7
THE SHOPPING – WADIM MATUSEWICZ
Email:
Phone: 075 8227 1293
LONDON, 2111
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
The room has modern, simple furniture.
(O/S) FOOTBALL COMMENTARY PLAYS
Scattered around we see various empty beer bottles and ripped packets of crisps, also football, motoring and other sport magazines. A satellite TV guide lies nearby, it’s a bit scrunched up. It’s open on the sports programmes page.
A rough MAN (30s) sits on the couch. He’s watching a football game on TV. He’s tall, brawny, big arms, rough facial features, black ruffled hair. He wears an unbuttoned shirt and ripped shorts. A bottle of beer stands nearby on the coffee table.
He’s getting agitated, waving his arms and bellowing with enthusiasm as he follows the match. He takes a sip from the beer bottle and then belches vigorously.
INT. CORRIDOR – DAY
A long, brightly illuminated, completely white corridor. Along the wall we see a row of little windows with small trays sticking out underneath.
(O/S) CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS (Bach, Brandenburg Concerto)
Two MEN sit outside on chairs next to a door. There’s a light fitting above the door, the light is off. They wear white protective full-body suits and helmets. They are reading magazines. The magazines are about Classical music composers and a guide for visiting places of History.
A red intermittent light above the door comes on coupled with a loud beeping SIGNAL. The two men put down their magazines and get up. They adjust their white protective suits, and helmets.
Man 1 glances at Man 2. Man 2 nods.
INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY
The door opens, the two individuals enter the room. They walk carefully towards the man watching TV. The man sees them as a reflection on the TV, but pretends not to see them. He continues with his agitation about the game. He takes the beer and has another sip. He belches again.
The two men stop. Man 1 beckons towards the door. Man 2 walks to a switch and flicks it. The TV goes off.
The rough Man jolts and jumps to his feet. He’s holding the beer bottle. He starts making threatening growling and snarling noises while pointing to the TV set. He farts loudly. The two men take a step backwards and raise their hands defensively.
MAN 1 IN WHITE SUIT
(points to the bottle)
Now... put that down...
The rough Man keeps advancing and waves the bottle threateningly. Man 1 indicates the door to Man 2. Man 2 walks towards it and goes out.
MAN 1 IN WHITE SUIT
(slow, calming hand gestures)
We’re not gonna hurt you... just stop it right there...
(O/S) Door OPENS
Man 1 turns around and sees Man 2 carrying a bulky cattle prod. Man 2 turns on the cattle prod and advances slowly.
The rough Man notices the cattle prod. He stops, points to the cattle prod and gives out a wimpy snarl. He raises his hands defensively. He starts backing away. Man 2 advances slowly.
Man 2 pushes out the cattle prod and jabs the rough Man. The rough Man jolts, snarls and gives out a loud cry of pain. He drops the beer bottle which shatters on the floor.
The two white-suited men push him towards another door in the living room. He moves back towards it, with his hands up and the occasional wimpy snarl.
MAN 1 IN WHITE SUIT
Now... keep going, there’s a good boy...
The rough Man stops, kneels down and puts his head in his hands and whines repeatedly. Man 2 lowers the cattle prod.
The rough Man sees that and lunges at the two men. He pushes them away and rushes to the door, the TV comes back on. The rough Man gives out a pleased snarl.
The two white-suited men look at each other. Man 2 raises swiftly the cattle prod and jabs the rough Man repeatedly in the back. The rough Man falls and rolls over in agony. The cattle-prodding continues while the rough Man is rolling on the floor. Man 2 finally raises the cattle prod.
The rough Man rises slowly to his feet holding his back, he’s in pain. Man 2 points the cattle prod at him.
MAN 1 IN WHITE SUIT
Now... no more trickery, yeah?
The rough Man lowers his head and slumbers towards the door. He opens it. We see an unmade bed through the door.
INT. BEDROOM - DAY
We see the back of a WOMAN looking at the mirror, she’s wearing a flowery dress. She’s putting on some make up. She’s well proportioned, long black hair.
The rough Man enters and notices the Woman. He stares at her rocking backside with glee.
The Woman turns around. Her makeup is quite exaggerated, her eyes are black and she’s wearing lots of red lipstick.
The rough Man stares at her and gives out a cheerful snarl. He turns back towards the white-suited men. He’s puzzled but visibly happy. The white-suited men point towards the woman. The rough Man points towards himself.
MAN 1 IN WHITE SUIT
Oh, for God’s sake...
The men nod repeatedly and point at the Woman. The rough Man steps ahead and drops his shorts – we see his hairy backside. The Woman looks down and opens her eyes wide, visibly satisfied.
The rough Man jumps on the Woman and rips off her clothes.
MAN 1 IN WHITE SUIT
(to the other)
Told you we don’t need the bed...
(O/S) Intense MOANING and GROANING
MEN IN WHITE SUIT
(both looking away)
Oh my Lord... Oh God...
INT. LIVING ROOM – DAY
The two men enter and close the door. They walk past the broken beer bottle. They stop.
MAN 1 IN WHITE SUIT
(to the other)
Better get him another one... for later...
