Burning Handshake

Two men walk toward each other from opposite sides of the frame and meet in the center for a firm handshake. Normal. Professional. The camera begins a slow continuous crane rise overhead the moment the handshake completes. Immediately after the handshake — the man on the right drops to his knees. Then lowers himself face down flat on the ground. No explanation. The other man steps back calmly. The man on the ground begins burning — flames rising from his back, growing steadily. He does not move. The fire burns freely. The camera continues rising overhead throughout — the crane move never pauses, never cuts. The burning figure grows smaller as the camera ascends, the overhead perspective widening to reveal more of the surrounding space. Two people sprint in fast from the right edge of frame — fire extinguishers raised. The moment they arrive and begin spraying, a white substance spreads across the ground around the figure. The fire fights back briefly — then dies. The substance settles. The figure remains face down. Still. Camera reaches maximum overhead height and locks. The scene below: two people standing, extinguishers lowered, white substance on the ground, the figure flat at center. The other man from the handshake still standing where he stopped. Nobody moves. Hold. Fade. Camera: Single unbroken continuous crane rise from eye-level → maximum overhead bird's-eye lock. Begins on handshake completion. Never cuts, never pauses. Lighting: Natural ambient throughout. Fire practical light on burning figure during sequence. Color grade: Clean natural palette. White extinguisher substance stark against ground on arrival. SFX: Footsteps approaching, handshake, knees hitting ground, fire ignition and burn, sprinting feet, extinguisher hiss, fire dying, silence on overhead lock. Forbidden: cuts, camera shake, substance appearing before extinguisher arrival, fire dying before people arrive, text overlays, watermarks, music.

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