WITNESS

WITNESS    

Screenplay by

EARL W. WALLACE

WILLIAM KELLEY

from a

story by

WILLIAM KELLEY

REVISED DRAFT

APRIL 23, 1984

1 EXT. LANCASTER COUNTY, PA. COUNTRYSIDE - DAY

(TITLE SEQUENCE)

The faces of several young children are presented in

CLOSEUP, as they walk TOWARD US across a ploughed

field. On the SOUND TRACK, the haunting SOUNDS OF A

GREGORIAN FUNERAL CHANT. The CAMERA PANS UP to the

faces of older brothers and sisters, then to parents

and grandparents. These are not familiar faces, but

faces from another age, strong and open. All are

dressed in the distinctive clothing of the Amish.

2 EXT. COUNTRY LANE - DAY

Through the last traces of early morning mist another

group of black-clad figures make their way down a lane.

3 EXT. COUNTRY LANE - DAY

An Amish buggy, black and highwheeled, stark against

the landscape, appears, a spirited chestnut in the

traces.

Framed in the glass window of the narrow buggy is the

stern figure of an Amish man in black topcoat and

flatbrimmed hat, his bonneted wife in muted colors,

the face of a boy, attired like his father, peering

out.

The horse's breath smokes on the frosty air, the buggy

CREAKS on its springs, and there's the rhythmic CLIP-

CLOP OF HOOVES on the pavement.

4 ANOTHER LANE

Two Amish buggies reach a crossroads, join a procession

of three others. They disappear as the lane wends

through a leafless thicket of hickory.

5 VALLEY

A BIG SHOT... now the procession numbers almost a dozen

buggies... it is headed toward a distant farmhouse.

6 BARNYARD

Where literally dozens of carriages are parked. The

horses have been taken from the traces, removed to the

shelter of the barn.

7 EXT. LAPP FARMHOUSE - FRONT PORCH

As the black clad mourners begin to move into

the

house (women and children presumably first).

8 INT. LAPP FARMHOUSE

the coffins the upper half open. We see that

the worse

has been dressed in white linen, a piece of

white linen

partially covering the bearded face.

END TITLE SEQUENCE.

9 INT. LAPP FARMHOUSE

Partitions have been removed, making the

central rooms of the farmhouse a spacious hall. The place is

packed, a hundred-fifty or more Amish, all sitting in

absolute silence on rows of wooden benches.

A wooden coffin rests on a bench in the f.g.,

and near it the close relatives of the deceased occupy a

special Place.

RACHEL LAPP

A young woman of perhaps twenty-seven. Her

face is pale and drawn. In happier circumstances,

although there haven't been too many of late in Rachel's

life, we would see a robust, sensual woman of full

figure, spirit and intelligence.

Eight-year-old SAMUEL LAPP flits next to his

mother; he

would appear stunned, possibly not entirely

comprehend-

ing events.

And the patriarch, ELI LAPP; his stubborn,

weathered -

yet not unkind - features grief-stricken.

THE MOURNERS

Their faces...

CLOCK

as it begins to CHIME nine a.m.

FAVORING PREACHER

as he removes his hat. As one, the men in the

congre-

gation remove their hats also.

9 CONTINUED:

Then the preacher begins to speak in a formal

German

dialect:

(SUBTITLES OVER)

PREACHER

... a brother has been called home.

God has spoken through the death of

our neighbor, Jacob Lapp...

THE FAMILY

where Rachel, Samuel and Eli are sitting- SOUNDS

of emo-

tion and grief not quite suppressed are heard

throughout as:

PREACHER

... husband of Rachel, father to

Samuel, son of Eli.

(and)

His chair is empty, his bed is

empty, his voice will be heard no

more. He was needed in our

presence, but God needs such men,

too. That one should be taken so

suddenly. Treat sorrow. Still, we

would not wish him back. Rather we

should prepare ourselves to follow him.

TIGHTENING to the Lapps, and...

10 EXT. CEMETERY

The mourners have gathered about the grave,

standing in

silence as four pallbearers are lowering the

coffin

into the pit. The many buggies are aligned in the

b.g.

As the pallbearers begin to shovel soil and gravel

into

the grave, the Preacher begins to read a hymn in

German

... a slow atonal litany which seems to hang

forever on

the frosty air.

RACHEL

TIGHTENING to her as the hymn continues...

