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While in line at the Vaccination Center...
by Josh Pearson (DaleTheMovie@Yahoo.com)

Rated: PG-13   Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy   User Review:
NOT YET
RATED

A short film about Dale who lives in a dystopian society. He arrives at a vaccination center to receive his scheduled dose. The story ensues from there. Read it, it's short. It'll all be over before your ADD kicks in.


This screenplay is copyrighted to its author. All rights reserved. This screenplay may not be used or reproduced without the express written permission of the author.



FADE IN:

INT. VACCINATION CENTER - DAY
                                                            
Dale walks into a enclosed lobby into a fairly large mini
mall like structure. It looks as if it may have been used
at one point as an actual mall. There are empty store front
like rooms, dark and silent from years of being forgotten.
In the middle of this lobby sits a large fountain, the water
has since left the structure leaving an eery towering-like
presence.
                                                            
Dale looks to his left and see a sign. It’s one of those
old signs with a black felt covering that you could place
tiny letters on, sort of like the signs you’d see in church
with the days sermon written on it. The sign reads:

VACCINATION CENTER
MIND YOUR SPEAK

with an arrow pointing into a room. The room looks like it
may have been a bank at one point. There’s a large lobby in
which about 100 people are crowded. At the back of the room
sits 8 teller windows, each one manned by a silent, ghost of
a woman taking information from citizens fed to them by a
large line. To the right of the teller windows, there
appears to be a interim medical area. Two nurses stand,
dressed in white, inoculating men and women, periodically
standing to call names into a microphone. This all looks
out to the front, where a glass wall separates the room from
the lobby. Dale looks in and then proceeds to enter.
                                                            
Dressed in a pale outfit, Dale’s fashion sense seems to be
the norm. Most women look as if they belong in a convent.
People don’t wear colorful outfits, they dress in pale
grays, black, brown, and white. Normal, eye catching
fashion has been replaced by practical, dreary clothing.
Dale reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his wallet.
From his wallet, he pulls out his identification card and
places it back in his pocket. He looks down at his ID. It’s
slightly digital, with a small solar panel to produce
energy. It has a picture of his face and a thumb print.
There’s a magnetic strip on that back which can be swiped
and then also a small port where it could be plugged into a
computer. He puts it into his pocket and steps into line.
                                                            
As he waits, he looks up at a TV screen that’s glaring out
the state-ran news channel. A reporter comes on the screen
with a special report.
                                                            

2.

                       REPORTER
      (from TV screen)
This just in, USBC is has gotten
initial reports of an explosion
occurring at a vaccination
laboratory in downtown district of
Detroit this morning. Early
reports are unclear but it’s
suspected that the terrorist
organization, PAAF, will claim
responsibility. Detroit has been
the target of some larger
terrorist attacks as of recent,
since the government’s decision to
move central security and medical
supply production to the poverty
stricken region.
                                                            
An old lady a few spots ahead in line speaks up.
                                                            
                       OLD LADY
Goddamn terrorist. A bunch of
naïve, young fools who don’t
respect the things given to them.
                                                            
She looks up at the man standing behind her and two people
in front of Dale
                                                            
                       OLD LADY
I’ll tell you one thing, you take
away their electricity, you take
away their water, then you’ll see
‘em shut up real quick. The brats
complain and complain about the
government but they fail to see
all the good things provided for
them.
                                                            
                       MAN BEHIND OLD LADY
Reminds me of my son. He’s 16,
all he does is bitch and moan
about how I don’t let him stay out
late enough, how I don’t let him
have girls over, how he’s going to
leave and I’ll be sorry. HA! All
this while eating a dinner I
provided for him at a table I
purchased in the house that I
built! When he’s gets older,
he’ll understand. He’ll see that
you have to respect the authority
that provides for you. What
doesn’t seem obvious to him now,
            (MORE)

3.

