All language subtitles for ENG Teachers.Pet.2025.720p.WEBRip.x264.AAC-[YTS.BZ]

Teacher's Pet [2025] 1h 30m - Thriller
-
A brilliant high school senior days away from escaping to Yale must outwit her malevolent new English teacher when he becomes obsessed with her. As he reveals his sinister past, Clara fights a treacherous battle of wits for survival.

This semester's final exam is survival
.
When brilliant but isolated high school senior Clara�s English teacher dies mysteriously, a charismatic replacement arrives who takes a disturbing interest in her academic potential. As Mr. Heller�s mentorship turns to dangerous obsession, Clara uncovers his horrifying secret identity and murderous past. Now trapped in a psychological game with a predator who�s eliminated anyone standing in his way, Clara must use her understanding of Heller�s twisted psychology against him before she becomes his next victim. Some lessons are worth dying for - others are worth killing for.

[SCISSORS CLIPPING]

[MACHINE WHIRRING]

-[BACKGROUND CHATTER]
-[BELL RINGING]

[OVERLAPPING CHATTER]

ZACH:
What the?

[LAUGHTER & CHATTER]

Wh-- wh-- poor?

[CHUCKLES]

MARK:
Hey, Clara. Clara.

I heard you got into Yale.
That's awesome, congrats.

Did you get on like, the--
the poor people scholarship

where they feel bad for you or--

Shut up, dick face.

Settle down! Settle down!

Quiet please.
Quiet please.

Please, take your seat.

I have some very
unfortunate news.

Mr. Abbott will not be
returning to teach this class.

If you haven't heard already,
Mr. Abbott took his own life.

[STUDENTS GASP]

-STUDENT 2: Oh my God.
-STUDENT 3: What?

Oh my God.

PRINCIPAL EDWARDS:
I know, I know.

It's a terrible situation,
but that is all I'm at liberty

to disclose for the time being.

Um, Mrs. Estrada
has made arrangements

for a grief counselor
this Thursday

and I highly, highly suggest
that you reach out to her

directly via email
to make those arrangements.

ERIC TO PRINCIPAL EDWARDS:
So, do we like, go home?

You like, stay in your seat
and I will introduce you

to your new teacher.

Mr. Heller?

Now, Mr. Heller here
is an accomplished academic

with an Ivy League tenure,
and despite

the unfortunate circumstance,
you're in good hands,

and I will leave it to you to
get acquainted with the class.

Again, thank you for your time
and I'm very, very sorry.

Thanks.

[HELLER WHISTLING]

Good morning.

Good morning?

CLASS:
Good morning.

[CHUCKLES]

"O Captain! My Captain!"

Does anybody know
what that's from?

None of you.

It's a poem by Walt Whitman
about Mr. Abraham Lincoln.

Now in this class,
you can call me,
"Mr. Heller"

or if you're feeling daring,
"O Captain, my Captain."

Well, as much as I don't want
you to hate me on my first day,

I do have your first assignment.

I get it.
I get it, but this is important.

When someone dies,
and there's a loss

like you've just experienced,
writing is a way through it.

It's in these darkest moments
that we tend to shy away

from the work,

but the whole point of the work
is to exist as an outlet.

Now who here is a fan
of Emily Dickinson?

At least, there's one person
in the room with good taste.

Remind me, what's your name?

-Clara.
-MR. HELLER: Clara.

MR. HELLER:
Clara, thank you.

If you look at
the second paragraph down,

it's a poem titled,
"A Funeral in my Brain".

Read it.

Maddy, right?

Could you actually read it
to the class?

-The ending.
-[MADDY SIGHS]

"I felt a funeral in my brain
and mourners to and fro--"

MR. HELLER:
Just the last four lines.

"And then a plank
in reason broke

And I dropped down and down

And hit a world at every plunge

And finished knowing, then".

Very good.

And what's it about?

Uh, a funeral, obviously.

[STUDENTS LAUGH]

MR. HELLER:
Clara?

It's a metaphor
for her mind slipping away.

Her feelings of despair.

Precisely.
The poem doesn't even conclude.

All right. This suggests
a loss of comprehension,

surrendering herself
to the state of madness,

or as you correctly put it,
despair.

Uh, can you think of anyone else
who may have felt that way?

Your first assignment is
to write a short-form essay

inspired by what you just read.

The subject will be Mr. Abbott.

You want us to write
about Abbott?

MR. HELLER: What you remember
about him, how you feel

about what just happened,
stuff like that.

All I care about
is that it's truthful

and that maybe it helps you
process emotions

you didn't even know you had.

Make it three pages.
And make it count.

You know?

The whole point of this
is to work through it,

so it doesn't live
with you forever.

[INDISTINCT LYRICS]

Zach.

Can't spot you this time.

I've got a 20.

ZACH:
Here.

[SNIFFLES]

Still fucked about Abbott?

Yeah.

I mean, he was always depressed,
so it's not really like a shock,

you know?

[TAKES A DRAG, BLOWS SMOKE]

CLARA:
I guess.

I just hope this new guy is not
as much of a dick as he was.

Abbott wasn't a dick.

ZACH:
Yeah, he was.

To everyone, except you
and I wonder why.

CLARA:
Why?

Nothing.

Because I'm
the fucking charity case?

That's not what I meant.

Whatever.
I have to go.

Shorty bad,
I mean super bad

About to plan a s--

[WATER DRIPPING IN BACKGROUND]

[SNORTS]

[MADDY SIGHS]

[FLUSHING IN BACKGROUND]

[WATER RUNNING]

The fuck are you looking at,
loser?

-[GRUNTS]
-Oh, my gosh.

Uh, I'm so, so, so sorry. Oh.

It's my fault.
I'm a little lost.

Are we reading this next?

MR. HELLER: Would you like to be
reading that next?

Uh, uh, sure.

