67. Dissident - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• INT. PUBLIC BATHROOM - DAY


• HANDS deftly pull a dark ski mask over thick dark hair.


• THE MASKED MAN looks at the bathroom mirror through the mask's eyeholes and adjusts the thick material with practiced movements.


• His dark gray eyes study the mirror, inspecting his own reflection.


• The man is dressed in a hoodie and dark cargo pants in contrast with the staid elegance of the bathroom in which he stand.


• INT. CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER - DAY


• The large chamber buzzes with people wandering around, fashioning deals, gossiping, or just nervously waiting to present their cases before the council.


• The council sits at the front of the room around a u-shaped table.


• It is packed with laptops, piles of papers, and microphones.


• A pompous looking BUSINESSMAN approaches the podium, and clears his through. The sound crackles through the speakers.


• The doors at the back of the chamber slam open and the masked man rushes down the aisle, and shoves the businessman away.


• COUNCIL PRESIDENT
• Sir, please wait you turn.


• The businessman pushes back, indignant.


• MASKED MAN
• Mr. President, I hold you in contempt! This city is going down the tubes and you sit there worrying about how you're going to spend another 25 million dollars refining the tourist industry.


• COUNCIL PRESIDENT
• Sir, sir!


• The president raps his gavel.


• MASKED MAN
• What about the homeless? What about all those being thrown out of their homes? Are they not worthy of your time? I see how you hear their request and don't listen. I see you brush aside their needs.


• Security guards rush belatedly down the aisle and pull the man away.


• MASKED MAN
• Repent! Repent to your citizens. Respect your citizens!


• He is pulled out of the chamber.


• The guards push him out, and close the doors behind.


• The council president clears his throat and waves for the businessman to go on.


• The businessman straightens his tie.


• INT. CITY HALL COUNCIL HALLWAY - DAY


• The masked man walks quickly down an empty hallway.


• He moves with a steady grace as he pulls the hoodie off, revealing a slightly rumpled suit jacket.


• He pulls the cargo pants off with the clicking of buttons popping undone revealing neatly creased dark pants.


• He turns left and stops at a large door.


• INT. CITY HALL COUNCIL OFFICE - DAY


• The man pushes through it, and nods to the SECRETARY.


• She raises an eyebrow and pats her head.


• He touches his head and feels the mask.


• MASKED MAN
• Oh!


• He opens another door, entering a large office and pulls the mask from his face.


• He sits in the large chair, folds the clothing in his arms, putting them on the desk, then places his dirty tennis shoes on the desk, and grins.


• The name plate on the desk reads "Mayor Thomas Haines."


• His secretary sticks her head in.


• She surveys the room, looks disapprovingly at his shoes.


• SECRETARY
• Sir, you enjoy that far too much.


• He grins at her, pats the ski mask, and places it in his top drawer.


• FADE TO BLACK.