My first script

[skull_bearer]

First assignment, to write a scene from a realistic conflict in a setting you know. Well, I don't think this is exactly realistic, since it's pretty styalised, but it's certainly a setting I know about. I don't think it's quite what the tutor asked for, but hey, I rather like it, so it's going 
here.

Musselmann

 

The scene starts in a concentration camp. A starving man is digging a ditch with a spade, he is wearing a prisoner’s uniform. Death stands to one side, watching him.

 

Death: Why do you wait? What are you waiting for?

 

Prisoner: Not for you. I am not waiting for you.

 

Death: *points at the guard towers* They are. They are waiting for me to come for you. That is what you are here for.

 

Prisoner: I don’t care. I am not waiting for you.

 

Death: Perhaps you should. Many are. What are you waiting for, if not for me?

 

Prisoner: Freedom. Hope. Life. I’m waiting for them. They are waiting for me.

 

Death: They are not here. Slavery is here, despair is here. I am here. Why do you wait for something this is not here?

 

Prisoner: I can leave. I will leave and I will find them again.

 

Death: Through me. You can only leave with me.

 

Prisoner: I will leave alive. I won’t leave with you.

 

Death: You will. All leave with me.

 

Prisoner: Not now, not here. I’ll not die here.

 

Death: Many have. Many will, why not you? Why do you care?

 

Prisoner: My family would not want to give up. I’ll not die.

 

Death: Your family are waiting for you. They came with me, they stepped into the fire, you breathe their ashes with every gasp, every cry. Come with me, and they will wait no more.

 

Prisoner: They’ll not want me to. They will wait, and see me live.

 

Death: They know it is no use. They know you will die. They want you to come with them. They want you to come with me.

 

Prisoner: I’ll not give up. I can’t. I’ll not let them win. They killed my family, I’ll not give in to them. I can’t come with you.

 

Death: They will come with me. You will come with me. All must come with me. Why try? Why struggle when all struggle ends in death? Come with me, join your family, leave them to me. They will come in time.

 

Prisoner: They’ll kill many others before they come with you.

 

Death: And those others will come with me whether they kill them or not. You cannot stop them any more than you can stop me.

 

Prisoner: But others will. And when they do I’ll be there to remember. I’ll remember those they killed and I’ll tell them and tell the world so they will know what happened here.

 

Death: What happened here? People came alone, with friends, with families. All left with me. All will be forgotten.

 

Prisoner: I’ll not forget. I’ll not die. I’ll not leave with you.

 

Death: But you will. You will leave with me.

 

Prisoner: But not here. Not now.

 

Death: What does it matter? You will come with me no matter if here or elsewhere. You will come with me if now or tomorrow or a dozen years from now.

 

Prisoner: But I’ll not be forgotten. Those who died here will not be forgotten.

 

Death: All are forgotten. Some will remember, but I will come for them.

 

Prisoner: Those that remember will tell others, and they will tell yet others. We will not be forgotten.

 

Death: But you will be gone. What do you care? Why try? You are tired, you are hurt. You cannot sleep. You cannot heal. I will let you rest. I will heal you. Come with me.

 

Prisoner: No! I’ll live. Even if I’m tired, even if I’m hurt and dying inside, I’ll not come with you. They’ll have to shoot me, starve me, send me through the chimney before I come with you.

 

Death: They will, and you will come, and you will weep and wish you have come sooner. You will die, why does it matter how?

 

Prisoner: You said hope isn’t here, you’re wrong. Hope is inside me. I will not give it up. I will not give up. I will not come with you. Hope is what is keeping me alive. You cannot understand. Yes, I am hungry, I am tired and I am hurt, and I would not give that up if it means giving up hope.

 

Death: They will starve you and beat you.

 

Prisoner: Then they will starve and beat me, and I will suffer and survive. I will not give up hope.

 

Death: You will suffer, and you will die.

 

Prisoner: Then I’ll die with hope, and not despair.

Comments

[shadowvalkyrie.livejournal.com]

Terribly sad. Impressive with its seeming simplicity of form.