John Doe. A Script by Carlos
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
Cinder block walls, a metal table and two fold-up chairs. A MAN in his fifties dressed in Armani sits patiently. For now, this is JOHN DOE.
INT. OBSERVATION ROOM - DAY
Two plains-clothes cops POST (40s, messy) and SAKAI (30s, immaculate) along with SHARLOTTE (50s), a psychiatrist, observe John Doe through the looking glass.
POST
What you think doc?
SHARLOTTE
Very atypical. Not that I’ve ever dealt with it, but he’s not showing any of the textbook traits.
SAKAI
No way he’s sane though, right?
SHARLOTTE
Let’s see.
INT. INTERROGATION ROOM - DAY
Sharlotte enters and John Doe stands up, waiting to sit down until she does first.
SHARLOTTE
Thank you.
JOHN DOE
The downfall of Western civilization began with the discarding of chivalry.
SHARLOTTE
Really?
JOHN DOE
Indeed. So the beat cops can’t understand, or believe, so they send in a witch doctor?
SHARLOTTE
You have disdain for psychiatry?
JOHN DOE
That’s a strong word. More along the lines of amusement. Your field is really no further in understanding the nature of man, mind and emotion than say, that ant does of you and I.
An ANT walks along the middle of the table.
SHARLOTTE
I see. Do you have that understanding?
JOHN DOE
Of course.
SHARLOTTE
How did you come about it?
JOHN DOE
Because of who I am.
SHARLOTTE
That being?
JOHN DOE
You already know.
SHARLOTTE
I know what you said to the officers.
JOHN DOE
But you KNOW it’s true.
SHARLOTTE
And that’s why you did what you did?
JOHN DOE
Boredom really. I’m here for something else altogether, but I bore easily.
SHARLOTTE
I see. And did you...
JOHN DOE
(interrupting)
Why don’t you ask what you came in to ask? It will go a lot faster if you do.
SHARLOTTE
All right. If you are indeed a demon, why not just disappear from this room, or use your powers to escape.
JOHN DOE
At this time, that information is for me to know and you to find out.
The ANT is a foot from the edge of the table now.
SHARLOTTE
Okay. How about something simple? Read my thoughts.
JOHN DOE
Doctor please. So crass.
SHARLOTTE
Help me believe you.
JOHN DOE
How about a deal? I show you a little something and you have dinner with me.
SHARLOTTE
(she can’t help smiling)
You don’t want my soul?
He smiles back. The ANT is inches from the edge.
JOHN DOE
Later, sure. Now, just dinner.
SHARLOTTE
I’m sorry, but I can’t.
JOHN DOE
Very well. Still, I can’t refuse a lovely lady. Take a look at the ant.
It stops moving an inch from the edge of the table.
SHARLOTTE
Yes?
JOHN DOE
Closer.
She takes out reading glasses and peers through them at the ant now DISMEMBERED into a head, abdomen, thorax and six legs.
She drops her glasses and looks up at him.
JOHN DOE
(smiling)
Boo!
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