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THE FACTION
by: James Donnellan
First Draft Storyline 09-2004
Registration: Screen Writers Guild of America (2004)
Copyright by James Donnellan
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cigar.... What now?”
John: “ We’ve got the where.... now we look for the why.”
Crystal and Jimmy hovering about the screen: “ One thing the program has spotted, these meetings are always 4 years apart....”
John: “ and..American elections are when.... November.”
Sil: “Are these election years we’re talking about.”
Jimmy: “ yep.. Dis Computer says for sure.”
Sil: “ and this is an election year...Where are these meetings held?.... Crystal: “Mostly in New York and Los Angeles... a couple in Paris.... Same hotels though.”
Franco: “ We may have a why mixed in here kids.” “ How long before elections are these meetings”... Crystal: “Always in June or July... about 5 or 6 months average...”
Franco: “ You mean like... next month?” Sil: “Shit!”
John: “Those hotels need a call and see where the party’s booked ... or if it’s booked....This is going to be embarrassing if their only giving away money... I didn’t expect another Mission Impossible.”
Fade to Franco’s office phone:.. “Ok, there is a meeting Johnny boy.. We’re lucky... The 4 Seasons right here.. It’s more like an all day event than a party... starts at 10am... till about 5pm.. Yea...... “The African Survival Fund” along with “Earth Forever”... a couple of biggies right now.... It’s Saturday , July 3 rd..... Independence day theme I guess.”
John: “ Listen, if they are pulling something off... they’re doing it right in front of everyone... Something’s funny here. How do we find out what’s happening without blowing the whole deal?... any suggestions?
Franco: “OK, I think,.. if they’re on the up and up... there won’t be anything but light security... If they’re not John Q. Public’s helpers... there’s a good chance of even less security..... To stage these shindigs right out loud like this... They must think they are way above any kind of problems , and let’s not forget... they’ve been doing it like this for
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a long, long time.” ... John: “ I know the microphone’s are easy ... but can Jimmy make a camera rig that can sweep the room without being noticed?... “I don’t know...lets go check this place out.. It’s bound to be big.”
Camera fades during conversation to the 4 Season’s conference room and John and Franco walking in with open eyes. “ What do you mean... impossible”.. “Look Johnny boy... the table is about a mile long... try to find a camera lense that doesn’t make it look like a Beatle’s Cover.. And look at the rest of this mess... wide open and a dining room as well.. We would need full news coverage.”
“Frankie...Bingo.. You just fell on one answer... that’s how we do it without alarming everyone... We hook up to the satellite feeds ... direct broadcast... record it as well... And then if they’re the bad guys we can broadcast live ...or we have the goods anyway.... If they’re the good guys... we do nothing...and If we get caught.. We broadcast it like the news coverage of the Charity event that it is...”
Jimmy shows up...
“Sorry , a we bit a traffic...Whoh! It’s a big one... The audio is fine.. Forget the dining room... business will be at the table... and maybe I got me one idea for the camera.. Maybe..” His eye’s travel toward the ceiling and barely noticeably past a large central chandelier ... “We know they’re gonna sweep the room so we got to use plastics and fire wire.. Is there a room for rent above this party?”...”We best grab it.”
3 days before the party: In Boston with everyone:
Jimmy: “Do you remember the chandelier at the 4 Seasons...Well here’s a new center crystal for it but... this one is special.. It’s our camera...a prism camera.. (turning on the TV monitor.. It shows the room and occupants divided into an 8 sided kaleidoscope .) “ we can select and zoom... (as he shows this happening).. And the microphones are two of the candles... Easy!.. all we need to do is install.” “ We can rent the room for a Friday night private function... we have the room above all week.. I just need these wires run up the chain to the ceiling and we can
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punch through to the room above... from there it’s all good for sure.”
Fade to:
(While the conversation continues... we see Friday at the Conference room and they are doing exactly as planned... Sil and Crystal in the room above feeding the wires down as John weaves them into the chain.. Jimmy is installing the crystal and microphones... Done)... Everyone meets up in the room above and Jimmy un-folds a broadcast dish from something looking like a fan ...and setting up other equipment he says .. “ I can tap into the hotel TV for a monitor and use their internet Modem for a live feed..
Franco says: “We are sending direct feeds to my brother in Milan and to the Boston Institute on a timed record, Just in case we need to call in back ups.. Listen up kids, on Saturday, the best satellite we can access is only available from 1pm to 2pm .. There is another one at 8m.”
