The Delinquents
FADE IN:
1. INT. CARL’S DORMROOM DAY
CARL, 20, wearing a hoodie and jeans, is sitting at his computer trying to type. HAROLD, 20, wearing a button-up shirt, a wristwatch and jeans is leaning over his shoulder, a large biology textbook in the crook of one arm. He reads from it.
HAROLD
“… The X chromosome is passed from mother to son, and because
males only have one X, they do not have the back up genes to correct
the mistake.” And there’s even a little picture of the sample family tree--
CARL
Yeah, I see it.
HAROLD
And you can talk about that, how genetic factors relate to Muscular
Dystrophy.
CARL
I hate college.
HAROLD
Carl, are you even listening to me?
CARL
What? Yeah.
HAROLD
And what have I been trying to explain to you for the last ten
minutes?
CARL
I know; I know… about the X’s and stuff, right?
Harold slams the book shut and drops it on the desk. He looks at his watch.
HAROLD
Well, I’m done with you.
CARL
Oh, don’t be such a crybaby.
They talk over one another. Harold is putting one of his sneakers on.
CARL
Just let me check my Facebook and I’ll get back to the
muscle stuff.
HAROLD
I’m not a… crybaby. I was trying to help you pass your class--
Are you—really—check your fucking Facebook--
Harold storms to the door, one shoe in hand.
CARL
Yeah dude, I’m on Addicted to Dexter. Hey, you only have one shoe
on.
Harold opens the door.
HAROLD
I’m putting it on in the common room. Monica’s gonna be pissed
with you, you know.
Carl shivers.
CARL
Monnie’s always pissed.
HAROLD
Yeah well, you’re the one who decided to date her and declare bio.
She’s looking for you to be the big doctor. Don’t know a man in his
right mind who would see you though--
He closes the door, still audible.
HAROLD
(from the hall)
You’d be doing open heart surgery and say, “Sorry guys, I gotta
check my Facebook!”
Carl throws the book at the door.
CARL
You and your whore!
He goes back to his computer, surfing Facebook.
CARL
(after a moment)
Great, now even Dexter can’t cheer me up.
He closes the computer.
CARL
Paper, class, paper, class, this and that, do this Carl, do that! Carl do
whatever Monnie wants!
He goes to his bed and falls asleep.
2. INT. CARL’S DORMROOM NIGHT
Carl awakens to the sound of loud banging on his door. There is a drool mark on his pillow. He gets up groggily, scratches himself, and opens the door. MONICA, 21, wearing more expensive-looking clothing, is caught with her fist in midair. Carl backs up immediately when he sees her. She quickly retrieves it, her demeanor changing on a dime. She is carrying a stack of papers.
CARL
Monica!
MONICA
Please. Call me Monnie.
She ducks under his arm into the room. She looks at the bed, and then turns on her heel to face him, angry and shocked.
MONICA
Were you… sleeping?
CARL
(searching for the word)
… No…
MONICA
Is that drool?!
He squints and exhales.
CARL
I hope so.
She turns to him, wide-eyed. He looks bewildered by her.
CARL
Hon, I only missed Psych 101. It’s an elective.
Monica calms somewhat.
MONICA
I know.
She goes to the desk and puts the stack of papers down.
MONICA
I have your schedule, remember?
CARL
Yeeeah. Listen. I probably have somewhere to go.
MONICA
(ignoring him)
I brought twenty sheets of paper for you to print out your research
paper for Molecular Biology, and a thirty-page sample for you to
idealize. My daddy knows an expert on Muscular Dystrophy.
CARL
Great, thanks.
She picks up a clock from Harold’s side, putting it in his face.
MONICA
Now don’t forget about class. I talked to Jack and he said that you’re
barely passing. You miss class again and you’re failing. You get that,
Carl? That means no graduating, no medical school and no--
She takes his hand and leans into him.
MONICA
Well.
CARL
Monnie, I think I may be gay.
She giggles, heading for the door.
MONICA
Don’t forget about class. Seven o’clock.
