Power Play

By
Melissa Fernandes
Revised Final Draft
26-03-09
Melissa Fernandes 2008
MRSA Productions 2008
Melissa.stormworks@gmail.com
1 INT. THE OFFICE - DAY 1
A man is standing inside a reception hall, outside a set of
lifts. In his hand is a cricket ball, which he is tossing
and turning as he waits for the elevator. This is NICK
ANDERSON.
The elevator arrives, and the doors open to reveal a blonde
woman who is struggling to adjust a heavy bag on her
shoulder, and drag another bag across the lift floor. Nick
doesnt offer to help. He stands, lecherously staring at
her, particularly interested when her blouse rides up to
display her midriff.
She catches him perving on her. and stares at him stonily as
she drags her heavy bag past him. Nick steps around her and
enters the lifts she exited.
CUT TO
2 INT. LIFT - DAY 2
We see a young woman with sunglasses is standing facing him
waiting to get into the lift. She shakes her head as she
steps into the lift after Nick. This is JANE MORLEY. She
works with Nick.
NICK
What?
JANE
Nothing!
NICK
Why are you shaking your head?
JANE
I think thats obvious.
NICK
Well its not really. which is why
Im asking.
JANE
Never mind.
CUT TO BEHIND
NICK
So hows the boyfriend then? Whats
his name? Geoffrey? Geoff?
Geoffers? Geoffy?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
Nick examines the cricket ball.
JANE
You know his name Nick.
NICK
So hows it going then? Can I buy
my wedding hat?
JANE
Men dont wear hats.
CUT BACK TO FRONT
NICK
I personally think you and him suit
each other to a T.
Nick tosses the ball in the air and catches it.
JANE
And why is that?
NICK
Youre both conventional.
JANE
What the hells that supposed to
mean?
NICK
I havent got a dictionary on me at
the moments. so cant give you the
exact definition.
Nick throws the cricket ball in the air and catches it with
one hand. He looks at Jane and smirks.
JANE
Dont be a smart aleck!
NICK
But its true you know? I can see
you buying socks for him.
and ironing his underwear in a few
months.
JANE
Why Nick, you sound jealous.
CUT TO
3.
3 INT. OFFICE - DAY 3
The lift doors open on the seventh Floor. Both walk into an
open plan office. Dotted around are people at desks and
computers.
Two men pass by Nick and Jane, they smile at Jane, polite
nods are aimed at Nick.
NICK
I dont do jealousy. Jealousy is
for weak people.
Nick throws the cricket ball in the air and catches it with
one hand. Looks at Jane arrogantly as they walk towards
their bank of desks.
Jane shakes her head. and starts to move away from Nick
towards her desk. Nick moves towards his desk. In the
process. he brushes past Jane. and sits down causing her to
stumble. He doesnt realise. Jane looks at him annoyed.
CUT TO
4 INT. OFFICE BOARDROOM - DAY 4
FADE UP and we see twelve men including Nick are seated
around an oval table in the middle of a meeting. Nick is
chairing the meeting.
A man with an Afro. seated to Nicks left is shuffling some
papers together. This is MARTIN.
MARTIN
Wheres Jane? Wasnt she supposed
to be in this meeting?
NICK
Who knows.
Nick laughs and shrugs.
NICK
Ill have to take her to task for
her tardiness.
Nick leans back in his chair. smirking.
JANE
My. My. My. Nick. Tardiness. Thats
a big word for you isnt it?
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.
The men in the room start abruptly. and Nick snaps straight
in his chair and glares at Jane. as they all turn to watch
Jane walk into the room.
Jane calmly seats herself down in an empty chair at the
other end of the table, furthest away from Nick.
NICK
Youre late.
JANE
I told you I would be.
NICK
No you didnt.
JANE
Yes I did Nick.
NICK
You were supposed to bring some
reports with you to this meeting?
JANE
Youll find them underneath your
BELOVED cricket ball on your
left....
NICK
Youve done them wrong.
JANE
You havent even looked at them!
NICK
I just know.
JANE
How exactly?
NICK
I just do. Do them again.
JANE
I dont think so.
NICK
Again.
JANE
Those reports are perfectly fine as
they are.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.
NICK
Im telling you to do them again.
Nick stands up and picks up the cricket ball and begins
throwing the it between his hands. Jane looks at the cricket
ball. then back at Nick for a few seconds longer, then turns
and walks back to her seat, and sits down.
JANE
Im not doing them again. Youll
have to do them yourself.
NICK
Ill have to fire you then.
JANE
So fire me.
Silence hangs for a few moments.
Nick stares at Jane for a few seconds, his eyes glaring. She
stares back smirking. Finally he slams back down into his
seat.
JANE
You havent got the balls to do it
have you?
Jane leans back in her chair and laughs.
JANE
Well I suppose you have one ball.
So to speak.
Jane looks pointedly at the cricket ball in Nicks hand. The
men in the room snigger. Some uncomfortable coughing is
heard.
Nick stares at Jane for a few seconds, his eyes narrowed.
Jane stares back smirking, her eyes blinking sweetly at him.
Finally Nick slams back down into his seat, and slamming the
cricket ball on the table at the same time.
We hear a resounding thwack! Everyone in the room starts in
alarm.
NICK
Where were we? Sales! What the fuck
is going on?
The men start to murmur amongst themselves. shuffle papers.
6.
CUT TO JANES FACE
Jane is staring at the cricket ball. A half-smile is playing
around her mouth.
