Screenplay No. 14 (For Your Consideration)

"The Marseillaise"

A group of seven large and jovial American men should be assembled at a banquet table, all facing the camera (be sure to include a whole roast fowl of any type and a clean white-to-yellow tablecloth). On the set, they should be thoroughly regaled, served by a team of waiters. They are all dressed in colorful quasi-Roman wear (drapery and garlands). They have all been taught the “Marseillaise” in rough phonetic French. At some point in the feast the director audibly orders the camera to roll. At this, the film starts, and the participants launch into chorus, looking at the camera and pounding their hands on the table in rough time. As they cease, the film ends. It is preferable that the film is timed so that an embarrassed waiter is caught on screen for the song’s duration. Camera perpendicular to the long end of the table; garish yellowy light. Fade in, fade out.