joystick warfare

8/12/2019 Joystick Warfare

1/30

Joystick Warfare

By

Bradley Thompson


2/30

INT. HOSPITAL - THERAPISTS OFFICE - DAY

A THERAPISTS OFFICE comes into view. It is brightly lit,and painted in warm orange and red tones, giving off aninviting glow.

A THERAPIST sits across from a man and a woman. TheTherapist is a young woman in business attire.

A single pitcher of water sits between the Therapist and theCouple.

The Therapist has a clipboard in one hand. She clears herthroat and adjusts her seating.

THERAPISTWell Carl, tell me about yourself.

EXT. HOUSE - MORNING

A LARGE, FANCY HOUSE fades into view. The grass is perfectlyand freshly cut, and the hedges in front are perfectlypruned. It is early morning, and the sun is shining low onthe horizon.

CARL (V.O.)Hun, wheres my briefcase?

INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - MORNING

CARL HAGGERDY, a young, mid-twenty year old man, is RUSHINGacross his kitchen. He has five-o-clock shadow growing, andlooks slightly WEATHERED, yet still happy with his homelife.

Carls wife MARY is standing at the kitchen counter, pouringORANGE JUICE into two glasses. A frying pan is sitting onthe stove as two eggs are fried up in it.

MARYIts in the closet!

Carl stops and turns to face his wife.

CARLThanks dear.

He RUNS out of the kitchen as BOBBY and CJ, his young SONS,walk in next to him.

(CONTINUED)


3/30

CONTINUED: 2.

CJMorning Mom!

MARYMorning Carl.

Mary puts the two juice glasses down on the table as Bobbyand CJ jump into their chairs.

Carl walks back into the kitchen, now sporting a leatherbriefcase. He goes up to Mary and hugs her from behind.

MARYOh and GOOD MORNING Carl...

Carl kisses his wife on the neck, lets go, and walks over tothe fridge. Mary smiles.

MARY

Rushing out again?

CARLCant be late again! My boss isgonna have my ass this time.

Mary walks over to the stove and flips the eggs in the pan.TOAST pops up out of the toaster. Carl grabs a piece andputs it in his mouth as he grabs his SUIT JACKET from thecounter. He puts it on with one big flick of his shoulders.

MARYLove you hun.

Carl, still with the toast in his mouth, tries to respond.

CARL (MUFFLED)Luff yu tefww.

Mary smiles to herself as Carl runs by his two sons. He patsthem both on the head before walking up to Mary. He takesthe toast out of his mouth, kisses her, and heads out of thekitchen, toast in one hand and briefcase in the other.

A CALENDAR is seen hanging on the wall by the entrance tothe kitchen. It reads July 15th.

EXT. HOUSE - MORNING

The garage doors slide open as a SPORTS CAR, modern andsleek, comes out of the garage. Carl still has the toast inhis mouth as he backs out of his driveway and ZOOMS off downthe street.


4/30

3.

INT. CAR - MORNING

Carl is at a red light when his PHONE goes off. He opens itand answers. It reads:

"On your way?"

Carl, before holding a SMILE on his face, grows a SOLEMNexpression. He puts his phone away.

The light turns green as Carl drives off with the rest oftraffic.

EXT. PARKING GARAGE - SECURITY KIOSK - MORNING

Carls car pulls up to the Security Check in front of alarge office building and adjacent parking garage. A guardsteps out.

GUARDID?

Carl flashes his plastic ID CARD at the Guard; the cardreads:

CARL HAGGERDY

CTC - Clearance 4

ID 4402953

The guard nods and raises the gate. Carl drives on through.

INT. OFFICE BUILDING - MORNING

Carl walks into a drab, bleak common area. A RECEPTION DESKsits on one end of the room. It is empty, and a small foldedindex card reads

"Gone for coffee, be back in a few!"

Carl averts his gaze from the card over to the SOLID, METALDOORS across from him, next to the Reception Desk. He walksover to the doors.

Carl flashes his ID across a small sensor. The light on thesensor goes from red to green, and a small audible BEEP isheard as the doors unlock. Carl opens one and walks through.


5/30

4.

