✨ “More Than a Crown” ✨

Pov: ( school environment)...

Ms brown: ladies and gentlemen gather together.

(Student whispered, what is this for).

Ms brown: we will need, the best student ever to sign for the Ms of the school year.

Jessica: we all know, that I have always and will always win, Ms of the year.

Naomi: yes, Jessica's always wins,

Ms brown: yes Jessica, you always win, but this year, things are different.

Naomi: when you mean, different... different how.

Jessica: yeah.. different how.

Ms brown: this year, every student, can participate. And the highest votes wins.

Jessica: this will be interesting, I bet no one can go against me, my mum owns this school.

Bryan : let's get to class.

( student whispering...we all know she always wins, so yeah ).

( door opens).

[ science teacher arrived ].

Ms Rebecca: hi everyone, take your sit, today we will be talking about photosynthesis.

Who can tell me, what photosynthesis means.

Freya: um.... photosynthesis is the process in which plants, algae, and some bacteria use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create their own food.

Ms Rebecca: thats awesome.

Jessica: yes, she got it right, because she is a Nerd

( student laughing).

Maria: thats not, funny.

Naomi: it was.

( Bell rings)

Ava: hi Freya.

Freya: hi.

Ariana: I have an idea.

Freya : the way, she is smiling I bet it is dangerous.

Ariana : I signed, your name up.

Freya: what do you mean.

Ariana: I signed, your name for the , Ms of the year.

Freya: YOU DID WHAT......

Ava: girl chill.

Freya: WHY DID... NO ....

Freya: you deserve it.

Ava: yes I agree.

Freya: you know, am fat, ugly, not enough, and I have no social media followers, I need up to 300k, for all the votes.

Ava: calm down, we will help.

Freya: No, you don't get it, the whole school will laugh at me... and by the way, yall did enough....THANKS.

( Freya slams the door).

Ava: you made her mad.

Ariana: you mean...we did...

( silent, music)

(Car pulls by).

Mr Roman: hi sweetie.

Freya: hi dad.

Mr Roman: how was school today.

Freya: the same..

Mr Roman : your, principal, sent out messages about this whole, Ms year event.

Are you participating.

Freya: would love to...but no.

Mr Roman : why...

Freya: dad, I had a long day can we just head home, in silence, or maybe some music.

Mr Roman: at, your service mam.

Freya: [ laughing], that was funny.

Mr Roman: I will do, everything for that smile on your face.

Freya: thanks dad, and am sorry for my attitude earlier.

Mr Roman: it's fine, I was once-in-a-lifetime a teenager, I know how it feels when space is needed.

( silent feels the car, music playing).

( car pulls over, arriving destination).

[ door opens ].

Freya: hi mum.

Ms Caroline: hi dear, how was school.

Freya: the same old story.

Mr Roman: ( whispers) same old story indeed.

Freya: mum, I will head to my room now.

Ms Caroline: sure sweetie.. be down in 5 minutes, for dinner.

Freya: mmm.

( mr Roman moves forward slightly ).

Mr Roman : have you notice anything.

Ms Caroline: like what.

Mr Roman: like....

Ms Caroline: it's nothing, don't over think it.... maybe she is just growing, you know how teenager life is like, I remember distancing myself from my mum, and dad too, cause they were always nosy with me.

Mr Roman : maybe you are right, but I just miss my little angel, she use to run to me, even when she was cold.

Ms Caroline: yeah..I do too, sometimes.

Let me get, dinner ready.

(Mr Roman kisses ms Caroline, on her hair, he whispers ....I love you).

[ everyone, gathered for dinner].

( ms Caroline, coughs slightly).

Ms Caroline: um...I really love that we all, have our phones away, and are eating, but the silence is too much.

Someone say something.

Mr Roman: um.... the is this, Ms of the year, at Freya school.

Ms Caroline : really....oh my , I remember when I was a teenager, I was appointed twice a year..

Freya: yeah....not everyone is lucky as you mum.

Ms Caroline: sweety, I didn't mean it that way.

Freya : never mind mum, by the way, ava forcefully signed me in, if I quit now the whole, school will turn me to a laughing stuck, which I am already.

