LIFE IS NOT FAIR

GENESIS 37,

DRAFT SCRIPT NOVEMBER 2010

FADE IN:

INT. JOSEPH’S HOME-EARLY MORNING-SD1

Start off with a CU of a clock face with the camera tilting down wards
to reveal Joseph’s mother Elizabeth putting away things from a dining
table after having had breakfast. Her daughter Carol reads a story and
Joseph comes into the frame and thanks his mother for the breakfast
and he puts an accounts text book into his bag on a chair at the
dining table.

CAROL:

Mum! When are we beginning school? I am missing my friends mum

ELIZABETH:

Oh sweetie it’s only two weeks left before school starts; am sure you
will be able to see your friends soon.

CAROL:

humm

(Carol looks at her mother and smiles)

JOSEPH:

Hey Mum, thanks for the breakfast.

(Joseph walks into the frame saying these words)

ELIZABETH:

You’re welcome dear; Am getting late for work, lets pray.

(Joseph’s Mother walks to the dining table and Joseph says a prayer
before they leave the house)

JOSEPH:

(Joseph and his mother say amen together)

We are blessed, dearly loved and highly favored throughout this day.

CUT TO:
1 |Forerunner Production
 EXT: A STREET WITH CAR JAM-MORNING-SD1

Cars drive slowly in a jam with the sun raise in the background.

CUT TO:

INT. LECTURE ROOM-DAY-SD1

CU of a wrist watch on a man’s hand, camera zooms out slowly to expose

the lecturer who asks his students to meet with him the following day
for another lecture. Students leave the lecture room and Joseph meets
with friends outside of the lecture room to make arrangement for when
they could meet for their coursework discussions.

LECTUER:

Let’s call it a day; we meet tomorrow for Company accounts.

CUT TO:

EXT. UNIVERSITY CAMPUS-TEN AM-SD1

Position the camera to get a WS of a lecture room exit; students leave

lecture room and Joseph walks out towards the camera heading towards
an empty seat; he is joined by his friends.

CUT TO:

POV of Joseph facing his friend

SARAH:

(Sarah says this happily)

Hi Joe, how was your weekend?

JOSEPH:

Same old program...nothing new... (And how was yours?)

EDDIE:

(Cutting in)

So when are we kicking off with this discussion group guys?

JOSEPH:

I think Wednesdays at noon is fine for us guys

2 |Forerunner Production
 (Say this as he looks at the others who respond by nodding their
heads)

CUT TO:

INT. JOEPH’S UNCLE’S SITTING ROOM-EVENING-SD2

Joseph’s Uncle Abudalah takes juice with some biscuits as he watches

television, and he receives a phone call from Joseph’s mother. The
mobile phone rings; he looks at it but he ignores it; the ringing
continues he finally picks up the mobile phone and he mutes the
television set.

ABUDALAH:

Hallo Hajara!

ELIZABETH: OFF SCREEN

Abudalah! How many times will I tell you this; please! Please! Call me
Elizabeth.

ABUDALAH:

Okay! Okay! So you dropped everything when you left Islam?

ELIZABETH:

Any way; how is your life?

ABUDALAH:

Am fine! I mean I am okay under the sun

CUT TO:

INT. JOSEPH’S HOME-EVENING-SD2

Joseph’s Mother sets up the table for dinner a few minutes before her
son comes in from school while holding the mobile phone to her hear.
At the end of the phone call Joseph comes in as his mother winds up
the table set up. Joseph and his mother have dinner together and the
mother tells him about her trip to the village.

ELIZABETH:

I will be visiting mum in the village tomorrow (at seven AM in the

morning)

3 |Forerunner Production
 CUT TO:

ABUDALAH:

(Cutting in)

Oh mum! Yea! Yea! Yea! Yea!

(Joseph’s uncle nodes his head, he stands up and walks towards a

window)

ELIZABETH: OFF SCREEN

Is there anything you want to send her?

ABUDALAH:

Not really; it’s not Christmas yet but you can send my regards to her.

