“ECHO”

2.

OVER BLACK:
“A thin thread holds life and death together; it takes a only
a slight pull at both ends to cut it in between”

- Sylas Kahn Azu

DISSOLVE TO:

ANNA’S VOICE
I am going...gradually slipping
away from the consciousness that I
am part of this world...why should
I be? There is nothing special
here...besides, we will all die
someday...

FADE IN:

EXT. NARROW LONELY STREET EVENING (MEDINA STREET)

ANNA UMEH; 17, pretty, trendy and easy going, clutches her
books against her chest as she walks along. Her phone rings
gets her attention. She smiles and receives the call as she
walks along

ANNA
This girl will not leave me
alone...[receives the call]
Bestie...why are you disturbing me
with calls...I’ve told you I will
come...don’t worry about my mum I
know what to tell her...I hope it
won’t be a dumb party like the last
time sha...[she rolls her eyes in
exasperation] Ok o...I’ve heard
you...yeah later...bye.

She ends the call as she navigates a bend.

Soon we see a pair of male feet in brown sneakers walk into

shot.

Ominous sound

CUT TO:
 3.

EXT. DEBBY’S EVENING (DON K UP STAIRS)

Anna arrives a building, she walks in through the gate as she

reaches for her phone.

ANNA
I’m here...where is
everyone...ok...but there is so
much quite...is the party still
happening? hmmm...

DEBBY KOKO; pretty ebony and chubby, shows up from a decking

DEBBY
Cut the call and come up here

She puts her phone away now as she heads upstairs

EXT. DEBBY’S -DECKING CONTINUOS

Anna comes to scene and notices 2 guys in their early 20’s at

a corner, exchanging smoke, hip-hop music plays from another
girl's phone.

DEBBY
Babe...you’re so late.

ANNA
Debby what is happening here?

DEBBY
Relax...we’re just catching fun
before the party starts proper...
You know Mary...this is Kenny and
Tobi...they’re new in the
neigbourhood.

ANNA
(Waves)
Really...hi...

The guys wave back

...but seriously where is
everybody? Mumsie gave me time to
return and if by now the party is
yet to start...

ESSE
Stop asking questions and join the
fun...there’s drink in the cooler.

MARY
Cool...you didn’t tell me.
 4.

Mary goes for a bottle of drink in the cooler as Anna walks

past her to sit on a plastic chair...still assessing the
situation.

The guys chat inaudibly and they giggle

Anna’s gaze shifts to a big brown teddy bear, she smiles.

Debby returns with some fried meat

ANNA
Debby you and this your teddy...may
be you should get married to it.

DEBBY
I would have if only it talks and
fucks....

They laugh.
Here...I know you like fried meat

The music changes to Debby’s favorite (Osi Perri’s Eye Candy)

DEBBY (CONT’D)
Woooooww! That’s my jam! Come dance
with me.

Anna declines, Debby tries harder.

ANNA
No...I’m really not in the mood.

DEBBY
Then what have you come to do, you
better get in the mood girl.

KENNY
(Walks up to Anna)
Maybe I can help... (Debby excuses
them)

ANNA
(Defensive)
Don’t even bother...I don’t want to
dance.

Tobi takes Mary’s hand and they dance. Debby goes in between
them, they all dance while Kenny still woo Anna. Soon she
agrees and dances with him.

Mary changes the music playing on her phone and resumes

dancing. Tobi has his hands across both girls.

Kenny runs his hand over Anna’s waist line, she protests but
he continues.
 5.

Suddenly he grabs Anna’s butt and she returns with slap

across his cheek. The dancing comes to an abrupt stop.

ANNA (CONT’D)
I said stop!

She picks her small bag and heads out. She stops at the
presence of someone; It’s the young man with the brown
sneakers; MANNY

MANNY
Where are you going to in such a
hurry? The party is just getting
started.

ANNA
(Trying to make her way
through)
Please excuse me I have t go...

Manny gives her space to pass through. Anna leaves hastily.

Manny and gives Debby a stern look, she hurries after Anna

CUT TO:

EXT. DEBBY’S HOUSE -CONTINUOUS (DOWN STAIRS)

Debby runs out calling after Anna. Anna finally stops.

ANNA
Why didn’t you tell me you have
some low-life-good-for-nothing
stiffs over here?
DEBBY
Anna cool it! He was only trying to
dance.

ANNA
No he was trying to do something
else. Why must he dance with his
hands all over my body? Why?

DEBBY
Look, let’s just go back...for my
sake. You know my parents are not
in town...I’m lonely without my
them...without my friend...my
bestie.
 6.

ANNA
I’m sorry babe...I have to go.
Definitely some other
time...promise....make we chat
later abeg.

She walks away, Debby; now downcast returns to the living

room

CUT TO:

TWO DAYS LATER...

