Stuff Cam Wrote

The story is HEAVILY INSPIRED by, but not exactly an adaptation, of a book I really enjoy. Still working on the rest.

• Scene 1
  • DIRECTION: Mr. Choi and Dr. Lockie in Dr. Lockie’s modest office. We begin with an establishing shot, showing Mr. Choi sitting in the waiting room underneath a painting of boats and smiling nervously as another patient stares intently at him. The camera cuts to Mr. Choi speaking with Dr. Lockie.
  • DOCTOR (Taking notes): So, Mr. Choi, How long would you say you’ve been having these dreams?
  • CHOI (Visibly tired): I don’t know. I can’t remember my first dreams, like, in my life.e I don’t know when they became effective. Maybe I first noticed it was when I was 10 or 12? It was always very small in the beginning.
  • DOCTOR: And when you say …”effective”…
  • CHOI: Just like I wrote in the paperwork. My effective dreams change reality.
  • DOCTOR: Yes, right. You think your dreams all come true? I suggest Mr. Cho-
  • CHOI (Hands in lap, forcing a smile): t’s not that I think my dreams come true. It is that they literally alter reality. I don’t wake up to 10 million dollars and a bedroom full of girl friends, I, I… (trails off)
  • DOCTOR: Yes, Mr. Choi, I recall what I read in your patient history. I’m simply saying that given your current state, I need to provide you with some medicine to deal with the insomnia. When would you say the last time you got a good night’s sleep was?
  • CHOI (Hands come up, sits up straighter): Doctor, I think I need to explain a little more clearly. I cannot go to sleep. I cannot risk….it…. happening again.
  • DOCTOR (Eyebrow raised): The effective dreams? You cannot risk that?
  • CHOI (Sighing with relief): Correct
  • DOCTOR (Pressing intercom button): Cheryl? Can you come in and dim the lights in the office please?
  • DOCTOR (Attention returns to Mr. Choi, puts down pen, steeples fingers on desk): Mr. Choi, Perhaps you’d allow me to hypnotize you? Are you in a hurry?
  • CHOI: Hypnotize? What will that do?
  • DOCTOR: Hypnosis, if successful, will allow you to enter a sleep-like state, but the waking part of your brain still can be accessed, so to speak. This way I can monitor your sleep, and if you were to have any dreams, I could wake you before anything happens.
  • CHOI (Rubbing chin, leaning in): And you think it’s safe? You don’t think I’ll… I’ll… change… something?
  • DOCTOR (leans forward, patronizing): I’m fully confident Mr. Choi. Your powers will be safe in my hands.
  • DIRECTION: ENTER CHERYL, dimming lights
  • CHERYL: Is this suitable, Doctor?
  • DOCTOR: Yes. Oh, and Cheryl? Would you mind dusting off the paintings outside? The one with the bicycles? (winking)
  • CHERYL: Doctor, there’s no… (Catching on) I mean there’s no more… dust…spray. For spraying the picture frame.
  • DOCTOR: Please make due.
  • CHERYL: Yes, doctor.
  • CHOI (Rubbing hands on knees pants legs): So, are you going to swing a watch in my face? Or do you have a spinning spiral thing for me to look at?
  • DOCTOR (Dismissive smile): It’s not exactly like in the cartoons, Mr. Choi. I need you to get as comfortable as possible. In a moment, I’m going to have you close your eyes, relax, breathe, and just… focus on my voice.
  • CHOI (Adjusting in chair): Uh. Yes, of course. Like this? I think I’m comfortable. I mean, I’m not, uh, I am not uncomfortable.
  • DOCTOR: It should be fine. Just relax, Mr. Choi. Relax and breathe.
  • CHOI: I haven’t slept in days; this feels so nice I could just
  • DOCTOR: Just feel yourself slip away, Mr. Choi. Let your body and the chair and the painting of the bicycles out in the waiting room, just let it all go. Breathe. Let it go.
  • CHOI: Yes…
  • DOCTOR: No need to talk, Mr. Choi, please. Just breathe.
  • CHOI: Right, oh, yes, right. Sorry doctor.
  • DIRECTION: Camera returns to doctors face, an unnerving high pitched noise crescendos in and out.
  • DOCTOR: Three… two… one. Well Mr. Choi, how do you feel? Was it restful? There were no signs of your “effective” dreams. (leaning in conspiratorially)
  • CHOI (As if waking dup): Wow thank you doctor, I really do feel pretty good. But did any time pass at all? You only had me down for, what, ten seconds, right?
  • DOCTOR: Actually you were under hypnosis for about 25 minutes, though perhaps to you it only felt like a moment.
  • CHOI: Twenty five minutes! (Looking at watch) That’s incredible. And you’re sure I didn’t (leaning in conspiratorially, nodding head, smiling) I didn’t, you know… dream?
  • DOCTOR: I assure you, Mr. Choi, I led you through a guided hypnotic sleep state. Your dreams were entirely under my control. You didn’t want to dream, so I led you through a dream where we both sat right here in this very room, safe and sound.
  • CHOI (inspecting hands, clothes, room): That’s brilliant doctor, thank you so much I’ve never even thought of that. Really clever. If we were in here the whole time, then I couldn’t have done any harm to anyone.
  • DOCTOR: My thoughts exactly. And you should know, Mr. Choi, dreams don’t really affect the real world. I think you were having a bout of what we call “mild delirium”. Truth be told, Mr. Choi, I guided you through a dream where you dreamt you no longer had effective dreams. See? You should feel fine in a few days time, but I would like to schedule a follow up.
  • CHOI: Yes of course, thanks doctor. I can’t wait to go home and sleep now. Same time next week?
  • DIRECTION: Scene Fades, cut to doctor stepping out of office
  • CHERYL: Doctor- when did we get that new bicycle painting? I’ve been staring at the wall right in front of reception for years, and I’ve never noticed it until just now. It’s so striking.
  • DOCTOR: Yes, it’s a new piece. I’ve only acquired it recently; had it put up today, matter of fact.
  • CHERYL: How did I miss that? It’s so…
  • DOCTOR: Yes, striking indeed. Dreamy, even.
  • CHERYL: Dreamy, that’s exactly what I was thinking.
  • DOCTOR: Well, shall we head to lunch?