THE VOICE OF ATON "A FINE FELLOW OF INFINITE JEST" by GORDON D WENN CAST LIST --------- ANDERSEN RHUBIG SET LIST -------- INTERIORS EXTERIORS --------- --------- HOTEL HALLWAY STREET HOTEL ROOM Copyright (c) 2003 - All rights reserved - KitsWriter@Yahoo.com # 1. ACT ONE FADE IN: INT. - HOTEL HALLWAY - DAY We see a man, we will come to know as ANDERSEN, walking down the hallway of a hotel. His clothing and the decor of the hallway, appear to be from the late nineteen twenties. He stops in front of the door to room 420. Standing rather reluctantly resolved to some course of action. He reaches for the doorknob, but stops, pulling his hand back. He struggles momentarily with some unknown thought. Then drawing courage from some deep well, he turns back to the door. Opens it and steps through. CUT TO: INT. - HOTEL ROOM - DAY - CONTINUOUS ANDERSEN stands briefly in the door, surveying the room. On his left, we see large numbers of books stacked on the floor. To his front, a brass framed bed sits in beneath a window. On his right, a roll top desk covered with personal papers. ANDERSEN recognizes the man sitting at the desk, with his back to him. ANDERSEN (surprised) Why it's Mister Rhubig! The man at the desk turns casually to look at ANDERSEN. He appears put off by the interruption. RHUBIG (smarmy) Have we met? ANDERSEN (nervous) Yes we have. Several times. RHUBIG (shrugs) Really, I don't remember. ANDERSEN (apologetic) Well, it was with several other people. RHUBIG (patronizing) What was the name, again? # 2. ANDERSEN The name on the register is HC Andersen. But that is going to change very soon. RHUBIG (snidely) Yes, it probably will. RHUBIG turns his attention back to the desk. ANDERSEN closes the door. Stands uneasy for a moment. Then moves to his left towards the stacks of books. RHUBIG(CON'T) There's nothing over there that will help you. ANDERSEN Help me? Why would I need any help? RHUBIG snorts slightly through his nose, turns and addresses ANDERSEN. RHUBIG Your situation is extremely bleak. ANDERSEN Oh, you're a Fortuneteller. RHUBIG You can say or do anything you like. But, you are going back. Make no mistake about that. ANDERSEN Back where? RHUBIG glares at him intently. RHUBIG Try not to play the fool too long. ANDERSEN (sarcastic) Is there a time limit? RHUBIG swivels his chair fully towards ANDERSEN. RHUBIG They told me that you might be difficult. # 3. ANDERSEN They? RHUBIG stands. RHUBIG Don't be impudent! ANDERSEN stares at him, slightly puzzled. ANDERSEN But, exactly where is it that we we're going? RHUBIG ignores him. ANDERSEN moves closer. Finding a certain courage. ANDERSEN(CON'T) Oh yes! That what must not be spoken. That which must not be heard. Back to the centre of all true belief. Back to the Infinite. The Great Cosmic Fold.... The Multi-Verse. RHUBIG (loudly) Fault! ANDERSEN Are we playing tennis? RHUBIG (louder) Double Fault! ANDERSEN What happened to Demerits? RHUBIG What are you babbling about? ANDERSEN They used to assign Demerits. Ten Demerits and you get to be an Involuntary Organ Donor. I've never heard of Faults. RHUBIG And I've never heard of Demerits. ANDERSEN changes the subject. ANDERSEN So, who actually sent you? # 4. RHUBIG scoffs at his question. RHUBIG I am never sent. I am no ones underling. ANDERSEN (guesses) It was the Big Cheese himself, wasn't it? RHUBIG (very correct) To whom are you referring? ANDERSEN The Grand Poobah. Our Imperious Leader. The Capo de Tutti Capo. You know, our Boss. The guy in charge. RHUBIG Oh him. ANDERSEN moves a step closer to RHUBIG. Trying to personalize the moment. ANDERSEN He's your cousin, right? RHUBIG Yes, why do you ask? ANDERSEN He hates me. RHUBIG Pardon? ANDERSEN thinks for a moment. ANDERSEN I knew this guy. A buddy of mine. I'd call him up, we'd talk endlessly about useless things.... Anyway, he gets married. His wife really didn't like me calling all the time. She started to hate me. So I stopped. Then about a year later, I had to call him for something important. You know, his wife still hated me. But she forgot why. # 5. RHUBIG looks at him strangely. RHUBIG Exactly, what is your point? ANDERSEN (direct) You're not that much of a bureaucrat, are you? RHUBIG I've never really thought about it. ANDERSEN You do understand how the administrative trenches work? RHUBIG