MR. COOPER CALLING!
Selected Scene
MR. COOPER CALLING!
Selected Scene
INT. BASEMENT – DAY
Dim light.
The basement is filled with bizarre TORTURE DEVICES that look suspiciously like gym equipment.
MR. COOPER sits tied up on the floor.
Directly above him hangs an IRON CAGE lined with sharp spikes.
A rope holds the cage in place.
CROWBAR, a mechanical robot, carefully places a lit CANDLE under the rope.
Cooper looks up.
MR. COOPER
What’s that?
From deep in the shadows comes the MECHANIC’S voice.
He sits high above them in an enormous chair.
MECHANIC
Holy Mechanization! When the rope burns through, nothing will save you! You’ll end up in a cage with no way out!
(beat)
Activate the witness!
SCRAP, another mechanical robot, rushes over to Cooper’s robot, SHURA, and smacks him on the head.
Shura opens his eyes —
then immediately closes them again.
SHURA
It’s a dream. It’s a dream.
He cautiously opens one eye.
SHURA (CONT'D)
Mr. Cooper? You’re here too?
MR. COOPER
Looks like they’re going to put us on trial, and then—
MECHANIC
Then! Your final statement comes later!
The Mechanic leans forward.
MECHANIC (CONT'D)
Let us begin.
(solemnly)
Do you, the accused, admit that everything you have said and everything you have created is heresy?
MR. COOPER
What?! What am I supposed to say?
MECHANIC
So you continue to deny your connection to the unholy forces of electricity?
MR. COOPER
What unholy forces?!
The Mechanic rises.
MECHANIC
These!
He marches over to a LIGHT SWITCH.
MECHANIC (CONT'D)
These!
CLICK. CLICK. CLICK.
The basement lights FLASH on and off.
MECHANIC (CONT'D)
And these!
He jams a piece of wire into an electrical outlet.
A SPARK shoots out.
Cooper recoils.
MR. COOPER
That’s extremely dangerous! Never do that! Be careful!
The Mechanic bursts out laughing.
MECHANIC
Are you threatening me?!
He points dramatically at Shura.
MECHANIC (CONT'D)
Witness! You heard that! Do you confirm that you heard it?
SHURA
No... I mean, yes... I mean...
Shura looks around in disbelief.
SHURA (CONT'D)
What kind of nonsense is this?! It’s the twenty-first century! What “Holy Mechanization”?
Scrap and Crowbar snap to attention.
SCRAP AND CROWBAR
Holy Mechanization!
MECHANIC
Since both the accused and the witness stubbornly deny everything and refuse to confess, I propose that we continue the interrogation using the sacred instruments of Holy Mechanization.
Scrap and Crowbar grab Cooper and Shura and drag them toward a BENCH fitted with heavy weights and a CHAIR equipped with metal restraints.
Cooper studies the chair.
MR. COOPER
Let me guess...
(beat)
Electric chair?
SCRAP
Very funny.
Shura looks at the equipment.
SHURA
What are these? Exercise machines?
CROWBAR
Stop staring! This isn’t a tour! It’s a torture chamber!
Crowbar forces Shura’s head and hands into a wooden STOCK.
Scrap straps Cooper into the chair.
The Mechanic steps behind a CONTROL PANEL covered with rusty levers and a large wheel.
He pulls a lever.
Turns the wheel.
A MECHANICAL ARM extends from the wall.
It unfolds.
Bends.
Then —
BANG!
It slams into Shura’s stock, locking it tightly shut.
Rusty metal rods extend toward Cooper’s chair.
They yank the backrest —
SHARP NAILS suddenly push through it.
Cooper flinches.
MR. COOPER
Ow!
MECHANIC
I suggest you don’t move.
The Mechanic yanks two more levers at once.
Heavy chains RATTLE overhead.
Several ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES descend from the ceiling.
Scrap and Crowbar pull on long RUBBER GLOVES that reach all the way to their elbows.
The Mechanic gestures grandly toward the appliances — TOASTERS, MICROWAVES, ELECTRIC GRILLS and FANS.
MECHANIC
Do you renounce these devices?
MR. COOPER
No one can get rid of them now!
(beat)
Because they exist!
The Mechanic grabs a rusty chain and pulls.
SCREEECH.
A massive mechanical PRESS rolls out of a dark corner on rails.
Its steel jaws open.
Scrap and Crowbar place an ELECTRIC HOT PLATE inside.
MECHANIC
Watch carefully.
The Mechanic grabs the wheel on the side of the press.
MECHANIC (CONT'D)
This is what will happen to every one of your inventions!
He turns the wheel.
The steel jaws slowly CRUSH the hot plate.
Smaller.
Smaller.
Until all that remains is a tiny METAL CUBE.
Cooper stares at it, fascinated.
MR. COOPER
Not bad.
The Mechanic pauses.
MR. COOPER (CONT'D)
Interesting way to shrink my vacuum-phone from regular size to pocket size.
Cooper nods thoughtfully.
MR. COOPER (CONT'D)
I should remember that.
The Mechanic proudly gestures toward the press.
MECHANIC
Now that is power!
He turns back to Cooper.
MECHANIC (CONT'D)
Do you still insist on your misguided beliefs?
SHURA
Mr. Cooper, maybe we should—
MR. COOPER
They still exist!
The Mechanic scowls.
MECHANIC
Continue on the bench.
MR. COOPER
About time I got some rest.
SHURA
Stop! Enough!
The Mechanic leans toward Cooper.
MECHANIC
Do you now admit that you have been communicating with the forces of evil?
MR. COOPER
What you’re doing is extremely dangerous!
The Mechanic sighs.
MECHANIC
Well...
(beat)
What a pity.
He straightens solemnly.
MECHANIC (CONT'D)
I will be forced to fulfill my duty to future generations.
(to the robots)
Take the accused to the place of execution to hear his sentence.
Scrap and Crowbar drag Cooper back to his original spot.
The SPIKED CAGE still hangs above him.
The candle has almost burned through the rope.
Only a few fibers remain.
They STRAIN under the weight of the cage.
The Mechanic settles comfortably into his high chair opposite Cooper.
MECHANIC
You may still repent...
He looks at the burning rope.
MECHANIC (CONT'D)
If you have enough time.
The Mechanic smiles graciously.
MECHANIC (CONT'D)
I am merciful. I will kindly listen to your final words.
Suddenly —
A SCRAPING, CLATTERING SOUND comes from somewhere above them.
Everyone looks up.
