Slaves but Choosers

This document has been written as a film script but can be adapted to other purposes (such as plays or stories, etc) if you want.

The scenario is this: as far as the developed world is concerned, there has been a major shake-up in the media and culture in general over the years and the messages from television have started to increasingly dominate people’s lives.  The television network in South-East England has many channels, but two channels rule the scene: Viewer Central (which gives people subliminal messages about how they should be behaving) and Unlimited Television (which adopts the ideology that people should make their own choices).  In this film, a party at a bachelor pad involving television is given as an example of this hypothetical situation. (The partygoers are subconsciously influenced). This script is meant to be entirely fictional. It is not a realistic prediction of the future nor is it meant to be taken seriously. It means whatever you want it to mean.

A bachelor pad on the outskirts of town. Barry, the current owner, is having his mates round. They’re engaging in the popular pastime of getting pissed while viewing television.

Barry: Glad you could all get down here. I know you’ve got busy lives and all that, so it’s bloody brilliant when we can have another get-together.

Billy: Though it would be better if we had one down the pub

Barry: Ah c’mon Billy, you can’t have it all. Aren’t you glad simply to be with your mates after all this time?

Billy: Yeah, course, I’m not complaining, just saying the pub’s better. House parties can be kind of… claustrophobic

Barry: There aren’t enough girls here for you, that’s what it is, isn’t it? Looking to get an extra bit of action while you’re not around the wife, eh?

Tony: Well, who can blame him?

Billy: Well that’s part of it! (chuckles). But anyway, I’m cool with this, I prefer the pub but I’m not knocking house parties. It’s great just to be together again and all that.

Barry: Exactly, Billy, me ‘ol mate. Now, first things first, where’s the booze? It’s strictly against the rules to be without a drink at this event.

A few people have bought their own drinks so they set them on the table and start drinking. However, they know Barry will have a case (or three, or four, or possibly more) of something so they haven’t bothered to a great extent.

Barry: Good on you. That’s a good warm-up. I’ll bring the case in as well in a minute. And let’s have some telly.

Barry switches the television on. Viewer Central is showing.

Reporter on TV: Tonight on Viewer Central, after the news, we have exclusive coverage of the multi-billion pound business empire of John Smith. We uncover the secrets of his success and tell you how you too can make your mark in a world of fortune.

Barry: That frigging crook. Why would anyone want to be like him?

Billy: They don’t want to be like him, they just want what he’s got. Though of course, it’s impossible to have it both ways. As they say, the more of a tosser you are, the more successful you are. Metaphorically, that is.

Barry: Well, I’ve got all this stuff, are you saying I’m a tosser?

Billy: Not metaphorically, no. But we’re all tossers literally. Even if you’re having it off day, noon and night you still fancy that time to yourself every now and again.

Barry: You’re a real intellectual, aren’t you Billy?

Billy: Well, an intellectual is someone who’s a bit academic. Got a good brain but doesn’t spend much time in the real world. I’m just intelligent. There’s a fundamental difference.

There’s a knock on the door. Enter Maria and Clare

Maria: Hey, chaps. Nice to see you all again.

Tony: You too, Maz. You’re looking good. Come on in

Clare: Hi, Barry. How’s things?

Barry: Good thanks. Been ages, hasn’t it?

Clare: Too right. Been far too long.

Barry: Well, no worries. Make yourself at home. The party’s just getting underway. What would you like to drink?

Clare: Wine please, Barry.

Barry: I don’t normally drink that stuff, but I’ve got a special reserve just for people who do. I’ll see what I can find.

Barry exits for the cellar.

Clare: Cool. What’s on telly at the moment?

Viewer Central is continuing to show. The programme on John Smith’s conglomerate empire is now on.

Reporter on TV: John Smith started out as a grocer back in 1980. Little did he know that 25 years on, he’d be the owner of the world’s third largest conglomerate empire. In 1983, his business merged with Chris Brown and Co, a public limited company specialising in alcoholic drinks. This gave John’s business control over the entire supply chain of alcohol to complement its existing operations. Since then, everything went uphill. In 1985, the business became a public limited company, and by 1990 was the market leader in grocery products, along with a relatively high market share in other operations. Although there were serious cash flow problems during the Nineties, the business overcame its difficulties and became a major success. We interview John Smith about the secrets of his success. Mr Smith, do you think the merger with Chris Brown and Co. was responsible for making your business take off the way it did?

