I keep surfing around at my favorite blogs wondering when certain people are going to update, and then I realized that I am one of those people. I don't have that much of an excuse, except I have spent a lot of time keeping the puppy from pooping on the carpet. And my daughter had a birthday, and my wife was gone at a writer's retreat in southern Indiana last week which wasn't that restful because the National Guard was sandbagging all around them against flooding, and work has been busy. So until I can get a breath, go here to see some behind-the-scenes shots from MENTAL SCARS.
We are going to visit some friends who recently relocated to San Diego, and I happened to find out that it is the same week as San Diego Comic Con, so naturally I am going to go over there for a day while I'm in the neighborhood. My wife 110% does not believe I did not know this before we booked the plane tickets, but I really didn't. Check out Con reports in July!
By the way, I have now meta-tagged all of my posts through December 2005 (the premiere of SEX MACHINE), which is a much harder task than you would think, especially since I have gotten into the annoying habit of giving my posts cryptic titles. It's hard to believe I have been blogging almost five years so I have a lot more to tag, but I will keep hammering away.
Give me a yell at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
I'll Play The Radio On Southern Stations
Generally I try to reserve the summer months to write a spec script that is exactly something I want to read. Thus, all of them are comfortably gathering cyber-dust, but I am glad I wrote them.
Last year I was too busy writing or rewriting seven screenplays for four different producers and in 2006 I took the summer off, but before that I think the last one I did was TIMON OF ATHENS, my modern dress, original prose version of Shakespeare's most broken play, which after patching up a b-movie script or two I thought I might be up to the task for. Loyal readers know that after a thunderous silence I recently released my version of TIMON OF ATHENS under a Creative Commons license at this very site, hoping it will find a home.
So when I started thinking about this summer's script, well into June now, I thought I might write this year's spec for Creative Commons, and go one better and write it on the Celtx 1.0 platform. People are always asking me about Celtx because it is a free open source software for screenwriting (and some other things). As far as I know, the world is split between Movie Magic Screenwriter and Final Draft; I happen to be a MM guy because the first person I sold a script to had it and loaned me a license during the project, so I pretty much had to learn it. When I got paid, I bought it for myself. But I know just as many people love Final Draft and I know it works fine. And those two are pretty much the industry standards.
But this Celtx looks pretty interesting, so I downloaded and started playing with its features. Now I just have to think of what to write. But when it's done, it will be posted free under a Creative Commons license on an open source software. Pretty interesting to think about, eh?
I always compose a "Secret Soundtrack" of songs that help get my juices flowing. That dovetails nicely, I think, to this Seven Songs meme I poached from Warren Ellis:
List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs.
Warren Ellis is much cooler than me and if I actually listened to any of his song choices my head would probably explode, as I live in a humble rural area of America's Heartland. Thankfully I do have a kid in college home for the summer who happens to be blasting music out of her room all of the time, so some of the more hipster choices of America's youth have filtered into my subconscious, basically frozen musically around 1983. But these are a couple of songs that are getting my juices flowing for writing this summer:
1. WELCOME TO THE BLACK PARADE by My Chemical Romance. Gives me chills. And read THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY too.
2. GOLD DIGGER by Kanye West. Reminds me of those fun, clever raps of the early 90s.
3. FLAGPOLE SITTER by Harvey Danger. I want to publish zines, and rage against machines.
4. CLUMSY by Fergie. I know this goes against my very nature, but somehow I like the 30s-style men's chorus coupled with the 80s-Pong sound FX.
5. MERCY by Duffy. Retro-cool, kinda goes without saying.
6. CRAZY by Gnarls Barkley. This dude knows what he's talking about.
6. I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK by Death Cab for Cutie. Takes me back to the early 80s New Wave. Also, my daughter just got back from the concert and keeps playing it over and over.
Give me a shout at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Last year I was too busy writing or rewriting seven screenplays for four different producers and in 2006 I took the summer off, but before that I think the last one I did was TIMON OF ATHENS, my modern dress, original prose version of Shakespeare's most broken play, which after patching up a b-movie script or two I thought I might be up to the task for. Loyal readers know that after a thunderous silence I recently released my version of TIMON OF ATHENS under a Creative Commons license at this very site, hoping it will find a home.
So when I started thinking about this summer's script, well into June now, I thought I might write this year's spec for Creative Commons, and go one better and write it on the Celtx 1.0 platform. People are always asking me about Celtx because it is a free open source software for screenwriting (and some other things). As far as I know, the world is split between Movie Magic Screenwriter and Final Draft; I happen to be a MM guy because the first person I sold a script to had it and loaned me a license during the project, so I pretty much had to learn it. When I got paid, I bought it for myself. But I know just as many people love Final Draft and I know it works fine. And those two are pretty much the industry standards.
But this Celtx looks pretty interesting, so I downloaded and started playing with its features. Now I just have to think of what to write. But when it's done, it will be posted free under a Creative Commons license on an open source software. Pretty interesting to think about, eh?
I always compose a "Secret Soundtrack" of songs that help get my juices flowing. That dovetails nicely, I think, to this Seven Songs meme I poached from Warren Ellis:
List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they’re not any good, but they must be songs you’re really enjoying now, shaping your spring. Post these instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs.
Warren Ellis is much cooler than me and if I actually listened to any of his song choices my head would probably explode, as I live in a humble rural area of America's Heartland. Thankfully I do have a kid in college home for the summer who happens to be blasting music out of her room all of the time, so some of the more hipster choices of America's youth have filtered into my subconscious, basically frozen musically around 1983. But these are a couple of songs that are getting my juices flowing for writing this summer:
1. WELCOME TO THE BLACK PARADE by My Chemical Romance. Gives me chills. And read THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY too.
2. GOLD DIGGER by Kanye West. Reminds me of those fun, clever raps of the early 90s.
3. FLAGPOLE SITTER by Harvey Danger. I want to publish zines, and rage against machines.
4. CLUMSY by Fergie. I know this goes against my very nature, but somehow I like the 30s-style men's chorus coupled with the 80s-Pong sound FX.
5. MERCY by Duffy. Retro-cool, kinda goes without saying.
6. CRAZY by Gnarls Barkley. This dude knows what he's talking about.
6. I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK by Death Cab for Cutie. Takes me back to the early 80s New Wave. Also, my daughter just got back from the concert and keeps playing it over and over.
Give me a shout at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The New Baby
What better way to celebrate Father's Day than with some pictures of the new baby? This is Bonnie, our new West Highland Terrier, and the main reason I haven't been able to blog this week as it is too hard to blog one-handed while carrying this sweet bundle of love in the other.
Bon-Bon
I know, she looks like a piglet. We were out walking around downtown and a little girl said "Look at the kitty on the leash!" In the words of the great Kanye West, I don't care what y'all say, I still love her.
Empty Nest
Yes, I was actually asleep in the yard when my wife took this picture. We have been suffering from Empty Nest Syndrome and were either going to have to fly to Cambodia and adopt some babies like the celebrities or get a puppy. Thankfully we got the puppy, as we had forgotten about that other part about having a baby, which is the pooping and peeing and crying and being up all night. Monday, June 09, 2008
Down These Lonely Streets
Here's my latest BOOK BEAT column for "Pomp and Circumstantial Evidence," the magazine of the Magna Cum Murder Mystery Conference. If you want to read more of my book reviews, check out my attempt to read 50 books in 2008 here.
BLONDE FAITH by Walter Mosley
Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins mystery series is one of my favorites, and I always grab up the next one as soon as it hits the shelves. Rawlins is a sort-of private detective whose cases are set against the backdrop of real events, starting in post-war Los Angeles to the current entry, Los Angeles shortly after the Watts riots (which featured heavily in his last work). With his hardboiled plots and socio-political backdrops of a time and place, I find Mosley's work an engaging mix of Ross Macdonald and Chester B. Himes.This crackling story has Rawlins fighting a war on two fronts, trying to free his loyal friend (and genial sociopath) Mouse from a police frame-up while also finding out what happened to a new friend, Vietnam vet Christmas Black, who brought a lot of baggage (and a Vietnamese orphan) back with him. Steady readers of the series will get updates on all of the usual characters as well as a few new ones, including the mysterious Blonde Faith of the title.I have nothing but praise for this notable series and look forward to what's next.
THE REDBREAST by Jo Nesbo
I have been burrowing through stacks of morose Scandinavian mysteries lately, so I thought surely I should tackled The Redbreast, voted the best Norwegian crime novel of all time. And, falling in line with my Norwegian brethren, I would recommend it highly.The unfortunately named Harry Hole is a hard drinking, rule-busting Oslo cop whose bosses generally turn a blind eye because of his knack for solving crimes. He reminds me favorably of one of my favorite series characters, Michael Connelly's similiarly-named Harry Bosch. Unlike the more somber Scandinavian writers, Jo Nesbo infuses Hole with a fair amount of sardonic humor, a welcome relief from the somewhat navel-gazing detectives that populate these works.The Redbreast is intricate but fast-moving, hard-nosed but philosophical, sprawling but intimate. The story jumps from a case involving modern Neo-Nazis to the Eastern Front of World War II, where Norwegians fought alongside Nazis against the Russians, and the terrible ties that bind these events. I enjoyed the plotting and characters and learned a lot about Norway's history during this time period.Nesbo has been very popular overseas, and I hope this overture to English-reading audiences brings more translations of his work here.
THE PRINCESS OF BURUNDI by Kjell Eriksson
A former low-level street tough gets tortured to death at Christmastime, setting the gloomy detectives of the Uppsala (Sweden) police force in motion to catch a killer. Meanwhile, the dead man's criminal brother starts a parallel investigation.Kjell Eriksson's first novel translated into English is called an Ann Lindell mystery, though detective Lindell is on maternity leave during most of the action, leaving the police work to her partner Ola Haver. But Haver really isn't the main character either; with a big cast of interesting police officers the book feels most like a Swedish 87th Precinct (which Eriksson makes a nod to himself when somebody tells Haver that he is "no Carella," a reference to Ed McBain's lead detective).I have been enjoying this boom in Scandinavian mysteries lately just for a change of pace; as opposed to hardboiled American mysteries, when a fellow policeman is abruptly killed, Haver cries and helps lead the squadroom in a discussion of changes in social and democratic trends in Sweden. Even the hardened beat cop is introspective in Uppsala. But I probably would be too, based on the casual discussions of thirty below weather and snow so deep it threatens to crack building roofs (actually a critical plot point).Eriksson's mystery starts off a bit ruminative but soon snaps awake to a crackling conclusion. I ended up enjoying the read quite a bit and will be seeking out the next book in the series.
KISS HER GOODBYE by Allan Guthrie
Most of the great line of Hard Case Crime paperbacks are lost American noir classics reissued with great period covers, but Kiss Her Goodbye is a rare, but welcome, exception; it is a modern crime novel that takes place in Scotland.Joe Hope is an Edinburgh legbreaker who has done a lot of bad things; but is not responsible for the murders of his wife and daughter, though the local constables are eager to put him in the nick. Joe ends up having to rely on a novice attorney, a hardened hooker, and a guy who runs a writer's colony (!) to clear his somewhat tarnished name.Guthrie writes in a tough, sardonic style with bursts of brutal action. I enjoyed this modern novel greatly and think it stands in good company with its classic counterparts.
LUCKY AT CARDS by Lawrence Block
A card sharp gets into a friendly game between gigs, but soon sets his sights on the wife of one of the players; and when that happens in a Hard Case Crime novel, look out.Lucky at Cards is an early hard-boiled novel from Lawrence Block, whose Matthew Scudder detective series I have followed for many years (with When the Sacred Ginmill Closes being one of my favorite mysteries of all time); but this is a reprint from Block's peanut-butter days, with one of those memorable Hard Case Crime covers. Hard Case Crime also reprinted Block's Grifter's Game, a decidedly downbeat slice of noir with similiar themes of luckless joes and man-hungry frails.But Lucky at Cards is a bit more upbeat, and rockets along at an alarming clip as our tarnished hero first gets himself into a scheme to frame the husband and take his money, then finds himself in a frame that is pretty hard to get out of in return. Tension cranks up, and up, right to the end. This was definitely a pulp classic worth rediscovering, and welcome for fans of Lawrence Block.
BLONDE FAITH by Walter Mosley
Walter Mosley's Easy Rawlins mystery series is one of my favorites, and I always grab up the next one as soon as it hits the shelves. Rawlins is a sort-of private detective whose cases are set against the backdrop of real events, starting in post-war Los Angeles to the current entry, Los Angeles shortly after the Watts riots (which featured heavily in his last work). With his hardboiled plots and socio-political backdrops of a time and place, I find Mosley's work an engaging mix of Ross Macdonald and Chester B. Himes.This crackling story has Rawlins fighting a war on two fronts, trying to free his loyal friend (and genial sociopath) Mouse from a police frame-up while also finding out what happened to a new friend, Vietnam vet Christmas Black, who brought a lot of baggage (and a Vietnamese orphan) back with him. Steady readers of the series will get updates on all of the usual characters as well as a few new ones, including the mysterious Blonde Faith of the title.I have nothing but praise for this notable series and look forward to what's next.
THE REDBREAST by Jo Nesbo
I have been burrowing through stacks of morose Scandinavian mysteries lately, so I thought surely I should tackled The Redbreast, voted the best Norwegian crime novel of all time. And, falling in line with my Norwegian brethren, I would recommend it highly.The unfortunately named Harry Hole is a hard drinking, rule-busting Oslo cop whose bosses generally turn a blind eye because of his knack for solving crimes. He reminds me favorably of one of my favorite series characters, Michael Connelly's similiarly-named Harry Bosch. Unlike the more somber Scandinavian writers, Jo Nesbo infuses Hole with a fair amount of sardonic humor, a welcome relief from the somewhat navel-gazing detectives that populate these works.The Redbreast is intricate but fast-moving, hard-nosed but philosophical, sprawling but intimate. The story jumps from a case involving modern Neo-Nazis to the Eastern Front of World War II, where Norwegians fought alongside Nazis against the Russians, and the terrible ties that bind these events. I enjoyed the plotting and characters and learned a lot about Norway's history during this time period.Nesbo has been very popular overseas, and I hope this overture to English-reading audiences brings more translations of his work here.
THE PRINCESS OF BURUNDI by Kjell Eriksson
A former low-level street tough gets tortured to death at Christmastime, setting the gloomy detectives of the Uppsala (Sweden) police force in motion to catch a killer. Meanwhile, the dead man's criminal brother starts a parallel investigation.Kjell Eriksson's first novel translated into English is called an Ann Lindell mystery, though detective Lindell is on maternity leave during most of the action, leaving the police work to her partner Ola Haver. But Haver really isn't the main character either; with a big cast of interesting police officers the book feels most like a Swedish 87th Precinct (which Eriksson makes a nod to himself when somebody tells Haver that he is "no Carella," a reference to Ed McBain's lead detective).I have been enjoying this boom in Scandinavian mysteries lately just for a change of pace; as opposed to hardboiled American mysteries, when a fellow policeman is abruptly killed, Haver cries and helps lead the squadroom in a discussion of changes in social and democratic trends in Sweden. Even the hardened beat cop is introspective in Uppsala. But I probably would be too, based on the casual discussions of thirty below weather and snow so deep it threatens to crack building roofs (actually a critical plot point).Eriksson's mystery starts off a bit ruminative but soon snaps awake to a crackling conclusion. I ended up enjoying the read quite a bit and will be seeking out the next book in the series.
