SCENE 1 (Lawndale High, a couple of days later)
(Shot of the outside. Cut to close-up shot of a poster containing swirly colors and abstract shapes. Cut to wider shot -- that poster, and many more like them, are spread across the hallway, alongside the Sandi posters. We see Jane, Daria, and Jodie gazing at them. Jane is smirking triumphantly, Daria's deadpan, Jodie neutral. It's in between classes, and we see several people walking to and fro.)
JANE: (gesturing at one poster) Well voila! That's the last of 'em.
(Beat)
DARIA: Very colorful.
JODIE: Um, yeah.
JANE: So do they say Jane Lane or what??
(Beat)
DARIA: Actually, "what" was the word I was grasping for. As in what is it?
JANE: (waving her arms energetically) It's unconventionality! It's freedom of expression! It says "Jane Lane is an original"!
DARIA: An original nut case?
(Beat. Jane frowns mildly at her. Before she can respond: )
MS. LI: (over the P.A.) Attention students: in a moment, I will be playing a campaign song for Ms. Jane Lane. And let's remember to rock the vote in three weeks!
(Pause. Daria and Jodie look at Jane questioningly.)
JANE: Oh yeah -- did I mention Trent wrote and recorded a campaign song for me?
DARIA: Trent??
JANE: Yeah -- he really got inspired. (Bt) But what's even weirder is that Ms. Li seemed completely okay with me playing it. I thought she'd just blow me off, but she actually seemed (cringes a little) happy.
JODIE: That is weird.
DARIA: Yep. Though after seeing my mom make decorative coasters last night, I'm ready for anything.
(The music starts to play. It's soft, very similar to the music for the jingle in "The Lawndale File." After a few seconds, we hear Trent singing.)
TRENT:
Jane she's pretty cool,
A real cool cat.
She goes to high school,
Ain't nothin' beat that...
(More guitar strumming. Daria and Jodie stare at Jane. Jane shrugs.)
JANE: So it's not Shakespeare.
TRENT:
You gotta be a fool
If you-don't-vote-for-her. So... (sudden loud strumming.)
VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR JANE!!!
VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR JANE!!!
(Daria and Jodie are now cringing. Jane looks uneasy, as though she's regretting her decision to play the song.)
TRENT:
VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR JANE!!!
VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR JANE!!!
(Cut to shot of Quinn in the hall. Like the other students, she's transfixed. Wears a horrified expression on her face.)
TRENT:
YOU'LL DRIVE ME INSANE
IF YOU DON'T VOTE FOR JANE!!! (more guitar strumming.)
(Quinn puts a hand to her forehead.)
QUINN: Oh God, no!
(She suddenly realizes that Sandi is standing next to her, smirking at her obvious humiliation. Quinn lamely tries to recover.)
QUINN: Um, I mean: oh no, I hope this isn't the only time we get to hear this song.
SANDI: (not convinced) Uh-huh.
(She and Quinn exchange predatory smiles.)
TRENT:
Jane she's pretty cool,
She goes to high school.
You gotta be a fool
If you don't vote vote vote vote (loud strumming.)
VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR JANE!!!
VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR JANE!!!
VOTE VOTE VOTE FOR JANE!!!
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
VOTE VOTE VOTE VOTE
JANE, JANE, JANE, JANE, JAAAAAAAANE!!!
(one final strum, then silence.)
(Cut to shot of Jane, Daria, and Jodie. Jane cringes slightly, looking amused and embarrassed. Suddenly the people around them start cheering.)
(Cut to shot of Quinn and Sandi. The people near them have started cheering, too. In response, Sandi's expression changes from triumphant to shocked. Quinn looks relieved. Resume shot of Jane, Daria, and Jodie, looking bewildered.)
MS. LI: (over the P.A.) Yes, yes, that was a lovely song. Now quickly allow your anarchic excitement to die down, or I'll sic the riot squad on you. That is all.
(Pause. We then see Brittany running up to Jane, Daria, and Jodie, waving her pom-poms.)
BRITTANY: Wow, Jane, that sounded just like my cheer. Go, Jane, go! Yeah!!!! (jumps up in the air.)
