VOTE FOR GREENARD BY AARON DEHN

INT.

SCHOOL - INTERVIEW ROOM - DAYTIME

This entire film is shot documentary style. ELLA GREENARD, high school student, sits against a black background or even a huge poster for her campaign. ELLA Hi! As you know, my name is Ella Greenard, and I am running for the office of Student Council president. You see, my hard work as the Drama Club vice president shows the dedication and loyalty it takes to successfully be your student body president. But, in case you had any doubts, I want to show you a day in my life, to make voting easier. All I ask is for you to watch this video, understand that I am the best candidate for president, and take all this with you on Election Day. Remember what you see in this video; I mean, I am really the only choice that makes sense anyway, right? (Winks to camera) FADE TO: White Text Against Black Screen: "In early 2012, Ella Greenard's father hired a film crew to follow his daughter around." Second Black Screen: "They recorded a video to promote Ella's campaign for Student Council president." Third Black Screen: "The following footage is the outcome." FADE TO: The following scenes are edited together as Ella makes a quick voice over. INT. SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAYTIME A BELL rings. The first scene should show her trying to walk down the hallway as people push back on her. She pushes back on them and walks down the hallway with ignorant confidence. Throughout the film, her campaign posters completely cover the hallways and classrooms. ELLA (V.O) Being popular at this school is not an easy task, but I handle it pretty well.

All the students know my name, know what I look like, it's flattering to say the least. Ella waves her hand at someone and says hello to a couple of students as she walks by. The students have no idea who she is, so they act confused and laugh it off. Ella is oblivious. The next shots should be of Ella on stage, rehearsing, and a few of her in classes. On stage, she pushes a kid out of the way while trying to gain the spotlight, script in hand. ELLA (V.O.) My biggest passion (behind taking care of the Student Body of course) is theater and Drama Club. I'm most known for being Vice President of Drama Club and everything I do for them. My life revolves around two things: the stage and my fellow students. FADE TO: INT. SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAYTIME with a poster, in a cardboard tube, under her arm as are hanging up their own large poster for the Student Drive. Lynn stands on a ladder or chair trying to side of the poster. LYNN Hi, Ella! ELLA Um, the the the (She doesn't notice Lynn, ever) excuse you? That isn't the poster for blood drive. This is the poster for blood drive! I was the one asked, by sponsor herself, to make this poster.

Ella walks in LYNN and DOUG Council Blood tape down one

(She notices the look on Lynn and Doug's faces and remembers the camera crew is there. Intending to look good for the camera, she tries hard to momentarily fake sincerity) But, you know, that looks great, too! Actually, if I squint, I can hardly notice that you painted outside of the lines! DOUG It's just a poster, Ella. I texted you last night to make sure you knew we would handle it on our own. Lynn and I just

figured we'd go with our own poster instead. I mean, you're not even a member of Student Council, so why should you go through all that trouble? Did you not get my text? ELLA I did get it, but I figured you were just trying to tell me one of your weird jokes that no one ever understands.

INT.

SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAYTIME

Ella is giving a brief commentary on what happened (a la The Office). ELLA (Noticeably angry) I was asked, very specifically, by the Student Council sponsor to design and create a poster for the Blood Drive myself. Doug is my opponent for the presidential race, and I think it shows really poor sportsmanship on his behalf if he is that focused on making sure I'm not involved in helping out. Desperate is what it is. He simply knows I'll beat him in the upcoming election, so he's trying every tactic he can. Cut back to the hallway scene. LYNN I'm sorry, Ella! I hope you didn't spend a whole lot of time making your own poster. We can always-ELLA Lynn! It is extremely rude to interrupt someone while they are talking! LYNN (Apologetic) Oh, I didn't realize-ELLA (Talks to Doug)

I spent three hours working on this. What do you expect me to do? I've clearly spent more time on my poster than you did on yours, Doug. DOUG We can use yours as well. ELLA (Accusingly) You'd like that, wouldn't you? Taking credit for my own work? Well, do what you want with it. I don't have time for your antics when I have Drama Club and a campaign to manage. Ella throws her poster calmly, in a tube, at Lynn. Lynn, balancing on the ladder or chair, falls off onto the tile floor with a small scream. Lynn rips the poster off the wall as she falls. Doug just shakes his head and sighs at Ella's actions. Cut to interview with Ella. ELLA (Satisfied) I really showed Doug I wouldn't let him boss me around. Honestly, I don't know where people think they have the right to do stuff like that. The next few scenes are a montage of what Ella does in a day with Ella's voice overlapping. INT. SCHOOL - CLASSROOM - DAYTIME

