Two: Discovered.

ACT TWO.

SCENE FOUR.

THE BELL RINGS

All pupils make their way to fourth period.

CASSANDRA'S ENGLISH CLASS.

SEBASTIEN and DEMETRIA are already seated beside each other and talking as other students enter the classroom.

ENTER CASSANDRA

SEBASTIEN and DEMETRIA stare at her as she enters the room and takes her seat next to them.

CASSANDRA notices and looks at the pair.
SEBASTIEN and DEMETRIA continue to stare back.

CASSANDRA

(confused. forcefully cheerful)
Hi! ..?

DEMETRIA and SEBASTIEN continue to lock onto her.
CASSANDRA shifts her eyes between them, bewildered.

DEMETRIA
(sternly)
...And where were you at break?

CASSANDRA

(sighs)
Oh... sorry guys.
Prit kept me behind for my coursework, or lack of. So she was having a go at me and then after that...
(she pauses)
(slowly, as she thinks)
...she...
(quickly and becoming infuriated)
just kept going on and on and on. God, that woman knows how to babble on, AND in that irritating French --

SEBASTIEN

(rapidly interrupting)
Heeeey!
(smiles)
It's okay, we were only joking!

TEACHER

(shouting to the now, full, class of pupils)
Silence please!
...

the class of noisy pupils begin to become silent

Ok!

Today we are continuing with our study of 'Havisham' and i hope you all have your homework completed for me to collect at the conclusion of this lesson.

CASSANDRA
(feeling slightly ridiculed, whispers)
Oh...

DEMETRIA
(in a quiet sing-song voice)
Gotchaaaa.

CASSANDRA
(whispering still)
I am becoming a little bit TOO gullible these days.

SEBASTIEN

(to CASSANDRA, whispering)

Buuuuuut... you owe me.

CASSANDRA

(smiles)
(replies quietly)
Sorry, i haven't done the homework so no copying this lesson.

SEBASTIEN
(in a low voice)
Damn.

DEMETRIA
(to CASSANDRA, quietly enquiring)
So what's up with all this homework not being done? I mean, i don't want to sound like a teacher or anything relating. But, you're getting into trouble here, there and everywhere recently... over poncey homowork. You okay?

CASSANDRA
(giggles at her, then sighs and whispers)
... I don't know. I keep getting really... sleepy recently. As in, when i get home from school i just become overwhelmingly tired and need to rest. Then i just... doze off. So, i don't really get any work done.

DEMETRIA
(confused, whispering)
Uh Huh...

SEBASTIEN

(exclaiming comically)
Okay Grandma!

TEACHER
(glances at SEBASTIEN and shouts sharply)

Sebastien!

SEBASTIEN instantly focuses his attention on her.

So then, considering you feel the need to not pay attention to my teaching, YOU can point out some of the key emotions featured in this poem?

SEBASTIEN

(pauses)
Um...
Well...

Carole Anne Duffy based this poem on a fictional character who was, quintessentially, a woman scorned. So, the key emotions i would say, are featured in this poem are hatred, revenge and anger.
(he smiles arrogantly, knowing himself that he just gave a honorable response).

TEACHER
(unobtrusively surprised)
Well done.
(intently)
Now stop talking and pay attention.

SEBASTIEN turns his head back to DEMETRIA and CASSANDRA.

CASSANDRA and DEMETRIA'S jaws drop, they are shocked.

SEBASTIEN
(smiles, egotistically whispers)
What's my name bitch?!

The girls hold in laughter.

DEMETRIA
(begins to again mutter to CASSANDRA)

So, go on, you have.... this, sleeping problem.

SEBASTIEN
(interrupting, humorously)
Granny disease.

CASSANDRA and DEMETRIA grin at him.

CASSANDRA

(whispering)
I know, i sound like a right weirdo but i just, it's, i don't... it's hard to explain.

DEMETRIA
(nods, reassuring)
Well okay, but if anything more happens, let us know, kay?

CASSANDRA nods and the three begin taking notes.

Suddenly someone knocks on the classroom door.

The teacher nods and signals for the individual waiting outside to enter.

ENTER MR.GUISE.

MR. GUISE
(to teacher, seriously)
I need to see Cassandra Clarke in my office.

CASSANDRA, instantaneously looks up at him.
She then glances at her friends, who are equally clueless.

TEACHER
Cassandra, off you go.

Reluctantly, CASSANDRA gathers and packs away her belongings and leaves the room, in no rush.
The door closes.

SEBASTIEN
(to DEMETRIA, staring at the closed door and whining)
Now that's not fair.

DEMETRIA
Yeah i know, she has enough teachers at her at the minute.

SEBASTIEN

No, i mean, she's going to get away with not handing in the homework.

DEMETRIA looks at him and rolls her eyes.

SCENE FIVE.

SCHOOL CORRIDOR LEADING TO GUISE'S OFFICE.

CASSANDRA follows Mr. Guise to his office along many corridors.

She is unaware with what concerns he has with her.
Eventually they get to the door.

CASSANDRA takes a silent deep breath and steps inside the room, after Mr.Guise.

MR. GUISE'S OFFICE.

MR. GUISE
(sternly)
Put your items down there
(his eyes move to view the corner of the room)

CASSANDRA, concerned, confused and somewhat nervously, slowly places her bag and coat onto the floor and then stands facing MR GUISE.

Poker face.

Do you know why you are here?

CASSANDRA
(hesitates whilst she contemplates the appropriate answer. she stares at him directly in the eyes)
If...

(she begins to babble)

If it's about all the homeworks, I, I apologise and I'll get them in soon. Th, there have just been...

MR. GUISE
Factors?

CASSANDRA
(suspiciously)
Yes....

MR. GUISE
Like... when you have a dream. And on the next day.. whatever happens in said dream... comes true.

CASSANDRA
(quietly shocked. sternly and defensively)
What do you know about my dreams?