THE VOICE OF ATON "PATIENT 141" by GORDON D WENN CAST LIST --------- Dr GLEASON CHARLES * HUGO CHARLIE * (no lines) THE BEAST CHUCK * * same actor SET LIST -------- INTERIORS --------- INTERVIEW ROOM PADDED CELL BLOCK CORRIDOR Dr GLEASONS' OFFICE Copyright (c) 2004 - All rights reserved - KitsWriter@Yahoo.com # 1. ACT ONE FADE IN: INT. - INTERVIEW ROOM We see a man in a white lab coat, who we will come to know as Dr GLEASON, writing on a large legal pad. He's sitting on one side of a six-foot folding table in a small concrete room with walls that are painted a standard institutional colour. Sitting on the other side of the table is a man in a straitjacket. Who seems bored and is staring up at the rather large Orderly standing behind and to his left. The Orderly, whose name tag reads HUGO, is waiting patiently for Dr GLEASON to finish his obligatory pre-interview notes. An exercise which seems slightly asocial and rather rude. HUGO tries to hide his disapproval. Then without looking up, Dr GLEASON addresses the man in the straitjacket, who will later identify himself as CHARLES. Dr GLEASON So, what was your name? The man in the straitjacket ignores Dr GLEASON and continues looking up at the Orderly. Dr GLEASON(CON'T) (looks up) Today, if you don't mind! HUGO nods to the man in the straitjacket. CHARLES (confused) What? Then he nods in Dr GLEASONS' direction. CHARLES(CON'T) (puzzled) He's speaking to me? (turns to Dr Gleason) Was there something you wanted? Dr GLEASON looks slightly stone-faced for a moment. Dr GLEASON (terse) Your name. CHARLES (confused) What about it? # 2. Dr GLEASON (impatient) Do you know what it is? CHARLES Yes, of course.... (shrugs) Don't you? Dr GLEASON (gestures) Should I? CHARLES (nods) Yes. Everybody knows who I am. Dr GLEASON Really. Why's that? CHARLES (nods) I'm a very important person. Dr GLEASON That's very interesting. CHARLES (smiles) I know. Everybody says so. Dr GLEASON So, what is your name? CHARLES (puzzled) Pardon. Dr GLEASON Could you tell me what it is? CHARLES (confused) I don't understand. Dr GLEASON (gestures) The question? CHARLES (frowns) This is getting boring. Call my driver, will you. I'm leaving. He tries to rise, but is held in place by HUGO. # 3. HUGO (to Charles) Doctor Gleason would like you to actually say your name, as this is your preliminary interview and he's trying to gauge what level of treatment you will require. CHARLES (to Hugo) I see. (to Dr Gleason) Charles Everett Sinclair. Dr GLEASON gives HUGO an odd look, then starts writing again. Then again without looking up, he asks another question. Dr GLEASON And your address? CHARLES That's a little personal don't you think? Dr GLEASON (looks up) What makes you say that? CHARLES A mans' home is his castle. Dr GLEASON And where is your castle located? CHARLES (to Hugo) He's very persistent, isn't he? Dr GLEASON asserts his authority. Dr GLEASON (terse) Please address your responses to me. As we don't have all day for this. I have several other things to do and other people to see. Any evasiveness on your part, will only hinder the process. And delay your treatment.... Am I understood? # 4. Although he's in a straitjacket, CHARLES becomes extremely indignant. Expressing himself rather loudly. CHARLES (to Dr Gleason) You will not speak to me in that manner! You will address me with the proper respect reserved for a person of my station!... Am I, understood? Dr GLEASON doesn't flinch. Dr GLEASON (gestures) And what station would that be? CHARLES leans forward, glaring at Dr GLEASON. CHARLES (loud) I am the Lord, thy God! Be Humble in my Presence! Do not Tempt my Wrath! Dr GLEASON pauses for a moment, reflecting upon this revelation. Dr GLEASON So, what where you doing in that operating room? CHARLES Pardon? Dr GLEASON reads from a file, beneath the large legal pad. Dr GLEASON You entered an operating room and disrupted a very delicate surgery. When told to leave, you attempted to remove one of the patients organs. You also injured three members of the hospital staff. (pause) Do you think that this is acceptable behaviour? CHARLES They should have locked the door. Dr GLEASON furrows him an odd look. # 5. Dr GLEASON That's very interesting. Do you have any social skills at all? CHARLES Of course, don't you? Dr GLEASON How long have you been a Deity? CHARLES