CUT TO:
.MR BRADFORD’S CLASSROOM
.FINS FIRST HOUR – ETHICS
ZEKE
I genuinely think we are the only seniors in here.
Fin looks around and every kid looks too young to be here.
FIN
Whoa, maybe we’re just getting old.
MR. BRADFORD
Okay class, lets get started, how many of you have any familiarity with Ethics or Philosophy in general.
Most of the younger students raise their hands. Fin and Zeke exchange shrugs. As the teacher speaks, Fin zones out, slipping on his headphones, clearly still upset. After a while, Zeke taps his shoulder. Fin pulls off the headphones to find Mr. Bradford waiting for his attention.
MR. BRADFORD (CONT’D)
What’s your name son?
FIN
Um, It’s Fin, sorry sir.
MR. BRADFORD
Don’t apologize if you don’t mean it, why did you think it was okay to listen to music.
FIN
Um… being honest I just don’t feel like this class applies to me, it’s just an elective it should be an easy pass. I already know right and wrong, I just want to pass, graduate, and get out of here.
MR. BRADFORD
I appreciate your honesty. Go on.
FIN
(Pauses)
Well, Ethics kind of feel like this vague set of rules everyone pretends to agree on, but no one actually follows or thinks about when it matters. It’s just a way to make people feel better about the choices they were going to make anyway.
MR. BRADFORD
I see… Can I ask you a question.
FIN
Of course.
MR. BRADFORD
Lets say a fellow classmate borrows your notes for an exam, he passes the test with flying colors, but proceeds to brag and brag about how smart he is and how he did it on their own with no help. Do you speak up, let everyone know that it was your notes that helped him succeed? Or, let him take the glory at the expense of your own?
FIN
If they were my notes, why would I let him have the credit, it was my work.
MR. BRADFORD
I see, and do you think that your opinion is ethically correct and that it’s how you would feel no matter the situation?
FIN
Yes I do, that’s morally where I stand.
MR. BRADFORD
So, what if it wasn’t just a classmate? What if it was a brother? Or a best friend?
Fin looks up at the teacher and stays silent.
MR. BRADFORD (CONT’D)
It changes things doesn’t it, humans are hardwired to want not only the best for themselves, but also the best for what we consider our loved ones.
If you stop thinking of ethics as just a list of right and wrongs, and think of it more as
the way our choices affect others and ourselves, you’ll realize it’s less about following rules and more about understanding the impact of what we do.
Bell Rings
CUT TO:
.MRS. BAKER’S CLASS – CALI AND KYLER’S
MRS. BAKER
Alright everyone get with a partner, we’re gonna work in groups of two for most of the year.
Kyler and Cali sit in the back of the class
KYLER
So since you don’t have any friends, and this is my second time taking this class, I think we would make excellent partners, I’ve already learned all of this stuff.
CALI
I’m pretty sure if you had “learned all of this stuff” you wouldn’t be taking this class again.
KYLER
How do you know I didn’t fail on purpose?
CALI
And why would you do that?
KYLER
I heard it was more fun the second time around, so far it’s living up to the hype.
CALI
(smiles)
Fun isn’t the word I would use to describe me.
KYLER
What word would you go with?
CALI
(Laughs)
How about mysterious
KYLER
(Laughs)
Oh Really?
CALI
(Shrugs)
I don’t know
KYLER
Whoa, you are mysterious. So if I asked if you wanted to go to this party with me this weekend you would say?
CALI
Maybe.
Bell Rings
>CUT TO:
Fin walks toward the bathroom in between classes. And stops and stares at a board that says “Who do you want to be?” with a bunch of fliers on it. The camera pans on one that says “football tryouts, one spot left”
FIN
(Whispers)
Of all the girls in the entire school you had to pick her.
KYLER
(Yells)
FIN! Wait up.
FIN
(Whispers)
Shit.
Fin and Kyler enter the boy’s bathroom and both use urinals leaving a urinal in between them so it isn’t weird.
KYLER
Fin, bro, I already have a date to Bart’s party.
FIN
What? That’s awesome Kye.
KYLER
She’s so awesome dude, something about her, she just seems so familiar, like I literally just met her, but it feels like I’ve known her. Does that make sense.
FIN
(Starts to get upset)
Well yea-
Bart joins them and starts to use the urinal in between them.
KYLER
There’s no way you just did that bro
FIN
Dude that’s so weird, use like any other urinal.
Zeke appears using a urinal to their right, he’s been there for a while and nobody noticed.
ZEKE
Bart, bro code rule #8 says “Never use a urinal in between two guys it’s extremely weird.”
BARTHOLOMEW
This urinal’s my spot. This urinal cake and I have history.
KYLER
(Laughs)
Okay Bart.
FIN
Aw, Zeke, you read the bro code book I got you.
ZEKE
Of course dude, the code is crazy important to you, so it’s important to me.
Fin looks at Kyler and smiles.
FIN
Yeah, it is important.
The bell rings and all of the boys panic and zip up their pants and rush out.
>CUT TO: END OF SCHOOL
Fin and Kyler are walking out of class out to the parking lot.
KYLER
Hey so I was actually gonna give that girl from this morning a ride home, is it cool with you if we carpool?
FIN
Um, yeah it’s no big deal, but actually I was gonna walk home.
KYLER
Walk home? You never walk anywhere dude.
FIN
Well I was thinking about getting in shape.
KYLER
In shape for what?
FIN
Um… I’m gonna try out.
KYLER
Try out for what?
FIN
Um, football. I am trying out for football, mom saw something about it looking good for scholarships or something.
KYLER
Oh, why didn’t you tell me?
FIN
I just did dude, but yeah I’m gonna be walking to school so you shouldn’t have to worry about picking me up.
KYLER
Oh okay, are you sure?
FIN
Yes, I’m sure.
KYLER
Okay bro see you later.
FIN
Bye.
Fin watches Kyler walk away and help Cali get into his truck, then grabs a flier to try out for the football team, and walks toward home.
Fade out.