I mean, I like some
of her other books.

That's as good a reason as any.

You know, I've long believed
students should have a say

in the curriculum,
at least the right ones.

Relax.

It means you're off
to a good start.

And congrats, by the way,
Yale, my old stomping grounds.

Yeah.
Uh, thanks.

But it's conditional.

MR. HELLER:
Read some of your work already.

There's no reason
you won't finish the year

with me as strong as you
started it with Mr. Abbott.

Thanks.

MR. HELLER:
I'll see you tomorrow.

Bye.

-[PHONE RINGING IN DISTANCE]
-Thank you, sweetheart.

Baby, I-- I need you in here.

Hey.

You have a good day today?

[LAUGHS]

[WATER RUNNING]

[TRUCK WHIRRING IN BACKGROUND]

Doesn't really work
when you talk to her.

I'm better with dealing
with her than you are.

-You know that.
-CLARA: May I be excused?

SYLVIA:
Just a second.

Sit.

Your mother's got
something for you.

Yeah.

It's just some uh, stuff
you gotta sign

for Social Services.

CLARA: I don't understand.
What's a term extension?

Oh, um,

it's just so we can
collect the money we're owed.

Once you turn 18,
we stop getting the $600

every month.

SYLVIA: Unless you're living
under our roof.

I'm moving away for school.
I'm moving to Connecticut.

-This thing says I have to--
-No. No. No.

CLARA: ...still be living with
you for two more years.

No.
You can still go away to school.

And if they ever call,
I'll just say you're at work.

Or you know, I mean,
you're gonna come home

on the weekends.
I-- we want you to come home.

Oh, God.

Will you just sign
the damn thing?

I'm not signing anything.

-Un-fucking-believable.
-Just give her a minute.

We just sprung it on her
for Christ's sake.

You know, ever since you got
into that stupid little school

it's like you forgot
where you came from,

what we saved you from.

I'll always appreciate
what you did for me.

-I-- I just--
-SYLVIA: Yeah. Yeah.

[TAKES A DEEP BREATH]

Then let's fix this, please.

I'll look over it tomorrow.

I said I'll look over it
tomorrow.

JACK: Don't make me
fucking ask you again!

Jack.
Just calm down, okay?

JACK:
Leave me be!

My God, every time
you do this to me!

SYLVIA: What are you doing?
Can you just stop?

-I have to finish my homework.
-SYLVIA: Just calm down.

Oh my God, Jack.

Why do you have to do that
all the time?

JACK: Well, this your fault!
You were gonna handle it.

-You were--
-SYLVIA: Come on! Just--

JACK: You were gonna
get her to sign it.

I am gonna get her to sign it.

Just leave her alone,
for Christ's sake.

JACK: [INDISTINCT SPEECH]
Goddamn it!

-[SOBS]
-SYLVIA: Oh my God.

SYLVIA: I'm sorry this always
happens. I just--

Hon.

[TAKES A DRAG]

[KNOCK ON THE DOOR]

Let me see.

He feels real bad about it.

Does he?

He's doing the best he can.

I see the way you look at him.
You hate him.

[CHUCKLES]

No, I don't hate him.

Then something must be
seriously wrong with you, too.

There's nothing wrong
with operating

from a place of love.

So you do love him?

SYLVIA: You're right,
he's a fucking asshole.

[CHUCKLES]

-Isn't he?
-CLARA: Yeah.

Yeah.

But the older you get,
you realize love

is more a choice than a feeling.

But I feel real love for you.
I do.

And for Evie,
and for all the kids

that we've taken care of.

I got in this to help people.

You think you're helping me?

SYLVIA:
I hope so.

I mean, you got
into a fancy school, didn't you?

Maybe that was all you.

[SCOFFS]

That's not what I'm saying.

SYLVIA:
You're a real smart girl.

If I left him, where would I go?

I'm staying here,
because of you girls.

Don't worry about anything.
I'll take care of it.

Get some sleep.
I'll see you in the morning.

Okay.

[BODY THUDS]

[GRUNTING]

[INDISTINCT LYRICS]

[VOMITS]

[PANTING]

You think I know
where to run to

'Cause I get high, high,
then I get low

When you come around me,
bitch, I move too slow

I really can't believe
I was dumb enough to trust you

[INDISTINCT LYRICS]

Better watch your back,
'cause I ain't afraid anymore

Who's the one to blame

When all you do is run around
with your games

You know what's going on

Who's the one to blame

When all you do is run around
with your games

Fuck me once,
don't play it again

Who's the one to blame

[MACHINE WHIRRING]

[TAKES A DEEP BREATH]

[GULPS]

NEWS ANCHOR: [ON TV]
Let's talk about the weather.

WEATHER FORECASTER: [ON TV]
Well, it's going to be

a beautiful sunny day today.
We can...

[GULPING]

[PHONE DIALING]

FAYE: [ON PHONE]
Hello?

Hey, mom.

FAYE: [ON PHONE]
Oh, my.
Is it really you?

Yeah, it's me.

FAYE: [ON PHONE]
Oh, where have you been? I--

I mean, Sabrina was sick
for a little bit

and I had to take off work
to help out.

FAYE: [ON PHONE]
Oh, poor girl.

Ah, but lucky to have
such a lovely husband.

Yeah.
I'm uh, I'm lucky to have her.

[FAYE LAUGHS]

FAYE: [ON PHONE]
Now isn't that's the truth.

-What's that supposed to mean?
-FAYE: [ON PHONE]
Oh, nothing.

No, say, say what you meant,
mom.

You know, it's almost impossible
to accomplish anything

when the person that's supposed
to believe in you doesn't.

It's--

No, that's awesome, mum.
I'm always glad to call.

FAYE: [ON PHONE]
Oh, nevermind. I'm sorry.

I-- I am--

How are the kids?
Everyone's healthy?

