Friday, February 7, 2014

Infinite Diversity In Infinite Combinations

The lack of immigration reform is just the result of ignorant people of the pasty persuasion fearful that they'll eventually become the minority and then they'll be on the persecution end for a change. The thing is, by 2050, whether they like it or not, the white race will indeed be the minority as the nation, if it doesn't blow itself up, becomes more of the melting pot it always was, and we then finally resemble the rest of the planet. Star Trek's IDIC ( Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations) coming true, and I'll be smiling from the Next World.

If I were ever insane enough to get married again, it would hopefully be to someone like Rachel Maddow; the story she did tonight on the theft and recovery of a Stradivarius violin by the Milwaukee police with the help of the FBI Art Recovery team (yes that is real), leading up to microstamping technology that could be used to solve crimes involving bullets and firing pins was very cool, a true story that could be an entertaining, James Bond like film. She always manages to assemble interesting and intricate pieces, scoops and revealing news that challenge the mind and open doors to truth not often seen in media. Kudos to her and to her network for keeping her kind of Stradivarius quality reporting.

Is it odd for me to continue to grieve for Philip Seymour Hoffman, someone I never knew but whose work, honesty, generosity and altruism I admired? Maybe, but that doesn't lessen the profound sense of loss I feel about his passing. Seems like the best of us gets taken way too soon. That said, I'll probably outlive all y'all.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Solamaine The Trancendant (treatment)

All text copyright 2014 James E. Finch, Quantum Mechanic Productions

Solamaine is a story I've been working on all my life, starting in High School I called the character Ikon, then changed in to Solamaine in 2007 after a friend of mine apparently died from her injuries after a car accident in Romania.  The character, a young, troubled singer from New Zealand who becomes a near omnipotent being after an accident, represents my desire to empower women and to delve into the mystery of metaphysics.  The following is a scene where Solamaine and her friend consult a mentor about how to control her God-like powers, and she gets in touch with her deceased father:

INT. RAJAH’S APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM – DAY

Solamaine, Katherine enter.  Rajah, Katherine, Solamaine sit.

                                                                        KATHERINE
                                                            You don’t seem very surprised to see us.

                                                                        RAJAH
                                                            Life is full of surprises.  I was just thinking
                                                            of you, Solamaine, and here you are.

                                                                        KATHERINE
                                                            Aren’t you going to ask how we got here?

                                                                        RAJAH
                                                            I suppose you walked.

                                                                        KATHERINE
                                                            I’d say a little more than walked since we
                                                            were in Auckland just a few minutes ago.

                                                                        SOLAMAINE
                                                            Actually we were in Piha, but that’s beside
                                                            the point.  I need your advice, sir.

                                                                        RAJAH
                                                            It matters not how we make a journey, just
                                                            that we make it. That’s what life’s all about.

                                                                        SOLAMAINE
                                                            Professor Rajah, something has happened to
                                                            me.  I’m not like I was before.

                                                                        RAJAH
                                                            If you are not you, then who are you?



                                                                        SOLAMAINE
                                                            Our town was hit by a meteor last night and
                                                            somehow, all that destruction has been
                                                            reversed.  In all of that, I died and so did
                                                            Katherine, my mother, and everyone in the
                                                            town.  I changed all of that, however.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            Perhaps, the universe wanted you to
                                                            attain your full potential, which is why
                                                            you have such a command of things around
                                                            you now.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            When that rock hit, it opened a hole, a rip
                                                            in space and a whole bunch of light went
                                                            through me like I was toilet paper.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            And how do you feel?

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Like I am literally beside myself.  I feel
                                                            giddy, tingly, like something massive
                                                            happened, is happening, will happen.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            Like a door opening.  Like you are now
                                                            awake from a long sleep.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Yeah, I guess you could say that.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            And you’ve come to me to try to make
                                                            sense of it.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            My head is a mess right now.  It takes all
                                                            of my strength just to keep from changing
                                                            things around me.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            With this door opening, if you will, you possess
                                                            abilities never before tapped, and you’re using
                                                            more of your mind than ever  before.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            The thing I don’t seem to be able to do is wish
                                                            myself back to what I was.  Just a chick deejay
                                                            spinning trance for the masses.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            Like trying to limit the limitless.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            I am not limitless.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            You place limits on yourself.  Which perhaps
                                                            is wise considering what would happen in your
                                                            present state of finite wisdom.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Gee, thanks.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            You are growing right now.  You are trying to
                                                            restrain that growth because you fear that you
                                                            will act from emotion and not from your heart.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            So, what do I do?

