Notes to broadcasters
Beans, a family affair is a five-episode drama about a group of women who persevere against difficulties to achieve success. The women belong to a village savings or vicoba group in Tanzania, and all of them grow common beans. Women do most of the field work for common beans. But, because of the traditional gender roles in their community, men make all the post-harvest decisions, including selling the beans and controlling the income.
A few of the major female characters in the drama, including Farida and Mama Mjuni, take the lead on this endeavour. They encourage the women to work together on their farms, and finally to grow beans together to market as a group to the village bean factory.
Read the first episode of the drama, including the character list, here.
The drama takes place against a backdrop of dramatic situations, including conflicts between women and men: domestic abuse in one family, and the underhanded efforts of a village womanizer to both manipulate women and profit from criminal activities.
There are light, funny moments in the drama too, though it covers serious themes. If you produce the drama with a local group, ensure that the more serious moments are balanced with the lighter scenes of friends reminiscing and laughing.
Each of the five episodes is approximately 20-25 minutes long, including intro and extro music. Because the episodes are long, you might want to air only two or three scenes at a time in your program. In most cases, two or three episodes take 6-8 minutes.
You could follow up the drama with a call-in program that discusses some of the issues raised in the program, inviting male and female experts on the issues. Discussions could include:
- how the community divides the work involved in growing and marketing common beans, or other crops grown in your area, and how this might be biased against women’s interests, and may even hurt the family;
- domestic abuse and the culture or habit of silence that allows it to continue; and
- the kinds of support men can offer women who are struggling to help themselves and their families in difficult situations.
Script
1. Scene 1
2. Location:
Int. Afande Kaifa’s office-police station. Morning.
3. BG SFX:
Afande Kaifa snoring.
4. Characters:
Afande Kaifa, Mzee Kaifa, Afande Filipo.
5. SFX:
AFANDE KAIFA SNORING.
6. SFX:
KNOCKS ON THE DOOR.
7. AFANDE KAIFA:
(ANGRILY) What is it now?
8. AFANDE FILIPPO:
(OPENS DOOR) Your father is here to see you, sir.
9. AFANDE KAIFA:
(ABRUPTLY GETS UP FROM CHAIR) Well, let him in then! Let him in!
10. SFX:
DOOR OPENS AND MZEE KAIFA ENTERS.
11. SFX:
AFANDE KAIFA APPROACHES HIS FATHER TO GREET HIM.
12. AFANDE KAIFA:
Shikamoo, baba!
[Editors’ note: shikamoo is the respectful greeting of a younger person to an older person in Swahili, and marahaba is the response from the older person that acknowledges that respect.]
[Editors’ note: shikamoo is the respectful greeting of a younger person to an older person in Swahili, and marahaba is the response from the older person that acknowledges that respect.]
13. MZEE KAIFA:
(APPROACHING MIC) I can’t believe that it has come to the point where I have to wait in line like everybody else just to see my son.
14. AFANDE KAIFA:
(CALMLY) It’s not like that; it’s just that I told them not to disturb me. How are you doing, father?
15. SFX:
MZEE KAIFA PULLS A CHAIR AND SITS DOWN.
16. MZEE KAIFA:
Better than you, I can tell you that. I see you are sleeping on the job.
17. AFANDE KAIFA:
There has been a lot to do lately and so I don’t get enough time to rest.
18. MZEE KAIFA:
(IN A STRICT TONE) Stop talking to me like some poor civilian! You forget that I was the village police chief long before you were.
19. SFX:
AWKWARD SILENCE.
20. MZEE KAIFA:
So tell me how your wife and kids are doing?
21. AFANDE KAIFA:
They are doing just fine. And mother—how is she doing?
22. MZEE KAIFA:
If you wanted to know how your mother was doing, you would have dropped by to see her instead of asking me questions.
23. SFX:
SILENCE.
24. MZEE KAIFA:
She hasn’t been doing so great. Her legs are still bothering her. Actually, they have gotten worse.
25. AFANDE KAIFA:
It must be her weight taking a toll on her.
26. MZEE KAIFA:
Yes, and her sight is not so good either.
27. AFANDE KAIFA:
(WORRIED) I will have to visit so I can cheer her up.
28. MZEE KAIFA:
You want to know what would really cheer her up. The day you grant us a grandson.
29. AFANDE KAIFA:
(SUBMISSIVE TONE) We are working on it, father.
30. MZEE KAIFA:
Well then, you better hurry before your mother completely loses her sight. After she loses her sight, she won’t be able to see her grandson. And then what would be the point of it all?
31. AFANDE KAIFA:
Father, you don’t understand … it’s not as easy as you think.
32. MZEE KAIFA:
What do you mean I don’t understand? I birthed you, didn’t I?
33. SFX:
AWKWARD SILENCE.
34. MZEE KAIFA:
That’s the problem with you; your mother spoiled you and made you too soft. It’s no surprise that your wife has the power over you—that is why you keep birthing baby girls.
35. AFANDE KAIFA:
It’s not like that, father.
36. MZEE KAIFA:
Then tell me: what is it like? You have to understand that dealing with women is like herding goats and you have to use force from time to time to get your point across.
37. AFANDE KAIFA:
I understand.
38. MZEE KAIFA:
No, you don’t understand. You see, son, times have changed. It used to be that when we didn’t hit our wives, the in-laws would be surprised that there were no complaints from the wives.
39. AFANDE KAIFA:
I promise to grant you a grandson soon, father.
40. MZEE KAIFA:
Promises! Promises! Promises! That’s all you do! You need a heir to all this, my son, when the time comes. Just like how I passed the torch to you.
41. AFANDE KAIFA:
Yes.
