PAIGE: What you did changed my life. I still can't sleep without the light on. Sometimes I look under the bed, worried you might be there. I made a mistake going upstairs with you, but, Dean, you made more than a mistake. You made a choice.

MISS SAUVE: An important distinction.

PAIGE: Well, yeah. This whole thing belongs on Mr. Evil's conscience.

MISS SAUVE: And your conscience?

PAIGE: I said no, so how could I feel responsible?

MISS SAUVE: (smiling) You've stopped blaming yourself.

PAIGE: Yeah, I have.

MISS SAUVE: Excellent progress. And we'll keep working on it. Same time next week?

PAIGE: Um, Miss Sauve. Therapy is great, but...(getting up)

MISS SAUVE: I strongly recommend we continue. I'll pencil you in anyway.

PAIGE: Pencil away, but it is a waste of an appointment.

[Credits]

[Hallway. RADITCH is talking on the PA system. PAIGE walks up to JT, who is pretending to be a mime in an imaginary box]

JT: Paige, help! I'm stuck in a box.

PAIGE: Does it say, "Caution: Freak inside?"

JT: What? Can't hear you. Box.

(PAIGE opens imaginary door and JT steps out of box)

JT: Thanks. (they start walking) A little mime magic for my mascot routine. You like?

PAIGE: I always like your stuff. Just make sure you bring that magic to tomorrow's basketball tournament.

JT: Wait a minute. Did you just talk to me without saying "midget," "twerp," or "dweeb?"

PAIGE: I think I did. Lucky you. (JT leaves and PAIGE walks by SPINNER and MARCO) Hey boys.

MARCO: Oh, hey Paige.

PAIGE: Spin, I love the roots. (touches his arm) Tre cool.

[ MARCO and ELLIE in MR. SIMPSON's room, showing HIM papers]

MARCO: I know it's a competitive market, but unisex cologne doubles our buyers.

ELLIE: (holding up cologne) Share you scent. Sing a duet.

MR. SIMPSON: I'm impressed. You guys thought through your mock product and campaign and finished first. So, time to move on to part two of the project and film your ad.

ELLIE: It'll be great. Total cheese musical.

MARCO: Fun and fabulous.

MR. SIMPSON: Sounds great. Camera's all yours.

ELLIE: (heading back to her computer) You sure you don't want to direct?

MARCO: Positive. Listen, I trust you. -

CRAIG: (on his computer, turing around in his chair) Your love brings tears to my eyes.

MARCO: Just wish everyone could be so lucky. (kisses ELLIE's hand. CRAIG turns back to his computer as MARCO and ELLIE sit down at their's.)

ELLIE: Nice on boyfriend.

MARCO: Thank-you, girlfriend.

[ Spirit Squad practice in the gym]

SPIRIT SQUAD: Blue and gold shoot for two.

PAIGE: That was great guys. Take a break.

HAZEL: Paige, that choreography kills.

PAIGE: I try. The crowd tomorrow won't know what hit them.

HAZEL: (noticing SPINNER entering gym) Spinner, finally decide to join spirit squad?

SPINNER: Ha-ha, dream on. Got the final team's name in for tomorrow's tourney. (puts sign with "Bardell" on tournament board.) Bardell. You're boyfriend's back. (leaves)

PAIGE: Hazel, he's coming to me school.

[ Miss Sauve's office]

MISS SAUVE: Paige, back so soon.

PAIGE: (sitting down) Yeah, um. I wanted to ask about pressing charges against Dean.

MISS SAUVE: Ok, we'll have to set up a meeting with your mom.

PAIGE: No, I know. But, what actually happens?

MISS SAUVE: Well, the police will get involved. You'll probably be asked to testify.

PAIGE: And then we send him to jail?

MISS SAUVE: If there's enough evidence, yes.

PAIGE: Well, I had all those doctors exams.

MISS SAUVE: And they reassured us that you were injury free and that you hadn't developed any STDs.

