Whispers

By: Kolette Mae Tetlow

View all Kolette Mae Tetlow's works

ACT ONE

EXT. MIDDLE SCHOOL PARKING LOT- MORNING

Claire, 12, fair skin dark wavy hair with brown eyes, stands in front of the school nervously. She takes a deep breath.

CLAIRE
Middle school…

A nerdy boy steps into frame. He extends his hand towards
Claire.

JIMMY

Hi!I’m Jimmy. Middle School, huh?
Will you be my friend? I don’t have
any friends.

Claire looks at Jimmy disgusted. He retreats his hand.

CLAIRE

No.

She leaves running into the school smiling leaving Jimmy alone.

INT. GYM CLASS- AFTERNOON

The class stands in a straight line. Claire stands next to Maya, 12, a thin and short girl with curly blonde hair.

MS. DINA
Thirty laps, kids. Go!

Ms. Dina blows her whistle and every runs. We see Claire and Maya “running” next to each other.

MAYA
(Panting)

So, you aren’t that into running
either? I’m Maya Wilkinson.

Claire nods. They smile at each other. WE see Hailey, twelve african american, drop back and speak to the girls.

HAILEY

Hi, Maya. Still struggling to keep
up?

Hailey looks at Claire.

MAYA

You know I have Asthma, Hailey.

CLAIRE

Hey! Me too! By the way, I am
Claire Peters.

They look at each other.

MAYA

Hailey, this is my new friend.

Claire’s face lights up.

CLAIRE
(to Hailey)
Claire Peters.
(to Maya)
Wait, I can be your friend?

Maya smirks a little.

MAYA

Yeah. Only if you want though.

Hailey laughs.

HAILEY

And any friend of Maya’s is a
friend of mine. Congratulations
kid, you just gained two friends.

Claire try’s to look cool but can’t keep herself from
smiling.

INT. SCIENCE CLASS- AFTERNOON

Claire sits with Kat, 12, Russian with red hair.

MR. WHITE

Now you are all partnered up,you
can start working on your projects.
Have fun!

Joanie and Kat looks at each other.

KAT

So, Claire, you made any friends
yet?

Claire smiles, glad that this girl take an interest in her
life.

CLAIRE

Yeah! I’m friends with, Maya
Wilkinson and, Hailey Jameson. I
really like them. We met in gym
class.
(to herself)
I really hate gym class.

Kat makes a disgusted look.

KAT

Those girls are gross. How can
anyone be friends with them? Right?
So gross and awful. Quite the
little losers.

Kat nods her head.

END OF ACT ONE

ACT TWO

EXT. RECESS PLAYGROUND- AFTERNOON
A group of kids surround Joanie and Kat. Maya approaches the
group and hears what the girls are saying.

KAT
(Mocking Claire)
I am Claire and I am totally stupid
and poor! I am so poor when you
walk through my front door you walk
out the back!

Maya fights her way to the front of the crowd. Watching Kat
in disgust.

MAYA

Why don’t you shut up Kat.

Hailey emerges from the crowd as well’

HAILEY

Yeah, stop bad mouthing, Claire.

Kat scoffs.

KAT

Claire Peters is a poor little
hoodlum.

HAILEY

Shut it.

Kat smiles a nasty smile.

KAT

The only reason that delinquent
goes to this school is because her
dad is dating the principal. She
isn’t wealthy enough to come her to
Richard Nixon Middle School for
Technology! She will never be like
us.

Maya takes a pathetic swing at Kat. She dodges.

HAILEY
Maya, let me try.

Kat motions for her group to form a protective bubble around
her.

HAILEY (CONT’D)
You should’ve let me hit first.

Kat laughs. The rest of the group follows. We hear them
continue to mock and tease as they walk away.

INT. FIRE ESCAPE- SUNSET

The three girls, Claire, Hailey, and Maya sit on plastic
crates looking at the sunset peacefully.

CLAIRE

So Maya, you really heard them say
that?

MAYA

Yup.

Claire looks at Maya.

CLAIRE

I don’t really think Katrina would
say that, Maya.

Maya and Hailey share a confused expression.

HAILEY
What do you mean?

Claire laugh to herself.

CLAIRE

Kat seemed really nice to me in
Science class. She was sweet and
asked me all these questions about
myself. Maybe you misheard
Katrina.

Maya and Hailey sigh.

HAILEY

Whatever, you wanna believe believe
it.

MAYA
(Still not giving up)
We can get her back, Claire! Make
her pay!

HAILEY

Yeah, ’cause I can beat the crap
out of her. Well I’ll threaten for
you.

Claire giggles.

CLAIRE

Nope. No need to beat the crap out
of anybody. Or threaten to.

INT. MAYA’S ROOM- NIGHT

Maya sits on her bed with her phone in hand. She dials a
number and we hear the phone ringing.

CUT TO:

INT. HAILEYS CLOSET

Hailey answers her ringing phone while browsing through her
clothes.

HAILEY
Hey, Maya whats up?

BACK TO:

INT. MAYA’S ROOM- NIGHT

Maya still sitting on her bed holds the phone to her ear.

MAYA

We aren’t just going to let Katrina
make fun of Claire, Hailey. Right?

CUT TO:

INT. HAILEYS CLOSET

Hailey stands there still this time holding a pink floral
dress.

HAILEY
Of course not.

EXT. MIDDLE SCHOOL PARKING LOT- DAWN

Haliey and Maya sneak around campus posting flyers everywhere
that say, “Katrina is a two faced, cheesehole, jerk girl.
Signed, Maya Wilkinson, Hailey Turner, and Claire Peters.

HAILEY
(whispering)

I feel bad we are saying that
Claire agreed to this on our
posters what if she gets mad?

Maya shushes Hailey.

