S01E03: GUNS AND BUTTERFLY BY MINNA DAVIES

 

 


 

The sound of an explosion from afar alerts them.

 

KENECHUKWU

No you will not.

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

You cannot stop me.

 

KENECHUKWU

I can stop you, I am your elder

Sister. Did you just hear that?

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

Yes.

 

KENECHUKWU

Are you not scared?

 

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

A little bit.. very afraid.

 

KENECHUKWU

Then why do you want to do this?

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

This meat is nice.

 

KENECHUKWU

We can’t stay here tonight,

we have to keep moving.

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

Not until I get my 1911.

 

KENECHUKWU

Why?

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

Because Some animals cannot be reasoned with,

And your first responds is to save yourself.

 

He continues with his meat, Kenechukwu just stares at him a little afraid of her brothers sudden courage.

NIGHT

The smoke from the fireplace they have in the forest they call home still lingers in the air. Knenchukwu has her arms wrapped around her little brother as they sleep, it is a cold night.

 

Chukwuemeka has his eyes open to the empty night. He slowly removes his his sister’s hand from him and rolls the log in place of himself.

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

I will be back soon.

 

He runs off, before he gets far he slips and falls.

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

Stupid can.

 

Knenechukwu flinches a little in her sleep.

 

KENCHUKWU

What is that?

 

She grabs the log tighter.

 

KENECHUKWU

(stills sleepy)

Why do you smell like dirt. Shh

Just sleep.

 

Chukwuemeka picks himself up slowly and sneaks away.

 

 

NIGHT, VILLAGE

There is a big camp fire in the village, the soldiers are burning the villagers properties. It is like a carnival there.

 

The soldiers have some women singing and dancing for them, and some other people they have captured

 

JUWON

Can I have your attention everyone.

 

With a cup of palm-wine in his hand. The singing stops, but the soldiers are still having there fun, talking and shouting.

 

JUWON

(Leaves an air shot)

I said shut up.

 

He gets their attention.

 

JUWON

The battle is not won yet, this is just one

Part of it.

They want a new safe heaven, oh well,

We will give them hell, till they realize

that we are one, and no one can leave.

 Well you can leave, but not with what

we both own.

 

SOILDERS

Yesss

 

MAN

You will not succeed with this,

We have never been accepted, and

now we want to leave,

you still don’t want us to

What do you want?

 

NIGHT, CHUKWUEMEKA’S HOUSE.

 

Chukwuemeka sneaks in through the back door, he can here the noise from the other end, not too far from the house.

 

He walks in his fathers room, peeps under the bed and brings out a box.  He opens the box and pulls the gun from it and chunks it in his trouser.

 

He places the box back under the bed. Just as he turns to leave, he bumps into a soldier.

 

SOLDIER

Hiding are you. What do you have with you?

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

Nothing.

 

He grabs Chukwuemeka and pulls out his gun.

 

SOLDIER

Where did you get this?

CHUKWUEMEKA

Let me go please.

 

Chukwuemeka tries to take back the gun, but the soldier is too strong for him. The soldier carries him on the shoulder as chukwuemeka struggles and screams to come down, but it is useless.

 

 

NIGHT, VILLAGE.

 

Juwon, pulls his gun at the man.

 

JUWON

I want to set you free.

 

Soldier bringing in Chukwuemeka to the supposed death carnival.

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

Leave me alone!! let me go.

 

The soldier throws him in the middle of the scene.

 

SOLDIER

I saw him snooping, and I found this with him.

 

Hands Juwon the gun.

 

Juwon bends to talk to Chukwuemeka, trying to recognize him.

 

JUWON

I know you.

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

No you don’t.

 

JUWON

I do, I never miss a shoot, but
I missed you, I can’t forget that.

I guess this is for your father.

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

Yes.

 

JUWON

Do you know how to use it?

 

CHUKWUEMEKA

Yes.

 

JUWON

Good

(Throws him the gun)

Pick it up.

 

Chukwuemeka picks up the gun and points it to Juwon.

 

 

JUWON

Hate is blinding, you see only what you

Want to hurt, you don’t see

what is behind you.

 

Chukwuemeka turns, he sees three men pointing their guns at him.

JUWON

Make sure you do not miss your shoot,

Because either ways you will die.

 

Chukwuemeka is firm with his aim on Juwon, Juwon comes closer.

 

JUWON

I will give you another option.

(Points to the man)

Shoot him and you will live.

 

One of the soldiers shoots the ground really close to Chukwuemeka. It scares him.

 

JUWON

The next one will be to your head.

 

A soldier goes closer and puts the gun on chukwuemeka’s head.

 

Juwon directs Chukwuemeka’s gun to the man.

 

JUWON

I will count to three, onee..

 

MAN

Shoot me my son, I will rather die

Than live in this catastrophe

 

JUWON

Two…

 

Chukwuemeka is confuse, his hands are shaking.

 

Juwon turns

 

JUWON

Three.

 

Chukwuemeka turns his gun really fast to Juwon and shoots.

 

Just immediately, another gun shoot is heard.

Chukwuemeka falls on his knees looking at Juwon on the ground fulfilled, with a tear in his eyes, as his gun slips away from his hand.