Quitlove Conquered the World

INT. WORLD PRESIDENT’S OFFICE - Day

There is a man at a desk behind a mountain of paperwork. Late 30’s-early 40’s. His dress shirt’s top button is undone, his tie hangs loosely tied around his neck. This man is PHINEAS QUITLOVE, World President. As Quitlove muses over the work staked in front of him, his assistant VALERIE, who’s in her late 20’s to early 30’s enters carrying a small stack of papers.

VALERIE
I have some more paperwork for you sir.

QUITLOVE
Oh really Val? Do you really have more? Why thank you! It’s so nice to know I can rely on you to help alleviate my stress!

Valerie
It comes with the job sir.

QUITLOVE
How do you know what comes with the job? I’m the first one!


INT. RECEPTION HALLWAY – Day

We’re following FOOTSTEPS down a hallway towards a reception desk. The person we’re following is KRISTINE, Quitlove’s college freshman daughter. As she approaches the desk a radio CRACKLES. The DJ is a political commentator named TANNER COLLINS (age 20s-30s) his co-host is PHIL (age 20’s-30’s).

TANNER (V.O.)
So here we are, it’s been just over a year since our beloved world leader Phineas Quitlove took over in a somewhat public, shall we call it “hostile takeover”. Phil?




PHIL (V.O.)
That’s true Connor and we have yet to see exactly what this administration actually has planned. I mean, who died and made this guy boss?

Tanner and Phil LAUGH NERVOUSLY

TANNER (V.O)
It seems like just about everyone Phil! Let’s not forget that before His Eminence took office, he was the leader of the most efficient criminal task force the world had ever seen.

At the desk Kristine holds up her badge to THE RECEPTIONIST (in her 20’s) who checks the computer system. Kristine grows impatient.

PHIL (V.O.)
At this point Tanner I think it’s essential to point out that it wasn’t a police task force against criminals, it was a task force made entirely of criminals!

TANNER (V.O.)
Very interesting point! We’ll touch on that after the break. The time is now 1:42pm. This is Tanner Collins.

Kristine is visibly irritated at waiting this long.

KRISTINE
Excuse me! I know you’re very busy trying to catch up on the latest quiz in Cosmo or whatever but I need to get in to see him!

RECEPTIONIST
I’m sorry miss, I’m trying to process it as quickly as I can but these things take time. He isn’t everyone’s favorite person at this point.



INT. WORLD PRESIDENT’S OFFICE – Day

Quitlove sits head in hand as he half-heartedly signs various papers. Valerie is looking busy. In a huff he SNAPS his writing utensil in half.

QUITLOVE
Would someone like to explain to me why on Earth we have so many pages dedicated to keeping track of paperclips!

VALERIE
It’s part of the job sir.

QUITLOVE
Stop saying that!

In a fit of anger he SWIPES a stack of papers off his desk making a mess. He takes a couple BREATHS to compose himself and looks at Valerie.

QUITLOVE
This is not what I was expecting.

VALERIE
All due respect sir, what were you expecting?

Quitlove shakes his head.


INT. RECEPTION HALLWAY – Day

Kristine is at the end of her rope as the radio CRACKLES back to life. As the DJs speak again we see her yell at the receptionist and grab her ID, STORMING down an adjacent hallway. Over the radio, GUNFIRE can be heard. Phil sounds shaken.

PHIL (V.O.)
We’re back live. If you can still hear us, Tanner has been shot. I don’t think he’s going to make it.

An explosion ROCKETS over the airways.

PHIL (V.O. CONT’D.)
The Marines are here and they are making their way through the station. Tanner went to use the bathroom, he hasn’t returned yet.

A door is KICKED IN inside the radio’s studio. A MARINE can be heard entering.

MARINE (V.O.)
Get on the ground now! Do it or I will shoot you!

PHIL (V.O.)
Well we can wave goodbye to freedom of speech ladies and gentlemen. This is Phil, and don’t worry, I got this.

