274. Shift - Leslie

• FADE IN:


• EXT. THE LUDWIG ART GALLERY - DAY


• The Ludwig is a small art gallery that enjoys specializing in especially challenging works of art.


• Through the large glass windows, the current exhibit, a collection of work by the artist 09 is on display.


• Her pieces are large paintings are drawn with the crisp hyper reality of certain graphic novels - normal situations with just one or two disturbing variations, variations that the viewer usually misses at first glance, but with repeated viewings, become more and more obvious.


• There is the family around the dinner table, perfectly happy, but upon closer inspection, one sees that their faces are sewn-own masks, their eyes dead; or the country gentleman enjoying a game of golf with an ornate club woven together with the tiny bones of children, his cheerful smile become more twisted the longer the viewer stares.


• Outside the gallery, MICKEY, ELLIE, and THEO, a group of young artists, stand in a circle debating.


• MICKEY
• I'm just so tired of watching corporations roll over every one in this country; and most of them are too stupid to notice.


• ELLIE
• Yeah, it's so frustrating. But I think that's the brilliance of Zero Nine's work. She's making some great statements about the whole structure of the life we live.


• THEO
• She does, definitely; but so what...I mean, we've been philosophizing about this stuff for years; I mean, I've been talking about all the social ills we see since I was a kid. Has that stopped anything? Not really, all we do is talk.


• ELLIE
• Hey, there's our art.


• You're preaching to the converts. I mean, come on...is Joe Blow from Hoosierville going to have any interest coming to a place called The Ludwig and look at art by someone who calls herself Zero Nine? I mean for goodness sakes here...who are we really reaching?


• Dude, chill. Besides, it's a quiet thing art, it kind of trickles down where you least expect it.


• SHIFT, a woman at a nearby newspaper, looks over at them over the top of the magazine she is reading.


• She wears an odd bowler-like cap, a blouse with rolled-up sleeves, and torn jeans.


• Two scarves are thrown loosely around her neck, and hints of strange tattoos, peek out from under the sleeves.


• She has a slightly mad look in her eyes.


• THEO
• There's nothing wrong with a little preaching to the choir, but if that's all we're doing...just creating a little mutual admiration society.


• MICKEY
• Hey, it's more than that, and if Joe Redneck Blow doesn't get it, then screw him, he's part of the problem.


• Theo snaps his fingers.


• THEO
• And just like that, we become one of them, the facists, the politburo, the small group of elite controlling everything and we've traveled 180 degrees from what we've wanted to accomplish. I need more, I need to engage real people, not just people I know I can get an Amen from. And look, I know we're trying to do something, but I think we're unbalanced, we're on this far side of the spectrum and we've gotten closed off. We're totally ineffective. we talk about setting off on grand adventures and yet we're chained to all the bits of technology we're surrounded by. Aren't we supposed to be vagabonds, lonely prophets?


• MICKEY
• Glad you got that off your chest?


• THEO
• Yeah, yeah...let's go back to the choir loft.


• The three chuckle.


• Shift sidles up as they turn to enter the gallery.


• SHIFT
• You serious about what you said?


• They turn, hearing her melodic east-european voice.


• THEO
• Yes.


• SHIFT
• You sure?


• THEO
• Dead sure.


• SHIFT
• Oof, you be careful with those words you throw around; but if you're serious, follow me.


• Theo, Mickey, and Ellie see the madness and it frightens them, but Theo is also delighted and drawn it; it's the type of madness that sends certain people running and invites others in deeper.


• THEO
• Ok...er, what's your name?


• ELLIE
• Are you serious? She's nuts. No offense lady.


• SHIFT
• None taken, darling, I am quite mad. Call me Shift. So?


• She turns and walks away.


• Theo only has to think about it for a second.


• He runs after her.


• Mickey and Ellie stare after them.


• THEO
• Where to?


• She turns and looks at him for a long moment.


• SHIFT
• I'm the White Rabbit, are you sure you want to be Alice?


• THEO
• You terrify the hell out of me and right now, that feels alright.


• SHIFT
• Here, have some chocolate, it always helps.


• She pulls a bar of semi-sweet from her pocket and he takes it.


• THEO
• You still haven't said where we're going.


• SHIFT
• I have no idea. Shall we?


• She begins walking.


• Theo grins to himself and catches up.


• FADE TO BLACK.