(A short screenplay I wrote a while back)
In the year 2070 population has grown out of control. To save humanity from overusing its resources the government has implemented a law to discourage couples form procreating. If a couple wishes to conceive one must die to make room for their baby in the world.
INT. HOSPITAL NIGHT
A couple, Drew and Kate Wilson, sit in the delivery room after the birth of their child. They are spending their last moments together before DREW enters the atomizing chamber.
DR. ROSLIN
Your child is in perfect health. Have
you decided upon a name?
KATE
Not yet. May we see her? I’d like her
to get to know her father before he…
DREW takes KATE’S hand and squeezes it.
DR. ROSLIN
Of course. She’ll be right in.
DR. ROSLIN exits the room and comes back with the baby. He gives the baby to DREW.
DREW
(stroking baby’s
head)
She looks just like you.
The baby’s face scrunches up as it starts to fuss.
KATE
(laughs)
She has your angry face though.
DREW and KATE laugh for a minute before they return to their somber mood.
DR. ROSLIN
I just want to inform you that you
have an hour left, starting now.
DREW
Thank you.
DR. ROSLIN leaves the room, closing the door behind him.
KATE
Thank you? You’re going to thank
that man for giving you only an
hour with your child?
DREW
(sighing)
Kate, there’s nothing we can do.
KATE
(looking
away)
Isn’t there?
DREW puts his hand on KATE’S leg. KATE continues to look away from DREW.
DREW
I thought we already had this
conversation.
KATE
Oh, the conversation in which we
decided you were going to die?
That conversation?
DREW
It’s for the best. You’ll be a
better parent than I would.
KATE
That’s bullshit and you know it.
DREW
Kate…
KATE
Don’t. Just, don’t.
KATE and DREW sit in silence. The baby begins to fuss again.
DREW
Do you want to hold her?
KATE takes the baby from DREW.
KATE
(talking to
baby)
It’s not fair, is it? They’re going
to take your daddy away from you.
You will never see him again.
DREW
(angrily)
Kate! What, would you rather throw
her in the atomizing chamber?
KATE
What the hell is wrong with you? Of
course not! Put me in there!
DREW
(mouth set in
grim line)
That’s not an option.
KATE
It is too! You’re just being selfish!
DREW
Kate, I love you too much to allow
that to happen.
KATE
What, and I don’t love you? You don’t
want to go through the grieving pro-
cess, but you’re more than happy to
put me through it! That’s selfish!
DREW
It’s sacrifice!
KATE
It’s an excuse!
KATE stands up and walks to the other side of the room, facing the wall.
KATE
You never even let me have my say.
From the day we were married you
told me you’d be the one to die.
DREW
I’ve been ready for this my whole
life! I’ve been preparing myself
since my mother died. My father
told me I had to be the one to do
it, and I listened!
KATE
And what about me, huh? Have you
seen my mother? She’s never been
the same since my father died!
DREW
You’re stronger than I am. You’ve
been through war.
KATE
What does that have to do with
anything?
DREW
All those nights I sat alone at
home, watching the news. All those
names and faces that flashed on
the screen, and each night I
would prepare myself to see yours.
I would prepare myself to see
your picture with the caption,
“DECEASED” in big bold letters! I
can’t go through that pain again,
I can’t! You can call me selfish,
but that’s not what I am.
KATE
Then what are you?
DREW
A coward.
KATE
(growing
frustrated)
So what is this? Revenge for my en-
listment? You want me to feel the
pain you felt? Is that it?
DREW
That’s not what I meant!
KATE
It sure sounds like it.
A KNOCK comes from the door and it slowly opens to reveal DR. ROSLIN.
DR. ROSLIN
Sorry to interrupt. I have some
papers that need signing when you
are ready.
DREW
It’s alright. You weren’t inter-
uppting anything.
KATE shoots DREW a dirty look. DR. ROSLIN hands DREW the paperwork and DREW flips through it.
DR. ROSLIN
(leaving the
room)
If you have any questions just
let me know.
KATE
Drew–
DREW cuts off KATE before she can say any more.
DREW
Please, we don’t have much time
left. Can we stop arguing?
KATE stares at DREW skeptically before nodding.
DREW (CONT’D)
Do you remember when we first met?
KATE
You nearly ran me over with your
car.
DREW
Nearly.
KATE
I was so angry at you. I was a-
bout to put a dent in your car.
DREW
(laughs)
I remember. You yelled string
after string of cuss words at me.
I asked you how I could make it up
to you, and you said-
KATE cuts him off and finishes the sentence.
KATE
Walk into traffic.