(Before Jane can respond, Brittany runs off. Then Kevin appears.)
KEVIN: (goofy cheerful) Hey Jane, cool song. And catchy. "Vote vote vote vote vote... vote... vote..." (looks at Jane for help.)
JANE: For Jane.
KEVIN: Oh yeah! I got it! (flashes a thumbs up, then runs off.)
(Meanwhile, Daria looks like her usual impassive self, and Jodie is smirking.)
JANE: (amused and exasperated) Geez, who'd've thought Trent could write such a crowd pl--
(Just then Sandi waltzes past, wearing a typical condescending smirk.)
SANDI: Cute song. (Bt) If the rest of your campaign is as good, this might almost be a race.
(Jane frowns as she disappears off screen. Pause.)
JANE: (hushed) Don't underestimate me, Sandi.
(fade-out. fade-in to: )
SCENE 2 (Lane house, that afternoon)
(Shot of the outside. Cut to shot of Jane, Daria, and Jodie seated at the kitchen table. Jodie's holding a notepad for writing down the campaign ideas Jane has. So far, her notepad is almost blank.)
JANE: Okay, okay... how 'bout this? Mandatory art classes for all students.
(Daria says nothing, but instead looks at Jodie to see her response. She's nixed the last several of Jane's ideas.)
JODIE : (neutral-toned) Uh-huh.
JANE: None of your cutting art to make more room for the three R's -- no sir! It's my belief that if we all took more art classes, we'd lose that aggressiveness that's made Western Civilization so unpleasant these past few centuries. Then we'd stop competing with each other, there'd be no more cliques, and our school would be a better place. Problems solved. (brushes her hands together in a satisfied manner.)
JODIE: Um, uh-huh. (the notepad remains blank.)
(Beat)
JANE: (sensing her lack of enthusiasm. with slight exasperation) Now what's wrong with that?
(Beat)
JODIE: Nothing, Jane. But... I'm just not sure it's practical.
DARIA: (to Jodie. sardonic) Do tell.
JODIE: First of all, I doubt you could convince the school board to increase our art funding. Not when we're using history text books from 1967.
JANE: Hmm, yeah -- that explains why we're so obsessed with Communism around here. No one seems to realize the Soviet Union fell almost ten years ago.
JODIE: Right. (Bt) Second, it doesn't seem like something that could really address the needs of the student body. It's sort of a "feel-good" solution.
JANE: Hmm... yeah. (looks sort of distressed. flops back in her chair.) Well then what should my message to the students be?? I'm fresh out of ideas.
(Jodie pauses to think.)
DARIA: (to Jane) Why even have a message? Just telling the students you won't sic the fashion police on them should be enough.
JANE: (exasperated) Should be -- but for some twisted reason, they seem to look up to Sandi. I wanna know how I can work around that.
JODIE: Well, I found during my campaign for vice-president that just listening to the students' problems went a long way toward gaining their trust.
JANE: (like it's a foreign concept) Listening?? You mean like... I ask, they tell? (Jodie nods.) And that works?
JODIE: You'd be surprised. (Bt) When Dean was president, he left a lot of students to be ignored. I bet most of them would love to spill their guts to you.
JANE: (smirking) Then I could be their hero. I like that.
(Beat)
DARIA: But how can you be so sure Dean didn't start out with that attitude?
JANE: Please, Daria, the guy was a corrupt grade-changing shark who didn't give a damn about anything beyond himself. (Bt) Whereas I'd at least be real to my fellow classmates.
DARIA: (wrinkling her nose) Real?? You think playing Oprah is your way of being real?
(Jodie rolls her eyes at Daria's tone -- she's been a pessimist all afternoon. Jane looks at Daria with a peevish expression.)
JANE: Well why not?? I can listen as well as the next guy. They talk, I say "uh-huh." No sweat.
DARIA: If you say so.
(Beat)
JANE: Hey, Jodie? That reminds me: um, how d' you keep from looking bored when others talk to you?
