I’m sorry. But Vance is a predator. You’d be his tool.
Evening. Helen’s office. Claire brings tea. “You look tired.” Helen: “This committee is broken.” Claire hesitates, then: “I shouldn’t say this, but Dr. Vance’s CV—I called a number. It’s disconnected.” Helen: “Probably old.” Claire: “The reference from Stanford? That professor died in 2019. Vance listed him as current.” Close on Helen’s face. End of Act I. ACT II – CRACKS & LIES (pages 19–48) Scene 5 (19–24): Next morning. Conference room. Helen shares Claire’s finding without naming her. Martha: “Clerical error. This is sabotage.” James: “Or finally due diligence.” Amir: “I can verify his online footprint.” Martha warns against “witch hunt.” Trevor: “Why are you protecting him?” Martha snaps: “Because donors want him. You want this college to close?” Silence. Helen calls for a recess.
Logline: A seemingly routine academic search committee for a new university president unravels when one quiet member discovers the leading candidate is a fraud—forcing the committee to confront their own ambitions, biases, and secrets before a unanimous vote destroys them all. search committee script 75 pages
James—
Final shot. Night. Helen alone in the room. She looks at the empty chairs. Picks up a framed photo of the original committee—taken before the storm. She sets it face down. Turns to a blank whiteboard. Writes: “Integrity is not unanimous. It’s unilateral.” Fade to black. DIALOGUE EXCERPT (Scene 8, p. 38–40) JAMES (slurring slightly) You want to know why I vote for Vance? Last year, my wife needed a trial drug. Not covered. I begged the college for an advance. Denied. Vance’s people called me two weeks ago. Offered to fund the entire oncology wing. No strings. Except my vote. I’m sorry
Interview with Dr. Sandra Owusu (via Zoom, shown on monitor). Sandra is brilliant but direct: “Your endowment is mismanaged. I’d cut three departments.” Martha recoils. Helen respects her. Afterward, James: “She’s not a politician.” Martha: “Exactly the problem.” Vote to advance Sandra? 4–3 no. She’s out. Trevor abstains in disgust.
She died anyway. But the money? Still there. For the next person. You think principles kept anyone alive in my house? Evening
Private room. Vance and Martha. Martha: “They have documents. Withdraw.” Vance: “No. You’ll vote for me. You know what I have on you, Martha.” (Reference to her past scandal—he implies evidence she falsified data, which she didn’t, but the rumor exists.) Martha: “You’re bluffing.” Vance: “Try me.” Martha leaves. In hallway, she vomits into a trash can. Lisa sees her. “Martha. Come back to the committee.” Martha whispers: “He’ll destroy me.” Lisa: “Only if you let him. Tell us everything.”