Say Anything… Deleted Scenes – Graduation (Extended)

EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD – DAYS LATER

A LONG SHOT from the back of the football field. The graduating classes sit on the field, the family  and friends in the bleachers. It’s packed. We hear the booming p.a.

PRINCIPAL

I just can’t introduce this girl
without saying . . .

CLOSE ANGLE ON DIANE COURT

who sits looking out on this sea of people, seated behind the Principal, who fiddles with a pencil. She’s on the pedestal again.

DIANE

Please don’t do a big thing . . .

PRINCIPAL

. . . that we’re all going to remember
this one student who said ‘Hey world
— check me out’. The Reed
Fellowship Conqueress — our own
Diane Court!

She takes center stage, looks into the audience. The Lakeside Rooster dancing in the aisles. This makes her more nervous.

ANGLE ON LLOYD DOBLER

who sits with the boys, on the end of the row. Across from him, seating with the girls are COREY and D.C. He shares a look with them, then notices the nervous father standing nearby in the bleachers. James Court begins filming his daughter with a video camera on a tripod.

DIANE

Thank you.
(pause)
The Real World. We’re all about to
enter ‘The Real World’. That’s what
everyone says, but most of us have
been in the Real World a long
time…For example, standing here.
If this isn’t the real world, I don’t
what is!

Little response from the audience.

ANGLE ON A ROW OF FOUR GUYS

who make OOGA-OOGA NOISES. Lloyd turns from the row in front of them.

LLOYD

A little respect, guys.

They quiet down.

DIANE

I should say this. I took a few
courses at the University this year.
I missed being with my own class,
but I have something to tell
everybody. I have glimpsed our future
and all I can say is …it’s
overrated.

Only a few laughs from a few students.

DIANE

O-kay.

ANGLE ON JAMES COURT

with a surprised look on his face.

DIANE

Well. It’s almost over. We’ve gone
to school together for three years,
we’ve been through a lot. But with
that training net of high school
gone, what is going to happen to us?

DIANE’S P.O.V.

And she sees a sea of bored faces, including one kid who is nodding off. His friend elbows him.

DIANE

Late at night, staring at the ceiling,
I think we’re all haunted by the
same question.  ‘What’s going to
happen to us?’

ANGLE ON GIRL STUDENT

who is slightly less bored.

DIANE

‘Will I live in the suburbs, and
drive a BMW or will I be a bum on
the beach?

ANGLE ON BOY STUDENT

who recognizes this question.

DIANE

‘Will I get married or stay single?’
‘Will I live a long life?’

ANGLE ON THE LAKESIDE ROOSTER

who leans against a speaker, drinks a soft drink.

DIANE

‘Should I dedicate my life to helping
the elderly, or the starving…or
will I just make money, or is it
possible to do both?’

ANGLE ON LLOYD

mesmerized by Diane.

DIANE

‘What’s my goal, or do I have one?’

Diane looks out at the crowd.  She has now completely abandoned her speech.

DIANE

We all know what the answers are.
We want to be happy, go to college,
work hard, maybe raise a family…but
what if that doesn’t happen?  We
should be strong enough to deal with it.
(pause)
But what if we aren’t?  I mean, I
have to say I don’t know what will
happen.
(to audience)
Do you?  Because I don’t.

ANGLE ON THE AUDIENCE

and there is silence.

DIANE

I’ve got to be honest.  I have all
the hope and ambition in the world.
But when I think about the
future…the truth is…

ANGLE ON SOME STUDENTS

and they’re really listening.

DIANE

I…am…really…really scared.

It’s a moment of honesty that has surprised everyone, even Diane.

ANGLE ON LLOYD

who stands and applauds.  His claps are like cherry bombs exploding.  Then twenty more applaud, then a big ovation. Balled-up bits of programs and carnation flowers shower the air.

Diane wants to continue but she holds up her diploma and sits back down in a fit of emotion.

COREY

(across aisle)
Well, she’s a legend now.  She’s
definitely out of reach.

D.C.

It’s like she won the lottery of the
mind.

LLOYD

I’m happy for her.

COREY

(bitter)
I can’t believe they’re going to let
Joe sing.  This place is going to
torture me to the last possible
second.

The Principal takes the stage.

PRINCIPAL

Okay, people, this is it.  We don’t
want to see any hat-throwing this
year.  I declare you people the
graduating class of Lakeside High
School.

The bleachers flash with cameras, as parents and friends crowd onto the field.  Inevitably, a number of hats go in the air.  The school band plays “The Greatest Love of All”. Joe begins performing in cap and gown, with eyes shut.

JOE

(sings)
‘The Great-est Love…Of All’.

Lloyd and Corey exchange a rueful look.

LLOYD

Joe.  He’s darkly handsome.  He’s
intense.  Joe is many things, but he
is not a singer.

Corey smiles.

ANGLE ON JOE

who takes off his hat and chucks it into the audience as he sings.