CAMPUS CONFIDENTIAL: UNCW
Sample Scene #2 — “The Call Log”
Episode 1: “No Justice, No Parking”
INT. UNCW DORM — RA DESK / HALLWAY — NIGHT
Avery Chen’s “RA station” is a small desk shoved into a corner near the stairwell.
A hand sanitizer pump. A half-empty candy bowl. A clipboard.
Avery types into a laptop with the calm precision of someone defusing bombs as a hobby.
On the wall: a whiteboard reads:
“FLOOR MEETING: PARKING MELTDOWN EDITION
Bring: ID • Questions • Emotional Stability (optional)”
Avery’s phone BUZZES. Another BUZZ. Then another.
Avery doesn’t look up. They keep typing.
ON SCREEN: “INCIDENT LOG — AVERY CHEN”
Avery reads aloud as they type.
AVERY
9:41 PM — Student reports ‘car was kidnapped.’
Clarification: towed.
Student cried. Student’s roommate cried.
I am also emotionally towed.
A freshman, LEXI (18), appears in the hallway like a ghost in pajama pants.
LEXI
Hi. Um. I don’t know if this is like—
like a big deal?
Avery looks up, gentle but tired.
AVERY
If you’re asking that, it’s either not a big deal
or it’s the biggest deal.
Lexi holds up her phone. A photo: a BOOT on a car tire.
LEXI
That’s my mom’s car. She’s visiting.
She’s… she’s outside right now.
She said she’s gonna “call the news.”
A beat.
AVERY
Okay.
Your mom is not gonna call the news.
LEXI
She has their number.
AVERY
I also have their number.
It’s called 911.
Lexi tries to laugh. It dies immediately.
LEXI
She said the campus is “stealing her freedom.”
AVERY
Parking enforcement really out here doing the Constitution.
Avery stands, professional mode sliding on like armor.
AVERY (CONT’D)
Let’s go meet your mom before she storms a building.
Again, that’s… more my job than it should be.
They walk. As they do, Avery taps the clipboard against their palm—
counting.
AVERY (CONT’D)
And Lexi?
If she starts filming me, I’m gonna say something
that gets me fired.
LEXI
Okay.
AVERY
Great. Love teamwork.
INT. DORM LOBBY — CONTINUOUS
Lexi’s MOM is a suburban hurricane: keys jangling, voice loud enough
to wake God.
MOM
This is unacceptable. UNACCEPTABLE.
We paid for this campus!
Avery arrives, smiling the way customer service smiles at death.
AVERY
Hi. Avery Chen. I’m the RA.
I’m so sorry this happened.
MOM
Sorry doesn’t un-boot a tire.
AVERY
True. But it does lower blood pressure,
and I would like everyone to survive finals week.
MOM is thrown just enough to pause.
Avery points to the booted car outside.
AVERY (CONT’D)
Parking services is doing… a new “zoning map.”
It went live at midnight.
MOM
Midnight?!
AVERY
Apparently, that’s when they think learning happens.
Lexi coughs—trying not to laugh.
Avery lowers their voice, conspiratorial.
AVERY (CONT’D)
If you’re asking what I personally think—
I think the map was designed by a stressed-out raccoon.
MOM cracks. Just a hair.
MOM
Well what do we do?
AVERY
We appeal it. We document it.
And if that doesn’t work…
we do what all great Americans do:
(beat)
AVERY (CONT’D)
We make it somebody else’s problem.
Avery gestures toward a printed QR code sign:
“PARKING APPEALS — SCAN HERE”
AVERY (CONT’D)
Scan. Submit. Breathe.
And please don’t call the news.
They’ll just interview the boot.
MOM reluctantly scans. Lexi looks relieved.
Avery’s phone RINGS.
Caller ID: “STUDENT LIFE / HOUSING”
Avery glances at Lexi—then answers.
AVERY
Avery Chen speaking.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. ADMIN OFFICE — UNKNOWN — NIGHT
We don’t see the speaker. Just the sound of corporate calm.
VOICE (O.S.)
Avery, hello. Thank you for taking the call.
We’re checking in on… student sentiment tonight.
Avery’s eyes narrow, politely.
AVERY
Student sentiment is currently—
like… 80% rage, 10% memes, 10% sleep deprivation.
VOICE (O.S.)
Mm. Right.
We’re hearing about a possible gathering tomorrow.
A demonstration.
Avery stays still.
AVERY
You mean the protest.
A pause, as if the word “protest” is profanity.
VOICE (O.S.)
We prefer “unsanctioned assembly.”
AVERY
Interesting. We prefer “students who are still awake.”
Avery’s smile is audible now.
VOICE (O.S.)
We’re just asking you to— gently—
keep an eye on things.
Make note of anything escalating.
Any organizing.
Any… concerning language.
Avery looks at their INCIDENT LOG on the laptop.
They slowly type a new line as they speak.
AVERY
Just so I’m clear—
you want me to monitor my residents…
for “concerning language.”
VOICE (O.S.)
Not monitor. Support.
You’re in a unique position to help us
maintain campus safety.
Avery types:
“10:07 PM — Admin called to ask me to snitch politely.”
AVERY
Totally.
I’m very pro safety.
VOICE (O.S.)
Wonderful.
AVERY
I’ll be sure to report anything dangerous.
Like… crying in stairwells.
Or unpaid parking citations.
Or the phrase “task force.”
The voice laughs—uncertain if that was a joke.
VOICE (O.S.)
We appreciate you, Avery.
AVERY
I know.
Avery ends the call. Immediately: another BUZZ.
Group text from residents.
“IS IT TRUE KNOX GOT BOOTED??”
“THE MEME IS EVERYWHERE”
“MEET TOMORROW??”
Avery stares at it like it’s a weather forecast for a storm.
They type into the log again.
AVERY (V.O.)
10:09 PM — Students organizing.
Concerning language observed:
“We should do something.”
Avery clicks SAVE.
A beat.
Then—Avery opens a fresh note titled:
“WHAT I’M NOT PUTTING IN THE LOG.”
They type:
“Admin wants compliance.
Students want justice.
Everyone wants parking.
No one is gonna get what they want.”
Avery exhales. Looks up at the dorm hallway.
Quiet.
Then, down the hall, faint chanting from someone’s phone:
“No justice—no parking—”
Avery half-smiles.
AVERY
Yeah.
They still think it’s about parking.
CUT.