-1-
Streets of Mangaung
Episode 2 Treatment
Draft 2
1.)
Recap ep 1
2.) Titles sequence
3.) EXT. MANGAUNG POLICE STATION – 09h30
Same day. Establish.
4.) INT. POLICE STATION, CSC – 09h30
There are only two people waiting and Kittie is behind the desk attending to a
smart, irate lady who wants to lay a charge against her sister-in-law for stealing her
brand new pair of very expensive shoes. She paid more than R1 000 for the shoes
and she doesn’t want them back, because the sister-in-law was wearing them quite
openly and she has broad feet. But she does want the money back… Maxwell is
reading the paper and is having a coffee when Tumi, Dineo and Setjhaba enter.
Maxwell nearly spills his coffee and tries to look busy. Tumi pretends not to notice.
Kittie is very interested in the missing pair of shoes, because according to the irate
lady’s description, those shoes are really something… Tumi interrupts. Did Kittie
manage to get hold of Setjhaba’s mother yet? Kittie says she tried, but there was
no answer. And then she got busy and forgot… Tumi hands Setjhaba over to Kittie
and tells her to look after the boy. Tumi tells Dineo to follow her. They exit.
Maxwell wants to know from the irate woman why she doesn’t get her brother to
give her the money back for the shoes, instead of wasting the police’s time with
-2what is clearly a family squabble. The woman does not back down and puts
Maxwell in his place. Kittie reckons the woman is right. These are seriously nice
shoes and what do men know about shoes in the first place? Kittie proceeds to
take the woman’s statement. Maxwell sees that Setjhaba is unsure of himself and
offers the boy one of his own lunchtime sandwiches. Setjhaba accepts eagerly.
Maxwell and Setjhaba bond.
5.) EXT. MANGAUNG TOWNSHIP, SPRUIT – 10h00
Establish. Sello, Raps and Lebo watch the ambulance men loading the dead
woman’s body and driving off to the morgue, where a post mortem will be
performed. In the background a forensics team is gathering what evidence there is
to find. Raps tells Lebo that the medical examiner’s report re the death of the
woman will be available in a few days. Not that they really need it, because the
cause of death is pretty obvious. And seeing that they found no watch, jewelry or
personal belongings, the motive for the attack is probably robbery. Lebo laughs. By
the way the woman was dressed, she was probably a prostitute. And she was
probably killed by a disgruntled client who wanted his money back. Sello isn’t
amused. He reckons that they’re not there to judge people or the way they make a
living. There’s a murderer on the loose and it’s their job to put him behind bars as
soon as possible. Sello would also appreciate it if Lebo kept his mouth shut unless
he has something relevant to say. He instructs them to start searching the
surrounding area, as thieves often discard handbags, etc. once they’ve taken what
they want. Raps and Lebo head off along the spruit. Sello looks grim.
6.) INT. MANGAUNG POLICE STATION, TUMI’S OFFICE – 10h00
Tumi is interviewing a very nervous Dineo. Checking Dineo’s folder, Tumi notes that
Dineo was top of her class academically at the Police College. How did she do with
the physical training? Dineo shakily admits that it was hard, but she managed. But
she did very well in musketry. Dineo interrupts herself and apologizes for vomiting
-3at the crime scene earlier. She swears it won’t happen again. Tumi asks after
Dineo’s family and Dineo tells her that she grew up with her grandparents in
Ikageng outside Potchefstroom. Tumi quietly watches and listens as Dineo relates
how her parents and younger sister were gunned down during a robbery at a petrol
station when she was 8 years old. Her voice grows hoarse with pent up emotion
when she tells that the killers got away scott free because the police only arrived
20 minutes later. Tumi asks sympathetically if this is why Dineo joined the force.
Dineo nods. She want to – has to – make a difference and prevent something like
that happening to somebody else. Tumi makes a brief note in Dineo’s file and tells
her she is placing Dineo in CSC. Dineo can’t believe what she is hearing. That’s
basically an office job. She wants to be a detective or at least be in crime
prevention. Tumi will not be swayed. She feels very strongly that the CSC is the
public (community) face of the police station and therefore of the utmost
importance. Without the community’s support and help, the Police Service will not
be able to function. And Tumi believes that Dineo’s talents are best suited to
customer service. If everything goes well, they can do another evaluation in 6
months time. Dineo is shattered.
7.) EXT. MANGAUNG WARD 2, SPRUIT – 12h00
Sello is searching the bank of the spruit closest to where the body was found. He
sees a rock that is looking out of place. He bends down and scrutinizes the rock.
He calls the forensics people and tells them to come out a.s.a.p. as he may have
found the murder weapon.
8.)
EXT. MANGAUNG WARD 2, SPRUIT/DERELICT BUILDING – 12h00
Raps, with a long stick in hand parts the grass and vegetation as he searches.
Lebo is bored and complains that this is getting them nowhere. The killer could
have gone in any other direction, so they’re just wasting time. They should rather
distribute pamphlets with a picture of the dead woman at the taverns in the area.
-4Lebo bets she’ll be identified really fast. Sello should have thought of that if he is
such a great detective. Raps says that Sello is a great detective. With years and
years of experience. And if Lebo knows what’s good for him, he’ll pay attention to
everything Sello says or does so that he can learn… Lebo still wants to argue, but
Raps holds up his hand. Look at that derelict building. It’s just the kind of place
someone would use if he didn’t want to be seen. Raps goes to the building and
enters. Lebo follows. He still thinks it’s all a waste of time.
9.) INT. DERELICT BUILDING – 12h00
Raps is sniffing the air when Lebo enters. Raps says someone made a fire in here
recently. Lebo reckons it was probably a homeless guy who spent the night. Raps
isn’t listening, because he is following his nose. He rounds a corner and finds the
remains of the fire which Koena made earlier. Raps carefully begins to dig through
the ashes with his stick and reacts when he finds the burnt and partially melted
contents of the dead woman’s handbag including a piece of an I.D. document. But
it’s very badly charred and they can’t make out a thing. Lebo is wide-eyed with
excitement and admiration. Raps phones Sello. (2 x) The forensics guys must
come a.s.a.p. They’ve found something in the derelict building. Sello tells them to
stay put and to be careful they don’t disturb the evidence. Raps rings off. … Lebo
is terribly thrilled. This is what he’s been dreaming of doing all his life…Sello
enters. Raps notices some faint footprints in the dust leading to the fire. Sello
bends down and scrutinizes the prints. Lebo gushes. This could actually be the
murderer’s prints. Now all they’ve got to do is nail the killer and it looks like it’s
going to be really easy. Sello grimly tells Lebo to stop talking so much. It’s never
easy to nail a killer. And once caught, it is even more difficult to get a killer
convicted, which is why they have to pay obsessive attention to detail. Raps and
Lebo should have spotted the footprints the moment they entered the building. They
could easily have obliterated them while making their way to the remains of the fire.
Raps knows that Sello is right. Lebo doesn’t say anything, but he thinks Sello is an
Comment [s1]: This scene depicts these
guys as fools, is that the idea?
-5arrogant pig. Sello isn’t finished. Hopefully they’ve also noticed that the footprints
were made by small to medium-sized takkies? Which means…? Raps has the
answer to that. If these prints were indeed made by the murderer, they’re looking
for a small man or even a woman? Sello is gratified. At least Raps is using his
brain again.
10.) INT. POLICE STATION, CSC – 12h00
Winnie, a bitter and furious woman, is complaining to Maxwell that she wants the
police to do something to stop her sister-in-law from spreading wicked lies about
her all over Mangaung. The sister-in-law hates her like poison and now she’s come
up with the story that the woman stole the sister-in-law’s expensive new shoes.
Kittie joins them when the woman takes off the shoes to show them to Maxwell.
They really are very expensive and very nice… Can Kittie try them on quickly?