(fade-out. fade-in to: )
SCENE 3 (Lawndale High, the next day -- first day of "Jane Lane's Listening Tour")
(Shot of the outside. Shot of some students lying on the grass near the parking lot. We see Jane approach them with an unusual degree of awkwardness. Jodie and Daria follow.)
JANE: Um... hey, guys.
(Pause. The students look up at her, wearing expressions that range from impassive to confused.)
JANE: Um, I don't suppose you'd know me. I'm Jane Lane.
(Pause. No response.)
JANE: I'm... running for student body president?
(Pause. Jane glances back at Jodie for guidance. Jodie gives her a nod that says, "You're doing fine. Keep going." Just then, one of the students shows signs of awareness.)
MALE STUDENT: Oh yeah. Aren't you the one who painted the gym to look like some guy's car crash? [*] see "Daria Dance Party"
JANE: (relieved) Guilty as charged.
FEMALE STUDENT: That was really creepy.
JANE: Thanks! (Bt. sighs, knowing the girl didn't mean that in a humorous way.) Look, I'm a pretty normal person, honest. Don't believe the lies the school psychiatrist tells you.
(Pause. The students frown.)
JANE: I'm kidding. (Bt) The reason I'm here, in fact, is to show you that I'm not your typical ivory tower candidate. I've spent my whole student career as an outsider, so I know how it feels to not be heard. So if you have any complaints, problems about the school, I'm the one to talk to.
(Pause)
MALE STUDENT: (doubtful) And you'll help us?
JANE: I'll try my best.
(Beat. The students look at each other, their faces brightening.)
FEMALE STUDENT: So if I asked you to do something about the lack of toilet paper in the women's bathrooms, you would?
(Jane, Jodie, and Daria all cringe, understanding her problem.)
JANE: Ugh, you bet.
MALE STUDENT: And you'd convince Ms. Li to change her "no T-shirts with subversive logos" policy?
JANE: I could probably arrange something.
FEMALE STUDENT 2: And you'll ask them to clean the gum out of the drinking fountains?
MALE STUDENT: Or to replace the textbooks that have no front or back cover??
JANE: Ugh, yes. (Bt. amazed) Boy, I didn't realize what a crappy school we went to. I'll look into everything.
FEMALE STUDENT 2: Great!
MALE STUDENT: I already like you better than Dean McBale.
JANE: (smirking) Just remember that on election day. (Bt. turns to Daria and Jodie.) Hey, these're starting to add up. Do either of you have something I could use to write them down?
(Daria shrugs, empty-handed. Jodie starts to pull something out, when we see a hand reach over from off screen with a pad and pen. Jane frowns.)
UPCHUCK: (off screen) Allow me, luscious Jane. (pan over to show him.)
JANE: (backing away) Forget it, Upchuck. I'd sooner pick a notebook out of the trash than touch something that's had contact with your body.
UPCHUCK: Grrrrrrrr... feisty! I like that in my female presidents!
JANE: Then you'll love the swift kick in the groin I'm about to give you.
UPCHUCK: (cringing a little) Uh -- but don't I get to tell you my problem?
(Beat. Jane sighs heavily.)
JANE: Yes.
UPCHUCK: Ahhhh... (rubs his hands together with anticipation.) My problem is that there are so many fine ladies, and only one little me. Can you talk Ms. Li into letting me clone myself in the science room?
(Beat)
JANE: I would, Upchuck, but I think even Ms. Li would be against unleashing a plague on the student body.
(Her response is met with mild laughter.)
JANE: Find a good laboratory that's looking for experimental subjects instead.
UPCHUCK: (looking defeated, but impressed) Grrrrrrrr... even when she repels, she attracts! Grrrrrrr...
(He leaves. Jane slaps a hand to her forehead, then sees Daria cocking a droll eyelid at her.)
JANE: Boy, this listening stuff is harder than it looks.
(From off screen: )
SANDI: (calling out) You know, some believe that those who just listen don't have anything to say.
(Jane, Daria, and Jodie turn to look. Cut to shot of Sandi lounging on the hood of her car in the parking lot, surrounded by yet more admiring students. Jane walks over to them.)
JANE: (folding her arms) Really? And which esteemed scholar coined that expression?
