“So You Want to Be a Wizard”: a moment

January 31, 2007

INT. NITA'S BEDROOM -- NIGHT

She's hidden by the tented-up blankets on her bed.
The dim light welling out from underneath would make
you think she's doing the reading-by-flashlight thing.

NITA (O.S.)
I don't get why some spells call
for these weird objects. The knotted
string you were using. Batteries.
Sugar cubes! Who needs this stuff
when you have the Speech?

KIT (V.O.)
It's something to do with the way
they bend space around them.

INT. NITA'S BEDROOM -- UNDER THE COVERS WITH HER -- NIGHT

She's reading the Manual by Fred's light, while using the
Manual to talk to Kit. We can see his face in a WINDOW
on the open page.

KIT (V.O.)
They're shortcuts. You could do it
with words, but it'd take more
energy.

NITA
Today took plenty. I feel like I
had three gym classes in a row.

KIT (V.O.)
The Manual says it's like exercise.
It takes time to get in shape.

NITA
I can't wait forever for my magical
muscles to bulk up! I've got to get
my pen back before Joanne loses
interest and ditches it.

KIT
We'll start Operation Frustrated
Bully first thing Monday morning.
Did you look up Fred's "advisories?"

NITA
Yeah. They're other wizards! Older
ones, here in town.

NITA'S MOM
Nita?

Nita's eyes go wide in reaction.

NITA
(whispers)
Fred -- !

INT. NITA'S BEDROOM -- CONTINUOUS

Her mother stands in the doorway.

NITA'S MOM
Who are you talking to? Don't say
"nobody."

NITA
Uh, a kid I met today. A friend.

NITA'S MOM
Fine. Come out of there.

Nita's head pops out from under the covers.

NITA'S MOM (CONT'D)
You know the rules about phone
calls after lights out.

Her mom holds her hand out. Nita grimaces, SIGHS
an exaggerated teenage sigh, reaches under the blankets
and hands her mother her CELLPHONE.

NITA'S MOM (CONT'D)
And on the subject of lights...

Nita reaches under the blankets: the light under them
GOES OUT. Nita pulls out a FLASHLIGHT and hands it to
her mother.

NITA'S MOM (CONT'D)
Thank you. Now get some sleep!

She goes out, shuts the door.

INT. NITA'S BEDROOM -- UNDER THE COVERS -- CONTINUOUS

Nita ducks under the blankets again.

FRED
Is it all right now?

NITA
Yeah.

Fred's light FADES UP. Nita opens her Manual
again: Kit looks out at her.

KIT (V.O.)
Everything okay?

NITA
Yeah, my mom thinks I've been
disarmed. Where were we?

KIT (V.O.)
The third part of that repulsion
spell. Let the seventh-graders
deal with that.

NITA
Right. Fred, a little more light
here?

FRED
Sure.

KIT
Don’t think you’re gonna hog him!
I get him tomorrow night.

NITA
So I keep hearing. Now about the
rest of these ingredients…

(etc…)

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