The Dean of Students
by Dr. Pelham K. Mead
THE DEAN OF STUDENTS
Written by Dr. Pelham Mead III
Based on a true story THE DEAN OF STUDENTS
By Dr. Pelham Mead III
Based on a true story.
TV PILOT
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EPISODE ONE- THE DEAN OF STUDENTS AT KAKIAT JUNIOR HIGH, EAST RAMAPO SCHOOL DISTRICT, SPRING VALLEY, NEW YORK.
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SCENE-INT. DAY- DEAN’S OFFICE IN KAKIAT JUNIOR HIGH. (Opening Scene to be repeated at the beginning of each episode) Note: Pelham Mead, Dean of Students for Kakiat Junior high is a tall man with light brown hair, and a short mustache, and thin rimmed eye glasses. He is dressed in a white shirt, no tie, light brown sports jacket, and slacks. The scene opens with Mr. Mead entering his office, and trying to find a pen in his desk which is cluttered with water pistols, sling shots, knives, bullets, and one pellet gun.
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PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (42) Good morning Mrs. Rodofsky.
Note: Mr. Mead enters a small office with orange hanging folders stacked on the floor, cabinets and tables. They are everywhere making the room look like a dump.
We have to get rid of these disciplinary folders one of these days. Have you filed any of them yet? My previous secretary did not like to file folders.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY (45) Good morning Mr. Mead.
Mr. Mead enters his office. Five seconds of video show his title on the door (Pelham Mead, Dean of Students). As the camera scans across the outer room piles of orange files are stacked almost as high as the ceiling. Some stacks are on the floor. There is almost no room to walk except a path to the 2.
Dean’s office.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (Looking through his desk draws) Damm it where the hell are my pens? (Opens left lower desk draw which is full of water pistols) I have enough water pistols to start a toy store. (Opens top left desk draw) (The top draw is full of decks of cards, marbles, pea shooters and sling shots. Nothing but marbles and cards in this draw. (He opens the desk middle draw and a huge 18 inch hunting knife is in the draw along with several pocket knives. Hunting knives and no pens.(Opens Right top draw which is full of more water pistols). If there were a market for used water pistols, I would be rich.(Opens The right lower desk draw, and the draw is full of cap guns and a pellet gun) He digs through the cap guns and puts the pellet gun on top of his desk and on the bottom of the draw is one single ink pen.
Finally, a pen in a field of cap guns and a pellet gun. I have an arsenal here. (Mr. Mead puts all the cap guns and pellet gun back in the lower right hand draw. On top of the desk is three trays marked IN, PENDING, Processed. The IN file is stacked so high it is cascading into the Pending box. The Processed file is empty. Lisa how many students do we have today?
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY About fifty Mr. Mead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Fifty? Damm. It is going to take me all day to interview fifty students. Call down twenty students during homeroom today, and ten during 3rd period, ten during 4th period lunch and ten during 5th period lunch.
(MORE) 3.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
Make sure you do not call down any 7th graders during their 3rd period lunch period, and the same for 8th graders during 4th period, and lastly no 9th graders during 5th period lunch.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Yes, Mr. Mead. I will start from the bottom of the list, and call down the first 20 students during homeroom.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Thanks Lisa. I will help you file the thousands of old files that were never filed if I get time later today. (Video scans the office outside the Dean’s office where orange discipline files are stacked everywhere.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS My previous secretary did not know how to file folders nor did she enjoy filing folders so we have last year’s folders as well as this year’s folders. I need to find a better process.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY (On the school PA system) Will the following students report to the Dean of Students office immediately. Gregg Gross, Mindy Epstein, Sal Vendi, Gerald Rosen, Mandy Walstein, Paul Hollerman, Jerome Washington, Lavitia Green, Mohammed Figal, Brett Wolf, Andy Rothman, Adam Preenstein,…
(CONT’D)
Five minutes later a line of students forms outside the Dean’s office and down the hall past the main office. 4.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I am going to speed this up by dealing with the Lates to class, and cutting class by assigning them automatically to after-school detention this afternoon. (Dean Pelham Mead steps outside in the hallway and makes an announcement) The following students were either late to class more than two times or cut class are here by assigned to after-school detention. If you are on a Sports team you will not be allowed to attend practice.Gregg Gross, Mindy Epstein, Sal Vendi, Gerald Rosen, Mandy Walstein, Paul Hollerman, Jerome Washington, Lavitia Green, Mohammed Figal, Brett Wolf, Andy Rothman, Adam Preenstein. All other students will remain here in line until I can interview them. Those of you that I called can return to class immediately. Get a pass from Mrs. Rodofsky to return to class.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Mrs. Rodofsky, send in Malcolm Jones please.
(CONT’D)
Malcolm comes into the Dean’s office.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Sit down Malcom. I have a disciplinary referral from Mr. Knapp that you cursed at him in class. Is this true Malcom?
MALCOM JONES (13) STUDENT He got up in my face Mr. Mead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Really? Did he touch or hit you?
MALCOM JONES No he threatened to call my parents for not doing any homework.
(CONT’D) 5.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Really? Do you swear at your patents when you get mad?
MALCOM JONES No. My father would take my head off.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I am going to call your parents now. Is your mother at home Malcom?
MALCOM JONES I think so. My father works in New York city for the Electrical Union and he does not have a cell phone. Please don’t call my mother.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Hello Mrs. Jones. This is Mr. Mead, Dean of Students at Kakiat Junior high. I have your son Malcom in my office this morning. It seems he cursed out Mr. Knapp his Science teacher yesterday.
MRS. WELINDA JONES (50) MOTHER Hello, Yes Mr. Mead. I am sorry to hear that Malcom could not keep his fat mouth shut and show his teacher some respect.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Normally we would put Malcom in the In-school Suspension room for a whole day where he will not be able to talk and homework will be sent to keep him busy all day. He will also eat his lunch in the Suspension room. We have however an alternative. If you give your permission I can have Malcom do Community Service during his lunch period today picking up papers on the school grounds.
(MORE) 6.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
He will have to do three lunch periods of Community service instead of a whole day of In-school suspension. What would you like me to do Mrs. Jones?
Note: Mrs. Jones is a large 300 pound black woman with an Afro hair style and a moo moo dress.
MRS. WELINDA JONES Put that boy in Community Service picking up papers. Maybe it will teach him to keep his big mouth shut.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS OK, I will assign Malcom to 4th period Community Service today and two days after. Than you for your support Mrs. Jones.
Have a good day. Goodbye. OK, Malcom you heard your mother, and she approved of you serving Community Service today and two other days during your lunch period. At the beginning of 4th period lunch you will report to my office with your lunch. If you do not have lunch we will provide you with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a container of milk. You have 15 minutes to finish your lunch. After that you will be given a plastic trash bag, and a paper picker tool to pick up papers on the Soccer field and surrounding area. You are not to talk to your friends or anyone out during lunch recess. I will personally be observing you the whole period outdoors to make sure you are picking up papers the entire time. When you are done and the bell rings you are to show your bag contents to me before you dump it in the dumpster. Do you understand these instructions Malcom?
MALCOM JONES Yes, but am not happy.
I 7.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS See you at the beginning of 4th period. Do not be late or you will get an additional day of community service. Mrs. Rodofsky who is next.
FADE OUT.
Later that day Mr. Mead meets the students serving Community Service that day.
FADE IN: PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (CONT’D)
You students have 15 minutes to eat your lunch. There is to be no talking. When you are done I will give you a plastic garbage bag and a paper picker took to pick up papers and soda cans or bottles on or around the Soccer field outside. I will be watching you the whole time. When the bell rings, you are to bring your bags back to me to inspect and then you can dump them in the dumpster at the back of the building. There is to be no talking to each other or your friends. Does everyone understand?
15 minutes later.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS OK, here are your garbage bags and paper picker tool. Put on your coats and let’s go outside.
(CONT’D)
On the field Dean Mead is standing on the Soccer field holding a cup of coffee watching the students picking up papers. It is windy and his hair is blowing in the wind and it is cold and even with his heavy coat it is noticeable how cold he is. His face begins to become rosy red from the cold. He begins spitting on the ground.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Brrrrr, it is as cold as hell out here. Thank God for this coffee.
(CONT’D)
When the bell rings all the students turn in their bag of trash and Mr. Mead 8.
inspects them and then tells them to take the bags to the dumpster.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Take the bags to the dumpster and throw them in. See you tomorrow, same time, same place.
MALCOM JONES Man that sucked. I am sorry I cursed at Mr. Knapp because this is torture.
(CONT’D)
Mr. Mead comes back into his office.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Boy it was cold outside. Lisa have the remainder of the students I have to interview report to my office now.
FADE OUT.
At the end of the Day, Mr. Mead puts on his coat and exits the school by the side door.
FADE IN: PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (CONT’D)
Holy crap! Someone broke my car windshield. This is the third time this has happened. I am going to have to park my car out in the faculty parking lot to keep it away from any students. Damm, now I will have to drive home sitting in a pile of broken glass.
Mr. Mead is seen sitting in a pile of glass peering through a broken windshield, squinting his eyes to see.
FADE TO BLACK.
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EPISODE TWO- BULLETS IN SCHOOL.
SCENE 1-INT. DAY- DEAN OF STUDENT’S OFFICE.
3 9.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (42) Good morning Mrs. Rodofsky.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY (45) Good morning Mr. Mead.
Mr. Mead enters his office. Five seconds of video show his title on the door (Pelham Mead, Dean of Students). As the camera scans across the outer room piles of orange files are stacked almost as high as the ceiling. Some stacks are on the floor. There is almost no room to walk except a path to the Dean’s office.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (Looking through his desk draws) Damm it where the hell are my pens? (Opens left lower desk draw which is full of water pistols) I have enough water pistols to start a toy store. (Opens top left desk draw) (The top draw is full of decks of cards, marbles, pea shooters and sling shots. Nothing but marbles and cards in this draw. (He opens the desk middle draw and a huge 18 inch hunting knife is in the draw along with several pocket knives. Hunting knives and no pens.(Opens Right top draw which is full of more water pistols). If there were a market for used water pistols, I would be rich.(Opens The right lower desk draw, and the draw is full of cap guns and a pellet gun) He digs through the cap guns and puts the pellet gun on top of his desk and on the bottom of the draw is one single ink pen.
Finally, a pen in a field of cap guns and a pellet gun. I have an arsenal here. (Mr. Mead puts all the cap guns and pellet gun back in the lower right hand draw. On top of the desk is three trays marked IN, PENDING, Processed. The IN file is stacked so high it is cascading into the Pending box. The Processed file is empty. Lisa how many students do we have today? 10.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Less than most days. We have around 25 students. The fear of serving Community Service in front of their peers is making a lot of students think twice before cutting a class.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Bengee Magal do you know why you are here today?
BENGEE MAGAL (12) STUDENT
No, sir.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Do you want to empty your pockets Bengee?
BENGEE MAGAL, STUDENT What for Mr. Mead?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Your teacher Mr. Ross has reported to me that you were playing with live bullets in class. Is that true?
BENGEE MAGAL, STUDENT I found them at the bus stop.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Do you realize how dangerous it could be to you and your fellow students and teacher if one of those bullets exploded in your hand or pocket?
