FADE IN:

EXT. ON TOP OF A CLIFF - DAY

JO and JUSTIN stand by the edge.
JO
I don’t think this is appropriate...
JUSTIN
I assure you, my friend, it’s the procedure.
You have to go.
Jo edges closer to the edge, looks down then hastily steps back.
JO
You know I’m a rule-abiding employee...
JUSTIN
(nods impatiently)
Mmmhmm, mhm.
JO (CONT'D)
But if I may, I’d like to give some feedback
about this, erm, particular procedure.
JUSTIN
(signs)
Jo, you know how it is. After all, you’ve
accompanied Janey just last week... it’s just
your turn.
JO
(turns to Justin angrily)
But I’m different. I’ve been with the
company all of my life! Janey, Janey is
just... she is not important!
JUSTIN
She’s your wife, Jo, and she contributed.
JO
(lowers his head)
But, but... we didn’t need her any more...
JUSTIN
(walks closer, lays his hand
gently on Jo’s shoulder)
Exactly, she was let go, by you.
(pushes Jo towards the edge of
cliff)
So you understand...
JO
(violently steps back)
 JO
(violently steps back)
No! No! I’m a much better employee than
her! I can still learn! I will learn! Whatever
the company wants me to do, I will do it! I
will redeem my worth!
JUSTIN
(pitily)
You know that’s not possible. All the
positions have been filled, by younger, more
qualified people. There’s no place for you in
this world any more.
JO
(on his last straw)
Who.. who decide such things? Who decides
who jumps and who stays awhile longer?
You know what happens when someone
leaps into thin air? They fall! They die, I
think. Do you see anyone coming back from
the chasm? I haven’t! You can’t, (starts
weeping) you can’t just push me away like
this! I deserve another chance!
JUSTIN
(a bit annoyed)
But our algorithm says otherwise. Jo, you’ve
become a redundancy. You’ve been given
time to prove your worthiness all your life,
and you failed that. The algorithm never
fails, and it never lies. It’s been keeping our
world prosperous for the past eighty years. I
shouldn’t have to remind you of this. You
are, well, were, a sale’s clerk for the
algorithm after all.
JO
(desperately)
Don’t.. don’t I get a phone call? I’m sure
Steve...
JUSTIN
Steve expedited your order.
JO
(shocked)
What!?
JUSTIN
(gives Jo a shove towards the
cliff)
Don’t worry, your dog will be taken care of.
JO
But... what about my kids?
 But... what about my kids?
JUSTIN
They’ve just been entered into the system.
The algorithm will take care of them from
now on.
JO
(quietly)
NO....
JUSTIN
(with false kindness)
See? Everything’s taken care of, Jo. You are
now, free. (Gestures towards the edge).
JO
(nods to himself, numb)
Yes, of course. Of course...thank you.
Jo walks towards the edge of the cliff. Justin stays behind and whistles to himself.
Jo turns back just before he stumbles into the thin air.
JO
(Stoically)
Tell them, Justin. That I died a true company
man.
Justin lifts his right foot, checks the sole of his shoe.
JUSTIN
(talks to his shoe)
Sure, sure.

FADE OUT.
THE END