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ADAH SCRIPT
Written by Aisha Jalloh and Sophia Tamen
Cinematography by Aisha Jalloh
Directed by Sophia Tamen
Produced by Rising Phoenix Productions
Edited by Sophia Tamen
Starring:
Adah Abimbola Becky Omoregie
Councillor Mrs Morgan
Amy Yasmine-Maria Bougrine
Nikki Nathali Herrera
Brooke Masie Williams
Brittany Suzy Okerekeye
Taylor Imogen Sandhu
Cathy Nicole Coslov
Teacher Miss Badham
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Act One
FADE IN:
FLASHFORWARD
INT. BATHROOM DAYTIME
MARCH 2ND 2018
(VOICEOVER) I REGRET IT, I REGRET IT, I REGRET
EVEVERYTHING!
ADAH IS LOCATED ON THE FLOOR WITH PILLS IN HER HAND.
FLASHBACK TO:
INT. BEDROOM DAYTIME
(TRADITIONAL MUSIC PLAYS)
ADAH IS GETTING READY TO START HER NEW SCHOOL SHE
PUTS ON HER NORMAL CLOTHES INSTEAD OF HER UNIFORM,
LOOKS AT HERSELF IN THE MIRROR TO ASSURE HERSELF SHE
LOOKS PRESENTABLE.
EXT. BUS STOP DAYTIME
ADAH IS WAITING FOR HER BUS PATIENTLY SHE APPEARS TO
BE EXCITED AS SHE IS READY TO LIVE A BRAND NEW LIFE
IN A BRAND NEW SCHOOL.
Students passing by
ADAH sighs THEN smiles she notices something strange
(the difference in clothing between herself and the
other students).
EXT. SCHOOL ROAD
ADAH WALKS TO SCHOOL BY HERSELF AND APPEARS EXCITED.
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Act Two
SEPTEMBER 2ND 2016
INT. ESTABLISH SHOT OF SCHOOL
THIS SHOT IS SHOWING HER CLASSROOMS, PUPILS
DISCUSSING IN CORRIDORS AND CANTEEN.
TWO OUT OF FIVE OF THE MEAN GIRLS ARE SHOWN IN THIS
SHOT AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN THE SCHOOL.
AMY, SHOWN PASSING BY IN THE CORRIDOR.
BRITTANY, SHOWN USING HER PHONE IN CLASS LAUGHING AT
SOMETHING ON HER SCREEN WITH TAYLOR.
ADAH REGUALARLY COMES INTO SCHOOL AND REVISES.
SHE HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR WEEKS.
A MONTH HAS PASSED.
ADAH HAS A NEW TEACHER AND IS IN A NEW CLASS.
INT. CLASSROOM DAYTIME
STUDENTS ARE ALL LOUD AND BUSSING JOKES AMONGST EACH
OTHER.
ADAH WALKS IN (EVERYONE LOOKS AT HER)
TEACHER:
EVERYONE KEEP THE NOISE DOWN!
CLASS GO QUIET
ADAH:
HELLO MADAME, IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO?
TEACHER:
CATHY, CAN YOU SIT NEXT TO THE NEW STUDENT?
CATHY:
OKAY MISS (GIGGLES)
BRITTANY:
(MUMBLES) IS THIS GIRL NORMAL? (LAUGHS)
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ADAH CONTINUES SMILING.
TEACHER STARTS DOING THE REGISTER HOWEVER STUMBLES
UPON ADAHS NAME
TEACHER:
(MISPRONOUNCIATION) AD-AI-AH?
AMY AND BRITTANY BEGIN LAUGHING AT ADAH.
AH-DER?
SORRY, IS IT AH-BIM-EBOLA?
ALL STUDENTS IN THE CLASSROOM BEGIN LAUGHING.
ADAH FROWNS AS SHE REALISES SHE IS BEING MADE A JOKE
OF.
CATHY SITS IN SILENCE.
ADAH:
MADAME IT IS ADAH THE H IS SILENT (UPSET)
MADAME IM COMING BACK
INT.SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAYTIME
ADAH RUSHES OUT THE CLASSROOM AND RUNS INTO A CORNER.
TAYLOR AND BROOKE ARE TALKING OUTSIDE.
THEY SEE ADAH AND LOOK DOWN ON HER AS IF SHE IS
FILTH.
ADAH SEES THIS AND GETS EVEN MORE UPSET.
CROSS CUT:
INT. SECLUDED/ISOLATED ROOM - DAYTIME
SHE RUNS INTO A SECLUDED ROOM WHERE SHE STARTS
QUESTIONING AND INSULTING HERSELF IN YORUBA.
TEACHER WALKS IN.
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TEACHER:
ADAH IS EVERYTHING OKAY? I APOLO-
ADAH:
IT IS OKAY MADAME
LAUGHTER BEGINS TO PLAY IN ADAHS HEAD REPETITIVELY
(GRADUALLY GETS LOUDER)
THE TEACHER IS STILL TALKING (MUTE)
CATHY WALKS IN SECONDS LATER.
