The Feature Film Script
by
Frank Mosco
ISBN 0-9769272-4-1
Quillquest Books
Copyright � 2006
by Frank Mosco
Original screenplay registered with the Writer's Guild of American West #637725 by Frank Mosco
Copyright � 1991
by Frank Mosco
___________________________
CANE'S GATE
FADE IN ON
EXT. CONCH ISLAND, ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, - DAWN
SUPERIMPOSITION: ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA 1957
We hear shore birds and surf, a formation of pelicans cross the rising sun. We FOLLOW and they lead us to tall dunes where the sound of the surf fades to a whispering of the wind through sea oats and an exotic mysterious CHANTING. We settle on a small fire and the silhouette figure of an OLD INDIAN MAN in strange regalia.
He draws a circle in the sand with a stick, leaving an opening which faces the sun. He stands within the circle, spreads his arms and ceases the chant.
An eerie silence blankets the island. The wind dies, there's no movement, no sound, the shorebirds come to sit on the sand near a waveless ocean.
The old Indian breaks the silence with an unsteady voice.
OLD INDIAN
I am the last guardian of the gate. There is no
other.
He draws from his waist a shiny GOLD MEDALLION mounted on a short carved wooden staff and raises it reverently.
OLD INDIAN
I go the way of the panther and the bear and the
great thunderbird. I have lost the land. I have
failed the old ones.
He kneels. Trembling hands bring the disk down and place it on the sand to complete the circle. He is crying.
OLD INDIAN
The gate must be closed... forever.
As his hands move away a sudden gust of wind shifts the sand near the medallion, the fire sparks wildly. A sudden shriek cuts into the silence. Surprised, he looks to the sky and rises. The wind throws his hair. He gasps and turns to see in the sky - a HAWK.
The hawk rises into the sun, then turns and dives toward him, extending it's talons, it's eyes a glowing red.
He falls to the ground and shields his face. The hawk shrieks past him, captures the medallion and takes flight. The old Indian looks up in amazement.
The hawk launches into the sky, soars, shrieks, then releases the medallion which falls, flickering and flashing in the sunlight.
The old Indian views the medallion's descent which gives a final bright flash as it falls into the sea.
The shore birds along the beach rise in a concert of sound and the island comes alive again all around him.
He rushes to a high dune and stands in the wind. Again the hawk shrieks. He looks to the hawk, then to the sea and the rising sun. His excitement grows.
OLD INDIAN
There is another... with the heart of an old one!
EXT. ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA - DAY,
SUPERIMPOSITION: ST. AUGUSTINE, PRESENT TIME
ESTABLISHING. We see the Bay of Matanzas and the old Spanish fortress of Castillo de San Marcos, then the town and Anastasia Island to settle LONG on the towering LIGHTHOUSE.
EXT. LIGHTHOUSE PARK - CONTINUING
We see the St. Augustine Lighthouse then the large old ornate brick light keeper's house serenely nestled among sprawling live oak trees. Birds sing, gentle breezes sway the Spanish moss, then OFF SCREEN comes the distant bickering of THREE KIDS.
EXT. FISHING PIER - CONTINUING
The kids, DANNY, SEAN, AND LUCY, about 10 years old, are circled on their knees baiting fishing hooks. Their gear is scattered about the pier. Sean sits back, frustrated. Lucy jerks her hand away quickly and puts her finger to her lips.
LUCY
Ouch! Damn! It bit me!
SEAN
(clutching his hair, frustrated)
It didn't bite you, Lucy. It's dead!
LUCY
It bit me!
SEAN
It can't bite you it's dead!
(confidentially complains to Danny)
Nice move, Dan Man. You just had to bring her
didn't you.
DANNY
Shut up. She'll get it.
SEAN
Yeah, right. And monkeys will fly outa' my butt.
Danny elbows Sean and whispers,
DANNY
She bought the bait didn't she?
Sean resigns himself to her presence and tries again.
SEAN
Come on, Lucy. Don't be an idiot. You put the
hook IN one end and OUT the other.
He takes the hook and demonstrates but pricks his own finger.
