The Nairobi Report - Coffee Draft - by Loi Awat

7/28/2019 The Nairobi Report - Coffee Draft - by Loi Awat

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The Nairobi Report

By Loi Awat

Copyright belongs to Loi AwatWritten for COM 408K - A

Through the providence of the Almighty God

CHOCOLATE DRAFT - 12/2011FUDGE DRAFT - 27/1/2012CARAMEL DRAFT - 28/1/2012TAMALE DRAFT - 2/2/2012STRAWBERRY SURPRISE DRAFT -17/2/12COFFEE DRAFT - 27/2/2012

[email protected](+254)733993972



TEASER:

1 INT. RADIO STATION NEWSROOM - DAY

Several workstations are set up around the room, each with

a desk, chair, computer and stack of paperwork. There areabout 15 reporters, all extra-busy at their desks oraround the room, moving up and down and shouting over eachother, typing, printing etc.

A telephone rings, and LEONE, a 25 year old man, picks itup. Just as he says ’hello’, another phone rings, andanother and another.

LEONE(Announces)

Breaking news, breaking news!

The newsroom jumps into activity, some reporters speakinginto their phones, others grabbing portable recorders andtheir jackets to run out into the field, others googling,others just moving up and down and around to make thefrenzy more urgent.

In the hullabaloo, MALI, 23 years old, emerges from Babu’soffice. He is forced to shove and brush past the excitedreporters as he makes his way across the newsroom. Aworried frown is on his face as he struggles past theexcited reporters and out of the newsroom.

2 INT. HOME - DAY

This is a small but well arranged home where brothers Maliand Benin live. Te house is dark with curtains drawn.Suddenly, the door opens and Mali barges in, worried andhurried- he sees something in the room and stops, SHOCKED.

FADE OUT

3 INT. RADIO BROADCAST STUDIO - DAY

KAVO KIMILI sits behind the microphone in an on-air radiostudio reading the news from a script.

KAVO(News-anchor-ishly)However, there is a ray ofhope for the formerresidents of Nairobi asforeign investors pledgemillions of dollars towardsthe reconstruction of thecity’s destroyed buildings.This comes just three months

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 2.

after the Center for DiseaseControl declared Nairobi’suitable for habitation’.The reconstruction ofbuildings that weredestroyed during thedecontamination is only thefirst step in thegovernment’s plan tore-populate the formercapital city.

DOLLY OUT of the studio and through a door into:


Several workstations are set up around the room, each witha desk, chair, computer and stack of paperwork. There are

about 15 reporters, all extra-busy, moving up and down andshouting over each other, typing, printing etc.

DOLLY through the room to a secretary’s desk, which standsoutside a door marked ’STATION MANAGER’. SOFIA, 24 yearsold, sits at the desk working diligently.

DOLLY through the door into:

5 INT. RADIO STATION MANAGER OFFICE - DAY

This office is a warm space, with warm colors andcomfortable furniture. There are framed pictures on thewalls and posters on the wall e.g. ’Amplified Studio’,’The Addvoket’ etc- music stuff. A slick computer sits inthe desk in front of a modernly dressed middle aged man,BABU. A tab labeled ’STATION MANAGER’ sits on the deskbeside a modern radio. Kavo’s news bulletin plays on froma radio on low volume and Babu flips through a filefolder. Mali sits straight-backed in front of the desk.

BABU(Impersonally, politely)

You work well. You have a future

in radio, if you keep up likethis.

MALI(Smiles, flattered)

I intend to, sir.

BABU(Decidedly)

Good. I’ll prepare an uprightrecommendation and email it toyou by this evening.

Mali’s face drops and he frown a little, pursing his lips.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 3.

MALI(Hesitantly)

Sir, I... I hoped you would beable to hire me after myinternship

BABU(Matter-of-factly)

I would hire you, but we don’thave any open slots- you knowthat.

MALI(Disbelieving)

But the Saturday night countdownshow-

BABU

(Matter-of-factly)Yes, that was taken up byCalypso-Joe-

He motions to a poster on the wall, of apretentious-looing musician and Mali frowns.

MALI(Confidently)

But he’s a musician, not a radiopresenter- I have the educationand experience-

BABU(With finality, shrugs)

You have the education, he hasthe attention of the fans. That’sthe industry.

Babu goes about signing forms in Mali’s folder, and Malishakes his head lightly in disbelief. Babu shuts the fileand slides it across the table at Mali. Mali looks at itstone-faced, but does not move.

MALI

(Thwarted)Can I at least get the recordingsof my broadcasts-

BABU(Matter-of-factly)

No, those remain as property ofthe station.

Mali shakes his head and stands up, upset. He snatches upthe folder and extends a courteous hand to Babu for ahandshake.



4.


Kavo steps out of the studio, and Mali stands therewaiting for him. They do the shoulder-bump thing

KAVO

Interview iliendaje?

MALI(Shakes his head)

I did a good internship, but notgood enough to be hired.

KAVOWhat? But the Saturday countdown-

MALIImeenda kwa Calypso-Joe.

(Mimics)Because ’I have the education,but he has the attention of thefans’.

Mali shakes his head and Kavo slaps him on the shoulder,reassuring.

KAVORecommendation ya Babu ina uzito-utaget works in no time

MALI

(Panicky)Naneed works saa hii, not ’in notime’! You have no idea how muchI was depending on getting a jobtoday-

KAVO(Reassuring)

Relax buda!

Just then, Babu walks past, heading away from his office.Mali smacks his lips and and peeps out after the boss.

MALIAnd he didn’t even give me myrecordings bana, sasa nitatoawapi studio ya kutengeneza demo!

KAVOIf you want your recordings,you’d better get them now beforehe comes back.

Mali considers, and then peeps out in the direction Babuwent to confirm that it is a safe venture.



5.

7 INT. RADIO STATION MANAGER OFFICE, SECRETARY SPACE - DAY

Sofia sits at her desk working when Mali and Kavo come upto her. She looks up and smiles, and Kavo takes her handand kisses it charmingly.

MALISofia, I forgot something inthere-

SOFIABabu has stepped out, just waitfor him a few minutes.

MALI(Pleading)

I’ll be 1 second.

KAVO1 minute maximum- we’re in ahurry...

Sofia pauses for a beat.

SOFIA(Nods)

Sawa, but don’t mess up anything.


Mali hurries in and goes to the desk, careful not to messwith the paperwork around. He goes behind the desk andsquats in front of the rows of locked drawers. He takes akey-ring with a few padlick keys wound into it and heunwinds the ring, pulling enough of the wire to work as alock-pick, and then gets to picking the lock of one of themiddle drawers. He rummages with the lock, the keysjingling everytime he moves.

Finally, the lock clicks and Mali pulls the drawer open. Astack of well arranged CDs in 1-bob sleeves is inside thedrawer and Mali rushes through them looking for his CD. He

looks and looks but his CD is not part of the stack.

Mali then gets to picking the lock of the top drawer,frowning in concentration.

The door opens and Mali jumps, startled. Kavo peeps in.

KAVOHarakisha bana

MALI(Relief)

Najua.



6.


Babu walks back towards his office.


The drawer clicks and Mali opens it- there are two stacksof CDs and a folder inside. Mali rummages through the CDsin a hurry, and finally gets a CD labeled ’Mali Livasi,recordings’. He grabs it up and shoves it in his pocket


Babu is getting closer to his office


As he close the drawer, Mali notices something inside itthat maes him stop. He pauses and then rolls the draweropen again, fully this time, to reveal a file folder. Itis labeled plainly in bold ’DR. JACOB AND MARITA LIVASI’Mali looks at the file and frowns. He hesitates and thenpicks it up, studying the label. It is a thick file withmany documents inside.

13 INT. RADIO STATION MANAGER OFFICE, SECRETARY - DAY

Kavo leans over Sofia’s desk, and she looks at the officedoor nervously

SOFIAWhat the hell did he forget, youknow if he’s busted in there I’mthe one that will get the-

The door opens and Babu strides through the door, just atthe exact moment that Mali finally slips out of hisoffice- one second longer and Mali would have been busted.

