THE ADMIN

"Smear Campaign"
By
Spenser Douglas Querry

Spenser Douglas Querry

2047 Turk Blvd #1
San Francisco, CA 94115
spensq@hotmail.com
765.506.1692

Cold Open
FADE IN:
EXT. SCHOOL - DAWN
A beat up, yellow, 1978 AMC GREMLIN sits alone in the middle
of the parking lot as the sun comes up. The car appears to
be full of smoke as thin wisps ripple out of the crack in
the drivers side window.
The sound of rubber tires slowly turning on pavement ushers
in a much nicer, black, CHRYSLER 300 as it pulls in several
spots behind the Gremlin.
The door of the Chrysler opens and a pair of shiny black
shoes hits the pavement. The shoes walk sternly across the
lot toward the Gremlin.
INT. GREMLIN - DAWN
Tucked inside a thick cloud of smoke, reclined in the
drivers seat, is a very average looking, late 40s, and
disheveled MR. HINES.
He puffs away on a large joint as the sound of Deep Purples
"Space Trukin" plays through the tape deck. Hines exhales
along with the beat of the song but suddenly a...
TAP
his
the
man
Mr.

TAP TAP is heard against the window and Hines jumps in

seat. He turns down the radio and begins to hand crank
window down, revealing MR. PITTS, a large bald, black
in his early 40s. His stern face staring directly at
Hines.
MR. PITTS
I cant believe you.
MR. HINES
(nervously)
Im sorry, sir.
MR. PITTS
Of all the things.
MR. HINES
Sir, please.

Mr. Pittss face clenches like a fist as he becomes even

more enraged.

2.

MR. PITTS
I cant believe you think you can
just pull up, park in my lot, at my
school, and smoke a joint...
Mr. Hines looks terrified, hes sure hes done for.
Mr. Pittss expression, however, begins to crack and lights
up in a smile.
MR. PITTS (contd)
(continued)
...without waiting for my black ass
to get here.
Hines lets out a huge sigh of relief and nervous chuckle.
MR. PITTS (contd)
(points to the passenger door)
Unlock that door. Im coming in.
EXT. SCHOOL - DAWN
Pitts jogs around the still smoking Gremlin, grinning like a
school boy who, well, is about to smoke a joint before the
first day of school.
INT. GREMLIN - DAWN
The passenger door slams as Pitts hops inside, his knees up
to his chest in the tiny car.
MR. PITTS
(reaching )
Gimme that bad boy. To a new year!
Hines hands Pitts the joint and he takes a huge, almost
never ending pull from the end. Hines watches in surprise as
the joint begins to disappear.
MR. HINES
Thats good stuff, you might want
to take it easy.
MR. PITTS
(blowing out a large cloud )
This is shit. Youll have to come
over to my place one day.

3.

MR. HINES
You never told me you smoke. We
couldve been doing this for years
now.
Hines looks through the smoke out the front windshield and
spots a massive PINK SUV pulling up to the student drop off.
On the side is a banner reading "Jespers for Class
President".
Hines jaw drops and Pitts waves away the smoke.
MR. HINES (contd)
Jesus Harold Christ on rubber
crutches. What the fuck is that?
MR. PITTS
That girl is the spawn of Satan
himself.
Mr. Pitts begins to breath deep, heavy, breaths as he rubs
his bald head and fidgets in his seat.
MR. HINES
That SUV looks like the worlds
biggest vibrator douched in a layer
of Mary Kay pink.
Mr. Hines looks over to Pitts mid rant and double takes.
MR. HINES (contd)
(continued )
Id like to fuck...You doing ok?
Pitts looks up to Hines with bright
red, puffy eyes, they shift back
and forth.
MR. PITTS
This shit is some creeper. I need
out of this tiny ass car before I
lose it.
Hines kills the engine and the two throw open their doors as
the smoke is sucked from the car.
EXT. SCHOOL - EARLY MORNING
Hines and Pitts exit the car and stand looking at the
school, smoke still pouring from the car.

4.

MR. HINES
Goddamnit.
Mr. Pitts puts on a pair of sunglasses and stares straight
ahead.
MR. PITTS
I wish this place would just burn
to the ground.
The two begin the long walk to the school.
MR. PITTS (contd)
I need some water. I am
uncomfortable high right now.
FADE OUT
ACT I
INT. SCHOOL HALL - MORNING - MONTAGE
Hundreds of pairs of multicolored shoes walk, run, and stand
around the main entrance of the school.
Girls with high pony tails gab excitedly in small groups;
braces shining like silver in their constantly flapping
jaws.
Boys with skateboards stand two or three in a group,
flipping their hair from their eyes. They attempt to talk to
each other, always with one ear bud in at all times.
A boy in a wheel chair wheels down the hall side by side
with another boy on crutches.
In all of this, Mr. Pitts walks through, rather stiffly,
looking around in a panic, and too high to function. He
makes his way through with a terrified face and heads
straight for his office.
A huddle of letterman jackets, complete with patches of
savage looking Indians embroidered on the back, watch as a
group of girls walk by. Every boys head turns and cocks
sideways.
Mr. Hines and Mr. Daniels stand in the exact same position
as the boys in letter jackets, but theyre not looking at
the students, theyre eyes are on MS. OHARA.

5.

