"Rising Rivers..."

Rising Rivers

Intro

The waters cross the vast lands, the sun shines on the dusty earth

The people that walk the earth look like ants to the vultures circling the sky

The human ants carry the grass and labour in the field

The vultures in the sky are scheming and waiting to pick them off one by one

The fishermen catch fish and haul them onto the boat for their family

But one by one the vultures pick the fish and throw the fishermen into the sea

Or they take the fish and let the waves swallow them alive

The vultures eat to their hearts content, once they have finished they soil on earth and its people

Scene 1

(Somewhere in the world in an unknown setting, in an unknown time…

The sun was rising over the village of BigTown. The cockerel could be heard clearly in the early morning. The noise did not seem to stir any movement or activity, the village remained entirely still and quiet. Two scorpions fought on the top of a hill. The sunlight revealed their coloured casing. One was pure white and the other was shiny black. They used their pincers to hit each other. With each strike a thud could be heard. The black scorpion moved backwards and lowered its tail poised to sting its opponent. But its attack was abruptly cut off. In a twist of fate a large red python emerges from the bushes and grabs both scorpions. It wrapped its large body around both of them and crushed them both within seconds. The python proceeded to devour them both. After eating them both whole the snake slithered back into the darkness from where it came from.)

(Footsteps accompanied by the sound of panting echoed through the halls. The servant by ran across the corridors and entered President Lima's chambers.)

Servant: Mr. President, I mean Sir, I’m sorry King, oh, erm..

President Lima: Maybe God sounds better!? Haha! Yes, God sounds good to me! Look outside my window boy! Bend your knee when your in my presence. Everything out there is mine!

(Servant bows down with his nose touching the floor.)

Servant: They are calling you for a meeting Master.

President Lima: What is there to discuss? Everyone in this world knows their place. It has been this way from the annals of time. Look outside boy! Look over the river, it ebbs and flows. It passes over the leaves and rocks. The water hits the big rock and continues to move forward. Once it goes down it makes its way back up. It’s the same cycle over and over again.

(Lima puts on his linen white shirt and grey trousers. He slides on his slippers. The servant sprays cologne all over his body.)

Lima: All these meetings about bloody meetings.

(He swings open the large double doors. His footsteps could be heard echoing across the hall. The leaders and political ambassadors stood up as he entered the room. Everybody in the room were of different races and genders. A tall slim dark skinned man left the table and rushed towards Lima. His eyes were wide with excitement.)

Crow: Brother! I have missed you! We have all missed you!

(Lima and Crow share an embrace.) 

Lima: Just like old times.

Crow: Haha

(Lima turns to the men and women seated around the round table, he signals them to sit down and takes up a seat along side Crow)

Lima: I am not happy about how things are going! I am livid!

(Everybody shuffled in their seats and looked nervously around the room.)

Lima: The reforms have not been going through successfully and my people are starving. It’s a disgrace.

Crow: But Master..

Lima: No! This has gone on long enough!

(Lima rises from his seat and looks sternly around the table. His face was expressionless. After a few seconds Crow smirks. Lima follows suit, suddenly hoarse laughter is ringing out in the room. The servant boy looks on in shock. He shuffles backwards and hides behind a vacant chair. The whole room had erupted into maniacal laughter.)

Crow: You almost got me! You almost got me!

Lima: Haha! I should be a comedian not a president?

Crow: We should have the servant boy as president!

(The whole room continued its wild laughter.)

Lima: We pretend to care for the worthless ants and beetles of Little town and they continue to worship us.

(The servant boy continues to peer through the gap in the chair, a tear rolls down the side of his face.)

End Scene

Scene 2

(Little Town was buzzing. The children ran across the street back and forth. They chased each other with their long sticks. Some children flew their hand crafted kites along the road. They squealed with joy as they admired how high their kites flew in the air above them. Women and men sold various food and materials at the street market. Elderly women sat their stalls wearing straw hats. The sweltering heat did not disrupt the busy atmosphere. The smell of fresh potatoes and fruit being cooked emanated through the air.)

