The Pride By Spencer Brown

69 Mack St. Kingston, Ontario K7L 1N8 spencerbrown@rocketmail.com

INT. OUTSIDE PRINCIPALS OFFICE - DAY ALISHA CALLAWAY sits in a plastic chair beside a door labeled Principal. Alisha is 7 years old with black skin, almond shaped eyes and a small button nose. She wears pink Velcro shoes, brown tights with a denim skirt and a puffy navy blue jacket. Her pink backpack rests beside the chair and her feet hover inches off the ground as she swings them back and forth. In her lap sits a binder which she sketches in. Through the door, the muffled sound of VOICES in serious discussion can be heard, then SILENCE. INT. PRINCIPALS OFFICE - DAY A concerned STEVE and MONICA CALLAWAY sit across from PRINCIPAL CHO, separated by a large unattractive desk. Steve is a handsome 42 year old and wears expensive business attire. Monica, an attractive 38 year old, wears equally attractive clothing but is much less formal. The significantly older Principal Cho has a relaxed demeanor and speaks with his hands. STEVE She isnt mute. I speak with her nearly every morning before Monica drops her off here. The thing is, shes a shy kid. Maybe you need to work on making her less shy. PRINCIPAL CHO Mr. Callaway, its not our responsibility to make your daughter less introverted. Were not a disability center. However, we have dealt with similar circumstances before. I understand that you havent had Alisha for long, but her behavior is a growing concern. Her shyness, as you put it, may not be a need for alarm but her violent outbursts should be. Today is the 3rd time your daughter has visited my office in the past 2 months. MONICA This is news to me!

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STEVE I had no idea. PRINCIPAL CHO (Confused) You should have gotten a call or a voice mail. Thats school policy... (continued) The Callaways stare at the Principal in surprise. Principal Cho takes a file folder from his desk. He CLEARS HIS THROAT and reads aloud. PRINCIPAL CHO Alishas first incident was Sept. 8th. She was caught putting glue in Margaret Fields hair. On the 27th, she threw sand in Billy Fishers eyes, and when the receptionist called today, did he tell you what had happened? MONICA Something about closing a door on someones nose? Are they alr... STEVE But that could have been an accident. PRINCIPAL CHO Yes, hes alright. And regardless, there are actions that need to be taken to ensure the safety of our students and your daughter. When dealing with those who have experienced loss like Alisha has, solving these sorts of issues isnt always black & white, which is why we would like to refer Alisha to a child-psychologist. This would just be an evaluation to help us determine Alishas needs. STEVE You think my daughter is a headcase? MONICA Steve!

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PRINCIPAL CHO This would be for her own benefit. Either she goes, or she will be expelled. MONICA Well...If thats the case...How can we contact them? Principal Cho rummages through his Rolodex and withdraws a business card. PRINCIPAL CHO His name is Dr. Schroeder. (continued) Monica stands to take the card from the principal. She shakes his hand. Steve also stands to shake Principal Chos hand. PRINCIPAL CHO Thank you for your time. MONICA Thank you Mister Cho, and if you dont mind, could you make a note to contact us in person if something like this happens again? The Callaways exit the office. INT. FAMILY S.U.V. - AFTERNOON Monica drives Steve and Alisha through a suburban neighborhood. Alisha stares out the window to watch as children walk home from school. Steve looks over his shoulder. STEVE Sweetie, did you delete any messages from the school?(continued) Alisha looks down at her feet but offers no response. STEVE Alisha? MONICA Your father and I arent mad at you, just a little disappointed. Were your family now and we wanna (MORE) (CONTINUED)

