New Preemptive Memorial in California Honors the Future
Victims of the Folsom Dam Disaster
Script: Lang Fisher. Idea: Carol Kolb
5/2 (CLK)
INT. ONION NEWS STUDIO
ANCHOR
The city of Folsom, California in a
sad ceremony today, honored those
who will die in the tragic Folsom
Dam Disaster. REPORTER has the
story.
STOCK FOOTAGE: The Folsom Dam, intact.
REPORTER
The Folsom Dam has been a landmark
in the Sacramento Valley since its
completion in 1955. But ever since
water started leaking through a
damaged spillway gate four years
ago, it's become a symbol of doom
for the hundreds, perhaps
thousands, of souls who will be
consumed in its onrushing waters.
EXT. FOLSOM DISASTER MEMORIAL PARK
Crowds of citizens, city officials, and reporters attend the
opening ceremony in an outdoor park. At the center of it all
is a large memorial.
LOWER THIRD: Sgt. Al Drews, Army Corps of Engineers
SERGEANT DREWS
The county never has the money to
fix the dam completely, so we just
keep making small repairs. It's
tragic that so many hundreds or
thousands of people will die
because of our neglect... Just
tragic.
EXT. FOLSOM DISASTER MEMORIAL PARK – DAY
Somber people gather around the memorial in background.
REPORTER
But this year, the Sacramento
County government finally decided
to act, budgeting $20,000 dollars
to construct a memorial for the
inevitable victims of the tragedy.
B-ROLL: Wide shot: A crowd of mourners.
B-ROLL: Close up: A two elderly people hold hands.
B-ROLL: Close up: A woman dabs tears from her eyes.
Production Note: These would all come from reaction shots
from extras.
REPORTER (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Unveiled at a ceremony today, the
Folsom Disaster Remembrance Statue
will be etched with the names of
the victims once they are killed.
It is intended to provide comfort
for the families who are about to
lose their family members, friends,
or even their own lives in the
disaster.
EXT. FOLSOM DISASTER MEMORIAL PARK - PRESS CONFERENCE
A press conference is held in front of the memorial.
GORDON, a late 40s city planner, stands behind a podium (or
on a small stage) at the unveiling ceremony, addressing the
crowd. Several aides stand behind him.
LOWER THIRD: Gordon Willoughby, Folsom City Planner - Folsom
Disaster Remembrance Statue Unveiling Ceremony
GORDON
We are extremely dismayed by the
tragedy that's going to shake this
close-knit community to its very
core. We can only hope that this
tribute can ease some of the
suffering that many families are
about to incur. (pauses) It's the
least we can do for them.
B-ROLL: Wide shot: A crowd gathered around the memorial
(from afar, so we can't see what it is, perhaps?)
B-ROLL: Pan over details of the statue: Angels with wings
outstretched burst forth from a broken dam.
Production note: This is a CU that will stand alone and does
not have to appear on the existing memorial that we are
shooting in the wide.
REPORTER (V.O.)
The memorial is built on high
ground overlooking the dam, so that
it will not be swept away along
with the rest of the town and its
citizens.
GRAPHIC: A map of the dam and the town. An red arrow marked
"Path of the Water" goes from the dam through the town. A
dot marked "Memorial" is located on an area overlooking the
dam, out of the way of the arrow.
REPORTER (V.O.) (CONT'D)
It was designed by Japanese artist,
Keiko Tottori.
EXT. FOLSOM DISASTER MEMORIAL PARK
40-year-old Japanese woman addresses camera.
KEIKO
It will be a place of shared
grieving and catharsis for those
touched by this terrible, terrible
future tragedy.
B-ROLL: Close up: Pan over the angels in the statue.
KEIKO (V.O.) (CONT'D)
The angels are made so that the
names of the dead can be inscribed
upon their wings.
B-ROLL: Close up on an angel with "Dennis Munoz" etched into
its wing.
REPORTER (V.O.)
One name has already been added:
Dennis Munoz, a civil engineer who
works in the dam's control tower
and will undoubtedly be the first
to be killed by the 80 billion tons
of water when the structure bursts.
INT. MUNOZ LIVING ROOM - DAY
Interview with Eva and Dennis Munoz - early 50s, simple
looking, blue collar.
LOWER THIRD: Eva and Dennis Munoz - Soon to Die
EVA
We are just so proud of Dennis and
we are so thankful that the city
will remember him and his hard work
on the dam. I know that he will
want me to…
DENNIS
(patting her) It's okay, honey.
EXT. FOLSOM DISASTER MEMORIAL PARK – DAY
B-ROLL: Flowers, pictures, and hand-made signs piled at the
base of the memorial.
B-ROLL: Pan over children's pictures commemorating the
disaster hung on a fence: Crayon drawings of the dam
breaking. A sign that says "I will miss you, Daddy."
REPORTER (V.O.)
The memorial was designed to
accommodate 500 names after
considering the number of homes in
the area and the average traffic on
nearby Route 10 [CHECK]. It can
also be altered to include up to
2,000 names in the event that the
disaster occurs during the annual
"Folsom Jazz festival".
GRAPHICS: A photo of the current memorial statue. Fade to a
second version of the statue which has many more angels
flying from it.
EXT. FOLSOM DISASTER MEMORIAL PARK
KEIKO
Until the police begin their search
no one will know how many their
bodies will be.
EXT. FOLSOM DISASTER MEMORIAL PARK - PODIUM
Gordon on stage with his aides behind him, like before.
GORDON
The greatest tragedy is that this
disaster will have been
preventable.
All the warning signs are here,
now, yet no one will have done
anything about it.
EXT. FOLSOM DISASTER MEMORIAL PARK
LOWER THIRD: Sgt. Al Drews, Army Corps of Engineers
SERGEANT DREWS
The guilt over this will eventually
drive me to lose my mind... and
soon after the massive death toll
becomes apparent, I will take my
own life. (flash cut) Good God...
what will I have done?!?
EXT. FOLSOM DISASTER MEMORIAL PARK
REPORTER
For the Onion News Network, I'm
REPORTER.
INT. ONION NEWS STUDIO
ANCHOR
What a heartwarming tribute. Our
prayers will go out to each and
every one of the victims. Next
up...
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