A LITTLE BIT OF TROUBLE MAKING
(Based on a true story)
Written by: Matthew Yazel(Opens on MATTHEW in class in the back. He’s not paying attention to his work and listening to music)
TEACHER #1
Matthew?
(MATTHEW takes off his headphones and starts listening)
MATTHEW
Yeah?
Did you hear the question?
TEACHER #1
MATTHEW
Yeah, but I was a little confused on the way you phrased it. Could you say it again?
(The TEACHER looks at the rest of the class)
CLASS
What is a limerick?
K. I got it.
Do you know the answer?
MATTHEW
TEACHER #1
(MATTHEW hesitates, but then just shakes his head with a defeated expression)
TEACHER #1
Ok. Let’s pay attention to the notes now ok? Ok.
MATTHEW
(silently) yeah.
(MATTHEW looks up at the clock until the bell rings. He is now in a different classroom)
CUTS
TEACHER #2
Ok everyone. Have a good weekend. You’re all dismissed.
(MATTHEW gets ready to leave)
TEACHER #2
Matthew, could you stay here for a minute?
(MATTHEW rolls his eyes and sits back down and waits)
TEACHER #2
Do you know why I had you stay behind?
MATTHEW
(sarcastically) I couldn’t begin to imagine why?
TEACHER #2
Where’ve you been the last couple of days?
MATTHEW
I was out. Sick.
You seem fine.
I got better?
TEACHER #2
MATTHEW
TEACHER #2
I hope you realize that I can see what classes you attend and which ones you don’t. Why’ve you been skipping my class?
MATTHEW
I haven’t been.
Really?
Yeah.
TEACHER #2
MATTHEW
TEACHER #2
Matthew, I know you’ve been skipping my class.
MATTHEW
Prove it.
(The TEACHER scoffs and walks over to the window and opens the blinds)
TEACHER #2
Look out that window. Can you see where you and your friends were hanging out yesterday from here? Because I sure can.
MATTHEW
So what?
TEACHER #2
Matthew. I’m your teacher. It’s my job to make sure that you’re in class and doing what you’re supposed to be doing. Even when you are here you’re not paying attention or falling asleep. You’re a nice kid, but you have a habit of causing trouble sometimes. On Monday morning I want to see you here in my classroom when the bell rings. I know you wouldn’t want me calling your mom right?
(MATTHEW shakes his head)
TEACHER #2
She emailed me about your grades and I’ve been reluctant to tell her about your absences for your sake, but if you miss my class again, I’m going to have to call home.
MATTHEW
Just go ahead. Everyone will think I’m a screw up anyways.
TEACHER #2
No one thinks you’re a screw up Matt. We just want to see you succeed and do the right thing.
CUTS
(MATTHEW is walking through the parking lot and bikes home. When he gets home he goes straight to his messy room and starts working. After a couple seconds of him working, he gets a text. He looks at his phone and starts to focus on that instead)
CUTS
(It’s later in the day now and he still has barely made a dent in his work. Someone knocks on the door)
MATTHEW
What?
(MOM walks in the door)
MOM
What’s the 5.3 warm ups assignment you’re missing?
MATTHEW
I don’t know mom. That’s just numbers.
MOM
You’re also missing the 5.4 and 5.7 assignments.
MATTHEW
Ok and?
Did you turn them in?
MOM
MATTHEW
If it says they’re missing, then that probably means that I didn’t turn them in.
MOM
I want you to get those grades up. You’re almost at a C in two classes.
MATTHEW
It’s friday. I don’t know what you expect me to do about that right now. MOM
Do you want me to call your teachers?
MATTHEW
Why would I want you to call my teachers? MOM
I don’t know Matthew. You know what? Just don’t do the assignments, do whatever you want.
MATTHEW
(overlapping) Mom! I’m gonna do the assignments, but there’s literally nothing I can do right now! MOM
(overlapping) I don’t want to argue with you every time I say anything!
MATTHEW
Can I talk? Can I talk? Can you let me talk please? MOM
What?
MATTHEW
I will do the assignments. But it’s the weekend. I will ask my teachers on Monday ok? Ok, great. Thank you. MOM
Whatever. Your dad and I aren’t gonna be here tonight so you’re on your own for dinner.
