Communism Part III

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EXT. STREET MORNING

 

Newcomers are going out of their apartments and houses into individual research and action in Heaven. They walk through the town and look around. Street with no car traffic. Green everywhere. Children drive bicycles and skate carefree. The people sit on benches and  talk pleasantly. Smile of adults and laughter of children is heard.

 

John walks fast straight to the mayor.

 

INT. OFFICE OF MAYOR’S SECRETARY DAY

 

A big office full of documentation. The secretary Anica sits beside the table and types something on the computer keyboard. She wears a simple outfit. The office is full of flowers. John enters through the open door.

 

JOHN

        Hello, is the mayor here?

 

ANICA

Yes he is, but he is not

available right now.

 

JOHN

It's important...

 

John does not pay attention to Anica any more and continues to walk towards the door with the sign Mayor Aleksandar... 

 

ANICA

Excuse me! Please...

 

John knocks on the door and enters without waiting.

 

INT. MAYOR'S OFFICE DAY

 

The office is large. Classical dark rustic furniture. Work table with a computer and big monitor. One lower table with four chairs for guests. The walls are arranged with pictures. The shelves are full of books. The big window opens a view of the sea.

 

The mayor wears a dark blue suit and tie. He reads electronic mail.

 

JOHN

Hello Aleksandar!

 

Aleksandar rises his eyes from the computer.

 

JOHN

I am John. I would like to

become mayor instead

of you.

 

ALEKSANDAR

(gives a surprised look)

        Oh really...

 

JOHN

        Yes. How can I do that? 

 

Aleksandar stands up from his table. They shake hands.

 

ALEKSANDAR

Hello, please sit down....

(shows the chair)

 

They sit in chairs.

 

        ALEKSANDAR

(continues)

The best way for you to

become a mayor is to make

an agreement with me.

 

JOHN

Let's make an agreement.

 

ALEKSANDAR

First, you need to show me

your program and in it a

greater productivity than

I offer. If you make me

believe you are better I

will support you and

withdraw from here.

 

JOHN

That seems too complicated

for me. I was told that I

may become a mayor whenever

I want. Nobody mentioned

programs and agreements...

 

ALEKSANDAR

Yes, they told you well...

If you offer in a computer

center only one percent

larger productivity than I,

and if I would not be able

to follow it, the position

is automatically yours.

But that is risky because

it excludes an agreement.

 

JOHN

How do you measure

productivity?

 

ALEKSANDAR

We measure it by the

evaluations we receive for

our work from the people. 

 

JOHN

That means I need to offer

a higher mark?

 

ALEKSANDAR

Yes. 

 

JOHN

How? 

 

ALEKSANDAR

If you offer 1% higher

evaluation and 1% larger

responsibility then me you

get the right to work

here...

 

JOHN

I will!

 

ALEKSANDAR

But it is not that simple

as it looks like because

our system calls for

responsibility rigidly.

The Mayor directly manages all

business in the commune and

he is responsible for the

realization of all

businesses. This chair is

very hot...

(shows his chair)

 

JOHN

OK! (says self-confidently)

 

ALEKSANDAR

If the people here gave you

lower evaluations for your

work than you proposed that

hat on your head (red) will

grow.

 

John does not pay attention to his warnings any more.

 

JOHN

Where is the computer

center?

 

ALEKSANDAR

Each computer you use here

is connected to the

computer center. 

 

JOHN

Thanks...

(smiles and starts leaving

the room)

 

ALEKSANDAR

(with good intensions adds)

Our system awards good

work. If you achieve

offered production this hat

on your head will get

smaller. But I’m warning

you again. If you propose

a greater productivity than

you can accomplish your hat

will grow...

 

John confidently waves back to him and leaves the office.

 

INT. OFFICE OF MAYOR’S SECRETARY DAY

John passes Anica without a word. Anica looks at him very surprised.

INT. CITY ADMINISTRATION HALL DAY

John randomly enters into the next office in which he sees an officer at the desk and pulls back into the hall without a word. In another attempt he encounters an empty office and enters.

INT. OFFICE DAY

 

John sits at a computer. Types in the increase of productivity for the mayor position 1%. Thinks a little bit and adds one zero. Thinks a little bit more and adds one more zero and registers his offer by typing the enter key in the keyboard. So that greed has pushed John to offer 100% greater productivity for the mayor’s position. Then John opens the page that defines his responsibility and without thinking types rise of 1,000%. He made a typo. He makes a grimace but waves his hand carelessly and registers his offer.

