Sambalanga by James Cage
full magazine in your rifle?
JAIME
Yes.
Johnny hands Jaime two more thirty round magazines for the AK47 rifle.
CUT TO:
EXT. PLANTATION - DAWN
VARIOUS ANGLES
It is daybreak. The sky is covered in fire and smoke. The sun begins to rise in the East. Jaime and The Bear are crouched behind a vehicle.
Luke and Johnny are in a forward position. They stand behind a Jeep for cover.
The battle rages on as the advancing Revolutionary Soldiers meticulously kill the Portuguese Soldiers. Rapid bursts of machine gun fire continue.
The big Cook runs from the main house carrying a rifle. He is hit and goes down. The Cook is dead.
The Bear looks at Jaime.
THE BEAR
These are seasoned Cuban Revolutionary troops, as well as Africans attacking us. Aim at the group of Soldiers coming down that hill.
The Bear points his finger at the hill. Jaime aims the rifle.
THE BEAR (CONT'D)
Take one shot at a time. Hit your target.
SCOPE POV
Jaime and The Bear fire, the attacking Cuban soldiers are killed one at a time.
SOUNDS are TAT, TAT; TAT, TAT.
Another Angle
Luke and Johnny also have success shooting the Revolutionaries.
VARIOUS ANGLES
Everyone switches magazines. Rifle firing continues.
Even though The Bear, Jaime, Luke and Johnny kill many Revolutionary Soldiers, the large numbers of Revolutionaries overwhelm the plantation. Almost all the Portuguese Soldiers are killed. The Cubans and African forces move forward.
Jaime looks at The Bear.
JAIME
I have only four shots left.
THE BEAR
We have to run for the main house.
The Bear signals Luke and Johnny.
EXT. MAIN PLANTATION HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
VARIOUS ANGLES
Luke and Johnny run for the house. The Bear and Jaime take off a few meters behind them.
SOUND of a mortar shell BLAST. Luke and Johnny are hit. They are dead. Their bodies lie next to the dead Cook.
Jaime freezes in his tracks. Bloody body parts are strewn all over the place.
The Bear taps Jaime on the shoulder and they keep moving. They reach the front door of the main house and enter.
INT. MAIN PLANTATION HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
MOVING
Jaime follows The Bear through the house, down the stairs into the wine cellar.
INT. WINE CELLAR - MOMENTS LATER
The Bear grabs a bottle of Portuguese Port wine from a wine rack. He puts the bottle in Jaime's backpack.
They walk to a hidden door behind another wine rack. The Bear presses a panel and opens the door. The door leads to a tunnel.
THE BEAR
Run through the tunnel, Jaime.
Jaime flies through the door into the tunnel. The Bear follows. As the door closes, a gigantic BOMB BLASTS the main plantation house above.
INT. TUNNEL - MOMENTS LATER
Jaime and The Bear are inside a tunnel illuminated by kerosene lamps. The tunnel runs for a long distance.
THE BEAR
Senor Cunha had this tunnel built for an emergency like this.
Jaime and the Bear keep moving.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. BANK OF A RIVER - A LITTLE LATER
VARIOUS ANGLES
Jaime and The Bear stand at the riverbank.
THE BEAR
Give me your backpack.
Jaime removes his backpack.
The Bear pulls out the bottle of Port Wine and places it on the ground. He takes Jaime's revolver from the backpack and flings it into the river.
Jaime hands The Bear his rifle.
The Bear throws Jaime's rifle into the river. The Bear removes his shouldered rifle and throws that into the water.
The Bear keeps his Colt Commander pistol in his belt holster.
The Bear pulls out a Swiss army knife and uses the cork screw. He removes the cork from the bottle of port wine. He takes a long drink and hands the bottle to Jaime. Jaime drinks the wine.
THE BEAR (CONT'D)
There is a small airfield three kilometers up the river. Senor Cunha will be there with an airplane. Take another swig of port.
