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"The Torture Scene"
Written by: Matthew Layden
FADE IN FROM BLACK:
INT. UNKNOWN LOCATION - NIGHT
A man is sitting in a chair, his hands tied behind his back
and duct tape covers his mouth. The man is built, head
shaved and has a goatee. This man is DAVE. He's unconscious
with his head down.
We hear footsteps off the camera. They get louder and
louder till we see a figure standing in front of Dave. This
man is wearing an all black suit. He rips off the duct
tape, which awakens Dave.
DAVE
Ah, shit.
MAN
Did that hurt?
The man walks off the camera and grabs a chair. He sits it
in front of Dave. The man reaches into his pocket and pulls
out a pack of cigarettes. The man then sits down on the
chair and offers a cigarette to Dave.
DAVE
Who are you? What the hell am I
doing here?
The main points to a name tag on his suit that reads:
Hello, My Name Is SAM
DAVE
Sam? Sam, what the fuck is going
on?
Sam doesn't respond, instead he places the cigarette in his
mouth and lights it. Sam takes a drag between his words.
SAM
Listen Dave, I don't particularly
want to hurt you, but if you
don't do as I say...well then,
we're going to have some
problems.
DAVE
What? I don't understand?
SAM
Well, it seems you have pissed
off the wrong type of people.
Which is why your in this current
situation.
Sam gets up from his chair and walks towards a black bag
that is off to the corner of the room. Sam picks it up and
brings it over to Dave. Sam drops it beside Dave and walks
back to grab a TV dinner table.
DAVE
Listen, I don't know who you
think I am, but you got the wrong
guy.
Sam laughs.
Sam brings the TV dinner table and sets it up beside his
chair. Sam picks up the black bag and places it on the TV
dinner table. He then proceeds to sit down.
SAM
You watch movies Dave? In every
kidnapping flick, the guy always
says that you've got the wrong
guy. You've got to understand
that I do this for a living, so
please, don't tell me I have the
wrong guy.
DAVE
But I didn't do anything.
SAM
You might think you've done
nothing wrong, but you have.
DAVE
Listen, I'm just a regular guy
who lives a regular life. I play
poker with my buddies on Sundays.
I go to the bar to have a drink.
Sam begins to open the black bag
DAVE
What are you doing?
Sam doesn't respond
DAVE
Hey, I'm talking to you.
SAM
Do you see this bag, it's my
little bag of tricks.
Well, technically it's not really
mine, it's my cousins. Although,
he lets me borrow it from time to
time.
DAVE
What the hell are you going to
do?
Sam pulls out a timer and sets it for ten minutes.
SAM
I'm setting this timer for ten
minutes Dave.
Ten Minutes is seen in the corner of the screen and it
begins to count down.
SAM (CONT'D)
If I don't get the information
that I need when this timer hits
zero. Someone will die.
Dave's eyes widen as he looks at the timer.
SAM
I wonder what's going through
your head right now. Knowing that
you have ten minutes to live.
What are you thinking about? Your
family? Your friends? Or could it
be how much you want to kill me.
DAVE
Jesus Christ...
Sam looks at Dave with disgust. Sam reaches into his bag
and pulls out a scalpel. Sam lunges at Dave and cuts just
above his left eye. Dave screams in pain
SAM
Dave, you shall not take the
lords name in vain. Now, if I
hear you say it again, the cuts
go deeper and bigger. Don't make
me be the bad guy here.
Dave screaming begins to calm down. Blood is dripping into
his eye.
DAVE
I have no idea what the fuck you
want from me.
SAM
Dave, I torture people. I mean,
that's what I do. It's my job.
I remember this one prick, tough
as nails. It took me three days
to finally get to him. Toughest
son of a bitch I've ever met.
Dave looks at the timer, 8:45 left.
SAM
I'd done everything to him. He
wouldn't say anything. I had to
admire that. I knew that whatever
I would do to him, he wouldn't
talk. So I had to bring another
factor into the equation.
Sam begins to empty his bag, pulling out a drill, salt,
another scalpel and two knives.
SAM (CONT'D)
So, I went to the closet, that
was in the back of the room.
