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Original Screenplay: Poli-Sci

  • Writer: Victoria Neal
    Victoria Neal
  • Mar 2, 2017
  • 6 min read

PoliSci

Pilot Episode

Written by Victoria Neal

3/2/17

  1. BLACK

VOICE 1 (V.O)

Introducing,

VOICE 2 (V.O)

(in French, subtitled)

Introducing,

VOICE 3 (V.O)

(in Russian, subtitled)

Introducing,

VOICE 4 (V.O)

(in Spanish, subtitled)

Introducing,

FADE IN

CU of a child’s big brown eyes. WS of a large room with a spotlight on the child. In the room is a conference style long table with eight professionally dressed individuals. The camera focuses on a powerful looking woman (possibly West African) who sits at the head of the table.

WOMAN

(Looking into file)

Candidate 436. Age is five years old. A boy whose nationality is American of English descent. Parents are Thomas and Elizabeth Kether. Health?

DOCTOR

(sighing)

Compromised

WOMAN

(obviously annoyed)

Second opinion?

SECOND DOCTOR

Compromised

WOMAN

(slamming the file on table and yells)

He was a perfect candidate. Can someone explain how a child with 98% score becomes compromised?

DOCTOR

(reluctantly sighing)

From our understanding the parents lied about his family’s history of breast cancer.

WOMAN

Well, what are our options?

LAWYER

They have broken contract by not disclosing. We can enforce act 19.42.05.

WOMAN

Well, do it.

WOMAN

Decision on 436 is..

(pausing and stamping the file with a big red denied) Denied.

  1. BLACK

Dramatic music plays in background and there is B ROLL of major cities all around the world.

NARRATOR (V.O)

For 40 years, a secret society made up of the highest paid professionals of our time including scientists, lawyers, and doctors has worked towards a common goal of intervening in the political world. The issue? They will stop at nothing to be on top. From bringing potential political candidates into the world to ending the lives of those that don’t follow protocol. The Society is strong, manipulative,…

FADE IN

A man is seen sitting in an arm chair in a dark room with a glass of bourbon and ice.

NARRATOR

(he stirs his drink with his finger and takes a sip and points to the camera)

…and you had no idea they existed.

FADE OUT

  1. EXT/INT: A CAR IN VIRGINIA- DAY

A burly man with strong eyes and jawline around his late 20s-30s is seen. In the window you can see his dark brown hair blow in the breeze. He drives down a paved road listening to the local radio.

RADIO

Gas prices are at an all time high. If we don’t want to continue to be disrespected as a community, we must go out and vote. This year it is more important than ever and–

The man turns off the road and pulls into a white and brown house. The man walks into the door, takes off his baseball cap and puts it on the coat rack. He wipes his feet on the rug and closes the door.

MAN

(YELLING)

Jenifer, I’m home.

Jenifer, a tall and care-free redheaded woman, walks down the creaking stairs.

JENIFER

(KISSING THE MAN)

How was the meeting, Markus?

MARKUS

(Walking towards a kitchen and leaning on the countertop)

It was good, it’s going to be a close race though.

JENIFER

(speaking in a comforting way, walking towards her husband)

Well, have you decided? You’re one of the last electors and you haven’t made up your mind yet.

MARKUS

(sighing)

I know. I just don’t know whether I should follow my morals and ideologies or if I should go with the state’s choice.

JENIFER

(touching her husband’s arm)

Well, just remember how important your vote is here. We are a swing state and every vote matters.

FADE OUT

  1. INT/EXT- VIRGINIA HOME THE FAMILY BEDROOM -MIDNIGHT

Markus and Jenifer are seen sleeping in bed. Markus is seen tossing and turning. He opens his eyes, climbs out of the bed, and carefully walks down the stairs. Markus walks into the family room and turns on the television.

NEWS CORRESPONDENT

“We can’t just continue to let billionaires run our country without question. How does a person with this little experience become a nominee?

SECOND NEWS CORRESPONDENT

“We have two candidates that have had scandals but who is the less evil is the question? That president should be–”

Markus turns off the television and stands up. He puts on his hat, steps out the door, and gets into his car. He pulls out a cell phone and presses speed dial.

MARKUS

(into telephone and sounding nervous)

Yes, Sir? *inaudible speaking from phone* I do understand the importance of my vote, I just don’t– *inaudible* If I could I would but *inaudible* Yes, Sir. I understand. *inaudible* Thank you.

Markus looks down sadly, cuffing his head in his hands letting out a soft cry.

CUT TO: (SUBTITLED) November 12th

Markus is seen in the same truck from earlier. But this time, he is seen in a decorated uniform (possibly ex-military). The pins and medals on his uniform glisten as the sun comes through the truck’s front window. At the front of the house, you can see Jenifer stamper out the door while putting on her nude wedges, hopping on one foot at a time to avoid the hot cement of the drive way.

