1006 The Art Of Conversation Is Dead

   

EXT DAY. FRATERNITY HOUSE.  Beautiful sunny day.

GUIDE leads WAGA, a thin, delicate-looking girl with short bleached hair, up the stairs.  We join them mid-tour.

Guide:

AFTER THE WAR, THE ONLY PEOPLE LEFT WITH ANY TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF THE PAST WERE FAGS.

THEY COULD TALK FOR HOURS AND HOURS OF THE PAINTINGS THEY'D SEEN, AND THE BALLETS THEY HAD ENJOYED, AND ALL SORTS OF WONDERS THAT HAVE SINCE VANISHED.  

OF COURSE, EVERY WORD HAS BEEN RECORDED AND DOCUMENTED FOR POSTERITY.

WE'LL NEVER LET THIS SHIT HAPPEN TO US AGAIN.

_____

INT DAY. FRATERNITY HOUSE.  A long white corridor, full of windows and light.  WAGA drags along a WHITE DUFFLE BAG.

Guide:

TRASHBEACH IS NOW THE CULTURAL INSTITUTION OF THE NEW COUNTRY -I'D SAY THE WORLD.

UNFORTUNATELY -AND VERY MUCH AGAINST OUR WISHES- THE COLONY HAS ALSO BECOME THE PRIME PARTY SPOT ON EARTH.

EVERYONE COMES TO GET "TRASHED IN TRASHBEASH."  

IT'S A GODDAMN RITE OF PASSAGE.

______

INT DAY.  FRATERNITY BARRACKS.  A large communal room with empty bunk beds.  It is lived-in, but clean and orderly.

The door opens, revealing GUIDE and WAGA standing  in the frame.

Guide:

THIS IS YOU.  YOUR NEW BROTHERS WILL BE BACK AFTER SNACK TIME.

GUIDE hugs WAGA, startling HER.

Guide:

I'M SO WATERWORKS FOR THESE THINGS.

GUIDE walks away, wiping his tears.  WAGA is left alone in the doorway.

Guide:

ALMOST FORGOT!  I GET SO BIRD-BRAIN SOMETIMES!

GUIDE hands WAGA a SMALL RED BOOK.

Guide:

G' LUCK!

GUIDE pats WAGA on the back, and pushes HER over the threshold.  

The door is closed.

___________



INT DAY.  FRATERNITY BARRACKS.

Finally alone, WAGA takes quick survey of her new home.  She drags the DUFFEL BAG to a corner.

WAGA ends up at the desk, studying the RED BOOK for the first time.

Gold-lettered title reads "LAS TREINTITRES ILUMINACIONES DE AWE"

WAGA cracks open the BOOK, and reads aloud:

Waga:

BENDITO SEA AWE SOBRE TODAS LAS COSAS!

AWE ES PAZ.

BENDITO!

AWE ES LUZ!

BENDITO!

WAGA turns the page.

Waga:

AWE ES...

WAGA notices a tiny DRAWING near the corner of the page.  She turns the page and finds more DRAWINGS.

WAGA turns the page one more time and reads these words aloud:

Waga:

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE IN THIS COLONY: THOSE WHO CAN PASS, AND THOSE WHO CAN'T.

 

DESAWEBATOL IS THE ONE PATH TO GETTING YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ASS.

ASSUME THE FOLLOWING PRINCIPLES AND YOU SHALL PASS.  

AND IF YOU PASS YOU WILL SURVIVE.

WAGA closes the RED BOOK, and the title on the cover now seems vandalized in the same gold lettering.  It now reads: "LAS TREINTITRES ILUMINACIONES DEL DESAWEBATOL"

WAGA closes her eyes, hugs the BOOK to her chest and whispers.

Waga:

SI EXISTES!

____



DISSOLVE TO: MONTAGE  

INT DAY.  CONTROL ROOM.  Several SCREENS reveal a variety of PEOPLE going about their lives: riding in elevators, walking on the street.  THEY wear identical WHITE UNIFORMS.  

Deco VO:

THE WEB SAYS THAT THE PROPHET BECAME ENLIGHTENED AFTER MORE THAN A MONTH NEAR-DEATH.

THE WEB SAYS THE PROPHET WENT BEYOND NEAR.

