Big, empty space taken up by numerous desks and metal bookshelves. THINK POSITIVE! poster over the drinking fountain. A teacher’s desk and chair are located in the back of the room.
TIM and JENN sit in opposing seats, hanging out; JENN is drawing in her notebook and TIM stares up at the clock.
TIM
—fucking . . . time, huh? Slow.
JENN
Yeah. (laughs) You sound like Darrell.
TIM
Oh. Not trying to . . . just ’cause we hang out, probably.
JENN
Right.
TIM
Whatever. I mean . . . (BEAT) I’m not getting you nothing for your birthday. Just thought I’d tell you.
JENN
Huh. Okay.
TIM
Not ’cause, I mean, anything. Just don’t get paid ’til next week, so—
JENN
No biggie. You gave me that one CD.
TIM
Yeah, but that wasn’t—
JENN
That’s plenty. More than I’ll get at home—
TIM
Right. (BEAT) Darrell’s buying ya some stuff. Don’t say nothing, though, ’cause—
JENN
I know. I won’t.
TIM
Good. Thanks.
JENN
No problem.
TIM
Anyways, I’m not gonna have nothing for you . . . (BEAT) I would, though, if I could. Maybe. Just a little thing.
JENN
Thanks, Tim.
TIM
Sure. What?
JENN studies him, then rips a piece of paper out of her notebook. Hands it and some colored pencils to TIM.
JENN
Here. Make me a card . . .
TIM looks at her, glances around the room, then hurridly takes the materials.
TIM
—’kay.
(TIM starts to draw something quickly, covering it with a hand so JENN can’t see. JENN smiles at this, then goes back to her work. After a moment, DARRELL enters and sneaks up on TIM. He makes a sudden animal roar and grabs TIM around the waist. JENN and DARRELL laugh at this.)
Awww, fucker! Stop!!
DARRELL plops down into another desk. He tries to see what JENN is working on but she pulls it away. TIM folds up his paper and jams it in a coat pocket. JENN notices this.
DARRELL
—fucking hypothalamus, huh?
TIM
Yeah.
DARRELL
What do I care my brain fucks around with my metabolic process . . . give two shits about it?
JENN
Uh-huh.
DARRELL
Come after and “clean the board.” Fuck her! Right? Who’s she think she is, anyway?
TIM
Dunno.
DARRELL
No shit, Tim, I know you “dunno.” Fuck do you know? Certainly not the answer to number three!
TIM
Yeah, I told you I wasn’t so—
DARRELL
God! Like to find her, edge of a park somewheres . . . trying to start her car, bad distributor cap, some shit like that . . . and just beat the fuck outta her, leave ’er for the grounds crew come morning! What I feel for that bitch—
JENN
Darrell, don’t be so—
TIM
—kinda cute, I think. I mean, for a teacher and all.
DARRELL
I can’t even talk to you two . . . like a fucking separate wavelength or something.
TIM
She is, though! Not more than twenty-five, looks like—
DARRELL
Shit! Any chance you’re gonna listen to me, pick up on the fuck I’m saying?! Didn’t question the twat’s look, some two-piece French cut! Not saying she wouldn’t be a primo prom choice, you in a goddamn cummerbund! Said she annoyed me, like to fuck-her-up!! Making me an ass, front of everybody—
TIM
Yeah, you did look kinda stupid up there—
(TIM and JENN giggle at this until DARRELL reacts violently, slapping TIM hard on the head.)
Oww, bastard!
DARRELL
Just watch it, man! Fuck you calling “stupid—”
JENN
Come on, Darrell!
TIM
Kidding around—
DARRELL
Watch your fucking self, that’s all.
(A momentary standoff. TIM blinks first, looking up at the clock again. DARRELL smacks his hand down loudly on the desk. He looks around.)
—fucking punitive, huh?
JENN
Yeah.
DARRELL
That’s what this is. Some kinda piece a shit police action.
JENN
It’s okay.
DARRELL
No, it isn’t! Detention is bullshit, and I don’t buy into any of that, alright, so don’t “it’s okay” me, ’cause I feel you’ve been wronged. Fucking flexing their muscles—
JENN
Darrell, ’s no big thing. (BEAT) You probably shouldn’t be in here, though—
DARRELL
—and who gave it to you? Dickers, I s’ppose.
JENN
Uh-huh. Caught me in the bathroom yesterday. Lightin’ up.
DARRELL
Yeah, taking her two o’clock dump. Like fucking clockwork, right?
TIM
Yep.
The three of them share a laugh.
DARRELL
Cunt.
JENN
Darrell—
DARRELL
What?
JENN
Don’t.
DARRELL
Huh?
JENN
I hate that word.
DARRELL
’S what she is, though. Rich called her that, and she is—
JENN
Doesn’t mean you have to say it.
DARRELL
No, it doesn’t. Don’t mean I can’t, though—
JENN
Not around me, then, ’kay? (BEAT) ’S the kinda thing my Dad’d say, you know, say it and screaming and shit . . . so don’t.
DARRELL
Whatever.
An uncomfortable moment passes. TIM clear his throat as a bell rings in the distance.
TIM
She’s gonna be back—
DARRELL
Fuck. (thinks about it) Come on, Jenn, let’s get outta here, go do something—
JENN
What, I got ‘til 3:30.
DARRELL
So? Let’s bolt—
JENN
Nah.
DARRELL
Why?
JENN
’S my fifth. Kicked out if I don’t take it—
DARRELL
Who cares?
JENN
Don’t stay if you don’t wanna.
TIM (to DARRELL)
I’ll go—
DARRELL
I mean, shit . . . ’s like I’m taking it, too, I hang out the library or whatnot, waiting for you guys.
JENN
I know.
DARRELL
Right?
TIM
—go outside with ya and smoke or something, if you wanna. ’S an idea.
DARRELL
Hey, Mr. Ideas, why don’t you go study up on your periodic tables, shit ’a that nature, ’stead of dishing advice, okay?
DARRELL kicks TIM in the leg then turns back to JENN. TIM plays with a colored pencil.
JENN
So . . . you gonna hang or not?
DARRELL
Ummm, nah. I mean, no sense dragging us all down—
JENN
Whatever.
DARRELL
That’d just be stupid. Right, Timmie?
DARRELL looks at TIM for emphasis. TIM shakes his head and moves over to the door.
JENN
Just gotta keep it going, don’t ya?
(DARRELL nods and smiles, then moves over to the wooden desk. He tests the drawers and then forces one open. A snap! of wood.)
Darrell—
TIM (glancing outside)
Come on, man . . . I think she’s coming!
DARRELL
Hold it.
(DARRELL moves quickly through the compartment, rummaging and pocketing some change as he digs. He suddenly produces a half pack of cigarettes and tosses them to JENN. He closes the drawer and saunters back.)
There’s those smokes I promised you—
JENN
Great. That’s great—
DARRELL
See ya.
He touches JENN’s face briefly, then exits. TIM hovers at the door for an uncomfortable moment.
TIM
—’bye.
JENN
Yeah.
At the last second, TIM moves back inside and hands JENN his folded up “card.”
TIM
Here’s your . . . thing. I didn’t get to finish, but, you know—
JENN
Thanks, Tim. Thanks a lot.
He starts to say something but heads for the door. At the last second, JENN mimes for TIM to call her. He nods and disappears into the hall.
JENN sits back in her seat and quickly hides the package of smokes in her coat. After a moment, she opens the card and reads it. Reads it again. Her eyes well up with tears.