5 INT. OFFICE - LATER ON 5
On the floor. We see Nick on his knees searching under his
desk. Hes moving drawers around and shuffling files about.
The cricket ball has gone missing. We hear the rustling and
thumping of paperwork and furniture being shifted agitatedly
around. Jane is standing above him, looking at him.
NICK
Where the fuck is it?
JANE
Wheres what?
NICK
My damn ball.
JANE
Oh is that all? I thought you had
lost something really important.
Other employees around Jane laugh.
NICK
Youve got it havent you?
JANE
What would I do with your stupid
cricket ball?
NICK
Just answer the damn
question. Have you taken it?
JANE
Pshh. Do you really think Id tell
you?
Jane laughs and walks off, swaggering as she goes.
Just as shes walking away, Nick raises his head and watches
her swagger away.
Reaching her desk, Jane looks back at Nick, smirks and sits
down at her desk.
SHARP CUT TO
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.
Nicks face. His eyes are narrowed, lips pressed together.
We see his fists clench tightly.
FADE TO BLACK
6 INT. OFFICE - NEXT DAY - AFTERNOON 6
Fade in to see Jane at her desk, working. Dotted around are
various other employees also working.
Nick walks over and stands in front of Janes desk. He has a
smirk on his face, and he has an arrogant stance.
NICK
Jane.
Jane looks up and tries not to smirk.
JANE
Yes Nick? Did you find your balls?
I mean Ball?
NICK
Actually Miss McCormack that is not
why Im here.
Nick pauses, and looks at his finger nails.
Jane looks at him sharply in concern.
NICK
Remember those reports I asked you
for yesterday?
JANE
Yes?
NICK
Those reports I said were
incorrect?
JANE
When we were in the boardroom
yesterday, yes?
NICK
They were incorrect.
Nick look at Jane stonily.
Jane looks alarmed.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.
NICK
Your incompetence has now lost the
company our most valuable client
and revenue in excess of 2 million.
Jane looks shocked, and looks around at the other people who
have suddenly stopped working.
All attention is focused on Jane and Nick.
Awkward coughs can be heard from around the room.
JANE
That cant be right! I
double-checked those figures
yesterday morning.
NICK
Well you didnt check properly.
JANE
I swear I did! How can this have
happened?
NICK
Due to these discrepancies Im
afraid your employment here is to
be terminated. Effective
immediately.
JANE
Your taking the piss..
NICK
Im afraid not.
Two men in security uniforms appear behind Nick. Nick turns
and acknowledges them.
NICK
Ah there you are. This is Ms
McCormack. She was just leaving. I
believe she needs help packing up
her things...
Nick steps back and allows the two guards to go over to
Janes desk.
Nick looks back at Jane.
Jane is staring at Nick. She has been steadfastly staring at
him throughout.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.
NICK
I guess I found my balls after all?
She stoops and picks up her handbag, and puts on her jacket.
She looks at Nick for a moment, in entreaty. Nick smirks
back at her.
Silence hangs in the air.
Jane turns and walks out of the room, the two security
officers following her.
We see Martin strolling into the room, past Jane and the
leaving security guards. He looks at them in interest. Jane
marches past.
Martin heads over to Nick, oblivious to the tension in the
air.
MARTIN
Look what I found?
Martin tosses the missing cricket ball to Nick. Nick
flinches back yet catches the ball, only just.
NICK
Where...
MARTIN
You left it in the boardroom? My
client nearly tripped over it.
Nick looks at the ball confused, and then up at the door
through which Jane left. He looks back at Martin, and then
at the rest of the room.
The interested employees look at him, then turn back to
their desks in disgust. Martin looks perplexed.
FADE TO BLACK
7 EXT. OFFICE - EVENING 7
Nick is walking haphazardly across an empty road, he is
swaying slightly which suggests he is drunk. He is tossing
his cricket ball in the air as he goes.
He pauses at the curb of a road, and sways on the edge for a
moment. He tosses the cricket ball in the air, and this
time, fails to catch it. The ball drops to the ground and
rolls out of sight.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.
Nick drops to his knees on the curb, searching frantically
for the cricket ball.
We hear the revving of a loud engine. Nick does not.
Nick ventures out onto the road, still on his knees, looking
for the cricket ball.
The revving engine gets louder, and louder.
Nick is still searching for the ball.
The engine noise is now so loud, nothing else can be heard.
Nick turns his head towards the sound.
We hear the squealing of tyres as brakes are applied.
We FADE TO BLACK and CREDITS ROLL.
8 INT. OFFICE - NIGHT 8
Nick is at his desk working. His files, and his papers are
stacked neatly beside him. Everyone has left for the day.
Outside it is now dark, and he works frantically typing on
his laptop.
He reaches over for a file hastily and knocks the stack of
files to the ground. Swearing profusely to him self, he
bends and picks them up, only to have them fall out of his
clumsy hands.
Giving up, he sits back on his chair and stares blankly at
his screen. He glances to his left, where his found cricket
ball is next to him. Grimacing he picks it up.
The lights in the office go out. The sound of a door being
locked is heard. Startled he runs to the office door, only
to find its locked. He bangs on the door, shouting.
No one hears him. He starts pounding on the door, in vain.
No avail. Gradually his strength gives out, and he sinks
back against the door and onto the floor.
We see him slumped against the door, asleep, the cricket
ball rolls from his hand across the floor and out of sight.