Mr Roman: why don't you , want to signed up.

Freya: am fat, ugly, I don't have enough tiktok followers, I need 300k. And I have no one in the school, who will vote for me, expect ava, and Ariana.

Ms Caroline: wait sweetie slow down, first of all you are not ugly, or whatever. Second of all, the saying goes by two is better than one, and third of all, we are here to help you, and final saying, you are so pretty.

Freya: of course, you will say so, am your daughter.

Mr Roman: who told you, all this.

Freya: no one needs to, am not blind.

Am so fat.. maybe i should stop eating...

Ms Caroline : definitely not..

Freya: mum.. thanks for the food, I will go up to my room.

Mr Roman: what will you do now.

Freya: now, am going up there, to figure out, what I will do , with this Ms of the year, crap.

Mr Roman: oh child..

Ms Caroline : help us, Jesus.

( night 🌙).

(Freya sitting on the edge of her bed).

Freya: I wonder, how pretty girls feel, are they happy...of course they are, they own the world.

Let me just go to bed.

( 6:00 am).

[Ms Caroline, knocking on Freya's door].

Ms Caroline: hi sweetie, good morning, it's 6: 20. You are almost late.

Freya: ( stretching). Yes mum, am almost down.

Ms Caroline : I made your favorite.

Pancakes, and eggs.

( ms Caroline, bring down, the living room, windows down).

Mr Roman: hi honey.

Ms Caroline: hi.

Mr Roman: is my angel, up yet.

Ms Caroline : you, know how she is....just like you, always taking 5 minutes before getting down, from the bed.

Mr Roman: ( smirked) like father, like daughter isn't it.

MS Caroline: bet you know..

( Freya comes out).

Freya: hi mum...hi daddy.

Parents: hi sweetie.

Mr Roman: how, was your night.

Freya: fairly good.

Ms Caroline: I love the sound of that.

Mr Roman: ok jokes aside... now, time to say some prayers , before going out.

Heavenly father, I thank you for waking up me, and my family today, we thank you lord because, many are dead, and sick but you granted us this grace, to see this day, alive and healthy, we worship you lord, we pray that you go ahead of our day today, and let your will be done, in our lives.. Amen.

All together: Amen.

Mr Roman: ok, silly stinky, time to head to school.

(Freya hugs her mum).

Bye mum.

Ms Caroline: bye dear.

( inside the car, ordinary playing by, Freya favorite artist Alex Warren).

( Lycris) I take one look at you, your taken me, out, of the ordinary.

You got me kissing the ground of your sanctuary.

Mr Roman: smiling, yes girl, get it.

Freya : laughing, papa, this song is amazing.

Mr Roman : for real.

( car pulling over, at the school compound).

(Freya smiles).

Freya : thank you, daddy.

Mr Roman: always available, love you.

Freya: love you.

( Freya step in the building).

(Jessica and Noami approaching).

Jessica : finally the Rat is here.

Freya : don't call me a rat.

Jessica: then, what are you.

You even have the audacity, to sign up for the Ms of the year.

[ Naomi starts laughing].

Noami : as much, as I don't like you, but let me tell you this, no one will vote for you, and again you have no followers on tiktok... Jessica always wins, so spare your self some time, and embarrassment and back off.

Jessica: yes back off, before I help you to.

And trust me, when I do, you won't like it.

( ava and Ariana approaching).

Ava: excuse me, Jessica and her dog, back off her.

Naomi: what did you just say.

Ava: I said Jessica, and her dog back off.

Naomi: how, dare you call me dog.

Ariana: let's drop the act, the whole school knows , you are her dog, you follow her around, you carry her backpack, and her binder.

Ava: so, doggy go to your master.

Naomi: I WILL MAKE YOU PAY.

Jessica: Naomi let's go, we cannot risk getting suspended before, Ms of the year event comes, ...but watch your back, Rat.

Ava: freya are you ok.

Freya: am fine, I didn't ask for your help.

Ariana: what do you mean, by that, you are our bestie of course, we will stand up for you.

Freya: yeah, bestie who puts other in trouble.

