Fault Lines

Scene: “It Technically Turns On” Location: Golden Gate Park – Bench near the Academy of Science Time: Late afternoon Wide shot: filtered sunlight cuts through eucalyptus branches. HANNAH, KATHLEEN, and HUNTER sit awkwardly on a bench. HANNAH holds a small envelope of cash and keeps checking her phone. She’s attempting to buy a laptop off Craigslist. HANNAH He said he’s “five minutes away”... fifteen minutes ago. KATHLEEN (dry) He’s a Craigslist seller. Do you believe time exists for him? HUNTER (leans back) You’re lucky if he shows up tomorrow. HANNAH (defensive) He sent pictures! It looked good. It’s a reliable model—everyone says Macs are built to last. KATHLEEN (without looking up) Do they? (Footsteps. Enter LUCAS, casually strolling in from the dirt path, holding a clearly battered silver MacBook in one hand and a bag of kettle corn in the other. The laptop lid has a giant peeling sticker: “Hustle Daily.”) LUCAS Someone here for a piece of digital history ? HANNAH (squinting...

John and Lucas INT. SMALL PARK NEAR MICROCHANT – LUNCH BREAK Lucas sits on the edge of a fountain, sipping a canned cold brew. John walks up holding two sandwiches, tossing one to Lucas. JOHN: Salami on white. You’re welcome. LUCAS: Thanks, I was about to eat the stale biscotti in the break room. JOHN: You’d eat drywall if it came with mustard and mayo. LUCAS: If it’s free whose complaining (John thought about the sandwich that he just paid for.) JOHN: Do you ever wonder what the hell we’re actually doing here? LUCAS: At MicroChant? JOHN: No. Here. Like... San Francisco. The grind, the startups, the tiny-ass apartments with giant rent. The Postmates gigs and "networking events" with $11 beers. LUCAS: Ah. Existential dread, with a side of tech fatigue. You’re settling in just fine. (Lucas leans back, watching a dog chase pigeons.) LUCAS (CONT'D): The way I see it, we’re all just trying to find the least disappointing version of ourselves. JOHN: That’s bleak. LUCAS: Nah. It...