Portrait of a Dream

SCENE OPENS ON A SMALL, DARK, CUBIC SPACE. IT IS LIT ONLY BY A LIGHTBULB THAT HANGS ON A STRING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPACE. A LITTLE GIRL SITS ON THE FLOOR NEAR A SMALL TABLE, SURROUNDED BY STUFFED ANIMALS. SHE IS HOLDING A BUTCHER KNIFE AND HACKS AWAY AT THE PIECES. HEADS AND LIMBS FLY AROUND THE ROOM, WHICH SHE PICKS UP AND STUFFS INTO A PILE. AN OLDER WOMAN PACES THE ROOM, FRANTICALLY PEERING OUT OF A WINDOW THAT SITS JUST BELOW THE CEILING. THE ROOM SHAKES AND THE RUMBLINGS OF A TRAIN VERY CLOSE-BY CAN BE HEARD.
MINA
We're in some deep shit right now, Karrie. You know you can't just do crazy things like that. You can't just hack up a guy's stomach and throw him in front of a train!
The girl grabs a box of pins and begins pinning pieces together. Mina reaches for a bag that sits on the table and pulls out a notebook. She searches through the pages, running one finger down each one.
MINA
No, Michael won't take us in this time. He was upset about the last time you killed someone.
KARRIE
You know, I wouldn't have to kill guys if they weren't all evil.
MINA
They are not all evil!
Mina throws the notebook across the room, but Karrie only stares at her blankly, pausing in her construction of a new animal.
KARRIE
If they weren't evil, I wouldn't be compelled to hate them. And since I do hate them, they must be evil.
MINA
Karrie, you hate pretty much everyone.
Mina sinks to the floor, holding her head in her hands. She groans as she tries desperately to think of something useful.
MINA
What are you making, anyway?
KARRIE
A new animal. Everyone always sees bunnies as just bunnies. Why can't they also be whales?
MINA
Because they don't have fins?
KARRIE
But why? They could just jump in the water whenever they want and start swimming. That's how evolution happens.
MINA
Not really.
Karrie continues to pin pieces together to create a new animal. A door that is not seen by anyone but the characters creaks open loudly. The sound of a gun cocking follows.
MINA
Who are you? What are you doing here?
There is silence as Mina backs away slowly, hitting the table with her legs, stopping. Her face slowly turns to terrified realization and then panic.
MINA
No! Not me! I didn't do anything! Please, you have to believe me!
A gunshot, and a hole forms in the centre of Mina's head and she falls forward, her eyes wide. Karrie has finished forming the new animal and crawls to Mina's body.
KARRIE
Look, Mina! A Bunniwhale-iraffe!
WHITE LIGHT. LIGHT DIMS TO ALLOW COLOURS THAT FORM THE NEXT SCENE.
INT. A HOUSE WITH WARM-TONED PAINT, CLASSICAL PAINTINGS ON THE WALLS. THERE IS A TABLE WITH A BUNCH OF CARDS AND GIFTS ON IT, AND THE MAKINGS OF A BUFFET TABLE, MINUS THE FOOD. THE FEMALE HALF OF A WEDDING PARTY ENTERS FROM THE LEFT, WITH ALL THE WOMEN GIGGLING AND TALKING. THE BRIDE IS NOT AMONGST THEM, AND IT BECOMES APPARENT THAT THEY ARE WAITING FOR HER. AN OLDER WOMAN STEPS TOWARDS THE GIFT TABLE WITH A LOOK OF IMPATIENCE AND DISGUST ON HER FACE.
WOMAN 1
Honestly, how long could it possibly take to put on a dress and do hair and makeup? I only had an hour to get ready for my wedding. She's had three hours! I bet my son is waiting, completely ready.
Another woman, of roughly the same age, steps over to Woman 1, placing a hand on her shoulder. Her expression is cheery -- it is obvious that this is one of the happiest days of her life.
WOMAN 2
Don't worry! I'm sure she's just making sure every little detail is perfect! Why, when I was getting ready for my wedding, I had to turn back to the room at least five times, because I was sure there was something wrong. Took me nearly three hours myself!
WOMAN 1
Well, as least we know where she gets it from. And why not have the wedding in a church, like normal people do? Why is she having it in her backyard?
Woman 2 picks up a couple of the bags and peeks past the various versions of shimmering tissue paper. With each present she peaks into, the look on her face worsens.
WOMAN 2
Well, she inherited a wonderful home from her late grandfather. I think a wedding overlooking the coastline is just gorgeous!
Footsteps begin to come down the stairs, and the women all turn to face the young bride. She is dressed in a long pale white strapless gown with a corset-style back. She has left her wheat-coloured hair down, and it flows behind her as she floats down the steps in low white heels. Her face is modesty made up with tones that generously accent her features.
BRIDE
Sorry, everyone! I just couldn't decide whether to wear my hair up or down.
Woman 1 scoffs, placing down the bag she had just been sifting through. Woman 2 hurries to the Bride and grabs her arm.
WOMAN 2
You're just in time, honey! Let's go outside!
WOMAN 1
Now, I hope you're ready for this commitment, and I hope you are ready to devote yourself to my son.
BRIDE
(Smiling)
It doesn't matter if I'm ready or not. Nothing matters. No matter what I do, you are still going to despise me.
Bride walks out the door to blinding white light.
WHITE LIGHT HOLDS FOR A LONG MOMENT. FADES TO REVEAL COLOURS.
SCENE SHOWS A YOUNG GIRL PLAYING ON A SWING, HANGING FROM A LARGE, OLD MAPLE TREE. THE SWING IS SUSPENDED BY A THICK ROPE, AND THE GIRL SEATS HERSELF ON A WIDE, THICK PIECE OF WOOD. SHE TRIES HARD TO SWING HIGHER AND HIGHER, WITH HER EYES CLOSED. THE LOOK ON HER FACE SHOWS THAT SHE IS IMAGINING HERSELF FLYING. SHE STARTS TO HUM AS SHE CONTINUES TO SWING, AND SUDDENLY, THE ROPE BREAKS, AND SHE FALLS. SHE DOES NOT HIT GROUND, HOWEVER. SHE OPENS HER EYES AND FINDS HERSELF SURROUNDED ONLY BY DARKNESS. SHE HEARS AND SEES NOTHING, BUT SUDDENLY THE VOICE OF A SMALL BOY RESONATES THROUGH THE SPACE.
VOICE
Who are you?
GIRL
I'm Be--
Words are suddenly drowned by loud static. The girl gasps and covers her ears.
VOICE
I don't care about your name. What do you want? Who are you, that enters here? Why are you here? How did you get here? Who else knows of this place?
GIRL
I don't want to be here. I want to go home. I want to climb trees and drink lemonade and play with toys. I want my mom and my dad and my puppy. My swing broke. I want to go home!
VOICE
There is no way out or in. How you got here amuses me. I want you to leave now.
GIRL
But you just said there's no way out! What do I do?
VOICE
I don't care. Just go now. I have decided to hate you, and I don't want things that I hate to stay around me. Now leave.
The girl closes her eyes tightly, and suddenly begins to feel wind in her hair. She opens them again to find she is still on the swing
WHITE LIGHT.