead.....

VERONICA
Sure. But I'm Blue.
39

EAT. THE SAWYER BACKYARD--LATE NIGHT

The viewer's viewpoint glides through the grass of Veronica's backyard uncovering combinations of wickets and articles of clothing. A pair of girls. shoesand a pair of guys shoes rest together by the first wicket.

J.D. (V.0.)
Goddamn, no wonder you looked so mangled when I came through the window.

Eetases anad Feminine socks and masculine socks lay crumpled by the next wick

VERONICA (V.0O.)
I've always treated Heather's teen “queenpower plays as bullshit.....

As VERONICA quiveringly pauses, a stylish blouse and a rugged shirt are revealed mingling by another wicket.

VERONICA (V.O.)
But I'm really scared. Who am I going to eat lunch with on Monday? I sound like an Afterschool Special.

The viewer's viewpoint moves to a dress and a pair of jeans resting side by side at another wicket.

J.D. {(V.0.) That was my first game of Strip Croquet, you know. I thank you.

VERONICA (V.0.)
You're welcome. It's a lot more interesting than just flinging off your clothes and boning away

a* a’eoae!Meg Pree<2ccae;SPToewan, the neighbor's:swing-sSe@te.:fregeereeteFweioekealpeyFL

VERONICA'S blue mallet has been staked into the ground. Her panties hang on one end, J.D.'s underwear hangs on the other.

J.D. (0.S.)
well, I don't know. There's something to be said for...Ouch!

VERONICA and J.D. are finally revealed, entangled in an artful pose upon J.D.'s gunslinger coat. They warmly kiss. VERONICA breaks off to uneasily giggle.

VERONICA
What a night.

J.D. gently bites intoVERONICA's neck. VERONICA grooves on it, closing her eyes tightly.

VERONICA
What a life. I almost moved into high school out of sixth grade because I was some genius. We all decided to chuck the idea because I'd have trouble making friends, blah-blah-blah.

VERONICA slides her head down against J.D.'s chest and gracefully rests on his lap. Gently fighting slumber, she murmurs up to J.D., who showers her face with slow kisses.

VERONICA
Now blah-blah-blah ts all I do. I use my grand I.Q. to figure out what gloss to wear and how to hit three keggers before curfew. Some genius.
J.D.
Heather Chandler is one bitch that deserves to die.
VERONICA
Killing her won't solve anything.
J.D.
A well-timed lightning bolt through her window and Monday morning, all the other Heathers, shit, everybody would be cast fucking adrift.
VERONICA
well then, I'll pray for rain.
J.D.
See the condoms in the grass over there. We killed tonight, Veronica. We murdered our baby. wate..aBaatey..:oeaoeyeyta|tycrnnard‘reoyo2NeneSrves«fSaweyae | “VERONICA, Hey, it was good for me too, Sparky.
J.D.
Just saying it's not hard to end a life.
VERONICA
There's a big difference between the most popular girl in the school and dead sperm.

They laugh. VERONICA manuevers herself into a sitting positicn.

I guess I don't “know what the hell I’m talking about.

VERONICA-
I know exactly what the hell you're talking about and you're right, you don't know what the hell you're talking about. Let's just grow UD, be adults, and die. ©
J.D.
Good plan.
VERONICA
But before that, I'd like to see Heather Chandler puke her guts out.
40

INT. HEATHER CHANDLER'S BEDROOM~-DAY .

HEATHER CHANDLER's bedroom is lushly and expensively furnished with a glass coffee table as an eye-catching centerpiece. HEATHER CHANDLER half-sleeps in twisted bedsheets as MRS. CHANDLER'S VOICE attacks through the door.

MRS. CHANDLER (0.S.)
We are leaving soon for your. grandmother's. If you care to join us...
47

MRS. CHANDLER (0.S.)

Is that a "No" in your lingo?

HEATHER CHANDLER gives the voice behind the door "the finger."

HEATHER CHANDLER
Lingo this.
41

INT. THE CHANDLER KITCHEN--~DAY

The sound of a lock being jimmied is heard moments before VERONICA and J.D. burst through the doors nals

VERONICA
(quietly)
Trust me. She skips the Saturday morning trip to Grandma's even when she's not hungover.
J.D.
Then let's just concoct ourselves a ‘Little hangover cure that'll induce her to spew red, white, and blue.

VERONICA opens the refrigerator. J.D. opens the cupboard beneath the sink.

VERONICA
What about orange juice and milk? | What's the upchuck factor on that?

J.D. holds up a bottle of cleaning fluid.

J.D.
I'm a No Rust Build-up man, myself.
VERONICA
Don't be a dick. That stuff’ li kill her.

VERONICA and J.D. make queasy eye-contact. VERONICA descends back into the refrigerator with some worked-up enthusiasm as J.D. suavely pours bits of various toxic containers (detergent, scouring powder) into a glass beer mug.

VERONICA
O-kay. We'll cook up some soup and put it in a Coke. Sick, eh? Now should it be Chicken-Noodle or Bean-with-Bacon?
J.D.
Man Veronica, pull the plug on that shit. I say we go with Big Blue.

J.D. raises the glass filled with what is now a strange blue ‘liquid. VERONICA stares at the glass, scared by her own thoughts.

VERONICA
What are you doing? You just can't go....-Besides, she'd never drink anything that looks like that.
J.D.
Okay we'll use this. She won't be able to tell what she's drinking.

J.D.. pulls down a ceramic cup and triumphantly pours the poisonously blue beer glass contents into it. An eerie pause ensues. VERONICA takes out a milk carton anda container of "lsorange.’ juice. She. struts back. tothe counter‘in anger, icily. =.” muttering.

VERONICA
Just give me.a cup, jerk.

_® J.D. sheepishly pulls down an identical ceramic cup. VERONICA Rieye tears it from him and pours some»milk and then some orange . juice into the cup.

VERONICA
Milk and orange juice. Hmmmm. Maybe we could cough a phlegm globber in it or something...
J.D.
' Yeah, great.

They both start coughing harshly.

VERONICA
No luck? Well, milk and orange juice "hh do quite nicely. Quite nicely.
J.D.
Chick-en.

| VERONICA You're not funny.

oN J.D. turns on his heel and slinks away. VERONICA glares down fh - -atthe mess of toxic containers. |

With both arms, VERONICA clumps the toxic containers together and drops beneath the sink to put them away. J.D. swaggers back into the kitchen as VERONICA bobs back into view.

ERDna DNLeiagL OReSRESMEarenPEEAN RateDeeeRieee rae Sc an at Oi anc taleaeBeedReBo

| J.D. I'm sorry.

J.D. kisses the back of her neck. VERONICA closes her eyes with a grudging smile.

VERONICA
Bonehead.

VERONICA dreamily reaches out to one of the two ceramic cups.

Not the one with milk and orange juice in it.

42

INT. HEATHER CHANDLER'S BEDROOM -- DAY

HEATHER CHANDLER angelically sleeps as VERONICA and J.D. enter.

VERONICA
Morning, Heather.

ee eg a iion’‘HEATHERCHANDLER rouses herself Ups. ae

HEATHER CHANDLER
Veronica. And Jesse James. Quelle surprise. Hear about Veronica's affection for regurgitation?
VERONICA
We both said a lot of things we didn't mean, last night.

' HEATHER CHANDLER Did we? How the hell'd you get in here?

JeD. Veronica knew you'd have a hangover. So I whipped this up. Family recipe.

J.D. holds out the ceramic cup. HEATHER CHANDLER snorts.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Did you put a phlegm globber in it or something? I'm not drinking that piss.
J.D. .
I knew this stuff would be too intense.
HEATHER CHANDLER
Intense? Grow up. You think I'll drink it just because you call me chicken.

ae, They do. They're right.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Just give me the cup, jerk.

34.6

HEATHER CHANDLER rises from the bed and struts to J.D. in anger. She takes the cup, slams her head back and downs it all.

She then launches her head forward, her face contorted in agony.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Corn nuts} ,

HEATHER CHANDLER's eyes slam shut and her limp body crashes through the glass coffee table. VERONICA and J.D. freeze.

J.D.
Something tells me you picked up the wrong cup.
VERONICA
No shit, Sherlock. I can't believe it. I just killed my best friend. oeBog eet Osnyaoewi Be ee ee a ohREUbateycecaaie,

And your worst enemy.

VERONICA _ | Same difference. Oh jesus, I'm gonna...

VERONICA staggers to a desk. J.D. laughs out of shock.

J.D.
What are we going to tell the cops? "Fuck it if she can't take a joke, Sarge."
VERONICA
Stop kidding around. The police....oh no, oh God....I can't believe this is my life..I'm going to have to send my S.A.T. scores to San Quentin instead of Stanford.
J.D.
I'm just a little freaked, all right?
(a beat) | You got what you wanted, you know.
VERONICA
Don't say that! it's one thing to want somebody out of your life. It's another thing to serve them a wake-up cup of Liquid Drainer....Don't say....

VERONICA stares off as J.D. paces like a caged animal. He scopes onto the rubble of the shattered coffee table and sees Cliff Notes for The Bell Jar plus a magazine proclaiming “THE FALL OF THE AMERICAN TEEN” under HEATHER CHANDLER's body. |

J.D.
We did a murder. In Ohio, that's a crime. But if this was like a suicide thing.....

oeidntshaleia:netanecSYeeaedadParca:Storeses>we,ee=eeetsoeNEAwghERRHigEeeSeeemar“

‘aS. ma

'VERONICA Like a suicide thing?

J.D.
Adolescence is a period of life fraught with anxiety and confusion.
VERONICA
(calming down)
I ecando Heather's handwriting as well as my own.

VERONICA takes some stationery from the desk and begins writing, calling out her words.

VERONICA
"you might think what I've done is shocking..."

weeWeDo 2, eeeaccra eae "To me “though, Suicideis“the paraanes Pee natural answer to the myriad of problems life has given me."

VERONICA
That! s good, but Heather would: never use the word "myriad."
J.D.
This is the last thing she'll ever write. She'll want to cash in on as many fifty-cent words as poss.
VERONICA
She missed "myriad" on a vocab test two weeks ago, all right?
J.D.
That only proves my point more. The word is a badge for her failures at school.
VERONICA .
You're probably right..."People think just because you're beautiful and popular, life is easy and fun. Nobody understood I had feelings too."
J.D.
"J die knowing no one knew the real me."

VERONICA 7 ae hes That's good. Have you done this before? oe te goie

VERONICA's smile dies as she looks to HEATHER CHANDLER'S corpse. weenie

am ieaywed 2s

43

INT. SCHOOL CONFERENCE ROOM~-DAY

At the head of a long conference table is the bearlike PRINCIPAL GOWAN. Circling the table is the gray~haired but savvy MRS. POPE, the yuppie black counselor PAUL HYDE, TWO large DISCIPLINARIAN-TYPES, and most noticeably, the eccentrically dressed MS. PAULINE FLEMING. Coats are in chairs and cigarette smoke is in the air, as the group batters their way through a morning mourning conference.

PRINCIPAL GOWAN
Any other Principal would take the same position. Keep things business as usual.
COUNSELOR HYDE
Heather Chandler's not your everyday suicide. She was very popular.
PRINCIPAL GOWAN
..;,€ome on Paul, I let the kids go before. “-“liineh and the ‘switchboard’11 light up like a Christmas Tree.
COUNSELOR HYDE
The parents will be sympathetic, sir. These are troubled times for the young.
MRS. POPE
Imust say I was impressed to see that she made proper use of the word "myriad" in her suicide note after’ brutalizing it in a vocabulary test.
PAULINE
(dramatically cutting in)
I find it profoundly disturbing that we are told of a tragic destruction of youth and all we can talk about is adequate mourning times and misused vocabulary words.

A collective sigh goes across the room.

PRINCIPAL GOWAN
Oh Christ.
PAULINE
The school, meaning both students and teachers, must revel in this revealing moment. I suggest we get everyone into the cafeteria and ~ just talk. And feel. Together.

, PRINCIPAL GOWAN Thank you, Ms. Fleming. Call me when the shuttle lands...Now is this Heather the cheerleader?

37.6

COUNSELOR HYDE
That would be Heather Mcnamara.
PRINCIPAL GOWAN
Damn. I'd be willing to go half a day for a cheerleader.
MRS. POPE
Let's just pack it in an hour early.
PRINCIPAL GOWAN
Done. I hate Mondays.
44

INT. PAULINE FLEMING'S CLASSROOM--DAY

The desks of the classroom have been maneuvered into an amusingly chaotic position by PAULINE'S PUPILS. She is furious.

_ PAULINE | coe “tT gald ‘a circle’ you immbeciles! Forget (OSes it! Just sit-down. I'm just so thrilled to be given an example of everything I've taught you. That example is Heather Chandler. I have the note!

PAULINE mélodramatically lifts the suicide note. The class AAAHE

MALE STUDENT
Awright!
PAULINE
I'll pass the suicide note around the room so you can feel its tragic beauty for yourself. Let us share together the feelings the suicide has spurred in us all. Who wants to begin?

FEMALE STONER IN ARMY JACKET I heard it was really gnarly. She sucked — down a bowl of multi-purpose deodorizing disinfectant then she smashed....

PAULINE
Now, now, we're not here to rehash the coroner's report. Let's talk emotions.
ALL-OUT NERD
Are we going to be tested on this?

A stunned PAULINE glares until preppie PETER DAWSON speaks. The note continues to be breathlessly passed around.

PETER
Heather and I used to go together, but she said Iwas boring. I realize now I wasn't really boring. She was just dissatisfied with her life.
PAULINE
That's very good Peter.

Sime VERONICA lets out a laugh that she disguises as a sob by putting her hands over her face.

PAULINE
Dear Veronica, Heather was your soulmate....-Share.
VERONICA
Heather was cool, but cruel. The good looks and bad manners gave her power, but it could not give her happiness.

The class stares to VERONICA as tHe suicide note is passed to her. She acknowledges it in horror, passes it on, then continues, ‘realizing her ability to create truths for a captive audience.

ete* faae’os~~ tote*wag“ey,"aOy°=oeoy,* oan: * . ae ar.re43,""a«wwei ots * metMew”~ tewseykyate ‘road ik i PrNa

: * She realized ‘the. only &way“she ‘could be happy was to give up her power and the only way she could do that was Death..

PAULINE cries. The PUPILS applaud. VERONICA queasily smiles.

45

INT. THE GIRLS LOCKER ROOM-~DAY

The GIRLS are finishing up putting on their clothes.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
Oh God, it's so unfair. It's just so unfair! We should get a whole week off not just an hour.
HEATHER DUKE
Write the School Board.

HEATHER DUKE gnaws on a chicken leg as she speaks.

VERONICA
Watch it, Heather. You could actually be digesting food.
HEATHER MCNAMARA
Yeah,. where's your urge to purge?
HEATHER DUKE
(belching)
Fuck it.