BABU(Nods curtly)

Kavo.

KAVO(Nods back)

Sir.

Babu disappears into his office and Kavo and Mali leave.



7.

14 ANIMATION:

A two-minute PSA: An illustration on The History ofNairobi, and then detailing the outbreak of Q-Fever, theevacuation and plans for the re-population. It is createdas a very simplified teaching guide for lower primary

school pupils. A sing-song-y song comes on as theanimation ends.

15 EXT. PRIMARY SCHOOL GROUNDS - DAY

This is a small primary school with limited facilities,but happy children. The children sit cross-legged in asemi-circle, clapping their hands and singingenthusiastically to the song from the animation. They messup the big words, but sing anyway. BENIN, 30 years old andperpetually too serious with life, stands in front of the

group encouraging them in their singing. They clap forthemselves after they sing and Benin takes over thesession

BENIN(Encouragingly)

Good class, good class! Now whocan tell me, what is the NairobiOccurrence all about?

Benin’s pupils shoot up their hands and participate in thesession as we move over to Mali sitting at a table withTIMO, 23 and MAIMUNA, 23. They watch the lesson as they

eat and drink sodas.

TIMOYour brother is good with kids.

MAIMUNAAnd bad with everyone else!

Mali smiles and looks at Benin energetically teaching thechildren.

MALIS

That’s true.


The bell rings, and the children run into class. Beninsets down his session, packing his paperwork into anold-fashioned briefcase/cool laptop bag. HEADMISTRESScomes over to shake his hand.

HEADMISTRESSThank you Mr. Livasi, thechildren have learnt alot.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 8.

BENINAny time, Mrs. Kihara- it’simportant that they understandwhat happened.

Mali hangs around waiting to talk to Benin. Benin takes

out a business card from his pocket and hands it toHeadmistress. The logo on the card is for ’The NairobiOccurrence Education Centre’, and his name Benin Livasi isbeside the contacts. Headmistress takes it and shakes hishand again.

HEADMISTRESSYes, I hope you will be back nextweek to talk to standard 3?

BENIN(With a delighted smile)

The Centre might send somebodyelse, but I will request to comeback- you have wonderfulchildren.

Headmistress hurries off and Benin’s smile and courtesydissolve away into his seriousness. Mali slaps him on theback

MALIHey niaje?

BENIN

Poa- I thought you’d be at work?

MALI(Hesitates, but answers)

They didn’t hire me-

BENINWhat!? How do you work as anintern for three whole months andthen not get hired?

MALI

It’s a short story, listen- Ifound a file at the station withMom and Dad’s names on it, and alot of documents inside...

Benin stops and looks at Mali when he hears ’Mom and Dad’.He remains silent for a beat, and then shakes his headskeptically.

BENIN(Skeptically)

A file with Mom and Dad’s namesand documents at the station?

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 9.

MALIYe, in the station manager’sdesk!

BENIN(Irritated, snaps)

So instead of getting a job, youwere looking in your boss’ desk?And suddenly we’re the onlyfamily that can be called Livasiin this country?

Mali shakes his head, angry at Benin’s attitude

MALI(Offended, snaps)

It was definitely their names-

BENIN(Interrupts, impatient)Mali, let Mom and Dad go. Get ajob and take responsibility ofyour life...

Benin looks over at Timo and Maimuna in the distance.

BENIN(Disapprovingly)

And don’t ever bring those two tomy job again.

MALI(Defensive)

They paid for their food.

BENIN(Derogatory)

I don’t mind giving you lunchMali, I understand you have noincome. But I will never supportyour drinking and smoking-

MALI

(Angry, defensive)I don’t drink and smoke anymore-

BENINYou are the company you keep,that’s all I know.

Benin walks off, leaving Mali standing there offended.Mali looks at Timo and Maimuna and watches them for a fewbeats.



10.


Mali re-joins Timo and Maimuna just as Maimuna takes out acigarette and raises it to her lips. She flicks a lighter,and Mali snatches the cigarette from her lips before shecan light it.

MALI(Foul-mood)

Have some manners, Maimuna,you’re in a primary school

MAIMUNAThe kids have gone inside! Jeez

She snatches back the cigarette and makes a fuss aboutgetting up.

MAIMUNALet’s leave then.

They leave the school.

18 EXT. BENCH/RESIDENTIAL COMPOUND - DAY

Mali sits on a bench holding the file from Babu’s officein his hands. He runs his fingers over his parents’ namesand then opens the file. The first page is marked ’TheNairobi Report’. Mali rushes to leaf through the documentsin the file- he sees maps and medical reports, newspaper

clippings and official reports- all relating to Nairobi.We see documents relating to The Nairobi Water Company,Nakumatt Holdings, Walokana Transport, The NairobiHospital and other Nairobi-based brands. Mali doesn’t makesense of it and leafs through in a hurry, curious. Hefinally comes to a sheet that catches his attention. Hereads- ’Dr. Jacob Livasi and his wife must have been vitalmembers in the Eastern caucus, and were efficient in thespread of Q-Fever to targets in the Eastlands area’ ’LeftNairobi before the quarantine period’ ’Communication withforeign players’ - Mali stops reading and closes the file.

19 INT. HOME - DAY

Mali and Benin live in a one-roomed apartment, wellfurnished with a bed (and two mattresses stacked on itunder beddings), a desk and seating, and a TV. There is acloset as well, and the home is generally neat. Mali isgoing through the closet, pulling out clothes andphotograph, etc- memorabilia from a past life. He gets toa box and brings it out, sitting on the bed with it. Aphotograph sits on top of other items in the box and Malipicks it up and looks at it. An older man and a woman withtwo young boys smiling coyly- cute family. Mali looks athis parents’ faces. He turns the photo over reads a

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 11.

handwritten ’Dr. Livasi and family, 1999’ Benin walks inand studies the mess Mali has made.

BENINAt least I know you’ll have timeto clean up.

MALIWacha nikuulize- when peoplefirst got sick in Nairobi, howdid the doctors treat them?

Benin puts down his briefcase and takes off hiswindbreaker, and heads into the bathroom

BENINAt first the doctors treated itlike flu. And then the patientsdeveloped pneumonia and then

Hepatitis and Pericarditis- bythe time they realized it was QFever, people had starteddying...

Benin is in the bathroom, and we can hear him peeing soMali speaks up louder.

MALIWere there specific people thatdied first? Businessmen andpolitical leaders, people like

that?

BENIN(Impatiently, irritable)

People died, it doesn’t matterwho was first or last. Of coursethere are theories that the feverwas deliberately spread to killpeople for whatever reason, butit’s never been proven. Why areyou so curious about it anyway?

As Benin speaks, Mali picks up the Nairobi Report and

looks at some sheets of paper detailing, in diagram andgraphical form, a strategy for the Nairobi Occurrence. Itincludes names of business owners and their holdings as a’target list’. There is a handwritten note with the word’MediaVale’ circled.

MALII think I have a really seriousdocument in my hands right now.

(Pause)Benin, this document I told you Igot at my boss’ office... It says

that Mom and Dad were involved inthe Nairobi Occurrence.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 12.

The movement inside the bathroom stops, and after a fewbeats Benin opens the door. Mali spreads the documents onthe bed and Benin comes over to study them.

BENINWhere is this from?

MALI(Irritated)

I told you twice, my boss’office!

BENINDid he allow you to bring it withyou?

MALINo, I just took it when I left-

Benin gives Mali a stern look that says ’REALLY!??’

BENINSo you stole this-

MALIIt had our folks’ names on it!

BENIN(Annoyed)

I suggest you leave this alone.The Nairobi Occurrence was an

unfortunate outbreak, and all thetheories about it are bullshit...

MALIIf Mom and Dad were involved insomething then this puts us inthe mix!

