IN THE PURSUIT OF FREEDOM
INT. LUKE’S HOUSE – BEDROOM MORNING
LUKE sits up on his bed. There is a palpable silence as the camera zooms in on Luke.
LUKE (V.O)
My name is Luke Tyler. Throughout my entire life, I’ve never woken up without feeling fear. I am a Christian who struggles to exist in a progressive and anti-religious government. Day after day, I live as a target, in fear of what might happen if the government finds me out. Every moment of life is a struggle.
KITCHEN
LUKE’S DAD (DAVID) is sitting at the table eating breakfast watching the morning
news.
Luke walks downstairs and joins his dad from across the table with a bowl of cereal.
NEWS REPORTER (ON THE TELEVISION)
This just in from Washington D.C. Congress has passed a law authorizing the Department of Homeland Security to arrest any citizen suspected of being associated with any form of religion. The President states that all religion must be abolished in order to unify the country and carry out progressive policies without resistance.
Luke’s Dad turns off the TV.
Luke sighs as they look at each other with shock.
LUKE
I’m so tired of losing my rights and freedoms to a government that once promised them to me.
(Angrily)
And now I’ll be arrested for my beliefs.
(In a somber tone)
What are we going to do dad?
LUKE’S DAD
Luke, we have no choice but to do what we’ve been doing. We have to continue hiding our faith. You know what they’d do to us.
LUKE (agitated)
Dad you don’t understand! All my life I’ve been marginalized by government policies at school. It’s like I can’t have an identity unless it’s the one the government forces on me. You know I can’t tolerate living in a country where I can’t practice or share my beliefs. It’s what I live for.
Luke’s dad puts his hand on Luke’s shoulder
LUKE’S DAD
I know son, but there’s just nothing we can do right now. All we can do is wait.
Luke stands up.
LUKE
I’ve been waiting my whole life for things to get better, but things have only gotten worse. I’m hungry for the freedom this government has stolen from me. No more waiting. I’m going to do something about it.
Luke walks towards the front door.
LUKE’S DAD (in a loud voice)
Luke, where are you going?
The door opens and then slams as Luke walks out.
EXT. TEN STORY BUSINESS BUILDING – AFTERNOON
There is a sign outside the building that says ‘DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY’.
Camera zooms in on the sign.
INT. DHS BUILDING – WAR ROOM
The Director of Homeland Security of the Bay Area is finishing a speech to
employees who are sitting behind computers.
DIRECTOR (LIEUTENANT PALMER)
Now that Congress has commanded and authorized us to arrest all citizens affiliated with religion, we need to crack down on finding suspected perpetrators for the greater good of the United States.
A DHS worker is working on his computer when he comes across something. He nods with approval of his work.
DHS worker looks up from his computer at PALMER who is at the front of the room.
DHS WORKER
Lieutenant Palmer, I think I’ve found something.
Palmer walks over to his computer.
DHS WORKER
I found this recording from a home we tapped a couple of weeks ago due to our suspicion that this family opposes government policies and practices Christianity.
The DHS Worker hits play on his computer.
They both listen.
COMPUTER RECORDING OF LUKE
“All my life I’ve been marginalized by government policies at school. It’s like I can’t have an identity unless it’s the one the government forces on me. You know I can’t live in a country where I can’t practice or share my beliefs. It’s what I live for.”
Lieutenant Palmer
Send a dispatch to the police to go to the Tyler home and arrest this boy immediately.
EXT. A HOUSE IN SAN FRANCISCO – NIGHT
Luke walks under a street lamp on a street corner and up the steps to the front of the house. He rings the doorbell.
NICK opens the door.
NICK (surprised)
Luke, it’s late. Is everything alright?
LUKE
No Nick. Can I talk to you for a little while?
NICK
For sure man. Come on in.
Luke walks into the house and Nick closes the door.
