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Felicity Transcripts

Felicity

1X06: Cheating

ORIGINAL AIR DATE: 11/3/1998





The following is a teleplay based on the Felicity episode: Cheated. Originally aired on November 3, 1998. This is a dry teleplay transcibed by Adam Ashby. It is not the original script or a copy of the original used to produce the show. I have used character dialogue, camera angles, and background setting where necessary in accordance to its sequence. This teleplay is copyrighted ©1998 to Nic Cross, Inc.



PROLOGUE



INT. BEN'S APARTMENT



The camera slowly pans down from a shot of the window to Felicity and Ben on the couch. They read over their papers.

Felicity: (recording) Dear Sally, it was perfect -- just perfect.

Felicity stops reading, grabs a chip, dips it, and eats it. Ben takes a double glance at Felicity. Unaware of his staring, Felicity continues to read her paper. Ben drops his paper on the coffee table and stares at her. She erases something on the paper and realizes Ben is staring at her. She looks at him, and they face the awkard silence.

Felicity: What?

Ben: Don't move.

Ben slowly approaches Felicity. She looks at him leaning toward her, and nervously freezes. He leans closer and closer....and flicks something off her front tooth.

Ben: Sorry.

Felicity: (laughs): It's ok.

Ben: There was a thing from the salsa.

Felicity: Oh. Cilantro.

Ben: (laughs) Sorry.

Felicity: Well, uh, I'm pretty much done here. Ahem. So, did Robert Browning survive your withering critical assault?

Ben: Barely, but, uh, you know, I think my paper's pretty good.

Felicity: That's great. Everytime I re-read mine, (stands up) it makes less and less sense. Do you want me to hand yours in, too?

Ben: No. I gotta proof it again. My computer's all screwed up. Everytime I use my spell check it freezes.

Felicity: Oh. Is it on disk? I can run it through mine.

Ben: Yeah?

Felicity: Yeah.

Ben: All right. Here. So, I'll walk you down stairs.

Felicity: Oh, you don't have to.

Ben: So, um, thanks. Felicity: Sure. I mean, it helps me in the reading.

Ben: Yeah. That's good. So....um.....



INT. FELICITY'S DORM



Felicity inserts Ben's disk into the disk drive. The file pops up on the screen. Felicity reads the screen.

Eagle Eye Cherry - "Save Tonight"

Lyrics: Call it close / The curtains / Cause all we need is candlelight / You and me / and a bottle of wine / And I hold you tonight / Ah yeah / Well, we know / I'm going away / And how I wish / I wish it was up / So take this wine / And drink with me / Let's delay our misery / Save tonight / Fight the break of dawn / Come tomorrow /Tomorrow, I'll be gone / Save tonight / Fight the break of dawn / Come tomorrow / Tomorrow, I'll be gone / There's a log / On the fire / And it burns / Like me for you / Tomorrow comes / With one desire / To take me away

She begins to correct the spelling, but pauses as she begins to silently read. Using the mouse, she highlights the entire paragraph line by line. After deleting the paragraph, Felicity begins to retype a new paragraph.

Lyrics: The truth / It ain't easy / To say goodbye / Darling please / Don't start to cry / Cause girl you know I got to go / And Lord, I wish it wasn't so.

Time passes, Felicity walks down the hall toward the professor's drop box.



GUEST STARRING

Ron Canada .............................. Dean Allison
Greg Grunberg .......................... Sean
Shan Omar Huey ...................... Blair
William Monaghan ................... Professor Rigofski
Lorna Raver .............................. Professor Linda Cohen
Helen Siff ................................... Lunch Lady
Eddie Kaye Thomas ................. P.J. (Video Clerk )
Devon Gummersall .................. Zack



ACT ONE



INT. CAFETERIA



The cook drops a scoop of scrambled eggs onto a students plate. He continues down the rail as Felicity and Julie come from the background.

Felicity: And then, I said: "I'll see ya." And I left. It was lame.

Julie: Wow.

Felicity: Wow, what? I don't even know what it means.

Julie: He touched your teeth, it means something.

Felicity: My teeth don't mean anything.

Julie: Don't you think he touched her teeth?

Felicity: It was like a -- flick.

Julie: I've gone out with guys for weeks, and never flicked my teeth.

Cook: Teeth are the most sensitive part of the human body.

Felicity: Excuse me?

Cook: Yeah, one of my girlfriend. I mean, she and her husband have this whole thing they do that -- um...ahem....uh, cream of wheat?

Felicity: Um....no, thanks.

