Finding Joel
Scene from Acting & Voice Studios collection. 22 lines, 3 characters.
Full Script
Joel: I can’t take this crap, Ms. H. I really can’t. Joel throws her backpack to the ground.
Ms. Hart: Whoa, okay just calm down for a second and then let’s -
Joel: I can’t stay calm, I’m freaking out! Ms. Hart stands.
Ms. Hart: Joel, I’m going to help you. But first I need you to close the door and take a seat. Joel pauses and sighs. She reluctantly closes the door and then sits down in front of Ms. Hart. Ms. Hart sits.
Ms. Hart: Thank you. Now, what’s going on? Joel shakes her head. It’s hard to find the words.
Joel: They think they’re better than me.
Ms. Hart: Who?
Joel: All of em! I hear the dumbass things they say in the halls. Now they’re puttin stuff in my locker -
Ms. Hart: What was in your locker?
Joel: Nah, it’s not even about -
Ms. Hart: Joel, what was in your locker?
Joel: A picture... My moms. Ms. Hart chooses her words carefully.
Ms. Hart: Just a picture?
(sighs)
Joel: It said on it, “Loser. Just like mommy.” Nothing - it was stupid.
(sincerely)
Ms. Hart: That’s very hurtful. Do you know who did it?
Joel: It’s not about who did it. It could be any one of the 2,000 kids that go here! They all think they’re better than me. Every one of em! And they’re right. I know I’m a nobody - You think I don’t know that?
Ms. Hart: Joel, you are NOT a -
Joel: I’m the daughter of a... a drug addict prostitute. There. That’s it. That’s the truth. I love my moms, but that doesn’t matter. That’s who I am. I’m not like the others here. Never will be. I just wanna leave. Get the hell outta this place and never come back...
Ms. Hart: I know how cruel some kids can be at this school. I deal with them every day. And I want to get to the bottom of who exactly is doing this to you, but first... You need to know something. No one - not one person out there - is better than you. Do you hear me? Joel just nods.
(off Joel’s look)
Ms. Hart: So you want to know what you do? Rise above. You work hard. You do better than any of them think you can. I don’t care who your mom is. Show them who you are. Got me? Joel nods, feeling heard, finally.
Joel: I got you. Thanks, Ms. H.