Moccasins (30.7.11) By Denis M.

Kimathi

Denis M. Kimathi 2011

Phone: +254 725 735 180 Email: denismkimathi@daystar.ac.ke P.O. Box 14561-20100 Nakuru, Kenya.

EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD - DAY A sunny afternoon. A sweaty, barefoot boy JAMIN, 10, races, kicks and dribbles a worn out polythene ball. His unbuttoned shirt swings out sideways and its edges FLAP in the wind in rhythm with his motion. A flurry of fast moving boys feet STOMP the ground as they run after Jamin. Popos team has canvas shoes on, Jamins team runs barefoot. The rolling ball raises dust off the bare ground, its tattered body RUFFLES as it rolls speedily along. Jamin slips the ball between POPO,11, the opposing teams captains feet. Side stepping another player, Jamin gives the ball a powerful KICK. The ball PUFFS off a cloud of dust and shoots towards Popos teams goalkeeper...the keeper stands between the two boulders that mark the goalposts...his bare feet twitch...his eyes transfixed to the fast approaching ball...he dives...hes too slow...the ball WHOOPS under him...he hits the ground with a THUMP. Its a goal! Jamins teammates jump and shout in celebration. Jamin makes a wide angle turn and runs off HOLLERING, his arms spread outwards, he yaws like a plane. His four teammates run after him imitating his every movement. Popo kneels on dirt panting angrily. Popos teams keeper gets off the ground, dusts himself and walks towards the ball. Popos other teammates walk around sadly. At another corner of the field, Jamins teammates carry him shoulder high cheering. JAMINS TEAMMATES (CHORUS) JAMIN! JAMIN! JAMIN!

EXT. DUST ROAD - DAY

Jamin leads his friends in a triumphant barefoot homeward march. Tucked under Jamins arm is the worn polythene ball theyve been using for the football game. Popo and his teammates, in shoes, walk at a distance behind Jamins team. JAMIN Tomorrow, same way! (MORE) (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: JAMIN (contd) (Nenkya tukaddemu!) DENGA (gesturing) We are going to crush them. (Tugenda kubamenya) RONIS We almost lost, (throwing an arm around him) but for you my friend. (Otutasiza mwana! Babade batukubye) ZAK Jamin the redeemer! (Jamin otutasiiza!) JAMIN I didnt score those goals alone, it was a team effort. (Nange sandisobodde ngatemuliiko) 3 EXT. JAMINS HOME - DAY

2.

Jamin stops before the gate to his home and bids his friends farewell. His friends proceed on along the road. He watches them. Jamin sees his friends stop and stare at ZOE, 12, a pretty faced girl, shiny black hair held into a ponytail, in a beautiful dress and pink sandals. They smile sheepishly, she doesnt notice them. As Zoe nears Jamin, he looks at his dusty bare feet and walks briskly into the homestead. Standing outside the door to the house, Jamin sees Zoe stop to talk to Popo and his friends. Popo looks in Jamins direction and sneers. Jamin goes into the house, sadly. 4 INT. JAMINS HOME - DAY Door CREAKS open...Jamin walks in...JAMINS FATHER lowers the newspaper and glances at his son at the door...he lowers his gaze to his dirty bare feet...Jamin sets the ball behind the door. 4

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

3.

