EXT.School yard-day

Benson Academy is an elite private school for the wealthy. It teaches grades 7th through 12th.

Children play on the playground during their recess. They are on the swings, slides, see-saws. They are jumping rope, hopscotch, playing kickball, and baseball. Their LAUGHTER and joyous SCREAMS fill the air.

A group of girls sit under a tree. They are talking and giggling. KYRIS LEDAH, 13, walks up to them. Kyris has black hair that's cut just below her chin. She's a cute girl, but a late bloomer who hasn't started puberty yet. She is a loner. The girls ignore Kyris.

kyris

Hi, Patrica.

PATRICA WALES, 14, is a popular 8th grader. Her long, pretty dark red hair is the envy of the other girls. Patrica rolls her eyes at her friends when Kyris speaks. The other girls giggle.

KYRIS

What are you doing?

Patrica

Nothing. Go away.

(to the other girls)

So anyway, my mom let me invite Brian and--

Kyris sits on the ground with them.

KYRIS

Are you talking about boys? I saw Brian Holloway pick a big, green whooper out of his nose and stick it in Carlee's hair.

(laughs hysterically)

The girls are grossed out.

PATRICA

That's disgusting, Kyris. Brian would never do that. He's sophisticated, unlike you.

KYRIS

(hurt)

He did! I saw him. He likes Carlee, but he's too scared to tell her.

PATRICA

Did he tell you that?

KYRIS

No.

PATRICA

You're such a liar.

KYRIS

But it's true. I know.

PATRICA

How?

KYRIS

(shrugs)

I just know.

Patrica stands and the other girls do likewise.

PATRICA

(hands on her hips)

You don't anything, Kyris. You're just a stupid liar. Don't ever come near me again.

KYRIS

(standing)

But we're lab partners.

PATRICA

Not any more. I'm asking Mr. Gullian to switch us.

KYRIS

He won't do it.

PATRICA

He will once I explain that I'm doing all the work and you're just copying my answers.

KYRIS

But, but you're copying me!

PATRICA

Awwww... poor, little cheater.

KYRIS

I'm going to tell Mr. Gullian first. So, ha!

PATRICA

(smiling)

Mr. Gullian has called me the perfect student more than once. So who is he going to believe? Not a loser like you.

The girls laugh and begin to walk away. Kyris balls her hands into fists.

KYRIS

Well, at least my mom's not a drunk who hits me.

Patrica stops and turns around. Her eyes are wide.

PATRICA

(softly)

What?

KYRIS

Sometimes, your mom comes home and drinks cocktails until she can barely walk. Then she goes looking for you. She yells your name and you get so scared you start to shake. You hide, but she always finds you. She screams at you and calls you an ugly, stupid whore, and you believe her. Then she hits you. And you cry yourself to sleep every night like a big baby.

The girls stare and gape at Kyris. Then they look at Patrica. Tears stream down Patrica's face.

PATRICA

How did you--

(beat)

Patrica walks back to Kyris and pushes her to the ground.

PATRICA

You're a liar, Kyris! A stupid, flat-chested, ugly liar! I hate you! I hate you!

Patrica runs off to the school building. BEATRICE WALES, 12, Patrica's little sister, walks up to Kyris who is still on the ground. Beatrice kicks Kyris in the side.

Beatrice

You're a jerk, you freak!

(to the cliche)

Let's go, girls.

The girls walk off leaving Kyris on the ground.