PUNCTURED SKIN

Written by
Jason Kock

In memory of
Gram Parsons
(1946 - 1973)

39 Canterbury square
Vogelgezang street
Zonnebloem
7925
kock.jason@gmail.com
+(27) 83 426 2042

INT. LOUNGE - DAY

FADE IN.
GRAHAMS lounge.
RICHARD KAUFMAN (or DICK, as hes more commonly known) is
sitting on the couch, tripping balls in a tight close up,
staring out into the distance high as fuck. He turns to his
left, a giant goofy smile breaking out on his face. Starting
to giggle, he puts his hands out of frame and around the neck
of GRAHAM PARSONS. They laugh and trip out together, Richard
pulls Graham toward him, their foreheads touching.
In the background we can hear the strumming of an acoustic
guitar.
We pan over and see NATASHA(TASH) ROBINSON, the owner of the
guitar, surrounded by needles and whisky bottles.
Tasha is singing some sort of folk bluesy song, mournful and
sad.
Dick prepares another needle for himself, picking up a small
bag of morphine or heroine, slowly and methodically, while
Graham watches.
Dick is speaking but no ones really listening.
DICK
Another thing that really grates my
skin you know, are all these
social... constructs, yeah
constructs, thats the word, these
social constructs that we just
force on ourselves.
Tasha pauses her guitar for a second.
DICK (CONTD)
And its obvious. Everyones on
autopilot. Everyone. No one ever
says how they really feel. Everyone
pretends they have the answers.
DICK (CONTD)
Were just a random collection of
self-interest, parading around as
if we even have empathy. And all
these preconcieved notions dont
serve us in the slightest.
DICK (CONTD)
Fucking hell like... like sarcasm
even. Why? Why?
(MORE)

2.

DICK (CONTD)
Why dont we ever just say Im
scared of the truth. Im scared
of being real. and then I could
say I know youre afraid... and
its okay.
(beat)
Death is the only real truth
anymore
Graham takes a swig of vodka from a small bottle he always
carries and for the first time we see his entire body in
shot.
GRAHAM
Who said that?
DICK
Cant remember.
TASHA
(seemingly annoyed)
Shh. Ssshhhhhhh.
Tasha stops her playing and comes over to Dick for a hit.
TASHA (CONTD)
(sincere)
Dick. Youre a genius.
Graham picks up a syringe in the background, removes the
needle with purpose from the nozzle and stands up.
GRAHAM
I have a date with destiny. Im
going upstairs. Dont wait up.
Richard is confused.
DICK
Huh? What the fuck are you talking
about?
Tasha largely ignores this.
GRAHAM
(deadpan)
Im... going to the toilet, Ill
see you guys soon.
Graham exits. Dick turns to Tasha
DICK
Why does he keep going up there?
Tasha looks at him for a beat.
TASHA
You dont know?

3.

Dick shakes his head. Tasha goes back to preparing her

syringe.
.
TASHA (CONTD)
He doesnt use needles. Claims he
doesnt want a
(air quotes)
Needle fixation
Dick looks confused.
DICK
Wait, so how does he take it?
Tasha fixes Dick with a blank look.
Dick looks at her confused for a second.
Tasha gives him another blank look, Then it clicks.
He looks surprised.
TASHA
Yeah.
DICK
Thats got to be uncomfortable.
TASHA
Its not so bad.
Dick looks at Tasha with a quizzical look.
DICK
So youve done that before?
TASHA
Sure. Not with a syringe though.
and not with any
(air quotes)
Illegal substances
DICK
With what then?
Tasha gives Dick a Come on look. Dick clearly isnt
catching on.
Suddenly he realizes what shes saying with another shocked
look on his face. But this time he smirks a little creepy
smirk.
DICK (CONTD)
Did it hurt?
Tasha thinks for a while.

4.