DREW
The least I could do was buy you
a cup of coffee.
KATE
And I don’t even like coffee.
DREW
And you didn’t like coffee. I was
afraid you were going to throw it
in my face.
KATE
I contemplated doing that.
DREW
When you called me the next day I
thought you were just going to
yell at me some more. But you ap-
ologized. I was so surprised.
KATE
Then I felt obliged to buy you
coffee.
DREW
And that’s how it all started.
KATE
That’s how it all started.
DREW and KATE look down at the baby who is now sleeping in KATE’S arms.
DREW
Promise me when she’s older you
won’t let her be the one to die.
KATE
I can’t be the one to make that de-
cision for her.
DREW looks down and sadly shakes his head.
DREW
What do you think she’ll be like,
when she’s all grown up?
KATE
Just like you, I imagine.
DREW
I hope not. I hope she’s just like
you.
KATE
Why?
DREW
I’m not exactly a good man.
KATE
You’re good enough.
DREW
I wish I could watch her grow up.
KATE
You could…
DREW
Kate…
KATE
I’m just saying.
DREW
Well don’t.
KATE
It’s not too late…
DREW
Kate, stop. Now.
KATE
I’m sorry.
DREW
It’s okay.
DREW and KATE sit for a moment in silence.
KATE
So what are we going to name her?
I was thinking Andrea, since it’s
similar to Andrew…or even Lily,
after your mother…
DREW
What about Kate?
KATE
That’s ridiculous. It breaks tra-
dition. I’m not the sacrifice.
DREW
So? Tradition doesn’t matter here.
KATE
We still have time to decide.
DREW
Not a lot.
KATE
What’s the paperwork?
DREW
For me. For the atomizing chamber.
KATE
What about for the baby?
DREW
That comes after.
KATE
Why not do it now? While you’re still
…here.
DREW
They want you to learn how to do
things on your own. With raising the
baby, I mean.
A KNOCK comes from the door and DR. ROSLIN enters the room.
DR. ROSLIN
Have you begun filling out the pap-
erwork?
DREW
Not yet.
DR. ROSLIN
Do you need any help?
DREW
Yeah, I could use some.
KATE
May I excuse myself?
DR. ROSLIN
Of course, but what for?
KATE
I don’t want to watch him fill
those out.
DR. ROSLIN
Here, let me help you out.
DR. ROSLIN and KATE stand. KATE hands the baby to DREW. DR. ROSLIN opens the door for KATE and escorts her into the hall.
DR. ROSLIN
(CONT’D)
Now, where were we…Ah. If you
could just read this section and
sign here, here, and here…
A loud THUD comes from out in the hallway.
DREW
Did you hear that?
DR. ROSLIN
(slowly
standing)
Why, yes, I did…It sounded like
it was coming from the…No!
DR. ROSLIN runs to the door and out into the hallway, where a heavily locked metal door was open.
DREW
(from the
doorway)
What’s wrong?
DR. ROSLIN ignores DREW and runs back into the room. He stops in front of the atomizing chamber and stares through the window in the door. DREW, picking up on what’s going on, rushes over and pushes him aside to look. KATE looks out at them from inside the chamber. The machine has begun to start up.
DREW (CONT’D)
Kate!
DREW begins to slam his free hand against the door.
KATE
Take good care of the baby.
DREW
Kate! Get out of there!
DREW turns to DR. ROSLIN.
DREW (CONT’D)
Get her out of there!
DR. ROSLIN
I’m sorry, but there’s nothing I
can do. Once the machine has
started, it locks everyone else
out.
DREW
Get somebody! Break it down! Do
something!
DR. ROSLIN
(putting hand
on Drew’s
shoulder)
I’m so sorry for your loss.
DREW looks at DR. ROSLIN with wide eyes before turning back to the atomizing chamber door. DREW begins to slam on the door again.
DREW
(crying)
Kate!
KATE
(tearing up)
I’m sorry. I love you.
DREW begins crying and shouting louder. The machines turns completely on. KATE’S body begins to disintegrate. DREW and the baby are stunned silent as they watch KATE’S body disappear. DR. ROSLIN pulls DREW away.
DR. ROSLIN
The hospital would like to express
its condolences.
DREW
Kate…
DR. ROSLIN
Yes, Mr. Wilson, we are very sorry.
DREW
No, Kate is her name!
DR. ROSLIN
I’m sorry?
DREW
(growing
louder)
The baby’s name is Kate!
DR. ROSLIN
Oh! Yes sir, of course.
DREW looks down at baby, smiles and strokes her head.
DREW
(whispering)
Her name is Kate.
THE END.
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