Out of Mind

INT. EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF SMALL PUBLIC CORPORATION ANYWHERE USA -
DAY
A man walks in escorted by a current key official of the firm; he is
from out of town, a troubleshooter type, attorney; seated in reception
is a dark-eyed woman, very attractive; he avoids eye contact....
PRESIDENT BOLLINGER
....and as the Chairman has told you, we have gone through our initial
public offering proceeds rather quickly, and, well....
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Perhaps we had better continue this in your office.
PRESIDENT BOLLINGER
Of course, as you wish.
(they walk past reception, Boronsky's eyes locking onto hers)
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Now, you were saying.
PRESIDENT BOLLINGER
Well, we're effectively broke; fact is, we must have a secondary raise
of capital yesterday.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
You realize, my impression is that while there may be value here, time
is not your friend, nor the markets, for that matter. I will need to do
another review of the books.
PRESIDENT BOLLINGER
Perhaps after dinner? I'd prefer that all the staff be gone.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Not tonight, have an appointment which may take some time; we'll plan
on meeting at the CPA's tomorrow afternoon, just send over your set of
books and I'll get started there.
(he gets up to leave, his eyes once again locking with hers across the
room through the glass enclosed office)
PRESIDENT BOLLINGER
Fine, will do. Good evening to you then; need any directions?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
No, no, been there before.
CUT TO:
EXT. SANITORIUM IN WOODED SUBURB - AFTERNOON
Brodsky is visiting his brother who is a long-term patient at the
Sasquehannah Mental Hospital.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Yes, hello, here to see Josiah Boronsky.
(he signs the ubiquitous guest book)
STATION NURSE
If you'll just have a seat I'll arrange for him to be brought out to
the patio area.
(she gives instructions into a phone)
His brother is wheeled out to the large outdoor visiting area; he is
early 40s, toussled hair, vacant in his affect.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Hello, Josey; how are you since we last were together?
(he is used to this one way conversation)
JOSIAH BRODSKY
(noticeably drooling)
Who are you? Do you have my supplies?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Yes, I have what you want, just try and remember my name, ok.
(he shows Josey a pen and notebook)
What's my name?
JOSIAH BRODSKY
You are my friend Joey....right?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
That's right, Josey, but we are much more than friends. What am
I?
JOSIAH BRODSKY
Yerrrr a brudder, right?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Correct, and now you get your supplies. Have you written anything
lately?
JOSIAH BRODSKY
Sure I have; letters.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
To whom, Josey; I haven't gotten any letters from you in some
time.
JOSIAH BRODSKY
A girl.
(he blushes, smiling)
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Have I met her?
JOSIAH BRODSKY
No, she is new......got pretty eyes......but you can't talk to her, she
doesn't talk.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
What's her name, can you tell me that?
JOSIAH BRODSKY
Secret!
(laughing quietly)
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Alright, no problem; you don't have to tell me about her, let's talk
about your memory. Can you remember mom?
JOSIAH BRODSKY
Dead.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
You know that's not true, come on; Anything else?
JOSIAH BRODSKY
Don't want to talk about her. Um tired, want to sleep.
(he yawns, head drooping)
JOSEPH BRODSKY
I'll get the nurse.....there she is now.
(she begins to wheel Josey back to his room)
ATTENDING NURSE
The doctor will see you in his office, he's waiting for you.
CUT TO:
INT. STAFF PSYCHIATRIST'S OFFICE - MOMENTS LATER
Brodsky has entered finding Dr. dictating notes.....
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Joseph, come sit down, just be a moment.
(finishing dictation)
....and there are some remissive signs, still too early to tell
conclusively.
Good to see you, how long has it been, at least six months,
correct?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
There's nothing wrong with your memory, exactly six months. Let's not
mince words, what is his present condition?
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
There's been a very interesting turn of events, Joseph; he has taken to
a new patient, younger woman, late twenties, serious dementia brought
on by deep trauma from a prior relationship; the staff have observed
them sitting together, sometimes for hours, often just staring in each
others eyes, or so it appears, and then, without any pattern we can
detect, they will engage in detailed conversations about all manner of
subjects, very lucidly.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Wow, that's some turn of events; have you any notes of these
conversations, maybe taperecordings?
