SOMETHING MORE
Episode I
“On the Fast Track”
by Jason L. Liquori
synopsis
ACT I
At a Florida High School for Performing Arts a small group of students are under a very watchful eye. Their talent is undeniable and their hearts are good. They could help change the world, given the chance.
Melissa Randolph, the Ethics teacher at the Southern High School of Performing arts is conducting her class on modern ethics. The word “Choices” is written on the blackboard. Melissa is explaining to class that every choice they make in life has consequences, not just for them, but for those around them.
Jacob and Clarence are standing in the back of the room. They are wearing white shirts and pants and talking amongst themselves. None of the students seem to notice them. Miss Randolph continues her lecture with no concern for the conversation going on at the back of her classroom.
“This certainly should be helpful to our cause,” Jacob says.
Clarence nods his head and begins to walk up and down the rows of desks. He looks at each student as he passes. He stops and takes special notice of Hay’lee, Angel, and Chris. As he passes Dennis he notices that he is doodling in his notebook.
“It would help more if this one was paying attention,” Clarence responds.
Later that afternoon Angel sees his brother, Abdiel, pull up on his motorcycle just outside of the school’s fence. The older sibling motions for his brother to come over to the fence. Angel runs over and Abdiel tells him about a party that night with the group he just finished shooting a music video. Angel expresses that he is too busy practicing to go to a party in the middle of the week and Abdiel laughs. He explains to his younger brother that he is not inviting him, he just needs someone to cover with their mom.
“You know she doesn’t like me hanging with that crowd,” Abdiel explains. “Tell her I’m shooting late.”
Abdiel restarts his bike and streaks off.
ACT II
Angel confides in Hay’lee and Chris that he is worried about his brother. They agree to try and find the party and stop by and check on his brother after that evening’s rehearsal. Jacob, who is watching with Clarence, expresses a distaste for this plan. He feels the teens should go to an adult to get help. Clarence agrees that this may be the correct course of action, but they have to be realistic. He is just glad the kids are smart enough to be concerned. The two agree to keep an eye on them and try to keep them out of trouble.
Later that night, Abdiel is at the party. There is loud music playing and an older crowd socializing. Many of the guests are drinking and openly using drugs A young man sits down on the couch and offers Abdiel a drag of his joint. Abdiel refuses. The young man then holds up a beer in his other hand. Abdiel explains that he is too young to drink, but after some coaxing he gives in and reaches for the bottle.
Across the room Clarence and Jacob are observing the scene. As they watch they see Temptation, an attractive young woman, wearing the same clothes and sitting where the young man was, handing the beer to Abdiel.
Meanwhile, Angel and the others are rehearsing back at the school. Angel is sitting behind a mixing board playing some music and Hay’lee is dancing on stage. Chris is sitting in the audience, but his head is back and he is staring at the ceiling. Hay’lee stops and shouts for Angel to cut the music. As he does she yells at Chris, who is obviously not paying attention. She explains that he is supposed to be helping her with the choreography. Chris apologizes and explains that he was just thinking about Angel’s brother. His writer’s mind has been running through possible scenarios and by the time he’s done explaining all of the horrors he has imagined Angel is upset and dragging his friends from the room.
The trio seeks out Dennis, who seems to know the location of every party in town. He is especially well versed when it comes to show biz parties. It takes some coaxing, but Dennis finally tells them where to find Abdiel and the four of them go off to check on him.
By the time they arrive Abdiel is quite drunk. He has been drinking and talking with is new “friend”, who only Clarence and Jacob can see as Temptation. She immediately notices Angel step into the room and realizes that she has to work fast. She asks Abdiel if his bike is fast. He seems surprised that this young man he has just met knows he has a motorcycle, but after a moment he exclaims, “You bet she’s fast!”
Before Angel and his friends have a chance to speak to Abdeil he is headed outside for a drag race. The group tries to talk him out of it, but there seems to be no reasoning with him. It doesn’t take long for a crowd to gather outside and prepare to watch the race. Clarence and Jacob realize that Abdiel might know the right thing to do in this situation, but be too embarrassed to back out. They decide to throw him a lifeline.
A pretty young girl walks up to Abdiel and taps him on his back. In the rearview mirror we can see that it is Clarence. She looks at Abdiel and says, “You don’t have to do this. Nobody will think any less of you if you don’t race. Nobody that matters, anyway.”
Abdiel removes his hand from the throttle of his bike and let’s the engine die. Angel sighs with relief. Just then the engine in the Mustang next to him revs it’s engine. Abdiel looks over and sees his opponent. He restarts the bike and puts on his helmet.
Angel and his friends watch helplessly as the two tear down the street with disastrous results. The race ends with a crash and Abdiel is rushed to the hospital.
ACT III
We don't want to spoil the ending. You'll have to watch to find out what happens next.