BR2 ORIGINAL MOVIE SCRIPTS

FREEDOM, SOUTH AFRICA: 1879

SCENE OPENS ON A TOWN COUNCIL MEETING WHERE ALL THE MEMBERS ARE WHITE. THE LEADER, PETER VENOM, RISES TO THE PODIUM TO ADDRESS THOSE IN ATTENDANCE.

VENOM

Good evening good citizens of Freedom. Let the meeting come to order. (pause) The proposal that we, the good members of the high council, will put before you tonight is one upon which the ground rules of our future existence will be based. (pause) The white man was created in the image of God, put on this earth to lead. He shall remain pure and dominant. (pause) And to achieve this, we must ensure that a permanent state of separation and segregation exists between the races......

SCENE CHANGES TO THE BROTHEL NEXT DOOR, WHERE A WHITE MAN IN HIS EARLY FORTIES IS BOUND TO A BEDPOST, IMPLORING A YOUNG BLACK WOMAN TO BEAT HIM WITH A WHIP

MAN

Do it, bitch!

WOMAN

Are you sure, Mr. Tyler? A black person must never raise a hand to a white person. I could loose my arms if I do so.

MAN

You better do it, or I'll break your arms. (she whips him once, un-enthusiastically) Come on! Harder! I can't feel anything.

WOMAN

I can't! I just can't! I can't bring myself to hit you for nothing, Mr. Tyler!

TYLER

Then I'll give you something to hit me for! (kicks her leg)

WOMAN

(angrily) What are you doing?

TYLER

Hit me, you black bitch! Hit me now! (closes his eyes). Hit me like a white man never hit one of your kind!

(the woman proceeds to whip him hard and continuously)

SCENE RETURNS TO PETER VENOM ADDRESSING THE TOWN MEETING

VENOM

(Looking around the room) Where is brother Tyler? I've noticed his absence these last two council meetings, yet I saw him just prior to our meeting tonight. Does anyone know of his whereabouts? (one of the members stood up to speak) Go ahead, Mr. Bundles. The Chair recognizes you, Honorable Member.

BUNDLES

He's across the street, Mr. Venom, everybody knows that! (looks around the room) And we all know what he's doing there, too, don't we? I say we put a stop to it, if we want to keep our good standing as honorable white men in the community!

VENOM

What do you propose we do, Mr. Bundles?

BUNDLES

Death! Death to all those who indulge in such sacrilegious acts!

SCENE OPENS ON A WOMAN DRESSED ENTIRELY IN BLACK, RIDING INTO TOWN ON A MAGNIFICENT BLACK STALLION. SHE APPROACHES A SMALL DWELLING WHERE A YOUNG BOY OF ABOUT FIFTEEN IS GROOMING SOME HORSES.

WOMAN IN BLACK

(touching the rim of her hat with the tips of her fingers.) Young man, do you think you could do the same for my horse? (the youth does not reply) There's wages in it for you. (still no answer) What's the matter, don't you speak English?

(Another woman, wearing an old apron over working clothes comes out of the house)

OTHER WOMAN

What do you want? I am the boy's mother.

WOMAN IN BLACK

I'm Marlen Dacid. I'd like to have my horse taken care of and I could use a wash myself. I will give you a dollar for the use of your bath.

BOY'S MOTHER

My name is Channa. (looks at the woman in black for a few seconds) Come with me, I will show you to the bath. (they walk around the other side of the house) What are you doing in these parts? This is not a place for a woman to be riding alone...

MARLEN

I'm looking for someone.

CHANNA

Maybe I can help you. Who are you looking for?

MARLEN

A man called Moboto. I have a message for him.

CHANNA

What is the message?

MARLEN

Do you know Moboto?

CHANNA

I may.

MARLEN

Where can I find him?

CHANNA

He is not here now. Give me the message and I will pass it on.

MARLEN

No. I have to deliver my message in person, that's what I'm being paid for.

CHANNA

(points to a small outhouse) The bath is there, -you will find towels in there, too.

