Film Treatment

-1-

Sayed is a young doctor serving his internship in a NY hospital. Twelve hour shifts are grueling. He arrives home to his very small apartment exhausted. He collapses onto his sofa. Fifteen floors below his apartment window, the city is waking up. In the fog of pre-sleep he hears horns, car doors slamming, and pigeons warbling on the fire escape. A white pedisal fan is whirring at medium speed swinging left then right. Sayed begins to sleep and dream. We are transported to a Middle Eastern market very crowded, bustling. We see everything from Sayed’s point of view as he moves through the market. He purchases a piece of fruit and takes a bite. We hear the fruit (an apple?) being chewed. As he moves through the market we see subtle changes. We see we are no longer in the market but in the crowed tent of a field hospital. The noise of the crowd is replaced with screams, the noises of war, small arms fire, then machine gun then the terrible explosion of a rocket.

Sayed sees his brother being covered over on a stretcher. Sayed wakes with a chill. He is soaked with perspiration. He gets up and closes the window. He sits down on the sofa. Sayed picks up the telephone and places an international call to his home in Egypt. After 7 rings his father answers and Sayed reveals that he will be able to travel home in just a few days, that he will be able to stay for two weeks, and that he must then return to NY. He tells his father he is yearning to be home with his family. That while the people in America treat him well, he still feels mostly alone. He is certain that he will return home for good once he has finished his internship. His father says that he will be glad to see his son the Doctor. His father says that he is pround and that Sayed’s brother would be proud.

-2-

Kate Gladwin gazes out a famous restaurant window at the waking city. She is young and lovely. Her companion, Burtrem Allen Burman is seated across from her. He has just asked her to marry him. She is lost in thought. She will tell him that she can’t give him an answer until she returns from her speaking tour in the Middle East. She is a young widow not completely finished with the grieving process. Millie is a cultural anthropology graduate from Columbia University. Her book concerning the rights of women is on the NYT best seller list. Her husband dead, she has decided to continue work at the graduate level. We learn from her daughter Elizabeth, that her dad was a foreign correspondent with the New York Times. His death occurred while he was on assignment in London. The lone casualty of an IRA bomb detonated near the British Parliament just one year ago.

-3-

Burtrem has just been elected to his first congressional term. He is 40ish. He has been practicing law in the area of international commerce for 10 years. The district he represents is comprised of a diverse cultural background. The majority of families in his district are lower to low-middle income. We learn about Burtrem primarily through the telephone solicitations from the various people at his campaign headquarters. Many races are represented there. We hear different languages, Spanish, Cantonese, and Arabic. We also hear accented English, (Jamaican, Yiddish, and Afro-American). He gained wide-ranging support because of his promise to work for changes in government. Specifically, he has promised that he will work to redirect funds that now go toward foreign military aid to fund expanded medical assistance in the US and abroad. He is idealistic and truly believes that he can make a difference.

-4-

Elizabeth Gladwin is very happy and alive. However, when she begins to discuss her deceased father we see that she is still sick at heart. She speaks slowly as if she has practiced what she will say on this matter. And is then quick to change the subject. In fact every time she feels the need to change the subject she does so in the same way. She begins talking about her cats and then cats in general. She really likes cats, and she really loves kittens. She has two cats- Peetee and Little Man. Little Man is an exotic (and rare in America) cat found in middle east, specifically, Egypt. The day before they leave for the Middle East, Elizabeth sees a stray cat near her apartment building which borders Central Park. She tries to call the cat to her. The cat does not appear to be sick but bites Elizabeth on the ankle then runs away into the park. Elizabeth, bitten by her own cats, thinks no more of it.

-5-

Millie and Elizabeth arrive at the EgyptAir terminal check-in line. They are near the front of the line. Near the end of the line is Sayed. We see that their seats are far from each other. While the flight heads out over the Atlantic, Elizabeth leaves her seat to use the lavatory. As she heads to the back of the plane the passengers are jolted by severe turbulence. She is thrown into the lap of Sayed. She apologizes and goes on her way. In the lavatory, she washes her face and hands. She then looks down at her ankle where the cat from the park bit her. It is sore and she rubs at it. After a time, she emerges from the lavatory and moves down the aisle toward her seat. She smiles at Sayed as she passes then notices a lady reading a book on cats. Elizabeth excuses herself to the lady and begins a conversation.

