High Noon Transcript

Transcript for High Noon

Transcript

{Scene opens with a panning shot outside a building}

{Overlay: Roy Saunders in...}

{HIGH NOON}

{Scene changes to an office inside the building, where the Boss (Morgan) takes in the city skyline through his window. He nods then moves towards his desk}

{View of clock as it ticks to 9 o'clock}

{The Boss sits behind his desk and logs into his computer, accessing his emails. As he hits enter, he looks at the screen and starts in alarm.}

Computer screen: Unable to retrieve email. Server error #8928

{The Boss's eyes widen in anger and he turns his face to one side.}

Boss: Johnson...!

{View of clock as it ticks to 9:15}

{Scene now changes to IT Dept. Inside, Johnson (James) looks up from his work in shock. Next to him, his young intern, Jimmy (Matt), looks up too as he bites into his bagel, as the Boss appears in the doorway}

Boss: Johnson, what the hell do I pay you for?

Johnson: Um, to keep the computers working.

Boss: That's what I thought too, but apparently you're just goofing off! You may as well be running a bagel factory in here!

{At this, Jimmy looks very guilty, swallows his mouthful and folds his arms, hiding his bagel from sight}

Johnson: But sir, we have over 99.9% uprise-

Boss: Save it, Johnson! I don't want to hear your excuses. I have to go to a meeting now, and when I get back at 12 o'clock sharp, Id better be able to check my email or you're out of here! And you can take your little intern with you.

{Johnson sighs and glances at Jimmy}

{View of clock as it ticks to 9:30}

{Johnson sits down at his Boss's computer while Jimmy watches over his shoulder}

Johnson: Okay, Jimmy, let's see what we've got here. {logs into email} I'll have this fixed in no time.

Computer screen: Unable to retrieve email. Server error #8928

Johnson: Oh God... Error 8928! {sighs and shakes his head}

Jimmy: Is that bad?

Johnson: I'm sorry, Jimmy. There's nothing we can do. No-one has ever fixed Error 8928, and those who have tried have been forced into retirement with crippling carpal tunnel injuries, or worse. Might as well just start packing up now.

Jimmy: Well, there's got to be something we can do!

Johnson: Well, there is one guy we can call, but no-one's seen or heard from Ned Bitterman in years. You'd have more luck beating a 256 level of Pacman.

{Shaking his head in defeat, Johnson gets up and leaves the office. Jimmy however turns to a nearby phonebook}

Jimmy: Well, maybe you've given up hope, Mr. Johnson, but if I get fired, it's back to spending the summer handing out flyers in a big foam carrot suit. And I can't let that happen!

{View of clock as it ticks to 10:30}

{Jimmy is out on the streets, looking for something. At last, he finds the place he's looking for, a small building named NED BITTERMAN'S COMPUTER REPAIR AND DISCOUNT BAGEL EMPORIUM. Satisfied, Jimmy enters}

{Scene changes to inside the building, where we see the surly Ned Bitterman (Paul) reclining behind his desk, arms folded, cowboy hat over his eyes and his feet on the table beside a plate of bagels}

Jimmy: Uh, hi. I'm looking for Ned Bitterman. Uh, I've got this email problem, Error 8928.

Ned Bitterman: You got the wrong place, kid. I just make bagels.

Jimmy: But it says Ned Bitterman computer repair and discount bagel emporium on the sign.

{Ned doesn't speak, but carefully pushes his hat up with one finger}

Bitterman: {pointing with same finger} Ned Bitterman's gone, you hear me? Get out of here, kid. And stay away from Error 8928. It's claimed better men than you.

Jimmy: But your name plaque says Ned Bitterman. {indicates plaque}

Bitterman: {shifts feet of the desk, sits up and slams his fist on the desk} I said I can't help you! There's been too much suffering. The man you want doesn't exist anymore.

Jimmy: {disappointed} I guess you're right. Sorry to waste your time. {turns to leave}

{Ned pulls his hat back over his eyes, lifts his feet back on the desk and folds his arms again. After a few beats, he picks up a bagel from the plate and takes a bite}

{View of clock as it ticks to 11:30}

{Jimmy is back in the office and is seating himself at his Boss's computer}

Jimmy: Well, I guess it's up to me then. The email must get through, whatever the cost.

Computer screen: Say goodbye to your wrists, boy.

{But before Jimmy could even start, who should appear at the doorway but Ned Bitterman!}

Bitterman: Step away from that keyboard, kid! This is my fight.

Jimmy: {gets up} But Mr. Bitterman, there's no more time!

Bitterman: Don't worry, kid. One way or another, this won't take long.

Computer screen: What makes you think you beat me this time, old man?

{Steeling himself, Ned sits down at the computer, prepared for what's to come}

Bitterman: Let's dance!

{With that, he sets to work. For several tense minutes, his fingers fly across the keyboard, his face serious and grim as he works. But soon, his fingers start to slow down, but still he types, a pained expression crossing his face. As he nears the end, his fingers start to freeze up as carpal tunnel starts to hit. Nonetheless, Ned musters up the last of his strength and forces his hands to hit enter}

Computer screen: Connection successful. 23 unread messages.

{Jimmy pumps his fist in success, but his joy turns swiftly to horror as a weakened Ned slips out of the chair and collapses to the floor. Jimmy is at his side in an instant}

Bitterman: {coughs} Did... did we win?

Jimmy: We sure did, Mr. Bitterman, we sure did.

Bitterman: Good. {coughs again} Maybe... maybe now, they'll forgive me... {closes his eyes and presumably dies in Jimmy's arms}

{View of clock as it ticks to 12 o'clock sharp}

{Bang on time, the Boss step up to the doorway, lets out a breath and strides into his office}

Boss: Jimmy. {walks past Jimmy and the motionless Ned}

{As he reaches his desk, the Boss takes off his hat, throws it to one side then he sits down at his desk and logs into his email}

Boss: Ah, excellent. {opens one of his messages and reads it} "Hot sluts are waiting to chat with me"? Interesting... {turns to Jimmy} Jimmy, you're dismissed. Tell Johnson he can keep his job, at least for now. {notices Bitterman for the first time} Who's this on my floor?

Jimmy: {in awe of this brave man who gave his life to save Johnson's job} He's no-one. Just the bagel delivery guy.

{Overlay: THE END}