de villiers dam

De Villiers Dam

By

Mbuyiselo Ntubelo

12348 Ntongana Crescent

Wallacedene

Kraaifontein

75780

(021)650-4884

FADE IN:

INT. BAKKIE - NIGHT

NOTE: THE DIALOGUE IN THIS SCENE IS SPOKEN IN AFRIKAANS AND

SUBTITLED IN ENGLISH

JOHAN DE VILLIERS, a white farmer in his mid forties, drives

a bakkie his teenage son sits on the passenger sit. He

stares straight ahead and clears his throat.

NEWS HEADLINES MUSIC is heard through the radio. Almost

instinctively he increases the volume on the radio.

RADIO PRESENTER (V.O)

(over Radio)

....has been brutally murdered by

what appeared to be former Umkhonto

Wesizwe militants who were not

absorbed in the South African army.

Mr Coetzee is survived by his wife

and three children. Police

spokesman Captain Ndunga had this

to say.

CAPTAIN NDUNGA (V.O)

(over Radio)

We cannot divulge any details at

the moment since the police are

busy with the investigation but we

can assure you that we will do any

and everything to capture those

that are responsible for this

crime.

RADIO PRESENTER (V.O)

(over Radio)

On other news a Brazilian woman...

Johan switches the radio off. Johan bursts.

JOHAN

God dammit, where is this country

going to? Pieter by the time you’re

my age all these communists would

have murdered all of us. This is

bloody genocide.

Johan turns his head and sees a silhouetted human figure. He

stops the bakkie and switches the lights off. The human

figure starts running.

2.

JOHAN (CONT’D)

Stay here Pieter.

END OF SUBTITLES

Johan opens his door and takes his shot gun.

EXT. DE VILLIERS FARM - CONTINUOUS



Johan runs towards the human figure. He cocks his shot gun

and fires a shot towards the figure. The figure falls down.

JOHAN

I’ve got you, you bloody thief.

Johan heads slowly towards the human figure.

JOHAN (CONT’D)

Show yourself.

We hear a babies cry. Johan’s eyes widen, he is in profound

thought. He bends towards the body it is a white woman with

a baby girl. He looks around and hears another baby cry. He

runs to where he saw the human figure. Ten meters away is a

baby boy crying.

JOHAN (CONT’D) (cont’d)

Pieter call the fucking police.

END OF SUBTITLES

And we:

CARD:

25 YEARS LATER

EXT. SKY OVER INDIAN OCEAN - DAY

A commercial aircraft fly’s across the Atlantic Ocean.

Clouds loom over the aircraft.

3.

INT. PASSENGER CABIN - CONTINUOUS

ERIC VAN DER MERWE, handsome, young, and a devoted family

man, sits next to his wife NICOLA VAN DER MERWE, a beautiful

rose.

ERIC

I can’t believe that we’ve come

this far.

(beat)

I really love you pumpkin.

They exchange a warm smile. She touches his nose.

NICOLA

I love you Mr van der Merwe.

Eric touches Nicola’s left ring finger. She is wearing a

diamond ring. They stare at each other and hold hands.

EXT. SKY OVER INDIAN OCEAN - CONTINUOUS

Rain begins to come down.A flash of lighting and thunder

strikes the left engine of the aircraft. The plane is

violently rocked.


We see passengers panicking. An elderly man holds his wife

with dear life. A woman in her forties fastens the seat

belts of her daughters. A Zimbabwean man starts praying out

loud. Eric holds Nicola and looks at her in profound

thought.

CAPTAIN (V.O) (CONT’D)

Good day passengers.Please fasten

you seat belts. The left engine has

lost power due to a lightning

strike.

Nicole start hands Derick a something but we do not see it.

INT. AIRPLANE COCKPIT - CONTINUOUS

The co-pilot looks horrified.

CAPTAIN

The left engine has crashed.

4.

CO-PILOT

Are we gonna make it?

CAPTAIN

We have to.

The co-pilot signals the Catholic trinity sign and drops of

sweat trickles his forehead.


A stewardess starts running, gets knocked, and falls. She

crawls and sits next to a elderly man who looks stares at

her and smiles. He looks mentally sick.


The commercial aircraft takes a dive into and starts

dropping. A window is suppressed and breaks.


The captain presses the passenger button. He lifts the mic.

CAPTAIN

Passengers please wear the ....


Breathing masks drop from the plane’s ceiling.

CAPTAIN (V.O) (CONT’D)

masks immediately.

We see all the passengers taking the masks and putting them

in front of their mouths.


The plane drops faster into the ocean. The plane bounces

into the ocean point.

5.


Eric firmly holds Nicola. Nicola is in profound thought.

Water filters from the windows.


The plane sinks into the ocean.

EXT. SOMALI BOAT - MOMENTS LATER

Somali pirates in a boat. The boat drives towards the plane.


A Somali lieutenant enters the plane cabin. We see electric

wires in flames. Dead bodies dangle motionless. Pirate 1

goes to the the cockpit. The lieutenant looks as Pirate 1

walks. The lieutenant walks towards a corpse of the old man

he pockets him, takes a passport out of his pocket, and then

stares at it.


We see Pirate 1 in the cockpit. He shoves the co-pilots

head. The head moves and blood spills, it looks like the

co-pilot is deceased. He moves towards the captain. He

pushes the captain’s chest. The captain coughs blood out and

breathes. Pirate 1 looks astonished.

PIRATE 1

(spoken in Somali; subtitled

in English)

Allie this one is alive.

EXT. INDIAN OCEAN - CONTINUOUS

The lieutenant is in the boat with some dozen pirates. There

are nine injured hostages. The pirates point the AK47’s at

the hostages and they give them signals that the hostages

should look down.

6.

EXT. MOGADISHU COAST - CONTINUOUS

Establishing shot of a battered Somali ship. We see the boat

being driven towards the boarding entrance.

INT. SHIP CABIN - CONTINUOUS

The pirates take the hostages into the cells. The Pirate

Boss points and calls the Lieutenant. The Lieutenant heads

towards the boss.

BOSS


in English)

Who are these people Allie?

LIEUTENANT


in English)

Most of them are Indian, one

Pakistani, one Iraqian, and those

two are South African.

Eric and Nicola are incarcerated into separate cells. The

Lieutenant points Nicola.

LIEUTENANT (CONT’D)


in English)

The woman’s surname is White. I

think that she is the daughter of

the South African Industrialist

Christopher White.

The Somali Boss nods, he rises from his chair and pecks the

lieutenant on the back. He walks towards hostages. The

Pirates have separated the hostages according to their

gender. He walks to the women cell and the women are now

wearing pardas. He looks at them and walks to the men cell.

