The Wonder Years - Transcript

Episode 16: "Walk Out"

Written by Matthew Carlson

Transcribed by Kyle Gittins
Edited and Corrected by Peter Reynders

OPENING SEQUENCE

Int. Day. Arnold Kitchen

[Close shot of the TV showing tanks, machine gunners and soldiers.]


TV REPORTER: Thirty eight killed and one-hundred-twenty-three wounded as American troops and North Vietnamese refugees clash near the border. In some of the most brutal fighting...


NORMA [V/O]: Do you believe that - a dollar-nineteen for a pound of bacon? Just last week it was ninety-nine cents! There's hardly any lean meat on there.


JACK [V/O]: Norma, where are my brown socks?


NORMA [V/O]: Oh - they're in the dryer.


KAREN [V/O]: Wayne! Why don't you have a little toast with your jelly?


WAYNE [V/O]: *****


KEVIN [V/O]: Mom, the yokes are runny. I can't eat 'em if the yokes are runny.


[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of the others in the kitchen. JACK is going into the dining room, KAREN and WAYNE are at separate counters, and NORMA is returning to the stove.]


NARRATOR: In nineteen-sixty-nine, we had the Vietnam war for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I guess it was inevitable that we stopped paying attention.


[Shot of KEVIN at the table, looking at the others off-screen, then looking down.]


TV ANNOUNCER: A seemingly endless procession of refugees has flooded Saigon...


[KEVIN looks toward the TV off-screen.]


[Close shot of the TV, showing Vietnames civilians walking past the camera. In a different shot on TV, one early-teen boy looks toward the camera quizzically.]


TV ANNOUNCER: And the food, shelter and medical services are already in short supply...


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward the TV off-screen.]


NARRATOR: Ya had to stop paying attention.


[KEVIN looks off, then down.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Get involved...


Cut to


Mrs. Ritvo's Classroom

[Shot of the PA speaker on the wall.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: In government.


[Shot of KEVIN at his desk, fiddling with a pencil.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Remember, it's your student council, people.


[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of MRS. RITVO leaning on her desk, listening to MR. DIPERNA.]


MRS. RITVO: Alright, class.


[She stands up straight and turns toward the class.]


MRS. RITVO: You heard Mr. Diperna. Let's have nominations for our home room representative.


[Shot of the bored students.]


NARRATOR: Home room elections.


[The camera pans across the room.]


NARRATOR: As a scholastic highlight, it ranked right up there with "safety week".


[Shot of MRS. RITVO.]


MRS. RITVO: Alright, then - who wants to be our representative?


[Shot past a girl of KEVIN.]


MRS. RITVO [V/O]: Any volunteers?


[KEVIN looks off.]


[Shot of two girls talking to each other and playing that little paper-and-fingers game, the name of which escapes me...]


MRS. RITVO [V/O]: Surely...


[Close shot of MRS. RITVO frowning slightly and looking at the students off-screen.]


MRS. RITVO: There is someone in this room with enough respect for democracy...


[Close shot of a boy with his head resting on his crossed arms, apparently asleep.]


[Close shot of MRS. RITVO looking at the class off-screen.]


MRS. RITVO: To volunteer to be...


[Close shot of KEVIN looking off.]


MRS. RITVO [V/O]: Our representative to the student-council.


[KEVIN raises his hand tentatively.]


[Close shot of MRS. RITVO looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MRS. RITVO: Kevin?


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MRS. RITVO off-screen.]


KEVIN: Can I go to the bathroom? [Frowns.]


[Close shot of MRS. RITVO looking cooly at KEVIN off-screen. Sound of a flushing toilet.]


Cut to


Restroom

[Shot of a boy washing his hands at the sink as KEVIN approaches and washes his hands in the next sink.]


RYGOT: Is your home room having elections?


KEVIN: Yeah.


[Shot past KEVIN of his reflection in the mirror as he turns to the boy off-screen.]


KEVIN: Pretty lame, though...[frowns]...nobody's even running. [Smils.]


[Shot past the boy of his reflection as he looks at KEVIN off-screen.]


BOY: Yeah.


[He looks down.]


BOY: It's kinda cool to be president or something, but home room rep...


[He glances at KEVIN off-screen.]


BOY: Is for weenies.


[Shot past KEVIN of his reflection as he looks down.]


KEVIN: Yeah. [Smiles.]


Cut to


Mrs. Ritvo's Classroom

[Shot past a student of MRS. RITVO as she looks at a small piece of paper she is holding.]


MRS. RITVO: Alright...


[Shot of the class as KEVIN walks down the aisle and sits down.]


MRS. RITVO [V/O]: We have one vote for Mr. Ed...


[The students laugh.]


MRS. RITVO [V/O]: Very funny...


[Close shot of MRS. RITVO looking at the paper.]


MRS. RITVO: And we have four votes for Ringo Starr.


[Close shot of KEVIN as the class laughs and he smiles.]


MRS. RITVO [V/O]: And we have...


[Close shot of MRS. RITVO looking at the paper.]


MRS. RITVO: Twenty-six votes, for our new...


[KEVIN smiles as he leans forward and taps the girl in front of him.]


MRS. RITVO [V/O]: Home room representative...


KEVIN: Who's the weenie?


[Close shot of MRS. RITVO looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MRS. RITVO: Kevin...Arnold.


[Shot past the girl of KEVIN as he sits back in his seat, then glances off.]


NARRATOR: Well...


Cut to


Cafeteria

[Wide shot of a dozen-or-so students milling around a large U-shape of tables.]


NARRATOR: Some men pursue greatness...


[Shot of KEVIN in the doorway, looking past the camera.]


