Temca Academy, Part 23

Temca Academy, 25

EXT. THE WOODS. NIGHT.

The four stand before the woods with their scepters drawn.

ANIELLE:
Ready for this?

GEORGE:
No!

ANIELLE:
Too bad!

A bunch of henchmen appear before them. They are outnumbered, so they run into the woods.

EXT. WOOD GROVE. NIGHT.

They all run into a grove but stop to breathe.

JOSHUA:
We should’ve brought brooms!
How can we out run them?

ANIELLE:
We can’t, but we can capture
them. All we need is a distraction.

TOCI:
I got this!

When the henchmen appear, Toci lifts up her shirt to flash them.

TOCI:
Hello boys!

While they gawk at her, the other three use their scepters to bind them with a latex rope.

GEORGE:
Latex ropes-they’re ninety-
nine percent effective!

TOCI:
My tetas are gifts; my tetas
are weapons!

They leave the area.

　

EXT. BABELSAM’S LAIR. NIGHT.

On the outskirts of the woods, in a small town, the four spot the dilapidated office building with a sign that reads “Curiosity killed the trespasser.”

ANIELLE:
Do you think he set up booby
traps for us?

JOSHUA:
Oh please! I’m training to be
a peace officer, and I think I
am wise enough to spot a booby
trap a mile away!

They step forward, which activates a trap door. They all fall in.

　

INT. BABELSAMA’S LAIR. NIGHT.

They land with a thud in the same room from the beginning. The lights turn on as Babelsama moves towards them.

BABELSAMA:
Ah, it’s the beginning of the end.

GEORGE:
(sarcastic)
Ooh, how melodramatic!

BABELSAMA:
Who knew that my plan would be
foiled by a drunk, a hippy, a
dumb jock, and a spoiled brat!

ANIELLE:
That’s what I said!

BABELSAMA:
And now we’ll fight. Don’t think
of your number as an advantage
because I am an extremely powerful
fighter!

TOCI:
Then why did you have fear
mongers and henchmen do your
dirty work?

BABELSAMA:
Meh. Too lazy.

He makes the ground shake, and the four lose their balance. Their scepters are knocked out of their hands. Every time they get close to their scepters, Babelsama shoots a hex at them, which forces them to dodge it.

JOSHUA:
You are the most annoying person
on the planet!

BABELSAMA:
Want some peace? I could kill you!

He surrounds the four in a circle of fire. They without a scepter and surrounded. They glue together, not knowing what to do. Babelsama goes into the fire.

BABELSAMA:
Victory is almost mine! Now, I
just gotta get rid of the people
that made the last nine months
hell! And nothing can stop me!

MAGIC SWAT (O.S.)
This is the magical swat team!
We have you surrounded! Prepare
for our entrance!

BABELSAMA:
Son of a bitch! You’re not supposed
to call the peace men! Heroes are
supposed to do everything on their
own! That’s the rule! I guess I’ll
have to waste as many of you as I can!

He quickly aims a spell at Anielle. Anielle did not react in time, but Joshua does and takes the hex for her. The magical swat team bursts in, puts out the flames, and rapidly grabs Babelsama. Anielle immediately dives down to make sure Joshua is okay.

ANIELLE:
Joshua! I can’t feel a pulse!
You can’t be gone! Everything
is so clear now! I wanna be with
you! I’ve never felt like this
about a guy before. You sacrificed
yourself for me! No one has ever
cared about me so much. This can’t
be it! We are supposed to be
together! Joshua!

Anielle turns away and starts crying for a beat.

JOSHUA:
Anielle…

Anielle is startled and screams.

ANIELLE:
Sorry, I thought you were dead.
You’re alive!

She pounces on him for a hug.

JOSHUA:
(groans)
Not yet. Everything hurts right now.

ANIELLE:
You were going to die for me.

JOSHUA:
You saved my life first.
Besides, I…well….

Anielle knows what he is trying to say. They kiss.

TOCI:
Awww!

BABELSAMA:
I’m so glad I was arrested so
I could make this magical moment
happen! I still can’t believe
you called the peace officers!

The mummy appears on the scene.

MUMMY:
No, I did. You bastard! You left
me alone in the Sahara desert for
nine months!

Babelsama grumbles, and the magical swat team takes him away.

　

INT. ANIELLE AND TOCI’S ROOM. NIGHT.

Anielle and Toci return, not knowing Neiman is waiting for them.

ANIELLE:
The rescue medics said Joshua
should be out tomorrow morning.
I know how I’m going to thank
him too! With some….oh, hi
Daddy!

