In the western desert, the appalling sun-baked earth felt more like a transient inferno that could not measure. This savored desert revealed the heart of what was once considered an ancient land. While an old dust covered wagon appeared across the peaceful horizon. Darkness blended within the shadows of the night. A refraction of the sun's corona formed, as night continued its domination of the earth.

[Act One of Four Acts] A Slice In Time © 2011
By Joe Vojt
An original teleplay
One-hour television program

Registered WGAe No. R20975



ACT ONE


A SLICE IN TIME

In the western desert, the appalling sun-baked earth felt more like a transient inferno that could not measure. This savored desert revealed the heart of what was once considered an ancient land. While an old dust covered wagon appeared across the peaceful horizon. Darkness blended within the shadows of the night. A refraction of the sun's corona formed, as night continued its domination of the earth.

RAY and HARRIET were sitting in their General Store, talking about their twenty-year-old son, NIGEL. Once the sun set, he became a new person. With the advent of darkness, his attitude instantly changed. He became elated with new energetic functions. Slowly he turned nocturnal, but the real reason why never came to light.

Ironically, through some balance of faith, another world co-existed. It occupied the same physical living area, but in total darkness. Existing not to far from the same settlement, a fine young woman, named LARA kept walking outside in the wilderness of life. She was active and full of vigor, because darkness was the active part of her day.

Nigel and Lara were two varied living elements; both lived in the same spectrum of time. Life was only separated by the concept that two diverging visions would never cross.

ACT ONE



FADE IN:


EXT. WESTERN DESERT JULY - 1950

INT. GENERAL STORE MORNING

RAY and HARRIET were sitting talking about their twenty-year-old son, NIGEL.

RAY
For some unknown reason Nigel is
becoming controlled by the forces
of darkness.

HARRIET
You right dear I noticed how much
his normal functions have slowed.

RAY
Especially during the days when
the sun is the brightest.

HARRIET
He has this eccentric by-product
of depression, but only during
the daylight hours.

RAY
Both his sleeping and eating
habits have been modified.

HARRIET
In fact to the point of losing
his appetite.

RAY
Once the sun set, he becomes a
different person.

HARRIET
With the advent of darkness his
attitude instantly changes. Being
elated with many new energetic
functions.


RAY
Nigel is slowly turning nocturnal,
but the real reason why has never
come to light.

HARRIET
I am worried about him.

RAY
So am I this sure is a mystery.

HARRIET
His ability to enjoy the division
of incidental color during the
darkness is almost sinister.

RAY
I know what you mean. He has the
ability to move through the night
without anyone seeing his features.
This almost makes him obscure or
more or less invisible.

HARRIET
My concern is he enjoys living in
total darkness and that will become
his normal lifestyle.

RAY
I know. But what can we do about
It?

HARRIET
You know it is hard for him to
look at any shiny objects,
especially during the daytime
hours.

RAY
Wearing those dark heavy glasses
helps him shield his ever
increasing sensitive eyes.

HARRIET
True as longs as it helps.

RAY
Day blindness as it is called,
is extremely unusual.


HARRIET
True, he has accepted it. As
parents what can we do?

RAY
What choices are there?

HARRIET
There are none because he is
gradually disappearing from our day
world. Moving into the open desert
seems to be his only source of
survival.

RAY
We can only support his new
lifestyle.

HARRIET
You right dear, but will we ever
see him?

RAY
Good question, but I am sure he
will not forget us.

HARRIET
It is never easy to let go.

RAY
We can still love him.

HARRIET
Why are you so smart?

RAY
Because Nigel is not a typical
twenty year old.

HARRIET
The Great Depression made an
impact on all our lifestyles.
Pressure was placed on him,
because of your frail health.

RAY
I understand, but he started
wandering the region of wilderness
well before that. It more like a
calling from the past.


HARRIET
I know it has been hard to
understand.

RAY
Once he discovered the Psychic
Interplanetary Migration theory.
He changed for ever.

HARRIET
True but he believes in different
forms of life. Something about
being replenished in the desert.

RAY
This Psychic Interplanetary
Migration theory offered many
actual sightings.

HARRIET
Understanding any of this is not
easy for us.

