adani (extract)
3.1 EXT CLEARING DUSK/NIGHT
The shadowy figure watches JOHN go before moving across the clearing. He is carrying something heavy. He puts down the bundle in one corner of the clearing and takes out some firewood from it, leaving the rest of it as a heap on the ground. He sets about making a fire. A couple of other figures also emerge and stand about. One of them is smoking a cigarette, the end glowing in the darkness.
CUT TO:
The fire is burning fiercely. More people are sitting around it. All of them are youths, aged about 18 – 25. These are the MACHIZI GANG members. CHALO sits a little higher than the rest of the boys. He is staring into the fire, almost brooding. There is a prominent scar on his right cheek. The youths are laughing over some joke, but quiet down when they hear footsteps approaching them. RAV jumps up to see who is coming, a thick stick in his hand.
RAV
Who’s there?
Another gang member comes forward, dragging a thin YOUTH of about 16. He pushes the YOUTH forward so that he stumbles.
GANG MEMBER
Just me. I found this little thing wandering around.
RAV
Who is that?
The gang member smirks.
GANG MEMBER
He wants to join us.
RAV laughs loudly.
RAV
You hear that? He wants to join us! He thinks he can be a gang member!
All the gang members except CHALO laugh. RAV steps around the fire to take a good look at the YOUTH.
RAV
Look at you! You’re pathetic! A real wimp… why do you want to join us anyway?
YOUTH
I… er… I think that…
RAV suddenly pushes the YOUTH so he falls over. The rest of the gang laugh.
RAV
You think nothing! It’s the money, isn’t it? That’s what you want, admit it! Thought you could just join and get in easy, eh? Do you even know what it takes to join us? Do you? Do you-
CHALO
Quiet!
Everyone stops laughing. RAV also stops speaking. All eyes are on CHALO as he rises from his seat and steps around the fire. He stands in front of the YOUTH and studies him intently. The YOUTH looks back defiantly, even though he is visibly trembling from fear, excitement, or both.
CHALO
So you want to join us… hmm.
YOUTH
Yes… yes sir. I am –
CHALO
I don’t care who you are. Names change; if you’re accepted, we will give you a new name. I don’t care why you want to join us either. We all have our own reasons for being here. All I want to know is why should we have you in the gang?
The YOUTH looks at him with a blank and confused expression.
CHALO
What can you give us? What use are you to us?
YOUTH
I can get into the market without them noticing… my mum has a stall… she doesn’t know I’m with you guys…
CHALO
We already have too many people in the market. You’ll need to do something better than that...
YOUTH
Or I could go to the school! They don’t know me, I could sell the children drugs… they wouldn’t know who to blame…
CHALO
Hmm… we don’t have anyone on that yet…
Silence as CHALO contemplates what to do. Finally, he sticks out his hand to the YOUTH. RAV is staring at him, mouth open. He moves to stand between CHALO and the YOUTH, striking CHALO’S hand down.
RAV
We don’t even know who he is! How can you just let him in, don’t you think…
CHALO
Shut up! I want him in, Rav, and it’s not your place to have issues with what I’m doing.
RAV
But…
CHALO
If you don’t like it, you can get lost! I’m the leader of this gang and I’ll decide what to do!
RAV moves away, muttering to himself, looking spitefully at the YOUTH who has now gotten to his feet. CHALO is still looking at him; in the firelight, he looks cruel, his eyes narrowed and the corners of his lips upturned ever so slightly in a slight smile.
YOUTH
Thank you, you won’t regret this, I won’t let you down –
CHALO
I’m sure you won’t. Give me your hand.
YOUTH
What?
CHALO
Your hand!
Impatient, CHALO grabs the YOUTH’S right hand. He holds it, palm facing upwards, while he takes a pocket knife from his belt with his other hand. He flicks it open and slides it across the YOUTH’S palm.
YOUTH
Ow –
CHALO
Shhh! You wanted to be a part of us, right? Then you have to take the oath like everyone else. Once you are bound, you can’t back out, understand? Or we’ll kill you.
The YOUTH nods, biting his lip. He is staring at his hand, the blood glistening in the firelight. CHALO lets go of his hand and then slides the blade across his own palm. He does not even flinch. He presses the open wounds on his and the YOUTH’S hands together.
CHALO
Swear by our mixed blood that you have left your old life behind… that you have no family but this … no name but the one we give you… swear that from now, you have no cause but that of Machizi… and that all you take is to be given up to be shared with your Machizi brothers.
YOUTH
I… I swear…
The YOUTH begins to pull away. CHALO smiles but holds on to his hand tightly so he cannot leave.
CHALO
Not so fast. There is one more thing you have to do before we can accept you into the gang. Only then will you earn your name and place amongst us.
The YOUTH does not respond but looks slightly sick, as if he dreads what is going to happen.
CHALO
You must prove yourself.
YOUTH
What… what do you want… what do I have to do?
CHALO chuckles in a sinister manner.