BENINNot to sound insensitive, butthey’re dead- what they were orwere not involved in is none of

our business. And your boss isprobably looking for this-

Benin picks up the documents, combing through them.

MALIFirst of all, wash your hands,thanks-

Benin stops and runs back into the bathroom to wash.

MALI(CONT)

Second, that was our city, we

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 13.

MALI (cont’d)grew up there! We can’t justthrow this back and move on.

Benin comes back out and gathers the documents, puttingthem back into the folder.

BENINI know you’re used to adventureand sijui the fast life- but thisis not something to get involvedin.

Mali watches his brother shove the documents carelesslyinto the folder.

BENINI’ll take this to the Centre.

Benin stops on a document and looks at it. It has a linemade by a photocopy-machine

BENINThis is a photocopy... Did youphotocopy this document?

MALIOf course! That’s the first thingI did-

BENIN

(Angry)Why would you do that, Mali?!

MALI(Annoyed at Benin’sdisapproval)

If that stuff is real, then it’sthe smart thing to do, obviously!

Benin shakes his head, stuffing the folder into hisbriefcase.

BENIN(Vexed, irritated)Not when your family name is onthe front cover!

MALI(Provokingly)

So you think the theories aretrue?

Benin is flustered and annoyed at Mali- he snaps at him,speaking like he’s talking to a slow-witted child thatrefuses to understand logic.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 14.

BENINJust bring the document back herebefore 5pm so that I can take itto the Centre.

Mali doesn’t answer. He watches Benin pack up and hurry to

leave. Benin pauses at the door and turns back to Mali.

BENIN(Genuinely)

The past is the past, and all wecan do now is work for thefuture- I just want to live mylife, and teach children aboutthe Occurrence and how to preventsuch a thing in the future. Momand Dad were good people...Whatever they did or did not do

is not my business and it’s notyours.

Benin turns to leave but just as he opens the door, it iskicked in/violently flung open, and two big men fill thedoor frame as he walk in: DINO, a burly mand and BALI, atall mean-looking man. Dino shoves Benin out of the way,and the startled Benin falls backwards into the room.KAZIRA, a middle-aged man with a limp and a walking canesteps in. He is an unsmiling man with an unsettling tickand a mean look. Mali is startled and stands up,defensive. Dino and Bali waste no time in trashing thehouse- they meaninglessly toss things about and act like

they’re searching for something. Benin scampers up,defensive.

BENINNi nini mbaya hapa?!

KAZIRAMali! Good I found you- I thoughtyou might have forgotten yourrepayment deadline. It was lastweek, and I didn’t see you...

Mali grabs Dino’s arm to stop him from making more of amess and gets shoved back hard, ending up crashing againstthe wall. He straightens out immediately, tense and readyto charge.

MALI(Angry)

I haven’t forgotten.

BENINMali, what the hell!?

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 15.

Mali gives Benin a guilty look but quickly returns hisattention to Kazira. Dino opens Benin’s briefcase andspills the contents carelessly. Benin is livid, andlurches at the man, cursing and grabbing back hisproperty.

BENINWacha ufala!

Benin’s protest is met with a hard shove, sending himflying back across the room amidst his strewn paperwork.Mali steps forward instinctively forming a barrier betweenBenin and Dino. He stands face-to-face with Kazira. Beninstands up, livid and hands akimbo, but subdued.

KAZIRAYou owe me alot of money, Mali- Ineed it back. And you haven’t

even began to make your payments-

MALI(Rebelliously, upset)

I’ll pay you, I just need anextension.

KAZIRA(Threateningly)

Kazira’s Money-Lending doesn’tgive extensions

MALI

I planned to pay you back with myfirst salary-

KAZIRA(Interrupts, fierce)

I don’t care what you planned.Bring it to me tomorrow, at thesame office where you borrowedit.

Mali looks away from Kazira’s face, angry but helpless.Kazira walks back out, stepping over Benin’s paperwork and

his goons follow. He leaves, and Benin looks at Mali.Benin suddenly attacks Mali, grabbing him by the collarand slamming him against the wall. Mali fights back, andthey tussle for a few beats before pushing back away fromeach other.

BENINWhat the hell was that!??

MALIIt’s not your business, OK? Ijust owe him money

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 16.

BENINWhen a man comes into my home andassaults me, it’s my business!

Mali kneels down and angrily picks up Benin’s paperwork,gathering them into some kind of order. He is emotional

now- angry and red-eyed. Benin is also seething- he wouldbeat his brother to a pulp right now if he wasn’t wearingthose expensive shoes... He takes in a deep breath andcalms himself.

BENINYou owe that guy money? What isthat, drug money?

MALI(Now also shouting)

I needed to finish school, OK!? I

just borrowed money from him tofinish my final year, after Momand Dad died-

BENIN’After Mom and Dad died’, is thatyour excuse for everything?

MALI(Offended, angry, defensive)

Just shut up, man- you don’tunderstand my life.

BENINI understand that you wasted yourinheritance on drugs, alcohol andwomen and then went to borrowmoney from a gangster-

MALI(Interrupts)

Fine, I’m the prodigal son!

BENINYes, and I’m glad our parents

weren’t alive to see you betraytheir trust. You should try dothe right thing once in a while,it won’t kill you.

Mali cannot answer. He keeps his head down, and we get thesense that he is fighting tears. Benin grabs his briefcaseand papers and marches out, banging the door. Mali remainskneeling on the floor.

FADE OUT

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 17.

OPERATOR-LIKE VOICE (OS)Nairobi Occurrence InvestigationCentre, how may I help you?

FADE IN:

20 EXT. ENVISION PLAZA - DAY

The building is a tall solid block in a secluded part ofthe town. Mali walks up to the building, carrying abackpack. We hear his phone conversation as we watch him.

MALII would like to deliver somefiles to you as soon aspossible...

OPERATOR-LIKE VOICE (OS)What is the nature of thesedocuments?

MALISomething to do with the NairobiOccurrence... I’m not sureexactly what they are...

OPERATOR-LIKE VOICE (OS)Thank you sir, you can visit uson New Harambee, Envision Plaza5th Floor please.

21 INT. ENVISION PLAZA- DAY

Mali carries a backpack as he enters the lift in EnvisionPlaza.

OPERATOR-LIKE VOICE (OS)Your name kindly sir?

MALI (OS)Mali Livasi.

The lift bell tolls and Mali steps out.

22 INT. DETECTIVE LETIK OFFICE - DAY

This is a typical ’Government of Kenya’ office. Boringfurniture, old electronics, bland colors and not enoughspace for it all. On the desk is family photo with theimages of Letik, a man and children- and an officetelephone with a stack of directories underneath it. Oneof the walls in this room, however, is not boring andbland- it is a layout of papers, photographs, newspaperclippings and maps arranged on the wall- those walls that

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 18.

investigators use to map out stories and thoughts. LETIK,and gracefully empowered woman in her 50s, sits behind thedesk and regards Mali as he takes the Nairobi Report outof his backpack and lays it on the table. She takes it upand leafs through it.

MALI(Quickly, anxious)

I don’t want to be a part of anyinvestigation. I just wanted toget rid of that, and this feltlike the right thing to do.

Letik studies sheets of paper from the report withinterest, frowning over them.

LETIKIt is... but you have to

understand that if we need moreinformation we have to summon youback.

MALI(Assertively)

This is all I have.

Letik studies the documents and Mali fidgetsuncomfortably, ready to leave.

MALII hope it can help you.

Letik offers a reassuring smile that lasts about 3seconds.

LETIKI’m sure it can, thank you.

Mali extends a hand for a respectful handshake and thenleaves. As soon as he steps out, Letik picks up the phoneand dials an extension.

LETIK

(Into phone)Paul, step into my office please?

She hangs up and a few seconds later the door opens and aPAUL, a smartly dressed bespectacled man in his mid 20s,steps in. He smiles at Letik charmingly.

