LIFE SET TO MUSIC (PART ONE)

INT. HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY

A class of five students and a music teacher are seated in a classroom

SAM BANNON: Male 46 years old, fair hair, Five Feet Nine Inches, Easygoing, Relatively attractive

Ariel Choblowsky: 16 Years old, Five Feet Four Inches tall, Slim, Dark Hair, Pale Skin, Dark Clothes, Dark makeup, Attractive

Dieter Rosenwood: 17 years old, Stronger than average build, Six Feet tall, Relatively long Dark hair, some tattoos, Dark clothes, short sleeve t-shirt and sleeveless denim jacket

Sylvestor Gordon: Skinny, 16 years old, Jewish, Intelligent, Five Feet Seven inches tall, Wears shirt and tie, Average looking

Melanie Carthright: African American, 16 years old, Five Feet seven inches tall, dark hair, blue eyes, attractive, Not shy

Emerson Da Silva: Puerto Rican background, 16 years old, Five Feet Eleven inches tall, Average looking, Wears Jeans, sneakers and a beige sweater.

SAM BANNON (MUSIC TEACHER): Ok, now that you are all seated, my name is Sam Bannon and I will be your music teacher this year. First of all, can any of you play a musical instrument?

Silence

SAM BANNON: Can any of you sing?

DIETER: Badly?

SAM BANNON: Have any of you studied music before?

Only one hand (Sylvester’s goes up)

SAM BANNON: There are five of you in this class. I’m going to ask each of you a question or two. Which one of you is Ariel Choblowsky?

Ariel puts her hand up despondently

SAM BANNON: What is your favourite type of music Ariel? Who do you like listening to?

ARIEL: I don’t listen to music

SAM BANNON: Then why are you here?

ARIEL: To be honest? Of all my options it was the one that least sucked. I also knew that Jasmine Breachwater wouldn’t be taking this class.

SAM BANNON: What are your goals for this class?

ARIEL: Nothing. Maybe get a pass.

SAM BANNON: My goal for you Ariel, is that by the end of the year you will love music. It might be classical, heavy metal, pop music or rock. Something will appeal to you, I promise.

ARIEL: Some people are immune to music. How do you know that I’m not one of them?

SAM BANNON: Ok, Dieter Rosenwood, what is your favourite music?

DIETER: I enjoy Heavy Metal, AC/DC and Metallica

SAM BANNON: And your goals for this year?

DIETER: I want to play in a band.

SAM BANNON: Is there any particular instrument that appeals to you Dieter?

DIETER: The guitar

SAM BANNON: Sylvester Gordon?

SYLVESTER: I enjoy classical, Beethoven, Mozart and I’d like to play the violin

SAM BANNON: Melanie Carthright?

MELANIE: Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Springsteen and Bruce Springsteen. I can sing and would like to write music.

SAM BANNON: Can you give us a sample of your singing

Melanie sings badly

All of the class mumble: That was very good.

MELANIE: Thanks

SAM BANNON: And you must be Emerson Da Silva

EMERSON: I enjoy almost all music except heavy metal. I can’t sing. I can’t dance and I don’t have any rhythm, but I wish I did.

SAM BANNON: That is the most underwhelming introduction I’ve ever experienced as a music teacher. On the plus side, at least some of you are enthusiastic. John, Paul, George and Ringo couldn’t read or write music at your age either. For most people music can be like a drug that gets inside your brain and you want more of it. It can reduce anxiety and improve your immune system.

Ariel’s hand goes up

ARIEL: Who are John, Paul, George & Ringo?

EMERSON: They were the four apostles who followed Christ around

MELANIE: But they didn’t have music back in the dark ages

DIETER: They didn’t even have paper. They wrote on cave walls instead. 

MELANIE: So what’s your point Mr Bannon?

