By Gabe White
EXT. – UNIVERSITY QUAD – DAY
It is graduation day for the class of 2024, there is a buzz of
excitement that permeates amongst the students as the
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER (65), an old white man who projects every
aspect of the American Dream, speaks to the students.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
Rudyard Kipling once said:
“If you can fill the unforgiving
minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of
distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything
that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a
Man, my son!”
N (22), does his best to sit still as he listens to
the speech but can barely contain his excitement as the
anticipation swells amongst the students.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER (CONT’D)
Upon your first arrival, this day
was a distant dream, but through
determination and perseverance,
each of you turned a distant dream
into reality.
EXT. – AIRPORT PASSENGER DROP OFF – DAY
N and a large group of friends file out of multiple cabs,
all smiling and making jokes as they collect their bags and
head inside.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER (V.O.)
Today we celebrate your
achievements, but more
importantly, today serves as an
affirmation that no matter the
dreamINT. – AIRPORT – MOMENTS LATER
N and a large cohort of his fellow graduates, scan their
boarding passes and board the plane. The monitor indicates that
the final destination is Las Vegas.
YOUNG MAN #1 scans his boarding pass, walks towards the gate,
and turns to the group.
YOUNG MAN #1
VEGAS BABY! M
N and his friends all cheer and continue boarding.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER (V.O.)
-If you pull yourself up by your
bootstraps with an uncompromising
determination, you can make it
your reality.
HOTEL CALIFORNIA by Eagles begins to play.
INT./EXT. – CAR – NIGHT
N and his friends drive down the Vegas strip and are
captivated. The limo pulls into Caesars Palace, the group files
out of the limo and stares at the attractions with childlike
wonder.
INT. – CAESARS PALACE LOBBY – MOMENTS LATER
N and his friends enter the lobby and head towards the
elevators, but as the group walks past one of the bellhops N
is stopped by CREEPY BELLHOP.
CREEPY BELLHOP
Not for you.
N stumbles back shocked and what once was amazement turns
into horror for him. Frozen, he realizes what he has stepped
into the longer he takes in his surroundings.
The checkerboard red-white carpet features multiple throw-up
stains.
Near the rows of slot machines, old white people mindlessly
yank the lever and stare at the spinning icons with dead beady
eyes.
At the end of the lobby are two doors, one is a golden elevator
guarded by a velvet rope. Above the golden elevator, a sign
reads “PLATINUM MEMBERS ONLY.” N sees his friends allowed
past the velvet rope and into the elevator.
To the left of the golden elevator, a long line forms at the
door. The sign above the door reads “STAIRS.”
Another sign outside the theater reads “NOW PLAYING: What it
means to ‘Live the Dream’ UP NEXT: Find Your Place, Find Your
Dream”
In the far corner of the room, another reception hands out wads
of cash to guests as they head toward the casino. The sign
above the reception desk reads “The Perks of Being a Homeowner”
2.
N turns frantically to try and leave but a bellhop in a
crimson-red uniform stands between him and the exit. N tries
to avoid making eye contact.
N
Excuse me, I’m gonna go find a
place where I can actually win.
N glances up and becomes catatonic as he realizes the
bellhop is the Commencement Speaker.
The Commencement Speaker slowly looks down to meet N’s gaze
and speaks synchronously with HOTEL CALIFORNIA
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
You can check out any time you
like, but you can never leave.
HOTEL CALIFORNIA by Eagles plays out.
FADE TO BLACK
N is…
- 20 Years-Old
- Male, Cisgender
- Black
- American Southerner
- Nondenominational Christian
- Middle Class
- Pansexual