Good Guys and Bad Guys A Screenplay by Thomas Wegmann

Thomas Wegmann thomas_wegmann@yahoo.com

EXT. JEFFs house (A two story house with a white fence on a suburban street) Middle America, the year 2029, yet the scene looks timeless. The start of a regular Wednesday, birds are chirping, people are out cutting and watering their front lawns, a paperboy flies by on a bike waving and chucking papers into front yards. The headline of the paper reads "36 Injured, 3 Dead in another School Massacre." INT. JEFFs house (Kitchen) ANN (36F) is going through her morning routine. She grabs a cup of coffee and flicks on the countertop TV to the local morning news. ANN "JEFF, lets go, youre going to be late!" Shes packing her sons (JEFF, 11M) lunch. She shuffles back and forth between the countertop and the refrigerator making a sandwich and cutting up an apple. While she does the morning news continues. NEWSCASTER (VO) "...almost 3 decades of escalating violence and an internet culture glorifying murderous outcasts. In 2029, we fight back and arm ourselves and our children to the teeth. President Johnson has said repeatedly that schools have become warzones and we cant allow American kids to be sitting ducks for domestic terrorists..." ANN takes JEFFs lunchbox and begins to assemble his lunch. She places 3 sandwich bags inside. When she finishes she puts the lunchbox on the countertop next to a holster with small .22 in it. Next to that is a larger holster with a 9mm pistol in it. ANN "Last time Jeff! Get moving!" JEFF comes running into the kitchen with wet hair, an untucked shirt, pulling on his shoes, and carrying his school iPad.

JEFF "Sorry, I fell back asleep." ANN "You fall back asleep every day. Grab your gun and lunch and get going." JEFF grabs his holster and clips it to his belt. He grabs his lunchbox, as he does, ANN comes over and gives him a hug and kisses the top of his head. ANN "I love you, have a good day at school." JEFF "Love you too, Mom." JEFF hurries out the front door. countertop TV. ANN turns back and watches the

NEWSCASTER/INTERVIEWEE "Really this all started in Colorado in 2000 and boiled over in 2020 with the multiple planned attacks on 4 schools by 4 different students who met and strategized over the internet to kill as many school children as possible. This opened our country up to a whole new kind of fear. 4 regular American kids who are, without a doubt, the most notorious domestic terrorists in our countrys history..." ANN turns her head as STEVE (ANNs husband/JEFFs father, 40M) enters the kitchen in a hurry. STEVE "God Damn it, Im late again. I gotta go; Ill grab a coffee on the way." ANN "Look, we have to talk about this. Not saying anything isnt going to make this go away."

STEVE "Jesus, Ann. Now is definitely not the time, I told you I was late. Whats so hard to understand about that. We will talk about it when I get home." ANN shrugs as STEVE shakes his head, grabs his gun and rushes out of the front door. EXT. A suburban street/JEFFs school A typical school day morning, happy packs of children laugh and play as they make their way to school. All of the kids are wearing holsters. Some of the children are comparing guns and holsters and practicing quick drawing. The crossing guards have guns slung over their orange vests. Jeff runs by trying to get to school before the bell rings. INT. School Hallway JEFF runs into the hallway. Other students are gathered outside their classroom giggling and waiting until the last second to get to class. The bell rings, JEFF and the other students walk into their classrooms, leaving the hallway deserted. At the end of the hallway is a giant banner with a handgun with the words "SAVE OUR SCHOOLS" underneath in a military-looking font. INT. JEFFs classroom As JEFF walks into the classroom and finds his seat, his teacher, CHRIS TURNER (27M), is beginning the day. CHRIS "OK, everybody take your seat. Quiet down. Here we go, role call. Emily Austin..." JEFF settles into his desk, opens the top and puts his iPad and lunch inside. He takes his holster off and sets it on top of the desk next to his "School Safety Handbook". He starts to daydream while looking around the classroom. All around the room are various posters. There are the requisite "Math and Science are cool" and motivational reading posters, but the one JEFF stops on has a picture of a masked gunman pointing a gun at the camera with the words "Only You" above his head and "Can Stop Me!" at the bottom.