BOSS

You are probably wondering who we

are and what we are going to do

with you. We do not wish to harm

you physically or otherwise. We

have no political agenda against

you or your governments.

The boss points the doctor towards the female hostage

particularly Nicola. The young Somali doctor carries a

medical suitcase. A bleeding women rushes towards the

doctor. The doctor opens the case and starts helping her.

7.

The Boss points at the doctor and whispers something to the

Lieutenant. The Lieutenant walks to the the doctor and

pushes the woman away. He points to Nicole who sits in the

corner.

LIEUTENANT


in English)

Help her first.

The doctor runs to a bleeding Nicola.

BOSS (V.O)

We are in the business of people

your governments or family members

will have to pay ransom for you. Or

else you will die.

EXT. CAPE TOWN CBD - DAY

Establishing shot of the International Relations Office.

LUVUYO (V.O)

We have received confirmation from

the Somali government that your

loved ones Eric and Nicola van der

Merwe were...

INT. LUVUYO’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Erica’s sheds a tear. Michael holds her. Christopher bashes

the office table.

LUVUYO (CONT’D)

...abducted by a certain Somali

group.

CHRISTOPHER

Has this group made any demands?

LUVUYO

Yes, they want five million for

each hostage.

Erica looks at the floor.

CHRISTOPHER

I will pay the the ransom for

Nicola.

8.

LUVUYO

What about Mr Van der Merwe?

CHRISTOPHER

Ask his sister don’t look at me.

Erica looks at the floor.

ERICA

Sir, I could never afford that. Is

there no way in which the

government could assist?

Luvuyo slowly shakes his head.

INT. SHIP CABIN - NIGHT

The Pirates take a whip and strikes a man. A pirate kicks a

woman and she drops on the floor. She bleeds and breathes

slows. The Boss heads towards the cells. He signals the stop

sign. the Pirates stop.

BOSS

There are nine of you and only one

family has paid ransom. I must say

that I am disappointed. I thought

that this would be my retirement

money. Nicola your father paid your

ransom. What I do not understand is

why he would only pay for you and

not for his son-in-law. I guess...

The boss removes the pistol from his waist. Nicola runs to

the cell steel and pleads.

NICOLA

(crying)

Please don’t do this. I am sure

that if I talk to my father he

would pay the ransom. Please give a

cell phone.

He points the gun at Eric. The other hostages three hostages

all move away from him. He is about to pull the trigger.

Nicola is crying.

NICOLA (cont’d)

Please don’t do this.

ERIC

Please don’t kill me.

9.

BOSS

Okay since this man has asked so

nicely I will spare his life. I

hate more than anything the fact

that rich people think that they

can buy their way through anything.

Well this time things will be

different, the girl dies.

He points the pistol at Nicola and fires a shot to her head.

She falls on the floor. Eric runs to the wall he hears the

other women scream and cannot see the deceased Nicola. The

cells are separated by a brick wall. He starts crying.


We see the cabin door violently pushed from the outside. The

door falls on the floor. The Pirates take their AK47’s and

begin shooting towards the door. The boss runs to his table,

he drops to his knees, and opens a safe. Inside the safe

there are multiple dollar notes. He takes a bag and puts the

notes inside the bag.

The Lieutenant watches him across the room. A stunt grenade

is thrown from the corridor. The Pirates panic. They open

both the male and female cells and remove the hostages. They

hold the hostages as human shields. We see a small camera in

the stunt grenade.

INT. SHIP CORRIDOR - CONTINUOUS

Highly skilled police officers stare at the at a small

monitor. The captain makes a sign by pointing his index

finger. They start running into the cabin.

INT. SHIP CABIN - CONTINUOUS

From the top the police snipers shoot all the armed Pirates

including the Lieutenant into their heads. The boss frozen

holds the bag into his chest. The police walk in and

apprehend him.

EXT. MOGADISHU COAST - CONTINUOUS

An ambulance rides through the city streets with the police.

NEWS ANCHOR (V.0)

What was the longest hostage ordeal

has now ended. Eric van der Merwe

(MORE)

10.

NEWS ANCHOR (V.0) (cont’d)

and six other hostages have been

rescued from the Marka group under

the command of Yusuf Mohammed.

The scene dissolves into Christopher’s television set.

INT. CHRISTOPHER LOUNGE - CONTINUOUS

Christopher is busy with his tie. His isaiah, Isaiah, hands

him a cufflink. Chrisy runs to Chris and pulls his trouser.

CHRISY

(points to the TV)

Grandpa look.

On the TV they see Eric and the other six hostages are given

wheelchairs and wheeled into the hospital. The hospital is

filled police cars and journalists.

INT. PRICE HOME - CONTINUOUS



Eric walks to Michael’s study. Michael is busy studying.

MICHAEL

Look what they have done for me?

ERICA

What is it Michael.

MICHAEL

This is my new business card. Look

right here finance manager.

(beat)

I got the job.

He jumps into Erica’s arms and kisses her on the chick. The

card falls on the floor. Erica slightly pushes Michael away

from her. Michael is confused.

MICHAEL (CONT’D)

What is wrong dear?

ERICA

Eric has just been rescued.

END OF SUBTITLES

11.

INT. MOGADISHU HOSPITAL WARD - CONTINUOUS

A Somali male doctor in this early thirties stands besides

Eric. The South African ambassador, a black man in his late

fifties, looks on.

DOCTOR

You are still weak but you are

physically fit to travel to your

country.

The ambassador walks towards Eric.

AMBASSADOR

We have prepared all of your

documents and you family is

notified that you are coming home.

You flight is tomorrow at two am.

Eric looks on and says nothing.

EXT. INDIAN OCEAN - LATE AFTERNOON

A South African Military aircraft flies across the Indian

Ocean.

EXT. O.R TAMBO AIRPORT - CONTINUOUS

A group of journalist are controlled by the police.

Emergency vehicle are all over.

INT. MILITARY AIRCRAFT CABIN - CONTINUOUS

Eric stares into a picture. We do not see the picture.

INSERT SHOT:

Nicola hands Eric a picture and the picture has Nicola and

Chrisy

INT. MILITARY AIRCRAFT CABIN - CONTINUOUS

Eric sheds a tear.

12.

EXT. O.R TAMBO AIRPORT - CONTINUOUS

The plane lands on the grounds.

EXT. O.R TAMBO AIRPORT MALL - CONTINUOUS

Eric walks towards a parked van. The journalist run towards

him. The police block the journalists. Eric is escorted by

Luvuyo.