John: “Everything else is dependent on them.”... “ At the very least we’ll get to see how much these kind of people contribute to their pet causes” ... otherwise.. I don’t know what’s going to happen.” “ We’ll see everyone here at 7 am. Tomorrow..”.
Jimmy: “ I’m gonna sleep here boss, there’s a couple of things to check and anyway, Crystal and I never had a room like this.. OK?”
Saturday Morning:
Sil and John show with Coffee and Cakes.. Everyone’s checking and adjusting. Waiting..... Bored, but wired up....
Down Below... The cars start to show one by one, almost as if scheduled that way.. A couple of body guards do watch and secure the area.. More for some than others.. Everyone is dressed well but not too pretentious. Shaking hands and exchanging small talk, they move from the street quickly and continue straight through the lobby to their Hall... We see and hear some small talk and as the body guards take their position out side the main and only doors, everyone sits and comes to attention.. Very formal. Cut to our guys upstairs... watching the TV.. Checking close ups and sound.. All is well and they too settle in.
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THE MEETING
Speaker of the House: “I want to take this opportunity to welcome all of the distinguished representatives from all of our great sectors of world commerce and say, that since our last meeting of four years ago, we have made tremendous headway in the control of our global community. We have been able to increase...(with special thanks to the representatives of both Military Force and Fuels and Transportation).. the completion of a great pipeline through Afghanistan while controlling both the cost of available oil and at the same time, stabilizing population growth in the area.”
“Friendly Governmental control in Afghanistan has been obtained by our allies which will insure the smooth transfer of this territories rich fossil fuel resources to the free markets. While still retaining the current premium price of $41.00 per barrel.. I believe we will see $60.00 or more by November.” (Applause) ... pause.. “ A couple of more sensitive issues I would like to touch on here....”
“Though it is indeed unfortunate that the use of terrorist attacks, chemicals and fear weapons upon the United States and our other free world allies was necessary to gain the needed public support to complete our missions... and although these events were in themselves tragic, we must remember the necessities and greatness of our goals. I quote the great actress Bette Davis who once said, “Growing old is not for sissies”..and Amen to that.... But, I might add... growing our Free World Enterprise System is not for sissies either.” ( applause)
“We’ve faced and survived other hard decisions as we all remember well. Texas and Los Angeles we all thought were rough at the time , but look at us now!”
“Also please...a moment of respect for Karen’s father Ronald Chambers. We lost him last year after his almost 42 years of acclaimed service here as representative of entertainment and communications. ( polite Applause)
“Karen will introduce herself to those that don’t already know her on the break, but for those of you who do know her, it has been apparent to see that she is following in her great fathers footsteps and is not a force to be taken lightly..(laughs all round)... welcome Karen and please accept all of our condolences for your very personal loss.”
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moving on... The large screen behind starts the industrial type video presentation. With music and the FWES logo opening.
“The co-operative efforts between our representatives from both Science and Medicine have also made large contributions to world stabilization. In their ongoing desire to work together they have saved our world 1/2 trillion dollars in this year alone. By simply retaining the now developed AIDS 422B vaccine for three more years of testing, they have insured income into the trillions for our partners in the pharmaceutical and medical fields. Ancillary, by product gains also include a decrease in population thereby reducing our education and welfare system overflows.” (Applause)
“A special mention should also be given to the bold efforts of our new representative of entertainment and communications....(Acknowledges Karen... news clip with face on screen) (Applause)
“By utilizing the newest in 3 dimensional design technology... and, I might add... amazing accuracy of detail.. (Provided with the full cooperation of our Military Force experts), our young citizens are now learning advanced military weapons control and strategies from as young as 14 years old.! AND!.. on the true to life, video weapon simulator games of the future.” (Applause)
“This.. will give us the cutting edge in years to come in our on going indoctrinations of freedom and commerce on a world wide basis... All of this, and a projected 38o million in profit this year on game sales alone.” (Applause).
