This document is the script for a short film about a student named Noah who creates an anonymous book called "Consent Matters" after witnessing a situation at a party where another student Riley was uncomfortable with a boy's advances. Noah distributes the book at her school to raise awareness about sexual consent issues, but the principal bans the book and warns Noah not to cause problems. Undaunted, Noah organizes a student protest outside the school with signs advocating for the right to learn about consent.
2. 2
FADE IN:
CONSENT MATTERS
INT. HOUSE PARTY. NIGHT.
21:30, inside the house. Door opens and Noah walks through.
3 girls around the same age AS Noah stumble across the road
towards the door. Noah looks around before walking into the
house.
Noah walks through the party where lots of people are
dancing and drinking. Loud drum and bass music is playing.
STUDENT NO.1
Hi Noah
Noah waves at a few people before walking through the
kitchen and into another room. As she walks in, she sees a
guy kissing a girls neck in the corner. Noah turns to leave
but stops as she hears the girl speak.
RILEY
James, calm down. You’re drunk. James,
stop.
Noah immediately turns to see James pushing Riley against a
wall. She runs over, pushes James out of the way causing
him to spill his drink everywhere.
JAMES
What the hell!
Noah turns to riley
NOAH
Are you okay? …come on, I’ll drive you
home.
JAMES
Leave us alone, we were just having fun.
Riley looks at Noah desperately. Noah puts her arm around
Riley and they walk out of the room together, leaving James
sat on the floor.
3. 3
INT. COLLAGE. DAY.
09:00, collage hallway. Students are walking quickly to
their lessons. Noah is waiting at the bottom of the stairs,
she sees Riley coming and pulls her to one side.
Riley
I can’t stop right now. I have biology.
Noah
Mrs. Parsons won’t mind you being a couple of minutes late.
I need to talk to you about what happened last night.
Riley
There’s nothing to talk about. We all drunk a bit too much
and then went home. Thanks for the ride.
Noah
Riley you know what happened. It’s not okay. I need to make
sure that you’re okay.
Riley
I’m fine, nothing happened.
Noah
What if I didn’t walk in when I did?
Riley
I don’t want to think about that. I’m fine can we just stop
talking about this.
Noah
If that is what you need right now then of course we can.
The most important thing is that you’re okay.
Riley
I am. I just hate everything about last night. But there’s
nothing I can do now so…
Noah
That’s not true! How many people have to go through this
and far worse before someone does something about it.
4. 4
Riley
I don’t want anyone to know. I can’t… I’m scared. What
could we do?
Noah
I have an idea. Meet me on Green lane at 15:30
Ext. Green Lane. Day
Noah and Riley meet at the end of their school day.
Riley
So what’s your plan?
Noah walks Riley to her car.
Noah
We are going to create a book on sexual consent. We need to
show people how serious this is. We can educate people on
what it really means to have consent. How to seek help if
you are suffering.
Riley
We’re going to need help.
Noah
Yes we are.
INT. VARIOUS LOCATIONS. DAY.
Noah (voiceover)
We are creating a book and we need all the help we can get.
If you could submit a story, poem or drawing about an
experience you have had, something you have witnessed, it
could reach someone somewhere who is too afraid to seek
help. All of the entries will be completely anonymous and
you can be as broad or specific as you like. We need to
show everyone how many people this has effected, as well as
how to cope and seek help.
5. 5
INT. NOAH’S STUDY. DAY.
We see the title page of the book come out of the printer
it says ‘Consent Matters By Anonymous’. Noah puts all the
pages together and holds it up to Riley
Noah
You ready?
Riley
Let’s go
EXT. OUTSIDE NOAHS CAR. DAY.
Noah lifts out cardboard boxes from her boot and passes
them to Riley, Katie and ____
INT. COLLAGE RECEPTION.
____ places a box on the reception desk and starts placing
copies of ‘Consent Matters’ on the desk.
INT. COLLAGE HALLWAY. DAY.
Riley walks through the hall and passes copies of ‘Consent
Matters’ to students walking by.
INT. COLLAGE CAFÉ. DAY.
Katie walks into the café, places a box on a table.
Students turn to look at her as she passes copies of
‘Consent Matters’ to some of the students.
INT. MEDIA CLASS. DAY.
Noah is sat at a desk doing some work. Mr. Andrews knocks
and peaks his head round the door ad scans the students in
the class looking for Noah
Mr. Andrews
6. 6
Noah, could you please come see me in my office?
Noah
Now?
Mr. Andrews
Yes.
Students stare at Noah as she follows him out of the room.
INT. MR ANDREWS’ OFFICE. DAY.
Noah sits down opposite Mr. Andrews nervously waiting for
him to speak.
Mr. Andrews
So, Noah. Do you know why I’ve asked you so see me today?
Noah
I have a guess.
Mr. Andrews
Yes?
Short pause while Mr. Andrews waits for Noah to respond. He
lifts up a copy of ‘Consent Matters’
Mr. Andrews
What do you know about this book here?
Noah
Um, I know that it’s been all over collage… I know that it
has a very important message that hasn’t been heard until
now.
Mr. Andrews
Did you create this book Noah?
Noah
It says ‘by anonymous’
Mr. Andrews
7. 7
Well I have spent the morning speaking with both students
and teachers about this. Many people suggest that you are
the brains behind this operation. You’re not in any trouble
at the moment. However, I do need to inform you that we
need to ban all copies of this book from the Collage due to
its inappropriate content.
Noah
Inappropriate content?-
Mr. Andrews
Do you understand what I am saying?
Noah
I understand that you’re trying to remove a vital piece of
education that we are missing here at this collage. I
understand that you’re trying to silence the voices of your
own students that are suffering right now and are looking
for help.
Mr. Andrews
This book is not a suitable resource for this matter. If
students need help they can come and speak with teachers
privately. We can’t be promoting these problems within a
Collage setting. Do you have any idea of the kind of
difficulties we could face if Parents believe that their
students aren’t safe here?
Noah
Do you really think a student that is suffering is going to
come to a teacher with this kind of problem!? We all know
how serious it is, what the school would have to do about
it! And why are the parents your main focus? Shouldn’t we
be aiming for an environment where students genuinely do
feel safe? Shouldn’t we be doing everything we can to
educate the students on sexual consent? If we received a
proper consent education we might not be here now.
Mr. Andrews
It is not your job to cause problems for our Collage. It is
your job to learn from the teachers who know the right way
to look after and educate their students. I told you that
you aren’t in any trouble yet. If I hear any more talk of
this, any news of the book or other resources like it
8. 8
within our Collage, we will have to take more serious
action. I don’t think your parents would be pleased to hear
about the trouble you have been causing.
Noah gets up to walk out.
Mr. Andrews
Do you understand the seriousness of this Noah?
Noah
I understand you perfectly Mr. Andrews.
INT. NOAH’S HOUSE. DAY.
28TH October, 8:00, Morning. Noah is sat on the floor of
her bedroom with a protest sign in front of her. She is
painting the words “We will fight for the right to
consent.” She picks up the sign and stands tall
EXT. GREEN LANE. DAY.
Later that day. Noah walks towards the school slowly as she
walks other people all holding signs join her. They walk.
Closer to the school, she is walking with 20-30 other
people, all holding up protest signs.
Mr. Andrews and some other teachers are stood outside of
the sixth form with their arms crossed, they appear to have
been waiting for this. All of the gates are shut.
Noah and friends stop walking and stand in an arrow
formation
Noah
Consent Matters, and we will fight.
FADE OUT:
THE END
