Screenplay

INT/EXT—SHOTS OF VARIOUS PLACES AROUND CAMPUS WHERE ACCESS CARDS MUST BE SWIPPED—DAY AND NIGHT

MARCUS swipes his access card in Benson

Cut to next shot

VAN Swipes her access card to get into the dorms

Cut to next shot

JOLU Swipes his access card to enter a sporting event

Cut to next shot

EXTRAS swipe their cards around campus

Cut to next shot

Extras swipe their cards around campus

Fade out

INT—DORM COMMONS—MORNING

INT/EXT—SHOTS OF VARIOUS PLACES WHERE SECURITY CAMERAS ARE BEING USED TO WATCH STUDENT ACTIVITY (imovie setting to look like surveillance camera shot)

EXTRAS creating harmless mischief during classes/ in Benson

EXTRAS skateboarding where they shouldn’t

EXTRAS having a party in a dorm room

Etc.


Marcus and Van exchange access cards so Marcus can get into a building he isn’t authorized to be in, but Van is. He then swipes for his lunch with her card.

MARCUS
Hey Van, I really need to get the computer lab where your English class is to work on a project. Could I switch access cards with you for the day so I can swipe into the lab?

VAN
(Van hands Marcus her access card)
Sure, no problem. I know you’re low on meal points, so you can swipe for your lunch, if you want. By the way, we’re having a party in my room later. You should come!

MARCUS
(checks watch)
Oh man! It’s almost time for class! I’ve got to go! I’ll see you later!
(Marcus runs out of dorm to his next class)
fade out

VAN
(shouting at Marcus as he runs out)
Don’t forget! Its gunna be a lot of fun!

FADE OUT

INT—MARCUS’ BEDROOM—NIGHT

Marcus is shown in his bedroom reading his emails. He comes to one that is from the access card office, stating that he has been identified misusing access cards, and that he will be fined and required to complete volunteer work. He is also required to speak with the administration. Jolu, his roommate, sits at his desk, diligently working on homework.

Marcus shakes his head and scoffs in disbelief and frustration

Jolu becomes aware something is wrong with Marcus and is annoyed that Marcus is interrupting his studying. Jolu asks him why he seems upset and tries to calm him down.

JOLU
(looking up from his homework)
Dude, what’s wrong? It’s just an email you can calm down.

MARCUS
(Marcus explains his frustrations while pacing the room.)
I can’t believe this. I just needed to get into a lab to use a computer with the right software for my project and the administration is all over me for it. Oh, and apparently friends can’t buy friends lunch anymore, either. They are all mad about me swiping Van’s card to get my lunch….its not like she doesn’t have enough meal points. Oh, and its not good to hang out in each other’s dorms and have a beer, either. Its not like anyone can get drunk on just one anyway. They need to get over themselves and focus on real problems.

JOLU
(less annoyed than before and genuinely concerned for Marcus’ situation.)
Dang, that sucks. Its not that big of a deal. And why are they picking on you? People do that stuff all the time. Someone should really put the school in their place.

MARCUS
Seriously. This is stupid. I’m gunna do something about this. At least I can drink this away at Van’s party. I’ll see you later, man.

FADE OUT

INT—Van’s dorm room. Raging party, with music and people drinking. They are visibly drunk.

INT—SCU ADMIN’S OFFICE—MORNING

SCU ADMIN 1 sits in a high back office chair behind a large desk. He quickly begins asking Marcus questions, not giving him enough time to respond in between questions. Marcus is visibly upset that he cannot communicate his side of the story or his beliefs on the system.


SCU ADMIN 1
I just don’t see how you thought you’d get away with this! You know the school’s policies, Marcus! I would never have expected I’d be sitting here with you talking about this.

MARCUS
It’s really not—

SCU ADMIN 1
I’m sorry, Marcus. There’s no justification for this. You were stealing meal points, being disruptive in the dorms, participated in underage drinking, and you were trespassing in buildings. You will need to pay fines and write a letter of apology to the student body for compromising security, multiple times.

MARCUS
Let me just explai—

SCU ADMIN 1
Didn’t we already determine that we don’t need you talking right now? I’m really sorry, but school policy dictates that if we see something against the rules, we must give the necessary punishments. I don’t see why you’re fighting back. I guess if you want someone else’s opinion, I can make that happen.

SCU ADMIN 2 is brought into the story by SCU ADMIN 1 to backup up his authority. Thinking Marcus is now outnumbered, admin 1 allows Marcus to express his side of the story for the first time, despite the evidence against Marcus. But admin 2 is much more understanding than admin 1 had hoped. He agrees with Marcus’ views that the surveillance is unfair and that the offenses are minor. After exiting the office, Marcus and Admin 2 exchange phone numbers; admin 2 is willing to support Marcus in his quest to rally student opposition to the card system.

