THE FINE LINE - SCRIPT EXCERPT
EXT. TRICORE CITY - MORNING
​
The lower city streets are congested with slow, aching
bodies; broken buildings mirror their inhabitants. Next the
middle city section. A few busy bodies scattered around the
street, booming industry is visible in the background.
Finally moving to an empty upper city, the buildings tower
in comparison to the other areas; all impressive feats of
architecture and innovation.
​
INT. TRICORE PALACE (UPPER CITY) - MORNING
​
ROBERT a thin, tall man strides through a populated
courtyard and a sequence of increasingly enclosed corridors.
ROBERT approaches a double door with two guards positioned
outside; he continues forward unfazed as the guards step
aside for the royal physician. He bursts through the double
doors to find the EMPRESS and GENERAL in the middle of
conversation. Surprised they turn their attention to the
agitated Doctor; the GENERALS right hand hovers over his
side arm as he does.
​
The GENERAL is a middle aged man, portly, with his bushy
mustache an exception to his receding hairline. Even out of
the public eye, the young EMPRESS is immaculate, wearing the
finest clothes imaginable and standing with the presence of
a woman twice her age.
​
ROBERT
You're barricading the lower city!
​
The room exudes royalty, with all furnishings embellished
with gold. Large portraits of former rulers hang from the
walls. ROBERT walks to the center table placing both hands
firmly on it, in a vague attempt to assert dominance.
Unimpressed the EMPRESS takes a seat.
​
EMPRESS
I don't remember requesting your
presence Doctor.
​
ROBERT
How can you abandon your people?
​
GENERAL
Watch your tone. Do you need to be
reminded of your place Robert?
​
ROBERT
Now is not the time to be
distracted by formalities General
and please do spare me your
condescension.
​
ROBERT takes a moment to compose himself.
​
ROBERT
How can this possibly be the best
course of action?
​
GENERAL
This doesn't need to be discussed
with you. Now would be the time to
take your leave.
​
ROBERT remains Unmoved. After an awkwardly long pause the
GENERAL walks towards him.
​
GENERAL
Poor decision, don't you think
Margaret would prefer if you
maintained your employment.
​
ROBERT
It is for her sake I do this.
(beat)
Please your Majesty. Whatever
standing I hold with you, I must
use now.
​
The EMPRESS looks pensively at ROBERT but remains silent.
The GENERAL paces away from him with his gaze firmly towards
plans on the table as he begins his lecture.
​
GENERAL
Do you know what a plague is
Doctor?
​
ROBERT
(Baffled)
What? Of course I'm a Doc-
​
GENERAL
How it takes hold and throttles a
nation? Reaping countless lives,
creating anarchy; something that
could wipe out our city if left
unchecked. We have made the tough
decisions necessary to protect the
people.
​
ROBERT exhales audibly, he is becoming visibly impatient.
​
GENERAL
Or would you have our good people
die for those in the lower city?
​
ROBERT
The street a man lives on should
not define his worth.
​
GENERAL
What would you have us do?
​
ROBERT
What you are sworn to do, serve the
people. Provide them with aid and
hope, give them a chance before
condemning them all.
​
GENERAL
It's not as if we haven't tried. We
provided aid for as long as it was
viable. We will not see Tricore
ruined by squandering resources
with no return.
​
ROBERT scoffs as he attempts to suppress his discontent.
​
EMPRESS
Please, do speak freely Doctor.
​
GENERAL
(Underhandedly)
I see no reason for you to stop
now.
​
ROBERT
I apologise your Majesty but Lucius
speaks of a long and difficult
past. It has been but two weeks
since the epidemic gripped the
lower city.
​
The GENERALS eyes dart to ROBERT, flashing a look of
contempt.
​
ROBERT
The medical staff dispatched were
vastly outnumbered by the military
that preceded them.
​
GENERAL
The number of nurses sent is a
trivial matter, if you knew the
volume of equipment and supplies
provided I'm certain you -
​
ROBERT
I was shown the supplies by my-
​
ROBERT catches himself mid sentence and falters. He collects
his thoughts before continuing.