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Afraid we haven't been able to record anything just yet, seems they are
almost whispering. We intend to keep trying, though.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
He did mention her to me today, very protective about her name, said
she was very quiet.
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Rather common in his situation, paranoia quite deep, almost a
paternalistic attitude toward anyone they like.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
That reminds me, he wouldn't talk about our mother, in fact, it caused
him to become fatigued. Any clues?
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
This may well be a latent Oedipal reaction, his mind actually reverting
to a confused pubescent state, frightened by the sexual connotations
surrounding mother, that sort of thing.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Might be deeper though; he has never really forgiven her for putting
him in here.
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
You must keep in mind that we still are quite rudimentary in our
divinings of the brain and its various states, consciousness,
unconsciousness, dream state, that sort of thing; I have even heard of
a recent mainstream study of consciousness by a Russian scientist at a
nearby university who has theorized that consciousness actually is our
true self, beyond the brain when we are asleep, claims to have some
startling new evidence of this!
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Pretty far out, you ask me.
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Well, in point of fact----or should I say theory----that is his very
point: this material life may be an imagined one, so powerful is the
mind.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Isn't the mind created by the brain?
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
We simply don't know the answer. You see, in a very fundamental sense,
it is difficult to study a thing using that very thing itself.
It gets complicated, but the deconstructionist philosophy quite rightly
says that a critical examination of anything can never truly escape the
sytem of which it is a part, hence, in the case of the brain, it wants
to see itself as a physical organ, yet, as one great thinker has put
it, 'Why is it like something else or more than just breathing,
thinking, feeling to be alive?'
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Must have skipped that lecture in med school, oh, wait a minute, I
never went to med school: what the Hell are you talking about?
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Just so, this isn't taught in medical school or any other science
curriculum. Look, the key question is, what is that 'something' we, the
organically "alive", feel like when we are so-called conscioius,...
with me?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
You want the honest truth, I hope not! Seriously, could we just boil it
all down to plainspeak.
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Perhaps next time; I have a lecture at that same University tonight,
must prepare----maybe you want to attend?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
No thanks, saving what's left of my brain or mind, or whatever 'it' is,
for some bean counting tomorrow, take a raincheck. What's the current
prognosis on Josey, give me the lay version, please.
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Certainly; frankly, I see him here for some time, at least until we can
make sense of his byplay with this new patient. As soon as we have any
meaningful tapes I'll be sure and let you hear them, fair enough?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Deal; thanks, Doc. Hey, I am actually fascinated by the whole
mind/brain thing, perhaps you could let me have a tape of that lecture
of yours as well.
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Why, yes, they'll be available at the campus bookstore soon after, just
ask for: "That Certain Something" as the title, by Drs. Graff &;
Weiskopf, $15.99, I believe.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Now that last part even I can understand.
(they both laugh amiably and part)
CUT TO TWO DAYS LATER:
INT. EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF CORPORATION - DAY
Brodsky has given his read on the financial numbers to Bollinger.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
I'm ready to advise the underwriters to shoot for another quarter mill,
but's that's the limit for now; also, going to recommend that I be
detailed here as Sr. VP/General Counsel, any problem with that?
PRESIDENT BOLLINGER
Certainly not, you've made my year, not to mention that of our
"do-it-all" whizzkid Yvette Chardin.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
I don't quite copy that....
PRESIDENT BOLLINGER
She's the one who was covering reception the first day you came in;
seems you caught her eye.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Yes, yes, amazing eyes, at that.....she single?
PRESIDENT BOLLINGER
As single as 'safe' at first base! That reminds me, got great tix to
the game tonight, you in?
JOSEPH BRODSKY

Sure, sure, got a third maybe?
PRESIDENT BOLLINGER
I think I get your drift; look, she was working late tonight at my
request, why not use my two tickets?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Just be sure and remember that my business recommendation came before
this particular chicken, got it!?
PRESIDENT BOLLINGER
Hey, you might have just solved the chicken or egg dilemma once and for
all!
(typical male sexist laughter)
CUT TO:
EXT. BASEBALL PARK - NIGHT
Yvette &; Joe are seated behind first base, but haven't noticed the
game....
