Slayed - The Continuation

The assignment for my writing group this month was to continue the scene begun last month. Here is the continuation. If you'd like to read it from the beginning, click here.

WARNNG: There is aggressive language used throughout. If this bothers you click here.

(Note: Amelia is 15, Gordie is 16 and Bess is 9.)

BESS

(To GORDIE, smashing the ice pack to the

floor, standing)

Shut up you fucking' retard before I come over there

and beat the shit out of you and your little hot dog

again.

GORDIE

(Rising, rushing BESS)

You little mongoloid!

BESS gang rushes GORDIE. He grabs her by the arms

and picks her up. She kicks him in the thighs

over and over again, screaming "YOU FUCKING

RETARD." GORDIE rears back a hand to punch her in

the face when PRINCIPAL BRUCE swings the door to

his office open and lurches for the feuding

twosome.

PRINCIPAL BRUCE is a balding man in his

mid-forties, and terrified. He swats at them to

break it up - holding his face away to guard it

from impact.

PRINCIPAL BRUCE

Enough! E-NOUGH!

He shoves GORDIE to the floor and picks BESS up as

if she is made of razor blades. He tosses her in

the chair, swipes up the ice pack and hands it to

BESS without looking at her.

After a moment to compose himself:

PRINCIPAL BRUCE

I am very disappointed in you. Very disappointed. You

told me - no, promised - no more of this, this -

right. You made a promise. I can see now that your

promises mean nothing.

AMELIA snorts.

PRINCIPAL BRUCE

(Turning on her)

Now you lookahere, Miss Priss. You're not in here for nothing.

So, why don't you wipe that face off your face and -

A door opens and closes in the distance. There

are some official sounding mumblings from off.

Principle Bruce perks up and watches with

interest.

PRINCIPAL BRUCE

(Distant, looking off)

Now lets all settle down.

A moment as the offstage office equipment keens

softly.

After a beat, JAKE SPADE enters, late 30's,

attractive and no nonsense. Principal Bruce backs

up as he enters and takes charge of the room.

Amelia stands and runs into Jake's arms. Gordie

grabs the rip in his pants on instinct.

JAKE

Hi there, Peanut. Not now -

(To Principal Bruce)

Do you mind telling me what the hell is going on out here?

Are you out of your mind to drag me all the way out of

work? Can't this wait? Can't you send a note? You

think I'm made out of time, here?

(To Gordie)

What the fuck happened to your pants? Think I'm made out

of money, here? That's the third pair of pants in a

month, Gordie, Jesus.

GORDIE

It wasn't-

JAKE

Your fault. Uh-huh. I know. Never is.

GORDIE

But-

JAKE

Why don't you shut up and let the grown ups talk.

(To Principal Bruce)

So what is it? What is so of-the-essence that I have

to get my hands dirty?

Principal Bruce glances back at Bess. They all

turn to look at her. Bess is sitting and rocking

the force of her breath causing her to sway. Her

feral eyes glare at Jake.

A beat.

JAKE

The fuck is that?

PRINCIPAL BRUCE

Bess Hart, Mr. Spade. We had an...inci- incident

today. In the parking lot.

JAKE

And..?

PRINCIPAL BRUCE

As you can see, she's-

AMELIA

Gordie beat the shit out of her.

Jake turns to look at Amelia.

GORDIE

WHUT? Oh, come ON!

JAKE

What's that, Peanut?

AMELIA

Gordie did it. He beat her up.

GORDIE

You told me to.

AMELIA

I don't know what you're talking about.

GORDIE

Yeah, you DO, Amelia! You told me to. Wouldn't leave

me alone.

AMELIA

Well, if you weren't being such a pussy-

GORDIE

Watcher mouth, Amelia!

JAKE

ENOUGH.

(All fall silent)

Gordie, I don't want to hear another WORD OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

(To Principal Bruce, who is about to fall apart himself)

What can we do here? What is this - what? What can we do

here?

From off there is more official mumbling. After a moment,

KAY and PATRICK HART enter. They are in their

late 30's both are worn completely out. They stop

short when they enter. Kay surveys the scene.

Patrick looks at Jake.

PATRICK

Jake.

JAKE

Pat. Kay.

KAY

Jake. Principal Bruce.

Patrick breezes past everyone and into the

Principal's office. Kay makes a b-line for Bess and

sits next to her. They look at each other for a

moment, Kay pushes Bess' matted hair from her

eyes. Kay's presence calms Bess and she smiles up

at her mother.

KAY

(with reserve)

Who did this?

Everyone looks at Gordie.

GORDIE

WHUT?! Oh, Come ON.

JAKE

(Placing Amelia back in her chair)

Wait out here, Peanut.

(grasping Gordie's arm)

You get in here, now.

Principal Bruce scurries into his office and Kay

stands to follow. Bess waits. Everyone but

Amelia and Bess move off to the office.

AMELIA

(Standing)

I'm not staying out here with her!

JAKE

(from off)

You stay put, Peanut.

AMELIA

Are you crazy?

JAKE

I mean it! Or no credit card for a week. Sit tight.

The door closes and Amelia and Bess are left out

in the office lobby. Silence.

Muffled conversation can occasionally be heard

through the office door. The volume might raise

and lower as the scene progresses.

A long beat.

Bess stands, black eye covered in the ice pack

and points her gaze at Amelia. Amelia stairs at

the end of her shoe.

Bess takes a slow step towards Amelia.

Amelia hums tunelessly.

Bess takes a second step.

Amelia sniffs.

Bess takes a third step.

AMELIA

One more inch towards me and I'll do worse to you than

my retard brother ever could.

A beat.

Bess takes a fourth step.

Amelia jerks her head up to look at Bess.

AMELIA

You better not.

BESS

Already did. You're a cuntless wonder.