A couple of BURSTS of gunfire and the radio transmission ends.


INT. WORLD PRESIDENT’S OFFICE – Day

Quitlove and Valerie are staring at each other when Kristine SLAMS the door open and enters.

KRISTINE
We need to talk.

QUITLOVE
Honey, Daddy’s a little busy running the world right now. He doesn’t have the time to talk to his princess.

KRISTINE
Now!

QUITLOVE
Val?

He doesn’t need to make eye contact with her. She leaves without protest, closing the door behind her. Quitlove stands from behind his desk.



QUITLOVE
Sit.

KRISTINE
I’m not going to sit! You have to answer for what you’ve done!

Quitlove’s demeanor changes, he’s no longer the stressed out “suit” behind closed doors. He’s now the stern, stoic Father set on disciplining his young daughter.

QUITLOVE
Sit. Down.

She sits.

QUITLOVE (CONT’D.)
Regardless of what you might think, I’m not an evil monster. I’m not stealing or raping or selling drugs.

He picks up a stack of papers.

QUITLOVE (CONT’D.)
Hell! I’m trying to get this crap organized!

He SLAMS the stack of papers back onto the desk. When Kristine speaks she chooses her words more carefully, she knows who her father can be.

KRISTINE
You overthrew every major power in the world dad. There was a system in place.

QUITLOVE
They system was broken! It was sick and needed to be purged! Do you have the medicine to fix it?

KRISTINE
Do you?


QUITLOVE
It would certainly appear so!
The room falls silent for a beat. Tears begin to form in Kristine’s eyes. Quitlove’s demeanor changes back to a more somber tone.

KRISTINE
What if you’re wrong?

QUITLOVE
I’m not wrong. I can’t be. I don’t have that kind of luxury.

As she fights back tears he gets down to her level.

QUITLOVE
We are at the dawn of a new age. An age that will see me bring about an end to war, famine, all of the horsemen.

Valerie KNOCKS and enters with a head nod from Quitlove.

VALERIE
Sir, the research on the cure is done and we’re beginning prep on the final stage of testing. Just need you to sign here.

He signs. She exits.

KRISTINE
Research?

QUITLOVE
Ah yes, Englebert and I have been working for months now on a cancer cure. We may have found it.

KRISTINE
Cancer? But I thought that…

QUITLOVE
You’re young, there are a lot of things that you “think”.

KRISTINE
What about your old job?

QUITLOVE
My old job?

KRISTINE
Dad, you were a villain! A bad guy!

QUITLOVE
Who defines what a villain is my dear? Certainly not the villain himself.

KRISTINE
Are you trying to say there was some worldwide conspiracy against you?

QUITLOVE
The leaders that were, decided that they didn’t like my ideas. They were deemed too radical, too unattainable. So I made a support group of sorts, and we set out to show that our way of thinking was not only attainable, it was necessary!

Kristine’s tears are gone as she sees her father’s point of view for the first time.

KRISTINE
So now you’re going to make sure that everyone gets what they need? You’re going to end poverty, world hunger.

QUITLOVE
Exactly! You see! I’ve been misunderstood for so long. It’s time to spread the word. Go and tell everyone you can! Phineas Quitlove is going to change the world!

She jumps out of her chair, hugs her father and kisses him on the cheek.

KRISTINE
I love you daddy!

She exits. Valerie enters. Quitlove becomes more stoic again.
QUITLOVE
Make sure she doesn’t leave her room. In fact, double the guard. I don’t care if she sees they’re there.

VALERIE
Yes sir. Should we hold off on final testing til we know for sure that she’s secured in her quarters?

QUITLOVE
No. We will proceed as planned. I won’t let that little brat get in the way of years of planning.

VALERIE
I’ll give Englebert the green light.

QUITLOVE
Do that. Soon they will all curse they day they crossed me. Daddy is home.

Fade out.