KISS HER GOODBYE by Allan Guthrie
Most of the great line of Hard Case Crime paperbacks are lost American noir classics reissued with great period covers, but Kiss Her Goodbye is a rare, but welcome, exception; it is a modern crime novel that takes place in Scotland.Joe Hope is an Edinburgh legbreaker who has done a lot of bad things; but is not responsible for the murders of his wife and daughter, though the local constables are eager to put him in the nick. Joe ends up having to rely on a novice attorney, a hardened hooker, and a guy who runs a writer's colony (!) to clear his somewhat tarnished name.Guthrie writes in a tough, sardonic style with bursts of brutal action. I enjoyed this modern novel greatly and think it stands in good company with its classic counterparts.
LUCKY AT CARDS by Lawrence Block
A card sharp gets into a friendly game between gigs, but soon sets his sights on the wife of one of the players; and when that happens in a Hard Case Crime novel, look out.Lucky at Cards is an early hard-boiled novel from Lawrence Block, whose Matthew Scudder detective series I have followed for many years (with When the Sacred Ginmill Closes being one of my favorite mysteries of all time); but this is a reprint from Block's peanut-butter days, with one of those memorable Hard Case Crime covers. Hard Case Crime also reprinted Block's Grifter's Game, a decidedly downbeat slice of noir with similiar themes of luckless joes and man-hungry frails.But Lucky at Cards is a bit more upbeat, and rockets along at an alarming clip as our tarnished hero first gets himself into a scheme to frame the husband and take his money, then finds himself in a frame that is pretty hard to get out of in return. Tension cranks up, and up, right to the end. This was definitely a pulp classic worth rediscovering, and welcome for fans of Lawrence Block.
Friday, June 06, 2008
From the Set: "Halloween Night"
It is deeply bothersome to me that the Polonia Brothers never make movies like this when I'm around. The best I ever saw was Jon McBride in a priest's outfit. Check out what's going on at http://www.halloweennightmovie.com/.Thursday, June 05, 2008
Scrambled Yeggs
I remember reading once that one of my favorite mystery writers, Richard S. Prather, wrote one of his Shell Scott novels on a deadline while suffering from (I think) a bad case of hives. Mother Nature's wrath gave me an evil case of poison ivy after I built a big bonfire from stuff in the easement behind my house on Memorial Day, and I can't find the strength to even blog, so much respect to Mr. Prather. I have it on my eyelids, between my fingers, behind my ears, the end of my nose, and I was suffering to the point I went to the doctor where he said "niiiiiiice" and promptly gave me a shot in the butt. So I am slouching on the couch trying to finish BANGKOK 8, a crime novel I was reading while my daughter was in Thailand to scare myself even more. So until later go check out my brother's new blog, or the trailers from this dude who wrote me an email saying how much he liked my blog (so consider yourself appropriately warned, probably NSFW).
Give me a shout at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Not true, actually. I asked my daughter to look for some Thai comics for me and, astoundingly, she did, though she had never set foot in a comic book store on U.S. soil. She found a comic shop near a place ominously called "the night market" and told me she went up and talked to "some dude that looked like a Thai version of you." Amazingly, she obviously found the coolest dude in Thailand. He hooked her up with some comics I read as soon as they came out of her suitcase! Thanks Fah!Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Benson, Arizona, the Same Stars in the Sky
Best-selling author Haven Kimmel went slumming and ended up staying at my house over Memorial Day. Read her highly subjective account here.
Actor Jason Smither has an update from the set of MENTAL SCARS here.
I found out the great Hoosier filmmaker Sydney Pollack just died. A few nights ago I saw him in a nice little French film called AVENUE MONTAIGNE. Contrary to what one might think, we have had a lot of great TV and movie people from here, as well as a notable number of vice presidents.
Now here's a dude doing some interesting stuff with ephemeral video, found footage, public domain stuff, and the like.
Someone pointed me to a "Lost Muncie" site that linked to yearbook photos from my long-closed alma mater, where I found a picture of my scrawny ass circa 1984.
Give me a yell at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Actor Jason Smither has an update from the set of MENTAL SCARS here.
I found out the great Hoosier filmmaker Sydney Pollack just died. A few nights ago I saw him in a nice little French film called AVENUE MONTAIGNE. Contrary to what one might think, we have had a lot of great TV and movie people from here, as well as a notable number of vice presidents.
Now here's a dude doing some interesting stuff with ephemeral video, found footage, public domain stuff, and the like.
Someone pointed me to a "Lost Muncie" site that linked to yearbook photos from my long-closed alma mater, where I found a picture of my scrawny ass circa 1984.
Give me a yell at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Eating Chocolate Cake in a Bag
I have been becoming more and more interested in the mumblecore or bedhead cinema movement springing up from SXSW and other festivals, largely because I see a lot of connections to microcinema, though it is not explicitly being called that. Here a bunch of twentysomethings tell personal stories digitally with a lot of improv and handheld camera and poorly-captured audio. I genuinely don't know if this is done from budgetary constraints (like a lot of my Microcinema Fest brethren) or from general insouciance.
Last night I checked out HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS and although I found it more interesting than maddening I learned one important thing: that I am probably too old for mumblecore.
I have to give them credit for sticking to that old microcinema standby of finding a cute girl willing to make out with several nerd filmmakers who normally would never even be able to talk to the aforementioned party.
All that being said I think I will Netflix up THE PUFFY CHAIR.
Last night I checked out HANNAH TAKES THE STAIRS and although I found it more interesting than maddening I learned one important thing: that I am probably too old for mumblecore.
I have to give them credit for sticking to that old microcinema standby of finding a cute girl willing to make out with several nerd filmmakers who normally would never even be able to talk to the aforementioned party.
All that being said I think I will Netflix up THE PUFFY CHAIR.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Got James Taylor on the Stereo
If you want to check out the trailer for MONSTER MOVIE, the last movie directed by and featuring friend and prolific b-filmmkaer John Polonia, look here. Although I was not involved in this one, it looks like a lot of fun. Dig the dinosaur in it.
Also interesting is that Mark Polonia's character appears to be named Alan Wyoming. Faithful readers might recall that some internet postings speculated that I was Alan Wyoming, despite my vow to never use a psuedonym. Oddly, I had named the lead character in AMONG US Billy D'Amato, believing at one time that he was a real person, and not one of the Polonia Brothers' many, many psuedonyms.
Somehow I missed Jamie Lisk, pal and fellow Microcinema Scene contributor, had written a tribute to John Polonia, so I am linking it here.
Give me a yell at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Also interesting is that Mark Polonia's character appears to be named Alan Wyoming. Faithful readers might recall that some internet postings speculated that I was Alan Wyoming, despite my vow to never use a psuedonym. Oddly, I had named the lead character in AMONG US Billy D'Amato, believing at one time that he was a real person, and not one of the Polonia Brothers' many, many psuedonyms.
Somehow I missed Jamie Lisk, pal and fellow Microcinema Scene contributor, had written a tribute to John Polonia, so I am linking it here.
Give me a yell at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Indianapolis Gets Mental Scars
Although nobody mentions me in the article (sniff!), here is a story about Mental Scars, a script that loyal readers know I have been working on rewriting that is currently being lensed in Indianapolis. Cool fog machine in the photo gallery! Yes, that is the dude from Predator!
Give me a call at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Give me a call at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day!
Call your moms up today!
It has been an insane week here and isn't looking any better today, with heavy storms whipping through the area on what should be a spring-like, happy-go-lucky Mother's Day. My own mother is spending it in the hospital, unfortunately.
I had about a fifty-hour workweek but managed to peel out some time to do some last-minute rewrites on MENTAL SCARS, a slasher movie now lensing in Indianapolis. You can get updates here.
I swore when I went to the library book sale I would not walk out with more than one bag so instead I had one bulging like an engorged tick and all these old lady volunteers saying "Don't you want another bag?" No, I have my principles. I had too many good finds to list here, but I found a stack of old Ace Double Westerns, which I had never seen before, and an audio collection of "Radio's Greatest Detectives" that had about 15 tapes with only one missing for the steal-it price of 75 cents, and an original copy of John Lange's ZERO COOL which has now been re-released in the Hard Case Crime series.
In comic-book news, did anyone who read the new 50-cent DC UNIVERSE #0, launching (I think) THE FINAL CRISIS, not believe that Barry Allen was coming back to life? Longtime readers know I called that one back during "The Lightning Saga" in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. I'm just sayin'.
I'm supposed to be downstairs washing dishes. Until later, I'm at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
It has been an insane week here and isn't looking any better today, with heavy storms whipping through the area on what should be a spring-like, happy-go-lucky Mother's Day. My own mother is spending it in the hospital, unfortunately.
I had about a fifty-hour workweek but managed to peel out some time to do some last-minute rewrites on MENTAL SCARS, a slasher movie now lensing in Indianapolis. You can get updates here.
I swore when I went to the library book sale I would not walk out with more than one bag so instead I had one bulging like an engorged tick and all these old lady volunteers saying "Don't you want another bag?" No, I have my principles. I had too many good finds to list here, but I found a stack of old Ace Double Westerns, which I had never seen before, and an audio collection of "Radio's Greatest Detectives" that had about 15 tapes with only one missing for the steal-it price of 75 cents, and an original copy of John Lange's ZERO COOL which has now been re-released in the Hard Case Crime series.
In comic-book news, did anyone who read the new 50-cent DC UNIVERSE #0, launching (I think) THE FINAL CRISIS, not believe that Barry Allen was coming back to life? Longtime readers know I called that one back during "The Lightning Saga" in JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA. I'm just sayin'.
I'm supposed to be downstairs washing dishes. Until later, I'm at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Halloween Night
For the many people still surfing over looking for info about b-movie filmmaker John Polonia and his untimely death, I have some news.
HALLOWEEN NIGHT is being lensed right now, a remake of an old Super-8 movie the Polonia Brothers shot way back in their teenage years. According to Mark Polonia, it is a project John always wanted to see happen, so he is making it come to life. I was asked to do a cameo in the project as a security guard, if I can get out to Pennsylvania in the next few weeks. I think it's great this is going on, and I hope I can be a part of it. You can read more at the website here.
Give me a shout at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
HALLOWEEN NIGHT is being lensed right now, a remake of an old Super-8 movie the Polonia Brothers shot way back in their teenage years. According to Mark Polonia, it is a project John always wanted to see happen, so he is making it come to life. I was asked to do a cameo in the project as a security guard, if I can get out to Pennsylvania in the next few weeks. I think it's great this is going on, and I hope I can be a part of it. You can read more at the website here.
Give me a shout at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Monday, May 05, 2008
I'm Your Venus
MENTAL SCARS is going before the lens this week and I was polishing up a few scenes tonight for producer Richard Myles. Check out the updates here.
Many significant days this week. Tomorrow is election day and everybody is all about Indiana. We taped Bill's speech for work and Hillary was in my hometown and my daughter saw Chelsea at college. Obama was shooting hoops down the road at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. I can't remember whether this has ever happened before in my lifetime. My phone rang the other night and the caller ID said "Hillary Clinton." It turned out to be some dude campaigning for her but who would know for sure without answering, these days?
So whoever you want to vote for, vote. If you don't, don't complain later.
Another significant holiday was Free Comic Book Day Saturday, which I often miss, but I happened to be near a shop while moving my daughter home from college and I'm not one to miss a visit to a comic book store. Happily I arrived on this joyous day and left with a free issue of Hellboy, a free comic called Atomic Robo which when I picked it up I thought it said Atomic Hobo, and a free comic called Devil vs. Claw about the Nedor heroes, fresh from the public domain.
This one really sparked my interest as two of my favorite comic book dudes, Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, and bringing back a bunch of Nedor heroes in a comic book called Project Superpowers. I don't want to put my bros to shame, but if you want to scope my take on the Nedor heroes, check out the 24 Hour Comic I did a few years ago called The Liberator.
I have to say, Iron Man was very good. My Little Brother Harold and I geeked out to it on Sunday with a million other people. Robert Downey Jr. really made the movie. He has been firing on all cylinders lately and people haven't seemed to notice: check out Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, A Scanner Darkly, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, and Zodiac if you don't believe me.
For comic book fans, you will see Jim Rhodes (and a potential War Machine suit), SHIELD, Pepper Potts and Hap Hogan, and maybe a few sniffs of the legendary "Armor Wars" storyline. Updated from Viet Nam to Afghanistan which I liked just fine. Downey's riffs throughout elevated the whole thing, hand in hand with Jon Favreau's sure-handed, energetic direction.
Dare I say one of the best superhero movies?
But I also saw the ads for Prince Caspian, the new Batman, the new Hulk, the new Spirit movie (which looks like Sin City), and the new Indiana Jones, so if it rains all summer I am totally cool with that. Though my 12-year-old Little Brother Harold said, "Is Indiana Jones from Indiana?" God, has it been that long?
Give me a shout at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Many significant days this week. Tomorrow is election day and everybody is all about Indiana. We taped Bill's speech for work and Hillary was in my hometown and my daughter saw Chelsea at college. Obama was shooting hoops down the road at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. I can't remember whether this has ever happened before in my lifetime. My phone rang the other night and the caller ID said "Hillary Clinton." It turned out to be some dude campaigning for her but who would know for sure without answering, these days?
So whoever you want to vote for, vote. If you don't, don't complain later.
Another significant holiday was Free Comic Book Day Saturday, which I often miss, but I happened to be near a shop while moving my daughter home from college and I'm not one to miss a visit to a comic book store. Happily I arrived on this joyous day and left with a free issue of Hellboy, a free comic called Atomic Robo which when I picked it up I thought it said Atomic Hobo, and a free comic called Devil vs. Claw about the Nedor heroes, fresh from the public domain.
This one really sparked my interest as two of my favorite comic book dudes, Jim Krueger and Alex Ross, and bringing back a bunch of Nedor heroes in a comic book called Project Superpowers. I don't want to put my bros to shame, but if you want to scope my take on the Nedor heroes, check out the 24 Hour Comic I did a few years ago called The Liberator.
I have to say, Iron Man was very good. My Little Brother Harold and I geeked out to it on Sunday with a million other people. Robert Downey Jr. really made the movie. He has been firing on all cylinders lately and people haven't seemed to notice: check out Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, A Scanner Darkly, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints, and Zodiac if you don't believe me.
For comic book fans, you will see Jim Rhodes (and a potential War Machine suit), SHIELD, Pepper Potts and Hap Hogan, and maybe a few sniffs of the legendary "Armor Wars" storyline. Updated from Viet Nam to Afghanistan which I liked just fine. Downey's riffs throughout elevated the whole thing, hand in hand with Jon Favreau's sure-handed, energetic direction.
Dare I say one of the best superhero movies?
But I also saw the ads for Prince Caspian, the new Batman, the new Hulk, the new Spirit movie (which looks like Sin City), and the new Indiana Jones, so if it rains all summer I am totally cool with that. Though my 12-year-old Little Brother Harold said, "Is Indiana Jones from Indiana?" God, has it been that long?