PAIGE: (realizing)They're not evidence.

MISS SAUVE: Unfortunately, Paige, the longer you wait to report, the less physical evidence there is.

PAIGE: So, what? I could go to court, tell the truth, and I could still loose?

MISS SAUVE: Possibly.

PAIGE: But that is so unfair.

MISS SAUVE: Don't get discouraged. If this is what you want, then we'll make the best case we can.

PAIGE: Forget it. I just thought I'd ask.

[ELLIE is outside, working on the commercial storyboard. ASHLEY walks up.]

ASHLEY: Wow. Bright.

ELLIE: Marco is obsessed with Bolly-wood musicals. It seemed fun.

MARCO: (walking up) A surprise for la senorina. (hands her a container of food) It's my mom's eggplant parmesan. I know how much you like it.

ELLIE: Wow. Thanks.

MARCO: And there's enough for both of you, so I'll leave you ladies to your girl talk. (walks away)

ELLIE: (sitting down at table) This is the perfect vegetarian dish.

ASHLEY: From your perfect boyfriend. Really, could you two be more meant for each other?

[PAIGE is sitting alone outside in the courtyard. Jt knocks on the window from inside to get her attention. He pretends to be walking against a hard wind. PAIGE is not amused and walks inside.]

JT: Come on. Wind tunnel man. That's comic gold.

PAIGE: I thought mimes were supposed to be silent.

JT: Paige, are you mad at me? Did i do something wrong, like at practice?

PAIGE: No, for once it's not about you. It's about me not cheering tomorrow.

JT: What? We need you.

PAIGE: Too bad. Deal with it.

JT: Why?

PAIGE: It's really none of your business.

JT: If I'm sweating in a mascot costume and you're at home watching tv, it is my business.

PAIGE: Someone's coming tomorrow. From Bardell. And I can't see him.

JT: Did he dump you or something?

PAIGE: Or something.

JT: Well, just give him some of your world-famous attitude. Show him who's boss.

PAIGE: Is that why you've been stalking me? To give me a pep talk? (JT looks hurt and walks away)

[Outside a camera and colorful backdrop are set up for the commercial. ELLIE is behind the camera and MARCO is in front of the backdrop.]

ELLIE: So the you lean in, close, romantic. And you say your line.

MARCO: Alright, let's do it. (gets off the set)

ELLIE: Action. (MARCO dances on set) Cut. You're out of frame.

MARCO: It's hard to know where to stop without Heather here.

ELLIE: I'll stand in. (goes on set while MARCO steps to the side.) Action. (MARCO dances to HER and puts a pink boa around HER neck) Great. Now, arm behind me. Raise the perfume and say...

MARCO: Share your scent. Sing a duet.

ELLIE: (kissed a surprised MARCO, then goes back behind the camera, embarrassed.) Yeah. That was great. Let's move on.

[PAIGE's room. SHE is sitting on the bed, fully dressed, looking at her cheerleader outfit hanging on the wall. The alarm clock goes off and PAIGE quiets it.]

[Bardell's bus pulls into school as PAIGE and HAZEL are walking there.]

HAZEL: Are you ok?

PAIGE: I'm staying far away from him.

MANNY: (walks up to THEM, forcing THEM to stop) Hey Paige. Are we doing the elevator formation first or...? (PAIGE sees DEAN getting off the bus)

HAZEL: Let's go. (THEY start walking)

DEAN: (notices PAIGE and runs up to her) Spirit. Hold on. (PAIGE slowly turns around) So what's in today's plan? Some ra-ra cheering or another serenade from your little girl band?

PAIGE: This is my school and I don't want to see or talk to you again. (turns and walks into school)

DEAN: (following) Lighten up. We had fun.

PAIGE: (stops and turns around again) Fun? You think what you did to me was fun?

DEAN: (to HAZEL) The night of the party, you were there. Who did Spirit come to see? Right. Me.

