Heather
[to Melinda]
I hate being a Martha. You were so right not to join. I mean all I am is their little slave. Okay, it was supposed to be me and Meg and Siobhan decorating the Holiday Inn for prom. And now Meg and Siobhan can't do it and I'm totally screwed! Mel, you have to help me! They have some sales meeting in there until like 3:00, but then they'll let us start and I know we can do it!
[Melinda blankly stares at her]
Heather
You are so great! I owe you big time! What if I help you redecorate your room? I know, a nice seafoam green!
Heather
Okay. Or something rich like... like eggplant!
Melinda Sordino
No, I mean, I won't help you.
Heather
But you have to.
Melinda Sordino
No, I don't.
Heather
But why?
Melinda Sordino
Because I was nice to you in the beginning of school when I didn't even like you and you blew me... blew me off because you're a self-centered social climber! And you know what? I know what I wanna do to my room and it doesn't involve eggplant. I think you should go.
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David Petrakis
[to Melinda]
Listen, the suffragettes were all about speaking up. You can't speak up for your rights and be silent. I thought what you did was cool, but you can't make a difference unless you speak up.
Melinda Sordino
Do you lecture all your friends like this?
David Petrakis
Only the ones I like.
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Melinda Sordino
It happened. There's no avoiding it. No forgetting.
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David Petrakis
The suffragettes fought for their right to speak. They were attacked, arrested and thrown in jail for daring to do what they wanted to do. Like them, Melinda is willing to stand up for what she believes. That no one should be forced to give speeches.
Mr. Neck
What is this?
David Petrakis
Melinda has to deliver her report to the class as part of the assignment. She made copies everyone can read.
Mr. Neck
Oh, no you don't. When I say oral, I mean oral.
[to Dave]
Mr. Neck
Now you sit down!
[to Melinda]
Mr. Neck
And you read that report.
[Melinda is silent]
Mr. Neck
Open your mouth, Sordino. Open your damn mouth!
[Melinda remains silent]
Mr. Neck
I am so sick of your attitude.
[drags Melinda by the arm to the principal's office]
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Melinda Sordino
[voiceover]
All that crap you hear on TV about communication and expressing feelings is a lie. No one really cares what you have to say.
Heather
So here's the plan. We join 5 clubs. One for every day of the week. Not like Latin club, but cool stuff. What do you wanna join? Hey, maybe we can tutor kids at the elementary school. What about your friends from last year? Don't you know Nicole?
Melinda Sordino
[voiceover]
I wonder how long it would take for anyone to notice if I just stopped talking.
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Joyce Sordino
You don't have to talk about it, you know, if you don't want to.
Melinda Sordino
No, I wanna tell you about it.
[pauses]
Melinda Sordino
Last year, I went to this party at the end of the year...
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Melinda Sordino
I hate winter. I've lived in the midwest my whole life and I hate winter. It starts too early and it ends too late. Why doesn't everyone just move to Florida?
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Melinda Sordino
Why should I worry about Rachel?
Melinda Sordino
[alter ego]
He'll hurt her. You were your best friends for nine years. That counts for something.
Melinda Sordino
She's a traitor and a witch.
Melinda Sordino
She'll hate me.
Melinda Sordino
I hope he breaks her heart.
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Melinda Sordino
It's time for a mental health day. So conjugate this: I cut class. You cut class. He/she/it cuts class.
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Melinda Sordino
I should probably tell someone. Just... anyone. Get it over with. Blurt it out.
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Melinda Sordino
Gym should be illegal. It's humiliating.
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Melinda Sordino
[voiceover] We're studying American history for the ninth time in nine years. Every year they say we're gonna get right up to the present, but we always get stuck in the industrial revolution.
Mr. Neck
My family has been in this country for over 200 years. We built this place. We fought in every war, from the first one to the last one, paid our taxes and voted. So tell me why my son can't get a job?
