[Wider shot of PINETTI and his two buddies strutting up the hallway.] "Born under a bad sign"
[Close shot of PINETTI sneering at off-screen students.]
[Wider shot of hallway as PINETTI and friends round the corner. PINETTI pushes smaller kids as he walks by them.] "I've been down since I began to crawl"
[Shot from PINETTI's perspective of a boy backing away as his girlfriend grabs his shirt.]
[Close shot of PINETTI smiling as he spots a particular boy.]
[Shot from PINETTI's perspective as he approaches the boy at his locker, who licks his lips in nervousness.] "If it wasn't for bad luck"
[Close shot of PINETTI sneering, and pausing in front of the boy.] "I'd have no luck at all"
PINETTI: Beat it, squirt!
[PINETTI pushes the boy.]
BOY: But that's my locker.
PINETTI: Not anymore.
[Shot of PINETTI banging the locker open with his elbow.]
[Wider shot of PINETTI emptying books onto the floor.]
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL watching PINETTI off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Eddie Pinetti. The scourge of RFK junior high.
[Close shot of KEVIN watching PINETTI off-screen.]
NARRATOR: He gave new meaning to the word "mean".
[Shot of group at locker. The boy kneels down to pick up his books.]
NARRATOR: Not that Eddie had any particular reason for being rude, insensitive and sadistic.
[PINETTI takes his cigarettes out of his pocket, holds them up, then tosses them into the locker.]
NARRATOR: It was kinda...who he was - a bully.
"I've been down since I began to crawl"
[Close shot of the kneeling boy, as PINETTI pushes him, then walks past him.]
NARRATOR: Eddie was a force of nature.
[Close shot of PINETTI walking up the hallway, and bumping into KEVIN.]
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning, and watching PINETTI off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Like tornados...
[Close shot of PINETTI.] "If it wasn't for bad luck"
NARRATOR: ...or flash electrical fires.
"I'd have no luck at all"
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL. PINETTI walks from behind the camera, and pushes past KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Or fate!
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
NARRATOR: That was it.
[Close shot of PINETTI from behind. He looks over his shoulder and sneers, as he walks up the steps.]
NARRATOR: Fate.
[Close shot of KEVIN looking at PINETTI off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Maybe I knew even before it happened...that I...had an appointment with destiny.
Fade to
NARRATOR: But destiny has many faces.
[Close shot of KEVIN watching WINNIE off-screen.]
[Slo-mo shot of WINNIE and two girls behind her, as she turns toward the camera to take another shot. She is smiling, and her hair spreads out as she turns.]
[Shot of PAUL throwing a football.]
[Shot of KEVIN standing with his hands in his jacket pockets, watching WINNIE off-screen. The football hits him in the head.]
["Winnie's Theme" abruptly ends.]
[Shot of PAUL waving his arms.]
PAUL: Hey, wake up, huh?
[Shot of KEVIN tossing the football to PAUL, as PAUL walks into the scene.]
KEVIN: Sorry.
[KEVIN and PAUL look at WINNIE off-screen.]
[Close slo-mo shot of WINNIE looking toward the boys.]
NARRATOR: I was more in love with WINNIE than ever.
[Close slo-mo shot of WINNIE looking intently in KEVIN's direction, and stepping forward.]
NARRATOR: And I knew she was feeling something, too.
[She frowns and flips her hair as she looks away, and walks out of the shot.]
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL looking at her off-screen. PAUL frowns.]
PAUL: Boy, she really hates you!
KEVIN: She doesn't hate me. She's just mad.
PAUL: Nope. She told Carla she hates you.
[Shot of WINNIE approaching a bench, and putting her foot up, as she adjusts her shoe.]
KEVIN: She really said that?
[Shot of WINNIE with her leg on the bench.]
[Shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: She said she never wants to see your face again!
[Shot of KEVIN frowning at PAUL. PAULs gestures toward himself.]
PAUL: Hey, I'm just being honest.
KEVIN: I better go talk to her.
[Shot of WINNIE as before.]
PAUL: I'm telling you, she hates you.
[KEVIN starts walking forward toward the camera.]
KEVIN: Yeah, you said that.
[KEVIN walks past the camera. PAUL shrugs and looks after him.]
[Close shot of WINNIE walking across the field.]
NARRATOR: Ok, so Winnie and I had had a misunderstanding.
[Shot of WINNIE with her leg up as KEVIN approaches.]
NARRATOR: Maybe I acted badly. But wishing she'd never seen my face? I don't think so.
[Shot of WINNIE looking up.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking at WINNIE off-screen, and smiling.]
WINNIE: Beat it!
NARRATOR: Whoa!
WINNIE: You heard me, make like the wind!
[Close shot of KEVIN reacting.]
NARRATOR: Only one thing to do - turn on the innocence.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Winnie! Why are you so mad at me?
[WINNIE stands up and looks at KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: OK, OK, don't worry.
[Shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Just keep up that sheepish "what did I do?" look and her heart will melt like so much wet Jell-O.
[Shot of WINNIE. She frowns and brushes her hair back.]
