WIDE

EXT: VILLAGE ESTABLISHMENTS: DAY: MORNING

Drone shots open establishing the village of (Village name),

one of the serene riverside/lakeside villages set along the

river/ lake (RIVER/LAKE NAME). Among the iconic cliffs, we

see the hush green pastures and hear the 'bird life singing.

We see the village settlement sited nicely between the

iconic mountains.

V.O. (SEMEKOR)

Mawu Sogbolisa, the owner of the

Heavenly Wisdom. You created Heaven

and Earth and everything that lies

in it. You breathe into us, the

breath of Life. We are alive

because of you. You created all of

us as you wish to. But I have only

one question for you. Did you

create some people greater than

others?

In the background of the voice over, we hear a group of

people singing praise songs to God. The songs grow louder

and sound energetic and very passionate.

 INT. CHURCH AUDITORIUM, DAY

A bushy haired man with an unkempt hair is seen standing on

the podium seems to be overtaken by the 'Holy Spirit' is

leading the Church as they sing numerous songs,

notable among the songs is 'Yentia obonsam So' ( We step on

Satan). The dancing of the Church members are very vigorous.

EXT. PATH LEADING TO CHURCH AUDITORIUM

A couple of members are seen running for service as they are

very late.

INT. CHURCH AUDITORIUM, DAY

The Church members who are now soaked and drenched in sweat

as they dance, throw money on the podium as this is a Sunday

ritual.

EXT. VILLAGE PATH

Mana is seen scolding Emefa for being the reason why she is

late for Church Service. Mana is wearing a white robe with a

piece of red cloth tied on the waist. Emefa is dressed the

same. We see other Children in the background plucking

mangoes and other Children playing around. There are some

kids playing football. Some of the kids with cloth tied

around their waist running around. Some traditionalists are

also clad in white cloths with a piece of red cloth tied on

their waist. They are holding some items seen entering the

forest.

MANA

Good Morning

LADY ONE & TWO

Good Morning, How is the family

MANA

Everyone is fine

LADY ONE

Looks like you're going to Church

MANA

Yes ooo. Another sunday has seen

us.

LADY TWO

We are also on our way to perform

our rituals

MANA

May God precede you.

LADY ONE & TWO

You too.
This child (boy/girl) is seen to be interested in what the

other kids than the idea of going to Church. Mana turns to

her kid.

MANA

Let's go

Emefa didn't barge to the idea of going to Church.

Emefa, you will kill me one of

these days. Don't you know, any

child who refuses to go to Church

on a Sunday is a witch and will

definitely go to Hell. Herh, I said

, hurry up we are late for service

this morning

We hear the loud Church Bell ringing in a distance. The

Child is unperplexed and is still seen staggering behind the

mother. Mana in an attempt to quicken her steps to Church

goes back and starts dragging the Child who now bursts into

a loud cry as the mother drags him/her forcibly to Church.

INT. CHURCH AUDITORIUM, DAY

The Pastor has now taken the Centre Stage and is seen

preaching with a lot of energy. The Pastor is in his early

thirties and seems to have modeled his life on " John the
Baptist" living on the Wild. His hair is bushy and uncombed,

the beard is long and dirty, very unkempt. His nails are

long, overgrown and dirty. He is holding a big wooden cross.

There is a big banner in the auditorium displaying the name

of the Church and other items and their price quotations

[Prayer & Counselling - GH5, Consultation fee - GH5,

Anointed Water - GH5, Fasting for You- 40 days - GH5, 30

days - GH5, 21 days - GH5, 12 days - GH5, 7 days - GH5 etc.

Boldly written underneath everything is 'NO CREDIT"

PASTOR GBORMITTAH

Our Sermon is taken from two books,

firstly, I Corinthians 14:34-35

'Women should remain silent in the

Churches. They are not allowed to

speak but must be in submission as

the Law says. If they want to

enquire about something they should

ask their own husbands at home; for

it is disgraceful for a woman to

speak in the Church' and Ephesians

5:22-24 'Wives, Submit yourselves

to your own husband as you do to

the Lord. For the husband is the

head of the wife as Christ is the

head of the Church................