Yeah, the kids, mom,
the kids have never been better.

In fact, JR's the top
of his class in gymnastics.

I gotta pick him up
in about 15 minutes,

so I actually can't talk,
because I'm so busy.

After this, I have to go
to my job.

But--

FAYE: [ON PHONE]
Well, thanks for calling.

I won a couple games
this morning.

Any money?

Yeah, like 200.

-JACK: 200 bucks?
-SYLVIA: Yeah.

-All right.
-SYLVIA: Pretty good, right?

[JACK CHUCKLES]
Not bad.

Hmm.

Hey.

You okay?

Hm. Yeah.

JACK:
I didn't mean to hurt you.

I gotta get to the shop.

Mm.

Bye, bye, baby.

Bye, hon.

[ROLLS TONGUE]

You guys.

JACK:
Talk later, okay?

See, he's sorry.

[DOOR SHUTS IN DISTANCE]

I'm gonna get ready for class.

[CHUCKLES]

What's so funny?
Oh. [CHUCKLES]

You see.

Oh yeah, I love that show.

[CHUCKLES]

Now, I know you've all been
waiting with bated breath

to see how harsh a critic I am,
but, well,

you're gonna have to wait
a little bit longer,

'cause I'm handing you back
your papers ungraded.

What?
Why?

Well, it was that
or give you all an F,

and that didn't feel very nice.

All right, don't be scared.

Okay, there was some really good
stuff in there, honestly,

but there was one thing missing
from every single one

of your papers.

I didn't learn anything about
any of you from your writing.

Okay, now, I'm not gonna
lecture you on being personal

with your work
or any of that shit.

Abbott did.

No disrespect to Mr. Abbott,
may he rest in peace,

but telling someone to be
personal with their writing

is misleading.

Okay?

Not everything is about you,

despite what your parents
may have led you to believe.

Nevertheless, it is important
that your personality shows

in your work, and I know
that's easier said than done,

so I'm gonna give you
one more chance.

Okay?

I want you to write 10 pages.

ERIC:
10 pages?

-MR. HELLER: 10 pages.
-Tonight?

Right now.

Listen, it's gonna be easier
than it sounds, okay?

It's gonna be free writing.

It's more of an exercise
than an assignment.

I'm not even gonna grade them.

Think of it as a way
for me to get to know you.

So what are we
actually supposed to write?

MR. HELLER:
Whatever you want.

I'm serious.

I do not care what you write.

As long as you fill up 10 pages,
I'm happy.

You can write,
"Fuck Mr. Heller"
a thousand times for all I care.

The point is to see
what comes out naturally.

What are you waiting for?

Can I talk to you outside?

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Uh.

Is everything okay?

MR. HELLER:
It's about your essay.

Look, I get what you
were saying in class.

We shouldn't just write
whatever we think--

MR. HELLER:
No, no, no.

I just didn't wanna
embarrass you in front of them.

What you wrote is incredible.
Okay?

I need you to know the talent
that you have. Okay?

It kills me to see someone
so good who doesn't know it.

Thanks.

That's nice to hear.

I don't want you
to feel any pressure,

but I'm looking for
a student assistant

to help me close out the year.

That's an automatic 5% bump
in your grade.

I was gonna announce
to the class like--

You want me to do it?

MR. HELLER:
Only if you want to.

I just know the scholarship's
really important to you

and thought maybe
this would help.

Okay?
Plus, it's all easy stuff.

You know, helping
with lesson plans,

making copies,
that sort of thing.

Okay.

Well, can I at least
think about it?

I should finish.

Hey, is everything okay at home?

Yeah.
Why?

MR. HELLER:
Just making sure.

Yeah, it's good.

MRS. ESTRADA:
Clara?

-Clara.
-CLARA: Yeah.

Can you um,
can you come with me?

Yeah.

MRS. ESTRADA:
You are not in any trouble.

CLARA:
Okay.

I need to know,
is it true you hurt your jaw?

-[SCOFFS]
-Okay, this is a safe space.

Okay? If something happened
at home, you could tell me.

It's nothing.

I know it's not nothing.

I also know that you're
so afraid of rocking the boat

when it comes to
that scholarship

that you sometimes don't wanna
speak up for yourself.

Who told you to talk to me?

What?

Did Mr. Heller tell you
to talk to me?

Uh, no.
No.

[SCOFFS]

Look, I just want you to know
that you're not alone in this,

okay?

Can I go?

MRS. ESTRADA:
Yeah.

You have to hold it in,
it's kinda weak.

[COUGHS]

[SNIFFLES]

So are you gonna take it?

What?

That whole
student-teacher thing?

Yeah.
I can't not take it.

That 5% bump just too good?

It's not even that.

Then why would you
waste your time?

[SIGHS]

I don't know.

I feel like Heller could pull
some weird shit on us.

Something's up with him.

He's got some tricks
up his sleeve.

And that makes you wanna
buddy up with him?

[CHUCKLES]

Keep my enemies close.

Yeah.

[BLOWS]

The fuck?

What?

Holy shit!

[POLICE SIREN WAILING
IN BACKGROUND]

[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]

DISPATCH: [ON RADIO]
28 to vehicle 9-0.

OFFICER 1:
Done?

Yeah.

-Here.
-Thank you.

[INDISTINCT RADIO CHATTER]

MR. HELLER:
They told me what happened.

If you need time off
from class or--

I'm fine.

Don't worry about
the assistant thing.

Uh, no, uh--
I wanna do it.

Are you sure?

Yeah.

[CLARA HUMMING]

[DOGS BARKING IN DISTANCE]

WOMAN: [ON TV]
No, no! No, no!

Oh.

-Fuck.
-Oh my God.

[DOOR BELL RINGS]

[WOMAN SCREAMING ON TV]

SYLVIA:
Put it on pause.

Can I help you?

