The Honor Roll: Episode 1. Meet The New Principal

   In the Southeastern town of Caswellton, a small town, with a population of 500, and the county seat to Caswell County, Thomas James Duncan, drives down the main highway leading into town, as he looks around, and says to himself in a dry tone "Looks like the only thing to change here's been the bypass.", as he turns onto the road to Waters Elementary, named after Betty Waters, who was for many years the lead teacher of Waters Elementary, and honored, as the school was named after her after she retired, yet her family still holds strong ties and revered throughout the county, and the school. Inside Waters Elementary, an old building, enshrined with history, inside the Media Center sits the faculty, and the staff of Waters Elementary, as the temporary Principal, and long-time employee, Dwight Waltrip sighs with relief "The new Principal will be here shortly." The room buzzes, as teachers, and assistants gossip, as they turn to Anna Waters, Daughter of Betty Waters, and 3rd Grade Teacher asks "Who's the new principal?" Anna responds "Mama didn't tell me, and I'm just as curious as the rest of you." Maura Carson, the Lead Teacher of Special Ed, yells "I've been here over 20 years, so why wasn't I chosen?" Alice Gore, 4th Grade Teacher, sitting next to her friend, 5th Grade, and Senior Teacher, Patrica Barker, but many call her "Mrs.Pat", quips "Because if you were chosen, then all of us would retire." Dwight laughs "Nice one Alice." Dr. Erica K. Elliott, Speech Therapist, looks around the room, as Dwight tells the staff "Mrs.Betty picked the principal, and as we all know..." Anna finishes, as she responds "Mama's been watching the school from her sources." Maura turns to Anna, and asks "And that would be you? Or Alice?" Alice takes a deep breath, and tells Maura "Excuse my french, shut up." Pat laughs, as the staff awaits, and Dwight's phone rings, and walks out, leaving everyone in suspense.
   At the Front Doors to Waters Elementary, Thomas walks out carrying his briefcase, and walks through the doors, as he looks around, and quips "Hasn't changed a bit since I went to school here." Dwight greets Thomas, as he goes "Thomas?" Thomas goes "Mr.Waltrip?" Thomas laughs "It's simply Dwight now Principal Duncan, and we need to let the staff know the news." Thomas hears Maura's voice, as he asks "So why didn't anyone tell me the wicked witch still rode her broom here?" Dwight takes a deep breath, as Thomas heads down the hall to his new office, as Dwight responds "It was better if we didn't say anything, otherwise..." Thomas responds "I'd taken the job in Atlanta." Thomas walks into his office, and lays his briefcase on the table, as Dwight tells Thomas "With all the improvements you made at East High School in Missouri, well, I spoke to the Board, and they also agreed you'd be perfect, and you know you had one ace in the pocket with Mrs.Betty, and many others once you walk inside the Media Center." Thomas pulls a picture out of his briefcase, as he puts it on his desk, and Dwight asks "So is she your Wife?" Thomas responds in a despondent tone "She was, but let's head to the Media Center now. I'd rather not discuss it. It was another reason to leave Kansas City."
   Meanwhile back in the Media Center, Maura tells everyone "Since no kids are here, I'll just say it, I was wronged by that damn board!" Anna responds "Mama mentioned she didn't want you in charge." Erica meanwhile asks "Where in the hell is the new Principal? I have paperwork to do!" Alice responds "We all do, but this may be worth it." Dwight walks back inside, and tells everyone proudly "Here's the new Principal of Waters Elementary School, Thomas James Duncan!" Alice, Pat, Anna, Erica, all embrace Thomas, as Anna quips with a smile "Well Mama always gives the best surprises." Alice and Pat look over their former student, with pride in their eyes, as Alice asks "Why didn't you tell me you were going to be replacing Principal Feldman?" Thomas whispers "It was a secret, and I wanted to surprise you." Pat hugs Thomas, and tells him "You will be excellent. You were the smartest kid I ever taught, and now look at you, Principal." Erica tells Thomas "I did read an article on you online, but why would you choose here?" Thomas responds "I went to school here, and wanted to start anew, and came back home." Maura meanwhile walks towards Thomas, and snarks "You are too damn young to be a Principal, and I'm not happy at all with this decision! Betty Waters must have lost her mind!" Anna warns Maura "If you dare speak like that again, we'll be re-creating the Dynasty scene!" Maura storms out, as Thomas asks with a wink "So she's still a bitch I see?" Eyes roll throughout the room, and Thomas looks at everyone, and sighs "All of you have my deepest pity for dealing with her. But that look on her face made my day." Thomas tells everyone "Well, it's teacher's work day today, so how about everyone get back to work, and I got some things to do in my office and some exploring to do." Everyone heads to their classrooms, as Thomas heads to his office, and laughs "Priceless."
