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Day 16 Assignments
Reply to post assignment.
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4 Replies
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Rob Springfield’s Completed Act 2 Draft 1
What I learned doing this assignment is to concentrate on getting the first draft written down with 20% quality, then rewrite the other levels of quality incrementally.
OUTLINE REMAINING SCENES ACT 2
INT. SLEEPER CABIN – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Jeff’s consoles Julie after she becomes emotional. She opens up to him about her feelings and him being totally honest to her. He begins to melt.
[PLACEHOLDER: THEME: Mask comes up between Julie and Jeff]
MIDDLE: They share a passionate kiss. He wants to be completely honest, he is going to tell her the truth about everything.
END: Mark and Ann burst in and start telling on one another. All begin to argue like normal.
INT. BAR – NIGHT
BEGINNING: The men tell John Stein that all the cameras at the lab were scrambled during the break-in so nothing can be traced to them.
MIDDLE: John discusses their first move in getting the app back as quickly as possible.
END: They tell John they know the exact location of Mark as they speak. John sets the seizure in motion (and makes a call).
INT. TRUCKSTOP – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Manny talks with someone on the phone about Mark’s whereabouts.
MIDDLE: Manny tells his men exactly what to do when they get to the station.
END: Manny tells the men not to kill them until after the money is securely transferred and other details are secured.
INT. BAGGAGE CAR – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Mark studies some files on the phone app for several beats.
MIDDLE: FLASHBACK: Dr. Green talks to Mark about the emergency/critical files and…there’s and interruption…John Stein’s men bombard the lab.
END: Mark has a revelation and begins downloading/uploading like mad, he figured out Dr. Green’s encryption?
PLACEHOLDER: [The phone has a shut down mechanism installed after 24 hours that Mark has to figure out]?
INT. TRAIN/SOFTWARE LABORATORY – NIGHT
BEGINNING: Mark craftily lifts a PASSENGER’S cell phone and duck off.
MIDDLE: Mark makes a call to the software laboratory.
END: At the laboratory, a PHONE RING can be HEARD as Dr. Green lies motionless near a desk.
INT. SLEEPER CAR – DAY
BEGINNING: Manny’s men force Jeff inside, they terrify Julie and Ann with the knives on them. Julie finds out that Jeff owes big money, and the shooting was for real.
MIDDLE: They force Jeff to pull up the account on a computer to siphon it. Mark fiddles with the app from outside the door. [PLACEHOLDER: UNKNOWN TO JEFF MARK PUT A BOOBY TRAP ON THAT ACCOUNT WHICH LINKS TO THE APP]
END: When Jeff clicks MAKE TRANSFER a blackout on the train occurs….(TE)Mark becomes fearless, he and Jeff thrash the men…all escape off the train.
INT. ROAD/AIRPORT – NEW MEXICO – DAY
BEGINNING: Mark and Jeff hitch a ride on the back of a truck, Julie and Ann slam Jeff and Mark for lying.
MIDDLE: Jeff tells the truth on the ride to the airport. They still don’t know about Mark’s truth concerning the app.
END: They board the plane at the airport unnoticed or so they think. The killers are already seated and waiting on them.
INT. PLANE (MOVING)
BEGINNING: The family is lured out of their seats by a note that is passed around. They are taken to a lower compartment. Jeff tries to resist and gets stabbed. The rest of them become submissive and cooperative.
MIDDLE: They take the phone from Mark (he gives them a different phone) so he won’t try the same thing. They plan to kill Jeff right there, since they know Mark can access the account as well. Just as they’re about to slice Jeff’s neck, Mark fiddles with something in pocket…the alarm sounds all over…the plane shakes and shutters. Mark subdues the killers.
END: The plane makes an emergency landing at a municipal airport. The family escapes to a strip mall nearby.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by Robert Springfield.
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This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by
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Subject: Arial’s Finish Act 2 – Scene Outlines
What I learned doing this assignment is…that I might have too much going into my story! I might need to trim some things down, but for now, I’ll keep the scenes. I’m sure the paring will come once the first full draft of the script is written and I have a real page count.
INT. GREYMORE MANSION – DAY
BEGINNING: After Aylen is sent to prison, Tirandal Qiren (the royal clerk who questioned Aylen) marches home to confront his mother, Lady Haera Greymore.
MIDDLE: She is involved with Baron von Abel in some conspiracy to overthrow the throne and give the ruler of Mastonia passage to lay siege upon the Eastern Kingdoms. All of this was in the “secret admirer” letter he just burned.
END: Although Qiren wants to leave the city at once, Lady Greymore tells him she’ll have him imprisoned as a traitor once she becomes queen of Solinta. He isn’t going anywhere.
INT. ROYAL SOLINTA COURT CHAMBERS – DAY
BEGINNING: Dylan, Key and Aylen’s closest friends plea for her to be released and ask where she is. They have appealed for weeks and are getting nowhere.
MIDDLE: Tirandal Qiren apologizes, but says there’s nothing he can do. Aylen had evidence upon her and failed the truth rod inquisition (he’s lying). She was imprisoned for crimes against the crown and for being an accessory to conspiracy in this war with Mastonia that has just started. And he now has word in hand that says she has been executed. It is too late.
END: Everyone is heartbroken and Kylantha “faints”, falling into Dylan’s arms.