WINNIE: Don't try to fool me, Kevin! You've changed.
[Shot of KEVIN dropping his shoulders.]
WINNIE: You talk behind people's backs! You're just not a nice person. Now leave me alone!
[WINNIE walks out of the scene. Close shot of KEVIN looking after her off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Now wait a minute - "not a nice person"? "Not a nice person"?!
[KEVIN frowns, then yells after her.]
KEVIN: I am too a nice person!
WINNIE [V/O]: Hah!
NARRATOR: Hah? Hah?!
[KEVIN frowns repeatedly in speechless frustration as he looks after WINNIE off-screen.]
MR. SKENK [V/O]: The...root causes of war.
Cut to
MR. SKENK: Who can name a few?
[Shot of CARLA raising her hand.]
CARLA: Bombs?
[Shot of KEVIN looking toward WINNIE off-screen.]
NARRATOR: "Not a nice person" - that phrase rang in my head like a gong.
[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of WINNIE sitting a few desks away, taking notes.]
[Shot of KEVIN frowning, then looking away.]
NARRATOR: How could she say that?! More important - how could I convince her she was wrong!
MR. SKENK [V/O]: Kevin!
[Shot of KEVIN snapping forward and looking at the teacher off-screen.]
[Shot of Mr. Skenk at the blackboard.]
MR. SKENK: The...root causes of war - name one.
[Shot of KEVIN. He spins a pencil, and glances toward WINNIE off-screen.]
KEVIN: I think, uh, uh...a root cause of war...is, uh...
[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of WINNIE. Sound of gong.]
KEVIN:...misunderstanding!
[Shot of KEVIN looking from WINNIE toward the teacher, then around the class.]
KEVIN: You know...war starts when people don't understand each other. Or-or when they hear...false information.
[Shot of WINNIE. She is drumming her pencil, and then shifts in her seat.]
KEVIN [V/O]: Or, or, something like that.
[Shot of MR. SKENK.]
MR. SKENK: You're referring to, say - different cultures?
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Sure.[He smiles.]
NARRATOR: Hey, I was cookin' here! I was sounding... philosophical...smart...nice.
[Close shot of the MR. SKENK.]
MR. SKENK: Elaborate...please.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Well...say there's this culture that's good. And there's this second culture that's also good.
[KEVIN glances toward WINNIE off-screen.]
KEVIN: But then this third culture comes along...and tells the first culture that the second culture said something bad about them, when they didn't really mean it.
[Shot of WINNIE drumming her pencil.]
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: And then, when the second culture tries to apologize, and the first culture won't even listen to to 'em...
[Shot of WINNIE. She turns away slightly, then bangs her fist and sighs.]
[Close shot of KEVIN. He is leaning toward WINNIE, and shouts in her direction.]
KEVIN: And pretty soon, everything gets misunderstood and out-of-control! And it's not fair, because - !
[Close shot of KEVIN. He pauses and frowns.]
MR. SKENK [V/O]: Mr....Arnold?
[Sound of class laughter.]
[Wide shot of the class laughing at KEVIN. WINNIE is upset and is looking toward the window.]
[Shot of KEVIN settling down, embarrassed.]
[Close shot from KEVIN's perspective of WINNIE turning slowly, and looking over her shoulder at him.]
Cut to
NARRATOR: I was in a bad mood. I had been laughed at, mocked...my self-image was getting tarnished...
[Close shot of KEVIN turning and looking past the camera.]
[Shot PINETTI and his two friends rounding a corner and walking up the hallway.]
NARRATOR: ...and that's where Eddie Pinetti stepped in - like fate.
[Close shot of PINETTI banging open a locker.]
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
KEVIN [To himself]: Hey, that's Winnie's locker!
[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of PINETTI reaching in the locker.]
NARRATOR: True, it was Winnie's locker.
[Shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: However, you'd have to be a moron to point that out to Eddie. Right?
KEVIN: Hey! Pinetti! That's not your locker!
[Close shot PINETTI and his friends. PINETTI turns toward KEVIN and frowns.]
PINETTI: No kidding!
[PINETTI and friends turn back to the locker.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Hey!
[Shot of PINETTI and others. His friends turn to toward KEVIN, but PINETTI continues to look in the locker.]
[KEVIN approaches from behind the camera. He brushes PINETTI's arm away.]
[Shot of KEVIN from over PINETTI's shoulder.]
KEVIN: I said - that's not your locker!
[Close shot of PINETTI frowning.]
PINETTI: So?
KEVIN: So, you...shouldn't...go in it, then. That's all.
[Wider shot of the four boys. PINETTI's friends laugh.]
PINETTI: I "shouldn't", huh?
[KEVIN shakes his head slowly.]
KEVIN: No.
[Close shot of PINETTI.]
PINETTI: So in other words...you have a problem with this?
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Well...uh...
NARRATOR: Now at this point, I all I had to do was just say - "nice, talkin', Eddie", and split - no harm done. Right?
KEVIN: Yeah, I got a problem.
NARRATOR: I give up!
[Shot of PINETTI over KEVIN's shoulder. He grabs KEVIN's shirt.]
