| 4. | CHOLIBA: | (RAISED VOICE) Yohanna, you have disgraced me!! The whole village is laughing at you. |
| 5. | YOHANNA: | What are you talking about? |
| 6. | CHOLIBA: | Why can't you just be like everyone else? Don't you want to be
rich?! |
| 7. | YOHANNA: | I don't have anything against getting rich, Choliba. But not at such
a heavy price ... |
| 8. | CHOLIBA: | (CUTS IN AND CONTINUES RAISING HER VOICE) What
price? Everyone is thinking of their family first. All of this crazy talk about the forest turning into a desert... I'm fed up with being poor when everyone else around me is rich. |
| 9. | YOHANNA: | Choliba, keep your voice down. I don't mind being rich but not at
the expense of my future... everyone's future. |
| 10. | CHOLIBA: | If you continue like this, poverty will kill you and your children's
children, and nobody will be left for the future you love so much. |
| 11. | YOHANNA: | Choliba, please keep your voice down. The neighbours are coming
out to... |
| 12. | CHOLIBA: | To hear me, eh... let them come out! Is it a secret that we are the
poorest family in this village? I am not saying anything that the
world doesn't know. |
| 13. | YOHANNA: | All the same, let us talk things over quietly. |
| 14. | CHOLIBA: | Yohanna, what is there to talk about, except that my husband can
no longer support his family? |
| 15. | YOHANNA: | Choliba, it does not look nice for people to hear you talk to me like
this, or for us to keep quarrelling like this. I have... |
| 16. | CHOLIBA: | (CUTS IN) Indeed, my dear husband, it does not look nice for
your wife to go about in such tattered and frayed clothes and for
her to have empty pots in thekitchen. |
| 17. | YOHANNA: | You know what has brought about the hard times. Don't worry. I
will soon solve that problem. |
| 18. | CHOLIBA: | I am worried, in fact I am very worried. |
| 19. | YOHANNA: | I have provided you with food, clothing and shelter to the best of
my ability. Is that not all that you need? A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. |
| 20. | CHOLIBA: | (FLARES UP) I have had enough of your proverbs... I've had
enough of poverty, all of this... I want a divorce! I don't want to die poor! |
| 21. | YOHANNA: | Choliba, please don't joke about such serious matters. |
| 22. | CHOLIBA: | (INCENSED) Joke! You want to know who is a joke? You,
Yohanna! |
| 23. | YOHANNA: | Keep your voice down... |
| 24. | CHOLIBA: | (GOES BERSERK) Don't you tell me to keep my voice down! I
want a divorce now...now! In fact... |
| 25. | SFX: | CHOLIBA THROWING THINGS AROUND AND
PACKING. DOOR SLAMMING, DRAWERS AND THINGS FALLING. |
| 26. | YOHANNA: | What are you doing? |
| 27. | CHOLIBA: | Are you blind? What does it look like I'm doing? I am packing my
things and I am leaving. I am going back home to my people. |
| 28. | YOHANNA: | Choliba, I have been very patient with you ... don't let this
problem get out of hand. |
| 29. | CHOLIBA: | (STUBBORNLY) I want to go home. |
| 30. | YOHANNA: | (AFTER A PAUSE, QUIETLY) What about your children? |
| 31. | CHOLIBA: | They are all yours now... if you want, you can leave them to die of
hunger and poverty. |
| 32. | YOHANNA: | Stop! Slow down Choliba, and think of what you are about to do.
Ah ah... where are you going? Come back ... let us discuss this... (DOOR SLAMS) |
| 33. | MUSIC: | BRIDGE MUSIC UP AND CROSS FADE TO... |
| 34. | SFX: | OFFICE NOISES. SOUND OF PRINTER. |
| 35. | MR. ZEB | Shurahi... it is always a pleasure to see you in my office. What
brings you to Jantale? |
| 36. | SHURA: | (URGENT TONE) MR. ZEB, I have a big problem in Mabudi. I
came to borrow from your wealth of experience. |
|
| 37. | MR. ZEB | You flatter me, Shurahi. |
| 38. | SHURA: | Let me tell you about the meeting that took place in Mabudi...