DET. SOMMERS: Yeah, hi.
I'm uh, Detective Sommers.

Um, I'm looking for
Clara Simmons.

Does she live here?

I already wrote my statement.

What statement?

DET. SOMMERS:
She doesn't know?

Know what?

I just got home.

She's not in any trouble,
but I--

I do need to speak to her
in private.

Uh, just for a few minutes
if that's okay.

SYLVIA:
Can I know what this is about?

I'll tell you in a second.

DET. SOMMERS:
Just take a minute.

Okay.
Come in, I guess.

DET. SOMMERS:
Thanks.

Zach said he would go down
to the creek regularly.

Is that true?

Yeah.
Guess, he did.

DET. SOMMERS: How often
would you go down there?

I already wrote all of this
down in my statement.

I believe that.
That thing read like a novel.

Sorry.

DET. SOMMERS: For what?
Having an eye for detail?

Next time just dumb down
the vocabulary a little for me,

so I can understand it.

Look, it's been a day.
Let's leave it there.

But if you see anything
or hear anything,

you know how to reach me.

Okay.

[DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS]

[BODY THUDDING IN DISTANCE]

[JACK GROANING]

[WATER RUNNING]

MR. HELLER: Not delivered in 30,
it's free, right?

[DELIVERY GUY CHUCKLES]

Sorry.
Uh, sorry we're late.

It's been busy today.

All good.

Oh shit, I thought
you were Gene.

Are you a friend of the Hellers?

Yeah.
Yeah, I'm his brother.

Oh, okay.
Um, is Gene here?

Yeah, he's in the back there
watching the game.

He gave me his card.

I-- I know.
I'm sorry.

It's policy.
My boss is a dick.

Just run the card, man.

[CHUCKLES]

Um, you know what?
Just, it's fine.

Just uh, I'll-- I'll talk
to my manager

and we'll-- we'll get it
settled out, all right?

I got cash. Just stay there.
I got cash.

[GRUNTS]

[DOOR SHUTS]

[OWL HOOTING IN DISTANCE]

[FIRE CRACKLING]

[TAKES A DRAG, BLOWS]

[TAKES A DRAG]

Have you ever heard yourself

[YAWNS]

Good morning.

Morning.

Oh, let me bring this in
to your dad.

What happened to him?

Got sucker punched last night
as he was leaving the shop.

What?
By who?

I don't know.
Guy ran off.

Must have been
some pissed-off customer.

[MUNCHES]

Weird.

Hey.

You okay?

Didn't sleep much.

Yeah, me neither.

I read online, they think
she's from outta state.

No one's missing
from any school, so...

This post I read said
someone probably

just dumped her body and ran.

Ah, it's so messed up.

You don't look so good.

Yeah, it's just-- it's weird.

Never seen a body
like that before.

Yeah.

Well, whoever did it
is probably in Mexico by now.

Uh, well, we should go.
We're gonna be late, yeah?

[LAUGHS]

Okay, pencils up.

[BELL RINGING]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[GIRL LAUGHS]

-STUDENT 4: I mean I would.
-STUDENT 5: Yeah.

STUDENT 6:
I wouldn't do that.

See you tomorrow.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

Hey, I totally forgot
to tell you.

You officially got the gig.

You good?

You good?

Yeah, I'm fine.

Approved this morning
by Mrs. Estrada.

That's great.

MR. HELLER: Don't get too
excited.

Now the real work starts.

Library, 15 minutes.

No, I have science right now.

I already talked
to Mr. Birman.

We're all clear.

Yeah?

We're partners now,
me and you.

Uh, okay.

This one could work.

For the reading assignment
or the final project?

For the assignment.

It's a quick read,
so everyone might actually

read it for once.

"Rules for happiness,
something to do,

someone to love,
something to hope for.

Kant."
It's a good choice.

You guys didn't read it
in philosophy?

We basically read nothing
in philosophy.

See, this is why I need you.

Before I let you go...

...I need to talk to you
about this.

Free-writing thing?

I thought
it wasn't being graded.

No, it's not.
[CHUCKLES]

You have nothing to worry about
when it comes to the quality

of your writing
in this or any other format.

You have it.

So, what then?

It's what you
were writing about.

Did you mean it?

What part?

The part where you said
you feel invisible.

Yeah.

You meant it?

Ugh.

I don't know.
I guess.

I know what that feels like.

Look, it's really not
that big of a deal.

It can become one.

Just know, if you ever need
to talk, I'm here.

Okay.

[BACKGROUND CHATTER]

[TYPING ON KEYBOARD]

[PHONE RINGING]

Hello?

MR. HELLER: [ON PHONE]
Clara?

Mr. Heller?

MR. HELLER: [ON PHONE]
I just saw your email.

Oh, um, yeah.
Hi, thanks.

Uh, sorry, I know
it's the weekend.

You didn't really
have to call me.

MR. HELLER: [ON PHONE]
Thought it might be faster

to discuss on the phone.

Look, if you wanna go
over the limit, that's fine.

I just need to know why.

There's just more there.
I don't know, I--

I feel like I'm not really
exploring it enough

if I just arbitrarily
force an ending.

Isn't the whole point to write
the best version possible?

MR. HELLER: [ON PHONE]
Okay.

Well, try this.

Write your version first.
Forget page limits.

Then cut it back
when you revise.

If you really don't think
it works once it's edited,

we'll talk.

All right.
Yeah, thanks, that helps.

[DOOR OPENS]

Sorry, I-- I have to go.

CLARA: What are you doing?
What are you doing?

-Where's my damn signature?
-Mom said we hadn't till next--

Stop!
Let me make this easy for you.

Either you sign that fucking
piece of paper right now,

so the state can continue
to fucking pay me

or you can pack up
all your trash

and get the fuck
outta my house.

What?

I don't owe you
a goddamn thing.

I need you to leave.
I'm finishing my assignment.

