Se7en Page #8

He puts the book back down on the floor.

EXT. CITY STREET -- LATE NIGHT

Somerset gets out of his car. He walks down the sidewalk with a

notebook in hand. THUNDER is HEARD. He takes a cigarette out of

a full pack and lights it.

He walks along the avenue. Cars race by in the street. People

walk briskly past. At a public phone, a man shouts curses

angrily into the phone, then starts pounding the phone box with

the receiver. A fire engine passes in the street, sirens, horn

and lights going full blast.

Somerset starts up a flight of massive stone stairs, past several

sleeping vagrants. One VAGRANT sits up and looks to Somerset.

VAGRANT:

Spare me a cigarette? Spare a cigarette?

SOMERSET:

Sorry, last one.

Ahead of Somerset, the library looms, a solid, powerful

structure.

INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY, MAIN LIBRARY -- LATE NIGHT

Somerset and GEORGE, 62, the night guard, enter the vast space of

the deserted main library.

The lamps hanging from the ceiling give off a warm, pleasant glow

over mahogany tables and chairs. To each side of this center

area are tall bookshelves. Balconies surround the room on all

four sides; three levels which overlook the center.

Somerset is happy. This is his element, this peaceful, elegant

place. George motions to the long, empty tables.

GEORGE:

Sit where you'd like.

SOMERSET:

Thanks, George.

MAN'S VOICE (O.S.)

Hey there, Smilely.

Somerset looks up to the top balcony where TWO OTHER SECURITY

GUARDS and one JANITOR look over the banister.

SOMERSET:

Evening, gentlemen.

They all say their hellos.

FIRST GUARD:

Come on, George. Cards are getting cold.

GEORGE:

(to Somerset)

Duty calls.

George pumps Somerset's hand, then moves to a stairwell leading

to the balconies. Somerset walks down the main aisle, looks

around at the shelves and shelves of books.

George reaches the top balcony and the others sit at a card table

where a poker game is in progress.

Somerset puts his notebook down on one table and switches on a

green banker's lamp. THUNDER SOUNDS. Somerset looks up.

Rain is beginning to fall on the windows of the high ceiling.

SOMERSET:

(shouts up)

All these books, gentlemen... a world of

knowledge at your disposal, and you play

poker all night.

UP ON THE BALCONY

George has taken a huge BOOM-BOX from a broom closet.

JANITOR:

We got culture.

SECOND GUARD:

(dealing cards)

Yeah, we got culture coming out our asses.

They laugh. George sets the boom-box against the railing of the

balcony so the speakers face towards Somerset.

DOWN ON THE MAIN FLOOR

Somerset has gone into one bookshelf aisle. Poker table

conversation echoes from above. Somerset searches books, reading

spines. He finds one book and pulls it, continues searching.

UP ON THE BALCONY

George hits play on the boom-box and turns the volume way up.

GEORGE:

How's this for culture?

DOWN ON THE MAIN FLOOR

Somerset keeps looking for books. From far away come the strains

of MOZART MUSIC filling the air. High, drifting music, such as

AIR (On the G string.) Somerset stops, listens.

He closes his eyes and soaks it in.

UP ON THE BALCONY

George sits at the card table, takes out a cigar and lights up.

He looks to the ground floor.

GEORGE:

Where'd you get to, Smilely?

Below, Somerset comes out from the aisle.

DOWN ON THE MAIN FLOOR

Somerset looks up at George.

SOMERSET:

Thank you.

INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY, MAIN LIBRARY -- LATER NIGHT

MUSIC CONTINUES, spinning through the air like a slow, cool

breeze.

Somerset walks, surrounded by books, carrying several. He pulls

another off a shelf and adds it to his pile.

UP ON THE BALCONY

George lays down a winning hand. The others toss in their cards

in disgust. George laughs, spouting cigar smoke.

Cigar smoke floats up in the air, thinning gracefully. Above,

rain continues dancing on the ceiling windows.

DOWN ON THE MAIN FLOOR

Somerset sits, opens a book on the table and reads.

INT. MILLS' APARTMENT, BEDROOM/LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT

MUSIC CONTINUES, uninterrupted over this scene. Music so pretty

it is almost sad. Tracy, in a nightgown, sits up in bed, tense,

She throws off the covers and goes to the door.

She stands looking into the living room where Mills is at a desk.

Mills sorts through paperwork and photos with his back to Tracy.

A basketball game is on the television, but he pays it no mind.

He sits forward, obviously frustrated, drinks coffee. He does

not know Tracy is there.

Tracy watches her husband, concerned.

INT. PUBLIC LIBRARY, MAIN LIBRARY -- NIGHT

MUSIC CONTINUES. Somerset has two books open. He opens his

notebook and brings a pen to bear. Writes:

SEVEN DEADLY SINS

GLUTTONY GREED WRATH LUST PRIDE ENVY SLOTH

He crosses out GLUTTONY and GREED. Somerset picks up one book:

DANTE'S PURGATORY. Volume II of the DIVINE COMEDY. Somerset

opens it:

-------------------------------------------------------------

| THE EARTHLY PARADISE |

|-------------------------------------------------------- /\ |

| / \ |

| VII The Lustful /____\|

| / |

| VI The Gluttonous /_______|

| 7 TERRACES OF / |

| V The Avaricious / |

| and Prodigal /__________|

| PURGATION / |

| / |

| / |

| IV The Slothful /______________|

| / |

| / |

| / |

| III The Wrathful /__________________|

| / |

| II The Envious /____________________|

| / |

| I The Proud /______________________|

| / |

| / |

| / THE ISLAND |

| / |

| / OF PURGATORY |

| / |

|_______________________________/_____________________________|

Rate this script:3.4 / 8 votes