TASHA
At first, but after that it felt
pretty good.
Dick is deep in thought. As Tasha finishes preparing her
needle and injecting it.
DICK
Did he wear a condom?
TASHA
(incredulous)
Of course.
A long silence passes. Upstairs, we can clearly hear the
sound of the bathroom door opening and closing.
Graham comes back into the frame.
GRAHAM
Guys, we should do something, I
just cant sit here much longer.
Tasha sits up.
TASHA
What do you have in mind?
GRAHAM
I dont know, lets just take a
drive. Somewhere nice.
(looking out window)
The sun is about to set.
DICK
I can drive.
CUT TO:
EXT. SIGNAL HILL - DAY (MAGIC HOUR)
Magic hour on signal hill, Our three misfits sit on the
bonnet of Richards station wagon, Tasha with her guitar,
strumming out random notes, mumble singing random phrases.
The radio in the car is playing songs from a bootleg tape, at
the moment its Ballad of easy rider by the Byrds. The
entire song will play in its entirety.
Graham is smoking a cigarette, taking a swig from the small
vodka bottle he always carries.
DICK
Graham, you, when you... how do put
this, when you
(gestures)
yknow?

5.

Graham catches on.

GRAHAM
Why do I prefer plugging?
Graham chuckles and thinks for a while.
GRAHAM (CONTD)
I dont want to puncture my skin...
no offense
DICK
None taken.
GRAHAM
Your skin is the only thing you
have that you have to take care of
for the rest of your life. You
dont get another one. You cant
transplant one and its very
delicate, brittle almost... If
theres one rule I live by, its
dont puncture your skin...
(beat)
It seems sacrilegious almost.
DICK
Damn.
GRAHAM
Yeah... Thats why I dont have any
tattoos or piercings.
Tasha only looks at this curious and comical interchange.
GRAHAM (CONTD)
(mumbles)
Babies. Dont puncture your skin...
DICK
Huh?
GRAHAM
Nothing.
Something is clearly on Grahams mind.
GRAHAM (CONTD)
My uncle died last week.
They sit for a long silence. No one responds.
GRAHAM (CONTD)
You guys ever think about your
funerals?
DICK
No. Never.

6.

Tasha shakes her head.

GRAHAM
I think I wanna be cremated.
DICK
Yeah?
GRAHAM
Yeah. I just cant be in some box
for the rest of my life. All
eternity spent in some wooden box?
Thats a long fuckin time.
TASHA
Im not gonna die, maybe death is
just a social construct too.
(looks at dick)
But If I did, Id want Mr.
Tambourine man playing with a full
21 gun salute.
Beat.
DICK
Id want to be thrown in a volcano.
Graham chuckles.
TASHA
What, your ashes?
DICK
No that defeats the purpose. My
whole body. The volcano turns me to
ash. Thats the point.
Graham chuckles, takes another sip and another drag and
stands up.
GRAHAM
I want my ashes thrown right here,
at magic hour. I want to spend
forever here, with the sunset.
Tasha smiles.
GRAHAM (CONTD)
Guys, promise me one thing. If I
ever die, scatter me on this
hill...
Dick smiles.
GRAHAM (CONTD)
Promise me? Okay.

7.

TASHA
Yes. I swear.
DICK
Sure thing.
Long contemplative silence.
The tape skips forward and Tiny Dancer by Elton John begins
playing. (This plays forward into the next scene)
DICK (CONTD)
Okay.
GRAHAM
Ive got to go. Meet up with my
folks.
Tasha and Richard climb off the bonnets, opening Richards car
doors.
TASHA
Good luck with that.
GRAHAM
Ill see you guys afterward though,
later tonight?
TASHA
Sure, well come by your place.
FADE TO:
INT. LOUNGE - NIGHT
Tasha is on the other side of the door, hammering away.
TASHA
Yo Graham, Open the fucking door!
She knocks again. Graham steps forward, walking heavily. He
opens the door.
He looks at the two of them standing on the threshold, his
eyes, puffy and red, filled with tears and sadness.
Tasha and Dicks flashing a look of concern.
GRAHAM
Hey guys.
Graham lurches, he steps back and suddenly falls to the
floor.
Dick and Tasha rush forward.
Tasha cradles his lifeless head in her hands.

8.

