TRUE DREAM
Short Film
Email: [email protected]
COPYRIGHT THOMAS MORRISON MAY 2003
P.O.BOX 1141 GREEN VALLEY 2168 NSW
EMAIL: [email protected]
Phone: (02) 9723 3735
Mobile: 0422.307.779
EXT. INNER CITY STREET - NIGHT
The leafy inner city street is quiet, peaceful.
INT. SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - NIGHT
HENRY in his early 40’s is asleep in the bedroom. He is alone in the quiet and dark apartment.
Suddenly there is a loud, inpatient knock on the door.
Henry’s eyes pop open. He listens.
There is the knock again on the door, loud, arrogant.
Henry sits up, listens, and then slips off the bed. Henry is a tall man with an athletic build. He approaches the door quietly. He doesn’t appear to be scared, but cautious.
The knock on the door turns into violent banging.
Henry turns around, stumbles to the chair in the darkness and puts his pants on quickly then sneaks to the door.
henry
Who is this?
Cynical laughter from outside
man’s voice from outside
Oh come on Henry, you’re only fooling yourself! Open this door!
Henry sweats, unable to think of the identity of the man outside his door. He tries again.
henry
Who’s that?
The sound of ferocious wind is heard from outside of the door. The door is almost popping off from it’s brackets. A roaring voice answers.
man’s voice from outside
The Loneliness!
Open the door, your life is mine!
Henry freezes.
henry
The...who?
The Loneliness becomes even more aggressive.
Furious wind and banging almost breaks the door down.
Henry stumbles to the table, turns the light on, picks up the phone.
Henry notices smoke blowing through the gap under the door.
Henry is not quite sure what to do; grabs his shirt from the chair and runs to the window. He opens the window, looks out. The height shocks him.
The Loneliness is raging behind his front door, with his horrible roar and wild wind. The door is still holding, but it could pop open anytime now.
Henry looks back into the apartment, still unable to believe what’s happening but he knows he has to get away as fast as he can. Henry climbs out of the window.
EXT. SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT - NIGHT
He cautiously walks along the narrow edge between the first and second floor till he reaches some pipe running down on the wall to the ground floor. He hangs on the pipe and starts climbing down.
INT. APARTMENT - NIGHT
The door is pushed to it’s limit, can not hold any longer. It pops open, bumps against the wall. A ferocious storm invades the apartment carrying heavy dust and smoke. Sometimes shapes up as a man wearing a hat, angrily gesticulating with his arms; then loses it’s man shape a blows around the apartment, destroying everything in it’s path.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Henry manages to climb down on the pipe, jumps on the footpath, and looks up.
The relentless pounding of the angry Loneliness smashes the windows.
Henry does not wastes his time, makes a desperate run for his life through the empty street.
EXT. HENRY’S APARTMENT WINDOW - NIGHT
The Loneliness shapes up as a man wearing his hat; looks out the window. He roars up seeing Henry running along the street.
The Loneliness blows out of the window, and hurries after Henry.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Henry is running along the street, looking back sometimes.
He is horrified seeing the Loneliness blowing along the street chasing him.
Henry screams back.
henry
What do you want?
loneliness
You!
henry
But I’m not lonely!
The Loneliness roars and prepares for reaching Henry.
A cab turns in at the corner, almost at the same time when Henry gets there.
Henry stops the cab and gets in. He looks back to the Loneliness.
The Loneliness seems to be an innocent breeze in the peaceful quiet street.
INT. TAXI - NIGHT
taxi driver
Where to?
henry
Uhm...
Henry looks out the window of the taxi.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
The Loneliness is lurking behind the taxi not too far away, blowing some dust.
INT. TAXI - NIGHT
henry
Just go! Quick!
taxi driver
Where do you want to go?
henry
I don’t know, just fucking go!
taxi driver
I suppose you have cash, right?
henry
Yeah, I’ve got cash. Every one is so materialistic in this artistic world.
The taxi driver turns around.
taxi driver
I’m no artist, I’m busting my ass all night, driving this shit box picking up and putting up with nuts like you. So show us some cash or get the fuck out of here!
henry
Look here; see that cloud of dust and smoke? He wants to kill me. That’s the Loneliness himself.
taxi driver
What’s that?
henry
I said...forget it! Here is the fucking money, now flatten that thing!