SEAN
Ow! Damn it!
LUCY
(mocking Sean)
Come on, Sean. Don't be an idiot.
SEAN
If you weren't a girl...
Lucy stands ready for action. Likewise, Sean rises to her challenge.
LUCY
Go for it, gator breath!
DANNY
Come on you guys. Give it a rest.
Danny quickly baits Lucy's hook and hands her the fishing rod.
DANNY
Okay, now just drop it in the water and wait.
She stands, does as instructed, then looks back to Sean.
LUCY
You're still pissed 'cause I beat you out for catcher.
Sean pouts, takes his rod and casts his line, then warns Lucy.
SEAN
Just don't cross my line.
Danny drops his line over between them.
DANNY
You guys must be in love or somethin'. Sounds
like you're married.
LUCY
Barf.
SEAN
Barf!
LUCY, DANNY, SEAN
Baaaaarrf!
They lean over the railing and watch their lines.
SEAN
Hey, that reminds me. Where's the Oozer?
DANNY
Diarrhea.
LUCY
Gross.
SEAN
No, really. He wasn't in school today.
DANNY
I told ya, diarrhea. I stopped by his house. His
mom told me.
LUCY
Gross
SEAN
He'll miss the game.
(beat, the thought is inspiring)
Hey, maybe we'll win!
Lucy's rod jerks, she jumps with excitement.
LUCY
I got one! I got one!
The boys, excited, drop their rods, start barking instructions and move to assist her.
DANNY
Reel it in! Reel it in!
SEAN
Don't lose it! Easy, easy! Don't...
DANNY
Easy now. Real it in!
SEAN
Don't blow it Lucy! Easy...
Lucy tugs and the heavy catch bends the rod to near breaking.
SEAN
Woooooh, monster fish! Big sucker!
She looks to Sean wide eyed, continues to struggle.
LUCY
What! Monster! What!
SEAN
Just reel it in, will ya. You're gonna' lose it!
LUCY
I can't. It's too heavy!
DANNY
Wow, it must be big.
LUCY
Help me. I think it's stuck.
Danny grabs the rod, together they struggle to pull in the line.
SEAN
I think it's coming. I think it's...
ON the surface of the water we see rising a cluster of oyster shells covered with slimy green seaweed and algae.
A disappointed Sean observes,
SEAN
Yuk. Diarrhea.
LUCY, DANNY, SEAN
Groooooooooss.
Danny lets go. Lucy still struggles with the heavy load.
LUCY
I can't lift it.
DANNY
(unenthusiastic)
Hold on. I'll cut the line.
Danny pulls out a pocket knife, leans out over the rail and grabs the line with one hand as he reaches to cut it with the other. He then pauses and studies the shell cluster.
SEAN
(to Lucy)
Great. You're battin' zero, mush fingers.
LUCY
At least I caught something, weak knees.
Danny continues to study the clump of crustaceans, then,
DANNY
Hey, what's that?
SEAN
Diarrhea.
DANNY
No, really. Look. The shiny thing.
He pulls the line closer. They all lean over and study it.
SEAN
It's... somethin'.
Lucy looks at Sean and rolls her eyes to his comment.
LUCY
Einstein.
CLOSE on the cluster revealing a metallic glitter of gold as it turns slowly near the surface of the water.
DANNY
Let's get it out. Drag it to the shore. Careful, don't
break the line.
Danny turns and sprints along the dock to shore.
Lucy and Sean nurse the rod and line along the pier until it reaches shallow water where it's met by Danny. He pulls it onto the sand.
Lucy drops the rod. She and Sean jump from the pier and race to Danny's side just as he lifts the shell cluster above his head and smashes it to the ground.
The shells break away to reveal a metal disk. The kids kneel for a closer inspection. Danny picks it up, rubs off some gunk with his hands, inspects it more closely then finishes the job on his shirt.
CLOSE on the disk reveals it's the old Indian's gold medallion.
Suddenly there comes the loud shriek of a hawk. The kids rise and look to the sky.
Their POV, the view of the large bird last only a fewseconds until it disappears into the sun.
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