POPRISHCHIN V.O.
Twenty-Fifth Date
DISSOLVE to POPRISHCHIN, positioned with his head where it was in the bath. Thin and drawn as the result of his treatment, he looks like a terrified child, his face covered with bruises and welts.
The CAMERA ROTATES 90˚ and TRACKS BACK revealing that POPRISHCHIN is actually laying down on his bed.
SOUND: The approaching footsteps and cane of the Grand Inquisitor.
Poprishchin is frightened.
The CAMERA PANS with Poprishchin as he crawls behind the box table to hide.
The door opens, casting the light from the corridor on Poprishchin’s face.
Poprishchin ducks behind the box.
The CAMERA PANS to the open door where the GRAND INQUISITOR, visible only from the waist down, enters the cell.
GRAND INQUISITOR
Poprishchin!
Poprishchin remains silent.
The Grand Inquisitor crosses to the box.
GRAND INQUISITOR
Aksenty Ivanovich? ...Civil servant?... Nobleman?
Poprishchin remains silent.
GRAND INQUISITOR
Ferdinand VIII, King of Spain?...
Poprishchin pokes his head out from under the table...
GRAND INQUISITOR
King Ferdinandchik?
...but quickly recoils in fear.
The Grand Inquisitor sees Poprishchin and drives him out from behind the box with his cane.
Poprishchin attempts to crawl away on his hands and knees.
POPRISHCHIN
Stop It!!!!! That damned stick really hurts!
Cut to: The Grand Chancellor raises his stick.
Cut to: Poprishchin is struck across the back.
Cut to: A blinding flash of light.
Cut to: The Grand Chancellor raises his stick.
Cut to: Poprishchin is struck again.
Cut to: Another blinding flash of light.
DISSOLVE TO:
The CAMERA LOOKS UP at POPRISHCHIN as he emerges from out of a wall of blinding light, dressed in a High Priest’s robe.
As the wall of light fades, the pulpit of the church comes into clear view. Multi-colored sunlight pours through the cathedral's stained glass.
POPRISHCHIN
I found. I discovered. No, I now understand... that every rooster has his own Spain, his very own Spain, and he has it situated just beneath his quills.
The CAMERA CRANES UP as Poprishchin fans his hands in front of his face, but instead of ten fingers of flesh, Poprishchin has quills for fingers.
The CAMERA CRANES above Poprishchin as he looks up towards the heavens, bringing his hands together in prayer.
Cut to: Another blinding flash of light.
CUT TO:
POPRISHCHIN, his hands together in prayer, looks up at the GRAND INQUISITOR from the floor with forgiveness in his eyes.
Cut to: The Grand Inquisitor raises his stick.
Cut to: The Grand Inquisitor strikes Poprishchin again.
Cut to: Poprishchin falls into a lifeless heap on the floor.
The CAMERA TILTS UP to the Grand Inquisitor who leaves the cell disgusted.
Cut to: Poprishchin remains motionless as if left for dead.
Poprishchin springs to his feet. He is totally energized.
Poprishchin turns around and runs full speed into the far wall.
Cut to: A blinding flash of light.
Cut to: BLACK.
CUT TO: