Written by

Ian McEachern

1.

FADE IN:

TWO MEN ARE SITTING IN THE BACK OF A VAN. ONE MAN IS POLISHING A SILVER PISTOL (PREFERABLY A BERETTA 92 INOX OR A SILVER COLT 1911) WITH A WHITE CLOTH; THE OTHER IS FIDGETING WITH A BLACK SKI MASK. SKI BOY IS INCREDIBLY NERVOUS ABOUT WHATEVER IT IS THEY’RE ABOUT TO DO. PISTOL BOY IS COMPLETELY CALM.

SKI BOY

This is suicide. You know that, right?

PISTOL BOY

Does it matter? We’re already dead.

SKI BOY

We’re only dead if we go through with this.

PISTOL BOY

We’ve been dead all our lives. You’re only alive if you’re free. We’ve never been free. We do this and we can change all that. We can make the world a better place. We’ll never be able to see it, but if we do this right, maybe the next generation will. Don’t chicken out now, this is the right thing to do and you know it.

SKI BOY

Do I? How the hell can you claim this is the right thing to do? (Starts to forget that he’s nervous and gets a little angry) The world’s views on what’s right and what’s wrong is so fucked up it couldn’t tell its asshole from its ear hole.

2.

PISTOL BOY

(Smiles for a second then looks serious again) Are you questioning my ethics? (Laughs a little at Ski boy) You’re here for the same reasons I am. (Looks serious) You’re just having second thoughts.

SKI BOY

Listen, just shut up and think about it for a second. What we’re about to do is going to have an effect on the world, be it big or small, and most people are going to think we’re the fucking Anti-Christ. Me? I think we’re right. You? You think we’re right too. But what if we’re not? Are you willing to risk doing the wrong thing? Are you willing to risk your life, and the lives of other people for what could be wrong? Immoral? Unethical?

PISTOL BOY

My beliefs say that what we are about to do is right. My ethics say I have chosen the right path. If I die, so be it. My ethics will not be buried with me. They will live on…

SKI BOY

(Speaking more to himself than Pistol Boy) Your ethics are already dead…

PISTOL BOY (cont’d)

…And if other people die? So what? I’ve just freed them from their ignorance, and what we start will slowly free others from their ignorance, and on and on until everyone is free. Then? Then they’ll all be alive.

SKI BOY

(Pauses, thinking about what has just been said) Give me your gun.

PISTOL BOY

What?

3.

SKI BOY

Give me your gun. Just let me look at it.

PISTOL BOY

(Hesitant and unsure of what Ski Boy is doing) Okay. (Still a little hesitant he hands Ski Boy his pistol)

SKI BOY

(Takes the now very shiny pistol) I’m going to keep it.

PISTOL BOY

What?

SKI BOY

I’m keeping it. It’s mine now. I just took something from you. Is that a moral thing to do?

PISTOL BOY

Fuck you. Give me my gun. (Reaches out expecting Ski Boy to give him back his gun.)

SKI BOY

(Ignoring Pistol Boy, he puts the gun to Pistol Boy’s head.) And if I took your life away? Would that be a moral thing to do?

PISTOL BOY

(Takes a deep breath. He’s no longer angry and reverts to being cool and calm.) What the fuck are you trying to prove?

SKI BOY

Maybe they don’t want you to take their ignorance away.

4.

PISTOL BOY

What?

SKI BOY

You said you were going to take their ignorance away. I took your gun away, and it was immoral. If I take your life, that’s immoral. Why? Because you still wanted it. You still want your gun. You still want to be alive. They still want to be ignorant.

PISTOL BOY

What are you talking about?

SKI BOY

Your ethics still say stealing is wrong. Everyone knows that. So are you sure stealing these people’s ignorance is right? How about stealing their lives? It seems the two are one and the same to you. Either way, is it a moral thing to do?

PISTOL BOY

This will make the world a better place.

SKI BOY

What if they don’t want it to be better? What if they’re happy with 9 to 5? And… (Was about to make a point then stops and thinks for a second) … fuck, that’s not the point. That’s not what I asked you. They obviously still want it. So is it moral to take that away from them?

PISTOL BOY

(Stops to think) Then I guess I checked morality at the door. I guess my beliefs and my ethics aren’t the same thing. But I know my beliefs are more important to me. So this is the crossroads my friend. Either you bury your ethics and your morality here, in order for your beliefs to survive, or you chicken out and leave.

5.

THE VAN COMES TO A STOP. BOTH MEN STOP FOR A SECOND AND GLANCE AT THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER SOMEHOW SIGNALS TO THE TWO MEN IT’S TIME TO GET OUT OF THE VAN WITHOUT LOOKING BACK AT THEM. (GIVE THE DRIVER A HEADSET OF SOMESORT TO EXPLAIN WHY HE HASN’T NOTICED WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE BACK OF THE VAN)

PISTOL BOY

This is where we get off. Are you coming? Or am I going in alone? And if I am going in alone, ask yourself, is it moral to abandon a friend and colleague on a job you signed up for?

SKI BOY

(Looks at Pistol Boy in the eyes, disgusted with Pistol Boy, and with what the two of them are about to do. He thinks carefully about what he is about to say. He gives a defeated sigh and takes the gun away from Pistol Boy’s head) I’m coming. (He hands Pistol Boy his gun, and puts on his ski mask) Let’s do this. (He pulls out his own gun)

PISTOL BOY

(Puts on his own ski mask, takes a deep breath then throws the van door open)

AS THE VAN DOOR OPENS FADE TO WHITE BEFORE WE SEE WHAT’S OUTSIDE.

FADE OUT