Maxwell puts Kittie in her place. He thinks the whole thing is stupid and a waste of
his time. The police has better things to do than sort out petty family squabbles
about shoes! Kittie has a thought. Can the woman prove that she did in fact buy
these shoes? The woman says she can. But now she can’t find the slip. She
bought them in Bloem in a fancy mall and the white shop attendant wont remember
her. The woman wants to open a case of slander against the sister-in-law. Maxwell
tells her to go home. The woman insists. Kittie tells the woman to first go and talk
it over with her husband. Laying charges against sisters-in-law and other family
members can cause feuds that last for years. The woman reluctantly agrees to go
and think about it. Tumi enters with Dineo. Maxwell becomes more polite to the
woman. Tumi tells Kittie and Maxwell that Dineo is being deployed in CSC and that
they must show her the ropes. Tumi exits back to her office. Maxwell is delighted,
because Dineo is very pretty, although she looks a bit po-faced at the moment.
Maxwell pushes out his chest and gets rather bombastic. Kittie tells him to voertsek.
She’ll show Dineo what she’s supposed to do. Maxwell is seriously put out.
Comment [s2]: Are these complaints
meant to be this u nimportant?
-611.) EXT. BLOEMFONTEIN MODEL C SCHOOL – 12h00
Establish.
12.) INT. BLOEMFONTEIN MODEL C SCHOOL, CLASSROOM – 12H00
The teacher is asking questions. Hloni, who is sitting right in the front, knows all
the answers. Her hand shoots up all the time. A group of ‘in-girls’ really don’t like
this. They try to answer too, but since they didn’t prepare, they are getting it wrong.
The teacher praises Hloni. It’s her first day and she comes from a school in
another province and here she knows all the answers. Hloni is definitely going to
be an asset. The rest of the class had better pull up their socks. Hloni blushes and
squirms, but she’s proud. She doesn’t realize that the other girls are jealous. The
bell goes for break. Everyone streams out. Nobody notices Hloni or asks her to join
them. As a matter of fact the in-girls make a point of ignoring Hloni.
13.) INT. BLOEMFONTEIN MODEL C SCHOOL, CLASSROOM – 12H00
Mpho’s class is going outside for break too. But unlike his sister, Mpho is far
from alone. A group of girls are chatting and flirting and two boys wait to go and
show Mpho the school’s sport fascilities.
14.) INT. BLOEMFONTEIN MODEL C SCHOOL, GIRL’S TOILET – 12H00
The three in-girls are fixing their hair and gossiping. They’re talking about Hloni and
what a boring pain she is. The say that Hloni thinks she’s all that because her
mom is the new head of a police station. Unfortunately that doesn’t count around
here. One of the girls’ mom is a pediatrician and everyone knows how useless the
cops are. The girls get bored dissing Hloni and start talking about the birthday party
next weekend. Hloni certainly won’t be invited, but maybe that hot brother of hers
should be. But sometimes Grade 11 boys think that the younger girls’ parties are
too lame. One of the girls reckons it could be a good move to pretend to be nice
to Hloni. Mpho is seriously hot and maybe they can get to know him better through
-7Hloni. The leader of the pack disagrees. She’ll get up close and personal with
Mpho without having to suck up to Hloni. The girls laugh and agree. They exit.
15.) INT. BLOEMFONTEIN MODEL C SCHOOL, GIRL’S TOILET STALL –
12H00
Hloni is perched on the closed toilet seat. The door is securely locked. Hloni is
mortified by what she just overheard. She finds her cell and dials.
16.) INT. POLICE STATION, TUMI’S OFFICE – 12H00
Tumi is on the landline. (1 x) She’s confirming to a journalist from the local press
that the unidentified body of a woman was found at the spruit this morning. As yet
cause of death has not been determined. A media statement will be issued later
today. Her cell rings and she sees that it’s Hloni calling and she’s instantly
concerned. She answers (2 x) and tells Hloni to just hold a minute. On the landline
she politely yet firmly declines to answer any more questions regarding the
unidentified woman and whether or not this is a murder investigation. She says
goodbye to the journalist and rings off. She’s on her cell now and wants to know
how Hloni is doing? Is everything okay? Hloni, who overheard the tail end of her
mom’s conversation with the journalist, pulls herself together with a visible effort.
She just called to say that she’s fine. She’s loving the school and the kids are very
nice to her. But how is Tumi doing? Was the woman at the spruit murdered? Tumi
must be totally stressed out since it’s just her first day on the job. Tumi laughs a
bit shakily. Things are stressful and hectic but she’ll be fine as long as Hloni is
fine. Hloni reassures Tumi and says goodbye. Tumi is relieved. Hloni is close to
tears. The school bell goes and she has to go back to class. She dreads the
thought.