becomes impatient. RHUBIG Get to the point! ANDERSEN The Point? Okay.... Why do people kiss each others' ass? Answer, to move up the greasy pole, get a better job, so they can create their own little empires and have a lot of other people kiss their ass. I went about it from the other end. Pardon the pun. RHUBIG looks at him with a curious eye. RHUBIG I'm sorry you've lost me. What is your point? ANDERSEN gestures his continuation. ANDERSEN Every time I'm in the Imperial Presence, he screams and yells at me. He just goes nuts. The veins in his neck stand out. His blood pressure shoots up. He spews vile contempt at my parentage. It's really beautiful. He hates me, only he doesn't remember why? # 6. RHUBIG You're not making any sense. ANDERSEN ignores the remark. ANDERSEN Once you're on somebody's Heavy Crapola list, nobody wants to know you. You're invisible. You can do anything you want. RHUBIG And what have you been doing? ANDERSEN (shrugs) A little of this, a little of that. Nothing you really have to worry about. RHUBIG Thank you, I'm relieved. ANDERSEN changes the subject. ANDERSEN But, why are You here? Why did they send You? RHUBIG What do you mean? ANDERSEN (gestures) You're Rhubig, the Lord High Executioner. You're an important guy. One of the movers and shakers of the Universe. One of those really Cosmic, God-like beings. RHUBIG half smiles at ANDERSENS' flattery. ANDERSEN(CON'T) The question is, why did they send You and not some regular Thug. RHUBIGS' smile changes. RHUBIG (flatly) I don't see how my presence is any of your concern. # 7. ANDERSEN You don't? But, that's what you do for a living. You know everyone. You're involved with everything. Nothing happens without your okay. So why were You sent on such a simple retrieval? Instead of the Proll who was scheduled to be here? RHUBIG thinks for a moment. Then realizes that he's in charge. RHUBIG I'm asking the questions here! ANDERSEN Then go ahead and ask them! RHUBIG becomes more thoughtful. RHUBIG You think you're in control? You think you can just talk your way out of this? Well, think again! You're deluding yourself if you think otherwise. ANDERSEN Always the master of control! RHUBIG (smug) Yes, I suppose I am. But, your the one who's about to rejoin the Carbon Cycle. ANDERSEN That's Classic Rhubig! The man responsible for the last seven hundred major eliminations. RHUBIG (correction) They're called Incursions! RHUBIG stops and thinks for a moment. RHUBIG(CON'T) Wait! There hasn't been that many. # 8. ANDERSEN (gestures) Then it's already begun. RHUBIG What has? ANDERSEN (gestures) The End Of Eternity. RHUBIG (skeptical) That sounds ominous. ANDERSEN You don't believe me? RHUBIG (smug) Of course I do!... But, why don't you explain it to me anyway. It's probably brilliant. ANDERSEN laughs. ANDERSEN (bravado) Right! The Hero is at the Villains mercy, so they stop for moment, and the Bad Guy explains his Evil Plan. The reference seems to elude RHUBIG. RHUBIG (lost) What are you going on about now? ANDERSEN waves his hand towards the books stacked on his left. RHUBIG(CON'T) (confused) Books? ANDERSEN Yes, Books! They're very important.... Especially these ones. RHUBIG Really? And what makes them so important? # 9. ANDERSEN You said that there was nothing over there that would help me. So you must have examined them. Touched them, felt their weight, smelled the paper and ink. RHUBIG Your point being?... ANDERSEN Well, the amazing thing is that they don't really exist! RHUBIG Pardon? ANDERSEN You eliminated them. All of them. From everywhere in your precious Multi-Verse. And yet here they are. Still existing. In contradiction to your Master Plan. RHUBIG (sarcastic) Well, then I guess, you've won. I've been outsmarted by the best. I'll get my things and slink back to my lair. ANDERSEN The situation is slightly more complex than you can imagine. RHUBIG (shrugs) They're just Books! ANDERSEN That may be, but I wouldn't diminish their importance so quickly. RHUBIG Important are they? ANDERSEN (loud) Extremely! # 10. ANDERSEN makes a brief, slightly telegraphed nervous move. He looks at something on the desk behind RHUBIG. RHUBIG follows his gaze, turns, spots a large hefty volume. He picks it up and reads the title. RHUBIG "Protocols..." Hmm. Some sort of Foreign Office