Working title: "Amanda"

Characters: CHANTELLE, AMANDA, DANIEL, TEACHER (F), GIRL AT THE BACK, MARTIN.

A classroom is full of around twenty loud and boisterous fourteen year olds as they wait for a lesson to begin. Two girls are stood on the desks shouting and a group of boys are throwing books around. Light snow is falling. The sounds of people kicking a large block of ice around as a football can be heard from outside. A group of around four or five students stand at the front of the classroom. They are gathered round, and poking fun at a girl called AMANDA.

CHANTELLE: Amanda, did you cheat on that test in Spanish before?

AMANDA: I fucking didn't, you spaz!

A loud "Oooooh" can be heard from the students.

DANIEL: Sammy said you did - are you calling her a liar?

AMANDA: I didn't bleedin' cheat, ok?

DANIEL voice becomes dangerously low and threatening.

DANIEL: But are you calling her a liar?

AMANDA: Fuck off.

DANIEL: You're little cunt, you! Now are you calling Sammy a liar?

AMANDA looks frightened at this change of tone.

AMANDA: N-no...

Before DANIEL can reply the teacher walks in, looking harrassed but not noticing the trouble at the front.

TEACHER: Settle down, settle down.

Nobody hears and the chaos continues.

TEACHER: Be quiet!

GIRL AT THE BACK: Shut up, you bear!

Everybody laughs at this insult. MIKEY, one of the kids from outside, then come in. One is carrying the large block of ice. He notices Amanda at the front. It is obvious that the fact that she allegedly cheated on her Spanish test has been spread around the school. As he comes in, there is an air of arrogance and superiority about him.

MARTIN: Oi, you, Amanda! Is it true you cheated?

AMANDA: Is it fuck.

MARTIN: That's an attitude for someone who gets the pissed ripped out of them every single day.

CHANTELLE: Weakling are you, Amanda? You're so fucking pathetic. You wear shit clothes and your hair needs a wash. You're a greasy little skank. Where d'you live? Down Crinney's Den?

Obviously hating being humiliated in this way, AMANDA visibly hunches over in her seat. The boys pretend she smells and hold their noses.

DANIEL: Go and get a bath!

MARTIN: I saw your brother today, Amanda. So it's true he's as retarded as everyone's saying then? He was practically dragging one leg.

Everyone laughs.

AMANDA: You shut the hell up about my family.

Another "Oooooh" erupts. Other students come over and see what all the fuss is about.

CHANTELLE: You know, maybe if you weren't so friggin' rude to people, they wouldn't fuck you about.

DANIEL: Actually, I think it's more to do with the fact that she hasn't had a bath for around six months. Her family are squatters.

MARTIN: Is it true?

He laughs and throws the large piece of ice at her. It hits her squarely on the shoulder.