SANDI: My mother. (Bt) She taught me that the only way to be a true leader is to be persuasive.
JANE: (sardonic) A visionary?
(Daria and Jodie come over.)
DARIA: (deadpan) Which must be why the Fashion Club is the cutting-edge institution it is today.
SANDI: (missing the sarcasm) Exactly. (Bt. looks pointedly at Jane.) And if you can't take the heat, maybe you should get out of the, um... sun, or something.
(Several members of her entourage laugh.)
MALE STUDENT: Good one, Sandi.
(Sandi smirks at him like a dog owner who's pleased that her pet has performed the right trick.)
JANE: (exasperated) Okay, Sandi. So what exactly are the big schemes you've designed to dig a hole and bury me in it?
(Sandi shudders, and glares at her.)
SANDI: You don't have to get gross about it. But since you asked... (knowing glance at her entourage) what d' you say to four-hour school days? Or to being able to fire the teachers you don't like??
ENTOURAGE: Ooh!!!
JANE: I'd say great -- if I thought it could work.
SANDI: (smirking) Oh, it'll work, all right.
JODIE: (annoyed) The president doesn't have the authority to do that, Sandi.
SANDI: Maybe not now, but when I assume the position --
DARIA: No one will resist? No guys, anyway.
SANDI: (not getting it) Uh... yeah.
JODIE: Sandi, being president won't give you powers that not even the school board has.
SANDI: (getting defensive) How do you know? Maybe all it takes is the right person to do --
JANE: Okay, well let's say you do manage to enact a plan that lets the students fire teachers they don't like. Say one kid decided to fire a teacher who'd made his life a living hell. But the problem is, that same teacher who he hated turned out to be another student's only link to sanity.
(Beat. Sandi watches her blankly.)
JANE: And when that teacher left, the student snapped, and decided to take out his revenge not only on the kid who'd fired the teacher, but on every student who'd ever looked at him the wrong way.
(We hear a collective gasp from the crowd, and see many students get fearful expressions. Daria looks subtly impressed by the way Jane took command of the situation. Jodie, too, appears pleased. Meanwhile, Sandi looks a little freaked out. Then she glares at Jane.)
SANDI: Weirdo. You know that would never happen.
JANE: Don't be so sure about that, Sandi.
SANDI: Why? Is it something you've been planning??
(At this, Jane frowns. Daria and Jodie also frown darkly.)
DARIA: Hey, Sandi --
JANE: (maintaining her cool) Just where d' you come up with that idea?
SANDI: 'Cause only a freaky Goth chick like you could be that screwed-up.
JANE: (slowly losing her cool) I prefer Gothic art chick, thank you.
SANDI: (smirking) Whoops. Sorry. Don't want to upset you.
(She glances at the members of her entourage, several of whom respond with nervous giggles.)
JODIE: (eyes narrowing) Don't listen to her, Jane.
JANE: (irritated) Look, Sandi, I've had just about enough --
(Suddenly, from off screen: )
QUINN: (chipper) Hi, you guys!
(She saunters on screen, casts a pointed, irresistible look at the male members of Sandi's entourage, then walks away. A large number of the guys look as though they're struggling between staying with Sandi or going after her. Finally they break away and run after Quinn. Cut to shot of Quinn and the guys.)
QUINN: (tossing her hair. innocent tone) Y' know, I was thinking: wouldn't it be really cool if Jane Lane was president?
GUYS: Uh-huh!!
(Sandi forgets what she and Jane were fighting about, and watches this exchange with a shocked expression. Jane smirks with relief.)
(fade-out. fade-in to: )
SCENE 4 (school hallway, Monday the following week)
(Shot of Jane and Daria at their lockers. They're acting like their usual selves, but there's definite tension between them. While Jane fiddles around in her locker, Daria reads the underground newspaper. Just then, Jodie comes up to them with the school paper in hand.)
JODIE: Hey Jane, don't feel discouraged: the Lowdown says you're starting to creep up on Sandi in the polls.
JANE: I am?? (looks at the article to which Jodie's pointing, gets an amazed look on her face.)
JODIE: It says a lot of people really like that you're bothering to listen to them. And that they've found holes in Sandi's so-called "vision" for the school.