INT. OFFICE BUILDING - CUBICLES - MORNING

Carl enters into an office space containing many cubiclesand a few meeting rooms on either side. A few workers aredotted throughout the rows of cubicles. Carl walks by themall.

WORKERMorning Carl.

Carl gives a half-assed wave to the meaningless cubicleco-worker of his as he continues past the cubicles.

Carl reaches another door, this time with a man in MILITARYFATIGUES standing in front of it. Carl holds his ID up tohim.

The SOLDIER glances at the ID, waits for a moment, then nodsto Carl, signifying that he can enter.

Carl enters into a BLACK room as the door shuts behind him.

INT. BLACK - DAY

Radio static fades in from silence. The screen is blank.

CARL (V.O.)John, I see three figures headedout from the village.

A beat.

JOHN (V.O.)I see em too. Keep an eye.

A few seconds of silence.

JOHN (V.O.)You see that?

CARL (V.O.)Yessir, weapons cache.

JOHN (V.O.)Target the truck for me.

A beat.

CARL (V.O.)In the crosshairs.

A CLICK is heard as John presses the trigger.

(CONTINUED)


6/30

CONTINUED: 5.

A beat.

JOHN (V.O.)Nine. Eight. Seven.

CARL (V.O.)

Shit is that a kid?

A beat.

CARL (V.O.)John I repeat, is that a kid?

JOHN (V.O.)Three.

CUT TO:

INT. DRONE CONTROL STATION - DAY

Carl is sitting in front of an array of monitors, with asmall joystick in front of him, his right hand CLUTCHEDtightly around it.

JOHNTwo.

JOHN MCREADY is sitting a few feet from him in a similarposition, with various buttons and controls in front of him.Each man has on a HEADSET along with military garments.

The center screen of the console shows a grainy,black-and-white image of a PREDATOR DRONES CAMERA. For afew frames, a small FIGURE, a YOUNG CHILD can be seenwalking out of a house next to a TRUCK.

JOHNOne.

An EXPLOSION engulfs the entire screen, ballooning out fromwhere the truck once was parked.

JOHNConfirmed hit, waiting for smoke toclear.

Carl remains staring at his screen in silence. The screenshows smoke, with the camera shaking around as usual.

John is staring at his side of the command center moreintently.

(CONTINUED)


7/30

CONTINUED: 6.

JOHNLooks like a confirmed kill, 3militants.

CARLFour.

JOHNWhat was that?

John asks this question nonchalantly, briefly turning toCarl before resuming his previous stance.

CARLFour, I saw that fourth figure,younger than the others.

JOHNI thought I saw four legs, might

have been a goat.

Carl sighs. John locks eyes with him, and begins speakinginto his headset again.

JOHNI repeat, three confirmed kills.

John checks his watch.

JOHNRecon over, drone can head back onnow.

He takes off his headset and begins standing up.

Carl takes of his headset as well as John begins walkingtowards the DOOR behind them.

JOHNMaybe four.

John opens the door and closes it behind him. Carl turnsback to stare at the screen, seeing the grainy view of asmall town, the rubble of the explosion far behind now.

FADE TO:


8/30

7.

INT. BRIEFING ROOM - DAY - YEARS PRIOR

A YOUNGER CARL, clean-shaven with a shorter haircut, issitting amongst other ARMY RECRUITS. They are all wearingmilitary fatigues.

A SUPERIOR OFFICER is standing in front of them with aprojected screen behind him.

The screen is showing a slideshow of various info-graphics,with one showing a screenshot from a DRONE MISSION, verysimilar to the screen Carl was looking at the scene before.

The Officer is mid-speech.

OFFICER...with defense technology such asdrone recon, remote detonations,and...

Carl looks bored with the speech.

OFFICER...using this control panel.

The slide changes, now showing the command center from whichdrones are piloted from.

OFFICERThis is the room in which you willbe piloting such drones.

Carl notices details in the picture, most specifically theJOYSTICK.

OFFICEROne pilots, the other engages. Thepilot uses common controls, such asthis control column, or joystick.He is responsible for guiding andtargeting. The other will be firingand engaging targets of interest.

FADE TO:

INT. BARRACKS - DAY

Carl is getting dressed into his ARMY UNIFORM along with afew other soldiers. He is in BOOT CAMP.

