ASHES FALL written by Eric Maran

blindpictures, inc. eric@blindpictures.com (604) 375-5363

Shooting Script REVISED August 24, 2006

COPYRIGHT (C) 2006, ERIC MARAN.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

INT. RELIEF SHELTER (AFRICA) -- AFTERNOON Paint peels from the concrete walls in the sweltering heat. Mosquito nets hang over cheap, metal-framed beds. The occasional patient rests on worn mattresses. Sun spills in through the curtained windows. The innocent eyes of an AFRICAN CHILD (2) watch curiously as JOANNA (30s), worn from caring, prepares a syringe. The child's MOTHER (mid 20s) sits calmly with her daughter in her lap. Behind them OWEN (30s), an African male nurse, tends to one of the bed-ridden patients. Joanna preps the child for the needle. at the pinch, but seems used to it. JOANNA How has she been lately? Alright. MOTHER She squirms slightly

JOANNA Has she been taking the tablets I gave you last time? Mother nods. Joanna suddenly remembers...

JOANNA (CONT'D) (to the child) I've got something for you. forgot.

I almost

Joanna places the disposable syringe in a metal tray and stands. She walks to the curtained-off back of the room, peeling off a glove. She picks up a worn teddy bear. The mother smiles gratefully as Joanna approaches. She hands the bear to the child. Her eyes widen at the foreign animal. JOANNA (CONT'D) He was mine when I was younger. We moved around a lot. He was the only friend that was there no matter where we moved to. The mother watches her child play contently with the bear. Na gode. Ba kome. MOTHER JOANNA

The mother picks her up. JOANNA (CONT'D) Her arm might be sore for a bit. Makes sure she drinks a lot of water. It should go away in a couple of days. She might also be a bit cranky. (to child) Go have a nap! (MORE)

JOANNA (CONT'D) (to mother) See you Thursday. Mother nods, smiling. Bye. Bye. MOTHER JOANNA

The mother carries the child past Owen, smiling as she passes. Owen acknowledges her. Joanna watches them leave, then exchanges a smile with Owen before he returns to his work. 2 INT. RELIEF SHELTER (AFRICA) -- CONTINUOUS Joanna picks up the used syringe with her gloved hand and walks to the back of the room. She tosses it into a disposal container and turns on the faucets of a large sink. She peels back the other glove and throws it into a nearby garbage can. She washes her hands. The sound of the running water is soothing. Owen finishes with one patient, and moves on to another. His care is obvious. Joanna rinses her hands, dries them on a towel, then heads back into the room, stopping at the first patient. She pulls on another pair of gloves. The lights in the room flicker as a LARGE RUMBLE reverberates through the room. Owen jumps up. Joanna looks to the door. JOANNA That sounded close. OWEN What was that? JOANNA Close the door. Owen rushes to the door and closes it. Joanna for answers. He turns, looking to 2

JOANNA (CONT'D) There's a lot of conflict in the area. It's better to not get involved. Owen glances up, noticing the lights are off. over to the switch and flicks it. Nothing. Power's out. OWEN He reaches

JOANNA When you get a chance, try and find some lanterns or something for later. Owen nods nervously, then walks over to a rustling PATIENT.

OWEN Everything is OK.

Go back to sleep. Joanna keeps an eye on him.

Owen glances back to the door.

She returns to her patient, forcing through the tense moment to finish up with them. Owen can't let it go. Owen. He walks over and opens the door. JOANNA

OWEN People might be hurt. JOANNA You could get hurt. Shut the door.

OWEN I'm just going to check it out. Owen slips out the open door. Owen! JOANNA It drifts shut behind him.

