Carnival Page #3

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She now dances with a young TRAPEZIST.

SHIV (V.O.)

And they’re rigged to screw them

over.

8.

Shiv puts his beer down, eyes on the prize.

SHIV (V.O.)

Yet the stubborn sons of b*tches

can’t stop playing.

He’s about to get up when -

Zodiac TURNS to him first, as if she sensed what he was about

to do. Her stare fixed on him.

Then she APPROACHES. Kneels in front of him.

ZODIAC:

I just had a vision. A vision about

you. You stand up and ask me for a

dance.

SHIV:

And what do you say?

ZODIAC:

I ignore you.

SHIV:

Did I happen to ask why you despise

me like I killed your mother?

ZODIAC:

I don’t despise you. You’re just

not my type.

SHIV:

And what’s your type?

ZODIAC:

Asking doesn’t help. My type would

know that.

She walks away and soon she’s dancing with someone else.

EXT. MENAGERIE - NIGHT

PANTHERS pace inside CAGE TRAILERS. Moonlight paints their

restless shadows on the floor as Shiv walks by.

SHIV (V.O.)

She’s like a puzzle without the

picture on the box...

He stops when he sees:

9.

Shrouded in darkness, Zodiac is having sex with a CIRCUS

PERFORMER against a trailer.

SHIV (V.O.)

And pieces are rigged to give an

electric shock each time you try to

fit them where they don’t belong.

SLING!

A hand UNSHEATHES a knife - the blade reflecting the full

moon - we are now at:

INT. SHIV’S TRAILER - NIGHT

Moonlight seeps in through a window, painting a square of

silver light in the dark. Shiv sits on his cot -

Cutting his arm with the knife.

Previous scars reveal this self-punishment is a common

practice for him.

Wild-eyed. SWEATING hard. BREATHING harder.

BAM! - door flies open - Ayleen bursts in - sees him.

AYLEEN:

Oh hell no.

She RUSHES over to him - STOPS his hand - struggling to take

his knife -

AYLEEN:

Gimme that!

SHIV:

I’m fine -

AYLEEN:

Fine my ass. You’re having one of

your anxiety attacks -

SHIV:

I’m taking care of it -

AYLEEN:

Not this way -

She manages to PRY the knife out of his hand.

10.

AYLEEN:

Good, now lie down.

She pushes his head down so he lies down on the cot.

AYLEEN:

Take a good deep breath through

your nose.

He keeps hyperventilating.

AYLEEN:

C’mon, I know you can. We’ve done

it before.

He tries to take a deep breath.

AYLEEN:

Nice and deep. Deeper.

He follows her lead.

AYLEEN:

Now gently blow the air out.

Slowly. Very slowly.

He does.

AYLEEN:

That’s it. Clear your mind. Focus

on the breathing. Nothing else.

LATER:

Shiv is still on edge, but his breathing is steadying.

AYLEEN:

Again.

Another deep breath.

LATER:

She caresses his forehead.

AYLEEN:

And slowly let the air out.

He does, feeling much better now.

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