SAMBALANGA
Screenplay
By
James Cage
Copyright © 2010 James Cage
FADE IN:
EXT. GATES - SAMBALANGA RANCH, GUATEMALA - DAY
TITLE CARD: SAMBALANGA RANCH, GUATEMALA - SEPTEMBER 1971
DREAM SEQUENCE: The tranquil, dreamy Guatemalan countryside has beautiful rolling hills with banana and coffee fields.
The SIGN above the gates of the ranch says: BIENVENIDOS A SAMBALANGA.
MOVING
Two jeeps, one following the other, slowly drive through the gates of the Sambalanga Ranch onto a road. There are two men in each jeep. The jeeps pick up speed.
INT. - SECOND JEEP
CLOSER
A large man with thick, dark, wavy hair drives the jeep. This big man is known as THE BEAR.
In the passenger seat is a young man, average height and weight, with short cut brown hair. He is called JAIME. Jaime is twenty-two years old. Jaime turns his head and peers at the SAMBALANGA sign.
CUT TO.
INT. HOTEL ROOM - HOTEL QUATTRO FONTANI - EARLY MORNING
TITLE CARD: JULY 4, 1980 - ROME, ITALY - NINE YEARS LATER
VARIOUS ANGLES
There is a desk in front of a large window with slightly opened wooden shutters. There is a small radio, pen and stationary on the desk.
INSERT
On the desk the Hotel Card Flyer says in large letters: "HOTEL QUATTRO FONTANI - ROMA, ITALIA."
There are twin beds in the room. Jaime, now 31 years old tosses and turns uncomfortably in bed. He wears boxer briefs. His body is lean and muscular.
NICK, Jaime's first cousin, is awake in the other bed. Nick is twenty-four years old. Nick is fair skinned, slight build, has light brown hair and is very handsome. He looks over at Jaime.
JAIME
Aaah!
Jaime wakes up. He rubs his face, looks around the room and composes himself.
NICK
Are you OK, cousin? You were having one of your nightmares.
JAIME
I'm alright Nick.
CUT TO:
EXT. SPANISH STEPS - ROME, ITALY - DAY
Jaime stands next to Nick at the foot of the Spanish Steps. He has taken Nick on a vacation to Italy for a couple of weeks.
Nick is Jaime's first cousin. They have lived together with their GRANDMOTHER for many years. The relationship is that of very close brothers.
Nick is in his final year of Medical School in New York City.
Nick scans the area around the Spanish Steps.
NICK
Great vacation, Thanks.
JAIME
You need a break before you start your last year of medical school. (Pause)
And I wanted to get away from New York for a couple of weeks.
CLOSER
Jaime holds a MAP in hand. He opens the map and points directions to his cousin.
INSERT
STREET MAP OF ROME, ITALY.
NICK
The American Embassy is over here on the Via Veneto.
He points directly onto the map.
JAIME
The embassy is closed Nick. It's the fourth of July.
NICK
Let's walk over there anyway.
JAIME
OK.
EXT. STREET - DAY
Jaime and Nick walk through the streets of Rome. It is a pleasant, warm summer's day.
VARIOUS ANGLES
A PARADE of YOUNG COMMUNISTS march down the Via Vittorio Veneto in front of the American Embassy. There are SIGNS in Italian and English: "PARTITO COMUNISTA dell'allievo di ROMA," "STUDENT COMMUNIST PARTY OF ROME." The parade is orderly and not noisy. A fair sized CROWD watches the activities. Traffic is blocked off.
NICK
Let's get something to eat.
JAIME
OK.
They slowly walk up the Via Vittorio Veneto observing Roman Citizens and European Tourists who fill the streets. It is summertime in Europe and everybody is on vacation. Jaime and Nick stop at the Excelsior Hotel.
EXT. STREET - EXCELSIOR HOTEL - DAY
An Italian MOVIE CREW shoots a scene. A young, blond, ACTRESS performs in front of the CAMERAMAN. She is over acting.
Jaime and Nick pause to watch the action. They continue walking through the streets of Rome to the Treve Fountain.
EXT. STREET - TREVE FOUNTAIN - DAY
The background MUSIC plays Italian Pop Music similar to "Volare."
A FRENCH WOMAN walks over to Nick and Jaime. She speaks Italian with a French accent.
THE FRENCH WOMAN
A dove e la Piazza Quattro Fontani?
NICK
(Speaks Italian with a New York City Accent)
E otto o nove stradi, sud.
Nick points southward, the proper direction.
THE FRENCH WOMAN
Arragh!
She walks away briskly.
Nick and Jaime laugh.
CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT - DAY
Jaime and Nick have finished eating a late lunch. The WAITER brings them the check and a purple color after dinner drink.
NICK
Great meal.
Jaime sips the purple liquor.