(MOM slams the door behind her. MATTHEW clenches his fists and starts banging on the table. He grabs a pillow, shoves his face into it and screams)
CUTS
(MATTHEW is playing video games on a call and his dad walks up behind him and taps his shoulder)
MATTHEW
Geez! DAD
Hey, it’s just me.
Can’t you knock?
MATTHEW
I did.
MATTHEW
Oh. Wait, why’re you here, aren’t you supposed to be at dinner or something with mom. DAD
Your mom went to her bible study.
MATTHEW
And you’re here why? DAD
I wanted to see if you wanted to go out to eat.
MATTHEW
Where? DAD
You’ll see.
MATTHEW
Ok? What time? DAD
How’s 10 minutes?
Sure.
CUTS
MATTHEW
(Car interior. DAD is in the car looking at his watch waiting. MATTHEW finally walks out and gets in. As they’re driving, MATTHEW is listening to music)
DAD
You wanna hear a joke?
(MATTHEW doesn’t answer)
So a man walks into a bar-
(uninterested) Ouch.
DAD
MATTHEW
DAD
What do you call a fish with no I’s?... Fshhhh
(MATTHEW scooches away and DAD starts to speed up a little bit.
MATTHEW’s attention starts to be grabbed. DAD breaks really hard)
Woah!
Sorry. (MATTHEW rolls his eyes)
So a frog walks into a bank. His name is Kermit McJagger. He’s McJagger’s son. You know McJagger?
MATTHEW
(uninterested) The drummer.
That’s right. Do you know what band?
(uninterested) Rolling stones.
That’s right. So Kermit is McJagger’s son. He goes into the bank because he wants to take out a loan to go on a vacation. So he goes up to the counter and he says “Hilo. I would like to take out a loan”. Now the bank teller’s name is Patricia Wack. Patricia Wack. And she says, “Well do you have any collateral?” He says “Well, I know the owner of the bank” and he pulls out a little tiny elephant trinket. He says “Give him this”. Now Patricia Wack is really confused so she goes to the owner of the bank and says “Sir? There’s a frog here to see y ou. He wants to take out a loan. He says he knows you and for collateral he gave me this tiny elephant. What is this thing?” and the owner says “It’s a knick knack Patty Wack. Give the frog his loan. His old man’s a rolling stone.
(MATTHEW lets out a small chuckle and smiles. He changes the subject)
MATTHEW
Are we almost there? We’ve been driving for like 40 minutes.
Almost.
CUTS (The car pulls into the parking lot)
CUTS (They’re in the diner)
DAD
I haven’t been here in forever… You alright? You’ve barely said a word all day.
MATTHEW
It’s nothing.
DAD
Are you sure? Did something happen? Are you in trouble?
MATTHEW
It’s fine.
DAD
Is it about your grades? You know you don’t need to totally be stressed about them right? Your mom just wants you to do well.
MATTHEW
Well I have two C’s and I’m close to getting another one.
DAD
So what? That can’t be everything.
MATTHEW
There’s just been a lot going on that I can’t talk about.
DAD
Is it classified information? Are you a secret agent?
MATTHEW
It’s nothing dad.
Are you sure?
It’s nothing.
(DAD chuckles a little bit)
What’s so funny?
DAD
MATTHEW
MATTHEW
DAD
Nothing. I just forget sometimes how much you remind me of me.
MATTHEW
What’re you talking about?
DAD
I used to get into trouble all the time when I was your age.
MATTHEW
Yeah right.
DAD
It’s true. I didn’t think I’d be a lawyer til I was well out of high school. Your mom and I were already married and had your older brother.
MATTHEW
Really?
DAD
Yeah. It was during the OJ Simpson trials. You know all about that right?
MATTHEW
Of course.
DAD
Well it was a huge thing. It was on TV and everyone would watch it. But really all OJ’s lawyer would do a lot of the time was stand up, straighten his tie, and say “We have no questions at this time”. And when I saw that I stood up and said, I could do that.
MATTHEW
That’s why you decided to be a lawyer?
DAD
Yeah. But when I was in high school, I was always the class clown. I got into so much trouble. I would sneak out and go to the skate rink with my friends.
CUTS
(JEFF walks out of his house. He grabs his bike and starts riding the bike. When he gets to the skate rink, his friends are there waiting and they start skating)
JEFF
Hey guys! How’s it hanging?