She glides out of the room. Carl glares after her. He turns to a mirror.
CARL
Why?
Moping, he shuffles to the desk slowly. He stops short, thinks, then jerks back to the mirror.
CARL
Why can’t I fail? Why can’t I fail if I damn well want? And why
stop there?
He looks at the clock. It’s 6:30pm. He looks at the research paper. The front cover reads: An Elaborate Analysis of Muscular Dystrophy, personally by Dr. Jerald P. K. Lowenstein, Ph.D. He grins, grabs the stack of papers, puts it on his head and runs out the door.
3. INT. MARCUCELLA HALL NIGHT
Carl is waving and closing a classroom door, grinning. He has the stack under his arm. It is now thinner.
JACK
(nearly inaudible)
I’ll be looking forward to this, Carl!
CARL
Not a problem sir! Thank you, you enjoy it!
He closes the door. Harold walks by with a book bag, looking highly suspicious as he approaches. There is a beat while the two stare at each other with very different expressions.
CARL
Hello, Harold.
HAROLD
What did you do?
Carl smiles. Harold shifts his eyes to the classroom door and back.
HAROLD
Is this something that Monnie’s finally going to kill you for?
CARL
Monnie? (beat) What’s a… “Monnie”?
4. EXT. OUTSIDE MARCUCELLA HALL DAY
The BELL sounds, carrying into the next scene.
5. INT. MARCUCELLA HALL DAY
Monica knocks on the classroom door and goes in.
MONICA
Morning, Professor. How did Carl do on his paper?
6. EXT. OUTSIDE MARCUCELLA HALL SAME TIME
MONICA
AAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHH!!!
7. INT. CARL’S DORMROOM SAME TIME
Carl opens his eyes on his bed. He smiles, then rolls over towards the wall. In the background, he has a suitcase packed.
HAROLD
(bewildered)
What the hell did you do??
CARL
Look at your watch. It’ll take her about thirty seconds to get here…
Marcucella’s close…
HAROLD
Ninety if she faints first.
CARL
But under ten if she’s a witch.
There is frantic pounding on the door. Carl rolls back over, and the two stare at each other. Harold consults his watch.
HAROLD
Whoa.
Carl rolls over again.
HAROLD
I think that’s for you.
Carl is motionless.
HAROLD
Carl.
There is a pause. The pounding noises continue, and sobbing can be heard. Harold exhales, gets up, straightens himself, and begins to open the door. Monica slams it forward, hitting him in the nose. He goes down. Monica is in tears, wringing the “sample” paper in her hands. She is so angry that she is beyond words.
MONICA
Wh—are—Car—wh—?? Jack—repor-porting you—You— didn’t
even—change the name—I—you—HATE—Aaaaah!
She casts the papers, which scatter in a flurry. She runs away, crying. Carl is still turned away, smiling. Harold is bleeding, and as he stands up, some of it gets on the papers. He touches his nose, cringes, and looks at the blood on his fingers. There is a pause.
HAROLD
That’s it—THAT’S IT!
He unbuttons his shirt; he has a t-shirt on underneath.
HAROLD
I’VE HAD IT! And you--you fucking plagiarized, and you’re
dropping out! Don’t try to tell me no! Life’s really easy for you, isn’t
it? You’re lazy and stupid and arrogant and now I need to find another
roommate for the rest of the year! THE WHOLE YEAR! You’re an
asshole! I’m going to health services, and when I come back, I’m
kicking your ass!
He storms out, still screaming.
HAROLD
Don’t know anybody—Bob already has a roommate—but who cares,
Harold will take care of it. Clean your room, wash the dishes, Harold,
well you know what Mom! I’m sick of the watches and the shirts and
getting hit in the fucking face!
Carl smiles to himself with relief. He rolls onto his back and looks up at the ceiling. Paper is scattered all over the room, blood pooling in places and trailing out the door. The smile fades. He holds both his hands over his forehead. Harold is still audible, screaming.
FADE OUT.
