Introducing Graft

Written by Sam Estabrooks

Introducing GRAFT.

Graft is Avarice’s legal expert/lobbyist/public relations person. She has worked to ensure that the Elites stayed in the good graces of the governments of the world, usually through highly unethical means. Most of the laws and procedures that governments have that benefit wealthy individuals and corporations are largely a result of Graft’s efforts. When the Florida fortress is overrun, she is the only one of the Elites’ leaders to escape capture. Due to her legal expertise and persuasive skills, as well as her ability to fast-talk her way out of any situation, she is chosen to defend the Elites in their trial. She should be portrayed as a slim, well-dressed, professional lawyer who is attractive in a superficial, heavily made-up way.

Scene: Graft Meets With Avarice (This should come before the trial scenes.)

(AVARICE’s prison cell. Despite his wrongdoings, AVARICE has been given a small but comfortable-looking cell in which to await his trial. He has been cleaned up and given a new suit since his capture. He should be pacing back and forth, muttering to himself. The cell has a bed, an armchair, a table, and a small shelf of books, among other furnishings. On the table should be a chessboard, as if a game has been in progress. Black should be in a near-hopeless position, vastly outnumbered, with the king surrounded by enemies. The king should not be mated, but it should seem like it’s only a matter of turns. AVARICE pauses to consider the situation on the board, showing a shot of the board for a few seconds. Suddenly, the cell door opens, and a GUARD comes in with GRAFT.)

NOTE: One thing we could do, building off one of the earlier scenes I wrote, is to include chessboards as a visual motif throughout the screenplay. With black as the Elites and white as the people, they can reflect the current situation with the war.

GUARD

Visitor for you, sir.

AVARICE

Excellent. Wait outside. I should like to speak with her in private.

(GUARD exits, closing the door behind him.)

Graft! It is good to see you. And you’re still free, too!

(When AVARICE talks to GRAFT, he should show none of the condescension that he used with GREED. Instead, the two of them should speak with a certain familiarity, as though each regards the other as an equal. There is a certain appreciation between them, although they aren’t quite lovers, as AVARICE only cares for himself and GRAFT is usually too focused on her work at the exclusion of any other interests.)

GRAFT

Of course. I wasn’t in the Florida fortress when it fell. I didn’t need it’s protection. People don’t know me like they know you, so I had no reason to be afraid. Instead, I lived incognito among them while the war was going on. Other than my brief visits to the fortress, of course. I figured I was safer when nobody knew where to look for me.

AVARICE

This is the first good news I’ve heard since the fortress fell. Have you seen Greed yet?

GRAFT

He’s dead. Justice killed him when they took the fortress.

AVARICE

(Slightly dismayed.) Ah. I see. Well, he’d served his purpose, and at least he died fighting.
(Pause)

Not that it did me much good. I eventually came face to face with Justice anyway.

GRAFT

So I’ve heard. It’s been all over the news. A momentous clash, an epic struggle. Two foes meeting in glorious battle to settle the score once and for all.

AVARICE

(laughs) What do they know? They weren’t there. The dirt, the muck, the grime, the bruises… certainly not very glorious. And nothing’s been settled. Not yet.

GRAFT

It doesn’t seem that way. The fortresses destroyed, Greed is dead, you and so many others captured, all our power and influence gone… We look pretty defeated to me.

AVARICE

We’ve lost on the battlefield, true. But we can still fight it out in the court of law. (Pauses, favors her with a slight smile.) Which is why you’re here, of course.

GRAFT

(Returns the smile) Of course.

AVARICE

So. Tell me. How, exactly, are our chances looking?

GRAFT

Well, Justice seems convinced that it’s an open-and-shut case. The public opinion is overwhelmingly on his side, and they’ve already voted to convict us once, in the online trial. Public opinion is a funny thing, though. They’re against us right now, but these things change quickly. All we need to do is get the public back on our side.

AVARICE

And the chances of that?

GRAFT

Pretty good, I’d say. So long as we give it to them properly. Whether they admit it or not, people are inherently greedy. They like the opportunity to accumulate wealth that capitalism offered them, even if it can’t happen for everyone. They’ll come around.

AVARICE

You seem confident. Is this the beginning of a brilliant legal strategy?

GRAFT

(Smiles) Leave that to me.