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BULLYCIDE ALTERNATE ENDING
by vito jennette (tf3411@yahoo.com)

Rated: PG-13   Genre: Sports   User Review: ****


This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.



FADE IN:

INT. GRADUATION SPEECH - DAY
                                                            
Thousands of parents, friends, and faculty pile the
gymnasium dressed in their finest suits and dresses,
programs in hand elbow to elbow on wooden bleachers for the
graduation ceremony of hundreds of senior students class of
2010, all dressed proudly in cap and gown as they pass by
Principal Whitley greeting them for the last time as a
student with a firm hand shake and a copy of their diploma,
they then go to their steel fold out seats awaiting the
speech.
                                                            
                       GAIL
Look at you, you look so handsome.
                                                            
                       RYAN
I've never been so nervous in my
entire life.
                                                            
Jim slaps Ryan on the back.
                                                            
                       JIM
You'll be great, just another day.
                                                            
Ryan walks up to the podium.
                                                            
She gets her camera ready taking a few quick shots.
                                                            
                       GAIL
I can't believe my baby is all
grown up, I was so surprised when
he told me he was valedictorian.
You know, he's the first one in
our family to go to college.
                                                            
                       JIM
I wasn't surprised at all, the
first day we met he had all of his
books with him to study.
                                                            
Ryan clears his throat.
                                                            
                       GAIL
Shhhh...He's starting.
                                                            
She nudges Jim with her elbow, then gives her absolute
attention to her son.
                                                            
                       RYAN
GRADUATION IS A TIME TO THANK
THOSE WHO HELPED YOU MAKE IT
THROUGH THE TOUGH TIMES. YOUR
PARENTS, TEACHERS, SIBLINGS, GIRL
FRIENDS, AND MAYBE EVEN A COACH.
                                                            
Ryan looks at Jim with that same look of gratitude.
                                                            

2.

                       RYAN (cont'd)
BUT MOSTLY YOUR FRIENDS, I'M HERE
TO TELL YOU FIRST HAND THAT BEING
A FRIEND IS THE BEST GIFT YOU CAN
GIVE SOMEONE...
                                                            
Ryan smiles at Jim.
                                                            
                       RYAN (cont'd)
LET ME TELL ALL, ABOUT THE DAY I
MET MY BEST FRIEND. IT WAS A
FRIDAY, AND I PLANNED ON KILLING
MYSELF THAT WEEKEND. I CLEANED OUT
MY ENTIRE LOCKER, SO THAT MY
MOTHER WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO IT
LATER.
                                                            
Ryan looked hard at the man, a single tear fell down the
boy's cheek.
                                                            
Ellery, Cash, and Jeremy slide down their seats brought on
by shame, dishonor, and guilt.
                                                            
Tears spill from Gail's blinking eyes but she remains
silent.
                                                            
                       RYAN (cont'd)
I WAS BEING BEATEN SO BADLY BY A
GROUP OF BULLIES, I COULDN'T WAIT
TO GET HOME IN SHAME TO TAKE MY
OWN LIFE. THAT IS WHEN THIS MAN
SHOWED UP, AND SAVED ME. HE TOOK
THE TIME TO TEACH ME MARTIAL ARTS,
GIVING ME THE KNOWLEDGE TO
EMOTIONALLY DEFEND MYSELF, BUT IT
WAS HIS FRIENDSHIP THAT GAVE ME A
REASON TO GO ON LIVING.
                                                            
Ryan's mom weeps uncontrollably as she stares at the man
sitting next to her.
                                                            
Ryan points at Jim sitting in the front row.
                                                            
                       RYAN (cont'd)
PARENTS, FRIENDS EVEN ONE
TRAUMATIC INSTANCE CAN CRIPPLE A
YOUNG MIND INTO A WALL OF DESPAIR.
500,000 TEENAGERS TRY TO KILL
THEMSELVES EVERY YEAR 5,000
SUCCEED. HOW MANY OF THOSE WERE
DUE TO ENDLESS BULLYING? AND HOW
MANY COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED BY
JUST ONE PERSON, MAYBE HELPING
THEM CARRY HOME THEIR BOOKS DURING
CONVERSATION? I WANT YOU ALL TO
KNOW TODAY, THAT NUMBER IS RIGHT
UP THERE WITH CANCER AND HOMICIDE.
LUCKILY FOR ME, FRIENDSHIP WAS ALL
I NEEDED, TO REPAIR MY BROKEN
HEART, AND MIND. AND IT'S ALL
BECAUSE OF THAT MAN, IF IT WASN'T
FOR HIM, I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.
                                                            
Ryan's mom forces Jim to stand.
                                                            

3.