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            Just let go.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            I do and all hell would break loose.  I am not
                                                            sure if I could put it all back the way it should
                                                            be.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            That’s your fear talking.  Just let go.  Be who
                                                            You are.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Who am I?




                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            You are like no one else.  You’re just you.  I
                                                            Remember you in high school, always bending
                                                            the rules a bit to get noticed.  Always trying to
                                                            impress Andre.  The rainbow hair, the somber
                                                            music, the need to break the stereotypes.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Yeah, that’s me all right

                                                                                    KATHERINE
                                                            You like to stand out.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Yeah, well, I got an ego to boost.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            You’re so much more than ego.  You want to
                                                            be somebody so hard that you literally broke
                                                            out of your shell when the meteor hit you.

                                                                                    KATHERINE
                                                            How do you know so much about what she is
                                                            going through?

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            I don’t, but I know something of the journey
                                                            to find one’s self.  You’ve been given a great
                                                            opportunity, Solamaine, all you need to do is
                                                            find your true self in the maelstrom of the
                                                            limitless.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            So you’re saying, just let go and I’ll find
                                                            myself.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            As much as you are afraid to know, you have
                                                            to bring your mind into focus…try some one
                                                            pointedness.  Meditate.

                                                                                    KATHERINE
                                                            Yeah, maybe some of that Star Wars Yoda
                                                            stuff might do you some good.


                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            I have a friend who can help guide you.  He
                                                            is not easy to find, however.  He’s very much
                                                            in touch with himself.  To the degree that he
                                                            can hear thought the same way as we hear
                                                            sound.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Point me to where he is and I’ll find him.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            Best if he finds you.  His name is Kalki.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            How will he find me?  Do I just wait here?

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            The first step is to quiet your mind.  When
                                                            you do that, he’ll hear your call and come
                                                            looking for you.

                                                                                    KATHERINE
                                                            Sounds a little out there to me, not that we
                                                            haven’t all been out there lately.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            If I quiet my mind, the song that keeps me
                                                            and everything around me in one piece will
                                                            be gone and then all bets are off.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            It will be all right.

Rajah lights a candle.  Solamaine sits in a lotus position in front of the candle and stares at the flame.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            Just look at the flame, then close your eyes
                                                            and bring the image of the flame into your
                                                            mind’s eye.

The room begins to SHAKE, the walls begin to CHANGE COLOR.  Katherine gets nervous.

                                                                                    KATHERINE
                                                            Uh oh.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            It will be all right.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            I’m afraid.  Everything around me depends
                                                            on me to remain real.  I can’t just-

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            It will be all right.  Don’t attach yourself to
                                                            anything.  Just be free.  Just think of the flame.

The buildings around the area shake, objects everywhere blink in and out of existence and change shape.  Many people run to and from the buildings in fear.

INT. SOLAMAINE’S P.O.V. – DAY

Swirling colors begin to coalesce into a single flame.

                                                                                    RAJAH (V.O.)
                                                            Solamaine?  Can you hear me?

INT. RAJAH’S APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM – DAY

The earthquake subsides, the walls go back to normal.  Katherine is no longer agitated.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                                                    (eyes closed)
                                                            I’m calm like I was before.  I think I’ve
                                                            got the hang of it now.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            Good, good.  When you let go of your fear
                                                            and just be yourself, everything goes back
                                                            to where it needs to go.  Now, we just keep
                                                            our focus on the flame.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            I’m standing on a circle of light, floating above
                                                            a galaxy that’s changing shape and swirling.
                                                            I’m hallucinating, maybe.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            Perhaps you are in a place where time has no
                                                            meaning.

There is a KNOCK at the door.  RAJAH gets up to answer the door.  SOLAMAINE opens her eyes.  Katherine looks toward the door.  Rajah opens the door.  KALKI, a young Indian man in a white robe, enters.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            Kalki is here.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Wow, that was fast.

                                                                                    KATHERINE
                                                            Fast?  We’ve been here about four hours, mate.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            I didn’t realize.

Kalki looks at Solamaine with great interest.  Solamaine reacts nervously.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                            Solamaine, Katherine, may I present my
                                                            good friend, Kalki.

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            Hello.

                                                                                    KATHERINE
                                                            Gidday.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Nice to meet you.