Tires squeal and the cab jumps into motion.
henry
Uhm.. just drop me off at Forest Road, Kingsfield, okay?
taxi driver
No probs Pepe… shall do!
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
The cab pulls up in front of the small cottage. Henry gets out of the car. He drops a few notes in at the window.
henry
Who is that Pepe?
taxi driver
My late uncle...the Loneliness killed him.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Henry looks around cautiously. It seems to be quiet for a second but then the Loneliness roars up and the wild storm rushes through the street in the direction of Henry.
Henry runs to the front entry of the cottage, and knocks on the door.
henry
Martha! Martha let me in! Please quick!
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
The Loneliness is blowing closer and closer to the cottage.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
A female voice answers from within.
martha
Who’s that?
henry
It’s me!
martha
Who?
henry
Me, Henry.
martha
Henry? What are you doing here?
henry
Let me in! Please!
Martha opens the door. She is a blonde woman in her early 40’s.
Henry steps inside quickly and shuts the door just in time.
EXT.STREET- NIGHT
The Loneliness roars past the cottage, and turns around angrily.
INT. MARTHA’S COTTAGE - NIGHT
Martha stands there in her nightgown.
martha
What is it Henry? Are you in some kind of trouble?
henry
Well...I’m not sure how to tell you this, but..
martha
Oh, Henry we’ve been through this so many times. Please spare me.
henry
No, no please just listen to me.
They walk in to the pleasantly furnished lounge room.
henry
I was asleep tonight, when this..this thing broke into my place…
martha
What thing?
henry
Uhm.. he says he is the Loneliness. But he looks like a wind or something...or like a storm. He is trying to kill me! And the cabbie just said his uncle was killed by the loneliness, too.
martha
Henry it’s enough. Please live me alone.
She walks towards the front door. Henry holds her back by her arm.
henry
Martha I’m not trying to sweeten you up.
martha
Oh come on! Is that what you used to tell to your whores? That a wind is chasing you? Into their arms perhaps? Henry, I listened to your lies for five long years, I waited for you every night to come home in time to your family. I lied to your daughter when she asked me where you were...
(beat)
I lied to my mother when she asked me where my husband was.. I lied to myself, too.
henry
I know Martha that was my fault, yes. I admit it. But this is true! Just look out the window and you’ll see he is waiting for me. He wants to kill me!
Henry runs to the window, pulls the curtain aside, looks out - into the smoky - dusty face of the Loneliness just outside of the window, waiting.
henry
Martha! Martha! Come here! Have a look! I’m not lying! He is right here!
Martha hesitates, but walks to the window and looks out. There is nothing out there, just the leaves are dancing in the soft breeze.
martha
That’s enough Henry! You have to leave me alone. We’ve been divorced for seventeen years now. It’s long over.
henry
I know, it’s been a long time. But I still remember everything. You were my first love, first wife. First in everything. You’re the mother of my first child. I feel the guilt every day for what happened.
martha
It’s not what happened. But what you’ve done Henry. I looked up to you, I adored you Henry, but you treated me like a servant. I cooked and cleaned and washed while you were out chasing women.
Henry looks into Martha’s tired eyes.
henry
Martha, I remember how beautiful you were when we got married. My God how sweet you were!
martha
You ruined my and your daughter’s life Henry. Go away please.
Henry nervously glances towards the window.
henry
Would you drop me back in town?
Martha nods, although she doesn’t like the idea.
martha
But then you’ll leave me alone! Right?
INT. CAR MOVING - NIGHT
Martha drives the car. Henry glances around frequently. He is worried.
The Loneliness blows some wind up in front of the car
martha
Oh my, what a wind!
henry
See? That’s the Loneliness. He is trying to stop us.
martha
Oh shut up!
Henry doesn’t look at her, but he thinks- “Bitch”
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Martha stops the car in Henry’s quiet inner city street. Henry gets out of the car.
henry
Thanks Martha, I appreciate it.
She drives away without a word.
Henry looks up to his smashed apartment windows on the second floor. Then cautiously checks around.
The Loneliness’ cloud of smokes and dust approaches from the other end of the street.
henry
Shit! I can’t believe this!
He runs into his building.
