The Power of One Page #17

Doc and PK exit through the stalactites, whistling.

CUT TO:

129 INT. DOC'S HOUSE - NIGHT 129

PK and a very exhausted Doc enter. Doc sits down heavily

on the bed while PK, shrugging off his rucksack, heads

right for the small kitchen area.

PK:

I'll just set you up with some

coffee here, so in the morning you

won't have to bother making it.

He begins to prepare the coffee.

PK:

I didn't mean to tell you what

99.

you can and can't talk about back

in the cave today. I guess I

just don't like to think of you

being...

(beat)

PK (CONT'D)

... becoming...

(beat)

... something else. I know it's

natural law and it's the way it

is with everybody...

(beat)

I just wish it weren't with you.

There is no reply.

PK:

Doc?

PK turns to Doc, dead asleep, still sitting up. PK goes

over and gently lays the old man down. He removes his

boots and throws a blanket over him. PK blows out the

kerosene lamp and goes to exit. He is about to hang

their two rucksacks on two hooks by the door when Doc's

voice turns him.

DOC:

P.K.?

PK:

I'm here, Doc.

DOC:

The crystal cave will be our

secret, ja?

PK:

Whatever you say.

DOC:

Promise.

PK:

I promise.

DOC:

Ja. Good. I rest a little.

(beat)

The heart of Africa, P.K.

Doc lays down.

DOC:

The heart.

100.

He is asleep when his head hits the pillow.

PK watches Doc's chest, washed in moonlight, rise and

fall lightly.

A sudden sadness falls over him. The corners of his

mouth turn up in a bittersweet smile. He finishes

hanging the rucksack and exits.

CUT TO:

130 EXT. PRINCE OF WALES BACK GATE - NIGHT 130

PK and Morrie stick close in the shadows. PK looks at

his watch and then twenty feet away to the locked gate.

MORRIE:

Christ! If someone would have

told me this is where I'd be on

a Saturday night, last term of

my senior year, I'd call them

batty.

(beat)

You know, you're going to owe me

for the rest of your life on this

one.

PK:

That all? I figured you'd hold

me to it longer.

MORRIE:

You get the insider friend's

rate.

PK:

Thanks, mate.

A black groundskeeper comes walking along, seemingly on

his duties.

PK pokes Morrie.

131 THEIR POV - GROUNDSKEEPER 131

walks up to the gate. He looks left and right, then

quickly unlocks it. He walks away.

132 BACK TO SCENE 132

PK and Morrie advance. PK opens the gate. As he does,

101.

Gideon Mandoma, followed by 15 men and 5 women, enters.

MANDOMA:

I see you, P.K.

PK:

I see you, Gideon.

MORRIE:

Let's get inside before the whole

bloody world sees us.

MANDOMA:

Morrie.

He clasps Morrie's hand, first in a traditional handshake,

then in an African handshake. Mandoma smiles.

MANDOMA:

You some great friend.

Morrie is taken by his sincerity.

PK:

Let's go. Stay to the fence.

The group moves out.

CUT TO:

133 INT. LIBRARY 133

The Africans are seated around desks, waiting for Morrie

and PK to tell them what to do.

PK:

All right, class. I know you

don't understand a word I'm

saying, but part of learning a

language is hearing it spoken.

So -- I am P.K.

He taps his chest.

PK:

P.K. This...

(taps Morrie)

... is Morrie. Now you all have

a chalkboard.

He holds up the chalkboard.

PK:

Chalk and an eraser. I will say

102.

the letter. You will say the

letter. I will write the letter.

You will write the letter.

PK (CONT'D)

Morrie will check the letter.

All right? Here we go. 'A'...

(in Zulu)

... say it. 'A.'

ALL:

'A.'

The door to the library suddenly opens. Everyone

freezes. Maria enters the room. PK is stunned.

PK:

Excuse me.

PK hurries over to Maria. Not a word needs to be

spoken. Her presence says everything.

MARIA:

I thought you might need some

help. Or I can just sit and

watch.

PK hands her the chalk.

PK:

Class. This is Maria. She is

now the teacher.

(to Maria)

We're doing alphabet, from the

letter 'A.'

PK takes up his position with Morrie, ready to check the

chalkboards. Maria takes the front of the class.

134 HER POV - BLACK FACES 134

before her, watching intensely.

135 BACK TO SCENE 135

She battles the butterflies in her stomach as she writes

an "A" on the blackboard. She clears her throat.

MARIA:

'A.'

No one says anything. Maria looks a little lost.

103.

PK:

(in Zulu)

Repeat what she says.

(to Maria)

Say it again.

MARIA:

'A.'

ALL:

'A.'

She writes it on the blackboard again. PK and Morrie

trade a look and a smile.

MARIA:

'A.' Write 'A.'

She mimes to the chalkboards. All the Africans obey.

PK looks up from checking the students. Maria's eyes

are twinkling.

CUT TO:

136 EXT. SCHOOL GATE 136

The Africans are exiting. Maria, Morrie and PK stand,

receiving their heartfelt thanks one by one. Mandoma

is the last to leave.

MANDOMA:

(to Maria)

You are one brave Boer, Miss

Maria.

MARIA:

Thank you.

MANDOMA:

And you are one lucky English.

He kids PK. PK blushes.

PK:

Good night, Gideon.

He playfully pushes Gideon out the gate and closes it.

He turns to Maria and Morrie.

MORRIE:

Well, I think I'll go... um...

lay on my back and count the

cracks in the ceiling. 'Night.

Nice to see you, Maria.

104.

MARIA:

Good night, Morrie.

Morrie runs off.

PK takes Maria around.

PK:

I am one lucky English.

They embrace and kiss.

MARIA:

P.K. Can I ask you a favor?

PK:

Anything.

MARIA:

We don't have to go in or anything.

You can hear the music from

outside. I'd love to have one

dance with you before I graduate.

PK:

Done.

MARIA:

I feel so good. Race you to the

gate.

PK:

You need a headstart?

MARIA:

No.

She takes off. PK follows.

137 SOMEONE ELSE'S POV 137

They disappear into the night.

138 ANGLE ON FIGURE 138

in the shadows, watching them run off.

CUT TO:

139 INT. SCHOOL GYM 139

105.

PK is working on a speed bag. Morrie comes running in

with two open letters in hand.

MORRIE:

We made it! We made it!

He thrusts one of the letters at PK.

MORRIE:

Sorry. I couldn't bear the

suspense after I read mine. I

had to open it.

PK looks at his letter.

MORRIE:

Three months and we're out of

here.

PK:

You're out of here.

MORRIE:

What the hell are you talking

about?

He snatches PK's letter.

MORRIE:

(reading)

'Dear sir. It is our pleasure to

inform you that you have been

accepted to matriculate at

Trinity College, Oxford,' etc.,

etc., etc.

PK:

It says nothing about the

scholarship.

MORRIE:

A technicality.

Another BOY comes over.

BOY:

St. John wants to see you two in

his study.

MORRIE:

Good news travels fast.

PK:

I'll get showered and changed.

106.

BOY:

He said to come as you are.

Immediately.

The Boy runs off, leaving PK and Morrie wondering.

CUT TO:

140 INT. ST. JOHN'S STUDY 140

PK and Morrie enter to a somber St. John.

Rate this script:3.7 / 3 votes