BENGEE MAGAL, STUDENT I only have 8 bullets. Here they are (dumpling the bullets on Dean Mead’s desk). 11.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (Picking up the bullets and examining them) These look like 22 long bullets Bangee.
Where did you get these bullets?
BENGEE MAGAL, STUDENT They were lying on the ground at the bus stop, and I picked them up and put them in my pocket.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Really? Mrs. Rodofsky, Bangee and I are going to take a little ride in my car. We will be back soon. Come on Bangee we are going for a ride in my car.
BENGEE MAGAL, STUDENT Where are we going?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS We are going to your bus stop to see if we can find anymore bullets on the ground.
Half way across the parking lot Bangee makes an admission of guilt.
BENGEE MAGAL Mr. Mead, stop. We don’t need to drive to the bus stop. I lied. I stole the bullets from a coffee can in my neighbors garage. I saw the bullets in the coffee can one day and I stole them from our neighbor. I brought them to school to show to my friends. I didn’t mean any harm. Honest.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Well then let’s go back to my office.
When they get back to Mr. Mead’s office.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Bengee bringing bullets or guns to school is a serious offense.
(CONT’D)
(MORE) 12.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
We have a zero tolerance policy in this school district and you could be expelled from school by the Superintendent of Schools and put on home tutoring or sent to another school district in Rockland county that will take you.
BENGEE MAGAL, STUDENT (Begins to cry) Please Mr. Mead, do not call my parents. They will kill me.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS The law requires me to contact your parents and inform the Principal of your misconduct. It is out of my hands what the Principal wants to do with you. This is your first offense, so that will help your case, but your parents will have to come into the school, and meet with the Principal, Mr.
Pollak and myself and we will take it from their. Let me call your parents first. Hello Mrs. Magal? This is Mr. Mead, Dean of Students at Kakiat Junior High. I am calling you today because I have your son Bengee in my office. He seems to have stolen some 22 calibre bullets from your next door neighbors garage where they were in a coffee can. He brought the bullets to school and showed them to his friends in class. The teacher reported him to my office and I interviewed Bengee and determined that he was lying about finding the bullets on the ground at his bus stop. Can you and your husband come in today and meet with Principal Gerald Pollak and myself to discuss Bengee’s situation. He may be suspended from school because we have a zero tolerance rule for guns and ammunition. 13.
MRS. MAGAL, (48) MOTHER I am shocked to hear my son stole bullets and brought them to school. I will call my husband, and we will be able to come to Kakiat Junior high this afternoon at 2:00 o’clock.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good, I will confirm this with Principal Pollak for meeting with him at 2:00 today.
Thank you for your cooperation Mrs. Magal.
Later that day at 2:00.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Mr. Mead, Mr. And Mrs.Magal Are here waiting for you.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Put them in the conference room and call down Bengee, while I get Mr. Pollak to sit in on this meeting.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Will do. Mr. And Mrs. Magal would you like a cup of water or anything? Please sit in the conference room until we can get your son Bengee down here and Mr. Pollak as soon as he is available.
Minutes later.
BENGEE MAGAL Hi Mom and Dad.
MR. MADAL Sit down Bengee. We are not happy.
BENGEE MAGAL
Sorry.
Note: Mr. Pollak is a bald, Jewish men with pale white skin, and no facial hair. He is a little over-weight and wears thin rimmed reading glasses. 14.
Mr. Pollak and Mr. Mead enter the conference room.
GERALD POLLAK, PRINCIPAL OF KAKIAT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Sorry for the delay Mr. And Mrs. Magal. I was on the phone with the District lawyer and the Superintendent of Schools regarding the legality of bring live ammunition into school. As you may know we have a zero tolerance policy regarding guns and bullets brought to school. If Bengee was 16 it would be a felony violation and he would have to be arrested. I have spoken to the Dean of Students, Mr. Mead and since this is Bengee’s first offense we are not going to suspend him from school for a week or sent him to another school district. With your permission he will participate in picking up papers during his lunch period for one month in our Community Service program supervised by Dean Pelham Mead. If he has any other discipline problems in the next school year I will have to recommend that he be removed from school and sent to another school in the district. Do you understand your rights Mr. And Mrs. Magel?
MRS. MAGAL, MOTHER I am so embarrassed for Bengee’s behavior. This is not the way we brought him up. I don’t know what I am going to tell our neighbors? We will prefer to have Bengee serve community service then be suspended from school.
GERALD POLLAK, PRINCIPAL OF KAKIAT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL OK, Mr. Mead will give you the form to sign giving your permission to have Bengee serve Community Service for one month.
(MORE) 15.
GERALD POLLAK, PRINCIPAL OF KAKIAT
You must provide a bag lunch for him since he will not be permitted to buy hot lunch for one month.
MR. MAGAL, FATHER Thank you Principal Pollak and Dean Mead. I have to get back to work. Bengee we will talk with you tonight. Good bye.
GERALD POLLAK, PRINCIPAL OF KAKIAT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Pel just a quick moment. Be careful with this community service thing so that it doesn’t blow up in your face.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I am always careful Mr. Pollak.
FADE OUT.
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EPISODE THREE- EXT. DAY- WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS SCENE 1-EXT. DAY-SCHOOL FACULTY PARKING LOT.
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Mr. Mead arrives for school at 8:00 a.m. In his Volkswagen hatchback car with no windshield. He had a ski hat on and a scarf, and ski jacket on, and gloves. His face looks white and frozen from the cold air coming through the open windshield.
FADE IN:
RICK KNAPP, (25) SCIENCE TEACHER Hey Pel where is your windshield? You look like you are frozen. What happened?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS One of our students who was unhappy with me for some reason broke my windshield with a rock. I had to drive home in a pile of broken glass. I don’t have time to get another windshield until this weekend. It was kind of like driving a snowmobile. 16.
RICK KNAPP, You certain are funny looking. (Laughing) You better get snow goggles too.
They both walk into the school from the faculty parking lot.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Are you sure you wouldn’t like to serve as the Dean of Students?
RICK KNAPP, No way, not me. I am a Union Rep, and not an administrator. Good luck with that job. See you later.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (42) Good morning Mrs. Rodofsky.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY (45) Good morning Mr. Mead. Did I see you driving to school with a car with no windshield this morning?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Yes, One of our students broke my windshield yesterday. I was unable to get another windshield so I had to drive to school without a windshield. Tomorrow I will take my motorcycle to work until I can get my car windshield replaced.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY I am sorry to hear that Mr. Mead.
Mr. Mead enters his office. Five seconds of video show his title on the door (Pelham Mead, Dean of Students). As the camera scans across the outer room piles of orange files are stacked almost as high as the ceiling. Some stacks are on the floor. There is almost no room to walk except a path to the Dean’s office. 17.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (Looking through his desk draws) Damm it where the hell are my pens? (Opens left lower desk draw which is full of water pistols) I have enough water pistols to start a toy store. (Opens top left desk draw) (The top draw is full of decks of cards, marbles, pea shooters and sling shots. Nothing but marbles and cards in this draw. (He opens the desk middle draw and a huge 18 inch hunting knife is in the draw along with several pocket knives. Hunting knives and no pens.(Opens Right top draw which is full of more water pistols). If there were a market for used water pistols, I would be rich.(Opens The right lower desk draw, and the draw is full of cap guns and a pellet gun) He digs through the cap guns and puts the pellet gun on top of his desk and on the bottom of the draw is one single ink pen.
Finally, a pen in a field of cap guns and a pellet gun. I have an arsenal here. (Mr. Mead puts all the cap guns and pellet gun back in the lower right hand draw. On top of the desk is three trays marked IN, PENDING, Processed. The IN file is stacked so high it is cascading into the Pending box. The Processed file is empty. Lisa how are we doing on filing the discipline folders? I am planning on using my Apple Pet computer and create a data base of all students that are disciplined on Appleworks. I will install the program on your computer for you and show you how to access the data base. I am going to use only 10 keywords. That will make sorting by different infractions easier. I can print out the whole week each Friday and give Mr. Pollak a copy for his files. 18.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Sounds good to me. It is going to take forever to file all these discipline folders. Many of last years 9th graders have already gone up to the high school. I have to keep them separate to send up to the high schools to help them update their files. They haven’t used computers yet in storing their files. We are way ahead of them in technology.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Great. How many students do I have to interview today?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY About 25 students. The late to class and class cutters have gone down because they do not want to pick up papers in front of their friends.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good that means my new approach is working. The in-school suspension room is mostly empty now. I moved those students into Community Service to give the teachers a break having to give up a prep period to sit in the In-school suspension room for a whole period.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY First up is Lashonda Williams.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Come right in Lashonda. Have a seat. You were recommended to me for fighting with another girl during lunch time. What is your side of the story?
LASHONDA WILLIAMS (14) STUDENT Well Mr. Mead, Tereshia Jones tried to take my boyfriend Jamal away from me so I had to teach the bitch a lesson.
(MORE) 19.
LASHONDA WILLIAMS (14) STUDENT
I asked her if she was messing with my boyfriend Billy Danders and she gave me the evil eye.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS What does this evil eye think mean?
Fighting in school is not permitted. If you have a problem you go to your guidance counselor and tell them about it, not starting a fist fight on the Soccer field. Normally, we suspend students who fight in school, but I am going to give you a break and ask your parents to allow you to serve in Community service..
LASHONDA WILLIAMS What is Community Service Mr. Mead?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Instead of being suspended from school and missing a full week of classes you get to pick up papers during your lunch period for one week. That way you don’t miss any of your classes and schoolwork.
LASHONDA WILLIAMS Picking up papers. Hell No!
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS If you refuse, then I will be forced to suspend you for one to two weeks out of school. You will fall behind in your work and probably fail the semester. In addition the suspension will go on your permanent record for future colleges or Employers to see if they want to accept you. The next time you get in trouble you may be expelled permanently and have to go to night school to get a diploma. So what will it be Lashonda. 20.
LASHONDA WILLIAMS When you put it that way, I will pick up papers instead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good, meet me in front of my office tomorrow at the beginning of 4th period.
This is all pending on a phone call to your parents for their permission for your to serve community service.
FADE OUT.
Later that day Mr. Mead goes outdoors third period, fourth period and fifth period to supervised community service. The day was especially windy and cold. Mr. Mead had a cup of coffee and his ski jacket on with the hood over his head to protect him from the wind. He looked like a frozen corpse. Each period he goes out he gets whiter and whiter with red eyes from the cold.
FADE IN: PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (CONT’D)
Time to go out for community service. If anyone has an emergency just call me on the walkie talkie and I will come running. Now it is time to freeze to death on the Soccer field.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Stay warm Mr. Mead.
At the end of the day Mr. Mead walks out to the empty faculty parking lot where his VW hatchback is parked with no windshield. He puts on his ski hat, gloves and scarf around his ski jacket and drives off with the cold wind in his face.
FADE TO BLACK.
6
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EPISODE FOUR- TROUBLE IN THE EH (EMOTIONALLY HANDICAPPED) CLASSROOM.
SCENE 1-INT. DAY-DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE.
6
7
FADE IN: 21.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (42) Good morning Mrs. Rodofsky.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY (45) Good morning Mr. Mead.