42. MZEE KAIFA:
Well, I have to be going now.
43. AFANDE KAIFA:
Let me walk you out.
44. MZEE KAIFA:
No, I will be fine. I will give your mother your regards, but make sure you find time to come see her.
45. AFANDE KAIFA:
I will.
46. SFX:
MZEE KAIFA WALKS OUT AND CLOSES THE DOOR.
47. CONTROL:
Mzee Kaifa
48. Scene 2
49. Location:
Ext. Farida’s farm. Morning.
50. BG SFX:
Farida filling sacks with common beans.
51. Characters:
Farida, Jenny.
52. SFX:
FARIDA FILLING SACKS WITH COMMON BEANS.
53. JENNY:
(APPROACHING MIC) Things don’t look so bad. You must have harvested more than all of us together this year.
54. FARIDA:
(LAUGHS NEAR MIC) What makes you say that?
55. JENNY:
Because you are busy filling your sacks to the brim.
56. FARIDA:
I wish that was true, my dear. I have no choice but to fill my sacks to the brim in order to attract buyers, since I brought in a small number of sacks this year.
57. JENNY:
Well, you are not the only one. Everybody is complaining this year. It has been a disappointing year all around.
58. FARIDA:
(JOKING) So what happened today? Did your garage catch fire?
59. JENNY:
(LAUGHS) Now what is that supposed to mean?
60. FARIDA:
I’m surprised that you are here instead of at the garage.
61. JENNY:
Excuse me? Are you implying that I never visit?
62. FARIDA:
Well, you do, but not this early in the morning.
63. SFX:
FARIDA AND JENNY BREAK DOWN LAUGHING.
64. JENNY:
Farida, the least you can do this early in the morning is welcome me with a cup of tea instead of serving me with sarcasm.
65. FARIDA:
Well, I didn’t bring tea, but I brought a flask full of porridge for energy while I work. So you can go on and help yourself.
66. SFX:
JENNY POURS PORRIDGE INTO A CUP.
67. JENNY:
So how have you been since the last time we saw each other?
68. FARIDA:
I’ve been well.
69. JENNY:
You know I was so worried after seeing the state you were in the last time we saw each other.
70. FARIDA:
What do you mean?
71. JENNY:
Please drop the act. You know very well what I mean.
72. SFX:
AWKWARD SILENCE. FARIDA GETS BACK TO WORK.
73. JENNY:
Farida, I know that Kaifa has been hitting you again.
74. FARIDA:
Listen, everything is fine now. We have worked it out and things are back to normal.
75. JENNY:
Oh, is that so?
76. FARIDA:
Yes.
77. JENNY:
Well, it may seem normal now that you can carry loads, but I remember when I visited you that day—you couldn’t even move a small sack of fertilizer.
78. FARIDA:
Look, we had an argument which resulted in a fight. I had suggested that it’s better I take over the production and marketing of the common beans since he is so busy now.
79. JENNY:
And what is wrong with that?
80. FARIDA:
He felt like it was an attack on his manhood. He didn’t take it too lightly.
81. JENNY:
(ANGRILY) What? That is absolutely ridiculous! I don’t see him trying to reclaim his manhood when it’s time to work in the fields. I don’t see him here right now helping you, do you?
82. FARIDA:
Listen Jenny, I told you that everything is fine now. So just let it go!
83. JENNY:
Farida, you can’t go on living like this.
84. FARIDA:
I don’t think it will happen again.
85. JENNY:
Oh, really? How many times have you said that but the same thing happened? How can you be sure that it won’t happen again?
86. SFX:
BRIEF AWKWARD SILENCE.
87. FARIDA:
Look, sometimes Kaifa gets carried away. But he doesn’t mean any harm; he just wants the best out of our marriage.
88. JENNY:
But that doesn’t justify violence, does it? It’s not right.
89. FARIDA
: (ANGRILY) I wouldn’t expect you to understand since Vumi is satisfied with not having kids.
90. SFX:
AWKWARD SILENCE.
91. FARIDA:
(IN A CALM TONE) Jenny, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that.
92. JENNY:
Listen, just because me and Vumi don’t fight about our situation, it doesn’t mean that everything is all good between us.
93. SFX:
SILENCE.
94. JENNY:
You have to understand that love doesn’t justify violence. Kaifa should be thankful for everything you’ve sacrificed and given him, including three beautiful little girls. There are many people who are not as fortunate as you two are.
95. SFX:
FARIDA BREAKS DOWN CRYING.
96. JENNY:
(CONSOLING) Hey, what is it now? Farida, come here.
97. SFX:
FARIDA KEEPS SOBBING.
98. FARIDA:
Sometimes I feel so hopeless. It feels like I am trapped in a cage and there is no escape. I just don’t know what to do.
99. JENNY:
Listen to me, Farida, you have to be strong for yourself and for your children. That’s all that matters now.
100. CONTROL:
Jenny
101. Scene 3
102. Location:
Ext. The factory. Mid-morning.
103. BG SFX:
Sigi’s truck arriving.
104. Characters:
Sigi, Mr. Patel, Stella.
105. SFX:
SIGI’S TRUCK ENTERING FACTORY.
106. SFX:
THE ENGINE OF THE TRUCK IS SHUT DOWN.
107. SIGI:
(GETS OFF THE TRUCK. ENTHUSIASTICALLY) Alright, boys! Start unloading the sacks from the truck.
108. STELLA:
(APPROACHING MIC) Excuse me, my name is Stella.
109. SIGI:
(FLIRTING) Well hello! I’ve never seen you before; I didn’t know the factory hired such beautiful women.
