Written as part of a spec script for The Newsroom in the voice of Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy.

Context: News of the Boston Marathon Bombing has just come in and Will is live on-air breaking the news.

INT. DC STUDIO - CONTINUOUS

WILL

Thank you, Sloan.

(pivots to new camera)

Hello, I'm Will McAvoy coming to you from our nation's capitol. On a normal day, my job is to bring you the news, but today is anything but normal. Today, I'm here to learn the news with you, to be by your side, to try and make sense of the senseless. Today, I will be here for as long as you need me, for as long as it takes.

MONTAGE -- THE NEWSROOM ALIVE WITH ACTIVITY

-- DON commands the control room, directing crew members.

WILL (V.O.) (CONT’D)

Right now, the best and brightest of our nation's law enforcement, the best and brightest of our nation's military, and the best and brightest of our nation's journalists are working tirelessly to find out what happened, how it happened, why it happened, and -- God help us -- if it might happen again.

-- Staff members rush around the newsroom, making and taking phone calls.

WILL (V.O.) 

Today, April 15, 2013, at approximately 2:49 PM, there were two explosions near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. And now ACN has just learned from first responders on the ground that these explosions were, in fact, bombs. However, we do not yet know the motive of the bombing or who was behind it.

--News footage of April 15, 2013 plays, revealing the chaos of the bombing and its aftermath.

WILL (V.O.)

Currently, I can assure you that a massive coordinated effort between local, state, and federal law enforcement is underway to make sure you are safe and to find those responsible. You're going to hear the words terror and terrorist brought up countless times in the coming hours, days, weeks, and months. And of course we do know this was an act of terror, carried out by terrorists. After all, this is the definition of terrorism -- senseless violence perpetrated against innocent and unknowing civilians.

-- MAGGIE watches JIM from across the newsroom. Busy at his computer, JIM notices he has received an e-mail from the videographer with the wedding footage.

JIM opens the attachment, eyes searching.

WILL (V.O.)

However, do not let the fact that this was an act of terror carried out by terrorists confuse you. We do not know if this was carried out by Al-Qaeda or any other known terrorist network. This may be the work of a lone soul just as it may be the work of a larger terrorist organization.

END OF MONTAGE

Back to Will at the desk.

WILL

The questions of who, what, where, when, why, and how may be a long way off. Until then, I'll be here. Relaying the latest information to you. Trying to comprehend the incomprehensible. Attempting to facilitate justice the only way I know how -- by reporting the facts.

Written for a short-form, episodic comedy, Tenants.

Context: Matt and Chris are roommates in Orlando who decide to share a bedroom so they can rent out the rest of their place on AirBnB. Alice and her boyfriend are their current tenants. Matt is an aspiring actor who does not actually have a British accent.

INT. LIVING ROOM - CONTINUOUS

Matt leads the way as the two walk over to Alice, who is crying on the couch.

MATT

(British accent)

Love, what’s all this then?

Chris rolls his eyes at Matt. Matt continues to use a British accent as he speaks with Alice.

Alice tries to choke back her tears.

ALICE

I’m sorry.

MATT

Darling, we’re your temporary landlords. We’re here for anything you need. Plus, we’ve all been there.

Matt sits down next to Alice and begins rubbing her back.

ALICE

Yeah?

MATT

Of course. Right, Chris?

Matt winks at Chris.

CHRIS

Totally. I sometimes cry for no reason at all.

Matt shakes his head at Chris.

MATT

What happened, dear?

ALICE

We were just at Disney and he wanted to wait in line for an hour to meet Cinderella. I mean, that’s fucking weird, right?

CHRIS

I mean, I don’t--

MATT

Of course that’s weird. Then what happened?

ALICE

Let’s just say I may be banned from the happiest place on earth.

CHRIS

That’s actually Disney La--

Matt cuts Chris off again.

MATT

What!? Why?

ALICE

I just couldn’t take his weird Cinderella fetish, and I kinda blacked out.

Matt and Chris look at each other quizzically.

ALICE (CONT’D)

When I came to I was pummeling him with a turkey leg screaming, “Glass slippers aren’t even practical!”

The Assassination of an Assassin by a Man from the Future

After arriving in Sarajevo, I went to the spot where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was assassinated 103 years prior. I looked at my wristwatch and began spinning it backward until the date read: 

June 18, 1914 

Looking up, the streets around me had been transformed. A mixture of horse-drawn carriages, automobiles, and pedestrians kicked dust into the air. The throng of people that had just collected to watch the Archduke’s processional through town was now a claustrophobic cluster of humanity milling about the streets. 

I headed toward that café where I knew Gavrilo Princip would be lamenting that morning’s failed assassination attempt. I began weaving my way through the dense crowd. A large man bumped shoulders with me, knocking me back for a second before I pressed on undeterred. Finally, I made it to the café and walked in the door. 

There he was, Gavrilo Princip, ordering a coffee at the counter. I walked up to him. 

“Did you see the Archduke’s parade?” I asked in broken Serbian. He sullenly turned to me and said … something. 

'Thanks a lot, Rosetta Stone,' I thought to myself. 

Gavrilo grabbed his coffee and took a seat by the window. I followed him and made another attempt at small-talk in order to distract him.

“Rough day?” I asked. 

He gave no response.

Struggling to put another sentence together, I managed to say, “Are you from Sarajevo?” He gave me a slight nod without looking my direction. I knew that fateful wrong turn by Franz Ferdinand’s driver down the street from this café was fast approaching, but I couldn’t find the words to ask another question. 

I decided it was time to reset and try again. I pulled up my wrist to adjust my watch, but … it was gone. 

I panicked. My mind raced: The crowd. The large man. I was pick-pocketed. I am trapped here. In Sarajevo. In 1914.

Gavrilo stood up. I was frozen. He walked out of the café. 

I knew what was coming: the wrong turn; the shot; the crumbling of alliances; the rush to world war; the millions dead; the deadliest century in human history. 

I could still stop it all. 

I jumped up and darted out the door. I pushed through the crowd. I had lost sight of Gavrilo, but it didn’t matter—I knew exactly where I needed to be. 

I saw Archduke Ferdinand’s motorcade approaching the intersection. I saw Gavrilo recognizing his opportunity. I continued to fight my way through the crowded street, but the Archduke’s car was already coming to a stop. Gavrilo was already reaching for his gun. 

I was too late. He raised his gun, aimed for the Archduke, and bang! 

Gavrilo dropped to the ground. 

As he fell, I could see another man standing behind him—the large man.

Now, here I am, stuck in 1914. I get to live through the 20th Century, let’s hope it turns out better this time.

The Lie Detector

‘Stay calm, you can beat this,’ I repeat to myself.
Finally, he asks bluntly, “Does human flesh taste good?”

“I wouldn’t know,” I reply, deftly.

Hoping for the Best

I see Dad crying, despondent.

Mom sits on the bed, eyes red, and says, “Cameron, Troy shot himself.”

Hopefully, I ask, “Is he okay?”

Reliving Hell

He sees the grenade heading for his friends. He tries to warn them, but he can't. He's lying in bed.

Time to Say

All the words spoken between them had been slowly defeated, eroded one at a time by that undefeated word, “Goodbye.”