“Now, I know we have many special reports from our illustrious representatives to get on to, but first I would also like to thank the combined efforts of our international intelligence community and their impeccable relationship with our global news and communication services... in their brilliant, combined management of creative reporting. In their unprecedented ability to maintain the necessary “spin” to support our just causes publically, and in helping to maintain our flourishing global trade. These are wonderful and exciting times where our people will continue to follow our lead into our prosperous times ahead.... We have come far in our 42 years of global leadership... and the proof is clearly here...in this room today!... thank you everyone.” (Applause)
“Now, I would ask the representative for Natural Resource Trade to take
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the floor if he is ready to proceed”.
“Certainly sir”... “Speaker of the house and distinguished representatives.....My report is not as glowing as with the outstanding profits of four years ago, however I feel confident that there are solutions. The free cutting forestation act of 1998 that we passed through the American Congress has caused magnificent profits and trade with our Pacific rim allies. However, the clear cutting of North American harvest ready woodlands is at an end. The only way to sustain the type of profits we have enjoyed in the past, is to work with our representative for Governments in re-establishing new National Park Boundaries that decrease protected areas by 25%...both in our American and Canadian territories. This will insure us free cut timber for the next three to four years. During this time , I recommend switching our sights to plastic building products. In working with our Eastern allies , we should be able to make a comfortable switch in which our profit margins will not feel the depletion of timber forests. Our new Afghani pipeline should be able to handle these additional demands. And soon, we can add more territories of the far east .. Including Iraq, to our fossil fuel stockpiles.”
“Next, I’m sorry to say, as anticipated in my last report, our oceans and rivers have finally been fished out. Our farming of Salmon and other captivated, natural species is not yet functioning at optimum performance due to the increased diseases of captivity. .. It appears these diseases do not hurt humans by consumption, but I ask the representative for science to please check this out further... hopefully before my next seafood dinner”... (Ha- ha’s).
“We all expected the many jobs lost in our ocean harvesting businesses. However... with our increased military presence in the non-conforming territories, these lost jobs can be translated into higher military enlistments for the younger sector. Unfortunately, The older sector have a naturally limited usefulness....”
“I have been examining our free water conditions on a World wide basis and at this time, I see no need to invest additional monies into the restoration projects proposed by some of our territories . We have built a substantial business in the sale of re-converted, bottled water and our profits are now close to equaling those from our fossil fuel sales. I think these profits speak for themselves and my recommendation is to continue as planned.”
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“Oh, also...”
“I have heard one recommendation for the clear cut forest areas that grabs my attention.... To turn them into fast growth grazing lands for new cattle. This is not a bad idea. The demands and future growth of our fast foods industries show a need for more inexpensive beef and the stripped land can maintain a growth cycle of grass for approximately five years before 100% depletion is obtained. After this time , we will need to look elsewhere for solutions.” “ Thank you.”
Speaker: “ One question, do you anticipate the need to have more funds available for our lobbyists .. I feel acquisition of these park land forests could be quite costly?”
“Good question sir, In 1998 we contributed only 270 million and change to special U.S. funds in our acquisition of the remaining free cut timber areas and we removed our taxes and liabilities at the same time. Canada was somewhat higher due to a larger available yield at that time. Our profits come in.. Somewhere in the 9 to 10 billion area... significant for our investments. I have indication from our Representative of Governments that we can expect the same treatment again in both territories and that national park lands are not a priority issue in this coming election.”
Speaker: “ This is true Horace?... Thank you John... this is good news indeed.” “And next our new representative of Communications and Entertainment... are you prepared Karen?”...
“Gentlemen...thank you for your kind words earlier, I do appreciate them.. And my report will be brief. $1.9 trillion in profits this year alone! ( applause).. “A 600% increase from four years ago!” ..” Need I say more?” “ The profits from our satellite and fiber optic installations have allowed the quadrupling of cell phones, and cable and satellite Television is operating on a world wide basis. The introduction of commercial advertising into both cel phones and pay television has produced staggering amounts of revenues ... and soon we will have the majority control of Public Internet facilities. Our data collection base of personal, consumer information is flourishing and with it, the opportunities to target specific buyers by demographics and income is almost ready to go online.” “ The development of the Picture phone is allowing us to collect current digital images of all of our users. .. We can control news and
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information now in real time. No more lags... If we need creative control of a specific world event.. We now have it in seconds.... Thank you house.. I can only predict more of the same for the future.” .. And I can only say... I am honored to follow my fathers path forward in the Free World Enterprise System”...(Applause)
“Excuse me Mr. Speaker” as the Representative for Medicine, I have questions to direct to both Science and Monetary Trades... would this be the appropriate time to continue?” Please, by all means sir....
