ALLEGRO

EXT. WASTELAND-EARLY MORNING.
JERRY, a man in his mid-twenties, comes shambling along, looking worn out and hunted. We don't see it at first, but he has a length of stout rope attached to his ankle. The rope extends along the ground, through bushes and rubbish, off-screen.

He sits down to consider, looks at the rope, vainly tries the knot once again, gives up. He looks searchingly to see where the rope goes behind him. Then he gets up wearily and starts off, but after a few steps he has run out of rope, and it goes taut, tripping him up.

JERRY
F!!! Argbb!

Jerry picks himself up in a fury and runs back to where the rope leads, behind a shed. There he finds GINA, a young woman, attached by the ankle to the other end of the rope.

Gina is reading a free fashion magazine and smelling the perfume inserts.

JERRY
What is this?! 

GINA
Oh. Oh. Sorry, I was just - 

JERRY
Well, get up, for chrissake! I didn’t know you were lying down on the job again. Almost broke my leg.  

GINA
Look, I’m sorry. I thought we were having a little break. I mean you were just sitting there.

JERRY
Well, you've just got to learn to pay attention. No, just leave that magazine. 

GINA
Okay, okay. Gosh. 

JERRY
Don't keep - acting like you don't know what the hell is going on all the time. It's hard enough with all this - 

GINA
Okay! Golly.

They continue walking at some distance from each other. Although they are tied together by the rope, it is several yards long, and Jerry gathers some of it up to facilitate walking.

GINA
If there was some way to undo this knot - 

JERRY
You'd have to cut it. We tried that, remember?

GINA
Hmm. Yeah.

JERRY
Yeah, well - 

GINA
Good thing it's not heavier. 
(Louder)
I said, it's a good thing it's not heavier - you know? It could weigh a lot more. 

They continue walking past shrubbery and benches. The place is deserted.

GINA
Do you want me to hold the rope for a bit?

Jerry pauses and looks at the coil of rope he is carrying over one arm.

GINA
I don't know. Is it better to carry it, or - leave it dragging, I don't know .... it's heavy. 

JERRY
It's heavy no matter what. It's always going to weigh the same.

GINA
Well, we don’t have to carry it all the time.

JERRY
But if it's dragging on the ground, then you have that. It's sort of holding you back, getting stuck on stuff.

GINA
Yeah, but at least your arms are free. 

JERRY
It gets snagged a lot. We keep having to go back and unsnag it. That takes an effort.

GINA
Maybe it'll get snagged on something and snap in two!

JERRY
(After a moment of silent exasperation)
Well, I suppose it'll eventually get rubbed away to nothing, if we keep dragging it on the ground! After like thirty years or something!

Gina, pauses, and then walks on in a huff, passing Jerry and walking ahead of him dismissively.

JERRY
What? What? 

They walk on in silence. Occasionally Jerry chafes at the rope, bending down even as he walks to adjust the bond on his ankle. 

JERRY
Grr!

GINA
Well, look no use working yourself up like that. You’ll get an ulcer.

JERRY
I would like to not be tied up like this. It's causing a good deal of trouble. I can't even - 

GINA
Yes, well - we'll have to find someone who can help.

EXT. PARK-EARLY MORNING.
Gina is walking along as before. Jerry is apparently some way ahead.

Gina sees a public drinking fountain and goes toward it. Just as she is about to reach it there is a massive tug at the rope, almost pulling her off her feet.

GINA
Oww! Jer-reee! Wait!

Gina is pulled away roughly.

EXT. CITY STREET ATM-MIDMORNING.
Jerry is looking through his wallet and preparing to use the ATM.

JERRY
I'll have to get some money out.
(Does some mental calculation)
Okay.

Jerry opens the door and enters the ATM area, leaving Gina outside. Gina watches him through the window, trying to see what he's up to. 

Jerry completes the transaction and comes out.   

GINA
So? Everything all right?

JERRY
I think so. If we just an eye on our expenses ... so, shall we go for a coffee?

GINA
Sure!

They proceed along the street.

INT. COFFEE-SHOP-DAY.
Jerry and Gina are in a booth. They have finished their coffee.

Jerry is working furiously at the rope.

GINA
Do you really have to do that now? Can't we just - sit here and enjoy our coffee?

JERRY
I've finished my coffee!

Jerry continues to saw away at the rope inefectually with a butter knife. He curses under his breath, knocks over his cup.

GINA
People are looking at you. People think you're nuts.

JERRY
People! Talk to me about people! Gaaaa!

Gina picks up a tabloid, spreads it neatly on the table, and begins to read it fom the first page.

Gina looks up and smiles at someone as if to reassure them that all is well.

GINA
(Reading the paper)
Jerry! Here's your horoscope for this week! Hee hee. 

JERRY
What!!

GINA
Your horoscope. "If you've ..." Wait.
(She reads it to herself, grinning with amusement, moving her lips slightly)

EXT. PARK-AFTERNOON.
Jerry and Gina are walking on a lawn, still linked by the rope. Gina has a tabloid.

Jerry appears worn out. He is still holding his butter knife and puffing. Suddenly he collapses.

GINA
What's wrong? You - ? Jerry?!
(She crouches down next to him, alarmed)
Jerry!

For a moment Jerry appears to be unconscious. Then he revives a little. 

JERRY
I, uh, just need to rest a bit. 

GINA
Owwh, what's wrong?! Are you okay? Jerry?

JERRY
No, I'm great. Just felt like lying down all of a sudden. I've ...

GINA
Maybe you need to -

JERRY
I'm - tired. I'll be honest, this thing has started to bother me a bit.

GINA
You've been working very hard. You should rest up.

JERRY
Yes, then things will take shape. 
(He closes his eyes and tries to get comfortable on the ground)
But I've managed to ... 

GINA
(Off)
I'm so sorry about all the trouble and everything. 

JERRY
No, no - I just need to rethink things here. Get my ducks in order. Zzzz ...

GINA
(Off)
Well, you've almost got it!

JERRY
There was certainly a moment there.

GINA
(Off)
This'll keep the sun off your face while you rest.

She places the tabloid over his face like a tent.

JERRY
Better. Much better. H'mm. Zzzz.

GINA
(Off)  
Good going! Excellent! You've almost got it!

JERRY
Zzz. Take a break. Done some good work here. I'm a bit tired, though.
Yeah, another few minutes, and - it seems ...

Some time has passed. Jerry wakes up, takes the newspaper off of his head and smiles wearily.

JERRY
It seems to be working. I just had this funny dream.

Gina has disappeared. The rope is down a hole. Jerry pulls, tugs, digs it up - resistance is incredible. Gina has gone. The rope is tied to a rock now, which he can barely budge. He moves it a few feet and then stops. He sits down on the rock. 

JERRY
(After some consideration)
Okay. 

FADE OUT