Man 2 nods.
INT. CORRIDOR - DAY
Man 1 closes the door.
(O/S) CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS (Bach, Brandenburg Concerto)
The two men take off their head coverings and fix up their hair. They’re both blond and good-looking.
MAN 1 IN WHITE SUIT
(exhales)
Good... that’s taken care of...
Man 2 nods.
(O/S) Intermittent BEEPING sound. Flashes of red light.
Another red light has come on. It’s flashing half way down the corridor above the little row of windows.
MAN 2 IN WHITE SUIT
(looks at his watch)
Feeding time...
Man 1 nods. The light stops.
Man 2 fetches a nearby trolley. On it we see stacks of small food carton boxes, a cylinder with a dispenser sticking out on the side and a stack of paper cups and lids.
Man 1 pushes a switch on the wall, the classical music stops.
We hear a constant loud BUZZING sound. Man 2 looks at the bright white lights above.
The two men walk down the corridor pushing the trolley along.
Along the wall in the corridor we see the row of little windows with small trays sticking out underneath. The men stop near the first one. Man 1 unlocks the window and knocks. The window opens, a pair of hairy hands comes out.
Man 2 sticks one of the cardboard boxes in the body of the trolley and waits. Man 1 pulls out a paper cup and stares with unease at the hairy hands.
The trolley DINGS.
Man 2 takes out the box and opens it, inside we see steaming greasy burger and chips. He looks at the contents and cringes.
Man 1 fills the cup with a dark liquid from the dispenser, puts the lid on and sticks a straw through it. Some of the dark liquid spills out on Man 1’s hand. He jolts.
MAN 2 IN WHITE SUIT
Lucky you’re wearing gloves, eh?
Man 1 nods as he carefully wipes off the liquid with a cloth.
The hairy hands are moving eagerly asking for the food.
Man 1 drops the box on the hands and pulls back swiftly. The hairy hands grab the box and disappear. Man 1 puts the cup on the tray. The hands come back for the cup. Man 2 closes and secures the window.
The men saunter along the corridor pushing the trolley.
MAN 2 IN WHITE SUIT
So... you going to the opera tonight?
MAN 1 IN WHITE SUIT
Of course... it’s the only thing keeping me sane these days...
Man 2 looks at man 1 puzzled. Man 1 points at the windows. Man 2 nods.
MAN 2 IN WHITE SUIT
Yeah... I know what you mean...
(O/S) Another intermittent SIGNAL BEEPS. The sound is more muted then before, it comes from behind the wall.
Man 2 looks at Man 1. He’s puzzled.
(O/S) The alarm stops. Soon we hear wild SNARLS and GROWLS and swift mechanical NOISES.
Man 2 looks at the wall with unease.
MAN 1 IN WHITE SUIT
Don’t worry... you’ll get used to it...
Man 1 pushes a switch on the wall.
(O/S) CLASSICAL MUSIC RESUMES.
FADE OUT
INT. SUPERMARKET - DAY
A distinguished WOMAN (30s) enters through the automatic doors. She’s blond and good-looking. She’s got a greyhound on the leash.
She stops and glances at the greyhound. The dog looks at her and sits down. She walks inside, the dogs remains there.
(O/S) CLASSICAL MUSIC PLAYS (Vivaldi, Concerto in A minor for two violins)
The Woman puts various grocery items in the trolley as she walks along the aisles. We see other clients going through the aisles. They’re very distinguished and all blond.
Another blond LADY stands nearby, she’s reading a newspaper. The headline on the first page reads: 50 years today to the mysterious wipe-out.
(O/S) DING DONG sound. Announcement: We wish to remind our valued clients that we have a special on our fresh meat today...
The Woman looks up.
INT. SUPERMARKET, BUTCHER’S COUNTER - DAY
The Woman arrives and stops at the counter. A MAN (40s) dressed in a white outfit with a red-stained apron arrives behind the counter.
BUTCHER
Good morning madam... can I be of any assistance?
WOMAN
Good morning... yes... I have a small gathering tonight... and, my gusts are quite keen on red meat...
(pause)
...could I have some of your best cuts...
BUTCHER
Of course madam... we have some splendid cuts... freshly delivered today...
The Butcher goes behind the counter. We see him raise slowly a bloodied cleaver and then swiftly go down to land vigorously with a THUD. The cleaver disappears behind the counter (we don’t see the meat).
(O/S) CLASSICAL MUSIC CONTINUES PLAYING
The Butcher repeats the action a few more times. The Woman follows the cleaver distractedly as it goes down.
The Butcher brings out the meat on a piece of paper and puts it on the scales. He looks at her. The Woman nods.
The Butcher makes a nice package and hands it to the Woman.
WOMAN
Thank you... I do hope these are good cuts, my guests are quite the connoisseurs, you see...
BUTCHER
Don’t worry madam, only the best for our clients...
The Woman puts the meat into the trolley. As she walks off she uncovers a sign with the image of a man divided into various sections with the relative descriptions of the various meat cuts.
WOMAN (O/S)
Now... some good wine...