HEATHER MCNAMARA pulls a Swatch from one of the lockers.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
Look, Heather left behind one of her Swatches. She'd want you to have it, Veronica. She always said you couldn't accessorize for shit.

HEATHER MCNAMARA tosses the watch to a spooked VERONICA who stands up and solemnly puts it on. The FEMALE STONER IN ARMY JACKET stops next to their bench. =

FEMALE STONER IN ARMY JACKET I'm sorry about your friend. I thought she was your usual airhead bitch. Guess I was wrong. Lot of us were.

HEATHER DUKE bobs up from the world's largest sno-cone.

HEATHER DUKE
What a waste,

:«. VERONICAzombiesquely moves. into.the shower area....:ee ot

HEATHER DUKE (V.0.)
Oh the Humanity.
46

INT. THE SHOWER -- DAY I PES AE 46°

VERONICA turns on a shower and lets the water spray against. her clothes.

47

INT. THE LOCKER ROOM -- DAY

HEATHER MCNAMARA
Veronica, what are you doing?
SQUEALING GIRL (0Q.S.)
Everyone in the shower!

TWO GIGGLING GIRLS run into the shower fully clothed. THREE ‘OTHERS follow suit. The HEATHERS look to each other, laugh, and run in.

48 ‘INT. THE GIRLS' COACH'S LOCKER ROOM OFFICE -- DAY . 43

Heavy Metalers MATT, CLYDE, and STEVE plus Geek RODNEY sneak into a darkened room. Girls' laughter drifts in.

| MATT Do I deliver or do I deliver?

RODNEY
Hurry up, we're going to get caught.

MATT | Mellow out Geek. Man, I never should have brought you.

CLYDE
Let's seem some puss

MATT pulls a curtain revealing a semi~-overhead view of the showering and clothed GIRLS.

49

INT. THE SHOWER -- DAY 49

The GIRLS splash and spin in balletlike slow motion. VERONICA stands facing the viewer, the Swatch noticeably attached.

50

INT. THE GIRLS' COACH'S LOCKER ROOM OFFICE ~- DAY: .

Cautiously quiet pandemonium.

MATT
Does this have something to do with menstrual cramps and shit?

What the fuck?

RODNEY
We're on Candid Camera, dudes. I: can feel it.
CLYDE
What the fuck?

poses 51 EXT. OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL--DAY . S1

Pulling their coats over their wet clothes, VERONICA and the HEATHERS come out of the school.

57

HEATHER MCNAMARA

i ' That was seriously warped, Veronica.

VERONICA

HEATHER DUKE
T.V. cameras!

In the distance, a T.V. CAMERA CREW is interviewing STUDENTS. HEATHER DUKE dashes toward them. REATHER MCNAMARA freezes.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
Oh God, Veronica. My hair! My clothes!

HEATHER MCNAMARA moans, vibrates, then suddenly races toward the cameras. VERONICA looks down at the soaked, stopped Swatch on her arm. She takes it off and drops it in a nearby trashcan.

52

INT. THE DEAN LIVING ROOM~--LATE AFTERNOON : IEEE

A massive T.V. set shows the image of HEATHER DUKE posed by a tree, talking into a microphone. amacalledoeRoceOyketETEWineitsCkontSeeaeaeetoneeeenonnenSRLRego6nuhCerripee'sepgoruitaes

HEATHER DUKE (T.V.)
I choose to remember the good times, like when we got our ears pierced at the mall.

The imageof HEATHER MCNAMARA sitting on the grass talking into a microphone supersedes HEATHER DUKE's.

HEATHER MCNAMARA (T.V.)
I can still hear those late night talks on the phone.

The image of PETER DAWSON sitting on a rock comes on next.

PETER (T.V.)
The day I won her that stuffed rhino at the 4-H Fair, she said to me....

“VERONICA (0.S.) You' re an asshole! Mute him! eeltt2: : re?we.be.“ed torsArey“7NatsWonCotape.

VERONICA and. J.De are seen.“bo be crashed -‘on. aacouch. J.D. pushes a button on the remote control, cutting the sound.

J.D.
Mute! io

—_ VERONICA Next channel, darling.

The silent image of HEATHER DUKE on a staircase talking into a microphone is on the screen.

VERONICA (0.S.)
Heather, how many networks did you run to!

Country Club Courtney appears wearing a T-shirt reading BIGFUN. VERONICA takes the remote control and turns the sound on.

VERONICA
Oh, I have to hear this.

In my heart, Heather's still alive.

VERONICA
(muting Courtney)” | What are you talking about? She hated you! You hated her! (to J.D.)
What are you smiling at?

J.D. . et ng Heather Chandler is more popular OH el pt than ever now. Ate eo ea

VERONICA
Yeah. Scary stuff.

J.D. suddenly looks away from VERONICA with a mischevious half-smile. He inexplicably calls out.

J.D.
Why son, I didn't hear you come in.

J.D.'s father BIG BUD DEAN, stands before them, handsome and threatening in a shirt and tie. He is rather malevolently holding a rowing machine.

BIG BUD DEAN
Hey Dad, how was work today?

BIG BUD slams down his rowing machine and straddles it before answering his own question. He rows as he speaks. The Brady Bunch sputters on the T.V. screen before him. a ic a Pretaweseai aead ©Bre “BUD BEAN” ‘

Tt was miserable. Some damn tribe of withered old bitches doesn't want us to terminate that fleabag hotel. All because Glenn Miller and his band once took a shit there. It's just like Kansas. Do you remember fucking Kansas?

J.D.
That was the one with the wheat right?

_ BIG BUD DEAN The Save the Memorial Oak Tree Society. Showed those fucks.

J.D. turns to VERONICA with a bemused smile.

59

; J.D.

Thirty Fourth of July fireworks attached to the trunk. Arraigned but Acquitted.

BIG BUD DEAN
Fucking Kansas. Gosh Pop, I almost forgot to introduce my girlfriend.
J.D.
Veronica, Dad. Dad, Veronica.
VERONICA
Hello.

VERONICA, with a forced smile, reaches to shake BUD's hand. He extends his hand but makes no effort to stop rowing hence his hand pulls away from VERONICA. Pop and son laugh.

|. eRan reespores: PNettgserietakorTrertiene“ane PeeteCECsgPOOR WALESiaMMSSperTEPaeMORROpeomentinRECTRteRM mT TNT REGNesapteibute atte rapemenansanne

EErsARLE MIRNOR PANOTE CARA tie (Sibivores*“nn*

J.D.
Jason, why don't you ask your little friend to stay for dinner.
VERONICA
_ (awkwardly standing) My Mom's making my favorite meal tonight. Spaghetti. Lots of oregano.
J.D..
Nice. The.last time I saw my Mom, she was waving out the window of a library in Texas. Right, Dad?

BIG BUD DEAN stops rowing.to grin a You-Think~You're- Tougher-Than-Me-But~You're~Not smile to J.D.

BIG BUD DEAN
Right, son.

ee (weakly) Right.

53

EXT. THE SAWYER PATIO--DUSK . LO

Just as in the earlier patio scene, DAD and MOM SAWYER are’. Seated at a patio table with an empty chair between them. Pate is on the table. DAD smokes a cigarette. :

DAD
Take a break Veronica, sit down.

VERONICA walks into view and sits down.

VERONICA
All right.
61

DAD .

So what was the first day after Heather's suicide like?

VERONICA
I don't know, it was okay, I guess.
MOM
Terrible thing. So will we get to— meet this dark horse prom contender?
VERONICA
Maybe.
DAD
(looking at his cigarette)
Goddamn. Will somebody please tell me why I smoke.these damn things?

Ro

VERONICA
(smiling)
Because you're an idiot.
DAD
Oh yeah, that's it.

DAD immediately takes another drag with a wide grin.

MOM
(shaking her head)
YOU twWOeese
VERONICA
Great pate, but I'm going to have to motor if I want to be ready for the funeral tomorrow.
54

INT. HEATHER MCNAMARA'S BEDROOM--DAY

(2. tt, 4. Aomontage commences ‘showing ‘the HEATHERS ‘preparing for the 5" funeral. HEATHER MCNAMARA models an all-black outfit in front of a dressing table mirror. She storms away, pouting.

55

INT. HEATHER DUXE'S BEDROOM --DAY == TS 85

Bobbing up from a fashion magazine whose cover story is FUNERAL CHIC, HEATHER DUKE finishes applying black lipstick. A look of horror passes over her face and she savagely scrubs her lips.

56

INT. CHURCH=--DAY OS $6

A MORTICIAN puts the finishing touches on HEATHER. CHANDLER, smoothing out her clothes and buffing her face. He gently kisses her forehead then quickly rebuffs the spot.

57

INT. HEATHER MCNAMARA'S BEDROOM -=—DAY

HEATHER MCNAMARA models another black outfit. She responds this time with a satisfied smile.

58 ‘INT. HEATHER DUKE'S BEDROOM -- DAY 338

Traditionally made up, a smiling HEATHER DUKE brings a crucifix earring to her ear and attaches it.

59

INT. CHURCH--DAY

A59 A59 HEATHER CHANDLER serenely lies in a coffin as FATHER RIPPER mS bellows off-screen. A panorama of ADULTS and STUDENTS is Co revealed at this more social than spiritual event. VERONICA and J.D. watch from the back pew.

FATHER RIPPER (0.S.)
I blame not Heather but rather a society that tells its youth that the answers are on the MTV video games. We must pray the other teenagers of Sherwood, Ohio, know the name of that “righteous dude" who can solve their problems....

The bald FATHER RIPPER finally comes into view.

FATHER RIPPER

It's Jesus Christ and he! s in the book.

B59 KNEELING PODIUM BEFORE COFFIN--LATER B59

BETTY FINN is kneeling before HEATHER CHANDLER'S open coffin. The viewer hears what she is thinking.

Pv ener eS BEDTY (VEOe} te Po Re tae eet hp: May Heather Chandler rest in peace even though she committed suicide. For-the-kingdom-the-power~and-the- glory-are~yours-now~and-forever~Amen.

BETTY FINN makes the sign of the cross, rises, and exits. HEATHER MCNAMARA takes her place on the kneeling podium.

HEATHER MCNAMARA (V.O.).
Oh God, this is a tragic thing and sometimes I have a hard time dealing with it and stuff. Please send Heather to heaven and all that. Thanks. I mean, Amen.

HEATHER MCNAMARA exits and PETER DAWSON moves in her place.

PETER (V.0O.)
Dear God, make sure this never happens to me. I do not think I could handle suicide and that's the God's honest truth. Pardon the pun. Fast-early-acceptance- into-an-Ivy-League-school-and- Pplease-let-it-be-Harvard. Amen.

PETER flees and RAM uncomfortably takes his place.

RAM (V.O.)
Jesus God in heaven, uh, why did you kill such hot snatch. That's a joke, man. People are so serious.
(a beat)
Hail Mary, who aren't in heaven, pray for us sinners....so we don't get caught. Another joke, man.

RAM clumsily exits. HEATHER DUKE solemnly kneels in his place.

HEATHER DUKE (V.0O.)|
I prayed for the death of Heather Chandler many times and I felt bad every time I did, but I kept doing it anyway. Now I know you understood everything. Praise Jesus. Alleluia.

HEATHER DUKE departs and VERONICA kneels in her place.

VERONICA (V.O.)
Hi. I m sorry. Technically I didn't kill Heather Chandler but hey, who. am I- trying to kid, right? I just want my high school to be a nice place. Amen. Did that sound bitchy?

C59 CHURCH LOBBY . " C39

-HEATHER. MCNAMARA. dips a-.big-comb*-into-the holy: water basin and: > then combs out her hair. VERONICA breezes by.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
Veronica. What are you doing tonight?
VERONICA
Mourning. Maybe watch some T.V. Why?
HEATHER MCNAMARA
Ram asked me out, but he wants to double with Kurt and Kurt doesn't have a date.
VERONICA
Heather, I've got something goingng withJ.D.
HEATHER MCNAMARA
7 Please Veronica. Put Billy the Kid on “hold tonight, I'll never forget it..
60

EXT. CHURCH PARKING LOT--DAY | A

KURT KELLY and RAM stand by RAM'S van.

KURT
We on tonight man?
RAM
I still got to talk to Heather, dude. Weird funeral, huh?
KURT
Pretty weird.

Geeks RODNEY and BRACES thrust by KURT and RAM. BRACES obliviously steps on KURT's foot. SENATETORICEOELEMCTePrpapainTtenerbenecpsetanpeat8:

KURT
That pudwapper just stepped»on my foot.
68

RAM

Let's kick his ass.

KURT
Cool off, we're seniors.
RAM
Goddamn Geek! :

BRACES gives them "the finger"

BRACES
(awkwardly defiant)
Sit and spin.

KURT and. RAM eurn to each other more amused than angered. at ee vasvel“osPteaea : otee gteesate *.aPChom._poe3.egmo:aeeR wlyeaspee”

KURT
That little prick.

The bolting Jocks effortlessly catch BRACES and put him into & hunched-over position. The other Geeks look on, ashamed.

coe KURT All right you piece of shit fag, do you like to suck big dicks?

BRACES
Cut it out!

RAM pushes BRACES down harder.

KURT .
Say it man. Say I like to suck big dicks.
RODNEY
Leave him-alone, Kurt.

J.D. rides by on his motorcycle. He turns to watch KURT, wearing an overwhelmingly tinted motorcycle helmet that reads THE TRUE KILLER across the top. KURT is spooked.

RAM (0.S.)
Say it!
BRACES
Okay, okay, you like to suck big dicks.

Unamused, RAM throws BRACES to the ground. BRACES semi-cries. aml

thee tin BRACES Pema I like to suck big dicks. Mmm-mm!. mined“i I can't get enough of them. Satisfied?

KURT

: : I'm sure your friends are happy i ined to hear that. eye! (with a lisp).

Right, guys?

ANOTHER PLACE IN THE PARKING LOT

VERONICA and HEATHER MCNAMARA sashay through the parking lot.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
Don't worry, Ram's been so sweet lately, consoling me and stuff. It'll be really very. Promise.

Moving into the background, BRACES wipes dirt and blood off his face as his friends glumly watch on.

| VERONICA - All right, but I hope it isn't iseGodng .to.be oneof .thosenights,where oa Rye acetate 2

bpGbfg te OEws

they get shitfaced and take us to a pasture to tip cows.

61

EXT. COW PASTURE--NIGHT

A6l | | ee ‘AGL ” A COW stands sleeping. Giggling and drunk, KURT and RAM rs5“ia Lae ‘,aye° scramble around the COW. Uncomfortable and sober, VERONICA and HEATHER MCNAMARA look on.

71

RAM

-I think so, man.

| KURT Then get over on my side. Oh shit, cowtipping is the fucking greatest.

