The Mark By Sy__Ableman

SUPER: Kandahar, Afghanistan 2091 INT. BATHROOM - DAY A dozen rusted over sinks across from yellow stained urinals, a mix of Arabic and English graffiti covers the rotten walls. Ashar, 14, stands shirtless in front of a cracked mirror, furiously scrubbing his forehead with his soaked shirt. He looks into the broken mirror at his distorted figure, he squints and leans in closer. We now see what he was scrubbing, a small black TRIANGLE is on his forehead. TAP TAP TAP TAP TAP Footsteps echo down the hall, getting louder, closer. Ashar quickly ties the shirt around his forehead. MUNDHIR Ashar! You in here? Mundhir, 14, darts into the room and gives Ashar a funny look. MUNDHIR Whats wrong? Got a fever or something? Anyway, I covered for you for awhile but Father Joseph says youreTears are welling up in Ashars eyes. ASHAR Mundhir. MUNDHIR WhaASHAR Mundhir, I need to show you something. I need to show you and I need you not to run. Mundhirs eyes widen. Ashar takes the shirt off his head. Mundhir steps back quickly, and starts chanting a prayer in Arabic.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: ASHAR Mundhir, listen. He keeps chanting, stepping slowly back. ASHAR Please, Mundhir, I need your help.

2.

He finishes the prayer and crosses the air in front of him. MUNDHIR Im sorry Ashar, the- the mark. ASHAR Then help me with it for Gods sake. Do you have your knife? MUNDHIR IASHAR Cut it off me. MUNDHIR I- I cant. ASHAR Ill do it then. MUNDHIR It wont work. ASHAR MundhirMUNDHIR It wont work! Its there forever, youre cursed. Mundhir crosses himself again, and runs out of the bathroom, and back down the hall. CUT TO: THE BROKEN MIRROR Ashar slowly wraps his shirt around his knuckles, takes a deep breath, and punches the mirror. Half of the mirrior shatters completely sending shards onto the floor. Ashar picks out the sharpest shard, and winces as he slowly cuts into his forehead. The triangle is bolder and blacker than before, and a crystal like shape has appeared in the middle of it.

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EXT. YARD - DAY Were in a small sandy yard between two buildings. A group of teenage boys stand around a pile of small rocks, talking in hushed voices. Thunder ROARS overhead. The group falls silent and all eyes look into the grey sky. CREEEEEEEEK. Ashar emerges from one of the doors, shirt around his forehead again. Another CRACK of thunder, but all eyes are fixed on him. BOY 1 CURSED! BOY 2 Hes hiding it! An older boy, Nadir, about 17, steps forward. NADIR Ashar, take that off your head. ASHAR Its just a cut, I was fighting wNADIR TAKE IT OFF. Ashar takes the shirt off his head, a square of skin is missing from his head. Blood is still dripping from it, but the MARK, the triangle, its still there under the skin. NADIR ITS THERE! THE MARK! HES DAMNED! Ashar runs for the door at the other end of the yard. The teenagers grab stones from the pile and throw them at him. One hits him in the gut, another on his shin. He falls to his knees, hands over his stomach. Ashar looks back over to the boys, he sees Mundhir stone in hand, their eyes lock, then... DARKNESS.

4. ASHARS P.O.V. BRIGHT LIGHTS and the TAP TAP TAP of rain against a window. A small office with completely white, mostly undecorated walls except for the large crucifix mounted slightly off-center behind the desk. FATHER JOSEPH leans over a screen embedded in the desk. INT. FATHER JOSEPHS OFFICE - DAY Ashar bruised and still bleeding lays on his back in the middle of the floor. He tries to turn on his side but only succeeds in mubbling every profanity he knows. Father Joseph stands up and leans over his desk to look at him. FATHER JOSEPH Youll be alright. Stand up. Ashar gets up slowly, he can hardly stand. ASHAR Thank you, father, for saving me from them. FATHER JOSEPH Yes, well, cant have a repeat of last time can we. CUT TO: A FLASH OF A YOUNG, BLOODY, BODY STRUNG UP ON A CHAIN LINK FENCE. On his pale forehead is the same mark that Ashar has. FATHER JOSEPH The church, takes no stance on these, marks. We will not condemn you as a devil nor praise you as a saint. That being said, you cant stay here. ASHAR But Father, if you tell themFATHER JOSEPH I cant take a risk like that. If another boy were to die... IdWed lose everything. Were only here because of pity, and no one has pity on a group of savages. (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

5.

Ashar limps around the desk. ASHAR Father pleaseAshar reaches out to touch his arm but Father Joseph recoils. FATHER JOSEPH Dont touch me boy. Ashar steps back. FATHER JOSEPH (DIALOG CONTINUES OVER NEXT SCENE) As of today, you are a runaway. Do not try to come back, in two months youll be presumed gone for good, and youll be deleted from our system. May God be with you my son. EXT. BOYS HOME - DAY Ashar limps out of the front gate which reads "Kandahar Home for Boys" over the top of it. A bunch of boys stand up against the fence jeering as he hobbles away.