The Line

The Line

By Mira Kent

INT. LINE

Close shot on an eye as it opens and the pupils quickly shrink. Dramatic zoom out shows DONNIE WAHLBERG somewhere in the middle of an endless line of people in an otherwise empty room. He looks disoriented, checking back and worth to see where he is and why. As he looks around, he notices a GIRL behind him, headphones in her ears, her bad music heard faintly in the background. About two people behind the Girl is a WOMAN holding a CRYING BABY and rocking him gently in an attempt to calm him down. In front of him is a MAN on a cell phone, his conversation rounding out the background noise.

MAN

(on phone)

No, I don’t know when I’ll be home. They haven’t given me a time yet. (pause) What does it matter to you anyway? No, I’m not trying to start anything. You sound just like your mother.

DONNIE

(taping Man on shoulder)

Excuse me, sir?

The Man ignores him, continuing his conversation. Donnie turns to the Girl.

DONNIE

Excuse me?

The Girl motions that she cannot hear him, but does not take off her headphones. Donnie motions for her to take off her headphones but she ignores him. A few quick cuts show Donnie gripping his hair and screaming but they quickly cut away and he is just standing in line, arms folded across his chest. The camera pans back and forth showing no apparent beginning or end. After a few more moments of looking around, he starts to make his way away from the line. The Girl’s eyes widen and she shakes her head, at first slowly, but looks more and more scared as Donnie moves further and further away. A GUARD appears, large, cold eyes, and puts his hand up against Donnie’s chest.

GUARD

Where are you going?

DONNIE

Home.

GUARD

It’s not your turn yet.

DONNIE

Turn for what? What is this line for?

GUARD

Sir, please return to your place.

Quick cuts to Donnie running and the Guard overpowering him and dragging him back to his spot in line. The Girl is watching the whole time, shaking. The Crying Baby starts screaming, while the Woman ignores him to watch Donnie. Even the Man is watching, his conversation changing to a description of what just happened. Donnie brushes himself off, all eyes on him.

DONNIE

What is this? Can someone please tell me where I am?

Everyone goes back to ignoring him. The Baby’s cries become softer as the Woman tries to shush him. The Girl looks away and taps her foot in rhythm to the soft music. The Man returns to talking to the person on the other end about absolutely nothing. The Guard is the only one paying any attention to Donnie, pacing back and forth and eying him cautiously.

MAN

(on phone)

I told you, I don’t know when I’ll be done here.

Donnie walks up to the Man. The Guard starts to move towards him but stops. Donnie taps the Man on the shoulder, but the Man just ignores him.

MAN

(on phone)

If I knew when I would be back, I would tell you. Of course I would tell you. No, I would tell you.

DONNIE

What’s this line for?

MAN

(on phone, softly, avoiding Donnie)

He’s talking to me. Of course I’m not responding, I’m not stupid. Stop talking down to me. Stop talking down to me.

DONNIE

What’s this fucking line for?

Quick cuts to Donnie strangling the Man, but when it returns, he hasn’t and moves back to his place in line. The Girl is watching him but as soon as he turns around to look at her, she looks away.

DONNIE

(to Girl)

What’s this line for?

The Girl looks at him and starts shaking, then looks away.

DONNIE

I know you can hear me. What’s this line for?

The Girl starts crying, which takes Donnie by surprise. The Guard approaches him, holding Donnie back.

GUARD

Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to stop talking to the others.

DONNIE

The other what? What’s going on?

GUARD

It’s against the rules to talk to the others.

DONNIE

(exasperated)

What rules?

Two more GUARDS appear, and some quick cuts show Donnie fighting them, flinging punches and screaming, but this is only in his imagination. Now surrounded, he stops talking. This satisfies the Guards enough for the two new ones to leave but the first one stays behind. The Baby lets out a scream and there is a quick cut of Donnie shaking the Baby and hitting the Woman but this is also just in his head. Donnie looks desperately to the Guard.

DONNIE

Please, I won’t complain, I won’t leave, just please tell me why I’m here.

The Guard looks genuinely surprised. He seems to be weighing out his options and answers as he takes a deep breath.

GUARD

I think you already know.

DONNIE

That’s the thing! I don’t! I don’t know! I don’t know how I got here or why I’m here and I just want to go home!

He holds his head, silently sobbing. The Girl and the Guard exchange a look, unsure what to do. Donnie falls to the ground and starts vocally crying. The camera zooms out, only to show the line longer and longer with no beginning or end. Everyone else is standing patiently while Donnie is on the floor, shaking. As the people get smaller and smaller as the camera continues to zoom out, the line continues. Cue dramatic Saw music. Finally, the screen FADES TO BLACK.

END.