The Oath

In the near future, a national oath to pledge allegiance to the President divides the family as they gather for Thanksgiving. Chris feels the pressure of conformity and struggles with the idea of signing. Kai and the others try to keep things normal, serving dinner and avoiding politics to protect the fragile peace of the holiday.

Chris tries to sneak away to catch the news and understand what the oath means for everyday life. He senses how quickly society is changing and resents the pressure to sign. The rest of the family nudges him toward civility, but his anxiety only grows.

Over the course of the meal, nearly everyone signs the oath except Chris, signaling a widening rift in the household. The outside world seems to unravel as stories of new rules and social pressure spread. Kai, Pat, and Abbie volley opinions, underscoring the holiday's uncomfortable backdrop.

During Black Friday, two government agents, Mason and Peter, arrive to question Chris about his resistance. Chris is defiant, challenging their authority and refusing to soften his stance. Tension builds as the agents press him in a domestic setting.

A skirmish erupts and Peter is knocked out with a concussion while the family subdues and ties up Mason. The house shifts from a festive scene to a tense standoff as the surviving agent tries to exert control from captivity. The family stands firm, protecting one another inside the living room.

While semi-conscious, Peter attempts to bargain for their release, warning of consequences while Mason's threats continue. The family negotiates, weighing the risks of defiance against possible harm to themselves. The atmosphere grows claustrophobic as the night wears on.

Clark steps in and tells the family to turn on the news, breaking the silence with a decisive action. The broadcast reveals that the President has resigned and the Acting President has revoked the oath and its enforcement. Relief washes over the room as the immediate threat seems to vanish, at least temporarily.

With the oath policy revoked, Mason and Peter lose their leverage and are released. The family breathes a sigh of relief, reassessing the boundary between resistance and danger. The home falls back into a quiet, uneasy calm.

The release of the agents marks a reset, but the memory of the threat lingers in the room. The family reconvenes around the table, choosing to end the night with calm conversation rather than further conflict. The memory of the danger stays with them as they finish their meal.

Chris and Kai share a quiet victory born of unity rather than confrontation. They sit together, eating apple pie and trying to reclaim normalcy. The ending emphasizes a fragile peace in a country that has just witnessed a dramatic political reversal.

Outside the walls of the home, the oath's social impact already reshaped neighborhoods and routines, showing how fast life can change when allegiance is mandated. The film uses the family gathering to frame personal resilience against a broader political storm. The mood at the table is tempered with caution and care.

The final image lingers on a family choosing peace over fear in a time of national uncertainty. They finish their pie, exchange a few quiet words, and settle into a calm that feels earned. The screen fades with the sense that ordinary life persists amid upheaval.