INT. FORTRESS OF VALNA – MONTAGE – PASSAGE OF TIME
BEGINNING: A compilation of scenes showing Aylen and Syndra digging their way out of the prison.
MIDDLE: We see them executing the plan they have set in motion to escape, and how they’re able to keep up with the prison schedule of feeding and the emptying of the chamber pots to disguise their efforts as well as appear on time for every prison check-in. They come close to being caught on a couple of occasions! And poor Aylen gets the crap beat out of her regularly by her “favorite” hulking female guard.
END: Through this passage of time, we not only see their physical process of digging a tunnel, but we also see how Aylen is gaining in strength and caring less about being bullied. She’s learning not to be a doormat.
INT. PALACE OF RADARIO – DAY
BEGINNING: Having been away at the Lyceum of Lourean to learn magic, Kylantha has now returned home to Radario to discover her father (Cormyn) and Lady Greymore betrayed the king and allowed the Blood Lord of Mastonia passage into the kingdom. The king was imprisoned and Baron von Abel (Key’s father) and Lady Haera Greymore were crowned the new rulers as a reward.
MIDDLE: However, the Blood Lord lost the battle against the Eastern Kingdoms and retreated to Mastonia. Cormyn and Haera continue to sit on the throne, letting the rightful ruler rot in the dungeon, and they are expecting a child, leaving Kylantha with no claim to the throne. Key doesn’t like playing second fiddle to the new baby, so in the guise of “protecting the throne”, Kylantha overthrows her father, killing him and his queen. Kylantha also shares the dreadful news with the kingdom that the king of Solinta died in the dungeons (he did, but she killed him after she killed her father and new wife).
END: As the hero of the kingdom, Kylantha now assumes the throne.
INT. FORTRESS OF VALNA – NIGHT
BEGINNING: We are privy to two important discussions Aylen and Syndra have:
MIDDLE: 1) How exactly did Aylen get betrayed and who was at the bottom of it? They’re only able to figure out a part of it, but now know Qiren was protecting someone because of the letter he burned and the connection of Lady Greymore to Qiren’s changed verdict. And 2) what their hopes and dreams were prior to being locked away. For Aylen, she wanted to marry Dylan and just got offered partnership in the tavern. For Syndra, to become a powerful sorceress and discover a major archaeological find, and she did both of those.
END: This is where Syndra confesses that the treasure she was suspected of finding was indeed real, but she didn’t want to give it over to the king because of how dangerous it was. The King of Solinta is a corrupt man and she wasn’t going to let such a powerful relic fall into the wrong hands. (The women talk about what they want, but neither of them have what they need, nor are they aware of it.)
INT. PALACE OF RADARIO – DAY
BEGINNING: Qiren has a position as a jewel of the crown – one of seven seats on the council to the throne of Solinta. When an advisory meeting is concluded, Qiren stays behind and though Queen Kylantha is charming and sweet to him, her demeanor changes when he tosses a bloody letter at her. He’s caught one of her little assassins trying to take him out and this letter is proof of her attempts to eliminate him.
MIDDLE: He reminds her that he still has agents in place, of whom she knows nothing about, who will release the truth upon his death. He dies, and the whole kingdom will know all her dirty little secrets – how she originally helped her father aid the war, allowed the Blood Lord access to the Eastern Kingdoms and when he betrayed her and left her out of the plans, she turned on him and executed the king in order to take the throne. All of which overshadow the one main piece of damning evidence in the eyes of the one she really wants – Dylan. He will make sure Dylan knows that Key is responsible for putting Aylen in prison and therefore the one who killed her as if she wielded the executioner’s blade with her own two hands.
END: He claims he has more pull in this kingdom than she does. She’ll be ruined if she tries something like his assassination again.
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DAY 16 ASSIGNMENT
Bob Rowen Has Completed Act 2 (20 % Draft)
What I learned doing this assignment is that the speed writing process at 20% quality is beneficial to me moving forward!!
Outline More Act 2 Scenes
INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT (admits to Kathryn he was wrong)
BEGINNING: Virgil is quiet and generally moping
MIDDLE: Kathryn wants to know what’s wrong
END: Virgil’s balloon has burst when he realizes PGE’s big lie
INT. EDGAR’S OFFICE – MORNING (reaction to TP)
BEGINNING: Virgil confronts Edgar
MIDDLE: He argues for reducing unnecessary radiation exposure
END: Edgar doesn’t buy Virgil’s argument
INT. COLD MACHINE SHOP – MORNING (a series of scenes starting in the Cold Machine Shop involving the intentional release of contaminated pipe to G&R Scrap Metal Company).
BEGINNING: Virgil is conducting a weekly routine clean area survey
MIDDLE: Virgil finds a section of radioactively contaminated pipe where it shouldn’t be
END: Virgil determines the rest of it was illegally released to an unsuspecting third party and then covered up.
INT. RAD PROTECTION DESK – MORNING (a series of scenes starting at the Rad Protection Desk involving three GC Painters who were discovered to be radioactively contaminated and had not been in the radiation controlled area for four days).
BEGINNING: Skidmore and Virgil are conducting a survey of painting equipment for the three-man painting crew
MIDDLE: They discover that all three painters are contaminated and that they haven’t been in the radiation controlled area of the plant for four days
END: Virgil recommends surveys for all the areas the men have visited (their homes and where ever they traveled) during the last four days and PGE nuclear plant management turned down the recommendation.