This?

CLARA:
What are you doing?

Give me that!

-Are you writing about me?
-No, I'm not! I need that!

That's my final assignment.

Do you know how long
that took me?

No!

Stop!

I don't have it saved!
Give it back!

I don't have it saved!
No!

You're running outta chances.

Sign the damn paper or get
the hell outta my house!

[HYPERVENTILATING]

[INDISTINCT LYRICS]

Check a bag and make deposits,
and deposits, and deposits

Hey, mister,
send your girlfriend

It worked.
Here.

And she whipped me
and she naked

Hey, hey, top dawg,
quit blowin', let--

ZACH:
Look, you don't need to stress.

You have time to redo it.

My whole fucking life
rides on that assignment.

Yeah, and you'll kill it
like you always do.

Show me
Show me somethin'

Show me
Hey

-Show me somethin'
-I'm so fucked.

-Show me somethin'
-Show me

-Show me somethin'
-Show me

Show me somethin'

-Show me
-Hey, hey, hey

Look, we don't have to go
to Maddy's

if you'd rather just go home.

I wanna go.

ZACH:
Sure?

And is he straight?

I'm only chasing money

Smart and mama
ain't raised no dummy

Say he tryna freak

But if she bring it
we can run it

As a youngin I learned
bullshit ain't about nothing

Nigga be losing,
there ain't no way

My homie just died

Want a line?

I'm fine.

MADDY:
Pussy.

You?

Just go.

Come with me.
Just relax.

[SIGHS] Fine.

And I can't stop
till I see my goal

[SNORTS]

...My baddies at?

Here you go.

-You bad
-Thank you.

Where my baddies at?

[SNORTS]

Here you go.

Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah

Real bad on the prowl

Heard you were...

[SNORTS]

And I hear a couple haters
in the crowd

More drinks are here.

Don't really care
what she say

And we all on birthday

It's your birthday, girl,
go crazy

Now make it clap and get low

Yeah

Now back it up a little more

Yeah

Now bring it up slow

You need to save the way
you putting on a show

Now grab your bestie
by the hand

And let her know she bad

[ZACH SNORTS]

Oh.

[SNORTS]

ZACH:
There you go.

[CHUCKLES]

[GRUNTS]

I'm bad

You bad

Where my baddies at

I'm bad

You bad

Where my baddies at

I'm bad

You bad

We bad

Where my baddies at

Yeah, yeah, yeah,
yeah, yeah

Well, that was fun.

Yeah.

Thanks for listening
to all my insanity.

[CHUCKLES]

I'll uh, I'll see you tomorrow?

Shit.

[EXHALES]

Hey.

[SIGHS]

You're m-- uh--
Sylvia was a big help.

I think we've got
everything we need.

Can I just go to sleep?

Yeah, of course.

[DOOR SHUTS]

MRS. ESTRADA:
I understand,

but you have to take time
to process what happened.

Take the week.

I can't.

MRS. ESTRADA:
Oh, of course, you can.

You wanna know what
the last thing he did was,

before he killed himself?

MRS. ESTRADA:
Tell me.

He tore up my final assignment,
three months of work.

Why?

He was trying to punish me for
not lying to social services.

He knew I'd never sign it.

What he did was his decision,
and he doesn't get

to keep deciding
what I do with my life anymore.

I'm going to class.

Okay, understood.

[BACKGROUND CHATTER]

Okay, I think it's done.

Exercise is C-I-S-E, comma.

If we want them
to give us good answers,

we have to at least write out
the questions properly.

Yeah.

[TYPING ON KEYBOARD]

Jesus.

Look, I'm sorry
that was so insensitive.

It totally makes sense
why your mind

-would be elsewhere here.
-It's not.

Hey, this is too much
given all you have going on.

I can handle it.
Okay?

He was your foster dad
for nearly a decade.

At least, now I don't have
to worry about getting thrown

down the stairs.

If you're saying
what happened helped you,

I understand.

I mean, death isn't always
so black and white.

Yeah, apparently not.

MR. HELLER: What are you feeling
then, if not grief?

I don't know.

I guess I just sort of feel
like the universe

was looking out for me in a way.

God, I know it sounds sick.

No, not at all.

When I was a kid, my dad got

in this terrible car accident
and drowned in a lake.

Didn't know that.

And as worthless
as my mom could always

make me feel,
he was 10 times worse.

When he was gone,
the truth is, it got easier.

In a fucked-up way,

it felt like the universe
was looking out for me, too.

I'm supposed to meet Zach.

We'll finish this tomorrow.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

CLARA:
Thanks, by the way.

For what?

Not being so fucking annoying
about what happened.

Who's being annoying?

Heller's just being
so creepy about it.

It's like in class,
he's always trying to act

so much smarter
than he actually is.

I don't know how the hell
Yale let him in.

Well, Heller definitely
has a thing for you, so...

Uh, ew, shut up.
Don't put that image in my head.

ZACH: I'm just saying,
he definitely does.

CLARA: What?
Are you jealous?

Oh, I'm super jealous.

[CLARA SCOFFS]

You know, he called me out
on my grammar today,

on top of everything else.

ZACH: The day after
your foster dad died, yeah?

CLARA: Yeah, when I coulda just
fucked off

like anyone else would have.

ZACH:
The guy's a loser.

If he critiques your grammar
again, I'll fuck him up.

You promise?

ZACH:
Yeah.

As a reminder,

there will be no more minor
assignments given this year.

Don't get too excited.

That means finals are up next.

And unfortunately, a lot of you
under-performed on this one.

Which means this will be
your last chance

to make up for it.

Meet me in the auditorium
after class.

That's an F if you can't read.

[SCOFFS]

-Why are we meeting here?
-MR. HELLER: Sit down.

Where's your assignment?

Who wrote this?

What?
I wrote it.

So interesting,

'cause it sounds like
it was written by a chatbot.