JOURNALIST 1

Mr Van der Merwe how do you feel

that you’re finally home after all

these years?

JOURNALIST 3

What is the next step?

JOURNALIST 4

Are you going back to work?

Eric looks on as the camera lights flashes on his face. He

looks confused and in deep thought. Eric, Michael and Luvuyo

are now next to him. Luvuyo grabs him by the shoulder and

walks with him.

INT. CAPE TOWN - DAY

Eric hugs Erica firmly and Michael looks on. She holds his

hands.

ERICA

Do you wanna see her now?

ERIC

Yes, where is she?

ERICA

She is with Mr White.

ERIC

You gave her to him?

ERICA

No brother, she lives with him.

(beat)

When we thought that you and Nicola

had died Mr White applied for full

custody.

Eric looks deeply into her eyes.

13.

ERICA (O.S)(CONT’D)

The court awarded him full custody.

Eric turns around and looks at the window.

EXT. CHRISTOPHER HOUSE - LATER

Establishing shot of Christopher’s mansion.


Christopher isaiah opens the door. He looks at Eric, Eric,

and Michael.

ISAIAH

Good afternoon, please come inside.

The isaiah walks towards the lounge.


In the lounge we see a Christopher seated in the chair. He

stands and walks towards Eric.

CHRISTOPHER

Hello Eric.

ERIC

Hello Chris.

Holds both his hands. He walks with him to the chair.

CHRISTOPHER

How are you?

ERIC

I am fine.

(beat)

Can I please see Chrisy.

CHRISTOPHER

Oh yes, that’s why you’re here.

ERIC

Yes.

CHRISTOPHER

Isaiah please call Chrisy for me.

Isaiah nods.

14.

ISAIAH

Certainly sir.

Isaiah walks out into Chrisy’s room. Christopher looks at

Eric, Erica and Michael. He gives the fake smiles and lifts

his shoulder.

CHRISTOPHER

Anybody for tea?

MICHAEL

Yes sir.

ERIC

Nothing, Chrisy will just be fine.

Eric gives the fake smile. There is tense of silence in the

room. Isaiah walks in with Chrisy.

CHRISTOPHER

Oh here she is.

Christopher walks towards Chrisy. Gently holds her by the

shoulder and points at Eric.

CHRISTOPHER (cont’d)

Sweetheart this man is...

(beat)

This man is Eric Van der Merwe your

father.

Chrisy sheds a tear, steps backward and hides behind

Christopher. Christopher turns back and looks at her.


Sweetheart are you okay?

Chrisy says nothing and runs with her doll.

EXT. PRICE HOME - NIGHT

Establishing shot of the Price home. It rains and storms

heavily.

INT. PRICE HOME - CONTINUOUS

Eric walks into a small bedroom with a single bed. Erica is

behind him. He looks at the window the curtain is opened.

Lightning strikes and he see’s Nicola reflection. Eric holds

his head.

15.

ERICA

Are you okay brother?

ERIC

Yes fine, its been a long day. I

think I need to rest a little.

Eric takes a sit on the bed.

ERICA

Are you sure you don’t wanna have

dinner with us?

ERIC

Yes I am, now please go Erica.

ERICA

Okay I am gone.

Eric watches as Eric leaves. He then stands up and looks at

the window and there is no reflection.

INT. PRICE MASTER BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Erica snores and Michael Price is busy with excel

spreadsheets in his laptop.


The Somali boss’s hand is up and he twists and turns his

thumb. Nicola looks on as the lieutenant points a pistol

between her eyes.

BOSS

Life is about impossible choices my

friend. The choice is simple does

she or do you live. I can cannot

make that choice for you only you

can. Within the next five seconds

one of you will die and you get to

decide.

Eric starts sweating.

BOSS (V.O)

Five, four, three, two..

Eric closes his eyes.

16.

BOSS (V.O) (cont’d)

..and one. Oh I forgot to mention

that your silence means her death.

(looks at the lieutenant)

Kill her.

The lieutenant shoots in between the eyes. Eris begins

crying and walks towards Nicola corpse. He grabs her head

and looks on her.

ERIC

Sweetheart you can’t be dead. No

baby please wake up.

(shouts at the boss)

You should have killed me.

The boss ignores him and smiles.

INT. PRICE HOME ERIC’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

We see Eric twists and turns in his bed. He is having a fit.

He wakes up.

ERIC

(shouts)

It wasn’t my fault.

(beat)

It wasn’t my doing.

He starts breathing slowly.

INT. PRICE MASTER BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Michael is asleep with his laptop next to his bed side. Eric

wakes up. Wears her gown and starts running towards the

door.

INT. PRICE HOME ERIC’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS

Erica walks and Eric is breathing slowly. He looks like he

has seen a ghost. Nicola walks to him and grabs him and

gives him a firm hug. He starts crying and she wipes his

tears.

ERICA

It’s okay, it’s okay„ it’s okay,

it’s okay...

She puts his face on her chest and starts moving forwards

and backwards slowly.

17.

INT. PRICE LOUNGE - MOMENTS LATER

Eric and Erica sit on the sofa. Erica hands Eric a cup of

tea.

ERICA

Brother don’t you not think that

you need counseling?

ERIC

For what?

ERICA

You’ve just survived an ordeal that

most people would not necessarily

go through. I think that you need

someone...someone professional to

help you deal with what you’ve gone

through. Brother you know that I

will do anything for you but that

is if I can. I cannot take the

custody from Christopher. I cannot

replace the years that you missed

from Chrisy’s house.I cannot help

you with how you feel about your

Nicola’s passing. I cannot imagine

how you must even feel right now.

However, I know that I would like

to help make it better.

ERIC

You are I have been through a lot.

I am clueless to how I feel now.

When we were tortured I prayed that

they would kill both of us. When

they killed her I wished that they

had killed me instead. Now I feel

as if I am in this weird world. so

much has changed. My daughter is

eight year of age. When I left her

she was still a toddler. When I saw

her today I just froze. Even though

she was more afraid than I was. I

know that even if she had been

happy to see me that I would have

froze myself. I love Chrisy but how

do I look her in the eye and tell

her than her father survived and

that her mother died and she was

thrown off somewhere.

(beat)

I know that you cannot help me with

this. But I know that there is no

(MORE)

18.

ERIC (cont’d)

way that I am allowing some shrink

into my life again. Remember what

happened when I were young. I

would’t to go through that all over

again.

(laughs)

I remember when this one time when

that old physically abused you that

social worker would not buy your

story. I will deal with this on my

own as I always have I do not need

some lying shrink.

