Life After Y2K
by Calum MacLeod

Exterior, daytime. Shot of tops of trees and sky. Voice-over starts.

Voice-over:

It is March, 2000. Three months ago, most of the human race was somehow wiped out by the Y2K bug. (Pause.) However, in hopes of someday rebuilding our crushed society, the government has continued funding to education to prevent future generations from making the same mistakes. Here now, ladies and gentlemen: Life after Y2K.

Pan down to shot of the curb in front of the school. A minivan with a sign reading "STOCK" pulls up and CRAIG, JOSH, MATTHEW, MEGHAN and KEITH get out. As they enter the lobby of the school, we see the message board is flashing "Error" over and over.

Matthew:

Man, you'd think someone would fix that, or take it down, or something.

The others agree, then part and head in separate directions. Cut to classroom interior and shot of a teacher by the chalkboard.

Teacher:

So if we move the four from this side of the equation to the other and we cancel out the exponents, and then calculate the square root of the remainder, we find... what? Anyone?

Close up on Josh's face.

Josh:

(Quietly.) Don't pick me, don't pick me, don't pick me...

Teacher:

Josh?

Pull out to show that he is the only one in the room. Josh sighs. Cut to the band room. Craig and Meghan are the only ones there. Craig has a tuba and Meghan has a triangle.

Meghan:

Let's try it again from the start.

They both count out rests for a few bars, then Craig starts repeating the same two notes over and over on the tuba, and Meghan dings the triangle every once in a while.

Craig:

I swear, someday I'm going to write a good tuba/triangle duet.

Meghan:

I think this one sounds great, Craig.

They go back to playing the song. Cut to Keith and Matthew at their lockers.

Keith:

Are you coming to the soccer game at lunch?

Matthew:

No, I've started finding them pretty boring.

Cut to the soccer field. Keith is the only person on the field, except for Josh, who is a goalie. Keith runs the length of the field towards Josh with the ball, then scores with no difficulty. Cut to the interior of the cafeteria. Matthew and Craig are sitting together at a table. Meghan is sitting a few tables over from them.

Craig:

So, I was thinking about asking Meghan to the dance tonight.

Matthew:

Wouldn't that be kind of awkward? I mean, you two used to go out.

Craig:

Yeah, but all of us have gone out with her, Matthew. I mean, come on, there's only four guys in the school. Does that mean we can never ask her out?

Matthew:

I don't know, I guess not.

Craig:

This sucks. I'm just gonna transfer to one of those big schools in America. The one in New York has 43 girls and 27 guys! That's where I want to go.

The bell rings.

Matthew:

Yeah, right. I'll see you later, Craig.

Cut to Keith sitting alone on the floor in a classroom. He is muttering to himself and scribbling on a piece of paper.

Keith:

Sure, they could keep three janitors, but they couldn't get one geography teacher. I wouldn't have minded if they put me in another class, but no, they said, "Your interests are important to us, Keith. We're just doing what's best for you, Keith. The free time will be good for contemplation, Keith." I'm just so lonely... so very, very lonely...

The bell rings and Keith eagerly runs out into the hall. When he gets out, we see there is no one anywhere around. Keith looks from side to side, then slowly walks over to the lockers and begins banging his head against them. Cut to the outside of the school, at the front entrance, in the afternoon. The five students walk out, looking tired.

Meghan:

This has got to have been the longest day so far this year.

Josh:

Come on, Meghan. You say that every day. Besides, we have a dance tonight. That'll be fun.

The "STOCK" minivan pulls up and everyone gets on it. It drives away. Change to a shot of the front of the school, but at night. Cut to Keith and Craig exiting the main stairway onto the second floor and entering the gym. Then show a shot of the interior of the gym. The main lights are out but there are a few smaller lights on. There is a tape player on the stage playing music. Matthew and Meghan are talking somewhere in the gym. Josh is dancing like a maniac in the middle of the floor. Keith and Craig scan the room, then turn and leave. Cut to the exterior of the school again. Keith and Craig walk by muttering about the dance. Pan up to the original shot of the tops of trees and the night sky. Voice-over starts again.

Voice-over:

And so, life continues. Perhaps someday, the Earth will once again prosper and overcrowding will become more than just a dream. But for now, we will leave you with this: There are under two months left. Thank you and good evening.