“ I am receiving some pressure from our friends in Pharmaceuticals. As you know... this left wing attempt by some territories... specifically the United States... to import Prescription Drugs from both Mexico and Canada is becoming a problem. We all know that our same companies sell exactly the same drugs much more inexpensively in those territories than we do in the U.S.. This has long been due to regional economies and what the market will bear in each territory. A drug such as Prozac can sell for 500% more in the U.S. And also requires a Doctors prescription.”
“As representative for medicine, I see not only this potential loss to the pharmaceutical companies.. But... as lost revenue for our doctors.. should the need for certain prescriptions be eliminated altogether... It could be a staggering blow to our medical profession. I believe we must continue our stand in discouraging the importation of drugs from outside sources. We can continue indefinitely in our position that these drugs might be harmful without further testing. This stand also supports our position on the AIDS issue verses population runaways.”
“Secondly, I have been reviewing the problems of the rising costs of liability insurance for our doctors and I would like to direct this possible solution to our esteemed representative for Monetary and Legal Trades.”
“We all see this happening.. but due to the outstanding profits in our insurance and legal industries, we have been reluctant to make a change... but now it is a real threat to our medical economy.”
“I believe a possible solution could be to turn a percentage of the yearly insurance and legal representation profits back to the doctors themselves... like a sponsorship, if you will .. This would reduce the Doctors fears of liability suits by allowing them to share in the wealth of
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mal practice claims. .. After all, without the Doctors we would have no mal practice revenues at all... I haven’t looked at the details for feasability of such a plan, but I ask the house to review my thoughts. Maybe it could be in the form of a reduced premium for those doctors that contribute to the systems profits.”... “Can I ask to talk more with both Horacio and you later regarding this issue Steve?”..... “Certainly and thank you for your input.... but you get the lunch representative...” Ha - ha... (Applause)
Speaker: “ Does anyone else have a pertinent subject to bring to the table before we break for lunch?...”Ah, Education... please take the floor Madam Severac.”
“Gentlemen... Karen...”
“I see a trend developing where there is quite a boom in higher education. An education by and for professionals. This is quite good, but I see this trend now forming a gap within our work forces. While we haven’t had this problem in our 3 rd world territories in the past... soon we will. We have been outsourcing most of our jobs to these smaller territories due to their lower pay standards, but now these territories are turning out future generations of more highly trained professionals through private education and their pay standards will soon increase. Then what do we do? Our profits dwindle and the competition for the higher positions flourish. Even our own positions could become endangered eventually.”
“At first I thought the solution to this issue was to increase the education opportunities in the larger territories. But now I see more clearly. What we should do is focus on the lower paying, “blue collar” education in our public systems. The more “privileged” individual can pay for their higher education within the private sector and for this reason, we should continue to increase tuition and standards in our colleges until they are only available to the top 3%, and of course special family sur names, gifted individuals......or prospects for professional athletics.”
“The others we need as “worker bees”. If the smaller territories are turning out more highly skilled professionals... then their pay scales will naturally increase over time and so their cost of living. BUT, the pay scales will be lowered again in our larger Territories if we limit the average education and the outsourced jobs can return without hurting
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profits.” (Small applause)
“For a realistic, intellectual balance within the workplace, I propose to the house... rolling back the standards of our basic , public education. Offer more training in basic job skills, such as..I don’t know.... assembly line workers, seamstresses, construction helpers, auto repair, computer repair.. Mending... fixing...digging... fruit pickers... ... lumber jacks...” “ We no longer need algebra or Calculus... Philosophy or Biology. These are things of the past.. Wehavetoo many specialists... we need workers!...”
“Another issue pertaining is.. My studies at this time show...that schooling should NOT include arts , music or literature for the future. There are specialty schools for this and frankly, in the next four to five years, there will be no more money to be made from arts... everything is free on the internet or bootlegged... Intellectual property copyright protection is an ideal from the past.”
“Lastly, in the next few years much of the schooling can be turned over to interactive games and to the internet and most of the costs for teachers and staff can be eliminated. If we look to the future and start to think progressively, we can also benefit from our gained control of the internet... which as we heard from Karen, is now in process. In this way we will not only control the information presented to our students but collect the fees for teaching them. I would venture that this implemented concept would be of astronomical financial benefit to this house in future years.” (Applause)
Speaker: “OK, any questions?...Done! “This is a lot of new information to absorb before we resume. I propose we take our lunch as it is now....after twelve. Thank you everyone.”