​
ROBERT
By a nurse. All it shows is you are
a man of the people as long as you
can run a profit.
​
GENERAL
We cannot continue to waste our
resources on the damned.
​
ROBERT
You are the ones damning them!
ROBERT takes a moment to regain his composure, as he begins
to talk again he ensures he meets the GENERALS eyes.
​
ROBERT
Those in the lower city provide us
all with metals, minerals, crops.
Tricores farmers, miners and
laborers. They should be seen more
than as a waste of their own
resources.
​
The GENERAL shifts his attention to the EMPRESS, he gestures
towards a bottle of red wine on the table, the EMPRESS
approves and he begins to pour a glass.
​
GENERAL
I fear you have come to idolise the
'common' man. They don't provide
resources out of selflessness, they
do it because they are told.
​
The GENERAL provides the EMPRESS with a full glass of red
wine then begins to pour one for himself.
​
GENERAL
The same can be said for the middle
city. They flourish, they achieve,
because we tell them to. It's by
design; we provide order and
purpose to those without.
​
ROBERT
Can it be called order if it's
provided from down the sights of a
rifle?
​
EMPRESS
Careful Doctor. What are you
implying?
​
ROBERT
I'm stating that the military
should be used for protection, not
enforcement.
​
ROBERT walks over to the wine and pours himself a glass, he
refreshes himself before continuing.
ROBERT
A true peace will never be held at
gunpoint. Fear will manifest in
hate and violence. From there it
only takes a spark to ignite
revolution.
​
GENERAL
You believe the common folk could
rise against my military? They
would be slaughtered.
​
ROBERT
I don't doubt it. Though I fear
Lucius you see that as a goal, not
a catastrophe.
(Beat)
That's not all you need be worried
about. I don't expect those from
the middle city will be pleased to
find out their loved ones were sent
into a quarantined zone to die.
​
For the first time ROBERT looks directly at the EMPRESS.
​
ROBERT
You need to hear this before the
gutters run red. Just because you
cannot hear the streets from here
your majesty does not mean the
people are silent.
​
The doors fly open akin to ROBERTS overly dramatic entrance.
JULIAN, A short man scurries through, his jet black hair is
braided and pulled away from the white powder that stains
his face and neck. A guard from the door walks in behind
looking furious at JULIAN.
​
GUARD
I'm sorry your Majesty. I tried to
tell him that -
​
JULIAN bows and begins to rant unaware of the GENERALS and
ROBERTS presence. ROBERT downs his glass of wine and serves
himself another. The GENERAL takes a seat by the table on
the side furthest from the two intruders.
​
JULIAN
(Melodramatic)
Your Majesty a travesty has
occurred. The four tiered cake
shan't be ready for tomorrows
banquet and don't even get me
started on the hor d'oeuvres.
​
As JULIAN finally takes a breath he becomes aware of the
tension in the room, the presence of the General and
immediately regrets all decisions that led him to this
point.
​
JULIAN
Sorry your Majesty. I didn't mean
to intrude.
​
GENERAL
Well you have.
​
JULIAN
Should I comeback later?
​
EMPRESS
Yes that would be for the best.
​
JULIAN nods, swings around and scurries out. The guard
whilst muttering expletives follows behind, closing the door
as he does.
​
GENERAL
(Appalled)
Why do you let these people in your
Highness?
​
The EMPRESS turns to the Doctor.
​
EMPRESS
Doctor, I admire your passion.
Though you are yet to say anything
conclusive. What is your solution
to our crisis?
​
ROBERT
That we cure those in the lower
city, and extract those who
journeyed in to help.
​
EMPRESS
But how? The latter is possible but
how do I cure a plague? You are my
royal physician; the best medical
mind I have met, have you found a
cure?
​
ROBERT
No your Majesty.
​
GENERAL
It seems strange your proposal is
based solely on well wishes.
​
ROBERT
If you continue to provide aid, I'm
certain that I could formulate an
inoculation to protect those who
haven't been infected. In the mean
time use the military to protect
the uninfected. This way we can
save portions of the lower city and
extract Marg-
​
ROBERT bites his tongue mid sentence.