INT. NICK’S HOUSE – FAMILY ROOM
They walk into the living room and sit on couches that are opposite each other. There is a fireplace behind them.
LUKE
I came over here because I’m scared Nick. All of my life I’ve had to hide my beliefs, and now the government is threatening to arrest me if they find out I’m a Christian. I’m so tired of being oppressed, and it’s only going to be a matter of time before they come after me.
NICK
Well what are you going to do about it?
LUKE
I don’t know man. That’s the problem; my dad is sitting around like always saying it’ll be alright. That we just need to wait in hiding til things get better, but I just think it’ll only get worse (Luke lowers his head). I want freedom more than anything, but what can I do to find it.
Nick sits up on the couch.
NICK
Look man it seems to me like you’ve gotta get away. Like you said, it’s only a matter of time before the DHS finds you out. (Emphatically) If you really want your freedom, you should flee the country.
LUKE
You think so? What about my dad?
NICK
Luke, you’re almost 18. It’s time you make your own decision. And I know your dad has always wanted what’s best for you. I think he’d understand and that he’d be happy that you’d finally get what you want. Get this, my cousin is a boat captain and he’s heading down to Mexico tomorrow morning. I could get you on that boat.
LUKE (smiling)
Really? That would mean the world to me. I think my dad will understand. It’s gonna be tough, but for freedom I’d do anything.
NICK
Feel free to stay the night. We’ll get going early in the morning.
They both stand up and walk upstairs.
EXT. LUKE’S HOUSE – EARLY MORNING
Two cops walk up to the front door and ring the doorbell.
Luke’s dad opens the door.
COP 1
David Tyler, you’re under arrest for housing a perpetrator of the law. Now, where is your son Luke?
Luke’s dad looks stunned and then begins to cry.
LUKE’S DAD (muffled voice)
I don’t know! He left yesterday without telling me where he was going. He’s a good kid. Please don’t harm my son.
COP 2
That’s irrelevant Mr. Tyler. He’s a perpetrator of the law and a flight risk so we’re going to find him. Now come with us.
Cop 1 handcuffs Luke’s dad and they walk towards the cop car.
INT. NICK’S HOUSE – ENTRYWAY
Nick and Luke walk downstairs and out the front door.
NICK
Lets go dude. The boat leaves from the pier in 30 minutes.
EXT. NICK’S HOUSE – DRIVEWAY – MORNING
Nick and Luke get in the car. They back out of the driveway and drive down the road.
CUT TO
EXT. STREET NEXT TO THE PIER – MORNING
Nick and Luke are driving and they see the boat at the pier.
NICK
There’s your ticket to freedom.
LUKE
I just can’t believe this is happening.
Right after Luke says this, Nick sees cop lights in his rearview mirror.
NICK
Hey Luke. I think we’ve got a problem.
Luke looks back, sees the lights, and sighs.
Nick pulls over and the cops get out of their vehicle.
NICK
Lets just act normal. We’ll be fine.
The cops approach the car.
COP 1 (to Luke)
Are you Luke Tyler?
Luke
Yes that’s me.
COP 1
Then you’re under arrest for your faith and trying to flee the country. Get out of the vehicle.
COP 2 handcuffs Luke and escorts him back to the cop car. He opens the door, forces Luke into the backseat, and closes it.
Luke is sitting in the backseat with a straight face.
LUKE (V.O)
I don’t feel sad, surprised, or even worried. I feel hopeless. Hopeless for my life and the corrupt government that has taken it. The same government that once promised life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness to all its citizens. The government that said they wouldn’t interfere with religion. We are all bound, bound by the government to never obtain the happiness we were promised. The pursuit of freedom is an impossible quest. It is unattainable. When one tries to dream or reach for freedom, the government is always there to take it back. What is my life purpose if the government doesn’t let me express it. We all walk blindly, allowing corruption to lead us though many of us will never know it.
The camera zooms out off of Luke and the cop car drives away into the distance.
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