manual? ANDERSEN It was. That Nation State no longer exists. They had a Revolution.... Everything's been changed. RHUBIG Like the situation you're presenting me. ANDERSEN Similar.... But not merely a change in government. But complete and utter nonexistence. The end of everything you've ever experienced. As if it never happened. RHUBIG looks at him with a certain concern. RHUBIG You're seriously disturbed. ANDERSEN Am I? Does the Truth frighten you that much? RHUBIG Truth? When did that become an issue? (pause) We are the arbiters of Truth. We set the Rules, we create the realities. We are the Truth in all things. ANDERSEN (mocking) So let it be written. So let it be done. RHUBIG You're still going back. # 11. ANDERSEN What reason did they give you? RHUBIG These things are none of my concern. ANDERSEN Just take a moment and think about it. RHUBIG Your going back, and there's nothing you can do about it. ANDERSEN I could resist. RHUBIG moves the book under his left arm. Then takes a weapon from his pocket with his right hand and points it at ANDERSEN. RHUBIG I could shoot you. ANDERSEN stares into the gun barrel. Nervously. He takes an extended amount of time to make up his mind about something. Several blank moments go by. RHUBIG prompts him. RHUBIG(CON'T) (impatient) Well? What is your intent? Would you like me to shoot you? It would save a lot time. ANDERSEN Actually I'm thinking. RHUBIG About what? ANDERSEN This situation isn't exactly as I had anticipated. RHUBIG (prophetic) They never are. Every Plan works perfectly, right up until the first bullet is fired. RHUBIG smiles, tilts his weapon up slightly. ANDERSENS' face tightens. He appears stuck, trying to find the words. # 12. ANDERSEN No it's not that. It's just that I.... RHUBIG Spit it out! ANDERSEN (nervous) It isn't that easy. RHUBIG What isn't? ANDERSEN Everything has suddenly become very real. RHUBIG Getting cold feet, are we? ANDERSEN I really didn't expect them to send You.... I thought, maybe, someone else. I hadn't planned that it would be you. RHUBIG Yes, but I am here. What is one to do? ANDERSEN suddenly appears resolved to something. ANDERSEN Perhaps this.... ANDERSEN takes an odd sideways step to his right. Stops. Then takes another. Then a step back. Stops. Turns ninety degrees to his left. Walks forward two steps. Turns to his right. Then takes three steps forward, stopping in front of RHUBIG. RHUBIG seems unimpressed. ANDERSEN seems undaunted. He takes two steps back. Turns to his left in a complete circle, stamping his feet when he stops. The sound seems to linger, echoing into the distance for a moment. Then it returns slowly, becoming louder. The pitch increases sharply, moving into the ultrasonic range. RHUBIG covers his ears. Suddenly a cone of pale white light descends over RHUBIG, trapping him. RHUBIG (surprised) An Incursion Field! # 13. ANDERSEN More commonly called "The Dead Zone". RHUBIG pokes his weapon through the light. As he does, the barrel vanishes. He pulls his weapon back. Some of it has dissolved. RHUBIG (shocked) You've inverted the field! ANDERSEN Yes I did. You see, everything out Here, is nice and stable. Warm, fuzzy and permanent. While everything in There, however, is in the process of being obliterated. But, you'll be pleased to note, that in accord with the Laws of Thermodynamics, everything in There, is actually being absorbed by everything out Here. RHUBIG Absorbed? ANDERSEN You know, energy and matter can neither be created or destroyed. Merely changed. It all flows together into one big happy, mathematical expression.... A red/blue sort of thing. RHUBIG (loud) You're demented! RHUBIG throws the remainder of his weapon into the field. It disappears. ANDERSEN Which of us is in the Dead Zone? RHUBIG assesses his situation. RHUBIG (confused) What exactly, did you just do? # 14. ANDERSEN Oh, nothing complicated. I merely refocused the remaining energies from a few deleted Micro-Verses, using You as an arbitrary centre point. RHUBIG That's rubbish! There was no mechanism. ANDERSEN You're still immersed in the machine culture. You haven't realized the beauty and simplicity of the situation. RHUBIG (loud) Then explain it to me! ANDERSEN smiles. Chooses his words. ANDERSEN In Physics, an object in motion, tends to stay in motion. An object at rest, tends