NGWANA Christian FOZO (Cameroon)
fozo_chris@yahoo.ca
Brave soldier
Synopsis
Abdoulaye, a brave soldier has been diagnosed seropositive, as strong as he is, he still can’t acknowledge the fact, AIDS takes no account of one’s physical or psychological strength, he’s so beaten by the bad news to the extent he decides to quit the city to his home town the Duru in the Northern part of the country.
On Arriving his native land, he gets to discover the illness is still a taboo in his own hometown, the youths are loosely engaged into sexual promiscuity, Young men from town get to the village and influence the young girls with cheap presents, and go into unprotected sex with them, the girls in turn transmit the virus to their boyfriends, and the disease goes along from one home to the other, due to poverty, lack of efficient health services and education, the youths of Duru stumble into the shadow of death, ravaged by the disease, about 45% of the village get contaminated with the virus.
Abdoulaye gets to learn about the sad reality of his own hometown, he even becomes more depressed when he learns the elites of Duru are against the sexual education program he’s about to dispense to the youths of Duru, he engages into a brawl with the clan head sultan Hamid, married to five wives, Hamid is very ignorant about the existence of the illness which to him, contaminates only the infidels, his opinion about the disease changes when he himself contracts the disease, from then on AIDS to Hamid became a reality, together with Abdoulaye supported by his uncle Mama, they form a united force to combat the disease, which to them is century’s predator.
1. Ext., city street walks – day
A sunny afternoon with a buy street, filled with men, women and children of diverse age groups. There are street hustlers. At the sidewalk’s moving a man in his late thirties, physically built up, with a well cut beard, he’s putting on an military wear, he’s carrying a big army bag, the sun rays now beaming on his face, something he doesn’t appreciate, he finally finds shade in a clinic, he’s directed by the nurse to the doctors office, the mans named Abdoulaye.
Abdoulaye
Good afternoon madam!
Woman
Good afternoon. How can I help you?
Abdoulaye
I have an appointment with the doctor at about two PM.
Woman
Doctor?
Abdoulaye
Doctor Tenne. If I’m not mistaken.
Woman
Oh! Doctor Tenne! He’s in the second door on your left.
Abdoulaye
Thanks a lot.
Abdoulaye goes into the building, walks to the corridor and sees a door reading Tenne, he knocks.
Dr. Tenne
Come in.
2. Int., Dr. Tenne’s office - day
Dr. Tenne’s sitting on his chair scribbling some notes on his table, the office is a warm place with charts showing human body hanged on the wall in fact all in his office is medical.
Dr Tenne (standing up)
Hey, his colonel, how’re you doing? It’s been a long time. Have a sit.
Abdoulaye
I’ve been in the eastern part of the country to suppress the rebellion.
Dr Tenne
Oh Africa!! When would all these stop? Hope all is okay?
Abdoulaye
A little bit okay.
Dr Tenne
Where has the other little gone to?
Abdoulaye
I’ve not been feeling myself for sometime now, you know. Last week I was here to do a couple of tests, to see what’s wrong with me.
Dr Tenne
That’s call my attention! I’ve been noticing some irregularities concerning your health and the test goes along to confirm…
Abdoulaye
Confirm what?
Dr Tenne
Take it easy, Abdoulaye. You just have to accept your new status…
Abdoulaye
What do you mean by status?
Dr Tenne
Life doesn’t stop when you’re ill. You still got a chance to live.
Abdoulaye
What are you talking about? Uh! Stop saying parables, just go straight to the point.
Dr Tenne
Okay, you are a man, a leader, hope you’ll handle what I’m going to tell you.
Abdoulaye
Okay, go on! Speak up!
Dr Tenne
You’ve been diagnosed seropositive.
Abdoulaye (standing up)
What did you just say?
Dr Tenne
You’ve been diagnosed having the HIV virus.
Abdoulaye (hands behind his head)
Can’t belief this shit. I’m physically strong, how could I contract the disease? That’s bullshit!
Dr Tenne
Take it easy. Aids does not take account of your physical strength, it’s an enemy we’ve been fighting for years, but can’t be combated physically.
Abdoulaye (now sobbing)
How could you say that? I’m an army colonel, how would I stand in front of my contingent? Uh! Tell me.
Dr Tenne
Put away your respect, accept your new status as a seropositive and opt for antiretroviral drugs, it’s affordable.
Abdoulaye (still sobbing)
Feel so rejected, would the society welcome me back in this my new condition?
Dr Tenne
You all got it bad. Even Michael Jordan, a famous NBA player, kept away his pride, and accepted his status as a seropositive. Why not me and you, Colonel. Everything will be okay.
Abdoulaye
Life’s so unfair….
Abdoulaye leaves the office, still drying down his tears, Dr Tenne nodes his head and continues working.
3. Int., Bus driving on highway – day
Abdoulaye’s sited in a bus, apparently in total confusion after the confirmation of his seropositive status, he’s making a recap of his loose life style and tries to examine his present situation.
Besides him sits two young men in their late twenties discussing so loud taking no account of their immoral tongue.
Man1
Last night was hot Djibbril!!
Man2
What was hot?
Man1
The prostitute I came back with you know, she’s a real professional, for real.
Man2
I see, you toasted her all the night!!
Right?
Man1
I did that in all directions. All positions you can imagine. She was a pro. And guess what?
Man2
What?
Man1
We did it direct, flesh to flesh.
