Carnival Page #2

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CLACK! - a knife comes flying and STICKS into the wood -Her

hand grasps the handle.

CLACK! - another blade STABS right under her shoe as she

STEPS on the butt -She

HOISTS herself up - her other hand reaching --

CLACK! - another knife STICKS into a crate - she grabs the

butt -Shiv

keeps throwing knives as she CLIMBS up the pile.

It’s seamless. Fluid. Precise. Knives stab into crates

milliseconds before she reaches for them. Each throw

celebrated with ROARING cheers.

6.

But something seems to be bothering Shiv. As he keeps

throwing, he shoots fleeting glances at the crowd.

Discomfort quickly builds into anger until:

He TURNS and HURLS a knife right at the public!

WE follow it FLY...

The dazzling glint of spotlights on its blade...

It sails towards a blurry crowd of cheering faces...

Towards a smoking OLD WOMAN...

We notice a PICKPOCKET seated behind her... his hand reaching

over towards her purse...

CLACK! - the blade PINS the pickpocket’s sleeve to the back

of her chair -She

whips her head - notices the thief.

PSSS! - burns his face with her cigarette -INSTANT

BRAWL.

INT. BIG TOP’S ENTRANCE TENT - LATER

Number over, Shiv and Ayleen exit the ring.

AYLEEN:

Is it me, or did you do something

nice back in there?

SHIV:

He was distracting me.

AYLEEN:

Oh shut up “Mr. I Hate The World”.

You did do something nice.

(then)

Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone.

CUT TO:

EXT. THE CARNIVAL - NIGHT

CARS leave the parking lot. The fair’s lights start to die.

7.

EXT. TRAILER AREA - LATER

A beacon of fiery light GLOWS in the surrounding blackness.

A BONFIRE burns, silhouetting shadows dancing to a

mesmerizing gypsy beat.

Townies are gone, drunken carnies have some fun. Ayleen among

them, dancing with MIRAGE (30s) the handsome Illusionist:

Quick SLEIGHT of hand - a flower appears - a gift to her.

She puts it behind her ear and KISSES him.

Shiv sits alone on a log, holding a BEER MUG. His stare

focused with absorbed concentration.

HIS EYES:

Reflect the shadow of a woman outlined against the fire’s

glow. She dances alone. Carefree. Sensual.

SHIV (V.O.)

I see her dance and wonder once

again how did I get infected with

the idea of her.

We PUSH INTO his eyes until her reflection becomes reality:

BY THE BONFIRE:

The woman smokes a joint as she dances, lost in her own

world. This is ZODIAC (25). The fortune teller from the

flier. A feline brunette of mystic beauty.

SHIV (V.O.)

I watch every inch of her and can’t

help but think of the midway’s game

booths.

She now dances with Mirage, he holds her hand and makes her

SPIN.

SHIV (V.O.)

Nice and shiny, they encourage

suckers to play.

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