First Semester In High School

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     [A high tent prelude. View: Causara is standing at the car park to the left of the main road leading to the school. A BMW Q5 model pulls over and a slightly less chubbier lady (Seshie) steps out. They start walking]
   Voice over(Causara): Last year was tots cool. It was overwhelmed with activity and it felt like it will never end. After it all we wrote our graduation tests and we are now in SHS 1. [Here they run into a dude and dudette]
    Seshie- Good morning Hodrien and umm
    Hodrien- This is Eugenia she's new here, Principal told me to show her around.
    Causara- Ok, we will meet in class. By the way have you seen Chris, Lodamok or Albert anywhere?
    Hodrien- No, you might probably find them in the class or library.
    Seshie- Ok thanks for your help. Now, continue with the tour, tour guide.
    [The first scene wraps up. The next one is in the class]
    Teacher- Class we have a newbie among us. Eugenia please come up and introduce yourself.
[Eugenia walks upfront]
    Eugenia- I respond to the name Eugenia Erlend, we moved from a nearby city. I attended Macmillan High School.
     Teacher-Ok that's enough information. I know you will fit in just fine.This class has been welcoming ever since we were here for classes so I know you won't feel left out.
   [She goes to take her seat, Beside Adelaide and behind Drew.]
   [The teacher leaves and the first words are from yours truly...]
   Seshie- Finally he's gone,it's recess I am leaving before another teacher comes to give us work to do.
   Causara- Go on ahead I have to deal with something.
  [Not long after Seshie leaves, a female teacher enters.]
   Teacher- All of you should settle down and help me mark your seniors' objective test.
    [She shares out the papers two for a person to mark,then goes to the board and writes the answers. Under a minute later, Causara is done and she leaves for the cafeteria.]
   Seshie- You are late. Let me guess ...
   Causara- Mrs Mill asked us to help mark objective test for the seniors.
   [Somewhere in that same cafeteria]
   Adelaide- Welcome to Pent Senior High School.
   [The expected responder acts ignorant.]
   Eugenia- Huh, Wait are you talking to me?
   Adelaide- Who else is new here? Are you trying to show some attitude girl?
   Eugenia- No not really. Anyways thanks for the welcome.
   Adelaide- So how do you see the neighborhood?
   Eugenia- It's nice I may need some time to fit in but I will do just fine.
   Adelaide- Good I'd like to introduce you to our little clique...
  [She winds her hand across the table referring to two other girls.]
  ...  We are tough ladies and let nobody over us, can you?
   Eugenia- Tough is my thing.
   Adelaide- I know I can see it all over you. But one rule, Each one for herself God for us all.
   Eugenia- Is that a rule for the clique?
   Adelaide- Yeah nobody is watching your back. No backstabbing either.
   Eugenia- Okay I am in.
   Adelaide- Told you she'd fit.
   [Just then Hodrien appears.]
   Hodrien- Sorry to intrude. Eugenia, Principal is calling you.
   Eugenia- I'll be back soon.
   [They leave, Hodrien in the lead.]
   Hodrien- She's in her office. I got something to do, so see you later.
   Eugenia- Okay.
   [They part ways. Later, Hodrien is in an abandoned class all by himself with a guitar and writing a song.]

[Upon achieving a set aim, He gets up screams 'YES' and punches the air but drops his guitar in the act.] Out of nowhere;
   Eugenia- Oh no be careful.
   Hodrien- Ahh, Don't worry
   Eugenia- You cut your fingers, why should I not worry?
   Hodrien- My guitar is broken.
   Eugenia- You are more important. Why are you worrying about the guitar?
   Hodrien- No need forget about it.
   [With 4 bleeding fingers, he gets up picks the scattered screws, bolts and nuts, packs them into his guitar bag and leaves. Eugenia follows.]
   Eugenia- What happened back there really surprised me. Please explain to me.[No response.]
   [Hodrien stops at a tap and washes the blood off his fingers.]
   Hodrien[Still kneeling at the tap.] - Look there is no way you can help me and besides you weren't supposed to be in there at that time. I really want to be alone.
   Eugenia- Let me help at least.
   Hodrien- The only way you can help me is to really give me some space.
