Bullying

Characters:
Victims: Jim and Sue
Bullies: George, Luke and Jessica
Police: agent Jack and agent Sally
Headmaster or math teacher
School psycologist
The class

***

(Math class. Students are taking a test. Tension is in the air.)
Narrator: It was a stressful begging of the day for Luke. This test was taking 40% of his grade and he wasn’t really sure if he was going to pass it. He started to hear all the things his father will say to him when he brings the results home. He couldn’t stand just a thought of how he will feel then. He got mad, scared, intent, he started panicking, and than he saw Sue. She was sitting in front of him. Suddenly it seemed like all of his problems almost disappeared.
Luke (whispering): Hey, Sue!
Sue: (ignoring him)
Luke: Sue! Sue!
Sue: (still ignoring)
Luke: Sue, I know you can hear me.
Sue: (gets a little nervous but is still ignoring Luke)
Luke: Sue!
Headmaster: (rashly stands up) Oh, I forgot… Class, please be still, I will be back soon. I just need to… to… to do something… else… (rans out of the classroom)
Luke: (a few seconds later; slowly sits on Sue’s table) Hey! How nice to see you, Sue.
Sue: (scared; ignoring)
Luke: Wow, not a word?
Sue: (still ignoring, biting her lips)
Luke: Okay, listen, I need help. I don’t know most of things required on this test. That means I’m going to get a bad grade. But I know that you know most of things required on this test. So I need you to help me...
Sue: (ignoring)
Luke: …or even do my test instead of me.
Sue: (ignoring)
Luke: Here’s a fun fact: you know what we both know?
Sue: (looks up at him for a moment)
Luke: We both know that my father isn’t a big lover of bad grades. Ta – daaa!
Sue: (for herself) Oh no. I looked up at him. No, no, no, no, no…
Luke: Sue, I’m asking you nicely one more time.
Sue: (for herself) Ignore him, he will go away. Don’t panic, he can smell fear. Keep calm, keep calm, keep calm...
Luke: Okay, here goes nothing. (Climbs on Sue’s table) Hey everyone, look!
(The class looks up at him)
Luke: Sue is wearing the same shirt as yesterday! Oh, poor little Sue… Your mommy cut off your pocket money again, didn’t she?
Sue: Luke, c’mon, we’ve been through this…
Luke: Sue! Are you okay? Oh dear god! Sue! (Touches her face shocked) Sue! I didn’t know you can talk!
(Someone from the class laughs)
Sue: (confused) What? Of course I can talk…
Luke: Hey, guys, did you know that cows can talk?
(A few kids from the class laughs)
Sue: (slowly getting mad)
George: LUKE! YOU DIDN’T KNEW THAT COWS CAN TALK?
Jessica: Wow, Luke…
George: I am seriously disappointed at you…
Jessica: And I just wanted to ask you for biology help…
(Class is laughing and whispering, looking at Sue)
Sue: Get off of my table.
Luke: (waves with paper) First my correct answers.
Sue: (furious) Luke, get off of my table, get off of my mind, get out of my life now. Right now.
Luke: (to George) Just look at her face…
George: (laughing)
Jessica: (comes to Sue, starts playing with her hair) Oh, how sweet, Luke, she thinks that you’re going to obey her…
Luke: Yes, isn’t that sweet? I almost like her just because of that…
George: OOOHHH, LUKE!!!
Class: OOOHHH!!!
George: OH MY GOD! WHEN IS THE WEDDING?
Jessica: I am the godmother! I am the godmother!
Luke: Oh we don’t need anyone, right Sue? And besides, there isn’t enough room in my bed… (moves like he is going to kiss her; the whole class screams and applauds)
Jim: (stands out of the crowd) Okay, donkey face, it’s enough now.
(Everyone looks at Jim and stops talking)
Luke: Oh, Jimmy, I didn’t knew that you were jealous of me for having such a beautiful lady!
Jim: (a little shy) I’m not jealous of you…
Luke: No way! You are jealous of Sue!
Jim: (confused)
Luke: Hey, everyone! Jim is gay!
(Class screams. Guys start to look at Jim with disgust)
Jim: (comes to Luke) I see you got the courage to talk rubbish about me.
Luke: (comes to Jim) I see you got the courage to see that.
George: (licks his lips provocatively)
Jim: Oh, really? Do you see what a jerk you are?
Jessica: Woah, slow down a little! Our little Luka–Bazooka doesn’t have much experience with bullies.
George: Yes, he only has the practice.
(Everyone stares disapprovingly at George for a moment)
Luke: (leaning in Jim’s face, smiling) Oh, c’mon Jessie, he could teach me, I trust him…
Jim: (tries to punch Luke in the face)
Sue: (screams terrified) NOOO!!!
Luke: (catches Jim’s arm before it hits him and punches Jim in the stomach)
Jim: (moans loudly; turns around shriveled)
Jessie: (grabs Jim’s nose)
Luke: (stumbles Jim)
Jim: (falls on the floor crying)
Sue: (screams) JIM! JIM! STOP IT, YOU MONSTERS! JIM!
George: (starts kicking Jim, who lies on the floor helpless; Luke and Jessie do the same)
Sue: (rans out of the classroom to get help)
(The whole class moves aside and starts yelling: ‘FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!’ as Luke, George and Jessica are kicking Jim. After about 30 seconds the school policeman, agent Jack, comes in)
Agent Jack: (rans in the classroom, moves Jessica aside and separates Luke from Jim. George moves away by himself. He lifts bloody Jim from the floor. Says calmly) Everyone, get out of the classroom.
(Class gets out of the clasroom within seconds. Luke, Jessica, George and Jim stay in. Sue comes in with agent Sally)
Agent Sally: (looks at everyone) Nice weather today, huh?
(Nobody replies)
agent Sally: Please, continue, agent Jack.
(Agent Jack takes Jim and Sue out)
agent Sally: Okay. Luke, George and Susie…
Jessica: Jessie.
agent Sally: (waves) Nice to meet you, Susie. You three will go home and talk to your parents, before I do. You know that the consequences for this kind of behavior are opening your record and probably juvenile detention.
Jessica: For how long?
Agent Sally: For however long the judge decides on Monday at 8 am. Shame on you.
(The scene closes.)