EXT. NEWSPAPER BUILDING - DAY

Establishing shot of the Dialy Newspapers. Eric walks

towards the building, he carries a briefcase and a laptop.

INT. NEWSPAPER BUILDING - CONTINUOUS

We see a dozen journalists seated, they look busy in their

workstations. Eric walks, looks around, and takes a pause.

He starts walking towards a door five metres of him. The

door is engraved with the words "Mr De Koker Editor".

Halfway to the door a male journalist places him, tags a

female journalist, and whispers in her ear. The then look at

Eric. Eric stares back.

ERIC

What’s wrong haven’t you seen a

hostage survivor before?

All the journalist stop typing and they stare at him. The

male journalist starts clapping. The female journalist

claps. All the journalists clap their hands. Eric walks to

the door and opens it.

INT. EDITOR’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Eric walks in, Mr De Koker stands from his chair. He walks

towards Eric and shakes his hand. The editor points to

Jacobus, a white journalist in his late forties.

MR DE KOKER

Good morning Eric this Jacobus van

Schalkwyk. He is the newly

appointed editor.

Eric walks to Jacobus and shakes his hand.

19.

ERIC

Good morning, pleased to meet you.

JACOBUS

Hi, likewise.

Mr De Koker points to an empty chair next to Jacobus.

MR DE KOKER

Please take a seat.

Eric walks towards the chair and takes a seat and Mr De

Koker sits in front of them.

MR DE KOKER (cont’d)

Eric I am extremely happy. I am

also sorry that your wife did not

make it. even though it happened

years ago. If there is anything

that you would like please do not

hesitate to let me know.

ERIC

Thank you Mr De Koker. There is

something.

Mr De Koker moves his chair forward.

MR DE KOKER

Okay, what would that be?

ERIC

I would like to write an article

about my experiences in Mogadishu.

MR DE KOKER

I agree with you Eric, in an ideal

world the story should be told by

those who went through the

experience. Unfortunately, we live

in a world where things are quite

different. I think that our readers

would crash the impartiality of the

article, especially since you have

just been released. I think that it

would be better if you were

interviewed by somebody else and

told your story that way.

Eric stares into Mr De Koker’s eyes and then looks at

Jacobus, they both stare at him there is a moment of

silence. Eric takes his bags and walks to the door. He

pauses and looks at Mr. De Koker.

20.

ERIC

This is my story I should write it

not some nobody journalist who has

been promoted because his father

owns the paper. Now you can go

ahead do whatever you want to

do..this is my story. You won’t be

getting an interview from me.

CLOSE Mr. De Koker raises his pupils. He looks at Jacobus

and nods, Jacobus walks out of the office. Mr. De Koker

walks to the window and opens the blinds with his index and

middle fingers. He see’s the journalists looking towards his

office. They see his eyes and get back to work. He closed

the blinds and walks to Eric.

MR DE KOKER

I know how you feel my friend. i

have in my life written many tragic

experiences. Early in y writing

career I learnt that these were not

merely commercial stories but they

were human experiences. I think

that the reason why our readers buy

our newspaper is because we know

how to capture these life’s

experience in a way that could give

them hope when there is none or

motivation when they have given up.

I would never deny you the

opportunity to write if I believed

that you would heal somebody out

there.

Mr. De Koker takes a chair and hands it to Eric. Eric sits

Mr De Koker sits in the chair where Jacobus had been

sitting. He takes Eric’s hand.

MR DE KOKER

Have you considered counselling?

ERIC

No.

MR DE KOKER

Maybe you should son.

Eric takes his bag and walks out.

21.

INT. NEWSPAPER BUILDING - CONTINUOUS

Eric closes Mr. De Koker’s door. He see’s Jacobus who

immediately walks to the door. Eric walks slowly as all the

journalist stare at him.

EXT. SCHOOL SOCCER PITCH - DAY

We see girls wearing soccer uniform. They are wearing two

different colors. Chrisy runs into another and pushes her

chest. The young girl pushes back.

YOUNG GIRL

Its true weirdo.

Chrisy punches the young girl in the face. The young girl’s

nose bleeds out. A female teacher runs through the cheering

young girls and separates the two fighting girls.

INT. PRINCIPALS OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Chrisy looks down, she is in profound thought. The female

teacher seated next to Chrisy looks at the principal. A

woman walks in and sits next to Chrisy.

WOMAN

Hello Chrisy, my name is

Antoinette. I am the schools

clinical psychologist. I would like

you to tell me what happened

between you and the other girl.

Chrisy frowns and is silent and stares at the floor. The

principal brushes his nose and sits back.

INT. PRICE HOME ERIC’S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Eric is seated in the bed reading a newspaper article on his

kidnapping and rescue. He shakes his head. We hear a knock.

ERIC

We hear a knock.

Erica walks inside.

ERICA

Brother there is something

important that I need to share with

you.

She sits next to him.

22.

ERICA (cont’d)

Christopher has just called me

now. Chrisy assaulted some girl in

school this afternoon who allegedly

taunted her over Nicola’s death.

This girl teased her for not saving

money and time since Chrisy does

not have a mother.

Eric wipes his forehead with his palm.

ERICA (O.S)(CONT’D)

Brother I think that this is more

reason why you need to heal

yourself. If not for yourself then

please do it for Chrisy’s sake.

Please see a therapist.

EXT. YASSIEN’S OFFICE - DAY

Establishing shot of Yassien’s office.

INT. YASSIEN’S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS

Yassien, an Indian male in his mid thirties, sits and holds

a file. He is taking notes. Eric is seated in a chair two

metres in front of Yassien.

ERIC

My name is Eric van der Merwe. I am

a single father...I am a father to

an eight year of age girl. Six

years ago on my way to India my

wife and car were involved in a

plane accident. We were captured by

Somali pirates. My wife you see did

not make it. She died two years

later. everyday I wake up I feel as

if I killed her or that I could

have done something to prevent them

from killing. I begged that pirate

not to kill and then he just to his

gun and killed Nicola.

Eric sheds a tear and Yassien stops writing and looks at

him.

ERIC (CONT’D)

What makes things worse now is that

I have a daughter that I need to

look after and I can’t look her in

(MORE)

23.

ERIC (CONT’D) (cont’d)

the eye. Whenever I see her I see

Nicola’s reflection. I feel that..I

do not have the right to be a

parent to Chrisy. Nicola my Nicola

was denied that right.

Eric starts crying Yassien walks to Eric and gives him a

tissue. He looks into his eyes. He walks to his medical

cabinet. He takes some pills and walks to another with

water. He pours the water into a glass and walks to Eric. He

gives him two pills and the water.