RAY

Nothing was ever recorded. Nigel
accepts that no written words
survived. Yet he is completely drawn
to it.

HARRIET
You mean the stories told of
people surviving in the desert
without water and food.

RAY
Yes and that was one reason he
accepted the fact that life
existed beyond what normal
people could not see.

HARRIET
This theory gave Nigel a new
vision of substance.

RAY
The sad part is he truly
believes it.


HARRIET
At the same time, we lost our
son to the night and the desert.

RAY
He was drawn into that vast
wasteland.

HARRIET
You know one day in July, Nigel
began preparing for a desert trek.

RAY
His mind was made up.

HARRIET
No way could we prevent his goal.
He is strong willed and once he
made up his mind there was nothing
left but help him.

Ray changed the subject.

RAY
Remember the day he found an
old run down chuck wagon?

HARRIET
Yes because you told him there
was one not being used near a
saloon.

RAY
What else could we do as parents?

HARRIET
Love guides parents to help their
children.

RAY
True, seeing his mind was made up
why not?

HARRIET
There was no other way, I guess.

RAY
I told him the wagon had double
yoke oxen design and it would be
the best for his needs.


HARRIET
The owner of the wagon was glad to
clear himself of the burden.

RAY
Sometimes, timing is everything.

HARRIET
What surprised me was how easy he
found a pair of old oxen grazing
in the fields.

RAY
Being or having determination
guides many people.

HARRIET
You are right dear.

RAY
Placing a new tarpaulin over the
wagon, was easy. He found water
barrels with tight fitting lids for
the journey. Mounting them on the
outside was smart.

HARRIET
Like the old days.

RAY
It sure worked for Nigel.

HARRIET
The wagon inside had plenty of
room for his sleeping and camping
equipment. He sure planned his trip
for the long haul.

RAY
I felt bad not being able to help
him pull the wheels. They required
to be re-greased and it was a big
job. At the same, time extremely
important for his mobility in the
sand.

HARRIET
Food and water were the last
articles for his venture out into
the wasteland. I helped him get
supplies so they would not spoil.

RAY
You did well with that. I gave him
those old maps my father had given
me.

HARRIET
That made him happy.

Both sat in quiet feeling lonely sad and a degree of happiness.

RAY
One early evening he was off.

HARRIET
We watched the oxen reach into the
vastness of the open plains. Until
he gone.

CUT TO:


EXT. WESTERN DESERT

Off in the distance, a swirl of dust covered an aged moving wagon. It was reaching into the depths and heart of the great western desert. At the same time, a strange gray setting was in force. CREATING a vista where no shadows could be seen.



INT. CHUCK WAGON – AFTERNOON

Nigel was sitting in the front of his chuck wagon.

NIGEL
The reflection of sand is forcing
me to squint.

He realized it was a bad idea traveling so early in the season.

NIGEL
Once the burning sun captures the
grains of sand it takes time for
the energy to become weaker.

Four wheels cut through the lonely cast shadows. While the yellow bleached resinous grains move back and forth.

NIGEL
Traveling this parched land of
sand I perceive strange new
sounds. Could this be apart of my
inner most thought process?

There was nothing out in the open to break the motion of the new.

NIGEL
The terrain has this fine-lined air
scalloped formation. Each has the
appears of perfection. In fact,
it’s more like viewing the tops of
older seashells.

As he continued cutting through the rough terrain, new feelings reached deep into his soul

NIGEL
These erosive forces are slowing
me down, but at the same time
allowing passage ones more.

It felt like a transformation had occurred, because Nigel could feel the warmth being active.

NIGEL
With the winds echoing through
atmosphere confirms a new reality.
This is my residence, even though
the sand continues to attack my
tender white body.

This affect defied logical explanation, but it kept the region under nature’s control.

NIGEL
Those heat waves move ever upward
carrying with it many dust
particles.

As black fearless clouds, cover the area. A forty-year drought has controlled the entire western desert.

NIGEL
I sense the signs of moisture. But
only dry sand keeps spreading
throughout the region.


Survival was based on one single commodity, water, and it became greater then value of gold.

NIGEL
Thunderstorms and violent winds
kick up pockets of dust, especially
during the hot July months. For
some reason moisture does not
seemed to be generating.

Without validation, it merely inferred mankind never becomes absorbed in the land of sand.

