The Redhouse Effect

THE WRITER

Michael Obeng is a young talented writer who hails from Jachie-Pramso, Kumasi. Michael started writing from childhood and has now decided to focus more on this craft after completing High School. He is a forex trader and loves reading, watching moves and listening to music.

He wrote The RedHouse Effect as a climate change screen writing competition, and now wants to give it to any willing producer to buy at a mutually satisfying price. Enjoy!

MICHAEL OBENG

THE REDHOUSE EFFECT

FINAL EPISODE

  (MR SACKEY groans in pain, coughs very hard and tilts his head slightly to look at his daughter. An inexpressive frown suddenly passes along the ashen face)

                                                             MR SACKEY

                                                                    Abi?

                                                                   ABI

                                                     It’s me, Dad! It’s me!

                                                            MR SACKEY

                                                        How…how did you…

                                                                    ABI

                   It’s a long story, Dad. But now’s not the time. Let me get you out of here.

                                                             MR SACKEY

                           Oh God what have I done?! Where’s Bounty and Koomson?

                                                                    ABI

                                    I have no idea. How did this happen, Dad?

                                                             MR SACKEY

                                         It’s a long story, daughter. But now’s not…

                                                                    ABI

                                                Um yeah, I understand. Now…

                                                            MR SACKEY

Your mother warned me, daughter! She did! She warned me of what my actions will lead me…

                                                                    ABI

                 It’s okay! It’s okay. We need to get out of here. We will talk about this later.

                                                             MR SACKEY

It was this stupid gallon of petrol. We were burning some vegetations to prepare fertile land, when…

                                                                     ABI

   Oh really? I seem to remember you told me you were just cutting down a few trees.

                                                              MR SACKEY

                                                                 (coughs)

Um…yeah, we sort of did that too. Anyway, we did not notice the fire spreading to the gallon. The explosion shook us off and we all ran in different directions. Before I could reach the village for help, I tripped and banged my head on a tree. Next thing I remembered was you kneeling over me.

                                        (ABI says nothing; she is in a pensive mood)

                                                             MR SACKEY

                                                                CONT’D

                                                        ( partly to himself)

Because of me the world is in flames! Oh God of Heaven! This will be the last time I will do this business, daughter. It’s over now! It’s over.

                                                (ABI allows herself a faint smile)

                                                                      ABI

                 Well, the talking is too much. We better get out of here to safety. 

                                                                 MR SACKEY

                                  (wincing as he tries to stand up, ABI supporting him)

 Depends on the kind of ‘safety’ you’re talking about. I will be charged with arson the moment I step foot into that village.

                                                                     ABI

                                                            And what’s that?

                                                               MR SACKEY

                                             You will know. Come on, let’s go!

  (MR SACKEY leans on  her daughter as they are limping away. A sound ahead makes her look up, and she gasps in terror from what she’s seeing. Some meters away from them, she can see a very tall figure having the body and hair of a woman, her eye sockets filled with fire. ABI blinks as if contemplating whether she is hallucinating or not. She hears a faint voice in her mind: “Don’t burn!”)

                                                                     ABI

                                                 Um, Dad. Can you see that?

  (MR SACKEY looks up to where his daughter is pointing to and sees a badly-scorched rabbit sitting on its haunches, ears erect, and staring at them anxiously. MR SACKEY’s eyes glow in merriment)

                                                             MR SACKEY

                                                           Rabbit! Rabbit!

                                                                     ABI

  (finally seeing SPRINGS for the first time, as the strange figure had vanished. She looks at her father resentfully)

              Dad! You seriously are not thinking of rabbit stew at this moment, are you?

                                                             MR SACKEY

                                                      Sorry, my dear! Sorry.

   (they limp off towards the lakeside, the rabbit SPRINGS leading them. Most of the fires have been put out now, as dark cumbrous rolls of smoke rise into the atmosphere. ABI and her father can hear shouting and calling as the village people and the fire rescue team are coming to meet them. The sound of rotor blades can also be heard at the distance, as a helicopter has apparently been called in to battle the flames. ABI smiles again)

                                                            MR SACKEY

         There’s one last thing I need to say to you, my dear: you have done what even men could not do. You’ve saved my sorry life. You are a heroine!

   (this time ABI’s smile widens, showing her perfect white teeth. Her father beams back and kisses her on the forehead. The camera cuts to a bird’s eye view, and the aerial shot keeps on zooming out to reveal the approaching rescue team, the village folks and the helicopter hovering above, dropping water on the smoldering jungle. They are almost distant specks now, and the entire smoking forest is revealed by the camera shot.)

                                                                    ABI      

                                                                    V.O.

  I once heard it somewhere that there’s is always hope even in the midst of a disaster. Sometimes problems happen. Sometimes calamities hit us. Sometimes disasters plunge us into hell. But no matter what, the golden rule is: DON’T BURN!

                                                            END OF MOVIE

                                             © MICHAEL OBENG 2020

                                           AH 9332, AHINSAN-KUMASI

                                               GHANA, WEST AFRICA

                                       +233208856557/ +233545908041

                                                 mchlobeng@gmail.com

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