(CONTINUED)


9/30

CONTINUED: 8.

OFFICER (V.O.)Eight point five percent of reconis drone-operated. It may seemeasier than being up in the airyourself,

CUT TO:

EXT. ARMY BASE - DAY

Carl is jogging laps around with the other recruits. It isRAINING and dreary outside. A DRILL SERGEANT is leadingthem.

OFFICER (V.O.)but it comes with its faults.Stress and anxiety have been commonwith those who pilot.

CUT TO:

EXT. ARMY BASE - DAY - MINUTES LATER

Carl is doing push-ups in unison with the other recruits. Itis still raining HARD.

OFFICER (V.O.)If you do chose to join thisprogram, you will be paid astandard salary plus benefits.

CUT TO:


Younger Carl is sitting in a drone control center. He looksdown and sees the Joystick. He GRASPS IT.

CUT TO:

INT. DRONE CONTROL STATION - DAY - YEARS LATER

Carl, now older and more rugged looking, is grasping asimilar control stick. His eyes are on the screen in frontof him.

CARLThirty two point five, fifty threepoint nine.

(CONTINUED)


10/30

CONTINUED: 9.

A beat.

JOHNRoger. I see the caravan.

Johns screen shows a variety of vehicles parked along a

dirt road, with the crosshairs over a particular truck. Thegaze of the drone slowly pans over the scene.

Carls screen shows the same scene, albeit zoomed out more,with different readouts on screen.

JOHNLets move in for the kill.

Carl, with his gaze lingering on the screen, closes hiseyes.

EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT

It is night outside as a warm glow emanates from the frontwindow of Carls house. Carls CAR pulls up into thedriveway.

INT. HOUSE - KIDS BEDROOM - NIGHT

Bobby and CJ are both asleep in their side-by-side beds.

EXT. HOUSE - NIGHT

Carl steps out of his car and locks it. He starts walkingtowards his front door, but stops once he turns towards hisneighbors house across the street.

Carl looks intently at their TRUCK.

Carl blinks. TWO WOUNDED MEN, Middle-Eastern in nationality,are sitting by the truck, which is now SMOKING.

Carl looks SHOCKED and dumbfounded. He blinks again.

The truck is back to normal and the street is once againquiet. Carl gulps and pinches his nose between his eyes.

He takes a breath of air and begins walking towards his ownhouse again.


11/30

10.

INT. HOUSE - FOYER - NIGHT

Carl walks in the front door. Mary is sitting at the kitchencounter making herself a cup of tea.

MARY

Hey hun.

Carl puts his briefcase down next to the front door. Hewalks into the kitchen.

CARLHey.

Mary gets up and hugs Carl. Carl seems tired and a somewhatsad.

MARYAre you okay?

CARLJust tired.

Mary sits back down. Carl walks over to the fridge.

MARYNot a good work day?

Carl grabs a BEER from the refrigerator.

CARLYeah thats all.

MARYYou dont seem to enjoy workingthere much hun.

Carl grabs the refrigerator door.

MARYMaybe running government expensesisnt your thing.

Carl stops short of closing the refrigerator door. He runsthe lie his wife believes through his head, and thinks aboutit for a few seconds.

CARLMaybe not.

Carl swings the door shut.


12/30

11.

INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Carl walks into his living room and sits down on the couch.Mary follows him, now holding her tea in her hands. She sitsnext to him and falls onto his side. Carl takes a sip ofbeer.

MARYWell youre here now.

Carl sighs.

CARLI know.

Carl looks at Mary as a loving look grown on his face.

CARLThanks hun.

Mary kisses Carl, then grows a slightly bitter face.

CARLWhats wrong?

MARYYou taste like beer!

Carl laughs to himself as Mary smiles.

CARLCome here.

Carl repositions himself as Mary falls into his embracemore, into a cuddle.

INT. HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

Carl and Mary are asleep, with Carl holding Mary in hisarms. The clock on the nightstand reads 2 AM.

