12 Monkeys Page #6

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No alternative. COLE pops the SPIDER in his mouth and swallows

it as JEFFREY prattles on...

JEFFREY:

"What about the germs?" I say. He

goes, "I don't believe in germs. Germs

are just a plot they made up so they

can sell you disinfectants and soap!"

Now, he's crazy, right? Hey, you

believe in germs, don't you?

COLE:

I'm not crazy.

JEFFREY:

Of course not, I never thought you were.

You want to escape, right? That's very

sane. I can help you. You want me to,

don't you? Get you out?

COLE:

If you know how to escape, why don't you...?

JEFFREY:

Why don't I escape, that's what you

were going to ask me, right? 'Cause

I'd be crazy to escape! I'm all taken

care of, see? I've sent out word.

COLE:

What's that mean?

JEFFREY:

I've managed to contact certain underlings,

evil spirits, secretaries of secretaries, and

assorted minions, who will contact my father.

When he learns I'm in this kind of place,

he'll have them transfer me to one of those

classy joints where they treat you...properly.

LIKE A GUEST! LIKE A PERSON! SHEETS!

TOWELS! LIKE A BIG HOTEL WITH GREAT DRUGS

FOR THE NUT CASE LUNATIC MANIAC DEVILS...

PATIENTS are waking up as the NURSE and two ORDERLIES burst into the

dorm and head straight for JEFFREY who's struggling to calm himself.

JEFFREY:

Sorry. Really sorry. Got a little

agitated. The thought of escaping

crossed my mind and suddenly...suddenly

I felt LIKE BENDING THE F***ING BARS

BACK, RIPPING OFF THE GODDAMN WINDOW

FRAMES AND...EATING THEM, YES, EATING

THEM, AND LEAPING, LEAPING...

COLE watches the ORDERLIES grab JEFFREY and haul him away.

JEFFREY:

You dumb a**holes! I'm a mental patient!

I'm supposed to act out. Wait til you

morons find out who I am. My father's

gonna be really upset. AND WHEN MY

FATHER GETS UPSET, THE GROUND SHAKES!

MY FATHER IS GOD! I WORSHIP MY FATHER.

INT. WARD DAYROOM - MORNING

ANGLE ON TV SCREEN/A VIDEO IMAGE OF A LAB MONKEY, convulsing

pathetically, a victim of shocks from the numerous wires attached

to his tiny, restrained body.

ANGLE ON COLE, sitting, writing intensely in a magazine with

crayon, surrounded by dull-eyed PATIENTS in pajamas and ratty

robes, staring at the shuddering LAB MONKEY on the TV screen.

JEFFREY'S VOICE (o.s.)

Torture! Experiments! We're all

monkeys

COLE locks up, startled, as JEFFREY, one eye bruised black, takes

the seat next to him.

COLE:

They hurt you!

JEFFREY:

Not as bad as what they're doing to

kitty.

ANGLE ON TV, showing a laboratory CAT turning in mad circles,

eating its own tail, while a NEWS REPORTER narrates.

TV NEWS REPORTER (v.o.)

These video tapes were obtained by

animal rights activists who worked

underground as laboratory assistants

for several months. Authorities say

there is little they can do until...

The video footage now shows LAB WORKERS watching the results of

their experiments passively.

ANGLE ON COLE, reacting angrily.

COLE:

Look at those a**holes, they're asking

for it! Maybe people deserved to be

wiped out!

JEFFREY:

(startled, turning)

Wiping cut the human race! That's a

great idea! But it's more of a long

term thing -- right now we have to

focus on more immediate goals.

(sudden whisper)

I didn't say a word about "you know

what".

COLE:

What are you talking about???

JEFFREY:

You know -- your plan.

As COLE stares, befuddled, JEFFREY sees COLE'S magazine.

JEFFREY:

What're you writing? You a reporter?

COLE:

(shielding the magazine)

It's private.

JEFFREY:

A lawsuit? You going to sue them?

Just then BILLINGS looms over COLE, extending a cup full of pills.

BILLINGS:

Yo, James -- time to take your meds.

