Wednesday, January 14, 2009

mental jail spokes

At last BILLY's expression changes to almost childish relief, for here at last is the refuge he seeks; the relative comfort and silence of THE WHEEL.

It is a grim, squat PILLAR dominating the room and bearing  the weight of the ceiling. And around it some SIXTY LUNATICS  trudge slowly, near silently, in counter-clockwise flow.  It is a hypnotic shuffle and BILLY blends right in, sliding  easily into the sluggish, mindless river, his eyes hanging  loosely on the floor, watching:

THE SOOTHING RHYTHM OF FEET shuffling at a comforting pace.

These are the spokes of the wheel.
Oliver Stone's 1978 Midnight Express true story screenplay here.