FRIEND #1
Hey youngblood! I like the new threads
Thanks! This place is far out!
Yeah! Totally bomb!
Where’s Kevin at?
JEFF
FRIEND #1
JEFF
FRIEND #2
Yo dudes! Check out that absolute brick house!
FRIEND #1
She’s a stone fox.
DAD (voiceover)
And that was the night I met one of the most beautiful women of my life.
CUTS
MATTHEW
Wait a minute. I thought you met mom at a KFC when she was looking for a job.
DAD
I did. This was someone else. Her name was Sarah Hoffman. She was a senior and I was a sophomore. I thought I had no chance with her.
CUTS
I think I might have a chance with her.
JEFF
FRIEND #1
Woah. Slow your roll there casanova.
FRIEND #2
Youngblood. That is Sarah Hoffman.
The senior?
Yeah.
Oh.
JEFF
FRIEND #1
JEFF
FRIEND #2
Don’t sweat it youngblood. Besides Kevin’s about to go talk to her now.
(KEVIN goes up to SARAH)
Hey girl. What’s crackin’?
KEVIN
(KEVIN falls over and SARAH skates away laughing)
FRIEND #1
Nice one spaz.
Whatever.
KEVIN
(JEFF helps KEVIN up)
You alright Kevin?
JEFF
KEVIN
Sound as a pound. But do me a solid and never tell anyone about this.
JEFF
Not even in 40 years from now?
Only then.
Fine. Are you sure you’re good?
I’m chillin.
KEVIN
JEFF
KEVIN
JEFF
Good (JEFF pushes KEVIN back on the ground) You’re a dork.
(They both laugh)
CUTS
MATTHEW
Did you ever get in trouble for sneaking out?
DAD
A few times.
Did you ever stop?
MATTHEW
DAD
Yeah, when you turn 18 they stop counting it as sneaking out.
(They both laugh)
DAD
But Kevin and I did all kinds of things together.
MATTHEW
Like what?
DAD
Well we would hang out and go to A’s games all the time.
MATTHEW
How old were you?
MATTHEW
There’s no way your parents knew about this.
No, they did.
MATTHEW
You would never let me go to a baseball game with friends.
Would you ever even want to go to a baseball game with friends?
MATTHEW
Good point.
This was right after the A’s were one of the greatest teams of all time. When I started going, there would barely be anyone there. Bad for the team, good for us.
MATTHEW
Why even have games at that point?
It’s their job.
MATTHEW
I guess so. DAD
It was funny. They wouldn’t even check our IDs or anything. But they had to make commissions somehow. So they would just try to sell us beer. They didn’t care if we were 18 or not.
MATTHEW
You’re kidding!
I wish I was.
(They both laugh, but then MATTHEW starts to frown)
Hey. What’s up?
MATTHEW
Nothing. I mean the stories are great, but why did I never know any of this before?
You never asked.
I guess so.
MATTHEW
DAD
You know? I have another story I think you’d like.
Mmmmm.
MATTHEW
DAD
So me and Kevin were in band together and football for a small period, but there’s one story that I don’t usually tell people.
MATTHEW
What’s that?
CUTS (Flashback to the high school)
Hey Jeff!
Hey Kevin! What’s crackin’?
KEVIN
JEFF
KEVIN
Nothing really. I’ve been really bored with everything recently.
JEFF
Same here man.
KEVIN
It’s our sophomore year, it should be more exciting than this.
JEFF
Right on. We need something new. Something no one else will do.
KEVIN
Like what?
JEFF
I don’t know. But I just know we need to do something unexpected. I don’t want to keep doing the same old things everyday. You catch my drift?
KEVIN
(hesitates) No.
Nevermind.
KEVIN
Well when you figure out whatever you’re talking about, let me know. Catch you on the flip side.
(KEVIN starts walking away and so does JEFF. JEFF looks up to see a sign. He stares at the sign. The sign talks about student body president candidates)
DAD (voiceover)
And that was when I had the million dollar idea.
CUTS
(Interior of the diner)
MATTHEW
Wait. You ran for student body president as a sophomore? DAD
Not me. Kevin.