CUT TO:

CU of Joseph’s mother’s face as camera is zooming out slowly

ELIZABETH:

(Says this slowly in a disappointed tone)

Okay

CUT TO:

INT. JOSEPH’S HOME-EVENING-SD2

Start with a MS of Joseph closing the door and walking towards the
dining table. He rests his bag on one of the chairs at the table.
Carol walks hurriedly to Joseph and gets his bag from him

JOSEPH:

Hi Mum, how was your day?

(Joseph walks towards the table; Carol crosses the frame)

ELIZABETH:

Fine! Welcome back Joseph! How was school?

(Walks to the table with a jag of juice)

4 |Forerunner Production
 JOSEPH:

Perfect, we’ve got a new accounts lecturer

(Says this as he pours juice into his glass)

JOSEPH:

This man is the best

(Joseph snaps his figure in excitement)

CUT TO:

CAROL:

My English teacher is my favorite

CUT TO:

CU of mother’s face responding to Joseph with a smile

ELIZABETH:

Oh really; I should expect better grades from you two then..,

(She looks at each of them)

CUT TO:

CU of Joseph smiling at his mother

CUT TO:

Mother still smiling at Joseph

ELIZABETH:

...shouldn’t I mister?

JOSEPH: OFF SCREEN

Of Course you should.

ELIZABETH:

Tomorrow I will be going to the village to see your grandmother and I

will be back in two days time.

JOSEPH:

5 |Forerunner Production
 This meal is so delicious mum

CAROL:

Joseph; Are you listening to what mum is telling you?

CUT TO:

EXT. UNIVERSITY CAMPUS-DAY-SD3

Joseph in a discussion group responding to his colleagues as friend #1

Eddie doses off after lunch.

JOSEPH:

Yes, I think this number is complete... any one left out?

CUT TO:

Friend #1 dosing with his head descending low as the friends are
cheering him like in a football match

FRIENDS:

Aehhhhhhhhh... ehhhhhhh!

CUT TO:

INT: JOSEPH’S HOME-EVENING-SD3

Joseph seats at the dining table working on his research report as he

listens to a radio station playing music. The music suddenly stops and
the radio presenter announces news. Two hours later Joseph gets a
phone call from his uncle confirming his mothers’ death.

RADIO PRESENTER: OFF SCREEN

Atleast14 people have been involved in a car accident along the

Kampala-Masaka highway, when a high speed bus drove into a taxi
forcing it off the road. Eye witnesses say the taxi turned several
times before coming to a stop...

(The camera zooms in slowly to the radio; Joseph stops reading to

listen carefully)

RADIO PRESENTER: OFF SCREEN

There has been no survivor from the taxi

6 |Forerunner Production
 (The radio presenter continues with the news as his voice fades out;
Joseph’s face grows cold; as he turns to look at a photo frame with a
picture of his mother)

CUT TO:

INT. ABUDALAH’S HOUSE-NIGHT-SD3

Uncle Abudalah receives a phone call from one of their relatives in

the village telling him of his sisters’ death; he calls Joseph to tell
him to.

ABUDALAH:

Hallo!

RELATIVE #1: OFF SCRENE

Sam we have lost Elizabeth in a car accident

ABUDALAH:

What! Elizabeth! Are you talking about the mother of Joseph?

RELATIVE #1: OFF SCRENE

Yes Sam the mother of Joseph

CUT TO:

JOSEPH:

Oh my God! This can’t be my mother

ABUDALAH: OFF SCREEN

Joseph, it is unfortunate, I will pick you up with your sister very

early tomorrow.

CUT TO:

EXT: UNIVERSITY CAMPUS-DAY-SD4

Start with a WS of university campus then cut to Joseph’s discussion

group who. They calculate an accounts number but they do not get it
and wish Joseph was around to help them out.