                       MAN BEHIND OLD LADY (cont'd)
eventually will.
                                                            
                       OLD LADY
Did you hear? The little bastards
bombed an Electrical Generator
last night. It knocked the power
out in Baltimore… the whole city!
                                                            
                       MAN BEHIND OLD LADY
Yeah, I heard about that, I was
watching it on the news before I
came here. Talk about biting the
hand that feeds them
                                                            
Dale’s been silent about this whole time, listening
casually. The man in front of Dale has been listening too
and can’t keep quiet. This is Tyler.
                                                            
                       TYLER
I think that’s the point, sir. I’m
sorry; I couldn’t help but listen
to your conversation.
                                                            
The man behind the old lady nods.
                                                            
                       MAN BEHIND OLD LADY
Go on. What’s your point?
                                                            
                       TYLER
My point is that what’s beautiful
about some aspects of the
resistance movement is they don’t
see things the way older, more,
how do would say… I don’t know,
conditioned people do? Maybe they
think that the things provided for
them aren’t necessarily things
that have to be provided but are
more being used as systems of
control
                                                            
                       MAN BEHIND OLD LADY
      (disgruntled)
What are you, a goddamn terrorist?
                                                            
A camera up in the corner of the room, beside the TV, starts
to zoom in. A monitor showing the conversation appears with
the speech being played audibly through speakers. As he’s
speaking, the camera analyzes their faces and begins running
their profile against a database of photos.
                                                            

4.

                       TYLER
      (viewed through
       security monitor)
No sir, I’m not a terrorist, I
just don’t believe everything
that’s fed to me through this...
                                                            
He points up at the TV screen.
                                                            
                       TYLER
… cathode wet dream!
                                                            
The old lady gasps at the ‘wet dream’ comment.
                                                            
                       TYLER
Sorry, ma’am, I get a little
worked up sometimes over these
things.
                                                            
Dale listens intently to Tyler. The old lady has hit the
front of the line and is quickly called by an open teller.
Dale looks around him, the line has moved fast. He didn’t
notice the cute girl that was standing behind him. She’s
fumbling through her bag, looking for her wallet. She
senses his glance and looks up. She smiles hesitantly.
Awkwardly, Dale looks away. The man in front of him, Tyler,
turns around and sees Dale. Tyler points with his thumb
over his shoulder.
                                                            
                       TYLER
      (whispering)
Old people, they’re what’s keeping
this country from going through
any real change.
                                                            
Dale puts a small smile on his face to show his slight
agreement.
                                                            
                       DALE
Hm, yeah, we could definitely use
some of that.
                                                            
                       TYLER
Some of what?
                                                            
                       DALE
      (viewed from
       security monitor)
Change…
                                                            
The security monitor shows two snap shots of Dale’s and the
man in front of him faces with their first initial and last
names displayed underneath their faces.
                                                            

5.

The old lady is now being interrogated by a teller.
                                                            
                       TELLER
Marital status?
                                                            
                       OLD LADY
widowed... my husband died last
year of…
                                                            
                       TELLER
      (interrupting)
Any allergies?
                                                            
The old lady looks up at her, hurt by the tellers
indifference. The teller is just staring back at her with a
blank smile on her face.
                                                            
                       OLD LADY
No... no allergies
                                                            
                       TELLER
Thank you, Ms. Edshaw. Here’s
your identification back. If you
can wait over there, it will be
about 20 minutes, they’ll call
your name.
                                                            
                       OLD LADY
      (meekly)
Thank you
                                                            
                       TELLER
NEXT!
                                                            
Tyler is next and moves to the empty space left by the old
lady.
                                                            
                       TELLER
ID?
                                                            
Tyler gives his ID to the teller. The teller takes it and
plugs it into the computer in front of her. A screen with
the man’s photo and all his personal information appears. An
indicator on the screen begins to blink red.
                                                            
CU of screen. The indicator reads ‘Candidate for Serum
9.34-6’
                                                            
Slightly put off by the message, the teller’s face turns to
a grimace. Quickly, she recovers and snaps a smile back
onto it.
                                                            

6.

