Screenplay
by Pál-Alpár Benő
FADE IN:
EXT. LAWN - GRAVE - LATE AT NIGHT
The COMMANDER, who is wearing camouflage clothes, soldier boots and a ski mask holds the barrel of his semi-automatic gun to the head of MARIA ROMAN who is kneeling in the mud in front of him.
COMMANDER
Tell them your name!
Roman is looking at the freshly dug grave next to her and lifts her mortified face to the Commander.
MARIA ROMAN
What do you want from me?
The Commander grabs Roman by her hair and pulls her head back roughly.
The Commander points to the camera with his tactical glove.
COMMANDER
Look over there and tell them your name!
MARIA ROMAN
I've forgotten.
The COMMANDER slaps Roman in the face.
COMMANDER
Do you remember it now?
Tell them your name!
Roman lifts her tied hands to her face.
MARIA ROMAN
Maria.
COMMANDER
Maria what?
MARIA ROMAN
Maria Roman.
COMMANDER
Why have we brought you here?
MARIA ROMAN
You're going to regret this, you'll see.
The Commander hits Roman in the face with the butt of his gun. Roman is knocked unconscious instantly and falls to the ground.
COMMANDER
Bring water.
At the bidding of the Commander, SOLDIER I. appears with a plastic canisterand and spills ice-cold water on woman's body. Roman regains consciousness and gasps for air while SOLDIER II. forces her to her knees.
The Commander pushes his pistol's barrel to Roman's chin.
COMMANDER
(whispering)
Answer the question.
Why have we brought you here?
MARIA ROMAN
I don't know.
COMMANDER
Have you lost your memory?
Should I help you refresh it?
You sold our country, and sent the army's tanks against the unarmed civilians.
The Commander grabs Roman by her cheeks aggressively.
COMMANDER
Look at me!
On 5th February who gave orders to the mercenaries to shoot at the protestors?
Was it you?
Roman mumbles something. The Commander turns the woman's head to the camera.
COMMANDER
Repeat it.
MARIA ROMAN
(tells with a tired smile)
You're going to burn in hell.
The
Commander steps back and lifts the gun to
Roman's head.
COMMANDER
Your death will serve as an example for all the corrupt leaders who steal from our people and destroy our country.
Roman lifts her tied hands in front of the gun to protect herself.
MARIA ROMAN
Don't…
The Commander pulls the trigger and Roman falls to the wet ground. Blood begins to pour under her head.
COMMANDER
Throw her into the grave!
Soldier I. and Soldier II. throws Roman's dead body into the grave.
Soldier I. shows a military bag to the Commander.
COMMANDER
That too.
Soldier I. opens the military bag and spills all the money on the dead body. Meanwhile Soldier II. takes a fuel canister and pours gasoline into the grave.
The COMMANDER pulls out a signal flare from his pocket, lights it, and tosses it into the grave.
The STATIC SOUND of a walkie-talkie can be heard.
LUCIAN TATAIE (O.S.)
Go closer!
Now let's see the flames as if the body would burn in the flames of hell.
CUT TO:
EXT. LAWN - CREW'S BASECAMP - DAWN
Under the enormous reflectors' lights LUCIAN TATAIE is sitting in a folding chair and watching the control monitor hanging around his neck. He gives orders through a walkie-talkie that he holds near to his mouth.
LUCIAN TATAIE
Good, stop, stay there!
Great! That's it.
Tataie stands up, puts the control monitor down on the chair and starts to applaud gently . Next to him HAJNALKA AURORA is standing with a megaphone in her right hand.
HAJNALKA AURORA
Are we good?
LUCIAN TATAIE
Yes, we are.
Hajnalka Aurora lifts the megaphone to her mouth.
HAJNALKA AURORA
That's a wrap, people!
Let's put out the fire.
Mrs. Roman can change her clothes.
CUT TO:
EXT. LAWN - GRAVE - DAWN
Next to the flaming grave, the CAMERAMAN takes the camera off his shoulder and gives it to his CAMERA ASSISTANT.
The
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT struggles with the fire extinguisher and accidently sprays himself in the face.
CUT TO:
EXT. LAWN - CREW'S BASECAMP - DAWN
Tataie notices the Production Assistant clumsiness.
LUCIAN TATAIE
Looks like our firefighter had a rough night.
HAJNALKA AURORA
He was sent from office.
Hajnalka Aurora lifts the megaphone to her mouth.
HAJNALKA AURORA
Is everything all right by the grave?
AURORA'S POV: The Production Assistant can hardly breathe, but waves his hand to show everyone that he is fine.
Soldier I. rushes to the
Production Assistant and picks up the fire extinguisher from the ground.
CUT TO:
EXT. LAWN - GRAVE - DAWN
Soldier II. jumps into the hiding place that was dug next to the grave and helps to extinguishes the fire.
CUT TO:
EXT. LAWN - CREW'S BASECAMP - DAWN
Tataie taps the Cameraman's shoulder and exchanges few words with him.
Aurora lifts the megaphone to her mouth again.
HAJNALKA AURORA
Alright everyone, leave everything as it is and go to the tent for breakfast.
Aurora touches Tataie's right arm.
HAJNALKA AURORA
I'll go check on Mrs. Roman.
LUCIAN TATAIE
Alright.
Aurora leaves while the Commander joins Tataie and the Cameraman.
LUCIAN TATAIE
Commander.
CAMERAMAN
I'm starving.
LUCIAN TATAIE
(smiling)
Go ahead! I'm coming in a minute.
The Cameraman leaves and Tataie shakes hands with the Commander.
LUCIAN TATAIE
Congratulations! You gave an astonishing performance.