 

INT. MAYOR'S OFFICE DAY

 

At the same time the Mayor's computer starts to flash and sound the alarm. Aleksandar is very surprised when he sees what productivity John offers. He silently picks up his things, and leaves the office rolling his eyes.

 

INT. CITY ADMINISTRATION HALL DAY

 

At the exit Aleksandar meets John, shakes hands with him and leaves without a word.

 

INT. MAYOR'S OFFICE DAY

 

John sits in the mayor's chair, puts his feet on the table, rubs his hands with glee, and smiles self-lovingly. 

 

EXT. STREET DAY

 

Street full of small locals. Pleasant peace fills the air.

 

Kevin stops a passer-by Bogdan on the street. Bogdan is a middle-aged man, carelessly dressed, a little bit slow in comprehension. Phlegmatic.

 

KEVIN

Hello, excuse me please,

where is the closest police

station?

 

BOGDAN

(phlegmatically)

We do not have police

stations.

 

KEVIN

(surprised)

How can I find policemen?   

 

BOGDAN

(phlegmatically)

We do not have policemen.

 

KEVIN

(surprised)

How come?

 

BOGDAN

Just like that...

(says like it is the most

natural thing)

 

KEVIN

(is more surprised)

So, who protects you from

crime?

 

BOGDAN

(phlegmatically)

We do not have crime. 

 

KEVIN

Well, who enforces the

laws?

 

BOGDAN

(phlegmatically)

We do not have laws.

 

KEVIN

(is very surprised)

What?

 

BOGDAN

We do not have laws.

(repeats like it is the most

natural thing)

 

KEVIN

How come? 

 

BOGDAN

How come? (thinks a little

bit)That's how! At the

beginning we had laws but

we developed our

relationships so much that

nobody uses laws any more.

They become unnecessary.

 

KEVIN

(very surprised)

How can you exist without

laws? 

 

BOGDAN

Exactly as you see... We

alone create, carry out,

and change the rules in

our relationships. Alone!

 

KEVIN

(is very surprised)

How? 

 

BOGDAN

It is clear what is right

and what is wrong and we

observe to it. Sometimes

we listen to opinions of

experts and then we make

agreements about how

things need to be done.

At the end, the mutual

evaluations give power to

each of us...

 

KEVIN

Then I am in charge too?

 

BOGDAN

Yes. That is what assures

good relationships in

society. 

 

KEVIN

(very surprised)

And it works just like

that? 

 

BOGDAN

Yes, it works just like

that. (He thinks a little

bit and adds) It works

perfectly, much better then

where you have come from.

 

Brandon and Frances pass by across the street. They wave their hands to Kevin. Kevin relaxes a little bit when he sees them and waves back.

 

KEVIN

(shouts to them) 

Where are you going?

 

BRANDON

(shouts to Kevin)

To the soccer stadium!

 

Kevin waves his hand again. Then he turns back to Bogdan, thinks a little bit and asks...

 

KEVIN

Are there any available

jobs in the army? 

 

BOGDAN

(phlegmatically)

We do not have an army.

 

KEVIN

(is not surprised any more)

I should have thought so...

 

BOGDAN

(smiles on that and adds)

When we citizens of this

peaceful place decided to

stop supplying our army

with money that was its

end... We dismissed it and

        destroyed the arms...

 

KEVIN

You do not have arms?

 

        BOGDAN

No... Not that we do not

have baseball bats and

kitchen knives but nobody

gets the idea to use them

as arms.

 

KEVIN

So, what protects you?

 

BOGDAN

(phlegmatically)

Nothing attacks us. 

 

KEVIN

?

 

BOGDAN

We have learned that the

worst danger comes from

great leaders, those to

whom their nation or

homeland is the most

important thing.

 

KEVIN

Why?

 

BOGDAN

Such people just use their

nations for their

megalomaniac goals and

nothing good can come from

that...

 

KEVIN

So how do you protect

yourself from them?

 

BOGDAN

Simply, we easily recognise

such people... then we give

them very negative

evaluations... That shuts

their mouths far before

they are able to produce

any evil.

 

KEVIN

(thinks a little bit and

asks)

So what will I do? I do not

know anything but police

work!

 

BOGDAN

(thinks deeply and says)

You do not need to do

anything that you do not

want to do. When you find

what you want to do, you

will do it because you will

like doing it.

 

KEVIN

        ?

 

BOGDAN

(continues)

Don’t worry. If you need

anything just ask for

Bogdan. I am always

here somewhere...

 

Bogdan waves to him and starts walking away.

