(Gary looks at the Pen and sees the faint traces of a mysterious type of short-hand written on the cap.)

Freda: (Walking inside) where on earth did Bill go?

Gary: He has transferred to another homeroom. Here, he left you this Pen. Put it somewhere out of sight. (He grabs all his stuff)

Freda: Where are you going? It’s only 8:00.

Gary: There are things I’ve got to see to. Questions that need answering. Basically, I havn’t done my homework. Freda: Oh. Now I understand.

Gary: Keep the pen secret. Keep it safe.****************************************

(The voice of Gollum S. is heard from within the gym)

Gollum:*screaming* Music hall!!! Baggins!!!

(The doors to the gym open and the nine football players walk out. The next day, Gary hacks into the school archives during lunch break and finds an account written by Ian S.)

Gary(voiceover): Year 2000 of the second semester, here follows an account of Ian S., captain of the school tennis team and the findings of the Pen of power. Well, I found it, so it’s going to be a heirloom of the tennis team. All that follow as captain will get the pen for I will risk no hurt to the Pen. It is precious to me, but I buy it with a great pain. The markings on the cap has begun to fade. The writings, which was at first was as clear a teacher’s grade on top of some student’s paper has disappeared. A secret only the school’s lousy heating system can tell.

(Back in the music hall, an choir student steps outside. A football player steps up and the student raises his eyebrows quizzically)

Football player; *in an attempt to be scary* MUSIC HALL!!! BAGGINS!!!

Student: Okaaay. there are no Baggins in the choir. They’re down that way in the band room.

(The football player struts of. Freda and Samantha walk to their band lockers after practice to put away their instruments. Freda goes into the storage room where her locker is and opens her locker, finding it trashed.)

Freda: What on earth!?!

Gary: (coming up behind Freda) Is it secret? Is it safe?

Freda: Well some creep broke into my locker. Oh, there it is. (She pulls the pen out and hands it to Gary, who throws it on the heater.)

Freda: What was that for?

Gary: Here, take it. It’s quite cool. Do you see anything? Freda: No.wait. There’s some form of short hand I can’t read.

Gary: There are few who can. It is written in the Black Speech of the office, which I’d probably be grounded for life if I repeated it to a seventh-grader. In modified language it reads: One Pen to rule them all, One Pen to find them. One Pen to bring them all and in the darkness.flunk them. This is the One Pen. Made by the Dark Princaple in the shadows of the office and taken by Ian. Suldir of the tennis team.

Freda: Wasn’t this the pen Bill found in the hallways near Gollum’s locker?

Gary: Yes. For six months the Pen lay quiet with Bill, improving his grades. But not anymore, Freda. Evil is sturing in the office. The Pen is acting up again. It has heard the Principle’s call.

Freda: Wait, wasn’t Mr.Saroun fired?

Gandalf: No, Freda. He receantly got hired again. His job is bound to the Pen and it survived. Mr.Saroun has returned. His forces has multiplied and his offices remodeled. Mr. Saroun only needs this Pen to enslave the whole school in a shroud of homework and darkness. He’s trying to find it and it wants to return to him. They are one, the Pen and the Dark Princaple. Freda, he must never find it.

Freda: I’ll hide it in my locker and keep it there. Besides, no one knows my locker combination do they.

Gary: There is one other. I’ve looked everywhere for the student Gollum but the ememies found him first. I don’t know how long those football players tourtured him, but through his screams they were able to get your locker combination.

Freda: Oh great! Then you’ve got to take the Pen.

Gary: No way! I’d use it to do good, but through me it would wield a power to great and terrible to imagine.

Freda: Well it can’t stay in the band room.

Gary: You must leave, and quickly. Make for the cafeteria

Freda: What about you?

Gary: I’ll meet you at the furtherst table from the lunch line.

Freda: How on earth is the Pen going to stay safe there?

Gary: I don’t know. I must go talk to Sheldon, the head of the honor students. He is both cool and has a perfect GPA. Travel only during break and stay away from the hallways.

Freda: I can cut through crowds easily, you know.

Gary: *laughing* Seventh graders are amazing students. You can learn all about their ways in a week and they’ll still surprise you after the first semester. Freda: Was that a compliment?

(They hear a tapping noise outside)

Gary: Get down! (He opens the door with his binder raised and pulls Samantha in.) Have you been eavesdropping?

Samantha: Honestly Gary, I wasn’t. I was just walking around outside.

Gary: Okay, what did you hear.

Samantha: Nothing. just something about a Dark Princaple and a Pen and unlimited homework for all the students. Seriously don’t hit me with that binder. It’s got more in it than most ninth graders have in all three years put together.

Gary: Well, I’ve got a better use for you..