Jay: You can’t catch me.

Lydia: Yes I can! Your fast but you’re not that fast!

(Jay kicks the ball and it goes over a shed. He scurries along the path and crawls through the bushes.)

Lydia: You are so silly. That ball belongs to my brother

Jay: Relax, I…

Lydia: Shh..

(She pushes his head under the bushes. A short white man walked past slowly. He wore khaki shorts and a denim shirt. His sandals collected dust like a magnet. He carried a flame torch and mask in his hand. He looked at the children with a neutral expression on his face and continued into his shed.)

Jay: Who was that?

Lydia: They say he’s an Alchemist. A wise man from the west lands.

Jay: Haha! They say he can turn dust to gold! What rubbish! Tomorrow I will turn rice grains into diamonds!

Lydia: It’s because of stupidity like that why some people will never make it out of Little town

Jay: Why would I leave? In Big Town they are all fat! 

Lydia: There is a lot more outside of our village. There is more outside of Big Town as well, you will be suprised.

Jay: Papa says that the west lands are a dangerous place. They use wires and machines for everything. Papa says they are crazy because they want to visit the sun.

Lydia: Visit the Sun?

Jay: Yes. The want to climb in a space boat and go to the sun and moon.

Lydia: You mean a space ship peanut brain.

(Jay blushes.)

Lydia: You’re a so funny. Open your mind, there is a lot to learn in life.

End Scene

Scene 3

( 5 years later. Massive crowds flooded the streets of Little town. Men, women, and children gathered around to see the commotion. Jay slid through the people with Lydia closely behind him to get a close look. Before they got to the front they could hear people whistling and cheering. Lydia’s braids bobbed wildly as she pushed through. She smiled at Jay who returned the gesture. He looked up to the front and could see Lima standing at a podium. His hands were moving furiously and his face looked animated. He smiled serenely as we spoke to the large crowd.)

Lima: We will look after all of our people! From every child to every elderly person. I will put everything in order. I will be your champion. I want to clear every slum of disease and poverty. Too long has Little Town struggled in the face of adversity. Pigeons and rats live off scraps, you are my people I will not condemn you to the same fate as the rats. We will rise above other nations!

(The crowd erupted in applause. Lydia cried tears of joy, she leapt on Jay and embraced him tightly. The people jumped up and down in wild celebration. Even those who were elderly and sick celebrated. Lima looked peacefully at the crowd as they celebrated. He slowly waved as he walked off the stage. Slowly people began to filter out and go back to they homes.)

Lydia: He is amazing!

Jay: He is a really good speaker, he knows a lot of big words. I need to use his dictionary.

Lydia: He is more than that! He gives us hope and helps us.

Jay: I guess so.

Lydia: You should be especially grateful. He is sending in more people to help run your father’s plantation.

(Jay wiped the mop of jet black hair off his forehead. He was exhausted as he had been working on the fields for most of the day.)

Jay: Goodbye Lydia, I must go and get some rest. I need to help papa before he goes to sleep.

Lydia: Tell him I said hello. .

Jay: I will tell him you asked about him.

(Jay crossed the road and ran down through the village. He hopped over the fence for the field and hopped across. He was careful not to trample on any of the growing plants. He and his father had worked hard to get them into good condition.)

Jay: Papa?

Papa: Yes Son!

Jay: I’m back, are you ok?

Papa: Where were you boy? I was worried. Come upstairs.

(Jay sprinted up the stairs and pushed his fathers door open. He lay on the bed sewing a shirt.)

Jay: I could have done that father you need your rest.

Papa: I am fine, I have been sewing for years. It gives me a piece of mind. Where were you?

Jay: Well I just went to the…erm I just met Lydia.

Papa: Don’t lie to me. You were at that rally. I can tell when your lying because you look at the ceiling or your sandals.