INT. SCHOOL HALL - MORNING

Ms. Ohara, a stunning woman in her mid 30s, approches
Hines and Daniels, snapping them out of their gaze. She
looks pissed.
MS. OHARA
Im going to annihilate that little
cunt.
The three watch as Amanda approaches each group and
individual student, handing them fliers, or suckers with her
slogan wrapped around it like a ribbon.
AMANDA
Dont be a dum-dum! Vote Amanda
Jespers for class president!
Just then one of the skateboarders breaks from his group and
grabs the whole jar of suckers. He runs, but before he even
takes two steps Amanda grabs his hood and swings him around.
Slamming him into the wall with a thud!
The suckers scatter all over the floor as Amanda jumps in
the boys voice.
AMANDA (contd)
Pick em up.
The boy just stares at her, then around at all the students
watching.
BOY
What?
Amanda interrupts before he can even get the word out.
AMANDA
I said! Pick. Them. Up.
(beat)
Now, you red eyed deadbeat!
Amanda grabs the boy by the head and pushes him toward the
floor. He scrambles to pick up the suckers on the floor as
the crowd begins to disperse.
Amanda turns abruptly, passing out fliers to students who
pass.
AMANDA (contd)
Vote for Jespers! Vote for a
Amanda!

6.

Daniels, OHara, and Hines exchange deadpan looks in

reaction.
MS. OHARA
Little fuckers a nuisance.
MR. DANIELS
I know exactly how you feel. And
who the hell starts campaigning on
the first day?
MR. HINES
Or even at all? I mean shit, each
year we have to beg students to run
against her.
The first period bell rings and the halls begin to clear
out.
MS. OHARA
I swear on everything thats good I
will stop her from winning. I cant
handle another year of her
bullshit.
MR. HINES
God I love it when you make
diabolical plans against 15 year
olds. It turns me on.
Mr. Daniels chuckles at Hines lame attempt at flirting.
MS. OHARA
Dream on, loverboy.
Ms. Ohara turns to leave, the halls now empty. She gets
several feet away and drops a pen, on purpose. Hines cocks
his head once more, staring after her. Bending down to pick
it up she says without even turning around...
MS. OHARA (contd)
Desire of having is the sin of
covetousness, Jeff. You should know
better.
MR. HINES
I dont need your words, you are
poetry in motion.
Ms. Ohara cracks a smile but doesnt show it.

7.

MR. DANIELS
(to Hines)
You are...so lame. I have to get to
class.
MR. HINES
I have to get in that pooper.
Mr. Daniels leaves, laughing and echoing Hines.
MR. DANIELS
Ha! Pooper.
The halls now clear and empty, Hines begins to head for his
class. He turns the corner but stops dead in his tracks. He
stares, blank faced, mouth agape.
On the wall, smeared with what looks like human feces in
large letters is the phrase "It Starts".
He leans forward, getting as close as possible without
touching it.
With a quick sniff, he crumples his face and jumps
backwards, putting his hands on his knees.
BLAAA! Hines projectile vomits all over the hallway floors,
not once, but twice.
Behind him, SCRUGGS, a small man in his late 60s with hair
like a friar and coke bottle glasses, pauses in shock as he
loads the Janitors closet with supplies.
SCRUGGS
Jesus fucking Christ.
FADE OUT
ACT II
INT. BREAK ROOM - DAY
The faculty break room is still terribly outdated with wood
paneling, rust colored shag carpet, a lunch table in the
middle, and a pea green vinyl couch seated next to a
cigarette vending machine.
Mrs. Daniels stares cross armed at Mr. Pitts as he bangs on
the machine before it finally releases a pack of Newports.
He packs it in his hands and removes a cigarette.

8.

MRS. DANIELS
You know you cant smoke in here.
MR. PITTS
Hush! These are trying times.
Pitts lights his cigarette and lets out a puff of smoke.
Mrs. Daniels scoffs as she pulls the neck of her sweatshirt
over her mouth, muffling her voice.
MRS. DANIELS
Trying times.
MR. PITTS
(pointing to the hall)
Theres clearly a psychotic student
running loose. Hands full of doo
doo, just looking for his next
target.
OHara reaches under a coffee table and yanks. The sound of
vlecro ripping is heard and she withdraws a pack of
cigarettes. She looks up to find everyone staring at her.
MS. OHARA
Oh what? Like Im a bad guy because
mine didnt come from the machine.
She lights her cigarette as Hines turns in his chair,
smirking at her.
MR. HINES
What else do you have hidden in
here Sandra? A little booze maybe?
Some lingerie perhaps?
OHara shakes her head at Hines.
MS. OHARA
Where do you get this shit?
He winks at her, leaning back in his chair, attempting to
lay on the charm.
MR. HINES
I have a pretty wild imagination,
youd be surprised at the things I
can envision.
Mr. Pitts cuts him off before he can finish. He paces the
room.

9.
MR. PITTS
She has a point, weve gotten off
topic. Where did this shit come
from and what kind of child is sick
enough to pull a stunt like this?
The teachers sit and think for a moment, even MR. STULTZ, a
small bald man with large glasses and walrus like mustache,
standing quietly in the corner scratches his head.
A moment passes before Mr. Danielss face lights up. He
looks to Mr. Hines who suddenly connects the dots. They
respond in unison.
MR. DANIELS
John Chapman!
MR. HINES
John Chapman!
Mr. Pitts whirls around in a fury, eyes ablaze with plotting
rage.
MR. PITTS
Pull the bastard from class! I want
his head on a spit!
Mr. Hines stands and begins to walk around the room.
MR. HINES
(to Pitts)
Take it easy Bradley. Thatd be
great, but we cant.
MR. PITTS
No child has immunity in this
school! I dont give a goddamn who
his parents are!
MR. HINES
No, you cant because he doesnt go
here anymore. In fact, I dont
think hes even alive, overdose or
something. He was a grade behind
Harris and I.
He points to Mr. Daniels who only shakes his head in
agreement. Hines begins to pace the room as he tells the
story.
MR. HINES (contd)
The year was 1982...
FLASHBACK