Man2
What do you mean?
Man1
No protection, it was damn sweet. Just think about it?
Man2
I envy you Djib…
After Abdoulaye listens to the conversation he gets vexed and joins in to give moral lesson.
Abdoulaye
Hey kids!! I’m sorry to intervene into your conversation. What I heard you guys say really makes me sad, you go into sexual relations without condoms? Guess what happens next? You get trapped by the HIV virus.
Man1
What’s this fool saying? Still one of the brainwashed fellows…
Man2
But I think what he’s saying is right. You may get affected by AIDS.
Abdoulaye
You destroy your youth just because of some minutes of pleasure.
Man1
Aids’ just a white man fabrication to discourage sex!
Abdoulaye
Drop away that stupid adage. Don’t follow the crowd son!
Man1
Old man you’ve gone too personal, please stop embarrassing me in public.
All the occupants of the bus join into the conversation, right up to its final stop at Duru.
4. Ext., bus station – day
Abdoulaye stands at the bus station with his luggage in his hand watching at the busy village market (Duru), he finally gets into a taxi which brings him right to his uncle’s place, a man in his late seventies named Mama, he’s welcomed by kids, who soon disperse when they’re distributed sweets and chewing gums.
5. Int., Mama’s house, Duru – night
Abdoulaye and his uncle Mama are sited around a table in his thatched house, there’s lamp burning on the table, they discuss all and nothing, till they’re being served by Mama’s wife Aminata.
Abdoulaye
Smells delicious. Aunt Aminata has always been a good cook!!
Aminata
It’s one of your favorite.
The men start eating when uncle Mama bumps in with a question.
Mama
What brings you to the village?
Abdoulaye
Lots of things uncle.
Mama
Thought you deserted army!!
Abdoulaye
Oh! No uncle. I just needed a break to think about my life.
Mama
I see…
Abdoulaye
So how’s the village?
Mama
Everything is okay. Only the youths of Duru are cause of concern.
Abdoulaye
What’s wrong with them?
Mama
There’s total disorder. Careless sexual behaviors and the adults seem to join them. Still yet the elites talk of sex being a taboo.
Abdoulaye
That’s stupid!.
Mama
It’s our reality.
The two men finish eating and settle at the corner drinking palm wine.
Mama
But you really don’t look sound. Is anything the problem?
Abdoulaye
There’s no problem uncle, just got some little stress.
Mama
Something wrong somewhere. Open up to me son. You can trust me.
Abdoulaye
I’m HIV infected.
Mama
You’re HIV what?
Abdoulaye
You heard me right. That’s why I’m here. Our community must not stay blinded. I came to preach to them about the illness.
Mama
You know, in Duru the subject is not raised, it’s a taboo. Don’t just mention it!.
Abdoulaye
That’s the purpose of my stay in Duru. No one would stop me!!
6. Ext., village market – day
Abdoulaye goes around the village, accompanied by some men and women, educating huge crowds about the illness, it’s methods of prevention, the population is highly concentrated when he’s taken away by two palace guards.
Guard1
The chief wants to see you.
Abdoulaye
For what?
Guard2
It’s an order and you don’t question it!
Abdoulaye
Okay.
He’s taken away by the guards, followed by a few men and women to the chief’s palace.
7. Int., Chiefs palace – day
The chief, a man in his late sixties is surrounded by his notables, they’re now whispering into each other’s ear when Abdoulaye comes in with the guards.
Abdoulaye
Good day his Majesty
Sultan Hamid
Good day.
Abdoulaye
You summoned for me.
Sultan Hamid
Yes, I called for you. It’s been alerted you go around spreading immorality in my kindred.
Abdoulaye
By how doing?
Sultan Hamid
By talking about sex, we are fidels here remember.
Abdoulaye
It’s not being immoral talking about sex. It’s all about sex education, about the ill of AIDS in our community and ways of stopping it.
Sultan Hamid
You’re definitely in the wrong place. Take it somewhere else!!
Abdoulaye
Aids is not the problem of others, it’s our problem, we all could get infected, your notables can be seropositive; I’m seropositive.
The whole gathering screams
Abdoulaye
Yes I’m seropositive. We got to take it off this community. If we want to save the young generation.
Sultan Hamid
You’re not welcome here, the community doesn’t need sex education or what you call AIDS…
Abdoulaye
Please…
Sultan Hamid
The next time I see you around talking about sex, you would be charged of civil disobedience.
8. Int., Mama’s house – night
Mama
I told you, the sultan wouldn’t accept.
Abdoulaye
After all the sexual promiscuity in this village by the youths?
Mama
What can you do?
Abdoulaye
I’m finding another way out. There must be a way.
Mama
Take care, or you will get yourself into trouble.
9. Int., District hospital, Duru – day
Sultan Hamid sitting in a doctor’s office, head bowed down after he’d been told of his status as a seropositive.
Doctor
Just take it easy. You are a family man and a leader.
Sultan Hamid
How would I stand the shame? Me of all people, seropositive!!
Doctor
That’s the reality about the sickness. It takes no account of a person’s social status.
Sultan Hamid
I have five wifes. How would I satisfy them?
Doctor
With the use of condom. You get maximum protection. You and your wifes. His Majesty, take it easy.
Sultan Hamid arrives at his palace and sends for Abdoulaye, who’s recounted what the doctor told him, together with Hamid, Abdoulaye and the notables unite their forces to fight the disease.
END.