 

KEVIN

(calls over)

Thank you.

 

Kevin leaves to another direction with a worry on his face. Some children pass by cheerful and smiling. Kevin absorbedly watches them and after a while he starts smiling too...

 

INT. MIKI'S OFFICE

 

Miki sits in his office and sets up some papers. There is a picture of his wife Mirjana on the table. The furniture is modern, the chairs are comfortable. Light curtains at the window let in light wind. Birds chirp outside.

 

Somebody knocks on the door.

 

MIKI

Come in!  

 

Diane enters the room. Looks magically hot in her bright red dress.

 

DIANE

Please excuse me for

disturbing you. Do you

have time for me?

 

MIKI

Of course.

 

They shake hands.

 

MIKI

Please sit down.

 

Diane sits in a chair.

 

MIKI

(continues)

Drink?

 

DIANE

No thanks...

 

Miki sits too.

 

MIKI

What can I do for you?

 

DIANE

I am very confused here in

a new environment...

 

MIKI

I understand. I was

confused as well.

 

DIANE

I supposed you are an

influential man in a high

position here?

 

While asking the question she crosses her legs and shows her beautiful thighs. 

 

MIKI

Yeah, something like that...

(responds half confused

half calculatingly)

 

DIANE

Can you advise me with

what I should work here? 

 

MIKI

What did you work so far? 

 

DIANE

Mainly I have helped

successful people...

(thinks little bit)

...is it getting hot in

here...

 

She unhooks upper button on her dress, shakes it, and shows the place where her beautiful breasts are joined. Blood rushes to Miki's head but he restrains because he is married with Mirjana. He stands up, approaches the window, and opens it widely.

 

DIANE

(continues)

What have you worked

before?

 

MIKI

I was a party official,

something like a director.

 

DIANE

I thought something like

that... ...I immediately

recognise a successful man.

 

MIKI

(tries to be modest)

It's not just like that...

 

        DIANE

Oh no, I do not make

mistakes here. (smiles) I

recognise a man in charge.

 

Miki smiles modestly and nods his head self-lovingly. Diane thinks a little bit and continues shyly.

 

               DIANE

I always wanted to be an

actress. I participated

in part of an acting course

with Mr. Blabinger.

I was supposed to take

an exam but I couldn't

because I was very busy.

You know, we travel...

Mr. Blabinger had a lot

of respect in my skills.

He offered me a role in

a theatre performance.

It was not supposed to be

a big role but he told me

it would be a very

noticeable and memorable

role.

 

MIKI

What role would that be?

 

       DIANE

I was supposed to be a

striptease dancer...

But, as I said I was very

busy... Now I have more

time so I can accept a

more significant movie

role. Can you help me?

 

Tension rises...

 

MIKI

(says calculatingly) 

I'll look for something...

 

DIANE

Oh, thank you very much...

 

MIKI

(smiles)

Nothing, nothing... 

 

DIANE

You would never understand

how much it means to me.

This is my greatest wish.

If you help me I will

forever be in your debt.

Just tell me how to pay

back the favour and I'll

do it. 

 

Diane stands up seductively from the chair to hug Miki in the "friendly" manner. Miki is surprised a little bit. He stands up from his chair as well and spontaneously embraces her waist. She kisses his cheeks.

 

Tension culminates...

 

She notices that he is very sensitive to her closeness, hesitates what to do, thinks a little bit and then slowly moves her head towards Miki and kisses his lips. He moves his head a little bit away. She slowly kisses his lips again. He moves away his head a little bit again. When she kisses his lips third time, he does not move his head away any more...

 

EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF THE LAZAR'S HOME DAN

 

Rock paved street. Two rows of stone houses. Each balcony is full of flowers. Doors, windows, shutters are freshly coloured.

 

Al tries hard to decrease the size of his red hat. He is a trash remover. He has a trash collector's uniform and tricycle with a garbage box. Right now he is cleaning the street in front of the Lazar's house with a broom. Lazar is coming. He has sympathized Al from his childhood. Lazar is a former communist leader and a criminal. In Heaven Lazar is almost an exemplary husband and worker. He wears something similar to a military uniform and a hat “titovka” with a red star.

 

Lazar is very pleasantly surprised to meet Al. He widens his arms...

 

LAZAR

Al!

 

Al looks at him half interested.

 

LAZAR

You are an idol of my

youth!

 

Al does not change his face. Lazar tries to imitate Al. A smile emerges on his face because he is not a skilled actor. He puts his forefinger on his chest and asks...

