Perfectly Imperfect Pt.

SCRIPT: Northvale Academy

INT. NORTHVALE ACADEMY – MORNING

Wide courtyards, shining glass, and giggling students in clusters.

The kind of school where everyone pretended to be happy because
they had something to lose.

NOAH REID strides through the gates without missing a step. The
same navy blazer, the same crest on his pocket, the same
restrained look everyone else had learned to emulate.
But he isn’t pretending. He just is.

No one gives him a second glance. Exactly how he likes it.

He scans the courtyard. Every laugh, every sidelong glance, every

fake conversation is another puzzle piece.
He doesn’t see people. He sees patterns.

A cluster laughing too loudly to hide discomfort.

A boy checking his phone every ten seconds for affirmation.
A boy pretending confidence to secure rank.

NOAH (V.O.)
Tools. They’re all tools.

The first bell sounds. The crowd stirs like a tide. Noah drifts with it,
quiet and unreadable.

INT. CLASS 2D – DAY

The room is filled with chatter.

TEACHER
We have a new transfer student. Noah Reid. Be nice to him.

Nobody applauds. Nobody cares.

Noah nods briefly and moves to the empty desk by the window.
Sunlight bounces off the surface, softly blinding, but he does not
blink. He looks straight ahead, expressionless, calculating.

SOFT VOICE (O.S.)

Hi, I’m Ryan. If you’re struggling with the notes or anything, I’ve got
you.

Noah looks at him briefly.

NOAH
Noted.
RYAN
You’re not much of a talker, huh?

NOAH
No.

RYAN
(Laughs awkwardly)
That’s alright. Welcome to Northvale, I guess.

Noah does not speak. But inwardly, he checks him off. Friendly,
upbeat, easy to read. Convenient.

INT. CAFETERIA – LUNCH

Half the class has forgotten Noah exists. That’s good. Surveillance
requires silence. He watches groups, noting pecking orders. Some
kids are as anonymous as him, others revolve around one name.
NOLAN COLE.

Noah recognizes the type before he sees him. People lower their
voice when his name is mentioned. Fear-tinged respect. Illusion-
based admiration.

Nolan arrives. Blond hair, straight spine, a smile so genuine it must

be rehearsed. People greet him like he’s their favorite lie.
Noah watches quietly as Nolan talks to groups. Every gesture too
smooth, too calculated. A manufactured personality. Not
connecting. Collecting.

Their eyes meet once. Nolan smiles naturally.

Noah does not smile back.

Nolan tilts his head, confused by the lack of response, and wanders
over.

NOLAN
You’re the transfer, right? Noah, wasn’t it?

NOAH
Yes.

NOLAN
I’m Nolan. Class rep. If you need assistance getting settled, let me
know.

NOAH
I don’t plan to fit in.

Nolan chuckles, eyes narrowing slightly.

NOLAN
That’s an interesting reaction.

NOAH
Is it?

For an instant, the air shifts. Cordial on the surface, with an edge
underneath.

NOLAN
Well, make yourself comfortable here. Northvale can become…
much.

Noah nods once, turns away, signaling the conversation is over.

Nolan departs, curiosity lingering like static.

NOAH (V.O.)
Nolan Cole. Astute. Social crutch pretending to be friendliness.
Danger, but also calculable.

Noah opens his notebook, writing a single sentence.

NOAH (V.O.) (CONT’D)

People are pawns. The mistake they make is thinking they aren’t.
The bell rings. Students rush past. Noah does not immediately
stand. He watches Nolan surrounded by admirers and Ryan
laughing with friends. To anyone else, an ordinary school day.

NOAH (V.O.) (CONT’D)

To me, it’s a chessboard.

And everyone has already made their first move.

INT. CLASSROOM – DAY

THE NEXT DAY…

The TEACHER walks in.

TEACHER
Hello students. I will now read the rules again as Noah just joined
our school.
First of all you will not be able to go outside of the academy, you
will live in dorms, but this academy has everything you need, from
restaurants to activities.
To buy things in this academy, you will use PP which stands for
Personal Points, every month you will get your points based on your
behavior.
You are class 2D, there are 4 grades in this academy; A, B, C and D.
To level up your grade you will use CP which stands for class points.
To get CP, you will need very high grades on your exams.
There are 2 kinds of exams; written exams and a special exams.
The special exams are unique, high-stakes tests that go beyond
traditional academics.

The bell rings.

TEACHER
You are dismissed.

RYAN
Since Noah is new here, let's all introduce ourselves, I'm Ryan, if
anyone needs help, I'm here!

