Sunday, October 24, 2010

Beyond the Flames courtroom drama



Hit and run: The Camdeboo region of the Great Karoo where
Boer guerrillas hid from British columns during the Anglo Boer War.
 
Below is an extract from the courtroom drama in my screenplay Beyond the Flames, loosely based on actual Boer War history (see picture below). It is on option with a producer in New York.


INT. COURTROOM -- DAY

Anton sits at the front of the table as Simon addresses the court.

SIMON

Your Honor, Mr. Potgieter was born in the Cape Colony before his family moved to the Orange Free State, where he became a citizen. He has worked as a journalist in Johannesburg and was employed at the Cape Town Chronicle at the time hostilities began. He was sent to the Free State to cover the rebellion there. He met and interviewed De Waal and then joined a British column to see the war from the British side, as a disciplined, professional journalist wanting to give the public a balanced view of events. We have brought his hearing forward in order that his suitability as a state witness in the case against Hermanus de Waal may be tested by the court. I submit that his evidence will be pivotal to the case.

PRESIDENT

Mr Watson?

WATSON

I have no objection, sir, if it advances the case against the accused, but the evidence led by my learned colleague should be watertight. All we have at this stage are the assertions of a man found under arms with De Waal, for all intents and purposes just another rebel who is now trying to get himself off the hook.

SIMON

Very well Your Honor, I would like to call Mr. Fred Hutchings, editor of the Cape Town Chronicle.


Hutchings is shown into the court and Anton stares at him, completely astonished. Hutchings looks around the room and catches Anton's eye. He takes the oath.

SIMON

Mr Hutchings, is the man at the table your war correspondent sent to the Orange Free State?

HUTCHINGS

He is.

SIMON

How long was he in your employ?


HUTCHINGS

He was transferred from a sister newspaper in Johannesburg at about the time of the outbreak of the war.

SIMON

As his editor, how did you find him?

HUTCHINGS

I found him independent-minded and capable, but I didn't like what I considered his pro-Boer sentiments and I didn't trust him. However, when the publisher decided he should go to the Free State, there was nothing I could do about it.

PRESIDENT



Mr. Simon, is this testimony for or against the prisoner?

SIMON

Apologies, Your Honour, we are getting to the point... Mr. Hutchings, were his dispatches from the front credible?

HUTCHINGS

Oh yes, they made good reading and sold many newspapers, especially the one alleging the imminent invasion of the Colony.

SIMON

(Aside) Which turned out to be accurate. Mr. Hutchings, are you aware that Potgieter's brother was in the same unit?

HUTCHINGS

Yes, I am.

SIMON

Do you think that had anything to do with his actions?

HUTCHINGS

I doubt it. Potgieter was never influenced by other people's opinions, I venture even his brother's.

SIMON

So, sir, you confirm that Potgieter was an excellent journalist, but that you continued to harbor distrust of him?

HUTCHINGS

Yes.

SIMON

So why are you here?

HUTCHINGS

His fiancée came to see me to plead for my support. At first I dismissed the idea with contempt, but then, with some consideration, I realized I had been mistaken - that this was a young man of great courage who was able to see both sides and put his principles before politics and prejudice, and was, after all, probably the type of person we will badly need in a newly unified South Africa when the war ends and Boer and Brit will have to work together. (Pause) Take his evidence seriously, he will tell you the truth.

Hutchings and Anton stare at one another.

No comments:

Post a Comment