INT. HIGH SCHOOL CORRIDOR - LUNCH TIME

At the start of lunch time, Ariel is at her locker. Brad Stevenson and Jasmine Breachwater are not far away

Brad Stevenson: Six Feet One Inches Tall, Very Attractive, 17 years old, well groomed, Fair Hair, Blue eyes, Very Fit

Jasmine Breachwater: Five Feet Seven inches, 17 years old, Blonde, Blue eyes, lightly tanned skin, slim, Very attractive, Very well dressed.

Brad puts his outstretched hand against the locker next to Jasmine

BRAD STEVENSON: Hi Jasmine. Will I see you after school?

JASMINE BREACHWATER: I’m getting my hair done tonight, but I’m free tomorrow.

BRAD STEVENSON: I’ve got football practice tomorrow

JASMINE BREACHWATER: Well can’t you call in sick?

BRAD STEVENSON: I don’t know Jasmine. It might cost me my place on the team

JASMINE BREACHWATER: Well, I’m visiting Georgia, the day after tomorrow so it may have to be Saturday

BRAD STEVENSON: Well I guess I’ll have to see about tomorrow then

Brad leaves

JASMINE BREACHWATER: What are you looking at Choblowsky? You ain’t got a man of your own? Such a loser.

Jasmine walks off

MELANIE: Well, I wouldn’t mind her. Her nose is so high up in the air she’ll be struggling for breath in no time. Ariel right?

ARIEL: Yes

MELANIE: We do music class together

ARIEL: Yes, the Boris Spintin fan

MELANIE: Well, close enough. Would you like to join me for lunch?

INT. ARIEL’S HOME - EVENING

Ariel arrives home and is greeted in the kitchen by her mother.

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: Dark hair, 45 years old, Brown eyes, Slim, Relatively attractive, Five Feet six inches tall, well groomed

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: Ariel, where have you been?

ARIEL: I came straight from school. The bus got stuck in a lot of traffic

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: Well, do your homework. Dinner will be ready soon. And don’t pester your little brother. He’s in his room studying.

ARIEL: I never annoy Malcolm. He annoys me

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: Yeah, whatever

Ariel throds up the stairs and into her room. 

INT. ARIELS ROOM - EVENING

Ariels room is relatively neat and tidy with two posters of famous film stars adorning the walls. The only untidy element was the evidence of Ariels doodling on pieces of paper at her desk.

Ariel lies down on her bed for five minutes before sitting up at her desk. As soon as she is about to start her homework, Malcolm enters, holding a water pistol which he sprays at her

MALCOLM CHOBLOWSKY: 12 years old, Five Feet Three inches tall, Brown hair, brown eyes, average build

ARIEL: You little brat

INT. ARIEL'S HOME KITCHEN - EVENING

The family sit down for dinner

MALCOLM: Mom, Ariel hit me

ARIEL: No I didn’t

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: Ariel, why can’t you leave your little brother alone

ARIEL: He sprayed water at me

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: Ariel just because he sprays water at you, isn’t enough reason to strike him. He’s only ten

ARIEL: I didn’t strike him

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: That’s enough. Your Father has come home for his meal after working all day so can we at least be civil?

Nicolae (Ariel’s Father) remained silent

NICOLAE CHOBLOWSKY: Five Feet Nine Inches Tall, 45 years old, Thinning, tightly cropped hair, slim, relatively attractive, timid

They start to eat dinner.

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: That handsome young man from down the street came by this afternoon. He’s one of the Thorntons.

ARIEL: Scott Thornton isn’t all that handsome

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: You can’t afford to be choosy. He comes from a wealthy family. You don’t want to live in squalor for the rest of your life.

ARIEL: All I’m saying is that I don’t like him very much

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: Well, myself and Nicolae married for love and see where that’s got us. Brandon got a scholarship to college. But for that we wouldn’t be able to put him through college. Malcolm is smart but you always struggled at school. You have to think of your future.

ARIEL: I think I have a right to decide what I want to do with my life.

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: Yeah well I don’t

ARIEL: Does Dad think he made a mistake in marrying you?

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: That’ cheeky young lady. Nicolae, talk to her

NICOLAE: Well eh?