She turns around, frustrated, trying to focus on her work. She tucks her hair behind her ear and crosses the room. We wander off Joanna towards the front door. Sounds from outside slowly become clear - A CACOPHONY of CHAOS screaming, yelling, pain, car horns. All distant. Something horrible has happened and we're listening to it. 3 INT. RELIEF SHELTER (AFRICA) -- CONTINUOUS The front doors burst open as a BUSINESS MAN in a dress shirt (40s) rushes inside with Owen, carrying an unconscious WOMAN (30s). Her face is scratched. Joanna stands. JOANNA What happened? OWEN I... I don't know... half of the hotel is gone. What? JOANNA 3

BUSINESS MAN A car exploded beside it. JOANNA A car bomb? (beat) We're not equipped for this! OWEN We have to do what we can.

Owen and the Business Man carry the woman to an empty bed. Joanna rushes over and assesses her. Joanna turns as a U.N. PEACEKEEPER (20s), carrying his WOUNDED FRIEND (20s, also a peacekeeper), steps into the room. The wounded friend has a MEDIC PATCH on his shoulder. Behind them, a HUSBAND is helped through the door by his WIFE. Over here! OWEN (CONT'D)

Owen directs them to other empty beds. The peacekeeper carefully places his wounded friend onto the mattress. The wife helps her husband down onto a bed. A YOUNG MAN walks in, clutching his side. The Business Man helps him to a bed, then rushes back outside. Joanna hurries over to him, assessing him. Owen quickly assesses the husband, opening a package of gauze, holding it over the wound on the man's head. OWEN (CONT'D) (to wife) Hold this. Keep pressure on it. Owen rushes to the wounded friend. He looks down at his stomach... blood flows from between the man's fingers. Owen quickly cuts open the friend's shirt, exposing the wound. Owen's eyes widen - panicked. The wounded friend tries to look at the wound, but Owen blocks the friend's sight of the gash with gauze. Two AFRICAN MEN carry a BLEEDING MAN into the room. Joanna looks up from the young man as they enter, overwhelmed by the chaos for a second, then directs them to a bed. The men head outside as Joanna moves to the bleeding man. His thigh is torn open. He bleeds heavily. She starts to work on his leg. Joanna! OWEN (CONT'D)

Joanna turns to Owen, his eyes are wide. JOANNA (re: bleeding man) Get him on an IV. His leg is broken. Kid has a few cracked ribs but it's clear. Owen and Joanna trade places. She hurries over to the wounded friend, who slips in and out of consciousness. Joanna quickly checks his vitals and looks over the friend's wounds. She raises the bloodied gauze and takes a look. She looks up at the Peacekeeper. They share a look.

No.

PEACEKEEPER

JOANNA I'm sorry. I don't- I don't think there's anything I can do. PEACEKEEPER Do something. OWEN Joanna! (re: bleeding man) He's not doing well. Joanna starts to move in their direction when the Peacekeeper grabs her by the arm. She looks down at it shocked. JOANNA You have to let me go. I have to help that man. If I don't, he's going to die. If I try and save your friend, they're both going to die. (beat) I can't help your friend. Joanna looks back at him with sympathetic eyes. JOANNA (CONT'D) I'm so sorry. The Peacekeeper looks at her, reading her. Joanna's eyes drift down to the Peacekeeper's shoulder - a large piece of wood is embedded in it. JOANNA (CONT'D) You should sit down. I'm fine. PEACEKEEPER

JOANNA If you don't sit down, you could faint. If you faint, I can't deal with you. She opens a package of gauze and holds it to the Peacekeeper's shoulder, careful of the wood. JOANNA (CONT'D) So sit down, and hold this! Joanna! OWEN

The Peacekeeper stares at her a moment, then tightens up, pushing his emotions back inside, regathering strength, nods. Joanna looks down at the wounded friend, who is conscious and watching them. She looks back helplessly, then heads over to help Owen. The Peacekeeper sits, leaning to his friend, who looks terrified. The Peacekeeper holds his hand, comforting him.

