Lather or Nothing Else Script

FADE IN:

INT. BARBER’S HOUSE KITCHEN MORNING

A southern REBEL SOLDIER sits at the kitchen table with the BARBER. His WIFE is serving
bacon and eggs.

REBEL
Thank you for letting me stay. I won't be in your hair much longer my
regiment will return for me very soon. I know this is a risk that you and
your WIFE are taking.

BARBER
You're welcome. The northern soldiers might come looking for
you. When i was walking to get bread the other day i saw a group of
northern soldiers going into the forest.

EXT. BARBERSHOP MORNING

A civil war CAPTAIN walks up to the front door of a local barbershop in a small town and opens
the door.

INT. BARBERSHOP MORNING

The CAPTAIN walks in, hangs his gun belt on the coat stand and sits in one of the barber
chairs. He has about 4 days worth of beard growth. The BARBER, a larger man in his mid 40s
with a big, black beard greets the CAPTAIN.

BARBER
Good morning. How can I help?

CAPTAIN
It's hot as the devil. I want a shave.

The BARBER takes out a razor and lather and begins shaving the CAPTAIN. The CAPTAIN
seems to have a burned face, or really tanned by the sun.

CAPTAIN
The fellows in the troop must have just about as much beard as I. But we
 did very well, you know. We caught the leaders. Some of them we
brought back dead, others are still alive. But they'll all be dead soon.

BARBER
How many did you take?

CAPTAIN
Fourteen. We had to go pretty far to find them. But now they’re paying
for it. And not one will escape, not a single one.

The CAPTAIN leans back in the chair and the CAPTAIN looks at the brush that the BARBER
has, full of lather. The BARBER is flustered. The BARBER grabs a sheet from his drawer and is
tying it around the CAPTAIN’S neck. The CAPTAIN went on talking. The CAPTAIN evidently
took it for granted that the BARBER was on the side of the existing regime. ( I would state this in
a different way so the CAPTAIN shows it through his actions.)

CAPTAIN
The people must have gotten a scare with what happened the other day.

BARBER
Yes.

The BARBER finishes (use Present tense ONLY for Scripts)tying the knot against the
CAPTAIN’S nape, which smells like sweat.

CAPTAIN
Good show, wasn’t it?

BARBER
Very good.

The CAPTAIN closes his eyes wearily and awaits the cool caress of the lather.

FLASHBACK:
EXT. SCHOOL YARD DAY

The CAPTAIN orders the townspeople to file through the school yard. There are 4 rebels
hanging on a scaffold. The people look upon their dead bodies with horror.

INT. BARBER SHOP MORNING

The BARBER is starting to lather up the CAPTAIN’S face. The CAPTAIN leaves his eyes
closed.

CAPTAIN
I would love to catch a nap, but there’s a lot that has to be done this
evening.

The BARBER lifts the brush.

BARBER
(calmly, with indifference) A firing party?.

CAPTAIN
Something of the sort, but slower.

BARBER
All of them?

CAPTAIN
No, just a few.

The BARBER’ hands begin to tremble. The BARBER takes care not to nick the CAPTAIN while
shaving him. He glances nervously outside, searching for other northern soldiers who might
have seen the CAPTAIN enter the shop.

CAPTAIN
 Some BARBER you are. Why are your hands shaking so much?

BARBER
(while his hands are still shaking)
I want to do a good job otherwise your soldiers will have my head.

The BARBER carefully shaves the beard. He checks his work by swiping the back of his hand
on the CAPTAIN’S face to check for smoothness. He takes up the razor, open the handle wide,
releasing the blade, and starts to work, downward from one sideburn. The blade responds to
perfection. The hair is tough and hard; not very long, but thick. Little by little the skin begins to
show through. The razor gives out its usual sound as it gathers up layers of soap mixed with bits
of hair. He pauses to wipe it clean, and takes up the strop once more to go about improving its
edge.

The CAPTAIN opens his eyes and touches his face.

CAPTAIN
Come at six o’clock this evening to the school.

BARBER
(aguishly speaking)
Will it be like the other day?

CAPTAIN
It may be even better. (A bit of action may help the audience understand
the captain’s intentions better here. Ex. Does he smile as he says it?)

BARBER
What are you planning to do?

CAPTAIN
I’m not sure yet. But we’ll have a good time.

Once more the CAPTAIN leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes.

BARBER
Are you going to punish all of them?

CAPTAIN
Yes, all of them.
The BARBER notices the lather is drying. The BARBER looks through the mirror and takes a
look at the grocery store. The BARBER see’s there are about 3 customers. The BARBER takes
a look at the clock. The time is two-thirty. The CAPTAIN has a thick bluebeard.