Mr. Mead enters his office. Five seconds of video show his title on the door (Pelham Mead, Dean of Students). As the camera scans across the outer room piles of orange files are stacked almost as high as the ceiling. Some stacks are on the floor. There is almost no room to walk except a path to the Dean’s office.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (Looking through his desk draws) Damm it where the hell are my pens? (Opens left lower desk draw which is full of water pistols) I have enough water pistols to start a toy store. (Opens top left desk draw) (The top draw is full of decks of cards, marbles, pea shooters and sling shots. Nothing but marbles and cards in this draw. (He opens the desk middle draw and a huge 18 inch hunting knife is in the draw along with several pocket knives. Hunting knives and no pens.(Opens Right top draw which is full of more water pistols). If there were a market for used water pistols, I would be rich.(Opens The right lower desk draw, and the draw is full of cap guns and a pellet gun) He digs through the cap guns and puts the pellet gun on top of his desk and on the bottom of the draw is one single ink pen.
Finally, a pen in a field of cap guns and a pellet gun. I have an arsenal here. (Mr. Mead puts all the cap guns and pellet gun back in the lower right hand draw. On top of the desk is three trays marked IN, PENDING, Processed. The IN file is stacked so high it is cascading into the Pending box. The Processed file is empty. Lisa how many students do we have today? 22.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY About ten, Mr. Mead. The numbers are going down finally. Oh, you have a call on the intercom. Miss Gravely say she has an emergency. One of her male students named Mohammed Moosher is freaking out and threatening to hurt everyone in the class. She wants you and security to rush to her room.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Tell her I am on the way. Call the security guards and tell them to meet me at the EH class on the first floor.
Pelham Mead jogs down to the EH class. Upon his arrival he opens the door and sees furniture and tables and chairs upside down all over the classroom. All the students are pinned against the wall including the teacher in fear of the student at the far end of the room who was cursing and threatening everyone in the room with his black umbrella.
MARILYN BROCK (30) EH TEACHER Mr. Mead I am so glad you responded so quickly. As you can see we have a situation here with Mohammed. Mohammed had an argument with one of the students and a fight broke out with chairs being thrown and Mohammed threatening the entire class with an umbrella. Can you help us?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Mohammed, I am the Dean of students. You need to calm down. What is the problem?
You also need to stop threatening everyone with that umbrella. Are you alright Miss Brock?
Mohammed is an average size black student with short cut hair and no facial hairs. He is a very muscular student being a year older that the rest of the students. He has a very base voice and stutters a little when talking.
MOHAMMED MOOSHER, (15) STUDENT Fuck you Mr. Med or whatever your name is.
(MORE) 23.
MOHAMMED MOOSHER, (15) STUDENT
I asked Miss Brock if I could take a few days off from school to make some money working, and she said No. Then Julian, the fat slob started laughing at me and we had a fight.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS If you take off from school you can be arrested by the District truancy officer, and be in a lot of trouble. Come on Mohammed let’s go out in the hallway and talk this over.
MOHAMMED MOOSHER, Fuck you. am not going anywhere.
I
SECURITY GUARD DAN HEALY, (60) Do you need help Mr. Mead?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS No Dan, I got this under control. Stay around just in case. Mohammed if you don’t come out, I am going to have to drag you out in the hallway.
MOHAMMED MOOSHER, Fuck you asshole. Try and take this umbrella away from me.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS This is your last chance Mohammed. I am coming in, and I am going to take your umbrella away, and drag you by your neck out into the hallway for the rest of the school to see.
MOHAMMED MOOSHER, (Mohammed raised the umbrella high in the air as Mr. Mead charged him) You can’t have my umbrella. 24.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Give me the umbrella or I am going to wrap it around your throat.
Note: Mr. Mead was a Wrestling champion in High school and college and he kept himself in the best physical condition possible at 160 pounds over Mohammed who weighed around 120 pounds.
Mr. Mead grabbed the umbrella and Mohammed behind the neck, and dragged him out into the hallway. There Mohammed tried to punch Mr. Mead, and he blocked the punch, and judo flipped Mohammed to the floor. Suddenly, all the classroom doors opened and the teachers stuck their heads out to see what was going on. They were amazed to see the Dean of Students wrestling with an EH student. It was the event of the month for the teachers when they gossiped about what happened in the teacher cafeteria everyday.
Later, Mr. Mead got Mohammed in a head lock, and dragged him down to the Dean’s office. Dan the Security officer helped by bringing the umbrella along.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Lisa inform Mr. Pollak that I have a violent student I want arrested by the Rampo Police department. I will press charges of assaulting a teacher and administrator in addition to threatening the other students in the class with bodily harm. I am going to lock him in the conference room until the police get here.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY I am calling Mr. Pollak on the intercom right now and the Ramapo Police department.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Thank you. Now I have to catch my breath. I haven’t wrestled since College.
(CONT’D)
FADE OUT.
8
EPISODE FIVE-INT. DAY- WATER PISTOL FIGHTS IN THE CAFETERIA.
8 25.
9
SCENE 1-INT. DAY- DEAN OF STUDENT’S OFFICE.
Mr. Mead comes into his office which is the office within the Discipline office with secretary lisa Rodofsky in the first office. He trips on a pile of orange discipline files in his office.
FADE IN:
9
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (Unlocks his door with a key and trips on a pile of folders on the floor) Damm I tripped on a pile of folders on the floor again. When are we going to get rid of these folders?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY I am sorry Mr. Mead. I didn’t have anywhere to put them. The are the 9th grade files from last year that have to be sent up to the High schools. I need your approval to send them.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Send them now to make room in my office.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (Looking through his desk draws) Damm it where the hell are my pens? (Opens left lower desk draw which is full of water pistols) I have enough water pistols to start a toy store. (Opens top left desk draw) (The top draw is full of decks of cards, marbles, pea shooters and sling shots. Nothing but marbles and cards in this draw. (He opens the desk middle draw and a huge 18 inch hunting knife is in the draw along with several pocket knives. Hunting knives and no pens.(Opens Right top draw which is full of more water pistols).
(CONT’D)
(MORE) 26.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
If there were a market for used water pistols, I would be rich.(Opens The right lower desk draw, and the draw is full of cap guns and a pellet gun) He digs through the cap guns and puts the pellet gun on top of his desk and on the bottom of the draw is one single ink pen. Finally, a pen in a field of cap guns and a pellet gun. I have an arsenal here. (Mr. Mead puts all the cap guns and pellet gun back in the lower right hand draw. On top of the desk is three trays marked IN, PENDING, Processed. The IN file is stacked so high it is cascading into the Pending box. The Processed file is empty. Who do we have scheduled for the Discipline office today, Lisa?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY We have only 20 students today Mr. Mead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Well, call them down and send them in. I’ll take the boys involved in a water pistol fight yesterday in the cafeteria first. Henry Folk, James Beech, Almad Rodriques, Tony Wells, and Brian Holmes. Gentlemen, sit down. Lisa do you have a few extra seats.
Henry give Mrs. Rodofsky a hand with the chairs. Do you boys know why you are here today?
TONY WELLS (13) STUDENT Is this about the water pistol fight. Brian started it.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I don’t care who started the water pistol fight. For one thing, water pistols are forbidden in school. Secondly, you caused a riot in the cafeteria by shooting everyone with water. This conduct is unacceptable.
(MORE) 27.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
Here are you water pistols that were taken away by our security guards. Watch carefully as I step on these water pistols on the floor. (Mr. Mead puts five water pistols on the floor and steps on them crushing them into many pieces). You have a choice of in-school suspension for three days or one hour of community service for five day. With in-school suspension I have to call your parents and have them come into school to meet with me to discuss your discipline problems.
BRIAN WELLS Don’t call my parents. We’ll take the community service.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS If any of you bring a water pistol, pea shooter or anything else to school this year, I will ask the Principal to expel you from school for a week and have the incident put on your permanent record. Do you all understand? Tomorrow you will report to my office the beginning of 4th period with your bag lunch. You will have 15 minutes to eat lunch and then we will be going outdoors to pick up papers. Bring a warm coat, it is cold out there. Next up? Good bye.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Next up is Benjee Moondoll.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Benjee the report here states you brought an 18 inch Hunting knife into school and you were showing it to your friends in the hallway when security took it away from you. Where did you get this 18 inch hunting knife from Benjee? 28.
BENJEE MOONDOLL (13) STUDENT I took it from my fathers things in the cellar.
I just wanted to show it to my friends. That’s all. I didn’t threaten anyone.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Benjee do you realize that bringing a weapon like a hunting knife to school is a serious violation?
BENJEE MOONDOLL I am sorry Mr. Mead. I really didn’t want to upset anyone.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS What you did was a very foolish thing and now I have to call your parents to come in for a conference. As of this moment you are suspended from school and you will remain in my outer office until your parents come in to sign you out. I will get the Principal to authorize your suspension for one week. Do you understand?
BENGEE MOONDOLL Can have the knife back?
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PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I don’t think so. The Hunting knife is confiscated and you will not get it back ever.
I am calling home is your mother or father home?
BENJEE MOONDOLL My mother is home because she does not work.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS OK. Hello Mrs. Moondoll? This is the Dean of Students at Kakiat Junior High, Mr.
Mead. I have your son Benjee here in my office.
(MORE) 29.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
It seems he brought an 18 inch hunting knife into school yesterday to show his friends. Bring weapons into school is a major violation of the student code of conduct. He is being expelled from school for one week for carrying a weapon in school. You must come and get him and take him home. He is not to be allowed out of the house or go to the mall or movies. Do you understand Mrs. Moondoll?
MRS. NEL MOONDOLL, (40) MOTHER I am very sorry for my son Mr. Mead. I will get a taxi, and be there within the hour to get my son, and bring him home.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Thank you Mrs. Moondoll. Your son will be waiting in the Dean’s office, second door on the left when you come in the front door.
Good day.
Later that day.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Another day for Community service periods 3,4, and 5. If I bring a cup of coffee out with me I don’t freeze as much.
(CONT’D)
Note: the camera shows Mr. Mead going out for community service each of three periods and coming back in with frost on his face, his hair frozen and his coat stiff and frozen.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I am back. OK, 4th period you are next.
Going out now.
Brrr I am back and ready for period 5 community service. I need another cup of coffee. It is 30 degrees out there. Come on students let’s go outdoors. Here are your garbage bags.
(CONT’D)
Later 30.
Later
I am back finally. Period 5 is over, and I have to go teach a Phys. Ed. Class. See you late Mrs. Rodofsky.
At the end of the day Mr. Mead walks over to his car with plastic garbage bags in the windshield frame. He takes the bags out and puts them in the back of his VW hatchback.
JOHN CARUCCI, SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER How is that open air vehicle working out for you Pel? Ha..
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Fine John, just a bit chilly on the way home.
I have to turn the heat on to high. See you tomorrow.
FADE OUT.
10
EPISODE SIX- MOTORCYCLE MAN SCENE 1-EXT.DAY- KAKIAT JUNIOR HIGH DRIVEWAY.
10
FADE IN:
A motorcycle with the label Yamaha on the yellow tank enters the long driveway to Kakiat junior high. The exhaust pipes are making a lot of noise, and the rider is in a black leather jacket, and black helmet with gauntlet gloves. The motorcycle comes peeling around the curve of the driveway into the faculty parking lot.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Well taking my Yamaha 250 enduro motorcycle saves gas to work at least. Boy that was a cold ride. I can’t wait to get a new windshield.(Takes his helmet and gloves off and walks into the Junior high).
