Christine, Edward, and the Cube
Hippopotamus Migration in Africa
.
Gabby Holden (mvgabby@yahoo.com)
Joy Grainge (j.grange@worldnet.att.net)
The Umbrella of Temptations
.
Treatment
Mr. Kiong, a prosperous middle-aged, not completely upright businessman is walkiing down an Olympian street. Jai Fu, a loud, young street vendor, catches Mr. King's attention. He is interested in what Jai Fu is selling, Jai Fu opens and twirls an umbrella, talking, which confuses Mr. King. Suddenly a loud noise occurs off screen, and 8 dancing characters that represent a few of life's temptations emerge from behind a large umbrella. Acting out their roles, trying to tempt Mr. King are 8 Temptations, a prostitute, a junkie, three gamblers, a wealthy woman, a food addict, and a teen obsessed with technology.
Cast List
Jai Fu- a young, shifty, flamboyant, loud, charismatic wanderer selling goods at a street booth.
Mr. King- a well off, nicely dressed, middle aged businessman who is decent but not completely upright.
Temptations-
a prostitute-heavy make-up, messed up hair, jewelry, black lingerie, red heels, short faux fur coat.
junkie- a greasy, raggedy, umkempt, thin man with needle and ddrug paraphernalia.
gamblers- three colorfully, flamboyantly dressed men with wads of money, one with a greasy black mustache, playing craps.
wealth- a haughty, yet elegantly coiffured woamn in her mid-40's with expensive jewelry, clothes and large purse dispalying her credit cards ostentatiously.
food addict- a gluttonous, overweight, disheveled male pastry chef carrying a tray of pasteries with candy and other treats falling out of his pockets.
techno-teen - a teenage boy focused on his technology plays with a game boy with headphones, his cell phone, a pager, a hand held computer, and a high tech watch.
.
Screenplay
EXT-OLYMPIA STREET-DAY
Jai Fu, The Trickster, is standing at his vending table hawking his wares to passers-by. Mr. King, a businessman, interested in what Jai Fu is saying, stops to see what he is selling.
JAI FU (twirling umbrella)
In Seattle we have something called the "Umbrella of Temptations".
MR. KING (stopping)
What is it?
JAI FU (nods head camera right)
You open that umbrella and many temptations come out.
MR. KING (looking off screen)
What do you mean? I don’t understand?
JAI FU
Just a second,man. I have an umbrella being opened over there.
(points towards umbrella)
You’ll see what I mean…
There is a lound sound off screen. A large umbrella twirls with smoke swirling around it. Out from behind the umbrella eight Temptations emerge dancing quickly towards and around Mr. King, acting out their roles of a Prostitute, 3 gamblers, a junkie, a wealthy woman, a food addict, and a teen techno –junkie.
MR. KING (looking with wonderment)
Ah! So beautiful!
(A pause)
But how does this dance end?
(Hopeful and amazed)
Or can it continue?
JAI FU
It ends like this!
Jai Fu signals to the Temptations who seize, bind, and gag Mr. King. They carry him off screen right and return. Mr King then returns, unbound and free from off screen right.
MR. KING (looking amazed)
Wow! Very clever. Now, tell me, do these temptations come from many plays in life?
Jai Fu nods yes
MR. KING
Bring on the plays then! I want to see them, Minority Nationalities, Underground Army, Blad Gark. Keep the temptations and bring on the plays.
The Temptations rush over to Mr. King
TEMPTATIONS
But we are merely aspects of life’s plays.
MR. KING
No matter!
(to Jai Fu)
Keep the Temptations here.
JAI FU (nods head)
So shall it be!
Jai Fu herds the Temptations into the dead end alley next to his booth, locking them up. The Temptations noisily protest while Jai Fu and Mr. King begin to barter and haggle over them.
.
CONTINUITY SCRIPT
.
1. MS: Side view of Jai Fu at his booth on sidewalk. Mr. King is out of focus walking towards Jai Fu and camera, slowly coming into focus as he nears Jai Fu.
2. MCU: Side shot of both men.
3. CU: Jai Fu twirls umbrella while talking about it.
JAI FU: In Seattle we have something called the "Umbrella of Temptations."
4. CU: Mr. King stops.
MR. KING: What is it?
5. CU: Jai Fu nods his head camera right.
JAI FU: You open up that umbrella , and many temptations come out.
6. CU: Mr. King looking off to screen rightMR. KING: What do you mean? I don’t understand?
7. MS: Jai Fu
JAI FU: Just a second man. I have an umbrella being opened over there.
Points right. Pan right to umbrella.
JAI FU: You’ll see what I mean…
Crashing sound off-screen
8. CU: Umbrella twirling: Dolly back to MS. Lots of crashing noises and dry ice.
From out of the smoke, behind umbrella the 8 temptations emerge dancing
quickly.
9. Dolly back to LS as temptations emerge. The temptations are a prostitute , 3
gamblers, a junkie, a wealthy woman, a food addict, and a teenager obsessed with technology.
10. LS: Temptations rush over to Mr. King dancing out their roles.
MR. KING: looking with wonderment. Ah! So beautiful! (a pause)
11. MS: Mr. King. But how does this dance end? (hopeful and amazed) Or can it Continue?
12. MLS: Full body shot. Jai Fu standing off to left leaning against the wall. It ends like this! (snaps fingers).
13. Dolly in on King. Temptations crowd around Mr. King.
14. MLS: of temptations binding him, picking him up and carrying him off screen right.
15. MS: Jai Fu laughing.
16. MS: Temptations emerge screen right followed by Mr. King triumphantly freed.
17. MS: Mr. King and Jai Fu
MR. KING: looking amazed. Wow! Very clever. Now tell me, do these temptations come from many plays in life? Jai Fu nods yes.
18. CU:
MR. KING: Bring on the plays then! I want to see them, Minority Nationalities, Underground Army, Blad Gark. Keep the temptations and bring on the plays.
19. MS: Quick cut to Temptations rushing over to Mr. King.
TEMPTATIONS: But we are merely aspects of life’s plays.
20. MS: Mr. King’s upper body. You can see his arms moving.
MR. KING: No matter! (To Jai Fu) Keep the Temptations here.
21. MS: Jai Fu.
JAI FU: So shall it be. Nodding head.
22. MLS: Everyone in the picture. Jai Fu herds temptations into alley way next to his booth, locking them up.
23. CU: Jai Fu and Mr. King begin to barter. Temptations make noise.
24. Slow Dolly Out. See the commotion continue. Noise changes to street noise.
Pull back to across the street. Close piece with short scene of cars and pedestrians going pas
.
