treatment for PAINTING FILM

Michelle is seated in a bed, the walls around her a stark white.  Her hair is disheveled, and she is dressed in a hospital gown.  She gazes absently out the window by her bed, sun shining on her face.  A nurse repeatedly enters the scene, handing Michelle a fist-full of multi-colored pills.  The two shots – Michelle’s blank stare and the nurse’s hand – flash repeatedly, the interaction evidently routine.  Michelle’s eyes never leave the window.

Conservatively dressed visitors with flowers and suitcases pass by Michelle’s door, never stopping or looking in.  Visitors always seem to be in a rush, gazing straight ahead and walking quickly.

A well-groomed woman in a hat enters Michelle’s room, a suitcase in hand.  This is the first time Michelle’s eyes leave the window, her expression still blank.

The woman seems surprised to see Michelle, excuses herself, and quickly leaves.  Michelle watches her.  After the woman has left, Michelle stumbles barefoot across the room to the door.

In the hallway, the woman walks purposefully, carrying herself with dignity.  Michelle follows behind, first keeping a distance, but soon speeding up to a jog.  When she gets close enough, Michelle snatches the hat off the woman’s head.

Shocked, the woman spins around, dropping the suitcase.  Michelle snatches it from the ground and runs in the opposite direction, limbs flailing.

A group of men in lab coats crowd around the stunned woman, who points emphatically in the direction Michelle has run, but cannot seem to speak.  They run after her, passing a door.  As soon as they are gone, Michelle peeks out from that door, dressed in the woman’s hat, heels, and a white dress.

Michelle hurries down the stairs.  As she is approaching the exit, the men in lab coats run up to her, questioning her politely.  She points in the opposite direction, then grins as she leaves the building.

Michelle pauses at the top of the steps of the building, taking in the sight of the outdoors.