Golkar's Screenplay

Scene 1:

It’s nighttime in a quiet suburb near San Francisco. There are 3 unmarked black vans parked outside a house. 6 security officers loom over the household’s family members who are on the lawn. The family is on their knees, with their hands behind their heads.

Marcus is roused from his sleep by the commotion outside.

Marcus: What the hell?

Marcus peeps out at the scene below from his bedroom window. He recognizes the family as the Yavaris, an Iranian-American family. Marcus creeps downstairs to investigate the scene. Just as he’s about to step outside, the lights flash on.

Father: Marcus, where do you think you’re going?

Marcus: I’m just going outside for a sec, pops. Gotta see what’s going on with the neighbors.

Father places his hand on Marcus’ shoulder

Father: Marcus, it isn’t any of our business. We need to stay out of it.

Marcus: But we know the Yavaris… they’re good people. We both know the government has been targeting Muslims lately…

Father: The government is just trying to keep us safe, Marcus… Besides, you can never really know what some people are up to.

Marcus: Some people? Holy shit, Dad, we’ve known them for years… we’ve been to countless dinners, barbeques, and neighborhood events with them. How can you say that?

Father sighs and eyes Marcus warily.

Father: Just go to bed, Marcus. There’s nothing you can do.

Marcus: But da…

Father: Bed. Now.

Marcus glares at his father and storms upstairs to his room.

Scene 2:

Marcus is wandering around his neighborhood. He knocks on Mr. Irving’s (his neighbor) door. Mr. Irving opens the door and greets Marcus happily.

Mr. Irving: Good evening, Marcus! How are you faring?

Marcus: I’m alright, sir. I was just wondering if I could ask you something?

A look of uncertainty crosses Mr. Irving’s face.

Mr. Irving: Uh, go ahead, Marcus.

Marcus: It’s about the Yavaris… Do you know what happened to them last night?

Mr. Irving: Uh… no, I’m afraid not.

Marcus: But you live right next to them.

Mr. Irving takes a step back into his home and begins to close his door.

Mr. Irving: Look Marcus, I don’t know… and you should learn to mind your own business. It’ll save you a lot of trouble.

Mr. Irving slams his door shut. Marcus is left stunned at what just happened.

Scene 3:

It’s late at night. Marcus is trying to hack into the police database. After struggling for a while, he’s able to find the arrest records for the previous nights. He searches for the Yavaris and finds information regarding their arrest. The reason listed for the arrest is “suspicion of minority activity against the government.” The arrest provides no evidence or substantiation for this. Marcus is outraged.

Marcus: Those bastards…

Marcus takes a picture of the record with his phone and storms out of his room. He goes downstairs to confront his father.

Scene 4:

The family room. Father is sitting on a lounge chair, reading. Marcus storms into the room. Father is surprised. He peers up from his book.

Father: Marcus, what’s wrong?

Marcus: Dad, look at this.

He shows his father the picture of the arrest record.

Father: H..how did you get this?

Marcus: I hacked into the police database, but look, that’s not importa…

Father: You did what? Marcus, are you stupid? Are you trying to get yourself arrested?

Marcus: Dad, listen to me! The government is imprisoning innocent people based on nothing more than race. How is this not bothering you?

Father: Marcus… sometimes there are things in life that we just can’t change. We just have to accept that and move on. Getting yourself arrested by doing illegal stuff like this is not going to change things.

Marcus: So you’re just going to let this go? This is so fucked up, Dad…

Father: Yeah Marcus, I am. It’s the only thing I can do… You look tired, son, I think you should go to bed…

Marcus is shocked and hurt. He looks down at the floor and slowly walks back into his room. His father shakes his head as he watches him.

Scene 5:

The next day, Marcus contacts his friends, Jolu and Vanessa through an internet phone service.

Marcus: This is urgent. We need to meet as soon as possible.

Vanessa: What’s wrong, Marcus?

Jolu: Yeah… you’re scaring me, man..

Marcus: Look, I can’t explain online. We’re just gonna have to get together. Meet at the café at 6.

Vanessa: Alright, Marcus… we’ll come.

