Chapter Text
NOCKFELL HIGH SCHOOL - CLASSROOM
Completely distracted from their work, SAL, LARRY, TODD, and ASH sit at a clump of four wobbly desks. Ash and Larry are both doodling on the back of unimportant worksheets, while Todd highlights just about every word in his AP Physics textbook, and Sal picks at his nails. Larry interrupts the silence.
LARRY
Wait, did I ever ask you guys the horse question?
SAL
The what?
LARRY
The horse question. My hypothetical.
ASH
Your hypothetical? I don’t think so. I mean, I think I’d remember that.
LARRY
Okay, okay. Imagine, right. Imagine you’re at a stable. A farm, or something. Doesn’t matter–just, you know, somewhere there are horses.
SAL
Okay.
LARRY
So you walk up to this horse.
TODD
(Still highlighting.) I must walk up to the horse?
LARRY
Yeah. You got no choice.
TODD
This hypothetical seems a bit railroady, I must admit.
LARRY
It’s my hypothetical, and I say you walk up to the horse.
Todd shrugs.
LARRY (cont.)
So you’re lookin’ at this guy. It’s a normal horse. Then it looks right back at you, straight into your eyes. There’s this spark of connection. And it opens its mouth, and it goes, “Papa.”
The others stare at Larry.
LARRY (cont.)
What do you do?
SAL
What?
LARRY
The horse calls you papa. And you can tell he means it. What do you do?
ASH
Do I know the horse?
LARRY
No. This is a new ass horse.
ASH
I ask the horse if he knows something I don’t.
LARRY
No answer.
ASH
None at all? Not even another “Papa?”
LARRY
No. Well–no. Not even.
ASH
I find the stable boy.
LARRY
He’s nowhere to be seen.
ASH
I find him.
LARRY
You can’t just do that.
ASH
Why not? Is he taking his vacation day? Does he have a good reason?
LARRY
He’s not here. Okay, man? No stable boy. No witnesses. What do you do?
SAL
I take him in as my own.
LARRY
There we go, that’s juicy.
SAL
Yeah. You said there’s a spark of life in his eyes, right? Something magical’s happening here.
ASH
Can a horse even say “Papa”?
LARRY
Horses don’t speak English.
SAL
What do they speak?
LARRY
Horse? I don’t know, man.
ASH
I mean, if they tried, could their mouths do that? Horses are weird.
SAL
If it’s magical, it doesn’t matter.
TODD
If a horse tried, it could possibly create a noise similar to human speech. However, it would be far more likely to create a “Dada” than a “Papa,” based purely on anatomy.
LARRY
Thanks, Todd.
TODD
You’re welcome.
LARRY
(Sarcastic) Thanks for adding some realism to the horse question, dude. We really needed that.
TODD
It’s nothing, truly.
He highlights another paragraph.
Their teacher, MRS. BROWN, hands Sal a stack of papers, which he passes out to his friends. They stop talking about the very important horse question to listen.
MRS. BROWN
As we have now read to the end of the novel, your next project is to write an extra chapter at the end of Wuthering Heights. It can be from the perspective of any character you like, but try your best to match the writing style of the original text. You’ll be working in groups of three.
The gang look at each other, in their very solid group of four.
MRS. BROWN (cont.)
Let me know if you have any questions.
The class begins to divide itself into groups.
LARRY
Horse doctors aren’t real doctors.
ASH
...
LARRY
Trust me, I found out the hard way.
SAL
I can split off if you guys want.
ASH
No, you’re always the one who splits off.
TODD
It won’t be necessary for you to do that. I will.
LARRY
We’re all gonna fail this without you, Todd.
TODD
Hm. I see.
ASH
I can do it. I’m pretty good at holding my own in groups.
SAL
You sure?
ASH
Yeah! Don’t worry about it.
SAL
Okay, if you say so. Sorry.
ASH
Really, Sal, I’m fine.
The room has mostly sorted itself into trios by now.
MRS. BROWN
Anyone still missing a group?
Ash raises her hand. As does a lanky blond boy at the front of the room.
MRS. BROWN (cont.)
Great. We’ll have one group of two. Ashley, you’ll work with Travis.
