OPENING SEQUENCE - SCROLLING WORDS ON BLACK B.G The not-too-distant future. Life and love among the slums of the urban city has become increasingly arduous. Housing conditions and unemployment have not reached such extremes since the rise of the industrial revolution. Food and water shortages have never affected as many upper-middle class citizens as it does today. And mass cult weddings/suicides have never been as popular. Now, rising from the furious flame of social exploitation and corporate boorishness, like a vengeful wraith, comes the most nauseating injustice to ever be bestowed upon the lowly peasant. A ban, or prohibition, if you will, has been placed on . . . mustard! FADE IN: INT. RUN-DOWN APARTMENT - MORNING C.U OF ALARM CLOCK An ancient and beat-up clock waits patiently for its cue. The second hand TICK---TICK---TICKS to the 12, and then the clock CLATTERS to life. WIDE SHOT - BEDROOM The room looks as if Hurricane Andrew had just paid it a visit. Broken furniture is scattered about the concrete floor. Wine bottles and empty jugs of Listerine are everywhere. A few stray chickens PECK and SCRATCH at rotting food scraps carelessly tossed away. The room seems to have a dank, dusky mist to it. A single mattress is wedged into the corner. A lifeless lump buried beneath a moth-eaten Army-issued blanket is its only decoration. The lump begins to stir. The lump's hand snakes from under the blanket, picks up the alarm clock, and SLAMS it back to the floor, destroying it in the process. ONE AND A HALF SHOT - BED The lump beneath the covers TOSSES the blanket to the side of the bed, sending the chickens packing. E.C.U SETH stares wife-eyed at his ceiling. He is unshaven and defeated. He hasn't slept in days. He continues to stare, until a drop of water lands on his face. He ignores it. SETH'S P.O.V He seems to be transfixed on the crack in his ceiling. Another drop gathers through the hair-line, and then falls to his face. PREVIOUS SHOT Seth wipes the water from his face, and staggers out of bed. His underwear is a sickly stain of brown. He picks up a shirt that is lying in a clump on the floor. He throws it on his back and puts on the plain white tie that was under the shirt. INT. LIVING ROOM -- MOMENTS LATER The living room is a carbon copy of the bedroom. Dishes are piled almost to the ceiling and green sludge drips down the cupboards. Four milk cartons with cardboard on top have been transformed into a makeshift table. Seth sits down on the bare floor and picks up a half-butt from the pile of garbage which surrounds him. C.U OF TABLE Seth's shaking hands struggle to roll the soggy tobacco into a new smoke. A cockroach nonchalantly strolls by the frame. He finally gets enough of the tobacco into the paper, lights it, and brings it to his lips. PREVIOUS SHOT He takes long hard drags on the smoke, inhaling with deep satisfaction. Somewhere out in the world beyond, a police siren SCREAMS to life. Seth suddenly becomes animated. He cringes at the sound, and quickly looks to his window. The window's glass, which has long departed, has been replaced by a front page of a newspaper. Through the light outside, we can read the top headline. It reads: TIE SHORTAGE NOW IN ITS 18TH WEEK! RATIONS NOW DOWN TO ONE TIE PER PERSON EXT. ALLEYWAY -- CONTINUOUS Seth nervously peels a corner back from the window frame, and peers out into the street beyond. He looks about to see if the siren might be intended for him. The siren slowly starts to DIE down. His head vanishes. PREVIOUS SHOT He gets a broken painting from his wall, and places it in front of the window. DOLLY BEHIND -- WALKING He walks over to his kitchen cupboard and starts looking for something to eat. He grabs some stale bread, some butter and a knife. He places them on the make-shift table, and again looks to the barricaded window. When he's satisfied that there's no trouble, he walks into his bathroom. INT. BATHROOM -- CONTINUOUS The bathroom is just as rundown as the rest of his place. His toilet is cracked and leaking, and the ancient bathtub is filled with black grimy water. He shambles to the toilet, takes off the lid to the tank, and reaches in. C.U OF TANK There is a white, water-proof soap dish bobbing around in the water. Seth's hand comes into the frame. He opens the dish, and there is a single key inside. He palms the key, closes the dish, and puts the lid back in its place. PREVIOUS SHOT Seth walks out of the bathroom, now more paranoid than ever. INT. LIVING ROOM -- CONTINUOUS He again walks to his cupboard. SETH'S P.O.V He reaches far into the back and carefully removes a section of the bottom which reveals a hidden compartment. Within is a small wooden box. PREVIOUS SHOT He takes the box back to the table, and opens the lock with his key. E.C.U OF SETH'S FACE Small beads of sweat appear on his brow, and his eyes dart frantically from side to side. Whatever he's