They both laugh as they take their trays and leave. Zack pops up behind them.

Zack: So, you're not blowing me off?

Julie: What?

Zack: Don't even think about cancelling. (to Felicity) Hey.

Felicity: Hi.

Julie: I'm not going to cancel.

Zack: Ok, thanks 'cause I had this dream that you cancelled, so......I'll see you later. (leaves)

Julie: Ok. (sits)

Felicity: So, things seem to be going really well, huh?

Julie: Yeah. We're just hanging out. It's nice. We're going to see some Russian movie.

Felicity: Which one?

Julie: It's called, Solarias. I think.

Felicity: You're going on a date to see Solarias?

Julie: Why, is that a problem?

Felicity: No. It's just, like, five hours long.

Julie: Five hours? What's it about?

Felicity: It's this group of people locked on a space station speaking Russian slowly for five hours.

Julie: You've seen this?

Felicity: Well, not exactly. My Dad took me to this, uh, revival movie theater in San Francisco, and I was just really confused.

Julie: (worried) What do you mean?

Felicity: Like, I sort of passed out.

Julie: Oh my God.

Felicity: But, you know, it was a year ago. I was much younger.

Julie: No, no, no. I am not going to like this movie. I can tell. And Zack is going to think I'm a moron.

Felicity: No, he won't. You went and saw "The Exorcist."

Julie: That was easy. Everybody knows how to scream. I can't go see Solarias.

Felicity: Solarias. You're overreacting.

Julie: I can't go. (throws down her spoon.)



INT. KELVIN HALL



Cut to Kelvin Hall.

Elena marches down the hallway toward Noel's room and knocks on the door. Noel opens it to see an angry Elena.

Elena: You're on my list.

Noel: I am?

Elena: I am being harassed because you violated a student-R.A. confidence.

Noel: What? Wait. What do you mean -- what do you mean by harassed?

Elena: I'm in the bathroom, and this girl starts singing, "Somewhere over the Rainbow."

Noel: Harassement? Isn't that more like entertainment?

Elena: Everybody knows about me and Blair and I blame you.

Noel: You blame me? Wait. Did you stop to think that maybe I don't care. Maybe the Tin Man's doing the talking.

Blair: Elena.

Blair walks up to the two.

Elena: Blair.

Blair: Just saying hello. (to Noel) Hello.

Noel: Hello.

Elena: I got a class.

Blair: That's cool. You around later?

Elena: You mean, like, what?

Blair: Like I come around at four. We can grab a bite?

Elena: Ok. Good. Four o'clock. (leaves)

Blair: She always?

Noel: Yeah, she's always like that. (Noel goes back into his room)



INT. RIGOFSKI’S CLASS



Rigofski: By withholding parts of the narration, the narrator lets the audience infer the larger perspective. Browing's My Last Duchess would be a prime example of this dramatic monologue, but there are countless others.

Felicity looks down her row at Ben, who is taking notes.

Rigofski: One from Shakesphere might be what?

Various students raise their hands, while Felicity continues to watch Ben take notes.

Rigofski: Benjamin. (no answer) Benjamin Convington.

Ben: Um, my hand wasn't up.

Rigofski: That's why I called on you.

Ben: I--I'm not sure.

Rigofski: How about an example from Hamlet?

Ben: Hamlet, um.. (exhales) I'm not sure.

Felicity: The "To Be or Not to Be" Speech?

Rigofski: Point of fact, Hamlet's speech is a soliloquy. Unlike direct address, the audience assumes the role of the voyeur. Looking in so to speak --

Julie: What was that about?

Felicity: I don't know.

Rigofski: -- to Hamlet's psyche, we see how he feels about himself, we see things other characters in the play don't see.

Cut to table covered with graded term papers.

Students slide papers around searching for their own papers. Julie finds her paper and heads over to Felicity.

Julie: (look at Felicity's paper) Way to go.

Felicity: Thanks. How'd you do? (Felicity looks at Julie's paper) Oh that's great.

Julie: Especially after my last one.

Ben walks up to Felicity and Julie.

Ben: Ok, you guys are smiling. That's a good sign. I'm gonna fight my way in.

He walks to the table to get his paper.

Julie: Uh, I can't believe Rigofski got my Liz Phair reference.

Felicity giggles and looks at Ben as he searches for his paper. Rigofski opens his door and steps out.

Rigofski: Mr. Covington.

Ben: Yeah.

Rigofski: Could I speak with you, please?

Ben: Sure.

Ben walks into the office, while Felicity looks on in curiosity. Rigofski closes his door.