YASSIEN

Have you had something to eat

withing the last hour.

Eric nods.

YASSIEN (CONT’D)

Please read those will make you

feel better.

Yassien watches as Eric drinks the pills and walks to his

chair sits and looks at Eric.

YASSIEN (CONT’D)

Eric you have been through a lot. I

think that you need both therapy

and counselling. I strongly advise

you to start a new relationship

with Chrisy.It will not be easy but

it is possible. I always tell my

patients that life at any given

moment is like a three structured

essay with an introduction, body,

and conclusion. The introduction

resembles the beginning of a

problem, the body resembles the

moment where you confront the

problem faced with, and the

conclusion resembles the resolution

to the problem. You did not have

anything to do with the beginning.

Someone did something to a you. The

body is where one can choose either

to be active or inactive. If you

are inactive then those that

created the problem for you would

have succeeded, however if you

fight then you would change

everything. You would make sure

that the resolution for your life

(MORE)

24.

YASSIEN (CONT’D) (cont’d)is determined by you and not

someone else. I can guide you

through this process but only you

will make the call to commit to the

journey.

EXT. SEDAN - DAY

Eric parks his sedan in front of the White mansion.

EXT. WHITE MANSION - CONTINUOUS

Eric walks through the White mansion yard. He walks till the

door and knocks on the door.

INT. WHITE MANSION - CONTINUOUS

Christopher opens the door and looks at Eric. Christopher

takes Eric on the waist and walks out.

EXT. WHITE MANSION - CONTINUOUS

Christopher opens his coat, removes a C4 envelope then hands

it to Eric. Eric looks at Christopher and looks at the

envelope. he takes the envelope and opens it. Inside the

envelope is a blank cheque.

ERIC

What is this?

Christopher hands Eric a pen.

CHRISTOPHER

Write the amount and I will sign

it. Then go, go and leave your life

somewhere else. Chrisy has been

doing fine all these years without

you.

Eric tears the cheque and throws the cheque towards

Christopher’s face.

ERIC

My daughter is not for sale. The

reason...

(beat)

You don’t deserve to be with this

child. You hardly ever spent time

(MORE)

25.

ERIC (cont’d)with Nicola your own child. You

think that you can use Chrisy to

make that up. Old man get a life or

a woman and stay out of my life and

woman.

Eric opens the door and steps in.

INT. WHITE MANSION - CONTINUOUS

Isaiah looks on Eric as he enters. Eric walks towards the

lounge. Christopher follows him.

CHRISTOPHER

What do you think you’re doing?

ERIC

Something that I should have done

two days ago. If it weren’t for

your fancy you wouldn’t have been

given custody of Chrisy. You

disgust me old man.

Chrisy looks shocked.

ERIC (cont’d)

Chrisy sweetheart lets go.

Eric holds Chrisy’s hand and walks with towards the door.

Christopher looks upset. Isaiah looks down.

INT. CLASSROOM - DAY

Chrisy sits next to a young boy. They both look at a female

teacher who is unseen to us. Behind them is a number of

girls and boys.

SCHOOLTEACHER (O.S)

Cinderella is a fairytale, but, the

themes present in the story are

still seen in our daily lives.

Everyday we observe different

characteristics in the people we

interact with. For example the two

girls mother treated Cinderella

well when she was with her father

however when he wasn’t around she

changed her behavior towards her.

26.

INT./EXT CAPE TOWN CBD - CONTINUOUS

Christopher’s car is driven in heavy traffic in the Central

Business District. Christopher glances into his laptop. We

see commerce graphs. Chris minimizes the window and we see a

picture of Nicola and Chrisy on the desktop.

INT. CLASSROOM - CONTINUOUS

The teacher puts the book down and looks at the class.

SCHOOLTEACHER

Now, I have a question for you. Who

is your favorite character in the

story and why?

A young boy raises his hand. The teacher points to the boy.

SCHOOLTEACHER (cont’d)

Yes Shawn.

SHAWN

My favourite character is the

stepmother because she wears a mask

and I love masks.

The class laughs.

SCHOOLTEACHER

Shawn do you realize that this is

not a tangible mask. Its a way she

is around the father and how she

changes her character when the

father leaves.

Chrisy hand is raised up high. She desperately wants to get

the attention of the teacher.

CHRISY

Mine is Cinderella, I love her

because she has both internal and

external beauty. Evans though she

faces toughs obstacles she keeps

going and never stops.

The class uploads and claps. HOLD ON the teacher’s smiling

face.

27.

EXT. HIGH COURT - LATE AFTERNOON

Establishing of the High Court.

INT. JUDGE’S OFFICE, HIGH COURT - CONTINUOUS

CLOSE ON a portrait of a man, woman and two children. PULL

BACK a man sits on an armchair he is a judge of the High

Court. The judge goes through court case summaries.

LAWYER (O.S)

Judge the facts are that Mr. Van

der Merwe, who is the biological

father of the eight year of age

child Chrisy in issue, has recently

been rescued by the Somali armed

forces after almost an seven year

hostage. A month after Mr Van der

Merwe was taken my client applied

for full custody and was awarded

the custody. Two days ago Mr. Van

der Merwe merely walked into the

White Mansion and took the child as

if there was no legal.

The lawyer, Christopher, and the social worker look on the

judge from the opposite of the table.

JUDGE

Where is the biological mother of

this child?

LAWYER (O.S)

She died six years ago. She was

taken hostage at the same time as

he was...but he survived.

JUDGE

Then why not let the man take his

child and forget about the order.

A moment of silence. Christopher looks at his lawyer. He

realizes that the judges favors Eric.

LAWYER

Judge, this man’s state is mind is

irrational. A person with his state

of mind cannot look after a child

let alone themselves. He has no

job, no house, he still lives with

his sister. My clients application

is not for permanent custody but to

(MORE)

28.

LAWYER (cont’d)restore the legal custody that my

client has. That violated a court

order.

The judge rises from his chair into a draw filled with

documents. He removes a document from the draw and sits. He

starts writing.

JUDGE

I will make a permanent order that

reinstates your clients. However,

this does not bar the defended from

making an application for custody.

INT. LOUNGE, PRICE HOUSE - DAY

The social worker has Chrisy’s hand. Chrisy is in tears. A

police man in uniform, looks on them. Chrisy drags herself

and runs to Eric and firmly hugs him.

CHRISY

Daddy, please don’t let them take

me.

ERIC

I love you...sweetheart so much. Go

with the lady. I promise you I will

come and get you.

CLOSE ON Chrisy walking out of the door. PULL BACK Eric’s

thumb rubs the Chrisy then Nicola’s face on the photo.