NARRATOR: And some men have greatness thrust upon them, while they're in the bathroom.


KEVIN: Paul!


[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of PAUL near a table, and looking over his shoulder toward him.]


[Shot of KEVIN as he approaches the camera.]


[Shot of PAUL.]


PAUL: Kevin - what are you doing here?


[Shot past PAUL of KEVIN as he rolls his eyes.]


KEVIN: They made me home room representative...[nods]...Can ya believe it?


[Shot past KEVIN of PAUL looking at him.]


PAUL: Yeah...[smiles]...me too. [Nods.]


[Shot past PAUL of KEVIN looking at him.]


KEVIN: How'd you get stuck with it?


[Shot past KEVIN of PAUL looking off slightly.]


PAUL: I dunno.


[PAUL looks at KEVIN.]


PAUL: It was either the balloons...


[He nods and holds up a pencil.]


PAUL: Or the pencils. [Smiles.]


[Shot past PAUL of KEVIN looking at him. They look toward the sound of a pounding gavel.]


[Wide shot of KEVIN and PAUL approaching the tables.]


Fade to


Later

[Wide shot of about two dozen students seated around the perimeter of the tables. One man sits on a table against the wall.]


NARRATOR: About an hour into the meeting...


[Close shot of KEVIN looking forward.]


NARRATOR: I began to see the true nature of student-council.


[He glances off.]


NARRATOR: It was basically organized whining.


[He frowns.]


[Shot of Dough sitting between LORI, and a boy.]


DOUG: How come we only have ice-cream sandwiches in our ice-cream machine? [Gestures.] I mean at Madison, they have three choices. I think we should have push-ups.


[Shot of a row of students.]


GIRL: Drumsticks!


[Wide shot of all as several kids talk at once.]


GIRL: Pop-sickles!


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Alright...


[Close shot of the council president seated between two boys, and the man on the table in the background.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Alright. [Gestures.] The proposal is to offer pushups in the ice cream machine.


[Shot down a row of students as everyone talks at once, and PAUL raises his hand.]


[Shot of KAREN and LORI looking toward the council-president off-screen and speaking at the same time. LORI says "drumsticks!"]


[Shot past KEVIN, PAUL and other student of the council-president banging his gavel.]


NARRATOR: But when it came to the issues that really mattered...


[Close shot of KEVIN looking forward.]


NARRATOR: Party lines were crosses, and everyone rallied their support.


[Close shot of the "drumstick girl".]


GIRL: I think we should have a jukebox in the cafeteria.


[Shot of the students at the opposite table as they smile and cheer. One boy raises his hand.]


[Shot past KEVIN, PAUL and other students waving, of the council-president banging his gavel.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Order, order, order...


[The group quiets down.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: That's better. Now, do I have a second?


[Shot down an row of students as they raise their hands and everyone cheers.]


[Wider shot of everyone as they raise their hands and yell.]


[Shot of the council president seated between two boys, and the man on the table in the background.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Well, obviously, you're all in favor.


[Shot of one boy frowning and glancing around.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT [V/O]: Well, if there are no more proposals, we can...


[The boy raises his hand.]


[Close shot of the council president looking toward the boy off-screen.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Yes, Mark? What is it?


[Wider shot of the boy standing up. The man is on the table in the background.]


MARK: Yeah...I propose we honor the national moratorium next Friday by organizing a walk out.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MARK off-screen.]


MARK [V/O]: To protest the immoral...


MARK [V/O]: Colonialist repression of the Peoples Republic of Vietnam, by the running dog lackeys of the Fascist US...


[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN glancing at each other.]


MARK [V/O]: Government.


[Shot of the council president seated between two boys, and the man on the table in the background.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Any seconds?


[Wide shot of all. Everyone is silent.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Sorry, Mark...


[Shot of MARK, the man on the table, and a couple other students.]


MARK: It's a chance to make a real statement against the war.


[Shot of a table of disinterested students.]


[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN.]


[Close shot of MARK looking around the students off-screen.]


MARK: There'll be marches all over the country.


[Close shot of a girl resting her chin in her hand.]


[Close shot of MARK straightening up and sigh, and looking around the students off-screen.]


MARK: We'll be walking out...during class.


[Wide shot of all as the raise their hands and start talking.]


[Shot past KEVIN and PAUL of the council president banging his gavel.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Alright, order...


[Shot down KEVIN and PAUL's table as they lower their arms.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT [V/O]: Listen, hey!


[Shot past KEVIN and PAUL of the council president.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Now, I don't know if the student council can vote to do something like this.


[He looks over his shoulder.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Mr. Tyler?


[Close shot of the man on the table. He rubs his chin and looks off.]


NARRATOR: Mr. Tyler.


[He flicks his pencil.]


NARRATOR: He was faculty advisor to the student council, but more than that...


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


NARRATOR: He was our cool teacher. You know the type.


[Close shot of MR. TYLER as he rubs his chin and looks off.]


NARRATOR: Rides a motorcycle...lets you have class outside on nice days...


[He looks down.]


NARRATOR: Lacks respect for authority...


[Shot of KAREN and LORI looking at MR. TYLER off-screen as they rest their heads against their fists.]


NARRATOR: Everybody waited to see...


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking toward the students off-screen.]


NARRATOR: What Mr. Tyler would say.


MR. TYLER: Like Mr. Diperna says...this is your student council. [Nods.]


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


[Close shot of the council president.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: All in favor? [Gestures.]


[Shot of MARK and a few others students, as they raise their fist and yell. MR. TYLER sits in the background.]


[Shot down KEVIN and PAUL's table as the kids raise their fists and yell.]


[Shot past KEVIN, PAUL and other students waving, of the council-president.]