Give me a shout at johnoakdalton@hotmail.com.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Timon of Athens Pt. 12: Conclusion
This is it; the downbeat conclusion of my modern dress, original prose version of Shakespeare's TIMON OF ATHENS, released under a Creative Commons license.
Here, Alcibiades' hostile takeover of Athens OS is eminent. I tried to stave off a little of the dourness of the ending by extrapolating out a little bit.
I hope you have enjoyed this experiment!
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (HALLWAY) -- LATER
We see Isidore and Titus coming down the hallway, looking grim. Hortensius joins them.
ISIDORE
Thou hast painfully discovered; are his files as full as thy report?
HORTENSIUS
I have spoke the least; besides, his expedition promises present approach.
TITUS
We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon.
HORTENSIUS
I met a courier, one mine ancient friend, whom, though in general part we were opposed, yet our old love made a particular force, and made us speak like friends. This man was riding from Alcibiades to Timon's cave, with letters of entreaty, which imported his fellowship in the cause against your city, in part for his sake moved.
Varro, Demeas, and Caphis come storming down the hall.
ISIDORE
Here comes our brothers.
VARRO
No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect. The enemy's drum is heard, and fearful scouring doth choke the air with dust. In, and prepare. Ours is the fall, I fear; our foe's the snare.
EXT. TIMON'S OFFICE BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS
We see Alcibiades' car pull up, and he and Phrynia climb out. He looks at the building, taking its measure, eyes narrow. Then he leans over to Phrynia and mutters something in her ear. She nods and gets back behind the wheel. As she pulls out, Alcibiades stalks inside.
EXT. STREETS -- MOMENTS LATER
We see Phrynia tooling out of town.
EXT. WOODS -- LATER
Phrynia slows, watching the side of the road.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (HALLWAY) -- MOMENTS LATER
Alcibiades strides down the hall, looking at the empty desks and general clutter, his face a mask.
Caphis pops out of a doorway, and Alcibiades stops him cold with a glare.
ALCIBIADES
Sound to this coward and lascivious town our terrible approach.
Caphis lopes off down the hall.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (BOARDROOM) -- MOMENTS LATER
Caphis bursts in and takes a seat in the back, as the others exchange glances.
Alcibiades slips in behind him, and looks around. He moves to the head of the table, and leans on his knuckles.
ALCIBIADES
Till now you have gone on and filled the time with all licentious measure, making your wills the scope of justice; till now myself and such as slept within the shadow of your power have wandered with our traversed arms and breathed our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush, when crouching marrow in the bearer strong cries of itself 'no more.' Now breathless wrong shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease, and pursy insolence shall break his wind with fear and horrid flight.
Varro wipes sweat.
VARRO
Noble and young, when thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear, we see to thee, to give thy rages balm, to wipe out our ingratitude with loves above their quantity.
DEMEAS
So did we woo transformed Timon to our city's love by humble message and by promised means. We were not all unkind, nor all deserve the common stroke of war.
EXT. WOODS -- CONTINUOUS
Phrynia scans the woods.
PHRYNIA
Who's here? Speak, ho! No answer?
She stops short, seeing a mound of dirt. On it is Timon's note, pinned down by a rock.
PHRYNIA (CONT'D)
What is this? Timon is dead, who hath outstretched his span; some beast reared this, there does not live a man. Dead, sure; and this his grave.
Wondering, Phrynia slips the note out and reads it.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (BOARDROOM) -- CONTINUOUS
The boardroom is tense.
VARRO
Those walls of our were not erected by their hands from whom you have received your griefs; nor are they such that these great towers, trophies and schools, should fall for private faults in them.
DEMEAS
Nor are they living who were the motives that you first went out; shame that they wanted cunning, in excess hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord, into our city with thy banners spread; by decimation, and a tithed death--if thy revenges hunger for that food which nature loathes--take thou the destined tenth, and by the hazard of the spotted die let die the spotted.
Alcibiades stands, arms crossed.
EXT. WOODS -- CONTINUOUS
Phrynia bursts from the woods, paper flapping, and gets in the car.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (BOARDROOM) -- CONTINUOUS
VARRO
All have not offended; for those that were, it is not square to take on those that are, revenges; crimes, like lands, are not inherited. Then, dear countryman, bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage. Spare thy Athenian cradle and those kin which in the bluster of thy wrath must fall with those that have offended. Like a shepherd, approach the fold and cull the infected forth, but kill not all together.
ISIDORE
What thou wilt, thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile than hew to it with thy sword.
VARRO
Set but thy foot against our rampired gates, and they shall ope; so thou wilt send thy gentle heart before, to say thou'lt enter friendly.
EXT. TIMON'S OFFICE BUILDING -- MOMENTS LATER
Phrynia pulls up and jumps out at full throttle.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (BOARDROOM) -- MOMENTS LATER
All eyes are on Alcibiades.
DEMEAS
Throw thy glove, or any token of thine honor else, that thou wilt use the wars as thy redress and not as our confusion, all thy powers shall make their harbor in our town, till we have sealed thy full desire.
Alcibiades removes a thick file from his briefcase, and slaps it on the table.
ALCIBIADES
Then there's my glove; descend, and open your uncharged ports. Those enemies of Timon's and mine own whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof fall and no more. And, to atone your fears with my more noble meaning, not a man shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream of regular justice in your city's bounds, but shall be rendered to your public laws at heaviest answer.
VARRO
(woodenly)
'Tis most nobly spoken.
ALCIBIADES
Descend, and keep your words.
Suddenly Phrynia bursts in, gasping.
PHRYNIA
My noble general, Timon is dead; entombed upon the very hem of the sea.
Alcibiades reels, steadies himself on the table.
Phrynia, hand shaking, gives him Timon's note. He takes it, and reads.
ALCIBIADES
"Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft; seek not my name; a plague consume you wicked caitiffs left! Here lie I, Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate; pass by and curse thy fill, but pass and stay not here thy gait."
(beat, to himself)
These well express in thee thy latter spirits; though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs, scorn'dst our brain's flow and those our droplets which from niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye on thy low grave, on faults forgiven.
(beat, looks around)
Dead is noble Timon, of whose memory hereafter more. Bring me into your city, and I will use the olive with my sword, make war breed peace, make peace stint war, make each prescribe to other as each other's leech. Let our drums strike.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. TIMON'S OFFICE BUILDING -- DAY
THEME MUSIC UP AND UNDER as Alcibiades comes out and addresses the assembled press from a podium. It is shot as if on a newscast, as below a CG reads: NEW CEO OUSTS ATHENS-OS BOARD.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (HALLWAY) -- DAY
We see Caphis, Hortensius, and Titus in a cluster, talking in low tones, files and personal effects tucked under their arms.
They look up and see Servilius and Flaminius carrying their boxes back in.
The groups exchange glances, then Caphis turns aside as Servilius walks past. A smile plays on Servilius' lips.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (ANTEROOM) -- MOMENTS LATER
Flavia is arranging her desk as Alcibiades pops his head out with a sheaf of papers. She takes them with a nod and a brief smile and puts them on the corner of her desk.
She has set the papers next to a newspaper whose headline shouts: "CAPTAIN AL" REVIVES ATHENS STOCKS.
We see her unpacking her pens, pencils, and a little picture frame.
Cut close to see a candid photo of a smiling Timon looking out.
Flavia sits it by the phone, and adjusts it with a tiny nudge.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
INT. APEMANTUS' APARTMENT -- DAY
Apemantus is sitting on the edge of a futon in an untidy studio apartment of posters and beaded curtains and leaning stacks of LPs. He is staring at a long, thin box that appears to have been recently delivered, noted by the scraps of brown paper on the floor by his scuffed shoes.
Apemantus lifts the top and sees a red-and-navy-striped power tie nestled in the box.
He looks at it for a long moment.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. TIMON'S OFFICE BUILDING -- DAY
We see a spruced-up Apemantus emerging from a car in front of Timon's building. Again we see through a photog's eyes, as if it were a breaking news event. A CG CRAWL READS: APEMANTUS NAMED V.P. OF PHILANTHROPIC GIVING.
Then we cut back to Apemantus live, working his way upstream through the press.
Once more he stops, looking up and up and up, at Timon's building.
We see the shining building, from Apemantus' POV, tall and majestic.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS -- CONTINUOUS
We track past the grass, the trees, catching flashes of clear blue sky.
FADE TO BLACK
CREDITS
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Here, Alcibiades' hostile takeover of Athens OS is eminent. I tried to stave off a little of the dourness of the ending by extrapolating out a little bit.
I hope you have enjoyed this experiment!
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (HALLWAY) -- LATER
We see Isidore and Titus coming down the hallway, looking grim. Hortensius joins them.
ISIDORE
Thou hast painfully discovered; are his files as full as thy report?
HORTENSIUS
I have spoke the least; besides, his expedition promises present approach.
TITUS
We stand much hazard, if they bring not Timon.
HORTENSIUS
I met a courier, one mine ancient friend, whom, though in general part we were opposed, yet our old love made a particular force, and made us speak like friends. This man was riding from Alcibiades to Timon's cave, with letters of entreaty, which imported his fellowship in the cause against your city, in part for his sake moved.
Varro, Demeas, and Caphis come storming down the hall.
ISIDORE
Here comes our brothers.
VARRO
No talk of Timon, nothing of him expect. The enemy's drum is heard, and fearful scouring doth choke the air with dust. In, and prepare. Ours is the fall, I fear; our foe's the snare.
EXT. TIMON'S OFFICE BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS
We see Alcibiades' car pull up, and he and Phrynia climb out. He looks at the building, taking its measure, eyes narrow. Then he leans over to Phrynia and mutters something in her ear. She nods and gets back behind the wheel. As she pulls out, Alcibiades stalks inside.
EXT. STREETS -- MOMENTS LATER
We see Phrynia tooling out of town.
EXT. WOODS -- LATER
Phrynia slows, watching the side of the road.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (HALLWAY) -- MOMENTS LATER
Alcibiades strides down the hall, looking at the empty desks and general clutter, his face a mask.
Caphis pops out of a doorway, and Alcibiades stops him cold with a glare.
ALCIBIADES
Sound to this coward and lascivious town our terrible approach.
Caphis lopes off down the hall.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (BOARDROOM) -- MOMENTS LATER
Caphis bursts in and takes a seat in the back, as the others exchange glances.
Alcibiades slips in behind him, and looks around. He moves to the head of the table, and leans on his knuckles.
ALCIBIADES
Till now you have gone on and filled the time with all licentious measure, making your wills the scope of justice; till now myself and such as slept within the shadow of your power have wandered with our traversed arms and breathed our sufferance vainly. Now the time is flush, when crouching marrow in the bearer strong cries of itself 'no more.' Now breathless wrong shall sit and pant in your great chairs of ease, and pursy insolence shall break his wind with fear and horrid flight.
Varro wipes sweat.
VARRO
Noble and young, when thy first griefs were but a mere conceit, ere thou hadst power or we had cause of fear, we see to thee, to give thy rages balm, to wipe out our ingratitude with loves above their quantity.
DEMEAS
So did we woo transformed Timon to our city's love by humble message and by promised means. We were not all unkind, nor all deserve the common stroke of war.
EXT. WOODS -- CONTINUOUS
Phrynia scans the woods.
PHRYNIA
Who's here? Speak, ho! No answer?
She stops short, seeing a mound of dirt. On it is Timon's note, pinned down by a rock.
PHRYNIA (CONT'D)
What is this? Timon is dead, who hath outstretched his span; some beast reared this, there does not live a man. Dead, sure; and this his grave.
Wondering, Phrynia slips the note out and reads it.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (BOARDROOM) -- CONTINUOUS
The boardroom is tense.
VARRO
Those walls of our were not erected by their hands from whom you have received your griefs; nor are they such that these great towers, trophies and schools, should fall for private faults in them.
DEMEAS
Nor are they living who were the motives that you first went out; shame that they wanted cunning, in excess hath broke their hearts. March, noble lord, into our city with thy banners spread; by decimation, and a tithed death--if thy revenges hunger for that food which nature loathes--take thou the destined tenth, and by the hazard of the spotted die let die the spotted.
Alcibiades stands, arms crossed.
EXT. WOODS -- CONTINUOUS
Phrynia bursts from the woods, paper flapping, and gets in the car.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (BOARDROOM) -- CONTINUOUS
VARRO
All have not offended; for those that were, it is not square to take on those that are, revenges; crimes, like lands, are not inherited. Then, dear countryman, bring in thy ranks, but leave without thy rage. Spare thy Athenian cradle and those kin which in the bluster of thy wrath must fall with those that have offended. Like a shepherd, approach the fold and cull the infected forth, but kill not all together.
ISIDORE
What thou wilt, thou rather shalt enforce it with thy smile than hew to it with thy sword.
VARRO
Set but thy foot against our rampired gates, and they shall ope; so thou wilt send thy gentle heart before, to say thou'lt enter friendly.
EXT. TIMON'S OFFICE BUILDING -- MOMENTS LATER
Phrynia pulls up and jumps out at full throttle.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (BOARDROOM) -- MOMENTS LATER
All eyes are on Alcibiades.
DEMEAS
Throw thy glove, or any token of thine honor else, that thou wilt use the wars as thy redress and not as our confusion, all thy powers shall make their harbor in our town, till we have sealed thy full desire.
Alcibiades removes a thick file from his briefcase, and slaps it on the table.
ALCIBIADES
Then there's my glove; descend, and open your uncharged ports. Those enemies of Timon's and mine own whom you yourselves shall set out for reproof fall and no more. And, to atone your fears with my more noble meaning, not a man shall pass his quarter, or offend the stream of regular justice in your city's bounds, but shall be rendered to your public laws at heaviest answer.
VARRO
(woodenly)
'Tis most nobly spoken.
ALCIBIADES
Descend, and keep your words.
Suddenly Phrynia bursts in, gasping.
PHRYNIA
My noble general, Timon is dead; entombed upon the very hem of the sea.
Alcibiades reels, steadies himself on the table.
Phrynia, hand shaking, gives him Timon's note. He takes it, and reads.
ALCIBIADES
"Here lies a wretched corse, of wretched soul bereft; seek not my name; a plague consume you wicked caitiffs left! Here lie I, Timon; who, alive, all living men did hate; pass by and curse thy fill, but pass and stay not here thy gait."
(beat, to himself)
These well express in thee thy latter spirits; though thou abhorr'dst in us our human griefs, scorn'dst our brain's flow and those our droplets which from niggard nature fall, yet rich conceit taught thee to make vast Neptune weep for aye on thy low grave, on faults forgiven.
(beat, looks around)
Dead is noble Timon, of whose memory hereafter more. Bring me into your city, and I will use the olive with my sword, make war breed peace, make peace stint war, make each prescribe to other as each other's leech. Let our drums strike.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. TIMON'S OFFICE BUILDING -- DAY
THEME MUSIC UP AND UNDER as Alcibiades comes out and addresses the assembled press from a podium. It is shot as if on a newscast, as below a CG reads: NEW CEO OUSTS ATHENS-OS BOARD.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (HALLWAY) -- DAY
We see Caphis, Hortensius, and Titus in a cluster, talking in low tones, files and personal effects tucked under their arms.