TASHA
Graham! Graham! hey! Hey!
Dick runs his hands through his hair in the background. Tasha
slaps his face lightly but theres no response.
She turns to Dick, distraught.
EXT. GRAVEYARD - DAY
A huddled mass of black outfits. a coffin is standing in the
middle of the group, a priest residing over it.
Dick and Tasha show up, Dick in a shabby suit, rundown but at
least hes putting an effort in. Tasha in a LBD, looking a
hot mess.
They walk toward the funeral procession when Grahams father
spots them, a look of fury in his eyes, he runs toward them.
GRAHAMS FATHER
You fucking cunts!
TASHA
We wanted to pay our respects.
The father reaches Dick, grabs him by the lapels and punches
him in the face.
TASHA (CONTD)
Jesus Christ! Stop!
GRAHAMS FATHER
Get out. Dont even think about so
much as fucking visiting this
grave.
He pauses. Looks back at the coffin, hes on the verge of
tears.
GRAHAMS FATHER (CONTD)
You murdered my boy.
We hold on a reaction shot of Tash And Dick, the fear is
apparent on their faces.
Hold for a beat before we:
SMASH CUT TO:
EXT. GRAVEYARD - NIGHT
Its dark now, and we see Tashas car pull up, near Grahams
tombstone.

9.

INT. CAR - NIGHT

Richard takes a swig of vodka from a small vodka bottle, the
kind Graham used to carry.
TASHA
You ready?
Dick doesnt answer, his mind is buzzing.
TASHA (CONTD)
Dick, we promDICK
Im ready. Are you?
Dick offers Tasha the bottle. She takes a generous swig and a
deep breath.
Tash starts to nod.
TASHA
Lets do this.
She yanks open the door as we cut to:
EXT. GRAVEYARD - NIGHT
Richard and Tasha climbing out of the station wagon, they go
to the back and opening the boot we see a big 5 litre jug and
two shovels. They take the two shovels out and walk to the
tombstone.
CUT TO:
INT. GRAVEYARD.TOMBSTONE - NIGHT
Digging, the two just keep digging, a resolute look on their
faces.
They keep digging for what seems like ages, the only thing we
hear being the sound of the shovels hitting ground and the
faint murmuring of the bluesy soundtrack in the background.
Suddenly a loud CLUNK.
TASHA
(beat)
Got it.
EXT. SIGNAL HILL - NIGHT
The road up to signal hill, the two drive, the coffin sitting
inconspicuously in the back of the station wagon.

10.

They arrive at a nice spot, Richard climbs out of the car, he

surveys the area. Tasha climbs out, guitar in hand, she
perches it on the bonnet for later.
They both go to the back, and take the coffin out of the
station wagons boot. They walk it over to a blank spot.
They set it down and craft a makeshift shrine, the coffin
perched on some rocks, on top of the coffin lies a folded
photo of the three of them, some trinkets, a necklace, a
handwritten letter, a watch. Richard goes to the car and
comes back with all the morphine and some small bottles of
vodka... and the petrol can. He and Tasha look to each other,
a sad look in their eyes.
They put all the remaining morphine pills on the casket, a
look of hesitation on their faces, each take a sip of the
vodka, pour out the rest and lay the bottle on top. Then they
proceed to completely douse the coffin in as much petrol as
they can. Once the can is finished, they pull out a box of
marlboro reds and take two out, one for each of them. They
put the box on top of the coffin, take a couple steps back
and light their respective cigarettes.
They stand for a while, smoking.
DICK
Should we say something? Im not
sure how this works.
Beat.
TASHA
No... Words are stupid Sometimes.
Tears begin to form in Tashas eyes, she inhales desperately,
gulping for air. She sniffles, Dick puts his arm around her
shoulder. They fling their lit cigarettes onto the coffin and
it erupts in flame, the two of them recoil a little and then
stand straight again.
They stand in front of the fire, remembering their friend.
Tasha slowly begins strumming her guitar, trying to get words
or a song or something out of her system, but she cant. She
simply sets down the guitar and stops.
FADE TO:
EXT. SIGNAL HILL - DAWN
The sun is rising on their little shrine, Tasha and Dick both
sitting on the bonnet of the station wagon, basically
smouldering as the sun rises. It looks beautiful, not quite
magic hour, but still good enough.

11.

Suddenly police lights flash behind them, the sirens sounding

loudly.
Dick sits up.
DICK
Dammit.
EXT. SIGNAL HILL
Dick, in handcuffs is pushed against the car forcefully, the
door is opened and he is forced in. Tasha too, is forced in
from the other side of the car. Sitting next to each other
they smile and look out the window at the ashes and embers of
their friend, smoke rising slowly from the charred remains.
In the reflection of the car we can see the remnants of the
fire, still burning, smoke rising, the sunrise acting as a
backdrop.
FADE OUT.