MINDSTREAM

written by
Derik West
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FADE IN:
INT. WHITE ROOM
A massive white room fills the frame. Absolutely no color. No
form. no walls. Looks like Infinite Nothingness...
V.O
Welcome to the mindstream.
A man late 20s walks in front of the camera from off screen
with a "how the fuck did I get here" kind of look on his
face. We see he is wearing PJs. Clean cut. No style. Like a
blank canvas...
WRITER
What is this place?
V.O
Excellent question.
The Writer's head is on a swivel. Looking around for
something to look at...
V.O
This space. Think of it as a
playground for your imagination. A
blank canvas if you will as vast
and infinite as space itself. Empty
as this page was one hundred and
twenty one words ago...
WRITER
Wait. how did you...who are you?
V.O
(sigh) who I am is
irrelevant. But if I must
be personified...
A person appears out of thin air. Sharp dressed. Looks
identical to Writer. If writer were to hire a stylist that
is.
LOGOS
You may call me Logos.
Writer walks towards Logos...
WRITER
Logos? You look... like me?
2.
LOGOS
Indeed. Does this appearance not
satisfy you?
Writer touches Logos as if to confirm that Logos is actually
real..
WRITER
(smile with a chuckle)
No no. All good. A bit weird but
it's whatever. so...
Writers eyes scan the infinite emptiness...
WRITER
...this place. is like a dream
world?
LOGOS
Precisely. Here in this space you
can do whatever you want. Have
anything you want. Be whoever you
want. All you got to do is..
WRITER
Use my imagination right?
LOGOS
Exactly. Go ahead. Give it a try.
Don't be shy.
WRITER
Ok imagination. Let's do this. I
can have anything I want. What do I
want?
We close in on Writer squeezing his eyelids tight and --
POOF -- a tan leather recliner chair appears.
LOGOS
Interesting....
Logos rubs his chin as if pondering something.
WRITER
I did it!
Writer begins to celebrate like he just won the lottery or
something.
WRITER
It actually worked.
3.
The Writer proceeds to leap into the chair. It's time to get
comfy sit down and figure out what to materialize next.
BUT the illusion shatters. The chair can not hold any weight.
It explodes into dust the second the writer touches it.
The Writers gluteus maximus hits the ground with a thud.
WRITER
What the..
LOGOS
Tell me. When you closed your eyes
Did you think of a chair? Or what a
chair looks like?
The writer stands back up brushing off dust.
WRITER
I guess I just thought of what the
chair looks like....
LOGOS
Ahh you produced a figment.
WRITER
A What?
LOGOS
A figment. An optical illusion. But
no matter. No matter. This was
expected. No one ever produces a
proper thought form on their first
try.
Writers enthusiasm is suddenly replaced with a look of
thinking "this was harder then I expected"
LOGOS
Again. Make the figment appear.
just like before.
The writer closes his eyes and another chair appears.
LOGOS
Excellent. The rate of
materialization is impressive. Try
to Make another figment appear.
When the writer attempts to make another chair appear the
previous one disappears.
LOGOS
Thought so.
4.
WRITER
Hold on. let me try that again...
Same thing happens. When The chair materializes in a
different spot...the previous one vanishes.
WRITER
What's going on here?
LOGOS
Try to materialize several figments
at once
WRITER
Ok. A bunch of chairs....got it.
Writer squeezes his eyelids tight and --
WOOSH A bunch of chairs appear scattered about in no
particular fashion.
LOGOS
It appears you can only produce and
sustain a single materialization.
WRITER
Is that bad?
LOGOS
Nope. Don't fret. It takes practice
to produce a thought form out of
figments. Lots and lots of
practice.

WRITER
...this is definitely not as easy I
thought it would be.
LOGOS
Indeed. But If it were easy...that
would defeat the purpose of this
mindstream. would it not?
WRITER
True that.
The Writer looks around at all the chairs, curious as to why
he can't sit down in one...
WRITER
So these chairs they are...not
real?
5.
LOGOS
You misunderstand. They are quite
real. As real as real can get.
Subjectively speaking. No. It is
not a matter of perspective....It's
technical. The reason you can't sit
in one of these chairs. Is
because....
Logos walks up and karate chops a chair which shatters into
dust.
LOGOS
....they have no parts.
WRITER
Oh..
LOGOS
These chairs are figments.
holographic reflections. Brought
forth from your memory. An
expression of color and form
without any function weight nor
property.
WRITER
Like a video game without a physics
engine?
LOGOS
I prefer to think of it like the
product of an inexperienced
symphony composer. But yes the
logic of your metaphor is solid.
Logos waves his hand and all the chairs break into pieces as
if they were Lego blocks.
WRITER
Hey what gives?
LOGOS
You want to sit in a chair right?
WRITER
Well yeah that was the whole idea.
I don't really know what I want to
materialize yet so I thought I
would make a chair appear sit down
and think about it.
