INT. - HALL - DAY
In a long corridor, Sophie joins the throng of STUDENTS pushing past each other trying to get to class. She tears a flyer advertising an S.A.T. training course off the wall, as if by habit.
A handsome older student swoops up from behind and kisses her neck. This is MITCH.
SOPHIE
(without looking)
Hi, Mitch.
He walks down the hall beside her. She hands him the crumpled S.A.T. flyer.
MITCH
Have fun at the principal's office?
SOPHIE
They want to know why I won't join the softball team.
Mitch glances over at CHEERLEADERS practicing the Bedford High anthem in a empty classroom.
MITCH
(attempting to be casual)
So, did you get it?
SOPHIE
It? My period? No.
MITCH
Get it, okay?
She pushes open a classroom door.
SOPHIE
Whatever you say.
Mitch follows her into...
INT. - CLASSROOM
Biology class. STUDENTS are clustered in groups of two and three, frantically quizzing each other in preparation for a test. A human skeleton watches over the panic from the corner of the room.
Mitch and Sophie's entrance goes unnoticed, except by one person, studying alone. This is TIM.
Tim looks up from his notes and watches as Sophie slowly crosses the room and takes the seat in front of him.
SOPHIE
Hi, Tim.
TIM
Hi. Sophie. How's life?
SOPHIE
Never better.
She glances at Mitch across the room. He's not watching.
TIM
Big test.
Sophie flips her wrist. An index card with miniature lists and cell diagrams slides from the sleeve of her jacket -- a cheat sheet.
SOPHIE
I'll get by. You?
TIM
I...ah...studied this time.
SOPHIE
Oh.
The door of the classroom slams shut. The teacher, MS. CRANDALL, enters the room with long strides, sets a huge caffeine addict's mug of coffee on her desk and begins passing out the test.
MS. CRANDALL
Put your name on the top right hand corner of every page. Failure to do so is an automatic F.
Sophie tucks the cheat sheet into her sleeve.
MS. CRANDALL
Eyes on your own test. If you have a question, raise your hand.
Tim and Sophie get their tests, and set to work. Sophie copies from the answers in her sleeve. Tim answers from memory.
Ms. Crandall slowly walks up and down the rows of desks, surveying the students.
Sophie gives Tim a grin and pulls her cheat sheet a little further out of her sleeve. She doesn't see that Ms. Crandall has moved onto the back of their row.
Ms. Crandall takes slow steps looking from student to student. Sophie, oblivious, continues cheating.
Ms. Crandall looks at Sophie with suspicion and anticipation. Over Sophie's shoulder, the cheating is almost visible...
Another step. Sophie is doomed.
TIM
(loudly)
Ms. Crandall?
Sophie jumps and stuffs away the evidence of her cheating.
MS. CRANDALL
Yes, Tim, what is it?
TIM
(pointing to the test)
Is this supposed to be chloroplast or chlorophyll?
MS. CRANDALL
Ah, yes.
(to the class)
On question nine...
Most of the class has to turn a page to get to the question.
MS. CRANDALL
...change "chlorophyll" to "chloroplast." Got it? Question nine.
Sophie mouths "Thank you" to Tim. He gives a short, seated bow.
MS. CRANDALL
My mistake.