REDSHIFT pt.1 Script

Hi

Here’s the script for the first part of Project Redshift. Sorry for the formatting but it’s the best I could on here to make it relatively clear!

SCENE 1. INT. DAY. doctor’s OFFICE.

A black screen. SOUND:recording of a girl rambling and mumbling, becoming more intense. The lens cap is removed from the camera, revealing a man looking down at the desk and listening. The image is not great quality, you can tell it’s being filmed on a handheld inexpensive camera. SOUND: The girl on the tape begins to scream in pain, other voices can be heard trying to calm her. The man, dressed in a white doctors coat, shifts in his seat and clears his throat.

The camera moves shakily and randomly around the office (It’s medical study office w/ textbooks, case files etc) as the cameraman reaches over and switches off the tape.

CAMERAMAN (CM)

Listening to that make you feel uneasy?

PSYCHIATRIST (PSY)

well yeah. I was there.

CM

OK

PSY

It was, well, unpleasant.

CM

OK

The camera movement settles down back onto the PSY.

CM

So for the record this is research for project Red Shift.

PSY

Sorry will this take long, I was told a few minutes and I’m not supposed..

CM

Not long, no.

The camera moves a little more, momentarily bleaches out on the lines of light in the blinded window for a second.

CM

This hers?

Camera moves down and focuses on front of case file READ: Alice – Medical Report.

PSY

Yes, but it’s confidential.

PAUSE

CM

Tell me how and why she first came in, to you?

The camera moves back up to the PSY. He doesn’t look wholly comfortable with the situation.

PSY

She was fine and then she wasn’t. In a moment she basically became mentally ill.

CM

But why you?

PSY

My research on sensory processing disorder.

CM

Best suited to someone who suddeny snaps?

PSY

No. To what she was like after.

CM

Tell me how she snapped

PSY

You mean became ill.  It happened on a train, she sat opposite her father and repeatedly asked him if he remembered when the, erm, pigs were burning and dying…A few minutes later they passed through a field of pigs being culled.

CM

Sounds strange but unremarkable given current climate.

PSY

True, however this was a before the public…

SCENE 2. INT. DAY. DOCTOR’S OFFICE.

The screen cuts and stutters. Resumes moving around office again. The doctor is now seen with his back to us, on a computer at his desk. He turns to face again, starting halfway through a sentence…

PSY

… urr  and other things she described, amongst a lot of complete nonsense, in the past tense, present or future went on to happen or had happened.

CM

Hence the secrecy..

The PSY nods in agreement.

PSY

Most of it was random rubbish but she never repeated anything twice. Only the pigs. She was like a fly…

The PSY, working on the computer looks over his shoulder at the CM

PSY

…frantically buzzing around a room but always crashing off the same window.

His finger waves about in the air before tapping the computer screen a few times to demonstrate this.

CM

Any significance?

The PSY, with his back to us, just shrugs.

SCENE 3. INT. DAY. DOCTOR’S OFFICE.

Camera cuts to to the doctor now sat side on, next to the computer, he shifts in his chair to get more comfortable. On screen is a brain scan and graphs.

PSY

……it’s a costly, painful, complex and invasive procedure. It doesn’t just map the brain, it’s creates a complete replica.

The PSY acts more enthusiastically, almost counting and motioning the words out now.

CM

That must take a lot of computing power and therefore money?

PSY

It was decided higher up than me that Alice was an ideal candidate. I let them worry about money. I believe the technical side wasn’t such an issue, it’s a system which taps into internet users latent processing power.

CM

How does it help her?

PSY

It doesn’t, not directly. It’s a diagnostic tool.

CM

Sounds a bit extreme just for that.

PSY

We can test any method on this copy and see results without harming her. It was the last resort before she got…physically worse.

The CM stays silent as the PSY looks awkwardly off camera and towards the screen.

PSY

Alice, at times, thought she knew everything.

CM

Stubborn?

PSY

No, I mean e-v-e-r-ything. The universe, everything. But she was just a girl with a normal brain. Her..urr..physical reaction to this was to claw and rip at her scalp, face, hair.

After saying this the PSY looks back towards the screen and begins using the mouse. The CM turns the camera so we’re looking at Alice’s file again. His hand comes into view, and begins opening and flicking through the pages.

CM

Why?

PSY

I’m not sure. My theory is to make more room in her head for all this stuff or to relieve the pressure of what was in there.

A page turns and under it are some Polaroid photo of a girl. She is sat on a chair in an empty room with her head and face wrapped in bandages.

PSY

It’s what you heard happening on the tape earlier…

The CM’s hand slides the photo over to reveal another of a face with barely any skin, just sore red flesh. It’s a bit too close-up and slightly soft focus because of it. In surprise the camera jolts back.

PSY

HEY! what’re you…You cant see that!

The PSY’s hand slams the folder shut but at same time hits the tape player. SOUND: Alice screaming. The screen is dark and blurry as the camera get shaken and obstructed.

CUT TO BLACK.