JANE: Well I'll be damned. (Bt) You know it's funny that Ms. Li hasn't caught whiff of her schemes.
JODIE: She probably doesn't take them seriously.
JANE: This is Ms. Li we're talking about.
DARIA: More likely she knows Sandi's popular, so she cuts her slack she wouldn't you.
JANE: (brow wrinkling with concern) Hmmm...
JODIE: Well anyway, your outsider approach also seems to be affecting how students see you.
(Daria cocks a wary eyelid at the word, "approach.")
JODIE: (to Jane) You don't come across as one of the elitists. You're down-to-earth. People are starting to see you as a force of change.
JANE: Well zippidy-doo-dah -- I feel like celebrating! This loner art chick's proving to the world that she's not gonna lie down an' fade away.
JODIE: (smiling) Easy, there: don't celebrate too soon. You've still got a lot of people to talk to, and then there's the speech you have to give on election day.
JANE: (pumped-up) Well bring it on -- I'm ready for anything. (Bt) Say, Daria, any news about my surge in the underground paper?
(Pause)
DARIA: Hmm... nope. Not a word. (Bt) Although there is this article about a girl who thought she could beat the popular crowd, but instead she let herself be turned into them.
(Pause. Jodie and Jane pick up on Daria's subtle meaning and frown.)
(fade-out. fade-in to: )
SCENE 5 (lunchtime, later that day)
(Shot of Jodie walking with Jane through the cafeteria.)
JODIE: Don't let her get to you.
JANE: You mean Daria and her incurable self-righteousness?? (rolls her eyes and sighs.) I'm trying not to, but it's hard when your best friend won't support you on something that's important.
(Jodie nods with understanding.)
JODIE: It could be she's just jealous. You know, 'cause you had the courage to run for office and she didn't.
(Jane shrugs.)
JANE: Yeah, maybe so. (Bt. frowns) Though this isn't the first time she's rained on my parade.
JODIE: Look, Jane, I know Daria's your best friend, and her opinions mean a lot to you. But if you want to do what you need to for this election, you may just have to ignore her.
(Beat)
JANE: (resigned) Yeah. You're right.
(Cut to shot of a table of nerds. Jane and Jodie approach them.)
JANE: (hushed) This listening stuff is still a little weird to me. So's spouting campaign sound bites. It just doesn't feel quite real. (Bt. half-joking) You sure you wouldn't rather run in my place?
JODIE: (hushed) You're doing fine. I know sound bites suck, but they're a necessary evil in politics.
(Jane nods, then glances at the nerds and makes a throat-clearing sound. The nerds look up at her.)
JANE: (mustering a cheerful tone) Hey guys, the name's Jane Lane and I'm running for student body president. I'm here to listen so if you've got a problem, any problem, I'm your girl.
(Pause. The nerds look at each other questioningly. Suddenly one gets up -- one we recognize as Barry from "'Shipped Out." He looks enraged, and points a finger at Jane accusingly.)
BARRY: (squeaky Corey voice) Don't believe her, men! This woman set me up with that foul temptress, Daria Morgendorffer! (to Jane) Oh you'll pay. You'll paaaaaaaaay!
(Jane looks at Jodie and groans.)
(fade-out. fade-in to: )
SCENE 6 (the next day, the first of a montage of scenes taking place throughout the week)
(The toned-down portion of the music from Jane's campaign song plays throughout this montage. Shot of Jane standing on the volleyball court in the midst of a gym class game. She's surrounded by curious students, to whom she's talking with much more confidence than the day before. Keeps making exaggerated gestures to illustrate her points. Meanwhile Daria stands in the background, impassive.)
JANE: ... And when I say I'm here to hear, I mean I'm here to hear, 'cause I know what it's like to not be listened to. (pauses momentarily to hit a flying volleyball back over the net without so much as looking at it.) Heck, I'll even listen to you! (looks pointedly off screen.)
(Pan over to show Andrea sitting in the bleachers. She stares back at Jane blankly. Resume shot of Jane.)