Rigofski: When I have suspicions about a student's academic performance, I prefer to deal with it within the department.

Ben: Ok.

Rigofski: Is there anything you would like to say before I start asking questions?

Ben: What, you didn't like my paper?

Rigofski: No, that's the problem. I liked it *very* much.

Felicity: (recording) Sally, you know all I was trying to do was help. I--I only wanted to help him. Felicity walks up to Rigofski's door and looks in at Ben trying to explain himself to Rigofski about the paper. Her reflection can be seen in the window. She nervously waits for Ben to come out, which he finally does. He looks disturbed.

Felicity: What happened?

Ben: He's keeping my paper.

Felicity: Why?

Ben: The English department is gonna start some kind of investigation. He thinks I didn't write it. (walks off)

Sadly, Felicity watches Ben walks off indistraught.



ACT TWO



INT. UNY CAFETERIA



Felicity, Ben, and Julie sit at a table having lunch.

Julie: How can he accuse you of something like that?

Ben: Inconsistent with previous work. What kind of crap is that? I do better, and I get punished.

Julie: Then how come he didn't keep my paper?

Ben: He said he was suspicious because it was an "A" paper. What a dick.

Julie: He picks on you in class, and accuses you of cheating, nice.

Ben: (to Felicity) You read it. Was--was there something that could have made Rigofski think I copied it or something?

Felicity: Um....

Ben: Well, was there?

Felicity: No.

Julie: I'm late for Ethics class. (gets up) I'm always late for Ethics. You gotta fight this.

Ben: I'm gonna talk to my counsellor. This is stupid. Um, I'll see ya. (gets up)

Felicity suddenly jumps up and rushes to follow Ben as he leaves the cafeteria.

Felicity: Ben.

Ben: What's wrong?

Felicity: I rewrote it.

Ben: Rewrote what?

Felicity: Your paper.

Ben: What?

Felicity: I--I rewrote your paper.

Ben: What do you mean?

Felicity: The -- I was spellchecking it, and, um...and then I rewrote it.

Ben: Felicity, what are you talking about?

Felicity: There were some things, things that I knew Rigofski would...

Ben: What things?

Felicity: I was -- I was trying to help because...

Ben: What things?!

Felicity: Ben, I--I never would have --

Ben: (mad) Look at me, was it that Shakesphere stuff, that stuff he was asking me in class? (she doesn't answer) How could you do that?

Felicity: I'm sorry, and I --

Felicity: (weeping) Ben, I'm sorry. I -- I'll go tell him that it was my fault. I'll go tell him right now.

Ben: Just get away from me. Get away from me!(leaves)

Felicity, sadly, watches him leave.



INT. MAILROOM



Elena enter writing something down on a piece of paper, and heads to her mailbox. Blair walks up to her.

Blair: I'm not gonna take it personally.

Elena: Take what personally?

Blair: How unbelievably flaky you are.

Elena: Good, you really shouldn't. It's just been crazy.

Blair: Let's get some coffee.

Elena: You know, I -- I really can't. I have Chem Lab tonight.

Blair: Do you wanna hang out later after you Chem Lab?

Elena: Um, I really can't tonight. (walks off)

Blair: Elena. (she turns around) You know Hunan Pan over on Hudson?

Elena: Yeah.

Blair: That's where we're going tomorrow night. Eight o'clock. If you're not there, I will never bother you again.

Elena: (smiles) Ok. Tomorrow night.

Blair: Tomorrow night.

Elena leaves.



INT. FELICITY’S ROOM



Noel: You did what?

Felicity: How about you not make me feel worse then I already do.

Noel: No. But, this is serious.

Felicity: Thanks. I know. Mr. Rigofski wasn't in his office, so I'm gonna go and tell him first thing tomorrow morning.

Noel: Ok, wait a minute. Don't move. (leaves)

Felicity: Where are you going?

Felicity unpacks her backpack and puts her book on the shelf. Noel comes back in with his R.A. Handbook.

Noel: Do you know what this is? The Resident Advisor Handbook.

Noel: The one chapter they force us to read -- all about cheaters.

Felicity: I--I'm not a cheater.

Noel: I'm just warning you, plagiarism is a big deal in college, ok? We're talking definite suspension, a-and that stays on your record.

Felicity: Just for rewriting Ben's paper? No.

Noel: Yeah. You and Ben.

Felicity: Noel -- this--this is going to be fine.

Noel: If you don't handle this right. You're going to be in real trouble.

Felicity: So what are you suggesting?