PAUL(Diligently)

Yes Ma’am?

LETIKBackground?

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 19.

Paul launches a speech, as zealous about his research as ascience nerd about spaceships.

PAUL(Confidently)

Mali Livasi, 23 years old, born

and raised in Nairobi butrelocated here with his familydirectly before the Occurrence;arrested twice for ’drunk anddisorderly’ and once forpossession of marijuana; secondborn to doctors Jacob and MaritaLivasi, now both deceased...

As he speaks, Letik stands up, carrying a sheet of paperin her hand. She strides over to her wall, frowning at itthoughtfully, and then reads from the sheet of paper.

LETIK(Reads)

’The East African market is oneof the most lucrative in Africa,and Nairobi forms the hub of thiseconomy. When investors weredenied the opportunity to occupythis market, they came up with astrategy of entry into the EastAfrican region.’

Paul stands beside Letik at the wall as she reads. He

looks at the wall, looking at the different items on it.

LETIK(Meticulously)

Destroy and rebuild... That’swhat happened in Nairobi, becauseKenyan businessmen refused tosell out to foreign investors andmultinationals... Now I needto know how this trouble childended up with the first real leadon The Nairobi Occurrence that

we’ve had in 2 years.

Paul looks sidelong at Letik and nods.

PAUL(Assertively)

Will do.

Letik returns to her desk, her shoes clinking on the flooras she walks.

LETIKAlso look up the parents- theymoved their family out of Nairobi

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 20.

LETIK (cont’d)before the Occurrence; I don’tbelieve in coincidence...


The reporters are in their usual hub of perpetual activitywhen Babu storms in and bangs a paperweight on one of thedesks, catching everyone’s attention and making themsettle down. Sofia hurries up behind him, a bundle ofnerves- evidently having received the first wave of Babu’sanger.

BABU(Upset, intimidatingly)

There is a file missing from myoffice- a thick folder with two

names on the top. Sofia tells methat there have been no visitorsto my office, so I’m assumingthat one of you took it. I don’tknow why, I don’t know when,but... I know I want it back.

Kavo looks at Sofia and she raises her eyebrows at himhelplessly.

BABUIf I don’t have the folder in myoffice by morning, none of you

will have a job anymore, and allof you will be prime suspects inthe case.

Babu whirls around and stomps off, leaving the reportersstunned and speechless. Sofia marches over to Kavo

SOFIA(Flustered, angry)

What the hell is wrong with Mali?

KAVO

How do you know he took it?

SOFIAPlease, like he couldn’t havehidden it in his coat when heleft! Shit! Get it back or we’reall fired, Kavo.

She storms off, brushing impolitely past the murmuringreporters.



21.

24 NEWSCAST INTERVIEW 1

An in-studio set-up (like Larry King Live/David Letterman)where a heated debate about the Nairobi Occurrence is inprogress. DATE: 23rd November 2014. The news anchorstruggles to maintain control of passionate local business

entrepreneur Mr. Salem Warsame as he hurls accuses atmultinational companies, accusing them of releasing QFever in Nairobi, targeting prolific businessmen andpoliticians that refused to sell out to them. Also in thestudio is Dr.Prof. Samson Ngugi on consultation about QFever. He explains that Q Fever is not native to Africancountries, and is rare even in its region of origin inAustralia. He also explains that the strain of Q Fever inNairobi is aggravated, advancing to its chronic stagewithin only a few days of infection. This is a new strainthat has never infected the human population before.

25 EXT. TIMO’S HOME, COMPOUND - DAY

Loud music blares from one of the houses in this estate ofmany doors. Mali walks up to the door that is the sourceof the music with a backpack on his shoulder. He bangs onthe door. From inside, somebody draws the curtain back tolook at the visitor, and Timo opens the door. Mali andTimo chest-bump and Mali goes in.

26 INT. TIMO’S HOME - DAY

The house is untidy- a typical bachelor’s pad withevidence of long parties and a regular flow of visitors.Mali heads to the bathroom with his backpack.

MALIWacha nijikamue kwanza...

TIMONa usishonde kwa choo yangubuda...

Timo lies on his bed and lights a cigarette. He changes

the music that plays from a laptop and sits back. There isanother bang on the door, and Timo gets up check throughthe window. He sees Maimuna outside.

TIMOToka kwa choo, first ladyameingia!



22.

27 INT. TIMO’S HOME, BATHROOM - DAY

Mali rinses his face and hears Maimuna enter, and alsohears Timo tell him to get out of the loo.


Mali steps out of the bathroom with his backpack, andMaimuna is waiting for him. She wraps him in a close hugand he hugs back because he doesn’t have much of anoption. Maimuna kisses him on the lips and he kisses back,again because he doesn’t have much of an option.

TIMOEi bana, si mnipe warning kwanzanijiondoe bana!

Timo ducks out of the house, leaving the pair there. Mali

draws back and holds Maimuna at a polite distance.

MALII have to go, Maimuna-

MAIMUNA(Whiny)

Mali, what happened to us! Wenever spend time alone anymore...

She moves closer, seductive.

MAIMUNA(CONT)I miss you...

But Mali is avoiding her, and trying to get away from thismoment. He pushes her back softly.

MALII need to sort myself out, wetalked about this... I’m not sureif I’m ready for... this...

MAIMUNA

(Impatient)Mali your parents died over ayear ago- kwani what’s taking solong with this ’sorting yourselfout’?

Mali’s face goes cold at the mention of his parents and heresolutely pulls her hands off his neck.

MALI(Carefully)

I’m trying to live my life

differently now. I’m not the sameguy.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 23.

Maimuna is vexed, and she lets Mali go. She smacks herlips at him

MAIMUNA(Offended, attitude)

Clearly.

Mali looks at her and walks out, leaving her there upset.


Mali walks out and hurries off. Timo is idling about withhis cigarette.

TIMOAi, haraka hivyo buda?

Mali ignores this and walks on. Timo laughs.

30 INT. HOME - EVENING

It is late evening and Mali lies on a mattress on thefloor. He is concentrating on a newspaper, looking at thejob vacancies section and circling prospects. Beninenters with his usual briefcase and there is a shortsilence as he sets it down and takes off his coat (Maliignores him).

BENIN

Did you bring the folder?

MALI(Short pause)

No.

Benin is immediately vexed.

BENINSo what exactly is your plan withthose documents?!

MALI

I gave the file to theInvestigation Centre. They’llknow what to do with it.

Benin exclaims, appalled and launches an argument.

BENIN(Trying to keep his voicecalm)

The Investigation Centre?Investigating what exactly? Yougave a file with our parents’

names in it to strangers at someCentre-

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 24.

MALI(Interrupts)

They’ve been investigating theOccurrence since the beginning,they’ll know if the documents arereal or not. I don’t even knowwhy I’m defending myself.

Mali returns to his newspaper and Benin glares at him.

BENINSo assuming the information inthe document is true-do you thinkthese Investigation Centre guyscan help you when your bossrealizes that the file ismissing!?

Mali ignores Benin, and Benin fumes.

BENINCan’t you just stay out oftrouble for once?

MALI(Snaps, rude)

That song is over-played, Benin,change your tune.

Benin shakes his head angry and speechless. He turns backand flings the door open.

BENINLock the door; I’ll findsomewhere else to sleep. And besmart for once- get that fileback.

Benin bangs the door, and Mali cringes at the sound.Mali’s phone rings (a riddim ringtone)- Kavo calling. Hepicks up the call, sitting up.

SPLIT SCREEN:

MALINiaje?

KAVO(Angry)

Manze ulibeba nini kwa office yaBabu?

Mali remains silent for a few beats, unable to answer.

KAVO(Accusingly, disapproving)

I knew it! Mali, you need tobring back whatever you took-(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 25.

KAVO (cont’d)Babu is about to throw us out ofhis station if he doesn’t get itback!

MALI

(Urgent)Amejua ni mimi nilichukua?

