A spacious office looks out on Apple Park’s central courtyard. Behind a clean wood desk sits PHIL SCHILLER (60s, ruggedly handsome) wearing an Apple Vision Pro and holding a steering wheel in his hands. He’s making VROOM VROOM noises as he turns the wheel left and right.
There’s a KNOCK at the door and KATHERINE ADAMS (50s, ruggedly handsome) walks in carrying an iPad.
ADAMS
Phil. PHIL.
PHIL stops making the noises. He slowly and precisely removes the headset spatial computer and places it on a mannequin head on the desk.
PHIL
(clears his throat)
Kate. What can I do for you?
ADAMS
We just received a copy of the Department of Justice’s antitrust suit. I thought you might want to weigh in before I take it to Tim.
PHIL takes a deep breath, pressing his palms together beneath his nose.
PHIL
Okay. Okay. We knew it was coming.
He closes his eyes, then nods and beckons with one hand.
PHIL (CONT’D)
We’ve prepared for this. Europe’s been a good test bed, we can roll out our App Store changes in the U.S. too. Third-party marketplaces, web distribution, alternative payment pro—
ADAMS
They actually don’t really mention the App Store.
PHIL blinks.
PHIL
What do you mean they don’t mention the App Store?
ADAMS
Well, it’s in here. But it’s not what they’re focusing on.
PHIL
The place we exert the tightest control over our all of our platforms? Where I rule with an iron fist wrapped in a tasteful velvet glove? They don’t mention that?
ADAMS uses an Apple Pencil to scroll on her iPad, then shakes her head.
ADAMS
Nope, not a single mention of velvet gloves.
PHIL looks taken aback for a moment, then purses his lips and nods to himself.
PHIL
Music then…man, I knew that €2 billion fine wasn’t going to be the end of it. But I mean, we do kind of prevent Spotify from doing some of the things Apple Music can do. Well, we can open up some APIs, maybe further relax those external linking rul—
ADAMS
Yeah, they don’t really talk about music either.
PHIL frowns, confused.
PHIL
Uhhhh, it’s not about ebooks again, is it?
ADAMS
No—wait, are we still selling ebooks?
PHIL shrugs, as if to say “beats me.”
PHIL
So, what are they upset about?
ADAMS scrolls her iPad again.
ADAMS
Says here something called…cloud gaming?
PHIL
Is that a Final Fantasy thing?
ADAMS
I think it’s about streaming games.
PHIL
Streaming games? Like that Xbox app I crushed?
PHIL grabs a blank sheet of paper from his desk, crumples it up and throws it into one of those waste-bin basketball nets. A tinny cheer erupts from it and he pumps his fist.
ADAMS closes her eyes and sighs.
ADAMS
Once again, as your attorney, I have to advise you to never ever say that again.
PHIL makes a face, but then mouths “CRUSHED” when he thinks ADAMS isn’t looking.
ADAMS (CONT’D)
They think we blocked the apps because we were afraid they would level the playing field with our competitors.
PHIL
Yeah, right. Who wrote this complaint, Microsoft?
ADAMS
(beat)
Actually, funny you should say that…
PHIL looks confused.
ADAMS
You know what? Never mind.
PHIL
So that’s it? Game streaming. Pfft. We already fixed that. Old news.
PHIL waves his hand in dismissal.
ADAMS
They also think we’re blocking super apps.
PHIL
Super apps? That’s ridiculous. I was playing Marvel Snap on my iPhone just yesterday during our morning staff meeting.
ADAMS opens her mouth and raises a finger, then seems to think better of it.
ADAMS
They’re also concerned about SMS.
PHIL stares at her.
PHIL
Are you [expletive] kidding me?
PHIL springs up from his desk, looking around the room wildly, as if searching for something.
PHIL (CONT’D)
Are we on Punk’d? Am I being punk’d? Is Ashton Kutcher hiding outside?
ADAMS
I don’t think that show’s been on for more than a decade.
PHIL relaxes slightly, shrugging.
PHIL
I don’t know, I work 80 hours a week.
(sits back down)
So, what are we telling Tim?
ADAMS taps the Apple Pencil against her lips.
ADAMS
In my review of this document, I think it’s pretty clear what the Justice Department wants, and I think we can give it to them.
PHIL
…Is it RCS? Because we’re already doing that.
ADAMS
Actually, I think it’ll be even easier.
The lights are off and it’s DIM in the room. ADAMS enters and the lights blink on automatically, revealing TIM COOK (60s, ruggedly handsome) sitting at his desk with his hands resting on the top. His eyes open.
ADAMS
Hi, Tim.
TIM says nothing for a moment, then smiles broadly.
TIM
Good mornnnnning, Katherine.
ADAMS hesitates, then shrugs and walks over to TIM.
ADAMS
Uh, yes, good morning. I just need you to sign this.
She puts a greeting card down in front of TIM and hands him a pen. He stares at it blankly, then looks back up at her.
TIM
We think Apple Pencil is the best way to draw and write on iPad.
ADAMS
(through gritted teeth)
Just sign the damn thing.
She takes TIM’s hand and traces his signature on the card, then takes the card and pen back.
TIM
I want to thank everyone at Apple for their hard wor—
ADAMS
Yes, right, whatever.
She walks out of the office. TIM stares after her, then closes his eyes again and sits motionless. After a beat the lights flick off again.
MERRICK GARLAND (70s, ruggedly handsome) sits at his desk. An INTERN (20s, ruggedly handsome) enters with a mail cart. She picks up a sheaf of mail and puts it down on his desk, then exits.
GARLAND picks up the top envelope and glances at the return address: 1 APPLE PARK WAY. Picking up a letter opener, he slits the top and pulls out a greeting card. The exterior is a classic happy Mac icon and says THANK YOU in the Chicago font. He raises an eyebrow and opens the card.
The inside is handwritten: “Thank you, Department of Justice, for all your help in creating the iPod and in being directly responsible for Apple’s subsequent success. We wish you all the best. Tim.”
GARLAND sighs contentedly.
GARLAND
(whispers)
You’re welcome.
He opens a folder on his desk, picks up a rubber stamp, and presses it to the first page. We see the page over his shoulder: SUIT DISMISSED. GARLAND sits back and folds his hands, then smiles.