Noel: For now, don't do anything, ok? I'll go see what I can find out.

Noel walks out the the room leaving Felicity with her thoughts.

R.E.M's Drive Begins to play.

Ben sits at a table thinking about his situation.

Lyrics: Smacked, cracked, bushwacked / Tie another one to the racks, baby

Ben walks down the hall and knocks on Felicity's door.

Hey, kids, rock and roll / Nobody tells you where to go, baby.

Ben: You talk to Rigofski?

Felicity: No, not yet. I -- but, I'm gonna.

Ben: Well, don't. Just don't tell him anything. I just need a copy of that essay you turned in for me. Lyrics: What if I run what if you walk

Felicity: Why?

Lyrics: Baby, you rock around the clock.

Ben: Because I'm gonna take care of this myself. Just give me the essay.

Lyrics: Tick, tock / tick tock.

Felicity walks into her room and grabs the disk. She walks slowly back to Ben.

Lyrics: What if you did? / What if you walk? / What if you tried to get off ? / Baby.

Felicity: What are you gonna do?

Ben: I'm gonna tell him I wrote it.

Felicity: I don't -- I don't think that's such a good idea.

Lyrics: Hey, kids, where are you?

Ben: I don't care what you think, I don't want your advice, and I don't want your help.

Lyrics: Nobody tells you what to do, baby.

Felicity: Let me just tell them it was my fault.

Ben: No, it's not your fault. It's my fault. I'm the one that trusted you to turn in my essay.

Ben takes the disk and walks off. Felicity closes her door.

Lyrics: Hey, kids, shake a leg / maybe you're crazy in the head, baby.

Cut to Ben reading the paper in his apartment.

Lyrics: Maybe you did / maybe you walked / maybe your rocked around the clock / Tick Tock / Tick Tock.



ACT THREE



INT. DEAN ALLISON’S OFFICE



Noel sits in front of the dean, while he does paperwork.

Dean: Cheating is very serious business.

Noel: Yes, sir. I know that.

Dean: Do you ever go on the Internet?

Noel: Yes, sir. I actually have my own webpage. NoelCrane.com, if--if you -- if-if-if...

Dean: You can purchase term papers online. Did you know that?

Noel: Yes, I did. I saw that. Of course, I've never done that.

Dean: (to secretary) Thank you.

Noel: This, uh, person I know, whose concerned with-with the issue of cheating, uh, is curious what the process is.

Dean: Cheating of any kind is unacceptable.

Noel: I totally agree.

Dean: A quarter of our graduating seniors acknowledge some form of academic impropriety.

Noel: That's a really high percentage.

Dean: And if I have my way, that percentage is going to change.

Noel: Right on. I mean, you know, that's really important.

Dean: Do you feel comfortable telling me the name of this person.

Noel: The person, uh, who asked me about what happens when the university finds out that someone has cheated, that person? No.

Dean: You don't feel comfortable?

Noel: Not very. So...

Dean: Is it one of our advisees?

Noel: No. Not at all. Sir, it's-it's a friend, whose concerned about another friend. That's the truth.

Dean: Sometimes the best thing to do is to step up and take your medicine.

Noel: Why are you telling me this?

Dean: Here's what I suggest, um....Noel. You tell this concerned friend of yours, that if he or she is caught turning in a paper that he or she did not write, I will make an example of that person.

Noel just nods his head in agreement.



INT. MAILROOM



Felicity: What do you mean it's a disaster?

Noel: If he's doing this, all right, if--if he's pretending he wrote this --

Felicity: Shhh!

Noel: If he's saying he wrote it, there's a whole tribunal thing.

Felicity: What do you mean, like a court?

Noel: Yeah. I mean -- OK. Either way, it's bad. If he says he didn't write it, even if you admit why you did it, then you're in trouble. If he says he wrote it, then they're gonna gril him. Ask him a bunch of questions about things I'm guessing he doesn't have the answer to.

Felicity: You're right. This is a disaster.

Noel: You gotta talk him out of it.

Felicity: Ben hates my guts.

Noel: Yeah, ok. Can I be honest?

Felicity: You would too?

Noel: Sort of. Look, get someone to talk to him, ok. Someone who he'll listen to, someone who'll covince him to be honest about what happened.

Felicity gives Noel a pleading look.

Noel: (catching on) Someone whos -- who's not me.

Felicity: Please?

Noel: No.

Felicity: Will you just talk to him?

Noel: No.

Felicity: I'll owe you one.

Noel: Don't you already owe me one?



INT. VIDEO STORE



Julie enters the store and looks around for a clerk.

