I wrote another short screenplay this morning. This one is "Black Mirror" inspired.

TRUST THE LEADER

FADE IN:

EXT. CITYSCAPE - DUSK

A sprawling, meticulously clean city. Skyscrapers with enormous digital screens display propaganda: smiling families, slogans like "UNITY IS PEACE" and "TRUST THE LEADER." A faint but omnipresent voiceover echoes through the streets, soothing and authoritative.

VOICEOVER (V.O.)

Your leaders work tirelessly for your safety. Obey. Believe. Prosper. Always stay connected.

The streets are crowded, but the people are eerily quiet, heads down, glued to their devices. Every citizen wears a tracking band on their wrist, glowing faintly.

SUPERIMPOSED TEXT: 2036. Three years into the Second Golden Age.

INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

A small, minimalist room. Spotless. Sterile. A large screen dominates the wall, playing a government broadcast. The screen shows a charismatic figure: MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA (50s, polished, coldly charming).

MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA (ON SCREEN)

The Leader thanks you for your compliance. Together, we have eradicated chaos, fear, and doubt. Remember, your data ensures our collective harmony.

Sitting in front of the screen is ALEX (30s, male, unremarkable but thoughtful eyes). Alex stares blankly, eating a bland meal from a pre-packaged tray.

Alex’s device (a sleek tablet) buzzes with a notification: "DAILY GRATITUDE REPORT DUE IN 5 MINUTES!"

Alex sighs, picks up the device, and types mechanically: "Grateful for the Leader's wisdom and unity."

INT. APARTMENT - LATER

The propaganda broadcast continues. The Minister’s face lingers on the screen, smiling faintly.

Alex hesitates, then reaches for the remote. Hands trembling, he presses a button. The screen goes blank.

The room is eerily silent for the first time. Alex looks at his wristband. The glowing light dims slightly.

ALEX

Just an hour. Just one hour.

Alex places the device face-down on the table.

He looks out the window. The city below pulses with artificial lights. A faint mechanical hum permeates the air.

ALEX

Quiet.

INT. APARTMENT - 30 MINUTES LATER

Alex grabs a book from a hidden storage locker in the wall. The cover reads "1984" by George Orwell.

He flips through the pages, breathing quickening. The words seem to leap off the page: "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU."

Suddenly, Alex freezes. The faint hum outside has stopped. The silence is different now — heavy, expectant.

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

Alex cracks open the apartment door. The hallway is empty, unnaturally so. The usual sounds of neighbors’ broadcasts are gone.

He steps outside cautiously, his bare feet silent on the cold floor.

From the end of the hallway, a small red light blinks. It’s a surveillance camera, tracking his every move.

ALEX

(whispers)

No. I have more time. They're too early.

INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

Alex rushes back inside, slamming the door. His wristband is now blinking. A low beep starts, slow but insistent.

Alex grabs his device, but the screen is frozen. A single message flashes: "CONNECTIVITY LOST. PLEASE REPORT TO YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITY."

ALEX

No... no, no, no.

He tries to turn the wall screen back on. Nothing. Panic sets in.

EXT. CITY STREETS - NIGHT

Outside, DRONES patrol the city. Sleek, insect-like machines whir through the air. Their cameras scan the streets with cold precision.

A group of citizens walks in perfect synchronization, their faces blank. Each holds their device in hand, eyes glued to the screen.

INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT

The beeping from Alex’s wristband grows faster. He tried to cover it, but the sound is also coming from outside his apartment.

Suddenly, a loud KNOCK at the door. Alex freezes.

VOICE (O.S.)

Citizen 43872. You have been flagged for non-compliance. Open the door.

Alex backs away, shaking his head.

ALEX

No. Please, no. I did my gratitude. I just needed a break from the noise.

The door slides open with a hiss. Standing there are two members of the MORTALITY MONITORING SQUAD (MMS). Dressed in sleek black uniforms, their faces are obscured by reflective visors.

One of them holds a data tablet, scanning Alex’s wristband.

MMS OFFICER 1

Device disconnection detected at 21:43. Duration: 47 minutes. Unauthorized silence protocol.

MMS OFFICER 2

Probability of dissident behavior: 87%. Recommending immediate vaporization.

ALEX

Wait! I didn’t do anything! I just needed a break! Just one hour!

The officers step forward. Alex stumbles back, tripping over the chair. The Orwell book falls to the floor.

One of the officers picks it up, inspecting it.

MMS OFFICER 1

Contraband literature. Non-sanctioned material. Commencing immediate destruction per the McMahan Education Reform Act of 29.

They immediately burn the book in a sanctioned book burning receptacle.

ALEX

Please... I didn’t mean anything. I needed a rest.

The officers raise a sleek device shaped like a small gun. It hums ominously.

MMS OFFICER 1

You'll get your rest. You have been identified as an enemy of the Union and are hereby sentenced to termination under the efficiency declaration of 32. Thank you for your service to our great leader.

BOTH OFFICERS

UNITY IS PEACE. PEACE IS UNITY. TRUST THE LEADER.

ALEX

(whispering)

People have to see... they have to know...

A flash of light. Alex is gone. Vaporized. The room is silent once more.

INT. MINISTRY OF PROPAGANDA - CONTROL ROOM - NIGHT

The Minister of Propaganda stands before a massive wall of screens, each showing different citizens, all dutifully engaged with their devices.

One screen goes dark — Alex’s feed.

An ASSISTANT approaches, holding a tablet.

ASSISTANT

Citizen 43872 has been neutralized. Probability of dissent reduced by 0.0003%.

The Minister nods, satisfied.

MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA

Good. Increase tonight’s gratitude messaging by 12%. Let them know the Leader watches over them.

The Minister turns to the camera, addressing the city directly.

MINISTER OF PROPAGANDA

The broadcast is eternal. We are connected. Allegiance brings peace. Unity is peace. Trust the Leader and do not veer. We are here for you.

EXT. CITYSCAPE - NIGHT

The city hums with life. The digital screens blare messages of unity and gratitude. The people walk in perfect harmony, faces blank, devices glowing.

From above, the city looks like a circuit board — every citizen a tiny, obedient node.

FADE OUT.