INT. HIGHRISE BUILDING - NIGHT
Henry runs along the corridor on ground floor, then up to the first floor.
He knocks on the first door.
Male voice from inside sounds sleepy, annoyed.
tenant
Whassup?
henry
It’s me from the second floor, just above you.
tenant
What’s your problem? Can’t sleep?
henry
No it’s not that, but you know there is some one out there who’s chasing me.
The tenant opens the door. He is a young man in his early 20's. His hair is in dread locks.
tenant
Just cool it bro, my kids are asleep, you know? So who is chasing you? Wanna call the cops?
henry
No, I don’t think the cops would understand it. This storm or wind or something like that is trying to kill me. He calls himself Loneliness.
The young man looks around in the corridor.
tenant
Huh? Are’ya on the booze? Or...something else?
He looks around again.
tenant
Look bro, I’ve gotto get up early in the morning, so give me a fucking break! Okay? Now beat it!
And don’t go to the roof, you can’t fly! Take it from me! Okay?
Henry is trying to explain his story but the young man shuts the door in his face.
Strong wind starts blowing through the corridor. Henry makes a dash towards the staircase. He runs down to the ground floor towards the rear of the building.
EXT. COURT YARD AT REAR OF BUILDING - NIGHT
Small courtyard at the back of the building. Lock up garages on ground floor. The courtyard is dark, abandoned.
Henry exits the building, runs to one of the lock up garages. He rips up the roll-a-door, enters the garage.
Wild wind is blowing out of the building’s rear exit. The Loneliness is blowing around the courtyard furiously. Getting close to Henry’s garage.
Henry drives out of the garage in a sedan, burns rubber and speeds out of the driveway to the street.
The Loneliness blows after him, with all his smoke and dust.
EXT. STREET - NIGHT
Henry speeds through the street followed closely by the Loneliness’ cloud of smokes and dust, sometimes taking up his humanly shape angrily gesticulating with his enormous arms, then loses his shape and sweeps faster following Henry.
INT. HENRY’S CAR - NIGHT
Henry is all nerve. He has difficulties to keep the car straight on the road in the violent strong wind.
EXT.STREET - NIGHT
Henry passes by a nightclub. Some people are standing outside talking. A couple is necking a few meters away from the entrance door.
Henry stops, reverses. He parks the car.
The Loneliness blows through the street furiously towards Henry.
Henry gets out of the car and quickly enters the club.
The Loneliness roars past the club then turns around and turns into a gentle breeze near the entrance of the nightclub.
INT. NIGHTCLUB - NIGHT
The club is crowded. The dance floor is full with wriggling and sweating bodies of men and women.
Trance dance in strobe lights.
Henry cuts through the crowd to the bar. He searches through his pockets, and then pulls out some notes.
He orders a drink, looks around the club, checks the women at the bar, and then walks around the tables.
Then walks to the dance floor, checks the dancers.
He focuses his attention on an Asian woman in her early 30’s, with long black hair in provocative dress.
She is dancing alone, with closed eyes, wild and sexy.
Henry seems to be mesmerized by her. Slowly moves closer to the dance floor, keeping his eyes on the dancing Asian woman.
He stops near the woman, staring at her, absorbing every movement she makes.
The woman opens her eyes, looks at Henry. She smiles and continues dancing even wilder and sexier.
She is obviously teasing him with her provocative and suggestive movements.
She then stops dancing and steps to Henry.
Mae
Did you have a good perve?
henry
Sure.
mae
Enjoyed it?
henry
Absolutely.
mae
Fancy me?
henry
I always fancied you. Even after 12 years of marriage. I could never get enough of you.
Mae moves her hip a bit closer to him, with a lustful smile. She rubs her body against him.
HENRY
Are you alone?
mae
Here we go again! Are you still jealous?
henry
No I’m not! Just wanted know if you’ve got any one here with you. That’s all.
mae
Nah! You’re jealous. Admit it! I’m with my boyfriend, if you want to know it.
henry
Still the same? Or a new one?
mae
Does it matter?
She teases.
mae
Do you think of what I’m thinking of?
Henry swallows.
henry
Yeah.
Mae
For the old times sake?
henry
Yeah
mae
Then fuck off!
Mae breaks out in an uncontrollable laugh.