17.) INT. POLICE STATION, CSC – 14h00
-8Setjhaba is behind the CSC counter and he’s drawing a picture of the dead woman
in the spruit, which Maxwell admires. Setjhaba is proud. Dineo has nearly finished
taking a statement – her first - from the victim of a mugging, with Kittie hovering
behind her to make sure she’s coping. Dineo feels terribly sorry for the victim, but
Kittie is much more businesslike, since the victim was just threatened with a
(smallish) knife and not actually stabbed. And since the victim only lost his cell, his
watch and the R80 he had on him. Kittie gets quite critical when the man admits
that he was actually talking on his cell at the time while walking near the youth
hostel, nogal. Everyone knows the boys in the youth hostel are delinquents or
worse, so for the mugger it was easy pickings. The victim exits after pointedly
thanking Dineo for her help and ignoring Kittie. Maxwell is hungry, having given half
his lunch sandwich to Setjhaba this morning. He tells Dineo to go out to the takeaway caravan on the corner and get him something to eat. Dineo bristles. Surely
running errands for Maxwell isn’t in her job description? Kittie supports Dineo.
Maxwell slyly aks Setjhaba if he’s starving and dying of thirst too? They make the
most delicious fat cakes and slap chips at the caravan… Setjhaba’s mouth waters.
Kittie is feeling very hungry too now. Setjhaba says he’ll go with Kittie, but he
doesn’t have any money. Maxwell tells him not to worry. He’s running a tab with
the woman from the caravan. Kittie and Setjhaba exit. Maxwell fishes whether
Dineo has a boyfriend. Dineo dislikes Maxwell hugely, but she can’t show it.
Setjhaba’s mother enters in a state. She’s looking for Constable Rani. She got a
message that her son is being held here. What has he done? Where is he? Dineo
steps in. The boy hasn’t done anything. The Station Commander would like a word.
Dineo leads the frantic woman out to Tumi’s office.
18.) INT. POLICE STATION, CORRIDOR – 14H00
Setjhaba’s mom talks non-stop as they walk to the office, because she upset and
very nervous of being in the police station. She says she’s a domestic worker in
Bloem and she leaves home very early in the morning. She trusts her boys to get
-9to school. They have never been in trouble with the police unlike their no-good
father from whom they haven’t heard in the last two years. Dineo tries to calm the
woman down, but as they walk she gets more agitated. Dineo is relieved when they
reach Tumi’s office. She knocks and they enter.
19.) INT. POLICE STATION, TUMI’S OFFICE – 14H00
Introductions are made. Tumi dismisses Dineo and invites Setjhaba’s mom to sit.
She explains that the boy went through a highly traumatic experience this morning.
Unfortunately he went to the spruit instead of to school where he found the body of
a woman. And he did exactly the correct thing by coming to the station immediately
to inform them. Setjhaba’s mom is shocked almost speechless. Kittie knocks and
enters without an invitation. She is followed by Setjhaba who is munching on a fat
cake stuffed with chips. Setjhaba’s mom can’t believe this. All the time she thought
that it was Koena. Koena, her first born, is the one who tends to bunk school and
who gets into trouble a lot. Not little Setjhaba… What the hell was Setjhaba
thinking!? She feels like giving him a big klap! And where is Koena!? Setjhaba
senses that the sympathy for today has basically run out and he knows he’s on
really thin ice. His brain is working at the speed of light. (Could be nice if Kittie
interjects till Tumi pointedly asks her to return to her duties in CSI.)
20.) EXT. SPRUIT – EARLY MORNING
Flashback. Setjhaba watches as Koena gingerly removes the dead woman’s watch.
Setjhaba is totally horrified. Koena tells him to run as fast as he can to the police
station. He must tell them he found the woman and that she’s dead. But he must
not at any cost tell the police that Koena was there too. Setjhaba doesn’t want to.
