Private room. Vance and Martha. Martha: “They have documents. Withdraw.” Vance: “No. You’ll vote for me. You know what I have on you, Martha.” (Reference to her past scandal—he implies evidence she falsified data, which she didn’t, but the rumor exists.) Martha: “You’re bluffing.” Vance: “Try me.” Martha leaves. In hallway, she vomits into a trash can. Lisa sees her. “Martha. Come back to the committee.” Martha whispers: “He’ll destroy me.” Lisa: “Only if you let him. Tell us everything.”
Claire distributes binders. Amir notices a discrepancy: Vance’s publication record has a gap year. Lisa dismisses it as sabbatical. Helen: “We’ll probe in interviews.” Trevor: “Or we could Google.” James laughs bitterly. Martha: “Let professionals work.”
Evening. Helen’s office. Claire brings tea. “You look tired.” Helen: “This committee is broken.” Claire hesitates, then: “I shouldn’t say this, but Dr. Vance’s CV—I called a number. It’s disconnected.” Helen: “Probably old.” Claire: “The reference from Stanford? That professor died in 2019. Vance listed him as current.” Close on Helen’s face. End of Act I. ACT II – CRACKS & LIES (pages 19–48) Scene 5 (19–24): Next morning. Conference room. Helen shares Claire’s finding without naming her. Martha: “Clerical error. This is sabotage.” James: “Or finally due diligence.” Amir: “I can verify his online footprint.” Martha warns against “witch hunt.” Trevor: “Why are you protecting him?” Martha snaps: “Because donors want him. You want this college to close?” Silence. Helen calls for a recess. search committee script 75 pages
I’m sorry. But Vance is a predator. You’d be his tool.
Final shot. Night. Helen alone in the room. She looks at the empty chairs. Picks up a framed photo of the original committee—taken before the storm. She sets it face down. Turns to a blank whiteboard. Writes: “Integrity is not unanimous. It’s unilateral.” Fade to black. DIALOGUE EXCERPT (Scene 8, p. 38–40) JAMES (slurring slightly) You want to know why I vote for Vance? Last year, my wife needed a trial drug. Not covered. I begged the college for an advance. Denied. Vance’s people called me two weeks ago. Offered to fund the entire oncology wing. No strings. Except my vote. Private room
(long pause)
Thriller / Drama Format: 75-page feature screenplay Setting: Prestigious but financially struggling liberal arts college, Upstate New York. February. CHARACTERS (7 main) | Name | Role | Age | Trait | |------|------|-----|-------| | DR. HELEN RIVAS | Chair, History | 58 | Principled, exhausted | | PROF. JAMES KELLER | Senior, English | 62 | Cynical, alcoholic | | DEAN MARTHA CHO | Admin, Business | 49 | Ambitious, strategic | | PROF. AMIR SINGH | Junior, CompSci | 34 | Idealistic, tech-savvy | | DR. LISA MENDES | External, Education | 44 | Empathetic, observant | | TREVOR BANKS | Student rep, Senior | 21 | Angry, perceptive | | CLAIRE DUVALL | Secretary (non-voting) | 55 | Quiet, all-seeing | Withdraw
Final committee vote. No Vance present. Martha confesses: Vance promised to “clear her name” with the board in exchange for a unanimous vote. She’s been his inside agent. James: “You sold us out.” Martha: “I thought he could save the college. I was wrong.” Helen: “Unanimous vote to withdraw the candidacy and report to the board?” All raise hands. Even Martha. Trevor: “What happens now?” Helen: “We start over. But clean.” Claire, from the doorway: “I’ll make coffee.” Small smile. ACT IV – AFTERMATH & THE REAL VOTE (pages 71–75) Scene 14 (71–73): Two months later. Same room. New candidate list. Helen chairs a new committee (two new members, Trevor graduated but returns as alum rep). James is sober. Martha is on leave (voluntary). Amir is lead investigator now. Helen: “We have three strong candidates. No shortcuts. No secrets.” Claire passes out binders. Clean.