Larry gives her a dry laugh and a condescending wave. She rolls her eyes, and moves to sit down in the empty seat next to Travis. He doesn’t say anything.
ASH
So.
He is actively ignoring her.
ASH (cont.)
I was thinking we could write something from Catherine’s perspective. Like, some sort of flashback.
TRAVIS
Whatever.
ASH
Great.
Travis pushes a blank sheet of paper over to Ash.
TRAVIS
I don’t really have time for this.
She nudges it back towards him.
ASH
I’m pretty sure we have the next three class periods. So you’re just gonna ignore me and do nothing?
Travis lets out an annoyed sigh.
ASH (cont.)
What is your deal?
TRAVIS
I can feel your weirdo friends staring at me.
Ash looks behind them, and sure enough, all of the gang is staring daggers into the back of Travis’ head. Todd is the only one with the book in front of him.
ASH
Wow. You have some real survival instincts, huh.
TRAVIS
You flamers are hard to miss.
Travis tosses his pencil onto Ash’s desk.
TRAVIS (cont.)
You just do the writing, and you can pretend I’m not even here.
ASH
Hah. Not as encouraging as you think it is.
TRAVIS
I’m not trying to be encouraging.
Ash groans. She takes the pencil and paper and scribbles down “Travis is a dickhead,” accompanied by a frowny face.
ASH
Did you even read the book?
Travis picks at the skin on his arms.
TRAVIS
No.
ASH
Didn’t think so.
TRAVIS
I have better things to do.
ASH
Oh really? Like what? Get ignored while trying to pass out flyers on the street?
He picks harder.
TRAVIS
I don’t get ignored.
ASH
Uh huh. How many do you have in your bag right now?
TRAVIS
Maybe you homos would feel better about your lives if you took one.
ASH
Homos? You’re the one who’s wearing a pink fuckin’ sweater.
Travis looks down at his sweater.
TRAVIS
It’s magenta.
ASH
That’s worse.
Travis grabs the paper back from Ash. He looks down and sees the writing on it. He grumbles.
TRAVIS
Real righteous of you, huh? Just talk shit right in front of me? You think you’re so much better than I am.
Ash stares back at him, eyes narrowed.
TRAVIS (cont.)
You’re not, okay? You’re the one who’s getting eternal torture, not me. I’m just trying to help you. You don’t care about doing the right thing, you just want to feel better about yourself and your depravity. It’s your own damn fault.
A pause.
TRAVIS (cont.)
(Under breath) Bitch.
Ash turns away, then gets up and walks out of the classroom. Sal watches her leave.
Travis’ arm starts to bleed. He pulls his sleeve down over it and crosses his arms, sliding down in his seat.
SAL
I’ll be right back.
Sal gets up to follow Ash.
LARRY
Travis is a dickhead.
TODD
Mhm.
LARRY
I mean, really.
TODD
Yes. You do have to work on this project, though.
LARRY
Oh. Right.
A pause.
LARRY (cont.)
Have you thought about my horse question?
NOCKFELL HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY
Ash is standing outside the bathrooms, pretending to use the water fountain. Sal turns the corner by the lockers, and walks up to her.
SAL
Hey.
ASH
Hey.
SAL
So…
ASH
I know. I just need a minute, okay? It’s just—I can’t stand being berated like that for this whole project. He’s just…always looking for someone to yell at. And I guess I’m just the perfect person. I’m not gonna be all sweet to him if he’s just gonna be a dick.
SAL
That’s not what I was gonna say. (Beat.) I’ve spent a lot more time dealing with people like him. I can take it, if you want to swap. It’s not too late.
ASH
Ugh, Sal, no…Really, it's–it’s alright. I can deal with it. It’s not your job to save me. It’d make me feel worse to watch you get bullied.
SAL
I’ll be fine.
ASH
I mean it. I’ll be fine too. I can suck it up for a few hours.
SAL
…Okay, if you’re sure.
ASH
Just don’t expect me to kiss his ass.
SAL
I would never.
ASH
If he does no work, I’ll make sure he fails.
SAL
Right. If I see him upside down in a trash can, I’ll know what went down.
ASH
Hah, that sounds pretty great right now.