They look up and see Servilius and Flaminius carrying their boxes back in.
The groups exchange glances, then Caphis turns aside as Servilius walks past. A smile plays on Servilius' lips.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (ANTEROOM) -- MOMENTS LATER
Flavia is arranging her desk as Alcibiades pops his head out with a sheaf of papers. She takes them with a nod and a brief smile and puts them on the corner of her desk.
She has set the papers next to a newspaper whose headline shouts: "CAPTAIN AL" REVIVES ATHENS STOCKS.
We see her unpacking her pens, pencils, and a little picture frame.
Cut close to see a candid photo of a smiling Timon looking out.
Flavia sits it by the phone, and adjusts it with a tiny nudge.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
INT. APEMANTUS' APARTMENT -- DAY
Apemantus is sitting on the edge of a futon in an untidy studio apartment of posters and beaded curtains and leaning stacks of LPs. He is staring at a long, thin box that appears to have been recently delivered, noted by the scraps of brown paper on the floor by his scuffed shoes.
Apemantus lifts the top and sees a red-and-navy-striped power tie nestled in the box.
He looks at it for a long moment.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. TIMON'S OFFICE BUILDING -- DAY
We see a spruced-up Apemantus emerging from a car in front of Timon's building. Again we see through a photog's eyes, as if it were a breaking news event. A CG CRAWL READS: APEMANTUS NAMED V.P. OF PHILANTHROPIC GIVING.
Then we cut back to Apemantus live, working his way upstream through the press.
Once more he stops, looking up and up and up, at Timon's building.
We see the shining building, from Apemantus' POV, tall and majestic.
SLOW DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. WOODS -- CONTINUOUS
We track past the grass, the trees, catching flashes of clear blue sky.
FADE TO BLACK
CREDITS
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Timon of Athens Pt. 11
In this installment of my modern dress, original prose version of Shakespeare's TIMON OF ATHENS we see another use of the Greek chorus using video trickery (also a b-movie standby to seem like you have a fuller cast, but needing fewer people at a time); then the Athens OS Board of Directors try to use Timon to head off a hostile takeover.
Mercer is one of the mysterious figures in TIMON, often considered a "broken" play or a draft; in the original, he is listed amongst the actors but comes on stage and has no lines. Thus I named my non-speaking TV show host after him.
INT. TELEVISION STUDIO -- NIGHT
We see Sempronius and Ventidius on a talk show hosted by MERCER, a glib anchor.
VENTIDIUS
When Fortune in her shift and change of mood spurns down her late beloved, all his dependents which labored after him to the mountain's top even on their knees and hands, let him slip down, not one accompanying his declining foot.
SEMPRONIUS
'Tis common. A thousand moral paintings I can show that shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's more pregnantly than words. Yet you do well to show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen the foot above the head.
We see a BURST OF STATIC like a channel changing.
EXT. STREETS -- DAY
We see "man on the street" interviews.
PISANDER
Why, this world's soul; and just of the same piece is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him his friend that dips in the same dish? For, in my knowing, Timon has been this lord's father, and kept his credit with his purse, supported his estate; nay, Timon's money has paid his men their wages; he ne'er drinks, but Timon's silver treads upon his lip. And yet--O, see the monstrousness of man when he looks out in an ungrateful shape! He does deny him, in respect of his, what charitable men afford to beggars.
EUTRAPELUS
Religion groans at it.
GNATHONIDES
For mine own part, I never tasted Timon in my life, nor came any of his bounties over me, to mark me for his friend; yet, I protest, for his right noble mind, illustrious virtue and honorable carriage, had his necessity made use of me, I would have put my wealth into donation, and the best half should have returned to him, so much I love his heart; But, I perceive, men must learn now with pity to dispense; for policy sits above conscience.
Another BURST OF STATIC like a channel changing.
EXT. DOWNTOWN -- DAY
We see a serious Alcibiades getting into his car, with Phrynia behind the wheel; somber NEWS MUSIC plays, and a CG reads: ATHENS TAKEOVER EMINENT? SHAREHOLDER BUYOUT?
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (BOARDROOM) -- CONTINUOUS
Varro turns off the TV in the boardroom, looking sick. So does the rest of the board. Flavia is standing there, looking seriously from face to face, though nobody meets her eyes.
FLAVIA
It is in vain that you would speak with Timon; for he is set so only to himself that nothing but himself which looks like a man is friendly with him.
Demeas shrugs wearily.
DEMEAS
It is our part and promise to the Athenians to speak with Timon.
VARRO
At all times alike men are not still the same; 'twas time and griefs that framed him thus. Time, with his fairer hand, offering the fortunes of his former days, the former man may make him. Bring us to him, and chance it as it may.
Flavia stands still, thinking.
INT. DEMEAS' CAR -- LATER
Caphis is driving Varro, Demeas, and Flavia in the back seat, Flavia scrunched in the corner, looking morose.
EXT. WOODS -- CONTINUOUS
Flavia leads Varro and Demeas through the trees.
FLAVIA
Peace and content be here.
(calls out)
Lord Timon! Timon! Look out, and speak to friends; the Athenians, by two of their most reverend senate, greet thee. Speak to them, noble Timon.
Timon emerges from the trees.
TIMON
Thou sun, that comfort'st, burn! Speak, and be hanged; for each true word, a blister! And each false be as cauterizing to the root of the tongue, consuming it with speaking!
Varro takes in the bedraggled Timon, then finds his voice.
VARRO
Worthy Timon--
TIMON
O none but such as you, and you of Timon.
VARRO
The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.
TIMON
I thank them; and would send them back the plague, could I but catch it for them.
Varro stops cold, then tries to push on.
VARRO
O, forget what we are sorry for ourselves in thee. The senators with one consent of love entreat thee back to Athens; who have thought on special dignities, which vacant lie for thy best use and wearing.
DEMEAS
They confess toward thee forgetfulness too general, gross; which now the public body, which doth seldom play the recanter, feeling in itself a lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal of its own fail, restraining aid to Timon; and send forth us, to make their sorrowed render, together with a recompense more fruitful than their offence can weigh down by the dram. Aye, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth as shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs and write in thee the figures of their love, ever to read them thine.
Timon scratches his matted hair.
TIMON
You witch me in it; surprise me to the very brink of tears; lend me a fool's heart and a woman's eyes, and I'll besweep these comforts, worthy senators.
VARRO
Therefore, so please thee to return with us and of our Athens, thine and ours, to take the captainship.
Flavia looks shocked.
VARRO (CONT'D)
Thou shalt be met with thanks, allowed with absolute power and they good name live with authority. So soon we shall drive back of Alcibiades the approaches wild, who, like a boar too savage, doth root up his country's peace.
DEMEAS
And shakes his threatening sword against the walls of Athens.
VARRO
Therefore, Timon--
TIMON
Well, sir, I will. Therefore, I will, sir. Thus: if Alcibiades kill my countrymen, let Alcibiades know this of Timon; that Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens, and take our goodly aged men by the beards, giving our holy virgins to the stain of contumelious, beastly, mad-brained war, then let him know-- and tell him Timon speaks it--in pity of our aged and our youth, I cannot choose but tell him, that I care not, and let him take it at worst. For their knives care not, while you have throats to answer. For myself, there's not a whittle in the unruly camp but I do prize it at my love before the reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you to the protection of the prosperous gods, as thieves to keepers.
Varro and Demeas look on in amazement. Flavia shakes her head.
FLAVIA
Stay not; all's in vain.
TIMON
Why, I was writing my epitaph; it will be seen tomorrow. My long sickness of health and living now begins to mend, and nothing brings me all things. Go, live still; be Alcibiades your plague, you his, and last so long enough!
VARRO
We speak in vain.
They begin to turn away. Suddenly, Timon smiles.
TIMON
But I love my country, and am not one that rejoices in the common wreck, as common bruit doth put it.
VARRO
(relieved)
That's well put.
TIMON
Commend me to my loving countrymen--
VARRO
Those words become your lips as they pass through them.
DEMEAS
And enter in our ears like great triumphers in their applauding gates.
TIMON
Commend me to them, and tell them that, to ease them of their griefs, their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses, their pangs of love, with other incident throes that nature's fragile vessel doth sustain in life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them. I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.
VARRO
(to Demeas)
I like this well; he will return again.
Timon points to a big tree.
TIMON
I have a tree, which grows here in my close, that mine own use invites me to cut down, and shortly must I fell it. Tell my friends, tell Athens, in the sequence of degree from high to low throughout, that whoso please to stop affliction, let him take his haste, come hither, ere my tree hath felt the ax, and hang himself. I pray you, do my greeting.
FLAVIA
Trouble him no further; thus you still shall find him.
Flavia ushers Varro and Demeas away, glancing over her shoulder with tears in her eyes.
TIMON
Come not to me again; but say to Athens, Timon hath made his everlasting mansion upon the beached verge of the salt flood; who once a day with his embossed froth the turbulent surge shall cover. Thither come, and let my grave-stone be your oracle. Lips, let sour words go by and language end; what is amiss plague and infection mend! Graves only be men's works and death their gain! Sun, hide thy beams! Timon hath done his reign.
Now Timon is alone.
He looks at the tree. We see him thinking. He looks at the tree.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- MOMENTS LATER
Caphis sees the dejected group come out of the woods, and shakes his head.
VARRO
His discontents are unremoveably coupled to nature.
DEMEAS
Our hope in him is dead; let us return, and strain what other means is left unto us in our dear peril.
VARRO
It requires swift foot.
They pile in, and Caphis pulls out.
INT. DEMEAS' CAR -- CONTINUOUS
We see the plush interior of the car, and Flavia staring out.
From her POV, we see outside the window, the trees going by.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- MOMENTS LATER
Caphis suddenly SLAMS on the brakes and pulls over to the side.
Flavia jumps out the back door and starts running back down the road.
EXT. WOODS -- MOMENTS LATER
Flavia slaps aside branches, running faster and faster.
Suddenly, she stops short.
We see Timon's feet swinging above Flavia's head.
Flavia sees a note, speared on a branch. She leans in and reads it.She EXPELS a long breath. We see her pick up Timon's rusty ax, and lean against his broken shovel.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Mercer is one of the mysterious figures in TIMON, often considered a "broken" play or a draft; in the original, he is listed amongst the actors but comes on stage and has no lines. Thus I named my non-speaking TV show host after him.
INT. TELEVISION STUDIO -- NIGHT
We see Sempronius and Ventidius on a talk show hosted by MERCER, a glib anchor.
VENTIDIUS
When Fortune in her shift and change of mood spurns down her late beloved, all his dependents which labored after him to the mountain's top even on their knees and hands, let him slip down, not one accompanying his declining foot.
SEMPRONIUS
'Tis common. A thousand moral paintings I can show that shall demonstrate these quick blows of Fortune's more pregnantly than words. Yet you do well to show Lord Timon that mean eyes have seen the foot above the head.
We see a BURST OF STATIC like a channel changing.
EXT. STREETS -- DAY
We see "man on the street" interviews.
PISANDER
Why, this world's soul; and just of the same piece is every flatterer's spirit. Who can call him his friend that dips in the same dish? For, in my knowing, Timon has been this lord's father, and kept his credit with his purse, supported his estate; nay, Timon's money has paid his men their wages; he ne'er drinks, but Timon's silver treads upon his lip. And yet--O, see the monstrousness of man when he looks out in an ungrateful shape! He does deny him, in respect of his, what charitable men afford to beggars.
EUTRAPELUS
Religion groans at it.
GNATHONIDES
For mine own part, I never tasted Timon in my life, nor came any of his bounties over me, to mark me for his friend; yet, I protest, for his right noble mind, illustrious virtue and honorable carriage, had his necessity made use of me, I would have put my wealth into donation, and the best half should have returned to him, so much I love his heart; But, I perceive, men must learn now with pity to dispense; for policy sits above conscience.
Another BURST OF STATIC like a channel changing.
EXT. DOWNTOWN -- DAY
We see a serious Alcibiades getting into his car, with Phrynia behind the wheel; somber NEWS MUSIC plays, and a CG reads: ATHENS TAKEOVER EMINENT? SHAREHOLDER BUYOUT?
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (BOARDROOM) -- CONTINUOUS
Varro turns off the TV in the boardroom, looking sick. So does the rest of the board. Flavia is standing there, looking seriously from face to face, though nobody meets her eyes.
FLAVIA
It is in vain that you would speak with Timon; for he is set so only to himself that nothing but himself which looks like a man is friendly with him.
Demeas shrugs wearily.
DEMEAS
It is our part and promise to the Athenians to speak with Timon.
VARRO
At all times alike men are not still the same; 'twas time and griefs that framed him thus. Time, with his fairer hand, offering the fortunes of his former days, the former man may make him. Bring us to him, and chance it as it may.
Flavia stands still, thinking.
INT. DEMEAS' CAR -- LATER
Caphis is driving Varro, Demeas, and Flavia in the back seat, Flavia scrunched in the corner, looking morose.
EXT. WOODS -- CONTINUOUS
Flavia leads Varro and Demeas through the trees.
FLAVIA
Peace and content be here.
(calls out)
Lord Timon! Timon! Look out, and speak to friends; the Athenians, by two of their most reverend senate, greet thee. Speak to them, noble Timon.
Timon emerges from the trees.
TIMON
Thou sun, that comfort'st, burn! Speak, and be hanged; for each true word, a blister! And each false be as cauterizing to the root of the tongue, consuming it with speaking!
Varro takes in the bedraggled Timon, then finds his voice.
VARRO
Worthy Timon--
TIMON
O none but such as you, and you of Timon.
VARRO
The senators of Athens greet thee, Timon.
TIMON
I thank them; and would send them back the plague, could I but catch it for them.
Varro stops cold, then tries to push on.
VARRO
O, forget what we are sorry for ourselves in thee. The senators with one consent of love entreat thee back to Athens; who have thought on special dignities, which vacant lie for thy best use and wearing.
DEMEAS
They confess toward thee forgetfulness too general, gross; which now the public body, which doth seldom play the recanter, feeling in itself a lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal of its own fail, restraining aid to Timon; and send forth us, to make their sorrowed render, together with a recompense more fruitful than their offence can weigh down by the dram. Aye, even such heaps and sums of love and wealth as shall to thee blot out what wrongs were theirs and write in thee the figures of their love, ever to read them thine.
Timon scratches his matted hair.
TIMON
You witch me in it; surprise me to the very brink of tears; lend me a fool's heart and a woman's eyes, and I'll besweep these comforts, worthy senators.
VARRO
Therefore, so please thee to return with us and of our Athens, thine and ours, to take the captainship.
Flavia looks shocked.
VARRO (CONT'D)
Thou shalt be met with thanks, allowed with absolute power and they good name live with authority. So soon we shall drive back of Alcibiades the approaches wild, who, like a boar too savage, doth root up his country's peace.
DEMEAS
And shakes his threatening sword against the walls of Athens.