Ava: what do you mean.

Freya: what I mean, is you guys signing me, in without my concern.

Ariana: oh.. are we still on that.

Freya: yes, we are still on that.

Ava:am sorry.

Ariana: me too.

Freya: am late for class...bye.

( ava and Ariana looks away).

“Leadership”

(Classroom. Students settling down. Whispering.)

Ms Rebecca walks in, placing her books on the desk.

Ms Rebecca:

Alright everyone, settle down. Before we begin today’s lesson, I want to address something important.

(Jessica sits straighter. Naomi smirks. Freya keeps her head down.)

Ms Rebecca:

As you all know, the Ms of the Year competition is coming up.

(Soft murmurs around the room.)

Ms Rebecca:

This year will be different.

Jessica (whispering to Naomi):

Different how? I always win.

Ms Rebecca:

This year, it will not be about popularity… or followers… or appearance.

(Freya slowly looks up.)

Ms Rebecca:

Each participant must prepare a speech on the topic:

“What makes a true leader?”

And the winner will be chosen based on impact, character, and courage.

(The room goes quiet.)

Jessica’s smile fades slightly.

Naomi:

Wait… so no voting campaign?

Ms Rebecca:

There will be voting — but only after the speeches. And teachers will also have a say.

(Jessica clenches her jaw.)

Jessica:

So basically… anyone can win?

Ms Rebecca:

Yes, Jessica. Anyone.

(A few students glance at Freya.)

Jessica (smirks again):

Good. Makes it more fun.

(After class. Students leaving.)

Ava rushes to Freya.

Ava:

Freya! Did you hear that? This is your chance!

Freya:

My chance to embarrass myself in front of the whole school?

Ariana:

No. Your chance to show them who you are.

Freya (quietly):

They don’t care who I am.

Ava:

Then make them care.

(Freya looks unsure.)

Jessica passes by, stopping in front of her.

Jessica:

Start writing your speech, Rat.

You’ll need something dramatic to distract from… everything else.

(Jessica walks away laughing with Naomi.)

Freya’s eyes water slightly.

Ariana:

Ignore her.

Freya:

You don’t get it. She’s not scared.

Ava:

Then why does she keep trying to make you quit?

(Freya pauses.)

That question lingers.

(Later that evening. Freya’s room.)

Freya sits at her desk.

Blank paper in front of her.

She writes slowly:

“What makes a true leader?”

She stares at the page.

Then she whispers:

Freya:

Maybe… someone who knows what it feels like to be last.

She starts writing.

And for the first time…

She doesn’t erase it.

“Whispers”

(School hallway. Lunch break. Students crowded around tables.)

Jessica sits with Naomi, scrolling through her phone.

Naomi:

You’re not seriously worried about Freya… right?

Jessica (calm but irritated):

I don’t worry. I eliminate competition.

Naomi:

So what’s the plan?

Jessica leans closer.

Jessica:

If this year is about “character”… then we ruin hers.

Naomi’s eyes widen.

Naomi:

How?

Jessica smirks.

Jessica:

Rumors spread faster than speeches.

(Cut to later that day.)

Freya walks into the cafeteria with Ava and Ariana.

Something feels off.

Whispers.

Stares.

Phones out.

Ava:

Why is everyone looking at you?

Freya frowns.

A group of girls nearby giggle.

Girl #1:

That’s her.

Girl #2:

I didn’t know she begged people to sign her up.

Freya freezes.

Freya:

What?

A boy passes by, shaking his head.

Boy:

Didn’t know you were that desperate.

Freya:

Desperate for what?

He walks away.

Ava grabs a random student.

Ava:

What is going on?

Student hesitates… then shows her phone.

On the screen is a fake message post:

“Freya begged her friends to nominate her for Ms of the Year because she wants attention.”

Below it?

A blurry screenshot that looks edited.

Freya’s face goes pale.

Freya:

I didn’t write that…

Ariana:

Of course you didn’t!

Ava:

This is fake.

Across the cafeteria…

Jessica pretends to laugh at something Naomi said.

But her eyes flick toward Freya.

Satisfied.

