Treatment (47) [Discarded]

Title:  47
(a choice between two equally beloved entities, one of which must be destroyed to preserve the existence of the other)


Duration:
Approximately 5 minutes.


Audience:

Synopsis/summary:
A man receives a letter from the hospital telling him that he has a malignant tumour in his brain, also sent to him is single pill in a bottle prescribed to him. He goes to see a psychologist who wonders why he has come to see him as there appears to be nothing wrong with him. The man explains that he has to make a choice and asks whether the doctor can help him. The conversation is not heard but the doctor says 'so that is your choice?' the man replies, 'it's not the first one' and the doctor answers, 'well remember the others for me, tell me what you'd be giving up'

Flashback to the man age seven, he is given a teddy by each of his parents, one new and sparkling from his workaholic mother and the other old and ragged from his loving father. His parents argue most hours of the day and one night his mother leaves and tells him to come with her, she holds out his teddy to him. He is confused and looks between his mother and father both holding out their signifying teddy.

Flashback to the man at seventeen, he is talking to a very clean looking girl with blonde hair on a wall, they are talking about how her father will be able to get him a job at his firm, insinuating he must marry her for this, she leaves demanding a kiss on the cheek. As he is about to leave when, another girl, standing behind him - this time brunette - whispers to him, he looks surprised but overjoyed to see her. They spend time together and it obvious that he wants to be with her. She questions him about when he is going to stop hanging around with the 'blonde' girl and he says its complicated, they argue and she tells him that he needs to make a choice before walking away.

Fast forward of that day, where he is reading the full letter from the hospital. He is sat next to a picture that shows him with someone else in it who isn't seen but reads r.i.p on the bottom of it. He is widowed.

Back in the psychologists office the man explains that the pill would breakdown the tumour and cure him but would also remove all his memory up to that point. he begs for advice on what the psych would do, the psychologist asks the man 'whether he is happy with what he has done with his life and the choices he has made?' The man replies 'They we're the best decisions I have ever made, but how do I choose now? Life with nothing or happiness with death?' The psychologist doesn't reply it is obvious he could not make the decision either. He goes home and looks at the pill bottle.

A sheet is being pulled over a mans head and a box is seen with belongings in, there is a shabby teddy bear, the picture of him and the brunette with r.i.p on the bottom and in the very corner, there is the bottle with the single pill still left in it.

Suggested Elements: 
Non linear narrative