A Dry White Season Page #12

A news bulletin in African language interrupts the music.

Stanley listens.

(CONTINUED)

63.

CONTINUED:

STANLEY:

Sh*t!

BEN:

What?

STANLEY:

Dr. Hassiem has been picked up.

BEN:

Who's he?

Stanley silently pulls up along the curb and comes to

rest at Ben's gate.

EXT. BEN'S HOUSE -ENTRANCE -LATE EVENING

STANLEY:

Dr. Hassiem is the doctor we got

to represent Emily at Gordon's

autopsy. We wanted the truth.

Ben suddenly realizes the significances.

BEN:

He would have testified. Bloody

hell!

STANLEY:

A smart move by your Boer

brothers. They have silenced

Hassiem.

BEN:

His report has to be important.

We can only use what we have.

Therefore, Lewinson must get a

very good advocate.

(pause)

If only we could get hold of this

Hassiem's report.

STANLEY:

What's the use? It's one big game

and we blacks are merely

spectators. Hey Lanie, can one be

a spectator as he's being kicked

around?

He laughs.

(CONTINUED)

64.

CONTINUED:

BEN:

It's not a question of being

spectators. The courts are

impartial, the law is what

matters.

STANLEY:

(quite seriously)

That's what you all say. I have

to move man. Your neighbors!

Now, be careful. They will put

their marks on you!

BEN:

Who?

Stanley takes an empty cigarette packet from his pocket,

he writes on it.

STANLEY:

You'll find out!

(handing the packet

to Ben)

In case you need me. Don't give

your name --just say 'Lanie'

phoned --right?

Ben gets out of the car.

BEN:

Now tomorrow at ten...

STANLEY:

(interrupting)

Sharp! At our smart liberal

friend's office, yeh!

BEN:

Good night.

Stanley drives vigorously away.

Ben walks slowly and thoughtfully towards his house. He

notices Susan watching him through the window.

He slumps on a chair on the veranda as Susan comes out of

the house followed by Johan --they both stand slightly

worried at his moroseness.

BEN:

I went to Soweto and saw Gordon's

body. They have lied to me, my

own people --they killed him! I

saw the body.

(CONTINUED)

65.

CONTINUED:

Johan looks horrified.

SUSAN:

Ben, you're not a doctor. His

death was announced officially.

They wouldn't say anything unless

they were certain of their facts.

BEN:

(more animated)

Facts? There's a doctor who

participated at the autopsy. A

Doctor Hassiem and he...

SUSAN:

(interrupts)

You mean the Indian doctor who's

been arrested?

JOHAN:

It was in the five o'clock news,

Papa.

BEN:

That's him, he represented Emily

at the autopsy.

SUSAN:

(suddenly desperate)

Ben, I'm sorry about Gordon's

death, but please for all our

sakes, forget about this whole

thing. Let's get back to a normal

life.

BEN:

Can I have a drink?

JOHAN:

A brandy?

BEN:

You always know what I need.

Johan hurries into the house.

SUSAN:

(pleading)

Please, Ben, I'm frightened.

She turns and walks into the house, leaving Ben.

66.

EXT. SOWETO CEMETERY -MORNING

The large Soweto cemetery has scores of graves ready for

burials. The chief mourners, Emily, Robert, his sister,

Margaret, four relatives and Stanley are standing on

either side of the PRIEST. Gordon's coffin is in the

grave; several wreaths are on the side of the grave.

There are about fifteen hundred mourners, and half are

youths. There are several local reporters and overseas

television reporters.

The police are in attendance in large numbers at the edge

of the crowd, some in battle dress and some with dogs.

PRIEST:

Before I conclude, I have to say

we are tired of making this

journey every day, sometimes twice

in one day, burying our children,

and those, like our departed

brother, Ngubene who were merely

seeking the truth; and those who

have been denounced by traitors

amongst us; and those who have

been brutally killed for no

reason, yes I shall say it, by the

police. Let those who rule this

land of ours listen to the word

of God; let them listen to our

peaceful and just demands; let

them be humble and go down on

their knees and seek forgiveness,

then listen to God.

The crowd roars:
"Amanda! Amanda!"

The Priest starts a short hymn and the crowd joins in.

At the end of the hymn.

PRIEST:

We will have a few words from Mr.

Pilani our father and leader.

The crowd starts singing a freedom song with arms raised.

The funeral has now become a political demonstration.

Mr. Pilani, who is a dignified, educated 70-years-old,

walks slowly and waits beside the chief mourners. He

is handed a loudspeaker.

(CONTINUED)

67.

CONTINUED:

A SENIOR POLICE OFFICER threads his way through the

crowd, a loud hailer in his hand. As he reaches the

grave he turns. The crowd is quiet. He says something

to the Priest then addresses the crowd.

SENIOR OFFICER:

The funeral is over. I order

everyone to go home. This is not

a political rally. I repeat,

disperse.

As though by signal the police start attacking the

mourners with truncheons and dogs. There is pandemonium,

women screaming, people falling into graves or

covering in them.

The Priest and Stanley lead Emily and the family away

in the opposite direction.

The press and television are recording the scene. The

police start throwing tear gas canisters. There is no

confrontation, the crowd is fleeing in all directions.

One television cameraman is purposely pushed into a grave

by a very young policeman, his round recordist is pulled

up into the adjourning grave by the connecting cord.

Melanie stands on a tombstone watching and making notes.

INT. BEN'S LOUNGE -NIGHT

Ben, Susan watching the main evening news bulletin on TV.

On the screen a sequence of rioting.

COMMENTARY (V.O.)

Despite repeated warnings young

blacks attacked the police with

rocks and petrol bombs. Five

policemen were injured.

Susan briefly glances at Ben.

COMMENTARY (V.O.)

Several arrests were made. One

youth was killed and five wounded.

Follows the newscaster and then reports:

NEWSCASTER (V.O.)

This morning there was a serious

disturbance at the funeral of

Gordon Ngubene.

Susan leaves the room.

(CONTINUED)

68.

CONTINUED:

NEWSCASTER:

The detainee who committed suicide

by hanging himself at John Vorster

Square. An overseas television

cameraman broke an arm during the

disturbance. It's been reported

that several people had been

killed by a car-bomb in Belfast

Northern Island...

Ben turns OFF the TV and stays in his thoughts.

EXT. JOHANNESBURG -STREET -AFTERNOON

Stanley and Ben are driving in the outskirts of

Johannesburg.

EXT. APPROACHES OF SOWETO -AFTERNOON

Stanley drives seemingly alone at very high speeds, which

he maintains through the streets of Soweto... using his

horn to scatter people out of his way, to the anger and

indulgence of others.

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