Watch the original version of Burn After Reading
Chapter One
It was a crisp fall day in the small town of Hillsboro, Oregon. The sun was shining, the trees were beginning to turn a vibrant yellow and orange, and the citizens of the town were out and about enjoying the beautiful weather. Everyone, that is, except for the two gym employees, Sandy and Glenn.
The two had been working at the gym for a few months and were quickly becoming the most despised employees on the staff. They were lazy, sloppy, and had a penchant for making up stories to get out of their jobs. On this particular day, however, they were up to something far more sinister.
Glenn had received a mysterious package in the mail the night before that contained a mysterious disk. He had immediately informed Sandy, and the two had decided to meet up the next morning to discuss what to do with it.
The two had made their way to the park, away from the prying eyes of their co-workers and employers, and began to discuss the mysterious package in hushed voices. Glenn had informed Sandy that the package had come from a CIA agent, and that it contained top-secret information. The two figured that if they were able to sell the information on this disk, they would become very wealthy.
Chapter Two
After much discussion, Sandy and Glenn had decided that they would attempt to sell the disk to the highest bidder. In order to pull this off, however, they would need to use some clever subterfuge.
The two came up with a plan in which they would contact a local plastic surgeon and offer to purchase surgery for him in exchange for the disk. Sandy had already contacted the surgeon and had secured a meeting under the name “Mr. Johnson”. They had planned to meet the surgeon in his office the following day.
The following morning, Sandy and Glenn arrived at the surgeon’s office and explained to him their plan. The surgeon was hesitant, but eventually agreed to the deal. He handed them the disk and said he expected to hear from them soon.
Sandy and Glenn were now in possession of the highly valuable disk. The two were thrilled with their new-found wealth but were sure to keep the whole scheme a secret.
Chapter Three
The two had planned to use a local courier service to deliver the disk to a buyer they had found. They figured the courier service would be the safest and most anonymous way to move the disk to its intended recipient.
However, things did not go as smoothly as they had hoped. While they were in the process of getting the disk to the buyer, they were stopped and searched by the police. The officers had received a tip that something suspicious was going on and decided to investigate.
Fortunately for Sandy and Glenn, the police were unable to find any incriminating evidence against them and let them go. The two were relieved but also scared for what might have happened had the police found the disk.
Sandy and Glenn quickly scrambled to get the disk to its intended recipient, and soon the buyer was in possession of the disk and the deal was done. Now all Sandy and Glenn had to do was collect their money and enjoy the wealth they had earned from their daring plan.
Though their plan had gone off without a hitch, Sandy and Glenn were both still a bit shaken by the events that had taken place. Nevertheless, the two were sure to keep the whole thing a secret so they could enjoy their newfound riches in peace.
EXT. STREET AT NIGHT – ESTABLISHING
A nondescript, quiet street at night.
EXT. GYM PARKING LOT – CONTINUOUS
A gym parking lot, dimly lit.
EXT. GYM ENTRANCE – NIGHT
The entrance to the gym is illuminated by a single, bright fluorescent light. Two people, MARK and STEVE, in their mid-twenties, stand outside the entrance, chatting.
MARK
(joking)
That guy in the blue shirt, what’s his deal? Is he a spy or something?
STEVE
(smirking)
Maybe he’s a private investigator.
MARK
(smiling)
Or a terrorist.
Afigure emerges from the shadows. His face is shrouded by a hood, but his gait is confident, yet wary. He passes Mark and Steve without looking at them.
STEVE
(nervously)
Whoa, he gave me the creeps.
The figure reaches the gym entrance and opens the door. Mark and Steve exchange a look. Mark follows the figure into the gym.
INT. GYM LOCKER ROOM – NIGHT
Mark follows the figure into the locker room. The figure is John, a middle-aged CIA agent. He is wearing a hooded jacket and a backpack. He quickly scans the room, then moves to an empty locker. He opens the locker, removes a disk from his backpack, and places it inside.
JOHN
(in a low whisper)
You’re safe now.
He closes the locker and exits the locker room.
EXT. GYM PARKING LOT – CONTINUOUS
John exits the gym. Mark is watching him. John sets off down the street.
INT. GYM LOCKER ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Mark enters the locker room. He scans the room, then moves to the locker John used. He opens the locker and finds the disk.
