Babel Page #7

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SUSAN:

(mumbling senselessly)

I'm ok... I'm ok...

Susan breathes in, and every time she does, blood flows from

her wound. Richard turns toward the other passengers.

RICHARD:

Is anybody a doctor?

Nobody answers. Richard starts to lose his cool.

RICHARD (CONT'D)

Please:
a doctor.

The pensioners don't answer; they are too scared. Richard

opens Susan's purse and sees a cell phone. He turns it on

and tries to call, but there is no signal. He turns to Anwar.

34.

RICHARD (CONT'D)

Where's the nearest hospital?

ANWAR:

It's far away, about four hours.

(a beat)

There's a clinic that's a little

closer, about an hour and a half to

the south. By bus it'll take us about

two hours and a half though.

RICHARD:

Does that takes away from Marrakesh?

ANWAR:

Yes, but it's the closest thing we've

got.

Richard runs down the aisle and gets out of the bus.

55 EXT. DESERT HIGHWAY -- DAY

No cars drive by. The road is almost deserted. In the

distance, a run-down Renault approaches. Richard stands in

the road to stop it.

The car brakes and Richard runs toward the driver: an old

peasant traveling with his eight year-old grandson.

RICHARD:

I need your help. We were attacked.

OLD MAN:

(In Arabic)

I don't understand...

Richard grows desperate.

RICHARD:

Help... hospital...

OLD MAN:

(In Arabic)

I don't understand you sir.

Richard sees that Anwar and the bus driver have gotten out

of the bus and he starts shouting at them for help.

RICHARD:

Tell him we need his help.

With the distraction, the old man drives off. Richard watches

helplessly as they drive away and he grabs Anwar by the arm.

RICHARD (CONT'D)

Let's take her to the clinic.

35.

56 EXT. DESERT HIGHWAY -- DAY

The bus makes a U-turn and drives away at full speed.

57 INT. BUS -- DAY

The bus rattles along. Richard huddles over Susan, trying to

stop the blood flowing from her neck. Barth, an old man starts

shouting.

BARTH:

Marrakech isn't this way. They're

going to shoot at us again.

RICHARD:

We've got to get her to a hospital.

BARTH:

They're going to kill us all. Turn

back... turn the bus around...

Richard gets exasperated at the old man's screaming.

RICHARD:

Shut up, god damn it!

Barth shuts up and the bus drives on.

58 EXT. DESERT HIGHWAY -- DAY

The bus bounces its way down the straight highway.

59 INT. BUS -- DAY

The passengers sit quietly. As the ride gets bumpier, Susan

starts to cry out in pain.

SUSAN:

It hurts, it hurts...

Richard tries to calm her down.

RICHARD:

Easy, sweetie, easy...

SUSAN:

It hurts... it hurts so much...

Richard turns her around and sees her shoulder has been

shattered. She won't stop shouting. A pool of blood starts

trickling down the aisle.

RICHARD:

(A Anwar)

Isn't there anywhere else we can

take her?

36.

ANWAR:

We can take her to my town. It's

near here and there's a doctor. In

the meantime we can call Erfourd for

an ambulance.

Richard turns to look at Susan, who is writhing in pain.

RICHARD:

Ok.

ANWAR:

(To the driver, in

Arabic)

Make a right onto the next road.

Richard and Anwar exchange a glance.

60 EXT. DESERT HIGHWAY -- DAY

The bus leaves the main road and turns into a dirt road.

61 INT. BUS -- DAY

The bus' poor suspension gives the passengers a jolt. Richard

tries to protect Susan's head.

62 EXT. HAMLET -- DAY

The bus pulls into a small group of houses. Several children

run beside the bus, chasing it. Some gaunt dogs get out of

the way to let the bus by.

63 EXT. ANWAR'S HOUSE -- DAY

The bus pulls up in front of a modest house.

64 INT. BUS -- DAY

Richard raises his head and sees the desolate environs.

RICHARD:

Are we here?

ANWAR:

Yes sir, this is my house.

Richard tries to carry Susan, but she screams in pain.

RICHARD:

Easy, darling, easy...

He slips his hands under her and lifts her up.

SUSAN:

Don't touch me there.

37.

Richard moves his hand, which is covered in blood. As he

carries her, he turns into the aisle while Anwar and one of

the passengers try to help him.

65 EXT. HAMLET -- DAY

Richard carries her into the house through a crowd of curious

children.

66 INT. ANWAR'S HOUSE -- DAY

Anwar leads Richard down the hallways amidst Susan's screams.

67 EXT. PATIO, ANWAR'S HOUSE -- DAY

They walk through a dusty patio and Anwar points at some

stairs. Richard climbs them with difficulty and Anwar opens

the door to a room.

ANWAR:

Here... here...

68 INT. ROOM, ANWAR'S HOUSE -- DAY

An old woman (87), Anwar's grandmother, who has centuries of

desert in her expression, lets them in and points at a rug

on the floor.

ANWAR'S GRANDMOTHER

(In Arabic)

Put her there...

Richard understands and softly lays Susan on the rug. Susan

looks around horrified: adobe walls, dirt floor: the epitome

of the third world.

RICHARD:

I need to call an ambulance and

contact my embassy.

ANWAR:

If you have the number of the embassy,

I can go call.

Obviously, Richard does not have it.

RICHARD:

I need to make a phone call.

ANWAR:

Of course, come with me.

They get ready to leave and Susan starts imploring.

SUSAN:

Don't leave me here alone...

38.

RICHARD:

Don't worry, I'll be right back.

Susan looks desperate. To set Richard somewhat at ease,

Anwar points at his Grandmother.

ANWAR:

She can take care of her.

Richard leans over Susan.

RICHARD:

You're going to be ok.

Anwar kneels down next to her, takes a cloth and improvises

a tourniquet that he adjusts near her shoulder. He turns

towards the grandmother.

ANWAR:

(In Arabic)

Hold and release the tourniquet every

once in a while.

The grandmother nods. She sees the swarm of kids looking

into the place and she shoos them away.

ANWAR'S GRANDMOTHER

(In Arabic)

Get out of here... out...

The kids obey, except for one or two who take one last look

before they go. Susan's terrified eyes watch Anwar and Richard

leave the room.

69 EXT. ANWAR'S HOUSE -- DAY

The bus is still parked in front of the house. As soon as

Richard walks out, the pensioners approach him.

DOUGLAS:

How is your wife?

RICHARD:

Bad. Very bad.

Tom (51), a fat English passenger, faces him.

TOM:

Get her outta there and let's go.

RICHARD:

And where should I take her?

TOM:

In Egypt, in a town like this, they

slit thirty German tourists' throats.

They might do the same to us.

39.

Anwar listens and intervenes.

ANWAR:

No, not here.

TOM:

(Aggressively)

What do you know? We have to get

out of here as soon as possible.

Lilly (79), an old woman, approaches.

LILLY:

It's very hot, sir, and the driver

turned off the air conditioning.

I'm feeling sick.

RICHARD:

You can't leave us here.

James (82), Lilly's husband, steps forward.

JAMES:

What's the use in staying?

RICHARD:

In case I need the bus.

JAMES:

They can go drop us off and then

come back for you.

Douglas (75), a tall old man with good posture, interjects.

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