INT. RUNUMI'S SHRINE-NIGHT
KIRIGIME
The bride escaped. We fear for the worst.
RUTARO
We searched the entire neighborhood. Not a sign.
Runumi puts a black pot over the fire. He pours some herbs in the pot, and stirs. The herbs blacken inside the pot, and wisps of smoke spiral out of it. He CHANTS. Rukiga (Bantu Language) subtitles.
RUNUMI
The dead never resurrect! But when an angry spirit stalks the living, that is total disaster!
(Beat)
Propitiation!
KIRIGIME
Is she possessed?
RUTARO
Whose spirit?
RUNUMI
Her dead husband's spirit!
KIRIGIME
Bangi's spirit was propitiated.
(Beat)
KIRIGIME (CONT'D)
We are upholding the clan's decision that Rutaro marries her for an heir.
RUNUMI
A woman must not contradict me!
KIRIGIME
I am sorry.
RUNUMI
And let me ask you something? Did she steal some of your belongings?
KIRIGIME
No.
RUNUMI
Did she destroy anything in the house?
KIRIGIME
No.
RUTARO
Yes.
Kirigime looks at Rutaro with questioning eyes.
RUTARO
My dead brother's regalia. She cast it into the bush. Now rats play on its place in the room.
RUNUMI
That's it. Your bride-to-be is possessed!
KIRIGIME
But we did not see her getting seizures, like the possessed do. She never even spoke in tongues.
RUNUMI
How do you explain the disappearance of a woman who knows she is betrothed?
Silence.
RUNUMI (CONT'D)
Can't you see? Her dead husband wants her back. She must be married to his spirit.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. PRIESTESS' SHRINE-NIGHT
A dim fire burns inside the shrine. Kamooshe's speaks to Boona and Katima.
KATIMA
They are searching for her. I fear they may discover her at my place.
KAMOOSHE
What are you waiting for? Do you want the clan to unleash their wrath on you?
BOONA
What can we do, mother?
Kamooshe throws three cowry shells in a gourd, then RATTLES it. She tilts gourd, and pours the cowry shells on the floor. One of the cowry shells is broken.
KAMOOSHE
See this?
(Beat)
KAMOOSHE (CONT'D)
Go back to your husband's clan.
BOONA
But I will be giving them chance to force me into marriage with Rutaro. I don't even know how long he has to live. His wife died of AIDS.
KAMOOSHE
What do you mean?
Silence.
KAMOOSHE (CONT'D)
Stop hallucinating, and look at this.
She points at the broken cowry shell.
KAMOOSHE (CONT'D)
That planned marriage will never take place.
EXT. FOOT TRACK-DAWN
A winding foot track, overgrown with creepers. Katima walks down the foot track. She wears a red head scarf, and carries a plastic can in her right hand. She suddenly halts, as she sees Kiragi pushing the pump at the bore hole. She walks slowly towards the bore hole.
EXT. BORE HOLE-CONTINUOUS
Katima stands above the pavement of the bore hole. She softly TAPS her can with her fingers. Kiragi puts his fingers into the slow trickle of the water. He shakes his can impatiently. Katima COUGHS. Kiragi turns his face to the pavement, and faces Katima.
KIRAGI
A poor trickle. Like a woman with gonorrhea!
KATIMA
How do you know?
KIRAGI
Experience.
He lifts his can from the bore hole pipe, then looks at Katima for a few seconds.
KIRAGI (CONT'D)
You look nice with that head scarf.
KATIMA
I know where nice things are sold.
Silence, then Kiragi speaks naughtily.
KIRAGI
I would like one for myself.
He raises the can to his left shoulder, and moves away. Katima stares at him until he is out of view. She fixes her can under the bore hole pipe. She pumps water into it.
EXT. KATIMA'S HOUSE-DAY
Kiragi walks along the path near Katima's house. He stops in his tracks. For a few seconds, he stares at a child's clothes spread on the hedges, then walks away.
EXT. COMPOUND-DAY
Magume and Kiragi move towards the reed hut, while arguing.
KIRAGI
I know where Boona hides.
MAGUME
An old man's lie.
KIRAGI
You have to believe me.
MAGUME
Where is she?
INT. REED HUT-CONTINUOUS
Rutaro and Kirigime stand in the center of the reed hut. Rutaro paces up and down. Kirigime looks at him for a few seconds.
KIRIGIME
Hunting the trickster needs more patience, son.
Kirigime sits down. Magume and Kiragi enter. Two clansmen follow. They sit on stools.
MAGUME
He claims he saw Boona.
KIRAGI
I saw her red head scarf.
RUTARO
A head scarf isn't a woman!
Rutaro STAMPS his foot.
KIRAGI
I have all the details.
Rutaro reluctantly sits down.
KIRAGI (CONT'D)
I saw Katima.
(Beat)
She wore Boona's head scarf.
RUTARO
Your story doesn't make sense!
KIRAGI
Can't you see the connection?
KIRIGIME
You shouldn't waste our time.
She stands up.
RUTARO
Old men should act their age.
Rutaro gets up.
RUTARO (CONT'D)
Next time don't call us because you saw your cow with a tail.
All people stand up. They move towards the door.
KIRAGI
There is more...
CUT TO:
INT. KATIMA'S HOUSE-CONTINUOUS
Katima and Boona have a meal. Boona alternates between eating and feeding Karungi. Karungi inserts her fingers into her mouth, playing with the food.
KATIMA
I met Kiragi at the bore hole.