Henry grabs her by her hair and drags her through the crowd, knocking some people over as he makes his way towards the door.
henry
Fucking bitch, do you think you’ll always get away with your fucking attitude? No fucking more! Understand? No more!
Mae is screaming for help.
A large build man in his early 30’s steps in front of Henry, trying to stop him dragging Mae.
Henry picks up a glass from a table next to him and smashes it on the man’s face.
He drops on his knees screaming with blood all over his face.
henry
Are you her boyfriend? I’ll give her back to you soon; in fucking pieces!
Henry gets to the door; his arm is around Mae’s neck holding her tight.
She’s not crying, just puffing and blowing angrily and trying to get her neck out of Henry’s arm.
mae
Help!
henry
Nah, we don’t need help!
Henry kicks the door open and they exit the nightclub.
EXT. STREET – NIGHT
Henry looks around while drags Mae by her neck.
The Loneliness is breezing around the corner, with his smoke and dust cloud, seems to raise and turn towards Henry.
Henry lets her neck go and cuddles her passionately.
henry
Cuddle me! Cuddle me please! Cuddle me!
Mae is trying to fight him.
mae
You’re one sick son of a bitch! What’s your problem? Nearly killed me, now you want me to suck you off?
Henry keeps her tight.
henry
He wants to kill me. He reckons I’m lonely. Just stay with me like this, he’ll go away.
Mae’s boyfriend steps outside from the club, holding a tissue on the bleeding wound on his face.
He stops at the door seeing Henry and Mae cuddling.
mae
Henry! Let me go! I’ve had enough of your fucking sick games!
henry
You had your little, literally fucking games, too over the years, and I just had to play along, liked it or not.
mae
Henry, let me go! This is typical of you! You always held me by my throat. You were killing me with your stupid jealousy. It’s over Henry, it’s over.
Mae notices him standing at the door. She gets out of Henry’s arms and walks over to him.
The Loneliness starts blowing towards Henry.
Henry returns quickly to the club.
INT. NIGHTCLUB – NIGHT
Henry cuts through the crowd. Every one seems to have a good time, dancing, hugging and kissing each other.
Henry goes to the bar, gets a drink. He turns around at the bar, scans the crowd.
He notices phone in a corner. He walks across the bar to the phone, picks up the handset and dials.
INT. BEDROOM _- NIGHT
A woman is asleep in the bed. The phone rings. She reaches out of the bed, turns the light on. She checks the time.
She is a Chinese woman in her late 20’s, with long black hair, pale wide face, very red fleshy lips.
She lets the phone ring. She clears her throat, waits a second, and then slowly picks up the hand piece. She waits a second again, and then speaks on a high-pitched voice, like the actors of a Chinese opera.
Tien-aida
Wei?
INT. NIGHTCLUB – NIGHT
henry
Tien-aida..it’s me!
INT. BEDROOM _- NIGHT
She poses again before she answers.
tien-aida
Yes...
INT. NIGHTCLUB – NIGHT
henry
Tien-aida, I need your help.
Henry poses, waiting for her reaction. There is none.
henry
Tien-aida, are you there?
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Tien-aida holds the phone away from her ears, seems to be reluctant to continue the conversation.
tien-aida
What is it Henry? It’s late night. Normal people are asleep.
INT. NIGHTCLUB – NIGHT
henry
Are you trying to say, I’m not normal? Is that it? That’s how you’re trying to say you don’t want to help?
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
tien-aida
No I’m not, it’s not that. Get to the point Henry, what do you want. I’m trying to live my own life now. Away from your mess. I don’t want any part of it anymore.
INT. NIGHTCLUB – NIGHT
henry
Tien-aida, I need your help. You see this thing is after me. He wants to kill me. I can’t get away from it alone. Please help!
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
tien-aida
What thing Henry?
INT. NIGHTCLUB – NIGHT
henry
The Loneliness
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
tien-aida
It was your choice. You should have thought about it when you sent me away.
INT. NIGHTCLUB – NIGHT
Henry poses for a second or two.
henry
I’m really sorry Tien-aida. Couldn’t we just give it another try? I promise it’ll be all right. I know we can do it!
INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT
Tien-aida slowly hangs up and turns the light off.