INT. LOUNGE, PRICE HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER

Eric, Erica and Micheal watch a reality show.

ERIC

Michael can I please use your pc. I

would like to send an e-mail.

Eric heads for Michael’s study.

INT. MICHEAL’S STUDY, PRICE HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Eric glances at the monitor screen. He brushes his forehead

and whispers to himself.

29.

ERIC

Forgot to ask him the password.

He rises but spots a statement on the floor. He bows down to

pick it up. Its a phone bill. He spots Christopher White’s

name as both the recipient and caller. He notices that most

calls have been made and received from the day that he was

rescued.

Eric looks in the table and glances at a business card which

reads " Mr Michael Price HOD

He walks out in fury.

INT. LOUNGE, PRICE HOUSE - CONTINUOUS

Eric storms into the lounge.

ERIC

You sold me to that old bustard.

For what...

(points to Michael)

...so that you ca help him climb

the ladder. After everything we’ve

been through. How could you do this

sister?

Eric freezes. Michael rises and walks to his study.

EXT. SAMAREC BUILDING - DAY

Establishes shot of a modern skyscraper.

INT. BOARDROOM, SAMAREC BUILDING - CONTINUOUS

Yassien is sits in a small table. in front him are six

disciplinarians board members.

MEMBER 1

Dr. Mohamed you have waived your

right to representation. The

SAMAREC has led evidence forward in

order to prove your guilt. This

time will then be afforded to you

to counter that evidence.

YASSIEN

Chairman, the SAMAREC prosecution

charged because I slept with a

patient. They did not bring any

(MORE)

30.

YASSIEN (cont’d)evidence forward that proves that

with the alleged patient whilst she

was in my care. The only evidence

that they presented was a

testimonial from the "patients"

husband. It ought to be expected

that this man would testify to

anything that would lead to my

professional demise. I ask that

this board find me not guilty. I

had a relationship with a married

woman after she was my patient not

whilst she was my patient. My

actions, as immoral as they where,

do not contravene the Patients

Health Act.

The entire board looks at Eric.

MEMBER 1

We will take a thirty minute break

and then thereafter we will

announce the committee’s decision.

INT. LOUNGE, YASSIEN’S HOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON

Yassien enters.

YASSIEN

Soraya, I’m home.

He heads to the table. He stares at a note. The note reads

"Yassien, enough is enough. I haven taken our son. I will

stay with papa until I make my mind about us". Yassien sits

on the floor.

He rises, heads for television set and throws it on the

floor. He removes a family portrait that comprises of

himself, Soraya, and his son and throws it towards the door.

He kicks the sofa and moves it across the lounge.


Eric enters, Isaiah looks on.

ISAIAH

Good day sir what can I do for you?

31.

ERIC

Where is Chrisy?

ISAIAH

I am that I don’t answer such

questions. Please call Mr. white I

think that he is the correct to

answer on Chrisy’s whereabouts.

Eric heads for Chrisy’s room. Isaiah walks behind him trying

to keep up. Chris comes from where Eric was headed. Chris

shouts at Eric.

CHRISTOPHER

What are you doing here?

ERIC

I want my daughter, old man.

CHRISTOPHER

Isaiah call the police.

ISAIAH

Are you sure if that is necessary

sir?

CHRISTOPHER

Jesus, I don’t pay you to think I

pay you to carry out my

instructions now call the god damn

police.

Isaiah heads for the phone. He dials the police emergency

and keep the phone set in his ear.

ERIC

You can’t keep me away from my

child.

Isaiah looks at Chris with a puppy face.

CHRISTOPHER

Watch me.

ERIC

Okay, I will leave for now. I

promise you I will come back and

take my daughter.

A voice is heard on the phone.

32.

VOICE

(over the phone)

10111 what is your emergency?

Christopher nods as an approval that Isaiah can drop the

phone. Isaiah drops the phone.

CHRISTOPHER

Now get out of here and don’t come

back.

Eric walks out of the house. He has a shameful look on his

face. Chris and Isaiah look upon him. Eric exits the

mansion. Chris looks at Isaiah.


Don’t ever disrespect me like that

again.

Chris heads for his study. Isaiah watches him walk.

INT. YASSIEN’S CONSULTATION ROOM - DAY

Eric and Yassien sit opposite to one another. Yassien

searches himself.

YASSIEN

I’ve left my pen in my car. Do you

have a pen for me.

ERIC

No I have an ipad. The world

changes all the time you should

learn to keep up.

YASSIEN

I guess I’m a luddite who hates

technology. Do you mind if I run to

my car to pick up my pen.

ERIC

No problem.

Yassien rises, heads for the door and exits. We hear the

phone ring.

Eric looks around. He rises and heads for the phone.

ERIC (cont’d)

(over phone)

Hello.

33.

VOICE (V.O)

(over phone)

Good day may I speak to Dr. Yassien

Mohamed?

ERIC

(over phone)

He’s just stepped out he’ll be back

shortly.

VOICE (V.O)

(over phone)

Please get him to contact Mrs.

Voigt from SAMAREC.

ERIC

(over phone)

Mrs. Voigt from where?

VOICE (V.O)

(over phone)

From the South African Medical

Association Research Ethics

Committee.

Eric looks shocked.

ERIC

(over phone)

Okay, I will...

Yassien enters.

ERIC (CONT’D)

(over phone)

Oh, he’s just walked in. Please

hold for him.

Yassien is taken aback and in offended shock. He heads for

the phone.

YASSIEN

Hello, this is Dr. Mohamed how can

I help you.

There is silence as Yassien listens to the caller.

YASSIEN (CONT’D)

I am in the middle of a

consultation. Can I call you later?

He puts the phone down. He heads for the chair and sits.

Eric seated suddenly rises. Yassien looks angry and ashamed.

34.

ERIC

Why is SAMAREC calling you?

Yassien shouts.

YASSIEN

You are my patient not my

receptionist. You had no right to

answer my phone.

ERIC

I realize that...but someone I am

glad that I did. I wrote some

article on some medical

practitioners who disciplined by

the SAMAREC. Some where warned,

some expelled and some where even

expelled from the field.

Pause the two men stare into each others eyes.

YASSIEN

I slept with a former patient.

ERIC

Was this consensual?

YASSIEN

Yes.

ERIC

Then what is the problem?

YASSIEN

She is married.

Eric shakes his head. A pause.

YASSIEN (CONT’D)

She had severe stress and I treated

her and she was healed. We began

after her treatment with me. Her

husband recently found out about

the affair. He says that there is

no need for him to forgive her as I

misused my position and power by

drugging his wife into sleeping

with me.

