A Micro Film Screenplay, 2018

INT. BEDROOM – MORNING

R78 is asleep in bed. We don’t see his face, but we do see
his arm hanging over the edge of the bed with his id
number, R78-05-1120, written on it.

On the edge of the bed, near his head, is a single speaker.
The light comes on and the speaker clicks and hums to life.
The voice of the DIGITAL ASSISTANT comes from the speaker.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT

Good Morning, R78! It’s time to get up! Temperature is 75 degrees,
high of 95, your should leave the house by 7:29 to arrive at work on time.

R78 stirs under the covers but doesn’t move.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT (CONT’D)

R78, it’s time to get up! Here, I’ll play an upbeat song to help you start your day up right.

A piece of stock generic pop music plays.

R78 rolls over, his feet hit the floor and he walks to the bathroom.

INT. BATHROOM – DAY

DIGITAL ASSISTANT

Make sure you wash your hands before you put in your contact lenses.

R78 washes his hands.

We see from R78’s point of view as he looks at the ceiling and puts in a contact lens.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT (CONT’D)

Now look in the mirror and say: ‘I love you. I love my life. I love the President.’

Looking at the mostly closed door of the bathroom, we hear R78 mumbling into the mirror.

Quick succession of shots of showering – handle on the shower, water pouring out of the faucet, pouring out shampoo, and grabbing a towel.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT (CONT’D)

I thought you might like to listen to your favorite political opinions this morning.

The speaker hums as another, more distant voice is added.

POLITICAL PUNDIT

It’s the same old story. The local senators are claiming that-

(He adopts a mocking tone)

‘we just want to be sure this course of action is in line with
the interest of the people.’

(He returns to his normal voice)

Give me a break. Their speakers work fine, it’s not like they
aren’t getting instructions. They know what they’re told, they know
what the President wants, and they’re too stupid to do it.

That’s the problem, people! Following the speaker’s instructions is the price we pay for a civilized society. When there are deviations like this it
causes problems, and sometimes takes a long time to fix.

R78 gets a pair of trousers, a belt, and shoes from various drawers. He looks through his meticulously arranged row of collared shirts.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT

You should go with the blue one.

R78 reaches for a shirt.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT (CONT’D)

The other blue one.

R78 grabs another shirt. He buttons up the cuffs. He ties his shoes.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT (CONT’D)

7:10. It’s time for breakfast.

INT. KITCHEN – DAY

R78 opens the fridge.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT

It appears your levels of protein and Vitamin D are low. You should have an egg for breakfast.

R78 cracks an egg into a pan directly on his dinner table. The egg cooks in a matter of seconds and he transfers it to his plate.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT (CONT’D)

Your egg is done cooking…

R78 puts his fork under the egg and is about to pick it up when he’s interrupted by a command.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT (CONT’D)

…Enjoy with salt and pepper!

R78 stops in the middle of picking up the egg with his fork. He sets it back down to get salt and pepper. He salts and peppers the egg and setting down the pepper he accidentally hits the edge of his fork and flips the egg onto the ground.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT (CONT’D)

It’s almost time to leave, you should get your wallet and keys.

(Interrupts itself)

It appears your levels of protein and Vitamin D are low. You should have an egg for breakfast.

R78 cleans up the egg. He gets another egg and is about to crack it when he’s interrupted by the speaker.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT (CONT’D)

Your egg is done cooking… Enjoy with salt and pepper!

(Interrupts itself)

You’re running late, you should get your wallet and keys.

INT. BEDROOM – MORNING

The wallet isn’t on its spot on the nightstand. R78 starts searching frantically around his room for it; looking in his bed covers, bathroom drawers, the upper deck of the toilet maybe.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT

You should make sure your ID card is in your wallet, just to be sure.

(Interrupts itself)

Your egg is done cooking. Enjoy with salt and pepper!

(Interrupts itself)

It appears your levels of protein and Vitamin D are low. You should have an egg for breakfast.

POLITICAL PUNDIT
(Interrupting DIGITAL ASSISTANT in a burst of static)

They think that the President doesn’t know anything, or maybe they think it’s not his will they hear on their speakers everyday. They’re not being sensitive to the concerns of groups besides themselves. They think what they want matters more than what other people want? Especially when that other person is the President? I don’t think so!

DIGITAL ASSISTANT
(Talking over the ongoing voice of the POLITICAL PUNDIT)

It’s time to get up! I’ll play an upbeat song to help you start your day up right.

The pop song starts playing over itself, adding to the audio confusion.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT (CONT’D)

Temperature is 75 degrees, high of 95, your should leave the house by 7:29 to arrive at work on time.

DIGITAL ASSISTANT (CONT’D)

Good morning, R78.

R78 grabs the speaker and stuffs it under his pillow. It continues making a muffled noise.

R78 gets a flashlight out of a drawer and looks under his bed. He pulls out a record and a book. He puts on the record of Beethoven.

He locks the door.

R78 sits on the bed, opens the book, and reads.

Fade to black