Title: Four Days to Freedom
Genre: Social Drama / Workplace Comedy / Political Underdog Story
Logline:
When stubborn but big-hearted city employee Tony Demelo takes on his profit-obsessed bosses to win a four-day work week for municipal workers, he sparks a citywide movement that pits him against corporate lobbyists, political power brokers, and even his own friends—until his fight becomes a battle for the soul of the working class.
ACT ONE – THE SPARK
Tony Demelo, 48, a long-serving maintenance supervisor in Metroville’s Public Works Department, is beloved by his crew for always fighting for their rights. He’s a lunch-pail philosopher—equal parts charm, street smarts, and bulldog determination.
When budget cuts threaten overtime pay, morale in the department plummets. Tony notices that his co-workers are exhausted, their family lives strained. One afternoon, after seeing his crew too tired to attend their kids’ school events, Tony hatches an idea: a 4-day work week for all city employees.
He calculates (in an unpolished but passionate pitch) that by reducing hours, they’d need to hire more people—creating 20% more jobs, slashing unemployment, and boosting wages due to increased demand for skilled labor. He calls it “Four Days to Freedom.”
The idea gets laughs from his boss, Frank Costigan, a jaded bureaucrat who calls it “socialist daydreaming.” But Tony’s stubborn streak ignites—he’s going to prove Frank wrong.
ACT TWO – THE MOVEMENT
Tony begins collecting signatures from city workers, but his campaign quickly grows beyond the maintenance yard—teachers, nurses, bus drivers, and sanitation workers start rallying behind him. The media catches wind, painting him as a working-class folk hero.
Tony faces fierce resistance from:
- Frank Costigan, who’s under pressure from the Mayor to shut Tony down.
- Corporate lobbyists, who fear the 4-day week will set a national precedent and cut into profits.
- Even some skeptical workers, afraid of losing overtime or job security.
Tony’s personal life gets tangled—his wife, Maria, is supportive but worries the fight will cost them their house if he loses his job. His best friend and coworker, Louie, warns him, “Tony, you can’t fight City Hall… they’ve got better lawyers.”
But Tony has a weapon: his ability to connect with regular people. He organizes public “Long Weekend Rallies” in the city square every Friday—symbolizing the extra day off. Attendance explodes.
ACT THREE – THE SHOWDOWN
The Mayor calls for a televised city council hearing, hoping to publicly humiliate Tony. Frank is ordered to be the star witness against him.
In a fiery, unscripted speech, Tony demolishes the economic scare tactics. He paints a vision of a happier, healthier city, with more parents at home for their kids, less burnout, and a fairer job market. He ends with:
“A city’s not made of buildings. It’s made of people. And people need time to live, not just survive.”
The speech goes viral, sparking national attention. Under immense public pressure, the council votes YES—a trial run for the 4-day work week.
EPILOGUE – THE NEW NORMAL
Months later, Tony walks through the park on a Friday afternoon, watching families enjoy the extra day off. He runs into Louie, who’s working as a supervisor for the new hires created by the policy. Wages are up, unemployment is down, and morale is sky-high.
Frank, now retired, admits to Tony over a coffee: “You were right, kid. Don’t tell anyone I said that.”
Tony grins: “Four days to freedom, Frank. And now we’ve got three days to barbecue.”
Fade out on Tony joining his family for a long weekend picnic.
Tone & Style:
Think Norma Rae meets Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, but with touches of Parks and Recreation humor. Blue-collar warmth meets political urgency, grounded in economic arguments that real audiences can latch onto.
Themes:
- The dignity of labor
- The fight against systemic inertia
- Family time as a right, not a luxury
- The power of one person’s conviction to start a movement
SPEECH 1 – Opening Statement
(Tony stands at the podium, sleeves rolled up, voice steady but charged with energy)
“Madam Chair, members of the council… My name’s Tony Demelo. I’ve been fixing this city’s streets, sewers, and sidewalks for over twenty years. I’ve patched potholes in hundred-degree heat, cleared snow at three in the morning, and I’ve done it with the best crew a guy could ask for. But I’m here today to say: we’re running on empty. Not just my crew—all of us. The bus drivers, the nurses, the teachers… We’re tired. And a tired worker ain’t a safe worker, or a happy one.
I’m proposing something simple. Four days on, three days off. A 4-day work week for all city workers. You think it’s a radical idea? I think it’s common sense. Because if we cut hours, we gotta hire more people—20 percent more jobs, right here in Metroville. That means full employment. That means fewer folks on unemployment benefits and more folks paying taxes. And when demand for labor goes up? Wages follow. That’s not socialism, that’s math.”
SPEECH 2 – Destroying the Fear Tactics
(Responding to Frank Costigan’s claim that the policy will “bankrupt” the city)
“Bankrupt the city? Let me tell you what’s bankrupting us: burnout, sick days, workers’ comp claims, low morale. You think endless overtime is free? It’s killing our people and draining the budget.
If you shorten the week, you cut stress. That means fewer accidents, fewer medical bills, less turnover. And guess what? Happier workers get more done in less time. There’s studies on this—companies in Europe tried it, productivity went up. People aren’t machines. We don’t just run forever. We need time to recharge so we can come back and give our best. This ain’t just good for workers—it’s good business.”
SPEECH 3 – The Vision for the City
(Tony leans forward, speaking directly to the council, but also to the TV cameras)
“Picture this city a year from now. On Fridays, parents are taking their kids fishing. Folks are fixing up their homes, volunteering, learning new skills. Local restaurants are packed all weekend because people got the time to actually enjoy themselves. And every one of those smiling faces? They’re also employees who are sharper, healthier, and more loyal to this city.
We don’t just build roads and run buses—we build lives. Let’s give people the time to live them. We can be the first city in the nation to prove that a shorter week makes a stronger economy. We can be the spark that lights a fire across the country. All it takes is the courage to vote yes.”
SPEECH 4 – The Closer
(Tony’s final words before the vote, voice cracking slightly with emotion)
“You can pass this, or you can send me home empty-handed. But when I walk out of here, I gotta look my crew in the eye. I gotta tell the single mom who hasn’t had a Saturday with her kids in months that I tried my best.
But I’m telling you—deep down, you know I’m right. A city’s not its budget, or its contracts, or its buildings. A city is people. And people need more than just a paycheck—they need time. Time with family. Time to rest. Time to be human.
Give them that gift. Give them the four-day week. Let’s make VANCOUVER the city that said: ‘We work to live, not live to work.’”