INT. DAY ROOM/HOSPITAL - THIRTY MINUTES LATER (MORNING)

ANGLE ON THE TV, a commercial playing: a beautiful couple romps

in the surf in slow motion while an eager NARRATOR encourages...

NARRATOR (v.o.)

Take a chance. Live the moment. Sunshine.

Gorgeous beaches. The Florida Keys!

ANGLE ON COLE, very drugged, seated in front of the TV along with

other drugged PATIENTS, staring at the screen.

ANGLE ON THE TV, showing a picture of the Marx Brothers.

TV AWNOUNCER (v.o.)

We'll return to the Marx Brothers in

"Monkey Business" following these

messages.

JEFFREY'S VOICE (o.s.)

Monkey Business! Monk Key Business.

COLE sees JEFFREY sliding into the next chair and smirking.

JEFFREY:

Get it? Monk - Key. Monk!

(big grin)

Key!

JEFFREY flashes his palm open for one quick moment. A KEY!

COLE:

(groggy)

What....???

JEFFREY:

Wooooo, they really dosed you, bro.

Major load! Listen up -- try and get

it together. Focus! Focus! The plan!

Remember? I did my part.

COLE:

What...???

JEFFREY:

Not, "what", babe! When!

"When???"

JEFFREY:

(pressing the key into Cole's hand)

Now!

VOICE/TV (o.s.)

Let us guide you to the stocks and

bonds that will enhance your portfolio.

JEFFREY:

(leaping to his feet)

YES -- NOW! BUY NOW! STOCKS AND BONDS!

NO MORE MONKEY BUSINESS -- BUY NOW.

ANGLE ON TV, almost mimicking JEFFREY with an ad...a BULL and a

BEAR and a computer screen showing stock prices fluctuating.

VOICE/TV (v.o.)

A portfolio tailored to your specific

needs and the needs of your loved ones...

ANGLE ON COLE, dumbfounded, watching JEFFREY dance crazily.

JEFFREY:

YES, YES. ENHANCE YOUR PORTFOLIO NOW!

ANGLE ON BILLINGS, across the ward, reacting to JEFFREY, lets go

of the OLD MAN he's helping as another orderly, TERRY, presses a

beeper, calling for help.

ANGLE ON COLE, flabbergasted, as JEFFREY cavorts around the room.

JEFFREY:

BUY! SELL! SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY!

ANGLE ON A HAND, inserting the last piece into the PEACEABLE

KINGDOM JIGSAW PUZZLE. Just then, JEFFREY'S HAND sweeps the

puzzle off the table, scattering it into a thousand pieces.

ANGLE ON JEFFREY, dancing away while the PATIENT who just

completed the puzzle stares, very upset.

Other PATIENTS are getting agitated, too, as JEFFREY avoids a

lunge by BILLINGS and dances off, using PATIENTS as a shield.

HEAVY WOMAN PATIENT

I'M GETTING DIZZY. MAKE HIM STOP!

SKINNY MAN PATIENT

HERE THEY COME! THEY'RE COMING!

OLD MAN PATIENT:

FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS! I GOT FIVE

HUNDRED DOLLARS! I'M INSURED!

JEFFREY:

OPPORTUNITY! DEFINITELY! A WINDOW OF

OPPORTUNITY! OPENING NOW! NOW'S THE TIME

FOR ALL GOOD MEN TO SEIZE THE MOMENT! YES!

YES! MASTERCARD! VISA! THE KEY TO HAPPINESS!

ANGLE ON COLE, realizing through the haze of drugs that JEFFREY

is sending a message to him. COLE looks at the ward door.

COLE'S POV:
the WARD DOOR opens and two husky ORDERLIES enter.

One locks the door with a key, one of many on a key ring attached

to his belt, as the other ORDERLY rushes to join the pursuit.

JEFFREY:

SEIZE THE MOMENT! GET RICH! NOW'S THE

TIME! GO FOR IT!

BILLINGS:

(missing a tackle)

God damn you, Jeffrey, quit playing the fool.

ANGLE ON COLE, hesitating. He locks at the door...blurring in

and out of focus. He looks down at the key in his hand.

ANGLE ON JEFFREY, being grabbed by the ORDERLIES. JEFFREY

resists wildly as they struggle to overpower him.

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