INT. COUNTING ROOM – EARLY MORNING (Dempster dumpster)
BEGINNING: Virgil report to work and finds his data missing
MIDDLE: He checks with the Graveyard shift foreman who suggests it’s in the trash
END: Virgil find hand written torn up drafts in the dumpster
INT. CHANGE ROOM – EARLY MORNING (a series of scenes starting in the change room of access control concerning the flushing of incores resulting in a radiation accident that grossly contaminated Skidmore and Virgil).
BEGINNING: Virgil joins Skidmore at Minus 66 to flush incores
MIDDLE: There is an serious radiation accident under the reactor and they are grossly contaminated
END:
INT. COLD INSTRUMENT SHOP – LUNCH (Instr shop and Virgil heads home)
BEGINNING: McCrea, Skidmore, Forrest, and Virgil discuss what happened a Minus 66
MIDDLE: Virgil says Edgar claims what happened is just a nuisance, nothing more
END: Edgar pointed out he, Warren, and Skidmore has done it many more times and they’re fine
INT. GRACIE’S HOOL HALL – EARLY AFTERNOON (Two scenes starting at Gracie’s, Virgil stops to tip a few on his way home then tell Kathryn he got crapped up at work this morning)
BEGINNING: Virgil enters and the bartender asks what happened to him
MIDDLE: Virgil goes home and Kathryn wants to know what wrong.
END: Virgil says he got crapped up and had to go through decon
INT. UNION HALL – NIGHT (plan fails because union wouldn’t support it)
BEGINNING: Virgil and Forrest arrives early and they discuss lifelines over an open reactor
MIDDLE: Radiation protection engineer agreed lifelines should be used
END: But Edgar did not support him
EXT. ROADWAY – MORNING (Two scenes setting up a safety meeting)
BEGINNING: Virgil and Forrest get pumped up about the upcoming safety meeting
MIDDLE: Virgil brings up the reactor water and off-gas exposure problem
END: Nuclear management gets pissed off
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – AFTERNOON (Warren calls for a meeting about what happened at the safety meeting)
BEGINNING: All available nuclear employees are called into a meeting
MIDDLE: Warren declares what took place at the safety meeting better never happen again
END: Edgar takes the meeting over, then tees off on Virgil and Virgil reacts
Write out these scenes:
INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Virgil and Kathryn are in the living room. Kathryn gets up and turns the T.V. off.
KATHRYN
What’s bothering you?
VIRGIL
Why do you ask?
KATHRYN
You just haven’t been your regular ole ornery self for the past couple of days. Something’s going on. What is it?
VIRGIL
You know that Forrest and I went to the University the other night to do some research —
Virgil pauses with a blank stare across the room.
KATHRYN
So?
VIRGIL
Well, we found out or maybe I should say I found out that PGE has been lying to its employees.
KATHRYN
What are the lies the Company is telling the employees?
VIRGIL
Just one big lie suggesting our occupational exposure limits are safe. That’s simply not true!
KATHRYN
That’s not what you told me.
VIRGIL
I know because I was taken in by PGE’s claim in the Company’s Radiation Protection Manual body has the ability to heal itself from radiation damage in the same way it heals itself from minor burns, abrasions, cuts and so forth. Our research produced an overwhelming amount of evidence proving PGE claims are false. And what’s more, the Atomic Energy Commission is complicit in PGE’s big lie!
Kathryn settles back in her chair with an understanding smile.
VIRGIL
And yes honey, you were right and I need to listen more to you.
KATHRYN
What are you going to do?
VIRGIL
I don’t rightly know at this point except that I do have a moral duty to protect people and the environment from harm.
INT. EDGAR’S OFFICE – MORNING
Virgil taps on Edgar’s open door.
EDGAR
Good morning, Virgil. What can I do for you?
VIRGIL
Do you have a few minutes to chat with me or would there be a better time?
EDGAR
Sure. Come on in and please, have a seat. What’s on your mind?
VIRGIL
It has to do with radiation exposure. I’ve come across some information that all exposure to ionizing radiation is harmful and that it would be a good idea if we made every effort to reduce unnecessary exposure.
EDGAR
Don’t you think we do that?
VIRGIL
I’ve seen times when we could eliminate excessive exposure in our radiation work permits and the way we go about doing things.
EDGAR
We have quarterly and annual limits on our exposure and we sure in the hell comply with them. So what the problem?
VIRGIL
What I’m trying to say is we’d be better off if we could do a job for let’s say 50 mr of exposure instead of 300 mr. We don’t make that kind of effort because we have these arbitrary limits that are considered safe.
EDGAR
They are safe if we stay within them because the body can recover from the exposure. Didn’t you read our Radiation Protection Manual?
VIRGIL
Yes, I read it and the information I’ve come across disagrees with that.
EDGAR
Virgil, you’d be better off staying with what the Company is saying rather than whatever it is you’ve read. But I’ll tell you what. If you see a situation where we can reasonably reduce exposure, just work it out with your first-line supervisor. Now I’ve got to get back to work.
