Die Bus Rit Draft 1

DIE BUS RIT

Written by Rowen Smith

Based on, a shortfilm by Rowen Smith

10 Lothian Road Rondebosch Cape Town Rowen.work@gmail.com

DRAFT 1

FADE IN: EXT. "WYNLAND TOERE WAITING BOOTH" - DAY A MAN on a bycicle cycles past the screen from right to left in front of an empty bus station waiting booth. MARIAAN, a beautiful young woman, in her 20's, enters the booth and sits down on the far end of the bench.

A red car drives past the screen from left to right.

JACO, a well groomed young man also in his early 20's, walks into frame sits down at the opposite end of the bench. Jaco notices Mariaan and is captivated by her bleach blonde hair and shining blue eyes.

A big truck passes the screen from right to left.

Now, Mariaan is combing her hair and Jaco continuously peeps at her from behind a magazine. Jaco accidentally makes eye contact with her. She smiles flirtatiously.

A WYNLAND TOERE bus enters frame from left of frame and stops, filling the frame.

SUPER: die bus rit.

After a few moments it leaves again, and Mariaan is gone.

Jaco watches the bus leave and looks downhearted. He notices that she somehow forgot her bracelet on the bench. He picks it up and runs after the bus. After a few meters of running, he stops exhaustively.

As he turns round and walks back to the bench, another WYNLAND TOERE bus arrives. Jaco grabs his bag and boards the bus.

The door closes and the buss drives off.

DISSOLVE TO: EXT. ROAD - DAY The bus drives on the highway out of Cape Town.

INT. BUS - DAY Jaco looks outside, holding the bracelet and reminiscing about Mariaan.

DISSOLVE TO:

2.

EXT. ROAD - DAY The bus drives past a road sign that reads: LAINGSBURG 10 KM. DISSOLVE TO: EXT. SHELL ULTRA CITY LAINGSBURG - DAY The bus stops at a Shell Ultra City to fuel up. Jaco gets off the bus and lights up a cigarette. He walks toward the toilets.

EXT. TOILETS - DAY The male and female toilets are next to each other, with two bins on either side on the pavement.

Just before Jaco enters the male toilets, he turns and throws away his cigarette bud. At that very moment Mariaan leaves the female toilet and they just miss each other.

EXT. BUS - DAY The BUS DRIVER, a Coloured 35 year old man, rounds the passengers up.

BUS DRIVER (shouting) All aboard!

Mariaan hurriedly runs toward him.

MARIAAN Wag, wag, wag. Hi, Ek’s Mariaan Pottas, dis my connection bus.

BUS DRIVER Kaartjie asseblief?

She searches through her handbag.

MARIAAN Hierso.

The bus driver opens the luggage compartment and takes her bags. Meanwhile, Jaco boards the bus, without noticing Mairaan. They miss each other again.

INT. BUS - DAY A lot of people were dropped off and the bus is quite empty.

Jaco is sitting somewhere in the front listening to his IPod.

3.

Mariaan enters the bus and as she makes her way through the narrow corridor, she passes Jaco.

BRRRM! The engine starts and the bus shakes. She accidentally falls and drops her book into Jaco’s lap. Jaco is quite shocked. He gives back the book and smiles at her. She smiles back.

The bus departs Laingsburg.

INT. BUS - DAY Jaco nervously peeps back at Mariaan from time to time, while holding the bracelet.

She removes her handbag from the seat next to her hoping that Jaco might be smart enough and invite himself over. Jaco gets up eventually and takes the seat next to Mariaan.

JACO Hi, my name is Jaco. Can I ...?

MARIAAN (flattered) Ja,ja. Ek's Mariaan, jy kan maar afrikaans praat hoor.

JACO My jinne,'n boere meisie. Haha(beat). So hoe het jy hier beland?

MARIAAN Eimand het naer geraak op my ander bus. ORALS! Toe transfer ek na die een.

JACO Wat? Dis gross.(beat) Oh ja voor ek vergeet, ek het iet’s vir jou.

Jaco hands her the bracelet.

MARIAAN My armband!

JACO Jy’t dit vergeet by die bus stop in Kaapstad.