Mr. Mead enters Kakiat Junior High. 31.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good morning Mrs. Rodofsky. (Holding his motorcycle helmet and gloves under his arm)
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY You came to work on a motorcycle? You must be crazy it is under 30 degrees outside.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Diving the car with no windshield was about the same as driving a motorcycle, so I took my motorcycle to work until I get a new windshield.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (Looking through his desk draws) Damm it where the hell are my pens? (Opens left lower desk draw which is full of water pistols) I have enough water pistols to start a toy store. (Opens top left desk draw) (The top draw is full of decks of cards, marbles, pea shooters and sling shots. Nothing but marbles and cards in this draw. (He opens the desk middle draw and a huge 18 inch hunting knife is in the draw along with several pocket knives. Hunting knives and no pens.(Opens Right top draw which is full of more water pistols). If there were a market for used water pistols, I would be rich.(Opens The right lower desk draw, and the draw is full of cap guns and a pellet gun) He digs through the cap guns and puts the pellet gun on top of his desk and on the bottom of the draw is one single ink pen.
Finally, a pen in a field of cap guns and a pellet gun. I have an arsenal here. (Mr. Mead puts all the cap guns and pellet gun back in the lower right hand draw. On top of the desk is three trays marked IN, PENDING, Processed.
(CONT’D)
(CONT’D)
(MORE) 32.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
The IN file is stacked so high it is cascading into the Pending box. The Processed file is empty. Ahhh, here is a pen I can use. I will help you tackle some of the discipline files before school today Lisa.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Thank you Mr. Mead. The files are endless.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS We are going to eliminate the file system. It requires to much man power work hours. I am going to put all incidents on an Apple Pet computer using the Appleworks program. I am going to create a data base program of all discipline cases. I made up a keyword list of ten categories I will use to make sorting files easier. Eventually, by next year I hope to have Mr. Pollak approve discontinuing the use of paper files and substitute the database file approach instead.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY That sound good to me. Can you show me how to use the Appleworks program?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Sure, no problem. I will show you how to open the files for each week and month so you can print them out for Mr. Pollak. We will use only the database. I hope we can get the file cabinets out of here by next year and bring in more student chairs.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY We have a girl fight among a group of Haitian girls over a boyfriend. Do you want me to call them down?
PEL MEAD, HEALTH AND PHYS.ED TEACHER Might was well. Was anyone injured? 33.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY No just hair pulling and bruised egos.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS OK, call them down immediately. This sounds like a she said, he said or more correctly she said, she said case. I hate these kinds of cases because they take forever to settle. Talk, talk and cross talking.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Mr. Mead, Chantel Rymes, Loboi Bentley, Skytell Bestman are here. Should I sent them into your office?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Yes, Mrs. Rodofsky send them in. Good morning girls. I see here that you are all 7th graders and you came from St. Vincents Catholic school in downtown Spring Valley.
Do they allow you fight in St. Vincents girls?
SKYTELL BESTMAN (12) STUDENT No Mr. Med.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS My name is pronounced MEAD, Skytell. So what started the fight?
LOBOI BENTLY (12) STUDENT Chantel gave me the evil eye yesterday, and called my boyfriend a bum.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Really? What is this evil eye thing? Do you look at someone in a weird way with one eye?
CHANTEL RYMES (12) STUDENT Loboi got up in my face and I had to defend myself. 34.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Do you realize you can be suspended from school for fighting in school? What will happen if I have to call your parents?
CHANTEL RYMES Please don’t call our parents and grandparents. They will take us out of school and send us back to Haiti.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS That sound a little severe. Do your girls think you can apologize and be friends? Or will I have to call your parents and grandparents? If you apologize now and promise not to fight again I can give you three days of community service and I will call your parents. If you fight again I will have to call your parents and grandparents and you will be expelled from school for one week. Is that understood.
SKYTELL BESTMAN I apologize Mr. Med.
LOBOI BENTLY I apologize too Mr. Mead
CHANTEL RYMES I apologize too.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Alright then I will see all of you tomorrow at the beginning of 3rd period lunch. Bring your own lunch. You will not be allowed to get hot lunch. Also bring your coats. Good bye ladies.
FADE OUT. The next day Mr. Mead comes into his office wearing a weird pair of party 35.
glasses with only one eye.
FADE IN: PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (CONT’D)
Good morning Lisa.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY What are you wearing? Ha.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS These are my evil eye glasses in case I get any more Haitians with evil eye problems.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY You have to be kidding?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Of course. I Just thought the glasses would be funny. After a year of working all day plus before and after school with three periods of Discipline and five classes a day I am beginning to get tired in the afternoon. I brought in some tea bags and a cup heater to keep me awake.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY I have the same problem staying awake in the afternoon. I have been drinking 3 and four cups of coffee a day. I am getting an acid stomach.
That afternoon, Mr. Mead is seen in his office heating up a cup of tea and putting a tea bag in the cup.
Next week.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I tried tea to stay awake last week, but it didn’t work. This week I brought in an old Mr. Coffee Maker. That way I can make fresh coffee each afternoon. That should keep me awake.
FADE OUT. 36.
Next week.
FADE IN:
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY How is your coffee maker coming along?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS It was good at first but I ended up drinking coffee all day. The coffee wasn’t strong enough. This week I bought a cappuccino machine.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Cappuccino? Wow that will keep you awake.
Later that day Mr. Mead makes a small cup of cappuccino and feels good afterward.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I had a cup of capuchino and I can’t get my leg to stop jumping up and down.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY (Laughing) Just steam up more milk, and thin out the caffeine.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Thanks Lisa, I will try that. I got a windshield for my car finally. I have to park out in the faculty parking lot away from the students to prevent any future broken windshields.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY That means you don’t have to drive your motorcycle to work.
FADE OUT.
Later that day period 3.
FADE IN: 37.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS OK students I am going to give you a break today because it snowed last night. We are going to mop the floor in the front hallway and clean the glass on the front office. I have the mops and bucket here with floor cleaner inside. For those cleaning the glass you can use the spray cans of glass cleaner and one rag each to wipe off the cleaner and dirt.
Just five minutes before the bell would ring at the end of the lunch period one student accidentally knocked the bucket over and flooded the hallway. Mr. Mead tried to mop it up but it was too late and the students came running past the main office and hydro planing on the water on the floor. Many fell and others bumped into others when they stepped on the water.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Johnny what have you done? Damm it, now we have to mop the water you spilled before the students change periods. Oops, here they come now. Watch your step, spilled water on the floor. Caution. Slow down or you will fall. Water on the floor. Lisa call the Head Custodian, and tell him to send two custodians with dry mops to help get the water off the floor. That will be the last time we mop floors. Too much chance for accidents. Go to class Johnny. I will take care of this. Students for 4th period community service we need to clean up a water spill from 3rd period. Finish your sandwiches and grab an extra mob. I will stabilize the bucket so it doesn’t fall over.
(CONT’D)
FADE OUT.
11
12
EPISODE SEVEN-THE MINI-SKIRT PROBLEM.
SCENE 1-INT. DAY- DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE.
FADE IN: A motorcycle with the label Yamaha on the yellow tank enters the long
11
12 38.
driveway to Kakiat junior high. The exhaust pipes are making a lot of noise, and the rider is in a black leather jacket, and black helmet with gauntlet gloves. The enduro motorcycle come peeling around the curve of the driveway into the faculty parking lot. As the motorcycle comes around the curve it slides sideways on the ice.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good morning Lisa. I see we are done with student folders finally.
(Looking through his desk draws) Damm it where the hell are my pens? (Opens left lower desk draw which is full of water pistols) I have enough water pistols to start a toy store. (Opens top left desk draw) (The top draw is full of decks of cards, marbles, pea shooters and sling shots. Nothing but marbles and cards in this draw. (He opens the desk middle draw and a huge 18 inch hunting knife is in the draw along with several pocket knives. Hunting knives and no pens.(Opens Right top draw which is full of more water pistols). If there were a market for used water pistols, I would be rich.(Opens The right lower desk draw, and the draw is full of cap guns and a pellet gun) He digs through the cap guns and puts the pellet gun on top of his desk and on the bottom of the draw is one single ink pen.
Finally, a pen in a field of cap guns and a pellet gun. I have an arsenal here. (Mr. Mead puts all the cap guns and pellet gun back in the lower right hand draw. On top of the desk is three trays marked IN, PENDING, Processed. The IN file is stacked so high it is cascading into the Pending box. The Processed file is empty. Lisa call down the first group of students please. 39.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY They are on their way down to the office Mr. Mead. One girl is an emergency with improper school dress. Her mini-skirt is deemed to short by her Social Studies teacher Mrs. Grey.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Alice Grey? Come into my office please. Sit down. Woogh, (shocked look as Alice’s underwear shows). Second thought just stay standing. Do you realize how short your mini-skirt is Alice?
ALICE GREY (14) STUDENT I thought it was alright, but that old fart Mrs. Grey sent me down to your office.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Mrs. Rodofsky would you come in here please. Could you bring in a ruler, and measure how high Alice’s mini-skirt is above her knees. The Student Code of conduct allows 2 inches above the knee and no more. Your skirt is embarrassingly much higher. How do you manage to sit down without everyone seeing what you had for breakfast Alice?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY It looks like Alice’s mini-skirt is 6 inches above her knees Mr. Mead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I am sorry Alice, but I am going to have to call your parents and send you home to change your clothes and come back properly dressed.
ALICE GREY Please don’t call my parents Mr. Mead. They will kill me. 40.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS We could cut out some butcher paper and tape it to your mini-skirt so it reaches your knees?
ALICE GREY That would make me the laughing stock of the school with a paper dress Mr. Mead. I would rather go home, and change instead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I am very busy today, so Mrs. Rodofsky is going to call your parents, and have them pick you up, and take you home to change.
If you do not come back, I will have to charge you with one day illegal absence. Do you understand Alice?
ALICE GREY
Yes.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Mrs. Rodofsky call Alice’s parents please and have them pick her up, and take her home to change and come back properly dressed.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Yes, Mr. Mead.
FADE OUT.
13
14
EPISODE EIGHT- STUDENT EXCUSES SCENE-INT. DAY- DEAN OF STUDENT’S OFFICE.
13
14
FADE IN: A small VW hatchback is seen entering the long s curved driveway in front of Kakiat Junior High. As the car get closer, and closer to the school it is obvious that , Pelham Mead the Dean of students, is driving the car with a nice new windshield. Mr. Mead parks the car and walks toward the school on an icy winter day. 41.
Later after walking across the faculty parking lot on the white snow.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good morning Mrs. Rodofsky.
Note: Mr. Mead enters his office. Five seconds of video show his title on the door (Pelham Mead, Dean of Students). As the camera scans across the Dean’s office an Apple Pet computer sits on the desk and a cappuccino machine on the window ledge.