 

LAZAR

Are you talking to me?

Are you talking to me?

Are you talking to me?

 

But he hit Robert de Niro in the movie Taxi driver. 

 

AL

(responds melancholically)

It wasn't me... 

 

LAZAR

Doesn't matter...

(he waves with his hand

happily)

Let God give you good

health and a long life!

 

Al looks at Lazar a little bit better...

 

AL

Do I know you?

 

LAZAR

We cooperated a little bit.

Do you remember cocaine

from Colombia?

 

AL

(convincingly)

I have never done cocaine

in my life!

 

LAZAR

C'mon, I am not your judge.

Besides that we transported

firearms to Iraq... 

 

AL

(now Al recognises Lazar)

Oh, I remember you now...

... you are a communist

from Yugoslavia...

...Lazar?

 

LAZAR

(says proudly)

That's me! 

 

They shake hands friendly.

 

AL

So how are you doin’?

 

LAZAR

Not bad...

 

AL

Do you know something about

my relatives?  

 

LAZAR

Your father is good.. He is

not far away from here....

I don't know about

others... Ask him.

 

Al is satisfied with the answer and continues...

 

AL

You communists have always

impressed me strongly.

The way you arranged your

underground we were not

even able to dream about.

Nobody was able to

interfere with your

business...Nobody!

 

LAZAR

Those were good times.

And you have remained in my

memory as a very moral man.

You have always helped

friends and killed enemies.

 

AL

Those were good times, but

it is not recognised as

good here. 

 (shows up his long hat)

 

LAZAR

(complains)

No, one cannot kill a man

like a man here! They

immediately send you right

to Hell! Yes, they do...

 

Al thinks a little bit...

 

AL

If I were in power here,

I would return good old

values back. In the first

place a hierarchy.

Authorities would have an

unconditional power.

I would establish order and

discipline. One would know

what anyone is supposed to

do and allowed to do.

Everything would bloom.

Flowers would grow

everywhere, birds would

chirp like in the old days.

(his eyes start to sparkle

for a moment)

 

LAZAR

Do it for God's sake. I

would support you strongly.

 

Anica, Lazar's wife, interrupts them from the balcony of their house.

 

ANICA

Lazar you haven’t done the

dishes...

 

LAZAR

(responds unwillingly)

Just a moment...

 

ANICA

Do it now, it will start

to smell bad!

 

LAZAR

(says silently so that her

wife cannot hear him) 

Godfather, let's continue

this conversation later.

 

Al agrees and continues to broom the street. 

 

EXT. STREET DAY

 

Large building with a board Auto Salon”. Through the glass of window one can see displayed models.

 

Danny stands on the street in front of the auto salon. In the glass of the store window he sees himself with a big red hat. He is unsatisfied. Thinks a little bit and takes the hat off, rolls the edge of the hat so that it looks smaller and puts it back on his head. Now he is satisfied. He enters the auto salon full of new cars.

 

INT. AUTO SALON

 

A contemporarily arranged place. Rade works there. He is the chief of the salon, an elegant gentleman in a suit and tie.

 

DANNY

Hello.

 

RADE

Hello. Can I help you

please?

 

DANNY

I need ten Mercedes.

 

RADE

Ten Mercedes?

 

DANNY

Yes...

 

RADE

Why do you need ten

Mercedes?

 

DANNY

I need.

 

RADE

You are supposed to order

cars you need. These are

exhibition models.

 

        DANNY

No problem, I'll take them.

 

RADE

I can’t help you.

 

DANNY

Uh...

 

RADE

But if you need one

immediately I can give it

to you from reserves. 

 

DANNY

I need ten Mercedes

urgently.

 

RADE

Sorry, I cannot help you.

 

Danny sees on the Rade's coat a tag with the name Rade. He pulls the chief of the salon into a corner.

 

DANNY

(says confidentially)

Rade, I'll give you one

Benjamin Franklin if you

try to help me. (he shows the

bill of 100 dollars)

 

RADE

Ha ha ha ha ha... (smiles)

Money is worth nothing

here!

 

Danny is embarrassed because of the wrong estimation of the situation and tries to escape...

 

DANNY

I did not offer money but

the artistic picture of

Benjamin Franklin.

 

RADE

(now seriously)

You cannot buy me. Besides,

your orientation is pretty

unhealthy here. If you

continue like this your hat

(red) will grow.

 

Danny wants to finish the conversation.

 

DANNY

OK, give me then a

beautiful new model, but

a big one please!

 

RADE

Please fill the

application.