YVETTE CHARDIN
Is there something you've noticed that I missed?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
(he has been staring at her)
Sorry, sorry; no, nothing detrimental that is.
YVETTE CHARDIN
Well that's a relief; thought you were gonna produce a pocket watch and
start the hypnosis. Actually, we're both guilty of the same thing, you
just didn't catch me.
(she is smiling shyly)
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn----that is, if you stare right
back at me. You hungry, cause I hate baseball.....
YVETTE CHARDIN
The only thing worse is those chunky girl softball teams, you know,
with the weird pitching style, really creeps me out.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Know what you mean, really boring. This is your town, know any 'little
places'?
YVETTE CHARDIN
If you like good steaks.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Funny thing, I'm at heart a vegetarian, but right now I think I may
need some animal protein.
(smiling not so shyly)
YVETTE CHARDIN
Let's go.....
CUT TO:
INT. DIMLY LIT MORTON'S STEAKHOUSE - LATER
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Wow, feel recharged; what about dessert?
YVETTE CHARDIN
Sure.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Wait a minute, was that a yes?
YVETTE CHARDIN
Affirmative. Guess you're used to these closet bulimic women who
pretend to diet regularly when what they do is binge and purge.
Sad.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
I'm speechless....
YVETTE CHARDIN
See, the body has its own wisdom, as in gut feeling. Knows what it
needs, and if you fight it, you're an unhappy otherwise stressed less
healthy person anyway, so why not just listen. The secret is just
common table manners really, eat slowly, chew your food, the hungry
signals shut down automatically.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
You have a science background, right?
YVETTE CHARDIN
Wrong; look, I just told you, manners.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Would it be a terrible breach of good table manners to suggest that we
have dessert at my place?
YVETTE CHARDIN
Oh, well, always liked home cooking myself, as long as it has nothing
to do with Martha Stewart!
(she utters a most unusual laugh)
JOSEPH BRODSKY
You sound like that laugh is directly from your soul!
YVETTE CHARDIN
Wait till you get to the rest of me.
CUT TO AN HOUR LATER:
INT. BRODSKY'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Greco-Roman wrestling has now become a coed sport, and they have both
pinned each other into exhaustion....
JOSEPH BRODSKY
You have to tell me how you do that....
(he is out of breath)
YVETTE CHARDIN
Sorry, trade secret. Besides, you seem to have done some damage
yourself. GOt any bandaids?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Oh, Jesus, my 5 o'clock shadow!
YVETTE CHARDIN
Hey, it's more your clever tongue than your beard!
(laughing yet another interesting way)
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Seriously, did you just materialize from some other dimension or
rescind your vows at the nunnery....how is it that you're
available?
YVETTE CHARDIN
Simple really, twice divorced. One child, to whom I must return
shortly; what's your story?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
If you have tears prepare to shed them! My ex wife once told me that my
story was one written by Greeks, but I prefer Shakespeare. TWo boys,
want custody, but the courts are not known for their justice-dispensing
ways.
YVETTE CHARDIN
Don't mention courts; try and find a female judge, and, when you do,
tell me she's not some wannabe guy under those robes.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Believe in past lives?
YVETTE CHARDIN
Which one?
(she laughs, interestingly)
What makes you think that this one is real?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Come again; it feels real to me, especially the last couple of
hours.
YVETTE CHARDIN
What is feeling? YOur five senses are all you have really, and most of
them are inferior to our four-legged friends. They really aren't all
that reliable even without comparisons. No, before we start recounting
past lives, let's analyze this one.
(she looks at the clock)
Oops, gotta go.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
I feel like I could talk to you forever.
YVETTE CHARDIN
Just be happy I'm not your shrink, cost you a fortune.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
I'd argue for the barter system! BEsides, already got one, or feel like
I do, actually he's my broth.....
(he stops himself)
YVETTE CHARDIN
Don't worry, I dated one, they're clueless.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
I'll be staying on at the firm indefinitely, you know.
(he is walking her to the door)
YVETTE CHARDIN
Know all about it, remember.
(she hears a cab horn)
There's my carriage; see you tomorrow.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Looking forward to it.
(they embrace)
YVETTE CHARDIN
Ouch, my bandaids!
CUT TO:
INT. LECTURE HALL AT UNIVERSITY - NIGHT
Drs. Graff and Weiskopf are concluding their talk by Q&; A.