COUNCIL PRESIDENT: Don't forget...[gestures]...to sign up for a committee. Meeting is adjourned.


[He picks up the gavel and bangs it. Students start to stand up.]


[Shot of the table with KAREN, LORI and MARK as they stand up.]


[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN.]


KEVIN: We have to join a committee? [Gestures.]


PAUL: Yeah, come on! [Gestures.]


[PAUL itemizes on his fingers.]


PAUL: There's school spirit, social, ice-cream, jukebox, or walk out. So...[gestures]...what do you say - jukebox?


[KEVIN looks over his shoulder at the crowd forming a line behind them.]


KEVIN: No, the line's too long for jukebox. [Frowns.]


PAUL: Well, I'd say social...


[Close shot of PAUL looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


PAUL: But Nancy Cardian's the chairman for that, and Mrs. Gambino's the advisor.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking off.]


PAUL [V/O]: And I can't stand either one of those, so...


[KEVIN looks past the camera and frowns slightly.]


[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of MR. TYLER holding Mark's arm and talking to him.]


PAUL [V/O]: I don't know - maybe ice-cream...


KEVIN [V/O]: Well, which one is Mr. Tyler advisor for?


[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


PAUL: I don't know.


[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of MR. TYLER and MARK talking.]


PAUL [V/O]: Looks like he's doing walk out.


[Close shot of KEVIN shrugging and looking at PAUL off-screen.]


KEVIN: Let's do walk out. [Shrugs.]


Cut to


Classroom

[Shot of a 45 RPM record spinning on a record-player. Music "Hoochie Coochie Man" - Muddy waters plays.]


"Gypsy woman told my mother"


[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN as KEVIN opens the door.]


"Before I was born"


[They take a step into the room and pause.]


[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of KAREN, LORI, MR. TYLER, a boy, and MARK clusterd around a table. MR. TYLER spreads a deck of playing cards face-down on the table in front of MARK, then turns away.]


MR. TYLER: OK, pick a card - any card.

 

[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN looking at each other.]


"You got a boy-child coming"


[They walk past the camera.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Alright, now...look at it...


"Gonna be a son of a gun"


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Don't tell me what it is.


[Shot of MR. TYLER and the other kids as KEVIN and PAUL approach.]


"Gonna make pretty womens"


[MR. TYLER looks at them.]


MR. TYLER: Hi. What's your name?


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


KEVIN: Kevin.


"Jump and shout"


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: Kevin - cut the cards.


[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN as KEVIN cuts the cards.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Good.


"And then the world gonna know"


[Shot past KEVIN of MR. TYLER and a boy, Rusty, as MR. TYLER smiles, picks up the cards, and dramatically holds a card toward MARK off-screen.]


"What this all about"


MR. TYLER: Is that your card?


[Shot of KAREN and LORI smiling.]


[Close shot of MARK looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MARK: No.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


[Shot past KEVIN of MR. TYLER and Rusty, as MR. TYLER holds the card toward MARK off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: No?


[MR. TYLER turns the card over and looks at it.]


MR. TYLER: Oh...


[He looks toward the girls off-screen.]


[Shot of KAREN and LORI looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Well, wait a minute.


"But you know I'm here"


[Shot past KEVIN of MR. TYLER and Rusty, as MR. TYLER holds another card toward MARK off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: Is that it?


[Close shot of MARK shaking his head at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MARK: No. [Smiles.]


"Everybody knows I'm here"


[Shot past KEVIN of MR. TYLER and Rusty, as MR. TYLER looks at the card.]


MR. TYLER: Oh.


[He frowns, then looks at the girls off-screen.]


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at the girls off-screen, then rolling his eyes and sighing.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Well, uh...


"Well, I'm the hoochie coochie man"


[Shot past KEVIN of MR. TYLER and Rusty, as MR. TYLER pulls a card from his jacket pocket and hold it toward MARK off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: Is that it?


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen, then MARK off-screen.]


"Everybody knows I'm here"


[Close shot of MARK looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MARK: How'd you do that? [Smiles.]


[Shot of KAREN and LORI smiling at each other, then looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


[Close shot of MR. TYLER smiling at KEVIN off-screen.]


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


Fade to


Later

[Shot of all as they sing along to "The Tracks of My Tears".]


"My smile is my makeup"

"I wear since my breakup with you"


[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN as KEVIN antes up a corn-chip into the pot.]


NARRATOR: We did card tricks for about twenty minutes...


[The girls ante up.]


"Baby, baby, take a good look at my face"


NARRATOR: And then switched to 5-card stud.


[Shot of KEVIN, MR. TYLER, RUSTY and MARK as they sing.]


NARRATOR: I couldn't believe it - I'd never known a teacher like this.


"You see my smile looks out of place"


NARRATOR: Mr. Tyler was so cool...


[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN as they sing.]


"If you look closer it's easy to trace"


NARRATOR: You could feel yourself becoming cooler in his presence.


"The tracks of my tears"


[They smile. MR. TYLER's hand lays down his cards on top of the pot. KEVIN sighs heavily and frowns. The kids put their cards on the pot.]


[Shot past KEVIN and the girls of MR. TYLER, RUSTY and MARK. MR. TYLER chuckles as he rakes in the pot.]


MR. TYLER: Alright, Paul - your deal.


[Close shot of MARK looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MARK: Mr. Tyler?


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Hmm?


MARK: When are we gonna talk about?


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at MARK off-screen.]


MARK [V/O]: The walk out?


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MARK off-screen.]


NARRATOR: Leave it to Mark Hooper...


[Close shot of MARK looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


NARRATOR: To spoil a good thing.


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at MARK off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: Well, it's about time.


