Creature Feature

7. GRADUATION CEREMONY

INTRO -Packing / Graduation / School is Fucking Out
ONSCREEN QUOTES
FULL QUOTE:
“In spite of the severity with which ethics requires
revelation, it cannot be denied that secrecy and silence really
make a man great precisely because they are characteristics of
inwardness. When Amor leaves Psyche he says to her, “Thou shalt
give birth to a child which will be a divine infant if thou dost
keep silence, but a human being if thou dost reveal the secret.”
The tragic hero who is the favorite of ethics is the purely
human, and him I can understand, and all he does is in the light
of the revealed. If I go further, then I stumble upon the
paradox, either the divine or the demonaic, for silence is both.
Silence is the snare of the demon, and the more one keeps
silent, the more terrifying the demon becomes; but “…silence is
also the mutual understanding between the Deity and the
individual.”
“...SILENCE IS ALSO THE MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE
DEITY AND THE INDIVIDUAL.”
- SØREN KIERKEGAARD, ‘FEAR AND TREMBLING’
“PEOPLE ONLY EXIST TO SERVE GODS”
-KING MISSILE, “I AM A GOD”
THE CAMPING TRIP
Eva, Sam, Jon, Catherine, and Sid are packing to go
camping.
As are Peter, Vesper, Alissa, Jen, Nathan, and Dresden.
Show the two groups, separated for clarity. Interspersed
with their separate graduation ceremonies.
SIDNEY AND HIS CREW, this is at another school, a crappier,
public school, this is the ‘bad’ group of kids, as opposed to
the other kids we just met, the cool, “control” group
Sidney looks like the kid they call ‘Warren’ in the movie
‘Empire Records’… he’s like a wanna-be gangster with sleepy
overtones. Looks like he just woke up or is about to go off and
harm small animals in his dark basement experiments.
Sam is kind of low class ambitious kid. Goes to shitty
public school but still tries to be the A-student, as if it will
get him anywhere. But, he tries, so the self-respect is there at
least. Charming for the effort. He seems to have taken Sidney on
as a friend in an ‘at-least-you’re-worse-off-than-me’ capacity.
(SPEAKERS @ GRADUATION) THE CALL OF THE WILD
The Sid group has a really shitty speaker. His speech is
generic as bad can get. They’re dressed in dark gaudy blue
robes.
BAD SPEAKER
“Your future is like a beautiful dream. And you are its
dreamer.”
Nathan’s group are dressed in black. Look cool and elegant.
Gangsta. Nathan has combat boots on.
GOOD SPEAKER
“So, you’ve worked here for years. And now we’ve got to let
you go.” *Laughter*
But though you feel you might be… unemployed (emphasis on
having fun, partying), for a while… we know you will continue…
your work in the worlds you will encounter as you depart from
this organization. Really this being fired metaphor is a
terrible thing to ever employ. It was a stupid way to start my
speech.” He hangs his head down, acting.
BAD SPEAKER
“You will have many opportunities thanks to the quality
education you have received at the hands of this fine
institution.”
A janitor opens the door to the gym on the bad speaker and
then backs out apologetically.
Sid:
*laughs* in particular. Stifled laughter from his immediate
circle.
GOOD SPEAKER
“I just wanted you to know that as well as you’ve done your job
here, we will never let you go. Now, that means that this will
always be your home. And it means we will be with you on your
various journeys, on the varied paths you choose to take.”
BAD SPEAKER
“Some of you will choose to go on to college. Or some other
form of secondary education or work right away. You are bright
young individuals and the world is yours. You can do anything
you set your minds to so don’t let anyone tell you how far you
can or can’t go. This is your great time. Your great adventure.
Set your hearts to the task of finding your life’s purpose, and
steer by that star.
BAD SPEAKER
*Closeup on overly sincere eyes* “Let nothing set you
asunder”
GOOD SPEAKER
“Aristotle wrote about how the real test of the people’s
education is not just the way they work or fight.” He looks to
the principal. “Do you still teach any Aristotle here?” The
principle nearly shrugs. Shies away from the question. Good
speaker continues. “Well. Some of you might’ve picked him up.
‘Peace, as has often been said, is the end of war, and leisure
of toil.’ .. ‘To show excellent qualities in action and war but
in times of peace and leisure to be no better than slaves,’ that
is the shame of a missed true humanity. As you know many
colleges make their decisions based on extracurriculars. Because
that is the measure of a man. The things he chooses freely,
beyond the realm of necessity. For what does this amount to,
this venturing and challenging oneself? I ask you. Because this
is your question to answer. Your life is your canvas.
Will it be full of faith and exhuberance? Joy in the day
and exploration into the night by candle for a book, or torch
into the wilderness? (sidenote) How much difference there?
This is your castle. The life of thought and insight into
the great world of knowledge and belief.
BAD SPEAKER
“Today we send you forth as graduates. We have done our best to
prepare you for the challenges that await you. But it is up to
you to take those confident strides into the paths you will
blaze. You are the Columbus’s and Magellens. Armstrongs and
Shakespeares. That Watson & Cricks and Firmis and maybe even
Einsteins… who knows? What will be your contribution?
FAT STUDENT (at bad speaker’s school)
toward the back lets a great fart.
Back to
GOOD SPEAKER
He laughs, like, man. You guys are great. (His apology.)
“We believe in you. And if anybody asks what right you have
to shine so bright or lay claim to such faith… you tell em…
you’re—“ he’s moving to point to the school logo before he gets
cut off
Cut to awesome jock-type in bad school –
JOCK:
“ - the fuck - out of my way!” he yells at a couple of
freshman in front of his kick ass muscle car, good naturedly but
riotously, as he’s pulling out of the parking lot, then pan
away to all the seniors cars lined up, all pulling out of the
parking lot, School is fucking out!