The Bible clearly states that Women

must be second to men in alll

things no matter what. As a woman

 you don't make decisions rather you

take instructions...

As the preaching is going on the camera focuses a lot on

Mansa (the abused woman) as she listens to the words of the

Pastor.

EXT.COMPOUND OF THE CHURCH AUDITORIUM

At the compound of the Church, we see various items like

white washed stones and a huge cross with colored candles

around it. There are other places with chains that holds

people with 'evil spirits' as deliverance services goes on.

It is the end of service people are gathered outside

exchanging pleasantries.

V.O. (PASTOR GBORMITTAH)

You see God created Man first and

never intended creating woman until

the man needed a helper. Therefore

it is a great sin as a woman to

question your husband's authority.

.......

INT. PASTOR'S OFFICE

In the Pastor's Office, we see him and his two assistants

trying hard to straighten and arrange the crumpled money

from the offertory. They are engrossed in what they are

doing and it looks like a Sunday ritual.

V.O. (PASTOR GBORMITTAH)

Here I stand today, a man of God

living in His Glory telling you the

truth as it is written. I do not

stand here today because of your

money but rather to preach the

message to you. So heed to the

words that come out of my mouth in

other to avoid condemnation........

EXT.COMPOUND OF THE CHURCH AUDITORIUM

More members are still stepping out of the auditorium, Mansa

is the last to step out and we can clearly see She is in a

lot of pain and trying hard to force her smiles. She calls

out to he reason who is also standing alone and seems to be

engrossed in her own thoughts

V.O. (PASTOR GBORMITTAH)

The Bible clearly stated that a man

reflects the Image and Glory of God

but the woman reflects the glory of

man. For man was not created from

woman, but woman from man. Nor was

man created for woman's sake, but

woman was created for man's

sake.........
INT. PASTOR'S OFFICE

The three men seem to have finished what they are doing, so

the Pastor counts the money and hands over their share to

them.

V.O. (PASTOR GBORMITTAH)

........

FADE OUT

EXT. SCHOOL COMPOUND

The early Morning Sun is seen rising. The camera follows

students as they head to School. Right at the entrance of

the School is a wooden Notice Board with most of the

original inscriptions missing. The Notice Board has various

Student nicknames carved into it. The notice board seems to

be hanging on only one of its supports as the other support

looked to have been hanging for a number of years. The

Classroom Block is a stretch Brick Building from foundation

to about five feet tall and wooden post mounted at the

various corners to hold the roof above it. The kids are

gathered at an assembly. The National Pledge is heard being

said throughout this scene.

INT. CLASSROOM
Teacher Akakpo, a tall lanky, deeped voice, rotten teeth man

dressed in bright colored long sleeves on a different

colored trousers with a different colored oversize coat/

jacket. The teacher whiles he has his back turned and

writing on the wall, we see a student who is late for class

trying to jump over the wall into the class. The student

succeeds in entering the class without the teacher finding

out. The teacher finally turns to the class and begins to

teach, all the students are listening attentively except

Semekor who is lost in his own world. There are flashes of

his father beating his mother occurring to him as the

studies is going on. Teacher Akakpo on realising Semekor's

absent mindedness calls out to him.

TEACHER AKAKPO

Semekor,......

SEMEKOR

Ermm, ermmm........

Semekor stammers and couldn't answer as the whole class

burst out into laughter

TEACHER AKAKPO

What's going through your mind?

Semkor stands there and stares at the teacher and says

nothing.

If you don't have anything to say.

 Sit your tiny buttocks (bottos)

down.

As Semekor is about to sit down, he whispers to himself.

SEMEKOR

Fear! Fear for what is yet to

happen.

The Bell for closing goes and all the kids pick up their

books and start heading home.

EXT. OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL COMPOUND

Semekor is heading home as a group of guys cross his path

and begin to tease him after what happened in class.

MORTEY

Herh you!!!!! Block headed guy

Semekor ignores him and just whisps by him

Idiot! Son of an Ugly woman! Are

you not the one I am talking to?

Semekor stops and turns slowly to stare at him sternly.