[Close shot of MARK frowning slightly at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Hey...


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at MARK off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: It's not my meeting. [Gestures.]


[Close shot of MARK looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MARK: Oh.


[He looks down thoughtfully.]


MARK: OK...well...


[He smiles and looks around the group.]


MARK: I think we should talk about the walk out.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MARK off-screen, then MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MARK [V/O]: I think we need a strategy.


[Shot of all.]


MR. TYLER: Well, it's about time. OK. [Nods.]


MARK: OK, so...[gestures]...what do we do first?


[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN looking at each other.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Well... [Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at MARK off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: Maybe you should start by, uh...


[He rubs his chin.]


MR. TYLER: Figuring out how you're gonna mobilize eight-hundred students all at the same time.


MARK [V/O]: Right...


[Close shot of MARK looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MARK: Right.


[He looks down, then at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MARK: How do we do that? [Frowns.]


[Shot past KEVIN and the girls of MR. TYLER, RUSTY and MARK.]


MR. TYLER: Well, that's why we have all these minds here. [Gestures.]


[He looks at RUSTY.]


MR. TYLER: What do you think, Rusty?


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at RUSTY off-screen.]


NARRATOR: Good luck!


[Close shot of RUSTY looking off, and shrugging, slightly surprised.]


NARRATOR: It's not that Rusty Drotman was stupid...


[Rusty folds his arms and leans forward.]


NARRATOR: It's just that he sort of drifted through life in a purple haze.


RUSTY: Oh, wow. [Frowns.] Well, we could just...


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at RUSTY off-screen.]


RUSTY [V/O]: Well, we could just...


[MR. TYLER smiles and nods.]


[Shot past KEVIN and the girls of MR. TYLER, Rusty and MARK, as MR. TYLER stands up.]


RUSTY: Like, you know, uh...I mean, you know, uh...wow.


[MR. TYLER stands behind RUSTY and puts his hands on RUSTY's head.]


MR. TYLER: Think, Rusty, think.


[Close shot of RUSTY and MR. TYLER's hands.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Think!


RUSTY: OK - wait! OK!


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at RUSTY off-screen.]


RUSTY [V/O]: So, uh...


[Close shot of RUSTY and MR. TYLER's hands.]


RUSTY: OK, I got it! [Smiles.] We all split up, and...


[MR. TYLER pats his shoulder.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: OK - you can do it. Come on.


RUSTY: And knock on all the homeroom doors to give 'em the signal.


[Shot past KEVIN and the girls of MR. TYLER, RUSTY and MARK.]


MR. TYLER: Yeah! That's it! OK, relax, Rusty. This man needs sustinence.


[Wider shot of all as MR. TYLER points to a bowl of fruit on the corner of the table.]


MR. TYLER: Throw me that orange, Kevin.


[KEVIN tosses an orange to MR. TYLER, who hands it to RUSTY.]


MR. TYLER: Here, eat this - build your strength back up.


[MR. TYLER pats RUSTY on the back, as does MARK.]


MARK: OK, OK, good!


[MR. TYLER sits down.]


MARK: So, so at nine o'clock...


[Close shot of MARK looking around the group off-screen.]


MARK: We go to all the homerooms, we mobilize the whole school, and then...


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MARK off-screen.]


MARK [V/O]: We march out on the football field.


[KEVIN looks at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Then what?


[KEVIN looks at MARK off-screen.]


MARK [V/O]: "Then what?"


[KEVIN looks at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at MARK off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: Well, I mean, what is the point of this walk out?


[He looks around the group off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: How is standing around in a football field...


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Going to end the war? Who's gonna know the difference?


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: Kevin? [Smiles.]


[Close shot of KEVIN looking off.]


KEVIN: I-I don't know, unless...


[KEVIN looks off, then gets a bright idea.]


KEVIN: Unless we can get on TV, or something.


[Close shot of MARK looking toward KEVIN off-screen.]


KEVIN [V/O]: Or, or in the papers!


[MARK looks toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MARK: Yeah, wait, wait! That's good, that's good! We could use - we could use the media.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward LORI off-screen.]


LORI [V/O]: We could...


[Close shot of LORI looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


LORI: We could write a letter to Channel 5, and we could tell them -


[LORI turns toward KAREN off-screen.]


KAREN [V/O]: We could get other schools...


[Close shot of KAREN looking at the others off-screen.]


KAREN: To do it too - like Madison and Whitman...


[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN as PAUL.]


PAUL: Yeah! And we could organize this whole big thing...[Gestures.]


[Shot of the classroom door as MR. DIPERNA opens it and enters.]


PAUL [V/O]: Where all the kids from all the schools -


[MR. DIPERNA pauses and looks toward the group off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA: Ahem. Mr Tyler.


[MR. DIPERNA crosses his arms.]


[Wide shot of the group looking toward MR. DIPERNA off-screen.]


[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA: Could I speak to you for a moment? [Nods.]


[Wide shot of the group as MR. TYLER stands up.]


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER and MR. DIPERNA off-screen.]


[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of MR. TYLER and MR. DIPERNA by the door. MR. DIPERNA leans closer and whispers.]


MR. DIPERNA: Uh, about this walk out...


[Shot of KEVIN, KAREN, LORI and PAUL looking toward the men off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: It's gotta be stopped...


[Shot of MR. TYLER and MR. DIPERNA as they look toward the studnets off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: OK...Uh, there is something Mr. Diperna here...[gestures]...would like to say to you.


MR. DIPERNA: Thank you. Mr. Tyler.


[He scratches his nose.]


MR. DIPERNA: I'm afraid that Kennedy junior high school cannot tolerate a student-council committee that encourages students to violate school rules.


