Political Themes through Subtext:

 

Introduction:

The goal of this task was to write a scene that pushed a political theme or idea through the use of subtext in dialogue. I chose to focus the subtext as a commentary on different peoples approaches to the Covid-19 crisis.

 

Covid-19 Precautions: Yay or Nay.

 

Ext. Office – Day

The street is empty. A reminder to ‘wear your mask’ sign is attached to the sliding glass doors of the building. TOM, a decently dressed office worker, walks into the building past the sign. He is wearing his mask.

 

Int. Office – Day

The office is large and open there are multiple empty desks. Tom is the only one there. He is sitting at his computer focusing on his work. He is still wearing his mask. To the side of his computer is a role of tissue, a spray bottle and a sanitizer dispenser. On the other side is a landline telephone.

Tom leans back and stretches. He looks at the office clock, it’s midday. Tom takes a quick look around the office and shakes his head and goes back to work.

Focus in the clock, the time changes from 12:00 to 12:30.

Tom stops typing on his computer and gets up. He stretches again. The phone rings. Tom picks up.

 

TOM

Hello?

 

There is an indistinct response. Tom looks around the office again.

 

TOM (Continued)

No sir. Not yet.

 

Another indistinct response. Tom sighs heavily.

 

TOM (Continued)

Yes sir. I will.

 

Tom puts down the phone. He turns off the monitor on his computer and walks off.

Int. Office Kitchen – Day

 

The kitchen is well equipped. There is a fridge freezer in the corner of the room, multiple counters, a microwave, a kettle, a bread bin and a waste bin.

Tom, still wearing his mask. He is also wearing medical gloves. He is wiping down a section of the kitchen workspace with a wet cloth. He finishes and drops the cloth into the sink, he pulls off his gloves and throws them into the bin, he takes out and puts on another pair of gloves from his pocket. He opens the fridge and takes out two small plastic containers with his name scrawled on in permanent marker.

Tom puts the containers onto his clean workspace.

 

Notes:

What happens next: we meet Jack is scruffy, unshaved, un-ironed shirt etc. A bit of a slob. He is late to work and ignores all Covid-19 rules. Jack and Tom have an argument about safety. Both leave angry.

 

Conclusion:

It was interesting exploring the implementation of political themes through subtext here, it is not easy finding the balance between subtle and obvious while being tactful.