SCENE 4
Scene opens with Richard pulling into visitor parking lot. He gets out of the car and stretches, after what has been an obviously long journey. He looks around, smiling, obviously awed and excited by all that is the Southwestern campus. He is startled out of this much-anticipated moment by a voice right next to him.
cop
Stern
Excuse me, young man.
Richard wheels around.
Richard
Yes, sir?
COP
As he writes the ticket
You don’t have a student sticker.
Richard
Confused
A student sticker?
COP
He hands Richard the ticket
You need a student sticker to park in this lot.
Richard
But I just arrived from Oregon!
Cop
They have students in Oregon, too.
Richard
What?
COP
Don’t play stupid with me, young man. You can take care of that at the cashier.
Cop walks away. Richard stares at the ticket.
Cut to Richard walking in the courtyard toward the buildings. He has a stethoscope around his neck and is wearing a huge backpack overflowing with everything you don’t need on the first day of medical school. A sign on the courtyard says “Welcome First Year Medical Students” and has an arrow that points down the stairs. He stops and looks around the courtyard, taking in his new home as a stream of first year students file down the stairs. Richard walks down the stairs and just inside the door, on the way to the MS1 lecture hall, Taylor is handing out fliers. The other students grab one and walk by, but Richard takes one and stops to talk to Taylor even though Taylor doesn’t seem particularly interested in having a conversation at the moment. Richard looks at the flier.
Richard
A party! Cool.
Richard nods expectantly. Taylor looks at nodding Richard for a moment, then slowly nods in agreement.
There’s nothing better than a good party.
Richard nods expectantly, Taylor has no choice but to speak.
Taylor
Nothing better.
Richard
Cool. Will there be, um, alcohol?
Taylor
Alcohol isn’t allowed at University-affiliated events.
Richard looks confused.
Of course there will be alcohol. There’s no point in having a party without alcohol.
Richard
Cool.
Taylor
We’ll see you there.
Richard
Oh, I wouldn’t miss it.
Richard stands there nodding. Taylor looks at him with a bit of disgust.
Taylor
Terrific.
Taylor hands out the last flier and leaves Richard standing there nodding. Cut to Richard walking into the first year auditorium, buzzing with eager students. He slowly walks to toward the first open seat, overwhelmed by what’s going on around him. He sees two students who just sat next to each other introducing themselves. Cut to two students’ conversation.
Socially Inept #1 (male)
Very eager, with a big smile, to student#2
Hi! I’m Mike.
Socially Inept #2 (female)
Equally excited, she extends her hand to student#1, who is never sure how to introduce himself to a girl
I’m Hilery.
Socially Inept #1
So where did you go to undergrad?
Socially Inept #2
Texas A&M, you?
Socially Inept #1
Texas Tech.
They nod at each other.
Socially Inept #2
Cool.
Socially Inept #1
Yeah……um, this is pretty exciting!!
Socially Inept #2
Laughing nervously, smiling
Yeah.
Cut back to Richard making his way to his seat. He sees two skinny spectacled asian dudes introducing themselves. Cut to two skinny asian dudes.
Skinny asian dude#1
Hi, I’m ching-tzeu-ki, but you can call me Bob.
skinny asian dude#2
Hi Bob, I’m Alan. Where are you from?
skinny asian dude#1
I went to Rice.
skinny asian dude#2
I went to Rice, too! What was your major?
skinny asian dude#1
Chemical engineering.
skinny asian dude#2
Me too! It’s strange that I never met you in class.
skinny asian dude#1
There are a lot of chemical engineers that look like me.
skinny asian dude#2
Yeah, I guess you’re right.
Cut back to Richard approaching his seat, scanning the room. He sees a guy dressed in rodeo gear sit next to a clean-cut girl prominently wearing a cross around her neck. Cut to these two.
cowboy
Takes off his Stetson hat to her. They do not shake hands.
Howdy. I’m Kyle.
biblethumper
Hello, I’m Mary. Blessed to meet you.
cowboy
A bit confused, not sure he heard her right
How ya’ doin.
Biblethumper
I’m blessed.
cowboy
Now realizing he heard her right
Is that right.
biblethumper
How are you?
cowboy
Better than a pig in shit. Where’d you go to school?
biblethumper
I was home-schooled.
cowboy
No, I mean college, where did you go to college?
biblethumper
At home.
Cowboy stares at her blankly. Cut to older student and younger student.
Younger student
Hi, how are you, I’m Chad.
older student
I’m an unconventional student.
younger student
Not expecting that response, pauses for a moment
I’m sorry about that.
Cut to Richard taking his seat. He puts his overstuffed backpack on the ground and takes out a dozen pencils, and takes some time lining them up on his desk. A voice comes from the row behind him.
Becker
Way to come prepared.
Richard
Well, I thought we would be filling out some paperwork.
Becker
You’re going to fill out all of our paperwork, too?
Jasper, sitting nearby, starts laughing his ear-splitting laugh.
Richard
No, it’s just that –
Becker
And it’s a good thing you brought a stethoscope. No doubt that will come in handy today.
Another laugh from Jasper. A beautiful Indian girl, who is sitting next to Richard but whose face we haven’t seen until now, wheels around in her seat and faces Becker with an angry expression.
Shoopa
Why do you have to be so rude all the time?
Becker
Oh give me a break Shoopa.
Shoopa
Turns to Richard
Ignore that prick. We used to date in college and he’s probably jealous that you’re sitting next to me. I’m Shoopa.
Richard
embarrassed
I’m Richard.
Shoopa
Are you from around here?
Richard
No, I’m from Oregon!
Shoopa
Straight-faced
Well welcome to the Dallas, the fake-titty capital of the world.
Richard
Momementarily dumbfounded
Thanks.
Shoopa
How do you like the big city?
Richard
Actually I just arrived this morning, haven’t even seen to my new place. I’m a little nervous.
Shoopa
I’m sure you’ll love it.
Richard
Oh it’s not the place I’m worried about, it’s my new roommate, found him on an internet roommate service. His name is Skeeter.
Shoopa
Skeeter?
Richard
Skeeter.