ARIEL: I’m not hungry. I’m going to finish my homework. It’s probably more uplifting than dinner with my family.

VICTORIA CHOBLOWSKY: Get back here young lady.

Ariel ignores her and continues up the stairs.

EXT. HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL STADIUM - EVENING

Ariel attends football practice, hoping Brad Stevenson will notice her

Training ends. The players walk off the pitch

For a moment Ariel thinks that the quarterback has made eye contact but then Jasmine Breachwater appears from behind her and goes to talk to him.

Ariel tries to conceal her disappointment. She has some of her homework on her lap and decides to momentarily focus on that.

DIETER: Choblowsky isn’t it?

ARIEL: Rosenfart?

DIETER: Close enough. What are you doing here?

ARIEL: Studying and you?

DIETER: I’m a linebacker. I get to bash people out of the way. It can be fun you should try it some time.

ARIEL: I’m not really a football person

DIETER: Then you’re in the right place.

ARIEL: Look,I don’t really want to talk

DIETER: Let me guess. You just came here hoping Stevenson would notice you

ARIEL: Do you always call people by their surnames?

DIETER: I can’t really blame you. It’s like he was custom made by God or something.

ARIEL: Huh

DIETER: I also call people by their nicknames. What would you like me to call you?

ARIEL: I’m leaving

DIETER: Maybe I should make an exception and just call you Ariel. It might be safer.

Ariel leaves

INT. HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM - DAY

SAM BANNON: Does anyone know what a crotchet is?

Three hands go up, including Dieter and Sylvester



SAM BANNON: Yes Dieter?

DIETER: It’s that game you play for stuffy types with a hammer and a ball and some yokibobs

SAM BANNON: No Dieter

DIETER: Is it something to do with knitting or I know, a has-been sports star.

SYLVESTER: You’re wasting your time. Dieter doesn’t know anything about music

DIETER: Oh yeah. I know more than you do.

SAM BANNON: Conflict doesn’t do anybody any good. No matter who you are, you can always learn something from each other.

The beauty of music is that it can be anything you want it to be. Songwriters can write songs that mean something to them. They can write something that simply gives them pleasure, something that makes them feel relaxed or something that suits their mood. Not one person has the exact same taste in music. Some composers are more gifted than others but that shouldn’t stop anyone from liking a song written by lesser skilled song writers. Based on what we have learned so far, I want you individually to write eight lines of a song. It can be the first thing that comes into your head. It can be something that means something to you. It can be anything, so get writing. You have fifteen minutes.

The class start to write

Fifteen minutes later

SAM BANNON: Would anyone like to read out what they have written?

Everyone except Ariel sticks their hands up in the air

SAM BANNON: Ariel, can you please read out what you have written?

ARIEL: No

The music teacher calmly stands up and approaches Ariel’s desk. He turns her page around and reads it aloud

SAM BANNON: The cat sat on the mat. The cat got Fat from eating too much. The cat died, then got fried and put on the kitchen table along with the dead horse from the stable.

SAM BANNON: What does this mean to you Ariel?

ARIEL: Well, you did say that it could be anything

SAM BANNON: Would anyone else like to read out what they’ve written?

SAM BANNON: Dieter

DIETER: I’d like to lay you down on a bed of snails, I’d like to lay you down on a bed of snails, I’d like to lay you down on a bed of snails.

SAM BANNON: Is that all?

DIETER: Well it is a work in progress. You only gave us fifteen minutes.

Ariel puts her hand up

ARIEL: Sir I think for once I can empathise with the way Dieter is feeling. It’s deep.

The bell rings to signal the end of class.

The music teacher calls Ariel over

SAM BANNON: Ariel, it’s Friday. I have here an old ipod of mine. I want you to borrow it. Somewhere in here there might be music that you can either enjoy or associate with.

ARIEL: I’d rather not. It probably hasn’t been sterilized

SAM BANNON: Take it Ariel and give it a try.