Shooting The Messenger

SHOOTING THE MESSENGER

Screen Writer: Musyoka Ngui

Scene 1

(Plan B Pub. The patrons are imbibing alcohol while the music blares. There is a giant screen beaming music video clips. Ken and Wendy are sitting at a corner where the light is dim and seem in trouble)

Wendy:  We umepangaje?

Ken: About what?

Wendy: C’mon, stop pretending! What do we do about this?

Ken: You mean the ball?

Wendy: Yes, your ball.

Ken: My balls are intact. What about your ball?

Wendy: It is not my ball. It is our ball.

Ken: How can I be so sure about that? The last time I checked we used a CD. If you went lungularing around….. shauri yako.

Wendy: I’ve no one but you. If you keep denying it I will….

Ken: Do what!?

Wendy: Come I tell you (Ken checks in the counter. The bartender gives him a receipt and both walk out leaving the bar busy with activity)

Scene 2

(Wendy’s home. Her parents, Michael and Michelle are sitting around the coffee table chatting.)

Michael: Have you talked to your daughter lately?

Michelle: No. Why?

Michael: Naona katumbo kanaanza kutokelezea…

Michelle: Ah!Wacha, si ni hali ya mtoto kukua. Ni mafuta ya kula tu. Itayeyuka akikomaa.

Michael: Ashakomaa already. That bump must raise eyebrows. (Pointing at Michelle’s tummy with a bakora) Najua tumbo ya kushiba chakula na tumbo ya kushiba kitu kingine.

Michelle: Wendy is saved. She cannot carry a child. I do not think hata anajua hayo mambo.

Michael: Haya, unamtetea. When is the last time you sat down with your daughter and had a daughter-mom talk? Have you ever bothered to know if she has a boyfriend? Wewe kazi yako ni kumnunulia pads tu hata hujawahi mwonyesha vile zinatumiwa.

Michelle: Hiyo ni common sense. Si ni kama kutumia TP tu. Nani alimfunza kutumia tissue roll? Kila kitu mtu afunzwe? Mwandikie mwalimu basi.

Michael: Heri waalimu. Wao wanawambia peupe jinsi ya kujikinga lakini sisi tuna aibu. Tunaumia ndani. Tunaoza ndani. Come to think of it, have we really been there when our children needs us the most?

Michelle: Mmmhh! Ni kweli. Lakini si kanisani pastor anakemea mapepo yote hata ya boyfriend?

Michael: (Laughs. Soon Wendy enters the living room and switches on the TV. Her mom directs her to serve the family food she has prepared.)

Scene 3

(As they eat there runs an advert about use of condoms. All are visibly embarrassed. One ad is stressing the importance of condom as a tool for family planning and another as a weapon against infidelity)

Michelle: Hii sanduku ndio inaharibu watoto.

Michael: Naona hivyo hata mimi.

Wendy: Ati nini? Kwani si TV inasema ukweli?

Michelle:Who told you that? Nyamaza watu wazima wakiongea.

Michael: Achana naye aongee. (To Wendy) Ati ulikuwa unasemaje?

Wendy: I was saying that the media is only showing what is happening in the society. It is the mirror that reflects our actions as a people.

Michelle: Tembu kwanza izime. (Wendy remote controls the TV)

Michael: Acha kusumbua mtoto bure. Hata akizima hapo atazima Koinange?, atazima Mombasa, ataambia mbwa aachane na wasichana wa chuo na watalii wazungu? Mbwa itasikia?

Wendy: Burying one’s head in the sand will not prevent them from being scorched by the sun above.

Michelle: (Fumes, grabs the remote, switches on the TV and storms out.) Basi endeleeni.

Wendy: Daddy I want to see you. And please promise that what I tell you won’t reach mom. (Silence)

(After seeing her Dad, Wendy decides to involve her boyfriend, Ken. She sees him seated on a park bench alone. She angles from behind and upon reaching him, she closes his eyes)

Wendy: Guess ni nani.

Ken: Of course I know.

Wendy: Na si useme basi.

Ken: Mother of my kid.

Wendy: Ugh! I am not a mother and I don’t have a baby.

Ken: What did you mean when you said ulikuwa na ball?

Wendy: Nataka kuitoa hata.

Ken: Then I will change your title. Now! From this moment on I shall call you mother of a dead, innocent soul.

Wendy: But I have not killed anyone.

Ken: Si you are a potential murderer.

Wendy :( Her father’s voice fills her mind. She remembers what he told her recently): Daughter, you are beautiful and I love you. I know me and your mom have failed you. We did not counsel you when you were naïve. Please do forgive us. As for the child, let it be. We’ll help you take care of the baby. I will be the proudest grandfather ever and your mom will be the loveliest cucu for your unborn kid. I don’t care who impregnated you. Whoever it is, we will not curse him but give you a second chance to mend your broken relationship…(The rest is faint and inaudible.)

Ken: Unafikiria nini?

Wendy: Kwani nafikiria na kichwa chako?

Ken: Unanifanya niworry venye umezumbaa.

Wendy: What is your last word about this PG?

Ken: Nimesare. Ni ujanja yangu imenicost. Tangu nikiwa mtoi sijawahi penda kula pinpop na karatasi. Me hulamba yote. Nailick mpaka mate inadondoka…. Sometimes nakwaruzwa mdomo na ulimi.

Wendy :  Unadhani  mimi ni mjukuu wako uanze kuniambia mafumbo? Angalia huyu Swale Mdoe wa Tafakari ya Babu. Nkt! Come straight.

Ken: Nasema CD ilitoboka. Sa venye ilitoboka me niliendelea tu. Si unajua utamu nayo. Time zingine sio kupenda kwetu, we reach a tipping point. A point of no return.

Wendy : (Starts sobbing) Si angalau basi ungeniambia hiyo time at least nimeze e-pill. Unaona sasa?!

Ken: Maji yakimwangika hayazoleki.

Wendy : Inaevaporate.

Ken: Badala ya kulia let’s go and see a doc. Tuone venye mambo itakuwa. (They stroll around the park, taking lungful of air. Both are shaking and sweating at the thought of a VCT.)

Scene 4

(Tiba Clinic. Ken and Wendy are walking to join a long queue of adults outside the hospital. A youth counselor notices them and then calls them aside)

Counselor: This way guys. Mnaweza mkakaa kwa bench mkingoja nimalizane na mteja mgonjwa ako ndani.

Wendy and Ken: Poa poa.

Wendy: We ndo utaanza.

Ken: Zii! We anza. Case yako ni special. Ball plus HIV test, me ni HIV test tu.

Wendy: Si basi uingie umaliziwe haraka uningoje nje?

Ken: Basi ka umekataa tuingie sote.( Both wait at the lounge as the counselor clears the patient already in. They are shaking. Suddenly, the counselor opens the door and the patient gets out. He beckons them to enter.)

The End

Curtain