6.
LOGOS
Why? Are you not capable of
thinking while standing?
WRITER
Well I suppose so. but im just used
to writing I mean thinking while
sitting down. Besides sitting is
more comfy...
LOGOS
I see.. If you really want to sit
in a chair. You will have to
assemble one from all of these
figments.
WRITER
Oh Got it.
The writer proceeds to grab a figment but they shatter when
touched.
LOGOS
Not with your hands. With your
mind!
WRITER
Oh..right.
The writer attempts to assemble a chair through telekinesis.
Chair Legs start to fly around haphazardly. As if writer is
trying to pull them together with invisible puppet strings
LOGOS
Concentrate!
WRITER
I'm trying...
Chair parts still flailing about chaotically.
LOGOS
It does not appear like you are
from my perspective...
WRITER
Grrr..
Frustration. The writer gives up. all the pieces stop
animating and fall to the ground.
WRITER
I can't do this. It's too hard.
There's too much junk in the way.
7.
Writer plows through figments kicking them shattering them
into dust. Throwing a somewhat productive tantrum.
LOGOS
Calm yourself. These are figments
of your imagination. They respond
to your call. Why are you having
such difficulty moving them?
WRITER
I don't know! I've never moved
anything with my mind before. So
forgive me for being a bit horrible
at it.
LOGOS
There's your answer.
WRITER
My what? Stop speaking in
riddles...what am I doing wrong?
Oh..
LOGOS
Yes
WRITER
Practice right?
LOGOS
Indeed.
WRITER
You know what. Fine. I'll just
think while standing. I didn't want
to sit down anyways...
LOGOS
Giving up already?
WRITER
No no. Im just pouting...ok. Give
me a moment.
LOGOS
Take your time. Shall I give you a
bit of advice?
WRITER
Yeah that would be super helpful...
LOGOS
Think of the figments as an
extension of your being.
8.
LOGOS
Rather then an external object you
move by some exertion of mental
force
WRITER
Right. An extension of my body. Got
it.
We watch the writer close his eyes.
At first nothing.
Is the writer even trying? How can he move the parts without
seeing them?
But suddenly just the parts needed to make a single chair
begin to float up in the air and draw close to one another.
The rest of the excess parts are pushed back like a broom is
sweeping them into a neat circular pile around the central
parts hoovering in the air.
The writer opens his eyes. And suddenly the chair is being
gracefully assembled. One leg attaches itself to a seat.
Another one on the opposite side follows suit. It is Almost
like the chair is self organizing itself.
Que dramatic music.
The remaining parts in the excess pile begin to rotate on the
ground like a whirlwind is dragging them along in a circle.
Some of the parts from the pile are tossed into the air
forming what looks like an accretion disk of figment dust
around the assembly.
As each additional piece is put together more and more excess
parts are assimilated into the accretion disk. The dust is
getting so thick it shrouds the assembly from view. Is it
working? We cant see a thing through all the dust...
The writer closes his eyes again. The energy of spiraling
dust creating a loud wooshing sound. Then --
POOF -- A fully realized chair falls to the ground from about
three feet in the air. All of the dust scatters and falls
like ash. The chair bounces a bit when it hits the ground and
falls over.
LOGOS looks impressed. Gesturing to Writer to go inspect the
chair.
The writer approaches the chair cautiously. Looks a bit
nervous. If this chair is still a figment it will turn to
dust when he touches it.
9.
Build tension build tension and....
The writers hand touches the chair. It worked like a charm.
The writers face lights up like a Christmas tree. His hand
gliding across the leather like this chair is his most
valuable possession.
LOGOS approaches writer who is currently sitting the chair up
on its legs.
Close in on writer sitting down in the chair with a huge
smile on his face
LOGOS
Congratulations. You just produced
your very first thought form.
Continue to close in on the writers face. ear to ear smile
now
LOGOS (O.S.)
So tell me. What do you really want
to materialize?
or
LOGOS(O.S.)
So tell me... what will you
materialize next?
Close on huge smile....
CUT
EXT. ZEN GARDEN - DUSK
SUPER: Three weeks later...
A traditional zen garden illuminated by a setting sun comes
into view. We walk by a Koi pond, turn to see a rock garden
with raked swirls then pan to gaze at sakura trees before we
come to close in on Writer who is meditating on a mat near a
bamboo water fall thing.
We pull out to see Logos standing near writer. As if it was
Logos that was walking through the zen garden.
LOGOS
Very good. Now... slowly open your
eyes.
The writer opens his eyes. A big smile. Then --
10.
TIME LAPSE MAYHEM -- The sun starts rising and setting
wildly. Fish from the koi pond glitch out and start swimming
in the air. Random objects in the scene disappear then
reappear in discombobulated ways. Gravity flips and
everything starts floating in air
WHITEOUT
CUT TO:
INT. WHITE ROOM
Infinite nothingness.