GENERAL
What was that?
​
ROBERT
Extract the medical staff.
​
A smile grows across the GENERALS face.
​
GENERAL
To extract Margaret. So that's why
you're here. Allow me to explain
your Majesty.
​
The GENERAL arises from his chair, suddenly interested.
​
GENERAL
The Doctors wife Margaret is a
nurse, she was part of one the
medical teams sent to help tend to
the infected.
​
ROBERT stands still, silent. While the GENERAL laughs to
himself.
​
GENERAL
(Chuckling)
Your favoured physician. The great
Doctor Kaylock, who cares so much
about the less fortunate cares more
for his own interests. Did she tell
you she was leaving?
​
The question goes unanswered, ROBERT is becoming
increasingly infuriated every time the GENERAL speaks. His
hands clenched in an attempt to suppress his feelings.
​
GENERAL
I doubt it. You would have stopped
her, a smart man such as yourself
must have know what would happen.
​
The GENERAL pauses, relishing the moment.
​
GENERAL
(Mocking)
She was so selfless in her attempt
to help others. Unlike yourself
evidently.
​
The GENERAL walks closer to ROBERT with every word.
​
GENERAL
I guess it must be one of her many
traits you love.
​
Robert becomes visibly agitated.
​
GENERAL
Do you wish you could have stopped
her? saved her?
(Beat)
It's such a shame that you'll never
see your wife again.
​
Enraged ROBERT swings his fist at the GENERAL catching him
in the jaw and sending the GENERAL stumbling backwards onto
one knee. Without blinking the GENERAL bolts up and in one
seamless motion draws his revolver, cocks the hammer and
aims his sights at ROBERT.
​
EMPRESS
LOWER YOUR GUN GENERAL!
​
The GENERAL takes a deep breath, before obeying the EMPRESS
and slowly holstering his side arm, not once losing eye
contact with ROBERT.
​
EMPRESS
While I understand your struggle
Doctor. Another outburst wont be
allowed, do you understand?
​
ROBERT
Yes, your Majesty. My apologies.
​
EMPRESS
Now Robert. I can provide you with
a few different options, which path
you choose is up to you.
​
The GENERAL trudges back to his chair disheartened, picking
up his wine as he does.
​
EMPRESS
I believe compassion can bring our
city together in this time of
struggle.
(Beat)
So I'll will be continuing to
provide relief for the coming
weeks, with the primary focus of
relocating the uninfected. I can
relieve you of your duties
temporarily; allowing you to travel
to the lower city.
​
The EMPRESS pauses to take a drink.
​
EMPRESS
Once you are there you can work on
creating an inoculation to save
countless more lives. Or... I can
have your wife extracted and return
to your side.
​
ROBERT
If I were to travel to the lower
city. How do I know this new plan
will be upheld?
​
ROBERT focuses his attention on the General.
​
ROBERT
What assurances do I have I wont be
abandoned as well?
​
EMPRESS
You have my word.
​
GENERAL
(Scorned)
You do not have mine. I don't
think your wife will be too pleased
to find out she was removed at your
behest.
​
ROBERT
So you cast me out, or sour my
relief. What if I took to the
streets with my knowledge.
​
GENERAL
Desperate words Robert; we both
know you wouldn't get very far.
Though I admire your courage, even
if it is annoying.
​
The GENERAL rises and paces by the table, enjoying the
moment.
​
GENERAL
I can offer you a better deal. I
can recall your wife's entire team.
With them all returning to the
hospital here, nobody would suspect
interference.
​
ROBERT
Why would you do this?
​
GENERAL
Because in return you would
relinquish your title as royal
physician and take on a position in
the hospital beside your wife.
​
ROBERT
Your Majesty, please.
​
EMPRESS
I have given you options Doctor.
Unfortunately for you Lucian
handles the logistics.
​
ROBERT
But -
​
GENERAL
Think of it as a less public
penance for your earlier violence.
​
EMPRESS
What will it be Doctor?
​
ROBERT
(Defeated)
Just give me my wife. Please.