“Excuse me Sir, I am getting an important call which may necessitate my absence during the second program today, may I briefly speak now?”
Speaker: “ I think I speak for all here when I say.. I am hungry.. But if this is important.. then proceed General (retired). Please house... a few moments for our esteemed Military Force representative...”
Gentlemen...Ladies.. I’m sorry but there appears to be a turn of events on our mid eastern fronts that need my immediate attention... please bear with me.”
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“ You all know, War is a situation of delicate balance and my job these days is not easy. I need more input from the board as to the priorities of our individual missions. In some areas it is clear.. our top interest remains in establishing a government supportive to our Free World Enterprise System ... But, in other cases.. Where this hasalready been achieved ... we have now moved into the second phase objective of Balanced Population Control. Given the new information here today, I feel I will need up-dated figures from the house pertaining to optimal casualty levels. I am unclear as to the correctness of the previously recommended BPC loss balances. Because of these problems in job outsourcing and education, should the balances be changed to take this into account... as well with the possible insurgence of new military enlistments from the failure in our Ocean Harvest Sector? Can the military handle this insurgence of recruits? The maintenance cost and training of one new recruit today has escalated to roughly $212,000 per year. Taking this into account, shouldn’t the friendly casualty levels be increased?”
“ Remember now, it is far easier to reduce the numbers in the opposing forces with the availability of our new, limited field, nuclear weapons. But... for friendly force reductions we need time and planning. We also have ancillary expenses in transportation, burials and family support to consider. As you see, this becomes extremely complicated and I pose these questions to the house for priority consideration .”
“Thank you, that concludes my presentation for the moment and... if the house agrees ...let’s continue with this beautiful lunch.”
Upstairs:
No Words... Sil is starring tears and Crystal is holding Jimmy tight.
“Did we get all that”.. Blurts John... Jimmy... “Yea”.
Franco: “ Now what have we done.. Now what... shut this down and the world we know ends.” Sil” “ What are you proposing .. Nothing?”
“No... I need to think... this is nuts.”
John: “ Well,...whatever the solution is.. It needs to come fast....
we have 65 minutes before we have to link up or not...”
Crystal: “ I think if they have the ability to do all this... they have the ability to undo it... especially because no one wants to go under.”
Sil: “ Why don’t we just confront them? Franco: “ With, smile your on candid camera”...” “ Yea...something like that I guess”.. Where does that leave us?”....”Protected with our back ups.”.. I hope!” Chimes in Jimmy.
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“That’s out first check.. Franco, call your brother now.. Is anyone at the institute that can check if we recorded?” C: “ Maybe my friend on the day staff... I can try..”
Sil: Holding up a white card she has been writing on.. “ How’s this?..” simple and to the point. “ We have it all recorded ... we need to talk now”. John: “ What in hell are you thinking .. Are you just going to walk it in there?”
“I’m going to address it to Horacio and deliver it to the nice men at the door... then I’m just going to wait”.. She folds and writes Urgent Attention.. Horacio C. Carpenter.
Franco: after some Italian conversation..“We’re good there”.
Crystal: “ The lab is good too..Let me go with you Sil, they’re going to be more peaceful with two of us... Jimmy , keep recording and be prepared to Broadcast all of this... “ Just a look from Silvia to John.. Agreement and resignation registering in his face, To Franco a look: Franco: “ I need to be back up if your gonna do this Sil..”
“ If you want to back me up .. Then stay here and do your job.. Get the broadcast out and keep those things rolling..”
A rushed clean up... make up and clothes straightened.. “ We don’t want to scare them away too soon”..a private, nervous laugh Between Crystal and Sil.
“ Back soon boys.. We’re going to look for some men”... And out the door they go. John: “ Shit... what just happened here?”... and silence all around.
We follow the girls down the stairs and through the hall ways.. The guards spot them and brace their positions.. Looking to each other for clarity..
Sil: “ It’s ok guys.. we have this message for Mr. Carpenter ... it’s extremely urgent and one of you will need to take it in.”... Crystal: “ You know Mr. Carpenter is very disappointed if he doesn’t get his news right away” Sil: It’s fine.. We’ll wait here with ( looking at the name tag on the lapel)... Arnold”. “ We can sit over here”... motioning to a salon area with a couch.”