[Close shot of KEVIN, KAREN and LORI. KEVIN looks toward PAUL off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Any student participating in a walk out...


[KEVIN glances at the girls.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: During school hours...


[KEVIN looks at MR. DIPERNA off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Will be subject to...


[Shot of MR. TYLER and MR. DIPERNA.]


MR. DIPERNA: Immediate suspension, and, it will go on your permanent record.


[Close shot of KEVIN, KAREN and LORI looking toward MR. DIPERNA off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Do I make myself clear?


[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA looking toward the students off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA: Your permanent record.


[Close shot of KEVIN, KAREN and LORI looking toward MR. DIPERNA off-screen as some Snuffy guitar plays.]


Fade to


Later

[Wide shot of the students at the desk, looking down.]


NARRATOR: After the initial shock of Mr. Diperna's announcement...


[MR. TYLER walks into the shot toward his chair.]


NARRATOR: We did what any teenager would do when his deepest convictions are challenged.


[The kids all talk at once to MR. TYLER.]


[Close shot of KEVIN frowning toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


KEVIN: It's not fair.


NARRATOR: We whined.


[Shot of MR. TYLER, RUSTY and MARK as MR. TYLER sits down.]


MARK: Are we going to do it?


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at MARK off-screen, then KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: Well, what do you think?


[Close shot of KEVIN frowning slightly and looking down, then.]


KEVIN: I don't know. [Shrugs.]


[KEVIN looks around the group.]


KEVIN: I don't want to get suspended from school...


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: Sounds pretty smart to me.


[Shot of RUSTY and MARK.]


MARK: I think we should fight 'em.


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Why?


MARK: Because we should protest the war.


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at MARK off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: Hmm. Why do you want to protest the war?


[Close shot of MARK looking down.]


MARK: Because it's an Imperialist act by -


[Close shot of MR. TYLER as he closes his eyes, leans forward on the table, and makes a snoring sound.]


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen and frowning.]


[Close shot of MARK looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MARK: Mr. Tyler? [Frowns.]


[Close shot of MR. TYLER.]


MR. TYLER: Hmm? Oh.


[MR. TYLER sits up and looks at MARK off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: I'm sorry, Mark. It's funny - the moment I hear the word "Imperialist", I go into a coma. Can't you just tell me in your own words?


[Close shot of MARK looking off.]


[Wide shot of MR. TYLER as he gestures toward KEVIN.]


MR. TYLER: What about you, Kevin?


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Why do you want to protest the war?


KEVIN: I don't know...[Shrugs.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Ah...


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: So, you're just...going along with the crowd.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


KEVIN: No. [Frowns.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Seems to me...


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: If you don't know why you're doin' somethin', it can't be worth much.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


NARRATOR: Mr. Tyler was right.


[KEVIN looks off.]


NARRATOR: I felt like an idiot. What did I really know about the Vietnam war?


[KEVIN frowns.]


NARRATOR: I wasn't even sure if "Vietnam" was one word or two.


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: Is it that you think...all wars are wrong?


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


KEVIN: Well...[frowns]...yeah! [Shrugs.]


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: So, you think...nothing's worth fighting for?


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


KEVIN: Well, no...I mean -


MR. TYLER [V/O]: Well, then, how can you sure...


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: We should end this war?


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


KEVIN: Well, it's like...


[KEVIN glances at the others off-screen.]


KEVIN: A lot of people are getting killed.


[Snuffy's guitar plays.]


KEVIN: You know, like...little kids, and, and their whole families and stuff. And people from over here who are fighting, don't always even want to fight. [Frowns.]


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


KAREN [V/O]: They don't have any choice...


[MR. TYLER looks toward the girls off-screen.]


[Shot of KAREN and LORI.]


KAREN: Or they have to go to jail, and...


LORI: And, yeah...


[LORI looks toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


LORI: The thing is, you know, nobody even knows what there really over there for.


[Wide shot of all as they talk in small groups.]


NARRATOR: As we all talked, we began to realize that maybe we knew more than we thought we did.


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN talking and gesturing toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


NARRATOR: Sure - we didn't really know Ho Chi Minh...


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking the students off-screen.]


[Shot of RUSTY and MARK talking to each other.]


NARRATOR: From Captain Kangaroo, but we knew that a lot of people were getting hurt.


[Shot of KAREN and LORI talking to each other.]


NARRATOR: And we knew that it didn't seem to be doing anybody any good.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking around the group.]


KEVIN: I-I just think it's wrong, that's all.


[Close shot of MR. TYLER nodding slightly and looking the students off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: OK.


[He looks at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: So? What do you want to do?


[He looks at MARK off-screen.]


[Shot of RUSTY and MARK.]


MARK: We need a strategy. [Gestures.]


[MARK looks at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MARK: What's our strategy?


[Close shot of PAUL looking down.]


PAUL: How about...


[PAUL glances at MARK off-screen, then MR. TYLER off-screen.]


PAUL: If we start a petition-drive?


[Close shot of KEVIN glancing form PAUL off-screen to MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: A petition-drive?


[Close shot of PAUL glancing at the others off-screen.]


PAUL: Well, yeah! You know...if we could collect enough signatures, then we could force Diperna to take us seriously! [Smiles.]


[Close shot of MR. TYLER as he frowns and shakes his head slowly.]


[Close shot of PAUL looking down.]


PAUL: OK. Maybe it's a dumb idea...


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at PAUL off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: It's brilliant. [Smiles.]


[Close shot of PAUL smiling at MR. TYLER and the others off-screen. Music "I Feel Like I'm Fixin' To Die Rag" starts.]


"Yeah!"


Cut to


School Hallway

[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL in the crowded hallway, holding clipboards toward other students.]