PINETTI: Sure do! You know what your problem is? Me!
[PINETTI shoves KEVIN against a locker.]
[Close shot of PINETTI glaring at KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Well no turnin' back now. Time to test the old theory...
[Shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Stand up to a bully and he'll back down.
KEVIN: I'm not afraid of you.
PINETTI: Yes you are.
[Sound of PINETTI's friends laughing.]
MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Pinetti!
[Close shot of KEVIN turning toward MR. DIPERNA off-screen. PINETTI turns also.]
[Shot of MR. DIPERNA and handful of students in the hallway. MR. DIPERNA starts to walk toward the camera.]
[Close shot of KEVIN and PINETTI's hands, as PINETTI releases his grip.]
[Wider shot of the four boys.]
NARRATOR: I never thought I'd be happy to see Mr. Diperna.
[MR. DIPERNA walks into the scene from behind the camera.]
MR. DIPERNA: What's going on here?
[PINETTI glares at KEVIN.]
PINETTI: Nothin'.
KEVIN: Uh...we were just talking. [He smiles.]
[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA.]
MR. DIPERNA: Just talking?
[Close shot of KEVIN and PINETTI. They shake their heads vigorously.]
NARRATOR: OK - things were under control now.
[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA.]
NARRATOR: If he'd just leave well enough alone...
[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA. He takes a breath and glances away.]
MR. DIPERNA: Pinetti, I'm getting pretty damned...sick and tired of you.
[MR. DIPERNA looks at PINETTI.]
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
NARRATOR: Uhnnn!
MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Maybe you should apologize.
[Close shot of PINETTI.]
PINETTI: Huh?
[Shot of KEVIN looking between PINETTI and MR. DIPERNA.]
NARRATOR: What was he doing?
[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA.]
MR. DIPERNA: Apologize to Arnold!
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Uh, uh, really...that-that's not necessary -
[Shot of MR. DIPERNA.]
MR. DIPERNA: Apologize, Eddie. Say you're sorry.
[Shot of KEVIN. Shot of PINETTI glaring at him.]
PINETTI: I'm sorry, Arnold.
NARRATOR: I could feel his eyes - like hot coals.
[KEVIN makes a little smile, and glances away.]
[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA.]
MR. DIPERNA: Doesn't that feel better, Eddie?
[Close shot of PINETTI glaring at KEVIN, then glancing at MR. DIPERNA.]
[Close shot of MR. DIPERNA.]
MR. DIPERNA: Alright, everybody, back to business!
[Wide shot of MR. DIPERNA and the boys. He puts his hand on PINETTI's shoulder, then walks around the group of boys. He pauses and turns toward them.]
MR. DIPERNA: I'll be keeping an eye on you.
[PINETTI turns toward MR. DIPERNA.]
[MR. DIPERNA points his finger, and shakes it at the boys.]
MR. DIPERNA: Both of you.
[MR. DIPERNA exits down the hallway.]
[Shot of PINETTI glaring at KEVIN, then turning to walk away with his friends.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Then it was over. It happened so fast I hardly had time to think about why - all I knew was...
[Close shot of PINETTI glancing back toward KEVIN as he walks around the corner.]
NARRATOR: Eddie was definitely not feeling better.
[Shot of KEVIN looking in PINETTI's direction, then forward, and sighing.]
PAUL [V/O]: Are you crazy!
Cut to
PAUL: Eddie Pinetti is a killer! He removes tonsils with his bare hands.
[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN at a table. The teacher is walking around behind them. PAUL turns and demonstrates on a papier-mache head.]
PAUL: He does eye surgery!
[KEVIN frowns.]
KEVIN: I know.
PAUL: So why did you do it?
KEVIN: I didn't do it.
[KEVIN frowns and gestures.]
KEVIN: It just happened.
NARRATOR: And that was true...kinda.
[PAUL turns to look at the teacher off-screen, as does KEVIN.]
PAUL: Well, there's only one thing for you to do!
[KEVIN sighs and glances away.]
PAUL: You got to give him money!
[PAUL shrugs as KEVIN frowns.]
KEVIN: What?!
[Shot from KEVIN's side of the table, as PAUL rises and starts reaching in his pocket. The teacher is in the background.]
PAUL: Hey, I heard that works. I'll even pitch in!
[KEVIN grabs PAUL.]
KEVIN: I'm not going to do that!
[PAUL shrugs.]
PAUL: You don't think he's just going to forget about it, do you?
[Close shot of KEVIN in thought. He glances back and forth at PAUL.]
NARRATOR: Paul was making sense. Maybe I had acted a little hastily. But wait a minute -
[KEVIN frowns, and looks at students off-screen.]
[Shot of students looking in KEVIN's direction as the camera pans across them.]
NARRATOR: What was this? All over the room kids were looking in my direction.
[Shot of KEVIN as his glance continues across the room.]
NARRATOR: Even Winnie!
[The camera stops on WINNIE. A bit of "Winnie's Theme" plays.]
[WINNIE looks toward KEVIN off-screen, with mild concern.]
[Shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: So she'd heard about the great defense of the locker.
