Chapter 1
OUTSIDE SALEM HIGH SCHOOL
It was a bright, sunny morning in Salem. The first day of the school year. Professors Nick Fallon and Max Brady, the principal and assistant principal of Salem High, respectively, were putting up the school flag.
NICK: A new year, Max. Exciting, isn't it?
MAX: Totally! I am so glad that you promoted me to Assistant Principal.
NICK: Couldn't think of a better guy for the job.
Just when it seemed that the flag was flying properly, it fell onto Max and Nick. Seconds later, a number of school buses entered the parking lot, and an avalanche of teenagers poured out of the buses. Music started going over the P.A. System. Listen to this to follow along with it:
THE FOUR TOPS (VO, singing): Spending my vacation in the summer sun. Gettin' lots of action and a lots of fun. Scorin' like a bandit 'til the bubble burst. Suddenly it got to be September 1st. Woe is me!
NICK: What the heck?
THE FOUR TOPS (VO, singing): All summer long I was happy and free. Save my soul.
The students formed a flashmob, dancing and singing along with the song.
STUDENTS (singing): The board of education took away my parole. I gotta go back, back, back to school again. You won't find me 'til the clock strikes three; I'm gonna be there 'til then. I gotta go back, back, back to school again. Whoa, whoa, I gotta go back to school again!
Among the students were Allie, J.J., Joey, Ciara, and Rhiannon.
ALLIE: Guys, isn't this exciting? I can't believe we're seniors this year!
CIARA: I know! So cool!
RHIANNON: You guys are seniors. Ceri and I are a year younger than all of you.
JOEY: Yeah, but still, this is your first time at Salem High. Hopefully, you'll like it.
J.J.: She probably will. Except for a few things. (singing) Geometry and history is just a pain.
JOEY (singing): Biology and chemistry destroys my brain.
CIARA: Real mature, guys.
RHIANNON (singing): Well don't they know that I deserve a better fate? I'm really much too young to matriculate.
ALLIE: Come on, let's join in. (singing) Well mama please, your child's come down with a fatal disease.
CIARA (singing): Mama said, "Come on you lazy bum now get your butt out of bed!"
STUDENTS (singing): "You gotta go back, back, back to school again! It's bye-bye fun, get your homework done! You better be in by ten!” I gotta go back, back, back to school again. Whoa, whoa, I gotta go back to school again!
Ceri and Sydney were also amongst the group of students. A group of four girls rudely pushed passed them.
CERI: Who are they?
SYDNEY: Just some girls from Salem High. For some reason, they think they're like the Pink Ladies from that old movie Grease. So, welcome to Salem High.
CERI: It's pretty big. Hey, I think I've heard this song somewhere before.
SYDNEY: Grease had a sequel. This song was played during the opening of the sequel.
CERI: Oh, yeah! Grease 2! I love that movie!
SYDNEY: Same here!
CERI: Wanna join in the song?
SYDNEY: Only if you promise to sing along with me. (singing) I got my books together and I dragged my feet. Then I saw this angel boppin' down the street. I said, "Hey, pretty baby, howsabout a date?"
CERI (singing): She said, "I'm going to school, and I can't be late."
SYDNEY (singing): Well, I can see, that look in her eyes was sayin' "Follow me," snd I was caught. I thought of playing hooky, but on second thought...
CERI & SYDNEY (singing): I gotta go back, back, back to school again. You won't find me 'til the clock strikes three; I'm gonna be there 'til then. I gotta go back, back, back to school again. Whoa, whoa, I gotta go back to school again.
The students all made their way inside, slowly and still in time to the music.
ALLIE, CIARA, J.J., JOEY, & RHIANNON (singing): Whoa, whoa, I gotta go...
CERI & SYDNEY (singing): Whoa, whoa, I gotta go...
STUDENTS (singing): Whoa, whoa, I gotta go...back to school...
All of the students went into the building. Ceri and Sydney were the last to go in. They kissed, held hands, and walked in.
SYDNEY: You're gonna love Salem High.
STUDENTS (singing): Again!!!
