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THE CYPRUS AFFAIR (FINAL SCENES)
​​
​By Susan Joyce


Adapted from the book, "The Lullaby Illusion" by Susan Joyce


​
​96
​

​
​EXT. CARS PARKED ON RISE NEAR HIGHWAY - NIGHT

Susan and Charles sit in their car and watch as others climb 
​into their various cars parked near the highway.


Ronit waves at them and gets into her friend’s car nearby.

Ilene and Josh get into their family car parked in front of them.

Susan gets into the back seat of the convertible.  Charles
stretches his large body out across the two front seats.


Random explosions sound from across the pass.

An abrupt spark discharges behind their car.

CRACK! SNAP! BANG!

Susan sits up and utters a loud SHRIEK.

Charles remains stretched out on the front seats. 
​​
​CHARLES
Probably ammunition left behind.
The car’s as safe a place as any.
If we die, we die. Try to relax. 

​
​Susan sighs, clasps her hands together. 
​
SUSAN
​We will survive. ​
​
CRICKETS’ CHIRPS and Charles’ SNORES keep her awake.

She overhears a conversation between Ilene and her son Josh
from the car parked in front of them.​

​
​JOSH (O.S.)
Are we going to die?
​
​ILENE (O.S.)
I don’t know love. If we do, we’ll
​die together as a family.

​
Susan wipes tears from her eyes. 
​
SUPER: “WEDNESDAY, 24 JULY 1974”


​
​96
​

97
​


​EXT. CARS PARKED ON RISE NEAR HIGHWAY - DAWN
​
Susan turns the radio on at low volume.
​
BFBS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
The British ships are waiting off
the Northern coast of Cyprus to
rescue foreign nationals in the
Kyrenia area.
​
Excited, Susan jumps up and tries to wake Charles. He grunts,
​snores, and turns over.

She looks around to see if others are stirring; all is quiet.
No movement.

BFBS ANNOUNCER (V.O.)
Make your way to the nearest beach.
Helicopters will comb the beaches.


She stops a UN SOLDIER walking past.
​

​SUSAN
Have you heard the evacuation news?
​

UN SOLDIER
Yes. We must wait on clearance from
the Turks to lead a convoy through
the ​area. It will happen soon. We
will run two convoys to the Six
Mile Beach, east of Kyrenia.
​

The sun rises. People move about. Ronit joins them and gets
into the back seat of their car.

​Car engines start and cars move forward to form a convoy.



97
​


98

EXT. CYPRUS MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY - DAY ​
​

Two UN armored scout cars and two Land Rovers lead the way to
steer cars clear of any explosives left along the road.

More UN jeeps and armored cars follow in the rear. The convoy
turns left onto the main highway and winds its way north,
down the mountain pass to Kyrenia.

Susan gazes sadly at the smoldering tree stumps and dead
bodies visible off the highway.

The lead UN vehicles drift back and forth, guiding cars
around huge shell casings and unexploded devices (some over
three feet long) scattered along the buckled, twisted road.

KA-BOOM! POW!

A powerful explosion sends shock waves through their bodies.
Susan jumps. Ronit shrieks. Charles slams on the brakes.

KA-BOOM!

A car ignites and bursts into flames a few hundred feet off
the road.

HORNS BLAST. BRAKES SQUEAL as cars come to a screeching stop.

A UN SOLDIER motions drivers to stay back.

Dazed, Charles, Susan and Ronit sit in silence and watch the
fiery combustion shoot skyward.

LATER When the fire stops crackling and becomes embers, the UN
soldier motions for cars to move forward.

After a slow and bumpy ride with many zigs and zags, they
​reach the village of Kyrenia.



98
​


99


​EXT. KYRENIA MAIN STREET - DAY
​

Mouth open, Susan inhales in horror at missing corners,
walls, and rooftops of beautiful old villas. Gaping holes in 

buildings reveal burned out interiors. 

Scorched bodies litter the sidewalks. Susan covers her mouth
and shakes her head.

Ronit chokes back tears.

Fragments of twisted vehicles lie scattered along the streets 
alongside lifeless bodies torn apart by bombs and bullets.