STUDENT QUESTIONER
This is for Dr. Weiskopf....how is it that you can even talk about
something like consciousness when you've never even done drugs?
(spontaneous laughter from audience and lecturers)
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
It's really quite simple, I have! I hasten to add, though, that it was
as a subject in a controlled experiment done years ago under, of all
people, the late Dr. Leary. Despite his latter reputation, he was
actually a quite serious researcher, well-regarded and so forth. IT was
then that I began to understand that our senses are easily
deceived-----this is rather well documented in the literature.
ESsentially, sight, touch, smell, hearing, and taste are governed by
the same mathematical process, and are at best approximate reality
inputs. SMell can be fooled by synthetic substances, touch by the same,
and so forth. THe criminal justice faculty tell me that so-called
eyewitnesses are incredibly inconsistent----and only part of the reason
is the blind spot we all have in the center of the eye. NO, even
without hallucinogenic substances, our version of reality can be quite
altered from the truth.
OLDER QUESTIONER
Dr., can you shed some light on the concept of the brain as an organic
hologram, advanced by David Bohm?
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
I will certainly try.
(nervous laughter)

DR. FRED WEISKOPF (cont'd)
AS you may know, that theory has been put forth as a scientific one
inclusive of a variety of so-called paranormal experiences which are
now widespread in the population. For example, near death and out of
body experiences seem to be logically accounted for if you assume that
the brain's memory functions operate like a hologram, the properties of
which are such that every fragment of a holographic record contains all
the information of the entire film! NOw, if the electromagnetic
interference patterns are aligned at the right angle, we get an image
which we call a memory. Who am I to argue with so distinguished a
scientist, one whose company the reclusive Dr. Einstein actually sought
out----no, I discard nothing so elegant as this theory. ULtimately, the
point is this: our brain, as wonderful as it may be, is not infallible
nor are the senses which feed it everything it knows about the external
world. The result is a sobering one-----what we think is factual may,
in fact, be seriously incomplete, even false.
MODERATOR
Gentlemen, we are out of time; I want to thank the audience and our
lecturers for their stimulating contributions; remember, tapes of this
lecture will be available in a week at the bookstore here and in town,
with proceeds going to benefit our research. GOod night all.
CUT TO TWO WEEKS LATER:
EXT. SANITORIUM IN WOODED SUBURB - DAY
Josiah and his pretty friend are seated across from each other in the
outdoor visitors area......
JOSIAH BRODSKY
(whispering as usual)
What did you do last night?
LINDA CARTER
Just laid there, trying to heal myself......
(sighs)
JOSIAH BRODSKY
They do say it's 'mind over matter', so maybe you can; me, couldn't
sleep at all, kept having all kindsa thoughts.
LINDA CARTER
Bout what?
JOSIAH BRODSKY
Us!
(smiling broadly, drool protruding)
It's really neat.....not tellin you, though!
LINDA CARTER
Ok, then, let's just DO things, not talk about them.
(now she smiles awkwardly)
JOSIAH BRODSKY
Great!
(he is staring into her eyes, she into his)
FADE TO BRIGHT WHITE:
INT. FLIGHT TO NEW YORK - EVENING
Joe &; Yvette are on their way to NYC for business and
pleasure......
YVETTE CHARDIN
You sure that sitter is a trained nurse?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Would you just relax, she's chief of staff at that well-respected
hospital I told you about, you know, my brother's 'place'.
YVETTE CHARDIN
Yeah, but Fosworth is only asthmatic, not ....... well....
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Hey, he's doing rather well these days, Doc tells me he's mind-melding
with a new female patient and, well, is showing incredible EEG/EMG
readings.
YVETTE CHARDIN
Men, you all act so surprised at our suppressed....I mean oppressed
talents. Give me a break.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
You shall have one; this escrow break on the new capital for your
company
(he is interrupted)
YVETTE CHARDIN
My company?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
You heard right; look, I know who's been the rainmaker there and it
ain't Bollinger.
YVETTE CHARDIN
Little me with my GED? Anyway, remember what I said about
manners....just treat everyone with respect and bingo: must be my
testosterone deficit.