to stay at rest.... But, if that object is alive, it can do whatever it wants. Start, stop. Whatever.... I call it Bio-Vectoring. RHUBIG All you did was some stupid dance! ANDERSEN (inquiry) Did you like it? RHUBIG (impatient) Try not to play the Fool too long, it doesn't impress me at all. ANDERSEN waves his hands in front of the field. ANDERSEN Dead Zone! RHUBIG moves nervously inside the field. # 15. ANDERSEN(CON'T) I want you to listen very carefully. The Change has already begun. Small things at first. Demerits becoming Faults. Then larger pieces begin to unravel. You don't seem to remember your past glories. Things are beginning to move forward at increasing pace.... So, what was the trigger, the catalyst, for all this? RHUBIG gives him a blank look. ANDERSEN(CON'T) You Are! RHUBIG (unimpressed) Really? How interesting. ANDERSEN You don't believe me? RHUBIG Is it necessary? ANDERSEN ignores his question. ANDERSEN I knew they'd send somebody. And I was prepared. Although things have accelerated since your arrival. But, now everything has became crystal clear. RHUBIG I still don't know what You're babbling about? ANDERSEN Everything flows from you and to you. You're the Focus. The Centre. The Strange Attractor. You always were, are and will be. # 16. RHUBIG (flip) Really? Thank you for sharing that with me. ANDERSEN (angry) What do you think I've been doing in the Wainscotting all this time?... Talking to the Sheep? RHUBIG Pardon? ANDERSEN Where you listening to anything I said? RHUBIG (shrugs) Not really. It all sounded very strange. ANDERSEN Would you like to? It's important. Your life may depend on it. RHUBIG relents. RHUBIG Fine. Go ahead. ANDERSEN collects his thoughts for moment, then begins. ANDERSEN There's this unrecorded moment way back in some dark age, when some guy, who we've all forgotten, discovered the true nature of the Universe. Or Universes. Depending on your particular viewpoint. Of course, you and all those other God-like beings, then decided that everything not nailed down was yours. RHUBIG You make that sound like a bad thing. # 17. ANDERSEN Power corrupts and absolute power is even nicer. RHUBIG Now, that sounds about right. ANDERSEN You started to cut up the Multi-Verse into smaller pieces. Create separate Micro-Verses with different physical laws. Where you could change things, make them better. Recreate reality in your own image. But it didn't stop there. You started to tinker with the fundamental principles of Creation, all in the name of some Master Plan for good. But, basically you did it for your own selfaggrandizing pleasure. ....Later, for profit. RHUBIG Is there a point to this history lesson? ANDERSEN (indignant) Do you know how obscene that is? RHUBIG squints at him. RHUBIG The point? ANDERSEN pauses, focuses his thoughts. ANDERSEN I made this amazing discovery. In the beginning, all the Universes were connected, linked together in an unbroken, infinite chain of reality. But, each of them with subtle minute differences. Holding all the possible futures or directions someone or something could have taken. # 18. RHUBIG But the incursions break these chains. Separating them into unique Micro-Verse Clusters. ANDERSEN Yes, but the links are still there. You can still see the subtle shifts. There's an unseen force connecting all these realities together. RHUBIG What Force? ANDERSEN Life. RHUBIG listens, thinking. ANDERSEN(CON'T) If you eliminate the connections, the remaining sections should be unique. But they're not. They're still similar to the next section. Still connected. By Life itself. RHUBIG But, how is that possible? ANDERSEN looks around the room. RHUBIG makes a short mental leap. RHUBIG(CON'T) Those books! ANDERSEN Yes. RHUBIG But you said they'd all had been eliminated. Everywhere. ANDERSEN Yes I did. Which only leaves those discarded Micro-Verses you so subtly eliminated, when you created your Clusters. RHUBIG There's nothing there but void. # 19. ANDERSEN True. But they're not entirely empty. They're still filled with thoughts and ideas. Which are what books are. RHUBIG gives him a pained look. RHUBIG (argumentative) Thoughts and Ideas have no substance! ANDERSEN Life leaves behind its footsteps in the mud. Negative impressions from positive actions. RHUBIG appears to follow