BOONA
He sometimes fetches water himself. He's hardworking.
KATIMA
He commented on my head scarf...your head scarf.
She removes the head scarf from her head, and hands it to Boona.
BOONA
What did he say?
KATIMA
That he wanted a head scarf like that, for himself.
Boona ties the head scarf around her head.
BOONA
Kiragi likes cracking silly jokes.
KATIMA
I think it's more than that. His voice had an edge of mockery.
Karungi CHOKES on the food. Boona TAPS her back.
BOONA
Greedy child!
BACK TO:
EXT. REED HUT-DAY
KIRAGI
Since you don't believe my head scarf story, tell me how you explain an old woman's pregnancy.
KIRIGIME
Oh, please. Spare us your sick jokes!
RUTARO
We don't care, if your old wife is pregnant.
KIRAGI
Do you think Katima is pregnant?
MAGUME
That's enough!
Magume walks towards the door.
KIRAGI
Katima is harboring Boona and her baby.
(Beat)
I saw a baby's clothes drying in her compound!
Kirigime HISSES.
KIRAGI (CONT'D)
The red head scarf, and an old widow with a baby's clothes. Do you call that a hard riddle?
KIRIGIME
Dirty witches!
She GRINDS her teeth.
RUTARO
I'll go for her right away.
Rutaro moves towards the door.
MAGUME
Wait. The fox never lost its cunning, so good hunters need wise tactics. Let's meet again this the evening.
EXT. COMPOUND-NIGHT
Magume, Kiragi, and one CLANSMAN move about in the compound, with reed torches. Kiragi holds two spears. Rutaro runs towards them holding two clubs and two ropes.
RUTARO
Ready for the hunt?
The men walk out of the compound with loud FOOTFALLS.
INT. KATIMA'S BEDROOM-NIGHT
Boona lies on an improvised bed on the floor. She nurses Karungi, who is slowly catching sleep. Katima sleeps on a feather mattress, placed on a reed bed. She partly covers herself with an old blanket.
Boona closes her eyes. She sees Rutaro, Kirigime, and the clansmen chasing her. She sits up suddenly, and lights a tin candle. Katima stirs.
KATIMA
It's bad to stay up.
Silence.
KATIMA
What's eating you up?
BOONA
Each time I close my eyes, it's them I see.
KATIMA
Who?
BOONA
The clansmen. My mother-in-law, Rutaro... the whole damn lot.
KATIMA
Take a rest.
KNOCK on the door.
BOONA
(whispers)
Do you hear that?
KATIMA
Hush!
SHUFFLING noise from outside.
KATIMA (CONT'D)
(whispers)
Could be a night prowler looking for easy break-ins.
Silence. More SHUFFLING noise outside. Katima gets up. She presses her ear to the wall. VOICES invade the scene. Boona blows out the tin candle.
KATIMA (CONT'D)
(whispers)
Familiar voices.
BOONA
(whispers)
What?
KATIMA
Get under the bed. Quick!
BOONA
(whispers)
What about the baby?
Katima grabs Karungi, who immediately starts to CRY. Katima stuffs a piece of cloth into the baby's mouth. Boona crawls under the bed. Katima pushes the baby after her. She pulls her blanket, and covers the lower sides of the bed. MUFFLED sound come from under the bed. More loud KNOCKING on the door.
MAGUME (O.S)
We know you are in. Open the door!
KATIMA
Why disturb a frail old widow in the middle of the night?
MAGUME (O.S)
A widow must know her limits!
BANGING on the door. Door CRASHES in. The invaders rush into the house. Katima stands in the middle of the room, arms folded across her chest. She looks at the invaders, then at her broken door. She WAILS.
RUTARO
Where is Boona?
KATIMA
(sobs)
You have no right to invade my house!
MAGUME
Search the house.
They start throwing things about. Katima fights them.
KATIMA
Leave me alone!
MAGUME
Kiragi, pass that rope.
Kiragi throws Magume a long rope. Magume signals to Rutaro with his finger. They tie Katima up.
KATIMA
(crying)
She's not here, you miserable wolves.
Kiragi retrieves a red head scarf from the bedclothes.
KIRAGI
See? Riddle one solved.
He hands the head scarf to Magume, and then pulls the bedclothes from under the bed. Boona and Karungi are revealed.
KIRAGI (CONT'D)
Look, riddle two is here!
The men pull Boona out. She resists. She bites. Commotion.
KIRAGI (CONT'D)
Ouch! My fingers are gone!
Kiragi withdraws, shaking bloody fingers.
RUTARO
Rabid dog!
Magume and the Clansman use a rope to tie Boona's hands behind her back.
Rutaro pulls Karungi from under the bed. The baby kicks about, with the gag in her mouth. Kiragi removes it.
RUTARO
She can't wait to exterminate my entire clan!
Magume hurriedly gathers the clothes in sight, and ties them into a shabby bundle.
KATIMA
Stop it, mad robbers!
Magume goes to Katima and shoves her. A THUD, as she slumps onto the floor. The men shove Boona out of the room.
EXT. VILLAGE PATH-NIGHT
The invaders trudge along the village path, with Boona as their captive. Kiragi carries a badly tied luggage, which gets soiled from his bleeding fingers. Rutaro walks behind the group, carrying baby Karungi. The baby CRIES intermittently.
(screenplay continues...)
Adapted from Bride from the Mountains of the Moon (Feature film Drama,119 pages)
© Rosemary K., 2005-2008, All Rights Reserved.
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