MARK
(whispering)
What’s this?
EXT. GYM PARKING LOT – NIGHT
Mark exits the gym and meets back up with Steve.
MARK
(excitedly)
Look what I found.
Steve takes the disk from Mark.
STEVE
(intrigued)
What is it?
MARK
I have no idea.
Steve examines the disk.
STEVE
(examining the disk)
It looks like some kind of storage device.
MARK
(puzzled)
But what’s on it?
INT. MARK AND STEVE’S APARTMENT – LATER
Mark and Steve are in their shabby apartment. They have plugged the disk into a laptop. The laptop’s screen is filled with documents, images, and videos.
MARK
(in disbelief)
This is some serious stuff.
Mark and Steve watch the documents, images, and videos.
EXT. MARK AND STEVE’S APARTMENT – LATER
Mark and Steve exit their apartment. They are dressed in suits, looking like professional criminals.
INT. HOTEL ROOM – NIGHT
Mark and Steve enter a hotel room. They have hired it for the night, using a false name.
Mark takes a seat at a small table and Steve pours out two glasses of whiskey.
MARK
(toasting)
To the great unknown.
They clink glasses, then drink.
MARK
(thoughtfully)
We could make a lot of money with this.
STEVE
(nodding)
A lot of money.
EXT. HOTEL ROOM – LATER
Mark and Steve exit the hotel room.
EXT. STREET – DAY
Mark and Steve are walking down the street. They are discussing their plan.
MARK
(serious)
We need to find someone who can get the word out, without getting us into trouble.
Steve points to a figure in the distance.
STEVE
(pointing)
How about him?
Mark looks in the direction Steve is pointing. He sees a figure with a bulky briefcase.
MARK
(cautiously)
Maybe.
EXT. PLASTIC SURGERY CLINIC- DAY
Mark and Steve follow the figure. He enters a plastic surgery clinic.
INT. PLASTIC SURGERY CLINIC – DAY
Mark and Steve enter the clinic. They see the figure holding a briefcase speaking to a woman at the check-in counter. The figure is Lance, a shady character.
MARK
(whispering)
That’s him.
Mark and Steve approach Lance.
LANCE
(surprised)
What do you want?
MARK
(smiling)
We have a business proposition for you.
Lance looks suspicious.
LANCE
(cautiously)
What kind of proposition?
MARK
(smiling)
We have something you want.
Lance stares at Mark and Steve.
LANCE
(firmly)
What do you want?
MARK
(firmly)
We want money.
Lance smiles, then takes out a wad of cash.
EXT. PARK – DAY
Mark and Steve are walking in a park with Lance.
LANCE
(angered)
This is a rip-off.
MARK
(calmly)
We’re not asking for your life savings.
Lance looks at Mark and Steve.
LANCE
(skeptically)
What’s on the disk?
Mark and Steve exchange a look.
MARK
(hesitantly)
Classified information.
LANCE
(intrigued)
From where?
MARK
(hesitantly)
The CIA.
Lance stares at Mark and Steve.
LANCE
(cautiously)
How did you get it?
MARK
(evasively)
Let’s just say…we found it.
Lance considers this.
LANCE
(smiling)
I can make this work.
EXT. STREET – DAY
Mark and Steve are walking down the street, discussing the plan.
MARK
(nodding)
We’ll need to be careful.
STEVE
(confidently)
Don’t worry, we’ll be fine.
EXT. BAR – NIGHT
Mark and Steve enter a bar. A man in a suit is waiting for them. It’s James, a shady character.
EXT. BAR PARKING LOT – DAY
James and Mark and Steve stand in the parking lot. James has a briefcase.
JAMES
(angrily)
This is a rip-off.
Mark and Steve exchange a look.
MARK
(calmly)
We’re not asking for your life savings.
James stares at Mark and Steve.
JAMES
(cautiously)
What’s on the disk?
MARK
(smiling)
Classified information. From the CIA.
James looks intrigued.
JAMES
(smiling)
I can make this work.
EXT. STREET – DAY
Mark and Steve are walking down the street. They look pleased with themselves.
MARK
(smiling)
We did it!
STEVE
(smiling)
We sure did.
Mark and Steve exchange a look and smile.
FADE OUT