                       RYAN
THANK YOU JIM! AND HAPPY
GRADUATION CLASS OF 2010!
                                                            
There is a long unnerving eerie silence in the crowd.
                                                            
The entire crowd jumps to their feet giving Jim a very
emotional standing ovation.
                                                            
The graduates throw their caps to the sky!
                                                            
                                         DISOLVE TO
FLASHBACK:
                                                            
 
EXT. OUTSIDE SCHOOL - FRI - DAY
                                                            
The man picks up all of Ryan's books volunteering half.
                                                            
                       RYAN
I guess it's my own fault for not
finding another way home.
                                                            
                       JIM
No, it's not your fault. You live
far from here? I'll help you with
your books.
                                                            
                       RYAN
      (HUGE SMILE)
No, a couple blocks, maybe.
                                                            
                       JIM
So you got a name kid? I'm Jim.
                                                            
Jim puts out his hand to shake. Ryan has a look of gratitude
written all over his face.
                                                            
                       RYAN
      (GENUINE)
I'm Ryan. Thanks for everything,
those guys just won't quit? I
don't even know what I did to them
to deserve this every day.
                                                            
They shake hands.
                                                            
Jim is what you call an old-school, take no shit kind
of guy; He is well known in the community and gets along
with just about everyone he meets. He can never turn it
off always illustrating his point, lecturing and teaching
is his greatest passion.
                                                            
                       JIM
      (Confused, has
       never seen such a
       look in someones
       eyes)
No one deserves to be treated like
that. You know something kid, it's
time you stand up for yourself and
fight back. I've been watching you
over the past month and I gotta
tell you, your defense is good, as
good as I've seen. You got a back
            (MORE)

4.

                       JIM (cont'd)
ground in fighting?
                                                            
Ryan becomes a bit jittery.
                                                            
                       RYAN
Thanks I think?(embarrassed) You
see my dad, he used to hit on me
and my mom, A LOT! After a while,
I just developed a tolerance for
pain, then It got to the point
where I pretty much could see the
shot coming before it ever even
got to me. Every school I've been,
I always end up someones target? I
figured if they can't hit me, they
will grow tired of trying. But
that Ellery kid is different, he
has like supernatural speed or
something, I can't read him?
                                                            
The two walk the endless sidewalk on the way to Ryan's home.
                                                            
                       JIM
Look Ryan, I've been training
fighters on and off for 20 years
and those things you just
mentioned are the only two things
you can't teach. That's all god
given, you can't teach god given
ability.
                                                            
Ryan stops to tie his shoe lace.
                                                            
                       RYAN
      (looks up at Jim)
What do you mean, getting my ass
whipped?
                                                            
                       JIM
No,The exact opposite. Look here,
I can teach a kid like Ellery to
be the best offensive fighter in
the world right, but if he can't
take or dodge a punch the fight
will be over before it even
starts. That's why they call it
self-DEFENSE and not self-
OFFENSE! Get it?
                                                            
Ryan stands, and takes his house key out of his pocket.
                                                            
                       RYAN
I think so. Well this is it, my
apartment. It was really nice to
meet you Jim. And thanks.
                                                            
Ryan unlocks and opens his front door.
                                                            
                       JIM
Look Ryan, no one should have to
go through this shit day in and
day out. What would you say if I
told you I could help you protect
yourself, you know teach you few
            (MORE)

5.

                       JIM (cont'd)
tricks so maybe you can put your
foot up their ass for once.
                                                            
Jim hands Ryan his books.
                                                            
                       RYAN
I'd say, where do I sign!
                                                            
                       JIM
Take a day or two, think about it.
Talk it over with your mother, let
me know.
                                                            
Ryan goes into his apartment shutting the door behind him,
Jim makes his way back home.
                                                            
Ryan opens the door, in a DEEP TRANCE LIKE STATE he begins
admiring the man for a few seconds, seconds becomes minutes,
minutes become hours. DAYLIGHT GONE TO NIGHT -- He then goes
back into his apartment.
                                                            
 
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
                                                            
He's in the grip of a major anxiety attack. Tries to shake
himself out of it. Can't. Fumbles the final items out of the
bag. Walks away. Trying not to panic. Trying not to run. He
reaches into the closet revealing fairly large hand gun and
a box of shells.


For every painful memory he loads another bullet. Methodical
and grim. He gets the final bullet in just as his mother
arrives home. The door begins to open. His Mother walks in.
She SHOUTS. Ryan raises the gun --

-- and jams the black metal barrel in his mouth. BANG! His
head snaps back as the wall goes red. Gail has a look of
surprise then to confusion and then to terror Gail bursts
into tears. The bullying is no more. Gail staggers -- then
falls to her lifeless son's body. Gail gasping for heaving
sobs.
                                                            


FADE OUT.


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From Giancarlos Calderon Date 1/13/2014 ****
Well Vito, I gotta say that your Bullycide script would send a powerful message. Good thing that I didn't see this ending in the original script, because I think it's cowardly for bully victims be they of any religion, ethnicity, orientation or race kill themselves. Great script friend.


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