 

DANNY

(grumbles)

Ah, this bureaucracy!

 

Danny fills the application and Rade brings keys...

 

RADE

Here are the keys. Your car

is there...

(he points to it with his
        finger
)

 

Danny takes a Mercedes cabriolet and leaves whispering..

 

EXT. SOCCER STADIUM DAY

 

A big stadium. The amphitheatre may hold about 35,000 people. It is covered with a metal grid structure. One can say that it looks like somebody put two slippers with ends inside each other.

 

Brandon wants to play soccer in Heaven as well.

 

INT. DRESSING ROOM DAY

 

Brandon enters the club’s dressing room. Big room. Lockers, benches, hooks... On one door is a sign that says massage, on second sauna, third showers...

 

Here Brandon meets Srđan a soccer player.

 

BRANDON

Hi, I am Brandon.

 

Brandon gives a hand to Srđan to shake.

 

SRĐAN

Srđan, nice to meet you...

 

They shake hands.

 

BRANDON

May I play soccer here?

 

SRĐAN

You can if you are good.

Have you already played

somewhere?

 

BRANDON

Of course! I played for

Manchester United, for

Barcelona and for Zaprešić.

 

SRĐAN

Excuse me?

 

BRANDON

          (confidently)

Really!

 

SRĐAN

Have you played with

Ronaldinho?

 

BRANDON

Yes.

 

SRĐAN

In what position?

 

BRANDON

Right winger.

 

SRĐAN

(very satisfied)

You are accepted. Here is

the uniform. The game is

about to start!

 

EXT. SOCCER STADIUM DAY

 

Only one person is in the public. This is Frances who has come to support Brandon because she is in love with him.

 

BRANDON

(asks a team-mate)

Where is the public?

 

SRĐAN

There is no public.

 

BRANDON

I see but why?

 

SRĐAN

People come very rarely to

watch us. They live here

actively...

 

BRANDON

What does that mean?

 

SRĐAN

They like playing soccer

themselves or doing

something else rather than

watching us play.

 

BRANDON

(makes a face)

So why do you need such

a big stadium?

 

Srđan feels that Brandon is naïve so he starts pulling his leg.

 

SRĐAN

It stayed here since ever.

I offered to carry it down

to your place, but was

refused...

 

BRANDON

What?

 

SRĐAN

(smiles strangely)

I was told it is too heavy

for me...

 

BRANDON

(understands the joke and

smiles)

I know you are joking me.

 

SRĐAN

I used to be a devil, but I

improved myself and now I

am good...

(he makes a devil face)

Ha ha ha ha...

 

Brandon makes a surprised face. Srđan calms down and continues seriously.

 

SRĐAN

The stadium should be

removed but no one knows

if it would be needed one

day. (shrugs shoulders)

 

The play starts. Brandon gets a beautiful goal. Team mates congratulate him by slapping his shoulders. Frances applauds from the amphitheatre.

 

SRĐAN

(is surprised)

You have a fan! I haven't

seen one in a long time.

 

BRANDON

That’s Frances. She is my

girlfriend.

(thinks a little bit)

No fans here?

 

SRĐAN

No. People are

self-confident here and do

not need idols. 

 

Brandon shrugs his shoulders. He turns to Frances and waves to her. She responds the same. Now he is very happy she is there.

 

BRANDON

(says to himself)

Brandon is good, Frances

is the best.

 

EXT. PARK DAY

 

After the game Brandon and Frances walk through the park. Old pine trees. Sea is close by. Brandon looks Frances in the eyes.

 

BRANDON

I love you more than ever.

 

Frances smiles but her face shows she worries about something. 

 

BRANDON

What’s wrong?

 

FRANCES

(worries)

If I do not get back to

work on Monday I'll lose

my job...

 

BRANDON

It's not that bad?

 

FRANCES

It's even worse. The

company is in a crisis.

They just wait for an

excuse to fire workers...

 

BRANDON

You will find a better

job...

 

FRANCES

There are no good jobs on

the market. They cannot

even provide enough income

to pay the rent...

 

BRANDON

Uh...

 

FRANCES

I will need to find a

roommate like a student...

 

BRANDON

Brandon earns a lot. He

will find a solution...

 

FRANCES

You are a sweetheart but

I cannot accept it.

 

BRANDON

We will find a solution.

First we need to find an

escape from here. (he is

absorbed in thoughts)

But it doesn't seem bad

here at all...

 

They leave absorbed in thoughts.

 

 

 Go to Heaven Part IIII

 

                     

   

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