The Defender
Mark Ogujiuba
OCHIENDU THE DEFENDER
BY MARK OGUJIUBA
STORY LINE
This is a typical Igbo, Eastern-Nigerian in Nigeria that features a village known as Obuofia which has always been tormented by a herbalist who was chased away from the village. The sent terror on the village for a while not until the gods answered the prayers of Obuofia by using a man Ochiendu who came to be appreciated after several victory against the strange herbalist (Odomofia) owing to the treatment given to him when he developed an incurable illness called ochi-chom in that area. This all happened in accordance with prophecy of Nnedum the Chief priest before Odomofia rule.
CHARACTERS
Ochiendu
Ezinne
Chief Priest
Igwe (the king)
Odomofia (the traitor)
Nnedum (Osu chief priest)
Obichi (spokes man of the elders)
Oruomma
Youth leader
Nnejikam wife
Anyanjo (Neighboring community chief priest)
INTERLUDE
Camera shot:movement down the aisle of the forest.
Sounds of birds crying of the air.
Signify the death of the king as elders who saw this ran in haste to the palace and showed their last respect to the then Late Igwe Ikenna the last king of the community.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
SCENE ONE: (Daylight) in a cheerful mood the crowd cheer on the coronation of the king.
Nnedum:By the power vested on me I now hand over the Okamadi. Our symbol of authority and power to crown our new king (speaking and walks towards Obichi then hand over the Okamadi)
(Crowd claps and makes noise)
Obichi:Thank you chief priest and then thank you my people for this precious privilege. Please kneel down (facing the king to be) by the power vested on me as Onu of the community and head of the chief and titled men in this community. I hereby crown you king (dressing him up with beads and crown him king) of Obuofia Kingdom (King take seat on the throne).
Crowd celebrates and drinks to departure.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
SCENE TWO: Ext.Camera feature people at the crowd
Nnedum:Welcome my people today we are going to say thank you to the gods in a manner well known to us for their kindness to us. It is the feast of new yam. And so I beg Oh god’s of our land to please accept the offering of our land and continue to be the great (as she speaks the offering of yams ascends and vanish in the air) god you are. (Smiling) Thank you for accepting our gift.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
SCENE THREE
EXT: UNDER A SHADE (TREE) AT EVENING
The elders of Obuofia are gathering to ask her to step down as chief priest. (Nnedum) owing to the fact that she was found to be of the Osu kindred and it was an abominable act for an Osu to be chief. So she warned them that the ways of the gods are what made her chief priest, so they should be patient till her death as tradition state but they said they are going to select from the family of the chief priest. So she began to speak of the future.
Nnedum:(Looking too calm)
My elders, I greet you.
Obichi:(Acting to get her understanding)
Nnedum we are all gathered here to let you know that …
Nnedum: (Interrupts, now looking spirit filled)
Obichi spare your words for they may put you in trouble but not to worry, as the gods before you gathered at my house, have told me of your intentions to rule me out of a place their let me have for your own good because you have come to discover that I am an Osu, but your pride clouds your judgments. You Nnejikam (point at one of the elders said) you can not receive order from an Osu, was what you said. For this despise over me, your son Ochiendu shall be struck with a great disease until the mercies of the god’s reaches Obuofia. Hear you elders of Obuofia. For you made you heart clouded by proud on the fate of this innocent kingdom your wrong decision will bring terror day and night on you and your children and the one again, you condemn shall give you redemption. Then you will learn oh incorrigible hearts that all men are equal and give glory to the god for all that has happened.
Obichi:(Furious)
Are you in anyway cursing this land?
Nnedum:(Calm)
If the winds were calm the dry leaves would not fall. Have I in anyway failed you? Why not wait till my death before sending me out.
Nnejikam:(Shock)
Aro, Osu nne ku ihene lee anyi ane lee ya anya eno. (Abomination! an Osu is saying all this and we are watching)
They begin to shout and ask that she leaves there immediately before she is killed.
