Habeas Corp.
Corporations are still people in this dystopian cyber thriller. And when one is hacked, it’s granted legal authority to hunt down the hacker: a 13-year-old wunderkind with (almost) nowhere to turn.
The Logline
An on-the-run teen hacker turns to the only couple who can save him: a hard-nosed court journalist and a lawyer for the very corporation hunting him down.
The Story at a Glance
Setting its allegorical sights on Citizens United and Stand Your Ground laws, Habeas Corp. tells the story of a 13-year-old hacker on the run, as the company he hacked is given legal authority to hunt him down. He tracks down the only two people who can help him: a rank-and-file corporate lawyer and his relentless journalist partner.
The Characters
Miguel Cruz only took the soul-crushing corporate job to pay off his law school loans faster, but it ultimately introduced him to his partner, court reporter Phoebe Schultz, who’s hellbent on holding his employer accountable. After a judge lets the company declare martial law (claiming self-defense), they’re tracked down by the hacker himself, 13-year-old Antoine Parker—and the three devise a plan to take the company down for good.
The Bottom Line
In a legal system that leans ever closer to prioritizing businesses over their employees, Habeas Corp. is a reminder of who gets hurt in that process—and why the power to enact change will always lie with the people.
Wanna know how it ends?
No spoilers, obviously, but if you’re interested, you can email me to learn more about the project.