NEIMAN:
There you are! I came to get you.

ANIELLE:
About that…

NEIMAN:
You’re not packed.

ANIELLE:
Listen, you probably know that
Peter and I broke up. Did he
tell you why?

NEIMAN:
No. I was puzzled about that.

ANIELLE:
He needs to date someone who’s
going to spend the rest of her
life at your company, and I’m
not. I changed my major. I’m
going to be a rescue healer!

NEIMAN:
Gross! Why?

ANIELLE:
Peter and I don’t love each
other. He’s dating his secretary
now. I met someone too. He’s
training to be a crime solver.

NEIMAN:
No! You’re supposed to be the
good one! Your sister married
the pool boy! You’re supposed
to sleep with the help, not
marry them! Why did you both
choose to be middle class?

ANIELLE:
You don’t get it. Your first
two wives left you because you
chose your work over your family.
I only need enough money to live
comfortably. I made up my mind to
pursue my passions, and I’ve never
been happier!

NEIMAN:
Fine! Call me when you change your
mind!

Neiman storms out.

TOCI:
Wow. You never told me about
your sister!

ANIELLE:
Well, for a while we weren’t
speaking to each other.

George appears at the door.

GEORGE:
Way to tell off your dad!

ANIELLE:
You heard that? Oh right,
thin walls. My mom married
an interior designer, his
second wife married some
soap opera star, and his
current wife has been with
him for ten years. He is at
the office so much he has no
idea she’s a cougar chasing
young men all day! I’m glad
that won’t happen to me!

TOCI:
Good for you!

GEORGE:
So…can I call your stepmom?

They all laugh.

　

INT. ANIELLE AND TOCI’S ROOM. MORNING.

Joshua enters, not looking directly at Anielle.

JOSHUA:
Look, I know you wanna take it
slow, which is understandable
since you just got out of a long
relationship and we almost died.
I’m okay with that. I wanna do
whatever it takes to make you happy.

Joshua finally sees her, and his jaw drops as he sees her in a cheerleading outfit.

ANIELLE:
Did I tell you I made next
year’s cheer squad?

JOSHUA:
Aw, man! You wanna take things
slow when you wear that? That’s
just cruel!

Anielle presses up against him and puts her arms around his neck.

ANIELLE:
I never said I wanted to take
it slow!

JOSHUA:
Oh, thank God!

Anielle laughs. They deeply kiss and Joshua lowers her to the bed.

　

INT. HALLWAY. AFTERNOON.

Toci is about to enter the room when she notices a red x on the door.

TOCI:
Finally!!!!!

Chad appears by the door.

CHAD:
Is Anielle busy?

TOCI:
Yeah she is! All year, it’s been
me putting x’s on the door. I got
so used to them being for me that
I almost walked in!

CHAD:
We’re so opposite on that spectrum!
I’m saving myself for marriage.

TOCI:
Really? Wow, I didn’t know people
still did that!

CHAD:
Anyways, I just came to drop
off her half of our project.
I know she’s not taking business
anymore, but I thought she might
like it.

TOCI:
So, you like business? I wanted
to start my own organic apothecary
business. But I just realized I
don’t know anything about business!

CHAD:
Well, if you ever need advice,
you can call me. My name is Chad.

TOCI:
Chad. I’m Toci.

CHAD:
See you around, Toci.

TOCI:
Bye, Chad!

　

EXT. DOG HOUSE. AFTERNOON.

Anielle, Joshua, Toci, and George meet up to say goodbye. They give each other hugs.

GEORGE:
See you guys next year, which
should be pretty uneventful,
very laid back and normal, right?

ANIELLE:
I don’t think our lives will ever
be normal!

GEORGE:
Well, what’s life without a few
monsters to slay?

They all laugh. They say goodbye to each other, pick up their bags, and leave. The sun shines brightly on their campus. A bat flies by and laughs wickedly.

Temca Academy, Part 22

INT. JOSHUA’S ROOM. NIGHT.

Anielle arrives at this door and pounds on it. She listens and does not hear a sound. Toci and George watch as she uses her scepter to melt the hinges. She kicks the door open and sees Joshua passed out on the floor, surrounded by empty alcohol bottles. Toci gasps. Anielle checks his pulse.

ANIELLE:
There’s still a faint pulse.
George, call a rescue healer.
Toci, there’s not a lot of
time. You know which plants I
need.

　

INT. EMERGENCY HEALING ROOM. DAWN.

Just at the brink of dawn, Joshua wakes up to see himself in a healer’s bed. He looks to his right to see Anielle, who has sallow skin, heavy bags under her eyes, and a big smile. He is a little confused.