                       TELLER
Mr. Brigadell...
                                                            
Back in line, the girl behind Dale, her name being Natalie,
has really caught his attention, there’s something about her
eyes. Dale pretends not to look at her all the while
stealing glances. She notices this and speaks up.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
You know, I don't know what's
worse about this place, the
needle's prick or the awkward
glances from the prick in line.
                                                            
Dale’s a little put off but he recovers quickly.
                                                            
                       DALE
Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…
it’s just that you look familiar,
I feel like I’ve seen you
somewhere before.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Really, out of all the nuns in
this place, you pick me out as
familiar?
                                                            
A teller has just cleared up and is waiting for Dale.
                                                            
                       DALE
I don't know, it's something...
the eye's maybe?
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Hey, that's very poetic, Lord
Byron, but, you know, it's your
turn, so let's go, don't piss 'em
off.
                                                            
Dale didn’t realize he was next. Quickly, he moves to the
open teller, this one different than the teller before.
                                                            
                       TELLER
Hello, ID please?
                                                            
Forgetting to have it ready, Dale fumbles around in his
pocket for his ID. He produces it and hands it over to the
teller. She plugs it into her monitor. The same ‘Candidate
for Serum 9.34-6’ message appears as it did for the other
man. This teller doesn’t react to the message.
                                                            
                       TELLER
Age?
                                                            

7.

                       DALE
26
                                                            
                       TELLER
Weight?
                                                            
                       DALE
165, 170…
                                                            
                       TELLER
Mr. Tinsle, when was the last time
you received an inoculation?
                                                            
                       DALE
Um, I don’t know, I think I’ve
missed about two of them.
                                                            
                       TELLER
Have you had any sexual relations
since then, Mr. Tinsle.
                                                            
                       DALE
Um, that’s kind of personal. I
don’t remember anyone asking me
that last time.
                                                            
                       TELLER
Mr. Tinsle, as you should already
know, we’ve developed a new
vaccine for certain types of
sexually transmitted diseases
since the last time you’ve been
inoculated. And please remember,
your answers are confidential and
will help us decide the proper
dose for you today.
                                                            
Dale’s a little taken back, but he hesitantly answers.
                                                            
                       DALE
No, no, I haven’t been with anyone
in 2 years… not since...
                                                            
                       TELLER
      (interrupting)
Can I take it then that you are of
a single, divorced or widowed
status?
                                                            
                       DALE
Yes, single…
                                                            

8.

                       TELLER
Excellent.
                                                            
She types something into the computer, removes the ID still
plugged in and hands it back to Dale.
                                                            
                       TELLER
Mr. Tinsle, if you could have a
seat over there, someone will be
with you momentarily
                                                            
She motions over to a crammed seating area. Dale leaves the
window and finds a seat. He glances up at the TV and sees a
policeman beating a protestor with a baton. He stares until
his concentration is broken by a loud yelling. The girl
behind him in line is making a scene at a teller booth.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
      (yelling)
It’s not confidential if I tell
you!
                                                            
                       TELLER
      (in a hushed tone)
Ma’am, please quiet down or I’ll
be forced to call security.
                                                            
With that threat, Natalie quiets down.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Alright, alright, alright… yes,
I’ve had sex in the past 6 months.
                                                            
                       TELLER
With how many partners?
                                                            
                       NATALIE
WHAT!?
                                                            
                       TELLER
Ms. Colt...
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Listen, I'm a big girl. I go out,
have a good time. I don't keep
track of everything I do in
some...
                                                            
She slaps the side of the teller's computer monitor. This
startles the teller.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
...database, like you guys do.
                                                            

9.

