A Dry White Season Page #4

A woman behind them starts to scream. They look around

to see her holding onto a drawer, her legs buckling.

Another woman pulls her close to grieve with her. The

assistant approaches them and after a soft exchange he

writes a name on a tag and ties it onto the body. The

woman can't, won't leave her dead child. Her friend has

to pull her away.

(CONTINUED)

16.

CONTINUED:

The crowd parts to let them through. Other women reach

out to touch her.

Gordon looks into the last drawer, Jonathan is not there.

They make their way out past the other parents and a group

of mourning women sitting.

EXT. MORTUARY -DAY

Gordon, Emily and their friends cross to Stanley's great

white elderly Dodge, this "etembalami" with the big butterfly.

For, amongst other things, he is the owner and

driver of a pirate taxi.

They get in. Stanley pauses --looks across at a small

red VW Beetle parked nearby, waiting. He shakes his

head --the VW flashes its lights and drives off.

INT. STANLEY'S TAXI -DAY

Inside they sit in silence... recovering from the ordeal.

Only Emily silently whispers "Thank God, thank God."

After a while...

STANLEY:

What now?

GORDON:

He is our son... we must find him.

JULIUS:

I'll make more inquiries --John

Vorster Square --the special

branch --but I don't hold out

much hope.

GORDON:

You're a lawyer, Julius!

STANLEY:

(laughs)

A black lawyer! Those Boers...

the bastards'll kick him around

till they lose him.

EMILY:

What about the Baas? If he asks,

they will give him an answer.

GORDON:

(bitterly)

When the boy was flogged he didn't

help. Why should he help him now?

17.

EXT. BEN'S GARDEN -MORNING

Gordon is at work already --8 AM --mowing the lawn.

He's intense, unsmiling, burdened as he goes about his

task, expertly.

Sounds of BEN and JOHAN LAUGHING coming from inside.

INT. BEN'S DEN -MORNING

Ben and Johan, in robes, their hair still wet from their

showers, having an imaginary boxing match. Johan has

Ben on the ropes, backs him out of the house.

EXT. BEN'S GARDEN

Ben adjusts the sash of his robe and takes the offensive

towards Johan, as he sees Gordon.

JOHAN:

Hi, Gordon.

No response. Ben does a double-take and stops playing.

BEN:

(to Johan)

Hold it, champ.

He crosses the yard to Gordon, fluffing his hair dry,

Johan follows behind.

BEN:

Gordon, you okay?

No response again. Gordon continues to work. Ben and

Johan exchange puzzled looks.

JOHAN:

Isn't this Jonathan's day to help

you?

BEN:

How is he, recovering?

Gordon stops, switches OFF the MACHINE, stands not looking

at Ben.

GORDON:

I don't know, Mister Ben, sir -the

police took him.

BEN:

Again?

JOHAN:

What for?

(CONTINUED)

18.

CONTINUED:

GORDON:

They arrested many. They even

deny they've got him. He's

disappeared...

BEN:

Disappeared? He's a child --why

didn't you tell me?

Gordon just looks at him, sadly, patiently.

BEN:

Okay! I'll see what I can find

out.

Ben walks off with Johan as Gordon STARTS the MOWER.

INT. BEN'S STUDY -MORNING

Ben is talking on the phone.

BEN:

Our gardener, yes. Probably

nothing, but he's worried.

INT. LAWYER'S OFFICE -DAY

Sumptuous lawyer's offices, Johannesburg. They're lush-

carpeted. A black woman cleaner is finishing off her

early-morning chores, packing up as white staff are beginning

to arrive. They're fresh, shining, attractive

--whipping the covers off typewriters.

A young black girl, smart, well-groomed, is carrying a

tray of coffee, desk to desk. FOLLOW her as she

approaches her employer's open office door.

We hear his voice --see him on the phone in the b.g.

LEWINSON:

... And when was this?

He nods, makes notes. He's in shirtsleeves. At his post

early, ready for action.

LEWINSON:

Ngubene --Jonathan Ngubene.

INT. LEWINSON'S OFFICE -DAY

The coffee girl enters, places a cup on Lewinson's desk,

and retreats.

(CONTINUED)

19.

CONTINUED:

LEWINSON:

I'll get on to them straight away...

Not at all --I think better this

time of morning --after lunch,

man, I'm a zombie.

(laughs)

Sure --let you know straight away

--love to, Susan... Cheers!

(puts down phone;

presses his intercom)

Freda! Open an account... Du Toit.

Benjamin Du Toit... Subject...

Jonathan Ngubene.

MONTAGE -SEARCH FOR JONATHAN

A) TYPEWRITER

--CHATTERING out --on Lewinson's headed note paper:

To the Commissioner of Police

Police Headquarters

John Vorster Square

Dear Sir,

On behalf of our client, Gordon Ngubene,

we are anxious to discover the whereabouts

of his son...

B) INT. POLICE HQ. (JOHN VORSTER SQUARE) -INTERROGATION

ROOM:

Wellington, Jonathan's friend, is sitting alone in

fear. Through the wall he can hear MOANING --SCREAMS.

He closes his eyes tight as if to shut out what he

is hearing.

C) POLICE TYPEWRITER

--CHATTERING out --on police headquarters note paper:

To Lewinson & Partners Solicitors

Dear Sirs,

With reference to your enquiry concerning

Jonathan Ngubene, we suggest you take the matter

up directly with the particular officer in

charge...

20.

D) HOSPITAL (JOHANNESBURG)

Young black nurse carrying bedding --corridor -startled

by moaning, screaming figure of black boy,

being hustled on trolley into private ward. Boy is

deposited on bed as policeman is posted outside.

E) TYPEWRITER

--Lewinson's headed paper:

... the whereabouts of Jonathan Ngubene, aged

15, who was apparently detained by you...

F) 2ND POLICE TYPEWRITER

--Second heading:

The type keys hesitate, tremble, for a considerable

number of seconds, on and on, as if deliberately delaying

or uncertain how to answer.

G) MATRON

confronted by Gordon and Emily. She shakes her

head vigorously, denying all knowledge, shows them the

door.

F) FINALLY:

Dear Sirs,

With reference to your enquiry seeking the

whereabouts of Jonathan Ngubene, we are sorry

to inform you we have no record of anyone of

that name...

I) HOSPITAL -WHITE SUPERINTENDENT FACING JULIUS

SUPERINTENDENT:

It's preposterous. I would have

known --of such a case... I

mean... in my hospital. You

people! You're always raking

up trouble!

J) STANLEY

At the back of police headquarters, John Vorster Square.

An elderly black cleaner, emptying garbage, is being

shown Jonathan's photograph. He looks --and nods -pointing

down as meaning the basement.

K) CLOSE ON STANLEY'S FACE

END MONTAGE.

21.

INT. LEWINSON'S OFFICE -DAY

He is with a client. He pushes a button on the intercom.

LEWINSON:

... Freda --I said no calls...

Oh... Right... put them through.

Hallo! Yes! How are you?...

that is correct.

He listens --his face slowly becoming solemn -

LEWINSON:

Very well. Thank you for finally

letting us know.

He replaces the receiver... looks at it for a long second

... before lifting his eyes to the client.

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