SATURDAY MORNING MATINEE!
© 2003 Trip Reynolds

FADE IN:

55 EXT. MOVIE THEATRE IN DOWNTOWN WICHITA, KANSAS -- DAY

A panoramic long shot creeps slowly on the theatre's classic bulb-outlined marquee - there are three movies on the bill - and evolves into a worm's-eye view of a Black man walking with his three sons to the cashier's window. The camera takes a worm's-eye shot of the right hand of the middle son as he brushes it against the right rear fin of a black Cadillac. The year is 1963, Saturday, and it's 9:00 a.m.

The father motions to his sons to stand still as he turns to face the cashier sitting behind a grilled window. The hands of each boy are filled with one bag of popcorn and one bag of candy. A 30-second flashback sequence shows their mother popping popcorn earlier that same morning, followed by the boys stopping at a local drug store to purchase penny candy while in route to the theatre. The flashback sequence ends abruptly as the father turns to the boys with a disciplinarian look to keep their hands out of their bags until the movie starts.

FATHER

I'd like three admissions for my sons, please.
I'm just going in to sit my three sons down and then I'll be right back!

CUT TO:

56 INT. MOVIE THEATRE LOBBY

The father and three sons enter the theatre lobby and come to the concession stand. A bird's-eye view takes a close-up of each boy eyeballing the concession stand.

FATHER

Okay, boys, you all ready have candy and popcorn. You can have something to drink but that's all. What would you like?

A muted shot captures the boys ordering and receiving their drinks, and then venturing with their father into the main theatre.

CUT TO:

57 INT. MOVIE THEATRE BALCONY

All theatre lights are on, and there are hundreds of kids rustling about. It's the intermission with less than five minutes before the start of the movie. As we pan across the rows and rows of seats we see most of the children are White.

In a march-like fashion, the father leads his three sons to their seats and then looks directly at the oldest son - who's a tall eleven-year-old, while also making eye contact with the two younger sons. The theatre lights begin to dim.

FATHER

You're responsible! Except to go to the restroom, under no circumstances does anyone leave their seat! As always, be on your best behavior. If your brothers need to go the the rest room, you will take them and then come right back to your seat. Understand?

The oldest son responds directly.

OLDEST SON

Yes, sir!

FATHER

Okay, I'll be back at later this afternoon, around 6 p.m.

In unison the sons chirp like birds.

SONS

Okay, Dad!!! Thanks, Dad!!! Bye, Dad!!!

Now sitting with big smiles on their faces, they sit and, as demonstrated through a time-lapse sequence, they watched movies all day. They were noticeably happy. As directed by their father, they did not get up except to go to the restroom under escort by the oldest son. And then...