MAYA

It’s for her own good. Trust me,
Hailey.

INT. PRINCIPALS OFFICE- MORNING

Hailey, Maya, Kat and Claire sit in four chairs in front of
the principal. Hailey and Maya are guilty as charged.

PRINCIPAL BELKIN
Maya, why do you think you are
here.

Maya try to avoid eye contact. Especially with Claire.

MAYA

For posting the flyers.

PRINCIPAL BELKIN
Hailey, what about you?

Hailey looks right at him.

HAILEY
Same thing as Maya.

The principal turns his attention to Claire.

PRINCIPAL BELKIN

Claire, you?

Claire is still clueless as to why she’s there.

CLAIRE

To be honest with you, Principal
Belkin, I don’t know.

Principal Belkin sneers at this remark. Kat Winks at the
girls then bursts into tears.

KAT
(as insincere as possible)
I’m sorry! I hate that these
naughty girls are making fun of me!
It hurts so much, Mr. Belkin!

PRINCIPAL BELKIN
(Ignoring Kat)
So you had nothing to do with the
flyers posted up all around the
school calling, Katrina a
cheeseholeing liar?

Claire gives a look to Maya and Hailey.

CLAIRE
(Talking to Maya and Hailey)
Really guys? Cheeseholeing liar?
(Back to Belkin)
I had nothing to do with that!

PRINCIPAL BELKIN

It had your name on it, and I know
it was our idea.

Claire is furious.

CLAIRE

Why? Why do you know it’s me! Is it
because I’m not as privileged as
most of the rich kids who attend
Richard Nixon Middle School for
Technology? All y’all would be
ready to transfer to private school
any minute so if got a problem
with me what dontcha do that.

Kat sniffles.

KAT

You don’t belong here and you never
will you delinquent.

Claire leaves the office in distress.

EXT. MIDDLE SCHOOL PARKING LOT- DAY

We see Claire as she storms away from the school, Maya
chasing after her.

MAYA

Claire wait! I’m sorry!

Claire stops and whips around full of fury.

CLAIRE
(Crying)
I know I dont fit in.
I’m not rich or really even middle
class. I’m not even supposed to be
going to this school! I didn’t want
to go to that other school i
convinced my dad to lie about where
we lived. I thought I’d be able to
be like everyone else though.
Clearly I am a better friends than
all of you.

Claire runs off leaving Maya alone in the parking lot.
Silently sobbing.

MAYA

but I love you Claire! You are my
best friend! You are so great! I
love you!

Claire stops running and she turns around.

CLAIRE

I wish I wish I could say the same.

Claire bolts away this time for good.

END OF ACT TWO

ACT THREE

INT. MAYAS ROOM- NIGHT

Maya and Hailey sit on the rug next to Maya’s bed. Both of
them keep calling Claire but neither of them get answers.
Eventually, they give up.

HAILEY

I can’t believe she isn’t talking
to us! We were only trying to help
her.

Maya, is clearly not taking this well.

MAYA

It’s my fault Claire won’t talk to
us.

HAILEY
What’d you mean, Maya?

Tears well up in Maya’s eyes.

MAYA
I said I loved her.

Hailey smiles and wipes Maya’s eyes.

HAILEY

Maya, everyone loves their best
friends!

MAYA

I know but maybe it scared her so
she doesn’t wanna be friends
anymore..

Hailey and Maya hug.

HAILEY

Don’t worry. We shouldn’t have up
the posters.

INT. GYM CLASS- AFTERNOON

Maya and Claire stand next to each other. Claire is ignoring
Maya.

MAYA

You know, this is were we met.

CLAIRE

I am not talking to you, Maya. Just
leave me alone.
Maya sighs in frustration.

MAYA

I get why you won’t talk to me but
seriously! Leave you alone?

Maya coughs.

CLAIRE

Your Asthma, are you okay?

MAYA
(sarcastically)
Yes. I got you to talk to me didn’t I?
(sincerely)
And I can promise, I will make this
up to you if I kill myself in the
process…. You are my best friend
Claire!

Claire rolls her eyes.

CLAIRE
Correction. Was.
(Sarcastically)
How did I know that? I’m too stupid
to go here so how did I know that?

EXT. PARK- DUSK

Hailey and Maya sit behind the bushes with binoculars.

MAYA

If we know her at all, she should
be here any minute.

Hailey nods.

HAILEY

Here she comes! Let’s do this,
Maya.

Claire come walking in slowly. Hailey and Maya pop up from
behind the bush.

MAYA

Claire!

Claire turns to leave. Hailey runs in front, stopping her.

CLAIRE

I don’t know what you guys are
planning but I want to leave. Now.
Maya puts on her most sincere face, so does Hailey.

HAILEY
(as sweet as she can be)
Claire, just listen. Maya, it took
her forever to think of something
to say to you. So listen.
Claire turns back around to face Maya.

MAYA

You are the best friend I ever had and my only other friends
are my hamsters, Leah and Jones. Oh, and you Hailey. I know I
may have scared you when I said I loved you but I do! I love
you. Your my best friend and I love you. Yeah.

Claire begins to sob.

CLAIRE

Who gives a crap what anyone else
thinks! I love you too!

Maya and Claire hug.

CLAIRE (CONT’D)

Come on Hailey!

Hailey runs over and it becomes a group hug.

CLAIRE (CONT’D)

I’m sorry I overreacted. You guys
mean so much to me!

The hug splits.

CLAIRE (CONT’D)

You Maya, you are so book smart and
I know I can rely on you.

She grabs Maya’s hand.

CLAIRE (CONT’D)

And you Hailey, you are so athletic
and you will always threaten to
beat the crap outta anyone who is
mean to your friends. I love you
guys.

They hug again. Bystanders clap.

END OF ACT III

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