"Well, come on all of you big strong men"

"Uncle Sam needs your help again"


[Shot of PAUL gesturing to astudent with the clipboard and a pencil.]


"Yeah, he's got himself in a terrible jam"


[A girl signs the petition.]


"Way down yonder in Vietnam"


Cut to


Int. Evening. Arnold Living Room

[Close shot of JACK on the couch. He frowns slightly and looks toward KEVIN off-screen.]


"So put down your books and pick up a gun"


[The camera pans over to KEVIN, who is reading "Newsweek" magazine.]


"Gonna have a whole lotta fun"


Cut to


School Hallway

[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN as a boy signs PAUL's petition.]


"And it's one, two, three, what are we fighting for"


[Shot of MARK approaching.]


"Don't ask me, I don't give a damn"


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MARK off-screen and waving.]


"Next stop is Vietnam"


[Shot of MARK approaching past PAUL and raising his fist.]


"And it's five, six, seven"


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MARK off-screen as he makes a fist, then frowns.]


[Close shot of PAUL as he makes a fist.]


Cut to


Int. Evening. Arnold Kitchen

[Shot of KEVIN setting out place-mats onto the table. NORMA is at the stove in the background.]


"Open up the pearly gates"


[KEVIN looks towafrd the TV off-screen.]


"Well there ain't no time to wonder why"


[Close shot of the TV, which shows Vietnamese civilians huddling together. Shot of an American AD-1 Skyraider dropping a stick of bombs.]


"Whoopee! We're all gonna die"


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at the TV off-screen.]


Cut to


Mr. Tyler's Classroom

[Wide shot of all around MR. TYLER's table, talking among themselves.]


"Well, come on generals, let's move fast"

"Your big chance has come at last"


[Close shot of MR. TYLER rubbing his chin.]


"Now you can go out and get those reds"


[Shot of LORI and KAREN looking at each other and smiling.]


"'Cause the only good commie is the one that's dead"


[Shot of KEVIN sitting with his arms crossed on the desk, looking at MR. TYLER.]


"And you know that peace can only be won"


NARRATOR: It probably wasn't noticeable...


Cut to


School Hallway

[Shot of KEVIN holding the clipboard toward BOBBIE.]


"When we've blown 'em all to kingdom come"


NARRATOR: But Mr. Tyler was beginning to have subtle influence on me.


"And it's one, two, three, What are we fighting for"


BOBBY: What does it mean?


"Don't ask me, I don't give a damn"

"Next stop is Vietnam"


[Shot past BOBBIE of KEVIN as he rubs his chin and looks at him.]


KEVIN: What do you think it means?


[KEVIN holds the clipboard toward BOBBIE and nods slightly.]


"And it's five, six, seven"


[Shot past KEVIN of BOBBIE frowning and shrugging as he looks at the clipboard.]


"Open up the pearly gates"

"Well there ain't no time to wonder why"


[Shot of both as PAUL approaches behind them.]


PAUL: Kevin - look!


[Bobbie walks off as KEVIN turns toward PAUL, who flips through pages on his clipboard.]


PAUL: Not just one page, not just two pages...


KEVIN: Paul..


PAUL: Not three pages...


[KAREN, LORI and MARK approach behind them.]


"Whoopee! We're all gonna die"


[Wider shot of all as RUSTY joins the group and they walk toward the camera.]


[Low shot of all as they turn a corner and pass the camera.]


Cut to


Mr. Diperna's Office

[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA looking down.]


MR. DIPERNA: My, my, my.


[Music fades.]


MR. DIPERNA: It's very impressive.


[Shot from behind MR. DIPERNA of the gang and MR. TYLER in front of his desk.]


MARK: It's over four-hundred signatures.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. DIPERNA off-screen and smiling.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Yes, indeed.


[Shot past KEVIN of MR. DIPERNA looking toward MARK off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA: I appreciate you showing these to me. [Nods.]


[Shot past MR. DIPERNA of all.]


MR. DIPERNA: Now, there's something I'd like to show to you.


[MR. DIPERNA opens a large book.]


MR. DIPERNA: Section...


[Shot past KEVIN of MR. DIPERNA looking at the book.]


MR. DIPERNA: One-seven-three-nine-point-five...


[MR. DIPERNA looks at the students.]


MR. DIPERNA: Of the State Education Code.


[He looks at KEVIN.]


MR. DIPERNA: Kevin? Read that for us?


[He hands the book toward KEVIN.]


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at the book.]


KEVIN: All students shall remain in class at all times during school hours...


[He glances over his shoulder.]


KEVIN: Unless otherwise authorized by the administration.


[He glances over his shoulder.]


[Close shot of MR. TYLER.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: And that, ladies and gentlemen...


[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA.]


MR. DIPERNA: Is the law of the land.


[He looks at the students off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA: We can either obey that law, or we can suffer the consequences.


[Close shot of MARK frowning slightly at MR. DIPERNA off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Now, if...


[Shot of LORI and KAREN looking at MR. DIPERNA off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: You would like...to write your State assemblymen, and try and get...


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. DIPERNA off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: The law changed...


[Shot past MR. DIPERNA of all.]


MR. DIPERNA: More power to you. But, as long as it's on the books...


[MR. DIPERNA lifts then drops the book on the desk in a cloud of dust.]


[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA.]


MR. DIPERNA: If I, or any other teacher...


[Close shot of KEVIN looking at MR. DIPERNA off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Were to allow this...


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: We'd be promoting truancy.


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking off, then down.]


[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA: And an educator can't advocate that...


[He shakes his head and smiles.]


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Now can he?


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking off.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Now, I know you're disappointed, but think of this as a learning experience.