Jay: It was good! He said he will help everybody escape poverty and get jobs.Soon we will get help on the fields as well.

Papa: Rubbish! Help from what source? Nobody will help you without wanting anything back in return. I don’t want to hear another word. President Liar has been in power for too long. He has been saying this for years. They stay in Big town and get fat whilst most of us stay in Little Town and starve.

Jay: It’s hard for everybody we must be positive father.

Papa: He is not my president, he has not helped anybody except himself.

Jay: But papa..

Papa: This has been happening before my time, and them time before that. People get power and they can’t let go of it. They abuse it and it destroys everybody. Eventually it destroys them as well. Look through the window. Who fixed the field?

Jay: You.

Papa: You and me. I didn’t see this Lima chap on the field with us. He probably never ever swept a porch or weeded a plant in his whole life. Now look out to the other window. What can you hear?

Jay: I can hear the birds and the children still playing outside.

Papa: Listen closely.

Jay: I can’t hear anything else.

Papa: Can’t you hear the knocking and bumping on the pavement?

Jay: The mad woman.

Papa: Yes they call her the mad woman because she drags her cart around trying to sell her dead roses. Her hair has sticks, stones, dirt and probably caterpillars as well! She has been dragging that cart and those same dead flowers for almost ten years. Almost the same amount of time Lima has been in power. She has been trying to sell dead dreams to anyone who passes her in this village. The same way Lima has been selling dead dreams to his followers. 

Jay: Sorry Papa.

Papa: (Coughs) Don’t be sorry just look outside to this window and it will remind you that there is hope. Keep working hard and working diligently and you will reap your rewards.

(Jay looks back over his shoulder and watches the mad woman drag her cart across the street. She reaches into her basket and hands it to a couple walking along the road. They laugh at her offer and run away from her. She calls out to them as they disappear into the darkness.)

End Scene

Scene 4

(As Jay pushed his wheelbarrow down the street. He felt a tap on his shoulder, he turned around to see Lydia beaming at him.)

Lydia: I told you! He is the best president! The reform went through!

Jay: What?

Lydia: The education reform! I applied for the scholarship and I got it! The top 30 students in Little town get a free scholarship! We will go to University in Big town.

Jay: Oh congratulations.

Lydia: I thought you would be happy for me?

Jay: I am.

Lydia: Your body language doesn't exactly resonate joy.

Jay: It’s just that what about the rest of the students? It doesn't seem fair. Doesn't everyone deserve it?

Lydia: Well we are opening doors for the ones that didn't get it. They were unlucky I guess, but we worked hard.

Jay: I’m not an educational or political person but I think everybody needs a chance. Everybody should be entitled to their rights. Everything should be fair and equal otherwise what is that point?

(Lydia shakes her head in anger.)

Lydia: I'm going! I can’t believe I rushed out to come and tell you this good news and your not happy for me! Don’t speak to me again! Go back to your stupid field!

(Lydia turns and walks into the distance.)

Jay: Lydia!

(Jay takes the wheelbarrow of fruit back to the house. Papa is seated at the table with some of his friends. He greets them all and gets the water to drink. They are having a heated conversation.)

Papa: Lima is useless!

Lucas: Very! He needs to step down!

Papa: What is wrong boy? Your face looks upset.

Jay: I’m fine.

Lucas: Haha! Is that girl troubling you? She broke your heart?

Papa: Lydia! No! That’s has been his friend for many years, she is a lovely girl. It’s a shame her parents support this monster. I saw them at the market wearing T-Shirts with his face printed on it. They are crazy people.

Lucas: Maybe it’s a blessing in disguise boy.

Jay: Papa may I be excused.

(Papa nods and Jay walks upstairs. He walks into his room and kicks his sandals off. He looks up at the ceiling and lets out a deep sigh.)

Jay: All of this politics business and power is dividing people rather than uniting them.

End Scene

Scene 5

(Large crowds filled the streets. President Lima was escorted around the crowd. People reached out to try and get a feel of him as he passed. They were in absolute awe of him.)