The girls retreat to the couch and smile sweetly.. The guards talk briefly and one knocks and goes inside... the other changes position to center block to doors.
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Silence:... The girls wait nervously.. Upstairs, the guys tap and pace... Jimmy: “ We won’t see anything until they’re inside.. Now I wished we covered that dining room too..”.. The camera just looking at an empty table with an occasional shadow of a suit walking past.
Finally the doors open below and Horacio..flanked by a couple of representatives.. Talks to the guard who motions over to the salon area and girls. Horace takes the lead and sternly walks directly to the sitting girls holding out the note... “ What is this”... “ You have what all recorded”..
Sil and Crystal stand and face him.. “ We have today... this meeting.. All recorded”.. Crystal. “ We have all of your names Horacio”.... Sil: “and, most importantly... We have back ups... You know.... other recordings in other places?... “ Can we talk inside please?” Dead silence and slowly... Horace turns and offers a ‘ladies first gesture’ with daggers in his eyes.
As they walk : Crystal slows up with Horace... “ Right in front of everybody... right in front of the whole world... how could you?... how could any of you?...
From upstairs: Jimmy: “OK they’re inside... oh please baby be cool for sure”...
We see some of the representatives coming back to the table questioning these unexpected events.. Speaker: “ Will everyone please return to the table for a few moments. We have guests.” Sil and Crystal are seated in the middle of the far side... After the assembly is intact, the speaker continues... “ first ladies who are you?.. Crystal: “ We are the World Sir.”
“ how could you do this .. Right in front of everyone.. Does anyone have that answer?”
The General: “ What makes you think you can expect to ever be seen again.. Who ever you are?”
Sil: “ We have recordings sir.. Of this meeting.. Even this part now... we have records on each of you and your field contacts... and best .. We have a satellite link ready to broadcast this little party in,... 45 minutes”...
Crystal: “Of course were backed up General... we have safeties everywhere. If not today... we’ll get you tomorrow... we’re just the messengers now... Our fingers are on the button of the biggest bomb in world history..”
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Sil: “ Feel lucky... we aren’t here to start a new Faction,
only to end this one... you can’t buy us and you can’t kill us.... those have been your only weapons.. but now if you use one... the trigger gets pulled on you anyway... Let’s face it... Your all dead right now!”
Speaker: “ What do you want exactly”
Sil: “I don’t know.. We have a problem. If we release this recording... the results would be catastrophic. Your dead anyway, but the world isn’t yet.. No matter how hard you’ve all tried... it survives... First .. I want to know why. Does anyone here know why?
Horace: “Ladies, we respect your position and maybe when you hear ours I hope you might feel differently... now where to start. Most of us here are older now and we were young and excitable during world war two. Mussolini and Hitler were going crazy and then it was Japan who wanted domination in the end... We had some money.. We’re mostly from good families...”
Madam Severac: “...And many of our families were wiped out or imprisoned in the camps.. I had to take on a French Identity to survive.”
Karen: “My father was captured and tortured for 3 years on some South Pacific Island before he came home... He was 19.”
Sil: “You don’t consider this .. The same? You don’t think your using your money to buy our rights?.. To just buy up any ideals or constitutions that may differ from your own?”
Crystal: “ Your controlling the controllers! .. Why is this better?” “ You haven’t fixed anything... just the opposite.”
Sil: “ and then full circle.. We show up to control you.”
Sil: “ Karen.. Exactly what is a “ Spin” on the news? When did you get the power to legitimatize your self serving version of the truth?.. How many versions are there anyway?” “ From what I see, the truth changes from day to day according to the television.”... “ And you General ..(retired)... You talk of Population balance like it was a video game.. Why?.. are you God? ... are any of you God?
Crystal: “ Mr. Representative for Religion.. While General God here is busy culling the populations , your people are speaking out against birth
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control.. And the answer is really in education... something Ms. Severac or whatever your real name was, is trying to reduce. How can you think your doing a good job at anything other than lining your own pockets?... Mr. Speaker... when your own daughter has AIDS.. Will you still feel the same about the importance of three more years of testing?”
General: “ Look little girl, there has always been war and there will always be war... this is the primary climate for a strong economy.. And if we can control population overflows at the same time... so be it. The “People” you are so worried about, don’t seem to care... they just have sex and more sex and babies and more babies.”
