Logline: Three company workers who hate their jobs decide to rebel against their greedy boss.
Theme: Existentialism
Medium: Feature film
Credits: Written by Mike Judge
Act I
1.EXT. street - DAYStory Beat: HookNotes: The simple situation of being stuck in traffic provides an introduction to each of the characters' distinct personalities. Peter barely reacts, clearly used to his bad luck. Samir gets very angry very quickly, and Michael accepts his fate and decides to at least try to make the situation better.Theme: Explored
2.EXT. initech offices - DAY
3.INT. initech offices - dayNotes: Bill is the epitome of a terrible boss, and that's made clear the moment he shows up. One look and we understand why Peter is so miserable. Bill isn't meant to be a bad guy with redeeming qualities, or a troubled boss who we can still have sympathy for - instead, he's the reason why Peter hates his life. He needs to be as terrible as he is in order to justify Peter's dramatic existential crisis.
4.INT. Chotchkie's - dayNotes: Michael's virus ends up becoming a hugely important part of the story, but when it's first mentioned here, it's only one line that could just be written off as a way to show more of Michael's personality. Because of this, there's no expectation that the virus will come back around again in the story, making its eventual return more impactful.Theme: Stated
5.EXT. INITECH OFFICES - DAY
6.INT. INITECH OFFICES - DAYTheme: Explored
7.INT. peter's apartment - DAYTheme: Explored
8.INT. PETER'S APARTMENT - NIGHTNotes: We get a glimpse of how the mundane can turn into a nightmare. Peter's life is so boring that it's overwhelming and frightening, and this scene showcases that feeling.
9.INT. INITECH OFFICES - DAYNotes: It's easy to miss Milton's line about setting the office on fire, and it plays as nothing more than an empty threat, but it's actually an important setup for the finale. Though it's never confirmed how the building burns down in the end, it can be assumed that it's Milton's doing, not just a happy accident.
10.INT. hypnotherapist's office - NIGHTStory Beat: Inciting IncidentNotes: There are plenty of moments in the story that defy logic, but they do so just enough for comedic effect, yet not so much that they stop the story from staying grounded. The therapist dying and Peter staying under his spell tows the line of believability - it's outrageous, but it's so simple and effective at propelling the plot forward that we can accept it without question.Theme: Stated
Act II
11.INT. PETER'S APARTMENT - DAY
12.INT. INITECH OFFICES - DAY
13.INT. CHOTCHKIE'S - DAY
14.INT. INITECH OFFICES - DAY
15.INT. flinger's - DAYNotes: Peter and Joanna both despise their jobs, but they handle their situations differently. Peter's stopped caring altogether, but Joanna still does what's asked of her even if she hates it, which is exactly how Peter used to operate up until his therapy visit.Theme: Explored
16.INT. INITECH OFFICES - DAY
17.INT. INITECH OFFICES - DAYStory Beat: Plot Point 1Theme: Explored
18.INT. CHOTCHKIE'S - DAYNotes: Peter's not the only one with an awful boss, Joanna has one too. In her case, she's being reprimanded for doing exactly what was asked of her. She has no reason to do more than what's asked, which is exactly what Peter was explaining to the consultants earlier - it won't make her more money or give her more success, so why should she put in anything more than minimum effort?
Act III
44.EXT. FLINGER'S - NIGHTNotes: Peter touches on the work-life balance. Some people don't have a "dream job", and they'll never truly enjoy their work, and there's nothing wrong with that. He's realized that he doesn't have to love what he does, he just has to not hate it so much that the misery bleeds into his life outside of work.Theme: Stated
45.EXT. INITECH OFFICES - NIGHT
46.INT. INITECH OFFICES - DAY
47.EXT. PETER'S APARTMENT - DAY
48.EXT. INITECH OFFICES - DAYStory Beat: ClimaxNotes: Milton decided to stop accepting the punishment he was receiving, and instead got his revenge. He also inadvertently saved his co-workers from a lifetime of being stuck in that soul-sucking office.
49.EXT. INITECH OFFICES - DAYStory Beat: ResolutionNotes: When Peter tells his friends that he's good now, it's genuine, which shows a complete 180 from how he started out. He didn't need more money, he didn't need more challenging work, he needed to find a place where he could breathe.Theme: Explored
50.EXT. island resort - DAY
Plot threads
Milton
Milton is introduced.
Milton threatens to burn the building down if his desk gets moved again.
Bill takes Milton's stapler and orders for his desk to be moved.
Bill orders for Milton's desk to be moved again.
Bill continues to ignore Milton's concerns about his missing paychecks.
Milton sneaks into Bill's office to find his stapler.
Peter finds Milton's stapler.
Milton takes a vacation.
Peter vs Bill
Bill makes a big deal out of Peter's small mistake.
Bill tells Peter that he has to work over the weekend, again.
Peter ignores Bill's calls.
Peter ignores Bill at the office.
Bill's own job is in jeopardy due to Peter's rambling.
Peter defies Bill's rules.
Peter stops listening to Bill's commands.
Peter hears that Joanna slept with Lumbergh.
Peter imagines Bill sleeping with Joanna.
Peter writes a confession for Bill.
Joanna
Joanna is introduced.
Peter asks Joanna out.
Joanna joins Peter for lunch.
