Moments with Joey – March Wind & Silent Words

Pin It

SCENE 1, INTERIOR. AFTERNOON, HALLWAY. The school bell has sounded. The hallways are burgeoning with the clatter of students as they pour from their classrooms and make their way to the exits. A fifth grade teacher walks out the door and moves through the throng, giving high fives to passers-by and waving to students as they make their way home. As he exits the building and begins walking toward his post for after-school duty, he notices a fifth-grade boy walking silently next to him.

The boy and the teacher say nothing for several moments, but walk side-by-side. When the teacher arrives at his post, they both stand, watching the children as they hurry to busses, parked bikes, and awaiting parents.

Thunderous clouds moil overhead and the chill March wind blows across the empty blacktop, sending a few of last autumn’s leaves scurrying after each other. Still the boy and the teacher stand in muted silence.

TEACHER: Did you want something Joey?

[The boy looks up at his teacher with a sideways glance and shakes his head, but then moves a bit closer, not saying anything].

TEACHER: [Pause]. It’s just that sometimes people want to say something, but don’t want to at the same time.

[The boy continues to stand in silence for several moments and then speaks in a low voice].

JOEY: No.

[There is a long silence as the teacher and the boy continue to stand by each other].

TEACHER: In that case, could I just give you a little hug then?

[Pause].

JOEY: Yeah.

[The boy sidles up to his teacher, who puts one arm around his shoulder and gives a reassuring squeeze. The boy smiles up at his teacher, then walks away with a grin as the wind continues to blow through the now-empty playground].

[Fade to black].