Immortal

Chelsea?

Hey, how are you today?

Look.

Makes you wish you could run faster, doesn't it?

- Shut up, I run faster than you.

- Whatever, you know you want him.

Ew no, I don't, gross.

- Come on, the way he wears that whistle around his neck?

- Ugh. - I wish I was that whistle.

Sorry, Mr. Shagis.

Okay.

Sorry, Mr. Shagis.

- Cause that's the difference between fiction

and literature.

One has deep meaning, symbolism, allegories.

While the other is just going for

a quick thrill, cheap laugh, or sucker punch cry

to get those emotional reserves kicking enough

to make you feel like the 20 bucks

you plopped out to buy the book was worth it.

Now, they're both fun to read.

- I think we have a really different opinion

of what fun, is Mr. Shagis.

- What do you like to read, Kyle?

Do you read at all?

- I mean I, I follow a lot of people's feeds

- online and stuff. -

- And while we could debate the literary merits

of a Twitter feed, I think the snarky giggles

you're getting from your classmates

is enough to render your position on the matter futile,

wouldn't you agree, Mr. Rudolph?

Yeah, whatever.

And ducks a burn.

Yeah.

- Why did they make people even represent

stuff like that, though?

I mean, how's that even work?

Isn't it kind of stupid?

Ah ha.

Forgetting for the moment that you suggested

that a great literary classic,

like ''Lord of the Flies'' is stupid,

you have a valid point.

Why use an allegory?

Why represent characters and worlds as something else?

Why don't just say what you wanna say outright?

Anyone?

Kyle, you got an idea?

Why would an author use an allegory?

- So guys like you can get a job teaching it.

- I'll let you have that one this time,

since you're going through such a tough time at home.

What are you talking about?

- Well, I assume since you haven't taken a shower

this week, that the water company cut you guys off.

Yes, Jamie.

- Maybe they write allegories because

what they wanna talk about is taboo.

Excellent.

Even further than taboo.

What if it's illegal?

What if it's dangerous?

Can you imagine why someone in an Islamic extremist country,

where they stone people for drawing pictures of Mohammed,

might wanna write in code, when

they're talking about religion, huh?

Anybody else.

Yes, Jordan.

- What if like, their point is hard to make

or not something people agree with, too quickly

and they need to, I don't know, like paint a picture.

Very good.

That's a great point.

If you're saying something that everyone agrees with already

then you're just preaching to the choir.

But if your theme goes against the grain of society,

you might wanna ease into it slowly.

Excellent.

Okay, Mr. Shagis.

But like how does the author even pick

who's going to be what?

- All right, everyone, close your eyes.

Close your eyes or you get a F for the day.

All right.

Imagine Apple, as in the company that does the iPhone.

Imagine Apple as a person.

How old would Apple be?

Anybody, shout it out.

- 26, definitely under 30.

- Sound about right to everybody?

Okay, what kind of car would Apple drive?

A Tesla.

- Yeah. And what religion would they be?

Apple's definitely an atheist.

Where do they like to eat?

- Whole Foods, and sometimes Chick-fil-A.

Open your eyes.

Does everybody see about the same kind of person?

- Yep. - All right.

- Now think of the car company Ford.

What kind of person would Ford be?

Some old guy.

- - Watch it!

I drive a Ford.

Exactly.

- Coming up on the rebound, good timing.

Everything has an identity.

And identities have personalities

that can manifest as people with ease.

And it works in the reverse.

Take Chelsea.

Me?

- Blonde, fit, odds on favor to win

every track meet she runs in,

if we were a novel, what could Chelsea represent?

Hope.

Freedom, a better life.

The American Dream.

Big shoes to fill, Chelsea.

- Mr. Shagis. - Yeah

- If Piggy in ''Lord of the Flies''

is supposed to represent science and intellect,

why is he so annoying?

Oh, exactly!

Yo I mean, he's like this fat,

little obnoxious dude who always had something

to say that ruined the party.

- - I was rooting

for the other boys to kill him myself half the time.

That's a great point.

Why is it that we paint good guys

in such infuriating clothing?

Every hero with a conscience has some debilitating

physical deformity or a self-confidence problem

while the evil, Satanic torturers of the literally world

get to wear capes of leather and,

have shiny, jet black hair and drive great cars.

What do you think it says about us as a society?

That the bad guys are always more fun.

- - Think about that question,

we'll pick this up on Monday.

Chelsea!

I'm not keeping you from anything urgent, am I?

- No, I was just going to run some laps.

- You know, your mom asked me to keep an eye on you.

- With your dad. - I really wish

you wouldn't do that.

Yeah. Um...

Forgive me but, uh,

I saw Mr. Jacobs grab your shoulder.

What?

- You had something on your face.

Something that said it wasn't a welcome touch.

Chelsea, if you've got anything on your mind

this is a safe place to talk.

He's a good coach.

I don't doubt that.

It's just that...

we don't really have money for college and,

if I...

if the story everyone remembers is me getting my coach fired,

who wants to recruit that on a scholarship?

- Did he--? - Can we just drop it?

- Have you told anyone about this?

Just a couple of friends.

But, it wasn't like rape or anything.

He just grabbed...

Jesus, I shouldn't have said anything.

It's okay.

Listen,

Monday morning,

we're gonna file a report in the office.

No.

We have to.

No.

We really don't.

Listen to me, Chelsea.

The guys who do this will always

have something they can hold over you.

That's why they do it.

Because they think they can get away with it.

You understand?

You're an amazing runner.

You get good grades.

Firing or not, you're gonna get

a full ride to a great school.

Do you hear me?

Meet me here an hour before school on Monday, okay?

Have a nice weekend.

- Yeah I feel good, it was a good practice.

Ms. Jensen!

- Good luck this weekend, ladies.

Thank you.

- Bye. - Take care of yourself.

You guys too.

There's my girl!

Great practice today, Chels.

Thanks.

Great practice.