Brazil Page #25

OFFICIAL B:

We would advise you that a plea of

guilty will save you and the tax

payer money, and will always be

looked upon more favourably than a

plea of not guilty. All you are

requested to do at this stage is to

sign this form.

OFFICIAL B waves a sheet of paper. We hear SAM's voice.

SAM:

Where's Jill?

OFFICIAL A:

Not interested?

SAM:

What have you done with Jill?

OFFICIAL A:

Right. Next!

The SECURITY GUARD appears briefly and zips up the hood

again plunging us back into darkness. We get more muffled

shouts, heavy breathing and subterranean son et lumiere.

Another SECURITY GUARD opens the flap on SAM's hood. We

see another TWO OFFICIALS.

SAM:

(more hysterical)

Where's Jill? What's happened to

Jill?

OFFICIAL C:

93/HKS/608, you've got quite a list

of misdemeanours here, haven't you?

All this is going to take time and

money, and I'm afraid, according to

your bank statement and credit rating

here, you're likely to be in deep

financial trouble by the end of it.

Now, either you plead guilty to say,

seven or eight of these charges,

which'll bring the costs down to

within your reach, or you can borrow

a sum to be negotiated, from us, at

very competitive rates. We can offer

you something at say, eleven and a

half per cent, over thirty years. But

you will have to buy insurance to

qualify for his scheme.

OFFICIAL D:

All you have to do is to agree to

sign the appropriate boxes on these

forms. Yes or no?

SAM:

I'm not guilty! Not guilty you stupid

bastar...

THE GUARD closes the flap. Once again darkness and

confusion. until another SECURITY GUARD opens the flap

again to reveal another TWO OFFICIALS.

OFFICIAL E:

(examining forms)

Now, since you've elected to plead

not guilty on all these charges,

you'd be well advised to take some

sort of insurance cover. Preferably

comprehensive, or if you'd prefer,

something more specific - say,

against electrical charges over

f70.00. And for food and

accommodation costs of say, £800.00.

Detention can be a very expensive

business.

OFFICIAL F:

Now, before we bore you with the

small print perhaps you'd like to

tell us whether you'd like to sign

this insurance acceptance form or

not. Think carefully before you

decide. Thinking ahead in financial

matters is always the wise course.

The flap is closed and opened again very quickly - NEW

OFFICIALS are revealed. This process repeats again and

again - getting faster and faster. The OFFICIALS' faces

seem to become a changing blur. Their voices overlap in a

growing cacophony. The desk and the other items in the

room remain static. To add to this disturbing effect the

FORCES OF DARKNESS begin to gather in the room behind the

OFFICIALS. As they increase in number they begin to press

forward unseen by the OFFICIALS. Soon they fill the view

through the flap.

OFFICIAL:

We're here to save you and the tax

payer money.

OFFICIAL:

Would you like to pay the premium for

a single room with a shower and a

soft bed?

OFFICIAL:

For a small charge we can keep visits

from friends and relatives down to to

a minimum.

OFFICIAL:

Plead guilty, it's easier, quicker,

and cheaper for everyone.

OFFICIAL:

We're doing a survey ... Aimed at

providing a better service.

OFFICIAL:

Do you think the present system is A.

efficient, B. inefficient?

OFFICIAL:

As a taxpayer are you A. impressed,

B. unimpressed

131 INT. STONE SHIPTIMELESS 131

CUT to SAM struggling with the FORCES OF DARKNESS. He is

overwhelmed by the black hordes. They fill the screen. SAM

disappears under their onslaught. A pause. Then SAM is

raised, spread-eagled, above the black sea of the FORCES.

Strong hands hold him. The maniacal laughter starts up.

SAM is turned in its direction.

CUT to a shot over the top of the mass of robed FIGURES.

Rising from the ruins of the stone columns, the black

cloth thing flaps menacingly towards camera. We can see

the towering filing cabinet skyscrapers of the Storeroom

of Knowledge in the background.

SAM looks terrified. As the thing hovers above SAM in all

its huge twisting awfulness, it slowly begine to unfold

like some deadly flower blooming in stop motion.

SAM freezes as the interior becomes invisible. There in

the billowing blackness is the GIRL. She is beckoning.

GIRL:

Sam.

But the VOICE is no longer the mysterious feminine voice

of before - it is the voice of the maniacal laughter.

SAM struggles with the restraining hands. He twists and

turns, but to no avail. From the darkness above him

descends the JOLLY GENT looking just like MR HELPMANN) on

his window washer's platform. However he is now dressed as

Father Christmas.

GENT:

Sam, what are we going to do with

you?

GIRL:

Ha ha ha ha ha.

132 INT. CELLDAY/NIGHT132

The filing cabinets of the Storeroom of Knowledge dissolve

squares of padding that form the walls of a cell. The

laughter echoes round the cell. SAM sees that MR HELPMANN,

in his wheelchair is watching him. He is dressed as Father

Christmas. They are alone in the cell. SAM scrunches up

into the corner.

HELPMANN:

Sam, what are we going to do with

you? Can you hear me, Sam?

SAM:

(in a hoarse urgent

whisper)

Where's Jill? What have you done to

her? Where is she?!

HELPMANN:

Gillian Layton?

SAM:

Yes, you've got to get me out of

here. I've got to find her.

HELPMANN:

I understand, Sam, I know exactly how

you feel. So I brought you a bottle

of barley water.

HELPMANN holds up a bottle of barley water.

SAM:

(desperately)

Help me!

HELPMANN:

I assure you, Sam, I'm doing

everything within my power. But the

rules of the game are laid down, and

we all have to play by them - even

me.

SAM:

This is all a mistake! Don't you

understand?!

HELPMANN:

Yes, well, from the Department's

point of view you're certainly a bit

of an own goal, but ...

SAM:

I'm not a terrorist! You must know

that! I'm not guilty! Get me out of

here!

HELPMANN:

Sam, if you've been going out there

and playing a straight bat, all the

way down the line, you've got

absolutely nothing to worry about.

SAM:

Please, I've got to find Jill.

HELPMANN:

Sam, I think I ought to tell you ...

I'm afraid she's upped stumps and

retired to the pavilion.

SAM looks blank.

Thrown in the towel.

SAM:

(takes a moment to work

this out)

Dead?

HELPMANN nods.

HELPMANN:

Yes, it's all a bit confusing but, it

seems she was killed resisting

arrest.

SAM:

(relieved)

No, no ... I did that...

HELPMANN looks surprised. SAM shuts up.

HELPMANN:

The odd thing is it appears to have

happened twice ... a bit of a

disputed call, I'm afraid.

SAM has gone catatonic.

HELPMANN:

(starting to go)

So, there you are. All I can say is,

don't fall at the last fence. The

finishing post's in sight. See you in

the paddock. Good luck. Keep your eye

on the ball. Got to go .... Can't

keep the orphans waiting.

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