Ella sits tightly with her back straight in a desk while writing in a notebook. The focus is on her as she takes notes for class. Other students are around her as if it is a typical class. She should have a "Vote 4 Greenard" poster taped to the front of her desk for everyone to see. ELLA (V.O.) Since an early age, I've always been considered a prodigy by my family and teachers. I like to think I'm destined for great things. INT. SCHOOL - HALLWAY/CAFETERIA - DAYTIME

Ella sits at a desk and hands out buttons, fliers, and other campaign material to the passing students. She greets all of them

with a perky "Hi!" and "Have a great day! Vote for Ella Greenard!" but they all ignore her. ELLA (V.O) I receive a lot of support for my campaign, especially in the student body. You can really tell they recognize ambition and talent in someone like me. Even though they don't have it themselves. As Ella sits at the table, two male students notice the camera and begin humping and grinding themselves in the background in order to make fun of Ella and to ruin the shot. Ella doesn't notice as she continues to hand out material and greetings. ELLA (V.O.) Part of what people see in me is how serious I take my work and duties. To think of Ella Greenard, is to think of maturity, class, and poise. I'd even dare to say my name is synonymous with Pat Nixon, Nancy Reagan, and Barbara Bush--all respected First Ladies. The next shot sees Ella turning around and noticing the male students goofing around in the background. She promptly gets out of her chair and starts berating them, yelling and pushing them to go away. As they leave laughing, she calls after them. ELLA (Perky and desperate) Remember to vote for Ella! She calmly sits back down and begins greeting students again. INT. SCHOOL - HALLWAY - DAYTIME

Ella walks down the hallway to a classroom. ELLA (V.O) Ms. Wiley, the sponsor of the Drama Club, asked me to stop by for some news. The voting for Drama Club officers was last week, and I have a good feeling about them. She should be telling me I was reelected as Vice President for next year as well! Drama Club is really one of my highest passions in life; I don't know what I would do if I wasn't a Drama Club officer. It's my number one function in life and proves just how ready I am for Student Council president!

Ella walks into a classroom with MS. WILEY standing behind a desk. ELLA You wanted to see me, Ms. Wiley? MS. WILEY (Referencing the cameras) Oh, I didn't realize we'd be recorded. Is this some kind of reality show? (Leans in and whispers) Is this for a show like Teen Mom? Are you pregnant? Mrs. Hickerson points to Ella's stomach. ELLA (Shocked) No! (Ella covers her stomach with her hands in embarrassment then continues, trying to change the subject) The cameras are just for my Student Council campaign. So, um, you had news to tell me? MS. WILEY Oh, well, I don't think we need to be on camera for this discussion. I think it would be better in private. ELLA (Oblivious to what she is being told, Ella simply believes Mrs. Hickerson doesn't want to tell her good news on camera) Quit joking. The whole point of the camera is to show what a day in my life looks like. That should include everything, my few failures and my many successes. Feel free to tell me the "news"; I promise I can handle what you're about to tell me. (Ella winks to the camera) MS. WILEY

(Debating between telling her in front of the cameras) Ella...well... Ella mouths the words "Vice President" in confidence to Ms. Wiley. MS. WILEY You were... ELLA (Eager) Spit it out! MS. WILEY (Blurts it out) You weren't voted to be Vice President this year for Drama Club. I'm sorry, but not very many people voted for you. In fact, the only person to vote for you was yourself. (Horrified she just admitted that) I'm sorry, Ella, but you don't get to be an officer this year. Believe me, I realize this is your number one obsession. Ella stands there, silent, for a few moments. The blood drains from her face as the news sinks in. She straightens her back and begins grinding her teeth. Suddenly, she begins screaming at the top of her lungs, pushes everything off Ms Wiley's desk, and starts stomping out of the room and into the hallway. In the hallway, she continues screaming. A student is in their locker, holding a load of papers in their hands. As Ella walks past him, she pushes him into the lockers and his papers scatter everywhere. The camera follows her down the hallway as she continues her tirade. Lynn, struggling on crutches and with a bandaged ankle because of the accident earlier, comes down the hallway and tries to say hello to Ella. LYNN Oh, hi, Ella! ELLA (In Lynn's Face) SHUT UP!! Ella pushes past her, and Lynn falls off her crutches. Ella storms into the closest girls' bathroom and the camera follows her despite this. The sound of a stall door shutting is heard. The camera man tries to follow Ella anyway. The camera man pushes open the first stall door only to have a girl sitting on the toilet to scream in

shock and embarrassment. He pushes open the second stall door to find Ella, crying, who slams the stall door quickly. ELLA Get out! I'm done with this filming! This was just a bad day! FADE TO: A black screen with white text: "After Ella saw the edited video, she refused for it to be released; however, the previous footage was anonymously leaked to the student body and passed around on Facebook, Twitter, and even somehow Instagram." Another Black Screen: "Ella Greenard did not win the election." Next Screen: "Only one vote was recorded for Ella on Election Day-her own." FADE TO BLACK.