A journalist named James is kidnapped and interrogated by the police commissioner, Max Truxton. The commissioner demands to know James' source for a file that exposes corruption. When James refuses to reveal his source, the commissioner threatens to kill him. As the commissioner's anger grows, he cocks his gun to execute James. However, their confrontation is interrupted by a phone call to the commissioner.

1. EXPOSURE Screenplay
UNKNOWN DARKNESS:
Heavy breathing heard as well as sound of fabric rubbing on
itself
DEEP MALE VOICE
(muffled speech)
Wait, I’ll call you back I think he’s coming to.
ABRUPT CUT TO:
EXT. OF TOWN HALL - DAY
Compilation of shots outside town hall emphasising sun
light behind building signifying hope. Tracking shot of
unknown man in white shirt walking towards town hall
entrance with people walking around him highlighting every-
day life. Diegetic sounds of busy traffic are heard and
further this. Unknown man arrives at door and…
CUT TO:
INT. OF TOWN HALL
Shot of door inside loud room. Unknown man enters and
begins walking towards the other side of the room as camera
tracks revealing journalists (as deducted from clothing,
notepads, etc.) sat down at what appears to be a press
conference.
Close-up shot of man as he takes his seat next to other
journalists reveals he has a clear purpose and something is
ominous. Focus pull from man to door and back again implies
he is considering leaving but then appears determined to go
on with whatever is planned.
POV shot of commissioner from man as he walks to the podium
and takes his position next to a police officer. He’s
smiling and gives a small wave.
Medium shot of commissioner from POV of a television camera
as deducted from news-style overlay indicating it is being
broadcast live.

2. COMMISSIONER
Good afternoon, thank you all for being here. I’ve called
this press conference to announce we have successfully
closed the case on the missing person: Kevin Richardson.
ABRUPT CUT TO:
UNKNOWN DARKNESS:
DEEP MALE VOICE
James. Hey, you listening to me? Wake up.
ABRUPT CUT TO:
INT. OF TOWN HALL
Commissioner still at podium and it is assumed he has just
given a speech.
COMMISSIONER
… And so following that, the conclusion is that the death
was, in fact, accidental and we have no reason to suspect
foul play. I will now allow the press to ask any questions
they may have.
ABRUPT CUT TO:
UNKNOWN DARKNESS:
DEEP MALE VOICE
You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into. How else
could you have thought this would play out?
ABRUPT CUT TO:
INT. TOWN HALL:
Close-up, low-angle on commissioner smiling as he finishes
answering a question. He is clearly doing well from
confidence and represented as powerful from the camera
angle.
COMMISSIONER
…it really was all down to the skill of the great officers
we have here at the department. Another question?

3. ABRUPT CUT TO BLACK:
UNKNOWN DARKNESS:
DEEP MALE VOICE
You shouldn’t have asked that question.
ABRUPT CUT TO:
INT. TOWN HALL:
Long shot of commissioner in focus as hands begin rising in
slow motion. One hand of man wearing white shirt rises
right in front of the camera defiantly and focus pulls to
it. High-pitched non-diegetic sound is all that can be
heard.
Close-up of police commissioner from the side shows head
nod and mouthing ‘yes’ indicating he has chosen that man.
Slow motion remains.
Follow-up extreme close-ups on commissioner’s face reveal
emotions going from calm and contempt to high anxiety and
fear from facial expressions and sweat.
Return to POV of news camera shot showing commissioner’s
struggle is live on television.
Over-the-shoulder shot of commissioner reveals journalists
suddenly standing and all asking questions while pointing
microphones at him but out of focus. Flashes of light from
numerous photographs intensify this signifying the question
was greatly significant.
ABRUPT CUT TO BLACK:
UNKNOWN DARKNESS:
Slow motion ends. Black ascends revealing it to be a cloth
over someone’s head from a POV shot. Exposure to light
blurs image pulling focus from background to foreground
where the barrel of a handgun is pointed at the camera.
DEEP MALE VOICE (NOW KNOWN FROM GUNMAN)
Look at me. (distorted)
Look at me. (distorted)
I said, LOOK AT ME! (now clear)

4. Medium shot showing journalist beaten from injuries to his
face and tattered clothes. Reveals he is Jam
es and that it is him that has the gun pointed to his head.
Setting around him shows he is in a run-down small room
artificially lit by poor lighting and evidently tied to a
small chair by rope. He looks up at the gunman.
Over-the–shoulder shot of James shows gunman’s torso but
face out of shot.
DEEP MALE VOICE
Remember me? Of course you do.
Gunman crouches down revealing his face as the press
conference commissioner.
COMMISSIONER
That’s right. Now James, you’re going to tell me exactly
where you got the file, or I am going to take this hand
gun, and shoot you in the face – right here. So… talk.
Shot-reversal back to earlier shot of James shows defiant
look. He doesn’t say anything.
Medium two-shot of the two men shows commissioner’s
impatience and James’s non-cooperation. Quiet harsh strings
begin playing non-diegetically.
COMMISSIONER
It doesn’t have to be like this. You tell me the source,
and I’ll let you go. You have my word.
Silence from James remains.
COMMISSIONER
You think I’m bluffing?
Another shot of James depicts him remaining defiant. Brief
pause then sound of gun shot heard as James flinches. He
appears pressured but remains silent.
COMMISIONER
TELL ME!
Commissioner stands up and throws chair appearing to have
lost patience.

5. COMMISSIONER
(Exhales deeply)
This could have been a lot easier had you just complied…
Non-diegetic harsh strings begin intensifying towards a
climax
COMMISSIONER
…but I guess you’re too noble for that. Well, at least you
can say you died with your integrity still intact… unlike
your skull.
He brings the gun up to James’s head. Strings reach climax
before abruptly ending, replaced by diegetic ring of
commissioner’s phone. He answers it with frustration and
lowers the gun.
COMMISSIONER
What? Look I don’t care if he said he didn’t have anything
to do with it just deal with him.
Commissioner walks away from James as camera pans to reveal
he is desperately trying to untie himself using a small
blade unbeknownst to the commissioner.
COMMISSIONER
…Look just get it done, you’ll get your money.
Hangs up and turns towards James still sat down and unknown
whether he was successful in getting untied.
Now, where was I?
Blackness then a loud cocking of a gun is heard as the
title ‘EXPOSURE’ is shown.
END
Characters:
Max Truxton – Commissioner/antagonist played by George Back
James Bentham – Journalist/protagonist played by Dom Cook