-5-

Millie Leaves her seat to look for Elizabeth. She moves down the aisle. As she does so she sees- first her daughter and then Sayed. Sayed and Millie catch each other’s eye. We see that there is chemistry here. Elizabeth speaks before her mother can scold. Introducing the lady and then Sayed “the man who saved me” when the plane hit the air pocket. Sayed is humbled and explains that he was merely in the right place at the right time. The moment is uncomfortable and is broken by the captians voice.

-6-

Betrum is addressing his colleagues in the congress. He speaks of people and their individual lives. How it takes a variety of cultures to produce truly great advances for civilization. How people who are healthy and well fed are less likely to lash out in anger and frustration. About the futileness of war. We see him from many angles. It is an excellent speech. We then see that there are but a few members in attendance and one is leaving.

-7-

The voice announces “remain seated-seat belts fastened. The flight continues and Millie and Sayed have managed to meet and sit together. They get to know one another. Each is feeling more and more tenderness for the other. It is not love at first sight, but it is very close. Sayed invites Millie and E to visit with him and his father at his home once they are in Egypt.

-8-

A random passenger is watching something alarming out the cabin window; says aloud “is that a dust Storm?”. At The same moment the captain’s voice is heard sounding unusually distressed. He warns everyone to bend forward, hands behind your head. We are being forced to land . . . His voice trails off. Cabin lights flash, oxygen masks drop down. The plane crashes in the desert.

-9-

After a time, the storm that forced the plane to crash, abates. The plane has not broken up. No one appears to have died. The crew helps everyone to leave the downed aircraft.

There are minor injuries. Millie, E and Sayed huddle together. E looks as if she will pass out. Sayed looks her over and notices the festering wound on her angle. It is dusk on the desert. Soon it will be dark. No one can get a signal on their cell phone, The radio on the plane is ruined. The captain orders everyone to return to the aircraft. There is much confusion.

-10-

Just before daylight, a group of nomads happens upon the downed plane. They are soon followed by a number of armed men.Crashed in a sanctioned country. Shouting and explanations do little and we soon find ourselves standing before the head of this army unit.

Sayed pleads, Millie listens, E seems to be succumbing to the toxin from the bite. A messenger bursts in annoucing the arrival of the rebel leader and his entourage. There is much going on.

Sayed is starteled to see a familiar face among the leaders team. A doctor he knows. All is explained and the doctor vows to do what he can. The doctor speaks to the leader. The leader is not interested in the story. The doctor reminds him of the leaders own family. That this is not America the devil only two people not unlike the leaders wife and daughter. The leader says he will look at the little girl. He goes to where she is . She is week now and feaverish. He speaks in english and asks what is wrong. She tells him of the bite and how she was trying to help a stray cat when it bit her. He says to the doctor that the little girl is a stray cat. If he helps her, doesn’t he risk being bitten. The moment passes. The Leader stands and barks orders.

We see a helicopter landing nearby. S M and E are loaded abord as the copter heads to Cario.

-1-

Sayed is a young doctor serving his internship in a NY hospital. Twelve-hour shifts are grueling. He arrives home to his very small apartment exhausted. He collapses onto his sofa. Fifteen floors below, the city is waking up. In the fog of pre-sleep, he hears vehicle horns, doors slamming, and warbling birds on the fire escape. A white pedestal fan is whirring at medium speed swinging left then right. Sayed falls to sleep and dreams. We are transported to a Middle Eastern market very crowded, bustling. We see everything from Sayed’s point of view as he drifts through the market. He purchases a piece of fruit and takes a bite. We hear the fruit (an apple?) being chewed. As he drifts along, we see subtle changes. We are no longer in the market but in the crowed tent of a field hospital. Crowd noises morph into screams, small arms fire, machine gun bursts then the terrible explosion of a rocket.

Sayed sees his brother lying maimed, dying. Sayed wakes with a chill. He is soaked with perspiration. He gets up and closes the window. He sits down on the sofa. Sayed picks up the telephone and places a call to his home in Egypt. After 7 rings his father answers. and Sayed reveals that he will be able to travel home in just a few days, that he will be able to stay for two weeks, and that he must then return to NY. He tells his father he is yearning to be home with his family. That while the people in America treat him well, he still feels mostly alone. He is certain that he will return home for good once he has finished his internship. His father says that he will be glad to see his son the Doctor. His father says that he is proud, and that Sayed’s brother would also be proud.