Lima: This wouldn't have been possible without your support and love. Little town is making progress every day and every year.

(Jay looked around to see if he could catch Lydia’s face. They were about to parade the 30 students being sent to university. He looked desperately for any sign of her, he needed to apologise to her. He walked backwards and climbed up an oak tree. He had a much better view, he caught a number of pupils wearing brightly coloured yellow robes. He finally saw Lydia smiling brightly amongst the students. She stood out to him, she always stood out to him, and wherever she went she was always the star in his eyes.)

Lima: These are the future leaders of the future! Clap for your winners!

(The crowd erupted immediately, Jay clapped from the trees. He stared at Lydia from far, he had always loved her. He never felt he was intelligent enough to capture her for himself but he knew she had a soft spot for him and appreciated how hard he worked. He promised himself that he would marry her one day . He would plough 100 fields to look after her. Suddenly there was commotion in the crowd and screams. Jay looked around but could not see the cause of the raucous. Suddenly there was a loud bang and more screams could be heard. Bullets were flying everywhere. Jay dropped from the tree and landed face first in the dirt. As he got up his vision was blurred and his ears were ringing. He looked around and everything was fuzzy, he could make out the shapes of posters. Each poster had a picture of Lima’s face with a red cross on it. Men in balaclavas pushed through the crowd with their guns and shot in the direction of the stage area. Jay immediately thought of Lydia and ran towards the stage where Lydia was. He called her name out several times but he couldn't see her. He saw armoured trucks entering the vicinity. He saw dead bodies lying around his feet as he ran to the stage. He caught a glimpse of Lydia.)

Jay: Lydia! Lydia! Lydia!

Lydia: Jay help me!

(Jay took her hand and they ran through the crow.)

Lydia: They are trying to kill Mr Lima! What is going on?

Jay: They are rebels!

Lydia: Why would they want to kill him!?

Jay: Lets get out of here quick.

(They peeled down a backstreet and climbed the ladders. They could here they sounds of gun fire and terror in the background. As they turned another corner they saw one of the men with balaclavas.)

Rebel: Come here or die!

(Jay and Lydia doubled backwards holding hands and ran back the alley. Bullets whistled past as they made their escape.)

Jay: Quick down here.

(The turned the corner, as Jay looked up he could see a host of men with balaclavas holding their rifles pointing to them. They all squeezed the trigger instantly. Both Lydia and Jay dropped to the floor lifeless, blood splattered on the floor, dead.)

End Scene

Scene 6

Lima: Quick! We are in Big town the rebels won’t make it past!

(Lima and Crow hopped out of the helicopter pad. They dashed through the gates into the building. They headed straight for the hall.)

Crow: These people have gone mad!?

Lima: I will kill them all, I will burn every village till I find the one who was responsible for this massacre.

(He picked up a chair and threw it across the room crashing against the gold and silver statues.

Crow: The west lands will want an explanation.

Lima: Those Westland people love to poke their nose in our business. They have their own issues to deal with, when they are at perfect peace maybe I will answer their phone calls.

Crow: Master what shall we do?

Lima: Nobody has ever raised an army or group against me. We must respond instantly with blood shed and violence.

Crow: I agree!

(Crow signals to the group in the room to leave and complete any relevant tasks.)

Crow: Master we have had quite a shock today. We almost lost our lives but it will take more than rebels to bring us down.

(Lima is shaking with fear, Crow offers him whiskey which he swallows whole.)

Lima: Thank you! Calms the nerves right down!

(Crow offers him a handshake and brings him in close to embrace him.)

Crow: Yes I agree you need to calm down. I to sent my men to calm you down but they couldn't do the job properly, now I must finish my work.

(Crow takes a knife from his back pocket and stabs Lima several times in his back. Lima cries out, Crow releases his limp body slowly. As he drops to the floor Lima glimpses through the window;he can see the river rushing backwards and forwards. His eyes closely slowly.)

End Scene