System support

SYSTEM SUPPORT

Scene 1 - Int. Day - IN THE CALL CENTRE
FX IN THE HUBBUB OF A BUSY CALL CENTRE; WE HEAR VOICES (ALL FEMALE ) "
CALLER. PLEASE HOLD, " "PUTTING YOU THROUGH", " COULD YOU SPELL THAT
PLEASE..", " FIRST PERSON I'VE SPOKEN TO ALL DAY". NOISE OF KEYBOARDS,
SOUND OF VIVALDI HOLDING MUZAK BLASTED AWAY BY OPENING CHORDS OF THE
CLASH " SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO" NOISE FADES DOWN TO CHANTAL'S PEP
TALK:

1 CHANTAL On the line, every time. Remember remember our mission

statement. On the line, every time.

Every call counts, in every call you are the company.

The future is on the line, your future, our future.

Isn't that right, Marie?

2 MARIE On the line, every time.

3 CHANTAL That's my girl. Right, let's make today our best ever.

There will never be another today.

4 MARIE (QUIETLY, TO HER CO-WORKERS ) You never get a

second chance to make a first impression.

5 CHANTAL You never get a second chance to make a first
impression.

6 MARIE ( QUIETLY AGAIN ) What is she on?

7 CHANTAL Marie, you have something to contribute?

8 MARIE Right on, Chantal sister, let's do it.

9 CHANTAL You are going to be a star, Marie. Or at least employee

of the month. Let's make money.

FX NOISE OF THE CALL CENTRE WORKING FULL TILT
RETURNS. IN THE FOREGROUND WE HEAR MARIE
WORKING THE PHONES:

10 MARIE System support. Marie speaking. Gold, silver or platinum

package? Putting you through. System support. Marie speaking.

Gold, silver or platinum package? Putting you through.

System support&;#8230;

11 MIKE Hello, Marie. Short time, no speak. There will never be
another

day like today.

12 MARIE Can I help you caller?

13 MIKE It isn't me who needs help. Marie. I'll be in touch.

Scene 2 - Int - Day - IN THE TRAINING CENTRE CLASS

ROOM. IN THE MIDDLE OF ROUND TABLE

INTRODUCTIONS.

1 EMMA That's great thanks. Will you go next?

2 GARY The name's Gary. I'm proud of who I am, was. We made

things. Big things. Things people need, want. The roads are

choked. Can't breathe. We don't need cars, we need railway

wagons, tons of 'em. Off the road, onto rail. That was the

policy. Now it's off the rails. I loved making things, now you

may as well scrap me along with the wagon works.

3 EMMA Scrap is a hard word, Gary. How about start, opportunity,

future&;#8230;?

4 GARY Look love&;#8230;

5 EMMA Emma.

6 GARY Emma. I know you mean well, Emma love, but how can a

person like you really, I mean really, understand?

7 EMMA I can understand times are changing. We are here to
support

you through change.

8 GARY It isn't just about jobs, it's identity. I made things.

20 years in engineering manufacturing. It was me, that's who

I am.

9 EMMA You can be proud of your past and move on. The world is

changing, the point is to change with it. Be ahead of the curve.

Winners embrace change. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest

of your life.

Scene 3 - Int - Evening. IN GARY AND MARIE'S

LOCAL PUB (THE LOCOMOTIVE )

1 GARY (VOICE OVER THE END OF EMMA'S LAST SENTENCE)

Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life.

2 MARIE There will never be another today.

3 GARY You never get a second chance to make a first

impression.

4 MARIE You got that too, eh ! I know, let's start a printing factory
for

publishing easy one liners.

5 GARY You know that's a good idea, that one. Mind if I phone a

friend?

6 MARIE I'll mind if you don't go to the bar. My glass is half
empty.

7 GARY ( IMITATES EMMA ) Your glass is half full.

8 MARIE Who's that supposed to be then? Gone all posh, have we?

9 GARY Emma T . Emma the trainer. All us lads from the railway
works

we're being retrained. The manufacturing sector is dead.

The future is services.
10 MARIE Maybe she's right. You know our call centre is going to
buy

your old plant?

11 GARY Never.

12 MARIE Never say never. It's true. Maybe you should join us. Solve
a

few problems.

13 GARY What, me ! ( IMITATES SING -SONG VOICE ) System

support, putting you through.

