HIGH SCHOOL
"Pilot"
ACT ONE
FADE IN:
INT. CARLY'S BATHROOM - MORNING
CARLY ANDERSON, 15, stands at the sink looking nervous.
CARLY
Please, please, please, please!
ABIGAIL (V.O.)
Carly, hurry up!
CARLY
Just a minute, mom!
Carly lifts up a PREGNANCY TEST - it's positive. Her face
fills with panic. She starts gasping for air. She looks
around the room for her PURSE. She grabs it and spills the
contents onto the counter. She continues gasping for air.
Her hands search through the spilled mess.
There's a KNOCK on the door.
ABIGAIL (V.O.)
Carly! Carly, are you all right in
there?
Carly begins to panic even more. She moves quicker and finds
her INHALER. She takes the medicine and her breathing returns
to normal. She begins to put everything - including the
test - into her purse --
CARLY
Yeah, mom, I'm fine.
Carly opens the door.
CARLY (CONT'D)
Just my asthma acting up. I couldn't
find my inhaler.
Abigail kisses Carly's forehead.
ABIGAIL
Okay, let's get you to school. You
don't want to be late.
Carly gives a look, her mom has no idea how late she is.
Abigail slips her arm around her daughter and they walk off.

---

2.
INT. ZOEY'S BEDROOM - MORNING
ZOEY JACOBS, 15, pretty, sits on her floor meditating. It's
not a regular girls room with pink things and flowers. Zoey
is New Age and a practitioner of the occult, but the room is
not dark and scary. She's interrupted by yelling. She exits
her room to --
INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
She crosses the hallway and stops at the top of the stairs
to listen. Her parents are mid-argument --
JOHN (V.O.)
It's not my fault the economy is in
such a mess! People are getting
laid off left and right.
INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
JOHN and MARY JACOBS, late-thirties, bicker in the kitchen.
MARY
Well, what are we supposed to do?
How are we supposed to afford Zoey's
tuition? We would've been fine if
you hadn't --
JOHN
Oh, don't start this with me! You
certainly weren't complaining about
it when I bought you all that jewelry.
Maybe we should sell that to pay for
Zoey's tuition.
Mary looks at him coldly.
JOHN (CONT'D)
That's what I thought. Well how
about this - how about you get a
job? Ever think of that?
MARY
And just what kind of job am I
supposed to get exactly? Being a
wife and stay-at-home mom obviously
isn't enough for you.
JOHN
I never forced you to stay home.
You just enjoyed it so much. You
never had a career ambition in your
life!
A DOOR SLAM interrupts them.
(CONTINUED)

---

3.
CONTINUED:
MARY
Great, John, she overheard us!
INT. ZOEY'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
Zoey leans against her door as tears roll down her cheeks.
She gets an idea and goes to her bookcase. She pulls out a
book on witchcraft and magic spells.
INT. SPENCER'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
It's a modest, urban kitchen. Nothing fancier than a toaster
on the meek countertop, a stark contrast to the other
families. SPENCER, 15, dressed and ready for school, sets
the table for a breakfast for one - silverware, orange juice,
and a plate Chilaquiles topped with an egg.
SPENCER
(calling out)
Mami, I made breakfast for you. I
gotta go to school. I'll be home
right after.
He awaits a response, but doesn't receive one. He picks up
his bag and heads out the door.
EXT. HIGH SCHOOL - DAY
Carly gets out of the car and waves to her mother. She
crosses the quad and meets up with Zoey, who is with their
other two friends JADE CARSINSKI and ODELIA HUNTINGTON, both
15 - Jade with light-colored hair and plainer looking compared
to the raven-haired, perfectly made-up Odelia.
CARLY
(forcing a smile)
Hey, guys.
ODELIA
It's about time, we were about to
put out an Amber Alert.
CARLY
My asthma was acting up.
JADE
Are you okay?
CARLY
Yeah.
The begin walking, Carly is tuned out during most of the
conversation --
(CONTINUED)

