ACT ONE

Setting: Kifaru Village, Tanzania. A dusty path leads to a modest mud-brick

house with a corrugated iron roof, contrasted by a larger, more prosperous-
looking homestead in the distance.

Characters:

* KIKODA: A tall, light-skinned boy, around 10 years old.

* ESTER: Kikoda’s mother, a gentle but weary woman.

* LOSHORWAKI: Kikoda’s wealthy father, a stern and patriarchal man.

* JOSIA: Kikoda’s younger brother, around 4 years old.

* GRACE: Kikoda’s younger sister, a toddler.

* LAKWI: Kikoda’s friend, a boy of similar age.

* YUSUFU: Kikoda’s other friend, slightly older and bigger.

* TOLL: A neighborly man.

(SCENE 1)

(Early morning. ESTER is tending a small fire outside their modest house,
stirring a pot. KIKODA sits nearby, looking thoughtful.)

ESTER: (Softly) Kikoda, my son. You look troubled. What weighs on your
young heart?

KIKODA: (Sighs) Father… he speaks to you so harshly, Mama. Why? Because

your family… because they are not wealthy like his?

ESTER: (Her gaze distant) It is a burden I carry, my child. But do not let his
bitterness plant seeds of anger in you. Remember what we learn at church.
Kindness… forgiveness…

KIKODA: But it isn’t fair! He buys the children of his other wives new clothes,
sweets… but for me, when I need books for school…

(LOSHORWAKI’s booming voice is heard from the larger homestead.)

LOSHORWAKI: Ester! Where is my breakfast? Woman, are you deaf?

ESTER: (Flinching) I must go, Kikoda. Remember my words. Focus on your

studies. That is your strength.
(ESTER hurries towards the larger homestead. KIKODA watches her go, his
brow furrowed.)

(SCENE 2)

(Later that day. KIKODA approaches LOSHORWAKI, who is inspecting his

tractor.)

KIKODA: Baba… school starts next week. I… I need exercise books and pens.

LOSHORWAKI: (Without looking at him) Go ask your mother. She worries

about such small things.

KIKODA: (Hesitantly) But… Mama doesn’t have…

LOSHORWAKI: (Turns sharply, his voice rising) I said, go to your mother!

Don’t you understand simple words? Now, leave me be!

(KIKODA shrinks back, fear in his eyes. He walks away slowly. In the distance,
children from the other wives are seen playing with new toys.)

(SCENE 3)

(A few weeks later. ESTER returns to their small house, looking pale and
weak, carrying a newborn baby – GRACE – wrapped in a cloth. JOSIA, around
three years old, clings to her skirt.)

KIKODA: Mama! You’re back.

ESTER: (Smiling weakly) Yes, my children. Koko cared for me. And now… now
you have a little sister, Grace.

(KIKODA looks at the baby with a mixture of curiosity and concern. He sees
the exhaustion on his mother’s face.)

KIKODA: Mama, you look tired. Let me help.

(KIKODA carefully takes JOSIA’s hand. He then helps ESTER settle with the
baby.)

(SCENE 4)

(A few years pass. KIKODA, now a little older and stronger, returns from
school. He changes out of his school uniform and immediately starts washing
dishes outside.)

ESTER: (Calling from inside) Kikoda, can you take this maize to the grinding
machine? We need flour for our evening meal.
(ESTER emerges, handing him a heavy bucket of maize.)

KIKODA: (Struggling slightly with the weight) Yes, Mama.

(KIKODA hoists the bucket onto his shoulder and walks down the dusty path
towards the sound of a distant grinding machine.)

(SCENE 5)

(Later. KIKODA returns with a bucket of maize flour. He gathers firewood and
starts building a small fire to cook.)

ESTER: (Holding GRACE) Thank you, my son. You are a great help.

(JOSIA watches Kikoda intently.)

(SCENE 6)

(ESTER attempts to take a bicycle leaning against the wall of their house.)

LOSHORWAKI: (Appearing suddenly, his voice cold) Where do you think you
are going with my bicycle?

ESTER: (Startled) I… I wanted to fetch water, Loshorwaki. The well is far.

LOSHORWAKI: That bicycle is mine. You will walk. Like you always do. The
other wives need it.

(ESTER looks down, defeated. The other wives are seen riding bicycles freely
in the distance.)

ESTER: (Quietly) Yes, Loshorwaki.

(ESTER takes a bucket and places it on her head. KIKODA picks up a smaller
bucket.)

KIKODA: I will come with you, Mama.

(They walk slowly down the path towards the well.)

(SCENE 7)

(Morning. ESTER is preparing a thin porridge for GRACE. She looks tired but
determined.)

ESTER: (To GRACE) Here, little one. Eat this.

