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Niki Wurster Visit our Movie Scripts Page screenplay 451:http://www.geocities.com/~screenplay451/ Mao Guangqin 2 0 2000-01-23T13:25:00Z 2000-01-23T13:25:00Z 1 18904 107753 Pumpkin Software 897 215 132328 9.2504 21 6 磅 5.2 磅 0 0 THX-1138
Another pause. The person nudges JOT with his knees.
VOICE
Hi, buddy.
JOT sighs, resigned and disgruntled.
JOT
Hello...
VOICE
... buddy?
JOT
Buddy.
The person gets down on one knee and puts his arm around JOT. Squeezing him hard. It is NCH.
NCH
I want to learn about what you're doing, huh? Tell me
something nice about what you're doing.
JOT winces and struggles, but is caught even tighter in NCH's grasp. He begins to be afraid.
JOT
... doing?
NCH
Yeah, what you're doing, you know. The thing about you
perverts is, you're always running around doing things. I want to hear
something really nice.
JOT
I'm doing... working... a space... viable...
NCH bends JOT's arm behind him and gives it a twist.
NCH
Naa... that's not nice. You know that's not nice.
He slams JOT against the floor and falls on top of him, whispering harshly in his ear.
NCH
Tell me something nice.
JOT is terrified now, and he is finding it difficult to breath.
JOT
... doing...
NCH
Pervert!
He pronounces this sweetly, with a great deal of pleasure, but also a certain amount of menace. He becomes increasingly excited.
NCH
Damn insidious malicious pervert!
JOT barely manages a gasp:
JOT
Help!
NCH
Pervert. Pervert. Pervert.
NCH starts tearing off JOT's clothes.
DWY is sharpening a small spoon with loving and tender care. He is
trying to conceal it from everyone else. NCH and JOT can be seen struggling in
the background and we can still hear NCH mumbling.
NCH
Pervert! Pervert! Pervert!
Suddenly JOT screams, and DWY looks up. A chrome policeman appears, leading a well-built, intelligent-looking youth of 14. He stops, strikes his pole on the ground three times and announces:
POLICEMAN
CAM 5424.
He turns and leaves. CAM looks around. Everyone is silent except for JOT and NCH who are still fighting.
DISSOLVE TO:
THX
... is awakened by a figure standing over him; it is SEN.
SEN
You're real! Where did you come from?
There is a pause and THX doesn't answer.
SEN
I know you turned me in.
THX is sitting, expressionless.
SEN
I'm doing quite well here anyway.
(pause)
What's wrong with you?... Don't be like that.
(pause)
You're a stupid man!
THX is sullen and annoyed at SEN's presence. They sit silently for a
long while. Finally, SEN returns to his bed module.
NIN and the new arrival, CAM are engaged in conversation. NIN is
trying to get CAM to sign a petition. IMM is sitting slapping her hands on the
floor. NCH is asleep and snoring very loudly. DWY has been watching JOT paint
chases away. DWY goes over to comfort IMM.
TWA has constructed a crude sextant, and is looking with it into the
vast whiteness. SEN sits on his bed counting stacks of foam rubber food and
multi-colored capsules. THX goes back to sleep.
DISSOLVE TO:
PTO, TWA, AND CAM
... are engaged in discussion. PTO and TWA look the same as before,
but CAM has begun to grow a stubble of hair. THX is sitting on his bed module
not far away, listening. He is also still completely bald. JOT is working off
in one corner – his design has begun to encircle the group of bed modules, and
he quickly works his way off screen.
CAM is speaking excitedly, as if he were making a series of demands.
CAM
... without pity!
There is a pause, and TWA shrugs his shoulders and looks away. PTO rubs his head.
PTO
But...
CAM
Without pity!
He lies on his bed, as if to conclude the discussion.
Suddenly, TWA notices something off screen and whips up the sextant
that had been lying beside him. He holds it out and tries to get a fix.
Everyone turns to see except PTO.
TWA
Too fast! If only I could see a fixed point.
He puts the sextant down and exchanges a disgruntled glance with
PTO.
A chrome policeman walks into the area and goes off screen. There is
a pause and then the policeman returns, leading JOT away. JOT is silent, but
turns a number of times and looks back as he is taken into the distance. TWA
has taken up the sextant again and is following them as they disappear. NCH has
woken up.
PTO
Umm...
He waves, trying to catch CAM's attention.
PTO
... my friend? Your point of view...
CAM is still looking out after JOT and PTO finally leans forward and tugs his sleeve. He turns to PTO.
PTO
(remembering CAM's name)
Yes, CAM. That's it... Your point is well taken...
CAM, but it lacks the balance that a broader and a deeper range of experience
can lend it. When I first arrived here, I saw things as you do now. I was
confused and anxious about my predicament. I longed to thrash out, to tear
down, to destroy and annihilate; to ravage, wreak havoc, and plunder. Being basically
level-headed, however, I realized that my first goal should be to study this
place, where what seemed blind circumstance had placed me. To follow the train
of events and the ever-changing display of characters that I saw before me – of
which I am of course a part – and to try to discern a pattern within the
confusion.