When they near the corner where they would turn right to
drive home, they see neighbors wave to them.

The convoy travels through the town; now a twisted reality of
death and destruction.

They pass building after building punctuated with blackened
holes, smashed windows and doors.

Dead animals and humans lie scattered across the morbid
landscape.

Susan sits and stares in stunned disbelief; then weeps with
convulsive gulps for air in a high-pitched wail.

Charles and Ronit reach out and pat her.

Susan sobs loud and long. Ronit gently strokes her shoulder.

At the main intersection the convoy turns right and heads
east, toward the Six Mile Beach. 
​

99
​

100
​

EXT. SIX MILE BEACH - DAY 

Approaching the entrance to the “SIX MILE BEACH” road, the
convoy stops.

A UN SOLDIER directs drivers to park their cars near a closed
beachside restaurant.

Charles parks the car. They get out and remove their small
suitcases from the trunk. A UN soldier approaches. 
​

UN SOLDIER
We are collecting car keys and will
drive your vehicles to the UN
facility for safekeeping.
​

Charles shrugs and looks at Susan.
​
​SUSAN
We have all that matters. The car’s
​not important. Thank you!


Charles hands him the keys.

They join others waiting in the shade of a grape arbor
covering the restaurant’s patio and help themselves to
clusters of grapes hanging overhead.

Refugees mingle and wait in line for helicopters to airlift
them to the waiting ships.

A TELEVISION CREW roam the area interviewing people. They
move toward Susan. 
​

JOURNALIST​​
(to Susan)
Good morning! We’re from a Swedish
television station and would like
to ask about your experiences
​during the war.

SUSAN
I’m just grateful to be alive.
​

​JOURNALIST
Are you European? 
​
SUSAN
No, American. My ancestors were.

JOURNALIST
Where were you when the coup
started?

​
SUSAN
Nicosia at the airport. And, I was 
in my bed in Kyrenia when the Turks 
dropped their first bombs on the 
village.

The journalist motions for the cameramen to move in closer,
as he interviews her.

​
SUSAN (CONT'D) 
So many lives lost. So much
destruction. It’s sad and
senseless. War has stripped Cyprus
​of everything. For what? 


Susan wipes away tears.
​


100
​

101


​EXT. SIX MILE BEACH - FURTHER DOWN - DAY


Refugees line up ready to board the evacuation helicopters.
A BRITISH ROYAL NAVAL OFFICER waves the women and children to the front of the line. Men stand towards the back. 


BRITISH ROYAL NAVAL OFFICER
Women and children first. The
landing helicopters will take you
to the British ships anchored
​offshore.


Susan and Ronit wait in line and watch helicopters land and
lift off.

WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP!

Susan observes the whirling blades rotate.

The British Royal Naval Officer motions Susan and Ronit to move to the front of the line.

​Susan turns to the UN SOLDIERS standing by. 


SUSAN
Thanks for keeping us safe!
​

The soldiers wipe tears from their eyes.
​


101

102


EXT. SIX MILE BEACH FURTHER DOWN - HELICOPTER LANDING AREA - DAY
​

A BRITISH ROYAL NAVAL OFFICER checks passports of the women and children in line.

​Susan hands him her passport. A nervous Ronit smiles and
​holds up her hands.


RONIT
I... I don’t have mine. I’m
Israeli.
​

He nods and motions her forward.

​Ronit presses her hands against her chest.


RONIT (CONT'D)
Thank you!
​

They run, heads down, toward the huge helicopter.

WHOMP! WHOMP! WHOMP!

The whirling blades chop fast overhead.

In one swift swoop, sailors lift Susan and Ronit onto the
helicopter, into a seat, and lock safety belts.

The engine SCREAMS as the chopper lifts straight up off the
ground.

They look at each other and laugh out loud.

As they soar above the blue Mediterranean Sea. Susan points
​to the Kyrenia Castle.


SUSAN​
(loud voice)
Still standing tall. 
​

Ronit points to the beachside Zephyros Hotel. Half of it is
missing.

