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(Page 3 of 5) Chapters Of A Portrait by Richard Ridyard
 (35 ratings)
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Through the doorway two figures can be
made out in a much darker, barely furnished room. One
stands while the other kneels in front of the first.
Payne and George exchange glances.
Close in to show that the two figures are actually two new
‘versions' of George and Payne. Payne II stands over the
kneeling George II, holding a gun to his head.
GEORGE II
(Sobbing)
I swear to God, Mr. Payne. I have
no idea what is going on. This is
nothing to do with me. You have
to believe me.
GEORGE
Oh God. Oh God!
George (I) pulls the door shut. Just before it is fully
closed the gun goes off, illuminating the room inside.
Payne glares accusingly at George, who is understandably
perturbed by what they have both just seen.
PAYNE
Why would I want to kill you?
GEORGE
Why would you have a gun?
PAYNE
I always carry a gun.
GEORGE
A gun? Why? I thought you said
you were a businessman?
PAYNE
I am. And everyone in my business
carries a gun.
GEORGE
(Throwing his hands in
the air)
I don't want to know. I really
don't. Whatever is going on here
is too much for me. I'm just
trying to sell this place. I have
to get out of here! I don't even
know what we just saw...
While George panics, Payne seems quite calm.
PAYNE
We're seeing the future - isn't
it obvious?
GEORGE
The future? What are you -
PAYNE
Have you read that book by
Stephen Hawking?
GEORGE
No. Have you?
PAYNE
No, but I did see a TV special on
it last year. I think we're stuck
in something like a wormhole.
Time is looping back on itself
somehow. We're seeing the future
being played out right in front
of us. Or maybe just one of many
possible futures.
GEORGE
I'm really not following at
all...
PAYNE
We could be looking into
alternative universes. The future
is not fixed. I may or may not
propose to the woman we just saw
in there. I may never even meet
her.
GEORGE
And you may or may not shoot me
in the head?
PAYNE
Exactly. And as it stands, in
this universe at least, I have no
reason to kill you. So relax.
GEORGE
Relax? How can I relax? Even if
we ignore the fact that I just
witnessed my own murder and am
standing not two feet from my
apparent killer, this is quite
outside the scope of my
experience. We left my comfort
zone about a hundred miles back.
I don't see how you can be taking
all of this in your stride. Does
this sort of thing happen to you
often?
PAYNE
No, of course not. Calm down.
You're becoming hysterical. I've
just learned that no matter what
life throws at you it pays to
remain calm. Anxiety serves no
real purpose.
GEORGE
Easy for you to say, Harry. You
didn't just see your brains spray
out the side of your skull.
PAYNE
I already explained, I am not a
psycho. There's no percentage in
offing you, so why would I
bother? You're only an estate
agent.
George misses the last of what Payne says as he is
distracted by something on the floor, out of shot. Payne
notices this and glances down.
CUT TO:
Yet another version of Payne.
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