Writing a script based off of a historical event was a really nice way to get us thinking of the stories that are all around us, that we may be passing by, or disregarding as ordinary or mundane; or perhaps we hadn’t searched the stories out. Our story was of Billy’s mother, a Bulgarian woman who was recruited into the KGB at a very young age.
We wanted to stay pretty close to the story, so we only added a few embellishments. Unlike “My Grandmother Ironed the King’s Shirts,” which seemed very embellished (but cute), we already had an action packed story about a young woman escaping a very dangerous organization. The family history reminded us of the show Alias, a tv show about a spy (Jennifer Gardiner) who has to juggle her life as a twenty-something's woman and as a CIA agent. Similarly Desislava, the main character in our script, tries to stay loyal to her revolutionary friends, though her new “employers” require her to give them up.
- Abby W.
Our short historical script focused on a few key points that I related from my mother’s experience as a young woman in Bulgaria. Abby and I wanted to focus on keeping some elements from the actual historical narrative but also heighten the stakes in other situations to enrich the story from the perspective of a screenplay. One thing about history that we discussed in class is that it has the ability to be subjective to each individual. So in accordance with that discussion, Abby and I decided to use my mother’s story as a foundation for the rest of the narrative. Abby drew upon other literary and cinematic elements that she had been exposed to which affected the dialogue and nature of the script. I used my knowledge of Bulgarian culture as well as how my mother interacts with others to shape part of the script but also drew upon exposure to spy cinema. Together, we created a narrative that has historical references and truths within it, but also is largely imaginative and unique to our interpretation of the historical events.
Satrapi recreated her interpretation of the Iranian revolution with a series of visual images that were extremely stylized and introspective. It was awesome to gain that insight from reading the article and seeing how the story developed and how it directly affected our narrative. Our story focused on trying to recreate a narrative from the perspective of my mother. Everything that was in our narrative comes from a family folktale. It has only been passed down to my generation of the family through word of mouth. This allowed us to be extremely subjective and creative in our telling of the story, adding characters like Marko to express the narrative and the emotions found in that cultural piece of Bulgaria at that specific place in time.
- William K.
INT. OFFICE - EVENING
DESI (19) and TATY (19) are working their summer jobs as secretaries of a local newspaper in Sofia, Bulgaria.
TATY
What are you even still doing here, Desi?
DESI
What do you mean, it's my turn to close?
TATY
No, I mean what are you doing here. Shouldn't you be off in America, doing something with that brilliant language obsession of yours?
DESI
It's called linguistics Taty.
Desi smiles at Taty.
DESI (CONT'D.)
And you know just as well as I do you don't just go 'off to America.'
TATY
Oh please, if you can't make it then there's no hope for any of us average Soviets.
Desi is awkwardly silent. She continues to file papers as Taty hovers over her.
TATY
Okay fine, I'm done lecturing you. I'm going to the café with Marko. Meet me there?
DESI
Yeah, I'll see you there!
Taty leaves the cafe and two KGB officials bump her as they enter the office. Desi is still crouched over ordering files.
DESI
I apologize but we are closed for the..
2.
KGB OFFICER 1
Desislava Dimitrova?
DESI
There's no smoking in here, sir.
Desi turns around and is shocked to see the two KGB officers leaning on her desk. KGB Officer 1 is smoking and the KGB Officer 2 stands near the doorway tapping his foot rapidly.
DESI
Oh! I apologize for my prior comment, sir, excuse me. How may I help you today?
INT. CAFÉ - NIGHT
Taty and MARKO (24) are sitting at a table leaning up against each other and taking bites of each other's pastries. Desi walks into the café and sits down at their table. Desi is quiet.
MARKO
Hey Desi you finally grace us with your presence!
Taty playfully pushes Marko.
TATY
What took so long?
DESI
Sorry, I got held up. Did I miss anything?
TATY
Well Marko decided to get into a fight with a loyalist.
DESI
What?
MARKO
It was a minor disagreement between a Soviet pig and myself. He seemed content to agree to disagree.
Marko grins as he nods to a bloodied man in a corner of the bar. Marko raises a beer at him smugly.
DESI
Marko! You can't do that! You could get us into serious trouble.
3.
MARKO
Oh, mother please can I not escape you anywhere.
DESI
I'm being serious!
TATY
Desi, come on it's nothing new. Marko never could keep away from a spirited disagreement.
DESI
But.. It could be.
MARKO
Are you ok?