MARIAAN Ag my jinne mamma, jy's te duurbaar!

She treasures it for a moment and puts it aside.

4.

MARIAAN (CONT’D) Dankie.(Beat) So waantoe is jy oppad grootseun?

Mariaan grabs his arm with embrace.

JACO Ag, die familie daar in Winburg en jy?

MARIAAN Dis my geheim, hoekom vra jy?

JACO (nervously) Ek't eintlik gewonder of jy weer terug Kaap toe kom(beat), sodat ek jou maybe weer kan sien?

MARIAAN Uh, ja. Hu-hu. Ek kom oor twee weke terug Kaap toe. Ek werk by die famous Herrie Openheimer Biblioteek. Vra jy my op n date?

An OLD lADY sitting behind them leans over and interrupts their conversation.

OLD LADY (chirpy) Julle moet nou stil bly hier voor my! Die ou mense op die bus wil biejtie rus.

Jaco looks over his shoulder and see's no other old person on the bus. He whispers into Mariaan's ear.

JACO Die ou tannie is mal!

They burst out LAUGHING. MONTAGE OF JACO AND MARIAAN BEGIN 1. Bus driving in the countryside. SUPER: Road Map 2. Jaco and Mariaan are affectionately chatting.

3. Jaco and Mariaan are dancing in the alleyway.

5. VFX: Road Map of Traveling bus.

4. Smoke break at another Shell Ultra City.

5. They are reading a book together.

5.

6. They share an IPod. 7. Jaco's hand makes its way onto Mariaan's.

8. Little boy spies at them.

9. They kiss passionately.

10. Mariaan's scarf falling on the Old lady.

11. Bothered old Lady’s Face.

11. Little boy LAUGHING. 11. Mariaan sleeping on Jaco's shoulder.

12. VFX: Road Map Arriving in Winburg.

MONTAGE OF JACO AND MARIAAN END FADE TO: INT. BUS - DAY The STEWARDESS, a very petite woman, awakens Jaco.

STEWARDESS Meneer. Ons het gearriveer.

Jaco immediately looks next to him to see if Mariaan is still there. The seat is empty except for bracelet.

EXT. DUSTY PLAIN - DAY Two sneakers touch the dry and dusty ground.

The bus drives from left to right of frame and reveals Jaco with absolutely nothing as far as the eye can see. He stands there for a while looking utterly depressed. A cow walks into frame and drops a big pile of right beside him.

Jaco shakes his head.

JACO Winburg.

FADE TO: INT. FARMHOUSE - DAY SUPER: Two weeks later Jaco is eating brunch with MOTHER, his DAD and his younger SISTER.

6.

They are all joyfully conversing, but Jaco's mind is elsewhere. He takes the bracelet out of his pocket and reminisces about the great time he had with Mariaan.

FLASHBACK TO: INT. BUS - DAY - TRAVELING SERIES OF SHOTS BEGIN 1. Mariaan dropping her book in his lap.

2. Mariaan looking into his eyes.

3. Jaco and Mariaan kissing.

4. Mariaan talking 5. Mariaan’s lips MARIAAN Famous Biblioteek. Herrie Openheimer, Bilbioteek, Biblioteek.

Openheimer Openheimer.

A REVERB effect is heard when she speaks.

SERIES OF SHOTS END BACK TO PRESENT Jaco realizes that he can still find her.

JACO Pa ek vat jou bakkie!

He grabs the keys and glasses and then rushes out the front door, gets in his truck and drives off.

VFX: Road Map. Winburg to Cape Town.

EXT. STREET - DAY Jaco gets out of his bakkie and speaks to an aged Coloured WOMAN hawking flowers on the street corner.

JACO Goeiedag, Weet jy dalk waar die Herrie Openheimer Bilblioteek is?

WOMAN Herrie Openheimer? Dis hy daai.

7.

She points across the road.

CLOSE UP: Jaco’s gums drop as he looks around across the road.

WOMAN (O.S.) (CONT’D) Hulle bou al 12 maande oor hom, Haha(cough).

A major construction project is well underway across the road.

Jaco takes one last glance at the bracelet and drops it on the floor. It falls into a gutter.

FADE TO BLACK. THE END