Thirty-eight years. Dr GLEASON Do you know what caused this transformation? CHARLES (irked) You're trying my patience! Dr GLEASON Could you give us a small demonstration of your abilities? CHARLES jumps up as far as he can, screaming orders to HUGO. CHARLES (frothy) KILL HIM! KILL HIM NOW! Dr GLEASON doesn't move as CHARLES struggles to reach him. Although he does get rather close before HUGO pulls him back. For a large man, HUGO seems rather agile at his job. He puts CHARLES back in his seat, pushing his head to the right with his forearm. Then he applies a medicated patch to the exposed area on his neck. CHARLES struggles briefly, becoming calmer, finally collapsing onto the table. Dr GLEASON What did you use on him? HUGO Chlorotropic Patch. Dr GLEASON Are you qualified to administer meds? HUGO Yes I am. The Pharmacy doesn't hand them out to just anybody. (pause) Is there a problem, Doctor? # 6. Dr GLEASON (stern) I really don't need you interrupting, when I'm with a patient. HUGO He was confused. Dr GLEASON (loudly) It's not your Job to unconfuse these people. That's my Job! There is a brief moment of silence, while the two men stare at each other. Then they engage in a very unsubtle battle of wills. HUGO Are you making a formal complaint? Or is this just a verbal reprimand? Dr GLEASON What did you think? HUGO Are you asking my opinion? Dr GLEASON Who's your supervisor? HUGO Actually, you are. Dr GLEASON Really? HUGO Yes, I work exclusively for you. You did know that, didn't you? Dr GLEASON What about that short guy, who smelled like fish? HUGO He quit, nobody wants to work for you. Dr GLEASON (pulls rank) You're an insubordinate SOB, aren't you? # 7. HUGO There is the matter of my last three performance evaluations. Dr GLEASON (not interested) This is getting pointless! HUGO That's because you have no sense of humour. Dr GLEASON Sure I do! HUGO Then tell me a joke. Dr GLEASON I don't have the time. HUGO Sure you do. You still have twenty minutes with this guy. HUGO lifts CHARLES' head up. We see a string of drool connecting him to the table. Dr GLEASON (adamant) This guy? He's a human being. Not this guy! Have some respect! HUGO Okay. What's this human beings name? Dr GLEASON takes a moment, then picks up his notes with the rest of the file. He takes out his pen, then looks up at HUGO. Oddly, their conversation becomes slightly more professional. HUGO(CON'T) Charles Everett Sinclair. Dr GLEASON Any ID? HUGO No. Dr GLEASON None at all? # 8. HUGO Nothing. In fact, there weren't any labels in his clothing. Dr GLEASON What was he wearing? HUGO A tailored suit, made from some kind of artificial silk. (pause) Unfortunately, it got ruined in the punch up at the hospital. Dr GLEASON Where is it now? HUGO It got bagged and sent through decontamination. Now it's just a pile of expensive goo. Dr GLEASON (observation) So, he's a rich nutbar. Dr GLEASON looks over at CHARLES, then starts writing in his file. HUGO (snide) I thought he was a Human Being? Dr GLEASON Or a major Deity. (pause) Put him in number four. HUGO Number seven across the corridor is free. Dr GLEASON (puzzled) Number seven is catatonic. HUGO No. He was faking. He suddenly confessed to the crime he'd been dodging. The Police took him away earlier. # 9. Dr GLEASON (shocked) What?... That's not possible. I diagnosed him myself. (pause) When did this happen? HUGO Actually, shortly after Charles arrived. I think he spoke to him. Dr GLEASON (concerned) They spoke? HUGO (shrugs) Maybe it was a miracle. HUGO carefully tilts CHARLES head back, then with his hands placed under the other mans armpits, lifts him to his feet. HUGO(CON'T) (to Dr Gleason) Could you get the door. Dr GLEASON Oh, I forgot my card. HUGO puts CHARLES back down. HUGO (concerned) You forgot your card? That's not a good idea. Dr GLEASON (indignant) Excuse me! HUGO walks past Dr GLEASON and inserts his security card in the slot on the left-hand side of the door. The door slides into a pocket on the right. Then he reaches up and presses a hidden button in the upper right hand corner of the door jam, holding the door open. HUGO Doctor, you have to keep your card on you at all times.... He removes his card, then walks out the door and opens up the room across the CORRIDOR with it. He presses a similar button inside the jam of the other door, holding it open. Then he returns to the INTERVIEW ROOM for CHARLES. # 10. HUGO(CON'T) It's a security card. If you don't have it with you, then it's not secure. Dr GLEASON (sharp) I'm on staff here. Everybody knows me. HUGO Have you ever met anybody on the graveyard shift? Have they met you?... HUGO readjusts CHARLES' head. HUGO(CON'T) The security people do not make concessions to anyone who isn't in possession of a valid card. Regardless of the way they're dressed. Then he picks CHARLES back up. He carries him out the door and onto a bed in the other room across the hall. He presses the hidden button, releasing the door. Our view shifts as HUGO addresses Dr GLEASON from the CORRIDOR. CUT TO: INT. - PADDED CELL BLOCK CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS We see HUGO standing in a long CORRIDOR lined with security doors. The overhead lights and institutional colour, seem to create an emotional state of desperation and gloom. It is not a happy place. HUGO(CON'T) You see, even though you may be wearing a lab coat and have an overbearing attitude towards the staff, without your security access card, you're nobody. (pause) Also, being abusive and screaming your demands, is the primary definition of an escaped mental patient. Heavy medication and restraint can be expected. # 11. HUGO(CON'T) Reports usually fall into the larger cracks in the system. Dr GLEASON (glares) Are you threatening me? HUGO grinds his teeth slightly. HUGO Doctor, between where we are now and the outside world, there are seventeen security doors. Six of which are manned twenty-four hours a day by people whose job it is to deny access to this institution. Dr GLEASON turns away in disapproval of HUGOS' lecture. Then HUGO reaches up and releases the door button. Which slides closed, with Dr GLEASON inside. HUGO speaks to him through the small window in the door. HUGO(CON'T) So you can see why you are required to carry your card at all times. Then he moves away from Dr GLEASONS' view of him through the door. Briefly, we see Dr GLEASON on the verge of panic. But then HUGO relents and opens the door with his card. A very hostile Dr GLEASON emerges from the INTERVIEW ROOM. Dr GLEASON (angry) What's your problem? HUGO (deadpan) My parents were Communists. Dr GLEASON (confused) What? HUGO (smiles) You know, Marx in the Morning, a little Lenin for Lunch. Dr GLEASON stares at him oddly, then decides to leave. However, HUGO stands slightly to his front and to one side, reducing his freedom of movement down the CORRIDOR. # 12. HUGO(CON'T) Although, I think my Father only went to the meetings to pick up chicks. Dr GLEASON doesn't say anything. HUGO(CON'T) Are we forgetting anything? Dr GLEASON (looks around) Like what? HUGO You have to put your business card in the slot on the door. And then write in the patients reference number on your card. Dr GLEASON unobjectionable complies. HUGO hands him a felt tip pen, to write in the number. Dr GLEASON What's the reference number? HUGO It's an easy three number system. Today is the fourteenth and Charles was your first patient of the day. So we write in One Four One on the door and on the cover of his file. Dr GLEASON writes in the number. Dr GLEASON You know, you'd make someone a good secretary. HUGO I am your secretary. Dr GLEASON (snide) How many performance evaluations did you say I owed you? HUGO (smiles) Can I have a raise? Dr GLEASON (loud) No! # 13. HUGO Then I suggest we go back to your office and find that pesky security card. Dr GLEASON grunts his answer. They exit down the CORRIDOR. DISSOLVE TO: INT. - Dr GLEASONS' OFFICE - LATER We see the interior of a large, yet rather empty office. The walls are oddly bare, the usual diplomas or citations, missing. A large picture window covered by a Venetian blind, flanks the back of the room. Eight metal filing cabinets line the base of the window. In front of them, we see the only piece of furniture in the room. A very impressive oak desk, mounted on a thick red carpet. The rest of the room is filled by the glare of the shiny hardwood floors that border the carpet surrounding Dr GLEASONS' desk. It's as if his personality hasn't made an impact on the room. There is no sense of his presence. Yet, we do see him sitting at his desk, reading a file. Then he casually looks up and is startled by HUGO, looming in