A TERRIBLE CHOICE

Written by Henry Darley

Henry Alexander MacNaughton Darley

2890 N Fulton Dr NE, Atlanta, GA 30305

404-490-9495
INT. A CLASSROOM – DAY

A boy named TEDDY, with long blonde hair, walks into a fully
occupied classroom. As soon as he enters, the entire class
turns around in unison, all eyes immediately locking on him
as if he’s some spectacle. TEDDY notices but doesn't seem
fazed.

TEDDY
(Confused)
What?

A few whispers ripple through the room—murmured judgments and

hushed comments—but they don’t last long. One by one, the
students redirect their attention back to the TEACHER, who is
currently engrossed in giving a PowerPoint presentation at
the front of the class. TEDDY walks towards the only empty
seat next to a girl named ALYSSA. She has jet-black hair,
neatly tied back, and a perpetually disappointed expression
that deepens the moment she sees him approaching.

ALYSSA
(Sarcastic, under her
breath)
You’re late. (Beat) And
after what you pulled,
you have the audacity to
be late?
TEDDY sighs, knowing exactly what
she’s referring to. He takes a seat
and starts to explain, his voice
low enough not to disturb the
class.

TEDDY
(Defensive)
Look, he knows the bucket of water
wasn’t meant to hit him. I already
ta—

Before TEDDY can finish his sentence, he’s abruptly cut off
by the booming voice of WALTER, their teacher. WALTER, a man
in his early 40s with a sharp pencil-thin beard and thinning
hair, stands in front of the class, glaring at TEDDY with
unexpected intensity.

WALTER
(Loud, angry)
SO YOU’RE LATE AND YOU’RE ALREADY
TALKING?! OUT! Get out, Teddy! I’ll
deal with you after class!

The entire class goes silent, staring at TEDDY again. Even

ALYSSA looks stunned.
 2.

WALTER is known for being one of the chillest, most relaxed

teachers in the school—never raising his voice, always cool
under pressure. But right now, he’s furious. TEDDY, caught
off guard and embarrassed, stands up slowly. He can feel
every eye in the room following him. As he makes his way to
the door, he glances back at ALYSSA, who raises an eyebrow,
clearly unimpressed.

ALYSSA
(Whispering, sarcastic)
Looks like you worked things out
with him.

TEDDY’s face flushes with embarrassment. He exits the room,

his head hung low, still trying to process why WALTER, of all
people, is mad at him.

INT. HALLWAY – OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM – MOMENTS LATER

TEDDY leans against the locker just outside the door,

waiting. His mind is racing, replaying the events from
earlier, trying to figure out how he ended up here. The sound
of the bell ringing snaps him out of his thoughts. One by
one, his classmates file out of the classroom. ALYSSA walks
past him, shooting him a look—a blend of mock sympathy and "I
told you so." It’s clear that she’s not going to forget this
anytime soon.

ALYSSA
(Smug, under her breath)
Good luck.

TEDDY groans internally. It’s bad enough getting yelled at by

the teacher, but ALYSSA’s relentless judgment makes it worse.
Soon after, WALTER emerges from the classroom. He doesn’t
look as angry as before, but there’s still a clear tension
between them.

WALTER
(Sighing)
Teddy, I like you. I really do. But
you’re making it incredibly hard
for me to be your teacher.

TEDDY stares down at the floor, unsure of how to respond.

He’s never been in this much trouble before, especially not
with WALTER, who’s always been on his side. The moment feels
heavy, like a turning point he didn’t see coming.

(CONT’D)
 3.

WALTER

(Tired and Disappointed)

Teddy, it’s out of my hands now.

TEDDY’s heart sinks. He had hoped to get a warning, maybe

another chance to make things right, but the look on WALTER’s
face tells him that hope is slipping away fast.

TEDDY
(Desperate)
Mr. Walter, please, I didn’t mean
for any of this to happen! It was
just a prank, and I already
apologized to Mr. Harris—

WALTER shakes his head, cutting TEDDY off.