[Shot of MR. DIPERNA and KEVIN looking at each other.]


MR. DIPERNA: Did you learn something?


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. DIPERNA.]


KEVIN: [Inner voice]: Yeah. I learned you're an even bigger butthead than I thought you were.


KEVIN: I guess so.


[He shrugs and looks off.]


[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA looking toward KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA: Well, that's what school's all about, isn't it? [Smiles.]


[Shot past KEVIN of MR. DIPERNA as he lifts the book and rests it on his shoulder.]


MR. DIPERNA: Uh, don't forget...for anyone who thinks that he's above the law...


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. DIPERNA off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: That's immediate suspension...


[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA looking toward KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA: And it will go on your permanent record.


[He looks at the others off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA: Your permanent...record.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. DIPERNA off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Oh, and Mr. Tyler...


[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. DIPERNA: I'd like to speak with you.


[MR. DIPERNA looks at KEVIN off-screen, then turns away.]


[Shot past MR. DIPERNA of MR. TYLER rubbing his nose then following after him past the camera.]


[Wider shot of the kids as MR. TYLER walk past the camera.]


[Close shot of KEVIN looking after him off-screen.]


[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of MR. DIPERNA and MR. TYLER standing face-to-face in the hallway.]


NARRATOR: Well it was a bit of a set-back.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking after them off-screen.]


NARRATOR: But we were getting used to locking horns with authority figures.


[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of MR. DIPERNA and MR. TYLER standing face-to-face in the hallway.]


NARRATOR: We reacted pretty maturely.


[MR. DIPERNA walks past MR. TYLER.]


[Close shot of PAUL looking at them off-screen.]


Cut to


Mr. Tyler's Classroom

[Wide shot of all around MR. TYLER's desk.]


PAUL: It's not fair!


[Close shot of KEVIN looking down.]


KEVIN: Diperna's a jerk.


[Wider shot of the gang around MR. TYLER's desk as MR. TYLER approaches his chair.]


NARRATOR: We whined.


MARK: He can't get away with this.


[MR. TYLER sits down.]


PAUL: What about our rights?


[Close shot of PAUL looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


PAUL: What about the petition? Over four-hundred signatures!


[Close shot of MARK looking at the other students off-screen.]


MARK: What's the use of having a student government, if you can't take any action?


[He turns around to the others.]


MARK: I mean, what is he - king?


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


KEVIN: And it's a free country! He can't stop us, can he, Mr. Tyler?


[Close shot of MR. TYLER rubbing his chin and looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


NARRATOR: Boy - he was really goin' after the old chin.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


NARRATOR: I was afraid he was gonna rub it right off.


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: No, he can't stop ya.


[Close shot of KEVIN smiling toward MR. TYLER off-screen and looking off.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: You can do whatever you want to do. But...


[KEVIN looks toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen and holding up a finger.]


MR. TYLER: You should give your actions serious consideration, because they may have serious consequences.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


KEVIN: Are you telling us not to do it? [Frowns.]


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


NARRATOR: Was he?


[He looks toward the girls off-screen.]


NARRATOR: Had Diperna gotten to him?


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: No. I'm not sayin' that.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: In a way, you're lucky to have opposition.


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: That's the way life is. It's easy to take a stand on something...


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: If there's no risk involved.


[Close shot of MARK looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen and frowning.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: It's easy to take a stand against the war...


[Close shot of PAUL looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: So long as nobody asks ya to make a real sacrifice.


[Shot of KAREN and LORI looking at MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MR. TYLER [V/O]: But...


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking off, then at KEVIN off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: Not all of us are ready to sacrifice. [Nods.] Sometimes the...price of acting on our convictions is...too high.


[Close shot of MARK looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen.]


MARK: What do you think we should do?


[Close shot of MR. TYLER looking at MARK off-screen.]


MR. TYLER: I can't tell you that.


[MR. TYLER looks at KEVIN off-screen, then looks off.]


MR. TYLER: Each of you has to make that decision for himself.


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward MR. TYLER off-screen. Snuffy's guitar plays.]


Fade to


Int. Night. Kevin's Bedroom

[Shot from above of KEVIN lying on his bed in the darkness, looking toward the ceiling. The camera moves in slowly.]


MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Immediate suspension from school, and...it will go on your permanent record - your permanent...record. Do I make myself clear? Record...record...record...


Fade to


[Shot of KEVIN's permanent record folder. The camera pans down to KEVIN's black-and-white mug shot. The folder starts spinning around quickly as the camera pulls back.]


Fade to


Fantasy

[Shot of astronauts in their space-suits walking toward a van and waving.]


ANNOUNCER: And now - at last.


[Another shot of the astronauts getting into a van.]


ANNOUNCER: The heroic crew of first manned space flight to Mars, led by Commander Kevin Arnold.


[The image freezes.]


ANNOUNCER: Wait a minute - wait a minute. This just in...we have just learned that Kevin Arnold left class during school hours, when he was in seventh grade. I can't believe it, Jim.


[The clip is rewound, with the astronauts walking backward.]


ANNOUNCER: The mission has been scrubbed.


Fade to


Int. Night. Kevin's Bedroom

[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward the ceiling, frowning slightly.]


Cut to


Int. Day - School Hallway

[Wide shot as KEVIN approaches the camera.]


NARRATOR: I don't remember when I finally made the decision.


[PAUL joins KEVIN and they approach the camera.]


NARRATOR: I guess I didn't know what I was gonna do...


[MARK and LORI join then and they turn a corner.]


NARRATOR: Until I found myself doing it.


[KEVIN glances at PAUL.]


NARRATOR: We were gonna walk right up to Mr. Tyler, and show him what we we're made of.