(grinning like someone with complete self-knowledge)
JOSEPH BRODSKY
As you wish, your Highness.....after the two hour closing, we're going
to take Manhattan, not sure about the Bronx or Staten Island,
though!
FLIGHT ATTENDANT
May I get you folks another?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
No, thanks, we'll be getting off at Cloud 9, just the check,
please.
CUT TO TWO DAYS LATER:
EXT. HORSE-DRAWN CABRIOLET IN CENTRAL PARK - EVENING
They are snuggled into a garrish cab on a perfect Spring day.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Sorry you had to ascend alone, but gave the footman the day
off....manners.
YVETTE CHARDIN
(she slugs him straight arm)
I would have given him a raise! This is all very lovely, but I'm
concerned about the horse.....
JOSEPH BRODSKY
We could have a team of Clydesdales and you would want a vet in the
carriage with us; look, you're allowed to enjoy your life without doing
God's job at the same time!
(joking laughter)
YVETTE CHARDIN
Go ahead, laughing boy, but at the micro-level we are all the same and
all connected, just like us, twisted crashes of energy.
JOSEPH BRODSKY
Is somebody writing this down! Where do you get these insights, hanging
out with the staff at some particle accelerator?!
YVETTE CHARDIN
Alright, tell me this, how do you know 'you', a bunch of self-organized
molecules, are 'here', in Central Park, with 'me' and not
something/somewhere else?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
My dear, I have ID, a map and a driver to back me up.
YVETTE CHARDIN
It's all perception, from 5 very human senses feeding a three pound
organ we don't even understand much
about and you want to multiply those errors by asking others?
JOSEPH BRODSKY
......guess a notary wouldn't be much help?
YVETTE CHARDIN
You're hopeless!
(they embrace passionately)
Bring up Wayne Newton tune, "Dankashein"
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. STAFF PSYCHIATRIST'S OFFICE - AFTERNOON
Mrs. Brodsky has arrived for an unscheduled visit with her son Josiah;
she is meeting with Dr. first.....
MRS. BRODSKY
Good day, I'm here to see Dr. Weiskopf. Never know where to sign in,
just nervous I guess.
RECEIVING NURSE
That's ok, m'am, I'll sign you in.
(she is on the phone, at the computer screen, very busy)
She proceeds down the hall to Dr.'s office, knocks.
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Yes, yes, come in Clara. Thank you for coming.....I think you will be
pleased with what I have to report.
MRS. BRODSKY
I'm so nervous I couldn't even sign in; what is it Doctor that you
couldn't share with me over the phone, you know how hostile Josey is to
me.
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
You recall when we were last together I promised to try and get some
good taperecordings of Josey with our new female patient; well, our
technical people have equipped their wheelchairs with microrecorders,
very sensitive, spy stuff really, so that the whispering problem is now
not a problem.........
MRS. BRODSKY
Doctor, please, my nerves......what is it?
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Quite right, sorry, I'll cut to the chase:
(he buzzes for a technician who wheels in a tape playback
amplifier)
He begins playing the tape.....
YVETTE CHARDIN (O.S.)
"Is there something I missed that you've noticed?"
JOSEPH BRODSKY (O.S.)
"Sorry, sorry, nothing detrimental that is."
The tape continues through verbatim replay of page 13 onto 14. Near the
end, the receiving nurse walks in without knocking, handing Dr. W. a
clipboard....
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Mrs. Boronsky, before we discuss the tape, you did say you couldn't
sign in today, right?
(hands her the clipboard)
MRS. BRODSKY
That's right, the nurse did it f.......
(she drops the clipboard to the floor, her face flushed)
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Isn't it possible that you signed Josey's name unconsciously?
MRS. BRODSKY
Doctor, I know my son's handwriting like my own, it is very
distinctive......but who is 'Joseph' Brodsky'?!
(she is short of breath)
RECEIVING NURSE
A distant relative, perhaps?
MRS. BRODSKY
Please, both of you: Josey is my only child, and I am the only
surviving family!
DR. FRED WEISKOPF
Let's all take a deep breath.....I'm confident that we can, in time,
account for these odd phenomena.......you see, there is so much we
don't yet understand about our minds.......
FADE TO BLACK.
Music up, "Windmills of Your Mind" by Noel Harrison.