INT. COLD MACHINE SHOP – MORNING
Virgil is conducting a routine C-Area survey in the power plant’s cold machine shop. No one is visible in the large shop. Virgil is listening to the sporadic clicking of background noise in the headset of his GM (radiation counter) while he walks alongside of the long fabrication bench when suddenly the clicking sound explodes in his headset. Virgil has found a highly radioactively contaminated piece of pipe at the end of the bench in an area where it shouldn’t be. He takes off his headset and hears someone working behind a welding curtain at the east end of the shop. Virgil walks down to the end of the shop and enters the welder’s cubicle.
INT. WELDER’S CUBICLE – CONTINUOUS
VIRGIL
Hey, do you know anything about the large section of pipe on the workbench out there?
WELDER
Yeah, I put it there.
VIRGIL
Did you know that it’s crapped up?
WELDER
No.
VIRGIL
Where’d you get it?
WELDER
Picked it out of the scrap metal bin a couple of days ago. I’m going to make a lead lined pig out of it. Hell, there’s a whole lot more just like it out there. Don’t handle it any more and keep everyone else away from it until I get back.
Virgil leaves.
EXT. SCRAP METAL BINS – CONTINUOUS
Virgil is looking at empty bins. He leaves visibly frustrated and upset. He enters the Maintenance Foreman’s office.
VIRGIL
What happened to the stuff in the scrap metal bins?
MAINTENANCE FOREMAN
G&R Scrap Metal Company picked it up yesterday.
VIRGIL
Where’s the paperwork on it?
MAINTENANCE FOREMAN
I don’t know.
VIRGIL
What do you mean you don’t know. You take care of that stuff.
MAINTENANCE FOREMAN
I usually do but the front office handled this one.
VIRGIL
Where’d that pipe come from?
MAINTENANCE FOREMAN
Unit 3. All that pipe came out of the suppression chamber and it had to be cut up to get it out of there. Why are you asking?
VIRGIL
Because one piece of that suppression chamber pipe is on the workbench in the shop all crapped up. And I assume you did not see an unconditional release tag on that material.
MAINTENANCE FOREMAN
Nope.
Virgil leaves the foreman’s office.
INT. COLD MACHINE SHOP – CONTINUOUS
Virgil makes a phone call. A little while later, the acting radiation protection engineer, JERRY BOOTS, arrives.
BOOTS
Sorry it took so long.
VIRGIL
This section of pipe is contaminated and it’s reasonable to assume the other sections are as well. So we need to go to G&R and retrieve all that pipe and survey it out properly.
BOOTS
Ain’t gonna happen because Edgar said he’s seen the paperwork on it.
INT. RAD PROTECTION DESK – MORNING
Control technicians Skidmore and Virgil are working the Rad Protection Desk. Phone rings. Skidmore answers it.
SKIDMORE
Okay, we’ll get right on it.
Skidmore hangs up,
SKIDMORE
The CG painters need to have their equipment surveyed out. It’s on the dirty side of the railroad gate. I’ll go across the step-off pad and you can go down to the clean side of the gate. The painters are waiting there as we speak. Take a GM with you because you’ll get better background readings on your side.
EXT. RAILROAD GATE – CONTINUOUS
The three-man painting crew is waiting on the clean side of the gate. JAKE JACKSON (late 40s)is the foreman.
VIRGIL
Good morning fellas. Skidmore will show up shortly. Where were you guys working and for how long?
JACKSON
We worked in several places all last week but mostly in Minus 14 Thursday and Friday.
Skidmore shows up and immediately starts surveying the equipment but has trouble getting good readings with his GM.
SKIDMORE
I’e been having trouble with this damn thing
Virgil lays down a sheet of acetate and suggests to have the equipment pushed over onto it so he can make the surveys.
VIRGIL
It’s all looking good.
Jackson steps up to take a closer look at Virgil’s reading.
VIRGIL
What the fuck?
Virgil puts the GM probe closer to Jackson.
VIRGIL
For Christ’s sake, Jackson. You’re all crapped up. Go over to Skidmore.
JACKSON
I don’t understand why I’m contaminated. I ain’t been in the controlled area since last monday.
VIRGIL
Last Monday?
JACKSON
That’s when we finished our job in Unit 3.
VIRGIL
That means you’ve traveled around in that condition for four days. Were you wearing those same clothes on Monday.
JACKSON
Yeah, you know us painters.
VIRGIL
Go on over there and join Skidmore.
JACKSON
In my street clothes?
VIRGIL
Hell yeah, you’re crapped up and on your way to the decon stations.
Virgil turns around and puts the GM probe on them and they’re also crapped up.
VIRGIL
You guys get on over there with Jackson!
SKIDMORE
I’ll get these guys to access control and the decon stations. I’ll check the sign-in log sheet for last Monday.
VIRGIL
This equipment is okay. I’ll tag it and we can just leave it right here for now. I’ll met you at access control when I’m finished here.
INT. COUNTING ROOM – EARLY MORNING
Virgil is frantically searching the counting room. He looks everywhere including the wastebaskets. He leaves the counting room.
INT. CONTROL ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Virgil catches up with the graveyard shift foreman before he leaves.
VIRGIL
I had a lot of paperwork on the counter next to the IPC in the counting room. It’s gone! Do you know what might have happened to it?
SHIFT FOREMAN
I had my shift helper clean up and take the trash out so if you can’t find it in there, it’s probably in the Dempster dumpster.
VIRGIL
I was in the middle of some calculations at quitting time yesterday so I decided to finish them in the morning. It’s just that there are some data in that paperwork I’ve got to have. I’ll check the dempster. Thanks.