JAMINS FATHER (smiles) Jamin, Happy Birthday. Jamins father holds out a box to Jamin. Jamin takes the box and opens it. It contains a pair of shiny new mocassin shoes. A smile forms on Jamins face. He takes out the shoes...smells them...strokes the sole...turns them this way and that. Jamin lays the box down. He pours water into a pail and scrubs his dirty feet. Jamins father cleans an adult sized moccasin shoe with a wet cloth. Jamin watches his father clean the shoes while he cleans his feet. The father then polishes the shoes with black shoe wax til they shine. Jamin wipes his feet dry with a towel. He puts the right side shoe on his left foot and viceversa. He stands up and grins. JAMINS FATHER (laughing) Sit. (Tuula wansi) Jamin sits on the chair, his father takes the shoes off and puts them back correctly. Father and son converse. Jamin nods -- his face beams with joy. His father smiles -- contented. 5 EXT. DUST ROAD - DAY Jamin walks, a smile on his face. His shirt is buttoned. He has his new moccasins on. A few people go past Jamin, one looks at his shoes and smiles, the other nods. Jamin smiles Zoe and Popo walk up the road. Popos shoes are a bit dusty. Zoe looks at Jamins Moccasins and smiles -- impressed. ZOE I like your shoes. 5

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

4.

JAMIN Thanks Zoe. Popo darts quick glances between Jamins face and shoes, sizing him -- in contempt. POPO Youre still the neighbourhood urchin! (Okyali wa kukyalo) Zoe looks at Popo in disbelief and walks off angrily. Jamin breaks into a run, his arms stretched out, he starts to yaw like a plane. FADE TO BLACK 6 INT. JAMINS HOME/BEDROOM - NIGHT A sleepy Jamin lies on the bed. He draws the blanket to take a look at his new shoes. He smells them...strokes them...and smiles. He covers them with his blanket and closes his eyes. 7 DREAM SEQUENCE - FOOTBALL FIELD Popos and Jamins teams are warming up on the pitch. Jamin takes off the Moccasins and places them under the shade of a small shrub. As Jamin walks into the field Popo walks up to Jamins moccasins. He picks them up...Jamin WHIRLS around. Popo PATS dust off the moccasins soles with his hand. Popo takes off running...Jamin follows him...Popo takes him in circles around the field. Jamins teammates stand FROZEN like mannequins as he chases Popo around them. Popos team LAUGHS at Jamin and JEERS. Jamin touches Popo, just about to catch him, but he a trips on a foot and FALLS. CUT TO: 7 6

5. 8 INT. JAMINS HOME/BEDROOM - CONTINOUS 8

Jamin sits up abruptly in his bed...covered in sweat...breathing heavily...he throws the blankets off his bed...heaves a sigh of relief -- his shoes are still there. 9 EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD - DAY A beaming Jamin stands some distance from the field solemnly watching his friends jog around the field. Ronis jogs around the bend at the end of the field and jogs up to Jamin. RONIS (jogs on the spot, smiles) Hey! Nice shoes! (Akalinya gyekali!) (pants) You need to start your warm up. (Oliku ki? Yingirawo!) Jamin looks at his shoes, his eyes widen as he slowly gazes up at Ronis. RONIS Now what? (Ate kiki?) Zak comes up, sees Jamins new shoes. ZAK (jokingly) Ohh! I see...your dad got paid. (Eeh! taata wo bamuusasude) Jamin is unmoved. DENGA (seriously) Take off those shoes and get into the field! (Jamwengato, ogende kukisaawe) Jamin looks at Popos teams dirty shoes and shakes his head in refusal. Denga clenches his fist, then unclenches it slowly. The rest of Jamins teammates assemble before him, all three of them jog on the spot. (CONTINUED) 9

CONTINUED:

6.

DENGA (closing in on Jamin) Take them off (Zijeemu!) Jamin sees his father riding his bicycle fast in the distance, his father waves at him and rides on. JAMIN No! (Nedda!) (moving away) Theyll get stolen. (Bajja kuzzibba) DENGA (following) They are just shoes! (Twale eli ezo ngatto bugatto naawe) Ronis steps between Denga and Jamin and tries to restrain Denga. RONIS Jamin, we cant beat those guys without you. (Jamin, ba guy tetubasobola wotali) ZAK (with a chuckle) No one is stealing your moccasins. (Tewali agenda zzibba!) Jamin looks at his teammates in silence. The opposing team shouts at Jamins team to get into the field. DENGA We get hammered, youre to blame. (Bwebatukuba, bibyo) The three run into the field and the game kicks off. Jamin, stands stiffly still at the same spot. He looks down at his shoes -- they seem to shine even brighter now.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

7.