[Shot of WINNIE and CARLA at the table. CARLA turns toward KEVIN off-screen and smiles. She stands, walks forward, and looks past the camera.]
CARLA: Hi, Kevin!
[Shot past CARLA of PAUL and KEVIN.]
PAUL: Hi, Carla!
[Close shot of CARLA glancing at PAUL off-screen.]
CARLA: Hi!
[She smiles at KEVIN off-screen.]
CARLA: Is it true?
KEVIN: About what?
CARLA: About Eddie?
[Close shot of KEVIN. He smile and glances away.]
KEVIN: Well...yeah!
CARLA [V/O]: Oh, God!
[Close shot of CARLA as she turns away from the camera and returns to WINNIE's table.]
[Shot of KEVIN smiling in thought.]
[A bit of "Winnie's Theme" plays.]
NARRATOR: Yep. The news was spreading.
[Shot of WINNIE and CARLA leaning forward toward each other. WINNIE sits back, looks softly at KEVIN, and sighs.]
NARRATOR: And the ice...was definitely melting.
[Close shot of KEVIN. He starts to stand up.]
NARRATOR: Maybe I'd just take a stroll over there, and...
[Close shot of PAUL glancing toward the doorway off-screen.]
PAUL: Kevin!
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: What?
[PINETTI is behind KEVIN, and grabs his shoulders.]
PINETTI: Guess who?
[KEVIN looks forward in resignation.]
[KEVIN sits down, and PINETTI bends over KEVIN's shoulder and smiles at him.]
[Close shot of PAUL frowning.]
PAUL: It's Eddie. Pinetti!
[Shot of KEVIN and PINETTI bending over him. KEVIN smirks at PAUL.]
KEVIN: Thanks!
PINETTI: The door was open, so I thought I'd pay you a little visit. You know, I've been thinking about ya, Arnold.
[Close shot of KEVIN past PINETTI.]
KEVIN: Really? [He smiles timidly.]
[Close shot of PINETTI.]
PINETTI: Thinkin' I'm gonna remove your tonsils with my bare hands.
[Close shot of PAUL smiling.]
PAUL: Yeah, I was just telling him that.
[PINETTI glances toward PAUL.]
PINETTI: Shut up!
[PAUL frowns and looks down.]
[Close shot of KEVIN and PINETTI.]
PINETTI: You're scared...aren't ya?
[Shot of KEVIN past PINETTI.]
NARRATOR: Scared? Me? Nahhhhh.
KEVIN: Uh...
NARRATOR: Even though my feet were sweating...and my cheek was starting to twitch.
KEVIN: Uh...
[Shot of PAUL and KEVIN past PINETTI. PAUL looks away from them.]
NARRATOR: Everybody was watching. I had to do something - so I did.
[Wider shot of the three of them at the table. KEVIN dumps a pan of papier-mache goo on PINETTI's hand.]
[Close shot of PINETTI's hand.]
[Close shot of PAUL watching nervously.]
[Close shot of PINETTI looking at KEVIN off-screen.]
[Close shot of KEVIN with PINETTI's hand on his shoulder.]
KEVIN: Huhhh-uh...
[Close shot of PINETTI sneering at KEVIN off-screen.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking worried.]
KEVIN: Sorry?
[Shot of KEVIN and PINETTI.]
MR. DIPERNA [V/O]: Pinetti!
[Wider shot of PAUL, KEVIN, and PINETTI at the table. MR. DIPERNA is at the doorway behind them. The boys glance toward MR. DIPERNA.]
[MR. DIPERNA puts his hand on the door frame.]
MR. DIPERNA: Aren't you in the wrong room?
[PINETTI bends closer to KEVIN.]
[Closer shot of KEVIN and PINETTI.]
PINETTI: Later, Arnold...when Diperna's not around. You're gonna be...glue.
[Wider shot of boys and MR. DIPERNA, as PINETTI exits.]
NARRATOR: Nice! Nice image.
[PAUL looks down as KEVIN smiles in thought. MR. DIPERNA frowns, then exits.]
PAUL: I can't believe you did that!
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
NARRATOR: Neither could I. But I had. So maybe there was a - a reason. Some kinda message in it all.
[Shot of WINNIE glancing toward KEVIN, they looking away uneasily.]
Cut to
[Close shot of KEVIN looking past the camera.]
[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of WINNIE and PINETTI getting books from her locker. She smiles at PINETTI. He puts his hand on her shoulder.]
NARRATOR: Wait a minute - wait a minute!
KEVIN [V/O]: Paul, what's he doing with her?
[Close shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: We don't know, we don't care.
[Shot of KEVIN looking "grossed out".]
KEVIN: Paul, the guy's putting his hands all over her!
[Closer shot of WINNIE and PINETTI. She is smiling. He rubs her shoulder.]
NARRATOR: Even worse - she seemed to like it! This didn't make sense, unless -
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL, as CARLA walks down the hall. PAUL puts out his hand to stop her, and gestures with his notebook.]
PAUL: Carla, what's going on here?
[CARLA looks in WINNIE's direction, then back to PAUL.]
