8/13/2019 Pinned to the Trees (1st Version)

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Pinned to the Trees

Logline:Follow a young mans mental deterioration that ends with deadly

consequences

Opening scene

Protagonist Samuel Matthews is nervously running through a forest, alone in the late

afternoon in a confused haze. It is unclear who is chasing him (or if he is even being

chased by someone). As he darts through the forest he sees pictures, personal

items and photos of those whom he has pushed away over the last month. Suddenly,

his foot gets caught in a branch and he falls to his knees, frozen by terror. The scene

ends with a close-up of his terrified expression and heavy breathing.

A title page appears on screen 1 month earlier

A new scene is set in a psychiatristsoffice with a stern-looking man (Jeffrey, theantagonist) and Samuel, the man seen earlier running in the forest. Sam looks and

acts much more mentally stable yet slightly depressed and dejected. DialogueSam

explains that he is unhappy/ has not been sleeping well, Jeffrey counsels him and

prescribes him medicine + proposes meeting next week for a follow up.

Continued Treatment

Although their first session was short, Sam find great comfort in finally being able to

confide in someone about his problems. A new friendship is formed and Samuel

feels like he can trust Jeffery. He arrives at his flat noticeably more upbeat, which his

girlfriend Anna mentions (she was not told by Sam that he was going to see apsychiatrist). Within the first few days, Samuel feels more energetic and lively

because of the drugs.

However, he is unaware of the strange side effect he is experiencinghe has

become neater, more methodical and obsessive over his daily routine. This negative

after affect also goes unnoticed by his girlfriend Anna who is pleased that Sam has

become more alert and tidier. This OCD-like behavior starts to escalate as Sam

increasingly becomes anxious about disorder within his arrangements. Sam is texted

by Charlie, his best friendasking him to come and have a drink with him at the pub

(since Charlie was surprised that Sam hadnt shown up for a friends party and hadnt

heard from him all week). Sam was reluctant to step out of his familiar routine but

Anna persuades him to catch up with Charlie.

In the pub Charlie tells Sam that he seems much happier and Sam reveals for the first

time that he is seeing a psychiatrist. Charlie seems hesitant but still praises him for

seeking help. Whilst they are catching up, Charlie starts to take notice of Sams

strange behavior and subtly questions him about it as they leave. Sam quickly

dismisses him and is slightly angered by the suggestion.

At the next appointment Sam talks about the past week (that he felt less depressed

but slightly more anxious) and explains how Charles confrontation bothers him.Jeffrey reassures him and tells him that he must be experiencing a common

8/13/2019 Pinned to the Trees (1st Version)

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temporary side-effect for which more pills should be taken, to combat these anxious

obsessive feelings. Sam is relieved and becomes more comfortable with Jeffery,

trusting his authority and knowledge.

Over the next week, however, Sam becomes more and more anxious and paranoid

which starts to put a strain on his relationship with Anna and Charlie. Sam comeshome one day to see the two of them sitting on the sofa expecting him. They

confront him about his behaviour over the last two weeks each giving pleas, asking

him to check in somewhere to receive immediate help. Sam has an outburst of anger

and aggressively denies all accusations, believing that he is being conspired against

by Charlie and Anna. He even goes as far as to accuse Anna of being unfaithful to

him with Charlie. Sam furiously slams the door and goes to the only person he feels

he can truly trust at this pointJeffery.

In no time Sam reaches the practice and asks for Jeffery. He storms into Jefferys

room explaining the whole situation, still enraged. Jeffery calms him down, counsels

him and asks if there is any previous history between Anna and Charlie (seemingly in

order to subtly encourage the idea that the two are untrustworthy and have

deceived him). Sam feels more paranoid, anxious and angrier than ever before, and

Jeffery offers him some medicine to calm him down and asks to see him next week.

Sam accepts in desperation, as he feels unable to control his own feelings.

Sam returns home to an empty apartment, all of Annas stuff is goneand she left a

note apologizing. Sam is furious and texts Anna and Charlie increasingly abusive,

jealous messages.

Over the next week, he lashes out at all those still around him and is told to take atemporary leave off of work. He starts to see, hear and feel things that arent really

there: he sees crowds of people in empty parks, he hears and sees Anna and Charlie

around his flat and feels strange crawling sensations around his body. These

hallucinations progress to the point where Sam can no longer tell the difference

between reality and dreams. He continues to have the same recurring dream of

being chased in the forest nearby Jefferys office.

On the way to his fourth and final appointment he gets lost in his own world of vivid

hallucinations and unknowingly gets lead to the forest in which he has had his

recurring nightmares. Sam at this point cant remember if this is a dream or reality as

he staggers into the forest to get a closer look at the notes and objects littered

throughout the forest in the distance.

(Repeat forest opening scene)

Continuing from the flash forwardJeffery appears and hovers over him explaining

what he has been doing to him over the last month, explaining the lengthy

experiment and the 5-pill plan. Still frozen in shock Sam feels unable to physically

move (is this because Jeffery has brainwashed Sam into obeying his orders). Jeffery

proceeds to pin him down and force-feed him the final 5th

pill. Jeffery escapes,

making the killing/crime scene look like Sam committed suicide by dying of a drug

overdose.