EXT. BUILDING EVENING (DON K)

Anna arrives a building the same building, the gate is open.

She pushes it in with one hand while dialing with the other

ANNA
“I’m here...where you dey?

She moves towards the apartment.

DEBBY
Cool...come inside, you’ll see me
now

Anna moves on.

INT. BUILDING -CONTINUOS

Anna is on a phone conversation as she comes to a bare living

room safe for a couch, a rug and a few decors on the wall.
ANNA
...what is this place? I tell u say
I wan rent house ni?”

DEBBY (V.O.)
The freakier the better girl...it
gets the adrenaline
pumping...[giggles]

Anna sights the big brown teddy bear and smiles

ANNA
....must she goes every where with
this teddy?
 7.

She keeps it and moves to check the other rooms. The doors
are locked. She returns to make herself comfortable on the
couch...looking around in wonder.

Soon she hears a noise..

ANNA (CONT’D)
Who’s there? Debby?

Dramatic beat

She takes cautious step towards the door and puts her ear on
to the door.

Silence.

ANNA (CONT’D)
Debby this is not funny, you’re
scaring me...stop joor.

She turns and startles to see Tobi, Kenny come to scene.

ANNA (CONT’D)
What are you guys doing here..where
is Debby?

TOBI
Debby? Guys you see Debby?

KENNY
No...did she say she was coming
here?

ANNA
Debby!! This is not funny!
Manny also comes in

ANNA (CONT’D)
(Afraid)
What is going on...why are you guys
here?

KENNY
You’ll see in a minute. Nice
teddy...yours?

ANNA
I don’t know what is happening here
but if Debby returns tell her not
to call me again...ever!

She walks towards the door angrily, Tobi grabs her by the
arm.
 8.

TOBI
You don’t really think you’ll leave
us here all by yourself do you?

ANNA
Let go of me this instant!

TOBI
Or what?

With that, he slaps her hard, she falls to the ground. Kenny
goes for her, she scampers backwards. He pins her down as she
screams and scratches on him but he wouldn’t let her go.

ANNA
Please...I beg you don’t hurt
me...I beg you please...

KENNY
So now you can beg ehn...

She continues to plead but it falls on deaf ears as they beat

her up and take turns in raping her.

Manny videos the act.

MANNY
Debby gave us a good deal
afterall...she saved herself the
humiliation that would have hers.

He continues to film, smiling mischievously

FADE OUT.

FADE IN:

ONE MONTH AFTER THE INCIDENT

EXT. STREET CORNER DAY

We see 2 guys chatting, they stop suddenly at the sight of

Anna as she passes by. They gaze and point at her

GUY 1
Guy...na that babe wey dey that
viral video be that o...

GUY 2
Na true...but she get mind o...

Anna increases her pace

 9.

EXT. STREET DAY (ANOTHER DAY)

We see Anna study under a tree, she raises her head to see 2
girls looking at a video on their phone and stealing glances
at her. She packs her book and hurries away from the
vicinity.

INT ROOM DAY

We hear a voice now as we slowly reveal the almost motionless

body of Anna in the floor, not far from her twitching
fingers, we see an empty medication jar...

ANNA
I am going...gradually slipping
away from the consciousness that I
am part of this world...why would I
be? There is nothing special
here...we will all die someday...so
why do I have to wait and
suffer...suffer the indignation of
my fellow human. Why do I have to
wait and suffer the continual
falling in and out of depression?
Why wait...? I did not ask to be
born a girl-child...I did not ask
to be attractive, I did not ask to
be anything but to live a peaceful
and prosperous life...alas, that
will not happen now because I am a
girl-child...the voices of the
helpless victims of rape like me
still echo for help...

Beat
...people say those who commit
suicide are those who don’t see a
better tomorrow...they are right. I
don’t.

Solemn music

Her hand becomes totally lifeless.

FADE OUT

FADE IN:
 10.

INT. DEBBY’S HOUSE DAY

INT. DEBBY’S HOUSE/ROOM -SAME NIGHT

We see a moody Debby, she has in her hands a picture of

herself and Anna during one of their fun days. We see tears
form in her eyes

DEBBY’S (V.O.)
I’m sorry bestie...I thought I was
going to be free of Manny’s
threats...now I know one can never
be free. I hope you will forgive me
if we ever see again in a place of
eternity...

She opens her bedside drawer and brings out a bottle of

poison; She looks at it for a while, open it and drinks it
all. She now lay slowly on the bed.

...till we meet again.

Solemn music plays

OVER BLACK

[PUT CURRENT STATISTICS ON RAPE AND THE NUMBER OF

UNINVESTIGATED, UNRESOLVED AND UNATTENDED RAPE CASES]

RAPE IS EVIL
RAPE LEADS TO LOW SELF ESTEEM AND DEPRESSION

RAPE IS A CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY

RAPE OFFENDERS SHOULD HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY