backspace to the future_final

7/31/2019 Backspace to the Future_Final

1/17

Backspace to the Future

By

R.A. Johnson

7.12.12WGA East Registered

[email protected]


2/17

FADE IN:

Title credits and animations roll with a narrated voiceover.

NARRATOR (V.O.)

My name is Ian Ventor, and Idesigned a smart phone app to helppeople become more connected toeach other. Well, my company stolethe credit for the idea and nowpeople are even more disconnectedthat ever before. So I built a timemachine out of an old copier to goback and undo what I created. Thisis my blog that documents myattempts at returning humanity backto...well, back to being slightlyless a-holes than they were before

my invention.

End title credits.

INT. OFFICE - IANS DESK. MORNING

IAN is asleep at his desk, face down on his keyboard. Ian isa 26 year old app designer, considered elderly among hisyounger co-workers, working for iCorp. He is smart and smartlooking but has recently lost his motivation.

OFFICE (Dream Sequence)

Ian swivels around in his chair to ask his friend andcolleague JASPER a question. Jasper is 23 year old nerd, butin a cool sci-fi kind of way.

IAN(aloud)

Hey Jasper, how did you hack intoyour Blockbonkers account anddelete all your late fees again?

Jasper swivels around and looks annoyed. He begins textingon his phone as he glares at Ian. Jasper raises his fingerand stabs the send button on his phone.

Ians phone VIBRATES. He checks his new text message.Jaspers texts appear as subtitles on the screen.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)How is it that the creator of TalkNo More, the biggest app this

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


3/17

CONTINUED: 2.

JASPER (SUBTITLES) (contd)company has ever seen, doesnt evenuse it?

Ians phone vibrates again before he is finished reading thefirst text. Its another text from Jasper.

JASPER (CONTD - SUBTITLES)And you know I canceled myBlockbonkers account 18 months ago.You need to update and restartyourself today man? Ive got to getback to work.

Jasper swivels back around with authority as Ian swivelsslowly back around, confused, shaking his head.

IAN(aloud - to himself)

Closed his account 18 months ago?He just loaned me Gears, Gadgetsand Girls last week.

Ian scans his desk while tapping his fingers. He notices asmall, lame TROPHY. He picks it up to inquire.

IAN (CONTD)(reads aloud)

iCorp appreciates your assistancein the creation of Talk No More.

Ian sits the lame trophy back down onto his desk.

IAN (CONTD)(aloud - to himself)

Talk No More? Thats what Jasperwas talking about. Er, rathertexting about. And why wouldnt heactually speak to me?

Ian is interrupted by a incoming text from his boss, MR.JACKSON. Ian checks his phone. We see a picture in pictureon screen of his boss. Mr. Jackson is balding with acompensating mustache. The texts appear as subtitles.

MR. JACKSON (SUBTITLES)The new design team for Talk NoMore needs to go over your designnotes from the Beta version todayat 3p.m. Be on time. And dontsleep through this one Ian, Imwarning you.

(CONTINUED)


4/17

CONTINUED: 3.

The picture in picture disappears quickly as Mr. Jacksonends the discussion. Ian shakes his head in confusion.

IAN(to himself)

This Talk No More app seems evil.This is all like a bad dream.

RAQUEL, an NYU intern, approaches Ians desk wearingscantily clad attire and her nerdy glasses. Ian is wide-eyedand frozen with amazement. She begins texting on her phone.

Ians phone vibrates. It startles him. He picks it up andreads the text. The texts appear as subtitles.

RAQUEL (SUBTITLES)Ian, can you help me back up my lapdance with your hard drive.

Raquel takes off her glasses and shakes her hair out of a

pony tail. She jumps up on Ians desk and grabs his stapler.

RETURN TO SCENE

Ian is asleep at his desk, face down on his keyboard. CHAZ,a 22 year old Oxford grad and head of marketing, struts overto Ians desk with an entourage of DWIGHT from shipping andCHIP, a marketing intern from NYU.

Chaz texts a message to the guys. Dwight and Chipsphones BEEP, but the alert sound on Chips phone isembarrassing. Chaz and Dwight look at Chip awkwardly. Theycheck their phones. The text appears as subtitles.

CHAZ (SUBTITLES)Watch this guys.

Chaz draws something quickly on a piece of paper using a penand pad from Ians desk. Chaz then staples the piece ofpaper to Ians shirt near his left wrist, covering his palm.Chaz then staples Ians other hand to the front of hispants.

The guys are snickering and laughing. Chaz texts the guys.Chips lame ringtone beeps again. Chaz and Dwight glare athim again. Dwight and Chip check their phones. The textappears as subtitles.

CHAZ (SUBTITLES)Quick, lets go. Here comes Raquel.

The guys rush over to create some distance from them andIans desk. Chip texts Chaz.

(CONTINUED)


5/17

CONTINUED: 4.

CHIP (SUBTITLES)Im going to film this with myphone and post it on YouTube.

The guys chuckle. As Raquel heads toward Ians desk, Chaztexts Ian. The text appears as subtitles.

CHAZ (SUBTITLES)Yo, Ian.

The vibration of Ians phone wakes him up. Drool drips ontohis keyboard.


Oh, thank God I was dreaming. Tothink of a world where the onlycommunication was text messages.

Still trying to wake up, Ian leans over with just his headand glances at his phone as it vibrates again with new textmessages.

CHAZ (CONTD - SUBTITLES)Here comes your girlfriend.

Ian jumps to attention in an attempt to impress Raquel.Raquel is dressed in a sharp pants suit, wearing glasses anda pony tail. She is happily smiling as she walks toward Ian.She can only see his smiling face as his body is blocked bya cluttered desk.

IAN(aloud)

Hi Raquel.

Raquel looks at her phone confused. She didnt get a textfrom Ian. Ian raises his hand to wave hi.

IAN (CONTD)(aloud)

How are you toda-

She notices his body language. Ians left hand has a noteattached to his sleeve that reads...

INSERT:

I LOVE MYSELF

...And as she gets closer to Ians desk, she notices hisright hand has been stapled as if he were grabbing hiscrotch.

(CONTINUED)


6/17

CONTINUED: 5.

Raquels smile fades quickly. Ian looks himself over,embarrassed.

Chaz and the guys lol each other. Chips ringtone ischanged, but still just as lame. The guys glare at himagain. The text messages appear as subtitles.

Raquel looks over at Chaz and the guys laughing, and thenlooks back at Ian. She texts Ian.

Ian looks at Raquel oddly as his phone vibrates on the deskbehind him. He looks back at his phone. He reads Raquelstext message. The text appears as subtitles.

RAQUEL (SUBTITLES)Im really sorry Ian. I like yourshirt.

Raquel walks passed Ian as she texts Chaz and the guys.


It wasnt a dream.

Chaz, Dwight and Chip check their phones. Raquels textsappears as subtitles.

RAQUEL (SUBTITLES)You guys need to grow up.

Raquel continues on her way.

Ian jerks his stapled hand from his crotch in a skirmishway.


Ouch.

He looks at the note stapled to his other hand and rips itoff as well. He flops back down into his chair defeated.

Jasper enters and sits at his desk. He notices the depressedand disheveled Ian. Jasper swivels around with his back toIan. Jasper texts Ian.

Ians phone vibrates on his desk. He glances over and seesits from Jasper. Ian looks back over his shoulder atJasper, who has his back to him, and shrugs. Ian reads thetext. The texts appear as subtitles.

(CONTINUED)


7/17

CONTINUED: 6.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Why the screen saver face Ian?

Ian reluctantly replies to Jaspers text. Ians texts appearas subtitles.

IAN (SUBTITLES)Well Jasper, if you must know, Ihad a bad dream that I created thissmart phone app that everyone usedfor the wrong reason. Instead of ithelping to connect people in afriendly manner, it seems to havedisconnected everyone. No onespeaks to each other anymore.

Ian spaces out and stares at his desk for a moment. Heknocks the lame Talk No More trophy into the waste basketnext to his desk.