MARKUS

(jokingly)

Hey, you. Hurry up!

JENIFER

(jumping into the truck)

Ready when you are, big head. It’s an important day.

MARKUS

(Looking into the rear view mirror as he puts the car in reverse)

I’m really just ready to get it over with if I’m being honest.

JENIFER

I’ll tell you what (VOICE gets quieter) as soon as we’re done, I’ll make you whatever you want for dinner.

MARKUS

(jokingly) The way you say that makes it sound like you suddenly learned how to cook overnight.

JENIFER

(laughing)

Well for dinner we’re having take-out.

MARKUS

The little place down the road that puts umbrellas in their drinks?

JENIFER

Of course, I know how you like the little touches.

The radio comes on and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” by Marvin Gaye is faintly playing in the background.

JENIFER

Oh my god, this is my favorite song!

Jenifer turns up the music and begins to dance. Throwing her hands up in the air and shaking around her red hair.

MARKUS

(Looking at his wife)

Do you have to embarrass me like that?

JENIFER

You know you love this song

(Mouthing the words to the song)

Markus, pretending to be reluctant, begins to sing.

MARKUS AND JENIFER

(Singing loudly while Markus drives down the road)

Down a paved road a set of stop lights can be seen. The stoplight turns red as the couple speeds down the road distractedly. The red light turns green and the couple flies through the light as another car plows into the driver’s side door. The car flips over and over, crushing the car and forcing the airbags. As the car tumbles, the sound is MUTED and the song “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” continues to play as the car flies through the air. FULL SHOT of the car finally landing and the scene is quiet.

FADE OUT

  1. INT: Hospital- DAY

Jenifer is seen being rushed through the emergency room on a gurney as five doctors work on her to make sure she is okay. CU of Jenifer’s face as her eyes pop open as she attempts to scream but is unable to. Her heart monitor is heard beeping at an extremely fast pace as the shock from her injuries makes her pass out.

  1. INT: Hospital room- DAY

Jenifer is seen laying in a hospital bed. The hospital room is bland and is poorly tiled with blue and white squares. The window is open and the light beams down on yellow tulips on the bedside table directly beside Jenifer’s EKG. As a nurse is standing in the room checking Jenifer’s vitals and fluids, Jenifer begins to wake up.

NURSE

(Standing over Jenifer, speaking in a soft voice)

Jenifer, can you hear me? If you can, blink twice please.

Jenifer

(Blinking twice, attempting to speak only to see that a tube is down her throat, supporting her airways)

NURSE

(Speaking softly)

Don’t try to speak. You currently have a breathing tube to help your airways because your lungs collapsed. We will take it out later tonight but please get some rest.

The NURSE leaves the room and JENIFER goes back to sleep.

Later that night, JENIFER’s breathing tube is removed and she awakes to see that her arm is broken and her foot is shattered. Her mother and younger sister are seen sitting in the corner of the room under the window. When they notice Jenifer is awake, they run to her side.

JENIFER’S MOTHER

(touching her daughter’s face)

Jenifer, Sweetie. It’s your mother, how are you feeling?

JENIFER

(in a weak tone while grabbing her mother’s hand)

I’m a bit tired.

Jenifer looks into her younger sister’s sweet blue eyes, recognizing a similar sadness in them that she saw when her father had died. Jenifer lifts her head off the plastic blue pillow towards her sister.

JENIFER

What’s wrong?

JENIFER’S MOTHER

(Speaking softly and voice breaking)

Nothing, don’t worry.

JENIFER

(Looking at her sister, angrily as her voice begins to break)

Don’t lie to me. What’s wrong?

SISTER

(Yelling while crying)

He’s dead! Is that what you need to hear? Well there it is, Mark is dead!

CLOSE UP of Jenifer as tears flow down her face. WIDE SHOT of Jenifer’s mother and sister as they surround the hospital bed.

FADE OUT

BLACK

SUBTITLED: January 11th

INT: JENIFER AND MARKUS’S HOME- DAY

Jenifer is seen packing things into boxes. She walks into Markus’s old office and attempts to log into his computer. After the password fails, she attempts another password and gets in. The computer screen reflection lights up Jenifer’s face as the computer gets a notification. Jenifer clicks on the notification and sees Markus’s email. In Markus’s inbox, Jenifer sees a suspicious email.

JENIFER

(Reading out loud)

“If you don’t fulfil your promises, we will be forced to terminate your membership…”

In fear, Jenifer quickly turns the computer off. She puts her face in her hands and looks out the window. She is shocked to see a car sitting outside of her house. When Jenifer looks back at the computer and back at the window, the car disappears.

FADE OUT

Copyright 2017 © Victoria Neal

 
 
 

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