Absurdity

SCENE 1

FADE-IN EXT. BRIGHT SUNNY DAY AT A SMALL PARK, LUSH AND GREEN, BIRDS SINGING IN BACKGROUND WIDE SHOT OF PARK ROAD, TREES ON BOTH SIDES, FEW JOGGERS ON SIDES OF THE ROAD, BENCH WITH BOY.

CLOSE-UP SHOT OF BENCH WITH BOY.

PINOCCHIO, age 10, sitting quietly, staring at the trees. Small bag by his side. Classic garb, yellow hat, red pants, with suspenders, blue shirt.

WIDE-SHOT OF SQUIRRELS JUMPING tree to tree, BIRDS FLYING in sky, peaceful, relaxing, 15 SEC.

MEDIUM-SHOT OF PINOCCHIO.

PINOCCHIO LOOKS CONTENT, all is well. BLACK CAR PULLS UP, Pinocchio LOOKS CURIOUS.

A MAN, MOSTLY UNSEEN, BECKONS PINOCCHIO into the car, as PINOCCHIO gets close, THE MAN pulls him inside and the driver slowly drives away.

FADE-OUT ON BAG LEFT BEHIND.

SCENE 2

FADE-IN INT. BLACK ROOM, SMALL. CAN HEAR DRIPPING WATER. PANORAMIC VIEW OF PINOCCHIO, TIED TO CHAIR BY ARMS, LEGS AND CHEST, NO MOVEMENT NEXT TO A TABLE. HE HAS LOST HIS HAT, HIS SUSPENDERS ARE OFF AND HIS CLOTHES LOOK TATTERED. ON THE TABLE IS A SHOTGUN WITH A TAUGHT STRING ON THE TRIGGER, THE STRING IS ATTACHED TO PINOCCHIO'S NOSE. ONE OTHER TABLE IN THE ROOM, WITH VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS OF TORTURE.

THE MAN is YELLING ANGRILY at PINOCCHIO, NO AUDIO EXCEPT BACKGROUND. THE MAN IS DRESSED IN A DARK DEEP BLUE SWEATER, BLACK PANTS, AND HAS A SLIGHT BEARD. IS OF POSSIBLE MIDDLE EASTERN DESCENT, BUT DETAILS ARE BLURRED, COULD BE CAUCASIAN. PINOCCHIO LOOKS DAZED.

Suddenly the man grabs a lighter off of the second table and lights PINOCCHIO'S right hand on fire. Before it gets too big THE MAN puts it out.

"Say it! just say it and this is all over!"

PINOCCHIO(Crying/shouting)
"NO! I want to live, I still want to live. I'll always want to live, just stop, I want to live."

THE MAN FRUSTRATED LEAVES the room.

FADE-OUT PINOCCHIO CRYING

SCENE 3

FADE-IN ON THE MAN AND PINOCCHIO. PINOCCHIO HAS LOST HIS SHIRT AND THERE APPEAR TO BE SCARS ON HIS CHEST AND BELLY. THE MAN IS CALMLY CUTTING PINOCCHIO WITH A SMALL SAW, OVER VARIOUS PARTS OF HIS BODY, CAN SEE SAWDUST ON THE FLOOR AND ALL OVER PINOCCHIO. Eventually THE MAN stops and leaves the room.

"I want to live. I don't want to die. I want to live, I don't want to die. (continuing until scene ends)."

FADE-OUT ON THE SAW LEFT ON THE TABLE DUSTY WITH SAWDUST

SCENE 4

FADE-IN ON THE MAN BORING HOLES INTO PINOCCHIO'S ARMS, CAN SEE SEVERAL HOLES DRILLED INTO HIS CHEST ALREADY. THE MAN PAUSES. THE MAN places the drill on the table.

"You just have to say it and this is all over. All of this can end, just say that you want to die, that one little lie will be enough to pull string and trigger the shotgun, just tell me that one lie. Come on say it. (SLOWLY) I want to die."

THE MAN leaves the room as PINOCCHIO doesn't seem to respond.

PINOCCHIO LOOKS UP AS THE DOOR CLOSES, A CRUSHED BOY WHO HAS BEEN BRUTALLY TORTURED FOR WEEKS. BURNS AND SHAVINGS AND HOLES SCATTER HIS BROKEN BODY.

"I want to die. I want to die. I want to die!"

Nothing happens, his nose does not grow and the gun does not go off.

PINOCCHIO sits for a minute, taken aback, wanting the torture to end. Finally he looks up again, straight at the gun.

CLOSE-UP OF PINOCCHIO'S FACE: GUN IS NOW THE CAMERA.

"I want to live. I still want to live."

FADE-OUT

AFTER CREDITS EXTRA

FADE-IN ON ONE OF THE TERRORISTS WHO WAS DOING THE TORTURING. HE IS HOLDING A CD. HE IS OUTSIDE BY THE MAILBOX. AS HE IS PUTTING IT IN WE CAN SEE THAT IT IS ADDRESSED TO GEPETTO.