Sam glances at the time, it reads 7:55.
SAM
Do you know what was in there?
DAVE
Do I want to know?
Sam looks at Dave for a minute.
SAM
It was his son. His name was
Michael. I stood him up in front
of his father, who was already
beaten to shit. The kid started
to cry. I saw the look of horror
hit his father's face like a ton
of bricks.
(pause)
That's when I slit the kids
throat from ear to ear.
Dave looks at Sam with disgust and horror. His eyes begin
to tear up.
DAVE
You sick fuck.
SAM
The kid was thirteen years old.
At that very moment he said that
he would never tell me anything.
Which was a mistake, cause that
told me that he did in fact know
something. What do you think I
did next?
DAVE
Please...stop this.
SAM
I went back to the closet, this
time I came back with his
daughter. Katie, Seven years old.
I promised him that I would do
far worse things to her, behind
closed doors, after I had killed
him. Nothing made him more
furious then the idea of me
hurting his little daughter.
Imagine the wild thoughts you
would have running through your
head at that very moment.
DAVE
Did you kill her?
Sam glances at the time, 6 minutes left.
DAVE
ANSWER ME!!! DID YOU KILL HER!!!
SAM
In the end, Dave. I got the
information I wanted. I've never
made a mistake. I've never killed
an innocent man. The reason I'm
telling you this is because I
will get what I need from you.
DAVE
Please, tell me. Did you kill the
girl.
SAM
I'll let that question sit with
you for a bit.
5:45 minutes left.
SAM
Dave, you have just over five
minutes left. I'm going to
torture you, every minute that
goes by.
Dave looks at the time with terror. 5:39.
SAM
You can stop this. Just give me
the names.
Dave doesn't say anything.
SAM
Did I forget to mention that we
have a time limit?
DAVE
Fuck you maniac.
SAM
Dave, I've been called many
things. Maniac, psycho, sadistic
fuck, dickless bastard. So
please, if you're going to insult
me, be a little bit more
original. Remember, every maniac,
every fuck you, every spit in the
face. It's just ticking your life
away.
5:29 minutes left.
SAM
It will get worse. Trust me.
DAVE
Listen, I've already told you. I
have no idea what the fuck you
want from me. You've got the
wrong fucking guy. Let me go.
Sam ignores everything that Dave just said.
SAM
You may be surprised by this, but
everything in the bag was bought
off the internet. Now, those
people out there, those are the
maniacs, okay, those are the
sadistic fucks. You should really
see the shit out there Dave, it's
sickening.
DAVE
And what are you.
SAM
Well, I'm not psycho that's for
sure. You hear so many of those
serial killers use the same old
shit excuses. Me? I never grew up
with an abusive father, no one
ever put their cigarettes out on
my arm or neck. I don't hear
voices inside my head that tell
me to kill people. No dog has
ever told me to do shit. I
certainly do not have a split
personality.
I don't think that I'm doing
God's will. I grew up with a
loving family, I got the things I
wanted. I was on the fucking
honour roll in high school.
5:00 left.
Sam takes one of the knives and throws it at Dave's foot.
The knife stick out of Dave's foot. Dave screams in pain.
DAVE
Shit...Oh God.
Sam takes the other knife and throws it into Dave's other
foot. Dave screams yet again.
SAM
I told you, not to use the Lord's
name in vain.
Dave tries to stop screaming and hide the pain.
4:45 minutes left.
SAM
Are you going to cooperate with
me Dave?
Dave doesn't respond, instead he looks at his feet.
SAM
I see. Well, maybe this will
interest you.
Sam reaches into his inside pocket and pulls out a picture.
He places it on the floor in between Dave's feet. Dave sees
the picture and looks back at Sam. The hate on his face is
unbelievable.
SAM
Where did I get that picture?
Sam thinks for a second.
SAM (CONT'D)
Oh, yes. The desk drawer. Next to
your bed. Makes you ponder the
question, how did I get it?
DAVE
I'm going to kill you.
Dave struggles to get out of the chair, he loosens his
ropes a tad, but not enough to set him free.
SAM
Your wife is a very beautiful
lady. We wouldn't want anything
to tarnish that beauty? Do we?