ERIC

You have no ethics.

He angrily shakes his head and strides off in fury.

35.

HOLD ON Yassien’s shame face.

INT. BEDROOM, ERIC’S FLAT - DAY

Eric is asleep in his bed. Its a tiny flat with a bedroom

and a cupboard. His phone is on the carpet. CLOSE ON There

is a reminder that beeps " Prepare to see Chrisy at 12:00".

PULL BACK the watch on the wall reflects 12:10.

INT. LOUNGE, WHITE MANSION - CONTINUOUS

Chrisy holds her down firmly whilst seated in am armchair.

Chris walks up and down. He heads to the social worker and

whispers something in her ear. They both look on Chrisy.

INT. BEDROOM, ERIC’S FLAT - CONTINUOUS

Eric wakes up. He rises from bed and searches for his phone.

He hears a Nicola’s voice from outside.

NICOLA’S VOICE (O.S)

Eric why have you forgotten about

our daughter?

ERIC

I did not mean to. I tried...I

tried everything but nothing worked

out.

NICOLA’S VOICE (O.S)

Eric you have just started a cycle.

You have abandoned our daughter the

same way your mother abandoned you.

Eric breathes heavily and we see deep fear on his face.

ERIC

I am sorry. I did not mean to.

A moment of silence.

ERIC (CONT’D)

Nicola are you still there?

He runs to the window, opens it and looks outside. There are

flats opposite an elderly man waves and smiles at him. He

ignores the old man. He removes the photo from his shirt

pocket and looks at it.

36.

INT. LOUNGE, WHITE MANSION - CONTINUOUS

The social worker and Chris are at the front door. Chrisy

watches television.

SOCIAL WORKER

What is most important is the

child’s rights. Not yours or Mr.

Van der Merwe. I will call you and

let you know of the way forward.

CHRISTOPHER

Thank you, in the meantime I will

make that application.

SOCIAL WORKER

Mr. White I think that you mistook

my support to you as support to

you. I am only interested in the

interests of Chrisy.

CHRISTOPHER

You are right and the right thing

is for him to be far away from her

as possible.

SOCIAL WORKER

Goodbye Mr. White.

The social worker opens her umbrella and walks out. CLOSE ON

Chris as he stares at her.

INT. LOUNGE, PRICE HOUSE - AFTERNOON

Yassien sits on the sofa with Nicola.

YASSIEN

....that is what happened between

me and Eric this morning. I wanted

to tell him the truth. I thought

that if I did then he would refuse

my counselling sessions and

treatment. I was born to heal

people irrespective of some license

from some bureaucratic committee.

ERIC

This is too much for him to handle.

I think that he might.....ohh my

God.

She rises fast and takes her car keys. Yassien has the

confused look.

37.

YASSIEN

What’s wrong?

ERICA

Let’s go. I’ll explain in the car.

He starts running after her.

EXT. DE VILLIERS FARM - CONTINUOUS

Eric parks his car. He walks towards the dam. He removes all

his clothes. His runs into the water.

ERICA (V.O)

When we were toddlers. My mother

was a single parent..she was a poor

white. She gave birth to us and she

could not afford to feed us. So she

took us to this dam to kill we

assume kill both of us. She was

caught and killed by the farmer

before she dump us into the water.

Over the years has jokingly said

that if he were to die he wouldn’t

mind dying in De Villiers Dam.

EXT. DE VILLIERS FARM - MOMENTS LATER

Eric is on the surface of the dam, he looks dead. Yassien

and Erica’s POV: Eric’s car parked.

YASSIEN

There’s his car.

Yassien parks behind Eric’s car. They walk out and inspect

the exterior of the car and he is not there.

ERICA

He must be in the dam.

Yassien runs to the dam, Erica follow but cannot keep up.

Yassien jumps into the dam, swims to Eric, and pulls him

out. Yassien pushes Eric’s chest, Eric doesn’t respond.

Yassien tries again, Eric does not respond. Yassien does a

mouth to mouth resuscitation on Eric.

Eric gulps water and gives a shocked look. Erica whispers to

herself.

38.

ERICA (cont’d)

Thank you lord.

INT. JUDGE’S OFFICE, HIGH COURT - DAY

Christopher’s lawyer, Chris, and the social worker face the

judge. There is silence the judge reads the application for

full custody.

JUDGE

Fair enough, the hearing will be in

two days. The court will alert the

applicant of the application.

INT. ERIC’S ROOM, PRICE HOUSE - DAY

Eric reads a newspaper. We hear, from outside, a sound of

steel clap. Eric looks through his window. He see’s a man

walking inside the yard.


We hear a knock. A man in his mid thirties enters.

SHERIFF

Hello, I am the sheriff of the High

Court.

ERIC

Can, I help you?

The man can see that Eric is hostile towards him but keeps

on smiling.

SHERIFF

Yes, may I speak to Mr. Van der

Merwe?

ERIC

You’re speaking to him.

SHERIFF

Mr. Van der Merwe I am here to

deliver this application in a

matter instituted against you

by....

(points to the application)

...a a certain Mr. White for full

custody of a minor named Chrisy.

Please sign here.

39.

Eric signs.

SHERIFF (cont’d)

Thank you.

The Sheriff hands him the original and takes the copy. The

sheriff exits. HOLD ON Eric’s sad face.


Eric, Eric and Yassien sit id the lounge and look at one

another.

Eric closes his eyes as a sign of relief.

ERIC

I two days time I will have to

oppose the old man’s application

for full custody. He has also

applied for an interdict that stops

me from seeing Chrisy.

Erica and Yassien look at him. A pause. He starts speaking

very slowly.

ERIC (CONT’D)

I had lost all hope. If weren’t for

the two of you these proceedings

wouldn’t be necessary.

Erica rises and walks to him.

ERICA

Don’t worry brother you will be

fine.

Erica hugs Eric closely. HOLD Yassien’s face as he looks on

them.

MOMENTS LATER

Eric looks Yassien into the eye as Yassien speaks.

ERIC

Here me speaking about myself. How

was your hearing yesterday?

Yassien looks deeply into Eric’s eyes.

40.

YASSIEN

It was the usual same old same old.

INT. HALLWAY CORRIDOR - DAY

Yassien sits.

YASSIEN (V.O)

I sat in the hall way corridor

waiting for the typist lady to call

me in.

A lady opens a door and calls him.

LADY

Come inside.

Yassien rises and heads for the door. He enters and closes

the door.


The committee members all stare at Yassien. The prosecution

team is seated alongside him.

YASSIEN (V.O)

Once inside everyone was seated in

their places. I was nervous like

hell.