Ians phone vibrates with the alert of a new text fromJasper. The text appears as subtitles.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Thats no dream buddy. That isreality. Once you created thatsoftware for every smart phone tobe able to recognize any othersmart phone in the area, iCorpexploited that technology in everyway possible. You know how socialmedia apps work. If youre not the

newest thing, youre just a floppydisk.

IAN(aloud)

Believe me Jasper I know it wasnta dream. Only the best part of itwas-

Ian looks over toward Raquels desk as she is busy at work.Jasper clears his throat and interrupts Ian. Ian looks backat Jasper. Jasper his waving his cell phone back and forth.

IAN (CONTD)(aloud)

Oh. Right. Talk No More, I get itnow.

Ian stops talking and returns to texting Jasper. The textsappear as subtitles.

(CONTINUED)


8/17

CONTINUED: 7.

IAN (CONTD - SUBTITLES)There has got to be a way to undothis situation and return the worldback to its factory settings.

Jasper reads his text. And replies.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Did you try turning it off and thenturning it on again. Lol.

Ian and Jasper spin around in their swivel chairs for a highfive. Ian texts Jasper.

IAN (SUBTITLES)Good one, Jasper. But Im serious.How can I control-alt-delete thisevil app Ive exposed to the world?

Jasper reads the text and responds.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)To me, youve got two options.

Ian and Jasper are quickly texting each other back andforth.

IAN (SUBTITLES)Go on.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)The first being to create a new

social media app, so that Talk NoMore becomes old news.

IAN (SUBTITLES)No way. I would have to createsomething even more evil just tosurpass Talk No More. I wont dothat to humanity again. Whats thesecond option.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Sue their pants off. They stoleyour designs, so get them back. Andthen destroy it.

Ian begins sorting through some papers and folders on hisdesk.

IAN (SUBTITLES)I dont think that would workthough. They have all my original

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


9/17

CONTINUED: 8.

IAN (SUBTITLES) (contd)Beta designs and they are modifyingthem all today at 3p.m.


Or was that part of my dream as

well?

Ian sees a post-it note reminder of the meeting with Mr.Jackson today at 3p.m. on his desk.

IAN (CONTD)(aloud- to himself)

Damn. I guess the only part of mydream that wasnt real, was myencounter with Raquel. (beat)Unless...

Ian sits up in his chair and looks over at Raquels desk

again. He spots her, wearing her normal office pants suit.


Nope. That is a nice pants suit,but it is definitely not scantilyclad.

She smiles, just as Chaz leans in and glares at Ian. Chazblocks Ians view of Raquel with a plant from her desk.

INT. OFFICE - RAQUELS DESK. CONTINUOUS

Chaz is trying to put the suave moves on Raquel. Raquel issitting there with her arms crossed. Chaz texts her, whileglancing over at Ian to see if he is watching. His textsappear as subtitles.

CHAZ (SUBTITLES)So, uh, are you still mad at me?

Raquel sits there, unengaged. Chaz takes another peak overat Ian. Ian is trying different angels of view, to betterhis perspective of the situation, with no luck.

CHAZ (CONTD - SUBTITLES)You know, technically, we were on abreak when you and I went out.

Raquel angerily swivels around front and center in her desk,with her back facing Chaz. Chaz gets a text message from Mr.Jackson. Mr. Jackson appears in a picture in picture on thescreen. His texts appear as subtitles.

(CONTINUED)


10/17

CONTINUED: 9.

MR. JACKSON (SUBTITLES)Chaz, I need to see you right awayin my office. Top secret.

The picture in picture disappears as Mr. Jackson ends thediscussion. Chaz leans in to touch Raquel on the shoulder,

but is fended off as Raquel unsheaths a sharp letter opener.

Chaz exits toward Mr. Jacksons office.

INT. OFFICE - IANS DESK. CONTINUOUS

Ians phone interrupts his attempt at eavesdropping on Chazand Raquel with a text from Jasper.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Youve got to get those plans backbefore your 3p.m. meeting, or all

hope is lost.

IAN (SUBTITLES)I wish I could tell if youre beingsarcastic or not. This wholetexting thing is becoming quiteannoying.