got in the box, he sure doesn't want anyone to know about it. PREVIOUS SHOT He opens the box, and takes out its content. It's a jar of mustard! His one secret shame. He looks back to the window one last time, then opens the lid of the jar. He brings it up to his nose, and inhales the aroma with the lust of a junkie. He quickly knives a huge glob of the mustard onto a slice of bread. He doesn't bother spreading it, he just brings it to his mouth, and begins eating with a passion we haven't seen before. C.U OF TIE While Seth is eating, a blob of mustard falls onto his white tie. He continues eating, not noticing what's happened. PREVIOUS SHOT He finishes the first piece of bread, and immediately puts more mustard onto a second piece. He inhales the second piece with even more enthusiasm. He's in complete ecstasy. Then, his watch BEEPS him back into reality. Shit! time to go to work. He quickly puts the mustard back in its box, locks it up, and places it back in its hiding hole. He puts the key in his front pocket, and PATS his breast. Seth hurries back to his room. INT. BEDROOM -- CONTINUOUS He frantically searches through the rubble in his room for his pants. He finds them under his mattress, and puts them on. Stepping in front of his dirty cracked mirror, horror falls upon his face. C.U OF SETH'S FACE The panic is thick on his otherwise featureless face. PREVIOUS SHOT He's noticed the bright yellow stain that has now dried on his white tie. He tries desperately to scrape the stain off, but it's there for good. As if reminding him, his watch BEEPS again. He starts to take the tie off, but hesitates, remembering something. EXT. FACTORY -- DAY There is a big sign at the side of the main doorway to the factory. It reads: ALL EMPLOYEES MUST WEAR A MANDATORY SHIRT AND TIE!!! IF THIS COMMAND IS NOT OBEYED, I WILL BE FORCED TO HOSE DOWN THE DISOBEDIENT MISCREANT IN QUESTION, POUR A TEN POUND BAG OF PANCAKE MIX OVER HIS OR HER HEAD, AND DISCHARGE THE SAID EMPLOYEE FROM MY NOBLE SERVICE! HAVE A NICE DAY!!! - THE BOSS - PREVIOUS SHOT Oh shit! He begins to search the dilapidated room afresh, turning over everything he owns in the hopes of finding an unsoiled tie. He realizes though, that it's no good. The stained tie is the only one he's got. Seth is now nearly feverish with panic, but if he is late for work, he'll be fired for sure. Then, a faint glimmer of hope brightens his face. INT. BEDROOM -- CONTINUOUS He runs to his only closet, and flings the door wide. Maybe he can get away with wearing his coat, maybe no one will notice. SETH'S P.O.V Inside the closet, he discovers that all the hangers are empty, so he PANS DOWN. There, he discovers that a stray dog is pissing on his only coat. C.U OF COAT A steady stream of yellow urine invades the thin material relentlessly. PREVIOUS SHOT Seth SLAMS the closet door in anger. There's nothing more he can do, he's already late for work. He'll have to risk it. EXT. APARTMENT -- MOMENTS LATER Seth reluctantly pokes his head out of his front door. The street before him is quiet and uneventful. He steps out on to the sidewalk and nervously darts his eyes around looking for any danger. Once he thinks it's safe enough, he begins his walk to work. SETH'S P.O.V As he walks down the sidewalk, a young mother and her daughter turn a corner and head towards him hand in hand. The young mother has a smile on her face as she gets closer, but when the mother notices Seth's stain, her expression quickly changes. The daughter then notices the stain too, and she points at the tie with a look of confusion. The mother lets out a SCREAM and covers her daughters eyes. The mother then hastily scoops her frightened child into her arms and runs in the opposite direction. C.U OF YOUNG CHILD The little girl is CRYING, tears streaming down her cheeks. PREVIOUS SHOT Seth is now getting more nervous by the minute, but he must continue on to work. EXT. CHURCH PARKING LOT -- MOMENTS LATER The church minister is getting out of his car ready for another day at church. He is dressed in his trademark black robe, and has a a bible tucked under his arm. He LOCKS his car door, and turns to the sidewalk to see Seth walking toward him. The minister then notices the vile offensive mustard, and in his shock, drops his bible to the ground. C.U OF GROUND The bible HITS the pavement in S.M PREVIOUS SHOT The reverend backs into his car with a look of absolute horror etched into his face. In his fear, he makes the symbolic cross with his fingers, and clutches his chest. All Seth can do is hang his head. EXT. HOMELESS SHELTER -- MOMENTS LATER Sitting outside of the shelter, leaning against a dumpster, is a ragtag old bum. He is just about to bite into a nice dead rat, when he looks up as Seth crosses his path. The bum sees the mustard. C.U OF BUM'S FACE The homeless man shakes his head in contempt as Seth continues on. PREVIOUS SHOT Poor Seth