   Eugenia- Okay I understand that but you need to talk to someone.
   Hodrien- I don't know who to talk to.
   Eugenia- Let me be the one.
   Hodrien- Why? How?
   Eugenia- Okay fine let us talk anytime, anywhere.
   Hodrien- When I feel like it, I will call you.
   Eugenia- I will be waiting for your call.
   [Later, a few minutes before closing ,in the class.]
   Seshie- There will be a talent show in the school funded and organized by the school with sponsorship from Accor Entertainment.
   Causara- Yeah yeah, Entertainment this,Entertainment that. Wait it can't be, did you say Accor?
   Seshie- Yeah amazing right and our class nominee is Hodrien.
   Causara- What is he going to do? I mean, he knows that being handsome is not a talent, right.
   Seshie- He's about to announce what he will perform.
  [Their conversation is cut short from the call from a guy in front of the class]
   Lodamok- Brothers and sisters please listen up. [Silence] I know you are still stunned by the representative selected for the talent show. I was surprised when he filed his application yet he was the only one and I had to let him do it. But let's hear from the man himself.
   [Hodrien walks in with a guitar strapped to his back. When he get to the teachers' table, he unstraps the guitar, sits on the table and starts playing a smug low tempo gradually rising into a fixed high and he flows some amazing lyrics.]
[After school, on the way home]
   Albert- Pent Senior High is full of surprises.
   Juana- I know right, who knew Hodrien was such an amazing music maker.
   Lodamok- I did
   Causara- You obviously had to know and based on that to not tell administration that our class won't participate in the contest.
   Seshie- Nerd Lodamok, doing his work again.
   Causara- Will you leave him alone?
   Seshie- Whatever clique you nerds are in has really affected you guys.
   Juana- You are speaking like you are not a nerd.
   Albert- A nerd is virtually a bookworm, how does that make she and I nerds?
   Seshie- You guys let's talk about the talent show. Where would it be held ?
    Juana- The Accor Main Hall.
   Lodamok- It's now an auditorium.
   Causara- Seshie, can we wear a match?
   Juana- I am going solo.
   Albert- What do you mean, you are not performing right?
  Juana- I am going to wear something shiekh and new.
   Lodamok- Oh and you guys we will be doing the first assessment test next week Monday.
   Seshie- Just a day after the talent show.
   Causara- This school does know how to keep students on their toes.
   Albert- It's just wicked stress.
   Seshie- We are going to get through this.
   Causara- That's the spirit.
   Albert- You betrayed me?
   [Some other location, let's say a lounge.]
   Eugenia- You finally called.
   Hodrien- Did you have to pick this place. I mean all our mates come here.
   Eugenia- It's fine. Let's talk about why you've kept it.
  Hodrien- It's been a secret all my school life. You were the first to find out. I actually told Lodamok when I planned to rep the class. I also kept it because I didn't know who to trust with my dear secret.
   Eugenia- I am still lost.
   Hodrien- I can't say it in any other way you have to make meaning from what I have said so far.
   Eugenia- And how far, friendship.
   Hodrien- We are basically new here. With norm and thanks to the community day high schooling programme, we were all here for the 2 month Pre-SHS classes.
   Eugenia- Oh that explains why everybody knows everybody.
   Hodrien- And that most of them are from the local schools. Well my only mate is offering Business class and I am offering General Science.
   Eugenia- So how forward,
   Hodrien- With what....?
   Eugenia- Exploiting music obviously.
   Hodrien- I don't have any plans yet.
   Eugenia- To start with, what about me your manager?
   Hodrien- That will be nice.
   Eugenia- Here are some ideas for exploiting. You could start recording, a band or you could go pro solo.
   Hodrien- Let's do something, send me all the questions and in vast comfort, I will give you all the answers.
   Eugenia- Okay, let's drink something. I'll send you all the questions tonight.
   Hodrien- Umm waiter.
   [A waiter walks to their table.]
   Waiter- What can I get for you?
   Eugenia- Vitamilk for me
   Hodrien- Any Blue Skies Fruit mix for me.
   Waiter- Okay.
    [The waiter leaves and comes back a little while later with the drinks.]
   Hodrien- Bill please.