RAM
Punch it in!

KURT and RAM slam their knuckles and then lean against the COW, poised to shove. HEATHER MCNAMARA manages a smile but VERONICA glares it away.

KURT
Count of three, guy.
KURT AND RAM
One. Two. Three!

An 0.8. Moo and the Jocks' laughter is heard as mud splashes ~against the mortified faces of VERONICA and HEATHER MCNAMARA.

B6élDEEPER IN THE PASTURE--LATER IN THE NIGHT Bél

‘C KURT stumbles after a more annoyed than scared VERONICA..

KURT
"When I get that feeling, I need sexual healing.....”
VERONICA
Yeah, right, asshole.

VERONICA makes her way up a hill, pausing to compassionately stare at RAM on top of a dispirited HEATHER MCNAMARA. KURT's intoxicated brain has trouble dealing with the incline. Majestically, J.D. appears at the top of the hill. KURT squints up the hill and falls over backwards.

| J.D. What is this shit?

BRL aeh Spam ot se 8s MERONICA- eg RR De OMEdikepetitesat

I'm doing a“ €avor for deather. A double.date. I “tried totell you atthe funeral but you rode of €.

KURT
(still face down)
"Feel like making bah da dah bah da dah, feel like making love."
J.D.
Another fucking Heather.
(harshly laughs)
I'm sorry. I'mfeeling kind of superior tonight. Seven high schools in seven states and the only thing different. was my locker combination. We've broke through the peer pressure cooker. So what if we had to kill Miss Popularity..

VERONICA clumsily high heels it up:the hill.

| VERONICA So what? Don't smile like that, Jesus!

J.D.
Our love is God. Let'sget a Slurpee.

J.D. solemnly reaches toward VERONICA. She, less solemn, takes his hand. Their bodies disappear over the hill.

KURT
"And she's buying the stairway to heaven.."

‘62 INT. | NEWSPAPER/YEARBOOK WORKSHOP--DAY 2 62

In a cluttered school workshop, Editor DENNIS and YEARBOOK GIRL ALISON confer over a layout sheet. Alison wears a walkman and BIGFUN T-shirt. PETER DAWSON pouts behind them.

EE eteRAT ttNOEOASOMOSn tee

DENNIS
I'm not belittling the Foodless Fund, Peter, but we're talking teen suicide! Ask Alison here, the number one song right now is "Teenage Suicide (Don't Do It)" by BigFun. Jesus man, Westerburg finally got one of these things and I'm not going to blow it.
PETER
Great. Heather gets the headline and I get crammed in by the Taco Bell coupon.

VERONICA breezes in.

VERONICA
Hi Guys. I came to check on this week's lunchtime poll topic. 4,“et.*nd‘Loak+

Don't worry about it, Veronica, sit down. That funeral yesterday must have been really rough.

“VERONICA Oh. Sure.

DENNIS
We were, uh, wondering if maybe you had some poems or artwork that Heather did that we could put in the Heather Chandler yearbook spread?
VERONICA 1
The what?
DENNIS.
Take a look. We'll have a two page layout with her suicide note up here in the right hand corner. It's more tasteful than it sounds.

Country Club COURTNEY and COURTNEY'S FRIEND come in giggling and whispering. Seeing VERONICA, they stop dead, then slide into chairs, laughing softly.

VERONICA
I don't know. This thing leaves a _ bad taste in my mouth.
COURTNEY
Like last night, Veronica?

COURTNEY and COURTNEY'S FRIEND explode in laughter.

ote,

VERONICA
I'm sorry? I don't get it.
COURTNEY
You did last night. Kurt told us of ‘your little date.

VERONICA | Yeah. And? I left him drunk and flailing in cowshit.

COURTNEY | I don't know. He was really detailed.

PETER
Shut up, Courtney.

VERONICA : Don't shut up. I'dlike to know just | what I did. aca ee, Ra ged ataisea Saatts TAB Ui Seg atta Saee PETER | (gesturing to the door) Let me show you that lunchtime poll topic, Veronica.

‘INT. HALLWAY OCUTSIDETMWORKSHOP | ~~ DAY. G3

PETER tells VERONICA.

PETER
I rarely listen to Neanderthals like Kurt Kelly bu-ut he said you were bent over like a coffee table with Kurt going in one end and Ram coming in the other. Pardon the pun.
VERONICA
(dazed) , Pardon the pun. Son-of-a-bitch.

Dizzy, VERONICA hands a clump of dolllar bills to PETER.

VERONICA
Thanks Pete, for the Foodless Fund.

PETER cheerfully pockets the cash as VERONICA drifts off.

72

INT. | VERONICA'S BEDROOM--NIGHT «4

VERONICA arousingly speaks into her phone.

SaMIETyeeAe MREYeeeeeethoeeeeS MSeeerQEReaeOeeeeES arsSleeedMEitedam eemRfeane OR MEcmeMEeweEETS UD EAR>yySOMEORAL T aaLALMA ete od ena oeaeMRNaan HR*rceee.

VERONICA

aint | Hi, Kurt? This is Veronica Sawyer. I Braeos didn't expect to be calling either. I ba

guess my emotions took over. I was wondering if you wanted all those things you've been saying to really happen. It's always been a fantasy of mine to have two guys at OncCe@.eess. Sure, you can write Penthouse Forum.

Revealed to be lounging on her bed, J.D. laughs out loud. VERONICA throws a book at hin.

VERONICA
That's right. In the woods behind the school. At Dawn. And don't forget Ram.
65

INT. THE KELLY KITCHEN--NIGHT

KURT hangs UP with an amazed expression on his face. Lo bapee Zs agfaegeeee PandetdetacoietyMargeteeaayheh te

Women.

66

INT. _VERONICA'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT OE AIE

‘VERONICA and J.D. load guns on VERONICA's bed. VERONICA breaks into a laugh. . |

VERONICA
I don't get the point of me writing a suicide note when we'll just be shooting them with blanks.
J.D.
Get crucial. We won't be using blanks this time.
VERONICA
You can't be serious? Hey listen, ‘myBonrfie-and-Clyde days are over.

VERONICA drops her gun in revulsion and launches off her bed. With a patient smile, J.D. pulls her back down.

J.D.| Do you take German?

VERONICA
French.

i@ J.D. flicks open his gun and pulls a bullet from the chamber.

J.D.
These are Ich Luge bullets. My grandfather snared a shitload of them in W.W. Two. They're like tranquilizers only they break the surface of the skin, enough to cause blood, but not any real harm.
VERONICA
So it looks like the person's been shot and killed when they're really just unconscious and bleeding.

J.D. nods then stands to pace the room, his mind whirring.

J.D.
We shoot Kurt and Ram. Make it look Like they shot each other. By the time Kurt and Ram regain consciousness, they'll be the iaughingstock's of the | ee ites ‘school. The néte's’ the piinchline’ How'd it turn out?

VERONICA clumsily extracts the note from her purse. She also

75

PPLUCKSOUT THE CRUMPLED YELLOW SAMPLE OF KURT'S HANDWRITING OF

the opening note-forge scene. She proudly displays both papers.

VERONICA , First tell me this similarity is not incredible... ;

J.D.
(warmly)
Incredible similarity.

VERONICA pulls back the note and reads.

VERONICA
Ram and I died the day we realized we could never reveal our forbidden love to an uncaring and ununderstanding world. The joy we shared in each other's arms was greater than any touchdown. Yet we were forced to live the lie of Sexist- Beer Guzzling-Jock-Asshole.
J.D.
Exquisite, but I don't think ununderstanding is a word.
VERONICA
We don't want to make them out to be too secretly eloquent. Why would the ‘Germans invent a bullet that doesn't " kill people? Imean itwas World War Two, not a school play.

eeSETARASepeegeOEieeteCLEEyUUMesTAMALES faerespane te LehaPte TEEgnfeewaTENNSESeetLASTMICESONNEARS RUMTEI RIORRHEDRUEHEL HSMNnt bee pce edt ewe gn eoeeec necto8 bw ene we

J.D.
(rapid-fire)
“They used them on themselves to make it look like they we're dead. Really quite a brillant device, but too flamboyant to seriously produce.
VERONICA
Neat. Let's try it out on J.F.K.

VERONICA swiftly picks up her gun and aims it at the lovable tabby entering the room. J.D. rips it away from her.

J.D.
- It doesn't work on small animals!

VERONICA

Uh well hey, Let! s take aLook at the homosexual artifacts I dug up to plant at the scene. Now prepare to be a Little dissappointed.

lifts up a feminine shopping bag and gently dumps the.

‘contents on the bed.

J.D.
We! vegot an issue of Stud Puppy, a candy dish, a Joan Crawford post card, and some mascara.

| VERONICA You must have had fun.

J.D.
You know it. Oh man, I almost forgot. The one perfecto thing I picked up...

reaches in both his coat pockets and triumphantly raises

out two bottles of Perrier water.

J.D.
Perrier water!
VERONICA
Oh come on. Lots of people drink Perrier.It's come a long way.
J.D.
This is Ohio. Ifyou don't have a brewsky in your hand you might as well be wearing a dress.
VERONICA
(mock-seductively)
Oh, you're so smart. How about a Little heterosexuality before we go?

J.D. laughs then climbs onto VERONICA for a hugging kiss.

67

EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT~-DAWN :

A tense KURT and an excited RAM, playing air guitar, walk through the misty parking lot toward the woods.

RAM
(singing)
Sex and Drugs and HBO is all I ever need! Whoa! Can you hear me! Hello Tokyo! I said Sex and Drugs and...

Shut "the “suck up, ‘allpioht.

RAM
Lighten up, dude. In those weeds is some of the finest pussy in the school and we don't even have to buy it a hamburger and a Diet Coke. What a way to start the day! Punch it in!

KURT feebly slams knuckles with RAM.

68

EXT. CLEARING IN THE WOODS-~-DAWN

VERONICA stands in the middle of a clearing in the woods, She nervously tucks the gun in the back of her dress as KURT and RAM emerge into the clearing from a path in the woods.

; KURT Hi Veronica.

VERONICA © (forced cheerfulness) Hi Guys. Glad you could make it.

RAM smacks his hands together.

So do we just start fucking?

VERONICA
I've made a circle on each end of the clearing. Ram, you come over here.

KURT steps into the scratched-in-the-dirt cirele next to him. A confused RAM walks past VERONICA and steps into a circle at the opposite end of the foggy clearing.

irNahe BE Pa RenaiantarecheReaoraarVERONICA

aere eers

The guys pause, then slowly start taking off their clothes.

|

What about you?

VERONICA
I was hoping you'd rip my clothes off me, sport.
RAM
Oh. Good idea.

KURT and RAM awkwardly stand at opposite ends in their undies.

VERONICA
Count of three, guys.

Agiggtes. in anticipation. |

VERONICA
One.

KURT finally cracks a smile.

VERONICA
Two.

J.D. suddenly moves next to VERONICA holding a gun in his right hand and the feminine shopping bag in his left. .

J.D.
Three.

J.D. almost non-chalantly shoots RAM in the forehead. VERONICA rips out her gun and swings it toward KURT. Using both hands, she fires, but misses completely. KURT runs away onto the path. VERONICA throws down her gun with a smile.

VERONICA
Shucks. ;

J.D. races to VERONICA in a white sweat.

J.D, Did you miss him completely?

VERONICA
(giggling) | Yeah, but don’t worry, it was worth it just to see the look on....

Don't move! I'll get him back!

VERONICA's laughter cuts off like a faucet. Suddenly frembiing and confused, she Watches J.D. bolt into the woods.

raviSEMoeEynenaaEteReaaogsieeeeset:

87,

THE PATH

A panicked KURT runs on the path through the woods.

OFF THE PATH

J.D., with a cold efficiency, weaves through trees and fog.

THE CLEARING |

VERONICA, turns toward Ram's collapsed body.

THE PATH |

KURT sees the opening at the end of the woods. J.D. suddenly moves into the opening and raises his gun. KURT runs back...

THE CLEARING

__...YERONICA approaches, Ram' s body. with. increasing shivers. HeMoaooo.

dead, dead, dead.

KURT barrels into the clearing as J.D. howls from the woods.

| o.D. Now!

In a burst of frightened, animal instinet, VERONICA whips around and fires her gun right into KURT's chest.

69

INT. SQUAD CAR IN SCHOOL PARKING LOT -- DAWN .

Two cops, MILNER and McCORD, smoke marijuana in a squad car already filled with smoke. After a coughing fit, MILNER shouts.

MILNER
I heard it that time!

McCORD Wha?

MILNER
Another gunshot! From the woods!

McCORD Shit, let's roll.

The two officers explode out of the car..

79

EXT. THE CLEARING -- DAWN. 70

J.D. puts his gun in RAM's right hand while VERONICA zombiesquely does the same with KURT and her gun.

VERONICA
Kurt doesn’ tLook too good.

CNANTEmSSenedoSEENARR PC FeIPSNRS RE MEaRANe yeirngeTEER YmRem rmmare my oStameRem gettsare—eanea

wineteaanteeatemeaneamaneeamlanetwmenteekneSeeeenTeBeanenemacemeaneaaeetlwinesmeepetsD

J.D.
Remember he's left-handed.

A quivering VERONICA puts the gun in KURT's left hand.

MILNER (0.S.)
Keep going until you hit the clearing!

J.D.'s head snaps forward. He yanks up VERONICA. They both run into the woods behind RAM's body as the two Cops charge into the clearing, guns raised. Seeing the Jocks, they stop.

McCORD Mother of Shit!

MILNER
Call in!

MILNER Looks toward where VERONICA and J+. ranouts

4 : ee+af*5iedaewie, ‘oseatyo ee BReeeOYofetea‘‘ft“a:ate:5varsa)aeeeroteeeawdwho?oa*ae ‘MILNER t heard something out there. I'm checking it out.

MILNER runs off as McCORD shouts into a walkie-talkie. He is holding the pulse of KURT KELLY.

-M¢CORD This is Officer McCord and I've got two dead bodies in the woods behind Westerburg High. Oh my God, one of them's Kurt Kelly, the quarterback.

71

EXT. IN THE WOODS -- DAWN | : 74

VERONICA and J.D. flow through thick trees. An Owl hoos.

72

EXT. .ANOTHER PART OF THE WOODS -~ DAWN

MILNER blindly barrels through the dense, foggy woods.

73

EXT. JUST OUTSIDE THE WOODS ~~ DAWN

VERONICA and J.D. come out of the woods and race up a dew drenched hill toward VERONICA's car which is parked on top.

o.eD. Faster!

74

EXT, IN THE WOODS -- DAWN .

“MILNER is jolted by an OWL-HOO, then continues moving.

HILL -- DAWN ~ os | 75

75

EXT. THE

VERONICA and J.D. reach the car, panting.