SAL
See? I totally get you.
ASH
Thanks, Sal. I’ll see you later.
SAL
See ya.
Ash walks back to class. Sal is now pretending to use the water fountain.
The bell rings.
NOCKFELL HIGH SCHOOL - A DIFFERENT HALLWAY
After school, the gang loiters in the hall. Larry leans on a locker, complaining, while Ash and Sal stand by him and Todd organizes his stuff.
LARRY
…So the whole time you’re reading it, you’re like, okay, man, that’s pretty weird. That’s a weird relationship between them. And then you’re like, oh, but this was written in the, like, 1800s, that’s just how it was. And then you’re like, wait, no, this was written in the 70s. What’s going on?
ASH
It’s a horror, it’s gonna be weird.
LARRY
But is it a horror? Yeah it’s spooky, but that’s just ‘cause it’s vampires. I’m not, like, squeamin’.
TODD
Hm. And perhaps what is “squeaming?”
LARRY
Like squeamish? If it makes you squeamish, then, like, you squeam.
TODD
Hm.
LARRY
You got a problem?
SAL
Let the man squeam.
LARRY
Yeah. Sal always gets it.
ASH
If you’re really having trouble, you don’t have to read it. I just said I liked it, I didn’t say it was good.
LARRY
No, no, I said I’d read a book, and I’m doing it.
ASH
I’m sorry I gave you such a weird one.
LARRY
You’re testing me with all the words, man. This guy's doing a whole mic drop moment every five seconds. “Beyond death is the world of blah blah blood-lover whatever.” Like suuuure man.
SAL
Sounds like you’re having a great time.
ASH
I’m pretty sure he said that exact line, like, twice.
LARRY
Right?
TODD
And despite this, I am the only one who is up to date on the book for class.
SAL
Hey, I read a bit!
LARRY
Yeah I didn’t. Guilty.
Travis walks on, grabbing his coat out of his locker. The gang stares at him. Travis stares back. A pause.
TRAVIS
What?
TODD
We’re attempting to see how long it takes you to say a slur.
Travis scoffs and slams his locker shut. He starts to walk away.
TRAVIS
Fuckin’ fags…
LARRY
Wowww, that’s a record!
Travis turns back to him.
TRAVIS
Shut your mouth, Johnson! (Beat.) And do you ever take that stupid shirt off?
LARRY
Woooooahhh, did you guys hear that?
ASH
I think he just asked you to take your shirt off…Travis…that’s so gay…
SAL
Wow, Travis…
LARRY
Sorry, I’m not interested…
Travis grumbles incomprehensibly as he stomps away.
TODD
Frankly, I’m shocked that didn’t get physical.
LARRY
Get physical…? Todd…that’s gay.
Todd is not amused.
LARRY (cont.)
Sorry.
SAL
I don’t think we need to mess with him so much.
TODD
What do you mean?
SAL
He didn’t come in looking for a fight. We can leave him alone.
LARRY
He’s always looking for a fight. And you joined in.
SAL
Yeah, but…I don’t know. Whatever.
ASH
Well if it makes you feel better, we can all just stare at him silently.
SAL
Sounds great.
LARRY
I can’t hide the rage in my heart when I stare, though. Sorry, man.
SAL
Yeah, you have a heart full of rage.
TODD
I sympathize with your perspective, Sal. I’ll abide by your wishes.
SAL
Thanks, Todd.
Todd shuts his locker and they start to walk away.
LARRY
What would you do if a Travis called you Papa?
ASH
I’d sock him in the face.
PHELPS HOUSEHOLD - ATTIC
Travis sits at the desk of his barren room, across from his mattress on the floor, scribbling on loose sheets of paper. He holds a plastic bag of ice over his eye. He scribbles, heavy-handed, in messy cursive:
“...and I watch as he withers before me. I nearly believe I see motion on his pallid lips. Blanched and ashen, he lay, atop the same bedstead I once laid, frail and motionless. I remark as he whispers, and it nearly escapes me, ‘Our souls,’ he croaks, ‘one in the same, for evermore. Catherine.’”
He lifts his dulled pencil.
TRAVIS
Ugh. This sucks.