EDDIE:
7 |Forerunner Production
 (He speaks as he yawns with a sleepy look on his face)

I knew you wouldn’t get the answer without Joe

ELIOT:

What is your contribution? You’ve been (dosing all this time)

SARAH:

(Cutting in)

I went to Joe’s house and he was not there; I do not know what is
wrong with him

EDDIE:

Let me have a look at that number.

(He picks the exercise book in which they are doing the calculation)

VICKY:

We should pass by Joe’s home tonight.

(They all respond positively)

EDDIE:

Yeah... we should take him this number also

CUT TO:

INT. JOSEPH’S HOME SITTING ROOM-EVENING-SD4

Start with a camera shot showing a photo frame upside down, panning to
reveal Joseph who is seated at the dining table in a depressed mood.
There is a knock at the door, Joseph walks to the door.

CUT TO:

EXT.JOSEPH’S HOME.FRONT DOOR-SD4

An establishing shot, four friends standing next to Joseph’s house;

Sarah and Eddie walk towards the door as the other two lag behind
talking to each other.

CUT TO:

SARAH:

8 |Forerunner Production
 Urh what are you doing?

(Sarah Knocks the door gently as Eddie tries to look through the key
hole)

EDDIE:

Am just taking a look; some body may not be home

(Just before Eddie gets a clear look, Joseph opens the door)

CUT TO:

(POV from Joseph’s angle)

Hey guys... come on in.

SARAH:

(In a low tone as she hugs Joseph; other friends enter the house)

Hi Joseph! Why the sad look on your face? Is there any problem?

(Vicky smiles at Carol but Carol does not)

JOESPH:

(In a sad tone)

My mum is with the lord right now

SARAH:

Sorry dear, but am sure we will meet her in heaven someday to come

ELIOT:

(Slowly)

Yeah-It is good we all know where to find her

VICKY: OFF SCREEN

Sorry Joe.

CUT TO:

MS of Joseph as he speaks; then cut to a POV from between any of the

two friends with Joseph still in frame.
9 |Forerunner Production
 JOSEPH:

(Sad tone still)

She had an accident; we’ve just come back from the burial

EDDIE:

Sorry dude!

CUT TO:

INT. JOEPH’S UNCLE’S OFFICE-DAY-SD5

Joseph’s uncle signs a business deal with a client just before Joseph
goes in to the office.

ABUDALAH:

No problem; our primary goal is our client’s satisfaction

CLIENT:

It’s a privilege working with you

(The client stands; reaching out her hand for a hand shake)

POV from the client; get CU of the hand shake

JOSEPH:

(Politely in a low tone)

Sorry sir

(Joseph bumps into the client as he walks into his uncle’s office)

CLIENT:

It’s okay!

The client walks out of frame

ABUDALAH:

Young man, watch where you are going; you are not the first person to
lose a parent; Do you want us to tiptoe; here comes the new orphan
give way, give way, young man (am also an orphan)

JOSEPH:

(Cutting in)

10 | F o r e r u n n e r P r o d u c t i o n
 Sorry uncle, my mind I...I... (I didn’t mean to)

ABUDALAH:

(Cutting in)

So what are you going to do now? I don’t have money; the only advice I
have for you; either look for a job or go to the village,

CUT TO:

JOSEPH:

But uncle, I need at least three hundred fifty thousand shillings to

register for these exams, I believe I will be able to get the rest
later

(Using gestures)

ABUDALAH:

Young man, of what value is that if you fail to get the remaining four
hundred thousand shillings? Look! I have a big family and your
grandmother also needs my help

JOSEPH:

But uncle, sincerely speaking aren’t you going to help your very own
flesh and blood?

ABUDALAH:

Ever since your mother left Islam and joined that so called—what is
that? Born again! We as a family of Hajji Mamato, we have nothing to
do with her

(Joseph looks at his uncle with disbelief)

CUT TO:

EXT. UNIVERSITY CAMPUS-DAY-SD5

Joseph seats under a shade as he waits for his friends, Sarah joins
him and asks about Joseph’s uncle’s response. The other three friends
join them and Eddie cracks a joke.

