’Catching’: Working Title
Film 3 Project
draft 3.6
INT. CLASSROOM DAY
Static fills the screen, then quickly tunes in to the news.
NEWSREADER (Voice over) Fears mount as fertility rates plummet. Doctors confirm the bacterial infection IS Chlamydia Maximus. Often left undetected it can cause infertility as well as discharge, irritation, pelvic inflammation
A news banner scrolls across the bottom of the screen: "CHLAMYDIA MAXIMUS CONFIRMED- POPULATION PREDICTED TO REDUCE BY 63% BY 2025."
A montage of clips play on the screen including an empty Haringey street, an empty child’s room, bacteria under a microscope.
The clip pauses. Soundtrack stops.
A ROBOT TEACHER stands next to a holographic screen.
THREE STUDENTS sit at desks, holding glass tablets. At the other empty desks are screens on stands; students remoting in.
TEACHER Last week we studied the Black Death. This week we’ll be looking at Chlamydia Maximus, which destroyed half of humanity beginning in 2019. The humans were very irresponsible- their health services were inadequate
STUDENT 1 No!? I don’t think so!
TEACHER
Excuse me?
STUDENT 1 grabs a clicker and points at the screen. The image changes to grainy footage of Haringey- Morum House Medical Centre. The PRACTICE STAFF are standing outside waving.
STUDENT 1 No, I looked this up, they actually had loads of clinics- just like (MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
STUDENT 1 (cont’d) this one here- and- I read they had advice, testing, contraception, it was free, it was confidential
The Student clicks through their presentation: SHOTSLordship Lane Health Centre, the staff outside waving cheerily. Come Correct, Check urself, Embrace UK, Safe, C-card (free condoms).
The Teacher is frustrated- it’s not being listened to.
STUDENT 2 Then why did they die???
STUDENT 1 If only we could have gone back and told them TO GET TESTED ...
STUDENT 2 They could have saved my grandpapa!!! It’s all too late!
EXT. HARINGEY STREET DAY
An empty, miserable street. The wind blows, rubbish flies across the road. A distant dog barks.
INT CLASSROOM DAY
STUDENT 1 clears their throat.
STUDENT 1
Or is it?
Freeze frame- student’s face starts to distort into static again- swirling and crackling. A list of useful links / services appear on the screen. (SEE NOTE)
STUDENT 1 (voice over) Prevent the horrors of 2069... today!