FADE IN:
INT. MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND LONG TERM CARE – LOBBY - DAY
The doors to the elevator open and NOELLE MALDEN (29 years old, Summer-y outfit on, with a mail carrier bag on her shoulder) walks out. She heads to her desk, and as she does she sees JJ CONNOR walking towards her, she waves, he nods politely and the two stop to chat.
NOELLE: Hey JJ, how was the museum?
JJ: I think I liked it more than Chris did. The whole way home we couldn't stop talking about all the different dinosaurs, what period they came from, what they ate. I felt like a ten-year-old.
NOELLE: Aww, that's so good to hear. You're doing great.
JJ's face gets heavier.
JJ: Thanks. (pauses) It's good for him. (shrugs and pauses) I think.
Noelle puts her hand on his shoulder.
NOELLE: It's good for you too.
Noelle smiles warmly and nods. They share a moment of silence together, each lost in their own thoughts.
JJ: Well anyway, I've got some meeting minutes to type up, so I'll see you around Noelle.
They smile at one another, then go about their day. We follow Noelle until she reaches her desk.
INT. MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND LONG TERM CARE – NOELLE'S DESK
Noelle walks up to her desk and places her bag on it. As she goes through it, we see a crucifix hanging from a chain around her neck. She removes a thickly paged report, with several colored tabs sticking out of its pages. She leaves her bag and walks away.
INT. MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND LONG TERM CARE – OFFICE ROW
Noelle walks a long a line of frosted glass walled offices. She knocks on a door that reads "SOLOMON PLAXTON – Director for Emergency Planning", a voice answers.
VOICE: Come in.
She enters.
INT. MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND LONG TERM CARE – SOLOMON'S OFFICE
SOLOMON PLAXTON (54 years old) is sitting at his desk, sipping a cup of coffee, he turns from watching something on his computer.
SOLOMON: Morning Noelle.
NOELLE: Good morning Mr. Plaxton. I've put together some notes for your meeting with the Minister later this month.
Solomon is taken aback.
SOLOMON: Already? Thanks. You can never have too many notes, especially with Minister Clarke. In all my years, I've never run into someone so hell-bent on notations. It's like she thinks she gets paid per sticky tab.
Noelle plays with her crucifix nervously.
NOELLE: It's never too early to prepare for what's coming.
SOLOMON: There is more to life than sticky tabs and office work, Noelle.
NOELLE: I certainly agree with you there Mr. Plaxton.
Noelle goes to put the report on Solomon's desk.
SOLOMON: Actually, before you give me those could you please make a copy for Martin as well?He'll be in the meeting too.
YOU ARE READING
CONVERSATIONS FOR THE END OF THE WORLD
Science FictionLife on the seventh floor of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care had been on auto-pilot for years, and for the first ten minutes of the day, nothing about that looked to change. Coffee was brewed, pleasantries were exchanged, and Mike, Martin...