There is so much anger and scorn in his eyes.

You know I am smarter than you

right?
Semekor ignores and continues staring at him.

I said I am smarter than you.

SEMEKOR

You said that already fool

MORTEY

That is because I am twice smarter,

Son of an ugly woman...

Semekor upon hearing that insult lunches a huge blow on

Mortey's face and a fight ensued between the two of them.

Semekor beats the hell out of Mortey. As this fight is going

on we see flashes of the father abusing Mansa and he beats

Mortey in a similar fashion. We establish close to perfect

similarities between the two violent encounters. As the

fighting goes on camera focuses on the face of Mortey, who

Semekor continuosly see as the face of his father.

EXT. FOREST, EVENING

A shot of the landscape is revealed. Semekor picks a

catapult from his back pocket and enters the forest. He

begins to shoot at birds as he enters the forest. Mansa is

seen at a distance washing her clothes and there are are

other women also by the river engaging in various

activities. Semekor goes to Mansa and greets her. she then

orders him to pick firewood.

 MANSA

Semekor, what happened to you.

SEMEKOR

Nothing

MANSA

But your eyes are red like blood.

SEMEKOR

Just like yours Ma. I must have

inherited it from you.

Mansa stares at him, sighs and ask him to pick up wood for

fire.

MANSA

Hurry up and pick up some wood for

the evening.

Semekor moves to gather some few sticks,stops and turns to

the Mum.

SEMEKOR

Da Mansa, Are you happy?

MANSA

Mansa surprised at the question from the son.

 What?

SEMEKOR

Are you happy?

MANSA

hmmm..why do you ask?

SEMEKOR

can't you do anything about it?

MANSA

You are speaking in parables.

Semekor shakes his head and moves deeper into the forest to

continue the assignment. After some time, he moves to

another part of the river and kneels by it and prays to the

river.

SEMEKOR

My Granpa told me that before the

arrival of the whiteman, our people

prayed to you for protection. You

gave life to our fathers and

mothers and those before them. You

protected us against the Anlos

helped us win the war against the

Ashantis. You provided my

forefathers and those before them a

 source of water....Today I am also

here asking you to protect my

mother. This is the only thing I

wish for in life.

After that he performs what looks like some prayer rituals

and picks up the firewood which have now been tied into a

bundle. The two traditionalists are seen emerging from the

forest as he finishes the rituals.

EXT. LANDSCAPE

Silhouette shot of Mansa and Semekor on the way home from

the farm. We can hear the birds and crickets singing.

SEMEKOR

Maa

MANSA

Yes my dear son

SEMEKOR

We were told at school that the

White men used to maltreat and

abuse our forefathers.

MANSA

Yes they abused and sold fathers

into slavery.
 SEMEKOR

Does that mean any abused person is

a slave ?

MANSA

(BEAT)

Yes we can say that.

SEMEKOR

So how were they able to win their

freedom?

MANSA

God was on their side

SEMEKOR

God alone wasn't enough. They also

fought back Maa. They did their

best and left the rest to God.

There is some minutes of silence after Semekor speaks.

Maa

MANSA

Yes my dear son

SEMEKOR

Do you believe one person can make

 a change?

MANSA

Everything is possible by the Grace

of God

SEMEKOR

Amen

(thinking of switching this

dialogue with the "Are you

happy" dialogue)

EXT. HOUSE, EVENING

Semekor and Mansa enters the house. Mansa enters the kitchen

as Semekor goes into the room to change his clothes and

begins to set the fire. As he sets the fire camera moves

into the fire and as camera moves out, there are children

sitting around the fire and the Grandpa sitting at the head

of the circle. The youngest children are sitting at the feet

of the old man.

GRANDPA

Children

CHILDREN

yes Granpa

GRANDPA
 Mawu Sogbolisa has given us another

evening for us to tell our stories.

Let's pray,

One of the children hands him a calabash with 'flour water'

for libation

Maker of Heaven and earth, here is

your drink. Drink as you join us

for another evening. All our

fathers and mothers that have gone

before us, here is your drink as

you also join us.

He takes a little and spits the rest on the left center and

right.