TWA puts down his sextant and listens, although it seems he has
heard this speech many times before. CAM is gradually fascinated by the old man
– more by his air if calm assurance and the rhythm of his language than by
anything he is actually saying.
In the background, THX has begun to shave his head. DWY goes over
and tries to help but THX turns him away.
NCH has moved over to the sleeping IMM and, without waking her,
removes her last piece of clothing and lays her down on the floor. He quietly
lies down beside her and starts moving rhythmically.
PTO (CONT'D)
I set forth on a program of study which continues up
to this very day and which has afforded me a few glimpses – if not actual
insights – into the nature of the world around us. I never regretted my
youthful passion – quite the contrary, it provided me with the original spark
which has since settled down to a comforting and enduring glow. But I would
caution you that spark – if uncontrolled – may leap into flames of senseless
and disastrous action and consume what you are endeavoring to conserve.
He has addressed this last bit of advice to NIN as well as CAM.
PTO (CONT'D)
Listen to the mumblings of an old man and bank those
flames with earnest inquiry and honest observation.
NIN suddenly breaks in.
NIN
Mumblings is right!
He turns to CAM.
NIN (CONT'D)
Do you know how many times we've had to listen to that
speech?
He jumps up, excited and at a loss for words.
NIN (CONT'D)
Do you know how many times? We've had to listen to
that speech? He thinks everyone's as stupid as he is.
(turning to PTO)
You know what you are? You make me sick. If we all
thought like you they could come in here and... and... do whatever they wanted!
PTO smiles and shakes his head. NIN stomps off in a rage, turning and yelling at PTO.
NIN
Sooner or later, you'll be taken away and destroyed
just like the others.
He sits down on his bed and sulks. PTO continues with his speech, completely ignoring NIN's interruption.
PTO
In the years to come you will be grateful for what may
now seem like senseless sacrifices. With a passion such as yours, I don't think
it would be foolish to say that you might see further and deeper than any of
us, right to the heart of Truth herself!
PTO emphasizes his point by placing his hand on CAM's knee...
There is a loud screech, and everybody turns to see IMM sitting on
the floor howling like a two-year old. NCH, who had been lying beside her, is
slightly embarrassed and tries to cover this up with bluster. He gives IMM a
shove and struts over to his bed; he begins his exercises. DWY gets up from his
bed and goes over to comfort IMM.
DISSOLVE TO:
IMM
Still completely naked, walks out into the whiteness accompanied by
a chrome policeman.
The prison chamber momentarily goes blue, and food trays appear at
the base of the bed modules. The men go to their food and begin to eat. SEN
goes over to TWA, and DWY goes over and sits next to THX. THX is not eating his
food.
DWY
You're frightened. You're frightened that at any
moment you'll be taken away. I know, I've felt that way. I couldn't eat. I
still have trouble. It goes right through, all the time. I know all right, but
I'm better now. I can more or less regulate it.
(pause)
I don't think you can understand... Terrible,
terrible, terrible... I've been thinking about you.
DWY waits for a reaction, but THX continues to pick at his food, paying no attention to him.
DWY (CONT'D)
You seem alone. I know. I've felt that way. At work...
they told me I was a first class transport regulator. Yes, a tram pilot. What
do you think? Between level 3472 and level 3500, module center 55 – the big
one. A toilet: it's a toilet. Still, bad air is better than no air. And the
timetables. Shall I tell you?
TWA has given SEN part of his meal, and SEN returns to his bed with it. DWY watches him as he passes them, then turns back to THX.
DWY (CONT'D)
What?
(referring to SEN)
He's not very friendly, is he? He said you were
roommates. Was he always so... strange? All he does is save his food. He eats a
little... very little. He may die.
(pause)
Of course, he may change. Things do change. I'm the
same...
(DWY offers THX some of his food)
Have my plycron... what do you want me to say?
(he sits, watching THX eat)
Could we be friends?
(whispering)
We could leave together. I have a plan. See this?
(he takes a spoon out of his shoe)
I'm making it sharp. We'll dig...
A chrome policeman arrives with another felon and DWY hastily hides the spoon in his pants. He seems to feel that THX had something to do with the appearance of the policeman and he watches THX suspiciously.
POLICEMAN
OUE 6662.
The policeman leaves OUE standing with a totally blank expression on his face, saliva dribbing from his mouth. He is in a deep catatonic trance. THX lies on his bed and turns his back to DWY.
DWY
I should have known... You're with them. You want...
DWY gets up and goes over to OUE, who is still standing where the policeman left him. He sits him on a bed and begins to talk to him. Most of the other felons are asleep.
