SCENE J

INT. MRS. VANDERBELLE'S CLASS – LATER

Halley sits in her seat, a nervous wreck. To ease her nerves, she grabs her pencil case and starts sharpening her colored pencils one by one.

Mrs. Vanderbelle is observing Travis' project, a robot hand with drawing utensils for fingers drawing smoothly on a notepad. Suddenly, it starts going haywire, scratching erratic marks on the notepad. Travis tries to turn it off, but it starts tearing up the paper until he slams his book on it. It stops. Mrs. Vanderbelle gives him a polite smile and jots down his grade while walking away.

She examines Sage's project: a bowl of what looks like soggy worms molded into a human brain. One half is colored in gray and the other half looks like tie-dyed spaghetti.

MRS. VANDERBELLE

Sage, could you explain how your piece represents you?

Sage points to the tie-dyed hemisphere.

SAGE

This is my creative side.

She points to the dull hemisphere.

SAGE (CONT'D)

This is my intellectual side.

She picks up an electrical whisk and twists the brains until they tangle into a mushy knot.

SAGE (CONT'D)

This is me.

MRS. VANDERBELLE

P for profound per usual.

Halley's sharpening intensifies as Mrs. Vanderbelle approaches her desk. Her pencil snaps.

HALLEY

I'm sorry, Mrs. Vanderbelle--

VANDERBELLE

Breathtaking!

HALLEY

Huh?

Vanderbelle views the colorful pile of pencil shavings circling elegantly around Halley's desk.

MRS. VANDERBELLE

It's an extraordinary visual expression of the vibrant layers of your artistry. I for innovative!

She moves onto the next student. Halley takes a closer look at her accidental art. Sage also checks it out, pleased.

SAGE

French toast.