The Hand, a thriller

A freshly severed hand on a dark dresser top (an elegant dresser, carved and solid). Silent drip drip drip, red blood on the carpet, drip drip drip...

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It's the near future, in a stem cell lab. Corporate, not the academic type.

Elmira Ramirez, Chief Scientist, marches down the long tile hall. Resounding click of high heels echoes

fluorescent lights.

Rats in cages, caged rooms.

(barbed wire at the guard station outside)

Progress.

ACCIDENT and she didn't make headlines because

it was taboo, a secret because

she was killing someone else in the struggle

a rival scientist? a jealous sister? pick one but the important part is that, in the struggle,

slice

ACCIDENT and

Chief Scientist implores,

Save that hand!

But it's gone (THAT HAND IS GONE)

Buried that hand with the body, but no hand is evidence too.

Where'd you lose that hand, Elmira?

Later, late night.

Awake in lab (glow) goggles.

frenzy

test tubes, petri dish, scalpel

and grafting with a scalpel

the latest unreleased secret- the "Re-Gens"- and

New hand takes seed.

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The new hand is not quite right.

something sinister

over time- evil

the new hand and the other hand begin to oppose one another until

the hands-off (hand vs. hand)

approaches mania.

A struggle!

The hand becomes destructive

Racing scene ensues:

In Elmira's house (urgency)

She staggers through the door (rocking on its hinge, left open)

snowy outside chill

night time air

to the bedroom

-low lights

dark mahogany and

cream plush carpets (white)

Battle Battle one hand has a

large knife!

(grabbed it in the kitchen, on the way in)

She is able to knock it away (Elmira, with the other hand)

it falls on the bed

Hours and Hours.... she fights

STANDING

arms apart, held with all

her strength

tension

persperation

the sunlight is starting to

creep over the snow horizon out the window.

it makes a tiny line on the wall and

Elmira stands as the sun rises

holding out

holding out

holding out

Final image:

A severed hand

at the wrist

bones and nerves stick out

laying on the hard

mahogony

camoflauge

next to the hairbrush

jewelery box

drip drip is silent, to the floor

enveloped by the plush carpet,

it's silent.

snow comes in the front door.

Elmira is gone.

The sun is up.