The Power of One Page #14

CUT TO:

103 INT. CORRIDOR 103

The party walks towards a big double door behind which a

single VOICE PREACHING can be vaguely heard. Nguni

knocks on the door.

104 EXT. SOCCER FIELD 104

The doors open to an entire soccer field jammed with

humanity. A boxing ring is raised in the center. The

only lights in the area directly over it. With the

twelve witnesses in the lead, the party makes its way

through a path in the crowd. An OLD WOMAN with a fly

switch, not unlike Inkosikazi's, speaks from the ring.

As PK passes the whispers start.

WHISPERS:

Onoshobishobi.

80.

The Woman in the ring begins to chant. The crowd picks

it up.

CROWD:

Onoshobishopi Ingelosi.

Shobi shobi Ingelosi.

PK looks back at Maria who is a bit unnerved, as are

Morrie and Solly. He looks across at Mandoma whose face

is a mask looking straight ahead, betraying nothing. The

two men climb into the ring and stand in their corners.

The Old Woman shuffles over and peers into PK's face.

She mutters something inaudible, then turns to the crowd.

OLD WOMAN:

Onoshobishobi Ingelosi.

The crowd picks up the chant. She waves and the crowd

goes silent. Somewhere in the darkness a single voice

begins to sing "Nkosi Sikelel I Afrika" -- the African

national anthem.

The crowd picks it up. PK looks down to the front row

where Nguni sits courteously attending to Maria in a seat

of honor among the twelve men in suits.

The African national anthem finishes. The BELL RINGS

three times. The Old Woman is led from the ring. An

Indian Referee in all white enters the ring and waves

the two fighters forward.

REFEREE:

You are listening to me please.

When I am shouting break, you must

break at once. When a knockdown

is coming, it is for an eight

count. No heads, no elbows. You

fight clean or by golly I am

giving you penalty points. Good

luck, boys.

PK and Mandoma touch gloves and go to their respective

corners.

PK:

What do you see?

Solly watches Mandoma dancing across the ring.

SOLLY:

A very tough fight.

The BELL RINGS.

81.

SOLLY:

Watch the left hook.

Mandoma comes charging across the ring and begins to fire

everything in his arsenal at PK, overwhelming him. PK

cannot get away from him and takes a series of devastating

combinations which end in a left hook to PK's jaw.

PK drops like lead. The Referee starts counting. PK

shakes his head clear and rises at eight. The Referee

checks his gloves. There is a cut under his right eye.

REFEREE:

Continue.

Again, Mandoma comes charging hard. PK defends himself

as best he can, trying to counter. But Mandoma's offense

won't allow it. He beats on PK until the round ends. PK

sits down in his corner. Morrie works on his eye.

PK:

God, he hits like a truck.

SOLLY:

He's going for the quick knockout.

He can't keep it up. Soon the

truck runs out of gas.

PK:

If he catches me again like that

I'll run out of gas -permanently.

The BELL SOUNDS. PK is hardly off his stool when Mandoma

is on him, pummeling him. PK backpedals, bobs and

weaves. Mandoma's punches come fast and furious, each

one looking to end the fight. Mandoma gets PK against

the ropes and bangs away. PK covers up. Mandoma

punishes his arms and kidneys. PK swings back and escapes.

Mandoma pursues him. He catches PK with a body

chop and then a chopping left. PK goes down again. The

Referee starts to count. The crowd is completely silent.

The BELL RINGS. PK returns to his corner, shaking his

head, trying to clear it. He flops onto his stool.

SOLLY:

He's had it. He's got no strength

in his punch.

PK:

Could've fooled me.

SOLLY:

I'm telling you.

PK:

82.

Tell him.

MORRIE:

Look -- he's taking water.

They all look.

105 THEIR POV 105

of Mandoma, breathing heavily, sweating profusely, drinks

deeply from his water flask.

106 BACK TO SCENE 106

SOLLY:

See. Where that water goes -

you go. Right to here.

He pokes PK's belly.

SOLLY:

You put your punches there, you

win. You don't, you lose.

The BELL RINGS. Mandoma comes charging out. PK goes on

defense. He hits Mandoma hard to the head. Mandoma

whips around and hits him hard. PK spins and hits the

canvas. His vision blurs, doubles. The SOUND of a

WATERFALL fills his head.

FLASH TO:

107 PK 107

struggling to climb the rocks in the pool below the

waterfall. He is halfway across this time.

CUT TO:

108 REFEREE 108

REFEREE:

Three... four... five...

FLASH TO:

109 PK 109

struggles to mount the fifth rock. He clings to it, wet,

exhausted, as the water pummels him.

CUT TO:

83.

110 REFEREE 110

REFEREE:

... seven... eight... nine...

PK rises. The crowd goes wild. The Referee holds up six

fingers.

REFEREE:

How many fingers?

PK:

Six.

REFEREE:

Where are you?

PK:

In a fight behind on points.

REFEREE:

Okay. Continue.

Mandoma rushes in for the kill. PK feints and comes up

under one of Mandoma's punches, burying a body shot into

his gut. Mandoma grunts and backs up. PK pursues him.

Mandoma tries to recover. He throws another big punch.

PK ducks under it and puts two more hooks into Mandoma's

stomach. Mandoma starts to back up for the first time

in the fight. PK boxes, jabbing, feinting, pushing Mandoma

around the ring, taking control. Mandoma, heading

for exhaustion, throws another big punch in desperation.

PK hits him with three punches in return. Mandoma swings

again with a last desperate effort, and PK buries the

Solly Goldman thirteen into every part of his body. PK

steps back and with his last punch, puts Mandoma down.

The crowd goes silent. The Referee counts Mandoma out.

He raises PK's hand. Still, the crowd is silent.

MORRIE:

We're in the sh*t now. Nice

knowing you, Solly.

He and Solly look around at the somber black faces flickering

in the shadows of the ring light. PK looks down at

Mandoma in silence. Mandoma rises unsteadily. He stands

in front of PK, staring into his eyes, and then he raises

PK's arm above his head.

MANDOMA:

Onoshobishobi Ingelosi.

The crowd goes wild, chanting, singing over and over as

PK and Mandoma stand in center ring, arms raised.

84.

111 EXT. DEVILLIERS SCHOOL - PRE-DAWN 111

PK stands with Maria by the tree they use to climb over

the wall. In the b.g. Solly and Morrie wait in the car.

MARIA:

The Seniors Dance is two Saturdays

from now. I would like it if you

could escort me.

PK:

Maria Marais with a rooinek at

the Senior Dance? What will

people think?

MARIA:

They'll think what they think and

I'll think what I think.

PK:

And what is that?

Maria touches his face. Her eyes soften.

MARIA:

I think I love you.

PK swallows hard. They kiss and embrace. PK caresses

her face.

PK:

I would be honored to be your

escort.

Maria beams.

MARIA:

I didn't doubt it for a minute.

Solly HONKS the HORN.

PK kisses Maria once more.

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