Professional Documents
Culture Documents
By
Grace A. Fynn
CONTINUED:
2.
Look.
BECCA
(hands it to him)
GEORGE
(says and exits room)
Thats just an exhibition. You
could pick up some bright leaves
for them instead. Anyway, were
leaving in 20 minutes.
INT.ARTS HOME-LIVING ROOM-DAY
Julie Art addresses Lily, the 40-year-old,
African-American maid before leaving.
JULIE
The kids are with my mum so that
makes you free...
Thanks.
LILY
JULIE
Fine. So...take care of the
house...always remember to lock
the doors...
John, her 38-year-old Black husband, suddenly enters
suddenly and interrupts.
JOHN
And the windows and the drawers
too Lily, cos they are entry
points...
LILY
(giggles)
Your house is in good hands sir.
Have a safe trip.
JOHN
Definitely, I know that. Stay
safe.
Julie adds a bye and exits room with John.
EXT.AIRPORT-MEXICO-DAY
Julie and John stand at the entrance holding placards in
hand that read. Julie Art and John Art respectively.
Momentarily, Becca and George arrive next to them. They
hold their placards before them. Becca questions them if
they are going to the same place.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
3.
BECCA
Hi, are you guys tourists? Are
you going to Panoma?
JULIE
Yeah, you too?
BECCA
Yes, thats why we are here.
Waiting for the tour guide.
JOHN
Nice to meet you. Im John Drew
and this is Julie my wife.
GEORGE
Im George and this is Becca, my
wife.
Momentarily, the tour guide, a tall, built, white, Mexican
man, Alfredo arrives walking quickly towards them.
ALFREDO
Sorry Im late. Shall we go?
They follow him into a vehicle.
EXT.STREET-DAY
A driver drives them while Alfredo speaks to them in the
back seat.
ALFREDO
Now you go to your hotel and
tomorrow morning we live for the
place.
BECCA
How far is it from the city?
ALFREDO
About 10 miles.
JULIE
10? Oh...God...thats far...
JOHN
How far is the nearest town from
there?
ALFREDO
Theres no nearest town. Its in
the woods, an indigenous
settlement.
They stare at one another in shock.
4.
INT.HOTEL-ARTS ROOM-DAY
Julie speaks with her mother on the phone sitting on the
bed.
JULIE
...were leaving for the place
tomorrow morning...of course and
Gods with us...thanks bye.
Momentarily, John enters the room with a room service guy,
an 18-year-old, medium-height man who pulls a trolley
containing a large tray. He places the tray on the center
table in the room and John hands him a tip and he leaves
with his trolley.
JOHN
(to man)
Leave the tray on the table
please. Thanks.
JULIE
(to John)
Thanks for the meal. I called my
mum and told her we were leaving
tomorrow. She sends her
greetings.
JOHN
(unveils tray)
Hmm, come see this...
JULIE
Looks edible. Do you think our
phones would work there? I
brought a laptop just in case it
doesnt.
JOHN
(sits down)
Lets enjoy the moment. Wed talk
about that later.
INT.DREWS ROOM-DAY
Becca sits in a sofa sipping a drink and watching a movie
while George lies in bed in a pyjamas. The TV is tuned to
a low volume.
BECCA
(softly)
Honey, what are your plans for
tomorrow?
George doesnt respond.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
5.
BECCA
Are you asleep so soon?
GEORGE
(sleepy tone)
I told you I was sleepy...
BECCA
Alright, good day since it isnt
night yet.
EXT.ROAD-DAY
Alfredo drives a pick-up vehicle that contains the couples
through an untarred road with lush grass and trees on both
sides. Hours later, they arrive at the settlement, a large
area with 100 huts. A little garden lies beside it. They
pull up within the yard and descend from the car. On the
compound, a group of young children run after each other
in a circular form, a group of 5 men sit round a fire
roasting some meat, a young woman breastfeeds her baby
while stirring a pot on fire. Yet, as soon as they pull
up, all actions cease and eyes stare at them. Alfredo
walks towards the woman and inquires in Spanish if their
chief is around. The natives are all draped in grass
skirts and tops for the girls.
ALFREDO
Hello, can I see the chief
please?
Momentarily, a short, pot-bullied man, aged 60, exits a
hut close by. He wears a grass skirt but without a top.
Hes the chief, known locally as Cacique. He speaks
spanish with Alfredo. The natives speak spanish only.
CACIQUE
(hugs him)
Alfredo! Welcome friend!
ALFREDO
Thanks. I brought you some guests
from the States. Meet Mr. and
Mrs. Art and Mr. and Mrs. Drew.
Cacique shakes hands with each of them saying welcome to
every one.
CACIQUE
(to guests)
Follow me, I have a place
reserved for you...
Alfredo translates to them and they obey.
6.
INT.ARTS HUT-DAY
Julie and John enter
two straw mats lying
place their suitcase
and smile looking at
JULIE
It isnt bad at all is it?
No...
JOHN
JOHN
BECCA
Yes, by the way the water it
tastes really good.
CACIQUE
Havent you seen the well yet?
Thats our water source. Its
such a blessing...
7.
INT.ARTS HUT-DAY
4 am. Its still dark. John exits the room for the
outside.
EXT.HUT-CONTINUES
He glances about the place. None is outside yet but him.
Five minutes later, he returns to the hut.
INT.HUT-CONTINUES
Julie lies awake on her mat. John enters and lies on his
mat.
JULIE
(softly, sleepy tone)
Where did you go?
JOHN
Hey, good morning. How was your
sleep?
Amazing...