VARRO
Therefore, Timon--
TIMON
Well, sir, I will. Therefore, I will, sir. Thus: if Alcibiades kill my countrymen, let Alcibiades know this of Timon; that Timon cares not. But if he sack fair Athens, and take our goodly aged men by the beards, giving our holy virgins to the stain of contumelious, beastly, mad-brained war, then let him know-- and tell him Timon speaks it--in pity of our aged and our youth, I cannot choose but tell him, that I care not, and let him take it at worst. For their knives care not, while you have throats to answer. For myself, there's not a whittle in the unruly camp but I do prize it at my love before the reverend'st throat in Athens. So I leave you to the protection of the prosperous gods, as thieves to keepers.
Varro and Demeas look on in amazement. Flavia shakes her head.
FLAVIA
Stay not; all's in vain.
TIMON
Why, I was writing my epitaph; it will be seen tomorrow. My long sickness of health and living now begins to mend, and nothing brings me all things. Go, live still; be Alcibiades your plague, you his, and last so long enough!
VARRO
We speak in vain.
They begin to turn away. Suddenly, Timon smiles.
TIMON
But I love my country, and am not one that rejoices in the common wreck, as common bruit doth put it.
VARRO
(relieved)
That's well put.
TIMON
Commend me to my loving countrymen--
VARRO
Those words become your lips as they pass through them.
DEMEAS
And enter in our ears like great triumphers in their applauding gates.
TIMON
Commend me to them, and tell them that, to ease them of their griefs, their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses, their pangs of love, with other incident throes that nature's fragile vessel doth sustain in life's uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them. I'll teach them to prevent wild Alcibiades' wrath.
VARRO
(to Demeas)
I like this well; he will return again.
Timon points to a big tree.
TIMON
I have a tree, which grows here in my close, that mine own use invites me to cut down, and shortly must I fell it. Tell my friends, tell Athens, in the sequence of degree from high to low throughout, that whoso please to stop affliction, let him take his haste, come hither, ere my tree hath felt the ax, and hang himself. I pray you, do my greeting.
FLAVIA
Trouble him no further; thus you still shall find him.
Flavia ushers Varro and Demeas away, glancing over her shoulder with tears in her eyes.
TIMON
Come not to me again; but say to Athens, Timon hath made his everlasting mansion upon the beached verge of the salt flood; who once a day with his embossed froth the turbulent surge shall cover. Thither come, and let my grave-stone be your oracle. Lips, let sour words go by and language end; what is amiss plague and infection mend! Graves only be men's works and death their gain! Sun, hide thy beams! Timon hath done his reign.
Now Timon is alone.
He looks at the tree. We see him thinking. He looks at the tree.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- MOMENTS LATER
Caphis sees the dejected group come out of the woods, and shakes his head.
VARRO
His discontents are unremoveably coupled to nature.
DEMEAS
Our hope in him is dead; let us return, and strain what other means is left unto us in our dear peril.
VARRO
It requires swift foot.
They pile in, and Caphis pulls out.
INT. DEMEAS' CAR -- CONTINUOUS
We see the plush interior of the car, and Flavia staring out.
From her POV, we see outside the window, the trees going by.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- MOMENTS LATER
Caphis suddenly SLAMS on the brakes and pulls over to the side.
Flavia jumps out the back door and starts running back down the road.
EXT. WOODS -- MOMENTS LATER
Flavia slaps aside branches, running faster and faster.
Suddenly, she stops short.
We see Timon's feet swinging above Flavia's head.
Flavia sees a note, speared on a branch. She leans in and reads it.She EXPELS a long breath. We see her pick up Timon's rusty ax, and lean against his broken shovel.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Timon of Athens Pt. 10
After a busy week, I will try to finish posting the rest of TIMON OF ATHENS over the next few days. Here, with news of Timon's isolation and apparent madness spreading after the dotcom burst, a friend--and a pair of fairweather friends--come to call. Lots of good Shakespearean burns and zings in this part.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- DAY
We see Flavia riding her bike, watching for signs along the side of the road.
Eventually she pulls over and dismounts, leaning her bike against a tree.
EXT. WOODS -- MOMENTS LATER
Timon is sifting through his bag of money.
TIMON
O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce 'twixt natural son and sire! Thou bright defiler of Hymen's purest bed! Think, thy slave man rebels, and by thy virtue set them into confounding odds, that beasts may have the world in empire!
Flavia watches from the trees.
FLAVIA
O you gods! Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord? Full of decay and failing? O monument and wonder of good deeds evilly bestowed! What an alteration of honor has desperate want made! What viler thing upon the earth than friends who can bring noblest minds to basest ends! How rarely does it meet with this time's guise, when man was wish'd to love his enemies! Grant I may ever love, and rather woo those that would mischief me than those that do! He has caught my eye; I will present my honest grief unto him; and, as my lord, still serve him with my life.
Flavia comes into full view.
FLAVIA (CONT'D)
My dearest master!
TIMON
Away! What art thou?
FLAVIA
Have you forgot me, sir?
(beat)
An honest poor servant of yours.
TIMON
Then I know thee not; I never had honest man about me, I; All I kept were knaves, to serve meat to villains.
Flavia's eyes mist up, and she turns away.
FLAVIA
The gods are witness, ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief for his undone lord than mine eyes for you.
Timon softens.
TIMON
What, dost thou weep? Come nearer. Then I love thee, because thou art a woman, and disclam'st flinty mankind.
Flavia runs into his rather grubby arms.
FLAVIA
I beg of you to know me, my good lord, to accept my grief and whilst this poor wealth lasts to entertain me as your steward still.
Timon holds her at arm's length.
TIMON
Had I a steward so true, so just, and now so comfortable? It almost runs my dangerous nature mild. Let me behold thy face.
(studies her)
Methinks thou art more honest now than wise; for, by oppressing and betraying me, thou mightst have sooner got another service; for many so arrive at second masters upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true--for I must ever doubt, though never so sure--is not thy kindness subtle, covetous, if not a usuring kindness, and, as rich men deal gifts, expecting in return twenty for one?
FLAVIA
No, my worthy master, in whose breast doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late. You should have feared false times when you did feast; suspect still comes when an estate is least.
(beat, hesitantly)
That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love, duty and zeal to your unmatched mind, care of your food and living; and, believe it, my most honored lord, for any benefit that points to me, either in hope or present, I would exchange for this one wish...that you had power and wealth to requite me, by making rich yourself.
Timon stares into her face, then reaches into his dirty trash bag, pulling out money.
TIMON
Look thee, 'tis so! Here, take! The gods out of my misery have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy.
Flavia looks stunned. Timon's face turns cold.
TIMON (CONT'D)
But thus conditioned. Thou shalt build from men, hate all, curse all, show charity to none, but let the famished flesh slide from the bone, ere thou relieve the beggar. Give to dogs what thou deny'st to men. Let prisons swallow 'em, debts wither 'em to nothing; be men like blasted woods, and may diseases lick up their false bloods!
(beat)
And so farewell and thrive.
Flavia's eyes well with tears.
FLAVIA
O, let me stay...and--comfort you, my master.
TIMON
If thou hatest curses, stay not; fly, whilst thou art blest and free; never see thou man, and let me never see thee.
Flavia, empty-handed, tears on her cheeks, shakes her head as if she can't believe it, and backs away. Soon she turns and runs, Timon's red eyes upon her.
We see Flavia running through the woods, careless of where she is running, only away.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- MOMENTS LATER
Sempronius and Ventidius are slowly cruising down the road in Sempronius' car. From his POV, we see Flavia's bike leaning against a tree.
SEMPRONIUS
As I too note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides.
They pull past the bike and park on the shoulder as Flavia bursts from the trees, grabs her bike, and cycles away, heedless of the two others. They exchange glances, and Sempronius shrugs.
They look at each other again and climb out of the car.
VENTIDIUS
What's thought of him? Does the rumor hold true, that he's so full of gold?
SEMPRONIUS
Alcibiades reports it.
VENTIDIUS
Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends.
SEMPRONIUS
Nothing else; you shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore 'tis not amiss we tender loves to him, in this supposed distress of his. It will show honestly in us, and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travail for; if it be a just and true report that goes of his having.
INT. WOODS -- CONTINUOUS
We see a downcast Timon, thinking. Then he moves in the direction Flavia left.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- CONTINUOUS
Ventidius and Sempronius are leaning against the car, planning.
VENTIDIUS
What have you now to present unto him?
SEMPRONIUS
Nothing at this time but my visitation; only I will promise an excellent piece.
VENTIDIUS
I must serve him too, tell him of an intent that's coming toward him.
SEMPRONIUS
Good as the best. Promising is the very air of the time; it opens the eyes of expectation. Performance is ever the duller for his act; and, but in the plainer and simpler kind of people, the deed of saying is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable; performance is a kind of will or testament which argues a great sickness in his judgment that makes it.
We see that Timon has come to the edge of the woods, and stops short, seeing the pair.
TIMON
(to himself)
Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself.
VENTIDIUS
I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for him. It must be a personating of himself; a satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency.
TIMON
(muttering)
Must thou needs stand for a villain in thine own work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? Do so, I have gold for thee.
VENTIDIUS
Nay, let's seek him; then do we sin against our own estate, when we may profit meet, and come too late.
SEMPRONIUS
True; when the day serves, before black-cornered night, find what thou want'st by free and offered light. Come.
TIMON
(to himself)
I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold, that he is worshipped in a baser temple than where swine feed!
Abruptly, Timon steps out of the treeline, startling the others.
VENTIDIUS
Hail, worthy Timon!
SEMPRONIUS
Our late noble master!
TIMON
Have I once lived to see two honest men?
VENTIDIUS
Sir, having often of your open bounty tasted, hearing you were retired, your friends fallen off, whose thankless natures--o abhorred spirits!--not all the whips of heaven are large enough. What! To you, whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence to their whole being! I am rapt and cannot cover the monstrous bulk of this ingratitude with any size of words.
TIMON
Let it go naked, men may see't the better. You that are honest, by being what you are, make them best seen and known.
SEMPRONIUS
He and myself have travailed in the great shower of your gifts, and sweetly felt it. We are hither come to offer you our service.
TIMON
Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you? Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? No.
Ventidius looks uneasy.
VENTIDIUS
What we can do, we'll do, to do your service.
TIMON
Ye are honest men; ye've heard that I have gold. I am sure you have; speak truth, ye're honest men.
They stand still for a long moment. Finally:
SEMPRONIUS
(faltering)
So it is said, my noble lord. But therefore came not my friend nor I.
TIMON
Good honest men! Thou draw'st a counterfeit best in all Athens. Thou art, indeed, the best. Thou counterfeit'st most lively.
SEMPRONIUS
(mock modesty)
So so, my lord.
TIMON
Even so, sir, as I say. And, for thy fiction, why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth that thou art even natural in thine art. But, for all this, my honest-natured friends, I must needs say you have a little fault. Marry, 'tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I you take much pains to mend.
VENTIDIUS
(mock pleading)
Beseech your honor, make it known to us.
TIMON
You'll take it ill.
SEMPRONIUS
(ingratiating)
Most thankfully, my lord.
TIMON
Will you indeed?
VENTIDIUS
Doubt it not, worthy lord.
TIMON
There's never a one of you but trusts a knave, that mightily deceives you.
SEMPRONIUS
Do we, my lord?
TIMON
Aye, and hear him cog, see him dissemble, know his gross patchery, love him, feed him, keep in your bosom; yet remain assured that he's a made-up villain.
SEMPRONIUS
I know none such, my lord.
VENTIDIUS
Nor I.
TIMON
Look at you, I love you well; I'll give you gold, rid me these villains from your companies. Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draught, confound them by some course, and come to me, I'll have you gold enough.
Both self-proclaimed artists swallow and look uneasily at each other.
Timon rustles in the dirty bag and reveals a knot of cash.
Sempronius and Ventidius look hungry, eyes popping.
SEMPRONIUS
Name them, lord!
VENTIDIUS
Let's know them!
TIMON
You that way and you this, but two in company; each man apart, all single and alone, yet an arch-villain keeps him company. If where thou art two villains shall not be, come not near him. If thou wouldst not reside but where one villain is, then him abandon. Hence, pack! There's gold; you came for gold, ye slaves!
Sempronius reaches for the money. But Timon drops the money back in the sack and reaches down for a rock, throwing it at Sempronius.
TIMON (CONT'D)
You have worked for me; there's payment for you--hence!
Timon chucks another rock at Ventidius.
TIMON (CONT'D)
You are an alchemist; make gold of that! Out, rascal dogs!
Sempronius and Ventidius try to make a grab for the bag of money as Timon starts to rain blows and kicks down on them. Fighting a lost cause, they scurry away.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- DAY
We see Flavia riding her bike, watching for signs along the side of the road.
Eventually she pulls over and dismounts, leaning her bike against a tree.
EXT. WOODS -- MOMENTS LATER
Timon is sifting through his bag of money.
TIMON
O thou sweet king-killer, and dear divorce 'twixt natural son and sire! Thou bright defiler of Hymen's purest bed! Think, thy slave man rebels, and by thy virtue set them into confounding odds, that beasts may have the world in empire!
Flavia watches from the trees.
FLAVIA
O you gods! Is yond despised and ruinous man my lord? Full of decay and failing? O monument and wonder of good deeds evilly bestowed! What an alteration of honor has desperate want made! What viler thing upon the earth than friends who can bring noblest minds to basest ends! How rarely does it meet with this time's guise, when man was wish'd to love his enemies! Grant I may ever love, and rather woo those that would mischief me than those that do! He has caught my eye; I will present my honest grief unto him; and, as my lord, still serve him with my life.
Flavia comes into full view.
FLAVIA (CONT'D)
My dearest master!
TIMON
Away! What art thou?
FLAVIA
Have you forgot me, sir?
(beat)
An honest poor servant of yours.
TIMON
Then I know thee not; I never had honest man about me, I; All I kept were knaves, to serve meat to villains.
Flavia's eyes mist up, and she turns away.
FLAVIA
The gods are witness, ne'er did poor steward wear a truer grief for his undone lord than mine eyes for you.
Timon softens.
TIMON
What, dost thou weep? Come nearer. Then I love thee, because thou art a woman, and disclam'st flinty mankind.
Flavia runs into his rather grubby arms.
FLAVIA
I beg of you to know me, my good lord, to accept my grief and whilst this poor wealth lasts to entertain me as your steward still.
Timon holds her at arm's length.
TIMON
Had I a steward so true, so just, and now so comfortable? It almost runs my dangerous nature mild. Let me behold thy face.
(studies her)
Methinks thou art more honest now than wise; for, by oppressing and betraying me, thou mightst have sooner got another service; for many so arrive at second masters upon their first lord's neck. But tell me true--for I must ever doubt, though never so sure--is not thy kindness subtle, covetous, if not a usuring kindness, and, as rich men deal gifts, expecting in return twenty for one?
FLAVIA
No, my worthy master, in whose breast doubt and suspect, alas, are placed too late. You should have feared false times when you did feast; suspect still comes when an estate is least.
(beat, hesitantly)
That which I show, heaven knows, is merely love, duty and zeal to your unmatched mind, care of your food and living; and, believe it, my most honored lord, for any benefit that points to me, either in hope or present, I would exchange for this one wish...that you had power and wealth to requite me, by making rich yourself.