CHRIS "Jeff Smith...Jeff Smith!" JEFF "What...Oh sorry. Present." CHRIS "Lets start with the day with our most important lesson, terrorist safety, open your school safety handbook to chapter 2. Know your enemy..." JEFF opens his book and stares at the page. The page has "Know Your Enemy" in big bold letters at the top, underneath are various pictures of "domestic terrorists". They look like American school kids, but are grouped by crime, with names like "The gunman", "The bomber", etc. He drifts off into his own world, imagining an elaborate scenario where he saves the school from "The gunman". JEFF finishes saving the school as CHRIS is moving on to the second part of the lesson. CHRIS "...moving on, we have a video to watch today. Its called "Terror in our Backyard". Its a very important video that demonstrates our responsibility to keep our schools, homes, our world, safe. Please pay close attention, there will be quiz tomorrow." CHRIS turns to a giant touch-screen monitor and presses play to start the video. He dims the classroom lights as the title, "Terror in our Backyard" flashes across the screen and sounds of screams and gunshots come out of speakers. A quick montage of news footage of mass shootings at schools and malls flies across the screen. NARRATOR "Terror has come home. The greatest threat to you and your schools safety, could be sitting next to you right now. Domestic terrorists come in all forms; your threat level must always be red because they will not wait for you to be ready. It could come from anywhere, at any time; your finger must be on the trigger..."

JEFF stares at the gun on his desk. power. INT. Classroom

He can feel its

The lights in the classroom come back up and CHRIS presses stop and the home screen comes up on the giant monitor. CHRIS "Alright, I hope you all were listening, that video could save your lives or all of our lives. Pull out your iPads, load your Science app and call up your homework..." The class switches gears, pulls out their iPads and goes on to the more traditional lessons. INT. School Gym JEFFs class lines up in PE shirts and shorts, with their holsters hanging off their sides. The PE teacher HERB (44M) is walking down the line, checking holsters and guns. HERB "Looks like were ready to go. Lets head to the firing range." The children walk single file out of the gym, lead by HERB. EXT. School Firing Range The class is all wearing safety glasses and pointing their guns to the camera. The constant sound of gunshots is overwhelming. BANG, BANG, BANG as the children empty their clips at the target. HERB "Nice shooting class, lets head in and clean your weapons." HERB leads the class back into the gym, single file. INT. School Gym The class is de-assembling their guns and cleaning them. JEFF meticulously takes his .22 apart and wipes the parts clean.

INT. Cafeteria Kids line up and head through the lunch line. JEFF is walking through the lunch line. Behind him are CHAD (12M) and DAVE (12M). They are the school bullies. JEFF never really liked them, but they don't bother him, so JEFF just does his best to ignore them. CHAD (to DAVE) "Look at that dork ahead of JEFF. You should knock his tray out of his hands." DAVE "I think JEFF should do it, he's closer. C'mon JEFF, do it." JEFF "No." CHAD "What's your problem JEFF, don't be a pussy." JEFF stares straight ahead, getting slightly nervous, but trying his best to keep his cool and ignore the bullies. DAVE (to JEFF) "Pussy." DAVE walks past JEFF, faking like he's going to knock his tray out of his hands and then knocking the tray out of JIM's hands (12M), the boy ahead of JEFF. CHAD "5 second rule!" CHAD and DAVE start stomping on JIM's lunch and start to grab him, so they can rub his face in it. JEFF's stare narrows and he starts his hand towards his holster. As he does, CHRIS runs over. CHRIS "THAT'S ENOUGH! You two pick up that tray. I'm writing both of you up. Plus you're going to buy JIM a new lunch, and guess what; you get to work on your

janitorial skills. Start cleaning up that mess, right now." CHAD and DAVE bend down and begin cleaning up the mess. JEFF walks by them and finishes buying his lunch. He heads over to a table and sits down with some other boys from his class. JEFF is late to the table, so he's not really a part of their conversation. They are talking about their shooting prowess. JEFF is not interested in that, but is instead focusing on CHAD and DAVE, who are sitting just barely within earshot. JEFF eavesdrops on their conversation. CHAD "Mr. Turner is such an asshole. Big deal, you knocked that idiot's tray out of his hand." DAVE "Yeah, and then we had to buy him a new lunch. I hate both those jerks." CHAD "Well, JIM should be happy his boyfriend, Mr. Douche, was there to save him. We'll get his ass on the way home." JEFF stiffens and stops chewing as the bullies begin to laugh. INT. Classroom The school day is just about over. CHRIS is wrapping up a math lesson. The class sits at attention, but is getting antsy because they are almost free. CHRIS "...I've emailed the day's homework to all of you, and I'm sure you all received it, so you have no excuses. Alright, the bell is about to ring. Everyone stand up and let's recite the Good Guys Creed." The class stands up and CHRIS turns to the giant class room monitor and calls up the Good Guys Creed. The screen displays the creed, karaoke-style, as the children recite it. JEFF stares at CHAD and DAVE as he recites the creed.

