FATHER CREEGAN
Eddie, for the last time, please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. We've gone through this 100 times already!
EDDIE
We gon' go through this 100 more times if you insist. I don't worship no FLAG!
FATHER CREEGAN
I already told you, we are not worshiping the flag, we are just honoring it!
EDDIE
What's the difference?
Father Creegan sighs and tries to collect himself.
FATHER CREEGAN
Eddie, I'm a Catholic Priest. You think I wouldn't know if honoring our flag was wrong?
EDDIE
(Laughs)
The Bible itself says we're not supposed to worship anything but the Lord God. Worshipping that dumb flag is Idolatry.
MAXIM
Why are we tolerating this B.S.?
He turns to Eddie.
MAXIM
You're just on some "Black Lives Matter" bullshit! Whining about the very country you live in!
Anna Delgato, a Latina vampire slayer, pipes up.
ANNA
That's not what he said, Maxim. He said it's Idola--
MAXIM
--And if you're so unhappy here, the choice is easy, Eddie. Why don't you leave? Go back to Absolution Academy. Hell, go back to Africa, for all I care!
The class groans at that one.
BUCK KISSENGER smiles and starts one of his angelic songs, opening his arms to heaven like he's going full gospel.
BUCK
(Sings)
...And there he goes with that buuuullll shhhhhhiiiiiiittt--
The class laughs, all except Father Creegan, Maxim, Eddie, and Bobby.
SANOT COLE, an African American boy with light skin and coke bottle glasses, shakes his head, disappointed with Maxim.
SANOT
Hold on, white people—
Points to Maxim.
SANOT
dragged us—
Pulls his thumb towards himself.
SANOT
to this country!
Points down at the ground.
SANOT
How you gonna tell any of us to go back to Africa?
ANNA DELGADO, a Dominican girl in the back, chimes in.
ANNA DELGADO
They do that every time! EVERYTIME! Whenever someone of color challenges them, it's "GO BACK TO AFRICA!"
She and some other students, now fully infuriated, start arguing with Maxim as well.
Father Creegan sighs and leans on his desk, completely exasperated.
FATHER CREEGAN
I absolutely cannot take this anymore! Now the entire class is arguing!