PAIGE: I said no.

DEAN: So shake your little pon-poms and look cute Spirit. I got a game. (walks away)

[MR. SIMPSON's class. MARCO is talking with CRAIG. ELLIE walks in with poster board.]

ELLIE: Hey, Marco.

MARCO: So, you ready for your directing debut?

ELLIE: Yeah, and I've got a bit of new direction. (new storyboard is all black and white)

MARCO: Who died?

ELLIE: It's called minimalism.

MARCO: I call it boring. What happened to Heather and all the dancing girls?

ELLIE: Unnecessary. Duet was getting lost in all the glitz.

MARCO: Ok, if you say so, we'll do it this way. You're the director.

ELLIE: You're fine with it?

MARCO: Yeah, whatever you want. Honest.

[ B-ball team is walking in the hallway]

JIMMY: We rule. This tournament is ours. Bardell has absolutely no chance. (High fives another player)

SPINNER: (to random guy) Jimmy should calm down. Bardell's a tough team.

PAIGE: We can beat them.

DEAN: (coming up behind HER) You think so Spirit? Good-luck. (walks away)

PAIGE: (to HAZEL) I'll see you later. (walks off in different direction)

SPINNER: (walking up to HAZEL) What's up with her? Is she still hung up on Dean?

HAZEL: No.

SPINNER: Come on, Hazel. I was at the party. I know what happened.

HAZEL: What's that?

SPINNER: He and Paige...Paige dumped me and then did it with him.

HAZEL: And what if it wasn't like that? What if she said no?

SPINNER: Good one, Hazel. But the only one she said no to was me. (walks away)

[On the new black and white set for MARCO and ELLIE's commercial.]

MARCO: Duet. We are as one. We absorb..(cuts off and laughs)

ELLIE: Marco, that's the seventh take.

MARCO: I'm sorry. It's just that when I say, "absorb each other" it sounds like we're selling tampons or something.

ELLIE: Are you making fun of my writing?

MARCO: But it doesn'[t even go with our whole concept. A duet with one person? I can go find someone right now, and we can do the dance like before.

ELLIE: No, you can't.

MARCO: I said yes to this whole weird concept. But ever since then you've been treating my like your slave.

ELLIE: Funny, cuz that's how I always feel around you. You may not like what you're doing here, but it's way better than some flaming...(cuts off)

MARCO: So that's what this is about. I can't be who you want.

ELLIE: Can't? Or Won't? (MARCO shakes his head and leaves)

[Outside, PAIGE and HAZEL are eating lunch at a picnic table.]

PAIGE: You told Spinner?

HAZEL: I wanted him to understand.

PAIGE: Well, what did he say?

HAZEL: He didn't believe me.

PAIGE: He thinks I wanted it, right? I'm going home. (gets up)

HAZEL: Paige.

PAIGE: You were right. I should have stayed there. Dean wins again. (sees DEAN and MANNY talking and turns back to HAZEL)

[PAIGE walks up to MANNY, who is at her locker]

MANNY: hey Paige. I can't wait for halftime. I'm nailing that flip. What's going on?

PAIGE: Um, earlier I saw you and Dean talking outside.

MANNY: He started talking to me.

PAIGE: No problem. Um, just don't be alone with him, ok? Someone warned me about him once and I should have listened. He seems nice...

MANNY: He is nice.

PAIGE: What do you know? You talked to him for five minutes.

MANNY: I know you guys had a date. And I know he never called you back. And I know you're jealous. Get over it. (walks away)

[On the basketball quart. JT walks up to HAZEL]

JT: Where's Paige?

HAZEL: I dunno.

JT: This panther's on the case. (leaves)

[Outside school. PAIGE is sitting down, and JT comes out to talk to her]

JT: Oh, fearless leader.

PAIGE: Go away.

JT: Paige, you say that all the time, but we both know you don't mean it.