Dave continues to struggle in the chair, it's hard to get
out, with his hands tied behind his back. Sam glances at
the time yet again.
4:12 minutes left.
DAVE
If you harm one hair on her head.
SAM
You'll what? You're tied to a
fucking chair. You're not going
anywhere. Ten seconds Dave.
Dave looks over at the timer, which now reads 4:08.
SAM
Are you going to tell me or am I
going to have to...hurt you
again.
DAVE
You can go fuck yourself.
SAM
Harsh words.
Sam picks up the scalpel and walks behind Dave. Dave cannot
see Sam anymore, he has no idea what he's doing behind him.
SAM
You notice in the movies, when
they try to make you feel
uncomfortable and cringe and gory
scenes. They always go over the
top. You know what I mean? Limbs
falling off, heads rolling and
blood gushing.
(pause)
But I find that it's the little
things that make the audience
squirm in their seats.
4:00 minuntes left.
Sam takes the scalpel and cuts the webbing in between
Dave's fingers. The blood covers Dave's hands. Sam cuts
each and every one between the fingers. Dave is screaming
in agony. Sam walks back to the chair in front of Dave and
takes a seat. He places the scalpel on the table.
SAM
It will get worse.
Dave begins to struggle with the rope that has his hands
tied together. Dave again, tries to bare the pain and hide
it.
Dave begins to chuckle to himself.
DAVE
Exactly how long have you
been...torturing people?
SAM
Long enough. The names Dave.
DAVE
I don't know any names.
SAM
Dave, you have the names of the
only people who eye witnessed the
president in the murder. What I'm
doing is nothing compared to what
he'll have his people do.
DAVE
You're not one of his people?
SAM
No.
DAVE
Well...I'm sorry to disappoint,
but I have nothing. I don't know
any name of any people in any
murder.
Sam looks at Dave, then looks at the timer. 3:23 minutes
left.
SAM
You've got twenty-three seconds
to tell me or I torture you
again.
Sam picks up the picture in between Dave's feet.
DAVE
Leave it alone.
SAM
Kiss her goodbye Dave. This is
the last time you'll ever see
her.
DAVE
Don't do this. You're killing an
innocent man.
SAM
10 seconds left. I take it you're
not going to tell me.
Dave looks up at the ceiling.
DAVE
Please God. Stop this.
SAM
Prayer will not save you.
3:00 minutes left.
Sam takes the scalpel and peels the skin away from Dave's
forearm. Sam walks back to the table and picks up the salt.
SAM
This is going to hurt.
Sam pours the salt on the wound. Dave again struggles in
his chair and screams.
DAVE
You...you believe in God?
SAM
I believe in a creator.
Everything must have started from
something, so there must have
been a creator.
DAVE
How can you do this? When you
believe in God. You say this is
your job. What happens when
you're roasting in hell. Killing
innocent children. You said
you've never killed an innocent
man, but what about that kid.
Those people on the internet
aren't the sadistic fucks. You
are. You're going to burn in hell
for it.
Sam ignores Dave.
SAM
Dave. I've learned that you don't
need torture devices in order to
torture someone.
A sound goes off, it's like a siren. Dave looks at the
timer, it reads 2:35.
DAVE
What's that?
SAM
Tea's ready.
Sam leaves the room and grabs the tea kettle, he brings it
back, the steam is filling the air. Dave looks at it with
horror.
DAVE
What are you going to do?
SAM
You want me to tell you how I'm
going to do to you in the next
twenty seconds?
(pause)
I'm going to pour this boiling
tea down your throat.
Dave begins to struggle in his chair again.
DAVE
Please, stop this.
SAM
You have the ability to stop
this.
They both sit there silent, staring at the tea kettle and
the timer. It counts down the seconds. Sam has a grin on
his face, while Dave is extremely nervous. Dave continues
to change between the timer, the tea kettle and Sam.
2:00 minues left.
Sam takes the tea kettle and walks over to Dave.
SAM
Open your mouth.
Dave shakes his head no.
SAM
Open your fucking mouth.
