As the world falls into chaos, Arrow has to decide whether or not to save his old friend. |
Monthly Script Writing Contest (March)— Young Adult THE END "The Beginning of The End" TEASER FADE IN: INT. — OVAL OFFICE — LATE AFTERNOON — MARCH 4, 2145 JEZEBEL "BELLA" THORNE (35) President of United States, dark hair, slim, conniving, brutal, slams her hand against the Resolute desk before standing and pointing a finger at GENERAL NICANDRO MAXFIELD (55) commander of U.S. Strategic Command, gray hair, clean shaven, African American, blunt. JEZEBEL Are you refusing my order, General? NICANDRO Of course not, Madam President. However, I would advise you to take a moment and think this through. Such an extreme reaction will have long term repercussions to the entire nation. JEZEBEL (raises an eyebrow) You think this is a knee-jerk response, don't you, General? (sits and folds her hands on the desk) You think this is going to be like Hiroshima or Nagasaki, hmm? NICANDRO (clears his throat) If I could speak freely, Madam President? JEZEBEL (sighs) You've been like a second father to me, Nic. Go ahead, speak your mind. NICANDRO With all due respect, Madam (pause) JEZEBEL We're just two old friends talking right now, Nic. No need for formalities. NICANDRO With all due respect, Bella, if I follow this order the world will suffer more than when the bombs demolished Hiroshima and Nagasaki, two-hundred years ago. JEZEBEL (narrows her eyes) If you follow my orders? Nic, I might love you like a father but I'll have your ass thrown in jail for insubordination if I have to! NICANDRO Madam President, you are my Commander in Chief. I will not go against your orders. However, if you do this (pause) Well, do you really want to be remembered as the woman that started World War Three? JEZEBEL (shakes her head) I'm not the one that started it, Nic. But I will be the one to finish it. Give the order. I want Russia, China, and Mexico reduced to a pile of rubble before evening. NICANDRO (hesitates) Yes, Madam President. General Nicandro marches out of the Oval Office. Jezebel swivels in her chair, folds her hands into a tent, and stares out the window. JEZEBEL May God help us all. FADE OUT END TEASER ACT ONE FADE IN: EXT. — CABIN BY A LAKE — 4am — MAY 10, 2145 ARROW CHAN (34) Cantonese, serious, hardworking, single, stands on a short dock, fishing pole in hand. He reels his line, pulls a fish from the hook, and drops it in a bucket as MABEL O'CONNOR (34) red hair, freckled, short, shuffles up with two mugs of coffee. ARROW I take it Pierce is still asleep? MABEL (Irish accent) It was a long night. ARROW (casts his line back into the water) Did he catch anything? MABEL (Irish accent) (cocks her head) That's a rhetorical question, right? ARROW (shakes his head) When is he going to get it through his head that this isn't a joke? If he's out goofing around all night instead of doing his part, we're going to starve! MABEL (Irish accent) Don't be so dramatic, Arrow. We've got plenty of food, what with your fishing and the goats David keeps in the barn. ARROW Barn? Call it what it is, Mabel. It's a broken down shed. Just another thing I'll need to fix because my brother is too damn lazy to help. MABEL (Irish accent) Pierce helps in other ways. ARROW (scowls) You're only defending him because you're in love with him. MABEL (Irish accent) (nudges Arrow with her elbow) You think I picked the wrong twin, huh? ARROW He's too lazy to take care of you. And now that the whole world has gone to shit (pause) Do you really think he'll be able to protect you? MABEL (Irish accent) I brought you some coffee. Arrow smirks and pulls in his fishing line. He sets the pole down and takes the cup of coffee from Mabel's hand. ARROW Changing the subject, are we? Mabel wiggles her eyebrows at him and takes a sip of coffee from her own mug. ARROW Fine, then. David says old man Thompson's willing to trade a horse or two. We'll be heading out this afternoon, so you and Penny will have to keep an eye on things (mumbles) 'Cause God knows my brother won't. Arrow gathers up his pole and the bucket of fish and walks back to the cabin, leaving Mabel standing alone to watch the sun rise. FADE OUT END ACT ONE ACT TWO FADE IN: INT. — FARM KITCHEN — 3pm — MAY 10, 2145 Arrow and DAVID ARAS (35) long blond hair, muscular, glasses, sit at a wooden table in an old, country kitchen. BUTCH THOMPSON (52), overweight, balding, friendly, reaches out a pudgy hand. Arrow grins and shakes it. BUTCH It's a deal then, sonny. Two geldin's fer four milk goats. The missus shore will be glad to have some fresh milk 'round here a'gin. ARROW It's a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Thompson. DAVID (licks his lips and leans forward) Any news, Mr. Thompson? BUTCH I thought ya'd never ask. I was listenin' to the old ham last night and heard some mighty disturbin' things, boys. Seems it's not just Russia and Mexico that've retaliated 'gainst the good ole U.S. DAVID Are you saying our own people are (pause) BUTCH (interrupts) Folks in the big city are takin' the opportunity to go after each other. It's especially bad if'n ya speak Spanish or (blushes and looks away from Arrow) look like an Asian. Butch stands and grabs a plate of cookies hidden in the cupboard. He places it on the table as Arrow shakes his head in disbelief. All three men reach for a cookie, quiet as they chew and think. BUTCH They also say with all the bombin' and the rush on the stores, that folks are startin' to get low on food. Won't be long afore the pinch of a belly has men actin' like animals. ARROW I'm glad we got out to the country when when we did. I figured this would happen. DAVID (chuckles) My friend, the crazy prepper. ARROW (punches David playfully in the arm) Bet you're damn thankful for my stockpile, now! BUTCH Also heard some strange chatter 'bout the government lookin' for a group called (wrinkles his brow) Six Pack. ARROW Wh-what'd you say? DAVID (raises his eyebrows at Arrow) He said Six Pack. ARROW Any specifics on that chatter, Mr. Thompson? BUTCH (frowns) Well, let me remember. I recollect it was something to do with the President. She's lookin' fer a Six Pack. ARROW (whispers) Jezebel! DAVID (angry) No, Arrow. Let it go. She made her bed, now she can damn well lie in it! ARROW It's not that easy, David. She's our friend. One of the group. We made a pact, man! David pushes away from the table and stands. DAVID She broke the pact, Arrow! (nods at Butch) Thank you for the cookies and the news, Mr. Thompson. We'll be back with the goats by Friday. David settles his cowboy had on his head and walks away from the table. ARROW Thank you, Mr. Thompson. Arrow follows David outside. They both heft a heavy backpack to their shoulders and start walking down the driveway. DAVID (scowls) I'm not running to her rescue, Arrow. I've played this game before with her, it never ends well. Besides, she's got all her fancy advisors and bodyguards to watch over her, not to mention a well-fortified bunker! Trust me, she ain't hurting any! ARROW She's calling for us, David. The world is falling apart around her ears and she needs us. DAVID No, Arrow. She needs you. All I need is a hot bath and a warm bed, back in the relative safety of our home. David pushes ahead, stalking into the woods, leaving Arrow to stand alone on the empty road. FADE OUT END ACT TWO |