The Proposition
Written by Joseph Coleman
Fade in:
Int. Dark Void - Young, well dressed man [Sax] playing the saxophone with great energy.
Cut To:
Int. Hospital Room - (door slams shut)
Extreme Close Up - Sax opens eyes in shock
Doctor
How are you today?
Sax
Could have been better if I had my used my inhaler, but I was so into my performance that I just....forgot.
Doctor
(laughs sullenly)
You’re still getting lost in the moment, I see.
Close Up - Doctors expression slips and Sax sees this
Sax
Is there something wrong, doc?
Doctor
Your recent test results came back...
Sax
And?
Doctor
We have discovered that you have a very rare lung disease called LAM.
Sax
Wha...no, you all told me I had asthma. For six years, you all have misdiagnosing me?!
Doctor
The symptoms of the disease mimics that of asthma, making it that much more difficult to catch at an early stage. Statistically, you shouldn’t even have it. This disease affects woman almost exclusively. The times that men have been diagnosed, they were unharmed due to hormones that men have to suppress it. But it seems to have mutated, and now we are at a loss.
Sax
So what, now? There’s nothing you can do?
Doctor
I’m sorry.
Sax leaves the room, struggling to stand from the shock of the news he just heard.
Cut To:
Int. Medical Hallway
Sax continues to walk away.
Cut To:
Int. Hospital Room
An unseen figure enters the room.
Doctor
(voice cracking)
He’s yours.
Act II
Ext. Alley Way - Daytime
Sax walks through alley on his way home.
Int. House
Sax sits on bed, and eyes saxophone. He then takes hold of it in a vain attempt to play it. All pent up anger is release through violent thrashing.
(doorbell rings)
Sax answers door, and is met by a bearded gentleman.
Gentleman
Hello, sir. My name is Dr. Bloom. I am a former colleague of Dr. Stacy. She informed me that she just recently diagnosed one of her patients with the LAM disease and I--
Sax
Who the hell are you?
Gentleman
Why, I am Dr. Bl--
Sax
No, who are you, really? Let me guess, you hang out at the clinic pretending to be a doctor just to find your next sucker, huh? Get off my porch!
Sax slams door on Dr. Bloom.
Sax begins to walk away, but turns around in contemplation. He runs to reopen his door.
Sax
Excuse me, sir. Come on in.
Gentleman
Splendid!
Cut To:
Int. Kitchen - Night
Sax
I apologize, sir. It has just been a rough day today.
Gentleman
Oh, I understand completely. You actually handled the news better than I years ago.
Sax
What? You have the same disease?
Gentleman
No, but my daughter did.
Sax
Really, how did she fare?
Gentleman
Well, she died five years after she was diagnosed. She had just graduated college, and was ready to see the world until she fell ill. Let me tell you, not from the pits of hell is there a more painful punishment than watching your child wither away before your eyes.
Sax
I’m sorry. I know when I lost both my parents that it was the lowest point in my life. The only thing that kept me going was my desire to experience the way that they wished. That, and my love for music. And now both have been stripped away from me by a disease that I’m not supposed to have, statistically.
Gentleman
And this brings us back to the nature of my visit. Doctor’s worldwide, and myself, have devoted our lives to researches this disease. And just recently, we have made tremendous breakthroughs. By fortune, I ran into Patricia today and she told me of you. So here I am.
Sax
Wait, so are you saying that you can actually cure me?
Gentleman
(laughs slightly)
Well, it is in the realm of possibilities.
Sax
But why me. Why not experiment on monkies or something and spare yourself a potential lawsuit for a possible cure.
Gentleman
There is only so much animal testing can do. We have to attack the source, not tip toe around it for sake of comfort. Now, I’ll be honest with you. This disease is still hiding in the dark. Your diagnoses more than speaks for that. So, I present to you a proposition.
You take part in my research, and I can cure you.
Sax
I don’t kn--
Gentleman
You don’t have to decide now. If you so choose to fight this, then here is the address to my office.
