II.
We see the moving belt of a production line, from above, and the hands of the packers stretching in and out rhythmically to grasp the completed product. A white jacketed Supervisor moves down the line peering into boxes, counting products and checking times on a watch. We see him arrive by Danny.
Danny is a blur of activity. His concentration is total.
SUPERVISOR: Time is boxes, boxes is money and money is wages. Keep at it Danny, my boy, an' your bonus is assured.
The Supervisor moves on and Danny continues his smooth, practised actions. We focus on his arms and hands as they stretch and snatch. Suddenly, his hands disappear. Danny stops and glances quickly around him. No one has noticed. He crosses his arms on his chest as though hugging himself and sidles quietly backwards away from the line. Keeping his arms as hidden as he can manage he moves to and through a door labelled 'Tea Room'.
Behind him we see the Supervisor look up, note his absence and then follow to the Tea Room door. Together with the Supervisor we look surreptitiously through the small window in the door.
Danny sits with a straight back, both feet on the ground and his eyes closed. His arms lie loosely in his lap but there is an absence where his hands should be. He is breathing deeply, slowly and rhythmically - in, out, in, out, in, out. As he, over time, relaxes we see the faint outline of his hands return and gradually clarify.
When his hands have fully returned he takes a notebook and pen from his pocket.
DANNY: Four minutes, twenty seconds. I'm improving. That's one minute, six seconds better than last time.
We see over his shoulder. There are five entries in the notebook.
DANNY: Right, better make it look as though I've had a break.
He gets up and crosses to the sink. Takes a mug from the cupboard over the sink, rinses it and leaves it to dry on the draining board. He walks out of the door.
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Charlie Chaplin - Modern Times.
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