is pitied by even the most desperate of souls. He quickens his pace to work, eager to be out of sight of this judgmental public. EXT. CONDOM FACTORY -- MOMENTS LATER There is a big sign at the entrance to the factory parking lot. It reads: UNITED CONDOMS INC. CONDOMS TODAY FOR A BASTARD FREE TOMORROW Seth is now at an all out RUN towards his place of employment. He makes it to the front entrance with no further incident, but knows he won't go undetected at work. He glances at the mandatory tie sign, and walks into the building. INT. CONDOM FACTORY -- CONTINUOUS He quickly walks down the line of workers, as machines CLANK and CLATTER all around him. He finds his place in the long line of workers, and sits down to another mundane day of condom making. C.U OF SETH His face droops and his eyes sag. He lets out a frustrated SIGH. FADE OUT: HALF AN HOUR LATER FADE IN: The lunch whistle SCREAMS to life, and Seth gets up for lunch. As he's about to leave his station, a hand falls on his shoulder and stops him. Seth's face is full of panic. He turns around. SETH'S P.O.V A gnarly middle-aged woman in smirking in his face. Her eyes make a quick dart down to his tie, and then back up to his face. Without saying a word, she points up to the second floor of the factory to a single door with frosted glass. The camera PANS IN to the door, and written on the glass are the words: THE BOSS. PREVIOUS SHOT Seth hangs his head and somberly makes his way up to the door. INT. BOSS' OFFICE -- MOMENTS LATER Seth sits at the head of The Boss' desk, near the verge of tears now. Although The Boss can't be seen, his impressive shadow is cast across the wall next to Seth. He is in all manner of speaking, larger than life. The Boss' shadow explodes in a tirade of cursing. His huge hands ball into fists. He points at Seth, shaking his accusing finger , while the poor man in his chair flinches at every jab. The Boss grabs hold of his own tie and points down at it. He yanks it back and forth, more enraged than ever. In the next moment, items from an unseen shelf start flying at Seth. He ducks as they CRASH against the wall. The Boss finally gives up, and points at the door. Seth stagers out of his chair, and leaves in tears. EXT. CONDOM FACTORY -- MOMENTS LATER Seth BURSTS out of the factory and RUNS back to his apartment. INT. APARTMENT HALLWAY -- LATER He makes it to his door, PANTING and exhausted. He gets his key out and is about to unlock his door, when he notices the sign tacked on to his door. It says: NO GOOD FOR NOTHING MUSTARD JUNKIE IS WANTED IN THIS PART OF TOWN! DON'T BOTHER TO GET YOUR THINGS, WE BURNT 'EM WHILE YOU WERE GONE. HAVE A NICE LIFE PUNK, THE LANDLORD! Seth COLLAPSES to the floor and curls into a ball. FADE OUT: FADE IN: EXT. DOWNTOWN -- LATER Seth now wanders the streets aimlessly. His life completely turned upside-down. He turns a corner into an alleyway. EXT. ALLEYWAY -- CONTINUOUS The ally is narrow and strewn with garbage. At the end of its passage, there is a banner. It proclaims: THE BLACK MARKET. Indeed, as Seth gets closer, the market is certainly black. He steps under the banner and passes from day into night. INT. BLACK MARKET -- CONTINUOUS He walks through tables and displays containing all sorts of contraband items. One table boasts: COTTON PANTS $1000.00 A PAIR! At another table, wedged in the back there is a sign that reads: JOHNNY CASH ALBUMS $800.00 A POP! Then, a third table catches Seth's eye. He walks up to a table that is covered in fresh new ties. The man behind the table is a haggard, Asian looking man, with two eye patches and a hook. Seth picks up a tie, but then notices the price: $500.00. He looks left and right, and with the tie in hand, makes a run for it. The Asian man seems to know what's happening and YELLS for someone to stop the thief. SETH'S P.O.V Just as he thinks he's going to make it, someone WHACKS him on the back of the head. He HITS the ground, and everything FADES to black. FADE IN: THE NEXT MORNING We fade in on a TIGHT SHOT of Seth sleeping in a bed. A moment later, Seth WAKES with a start. A brief moment of relief washes over his face as he thinks that the whole day has been a dream. He puts his hand to his chest and his expression freezes. He moves his hand down towards his stomach, and looks down to his body. There is a huge fresh scar running un the bottom half of his stomach all the way to his ribs. Seth lets out a horrible SCREAM as the camera PULLS BACK and we realize that he's in a hospital. The camera continues to DOLLY BACK through the hall while Seth SCREAMS and comes out of a set of double doors that swing closed when the camera is through. Once the doors stop swinging we see the reason Seth is screaming. On the doors are the words: ST. MICHAEL'S HOSPITAL: CHINESE ORGAN THIEF WING. The camera continues to PULL BACK as Seth SCREAMS. FADE OUT: Copyright 1998/1999 - kevin scromeda -