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MONICA (contd) be there for you when we can, but you have to let us, OK? Is there anything you want to tell us? Alisha nods. Brief pause. ALISHA I have to do a Lion presentation on Friday. STEVE Thats great kiddo! How about you get started on that when we get home. INT. ALISHAS BEDROOM - EVENING Alisha enters her bedroom carrying her pink backpack. She removes the binder of sketches from the contents of the bag and takes the laptop off her desk before crawling under the covers of her bed. She begins to simultaneously watch youtube videos about lions while sketching pictures of them on the lined sheets of paper in her binder. The VOICE narrating the videos is soothing and deep, causing Alishas eyelids to grow heavy. She falls asleep. Monica enters the room and tucks Alisha in. As Monica removes the clutter from the bed, a drawing falls out of the binder. The drawing is of 3 lions, labeled Mom, Dad and Alisha. Monica takes the paper and kisses Alisha on the forehead before exiting the room. Fade to black. INT. ALISHAS BEDROOM - MORNING Fade in as Alisha wakes to find a large, furry object at the foot of her bed. She pulls the cover up over her head but slowly lowers it back down to observe. The creature makes a low rumble as it breaths and re-adjusts its body slightly. Alisha gathers up her courage and crawls toward the beast, rolling it over to get a better look. The beast is actually Alishas biological father, PHIL, dressed in an oversized lion costume. Phil, in his early forties, is Black with dark eyes and a scruffy beard. Alisha begins to shake her father.

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ALISHA Dad!? Phil takes a moment to come about. PHIL Well arent you a sight for sore eyes. Alisha gives Phil a hug and he returns the embrace. Phil begins to tickle Alisha. ALISHA (Overjoyed) How did you get here? Arent you... PHIL Dead? Im pretty sure I am dead. I honestly couldnt tell ya what Im doing here. (continued) Phils stomach GROWLS PHIL All I know is that Im so hungry, I could eat a horse. What do you say we get some breakfast? ALISHA I cant wait till you meet Monica! Alisha grabs Phils hand and escorts him as they exit the bedroom. INT. KITCHEN - MORNING Monica is preparing breakfast while speaking on the phone. MONICA Are there any appointments today? No, thats no good, she will still be at school. Ya, my husband can probably get her there by then. Perfect. thanks, you too. Monica hangs up and notices Alisha as she enters with Phil. ALISHA Monica!

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MONICA Good morning sweetheart, did you sleep OK? You fell asleep awfully early, must have been working hard on that presentation. ALISHA Ya, and when I woke up this morning, look who I found! MONICA And whose that darling? ALISHA My Dad! Monica looks puzzled but decides to smile and wave-it is in the wrong direction. Confused by this reaction, Alisha and Phil sit at the table and begin to eat cereal. Monica goes about her routine before noticing the picture on the fridge. The Dad lion has disappeared. MONICA Did you see that I put your drawing on the fridge? What an amazing job you little artist you. I hope you dont mind; I could have sworn there was another lion though. Alisha smiles. PHIL I dont think she can see me. She seems nice though. Phil grabs the bowl of cereal and tilts his into his mouth, spilling food all over the floor. MONICA Darling, could you please be a little more careful when you eat? EXT. SCHOOL YARD - DAY Monica drops Alisha off at school in a rush. Phil accompanies her to the front door where they are met by BILLY FISHER and his gang of friends. They are all the same age as Alisha and they also look very average except for Billy who has a large bandage on his nose.

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BILLY Hey freak. Coulda sworn after yesterday they would send you to Juvie. Billys friends CHUCKLE PHIL Whats up with this guys face? Alisha doesnt respond. BILLY Why dont you ever talk. Are you retarded? Billy looks to his friends and laughs. They respond with laughter. PHIL Honey, I dont like this guy one bit. I think you should show him what a lion does in this kind of situation. BILLY Well, are ya? Alisha looks at Phil hesitantly before lunging at Billy, biting his arm. Hysteria ensues. INT. WAITING ROOM - DAY Phil and Alisha sit in the waiting room as Steve paces around, talking with a client on his phone. PHIL Ya know, that wasnt exactly what I had in mind. Sure, you gotta stick up for yourself but youre never gonna get anywhere if youre always trying to fight your way out of the corner. (continued) Phil pauses. PHIL Do you know what the pride is? ALISHA A family of lions?

