White Noise | screenplay intro

WHITE NOISE Screenplay intro

In the White Noise there's no room for misunderstandings.

INT.: NASA KENNEDY SPACE CENTER – DAY A group of scientists are working on VOYAGER I and its golden disk. We get glimpses of the recorded pictures and hear “Hello, how are you?” in different languages. In superimpose: NASA KENNEDY SPACE CENTER – 1977.

THELMA’S VOICE Mum told me that long before I was born a group of scientists recorded different messages on a golden disk and sent it to space. When I asked her why she said that in those days, even scientists believed there had to be some intelligence in the universe. -- But as I tell you, that was long long ago.

FADE OUT. Over the black we hear mixed sounds of the golden disk overlapping each other. Then a sonar starts beeping rhythmically.

CUT TO: EXT: DESERT IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA – DAWN In the distance three radio telescopes turn slowly following a signal. In superimpose: AUSTRALIA – JUNE 2013.

A dangerous snake slides on the rocky ground near us.

THELMA’S VOICE I, like my brother, don’t believe in what’sitsname… coincidence. But everything started with that stupid message we finally got from space, remember? the same year I was born…

A strong electric ray paralyses the snake. A NATIVE wearing traditional garments puts the electro-generator in a pocket, picks up the snake with a stick and drops it in a sack. The snake wakes up shaking the sack violently. The NATIVE takes it away whistling as the sonar’s beep accelerates: the radio telescopes have found a signal.

INT.: OBSERVATORY IN AUSTRALIA – SAME MOMENT A monitor displays a coloured spectrum following the beep’s variation. Two STAFF carrying guns, gloves and headgears play a virtual reality game. They shoot at invisible creatures and dodge bullets excited. STAFF III watches a rugby match on a high-fi TV. Removing his headgear

Hang off!

STAFF I on! Stop,

knock

it

STAFF I fires at # II to call his attention, “killing” him.

Removing his headgear upset: STAFF II Hey!! You idiot! What the f--?!

STAFF I Shut it! -- I’m telling you to kill that telly, mate, for Christ’s sakes!

STAFF III turns down the volume of the TV reluctantly, they listen. The beep sounds clearly now, they gape at each other and dropping the headgears, remove the sensors attached to their bodies nervously. STAFF III reaches the monitor first.

STAFF I Amplify that!

STAFF III turns some switches: static over the speakers… then a white noise bursts out so loud that the three STAFF have to cover their ears. STAFF III turns down the amplifier. STAFF II runs to two Mini-disc recorders: both discs are full.

STAFF II Fuck!!

STAFF II replaces the mini-discs as fast as he can and starts recording the noisy message.

STAFF I reads the computer’s printout illustrating the messy sound waves. Raising his eyes: STAFF I This is it, lads! It’s alien, absolutely alien.

Nothing from this world, I tell you!!

STAFF III Fuck me, Gary!

I ultraclose to report this alba, mate!

was sick

STAFF II opens three cans of beer and passes them. STAFF I runs to a videophone sipping his beer. Into the encoder: STAFF I Long distance. Luck and Torment’s Enterprises, quick!!

(A beep) THELMA’S VOICE Yeah, I guess you don’t care about the year I was born…

STAFF II Hey, anybody brought the pills for the alcohol detector?

LUCK’s face appears on the monitor of the videophone, annoyed by the interruption. STAFF I hides the beer at his back and gets ready to deliver the news.

EXT.: NIAGARA FALLS – DAY A balloon hovers over the falls. RONALD and MARTIA are THELMA’s parents. They look like futuristic hippies: shabby long hair, colourful torn garments with strange lights flashing on and off signalling “Universal peace” and “Techno-pot”. They get “high” by rubbing their naked arms with some kind of black soap. The substance is quite strong. ALEX is only a baby in his mother’s arms, all dressed in white and wearing a small hardhat.

THELMA’S VOICE Let me guess… Oh, you wanna hear about my Big Brother Alex, right. That’s him the day my parents decided he had to be introduced into the grace of God. RONALD ties his ankles with a bungey as MARTIA turns on a candle in front of a strange statue: a tacky mix of a laughing Jesus with Buddha’s naked belly. To baby ALEX in her arms:

MARTIA Ready to wake up your conscience to spiritual life, my matey? (to RONALD) You think the aqua will be too cold down there, luv?

RONALD Sure not, he’ll be sweating like a horse.

RONALD fixes baby ALEX to his harness and stands on the basket’s edge ready to jump. MARTIA makes sure that the balloon will stay in place. RONALD kisses his wife, sucks a finger and draws a cross on ALEX’s forehead. The baby looks frantic.

THELMA’S VOICE Who could’ve said that that pathetic creature would end up being a symbol of liberty and rebellion against the System for millions of people?

