and wooden and swings open on a motor when he knocks it. Gaynor is holding their letter up to a tiny camera. The building is stony, dark, huge and make Jodie look very fragile. Gaynor walks right in, and Jodie works her hand into her fathers and they follow.
FOYER - CONTINUOUS - INT
The inside of the building is bright and welcoming, tiles, leather seats. The door ahead is shut tight but a porthole window shows a stretching corridor with doors leading off every few metres. Jodie tiptoes to peek through. There is no movement out there so with nothing else to do she sits down and starts flicking through the selection of kids books on the coffee table. Gaynor is pointing at something in the schools promo The porthole door opens the second she sits down and a man fills the hole. He has Dracula hair and eyes that could cut glass and is Mr Jacks.
MR JACKS
The Paynes, yes? And you’re Jodie.
DAD
That’s right. She’s our star.
MR JACKS
Maybe she’ll be ours too one day.
GAYNOR
It’s funny you know. I hardly remember applying here.
MR JACKS
I know what you mean. You apply to so many schools it gets hard to remember. But you’re here now.
GAYNOR
The exam results here are off the chart. Literally.
MR JACKS
There’s always room for improvement.
DAD
Not in my girl. She’s already perfect.
JODIE
That’s the grossest guilt trip, like, ever. But I’m a damn site better than her.
MR JACKS
Ah, family tensions. You won’t have to worry about that here Jodie.
JODIE
No more wicked stepmother. Where do I sign?
MR JACKS
Maybe Jodie would like to tour the school while we go to the office.
DAD
I’d quite like to see the school too.
MR JACKS
Plenty of time for that later.
He opens the door and a girl Jodie’s age slips into the room. She is barefoot and in a judo suit. The girl is panting a little but smiling and relaxed.
MR JACKS (CONT’D)
Hannah can show you the school, Jodie. You girls can make friends.
The three adults leave the room and Jodie folds her arms and looks at the other girl. After a second of watching Jodie not moving, Hannah sits down and curls up.
JODIE
You’re okay. We can hang out.
HANNAH
I’m meant to show you around.
JODIE
Honestly. I’m not that bothered. I mean, you see one school... unless this is Hogwarts for muggles.
HANNAH
This is no regular school. Look at me. Judo’s an examined subject here.
JODIE
Cool.
Let’s go.
She gets up and walks to the door and cracks it open. Jodie folds over her page and tosses it back onto the table.
CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS - INT
Jodie is following a few steps behind Hannah as she strides down a corridor. A switch flicks and the shadowy hallway bursts into bright light and silence.
HANNAH
This is the visitors end. Your parents are here somewhere. Offices, offices, filing and stuff.
JODIE
My old school was just classrooms and a canteen.
HANNAH
There’s much more than that here.
JODIE
Like what?
HANNAH
You’ll see. It’s a great school and you’ll like what we have. Trust me.
She grins and reaches for another door. Stairs run up through the safety glassed window. Hannah punches a code into the door security and opens it.
JODIE
Why do people who say trust me end up being liars?
ARTS WING - MOMENTS LATER - INT
A huge round room envelops the two girls, rooms running off it.
HANNAH
This is the arts wing.
JODIE
Painting and pottery. Fascinating.
HANNAH
Not just that. We do music, drama, dance. And art. Obviously.
JODIE
Obviously.
HANNAH
But it’s not boring.
JODIE
I had a clay fight with my old teacher. That was fun.
HANNAH
Using art to express aggression and conflict’s a good thing. Art is creative and - oh this is Sam.
Sam is walking down the opposite corridor and breaks into a lazy jog when Hannah waves to him.
HANNAH (CONT’D)
He gets bored easy and a new face’ll entertain him for hours.
JODIE
I saw him earlier. He smiled at me.
She goes to one of the doors and presses her ear to it. Hannah reaches across and pushes a wooden panel on the door. It slides open and shows a group of children all playing instruments. But no sound is drifting out.
