Roland

By
Jarred Hodgdon

Jarrhod@gmail.com

INT. TOILET STALL - DAY

DOCTOR (43, NPR Donor) stands in front of the toilet in a
small stall.
The water ripples in the toilet bowl. She is holding a small
fishbowl with a goldfish in it.
She produces a mischievous smile with a hint of shame.
Doctor bends over, clasps the fish from within the bowl and
tosses it in the toilet.
She leans back, exhaling a sigh through her nostrils.The
fish swims about in the clear toilet bowl.
Doctor flushes the toilet. She pants behind a smile.
INT. DOCTORS OFFICE - DAY
ROLAND, (17, a flesh robot)holds a PHOTO up close, so that
Doctor can see.
INSERT PHOTO: HELD CLOSE, OUT OF FOCUS.
ROLAND
The civil war in Sierra Leone of
the 1990s is still socially
unresolved. This is just one of the
100,000 or so women that were raped
and brutalized in that time you can
see her right breast was cut off
and her teeth punched or kicked in
likely in the context of gang rape.
Roland reclines into the couch, looking at Doctor behind her
executive desk, whom raises an eyebrow.
DOCTOR
And our problems in comparison are
minute...thats your point?
Roland affirms with a nod.
DOCTOR
Do you always carry this photo with
you?
ROLAND
I printed it last night. I thought
your question might come up.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

2.

DOCTOR
Most people rehearse conversations
in their heads. Few would admit to
it, or prepare visual aids.
Roland shrugs to say, "Well what?"
DOCTOR
Do you have other things to show
me?
ROLAND
Just one thing but its not
appropriate right now.
DOCTOR
Why did you shoplift?
ROLAND
We have 3 months of court ordered
sessions do you want to start in on
that now?
Doctor is intrigued.
DOCTOR
We can talk about anything you
like.
ROLAND
I have aspergers. Thats pertinent
information you should know.
A baby goldfish swims within a bag inside the fishbowl on
Doctors desk.
DOCTOR
Youve been evaluated and
diagnosed?
ROLAND
Its quite obvious but you can draw
your own conclusions. As you know
DSM 4 and 5 differ whether the
condition should stand outside the
autism spectrum but if you ask me
it should be classified as a
superpower.
Doctor scribbles a note down.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

3.

ROLAND
I wont take any medication.
DOCTOR
Im a psychologist, not a
psychiatrist. I cant write
prescriptions.
ROLAND
Yes I know but you have friends.
Doctor reaches into the fishbowl, lets the fish out of its
bag, pulls out and throws away the bag.
DOCTOR
Speaking of friends...as you know,
people with your superpower, can
have difficulty in social
situations.
ROLAND
Well I have a friend named Drew.
EXT. CITY PARK PICNIC TABLE - DAY
DREW, (22, nice cretin) bops his head while humming to a
cheesy "Radio Disney"-like HIP HOP TRACK from his cheap
boombox.
Drew has forgotten that hes in the middle of a chess game
with Roland, who sits right across from him, staring.
ROLAND (VO)
There are practical and logical
reasons for relations of
friendship.
Roland stares at Drew, while Drew is oblivious.
ROLAND
Its your turn.
DREW
Oh snaps.
Drew dips towards the board, twiddling his fingers in
contemplation, then makes a move.
Roland begins to peel a banana from the bottom, shooting a
stare at Drew.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4.

ROLAND
Five minutes and thats your move?
DREW
Gya, comin after you bitch!
ROLAND
Reconsider or Ill have you beat in
two moves. Here lemme show youRoland reaches to re-arrange the pieces but Drew pulls back,
exasperated.
DREW
Fuck this. Lets go to the mall.
(sing songey)I want to find some
slizz, and make some cunnilingus.
ROLAND
It was my turn to pick our activity
and I told you before that
objectifying women and using sexist
language will not aid you in
pursuit of them.
DREW
Sorry. I would like to locate
interesting, liberated females to
have intriguing conversations and
make sexual coitus with.
Drew mugs at Roland, while Roland stares blankly at Drew.
DREW
(sing songey)
Cause Im the Charles Mingus of
making cunnilingus.
INT. DOCTORS OFFICE - DAY
DOCTOR
And do you have interest in a
relationship?
ROLAND
In weaker moments the idea has
appeal.
DOCTOR
Weaker moments?

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

5.

ROLAND
Hormonal and nocturnal. I wouldnt
trust the stability of a woman that
took interest in me and Im not
likely to have interest in anyone
whod like me.
DOCTOR
So you dont believe in love I take
it?
ROLAND
I try to believe in things I can
observe or can stand up to rigid
scientific scrutiny.
DOCTOR
Are you nervous around women?
Roland looks up from his hands and connects eyes with
Doctor.
ROLAND
Im not a virgin.
EXT. SHADY STREET BLOCK - NIGHT
Nearby police sirens wail as Roland, (15) walks swiftly on
the sidewalk that runs past a empty lot under a freeway
overpass.
ROLAND (VO)
My virginity felt like a disease
feeding me thoughts and compulsions
I had no control over.
Roland continues his path approaching the sound of FEMALE
VOICES.
Rolands beeline terminates at the group of three women who
notice him.
SICKLY SKINNY and BIZARRO BETTIE PAGE chuckle, while PEACOCK
(38) sizes Roland up.
PEACOCK
Hey shorty.

