INT. BIBI AMINA’S HOUSE. NIGHT
It’s the night before the funeral, there is a wreath laid on the
dining room table.
It’s dark . Mwana (6) is sleeping alone in the guest room. Something
terrible must have happened, even the crickets ceased to make noise.
The bed doesn’t squeak, like it usually does when Paul(34) slides off
of it. Even the light drizzle doesn’t disrupt the eerie silence.
Mwana is sitting on the bed, her knees are on the edge of the bed
frame, her feet almost touching the ground. Paul slides into his
sweatpants.
MWANA
(Whispering)
Where are you going?
PAUL
(Whispering)
Don’t follow me.
MWANA
Why can’t you just stay here?
PAUL
(Whispering)
Shhhhh!! Because, I can’t.
MWANA
(whispering)
Are we doing something wrong Uncle Paulie?
PAUL
No. We are just special secret friends.
MWANA
Why can’t I at least tell…
PAUL
I told you if you tell anyone…your Mami will die.
Tears stream down Mwana’s face immediately.
PAUL
Don’t cry. You liked it didn’t you? I was nice to
you? We had fun, right?
Paul adjusts the elastic on his sweat pants and puts on his grey wife
beater. Mwana still has tears streaming down her face. She doesn't
know why. She feels guilty, like she has done something wrong. Mwana
clears her throat, her voice might break in between words.

MWANA
Is it supposed to hurt? I feel funny. Maybe I
should ask…
PAUL
Do you think I was joking when I said your Mami
will die if you tell?
MWANA
But I just thought… I feel really funny Uncle Paulie.
Heavy incoherent footsteps can be heard. They are coming from the
living room. Someone is in, what seems to be a drunken stupor.
PAUL
Shhhh! I’m going now. Remember you don’t want your
Mami to die.
Paul quickly lifts Mwana’s legs and shoves them under the covers, he
tucks the mosquito net in place and stands by the doorway to say:
PAUL
You are my special friend Mwana dear. I would never
want anything bad to happen to you. You know I love
you right?
Mwana nods in response. Paul blows a hurried kiss at Mwana.
Paul Exits.
Mwana lies in bed, her hands tucked in between her thighs, her
diaphragm trembles and her breathing is silent, her tears run down her
fevered cheeks.
Doris (36) Enters. Doris lets out a drunken whimper. Doris sighs and
puts her back against the wall. Doris uses one foot to take off the
shoe from the other. Doris let’s her purse fall to the ground, the
contents of it fall out .
DORIS
Ah! Shit.
Doris get’s on all fours to pick up her stuff. She catches a glimpse
of Mwana who is motionless, her tears glittering across her cheeks in
the darkness. Doris crawls towards Mwana hurriedly, yanks off the
mosquito net and sits on the bed. Doris cradles Mwana.
DORIS
Mwanagu! Have you been crying all this time? I would
have never left you alone if I knew you were this
distraught. When did you wake up? I told you to tell
Dada or Uncle Paul to fetch me if you needed… Forgive

me mwanangu. eh.. tell me what’s wrong? Did something
happen, you seemed ok when I left.
(beat)
Doris hopes for a response.
DORIS
Is something wrong?
Tell me. Eh. What is it?
Mwana buries her head in Doris’ chest.
MWANA
I don’t want you to die.
(beat)
DORIS
I’m not going anywhere anytime soon. We will all
miss your Bibi but it was her time. She was old.
She lived a good life and you know that she loved
you very much. yes?
Doris kisses Mwana’s forehead several times and hugs her tight.
MWANA
Mami?
DORIS
Yes Baby?
(beat)
MWANA
I… I think… I’ll miss Bibi.
DORIS
We all will my baby. We all will.
FADE TO BLACK.