Stealing at the best of times is bad. But stealing from a dead person…. Koena,
who is scared and stressed to breaking point himself shouts at Setjhaba. It’s not as
though the dead woman is going to need her stuff, is it!? If Setjhaba doesn’t go
now, Koena is going to beat him to a pulp. Setjhaba suppresses a sob and runs
- 10 away as fast as he can. Koena fishes the woman’s handbag out of the water. End
flashback.
21.) INT. POLICE STATION, TUMI’S OFFICE – 14H00
Setjhaba snaps back to reality. His mom is panicking and running out of patience.
She asks him for the last time where Koena is. Setjhaba says he really doesn’t
know. Setjhaba wanted to go fishing today, but Koena said he’s going to hang out
at the spaza with his friends. Maybe, if Koena’s friends didn’t pitch up, Koena even
went to school? To hide his discomfort, and also because he’s hungry, Setjhaba
starts eating again. Although his mom remains suspicious, Tumi believes the boy.
Tumi tells Setjhaba’s mom that she can take him home now. He’s had a stressful
and traumatic day and Tumi suggests very strongly that Setjhaba goes for trauma
counseling. Setjhaba’s mom regards her last born sardonically. He doesn’t really
look traumatized… Tumi explains that the effects of a traumatic experience could
psychologically manifest later. Setjhaba’s mom is still unwilling. Where is she going
to get the money for fancy counseling? Tumi says there should be somebody at the
clinic that Setjhaba can talk to. And it will be free. Setjhaba’s mom promises halfheartedly to take the boy to the clinic. They say goodbye and exit. Tumi sighs,
because she knows Setjhaba won’t be getting the counseling he needs. She pulls
herself together and phones Sello. (2 x)
22.) EXT. SPRUIT – 14H00
Sello is completely alone. He is tired and sad as he regards the place where the
body was found. His cell rings and he answers. Tumi wants to know if forensics is
still busy at the spruit. Sello says they’re finished and are heading back to the lab.
Tumi wants an update meeting with Sello in her office a.s.a.p. Sello says he’ll be
there in about an hour. Tumi is puzzled. But if forensics is done at the spruit, what
is Sello still doing there? Sello says he isn’t at the spruit. He’s taking his lunch
break – a very belated lunch break. Tumi is incredulous. This is a murder
Comment [s3]: How is this flashback
moving the story forward?
- 11 investigation and the press has already started asking questions. She has got to
issue a media statement later. Sello corrects Tumi. At this stage they don’t know
for sure that it is a murder investigation. So it may be premature to issue media
statements. And he’s starving. If Tumi wants an update, Raps and Lebo should be
arriving at the station soon. Sello rings off. Tumi fumes. Sello winces. He knows he
was out of line with his new boss and that he’s going to pay for it big time. But he
didn’t have a choice. Sello braces himself and gets into his vehicle. He drives off.
23.) INT. POLCIE STATION, CSC – 15h00
Winnie, the angry woman who was in earlier about her sister-in-law spreading
vicious rumours that she’s a shoe thief, enters again. This time she looks
bedraggled and she has scratches on her face that are bleeding. She pushes in
front of the person from whom Maxwell is taking a statement and tells Maxwell,
Kittie and Dineo to take a good look. This is their doing, because they refused to
help her earlier. And their talk of not causing family feuds etc. was in vain.
Because when she tried to talk to her sister-in-law about spreading lies all over
Mangaung, the sister-in-law attacked her and tried to pull the shoes off her feet. So
now she is there to lay a charge of assault and battery against the sister-in-law.
She wants the woman arrested this very afternoon and she wants her to spend
time in a cell. Maxwell, Kittie and Dineo are all a bit stunned. Dineo finds a tissue
in her bag and gives it to the woman to hold against the scratches. Just then a
man enters and he’s propelling the sister-in-law ahead of him. She also looks
much the worse for wear, because her hair-do is undone and her sleeve is torn.
Winnie is surprised and nervous to see her fuming husband there with his sister.
The husband tells Maxwell that this nonsense is now all over and done with. He
takes the identical pair of shoes out of a plastic bag and plonks them on the
counter. His sister has the grace to look embarrassed. The husband tells them that
after hearing about the cat-fight between his wife and his sister, he went to his
sister’s house. He searched it and found the shoes that she bought, under the bed.
