A Dry White Season Page #8

VILJOEN:

Come in.

The door opens revealing Captain Stolz.

VILJOEN:

Captain Stolz, Mr. Du Toit.

Captain Stolz nods correctly, unsmiling, comfortably

dressed, English-style. He shakes hands with Ben. Then

walks toward the window and stands there.

As he's watching Ben, he begins to clean out his pipe with

a silver penknife;

VILJOEN:

(to Ben)

Do sit down.

Ben sinks into a low leather chair before the desk. Behind

him he can feel Stolz's eyes.

Viljoen peers through his half-moons at the letter in

front of him. The pipe scraping continues behind Ben's

ear.

VILJOEN:

All right now, Gordon Ngubene.

(CONTINUED)

38.

CONTINUED:

BEN:

Well... to put it simply, Colonel...

VILJOEN:

(smiling)

I'm always grateful for that.

BEN:

I thought there might have been

some kind of misunderstanding I

could help straighten out.

VILJOEN:

Like what?

BEN:

I know him, Colonel. He works

at my school. He's done work for

me too.

VILJOEN:

And you feel you know him enough

to vouch for him.

BEN:

Yes, after so many years... 10

years. Gordon's not the type to

get himself in trouble. He's an

honest, hard-working, churchgoing

man.

VILJOEN:

Ha! You'd be surprised how many

honest, decent, church-going men

we come across during a working

day.

He leans back comfortably in his chair.

VILJOEN:

It's routine, Mr. Du Toit --a

routine enquiry. Cleaning up

these townships we must leave no

stone unturned.

BEN:

I appreciate that --but Gordon

would never...

VILJOEN:

(interrupting)

Not an easy task either --the

press screaming blue murder -especially

the English.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

39.

CONTINUED:

VILJOEN (CONT'D)

And they'll be the first to squeal

if the Reds took over, make no

mistake. Rushing back overseas

clutching their bloody British

passports. Have you any idea what

will happen here if we don't

follow every lead? We have a

duty --obligation. You have your

job --we have ours.

Ben hastens to reassure him.

He looks directly at Ben, frank, open, trustworthy.

BEN:

Colonel --believe me, I'm with

you all the way. But in this

case --I'm sure that in your

worthy pursuit of the guilty you

have, unwittingly, involved the

innocent. After all, we're all

human. We all make mistakes

sometimes.

Viljoen laughs again.

VILJOEN:

We are indeed, Mr. Du Toit --we

are indeed. Though there's many

who might need persuading as to

that fact.

Then... authority.

VILJOEN:

Mr. Du Toit. While you're here,

would you mind if I asked you a

few questions about Ngubene?

BEN:

(genuinely)

Colonel, I'd welcome it.

VILJOEN:

Good!

There's another pause. The Colonel takes out a fountain

pen --unscrews it --and arranges a sheet before him

before speaking.

VILJOEN:

Shall we start with his son?

(CONTINUED)

40.

CONTINUED:

BEN:

Jonathan.

VILJOEN:

The eldest.

BEN:

Yes. He died some time ago.

Viljoen doesn't react.

VILJOEN:

What do you know about Gordon's

activities since Jonathan's death?

The noise stops behind.

BEN:

Nothing, Colonel.

VILJOEN:

Did Gordon ever discuss the death

with you?

BEN:

Of course he did --he was upset.

The Colonel pauses.

VILJOEN:

But he accepted the truth?

BEN:

He is a religious man... in the

end he would have resigned himself

to it.

VILJOEN:

Would have? You mean he didn't?

Was he angry? Rebellious?

BEN:

Come on, Colonel! If one of your

kids died...

(nods to family picture

on desk)

... and nobody would tell you how

it happened or where his body is

buried, wouldn't you be upset?

STOLZ:

We told him how his son died, Mr.

Du Toit.

(CONTINUED)

41.

CONTINUED:

Ben turns back, surprised.

VILJOEN:

You have a son, Mr. Du Toit?

The Colonel looks up at him... the first sign of steel in

his eyes... then back to the papers.

The noise starts again behind Ben.

VILJOEN:

Does he burn and destroy -everything

he can lay his hands

on?... No --and neither does

mine. That's what I can't

understand... after everything

the government does for them.

(looks straight at Ben)

Think about it, Mr. Du Toit.

We're for you, not against you.

BEN:

(irritably)

I've never doubted it, Colonel.

It's you who appear to be doubting

me. These questions. You're

making me feel like a criminal.

There's a moment's pause --then a burst of laughter.

VILJOEN:

I'm sorry, Mr. Du Toit... I'm

sorry. It's force of habit. Once

a policeman, always a policeman,

eh?

More laughter --Ben joins in. Viljoen stands, signalling

an end to the meeting.

EXT. BEN'S CAR -DAY

Johan is sitting, waiting, in the parked car... the RADIO

ON. He's bored.

INT. COLONEL'S OFFICE

VILJOEN:

... As soon as we're satisfied

he's innocent, he will be released.

We know what we're doing, Mr. Du

Toit. You want your wife and that

boy of yours to sleep safe tonight,

don't you?

(CONTINUED)

42.

CONTINUED:

Ben nods, smiles, makes for the door, turns.

BEN:

One last favor, Colonel?

VILJOEN:

Fire away!

BEN:

Gordon's wife --she's very

worried. May she bring him some

food and a change of clothes while

he's still here?

VILJOEN:

No problem! Thank you for your

help...

BEN:

Thank you. I'll rely on you, then.

VILJOEN:

Will you find your way out?

BEN:

I think so. And thanks. I feel

much happier now.

VILJOEN:

Good! And give my regards to

your father-in-law --tell him

we'll have a drink sometime -maybe

go to a game.

BEN:

I will. Goodbye.

And the door shuts behind him.

There's silence for a moment... Viljoen staring at the

closed door --Stolz looks expectantly at him.

VILJOEN:

(pointing up)

Is the little bird singing yet?

STOLZ:

I'm working on it.

VILJOEN:

Good.

Stolz leaves, shutting the door behind him.

CUT TO:

43.

EXT. JON VORSTER SQUARE

Ben opening his car. Johan is sitting in the front seat.

As Ben gets into the car, he glances at the John Vorster

Square building.

INT. BEN'S CAR -DAY

Ben is motoring through and out of Johannesburg. Johan

is silent beside him, impatient.

BEN:

I talked to them. Gordon will be

released soon. The colonel was

very understanding.

JOHAN:

Did you see Gordon?

Ben suddenly realizes that he didn't ask to see Gordon.

BEN:

(embarrassed)

No.

JOHAN:

Did they say anything about

Jonathan?

BEN:

No, but... Johan, he is dead. We

can't do anything for him. Don't

mention this visit to your mother.

Okay?

INT. DU TOIT KITCHEN -NIGHT

Suzette and Susan in the kitchen arranging the dessert

tray. The kitchen is surprisingly neat. LAUGHTER is

coming from the dining room.

SUZETTE:

What extra-mural interest?

SUSAN:

Champion of political detainees!

Ben comes in to open extra bottles of wine, hears Susan's

line.

SUZETTE:

(laughing, turns to

Ben)

Is that right, Papa?

(CONTINUED)

44.

CONTINUED:

BEN:

That's right, Suzette. But, only

one detainee:
'Gordon!'

SUZETTE:

Our Gordon?

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