KAVOZii, ni mimi na Sofia pekee ndiotunajua; but you need to returnit!

Mali shuts his eyes tight for a few beats, considering

MALI(Decidedly)

Meet me kesho at lunch. I mighthave the biggest news story ofyour career.

KAVO(Skeptical)

Yeah right. If I’ll still have acareer at lunch time!

MALI(Impatient, insists)

Just meet me, Little Inn at 1pm.

Mali hangs up the phone, and END OF SPLIT SCREEN.

TIME CUT/DISSOLVE TO:

31 INT. HOME - MORNING

Bright sunlight penetrates the curtains, and Mali isalready up, putting his mattress under the one on the bedand straightening things out.

32 INT. HOME, BATHROOM - MORNING

Mali stands under the shower, toothbrush in his mouth-multitasking: bathing and brushing teeth at the same time.

33 EXT. RADIO STATION BUILDING, PARKING LOT - MORNING

The parking lot is deserted, with only one car parked atthe far end. Mali trots cautiously across the lot with hisbackpack, glancing around nervously. There is nobodyaround, and Mali heads towards the single car.



26.

34 INT. RADIO STATION BUILDING - MORNING

Inside the building, Ezekiel Babu walks past a window butthen stops and returns to look out of the window: He seesMali in the parking lot, beside the single car.


Mali takes the original copy of The Nairobi Report out ofhis bag and puts it on the ground near the car, all thewhile careful that nobody is around.

36 INT. RADIO STATION BUILDING - MORNING

Babu squints his eyes slightly watching Mali from thewindow, and then turns quickly, heading for a flight of

stairs nearby.

37 INT. RADIO STATION BUILDING, STAIRCASE - MORNING

Babu rushes down the stairs, his official shoes tappingthe floor rythmically.


Babu bursts out of a door in the building into the parkinglot, eager and agitated. He looks around but Mali is

nowhere in sight. A uniformed GUARD is walking towards thecar and Babu takes in a deep breath, composing himself-still looking around for any sight of Mali. He walks overto the car just as the Guard picks up the documnent thatMali left and examines it quizzically. Babu hurries over.

GUARD(Respectfully)

Sijui kama uliangusha documentyako?

Babu takes it from the Gurad’s hands quickly and nods.

BABU(Flustered, agitated)

Ndio, asante.

GUARDYes sir.

Babu returns to the building and the guard walks on off.



27.


The newsroom is in full swing as usual. Kavo is busyexplaining something to a workmate over a bunch ofnewspapers when Babu strides in. Sofia is behind him andwhen he speaks, the reporters pay attention to him.

BABU(Lecture-ishly)

Theft of intellectual property isnot a light offense. The policeare investigating, and once Ifind out who stole my file,you’ll face the law.

Kavo and Sofia look at each other as Babu speaks, andSofia smiles at him. He smiles back. Babu turns to leave,but then hesitates

BABUGet back to work. You still havejobs to do.

When he says this the people in the newsroom all sigh inrelief and break their stiff stances and the room returnsto its normal buzz as Babu leaves. Kavo hurries over toSofia before she follows the boss off, and he holds her bythe arm to stop her stride.

KAVO(Apologetic)

I have to cancel lunch today

SOFIAWhy?

KAVOI have to meet with Mali. He sayshe has some big news story-

Sofia’s face falls and she whines.

SOFIA

Kavoooo, we’d planned lunch sincelast week!

KAVOI know, but you know I have tohear the guy out... I’ll make itup, promise.

Sofia looks at Kavo affectionately and he looks back ather the same way, but they keep a respectful distance.Office romance is not encouraged.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 28.

KAVO(Insists)

I promise!

SOFIAFine!

She smiles, and Kavo winks at her subtly before they part.

40 INT. LITTLE INN- DAY

Mali and Kavo sit at a table. Photocopied documents fromthe Nairobi Report are in front of Kavo, and he looksthrough them skeptically.

KAVOSo what exactly am I looking at?

MALI(Lowers voice, meaningfully)

Proof that the outbreak inNairobi was a plan by foreigninvestors to find a way into theEast African market!

Kavo puts down the papers he is holding and scratches hishead.

KAVO(Skeptically)

This was in Babu’s desk?

MALIYes!

Kavo shuffles through the documents and sighs.


Sofia is busy with her work when Babu comes to her desk.

BABU(Seriously)

Sofia, do you have any idea whocould have taken the file?

SOFIA(Innocently)

No sir, I don’t...

Babu watches her, and she becomes uncomfortable.

BABU(Suddenly)

Where’s your boyfriend?

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 29.

Sofia is taken aback, and doesn’t know how to answer

SOFIA(Stammers)

Um... My...

BABU(Almost congenial)

You know, the news guy- what’shis name- Kavo?

Sofia is still flustered.

SOFIA(Unsurely)

He’s just... Um... He’s not my...He went for lunch.

BABU

(Inquisitive)I thought inter-office romanceincludes lunch dates. Why aren’tyou with him?

Sofia could melt under Babu’s gaze- she fidgets,uncomfortable but struggles to maintain etiquette.

SOFIAHe was meeting Mali.

BABU

Mali- the intern?

Sofia nods, avoiding his eyes, somewhat embarrassed. Babunods impartially, leaving her desk. Sofia rubs her neck,too embarrassed to look up.

42 INT. LITTLE INN- DAY

A WAITER serves two cups of juice to Mali and Kavo as theycontinue talking. Kavo is on the edge of his seat, takenin by the documents in front of him.

KAVOSo you’re saying Babu was a partof this?

MALIWhat else could he be doing withthese plans and targets and mapsand all this!?

KAVO(Carefully, hesitantly)

And your folks...

Mali nods.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 30.

MALIThey worked at the NairobiHospital before the outbreak...

DISSOLVE TO COVER FOOTAGE:

43 INT. HOSPITAL ROOM - DAY

This is a small white room with a bed and somehospital-ish equipment. A bespectacled MAN in a whitedoctor’s coat and gloved hands administers an injection toa MAN

MALI (OS)They had the chance to infecttheir patients...

(Hesitates)It explains how they knew to move

us out of Nairobi before theoutbreak- they had gotten jobshere, but me and Benin didn’tunderstand why we had to move,especially since Ben had a jobthere; they insisted we come withthem...

DISSOLVE TO:

44 INT. LITTLE INN - DAY

KAVO(Flustered, overwhelmed-almost panicky)

OK, first of all if this is true,then these are some powerfulpeople. You can’t havephotocopies of these documentsflying around just like that!Second, this is illegallyobtained information, so I don’tknow how I’m going to startverifying it to even coming up

with a story-

MALITuliza... I made a few copies andthey’re not flying around...

Kavo’s leg is doing that tension-relieving shake thing.

MALIJust hold on to these until theinvestigator brings a hard caseto these guys, then you’ll have

all the inside information whenit hits the news.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 31.

KAVO(Cynical, shaken)

I’m not keeping these!

Kavo pushes the documents towards Mali, and Mali isamused.

MALI(Reassuringly)

Wacha ufala, kwani unadhanizitakufanyia? Nobody knows youhave them, so uko safe, sawa?

Kavo looks at Mali, and then down at the documents andsighs.

KAVO(Low tones, frowns)

Explains how Babu could afford toset up a radio station after TheOccurrence...

Mali shrugs.

MALIIt might turn out to be nothingin the end, but it doesn’t hurtto have a heads up.

45 EXT. ROAD/STREET - DAY

Kavo walks along a road/street with earphones in his ears.He carries the folder from Mali in his hands. He turnsinto a deserted road and keeps walking. As he walks, hehears a second set of footsteps behind him and takes offhis earphones. He turns and looks behind him,and hisexpression suddenly changes- alarm on his face, as we seehim being attacked for a second before we:

CUT TO BLACK

The BLACK is invaded by a the FLAME from a lighter:

46 EXT. ROOFTOP - DUSK/NIGHT

We are on the flat rooftop of a low building, and there isnothing there except a very old pair of shoes, an oldnewspaper (This newspaper has news of the Nairobi Report)and some dust. She sits on some of the pages from thenewspaper in the middle of the rooftop and lights acigarette with her lighter. She is a little drunk/tipsytonight as she looks out into the horizon- there are sigsof life in the distance, with yellow, green and bluelights dotting the horizon. But one segment is in totaldarkness, with no light or movement.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 32.