CUT TO:

11 INT. LAPP FARMHOUSE 11

where the Amish have gathered for the traditional

post

funeral, midday meals.

11 CONTINUED: 11

Long tables are laden with customary Amish fare

... crocks of soup, hams, fowl, fried boiled eggs

and pickled beets, preserves

and an infinite variety of pies and pastries.

RACHEL

Where she sits among women, accepting their

condolences.

DANIEL HOCHSTETLER

A brawny-armed, ruggedly-handsome, raffish looking

Amishman.

There is something atypical about his face a slightly

sardonic set of

mouth, a bold eye, a prominent set of jaw. Not exactly

what old Jacob

Ammann had in mind, maybe, but a well set-up man

nonetheless, and at

ease among men. He's among a group of men including old

STOLTZFUS,

the local healer, FISHER, BIEILER and Bieiler's stout

young son, Tom.

STOLTZFUS

Lapp was a good farmer.

None better.

BEILER

But not the man to buy a horse

for you.

(and)

Hochstetler, wasn't it your

father

sold him that horse with a

ruptured testicle?

TOM

(grins)

Told him it was a bee sting

made

him limp that way.

HOCHSTETLER

(amused)

That horse had one good ball.

That's all it takes.

The others chuckle. But Hochstetler's

attention is still on Rachel.

RACHEL

as Hochstetler looms on the horizon, plants

himself like a tree in front of her.

11 CONTINUED: (2) 11

At ease as he was with the men, he's a bit awkward at this.

All the women, very much aware of Hochstetler's availability, tune in as

Rachel looks up.

HOCHSTETLER

I was sorry to hear about Jacob.

Let us hope he walks close with

God.

RACHEL

I'm sure he does, Daniel.

12 FIELDS, LAPP FARM - DAY 12

It is some time after the funeral and the Lapp family is hard at work

breaking ground for the spring ploughing. The death of Jacob has

increased the work load on; all three - Samuel maneuvers a four-mule

team while Rachel and old Eli work nearby, further breaking up the

earth. Rachel looks up from the back-breaking labor as several figures

approach - it's Daniel Hochstetler and two of his brothers. Without a word

they fall in beside Eli and Rachel and take up various tasks associated with

the work in hand. Daniel works close beside Rachel.

12A EXT. COUNTRY ROADS, LANCASTER COUNTY - DAY 12B

A few BRIEF SHOTS of a lone buggy containing the Lapp family take

us from the 18th century into the 20th century the reassuring RATTLE

OF THE CARRIAGE WHEELS on quiet backroad, to the ROAR OF

TRAFFIC as the buggy waits patiently for a chance to cross a busy

interstate highway.

12B EXT. HIGHWAY, LANCASTER COUNTY - DAY 12B

A huge tractor trailer rig hovers over the frail buggy as it trots down

the interstate. The camera cranes up to reveal a procession of vehicles

behind the truck for a chance to overtake it.

13 OMITTED 13

14 EXT. PLATFORM, LANCASTER STATION - DAY 14

Daniel Hochstetler moves through the crowd on the plat-form, Rachel

turns surprised, as he approaches, a faint color coming to her cheek.

RACHEL

Daniel?

14 CONTINUED: 14

HOCHSTETLER

I...I was at the feed store.

And I saw your horse, so...

There is an embarrassment between them broken by the

arrival of the train.

HOCHSTETLER

(continuing)

You will come back soon?

Samuel can barely contain his excitement as he drags at

his mother's hand.

SAMUEL

Quickly, Mothers Quickly!

Rachel embraces Eli.

ELI

You be careful out among them

English.

She turns to Hochstetler.

RACHEL

I need time, Daniel.

14A EXT. CARPARK, LANCASTER STATION - DAY 14A

Daniel Hochstetler leaps into the driving seat of his open

wagon and with a flick of the reins and a whoop

sets his horse off at a fast trot.

14B EXT. TRAIN - DAY 14B

The ENGINE gives a WARNING BLAST before creeping slowly

forward.

15 OMITTED 15

16 INT. TRAIN (MOVING)

16

as Samuel spots something out of the window that causes

him to light up.

SAMUEL

Look, Mama...l

17 HIS POV THROUGH WINDOW 17

A road runs parallel to the train track, and Hoch-

stetler in his wagon urges his horse almost to the

gallop as he attempts to keep pace with the train.