THE WEB SAYS THE PROPHET SPENT SEVEN MINUTES OVER AND THEN RETURNED WITH THE MOST GLORIOUS VISIONS.

DECO stands in front of the SCREENS speaking into a MICROPHONE.  A few TECHNICIANS move around the room, twisting KNOBS and pressing blinking BUTTONS.

Deco:

AND THAT'S WHAT MAKES AWE AWESOME!

WE LEARN BECAUSE WE CARE!

_________

INT DAY.  STAIRWAY.

DECO exits CONTROL ROOM through a series of BACKDOORS and STAIRWAYS that ultimately lead to a ROOFTOP.

_____



EXT SUNSET.  ROOFTOP.

DECO paces around.  She expertly rolls a JOINT and lights it.  She places an ENCRYPTED CALL.

Deco:

MY ADVICE: AND YOU CAN START DOING THIS IMMEDIATELY: DO ONLY THINGS YOU ENJOY -IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO DO THE THINGS YOU ENJOY, THEN MAKE TIME.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT PRIORITY NOW: DO WHAT YOU ENJOY TO DO.

SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE YOU ENJOY.

REPEAT.  RINSE.  FEEL BETTER.

I LOVE YOU.

PS: TELL TODOR TO GIVE ME MY FUCKING MONEY!

DECO looks out over the island one last time, throws out the JOINT and heads back inside.

_____

INT NIGHT.  LOBBY.

DECO grabs ENVELOPE from the CONCIERGE, counts the CASH inside, and walks through the REVOLVING DOORS.

______

EXT NIGHT.  STREET.

Almost immediately upon exiting a THIEF starts following DECO.  SHE gives no indication of noticing.  

DECO rolls and lights up another JOINT.

Deco VO:

LO PEOR QUE PUEDEN DECIR DE MI ES QUE SOY FUMONA Y PUTA.

Y DE PUTA, NO HAY EVIDENCIA.  PURO CUENTO.

The THIEF makes a run at DECO, but in one quick move SHE sidesteps HIM and trips HIM.   DECO pins the THIEF to the ground with her BOOT.  SHE produces a LARGE TASER GUN from her BAG and shoots it into the THIEF's back.

Deco [humming]:

LA VIDA TE DA SORPRESAS...

DECO waves the TASER GUN around as if it was a lit torch.  Other FIGURES retreat into shadows.

 Deco [humming]:

SORPRESAS TE DA LA VIDA, CAMARÁ.

DECO keeps walking and whistling and disappears into the night.

_____

INT DUSK.  METRO.

INTERTITLE:  "THIRTY CYCLES LATER"  

WAGA stands among other BROTHERS wearing similar WHITE UNIFORMS.   SHE alone wears a WHITE BACKPACK, enormous HEADPHONES and a handmade PATCH on her chest that reads "THE ART OF CONVERSATION IS DEAD"

WAGA looks straight ahead, without blinking.

Deco VO:

AS I WAS SAYING, LO UNICO QUE PUEDEN DECIR DE MI ES QUE SOY FUMONA Y PUTA.

Y DE PUTA NO HAY EVIDENCIA.  PURO CUENTO.

_____

EXT NIGHT.  RECRUITMENT MIXER.  An unsanctioned party at an abandoned BASKETBALL COURT. 

DECO is onstage, nearing the end of her act.

Deco:

LA GENTE EN ESTA COLONIA VIVEN ATERRORIZADOS DEL QUE-DIRAN!  AY PERO SI ME VEN HACIENDO ESO... AY QUE DESPUES SE ENTERA FULANA...

MAAAAN!  

WAGA is in the audience.  She has changed out of her UNIFORM and is now wearing colorful handmade CLOTHING.  SHE still wears a patch that reads "THE ART OF CONVERSATION IS DEAD."  

WAGA laughs.

Deco:

LO UNICO QUE MATA EL QUE DIRAN ES DECIRLO.  DECIRLO A TODA BOCA: 'HOY ME COMI TRES RABOS Y CUARENTA MOTAS... Y QUE?'

The AUDIENCE -most of them wearing similarly colorful handmade CLOTHES, a few still wearing their WHITE UNIFORMS- explodes in laughter and applause.

___

EXT NIGHT .  RECRUITMENT MIXER.

WAGA hovers BACKSTAGE, holding the RED BOOK, which is now visibly worn and used.  DECO appears with a  BODYGUARD.  SHE stands aside while the BODYGUARD takes the BOOK from WAGA and examines it.  

