THE DEFENDANT

Written by R. Mike Lyons

Draft 7 November 3, 2011

rmikelyons@gmail.com +1 (719) 310-6660

FADE IN: INT. CAR - DAY KENNETH DEAKINS, a fresh out of college kid, drives along in his economical contraption of a vehicle. One amongst hundreds of similar vehicles on the highway. He takes a sip out o his Starbucks cu when his cell phone RINGS. He chances a look, and then back to the road. Shit! KENNETH

He slams on the brakes and spills coffee all over. Goddammit. KENNETH (CONTD)

The phone continues to ring as he slowly starts back to driving. He picks up the phone, sliding his index finger across it while one of his knees steers. OPERATOR (O.S.) Hello, Mr. Deakins? Speaking. KENNETH

He pats at some of the wet spots from the coffee debacle. OPERATOR (O.S.) Hi, yes. This is Major Medical, your health insurance company, calling. It has come to our attention you have not seen your primary care physician in nearly two years. And, according to Article 5 Section 42 of the Uniform Code of Human Affairs, you could face fines and penalties, including imprisonment. We have already done you the favor of scheduling your next appointment for tomorrow at 11am. KENNETH That's complete bullshit, I'm in perfect health--

2. OPERATOR (O.S.) Thank you, Mr. Deakins, and please keep in mind the consequences if you miss your appointment. INT. JURY WAITING ROOM - DAY A COURT OFFICER opens the door to a small room with a few chairs. FIVE JURORS enter the room single-file behind the officer. Motivational posters adorn the walls, and outside the windows is a scenic view of an industrial center. COURT OFFICER Wait in here. Most of the jurors have a seat, but DANAE, a twenty-something woman dressed in boots and a dress. She stands over in a corner by a window, looking back at the door. The officer leaves. A male jock of a juror approaches Danae.

MALE JUROR It's a shame you're a juror and not the judge. Danae gives a quizzical look. MALE JUROR (CONTD) Cause I want you to bang my gavel. Really? DANAE

MALE JUROR Hey, at least I'm trying. But seriously, though, ready to be a juror? Honestly? of here. DANAE I can't wait to get out

INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE WAITING ROOM - DAY Kenneth sits inside a waiting room next to a pile of old magazines on a table. Muzac fills the room. A KID, maybe 8, makes a face at Kenneth. His MOM sits, reading on of the magazines.

3. INT. COURTROOM - DAY The five jurors, including Danae, sit in a dim room with a long table. They all sit on one side, each with a microphone before them. On the other side of the table sits the PROSECUTOR. Next to the prosecutor is a small television on a stand. At the far end of the table is a large television with the JUDGE displayed with the state lag waving behind him. PROSECUTOR ...and that is why we are here today, ladies and gentlemen. The defendant is clearly guilty of encouraging terrorism. An act of treason. An act not only deserving of death, but required. The lawyer then grabs a remote and turns on the small TV. He presses play. The jurors lean forward to try and see the video. The television plays a YouTube video of a group surrounding a man, not entirely recognizable as Kenneth Deakins, burning a flag. The prosecutor pauses the video. PROSECUTOR (CONTD) Ideas inspire. Inspiration leads to fanaticism. Fanaticism leads to acts of terrorism. This is why you must find this man guilty. To save your country. To save yourselves. To save your children. INT. DOCTOR'S OFFICE - DAY Kenneth sits on top of a doctor's table in a gown. The DOCTOR, an older man with a Southern charm, walks into the room with a patient folder. DOCTOR Mister... Deakins? That's me. KENNETH

DOCTOR Good to hear. Speaking of hearing, let's hear those lungs of yours. The doc puts on his stethoscope.

4. DOCTOR (CONTD) Deep breaths. (listens) Alright, now let's check from the back. He puts the stethoscope away. DOCTOR (CONTD) You know, this job is not like it used to be. Open up and say, 'ah.' Ahhh... KENNETH

Doc shines a light into Ken's mouth. DOCTOR Yup. Used to be we'd see patients only when they were sick. Now it's almost never. He puts the light away. DOCTOR (CONTD) Preventative care and new medicines have gotten us to the point that, well, you only see a patient when they're about to die. Doc gives a laugh and checks Ken's pulse. a chuckle. Ken responds with

KENNETH You'd rather have a bunch of sick people around all the time? The doctor grabs Ken's folder and looks with a sigh. DOCTOR Well, you seem to be a picture of perfect health, Mr. Deakins. Let me just go grab some flu shots, administer those, and you'll be on your way. The doc finishes his sentence with a smile and a pat on Kenneth's back as he proceeds to leave the room. INT. COURTROOM - DAY In the dimly lit room, each juror speaks into their microphone, overseen by the prosecutor and the TV judge.

5. JUROR #1 JUROR #2 MALE JUROR JUROR #4

Guilty. Guilty. Guilty. Guilty.

DANAE I'm not certain how to respond, your honor. JUDGE What do you mean? Somehow, it's as though the judge is looking directly at her. DANAE I mean, he's guilty of burning a flag, but I don't see how that makes him a terrorist. JUDGE I'll take that as guilty, then. But-DANAE

JUDGE But what? Would you rather a terrorist live and grow, mutate into something larger and eventually become an incurable disease of our society? You said he was guilty, number five. Any more remarks and I'll hold you in contempt. (waits for a remark) Seeing as you remain silent here and now, the court will continue. INTERCUT - DOCTOR'S OFFICE / TELEVISION JUDGE Kenneth sits still as the doctor walks in with three needles. The doctor takes off the protective cover of one of the syringes.

6. On the screen in the courtroom, the judge delivers his verdict and sentencing. JUDGE The court finds Kenneth Deakins guilty of propaganda of the deed by advancing terrorist ideology. Given the nature of the crime, a treasonous act against our great nation... The syringe plunges into Kenneth's arm. JUDGE (CONTD) ...it does me no joy but to sentence Mr. Deakins to death. Kenneth's eyes roll back slightly, but he regains some composure. KENNETH This is one heckuva flue vaccine. DOCTOR Don't worry, son. soon. It'll be over

The judge's eyes, cold and empty, continue to look on everyone in the room. JUDGE I am only thankful that we live in such a society where we can protect our interests while at the same time... The second syringe plunges in. JUDGE (CONTD) ...take into consideration our enemies. KENNETH (barely coherent) Mind if I take the next one lying down, Doc? The doctor nods yes as Kenneth lies down without even waiting for the response. JUDGE Mr. Deakins won't even know what will happen. (MORE)

7. JUDGE (CONT'D) He can live the remainder of his life believing he has done right. That's something our enemies do not understand and hate about us... The doctor inserts the third and final syringe. INT. COURTROOM - DAY JUDGE ...our compassion. The judge bangs his gavel down. The male juror leans over to look at Danae and gives her a wink. The jurors stand up from their seats and exit single-file. The judge turns around as the large television turns off. INT. STUDIO - DAY The judge is standing behind his chair, back towards a camera. A green screen is behind the desk. A grip walks behind the judge as he puts a cell phone to his ear. JUDGE Yes, that's right. INT. BEDROOM - DAY The room is sparse, little more than a bed and books lying around. A phone RINGS. DANAE (O.S.) Hold on, I'm coming. Danae pops out of the bathroom and grabs the phone. Hello? DANAE (CONTD) Juror #5.

OPERATOR (O.S.) Hello, Ms. Robinson? This is Major Medical, your health insurance company, calling...

THE END