Virgil quickly leaves Unit 3.
EXT. DEMPSTER DUMPSTER – MORNING
Virgil is inside the Dempster dumpster rummaging through the trash looking for his paperwork. He finds torn up pieces of paper with hand written messages and notices his name on one of the pieces. Then he finds another piece of paper with his name also on that one. He gathers up all the torn pieces of paper and puts them in his nearby pickup.
INT. KITCHEN – NIGHT
Virgil has pieces of paper scattered all over the table and counters. He starts putting the pieces together like solving a puzzle. Kathryn enters.
KATRYN
What’s this?
VIRGIL
I found all this in the Dempster dumpster at work this morning. I’ve figured out what most of this shit is. They’re hand written memos by the likes of Edgar, Allen, and Boots with some of them marked confidential. I think the secretaries typed them up and then tore them up and threw them in the trash cans. This is a goddamn gold mine.
INT. GRACIE’S POOLHALL – NIGHT
Virgil, Forrest, RAY SKIDMORE (late 30s), and V.C. TEAGUE (late 20s) are meeting in the back of Gracie’s playing pool, drinking beer, eating pizza and talking about the research findings Virgil and Forrest they came up with at the University. Teague, an electrician, is a good friend to all three men at the power plant. Skidmore is a nuclear control technician who basically trained Virgil and Forrest throughout their apprenticeship programs.
TEAGUE
I can’t believe what you guys came up with. Like you said Virgil, what the Company has said is a big lie.
FORREST
The question now is what can be done about it?
TEAGUE
What can we do?
VIRGIL
Why can’t we get the union to help us out? After all, it’s clearly a safety issue.
FORREST
I’d be surprised if the union would take it up.
VIRGIL
Why do you say that?
FORREST
You can give it a try but the guys in the gas and line departments are going to wonder why there aren’t more power plant employees complaining.
VIRGIL
It’s our job to first educate, then motivate them!
FORREST
Yeah, good luck with that!
VIRGIL
The Control Technicians can tighten up on our RWPs with enhanced protections and restrictions. Edgar indicated we could work with our first line supervisors to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure.
SKIDMORE
I seriously doubt if any of the other CTs would support a more strict approach to Rad protection. And I know they want to do things as cheaply as possible because that’s an important way to keep Edgar happy!
VIRGIL
You may be right, Skidmore but it’s very much worth a try.
TEAGUE
Who’s getting the next round?
SKIDMORE
This one’s on me, then I’m heading home.
Virgil and Forrest go to the pool table for one last game.
INT ACCESS CONTROL CHANGE ROOM – EARLY MORNING
Several workman are busily stripping down in the crowded change room. Virgil is taking off his street clothes. He keeps on his skivvies, socks, and shoes and places the rest of his clothing in a locker.
INT. ACCESS CONTROL ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Virgil comes out of the change room into the larger access control area of the nuclear facility. He makes a beeline to the racks and bins containing radiological protective clothing and equipment.
Virgil is quiet, preoccupied, and in a hurry. He gets into a pair of white coveralls, slips on a pair of black galoshes over his shoes and white booties over the galoshes, puts on a surgical cap, and he grabs a couple pair of surgical gloves.
CONTROL OPERATOR 1
(from behind)
Where are you going, Virgil? Got time to talk to us about the crab feed?
VIRGIL
(doesn’t turn around)
Nope! I’m heading to Minus 66.
Virgil goes over to the step-off pad beyond the earshot of the other workmen.
CONTROL OPERATOR 1
(staring hard at Virgil))
God, he’s such a fucking hard-ass!
SHIFT HELPER
I heard he’s a former Force Recon Marine Pathfinder. Those guys were real badasses.
CONTROL OPERATOR 1
Well, maybe so but goddamn it, he’s not in the Marines anymore so he can stop acting like he is.
CONTROL OPERATOR 2
One thing’s for certain, he’s one helluva shit stirrer.
CONTROL OPERATOR 1
Yeah, has been one every since he showed up here.
INT. ACCESS CONTROL STEP-OFF PAD AREA – CONTINUOUS
Virgil charges his dosimeters, signs the access control log, enters the radiation controlled area, and disappears around the corner into the Plus 27 Area of Unit 3.
INT. NORTHEAST AIR-LOCKS – CONTINUOUS
Virgil is at the Plus 27 NE air-lock that provides entry into the reactor building.He Opens the first door, steps inside the air-lock, the sins a large wheel to close and lock the door behind him. He turns 90 degree to open the second door in like fashion, then exits and closes that door.
INT. REACTOR BUILDING – CONTINUOUS
Virgil pauses on the platform outside the air-lock and sees Forrest alongside the spent fuel pool. Virgil hurries on down a long flight of stairs. As Virgil passes by the spent fuel pool —
FORREST
Hey Virgil, see you at McCrea’s for lunch. Okay?
VIRGIL
Okay Bud, you’ve got it.
Virgil hurries on past and disappears down another long flight of stairs.
INT. MINUS 14 – CONTINUOUS
Virgil, now at Minus 14, sees Skidmore waiting at the top of the man-lift and hurries over to him.
INT. TOP OF THE MAN-LIFT – CONTINUOUS
VIRGIL
Sorry it took so long. Got hung up at access control. It’s real busy up there this morning.