COMMANDER
We just follow orders.
LUCIAN TATAIE
And you do that marvellously.
As I see, Mrs. Roman won't have breakfast with us.
TATAIE'S POV: Dressed in a white suit, Roman whispers something in Aurora's ear, and with the help of her BODYGUARD she gets into the backseat of the black jeep parked next to her.
The car drives away on the mountain ridge.
DANIEL SECU (O.S.)
Mr. Tataie.
DANIEL SECU arrives with a BELGIAN SHEPHERD. Secu shakes Tataie's hand while the Commander salutes him.
A bit farther away the muscular AGENT I. is waiting.
DANIEL SECU
What are your thoughts? Is the execution of Mrs. Roman believable?
Will the revolted people believe it?
LUCIAN TATAIE
You can bet on that.
DANIEL SECU
Your father would be very proud of you, Mr. Tataie, for serving our country.
LUCIAN TATAIE
Really?
DANIEL SECU
The Commander can confirm that.
COMMANDER
The General would be very proud of his son.
He was a very hard man, but he would have given his life for any of his soldiers.
LUCIAN TATAIE
(turns to Secu)
I hope that I can find out more about him from the documents you promised me.
Secu laughs pretentiously and a hole from the missing molar revelas.
DANIEL SECU
Patience Mr. Tataie. Everything will come to you at the right time.
Where are the tapes?
LUCIAN TATAIE
Over there.
Tataie points to the camera.
DANIEL SECU
Put it in the car!
AGENT I.
Yes, sir!
Agent I. isn't able to dismount the camera from the stand so he throws the stand over his shoulder and while he does that an assault rifle reveals under his open coat.
Aurora joins the talking men.
HAJNALKA AURORA
Unfortunately, Mrs. Roman will not have breakfast with us, but she asked me to thank you, Mr. Tataie, for saving her life.
LUCIAN TATAIE
Isn't that a bit of an exaggeration?
DANIEL SECU
You didn't just save Mrs. Roman's life, but you also helping us reestablish peace in our country.
LUCIAN TATAIE
Thats very flattering. I hope Mrs. Roman will not forget to fund my feature film.
DANIEL SECU
You were promised, weren't you?
LUCIAN TATAIE
I was.
DANIEL SECU
Then there is no reason for you to worry.
Go have breakfast. There is something I need to discuss with the Commander.
LUCIAN TATAIE
Alright.
CUT TO:
EXT. LAWN - WAY TO TENT - DAWN
While walking towards the tent, Aurora whispers in Tataie's ear.
HAJNALKA AURORA
I don't trust him.
LUCIAN TATAIE
He has just an inferiority complex.
HAJNALKA AURORA
It's not just him. Mrs. Roman was acting very strange.
LUCIAN TATAIE
She's a strog woman.
HAJNALKA AURORA
That's what bothers me. She was so emotional. She said, "May God forgive us".
Tataie starts wondering but suddenly stops when he sees the Production Assistant. The man's face is covered with white dust.
Tataie turns his head to see what the
Production Assistant is looking at.
TATAIE'S POV: Secu and the Commander are watching them.
LUCIAN TATAIE
Is everything alright?
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
It's not my fault. I don't know what happened. The security ring was jammed. I couldn't take it out. It wasn't my fault. I don't know what happened.
LUCIAN TATAIE
(puzzled)
That's what's bothering you?
The Prduction Assistant is not responding. The confused Tataie looks at Aurora who shrugs her shoulders.
LUCIAN TATAIE
It's not a big deal.
PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
It's not my fault. I don't know what happened. The security ring was jammed.
LUCIAN TATAIE
Forget that stupid ring. Come on, let's go get coffee.
Tataie drags the Prduction Assistant with him.
CUT TO:
EXT. LAWN - CREW'S BASECAMP - DAWN
Secu and the Commander are looking in the tents direction.
COMMANDRES POV:
Tatatie,
Aurora and the
Production Assistant enter the tent.
DANIEL SECU
You are doing a tremendous job, Commander. I'll make sure to mention it in my report.
COMMANDER
Thank you, sir.
DANIEL SECU
Now, enlarge te grave.
COMMANDER
(suprised)
Yes, sir!
Secu walks away, and the Commander heads to his soldiers.
CUT TO:
EXT. LAWN - GRAVE - DAWN
Soldier I. and Soldier II. are backfilling the grave with an excavator.
COMMANDER
Stop!
Soldier I. and Soldier II. are hesitating.
COMMANDER
Enlarge the grave!
SOLDIER I.
Understood, Commander!
SOLDIER II.
Understood, Commander!
CUT TO:
EXT. LAWN - TENT - DAWN
Secu discreetly gives orders to his agents while petting the Belgan Shepherd.
Secu and Agent II. enter the tent.
Agent I. pulls out his assault rifle and heads to the grave.
CUT TO:
EXT. LAWN - GRAVE - DAWN
The excavator quickly digs the grave. DOG BARKING can be heard. The Commander looks in the tent's direction paralyzed by fear.
FADE OUT:
CELLPHONE rings like an assault rifle.
MARIA ROMAN
Hello?
FADE IN:
Roman is holding a cellphone next to her ear, while sitting on the black leather seat of the jeep.
MARIA ROMAN
Confirm that your agents fulfilled the task.
Alright.
No, no. Stay there and wait for further instructions.
Roman hands the cellphone over to AGENT III. who is sitting next to her.
MARIA ROMAN
What will happen to my son now?
AGENT III.
We have to wait for further instructions from the Party.
AGENT III. takes the cellphone out of Roman's hand and slides it into his suit's pocket while pulling the woman's handcuffed wrist too.
FADE OUT:
THE END