Timon stares into her face, then reaches into his dirty trash bag, pulling out money.
TIMON
Look thee, 'tis so! Here, take! The gods out of my misery have sent thee treasure. Go, live rich and happy.
Flavia looks stunned. Timon's face turns cold.
TIMON (CONT'D)
But thus conditioned. Thou shalt build from men, hate all, curse all, show charity to none, but let the famished flesh slide from the bone, ere thou relieve the beggar. Give to dogs what thou deny'st to men. Let prisons swallow 'em, debts wither 'em to nothing; be men like blasted woods, and may diseases lick up their false bloods!
(beat)
And so farewell and thrive.
Flavia's eyes well with tears.
FLAVIA
O, let me stay...and--comfort you, my master.
TIMON
If thou hatest curses, stay not; fly, whilst thou art blest and free; never see thou man, and let me never see thee.
Flavia, empty-handed, tears on her cheeks, shakes her head as if she can't believe it, and backs away. Soon she turns and runs, Timon's red eyes upon her.
We see Flavia running through the woods, careless of where she is running, only away.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- MOMENTS LATER
Sempronius and Ventidius are slowly cruising down the road in Sempronius' car. From his POV, we see Flavia's bike leaning against a tree.
SEMPRONIUS
As I too note of the place, it cannot be far where he abides.
They pull past the bike and park on the shoulder as Flavia bursts from the trees, grabs her bike, and cycles away, heedless of the two others. They exchange glances, and Sempronius shrugs.
They look at each other again and climb out of the car.
VENTIDIUS
What's thought of him? Does the rumor hold true, that he's so full of gold?
SEMPRONIUS
Alcibiades reports it.
VENTIDIUS
Then this breaking of his has been but a try for his friends.
SEMPRONIUS
Nothing else; you shall see him a palm in Athens again, and flourish with the highest. Therefore 'tis not amiss we tender loves to him, in this supposed distress of his. It will show honestly in us, and is very likely to load our purposes with what they travail for; if it be a just and true report that goes of his having.
INT. WOODS -- CONTINUOUS
We see a downcast Timon, thinking. Then he moves in the direction Flavia left.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- CONTINUOUS
Ventidius and Sempronius are leaning against the car, planning.
VENTIDIUS
What have you now to present unto him?
SEMPRONIUS
Nothing at this time but my visitation; only I will promise an excellent piece.
VENTIDIUS
I must serve him too, tell him of an intent that's coming toward him.
SEMPRONIUS
Good as the best. Promising is the very air of the time; it opens the eyes of expectation. Performance is ever the duller for his act; and, but in the plainer and simpler kind of people, the deed of saying is quite out of use. To promise is most courtly and fashionable; performance is a kind of will or testament which argues a great sickness in his judgment that makes it.
We see that Timon has come to the edge of the woods, and stops short, seeing the pair.
TIMON
(to himself)
Excellent workman! Thou canst not paint a man so bad as is thyself.
VENTIDIUS
I am thinking what I shall say I have provided for him. It must be a personating of himself; a satire against the softness of prosperity, with a discovery of the infinite flatteries that follow youth and opulency.
TIMON
(muttering)
Must thou needs stand for a villain in thine own work? Wilt thou whip thine own faults in other men? Do so, I have gold for thee.
VENTIDIUS
Nay, let's seek him; then do we sin against our own estate, when we may profit meet, and come too late.
SEMPRONIUS
True; when the day serves, before black-cornered night, find what thou want'st by free and offered light. Come.
TIMON
(to himself)
I'll meet you at the turn. What a god's gold, that he is worshipped in a baser temple than where swine feed!
Abruptly, Timon steps out of the treeline, startling the others.
VENTIDIUS
Hail, worthy Timon!
SEMPRONIUS
Our late noble master!
TIMON
Have I once lived to see two honest men?
VENTIDIUS
Sir, having often of your open bounty tasted, hearing you were retired, your friends fallen off, whose thankless natures--o abhorred spirits!--not all the whips of heaven are large enough. What! To you, whose star-like nobleness gave life and influence to their whole being! I am rapt and cannot cover the monstrous bulk of this ingratitude with any size of words.
TIMON
Let it go naked, men may see't the better. You that are honest, by being what you are, make them best seen and known.
SEMPRONIUS
He and myself have travailed in the great shower of your gifts, and sweetly felt it. We are hither come to offer you our service.
TIMON
Most honest men! Why, how shall I requite you? Can you eat roots, and drink cold water? No.
Ventidius looks uneasy.
VENTIDIUS
What we can do, we'll do, to do your service.
TIMON
Ye are honest men; ye've heard that I have gold. I am sure you have; speak truth, ye're honest men.
They stand still for a long moment. Finally:
SEMPRONIUS
(faltering)
So it is said, my noble lord. But therefore came not my friend nor I.
TIMON
Good honest men! Thou draw'st a counterfeit best in all Athens. Thou art, indeed, the best. Thou counterfeit'st most lively.
SEMPRONIUS
(mock modesty)
So so, my lord.
TIMON
Even so, sir, as I say. And, for thy fiction, why, thy verse swells with stuff so fine and smooth that thou art even natural in thine art. But, for all this, my honest-natured friends, I must needs say you have a little fault. Marry, 'tis not monstrous in you, neither wish I you take much pains to mend.
VENTIDIUS
(mock pleading)
Beseech your honor, make it known to us.
TIMON
You'll take it ill.
SEMPRONIUS
(ingratiating)
Most thankfully, my lord.
TIMON
Will you indeed?
VENTIDIUS
Doubt it not, worthy lord.
TIMON
There's never a one of you but trusts a knave, that mightily deceives you.
SEMPRONIUS
Do we, my lord?
TIMON
Aye, and hear him cog, see him dissemble, know his gross patchery, love him, feed him, keep in your bosom; yet remain assured that he's a made-up villain.
SEMPRONIUS
I know none such, my lord.
VENTIDIUS
Nor I.
TIMON
Look at you, I love you well; I'll give you gold, rid me these villains from your companies. Hang them or stab them, drown them in a draught, confound them by some course, and come to me, I'll have you gold enough.
Both self-proclaimed artists swallow and look uneasily at each other.
Timon rustles in the dirty bag and reveals a knot of cash.
Sempronius and Ventidius look hungry, eyes popping.
SEMPRONIUS
Name them, lord!
VENTIDIUS
Let's know them!
TIMON
You that way and you this, but two in company; each man apart, all single and alone, yet an arch-villain keeps him company. If where thou art two villains shall not be, come not near him. If thou wouldst not reside but where one villain is, then him abandon. Hence, pack! There's gold; you came for gold, ye slaves!
Sempronius reaches for the money. But Timon drops the money back in the sack and reaches down for a rock, throwing it at Sempronius.
TIMON (CONT'D)
You have worked for me; there's payment for you--hence!
Timon chucks another rock at Ventidius.
TIMON (CONT'D)
You are an alchemist; make gold of that! Out, rascal dogs!
Sempronius and Ventidius try to make a grab for the bag of money as Timon starts to rain blows and kicks down on them. Fighting a lost cause, they scurry away.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Timon of Athens Pt. 9
In Shakespeare's TIMON OF ATHENS, Timon's surly skater friend Apemantus tries to reason with the bitter and homeless Timon. Strong words ensue.
EXT. CITY PARK -- CONTINUOUS
We see a lot of protesters carrying on some kind of demonstration. Through gaps in the crowd, we see Apemantus in the background, watching the action. His cell phone RINGS. He fishes in his pockets and brings it to his ear. He listens.
EXT. WOODS -- LATER
We see Apemantus moving through the trees, searching. Then he stops and watches Timon digging for roots.
TIMON
Whose womb unmeasurable, and infinite breast, teems, and feeds all; whose self-same mettle, whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puffed, engenders the black toad and adder blue, the gilded newt and eyeless venomed worm, with all the abhorred births below crisp heaven whereon Hyperion's quickening fire doth shine; yield him, who all thy human sons doth hate, from forth thy plenteous bosom, one poor root!
He feels Apemantus' eyes upon him.
TIMON (CONT'D)
(to himself)
More man? Plague, plague!
Apemantus steps into sight.
APEMANTUS
I was directed hither; men report thou dost affect my manners, and dost use them.
TIMON
'Tis, then, because thou dost not keep a dog, whom I would imitate; consumption catch thee!
APEMANTUS
This is in thee a nature but infected; a poor unmanly melancholy sprung from change of fortune. Why this spade? This place? This slave-like habit? And these looks of care? Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft; hug their diseased perfumes, and have forgot that ever Timon was.
Timon just shakes his head, angrily.
APEMANTUS (CONT'D)
Shame not these woods, by putting on the cunning of a carper. Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive by that which has undone thee. Hinge thy knee, and let his very breath, who thou'lt observe, blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain, and call it excellent. Thou was told thus; thou gavest thine ears like tapsters that bid welcome to knaves and all approachers; 'tis most just that thou turn rascal; hadst thou wealth again, rascals should have it. Do not assume my likeness.
TIMON
Were I like thee, I'd throw away myself.
APEMANTUS
Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself. A madman so long, now a fool. What, think'st that the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain, will put thy shirt on warm? Will these moss'd trees, that have outlived the eagle, page thy heels, and skip where thou point'st out? Will the cold brook, candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste, to cure thy o'er-night's surfeit? Call the creatures whose naked natures live in all the spite of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhoused trunks, to the conflicting elements exposed, answer mere nature; bid them flatter thee. O, thou shalt find--
TIMON
(interrupts)
A fool of thee. Depart.
Apemantus looks regretful.
APEMANTUS
(softly)
I love thee better now than e'er I did.
TIMON
I hate thee worse! Why dost thou seek me out?
Apemantus looks angry.
APEMANTUS
To vex thee!
TIMON
Always a villain's office, or a fool's. Dost please thyself in't?
APEMANTUS
Aye.
TIMON
What! A knave too?
APEMANTUS
If thou didst put this sour-cold habit on to castigate thy pride, 'twere well; but thou does it enforcedly. Thou'ldst courtier be again, wert thou not beggar.
Timon points, hand shaking.
TIMON
Thou art a slave, whom Fortune's tender arm with favor never clasped; but bred a dog. Why shouldst thou hate men? They never flattered thee. What has thou given? If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag, must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff to some she-beggar and compounded thee poor rogue hereditary. Hence, be gone! If thou hadst not been born the worst of men, thou hadst been a knave and a flatterer.
Apemantus takes this, looking at the ground. Then he looks up.
APEMANTUS
Art thou proud yet?
TIMON
Aye, that I am not thee. Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee, I'd give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone. That the whole life of Athens were in this! Thus would I eat it.
Timon grimly munches on a root. Apemantus reaches up and snaps off a branch, then holds it out.
APEMANTUS
Here, I will mend thy feast.
TIMON
First mend my company, take away thyself.
APEMANTUS
So I shall mend mine own, by the lack of thine.
TIMON
'Tis not well mended so, it is but botched; if not, I would it were.
Apemantus throws the branch down and looks at Timon carefully.
APEMANTUS
What wouldst thou have to Athens?
TIMON
Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt, tell them there I have gold. Look, so I have.
Apemantus follows his jutting thumb to the dirty trash bag Timon has been dragging. Apemantus slowly goes over and peers inside, registers its contents.
APEMANTUS
Here is no use for gold.
TIMON
The best and truest; for here it sleeps, and does no hired harm.
Apemantus looks around.
APEMANTUS
Where liest of nights, Timon?
TIMON
Under that's above me. Where feed'st thou o' the days, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS
Where my stomach finds meat; or, rather, where I eat it.
TIMON
Would poison were obedient and knew my mind!
APEMANTUS
Why wouldst thou send it?
TIMON
To sauce thy dishes.
Again Apemantus looks sadly at his friend.
APEMANTUS
The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends. When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity. In thy rags thou knowest none, but art despised for the contrary.
Timon stares off into the trees.
TIMON
What wouldst thou do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?
APEMANTUS
(softly)
Give it to the beasts, to be rid of the men.
TIMON
Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men, and remain a beast with the beasts?
APEMANTUS
Aye, Timon.
TIMON
(mocking)
A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee to attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee; if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee; if thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee, when peradventure thou wert accused by the ass; if thou wert the ass, thy dullness would torment thee, and still thou livedst but as a breakfast to the wolf; if thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner. Wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury; wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse; wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the leopard; wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the lion and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life; all safety were remotion and thy defense absence. What beast couldst thou be, that were not subject to a beast? And what a beast art thou already, that seest not thy loss in transformation?
APEMANTUS
If thou couldst please me with speaking to me, thou mightst have hit upon it here; the commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts.
TIMON
(with mock surprise)
How has the ass broke the wall, that thou art out of the city?
Apemantus sizes him up.
APEMANTUS
When I know not what else to do, I'll see thee again.
TIMON
When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog than Apemantus.
Apemantus gets really mad now, and the two begin circling and pushing.
APEMANTUS
Thou art the cap of all the fools alive!
TIMON
Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!
APEMANTUS
A plague on thee! Thou art too bad to curse.
TIMON
All villains that do stand by thee are pure.
APEMANTUS
There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st.
TIMON
If I name thee, I'll beat thee, but I should infect my hands!
Apemantus shoves him harder.
APEMANTUS
I would my tongue could rot them off!
Timon pushes back.
TIMON
Away, thou issue of a mangy dog! Choler does kill me that thou art alive; I swound to see thee.
APEMANTUS
Would thou wouldst burst!
TIMON
Away, thy tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee!
Timon hefts a rock and flings it at Apemantus, who ducks out of the way.
APEMANTUS
Beast!
TIMON
Slave!
APEMANTUS
Toad!
TIMON
Rogue, rogue, rogue! I am sick of this false world, and will love nought but even the mere necessities upon it. Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave; lie where the light foam from the sea may beat thy gravestone daily. Make thine epitaph, that death in me at others' lives may laugh!
APEMANTUS
Would 'twere so! Live, and love thy misery!
TIMON
Long live so, and so die!
Apemantus throws his hands up and retreats backward, staring at Timon the whole time. Before he disappears from sight, he takes the old photo of he and Timon out of his deep sagging pocket; and spears it on a limb.
Timon sees it impaled there as Apemantus exits.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
EXT. CITY PARK -- CONTINUOUS
We see a lot of protesters carrying on some kind of demonstration. Through gaps in the crowd, we see Apemantus in the background, watching the action. His cell phone RINGS. He fishes in his pockets and brings it to his ear. He listens.
EXT. WOODS -- LATER
We see Apemantus moving through the trees, searching. Then he stops and watches Timon digging for roots.
TIMON
Whose womb unmeasurable, and infinite breast, teems, and feeds all; whose self-same mettle, whereof thy proud child, arrogant man, is puffed, engenders the black toad and adder blue, the gilded newt and eyeless venomed worm, with all the abhorred births below crisp heaven whereon Hyperion's quickening fire doth shine; yield him, who all thy human sons doth hate, from forth thy plenteous bosom, one poor root!
He feels Apemantus' eyes upon him.
TIMON (CONT'D)
(to himself)
More man? Plague, plague!