SKIDMORE
No problem. I haven’t been waiting long. My last job took a little longer than expected. Because of the high radiation levels at Minus 66, I want us to go over a few thing here before we head down there.
VIRGIL
Okay, sounds good.
SKIDMORE
God, how I hate this job but what choice do I have?
Skidmore and Virgil review their Radiation Work Permit and the Minus 66 blueprints.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – MORNING
Edgar is finishing his morning brief with his management team.
EDGAR
One more thing Andy, who do we have flushing in-cores today?
ANDY
Skidmore and Virgil
EDGAR
Virgil? You know he raised hell with me the last time —
ANDY
I know, I know but we’re spread pretty thin his morning. Virgil was the only available CT to assist Skidmore this morning.
EDGAR
You know he complained about the contamination last time. In fact, he got very goddamn irrational about it.
ALLEN
And with me, too!
EDGAR
Well, I guess we’ll just have to deal with him if there’s another contamination problem this morning.
INT. MINUS 14 TOP OF MAN-LIFT – MORNING
Skidmore rolls up the blueprints and paces them on a shelf behind the man-lift. Skidmore picks up his bucket of tools.
SKIDMORE
I’ve already taken everything else down there.
They check their CPs (radiation dose rate instruments).
SKIDMORE
You ready?
VIRGIL
I think so.
SKIDMORE
Okay then, let’s get after it!
Skidmore steps onto a moving platform and grabs the hand-hold as it comes over the top of the continuous vertical running belt. Virgil does likewise on the next platform. They disappear downward into the dimly lighted access shaft alongside the reactor.
INT. UNDER THE REACTOR AT MINUS 66 – CONTINUOUS
Skidmore and Virgil arrive at Minus 66. As Virgil steps off the man-lift, he shadows Skidmore to another step-off pad. After changing booties, they cross over into the area directly beneath the reactor.
VIRGIL
Is this going to go any better than the last time I worked this job?
SKIDMORE
I don’t know. Edgar keeps saying they’re going to change the way we flush in-cores. It’s been fucked every time I’ve done it! Let’s hope we’re not going to have any problems this time. Move your dosimeters and film badge to the top of your head. Okay — no miscues — let’s get it done!
It is extremely hot and humid causing water to run down the concrete walls of the lower dry well. There are “DANGER HIGH RADIAtiON” everywhere. Virgil sets the timer.
SKIDMORE
We’ve got exactly 12 minutes MAXIMUM to get this done.
Skidmore goes up into the area between the reactor’s control rod drives and Virgil follows him, positioning himself on a platform directly beneath Skidmore. Virgil direct the light from a large hand-held battle lantern while Skidmore works overhead in tight quarters.
SKIDMORE
Get ready to hand me the in-core string.
A few minutes have passed. Virgil keeps looking at the timer.
VIRGIL
We’re getting close on the time.
SUDDENLY, high radioactive reddish-black sludge and reactor water rain down on them.
SKIDMORE
(yells in sheer panic)
Son-of-a-bitch! I lost it! Quick, get me the new in-core string so I can button this fucking thing up!
There is deafening silence — then Virgil yells —
VIRGIL
We gotta go! NOW!
SKIDMORE
Almost got it.
(Beat)
SKIDMORE
Okay. Let’s get the fuck out of here.
They scramble down from under the reactor and immediately go to the Minus 66 step-off pad. Their CPs indicate they are grossly contaminated.
VIRGIL
I’m never doing this shit again!
SKIDMORE
It has to be done and I know the front office is working on finding a better way of doing it.
VIRGIL
(babbling)
Bullshit! This is totally insane! The Company is dragging its feet on fixing this problem. This is totally fucking insane!
INT. ACCESS CONTRL DECONTAMINATION STATION – MORNING
Skidmore and Virgil strip butt naked, enter the decon showers, and start the painful process of scrubbing down. Their faces, neck, and forearms are being scrubbed raw. Several employees are standing around watching what’s taking place.
INT. EDGAR’S OFFICE – LATE MORNING
Virgil is in the doorway of Edgar’s office. Edgar sees Virgil in the reflection of his desk clock but take his sweet time to acknowledge him.
(Beat)
EDGAR
What do you want?
Virgil walks in and plops down directly in front of Edgar.
He has several abrasions on his face, neck, and arms. It’s obvious he is extreme upset and angry.
VIRGIL
You know why I’m here!
EDGAR
Yeah, I already heard you guys got crapped up this morning. I can guess you’re here to bark at me about it.
VIRGIL
Jesus Christ, Edgar. You said the Company was going to fix the problem but nothing was done. The simple fact is you just don’t fucking care.
EDGAR
(smugly)
Anyone go over their exposure limits, Virgil?
VIRGIL
I don’t fucking know, Edgar. Look at my face, neck, and arms. And that’s just what you can see.
EDGAR
What happened to you and Skidmore this morning was just a nuisance, nothing more. It’s not a problem because you both went into the decon showers and scrubbed down — everything’s fine. Warren and I, and Skidmore, too — have done it many more times than you and look as us, we’re all just fine — no problems.
VIRGIL
You don’t know that! You think it’s okay to get crapped up, then scrub down and everything will be just fucking okay.
EDGAR
I do. I absolutely do!
VIRGIL
It’s just a matter of time —
EDGAR
What is?
VIRGIL
Oh, just forget it! — Working conditions here are far worse than any during the Gilded Age.