FADE IN: PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (CONT’D)
(Looking through his desk draws) Damm it where the hell are my pens? (Opens left lower desk draw which is full of water pistols) I have enough water pistols to start a toy store. (Opens top left desk draw) (The top draw is full of decks of cards, marbles, pea shooters and sling shots. Nothing but marbles and cards in this draw. (He opens the desk middle draw and a huge 18 inch hunting knife is in the draw along with several pocket knives. Hunting knives and no pens.(Opens Right top draw which is full of more water pistols). If there were a market for used water pistols, I would be rich.(Opens The right lower desk draw, and the draw is full of cap guns and a pellet gun) He digs through the cap guns and puts the pellet gun on top of his desk and on the bottom of the draw is one single ink pen. Finally, a pen in a field of cap guns and a pellet gun. I have an arsenal here. (Mr. Mead puts all the cap guns and pellet gun back in the lower right hand draw. On top of the desk is three trays marked IN, PENDING, Processed. The IN file is stacked so high it is cascading into the Pending box. The Processed file is empty. Lisa call down just the students that cut class or were late to class first today please. 42.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Will do Mr. Mead. I will call them down on the PA system now.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Send in the first student Mrs. Rodofsky.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Benjamin Wells is coming in Mr. Mead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good morning Benjamin. Take a seat. I have here a cut slip from your English teacher Mr.
Spina. What is your excuse for not going to English Benjamin?
BENJAMIN WELLS (13) STUDENT I simply forgot Mr. Mead. I went to lunch instead, and half way through the period I realized I was in the wrong Lunch period and I should have gone to English instead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Do you go to English when you realized you were in the wrong place?
BENJAMIN WELLS No. was afraid to.
I
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Benjamin for cutting class you will serve three days of community service. It you cut any class again I will have to call your parents and have them come in for a conference with the Principal. Do you understand Benjamin? See you tomorrow at the beginning of 4th period. Bring a warm coat because you will be picking up papers outdoors. Good bye. Next up.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Suzee Greenberg is next Mr. Mead. 43.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Have a seat Suzee. I have a report from Mr.
Carucci in Social Studies that you have been late to his class three times in a row. What is your excuse for being late?
SUZEE GREENBERG (12) STUDENT I stopped to talk to a friend and before I knew it the bell rang.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS For being late three times in a row you will be serving two days in community service.
Good bye. Next?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Bradford Rustic is next.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Sit down Bradford. Ms. Kosier your Math teacher says in this form that you cut her class yesterday. What is your excuse for cutting class Bradford?
BRADFORD RUSTIC (14) STUDENT My watch stopped and I went to the wrong class.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Well that excuse is original. Three days of community service starting tomorrow at the beginning of your lunch period. Bring a bag lunch. Good bye. Next?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Washington Stokes is next Mr. Mead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Washington Mrs. Agresta, your Art teacher says you cut her class yesterday. What is your excuse for cutting class? 44.
WASHINGTON STOKES (14) STUDENT I forgot had Fine Art.
I
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS That is original. If I had a penny for every student who used the I forgot excuse, I would be rich. Three days of community service beginning tomorrow during your lunch period. If you fail to show up I will call your parents to come in for a conference and you may be expelled from school. Do you understand?
WASHINGTON STOKES
Yes.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good, then I will see you tomorrow during your lunch period. Bring a bag lunch. You will not be allowed to get a hot lunch. If you forget your lunch we will provide you with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and milk.
Good bye. Next up?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Willie James is next.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Willie I have a report from Mr. Malden your social studies teacher. He says you cut his class on Monday and Tuesday. Did you go home sick or something?
WILLIE JAMES (13) STUDENT I am sorry but I don’t like Mr. Malden. He always picks on me in class and makes me feel like two cents. 45.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Really? I will speak to Mr. Malden. In the meantime you will serve 6 days of community service during your lunch period. Good bye. Next up?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Lashonda Rider is next.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Sit down Lashonda. Mr. Knapp send in a report that you were late for class everyday this past week. Where were you and why were you late?
LASHONDA WILLIAMS I was playing on the Soccer field during lunch period and could not hear the 5th period bell.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS It is your responsibility to watch the time and come back in from lunch to your next class on time. Security lets everyone in lunch outside in five minutes earlier so they can make their next class on time. You will serve three days of Community service picking up papers during your lunch period.
If you fail to show up, I will call your parents and have them come in for a conference. Do you understand? Good bye.
That is the last student I have time for, I have to run and teach a Phys. Ed. Class next period. See you period 3 for community service. Send the other students back to class and have them come in tomorrow.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY OK, Mr. Mead.
FADE OUT. 46.
Later period 3 Mr. Mead assembles the students for community service.
FADE IN:
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Students you get 15 minutes to eat lunch and there will be no talking. Here is a plastic garbage bag for each of you, and a pick up tool. Both are to be returned at the end of the period to me. Put on your coats and follow me out to the school fields to pick up papers.
Mr. Mead proceeds outdoors where a light snow is blowing across the field. Mr. Mead’s mustache freezes up and white snow begins to stick to his ski jacket.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I have to pull this hat down over my face more. Thank God for this cup of coffee.
LASHONDA WILLIAMS, STUDENT Mr. Mead, my fingers are freezing and I don’t have any gloves.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Go into my office and tell Mrs. Rodofsky that you have my permission to wear one of the gloves in lost and found. Don’t take too long.
LASHONDA WILLIAMS, STUDENT Thank you Mr. Mead.
(CONT’D)
The end of the period bell rings and all students on community service return with their bags of paper and paper pick up tools.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS That is the bell. Get moving and put your coats back in your lockers before going to your next class.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Was it cold out Mr. Mead? 47.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Are you kidding? Do bears go in the woods? I felt like I was on a ski slope. Soon we will be shoveling snow instead of picking up papers, because they will be frozen to the ground.
FADE OUT.
Later that day, Mr. Mead makes some cappachino in his office to take out during community service.
FADE IN: PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (CONT’D)
This expresso is the only thing keeping me from freezing to death outside. I hope a hot cup of this coffee keeps me from freezing.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Stay warm Mr. Mead.
As the day winds down Mr. Mead locks his office door and walks out to the faculty parking lot. As he gets nearer to his car he notices a major problem.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Holy crap, not another broken windshield?
This is going to cost me a fortune with my insurance company. Damm those kids. Oh well another day driving home in a pile of glass.
Mr. Mead gets in his VW hatchback and pushes the glass off the front driver’s seat and starts the car and drives home with the cold snow blowing into his car and freezing his face.
FADE OUT.
15
EPISODE EIGHT- FAKE BOMB SCARE
15 48.
16
EPISODE 1- INT. DAY- PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE, KAKIAT JUNIOR HIGH.
Note: It is 9:00 am and a phone call comes into the main office at Kakiat Junior High.
FADE IN:
MRS. HELEN MAURINO, (60) PRINCIPAL’S SECRETARY Hello Kakiat Junior high, Mrs. Maurino speaking.
UNKNOWN CALLER I planted a bomb in the school to go off this morning at 10:30 a.m. Freedom to the Nazi movement.
MRS. HELEN MAURINO, Hello, hello, is this some kind of a joke or something? Mr. Pollak we just had a bomb threat. What should I do?
16
GERALD POLLAK, PRINCIPAL OF KAKIAT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Call the Ramapo Police, and tell them we had a bomb threat by telephone. Notify Mr.
Mead, and make a PA announcement to evacuate the building immediately. Call the Head Custodian, and inform him and call the Department Chairperson for Physical Education to have all Physical Education teachers check the PE lockers with their master keys.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Mr. Mead, we just had a bomb scare. The Principal wants everyone to evacuate the building. All teachers are to take their homerooms outdoors in an orderly fashion. 49.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Thanks, I am on it. I have to help the PE teachers check the gym locker-rooms. Lock the office when you leave.
Later in the gym office.
GERALD LEVITUS, PE CHAIRPERSON We have a bomb scare situation. Every PE teacher take your master keys and go through all the lockers in the locker room.
Check unlocked lockers carefully. We need to work fast.
MARK KATZ (26) PE TEACHER I will take the boys back locker room. Most of the lockers are Football players and Soccer players.
NAOMI NEWMAN (25) PE TEACHER GIRLS Shelly and will search the Girls locker room.
I
GERALD LEVITUS, PE CHAIRPERSON Pel and I will cover the front boys locker room. Get going everyone. If you find a bomb, do not touch it. Let me know so we can inform the Ramapo police.
MARK KATZ I found something. A dead rat. Boy does it smell.
PEL MEAD, HEALTH AND PHYS.ED TEACHER Get rid of it outside the building.
GERALD LEVITUS, PE CHAIRPERSON Someone left a month old lunch bag full of mold, phew what a stink? 50.
PEL MEAD, HEALTH AND PHYS.ED TEACHER I found some empty lunch boxes and sports bags, but no bomb.
GERALD LEVITUS, PE CHAIRPERSON It has been an hour. We are done here.
Everyone outside the school for your own safety. The custodians are covering the hall lockers which they have master keys.
MARK KATZ I don’t understand why the PE teachers have to take the risk of checking the locker rooms? Boy it is cold out here in December.
NAOMI NEWMAN I should have brought a cup of coffee with me. Who knows how long we are going to be out here. There goes the Principal and Security around the building in the school golf cart. Tough deal.
PEL MEAD, HEALTH AND PHYS.ED TEACHER This is a pain in the ass. We lose two to three periods of school for each one of these fake bomb scares. I wish they would catch one of these guys and put him or her in jail as an example.
PA announcement.
GERALD POLLAK, PRINCIPAL OF KAKIAT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Attention faculty, staff and students. It is clear to re-enter the building. The bomb scare is over. Students return to your homerooms and a bell will ring and we will start period 3 lunch and skip periods one and two. Thank you.
FADE OUT. 51.
Later in the Dean of Students office.
FADE IN:
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS That was the eighth fake bomb scare this month
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY I hope they catch the fake bomb callers someday.
FADE OUT.
17
18
EPISODE NINE-DUMPSTER DIVING.
SCENE 1- INT. DAY- OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF STUDENTS.
FADE IN:
17
18
A motorcycle man in a black leather jacket, black helmet, and tinted face shield, on a yellow Yamaha 250 DT enduro motorcycle turns into the Kakiat Junior High had a high speed leaving a spinning back wheel. The motorcycle straightens out and speeds down the winding S shaped driveway. A quick left turn into the faculty parking lot and the loud motorcycle with straight pipes and no muffler comes to a stop. The man in the leather jacket puts the kick stand down, and gets off the motorcycle take off his helmet. It is Mr. Mead, the Dean of students. He puts his helmet under his arm and walks across the light snowy ground to the front of Kakiat Junior High.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good Morning Mrs. Rodofsky.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Good morning Mr. Mead.
Mr. Mead enters his office with the name plate, Pelham Mead, Dean of Students.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (Looking through his desk draws) Damm it where the hell are my pens?
(MORE) 52.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
(Opens left lower desk draw which is full of water pistols) I have enough water pistols to start a toy store. (Opens top left desk draw) (The top draw is full of decks of cards, marbles, pea shooters and sling shots. Nothing but marbles and cards in this draw. (He opens the desk middle draw and a huge 18 inch hunting knife is in the draw along with several pocket knives. Hunting knives and no pens.(Opens Right top draw which is full of more water pistols). If there were a market for used water pistols, I would be rich.(Opens The right lower desk draw, and the draw is full of cap guns and a pellet gun) He digs through the cap guns and puts the pellet gun on top of his desk and on the bottom of the draw is one single ink pen. Finally, a pen in a field of cap guns and a pellet gun. I have an arsenal here. (Mr. Mead puts all the cap guns and pellet gun back in the lower right hand draw. On top of the desk is three trays marked IN, PENDING, Processed. The IN file is stacked so high it is cascading into the Pending box. The Processed file is empty.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY We have fifteen students today Mr. Mead.