CLASS (in unison) "I am a good guy and this is my creed. I will stop violence at all costs. I will remain vigilant. I will protect my school and my family. I will not be terrorized. I will be quick and just. I will not allow bad guys to control my world's fate. I am a good guy and this is my responsibility." JEFF is still staring at CHAD and DAVE when they end the creed. CHAD turns toward JEFF and he quickly looks away. CHRIS "Alright class, good work today, don't forget to do your homework and upload it to the class cloud. Have a good rest of your day everybody." The bell rings and the children get their things together, head out the classroom and start on their way home. EXT. School The front doors of the school open and happy children come flying out. Armed crossing guards, bus drivers and parents are everywhere. CHAD and DAVE walk out of the doors and JEFF is not far behind. EXT. Suburban Street JEFF has tailed CHAD and DAVE for a few blocks. They are trying to catch up to JIM. JIM is about a half of block ahead of them now, and CHAD and DAVE start to yell to him. CHAD "Hey, little buddy, wait up." DAVE "Yeah, wait up man, we just want to talk to you." JIM stops and looks. A wave of fear comes over his face. turns back around and starts running away. CHAD "C'mon, Jimmy, whadda running for?" He

CHAD and DAVE start to give chase. They make up the ground between them and JIM quickly. JEFF lags behind them, but starts to pick up his pace, so he doesn't get too far behind. CHAD and DAVE reach JIM and DAVE grabs his backpack to stop him from running any further. JEFF runs a little closer and hides behind a nearby tree. CHAD (panting) "Jimmy, now we're all out of breath, why did you make us chase you. You know you can't outrun us, punk." JIM "C'mon guys, I don't want any trouble." CHAD "You should have thought about that before you made us buy you lunch." JIM "That wasn't my fault. over, I..." DAVE (interrupting) "Don't try to blame it on him, I think it's time you pay us back." CHAD "No, no, no. It's ok. Maybe it's time we were a little nicer to Jimmy. I think we should buy him an afterschool snack." CHAD takes his gun from his holster. barrel towards JIM's mouth. CHAD "What do think Jimmy, you hungry?" JEFF runs out from behind the tree. He draws his .22 as he runs towards the other boys. They all freeze and put their hands up. He brings the Mr. Turner just came

JEFF "Stop it, right now!" CHAD "JEFF. What the hell..." JEFF (interrupting) "You can't do this, it isn't right. JIM, get out of here." JIM just stands there, frozen. DAVE "JEFF, we were just scaring him, we weren't going to do anything." JEFF "Shut up! JIM, get out of here!"

JIM takes one last look at the 3 of them and runs away in terror. CHAD "JEFF, you need to chill out, we were just messing with him." JEFF (cocking the hammer back) "Now you two start walking the opposite way." DAVE "He's crazy man, let's get outta here." CHAD (to JEFF) "What's wrong with you, dude?" JEFF takes a step towards CHAD, and both of the bullies turn and run in the opposite direction. JEFF watches them run away, puts his .22 slowly back into his holster. A smile comes across his face. He feels like a "good guy", he saved JIM and he feels like a superhero.

EXT. JEFF's house JEFF comes walking down the street with a smirk on his face and a bounce in his step. As JEFF gets closer to the front door, you can hear an argument between JEFF's parents inside. When he opens the door, the argument stops suddenly. STEVE Have a good day at school, kiddo? JEFF Yeah, I had a really good day. ANN Thats good to hear, Im going to finish dinner. INT. Dining Room JEFF and his parents are sitting around the dining room eating dinner. He is still wearing his holster. JEFF has noticed that his parents have been noticeably quiet. JEFF (playing with his food) Is everything alright? STEVE Yeah, why wouldnt it be? JEFF You guys just seem different. ANN stands up and starts to clear the table. JEFF Mom? ANN Everythings fine, JEFF. She takes the plates and heads into the kitchen. STEVE follows her into the kitchen. JEFF watches them go and feels the tension between them. He can barely hear them start to talk after they get in the kitchen.

INT. Kitchen ANN begins to wash the dishes as STEVE walks over. STEVE ANN, well get through this. made a mistake, thats all. ANN Maybe it wasnt a mistake. Maybe I wanted to do it. Maybe we shouldnt get through this. STEVE (raising voice) What are you saying ANN, that youd rather be with that scumbag than with your family! I love you, JEFF loves you. This is not how its supposed be! ANN (holding back tears) You know I married you because of JEFF. I cant fake it anymore, I dont love you, and I just cant... STEVE grabs ANN by the shoulders and pulls her close. STEVE Dont do this ANN! Dont do this! ANN (yells) Let go of me! JEFF hears his mother yell, walks in, reciting the Good Guy Creed in his head, and draws his weapon. He points it at his father. CUT TO BLACK JEFF (VO) I am a good guy and this is my responsibility. You