- 12 His sister isn’t the tidiest of women, which is why his wife Winnie insisted that she
move to her own place after they got married. Everyone is now very confused,
because of the 2 pairs of identical shoes. The sister carries on explaining. She did,
by huge coincidence, buy the same pair of very expensive shoes. But then she
couldn’t find them and she saw Winnie wearing them… But meanwhile her shoes
were under her bed all the time. Kittie can’s stifle her laughter and Dineo soon
joins in. Although Maxwell tries to keep a stern demeanor because of the public
wasting police time, he also cracks up. Kittie tells the wife and the sister that at
least they have one thing in common. They have the same taste in very expensive
shoes. The cross husband ushers the troublesome women in his life out, the sister
clutching her shoes. Police work isn’t all doom and gloom.
24.) INT. POLICE STATION, TUMI’S OFFICE – 16H00
Raps and Lebo are reporting to Tumi about the fire that they found at the spruit
and the charred contents of a woman’s handbag. There was a burnt piece of an ID
book, but they doubt if the woman will be identified from that. And there was no
trace of the actual handbag or of anything valuable. There were also some
footprints. Tumi is excited and more convinced than ever that the woman was
murdered and that the motive was robbery. Lebo agrees enthusiastically. Raps is
more circumspect. Tumi will issue the media statement as planned and maybe they
can publish a photo of the woman in case she is recognized. Raps will go to the
morgue to arrange it. And he’ll put pressure on the pathologist to do the autopsy
a.s.a.p. But it certainly looks as though the woman was hit over the head. Or she
hit her head when she slipped and fell… Lebo wants to go to the morgue with
Raps, because he’s never been. But Tumi stops him. She wants to interview him
now to make sure that he’s in the right department. Lebo slumps. He is in the right
department. His dream has always been to become a detective. Tumi isn’t
interested. They will follow procedure… Raps flees after Tumi instructs him to tell
Sello to come and see her the moment he’s back from his very long lunch break.
- 13 Tumi measures the squirming and dejected Lebo who fears he is also going to end
up in CSC.
25.) EXT. MANGAUNG TAVERN – 17H00
Establish. Sello’s vehicle is parked outside the tavern.
26.) INT. MANGAUNG TAVERN – 17H00
Sello is buying two prostitutes drinks. It’s clearly not the first round and it’s also
clear that Sello knows them both well. Sello ‘casually’ asks them when last they
saw Mantwa. They think back. It was last night and Mantwa was having a great
time, as usual.
27.) INT. MANGAUNG TAVERN – NIGHT
Flashback. The tavern isn’t all that busy anymore, because it’s late. The two
prostitutes are there, one of them flirting with a prospective customer. Mantwa, the
dead woman is there too, but she seems preoccupied as she finishes her drink. A
prospective customer flashes some cash at Mantwa, but she tells him not tonight.
The guy is disappointed. The owner of the tavern, Spyker, is checking everything
out casually. Spyker looks at his watch and tells the barman to lock up soon. He’s
going home, because he’s tired and it’s nearly one o’ clock. Spyker exits. The
barman is taking orders for the last round. Mantwa wants to go. One of the
prostitutes wants to know what’s up with her. The guy is a big spender and she’s
blowing him off… Mantwa shrugs. She’s got a bigger spender lined up for tonight.
And she’s already late. Mantwa exits alone. The prostitutes are envious, because
Mantwa always manages to land the rich guys. End flashback.
28.) INT. MANGAUNG TAVERN – 17h00
Sello is pensive and sad, although he tries to hide it. He asks if Spyker is in his
office. The girls say he is. Sello makes a move to go and talk to Spyker, but one
Comment [s4]: From who’s POV are
we seeing this flashback? Is it moving the
story forward in any way?
- 14 of the girls stop him. Sello had better not make waves between Spyker and
Mantwa, ne. Mantwa is Spyker’s favourite and the gossip is that Spyker is the
father of Mantwa’s baby… Sello is seriously shaken. Mantwa is pregnant? The girls
say that she is. Only about 2 months… The girls break off quickly, because Spyker
has just entered and he is frowning, because Sello is talking to the girls. Sello is
seriously rattled.
End ep 2.
Comment [s5]: This cliffhanger could
work without any dialogue…