The Final Dance: A script for a cinepoem
from THE FINAL DANCE: A script for a cinepoem
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2019
Summary
Fade in
Ext street - early morning
This is more of an alley than a street. Very filthy. There are bits of trash all over: cans, empty milk cartons and so on. There are two overflowing garbage cans, and another one fallen down, most of its contents gracing the street. A thin stream of dirty water runs down the street, past the garbage cans and out of the frame.
Closer angle - the fallen garbage can
There is a dog inside which causes the can to rock from side to side as it tries to select what is and is not worth eating. It finds some juicy morsel and, in its enthusiasm rocks the garbage can so much that it rolls and knocks against one of the upright garbage cans. The resulting clanking sound startles the dog which runs out of the garbage can.
Follow - DOG
It is scared to death and runs up the street whining.
Ext a shack - Same early morning
The shack is roughly built: a collage of wood, corrugated iron, cardboard and what have you. A narrow street passes in front of it and along the street runs the thin stream of dirty water we saw earlier. The running dog approaches, still whin- ing, and coils itself at the doorstep. It gives three barks, and an OLD MAN opens the door from inside. It walks into the shack.
Int the shack - same morning
The DOG walks in and the OLD MAN closes the door. The shack is sparsely furnished, mostly with makeshift furniture: a table, a bed, a conglomeration of boxes and a wheelbarrow. Although one can see that an attempt has been made to keep the room clean, it is too crammed to look neat. There is a pile of aluminium containers - mostly beverage cans - in one corner. The only sign of luxury in the whole room is a stereo set.
Closer angle - A CAT
It is peacefully sleeping under the makeshift table.
Resume - OLD MAN
He goes to the stereo and plays a record. It is Kabalevsky's 'Comedians’ Gallop'. He improvises a clownish dance and sweeps across the room to a dilapidated cabinet in the other corner.
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- And the Girls in their Sunday DressesFour Works, pp. 40 - 47Publisher: Wits University PressPrint publication year: 1993