FLAMING FIELDS

By
Grace A. Fynn
INT.JULIE’S PARENTS’S HOME-LIVING ROOM-DAY
Julie Art, a 35-year old, tall, pretty, white woman enters
room pulling a suitcase. With her are her kids,
10-year-old Julian and 13-year-old Marcel. Kids sit in
sofa waiting while Julie stands.
JULIE
Mum we are in!
Grace, Julie’s mum, a 50-year-old woman, pretty woman
enters room looking cheerful.
GRACE
(to kids)
How are you...sweet apples...

JULIE
They are fine. I brought their
luggage.You would find all you
need in it...story books, study
materials...everything.

GRACE
Alright. You should be going
now...

JULIE
(says and hugs mum)
Yes. I love you...

GRACE
Enjoy yourself but don’t forget
your kids...come home early.
Julie replies ’I will’ and kisses her sons and exits the
place.
INT.DREW’S HOME-BEDROOM-DAY
Becca Drew, a 30-year-old white woman packs some casual
dresses into a suitcase. Suddenly, her husband, George
Drew enters.
GEORGE
Packing more clothes?

BECCA
Just a few feminine clothes for
our hosts.

GEORGE
And who said they wore clothes?

BECCA
They do...where is the picture?
Looks for picture on the bed and finds it.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.
 BECCA
(hands it to him)
Look.

GEORGE
(says and exits room)
That’s just an exhibition. You
could pick up some bright leaves
for them instead. Anyway, we’re
leaving in 20 minutes.
INT.ART’S 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...
LILY
Thanks.

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, that’s why we are here.
Waiting for the tour guide.

JOHN
Nice to meet you. I’m John Drew
and this is Julie my wife.

GEORGE
I’m 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 I’m 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...that’s far...

JOHN
How far is the nearest town from
there?

ALFREDO
There’s no nearest town. It’s in
the woods, an indigenous
settlement.
They stare at one another in shock.
 4.

INT.HOTEL-ART’S ROOM-DAY
Julie speaks with her mother on the phone sitting on the
bed.

JULIE
...we’re leaving for the place
tomorrow morning...of course and
God’s 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
doesn’t.

JOHN
(sits down)
Let’s enjoy the moment. We’d talk
about that later.
INT.DREW’S 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 doesn’t 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 isn’t
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.
He’s 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.ART’S HUT-DAY
Julie and John enter their room, a small-size, place with
two straw mats lying on the bare, clear, ground. They
place their suitcase against the wall and glance around
and smile looking at each other.

JULIE
It isn’t bad at all is it?
 JOHN
No...
They chuckle afterwards.
EXT.COMPOUND-NIGHT
A large bonfire sits in the middle of the yard. Many
families sit outside eating supper, some with small fires
in their centre. Alfredo and the guests dine with the
Cacique. They eat with their hands in carved bowls sitting
on blocks of wood. 20 minutes later, the cacique chats
with them. Only a handful of people sit outside now. A
group of children sit round a small fire listening to an
elderly woman, story teller. Alfredo translates to them.

CACIQUE
My father found this place and
we’ve been here since...about 20
years now.

JULIE
Interesting. So, how do you fend
for yourselves?

CACIQUE
We hunt for game. And get some
vegetables from our farm here.

JOHN
And water?

BECCA
Yes, by the way the water it
tastes really good.

CACIQUE
Haven’t you seen the well yet?
That’s our water source. It’s
such a blessing...
 7.

INT.ART’S HUT-DAY
4 am. It’s 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?
 JULIE
Amazing...

JOHN
Glad to hear that. I was out
before the hut... didn’t 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, I’d 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)
There’s something in the
well...some force...it tried
pulling me in...

3 GIRL
Stop the nonsense! There’s
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 aren’t
you fetching it?

2 GIRL
There’s something in the
well...some hot air...

ALFREDO
Hot air? How do you mean?

3 GIRL
There’s nothing in the well
sir...she dropped the bucket and
wants a cover-up...
Alfredo walks to well and bends to see what’s in. He sees
the water bubbling vigorously and backs away from the
well.
ALFREDO
(to girls)
She’s right! There’s something in
the well, don’t 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 Becca’s place.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.

ALFREDO
Where are the others? There’s
trouble...I just found out the
water in the well was bubbling...
 BECCA
Bubbling?

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
What’s happening?
ALFREDO
No idea...
Immediately, something like smoke emerges from the water.
Becca sees it and cries.
BECCA
Smoke?
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. I’d come with the others on
foot.
 ALFREDO
Alright.
Alfredo runs to pick up vehicle which is parked at the
entrance of the compound. He drives towards the group and
descends and carries the elderly man into the car, placing
him beside the driver’s seat.
ALFREDO
(to people)
Bring the young children, babies
and nursing mothers if any...
Two young nursing mothers come forward and enter the
vehicle, sitting behind the driver. 5 children aged 2-7
years join the women behind the driver’s seat. At the
back, 10 teenagers made of 5 girls and 5 boys, aged 10-14
years sit.

