“2050”
Written By David Newton
September 1, 2050. New York, New York. Central Park. Camera zooms out from focus on a peaceful scene of squirrels playing to an upper-body shot of elderly GEORGE, who sits solemnly on a park bench with eyes upward and scanning. George is with his dog, a mellow German Shepherd, who lies asleep by George’s feet and becomes visible as the frame continues to expand. Eventually a wide view of George’s surroundings is established and many people are seen strolling around. As the shot reaches full width, STRANGER #1 enters. Her small, seven year-old body partially blocks out the view of George and his dog. She approaches the bench and shyly requests permission to pet the resting dog. George half-smiles and waves the go-ahead.
The shot narrows but maintains a view of both characters’ upper bodies. Stranger #1 is on a knee, admiring the dog.
GEORGE
It’s nice out today, isn’t it? Already September. Do you know what happened in this city this month, 49 years ago?
STRANGER #1 is preoccupied with the dog.
STRANGER #1
No. What happened?
GEORGE
Well you see, the memorial fountains at the foot of the Freedom Tower used to be the foundation of the two greatest towers in the world. The Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. On September 11, 2001, terrorists crashed hijacked planes into each building. Eventually both towers came down. Thousands of people died. The North Tower had been my workplace for fifteen years, and I only survived on that day because my floor was far enough below the point of impact to allow time for me to evacuate.
Camera has been gradually zooming on GEORGE’s face and is now very close. STRANGER #1 doesn’t seem to be paying much attention to anything besides the German Shepherd.
GEORGE
Hey! Are you listening to what I’m saying? This is the history of your city! There are lessons to be learned from this tragedy. It’s important that you understand.
STRANGER #1 snaps her attention to GEORGE, who looks down at her with a concerned glare.
STRANGER #1
I’m sorry sir, I –
A FEMALE VOICE from out of the frame calls out to STRANGER #1
FEMALE VOICE
What are you doing child? Get over here! You had me worried.
STRANGER #1 runs to the caller and exits the frame, which remains widely focused on GEORGE’s bench. As the FEMALE VOICE continues, it fades away into the distance.
FEMALE VOICE
We’ve got to get you home and ready for your recital… And hey, what did I tell you about talking to strangers?
George is now alone again with his dog on the park bench. Unoffended by the rude mother, he continues to scan the sky. He checks his watch and scans some more. Suddenly, a large young man, STANGER #2, crosses the frame with a leashed dog. He wears an Army sweatshirt. He is blind, with prosthetics in his sockets and mild scarring on his face. The dog is a trained seeing-eye dog. GEORGE’s dog is distracted by the passing man’s animal, and the dogs begin to interact.
STRANGER #2
I’m sorry sir; you’ll have to excuse me. I’m new to dogs. This guy was just assigned to me and I’m still getting used to taking care of him. And is it sir or ma’am? I couldn’t tell you.
GEORGE
You got it right. And no worries, I’m a dog lover. It seems I spend more time with my dog than I do people, nowadays, in fact.
STRANGER #2
That’s kind of sad. What’s your reason?
GEORGE
Retirement.
STRANGER #2
Ah.
GEORGE
I see you’re a veteran? May I assume you’re also a Purple Heart recipient?
Stranger #2 chuckles. He is surprised by George’s bluntness, but not offended.
STRANGER #2
Yes you might. I took shrapnel from a rioter’s homemade grenade to the face when I was touring in Iran. The natives didn’t take too kindly to the police state we set up. But what can they expect when their own government won’t run a reconstruction program of their own, right?
GEORGE
You must be proud, having sacrificed so much for your nation.
STRANGER #2 begins to pick up on GEORGE’s sarcastic tone.
STRANGER #2
If what we’re doing in the Middle East puts an end to terrorism, for good, then I guess it’s worth my vision, yes.
GEORGE
You fool! Our nation’s activity in the Middle East has been a formality to create the Illusion of national security since day one. There will be no end to terrorism. You could have your vision today and we’d be no safer from bus bombings and hijackings.
STRANGER #2 defensively retracts his dog and raises his voice.
STRANGER #2
The best thing for our nation and the rest of the world is not for us to decide. The government bases their decisions on all sorts of withheld information. Neither of us understands the full picture. You need to take it easy. The USA is as strong as ever right now, and you can be assured that terrorist organizations are overseas with their heads in the sand. Good day.
As the troubled veteran makes his exit from the panel, the camera follows, over-shoulder. He bumps into STRANGER #3 and doesn’t bother to apologize as he quickens his pace into the distance. The camera now follows STRANGER #3, a well-dressed businessman, approximately thirty years old, as he brushes himself off from his collision with STRANGER #2 and quietly sits down on the far edge of George’s bench. GEORGE’s head is turned, examining the businessman who has already opened a copy of The New York Times to the stock pages. STRANGER #3 feels GEORGE’s eyes and introduces himself.
STRANGER #3
Hi, I’m Michael.
They shake hands.
GEORGE
George. Pleasure to meet you.
STRANGER #3 is shaken by the awkwardness of the interaction and buries his head in his paper again. Then he feels pressure to continue the conversation.
STRANGER #3
So how about that stock market? Do you follow?
GEORGE
I used to be a broker.
STRANGER #3
Oh yeah? Did you work anywhere around here?
GEORGE
Indeed. 40th floor, North Tower.
STRANGER #3
North Tower... North Tower as in the Twin Tower? You dodged a bullet, my friend.
GEORGE
I know it. I was one of the lucky ones.
Thoroughly impressed, STRANGER #3 sets down his paper.
STRANGER #3
My office is in the new building 7. I have a view of the memorial and everything. Thank God we’re out of the terrorism age. To have lived at the turn of the Millennium… I can only imagine. Our nation really cleaned up its act. Gotta give credit to the troops and all the new security developments, as annoying as some of them are.
GEORGE is clearly angered by STRANGER #3’s self-assurance, but remains calm. The camera captures various scenes of the city. All seems to be well.
GEORGE
WTC7 fell before, and it can fall again. The worst thing you can do in this day and age is fall into a false sense of security. The government does what it can, but at the end of the day, terrorism cannot be stopped. No security system is perfectly effective, and no war effort can entirely solve our problems.
The shot returns to the bench from behind. GEORGE has STRANGER #3 intrigued.
GEORGE
Sometimes I fear for this city. Less has changed since 2001 than people realize. The Big Apple is no less of a target than it was half a century ago. In fact, if I were trying to make a point as a terrorist, the Freedom Tower would be precisely my target.
STRANGER #3 is now visibly frightened. He folds his paper and prepares to leave.
STRANGER #3
You had me going for a while there. Just as I start to buy into your ideas you prove to be a lunatic. Figures. All right sir, thanks for the entertaining conversation, but I’ve got to get to work.
GEORGE
Stay safe.
STRANGER #3 exits the shot, left. After a glance at his watch, GEORGE also gets up and slowly exits the shot, right. The camera remains static. Suddenly, the sound of a distant explosion. Smoke rises, and alarms compound and increase in volume until the screen smash-cuts to black.
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