JANE: See, like the rest of you, I, too, feel like I'm not being heard by the powers-that-be at the top of the food chain. Which is why I'm determined to be the first candidate who truly cares --
(Cut to close-up of Daria. She rolls her eyes. fade-out.)
(fade-in to shot of Sandi heading out the door of one of the school buildings in the direction of the quad. She suddenly freezes and gets a shocked look on her face - cut to her POV. We see Jane sitting at a table littered with various art supplies, in the midst of painting a student's face and listening his problems. Behind the student is a line of other students that looks about a mile long. Several people who've already had their faces painted are standing nearby, gazing at each other, and Jane, admiringly. Resume close-up of Sandi. Her shock has been replaced by irritation, and as she slowly turns around to go back inside, she continues to watch the activity in the quad with a dark frown.)
(Cut to close-up of Jane. She's been sitting at the table, painting and listening to the students for a long time. Her expression is now one of weary cheerfulness. As she nods her head to the one student's voice, she peers out at the long, long line behind him. Closes her eyes, gets a "Why me?" look on her face. fade-out.)
(fade-in to shot of Jane walks down the hall with a group of students that's smaller, yet similar to the entourage Sandi had in Act One.)
MALE STUDENT: (to Jane) You'll get them to serve vegan in the cafeteria?
FEMALE STUDENT: You'll make sure they install private showers in the locker rooms?
JANE: (enthused) I'll do my best. Remember: when you're listened to, you're already halfway to the final results. (pumps a fist for emphasis.)
STUDENTS: Cool!
(They pass by Ms. Li and Mrs. Manson, the school psychologist. Pause shot on the two of them.)
MANSON: (hushed) Don't you find the messages she espouses to be disturbing?
MS. LI: (unusually nonchalant) Oh fiddle-faddle! It's just good clean student fun!
(fade-out. fade-in to shot of Jane, sitting on one of the desks in DeMartino's classroom, some time after class. DeMartino stands over her, lecturing, while Jane watches him with a wary expression.)
DeMARTINO: My only hope, Candidate LANE, is that you've absorbed enough of my TEACHING to understand how to be a good civic LEADER --
(Just then, O'Neill passes by the open door of the classroom, his face red and eyes teary. Looks inside, sees Jane.)
O'NEILL: (wailing) I need someone to listen to me!!!
(He rushes toward her. Jane cringes, jumps off the desk, and looks at her watch.)
JANE: Whoops! I'd love to but -- gotta go!
(She runs off. DeMartino's eye bulges and he frowns in a "surprise, surprise" manner. Then he glances uneasily at the whimpering Mr. O'Neill. fade-out.)
(fade-in to shot of Jane sitting on the grass, listening to a student wrap up a summary of financial problems.)
MALE STUDENT: It was really nice of you to sit here so long.
JANE: (sober) Hey, it's no problem. Maybe I can help.
MALE STUDENT: (grateful) Thanks, but I think it'd take a miracle for me to afford that kind of tutoring.
JANE: Yeah, well, you may have just met the miracle worker.
(fade-out. fade-in to: )
SCENE 7 (hallway)
(Music ends. Shot of two guys passing out T-shirts and buttons bearing the same funky design as the one on Jane's posters. Over the design reads the message: "I'm here to hear." In the background, we hear the muffled sounds of Jane talking. From off screen: )
SANDI: Just what the hell do you think you're doing?!
(The guys get shocked looks on their faces and drop the stuff on the ground. Sandi walks up to them with a stormy expression on her face.)
GUYS: Uh...
SANDI: You were supposed to be passing out stuff for my campaign, not for that loser's.
GUYS: But uh... Q-Quinn said...
SANDI: (eyes narrowing) Quinn.
(She marches away, in Quinn's direction. On the way, she sees Brooke, the wanna-be F.C., also passing out Jane's stuff. Brooke catches site of Sandi's evil eye and cringes guiltily. We then see Sandi head toward Quinn, who's cheerfully standing off to the sidelines, passing out more buttons. She sees Sandi and smirks.)
QUINN: (chipper) Hi, Sandi! Good luck on election day!
