When three super-smart tween misfits create a science project coveted by the organized criminals in their town, they realize that committing crimes comes way easier for them than navigating the social hierarchy of middle school.

SYNOPSIS:

OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL MOBSTERS

ELLE (13), like countless middle school girls before her, wants desperately to be popular. However, nothing about Elle’s life is going to make that easy for her. Her single mom has basically checked out, leaving Elle to care for her two younger brothers and scramble to pay the rent. She’s also really really smart but does her best to hide it from everyone – especially the girl she has a crush on. Yes, Elle is a lesbian, but it’s 2020 so no one at her middle school really cares.

MILES (12) is a scrawny Asian kid that hasn’t hit puberty yet. Where Elle tries to hide her intelligence, Miles embraces it as his identity. He is the smartest kid in the school, well at least the smartest boy. However, intelligence doesn’t equal bravery. Miles is scared of everything, but mainly of disappointing his mother. Miles is an only child to a single mom – and it shows.

SIERRA (13) is on the autism spectrum. She doesn’t care about being popular or smart. However, she knows she’s smart and doesn’t understand the concept of modesty. She also doesn’t understand sarcasm, cliques or social cues. She observes her fellow middle schoolers, like an anthropologist studying another culture. She likes to follow the rules and has a slight obsession with true crime cases. Sierra has the stable family life of two loving parents that Miles and Elle long for.

7th Grade Science Class… Act One: The trio presents their Science Project: a chemical compound that allows a person to duplicate someone’s fingerprint with only a strand of hair. The teacher MS. JAMES is impressed and some of the kids become interested when they realize this could allow them to unlock other’s phones. Despite Miles and Sierra’s protests, Elle sells the leftover compound to some of the students after class. This leads to complete chaos in the cafeteria, as Elle’s “customers” have discovered their friends and significant others’ secrets. Fights and break-ups ensue, landing our three in Miles’ biggest nightmare -- detention (selling anything at school goes against the code of conduct.) Ms. James dismisses detention a few minutes early and while the trio wait to be picked up, a shady looking van pulls up to the school. The creepy driver BEN calls to the kids – and they all scream in terror.

Act Two: Ben has heard about their product (“spy serum”) and is willing to pay them a lot of money to buy some. Miles and Sierra are hesitant, but Elle is desperate for the money and agrees. Miles’ MOM arrives and shoos Ben away from the “underage girls” but not before he threatens Miles’ life if they don’t deliver the serum to him tomorrow. When the girls fill Miles in on the agreement (and the threat), Miles is terrified. Elle talks him down from calling the cops or his mom. Elle convinces Ms. James to let them serve their detention in the Science Lab and they are able to create more spy serum after school. When they meet Ben for the exchange, they are armed with Bunsen burners and pepper spray. Ben takes the serum but only pays them a small part of the money he promised, saying he needs to verify it works. He tells them to meet him at his apartment tonight. After Ben leaves, Miles says he’s done but Elle can’t let the money go, she guilts them with a “I thought you guys were my friends/don’t make me go alone.” Sierra agrees to go, she has a blue belt in Karate, but Miles is a hard no.

Act Three: Elle takes care of her younger brothers before heading out on her bike to meet Sierra at the park. Miles surprises Elle by showing up after all, still believing this is a terrible idea – nonetheless he’s part of it and lied to his mom to meet them. As they ride their bikes across town, we see glimpses of the young kids they just were as they enjoy the sheer excitement of being out and on their bikes. However, they are all nervous and timid when they arrive at Ben’s. Sierra, being the blue belt, takes the lead and knocks. No answer. They notice the door isn’t shut or latched and cautiously enter to find: Ben DEAD on the floor in a pool of blood! Screaming, accidental pepper spraying, tears, vomiting, falling and general chaos follow. Once they safely get out of the building, they debate what to do. When out of nowhere MS JAMES pulls up, telling them to get in her car. As they hesitate, police sirens sound. Ms. James apologizes but drives away, leaving Miles, Sierra and Elle in the spotlight of the police cars, hands up – ready to be arrested. Elle smiles realizing this may be her ticket to school popularity!