CUT TO:

INT. DRONE CONTROL STATION - DAY - DREAM SEQUENCE

Carl is sitting on his side of the control room. He iswearing his SLEEPING CLOTHES, boxers and a t-shirt. Hispartner John is not there, but all of the equipment isrunning. Carl looks at his screen. It is showingstatic-filled drone footage. Small glimpses of the groundunder the drone are seen through the hazy image.

(CONTINUED)


13/30

CONTINUED: 12.

Carl looks around, noting the absence of his partner.

MARYYoure working too hard babe. Comeback to bed.

Carl looks behind him, hearing his wifes voice through thesolid DOOR at the back of the control center. Her voicesounds muffled and far away.

Carl gets up to open the door. He grasps the handle but itWONT BUDGE.

Carl looks worried. He grabs at it again, yet the door doesnot budge. Carl grasps the handle with both hands and PULLSas hard as he can. His face is being strained from thepressure.

MARY

Carl?

Marys voice now sounds clear and louder.


Carl is lying in bed, with beads of sweat forming on hisforehead. Mary is sitting up next to him with a hand on hischest.

MARYCarl wake up.

Mary shakes Carl a little bit.

Carl GASPS as he wakes up. His face is still red. Carlbreathes deeply for a few seconds.

CARLSorry.

MARYWhat was that?

Carl sucks in another breath.

CARLBad dream is all.

Mary leans in close to Carl.

(CONTINUED)


14/30

CONTINUED: 13.

MARYWanna talk about it?

CARLNo.

Carl responds quickly and firmly to his wife.

MARYAlright.

Mary leans over to her side of the bed.

MARYTry and get some sleep.

Mary closes her eyes. Carl remains sitting up, wonderingabout his dream.

INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - MORNING

Carl is pouring himself a cup of coffee while Bobby and CJsit at the kitchen table. Mary is pouring milk into twobowls of cereal for them.

MARYSo how does it feel?

Bobbys eyes light up as he giggles.

MARY

Its not every day my son turnsseven.

CJIm close!

Carl puts down the coffeepot and takes a sip out of his cup.

MARYCarl, did you get that half a dayoff?

CARLNo hun.

MARYBoss being a stickler?

BOBBYIts okay Dad!

(CONTINUED)


15/30

CONTINUED: 14.

Carl looks down at Bobby and tries to grin, but ultimatelylooks TIRED and unhappy.

CARLIll see you tonight bud.

Carl kneels down. Bobby hugs in.

CARLHave a fun party.

MARYOh Im sure we will, half theneighborhood is showing up!

Carl feigns a smile.

INT. OFFICE BUILDING - CUBICLES - MORNING

Carl walks into the office building full of cubicles onceagain.

He walks up and flashes his ID to the soldier manning thedesk.

CUT TO:


JOHN

Shots loose.

Carl watches his screen as a few small BURSTS of smoke puffup in a line in the ground.

JOHNSwing back around for me.

Carl is motionless, still watching the screen.

JOHNCarl?

Carl blinks a few times to snap out of his mild trance.

CARLSwinging around.

Carl pushes his joystick to the side.


16/30

15.


A table full of presents, some open and some halfripped-open, is seen.


Bobby and CJ are both asleep. Bobby is clutching a STUFFEDANIMAL, and has a sly grin on his face.


Mary is up in bed reading a book. She hears the front dooropen. She sighs and puts her book down on her bedside table.

Mary gets out of bed and slips on a pair of slippers.

INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT

Mary walks into the kitchen to see Carl pouring himself aglass of SCOTCH, with the liquor cabinet swung wide openover the refrigerator.

Carl finishes pouring and turns to Mary.

CARLSorry if I woke you.

Mary walks over to the kitchen counter. Carl takes a sip of

his drink and sits down next to Mary as she also sits.

MARYIts okay.

Mary hugs Carl from the side, not letting go.

MARYWork not so good?

CUT TO:


Carl and John are sitting in their respective seats. Carlhas his computer display centered over a truck moving down adirt road. Carl is keeping his joystick tilted to follow thepath of the car.

(CONTINUED)


17/30

CONTINUED: 16.

JOHNKeep it steady Carl.

Carl keeps his grip steady.

JOHN

Hellfire away.

Carls hand falters slightly, the joystick wobbling ever soslightly in his grip. On screen the image shakes aroundslightly.