PAIGE: Yeah, well this time I do. (gets up and starts walking)

JT: (following) Paige, the squad needs you.

PAIGE: Leave me alone.

JT: This is just about some guy, right?

PAIGE: (sitting down) You mean Dean? Bardell's resident sports hero. (pauses) And rapist. Yeah, he raped me. And no one in the whole world seems to be able to do anything about it. (JT walks towards the school, forgetting his mascot head. PAIGE picks it up and starts to follow) JT!

[Inside gym. DEAN fouls JIMMY and they set up for the free throws. JT comes in and pushes DEAN. JT is not succeeding in hurting DEAN, who is slightly amused. PAIGE silently watches]

JT: Too much for you Mr. Rapist? (DEAN, no longer amused, throws JT onto the ground and is about to punch him when a REFEREE pulls Him off]

REF: You're benched. Game suspension. (MR. ARMSTRONG helps JT up) And the mascot...?

MR. ARMSTRONG: Is going to the principal's office. Now. (JT grabs his head from PAIGE and leaves. SPINNER walks towards PAIGE, who goes out into the hallway)

SPINNER: Paige, what is going on?

PAIGE: Nothing.

SPINNER: JT in the mascot uniform attacking Dean, that's not nothing. (PAIGE turns to leave and SPINNER grabs her arm) Paige..

PAIGE: (turning around and shrugging off his hand) (loudly) Spin, could you please... (cuts off)

SPINNER: Something happened to you.

PAIGE: I just got what I asked for, right?

SPINNER: He took it too far, like Hazel said, right? Didn't he? (DEAN walks out of gym and continues out the main door.) Hey. (SPINNER follows him and PAIGE follows SPINNER) Hey, you're not going anywhere. (pushes DEAN up against his bus. DEAN pushes him back.)

DEAN: Your mascot came at me.

SPINNER: You think that's what this is about?

PAIGE: Spinner stop.

SPINNER: (pushes DEAN again) What, he deserves it.

PAIGE: (breaking them apart) Spinner Please.

DEAN: Water boy your boyfriend?

PAIGE: I have one thing to say to you Dean. Get ready because I am coming after you this time. Not like Spinner or the mascot. For real. (DEAN gets on his bus)

[ELLIE is on a computer is MR. SIMPSON's room, editing the commercial. MARCO comes in.]

MARCO: So much for us being as one, huh?

ELLIE: I'm sorry.

MARCO: (sitting down) Elle, you're my best friend. But if that's not enough...

ELLIE: It's really hard Marco. Pretending to be something...

MARCO: ...you're not. I know.

ELLIE: But did you ever think about how hard it would be for me? Are you still confused?

MARCO: No. (pause) Ellie, I'm gay. And you and me...

ELLIE: ...will always just be friends. (MARCO nods, then ELLIE nods as well.]

[MISS SAUVÉ's office]

MISS SAUVÉ: You're sure?

PAIGE: Mom and I talked. I want to press charges.

MISS SAUVÉ: Good. Now it's a legal matter. So no more conversations with Dean.

PAIGE: Fine by me.

MISS SAUVÉ: So, Tuesday?

PAIGE: Three o'clock sharp. You can write it in pen this time. (pause) I want to scare him, Miss Sauve. So bad that he wouldn't even think of doing this to someone else.

[In the hall, PAIGE walks up to SPINNER]

PAIGE: Hey, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in a hairnet?

SPINNER: I traded a shift so I could spend lunch with you. (hands her a sandwich and a bottle of juice)

PAIGE: Lucky me. (THEY walk to a bench and sit down)

SPINNER: Um, we're not all like Dean, you know. Some of us are good guys.

PAIGE: I know. that's, uh, why I wanted to ask. Year-end dance. You going with anyone.

SPINNER: (shakes head) No.

PAIGE: So, then go with me. I owe you a date anyway, right?

SPINNER: (nods head and smiles) Yeah, you do. (PAIGE smiles)

[End]