The wounded friend shakes, in shock. He glances down at the bloody gauze on his stomach, and the pile of soaked gauze on the bed beside him. WOUNDED FRIEND It's bad, isn't it. It's fine. PEACEKEEPER

WOUNDED FRIEND Let me see it. Wounded friend holds his look. The Peacekeeper carefully pulls back the gauze, fights his emotions. Shit. WOUNDED FRIEND (CONT'D)

The Business Man bursts back into the room with another WOMAN. Owen sees him coming and rushes over to him. He checks her vitals, pausing. He looks down at the woman, lost for words. OWEN She's already dead. What? She's dead. Owen reads the man. OWEN (CONT'D) (pointing) You can put her on that bed... Owen pauses, then sees Joanna struggling with the bleeding man. He rushes back to her. The Business man, exhausted and confused, sits down on the floor with the dead body in his lap. He looks down at it, not sure what to do with her. Joanna and Owen work feverishly to try and save the bleeding man. The Business man gets up in the background and wanders outside, leaving the body sitting on the floor by the door. The wounded friend looks up at the Peacekeeper, noticing the shrapnel sticking out of his shoulder. WOUNDED FRIEND (weakly) Does that hurt? No. PEACEKEEPER BUSINESS MAN OWEN

The wounded friend nods. Owen carefully sets up an IV in the bleeding man's arm. The Peacekeeper looks down at his friend's hand. stills. He looks up at him. His shaking

The wounded friend's eyes are glazed over. looks down at him, fighting tears.

The Peacekeeper

We sit with him a moment while Joanna and Owen work up a frenzy on the bleeding man in the background. 4 INT. RELIEF SHELTER (AFRICA) -- DUSK The room is softly lit by a handful of lanterns and candles placed around the room. The wife strikes a match, carefully lighting a lantern that sits on the desk. The Peacekeeper is sitting on a bed with his shirt off. Owen patches the wound on his shoulder. The Peacekeeper stares into the space in front of him. Owen helps the man's arm into a sling. Wife walks to a shelf and turns on a BATTERY-POWERED RADIO. Joanna walks over to the bleeding man and checks his vitals. She turns and walks towards the back of the room, passing Owen and the Peacekeeper. JOANNA (to Owen) Breathing and heart rate are okay. Keep an eye on him. Owen nods. The Peacekeeper watches her pass. 4

Joanna steps behind the curtain and up to the sink. She pulls off her gloves. She scrubs her hands vigorously. She turns the faucet off, grabs a towel and steps back, sitting down in a chair. She looks at the floor, wiping at teary eyes. The peacekeeper puts his shirt on and picks up his WALKIETALKIE from his pile of stuff on the floor. PEACEKEEPER (into walkie) Bravo 10He looks down at the radio. He presses the button again. Nothing. He follows the cord along to the base unit, but stops at a slice in the cord. Shit. PEACEKEEPER (CONT'D) Joanna

The Peacekeeper crosses the room to his dead friend. turns and watches him.

The Peacekeeper slips his hand into his friend's jacket pocket, pulling out a photo - a picture of the man's family. He flips it over, looking at the address on the back, then pockets the photo. He fights his emotions. Joanna stands, walking quietly towards the Peacekeeper as he packs his stuff. She reaches forward, touching him lightly.

I'm sorry.

JOANNA

The Peacekeeper turns his head, but doesn't make eye contact. Joanna speaks very softly to him. PEACEKEEPER I'm going for help. JOANNA I did what I had to. Owen carries a sheet over to the dead body by the door, covering it. He stands, pausing, unable to look away. JOANNA (CONT'D) I would've lost them both. A soft sobbing gets Owen's attention. He turns to the room. The wife cries by her husband. Owen walks over to her, past Joanna and the Peacekeeper. She looks up as he approaches. He's gone. WIFE He

Owen looks down at the man, reaching to check his pulse. looks at the wife, who bursts further into tears. OWEN He's gone to a much better place. Owen steps away from her, giving her space. The unconscious woman stirs, her eyes slowly opening. talks softly. WOMAN I can't hear what you're saying. Did you hear that? Basi?