MILNER races out of the woods just as VERONICA and J.D. slam the car doors behind them. MILNER huffs up the hill. ye,

76

INT, HE SAWYER CAR ~- DAWN

VERONICA and J.D. somersault into the backseat and begin taking off their clothes.

77

EXT. THE HILL -- DAWN | :

MILNER continues to move up the hill.

78

INT. THE SAWYER CAR -~ DAWN -

VERONICA and J.D., stripped down to their underwear, embrace.

79

EXT. OUTSIDE THE CAR -~ DAWN | 79°

MILNER approaches the car and peers |if: His erackling walkie~ ‘talkie startles:Him.: |::.

McCORD (0.S./walkie-talkie) Milner, can you hear me? What's going down?

MILNER moves away from the car, then speaks into his walkie-— talkie.

MILNER
Think what I heard was just a : stinking owl. All I got is two kids making out in the backseat of a car. Should I pry them apart?

McCORD (0.S./walkie-talkie) Forget it. I got all the answers back here, partner. Boy, Kids today sure start in early. Hey, are they naked?

MILNER sighs, and clicks off his walkie-talkie.

80

INT. THE SAWYER CAR -~ DAWN | |

Seeing the cop move away, VERONICA and J.D. stop kissing. They catch their breath, smile, then continue passionately necking.

81 EAT, THE CLEARING -- DAWN 84

MILNER runs back into the clearing.

MILNER
What's the deal?

McCORD Suicide. Double Suicide. They shot each other.

MILNER
That’s Kurt Kelly!

: SAADEVETraeAgeene neepert,BRATgeaEN RSTTYhe TEa So nT PRNECa ae eaem,eegS em en e mmrang S ween teehmme

McCORD Yeah, and the linebacker, Ram Sweeney.

MILNER
Oh my God, suicide? Why?

McCORD Does this answer your question?

McCORD reaches in the feminine shopping bag and pulls out the ‘bottles of Perrier water.

|MILNER Oh man, they were fags!

McCORD Listen up, "We.could never reveal our forbidden love to an uncaring and -ununderstanding world.”

MILNER .
Ah Jesus H. Fuck. Kurt was a Sherwood Sunday Insert Honorable Mention...

MILNER shakes his head slowly then suddenly looks up.

MILNER
Wait a second. How did they shoot @ach other if we heard two separate sets of gunshots?

McCORD I always hear gunshots when I'm high before noon. Life's a crazy bitch. Don't try to analyze it. The quarterback buggering the linébacker. What a waste.

| MILNER_ Oh the humanity.

82

INT. SCHOOL CONFERENCE ROOM--MORNING AE

Another morning mourning conference. The participants look a little more frazzled. PAULINE sits at the head of the table.

COUNSELOR HYDE
(sotto voce to Mrs. Pope)
After every touchdown or whatever, they give each other a little slap on the bottom. It seems innocent...
PAULINE (0.S.)
Shut up.

The elderly MRS. FOPE shakes her head at the suicide note.

5speeqpuremawastesper

em (oO MRS. POPE e( . Look at this. "Ununderstanding.”

PAULINE
Will you shut up! We were in a similar position Monday and I thoughtfully suggested that we get the students together for an unadulterated emotional outpouring. You took the suggestion as an opportunity to play yet another round of “Let's laugh at the Hippie."
COUNSELOR HYDE
Pauline, Lf you want a tryout for the school play....

PRINCIPAL GOWAN hoarsely breaks ‘in.

tites tat PRINCIPAL. _GOWAN | Shut ‘up, paure I've seen a lot of" bullshit--angel dust, switchblades, sexually perverse photography exhibits involving tennis racquets, -but this suicide thing....I guess it's all on Pauline's wavelength. We're just going to write off today, and Friday she can do her little little love~in or whatever. Whatever.

83

EXT. STUDENT PARKING LOT--MORNING |

VERONICA's car is the lone vehicle in the student parking lot. Slowly other cars begin to filter in, including a rumbling heap- ful of Heavy Metalers.

84

INT. THE SAWYER CAR ~- MORNING

The Heavy Metaler Heap's cbnoxious muffler causes a sleeping VERONICA's eyes to snap open in bug-eyed sweat. Mentally wounded, she climbs into. thefront seat, pulling on her blazer. She presses in the car cigarette lighter. J.D. rumbles from the back as more cars begin to fill:the lot.

VERONICA
We killed them, didn't we?
J.D.
Of course.

VERONICA tugs.out the car lighter and savagely brands the palm of her hand. J.D. hurdles into the front seat and bats the lighter away. He lights a cigarette off the scorched flesh of VERONICA's hand as she wails away.

VERONICA
Ich Luge bullets! I'm an idiot!

SEmteenAcmtgsNegenNegematt

J.D. drags on his cigarette. School buses are pulling in outside of the parking lot, in front of the school.

J.D.
You believed it because you wanted to believe it. Your true feelings were too gross and icky for you to face.
VERONICA
Idid not want them dead.
J.D.
Did too.
VERONICA
Did not.

J *D* Did too.

VERONICA
Did not.

J.D. launches into a rapid-fire rendition of “did-too's". VERONICA responds by holding her hands over her ears and. Singing “Mary had a Little Lamb." J.D.'s “"did-too's" get louder causing VERONICA to bang on the horn.

85

EXT. PARKING LOT -- DAY GS

HEATHER DUKE and a vegged out HEATHER MCNAMARA stop sauntering through the parking lot to contemplate Veronica's hiccuping car and its sparring occupants.

HEATHER DUKE
Ah, young love.

COURTNEY bounds up to the Heathers.

SQUEELING GIRL 41 f Did you hear? School's cancelled today because Kurt and Ram killed themselves in a repressed homosexual suicide pact.

94

HEATHER DUKE

(incredulous, but amused) No way! ;

86

INT. THE SAWYER CAR -— DAY |

J.D.pulls VERONICA off the horn and warmly places an unlit cigarette in her mouth. As he speaks, VERONICA wearily takes the cigarette from her mouth and puts it in her blazer pocket.

J.D.
Football season's over, Veronica. Kurt and Ram had nothing to offer the school but date-rapes and A.I.D.S. jokes.

SASeneELLNaResiCoastangeeinen: s

nobwoBeaweMeawe‘vatefoePaesWadeeeSpagettiraenatLomaeeeselepierceHelaymeengareeat

VERONICA -

oil) ee : (looking,to her burnt hand) sn! Sure. Can we make an ice run

before the funeral?

STUDENTS head back to their cars and the Buses pull back out.

87

INT. CHURCH ~- DAY

A typically John Waynesque Jock's Father-type, MR. KELLY, stands over his son'sopen coffin. KURT wears a black football helmet. FATHER RIPPER watches on with various ADULTS, STUDENTS.

MR. KELLY
Tf there's any way you can heart me, Kurt buddy, I don't care that you really were some pansy. You're my flesh-and-blood. You made me proud. “UE. Love my homosexual. son.My: SOM'S Coe a ee ag neon ote gay and I love him!

In dark sunglasses, VERONICA wearily leans over to J.D.

VERONICA
Your son's dead and you love him.
J.D.
How do you think Mr. Kelly would | react to ason with a limp wrist that hada pulse?

They quietly laugh. VERONICA sees a LITTLE GIRL staring at her. She is wearing Kurt's football jersey and her face ts soaked in tears. VERONICA's smile turns into a nauseated grimace.

88 OMIT 88

89

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM FLOOR -~ NIGHT

VERONICA lies next to aVodka bottle, drinking out of a Dixie cup. She turns off her blaring radio to speak on the phone.

‘DwJ. (radio). . As you know, the Sherwood Teen Suicide tote is up to three. Here's one for Kurt and Ram, BigFun with Teenage Suicide, Don't Do It... .

VERONICA
Hello J.D.? No, it's okay, I just kind of wanted to talk...Oh, a newsmagazine show on Channel 16.Really? On the suicides. No, sounds great. Bye.

..-VERONICA hangs up and looks to her battered diary lying against.

the wall. She crawls to the diary and then reaches up to her night table to pull down her monocle and a pen. She sucks a cup of Vodka and begins writing.-

VERONICA (V.0.)
Dear Diary, my teen angst bullshit has a body count.

Sitting up against her bed, VERONICA continues writing as J.F.K. laps up Vodka from the Dixie cup.

VERONICA (V.O.)
The most popular people in the school are dead. Everybody's sad, but it’s a good kind of sad. Suicide gave Heather depth, Kurt a soul, Rama brain. [I gave J.D. shit about the Ich luge thing but what really frightens me is that I'm not frightened by what J.D.'11ldo

beehped ha gh os wsetaey re pMeRbe.,Bt sGod..versus_ my - boyfriend.Peeta henygtemuets ty

"and God's losinge...

VERONICA drops her head back and closes her eyes, popping out her moneocle.She swoons down against the bed onto the floor and curls into a fetal slumber. .

90

INT. THE CAFETERIA -~ DAY .

STUDENTS eat and buzz tegether in typical cacophony. All are wearing black armbands. A jukebox roars.

“PAULINE FLEMING and an entourage of STUDENTS such as PETER DAWSON and the HEATHERS invade the cafeteria, heads raised high

99

PAULINE

Peter, kill the jukebox.

As the music amusingly grinds to a halt, PAULINE hoists up a bullhorn to her lips and crackles...

PAULINE
Could I have your attention?

A startled Geek RODNEY Splatters milk all over himself.

STUDENTSwhip their headsaround tothefrontofthe cafeteria. MARTHA DUNNSTOCK/DUMPTRUCK warily looks up from her plate.

PAULINE FLEMING chants with soaring self-importance.

PAULINE
Our school has been torn apart by tragedy. I'm here today to fuse it back together through Togetherness. Io wanteveryone to clasp hands. We need to connect this cafeteria into one mighty circuit.

A tableau of dumbfounded STUDENTS stare at the Bullhorn Woman.

91

INT. HALLWAY OUTSIDE OF CAFETERIA -- SAME TIME -- DAY G1

Hungover indark sunglasses, VERONICA bustles toward the cafeteria entrance clinging to an armful of books while trying to tie a black armband onto herself.

92

INT. THE CAFETERIA ~=—DAY .

PAULINE's Evita Peron-like composure is crumbling.

PAULINE
Yo, what's the problem? I know you know how to hold hands. Ring-around- the~rosy-a-pocketful-of-posy...Forget it!
(looking to her watch then Peter)
Where are they?

o-Her-eback-to.the viewer;.VERONICA enters.the .cafeteria..HEATHER.. DUKE floats into view and tightly knots VERONICA's armband.

VERONICA.
I see Ms. Phiegm's on another crusade. 'With usual success. mo
HEATHER DUKE
(looking to the viewer)
I have a feeling this one'll work.

VERONICA turns to the viewer and half-gasps.

TWO 2-person video CAMERA CREWS and a STILL PHOTOGRAPHER burst into the cafeteria slightly battering the in-the-way VERONICA.

PAULINE smiles in relief. She wields around, Lifting the Horn.

102

PAULINE -

The cameras are here! Lock your paws!

Slightly confused but Awesomed, a table of Country Club Kids including COURTNEY stand and latch out to each other. A nearby table with BETTY FINN and friends follow suit.

VERONICA looks on with a growing sense of queasiness.

The Cafeteria swirls into a frenzy with members of more excitable cliques like the Jocks and the Heavy Metalers jumping over and onto tables anxiously bumbling into hand- holding constellations. CAMERA CREWS weave beside them. In a corner, the PHOTOGRAPHER snaps a shot of a thumbs-up PETER DAWSON with his arms around FEMALE STONER IN ARMY JACKET.

PAULINE runs ahead of a hustling CAMERA CREW and grabs hold of a chain of hand-holding Jocks. She pulls the chain until it connects up with a grateful chain of BETTY FINNS.

SOYEMereryan eeeAsleepingHEATHER MCNAMARA drearily awakens to the havoc arour

wee

[ae weeGehoeumateewePeeneeeeegt

66..

af)%aa her. She takes off her black armband, ties it around her VAnapea4esvett: eyes, and droops her head back down on a table. ag VERONICA lets her books slide from her hands, shaking her head.

MARTHA DUNNSTOCK nervously looks to her out-of-control peers.

HEATHER DUKE slyly looks to VERONICA with an "If you can't beat em..." smile then saunters into the fray. She slides onto the lap of Heavy Metaler Matt. The PHOTOGRAPHER snaps a shot.

PAULINE forces apart the handholding Heavy Metal lovers JACKIE and STEVE, sandwiches DENNIS in between them, and madly departs

The PHOTOGRAPHER now shoots a pic of a thumbs-up PETER DAWSON with his arms around an ALL OUT NERD.

VERONICA stands before the chaos, back to the viewer, in’ much the same way Heather Chandler die in the opening scene.

DAULINE. and ‘the Geek Squad ‘100k.to MARTHA ‘DURNSTOK /DUNPTRUCK.

RODNEY
I may be ageek, but Ihave my pride.

, | PAULINE Gotcha...Could I get some Stoners over here please!

Frightened and flustered, MARTHA DUNNSTOCK/DUMPTRUCK quakes for a moment then crawls underneath her table.

A last panoramic view of the hustling CAMERA CREWS amid the panderingly anarchic STUDENTS unfolds.

VERONICA suddenly finds herself flanked by J.D.The exiting CAMERA CREWS flow past them.

J.D.
Was it as good for you as it was for me?

A dumbfounded VERONICA watches PAULINE and PETER approach.~

PETER
‘I'mgonna need a VHS copy of all this by. Monday for my Princeton application.
PAULINE
(looking to Veronica)
Veronica, there you are! Wasn't it Fab? I've put peer pressure out to pasture!
VERONICA
Oh come on, Pauline. What happens .tomorrow, when the cameras aren't here?

As they argue, J.D. looks out and sees MARTHA bob up from oFmalarwersnicementbeneathher table(then dark”back under. He ambles away... ~ PLETEAewaeoeaan

- PAULINE

vt) ‘od . So Why are you dissing me, Veronica? I'm Nines trying to redefine the high school

experience.....

VERONICA
You're ignoring the high school experience. People are dead and all you can think to do is whip up some warped Pity Party. If we're going to ever build respect for each other, it's gotta be something...something real. We can't be tricked into it. Back me up J.D...J.D.?
PAULINE
(moving of£)
Let's go Peter, some people are just unwilling to share the Painers

7MARTHA.“punnisTocK/BUMPTRUCK'sTABLE

MARTHA slithers from under the table up into her seat, and head down, trys to finish of£ a bowl of soup. She slowly looks

®@ up and freezes. J.D. is revealed to be seated across from her, oe behind his Rebel Without a Cause lunch box. He smiles warmly.

J.D.
Greetings and salutations.
93

INT. J.D.'SLIVING ROOM-~NIGHT 7 9

VERONICA restilessly rocks on a couch with increasingly unguarded annoyance. Excitedly insensitive to her words, J.D. Spins the tuner of his radio, headphones pressed to one ear.

