Dry White Season, A

A DRY WHITE SEASON Rewrite by EUZHAN PALCY May 1987 Revised First Draft FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY "IN THE WHOLE WORLD THERE IS NOT A SINGLE POOR DEVIL WHO IS LYNCHED, NOT ONE MISERABLE MAN WHO IS TORTURED IN WHOM I TOO, I AM NOT MURDERED AND DEGRADED." Aime Cesaire PRE-TITLE: FADE IN: EXT. DAN PIENAAR SECONDARY SCHOOL FOR BOYS - DAY Dan Pienaar school is a typical Johannesburg Afrikaan school. The students are mainly from middle-class families. School athletics are in progress. The stu- dents, in their smart school uniforms, are cheering enthusiastically a relay race on the immaculately-kept sports ground. GORDON NGUBENE, a 47-years-old African laborer is work- ing in the school garden. A few feet away is his 15- years-old son JONATHAN leaning against a wall watching the games. BEN DU TOIT, a 50-year-old Afrikaaner history teacher, is enthusiastically cheering his son JOHAN, a 15-years- old, who is leading neck-and-neck with another boy in the last leg of the race. The excitement increases as they approach the tape. Ben is beside himself, egging his son with shouts. The young teacher, VIVIERS, standing next to Ben, is shouting "come on Johan," and slapping the father on the back. Johan breasts the tape just ahead of the other boy. The ground is invaded by boys running to congratulate Johan. Ben hurries towards his happy but exhausted son; the proud father pushing his way through the animated boys. As he reaches Johan he pats him on the back. BEN This was your best race.