Julie: Excuse me? Um, I'm looking for Solarias? Or Solaris. I think it's Tarkofsky?

P.J.: I think you're right. (gets up) You know, your movie's playing at the Mercer tomorrow night. (grabs the movie)

Julie: Yeah. I'm renting it for after, just in case I miss something.

P.J.: Don't worry, I think you're gonna do fine.

Julie: Excuse me?

P.J.: Just remember, the celebration of human values and the power of love in a hostile or indifferent universe. He'll eat it up.

Julie: Who?

P.J.: This guy's in film school, right? Your date, he's undergrad. He has some Elmore Leonard thing on 16. He did summer after high school. He's very touchy about. How am I doing?

Julie: You're freaking me out.

P.J.: So, of course, you have share in his love of cinema. So he starts with some seventies standard, uh, maybe, Chinatown?

Julie: The Exorcist.

P.J.: Freakin'. But now he's moved on to something a bit more serious, and you're not sure you're up to it.

Julie: Kind of.

He heads toward the counter.

P.J.: Hey, you know. Don't sweat this -- this is standard freshman courtship ritual. (sits and types in the computer) Just remember, he's trying to impress you and not the other way around. That's $2.50.

Julie hands him the cash, and he takes it.

Julie: I wish they had, like, Cliff Notes for these movies.

P.J.: They don't. They have me. (holds out his hand) I'm P.J. Late fees, two bucks a day.

He watches her leave.

Cut to Elena pacing in front of the elevator. The doors open as everyone walks out, Elena block Felicity's way from getting out.

Elena: Can I talk to you for a second?

Felicity: Uh, sure, but I -- I was just gonna go out --

Elena pushs a button to close the doors.

Elena: N-No.

The doors close, and cut to inside the elevator.

Elena pulls the stop button.

Felicity: What are you doing? Uh, is the elevator going to be okay like this?

Elena: Don't worry about the elevator. I need your advice about men.

Felicity: You need *my* advice about me?

Elena: I had my life pretty well figured out, that goes for the guys in my life, too, the one's I *usually* get with. Things are pretty clear from the start. They have need, I have needs. And sex happens when it happens. And when I want to end something with a guy it's the same thing. It's....there's no guilt, no tears, nothing. I just squash it and kill it dead.

Felicity: And then you eat it?

Elena: Are you mocking me?

Felicity: Um....I'm just not exactly sure I understand your problem.

Elena: Blair. I spent one night with the guy, and now he's around all the time. He--he wants to have Chinese food. You know what I'm saying? And I -- I can't....(sighs)

Felicity: Kill it dead?

Elena: Your mocking me.

Felicity: No, uh, I just mean -- that maybe you don't want to. I just mean maybe you should consider that you might actually enjoy his company. Just one possible theory.

Felicity pushes the stop button in to make the elevator move.

Felicity: Oh, and uh, next time you wanna talk...

The doors open, and there is a crowd of people waiting for the elevator.

Elena: I don't have to kidnap you.

Felicity: Yeah, right. Yeah.

They both laugh, and Felicity walks out.

Elena: Cool.



INT. BEN'S APARTMENT



Cut to Ben's apartment.

Sean is playing with his boxing candy ring toy thingy, while Ben researchs information about his paper.

Sean: You get it.

Ben continues to write.

Sean: Can you get that?

Ben: Yeah. (gets up)

Ben opens the door.

Noel: Hi.

Ben: Hey.

Noel: I didn't buzz. There was this guy coming in -- with a bird.

Ben: Alex, yeah. He trains birds for commercials and stuff.

Noel: Oh. That's.....(birds squawk down the hall) Can I come in?

Ben: Sure. (Ben walks to the kitchen)

Noel walks in, Sean sees him.

Noel: Hey, this is great. I'm, uh, sorry I missed your party.

Sean: Hey.

Noel: Hi.

Sean: Marzipan Boxer?

Noel: What?

Sean: (tosses him a candy) My new business idea.

Noel: Uh, thanks. Um...look. I know this is -- is probably none of my business. And we don't even actually know each other, really. But Felicity told me your strategy, and I have to say I think it's a pretty dangerous strategy.

Ben turns around to face him.

Ben: Well, I'm glad she told you about this whole thing.

Noel: She didn't know what to do.

Ben: You know, look, thanks, but I'm doing ok.

Noel: I, uh, talked to the Dean of Students. (Ben turns around again) Don't worry, I didn't use your name. Um...but I asked him hypothecially, you know what might happen.

Ben: They're not gonna kick me out over this.