JOHN
(taps Alfredo’s arm)
Take care. Drive carefully and
may God be with you.
Alfredo drives quickly away. Immediately, he’s out of
sight, John cries to the people to follow him. Becca walks
with her husband’s group while Julie walks with the last
group. They intend to go by the path Alfredo had taken,
but the ground catches fire abruptly blocking their path.
More huts randomly catch fire and the area on which they
stand begins to feel hot. They run taking the opposite
direction.

JOHN
Follow me! Let’s go!
EXT.FOREST-CONTINUES
John leads the people running through the forest.
EXT.ROAD-DAY
Alfredo drives quickly on. Suddenly, the bushes beside the
road catch fire and burn. The occupants behind the car
scream and he stares through the driving mirror at them.
He stops the car and gets down to calm them down.

ALFREDO
Look, we are getting out of here
OK, don’t be afraid. Just sit
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.

ALFREDO (cont’d)
calm and everything would be
alright, understood?
They nod their heads. Alfredo returns to his sit and
sparks the car but it doesn’t respond. He sparks a second
time and nothing happens. Suddenly, he sees the fuel
meter, it’s low and he picks a gallon beside the driver’s
seat and exits the car. He opens the fuel tank and with a
funnel, pours in the petrol. Suddenly, he feels his feet
getting warm and checks under his shoe and sees it
melting. He immediately asks those behind to get down from
the car. They obey quickly and rush forward and wait for
those behind. Alfredo screams at them to run on.
He rushes to the ones within the car and helps them out,
first the old man. The nursing mothers come out with the
five young children. They run forward along with the kids.
Suddenly, the car catches fire and explodes.

ALFREDO
Get down from the car at once!
It’s going to explode!
INT.FOREST-DAY
John and the others hear the explosion and stop for a
moment.
GEORGE
What was that?

JOHN
An explosion...probably from the
trees...
Abruptly, a tree by him catches fire and the natives
scream. He moves quickly away from it and another behind
the last group catches fire. They move quickly away
towards the second group. Yet before they get to them, a
large tree branch suddenly falls before them hitting a
young native man in his early thirties. He screams once
and no more. The people cry and back away as the man’s
head is crushed. Julie cries with hand covering mouth.
Becca hides face in husband’s arms. Momentarily, the body
catches fire and burns quickly. John screams at them to
move away from him. But the mourning natives collect sand
and throw it over him. The fire however, does not die out.
The body begins to burn rapidly. The natives back away and
begin running towards the others (George, Becca, Julie,
John and his group plus a few of the Cacique’s group which
includes the Cacique. However, their skirts suddenly catch
fire and burn. They scream running towards the others who
run away from them following John. They keep running after
John’s team until the fire totally overcomes them.
 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 doesn’t 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 doesn’t move. Alfredo runs to her and checks her pulse
on her wrist. She’s 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
What’s 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. It’s a
piece of wood. It’s 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.

through the sparsely-spaced trees. John smiles seeing a

path.
JOHN
(cries)
It seems we’re close to some
road...see that path?
Juliet hurries to look.

JULIE
Yes but it doesn’t necessary mean
it takes us out of this place...

JOHN
No, but we can try...let’s go.
They follow him and after 10 minutes arrive at a road.
John cries out elated. Julie chuckles so does George.
BECCA (begins
to cry)
We made it...we made it...

Suddenly, the natives begin to chuckle and hug themselves.

The couples look on and chuckle. The Cacique hugs them
all, George, John, Becca and Julie.

JOHN
Now, we need to get help...we
can’t walk to the city and we
can’t spend the night in the
bush.

GEORGE
What do we do? With no phones or
communicating devices...
JOHN
Let’s pray that Alfredo returns
quickly with help.
Momentarily, the sound of a helicopter fills the air. They
look up and see it hovering close by. They scream and wave
hands at it. Moments later, another comes in view, then a
third and a fourth. The couples scream, excited as well as
the natives who cry out and jump up and down.
INT.AIRPORT-AMERICA-DAY
2 days later: The couples arrive at the airport,walking
close by each other. Becca walks with head leaning against
George’s arm while he holds her waist. John and Julie walk
arm in arm. They chat among themselves.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.

JOHN
...it would make an amazing
movie, don’t you think so?

BECCA
Sure. But would be best if we are
the actors.

JULIE
(stares surprised at Becca)
What? I’m not willing to relive
it. Not even in a dream.

BECCA
Well, it’s scary but it’s our
lives...

GEORGE
(says and chuckles)
I’ve always wanted some
adventure...and LUCKILY, I had
it...
Others chuckle too.

THE END