George koch
oct. 19, 2004
assignment #4 / "The ants"
FADE IN:
EXT. Office building - day (establishing)
DISSOLVE TO:
INt. conference room - day
FS people at table
Representatives of union and management are gathered around a bargaining table. The COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE calls the meeting to order.
MCU COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE
Company representative
Well, ladies and gentlemen, may I begin by saying how proud our company has always been of our record of friendly labor/management relations. We have been without a strike since the thirties, and we have every hope of making this the smoothest negotiation yet.
Pan to mcu union representative
Union representative
(standing up)
We feel the same way on our side. Everyone's interested in cooperating for the good of the company. By the way, you didn't introduce this gentleman.
The UNION REPRESENTATIVE, sitting down once more, gestures towards MR. "JONES."

m3s jones/union rep./company rep.
CoMPANY REPRESENTATIVE
(pauses for a moment)
Ah, that's Mr. ... Jones. He's a labor relations consultant.
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
We've never had problems that needed consulting over.
COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE
We think he might be able to smooth things over for us even more than usual.
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
Well, I suppose it won't hurt to let him try.
COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE
Good, good. Mr. Jones.
zoom in to cu jones
JONES
Thank you. Now, we've seen your opening proposal, and it has some strong points. We think it's a little long, though.
Jones' pov
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
It's the same as the last contract, except for some tweaking.
Back to scene
JONES
Yes, well, we have a counter-proposal to make.
JONES hands a piece of paper to the UNION REPRESENTATIVE, who skims it over.
zoom out to m2s jones/union rep.
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
(somewhat surprised)
One page?
JONES
We thought we'd keep it simple this time.
The UNION REPRESENTATIVE holds the paper with his right hand and begins reading it to the other union representative(s).
UNION REPRESENTATIVE 
"Wages and working conditions are whatever the company says they are and are subject to change without notice."
JONES
We simplified the grievance procedure, too.
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
(continues reading)
"Ask us nicely and maybe we'll fix it."
zoom in to cu jones
JONES looks rather pleased with himself for having made the contract so easy-to-read.
JONES
Elegantly simple, isn't it?
The UNION REPRESENTATIVE can't believe what he is reading. He gets up, walks to the window and looks outside for a moment, attempting to keep his cool.
Cut to ext. Window, facing into the meeting room, as the union rep. approaches the window and looks outside.
The UNION REP. turns around and faces JONES.
Back to scene / fs union rep. moving closer to jones

UNION REPRESENTATIVE
(incredulously)
You can't expect us to take this seriously!
JONES' expression becomes one of annoyance.
Cut to oss union rep.
JONES
(rising from his seat)
There's no pleasing you people, is there. Why can't you just try to get along instead of fighting us on everything? You're nothing but a bunch of thugs, you know that? All you're interested in is protecting lazy people who don't want to work.
zoom out to m2ls jones/union rep.
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
We don't have to take this!
JONES
Some people have no sense of gratitude. Why don't you go out on strike?
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
(confused)
What, you want us to go out?
Dolly in to cu jones
JONES thinks for a minute before answering.
JONES
Uh ... maybe.
PAN TO MCU UNION REP.
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
I don't see a point in continuing today.
Cut to cu reaction shot JONES
JONES
(ominously)
So, you're walking out on contract talks. Fine. We'll just impose this contract when the old one runs out. See if we don't.
Suddenly he changes his mind.
Dolly out to m2s
JONES (CONT'D)
(calmly)
Wait, wait. There's no need for all these hard feelings. Tell you what: You can keep this copy.
The UNION REPRESENTATIVE gets up, still holding the proposed contract, and leaves the room.
[End of scene.]
Cut to:
INT. BREAKROOM - DAY
MLS UNION REP. Eating at table
The UNION REPRESENTATIVE is sitting on a bench in front of a long metal table. He is eating a sandwich. An opened can of soda is on the tabletop.
Pan to breakroom doors
The heavy double doors swing open and one of the UNION REP's coworkers enters, carrying a lunch bag and a newspaper.
Follow shot of worker as he is walking to the table.
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
Look who's joining us. When did you start brown-bagging it?
WORKER 1
(sitting down to eat)
When the strike rumors started.
FS worker/union rep. sitting
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
Good grief, I wish people would stop going on about that. You know, we've got a month before the contract expires. A lot can happen in that time.
WORKER 1
(holding up the paper)
Did you see this? Look at this ad I marked.
zoom in on worker's hand holding the paper
The UNION REPRESENTATIVE reads the advertisement that has been circled in black marker.
Cut to m2s worker/union rep.
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
(surprised)
They're advertising for replacement workers!
WORKER 1
Damn strong rumors, wouldn't you say.
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
It's not legal! At least, it's not right.
WORKER 1
It's not surprising, either.
Dolly in to cu union rep.
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
(resolutely)
Well, we're not going down without a fight. The NLRB will hear about this, and the media. We'll have the whole city on our side. Once we rally our friends and families together, the company will have to take notice!
zoom out to ws breakroom
WORKER 1
(calling offstage)
Hey, Paul!
(to the UNION REP.)
Your brother's here.
PAUL enters through the double doors and joins the UNION REP and WORKER.
FS PAUL/WORKER/UNION REP at table
UNION REPRESENTATIVE
Paul, what are you doing down here?
CU PAUL
PAUL
(matter-of-factly)
Applying for a job. Didn't you see the big ad in today's paper?
FADE OUT.
[End of scene.]