Writer walks in front of camera from off screen wearing Board
shorts, a muscle shirt and flip flops. Looks like he is
heading to the beach with a disappointed look on his face.
LOGOS (O.S.)
You are certainly capable of
producing very complex thought
forms...
WRITER
...But I can't sustain them for
long. The second I observe
them...they fall apart.
Logos appears in the frame. Sharp dressed. Suit and tie.
LOGOS
Indeed. Let's try a different
approach shall we?
WRITER
Sounds good. What do you have in
mind?
LOGOS
If your intention is to use the
mindstream to merely observe and
express thought forms....
Logos rubs his chin as if pondering something...
LOGOS
You may require a point of
entry....
WRITER
An entry point? What do you mean?
11.
Logos snaps his fingers. a huge treasure chest appears.
LOGOS
It is very difficult to
explain...much easier to show.
Writer walks up to the treasure chest.
WRITER
What's inside?
LOGOS
Open it.
The writer opens the treasure chest cautiously. We are in the
mindstream. Anything can be inside. Light beams shine out
from it when the top opens. The writer looks in and --
WRITER
Whoa...
LOGOS
Awe inspiring is it not?
WRITER
Definitely. What is this? It's like
bigger on the inside...
LOGOS
It is a point of entry. If you want
to find out. Jump in.
WRITER
Jump in? Are you serious? Wait a
second. I got to think about this.
Im not mentally prepared...
LOGOS
No thinking. just fall...
Logos pushes writer into the chest and --
EXT SKY
We are falling.
WRITER
Omigod. Holy shiiiiiiiit
Logos appears from off screen gracefully gliding side by side
with Writer
12.
LOGOS
Calm yourself. There is plenty of
time left until we hit the ground
Loud sounds of wind as we whoosh past clouds...
WRITER
(yelling) quick
question....
LOGOS
I cant hear you speak louder...
WRITER
Is it possible to die in the
mindstream?
LOGOS
Of course it is possible. all you
got to do is imagine yourself...
Logos flies off
LOGOS
Flying
(audio trails off as if
fading out)
Writer still flailing about while he is falling
WRITER
Not fly...i mean DIE
Ground approaching...
WRITER
Im going to die..im going to die
OMIGOD IM GOING TO DIIIIIIIIE
BOOM
We observe what looks like a meteor impact
INT. HOLE IN THE GROUND
We looking down a huge whole. Writer coughing and brushing
dirt off of himself at the bottom. Writer sits up and --
WRITER
Im alive?
LOGOS (O.S.)
Of course your alive.
13.
Eyeline cut: We look up to see Logos standing at the top
ledge of the hole
LOGOS
(kneeling down)
You can't die in the mindstream...
WRITER
Right. I knew that...
LOGOS
Quit dawdling. Get up here. There
is something I want you to see.
Logos walks off...
WRITER
Alright be up in a sec..
The writer attempts to climb out of the hole with his hands
but slips and falls.
LOGOS (O.S.)
Hurry up.
WRITER
ok ok.
The writer leaps up and flies out of the hole with a huge
smile on his face
WRITER
I can fly.
Writers jaw drops...
EXT. JAPANESE LANDSCAPE
We see a path leading up to what looks like a zen garden off
in the distance.
WRITER
Is that my..
LOGOS
Yes.
WRITER
It wont fall apart this time?
LOGOS
Nope.
14.
The writer and Logos fly towards --
EXT ZEN GARDEN
Koi ponds, rock gardens and sakura trees fill the frame
WRITER
Wait a second...
Time freezes.
LOGOS
Yes?
WRITER
There's something i need to do
first.
The writer claps his hands and --
Instant WHITE OUT
CUT TO:
INT WHITE ROOM
We are back to infinite nothingness.
Writer walks in front of the camera from off screen instantly
materializes a comfy leather recliner chair leaps in it from
behind lands then leans forward.
a massive touch screen display appears in front of him.
floating in mid air.
Logos appears next to the chair as writer begins to interact
with the display.
LOGOS
What are you doing?
Que music...
WRITER
I like to listen to music while
writing.
LOGOS
Better?
Writer makes the display disappear...
WRITER
Much better....
15.
LOGOS
Shall we proceed?
WRITER
Yeah. let's do this.
Writer stands up. the chair disappears...
WRITER
So my point of entry is a treasure
chest? Neat...
LOGOS
Actually it can be whatever you
want it to be. A chest, a door,
a...
WRITER
A Treasure chest works for me. Well
for now anyways...
LOGOS
You want to have a go at it?
WRITER
Absolutely.
Logos snaps his fingers. a treasure chest appears.
LOGOS
This chest is empty. Focus and
Materialize what ever you want to
explore... in here.
WRITER
Awesome.
Close in on Writer pondering what to materialize in the
chest.
The writer closes his eyes.
Close in on treasure chest. it starts to glow....
CUT


16.