GRANDPA

Children, who can tell me why tell

our stories at the fireside?

CHILD ONE

This is because, these stories

mixes with the smoke who then takes

these stories full of our requests

to our maker in the Heavens.

GRANDPA

Good! The real stories are told by

the fireside. Last week I told you

 a story about how Ananse, the

mystical figure stole all the

wisdom in the world but today, I am

going to telll you a different

story. The real story of the

African History. This story has

been told in different forms, in

bits leaving the esssential part

out. The full story remains untold.

This is the story of determination

and survival. This is the story I

tell you today.

One of the elderly kids raised a song and they all sing.

This story has a dark and stormy

beginning. the freedom of this

society of people has come to an

earth shattering end. the first

rain to fall in six moons harrows

the birth of a leader who will

fight for the freedom of his

people. This young man known as

Togbe Tsali led a revolution of the

ewes as they broke through the

walls of Agorkoli to their freedom.

We are free today because the

bravery of this young

man.............(rework this

dialogue)
As the grandpa tells the story some of the kids through

dancing and singing enact the escape of the ewes as they

walk backward.

Who can tell me some of the lessons

learnt from this story.

CHILD TWO

One person can make a change.

CHILD THREE

It takes determination and survival

instincts to achieve your goals.

GRANDPA

It's time for you to go to sleep I

will continue this story next week.

Have a good sleep.

Another session of drumming and singing.

DISSOLVES TO;

INT. ROOM, NIGHT

A small cubicle in the house. Inside the room, a burning

lamp reveals old newspapers, books, a trunk, clothes

overflowing in a 'Ghana Must Go', chopbox as well as human

beings fighting for space. Semekor is sleeping on a rafia

mat, staring at the roof. Hanging on the wall, just above

the bed is an inscription on a card 'Husband is the head of

the House'. the sound of crickets and insects possessing the

night fills the room. The camera is focused on semekor

however, we can hear the inaudible quarreling between Mansa

and Kumakpor. Kumakpor is a little bit drunk.

KUMAKPOR

Just tell me what you are itching

to say.

MANSA

Don't start this again. You are

going to wake the Children up,

please.

KUMAKPOR

I don't care who I wake up in my

house. And I deserve respect from

from you. Do you understand

MANSA

I understand and I respect you my

Lord.

KUMAKPOR

It's like a war out there. Working

hard and slaving myself to put food

on the table for you, herh for you

 and those little rats.

MANSA

Maybe, if you will stop drinking so

you stay calm.

Tries taking the glass of alcohol from Kumakpor's hand.

Kumakpor gets angry and scatters everything on the table.

KUMAKPOR

Shut Up and leave me alone

Semekor is fully awake now, he gets up and gets closer to

the action. Mansa sees him.

MANSA

Honey, go back to sleep. It's late.

KUMAKPOR

Hey Semekor, Diid I wake you. Was I

shouting so loud you couldn't

sleep. You have something to say.

C'mon son let's hear it.

Moves closer to him and starts poking him on the chest.

I am listening to you say what ever

you have to say. Let's hear it. I'm

right here
 MANSA

He is a child leave him alone.

Mansa holds Kumakpor and tries to calm him down. He pushes

her away and lunges on her. He starts beating her severely.

KUMAKPOR

Shut up Mansa, This is what I am

talking about. You must fucking

respect me. You bastard. A witch

sent to destroy my life. I am going

to deliver you of that witchcraft.

You are the bad luck in my life

Semekor moves in to try lifting the father off the mum.

Kumakpor turns on to him and punches him on the face.

Semekor falls down and there is blood oozing from his nose

and blood in his mouth. Semekor gets up from the floor and

makes up a fist as if to fight his father. Kumakpor walks on

him and starts addressing him (Semekor).

You know at your age I was a man.

You have got no balls I can clearly

see. Let me show you how to grow

some. (punches him the second time)

Mother and son clutched in the corner of the room. Mansa

holds the son tightly, cuddles whiles singing for him to

console him. (Song: 'Mekae foe nama toboli')Semekor keeps

having flashes of the abuse that just went on.