   [The waiter says the bill, Hodrien counts some notes and hands it out to him.]
    Hodrien- I have to leave, let's talk tomorrow.
   Eugenia- Okay, I will send you the questionnaire. Don't forget to go through them.
   Hodrien- I won't forget.
   Eugenia- Then see you tomorrow.
   [The next morning, at school;]
   Drew- I didn't have the chance to welcome you yesterday.
   Eugenia- Oh, it is fine
   Drew- So, how do you like it here?
   Eugenia- Everything so far is cool. And it's welcoming.
   Drew- So why were you not here for pre SHS classes?
   Eugenia- It is a long story, flash events resulting from transfers and yeah that's all.
   Drew- Okay. Well then, welcome.
   Eugenia- Thanks
   [Hodrien comes around, clears his throat and gains their attention.]
   Hodrien- Eugenia, can we talk? Usual place.
   [Eugenia nods, Hodrien goes ahead and she follows.] When they arrive;
   Eugenia- Are you done?
   Hodrien- I have actually answered questions from that site before buh I never came across this.
   Eugenia- Oh really.
   Hodrien- They showed me something new and I think I will go forward with a band.
   Eugenia- Why the band?
  Hodrien- Because it is a cooperative gang and we get to join hands in everything.
   Eugenia- Okay let's focus on Sunday. Let's do some vocals, I read online that ...
   Hodrien- Whooa I am going to have to stop you right there, there are so many fake vocal works on the internet and so I like to do my own little something. You should not believe everything you read on the internet especially about vocals.
   Eugenia- Okay thanks for the advice. By the way, where's your guitar?
   Hodrien- Repairs, it will be ready by Sunday.
   Eugenia- I hope my uncle makes it here tomorrow then you won't be needing the old one. We will schedule a meeting tomorrow and you will see something new.
   Hodrien- Definitely not a new guitar, I can't use it.
    Eugenia- Time will tell.
    [Later in the day, while in class the designation of class teachers has been done and Miss Mill gets First year Science Class 3.]
   Miss Mill- I want to personally welcome all of you to Pent Senior High School. It was only this morning that the class teacher allocations were made. With that, I was assigned duty of 1 Science 3, Biology Class. As you already know Science 1 and 2 are IT classes. I am also sure that you were here during the 2 months of Pre SHS classes  ...
    Choral Response- YES!
  ... We would like to recap everything you learned so we will write our first test on Tuesday. Some anonymous pleas were made and it was changed from Monday to Tuesday. On the first day, you will write Biology at 9 am and English Language at 1 pm. So this is your first of the annual PENSS Talent Fest and who will represent the class. Wait, please before that, let me see all class prefects. Let me see you in this order, class prefect, main and assistant, class secretary, works and sports prefect, SRC and clubs rep, okay that's all. Now, who is that talented kid representing the class?
   Choral Response- Hodrien!
   Mrs Mill- Huh Audrien, who's that?
   [Hodrien gets up.]
   Mrs Mill- Oh ok. So do you do?
   Hodrien- Madam I play the guitar and I sing too.
   Mrs Mill- We don't have enough time I would have let you do something ...
[Lodamok raises a hand.]
   ...Yes class prefect.
   Lodamok- He has actually performed to the whole class and with his ability we are sure to bag first prize.
   Mrs Mill- I like your hopes yet still he has to do very well if he will grab it from the experience of your seniors. Only on two occasions has a first year class bagged first place and the Science classes don't usually take the first place. The event has been held on fifteen occasions and only two times has a Science Class lifted the trophy. It's usually the Arts classes that claim the title more and junior classes don't usually take it.
[Mrs Mill leaves the classroom.]
   Lodamok- Ummmm guys I have to tell you something, the timetable Mrs Mill gave us is altered. This morning this is what they gave us. Monday; Biology and English, Tuesday; Physics and Social Studies, Wednesday; Elective Mathematics and Integrated Science and the we write Chemistry and Core Mathematics on Thursday.
   Causara- Lodamok it doesn't seem to matter much. Monday to Thursday could be Tuesday to Friday. It's all four days and the papers don't rearrange on any day.
   Albert- It seems you are forgetting something.
