The Power of One Page #18

PK:

Wanted to see us, sir?

ST. JOHN

Yes. Come in. Close the door.

As the door closes, BRIGADIER JOHANNES BRETYN, a quiet

but formidable man, comes into their line of vision.

Trouble is in the air.

ST. JOHN

This is Brigadier Bretyn from the

police department.

Bretyn just nods his head.

ST. JOHN

He has come to deliver, in person,

an order to close the Saturday

school.

PK:

Why?

BRETYN:

Because it is illegal.

MORRIE:

We're only teaching them how to

read and do sums.

BRETYN:

You don't have certification to

do that.

PK:

Prince of Wales is a certified

school.

BRETYN:

Yes. But not certified for that

107.

sort of thing.

PK:

Can he do this, sir?

BRETYN:

Of course I can do it. Would I

be here if I couldn't? Come now

meneer headmaster. Let's end

this now. I have a full day ahead

of me still.

St. John meets Bretyn's steely eyes. He cannot hold the

man's gaze.

ST. JOHN

(resigned)

The Saturday school is to be

disbanded until further notice.

BRETYN:

Thank you, meneer headmaster.

Your cooperation in this matter

is very appreciated. Good day.

Bretyn goes to exit.

PK:

You know it can't go on like this

forever.

St. John tenses.

BRETYN:

What can't?

PK:

What you're doing.

BRETYN:

I'm just doing my job. And if

you'll take some advice, you

should just do yours.

Bretyn exits.

MORRIE:

Is that really the end of it, sir?

ST. JOHN

For the moment I'm afraid it is.

PK:

If we let them get away with it

on our own grounds, it will never

108.

change. It'll just get worse.

ST. JOHN

History disputes you.

PK:

History takes too long.

ST. JOHN

Yes it does. But it is never

kind to those who try to hurry it.

PK:

I feel we should resist, sir.

ST. JOHN

So do I, P.K. But this is not a

subtle government. They mean to

have their way and damn the

consequences. And I cannot

jeopardize this school, no matter

how I personally feel. I'm sorry.

(beat)

I heard you were accepted at

Oxford.

MORRIE:

Yes, sir. Received notification

today.

ST. JOHN

Well, congratulations.

MORRIE:

Thank you, sir.

St. John looks at PK who remains silent.

ST. JOHN

To both of you.

PK:

(tight)

Thank you, sir.

An uncomfortable silence lingers.

ST. JOHN

We'll talk before you go.

PK:

Yes, sir. Will that be all?

ST. JOHN

That'll be all.

109.

PK turns immediately and exits. Morrie and St. John

trade an uncomfortable look.

CUT TO:

141 INT. HALLWAY 141

PK walks down the hall, anger building in his face. He

exits the hall.

CUT TO:

142 EXT. DEVILLIERS SCHOOL 142

PK comes up to the main gate. A GUARD stops him.

PK:

I'd like to see Maria Marais

please.

The Guard checks his list.

GUARD:

Sorry. She's not allowed

visitors.

PK:

Well, if I could just talk to her.

GUARD:

Sorry.

PK backs away and moves off down the street. He turns

the corner.

143 HIS POV - TREE 143

he uses to scale the wall is in the process of being

cut down.

CUT TO:

144 INT. PK'S ROOM - PRE-DAWN 144

Morrie is asleep. PK wakes him.

PK:

Morrie. Morrie.

MORRIE:

What?

110.

PK:

I want to show you something.

MORRIE:

What time is it?

He looks at his watch and turns over.

MORRIE:

Can I see it later?

PK:

No. Come on.

He pulls Morrie out of bed. Morrie groggily starts

pulling his clothes on.

MORRIE:

You know, when we get to Oxford

-- separate rooms.

PK:

Will you hurry.

MORRIE:

Is there some girl out there

waiting for me?

PK:

Yeah. Stunning. Breasts like

casabas. Just waiting for you.

MORRIE:

Bullshit.

PK throws a jersey into his chest and pulls him out of

the room.

CUT TO:

145 EXT. PRINCE OF WALES CAMPUS 145

The campus is swaddled in early morning fog.

PK and Morrie stand on the side of the school chapel

while a black groundsman opens the door to the basement.

PK:

What do you think?

MORRIE:

I think you're fooling yourself

into thinking the bastards won't

111.

come after us in here.

The groundskeeper opens the door to the basement.

boys enter.

The

CUT TO:

146 INT. BASEMENT 146

PK switches on a light switch to a cavernous spacecluttered with old desks, blackboards and church pews.

PK:

This is a church. Didn't youever hear of the Christian conceptof sanctuary?

MORRIE:

Yes. But I'm not the one who

has to respect it.

PK:

Even the Boer has limits, Morrie.

MORRIE:

I'm sure he does, but I'd still

like to see a big bolt on theinside door.

Mr. Levy?

CARETAKER:

The Caretaker pulls a large deadbolt out of his pocket,

with a smile.

CUT TO:

147 INT. SOLLY'S GYM 147

Mandoma and PK, both with protective equipment on,

square off.

SOLLY:

Now move it nice and easy, theboth of you. Time.

PK and Mandoma circle. Mandoma throws a jab.

PK:

They want us to close the school.

PK counters.

112.

I know.

MANDOMA:

Mandoma lays in a combination.

PK:

We are still game.

PK throws a combination.

So are we.

MANDOMA:

SOLLY:

Would you two find some othertime to chat. This is a boxingring, not a social club.

Mandoma and PK start boxing in earnest, both smiling.

CUT TO:

148 EXT. DEVILLIERS SCHOOL - NIGHT 148

A watchman makes his rounds. He passes by Maria'swindow. When he is gone, PK appears from behind a tree.

He taps on the window. Maria comes to the window and

sees him. Her face lights up. She opens the window.

PK:

(cool)

I was in the neighborhood.

Maria puts her finger to her lips and waves him in. PK

climbs through the window.

CUT TO:

149 INT. ROOM 149

Maria points to the door.

She puts a record on her phonograph. She turns to PK

and embraces him fiercely, holding on tight.

MARIA:

(whispering)

They're sending me away to schoolin Pretoria. I told my father Iwouldn't go. He said if I didn't

he'd see they arrest you and ruinyour chances. I couldn't let him

do that.

113.

150 ANGLE ON PK'S PAINED FACE 150

as he holds Maria.

PK:

When do you go?

MARIA:

Next week.

(beat)

I want to make love to you, P.K.

PK's eyes fill with her words. She releases him. They

look at each other.

MARIA:

I do.

PK leans forward and kisses her, awkward, as if for the

first time. As their lips part, their breath shortens.

Maria moves forward slowly, lifting PK's hand to her

breast. He touches it. The heat builds. Passion

overwhelms them. They begin to make love.

CUT TO:

151 INT. ROOM - LATER 151

Maria sleeps peacefully in PK's arms on her small bed.

PK lies awake, staring at the ceiling. He rises quietly

so as not to wake her. He pulls on his clothes, gently

brushes a wisp of hair away from her eyes, kisses her

forehead, and exits through the window into the breaking

dawn.

CUT TO:

152 EXT. SCHOOL GROUNDS - NIGHT 152

PK and Morrie stand by a side gate near the athletic

field looking alertly about. The gate opens. The

Africans led by Mandoma come through. PK and Morrie

greet them. When they are all through Morrie closes

the gate and runs after them.

CUT TO:

153 EXT. ATHLETIC FIELD - STANDS 153

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