"They wear the Red and Green" Script draft 4

Ok, script's been rewritten for the silent film treatment, so it's just a vague description of each shot and the title cards the will feature dialogue during the film.

"They wear the Red and Green" by Paul Mason.

Ext. Redfern: Corner of Chamers and Phillips street- vague 1930’s depression era. early afternoon

A small ant crawls down a pile of sand on a small patch of grass. A small shadow appears over the sand mound and grows until a football is seen and perched on top. A small rabbit in a red and green striped jersey stands over the ball, staring intently. He takes a few steps back, run forward, and kicks the ball towards his friends, who stand at the other side of the spacious front property.

The property is unique in the street. Cold, drab looking terrace houses squash together one by one down the street and halt at the fence line of the property where the small rabbits play. The property is grassy and slops up towards a small hill in the centre where a modest single level house sits.

On the veranda of the house, Raymond, a stocky, middle-aged rabbit looks out over his property, Redfern oval and the city in the background. The children wave as they play and he smiles contently.

TITLE CARD – “They wear the Red and Green”

A Buick slowly drives down the street and slows out the front of the spacious property. The occupant shrouded in shadow peers thru a slightly open window, staring out towards the house.
RAYMOND hammers at the floorboards of the veranda, making repairs.

TITLE CARD –NORTON: “Oy! Rabbit! How much for your land?”

RAYMOND is startled and looks over his shoulder to find a rather tall, well built, well dressed rooster standing on his front lawn.

NORTON points at RAYMOND’S house and with two sweeping hands gestures at the ground as if to say “how much?” RAYMOND shakes his head and politely waves his hand “No”.

NORTON waves his hand towards his terrace houses, proudly boasting and puffing out his chest.
TITLE CARD-NORTON: “I own all the property in this street-“

NORTON then leans in towards RAYMOND, pointing at his chest.

TITLE CARD-NORTON: “...except yours.”

RAYMOND again politely waves his arms and shakes his head.

TITLE CARD-RAYMOND: “Sorry Mate, It’s not for sale”

RAYMOND turns around and goes back to repairing the front porch. As RAYMOND hammers away, NORTON reaches into his coat pocket and pulls out a small stack of casino chips, which he proceeds to mindlessly fiddle and shuffle like playing cards in his feathery hand.

Arrogantly, rather than leaving, NORTON stirs RAYMOND while he makes repairs.

TITLE CARD-NORTON: “I wouldn’t bother rabbit; I’m knocking it down when I acquire your property.”

RAYMOND turns around and gestures towards his house, then points to the oval, points to his kids, trying to explain to NORTON that he loves his house and doesn’t want to move.

TITLE CARD-RAYMOND: “Why would I leave when my family and I are happy?”

NORTON glares at RAYMOND, then suddenly drops his casino chips on the ground, grabs RAYMOND’s collar and pulls him in close.

NORTON waves RAYMOND around, pointing at his chest as he angrily and menacingly explains to RAYMOND that he wants the land to make money.

TITLE CARD-NORTON: “I’ll make a fortune from your land Rabbit!”

Suddenly, NORTON is startled and turns around.

TITLE CARD-BIG RABBIT: “Hey Rooster! You gotta problem?!”

NORTON sees RAYMOND’s neighbors have arrived looking quite angry at NORTON’s threats towards RAYMOND. Several large Rabbits stand at the front wearing Football Jerseys, obviously from the local team.

NORTON reluctantly releases RAYOMND, who is happy his mates have come to his aid. He gives the thumbs up to the Rabbits and looks up at NORTON and smiles.

NORTON isn’t happy, but then he points towards the Rabbits and then at himself.

TITLE CARD-NORTON: “Your mates...My Tenants”

NORTON smiles a wicked smile. He pulls a rolled piece of paper from his jacket and points to it.

TITLE CARD-NORTON: “Sign over the deed or I kick them all out!”

The Rabbits are shocked. RAYMOND explodes and starts getting angry at NORTON. NORTON leans in and threatens RAYMOND again, this time with the deed, thrusting it in his face.

RAYMOND stops. He looks back sadly at the Rabbits, who are somber. RAYMOND looks down at his feet sadly. He notices on the ground the casino chips that NORTON dropped earlier and smiles as he gets an idea.

RAYMOND points at NORTON and smiles.

TITLE CARD-RAYMOND: “How ‘bout we make a Bet?”

NORTON looks at RAYMOND intrigued. RAYMOND points at his fists, throws a few punches in a boxing pose and then points towards the Rabbitohs.

TITLE CARD-RAYMOND: “Pick any bloke to fight-You win, you get my land…”

NORTON listens intently. RAYMOND narrows his eyes.

TITLE CARD-RAYMOND: “You lose, you get out of Redfern.”

RAYMOND extends his hand. NORTON eyes it off, then extends his feathery hand and shakes RAYMOND.

TITLE CARD: “Deal!”

RAYMOND smiles.

NORTON looks over at the group of Rabbitohs. All large Rabbits face him, sizing him up. As he glances over, he realizes amongst the group there is a SMALL RABBIT, and promptly chooses him.

RAYMOND slides in between the SMALL RABBIT and NORTON, waving his hands and shaking his head “No”. NORTON crosses his arms and points at the SMALL RABBIT again.

TITLE CARD- NORTON: “It’s him or the Bet’s off!”

RAYMOND sighs and agrees, with NORTON moving straight in to “rough up” the SMALL RABBIT. RAYMOND puts a hand to NORTON’s chest, stopping him from starting the fight. He points with his thumb towards the bushes beside his house.

TITLE CARD-RAYMOND: “Better go over there fellas- There’s kids about...”

NORTON and the SMALL RABBIT walk behind the bushes. RAYMOND slyly smiles, knowing what is about to happen. For a moment, the bushes are still. Then suddenly, the bushes shake and dust, feathers and stars fill the yard. NORTON flies out from behind the bushes and flops to the ground desperate to escape, but is dragged back in, clawing at the dirt.

The Rabbitohs burst into fits of laughter, and RAYMOND receives handshakes and pats on the back for suckering NORTON.

TITLE CARD: “I guess that Rooster was a Chicken after all!”

RAYMOND smiles. He has outsmarted the Rooster and has kept his land. Raymond’s son runs in and hugs him as the Neighbors laugh and cheer.

TITLE CARD: It’s not the size of the Rabbit in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the Rabbit.

The SMALL RABBIT stands on the Rooster triumphant, and smiling.
RAYMOND touches his nose.

THE END