Noel: If you say you wrote that paper, and they found out you lied. At the very least, you're suspended for a year.

Ben: What do you care if I'm gone.

Noel: I know Felicity cares. And -- and if they don't kick you out, they're going to put something on your record that you don't like.

Ben: Do me a favor and go tell Felicity that I got the message, all right?

Noel: All she wants to do is help.

Ben: I don't want her help! This is amazing! All I want -- if you're curious -- is for her to leave me alone, all right. I can take care of this myself.

Noel: With all respect, ok....I don't think you can.

Ben: You're wrong, and Felicity is crazy, all right. And I'm busy trying to learn all that stuff I wrote in my paper. (walks off)

Sean: Bite his head off.

Noel: What?

Sean: It's candy.

Noel: Oh, um...(looks at the boxer) No thanks, all right. (tosses the boxer back and leaves)

Sean sits back down and bites the head off the candy.



INT. JULIE'S ROOM



Cut to Julie's room. She is curled on the couch watching Solarias. Someone knocks on her door. Pausing the video, she gets up to answer it.

Zack: Hey.

Julie pulls the door closer to her so he can't see in.

Julie: Hey.

Zack: So are we still on for the movie?

Julie: Yeah, sure.

Zack: Great.

Julie: Ok.

Zack: You ok?

Julie: Yep, yeah! I'm studying.

Zack: For tomorrow night?

Julie: What?

Zack: For tomorrow night? I picked up the tickets early, I thought there might be a line.

Julie: Oh, um....to get in?

Zack: Yeah. Oh, and, I should warn you, um, it's a little long.

Julie: Yeah, it's a classic.

Zack: Yeah, so who cares.

Julie: Yep.

Zack: See you tomorrow night.

Julie: Ok.

Zack: Ok. (leaves)

Julie stops smiling and heads back the movie.

Cut to Felicity.

Heather Nova's - What a Feeling She sits on a bench lost in her thoughts waiting for Noel.

Lyrics: Now is the time when this will turn into fruit

Noel walks out from the elevator

Lyrics: All the poppies gonna push / up through / And I can see the ground below

Felicity: (recording) So tomorrow, Ben faces off with Mr. Rigofski...and two other professors. 9. A.M.

Cut to Felicity waiting outside Rigofski's office the next day.

Lyrics: And I can see the winter fade / I don't feel so afraid.

Julie come walking up to Felicity.

Julie: Have you seen Ben?

Felicity: No, but Rigofski just went in there. He was with two other professors. And I think one of them was Linda Cohen.

Julie: Who's that?

Felicity: Head of the English Department.

Julie: (exhales) Oh, God, you gotta convince him not to do this.

Ben comes around the corner. Felicity sees him and rushes up to him.

Felicity: Ok, before you go in there, just listen to me. That was a horrible thing what I did. I know that. So just let me take the blame, and you won't even get in trouble.

Ben: No. I don't want you to say anything.

Felicity: Why? It doesn't make any sense.

Ben: The quote you added, the Bosworth thing. Is that from the Anthology? Was it?

Felicity: Yeah. (he walks past her) Ben...don't do this.

Ben ignores her and goes into the office. Felicity watches with worry.

Cut to Linda Cohen skimming Ben's paper.

Cohen: In your paper, you allude to Browing's use of dramatic irony. Could you please define that term.

Ben: Sure. Um..Browning uses irony to help tell the story.

Rigofski: Could you define it please.

Ben: Yes. Irony....it's complicated.

Cohen: Take your time.

Cut to Felicity.

She nervously watches through the door's window as Ben tries to squirm his way through the questions. Julie comes to take a peek.

Julie: How's he doing?

Felicity: I can't tell.

Noel: Is he in there already.

Felicity: 15 minutes.

Noel: (to Felicity) Can I talk to you?

Julie: (to Felicity) Are you ok?

Felicity: Yeah. I'll just call you after.

Julie: Ok. I'm gonna be in my room. (goes to get her bag) I'm halfway through Solarias which is like hell. (leaves)

Noel: Um...so Dean Allison called me.

Felicity: Why?

Noel: He's convinced I wrote the paper.

Felicity: What?

Noel: Yeah, he was trying to scare me into confessing, but he went into this incredibly long speech, ok. And basically told me that once the disciplinary board gets involved, they examines the student's entire record, and that's including application materials.

Felicity: I don't understand.

Noel: All right, you said Ben lied on his application essay, right?

Felicity: Yeah.