CARLA: You mean, Winnie and Eddie?
[Shot of WINNIE and PINETTI.]
NARRATOR: "Winnie and Eddie". The sound of it made my heart sink.
[Shot of CARLA, PAUL and KEVIN.]
CARLA: They've been going out since last week. Didn't you know that?
[KEVIN looks back and forth from WINNIE to CARLA.]
KEVIN: But... why?
CARLA: I don't know. Because she likes him.
[Twangy guitar.]
[CARLA adjusts her books, then walks away down the hallway.]
NARRATOR: And suddenly I heard the tumblers clicking into place.
[Shot of WINNIE and PINETTI. They walk away from KEVIN. PINETTI puts his arm around her.]
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL.]
PAUL: Holy cow!
[Close shot of KEVIN looking at WINNIE and PINETTI off-screen.]
NARRATOR: Suddenly I understood everything. The reason...
[Wider shot of WINNIE and PINETTI approaching the stairs.]
NARRATOR: The message fate had sent me loud as a brass band. The message that said -
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
PAUL [V/O]: Face it. You're doomed!
[KEVIN turns to PAUL, then back to WINNIE and PINETTI.]
[Twang of guitar.]
Fade to
WINNIE: I don't want to talk to you!
[She turns and slams the door.]
[Shot of KEVIN. He takes some breaths and rings the doorbell several times.]
[Shot over KEVIN's shoulder of WINNIE jerking the door open and looking at KEVIN.]
[Shot of KEVIN looking determined.]
KEVIN: You have to talk to me!
[Shot of WINNIE frowning.]
WINNIE: Give me one good reason.
[Shot of KEVIN making a face.]
KEVIN: Eddie Pinetti!
[Shot of WINNIE frowning.]
WINNIE: What about him?
[Shot of KEVIN. He is agitated.]
KEVIN: Winnie! He's a-a-a-a-...a goon! A maniac!
WINNIE: No he's not! He's a nice person.
[Shot of KEVIN smirking.]
NARRATOR: Ouch!
WINNIE: He's just misunderstood.
KEVIN: Look, Winnie, this guy could really hurt you!
WINNIE: You mean you! That's what you're worried about.
KEVIN: Alright, me and you! Both of us.
[Shot of WINNIE. She is defensive.]
WINNIE: W-well, you started it. Eddie told me!
[Shot of KEVIN in mild disbelief. He glances away.]
NARRATOR: Now that was a picture! I could see the tears running down his cute little pock-marked cheeks.
WINNIE [V/O]: Besides...
[Shot of WINNIE.]
WINNIE: He's not going to hurt anybody.
KEVIN: But I don't get it. I mean, what do you see in him?
WINNIE: Well...he's honest! And at least he doesn't talk about people behind their backs!
[Shot of KEVIN looking dismayed.]
[Shot of WINNIE.]
WINNIE: And I really don't think this is any of your business, anymore. Goodbye, Kevin!
[WINNIE backs up and closes the door.]
[Shot of KEVIN looking at the door, then looking away.]
Well, I was on my own, now.
[KEVIN sighs, and looks at the door again.]
NARRATOR: And who knew? Maybe Winnie was right - maybe Eddie really was misunderstood.
Cut to
NARRATOR: Nope!
[Close shot of PINETTI.]
NARRATOR: I understood him just fine.
PINETTI: Where you been Arnold? I haven't seen ya around the last couple days.
[Close shot of KEVIN over PINETTI's shoulder. KEVIN squirms, and glances away.]
KEVIN: W-well...I've...been kinda busy. Haven't I, Paul?
[Wider shot of KEVIN being held by PINETTI against the lockers. PINETTI's friends are behind him.]
[Close shot of PAUL being held in a headlock by one of PINETTI's friends. PAUL holds up his finger.]
PAUL: I-I can vouch for that, personally. Owwwwwww!
[Close shot of PINETTI.]
PINETTI: You know, it seems like you've been avoiding me. Is that so?!
[Close shot of KEVIN looking at PINETTI.]
NARRATOR: That was totally untrue. I'd simply found a new route to school. And a new locker, and a broom closet on the second floor.
KEVIN: Look, uh, c-could we talk?
[Close shot of PINETTI.]
PINETTI: About what?
[Close shot of PAUL still in the headlock.]
PAUL: I think he wants to give you money. Right, Kev? Owwwwww!
[Close shot of KEVIN. He frowns.]
KEVIN: Um, well, I've been kinda in a bad mood.
[Close shot of PINETTI.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: And I-I was wondering if we could forget about the whole thing?
[Close shot of PINETTI. He looks thoughtful.]
NARRATOR: Well, this was encouraging. An appeal to reason, and Eddie was responding!
PINETTI: You want to forget about it, huh?
[Close shot of KEVIN. He looks from PINETTI, to PAUL, and back.]
KEVIN: Uh, yeah...kinda...if-if it's OK with you?
[Close shot of PINETTI releasing his grip and straightening up.]
NARRATOR: And for just a moment, a look of respect crossed Eddie's face. Mutual respect.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
[Shot of all the boys. PINETTI turns toward his friends, then turns toward KEVIN and punches him.]