   Causara- What am I forgetting?
   Albert- We have a quiz on Friday.
   Juana- You are right. It seems they want to take us by surprise.
   Causara- Surprise or not we can write it always, we won't lose our ground.
   Seshie- Are you speaking for yourself? Because I am not well prepared if they play that sort of tactic.
   Hodrien- Come on guys. We still have to do very well. It's not like we have another option. We just have to write and perform well.
[After school that day;]
   Eugenia- Well you don't have to contribute to any sort of general conversation in class.
   Hodrien- No biggies don't take it too personal. It's cool.
   Eugenia- [Murmuring] Well it did make me jealous.
   Hodrien- Huh, did you say something?
   Eugenia- Oh naaa I was just clearing my throat.
   Hodrien- Oh okay, Can I ask you a question?
   Eugenia- Yeah, why not? Go ahead.
   Hodrien- How do you see the boyfriend girlfriend relationship thing now?
   Eugenia- It's cool, I mean so long as it is healthy.
   Hodrien- Healthy? How?
   Eugenia- Yeah, you have to know what goes into it and out of it so that you can avoid suicide attempts when it comes to an abrupt end.
   Hodrien- [Sarcastically]okay fine, I get you social life instructor.
   Eugenia- [In reply Sarcasm]My pleasure you're welcome.
   Hodrien- So you were talking about a meeting tomorrow.
   Eugenia- What about it?
   Hodrien- Where, when and why?
   Eugenia- I will send you a text tonight. My uncle is coming home tomorrow and I have asked him to let me borrow one of his guitars.
   Hodrien- But I am bonded to Friday. She's my all.
   Eugenia- [Puzzled] Friday?
   Hodrien- My guitar.
   Eugenia- You named ur guitar Friday, why?
   Hodrien- I got it as a birthday present on a  Friday from my dad.
   Eugenia- oh ok. You, just try out the new one and no pressure from there. It will be your decision.
   Hodrien- Well enough with work. I need to tell you something.
   Eugenia- Ohk go on.
   Hodrien- I wanted to let you know that I admire you. You give me some kind of chills when you begin being over responsible. I don't believe in love at first sight so I tried doubting myself but it gets painful when I keep trying to.
    Eugenia- Mhm ohk [She nods a long but somehow slow one.]  Look there's my mom I have to go see you tomorrow.
    [She hurries to the car parked at the junction ahead. Hodrien stops, smiles and shakes his head.]
   ... Angela catches up with him.
   Angela- Hey Hodrien. Was that Eugenia you were walking with? I understand, something is going on, isn't there?
   Hodrien- Oh naa really nothing is going on.
   Angela- Not yet right.
   Hodrien- Yes.
   Angela- By the way, have you seen Christopher.
   Hodrien- Not since school closed. Wait isn't your driver supposed to come and pick you up?
   Angela- Yes he is, but I can't call him because that trickster took my phone.
   Hodrien- And you say mine is not yet something.
   Angela- Chris and I are opposite beings and when I get hold of him this time he will be sorry...
     ANGELA! [A voice calls from behind.]
   ... Oh hi Larisa, have you seen Chris?
   Larisa- I just met him and he asked me to give you this. [She says handing her the phone.]
   Angela- At least I have my phone now.
  [She steps back to make a call.]
   Hodrien- I pray he has left you.
   Angela- He will always come back.
   ...
   Larisa- Leave her alone. And I wanted to wish you all the best this Sunday.
   Hodrien- Thanks dear.
   Larisa- My pleasure.
     [Angela joins them again.]
   Angela- Well adios guys I have to go back and meet the him. He has been waiting in the school.
   Larisa- Well see you Sunday.
   Angela- Yh yeah, Hodrien blow it ooo.
   Hodrien- I will, don't worry.
   [Angela leaves and heads back to the school.]
    Larisa- So how long have you been doing music?
   Hodrien- For as long as I can remember.
   Larisa- Well that boosts your chances on Sunday.
   Hodrien- Yh experience advantage.
   Larisa- Okay I have to take this bend. See you on Sunday.
   [The moment she takes the bend, a white Mercedes C250 pulls up in front of him. He walks towards the car.]
  

  

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