Requiem for a Dream

Sara manically marches down the street.  The world shoots by
her.  A train roars by on the elevated tracks up above.

                                                 CUT TO:

INT. PONTIAC VENTURA CROSSING VERRAZANO'S BRIDGE - NIGHT

Harry and Tyrone ride in a beat-up 1972 Pontiac Ventura 2.
Harry drives.

TIGHT ON the car tuner.  Tyrone spins the dial.  Hip-hop
blasts on the radio.

Then Tyrone turns on the heat.

                            HARRY
              Thank you, Angel.

                            TYRONE
              Ah sure hope this mutha works.  Ah
              could use some heat.

Ty sparks a joint.

                            TYRONE
              How long will it take?

                            HARRY
              We'll make it in a day, easy.

                            TYRONE
              California, here we come.

                            HARRY
              It's Florida.

                                                               87.

                            TYRONE
              I know, Jim.  I just feel like
              breaking out into song.

Hands slap five.  Harry cringes when Tyrone hits his hand.

                                                 CUT TO:

INT. D-TRAIN SUBWAY CAR - MOVING

Sara sits on the subway.  Her hair sticks to her wet face.
She turns to the strangers across from her.

                            SARA
              I'm going on television.  Today
              I'll find out when.

It's New York: of course she's ignored.

                                                 CUT TO:

INT. MARION'S APARTMENT

Marion sobs into the phone.  She shreds the upholstrey on
the couch.

                            MARION
              Florida!?  Florida!?  When's he
              gonna be back?

                            ANGEL
                     (off-screen)
              I don't know.  A few days.

                            MARION
              Days!?  What am I supposed, to do?
              You gotta help me!

                            ANGEL
                     (off-screen)
              It's dry --

                            MARION
              I can get you money, from my parents.

                            ANGEL
                     (off-screen)
              Money means shit.

                            MARION
              Please.  Angel!  Please!

                                                               88.

                            ANGEL
                     (off-screen)
              It's a drought.  I ain't got nothing.

                            MARION
              Please!  Angel!  Please!

                                                 CUT TO:

INT. MALIN & BLOCK - RECEPTION AREA

A Secretary looks up, startled.  In front of her is Sara.
Sara's hair and body are wet and she is wobbly.

The Secretary stares at Sara, not knowing what to do.

                            SARA
              Why aren't you calling me?  I have
              to know when I'm going to be on
              television.  I'm Sara Goldfarb and
              you should tell me when I'm going
              to be on television.

                            SECRETARY
              Just sit for a moment.  I'll ring
              them.

Sara wobbles to a chair.  She's confused and disorientated.
Some office women come out from inside the office and huddle
around her.  Some security guards appear as well.

Sara tries to stand but she falls over amd lands back in the
chair.

The women tell her to stay seated.

                            SARA
              I need to know when maybe you lost
              my card, please, Dolly, you'll look
              and let --

                            OFFICE WOMAN
              Get her a cup of soup.  Tell Mary
              to call an ambulance.  Just relax,
              Mrs Goldfarb, everything will --

                            SARA
                     (cries)
              It's not the prizes.  I'll give
              them away to the poor, I just want
              to be on the show.  I'm waiting so
              long to be on with my Harry and
              grandson --

                                                               89.

The Secretary returns with a mug filled with soup.

                            SECRETARY
              Here, Mrs Goldfarb, sip this.

                            OFFICE WOMAN
              Sometimes it takes awhile to get
              called for a show, Mrs Goldfarb.

                                                 CUT TO:

INT. PONTIAC VENTURA ON JERSEY TURNPIKE - DAWN

Tyrone drives.  TIGHT ON the tuner.  The radio plays
alternative rock.

                            TYRONE
              Sheeit, the heater is just fine.  I
              guess this ain't goin' to be such a
              bad trip.

                            HARRY
              Yeah, it's no big thing.

                            TYRONE
                     (checks odometer)
              We's a couple a hundred miles
              closer to Miami, Jim.  Let's stop
              at the next pit and take a taste.

                            HARRY
              Yeah.  Betta drop a few dexies too
              and get some coffee.

                            TYRONE
              Right on.

                                                 CUT TO:

INT. MALIN & BLOCK - RECEPTION AREA

A crowd watches Sara babble.  Two Paramedics arrive.