front of him. Dr GLEASON jumps up from his desk. Dr GLEASON (surprised) WHAT THE HELL! HUGO I did knock. Dr GLEASON (angry) No you didn't! HUGO moves things along. HUGO We've.... Actually, you have a new problem downstairs. Dr GLEASON (sits down) Don't creep up on me like that! HUGO There's a new patient I'd like you to see. # 14. Dr GLEASON glares at HUGO, then pulls rank. Dr GLEASON (put off) This is not a good time. HUGO Doctor you have to see this patient. Dr GLEASON (calmer) Have that guy who smells like onions look at him. HUGO No Doctor, You have to see him. Dr GLEASON takes a moment to think. Dr GLEASON (shrugs) Why me? What's wrong with the onion guy? HUGO also takes a moment, before he begins. HUGO Do you remember Patient One Four One? Charles Sinclair. His first evaluation was three days ago. You asked him the standard questions about his name and address. Dr GLEASON (gestures) So? HUGO Well, I found out where he lived. Dr GLEASON (snide) How did you do that? HUGO I asked him. Dr GLEASON (sarcastic) Thanks for sharing that with me. HUGO (shrugs) It was a Clown Burger on Ninth. # 15. Dr GLEASON (gestures) So he lied to you.... Big deal. They all lie. They can't help it. The truth of their lives drives them to places like this. Try to understand that they're not really responsible for the things they say or do. (pause) You however, have no one to blame, but yourself. HUGO seems confused at Dr GLEASONS' remarks. HUGO (slowly) Doctor, we seem to be experiencing some sort of miscommunication. There are a few more things you need to know. Dr GLEASON (focused) More?... HUGO Security did a follow up on the address I gave them. They found something very interesting when they got there. Dr GLEASON And what was that? HUGO Another Charles Everett Sinclair. Dr GLEASON jumps up from his chair, not entirely happy. Dr GLEASON (loud) You gave me that lecture about how tight your security is, then the guy just escapes! HUGO No, the one you met is still here. We found another one. # 16. Dr GLEASON Another what? HUGO Another Charles Everett Sinclair. Dr GLEASON (sits down) I haven't got time for this. Try somebody else. I'm not falling for any stupid gag. HUGO No really. He's a homeless guy named Charlie Sinclair. We've got him downstairs in cleanup. Dr GLEASON Go away! HUGO They have the same fingerprints. Dr GLEASON doesn't digest that piece of information very well. Dr GLEASON (droll) That's very interesting. I'm really happy for you. Good job. If you see any three headed goats in the lobby, make sure I get a copy of your report. HUGO We're also running their DNA. Dr GLEASON (loudly) You're fired! HUGO You fired me yesterday. Dr GLEASON (irked) Then why are you still here? HUGO You haven't done my paperwork. Dr GLEASON (gestures) Go away! # 17. HUGO Payroll also wants to see you. Dr GLEASON (terse) What part of leave, didn't you get? HUGO stands fast. HUGO Doctor, your presence is required. Dr GLEASON (adamant) You are no longer here! Dr GLEASON waves him away, then returns to his files. THE CAMERA MOVES to the blank wall on Dr GLEASONS' right. Slats of light from the venetian blinds drift upwards, marking the passing of the day. We see Dr GLEASON pass by the wall turning his office lights off. Then return wearing different clothing and turn them back on again. The light moves rhythmically back up the wall, chronicling a new day. The rhythm slows, we see Dr GLEASON standing in front of an open filing cabinet, rearranging some files. He shuts the drawer, turns and collides into HUGO. We see anger on Dr GLEASONS' face. But HUGO doesn't wait to be chastised this time. He pulls Dr GLEASON off balance, pushing him down onto the desk, on his right side. HUGOS' right hand holds his head firm, while his left forearm presses down on his neck. Then he applies sufficient pressure to ensure Dr GLEASONS' unqualified attention. HUGO (firm) Doctor, I need your undivided attention. Dr GLEASON struggles, making odd gasping noise. HUGO(CON'T) (adamant) Something important has happened. I need your assistance. Dr GLEASON continues to struggle. Hugo applies more pressure. # 18. HUGO(CON'T) Doctor, this is what I do for a living. I will not relent. I have no compassion for you as a person. You will stop struggling and listen to me. I require your compliance. Dr GLEASON tries to scream, but