PAUL: Hey!
[Close shot of KEVIN landing on the floor, holding his jaw in pain.]
NARRATOR: Now, I had never been hit before - I mean - really, really, hit.
[KEVIN frowns, and looks in PAUL's direction.]
[Close shot of PAUL still in the headlock.]
[Close shot of KEVIN holding his jaw.]
NARRATOR: And ya know what? It hurt. Really, really, hurt.
[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of PINETTI looking at him and smiling. PINETTI bends closer and points his finger at KEVIN.]
PINETTI: Eddie Pinetti never forgets! Think about it, Arnold.
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning and holding his jaw.]
[Shot of PINETTI. He looks at his friends.]
PINETTI: Know somethin'? Winnie Cooper was right.
[PINETTI looks at KEVIN and points.]
PINETTI: He really is a jerk!
[Shot of KEVIN. He looks away.]
[Wide shot of PINETTI smirking at KEVIN and walking forward out of the scene. His friends release and push PAUL away, then follow PINETTI up the hallway past the camera. PAUL stands motionless, hanging his head, then approaches KEVIN.]
[Close shot of KEVIN holding his jaw.]
[Shot of ceiling from KEVIN's perspective as PAUL approaches.]
PAUL: Hey, Kevin, are you OK?
[Shot of KEVIN. He is almost crying.]
KEVIN: Yeah...
NARRATOR: But I wasn't. And not just because of the punch. Had Winnie really said that? Aw, heck!
[Close shot of PAUL from KEVIN's perspective, as he reaches down to help KEVIN up.]
[Wider shot of PAUL pulling KEVIN up, and KEVIN leaning back against the wall.]
[Close shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: Hey, come on, it's not so bad. Look on the bright side. I think maybe you hurt his fist!
[Close shot of KEVIN looking at PAUL.]
Cut to
NORMA: Honey, you're not eating.
[Close shot of KEVIN holding his cheek. He shrugs and sighs.]
KEVIN: I'm not hungry.
[KEVIN glances around.]
NARRATOR: Even if I had been, no way I was going to take on an ear of corn with a busted jaw.
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: But you love corn on the cob!
[Shot of KEVIN and WAYNE. WAYNE reaches for KEVIN's corn.]
WAYNE: I'll take it.
[Wide shot of all the Arnold's at the table. Shot of individuals eating corn.]
NARRATOR: Thank God, so far no one had even noticed my souvenir.
[Close shot of KEVIN holding his jaw. He reaches for his milk.]
NARRATOR: With a little luck...
[Close shot of KAREN frowning at KEVIN off-screen.]
KAREN: Uh, Kevin, what's that on your face?
[Close shot of WAYNE jerking his head in KEVIN's direction.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking away from WAYNE, toward his milk. He leans his head over onto his shoulder.]
KEVIN: Uh-uh...it's nothing.
[Close shot of NORMA, then JACK, then WAYNE looking at KEVIN off-screen.]
WAYNE: Looks like a huge hickey.
KEVIN: It's not!
[Shot of KEVIN.]
[Shot of NORMA.]
NORMA: Honey, what is that?
[Close shot of JACK frowning.]
JACK: Yeah, what the hell is that?
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
KEVIN: It-it's...nothing, really.
[He shrugs and glances away.]
[Close shot of WAYNE.]
WAYNE: Eddie...heh-heh...Pinetti.
JACK: Who's Eddie Pinetti?
KEVIN: Wayne.
[Wide shot of all around the table.]
WAYNE: Well he's this guy...in eigth grade who rips tonsils out with his bare hands.
[Shot of NORMA. She looks shocked, and looks at KEVIN, then back to WAYNE, off-screen.]
KEVIN: Wayne!
[Close shot of WAYNE. He jerks his thumb toward KEVIN off-screen.]
WAYNE: Kevin picked a fight with him.
KEVIN: I did not!
WAYNE: Eh, that's what I heard.
[Shot of NORMA. She is alarmed.]
NORMA: Kevin, he hit you ?
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Look, Mom, it's no big deal. [He shrugs.]
[Shot of JACK looking from KEVIN to NORMA.]
NORMA [V/O]: Kevin, he hit you ?!
[Close shot of JACK looking at KEVIN, then NORMA, off-screen.]
[Close shot of KAREN.]
KAREN: Kids today! They're animals.
[Close shot of KEVIN looking from KAREN to JACK, off-screen.]
[Close shot of JACK. He puts his hands together and looks at KEVIN off-screen.]
JACK: Wait a minute, wait a minute.
[Close shot of KEVIN looking at JACK, off-screen.]
JACK: I want to know what's going on here. I want to know now.
[Shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: Dad meant business. And the truth is, at that moment, I really needed him.
KEVIN: Well...
NARRATOR: Go on, tell him. Tell him you're in over you head.
KEVIN: Well, s-see there's this kid...
NARRATOR: That's it. There's this guy who's twice your size and you're afraid.
KEVIN: And we got into this fight.