mhh ... can you believe that these people are planning to cut down all the forest on their land?! |
| 39. | MR. ZEB | What?!... Well, I'm sure the enlightened ones will advise against it. |
| 40. | SHURA: | Unfortunately, the vote was overwhelmingly in support of clearing
the forest. |
| 41. | MR. ZEB | But the forest soil won't support crops for long. |
| 42. | SHURA: | Exactly... What do we do? (PAUSE) You are lucky you don't
have problems like this here in Jantale. |
| 43. | MR. ZEB | You would be surprised There has been a lot of overgrazing in
this community. |
| 44. | SHURA: | How did you solve the problem? |
| 45. | MR. ZEB | The communities met and agreed on some actions. Grazinghas
been temporarily prohibited on communal fields...rotational grazing has been recommended so that the grass has time to grow. |
| 46. | SHURA: | At least people are aware of the problem and willing to do
something to help. |
| 47. | MR. ZEB | They really are. You know ... there are a few unscrupulous traders
behind this vegetable scheme. They have been going around convincing farmers to cultivate vegetables to sell to them. |
| 48. | SHURA: | I am aware of that. Unfortunately, the farmers don't realize that
they shouldn't concentrate on vegetables alone. |
| 49. | MR. ZEB | I have seen the influence of these traders; I'm trying to convince
the farmers not to use their land only for short-term profit. |
| 50. | SHURA: | That is exactly what they are doing in Mabudi. |
| 51. | MR. ZEB | This is serious! |
| 52. | SHURA: | You cannot believe the tons and tons of groundwater used to make
these vegetables grow. |
| 53. | MR. ZEB | I can imagine. |
| 54. | SHURA: | Now they have even planned how to sell the trees before cutting
them down. |
| 55. | MR. ZEB | If they clear this forest as planned, desertification could take over
this land in no time. |
| 56. | SHURA: | That's why I came to you ... do you think it would be possible to
get the communities together to meet and plan a joint action to protect their lands? |
| 57. | MR. ZEB | That is possible ... but let's see ....how can it work? |
| 58. | SHURA: | I don't know if the neighbouring communities can succeed in a
joint action without conflict. |
| 59. | MR. ZEB | Well, we can give it a try.... I will approach the king of Jantale and
some of the elders and ask them to invite their neighbours for a meeting. |
| 60. | SHURA: | Maybe we should plan for them to lead the meeting themselves ... so that there is unity... then the plan will work. |
| 61. | MR. ZEB | That makes sense. |
| 62. | SHURA: | Good ... I will contact the local government and State Ministry of
Agriculture to observe the meeting. |
| 63. | MR. ZEB | Yes! I like the way you think... I hope the head office knows that
they have such a brilliant officer in Mabudi. |
| 64. | SHURA: | Thank you, my head is swelling. |
| 65. | MR. ZEB | (LAUGHS) We also need to go to Papalanto and tell them what
we are planning, and ask for their help in getting the communities together. |
| 66. | MUSIC: | BRIDGE MUSIC UP AND FADE TO... |
| 67. | SFX: | LIGHT KNOCK ON DOOR AND DOOR IS OPENED. |
| 68. | ZARA: | Good day, Sir. |
| 69. | MOLEKE: | Good day, Zara. I'm sure you are wondering why I, High Chief
Moleke, have sent for you. |
| 70. | ZARA: | I hope all is well. |
| 71. | MOLEKE: | All is very well, my dear. How is your father? |
| 72. | ZARA: | Chief, you know very well how my father is. |
| 73. | MOLEKE: | What about you ... how are you? |
| 74. | ZARA: | I do not believe that you called me in just to ask how I was. |
| 75. | MOLEKE: | Why can't I do that? After all, you are my family. |
| 76. | ZARA: | Chief, can we please leave the family matter alone. |
| 77. | MOLEKE: | Anyway, I want you to know that I have your future in mind. |
| 78. | ZARA: | That is hard to believe, but I know that God will help me go back
to school one day to get a degree. |
| 79. | MOLEKE: | A degree? What on earth do you need that for? |
| 80. | ZARA: | So that I can get a good job and get out of this poverty. |
| 81. | MOLEKE: | (LAUGHING)... My dear, you do not have to go to school to get
out of poverty. As a matter of fact, I have a suitor for you. If you marry him, all of your troubles will be over. You will never have to think about money again. |
| 82. | ZARA: | And who is this rich suitor? |
| 83. | MOLEKE: | The great Abah Manu of Mabudi... the King himself. It would be a
great honour for you to accept his hand in marriage. |
| 84. | ZARA: | (LAUGHING SCORNFULLY) What kind of honour is there in
marrying a man who has three wives already? |
| 85. | MOLEKE: | I assure you that Abah is willing to divorce all three if you consent
to take his hand. |
| 86. | ZARA: | (MOCKINGLY) High Chief Moleke, would you kindly tell the
King that I despise him for all the things he has done to me and my family and that I am not interested in taking his hand in marriage and I never will be. |
| 87. | MOLEKE: | (LOSING HIS TEMPER) How dare you speak to me like that! I
am an older relative... your uncle and your father... and by tradition I have the right to instruct you. I am ordering you to accept the King's hand in marriage and that is final! |
| 88. | ZARA: | I will not marry that old fool... King or not... I would rather die...
and if you force me... I will kill myself!! |
| 89. | MUSIC: | BRIDGE MUSIC UP AND UNDER... |
| 90. | SFX: | SOUND BED OF WIND THROUGH THE 2ND AND 3RD
SPEECHES, THEN FADE OUT. FADE IN AGAIN AFTER 3RD SPEECH AND UNDER TO THE END OF THE SCENE. |
| 91. | SHURA: | Good day, Yohanna... why are you looking so down? |
| 92. | YOHANNA: | Oh good day, Shura... Just take a look at this dry and barren land.