-2-

Kate Gladwin gazes out a famous restaurant window at the waking city. She is young and lovely. Her companion, Bertram Allen Burman is seated opposite her. He has just asked her to marry him. She is lost in thought. She will tell him that she can’t give him an answer until she returns from her speaking tour in the Middle East. A young widow she is not finished with the grieving process. Kate is a cultural anthropology graduate from Columbia University. Her book concerning the rights of women is on the NYT best seller list. Her husband dead, she has decided to continue work at the graduate level. We learn from her daughter Elizabeth, that her dad was a foreign correspondent with the New York Times. His death occurred while he was on assignment in London. The lone casualty of an IRA bomb detonated near the British Parliament just one year ago.

-3-

Bertram has just been elected to his first congressional term. He is 40ish. He has been practicing law in the area of international commerce for 10 years. The district he represents is comprised of a diverse cultural background. Most families in his district are lower to low-middle income. We learn about Bertram primarily through the telephone solicitations from the various people at his campaign headquarters. Many races are represented there. We hear different languages, Spanish, Cantonese, and Arabic. We also hear accented English, (Jamaican, Yiddish, and Afro-American). He gained wide-ranging support because of his promise to work for changes in government. Specifically, he has promised that he will work to redirect funds that now go toward foreign military aid to fund expanded medical assistance in the US . He is idealistic and truly believes that he can make a difference.

-4-

Elizabeth Gladwin is very happy and alive. However, when she begins to discuss her deceased father, we see that she is still sick at heart. She speaks slowly as if she has practiced what she will say on this matter. And is then quick to change the subject. In fact, every time she feels the need to change the subject she does so in the same way. She talks about her cats and then cats in general. She really likes cats, and she really loves kittens. She has two cats- Tishy a chocolate point Siamese and Little Man, a twenty pound Egyptian Chausie, The day before they leave for the Middle East, Elizabeth sees a stray cat near her apartment building which borders Central Park. She calls the Tabby to her. The cat does not appear to be sick but bites Elizabeth on the ankle then runs away into the park. Elizabeth, bitten by her own cats, thinks no more of it.

-5-

Kate and Elizabeth arrive at the EgyptAir terminal check-in line. They are near the front of the line. Near the end of the line is Sayed. We see that their seats are far from each other. While the flight heads out over the Atlantic, Elizabeth leaves her seat to use the lavatory. As she heads to the back of the plane, sudden severe turbulence, throws her into the lap of Sayed. She apologizes and goes on her way. In the lavatory, she washes her face and hands. She then looks down at her ankle where the cat from the park bit her. It is sore and she rubs at it. After a time, she emerges from the lavatory and moves down the aisle toward her seat. She smiles at Sayed as she passes then notices a lady reading a book on cats. Elizabeth excuses herself to the lady and begins a conversation.

-5-

Kate Leaves her seat to look for Elizabeth. She moves down the aisle. As she does so, she sees first her daughter and then Sayed. Sayed and Kate catch each other’s eye. We see that there is chemistry here. Elizabeth speaks before her mother can scold. Introducing the lady and then Sayed “the man who saved me” when the plane hit the air pocket. A humble Sayed explains he was merely in the right place at the right time. The moment is broken by the voice of the plan’s captain “Sorry for the …

-6-

Bertram is addressing his colleagues in the congress. He speaks of people and their individual lives. How it takes a variety of cultures to produce truly great advances for civilization. How people who are healthy and well fed are less likely to lash out in anger and frustration. About the futileness of war. We see him from 5 angles. It is an excellent speech. We then see that there are but a few members in attendance and one is leaving.

-7-

The voice announces “remain seated-seat belts fastened. The flight continues and Kate and Sayed have managed to meet and sit together. They get to know one another. Each is feeling more and more tenderness for the other. It is not love at first sight, but it is very close. Sayed invites Kate and E to visit with him and his father at his home once they are in Egypt.

-8-

-9-

After a time, the storm that forced the plane to crash, abates. The plane has not broken up. No one appears to have died. The crew helps everyone to leave the downed aircraft.

There are minor injuries. Kate, E and Sayed huddle together. E looks as if she will pass out. Sayed looks her over and notices the festering wound on her angle. It is dusk on the desert. Soon it will be dark. No one can get a signal on their cell phone, The radio on the plane is ruined. The captain orders everyone to return to the aircraft. There is much confusion.

-10-

Sayed pleads, Kate listens, E seems to be succumbing to the toxin from the bite. A messenger bursts in annoucing the arrival of the rebel leader and his entourage. There is much going on.

We see a helicopter landing nearby. S M and E are loaded abord as the copter heads to Cario.

Comments

Please Login to post a comment

A comment has not been posted for this short story. Encourage a writer by being the first to comment.