Scene 6:

Marcus, Jolu, and Vanessa meet at a local café. It is an overcast day in the city

Vanessa: Well Marcus, we’re here. What exactly is it that you want to discuss?

Marcus: A few days ago, my neighbors were arrested by the neighbors. We haven’t heard from them since. I checked the local arrest warrants and the only reason they listed for their incarceration is because they were Iranian.

Vanessa: Are you sure, Marcus? Maybe this is just one big misunderstanding.

Jolu: No, it’s not. The government has been doing this kind of shit lately. You’ve seen the news, haven’t you? Tons of brown and black people have been thrown into prison for no true reason.

Marcus: Exactly. It’s been getting worse these last few months. Can’t you see, Vanessa? The government has been targeting minorities.

Vanessa: So what do you want to do Marcus? Take down the government?

Marcus: I want to make people aware of what’s happening, that’s all. It’s not unreasonable, Vanessa.

Vanessa: You’re going to get yourself arrested… or worse.

Marcus: Maybe, but I have to do something. We have to do something…

Jolu: You know I’m with you, man.

Marcus: Vanessa?

Vanessa: I’m sorry Marcus. I can’t do this. I can’t see you do this to yourself. This is just going to end all bad.

Vanessa stands up and quickly walks out of the café.

Marcus: Damn…

Jolu: Don’t sweat it, bro. I’ll have your back. What’s the plan?

Scene 7:

Later that day… Marcus and Jolu go to the local police headquarters. They walk up to the desk sergeant.

Desk Sergeant: Good day, boys. How can I help you?

Marcus: Hello officer, we’re here to see Detective Alvarez regarding a crime.

Desk Sergeant: Names please.

Marcus: John Fritz and Jose Martinez.

The Desk Sergeant does a search on his computer. He looks back up at them and frowns.

Desk Sergeant: Neither of your names appear on our appointment registry…

Marcus: The server must be experiencing lag. We only made this appointment about 2 hours ago… Please, this is urgent.

The Desk Sergeant casts a suspicious gaze over them but unlocks the door to the precinct offices.

Desk Sergeant: Very well, gentlemen. You have 20 minutes to conduct your business. Don’t make me have to come get you.

Marcus and Jolu enter the precinct. They veer off into the server room.

Jolu: Is this it?

Marcus: Yeah, think so. Do you have the bugs?

Jolu: Yup. Let’s do this

Jolu hands Marcus the bugs. Marcus plants them.

Marcus: Alright, let’s get the hell out of here.

Marcus and Jolu leave the server room. On their way out, they run into the desk sergeant and 3 other officers.

Desk Sergeant: Hello there, boys. I just spoke to Detective Alvarez. He has no idea who you are. Mind telling me what business you have here?

Marcus: Uh, we were just curious. Wanted to see what a police station looked like from the inside…

Desk Sergeant: Really now? How bout we let you see what a jail cell looks like from the inside?

The officers handcuff Marcus and Jolu.

Scene 8:

Marcus and Jolu sit next to each other in a police interrogation room. A detective walks into the room and looms over them threateningly.

Detective Wilcox: Howdy boys. I’m detective Wilcox. I’ll be conducting this little questioning. What are your names? Your real ones?

Marcus and Jolu look at each other without saying anything.

Detective Wilcox: We know your little monikers are fake. There’s no use trying to hide anything. You’re only making it harder for yourself.

Marcus casts another glance at Jolu.

Marcus: I’m… I’m Marcus Yallow.

Jolu: And I’m Jolu Martinez.

The Detective grins.

Detective Wilcox: See… that wasn’t so hard. So, tell me. Why were you boys snooping around the police station?

Marcus: We just wanted to see what the inside of a precinct looked like. That’s all.

Detective Wilcox raises his right eyebrow.

Detective Wilcox: Really now? I don’t think it’s that simple. One of our camera shows you entering our server room.

Marcus: We, uh, both love computers. We wanted to see the kind of stuff that cops use.

Detective Wilcox: I see. Just some electronic connoisseurs are we?

Marcus: Yessir… But, um, look, are we going to be arrested?...