with HUGOS' forearm across his throat, he only manages a weak gurgle. He tries to push himself up from the desk, but is held firmly down. HUGOS' patience seems to have run out. HUGO(CON'T) You're not leaving me any other choice. HUGO secures Dr GLEASON with his left arm. We see his free right hand holding a stun gun. Dr GLEASON stops moving. HUGO(CON'T) Please understand, I've been doing this for a while now. I know all the tricks that anyone can pull. All their maneuvers. Don't take this personally, but I really don't believe you. It is however, necessary that you believe me. HUGO presses the stun gun onto Dr GLEASONS' neck. Stepping back, just before the electricity arcs into Dr GLEASONS' body. HUGO repositions a very limp Dr GLEASON into his desk chair. He reclines the chair slightly, so that Dr GLEASON is upright and supported by the headrest. Then he moves the Doctors' computer to a the centre of the desk and adjusts the screen for optimum viewing. He turns it on, running a security card through the access strip. HUGO(CON'T) (upbeat) Oh, I found your card by the way. HUGO puts the card into one of Dr GLEASONS' shirt pockets. HUGO(CON'T) (nods) You don't want to lose it again. # 19. HUGO types some instructions into the computer. We see a file come up. Then a picture of CHARLES. HUGO adjusts Dr GLEASONS' head slightly, so he can see the screen. HUGO starts his monologue. HUGO(CON'T) Patient One Four One. Charles. It's been a week and you haven't been back to see him. So I thought you might like an update. With no motor control, Dr GLEASON slides out of position. HUGO props his head back up, then wipes away some drool. HUGO(CON'T) Doctor, I only used the first setting. You should be okay in about twenty minutes. So please pay attention, the next part is really interesting. HUGO brings up another file. We see an emaciated picture of a man who looks like CHARLES. HUGO(CON'T) This is Charlie, that homeless man we found. Although he's been on the street for a while, you can still see the similarity between him and Charles. CHARLES and CHARLIES' pictures both come up on the left side of the screen. Their fingerprints appear on the right side. HUGO presses a button, the fingerprints begin to slide together, forming a perfect match. HUGO(CON'T) You think that's crazy, look at this. Another picture appears on the screen, we see a bald version of CHARLES wearing a light blue polyester suit. His fingerprints slide effortlessly into the other two sets. HUGO presses another button, three DNA graphs come up. They all look the same. HUGO(CON'T) That last guy calls himself Chuck. He's some sort of cheap conman. # 20. HUGO doesn't see any chairs in the room, so he crouches down by Dr GLEASON. HUGO(CON'T) Doctor, the odds of two people having the same DNA is, I suppose, slightly probable. (pause) But three people?... I don't think there's a mathematical expression that could or would apply. It's just not possible. (pause) But.... HUGO strikes another key on the computer. The screen reads: SECURITY CAMERA 38 - PCB/CORRIDOR 4. An image appears of the CORRIDOR outside the INTERVIEW ROOM. We see several dozen versions of CHARLES wandering around. HUGO(CON'T) What about forty-six people with the same DNA? Although he can't move, Dr GLEASONS' seems to express a certain fascination. HUGO(CON'T) The good news is that all those different versions of Charles are contained downstairs. The bad news is that you and I are the only staff left in the building. Everyone just left. All with very valid reasons, I might add. (pause) But, between you, me and the fence post, it's those guys downstairs. (pause) For some strange reason you really just want to smash them in the face. It's like they exude an obnoxious jerk field. You just hate them. They somehow generate this overwhelming need to decapitate one or two of them. # 21. HUGO(CON'T) (gestures) Most of the patients, including the ones on heavy meds, suddenly announced that they were perfectly sane and rational. They demanded to see their lawyers and wanted a transfer to a nice jail cell somewhere up state. (pause) Then there's the other thing.... HUGO spins Dr GLEASONS' chair around, pointing him at the window. Then he pulls the venetian blind up. Outside, we see a grey haze. It obscures everything in our view. HUGO(CON'T) Doctor, that's not