JOHNCareful!

On screen an EXPLOSION is seen, landing a few feet from thetruck. The truck SWERVES from the shock of the blast, thewindows shattering.

The trucks drives off the road, letting up a cloud of DUSTas it stops some feet from the road.

Two figures pile out of the driver and passenger seats.

John CLICKS his trigger again. One figure begins runningfrom the car as the other limps out slowly.

An EXPLOSION hits only a foot from the truck this time,killing the wounded man and knocking the other off hisstance some feet away.

INT. HOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT

CARLYeah.

Carl pauses to think for a moment.

MARYI know you dont like talking aboutit, but Im here if you need to letit out.

CARLIts just my boss, threatening tocut down on jobs.

MARYWell youre a big part of it all,right? What, you said you actuallywrite up all the reports?

(CONTINUED)


18/30

CONTINUED: 17.

CARLLook hes been getting on everyonelately.

MARYIm sorry babe.

Carl takes a longer sip.

BOBBYDad Dad!

Bobby comes RUNNING into the room with his new stuffedanimal in hand. He stops by his dads feet.

CARLHey bud.

Carl looks at his drink and puts it down on the table. Mary

slides it away from him silently as Carl duck down towardsBobby.

MARYBobby its a bit late.

CJ comes running into the room. He runs up next to hisbrother.

MARYGuess the whole house is up now.

Carl smiles at his wife, then looks back towards his kids.

CARLHow was the party?

BOBBYIt was great!

Bobby grabs Carls hand and starts pulling at him.

BOBBYCome on, I got lots of stuff!

Mary giggles slightly as Carl gets up to follow his son.They walk into the living room.


19/30

18.


Bobby leads Carl into the living room as Mary FLICKS thelight switch on.

The light illuminates a big pile of presents half on thecoffee table and half on the ground. Some presents are

strewn about on the ground.

CARLA little messy dont you think?

MARYHey he promised to clean it uptomorrow.

Carl smiles as he sits down on his couch.

BOBBYLook at this!

Bobby grabs a tiny toy car from the floor and hands it toCarl. Carl eyeballs it for a few seconds, turning it aroundin his hand.

CARLLooks like an old corvette my dadused to own.

Mary smiles.

MARYI remember it, clunker when I sawit though.

Carl waves his hand at Mary, making a swatting motion.

CARLI loved that old thing.

CJCan I see?

Carl looks towards Bobby. Bobby is going through his otherpresents, with his eyes wide and full of cheer. Carl looks

back towards CJ.

CARLSure bud.

Carl hands CJ the car. He starts running it across thefloor, looking happy.

Carl watches CJ cheerily before...

(CONTINUED)


20/30

CONTINUED: 19.

WHIRRRR!

A TOY HELICOPTER flies up near Carls face. Carl laughs.

INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT - HELICOPTER POV

The helicopter has a small camera built into it, feedinggrainy black and white video back to the controller.

CARLAnd what is this?


Bobby runs over to Carl, holding the Helicopterscontroller.

BOBBYIts a helicopter!

MARYThe Crowleys got it for him,pretty neat huh?

Bobby hands the controller to Carl, letting the helicopterfall to the ground. Carl sees the small SCREEN built intothe top of the controller.

BOBBYTry it!

Carl grasps the controller. Bobby picks up the helicopterand places it upright on the floor.

BOBBYYou make it fly with this one,

Bobby points towards one throttle on the controller.

BOBBYAnd turn it with this one.

Bobby points towards the other side of the controller,showing another throttle.

Carl looks dumbfounded and looks up at Mary.

MARYHey I couldnt fly it.

(CONTINUED)


21/30

CONTINUED: 20.

CJCome on Dad!

Carl pushes up on the throttle; the helicopter spins to lifeand begins hovering a few feet up in the air.

BOBBYYou got it!

Carl looks determined now. He looks at the small screen,showing the floor below the helicopter. He pushes on theother throttle slightly, making the helicopter move forward.

Carl feels proud of himself as he pilots the smallhelicopter around. He looks at the small grainy screenagain. He now sees his son CJ playing with the toy caragain.