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PHIL Ah, thats what scientists think it means, but really, the pride is the lions way of life. Sure, its about family but its also about respect; respect for others but especially respect for yourself. Do you know why Lions dont go around killing everything they see? ALISHA Because of the pride? PHIL Exactly, we only kill out of necessity. We prefer to live in harmony with all the other animals and thats how we get respect. Were just like humans, we have morals too. (continued) Alisha looks confused. PHIL Dont worry, we can work on it. A VOICE comes from off screen and summons Alisha. Phil follows while Steve continues to wander around the office with his cell phone. INT. PSYCHOLOGISTS OFFICE - DAY DR. SCHROEDER, a senile yet intellectual looking man in worn out clothing and thick bi-focal glasses sits across from Alisha in a cramped office. Phil sits in a chair at the far end of the room. Dr. Schroeder scribbles notes into a file and mumbles to himself. DR. SCHROEDER So you are an orphan...Very interesting. Do you remember what your relationship with your parents was like? (continued) Alisha sits quietly DR. SCHROEDER Did they ever fight? Or get angry at you? (continued) Alisha remains silent

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DR. SCHROEDER Would they hit you? PHIL Oh Come on! ALISHA No. PHIL Shes upset that we died you old goat! How the heck can you rule that out? Alisha looks over at Phil and giggles. DR. SCHROEDER What are you looking at? ALISHA (hesitantly) My dad...Hes a lion. DR. SCHROEDER (mumbling) Absolutely delusional PHIL Alright, this conversation is over. No one talks to my daughter like that. Phil stands and marches toward the desk and ROARS with all his might, sending Dr. Schroeder into a state of shock. Taken aback, Dr. Schroeder glances around the room and adjusts his spectacles nervously. Phil ROARS once more. DR. SCHROEDER Oh, not again. Schroeder begins to HOWL back pounding his fists on the desks as if to assert his authority. Phil, still ROARING, picks up Alishas file and tears it to pieces and escorts Alisha towards the door. PHIL Thanks for nothing doc. (continued) Phil turns to Alisha PHIL Now where were we? Oh right, the pride...

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Phil and Alisha exit the office. After a brief silence, Schroeder regains his composure only to realize he is alone. EXT. PARK - DAY (M.O.S. MONTAGE) Phil and Alisha play in the park. Phil provides encouragement as Alisha tries to make friends on the jungle gym. She plays tag with several kids and also swings on a swing set with other kids while Phil pushes her. Phil and Alisha also work on her presentation, practicing gestures, gathering research and preparing the Bristol board. INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT Monica assembles a small lion costume for Alisha who helps her mother while Phil watches TV from the couch with Steve. EXT. SCHOOL YARD - DAY Monica drops the costume-clad Alisha and Phil off at school and Alisha is once again greeted by Billy who stands with his arm in front of the doorway. BILLY (Sarcastically) Nice outfit, did you make it yourself? ALISHA Ya! Well, I helped my mom. Billy, I wanted to say sorry for breaking your nose. It was wrong and I hope you can forgive me. Billy looks confused. ALISHA I also wanted to tell you that I really liked your presentation on alligators. I didnt know they could go days without eating, thats really cool. Billys confusion mounts and Alisha steps forward and kisses him on the cheek. Phil struts past and opens the door. Billy is stunned and stammers as Alisha walks past confidently, closely followed by Phil. Billy watches as they leave and holds his hand to where he was kissed.

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INT. CLASSROOM - DAY Alisha and Phil arrive outside her classroom and Phil opens the door. PHIL Good luck kiddo, its all up to you now. (continued) Alisha looks lovingly toward Phil and hugs him around the waist. PHIL Remember, your mom and I love you. Now go get em! Alisha enters the classroom. and sets up for her presentation. She starts off hesitant but begins to get into it, acting larger than life in a MONTAGE of the presentation. After she finishes, the class gives her a big round of applause. Alisha walks back to the door to see Phil but when she opens the door, he is no where to be found. In his place is the newly restored drawing of Alisha and her family with words Never forget the pride". Alisha smiles and hurries back into the classroom. ROLL CREDITS