[a number of students raise their hand, but he ignores them]
Mr. Neck
Reverse discrimination. He wanted to be a firefighter. Went up for the job but he didn't get it. What I'm suggesting here is maybe if we had closed our borders in 1900, then real Americans would get the jobs they deserved.
[the Native American student raises his hand but the teacher points to Heather]
Mr. Neck
Young lady.
Heather
Um, I think that we're all foreigners and should just give the country back to the Native Americans.
Mr. Neck
Now we have a debate, don't we? "Native Americans"?
black student
Maybe your son didn't get the job because he wasn't good enough. Or maybe he's lazy. Or maybe the other guy was just better than him.
Mr. Neck
Watch your mouth, mister. That's my son you're talking about. You know what? That's enough debate. Everybody take out your book.
[Dave stands up to speak]
Mr. Neck
Mr. Petrakis, please take your seat.
David Petrakis
If the class is debating, then each student has the right to say what's on his mind.
Mr. Neck
I decide who talks in here, Mr. Petrakis.
David Petrakis
You opened a debate. You can't close it just because it's not going your way.
Mr. Neck
Watch me! Take your seat, Mr. Petrakis!
David Petrakis
The Constitution does not recognize different levels of citizenship based upon the time spent in the country. As a citizen and a student, I'm protesting the tone of this lesson as racist, intolerant and xenophobic.
Mr. Neck
Sit your butt in that chair, Mr Petrakis, and watch your mouth! I try to get this debate going and you people turn it into a "race" thing. Sit down, Mr. Petrakis, or you're gonna go down to the principal's office.
[Dave walks out of the room]
Melinda Sordino
[voiceover] Dave Petrakis is my new hero.
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Rachel Bruin
[to Melinda]
Oh, my God! Why didn't you tell me?
Melinda Sordino
It's just... when the police came, everyone just started freaking out. I got scared. I walked home. After that night, I couldn't tell anyone.
Rachel Bruin
Did you get pregnant? Did you get AIDS? Are you okay?
Melinda Sordino
Yeah. I mean, no. I didn't get pregnant. I'm fine.
Rachel Bruin
Was it someone from this school? Who was it? Melinda, tell me!
Melinda Sordino
It was Andy Evans.
Rachel Bruin
[angrily]
What? I can't believe you. Liar! You're jealous! I'm popular and I'm going to prom and you're telling me this. That's twisted, Melinda! Seriously, you're sick. You need help!
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Melinda Sordino
[voiceover] The school board decided that Trojans didn't send a strong message of abstinence, so we'll now be the home of the Merryweather Hornets.
random cheerleader
What are we supposed to cheer? We are the hornets, the horny horny hornets?
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Melinda Sordino
It's my first day of high school. I have seven new notebooks, a skirt I hate, and a stomach ache.
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Andy Evans
[to Melinda]
So I raped you? I could have any girl in this school I wanted. Willingly! Why would I rape you? You're not even attractive.
Andy Evans
You really screwed things up for me! You know that?
Melinda Sordino
No, help me!
Andy Evans
You are going to go to every single person in this school and tell them that you lied!
[Melinda throws chemicals in Andy's eyes]
Andy Evans
Ah! My eyes!
Nicole
[from outside of the closet]
What's going on in there? Open this door right now!
[sees Melinda holding a shard of glass to Andy's neck]
Nicole
Come out, Melinda.
[to Andy]
Nicole
What the hell is wrong with you?
Andy Evans
[panting in pain]
Um.
Nicole
Answer me! Everybody knows what you did. Say something, asshole!
Andy Evans
[as Melinda walks away]
Please, no!
Nicole
Don't move!
Andy Evans
I can't see!
Nicole
You're not going anywhere.
Andy Evans
Please move! I can't see anything!
[to Melinda]
Mr. Neck
What happened? Melinda?
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Melinda Sordino
Here's what I learned in Bio. If the seed is planted too deep, it doesn't warm up in time. Once the plant surfaces, it sprouts leaves so it can absorb more sun. If someone picks the flower, the plant grows another bloom to produce more seeds.