Jaime takes another drink and hands the bottle back to The Bear. The Bear has another long swallow of wine then tosses the empty bottle into the river.
SKY POV
The entire Plantation burns in the background.
CUT TO:
EXT. SMALL AIRFIELD RUNWAY - LATER IN THE DAY
VARIOUS ANGLES
There is a single engine aircraft. The propeller is running with the PILOT in the cockpit. SENOR ANTONIO CUNHA is standing outside the plane.
Senor Cunha waves to The Bear and Jaime. The Bear and Jaime run to the aircraft. As the three men board the airplane, The Bear speaks to Senor Cunha.
THE BEAR
The Cook, Luke and Johnny didn't make it. Your Portuguese soldiers have been killed.
Senor Cunha says nothing and closes the airplane door. The plane takes off.
EXT. SKY POV
In the distance, smoke bellows into the sky from the burning plantation.
INT. SMALL AIRPLANE - DUSK
Jaime wearily stares out the airplane window.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TRATTORIA - ROME, ITALY - EVENING
TITLE CARD: ROME, ITALY - THURSDAY DECEMBER 9, 1971 - SIX DAYS LATER
The Trattoria is located on a side street near the Treve Fountain. The Bear and Jaime have just finished dinner. They drink espresso.
THE BEAR
I'll be leaving for Paris tomorrow. Are you sure you don't want to come with me?
JAIME
No. I want to go home. I like New York City during Christmas.
THE BEAR
It's not Christmas for two weeks. I can show you Paris. The French ladies are lovely.
JAIME
Thanks, but I'm homesick.
THE BEAR
I have your plane ticket for you. You can go home tomorrow.
JAIME
Great.
THE BEAR
You're a good soldier, Jaime. When do you want to work again?
JAIME
Not for a while. I need to get over seeing the Cook, Johnny and Luke being blown away.
THE BEAR
I'll have Sergio contact you in a couple of months. I want you and Sergio to work together.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - MOMENTS LATER
The Bear and Jaime walk by a Cinema.
ANOTHER ANGLE
The Cinema MARQUEE has the actor's name, "UGO TOGNAZZI" and the film "VENGA A PRENDERE IL CAFE? DA NOI" in bright lights.
The Bear glances at the marquee.
THE BEAR
Have you seen that movie? Ugo Tognazzi is a great actor.
JAIME
I saw the movie this afternoon. It was really funny.
CUT TO:
INT. JAIME'S HOTEL ROOM - HOTEL QUATTRO FONTANI- LATER THAT NIGHT
KNOCK at the door.
JAIME
Come in.
VARIOUS ANGLES
The Bear walks into the room.
THE BEAR
Here is your airplane ticket. You leave early tomorrow. It is first class Pan American from Rome to Kennedy Airport. You'll be home tomorrow night.
The Bear gives Jaime the ticket.
JAIME
Thanks.
THE BEAR
Here is something extra for you. Senor Cunha wanted you to have this.
The Bear hands Jaime an envelope. There is a check for twenty thousand dollars. Jaime looks at the check.
JAIME
This check is for twenty thousand dollars. That is an extra ten thousand.
THE BEAR
Yeah, Tony Cunha was very appreciative of th
e work you did with his children.
JAIME
Tell Senor Cunha thanks.
THE BEAR
I shall.
They shake hands. The Bear leaves the hotel room.
Jaime goes to the window and stares out.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. JAIME'S BEDROOM - GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - DAWN
TITLE CARD: JULY 4, 1976 - GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - FIVE YEARS LATER
Jaime, now twenty-seven years old, asleep in bed, wakes up startled. He is an American medical student studying in Mexico.
JAIME
Aaah!
Jaime rubs his face, looks around the room and composes himself. He leaps out of bed.
Jaime is lean and muscular from years of weight training and exercise. He exits the bedroom into the bathroom. The sound of a shower is heard.
