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“THE DECISION”
Screenplay by
Michael James Allen
DRAFT 002
March the 13th, 2011
Property of:
Michael James Allen
EXT SAILING SHIP
DAY
We see a ship from the mid seventeen hundreds, taking a
group of slaves from the Ivory Coast to the Americas (new world).
The sea is calm and the sun shines brightly, like and expecting mother
welcoming a new born into the world.
There are three people visible: A black slave named Matunga, who is
tied to a frame; a soldier whipping Matunga and a second soldier watching
Matunga being whipped. Matunga
is around thirty years of age and comes from a wealthy family in Nigeria.
He is used to the finer things in life and was captured and sold into
slavery by a rival tribe.
The soldier stops whipping Matunga and both the soldiers
walk down stairs via a door to the right.
Matunga looks to the sky and think’s
O.C. MATUNGA
What have I done to deserve this?
I was once a man of importance, with money and power.
Now I’m nothing more than a rat that is given the scraps.
Matunga looks to the sky and starts to smile.
He has a look on his face like a man that has either been relieved of
a burden, gone crazy or found god.
Matunga starts to hum something but doesn’t know what it is.
This starts to annoy him and he tries to recall a time from the past
when he might have heard this song before, but recalls nothing.
The two soldiers return to drag Matunga down into the ship
where the other slaves reside.
INT SAILING SHIP
DAY
One of the slaves called Dotten moves over to where Matunga
is sitting.
Dotten was a slave to Matunga.
The irony of seeing his former owner isn’t lost on Dotten.
Dotten thinks to himself:
O.C.
DOTTEN
Life can be so ironic,
My lord is nothing more than a man now.
If only he could see the irony too.
INT SAILING SHIP
DAY
(CONT)
The soldiers leave the scene up the stairs the entered
earlier.
Dotten moves over to where Matunga is resting.
DOTTEN
How are you?
Matunga just stares at the space in front of him like
someone whose spirit has finally broken.
Matunga looks like a man this is either ready to die or is going
insane. He
looks at Dotten.
MATUNGA
When I was being whipped,
I could hear a sound of heaven
DOTTEN
What the hell are you talking about?
MATUNGA
It was a beautiful building where blacks
and whites sang together as free men
DOTTEN
I think you’ve been out in the sun too long
MATUNGA
I heard the most beautiful song;
the most beautiful song in the world
DOTTEN
Well, you better not let them hear you, or else
MATUNGA
I don’t care anymore, can’t you hear it?
DOTTEN
NO!
Two of the slaves stand up and say that they can hear it
Matunga stand up and begins to sing
MATUNGA AND EXTRAS
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me
INT SAILING SHIP
DAY
(CONT)
At the same time, one of the soldiers walks down the stairs
to see what all the fuss is about.
Four of the slaves stand up and join in with Matunga and the other two
slaves.
MATUNGA AND EXTRAS
I once was lost but now am
found,
Was blind, but now, I see.
The camera morphs into a church around Matunga
INT CHURCH
DAY
Matunga looks around him and sees a mixture of black and white
people singing the song; they look free; they look like men and women of
importance; they don’t seem to harbour any resentment for their fellow human and
they’re all singing in unison.
MATUNGA AND EXTRAS
T'was Grace that taught,
my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear,
the hour I first believed.
The sound of a bullet is heard but not seen.
A bullet wound appears on Matunga’s head, in between his eyes.
As Matunga falls, the background morphs back into the room with the
slaves.
INT SAILING SHIP
DAY
The slaves start to cry
SOLDIER 1
I told that stupid
nigger that I if he pushes me,
I would deal with him!
INT SAILING SHIP
DAY
(CONT)
The slaves look at him full of anger and as if bile was
slowly filling up in their stomahes.
The soldier lifts Matunga’s body and starts to drag it up the stairs.
Dotten steps forward
DOTTEN
You can kill me but
another will take my place,
and another, and another, until there is no one left.
DOTTEN (SINGS)
Through many dangers,
toils and snares...
we have already come.
T'was Grace that brought us safe thus far...
and Grace will lead us home.
The camera fades
The sound of a bullet is heard
The voice of a third slave is heard singing
THIRD SLAVE
The Lord has promised
good to me,
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
as long as life endures.
THE END
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