TATY
Yeah, who were those two men that came in so late? Seriously you don't look too good.
Desi looks around the cafe suspiciously. She leans close to Taty and Marko.
DESI
Out back. Now.
EXT. CAFÉ - MOMENTS LATER
Desi, Taty, and Marko exit the Cafe through the back. Desi looks around carefully and gathers the two of them close.
DESI
Those were KGB officers. They want me to translate Western transmission concerning foreign security. English, French, anything that concerns the Capitalists. I start immediately.
MARKO
You're kidding me. They can't just make you work for them. This is why Bulgaria needs groups like the Union of Democratic Forces.
TATY
Marko! Shh, you don't know who could be listening.
4.
MARKO
No! We need to fight the Communists. We need to rise up together, now! It's not right!
Marko's voice elevates and gathers the attention of some bystanders near the street.
TATY
Marko, I'm serious you need to stop.
DESI
Taty's right, Marko. That radical train of thought will make you disappear. Please, stop now.
MARKO
So you are just gonna take this?
DESI
I have no choice.
MONTAGE - VARIOUS
(A) INT. KGB CENTRAL OPERATIONS
Desi works at a desk alone and translates transmissions.
(B) EXT. CAFÉ - NIGHT
Desi walks into the café.
(C) EXT. CAFÉ - MOMENTS LATER
Desi, Taty, and Marko walk out of the cafe laughing. Desi has her arm around Taty.
(D) EXT./INT. - DESI'S APARTMENT - MOMENTS LATER
Desi unlocks her apartment door and walks inside. She sets her keys down and flops on her bed. She is still smiling from laughing with Taty and Marko. Her smile quickly fades to a worried look.
FADE TO BLACK.
5.
INT. KGB CENTRAL OPERATIONS SOFIA - EVENING
KGB OFFICER 1
Great work, comrade. You translate faster than any linguist we have. You serve well.
Desi nods solemnly. KGB Officer 1 smokes while KGB Officer 2 waits impatiently at her desk.
KGB OFFICER 1
Because of your superior performance, we have an additional task for you.
KGB Officer 2 slides a manila folder towards Desi. She flips open the folder to reveal pictures and names of all of the students in her graduating class. Taty is included on the list.
KGB OFFICER 2
We need you to tell us names of all of the "revolutionaries" in your class. Soviet Bulgaria will not allow the ideologies of the Capitalist Pigs to affect our youth any further.
Desi blankly stares at the pictures in the folder.
KGB OFFICER 2
We need those names. Withholding information will land you in the same slop with the pigs.
DESI
I don't know.
KGB Officer 2 slams the table and rushes to slam the office door. Desi jumps at the slam. KGB Officer 1 leans in close to Desi.
KGB OFFICER 1
If you do not tell us, we will be forced to take further, more painful, approaches towards this questioning.
DESI
I don't know! If I knew I would tell you.
Desi looks at the list again.
6.
DESI
What will happen to these people?
KGB OFFICER 2
Let's just say, they should be extra careful when they cross streets.
Beat.
DESI
I mean, I've heard people talk about the revolutionaries but it's just rumors. Myths!
KGB OFFICER 1
We know they exist. And we also know you have associated with some very open 'myths.'
KGB Officer 1 slides a picture of Desi, Taty, and Marko at the back of the cafe. Desi stares at the picture, terrified.
KGB OFFICER 1
Now, time for further measures.
KGB Officer 2 walks over to Desi and pulls out a needle. Desi struggles against the men as she is pinned down. The needle is forcefully injected into Desi's arm.
FADE TO BLACK.
INT. DESI'S APARTMENT- NIGHT
Desi wakes up groggily in her apartment. It is dark. Desi begins to remember the interrogation and rushes out the door.
EXT. CAFÉ - NIGHT
Desi runs towards the Cafe. She slows as she approaches the intersection and sees Marko and Taty laughing as they approach the crosswalk.
DESI
Taty! Marko!
TATY
Desi! We'll be over in a second.
The light changes and Taty and Marko begin to cross. At that instant, Desi hears a car motor turn.
7.
DESI
Stop! Don't cross!
Marko and Taty stop and look towards Desi. A car speeds towards them. Desi rushes to the street. Marko and Taty are run over by a KGB Official Mercedes-Benz. She recognizes the driver as KGB Officer 2. Desi falls to her knees at the sight of Taty and Marko murdered.
FADE TO BLACK.
