THE CONTENTS OF THIS DOCUMENT ARE (no longer?) PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
Terrence & the Metaphysical Mushroom
by
TIAGO PIRES
FIRST DRAFT
JULY 2008
(c) TIAGO PIRES, JULY 2008
64 Willys Ave, Keilor Downs
VIC 3038, Australia
Ph: (61 04) 2336 3218
1. INT. LOUNGE. DAY
Terrance sits on his couch reading Time magazine. The title reads “consciousness a product of the brain”.
He finishes his joint and puts down the magazine on his coffee table.
On the table next to the ash tray and rolling paper, sits a little brown package all tied up with string. An airmail sticker stuck diagonally across the side. He reads the tag.
TERRANCE (V/O)
Hmmm. “Hope all is well in the land of the living, From Brother Tim.”
Terrance opens the package to find a small wooden box, he raises the lid to reveal an ornate pipe. It appeared to be an ancient Mesoamerican relic. He took a moment to study it before concluding.
TERRANCE
Well… you know what they say, the older the pipe, the better the smoke.
He thumbles around the coffee table looking for a bowl of assorted herbs he had prepared earlier, before packing himself a pipe. Striking a Lucifer against the pipe, he takes a long drawn out drag. He exhales slowly expelling a continuous stream of smoke.
Terrance coughs once. In the direction of the cough, a puff of multicoloured dust sparkles in the center of the room. Terrance rubs his eyes, imagining the sparkles were coming from his retina. He coughs a second time, yet again another small cloud of dust forms in the center of the room. When coughs for the third time a much large cloud of sparkly dust forms and hovers over the center of the room. As the dust settles, it unveils what appears to be a 4” fire engine red mushroom. Terrance looked stunned. The mushroom appeared to be dancing. Suddenly Terrance drops the pipe. It hits the table with a thud, ash spilling out onto the surface. He walked towards the center of the room onto a large hexagon patterned rug. There stood the mushroom, bopping away. He circled the mushroom like a bird of prey, perplexed, studying it for signs of authenticity. He stopped in front of it and demanded in an authoritative voice.
TERRANCE
What are you?
A moment’s paused and then in a monotone electronic voice it announced.
MUSHROOM
I’m a mushroom
Terrance now pacing, annoyed and perplexed by the answer. He turned and shouted.
TERRANCE
Well… I can see that… but what are you doing here?
The mushroom bopped for a moment and then stated
MUSHROOM
I’m here because you smoked the pipe… I came to answer three questions, but… you have already asked 2… better make the last one a good one
TERRANCE
GAHHH!
Terrance exclaimed, and began pacing faster now. Looking down at the table he sees the time magazine cover. He quickly scans the front page article, neuroscience proclaims consciousness to be a phenomenon produced entirely by brain chemistry.
TERRANCE (V/O)
Hmmm, consciousness produced by brain chemistry they say…
Now turning to the mushroom, Terrance asks.
TERRANCE
Well… is consciousness a product of the brain?
The mushroom once again starts bopping, slowly at first, but then progressively faster. Then in an instant the mushroom comes to a halt.
MUSHROOM
The answer you seek cannot be explained through logic, nor measured by number. A mystery must be experienced to be understood. But first you must die.
TERRANCE
Wah… What!? That wasn’t part of the deal.
MUSHROOM
Relinquish your fear. Death is but an illusion. Now, eat of my flesh.
Reluctantly, Terrance approaches the mushroom. He gently breaks off a piece of flesh. It is soft and spongy. He takes of it and eats. He feels a little light headed and sits back down into the couch.
MUSHROOM
Alas it is done. Arise.
As Terrance ascends, he slowly peals away from his body like a semi translucent, phosphorescent banana from its skin. His feet now hover ever so slightly from the floor. The mushroom motions towards the window of the apartment. As it does something strange occurs, the mushrooms passes straight through the glass and out the window. Terrance hesitates a moment and then follows straight after.
2. EXT. SKYLINE. DAY
Bewildered Terrance looks out at the buildings off in the distance. South bank looms bellow. He cries out to the mushroom.
TERRANCE
WAIT! Where are we going?
To which the mushroom replies
MUSHROOM
No need for further explanation. Set the controls for the heart of the sun.
As they ascend skyward towards the giant orb. Ancient alchemical symbols begin to flash in and out of view.
Astonished, Terrance asks the mushroom.
3. EXT. SPACE. NIGHT
TERRANCE
Why am I seeing all these glyphs?
To which the mushroom simply states.
MUSHROOM
Cosmic rays, we are getting closer now.
They ascend close and closer, faster. Venus glowing like a beautiful jewel. As they pass her, images of the goddess flood Terrance’s disembodied consciousness. Now as they approach Mercury, images of Thoth, Hermes and Mercury’s winged cap. Everything suddenly becomes bright as they are engulfed in the light of the sun, like an eagle souring into its fiery center.
4. INT. LOUNGE. NIGHT
TERRACE
Waahhhhhh…
Terrance arouses with a fright. He studies his hands for a moment before looking about the room. He sees the Time Magazine still sitting on the coffee table. Pulling himself now out of his chair, he picks up the magazine and drops it in the bin.
No comments:
Post a Comment