                       TELLER
I see... Well, here's a form. If
you can remember any details, such
as the number of times and names,
please fill it out on this form
and mail it in to us. OK?
                                                            
Natalie reluctantly takes the form.
                                                            
                       TELLER
Thank you. Now, if you could,
please have a seat over there and
wait. Your name will be called
momentarily.
                                                            
The girl takes the sheet of paper and walks over towards the
waiting area. Looking around, she sees only one open seat,
next to Dale.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Oh, great.
                                                            
Dale sees her approach and moves over to the side to make
room for her. She sits down and tries to move as far away
as possible. She looks away from Dale, as Dale eagerly
looks at her. She notices him again and as he starts to
stutter out his first words.
                                                            
                       DALE
H-h-hey, sorry about that before…
you know, in line.
                                                            
The girl seems to warm up to him, very slightly.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Hey, it’s alright. I’ve had a
tough day.
                                                            
                       DALE
Yeah, it looks like you and that
teller were having a go at it.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Yeah, that stupid bit… you know
she had the audacity to ask me if
I’ve had sex within the past 6
months? You believe that?
                                                            
                       DALE
Yeah, they asked me the same
thing.
                                                            

10.

                       NATALIE
I mean, the nerve! Where do they
get off? I don’t even wanna know
about half the people, much less
tell these jerks. Next thing you
know, they’ll be asking me about
my menstrual cycle.
                                                            
Dale sits there awkwardly, not knowing how to follow that
line.
                                                            
                       DALE
So um, you come here often?
                                                            
Natalie looks amazed that she was just asked that question.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Only when they tell me. Listen,
cut the one-liners ok? If I’m
going to be sitting here for
hours, I don’t need you flirting
with me the whole time.
                                                            
                       DALE
I’m sorry, I’m sorry, no harm
intended. It’s just that I wasn’t
kidding when I said you looked
familiar. Maybe it's in the
eyes...
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Really, huh? Well, that’s
impossible, I just moved here 2
months ago.
                                                            
                       DALE
I don’t know. Maybe I’ve seen you
on TV or something...
                                                            
The girl seems to have lost her attention. She’s chewing at
her nails. Dale notices her indifference to the
conversation and leaves her alone. They don’t speak for a
couple seconds until the girl breaks the silence.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Look at them. Like cattle.
                                                            
Dale looks over at her and sees her pointing to the line
that they were once in.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
You know, in slaughter houses,
they make these long, slender
corrals able to fit a cow facing
            (MORE)

11.

                       NATALIE (cont'd)
in one direction only so that it
can’t turn around and escape on
their way to the kill. Not only
that, but they make them curvy,
too, so the cows can’t see what’s
ahead.
                                                            
                       DALE
Hm, are you a vegetarian?
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Me? Hell no! My boyfriend used
to work in for the OFS processing
division. He worked in the actual
slaughter houses, managing the
process flow.
                                                            
                       DALE
Oh, is that why you’re here? Did
he get a job at the Petersen
Plant, downtown?
                                                            
                       NATALIE
No, he died a year and a half ago.
I’m just here visiting my
parents.
                                                            
                       DALE
Oh, sorry, I uh…
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Shut up, you don’t care. You’re
happy I’m single.
                                                            
Dale’s dumbfounded. The girl is too forthright to talk to.
The girl notices this and eases up.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Hey, if you want to make a good
first impression, do me a favor.
                                                            
                       DALE
What's that?
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Give me a piece of that gum you
got right there?
                                                            
Natalie points to Dale’s shirt pocket. Dale reaches in and
pulls out a piece and hands it to the girl.
                                                            

12.