VERONICA
That thing this afternoon...I'mso angry! It was like "Boy, isn’t death fun!" "Gee, I wonder who'll die next!" "T'll bet we get four camera crews : next time.” It was chaos. Fucking chaos.

J.D. giddily pivots around, tearing the headphones from the

-vadio and causing a blast of static to accompany his words.

J.D.
What are you talking. about? today was great. Chaos is great. Chaos is what killed the dinosaurs, darling, and it's what's going tomake Westerburg a purified place to get an education. Face it, our way is the way. We scare people into not being assholes.

TeerSeareeetyanneiyeeapyoetomesJOOveABesteyBenen, :ie:faereey*. .: eaeekHEi

VERONICA

W fo (a ticking time bomb) ee Our way is not our way.

J.D.
Tell that to the judge; “Your honor, I was led to believe there were Ich Luge bullets in the gun." Tell it to Kurt Kelly! "Don't shoot, Veronica, I'm the quarterback."

J.-D.goes into a Sonny-Corleone-at-the-Turnpike imitation. VERONICA throws the first thing she can get her hands on, a framed picture of a woman, at the vibrating J.D.

VERONICA
I'm telling it to you! You! Nothing good can come from suicide, from murder,, from death. Nothing! Nothing except more

eedBS get . death.and shit like that feeding frenzy . ae

cee "this afternoon....Geez; what am Tiewhos. Cee es Unnaah! You can be so immature!

J.D.
(looking off)
You kids are making too much damn noise.

BIG BUD DEAN is revealed to be standing in the front doorway, holding a chest exerciser and waving a videocassette.

BIG BUD DEAN
We beat the bitches.
VERONICA
(mumbling)
Oh beautiful. The Beaver's home.

; BIG BUD DEAN Judge told em to slurp shit and die.

BIG BUD moves to the Entertainment console, turns off the radio and turns on the V.C.R. He crams the cassette in and hefts up his chest exerciser. He begins pumping away as the image of a shabby building appears on the massive T.V.

BIG BUD DEAN
I put a Norwegian in the boiler room.

oe, Masterful. When that blew, it set off See : a pack of thermals I'd stuck upstairs.

The building blows up. BIG BUD cackles. J.D. politely applauds. BUD pops out the videocassete and bounces away.

BIG BUD DEAN
Tt!s rset.to be alive!

bs Rl shoeoT ByteEERE ON ee, PN:eeeote nas: thay ‘ ‘‘

VERONICA
Do you like your father?

J.D. ee Never given the matter much thought. Liked my mother.

framed picture that Veronica threw. J.D. picks up the

104

J.D.

They said her death was an accident. she knew when the explosives were But set to go off. She knew... .

down next to J.D. with dazed concern. VERONICA siowly sits

VERONICA .
In some sick way, we unclogged th the school. But if were a

be nts tay.,S8inusesof

keep the school “heatthy, it's ~ °°"

a SE" "going" to

gotta be through something having to do with life, not death.

ee Sees . J.D a Whoa, Metaphor Tennis anyone? Tell me, if you put a Nazi ina concentration camp, does that make you a Nazi?

VERONICA

before bounding up From the couch 3.D. exhales in frustration to turn back on the radio.

DoJ. (Radio) if I get one more request for Dudes, that BigFun song I'm going to committ suicide. Here it LS.e....

J.D.
(malevolently)
They're playing Our SONGees.|

As the "song" kicks in (a bunch of guys shouting over a drum - machine), J.D. seductively moves toward VERONICA, semi~lip- syncing it. As a seethingly angry but not unaroused VERONICA watches, J.D. slithers onto the couch. BIGFUN (Radio) TIMES ARE MEAN FOR A TEEN--WE KNOW! PARENTS IGNORE, TEACHERS BORE--WE KNOW! BUT THERE'S MORE THAN ONE WAY TO GO! TEENAGE SUICIDE; DON'T DO IT! : TEENAGE SUICIDE; DON'T DO IT!

J.D. stops his seduction and rips out a gun. He giddily fires

| into the radio, destroying it.

: _ VERONICA

105

() THAT'S IT, WE'RE BREAKING UP.

"gtWatersShae

J.D.
Wha-a-a-t?

the fleeing VERONICA. This calms rather -

J.D. playfully tackles than angers. She turns on her back. J.D. follows suit.

J.D.
You can't bring them back. You must know that.
VERONICA
I'm not trying to "bring back" anybody...except maybe myself.|

VERONICA sighs, then rolls over into a crawling position and eventually into a walking-out-the~-door position.

bec ent Peete antei eae ee gt eetTo VERONICA l chet ae tan beRe | a To think there was a time when I

‘thought you were cool. If you can't deal with me now, just stay home and shoot your T.V., blow away a couple toasters or something. Just don't come to school and don't mess with me.

J.D.
You'll be back!

J.D. slowly sits up and with both hands, puts his gun in his mouth. He pauses, lets go of the gun, and then biting down on the barrel of the gun, J.D. proceeds to broodingly tie his shoes. .

94

INT. EMPTY CLASSROOM--DAY AN , 7 GS

J.D. moves to an empty row of desks. He.turns the first desk as to face the second. HEATHER DUKE warily lowers herself into the second desk as J.D. flops a manilla envelope onto it. “HEATHER DUKE opens the envelope and pulls out a stack of 8xl10'

The first shot shows a YOUNG HEATHER DUKE in a summer camp uniform that vibrantly reads HEATHER. She is holding one end | of a large poster board drawing of two Eskimos rubbing noses. [ Holding the other end, in a summer camp uniform vibrantly | reading MARTHA, is a YOUNG MARTHA DUNNSTOCK/DUMPTRUCK.

HEATHER DUKE> What the...e..

With a harsh laugh, she takes in the next photograph. It has YOUNG HEATHER DUKE and YOUNG MARTHA eating toasted Marshmallows off each other's Sticks. .

HEATHER DUKE
(queasily intrigued)
Where did you get these?

ATS eeevarar(AYaggre twpee:ytay aa a ae*ceaeLeeeeee hhocee 2ieeeoirees-:oe7

J.D.
Oh, t just had the nicest chat with Ms. Dumptruck. Got along famously! It's scary how everyone's got a story to . tell....Would you care to see the canoeing shots?
HEATHER DUKE
What is this? Blackmail? So what, I once shared a bunk with the biggest loser in the state. I'm not running for president....
(narrowing her eyes at the photos)
I'll give you a week's lunch money.
J.D.
I don't want your money, I want your strength. Westerburg doesn't need mushy togetherness, it needs a leader. Heather Chandler was that leader Dut...

*ta ee“are*HEATHER “DUKE” a rants.seyaBeie saa,

‘eo“ criSoakwe.

But she couldn’ t handle it.

J.D. taughs. |She'son the ball.

I.D. I think you can. In Catcher in the Rye Holden says his ideal job'd be making sure some kids don't fall off a clifé. He doesn't realize if you pay too much attention to the kids, you'll back off the cliff yourself.

HEATHER DUKE
Very very. The photographs?
J.D.
Don't worry. I'll ask you to do a favor, one you'll enjoy. You'll get the negatives and everything back then.

J.D. launches away from his desk with a grin. He places a red ribbon on HEATHER DUKE's desk.

: J.D. In the meantime, strength. And hey, there's:a little gift.

95

INT. THE GIRLS BATHROOM --'DAY

A spooked HEATHER DUKE splashes water on her face and looks up into the mirror. In a trance, she pulls her hair back Heather Chandler fashion and ties it with the ribbon J.D. gave her.

A BETTY FINN-A-LIKE moves up to the sink next to her. Two CHIC BABES enter the bathroom with pouting expressions. Seemingly in a trance, HEATHER DUKE bends over and wipes off her wet hanc

using the oblivious BETTY FINN-A-LIKE's dress. HEATHER DUKE winks to the now~giggling CHIC BABES and saunters off.

96

INT. HALLWAY -- DAY | | |

HEATHER DUKE bursts through the bathroom door to wickedly strut down the hall. She scowls/smiles inperfect Heather Chandler fashion to various passers-by.

97 ANOTHER HALLWAY -- DAY . : | 97

Disoriented, VERONICA somnabulates down the hall. She suddenly brakes amid the Flow of Student traffic to stare at a locker. The locker wears a POLICE LINE--DO NOT CROSS sticker. VERONICA pulls out a School Spirit Club I.D.Card and moves to the locker

With the card, she wrangles the locker open. It contains a coat, recognizably Heather Chandler's. On the inside door is a sizable mirror, a cute little “HEATHER” license plate, an Alexander Haig For President sticker, . andapicture of VERONICA ag sa. the.HEATHERS | all.Wearing|.sunglasses. andacting.tough. tenet hae

VERONICA zeroes in ona three frame Photo Booth picture. In the first frame, VERONICA and HEATHER CHANDLER stare stonefaced. In the second frame, the two girls are screaming at the top of their lungs. In the third frame, they have returned to a stonefaced state. VERONICA touches the picture witha quivering smile as two hands flap around her eyes.

HEATHER DUKE
Guess who?
VERONICA
Heather.

VERONICA turns around, stunned. The Heather Chandleresque HEATHER DUKE can be seen in the locker mirror. VERONICA violently pushes HEATHER DUKE away and storms off.

HEATHER DUKE peers in the open locker. A pair of red earrings Flash out at. her.Biting her. lip,she reaches for them.

98

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT 7

Lying on the floor, VERONICA concentrates on her phone. With a deep sigh, she pushbuttons out a number. She pauses, then...

VERONICA .
Ouch. Your machine's got the most obnoxious beep. Heather, I'msorry.
99

INT. HEATHER DUKE'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT |

VERONICA's voice drones through HEATHER DUKE's answering machine

VERONICA (0.S./machine)
I'm just calling to say you can wear your hair any way you want to.

ReeAITEReREAETERRtlmRURRRREEnueteEEMertenEmetermetiteceneemtameORaLETTeEEaattetRErateatedegtemcnertineeateaeoman

| 73.

A Male hand picks up the phone.It's College boy DAVID.

DAVID
“Hey Veronica Sawyer, barf on. anybody's carpet lately?
100

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT

VERONICA cringes.

VERONICA
Is this David? Heather’s David? What are you doing....
101

INT. HEATHER DUKE'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT.

DAVID
What can I say? I was pretty broken up by Heather C.'s suicide. I needed somebody super-sensitive like Heather D.. Praer.aasfern5teae*Boe.>‘ efeanon

‘102 “INTI-VERONICA'S BEDROOM “-+NIGHT °" “102°

VERONICA
I'mdelirious for the both of you. Can you put Heather .on? .
103

INT. HEATHER DUKE'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT

DAVID proudly looks down off-screen to his lap.

DAVID
She can't really talk right now.
104

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT

VERONICA slams down the receiver and pulls up a sleek leather address book. She severely scans through it.Tossing it away, VERONICA then descends into the sundry junk of her night table drawer and draws up another address book. This one is frayed and pinkispolka-dotted. She peruses it and dialsewece .

‘VERONICA Hello, Bettyeees.

105

EXT. SAWYER BACKYARD--LATE AFTERNOON

‘BETTY FINN hits her ball through a wicket and squeals in delight. VERONICA has a motherly smile on her face.

BETTY
Idon't believe it. I'mwinning.

-VERONICA. Don't get cocky, girl.

-BETTY bends down to shoot then raises her body back up.

74.0

BETTY

CO . I missed you. I know I'mnot as, as S exciting as your other friends. gr)

VERONICA
That's bullshit. Just shoot.

BETTY once again bends and rises.

BETTY
Ronnie, I'mstill a virgin. I french- kissed Al Springer once but he...
VERONICA
(warmly)
Shoot. .

BETTY finally shoots. Feebly.

_ VERONICA

egeihge og Betty,your daydreams are a lot

believe. a potgaeeRe ‘betterthan my realities, me. I'm afraid though it’s time to die.

BETTY
Ronnie! ,

VERONICA gigglingly shoots, but misses the wicket. And instead hits BeTTy's ball. Disturbed by the sudden dilemna, she determinedly walks to her ball and moves it away from BETTY's.

BETTY
Hey, you're not settling for the two shots are you? Knock me out girl. It's the only way.
116

VERONICA

It's not my style, okay?

BETTY
Nice guys finish last. I should. know.

VERONICA sighs then knocks BETTY'S adjacent ball sailing toward the porch and a statuesque Earring~- wearing HEATHER DUKE, who does not budge as the ball whizzes past her.

; HEATHER DUKE Brav-o!

BETTY FINN
(nervously)
I've got to get going, Veronica.
VERONICA
Sure.

HEATHER DUKE walks toward the girls followed by a meandering | desultory HEATHER MCNAMARA, who picks up a green mallet and

117

FRAGILEY SWINGS IT; HER EARLY ROBUSTNESS A FORGOTTEN MEMORY.

ieapebga!

HEATHER MCNAMARA . | Croquet won't be the same without Heather.

HEATHER DUKE
(condescendingly to the passing Betty)
Oh Betty, leaving so soon...HEY, I'M RED!

LATER IN THE GAME

Red ball underfoot, HEATHER DUKE savagely “sends” HEATHER MCNAMARA's green ball into the flower bed.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
| Shit.
HEATHER DUKE
You know what really bites; when people 7 ! watch that cafeteria stuff onTV and see all those Geeks and Metalheads jumping _ around, they' re.goingto think Uncool| wel, eee Fei the Ruletat Westerburg....:Damn!- eee enrnearete Maeaaa

HEATHER DUKE's shot swerves wide of the wicket.

118

_ VERONICA | |

You're so polluted. Talking down to people, making fake notes....

VERONICA blows her shot.

HEATHER DUKE
I don't see what gives you the right to lecture, Ronnie. You were . soulmates with Betty Finn until you realized you're the cover of Seventeen magazine and she's the before half of a Scarsdale Diet ad.

HEATHER DUKE bashes her ball into VERONICA's and prepares to send it.

BREATHERDUKE
Some people just don't matter. Why should those who do carry their . weight? Am I right?

As HEATHER DUKE swings down her mallet, VERONICA steps on her own ball. When HEATHER DUKE's mallet makes contact, the two balls slam against each other, unmoving, with a loud smack.

VERONICA
No, you're wrong. It's not even ' your turn.

The depressed and disoriented HEATHER MCNAMARA, laying against a tree, pipes in.

‘ HEATHER MCNAMARA She's right.....Boy, croquet’s not the same without Heather.

HEATHER DUKE
(shaking out her wrist)
I don't know what your damage is Veronica, but me and Heather are going to walk over to the Mall. Maybe by the time we head back, your tampon’ll beflushed.