INT. HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - NIGHT - HELICOPTER POV

CJ pushes the car, making it move forward across the room.

CUT TO:

INT. DRONE CONTROL STATION - DAY - HOURS BEFORE

Carl is looking at his stations screen, showing the car hehelped destroy earlier.

CUT TO:


The tiny screens display mimics the display of Carls dronestation.

Carl blinks a few times; he is starting to SWEAT. CJ looksup into the camera, waving at his Dad. Carl catches hisbreath.

Carl looks away from the tiny screen, giving the throttlemore power. The helicopter FLIES across the room, hitting aVASE on a counter some feet away.

MARYCarl!

Carl drops the controller and slowly puts himself back downonto the couch. He is still BREATHING HEAVILY.

(CONTINUED)


22/30

CONTINUED: 21.

Mary is crouching down by the broken vase. She looks back atCarl.

MARYHun are you okay?

Carl takes one last breath. He looks over towards Bobby andCJ, who both look concerned.

CARLYeah.

Carl breathes out.

CARLProbably ate something bad.

Mary still looks concerned. She averts her gaze back towardsthe broken vase on the floor, and begins picking up pieces

of it.

CARLIm, Im gonna go lie down.

Carl shakily stands up and walks towards the stairs. Marypauses from picking up the broken ceramic, and looks at hertwo kids, then back to Carl.

Carl walks up the stairs, wiping his forehead.

INT. HOUSE - BEDROOM - MASTER BATHROOM - NIGHT

Carl stumbles into his bathroom and pushes the door behindhim closed in a panicked flail. He gets himself over the thetoilet and THROWS UP into it after heaving a few times.

Carl slumps down to the side of the toilet, leaning upagainst his bathtub. He looks panicked and dizzy. Tears arecoming out of Carls eyes.

Carls heartbeat starts to race. He is having a PANICATTACK.

Carls vision becomes hazy as he starts to LOSECONSCIOUSNESS.


23/30

22.

INT. DRONE CONTROL STATION - DAY - DREAM SEQUENCE

Carl is in the control room, once again ALONE and in hisboxers. His vision is somewhat HAZY as he pilots his dronecamera as usual.

The drone comes into view of a small settlement, with a few

figures wandering around in sight.

JOHNLocking on target.

Carl looks to his side but sees NOBODY in the chair next tohim despite Johns voice.

Johns trigger FLICKS on its own. Carl averts his gaze fromthis, now looking back at his own screen. A small figure, aCHILD, shows up on the black and white image next to ahouse.

Carl squints and looks closer at his screen. His eyessuddenly become full of FRIGHT.

CUT TO:

EXT. MIDDLE EASTERN SETTLEMENT - DUSK

The same CHILD is seen, now in color and in person. Thechild looks up, revealing that it is BOBBY, CARLS SON.

CJBobby over here!

Bobby turns to see his brother CJ inside the adjacent house.Bobby runs after him playfully. The sound of something BIGfying overhead fades in, the sound growing LOWER and LOWERwith each passing breath.

A MISSILE hits the house that Bobby and CJ has just runinto.

The house is ENGULFED IN FLAME. SCREAMS are heard.

CUT TO:


Carl SHOOTS up off of the bathroom floor, PANICKED andHYPERVENTILATING. Mary is crouching over him holding theirtelephone. He stumbles up off the floor and RUNS out of theroom.

(CONTINUED)


24/30

CONTINUED: 23.

MARYCarl!?

Mary follows.


The door to the kids room is open. Mary runs in to findCarl hugging his two sons, one under each arm. There areTEARS in Carls eyes.

MARYWhats wrong?

Carl is speechless, still clutching his two sons.

BOBBYDad are you okay?

A beat.

CARLYeah, yeah Im fine.

Carl sounds unsure of himself, still sobbing, tears runningdown his cheeks.

Mary kneels down and touches Carl on the back. Carl lets goof his two kids.

The red flashing lights of an AMBULANCE pull up into their

front yard with the accompanying SIRENS.

FADE TO:

EXT. HOSPITAL - DAY

THERAPIST (V.O.)Carl from what youve described,youre suffering from a traumaticstress disorder.