[Close shot of KEVIN as he walks forward.]


NARRATOR: I couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he saw what we'd decided.


[KEVIN turns toward a class room.]


NARRATOR: He was gonna look so proud...


[KEVIN pulls the door open.]


NARRATOR: So happy.


Cut to


Classroom

[Shot of KEVIN leading the gang into the classroom, then pausing.]


NARRATOR: So...


[Shot of an elderly woman cleaning the chalk board.]


NARRATOR: Much like a woman.


[She looks at the gang off-screen.]


[Shot of KEVIN and the gang looking at the woman off-screen.]


KEVIN: Where's Mr. Tyler? [Frowns.]


[Shot of the woman looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


WOMAN: He's out with the flu.


[Close shot of KEVIN, PAUL and KAREN. KEVIN looks off slightly in disbelief.]


KEVIN: What?


[KEVIN turns around slowly.]


Cut to


Hallway

[Shot of the gang exiting into the hallway. Some Snuffy guitar plays.]


Fade to


Mrs. Ritvo's Class

[Close shot of KEVIN at his desk, fiddling with a pencil as he glances around.]


NARRATOR: I didn't know what to think. Was Mr. Tyler a coward? I mean, to believe in somebody like that, and to have it all turn out to be a lie.


[KEVIN sighs slightly.]


NARRATOR: I was a feeling in the pit of my stomach that was completely new.


[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of MRS. RITVO holding a book up as she writes on the blackboard.]


[Wider shot of the class, as students turn toward KEVIN and become restless.]


NARRATOR: I had to make a decision.


[Close shot of KEVIN glancing up.]


[Shot of the clock on the wall showing 9AM.]


[Close shot of KEVIN looking toward the boy in front of him.]


NARRATOR: Everybody was watching me.


[KEVIN glances toward some students off-screen.]


[Shot of a column of three girls looking at KEVIN off-screen.]


NARRATOR: Buzzing about the walk out.


[Shot of another group of students. One girl leans toward another girl, who looks at KEVIN off-screen.]


NARRATOR: What was I gonna do? Was I gonna lead the walk out?


[Shot of the clock.]


[Close shot of KEVIN looking off and sighing.]


NARRATOR: Or was I gonna chicken out, too?


[He perks up slightly.]


NARRATOR: And then I decided. I'd just get up...


[KEVIN stands up.]


[Shot down a column of students looking toward KEVIN off-screen.]


[Shot down another column of students as they look toward KEVIN off-screen.]


[Shot of MRS. RITVO as she turns from the chalkboard.]


[Wide shot of the class as KEVIN pauses slightly, then walks quickly up the aisle past the camera.]


NARRATOR: Walk out that door...


[Shot past the students of KEVIN walking toward the door.]


[Wide shot of the students as they look at each other.]


Cut to


Hallway

[Shot down the empty hallway as KEVIN exits the classroom.]


NARRATOR: Into the hallway...


[He heads to the restroom.]


Cut to


Restroom

[Shot of the sinks and mirror as KEVIN opens the door and is reflected in the mirror.]


NARRATOR: And into the bathroom.


[KEVIN approaches the sink.]


Cut to


Hallway

[Shot of the empty hallway as a boy exits MRS. RITVO's class and looks around. Another student exits from a door in the background.]


Cut to


Restroom

[Shot of KEVIN leaning on a sink, looking at himself in the mirror. The camera moves in slowly.]


NARRATOR: I was gonna throw up.


Cut to


Hallway

[Shot of the hallway as two more students exit into it.]


Cut to


Restroom

[Close shot of KEVIN looking down, then at himself.]


NARRATOR: There wasn't gonna be any walk out.


[KEVIN frowns as he hears a faint commotion, looks over his shoulder, then walks toward the door.]


Cut to


Hallway

[Close shot of the door as KEVIN exits. The camera pans over slightly as a stream of noisy students walk past the camera. KEVIN stops TOMMY RYGOT as he walks by.]


KEVIN: What's happening?


TOMMY: It's the walk out. Don't you know about the walk out?


[TOMMY walks off. KEVIN looks after him off-screen.]


NARRATOR: And that's how I started...


[Another shot of KEVIN frowning slightly as students cross the camera.]


NARRATOR: The great Kennedy junior high peace walk out of nineteen-sixty-nine.


[KEVIN turns and starts to walk down the hallway.]


Cut to


Ext. Day. School

[Shot of the doorway as many students exit. KEVIN pauses near the camera.]


NARRATOR: As I said...some men pursue greatness...and some men have greatness thrust upon them...


[KEVIN walks forward. The camera pans with him.]


NARRATOR: While they're in the bathroom.


GROUP [V/O]: All we are saying...


[KEVIN and others step down the stairs.]


GROUP [V/O]: Is give peace a chance.


[The camera pulls back slowly. KEVIN walks toward a large gathering of students.]


GROUP: All we are saying...is give peace a chance.


[KEVIN takes his place in the group and turns forward. Most students rock from side-to-side slightly as the camera rises slowly.]


GROUP: All we are saying...


NARRATOR: I'm not sure we really changed anything that day.


GROUP: Is give peace a chance.


NARRATOR: I suppose the war would have gone pretty much the same if we'd stayed in home room. But one thing would be different. We wouldn't have the memory to carry with us today, of eight-hundred children on a football field, singing. And...it wouldn't all be on our permanent record.


GROUP: All we are saying...is give peace a chance. All we are saying...


Fade to

CLOSING CREDITS


GROUP [V/O]: Is give peace a chance.

 


 

Please e-mail to reynders@merck.de Peter if you find any errors, or if you have any comments or suggestions.

 

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