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This screenplay is not a docudrama.
It is a story... of the madness of using violence as a solution to the problem of violence, and... the awakening of a
perpetrator/victim
to his own sanity.
The story is set in the U.S. It turns on the fact that the central character is a product of the cultural majority. In the U.S. that makes Jody
Thomas a White man. The ethnicity of the other characters is irrelevant. Which means the same principle applies if the story is set in other countries. There is also no provision,
by design, for ethnic references or issues.
The rebel does not ask for life,
but for reasons for living,
if nothing lasts then nothing is justified
everything that dies is deprived of meaning.
To fight against death amounts to claiming
that life has a meaning... .
Albert Camus
The Time is... anytime.
The place is... anywhere
FADE IN
int. the gas chamber of a state prison
It looks like a deep-sea tank with circular ribs, large bolts on the outside and a series of waist-high windows.
Inside are two square-backed chairs with straps on the arms and legs. The base of each chair is fitted with a round container with holes and a
connecting pipe. Everything is painted a light, passionless, mint green.
The chamber looks almost two-dimensional as if it were lifted out of an illustration or off the cover of a 19th-century magazine.
Two OFFICERS are at the chamber. They are methodically performing a dry run of the system. The sound of their voices and movements is soft,
intimate.
FIRST OFFICER
Vent valve closed.
SECOND OFFICER
Check.
FIRST OFFICER
End clamps down.
SECOND OFFICER
Check.
FIRST OFFICER
Bath delivered.
SECOND OFFICER
Check.
FIRST OFFICER
Eggs laid.
SECOND OFFICER
Check.
FIRST OFFICER
Cooking time.
SECOND OFFICER
Six minutes, thirty seconds.
FIRST OFFICER
Vent valve open.
SECOND OFFICER
Check.
FIRST OFFICER
Clear.
SECOND OFFICER
Clear.
There is a harsh, clanging sound as the SECOND OFFICER yanks the lever on his last command.
Ext. The front gate of the prison - night
A police car with flashing lights makes its way through a loud melee of people, signs and bright tv lights.
The CAMERA MOVES with it, then over to the crowd to:
EXT. CLOSEUP OF A TV REPORTER
REPORTER
This is the first execution in the state since the death penalty was reinstated. With the uproar over lethal injection, the state was left with
only two options. And in a bizarre twist last week, the state supreme court banned one them, death by hanging, as cruel and unusual punishment. That left the gas chamber and it
will be used tonight.
EXT. INTERVIEW
Signs and singing in the background
REPORTER
So how do you feel this close to the end with all the conflict and...
PROTESTER
I don't know. I don't know. He's a (bleep) cop-killer and he's gotta pay for that. But I don't know why they couldn't wait
to do it right. I don't know. I don't know.
OTHER PROTESTER
(Jumping in front of the REPORTER.)
They shoulda hung him, break up his (bleep) neck. Nothing cruel about that.
The PROTESTER yanks the OTHER away from the camera.
EXT. CLOSEUP OF REPORTER
REPORTER
And so the vigil continues. Even as the wind comes off the bay and brings a cold, wet fog with it, this huge crowd waits, bathed in candlelight,
faces turned toward the North wing of the prison where Jody Thomas waits, and watches as the clock counts down the 30, now 29 minutes remaining before that midnight hour when
this state will hold its first execution in 20 years.
PULL BACK TO the face of the REPORTER on a tv SCREEN.
REPORTER
This eerie, quiet scene is in stark contrast to the chaos and clamor that erupted throughout the day...
FURTHER PULL BACK to:
INT. THE CELLBLOCK
In one of two holding cells, next to the infamous chamber, JODY THOMAS, 31 years old, thin and muscular, is seated on a bench along with the
CHAPLAIN, a Catholic priest in his 60’s. Next to them is a tray with drinks, candy bars and an open pizza box. The cover of the box reads: “On Time, Every Time!”
A GUARD stands nearby.
JODY
Hey, could you turn that up. Father, how about it!
CHAPLAIN
Oh, yeah, sure!
He turns up the sound.
REPORTER
...a day full of last minute legal maneuvering, rancorous press conferences, and clashes between pro and con groups. Here was the scene a few
hours ago.
TV screen shows pictures from earlier in the day.
JODY
Man, they're excited. I mean, I can't believe there's all those people out there.
CHAPLAIN
Yeah, a lot of people
JODY
You afraid to die, Father?
CHAPLAIN
I... sure, we all are. That's why it's important to make our peace with God.
JODY
Can you do that for me, Father?
CHAPLAIN
I can help you do that, Thomas. I can help you prepare for your salvation.
JODY
Nah... he's mad at me. I'll catch him later if I see him.
GUARD
Why don't you finish-up there, Jody.
JODY
Don't think so. Haven't really got a good reason to eat. You want some, you want a slice? It's real good, just the way I like it.
CHAPLAIN
I think we should get ready, Thomas.
JODY
Ready? Oh yeah I'm ready.
CHAPLAIN
You could prepare your mind, your spirit. We can pray together.
JODY
Nah, I'm ready. Pray? I never learned how.
CHAPLAIN
There's nothing to learn, all you have to do...
JODY
(sharply)
I said I won't be any trouble. I said I'm ready.
GUARD
We know you are, Jody, we know you are.
A SECOND GUARD steps through the outside door in the cellblock. Stops, turns back, talks to someone outside.
SECOND GUARD
Yes sir. Right away.
Leans into the cell.
JODY turns away, presses his face into the wall.
int. the warden’s office
The FIRST OFFICER stands outside the door juggling two hot cups of coffee. He finally manages to open the door and enters. Inside, the WARDEN, a
tall man in his early 50’s.
first officer
Here’s your coffee, sir. You want black or white?
WARDEN
Doesn’t matter.
FIRST OFFICER
Take the black, it’s sweeter.
WARDEN takes a cup, moves to the window, looks at the vigil outside the gate.
WARDEN
Drag it out, screw it around. The lawyers play their games and every one goes crazy.
FIRST OFFICER
Ain’t right to keep stalling like this. Don’t make no sense.
WARDEN
Makes sense to me. Nobody wants to pull the switch. God I wish they’d get this over with.
Phone rings. The WARDEN listens for a moment, nods, puts it down. His face tightens.
INT: The cellblock
JODY
I wish I had some chili powder. I like it hot, you know what I mean?
CHAPLAIN
It must be pretty cold by now.
JODY
No, I mean the taste. I like it spicy.
GUARD
So do I.
CHAPLAIN
I'm not really a pizza eater, myself.
JODY
No? Ahh, that's too bad. Nothing like a slice of pizza and a cold beer.
The outside door opens. MICHELLE steps in, late 20’s, casually dressed.
JODY
Hey, it's my lady... my lady-lawyer. Got to go back to court, huh?
MICHELLE
(quietly)
No. They vacated the stay, overturned it.
JODY
Who?
MICHELLE
The Supreme Court.
JODY
The big guys?
She nods.
JODY (cont'd)
I don't even know what they look like.
The outside door opens. The WARDEN steps through followed by two guards. He stops at the cell.
WARDEN
We have to go now.
JODY
Yeah, go.
INT: stairwells
Armed guards hurry down the stairs, followed by civilians being escorted in single file.
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