DISSOLVE TO:
THX
... is sitting on his bed, looking as if he just awoke from a deep sleep. PTO and CAM are in the middle of a history lesson and CAM is reciting from memory with a certain amount of difficulty. His hair is now moderately long.
CAM
Then SLE and RNH, who came between PRT and MNH, but
not before ALF, FRG, and MLK. ALF, FRG, and MLK went before SAM, RNG, NUR, and
KLM. Then RRG, STK, OUN, and FLT. And after them came... came...
PTO
Four quick felons prepare the bed modules to be
cleaned.
CAM is perplexed by what PTO has just said.
CAM
Huh?
PTO repeats, emphasizing each word carefully and separately.
PTO
Four quick felons prepare the bed modules to be
cleaned. Four: F; Quick: Q; Felons: F...
He looks delightedly at CAM, who repeats the sentence to himself.
CAM
Four... quick... felons prepare.
(understanding)
FRK, QUM, FLN, PSK, and TEL; BGL, MLT, TRN, BRK, and
CLS.
THX looks up and watches NIN, who has begun to stride around.
PTO
Yes, fine! You see, history is not only important, it
can be fun as well.
NIN suddenly bursts in.
NIN
I can't believe it!
(mocking)
MRK CRK TRK SRK BRK... What do you think happened to
MRK and CRK and TRK? Where are they now? I'll tell you where... no where.
NCH wakes up.
NIN (CONT'D)
You know what I want? Ideas... One idea,One idea could
get us out of here if it was the right idea. You know what I mean? Not a bunch
of facts. Who even knows if they're facts? He probably makes them up in his
sleep. The time has come to act.
THX gets up and starts to wander aimlessly about. No one notices him.
NIN (CONT'D)
We've just got to be sure it's the right idea. But
we'll find it. We'll know it when we see it. I'll know it when I see it. Clear
and straight forward and plain as the nose on your face.
NCH walks over and punches NIN in the face. NIN falls down, holding
his nose in pain. NCH returns to his bed module and uses the toilet.
THX is slowly moving further away from the group.
PTO
(to CAM)
Of course it is true that no one has ever returned
once they were taken away, history tells us that, but it is idle to speculate
about the reasons why and absurd to torture oneself over an idle speculation as
NIN is doing. NIN has in fact destroyed himself many times over with worry. LOO
3122, who has taken away not long before you arrived, believed that he was
going to a wonderful place where he would be happy, and in so believing he
created a veritable paradise for himself right here. Unfortunately, not all of
us can have the positive conviction of LOO, but thankfully not all of us are
burdened with the ominous forebodings of NIN. I myself have found that
concentrating...
PTO stops speaking as a chrome policeman appears out of the white.
The policeman walks past THX, who has wandered quite a distance
away, and heads for the group. He stops at NCH's bed module and takes NCH by
the arm.
NCH suddenly gives the policeman a crumpling blow and knocks him to
the floor. He then jumps gleefully on his head, partially caving it in. When he
finishes, he returns to his bed and watches the immobile body. Another
policeman appears almost instantly and takes NCH by the arm, leading him
quietly away. NCH grins triumphantly as he passes THX.
NIN
That's what I mean by the wrong idea.
PTO and CAM resume the discussion, unconcerned by the presence of the policeman's body. THX listens for a while.
PTO
I am not going to try to prove the usefulness of
history, it is genuinely too obvious to need proof. We see before us
innumerable scenes, like what we just witnessed, that succeed each other in
endless repetition. Where we see the same faults followed regularly by the same
misfortunes, we may reasonably...
He pauses and points at CAM's long head of hair.
PTO (CONT'D)
Don't you think you could do something about that?
It's very distracting.
CAM is a little embarrassed and runs his hand through his hair.
PTO (CONT'D)
... we may reasonably think that if we could have
known the first we could have avoided the second. The past should enlighten us
on the future, knowledge of history is no more than an anticipated experience.
SEN, with great effort, has dragged the body of the policeman out to
the edge of the beds and left it there.
THX has ventured further and further away from the group. The voices
have been becoming less and less audible until we hear only fragments:
NIN
(shouting)
You're wrong! They're going to destroy him!
And then we hear nothing at all.
A chrome policeman enters the group of beds from the opposite side
and takes the body of the first policeman away.
THX is puzzled that there is no device stopping him from going
further. He becomes increasingly frightened but decides to continue. The group
of beds is only a small dot in the distance.
DISSOLVE TO:
NIN AND TWA
... are standing looking off into the distance.
NIN
I can just barely see him. I think he's leaving.
TWA
Impossible!
PTO comes over and peers into the whiteness.
PTO
I don't see anything.
DWY and CAM join the gathering at the edge of the group of beds.
PTO
I can't see him at all. He's been destroyed.
TWA
No, look! Three degrees from the central azimuth.
NIN
He's free! Can't you see: he's free!
CAM
I can see him. He's coming back.
PTO