CUTS
(KEVIN and JEFF are getting things ready for the campaign)
(MONTAGE: interior of the diner, designing posters, putting up the banner, KEVIN on the podium, KEVIN in a suit, hanging up posters, JEFF collecting ballots)
CUTS
INTERCOM VOICE
Ladies and gentlemen. For the last month our wonderful student body president candidates have been hard at work giving speeches, collecting votes and making some big differences on campus. But now it is time for the moment that you all have been waiting for. Thank you to everyone who voted. The final results are in. The next Ygnacio Valley High School student body president is none other than… Kevin Harrington.
(The class erupts in celebration)
CUTS
KEVIN
Thank you to everyone who voted for me and thank you to all the other candidates for being so inspirational. This moment is truly an honor and I couldn’t be happier. I am proud of this school for being so generous as to award me this privilege. Help me make this school all it can be and more!
(Everyone cheers)
CUTS
Wait. He won?
Yeah.
How?
MATTHEW
MATTHEW
Well, that’s sort of complicated. You see(DAD gets a call)
Hold on, I need to take this.
CUTS
(MATTHEW is sitting in the car listening to music while his dad is on the phone. They get home and MATTHEW gets out of the car and sits at his desk. He is upset, but he can’t stop thinking about the story. He finds his dad’s old yearbook, and looks through it. He finds a picture of JEFF putting ballots in the box)
(Flashback: montage of JEFF putting extra ballots in the box)
(MATTHEW goes to his DAD)
MATTHEW
Dad. DAD
Yeah?
MATTHEW
You cheated. DAD
What?
MATTHEW
You cheated to help Kevin win. DAD
Ah. So you figured it out.
But why? Why would you cheat?
MATTHEW
DAD
Why would you cut class?
MATTHEW
Because I thought it would be- Wait how do you know about that?
DAD
Your teacher promised she wouldn’t call your mom. He didn’t say anything about calling me.
MATTHEW
Does mom know?
Of course she does.
Then why didn’t she say anything?
DAD
MATTHEW
She wanted to, but I told her to wait.
DAD
MATTHEW
Why? DAD
Because I wanted to see if you’d realize that just because you don’t get caught, doesn’t mean it’s not bad.
MATTHEW
But did you get caught for cheating in the election?
DAD
No one ever found out.
MATTHEW
But why would you want to do that?
I never said I was proud of doing that.
DAD
MATTHEW
Well how does that make it better? How come you can do all of these things and you end up so great? Why do I do bad stuff and everyone thinks I’m a screw up?
DAD
No one thinks you’re a screw up. It’s not about not getting caught. Of course I got caught for some of the bad things I did. Why do you think you’re a screw up?
MATTHEW
I don’t think I’m a screw up. Other people think I’m a screw up.
DAD
Did anyone say that to you?
Well, no.
Then why do you think that?
MATTHEW
DAD
MATTHEW
Because everyone keeps putting blind faith in me and what I can do. Everyone wants me to do these simple things like show up to class and do my work. But I can’t. I try, but then I fall behind and at that point it’s pointless to keep trying. I don’t know why people keep giving me second chances to prove myself when I know I can’t do it.
DAD
Maybe the problem isn’t people having too much faith in you. Maybe you just need to give yourself another chance. I cheated big time, but I think I ended up alright. I’m happy and no one remembers me for the things I did. Of course you need to do the right thing, but all of this; the cutting class, the bad grades, a little bit of trouble making here and there. It might seem like it will define you, but it’s important to not let that stop you from trying. It can build you up if you don’t keep letting it tear you down. But don’t give up now.
MATTHEW
But what if I fail?
DAD
Then you get back on the horse. You’ve gotta give yourself a second chance. Besides, you can’t fail. You’ll only fail if you stop trying.
(DAD hugs MATTHEW)
CUTS
(MATTHEW is in class, taking notes)
TEACHER #2
What does the clock represent?
(MATTHEW raises his hand)
TEACHER #2
MATTHEW
The clock represents the passage of time and how Gatsby wants it to go back to the way it was. He tries to fix it, but in the end he ends up breaking the clock even more. There’s no use in dwelling on the past, your only option is to move forward.
TEACHER #2
Perfect answer
(TEACHER #2 smiles at him. MATTHEW smiles and leans back)
CUTS
How’d it go?
Good. I told him about when I was in high school.
Oh really?
I think he’ll be ok.
Wait, what?
He’s gonna be ok.
Good. Now who’s Sarah Hoffman?
Shhhh.
(DAD turns up the music and they start dancing)
(Credits roll)