A Dry White Season Page #3

BEN:

What about the court? Didn't he

state his case?

GORDON:

What does he know about court?

Before he knew, it was all over.

BEN:

I don't think there is anything we

can do about it now.

Outside, peering through the half-opened door, is Johan,

shocked at what he sees. Ben tapes Jonathan on the head,

he pulls up his shorts painfully, yet fiercely, anxious

to cover himself up again.

GORDON:

We can get a lawyer to appeal.

BEN:

A lawyer? That won't heal

Jonathan's buttocks.

Susan appears at the door.

SUSAN:

Ben!

BEN:

I'll be out in a minute.

She nods, ushering Johan away from the door back outside.

GORDON:

You don't understand, Mister Ben,

sir. I don't want him to have a

police record.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)

7.

CONTINUED:

GORDON (CONT'D)

It will be there for the rest of

his life and make it difficult for

him to get a job in the future.

BEN:

Don't worry, Gordon. I'm sure

there'll be no record, it's such

a minor case. Please don't worry.

Ben calls Johan from the outside.

BEN:

Johan, get some iodine from the

cupboard.

Johan rushes in the house.

GORDON:

I'm not worried about the wounds.

They'll heal in time, Mister Ben,

sir. It's the wounds here.

(slaps his chest)

I worry about. Injustice... it

festers.

Johan comes back with a small bottle of medicine.

BEN:

(to Gordon)

Rub it on the wounds and it will

help.

EXT. BEN'S GATE -DAY

Ben watches the black man and his son trudge down the

long drive, the father's arm on the son's shouldre. At

the foot of the drive the nose of an exotic Soweto cab

can be seen waiting... a large butterfly painted on the

hood.

EXT. BEN'S GARDEN -DAY

Ben takes his place at the table. Susan brings a piece

of boerwors and a mug of beer.

SUSAN:

Trouble?

BEN:

Jonathan has been caned, by the

police.

She places the boerwors and the beer before him.

(CONTINUED)

8.

CONTINUED:

SUSAN:

He probably deserved it.

EXT. SOWETO SCHOOL -SOWETO UPRISING -MORNING

School grounds of the Orlando Secondary School. Students

are milling around in high spirits. One group is putting

finishing touches to a banner reading: "no to aparhteid

education."

There are two other banners being carried around the

school yard, followed by the younger children. They

read:

"No to the Oppressor's language"

"Bantu education is slave

education."

A BOY, one of the eldest, aged about 18 years calls for

silence. The STUDENTS immediately obey.

STUDENT LEADER (BOY)

You all know why we are going to

march.

The crowd shouts:

STUDENTS:

'No to Bantu education'

'No to apartheid'

'Freedom Now'...

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