JULIE
JOHN
Glad to hear that. I was out
before the hut... didnt go
anywhere...
JULIE
(says after 3 minutes)
Good night...
EXT.COMPOUND-DAY
Becca exits her hut leaving George inside. A handful of
people are out. 5 young girls sweep their portion of the
compound while 4 others carry pots walking towards the
well. Becca follows them and claps her hands for them to
stop. They stop and one smiles at her. She smiles back and
gestures her need with her hands: water to wash herself.
The girl smiles and tells the others to go while she stays
with the woman. They leave.
1 GIRL
Go fetch her some water, Id stay
with her.
Girl smiles at Becca and Becca smiles back.
8.
EXT.WELL-CONTINUES
Girls arrive at well and one picks the skin-bucket hanging
on a wooden pole beside the well and plunges it into the
well to collect some water. Suddenly after 2 minutes, she
screams and drops the bucket into the well. She runs to
the others perspiring heavily.
2 GIRL
(frightened tone)
Theres something in the
well...some force...it tried
pulling me in...
3 GIRL
Stop the nonsense! Theres
nothing in the well. You dropped
the bucket and made up that
stupid excuse.
4 GIRL
No, she could be right. No one
sweats this early...
Momentarily, ALFREDO APPROACHES THEM.
ALFREDO
Were you not supposed to get
water for the guests? Why arent
you fetching it?
2 GIRL
Theres something in the
well...some hot air...
ALFREDO
Hot air? How do you mean?
3 GIRL
Theres nothing in the well
sir...she dropped the bucket and
wants a cover-up...
Alfredo walks to well and bends to see whats in. He sees
the water bubbling vigorously and backs away from the
well.
ALFREDO
(to girls)
Shes right! Theres something in
the well, dont go near it. Run
to inform everyone not to go near
it.
Alfredo runs on. the girls run after him carrying their
pots. Suddenly, water begins to splash out of the room.
Alfredo arrives at Beccas place.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
9.
ALFREDO
Where are the others? Theres
trouble...I just found out the
water in the well was bubbling...
Bubbling?
BECCA
ALFREDO
Yes like boiling. I need to warn
the others...
Suddenly, the well explodes and the water gushes it
freely. The villagers begin to exit their huts including
George, John and Julie plus the Cacique.
CACIQUE
Whats happening?
No idea...
ALFREDO
BECCA
GEORGE
What is it?
BECCA
Smoke is coming out of the
water...
GEORGE
(sees it too)
What the hell is that?
Suddenly, fire erupts from the ground and quenches the
water. A tree beside the wall immediately catches fire.
Villagers scream and enter their huts.
JOHN
We have to get everyone out of
here at once...
Abruptly, a hut catches fire and another and a third. The
occupants rush outside. Two women and a little baby from
first hut, a man and woman from the second hut but no one
from the third hut. John rushes to the third hut and finds
an elderly man about 70 years of age, lying asleep on his
mat. He carries him quickly out of the room and returns to
where the villagers have all converged, where his team is
standing.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
10.
JOHN
(to Alfredo)
Get the car here.you would send
some children and this old man
away. Id come with the others on
foot.
Alright.
ALFREDO
CONTINUED:
11.
ALFREDO (contd)
calm and everything would be
alright, understood?
12.
EXT.ROAD-DAY
Alfredo runs with his team. Suddenly the sound of a
helicopter fills the air. Alfredo looks up and sees it
right above their head. He stops and waves both hands at
it, ordering the others to do likewise. The chopper
continues hovering over them. Suddenly, the bushes beside
them catch fire and a strong wing blows that spreads
sparks into the air. The skirt of one of the little
children, a 4-year-old boy suddenly catches fire. The
others scream and quickly collect sand onto him and the
fire dies out. Yet, another skirt of a young girl, about 6
years old, becomes ablaze. They throw sand on her but the
fire doesnt die out. She begins to burn as the wind aids
the flames. Alfredo instructs her to roll down on the
ground. She obeys and the fire does down suddenly. Yet,
she doesnt move. Alfredo runs to her and checks her pulse
on her wrist. Shes alive yet in a coma. Alfredo waves
hands frantically at the helicopter screaming Help!
Suddenly, the chopper starts lowering itself and a ladder
is brought out.
INT.FOREST-DAY
John, George and others keep on running through the woods.
Suddenly, Becca screamms frightingly and everyone stops.
GEORGE
Whats wrong?
BECCA
I felt a sharp pain in my foot...
She lifts her right leg and George looks beneath it and
sees a thin, piece of wood stuck in her shoe and
penetrating her foot.
GEORGE
Oh...God...
BECCA
What is it?
GEORGE
You have to be strong OK. Its a
piece of wood. Its pierced your
foot...
Julie covers her mouth staring shocked at it. John looks
on stunned. Suddenly, one of the natives, a middle-aged
woman approaches her and kneels down before her. She slaps
hardly both sides of the legs and gestures to George to
pull out the plank after the second slap. He comprehends
and does so quickly. Becca cries once and no more. George
thanks the woman and carries Becca in his arms. They
continue, walking now. Thirty minutes later, they arrive
at an area with lots of sunshine as the rays easily run
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
13.
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED:
14.
JOHN
...it would make an amazing
movie, dont you think so?
BECCA
Sure. But would be best if we are
the actors.
JULIE
(stares surprised at Becca)
What? Im not willing to relive
it. Not even in a dream.
BECCA
Well, its scary but its our
lives...
GEORGE
(says and chuckles)
Ive always wanted some
adventure...and LUCKILY, I had
it...
Others chuckle too.
THE END