SARAH:

11 | F o r e r u n n e r P r o d u c t i o n
 Hi Joe! I got this for you.

(Sarah hands Joseph a splash)

JOSEPH:

Thanks Sarah, what a surprise

SARAH:

It’s just a drink? So how was it with your uncle?

(Sarah seats next to Joseph)

JOSEPH:

This is too much, my uncle says that,

‘I either go to the village or look for a job’ he even can’t give me

the three fifty K (thousand shillings).

CUT TO:

CU Sarah looking at Joseph pitifully

SARAH:

Really! It’s unbelievable

JOSEPH:

He tells me of how my grandma needs support from him

SARAH:

But sincerely, what kind of uncle is that?

JOSEPH:

His business, maybe I should just go and work at construction site

SARAH:

Joe that will mean cutting lectures and for how long will it take you
to raise just forty percent and yet the tests are starting soon.

JOSEPH:

(In frustration)

So Sarah what do I do now?

SARAH:
12 | F o r e r u n n e r P r o d u c t i o n
 (In a calm tone)

Joe I think I will try to get you some money; there must be a silver
lining for you.

JOSEPH:

Thanks! Thanks! But—

SARAH:

(Cutting in)

No! No! I mean am just trying as your friend

JOSEPH:

Yeah—but, do not let my problem stress you out, I mean you too have
quite a lot on you

(Joseph fakes a smile)

EDDIE:

Is that the natural you? By the way you two; make a good couple here

SARAH:

Ed! You cut that out

ELIOT AND VICKY:

Hi Joe and Sarah

(As they sit)

CUT TO:

EXT. SHOPPING MALL, ATM-DAY

Sarah walks out of the auto teller machine and meets Joseph and they
walk off.

CUT TO:

INT. JOSEPH’S HOME-EVENING-SD6

Joseph counts money on the dining table just before the Land Lord
comes to ask for his rent with a police officer.

CAROL:

13 | F o r e r u n n e r P r o d u c t i o n
 I will get it

(The Land Lord knocks at the door and Joseph’s sister walks towards
the door)

CUT TO:

CU of Joseph’s sister’s hand opening the door; CU of the Land Lord

with the Police Officer in the back

EXT. JOSEPH’S HOME FRONT DOOR-EVENING

LAND LORD:

(Use a fed up tone)

Am Sorry but it been so long now

CUT TO:

Full Shoot of Joseph with his hand resting over his sister.

JOSEPH:

(Stammers)

Please Sir, give me some more time I will (clear you soon)

(Use gestures)

LAND LORD:

(Cutting in)

Ah! Ah! Do you have the money or not? You do not have to pay your
mothers portion, I only need payment for the time you have been in
here.

JOSEPH:

But sir, look I have exams coming up can’t you (give me some more time
please)

LAND LORD:

I think I have given you most of the time now, Push him out! Push him
out!

(Land lord turns to look at the police office; Carol sobs and walks
into the house; the police office walks towards the door)

JOSEPH:
14 | F o r e r u n n e r P r o d u c t i o n
 Wait please wait!

(Joseph goes back into the house with his sister)

CUT TO:

INT.DINING TABLE

Joseph opens the book in which the money is; looks at the money and
sighs; looks in to the camera.

CUT TO:

The land lord counting the money

LAND LORD:

Next time you delay your rent, am kicking you out.

(POV from Joseph; the Land Lord walks off frame; Joseph walks into the
house)

JOSEPH:

(Speaks from within himself)

Oh my God, what will I tell Sarah? Where am I getting tuition from?

TREATMENT

Joseph a university student whose long term dream is to be accountant,

he stays with his mother his sole provider. Sometime later the mother
passes away in a car accident and Joseph tries to get help from his
uncle to continue pursuing his dream but things do not work for him.
He later learns that his mother had left a big portion of rent unpaid.

15 | F o r e r u n n e r P r o d u c t i o n
16 | F o r e r u n n e r P r o d u c t i o n