How will I ever get anything to grow on this rocky slope? |
| 93. | SHURA: | Hmmm... well... I've looked around and I'm sure something can
be done to make the land yield. |
| 94. | YOHANNA: | I doubt it. Even this little bit of grass is struggling to grow. |
| 95. | SHURA: | It can be improved, but it must be managed well. |
| 96. | YOHANNA: | You mean I can do something with this worthless piece of land? |
| 97. | SHURA: | No land is completely worthless until you have exhausted all
methods of improvement. |
| 98. | YOHANNA: | What are these methods? |
| 99. | SHURA: | Let's start with one that is easy and cost-free. |
| 100. | YOHANNA: | Hmm ... so what is this magic that can change dry land? |
| 101. | SHURA: | You could start by making half-moon ditches to stop the erosion
and keep the water and nutrients in the soil. |
| 102. | YOHANNA: | What are half-moon ditches? |
| 103. | SHURA: | They're a simple way to help stop soil erosion on gently sloping land. They help keep water from running off the land. |
| 104. | YOHANNA: | That sounds good. How do I start? |
| 105. | SHURA: | Come over here where the ground is clear. Let me use this stick. |
| 106. | SFX: | SOUND OF BREAKING STICK. |
| 107. | SHURA: | Oh, this ground is hard. |
| 108. | SFX: | SOUND OF BREAKING STICK. |
| 109. | YOHANNA: | Here. Use this one. | |
| 110. | SHURA: | (SPEAKING SLOWLY THROUGHOUT THIS SECTION,
GIVING TIME FOR YOHANNA TO FOLLOW HER INSTRUCTIONS) Thank you. First, draw a half?moon shape in the soil by scraping a straight line two strides long horizontally across the hillside. Now the two ends of the line should be at the same height on the hill. Then, stand at the middle of this line. |
| 111. | YOHANNA: | Like this? |
| 112. | SHURA: | Yes. From there walk straight downhill one stride and make a mark
in the soil. Now go back to one end of the horizontal line. Draw a curved line from the end of the line down to the mark, and then curve back up to the other end of the line. |
| 113. | YOHANNA: | Now I can see how it got the name "half-moon ditch". This
drawing looks like a half-moon. |
| 114. | SHURA: | Exactly. Next, dig out the soil from inside the half?moon until
the hole is about two fists deep, about 10 centimetres. |
| 115. | YOHANNA: | So you dig out from one end of the half moon to the other? |
| 116. | SHURA: | Yes. Pile the soil that you dig out of the hole along the
downhill side of the curved half?moon to create a barrier that will stop and hold water. For this soil barrier to be strong, its base should be as wide as your forearm is long - that is about 50 centimetres. The top should be at least half that width. If you want, you can further strengthen the barrier, or "bund", by adding a layer of stones on the slope. |
| 117. | YOHANNA: | Wait... you mean the bottom width of the soil fence should be as
wide as my forearm. Some people have longer forearms than others ... |
| 118. | SHURA: | The difference doesn't matter much in this case. The soil barrier
should be at least as high as your foot is long, about 30 centimetres. Once you've made the half?moon ditch, you can begin to plant food crops in it. Or you can plant trees for fuel. |
| 119. | YOHANNA: | Is that all? |
| 120. | SHURA: | Yes. It's simple isn't it? When it rains, nutrient-rich soil moves
down the slope and is caught in the ditch, making it fertile and rich. Water will also be caught in the ditch, making the soil moist and soft. |
| 121. | YOHANNA: | That will surely improve the land. |
| 122. | SHURA: | You might need a lot of help though... I suggest your wife and
children lend you a hand. It will take about four hours to make each ditch. |
| 123. | YOHANNA: | Ah Shura... my wife has left me... but I must press on. I shall get
my children and maybe that young man BALA MANU and Koi-koi from Jantale. I won't give up. I will work hard... (RAISING HIS VOICE, FULL OF OPTIMISM) It can be done! |
| 124. | MUSIC: | THEME MUSIC FADES UP, HOLDS AND FADES TO.... |
| 125. | NARRATOR: | Ha! Half-moon ditches - the drawing looks like a smiling mouth to
me. Perhaps Yohanna will soon be smiling. Despite all odds, Yohanna's resolve is back and there's no stopping him now. I hope he can raise the work force he needs. Choliba, his fair weather wife, has gone to look for greener pastures. Shurahi and Zeb have brought a ray of hope... but can any of those who have tasted this new prosperity listen to them? I pray that Moleke's greed will not cause more damage. It looks like Zara may be in for a running battle with Moleke, too. Time will tell ... |
| 126. | MUSIC: | THEME MUSIC UP; HOLD AND UNDER CLOSING
CREDITS |