NOLAN
I'm Nolan, my goal is to be friends with everyone in this academy!

Student 1: My name is Alyssa Summers I like Photography, cats,

sketching, journaling and stargazing.
Student 5: My name is Kayla Carter
RYAN
What about you Noah?

NOAH (V.O.)
I should introduce myself if I'm going to be stuck with them for 3
years.
NOAH
I'm Noah, I'm not especially good at anything.
The door opens, a student walks in, everybody looks at him*
Hector: Did I miss something?
Sits next to Noah*
Noah: What's your name?
Ignores him*
Noah: I'll be on my way then.
Noah leaves the room*
THE NEXT DAY IN THE GROCERY STORE
Noah: You still didn’t tell me what your name is.
Hector: Is it a bad thing if I don’t answer?
Noah: I mean no but I want to know the name of the person that I
sit next to for the next 3 years.
Hector: Hector Suval.
Noah walked to the classroom*
Nolan interrupts him*
Nolan: +, I want to be friends with everyone in the academy, want
to be friends?
Noah Voice over:
He could be useful.
Noah: Yeah, sure.
Everyone gets to the class*
Teacher: Your first special exam will be in a week I will explain the
rules.
Firstly, each class will pick a class leader, you can't change leaders
unless you have a good reason.
Each leader from every class will get a special leader card, the other
classes will need to figure out who's the other classes leader.
When the exam ends you have the opportunity to guess the other
classes leader, every leader you guess right it’s 50 CP and every
leader you guess wrong it's -50 CP.
Second, it will be on an island, so if you want to get stuff like
sleeping bags and restrooms, it will cost you your CP but not your
PP.
Third, there are many spots on the island that you can claim, each
spot gives you 10 CP, but you will need to reclaim it every 24 hours.
Fourth: If the class is found to be underperforming due to a singular
student violations, you can vote to either continue or expel the
targeted student.
And that’s it, we will get to the ship heading towards the island
tomorrow morning.
The next day.
Announcement: Attention students, in an hour from now we will go
to the ship heading towards the island.
Classroom
Teacher: Okay students now it's time to pick your leader.
Each of you will come up to me and write the name of the student
you want as class leader.
Student 1: Ryan.
Student 2: Ryan.
Student 3: Ryan.
Student 4: Student 9.
Student 5: Ryan.
Student 6: Ryan.
Noah: Hector.
Hector: Ryan.
Student 7: Me of course *Says with pride*
Student 8: Student 2.
Ryan: Nolan.
Student 9: Student 4.
Student 10: Nolan.
Student 11: Ryan.
Nolan: Ryan, he is very kind and loving!
Student 12: Ryan.
Student 13: Nolan.
Student 14: Ryan.
Student 15: Student 3.
Student 16: Ryan.
Teacher: Okay class, we have an answer, the classes leader is Ryan,
let's head to the ship now.
The ship
*Nolan meets someone unknown, they start talking*
Nolan: So if I tell you our classes leader, you will sabotage Hector
and the votes, am I right?
Unknown student: Yes, but if you lie I'll make sure you get expelled.
Nolan: Okay. *Walks away*
Unknown student: Wait! Do you really want to expel him that bad
you will even bring down your own class with you?
Nolan: Yes, I will do everything in my power to expel Hector.
Night time
*Noah walks for a walk, he hears a sudden noise and goes towards
it*
Nolan: *Kicks the fence of the boat* I HATE HIM I HATE HIM I HATE
HIM!!!
Noah: *Sighs* who do you hate so much?
Nolan: *Looks scared and confused* Yo-You didn’t lis- listen to thi-
this… right?
Noah: I did.
Nolan: Hector.
Noah: Why do you hate him so much?
Nolan: *Remembers middle school and chuckles* it's none of your
business.
Noah: *Confused, but doesn’t show it*
Nolan: If you ever going to tell anyone about it I'm going to tell the
school you assaulted me.
Noah: But that would be a lie.
*Nolan grabs Noah's hand and puts it on his chest*
Nolan: Are you sure your fingerprints are on me. *Evil smirk*
*Noah sighs and walks away*
The next day (Morning)
Announcement: Attention students, we have arrived at the island.
Each class lineup after the leader and follow your teacher.
*Everyone lines up, following the teacher and arriving to the island*
Teacher: Each class is on one part of the island, class A is on the
North part, class B is on the east part of the island, class C is on the
south part of the island, and class D, you, are in the west part of the
island, I may leave now.
*A lot of fights going on between the boys and the girls if they
should buy a toilet*
Ryan: Please calm down guys, let's first pick 3 students to go search
for a spot.