[FADE IN]
INT. IMPERIAL ACADEMY HALL - MORNING
The academy is an imposing structure, with high ceilings and walls lined with shelves filled with ancient scrolls and texts. The hall is spacious, designed to inspire thought and discussion. Light streams in from tall, narrow windows, casting a warm glow over the gathering of scholars.
CAMERA TRACKS along a row of scholars seated at a long wooden table, each dressed in the traditional garb of the period.
Their expressions are serious, reflecting the weight of the discussion at hand. The air is thick with the tension of intellectual debate.
WIDE SHOT: THE DEBATE TABLE
At the head of the table sits the HEAD SCHOLAR, an older man with a long, graying beard. He exudes authority, his presence commanding the attention of the room.
On either side of the table, SENIOR SCHOLARS are engaged in a heated debate. The topic: the future of the empire.
CLOSE-UP: SHIXIANG
SHIXIANG, a young Confucian scholar with a determined expression, sits near the center of the table. His attire is immaculate, and his posture is rigid, reflecting his discipline. His eyes are sharp, filled with the fire of conviction. He listens intently as one of the senior scholars speaks.
SENIOR SCHOLAR CHENG
(Firmly) "The traditions of our ancestors have guided us for centuries. The stability of the empire depends on the preservation of these values. Reform is not the answer."
SHIXIANG
(Calm, but resolute) "The world is changing. The threats we face now are not the same as those of our ancestors. Clinging to old ways will only lead to our downfall."
The room grows quieter as SHIXIANG's words hang in the air. The other scholars exchange glances, some nodding in agreement, others frowning in disapproval.
SENIOR SCHOLAR CHANG
(Skeptical) "And what would you propose, Shixiang? That we abandon the wisdom of Confucius? That we cast aside the very foundation of our society?"
SHIXIANG
(Firmly) "No. I'm not suggesting we abandon our principles. But we must adapt. The imperial examination system must be reformed to select not just those who can recite texts, but those who can think critically and address the challenges of our time."
[FADE OUT]
YOU ARE READING
PRICE OF DISSENT | Script
Historical FictionWill they have the courage to challenge the empire-and each other-or will they become casualties of their own ambitions? • In the glittering halls of Bianjing, where wealth and power conceal dark secrets, two souls are destined to collide. • As the...