smoke. It's something else. Somehow linked to the appearance of all those uninvited guests downstairs. (pause) Also, we're on the third floor. You should be able to see the ground or another building. But you can't. They're gone. HUGO faces Dr GLEASONS' chair back towards the computer screen. Then he runs another program. HUGO(CON'T) Charles and Charlie where brought in by security. I'm running the security video back to the point when Chuck arrived. Watch very closely. We see the PADDED CELL BLOCK CORRIDOR on the monitor. Empty at first, then a man appears, seemingly from nowhere. HUGO(CON'T) I know, you think it's a camera trick. But note the icon in the upper left corner of the screen. HUGO points to a flashing radiation symbol. # 22. HUGO(CON'T) That's a Radon Detector. Dr GLEASON seems to be regaining some control. He makes a surprised grunt. HUGO(CON'T) Now watch as I speed it up. People begin to appear very rapidly. The radiation symbol seems to keep pace with each arrival. HUGO(CON'T) I have this working theory. Unfortunately, it's a bit nuts. So, for the moment I'll just keep it to myself. (gestures) There is however, that old axiom: Once you've eliminated all the sane possibilities, all that remains are the insane ones. (pause) A seemingly impossible mystery has presented itself. I will need your help to find a solution. (pause) So, take a few moments to recover. I'll be downstairs waiting for you. HUGO takes a short look out the window. HUGO(CON'T) (caution) But, don't take too long, that fog seems to be thickening. HUGO adjusts Dr GLEASONS' position slightly, then exits the room. DISSOLVE TO: INT. - PADDED CELL BLOCK CORRIDOR - LATER We see HUGO standing inside the CORRIDOR, his back to the main security door. He seems to be waiting. But occasionally we see him looking forward and behind the CAMERA at what we presume to be the never-ending different versions of CHARLES. He also appears to be resolved to something. Yet, he isn't showing any signs of fear or regret. # 23. Instead, we see the peaceful acceptance of the inevitable. Then the security door slides open. Dr GLEASON enters and points a gun at his head. Dr GLEASON (angry) You stupid Son of a Bitch! Dr GLEASON pushes him against the wall, placing the gun barrel in the centre of his forehead. HUGO (calm) I take it, you couldn't get out the front door. Dr GLEASON shakes HUGO by the lapels of his orderly jacket. Dr GLEASON (demanding) What the hell is going on? HUGO You're not going to like it. Perhaps for greater dramatic effect, Dr GLEASON thumbs the hammer back on his gun. Dr GLEASON (loud) Tell me what you know! CHUCK, wearing his light blue polyester suit, wanders over, making a seemingly innocent inquiry. CHUCK (smiles) You guys need help with anything? HUGO (to Chuck) Not right now Chuck, I'm sort of busy. (quietly to Dr Gleason) Don't let him get too close, he steals. Dr GLEASON turns to menace CHUCK with his gun. Then he sees all the other versions in the CORRIDOR. He seems slightly overwhelmed by the experience. Dr GLEASON (screaming) Somebody tell me what the Hell is Happening! # 24. HUGO waves CHUCK away. Dr GLEASON points the gun back at him. HUGO gestures the beginning of his thought process. HUGO Simply put, they're here now. But before, they were somewhere else. So we analyze the evidence we have and find out where that was. Dr GLEASON (not happy) I'm going to blow your head off! HUGO continues undeterred. HUGO And since they're were some major differences in their clothing. We can assume that they're all from different places. Dr GLEASON (still not happy) Today! HUGO Then there are the Radon emissions. Dr GLEASON stands back slightly, pointing the gun at HUGOS' head again. He begins to count. Dr GLEASON One.... Two.... Three.... HUGO ignores him. HUGO You see, Radon is formed by the radioactive decay of Radium. However, there wasn't any evidence of Alpha Particle emissions. Which, I suppose is probably significant of something important. HUGO looks at Dr GLEASON for any technical insight. Dr GLEASON (adamant) I have a gun! # 25. HUGO I don't care. Dr GLEASON straight-arms the gun at HUGO. Dr GLEASON Really! HUGO seems oddly disappointed with Dr GLEASONS' behaviour. Dr GLEASON(CON'T) What is your Problem? HUGO You. Dr GLEASON Me? HUGO Would you like your performance evaluation? Dr