14 MARIE Less of the sarcasm.

15 GARY Shouldn't call this pub the Locomotive anymore, how about

the Call Centre? You know, maybe this Emma is right. Don't

look back, look forward. We're being offered IT training, CV

consultancy, image management&;#8230;

16 MARIE Oh yeah. Any extras?

FX JUKE BOX CUTS IN WITH 'THE CLASH' AS GARY

GOES TO GET THE PINTS IN.

Scene 4 - Ext / int - CALL CENTRE CORRIDOR, MOVING

TO MARIE'S WORK STATION.

1 CHANTAL 12.08. Been on the beer again have we Marie? You

know the rules by now. Toilet trips - 6 minutes away from the

phones once an hour. Not one hour in the toilets and 6

minutes on the phones. I 'm watching you Marie. I've got my

ears on you. Now hit those phones, let's get to work.

2 MARIE ( ON HER PHONE ) System support, Marie speaking.

How can I help you, caller, Gold, Silver or platinum package?

3 MIKE I said I'd be in touch. You should always keep your word
in

business.

4 MARIE How do you know my name, my line, my time?

5 MIKE Come on Marie, you're brighter than that.

6 MARIE We've got procedures for creeps like

you. I'm gonna&;#8230;

7 MIKE I'll tell you what you're going to do, Marie. Listen up.

8 MARIE Who the hell are you?

9 MIKE You don't know me. I know you. Rather I know of you.

And you need me. People call me Mike. And you are going

into business with me. You can work from home, on the phone

- I know you're the best - it's easy, it's legal and you get

rich quick. Do you want in ? I know you do.

10 MARIE You crazy? I'm going to press my creep zapper right now.

If you ever call again we'll trace you.

11 MIKE Think before you act. It's easy, legal and you get rich
quick.

Or you can go on saying " system support " in that naff voice

for the rest of your life. 12 09 tomorrow. Be on line.

Scene 5 - Int - Day - THE TRAINING CENTRE

1 EMMA That's cool, any more ideas. Remember think big, think off
the

wall, think out of the box.

2 GARY So, you said manufacturing is dead, the future is
services?

3 EMMA Go on, Gary.

4 GARY The manufacturing plants close down. Some will be

demolished, some made into fancy flats, into call centres.

5 EMMA People, Gary, not places.

6 GARY (REPEATING A SLOGAN ) " People are our most

important asset. " We all know people - in offices or

factories - work best if the space is right. Lighting,

heating, ventilation. We&;#8230;

7 EMMA We?

8 GARY My consultancy is going to offer the service centres
moving

into old manufacturing plants the full works. We will create

and install the best working environment.

The better the environment the bigger the profits.

" Feelgood and Sellmore " - we are going to offer everything in

a one stop shop. Lighting, space, air&;#8230;

9 EMMA &;#8230;plants, water features, feng shui.

Scene 6 - Int - THE CALL CENTRE. ON MARIE'S PHONE

LINE

1 MIKE 12 09, on the line every time.

2 CHANTAL ( CLICKS IN, THEN OFF )I've got my ears on you Marie,

close the sale.

3 MARIE O.K. creep, you've got one minute. Talk, before my
supervisor

clicks back.

4 MIKE I've got the business, the contacts, the ideas.

All I need is your voice.

5 MARIE That's it. No catch?

6 MIKE No catch. You don't even need to meet me.

The future is online.

7 MARIE What's next?

8 MIKE You send me ? 10 , 000.

9 MARIE Bye, bye crazy guy.

10 MIKE O.K. I understand you need assurances.

11 MARIE Wow, a new man!

12 MIKE You send me ?1,000. By the end of the month I

totally guarantee it will be ?10,000.

You know my name, number, you can trace me if you want.

But it won't be necessary. ?10, 000 - just imagine!

I can just see you in the Caribbean in a bikini.

13 MARIE Perv.

14 MIKE Prude, loser, no hoper. Think about it. ?1, 000

becomes ?10, 000. I guarantee. After that ?10, 000

becomes ? 100, 000.

15 MARIE How?

16 CHANTAL ( CLICKS IN ) Marie!

17 MIKE The bitch is back. You don't need anymore answers.

On line 12 09 tomorrow. Last time. Don't mess up.

18 CHANTAL ( IN PERSON AT MARIE'S WORK STATION )

Marie, my office, now!