WALTER
(Tense)
This isn’t just about the prank,
Teddy. You’ve been late every day
this week, and today you disrupted
my class. I’ve let too many things
slide already. You’ve got
potential, but you’re throwing it
away.

TEDDY opens his mouth to argue, but nothing comes out. He

knows WALTER is right. He’s been slipping up more and more
lately, and now it’s finally catching up to him.

WALTER (CONT’D)
(Resigned)
You’re going to the principal’s
office.

The words hit TEDDY like a punch to the gut. He feels a cold
wave of panic wash over him. A trip to the principal’s office
isn’t just a slap on the wrist—it’s a big deal. He pictures
the phone call to his parents, the look on their faces when
they find out.

TEDDY
(Panicked)
No, no, please, Mr. Walter! I swear
I’ll turn it around. Just give me
one more chance!

WALTER looks at TEDDY, his expression softening for a moment.

But then, with a sigh, he shakes his head again.
 4.

WALTER
It’s too late for that, Teddy.

WALTER motions for TEDDY to follow him, and they walk in

silence down the long, echoing hallway. TEDDY's mind races,
his heart pounding. He tries to think of
something—anything—to say that will change WALTER’s mind, but
the closer they get to the principal’s office, the more
hopeless it feels.

INT. PRINCIPAL’S OFFICE – LATER

TEDDY sits outside the office, his leg bouncing with nervous
energy. The door opens, and PRINCIPAL WILSON, a stern woman
in her 50s, gestures for him to come inside. TEDDY stands,
his stomach churning, and walks in to face his fate.

PRINCIPAL WILSON
(Stern)
Teddy, I’ve been hearing quite a
lot about you lately. Late to
class, disruptive behavior, and
that prank on Mr. Harris...

TEDDY tries to speak, but PRINCIPAL WILSON holds up her hand

to stop him.

PRINCIPAL WILSON (CONT’D)

(Cutting him off)
I don’t need to hear your excuses.
What I need is for you to
understand the consequences of your
actions. You’ve crossed the line
too many times, and I’ve decided
that effective immediately, you’ll
be in detention for the rest of
your senior year.

TEDDY feels his world collapse. Detention for the rest of the
year? He hadn’t expected this. His mouth goes dry as he tries
to process it.

TEDDY
(Barely audible)
For the whole year?

PRINCIPAL WILSON
(Flatly)
Yes. You’re lucky it’s not worse.

TEDDY slumps in the chair, a sense of defeat washing over

him.
 5.

This was supposed to be his year—his final year, the one

where he could relax a bit, have fun with his friends, maybe
even skate by with a few harmless pranks. But now, all of
that is gone.

PRINCIPAL WILSON (CONT’D)

(Looking directly at him)
You have potential, Teddy. You’re
smart. But if you keep wasting it,
you’re going to regret it for a
long time. You can sit in detention
and think about that.

TEDDY nods slowly, though the words barely register. He’s

already imagining the hours of detention ahead, day after
day, for the rest of the year.

INT. HALLWAY – AFTER SCHOOL

The final bell rings, and students pour out of their

classrooms, laughing, chatting, heading home or off to their
after-school activities. TEDDY walks the opposite way, alone,
towards the detention room. His feet feel heavy, dragging
with every step. He can hear distant laughter from his
friends, but it feels miles away now.

As he reaches the door to the detention room, he pauses for a

moment. He stares at the dull, unwelcoming door in front of
him and takes a deep breath, pushing it open. Inside, a few
other students sit in silence, heads down, already resigned
to their punishment.

TEDDY walks to an empty desk in the back and sits down,

staring blankly ahead. The reality of his situation finally
sinks in. This is how he’s going to spend the rest of his
senior year stuck in detention, watching from the sidelines
as everyone else moves on.

FADE OUT.

The film ends with the image of TEDDY in detention, a faint

echo of the vibrant, carefree boy he was at the beginning,
now trapped by the consequences of his actions.