110. STELLA:
(SLIGHTLY UNCOMFORTABLE) Well, thank you … I will be handling all the transactions …
111. SIGI:
(INTERRUPTS) What did you say your name was?
112. STELLA:
Stella.
113. SIGI:
Oh! Yes, Stella. Tell me, are you married?
114. STELLA:
I don’t see the point of that question.
115. MR PATEL:
(APPROACHING MIC) Ahaa! I can see you’ve already met each other.
116. SIGI:
Oh! Yes, Mr. Patel. How are you this morning?
117. MR. PATEL:
I’m fine now that you have arrived. You are late again.
118. SIGI:
Yes, sir. We encountered a little problem.
119. MR. PATEL:
Listen, Sigi, I expect to get the benefit of my money. And that means the best common beans and also the best delivery time.
120. SIGI:
I understand, sir, and that is why I wanted to make sure I had the best crop of common beans to deliver. You know the harvest hasn’t been so good this year.
121. MR PATEL:
Well, we had an agreement and I expect you to honour it. I have a factory to run and it must run smoothly.
122. SIGI:
I promise it won’t happen again, sir.
123. MR PATEL:
Good, I hope you keep your word. Well, I can see you have already met Stella here.
124. SIGI:
Yes.
125. MR PATEL:
From now on, she will be in charge of all the transactional operations—and that means that you answer to her.
126. SIGI:
Are you travelling?
127. MR. PATEL:
No, I will be here.
128. SIGI:
So is this arrangement temporary?
129. MR. PATEL
: No, it’s a permanent arrangement. So from now on, you don’t have to report to me when you are bringing in the common beans. You will report to her.
130. SIGI:
Excuse me, Mr. Patel, but can we talk in private for a moment?
131. MR PATEL:
There is no problem talking in front of Stella since she will be in charge of the operations.
132. SIGI:
It’s just that I’m not used to these types of arrangements, sir.
133. MR PATEL:
Do you mean reporting to a woman?
134. SIGI:
Yes, all my life I never had to answer to a woman.
135. MR PATEL:
(CHUCKLES) Let me tell you something. A few days ago, I met a woman mechanic who helped me by fixing my car. But what I also found out was that she was not only a mechanic but the owner of the garage and she hired men who worked for her.
136. SIGI:
Yes, but this is not a garage.
137. MR PATEL:
But it’s a business. I learned a valuable lesson that day—that women can do the same jobs that men if they are given the same opportunities. And that is why I hired Stella here because I believe she can get the job done.
138. SIGI:
I’m afraid I don’t understand why you would risk changing the arrangement that was working so well just so that you could prove a point by hiring a woman.
139. MR PATEL:
I have made my decision, Mr. Sigi, and from now on you will report to Stella. I hope you two will work well together, so have a good day.
140. SFX:
MR. PATEL WALKS AWAY.
141. STELLA:
(CLEARS THROAT) Now that we know how things are set up, can we proceed with the task at hand?
142. SFX:
AWKWARD SILENCE.
143. STELLA:
Mr. Sigi, I’m going to need you to be cooperative, and that means answering to me from time to time. It doesn’t matter what your feelings are towards me, but if we are going to make this work, you will have to act professionally. So let’s start by you showing me the load of common beans that you brought today.
144. SIGI:
(IN A LOW TONE) Follow me.
145. SFX:
STELLA AND SIGI HEAD TO THE TRUCK.
146. Control:
Mr. Patel
147. Scene 4
148. Location:
Ext. Jenny’s garage. Day.
149. BG SFX:
Garage ambience.
150. Characters:
Jenny, Stella, mechanic1, mechanic2.
151. SFX:
GARAGE AMBIENCE.
152. JENNY:
You need to add more lubricant in the engine; it will help reduce friction and increase engine performance.
153. SFX:
LUBRICANT IS POURED INTO THE ENGINE.
154. MECHANIC1:
Is that enough?
155. JENNY:
Just a little bit more.
156. MECHANIC2:
(APPROACHING MIC) I’m sorry, madam, but a car has just arrived.
157. JENNY:
So go and see what the problem is.
158. MECHANIC2:
I did, but the customer asked for you.
159. JENNY:
Did the customer tell you his name?
160. MECHANIC2:
No.
161. JENNY:
Okay, let me go and check on the customer. Meanwhile, you can help Juma fix the blue Corolla—the engine overheats.
162. MECHANIC2:
Okay, madam.
163. SFX:
JENNY HEADS TO SEE THE CUSTOMER.
164. STELLA:
(FAR FROM MIC, JOKING) I can see you are getting too big for your britches. Ever since you started owning a garage, you can’t even come and say hello to an old friend!
165. JENNY:
(SURPRISED) Wait a minute! Are my eyes playing a trick on me?
166. STELLA:
(LAUGHS) No, my dear; I don’t think so.
167. JENNY:
Stella?! Is that you?
168. STELLA:
Yes, in flesh and blood.
169. JENNY:
Oh my goodness! I can’t believe it!
170. SFX:
STELLA AND JENNY EMBRACE HAPPILY.
171. JENNY:
It’s been so long! What are you doing back in the village?
172. STELLA:
I got a job here.
173. JENNY:
How many years has it been?
174. STELLA
: I don’t know … maybe close to ten years.
175. JENNY:
Yes, you are right. Things are not so bad at all from what I can see. Nice car, my dear!
176. STELLA:
(LAUGHS) Thank you. But I’m just an employee working in a factory. You are the owner of a garage! You must be doing better than me.
177. SFX:
JENNY AND STELLA LAUGH.
178. JENNY:
You know I never thought I would ever see you again. I’m surprised you came back.