NARRATOR: And there's gonna be more of 'em, unless somebody does something to stop it.
[Shot of JACK listening, expectantly.]
NARRATOR: Go on, tell him.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: And, uh...that's all. It's over.
[KEVIN shrugs and glances away.]
[Close shot of JACK.]
JACK: It's over?
[Shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Well...Yeah. [He nods.]
[Shot of JACK. He looks at KEVIN intently.]
NARRATOR: I guess I was hopin' he'd see through me. See I was lying through my teeth.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
NARRATOR: See a scared little kid who didn't have a -
[Close shot of JACK.]
JACK: Well, then...if it's over, it's over.
[JACK nods his head.]
[Close shot of NORMA relaxing a little.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Yeah.
[He looks around the table then at JACK.]
KEVIN: That's what I said.
[KEVIN shrugs.]
Cut to
NARRATOR: The next few days were about as fun-filled as they come.
[Two of PINETTI's friends clothesline KEVIN, laugh and continue toward school.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking at them off-screen. He frowns, then walks toward his bus.]
Cut to
[Shot of KEVIN looking a little grossed out.]
NARRATOR: You had to hand it to old Eddie. He really had a sense of humor.
[KEVIN holds up a jock strap and looks at it, then drops it.]
Cut to
[Shot of WINNIE at her locker.]
[Shot of KEVIN. He starts to smile. PINETTI hurries up from behind and spills KEVIN's books, then smiles at him.]
[Close shot of PINETTI smiling and hurrying up the hallway.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking after him off-screen.]
[Wider shot of KEVIN kneeling and picking up his books.]
NARRATOR: The worst thing was - I was beginning to accept it.
NARRATOR: "R-E-S-P-E-C-T"
[KEVIN looks toward WINNIE off-screen.]
[Shot of WINNIE and PINETTI putting their arms around each other, and starting to walk away from her locker. He tries to put his hand in her back pocket. She jerks away and looks at him. They continue down the hallway.]
[Close shot of KEVIN looking after them and getting mad.]
NARRATOR: I didn't like myself much.
Cut to
PAUL: Well, you got to do something. Maybe you can learn Jujitsu. My uncle knows Jujitso.
KEVIN: Oh, great - then let your uncle fight Eddie!
PAUL: I was just trying to help.
KEVIN: I know.
[Close shot of PAUL as they stop at their lockers.]
PAUL: Hey, listen. For what it's worth, I'm with you all the way.
[Close shot of KEVIN smiling.]
NARRATOR: Good old Paul - a friend in need.
[Close shot of PAUL.]
PAUL: Just that, I only have this one pair of glasses...[gestures] ...and, well.
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning.]
NARRATOR: This wasn't Paul's problem. Besides,I was gettin' used to the idea of life without tonsils. Without pride. Without Winnie.
WINNIE [V/O]: Stop that! Eddie!
[KEVIN snaps toward the sound of WINNIE's voice.]
NARRATOR: And then, fate took one final turn.
[Shot from KEVIN's perspective of the hallway as WINNIE enters, followed by PINETTI and his friends. She is wearing her field-hockey uniform. PINETTI holds her hockey stick, and is poking at her with it, trying to flip her skirt.]
WINNIE: Cut it out. Stop it! Cut it out, Eddie! Knock it off!
PINETTI: Come on, you like it!
WINNIE: I don't!
PINETTI: You like it.
WINNIE: I don't like it!
[Close shot of KEVIN looking at them off-screen.]
NARRATOR: I didn't like it much either.
[Shot of WINNIE and PINETTI.]
NARRATOR: Even though it wasn't any of my business anymore.
[WINNIE hops around as PINETTI tries to flip her skirt. She grabs the stick, and runs out. PINETTI smiles and shakes hands with his friend.]
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL.]
PAUL: Come on, let's go - she's OK now.
[Close shot of KEVIN looking angrily at PINETTI off-screen.]
NARRATOR: On the other hand...
KEVIN: Hey!
[Twang of guitar.]
[Close shot of PINETTI and his friends.]
NARRATOR: What did I have to lose?
PINETTI: Hey, look who's here. It's the twerp!
[Shot of KEVIN as he walks toward the camera.]
NARRATOR: Except parts of my body.
[Shot of KEVIN walking up to PINETTI.]
PINETTI: What's the matter, Arnold?
[Closer shot of PINETTI.]
PINETTI: You need another delivery of jock straps?!
[Close shot of KEVIN from over PINETTI's shoulder. He makes a big frown.]
KEVIN: OK, very funny - Pinetti!
[Close shot of PINETTI.]
NARRATOR: Eddie didn't know it but I'd formed a plan.
KEVIN: Look -
[Close shot of KEVIN as PINETTI shoves him in the chest.]
[Close shot of PINETTI. He glances at his friends and smiles.]
NARRATOR: Eddie and I were going to have a little talk - about fairness, about right behavior, about...chivalry.
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
[PINETTI pushes KEVIN, and his friends laugh.]
KEVIN: Hey! Come on!
[PINETTI shoves him again.]
[Wider shot of all the boys. PINETTI pushes KEVIN and smiles.]