Down below her, Mali walks up to the door of the house onwhich she sits and peeps in. She hears him:

MALIHi Cathy.

CATHY (OS)Mali, hi! Maimuna ako rooftop...

The ladder squeaks and Mali emerges onto the roof. Maimunaturns to look at him and then returns her gaze to theyonder. Mali walks over, dusting his trousers.

MALI(Jokingly)

When did you get intostar-gazing?

Maimuna doesn’t respond. Mali pulls up some newspaper andsits down next to her. He follows her gaze, and points outto the dark spot in the horizon.

MALI(Lightly)

That’s Nairobi. Darker thanblackness... It must be like aforest by now, with trees growingin the middle of Moi Avenue.

He smiles and looks at Maimuna, wishing her to smile butshe doesn’t. His smile fades and he looks away from her

into the blackness of Nairobi.

MALII came to tell you... I wasserious about what I said... I’mtrying to be real with my lifenow, and me and you... We hadfun, but we’re not the type ofcouple that can be togetherforever-

Mali turns to look at her and stops talking when he sees

tears on her face. Maimuna sobs silently, bearing a worldof pain on her face.

MALI(Quickly, alarmed)

We’ll still be friends,obviously-

He’s cut off by a sob, and he moves closer to put an armaround Maimuna.

MAIMUNA(Crying, but gainingcomposure)

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 33.

MAIMUNA (cont’d)You made me kill my baby,Mali...Why did you have to dothat?

Mali stiffens, and gives Maimuna an accusing frown,immediately on the defensive

MALIMy God, Maimuna- we weren’t readyfor a kid, you know that- Ididn’t make you do anything, wedecided together!

MAIMUNAMy parents would’ve helped withhim! They would have been happyto have a grandchild!

Mali slips his hand off Maimuna. He’s upset with her

MALIStop thinkng about it, we agreedto move on-

MAIMUNA(Interrupts)

We killed our baby!

MALI(Annoyed)

We did what we had to do! Nobodykilled anyone.

Mali observes her, frowning and then his frown dissolves;he tries to put an arm around her again, but she winces athis touch and pushes him off. Mali looks at her, and thenstands up and walks off to the ladder.

TRANSITION: NEWSPAPER: RE-POPULATION UNDERWAY


Babu slams the newspaper on the desk, and the reporterspay attention to his ranting as usual. Babu is livid(again), and Sofia is behind him with her clipboard,frustrated but trying to look calm.

BABU7 am news- who was supposed toread that?!

REPORTER (LEONE)Kavo Kimili, sir- he didn’t comein today-

Babu spins around to point at Sofia.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 34.

BABU(Intimidatingly)

You- find out why he didn’t comein today, and if he’s not dead orin hospital, he can send in hisresignation letter by noon today-

Sofia is close to tears- she has had a rough night.

SOFIAI’ve been trying to call himsince yesterday, he hasn’t pickedup his phone!

BABULeone, take his news slots fortoday, apologize for the lack ofnews in the morning.

Babu leaves and Sofia follows, still upset.

48 INT. DETECTIVE LETIK OFFICE - DAY

Detective Letik sits at her deak leaning back on thechair. The Nairobi Report is in front of her, withdocuments strewn all over the table.

She picks up the document labeled ’Dr. Jacob & MaritaLivasi, and picks up a digital recorder. She speaks intoit, referring to the document.

LETIK(Into recorder)

The spread of Q Fever wascalculated... The first people todie were business owners and realestate controllers- but this wascovered up by the mass infectionsthat followed, so that it seemedrandom. Main suspects accordingto The Nairobi Report are DrJacob Livasi and his wife, now

both deceased. The Reportdetailes events from before theOccurence to after their deaths-

She is cut off by the door barging open and she looks upquickly, statled.

Paul steps into the office, excited.

PAULI found something!

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 35.

LETIK(Dissaporovingly)

You didn’t knock!

Paul hurries over to the ’wall of contemplations’ andstarts arranging the documents excitedly, confidently.

Letik watches him and then slowly gets up

PAULI’m sorry... But I found aconnection-

Letik joins him in front of the wall ad he finishes hisarrangement then stands back and explains his presentationto the puzzled Letik.

PAUL2014, the outbreak of Q Fever was

well planned- Kenyancollaborators had to have been incommunication with the bad guysfor a long time. I notice aconnection between the events ofthe Occurrence- and thatconnection is not the Livasicouple...

He shows her the documents on the wall, and a name standsout on each of them, from newspaper clippings to policereports: Ezekiel Babu ... ’media owner Ezekiel Babu..’’former DJ Ezekiel Babu...’ ...

Letik shakes her head

LETIKHow could I have missed that!

PAULEzekiel Babu sold his radiostation to the Global MediaCompany in 2013; it was thebiggest station in Nairoi- whywould he sell!?

LETIK(Also excited now)

Maybe because he was promised anew radio station and a hand inthe repopulation of Nairobi

PAUL(Confident, excited)

He visited Nakumatt Holdingsoffices on 23rd September 2014,then Walokana on the 1st ofOctober, Housing Finance on 12th,Equity Bank on 13th - he was all

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 36.

PAUL (cont’d)over Nairobi during theOccurrence!

Letik laughs and shakes her head.

LETIKHow could I miss that connection!

PAULBecause it’s so well hidden, italmost doesn’t exist! The Livasicouple are obvious suspects, butthey weren’t in a position tocollaborate

Paul hurries over to Letik’s desk and picks up the sheetof paper that implicates the Livasi couple.

PAULThey worked 10 hours a day asdoctors and I’ve dug as deep as Ican into their lives- there’s noconnection!

LETIKGet me everything you can onBabu- we have to solve this casebefore the whole of Nairobi isbought by these killers.

PAULYes Ma’am!

Paul hurries off to it.

49 BABU + MALI CONFRONTATION


Babu sits at his desk working on something. Music from theradio station plays on low volume. The phone rings and

Babu picks it up absently.

BABU(Absently)

Ezekiel Babu speaking.

POLICE (OS, FILTERED)(Heavy accent)

Hello, Mr. Babu?

BABU(Impatiently)

Yes?

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 37.

POLICE (OS, FILTERED)Nakupigia kutoka Makaria PoliceStation, requesting yourpresence...

Babu is now attentive and he frowns.

51 INT. HOME - DAY

The house is in a mess, with items notably out of placeand in the way of everything- the house has been turnedupside down. Mali steps in from outside and stops, lookingaround in surprise. He steps cautiously in and kickssomething out of the way. Benin appears from the bathroom,his shirt halfway unbuttoned. He looks tired and upset,

MALI

Kwani there was a hurricanehere!?

Benin is beyond himself with frustration

BENINWhere did you put it? The NairobiReport?

Mali looks at Benin, bewildered and in wonderment

MALI(Bemused)

Ni hiyo ndio inakusumbua mpakaunafanya nyumba hivi!?

BENINYou gave a copy to theInvestigation Centre and a copyto your reporter friend- where isthe original?

MALI(Maintaining deniability)

Who told you I gave it to my

friend?

Mali’s phone rings and he picks it up. Benin returns tothe bathroom, making a loud fuss of searching for it.

SLIT-SCREEN:

Babu is in his office, shutting down his computer andgrabbing his coat- preparing to leave

MALIHello?

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 38.

BABUMali, did you give a copy of theReport to Kavo?

Mali pauses and frowns befoer anwswering

MALIYes, why?

BABU(Accusingy)

You shouldn’t have. I told younot to get mixed up with this!