Are you driving your motorcycle again?
What happened to the new windshield?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS The new windshield is in pieces in the parking lot. Some student or students broke it yesterday. I am back to motorcycle riding to work. Call the students down please.
(Minutes later). Who is first Mrs. Rodofsky?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Lashonda Williams is back. 53.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Lashonda you are getting to be a regular in this office. What did you do now?
LASHONDA WILLIAMS Some punk white girl accused me of stealing her pocketbook during lunch period.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Well, did you steal her pocketbook?
LASHONDA WILLIAMS It looked just like my pocketbook. I got confused and picked up the wrong pocketbook.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS You got confused? That is a classic even for you Lashonda. You know what Lashonda I am going to nominated you to the Dean’s Hall of Fame.
LASHONDA WILLIAMS Really? I haven’t done anything good to get on the Dean’s list.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS This is not the Dean’s list for high academic scores. This is the Dean of Students Hall of Unfame for having the most disciplinary problems in one school year. You will be assigned to community service, of course, and I will call your mother, and tell her you will be in community service for a month until your conduct has a turnaround. You are so close to expulsion from school that if you get into trouble one more time, I am going to recommend to the Principal that we kick you out of school for home tutoring. See you tomorrow for community service. Lisa make up a certificate and put Lashonda William’s name on it.
(MORE) 54.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
The title of the award is The Dean of Students Hall of Unfame Award. I have some cheap $1.00 Frames we can put it in and post it on the office wall for everyone to see.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY I will have it typed right away, Mr. Mead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Thanks Lisa.
Later that day period 3, 7th grade lunch period.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS We are going out today to shovel snow off the plaza in front of the school and the front sidewalks. I am going to give each of you a snow shovel to use. When the period is over return the shovels to me. Make sure you have a scarf and warm coat to wear out since it is 40 degrees.
TOM MILLER (13) STUDENT Mr. Mead I cannot go out, my coat is not warm enough.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Lisa give Tom a warm coat from the lost and found. When the period is over hand the coat back to Mrs. Rodofsky Tom.
TOM MILLER Thank you Mr. Mead.
(CONT’D)
Mr. Mead goes out on the snow covered sidewalk with a cup of coffee. The coffee begins to freeze before Mr. Mead can drink it all. His mustache freezes and his coat becomes frozen too. When he come back into the school he looks like a frozen eskimo.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Damm it was cold out. 55.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Are you going out every period for community service today? It is in the twenties you know.
Later that afternoon, Mr. Mead is making a cappuccino in his office, trying to warm up. His hands are shaking and his lips look white.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Lisa, I am going to throw these knives and water pistols in the dumpster before I go home today.
A hour later Mr. Mead drags two black plastic garbage bags to the side door of the school and dumps hundreds of water pistols and knives into the dumpster.
Meanwhile out of sight two students observe Mr. Mead throwing the knives and water pistols in the dumpster.
WILLIE JAMES (13) BLACK STUDENT Hey Johnny look, Mr. Mead is throwing out water pistols and knives in the dumpster. We should climb into the dumpster at the end of the day.
JOHNNY WATERS (13) STUDENT Good idea Willie. See you after school for a little dumpster diving.
WILLIE JAMES, STUDENT
Cool.
When the school bell rings for the last period 8 being over, Mr. Mead puts on his black motorcycle jacket and carries his black helmet with tinted visor out to the faculty parking lot where his motorcycle sits frozen.
RICK KNAPP, SCIENCE TEACHER. Hey Pel, why the hell are you riding a motorcycle in the winter?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS One of our infamous students broke my car windshield for the second time this fall. I only have to travel five miles to get home. 56.
RICK KNAPP, SCIENCE TEACHER Good luck with that.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (Mr. Mead kicks his engine over and the motorcycle makes a roaring sound.) Off we go.
Meanwhile at the back of Kakiat Junior High two students are diving into the dumpster full of rotten food from lunch to retrieve the water pistols and knives.
WILLIE JAMES, STUDENT I found a pocket knife. Boy this rotten food is nasty and slippery.
JOHNNY WATERS, STUDENT I just slipped on a water melon. I have five water pistols so far. Keep digging Willie. I saw at least a dozen knives being dumped in the dumpster. Boy it smells in here. I am going to have to take a shower when I get home.
FADE OUT.
19
20
EPISODE TEN- BOOM BOX AND TAPE RECORDERS.
SCENE 1-INT. DAY- KAKIAT JUNIOR HALLWAY.
19
20
FADE IN:
A motorcycle man in a black leather jacket, black helmet, and tinted face shield, on a yellow Yamaha 250 DT enduro motorcycle turns into the Kakiat Junior High had a high speed leaving a spinning back wheel. The motorcycle straightens out and speeds down the winding S shaped driveway. A quick left turn into the faculty parking lot and the loud motorcycle with straight pipes and no muffler comes to a stop. The man in the leather jacket puts the kick stand down, and gets off the motorcycle takes off his helmet. It is Mr. Mead, the Dean of students. He puts his helmet under his arm and walks across the light snowy ground to the front of Kakiat Junior High. 57.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good morning Mrs. Rodofsky.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Good morning Mr. Mead. How was the motorcycle this morning?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
Cold.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS (Looking through his desk draws) Damm it where the hell are my pens? (Opens left lower desk draw which is full of water pistols) I have enough water pistols to start a toy store. (Opens top left desk draw) (The top draw is full of decks of cards, marbles, pea shooters and sling shots. Nothing but marbles and cards in this draw. (He opens the desk middle draw and a huge 18 inch hunting knife is in the draw along with several pocket knives. Hunting knives and no pens.(Opens Right top draw which is full of more water pistols). If there were a market for used water pistols, I would be rich.(Opens The right lower desk draw, and the draw is full of cap guns and a pellet gun) He digs through the cap guns and puts the pellet gun on top of his desk and on the bottom of the draw is one single ink pen.
Finally, a pen in a field of cap guns and a pellet gun. I have an arsenal here. (Mr. Mead puts all the cap guns and pellet gun back in the lower right hand draw. On top of the desk is three trays marked IN, PENDING, Processed. The IN file is stacked so high it is cascading into the Pending box. The Processed file is empty.
(CONT’D)
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN: 58.
Meanwhile elsewhere in the hallways of Kakiat Junior High a student struts around with a giant boombox radio on his shoulder. The student’s name is Brian Wells, a white student and 9th grader.
BRIAN WELLS, STUDENT (With a giant boom box on his shoulders) Blasting music of Beach Boys, Little Duce Coope.
SUZEE GREENBERG, STUDENT That boom box is cool.
RICK KNAPP, SCIENCE TEACHER Brian turn that boom box off. Boom boxes are not allowed in school.
BRIAN WELLS, STUDENT The girls all love my music, man.
RICK KNAPP,SCIENCE TEACHER I am calling the Dean of Students then.
BRIAN WELLS, STUDENT You have to catch me first sucker.
RICK KNAPP,SCIENCE TEACHER (Calling on the school intercom system) Hello Pel, we have a kid named Brian Wells running around the hallway with a boom box which he refuses to turn off. Could you call security to chase after him?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Sure Rick, Security and I will come down to the school wing to find him. See you in a few minutes. (On the PA system) Attention all Security Code D. Report to the first floor wing of the building.
(Mr. Mead rushes to the back of the building). 59.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Dan, Elyse, and Rondo we have a student, with a boom box on his shoulders running around the building. I want you to apprehend him, and call me on the walkie talkie. Let’s fan out and find him.
Minutes later.
(CONT’D)
DAN HEALEY, (60) SECURITY GUARD (Speaking into his walkie talkie) Code D. I have the kid with the boom box. I need backup. He refused to give up the boom box radio.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I will be right there Dan. Keep him contained. (Minutes later on the second floor) , Dan Healey and Dean of StudentsMead have Brian Wells cornered near a stairwell.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Give up the boom box Brian and we can settle this peacefully in my office. I will give you your boom box back at the end of the day if you peacefully give it up. If you don’t I will be forced to call the Police and have you arrested.
BRIAN WELLS, STUDENT OK, I am sorry. It’s cool man. Here is my boom box.
DAN HEALEY,SECURITY Thank you Brian. Here you are Mr. Mead. Shall I bring him down to your office?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Yes, do that. I will meet you there.
Later.
(CONT’D) 60.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Brian we do not allow boom boxes or radios of any kind in school. You are going to serve community service for five days, beginning tomorrow.
BRIAN WELLS, STUDENT I am sorry, didn’t know.
I
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS You can go back to your homeroom now.
(After Brian leaves Mr. Mead calls Brian’s mother). Dialing. Hello Mrs. Wells, this is Mr. Mead, Dean of Students at Kakiat Junior high. Your son Brian got into some trouble this morning with his boom box. We had to take it away from him.
MRS. WELLS (44) MOTHER My son Brian does not own a boom box, Mr. Mead. You must be mistaken.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Really? Then I better call him back and find out where he got the boom box from. I will get back to you after I talk with him again.
Thank you Mrs. Wells. Lisa call Brian Wells back down here asap.
(CONT’D)
Minutes later Brian comes back to the Dean’s office.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Come in Brian and have a seat. Brian I just called your mother to tell her about the boom box your brought to school. She says you do not own a boom box. What gives Brian? Did you lie to me?
BRIAN WELLS, STUDENT I bought it from a friend.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Really? What is the student’s name?
(CONT’D) 61.
BRIAN WELLS, STUDENT Bradford Rustic is his name.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Mrs. Rodofsky call down Bradford Rustic to my office please.
Minutes later Bradford Rustic enters the Dean’s Office.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Brian you can sit in the outside room. Come in Bradford. Have a seat. Did you sell Brian Wells this boom box?
BRADFORD RUSTIC, STUDENT No, never saw that boom box before.
I
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Are you friends with Brian?
BRADFORD RUSTIC, STUDENT Yeah, we hang out together, but I have no idea where he got the boom box.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS You can go back to class Bradford. Brian come back in here. Brian you lied to me.
Bradford says he never saw the boom box before. So what is your story now?
BRIAN WELLS, STUDENT I have nothing to say Mr. Mead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS How about we give you a week at home to remember where you got the boom box? I will call the Ramapo Police, and give them the serial number of the radio and see if it was stolen. Meanwhile, I am going to call your mother and tell her to pick you up immediately. The boom box remains here until we can determine where you got it.
(CONT’D)
(MORE) 62.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
I will talk with Mr. Pollak the Principal, and explain that you may be charged with criminal charges if the radio was stolen. Go sit in the outer office until your mother gets here. Lisa call Mrs. Wells and tell her to come pick up her son. He is being suspended from school for one week and may be facing criminal charges.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY OK, Mr. Mead. I will get her on the phone.
At the end of the day Mr. Mead puts on his black leather motorcycle jacket and walks out to the faculty parking lot an puts his black helmet on and kicks over the engine. A lot sound comes out of the exhaust pipes. In minutes he drives off into the distant Viola road at the end of the Kakiat Junior high driveway.
FADE TO BLACK.
