Christine, Edward, and the Cube
Hippopotamus Migration in Africa
Theodora Hart (theodorahart@hotmail.com)
Kate Sanderson (katehatescomputers@hotmail.com)
"Crepe de Chine"
Treatment
This movie is a satire of the media industry and the man who controls it. It opens with an average American couple watching the news broadcast on their television. The couple discovers the shocking news of the day: Bozo the Clown has sold the avant-garde to China and the Chinese people have elected Bozo ruler of the world! The audience sees the news as it is broadcast on television, and then discovers Kenneth Koch and George watching the news from their bedroom. Through their conversation and a mysterious phone call from Kenneth’s boss, it is revealed that Kenneth Koch has written the news and the station has broadcast it as reality. The locations necessary are a living room, an empty street and a bedroom. It will require three Caucasian men, ages 25-40, one Caucasian woman, age 25-40, and three Chinese people, gender and age undefined. The visual style will be satirical, using melodrama when Kenneth’s conspiracy unfolds. The scene where we see the news will be shot from the outside of the television, as if the camera was watching television.
Cast List
Wife: A woman in her late 20’s. A middle-class homemaker who is hooked on the news.
Husband: A man in his late 20’s. A clean-cut, middle-class stockbroker who leaves the trap of the media when he is at work but returns to it when he gets home at night.
Chinese people: Three Chinese people, gender and age may vary. They represent the population of China. They have no personal characteristics.
Bozo: Bozo is a clown from the children’s television series, "Bozo the Clown". He is between the ages of 20-40 and is dressed in his clown costume.
George: A man in his late 30’s, who shares a bed with Kenneth Koch.
Kenneth Koch: Kenneth is a writer in his late 30’s. He writes plays, poetry and fictional stories that he sells to the news stations.
Shooting Script
INT. WIFE AND HUSBAND’S LIVING ROOM-EVENING
Wife sits on a sofa in front of a television. The room is very tidy and quiet except for the television. She is staring at the news broadcast from China. Husband walks in carrying a briefcase. He has just gotten home from work and is taking off his jacket and tie.
HUSBAND
Hi! What’s happening?
WIFE
Bozo just sold the avant-garde to China!
HUSBAND
That Bozo!
WIFE
Millions of men and women walk back and forward, chanting, "Bozo! Bozo!"
HUSBAND
What has that got to do with anything?
WIFE
Well, just come over here and see!
Husband joins Wife on the couch and starts watching the news with her.
INT. THE STREETS OF CHINA(-DAY) VIA A TELEVISION SCREEN-EVENING
The following scene comes onto the television with a news caption over it. Three Chinese people are standing on the street cheering and throwing confetti at Bozo. Bozo stands in front of them and accepts the praise. The streets of China are empty except for the occasional passer-by.
CHINESE PEOPLE (in unison)
China is avant-garde! Long live Bozo!
BOZO
Aw nuts, folks, it wasn’t nothing!
CHINESE PEOPLE (in unison)
Bozo for Ruler of the World!
The Chinese people hoist Bozo onto their shoulders and stagger around while trying to carry him.
BOZO
Oh, come on! Oh well, oh well, all right!
INT. KENNETH’S BEDROOM-EVENING
Kenneth and George are sprawled on a fancy bed in a fancy bedroom. They are watching the news broadcast from China on television and eating crepes.
GEORGE
That’s the silliest thing I ever heard! Did you write that?
KENNETH (menacingly)
Yes. It’s my new play, Bozo, King of China.
GEORGE
You should be shot!
The telephone rings.
KENNETH (answers telephone)
Ken here. Yeah, hi Dick. No,no, I’m working on that right now. The headline for tomorrow: "Venice sinks into the ocean while Lord Byron is in the bathtub!" Yeah. I’ll have it done before the 5 o’clock broadcast tomorrow. M’kay. Yeah. M’kay. Ciao!
Kenneth hangs up the phone.
(FIN)
Continuity Script
An American living room
1. CU: Wife’s face as she watches the news intently, the light from the television is flickering on her face. The sound of indistinguishable voices on the news can be heard at a low volume. The camera zooms out to a LS as Husband enters through a door behind her. Husband starts taking off his coat.
HUSBAND: Hi, what’s happening? Husband finishes taking off his coat.
2. CU: Wife’s face as she continues to be absorbed by the news.
WIFE: Bozo just sold the avant-garde to China. Pan and zoom out to MS on Husband.
HUSBAND: That Bozo!
3. CU: Wife’s face, still absorbed.
WIFE: Millions of men and women walk back and forward, chanting, "Bozo! Bozo!"
4. CU: Husband’s face.
HUSBAND: What has that got to do with anything?
5. MLS: Wife is on sofa. Husband is in the back of the room, looking at Wife.
WIFE: Well, just come over here and see! Husband walks toward couch and sits next to wife.
6. CU: Husband’s face and Wife’s face are both illuminated by the flickering glow of the television as they are absorbed by the news.
A Television Screen
1. CU: A Television screen with news captions over the action. The following scene will play on the television screen:
A Street in China
1. LS: Three Chinese people are cheering and throwing confetti at Bozo.
CHINESE PEOPLE: China is avant-garde! Long live Bozo!
BOZO: Aw nuts, folks, it wasn’t nothing!
CHINESE PEOPLE: Bozo for Ruler of the World! Chinese people hoist Bozo onto their shoulders and stagger around the street awkwardly.
BOZO: Oh, come on! Oh well, oh well, all right!
Kenneth Koch’s Bedroom
1.MLS: Kenneth’s bed. Kenneth and George are sprawled on Kenneth’s bed watching television and eating crepes. The television is showing the broadcast from China and it is barely audible.
GEORGE: That’s the silliest thing I ever heard! Did you write that?
2.CU: Kenneth’s face as he smiles menacingly. Demonic shadows dance over the crevasses in his face as he chews his crepe.
KENNETH: Yes. It’s my new play, Bozo, King of China.
3.MCU: George’s face looking at Kenneth in disbelief.
GEORGE: You should be shot! The telephone rings.
4.MCU: Kenneth answers phone, which is next to the bed on a night table.
KENNETH: Ken here. Yeah, hi Dick. No, no, I’m working on that right now. The headline for tomorrow : "Venice sinks into the ocean while Lord Byron is in the bathtub"! Yeah, I’ll have it done before the 5 o’ clock broadcast tomorrow. M’kay. Yeah. M’kay. Ciao!
5.CU: Telephone receiver being hung up.
(FIN)
