#philosopher kings

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Did you also feel like this felt older than it is (it was only released in 2016)? I wonder if it’s one of those: ‘I couldn’t believe there was a time in the past where this film didn’t exist’.

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HIGHLIGHTS:

Ben’s gives a ‘fake present’ to Nai

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INT. HARPER AND DAVE'S HOUSE (KITCHEN/DINING ROOM) - DAY

The kids head to the lounge room and DAVE eyes HARPER. Now may be a good time.

DAVE starts clearing up the table.

DAVE How are the kids doing?

BEN They're strong.

BEN stands up and flips the book he was reading with ZAJA. It's Art Spiegelman's 'Maus'.

DAVE How long have you been out there, wherever it is you're living now?

BEN We left Boulder when Bo was three.

BEN starts picking up plates.

BEN And then we were on that farm we had in Oregon until he was eight.

DAVE does the calculation in his head as he places the plates on the kitchen sink.

BEN So we bought the land in the forest ten years ago.

DAVE How do you still have money?

BEN shrugs and heads to the sink.

BEN We only buy what we need.

DAVE Look, Harper and I have been talking. The kids need structure, stability. They need to go to a real school, so they can get real jobs.

HARPER Oh, for Christ's sake. You're gonna get them killed!

DAVE turns to his wife.

DAVE Whoa.

He gives her those eyes again. We need to tread carefully! HARPER just shakes her head.

BEN doesn't engage and continues to put dishes in the sink.

HARPER I'm sorry. But your...your kids are without a mother now. I don't think you have any idea what you're doing to them.

BEN I'm saving their lives. That's what I'm doing.

HARPER can't believe what she's hearing.

HARPER Ben, you sound so ridiculous.

BEN Is knowing how to set a broken bone or how to treat a severe burn ridiculous?

He gives DAVE a quick glance

BEN Knowing how to navigate by the stars in total darkness. That's ridiculous?

He pauses for emphasis.

BEN How to identify edible plants, how to make clothes from animal skins, how to survive in the forest with nothing but a knife? That's ridiculous to you?

HARPER Jesus.

DAVE glances at his wife. It's not something that they should get into now.

BEN They have the cardiovascular and muscular endurance levels of elite athletes.

HARPER Who cares! They're children! They need to go to school! They need to learn about the world.

INT. HARPER AND DAVE'S HOUSE (HALLWAY) - CONTINUOUS

BEN walks towards the foot of the stairs.

BEN Justin? Jackson? Would you please come down here for a second?

BEN walks back to the kitchen.

INT. HARPER AND DAVE'S HOUSE (KITCHEN/DINING ROOM) - CONTINUOUS

He glances at HARPER and DAVE. Raises both his hands: I'll do this instead rather than argue with you.

The boys arrive.

JACKSON What?

BEN How old are you now, Jackson?

JACKSON Thirteen

BEN nods and quickly calculates an appropriate question.

BEN Can you tell me what the Bill of Rights is?

HARPER braces...hopeful.

JACKSON Um, what something costs, I guess.

BEN That's a good guess. Justin, you're in high school?

JUSTIN Yeah.

JUSTIN nods.

BEN Do you like your school?

JUSTIN hesitates, but knows he has to give something.

JUSTIN It's whatever.

BEN smiles weakly.

BEN Do you know what the 'Bill of Rights' is?

JUSTIN searches his memory.

JUSTIN It's a...government thing, right? Like, rights that people have in America and stuff.

HARPER smiles and nods. Proud of what her kid has picked up at school.

BEN Yep. Hey, Zaja.

ZAJA (OS) Yes?

BEN Would you please come down here a moment, sweetie?

DAVE glances at HARPER, who now has a clue what's going to go down. She forces a smile.

ZAJA joins the party. BEN leads her by the hand to the centre of the room.

BEN I wanted to ask you a quick question.

He turns to both DAVE and HARPER.

BEN Zaja just turned eight, by the way.

ZAJA gives everyone present a glance and smiles. Not an ounce of worry.

Ben turns to his daughter.

BEN The Bill of Rights.

ZAJA "Amendment 1: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of...”

BEN Stop. Regurgitating memorized amendments isn't what I'm asking for.

ZAJA nods.

BEN Just tell me something about it in your own words.

ZAJA nods...the wheels are turning. Still cool as a cucumber.

ZAJA Without the 'Bill of Rights', we'd be more like...China. Here, at least, we don't have warrantless searches. We have free speech. Citizens are protected from cruel and unusual punishment---

HARPER That's enough

ZAJA Are protected---

BEN Wait a minute. Zaja, how would you characterize the 2010 Supreme Court decision on Citizens United?

DAVE and HARPER shift uncomfortably.

ZAJA takes a moment.

ZAJA Corportations have the same rights as people, so there's no spending limit on candidates. Which means our country is rules by corporations and their lobbyists who fund candidates...

JUSTIN has lost interest and couldn't wait to get out of there. He crosses his arms.

ZAJA ...and command their fealty by demanding that--

HARPER Jesus Christ. You made your point. We get it.

ZAJA glances at her aunt. Worried.

HARPER (to ZAJA) It's all very impressive.

She then turns to her kids

HARPER All of you.

BEN and ZAJA high five.

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My verdict of the film: 9/10