179. STELLA:
I got tired of city life and I decided to come back. I got a supervising job at the factory.
180. JENNY:
Congratulations, my dear. That is good news. So that means you will be staying in the village after all.
181. STELLA:
Yes. So tell me … what is going on with your life?
182. JENNY:
Well, I got married.
183. STELLA:
(ANXIOUSLY) To who?
184. JENNY:
Believe it or not, I got married to Vumi.
185. STELLA:
(LAUGHS) I knew it. You always acted like you didn’t like him, but I always knew you did. So you guys must have kids by now.
186. JENNY:
(IN A LOW TONE) Unfortunately, the good Lord has not blessed us with kids just yet.
187. STELLA:
(AWKWARDLY) Oh …
188. JENNY:
And what about you? Are you married?
189. STELLA:
No, my dear. I don’t know about here in the village, but it seems like there are no good men left in the city. Or maybe all the good men are already married.
190. JENNY:
Oh, come on now, Stella. You mean to tell me that all those years and you never managed to find someone?
191. STELLA:
Jenny, it’s not that easy. Sometimes I feel like maybe married life is not for me. I’d rather just focus on my job.
192. JENNY:
(CHUCKLES) You never change—always occupied with work and nothing else.
193. STELLA:
Hey, what about Farida? Is she around?
194. JENNY:
Oh you will never guess, Stella. Farida is married and has three beautiful little girls.
195. STELLA:
Wow! That is amazing. I will have to visit her one of these days.
196. JENNY:
You have to; she would be so happy to see you.
197. STELLA:
I’m happy to see you again. I missed you guys so much.
198. JENNY:
We missed you too, my dear. But I’m curious. How did you know that you would find me at the garage?
199. STELLA:
Because earlier today I overheard my boss tell someone that he met a woman mechanic who fixed his car. And I know there is only one woman in the village who has been obsessed with cars since she was a little girl. And that’s you.
200. SFX:
STELLA AND JENNY BREAK DOWN LAUGHING.
201.
JENNY: So you had to hear about me from your boss in order to remember that I even existed?
202. STELLA:
You know it’s not like that, Jenny. I just came back to the village and I was not yet settled. So I wanted to make sure that I settled all my issues before visiting you.
203. JENNY:
Well, I’m glad that you are here now and I can’t wait to tell Farida everything about this day.
204. STELLA:
I can’t wait for us to be reunited so we can sit and talk. Because I know we have a lot to talk about.
205. JENNY:
Yes, we have to arrange a day when we are all free.
206. STELLA:
That’s a good idea. By the way Jenny, I like what you did with the garage. I think your father would be proud of you.
207. JENNY:
Thank you, my dear.
208. CONTROL:
Jenny
209. Scene 5
210. Location:
Int. Mama K’s bar. Day.
211. BG SFX:
The ambience of Mama K’s bar.
212. Characters:
Grace, Mama K, Sigi, Drunk, Mwajuma.
213. SFX:
MUSIC PLAYING AND CONVERSATIONS CAN BE HEARD.
214. DRUNK:
(DRUNKENLY) Mama K, is this cognac or some local brew?
215. MAMA K:
What do you mean?
216. DRUNK:
(BELCH) It feels like I’m more drunk than usual!
217. MAMA K:
Lamwai, don’t start today. I’m not in the mood. Does that bottle look like it contains local brew to you?
218. DRUNK:
I don’t know; you tell me. It feels and tastes like a local brew.
219. MAMA K:
Don’t mess with my head! First of all, you haven’t paid the money that you owe me for the past two weeks.
220. DRUNK:
I know your habit of adding some local brew to the cognac so you can get us drunk. You should stop it!
221. MAMA K:
Keep running your mouth and see what happens.
222. DRUNK:
(BELCH) I must be drunk because all of a sudden, Mwajuma seems like a beauty to my eyes.
223. MWAJUMA:
(ANGRILY) Lamwai, I’m warning you … don’t start with me. I’ll get up from this chair and beat you.
224. MAMA K:
(INTERVENES) There will be no fighting in my bar today.
225. SIGI:
(APPROACHING MIC) The tycoon of the village is here now! The tycoon of the village is here!
226. SFX:
SUDDENLY CHEERS IN THE BAR ERUPT.
227. MAMA K:
(INVITING) Welcome, Sigi! Welcome! (TO DRUNK) Hey you! Get up from the chair so that Sigi has a seat.
228. DRUNK:
Why must you interrupt me, mama K, when you can clearly see that I still have a drink in my glass that I’m trying to enjoy?
229. MAMA K:
Aaargh! Just get up! (GETS THE DRUNK OFF THE CHAIR) First of all, you are drinking on credit and second, you are still running your mouth. (TO SIGI) Here, Sigi, you can have this chair.
230. SIGI:
Before I sit down, I want to make an announcement. (ARROGANT) I, Sigi, the tycoon of the village, am closing this bar down officially today. Nobody is allowed to buy any drinks from the bar and everybody should drink on my bill.
231. DRUNK:
Eeeh! In that case you can have my chair, sir!
232. SFX:
CHEERS ERUPT IN THE BAR AND PEOPLE STARTING CHANTING SIGI’S NAME.
233. SIGI:
Mama K, please give everyone whatever drink they want. The drinks are on me.
234. SFX:
PEOPLE IN THE BAR START PESTERING MAMA K FOR THEIR DRINKS.
235. MAMA K:
(IRRITATED) Aaargh! Wait a minute! Bunch of freeloaders! (TURNS TO SIGI) What will you be drinking?
236. SIGI:
I will have the usual—a good, cold beer. And by the way, where is that beautiful daughter of yours?
