Lost Highway Page #10

There is a building murmur among the prisoners.

CUT TO:

INT. PRISON - FRED'S CELL - NIGHT

Fred sits on the edge of his bed, listening as sound of the

prisoners builds. He's shaking.

CUT TO:

INT. PRISON - DEATH ROW - NIGHT

TWO GUARDS are standing at the guard station.

GUARD #1

(very quietly -

solemnly)

Here he comes.

Several of the men in suits, along with several GUARDS, and

a CLERGYMAN, a PRISONER in the middle of the group, enter

the hallway. They proceed past the guard station down the

hall. As the procession files by, DEATH ROW INMATES come to

their doors and talk to the prisoner.

INMATE #1

See you soon, Sammy. Don't think

takin' a jolt is gonna get you outta

payin' me back the twenty you owe

me.

INMATE #2

Don't take it personal, pal.

INMATE #3

Un fuerte abrazo, amigo!

As the men march down the hallway, they pass Fred's cell.

His window panel is empty. The camera stops on Fred's cell

door, as we HEAR other prisoners talking to the inmate on

his way to the ELECTRIC CHAIR.

INMATE #4

Hang in there, honey.

INMATE #5

Keep an eye out for me, Sammy G.

CUT TO:

INT. PRISON - FRED'S CELL - NIGHT

Fred sits on his bed, listening fearfully. The camera stays

on Fred as we HEAR:

INMATE #6

Show 'em you got big stones, bro.

CUT TO:

INT. PRISON - DEATH CHAMBER - NIGHT

The prisoner is strapped into the electric chair. Behind a

glass partition WITNESSES are seated. One of the men in suits,

the WARDEN, goes to a telephone on the wall and stands with

his hand on the receiver. He picks it up.

WARDEN:

(into phone)

Line check.

(pause)

Okay.

The Warden hangs up the telephone and stays next to it.

We see one of the condemned man's WRISTS being clamped with

an electrical device. The other wrist is clamped.

A metal halo is placed around the condemned man's head. A

large electrical cable leads off from the halo.

Electrically conductive ointment is smeared around the areas

where the clamps have been placed.

The Clergyman moves close to the condemned man continuing to

give the man his last rites. When he is finished, he nods to

the Warden. The Warden approaches the condemned man.

WARDEN:

Any final words, Sam?

The condemned man shakes his head "no".

The Warden and the others clear the room and the doors are

locked.

The EXECUTIONER steps into place near a huge lever. He looks

to the Warden.

The Witnesses sit in silent anticipation.

The hands of the clock on the wall have moved past midnight.

The Warden takes one last look through a window at the

condemned man - then nods to the Executioner.

CUT TO:

INT. PRISON - FRED'S CELL - NIGHT

Fred sits frozen at the edge on his bed.

A distant but LOUD ELECTRICAL HUM begins.

Fred's head jerks upward to the light on his ceiling. It has

dimmed to almost nothing.

Fred sits in the humming darkness.

SLOW DISSOLVE TO:

INT. PRISON - EXERCISE YARD - DAY

The Guards release Fred into the yard for his exercise. At

first the sunlight is blinding, and Fred covers his eyes.

He moves along the wall, tentative, his fingers feeling the

way. Finally he slumps down on his haunches, back leaned

against the wall, eyes closed, letting the sun hit his face.

Very soon, however, the sun passes behind a cloud and Fred

is bathed in shade. Fred stands up, but is almost immediately

hit by a searing pain in his head. Fred holds his head with

his hands, sinks down to his knees. The Guard, who has been

observing Fred from the doorway, comes over to him.

GUARD:

Something wrong?

FRED:

My... My head.

GUARD:

Headache, huh? Too much sun, I guess.

You want to come in? Still got forty-

five minutes outside if you want it.

FRED:

No, no. I want to go in.

The guard assists Fred back inside the building.

CUT TO:

INT. PRISON - FRED'S CELL - DAY

Fred is on his cot, holding his head. He is obviously in

pain. He gets up and staggers to the cell door. Fred pushes

a CALL button next to the door to summon a guard. The GUARD

comes and speaks to Fred through a double mesh opening.

GUARD:

What's bothering you, Madison?

FRED:

The pain is getting worse. I need

more aspirin.

GUARD:

I can't give you anymore. I'll talk

to the doctor.

The guard leaves. Fred collapses to the floor of the cell,

writhing in pain.

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