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Andy Evans
Coming? Hello? Earth to Rachel! Alright.
[gets back into his car]
Andy Evans
Okay, what did I do this time? Hmm, tell me.
Rachel Bruin
Remember when you asked me about Melinda Sordino? The girl in the art room. Why did you ask me if I was friends with her?
[Andy stares and says nothing]
Rachel Bruin
Do you know her? How do you know her?
Andy Evans
[irritated]
I was looking for you. Bitch!
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[Melinda just fainted while disecting a frog]
David Petrakis
Melinda! Hello? Can you count backwards from 10? Who is the president of the United States? Come on, open your eyes.
Ms. Keen
Dave, don't hit her!
David Petrakis
That's what your supposed to do! My dad's a doctor.
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Mr. Freeman
Hi, everybody! Welcome to Art. The only class that will teach you how to survive. This is where you can find your soul, if you dare. Don't ask me to show you how to draw a face. Ask me to help you find the wind.
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Melinda Sordino
No... No, I mean, I won't help you.
Heather
Why not?
Melinda Sordino
Because I was nice to you, at the beginning of school... and you blew me off, because you're a self-centered social climber. And, I know what I want to do with my room, and it doesn't involve eggplant. I think you should go.
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Melinda Sordino
My English teacher has no face. I call her Hairwoman.
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Mr. Freeman
Can anybody tell me what this is?
[holds up a smashed globe]
Ivy
A globe?
Mr. Freeman
A globe? Gosh... what are you guys, 13, 14? You already let them beat the creativity outta you? It's okay. I used to let my daughters kick this around my studio when it was too wet too play outside and one day, Jenny put her foot right through Texas and the entire United States crumbled into the sea. I mean, you could... you could paint a wet muzzled dog chewing Alaska! The possibilities are endless. It's almost too much, but you all are important enough to give it too.
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Melinda Sordino
It's hard to sleep at home. How long would it take for the nurses to figure out I don't belong here? Would they let me rest for a few days?
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Melinda Sordino
It's impossible to listen to Ms. Kane. Her voice sounds like an engine that won't turn over. Plus she laughs at her own jokes.
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Ivy
[about Melinda's art project]
It's scary, like in a weird way, not "clown" scary, um how do I say this? It's like you don't wanna look at it too long.
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Mr. Freeman
[about Melinda's project]
I see a girl caught in the remains of a holiday gone bad with her flesh picked off day after day as the carcass dries out. The knife and fork are obviously middle-class sensibilities. The palm tree is a nice touch. A broken dream, perhaps? Plastic honeymoon, deserted island? Oh, If you put in a lice of pumpkin pie, it could be a deserted island!
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Melinda Sordino
Today is career day. Am I A: a helper B: a doer C: a planner or D: a dreamer.
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[pushes the presents towards Melinda]
Jack Sordino
Open the big one first.
Jack Sordino
Oh, yeah and one more.
Joyce Sordino
Hope we got the right kind.
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Mr. Freeman
Hey, Melinda! I'm glad you're here.
High School Student
Thanks for everything, Mr. F. I really hope I make enough money so I can afford one of your paintings.
Melinda Sordino
You're leaving?
Mr. Freeman
I like to swear. Play music. I hate giving grades.
Mr. Freeman
I'm here if you want to talk. Even if I'm not, you know, here.
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Mr. Neck
You got a hall pass, young lady? Come here. Hustle, young lady!
[Melinda runs to Mr. Neck]
Mr. Neck
7 minutes passed grace period. Name? Don't make this difficult. Name?
Melinda Sordino
Melinda Sordino.
Mr. Neck
Grade?
Melinda Sordino
Ninth.
Mr. Neck
That's one demerit, Sordino. Get to class.
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Principal
Well?
Joyce Sordino
Oh, for the love of God. Open your mouth, Melinda.
Jack Sordino
This is childish, honey.
Joyce Sordino
I don't know why she's doing this to us.
Guidance Counselor
We're not ganging up on you. We're here to help.
Principal
Let's start with grades. This isn't what we expected of you, Melissa.