237. MAMA K:
(EXCITED) Who—Grace? She must be inside the house. I will bring her along with the cold beer you ordered.
238. SFX:
MAMA K HURRIES INTO THE HOUSE TO GET GRACE.
239. DRUNK:
(TO SIGI) How is that chair, sir? Comfortable, I hope.
240. SIGI:
Very comfortable indeed!
241. SFX:
THE DRUNK TAKES A SIP FROM HIS BEER.
242. DRUNK:
I just want you to know that you can have that chair as long as you want to, any time you come here.
243. SFX:
MAMA K COMES BACK SCOLDING GRACE.
244. MAMA K:
(TO GRACE) All you do is stay inside the house! There is someone who wants to meet you here. (TO SIGI) Here she is, Sigi! And here is your beer.
245. SIGI:
Hey, Grace. Welcome. Here, have a seat.
246. GRACE:
No, thank you!
247. MAMA K:
You see … that’s your problem. No wonder you are still single—at your age I was already married.
248. GRACE:
But I have work that I’m supposed to be doing in the house. And besides, I don’t drink alcohol.
249. SIGI:
You don’t have to drink a beer; you can have a soda if you want.
250. MAMA K:
Go on and sit down. You don’t even know what he wants to talk to you about.
251. SFX:
GRACE PULLS A CHAIR AND SITS DOWN.
252. SIGI:
There you go. There is no harm in sitting down and talking.
253. MAMA K:
Okay, let me leave you two.
254. SFX:
MAMA K LEAVES.
255. SIGI:
First of all, I want to apologize for my behavior the other day when you and Doris visited me. I realize that I was out of line, so please forgive me.
256. GRACE:
Is that what you called me here for? To apologize?
257. SIGI:
Yes. I realize that my actions were uncalled for.
258. GRACE:
Okay.
259. SIGI:
Does that mean I’m forgiven?
260. GRACE:
Yes.
261. SIGI:
Is that all you are going to say?
262. GRACE:
Well, what do you want me to say?
263. SIGI:
Listen, I’m ready to grant you that business deal.
264. GRACE:
You really don’t have to.
265. SIGI:
No! I really want to…. But I don’t think that this is the right place to discuss business.
266. GRACE:
What is wrong with this place?
267. SIGI:
I mean … it’s just not conducive for a proper discussion with all this noise and commotion. We should go back to my office.
268. GRACE:
I don’t know about that. I don’t think it’s a good idea.
269. SIGI:
Why? I promise that it will be strictly business. That is the reason we are going there.
270. GRACE:
It just doesn’t feel right going back there after what happened the last time.
271. SIGI:
Look, I know I didn’t act accordingly the last time you came there. But I promise you it was out of character of me. I promise you I am not like that.
272. GRACE:
(HESITATINGLY) Okay …
273. CONTROL:
Sigi.
274. Scene 6
275. Location:
Int. Farida’s house. Afternoon.
276. BG SFX:
Taarab music playing on the radio.
277. Characters:
Farida, Afande Kaifa, Zuhura.
278. SFX:
TAARAB MUSIC PLAYING ON THE RADIO.
279. SFX:
AFANDE KAIFA OPENS THE DOOR AND ENTERS THE HOUSE.
280. AFANDE KAIFA:
(SHOUTS ABOVE THE MUSIC) Farida! Farida!
281. FARIDA:
(APPROACHING MIC) I’m coming!
282. SFX:
AFANDE KAIFA SWITCHES OFF THE RADIO.
283. FARIDA:
Were you calling for long? I couldn’t hear you. I was in the bedroom arranging clothes.
284. AFANDE KAIFA:
How can you hear me with the loud music playing?
285. ZUHURA:
(APPROACHING MIC) Daddy is back! Daddy is back! Shikamoo!
286. AFANDE KAIFA:
Marahaba!
287. ZUHURA:
Daddy, you want to look at my maths exam result?
288. AFANDE KAIFA:
Not now, okay!
289. ZUHURA:
(SULKING) But I passed my exam!
290. FARIDA:
Zuhura, daddy is tired. Let him have a rest and you can show him your exam result later on, okay?
291. ZUHURA:
Okay.
292. FARIDA:
Are you all right?
293. AFANDE KAIFA:
I just want a moment of peace when I get home without loud music playing and people jumping at me.
294. FARIDA:
Okay, so should I get you some food?
295. AFANDE KAIFA:
Yes.
296. SFX:
FARIDA SERVES AFANDE KAIFA FOOD.
297. FARIDA:
You know there is something that I’ve been meaning to discuss with you.
298. AFANDE KAIFA:
I thought I made it clear that I want to rest.
299. FARIDA:
But we are only talking.
300. AFANDE KAIFA:
Listen, Farida, I’m feeling tired. Okay?
301. FARIDA:
But you know we never get a chance to talk about anything because you come home late in the middle of the night, and you are always busy.
302. SFX:
BRIEF SILENCE.
303. FARIDA:
You know I was thinking of the new potential clients we can get for our common beans, and that we will be able to make more money this season. Mama Mjuni has referred a couple of people to me.
304. AFANDE KAIFA:
Are you questioning my judgement?
305. FARIDA:
What is that supposed to mean? Hey, I thought that we could discuss the prospects of selling our common beans to potential buyers together.
306. AFANDE KAIFA:
(SIGHS) I think you are forgetting your place as a housewife.
307. FARIDA:
I don’t see anything wrong with a husband and wife sitting down to discuss matters concerning their livelihood. Mama Mjuni sits down with Mzee Ali to discuss these matters.
308. AFANDE KAIFA:
So what are you going to do next? Bewitch me the same way Mama Mjuni bewitched her husband?