21
22
EPISODE ELEVEN- FUN IN THE MALL SCENE 1-INT. DAY- OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF STUDENTS FADE IN:
21
22
A motorcycle man in a black leather jacket, black helmet, and tinted face shield, on a yellow Yamaha 250 DT enduro motorcycle turns into the Kakiat Junior High had a high speed leaving a spinning back wheel. The motorcycle straightens out and speeds down the winding S shaped driveway. A quick left turn into the faculty parking lot and the loud motorcycle with straight pipes and no muffler comes to a stop. The man in the leather jacket puts the kick stand down and gets off the motorcycle take off his helmet. It is Mr. Mead, the Dean of students. He puts his helmet under his arm and walks across the light snowy ground to the front of Kakiat Junior High.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good morning Mrs. Rodofsky.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Good morning Mr. Mead. 63.
Mr. Mead enters his office sits down and begins to look for a pen.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I thought after I threw out those water pistols and knives I would have more room.
Now I have a draw full of marbles (pulls out the lower left bottom draw full of marbles).
(Next he opens the top desk draw which is full of playing cards and Taro cards.)I could start my own blackjack casino. (Opens the middle draw which is of bullets and pellets.)
Damm I have an arsenal here. (Opens the top right draw-the draw is full of balloons, rubber bands and plastic soldiers). With this draw we could have a birthday party. There must be a pen in the bottom draw (Opens the bottom draw and it is full of packs of cigarettes.) Too bad I don’t smoke. Wait there is a pen under all these cigarettes.
Finally. Lisa who do we have coming down today?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY We have only five students today.
Community service is working. Shall I call them down now?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Sure. (Minutes later). First up?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY We have three students who cut school and went to the mall to play in the pinball room.
The Mall security picked them up and brought them to the school today.
All three girls are wearing sweaters, mini-skirts, and high heels. Lilly Daytrill is a white student with long blonde hair. Betsy Harper is a short tough looking white girl with a butch hair cut, and Alice Harmon is a tall thin white girl with brown hair in a bun. All three girls are wearing thick makeup. 64.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Betsy Harper, Lilly Daytril, and Alice Harmon come in please. Sit down girls. So you decided to take a school holiday and go to the mall? We call that truancy, and it could go on your permanent record. What do you have to save for yourselves?
LILLY DAYTRILL (14) STUDENT We needed a break from school Mr. Mead.
BETSY HARPER, (14) STUDENT Alice made me go with them. She called me a fairy if I didn’t go to the mall.
ALICE HARMON (14) STUDENT She is lying Mr. Mead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I am going to have call your parents since you broke the law and cut school which is a major deal in this school district. I suspect the Principal will expel you from school unless I can talk him into letting you do two weeks of community service instead. I can’t make any promises now. Lisa call these girls parents and have them come into school to meet with myself and the Principal, Mr.
Pollak. That will be all girls. Sit in the outside office until your parents arrive.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY OK will call the girl’s parents now.
I
Later that day Mr. Mead organized period 3 community service students.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS It is cold out today, so we will be spreading sand on the sidewalks so no one slips on the snow.
(MORE) 65.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
Each of you will have a large coffee can which you will dig into the oil drum outside and spread the sand on the plaza and front sidewalk. Does everyone understand? OK, let’s go out.
Mr. Mead is standing outside the front of Kakiat drinking coffee and trying to stay warm. He mustache is frozen and his eye brows are frozen white too.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS It is getting harder and harder to stand out there three periods a day for community service.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY You need to dress warmer Mr. Mead.
(CONT’D)
AL MALDEN, SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER Mr. Mead do you have a minute? I took this bag of marijuana away from a student in the hallway this morning. Is there anyway you can test it and make sure it is really marijuana?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Sure I have a drug testing kit, but your bag looks and smells like oregano.
AL MALDEN, SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER Oregano? Isn’t that an Italian spice?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Pretty much. The kid fooled you. Good job though. Keep on your guard.
AL MALDEN, SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER Now feel like an idiot. See you later.
I
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
Bye.
FADE OUT. 66.
23
24
EPISODE TWELVE-MAKING MONEY ON THE SIDE EPISODE 1- INT. DAY- OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL.
23
24
FADE IN:
A motorcycle man in a black leather jacket, black helmet, and tinted face shield, on a yellow Yamaha 250 DT enduro motorcycle turns into the Kakiat Junior High had a high speed leaving a spinning back wheel. The motorcycle straightens out and speeds down the winding S shaped driveway. A quick left turn into the faculty parking lot and the loud motorcycle with straight pipes and no muffler comes to a stop. The man in the leather jacket puts the kick stand down and gets off the motorcycle take off his helmet. It is Mr. Mead, the Dean of students. He puts his helmet under his arm and walks across the light snowy ground to the front of Kakiat Junior High.
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good Morning Mrs. Rodofsky.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Good Morning Mr. Mead.
FADE TO BLACK.
Meanwhile the Principal, Mr. Gerald Pollak is having a meeting in his office with the Head Custodian Bob Pizuzzolo.
FADE IN:
BOB PIZUZZOLO (45) HEAD CUSTODIAN I have a deal for you. We can put in two soda machines by the cafeteria if you approve. Your cut will be around $3,000 a month from the vender. I will get $500 a month.
GERALD POLLAK, PRINCIPAL OF KAKIAT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Sounds good, but I need to set up a local banking account to hide the money. 67.
BOB PIZUZZOLO Bank of New York in the shopping plaza will set up a Kakiat student activities account for you with personal checks.
GERALD POLLAK, PRINCIPAL OF KAKIAT JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL Sounds good. I will do that. Meanwhile you take care of the vendor and keep the machines stocked at all times.
BOB PIZUZZOLO You must not let the PTA President Mrs. ALICE GREEN know you are getting a kickback from the Vendor. They get $200 a month and that is all. They would be very upset if they knew you were in on the fees. Have a nice day.
Later in the Dean’s office.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Lisa I could not help but notice that you collect money for lost student books. Is the Science Textbook really $150 dollars for a new book?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Yes, textbooks are real expensive.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Where does all this money go that you collect, the General Fund?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY I am not allowed to say.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Really? Something fishy is going on. You must be collecting thousands at the end of each semester. I see the Assistant Principal holds back student grades if students do not pay for their lost textbooks. 68.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY It is supposed to go to the General Fund, but only a small portion goes to the General fund.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Where the hell does the rest go?
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Don’t tell that I told you. Into a personal account Mr. Pollak has.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Personal account? Are you kidding me. That is fraud, and probably a felony too? I can’t believe it. NO one is honest around here.
FADE OUT.
25
26
EPISODE FOURTEEN-MORATORIUM ON WATER PISTOLS SCENE-1- INT. DAY- OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF STUDENTS FADE IN:
25
26
A motorcycle man in a black leather jacket, black helmet, and tinted face shield, on a yellow Yamaha 250 DT enduro motorcycle turns into the Kakiat Junior High had a high speed leaving a spinning back wheel. The motorcycle straightens out and speeds down the winding S shaped driveway. A quick left turn into the faculty parking lot and the loud motorcycle with straight pipes and no muffler comes to a stop. The man in the leather jacket puts the kick stand down and gets off the motorcycle take off his helmet. It is Mr. Mead, the Dean of students. He puts his helmet under his arm and walks across the light snowy ground to the front of Kakiat Junior High.
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good morning Lisa. 69.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Are you still riding a motorcycle to work?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Yup, it is cheaper than replacing windshields all the time. Lisa I have a brilliant idea this morning. I want you to announce there is a moratorium on penalties for bringing a water pistol to school. Any student who turns in their water pistol today will get a free pass on any non-violent infraction. This offer is only for today and today only. All water pistol owners should report to the Dean’s office this morning to turn in their water pistol.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Are you sure this is going to work?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS It is worth a try and besides it will shorten my interview list and the process of taking away their water pistol.
Lisa makes the announcement on the PA system.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Attention students, today is water pistol moratorium day. If you have a water pistol in your locker or bag, you can turn it in today for a free pass on any non-violent discipline violation. This offer is good for today and today only up to 3:40 at the end of the school day.
Later hundreds of students head down to the Dean’s office and line up. The line goes around the hallway and down the hall to the cafeteria.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY It looks like offer worked Mr. Mead, we have over a hundred students waiting to forfeit their water pistols in the hallway. 70.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I will collect their water pistols and you give them a yellow pass signed with my rubber name stamp. Wow, where does the line end?
OK line up and have your water pistol out to be handed in for your free pass. If you have more than one water pistol you can get a second free pass. Keep moving and go back to your class after you get your free pass.
One hour later.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY I didn’t think your moratorium would work, but I was wrong.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I collected 150 water pistols. Darn, Now my desk is packed with water pistols again.
Damm, I just cleaned out the desk draws out a while ago. This process is never ending. I guess I should be happy. I don’t have to waste all that time it takes to interview, and take away student water pistols? Another day, another water pistol, ha.
Later that day Mr. Mead organizes his students on community service.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Since the ground is covered with snow we are going to spread sand on the sidewalks.
Each of you will get a oversized coffee can to scoop the sand up. I want you to cover the plaza and front sidewalks with sand. Make sure you have a warm hat and coat it is 28 degrees out. Let’s go.
(CONT’D)
As Mr. Mead is standing in front of the school his mustached freezes stiff as well as his eye brows. Soon his face turns white. By the end of the period he looks like a snowman. 71.
LASHONDA WILLIAMS It is awfully cold today Mr. Mead. Can we take a break.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
No.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Was it cold out? You look like a snowman Mr. Mead. Maybe another cup of coffee or cappuccino will warm you up.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I am frozen. It is as cold as hell out.
Later that day Mr. Mead is in his office fighting off sleep. His head keeps nodding forward and he keeps falling asleep. Finally, he gets up and makes a cup of cappuccino.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I need a cup of cappuccino. I can’t seem to stay awake. Bummer.
(CONT’D)
At the end of the day, Mr. Mead grabs his motorcycle helmet and puts on his black motorcycle jacket and heads out to the faculty parking lot.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I have to be careful pulling out of the driveway with all the snow and ice. (Kicks the kick starter and the engine roars. The straight pipes can be heard several blocks away. He flips down his face visor) Well, we are off, woough, gotta put my feet down, the driveway is really slippery. Easy it goes.
(CONT’D)
The motorcycle disappears over the horizon.
FADE TO BLACK.
27
EPISODE FIFTEEN-THE DRUG DEALER
27 72.
28
SCENE 1- INT. DAY- THE OFFICE OF THE DEAN OF STUDENTS. 28
FADE IN:
A motorcycle man in a black leather jacket, black helmet, and tinted face shield, on a yellow Yamaha 250 DT enduro motorcycle turns into the Kakiat Junior High had a high speed leaving a spinning back wheel. The motorcycle straightens out and speeds down the winding S shaped driveway. A quick left turn into the faculty parking lot and the loud motorcycle with straight pipes and no muffler comes to a stop. The man in the leather jacket puts the kick stand down and gets off the motorcycle take off his helmet. It is Mr. Mead, the Dean of students. He puts his helmet under his arm and walks across the light snowy ground to the front of Kakiat Junior High.
Note: A epidemic of bad drugs hits Kakiat Junior high from an unknown source.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good morning Mrs. Rodofsky.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Good morning Mr. Mead. How are you today? The motorcycle riding must be really cold?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Frozen is the word.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Mr. Carucci is here to see you. Shall I let him into your office?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Sure, come on in John. What’s new?
