Digital short feature film
Scene One
EXT. MAIN SQUARE - EVENING
MOONTAN is sitting sketching at an outdoor cafe. He takes a sip
of coffee and studies his latest attempt to capture the rich
turmoil of the square in the strokes of his pencil... The tourists,
Maori families, and workers and business people out for their lunch.
From somewhere beyond the far side of the square comes the muted
sound of chanting and, glancing up, he sees CRYSTAL darting in
and out of the crowd on her roller blades, her bright clothes and
green hair attracting attention like a magnet.
He smiles, plays with the coins lying next to his cup, and
motions the waiter for another coffee. Two police vans enter the
far side of the square by the Sergeant Gallery. The chanting is
growing louder.
Crystal skates to a halt beside him.
CRYSTAL
How's that for Karma?
She places a bank note on the table. It is fifty dollars.
He looks at her. Her clear skin and clean American features shine
in the heavy air. She grins.
CRYSTAL
A guy just gave it to me... Said he liked our style.
He smiles.
MOONTAN
What about the clearance?
CRYSTAL
They wouldn't process it.
She shrugs, then leans over the table and kisses him on the
forehead.
He draws her attention to the police, and the chanting.
MOONTAN
That's why they stopped us... It's that Opera
House action.
She studies the square. Then sits down and clips open her roller
blades.
CRYSTAL
Either that or you created it to give
yourself an excuse.
She pulls a hat out of her backpack, and empties a pile of coins
onto the table.
He wrinkles his nose.
Beside his chair a small flower has pushed its way up between
the paving stones to stand poised amidst half-eaten ice creams
and cigarette butts.
He watches her counting the coins into piles.
CRYSTAL
I forgot the Opera House was happening
today... We should check it out.
He nods, absently.
MOONTAN
What would you do if I stopped?
CRYSTAL
I don't know.
She glances up.
CRYSTAL
What would you do?
Her eyes twinkle.
MOONTAN
I'd get a house with a garden ... and I'd paint.
CRYSTAL
I'll come and visit.
They laugh at the likelihood of such an event.
The coffee arrived, and she convinced the waiter to exchange some
of the coins for notes.
CRYSTAL
So we've got enough to last us till tomorrow.
I don't know how you kept yourself together
before I arrived.
MOONTAN
It was hard work and no fun.
She throws a piece of sugar at him.
MOONTAN
I get spaced out.
On the wall of the cafe is a poster of the planet.
MOONTAN (CONT)
And sometimes it seems so fragile.
He shrugs.
MOONTAN (CONT)
Sometimes I long for something more stable.
She smiles.
CRYSTAL
It's a state of mind.
He looks at her.
CRYSTAL (CONT)
Stability, it's a state of mind.
The chanting is getting closer. A group of demonstrators come
into view with a banner reading: "Opera House Action for Wanganui
Arts!"
Sirens are approaching from the distance. The sound of conga
drums join the beat of the chanting. Crystal turns in the
direction of the sound, and Moontan watches her body assess the
experience.
CRYSTAL
Let's go and check it out.
He nods, and they grab their gear, and leave.
On this site you can check out the audition and crew call opportunities, recent media coverage, or take a look at our new feature film project based on Dance Sisters, where you can read an outline of the film, or reviews of the novel on which the film is based.
You can also check out Artmedia's digital short film, Moontan (pictured) which was released in 2007 - read the synopsis, check out reviews of the book on which the film is based, or find information on the cast and production team.
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last updated 08 December 2008