​

102
​

103


EXT. HMS HERMES SHIP - DECK - DAY
​
The helicopter carrying Susan and Ronit drops straight down.

SAILORS rush forward to unfasten seat belts. One swoop lowers
Susan and Ronit onto the deck.

The sailors corral them with other refugees into a painted
​square.

​
HMS HERMES SAILOR
Stay within the lines. It’s a lift
to lower you to the decks below.
​Keep arms down. We’re descending.

In an instant, the platform plunges downward. With a THUNK,
they land in the belly of the enormous ship.

​

103
​

104


INT. HMS HERMES SHIP - LOUNGE - DAY
​
A bevy of smiling SAILORS greets them.

ONE SAILOR hands them a HAPPY HERMES t-shirt and a boarding pass.

​
HMS HERMES SAILOR ONE
Welcome to the HMS Hermes! Please
move forward to the waiting cots.
Your boarding pass tells you where
​you will sleep for the night.


ANOTHER SAILOR offers English biscuits and tea.

Susan bursts into tears.


HMS HERMES SAILOR TWO
(smiles)
It’s all right, Miss.
It’s English tea, you know.

​
They sip tea and nibble on biscuits.
​
SUSAN
(to Ronit)
I hope Charles got on board. How
​will I find him?


Ronit smiles. 
​
RONIT
Probably in the cafeteria. 
​

Susan laughs. 
​

SUSAN
Good place to search for a hungry
man.

​
Ronit hesitates.
​
RONIT
Tell me about that dream you had
before the war started?

​
SUSAN
It was profound. I drove our
convertible down a steep mountain
road. Without warning, the two
right tires came flying off. A calm
voice told me to just trust myself
​and steer to safety.

​
Ronit smiles.
​

RONIT
And you did.
​
SUSAN
We had a bumpy landing, but
​we’re safe now.


They listen to an announcement.
​
SHIP’S PA (V.O.)
Anyone who requires medical
attention should proceed to the
ship’s hospital.

​
Ronit nudges Susan.
​
RONIT
Let’s go! You need to have your eye
checked.



104
​

105


INT. HMS HERMES SHIP - HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY
​
A DOCTOR (40) puts drops into Susan’s eyes.
​
DOCTOR
A scratched cornea. It will heal...
with time.

​
SUSAN
Only a scratch? I’m lucky.
​

DOCTOR
Others, not so. One young lady, on
her honeymoon, lost her leg to
​gangrene.


Susan goes quiet for a second.
​
SUSAN
Was she in the car that turned left
to Kyrenia instead of right with
the convoy?

​
​DOCTOR
(words catch in his
throat)
Yes. A terrible choice.
​

RONIT
Good news; we’re alive and healthy.
​

Susan sighs.
​

SUSAN
The bad news... paradise is a
convenient illusion. 

​
Eyes wide open, The doctor looks at her, then nods in
agreement.

MONTHS LATER

​SUPER: “OJAI, CALIFORNIA, SPRING 1975.” 



105
​

106


EXT. OUTDOOR PATIO TABLE - DAY 
​

Susan sits in jeans and a t-shirt at an outdoor table in a
garden.

She opens her sketchbook and a large portable watercolor
palette, then dips a thin paintbrush first in water, then in
a light blue color, and quickly sketches the Kyrenia Castle
with its four Byzantine towers from her memory.

INSERT - A sketch of Kyrenia Castle

BACK TO SCENE

With confidence, she dips the pointed brush tip into water
and then dabs a variety of rich watercolors and finishes
painting the castle rising above the intense blue hue of the
Mediterranean Sea.

She paints the reflection of a setting sun of gold and red
and billowing white clouds with silver linings moving in from
the sea.

She stands and admires her memory of the majestic castle
which stands guard over the Kyrenia harbor.

INSERT - Finished painting of Kyrenia Castle.


FADE OUT. 

Picture
Susan - Cyprus

Picture
Damaged Interior

Picture
Beach Evacuation 1 

Picture
Beach Evacuation 2

Picture
HMS Hermes

Picture
Kyrenia Castle


106
​

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