1. INT. CARL’S DORMROOM DAY
CARL, 20, wearing a hoodie and jeans, is sitting at his computer trying to type. HAROLD, 20, wearing a button-up shirt, a wristwatch and jeans is leaning over his shoulder, a large biology textbook in the crook of one arm. He reads from it.
HAROLD
“… The X chromosome is passed from mother to son, and because
males only have one X, they do not have the back up genes to correct
the mistake.” And there’s even a little picture of the sample family tree--
CARL
Yeah, I see it.
HAROLD
And you can talk about that, how genetic factors relate to Muscular
Dystrophy.
CARL
I hate college.
HAROLD
Carl, are you even listening to me?
CARL
What? Yeah.
HAROLD
And what have I been trying to explain to you for the last ten
minutes?
CARL
I know; I know… about the X’s and stuff, right?
Harold slams the book shut and drops it on the desk. He looks at his watch.
HAROLD
Well, I’m done with you.
CARL
Oh, don’t be such a crybaby.
They talk over one another. Harold is putting one of his sneakers on.
CARL
Just let me check my Facebook and I’ll get back to the
muscle stuff.
HAROLD
I’m not a… crybaby. I was trying to help you pass your class--
Are you—really—check your fucking Facebook--
Harold storms to the door, one shoe in hand.
CARL
Yeah dude, I’m on Addicted to Dexter. Hey, you only have one shoe
on.
Harold opens the door.
HAROLD
I’m putting it on in the common room. Monica’s gonna be pissed
with you, you know.
Carl shivers.
CARL
Monnie’s always pissed.
HAROLD
Yeah well, you’re the one who decided to date her and declare bio.
She’s looking for you to be the big doctor. Don’t know a man in his
right mind who would see you though--
He closes the door, still audible.
HAROLD
(from the hall)
You’d be doing open heart surgery and say, “Sorry guys, I gotta
check my Facebook!”
Carl throws the book at the door.
CARL
You and your whore!
He goes back to his computer, surfing Facebook.
CARL
(after a moment)
Great, now even Dexter can’t cheer me up.
He closes the computer.
CARL
Paper, class, paper, class, this and that, do this Carl, do that! Carl do
whatever Monnie wants!
He goes to his bed and falls asleep.
2. INT. CARL’S DORMROOM NIGHT
Carl awakens to the sound of loud banging on his door. There is a drool mark on his pillow. He gets up groggily, scratches himself, and opens the door. MONICA, 21, wearing more expensive-looking clothing, is caught with her fist in midair. Carl backs up immediately when he sees her. She quickly retrieves it, her demeanor changing on a dime. She is carrying a stack of papers.
CARL
Monica!
MONICA
Please. Call me Monnie.
She ducks under his arm into the room. She looks at the bed, and then turns on her heel to face him, angry and shocked.
MONICA
Were you… sleeping?
CARL
(searching for the word)
… No…
MONICA
Is that drool?!
He squints and exhales.
CARL
I hope so.
She turns to him, wide-eyed. He looks bewildered by her.
CARL
Hon, I only missed Psych 101. It’s an elective.
Monica calms somewhat.
MONICA
I know.
She goes to the desk and puts the stack of papers down.
MONICA
I have your schedule, remember?
CARL
Yeeeah. Listen. I probably have somewhere to go.
MONICA
(ignoring him)
I brought twenty sheets of paper for you to print out your research
paper for Molecular Biology, and a thirty-page sample for you to
idealize. My daddy knows an expert on Muscular Dystrophy.
CARL
Great, thanks.
She picks up a clock from Harold’s side, putting it in his face.
MONICA
Now don’t forget about class. I talked to Jack and he said that you’re
barely passing. You miss class again and you’re failing. You get that,
Carl? That means no graduating, no medical school and no--
She takes his hand and leans into him.
MONICA
Well.
CARL
Monnie, I think I may be gay.
She giggles, heading for the door.
MONICA
Don’t forget about class. Seven o’clock.
She glides out of the room. Carl glares after her. He turns to a mirror.
CARL
Why?
