Shakespeare's Measure for Measure is played out in modern times but with a gruesome end.
Logline: Shakespeare’s comedy plays out like a tragedy in real life as the students live out the story as they study the play at a private college.
Synopsis: Measure for Measure takes place at a small private ultra-conservative Christian university - Children of Virtue University (CVU). This university mirrors old Vienna of Shakespeare's play as they attempt to outlaw sexual intercourse before marriage. As in the original play, the hypocrisy of the leaders at the university causes a deadly conflict. In Vienna, the penalty is for adultery is death, while at CVU, the penalty is expulsion, which is a form of death for the students as their families will disown and shun them. Throughout the story, we flip back and forth from CVU to the Shakespearean stage and the play.
The entire story is told through the interrogation statement made by Daniel Kim to the detectives of the Davies County Police in the state of Virginia. The President of CVU, Alison Paar, goes on a fundraising trip and hires Daniel Kim as a corporate spy to report on the students and the Dean on their observance of the strict code of conduct. Daniel Kim's cover is that of a pastoral counselor to talk to all staff and students freely. President Paar wants Daniel to focus on Dean Whitestone and how he doles out the punishment for code infractions.
The citizens of Vienna are played by the students in Professor Marks's English Literature Class at CVU. The class is studying Shakespeare's play, Measure for Measure, as it plays out in their real-life. All of the students have a shallow opinion of the Dean and the oppression of the code of conduct. The code outlaws sex and has a strict conservative uniform for all students and the band of cell phones on campus.
Daniel finds out that President Paar and the Dean are having a secret romance, which reveals the leaders' hypocrisy as the Dean boasts about his virginity in his book and talks. Emma and Edward Gladwell, brother and sister, carry out Shakespeare's play's central theme. The Dean catches his intern, Katherine, having sexual relations with Edward. This should not be an issue as the two are in love and will marry after graduation, but they broke the conduct code.
The Dean will expel Edward unless Emma, saintly like a nun, has sex with him. Of course, Emma refuses despite Edward begging her to do it for him. Daniel then brokers a solution by having a bed-switch. In this bed-switch, Professor Jessica Marks will disguise herself as Emma and have sex with the Dean to save Edward. The Professor still has affection for the Dean as they went out as a couple for several years, so that is why she agrees.
Even with this successful bed-switch, the Dean will still expel Edward. President Paar returns to settle the situation as the Gladwells are big-time supporters of CVU, and she does not want Edward expelled. President Paar positively resolves everything, just as the Duke does in Shakespeare's version of the play. Because of the happy ending, this makes Measure for Measure a comedy. But in this version of the story doesn't end here.
Emma or someone dressed like Emma seduces the Dean, drugs him, and then castrates and murders him. All of the students and staff are suspects as the police interview all of them. When the police find the hidden camera in the Dean's office, they can then prove that Emma murdered the Dean. Emma, thinking way ahead of the police, has poisoned President Paar's secret bottle of brandy with hemlock. She knew that the President would take a drink when the police no longer see her as a suspect and arrest Emma. Thus, saintly, Emma has murdered the President and Dean for their hypocrisy and sexual deviant ways. She gladly goes to prison, where she will have time for prayer. Emma had her own version of what Measure for Measure means.
Characters
Daniel Kim - Korean-American Male mid-30s, the story is told through Daniel Kim’s statement at police headquarters. Daniel is an undercover corporate spy, hired by Children of Virtue University (CVU) to spy on the Dean, faculty, and students in their fulfillment of CVU’s Code of Conduct, while the President of the university is on a fundraising tour. He is a Shakespeare lover, and the study of the play Measure for Measure makes it a perfect fit for him. Daniel’s cover is that of a pastoral counselor who gives him intimate access to all staff and students.
Dean Richard Whitestone - Caucasian male late-30s, is the story’s villain. A sexual deviate who declares himself a virgin to sell his books and cement his authority. In reality, he is a hypocritical predator who uses students and staff alike in his perversions. The President of CVU does not fully trust him, and that is why she hires Daniel Kim to observe him and report his findings to her.
Emma Gladwell - Caucasian female college-age, has a saint-like persona, and the other students perceive her as a nun. Emma, besides a student, is also the student intern for President Paar. Her twin brother, Edward, is also a student at CVU and gets her involved in a sexual situation that turns deadly.
President Alison Paar - Caucasian female mid-40s, is the founder and President of this five-year-old small private ultra-conservative Christian university. She demands all students wear the school uniforms and follow the strict code of conduct. President Paar is involved with the Dean on many levels, and her going on a fundraising trip is a crucial test for the Dean’s future.
Professor Jessica Marks - Caucasian female mid-30s, is a professor of literature at CVU. She is presently teaching the Shakespearean play, Measure for Measure, to her classes. The professor once romantically linked to Dean Whitestone in the past.
Edward Gladwell - Caucasian male college-age, twin brother of Emma, is romantically linked to Katherine Simmons and faces expulsion from the college due to their involvement.
Katherine Simmons - Caucasian female college-age, is a student, an intern working in Dean Whitestone’s office.
Reginald Bennett - African-American male college-age, is a friendly, funny student who is the secret boyfriend to Aliyah Cooper.
Aliyah Cooper - African-American female college-age, is a pregnant student who CVU coerced her to sign a statement that her pregnancy was forced on her by rape.
Timothy Geary - Caucasian male college-age, is a disillusioned student who is quitting due to the hypocrisy.
Rachel Garcia - A Hispanic-American female college-age, is a student who is an outspoken feminist at a conservative school.
Detective Maddy Evans - Caucasian female mid-30s, is a detective for Davies County Police in Virginia investigating the murder at CVU.
Detective Lester Brooks - Caucasian male mid-40s, is Detective Evan’s partner in the murder investigation at CVU.