Experimental Narrative Final Project Script Rough Draft
Alexander is thrust into a an uncomfortable looking chair in a pool
of light. He’s surrounded by shadowy figures. They speak amongst each
other in quiet tones.
of light. He’s surrounded by shadowy figures. They speak amongst each
other in quiet tones.
Alexander:
What’s going on? What do you want from me?
A few of the people turn toward him. They murmur indistinctly. Bartolomeo
approaches and inspects Alexander closely.
approaches and inspects Alexander closely.
Bartolomeo
No... No, he won’t do. He won’t do at all.
Alexander
Hey, what do you mean? What’s wrong with me?
Bartolomeo suddenly shifts his tone.
Bartolomeo
What do you want out of life, Mr. Harrison? What drives a
man like you?
Alexander
My... My name isn’t -
Bartolomeo
Why’d you do it, Mr. Harrison? Such a bright spark of life, taken in
the prime of her life, her blooming years!
the prime of her life, her blooming years!
Alexander
Wait, what is it I’m supposed to have done?
Bartolomeo
Don’t try to act innocent with me, sir, her soul cries out for
vengeance from beyond!
He holds up a picture of a flower
Bartolomeo
Do you deny the evidence of your own eyes?
Alexander
That’s just a flower
Bartolomeo
Just a flower? Just a flower!? I can’t deal with this man
anymore; he makes me sick!
As Bartolomeo walks away in disgust a group of people approach and
interrogate Alexander animatedly in various languages. He is surrounded
and tries to get away but as he stands Clarence comes from behind and
pushes him back into his chair. The others back off as quickly as they
approached, suddenly silent. Clarence slowly walks around Alexander,
hands behind his back.
interrogate Alexander animatedly in various languages. He is surrounded
and tries to get away but as he stands Clarence comes from behind and
pushes him back into his chair. The others back off as quickly as they
approached, suddenly silent. Clarence slowly walks around Alexander,
hands behind his back.
Clarence
The realm of poetry has fascinated scholars and laymen alike for centuries,
nay, milenia. Throughout history, poetry has inspired, delighted, and
uplifted men and women and driven them to higher thoughts, higher ideas,
higher... states of being. The ennobling touch of poetry is uniquely
responsible for the sentience enjoyed by mankind alone. It separates us
from the beasts of the field that surround us on all sides whose very
presence perpetuates the ceaseless cycle of violence in our society
through their corrupting influence. We have always known that the day
of their destruction must come if our species is to persist for in the
end poetry must prevail! You know this don’t you, Miguel?
nay, milenia. Throughout history, poetry has inspired, delighted, and
uplifted men and women and driven them to higher thoughts, higher ideas,
higher... states of being. The ennobling touch of poetry is uniquely
responsible for the sentience enjoyed by mankind alone. It separates us
from the beasts of the field that surround us on all sides whose very
presence perpetuates the ceaseless cycle of violence in our society
through their corrupting influence. We have always known that the day
of their destruction must come if our species is to persist for in the
end poetry must prevail! You know this don’t you, Miguel?
Alexander stands
Alexander
You people are mad, all of you! Mad! You had no cause to bring me here,
I’ve done nothing!
I’ve done nothing!
Daedalus enters and lays a calming hand on Alexander’s shoulder.
Daedalus
I’m sure all this must seem confusing right now. I apologize for that.
It will all make sense in time. Please, won’t you sit down and let me
explain?
It will all make sense in time. Please, won’t you sit down and let me
explain?
Alexander
I demand you release me at once!
Daedalus
I’m afraid that is impossible at the moment for reasons that will soon
become clear. Please sit down.
become clear. Please sit down.
Alexander sits reluctantly
Daedalus
You see, we at Blibbington Incorporated desperately need your help.
A calamity has fallen upon us and we are helpless against it.
A calamity has fallen upon us and we are helpless against it.
Alexander
A calamity? Like what?
Daedalus
It’s not easy for me to talk about. It’s still very fresh on all our
hearts. You see our youngest member, Eustice...
hearts. You see our youngest member, Eustice...
Daedalus looks away for a moment, finding it difficult to continue.
Alexander
There, there
Daedalus
Thank you, I’m sorry. Eustice... lost his left sock
Alexander
Oh come on!
Eustice lifts his left pant leg to reveal a lack of sock.
Alexander
Look, I’ve had just about enough of this! I’m leaving.
Daedalus
I’m afraid we can’t allow that, Miguel
Alexander
My name isn’t-
Behind Daedalus Bartolomeo and Clarence set up an easel with a diagram
of a bomb in a skull on it. They point to it helpfully
of a bomb in a skull on it. They point to it helpfully
Daedalus
A few weeks ago, while you were asleep, we implanted a small explosive
inside your skull. If you do not cooperate with us fully, we will be
forced to detonate it.
inside your skull. If you do not cooperate with us fully, we will be
forced to detonate it.
Clarence
Across the thirsty stone/ a blossom dark and sweet/ the color of your
deepest thoughts/ spreads ‘round your upturned feet
deepest thoughts/ spreads ‘round your upturned feet
Alexander sits heavily, head in hands.
Alexander
What do you people want from me?
Bartolomeo
We want the truth, Jim, that’s all. Just confess that you murdered her
and this all goes away.
and this all goes away.
Clarence
(crawling up to Alexander’s feet)
Recite a poem for me, Benjamin
Other people from the background are gathering closer around Alexander,
murmuring softly. Alexander looks for an escape, very uncomfortable.
murmuring softly. Alexander looks for an escape, very uncomfortable.
Eustice
You’re always such a quiet guy, Markus, I never know what you’re thinking.
Daedalus
Why don’t you ever want to dance with us? Do you think you’re too good
for us? You’ll never make friends that way.
for us? You’ll never make friends that way.
Clarence
Tell me the story of the salted planes, Vincent, tell me of the mirrors
of solitude and the hidden platitudes of latency
of solitude and the hidden platitudes of latency
Bartolomeo
After the end of all this comes a storm without width or breadth which
brings the loss of innocence and the consequence of the amorality
practiced by this generation.
brings the loss of innocence and the consequence of the amorality
practiced by this generation.
Alexander
Gone is the land, gone is the sea, gone is the hand of the bourgeoisie.
Lost is the praxis, lost is the vim. Underneath the hills of time lie
all the bones of men.
Lost is the praxis, lost is the vim. Underneath the hills of time lie
all the bones of men.
Everybody is suddenly silent and stares at Alexander. Clarence stands up.
Everyone stops moving.
Everyone stops moving.
Daedalus
What are you talking about Alexander? That makes no sense.
Cut to black
This is the first draft of this script. I want to work on it more to try to connect the beginning to the ending. It has many loose plot threads at the moment. While that can be ok in a script of this sort, I still want to give it more of an arch than it has.
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