Video Script
Excerpt (Stage directions in italics. See image below for an example of actual paper formatting.)
ELLA MCMARTIN
You’re making that up! I didn’t throw any--
CAMERA SHIFTS TO GARCIA.
SPEAKS WITH AUTHORITY.
ESTEBAN GARCIA
Ms. McMartin, you’ve already testified and made your arguments. Now you’re supposed to be cross-examining Mr. Reyes, not arguing with him. Any information you provide us at this time MUST come from the mouth of the witness in response to your questions. Understand?
CAMERA SHIFTS TO MCMARTIN. SHE’S CLEARLY AGITATED.
ELLA MCMARTIN
Yeah, but it’s not fair, he’s trying to--
CAMERA SHIFTS TO GARCIA.
GARCIA INTERRUPTS MCMARTIN. HIS BODY LANGUAGE AND TONE OF VOICE SAY HE MEANS WHAT HE SAYS.
ESTEBAN GARCIA
Please, Ms. McMartin. One more time: Ask questions if you have any; otherwise, let Mr. Reyes get on with his case. Do you have any more questions?
CAMERA SHIFTS TO MCMARTIN. MCMARTIN RESPONDS IN AN AGITATED VOICE.
ELLA MCMARTIN
No.
CAMERA SHIFTS TO GARCIA.
ESTEBAN GARCIA
Alright. Mr. Reyes, go ahead and call your witness.
REYES NODS TO GARCIA, GOES TO THE DOOR AND BRINGS BACK REBA JONES.
CAMERA FOLLOWS REYES OUT AND BOTH REYES AND JONES AS THEY ENTER THE ROOM AND ARE SEATED.
ESTEBAN GARCIA
Good morning.
CAMERA SHIFTS TO JONES.
REBA IS FRIENDLY.
REBA JONES
Good morning!
CAMERA SHIFTS TO GARCIA.
ESTEBAN GARCIA
Would you please state your name and title for the record?
CAMERA SHIFTS TO JONES.
Certainly. I’m Reba Jones, Vice President for Student Learning.
CAMERA SHIFTS TO GARCIA.
ESTEBAN GARCIA
Go ahead, Mr. Reyes.
CAMERA CAPTURES BOTH REYES AND JONES.
JUAN REYES
Reba, were you at all involved in the decision to reassign Ms. McMartin?
REBA JONES
As a matter of fact, I was. You and I had talked several times about how the APT Program was coughing and sputtering because of poor secretarial help. I didn’t make it mandatory, but I believe I first suggested moving Ella over to APT. I remember the first time I brought it up, you seemed hesitant to do it. You changed your mind, or we wouldn’t be in here.
JUAN REYES
Do you believe I made the decision lightly?
REBA JONES
Of course not. You knew Avionics wouldn’t be happy about it, and nobody likes to make their chairs unhappy. On the day you told me you’d made your decision, you said that there was just no way around it; APT was just too big and too high-visibility of a program to let flounder. Even I’ve noticed that the APT Program is doing better now. Even bent out of shape and not totally familiar with her new department, Ella does a pretty good job—better than the other secretary was doing.
JUAN REYES
That’s all the questions I have. Thanks, Reba.
CAMERA SHIFTS TO GARCIA.
ESTEBAN GARCIA
Do you have any questions for Ms. Jones, Ms. McMartin?
CAMERA SHIFTS TO JONES, SULKING, A LITTLE SLUMPED, LOOKING DEFEATED.
ELLA MCMARTIN
No.
CAMERA SHIFTS TO GARCIA.
ESTEBAN GARCIA
Anyone else have anything for Ms. Jones?
CAMERA CAPTURES MS. DONOVAN AND GARCIA SIMULTANEOUSLY.
DIANNA DONOVAN
I do. Ms. Jones, you said that even you knew that things were working better in the APT Program. Can you give me an example?
CAMERA SHIFTS TO REBA JONES.
REBA JONES
Sure. I get my reports from the Aviation Cluster on time nowadays. Before, Juan had to hold up his cluster’s reports waiting on APT’s. Not anymore. Also, I ran into the APT chair, Bob Starr, the other day. He looked and sounded a lot less stressed than he’s been in a while. Things are going better over there.
CAMERA BACK TO DONOVAN.
DONOVAN WRITES ON HER NOTEPAD.
DIANNA DONOVAN
Ok. Thanks.
CAMERA TO GARCIA
ESTEBAN GARCIA
Is that it? Any more questions? OK! Thank you, Ms. Jones.
CAMERA SHIFTS TO JONES, WHO GETS UP AND LEAVES AS SHE RESPONDS.
REBA JONES
You’re welcome, Esteban.
CAMERA SHIFTS TO GARCIA.
ESTEBAN GARCIA
Mr. Reyes, do you have any other witnesses?
CAMERA SHIFTS TO REYES.
JUAN REYES
No, that’s it.
CAMERA SHIFTS TO GARCIA.
ESTEBAN GARCIA
Then it’s time for closing arguments. Ms. McMartin, you’re up first.