The BODYGUARD brings the BOOK to DECO.  SHE looks closely at it, then opens it and shakes it -all sorts of NOTES and POST-ITS fall out.

DECO takes the BOOK back to WAGA.

Deco:

WHO GAVE YOU THIS?

Waga:

WILL YOU SIGN IT?

Deco:

WHO GAVE IT TO YOU?

Waga:

MY GUIDE.

Deco:

IT'S REALLY YOURS?

Waga:

YES, MA'AM.

Deco:

COME WITH ME.

_____

EXT NIGHT.  TALENT CAMP.  A clearing filled with CRATES and CABLES and a few MONITORS.

Midst of a CONFERENCE CALL.

JewBan:

LET ME SEE HER.

Deco:  

IF YOU SEE HER, THEN YOU'LL...

JewBan:

LEMME SEE THE FUCKING KID.  YOU SAY SHE'S FOR REAL, RIGHT?

THEN LEMME SEE THE FUCKING KID.

DECO brings WAGA into range.

JewBan:

IS THIS YOUR BOOK, MISS?

Waga:

YES, SIR.

JewBan:

AND YOU HAD IT THE WHOLE TIME, AND NOBODY MESSED WITH IT?

Waga:

NO SIR.

JewBan:

HAVE YOU MESSED WITH IT?

Waga:

NO SIR.

JewBan:

HOLY MOTHER FUCKERS!

Deco:

WHAT?

JewBan:

NOS JODIERON.

_____

EXT NIGHT.  RECRUITMENT MIXER.

GUARDS surround the abandoned BASKETBALL COURT and break-up the party.  There's a lot of screaming, a lot of running and shoving.  Some beat-downs.  A couple of GUARDS use TASER GUNS on the KIDS.

A lucky few escape into the BUSHES.

The GUARDS then start shaking down the KIDS for CASH, WATCHES, various TECHNO-GADGETS, and even their SNEAKERS, before filing them off into TRUCKS.

________

Announcer over PHOTOGRAPHS and TEXT.  The photographs show WAGA in STREET CLOTHES with long brown HAIR.

Announcer:

EL SIGUIENTE ES UN SERVICIO SOCIAL DE CANAL TRECE.

LA NIÑA JOSEFINA DEL RIO HA SIDO REPORTADA PERDIDA POR SUS PADRES MARTIN DEL RIO Y NEREYDA GONZALEZ DEL RIO.

LA NIÑA FUE VISTA POR ULTIMA VEZ EN LOS PREDIOS DEL JARDIN DE PAZ.  

VESTIA UNA BLUSA AMARILLA Y UNA FALDA AZUL.

LA NIÑA ES DIABETICA, Y SUS PADRES RUEGAN A QUIEN LA ENCUENTRE QUE POR FAVOR LLAME AL CINCO-CERO-TRES-VEINTICINO-TREINTA

___________________



EXT NIGHT.  BUSHES.

DECO powerwalks, dragging WAGA along.

DECO is in the middle of another CONFERENCE CALL.   She's terrified.

Deco:

THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING ABOUT TOURIST-TRASH IS THAT ALL YOUR FANTASIES END THE SAME WAY: OFFSPRING

YOU CAN GRAB THE BADDEST MOTHERFUCKER OUT THERE AND OFFER HIM AND HEIR OR, JAH FORBID, ONE CUTE DADDY'S GIRL, AND THAT'S IT, GAME OVER.  STICK A FORK IN YOU DANGER, YOU'RE DONE!

YOUR DAYS OF RULING THE ROOST ARE BEHIND YOU.

NOW YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO LOSE IF YOU GO INSIDE, AND THAT IMPAIRS YOUR JUDGMENT.  

I TALKED TO THE OTHERS AND WE ALL AGREE: IT'S TIME FOR YOU TO GO.

MAYBE YOU CAN PUT OUT A CHRISTMAS ALBUM OR SOMETHING.

PEACE OUT.

  

________

EXT DAY.  GHOST TOWN.

INTERTITLE:  "TWO CYCLES LATER"

DECO and WAGA walk up some stairs, the OCEAN behind them.  Their CLOTHES are worn and faded.  They've been on the run for some time.   