EXT. STREET - GUADALAJARA - THAT EVENING
It is early evening, dusk. It is the middle of the rainy season a hot, muggy July Saturday night.
Jaime exits a movie theater. As he walks away, the Marquee TEATRO REFORMA is shown. The name of the movie and actor, VENGA A TOMAR UNA TAZA DE CAFE CON NOSOTROS, con UGO TOGNAZZI are displayed in Spanish.
VARIOUS ANGLES
Jaime strolls down the street moderately crowded with Mexicans. He is a little tense. His eyes watch everything. Jaime blends into the streets of Guadalajara.
The background MUSIC is MEXICAN RANCHERO.
Jaime passes half a dozen men eating tacos at a typical street cart. A joker has lightly scribbled CARNE DE PERRO on the side of the cart.
Jaime smiles a little. He stops at the street corner SIGN, REFORMA and AVENIDA MUNGIA. Many cars drive by.
EXT. STREET - GUADALAJARA - MOMENTS LATER
A brown 1972 Volkswagon Beetle with California license plates pulls up and a voice shouts.
TOM (V.O.)
Jaime.
TOM JENNER, the driver of the Volkswagon, sticks his head out the window. He makes a quick U-turn and pulls the car in front of Jaime.
Jaime opens the door and gets in.
INT. TOM'S VOLKSWAGON - NIGHT
Tom Jenner is also an American medical student studying in Mexico. He is in his early thirties. He is large in height and weight. He has dark eyes and brown hair. Tom is working his way through medical school by selling marijuana to the American community in Guadalajara. Tom is arrogant and sure of himself.
TOM
(Midwestern accent)
Jaime, what do you know about cocaine?
JAIME
Not too much, Tom.
American Rock and Roll Music plays on the radio.
EXT. STREET - GUADALAJARA - NIGHT
Tom drives the VW through traffic down Avenida La Paz, spins the car around the FIRE-EATER in the middle of the road, cuts a right turn, then
JAIME
Yes.
Johnny hands Jaime two more thirty round magazines for the AK47 rifle.
CUT TO:
EXT. PLANTATION - DAWN
VARIOUS ANGLES
It is daybreak. The sky is covered in fire and smoke. The sun begins to rise in the East. Jaime and The Bear are crouched behind a vehicle.
Luke and Johnny are in a forward position. They stand behind a Jeep for cover.
The battle rages on as the advancing Revolutionary Soldiers meticulously kill the Portuguese Soldiers. Rapid bursts of machine gun fire continue.
The big Cook runs from the main house carrying a rifle. He is hit and goes down. The Cook is dead.
The Bear looks at Jaime.
THE BEAR
These are seasoned Cuban Revolutionary troops, as well as Africans attacking us. Aim at the group of Soldiers coming down that hill.
The Bear points his finger at the hill. Jaime aims the rifle.
THE BEAR (CONT'D)
Take one shot at a time. Hit your target.
SCOPE POV
Jaime and The Bear fire, the attacking Cuban soldiers are killed one at a time.
SOUNDS are TAT, TAT; TAT, TAT.
Another Angle
Luke and Johnny also have success shooting the Revolutionaries.
VARIOUS ANGLES
Everyone switches magazines. Rifle firing continues.
Even though The Bear, Jaime, Luke and Johnny kill many Revolutionary Soldiers, the large numbers of Revolutionaries overwhelm the plantation. Almost all the Portuguese Soldiers are killed. The Cubans and African forces move forward.
Jaime looks at The Bear.
JAIME
I have only four shots left.
THE BEAR
We have to run for the main house.
The Bear signals Luke and Johnny.
EXT. MAIN PLANTATION HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
VARIOUS ANGLES
Luke and Johnny run for the house. The Bear and Jaime take off a few meters behind them.
SOUND of a mortar shell BLAST. Luke and Johnny are hit. They are dead. Their bodies lie next to the dead Cook.