(All respectively)
FADE OUT
FADE IN
SCENE FOUR
Int:Morning at the Igwe’s Palace
Igwe:(speaking with regret)
My elder I summoned all of you for this meeting to inquire from you what need to be done. Since you stopped Nnedum from performing her duties as chief priest
Obichi:Igwe according to tradition we are meant to call the chief priest of the neighboring village to reveal to us we else the gods have chosen.
Igwe:Guards summon the chief priest.
Anyanjo:(As he spoke came in)
My King May you live long, my elders what makes you believe you are wiser than the gods. The gods are not quite though. Odomofia of Nandi’s compound shall be your new chief priest. I take my leave. Igwe!!! May you leave long?
FADE OUT
FADE IN
SCENE FIVE
EXT: OPEN FIELD BEFORE PALACE AT EARLY MORNING
(Odomofia has been elected as new chief priest at first he treats the affairs of the community with great honor then he began to use it to his selfish interest and send evil on the people. (A great feast is healed commemorating the new yam festival)
Odomofia: (Sounding auspicious)
My people today we have gathered here to celebrate onuji our new yam festival. Gods of our land we have come to say thank you to the hands that feeds us because when we thank a provider he does more. Nnehie nkia anyi nna se gi welu nneka, nne mme anyi ihe oma ine mme. (owing to this we are asking you to take this)
Congregation:Esie…
Then food ascends and disappears.
Odomofia:(Sounding auspicious)
Eat and rejoice for Efem our god has heard us and our next farming season is assured.
Then he departs as celebration continues.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
SCENE SIX
Int: Morning at Ochiendu House
Ochiendu’s mom sit’s and watch Ezinne treat (gives him herbs and helps him rest on the bed.
Ochiendu: (Looking sick and coughing)
I believe so too.
Kon Kon kon came a cry from the door
Odomofia:(comes in shakes his head in remorse)
Please give this him this drug (handing to Ezinne a bottle of drugs). I take my leave. I have lot of work to do.
Nnejikam wife:(smiling)
see you two love birds am sure of two things one, that my son is getting better and that your relationship will lead to a happy marriage.
Ezinne and Ezinne:(In love)
Smile’s looking at each others eyes lovely.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
SCENE SEVEN
INT: AT TENT, MORNING
Odomofia:(In thought sitting in his obi (hut))
But wait oh, so as chief priest am I not supposed to have a share of all this harvest. So that I can fill my store then continue praying for them in one piece. Then he shakes his head. Will I eat chief priest?
FADE OUT
FADE IN
SCENE EIGHT
I
NT: IGWE’S PALACE EVENING
The chief priest walks into the Igwe’s palace and announces and demands a sacrifice of food to the gods.
Odom-ofia: (Walks in majestically before the Igwe and looking at the ground to show guilt)
Igwe!!! May you live long! The gods have demanded a sacrifice of 10% of every Produce from every farmer in Obuofia in gratitude to him. I take my leave.
Igwe:(Surprise)
But when did the gods begin to accept sacrifice for his benevolence? Well, I will discuss with my elders and we shall inform the people of the recent development.
Odom-ofia:(Leaves the palace)
Do you dare to question the gods?
Igwe:(Loud shout)
Guards! Sermon every elder of Obuofia this minute let them know its urgent.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
SCENE NINE
EXT: ON THE STREET - MORNING
Odomofia:(On coming out fall into deep thought)
But wait oh! Imagine a whole chief priest would make a decree and he will still call elders to decide on my decree. What an insult? Well the elders have no say when they know it from the gods. Then he laughs auspiciously.
FADE OUT
FADE IN
SCENE TEN
INT: IGWE’S PALACE AT MORNING
Elders are gathering to decide on sending men to the neighboring village to consult the gods to know if Odomofia’s testimony is true.
Obichi:(Anticipating filling his itching ear)
Igwe this one you invited us with such alacrity. Is all well?
Igwe:(Speaking with great remorse)
Odomofia just left here some minutes ago, saying that the gods are now asking us to add as our tradition sacrificing 10% of all our produce to them. So as custodians of our great tradition I invited you to have your say before making this decree.
Obichi:(After a deep breath)
If they gods say yes, who are we to say no?
Nnejikam:(Looking skeptical)
But the gods have been doing this good act why the new change of mind. Am quite suspicious about this my