SCU ADMIN 1
(Marucs shakes ADMIN 2’s hand)
Alright, this is the co-dean of the school.
(Sarcastically, to admin 2)
Now, Marcus here seems like he wants to talk. So I’m gunna let him. Go on Marcus, tell us your side of the story.
(Under his breath)
Not that it’ll do any good with our set of policies…..

FADE OUT

EXT—STUDENT RALLY ON CAMPUS—AFTERNOON

Students are rallying with signs and chants. They protest the access card system peacefully and legally within the school’s guidelines. They hope to gain enough support that the administration will offer a new plan to secure the campus without violating privacy rights.

EXTRAS (students)
(shouting loudly but in a peaceful tone)
You cant take away our rights!
Security without privacy violation!
Etc
The protest and awareness chants continue peacefully.

Some radical students come to the rally and get out of hand. The police who were monitoring the peaceful protest take them out of the scene. They are escorted away from the rally, and released with just a warning.

UNRULY GROUP OF STUDENTS
(Running around and instigating fights)
SCU admin is stupid!
Lets fight them!
Youre not listening so we’re taking this to the next level!

COPS
Everyone needs to leave now! Please go home and we won’t arrest anyone!

UNRULY STUDENTS
(beginning to fight cops and continue to harass bystanders)
You cant tell us what to do!

COPS
(Rush in and begin arresting the unruly students and taking them off campus. By this time, the peaceful protesters have left or are standing on the perimeter of the chaos)
You all are going to have to come with us. Don’t resist and we won’t take you into the station.

The students who had been previously escorted away return, this time with anger. The police shut down the protest completely. The admin refuses to cooperate on the grounds that the protest was unruly and they don’t want to deal with people who are violent. The oppressive admin thinks he has found a way out of the mess that he had originally gotten himself into by bringing admin 2 into the picture.

UNRULY STUDENTS
(rushing back onto campus, this time more violent)
They cant tell us what we cant do on our own campus!
Are you listening yet, admin?!
Etc.

ADMIN 1
(speaking to group of students congregated around the angry protestors)
Students: we cannot make concessions with a group of protestors who obviously wants to physically harm us. Therefore, any negotiations that we were prepared to have have now been called off. We expect you to all drop this issues now, and move on. We are sure you can understand and accept our reasoning.

Fade out

INT/EXT-- INT/EXT—SHOTS OF VARIOUS PLACES AROUND CAMPUS WHERE ACCESS CARDS MUST BE SWIPPED; NOW, THERE ARE SECURITY CHECKPOINTS WHERE STUDENTS MUST VERIFY THEIR IDENTITIES WITH A SECURITY GUARD; SECURITY CAMERAS ARE EVERYWHERE, BLATANTLY PLACED. “MILITARY STATE” CONDITIONS—DAY AND NIGHT

Admin 2, Marcus and other students, meet in secret to discuss how they can stop the invasions of privacy. They come up with a plan to expose Admin 1’s illegal actions (directing the employees on campus to be more “strict” with security measures).

ADMIN 2
Obviously, my co-dean is out of line, and I’m not prepared to support his views that to have a secure campus we must oppress our students. He needs to be fired fast and replaced with someone more reasonable and willing to challenge problems. Any ideas on how we can make that happen?

MARCUS
All of these new security measures cant be legal. Maybe we can get him fired on those grounds.

JOLU
Hasn’t he done something wrong in the past? Maybe we can bring up some old issue to get him fired.

MARCUS
That probably wont work….but we could probably get the board on our side and they can fire him.

ADMIN 2
That’s simple, but it probably could work. Lets give it a shot.

FADE OUT

INT—BOARD MEETING—DAY

ADMIN 2
(to board)
My Co-dean is no longer performing his duties well. He is too focused on his power hungry- agenda than running a good school.

MARCUS
In short, hes being stupid. Hes gotta go.

JOLU
I second that!

ADMIN 2
(to Marcus and Jolu)
That’s enough, guys…I’ll take it from here.
(to admin)
We’d like to propose that you find a replacement for him. One who is more focused on creating a secure but privacy- respecting campus instead of a military state. We need to focus on what’s important instead of tracking down students like Marcus, who are just living the average college lifestyle.

BOARD PRESIDENT
Thank you, we will consider what you’ve said and look into the issue further. We will get back to you with any developments.

FADE OUT

With the help of Admin 2, Marcs & friends are successful in changing the security system on campus. Admin 1 is fired and Admin 2 promoted.

Marcus is in his room, reading his emails. He smiles as he reads an email, sent to the entire student body.

BOARD PRESIDENT, QUOTED IN AN EMAIL
(Voice over of President reading email as Marcus reads)
It has come to our attention that our administration was not performing at its best. With that said, we have decided to hire a new dean. This should ensure that the campus runs at its best, with academics and safety the number one priority. He has promised to do all in his power to ensure privacy for students on campus. Thank you to our peaceful student demonstrators for bringing this to our attention. We would not have taken action without you.

Marcus calls Jolu over to read the email. They both smile as Jolu reads the email. They high five.

FADE OUT

CREDITS