Jaime freezes in his tracks. Bloody body parts are strewn all over the place.
The Bear taps Jaime on the shoulder and they keep moving. They reach the front door of the main house and enter.
INT. MAIN PLANTATION HOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
MOVING
Jaime follows The Bear through the house, down the stairs into the wine cellar.
INT. WINE CELLAR - MOMENTS LATER
The Bear grabs a bottle of Portuguese Port wine from a wine rack. He puts the bottle in Jaime's backpack.
They walk to a hidden door behind another wine rack. The Bear presses a panel and opens the door. The door leads to a tunnel.
THE BEAR
Run through the tunnel, Jaime.
Jaime flies through the door into the tunnel. The Bear follows. As the door closes, a gigantic BOMB BLASTS the main plantation house above.
INT. TUNNEL - MOMENTS LATER
Jaime and The Bear are inside a tunnel illuminated by kerosene lamps. The tunnel runs for a long distance.
THE BEAR
Senor Cunha had this tunnel built for an emergency like this.
Jaime and the Bear keep moving.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. BANK OF A RIVER - A LITTLE LATER
VARIOUS ANGLES
Jaime and The Bear stand at the riverbank.
THE BEAR
Give me your backpack.
Jaime removes his backpack.
The Bear pulls out the bottle of Port Wine and places it on the ground. He takes Jaime's revolver from the backpack and flings it into the river.
Jaime hands The Bear his rifle.
The Bear throws Jaime's rifle into the river. The Bear removes his shouldered rifle and throws that into the water.
The Bear keeps his Colt Commander pistol in his belt holster.
The Bear pulls out a Swiss army knife and uses the cork screw. He removes the cork from the bottle of port wine. He takes a long drink and hands the bottle to Jaime. Jaime drinks the wine.
THE BEAR (CONT'D)
There is a small airfield three kilometers up the river. Senor Cunha will be there with an airplane. Take another swig of port.
Jaime takes another drink and hands the bottle back to The Bear. The Bear has another long swallow of wine then tosses the empty bottle into the river.
SKY POV
The entire Plantation burns in the background.
CUT TO:
EXT. SMALL AIRFIELD RUNWAY - LATER IN THE DAY
VARIOUS ANGLES
There is a single engine aircraft. The propeller is running with the PILOT in the cockpit. SENOR ANTONIO CUNHA is standing outside the plane.
Senor Cunha waves to The Bear and Jaime. The Bear and Jaime run to the aircraft. As the three men board the airplane, The Bear speaks to Senor Cunha.
THE BEAR
The Cook, Luke and Johnny didn't make it. Your Portuguese soldiers have been killed.
Senor Cunha says nothing and closes the airplane door. The plane takes off.
EXT. SKY POV
In the distance, smoke bellows into the sky from the burning plantation.
INT. SMALL AIRPLANE - DUSK
Jaime wearily stares out the airplane window.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. TRATTORIA - ROME, ITALY - EVENING
TITLE CARD: ROME, ITALY - THURSDAY DECEMBER 9, 1971 - SIX DAYS LATER
The Trattoria is located on a side street near the Treve Fountain. The Bear and Jaime have just finished dinner. They drink espresso.
THE BEAR
I'll be leaving for Paris tomorrow. Are you sure you don't want to come with me?
JAIME
No. I want to go home. I like New York City during Christmas.
THE BEAR
It's not Christmas for two weeks. I can show you Paris. The French ladies are lovely.
JAIME
Thanks, but I'm homesick.
THE BEAR
I have your plane ticket for you. You can go home tomorrow.
JAIME
Great.
THE BEAR
You're a good soldier, Jaime. When do you want to work again?
JAIME
Not for a while. I need to get over seeing the Cook, Johnny and Luke being blown away.
THE BEAR
I'll have Sergio contact you in a couple of months. I want you and Sergio to work together.