                       NATALIE
      (with a smile)
Thanks, I quit smoking.
                                                            
                       DALE
So, you’re parents live around
here? Did you go to school around
here?
                                                            
Natalie looks cautiously at Dale for a second then decides
he’s not so much a threat to her sanity.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Nah, this dump? There’s no action
here at all. Nah, my parents
moved up to the Assisted Living
Commons.
                                                            
Dale nods. Natalie's fidgeting with the gum wrapper.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
What about you? You from these
parts?
                                                            
                       DALE
Me? Nah, I just follow the work.
Company tells me to come here, I
don’t argue. Plus, it’s nice here
during the summer. The sun thins
out the air, gets rid of the all
the crap, you know, so you can
breathe for a few months.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Breathe, huh? That’d be nice, I
guess something to look forward
to.
                                                            
Dale and the girl share a moment of silence.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
I remember being a little girl, at
my parent’s summer home up on Lake
George. I’d walk through the tall
grass in my summer dress. I
remember the long blades; they
would tickle the backs of my
knees. My uncle and my father
would go out fishing for the
afternoon while my brother and I
played on the dock.
                                                            
She shakes her head.
                                                            

13.

                       NATALIE
Those memories; they’re just
fading like… like streaks on a
mirror. I went up there last
June, the government had long
since bought the property from my
father and converted it to some…
processing plant. The place
smelled of rot. It was
unrecognizable as the place in my
memories.
                                                            
The girl stares blankly forward for a second then quickly
snaps out of it.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
But, hey, what are you going to
do?
                                                            
                       DALE
I mean, I see your point and I
don’t want to sound, you know,
cold, but you can see the benefits
of the processing plant, right?
Sure, your memories of childhood
will be different than for those
who are growing up today, but
can’t you see the benefits that 20
or whatever years of progress have
made?
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Sure, buddy, indoor water parks
and freeze-dried hotdogs.
                                                            
A voice comes over the loudspeaker. It's one of the nurses
by the medical area.
                                                            
                       REPORTER
      (over loudspeaker)
Tyler Brigadel
                                                            
Tyler, who's been sitting away from Dale and Natalie, stands
up. Dale see this and turns to Natalie.
                                                            
                       DALE
Hey, look, that’s the guy who was
standing in front of me in line.
Maybe we won’t be here for so long
after all.
                                                            

14.

Tyler walks over the medical area. A seat awaits him with a
small arm rest. He starts to roll up his sleeve and looks
up at the nurse.
                                                            
                       TYLER
Hey
                                                            
                       NURSE
Hello, have a seat for us. Do you
have your ID card?
                                                            
Tyler pulls his wallet out and hands his ID to the nurse.
She plugs it into the screen. A message “Corrective Dose:
Serum 9.34-6’ and it’s blinking red. This puts the nurse
off a little bit. Tyler remains unsuspecting, though, of
the flashing message. The nurse stands up and walks over to
a cabinet and unlocks it. She pulls a small bottle out from
inside the cabinet. Using a hypodermic needle, she extracts
the liquid from inside the small glass container. She walks
over to the trash can and drops the used glass container
into the trash. It falls on top of a large pile of other
empty containers. All of the other containers, though,
read:

Serum
9.00-0

While Tyler’s reads:

Serum
9.34-6

The nurse sits down next to Tyler who already has his sleeve
pulled up to his bicep. She begins to prepare his arm for
the injection.
                                                            
                       NURSE
Have you had a long wait, Mr.
Brigadell?
                                                            
                       TYLER
Actually, no, it was surprisingly
quick. I thought I had at least
an hour’s time to kill.
                                                            
                       NURSE
Well, that’s good. It will all be
over soon enough.
                                                            
She smiles at him and injects the liquid into his veins.
Pushing the plunger all the way down, the nurse retracts the
needle and looks up at Tyler.
                                                            

15.