                            PARAMEDIC
                     (to his partner)
              Looks like shock.
                     (to Sara)
              Can you walk?

                            SARA
              I'm walking across the stage and
              you should see my Harold on
              television.  We're giving the
              prizes away.  I just want to be on
              television.

                                                               90.

                            PARAMEDIC
                     (to women)
              Do you know her name?

                            OFFICE WOMAN #1
              We think it's Sara Goldfarb.

                            SARA
              The announcer is calling my Little
              Red Riding Hood, call Seymour and
              tell him to pick me up at the
              beauty parlor.  I've got the red
              dress I wore at Harry's graduation
              and the gold shoes.

                            PARAMEDIC
                     (gently)
              Okay, Mrs Goldfarb, let's just take
              it nice and easy.  Here we go.

And the paramedics help poor Sara to her feet.  They head to
the elevator.  Sympathy from the staring office women.

                                                 CUT TO:

INT. MARION'S APARTMENT

Marion stares at Big Tim's number.  A moment later she picks
up the phone and dials.

                            BIG TIM
                     (off-screen)
              Yeah?

Marion hangs up.  A long beat.  Then she dials again.

                            BIG TIM
                     (off-screen)
              Yeah!?

                            MARION
                     (nervous)
              Hi...

Big Tim lets go a big laugh.

                                                 CUT TO:

INT. AMBULANCE - MOVING

Sara is strapped to a gurney.  She mumbles to herself.

                                                               91.

                            SARA
              Oh, Harry.  I'm going to be on
              television.

                                                 CUT TO:

INT. PONTIAC VENTURA PARKED IN HO JO LOT

Flick, sizzle, snap, suck, slap, rush, sigh...

Tyrone leans against the driver's door -- high.

Harry rolls up his sleeve.  Right in the crotch of his arm
is a nasty hole from shooting too much.  It's infected and
rings of red surround it.

                            TYRONE
              Sheeit.  How long you got that?

                            HARRY
              A few days.

                            TYRONE
              That don't look too good, Jim.

                            HARRY
              It don't feel too good either.  But
              a little stuff'll take care of that.

                            TYRONE
              Don't shoot in there.

                            HARRY
              I'll blow it if I don't.  Fuck it.

Flick, sizzle, snap, suck, slap -- break from the montage.
For the first time we see a TIGHT CLOSE-UP of a needle going
into the hole, then we end the montage -- rush, sigh...

                                                 CUT TO:

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING ENTRANCE

A security camera studies Marion as she waits at the front
door.  Buzz!  Marion pushes the door open and enters.

                                                 CUT TO:

INT. BELLEVUE HOSPITAL

Sara, on her gurney, is pushed through crowded corridors of
a hospital.  The noise and chaos reach her in surreal
muffled tones.

                                                               92.

She's mumbling to herself -- dreaming of being on television.
Then she's slid into the emergency room.

Young, serious Doctor Spencer shines a light into her eyes.
Sara tries to smile.

                            DOCTOR SPENCER
              No emergency.  Take her to psyche.

                                                 CUT TO:

EXT. BIG TIM'S APARTMENT

Big Tim's door opens wide, revealing an even wider Big Tim.

Big Tim is big in every way.  His body is big, his smile is
big, his laugh is big and even his apartment is big.

                            BIG TIM
              Come in.

He steps aside and Marion enters the huge living room with a
grand view of Prospect Park.

Big Tim takes her coat.

                            BIG TIM
              Have a seat.  What would you like?

                            MARION
                     (meek)
              Nothing.

                            BIG TIM
              Oh, you strictly a dope fien'?

Marion is startled by Big Tim's comment.  She recovers.

                            MARION
              Oh, maybe I'll have a little
              chartreuse.

                            BIG TIM
              Yellow or green?

                            MARION
                     (surprised)
              Oh, ahhh...yellow.

Big Tim joins her with the drinks.  He takes out a hash pipe
and sparks it.  Marion is offered the pipe and she takes a
few pokes.

                                                               93.

                            BIG TIM
              What's your name?

                            MARION
              Marion.

Big Tim's laugh is loud, deep and happy -- a presence of its
own.

                            BIG TIM
              What you know, Maid Marion.  I'm
              Little John.

Big Tim pulls Marion into his chest.  She lets him.

                            BIG TIM
              You know what I like best about
              patty chicks?