(Sandi can't reply -- she just stalks away and stands by another part of the crowd. We see a lot of familiar faces, including Kevin, Brittany, and Mack, as well as Jodie and Daria, who aren't standing together. Jodie's watching Jane with approval, Daria with her usual impassiveness. Jane's standing on a chair, talking to some of the students.)
JANE: ... Well sure I can look into it, I don't see why not. I mean like I've been saying all along, I'm here for you. Isn't that what the president's all about??
(Mild clapping from the audience, and several pleased looks. Near Daria, we see a hyper-charged Kevin and Brittany.)
KEVIN: (to Brittany) Hey, babe, you think Jane'll give the football players special parking spots outside of homeroom? Y' know, for in case we, like, oversleep or somethin'.
BRITTANY: Let's ask her, Kevvy!
(Daria watches this exchange, and slowly raises her hand.)
DARIA: (to Jane) Um, excuse me?
(Pause. Jane stops talking and looks at Daria.)
JANE: (somewhat wary) Yeah... Daria?
DARIA: You seem to be promising many things to many different students. How do you propose to carry out these promises?
(Beat. Jane glances with some uncertainty in Jodie's direction.)
JANE: Well we sort've talked... she thought --
DARIA: (pointed look) What do you plan to do?
(Pause. Jane rolls her eyes.)
JANE: (defensive) How can I have a plan when I haven't even been elected yet?
DARIA: Easy. You could be studying the powers of the office right now. Or forming alliances with some of the less hostile faculty members so you'll have backup support.
(Jodie wears a resigned expression as she listens to yet another example of Daria's pessimism. Sandi cocks an amused brow at Jane's obvious discomfort.)
JANE: I could still do those things -- the election's still a ways away. (Bt. sarcastic) But thanks for the ideas, pal: wish I could've heard them a while ago.
DARIA: No problem. (Bt) I'm just sorry I had to be the one to come up with them.
(Jane looks even more annoyed. Cut to close-up of Sandi, looking satisfied.)
(fade-out. fade-in to: )
SCENE 8 (Griffin house, that afternoon)
(Shot of the outside. Cut to close-up of Sandi, now gazing downward and frowning. Cut to wider shot: she's standing in the living room, school paper in hand, while Linda is seated on the coach. Sandi takes one last look at the paper, then flings it down.)
SANDI: Stupid school poll. I can't believe I've lost my stupid lead.
LINDA: (smug) Sandi, I warned you what would happen if you grew complacent.
(Sandi looks at her mom with an extremely frustrated expression.)
SANDI: But I wasn't! I've been, like, totally into this election stuff!
LINDA: If you say so. But the point is, now that you're down, are you just going to lie there like an old dog? Or are you going to do something?
SANDI: (glaring at her) 'Course I'm gonna do something! There's still enough time. (Bt) The only reason I didn't do enough earlier is 'cause I felt sorry for that Gothic nobody.
LINDA: Felt sorry for her? (Bt. rolls her eyes. with condescension and something approaching affection.) Sandi, pity makes you weak. Haven't you learned that by now??
(Sandi rolls her eyes.)
LINDA: Don't you remember what happened the last time you felt sorry for someone?
(Pause. Sandi now gets a resentful, sheepish look on her face. Her mom can really twist a knife.)
LINDA: You thought that girl would never catch up, and now she has. Do you want her to beat you?? SANDI: (sober) No. (Bt) From now on, I'll show that freak what I'm really all about.
LINDA: (satisfied) Thatta girl.
SANDI: First I'm gonna have to find out who's still loyal to me. Thanks to that Jane and Quinn, I'm losing support... and that's not how it's supposed to be. Jane's the one who should be down and out, not me. (Pause) So I'm just gonna have to get dirt on her.
[Shot of Jane hitting a volleyball back over the net while she's giving her campaign talk.]
You are now entering commercial HELL. Please keep your seat belt securely fastened. You are about to see some of the lamest commercials put on television.
Anyway, I'm sick of hearing about Viagra. Viagra... Viagra... Viagra... Viagra... Viagra... Bob Dole... Viagra... Viagra... Viagra... Viagra.....
You are now leaving commercial HELL. Aren't you happy you survived?