Usually, they ask where I get my crazy ideas.

But now it's "Why do you write?" Here's a fun answer. JL

BRUTAL INTERROGATION

                            Written by Jacqueline Lichtenberg

                                                               FADE IN:

               INT. TORTURE CHAMBER - NIGHT  

               A small dark room with a bare TABLE and CHAIR, plus a DESK
               with two unlit SPOTLIGHTS aimed at the chair.  A WATER
               BOARDING setup sits to one side with no water in it.   

               A cloaked figure, the INTERROGATOR, walks to the desk carrying a
               large pile of paper.  He pounds a light switch and sits.  

               The spotlights reveal the woman, JACQUELINE LICHTENBERG,
               sitting at the table.  Mature, stately, utterly composed,
               wearing a staid business suit, a queen on her throne,
               Lichtenberg stares down the rude man from her reddened eyes. 

               The Interrogator checks his notes.  

                                   INTERROGATOR
                         Now, once more, Lichtenberg, you
                         will tell me exactly why you write!  

               Lichtenberg's voice is husky, lips dry and cracked.  

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         You wouldn't believe me.  

                                   INTERROGATOR
                         Immaterial.  We will not be here
                         all night.  Answer the question.  

               Lichtenberg's eyes flash to the water boarding setup then
               back to the Interrogator.  Her chin rises.  She is silent.

                                   INTERROGATOR (CONT'D)
                         Lindsay!  

               The door opens letting in flourescent blue light.  LINDSAY a
               hulking man built like a Sumo wrestler, enters with a BUCKET
               of water. The door SLAMS.  The Interrogator nods at the water
               boarding setup.  Lindsay pours the water slowly, glances over
               his shoulder at Lichtenberg, drawing the cruel moment out. 
               She faces the Interrogator in royal capitulation.  She folds
               her hands on the table, stares at them and confesses.

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         B-because.  Because I can't draw,
                         or paint, or sew, or dance, or
                         sculpt, or sing, or compose music.  

                                   INTERROGATOR
                         I told you, no more specious lies.  

               Stung, Lichtenberg stares right into the blinding lights that
               hide her enemy.  

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         The bald, unalloyed,
                         incontrovertible truth is - 

               She pauses to take a deep breath.

                                   LICHTENBERG (CONT'D)
                         I HAVE NO TALENT!!!!  There, now
                         are you satisfied!  

               She starts to rise as if to leave the room in a huff. 
               Lindsay pushes her shoulders down, seating her hard.  

               The Interrogator shakes the stack of paper at her.

                                   INTERROGATOR
                         That is a patent lie!  This is the
                         original manuscript of one of your
                         award winning novels.  Lindsay - 

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         No!  No, I'll tell you.  I'll tell
                         you everything.  Just don't - !  

               She glances at the water boarding setup.  

                                   INTERROGATOR
                         All right.  One more chance.  

               Voice cracking, Lichtenberg begins.  

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         I write to show people the vast
                         potential I see in humanity.

                                   INTERROGATOR
                         That's too vague.

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         The Universe, and humanity, are
                         made out of the substance of love.
                         I write to inspire people to invent
                         new ways to relate to each other.  

                                   INTERROGATOR
                         Balderdash.  This is all battle
                         scenes and chase scenes.  

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         The human spirit dares to 
                         change under duress.

                                   INTERROGATOR
                         What human?  These are aliens!  

               Lichtenberg glances from the Manuscript to Lindsay and snaps.  

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         Lindsay, did you read that book?

                                   LINDSAY
                         Yes, Ma'am. 

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         Were the non-humans believable?

                                   LINDSAY
                         Yes, Ma'am.  

                                   LICHTENBERG
                             (To Interrogator)
                         But the beauty of the human 
                         spirit always emerges, no matter 
                         the flesh surrounding it.  

                                   INTERROGATOR
                         You don't always write science
                         fiction.  

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         True.  I always show ways to 
                         uncover the goodness in the world,
                         to inspire people to look at the
                         worst and see the inner beauty.    

                                   INTERROGATOR
                         But this is cheesey trash, wall to
                         wall action peppered with passion!  

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         Each action results from a free
                         will choice.  Success depends on 
                         daring to make a friend of an
                         enemy.  

                                   INTERROGATOR
                         Let her go, Lindsay.  She's daft. 

Lindsay yanks the chair out from under Lichtenberg.  She stands, faces him.   

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         No!  Lindsay, the trick is to 
                         find the beauty within yourself.  
                         That's how you change the world!

                                   INTERROGATOR
                         Get her out of here!  

                                   LINDSAY
                         You can't change the world by 
                         reading a story! 

Lindsay pushes her toward the door, pulls the door open.   

                                   LICHTENBERG
                         Yes, you can!  Yes, we can!  
                         Go adventuring with me 
                         slantwise across Time and Space.  
                         Find a place to stand and 
                         a lever long enough, and 
                         bring change. 

Lindsay takes her elbow and stuffs her through the opening. Lichtenberg pulls 
a flyer out of her pocket and crams it into Lindsay's hand.

                                   LICHTENBERG (CONT'D)
                         Read what's on this web page.
                         See how mere novels changed this 
                         real person's real life. I want 
                         to do this on the Big Screen!!  

                                   FLYER TEXT
                         

http://www.simegen.com/writers/simegen/testimonials/ 

What I like about Lichtenberg's novels:  The Intimate Adventure. 

The theme of making friends with the Monster Within in order to make friends with the Monster in the Community -- thank you, Jacqueline for the January column (review of SAVE THE CAT GOES TO THE MOVIES!) -- that really put things into a new perspective that made great sense!

Applying the ideas in my own life.

I want to tell you what S~G has meant to me....more
 

Lindsay slams the door in her face.  Drops the flyer and steps on it. 

                                   LINDSAY
                          Whew! What a nut case!