                       NURSE
All done, let me just give you a
band-aid and we’ll send you on
your way
                                                            
Both Tyler and the gentleman the other nurse was working
with stand up at the same time. Both men walk away as the
nurse heads to the loudspeaker microphone
                                                            
                       REPORTER
      (into the
       loudspeaker
       microphone)
Dale Tinsle, Natalie Colt. Dale
Tinelse, Natalie Colt.
                                                            
The girl stands up, as does Dale
                                                            
                       DALE
Natalie, huh?
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Guess the cat’s out...Dale.
                                                            
They walk over to the medical area. As they head in that
direction, they pass both the old lady and the man who was
standing behind her in line. Both of them sitting, watch in
wonderment as Dale and Natalie pass them and get attention
before they do. Dale and Natalie don't notice this and sit
down at the now vacant seats. They each roll up their
sleeves, robotically preparing themselves for their
injections. The nurse takes Dale’s ID card and swipes it at
her computer. The message ‘Corrective Dose: Serum 9.34-6’
appears on the monitor. The nurse then swipes Natalie’s
card. The same message appears. Walking over to the
counter, she pulls out two more small containers of Serum
9.34-6 and fills two needles with the contents. She sets
one needle down next to Dale and next to Natalie. The
nurses begin preparing their patients arms for injection. As
they do this, gunfire is heard from outside the clinic, in
the lobby. A group of masked, armed men storm the clinic.
Two armed security guards enter through a door by the TV
mounted on the wall. They are quickly gunned down and
killed. With the gunfire, everyone drops to the ground. One
of the men pulls out a small fire arm, pulls it up, points
it in Dale’s direction and starts walking towards him.
                                                            
Both nurses are looking up in surprise at the attack. As
the man approaches, he fires off a quick round, piercing the
skull of the nurse attending Natalie. Blood splatters
against the small empty glass containers that used to hold
Serum 9.34-6. Other men grab the nurse who was working on
Dale and escort her away.
                                                            

16.

The man turns to Natalie who runs to his arms and then
proceeds to slap him.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Christ, how long was it going to
take you? How many signals do you
need?
                                                            
The masked man pulls the bandana away from his face.
                                                            
                       MASKED MAN
What are you talking about? I
gave the raid orders as soon as we
got the signal, just as we
rehearsed.
                                                            
She stomps her left foot on the ground a couple of times.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Goddamn ghetto switches…
                                                            
She stomps her foot a few more times while awkwardly looking
up at Dale.
                                                            
She pulls out a cigarette from ‘masked’ man’s pocket. The
man gives Natalie a big kiss on the cheek and walks away to
go help the other men destroy the medical supplies. The
other civilians inside the center are starting to get up off
of their knees. Dale’s just looking in amazement. He
points down to the dead nurse on the ground.
                                                            
                       DALE
      (astonished)
He..he killed her! What did that
poor lady do?
                                                            
                       NATALIE
      (lighting her
       cigarette)
Hey, in order to make an omelet…
                                                            
                       DALE
And you? Where the hell did you
come from?
                                                            
Natalie’s loading a pistol, smoking a cigarette. This
mercenary-like person has completely surprised Dale.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Do yourself a favor; get out of
here before they send more
security officers.
                                                            

17.

                       DALE
You lied to me?
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Yeah, sorry about that, I didn’t
really quit smoking
                                                            
                       DALE
I mean all that stuff about your
summer home? your uncle fishing?
your dead boyfriend, for Christ
sakes?… what were you, just
killing time?
                                                            
                       REPORTER
No... all that really happened.
Hey, don’t look at me that way.
Don’t doubt my sincerity, I had
other things on the mind, you
know?
                                                            
Dale just stares at her in disbelief.
                                                            
                       NATALIE
Don't take this the wrong way, you
didn't have a chance with me to
begin with. You're a cute kid,
just too, I don't know… asleep for
me.
                                                            
She tosses him the gum wrapper she was playing with, it’s
been twisted into the shape of a rose. He looks up at her
as she joins the rest of her group. As she’s leaving, she
passes a poster on the wall. It has a picture of a girl
with a bandana over her face showing just her eyes. The
eyes look strikingly similar to Natalie’s. It reads:

TERRORISM ISN’T ALWAYS JUST A MAN’S MISTAKE
BE AWARE
                                                            


FADE OUT.


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