along. ANDERSEN(CON'T) So you arrive and follow procedures. You secure the area. You search the room. You examine the books. Touch them. Refocus their reality. Undoing their elimination. Readjusting your own path in the Multiverse. RHUBIG tries to regain control of the situation. RHUBIG (denial) Nonsense. You obviously have some equipment nearby. ANDERSEN Actually, the only equipment I have is You. RHUBIG (lost) Pardon? ANDERSEN Energy flows to whatever opposite charge it can find. RHUBIG (quietly) Oh. # 20. ANDERSEN You can't deny Life. Once it starts, you just can't stop it. And then it does what ever feels like. It's that Bio-Vectoring thing. RHUBIG What do you expect to gain from all this? ANDERSEN Ah, yes. Gain. The grand balance sheet. But consider, What is the difference between an Infinite number of Finite Universes and a Finite number of Infinite size? RHUBIG Just how many Universes are we talking about? ANDERSEN Oh, just the One. RHUBIG One Universe! That's not possible! ANDERSEN Sure it is. Maybe not infinite. Just a few tens of billions of light years across. Which I think is technically infinite. RHUBIG That's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. ANDERSEN (goading) Want to hear another one? RHUBIG looks at him with a certain amount of concern. ANDERSEN(CON'T) Now, now, lets not be gloomy. You know, at the moment, your at the centre of the Universe. The view must be spectacular. # 21. RHUBIG Perhaps we could come to some arrangement? ANDERSEN (shocked) An arrangement! RHUBIG looks slightly defensive. ANDERSEN(CON'T) Bargaining with the fate of existence. How Bourgeois! Besides, I still need you. RHUBIG (surprised) You need me? ANDERSEN moves closer to the window. ANDERSEN Out there, as we speak, you exist. Another you. Perhaps the composite version. His fate rests in my hands. Actually.... ANDERSEN points at the book under RHUBIGS' left arm. RHUBIG This book! Important? ANDERSEN More than just important. The very instrument of your Salvation. RHUBIG It saves Me!... Him!... Explain! ANDERSEN stares out the window, into the street. ANDERSEN He, or should I say, You, is an ordinary sort, albeit a radical, a rabble-rouser, and a bit of an opportunist. But, not really that swift. He's currently the leader of a small political party. It's filled with self-involved idiots, who've never had an original thought in their entire lives. # 22. ANDERSEN(CON'T) They just lack proper committed leadership. Which I guess, would be You, or actually Him. ANDERSEN turns, looks directly at RHUBIG. ANDERSEN(CON'T) Then later this afternoon, he's killed. RHUBIG And this book saves him?... Me? ANDERSEN Yes. RHUBIG You can see into the Future? ANDERSEN Only what was. This Universe gets a fresh new start. Unpredictable. Different. RHUBIG (gestures) Then how do you intend to make things better? ANDERSEN Better? Who said anything about making things better? Trying to make things better is how all this got started in the first place. Everything will probably get worse.... I'm just changing a few things. Because I can. RHUBIG (snarky) Exercising your own Cosmic God-like powers. ANDERSEN bursts a smile at him. ANDERSEN If you wish. He stamps his feet. The sound again echoing into the distance. Then a pulse of blue light spreads through the cone surrounding RHUBIG. # 23. ANDERSEN(CON'T) Not long now. The pulse quickens. It changes to green. Then yellow. ANDERSEN(CON'T) I hope I have your cooperation? The light turns orange. ANDERSEN steps into the cone. He looks at RHUBIG, takes the book from him. Red light flows over them. The cone disappears. Leaving ANDERSEN alone in the room. He surveys the situation, puts on his hat and coat, picks up the book, then exits the room. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. - STREET - DAY - LATER We see ANDERSEN standing on a street corner. A man appears to his front. He notices the knife at his side. A door opens behind him. Voices flow onto the street. The man with the knife moves silently towards his victim. ANDERSEN turns, the knife slices into his book. The assassin is subdued. The victim looks dazed, ashen faced. It's RHUBIG. He speaks. RHUBIG/LEADER Thank you. Thank you very much. Who are you? Do I know you? ANDERSEN Eichmann. Mein Fuhrer. Adolph Eichmann. ANDERSEN salutes him. FADE OUT. THE END #