Scene 7 - Int - Day IN GARY AND MARIE'S

KITCHEN

1 MARIE Feng shui! A new life! Are you going soft! I'm telling
you,

stay away from that Emma Trainer. God, I wish that factory

had never closed, everything was just as it was, as it was

meant to be. It suits you - making things, iron and steel,

welding and fire. It suited me. It suited us. Now look at

you, talking about fang whatsit.

2 GARY And look at you. Someone eavesdropping, checking on how

long you spend in the toilet. Sounds like the 19th century, we, I

am in the 21st.

3 MARIE As if. At least I'm bringing the money in. Women are going
to

be the breadearners in this century. At least some things have

changed for the better.

4 GARY Yeah, they have changed. I'm glad the factory shut.

5 MARIE You are what!

6 GARY You heard. I'm glad the factory shut.

7 MARIE Like I said , you're going soft.

8 GARY Come on love, the past is the past. You can't stay in one
job

for life. Work is flexible now.

9 MARIE That's her talking, isn't it?

10 GARY Who?

11 MARIE Don't you who me. Her. Emma T. (IMITATES EMMA)

Flexible working. I'll tell you what, why don't you flex

off with your kung fu. You're right. The past is the past.

Just leave me ?1000 of your redundancy money - that's if you

haven't spent it all on your fancy woman.

12 GARY Marie!

13 MARIE System support! Support yourself, loser.

Scene 8 - Int - Day - IN THE CALL CENTRE, ON

MARIE'S PHONE LINE

1 MIKE 12 09 on the line.

2 MARIE You've got one minute, sunshine.

3 MIKE Good girl, you're thinking for yourself.

4 MARIE Cut the schmaltz. Two points. One, guarantees, two

guarantees.

5 MIKE Good thinking, partner. We are going to meet, on line.

New-life.com. Type in you personal access

code. Three words: Marie New Life. Got that, Marie New

Life. (ECHO EFFECT&;#8230; )

Scene 9 - Int - Day THE CALL CENTRE, ON-LINE

1 CHANTAL System support. Good morning caller. Chantal speaking.

Platinum, gold or silver package?

2 GARY I need to speak to my wife.

3 CHANTAL Who is this?

4 GARY Her husband.

5 CHANTAL That'll be platinum then. Who's husband, mastermind?

6 GARY Marie. I know it's her shift right now. It's urgent.

7 CHANTAL We don't take social calls. Rules.

8 GARY This is business.

9 CHANTAL This is a business. Marie has 10 minutes for her lunch
hour

at 12 15. I will inform her of your communication.

10 GARY But&;#8230;

11 CHANTAL Thank you for calling system support. Have a nice day.

(CHANTAL CLICKS OFF EXTERNAL LINE ON ONTO

MARIE'S HEADSET )

Marie. Your husband called I said you could ring him in your

break at 12 15. And, final warning, one more social call and

you are out. ( CLICKS OFF )

12 MARIE ( TO HERSELF ) One more call and you and me are history,

Chantal. 1208, come on, come on&;#8230;(BACK ON LINE )

System support.

13 MIKE 12 09 on the line, last time for the big time. Well?

14 MARIE I've done it.

15 MIKE Good girl, Marie, I knew you'd come through. I'll see you

in the real world. ( CLICKS OFF )

16 MARIE ( TAKING ANOTHER INCOMING CALL ) Mike?

17 GARY Gary. Your husband remember.

18 MARIE Yeah, loser, you're too late. I've done it.

19 GARY Good girl Marie, I knew you'd come through.

20 MARIE What!

21 GARY You didn't listen when I told you. The only way to reach
you

was on line.

22 MARIE You wanted this to happen!

23 GARY Got it in one, winner. Emma introduced me to Mike on the

course when I told her about my consultancy plan. He's my

business angel. I We wanted you on board but you wouldn't

listen.

Welcome to your new life, our new life.

24 CHANTAL Close the sale, Marie, or &;#8230; ( MARIE DISCONNECTS
HER

LINE, THE PHONE GOES DEAD )

Scene 10 - ON THE RADIO

1 RADIO ANNOUNCER
And now, the winner of the new business of the year,

Make some noise, for our winners, it's Gary and Marie

Of New Life.com

( CHEERS, CHAMPAGNE CORK POP, FADE UP MUSIC:

THE CLASH. )

Ends.

System support

2003 JFT King
Jf.york@virgin.net