Characters: Abigail, a Researcher
Knute, her Colleague
Rachid, Systems Administrator
INTERIOR, DAY. COMPUTER WORKSTATION, IMMUNOLOGY LAB
Abigail is entering subject data when Knute enters.
KNUTE
Hey Abigail, are you almost done?
ABIGAIL
I've got ( counting ) two, four .. six more subject sets to enter, why?
KNUTE
I want to check my mail.
ABIGAIL
You can't; the network is down.
KNUTE
Again? Did somebody call Rachid? Maybe he can fix it this afternoon.
ABIGAIL
Rachid has access to this computer?
KNUTE
He has access to all the computers; he's the system administrator.
ABIGAIL
But this computer has highly confidential data on it. Names. Addresses.. Diagnosis. Prognosis.
KNUTE
We've never had any problems with Rachid. He's been here for years.
ABIGAIL
But we signed confidentiality agreements. Nobody other than researchers working on the project were to have access to this computer. No one ever said anything about our sharing it with our system administrator.
KNUTE
Like Rachid really wants to know about hepatitis B...
ABIGAIL
That's not the point. The point is he has access.
KNUTE
You think we should tell the subjects now?
ABIGAIL
What do you think?
KNUTE
It's a little late, isn't it? And it will look stupid that we didn't think of it before.
ABIGAIL
We'll just keep this machine off the LAN. You can check your Email somewhere else.
KNUTE
But Rachid would still have access to it.
ABIGAIL
Can't we password-protect the database?
KNUTE
One of the things we need a system administrator for is getting around password protections that we've forgotten the passwords for. Do you remember when I changed my login without writing down the new password?
ABIGAIL
Oh, I remember.
KNUTE
We'd be lost without Rachid.
ABIGAIL
Well, what if he signed a confidentiality agreement?
(Rachid enters.)
RACHID
Hi guys.
ABIGAIL and KNUTE
Oh, hi Rachid. What's up?
RACHID
Don't know what's up, but I hear the network is down ! |