[Close shot of KEVIN frowning. PINETTI pushes him again.]
[Close shot of PINETTI looking at KEVIN. He pushes him again.]
NARRATOR: But then...
[Wider shot as PINETTI bends closer to KEVIN's eye-level, and smiles. He pushes him again. A little music effect is playing.]
NARRATOR: Something inside me...
[Shot of PINETTI laughing.]
NARRATOR: ... snapped. From deep inside I felt rage! Not just for me, but for every kid who had ever been picked on...humiliated...bullied.
[Close shot of PINETTI looking at the camera blankly.]
NARRATOR: For every kid who'd gone home ashamed.
[Slo-mo shot of KEVIN winding up his punch.]
[Close shot of PINETTI. His eye's get wider.]
NARRATOR: I put every bit of dignity and self-respect I had into that punch.
[Slo-mo shot of KEVIN swinging at PINETTI.]
[Close shot of PINETTI as KEVIN hits him on the shoulder. PINETTI's friends laugh.]
[Shot of KEVIN looking between PINETTI's shoulder and face, with mild surprise, then fright.]
NARRATOR: Unfortunately...
[Close shot of PINETTI smiling.]
NARRATOR: ... my aim was bad.
[Shot of KEVIN forcing a worried smile.]
[Close shot of PINETTI. His smile fades as he looks KEVIN over.]
NARRATOR: Even more unfortunately, Eddie's wasn't.
[Close slo-mo shot of KEVIN as PINETTI pushes him backwards.]
[Regular speed shot of KEVIN falling back on the floor.]
[Close shot from KEVIN's perspective of PINETTI bending over him, and punching him relentlessly.]
[Close shot of PAUL throwing his notebook and basketball up in the air in resignation, as PINETTI's friends grab him.]
[Shot of KEVIN and PINETTI on top of him, as PINETTI continues to hit him.]
NARRATOR: Those next ten minutes were...kinda a blur.
[Fade to close shot of KEVIN. He has a bloody nose.]
KEVIN: Ugh!
[Close shot of PINETTI.]
NARRATOR: Still, as Eddie worked out his deep seated feelings of inadequacy, I began to realize something.
[Close shot of KEVIN as PINETTI squishes him, and punches him.]
NARRATOR: Sooner or later this would be over. And I...
PAUL [V/O]: Stop!
NARRATOR: ...would survive.
PINETTI'S FRIEND [V/O]: Hit him, Eddie!
PAUL [V/O]: Stop it!
[Shot of PAUL being held by PINETTI's friends.]
PAUL: Let him go!
[Shot of KEVIN and PINETTI, as PINETTI rolls off him.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
[Close shot of PINETTI standing up and panting. He looks at KEVIN off-screen and sneers.]
PINETTI: You're pathetic, ya know that?
[Close shot of KEVIN still lying down.]
NARRATOR: Maybe, but I was a nice guy.
[Wider shot of PINETTI, and his friends holding PAUL.]
PINETTI: Let's go.
[PINETTI's friends push Paul away. PINETTI slaps his friend on the back as the walk away. PAUL approaches KEVIN and kneels.]
PAUL: Can you move?
[Close shot of KEVIN lying down.]
KEVIN: Yes.
[Shot of KEVIN and PAUL as KEVIN sits up.]
[WINNIE enters shot from behind the camera and kneels next to KEVIN.]
WINNIE: Kevin? Are you alright?
[Close shot of KEVIN looking at WINNIE, then PAUL, then back to WINNIE off-screen.]
[Close shot of WINNIE. She looks concerned.]
[Close shot of KEVIN.]
KEVIN: Does it matter?
[Close shot of WINNIE. She glances over KEVIN and PAUL.]
WINNIE: You're all such jerks.
[She starts to smile.]
[Close shot of KEVIN as he smiles.]
NARRATOR: So I guess Winnie finally forgave me.
[Shot of the three of them. KEVIN glances between them.]
KEVIN: So...you guys going to help me up?
[They help him to his feet.]
[Twangy guitar.]
[PAUL scurries off to get the books, and WINNIE let's go of KEVIN. KEVIN is dizzy, and wobbles. WINNIE steadies him. PAUL returns with the books. He hands them to KEVIN who hands them to WINNIE.]
KEVIN: You know, I think I'm gonna need a little help getting home.
[Close shot of KEVIN and WINNIE looking at each other.]
[Close shot of KEVIN and PAUL smiling. They start to walk forward.]
[Shot of the three of them, walking forward past the camera.]
[Light guitar music to credits.]
Fade to
KEVIN [V/O]: Did you really tell Eddie I was a jerk?
WINNIE [V/O]: Maybe...But I was mad.
KEVIN: Well so...now we're even. I mean, uh, I-I did something wrong and stupid... and now you did something wrong and stupid back. Right?
WINNIE [V/O]: I don't know what you're talking about!
NARRATOR: Well...Rome wasn't built in a day!
KEVIN [V/O]: It's fate, Winnie.
WINNIE [V/O]: Huh?
KEVIN [V/O]: Never mind.
Fade to