The Maverick's Mind-Space

WITHIN
Written by A.M. Abinand


INT. THOMAS' HOUSE - DAY

We see a bed with the bedsheets not folded and pillows carelessly thrown around.

FADE TO:

Thomas' computer, with many DVDs lying around and a screensaver running on the monitor.

FADE TO:

Thomas' closet, where we see a pair of unpolished shoes and a jacket.

FADE TO:

Thomas' bed, again in the same state.

FADE TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

Thomas sleeping on the ground, totally exhausted. He is still wearing his tie and socks.

BEAT.

We hear the sound of someone trying to open a door.

ZOOM IN TO THOMAS.
Slight twitching in Thomas' face. He opens his eyes. He hears the noise.

ZOOM IN to the door knob. We realise that someone is trying to open the door from the other end.


THOMAS

Whozere(muffled)

(no answer)

THOMAS

Whoz there?

The door opens, and Thomas sees a hazy figure. The person is out of focus.

Thomas comes to a sitting position.

THOMAS

Who are you? (Thomas gets up abruptly while scratching his head distractedly, this is very subtle and comes naturally to him)

PERSON

Guess? (The person makes a similar scratching motion that Thomas did.)


Thomas notices that the person makes the same movement that he does.

THOMAS (V.O)

Maybe he is my mirror image. He just did the exact same thing!

THOMAS

Yes! You’re my reflection. Aren’t you?

PERSON

YES!! YOU are my mirror image*. Aren’t you?

Now Thomas begins to think.

THOMAS

How can a mirror image occur with a time lag? And how can it speak to me.

NO(shrug in voice)!! NO!! You are NOT my mirror image. You can’t be. (Saying it very cynically)

PERSON

Of Course, I am not. It took you so long to find that out? How can a mirror image* occur with a time lag, you moron?

THOMAS

The..(n…almost swallows while saying - Who tha hella’you?


PERSON (teasingly… mockingly)
Find out….Think a li’l harder Thomas.

Thomas is totally confused. He begins to think of all possibilities.

THOMAS

Why are you here?


PERSON

I’m here because of you.

Think Thomas….You think…..therefore I am…(cynical wicked smile)



THOMAS

Wait a sec. I was sleeping. And you came... You are in my Dream. You DON'T exist..Ha ha..I know. You don't exist at all. My God! I can’t believe I’m talking in my dream. I know you’re gonna go the moment I wake up.

PERSON

If you say so.





ZOOM IN TO THOMAS

Thomas is a little relieved. But slowly he begins to have doubts. His facial expression changes.


THOMAS

What if he’s not…what if he’s here to…..

PERSON’s Fist smashes into Thomas’ face

THOMAS falls down..a distant shot of Thomas-- alone and screaming. He is strangling his own neck and punching himself…trying to rescue himself from the “killer”.

Argh’s and muffles and sickly coughs are heard.

Snap into reality where Thomas is punching his palm and talking to a woman….

ZOOM OUT.

We see two people, a man and a woman sitting on a sofa beside each other. The man who screams is ADRIEN. Beside him is Jessica, his friend.

JESSICA

Good story, Adrien. I liked it. Nice schizo stuff. You really haven’t written anything like this before…So...does he realise that he is a schizo?

ZOOM IN TO ADRIEN.


ADRIEN

Hmmm...Not really. There are some points when you actually suspect you are Schizo, but then your mind is not prepared for it and it begins to search for alternate realities....

(ADRIEN CONTINUES TO SPEAK..The volume reduces).

ZOOM OUT..

We see ADRIEN talking.
He is alone in the room. There is no sign of Jessica. Adrien continues to talk looking at his left.

ADRIEN

...to explain what those hallucinations are. However, I personally believe--that it is all related to lack of acceptance and….unfulfilled dreams.


FADE TO BLACK.