You saw me write it in class.

MR. HELLER:
Which is why I'm so confused.

I've read all your writing.
This sounds like everyone else.

CLARA:
What's that supposed to mean?

I asked you to write
about your emotional experience

as a high school senior.

I hope I didn't
overestimate you.

This is well-written, okay?
It doesn't deserve an F.

Anything can be well-written,
that doesn't mean it's good.

Okay, you broke my one rule:
Be...

-...Truthful.
-MR. HELLER: Be truthful.

The other kids make fun of you.

I see it.

Even after this week,
even after

all that you've been through,
they still laugh

behind your back and--
and you feel it, right?

You feel it?

And it must kill you inside,

but you'd never know it
from this.

This reads like it was written
by one of them,

not about one of them.

Okay, fucking Maddy
could have written this trash.

So what?

You want me to write
about how much I hate Maddy?

Is that it?

You just wanna read about
a bunch of high school

girl gossip?

MR. HELLER:
Do you hate her?

What?

I'm asking you,
do you hate Maddy?

I don't know.

Then figure it out, on the page.

Free-writing.

Right now?

Unless you'd rather keep the F.

[SCOFFS]

[SCRIBBLING]

CLARA:
Here.

Thank you.

CLARA:
Can I go?

Don't you wanna stay
and see how you did?

[SIGHS]

It's better, but not by much.

You're giving me a D?
You said you wanted honesty.

MR. HELLER:
And you were honest

about your feelings about Maddy,
your father's death,

suicidal thoughts,

and I appreciate that,
but you left out Zach.

And if you left out Zach,
what else is missing?

What does Zach
have to do with this?

What's really going on
between you two?

[SCOFFS]
That is none of your business.

MR. HELLER:
It is my business if it affects

your academic performance,

which it clearly is.

You realize he's taking up
all your time.

He's jeopardizing any chance
you have

of not being a loser forever.

Give me 10 pages on Zach.

[SCOFFS]

[INSECTS CHIRPING IN DISTANCE]

Are you serious right now?

What?

I really thought you were
more perceptive than this.

Excuse me?

You write about Zach
like he's some sort of outsider.

You realize he's a part
of the same country club

that every privileged kid
at this school, right?

Okay, he might not dress
like them

or listen to their music,
but that's exactly who he is.

He can't help
where he comes from.

Do you really wanna be a writer

or are you just doing this
for the scholarship?

I want to be a writer.

Oh.
Well, I have bad news for you,

because it's gonna be
fucking hard

if you can't learn to see things
for what they really are.

So what, then?

I'm gonna give you one more
chance to prove to me

that you deserve my support,
to show me

that you can see truth.

So rewrite it,

but this time,
stop fucking lying to yourself!

[SOBS]

[SCRIBBLING]

[DOOR BANGS IN DISTANCE]

[CAR DOOR OPENS]

MRS. ESTRADA:
Clara?

-CLARA: Hi.
-Clara. It's so early.

What are you doing here?

I'm just going home.

Just going home?
What, did you sleep here?

[SCOFFS]

I didn't sleep.

Oh, okay.
What-- what then?

Clara, no, no, no, no.
I'm-- I'm sorry.

Look.

You need to tell me
what's going on right now,

okay?

I-- I can't.

MRS. ESTRADA:
Please.

He kept me up all night.

Who?

CLARA:
Mr. Heller.

He gave me a F

on this really important
assignment and then--

and then he made me rewrite it
over and over again all night.

Wait, no. I spoke to him
about that assignment.

I asked him to give you
an extension.

[SCOFFS]

Yeah.
Well, he didn't.

MRS. ESTRADA:
And then you just stayed there?

[SCOFFS]

Just let me go home.

No, please.
Um, wait, let me just take you.

CLARA:
I wanna walk.

No, look, we need to bring this
to the principal's attention.

Don't.

MRS. ESTRADA: What you told me
is a major violation

of school policy
against Mr. Heller.

No, please.

I-- I can't handle
that right now, okay?

-CLARA: Please, just don't.
-Okay. Okay.

Go get some rest
and I'll tell your teachers

you're taking today off.

Okay?

Okay.

SYLVIA:
Oh my God.

Clara, where were you
last night?

Yeah, where were you?

Are you okay?

Rude!

That was rude.

[TYPING ON KEYBOARD]

Follow me wherever I go

[INDISTINCT LYRICS]

And if I fall down

[INDISTINCT LYRICS]

[TAKES A DEEP BREATH]

SYLVIA: It's been an incredibly
difficult time for all of us.

And I don't know
what it's doing to the girls.

MR. HELLER: The pressure that
you must feel as a parent

trying to navigate this.

SYLVIA: Yeah, I'm gonna have to
get a full-time job now. I--

-MR. HELLER: For sure.
-Yeah.

Oh, hi, honey.

I was just talking
to your uh, nice teacher,

Mr. Elber?

Heller.

Heller.

Come join us, Clara.

Mrs. Estrada said you were
acting erratic today,

that she had to send you
home early.

Maybe because I didn't sleep?

Hmm.

MR. HELLER: I guess I just worry
that

maybe this is too much for her.

What is?

MR. HELLER: The academics, the
assistant job, the scholarship.

I mean, and you know,
with her dad just dying, too.

MR. HELLER:
Dad.

And-- and we've always been
telling her

she just works so damn much.

MR. HELLER:
You might be right.

This isn't too much.

Okay.

Can I get you a hot drink
or something?

MR. HELLER: That would be
lovely. Thank you.

-What the fuck is this?
-Shut the fuck up.

You really thought that you
could humiliate me like that?

All I did is say what happened,
the truth.

I have had your back
from the fucking start.

You have no idea
what I've done for you.

Oh, please.
What you've done for me?

I really thought that I saw
myself in you,

something special,
but clearly I was mistaken.