MALI(Defensive)

I gave it to him before wetalked! What’s up?

BABU(Seriously)

Just come to the station as fastas you can- you might be indanger.

Babu hangs up

END OF SPLIT-SCREEN

Benin re-emerges and Mali gives him a quizzical look.

MALII gave you a copy already-

BENIN(Interrupts, threatening)

I need all the copies you made,and I need to know everyone thatsaw it.

MALI(Mimics, casually)

What happened to ’it’s not ourbusiness’? Jeez, relax! I’m

heading to the station- the bossjust called, I don’t-

Mali is cut off by Benin, who steps into his path,stopping him. The brothers look at each other eye to eye,Benin frustrated and Mali puzzled.

MALIWhat’s your problem?

BENIN(Hollow)

It wasn’t mom and dad that wereinvolved in the Occurrence, Mali.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 39.

Benin looks at Mali, and Mali looks at hm quizzically.

BENINIt was me.

Mali’s expression changes immedately, hardening.

52 NEWSCAST INTERVIEW 2 - 2016

An in-studio interview similar to CA1, but in a differentset altogether- a different TV station. A well-dressedINTERVIEWER sits across from to guests - a Caucasian man,MR. SPENCER RAFFIL, and a Nigerian man, MR. OZIKIWE ODU.This is a calm interview, where the Interviewer allows themen to speak about their multinational organization andthe plans that it has as a real estate holder in the newNairobi. When she asks about their reservations/opinionson the Nairobi Occurrence, they give condolences to the

people of Kenya and declare new hope in the new city.

53 EXT. HOME, COMPOUND - DAY

Mali storms out of the house, but Benin is right behindhim. Benin grabs Mali and tries to pin him to the wall,but Mali is not having it- he fights Benin off and pusheshim away roughly.

MALI(Angry)

Wachana na mimi!

BENIN(Desperate)

I need to know if there are anyother copies-

MALI(Disgusted)

No, you need to go to church andrepent!

MALI

(Disbelief)Mbona, Benin, mbona?!

BENIN(Guiltily)

I needed a job after school, andmy lecturer linked me up withsome company guys-

MALI(Disgusted)

A job!? 700,000 people died

because you needed a job!?

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 40.

BENIN(Tortured)

It wasn’t supposed to happen likethat!

Mali shakes his head and starts to leave

MALIThe Report is with a newsreporter

BENIN(Interrupts)

The news reporter is dead.

Mali stops, speechless. He stares at Benin.

BENINAnd you and I will follow if I

don’t take all the evidence back.

Mali glares at Benin and shakes his head.

MALI(Disgusted)

You’re selfish.

BENINAnd I regret it. The disease wasonly supposed to hit a fewpeople, I didn’t know it would be

so contagious- nobody knew! Butright my bosses need to get theoriginal copy of the document andif they don’t get it from me thenI’m are dead.

Mali looks at Benin and then slowly walks backward, awayfrom Benin. Benin shakes his head as Mali leaves himstanding there, scared and panicking.

54 EXT. ROAD/STREET - DAY

Mali walks on the road/street, frowning- deep in thought.A CAR rolls up beside him and then intercepts his walk byskidding to a park in front of him. Dino and Another bigguy jump out of the car and grab Mali, ushing him to theground. They then kick him while he’s down, attacking himwith heavy blows and making him curl into a ball toprotect himself. They they bundle him into the car and itspeeds off, raising the dust on the road.

CUT AWAYS

FADE IN:

CLOSE ON:

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 41.

A note pad and a calculator beside it. The notepad has anarranged matrix of calculation on it, and fingers punchthe calculator in continued calculation. A pen descends onhe notepad and adds numbers to the matrix.

CLOSE ON:

A pair of eyes, looking from right to left; fromcalculator to notepad.

CLOSE ON:

A man’s head hanging weakly forward on his shoulders,bruises and blood on his face visible in the shadows.

CLOSE ON:

The notepad: The pen maps out ’230,000’, and then ’Ksh.’

in front of it.

55 INT. KAZIRA’S OFFICE - DAY

This is a spacious office space with large windows,allowing straight rays of sunlight into the room. A desk,chairs and bookshelves, all buried under old-lookingpaperwork, furnish the room and an old-model computer sitson the desk. On the wall above the chair is a bannerclearly marked:’KAZIRA’S MONEY-LENDING: INSTANTBORRIWING’. KAZIRA, 40s, sits behind the desk with thenotepad and pen. Mali sits in front of the desk- beaten,

bruised and barely conscious, with a few splashes blood onhis clothes. Dino and Bali stand behind the chair-evidently the originators of Mali’s condition. Kaziralooks up from his calculations.

KAZIRA(Sadistically)

Two hundred and thirty thousandKenya shillings. You borrowed it,now it’s time to pay it.

Mali looks up. His eyelids flutter lightly. Kazira glares

at him impatiently and shakes his head. He looks up atDino and gives him a light nod.


Loud music blares from Timo’s door as usual. Mali, Kaziraand Dino walk up to the loud house, Mali still wincing alittle. Mali bangs on the door, taking an uncomfortablelook at Kazira and Dino. The door opens and Timo, in themiddle of a laugh, peeps out. He is high and still has asmoking joint in his hand. He stops when he sees Mali

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 42.

TIMOWhoa, nani amekuchapa?

Timo starts to laugh, and then stops when he sees Dino

TIMOWhoa!

Mali pushes past Timo into the house


The house is untidy with drinks everywhere and smoke allaround. Maimuna and Another-Girl are in there smoking andgiggling, but Maimuna stops when she sees Mali. Mali looksat her and frowns. He goes into the bathroom as Dino andKazira step into the house, filling up the space more withtheir presence than with their bodies.


There is a pile of old dirty clothes towards one side ofthe bathroom, and Mali digs into it.

FLASHBACK:


We flash-back to Mali, in the same bathroom, hiding a copyof the Nairobi Report under the pile of clothes. This hadhappened in Scene 23, when Mali had visited Timo before.

END OF FLASHBACK/TRANSITION

60 INT. TIMO’S HOME, BATHROOM - CONT

Mali pulls out the copy he had planted from under thepile. Maimuna enters the bathroom quietly so that when hestands, they are face-to-face. She is drunk as a sailor.

MAIMUNAI didn’t know you were coming!

Mali ignores her and tries to side-step her, but she’s astep ahead, and blocks his way.

MALIThis is not the time, trust me.

MAIMUNAI don’t care...

She comes on to him and he pushes her off, irritated.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 43.

MALIJust leave me alone.

MAIMUNA(Still coming on)

I can’t. After all we’ve done

together- who will love me likeyou?

MALI(Irritated)

That’s not my business.

Mali pushes her aside and steps away. He hesitates andthen turns to look at her.

MALI(CONT)

You deserve more than this... Iknow we’ve done some stupidthings, and I’m sorry forinfluencing you into somenegative things, but you can’twaste your life like this! Moveon, Maimuna.

She is surprised by his sudden seriousness, but thengiggles. She stops giggling and gets serious- like thesmile & frown symbol of drama. They share eye contact fora moment and then Mali steps out of the bathroom.


Mali steps out of the bathroom and hands the file toKazira. Timo steps up, in his ’high spirits’ and looks atKazira and Dino.

TIMOUkiingia kwa nyumba ya mtu ni poakuji-introduce...

Kazira ignores this and opens the folder, looking through

the paperwork. He concentrates on a document inparticular, frowning at what he is reading. Meanwhile,Timo is rearing for a fight- high as a kite, ready tocause trouble. He slaps the back of Kazira’s head like achild

TIMOWeh fala nakuongelesha-

Timo is cut off by a sharp jab to the stomach delivered byDino, and he recoils and topples to the floor.Another-Girl exclaims, getting ready to make a scene andMali ushers Dino and Kazira urgently out of the house.



44.


Kazira is still looking over the documents.

KAZIRAWhere did this come from?