JOSHUA:
What happened?

HEALER:
You got a second chance! You
drank a lethal amount of alcohol.
Thank your lucky stars this
young lady brewed a toxin
banishment potion! If it weren’t
for her swift actions, we wouldn’t
have been able to save you.

JOSHUA:
Wow. Anielle, somehow thank you
doesn’t seem to be enough!

ANIELLE:
It’s not enough. I want you to
promise me you’ll never drink
that much again!

JOSHUA:
You have my word.

The healer smiles and leaves the room. George enters, and Toci flies onto Joshua’s bed to hug him. Joshua groans.

ANIELLE:
Careful, his stomach is really
sensitive!

GEORGE:
Dude, you scared us!

TOCI:
Next time you’re really upset…

JOSHUA:
I’m done using alcohol as an
escape.

ANIELLE:
Two things you should know.
Peter and I broke up. And
after rescuing you, I realized
what I wanted to do. I’m
switching my major to rescue
healing!

JOSHUA:
That’s really great!

TOCI:
The bad news is you have to
heal real fast ‘cause Babelsama
is sending henchmen to kill us.

JOSHUA:
Ah, so my life was saved only
to die more painfully!

GEORGE:
Look, we better get going. Toci
was already talking about seducing
the whole trauma ward!

TOCI:
What? It’s a form of healing!

George and Toci leave. Anielle smiles and waves to Joshua, who smiles and waves back.

　

BEGIN HENCHMEN MONTAGE:

INT. BOOKSTORE. AFTERNOON.

Toci and Anielle are buying things at the bookstore. Toci pulls out money from her bra and hands it to the cashier. Right as they are about to leave, a couple of henchmen burst into the shop. Other shoppers scream and run away. Toci and Anielle motion to a peace officer. The henchmen get scared and runaway.

EXT. MAGIC LACROSSE FIELD. AFTERNOON.

Joshua and George are playing magical lacrosse when a couple of henchmen appear. They start to fight, but a cat walks by the field. One of the henchmen is seriously allergic, so the henchmen run away.

INT. LOCKER ROOM. EVENING.

Anielle is talking with a couple of cheerleaders while George unsuccessfully flirts with a couple more. A few henchmen burst into the room. George and Anielle, along with all of the cheerleaders, yell and raise their scepters. The henchmen freak out and run away.

EXT. LETTER ROOM. MORNING.

Joshua and Toci are in a letter room, which is a huge roost for bats. A henchmen bursts in, thinking he has them cornered. Toci simply commands the bats to swarm the henchmen. The henchmen is forced to run away.

INT. ANIELLE AND TOCI’S ROOM .NIGHT.

Toci is nursing a big, red slap mark on George’s cheek when a couple of henchmen come in. Before George and Toci can react, Circe and Agatha walk by and eye the henchmen flirtatiously. The henchmen put away their scepters and follow the girls.

EXT. PARKING LOT. EVENING.

Anielle and Joshua are talking while they unhitch their brooms. In the sky, a couple of henchmen appear before them. They make some threats, but as Joshua and Anielle draw their scepters, a barrage of students on broomsticks run into them. The henchmen can no longer be found. Anielle and Joshua shrug and return to their prior task.

END HENCHMEN MONTAGE.

　

INT. JOSHUA’S ROOM. MORNING.

Anielle enters the room expecting to see Joshua but instead sees George.

GEORGE:
You don’t look happy to see
me! I know I’m not as exciting
as your secret crush!

ANIELLE:
Shut up! We’re just friends!

Toci enters.

TOCI:
I’m not gonna rush you, but
you gotta do what feels right.
I have never found a guy that
I wanna see again in the morning.
I’ve never had an opportunity
like you have with Joshua. You
gotta act before it’s too late.

Joshua enters.

JOSHUA:
Why are you all in my room?

GEORGE:
We wanted to discuss where
Babelsama’s lair must be. I’d
say it’s gotta be close to
campus.

ANIELLE:
Wait a minute! I think I know
where it is! On the fly over
here, my dad and I saw this
old office building. My dad
said there was a man dancing
on the front porch. I was used
to him making fun of the poor,
so I didn’t think much of it.
But that must’ve been him!

JOSHUA:
You had this clue all along and
never said anything?

TOCI:
Look, it doesn’t matter right
now. Let’s go get him!

Everyone stands up.

ALL:
Yeah!

TOCI:
Wait, we have finals today!

ALL:
We’ll get him later!