INT. HOSPITAL - THERAPISTS WAITING ROOM - DAY

Carl and Mary are sitting side by side in the waiting roomof a hospital. She is holding onto her husband in a caringmanner.

(CONTINUED)


25/30

CONTINUED: 24.

CARL (V.O.)Traumatic stress? like PTSD?

MARY (V.O.)But, and Im still trying tounderstand this,


Carl is sitting in the patient chair of the room, with Marynext to him. The Therapist is sitting across from them.

MARYbut he never saw guns, or,

A beat.

MARY

killed anyone himself. He onlypiloted these,

Mary pauses.

CARLDrones.

MARYDrones.

THERAPISTWell Ive dealt with

military-related disorders before.This isnt as uncommon as you wouldthink.

MARYWell what happens now?

THERAPISTCarl, I can give you anantidepressant, but somethingstronger might be necessary forthese episodes if theyre recurringlike this. This isnt PTSD asyoure still experiencing whatsgiving you the symptoms.

CARLI understand.

(CONTINUED)


26/30

CONTINUED: 25.

MARYWell hell get out of it rightaway then, right? He cant stay onduty.

CARL

Honey, I,

Mary cuts Carl off.

MARYNo. Youre leaving. I dont carehow; I dont care if youre under acontract or some release.

THERAPISTMs. Haggerdy, there are ways,

Mary cuts off the Therapist.

MARYLook this needs to stop right-

CARLMARY.

Mary stops and looks at her husband. Carl puts a hand on hershoulder.

CARLIll be okay.

A long pause.

Mary collects herself, sitting in a more relaxed manner.Mary hugs Carl from her seat.

The Therapist scribbles something down on her clipboard.


John is sitting at his station like usual. Carl walks intothe room and stares down at his seat.

A beat.

Carl sits down and adjusts his seating.

BOBBY (V.O.)Daddy, why are you gone so late?


27/30

26.

INT. HOUSE - FOYER - NIGHT

Carl crouches down next to his son, who is wearing hispajamas. He kisses his son on the head.

CARL

Im trying to get better sport.

BOBBYAre you sick?

Carl pauses to think.

CARLYeah bud, not for long though.

Bobby hugs his dad.

THERAPIST (V.O.)

So how are we feeling today Carl?

INT. HOSPITAL - THERAPISTS OFFICE - DAY - WEEKS LATER

John, looking more scruffy than usual, and wearing differentclothes, sits alone across from the Therapist.

CARLBetter.

THERAPISTBetter how?

Carl shifts his posture.

CARLThe work hasnt been bothering meas much.

THERAPISTSo these feelings of anxiety havecurved off?

CARLFor the most part.

THERAPISTSo not entirely.


28/30

27.


John and Carl are in their usual seats. Carl is piloting thedrone camera around. A small CARAVAN of cars can be seen onscreen.

JOHNLets take these boys out.

CARLMilitants?

JOHNSuspected. Cant risk it.

Carl sighs and CLINCHES his eyes shut firmly.


CARLNo, not entirely.

THERAPISTAny more trigger incidents?


An EXPLOSION is seen on both screens.

JOHN

Confirmed six casualties, one truckcontinuing.

CARLSwinging back around.

Carl pushes his joystick to one side.


Carl sighs.

CARLAnd then,

Carl takes a deep breath.

CARLWe got to the third truck. Kids.


29/30

28.


A cloud of rubble clears on Carls screen revealing adestroyed car some feet from the road.

A small BODY starts limping away from the wreck, smaller

than usual.

JOHNShit.

CARLJohn, is that,

John CLICKS his trigger. A small PUFF of smoke balloons uparound the small figure, which then disappears into a fewsmall chunks still radiating heat on the camera.

Carl takes off his headset and THROWS it onto the ground.


Carls eyes are red as if he is near crying.

THERAPISTCarl, this is it.

The Therapist puts down her clipboard.

THERAPISTAt this point I cannot recommend

that you continue your service. Imalso going to write you a strongerdosage to see if it helps.


Carl opens a pill bottle and pops a single pill out into hishand.

Carl stares down at it.

CARLIm trying to get better sport.

CUT TO:


30/30

29.

BLACK.

THE END.

joystick warfare

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