SCENE FOUR

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EXT. METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART -NOON

Some students sit around, eating; others cause varying degrees of mischief. CHIRON sits near the bus, reading a book. His wheelchair is now home to a small umbrella. GROVER and PERCY sit at the fountain, two brown paper bags between them. GROVER'S crutches lean against the fountain on the other side of him. Behind them, NANCY is seen talking to an old lady, her hand in the lady's purse.

GROVER (mouth full): So...no detention?

PERCY: From Mr. Brunner? Nah. Wish he'd lay off me, though.

PERCY takes a bite of his sandwich.

GROVER: I thought you said he didn't give you detention.

PERCY: He didn't. He just always expects so much out of me. I mean, I'm dyslexic and ADD. That hardly makes for a genius.

Silence ensues. GROVER looks everywhere but at PERCY, who stares intensely at GROVER. After a few moments, GROVER points to PERCY'S bag.

GROVER: You gonna eat your apple?

PERCY sighs.

PERCY: Take it.

GROVER takes the apple, and immediately takes a bite, bleating with content. PERCY chuckles. The two are silent once more. PERCY stares at the passing cars.

PERCY (muttering): I wanna go home.

GROVER: Your mom'd send you right back, you know.

PERCY: I know. But I haven't seen her since Christmas, Grover. And I don't even wanna know how much of her money Smelly Gabe's blown on poker.

GROVER: I don't like him.

PERCY: I don't get why Mom does. He—He's Smelly Gabe!

GROVER (chuckles): I dunno, Perce. Maybe she has a thing for drunk gamblers. (PERCY pushes GROVER lightly)

PERCY: Yeah right.

GROVER (hands raised): Hey. I'm just saying.

PERCY chuckles, GROVER joins. From behind them, NANCY leaves the woman, slipping a billfold into her pocket. She twirls a watch around her finger. She walks to two other girls, one of which is holding an open lunchbox. NANCY takes the box, drops the watch inside. The three walk over to Percy and GROVER, who are now silently eating their lunch.

When the three girls reach PERCY and GROVER, NANCY pretends to trip, spilling the contents of the lunchbox onto GROVER. The girls laugh.

NANCY: Oops!

GROVER looks bored, pushes the rubbish from his lap.

PERCY: Done stealing from old ladies, then?

NANCY: Like I'd do such a thing!

PERCY (Picks up watch): So you had a Rolex and salami sandwich for lunch?

NANCY snatches the watch back, thoroughly examining it.

NANCY: It's a cheap knockoff. And I didn't steal it.

PERCY: Like I'd ever believe a word that came out of your—

GROVER: Percy! Guidance counselor? Last week? What'd she say?

PERCY glares at GROVER, closes his eyes, taking deep breaths.

PERCY: One, two, three, four...

PERCY continues counting, and the water behind him rises up, wrapping around NANCY'S ankle. The two girls shriek and back up into the side of the bus. NANCY is dragged into the fountain. NANCY spits out water. PERCY is still counting. GROVER jumps up in surprise, staring between PERCY and NANCY.

NANCY: Percy pushed me!

PERCY (opening eyes): I did not!

PERCY stands, looking around for NANCY. Finally his eyes land on NANCY, and he glares.

                       { No way that just happened...

                       { Did you see that?

STUDENTS { The water grabbed her!

                        { Anybody know what the heck just happened?

                         { EPIC!

MRS. DODDS appears next to PERCY. She strides to the fountain, helping NANCY out.

MRS. DODDS: Are you okay? Don't worry, I'll make sure Percy buys you some nice new clothes from the gift shop, okay? Is that good, Nancy?

NANCY (smirks): Thank you, ma'am.

MRS. DODDS gestures to NANCY'S friends, who take her to the stairs, stealing a varsity jacket from a boy on the way there. They wrap the jacket around NANCY.

MRS. DODDS (turns to PERCY, pointing in his face, grinning): Now, honey.

PERCY: Yeah, yeah, I know. Erasing workbooks after school for a month. I get it.

MRS. DODDS (stiffens): Come with me.

GROVER: Mrs. Dodds, I pushed her. Not Percy.

PERCY: What are you—

MRS. DODDS: I don't think so, Mr. Underwood.

GROVER: But—

MRS. DODDS: You will stay here. (she looks at the contents of the lunchbox on the ground) And clean that up! Is that anyway to represent Yancy Academy? Leaving a mess outside of a museum... Tut tut. (she turns back to PERCY, smiling) Now, honey.

PERCY turns to glare at NANCY

PERCY (mouthing): I'll get you later.

NANCY gasps, puts a hand over her heart, and begins laughing. PERCY turns to follow MRS. DODDS, who is now in front of the museum's door. PERCY, looking puzzled, follows. Behind him, GROVER is nervously fidgeting, looking between PERCY and CHIRON. CHIRON is too busy reading to notice.