Clear Desert Gold

By Estevan Zesty Mendez

Based on a poem by Giuseppe Ungaretti

EXT. IN AN EMPTY GRASS-COVERED AREA. DAWN.
A wood fire burns during the opening title sequence.
William limps into the center of a vast field. His head
turns up slowly to gaze at the smoke rising into the bluish
tint of the late night air. His clothes are tattered and his
face is sunken and lifeless. He winces in pain and covers an
arm around his stomach and falls over. When he falls onto
his back, his arm falls at his side. In the palm of his hand
is a pool of crimson blood.

NARRATOR
Sway of smoking wings / cuts short
the eyes silence
Andrew, coming from behind sight, walks in the direction
towards William, notices him lying on the ground, closes his
eyes, and shakes his head in denial. He then opens his eyes
and walks towards the fallen man as his boots snap against
fallen leaves and crackle the quiet air. Andrew kneels
beside William as heavy winds begin to pick up.

NARRATOR
The wind snaps off the coral buds /
of a thirst for kisses
Andrew examines his body and notices the blood stains that
cover Williams stomach and hand. He then looks down at his
fingers, slightly covered in blood.
NARRATOR
I gape at dawn

Andrews eyes glance up. Then he points his head upwards.

Finally, he stands up straight and stares at the sky,
mesmerized. The sky is an ethereal shade of blue and pink
hues as the sun begins to rise well beyond sight.
NARRATOR
Life is poured out for me / in a
whirlpool of nostalgias
EXT. ON THE SHORE OF A BEACH. DAWN.
Andrew is standing alone on the shore of a beach, staring at
the sunrise.
NARRATOR
Now I mirror those corners of the
world-
 2.

EXT. ON AN EMPTY ROAD. DAWN.

Andrew is standing alone on an empty road, staring at the
sunrise.
NARRATOR
-I had for companions-
EXT. ON A ROCKY TERRAIN. DAWN.

Andrew is standing alone in a barren and rocky area, staring

at the sunrise.
NARRATOR
-and sniff out my way

Andrew reaches into his pocket and pulls out a medallion.

The wind blows across his face and causes the medallion to
gleam in the morning light.
EXT. IN AN EMPTY GRASS-COVERED AREA. DAWN.

Andrew pulls his hand up and stares at the medallion in the

rays of the rising sun. He lowers the medallion slightly and
glances over at the soldier that is lying on the ground.
NARRATOR
Even unto death the mercy of our
journey
Andrew returns his gaze back onto the medallion.
NARRATOR
We have the truces of sleep
Andrew clenches the medallion tight within his hands. He
then performs the Catholic blessing using his clenched hand
and places it onto Williams chest.

NARRATOR
The sun dries tears.
Andrew rubs his eye with his knuckle. He then goes away from
William to search for a blanket. Andrew finds a white sheet,
goes back to William, and wraps him in it.
EXT. ON A ROCKY TERRAIN. MORNING.
Andrew, with a shovel in his hand, begins to dig a hole in
the ground. Once it is large enough, he picks up the body
and places it into the ground. He then properly refills the
hole. Wind blows into Andrews face, causing dirt and sand
to get onto his face.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

NARRATOR
I cover myself in a warm cloak / of
clear gold
Andrew, once finished with filling the hole, pats the area
softly with his shovel. He turns away from the fallen
soldier and notices the rising sun. He takes a deep breath
and walks East in the center of an abandoned road.
NARRATOR
From this shelf of desolation / I
lean into the arms / of the good
weather
Andrew slowly stops in the middle of the road and raises his
hands and inhales with awe while his eyes are closed. When
he opens his eyes, they are painted in a state of fright. A
gunshot is fired.