GLEASON furrows him an odd look. Dr GLEASON Do you have a death wish? HUGO You were victimized in school. So you went into medicine just to get some respect. However, it was just too hard. So you became a psychiatrist. Which gives you the authority to bully anyone who gets in your way. Dr GLEASONS' temperature begins to rise. HUGO(CON'T) You're really not that good at your job.... Oh, you've tried, but things never seem to work out the way you'd like them to. You see yourself in private practice and not in this federally funded home for the terminally happy. You see, your hopes and dreams were sidelined by your need for revenge. # 26. Dr GLEASON (angry) What would you know about it? You're just some minimum wage thug! HUGO We are more than what we do, doctor. Dr GLEASON What's that supposed to mean? HUGO I have a degree in GeoPhysics from Gilchrist University. (pause) And for the record, it's way more than minimum wage.... We have Dental. Dr GLEASON (snide) Swell. Would you and your fancy degree like to tell me what the hell's going on? HUGO Sure. But it is obvious. Dr GLEASON gestures that he continue his response. HUGO(CON'T) Each of these guys is from a different Universe. Dr GLEASON (frowns) That's definitely nuts. HUGO It's the only thing that fits all the facts. Dr GLEASON What facts? HUGO Cosmology suggests multiple Universes slightly out of phase with each other. (pause) Other dimensions or planes of existence. # 27. Dr GLEASON (nods) I'm opening a file on you. HUGO Charles was found in the only Hospital in this city with a major radiation lab. (pause) What if in his Universe they also had a similar lab? Which had some sort of device that could transfer people to other Universes. (gestures) Then they transferred him to this Universe. Dr GLEASON (frowns) Why would they do that? HUGO Charles said he was God. What if in his Universe, he actually is some sort of Deity?... And being the obnoxious jerk that he is, they decided to get rid of him. Dr GLEASON (shrugs) Why here? HUGO I don't know. Dr GLEASON (snarky) Really. HUGO (speculates) Maybe, we're the only Universe without a version of him. Then, we became the empty hole they moved him into. Dr GLEASON (gestures) What about Charlie? Who got rid of him? # 28. HUGO I know, that one has been bugging me. HUGO thinks for a moment. Then something occurs to him. HUGO(CON'T) Wait, maybe I got this all wrong. Dr GLEASON You think! HUGO What if they invented a teleporter? Dr GLEASON What? HUGO That went from the Lab to his residence. Dr GLEASON (frowns) That burger place? HUGO It is in our Universe. In his it's probably a holy shrine. Dr GLEASON So?... HUGO (theory) Charles got transferred to our Universe at the hospital. And Charlie lived behind the Clown Burger in his Universe. HUGO pauses, collecting his thoughts. HUGO(CON'T) When he didn't reappear at the other end, they probably just reversed everything, sucking Charlie into some trans-dimensional vortex. Dr GLEASON (looks around) And these other idiots? # 29. HUGO (flatly) A Strange Attraction Event has taken place. Dr GLEASON holds up his gun. Dr GLEASON (loud) In English Please. HUGO In Physics, the mutual action by which bodies or particles of matter tend to draw together or cohere. Basically, all the different versions of one man are being drawn into our Universe. Dr GLEASON suddenly decides the whole thing is a farce. Dr GLEASON (stern) This game has gone on long enough. I'm stopping it right now. It's over. I'm not that stupid. Understand. (thinks) Oh yeah, about that dental plan, you'll be needing a new one. You're fired. And probably facing charges for all this stupidity. (pause) Something to think about, during your long stay in that nice jail cell up state. Dr GLEASON points his gun at HUGO again. HUGO looks calmly down the barrel. HUGO (points at gun) You know, your credibility would probably go up, if there were bullets in those little holes. Dr GLEASON looks slightly embarrassed. Dr GLEASON You knew the entire time? # 30. HUGO (shrugs) I'm a Death Tech in the National Guard. Dr GLEASON (smiles) Well, of course you are! (nods) And I'm leaving! Dr GLEASON runs his security card through the access reader. As door slides open, all we see on the other side is a wall of greyness. Dr GLEASON jumps back, expressing an unexpected fear. Which slowly turns to