Inside the outhouse, Marlen fills the bath and gets undressed. Down the road, scene picks up on six horsemen galloping towards the house. As the thunderous sound approaches, Marlen gets out of her bath, throws her shirt on, instinctively reaching for her gun. While peaking cautiously, through a crack in the wall, she watches two dirty-looking men with pistols in hand. She slipps into her boots, positions herself in front of the door and waits

1st MAN

(motioning to his partner) Cover the right side and I'll cover the left.

The men inch their way along either side of the cabin until they meet at the front entrance. With perfect timing, Marlen kicks the door wide open and within seconds guns down her assailants. She hurredly puts on the rest of her clothes and heads for the house, where she sees the six horses tied to the outpost.

By the side of the house, there is a large tree which she climbs expertly and enters the premises by a window. Once inside, she creeps along silently until she is directly above the men, and takes cover behind a folded table

MARLEN

Moboto! (she cocks her gun) I've got a message for you!

(the men take cover)

MOBOTO

What's your message, Dacid?

MARLEN

Throw your weapons in the center of the room and we'll talk.

MOBOTO

You do the same!

(Marlen reaches for her second gun, throws it over the rail and watches it land in the center of the room)

MARLEN

Your turn!

(Moboto signals to his men who attempt to sneak up on Marlen, but she alertly guns them down, one-two-three. Seconds later, she jumps out from behind the table and slides down the banister coming face to face with Moboto, with her gun pointed directly at his crotch)

MOBOTO

You said....

MARLEN

You thought I'd trust you? (she grabs his weapons and slips her foot between his causing him to lose his balance and fall. She cocks her gun) Where's the map?

MOBOTO

I told Venom already, I don't have the map! I no longer know where it is or who has it! I want him to stop bothering me! I just want to be left in peace! Do you understand? Go tell Venom that!

MARLEN

(pokes him hard in the stomach with her gun) You KNOW where it is! Tell me or I'll have no choice but to pull.

MOBOTO

No! I swear, I don't even know for sure whether the map even exists! It's probably just a legend, something men think about to keep them going under the hot sun! (pause) If you leave peacefully now, I will give you some gold for your troubles. You have already cost me the lives of five of my best men. (pause) There is gold in my pocket -take it, it's yours! (she reaches in his pocket and pulls out a small leather pouch. Inside, she finds a few gold coins) There is more in the drawer over there. (he points to a large dresser) I will get it for you.

(Moboto makes his way to the dresser, pulls the drawer open and slides his hand inside. He turns around suddenly with a gun and pulls the trigger, but nothing happens)

MARLEN

(shaking her head from side to side while pointing her gun at Moboto) Too bad. (aims between his eyes and pulls the trigger)

(Channa rushes in and faints at the sight of the bloody men sprawled out over her living room floor)

SCENE OPENS ON A GENERAL STORE: -A YOUNG MIXED RACE GIRL IS SLYLY LIFTING FOOD ITEMS AND PLACING THEM IN A BAG UNDER HER CAPE. AT THE SOUND OF APPROACHING HOOFS SHE LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW AND SEES A VEILED STRANGER ON A WHITE HORSE. AS SEVERAL OF HER HIDDEN ARTICLES FELL FROM UNDER HER, THE SHOPKEEPER TURNS AROUND TO STARE AT HER.

SHOPKEEPER

(impatiently) What's the matter, girl? Can't you people shop without making a mess? (shakes his head in disgust) I can't wait for the day when the law prevents you from shopping in a white man's store. And the day will come soon, mark my words!

(In a pannic, the young girl drops the rest of her articles, and dashes out of the store, bumping into the veiled stranger she noticed a few minutes earlier. Without bothering to excuse herself, she takes off down the road. Seconds later, the shopkeeper is out on his balcony with a rifle, firing shots in the direction of the running girl)

SHOPKEEPER

You better keep running, girl, and don't ever come back! Little thief! (looks at the veiled stranger who is just tying up her magnificent white horse) If you're looking for the church, or to be more precise, a wedding....

(the two other men join the shopkeeper outside)

1st MAN

Yeah, she looks like the bride! Maybe she's looking for a husband. You looking for a husband, honey?

SHOPKEEPER

Maybe she's so ugly, she's wearing a veil to cover herself.

2nd MAN

Yeah, lets see what you look like!