INT. NIGHTCLUB – NIGHT
Henry keeps talking.
henry
I didn’t mean to send you away, but you gave me no choice at all. I begged you to send your mother home. I didn’t marry both of you. If you’d told me it’s a package deal I wouldn’t have married you at all. I was even willing to compromise, but you wouldn’t give in, right?
No answer from Tien-aida.
Henry gets really upset. He hits the phone angrily.
henry
Talk to me! Talk to me! That’s what you’ve done to me all the time. I never had no answer from you ever! Only silence. I never knew what you think, what you feel, what you want or desire, what you plan! God damn it Tien-aida, and you say it’s entirely my fault?
A girl, 20 is hanging around Henry, looks like trying to get to the phone.
Henry turns around.
henry
What the fuck do you want?
Bell
The phone, if you don’t mind.
henry
I’m talking to my wife for the fuck sake, you mind? Can’t a man talk to his wife in this fucking upside down world? Should a man have a wife at all?
He listens to the phone and realizes that Tien-aida is not there anymore.
He gives the hand piece to the girl.
henry
Here, I hope you’ll get more out of it than I have.
She touches his arm, and looks into Henry’s eyes.
Bell
You sound like a very bitter man. My name is Bell. What’s yours?
henry
Sweetheart, you could be my daughter. What’s wrong with you? Are you horny or something?
bell
Were you talking to your wife? You don’t look like a man who has a wife.
henry
Yes. It was my wife. I had a wife, for your information, in fact three.
bell
And you still ended up alone? Sounds pretty miserable to me.
henry
Sounds unfair to me.
Henry looks into her eyes. She has eyes like a cloud of dust and smoke.
henry
I’ve seen those eyes before.
bell
Do you like them?
Bell steps closer to him.
henry
Where have I seen them before?
bell
Come on, give me a hug. Hold me Henry.
henry
How do you know my name?
She is trying to wrap her arms around Henry’s neck.
bell
I heard you saying it when you were on the phone. Kiss me Henry.
henry
Why would I say my own name on the phone when I’m talking to my wife.
BELL
Come on Henry kiss me! My poor lonely man. You’re so lonely, aren’t you Henry?
Henry examines Bell’s face and eyes, while Bell is trying to kiss him.
henry
I’m not lonely. I might be alone sometimes, but I have a lot of fun, and I enjoy my solitude.
bell
Bullshit Henry and you know it. I hate your kind, pretending the bubbling happiness in public and you cry yourself to sleep alone.
Henry suspiciously pushes Bell away, just in time, as Bell turns into a cloud of smoke and dust.
Henry jumps and tears across the crowd, towards the exit door.
The Loneliness roars after him.
People scramble, scream and try to get out of the loneliness’ path, sweeping across the club.
Henry runs into the kitchen.
INT. KITCHEN - NIGHT
It’s dark in the kitchen the staff is already gone. Henry is looking for a place to hide.
Runs past the gas stoves then stops and returns to the stoves. He opens all the taps on the top and ovens. Gas pours out of the open taps.
He runs to the exit door on the other end of the kitchen, and waits.
The Loneliness blows into the kitchen furiously, searches for Henry.
henry
This is the end of your mission! And this is the end of you! I’m not afraid of you anymore!
Henry steps outside and drops a burning lighter into the kitchen.
Huge explosion shakes the nightclub, demolishing the entire kitchen, sending debris through the burning building.
People run out of the club screaming, some of them wounded, others dragging their friends and partners. Total chaos.
INT. HENRY’S APARTMENT, BEDROOM – NIGHT
Henry is asleep on his bed. He wakes up, looks around the room and smiles.
His apartment is quiet and everything seems to be in order.
henry
Yeah, right! The Loneliness!
He laughs, puffs up his pillow and goes back to sleep.
Suddenly the door bursts open, smashes against the wall and the furious cloud of smoke and dust blows into the room, sprawls on Henry’s bed, totally covering his face.
Henry coughs violently and kicks up in the air in his desperate fight.
The kicking slows down, and then eventually stops. Deadly silence. The cloud of smoke and dust slowly flows out of the room, leaves quietly.
The End
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COPYRIGHT THOMAS MORRISON MAY 2003 P.O.BOX 1141 GREEN VALLEY 2168 NSW