RONALD jumps screaming Yaaaaaahhhhh!! MARTIA peers down excited. Baby ALEX and RONALD are free falling into the lake where the falls converge. Upside-down, baby ALEX looks around with desperation as his father screams excited.

RONALD In the name of all fathers, and sons, and all our ancestors deep in the bowels of the earth, I name you: ALEX THORNTON!!!!

RONALD takes a deep breath and presses ALEX’s tiny nose with his hand. They sink into the water for a while. The bungey stops enlarging and pushes them back out.

RONALD Yiuhuuuuuuuu!!

THELMA’S VOICE I don’t know if that woke my brother’s conscience to spiritual life, but I tell you this: that’s how he made his two worst enemies: heights… and water.

The image starts distorting. THELMA is growing touched.

THELMA’S VOICE Oh I… each time I think of how my brother-- I CUT TO: EXT.: SPACE STATION “LIFT TO HEAVEN” – OUTER SPACE A flashforward: A magnificent explosion in Zero G. It’s the Lift to Heaven blowing up in million pieces in silence.

THELMA’S VOICE I’m sorry-- I can’t-The voice stops short. The image is nothing but noise now.

CUT TO: INT.: INTERROGATION ROOM - CENTRAL BARRACKS –DAY THELMA finishes removing a heavy helmet full of cables from her head. She’s 17, self-confident, attractive though not pretty. She’s lying on a metallic chair with her back almost parallel to the floor. She draws a breath trying to sit down straight, but she can’t. There’s a modern desk in front of her. A big female OFFICER is seated behind it trying to enhance the blurred picture on a monitor: the last image of ALEX’s baptism. We read a timecode and “MEMOCELL: BX134-4H / SUBJECT: THELMA THORNTON” OFFICER You Ok, Thelma?

THELMA Yeah, thanks, Officer.

OFFICER I know it’s difficult for you to-- more coffee?

THELMA No-- I-- Well...

OFFICER (cont’d) It ain’t easy to lose a brother like that, specially-- There, drink it all, come on…

THELMA Thanks officer…

OFFICER And call me Debbie, we’re all friends here. Relax, we surely can take a minute off…

The OFFICER takes a syringe containing a blackish substance form a box and injects herself in an arm. THELMA sips more coffee. OFFICER breathes relieved. Offering her one, friendly: OFFICER Nicotine cocktail, hon?

THELMA No, I need to take one of these…

THELMA takes a flask of pills from a pocket. OFFICER grabs it quickly from her hand.

OFFICER What’s this?!

THELMA Almidemia C. -- It says there on the flask that it stimulates paranormal perception. -- The scanner downstairs let it pass…

OFFICER (giving the flask back, patronising) Sure, here you are, hon.

THELMA takes a pill looking around the room with difficulty: a modern digital camera and complex sound equipment are recording the interview. THELMA swallows the pill with her coffee as the OFFICER rewinds the images on her monitor: more of THELMA’s memories. THELMA stares at the camera recording her. After a while: THELMA Something’s wrong here…

OFFICER What? What is it, hon?

THELMA bends over with difficulty trying stripes attaching her shoes to the chair:

to

untie

THELMA I never talk this much. I don’t like talking so much, maybe I should call a law-OFFICER Wo, wo, hon, come on baby, what are you talking about? (adjusting the stripes back pressing a button) This is completely off-therecord, we’re on the same side here, just trying to find out who killed your brother-THELMA Well I don’t know who the fuck killed my brother, so what? You want me to lie?

OFFICER Thelma…

THELMA (cont’d) How could you find that information in my fucking head!

OFFICER Watch your language, girl, do I need to remind you where you are?

THELMA -- You’re doping me… What the f--?!

OFFICER Language, Thornton.

THELMA It’s the coffee, ain’t it?!

OFFICER can’t help glancing at the plastic cup of coffee resting on the chair’s arm.

the

THELMA (cont’d) -- You son-of-a-bitch, I knew you were fucking up my brain with something--!!

OFFICER pauses all the recorders quickly and grabs THELMA’s hands knocking the cup of coffee. THELMA gapes at the woman. Totally transformed: OFFICER Now you little piece of shit, you’d better get this straight.

You’re brother was a member of the World Without End Organization, we know that. And we’ve got plenty on you too, so you’re not in a very happy position yourself.

You’d better co-operate with us or I assure you, we WILL fuck up your brains in such a way that you won’t even remember how to wipe your own fucking ass. You got that right?!

(THELMA nods glaring at her) Now put the helmet back on.

We want to know the story from the moment your brother joined Luck and Torment’s as Chief computing engineer. Cut the bullshit and watch your mouth, you little brat, or you’ll be sorry.

OFFICER releases the PAUSE button and all the machines continue recording. OFFICER fixes her uniform, sits more comfortable in her chair and resting both hands on the desk, smiles at THELMA as if nothing’s happened. Biting her tongue THELMA puts the wired helmet back on.