EDGAR
Worse? Gilded Age? What the hell are you rambling about now?
VIRGIL
Yeah, our working conditions here! They’re one hell of a lot more dangerous because we’re now dealing with a new, much more dangerous element in the workplace: RADIATION! Can’t see it, can’t smell it, can’t hear it, can’t taste it! But it’s here! And you people don’t know or even care what the risks are. What you, the Company and the AEC are doing here is outright criminal.
EDGAR
You know, Virgil, if you’re looking for trouble, just keep it up and you’re damn well going to find it. I guarantee it!
VIRGIL
That sounds like a threat!
EDGAR
Virgil, if you keep going with this crap you’ll not only be putting yourself in jeopardy but your whole family, as well.
VIRGIL
You can just go to hell!
Virgil whirls around and storms out of Edgar’s office.
INT. COLD INSTRUMENT SHOP – LUNCH
Forrest and Skidmore are in the cold instrument shop with McCrea getting ready to eat lunch when Virgil enters.
MCCREA
Oh my God, you too. Looks like you and Skidmore spent some time this morning in the decon stations. What happened?
VIRGIL
How’d you know about that?
MCCREA
I now see it in your faces but it’s all over the plant. I haven’t left my shop this morning and I’ve heard all about you fellas being in access control decon from several guys just passing through here.
VIRGIL
We were flushing those goddamn in-cores. Edgar hasn’t fixed the problem. I just came out of his office and I told hime I’m never going to do that job again. The son-of-a-bitch threatened me and I told him to go to hell and walked out on him.
FORREST
Be careful, Virgil. I’m pretty sure plant management knows you’re keeping a diary on this place. There could be a lot of trouble in it for you.
SKIDMORE
Yeah, and they know you’ve been rummaging through the trash dumpster looking for stuff.
MCCREA
The place has ears so I’d be very careful what you say around here.
VIRGIL
Why would you say that?
MCCREA
Well, you know me. I just do a lot of listening and not much talking — except with you guys, and you’d be surprised what I hear.
FORREST
Yeah — guess we should be more careful ‘bout what we say around here.
Skidmore looks at the clock above McCrea’s desk.
SKIDMORE
Looks like it’s time for us to get back at it.
The three control techs get up to leave McCrea’s shop. Virgil heads towards the door to the admin area while the other two start for the Unit 1 door.
FORREST
Hey Virgil, where are you going?
VIRGIL
To the film badge rack. I’m heading home. Fuck this place.
INT. GRACIE’S POOL HALL – EARLY AFTEROON
Virgil enters Gracie’s, finds the place empty, except for the bartender, and he belly ups to the bar.
BARTENDER
What in God’s name happened to you, my friend?
VIRGIL
Long story short, I got crapped up at work today.
BARTENDER
What do you mean, crapped up?
VIRGIL
You know that I work at the nuclear plant. There was an accident this morning and I was drenched with reactor water and reactor crud.
BARTENDER
Are you okay?
VIRGIL
Yeah, I guess for now but I sure could go for one of your famous Bloody Marys.
BARTENDER
Coming right up.
VIRGIL
And you can set a couple of San Miguels right alongside of it.
INT. LIVING ROOM – LATE AFTERNOON
Virgil enters the living room. Virgil’s wife, Kathryn, appears.
KATHRYN
I thought I heard somebody. You’re home early. Something wrong?
VIRGIL
Nope.
KATHRYN
Well, dinner won’t be ready for another couple of hours.
VIRGIL
Okay. I’ll just lay down and rest till then.
Kathryn notices Virgil’s face. She grimaces —
KATHRYN
What wrong?
VIRGIL
Not a goddamn thing!
KATHRYN
Have you been drinking?– Fighting?
VIRGIL
I got crapped up this morning and had to scrub down.
KATHRYN
Again?!
INT. UNION HALL – NIGHT
Virgil and Forrest have arrived early at the Union meeting. They are the only ones in the room.
VIRGIL
You were right.
FORREST
About what?
VIRGIL
I approached our rad protection engineer and got his agreement but then he wasn’t supported by Edgar.
FORREST
Which supervisor are we talking about? We now have two rad protection engineers, Gail Allen and Jerry Boots.
VIRGIL
Boots.
FORREST
So what happened?
VIRGIL
There were three crews working over the open reactor last week during the outage without wearing any lifelines. Boots agreed with me that they should be using lifelines but they refused to put them on. And when I complained to Edgar, he told me he was aware of what happened and had already discussed it with Boots. He said what Boots decided made sense but when he talked to the supervisors involved, they all said their men didn’t want to use them so Edgar didn’t back up Boots.
FORREST
So no lifelines were used. That’s insane!
VIRGIL
Yep, and there’s more. I proposed ways to significantly reduce radiation exposure when collecting reactor water and off-gas samples, and nothing happened.
FORREST
To who?
VIRGIL
Both Allen and Boots. They said my ideas were too expensive.
More union members are trickling into the union hall. Skidmore and Teague enter and sit with Virgil and Forrest. The four power plant employees chat privately. The room now has approximately forty members present.
UNION CHAIRMAN
It’s time to get this meeting started. Bud will lead us in the flag salute.
All members stand and recite the flag salute then they sit back down.
UNION CHAIRMAN
Okay, I’m moving Item 12 concerning radiation safety at the power plant to Number One. How many power plant members are here tonight?
