Who Is the Monster? · 5 May 2010
int.school.hallway
During the hustle and bustle of going to lunch and getting to class, a “burly” student, BOB, pushes and shoves his way through the crowd with little thought for anybody but himself (and a couple of his toadies). The crowd is going slowly as they try to get to lunch and classes.
bob
(yelling loudly)
Coming through! I’m hungry!
Even when much of the crowd recognizes his voice and clears a path, Bob still goes out of his way to push a small boy student against the wall just because he looked to see who was yelling. He knocks books and folders out of another student’s hands and screams in delight as papers fly everywhere. Bob is the bully and nobody stands in his way. Especially when he is on his way to lunch. As Bob enters the cafeteria, he sees a new kid who he apparently made a mental note to harass. This new kid, RALPH, is fairly skinny and wears glasses. He has already gotten his lunch and is about to sit down to eat when BOB comes up.
BOB
(loudly, winking at his toadies, and exaggerating “Ralph” to make it sound like throwing up)
Mashed potatoes and gravy! My favorite.
Bob reaches out to grab Ralph’s food and actually grabs the plate of mashed potatoes and gravy.
ralph
(softly and meekly but defiantly)
It is my lunch and you cannot have any.
Everybody around the two stares silently to see what will happen. Those who have felt the wrath of Bob at some time or another cringe a little and shake their heads as they know something bad is going to happen. Bob looks mischievously at his toadies then gets an angry glare on his face.
BOB
(softly, with hatred and loathing)
Give me MY lunch.
RALPH
(matter of factly with no emotion)
It is my lunch.
Bob softens his look and appears to back down.
BOB
(mercifully)
Okay newbie, you can have your lunch. This time.
Everybody around the lunchroom lets out a sigh of relief and wonder as it appears Bob is letting Ralph off the hook. But just when it looks like Bob is going to let go of the plate, he instead pushes it into Ralph’s face. He laughs as Ralph wipes the mashed potatoes and gravy off of his eyes in a slow exaggerated motion with both hands. The PRINCIPAL can be seen entering the background. He sees what is happening and starts moving through the crowd toward the scene very urgently. Fear is evident in his eyes even though he is still far from the action.
RALPH
(calmly and cooly)
I need to eat lunch Bob.
Bob is yucking it up with his toadies and hoping that Ralph wants to fight. As he continues to look at Ralph, his eyes turn from amusement to hatred.
BOB
(low and gutteral)
So do I. Go get me a lunch.
RALPH
(still calm)
No. You get me a lunch or…
BOB
Or what?
RALPH
Or this.
Ralph opens his mouth wide and stretches out his arms. His hands and arms become huge and his mouth is a gaping maw. He shoves Bob whole into his mouth and swallows him in one bite. The principal, who had been fighting through the crowd to get to the scene, arrives just as Ralph burps and wipes his mouth with his sleeve. (Ralph’s body has returned to normal proportions and his face still has mashed potatoes and gravy on it. The only thing different about Ralph from when it all started is that his stomach is now distended quite a bit. Like a snake after it has swallowed its prey.) The principal looks disappointed but unafraid as he addresses Ralph.
principal
Ralph. You cannot just eat other students. I told you that when you entered this school.
RALPH
But you saw what he did, didn’t you?
PRINCIPAL
(nodding affirmatively)
Yes. You still cannot do it.
Ralph shrugs and vomits up Bob onto the floor. Bob is covered in bile and his clothes are wet and look like they have been eaten a bit by Ralph’s stomach acid. There is fear in his eyes and those of his toadies. Other students watching the scene in disbelief look in wonder at Bob cowering on the floor. Some look at Ralph in awe.
RALPH
(shrugging calmly)
He was bitter anyway.
(to Bob)
My lunch?
Bob scurries out of the scene. Apparently to get Ralph’s lunch.
INT.SCHOOL.HALLWAY
The crowd is again trying to get to lunch or class. Bob can be seen in the hallway with his toadies in tow.
BOB
(yelling loudly)
Coming through! I’m hungry!
People in the hall turn and look at Bob and friends. Some laugh and others just look in pity. One student just keeps looking forward and walking as if nothing is happening.
BOB
(pretty loudly)
Why I oughta…
The lone student who had been continuing forward slowly turns around and just looks at Bob inquisitively. It is, of course, Ralph. The person who Bob had knocked papers to the floor in the first scene has this time dropped stuff on the floor.
BOB
(meekly)
...just be patient and get there when I get there. No rush. Take your time.
(to the person who dropped stuff)
Here. Let me help you.
Ralph and the rest of the crowd turn around and continue on their way as Bob helps with the stuff on the floor. His toadies continue walking with the crowd as well.
© 2010 Michael T. Miyoshi
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