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            I know you.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Yeah, I’m Professor Rajah’s former student

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            You are Solamaine.  You’re the limitless.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                                                    (nervously)
                                                            Nah, I’m just a chick who likes to spin tunes
                                                            in Auckland.


                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            I heard you calling out.  First, looking for your
                                                            Father Roy, then for Andre.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            How’d you know my Dad’s name?  Better yet,
                                                            How do you know about Andre?

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            These are the souls who you feel complete you
                                                            And so you feel alone and cut off.  I hear the
                                                            thoughts of a strong mind.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Ah, my mind isn’t anything special.  Like I said,
                                                            I’m just a –

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            There’s no need for that.  How can you measure
                                                            the measureless, bind the boundless, limit the
                                                            Limitless?

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Here, what do you think I am?

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            You’re you, nothing more, nothing less.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Yeah, well, you’re making me sound like
                                                            something I’m not.

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            You can literally think things in and out of
                                                            existence, change matter to energy and back
                                                            again, control vast energies beyond imagination.
                                                            What do you think that is?

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            I dunno.  I’m trying to figure it all out.

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            Perhaps you know already, but are thinking
                                                            that those around you might fear you, so you try
                                                            to be normal, if you will.  This is an artifact of
                                                            your perception of the need to fit in.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Geez, everybody is trying to be a shrink today.

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            I only have a desire to guide you to peace.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Yeah, well, I think I’m on the right road.  I just
                                                            have to let go of some stuff.

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            Limits, perhaps.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Everybody has limits.

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            It can be easy to understand things that have
                                                            beginnings and ends, boundaries, limits.  These
                                                            are things you do not have.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Sure I do.  I can’t do everything.

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            How can you be sure?  Have you tested your
                                                            skills?

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Well, I can’t bring me Dad back and Andre
                                                            doesn’t love me.

ROY PURCELL, Solamaine’s Dad, APPEARS.

                                                                                    ROY
                                                            Angel eyes.  How are you?

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            Dad?  But you’re….you’re dead.

                                                                                    ROY
                                                            Apparently not, as I am here.  I’ve missed you.

Roy embraces Solamaine.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            You’re here because I asked you to be.

                                                                                    ROY
                                                            I never left you, ya little sprog.  Just
                                                            because I messed up don’t mean that
                                                            I stopped loving you or your Mum.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            But you did leave.  You committed
                                                            suicide because you couldn’t cope with
                                                            losing your job and Mum’s anger.

                                                                                    ROY
                                                            I let myself get mugged by a couple
                                                            of desperate blokes because I knew the
                                                            insurance would take care of you and
                                                            Lucy.  If that’s what you call suicide,
                                                            then shoot me.  So to speak.  I was
                                                            worth more dead than alive.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                                                    (starts to cry)
                                                            That’s all bollocks and you know it.

EXT. RAJAH’S APARTMENT BUILDING – DUSK

It starts to RAIN.

                                                                                    RAJAH
                                                                                    (looks out window)
                                                            Interesting.  It does not rain here this time
                                                            of year….very often anyway.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            I’ve always loved you, Dad.  It’s been
                                                            thirteen long years without you.  How
                                                            could you ever think so low of yourself?
                                                            We love you, will always love you,
                                                            Mum and me.  Don’t ever forget that.

                                                                                    ROY
                                                            I won’t.  And now, you can let me go.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            I can’t let you go, now.  I need you back.
                                                                                    ROY
                                                            I’ve always been right here (points to her heart).
                                                            C’mon, Angel Eyes, would you want me to be
                                                            stuck on this plane?

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            What do you mean?

                                                                                    ROY
                                                            You know, this level, this plane.  You’re a
                                                            bright little shiela, you know what I mean.

                                                                                    KALKI
                                                            You brought Roy from his world into yours.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            You mean Heaven?

                                                                                    ROY
                                                            I guess.  People have got so many names for it.
                                                            All I know is that it’s a place where I never feel
                                                            knackered.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            If that’s what you want.

                                                                                    ROY
                                                            You can visit me any time.  Just think of me
                                                            and you’ll be there with me.

                                                                                    SOLAMAINE
                                                            OK, Dad…I love you.
                                                                                    
                                                                                    ROY
                                                            And I love you, Angel Eyes, a million years
                                                            past forever.

Roy fades and then blinks out.

EXT. RAJAH’S APARTMENT – DUSK


The rain stops, the skies rapidly clear, to the astonishment of passersby looking up at the sky.                    
                                                                         
Solamaine, the TRANCEndant.
Solamaine, the TRANCEndant.