What the hell do you
want from me?

What I want is for you to know
that your placement

with me is hereby terminated.

Excuse me?

Maddy starts tomorrow.

[CLARA SCOFFS]

Maddy?

MR. HELLER: It should have been
her from the start.

I misread both of you.

What about the 5%?

I already put in
the time and the effort.

MR. HELLER: You could still make
up for it

in the final assignment.

CLARA:
What?

You could turn this around.
I believe in you.

I'll report you
to the school board.

Don't think I won't.

That wouldn't be
a very good idea.

Why the hell not?

Clara, are-- are these drugs?

Where the hell did you get that?

Ah, here we are.

MR. HELLER:
Oh, look at that.

I actually have to get going.

SYLVIA:
Oh, so soon?

Yeah, last-minute staff meeting.
Don't ask.

SYLVIA:
Well, thanks for stopping by.

It was lovely to meet you.

SYLVIA:
You too.

I'll see you in class?

[DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS
IN DISTANCE]

Saw your text.

What do I do?

Just depends on how bad
you think it is, Clara.

He's gonna fail me.
I know it.

[ZACH INHALES]

Why is he fucking with you
for no reason?

He's turning it into
some kind of a weird game.

Weird game how?

It's like he thought
he saw himself in me.

Yeah, that's pretty fucked up.

I'm going to Estrada.

Thought you didn't wanna
rock the boat.

I'm past that.

Can I help you with something?

I just need to talk
to Mrs. Estrada.

PRINCIPAL EDWARDS: You are gonna
have to come back later.

She's not in this morning.

She's not?

No, and I need her reports
by the end of today.

[PHONE RINGING]

CLARA:
It's her phone.

Pick it up.
It could be her.

Hello?
This is Principal Edwards.

No, she hasn't.
It was under her desk.

Listen, calm down.
Okay, just slow down.

Let me-- let me take care
of her.

And I'll call you right back
from my office.

Got it.

All right, thanks.
Bye.

CLARA:
What happened?

I gotta go.

What?

[SCOFFS]

Yeah, where it gets
a little bit complicated--

Is there's like a 143 members
that you're gonna have to email

-whenever we set these meetings.
-Okay.

Okay, I know it gets weird,
but they're basically

in the auditorium.

They're gonna have this list
and you have to go through

-each one and figure out--
-MADDY: Okay.

MR. HELLER:
Who actually needs to be--

We're good for today.
Nice work.

Awkward.

What the hell did you do?

Where did you get that?

What?

That pen,
where did you get it?

I don't remember.
Maybe the lost and found?

What the hell did you do?

I've only ever tried
to help you.

Where's Mrs. Estrada?

How would I know?

She never showed up today.

But you knew that, didn't you?

What are you accusing me of,
Clara?

Why don't you just
fucking tell me?

Holy shit.

Where was that fire
in your writing?

I knew you had it in you.

Fuck you.
I'm going to the principal.

-I wouldn't do that.
-CLARA: Watch me.

I'd rather watch this.

What is this?

You should see your face.

Now, if I publish this,
your grades won't matter,

because that scholarship is
poof, gone.

Now, don't think for one second
that I won't email this

to every single
admissions counselor.

Turn it off!

[GRUNTS]

Hit pause on that plan.
Rewind, and try it again.

Come here.
Come.

Could she see me in the video?

-Yeah.
-Oh, what the fuck?

We have to get that video back.

Was it on like,
a security camera?

CLARA:
Looked like it was on a phone.

-We would've seen a phone.
-CLARA: Yeah, I know.

Okay, I don't know
how we didn't see it, but...

looked like it was just right
on the bookshelf behind us.

Well, Maddy was the only one
in that room.

CLARA:
She was?

Yeah, she kept going
in and out.

So what, she recorded us?

ZACH: It's not like Heller
did it himself.

[SCOFFS]

You have to call Maddy,
right now.

[PHONE DIALING]

MADDY: [ON PHONE]
What?

Um, do you still need some?

MADDY: [ON PHONE]
No, I still
have some. I gotta go.

Well, I uh, I don't pick up
for like, another month.

It's the last couple of grams.

It's fine if you don't need any,
I'm just saying.

Get in the front.

[DOOR OPENS AND SHUTS]

[INDISTINCT LYRICS]

Where is it?

Zach, do you want my money
or not?

What do you know
about that video?

What video?

The video you sent
to Mr. Heller.

I-- I really don't know
what you're talking about.

CLARA:
Well, you're fucking lying.

MADDY:
Shut up!

Heller has a video of us
coked out in your guest bedroom.

If it wasn't you,
you know who it was.

There was like, a thousand
people there that night.

You were the only person
in the room.

You planted it!

[SCOFFS]

You're fucking unbelievable.
I'm leaving.

No, you're not.

[GASPING]

MADDY:
Oh my God.

[PANTING]

Just tell us
what you fucking did.

He made me do it.

Do what?

The stupid video!

That's why I invited you.

He fucking made me do it.

He promised to bump my grade up.

If what?

If I showed him the real you.
That's what he kept saying.

What the fuck
does that even mean?

I don't know, okay?
He's fucking weird.

He just kept saying that
he didn't know if he could

trust you or if you were
who you said you were.

So you just decided--

I fucked up!

Okay?

I didn't think he was actually
gonna show anyone.

Get out.

-What are you gonna do?
-She said leave!

Does this have something to do
with Ms. Estrada?

Why?

They found her body.

It was him.
I know it was.

[SIGHS]

Get together with a felony,
'cause I get my...

[PHONE RINGING]

CLARA:
Shit.

Hello?

SYLVIA: [ON PHONE]
The police are here.

What?
Why?

SYLVIA: [ON PHONE]
Something
about your teacher, Ms. Estrada.

They found--

Yeah, I know.
They found her body.

SYLVIA: [ON PHONE]
They're
saying they have evidence.