6.

EXT. EMPTY LOT UNDER OVERPASS - MINUTES LATER

The overhead cars hum as the barely visible figures of
Peacock, on top and fucking Roland in the darkness of the
empty lot.
ROLAND (VO)
It was the worst thing Ive ever
done.
INT. DOCTORS OFFICE - DAY
ROLAND
But immediately after I felt free
and I havent been distracted by
fantasies of love since.
Roland pauses but Doctor is without a response.
ROLAND
I have no desire to continue our
patriarchal rape culture and
consider male dominion over the
world a root cause of societies
ills... That incident was an
aberration.
The Doctor stands up.
She walks around and settles against the desk in front of
Roland.
DOCTOR
Whats your relationship like with
your Mom?
ROLAND
I was hoping you wouldnt go there.
Now you have me in a double bind.
DOCTOR
We dont have to talk about her.
Its your time and we can talk
about anything you like.
ROLAND
No if I tell you about her then all
my problems will be rooted with
what I say. If I dont tell you
then my reticence will be evidence
itself.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.

DOCTOR
You dont give me enough credit
Roland. Psychology is complex and
Im quite competent at-ROLAND
--When I was 7 my father shot my
mother in the face.
Doctor closes her mouth and pulls at her jacket.
ROLAND
At her funeral I recall thinking
about which room I would get at my
grandfathers house and if I could
put my parents TV in it.
The Doctor returns to her seat and sits down.
DOCTOR
And you live with your grandfather
still?
ROLAND
Yes.
DOCTOR
Why dont you tell me about him.
EXT. STREET AT BUS STOP - DAY
Roland stands close at the curb, not visibly engaged in
thought.
A bus pulls up to the curb, and HONKS. Roland takes a few
steps back.
GOTH TEENAGERS, RANTING CRACK HEAD, and MOUSY LIBRARY PATRON
exit the bus and walk past Roland.
Rolands grandfather EMIL, (76, a gorilla in shape and
manner) exits down the bus stairs with two grocery bags in
hand.
Roland takes the bags and the two begin to walk.
EMIL
Goddamned bus smells like piss.
The two walk at a comfortable shuffle speed for Emil,
approaching an African American family of DAD, MOM and
YOUNGSTER.
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

8.

As they pass Emil smiles towards Mom and strains to pat the
childs head.
EMIL
What a cute little pickaninny.
Dad turns around towards the two, exasperation appears on
Rolands face.
DAD
Excuse me?!
Roland and Emil stop and turn.
DAD
A what?
EMIL
Pickaninny.
Roland walks right up between the Mom and Dad.
ROLAND
I apologize.
The couple is disgusted.
ROLAND
Hes not in control of all his
faculties.
MOM
Hes an ignorant fool!
Emil looks offended.
EMIL
Ah, horse shit.
Mom and Dad shield their son, shooting daggers with their
eyes, they turn and depart.
As they tail away, Roland surveys his grandfather and the
Youngster can be hear to say:
YOUNGSTER
Pickaninny!
EMIL
This worlds an assholes paradise.
Roland and Emil continue their stroll.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

9.

ROLAND
You cant just say whatever you
want to people Emil.
EMIL
Ah malarky. I used to go with negro
gals, Im no bigot.
Roland shakes his head.
EMIL
I want a goddamned root beer float.
INT. DOCTORS OFFICE - DAY
DOCTOR
You havent come here on your own
accord, yet youre very open-ROLAND
--I believe in getting value in
services Ive paid for.
The Doctor nods her head.
DOCTOR
The incident that brings you
here... the shoplifting. I can tell
you have no remorse for it...and
Im not saying you should.
Roland nods his head.
DOCTOR (CONT)
Other than my own curiosity its a
trivial point,Im here for you.
What do you hope to get out of our
sessions?
Roland pauses in consideration.
ROLAND
I want to convince someone...I want
to convince you that Im right
about everything. I should be the
new paradigm.
The two hold eye contact for a moment then rise at the same
time.
Doctor extends her hand.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

10.

DOCTOR
It was nice to meet you Roland.
Roland quickly shakes then remembers something. He reaches
into his backpack, removes something and quickly places it
on Doctors desk.
Roland quickly walks to the door as Doctor picks the item up
from her desk.
As he exits:
ROLAND
I got that for you see you next
week.
Doctor turns the item over in her hand, considers it and see
smirks.
She slams the item down upon her notepad.
She has made an impression with a stamp.
INSERT STAMPED PAPER: SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA
CLARA...
INT.

ROLAND AND EMILS HOUSE - NIGHT

Roland, Emil and Drew sit around a small family table in a

shabby kitchen with 1970s decor.
They are in the middle of a game of Risk which is laid out
before them.
Emil sparks up a Virgina Slims Ultra Light cigarette and
yells across the table at Drew.
EMIL
I told ya not to attack Venezuela
ya dumb shit!
DREW
Okay old man! Ill getcha next
time.
Roland looks at Emil, then looks at Drew. He takes the dice
from Drew and lays them before Emil.
ROLAND
Grandpa your able defense was
actually quite apt when considering
the real geopolitical position of
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

11.

ROLAND (contd)
Venezuela in the Americas and their
recent history of confronting U.S.
hegemony.
Emil stares at his grandson, glassy eyed.
Emil leans slightly and FARTS.
THE END