Deco:

THERE'S TWO TYPE OF TRIBES IN THIS COLONY: THERE'S THE PEOPLE WHO SHOW YOU THE OCEAN, AND THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T.

YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING, THE OCEAN'S RIGHT THERE, EVERYWHERE.  AND STILL SOME NERDS BROADCAST LIKE THIS:

SHE gestures away from the water.

Deco:

IT MAKES ME WANNA GRAB THEM BY THEIR POPPED COLLARS AND SHAKE THE GÜIDO OUT OF THEM.     

YOU KNOW WHAT BAD TASTE IS?  BAD TASTE IS ABSENCE OF EMPATHY.

BAD TASTE IS LACK OF CARING: JUST NOT CARING ENOUGH TO LOOK AROUND YOU AND RECOGNIZE THE BEST POSSIBLE SCENARIO AND GO WITH THAT ONE.

GOOD TASTE, ON THE OTHER HAND -GOOD TASTE IS ABOUT APPRECIATING SOMETHING EXQUISITE IN A MANNER INACCESSIBLE TO MERE MORTALS.

IT'S ABOUT SEEING THE AURAS, THE INVISIBLE RHYTMHS, THE HIDDEN CONTRASTS AND DIMENSIONS -

DECO pauses, SHE LOOKS AROUND

Deco:

SOMEONE'S FOLLOWING US.

  

_________

EXT DAY.  GHOST TOWN.  Empty streets and shuttered homes.  DECO and WAGA approach from the left while a GANG OF MEN approach from the right.  They meet in front of an OLD CHURCH.

DECO addresses the GANG's leader.  HE's dressed in all black.

Deco:

YOU JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF MY BITCHSLAPPING, DO YOU, DANGER?

Danger:

I JUST WANT THE GIRL, THAT'S ALL.

Deco:

AND YOU THINK I'LL JUST HAND HER OVER JUST LIKE THAT?  WHAT ABOUT MY REWARD?

Danger:

I'M SURE WE CAN WORK SOMETHING OUT.  DO YOU STILL HAVE THE BOOK?

Deco:

MAYBE.  MAYBE I BURNED IT.

DANGER laughs.  

Danger:

YOU'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO LIE FOR SHIT.

DANGER motions to his MEN.  WAGA hides behind DECO.

Deco:

COME AND GET IT!

The MEN rush DECO.  SHE meets the first MAN with a fist to the nose.  HE goes down.  Two MEN grab her from behind and hold her arms, but DECO head-butts one and scissor-kicks the other.  THEY too go down.

DANGER takes out a HUGE KNIFE with his right hand and advances towards DECO.

Deco (to WAGA):

WHEN I TELL YOU, RUN.

DECO and DANGER circle each other.  DANGER pulls out an even BIGGER KNIFE with his other hand.

Deco:

RUN!

____________



MONTAGE:  DECO and WAGA escape.

_________

EXT DAWN.  BEACH.  DECO and WAGA arrive at a small INLET, where they find a hidden INFLATABLE RAFT.  THEY hug goodbye, and DECO helps WAGA into the RAFT.

But the GIRL has a change of heart.   She starts climbing out of the RAFT as waves crash against the sides, threatening to topple it.

DECO struggles to keep WAGA in the RAFT.  SHE tells the GIRL something we cannot hear.

WAGA stops struggling.  SHE curls up on the floor of the RAFT.  DECO sends her away, over the waves.

DECO returns to the beach and finds the RED BOOK washed up ashore.

SHE signs it, stashes it, and walks away without opening it.

_________

EXT DAWN.  OCEAN.  WAGA lays on the floor of the raft as it starts filling up with WATER.  SHE kicks her legs, as if in a dream, but otherwise goes quietly under.

Deco VO:

THERE COMES A TIME IN EVERYONE'S LIFE WHERE YOU WANT TO ONLY BE SURROUNDED BY WHAT YOU LOVE.

IT MIGHT NOT BE MANY THINGS, OR MANY PEOPLE, BUT ANYTHING ELSE JUST GETS IN THE WAY.

THE THING IS, IT'S UP TO YOU TO SORT IT OUT.

WHATEVER GOES IS TRASH.

WHATEVER STAYS IS HOME.

WAGA passes through the RAFT, comes out under it and swims away into the OCEAN as a small FISH.

-END-