JASPER (SUBTITLES);)


The winkey face. The most evil ofall emoticons. Sinister or sexy, noone really knows.

IAN (SUBTITLES)I wish there was a way to go backin time 18 months to when I createdthis evil monster and just liketake a nice nap and not create itat all. Yeah, that would bealright.

Ian gives up on searching through the papers on his desk andstares down at the lame Talk No More trophy sitting in thewaste basket. He notices a FOLDER underneath it.

Ian looks back at Jasper to make sure he isnt payingattention and grabs the folder out of the trash. Jasper hisworking on a document on his computer screen.

Ian opens the folder and sees a MANUSCRIPT titled:

(CONTINUED)


11/17

CONTINUED: 10.

Insert:

"Backspace to the Future" By Jasper Jenkins.

Ian thumbs through the script scanning its contents.

INT. MR. JACKSONS OFFICE. MORNING

Mr. Jackson is sitting in a large chair behind his largedesk. Chaz pours himself a cup of water from the waterdispenser. His phone beeps. He takes it out while sippingfrom his cup. The interchange of texts appear as subtitles.

MR. JACKSON (SUBTITLES)Chaz, I need you to help me makesure Ian doesnt make it to theTalk No More meeting today at 3p.m.

Chaz texts with one hand while he finishes his drink.

CHAZ (SUBTITLES)Why is that boss?

Chaz crunches the paper cup and tosses into the trash binnear the desk. Chaz notices a nice pen on the desk. Hebegins to meander closer to it with his hand. His phonebeeps again.

MR. JACKSON (SUBTITLES)Well, thats top secret Chaz, butwhat the hell. I can trust you

right?

Chaz pulls back from the pen and replies.

CHAZ (SUBTITLES)Absolutely boss.

MR. JACKSON (SUBTITLES)Ok. Technically, the Talk No Moreapp was created by Ian. At themeeting today, he as the power toveto its release to the public,which would be a very lucrativemove for iCorp. And perhapsyourself, Chaz.

Mr. Jackson raises his eyebrow toward Chaz.

CHAZ (SUBTITLES)I see.

(CONTINUED)


12/17

CONTINUED: 11.

MR. JACKSON (SUBTITLES)Take whatever means neccessary tosee that he doesnt make thatmeeting.

CHAZ (SUBTITLES)It will be my pleasure boss.

MR. JACKSON (SUBTITLES)Great. Now get out of my office.

INT. OFFICE - IANS DESK. MORNING

Ian is at his desk reading Jaspers script.

IAN(aloud)

Yes. Ive got it.

Ian swivels around to talk to Jasper.

IAN (CONTD)(aloud)

Jasper. Ive figured it out-

Jasper still has his back to Ian. He picks up his phone andwaves it at Ian without looking. Ian shakes his fist intothe air.

IAN(aloud - vengeful)

Talk No More.

Ian sits back at his desk in a hurry. Picks up his smartphone and begins texting Jasper. The text interchangeappears as subtitles.

IAN (SUBTITLES)The main character in your scriptBackspace to the Future builds atime machine to travel back in timeand correct something evil.

Jasper swivels around and faces Ian. Jasper texts Ian with

unbroken eye contact.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)You read my script? What did youthink of it?

Ian, angry about the way he has to communicate with Jasper,fires back a text.

(CONTINUED)


13/17

CONTINUED: 12.

IAN (SUBTITLES)Jasper. Im being serious now. Istime travel possible?

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Ill tell you if you tell me what

you thought of my script.

Jasper raises his eyebrow at the new advantage. Ian gruntsat this pickle. Ian texts Jasper.

IAN (SUBTITLES)How about Ill tell you what Raquelwas wearing in my dream if you tellme everything you know about timetravel.

Jasper is wide-eyed and giddy about this agreement. Heswivels back around to his computer and starts working fast.

He texts Ian.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Im sending you all my files ontime travel as well as theblueprints to a prototype I startedto build here at the office.

Ian and Jasper send several texts back forth discussing thesituation. The texts appear as subtitles.

IAN (SUBTITLES)Okay, great. Wait. Here at the

office? What did you need a timemachine for?