HANNAH
Sound-proof.
SAM (O.C.)
Totally.
HANNAH
Sam, Jodie. She’s coming here soon.
JODIE
Woah, nothing’s definite yet.
SAM
Mr Jacks can be very persuasive. Your folks don’t stand a chance of saying no.
JODIE
If I don’t like it, my dad won’t make me stay.
HANNAH
No way can you not like the school.
JODIE
Are they really playing? Are they any good?
Jodie pushes on the door and a flood of sound rushes out. It sounds like chaos - a dozen instruments playing a dozen tunes, each one to perfection.
JODIE (CONT’D)
Wow. They’re brilliant. Does everyone play that well?
SAM
Everyone’s got a talent, something they do better than everyone else.
HANNAH
What do you do?
JODIE
Me. Nothing. I’m not special. I think my stepmom just wants me out of the way.
HEADS OFFICE - MIDDAY - INT
The office is large and bright with only a desk and soft seats along one wall. A middle-aged woman puts aa tray of steaming mugs and a plate of biscuits on the corner of the desk, smiles brightly then scurries out making sure the door clicks behind her.
MR JACKS
So.
GAYNOR
We want Jodie to have the best education and -
MR JACKS
And we can provide it. The school takes only the most promising of students. Here at the Regent Institute of Shared Knowledge we believe in young people and their mentors really sharing their knowledge and values.
DAD
I’ve always taught Jodie the difference between right and wrong.
MR JACKS
Our children will one day own this world, after all.
DAD
If this is a top school, why Jodie? She got kicked out of her last school.
MR JACKS
We have all her records. She failed much of her coursework but tested right off the scale. I think she was bored in her classes.
GAYNOR
She won’t get bored here though. She’s already making friends and what 12 year old girl wouldn’t want to live with friends.
DAD
You’re talking about sending my daughter to live with strangers.
GAYNOR
Don’t be so dramatic, babe. Thousands do it.
MR JACKS
True. And she’ll get the best care.
MR JACKS (CONT’D)
Truth is, I want Jodie at this school. She’s a very intelligent girl. She could be great... with the proper guidance.
DA
D
My Jodie-star’s already great.
GAYNOR
How badly do you lot want her? I mean, this is obviously an elite -
MR JACKS
We’re offering -
PLAYGROUND - MIDDAY - EXT
Hannah, Jodie and Sam are wandering through a playground with a football pitch and hopscotch painted on the floor with a backwards 3. Sam is balancing along the lines.
HANNAH
And this is where the kids play. We get tennis courts round the back.
JODIE
Ever used for actual tennis.
HANNAH
RISK bred three British champions.
JODIE
I’m not champion material but I’d like to have a go.
SAM
You never played at your last school?
JODIE
Always chose athletics. I like to run. It was the only lesson I didn’t muck around in.
By now they have stepped onto the grass. Sam jogs ahead to the metal swing set in the middle and throws himself at them. Jodie giggles and chases him while Hannah straightens her Judo outfit and stars practising moves.
SAM
What do you reckon then? Good enough.
JODIE
She’s amazing. But I’d miss my Dad too much.
HANNAH
Discipline and control.
JODIE
And strength. Bet you have to be wicked strong.
SAM
If you know what you’re doing, you can topple the Terminator.
HANNAH
Who? The school only takes the best and that’s you. I definitely wouldn’t turn down a chance like this.
A distant bell rings out and a far off door opens. One adult steps out and a line of children double file out before drifting off in twos and threes.
SAM
And the chaos begins. Come on, let’s get fed.
CAFETERIA - MOMENTS LATER - INT
The large room is filled with youngsters at fixed seating and there is the low buzz of conversation. Most are eating, the odd few are reading or studying. At one table, the trio of teens are just about to take seats with trays of food. Jodie digs in as soon as she sits down. Sam takes a moment to organise his food into an order and Hannah just watches him.
SAM
What?