Apemantus steps into sight.
APEMANTUS
I was directed hither; men report thou dost affect my manners, and dost use them.
TIMON
'Tis, then, because thou dost not keep a dog, whom I would imitate; consumption catch thee!
APEMANTUS
This is in thee a nature but infected; a poor unmanly melancholy sprung from change of fortune. Why this spade? This place? This slave-like habit? And these looks of care? Thy flatterers yet wear silk, drink wine, lie soft; hug their diseased perfumes, and have forgot that ever Timon was.
Timon just shakes his head, angrily.
APEMANTUS (CONT'D)
Shame not these woods, by putting on the cunning of a carper. Be thou a flatterer now, and seek to thrive by that which has undone thee. Hinge thy knee, and let his very breath, who thou'lt observe, blow off thy cap; praise his most vicious strain, and call it excellent. Thou was told thus; thou gavest thine ears like tapsters that bid welcome to knaves and all approachers; 'tis most just that thou turn rascal; hadst thou wealth again, rascals should have it. Do not assume my likeness.
TIMON
Were I like thee, I'd throw away myself.
APEMANTUS
Thou hast cast away thyself, being like thyself. A madman so long, now a fool. What, think'st that the bleak air, thy boisterous chamberlain, will put thy shirt on warm? Will these moss'd trees, that have outlived the eagle, page thy heels, and skip where thou point'st out? Will the cold brook, candied with ice, caudle thy morning taste, to cure thy o'er-night's surfeit? Call the creatures whose naked natures live in all the spite of wreakful heaven, whose bare unhoused trunks, to the conflicting elements exposed, answer mere nature; bid them flatter thee. O, thou shalt find--
TIMON
(interrupts)
A fool of thee. Depart.
Apemantus looks regretful.
APEMANTUS
(softly)
I love thee better now than e'er I did.
TIMON
I hate thee worse! Why dost thou seek me out?
Apemantus looks angry.
APEMANTUS
To vex thee!
TIMON
Always a villain's office, or a fool's. Dost please thyself in't?
APEMANTUS
Aye.
TIMON
What! A knave too?
APEMANTUS
If thou didst put this sour-cold habit on to castigate thy pride, 'twere well; but thou does it enforcedly. Thou'ldst courtier be again, wert thou not beggar.
Timon points, hand shaking.
TIMON
Thou art a slave, whom Fortune's tender arm with favor never clasped; but bred a dog. Why shouldst thou hate men? They never flattered thee. What has thou given? If thou wilt curse, thy father, that poor rag, must be thy subject, who in spite put stuff to some she-beggar and compounded thee poor rogue hereditary. Hence, be gone! If thou hadst not been born the worst of men, thou hadst been a knave and a flatterer.
Apemantus takes this, looking at the ground. Then he looks up.
APEMANTUS
Art thou proud yet?
TIMON
Aye, that I am not thee. Were all the wealth I have shut up in thee, I'd give thee leave to hang it. Get thee gone. That the whole life of Athens were in this! Thus would I eat it.
Timon grimly munches on a root. Apemantus reaches up and snaps off a branch, then holds it out.
APEMANTUS
Here, I will mend thy feast.
TIMON
First mend my company, take away thyself.
APEMANTUS
So I shall mend mine own, by the lack of thine.
TIMON
'Tis not well mended so, it is but botched; if not, I would it were.
Apemantus throws the branch down and looks at Timon carefully.
APEMANTUS
What wouldst thou have to Athens?
TIMON
Thee thither in a whirlwind. If thou wilt, tell them there I have gold. Look, so I have.
Apemantus follows his jutting thumb to the dirty trash bag Timon has been dragging. Apemantus slowly goes over and peers inside, registers its contents.
APEMANTUS
Here is no use for gold.
TIMON
The best and truest; for here it sleeps, and does no hired harm.
Apemantus looks around.
APEMANTUS
Where liest of nights, Timon?
TIMON
Under that's above me. Where feed'st thou o' the days, Apemantus?
APEMANTUS
Where my stomach finds meat; or, rather, where I eat it.
TIMON
Would poison were obedient and knew my mind!
APEMANTUS
Why wouldst thou send it?
TIMON
To sauce thy dishes.
Again Apemantus looks sadly at his friend.
APEMANTUS
The middle of humanity thou never knewest, but the extremity of both ends. When thou wast in thy gilt and thy perfume, they mocked thee for too much curiosity. In thy rags thou knowest none, but art despised for the contrary.
Timon stares off into the trees.
TIMON
What wouldst thou do with the world, Apemantus, if it lay in thy power?
APEMANTUS
(softly)
Give it to the beasts, to be rid of the men.
TIMON
Wouldst thou have thyself fall in the confusion of men, and remain a beast with the beasts?
APEMANTUS
Aye, Timon.
TIMON
(mocking)
A beastly ambition, which the gods grant thee to attain to! If thou wert the lion, the fox would beguile thee; if thou wert the lamb, the fox would eat thee; if thou wert the fox, the lion would suspect thee, when peradventure thou wert accused by the ass; if thou wert the ass, thy dullness would torment thee, and still thou livedst but as a breakfast to the wolf; if thou wert the wolf, thy greediness would afflict thee, and oft thou shouldst hazard thy life for thy dinner. Wert thou the unicorn, pride and wrath would confound thee and make thine own self the conquest of thy fury; wert thou a bear, thou wouldst be killed by the horse; wert thou a horse, thou wouldst be seized by the leopard; wert thou a leopard, thou wert german to the lion and the spots of thy kindred were jurors on thy life; all safety were remotion and thy defense absence. What beast couldst thou be, that were not subject to a beast? And what a beast art thou already, that seest not thy loss in transformation?
APEMANTUS
If thou couldst please me with speaking to me, thou mightst have hit upon it here; the commonwealth of Athens is become a forest of beasts.
TIMON
(with mock surprise)
How has the ass broke the wall, that thou art out of the city?
Apemantus sizes him up.
APEMANTUS
When I know not what else to do, I'll see thee again.
TIMON
When there is nothing living but thee, thou shalt be welcome. I had rather be a beggar's dog than Apemantus.
Apemantus gets really mad now, and the two begin circling and pushing.
APEMANTUS
Thou art the cap of all the fools alive!
TIMON
Would thou wert clean enough to spit upon!
APEMANTUS
A plague on thee! Thou art too bad to curse.
TIMON
All villains that do stand by thee are pure.
APEMANTUS
There is no leprosy but what thou speak'st.
TIMON
If I name thee, I'll beat thee, but I should infect my hands!
Apemantus shoves him harder.
APEMANTUS
I would my tongue could rot them off!
Timon pushes back.
TIMON
Away, thou issue of a mangy dog! Choler does kill me that thou art alive; I swound to see thee.
APEMANTUS
Would thou wouldst burst!
TIMON
Away, thy tedious rogue! I am sorry I shall lose a stone by thee!
Timon hefts a rock and flings it at Apemantus, who ducks out of the way.
APEMANTUS
Beast!
TIMON
Slave!
APEMANTUS
Toad!
TIMON
Rogue, rogue, rogue! I am sick of this false world, and will love nought but even the mere necessities upon it. Then, Timon, presently prepare thy grave; lie where the light foam from the sea may beat thy gravestone daily. Make thine epitaph, that death in me at others' lives may laugh!
APEMANTUS
Would 'twere so! Live, and love thy misery!
TIMON
Long live so, and so die!
Apemantus throws his hands up and retreats backward, staring at Timon the whole time. Before he disappears from sight, he takes the old photo of he and Timon out of his deep sagging pocket; and spears it on a limb.
Timon sees it impaled there as Apemantus exits.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Timon of Athens Part VIII
In this segment of TIMON OF ATHENS, Timon, now a hermit, has a chance meeting with corporate lawyer Alcibiades, and ends up helping him with his hostile takeover of Athens OS.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- DAY
CG: ONE MONTH LATER
We see a big, sleek sedan humming down the road.
INT. ALCIBIADES' CAR -- MOMENTS LATER
Alcibiades is listening on his cell phone with it cupped between his jaw and shoulder, while scrolling down on a laptop with one hand and holding Timandra's hand with the other. She is bored, looking out the window. PHRYNIA, a sharp, all-business woman with slicked-back hair and a square-cut suit, is behind the wheel.
Suddenly there is a BUMP and the SLAP of rubber. Phrynia keeps control of the vehicle and carefully steers it to the side of the road as Alcibiades and Timandra look on with surprise and some disappointment.
EXT. WOODS -- MOMENTS LATER
We see Alcibiades and Timandra, in varying stages of impatience, watching Phrynia change a tire.
There is a flash of movement in the trees that catches Alcibiades' eye. More movement, a swatch of color; all three note it.
Something scratches at the back of Alcibiades' mind; something familiar. He moves forward, with Timandra and Phrynia falling in behind.
They thread their way through the trees, Alcibiades determined, the others more hesitant.
We see Timon ahead, looking dirty and ragged. He is pulling a large trash bag, has a rusty ax knotted in a rope around his waist, has slung a broken-handled shovel over one stooped shoulder. His t-shirt and boxers are grime-encrusted. He drops to his knees.
TIMON
O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb infect the air! Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots.
We see Timon rooting around in the earth with shovel and blade.
TIMON (CONT'D)
Come, damned earth, thou common whore of mankind, that put'st odds among the route of nations, I will make thee do thy right nature.
Alcibiades tentatively comes into the clearing where Timon crouches.
ALCIBIADES
What art thou there? Speak.
Timon turns away.
TIMON
A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart, for showing me again the eyes of man!
ALCIBIADES
What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee, that art thyself a man?
TIMON
I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind. For thy part, I do wish thou art a dog, that I might love thee something.
Alcibiades looks more closely. Phrynia tries to shield Alcibiades a bit.
ALCIBIADES
I know thee well; but in thy fortunes am unlearned and strange.
TIMON
I know thee too; and more than that I know thee, I not desire to know. Follow thy drum; with man's blood paint the ground.
(points to Phrynia)
This fell whore of thine hath in her more destruction than thy sword, for all her cherubim look.
Phrynia looks on coldly.
PHRYNIA
Thy lips rot off!
TIMON
I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns to thine own lips again.
Alcibiades counsels Phrynia to calm down with a gesture, then turns on Timon, fascinated.
ALCIBIADES
How come the noble Timon to this change?
TIMON
As the moon does, by wanting light to give; but then renew I could not, like the moon. There were no suns to borrow of.
Alcibiades is stunned.
ALCIBIADES
Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?
Timon pretends to think.
TIMON
Promise me friendship, but perform none. If thou wilt promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art a man! If thou dots perform, confound thee, for thou art a man!
ALCIBIADES
I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.
TIMON
Thou saw'st them, when I had prosperity.
ALCIBIADES
I see them now; then was a blessed time.
TIMON
As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.
Timandra looks Timon up and down, then looks at Alcibiades, a light dawning.
TIMANDRA
Is this the Athenian minion, whom the world voiced so regardfully?
TIMON
Art thou Timandra?
TIMANDRA
Yes.
TIMON
Be a whore still; they love thee not that use thee; give them diseases, leaving them with thee their lust.
Timandra looks repulsed.
TIMANDRA
Hang thee, monster!
Alcibiades touches his girlfriend's shoulder.
ALCIBIADES
Pardon him, sweet Timandra; for his wits are drowned and lost in his calamities.
(to Timon)
I have but little gold of late, brave Timon, the want whereof doth daily make revolt in my penurious band. I have heard, and grieved, how cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth, forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbor states, but for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them--
TIMON
I prithee, beat thy drum, and get thee gone.
ALCIBIADES
I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Timon.
TIMON
How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble? I had rather be alone.
Alcibiades looks him over again, then SIGHS. He fishes in an inner pocket and produces a fat wallet.
ALCIBIADES
Why, fare thee well. Here is some gold for thee.
Timon dismisses him.
TIMON
Keep it, I cannot eat it.
Alcibiades shakes his head, looking grim, and puts his wallet away.
ALCIBIADES
When I have laid proud Athens on a heap--
Timon perks up.
TIMON
Warr'st thou against Athens?
ALCIBIADES
(nodding at Timon's state)
Ay, Timon, and have cause.
TIMON
The gods confound them all in thy conquest; and thee after, when thou hast conquered!
ALCIBIADES
Why me, Timon?
TIMON
That, by killing of villains, thou was born to conquer my country.
Timon starts to root around in his dirty trash bag, and surprisingly comes out with two fistfuls of cash.
He starts pushing wads of money at a shocked Alcibiades.
TIMON (CONT'D)
Put up thy gold. Go on--here's gold--go on. Be as a planetary plague, when Jove will over some high-viced city hang his poison in the sick air. Let not thy sword skip one. Pity not honored age for his white beard; he is an usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron; it is her habit only that is honest, herself's a bawd. Let not the virgin's cheek make soft thy trenchant sword; for those milk-paps, that through the window-bars bore at men's eyes, are not within the leaf of pity writ, but set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the babe, whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy; think it a bastard, whom the oracle hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut, and mince it sans remorse. Swear against object, put armor on thine ears and on thine eyes, whose proof, nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes, nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding, shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay soldiers; make large confusion; and, thy fury spent, confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone.
Alcibiades looks surprised, then looks resolved, his eyes cunning.
ALCIBIADES
Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou givest me, not all thy counsel.
Timon grabs out another few handfuls and shoves it at Alcibiades. Timandra looks on with interest.
TIMANDRA
More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.
TIMON
More whore, more mischief first; I have given you earnest.
Alcibiades touches her elbow, and looks at Phrynia.
ALCIBIADES
Strike up the drums towards Athens!
(to Timon)
Farewell, Timon; If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again.
TIMON
If I hope well, I'll never see thee more.
Alcibiades looks distraught.
ALCIBIADES
I never did thee harm.
TIMON
Yes, thy spokest well of me.
ALCIBIADES
Call'st thou that harm?
TIMON
Men daily find it. Get thee away, and take thy beagles with thee.
ALCIBIADES
(to the others)
We but offend him. Strike!
They move away, Timon glaring in their wake.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- MOMENTS LATER
Phrynia pulls the car off of the shoulder and back onto the road.
INT. ALCIBIADES' CAR -- CONTINUOUS
In the roomy back seat, we see Alcibiades musing. He fishes out a PDA, and thumbs through it. Finding what he is looking for, he dials a number on his cell.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- DAY
CG: ONE MONTH LATER
We see a big, sleek sedan humming down the road.
INT. ALCIBIADES' CAR -- MOMENTS LATER
Alcibiades is listening on his cell phone with it cupped between his jaw and shoulder, while scrolling down on a laptop with one hand and holding Timandra's hand with the other. She is bored, looking out the window. PHRYNIA, a sharp, all-business woman with slicked-back hair and a square-cut suit, is behind the wheel.
Suddenly there is a BUMP and the SLAP of rubber. Phrynia keeps control of the vehicle and carefully steers it to the side of the road as Alcibiades and Timandra look on with surprise and some disappointment.
EXT. WOODS -- MOMENTS LATER
We see Alcibiades and Timandra, in varying stages of impatience, watching Phrynia change a tire.
There is a flash of movement in the trees that catches Alcibiades' eye. More movement, a swatch of color; all three note it.