[DOG BARKING IN BACKGROUND]

Evidence?
Of-- of what?

SYLVIA: [ON PHONE]
That you were there.

What?

SYLVIA: [ON PHONE]
I'm not
supposed to be calling you.

I just wanted to warn you.

W-- w-- w-- what,
what did they say?

SYLVIA: [ON PHONE]
Yeah, I'm coming!

Oh, shit.

The police are at my mom's.

[SIGHS]

It's not till next summer.

FAYE: [ON PHONE]
Well, let me say goodbye

to Sabrina before I go.

I told you, she's got the kids
at the park.*

FAYE: [ON PHONE]
Oh, I'm beginning to think

she doesn't exist.

Excuse me?

FAYE: [ON PHONE]
It was a joke.

It's not funny, mom.

Kids are making a card,
by the way, for your birthday.

FAYE: [ON PHONE]
Oh, isn't that sweet?

Hey mom, I gotta go.
I love you.

Hello?

MADDY: [ON PHONE]
I know you
said not to call this line.

What's going on?

MADDY: [ON PHONE]
It's Clara.

She made me--

Wait, hold on.
Sh-- she made you what?

MADDY: [ON PHONE]
She made me tell her.

Okay? She trapped me,

I-- I didn't know what to do--
I thought I was gonna--

Slow down, okay?
Where are you?

This is the one?

It should be.

[CLANKING]

Holy shit.

Hold this.

Oh, this has to be
the wrong house.

He would've left by now.

Maybe he slept in.

Or maybe this isn't
the right address.

[SIGHS]

What do you wanna do?

Let's just go in.
Just to see.

Right now?

I mean, we have to prove
he did it, don't we?

Come on.

I thought you said you knew
how to pick a lock.

CLARA:
"Liar."

Zach.

What is this?

ZACH:
What the hell?

Come on.

Is that him?

ZACH:
It looks like him.

CLARA:
Come on.

What the fuck?

Jesus Christ.

CLARA:
Zach, look at this.

ZACH:
What is that?

CLARA:
Holy shit.

That's the girl we found
in the woods.

Oh my God.

Clara, I think we should go.

[CAR DOOR SHUTS IN DISTANCE]

Shit.

[GRUNTING]

ZACH:
Fuck.

Wait, right here.

[PANTS]

Oh my God.

Oh my God.

[PANTING]

Oh my God.

ZACH:
Clara!

[CHOKES]

[PANTING]

Oh my God.

[ZACH CHOKING]

[THUDDING IN BACKGROUND]

[WATER SPLASHING]

[COUGHING]

[PANTING]

Fuck.

[GRUNTS]

[MUFFLED SCREAMS]

No!

No, stop it!

What are you doing?
Stop it!

You don't have to do this!

[PANTING]

[PANTING]

Oh my God.
[PANTING]

Just let us go, okay?
Please, we won't say anything.

It's a little late for that,
don't you think?

Now, which one of you
wants to go first?

Oh, fuck you, man.

Look, I can-- I can call my dad
and he can-- he can--

Call your dad?

Cal-- Yeah.
Call your dad.

I'll call my dad
and we'll have our dads talk.

Zach, you're never leaving
this basement.

Look, he can-- he can get you
whatever you want, man.

Like, as much money as you need.

Money?

It's all about fucking money
with you people.

The whole world is falling apart
and all you care about is money.

Now you, you think
I'm some sort of monster.

But who do you think
made me this way?

What are you saying?

'Cause some girl won't fuck you,
that's my fault?

That was the wrong answer.

CLARA:
No!

[GROANING]

CLARA:
Why would you do that?

Oh my God!

[PANTING]

This isn't too late.

Okay?
You can still stop this.

[PANTING]

I'll never stop.

Not until each of you
has been extinguished.

You are just like them.

No, I'm not.
I'm different, okay?

That's what I thought, too.

Until you turned your back
on me,

after all that I did for you.

After all you did for me?

Do you really think
your foster father

would have let you
leave the house?

Get up.

[PANTING]

-Wait.
-Get up, Clara.

CLARA:
Just give me a second.

Okay?

I wanna write you something,
something really important.

Let me show you who I really am.

I wanna prove to you
that I do understand you,

that I am different.

I've made mistakes.
Okay?

But I just wanna make
this world a better place,

just like you.

I don't want you to regret
this day

for the rest of your life.

Please.

One page.

I need you to untie me.

[GROANS]

[TAKES A DEEP BREATH]

Time's up.

[SOBS]

How could you write this?

CLARA: What? What?

How could you be so nice to me?

CLARA: Because I see you.
What you did wasn't your fault.

They made you do that.

You mean this?

Of course.
I only told the truth.

The-- the truth?

You can trust me.

[SCREAMS]

[PANTING]

[GRUNTING]

[PANTING]

This everything?

Whose house was that?

DET. SOMMERS: Gene Heller.
Missing almost 10 months.

Lost his wife few years back.
Didn't have much family.

Kind of a loner.

We think that's why Wade
took him as an easy target.

Wade?

Your teacher.

And um, about what I did, um--

DET. SOMMERS:
We're good.

You're in the clear.

Okay?

You take care.

Okay.

SYLVIA:
It's over, baby.

[SOBS]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

MR. PALMER: Good morning,
everybody. I'm Mr. Palmer.

Welcome to Intro
to Playwriting 114.

Did everyone get
the questionnaire I emailed?

MR. PALMER:
All right, good.

Let's go ahead
and bring 'em up

and drop 'em right here, please.

We're gonna be using these
as part of our assignment

for today.

Thanks.

Favorite playwrights.
See if we have some consistency.

All right.
Good choices.

Good morning.

Thank you.

All right.
Let's see what we got here.

Go ahead and take a seat,
everybody.

Yeah, these look great.
It's gonna be an exciting year.