Noel: Ok, if they read that and realize he never had a brother...I mean, lying to get in. Forget suspension. He's--He's expelled.

Felicity: Ok. What the hell do I do?

Noel: You gotta go in there and tell them the truth.

Felicity and Noel look into the window.

Felicity: I don't know.

Noel: I do. I know. I'm a big believer in the fact that the truth comes out whether you tell them or not.

Ben: (in room) That's -- that's exactly what I'm trying to say. That's--that's one of the reasons the poems so.....

Cut to inside the room.

Ben: Because you think that he's talking to you, but then you find out that he's talking to someone else, an envoy, right. Does -- I mean, does that answer your question?

Rigofski: Yes.

Ben: Yeah.

Cohen: Could you better explain your connection between My Last Duchess and Hamlet.

Ben: Um....uh, both the poem and the play use a literary technique, uh, engages the--the reader or viewer by making them an active participant. Well, in Hamlet, his monologues, uh, ....soliu........soliloquies...make you a character in the play, just like, uh, Browning does by having the Duke talk to the reader.

Rigofski: I would like you to compare and contrast My Last Duchess with Browning's Count Gismond.

Ben: Uh, Count Gismond. (exhales) Um....

Everyone waits in anticipation for Ben to answer.

Ben: Sorry this room's a little bit nerve racking. Sorry.

Cut to Noel and Felicity staring in the room.

Felicity: The narrator. It's the narrator.

Cut to inside the room.

Ben: I didn't write the paper.

Felicity: Oh, my God.

The camera pans in front of the faces of the panel.

Rigofski: Then who did?

Ben: I bought it. I bought it off some guy. I don't even know his name.

Felicity goes in the room.

Felicity: I'm sorry. Um....(closes the door) I wrote it.

Rigofski: You wrote Ben's essay?

Felicity: Um...well, I--I rewrote it. He--he didn't ask me to. It was my decision, my mistake, and, um...I just turned it in without him even knowing it. So I'm--I'm the one who's in trouble here.

Rigofski: You *rewrote* Ben's paper?

Felicity: Yes, sir.

Rigofski: Without him asking you too?

Felicity: That's right.

Rigofski: Do you mind me asking why?

Felicity solemly looks at Ben, but does not answer.

Ben: Because I'm stupid! (Everyone looks at Ben. He gets up and grabs his jacket.)

Ben: Obviously, that's the answer, all right. She read my paper, it wasn't good enough. So Ben Covington's an idiot. That's the lesson for today. (storms out)

Rigofski: Mr. Covington.

Ben walks past Noel. Felicity and Noel watch him go. The panel looks at each other with discontent. Noel looks at Felicity, who is lost in stammered emotion.



EPILOGUE



EXT. SUBWAY



Cut to Ben walking out of a Metro - Subway exit.

Felicity stands out of focus as he walks toward her. She looks up to see him, and walks to him.

Felicity: Hey. I--I just wanted to let you know that I--I made sure they know you had nothing to do with it, so....I mean, if anybody's going to be expelled, it -- it'll be me.

Ben: Why'd you do it? I mean, when you read my paper. How bad was it?

Felicity: It wasn't bad. But...I'm a geek. I'm....I'm a teacher's pet. And I was just trying to add some language to it. You know, to get you a better grade, which is loathsome, I know. You had a million friends in high school, and-and you were amazing at sports, and you were so popular....but I had one thing, my classes. I knew how to take tests and write papers. I never should have assumed you needed help when...you really didn't. (exhales) The last thing I ever wanted to do was to make you feel anything less then amazing.

Ben: Well, thanks.

Felicity: I just -- I had to talk to you.

Ben: Yeah. Good night. (walks off)

Felicity watches as he leaves.



INT. KELVIN HALL



Elena walks through the opening elevator reading a book. She looks up to see Blair standing in front of her. He holds up a Chinese takeout box.

Blair: Hello.

Elena: There was a wait list for reserved reading, um, there were only two copies. But the guy said if I left, I would lose my spot in line.

Blair: Nah, it was fine. I met this guy, he was waiting for his Peking duck. You know, it takes forever to make that. He works for this company over on Lafayette, that manufactures lawn supplies, mostly nozzles. Eleana: Nozzles?

Blair: Actually, they just assemble the nozzles, they use to make them there. Die-Cast it's called, but now it's cheaper to get the brass from overseas.

Elena: Blair.

Blair: From Taiwan.

Elena: I said I was sorry.