The committee members all stare at Yassien.

YASSIEN (V.O)(CONT’D)

Then the scary man started talking.

MEMBER 1

Mohamed you have been charged with

improper and unethical conduct of a

medical practitioner. You made a

conscious decision to defend

yourself. The prosecution made its

arguments and you made your counter

arguments. After much deliberation

we have the committee made its

decision.

Yassien eyes widen as he looks at the committee members.

MEMBER 1 (CONT’D)

Dr. Yassien Mohamed on the sole

count of improper and unethical

(MORE)

41.

MEMBER 1 (CONT’D) (cont’d)conduct from a medical practitioner

the committee finds you...

A pause. Yassien stares at member 1.

MEMBER 1 (CONT’D)

...not guilty...

Yassien wipes his eyes with his palms. He looks up and

closes his eyes.

MEMBER 1 (CONT’D) (cont’d)

...as the prosecution has not led

evidence that proves that you

contravened the Patients Health.


ERIC

You must be thrilled you’re off the

hook.

YASSIEN

I am, but somehow, I feel awfully

guilty. Something that the

prosecutor told me after wards just

keeps on haunting me.


The prosecuting doctor gives looks a look and throws an

opened paper at his table. Yassien looks at the headline

which reads:"A man murders over alleged affair."

PROSECUTOR

You should be proud of yourself.

The prosecutor walks away in fury. Yassien closes his eyes.

He is deeply heart.


HOLD Yassien’s face.

YASSIEN

Even, though I won that case my

heart is in pain. I have the

opportunity to correct things with

my wife. That couple will never get

that chance.

42.

ERIC

Is your wife coming home?

YASSIEN

Yes, I am going to fetch her right

now. Eric tomorrow go and fight for

your daughter.

The camera goes into Eric in the boardroom committee.

EXT. HIGH COURT - DAY

There are lawyers wearing robes walking in and out of the

court.

INT. CORRIDOR, HIGH COURT - CONTINUOUS

Eric walks towards the entrance of the court. He looks

scared. He heads for the door, opens the handle, takes a

deep breath with his eyes closed, and whispers.

ERIC

Help me God.

He pushes the door.

INT. HIGH COURT - CONTINUOUS

The judge sits in his chair. The applicant’s team and the

responded are in their places. The social worker sits in the

audience. The audience is seated.

LAWYER

Judge the applicant seeks to apply

for custody of the minor child in

question. Even, though the

applicant is not the biological

father of the minor the applicant

is reasonable and has always acted

in the best interests of the child.

On the other hand, the defended has

had unfortunate incident where he

lost not only his wife, the child’s

mother, but he lost his spirit when

he was a hostage. The defended

suffers from survivor’s guilt. He

has on more than one occasion

missed visits arranged by the

family advocate and a social

worker. A person with his condition

(MORE)

43.

LAWYER (cont’d)cannot be given the responsibility

to look after the welfare of the

child. I ask that the court grants

my clients application not because

his wealth or power. I ask that the

court look at the interest of the

child. The interest of the child

are that full custody be given to

my client.

The judge looks at Eric. Eric speaks slowly.

ERIC

Judge, Chrisy van der Merwe is my

daughter. I do not have a fancy

house or lawyer. But I don’t think

that this court will bar me from my

child because of material things.

The applicant has based his case

against on the fact that I suffer

with survivors guilt. How many

people labour under various

deseases out there.

(sarcastically)

Do the courts as upper guardians

take custody from these children? I

am a man in pain, I lost the woman

I love, and I was kept hostage for

six years nine months. Any one

would have cracked. Does that mean

that the should lose custody of

their children. I have been

attending therapy, I live with my

sister and I have taken the oaths

to fight for my life. The applicant

is a good grandfather and I am only

thankful to him for looking after

her. But Chrisy is my daughter and

family should be together. Judge

please don’t allow such injustice

to take place.

Eric takes a sit.

JUDGE

Both the applicant and the defended

did not bring forward any witnesses

forward. The court will call its

own witness. the court calls Mrs.

Jessica Parker. The defended and

the

44.

The social worker walks into witness stand. A police officer

helps her place her hand in the bible.

POLICE OFFICER

Do you swear that the evidence

that you shall give, shall be the

truth, the whole truth and nothing

but the truth, so help me God.

The social worker nods.

SOCIAL WORKER

So help me God.

JUDGE

Mrs. Parker you where present when

the police removed Chrisy from

Eric’s care.

The social worker nods slightly.

JUDGE (CONT’D)

Of the little time he was in your

presence, do you think that he is

capable of being a parent to a

child.

Eric looks at the social worker. She looks at both

participants.

SOCIAL WORKER

I did not spend that much time in

order to carefully observe his

character, however, in accordance

to what I observed that day I think

that he is good man and a father.

Chris slams his hand on the table in fury.

CHRISTOPHER

Nonsense.

JUDGE

Mr. Johnson please control your

client.

The lawyer nods as he looks at Christopher. He whispers to

Christopher.

JUDGE (cont’d)

Thank you Mrs. Parker

The social walks out of witness stand.

45.

JUDGE (CONT’D)

The court has decided not to call

Chrisy. We think that her testimony

would not be truthful enough as she

has spent the most of her time with

the applicant when the defended was

taken hostage. The court court

wishes to consider the matter. We

will convene next week same court

eight o’ clock sharp.

CARD:

One week later.

INT. COURTROOM, HIGH COURT - DAY

The looks at the participants.

JUDGE

I make the following order the

application is dismissed. The

custody of the minor child is to be

awarded to the defended...

Christopher looks furious.

JUDGE (CONT’D)

....the responded will have

reasonable access to the child

We here the judge talk but can’t make what he is saying.

Eric closes his eyes in approval.

EXT. STREET, ERIC’S HOUSE - DAY

Eric and Erica stand in the street and look on as the social

worker parks her. She opens the door for Chrisy. They all

walks towards the house.

ERIC

Stop, I can’t do it.

He turns around. Erica grabs hand. He stops and looks at

Chrisy. He bows and hugs her.

ERIC (cont’d)

Let’s do it together.

46.

They walk to the house, Eric unlocks it and they pictures of

Nicola, Chrisy and Eric. Eric lifts Christ kisses her on the

forehead and firmly hugs her. On the background we see

Nicola and the social worker watching them.

YASSIEN

Even though Eric was not completely

healed he accepted that with the

help of his family he could conquer

anything. Erica had learnt that

material things were not

everything. Christopher White made

life unbearable for Michael he then

resigned. I, well I got my family

back.

de villiers dam

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