(ESTER then heads towards the fields. The other wives are already there,
working. One of them, FATUMA, calls out.)
FATUMA: Look who finally decided to join us! The silverer arrives late as
always!

ANOTHER WIFE: Did you get lost on the way, lazy one?

(ESTER ignores them and starts digging silently.)

(SCENE 8)

(Evening. ESTER is preparing a meager meal of ugali and beans. The cooking
oil bottle is empty. She holds it up to the dim light.)

ESTER: (To herself) No more oil. And the maize… almost gone.

(She hesitantly takes the empty oil bottle and holds it over the hot embers of
the fire, hoping to extract a single drop. Nothing comes out. She then pours a
little water into the bottle, shakes it, and adds the watery mixture to the
vegetables.)

(Kikoda watches her, his young face troubled. They sit down to eat.)

ESTER: (Looking at Kikoda, her voice firm) My son… never be like your father.
Treat everyone with kindness and respect, no matter where they come from.
Promise me this.

KIKODA: (Solemnly) I promise, Mama.

(SCENE 9)

(Evening. The compound gate is locked. ESTER arrives home on a bicycle,

looking exhausted and soaked. The sky is dark.)

ESTER: (Calling out) Loshorwaki! It’s me, Ester!

(LOSHORWAKI appears at the door of his house, his face stern.)

LOSHORWAKI: The gate is locked. You know the rules. You are late.

ESTER: The rain… the market was far…

LOSHORWAKI: Rule number one! Before eleven! You are outside.

(ESTER looks around desperately. She sees TOLL walking along the nearby
road.)

ESTER: (Calling out) Mr. Toll! Please! Can you help me?

(TOLL approaches the gate.)

ESTER: (Pleadingly) My husband… he has a rule. I am late. Can you… can
you speak to him for me? Ask him to let me in?

TOLL: (Nodding kindly) Of course, Mama Ester. Wait here.

(TOLL enters the gate and walks towards LOSHORWAKI’s house. ESTER waits
anxiously outside. After a few tense moments, TOLL returns.)

TOLL: He has agreed, Mama Ester. But he says you must be careful with time
in the future.

ESTER: (Tears welling in her eyes) Oh, thank you, Mr. Toll! Thank you!

(ESTER enters the gate hesitantly. LOSHORWAKI stands at his door.)

LOSHORWAKI: (His voice gruff) Get inside. And don’t let this happen again.

ESTER: (Softly) Thank you, my husband. I will be more careful.

(SCENE 10)

(Morning. KIKODA is getting ready for school. He shivers slightly.)

ESTER: (Wrapping a thin shawl around him) You have a cold, my son.

KIKODA: Father… he bought sweaters for all the other children for school
uniform. But not for me.

ESTER: (Her voice filled with sadness) I know, Kikoda. But do not let it
discourage you. Focus on your studies. Their clothes do not define you.

(KIKODA nods, trying to hide his hurt. As he walks to school, other children
point and whisper.)

CHILD 1: Look at Kikoda! No sweater!

CHILD 2: He’s the child of the rich poor!

(KIKODA walks on, his head held high, ignoring their taunts.)

(SCENE 11)

(Afternoon. KIKODA is herding cows, goats, and sheep in a field with LAKWI
and YUSUFU.)

LAKWI: The grass is good here.

YUSUFU: Yes, but further down by the river, it is even longer.

(They move the animals together. Later, YUSUFU starts separating the cows.)
YUSUFU: My father wants the cows to graze on the richer grass by the
Kagera River.

LAKWI: I will take the goats and sheep this way. See you later.

(LAKWI moves off with his animals. KIKODA stays with YUSUFU and the
cows.)

YUSUFU: Come on, Kikoda. Let’s take them across the river. There’s a good
patch about a kilometer that way.

KIKODA: Okay.

(They guide the cows towards the Kagera River and cross it. They reach a
field with lush, tall grass. The cows graze contentedly. The afternoon wears
on. Around eight o’clock, the sky darkens, and heavy rain begins to fall.)

YUSUFU: (Looking worried) This rain is getting heavy. We should head back.

KIKODA: Yes, the river might rise.

(They start moving the cows back towards the river, the rain lashing down.
They reach the Kagera River. The water level has risen significantly, and the
current is strong.)

YUSUFU: (Staring at the river) It’s… it’s much higher than before. It looks flat,
but it’s deep there. My father says twenty feet deep.

KIKODA: (Looking apprehensive) Can we still cross?

YUSUFU: (Hesitantly) I… I think so. I’m bigger than you, Kikoda. I’ll go first
with some of the cows. You follow with the rest. Be careful.

(YUSUFU starts to lead some of the cows into the churning water.)

(FADE TO BLACK)