Tuesday, May 5, 2009

The Fugitive Generation (xiii)

INT. STUDENT UNION MEETING ROOM--NIGHT

MARLENE, 21, a long-haired blonde woman wearing overalls, is standing in front of group of students and Jim.

MARLENE: The Indochinese people continue to suffer from the Pentagon's air war in Indochina. As you saw in the slide show, the Pentagon has substituted laser-guided automated weapons for U.S. combat troops. So now the war in Indochina is fought on an automated, electronic battlefield.

U.S. military casualties are lower than a few years ago. But the people of Indochina continue to die in great numbers on the Pentagon's automated, electronic battlefield.

The Pentagon no longer bombs much of North Viet Nam. But it continues to bomb heavily in South Viet Nam, in Laos and in Cambodia.

When I was in Paris, one of the Vietnamese delegates to the peace talks spoke with our delegation. And she urged us to let people on our campuses know that peace will not come in Indochina as long as the Nixon Administration continues to seek military victory by waging automated air war.

And the reason I set up this meeting is I'd like to start an anti-war group, to let people in Ann Arbor know that we're opposed to the continuation of the air war in Indochina by the Nixon Administration!

Marlene sits down on the chair next to table with slide projector on it as students and Jim applaud. RACHEL, 21, a sturdy woman wearing jeans and flannel shirt, raises her hand. She looks more mannish than Marlene.

MARLENE (CONT'D): Rachel?

RACHEL: I propose that we start a group called "People Against The Air War." And that we call a meeting for tomorrow night.

Students and Jim applaud. Marlene smiles.

MARLENE: O.K. We'll call ourselves "People Against The Air War." I'll make up a leaflet tonight to publicize a meeting for tomorrow night.

Marlene takes yellow pad out of her knapsack. She hands pad to student who is sitting in first row of audience group.

MARLENE (CONT'D): People should sign the mailing list before they leave. And if you can help leaflet for the meeting tomorrow night, stop by the student government office at noon to pick up some leaflets. Also, if anybody is interested in helping me with the leaflet tonight, don't leave yet.

After signing mailing list, all the students, except Rachel and Marlene, leave room. Jim remains in room and approaches Marlene and Rachel. Marlene smiles at him and stops talking to Rachel.

JIM: I can help you with the leaflet. I just moved to Ann Arbor. But I've done anti-war work in other places.

RACHEL: Great! We can always use somebody new who's willing to do the shitwork!

Marlene and Jim laugh.

MARLENE: What's your name?

JIM: Jim.

MARLENE: My name's Marlene. And this is Rachel.

Jim smiles at Rachel. Rachel nods and looks Jim over quickly.

RACHEL: Well, since you're willing to help Marlene do the leaflet tonight, I think I'll split. I have a term paper I have to turn in tomorrow morning. See you tomorrow.

Rachel puts on her knapsack and walks from room.

MARLENE: Don't kill yourself doing that term paper, Rachel.

Marlene turns back to Jim.

MARLENE (CONT'D): Let's first take this slide projector to the student government office. Up there we can run off a leaflet on the mimeograph machine.

Marlene packs up slide projector and slide show. Then she puts on coat, throws her knapsack over her shoulders and carries slide projector and slide show in her hands.

JIM: Need any help carrying all that stuff?

MARLENE: No. It's pretty light.

Marlene and Jim walk from room.

INT. STUDENT UNION BUILDING HALL--NIGHT

Marlene and Jim walk slowly in hall.

JIM: How come you're able to use the student government office to do anti-war work?

MARLENE: The radical slate got elected last Fall. I'm one of the radicals that was on the slate. So we're able to use the student government office until at least next Fall.

JIM: That's how a student government office should be used.

INT. STUDENT GOVERNMENT OFFICE DOORWAY--NIGHT

Marlene puts slide projector on floor. She takes out a key and opens door to student government office.

INT. STUDENT GOVERNMENT OFFICE--NIGHT

Marlene turns on lights to office. Large room contains desks, chairs and inner offices.

C.U. CLOCK

Time is 9:15.

Jim sits in front of typewriter.

C.U. CLOCK

Time is 9:45.

Marlene stands next to him, while Jim looks at paper and types stencil. When Jim can't deciper what's written, she picks up paper. Then she reads, while Jim types.

MARLENE: (reads) "The war is still not over. Peace still has not come to Indochina."

INT. INNER OFFICE--NIGHT

A Gestetner mimeograph machine is printing up leaflets, while Jim stands next to it. Marlene opens up ream of paper and hands paper to Jim, who turns machine off. Jim loads paper into paper-feed, then turns machine on.

INT. STUDENT GOVERNMENT OFFICE--NIGHT

Four piles of leaflets are on one of desks. Marlene is wearing her coat. She and Jim smile at each other.

MARLENE: Well, thanks for helping me out. I'll run over now to the "Michigan Daily" office with one of the leaflets. The editor is anti-war. And she's a friend of mine. So she usually sticks news about any anti-war meeting we're holding in the newspaper...If I can get to her office before the paper goes to press.

JIM: What time does it go to press?

MARLENE: Usually by eleven.

Jim looks at clock on wall.

C.U. CLOCK

Time is 10:50.

JIM: You don't have much time to get there.

MARLENE: It's just across the street. And I'm a fast runner.

Jim smiles. Marlene picks up her knapsack and Jim follows her out of office.

EXT. SIDE ENTRANCE STUDENT UNION BUILDING--NIGHT

Marlene and Jim walk out of building at fast pace.

JIM: I'll see you tomorrow then, Marlene. I'm glad I came and heard you speak tonight.

Marlene smiles.

MARLENE: I'm glad you came, too, Jim.

They wave goodnight to each other. Marlene runs across street. Jim walks slowly in opposite direction.

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