MALISo it’s valuable?

Kazira can’t answer- the things that he is reading havehim captivated. We see him reading: ’Emperor Towers valuedat Ksh. 23 million, Wabera Strt...’ Kazira smiles, shakinghis head. Kazira stuffs the papers back into their folderand turns to Mali.

KAZIRAThis just saved your life.

MALIWhat are you going to do with it?

Kazira gives a sinister smile.

KAZIRAI’m going to bring the sky downon their heads, like they broughtit down on ours.

Kazira walks off and Dino follows. Mali remains standing,and then he frowns. He takes his phone out of his pocket

and dials a number. We see that he’s calling ’Benin’.

DOLLY AROUND Mali as he stands there listening to the DIALTONE.

PHONE OPERATOR (OS)Please leave a message after thetone.

There is a beep and Mali stays silent for a few beats,frowning- almost unable to speak.

MALI(Concerned, guilty)

Benin, meet me at the radiostation- I think the Report isabou to go public...

DOLLY OUT, AWAY

CUT AWAYS



45.


The newsroom activities are at a stand-still, and the moodis sombre- all the reporters are still, singing ’It’s OK,it’s OK- In the land of paradise, where there is nosurprise...’- morning the death of their collegue. Sofia

is devastated, weeping uncontrollably, and the other womenaround cry with her and for her.

Mali slips into the newsroom and joins the singing.Everybody around is trully saddenned by his death, and themood is really sad. When the singing stops, the reporterLeone offers a prayer which makes the mood even sadder.

LEONEDear Lord, we don’t understand...and we can never understanddeath. But we know that you give,

and you take away and so weaccept this loss of our brother,collegue and friend, Kavo Kimili.

(Sofia sobs, trying tocontrol herself)

And for the wounds that hisdeparture has left in out hearts,please heal them!

Mali looks up at Sofia, and it breaks his heart to ee herso broken. He frowns and bows his head, hiding his emotionfrom the world.

REPORTER(CONT)

We pray that we may meet ourbrother again to celebrate YourGlory at the end of time. InJesus’ name

A chorus of low, sad ’Amen’s fill the room.

BABU(Understandingly, solemn)

Let’s get back to work.

Babu tries to say something more, but he has no words. Thenewsroom slowly regains activity, and Babu turns to Sofia.

BABUGo home, Sofia. I’ll see you onMonday.

Sofia nods through her tears.



46.


Sofia is packing her bags, sniffling her nose andstone-faced. Mali comes up to her desk and goes behind it(to the other side where only she usually goes) to giveher a warm supportive hug.

MALII’m so sorry, Sofia.

Sofia’s tears return, but she is strong.

SOFIAHe was such a good man...

MALIAnd the best friend I had.

Sofia shakes her head, and walks off, unable to speakabout it anymore. Mali watches her go, and then looks downat her desk. There is a framed photograph of Sofia andKavo, laughing and having a good time, faces closetogether to fit in the camera’s frame. Mali sighs andfrowns at the photo.

Just then, Babu opens his office door and motions Mali inwith a head movement.


Babu and Mali walk in and Babu closes the door.

BABU(Worried)

They didn’t find a copy of theNairobi Report on his body...

MALIMaybe he left it at his house-

BABU(Interrupts)

He didn’t get home last night,Mali. These guys know we have theReport, and they’re not going tostop at killing one person-

Mali is overwhelmed, trying to handle everything. He shutshis eyes tight and clenches his fists

MALIJust... Just let me mourn myfriend’s death before i have tothink about all that!

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 47.

BABU(Annoyed)

It’s not me you should worryabout; if we don’t come up with aplan, you’ll be mourning your owndeath!

Mali slams both his hands onto the wall in agitation.

MALI(Agitated)

I need to call my brother...

Mali takes out his phone and dials Benin again.

BABUWhat did you do with it? Maybe wecan make a deal-

MALI(Decisively)

No! No deals with murderers,Babu- you’ve been hiding thisinformatoion for 3 years- it’stime to fight.

BABU(Irritated)

Stop being dumb! These guys tookout an entire city- you think youcan stand against them!?

The dial tone sound in Mali’s, producing a dull beep thatadds to his agitation.

MALI(Passionately)

’I’ don’t have to stand againstthem if ’we’ stand together-everyone that lost a neighbour, afriend, a teacher- Nairobi wasour home! This is not about me,and it’s not about you!How can

you ask me to stand aside andallow my people to be bought asslaves.

Babu and Mali glare at each other.

MALI(Worried)

I have to find my brother beforethis story hits the news.

Mali leaves Babu standing there, unmoving and angry.



48.


A telephone rings, and Leone picks it up. Just as he says’hello’, another phone rings, and another and another.

LEONE

(Announces)Breaking news, breaking news!

The newsroom jumps into activity, some reporters speakinginto their phones, others grabbing portable recorders andtheir jackets to run out into the field, others googling,others just moving up and down and around to make thefrenzy more urgent.

In the hullabaloo, Mali emerges from Babu’s office. He isforced to shove and brush past the excited reporters as hemakes his way across the newsroom. A worried frown is on

his face as he struggles past the excited reporters andout of the newsroom.

67 NEWSCAST LIVE REPORT - BREAKING NEWS

This is a live report of the ‘arrest of majormultinational investors in the light of new evidencelinking them to the Nairobi Occurrence.’ We see Mr.Spencer Raffil, Mr. Ezikiwe Odu and otherinternational-looking people being led off, avoiding ourcameras and offering stringent ‘no comment’s. Kazira isalso the center of attention as the member of the

public/vigilant citizen that brought this matter to themedia, and liaised with Detective Letik by pledging totestify in court.

68 INT. HOME - DAY

The house is dark with curtains drawn. On the floor, Beninlies peacefully on his back, DEAD. The door opens and Malibarges in, worried and hurried- he stops when he sees thebody on the floor.

Mali gags a little as if he is going to vomit; he staresat the body, wide eyed and shocked; he tries to speak butends up gagging. Mali stands frozen at the door for a fewbeats, in shock- and then he turns and walks out of thehouse- still in shock.

FADE OUT

NEWS ANCHOR (OS)The re-population of Nairobi hasbeen brought to a halt as thegovernment organizes thecompensation of real estateproperties lost in the

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 49.

NEWS ANCHOR (OS) (cont’d)de-contamination of the city.Many business owners were killedin the Nairobi Occurence, and theKenyan government has revealedthat it does not intend to sell

these abandoned businesses andproperties to investors,prefering instead to retain themin state ownership.

FADE IN


We see that the news anchor is Leone, and he is presentingthe news in the studio. Babu and Mali stand outside the

studio and looks at him through the glass partition.

LEONE(CONT)

Meanwhile, suspects alledged tohave been involved in thedeliberate introduction andspread of disease in Nairobi havebeen arraigned in theInternational Criminal Court thismorning. Judge Marconi Delorapresided over the proceedings...

We DOLLY BACK and away from Leone, leaving him to hisnewscast, and join Mali and Babu as they walk away fromthe studio, and then out into a corridor.

BABUI’m sorry about your brother.Take peace in the fact that youhelped to expose the peopleresponsible for death and thedestruction of an entire city.

Mlai nods and frowns painfully.

BABU(Carefully)

I hope your application for a jobhere is still on the table. Weneed you to step into Kavo’sslots.

Mali turns and looks around at the studio buildingwistfully. He looks at Babu and smiles, and Babu raisesand eyebrow at him. They stop walking and Mali extends ahand to Babu for a handshake.

(CONTINUED)



CONTINUED: 50.

They shake hands and then Mali walks off an away from thestudio, and Babu walks in the opposite direction backtowards the studio.

FADE IN SOUNDTRACK, replacing the sounds around them.

FADE OUT.

-ROLL END CREDITS-

The Nairobi Report - Coffee Draft - by Loi Awat

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Transcript of The Nairobi Report - Coffee Draft - by Loi Awat