She

She looks around the room, confused. Her eyes wander the wounded and the dead, looking for somebody. She looks surprised to be where she is. Owen walks over to her. WOMAN (CONT'D) Where did Basi go? Did you see where he went? Owen glances around the room. OWEN He's not here. (beat) What's your name? He checks her pupils. OWEN (CONT'D) Do you know where you are?

She shakes her head. The woman is extremely upset. Her eyes dart desperately around the room, falling on the bleeding man - her eyes widen. No, no. WOMAN Why is he here? She points at

Owen struggles to calm and understand her. the bleeding man. WOMAN (CONT'D) Why is HE HERE?! Let me go!

Joanna and the Peacekeeper turn to see what the commotion is all about. Owen turns to Joanna, who stands and joins him. Owen pulls her into the back, curtained-off area. in a heated whisper. The Peacekeeper occasionally glances up at them. attention moves to the panicked woman. You. WOMAN (CONT'D) Come here! They talk His

She frantically waves the Peacekeeper over. Joanna's brow tightens, she turns to look at the bleeding man, but sees the Peacekeeper walking towards the woman. Oh God. JOANNA

Joanna rushes over to the Peacekeeper. The woman tries hard to communicate with him. The Peacekeeper doesn't understand. JOANNA (CONT'D) She's disoriented... she doesn't know what she's saying... The Peacekeeper takes a step back, but is still focused on the panicked woman. She struggles with her English. WOMAN ...his car... JOANNA We shouldn't crowd her. WOMAN ...he got out... What? PEACEKEEPER

JOANNA (to woman) You're getting yourself all worked up. You need to calm down! PEACEKEEPER What is she saying?

JOANNA It's nothing. WOMAN He blew up the car. The room goes silent. The Peacekeeper's eyes dart to the bleeding man, who looks back with groggy eyes. Joanna watches the Peacekeeper carefully. and touches his arm. 5 INT. RELIEF SHELTER (AFRICA) -- CONTINUOUS The Peacekeeper's training kicks in, he writhes out of his sling, wincing in pain. PEACEKEEPER I'm placing you under arrest. JOANNA What are you doing?! The Peacekeeper approaches the man quickly, reaching for his belt. He pulls out a pair of ZAP-STRAPS. He quickly moves to the bleeding man, strapping his arms to the metal framed bed. JOANNA (CONT'D) (to Owen) Go get help! Take her with you. Owen heads towards the door, pausing beside the wife. pulls back towards her husband. OWEN It isn't safe! We must go find help. He pulls her outside. with accusing eyes. The Peacekeeper stares down the man She She reaches forward 5

JOANNA Calm down, please! He's not going anywhere on that leg. He paces in front of the man's bed, holding his arm up. JOANNA (CONT'D) We don't even know if he did anything! She's got a concussion. Her judgment and her vision are still affected. I saw him. WOMAN

The Peacekeeper's eyes dart from the woman to Joanna, and back to the bleeding man, who's a bit out of it still. The man looks back at the Peacekeeper, holding his stare. He lets out the faintest of smiles. The Peacekeeper explodes, rushing to the window sill. grabs the FM radio and places it on the man's chest. He

He searches the stations, finding one reporting the bombing, cranks the volume and turns it towards the bleeding man. NEWS ANCHOR (V.O.) ...Extensive damage to the prominent 150-year-old hotel. At least 18 have been reported dead so far, and the rescue teams are still working... The man continues to look back at the Peacekeeper, remaining silent. The woman reacts to the number of reported dead. She shuffles, trying to get out of the bed. Joanna rushes over to the woman, softly restraining her. She squirms in her hands, repeating the name: WOMAN (to herself, crying) Basi... no, Basi... Joanna rushes over to the woman. She grabs a syringe and a vial from a nearby table. The woman fights back a bit, MUMBLING through her crying. She carefully injects the woman, keeping an eye on the Peacekeeper. The woman's eyes droop. PEACEKEEPER What is she saying? BLEEDING MAN She's saying that her husband is dead because of me. She says God will punish me for what I've done. Joanna and the Peacekeeper turn to the bleeding man. He will. Who's God? PEACEKEEPER BLEEDING MAN Your God? Or my God?