Joanna gets reprimanded for her lack of flair.
Peter and Joanna spend more time together.
Joanna doesn't approve of Peter's plan.
Peter gets upset with Joanna for having slept with Lumbergh.
Joanna quits her job.
Peter and Joanna reconcile.
The Scheme
Michael mentions that he could program a virus to rip off Initech.
Michael explains how his virus would work.
Peter wants to use the virus to steal from Initech.
Peter, Michael, and Samir decide to install the virus.
The virus is installed.
Peter spills the beans of the plan to Joanna.
Peter finds out that the virus worked a little too well.
The guys freak out about the damage they've done.
The guys try to figure out how to fix their mistake.
Michael and Samir blame Peter for persuading them to break the law.
Peter confesses to his crimes.
Peter's accepted his fate.
All evidence of the scheme is destroyed.
Characters
PeterWhite · MaleA computer programmer at Initech. He's been stuck in a mundane routine, which is the cause of his midlife crisis. He wishes he could be the type of person with aspirations and motivations, but he isn't.What does your character want?: To relax and do nothing, though he does wish that he had motivation to do something.How will your character attempt to get it?: By ignoring all of his responsibilities at his job, and eventually stealing from the company in order to be able to afford to do nothing.What does your character need?: To leave the environment that's causing his misery.How will your character realize it?: When the Initech offices burn down.
JoannaWhite · Female · Love InterestA server at a restaurant. Even though she doesn't like her job, she's a rule follower and does as she's told, however ridiculous the request.What does your character want?: To get by. She'll deal with her annoying co-workers as long as she makes enough money to pay the bills.How will your character attempt to get it?: By being a good employee so she doesn't lose her job.What does your character need?: To stand up for herself and not let her manager treat her like she's a bad employee.How will your character realize it?: When she gets scolded for the second time about not having enough flair. She realizes that enough is enough and she's quitting.
Michael BoltonWhite · Male · CompanionA computer programmer at Initech. He's threatened to steal from the company before, but never thought it'd be worth the risk of losing his job.
SamirAsian · Male · CompanionA computer programmer at Initech. He doesn't mind the 9 to 5 lifestyle, and actually prefers the job security that it provides.
22.INT. INITECH OFFICES - DAYNotes: In this scene, Peter learns another hard truth about the unfairness of corporate America. He was practically begging to be fired, but the hard-working individuals who actually want to be there are the ones who get kicked to the curb. It doesn't matter how much of your time, energy, and effort you put into your job, you're always disposable.
23.INT. PETER'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
24.INT. bar - nightStory Beat: MidpointNotes: Peter comes to his real epiphany here - he doesn't just hate his job, he realizes that the office life, which has become so normalized, is unnatural and unfulfilling for humans as a whole, not just him. He doesn't just hate his boss and his company, he hates the idea of wasting away in a cubicle.Theme: Stated
25.INT. PETER'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
26.INT. INITECH OFFICES - DAYNotes: Peter puts in the effort to dress in a suit and tie for the occasion, the nicest we'll ever see him look. In a strange way, it shows that he'll put time and effort into something if he has motivation, an idea that he expressed to the consultants earlier.
27.INT. tom's garage - DAYTheme: Symbolized
28.INT. INITECH OFFICES - DAY
29.INT. peter's car - DAY
30.EXT. field - DAYNotes: This may be one of the most relatable scenes in the film, which makes it even more amusing for the viewer. All they're doing is breaking a printer, but almost everyone has battled with a faulty printer at some point, and taking a bat to it is a cathartic experience that most could only dream about.
31.i/e. PETER'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
32.INT. PETER'S CAR - DAY
33.INT. tom's house - DAYNotes: It's ironic that Tom is talking about how good things can come out of "hanging in there". He almost died, but in his mind, broken bones and a fat check is the best thing that could've happened to him.Theme: Challenged
34.INT. PETER'S CAR - DAY
35.INT. PETER'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
36.INT. CHOTCHKIE'S - DAYNotes: Joanna seems to have learned from Peter that she's worth more than her job. She has no reason to stay loyal to a company that treats her poorly.Theme: Explored
37.EXT. INITECH OFFICES - DAYStory Beat: Plot Point 2
38.INT. PETER'S CAR - DAY
39.INT. INITECH OFFICES - DAYNotes: Yet another example of doing as you're told and not receiving anything in return. He followed the rules and put his co-workers before himself, yet he's the only one in the office without a piece of cake.
40.INT. PETER'S APARTMENT - DAY
41.INT. INITECH OFFICES - DAY
42.INT. PETER'S APARTMENT - DAYNotes: Steve revealing that he makes more money selling magazines than he did as a software engineer surprises the engineers. He's doing a job that requires actual human interaction, he isn't stuck in a cubicle all day, he isn't miserable - AND he's well-paid? That can't be possible.Theme: Explored
43.INT. PETER'S APARTMENT - NIGHT
MiltonWhite · Male · OutcastA faithful Initech employee who continues to work there despite continuously receiving unfair treatment from his bosses.What does your character want?: To be listened to and taken seriously.How will your character attempt to get it?: By threatening violence if his work environment gets messed with again.
Bill LumberghWhite · Male · VillainPeter's annoying boss. More concerned with micromanaging unimportant tasks rather than keeping his employees happy and motivated.