Blair: Actually, you didn't. Which is fine. I could take this as the big message and walk away. Assume that other night was nothing. Except, I like the dancing sandwich maker who hates Halloween. The jazz freak who thinks Charlie Parker is overrated. I can even handle the complusive overachiever who waits three hours at the library for some stupid reserve reading.

Elena: That was reading I needed to do.

Blair: The Elena I do have some trouble with; however, is the one who pushes people away because she's so damn scared to admit she might actually like them. And it's dumb enough that nobody gets that. Even though everyone gets that.

Elena: That's such a bunch of crap.

He gives Elena a composed look.

Blair: I brought you some orange chicken.(leaves)

Elena smiles and walks down the hall.



INT. MOVIE THEATER



Cut to movie theater.

Julie and Zack walk out onto the street.

Julie: I really loved it.

Zack: You did? The whole thing.

Julie: Yeah.

Zack: You mean, for that tiny window of time your eyes were actually open.

Julie: I didn't fall asleep. (Zack laughs) Oh, God, was I snoring?

Zack: In my ear. I was going to wake you, but I--I kinda liked you snoring, softly in my ear.

Julie: Ok, I need to explain this.

Zack: No, no, no, you don't. The movie's endless.

Julie: No, um..you don't understand. I already saw it. I wanted to understand it, so I just...you know, I didn't want you to think I was an idiot. So I rented it.

Zack: Well, I'd be lying if I said that, I didn't fall asleep a little myself.

Julie: You're just saying that to make me feel better.

Zack: Come on, it's--it's not a big deal.

Julie: It's a movie.

Zack: So what?

Julie: Zack you really like movies.

Zack: I really like you.

Julie smiles as he leads her off down the sidewalk.



INT. RIGOFSKI'S CLASS



Felicity slowly walks in the room, and sees Ben sitting alone waiting for Rogofski. She takes a seat a few rows back on the opposity section. Ben doesn't look at her, but she does at him. Rigofski enters the room.

Rigofski: I had a long conference with Professor's Cohen and McCartle. We debated with going to Dean Allison with this issue. Professor Cohen felt, in particular, that this should be treated like any other academic impropriety. (sits downs) But I argued against it. I felt this was more of a case of poor judgement. So... neither of you will go before the university board, and you won't be expelled.

Felicity: Thank you.

Rigofski: Of course you'll both are going to fail this paper. Which will have a severe effect on your final grade. I read your original paper, you would have gotten a "B."

Cut to outside.

Ben walks down the sidewalk, Felicity trails behind him.

Felicity: Ben! (runs up to him) Ben. I know, that I've said this, and I'll keep saying it, but I'm sorry.

Ben: It's ok. I should go. (walks off)

Felicity watches as Ben walks off down the street.

Heather Nova: Heart and Shoulder

Sally: Dear Felicity, I've spent the last couple of night in the desert by myself.

Lyrics: Wanna cry / for you

Cut to Zack and Julie, cuddled on the couch. She looks at him, and he kisses her on the forehead.

Lyrics: Would it do any good?

Sally: Emmitt and I were sort of going too fast, so getting away just helps clear my head.

Lyrics: If I rained for you / it would just be water

Cut to Noel pulling the Resident's Advisor's Handbook off the shelf.

Lyrics: And the night's with you / and the storms in your hands / and you're down / and you're down / and I can't lift you / I'm powerless to change

In the dark, Ben sits on the edge of is bed reading his handbook.

Sally: It's interesting what you did for Ben. I mean, you have this expectations for who he is, for what you want him to be. That's just normal. I have those same expectations for Emmitt, which I know is unfair. He isn't perfect, he isn't John.

Cut to Elena. She sits on her bed reading a book. The camera pulls back to see the open box of orange chicken.

Lyrics: Your world / I'm powerless to stop / The hurt / but I'll

Ben sits in the dark looking at the candy boxer. He bites the head off.

Lyrics: Give you my heart / Give you my shoulder / I'll give you my heart / Give you my shoulder / Over and over / I'll give you my heart / Give you my shoulder / Over and over

Sally: Listening to your tape, I was reminded of this poem. It has this sensual question: "Is it harder to count on someone or to know that you're the one being counted upon"?

Cut to sidewalk. Felicity walks down the sidewalk lost in her thoughts.

Lyrics: Time and again / Give you my shoulder / I will / I will give / I'll give you my heart / Give you my shoulder / Over and over / Time and again / I will / I will / Time and again / Over and over / Give you my heart / Give you my shoulder / Over and over

Sally: Anyway, there's this part that goes: "If equal affection cannot be, let the more loving one be me". Have you ever read that one? It's one of my favourites.



The End