The Peacekeeper grits his teeth. BLEEDING MAN (CONT'D) I understand why your country does what it does. It's about looking out for the best interests of your people. Family. Friends. (beat) I understand this. I did this for my family. For my friends. Just like you would have. JOANNA (to the bleeding man) Stop talking! PEACEKEEPER (to Joanna) You should have let him die.

The Peacekeeper fights his emotions, looking away from the bleeding man. JOANNA (to the Peacekeeper) I did what I had to! NEWS ANCHOR (V.O.) ...Debare Oshodi, a leader in the council, who was attending a conference in the hotel, was rushed to a local hospital with minor injuries... 6 INT. RELIEF SHELTER (AFRICA) -- CONTINUOUS The man's face changes. eyes go distant. He looks down at the sheets, his 6

NEWS ANCHOR (V.O.)(CONT'D) ... police suspect the bombing could have been an attempted assassination on the council members attending the conference... The Peacekeeper notices his reaction. You failed. PEACEKEEPER Joanna

The bleeding man's eyes dart up to the Peacekeeper. eyes move from man to man. PEACEKEEPER (CONT'D) All those deaths for nothing. BLEEDING MAN They still got the message. Did they? PEACEKEEPER

BLEEDING MAN Your friend did. The Peacekeeper grits his teeth. JOANNA What are you doing?! The gun comes out. Put it away!

PEACEKEEPER He fucking did it. Don't! JOANNA

BLEEDING MAN And I would kill hundreds more if I had to. The safety gets flicked off. Don't! JOANNA

Shoot him. Shoot me.

WOMAN BLEEDING MAN

JOANNA You're a peacekeeper. Fuck that. PEACEKEEPER

JOANNA He wants you to. Do it. Shoot him! BLEEDING MAN WOMAN

Tears roll down the Peacekeeper's face. He clenches his teeth. Joanna extends her hand for the gun. The Peacekeeper's eyes burn as he stares down the man. BLEEDING MAN (through his teeth) Do it. The barrel wavers in the Peacekeeper's shaking hands. squeezes his eyes shut, the looks to the sky. He

The Peacekeeper starts to cry, lowering the gun. Joanna steps towards him, taking the pistol from his hands. The bleeding man looks away - defeated. Joanna holds the gun nervously, her hands shaking. The Peacekeeper steps back, sitting on the rail of his friend's bed, crying. 7 INT. RELIEF SHELTER (AFRICA) -- CONTINUOUS The door opens behind them. Owen steps into the room, his eyes scanning the chaos. Joanna glances up. Owen has a knowing look on his face. Joanna's eyes fall to his hand - that holds the TEDDY BEAR charred black. Joanna's eyes go wide. Owen fights tears. Joanna breaks down, crying. We hold on her as she goes through it all. Hurt. Anger. Confusion. The Peacekeeper looks away. Joanna's breathing steadies, then the gun goes up. BANG. The round pierces the man's chest. Blood swells under his shirt. The man looks at Joanna, his eyes glazing over, his body limp. Joanna's head hangs, her eyes squeezed tight, crying. The Peacekeeper reaches over and takes his pistol from Joanna's limp hands, holstering it. He bends down and picks up the empty shell. 7

He reaches forward and places into Joanna's. She stares down at it with tear-filled eyes - it rolls across her palm. Owen stands there, shocked, unable to move. the dead man, then at Joanna. He stares at

The Peacekeeper turns and walks over to his dead friend. He reaches up and removes his friend's dog tags. He looks at them for a moment before he slips them into his pocket. He walks to the front door and opens it, stepping outside. The door slowly drifts shut behind him as he walks away. Joanna kneels on the ground, emotionally wrecked. up at the people in the room, almost all bodies. We sit with her for a moment, then: CUT TO BLACK. THE END. She looks