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gc #33510
NIGHT GALLERY
"THE CLASS OF '99"
FADE IN:
1 EXT. COLLEGE CAMPUS - LONG SHOT - DAY (STOCK) 1
Favoring the complex of concrete and glass buildings arranged
around a large mall. There are distant chimes and equally
distant a cappella voices singing a traditional college song.
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DISSOLVE THRU TO:
2 INT. CLASSROOM - FULL ESTAB. SHOT - DAY 2
A large amphitheatre-type room with graduated benches looking
down at an instructor's diadem. The room is filled with
perhaps fifty young men and women sitting there, conversing
quietly.
3 FAVORING A CLOCK 3
on the wall as it hits "10:00." Camera pans down, the voices
dying off as a Professor and Two Other Men enter the room
through the lower door, move to the diadem and face the
students. The Professor puts on glasses, takes a large manila
folder from one of the other men, opens it, starts to spread
sheets of paper out in front of him in some special order.
He then looks up and, with a frosty professorial smile, peers
over his glasses at the audience.
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PROFESSOR
Well, good morning, young ladies and
gentlemen.
(takes out a pocket
watch, looks at it
briefly, lays it in
front of him)
This is a rather anointed day at our
University -- the occasion of the
oral section of your final examina-
tion.
There is a murmuring from the audience.
4 HIGH ANGLE - LOOKING DOWN ON THE WHOLE SCENE 4
The most definitive description would be - normality. Beyond
a certain predictable tensing up on the part of the class,
it's like a small cameo of the academe as played out for
hundreds of years.
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gc #33510 2
5 THE PROFESSOR 5
his two assistants standing behind him. As he speaks, he
looks down at his notes:
PROFESSOR
Let me review briefly our procedure.
I will direct random questions to
various of you and will grade you
immediately. Keep in mind, however,
that the question may be repeated at
any time to someone else.
(again the frosty smile
as he looks up)
Needless to say, I wish you all very
good luck. It is the hope of the
University -- its faculty -- its
administration -- that this class
of '99, already so scholastically
distinguished, continue its extremely
high level of performance in this,
the final examination. And with
that, ladies and gentleman, we shall
begin.
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An assistant hands him another manila folder which he opens,
studies briefly.
6 THE STUDENTS 6
in rapt, silent attention.
7 PAST STUDENTS TO PROFESSOR 7
PROFESSOR
General heading -- Science. Sub-
heading -- Propulsion. In the middle
of the thirteenth century, a scientific
work appeared in the Greek language
written by Marcus Graecus. Annotate
this work for me, please --
(consults roster)
Mr. Templeton.
8 REVERSE ANGLE 8
as Templeton rises to his feet.
TEMPLETON
The publication in question was an
extract from the works of Albertus
Magnus and Roger Bacon.
CONTINUED
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gc #33510 3
8 CONTINUED 8
PROFESSOR
Mr. McWhirter. Roger Bacon was
called what?
McWHIRTER
The English Powder Monk.
PROFESSOR
Miss Wheeton. This work is now
available in what language and how
is it identified?
WHEETON
It is available in a Latin transla-
tion. Its sub-title: "Lieber Ignium
A.D. Zomburendum Hostes."
PROFESSOR
The names of four men in the past
three centuries whose experiments
have related to Propulsion. Mr.
Johnson.
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Johnson, a tall, nervous-looking student, rises.
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JOHNSON
Sir William Congreve, William Hale,
Dr. Robert Goddard --
He closes his eyes, ponders, sweats. Camera moves slowly in
for an extreme closeup during the following:
PROFESSOR'S VOICE
A fourth name?
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JOHNSON
(looks up, eyes glazed)
C...C...
PROFESSOR'S VOICE
A shining body of water...or the
Spanish affirmative. Can you pro-
ceed, Mr. Johnson?
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Johnson half closes his eyes in the last desperate struggle
for recall, then he looks up, anguished.
JOHNSON
It's a name with two initials.
Camera shifts, pans the faces of the other students who look
rigidly forward.
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