Freya feels tears building.

The room feels smaller.

Freya (softly):

I told you… the whole school would laugh at me.

Ava:

We’ll fix this.

Freya:

How? Once people believe something… they don’t un-believe it.

Jessica suddenly walks over.

Jessica:

Oh Freya… I heard you’ve been campaigning.

Freya:

You did this.

Jessica gasps dramatically.

Jessica:

Wow. Accusing me? That’s not very “leader-like.”

Naomi:

Maybe you should step down before this gets worse.

Jessica leans in closer.

Jessica (low voice):

Back off now… or next time the rumor won’t be so harmless.

She walks away.

Freya stands there.

Shaken.

But something shifts again.

Her hands slowly clench.

Freya (quiet, but steady):

I’m not quitting.

Ava and Ariana look at her.

Ariana:

What?

Freya looks toward Jessica across the room.

Freya:

If she wants a fight… she’ll get one.

But not her way.

“More Than a Crown”

(School auditorium. The day of the Ms of the Year speeches.)

The room is full.

Students whisper. Teachers seated in front. Jessica sits confidently, polished and glowing.

Freya stands backstage.

Her hands tremble slightly.

Ava squeezes her hand.

Ava:

You don’t need 300k followers.

Ariana:

Just your voice.

Freya takes a deep breath.

Jessica’s Turn

Jessica walks on stage flawlessly.

Jessica:

A true leader is someone admired. Someone confident. Someone people look up to. Leadership is about influence — and I’ve always influenced this school positively.

Applause fills the room.

Jessica smiles proudly and walks off stage.

Freya’s Turn

Her name is called.

For a second… silence.

Freya walks to the stage.

She sees the crowd.

The whispers. The same faces that laughed.

She grips the microphone.

Her voice shakes at first.

Freya:

I used to think… pretty girls owned the world.

(The room grows quiet.)

Freya:

I thought happiness came with perfect skin.

Perfect bodies.

Perfect followers.

I thought leadership meant being the most liked.

She pauses.

Freya:

But I was wrong.

Leadership isn’t about being admired.

It’s about standing up… even when you feel small.

It’s about kindness… when others choose cruelty.

It’s about courage… when quitting feels easier.

Her voice grows stronger.

Freya:

For a long time, I hated my body.

I called myself fat.

Ugly.

Not enough.

And maybe some of you believed that too.

Maybe you still do.

She looks directly into the crowd.

Freya:

But this body?

It carries me every day.

It lets me breathe.

Laugh.

Hug my parents.

Sing in the car.

Dream big dreams.

Why should I hate something that works so hard to keep me alive?

A tear slips down her cheek — but she doesn’t wipe it.

Freya:

A true leader doesn’t make others feel small.

A true leader reminds people they are already enough.

Not because of their weight.

Not because of followers.

Not because of money.

But because they exist.

The room is completely silent now.

Freya:

If I win today, I win.

If I don’t, I still win.

Because I learned something bigger than a crown.

I learned to love the girl in the mirror.

And if even one person here decides to love themselves a little more after today…

Then that’s leadership.

She lowers the mic.

The silence lasts one second.

Two seconds.

Then—

The entire auditorium erupts.

Not polite clapping.

Standing ovation.

Even some teachers wipe tears.

Ava and Ariana are crying.

In the crowd…

Jessica doesn’t clap at first.

But she looks around.

Everyone is standing.

Slowly… reluctantly…

She stands too.

The Results

Ms Brown steps forward.

Ms Brown:

This year’s Ms of the Year…

…is Freya Roman.

Gasps.

Cheers.

Freya freezes.

Ava screams.

Ariana jumps up and down.

Freya walks to the stage again — but this time, she stands taller.

The crown is placed gently on her head.

But it feels lighter than expected.

Because the real weight she carried…

Was self-doubt.

And she just set it down.

Final Scene

That night.

Freya stands in front of her bedroom mirror.

No makeup. No stage lights. No audience.

Just her.

She smiles softly at her reflection.

Freya (whispering):

You were never a rat.

You were just becoming.

She turns off the light.

🌟 THE END 🌟