CUT TO:
EXT. STREET - MOMENTS LATER
The Bear and Jaime walk by a Cinema.
ANOTHER ANGLE
The Cinema MARQUEE has the actor's name, "UGO TOGNAZZI" and the film "VENGA A PRENDERE IL CAFE? DA NOI" in bright lights.
The Bear glances at the marquee.
THE BEAR
Have you seen that movie? Ugo Tognazzi is a great actor.
JAIME
I saw the movie this afternoon. It was really funny.
CUT TO:
INT. JAIME'S HOTEL ROOM - HOTEL QUATTRO FONTANI- LATER THAT NIGHT
KNOCK at the door.
JAIME
Come in.
VARIOUS ANGLES
The Bear walks into the room.
THE BEAR
Here is your airplane ticket. You leave early tomorrow. It is first class Pan American from Rome to Kennedy Airport. You'll be home tomorrow night.
The Bear gives Jaime the ticket.
JAIME
Thanks.
THE BEAR
Here is something extra for you. Senor Cunha wanted you to have this.
The Bear hands Jaime an envelope. There is a check for twenty thousand dollars. Jaime looks at the check.
JAIME
This check is for twenty thousand dollars. That is an extra ten thousand.
THE BEAR
Yeah, Tony Cunha was very appreciative of th
JAIME
Tell Senor Cunha thanks.
THE BEAR
I shall.
They shake hands. The Bear leaves the hotel room.
Jaime goes to the window and stares out.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. JAIME'S BEDROOM - GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - DAWN
TITLE CARD: JULY 4, 1976 - GUADALAJARA, MEXICO - FIVE YEARS LATER
Jaime, now twenty-seven years old, asleep in bed, wakes up startled. He is an American medical student studying in Mexico.
JAIME
Aaah!
Jaime rubs his face, looks around the room and composes himself. He leaps out of bed.
Jaime is lean and muscular from years of weight training and exercise. He exits the bedroom into the bathroom. The sound of a shower is heard.
EXT. STREET - GUADALAJARA - THAT EVENING
It is early evening, dusk. It is the middle of the rainy season a hot, muggy July Saturday night.
Jaime exits a movie theater. As he walks away, the Marquee TEATRO REFORMA is shown. The name of the movie and actor, VENGA A TOMAR UNA TAZA DE CAFE CON NOSOTROS, con UGO TOGNAZZI are displayed in Spanish.
VARIOUS ANGLES
Jaime strolls down the street moderately crowded with Mexicans. He is a little tense. His eyes watch everything. Jaime blends into the streets of Guadalajara.
The background MUSIC is MEXICAN RANCHERO.
Jaime passes half a dozen men eating tacos at a typical street cart. A joker has lightly scribbled CARNE DE PERRO on the side of the cart.
Jaime smiles a little. He stops at the street corner SIGN, REFORMA and AVENIDA MUNGIA. Many cars drive by.
EXT. STREET - GUADALAJARA - MOMENTS LATER
A brown 1972 Volkswagon Beetle with California license plates pulls up and a voice shouts.
TOM (V.O.)
Jaime.
TOM JENNER, the driver of the Volkswagon, sticks his head out the window. He makes a quick U-turn and pulls the car in front of Jaime.
Jaime opens the door and gets in.
INT. TOM'S VOLKSWAGON - NIGHT
Tom Jenner is also an American medical student studying in Mexico. He is in his early thirties. He is large in height and weight. He has dark eyes and brown hair. Tom is working his way through medical school by selling marijuana to the American community in Guadalajara. Tom is arrogant and sure of himself.
TOM
(Midwestern accent)
Jaime, what do you know about cocaine?
JAIME
Not too much, Tom.
American Rock and Roll Music plays on the radio.
EXT. STREET - GUADALAJARA - NIGHT
Tom drives the VW through traffic down Avenida La Paz, spins the car around the FIRE-EATER in the middle of the road, cuts a right turn, then