Dave shakes his head no again. Sam sticks the spout of the
kettle into Dave's mouth forcefully. He pours the hot tea
water down Dave's throat. Dave struggles in his chair. The
water is pouring out of his mouth, all over his body. Sam
stops, the kettle has some water left in it.
Sam places the tea kettle back on the TV dinner table.
SAM
Dave...can you hear me?
Dave's head is hung over, looking at his feet. His voice is
damaged from the tea water. It's low and seems to hurt more
with every word.
DAVE
Yes...
SAM
Dave, you don't have much time
left. I had hoped that it didn't
need to come down to this. Look
behind you Dave.
Dave doesn't move.
SAM
Look behind you Dave.
Dave slowly turns his head, he sees a closet in the corner
of the room. His eyes tear up, he begins to cry softly.
SAM
I don't have to tell you what's
behind that closet do I? I
already showed you a picture of
your wife. Would you like me to
show you one of your daughters
earrings?
Dave cries in his seat.
SAM
Dave. Answer me Dave.
DAVE
She's six years old.
SAM
I know. If you want to protect
her, then tell me the names.
DAVE
Jonathan...Mowers.
Sam stares at Dave.
SAM
You're lying.
DAVE
No...I'm not. I swear to you.
SAM
Dave, I can see a lie from a mile
away. I'm calling your bluff, Mr.
Poker player.
1:00 minute left.
Sam glances at the time.
DAVE
Please...don't hurt her.
SAM
You've got one minute Dave,
before I go to that closet and
drag her out here. I swear to
you, I'll kill her right in front
of you.
DAVE
You parent should outlive their
children.
Sam glances at the timer
56 seconds.
SAM
You asked me if I had killed the
little girl.
DAVE
Yes...
52 seconds.
SAM
Yes. It haunts me to this day.
48 seconds.
DAVE
Please, don't make the same
mistake twice.
Dave glances at the time.
45 seconds.
SAM
I'm sorry. But this has to be
done.
DAVE
You son of a bitch, you mother
fucker. Fuck you, fuck you.
Dave struggles more and more in his chair, he loosens his
knots, his hands are still covered in blood.
Sam picks up the drill, he turns in on. Dave looks at it in
horror.
DAVE
You're lying. You don't have my
daughter. You're full of shit.
SAM
Are you calling my bluff Dave?
Are you willing to take that
risk?
28 seconds.
Sam takes out another cigarette and lights it. He leaves
the pack of cigarettes and his lighter on the table.
DAVE
I'll have a cigarette now.
SAM
Smoking will kill you. Don't you
know that?
Dave loosens his knots more and more, his hands are almost
free.
SAM
Should I kill you in front of
her? Or should I kill her in
front of you?
DAVE
You mother fucker. I'll fucking
kill you if you touch her.
Sam walks in front of Dave with the drill in hand.
SAM
I think I'll kill you first, then
let your imagination run wild.
Imagine your daughter screaming.
As I peel the finger nails from
her fingers. As I rip her eye
lids off.
15 seconds.
DAVE
You fucking monster. I swear to
God, I'm going to kill you.
10 seconds.
Sam walks over to the closet. Dave screams at Sam, but
can't do anything about it.
DAVE
Stay away from her. God dammit.
Sam walks back to Dave.
SAM
What did I say about the Lord's
name?
5 seconds.
Sam glances at the time.
SAM
Your time is almost up.
Dave glances at the time
3 seconds.
SAM
Any last words.
DAVE
Go to hell.
The timer goes off. It has reached zero. Dave's hands are
free, he lunges at Sam, grabbing a scalpel from the table
as they both fall to the ground. He stabs Sam in the
shoulder. They struggle with each other on the floor. Sam
tries to stab Dave with the drill, as Dave tries to stab
Sam with the scalpel.
CUT TO:
INT. HALLWAY.
We see the door that is the entrance way to the room. We
hear the struggling in the room. Glass is broken and then
finally we hear a scream. We hear footsteps walking within
the room. We hear the creaking of a door open, it must be
the closet. We hear more sounds that are not recognizable.
The door in the hallway begins to creak open, but all we
see is a dark shadowy figure of the man, who is smoking a
cigarette.
Fade to Black.
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