Jack Sordino
Melinda!
Principal
Last year, you were a straight-B student. No behavioral problems, few absences. What do you have to say?
Joyce Sordino
She's mute. She's mute! She not saying anything.
Guidance Counselor
I think that we need to explore the family dynamics at play.
Jack Sordino
All I know is that last year, I had a sweet loving little girl and now she's flushing her grades down the toilet? What have you folks done to her? Huh? I play golf with the school board president. Did you know that?
Joyce Sordino
Nobody cares who you know, Jack.
Jack Sordino
Did you know that?
Joyce Sordino
Nobody cares.
Guidance Counselor
Can I just remind everyone that we need to one: reassure, two: stay open and three: don't judge.
Joyce Sordino
How old are you?
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loudspeaker
Attention, Merryweather students. The final tally is in. Bees: 35. Icebergs: 17. Hilltoppers: 6. Wombats: 84. We will now be the home of the Merryweather Wombats.
Heather
What rhymes with "wombats"?
loudspeaker
For those of you who didn't vote, maybe you've learned a valuable lesson today about democracy.
[Melinda flips off the loudspeaker]
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Mr. Freeman
In here is a piece of paper and on that piece of paper is a word. You are gonna spend the rest of the year turning that object into art.
Ivy
Uh, Mr. Freeman? When I was little, I was really scared of clowns and I don't wanna relapse and have to go back into therapy.
Mr. Freeman
Oh, yeah, well, fear is a great place to begin art.
[Melinda picks a piece of paper that says "tree" and tries to put it back]
Mr. Freeman
Hey! Whoa. You just chose your destiny. You can't change that.
Melinda Sordino
I learned how to draw a tree in like the 2nd grade.
Mr. Freeman
Oh, really? Um. Well, do you wanna show me? It's okay. I won't grade you.
[he hands her the chalk and Melinda sulks up to the blackboard and very hesitantly draws a really pathetic tree]
Mr. Freeman
That's a pretty good start. Yeah, let's see what it looks like at the end of the year.
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Melinda Sordino
Ivy's being nice. Say something. My throat is dry. It hurts.
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Heather
This is really awkward. No matter what... no, I don't wanna say that. I mean, we kinda paired up at the beginning of school when I was new and didn't know anyone and that was really really sweet of you, but I think it's time that we both admit to each other that we're just very different people. I mean, I have my modeling and I like to shop...
Melinda Sordino
I like to shop.
Heather
You don't like anything. You're the most depressed person I've ever met. And excuse me for saying this, but I think you need professional help.
Melinda Sordino
So you're blowing me off because I'm a little depressed?
Heather
Once you get through this "life sucks" phase, I'm sure lots of people will wanna be your friend. But for right now, I don't think we should have lunch together.
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Mr. Neck
Come on, Sordino. Spit it out. You have to learn to enunciate or else no one will listen.
Melinda Sordino
I was wondering if there was any way I can raise my grade?
Mr. Neck
Parents got the report card, huh?
Melinda Sordino
No, I just wanted to.
Mr. Neck
Why should I give you that chance?
Melinda Sordino
Everyone deserves a second chance. I mean, isn't that what Jesus said?
Mr. Neck
Are you being smart with me?
[Melinda shakes her head]
Mr. Neck
Okay. I'm feeling generous. Just because I don't wanna have to see your face in summer school. Write me a report on a cultural influence at the turn of the century and it better be good.
Melinda Sordino
It will be.
[voiceover]
Melinda Sordino
I'll write about the suffragettes. Before they came along, women were treated like dogs.
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Mr. Freeman
[describing his painting]
It's night in Venice. This is the color of an accountant's soul - a love rejected. This, I once grew mold on an orange this color when I was living in Boston. And these are various members of the school board. You see, if somethings eating at you you gotta find a way to use it.
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Hairwoman
A revolutionary is only as good as his analysis. What does that mean?
[Melinda raises her hand]
Hairwoman
Melinda, better late than never. Why is a revolutionary only as good as his or her analysis?