***

Narrator: And Jim and Sue thought they wanted to get out of trouble. Well, did they?
School psychologist: (to Sue) So, tell me dear, what brings you here?
Sue: We were victims of bullying for couple of times…
School psychologist: (interrupts her) Oh, so you are calling yourself a victim?
Sue: (confused) Well, yes…?
School psychologist: That’s interesting. You see, every third kid calls itself ‘a victim of bullying’, instantly accusing some child with more problems than him\her and calling him ‘a bully’, without even thinking how ‘the bully’ feels. What if it’s really your fault?
Sue: (still confused) Okay, I don’t say I’m completely innocent…
School psychologist: Yes, but you’re just saying that only YOU are hurt. Only YOU don’t feel good. And why?
Sue: (still confused, irritated; thinks that her problem is obvious) Because they…
School psychologist: Go ahead, continue.
Sue: (furious) Are you going to listen to me? I’m trying to solve a major issue here, and I’m asking for your help. If I can’t have what I’m kindly asking for, I shall leave the room.
School psychologist: You, my blind darling, don’t realize how much I am helping you. You don’t even want to try to realize.
Jim: I agree with Sue. Please don’t make fools of us anymore.
Sue: (offended) Okay, Jim, enough of this. Stop defending me. I am capable to live my own life.
Jim: (offended) I am not controlling your life, I’m just being in it.
School psychologist: (for herself) That’s right, kids, get it all out now…
Sue: (cinically) Correction: I am capable to live my own life without YOU in it.
Jim: (hurt) Okay, I’m sorry. I was trying to help you.
Sue: (yelling) Well, stop trying and start doing!
School psychologist: (lighting the candles on her desk) Here we go, sweetie, get it all out…
Jim: (fleering at Sue) First you tell me to get out of your life, than you tell me to stay in it, and now you tell me to solve your problems.
Sue: (furious) Exactly! Oh dear, what is wrong with me?
School psychologist: (meditating) Yes, kids, yes, just get it all out…
Jim: (stands up and starts yelling) What is wrong with me always trying to help you, you little…
Headmaster: (runs in) Oh dear… oh dear… oh Sue, baby, are you okay? JIM! Oh Jim… oh my god… oh my… (hugs them tight) Are you crazy? They could’ve easily killed you! Don’t mess with them, I told you a hundred times. Sue, why didn’t you call me? Jim, why didn’t you? What is the problem here? (Starts sobbing; screams) WHY DO I ALWAYS HAVE TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING? WHY CAN’T I HAVE SOME HELP? PLEASE, TELL ME, WHY CAN’T YOU COOPERATE FOR JUST ONE SINGLE TIME? (Searches for a tissue in her bag) Oh my…
School psychologist: (solving Sudoku) That’s right, sweetie, get it all out…
Agent Sally: (comes in, carrying a pile of papers; exhausted) I am sick of these children. They don’t care about anyone, not even themselves. You can call it a family problem, you can accuse their siblings, parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle, dog, bird, but that doesn’t help at all. I am still sick of them.
School psychologist: (quietly) Time for a cigarette! (Gets out; Agent Jack comes in, eating a sandwich. Agent Sally and agent Jack are talking)
Sue: (desperately) Is anyone going to help me solve my problem?
Jim: I think not. Let’s try call out parents.
Sue: Are you out of your mind? No way! My mother would probably get her high school gang together and they will go beat up Luke’s dad.
Jim: What about your dad?
Sue: He doesn’t care.
Jim: But they are going to find out anyway and then they will be mad because you didn’t tell them earlier.
Sue: Mad because of what? Because they aren’t capable of getting me out of chaos?
Jim: I think you’re underestimating them.
Sue: I don’t care what you think! (Gets out)
Jim: (runs after her) Sue, wait! Please!
Narrator: You’re probably wondering what happened next. Luke, George and Jessica somehow ended up without proper punishment, unless you consider sweeping floors of school for two days a proper punishment for this kind of maltreating. Jim and Sue somehow didn’t end up as a couple, best friends or fractious. Their relationship remained tangled and unexplained. Agents Jack and Sally and the school psychologist somehow kept their jobs. Headmaster somehow didn’t react any further. Jims and Sues parents somehow didn’t got involved. But they all made sure that this scene gets really remembered.

***

(One year later; same set as in the beginning)
Luke (whispering): Hey, Sue!
Sue: (ignoring him)
Luke: Sue! Sue!
Sue: (still ignoring)
Luke: Sue, I know you can hear me.
Sue: (gets a little nervous but still ignoring)
Luke: Sue!
Headmaster: (rashly stands up) Oh, I forgot… Class, please be still, I will be back soon. I just need to… to… to do something… else… (quickly gets out of the classroom)
Luke: (a few seconds later; slowly sits on Sue’s table) Hey! How nice to see you, Sue.