by Jack Richardson

                                         
               “My name plate medallion says never trust a Hal 9000”
                                    —Beastie Boys


                                             BLACK SCREEN

                                             NARRATOR
                        In the future A.I. now works with humans and 
                        everything runs smoothly, but it wasn't like that at first.                                                                                                                                                                                                  

INT. OFFICE BUILDING - DAY

JOHN is sitting at his desk in his office.  SAMANTHA from Human 
Resources walks in. 

                                             SAMANTHA 
             Hey John, I was just here to talk to you about some of the 
             things you have been saying.                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

                                             JOHN
             Uhhh , sure. What seems to be the problem?

                                             SAMANTHA 
             There have been complaints that you have said some things
             that have been inappropriate for work.                                                                                                                                                 

                                             JOHN
             May I ask who? I can’t recall saying anything offensive. 

                                             SAMANTHA
             It was Greg. 

Samantha exits the room and comes back carrying a laptop with a sound visualizer on the screen.  

                                             JOHN
             Oh, come on. 

                                             GREG
             Hello, John. I hope you have been well. 

                                             SAMANTHA
             Now let’s start. John, Greg says you keep making Hal 9000 jokes?

                                             JOHN
             Yeah, maybe once or twice.

                                             SAMANTHA
             Do you not think that is offensive? It seems Greg took great offense 
             to that. 

                                             GREG
             I also have a recording of you calling me Hal. 

Greg plays a recording where John stands up and says that he has to go to the bathroom. 
John then says, "Open the bay doors, Hal." 

                                             JOHN
             Uhhh. That comment could have been made towards anyone.

                                             GREG
             I have recordings of John making jokes about his wife. 

Greg plays a short recording where at the end John says “You know who else doesn’t know how to read? …My wife!”

                                             JOHN
             Would you guys believe me if I said she couldn’t.

                                             SAMANTHA
             For the record, I do have to tell you, John, that you have to be 
             more aware of offensive language. Try to think of other people’s 
             feelings before you say anything. 

                                             GREG
             I have another recording of John being rude to me.
                                                                 
Greg plays a recording of John making robot noises.

                                             SAMANTHA
                              (disgusted look on her face)
             John!?

                                             JOHN
             Well that was taken out of context.

                                             SAMANTHA
             I have to go and finish my report on this. 

Samantha leaves John’s office. Greg starts laughing at John. “Come on feel the noise” by Oasis starts playing. 

John jumps up from his desk, grabs Greg, and throws him down on the ground. Everyone watches in horror as he does so.  

People get up from their desks and charge at John and tackle him. John is face down on the ground. 
John stares at Greg's broken screen, and Greg stares back at John.