Melinda Sordino
I think you should know what you stand for, not just what you're against. You should be able to show how things can be better.
Hairwoman
That's pretty darn good.
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Melinda Sordino
There is no point talking to my ex-friends. Our clan, the plain Janes has been absorbed by rival groups. Nicole hangs out with the jocks. Rachel went all Euro. Ivy straddles two crowds: the Goths and the Marthas. And then there's me. I'm clanless.
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Melinda Sordino
Heather has found a clan. The Marthas. Very Connecticut. Very prep. I suspect money changed hands.
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Melinda Sordino
Dave Petrakis invited me over to do lab homework. I said no. No thanks. I just... I can't.
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[Dad walks in the kitchen and sees the Thanksgiving turkey in a pot on the stove]
Jack Sordino
You're boiling it?
Joyce Sordino
Too big to fit in the microwave!
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Melinda Sordino
It's firewood. Get it?
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Hairwoman
Every word Hawthorne wrote, every comma, every paragraph break, these were done on purpose. It is our job to try and figure out what he's really trying to say.
Melinda Sordino
[voiceover]
Why couldn't he just say what he meant? Would they pin a scarlet letter on his chest? "S" for straightforward?
Hairwoman
The house with the chunks of glass in its walls, is a symbol of what? Well, it would reflect, sparkle? Come on, people. The house symbolizes...?
Rachel Bruin
How do you know that's what he meant to say? I mean, you could just make all that up, it's just a story.
Hairwoman
This is Hawthorne, one of America's greatest novelists. And not that it makes any difference, but I wrote my dissertation on Hawthorne.
Rachel Bruin
Fine, but, I thought we were all supposed to have opinions here. I mean it's a good story especially when Hester and that guy fall in love, but I don't really believe in symbolism. I mean you can just make all that up.
Hairwoman
[about to cry]
All right, class. I want you all to write a 500 word essay on symbolism. And then... turn it in!
Melinda Sordino
[voiceover]
Poor Hairwoman. I hope they send her to a conference or something. I'm ready to help pay for a sub.
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Mr. Neck
There is no kissing in the hallway!
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Mr. Freeman
You need to visit the mind of the great one. Picasso. Picasso, who saw the truth. Who painted the truth. Who ripped it from the earth with two angry hands.
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Melinda Sordino
[panicking] Has anyone seen the phone? Hey, has anyone seen the phone?
[finds phone and dials 911]
911 Operator
911, please state your emergency. Hello? Hold the line. We're tracking your location.
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Melinda Sordino
I was raped.
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Mr. Freeman
[to Melinda]
Hey! You're the tree. Uh, you can eat lunch in here if you want. It's against school rules, but I'm kind of a rebel.
[gives Melinda a sheet of paper]
Mr. Freeman
Wow, uh. It's not a place mat. The rule is if you're gonna be in here, you need to be working, so choose your weapon.
[puts some pencils in front of Melinda]
Mr. Freeman
Do something, anything. Hey, does this inspire you?
[points to the radio]
Mr. Freeman
No?
[changes the radio station]
Mr. Freeman
Hmm?
[Melinda nods her head]
Mr. Freeman
So are you going trick or treating tonight?
Melinda Sordino
No.
Mr. Freeman
Oh. You don't like candy?
Melinda Sordino
I'm too old.
Mr. Freeman
Oh, right. Yeah, I got kids, so I guess I never get too old.
Melinda Sordino
Last year, we were witches.
Mr. Freeman
Who's we?
Melinda Sordino
My ex-best friends.
[angrily crumbles up her drawing]
Mr. Freeman
What are you doing? No, no! You gotta give things a chance.
[looks at the drawing]
Mr. Freeman
Close your eyes. Just do it. I'm the teacher. Can you picture a tree? Any tree.
[sees Melinda's eyebrows bend]
Mr. Freeman
There it is. It's burned in your retina. You got it. Do it.
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Jack Sordino
How's she doing?
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