Crystal to sil: “ Do I detect a little frustration here..”
Sil: “OK look, we’ve listened and we don’t buy any of it.
Time is short.. Too short to change your minds and your 42 year “Spin” on things. Let’s get down to business... don’t forget, when you say no to our offer... this time the real world will be watching... complete with your own “personal contact information”.. (looking at Karen)... “ Everything Karen here has been working hard to develop... is available to us too. This isn’t going to be only the TV, but the internet, the papers, in every language.. We might even make a movie about it.”
“So now....Your dead. Lets start there. When you passed away, you left quite a large inheritance to someone... let’s make it to everyone...let’s make it to the world shall we?.... now how are we going to spend it?
Speaker: “Would it satisfy you, for us to make a 50 million dollar contribution to “Earth Forever” and “ The African Relief Fund”.. Then we can walk out of this today doing what we said we would do... Gain some favorable press and we’ll forget this little meeting ever happened.”
Crystal: “Look Glorious, Exalted, illustrious leaders of The Free World Enterprise System... We have 25 minutes... now you decide.. “ Let’s start with 100 million to each fund.. Not this year, but every year. Then let’s find a few more organizations that could use some help.... But moving on to the big ones... General , you need to make a dramatic change in the way your doing business. We know you’ve got a lot of friends that make their money from war.. But they are going to need convincing that they just can’t do it anymore. We need you to come up with a plan to withdraw all troops from all independent territories, admit the armies were wrong for being there in the first place and you guys need to start spending your own money to rebuild those countries.
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You can get some help from the U.S. for sure and probably some of the coalition countries as well. The problem is... they’re not going to know your already dead.... My guess is, they will kill you again for getting them into this mess in the first place... Same goes for intelligence. Big problems in changing your stance... but hey... who got you into this thing in the first place.”
Mr. Intelligence is up and around the table with a vengeance, if I’m going then so are you two... Mr. Military is close behind.. Everyone scurries and then two shots... bang! and bang! ... both guys are hit and down. Mr. Speaker is standing with gun in hand... The doors slam open with the bodyguards dumbfounded... followed by Jimmy and John who rush to the girls... Sil: “ aaah... “ They’re with us.”
The Speaker motions the bodyguards to shut the doors and says.. “I think we’re alright.. one of us owns this Hotel. You aren’t the first to find us.. I knew we were in trouble when we let those military guys in...
(Guards have moved the wounded back to their chairs and everyone re-seats at the table.)
Speaker: “I for one make the motion that we work with ...aah.. Our four new friends here... in the best interests of our Free World Enterprise System. All in favor?”.... Jimmy: “That name has got to go for sure”... Crystal: Maybe it’s just the word ‘Enterprise’ that’s wrong...” Sil: .. “‘System’ is pretty bad too.”
John: “ Let’s get moving please... we are recording.”
Sil: “Karen... can we do something about eliminating those commercials on cable TV?.. after all.. I already pay for the service...right?”... God, where do we start... Listen that AIDS vaccine has to be released now....”
John: “ All that education talk needs some re-thinking as I see it..” Jimmy: “ And those war games for kids.. I know.. I make em.”
Speaker: “ We will proceed in a dignified manner...but, I am beginning to see your points.... “this is going to be difficult... oh boy is it... but...let’s start ....shall we board?... our choices are extremely limited.”
Up in the room Franco is watching the screen and breathes a sigh of relief... leaning back in the big chair, he puts his feet up and lights a big, fresh cigar... The smoke swirls round and round... setting back into motion the atmosphere and clouds of the planet as the camera view pulls
37. F
away like a rocket..., taking it back into the blood stream... the spinning earth disappearing into the red darkness... we travel back through the blood, the tissues and to the... light.
We see the same woman’s blue eye blink a single blink and a tear falls away... the doctor is still examining the eye... but checks again confused... “Hello”... he smiles to the eye.. “ Well, she’s here now... I don’t know what it was before.. But she’s back.. How do you feel?” ...
Woman: confused but at peace...” Fine,.. I guess..!?!.......better than ever actually”................. We leave it on her half smiling, half wondering eyes.
THE FACTION
James Donnellan
1 st Draft Storyline 04-2004
E-MAIL: Donnellansouth@Hotmail.com
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registration: Writers guild of America (2004)
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