THE VOICE OF LAUGHTER IN ADAHS HEAD STOPS ABRUPTLY.
CATHY:
IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT ADAH? ARE YOU OKAY?
ILL BE HERE FOR YOU IF YOU NEED ME.
ADAH SEEMS DELIGHTED WHEN AS SHE KNOWS SOMEONE WILL
HAVE HER BACK.
INT. CANTEEN DAYTIME
ADAH IS SEEN SITTING IN THE CANTEEN BY HERSELF EATING
HER LUNCH.
CATHY WALKS OVER TO HER.
CATHY:
HELLO ADAH, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?
ADAH:
I HAVE BEEN FINE, I HAVE BEEN FINE.
CATHY AND ADAH CONTINUE TO DISCUSS UNTIL RUDELY
INTERUPTED BY THE MEAN GIRLS AMY, BROOKE, BRITTANY,
TAYLOR AND NIKKI.
BRITTANY:
ERMM CATHY, WHY ARE YOU SITTING WITH THIS FREAK
PLEASE?
CATHY:
ERM WELL ERM BAS-
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NIKKI:
WE DO NOT WANT TO HEAR IT.
ADAH:
PLEASE I DO NOT WANT TROUBLE.
CATHY:
(TO ADAH)EW WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO ME YOU CREEP.
ADAH:
CATHY? (IN SHOCK)
CATHY:
THIS IS WHY NO ONE LIKES YOU ADAH! YOU ARE A CREEP
AND A STALKING. IVE TOLD LEAVE ME ALONE!
THEY ALL BEGIN TO LAUGH
ADAH LEAVES AS SOON AS SHE HEARS THE BELL.
THESE INCIDENTS WHERE ADAH GETS PICKED ON BECOMES
REPETITIVE AS THE MONTHS GO BY.
EXT. BUS STOP - DAYTIME
FEBUARY 26TH 2018
A VOICE OVER OF ADAH IS PLAYED OVER THIS ENTIRE
SCENE ~ (ADAHS VOICE) THEY WERE SAYING THINGS TO ME
THAT I JUST CANNOT REPEATWHY AM I BEING TREATED THIS
WAY? (COUNCILLORS VOICE) ADAH ARE YOU OKAY. (MEAN
GIRLS VOICES-LAUGHTER) (ADAHS VOICE) I CANNOT LIVE
LIKE THIS ANY LONGER. ~
ADAH IS WALKING FOR HER BUS HOME BUT IS BARGED INTO
BY THE MEAN GIRLS AMY, BRITTANY, BROOKE, TAYLOR AND
NIKKI.
THEY ALL LAUGH AT HER (MUTE)
THEY ALL PUSH HER AS THEY LAUGH (MUTE)
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THEY ALL START YELLING THINGS AT HER (MUTE)
INT. COUNCILOR ROOM DAYTIME
ADAH:
THEY TREAT ME LIKE IM NOTHING AM I NOTHING?
COUNCILLOR:
ADAH, DO NOT THINK LIKE THAT. I AM HERE TO HELP YOU.
ADAH:
YOU JUST WONT UNDERSTAND.
COUNCILOR:
TALK TO ME. PLEASE.
(VOICEOVER) ADAHS THOUGHT PLAY LOUDLY AND
EXAGGERATED IN HER HEAD. THEY WERE SAYING THINGS TO
ME THAT I JUST CANNOT REPEAT COUNCILLORS VOICE
ADAH ARE YOU OKAY? I CANNOT LIVE LIKE THIS ANY
LONGER. ~
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Act Three
March 2nd 2018
INT. BUS JOURNEY - DAYTIME
VOICEOVER OF ADAHS THOUGHTS
ADAH APPEARS VERY ANXIOUS IN HER SURROUNDING.
SHE SITS DOWN AND REFLECTS UPON EVERYTHING THAT HAD
TAKEN PLACE AT HER NEW SCHOOL.
SHE APPEARS DEPRESSED.
THIS SAME BUS JOURNEY REPEATS EVERYDAY FOR A WEEK
WITH THE SAME REFLECTION.
INT. BEDROOM - EVENING
ADAH LOCKS HER BEDROOM DOOR.
ADAHS MUM RECIEVES A CALL
ADAHS MUM:
HELLO WHAT! MY DAUGHTER?
MEANWHILE ADAH UNLOCKS HER ROOM DOOR TO MAKE HER WAY
TO THE BATHROOM, WHICH SHE ALSO LOCKS HERSELF IN.
INT. BATHROOM EVENING
HEARTBEAT VOICEOVER
ADAH GRABS ANY PILLS IN THE CUPBOARD.
SHE SWALLOWS THEM ALL.
ADAH STUMBLES TO THE GROUND AND SPILLS SOME PILLS.
ADAH DIES.
THE END
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SYNOPSIS
Our short film tells the inspirational true
story of a young Nigerian immigrant (Adah
Abimbola) who struggles to fit in as many
obstacles are faced her way. Adah has come
from a place of freedom and happiness to
hostility within a blink of an eye. Can this
poor young girl be helped, before doing
anything that will scar those around her for a
lifetime?