NIGEL
I cannot offer scientific or even
logical explanation what I am
experiencing.

Nigel decided to stop and rest for a short time. He was trying to relax as sleep gained on his senses. The Wild River was raging in a devastating manner as new valleys were cut by the rushing water.

CUT TO:


EXT. THE WILD RIVER

In the middle of what became a mad new path of water, a chuck wagon could be seen bobbing freely. It looked as if a small cork was lost in the stream of life.


INT. CHUCK WAGON

Nigel was sound asleep accepting the motion. With many violent turns, one of his water barrels became dislodged. That SNAPPING sound instantly woke him.

NIGEL
What is going on?

He tried standing.

NIGEL
Getting a solid footing with this
motion is not easy. The side rails
sure came in handy.


Looking out through the front opening.

NIGEL
Wow, those waves of water are
raising and falling in front of
the wagon. What a display of
power.

Holding on with both hands.

NIGEL
This cannot be happening. I feel
the wagon is drifting ever higher.

The sun could not break through the massive gray cover.

NIGEL
My guess is the forty-year drought
has ended.

Watching the rushing water, it began lifting the wagon.

NIGEL
Those high canyon walls are coming
real close.

At that moment, something hit his wheels. Nigel jumped.

NIGEL
It sure felt like I hit one of
those jagged outcropping below.
How can that be?

The wagon continued being drawn into the darkest region of the lofty mountains.

NIGEL
My night vision sure helps me see
those narrow buttes, with sharp
rocks. This sight is frightening
but at the same time an awesome
ride.

What was once a seared harsh arid land was now covered with an uncontrollable force created by Mother Nature.

NIGEL
(holding tight)
Boy the wagon appears to have its
own direction.


All this was a new experience.

NIGEL
Wow, how can that be? I am being
propelled into the side of the
mountain.

DISSOLVE TO:


INT. MOUNTAIN OPENING

Nigel’s chuck wagon began freely rolling into a dry ledge.


INT. CHUCK WAGON

NIGEL
(wondering)
How could one single wave catapult
me into this opening?

Water penetrated his belongings, but he felt safe.

NIGEL
With darkness shielding my sight I
see a castle carved in stone straight
ahead. It must have been fortified
once. Now it can only be a memory of
the past.

The wagon kept moving forward rolling away form the narrow opening.


EXT. OPEN CAVE DARKNESS

Rolling to a stop he jumping out.

NIGEL
It sure appears to be powder dry in
here. Even the walls show no sign of
moisture.

Bending down he felt the dry sand.


NIGEL
I can't believe that a village of
the past is in front of me.

Excitement overcame any fear he might of have had.

NIGEL
In these modern times, how can an
ancient settlement unfolded like
this in front of my eyes?

Completely awed at this spectacle, he walked aimlessly toward the castle, absorbing every part he could.

NIGEL
My plan now is to learn everything
about these catacombs of the ancient
ones.

The sun became a welcomed sign for the local town’s people, but in a high dry cliff, Nigel felt trapped up in the shear cliffs. He continued walking in the brightness of the evening.

NIGEL
It is clear, what once held life
is now past. This makes me realize
ancient people once lived up here.
They must have been strong and
healthy.

Everything looked primitive, but for some reason he did not feel alone. Walking back to the edge, he BENT over the edge and could not believe it. The raging water had died down to a small calm stream of water.

NIGEL
How did I ever get up this high? I
feel a new emotion, similar to a
form of motion sickness.

Taking stock of his situation, he turned around and walked back to his wagon. Checking the outside and inside.

NIGEL
Most of my necessities are in order.
The water barrels took a beating,
all but one survived.

He decided the castle was worth his curiosity.


NIGEL
I have to check out this monument
of the past. Looks like it is held
together with different sized
stones with a form of reddish mud
in-between.

He saw rotting timbers, standing without reason or purpose.

NIGEL
The dryness of the earth even up here
is plain as day.

Nigel felt WARM and comfortable high up in the cut out region of a once flourishing alcove.

NIGEL
What an odyssey from the earlier
period, this could also be my last.

Looking around, he was surrounded with clusters of primitive chambers. He decided to walk in one of the rooms.


END OF ACT ONE