anger. Scowling, he starts loading his gun with bullets. Then he points it back at HUGO. Dr GLEASON (angry) Do something about that! HUGO Like what? Dr GLEASON (loud) Get rid of it! HUGO (gestures) I can't. Dr GLEASON (loud) Why not? HUGO All these different versions of the same person shouldn't exist in the same space/time event. It's basically just bad. So the Universe is insulating itself, by creating a safety zone. It's the precursor to our ultimate fate. Dr GLEASON (impatient) Why do you make me ask? HUGO (smiles) It's fun. # 31. HUGO(CON'T) (serious) But seriously. We have an infinite number of people arriving in a very small space. Eventually they will create an infinite mass with some major gravitational problems. Dr GLEASON (puzzled) What, like a black hole? HUGO Right now it's still grey. Dr GLEASON So we still have a chance to escape? HUGO No, we're screwed. Dr GLEASON (afraid) What! How long do we have left? HUGO (gestures) An hour, hour and a half. I've been watching them arrive. Their rate is increasing. Eventually a cascade event will take place, when the rate exceeds the ability of this micro universe to distinguish matter from energy. It'll collapse in on itself, forming a new universe, the size of a molecule. Dr GLEASON You're doing it again. HUGO Sorry, I'm in my element. Dr GLEASON So there's nothing we can do? HUGO Nope. # 32. Dr GLEASON (frantic) Can we change the rate their arriving? Slow them down? HUGO How? Dr GLEASON earnestly holds up his gun. He looks a bit odd. Dr GLEASON (upbeat) I could shoot some of them! HUGO Wouldn't help. Dr GLEASON (looks around) Sure it would. Where's the one you called Chuck? HUGO (concerned) Doctor, put the gun away. There's nothing you can do about any of this. Dr GLEASON ignores HUGO, moving slowly down the CORRIDOR. He stops, looking for a target among all the different versions. Then he cries out loudly. Dr GLEASON (loud) HEY CHUCK! We see CHUCK, wearing his light blue polyester suit, moving forward through the crowd. He greets Dr GLEASON. CHUCK (happy) Hey, what's shaking? Without warning, Dr GLEASON shoots CHUCK in the head. His body falls to the floor without any notice from the other versions. HUGO rushes toward Dr GLEASON, taking possession of his gun. HUGO (loud) You Stupid Moron! Are you crazy? Dr GLEASON (slightly crazed) Somebody had to do something! # 33. HUGO (angry) By killing him? Dr GLEASON (agitated) No, you don't understand. He was one of the first ones to arrive. It'll stop now. I've cut the connection. It had to be done. You know that. Everything's going to be okay. We're safe now. Everything's fine. Dr GLEASON seems to calm down. HUGO stares numbly at the corpse. Not really sure what he's suppose to do or say. Then something odd happens behind him. We see a large circle forming in front of the security door. The concrete begins to dissolve. Then an eight-foot section of the floor falls away, leaving a glowing pit. HUGO nudges Dr GLEASON, nodding towards the hole. Dr GLEASON (surprised) What the Hell! HUGO (obvious) That might be the right word. Dr GLEASON (looks at Hugo) What? Suddenly, flames shoot up from the pit. Then a dark figure emerges. Eight feet tall, muscular, with heavy hoofed legs. It's skin and body ooze an acrid sulfur sweat. It moves forward, crouching down, so that its large menacing horns, don't scrape the ceiling. HUGO straight-arms Dr GLEASON back against the right hand wall and out of its way. As it passes by them, we see the classic goat loined, bull headed creature from mythology. It is THE BEAST FROM THE PIT. It stops in front of CHUCKS' corpse. Then turns back to them, holding up something that looks like a deflated rubber doll. THE BEAST (bellows) What makes you think we want him? With a single motion, he launches the rubber figure into CHUCKS' corpse. Which suddenly sits up, alive. # 34. CHUCK Whoa, Road Kill! Then without a word of thanks, CHUCK gets up and rejoins the crowd. THE BEAST starts walking back to the pit. Dr Gleason speaks to him. Dr GLEASON (pleading) Take us with you! THE BEAST stops, sizing up Dr Gleason. THE BEAST Sure, no sweat. He eyes HUGO, then raises a finger in warning. THE BEAST(CON'T) Don't touch anything! The three of them leap into the pit, leaving the many versions of CHARLES EVERETT SINCLAIR to their dull grey fate. FADE OUT. THE END #