Schools Kill Creativity

INT. CLASSROOM – MIDDAY

It was the middle of Friday during school hours when TRAVIS

JAMES and SOFIA MADDEN, both 16yrs, was currently sat behind
their desks in their old classroom, reading their feedback on
an assignment given to them by their English teacher LEE
STEVENS, 24YRS. TRAVIS was told to stay after class because
the teacher needed to speak to him.
After class he mindlessly walks to MR. STEVENS, placing his
paper on the desk before sitting down on the opposite chair.

SOFIA
Travis. What’s that?

TRAVIS
Sir wants to see me after class.
(showing her the paper)

SOFIA
Oh shit, I’ll wait for you in the hall.

TRAVIS
( Nods and looks at the paper again )
Alright.

SCHOOL BELL RINGS

TRAVIS
( gets up before packing his things away )

TRAVIS walks over to the desk.

MR. STEVENS
( He picks up the paper and starts skimming the notes, before
releasing a disapproving sigh )
Travis, the task was to write a story on a non-fictional
character that has helped you in some way. Not some story on
some crazy alien doctor in a trench coat and a time machine.

TRAVIS
But he’s not just some crazy doctor. He’s THE doctor who helps
things and doesn’t care about what they are. Like me with
others who aren’t like me-
 MR STEVENS
I get it Travis, it’s very creative and you have a great
imagination, but that wasn’t the task that was set for you.
Yes, you can save it for the next assignment of creative
writing. But I will need you to re-do this one again. You have
until tomorrow morning to turn it in.
You can go now.

TRAVIS
But sir-

MR. STEVENS
( Shakes his head ‘No’ )
No buts. Get it done.

TRAVIS picks shoves his paper in his bag and leaves the
classroom, throwing his bag over his shoulder on the way out.
Door slamming shut behind him.

INT. SCHOOL HALLWAY – AFTERNOON

TRAVIS reunites with SOFIA in the old hallway with the faded
paint and cobwebbed covered corners. Before they start walking
towards their next and final class of the day.

SOFIA
What did Stevens want?

TRAVIS
He wants me to rewrite the whole assignment by tomorrow
morning.

SOFIA
Dude, what the fuck?!
You gonna do it?

TRAVIS
I have to if I wanna pass. I’m gonna go library to start on
it.

TRAVIS pulls out his phone to check the time and realise its
still 3:00pm. He turns on his heels and heads for the library.
See you later.

INT. LIBRARY – LATE AFTERNOON

For it being afterschool hours, there aren’t many people

sitting in the library. TRAVIS sits at a desk with his English
book and paper on the table with his head in his hands.
Grasping at the short strands like he’s going to pull them
out. He sighs before lifting his head resting on his hands.

TRAVIS
( sighs and starts mumbling )
What am I supposed to do?

He pulls his phone out and sees its only been an hour and he
still doesn’t know what to do. He looks up into the shelves of
books ahead of him and sees a book on David Attenborough. He
gets an idea on who to write and knows exactly how to do it.
Before he knows it he’s finished his second paper and looks at
the front page.

TRAVIS
That’ll have to do.

Scene ends with TRAVIS packing his paper away in his bag and
closing it. Going dark before he turns and walks out of the
door.

TIME SKIP TO FOLLOWING WEEK

INT. HALLWAY – AFTERNOON

In the same old broken-down chipped hallway, TRAVIS and SOFIA

are making there way to MR STEVENS’ class as their second. To
last class of the day.

SOFIA
Finally, almost last period of the day.
You ready?

TRAVIS
S’pose so.

The school bell rings to mark the start of the final class as
the students walk into their classroom. When TRAVIS takes his
bag off and putting it on the floor, he realises there’s a
note on his desk.
‘ See me after class. – MR. STEVENS. ‘
TRAVIS looks up and sees MR. STEVENS looking at him blankly.
By the end of class
MR. STEVENS comes by to TRAVIS desk and places his second
paper on the table in front of him.

MR. STEVENS
( sighs with annoyance )
I wanted to talk to you about your paper… Again.
You finally chose a suitable non-fictional character, but it’s
not good enough.
Why didn’t you put the effort into this than the last one?

TRAVIS
( snaps back with more anger than yelling )
Nothings good enough for you. Fucking hell.

MR. STEVENS
( whose eyes widen in shock before narrowing )
What did you say?

TRAVIS
( looks up, raising his voice slightly, before being cut off )
IT’S TRUE-

MR, STEVENS
No. This attitude is unacceptable. All I was trying to do was
help you pass this class.
You have earned yourself a half hour detention with me after
school.

TRAVIS looks up at his teacher in pure disbelief, he stopped

talking and decided to keep his mouth shut. Instead he stood
up sharply than the chair he sat on skidded backward leaving a
loud screech. He through his bag back on his shoulder and left
the class room.

INT. HALLWAY/CLASSROOM – AFTERNOON

By the end of the day, TRAVIS made his way back to MR. STEVENS
class to attend his detention. He knocked on the door before
peering inside, when the teacher waved his hand to let him in.
As soon as TRAVIS entered he avoided eye contact and sat on
the desk closest to the door. Firstly, looking around to
realise he was the only one in there. Then the timer started.

EXT. HALLWAY – MIDDAY – FLASHBACK

TRAVIS runs into SOFIA after leaving the classroom with a new
detention.

SOFIA
( more of a statement than question )
Why do you look pissed?

TRAVIS
( rolling his eyes )
 MR. Stevenson is giving me a half hour detention for
backchatting.
He didn’t approve of my second paper either.

SOFIA
( Looks at TRAVIS with pity before turning away to look ahead
of them )
Sorry, he really is an asshole

TRAVIS
Mhm. Tell me about it.

FLASHBACK ENDS

INT. CLASSROOM – AFTERNOON

MR. STEVENS
Ok. You know the rules. No phones. No messing around. AND no
phones. Your detentions begun.
INT. SAME CLASSROOM – AFTERNOON

It seems like forever to TRAVIS when he finally heard the

alarm going off the mark the end of his detention. He began to
walk towards the door before he heard STEVENS call for him to
wait for a minute.

TRAVIS
Yes sir ?

MR. STEVENS
I know you’re a smart student, just as I know you will pass
this class. So in future, do a task right the first time and
we can prevent repeats of this. Sound good?

TRAVIS
Yes sir, sounds good.

MR. STEVENS
Ok. Go enjoy the rest of your weekend.
See you on Monday.

TRAVIS
Bye.

TRAVIS leaves the classroom and finally makes his way outside
and sees the remaining students who haven’t left yet. He
decides to put his headphones on and walks home downhill.