Moping, he shuffles to the desk slowly. He stops short, thinks, then jerks back to the mirror.
CARL
Why can’t I fail? Why can’t I fail if I damn well want? And why
stop there?
He looks at the clock. It’s 6:30pm. He looks at the research paper. The front cover reads: An Elaborate Analysis of Muscular Dystrophy, personally by Dr. Jerald P. K. Lowenstein, Ph.D. He grins, grabs the stack of papers, puts it on his head and runs out the door.
3. INT. MARCUCELLA HALL NIGHT
Carl is waving and closing a classroom door, grinning. He has the stack under his arm. It is now thinner.
JACK
(nearly inaudible)
I’ll be looking forward to this, Carl!
CARL
Not a problem sir! Thank you, you enjoy it!
He closes the door. Harold walks by with a book bag, looking highly suspicious as he approaches. There is a beat while the two stare at each other with very different expressions.
CARL
Hello, Harold.
HAROLD
What did you do?
Carl smiles. Harold shifts his eyes to the classroom door and back.
HAROLD
Is this something that Monnie’s finally going to kill you for?
CARL
Monnie? (beat) What’s a… “Monnie”?
4. EXT. OUTSIDE MARCUCELLA HALL DAY
The BELL sounds, carrying into the next scene.
5. INT. MARCUCELLA HALL DAY
Monica knocks on the classroom door and goes in.
MONICA
Morning, Professor. How did Carl do on his paper?
6. EXT. OUTSIDE MARCUCELLA HALL SAME TIME
MONICA
AAAAAAGGGGHHHHHHH!!!
7. INT. CARL’S DORMROOM SAME TIME
Carl opens his eyes on his bed. He smiles, then rolls over towards the wall. In the background, he has a suitcase packed.
HAROLD
(bewildered)
What the hell did you do??
CARL
Look at your watch. It’ll take her about thirty seconds to get here…
Marcucella’s close…
HAROLD
Ninety if she faints first.
CARL
But under ten if she’s a witch.
There is frantic pounding on the door. Carl rolls back over, and the two stare at each other. Harold consults his watch.
HAROLD
Whoa.
Carl rolls over again.
HAROLD
I think that’s for you.
Carl is motionless.
HAROLD
Carl.
There is a pause. The pounding noises continue, and sobbing can be heard. Harold exhales, gets up, straightens himself, and begins to open the door. Monica slams it forward, hitting him in the nose. He goes down. Monica is in tears, wringing the “sample” paper in her hands. She is so angry that she is beyond words.
MONICA
Wh—are—Car—wh—?? Jack—repor-porting you—You— didn’t
even—change the name—I—you—HATE—Aaaaah!
She casts the papers, which scatter in a flurry. She runs away, crying. Carl is still turned away, smiling. Harold is bleeding, and as he stands up, some of it gets on the papers. He touches his nose, cringes, and looks at the blood on his fingers. There is a pause.
HAROLD
That’s it—THAT’S IT!
He unbuttons his shirt; he has a t-shirt on underneath.
HAROLD
I’VE HAD IT! And you--you fucking plagiarized, and you’re
dropping out! Don’t try to tell me no! Life’s really easy for you, isn’t
it? You’re lazy and stupid and arrogant and now I need to find another
roommate for the rest of the year! THE WHOLE YEAR! You’re an
asshole! I’m going to health services, and when I come back, I’m
kicking your ass!
He storms out, still screaming.
HAROLD
Don’t know anybody—Bob already has a roommate—but who cares,
Harold will take care of it. Clean your room, wash the dishes, Harold,
well you know what Mom! I’m sick of the watches and the shirts and
getting hit in the fucking face!
Carl smiles to himself with relief. He rolls onto his back and looks up at the ceiling. Paper is scattered all over the room, blood pooling in places and trailing out the door. The smile fades. He holds both his hands over his forehead. Harold is still audible, screaming.
FADE OUT.
Rachel Carmody
is a second-year English major with a philosophy minor. She does a lot of things, feels even more, and knows a lot less.
