Different
Script
Jeremy (‘Jezza’)
Hey Wasssup my peeps? Jeremy here but you can call me Jezza. I’m really glad to be here tonight to accept this award. And I would like to thank my friends and family, especially my Mum.
Mum
Is that you Jez? Are you talking to someone?
Jezza
Nah, it was just me rehearsing for when I become rich and famous.
Mum
And when’s that gonna happen Son?
Jezza
You wait and see. I’m gonna pass Drama with flying colours. All I can say is watch out Aaron Pederson and Ernie Dingo.
Mum
Now don’t you go talking about Ernie, he’s deadly. Especially since I saw him on It Takes Two. Oh that boonthi and them long legs…
Jezza
(shocked) Mum!
Mum
Yeh, Ernie can ‘get into the great outdoors’ with me anytime.
Jezza
You’re shameful Mum!
Mum
Nothing to be ashamed of son. When you’re as famous as Ernie, everyone will want a piece of you.
Jezza
Mum, I’m not in it for that. I want to act and then go into directing like Denzel Washington.
Mum
Ooh now don’t get me started on Denzel. He’s a fine specimen of a…
Jezza
I’ve got my hands over my ears and I can’t hear you Mum.
Mum
(makes smooching sound)
Ooh… Denzel (laughing).
Jezza
Still can’t hear you Mum.
Mum
Nah, seriously son, I’m so proud of what you’re doing.. something you love. I know you’ll be great at it and you’ll give it your best shot. Remember how hard you fought to get here? All that trouble at school…
Jez
Yeh, and if it wasn’t for Super Cuz, it could still be going on.
Mum
Now there’s one deadly brother.
Jezza
You’re right there Mum.
I can still remember the day he showed up
(starts to tell a story…)
It was the just like all those other days, but this time the boys were teasing me cos of those flash clothes I had to wear in the school play.
I tried to tell them it was Shakespeare and that’s what they wore back in them days, but they kept going on about it.
Mum
And it wasn’t the first time they tormented you.
Jez
There was that time they took my ipod.
Mum
And your mobile.
Jezza
I always tried to be nice them, but if aren’t good at football or don’t party with them, I’m not one of them.
Mum
Sometimes people don’t understand that it is ok to be different, to be an individual.
Jezza
And I would never have known that if it wasn’t for Super Cuz.
He just came out of no where.
I remember going to the toilets and a couple of the boys were in there, the ones who used to pick on me.
I tried to ignore them but they started to laugh at me. Asked me if I wanted a cigarette.
I said no, I don’t smoke.
They kept calling me ‘The good boy”.
Boy 1
The good boy,
don’t touch cigarettes,
don’t drink.
Boy 2
What’s the matter with you Jez, you think your better than us?
Boy 3
He must be, he likes culcha, and all that acting and stuff.
Jezza
Russell Crow is an actor and he owns the Rabbitohs.
Boy 1
He’s different.
Boy 2
He’s the gladiator (laughter from boys).
Boy 3
And you’re not (laughter).
Boy 2
What you think you gonna be like Russell Crowe?
Jezza
I want to be one day.
(All boys laugh)
Boys (in background)
Sure, yeh, good one Jez.
Boy 1
You gonna be just like the rest of us, in the hood for the rest of your life (laughter).
Jezza
Not me, I’m gonna study to be an actor.
Boy 2
(shakes an aerosol can….spraying sound)
Jezza
What are you doing?
Boy 1
Just a little publicity for your first role.
(sound of spray can still going)
Boy 3
Yeh, good one bro.
(reads out loud)
Jezza Carter can’t bowl…can’t bat…can’t pass…can’t tackle.
(laughter from boys)
Jezza
Leave me alone, I’ve never done anything to you.
(A loud bang is heard, followed by a crashing sound and fumbling noises).
Boy 2
What was that?
Boy 3
It’s a bloke in a pair of tights and big red cape.
Boy 1
(panicked) Let’s get outta here!
Boy2
Hey where are you going?
Boy1
I’m just going to the jillewa.
Super Cuz
Looks like you already did.
Boy 2
Don’t hurt us, please don’t hurt us!
Super Cuz
I’m not here to hurt you. A super hero never hurts anyone, unless you’re the Joker, or the Riddler, or someone like that.
Jezza
Are you a super hero?
Super Cuz
Well I’ve got a cape on and I have got tights…it is the standard uniform for all super heroes. I have super vision too!
Boy 2
Can you see my jocks?
Super Cuz
Yes. They are blue with Thomas the Tank pictures on them.
Boy 2
My nan got them for me for Christmas.
Super Cuz
That’s ok bro, it’s ok to be different and to express your individuality, in whatever way you want.
Boy 2
No really, my nan did buy these for me for Christmas. Really!
Other boys
Sure mate (condescending).
Super Cuz
And just like you wear them, it’s also ok for men to wear tights. One day Jezza here might be a famous actor, and you mob will be talking him up, telling everyone that you went to school with him.
There’s nothing wrong with being different.
Jezza
You tell ‘em Cuz
Super Cuz
You know what they say…‘variety is the spice of life’.
If we were all the same it would be a boring world.
Boy 1
I guess you’re right Super Cuz.
Super Cuz
And boys, bullying people isn’t deadly.
You can’t go around calling people names, threatening them, swearing at them.. especially if they’re not like you.
Imagine if people teased you because of the pattern on your jocks, or because you’ve got a terrible haircut.
Boy 2
You mean like you Cuz! (laughter)
Super Cuz
Or if you like something that other people mightn’t, it doesn’t mean they aren’t ok people.
Boy 1
Yeh, I know.
Super Cuz
And Jez, what can these boys do to make it up to you?
Boys
Yeh, Jez, what can we do?
We’ll do anything.
Sorry mate.
Jez
Well we need a few more boys for the drama club.
Super Cuz
Hear that boys, they need a couple of extra actors in that Shakespeare play.
Boys
Do we have to!!
Super Cuz
You did say “we’ll do anything”. And I might even lend you a pair of tights.
I got them in red, black, yellow…
Mum:
If you're being bullied at school, the best thing to do is tell someone you know and trust. Schools have a duty to provide a safe learning place for you. If you tell your school counsellor or a teacher, they can investigate the problem and take action.
Hey all you mob listen up! My name is Lauren and I’m from LawAccess NSW.
We’re a telephone service that can give ya some free legal information or refer you to another service, that may be able to help ya.
So give Law Access NSW a call on 1300 888 529 and ask to speak to an Aboriginal officer if ya want some help! That’s 1300 888 529.
Brought to you by Legal Aid NSW.