THE GIFT
BY
STACY DAVIDSON
FADE IN:
1 INT. DARK ROOM -- NIGHT 1
WATER DRIPS down from a leaky faucet.
DRIP. DRIP.
LABORED BREATHING.
VICTIM, MALE, 24, lay strapped to a table. Water drips
incessant upon his forehead. He seems pale, sickly.
A shadowy figure brushes into view.
TORTURER
Did you know that Chinese water
torture isn't even a Chinese
invention? It's British. In the
eighteen-hundreds, the British had a
tendency to use the word "Chinese"
to describe anything strange or
unusual.
DRIP. DRIP.
TORTURER (CONT'D)
Can you still hear me?
VICTIM
Y... yes.
DRIP. DRIP.
TORTURER
I understand you will actually go
quite mad before the water begins to
peel the flesh from your skull. I'm
really not sure if you will be
conscious by then or not.
DRIP. DRIP.
VICTIM
Wha... whatever you want... I... I
don't have anything.
TORTURER
I came here to give you something.
VICTIM
Wh... why?
TORTURER
I am going to give you a riddle. Do
you understand?
VICTIM
Yes. Y.. yes.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.
1 CONTINUED: 1
TORTURER
I am going to give you a riddle, and
if you can solve this riddle in time,
I am going to set you free before I
catch my plane. You see, my wife is
in a special hospital, and I mustn't
leave her alone too long.
DRIP. DRIP.
TORTURER (CONT'D)
Are you ready for this riddle?
VICTIM
Yes. Y... yes.
TORTURER
Good, here it is. I have measured it
from side to side,'Tis two feet long
and one foot wide. It is of compass
small, and bare... to thirsty suns
and parching air. Inside, a dark and
dusty tomb, reminiscent of a womb.
You have fifteen seconds to guess.
VICTIM
Wh... I...
TORTURER
You had better hurry up, you are
down to ten seconds.
VICTIM
I don't... it's... I can't...
TORTURER
Five.
VICTIM
It's... it's... a gr... grave! An
infant's grave!
TORTURER
An infant's grave.
VICTIM becomes terrified. Shocking realization.
TORTURER (CONT'D)
Very good, but that was seventeen
seconds.
VICTIM
No... please! Wait!
DRIP. DRIP.
VICTIM (CONT'D)
Hello? Please! Pleeeease god dammit!
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.
1 CONTINUED: (2) 1
VICTIM (CONT'D)
I... I'm sorry. Please, oh Jesus I'm
so fucking sorry.
TORTURER
My wife almost bled to death before
they could sew her stomach shut. The
bullet was found lodged in her spine.
She may never walk again.
VICTIM
Jesus, god...
TORTURER
And do you know that my daughter was
due today?
DRIP. DRIP.
TORTURER (CONT'D)
Why did you do it?
VICTIM
I just...
TORTURER
Why?
VICTIM
I... I... I didn't...
TORTURER
Why?
VICTIM
I... I wanted your car.
TORTURER leans down close to VICTIM'S ear.
TORTURER
(whispers)
Then, why didn't you just take the
car?
DRIP. DRIP.
TORTURER (CONT'D)
And so you ask yourself, does this
man have a merciful bone in his body?
Please, god can this man ever forgive
me?
DRIP. DRIP.
TORTURER (CONT'D)
While you have taken away so much
from me... I am going to give you a
gift before I go, to show you my
level of mercy.
(CONTINUED)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.
1 CONTINUED: (3) 1
DRIP. DRIP.
TORTURER (CONT'D)
Would you like another riddle?
VICTIM
And you'll let me go?
TORTURER
When you solve this riddle, my gift
to you will become clear.
DRIP. DRIP.
TORTURER (CONT'D)
Until I am measured, I am not known,
yet how you miss me... when I have
flown.
VICTIM
Hello? Wait! I know this one! I know
this one!! Hello? It's TIME! The
answer... is time.
DRIP. DRIP.
VICTIM (CONT'D)
Hello?
DRIP. DRIP.
VICTIM (CONT'D)
H... help?
VICTIM stares helplessly at the faucet above.
DRIP. DRIP.
FADE OUT
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