309. FARIDA:
Excuse me?
310. AFANDE KAIFA:
(ANGRILY) Everybody in the village knows that Mama Mjuni bewitched her husband into submission. That is why he cooks and cleans after her. Why do you think he does whatever she tells him? I mean, who in their right mind would cook and clean after his wife?
311. FARIDA:
I’m really speechless. I don’t know how we got there when all I was trying to do is advise you.
312. AFANDE KAIFA:
(ANGRILY) I did not marry you to give me advice; I married you to bear me children. You want to be useful, then bear me a baby boy.
313. SFX:
AFANDE KAIFA STORMS OUT IN ANGER AND SLAMS THE DOOR.
314. ZUHURA:
Mama, why is father angry?
315. FARIDA:
It’s nothing, baby.
316. ZUHURA:
Is he angry because we are girls?
317. FARIDA:
No, baby, he just wants a baby boy for you guys so that you can play together.
318. CONTROL:
Afande Kaifa
319. Scene 7
320. Location:
Ext/Int. Warehouse. Late afternoon.
321. BG SFX:
Sigi’s car arriving.
322. Characters:
Grace, Sigi.
323. SFX:
SIGI’S CAR ARRIVING.
324. SFX:
SIGI SHUTS DOWN THE ENGINE.
325. SIGI:
We are here!
326. SFX:
SIGI GETS OUT OF THE CAR AND OPENS THE DOOR FOR GRACE.
327. GRACE:
(IN A SCARED TONE) Maybe we could just discuss our business here in the car instead of going to the office.
328. SIGI:
(WEAK LAUGH) Then what would be the point of coming all the way here? Just to sit outside?
329. SFX:
SILENCE
330. SIGI:
(UNRELENTING) Come on! After all, it’s much more comfortable in there and we won’t be disturbed.
331. GRACE:
(HESITANT) Okay.
332. SFX:
GRACE AND SIGI HEAD INTO THE OFFICE.
333.
FADE OUT
334.
FADE IN
335. SFX:
SIGI OPENS THE DOOR.
336. SIGI:
Welcome to my humble office. Please sit down.
337. SFX:
SIGI PULLS A CHAIR FOR GRACE.
338. SFX:
GRACE SITS DOWN
339. GRACE:
Thank you.
340. SIGI:
Can I offer you a drink? (JOKING) A beer maybe? (LAUGHS)
341. GRACE:
No, thank you. (QUICKLY CHANGES THE SUBJECT) So I was trying to tell you that this year was a relatively bad year for the harvest, but I managed to get a few sacks of common beans.
342. SIGI:
Oh come on now! What is the rush to dive in into business?
343. GRACE:
(SLIGHTLY UNEASY) But I thought that is what we came here for?
344. SIGI:
We have all the time in the world; there is no need to rush! By the way, you know I got you a very nice gift.
345. GRACE:
(SURPRISED) A gift?
346. SIGI:
Yes, I thought it would serve as a token of apology for the way I treated you the last time.
347. GRACE:
(SCARED LAUGH) No! No, you didn’t have to!
348. SIGI:
(EXCITEDLY) I don’t mind really. Here, let me get it for you.
349. SFX:
SIGI OPENS THE DRAWER TO TAKE OUT THE GIFT.
350. SIGI:
Here you go.
351. SFX:
SIGI HANDS GRACE THE GIFT.
352. GRACE:
(PRETENDS TO BE IMPRESSED) Oh! It’s a dress.
353. SIGI:
Yes, and may I add a very expensive one too.
354. SFX:
GRACE SIGHS.
355. SIGI:
What’s wrong?
356. GRACE:
The dress is very beautiful but I don’t think I can accept it. I think you can understand that, can’t you?
357. SIGI:
Come on, Grace, stop being childish—it is just a harmless gift.
358. GRACE:
I know, but it won’t feel right knowing that we are going to be doing business together. And after all, I don’t think it would be fair to Doris for me to accept this gift.
359. SFX:
SIGI LAUGHS.
360. GRACE:
What’s so funny?
361. SIGI:
Are you implying that me and Doris are lovers?
362. GRACE:
Well, she certainly speaks highly of you all the time.
363. SIGI:
No, it’s nothing really, and I don’t think she would mind. Go on—you can try the dress on.
364. GRACE:
(CAUGHT OFF GUARD) Are you serious?
365. SIGI:
Yes … Look, I didn’t know your measurements so I had to just guess. Go on … try it on.
366. GRACE:
(SCARED LAUGH) I’m afraid I can’t do that here in front of you.
367. SIGI:
Oh! Stop being so uptight! You are just trying on a dress.
368. GRACE:
I will try it on once I get home.
369. SIGI:
Come on! I want to see you in that beautiful dress.
370. GRACE:
(SERIOUS TONE) I thought we came here for business!
371. SFX:
SIGI GETS UP FROM HIS CHAIR AND APPROACHES GRACE.
372. SIGI:
You know I don’t mind to see that beautiful body of yours in inside that dress.
373. GRACE:
(UNCOMFORTABLY) Please stop touching me. This is not right.
374. SIGI:
Don’t be like that. I promise I will give you the best deal in the village.
375. GRACE:
(INCREASINGLY UNEASY) Please let go of my arm.
376. SFX:
GRACE CRIES IN PAIN.
377. GRACE:
(SCREAMS) You’re hurting my arm!
378. SIGI:
(IN A GENTLE TONE) Don’t worry; it’s okay!
379. GRACE:
(TREMBLING) No, it’s not okay; I want to leave.
380. SIGI:
(ABSORBED IN HIS ACT) Why do you want to leave now? We just got here.