---

4.
CONTINUED:
ZOEY
You're not the only one who had a
rough morning. I was right in the
middle of my morning meditation when
I heard my parents fighting again!
JADE
What happened?
ZOEY
My dad got laid off from his job.
He and my mom really laid into each
other. They might not be able to
afford my tuition.
ODELIA
Oh, my God! They're not going to
send you to one of those public
schools, are they?
ZOEY
Maybe.
They enter --
INT. HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAY
Zoey sees a co-ed down the corridor. She stops dead in her
tracks and turns away.
ZOEY
As if this day couldn't get any worse,
I have to see him the second I walk
in here.
JADE
It's okay, just be strong.
ZOEY
He broke up with me by changing his
relationship status on facebook!
ODELIA
Just post something about him having
a small penis.
Jade throws her a look. Odelia shrugs.
Jade and Odelia look to Carly, expecting her to say something
helpful. Carly is pulled back into reality.
CARLY
He's a jerk and you're better off
without him.
(CONTINUED)

---

5.
CONTINUED:
They walk off in another direction --
JADE
(whispers to Carly)
Are you okay?
CARLY
Sorry, I have a lot on my mind.
JADE
What's going on?
CARLY
I'm just really worried about Nathan.
Odelia, when's he getting out of the
hospital?
ODELIA
I'm not sure, but he's awake and
they're allowing visitors. I'm sure
he really wants to see you.
CARLY
Maybe we can all go, and get the
guys to come too.
JADE
Yeah, that'll be cool.
CARLY
Okay, see you guys at lunch.
They all head off to their classes.
INT. NATHAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
NATHAN WILLIAMS, lays in his hospital bed with a bandage
around his head. A DOCTOR shines a LIGHT into Nathan's eyes.
Nathan's mother, MONA, late 30s, and his step-father, TANNER
HUNTINGTON, early 40s, stand off to the side. The Doctor
starts to give out commands and Nathan follows them --
DOCTOR
Move your fingers for me... Good,
now your your legs... Excellent.
MONA
How is he, Doctor?
DOCTOR
Everything looks good. No paralysis.
Vitals are stable and normal.
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)

---

6.
CONTINUED:
DOCTOR (CONT'D)
We'll keep him on a strong dose of
antibiotics and start him on anti-
convulsants to prevent any seizures
and further damage to the brain.
There may be some mental problems -
difficulties with attention, learning,
memory, and problem solving.
(to Nathan)
You are very lucky, young man. Do
you remember what happened?
NATHAN
No.
The Doctor motions for Nathan's parents to follow him into --
INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
DOCTOR
I'm going to put in for a consult
with the psychiatrics.
TANNER
Is that really necessary, Doctor?
DOCTOR
Yes, I think it is. And in cases
like your step-son's, it's standard
procedure.
INT. NATHAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
Mona and Tanner re-enter the room and cross over to Nathan's
bed. Mona begins stroking his face and hair.
MONA
You're gonna be just fine, baby.
The Doctor said you can have visitors
now. Carly's asked about you
everyday. And Jake, I'm sure he'll
be by. I'm sure all your friends
will be by to visit real soon. Won't
that be nice?
NATHAN
Yeah, great.
Nathan turns his head. He's not very happy about the thought.
INT. HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAY
JAKE SANTINO - the brooder, COLIN COLBY - the jock, and
SPENCER MARTINEZ - the brain, all 15, meet up in the middle
(CONTINUED)

