PARTMENT - DAY
Max awakes now to find he is atop a made bed. Out the windows sunlight shines in. His beard is fuller now, and the circles under his eyes are darker. He looks like a mental patient now.
DOUG (O.S.)
You might as well enjoy it while it
lasts. It won't be here long if you
continue being stubborn.
Max rises and rubs his face with the tail of his stained and tattered shirt. He looks to Find Doug sitting at a table sipping from a mug of coffee.
Without comment Max takes his own cup and pours some coffee in it. He takes a sip and enjoys it sitting in the other chair at the table and looks at Doug, saying nothing.
DOUG
I take it you'll not change your mind?
Max only stares, not even bothering to pour hate into the blank look.
DOUG
I give you this, you are tough. You've
lasted far longer than any other person
I've revived.
MAX
Big deal.
DOUG
But it is a Big Deal my boy? Don' you
see! You survived a week in tear gas!
You survived sleep-deprivation for two
months now! Hell, you even figured out
how to sleep when I turned the floor to
nothing but a bed of nails!
(laughs)
I never would have thought of rolling
around to get to the bathroom but you
showed me you could do it.
MAX
Then that must be why you turned that
affect off only after two days.
DOUG
It was more like two weeks Max. You've
lost track of time.
Max takes another sip of coffee, draining the cup and pouring more for himself.
DOUG
Alright, Fine. I'll admit it. You win!
(beat)
You see, I can't afford to keep this
up. Keeping you in this torture chamber
is costing too much energy to make it
worth while to keep you alive.
MAX
Like I care Doug! Like I CARE! Just get
to the point you are feebly trying to
make and cut the crap!
Doug sips his own coffee and pulls a small device from his pocket. He points it at the door and enters a command before putting it back in his pocket.
DOUG
There. All done. Now you can leave if
you want.
Max looks to the door but only sips more coffee.
MAX
That simple huh?
DOUG
Of course not, Max. It means you've
cost me enough in resources so I
thought I would give you one last
chance.
MAX
A chance for what?
DOUG
Well, you can either come work for me
or you can walk out that door and
you'll die Max.
(beat)
You can't stay here because I'll just
turn on all the bonging and the tear-
gas and the nails in the floor and I'll
add fire-ants and ticks and every other
thing I can think of until you choose.
(beat)
Either way you'll choose to work for me
or walk out that door. If you walk out
that door you'll experience a painless
and instant death. Your body will be
destroyed and you'll never be bothered
by me or anyone else as well.
Max considers it and then looks at the room around him, then to the door and then to Doug.
DOUG
But there's one last thing.
MAX
Isn't there always?
DOUG
If you come to work for me, I'll raise
the stakes considerably.
(beat)
You were correct in surmising that I'd
go after the energy draining Very Old,
but only those that didn't pay me... If
you agree, then you'll share half that
fortune with me. Contractually
guaranteed of course.
Max says nothing but takes one last sip of coffee and stands from his chair.
After a moment he holds his hand out to Doug and Doug takes it, Smiling.
MAX
Congratulations Doug. You win!
Doug Smiles wider and starts to rise from his chair, but Max places his other hand on his shoulder to hold him down.
MAX
You are, by far, the lowest and most
evil creature I've ever met. I
wouldn't dream of going along with you
or with any other plan you had through
greed or suffering or anything.
(beat)
The only reason I've not killed myself
before is because you removed all the
methods I might have to do so. Now you
win. I won't commit to you but I will
end my life.
Max spits in Doug's face and then releases his hand and walks to the door. His hand on the knob he looks back to Doug and smiles.
MAX
I'm not afraid to die Doug. I'm more
afraid of living in a world where
people like you run things.
(beat)
Things haven't gotten better in this
future world. If you're a
representative of what it has to offer,
the human race is better off dead.
Before Doug can respond, Max opens the door and steps out, closing it behind him.
EXT. CORRIDOR - DAY
Max stands outside the door and watches as the world around him grows brighter, and brighter until the whiteness washes out everything.
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