JAIME
Drink the Grappa.
Nick takes a sip and makes a face.
NICK
It's too bitter.
(Pause)
When are we leaving for Florence?
JAIME
Tomorrow morning. Let's go back to the hotel and rest.
NICK
Can we catch a movie tonight?
JAIME
Sure.
Jaime finishes his drink and pays the check. As they get up to leave the restaurant, The Waiter waves good-bye.
NICK
Ciao.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. STREET - MOVIE THEATER - PIAZZA QUATTRO FONTANI - NIGHT
Jaime and Nick stand outside a movie theater located at the Piazza Quattro Fontani. The THEATER MARQUEE reads in English, "SOME LIKE IT HOT."
NICK
That was really a very funny film, even dubbed in Italian.
JAIME
Great voice overs, especially the guy that imitated Tony Curtis imitating Gary Grant.
NICK
Let's get some ice cream.
EXT. STREET - ROME, ITALY - NIGHT
MOVING
It is a busy Friday evening. The streets are filled with cars and the sidewalks are packed with pedestrians. Jaime and Nick walk through the streets and arrive at the Excelsior Hotel on the Via Veneto.
EXT. INSIDE THE OUTSIDE CAFE OF THE EXCELSIOR HOTEL - NIGHT
The cafe is not quite full. Jaime signals a WAITER. The Waiter gives them a decent table. Jaime and Nick sit down facing the street. The view of the sidewalk and street are clear. They can see all the people stroll by. The waiter is ready to take their orders.
Italian POP MUSIC softly plays in the background.
NICK
Un cappuccino e un gelato chocolate per piacere.
The Waiter turns toward Jaime.
WAITER
E lei signor?
JAIME
Un espresso e un gelato chocolate.
Nick watches all the ITALIAN GIRLS strut by. The girls wear light, tight blouses, skirts, sandals and have bare legs.
Jaime, slightly tense, watches the street.
The Waiter brings the ice cream and coffee. Nick and Jaime begin to eat and drink.
A warm breeze blows through the scene.
NICK
Do you feel that warm breeze? It's coming from the south.
JAIME
It comes from Africa.
(Pause)
It is so heavy,
I can taste the air.
In the background a POP MUSIC station now plays, "Hot Stuff" by Donna Summer.
Nick wolfs down his ice cream and licks his lips as he eyes the girls.
NICK
(Excited)
Those freaking girls are really sexy.
Nick and Jaime laugh. They finish the ice cream. Nick drinks the cappuccino. The Waiter refills Jaime's cup of espresso. Jaime puts some sugar in it.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Jaime watches a group of people pass by. He notices a Large, Older MAN, impeccably dressed in a light summer Italian tailored suit. He escorts an extremely, beautiful YOUNG WOMAN clothed in a tasteful evening dress.
CLOSER
Jaime is alert and his facial expression turns tense.
The MAN is THE BEAR. He is the man in Jaime's nightmares. The Bear is nine years older then The Bear in Jaime's dreams. The Bear still has a flat stomach but his curly, thick, dark hair has turned white.
ANOTHER ANGLE
Nick takes a long stare at the exquisite Young Woman. She is a knockout: flawless skin, large eyes, dirty blond hair and perfect legs. She is tall, about five ten. She is a model or an actress.
NICK (CONT'D)
What a gorgeous woman, how old do you think she is?
JAIME
I'd guess a couple of years older than I am.
Suddenly The Bear turns around. He looks at Jaime and grins. Jaime smiles slightly and nods back at him. Nick does not notice the exchange between them. He is too busy looking at the woman.
The Bear and the beautiful Young Woman walk from the scene.
CLOSER
Jaime signals the Waiter. Jaime slips into speaking Spanish instead of Italian.
JAIME (CONT'D)
Dos Gallianos por favore.
The Waiter returns with two large brandy glasses filled with the green colored liquor. Jaime orders a pack of cigarettes from the Waiter.
JAIME (CONT'D)
(Speaks in English)
Cigarettes.
The Waiter sends a GIRL over. She carries a tray with different brands of cigarettes. Jaime picks out a pack of GAULOSIS and pays the girl.
INSERT - GAULOSIS
ANOTHER ANGLE
Jaime opens the pack, lights a cigarette and puffs out some smoke. He places the cigarette into an ashtray. Nick and Jaime sip the Galliano.
NICK
I haven't seen you smoke in a long time. Not even on the airplane.
JAIME
I took ten milligrams of Valium before I boarded the flight.
(Pause)
I need a smoke.
Jaime pickups the cigarette from the ashtray, slowly puts it in his mouth, inhales and blows out smoke.
CUT TO:
INT. HOTEL ROOM - QUATTRO FONTANI HOTEL - NIGHT
Jaime sits at the desk in front of the large