The Hunger Games Page #7

EFFIE:

Nevermind him. Would you like to

eat?

KATNISS:

I’ll take a roll.

Katniss takes a bread roll and begins to eat it.

EFFIE:

That’s all?

KATNISS:

For now.

EFFIE:

Come, sit down.

Katniss sits at the table.

KATNISS:

Where’s Peeta?

EFFIE:

Oh, he’s just nervous. He’s

sleeping. Tomorrow’s training

tomorrow, you know. It’s where you

train to show the Gamemakers all

you’ve got. It’s the best way to

get sponsors. Your score determines

a big lot of your luck in these

games.

KATNISS:

Sounds like a big deal.

EFFIE:

Oh, it is. Trust me.

Beat.

KATNISS:

How many sponsors do you think I’ll

get?

EFFIE:

Well, by my bet, a lot.

Unfortunately, I’m not the one that

seals your sponsor deals. Haymitch

is the only one that can.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:
39.

KATNISS:

So much for sponsors.

EFFIE:

Oh, don’t be like that. Haymitch

isn’t all that bad, really. He was

just like you before he won the

Hunger Games. But don’t worry, I’ll

hold him at gunpoint if I have to.

I will make him seal every last

deal.

Katniss smiles. Katniss continues eating her roll.

EFFIE:

Where is my food? I ordered it two minutes ago!

An Avox girl walks in with her head hanging down. She holds

a plate of food.

EFFIE:

Ah, there it is!

The Avox girl hand Effie the food without making eye

contact. Effie preps her food on the table.

KATNISS:

That looks delicious! What is it-

Oh, I know you!

The Avox girl looks at Katniss in horror. She shakes her

head, and scurries away. Katniss frowns. Effie stops eating.

She turns to Katniss.

EFFIE:

Don’t be ridiculous, Katniss. You

knowing an Avox? The very thought

of it.

KATNISS:

What’s an Avox?

EFFIE:

Someone who commited a crime. They

cut their tounges so they can’t

speak. She’s probably a traitor of

some sort. Not likely that you know

her. And even if you did, it’s

forbidden to talk to them unless

it’s to give an order. Of course,

you don’t really know her.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:
40.

KATNISS:

Well.. I guess not...

Effie nods with a smile and continues eating.

CUT TO:

SUICIDE-PROOF

Katniss sits in her bed, looking up.

KATNISS:

This is ridiculous.

Peeta knocks the door. She sits up.

KATNISS:

Come in!

Peeta walks in. He smiles at her. She smiles back.

KATNISS:

Hey, Peeta.

PEETA:

Hey. Do you wanna join me on the

roof?

She nods. She gets up and follows him out the door.

FADE TO:

They walk onto the roof.

KATNISS:

How’d you find this place?

PEETA:

Cinna showed me. It’s pretty,

right?

KATNISS:

Yeah. The wind’s a bit loud,

though.

PEETA:

So I asked Cinna why he showed me

this. I was wondering if any

tributes could escape or commit

suicide or be smart enough to

escape.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:
41.

KATNISS:

What did he say?

PEETA:

You can’t.

He extends his arm to hang off the roof. There’s an

electical zap and he jerks his hand back.

PEETA:

An electrical field.

KATNISS:

(annoyed sigh)

Safe and sound.

PEETA:

You know what? This is ridiculous.

President Snow just doesn’t get it.

He doesn’t get it at all. We’re not

just pawns for their silly

televised fight to the death.

KATNISS:

I’m suprised anyone finds this

entertaining. You sound alot like

my friend back home.

PEETA:

Well then, your friend is smart. I

just wish I could think of a way to

show the Capitol that we’re not

puppets. That they don’t own me.

That I’m more than just a piece of

their game.

Beat.

KATNISS:

Do you think they’re watching us

now?

PEETA:

Maybe.

CUT TO:

42.

TRAINING:

INT. Elevator, Training Center- DAY.

Katniss, Haymitch, and Peeta all ride in an elevator,

waiting for their floor.

HAYMITCH:

Today, we’ll negotiate what we need

to keep clear. After, I’ll send you

to train with the other tributes.

The elevator opens. They step into a room with a banner that

reads:
District 12.

HAYMITCH:

And otherwise, I’ll be coaching you

both seperately.

KATNISS:

What? Why?

HAYMITCH:

Say you had a secret skill that

you’d like to keep secret.

PEETA:

But I have no secret skill. Plus, I

already know Katniss’. I’ve eaten

enough traded squirrels, right?

KATNISS:

You can coach us together.

HAYMITCH:

Alright. So give me an idea of what

you can do.

PEETA:

I can’t do anything special, unless

you count baking bread.

HAYMITCH:

Sorry, I don’t. Katniss. I already

know you’re handy with a knife.

KATNISS:

Not really. But I can hunt. With a

bow and arrows.

HAYMITCH:

And you’re good?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:
43.

PEETA:

She’s excellent. My fatehr buys her

squirrels all the time. She always

hits them in the exact same spot:

the eye. It’s the same with the

rabbits she sells the butcher. She

can even bring down a deer. Easy.

KATNISS:

(whispered)

What are you doing?

PEETA:

(whispered)

What are you doing? If he’s going

to help you, he has to know what

you’re capable of. Don’t underrate

yourself.

KATNISS:

(whispered)

Well, what about you? I’ve seen you

in the market. You can lift flour

bags three times your weight. Tell

him that. That’s not nothing.

PEETA:

(whispered)

Yes, because there’ll be flour for

me to chuck at people in the arena.

KATNISS:

He can wrestle. He came in second

last year in our school

competition. His brother took first

place.

PEETA:

What use is that? How many times

have you seen someone wrestle

someone to death?

KATNISS:

There’s always hand-to-hand combat.

All you need is to come up with a

knife, and you’ll at least stand a

chance. If I get jumped, I’m dead!

PEETA:

But you won’t! You’ll be living up

in some tree eating raw squirrels

and picking off people with arrows.

You know what my mother said to me?

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:
44.

PEETA (cont’d)

She says maybe District Twelve will

finally have a winner. Then I

realized, she didn’t mean me, she

meant you!

KATNISS:

She meant you.

PEETA:

She said, "She’s a survivor, that

one." She is. She.

KATNISS:

But only because someone helped

me...

PEETA:

They’ll be tripping over each other

to sponsor you

KATNISS:

No more than you.

PEETA:

She has no idea of the effect she

can have.

Beat.

HAYMITCH:

Well, well, well. Katniss, there’s

guarantee there’ll be bows and

arrows in the arena, but during

your private session with the

Gamemakers, show them what you can

do. Until then, steer clear of

archery. Are you any good at

trapping?

KATNISS:

I know a few basic snares.

HAYMITCH:

That may be significant in the

terms of food. And, Peeta, she’s

right. Never underestimate strength

in the arena. Very often, physical

strength tilts the advantage to a

player. In the main room of

training center, they will have

weights, but don’t reveal how much

you can lift in front of the

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:
45.

HAYMITCH (cont’d)

tributes. The plan’s the same for

the both of you. You go to group

training. Spend time learning

something you don’t know. Swing a

mace. Throw a spear. Tie a decent

knot. Save showing off for the

private session with the

Gamemakers. Are we clear?

Katniss and Peeta nod.

HAYMITCH:

One last thing. You are to be at

eachother’s side at all times.

Katniss and Peeta AD LIB: "But, I don’t-"

Haymitch slams his hand on a table.

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