FADE IN:
JOHN CARUCCI, SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER Pel I think we have a problem. A lot of my students have been getting sick in school.
The nurse tells me they are using some bad marijuana. You need to find out who the dealer is and put him or her out of business. 73.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I have a lot of students that keep me informed when there is a drug problem. I will talk to them and see if we can track the dealer with bad drugs down.
JOHN CARUCCI, SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHER
Thanks Pel.
Later that day.
MS. ANN KOSIER, (30) MATH TEACHER Mr. Mead do you have a minute? Some of my students seem to be under the influence of some drugs in my class. I sent them to the Nurse and she reported back to me they are all high on drugs. Can you put a stop to this please?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I am working on it now. I am trying to find out who the drug dealer is. If you have any clues let me know.
Later that day
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Lashonda do you have a minute? You are not in any trouble. Sit down. Have you heard of some bad marijuana in the school? Do you have any idea who the student drug dealer is?
LASHONDA WILLIAMS I heard some white boy named Flynn has been selling drugs during lunch period 4.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Thank you Lashonda. I appreciate it. You can have tomorrow off from community service.
(CONT’D) 74.
Later that day during fourth period lunch.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Dan I want you to look out for a kid named Flynn. I am not sure if that is his first name or last. He is suspected of dealing drugs in school. Do not approach him. Call me on the walkie talkie instead. I want to catch him in the act.
DAN HEALEY,SECURITY GUARD Mr. Mead I spotted the Flynn kid. His full name is Richard Flynn, and he is an 8th grader. He is palming something off to students out on the field during lunch. I am keeping my distance.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I will be right there. Keep a close eye on him.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Is that him over there with the brown coat and black wool cap?
DAN HEALEY,SECURITY GUARD Watch him open his coat and reach into his coat. He seems to have something under his coat.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS We have to actually see him receiving money to grab him. Ooops he spotted us.
There he goes. That is OK, I am patient. I will be here tomorrow to keep an eye on him while I am supervising community service students.
DAN HEALEY,SECURITY GUARD See you tomorrow Mr. Mead.
(CONT’D)
Later.
(CONT’D) 75.
The next day.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Hi Dan, have you seen Richard Flynn today?
DAN HEALEY,SECURITY GUARD He is over there by the dumpster. Students have been going over to see him all period, but I haven’t seen any money exchanged yet.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS We will just wait until he makes a mistake.
This kid is a real pro. I hope he is over 16, then we can file formal charges with the Ramapo Police. When student are under 16 we cannot file charges because they are protected under Family court. It is complicated.
DAN HEALEY,SECURITY GUARD Now he is hiding behind the dumpster. What should we do?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS We have a 300mm telephoto camera in my office I can use tomorrow. I need photo proof to nail this kid or he is just going to lie his way out of anything.
The next day.
DAN HEALEY,SECURITY GUARD Good to see you again Mr. Mead. Richard Flynn is out near the Soccer field where he thinks we cannot see him. Did you bring the 35mm camera?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Yes, I have the 300mm Nikon here. I can see him very clearly.
(MORE) 76.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
Every time a student approaches him, I am going to take pictures, especially if it looks like he is palming something off. There, I got a mess of pictures. I will have the photos developed. Now we need to nail some of the students with drugs so we can get them to flip on Richard.
DAN HEALEY,SECURITY GUARD That kid Billy Greenberg is always doing something with Richard Flynn during lunch period. Why don’t we bust him tomorrow after we see him get something from Richard.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Good idea Dan. Grab him tomorrow and have one of the other security guards help you. Bring him to my office and we will put the pressure on Billy to flip on Richard. The photos will be good evidence if we press charges. I can get the Superintendent of Schools to at least expel Richard Flynn from our school district and send him to another school district.
The next day in the hallway of Kakiat Junior High.
DAN HEALEY,SECURITY GUARD Billy Greenberg? You need to come with me. Mr. Mead, The Dean of Students wants to see you. Here he is Mr. Mead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Come on in. Well this is Billy Greenberg?
Billy, empty your pockets on my desk. Dan you watch to make sure all his pockets are emptied.
BILLY GREENBURG (14) STUDENT What did do? Do I have to empty my pockets?
I 77.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS If you don’t empty your pockets I am going to call your parents and have them come in for a conference.
BILLY GREENBURG No, no don’t call my parents. They will kill me.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Ahh, what do we have here. This looks like a nickel package of crack. Is that what this is Dan?
DAN HEALEY,SECURITY GUARD That looks like a nickel bag of crack to me.
See the stamp on it of a Star. That is definitely crack.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Where did you get the crack Billy?
BILLY GREENBURG I don’t know.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Let me refresh your memory Billy. If you tell us who sold your the crack then you wouldn’t be expelled from school and your parents wouldn’t have to hire a lawyer. What is it going to be Billy?
BILLY GREENBURG Richard Flynn sold it to me.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Will you admit that in writing?
BILLY GREENBURG Sure, sure, anything. Just don’t call my parents. 78.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS You are going to sit in the conference room for the rest of the day while we apprehend Richard Flynn. Dan take three security guards and bring Richard Flynn into my office.
Later Dan and two other security guards bring a combative Richard Flynn into the Dean’s office.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Take off your coat Richard, and empty all your pockets on my table. Dan make sure all his pockets are emptied on my table. Check the inside lining of the coat too.
RICHARD FLYNN You can’t do this, I didn’t do anything wrong. This is a violation of my civil rights.
DAN HEALEY,SECURITY GUARD BINGO, Mr. Mead. Richard’s coat is full of small packages of drugs. He has everything, pinks, reds, MJ, and crack. What should we do?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I am calling the Ramapo Police to secure the drugs, and to make sure they are real.
Richard you will remain here. If you try to run away we will throw the book at you.
You will be arrested, and we will expel you from the District at a Superintendent’s Meeting. Your parents may want to hire a lawyer since you may be charged with a felony in addition to being expelled from East Ramapo school district.
(CONT’D)
Twenty minutes later the Police arrive.
LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Mr. Mead the Police are here. 79.
SERGEANT JOHN ROBIE, RAMAPO POLICE Sergeant Robie is here to see Mr. Mead, Dean of Students. I am here to arrest a student named Richard Flynn for sale of drugs on school property. How old is the student?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Hi Officer. The student is 14 years of age. I called you to verify these drugs we confiscated from this student Richard Flynn who is an 8th grader.
SERGEANT JOHN ROBIE, RAMAPO POLICE I’ll take the drugs into my possession.
Normally,14 year olds are handled by family court. We do not arrest students under the age of 16. They are turned over to family court since they are protected by law in New York State.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I am sorry to hear that. We caught this student red-handed selling drugs to another student in our building. We wanted to make an example of this student to others.
SERGEANT JOHN ROBIE, RAMAPO POLICE That is not going to happen Mr. Mead. He will get a slap on the wrist by the family court judge and will be released to his parents. He will probably get a year of probation by the family court? The best I can do for you is to take down the facts and I will file a report with the family court, who will in turn set up a court date for this student and his parents to attend. 80.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS His name is Richard Flynn, and he is an eighth grader here at Kakiat JHS and is age 14. He has a long disciplinary record for the two years he has been at Kakiat JHS. He parents are here, and their son Richard are waiting in the conference room for you to speak to them. He thinks he is going to be arrested and taken to jail.
SERGEANT JOHN ROBIE, RAMAPO POLICE I will secure the drugs for you and have them analyzed in our labs. Meanwhile, I will talk with the student and his parents and tell them I am forwarding the case to family court for a hearing. Nice talking with you Mr. Mead.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Richard and his parents are next door. You can use my door to enter the conference room. Thank you for your assistance Officer.
Later Officer Robie meets with Richard Flynn and his parents and explains what charges will be placed against Richard in family court, namely Selling drugs in a school to a minor.
FADE TO BLACK.
FADE IN:
At the end of the day, Mr. Mead grabs his motorcycle helmet and puts on his black motorcycle jacket and heads out to the faculty parking lot.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I have to be careful pulling out of the driveway with all the snow and ice. (Kicks the kick starter and the engine roars. The straight pipes can be heard several blocks away.
(CONT’D)
(MORE) 81.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
He flips down his face visor) Well, we are off, woough, gotta put my feet down, the driveway is really slippery. Easy does it.
The motorcycle disappears over the horizon.
FADE TO BLACK.
29
30
ACT SIXTEEN- THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL SCENE 1- INT. DAY- MR. HENRY COZART, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE.
29
30
FADE IN: PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Knock, knock. Mr. Cozart are you in your office? Hello. (Mr. Mead opens the office door to find Mr. Cozart sleeping at his desk with his feet up). I am sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.
Mr. Henry Cozart is a career Assistant Principal. He is a black man in his early 50’s with a bald head, which he hides with a full head black wig. He wears thick horn rimmed glasses and long sideburns.
HENRY COZART, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Yes, what is it Mr. Mead?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS There is a big delivery that you have to sign for at the delivery platform on the side of the school.
HENRY COZART, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Oh, OK, tell the driver I will be right there.
Thanks.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS Lisa I just caught Mr. Cozart sleeping in his office.
(MORE) 82.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS
I can’t believe he has nothing to do each day. Perhaps I am making his job too easy each day?
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Just between you and I, Mr. Mead, I have noticed that he takes no interest in discipline cases anymore with you in charge. Perhaps that is a compliment for you in taking charge of the discipline program?
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS I am teaching a full five periods of Physical Education and Health Education each day in additional to before school and after school Dean duties and three periods during the school day. I am doing Henry’s job and mine.
MRS. LISA RODOFSKY, SECRETARY Perhaps you should slow down a little Mr.
Mead. Not everyone has as much energy as you do.
PELHAM MEAD, DEAN OF STUDENTS You are right about that.
Fifteen minutes later Mr. Cozart meets the trucker at the delivery door to the school.
DRIVER (50) I need you to sign here Mr. Cozart.
HENRY COZART, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL What is in the shipment?
DRIVER Paper-clips sir. Millions of paper clips.
HENRY COZART, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Millions of paper-clips? Are you sure? 83.
DRIVER It says right here on the manifest that there are one million boxes of paper-clips.
HENRY COZART, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL There must be some mistake. I ordered 1,000 boxes of paper clips, not one million.
DRIVER I am just the driver Mr. Cozart. Contact School Business Supplies by phone to see what the error was in ordering. Have a good day.
HENRY COZART, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Where are we going to store all these paperclips. There are hundreds of cases of paperclip boxes. Oh my God! This is a nightmare.
FADE TO BLACK.
THE END
This is a story based on actual facts following a Physical Education Teacher at Kakiat Junior High in the East Ramapo Central school district in Spring Valley, Rockland county, New York. The dates are 1984 to 1990. Mr. Mead was enrolled in a 6th level administrative certificate course at New Paltz University and he was required to serve one year in an administrative position as a trainee. Since the Dean of Students position was eliminated a year before by budget cuts, Mr. Mead volunteered to serve as Dean of Students and teach a full-time teaching load of five classes. He would serve as Dean of Students before and after school and during three periods a day in which he normally would have had a prep-period, lunch break, and duty period. This is the true story of the humorous attempt to bring the Office of the Dean of Students under control after being abandoned for a year. The story begins after Principal Gerald Pollak approved of Mr. Mead serving in this administrative intern position as Dean of Students at Kakiat Junior High.