Narrative in the Round
Casablanca (treatment 1- 360 narrative) Re-written by Preston Noon
LOCATION WILL BE DETERMINED VIA TIME LOCATION, AS IN TWELVE IS FRONT, AND SIX IS BACK
EXT. OLD MOORISH SECTION OF THE CITY - DAY
At first only the turrets and the rooftops are visible against a torrid sky.
The facades of the Moorish buildings give way to a narrow, twisting street crowded with the polylot life of a native quarter. The intense desert sun holds the scene in a torpid tranquility. Activity is unhurried and sounds are muted.
(POV APPROACH AS A FLY-IN LOWERED VIA CROWS NEST INTO THE CENTER OF THE MARKET THERE IS AN ENTRANCE AT 12 AND 8 POV IS LOCATED CLOSER TO THE 9 SIDE OF THE LARGE SQUARE THAT IS AN AMORPHOUS UNION OF STREETS WITH THE ROAD PASSING FROM 5 TO 12 AND BACK DOWN THROUGH TO 8)
CUT TO:
INT POLICE STATION - DAY (LOCATED AT 2)
POLICE OFFICER:(AUDIO ONLY)
To all officers! Two german couriers carrying important official documents murdered on a train from Oran. Murderer and possible accomplices headed for Casablanca. Round up all suspicious characters and search them for stolen documents. Important!
CUT TO:
EXT A STREET IN THE OLD MOORISH SECTION - DAY
An officer BLOWS his whistle several times. (LOCATED AT 9)
There is pandemonium as native guards begin to round up people all around. The scene moves from torpid to frantic. It is evident that in the crowd are very many criminals.
A Police car, full of officers, with SIREN BLARING, screams through the street and stops in the market. (CAR ENTERS AT 12 AND DRIVES TO EIGHT)
Some try to escape but are caught by the police and loaded into a police wagon. (LOCATED AT 5)
At a street corner TWO POLICEMEN stop a white CIVILIAN and question him.
FIRST POLICEMAN (LOCATED AT CLOSER 8)
May we see your papers?
CIVILIAN
(nervously)
I don't think I have them on me.
FIRST POLICEMAN
In that case, we'll have to ask you to come along.
The civilian pats his pockets.
CIVILIAN
Wait, It's just possible that I. . . . . Yes, here they are.
He brings out his papers. The second policeman examines them.
SECOND POLICEMAN
These papers expired three weeks ago. You'll have to come along.
Suddenly the civilian breaks away and starts to run wildly down the street.
The policeman SHOUTS "Halt", the the civilian keeps going.
JAAN and ANNINA BRANDEL, a very young and attractive refugee couple from Bulgaria, watches as the civilian passes. They've been thrust by circumstances from a simple country life into an unfamiliar and hectic world.
A shot RINGS out, and the man falls to the ground. Above him, painted on the wall, is a large poster of Marshall Petain, which reads: " Je tiens mes promesses, meme celles des autres."
The policeman frantically searches the body, but only finds Free French Literature.
CUT TO:
EXT.PALAISE DE JUSTICE - DAY (LOCATED AT ONE)
We see the inscription carved in a marble block along the roof-line of the building: " Liberte, Egalite, Fraternaite"
We see the facade, French in architecture, then the high vaulted entrance which is inscribed " Palais de Justice".
At the entrance the arrested suspects are led in by the police.
CUT TO:
EXT. SIDEWALK CAFE - DAY (LOCATED AT 10)
A middle aged ENGLISH COUPLE sit at a table just off the square, and observe the commotion across the way in front of the Palais de Justice.
The police van pulls up. The rear doors are opened and people stream out.
A EUROPEAN man, sitting at a table nearby, watches the English couple more closely than the scene on the street.
ENGLISHWOMAN
What on earth is going on there?
ENGLISHMAN
I don't know, my dear.
The european walks over to the couple.
EUROPEAN
pardon,pardon Monsieur, Pardon Madame, have you not heard?
ENGLISHMAN
We hear very little, and we understand even less.
EUROPEAN
Two German couriers were found murdered in the desert. . .
the unoccupied desert. This is the customary roundup of refugees,
liberals, and uh, of course, a beautiful young girl for Monsieur Renault,
the Prefect of Police.
CUT TO:
EXT. PALAISE DE JUSTICE - DAY (VAN MOVED FROM EIGHT TO ONE)
Suspects are herded out of the van, and into the Palais de Justice.
CUT TO:
EXT. SIDEWALK CAFE - DAY (LOCATED AT 10)
EUROPEAN
Unfortunately, along with these unhappy refugees the scum of Europe
has gravitated to Casablanca. Some of them have been waiting for years for a visa.
He puts his left arm compassionately around the Englishman, and reaches behind the man with his right hand.
EUROPEAN
I beg of you, Monsieur, watch yourself. Be on guard. This is a place
full of vultures, vultures everywhere, everywhere.
The Englishman seems to be taken aback by this sudden display of concern.
ENGLISHMAN
Ha, ha, thank you, thank you very much.
EUROPEAN
Not at all. Au revoir, Monsieur. Au revoir, Madame.
He leaves. The Englishman, still a trifle disconcerted by the European's action, watches him as he leaves.
ENGLISHMAN
Au revoir, Amusing little fellow. Waiter!
As he pats both his breast and pants pockets he realizes there is something missing.
Englishman
Oh, How silly of me.
ENGLISHWOMAN
What, dear?
ENGLISHMAN
I've left my wallet in the hotel,
ENGLISHWOMAN
Oh.
Suddenly the Englishman looks off in the direction of the departed European, the clouds of suspicion gathering.
Interrupting overhead is the DRONE of a low flying aircraft.
We have teamed up with Clifford Ross for his like minded work with the i3 Cyclorama Project.