They all disperse to study.

Temca Academy, Part 21

INT. COMMON ROOM. EVENING.

Anielle is listening to the Temple of Isis music and reading the plant book Toci gave her. Joshua enters.

JOSHUA:
I have something for you.
I was really bored, and I had
some scrap metal, so here.

He hands her an ornate bracelet.

ANIELLE:
You made this?

JOSHUA:
I know it doesn’t look exactly
like Joseph DaVinci’s…

ANIELLE:
Yes it does! It’ one of the most
thoughtful gifts I’ve ever gotten!
Thank you!

JOSHUA:
You’re welcome.

He looks a little embarrassed. Anielle gives him a hug. He hugs back. They linger a little. They hear someone coming, and they quickly break apart. Peter enters. Joshua leaves but secretly stands in the doorway, watching.

PETER:
Ah, I thought you must be
around here somewhere. I knew
you weren’t in your room since
there was a red x on it.

ANIELLE:
Yeah, that’d be my roommate.
She does that a lot.

PETER:
There is something I wanted to
discuss with you. We’ve been
together for a while, so I feel
like I owe you this.

He brings out an engagement ring. Joshua looks horrified.

PETER:
Will you marry me?

Anielle is stunned. She sees Joshua, who runs out. She wants to go after him, but she knows she has to deal with Peter.

ANIELLE:
Oh Peter, how did we let it
get this far?

PETER:
What do you mean?

ANIELLE:
We fell out of love with each
other a long time ago. I’m a
changed woman now. I think you
should know I’m switching majors.
I don’t want to take over my
dad’s company.

PETER:
What? Why not?

ANIELLE:
It’s not what makes me happy.
Turns out helping people makes
me happy. I have to do what
feels right in my gut. And if
I married you, it’d feel like
I was marrying my brother. No,
brothers and sisters have a
strong relationship. It’d be
like marrying a second cousin
that I only see at family
reunions. I’m sure my dad will
give you the company. And if
you’re like him, the only
relationship that will last is
one where you both work together.

PETER:
Actually, I kind of like my
secretary, but I never acted
on it ‘cause I didn’t wanna be
that guy. Do you have someone else?

ANIELLE:
Kind of. I just think we both
deserve a chance at happiness,
and I don’t think we’re right
for each other.

PETER:
I was so sure this is what I
wanted, but you’re so right!

ANIELLE:
Friends?

PETER:
Always.

They hug each other amicably, and then Peter leaves.

　

EXT. DOG HOUSE. NIGHT.

Anielle comes out to meet with Toci, who is gardening.

TOCI:
How’d it go?

ANIELLE:
We agreed to stay friends. I
knew he’d take it well; it’s
my dad I’m worried about.
(beat)
Where’s Joshua?

TOCI:
He went to the store.
(beat)
You’re probably wondering why
I’m gardening at night.

ANIELLE:
Well, that looks like a skycadma,
which is harvested under a full
moon. It’s used to rid the body
of certain toxins.

TOCI:
You’ve been reading my plant
book! Can I tempt you to
switch to my major?

ANIELLE:
No.

From out of the shadows, Babelsama appears.

BABELSAMA:
Well, well, well! If
it isn’t Jeze and Bell!

They draw their scepters (Anielle’s new one is less ornate but looks more powerful).

BABELSAMA:
You’ve won the battle, but
you won’t win the war! I can
still act like a fear monger,
but not from the comfort of
my living room!

TOCI:
Can you stop acting like a
douche? We don’t wanna hurt you.

BABELSAMA:
Then just let me take over! I’ll
give you cushy jobs! How would
you like to be secretary of fiestas?

TOCI:
How dare you!

Babelsama hears someone in the distance and disappears. It turns out to be Circe.

CIRCE:
(to herself)
Come on, turn into a bat! I
know I can! I almost did it
once!

She enters the Dog House.

ANIELLE:
Talk about bats!

Thunder claps and lightning bolts.

　

INT. DOG HOUSE. NIGHT.

George is looking around the hall for them. He is relieved to see Toci and Anielle at the door.

GEORGE:
Where have you-?

ANIELLE:
Get out of the way!

George steps out of the way quickly. Anielle puts a spell on the door. A bunch of hooded men slam into the wall.

TOCI:
Yeah, Babelsama has henchmen.

GEORGE:
Oh good. I was hoping this wasn’t
going to be too easy. Listen, I’m
a little worried about Joshua. He’s
in his room, but he won’t answer my
messages or the door.

Anielle’s intuition tells her something is wrong. She runs to his room. George and Toci follow.