Innocent Target
INNOCENT TARGET
by Josh Greenberger
Copyright Josh Greenberger
On September 4, 1997, DIANA CAMPUZANO, an American visiting Israel, was the victim of a terrorist attack which took the lives of seven people and injured 192, 8 critically. Diana was one of the 2 most critically injured.
The attack drew international attention. Diana’s picture, her face completely covered in blood, was displayed on the front pages of many major newspapers and magazines.
Photos of Diana before and after the attack, a photo of Prime Minister Benjamin Natanyahu visiting one Diana’s injured friends, photos of the carnage that appeared in Newsweek, USA Today, and other publications, can be seen at InnocentTarget.com.
In spite of the odds against her, Diana survived.
The following screenplay, based on true events and characters, is Diana Campuzano’s horrific story.
INNOCENT TARGET
by Josh Greenberger
Copyright Josh Greenberger
EXT. ISRAEL – SEPTEMBER 4, 1997, 3:09 P.M.
OUTDOOR CAFE IN BEN YEHUDA STREET SHOPPING PLAZA
It is a warm, bright, sunny day. DIANA CAMPUZANO, 30, and a couple of friends, SHERRI and GREGG, enjoy coffee, cake and light banter in this crowded cafe.
(Diana’s face is not shown throughout this scene, for reasons that will become clear later.)
Among the throngs of people moving in and out, 3 MEN IN OVERCOATS, a little overdressed for this weather, walk in, nervously shifting their eyes from side to side. One of the men is poorly disguised as a woman. Diana’s eyes are diverted to this guy.
DIANA
That’s odd.
GREGG
What?
DIANA
A guy dressed in drag … in Israel?
GREGG
Why not?
Somewhat apprehensive, Diana turns her attention to 2 ISRAELI SOLDIERS with machine guns just outside the cafe.
Suddenly, one of the 3 men slips his hand under his overcoat.
DIANA
(jumps up and shouts)
No!
The soldiers swing around instantly, raising their guns. But not quickly enough.
The three men activate detonators under their overcoats — creating three HUGH EXPLOSIONS, in rapid succession, which rip through the cafe.
The blast picks up Gregg and hurls him 8 feet away. Tables, chairs and many patrons go flying.
When the smoke clears, we see Gregg with a broken leg, Sherri burnt over 30% of her body, and Diana bleeding profusely from the face. There are also dead bodies and body parts strewn about.
CUT TO SEVERAL MINUTES LATER
Ambulances, cops, military personnel and the news media are at the scene.
As Diana, in critical condition, is carried from the rubble into an ambulance, she is photographed by just about every photographer at the scene. But her face cannot be seen through all the blood.
A PARKED CAR CLOSE TO THE CARNAGE
Inside are ABU ATEF, the leader of a terrorist cell, and one of his cohorts.
ABU
(heavy middle eastern accent)
(looking with glee at the dead bodies)
Excellent.
They drive off.
CUT TO A CLOSE SHOT of headlines of an American newspaper reading, “Terrorist Attack in Israel Kills 7, Wounds 192, 8 Critically”
EXT. CHURCH – ROCHESTER, NEW YORK – DAY – 13 YEARS AGO
The pastor greets congregants as they leave Sunday services.
Diana, 17 HERE, appears with her parents, RAMIRO and MABEL, and her brother, JORGE, about 2 years her junior.
MABEL
Excellent sermon, pastor.
PASTOR
Thank you, Mabel.
Mabel nudges the kids.
DIANA
Yes, it was really nice.
PASTOR
Oh, thank you, Diana.
INT. CAR – THE CAMPUZANOS DRIVING HOME – COUNTRY ROAD – DAY
MABEL
You didn’t seem very attentive, Diana.
DIANA
Ma, I have finals this week.
MABEL
Well, I hope you at least do well in that. You’re going to college after the summer, you know.
DIANA
I know, ma.
JORGE
She was thinking of Jason.
(laughs)
DIANA
Shut up, Jorge.
MABEL
(grimaces)
Isn’t that the Jewish kid?
DIANA
I was not thinking of Jason.
A couple of minutes later, they pass a small synagogue. Diana’s eyes are fixated on the large Star of David on the front door.
INT. CLASSROOM – PURDUE UNIVERSITY – DAY – 4 YEARS LATER
Diana sits next to several friends, TIFFANY (her roommate), NORM and BRANDON.
PROFESSOR
(recites from memory, as if reading scripture)
In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.
The professor calls on a student who is raising his hand.
STUDENT
Luke.
PROFESSOR
No … Psalm 102.
DIANA
How do we authenticate one or the other?
PROFESSOR
We don’t. In comparative analysis, we leave authentication to others. Our objective is to show commonality and equality of cultures and religions.
DIANA
But aren’t some religions opposed to one another in principle?
PROFESSOR
Yes, they are, Diana. But why should that matter?
DIANA
Well, if one is true, the other one cannot possible be true. How can true and false possibly be equal?
PROFESSOR
Now that’s just one possibility …
(looks around the classroom for an answer)
… any other possibilities?
The professor calls on one of several students raising their hands.
STUDENT
(smiling)
False and false.
PROFESSOR
Excellent, Walter.
INT. RUN DOWN BUILDING – GAZA STRIP, ISRAEL – DAY
CLOSE SHOT of a map of Israel on the wall.
ABU (V.O.)
Our mission will be over when this entire region will be known as Palestine …
CAMERA PULLS BACK revealing …
Abu and about a half dozen middle eastern men, all between 18 and 28, are in this decrepit looking room. All pack pistols, some have rifles.
ABU
… martyrdom cannot be measured with money. It can be measured only with its power to persuade …
KNOCK ON DOOR
All jump up and surround the door, guns drawn. Abu peeks through a crack in the door.
ABU
It’s them.
Abu opens the door. In walk 2 of their comrades, pulling 2 crates. They open one crate; it’s full of scuba diving gear.
About the Author
STG556 Shooting 2 lb Mongo Exploding Target in Kingsport TN
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