III. Self Loathing

INT. AUDITORIUM - EVENING

A baton swings back and forth, reminiscent of the many performances that have come before this one. It seems that with each performance, the grip increasingly tightens, and the shine the handle once had fades. The man swinging the baton keeps a display of a collected execution, but the voracity of the movements take on the emotions unspoken.

Just as they reach the end of the performance, another man kicks his music sheet stand to the ground. Masaru, the person responsible for the motions of the baton, freezes his hands in the air. Everyone has stopped playing their instruments now. He slowly drops his arms down to his side... watching on as the man who sparked this silence stands up, and yells something out.

??? (DAIKI)

~~~~~~

It was Daiki. Rather than being heard within the silence of sound, a harshness can be felt within the atmosphere. There is a clear divide within the looks put on display by the other members. Some stare in clear disapproval, while the others listen with hesitation on what they should do. At this, Masaru slowly starts looking downward.

DAIKI

~~~~~~

Again, Daiki yells out. All that remains visible is the wood paneling of the stage floor. Masaru bites his lip, continuing to lock himself into a tunnel vision of perspective. ENTIRE SCENE IS FIRST PERSON.

DAIKI

~~~~~~

Another one... There’s no telling for sure what Daiki is saying, or if he is even still talking... but it’s there for sure. There is no visual or audible indication… but there’s no mistaking the physical weight that the air has.

Masaru brings his hand into his vision, focusing on the creases going in different directions on his palm. He widens his eyes for a moment, not in a look of realization, but a look that reaffirms his own promise. Clenching his fist, he looks back up at Daiki still yelling.

Or, rather, what he thought would be Daiki still yelling. Souta and one other member can be seen standing up, staring at Daiki. A complete stillness is present, not one person is making a sound. Some of the members are now looking at Masaru, displaying a complex look of resignation, while the others are staring right at Daiki.

SOUTA

~~~~~~

If Masaru was able to hear what Souta said, it’d no doubt deter him from ever conducting again. Yuuko, who had been listening in silence for the majority of the heated discussion, looks up at Souta. Her eyes widen a little, separating her lips from each other, while glancing once over to Masaru, and right back to Souta. After a moment, she looks away and settles her face, but instead now has a continuous look of displeasure.

Daiki clenches his fists, gesturing toward Masaru with each word being said, and his jaw tightening between phrases.

...

Silence

STEADILY ZOOMS IN ON MASARU

A combined look of confusion and disgust is present on Masaru’s face. The closer his face comes into view, the more these emotions pull for dominance of portrayal.

Finally, Masaru brings his attention in front of him, opens his mouth as if to conjure up a sound, and lets out a quiet yell.