John Smith: The merger gave us an advantage in the short-term, which was the reason for instigating it in the first place. Other grocers in the local area were only selling the normal things, so we had that attraction that they didn’t. This gave sales to us but only for a few years. The market gradually became more complex.

Reporter: In what ways did it become more complex?

John Smith: Everybody began to follow our lead. Market research told them that customers were turning to us because we had more to offer. Not only did we have the added benefit of serving alcohol, but also our range was wider. Soon a culture of differentiation began to take place. Some stores would try to attract customers by selling as cheaply as possible, others would introduce a speciality range and others diversified into as many different things as possible. We stayed strong mainly because of our attitude. At John Smith plc, everybody knows what’s expected of them. That’s how we succeed.

Reporter: Tell me a little more about your business’s attitude

John Smith: Our attitude is that people function best if they have a clear set of objectives. How can anybody function properly if they don’t know what to do? Without a definite structure, there would be chaos. Most of our rivals went tits-up, because they had no rules for their employees to follow. As a result, these businesses became incapable of functioning as a single unit.

Barry comes back from the cellar.

Barry: I’ve got a bottle of Chianti. You can have the whole lot if you want. Need to get rid of it.

Clare: Oh thanks Barry.

Barry: Don’t mention it.

Tony: How come she gets to drink wine? Why can’t she have beer with the lads?

Barry: Because she likes wine, not beer.

Tony: Well, maybe she should give beer a try. Then at least she has a chance of fitting in.

Barry: Why does it have to be about fitting in? Why can’t people drink what they want?

Tony: Because if people don’t fit in with each other, then everything becomes a mess.

Barry: Don’t be ridiculous. How exactly does people drinking different things ruin a party?

Maria: No-one knows what’s expected of them. How can a party be any good if they don’t know what to do?

Barry: Anyone would think this is a meeting! Just chill, the lot of you. We’re here to enjoy ourselves.

Clare: Enjoyment isn’t important. What’s the point of enjoying yourself if you don’t get to the top?

Barry: And, may I ask, what’s the point in getting to the top if you don’t enjoy yourself? Anyway, if you agree with them, maybe you should have beer, since this is apparently supposed to be all about fitting in.

Billy: All this arguing over whether Clare has wine or beer! Somehow I think there’s something deeper going on here…

Clare: I don’t want wine, I want beer because the others are

Barry: Well, suit yourself, then. You bicker amongst yourselves and I’ll watch some telly. (Begins to watch television) Who put this crap on? What kind of a channel is Viewer Central? Time for a bit of Unlimited Television I think. (Switches over to Unlimited Television. Adverts are on at the moment.)

Voiceover on advert: They just followed the crowd and washed their hair with ordinary shampoo. Now their hair is lanky and lifeless. No hope for them. One girl chose to stand apart and wash her hair with Luscious Fragrance. Now every man wants her. But she only wants them if they’re perfect!

Don’t be a loser. Be a chooser!

Tony: What a load of crap! That’s just a way of trying to get people to spend money!

Billy: You say that, but deep down you think it’s true

Tony: (astounded) You’ve lost me!

Billy: You believe everything you’re told. Believe me!

Tony: So not true! I’m a free spirit. I make my own decisions.

Billy: Oh yes. Your own decisions. For other people!

Tony: Easy, man. Why you taking the piss out of me?

Billy: That’s up to you to find out

Tony: Ok, suit yourself, then.

Clare: This beer is disgusting. I think I’ll have wine after all.

Barry: Ok, the rule of this party: don’t listen to Tony

Tony: (angry) Everybody is having a go at me! What exactly is it that I’ve done?

Billy: You haven’t done anything wrong, Tony. It’s more what you’ve said. But even that isn’t entirely your fault.

Tony: I haven’t actually got any idea what you’re talking about

Billy: Think about what you’ve seen on the television tonight. Then think about what you’ve said. Then you’ll understand.

Tony: Ok, Billy, I’ll bear that in mind

Clare: Wine anyone?

Tony: No thanks, Clare, I’ll have beer. Mind you, it depends. What’s everyone having? Hang on a minute! I know what Billy’s talking about now.

Billy: You do?

Tony: Yes, we are all slaves but choosers. And the main reason is this (points to television set).

Billy: Exactly the point I was trying to make. This channel is getting boring actually. What would you like to watch?

Tony: I don’t know

Billy: Maybe Viewer Central?

Tony: I don’t like that channel.

Billy: It’s your call then.

Tony: Maybe……. Come to think of it, I don’t know!

THE END