Thomas Del Ruth

Five high school students-- a Rebel, an Athlete, a Brain, a Princess and a Basketcase-- find themselves thrown together serving a Saturday morning detention. They do not have much in common, except giving up their day, sitting in the school library, and writing an essay for the principal. At first, they argue and hate each other, but after smoking some of the Rebel's marijuana, they begin to pour their hearts out to each other. They talk about their...

In San Francisco's early years, the city could not afford enough policemen to protect its population. So the city was divided into districts which were sold to private citizens. Merchants who wanted to, paid these men for police protection. Today, the men and women who own these districts are called Patrol Specials. Needing money, George Kuffs approaches his brother Brad, who runs a Patrol Special district for a loan but agrees to work with him instead....

"When Saturday detention started, they were simply the Jock, the Princess, the Brain, the Criminal and the Basket Case, but by that afternoon they had become closer than any of them could have imagined"--Container.

The year is 2019. Television is now ruling people's lives. The most popular game show is The Running Man, where convicts can win pardons instead of 'parting gifts' by defeating murderous henchmen known as stalkers.