As HEATHER DUKE and HEATHER MCNAMARA meander out the back of the yard, an annoyed VERONICA revolves back toward the house to seeJ.D. sitting comfortably at the patio table with a drink.

VERONICA
.Christ; doesn't anybody knock? 7 7" Cegee Se a eg
J.D.
Mummy and Daddy let me in. So I'ma dark horse, huh? You make me blush...

VERONICA reaches the patio, gently swinging her croquet mallet, excited with the thought that J.B. has come to change his ways.

VERONICA
Did you come-to tell me something? Something nice. Remotely apologetic. .
J.D.
(oblivious)
How about that Heather Duke, huh? I say it's about time we got down to doing what we do best.
VERONICA
(angrily blowing up at her bangs)
Just finish your drink and get out. |

VERONICA storms to the patio door. |

106 - 114 OMIT } ee 196 = 114

115

INT. GYM ~~ DUSK . CEE WINE

a Wearing a BigFun Toshirt, MARTHA DUNNSTOCK/DUMPTRUCK sits in gi the bleachers glumly sipping out of a cup of Coke. Cheers and pai shouts can be heard booming around her. pain As she places the cup down beside her, it is revealed MARTHA iin,| is completely alone in the gym; the cheers being sad workings api of her embattled imagination.’ ny: ifs She lifts the cup back up to her mouth but the plastic lid AO

Accm

116

INT. THE SAWYER LIVING ROOM -= DUSK

With her croquet mallet, VERONICA comes into her house, - sliding the patio door closed. MOM and DAD are watching a video image of PAULINE FLEMING at a cafeteria table.

MOM
Jason’ s kinda cute for a dark horse:
PAULINE (T.V.)
The Westerburg Suicides were tough on all of us, but we shared the pain of losing three very popular souls.
DAD
I don't know about that coat he was | wearing though. Hey, isn't that che os .

wrsuets" flake we met-at-Open Houses o's.- 8 ty tere ne et

A zombie VERONICA floats past her parents to stare at the T.V.

| PAULINE (T.V.) I came into the cafeteria and asked them to hold hands. The response was immediate.

Footage of the frenzied handholding Students unfolds upon the screen with no evidence of the calculation behind it. PAULINE's sanctimoniously dulcet tones go over the images.

PAULINE (V.0./T.V.)
My mere words liberated.the students, causing them to open their petals and reveal their hopes and fears. By a stroke of luck, T.V. cameras were fortunate enough to happen to be on hand to capture this spontaneous, natural emotional outpouring of emotion.

; VERONICA

121

HAPPENED TO BE ON HAND....SPONTANEOUS

natural emotional outpouring! .

VERONICA clams up in anger as her parents babble.

DAD
Look there's Heather.
MOM
And there's Heather. Where are you, Veronica?

The video image of PAULINE at a cafeteria table returns.

eee See TNme aes= RiisateTALrereaaldoNa

eteeigneneTeangesne

PAULINE (T.V.)
Whether to commit suicide is the most important decision a teenager has to make. With supervision from people like myself, we can help young people make the right decision.

With her croquet mallet, VERONICA slams the on/off button and turns to her parents.

VERONICA
I'm right here.
117

EXT. OUTSIDE OF THE.SCHOOL -- DUSK

MARTHA trudges outside of the school, the coke stain still grotesquely encrusted to her BigFun T-shirt. She pins an illegible-except-for-the-words-DEAR-WESTERBURG note onto her ““shirt;, over the stain. Shé ‘continues: moving ‘toward'-a' street” of passing cars.

123

INT. SAWYER FAMILY/T.V. ROOM -- DUSK/NIGHT : 118

The Sawyer family is on fire. VERONICA yanks the television cord from its socket. :

MOM
Turn that back on!
VERONICA
Can't you see, these Little programs eat up suicide with a spoon. They make it seem like a cool thing to do.
DAD
If we're not going to watch that program, can Iput on the game?
VERONICA
Hey kids, make your parents and teachers feel like shit! Get the respect in death you'll never get in life! .

: MOM Are you trying to tell me it is not a troubled time for the nation’s youth? Get up off the floor, your dress is getting Filthy.

VERONICA: . | Everybody cares about youth, not the individual. All we want is to be treated like human beings, not like guinea pigs to be experimented on and not like bunny rabbits to be patronized.

inset pttBAN AE gh MemRee HEap wae fi ge am tae gm mE ee ta ok GyoeNeteeotieaneytaeDAD

MOM
Treated like human beings? Is that what you said little Miss Voice of a Generation? Just how do you think adults act with other adults? You think it's all just Doubles Tennis. Adults can be horrible to other adults. When teenagers complain that they want to be treated like human beings, it's usually because they are being treated ‘Like human beings.

VERONICA leans against the wall with a melancholy smile.

VERONICA
I guess I picked the wrong time roo to be a human being. . .ypeeseeMa:bad bes*,Satpal,oa*ardeat.a)nywadedrot.agag‘1oteweoth*rdaical

“MOM is embarassed for getting so “[nvolved. She.‘meekly gestures to a tray of pate with a compassionate smile.

: MOM You'll live. Want some pate?

HEATHER DUKE suddenly breezes in the room, out of breath, holding various shopping bags.

124

HEATHER DUKE

Hi everyone, door was open. Have you heard, Veronica? We were doing Chinese at the Food Fair, right, when they come over the radio and say Martha Dumptruck tried to buy the farm. She bellyflopped in front of a car, wearing a Suicide note.

VERONICA
(repulsed)
Is she dead?
HEATHER DUKE
That's the punchline. She's still alive, in stable condition. Another case of a geek trying to imitate the popular people of the school and failing miserably. Is that pate?

VERONICA slaps HEATHER DUKE in the face.

119

INT. VERONICA! SS BEDROOM--NIGHT

HEATHER DUKE paces the room holding an icepack to her jaw. VERONICA is glumly sprawled on the ground.

| VERONICA

eterna En SAidI was sorry.

HEATHER DUKE
You are out of control. Heather and Kurt were a shock, buk Martha Dumptruck, get crucial! She dialed Suicide hotlines in her diapers.
VERONICA
You're not funny. Turn on the radio.
HEATHER DUKE
(Heather Chandleresque)
Martha couldn't take the heat so she got out of the kitchen. Just think what a better place the world would be if every nimrod followed her cue.
VERONICA-
_ Just shut up and turn on the.Fadio. “Hot “Probs" isons"!
HEATHER DUKE
Oh shit, yeah.

HEATHER DUKE hastens to the radio and flicks it on. Ripping ‘Open a bag of corn nuts, she sets herself down next to VERONICA as a TROUBLED MALE VOICE cuts the air.

TROUBLED MALE VOICE (Radio)
I know it's supposed to be funny that they never get off the island, but still, sometimes I feel like I'm on that island and Gilligan can be just so stupid sometimes.
HEATHER DUKE
This sounds like a good one.
120

INT. RADIO STATION BOOTH -- NIGHT

A slob D.J. cackles into a conference call-type box.

D.J.
Dude, you've got to remember if it wasn't for the courage of the fearless _.crew, the Minnow would be lost. The Minnow would be lost! Next call!
TROUBLED MALE VOICE
But Skipper hates me....

The D.J. rudely clicks off the TROUBLED MALE VOICE.

D.J.
Whoa, they're coming out early tonight. What ever happened to abortions and acne? You've got the Dogcatcher and you're

becgegreisyaN:waeTheTaetareOeSSOeea ee sop SEARING .£O. HOtp robs. .WhoamT boataypeeeteen

Sl.

121

INT. HEATHER MCNAMARA'S BEDROOM--NIGHT

HEATHER MCNAMARA is sitting clandestinely on her bedroom floor talking on the phone and through her radio. A dim lamp provides the room's only light.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
My name is Heather, I mean, not Heather.

HEATHER MCNAMARA looks up at a Madonna poster on the wall.

HEATHER MCNAMARA | It's Madonna. Geez, no, not that.

HEATHER MCNAMARA looks up to a Knick-knack of Little gold bird.

122

INT. VERONICA SS BEDROOM BAD NIGHT : -

| VERONICA and HEATHER DUKE ‘simultaneously. move into. stunned ae

D.J. (radio)
Hey babe, I need a name?

(123 INT. RADIO STATION BOOTH -- NIGHT 23

The 5.J. looks to the conference call Sox with exasperation.

REATHER MCNAMARA (box)
My name is Tweety.

D.J. * Yo, Tweet, if you're going to tell me you just saw a puttycat....

124

INT. HEATHER MCNAMARA'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT

A broken-down HEATHER MCNAMARA sobs.

HEATHER MCNAMARA
God has cursed me, I think. The last time I had sex, the guy killed himself the next day. I'm failing Math.
125

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT . AE

HEATHER DUKE excitedly jumps up as HEATHER MCNAMARA drones on.

HEATHER DUKE HEATHER MCNAMARA (radio

oN ° Holy shit, that's My whole life is a mess. bie) Heather! We'll I was supposed to be cn crucify her! captain of the cheerleading

team, but I probably won't VERONICA because I miss practice when Oh man, she knows we my Dad visits. My parents listen to this show! are divorced and stuff and....

B82.

126

INT. CLASSROOM--DAY _ : |

-A blackboard reads POOR LITTLE HEATHER. .

VERONICA (V.0O.)
Heather told everyone about Heather.

HEATHER MCNAMARA is revealed in the front row wearing her cheerleader uniform. To the left, HEATHER DUKE dishes with — some dreamy GUYS. At the back of the classroom, VERONICA, monocle in eye, writes in her diary.

VERONICA (V.0.}
Yes, ‘Dear Diary, I've cut off Heather Chandler's head and Heather Duke's head has sprouted in its place like some mythological thing my eighth grade boyfriend would know about. Heather's sr. ‘even ‘doing.the oldnote “tricke: 2. ore tetee tae et

A HOMELY GIRL is seen reading a note, glancing to a TYPICAL JOCK. VERONICA takes in the wicked panorama of the classroom.

VERONICA (V.0.)
I've seen J.D.'s way. I've seen Pauline's way. Nothing's changed. I guess that's Heather's way. And jesus, what about J.D.? I can't get him out of my head. Are we going to the Prom? Or to Hell? And where's Heather going?

HEATHER MCNAMARA suddenly rises and walks out of the classroom, passing a GRUFF TEACHER in a trenchcoat, carrying a briefcase.

GROFF TEACHER
Where's Heather going?
HEATHER DUKE
She's going to cry-y-y
132

127 INT. GIRLS BATHROOM~--DAY _ - 127

' HEATHER MCNAMARA struggles to open a bottle of sleeping pills.

HEATHER MCNAMARA — Fucking child protector caps.

128

INT. THE GRUFF TEACHER' IS) CLASSROOM -—— DAY. | A

GRUFF TEACHER writes a math problem on the board. A flustered VERONICA squirms in her seat then leaps up and runs to the door.

GRUFF TEACHER> ‘Now where's she going? Is somebody getting raped today on All my Children or what?

129

INT. GIRLS BATHROOM -- DAY |

peaosNEGITweBMOEEDUEMREenUNweTERREeyarereeenCretespe:eeeeeetmetetdeteeteeeeeecute

a

NY .

130

INT. HALLWAY -- DAY EO

ake

VERONICA races down the hall.

131

INT. GIRLS BATHROOM -- DAY :

HEATHER MCNAMARA is a chipmunk with a mouthful of pills.

She pulls a glass from her purse and turns on a faucet, but no water comes out. She manages to mumble.

MEATHER MCNAMARA
Give me a break.

HEATHER MCNAMARA gets running water from another sink as VERONICA rushes.in. VERONICA punches HEATHER MCNAMARA's face causing the pills to explode out of her mouth. HEATHER

up yey oo yo MCNAMARA slumps against a stall, onto the floor. .

HEATHER MCNAMARA.
What are you trying to do? Kill me?

a . NERONICA jumps up and down on the pills on the floor...

VERONICA
What were you trying to do? Sleep?
HEATHER MCNAMARA
Suicide is a private thing.

VERONICA lunges forward to strike her. HEATHER MCNAMARA recoils with a wail. Half-regaining her composure, VERONICA slides down next to HEATHER MCNAMARA.

VERONICA
You're giving your life away to become a goddamn statistic in U.S. Fucking A Today. That's got to be f the least private thing I can think of.
HEATHER MCNAMARA
But what about Heather and Ram and Kurt?
VERONICA
If everyone jumped off abridge; - young lady, would you?

: HEATHER MCNAMARA wipes tears from her eyes and smiles weakly. al \ a HEATHER MCNAMARA (eg | Probably.... |

VERONICA
Hey now, if you were happy every day of your life, you wouldn't be a human being, you'd be a game show host.

OTENTENTTeDHES Etc ta wageTensea ataEE aeSekeae

HEATHER MCNAMARA
Let's knock off early. Buy some shoes. Something lame like that..
VERONICA
‘Sure.
132

INT. THE EMPTY CLASSROOM--DAY

Comfortably slouched at a desk, J.D. laconically rumbles.

J.D.
So it's come to this.
(turning to the viewer)
Heather Chandler did polls. I want you to do a Petition, as a favor, as the favor. You've heard the group BigFun, right?

HEATHERDUKE sitsat the desk “oppositehim torching’“he foots ‘manilla envelopes (photographs) with a butane lighter.”

HEATHER DUKE
.TEENAGE SUICIDE; DON'T DO IT!
J.D.
(post-chortle)
Some teenybopper rag said that BiqFun wants to play a Prom. It could be Westerburg's Lf we can get everyone's John Hancock.

J.D. flips across a stack of blank, connected computer printout sheets. At the top is a small paragraph and the word PETITION. HEATHER DUKE blows ashes off her desk and grabs it, giggling.

HEATHER DUKE
I'll get right on it coach. And hey,. a little gift. I won't be needing it.

HEATHER DUKE twirls her copy of Catcher in the Rye to a pleased J.D.

133

INT. STAIRCASE WINDOW-~DAY

HEATHER DUKE gothically ascends a Staircase, holding the ; petition. She stops, arms raised high, to bathe in the - sunlight blasting through the staircase window.

134

INT. CAFETERIA--DAY

HEATHER DUKE, petition in hand, sashays toward the Country Club Kids table. |

COURTNEY
Oh great. Here comes Heather.

yeTORRAHANRTSEeregtayTevevearwations4|errbag.torteenh2yetagapneerieatecng)8meeygari“9)}«

iLeow

135

INT. SCHOOL BUS-~DAY EE

HEATHER DUKE chirps to a schoolbusful of various STUDENTS.

136

EXT. SCHOOL LAWN--DAY |

The provacatively dressed Petitioner charms a patch of Jocks.

137

INT. STAIRCASE WINDOW -- DAY

HEATHER DUKE continues to bizarrely bathe in the sunlight of

window. |

the staircase

138‘EXT. PARKING LOT--DAY | 138

Strategically wearing Heavy Metal accessories, HEATHER DUKE slams down the petition atop a car-hoodful of Metalheads.

