The room is small and mostly empty, only a table 3 chairs and the camera set on the tripod. Max sitting on by one side while aunt Helena and dr Álvaro sit by the other, the doctor works his way around the camera as he is the only one familiar with the technology while Helena revises her notes. She's trying to keep her eye on Max for if he attempts something since he is known for his sudden outbursts. Max, however, is focused on something else this time, the camera. Such a foreign object, large, opulent and clearly important - They wouldn't be waiting so long for it if it wasn't - yet so mysterious to everyone. Everyone, but the doctor... Max turns his nose to the sight, he hasn't yet decided if what he is seeing it's scary, disgusting or simply suspicious.
"Max..." - aunt Helena starts, trying to call his attention. - "it's not nice to stare"
Max's eyes don't leave the camera lens as if he is hipnotized by it.
The doctor glances at him, for the first time acknowledging his presence. "Don't worry, Helena..." - he smirks - "I'm used to this." - he smiles warmly to max, but it seems to only scare him more.
The doctor presses a button on the device with a light click before declaring they are ready to start.
"This is the documentation of a lobotomy procedure for research purposes. Patient's name: Max; age: 16 years old; gender: male." - dr. Alviro reads from the file in his hand - " Max's procedure is only a few weeks away, so let's take a look on how his situation is to be improved."
The doctor taps Helena's shoulder - "Ms. Helena"
"Okay then..." - Helena takes a deep breath before continuing - "max, how are you feeling?"
Max stares into the camera lens with an uncomfortable expression. He glances to aunt Helena occasionally, but doesn't respond.
"Max..." - she tries again - "say how are you feeling."
"You said you didn't sleep last night, is that right?"
Max shifts on his chair again - "uh... Uh-huh..."
"Okay." - Helena takes it as a yes - "and you don't feel really good, right?"
Max shakes his head without moving his gaze from the camera.
"Max, look down here, please" - aunt, tries to get Max's attention away from the lens, hopping he'll focus on the questions. She snaps her fingers, whistles...
However, max doesn't seem to be able to maintain focus away from the camera. He glances at Helena, but keeps staring into the lens as if he is seeing something deeply unsettling in it.
Helena gives up after a few tries.
"Okay, max, you said you were nervous earlier..." - Helena sighs - "does that happen often?"
"Can you tell me why?" - Helena is a bit shocked he answered faster this time.
"Uh... I- I'm... " - max never finishes the sentence.
"You see things sometimes, is that right?"
Max hiccups and shifts again...
"Max...You're seeing it right now...?" - Helena asks, concerned.
Silence plages the room for a while. Max slowly begins scratching the right forearm in a way that is almost rythmical.
"max, hey! Stop that..." - Helena reaches to hold his wrist and press it on the table. - "Stop. Stop that." - she repeats the motion a few times trying to get him to understand, but it only frustrates the boy.
Max pushes her hand away and claws her wrist when she tries approaching again. Then, the doctor goes to intervein, which only serves to enrage Max. The boy slaps the camera, then the table and tries to make a run for it.
Helena holds him and the doctor pins him down on the table. Max screams and starts thrashing, kicking as hot tears stain his face.
Once both his hands are held behind his back, max stops squirming and gives up, almost like muscle memory, he simply goes limp and allows himself to get dressed in the straight jacket.