Something scratches at the back of Alcibiades' mind; something familiar. He moves forward, with Timandra and Phrynia falling in behind.
They thread their way through the trees, Alcibiades determined, the others more hesitant.
We see Timon ahead, looking dirty and ragged. He is pulling a large trash bag, has a rusty ax knotted in a rope around his waist, has slung a broken-handled shovel over one stooped shoulder. His t-shirt and boxers are grime-encrusted. He drops to his knees.
TIMON
O blessed breeding sun, draw from the earth rotten humidity; below thy sister's orb infect the air! Destruction fang mankind! Earth, yield me roots.
We see Timon rooting around in the earth with shovel and blade.
TIMON (CONT'D)
Come, damned earth, thou common whore of mankind, that put'st odds among the route of nations, I will make thee do thy right nature.
Alcibiades tentatively comes into the clearing where Timon crouches.
ALCIBIADES
What art thou there? Speak.
Timon turns away.
TIMON
A beast, as thou art. The canker gnaw thy heart, for showing me again the eyes of man!
ALCIBIADES
What is thy name? Is man so hateful to thee, that art thyself a man?
TIMON
I am Misanthropos, and hate mankind. For thy part, I do wish thou art a dog, that I might love thee something.
Alcibiades looks more closely. Phrynia tries to shield Alcibiades a bit.
ALCIBIADES
I know thee well; but in thy fortunes am unlearned and strange.
TIMON
I know thee too; and more than that I know thee, I not desire to know. Follow thy drum; with man's blood paint the ground.
(points to Phrynia)
This fell whore of thine hath in her more destruction than thy sword, for all her cherubim look.
Phrynia looks on coldly.
PHRYNIA
Thy lips rot off!
TIMON
I will not kiss thee; then the rot returns to thine own lips again.
Alcibiades counsels Phrynia to calm down with a gesture, then turns on Timon, fascinated.
ALCIBIADES
How come the noble Timon to this change?
TIMON
As the moon does, by wanting light to give; but then renew I could not, like the moon. There were no suns to borrow of.
Alcibiades is stunned.
ALCIBIADES
Noble Timon, what friendship may I do thee?
Timon pretends to think.
TIMON
Promise me friendship, but perform none. If thou wilt promise, the gods plague thee, for thou art a man! If thou dots perform, confound thee, for thou art a man!
ALCIBIADES
I have heard in some sort of thy miseries.
TIMON
Thou saw'st them, when I had prosperity.
ALCIBIADES
I see them now; then was a blessed time.
TIMON
As thine is now, held with a brace of harlots.
Timandra looks Timon up and down, then looks at Alcibiades, a light dawning.
TIMANDRA
Is this the Athenian minion, whom the world voiced so regardfully?
TIMON
Art thou Timandra?
TIMANDRA
Yes.
TIMON
Be a whore still; they love thee not that use thee; give them diseases, leaving them with thee their lust.
Timandra looks repulsed.
TIMANDRA
Hang thee, monster!
Alcibiades touches his girlfriend's shoulder.
ALCIBIADES
Pardon him, sweet Timandra; for his wits are drowned and lost in his calamities.
(to Timon)
I have but little gold of late, brave Timon, the want whereof doth daily make revolt in my penurious band. I have heard, and grieved, how cursed Athens, mindless of thy worth, forgetting thy great deeds, when neighbor states, but for thy sword and fortune, trod upon them--
TIMON
I prithee, beat thy drum, and get thee gone.
ALCIBIADES
I am thy friend, and pity thee, dear Timon.
TIMON
How dost thou pity him whom thou dost trouble? I had rather be alone.
Alcibiades looks him over again, then SIGHS. He fishes in an inner pocket and produces a fat wallet.
ALCIBIADES
Why, fare thee well. Here is some gold for thee.
Timon dismisses him.
TIMON
Keep it, I cannot eat it.
Alcibiades shakes his head, looking grim, and puts his wallet away.
ALCIBIADES
When I have laid proud Athens on a heap--
Timon perks up.
TIMON
Warr'st thou against Athens?
ALCIBIADES
(nodding at Timon's state)
Ay, Timon, and have cause.
TIMON
The gods confound them all in thy conquest; and thee after, when thou hast conquered!
ALCIBIADES
Why me, Timon?
TIMON
That, by killing of villains, thou was born to conquer my country.
Timon starts to root around in his dirty trash bag, and surprisingly comes out with two fistfuls of cash.
He starts pushing wads of money at a shocked Alcibiades.
TIMON (CONT'D)
Put up thy gold. Go on--here's gold--go on. Be as a planetary plague, when Jove will over some high-viced city hang his poison in the sick air. Let not thy sword skip one. Pity not honored age for his white beard; he is an usurer. Strike me the counterfeit matron; it is her habit only that is honest, herself's a bawd. Let not the virgin's cheek make soft thy trenchant sword; for those milk-paps, that through the window-bars bore at men's eyes, are not within the leaf of pity writ, but set them down horrible traitors. Spare not the babe, whose dimpled smiles from fools exhaust their mercy; think it a bastard, whom the oracle hath doubtfully pronounced thy throat shall cut, and mince it sans remorse. Swear against object, put armor on thine ears and on thine eyes, whose proof, nor yells of mothers, maids, nor babes, nor sight of priests in holy vestments bleeding, shall pierce a jot. There's gold to pay soldiers; make large confusion; and, thy fury spent, confounded be thyself! Speak not, be gone.
Alcibiades looks surprised, then looks resolved, his eyes cunning.
ALCIBIADES
Hast thou gold yet? I'll take the gold thou givest me, not all thy counsel.
Timon grabs out another few handfuls and shoves it at Alcibiades. Timandra looks on with interest.
TIMANDRA
More counsel with more money, bounteous Timon.
TIMON
More whore, more mischief first; I have given you earnest.
Alcibiades touches her elbow, and looks at Phrynia.
ALCIBIADES
Strike up the drums towards Athens!
(to Timon)
Farewell, Timon; If I thrive well, I'll visit thee again.
TIMON
If I hope well, I'll never see thee more.
Alcibiades looks distraught.
ALCIBIADES
I never did thee harm.
TIMON
Yes, thy spokest well of me.
ALCIBIADES
Call'st thou that harm?
TIMON
Men daily find it. Get thee away, and take thy beagles with thee.
ALCIBIADES
(to the others)
We but offend him. Strike!
They move away, Timon glaring in their wake.
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- MOMENTS LATER
Phrynia pulls the car off of the shoulder and back onto the road.
INT. ALCIBIADES' CAR -- CONTINUOUS
In the roomy back seat, we see Alcibiades musing. He fishes out a PDA, and thumbs through it. Finding what he is looking for, he dials a number on his cell.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Timon of Athens Part VII
The dotcom bubble bursts in this installment of TIMON OF ATHENS. It was actually very common for the actor playing Timon to strip to his skivvies, as depicted here, during his return to nature.
EXT. STREETS -- LATER
We see Timon's sportscar tearing through the streets.
INT. TIMON'S CAR -- CONTINUOUS
He tilts the rearview mirror so that he can see the skyline retreating behind him.
TIMON
Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall, that girdlest in those wolves, dire of the earth, and fence not Athens!
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- LATER
Timon is leaving the city behind. Gradually we see his car slow, then pull over to the shoulder and stop.
Timon gets out, dejected, loosening his tie. He flings it off into the bush.
He hits the unlock button on his keys, and his trunk springs open.
From his POV, we see changes of clothes, his laptop, a tennis racquet, all the detritus of a full high-powered life.
He starts stripping down and throwing his dress clothes into the trunk, eventually leaving a t-shirt and boxers.
TIMON
Plagues, incident to men, your potent and infectious fevers heap on Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica, cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt as lamely as their manners. Lust and liberty creep in the minds and marrows of our youth, that 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive, and drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains, sow all the Athenian bosoms; and their crop be general leprosy! Breath infect breath, at their society, as their friendship, may merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee, but nakedness, thou detestable town! Take thou that too, with multiplying bans! Timon will to the woods; where he shall find the unkindest beast more kinder than mankind. The gods confound--hear me, you good gods all--the Athenians both within and out that wall! And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow to the whole race of mankind, high and low!
(beat, bitterly)
Amen.
We see Timon striding away, into a red sunset.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (ANTEROOM) -- DAY
We SMASH CUT to a full-screen CG with a techno news backbeat under it. The screen reads: CEO FIRED, MISSING and features a photo of Timon. Then the image WIPES to a photo of Alcibiades, looking serious, and the CG: HOSTILE TAKEOVER?
The graphic pushes into a box over the shoulder of Philotus, who is getting ready to give a report.
But the screen goes to BLACK, abruptly.
We CUT WIDE and see that Flavia has unplugged the little TV on her desk. She is packing up her stuff in a cardboard box.
Servilius and Flaminius poke their heads in. Each of them is carrying a load of their junk.
SERVILIUS
Hear you, master steward, where's our master? Are we undone? Cast off? Nothing remaining?
FLAVIA
Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you? Let me be recorded by the righteous gods, I am as poor as you.
SERVILIUS
Such a house broke!
Flavia grabs her box and joins them.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (HALLWAY) -- CONTINUOUS
Flavia, Servilius, and Flaminius walk down a desolate hall. Some files have spilled out into the hall, and many monitors are dark.
FLAMINIUS
All broken implements of a ruined house.
SERVILIUS
Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery, that I see by our faces. We are fellows still, serving alike in sorrow. Leak'd is our bark, and we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck.
Flavia stops.
FLAVIA
Good fellows all, the latest of my wealth I'll share among you. Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sake, let's yet be fellows. Let's shake our heads, and say, as 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes, 'We have seen better days.'
Flavia roots in her purse. The others protest.
FLAVIA (CONT'D)
Let each take some. Nay, put our your hands. Not one word more; thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.
She gives them both a few bills. They clasp hands, embrace, part ways.
EXT. TIMON'S OFFICE BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS
Flavia exits the building and puts her belongings in the little basket. She starts to unlock her bike, and looks back up at the building.
FLAVIA
O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us! Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt, since riches point to misery and contempt? Who would be so mocked in glory? Or to live in but a dream of friendship? To have his pomp and all what state compounds but only painted, like his varnished friends? Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart, undone by goodness. Strange, unusual blood, when man's worst sin is, he does too much good! Who, then, dares to be half so kind again? For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men. My dearest lord, blessed, to be most accursed, rich, only to be wretched, thy great fortunes are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord! He's flung in rage from this ungrateful seat of monstrous friends, nor has he with him to supply his life, or that which can command it. I'll follow and inquire him out. I'll ever serve his mind with my best will; whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still.
Resolved, Flavia cycles away.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
EXT. STREETS -- LATER
We see Timon's sportscar tearing through the streets.
INT. TIMON'S CAR -- CONTINUOUS
He tilts the rearview mirror so that he can see the skyline retreating behind him.
TIMON
Let me look back upon thee. O thou wall, that girdlest in those wolves, dire of the earth, and fence not Athens!
EXT. COUNTRY ROADS -- LATER
Timon is leaving the city behind. Gradually we see his car slow, then pull over to the shoulder and stop.
Timon gets out, dejected, loosening his tie. He flings it off into the bush.
He hits the unlock button on his keys, and his trunk springs open.
From his POV, we see changes of clothes, his laptop, a tennis racquet, all the detritus of a full high-powered life.
He starts stripping down and throwing his dress clothes into the trunk, eventually leaving a t-shirt and boxers.
TIMON
Plagues, incident to men, your potent and infectious fevers heap on Athens, ripe for stroke! Thou cold sciatica, cripple our senators, that their limbs may halt as lamely as their manners. Lust and liberty creep in the minds and marrows of our youth, that 'gainst the stream of virtue they may strive, and drown themselves in riot! Itches, blains, sow all the Athenian bosoms; and their crop be general leprosy! Breath infect breath, at their society, as their friendship, may merely poison! Nothing I'll bear from thee, but nakedness, thou detestable town! Take thou that too, with multiplying bans! Timon will to the woods; where he shall find the unkindest beast more kinder than mankind. The gods confound--hear me, you good gods all--the Athenians both within and out that wall! And grant, as Timon grows, his hate may grow to the whole race of mankind, high and low!
(beat, bitterly)
Amen.
We see Timon striding away, into a red sunset.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (ANTEROOM) -- DAY
We SMASH CUT to a full-screen CG with a techno news backbeat under it. The screen reads: CEO FIRED, MISSING and features a photo of Timon. Then the image WIPES to a photo of Alcibiades, looking serious, and the CG: HOSTILE TAKEOVER?
The graphic pushes into a box over the shoulder of Philotus, who is getting ready to give a report.
But the screen goes to BLACK, abruptly.
We CUT WIDE and see that Flavia has unplugged the little TV on her desk. She is packing up her stuff in a cardboard box.
Servilius and Flaminius poke their heads in. Each of them is carrying a load of their junk.
SERVILIUS
Hear you, master steward, where's our master? Are we undone? Cast off? Nothing remaining?
FLAVIA
Alack, my fellows, what should I say to you? Let me be recorded by the righteous gods, I am as poor as you.
SERVILIUS
Such a house broke!
Flavia grabs her box and joins them.
INT. TIMON'S OFFICE (HALLWAY) -- CONTINUOUS
Flavia, Servilius, and Flaminius walk down a desolate hall. Some files have spilled out into the hall, and many monitors are dark.
FLAMINIUS
All broken implements of a ruined house.
SERVILIUS
Yet do our hearts wear Timon's livery, that I see by our faces. We are fellows still, serving alike in sorrow. Leak'd is our bark, and we, poor mates, stand on the dying deck.
Flavia stops.
FLAVIA
Good fellows all, the latest of my wealth I'll share among you. Wherever we shall meet, for Timon's sake, let's yet be fellows. Let's shake our heads, and say, as 'twere a knell unto our master's fortunes, 'We have seen better days.'
Flavia roots in her purse. The others protest.
FLAVIA (CONT'D)
Let each take some. Nay, put our your hands. Not one word more; thus part we rich in sorrow, parting poor.
She gives them both a few bills. They clasp hands, embrace, part ways.
EXT. TIMON'S OFFICE BUILDING -- CONTINUOUS
Flavia exits the building and puts her belongings in the little basket. She starts to unlock her bike, and looks back up at the building.
FLAVIA
O, the fierce wretchedness that glory brings us! Who would not wish to be from wealth exempt, since riches point to misery and contempt? Who would be so mocked in glory? Or to live in but a dream of friendship? To have his pomp and all what state compounds but only painted, like his varnished friends? Poor honest lord, brought low by his own heart, undone by goodness. Strange, unusual blood, when man's worst sin is, he does too much good! Who, then, dares to be half so kind again? For bounty, that makes gods, does still mar men. My dearest lord, blessed, to be most accursed, rich, only to be wretched, thy great fortunes are made thy chief afflictions. Alas, kind lord! He's flung in rage from this ungrateful seat of monstrous friends, nor has he with him to supply his life, or that which can command it. I'll follow and inquire him out. I'll ever serve his mind with my best will; whilst I have gold, I'll be his steward still.
Resolved, Flavia cycles away.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
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