Jamins father rides back, a packet of maize flour tied to the backseat. He sees Jamin outside the field and stops his bike. The ball is kicked in Jamins direction and he moves his body to let it pass and then stares at it as it rolls away. RONIS Jamin, hit the ball! (Samba Jamin) Jamin looks at the ball then at his shoes He walks up to the ball, picks it up with his hands and throws it back into the field. Popos team LAUGHS. Ronis looks at Jamin and shakes his head sadly. Jamin pokerfaced, looks on as Ronis serves a goal kick. Ronis gives Jamin one last look then goes back to his position. Jamin turns his eyes to his shining shoes Popo receives a cross, his bare foot connects with the ball midair with a SLAP and sends it sliding between Roniss feet. POPOS TEAM (CHORUS) GOOOAAAL! LATER-Popo dribbles the ball past Jamins teammates and KICKS the ball, it passes through Ronis outstretched hands. POPOS TEAM (CHORUS) GOOOAAAL! At halftime Ronis walks up to where Jamin is standing. He hasnt moved an inch. RONIS Please Jamin, we need you in here. If you cant trust anyone else with your shoes, Ill sub myself and hold your shoes so you can play. (Tukwetaaga mukisaawe, naawe, kale oba otya ngato, kanzikwaate, gwe ozanye)

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

8.

JAMIN Impossible! (Tekisoboka) Jamin shakes his head adamantly. Popos team shouts for Jamins team to get into the field for the second half. RONIS (pleading) Jamin, please? (Jamin, naawe?) Jamin looks at his shining shoes then back at Ronis and shakes his head. Popo stops the ball, he dribbles past Zak and scores. POPOS TEAM (CHORUS) GOOOAAAL! Jamin starts to pace up and down the fields sidelines. Jamins father rides off. JAMIN Zak! Zak turns to look at Jamin. JAMIN (CONTD) Defend! Defend! (Tayiiza! Tayiiza!) ZAK (contemptuously) Okay coach! (Kale coach) Jamin looks around -- embarassed. LATER -Popos teammate scores LATER -Popos team goalkeeper drops the ball to his feet, dribbles past Jamins whole team and scores. Ronis collects the ball.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED: RONIS (walking off pitch) Its over, Im going home. (Biwedde, ngenze ka!) DENGA Back to your position Ronis. (Ronis, dda wobade!) Ronis keeps walking. ZAK Only God can save us now. (Mukama yasobola okututaasa kati) DENGA Ronis! Ronis! Ronis keeps walking. RONIS Its over! (Kiwedde) Popos team high five each other.

9.

Ronis picks the ball, walks to Jamin,he looks Jamin in the eyes. Jamin returns the gaze. Tears well up in Ronis eyes...he hands Jamin the ball and walks off the pitch. Jamin holds his worn polythene ball... papers FLUTTER in the wind. The players of both teams head off in opposite directions. Jamin walks into the field and gestures pleadingly but the players just keep walking -- farther away from him. 10 EXT. DUST ROAD - DAY 10

Jamin walks alone. The tattered polythene ball hangs by a strand tied to his index finger. Tears roll down his eyes. He walks to the roadside, with a grimace on his face, he sits on a boulder, his body convulses as he sobs. Jamins father comes cycling along the road and stops on noticing Jamin. He gets off his bike, props it on its stand and sits beside his Jamin. (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

10.