381. GRACE:
(IN A VERY SERIOUS TONE) Look—if you don’t let go of me, I will scream so loud that the whole village will hear me.
382. SIGI:
(FLIPS OUT) Okay, go on and leave, you ungrateful bitch! You don’t know how to appreciate a good thing. I give you a good gift and you repay me by acting like this?
383. GRACE:
(ANGRILY) Well, I don’t care because I’m not that kind of girl.
384. SFX:
GRACE THROWS THE DRESS IN HIS FACE AND STORMS OUT ANGRILY.
385. CONTROL:
Grace
386. Scene 8
387. Location:
Ext. Mama K’s house. Evening.
388. BG SFX:
Grace sobbing.
389. Characters:
Grace, Farida.
390. SFX:
GRACE SOBBING.
391. SFX:
MUSIC PLAYING FAINTLY IN THE BACKGROUND AT MAMA K’S BAR.
392. SFX:
GRACE CONTINUES SOBBING.
393. FARIDA:
(APPROACHING MIC) Grace! Is that you?
394. SFX:
GRACE CONTINUES TO SOB.
395. FARIDA:
Grace, what are you doing here?
396. GRACE:
(TRIES TO STOP CRYING) Nothing!
397. FARIDA:
Why are you crying?
398. SFX:
GRACE DOESN’T ANSWER.
399. FARIDA:
What’s wrong, my dear?
400. GRACE:
Nothing is wrong.
401. FARIDA:
But I can clearly see that something is wrong. Is it mama K?
402. GRACE:
No.
403. FARIDA:
Then what is it?
404. GRACE:
I don’t feel like talking about it.
405. FARIDA:
Grace, you know our relationship doesn’t just end at the vicoba … I’m like your big sister. So if there is something wrong, I want you to tell me because I might be able to help.
406. GRACE:
Look, you don’t have control over the situation just like I don’t have control over the situation, okay? So telling you won’t make any difference because we are both defenseless in this situation.
407. FARIDA:
What are you talking about?
408. GRACE:
(AFTER A LONG PAUSE) It’s Sigi.
409. FARIDA:
What did he do?
410. GRACE:
He invited me into his office to discuss business. I wanted to sell him my common beans, but when I got there, he tried to force himself on me.
411. FARIDA:
(SPEECHLESS) Oh!
412. GRACE:
You see, I knew you wouldn’t have anything to say.
413. FARIDA:
Did you go to the police to report this?
414. GRACE:
I don’t think the police would help.
415. FARIDA:
Why?
416. GRACE:
Sigi has money and influence in the village. Who do you think the police and people will believe?
417. FARIDA:
I don’t think it works like that. If he has done something wrong, then he should punished to stop him from doing it again.
418. GRACE:
(CHUCKLES) For someone who is older than me, I wouldn’t think that you would be so naïve.
419. FARIDA:
(IN A STERN VOICE) Listen to me; my husband is the police chief. I will tell him everything. Something must be done, and we will do whatever it takes to fix this situation.
420. GRACE:
Thank you for understanding and support.
421. CONTROL:
Grace.
422. Scene 9
423. Location:
Ext. Mama K’s bar. Night.
424. BG SFX:
Mama K’s bar ambience.
425. Characters:
Grace, Mama K, Doris, Adam, Alex, Drunk, Monica.
426. SFX:
GRACE WASHING THE DISHES.
427. ADAM:
Did you cook?
428. GRACE:
No!
429. ALEX:
Why not?
430. GRACE:
Look, I was not feeling too good today.
431. ADAM:
So that’s it? You didn’t cook just because you were not feeling good?
432. GRACE:
You two are old enough to cook for yourselves—why don’t you cook for once?
433. ADAM:
But you are the woman; you are supposed to cook.
434. ALEX:
And besides, we are too busy to cook.
435. GRACE:
(CHUCKLES) Busy? Busy doing what? Besides just roaming around the village the whole day?
436. ADAM:
Look, we are going to tell mother about you.
437. GRACE:
Go ahead and tell her.
438. MAMA K:
(INTERVENES) Hey, what is all this commotion? Huh?
439. ADAM:
It’s Grace, mama; she didn’t cook anything.
440. MAMA K:
Grace, why don’t you prepare something for your young brothers?
441. SFX:
DORIS ARRIVES IN HER HIGH HEELS.
442. DORIS:
(APPROACHING MIC, SHOUTING) Where is she? The home wrecker!
443. SFX:
DORIS STUMBLES AND FALLS DOWN IN HER HIGH HEELS.
444. SFX:
GRACE TRIES TO HELP DORIS BACK TO HER FEET.
445. GRACE:
Hey, Doris—Watch out! I don’t think those shoes are meant for walking long distances.
446. DORIS:
(FLIPS OUT) Leave me alone! What does it have to do with you?
447. GRACE:
Are you drunk?
448. DORIS:
It’s none of your business!
449. GRACE:
What’s wrong with you today?
450. DORIS:
What’s wrong with me?! ?Did you think I wouldn’t find out? Did you?
451. GRACE:
What are you talking about?
452. DORIS:
Oh, please stop acting like you have no idea what I’m talking about. I know all about your little schemes of trying to steal my Sigi from me.
453. GRACE:
(LAUGHS) Are you serious?
454. DORIS:
Do you find this funny? You know Sigi told me everything; he told me how you went to his office and tried to force yourself on him.
455. GRACE:
(SURPRISED) Oh! He told you that?
456. DORIS:
Yes, he did!
457. GRACE:
Did he also tell you how he tried to bribe me with gifts and when I denied him, he tried to force himself on me!
458. DORIS:
That is a bold lie. You should be ashamed of yourself.
