The Power of One Page #13

74.

90 FLASH TO TRUNCHEON 90

coming down on a familiar head -- Geel Peit's.

91 ANOTHER ANGLE 91

Instinctively the first four prisoners in each group,

the leaders, stand and turn to face their people. They

take up the lead. PK, distracted by his inner vision,

runs off stage. Doc looks after him, worried, but keeps

playing.

CUT TO:

92 INT. PRISON 92

PK runs through the empty cell blocks looking for someone.

PK runs through the corridors. He runs through the

kitchens, the empty dining area, the SOUND of the concert

chasing after him.

He runs through the recreation area and past the boxing

room when he hears a THUD, and another.

93 INT. BOXING ROOM 93

He bolts into the room and hits the light switch. The

light over the ring comes on, illuminating Bormann,

truncheon raised over the lifeless, broken body of Geel

Piet.

PK:

No!

Startled, Bormann jumps out of the ring and runs off. PK

scrambles into the ring and cradles the lifeless, bloodied

head in his lap, and begins to sob.

PAN DOWN along Geel Piet's arm to his bloodied hand,

holding the snapshot of him and PK.

The Concerto grows LOUDER around PK until it enfolds him

in its melodies. The voices of Africa, the music of

Europe, reaching for a musical and spiritual crescendo.

PK (V.O.)

Geel Piet died of massive internal

hemorrhage, the result of

Bormann's ramming a truncheon up

into the little man's body until

his entrails spilled out. When

I reached him he was already dead.

I sat there crying, stroking his

head and crying with African

75.

voices rising to heaven above,

even as her blood soaked the

ground below.

The MUSIC SWELLS until the voices meld as one.

CUT TO:

94 INT. EXAMINERS' ROOM 94

The four examiners all sit enthralled by the story. When

PK looks up, a tear runs down his cheek. Lewis, who is

visibly moved, clears his throat. Another man blows his

nose with a handkerchief, covering his emotions.

LEWIS:

Thank you very much. You will be

notified as to the University's

decision by mail.

PK rises and goes to exit.

LEWIS:

Point of curiousity.

PK turns.

LEWIS:

Your headmaster told me your work

is somewhat autobiographical.

PK:

Yes, sir.

LEWIS:

This Bormann, he was real?

PK:

Yes, sir.

LEWIS:

Was justice ever served?

PK:

Yes, sir. Sergeant Bormann died

of cancer...

(pause)

of the rectum.

PK turns and exits.

CUT TO:

95 EXT. SCHOOL 95

76.

Solly Goldman sits behind the wheel of his old car. Two

figures sneak out of the school and come running toward

the car.

96 INT. CAR 96

Solly starts the engine as PK and Morrie hop in.

PK:

We have to make a stop first.

SOLLY:

The night won't last forever,

boychick.

PK:

It'll only take a minute.

Solly puts the car in gear and drives off.

CUT TO:

97 INT. MARIA'S ROOM 97

Maria is sleeping when a hand goes over her mouth. She

awakes, startled, to PK, finger to lips.

CUT TO:

98 EXT. BLACK TOWNSHIP 98

A police car patrols the edge of the vast, dark, ramshackle

township, its cruiser light scanning the openings

to the dark rutted alleys. It passes and disappears down

the road. A moment later an African steps out of the

shadows and whistles a signal.

CUT TO:

99 DOWN THE ROAD 99

in the shadows, Nguni hears the whistle. He looks at his

watch and up the road, tense, as another set of headlights

appears. Nguni steps back into the shadows.

CUT TO:

100 INT. CAR 100

77.

Solly strains to see out his dirty windshield with the

headlights as his car bumps along the unpaved road.

SOLLY:

The night I escaped from the

Tsar's Army it was just like

this. Six of us -- four Jews,

two Ukranians. Dark as anything.

No streets. In the day we hid in

bushes. At night we went.

MORRIE:

You deserted?

SOLLY:

Whey they come take you at

thirteen years old and tell you

it's twenty-five years in the

Army, it's your duty to desert.

Nguni steps out right into the path of the headlights.

Solly hits the brake hard, throwing everyone forward.

SOLLY:

You said the end of the road.

NGUNI:

Yes, yes. Sorry. I drive.

He opens Solly's door with some urgency. Nguni sees

Maria.

NGUNI:

(smiling)

Welcome, miss, welcome.

MARIA:

Thank you.

Nguni turns into the township and is swallowed by the

dark.

CUT TO:

101 INT. CAR 101

The car bounces along the rutted darkened streets of the

township. The glow of smoldering cooking fires through

open doorways offers minimal illumination to the squalid

lives within. Maria peers out at a world she has never

seen. As the car drives, women and children gather along

the road peering in. Mothers point to PK, instructing

their children.

78.

VOICES:

Onoshobishobi Ingelosi.

NGUNI:

The people have come from

everywhere to see you.

Maria takes PK's hand, a little nervous. PK smiles at

her confidently.

MORRIE:

Where are the men?

NGUNI:

They are to be witness.

The muffled sounds of VOICES SINGING reaches them, growing

louder as they approach. Maria is tense. Nguni

senses this. He turns to her.

NGUNI:

No worry, miss. It is the sound

of happiness.

He stops the car at a door in a high wooden wall guarded

by two big men.

NGUNI:

We are here.

Everyone gets out of the car and passes through the door

which shuts behind them.

CUT TO:

102 INT. DIMLY LIT CORRIDOR 102

Nguni leads everyone down the hallway. PK is dressed to

fight, hands taped, robe thrown over his shoulders.

MORRIE:

I don't see why we have to weigh

in. They're going to fight

anyway.

NGUNI:

It is very important the people

see everything is correct.

They come to an arch which leads into a big empty room.

In the center of the room stands a scale and a dozen

Africans, all dressed in worn but neatly pressed suits.

Mandoma, the other man who attended PK's fight at school,

clad only in boxing gear, waits on PK.

79.

PK:

(in Zulu)

I see you, Gideon Mandoma.

MANDOMA:

I see you, PK.

PK:

I just want you to know you fight

a man. Onoshobishobi Ingelosi is

just a name I was given at

Barberton Prison. It means

nothing.

MANDOMA:

It is not for you or me to say

what it means.

An old man, one of the dignitaries says something to

Nguni.

NGUNI:

Please.

He motions for PK to step on the scale. PK does. The

weight is duly noted. Mandoma then does the same. The

twelve men are satisfied. They head for the exit.

NGUNI:

It is time.

He motions for the others to follow. PK goes to walk

with Maria. Nguni pairs him with Mandoma. They exit the

room.

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