Paae

81 39"INT. “STONERS. HALLWAY: == "DAY NS PvP eet ne taeUB be eB es

Decked out in denim, HEATHER DUKE vanishes into the Stoner Hallway smoke, with the petition.

140

INT. | THESTAIRCASE WINDOW -~- DAY | WO

HEATHER DUKE further writhes in the sunlight until VERONICA! s perplexed voice cuts into her bliss.

VERONICA (0.5S.)
Heather?

HEATHER DUKE brings down her arms and the petition and turns to VERONICA, revealed to be descending down the steps.

REATHER DUKE
Veronica! Color me stoked, girl. I've gotten everyone to sign this petition ‘even the ones who think BigFun are tuneless Eurofags. People love me!
(giggling)
My God, you haven't signed!
VERONICA
People love you but I know you.- Jennifer Forbes told me the petition she signed was to put a hot tub in the cafeteria. And Doug Hylton...
HEATHER DUKE
(verbally winking)
So some people need different kinds of "convincing” than others....
(happiness evaporating)
Hey, just sign the petition!
VERONICA
_Doen'ttalk to me like that.

eee HEATHER DUKE

It was J.D.‘'s idea! He made out the signature sheet and everything. Now will you sign it?

VERONICA
(queasy)
No. .
HEATHER DUKE
Jealous much?

VERONICA slaps HEATHER DUKE with all her might.

-VERONICA Heather, why can't you just be a friend? Why are you such a MegaBitch? * coe, poeome*’*,4 *aiade ae.ee:eeae . aan aes “ HEATHER DUKE | an Because I can be! The same fucking cheek, goddamnit! Why are you pulling my dick? Do you think, do you really think, if Betty Finn's fairy godmother made her Cool, she'd still act nice and hang with her dweebette friends? No way! Uh-Uh!

HEATHER DUKE stumbles down the stairs.

| HEATHER DUKE Fuck me gently with a chainsaw...

J.D.'s voice cuts into VERONICA's concentration.

Wanna go out tonight?

VERONICA grimly turns to see a smirking, descending J.D.

i ‘ J.D. Catch a movie? Some miniature Golf?

VERONICA
- (jokingly but caustically) I was thinking more along the lines of slitting Heather Duke's wrists open and making it look like a suicide.

J.D. seductively slides behind VERONICA and envelopes her.

J.D.
I. couldbe up for that. I've already . started underlining meaningful passages in Heather's copy of Catcher in the Rye, if you.know what Imean. This is great, Veronica. I knew you'd come back.

dbiiciattSLds entate A ae Caphatatbeathe ab teSaal sige Moers he iteraee

As in the Chandler kitchen scene, J.D. kisses the back of VERONICA's neck and she closes her eyes. Suddenly she rifles her elbow into his stomach, doubling him over. She screams in his ear then bolts down the stairs as he gasps after her.

VERONICA
It's over, J.D. Over! Grow up!

‘J.D. | I don't get it! You were wrong! I was “right! Strength, damnit! Come back!

141

INT. SAWYER LIVING ROOM -- DUSK 14D

Intensely clutching her schoolbooks, VERONICA walks through the front door into the living room where MOM and DAD sit with -caggressively.: compassionate faces.-VERONICA.is.a bit confusede«.

VERONICA
Yes?

MOM and DAD glance at each other before MOM speaks.

| MOM Your friend Jason Dean just stopped by. He seemed very.concerned about you. He said he thinks you might try to kill yourself.

DAD
You have been depressed lately. Oh, he said this is for you.

DAD holds out an envelope. VERONICA nabs it and rips it open. The note reads, in feminine manuscript: RECOGNIZE THE HANDWRITING? ;

: - VERONICA— Oh my God.... ;

VERONICA runs off, her mother’ s voice trailing ‘behind her.

MoM (O.S.) He says we should keep you away from sharp objects, closed. garages, toxic...

142

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM -- DUSK _ . | 42

VERONICA vaults through her bedroom door. A Barbieish doll wearing a BigFun T-shirt hangs from a noose. With a whimper, she swerves away from it, looks to her open window, and then dives onto her bed. |

143

EXT. OUTSIDE THE SAWYER HOUSE-~-NIGHT , 143.

J.D. laconically leans against his motorcycle with his legs suavely crossed. He looks up to Veronica's bedroom window and | hears another whimper emerge. He puts a cigarette in his mouth and lights it with a smile.

144

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM ~~ NIGHT

VERONICA curls into a fetal position on her bed and closes her eyes....etighter and tighter as J.D.'s voice.

“You can't ever find a place nice | and peaceful because there isn't any."

VERONICA flops around to see J.D. kneeling over her on her bed: ..“yéeading:Heather -Duke*scopy:-of The Catcher.‘invthe Ryew:: :

Nice. It's got -that Catcher-in-the-Ryey- I-hate-the-world-and-the-world-hates~me- so-let's-committ-suicide ambience. Give it a try, underline something. .

(J.D. giddily underlines words then slides into a prone position, tossing the book to an enraged VERONICA.

| VERONICA

- | Get off my bed, you sick psycho.

You think you're a rebel. You're not a rebel. You're a sick psycho. (increasing rage). Do you think you're a rebel? Do you think you're a rebel? I wanna know!

J.D.
You say tomayto, I say tomahto. Let's call the whole thing off...Hold it!

VERONICA freezes and J.D. reaches up to her hand where she holds the Catcher in the Rye. Her index finger is curled into the book. Sitting up, J.D. carefully opens the book at that place and peers. in.

J.D.
Look at that. Eskimo. One word. [I ‘love it. I usually go for whole sentences myself, but hey this is perfecto. Eskimo. So mysterious...
VERONICA
Wait a....You're not listening! I'm not on your side....

jor penemg ta es.Obliviously underlines the word then pulls the flailing

%,“my ase 145 INT. THE DUKE KITCHEN--NIGHT

The sound of a lock being 4jimmied is heard moments before VERONICA and J.D. burst through the door. J.D. moves to the dishwasher and opens it like a burglar opening a safe.

7 VERONICA — You're still not listening! I'm not..

| J.D. (pulling out the knife) ‘Nag, nag, nag, nag, nag.

VERONICA
: "(taking the knife from him) This knife isEMERY:

an What in “the hell do you ‘chink‘tT! m doing? Taking out her tonsils?

VERONICA
I think I know Heather a bit better than you, okay? If she was going to slash her wrists, the knife would be absolutely spotless.

J.D. grabs a dishtowell and vigorously wipes off the knife.

J.D.
How's this? Can you see your fucking reflection?

She can and so can the viewer. Tears well in VERONICA's eyes. She begins to shudder, a shattered smile quaking onher face.

VERONICA
Tomorrow someone else will move into her place. That person could be me.
(suddenly deliriously defiant)
Ha, there's only one of us who knows Heather's handwriting and if you think | I'm doing another. suicide note.
J.D.
(laughing)
You don’t get it, do you? Society nods it's head at any horror the American teenager can think to bring upon itself. We don't need gloves and does anyone really care about exact handwriting?

J.D. tears his gloves off with a giggle. He takes a pen from the ; Ritshen counter andpaper from. acutesy memo Pad. “Re-_Shoves the

pen in VERONICA's hand and grabbing her hand, forces her to scribble LIFE SUCKS on the paper.

J.D.
Perfecto. Man, I've even got a marked-up Catcher in the Rye. What else does a suicide need? nr)

J.D. pulls out the copy of the Catcher in the Rye and opens a door revealing HEATHER DUKE, asleep in an artful pose on a couch, MTV images from the T.V. flashing against her.

J.D.
(raising the knife)
T£ you'll excuse me......

* an‘ad*:-“toeas:we:ee:eeoes—_-.:.heetly“,“s4.ot*oespeaehoa:atueaecardan,eee..'«.”oa......>*“,.arseames. ”‘ ~oahesome+*%0+ l4Beeeates.~“:lott.anert..atteotoeonpeeat‘ode‘$3r"2NeYt.0eeatsoseeBee,a.‘ytyo.osan.14a%o.

J.D. hops in the adjoining room and slams the door. VERONICA races to the door wailing. She maniacally rattles the doorknob trying to open the locked door. .

_& 146 INT. AN ANONYMOUS T.V./HEATHER DUKE! S ROOM -~ NIGHT L46

The sound of the rattling doorknob subtly turns into wild African music thundering on the soundtrack as PAULINE FLEMING ethereally moves to a blackboard with three chalk strokes on it and makes a fourth chalk stroke.

147

INT. NEWS PAPER/YEARBOOK WORKSHOP-~DAY

In speeded-up imagery, DENNIS, PETER, and the YEARBOOK GIRL manuever pictures of HEATHER CHANDLER, KURT, RAM, and HEATHER DUKE in mind-bogglingly countless ways in order ta accomodate them all on the same two page layout.

148

INT. FRONT OF THE CAPETERIA -- DAY |

With even more speeded-up imagery, four STUDENTS wearing "What a Waste, Oh the Humanity” T-shirts toss out tons of black armbands into a hungry crowd.

149

INT. CHURCH --~DAY NE |

The wild African music and the speeded up imagery slams to a halt at the sight of HEATHER DUKE lying serenely in a coffin. FATHER RIPPER wearing dark sunglasses and a terrifying toupee, walks in front of her to address a sizable group of ADULTS and STUDENTS sitting in foldout chairs before him. FATHER RIPPER dramatically looks over the crowd before finally speaking.

FATHER RIPPER
Eskimo.

— FATEER.RIPPER. jets. the.wordhang in the air,then holds UP fhe Hants me EESa enginwaascenepaketot.

oehnAnAghttentsAeonmeteeetalaoat

FATHER RIPPER
Heather Duke underlined alot of things in this copy of The Catcher in the Rye, but I believe the word Eskimo, underlined all by itself is. the key to understanding Heather's pain.

VERONICA stands ina corner with an "Oh brother” look on her face.

FATHER RIPPER | On the surface, Heather Duke was the vivacious young lady we all knew her to be. But her soul was in Antartica, freezing with the knowledge of the way

ene ae ae a ole Bellow teenagers: can be cruel,-the way wore ee

151

PARENTS CAN BE UNRESPONSIVE, AND AS SHE

writes so eloquently in her suicide note, the way life can suck. We'll all miss Sherwood's little Eskimo. Let's hope “she's rubbing noses with Jesus.

HEATHER CHANDLER moves next to VERONICA holding a plate of ° steaming spaghetti. She is wearing nerdy glasses and something that looks like an intergalactic prison uniform.

HEATHER CHANDLER
Is this turnout weak or what? I had at least seventy more people at my funeral.
VERONICA
Heather? Wha...
HEATHER CHANDLER
Oh God Veronica, my afterlife is - S-o-0 boring. If I have to sing “Kumbaya" one more time...
VERONICA
What are you doing here?!

“HEATHER CHANDLER I made your favorite. Spaghetti.

os Lots of oregano.

a) | With a squeal, HEATHER CHANDLER plunges VERONICA's face into alae the plate of spaghetti. .

HEATHER CHANDLER
Dinner!
150

INT. . VERONICA'S BEDROOM--NIGHT , .

Uncurling from the fetal position that she had fallen asleep | in, VERONICA's tightly closed eyes snap open in a sweat as her mother's voice continues to filter through the door. It's all been a dream.ccrcvseceas

MOM (0.S.)
Dinner! Veronica! Dinner!

VERONICA closes her eyes and holds her heart. She suddenly launches to her desk, opens her diary, shoves on her monocle, catches her breath, and begins writing.

VERONICA (V.0.)
Dear charyr no one can stop J.D. Not

That ‘is “to say, no“oneSue me. Tr know . 7 where J.D. is coming from and where he is heading. He's wrong, Dut I'm going to teach him what's right. I'm going to stop J.D....if it's the last thing I do.

VERONICA leans back in her chair, sweating. She reaches in the pocket of a blazer draped over the back of the chair and pulis out the cigarette J.D. had given her earlier in the film. She puts it in her mouth unlit then takes it out and puts it back in the blazer.

151

EXT. OUTSIDE THE SAWYER HOME--NIGHT 15]

J.D. remains laconically leaning against his motorcycle with his legs suavely crossed as he was before Veronica began | dreaming. J.D. finishes his cigarette and pulls out a gun. He checks the bullets, puts the gun back in his coat, and heads toward the house.

152

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM -~ NIGHT | 415:

VERONICA hugs J.F.K. the cat then rips down the hanging doll.

153

EXT. THE SAWYER FRONT YARD -- NIGHT } 13:

J.D. leans a ladder against the Sawyer house.

154

INT. THE SAWYER DINNER TABLE ~~ NIGHT . L5¢

i

‘MOM sets down three plates of spaghetti. DAD watches on. 4

i) ; MOM t Does she want a. written invitation? (yelling upward) Veronica! Dinner}

eTa .

155

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM -~ NIGHT

J.D. crawls through Veronica’s window. Hanging from the rafter, neck in a noose of bedsheets, is VERONICA.

156

INT. THE SAWYER DINNER TABLE -- NIGHT

MOM sets a glass of milk at VERONICA’'s place, distressed.

MOM
Honey?
157

INT. VERONICA'S BEDROOM -~ NIGHT

J.D. paces the room, sweating and ranting, waving a gun in one hand, the Barbieish doll in the other.

J.D.
“9 EF @Gantit believeyoudid -it. I was:2-2, we ast ieoe teasing. I loved you. Sure, I climbed up here to kill you, but first I was going to try and get you back. With my amazing petition.

J.D. throws the gun on the bed and pulls from his coat the computer printout sheet petition, then savagely rolls it out on the floor. It is filled with signatures of different sizes, styles, and colors. J.F.K. blinks.

J.D.
It's a shame you can't see what our Fellow students really signed.

J.D. flicks open a switchblade. He runs the blade beneath the typed paragraph at the top causing it to peel off, revealing Snother typed paragraph.

-J.D. Listen. “We students of Westerburg High will dié. Today. Our burning bodies will be the ultimate protest to a society that degrades us. Fuck you all.” Not very subtle but neither's blowing up the school. Talk about your suicide pacts. When our school explodes tomorrow, it's going to be the kind of thing that infects a generation. A Woodstock for the 80's. Damn, we ‘coulda toasted marshmallows together.

MOM (0.S.)
Honey, are you all right in there?

J.D. swiftly picks up the petition and heads out the window. MOM enters the room and, seeing her hanging daughter, launches into frantic screams. SERROtecneaeaeEERy‘s

| oY | : 94. are a eo MOM iam Oh God, I knew it! No, no! I want my

baby back! I should have let you keep that job at the mall. I was just afraid of you coming home alone at night!

VERONICA opens her eyes.

MOM
I made your favorite! Spaghetti! Lots of oregano!