    As the day turns to afternoon, Dwight sits inside his office, as Maura storms inside, and yells "Why did you allow Thomas to become Principal?" Dwight responds, asking "Do you have a problem with the board's decision. So far out of the staff, you're the only one with objections." Maura sits, as Dwight looks over papers, and sternly tells Dwight "We both know he isn't capable of being a Principal. And he's only in his 30s!" Dwight responds "Did you see what he did in Kansas City?" Maura snaps "Not my point!" Dwight calmly responds "He took the worst school in one of the worst districts in the United States, and made improvements, and brought the school it's accreditation back. And I had him when I taught 5th Grade, and frankly, he's the perfect choice. What's really sad is that you almost destroyed that man, and he made a brilliant life for himself, and it sure as hell hasn't been easy for him these past few months." Maura snaps "I did what I thought was right!" Dwight tells Maura sternly "You leave him alone, and go home." Maura responds "I have work to finish." Dwight tells her "Take it home with you and get the hell out of here. Dismissed!" Maura walks out, as Dwight walks out of his office, as Alice and Pat sits inside Thomas' office, as they help him fix his office up, and Dwight asks Alice and Pat "So I see helpers in here?" Alice responds "I already caught up on everything, and helped Pat with her paperwork, and we're just in here catching up." Dwight sighs "Well Maura's angry, and may want to watch out for her." Pat responds "She's lucky I wasn't made Principal, I'd fired her." Alice laughs "Makes two of us." Thomas meanwhile sits and looks around, and asks his former teachers "I would have thought all of you would have retired by now?" Dwight laughs "My Wife won't let me retire. And I enjoy working." Alice looks at Pat, as she pulls out a pouch, and quips "I still enjoy teaching, and Mrs.Betty told me I'd want to stay here, and now I know why." Pat responds "This is a good distraction from being home. Maura tried to have me fired, and luckily Anna, Alice, and even the yankee stood up for me, along with Mrs.Betty." Dwight asks Pat "Why do you always call Erica a yankee?" Pat quips "Every time she makes the tea in the lounge, it's unsweetened. This is the south." Thomas responds, as he reads papers "She has a doctorate, and be nice to her please Mrs.Pat?" Pat sighs "Ok. She's ok, just can't make tea." Alice responds "And she did have your back." Thomas asks "Does Maura think she owns this place or something?" Alice responds "She thought she'd be where you're sitting, and found out how much clout Betty has in Caswellton." Thomas shakes his head, as he tells everyone "Well I'm going to speak to her." Thomas walks out, as Alice looks at the picture on Thomas' desk, and Pat asks "So this must be Valerie?" Dwight tells Pat "There's something you and Thomas has in common, but he doesn't discuss it." Alice sighs "I heard something happened from Bill, but he didn't say anything else." Dwight responds "He hasn't recovered from it, why he came home."
   In Maura's Classroom, Maura gets ready to head out, as she tells her assistant, with anger "I ought to put my damn notice in! The door opens, as Thomas walks inside, and the assistant goes "Welcome home Principal Duncan. Good to see you." Thomas thanks the assistant in a humble tone, and tells her "Will you excuse Maura and I for a moment?" Maura responds "This is MY classroom." Maura's assistant walks out sighing "Oooo." Thomas walks around the classroom, and tells Maura "I want to set some things straight with you now before you make an ass out of yourself." Maura snaps "That's not the way to talk in a school Thomas!" Thomas responds "Mr.Duncan to you. And so I hear you're still on a power trip I notice." Maura responds "You aren't right enough to run a school, and I think the board should really think about their decision, because you are too damn young.." Thomas snaps "That's not the way to talk to the Principal! I understand you tried to have Pat fired?" Maura goes "None of your business!" Thomas responds "Yes it is." Maura responds "She's old, and smokes on her breaks, and she has a damn assistant helping her. Clearly she isn't able to do her job!" Thomas walks around, as he goes "Well, you haven't done that great of a job yourself Maura." Maura snaps "Don't dare. Don't you DARE bring up The Graveyard!" Thomas yells "It cost me some important years from my life, but I overcame them, and with some help, I became a teacher in Kansas City, and met someone who really helped me! And she's not here now, and I won't go into that with you, but just so you know, I am now the principal, you are the teacher, and if you pull any stunts like that with me, you'll be out of a damn job! Maybe you need to check yourself!" Maura shakes her head, as Thomas walks out, and heads down the hall, and as he returns to his office, looks upon the wall, at an orange paddle, and walks inside his office, as it's empty, and smiles, as he looks at the shelf, and sees yearbooks, and has flashbacks of his younger years, and as the day has concluded at Waters Elementary, Anna has arrived at her parents home, as Betty Waters sits in her chair, along with her Husband, Fred, and tells her Parents "Nice surprise Mama." Betty and Fred both smile, as Betty tells her Daughter "He'll do a fine job." Back at Waters Elementary, as the school's empty, Thomas sits at his desk, as he looks at the picture of his deceased Wife, Valerie, and kisses it gently, and responds "Baby, this was supposed to be both of us here. It was our plans since Mom went off and married Pedro, and I have my Grandparent's farm, but I know you're here, and I miss you." Thomas clutches his Wife's photo to his chest, and puts it back on his desk, as he turns out the light, and turns off the lights to the school, as he heads home


"Dedicated in Loving Memory to Pat Barber"
 Dedicated to Betty Zane Waters, and Cheryl Pollard, and Dwight Wallace.