The Waltz Written by Rowen Smith
WGSA Membership Nr: F2015200111 Rowen Smith +27(0) 79 647 0077 rowen.work@gmail.com www.vimeo.com/rowensmith
First Draft 11/02/2015
1. FADE IN 1
EXT. CAPE FLATS STREETS - DAWN
1
It's early morning with an ambiguous fog in the streets. We see a little BOY running, with a Soccer Ball, on his way to the street soccer field. - the township lights going on. - Citizens of the Township, wake up. - Stove's light up, with a pot of maize on the oven plate. 2
INT. CONSTANTIA HOUSE - MORNING
2
An upper class family home. MOM is in the kitchen packing lunchboxes for the KIDS who rush in, ready for school. They take a seat at the kitchen table. DAD walks into the living room, fixing his tie. In a rush. - The Kettle boils - The Microwave TINGS - Type Type Type on his home MAC - The TV Goes on, with the daily weather on. - HOOT HOOT, Mom & Dad are in their SUV. The kids run to the car and hop in. 3
INT. PICK N PAY - DAY A COLOURED MAN walks through the isles. He's the general manager, greeting SHELF PACKERS and OTHER STAFF as they come in for the day's work. - Pick n Pay roof lights go on. - Bread trays pushed into the oven - The till goes TING! Slams open.
3
2. 4
EXT. BURGER JOINT - DAY
4
At a burger joint in Long Street. Customers are alive and the place is full. Long Street is busy as a bee. Burgers are served. CHEFS's sweating. A Good day at a burger joint. 5
INT. OLD AGE HOME - AFTERNOON
5
An OLD MAN & WIFE sit in the living room, listening to JOHANN STRAUS II's - The Blue Danube WALTZ from their vintage record player. The Old Man reads a book and his wife is knitting a scarf. #THE DANUBE WALTZ HITS A TURNING POINT. SWISH CUT, LIKE THAT OF A RECORD PLAYER BREAKING. HARD CUT TO: 6
INT. BURGER JOINT - AFTERNOON
6
The electricity goes off. The customers go: NO! and COMMON. Disappointed. Inside the burger joint it's CHAOS. 7
INT. CORPORATE OFFICE - AFTERNOON
7
A corporate office. EMPLOYEES working at their desks. A LADY is at the SCANNER. The printer spits out paperwork. The Electricity goes off. - Printer stops - Employees stop working, looking at each other. - Scanner only scans images half way. 8
EXT. PICK N PAY - LATE AFTERNOON
8
It's Chaos in the pick 'n Pay. Customers stand at the paycounter, It's all dark. The Manager tries to take charge. 9
INT. CAPE FLATS RESIDENTIAL HOME - NIGHT
9
A COLOURED WOMAN is in her tiny Cape Flat, standing by the washing machine, doing laundry. The washing machine Spins.
(CONTINUED)
3. 9
CONTINUED:
9
The Electricity goes off. The Washing Machine Stops. 10
POWER FAILURE MONTAGE ON FINAL COMPOSITION
10
A rapid inter cutting montage on the final beat of the DANUBE WALTS. a) Pick N Pay: The mananger is panicked. b) Burger Joint: The Chef gives up, throws his aprin. c) Cape Flats home: The Coloured Woman peeps out her window, her neighbors are seen walking out their homes. Angry. d) Town Ship Soccer: The Boys run to score, but the lights trip. d) Constantia Family dinner Table: As Dad takes a bite of his food, the power fails. e) Old Age Home: Grandma is in the bathroom, taking out her false teeth, the power fails. The teeth fall to the floor. CUT TO: 11
EXT. CAPE TOWN CITY BOWL - NIGHT
11
An extreme wide of the City of Cape Town, brightly lit from the lights of residential housing and Sky Scrapers from the hills of Tamboerskloof. TITLE CARD VERSION 1: BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. ESKOM TITLE CARD VERSION 2: LOAD SHEDDING AFFECTS US ALL. LET'S FACE IT TOGETHER. TITLE CARD VERSION 3: SHARE THE LOAD AND SWITCH IT OFF. ...and on the last triumphant note, The City's lights go off. CUT TO BLACK.