459. GRACE:
You don’t believe me? Look at the bruises on my hands. (GRACE SHOWS DORIS THE BRUISES) How do you think they got there? He tried to force himself on me.
460. DORIS:
(SHOUTS) You are a liar!
461. GRACE:
Doris, you are drunk, aren’t you?
462. DORIS:
(SCREAMS) I hate you!
463. SFX:
DORIS TRIES TO JUMP ON GRACE.
464. MAMA K:
(INTERVENES) Hey! Hey! Hey! There will be no fighting in my place of business.
465. ADAM:
(CHEERING) Fight! Fight! Fight!
466. ALEX:
Come on, mama! Let them fight! We want to see a fight for once.
467. MAMA K:
No, there will be no fighting here. It’s bad enough that she got drunk elsewhere. At least if she got drunk at my bar, I could tolerate that.
468. DORIS:
(TO GRACE) You know, I always felt you were jealous of me. Whenever I came and showed you the gifts that Sigi bought me, you always envied me. You wished you were in my place.
469. GRACE:
Oh please! I don’t want anything from that man. And for your information, he tried to offer me a gift but I turned him down.
470. DORIS:
Stop lying! My Sigi would never do that!
471. GRACE:
I pity you, my friend! You are so blinded by him that you can’t see him for what he really is.
472. DORIS:
(TRIES TO JUMP ON GRACE) I really hate you!
473. MAMA K:
(INTERVENES) Hey, what did I say? No fighting here. If you two want to fight, take it elsewhere. You are causing a scene here. Look, now everybody is coming to see what’s happening!
474. DORIS:
Okay, I’m going to leave. But I just want you to know that this is not over.
475. SFX:
A DRUNK STARTS LAUGHING.
476. DORIS:
And you, what is so funny?
477. DRUNK:
I’m laughing at you; you are funny because you look stupid fighting for a man like Sigi.
478. DORIS:
What do you know anyway? You are just another drunk.
479. MONICA:
He is telling the truth, my dear. Sigi is no good. He uses women in the village like they are commodities. He did the same thing with me and my friend; he used the both of us.
480. DORIS:
You are all liars.
481. SFX:
DORIS STORMS OFF.
482. CONTROL:
Doris
484. Scene 10
485. Location:
Int. Farida’s house-bedroom. Night.
486. BG SFX:
Afande Kaifa snoring.
487. Characters:
Farida, Afande Kaifa.
488. SFX:
AFANDE KAIFA SNORING.
489. FARIDA:
(TRIES TO WAKE UP AFANDE KAIFA) Baba Zuhura! Baba Zuhura!
490. AFANDE KAIFA:
(ANSWERS BUT STILL IN A DEEP SLEEP) Hmm!
491. FARIDA:
Please wake up; there is something I need to talk to you about.
492. AFANDE KAIFA:
(SLEEPY) What is it now?
493. FARIDA:
Something has been weighing heavy on me the whole day.
494. AFANDE KAIFA:
It couldn’t wait till tomorrow?
495. FARIDA:
Well, tomorrow I may not get a chance to talk to you, so it’s better I just tell you now.
496. AFANDE KAIFA:
What is it?
497. FARIDA:
You know today while on my way to buy kerosene, I met Grace and she was crying all by herself. When I asked her what happened, she told me that Sigi had invited her into his office and tried to force himself on her.
498. AFANDE KAIFA:
And you believed her?
499. FARIDA:
Yes, I mean what reason would she have for lying?
500. AFANDE KAIFA:
You told me that this incident happened in his office?
501. FARIDA:
Yes.
502. AFANDE KAIFA:
What was she doing in his office?
503. FARIDA:
She told me that she went there to discuss a business deal. He must have taken advantage of her there and then.
504. SFX:
AFANDE KAIFA BREAKS DOWN LAUGHING.
505. FARIDA:
What’s so funny?
506. AFANDE KAIFA:
I’m laughing because I didn’t know that we had a detective in the house. If I knew sooner, I would have given you a job at the police station.
507. FARIDA:
This is a serious matter! What if the worst happened and the poor girl got raped?
508. AFANDE KAIFA:
But she did not get raped.
509. FARIDA:
But what if she did and she is just hiding it? Or what if the same situation happens to someone else? I think you should do something.
510. AFANDE KAIFA:
Do something based on what? Based on word of mouth from Grace? Just because she claims that Sigi tried to force himself on her, it doesn’t mean that it’s 100% the truth. What if she is lying?
511. FARIDA:
I know her; she would never lie about that. She is a good girl.
512. AFANDE KAIFA:
Does she have any witnesses?
513. FARIDA:
I don’t know, I’m not sure. I didn’t ask her.
514. AFANDE KAIFA:
Look, the crime didn’t happen if he didn’t actually rape her!
515. FARIDA:
But what if next time he really does it to someone? I think you should take action before it’s too late.
516. AFANDE KAIFA:
Listen, I’m going back to sleep and I suggest you stay out of other people’s business.
517. FARIDA:
I always knew that Sigi was a sketchy character; I always had a bad feeling about him. We shouldn’t sell our common beans to him anymore.
518. AFANDE KAIFA:
I am the one who makes the final decision on who we sell our common beans to. And besides, we can’t decide not to sell common beans to him based on just rumours.
519. CONTROL:
Afande Kaifa
Acknowledgements
Contributed by: Kheri Mkali, script writer, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Reviewed by: Frederick Baijukya, agronomist and N2 country coordinator for Tanzania, International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), East Africa Hub, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
This work was carried out with the aid of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada, www.idrc.ca, and with financial support from the Government of Canada, provided through Global Affairs Canada, www.international.gc.ca
