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19INT. BREAKFAST ROOM - MORNING

David enters the breakfast room wearing his trousers as normal. The breakfast room is very tidy and clean. David walks quickly, trying to find an empty table to sit at. Everybody looks at him as he walks by. He looks straight ahead the whole time. All the men wear the same clothes. All the women do too. They all sit alone. There is only one chair at each table in the room. He sees Limping Man, who was with him on the coach. He too has his arm tied behind his back. All the new arrivals wear this same accessory.

FEMALE V.O.

His first day was one he would

never forget so long as he lived.

Beside the window opposite his

table at breakfast sat a young

woman with her head tilted back.

Later he would learn that she often

got nosebleeds. Next to her sat her

best friend. Near the door, the

woman who was with him on the coach

offered a biscuit to a man drinking

a Campari and soda for breakfast.

He then looked behind him and saw a

man and a woman he would meet in

due course, and some others he

would never meet during his stay at

the hotel.

We see NOSEBLEED WOMAN, her BEST FRIEND who stares at her, Biscuit Woman (with one hand tied behind her back), CAMPARI MAN, LISPING MAN and HEARTLESS WOMAN, characters we will get to know later. Lisping Man is around 50 years old and Heartless Woman is around 35 and very beautiful. David spreads butter and marmalade on a slice of bread with one hand and eats. Limping Man and Lisping Man come up to his table.

LIMPING MAN

I’ve decided to go for a walk

outside with my new friend. Let me

introduce you. This is Robert, he