Dr. Bloom hands Sax a business card, and precedes to leave the kitchen.
Cut To:
Ext. Outside of Sax’s doorstep
Dr. Bloom steps pass the doorstep.
The Gentleman
It was nice talking to you, young man. Have a lovely night.
Fades to black
Act III
Fades In
Ext. Outside Dr. Bloom’s Facility
Sax stands before the entrance as he makes sure that this is what he wants.
Cuts To:
Int. Dr. Bloom’s office
Dr. Bloom
Hey! You came! Have a seat.
Sax
So, when can we get started.
Dr. Bloom
Whenever you are ready.
Sax
I don’t want this. Shoot me up.
Dr. Bloom
(scoffs)
Ok, ok. But first things first. I have a contract here that you must sign. You know, as a precaution.
Sax looks at the Doctor uncomfortably
Dr. Bloom
Oh, there is no need to worry. This is just the business part of things. You need a contract for everything nowadays, in my time it was a man’s word that was bond.
Sax reads the contract, and something catches his eye.
Sax
Hey, you say that upon agreeing to these terms that I am obligated to fulfill my duties.
Dr. Bloom
Yes.
Sax
And what are these duties?
Dr. Bloom
Quite a simple one, really. You must sacrifice someone.
Sax
(scoffs)
What the fuck’s this shit? I knew not to trust you. I was actually buying into this scam.
Dr. Bloom
This is not a scam, my friend. This is just a transaction between to gentlemen, you supply me one death and I give you the treatment.
Sax begins to make his exit.
Sax
Look, I don’t know who you are but you stay the fuck away from me. Come near my home again and I’ll kill you. Understand?!
Sax begins to walk away until he collapses on the floor in pain.
Dr. Bloom
You see that? The pain you are feeling is the sign of weakness. Don’t worry, it is not your fault. You have been conditioned to accept such a pitiful existence. All of man has. Before you, is the cure but you won’t take it because of some false sense of morality. Nothing in this world is moral, except for chance. I can sense the strength you have to break free of this prison your body has become, but you must realize it for yourself. Only then will you gain a second chance. Do this one thing and I will set you free. No more pain, no more weakness, you will be cured.
Sax keeps his hand steady enough to sign the contract.
Dr. Bloom
Fades to
Ext. Suburban Neighborhood - Night
Sax stands before a quiet house.
Dr. Bloom
(voiceover)
This is your chance.
Cut To
Int. Dark Bedroom
Sax walks quietly towards the bed of his sleeping victim. Sax takes one more step as he aims his gun towards his victim.
(floor creak)
Dr. Stacy
(turning around in bed)
Wha? Oh my God! James! What are you doing?!
Sax
Dr. Stacy? Dr. Sta--
Dr. Stacy
He sent you didn’t he? Listen, you don’t want to do this. Don’t ruin your life like this.
Sax
What life? I have no life, not unless I do this.
Dr. Stacy
No! NO!
Sax
Im sorry.
(gunshot)
Cut To:
Ext. Suburban Neighborhood
Sax runs away from the scene as he gags at what he has just done.
Fades to
Ext. Park - Night
Sax
I did it. Dr. Stacy is dead now.
Dr. Bloom
Wonderful. I knew you would not disappoint, that is a ver--
Sax
Cut the bullshit. I did what you asked. I want that cure.
Dr. Bloom
And here it is, my friend.
Sax
You’re not my friend.
Sax grabs the syringe that Dr. Bloom hands him. He then proceeds to take the medicine.
Close Up
Needle drops to the ground.
Sax
(breathing heavily)
Why can’t I breathe?
Dr. Bloom
Because you are dying my good man.
Sax
I this was the cure. You told me I was going to live.
Dr. Bloom
I said nothing of the sort. As we agreed, I gave you the key to your release. You’re free now. This is my gift to you.
Dr. Blooms leaves Sax to his fate.
Sax
(faintly)
But I wanted to live. I wanted to live.
Fades to black