Jamins father puts his arm across his sons shoulder and pulls him close for consolation. The father hands Jamin a handkerchief, he wipes his tear streaked face. JAMINS FATHER You didnt play today? (Tozanye) Jamin shakes his head. JAMINS FATHER Why? (Lwaki?) Jamin looks down at his shoes -- his father follows his gaze. JAMINS FATHER The moccasins? Jamin nods. Jamins father takes off one of Jamins shoes. He looks at it, turns it over, looks at Jamin and playfully TAPS Jamins head with the shoe. JAMINS FATHER (smiling) This is the reason why you didnt play? (Oganye okuzanya lwa ngato?) Jamin gives his father a quizzical look. FADE TO BLACK 11 EXT. FOOTBALL FIELD - DAY 11

Jamin walks into the football pitch with his new Moccasin shoes. He sees Zoe, shes in lovely pair of sandals...he turns back...hesitates...looks at his new shoes...then at Zoe and smiles. He walks towards Zoe confidently and greets her. She smiles -- they converse as Jamins team is warming up. DENGA (authoritatively) If youre here to play, then get into the field. (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

11.

(Obozze kuzanya, yingira ekisaawe) Popo and his teammates saunter into the field. Popo gives Zoe a cold hard stare...he turns to Jamin...glances at his shoes. POPO (to Zoe) I didnt know you talk to street kids/ losers. (Nali simanyi nti oyogera ne ba falla) Zoe eyes Popo, tears start to collect, she walks off the playground -- hurt. Jamins father cycles in the distance, he stops to watch the children play. He sees Jamin standing outside the field with his shoes on. Ronis walks up to Jamin. They eye each other. Jamin looks away. Ronis sees the shoes, he takes a few steps back. RONIS (sadly) So...I guess...youre still not playing today? (Ne leero... togenda...kuzanya?) Jamin looks past Ronis and into the distance. RONIS Later then. (Edda) Ronis strides back to the field, Denga walks up to meet him. RONIS Hes not playing. (Tagenda kuzanya) Denga throws Jamin a glance. ZAK (looks at Jamin) Lord save us. (CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

12.

(Mukama tutaase) Ronis sits on a boulder and shakes his head. POPO (cheerfully) Jamins not playing? (Tagenda kuzanya?) Popo and his teammates PUNCH fists. The ball is KICKED -- the game begins. Bare feet run. Jamin sees Zoe walk and stand on the other side of the field. Their eyes meet and the gaze lingers for a while. Later the ball rolls in Jamins direction. Both teams watch him with bated breath. Jamins fathers eyes narrow. Everyone on the field stops, their eyes are transfixed on Jamin. Hearts POUND like drums. Jamin is silent...still...stolid...watching the rolling ball. The ball ROLLS...and ROLLS...and ROLLS..and ROLLS Zoe eyes follow Jamin. Jamin runs and KICKS the ball with his new moccasins and runs onto the field. Jamins teammates jump up CHEERING, Zoe turns her eyes in their direction. Popos team members throw their hands in the air, others hold their heads, others hold their mouths. Jamin kicks the ball and races into the field with his new moccasins still on. Jamins teammates cheering him on. JAMINS TEAMMATES (CHORUS)(O.S) JAMIN! JAMIN! JAMIN! Zoe fidgets. He dribbles past Popos team and finishes stylishly with a sliding KICK that sends the ball one way, and Popos team keeper diving in the opposite direction.

(CONTINUED)

CONTINUED:

13.

JAMINS TEAMMATES (CHORUS) GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAL! Zoe looks on. Jamin starts to yaw...his ecstatic teammates run after him. They carry Jamin shoulder high and run with him around the field. Jamins father smiles broadly and rides off. Still perched on his teammates shoulders, Jamin takes the moccasins off and throws them up into the air. The shoes fly up slowly as if floating towards the sky. 12 EXT. DUST ROAD - DAY 12

Five sets of childrens feet walk --away-- down the road. Four sets of feet are bare and dusty. One set has lovely sandals on. The feet move further away revealing Jamins team,the polythene ball tucked under his arm and Zoe. She walks next to Jamin, his shoes in her hand. The children chat animatedly, but their voices are indistinct. FADE OUT