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Well, I was really hitting it offwith Raquel the first day shestarted here, and Chaz and the guyspulled a prank on me that reallyembarrassed me in front of her.

IAN (SUBTITLES)I hate those guys.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Yeah, me too. So I wanted to goback in time, just a few minutes tothwart Chazs prank and to ask outRaquel before anyone else had thechance.

(CONTINUED)


14/17

CONTINUED: 13.

IAN (SUBTITLES)Thats a great idea Jasper. So whathappened?

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Well, I got about half way finished

with the time machine, but then theend of the day came. So I left iton my desk to finish in themorning. But when I came back thenext day, it was gone.

IAN (SUBTITLES)What? Do you know who stole it?Probably Mr. Jackson. He steals allthe good ideas from us.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)The next morning, the company had

replaced all the old copiermachines and printers with newones, and they threw out all theold ones.

IAN (SUBTITLES)So? I dont get it.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)You didnt read my script did you?

IAN (SUBTITLES)What? I sure did. Well, parts of it

at least.

Jasper is collecting all his old files from random folderson his computer.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Well, just like the main character,I built the time machine out of anold copier. They must have thrownit out with all the rest of theolder machines.

IAN (SUBTITLES)Damn. That sucks. So you just gaveup?

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Not at first. I was planning onbuilding another prototype, butthen Chaz asked out Raquel, and shesaid yes. So what would be the

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


15/17

CONTINUED: 14.

JASPER (SUBTITLES) (contd)point then. So I just wrote thatamazing Sci-Fi script about thesituation instead.

IAN (SUBTITLES)

Hmm. That is a sticky situation. Doyou know what they did with all theold copiers and printers?

JASPER (SUBTITLES)I heard Dwight from shippingtalking about a closet full of oldequipment that he refers to as hiseBay cache.

IAN (SUBTITLES)Bingo. Thats got to be it. Younever checked it out?

JASPER (SUBTITLES)I told you. She started going outwith Chaz. I lost all interest.

IAN (SUBTITLES)Yeah, but they arent togetheranymore. You didnt try to rebuildthe time machine when they brokeup.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)A girl that would date a specimen

like Chaz means nothing to me.Shes just upgrades to every newshiny piece of equipment when itcomes out.

IAN (SUBTITLES)They went out for like two weeks.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)Whatever. Besides, she probablycouldnt handle my operating systemanyway.

Jasper finishes sending all the files to Ian.

JASPER (CONTD - SUBTITLES)Sent. Okay, all the files are inyour email. Now tell me about whatRaquel was wearing in your dream.

(CONTINUED)


16/17

CONTINUED: 15.

IAN (SUBTITLES)I thought she couldnt handle youroperating system?

JASPER (SUBTITLES)She still has amazing and complex

software.

Ian gets up from his desk to leave. He tosses his phone ontohis desk.

IAN(aloud)

Ill tell you later, Im going offthe grid. (beat) Ive always wantedto say that. (beat) To find Dwightand his eBay cache.

Jasper swivels around to face Ian with a worried look. Ian

is standing proud.

IAN (CONTD)(aloud)

Ive got to find your time machineprototype and go back and undo thisevil Talk No More app that isruining everything humanity standsfor. (beat) Or at least so everyonewill stop texting each otherinstead of talking. Its quiteannoying.

Jasper texts Ian. Ians phone vibrates. Ian shakes his headat Jasper. He picks up the phone and checks the text. Thetext appears has a subtitle.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)All caps man, right on. But becareful, those shipping guys can bebullies, especially Dwight.

IAN(aloud)

Yeah, I know. Ill need a plan.

Ians phone vibrates in his hand. He checks the text eventhough Jasper is sitting right in front of him.

JASPER (SUBTITLES)And dont forget your meeting withMr. Jackson at 3p.m. and the newTalk No More design team.

(CONTINUED)


17/17

CONTINUED: 16.

IAN(aloud)

There wont be a meeting at 3p.m.if I have anything to do with it.

Ian marches toward the shipping department, passing his boss

Mr. Jacksons office. Mr. Jackson leans his head out andgives Ian a mean glare.

backspace to the future_final

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