STRANGER

I'm not looking for trouble. (looks at the armed men) I just want to get some supplies, for which I will pay you well. (enters the store) I'll take the things the girl wanted.

1st MAN

(approaching) C'mon! Lets see what you look like under that veil. (reaches for the veil, but is stopped by the stranger)

STRANGER

(holding a firm grip on the man's arm) If you see my face you will turn to stone.

1st MAN

(shakes loose from her grip) That's mighty high talk from a woman's mouth.

STRANGER

You haven't heard a thing, -my gun talks louder still. (turns to the shopkeeper) Put the things the girl wanted into a bag and give them to me. Now.

SHOPKEEPER

What girl?

STRANGER

You're being stupid, -a sure road to the graveyard. If you want to kiss dirt fast, keep playing stupid.

2nd MAN

Hey, don't let no female talk to you like that, Harry.

1st MAN

(pulling aside his jacket to reveal his holster) I can handle this one. (looks at the stranger) If you're looking to exit, reach for 'em and you're on your way!

STRANGER

Whenever you want to go, I've got the time and the anger to make you stone-cold dead.

(As the other man reaches for his gun and pulls the veil away from the stranger's face, he reveals her stunning blue eyes set in a lovely, light brown skinned face. With lightening quickness, the stranger had her gun in hand and shot him dead. The other two men are frozen with fear)

SHOPKEEPER

Who...who are you? Where did a woman learn to shoot like that?

1st MAN

(rushing over to his dead friend) It don't matter who you are! You've just killed one of the McFaddens! You'll never be able to hide now...

STRANGER

(walks over to the body, removes his money belt from around his hip and turns to the shopkeeper) How much do I owe you? (takes out some coins) This should cover my purchases and the rest should cover the cost of my bullet. (pockets the money and heads toward the exit) You can tell whoever's coming after me to forget it. It was a fair fight. (exits the store, hops on her horse and gallops away)

(Scene follows the stranger's trail as she trots along the dirt road and eventually catches up to the young mulatto girl who was trying to steal the food items from the general store earlier. Not far off, a wobbly-legged soldier was making his way along, and faints suddenly.)

GIRL

(rushing over to the man's unconscious body)   Are you hurt, sir? (she smells the alcohol on his breath, and quickly relieves him of the contents of his wallet)

(Unaware that she is being followed by the veiled stranger on the white horse, the young girl makes her way to the local saloon. There, she stops a man and gives him some money to make a purchase for her. He returns a few moments later and hands her a bottle of whiskey. She thanks him and continues her journey on foot along the dirt road.)

STRANGER

(rides up to the young girl and hands her the bag of groceries) I believe you wanted these? (the young girl ignores her) I saw you helping yourself to that soldier's wallet, (points behind her) -up the road a ways. (still no reply) Look, you might as well take them, they're bought and paid for.

GIRL

(eyeing the stranger suspiciously) You bought 'em for me? (reaches for the bag) Thank you very much. I'll pay you back sometime....

STRANGER

You can thank the one they call McFadden.

GIRL

(puzzled) Garth McFadden? I don't believe you! He'd NEVER buy anything for us!

STRANGER

Who's "us"?

GIRL

Me and my Pa. He use to be Sheriff of this town, but they took his job and his home away from him, so we live just outside of town now.... I try to look after him, but he's not well. I was just trying to get some food for him, but he don't have much of an appetite anymore. (looks inside the bag) That Garth McFadden must be up to something if he just bought these and gave them to you!

STRANGER

I guess you can say he "bought it". McFadden is dead. I shot him in self defence.

GIRL

(her mouth drops in awe) You shot a McFadden? (shakes her head from side to side) You better ride out of here as fast as you can! They'll be after you! The whole town will be after you!

STRANGER

(unperturbed) Come on, hop on! I'll give you a ride home. (the girl climbs up and sits behind her in the saddle) What's your name, anyway?

GIRL

Sunya.

(They gallop away at top speed until they reach a run down shack on the edge of town.)

SUNYA

(getting off the horse) Wait here, I'll just go and let Pa know I brought company. (makes her way inside the house) Pa? I'm home, -I have a friend with me!

(A sloppily dressed man in his mid forties makes his way out of his room, coughing)

MAN