Four hands are raised.
UNION CHAIRMAN
That’s about what I expected. I talked with all the union shop stewards at the plant and was told there really isn’t a problem with radiation safety out there so I’m deleting this item from the agenda.
KENNY
Who made the request to have this put on the agenda?
UNION CHAIRMAN
It was Virgil Prater from Unit 3.
KENNY
That figures. He’s just a fucking shit stirer. That’s what he did when he was in the line department.
Virgil, Forrest, Skidmore and Teague get up and walk out of the Union Hall. As they are leaving Virgil makes a statement.
VIRGIL
What really matters to me is truth and the realities of radiation exposure.
EXT. ROADWAY – MORNING
Virgil and Forrest are walking to the Assembly Building. There are a lot of other employees strung out heading in the same direction.
FORREST
Are you going to bring up the reactor water and off-gas sampling problem at the safety meeting?
VIRGIL
Yep.
FORREST
How do you think it’s going to be received?
VIRGIL
Don’t know but I guess we’ll find out.
INT. ASSEMBLY BUILDING – CONTINUOUS
Virgil and Forrest sit together near the back of the large room. Management personnel are sitting in the front of the room. There are around fifty employees in attendance.
VIRGIL
(whispers to Forrest)
What a bunch of kiss asses.
FORREST
Yeah, it’s sickening.
ACTING COMMITTEE CHAIR
Is there any new business?
Virgil raises his hand.
ACTING COMMITTEE CHAIR
What do you have Virgil?
VIRGIL
It’s really not new business but we can’t seem to get the safety problem solved in any other way.
ACTING COMMITTEE CHAIR
What problem are you talking about?
VIRGIL
The high radiation exposures to CTs while collecting reactor water and off-gas samples.
Several plant managers turn around to look (stare) at Virgil.
ACTING COMMITTEE CHAIR
What exactly is the problem?
VIRGIL
For example, we have a routine radiation work permit for handling reactor water samples that specifies a dose rate of 5 mr/hr in handling the samples. While that was true when Unit 3 first went on line, because of the failure of the stainless steel cladding, we now have a dose rate of 3,000 mr/hr and sometimes higher off the one liter sample bottles and as much as 12,000 mr/hr at the sample station. There is a similar problem with the handling of off-gas samples.
ACTING COMMITTEE CHAIR
Have you taken your concerns to your first line supervisors?
VIRGIL
Sure have. To both our chemical engineer and radiation protection engineer.
ACTING COMMITTEE CHAIR
And what did they say?
VIRGIL
Why don’t you ask them. They’re sitting right in front of you.
There’s a long pause and some whispering up front.
ACTING COMMITTEE CHAIR
In light of it’s almost time for lunch, we’re going to table this matter until our next regularly scheduled safety meeting.
INT. CONFERENCE ROOM – AFTERNOON
All available power plant employees are assembling in the conference room. WARREN RAYMOND (mid 40s), Plant Superintendent, is standing at the front of the room waiting for everyone to enter the room and settle down.
WARREN
I’ve called this little gathering because of what happened this morning at our safety meeting. It would be obvious to a dumbass orangutan that management is not happy with what took place. I’m too goddamn upset to conduct this fucking meeting so I’m handing it over to Edgar.
Warren abruptly leaves the room.
EDGAR
I don’t blame him. What I can say is simply this kind of thing had better never happen again. Don’t ever bring that kind of stuff to a safety meeting. If you have any concerns about radiation safety, talk them out with your first line supervisor. If you still have a concern after doing that, I have an open door policy. That’s all I have to say so you can report back to work. Virgil, you need to remain behind,
Everyone leaves the room except Virgil. As they leave, many of them give Virgil their snake-eyes on the way out. The room clears except for Virgil and Edgar.
EDGAR
What were you thinking? Were you trying to embarrass the Company or what? I told you to take any radiation safety concerns to your supervisor.
VIRGIL
I did and more than once!
EDGAR
And if you still have concerns after doing that, you were to come to me.
VIRGIL
I did that, too. And you know that as well.
EDGAR
Yes, with the lifeline issue. That’s a tough one and I’m still working on it. But what about the reactor water and off-gas issue. I don’t remember you talking to me about those issues.
VIRGIL
Well Edgar, you’re the problem with those issues.
EDGAR
Why would you say that?
VIRGIL
Because both Boots and Allen said you feel it would be too expensive to implement my suggestions.
EDGAR
I agree with them, it would be expensive.
VIRGIL
I know it’s not your fault that this plant is the dirtiest atomic plant in the country because of design failures. Nevertheless, you’ve got some serious radiation safety issues that the Company is now having to deal with. I’ll work with you but you need to know that I’m not going to be bullied by you or anyone else.
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Harley Has Completed Act 2 Draft 1
What I learned doing this assignment is that I am enjoying this 20% quality writing. It is very freeing.
INT. RICK’S BAR – DAY
Beginning: A distraught Priyanka stumbles into Rick’s place and sits at a corner table. Rick sees that she is shaking and brings a bottle of Jack Daniels.
Middle: Priyanka explains that Rohan has taken Sia and plans to take over the family business.
End: Rick goes back to the bar and opens the cash register. He takes out the envelope, brings it to the table, and holds it tightly. Priyanka asks: What is that? Rick says, Something you need to read now.
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