---

7.
CONTINUED:
of the crowded hallway after having left their respective
classes.
JAKE
Hey, guys, what's up?
COLIN
Starving!
SPENCER
Let's get our eat on.
They begin to navigate through the corridor --
JAKE
What class did you guys just get out
of?
SPENCER
Honors Geometry.
JAKE
Colin, you're in honors geometry?
COLIN
(smiles)
A-squared plus b-squared equals c-
squared.
JAKE
So, what are you guys up to tonight?
Want to hang out? Play a little
Rockband?
COLIN
I have soccer practice, then I was
gonna head over to Nathan's and meet
up with everyone. Didn't you get
the text?
JAKE
What text?
COLIN
O. texted me and said that you're
girlfriend wanted to get the group
to go visit Nathan today because
they are finally allowing visitors.
JAKE
Carly didn't text me. How about you
Spence?
(CONTINUED)

---

8.
CONTINUED:
SPENCER
I saw Carly in Honors Lit, but she
barely spoke a word. Zoey mentioned
it in Art class, but I told my mom
I'd be home.
COLIN
Aw, Spencer's gotta go home and take
care of mommy.
SPENCER
Shut up, man.
JAKE
Dude, you always gotta go home.
SPENCER
My mom needs me right now. Tell
Nathan I say "hi".
JAKE
Colin can tell him. I won't be there.
COLIN
Are you serious?
Jake nods. Colin and Spencer are surprised. They turn a
corner and head down the staircase.
INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CAFETERIA - DAY
The boys enter the cafeteria. Jade is first to encounter
them.
JADE
Hey, guys!
ALL
Hi.
Jake and Spencer move off.
JADE
How are you?
COLIN
I'm good.
She begins to rub his chest --
JADE
I missed you this weekend.
He stops her --
(CONTINUED)

---

9.
CONTINUED:
COLIN
Jade, are you crazy! Not here!
JADE
I just can't keep away from you.
Ever since that one time...
She bites her lip, recalling their intense hook up.
COLIN
I know, but we can't talk about that
now.
Odelia enters. She gives Colin a kiss.
ODELIA
Hey.
(joking)
Sorry, Jade, but I'm stealing my man
back.
She take his hand and pulls him away --
ODELIA (CONT'D)
Come on, let's go sit down. I'm so
hungry!
Jade follows. They join the table with Jake, Carly, Spencer,
and Zoey.
ODELIA (CONT'D)
Okay, so are you guys coming after
school to see Nathan?
COLIN
I'll be there after practice.
SPENCER
I gotta go home.
ZOEY
Can't you come for a little bit?
Zoey touches his arm. Spencer gets nervous.
SPENCER
I promised my mom--
ZOEY
I'm sure she'll understand. It'll
be good for Nathan to see all of his
friends.
(CONTINUED)

---

10.
CONTINUED:
SPENCER
(beat)
Well, I guess I can go for a little
bit.
ZOEY
Great! And I'm sure we can get you
a ride home. Maybe Odelia's daddy
will let us use the limo.
Spencer's eyes widen. Odelia makes a face at Zoey to mock
that comment.
SPENCER
(stuttering)
No, it's fine, I can take the bus.
ODELIA
Anyway, maybe we can get him balloons
or something, and --
CARLY
Wait, Jake, what about you? You're
coming right?
JAKE
Can't.
CARLY
What? Of course you can. You have
to.
JAKE
Well, I can't.
CARLY
Jake, he's your best friend! You're
not gonna go see him after he just
had major brain surgery?
JAKE
Yeah well, maybe he should've thought
of that before he tried to blow his
brains out!
Jake jumps up and bolts out, knocking over his chair, leaving
everyone at the table stunned.
FADE OUT.
END OF ACT ONE

---

Document Outline

• ACT ONE
• 1 INT. CARLY'S BATHROOM - MORNING
• 2 INT. ZOEY'S BEDROOM - MORNING
• 3 INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
• 4 INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
• 5 INT. ZOEY'S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS
• 6 INT. SPENCER'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY
• 7 EXT. HIGH SCHOOL - DAY
• 8 INT. HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAY
• 9 INT. NATHAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
• 10 INT. HOSPITAL CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS
• 11 INT. NATHAN'S HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
• 12 INT. HIGH SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAY
• 13 INT. HIGH SCHOOL - CAFETERIA - DAY

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