Detective Wilcox: No, boys. I could peg you for trespassing but I’m not going to do that. Instead, you’ll be left with a warning. We’ll be watching. Now get up. We’ll get you home.

Detective Wilcox leads Marcus and Jolu to the entrance of the police station. An officer waits there with his car to take them home.

Scene 9:

The police officer drops Marcus off at his house. He also has a conversation with Marcus’ father.

Marcus’ father is furious. He leads Marcus into the house and glares at him.

Father: What the hell is wrong with you, Marcus? You had me worried sick. I can’t believe you almost got yourself arrested.

Marcus: We were just looking around, dad. We didn’t do anything.

Father: Bullshit. I know you, Marcus. You’re up to something and I know it. Does it have something to do with the Yavaris?

Marcus: No dad, I swea…

Father: Lies. All lies. Look, it doesn’t matter what you’re up to but it ends now. You’re grounded for 3 months and I’m going to take all of your electronics.

Marcus looks at his father with disbelief. A look of indignation crosses his face.

Marcus: No. Screw this. I’m done.

Marcus pushes past his father and runs into his room. He grabs his computer and other essentials. Marcus hears his father walking upstairs so he climbs out his window and runs into the street.

After running for a while, Marcus ducks into an alley and calls Jolu. They agree to meet at a nearby abandoned warehouse.

Scene 10:

In a dark, abandoned warehouse.

Jolu: What’s the plan, man?

Marcus: We’re going to see what the bugs discovered.

Marcus views the information with his computer. He sees countless arrests based on nothing more than racial discrimination.

Marcus: I can’t believe this… all of these innocent people. What is the government doing?

Jolu: Oh god, Marcus. I’m Latino… they’re going to throw my ass in jail for life if they find out what I’m doing.

Marcus: Jolu, it’s okay. I promise you, I won’t let them.

Jolu: What are we going to do, Marcus?

Marcus: I’ll download this information and post it online. We’ll make sure the public is aware of this. They’ll have to do something to fight back.

Marcus downloads the arrest records to his flash drive. As he finishes, sirens are heard in the background.

Jolu: GODDAMNIT. Marcus, we have to go. NOW!

Marcus and Jolu grab their things and go sprinting out the back of the warehouse. They hear the police officers storm the warehouse.

They run for a while and eventually arrive at Jolu’s house. They sneak inside and go to Jolu’s room.

Scene 11:

In Jolu’s room.

Jolu: Marcus… I’m going to have to duck out, man. You know I have your back and all but if they catch me, I’m fucked. I’m brown, man, and you’re white. They’ll have my ass in chains. I just can’t do this anymore.

Marcus: But, Jo…

A contemplative look crosses Marcus’ face.

Marcus: You’re right. The consequences for you are too severe. Alright, Jolu, thank you for all you’ve done. I’ll handle it from here.

Jolu: Thanks, Marcus. I’m glad you understand. But hey man, as long as you encrypt the connection, you can use my desktop to post the police stuff.

Marcus: Alright. Let’s do this.

Marcus goes to various sites and post his findings. In a matter of minutes, the news is circulated around the entire internet. People are outraged. About an hour later, a march is planned on city hall.

Marcus: Excellent. This is just the beginning, Jolu.

Jolu: I hope nothing bad happens… Are you going?

Marcus: Of course.

Scene 12:

Thousands of people attend the protest. They surround city hall. Marcus is among them.

Marcus: (through a loudspeaker): WHAT DO WE WANT?

Crowd: (chanting) Down with government discrimination. Down with racism and bigotry!

Police offers line up in front of city hall. They try to disperse the crowd.

Police Captain: (through a loudspeaker) Attention, citizens. You are in violation of the trespassing act. Cease and desist or you will be detained.

Crowd: (chanting) NO. We will not go. NO. We will not go.

The police begin to fire tear gas into the crowd. At first the people cower but many rush forward. The cops are soon overwhelmed and the crowd piles into city hall.

Marcus is in the middle of them. The scene ends with Marcus looking troubled among the throngs of people. He is contemplating the uncertain future.