VERONICA undos the noose around her neck but still remains hanging for the rope runs all the way down her back beneath her blazer and is tied around her waist. She undos the waist- knot and lands on her bed. She quickly puts a small pillow ove: the lefe-betiind gune unnoticed: Py.her dazed MOM. .

" WERONICA Hey Mom, why so tense?

158

INT. THE SAWYER DINNER TABLE AREA -- NIGHT

Montage music plays as VERONICA rears up from her dinner plate to see her stonefaced PARENTS and her CAT staring at her.

159

INT. J.«D.'S BEDROOM--NIGHT

J.D. tools with a bomb at his desk. A KNOCK on the door. J.D. turns down his stereo (and the Montage music).

BIG BUD DEAN (0.S.)
I need some help with my homework...
J.D.
Sorry tiger, I*m a little busy....

J.D. turns back up his stereo (and the Montage music).

160

EXT. FRONT OF WESTERBERG HIGH=-MORNING

The Montage music continues as school buses arrive in front of the school. STUDENTS pour out.

461

EXT. SCHOOL PARKING LOT--MORNING | EEE 161

STUDENTS come out of their cars. | ae \ . aw 162 INT. |HALLWAY--MORNING : | 162

Typically hectic start~of-another-day-opening-and-slamming-of- locker~action. VERONICA darts through the thoroughfare to her locker.-

A passing PAULINE FLEMING screeches to a halt, grabbing

PAULINE | Veronica! J.D. told me you committed suicide last night!

VERONICA
Where is he? Where's J.D.?
PAULING
We have to talk. I've got some ‘pamphlets in my office that will help you decide if suicide is really for you. Come on, let's go take a look.

* VERONICA Get a job.

fe VERONICAstorms to-her-nearby: locker. She. swirls her. locker:o-.-.;.. combination and opens it. She glances down the hall and freezes.

In the distance, J.D. moves mechanically down the hallway carrying a large gym bag, wearing a Walkman. .

VERONICA climbs into her locker. She closes it until it is barely perceptibly ajar. J.D. strides past the locker and into . the Boys bathroom. . |

163

INT. BOYS BATHROOM =- DAY

J.D. smoothly moves into a stall and closes the door. He turns off his Walkman and ends the Montage music.

164

INT. THE HALLWAY -- DAY :

The hallway slowly clears as STUDENTS go to class. The bell rings. A LATE STUDENT races through the empty hallway.

VERONICA carefully hatches out of her locker. She treads down the hallway as if something were about.to jump out at her.

165

INT. THE GYM -- DAY A

A group of cheerleaders including HEATHER MCNAMARA are lazily -doing cartwheels. on the-gym floor. Ona small stage set up beside them, other STUDENTS are putting up folding chairs. PRINCIPAL GOWAN says "Testing" into a microphone.

J.D., toting the gym bag, slips through the gym door. He moves unnoticed to a position underneath the bleachers.

166

INT. THE HALLWAY -- DAY

VERONICA peers around a corner to see an empty hallway.

167

INT. GYM -- UNDER THEBLEACHERS -- DAY

Using heavy black masking tape, J.D. tapes a thermal bomb to a. steel support beneath the bleachers. Other thermal bombs can be discerned taped to other supports.

168

INT. THE EMPTY HALLWAY ~- DAY . .

VERONICA cautiously treads down the empty hallway, trying to keep in control. Suddenly, packs of STUDENTS burst from > classroom doors behind VERONICA. The excited swarms of STUDENTS move toward and past VERONICA, who has braked her troubled treading to stiffly contemplate her passing peers. She latches onto Geek RODNEY in a panic. RODNEY looks down at his clutched arm with a nervous smile.

VERONICA .

RODNEY
It's Priday.....
VERONICA
Oh my God, another damn pep assembly....

° RODNEY Yeah, these things are pretty artifical, but at least we all get out of class...

VERONICA ignores RODNEY's amiable attempts at conversation to inquisitively move forward through the crowd.

169

INT. THE GYM -~ DAY | |

J.D. darts from. out underneath the bleachers to the gym doors. He pops the doors open and sees the crowd of STUDENTS move toward the’ gym. He suavely pauses then dashes down a nearby: set of stairs..

170

INT. THE HALLWAY LEADING TO THE GYM -- DAY | 170.

VERONICA continues to tensely surf the tidal wave of STUDENTS heading for thegymnasium. She stops to watch her classmates file into the gym like lemmings with increasing sense of dread. ‘She again latches onto a passing RODNEY.

VERONICA
-Rodney, what's underneath the gym?

RODNEY (unconsciously) dramatically stops, turns to VERONICA, and SAYSeseveees

RODNEY
The boiler room.

crpii RFbiyom. weeee VERONICA blanches then lunges through the crowd. She topples a couple disgruntled STUDENTS before careening down the staircase beside the gym.

172

INT. . HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE BOILER ROOM ~~ DAY 171I

J.D. walks by the firm glass windows of the boiler room, eyeing the pounding generators inside. He stops at a heavy steel door. Placing down his gym bag, J.D. proceeds to swiftly pick the lock. He swings open the steel door.

VERONICA (0.S.)
May I see your hall pass?

J.D. wields around. A sweating VERONICA moves toward him, pointing the bedroom gun at him.

Decne sae . eee, bole aaneg Mee ' I knew ‘chat“loose was too ‘noose! I mean, noose too loose! Goddamn you!

VERONICA
Like father, like son. A serious-as- - fuck bomb in the boiler room that'll set off a pack of thermals upstairs. Okay, so let's start by slowly putting the bomb down on the ground.

J.D. looks down at the gym bag already.on the ground. He folds: his arms and smiles. VERONICA forcefully moves closer.

VERONICA
Okay, okay. I knew that. I Knew that. Put your hands on your head.
J.D.
- You didn't say Simon Says.

J.D. suddenly kicks out into VERONICA's stomach, doubling her over and causing her to drop the gun. J.D. gracefully retrieves it. .

173

INT. THE GYM -~ DAY _ CO SO 172

The pep assembly is in full swing with rowdy |STUDENTS in the bleachers earthily shouting, giggling cheerleaders making swaying pyramids, valiant band members struggling to be heard. Various Jocks, stand on the stage with PRINCIPAL GOWAN as a YEARBOOK PHOTOGRAPHER flashes away.

174

INT. THE HALLWAY BEFORE THE BOILER ROOM -~- DAY 173. |

VERONICA bends over quivering and clutching her bruised (ribs. J.D. raises the gun to her head.

J.D.
Live bythe sword....

VERONICA swings her left arm up knocking J.d.' Ss gunhand - upward. She then sails her right fist into his face. The blow annoys him more than it hurts him but J.D.'s momentary loss of composure allows VERONICA to come inwith another much harder right hook. The blow sends J.D. stumbling back against the boiler room, jarring the gun loose.

They simultaneously lunge for the gun. VERONICA, having the better grip, pulls so forcefully that after wrenching the gun from J.D., she loses control of it, flinging it down the hall. VERONICA pops up to retrieve it but J.D. moves his legs scissors-style around her and trips her.

174

INT. GYM -- THE PEP ASSEMBLY -— DAY

“The‘assembly mindlessly blares“Oa. Cheerleader HEATHER MCNAMARA” | rah-rah—rahs. RODNEY and the other Geeks pass around a pair of opera glasses, all intensely scoping out the cheerleaders. A . group of STONERS toke away beneath the bleachers, one of them lackadaisically leaning against a thermal bomb. .

175

INT. THE BOILER ROOM HALLWAY —- DAY . .

A snarling J.D. stands up, pulling VERONICA with him.

J.D.
You think just- becauseyou started this thing, you can end it?

Je p. violently kisses/bites VERONICA. While kissing, VERONICA sees a fire alarm ona nearby wall. She closes her eyes then savagely knees J.D. in the groin. VERONICA bolts to the alarm and pulls it down. Nothing happens. J.D. gasps.

J.D.
You, really didn't think I'd, forget, forget, to disconnect thes.

VERONICA rockets her body down and picks up. the gun. J.D. grabs her and throws her against the steel hoiler room door.

A jostled VERONICA raises the gun. J.D. howls then bounds. toward VERONICA, causing them both to careen down the steel steps of the boiler room. At the same time, he inadvertently kicks the gym bag/bomb down along with them. The gun spins from VERONICA's hand and slides away. The bomb flies out of the bag onto ehe Doiter.room floor. A digital clock on the bomb clicks

ee 176 INT. GYM ~- THE PEP ASSEMBLY -- DAY | | 176

The frenzied pep assembly crowd is now doing “The Wave". BETTY FINN and her similar co-horts deliriously get into the act, all clapping. in cadence. HEATHER DUKE and some other fashion queens sit in a circle at the bottom rows of the bleachers, pouting as STUDENTS bounce up and down around them. Jocks stand on the stage grinning and preening before the crowd.

177

INT. THE BOILER ROOM -- DAY

VERONICA and J.D. are in a heap at the bottom of the boiler room steps. VERONICA faintly works into a semi-sitting position and gives an astonished glance to the bomb, its digital clock clicking to 3:04. VERONICA crawls to the gun and levels it ata -rousing-up J.D.

ta fayegFeeeagvettene sy* ERONICA Mb. a: Dells+neeeeSeaee»,eee-*pe*etre*yoy“otaraytek: pat , vo gehe wa

Phe “bomb"'s ‘gone on, J.De! How doTM you turn it off? Tell me!

Fully standing, J.D. flicks.open his switchblade. He gives VERONICA "the finger," screaming in exploding saliva...

J.D.
Fuck you!

Seething, VERONICA shoots up at J.D. blowing off "the finger.“ Shrieking in pain, J.D. drops the knife to hold this sudden geyser of blood. VERONICA achingly stands, pointing the gun. The bomb clicks down to.2:25. .

VERONICA
It's all over, J.D. Help me stop it.

J.D.

F You want to wipe the slate clean as

much as I do. Okay, so maybe I am killing everyone in the school because nobody loves me. You have a purpose though! Remember? Let's face © it, the only place different social types can genuinely get along with each other is in heaven.

VERONICA fires the gun at J.D.'s feet. The bomb clicks to 1:49° ar She focuses her eyes on three red buttons on the bomb.

VERONICA
Which button do I press to turn it : , | off? Tell me! .
J.D.
Try the red one, but seriously, people are going to look at the ashes of Westerburg and say there's a school that self-destructed not because society didn't care, but because that school was society. Is that deep or what? I'll let you put it in your diary, babe. Free of charge.

VERONICA | Which red button, asshole?

J.D.
Press the middle one to turn it off. If that's what you want babe.....

...MERONICApicks up. the. bomb and puts.it on .a.Steel. rum, De, ‘speaking with her back turned. a

VERONICA
You know what I want, babe?
J.D.
(crouching)
What?

J.D. snatches up his switchblade and lunges toward VERONICA.) She springs away, causing him to bring the knife down past her and onto the middle red button, stopping the clock on the bomb at 00:17.

VERONICA
‘Cool guys like you out of my life.

VERONICA fires the gun twice into J.D.’s stomach. Coughing and moaning, he splatters against a generator.

VERONICA
-But don't worry, these. here were Ich Luge bullets.

J.D. closes his eyes and slumps to the ground. VERONICA wearily regards the image of the knife stuck in the stopped bomb.

178

INT. GYM -~ THE PEP ASSEMBLY -- DAY .

A cheerleader does a cartwheel in slow motion as eerie music plays. The manic crowd in the bleachers vibrates in slow motion as well. At normal speed, a smiling VERONICA walks to the doors of the gym and peers” in.

The panorama of roaring students, posing jocks, and prancing cheerleaders continues to unfold in slow motion. VERONICA walks AWAY ceeece

OL ASaree entnpr

179

EXT. THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL -- DAY 17

VERONICA wearily pushes open the front door and emerges outside: of the school. She closes her eyes to therapeutically bask in the sun's rays. A slight smile trembles onto her face. A strange voice kills it.

Color me impressed.

J.D. stands starkly in the distance before her, blood spurting from his mouth onto his gunslinger coat.

J.D.
You really fucked me up, Veronica.

VERONICA 7

: on 2 bRougHE TeesyOUeeleee ee ge bie ye, yotatedtatesait

J.D.
You've got power, Veronica. Power I didn't think you had. The slate is clean.

J.-D.pulls open his coat revealing that the bomb is attached to his torso. The green light is on and the clock says 00:10..00 209 ‘

J.D. os Pretend I did blow up the school. All the schools. Now that you're dead, what are you gonna do with your life?

VERONICA takes the unlit cigaratte from her blazer pocket and | puts it in her mouth. She then folds her arms.

VERONICA
Perfecto.

J.D. raises his arms in a crucifixion pose as the bomb clicks to 0:00. Nothing happens. An annoyed J.D. breaks out of his crucifixion stance and raps the bomb with his palm.

180

INT. GYM -~ THE PEP ASSEMBLY -- DAY 18¢

The sound of the bomb explosion plunges the cheering up-and-dowr pep assembly into chaos. Wailing students pour out of the bleact screaming less out of fear than a "Whoa Dude” sense of excitemer

181

EXT. THE FRONT OF THE SCHOOL -~ DAY 187

VERONICA stands in the same position in front of the school with her arms still folded. Only now her cigarette is lit and her face and clothes are blackened in ash. -Flames flicker in bushes behind her. VERONICA drags on the cigarette and turns to go inside. |

182

INT. THE FRONT HALLWAY -- DAY |

VERONICA strolls into the school and into a hallway of howling students, some of whom are tearing down Prom banners for the thrill of it. HEATHER DUKE rushes up to VERONICA and grimaces.

HEATHER DUKE
Veronica, you look like hell.
VERONICA
Yeah, I just got back.

VERONICA tosses away the cigarette. She then grabs HEATHER DUKE by the shoulders and forcibly turns her around.

HEATHER DUKE
_What are you doing? “ ae Wate * . .ue petty hy otewed - , .ettwea ele * *.ae ~ * gt oe aad red a Ae) a VERONICA Heather, my love, there's a new sheriff in town.

VERONICA takes off HEATHER DUKE'’s red ribbon and ties it around the hair of her own head. She kisses HEATHER DUKE on the cheek, leaving a black stain. VERONICA calls off.

| | _ VERONICA Hey, Martha, wait up.

MARTHA DUNNSTOCK/DUMPTRUCK revealed to*be in a wheelchair, brakes to a stop and looks to Veronica, confused. VERONICA walks up beside her. MARTHA starts up her wheelchair and accompanies VERONICA away into a deserted hallway.

VERONICA
My date for the prom kind of flaked out on me, so I thought if you weren't doing anything that night we could go to the video store and rent some new releases or something. Maybe pop some popcorn.

MARTHA

VERONICA
So would I. ;

VERONICA and MARTHA continue gliding Bogart/Rains style.