IN A MOMENT
Story By
PIANKI ASSEGAI
Screenplay By
TY GWYNN, and PIANKI ASSEGAI
IN A MOMENT
Scene I
Interior- Bathroom
Karim Koffi, a nineteen year old black teen is washing his face in the mirror after a shower. From the other room the voice of the host of a popular political debate show rumbles on while Karim preps his face for a shave. As he lathers his face and begins to make the first stroke with his razor, he pauses to focus on the voice of the TV host.
Host
Here joining us in the studio today, former ambassador to Barbados, presently leading a conservative crusade to bring morals back to our community. Benjamin Koffi. Thanks for joining us this morning.
Benjamin Koffi
Pleasure to be here
Karimrealizes he has cut his neck as he focuses on the voices from the television. He cusses under his breath as he puts the razor down and grabs a tissue and presses it against the fresh cut on his neck.
Karim
Ahhh… shit!
Karim walks out into the bedroom where the television is, still holding the cut on his neck. He grabs the remote and turns it up a bit.
Host
So Tell us more about your plan for London Mr. Koffi.
Benjamin Koffi
My plan is simple, we have to bring the church back into the schools first off. I’d like to say we need to bring the church back into the homes of our citizens, but unfortunately we can’t force the public to do that. Secondly I think that we as conservatives are losing the war against same sex marriages, and we need to make decisions on this issue right away. It needs to be the right decision, and it needs to be taken seriously.
Host
Let me stop you right there. I as you may know support the other side of this issue, and I just have to ask what makes you so sure that you are right.
Benjamin Koffi
Do you own a bible?
Host
We will be right back after this commercial break with Benjamin Koffi and other guests to talk more about Morals in our community.
The television is switched off, Karim turns around to see Matt with the remote control in his hand. Matt, 19 is sitting half naked in the bed.
Matt
Forget him, he doesn’t know anything… he doesn’t know about us. Come back to bed.
Karim turns and looks at Matt and smiles, and throws him a fake smile.
Karim
I got practice before lesson. I can’t.
Karim walks in to bathroom and Matt shouts after him.
Matt
You have time for a quick bite to eat?
From inside the bathroom you can hear Karim’s reply.
Karim
Yeah sure. Whatever.
Matt rolls back over in the bed muttering under his breath.
Matt
Whatever.
Karim walks back in putting on his clothes in silence and sits on the edge of the bed, putting on his shoes. Matt moves to sit beside him and leans in for a kiss. Karim tilts his head away avoiding the kiss.
Matt
What’s wrong?
Karim turns to him.
Karim
Nothing. C’mon, get ready.
Matt bounces off the bed and runs into the bathroom. Cuts back to Karim as he hears the voice of his father echoing in his head.
Voiceover (Benjamin’s voice)
Benjamin
It needs to be the right decision, and it needs to be takenseriously…
Voiceover (Matt’s voice)
Matt
Forget him, he doesn’t know anything… he doesn’t know about us.
His thoughts are interrupted as Matt appears beside him fully dressed. Matt turns to him.
Matt
I’m ready!
Matt and Karim grab their stuff and leave.
Scene II
Interior- Café
The two sit next to the window. Karim is drinking a bottled drink while Matt opts for a full English breakfast.
Matt
What’s your issue?
Karim
No, nothing.
Matt
C’mon. I noticed ever since we sat down you have something you want to say. You keep avoiding me.We’ve been doing this for almost a year now. Sneaking out the back door of your flat. Sitting at this one cafe because we never see anyone we know here. I’m just sick of being your house pet, and pretending like I don’t know you on the street.
Karim
We’ve been through this a million times. My situation and your situation are worlds apart. You know that.
Matt leans forward and speaks in a harsher tone, but still keeping it soft enough for the café.
Matt
It’s our situation. Not your mates. Not your father’s. Not your family’s, just come out to them and tell them about us!
Karim laughs dismissively
Karim
You really think I can bring you to my father. You think we are just going to go over for dinner one night and my parents will just love the idea that I have gone against every tradition and religious idea they have ever tried to share with me. You know the answer to that.
Matt reaches out across the table to grab his hand. Karim yanks it back in a hurry and looks around.
Matt
Be like that.
Matt storms out of the café. Karim grabs his head in frustration and looks around for a second before grabbing his stuff and chasing after him. Karim chases him down the street on the side of the café.
Karim
MATT. STOP.
Matt slows down and Karim pulls him to the side of the building and brings him close. Holding him by the back of the head tenderly and kissing him. Matt shakes his head and the two walk back towards the main road on the way to the school. As they approach the street Karim’s phone starts to ring. He sees it’s his dad calling and doesn’t answer the call. Matt looks at him as he sees who is phoning him.
Matt
Is that your dad?
Karim
Yeah. I gotta go.
Matt watches him as he walks off. He is sad and confused. Karim looks back at him and nods. Karim turns and heads towards the fields.
Scene III
Exterior- Basketball Court
Karim and a few teammates are shooting hoops as a woman walks by.
Teammate 1
Yooooooo!! Check out that backoff!
Teammate 2
Jeeeeeeez!
Teammate 1
I would bang that!
Teammate 3
Yeh defo!
Teammate 4
Nahh.. too small
Karim
Just cos you know you can’t handle that
The four laugh and Karim shoots the ball.
Cut To-
Interior- Office of Student Affairs
Matt and college councilor sit across a desk from one another.
Matt
This life is killing me. I love him, but we have to break free from all the hiding. How do I know he will do that for me? He says when he finishes school. But how do you know for sure?
Councilor
I’m sure it’s not easy being on scholarship and all. It’s a lot for him to risk.
Matt
True, and there is his father.
Councilor
Who’s his father.
Matt
He’s political. But I don’t care. Let me tell you what this is doing to me. Most of the time we stay at his flat, and all my stuff is there. But then something will happen and I have to go to my place until he calls me. Sometimes it will be like two days later, and all my stuff is there. Computer, clothes. It’s not fair.
Councilor
Maybe you should move your stuff back in and make him come to you.
Matt
Maybe I should force him out, or break up.
Councilor
You could get hurt. Tread lightly. You two have a sensitive relationship.
Cut To-
Interior- Basketball Court. Teammate 1 is still going on about girls.
Teammate 1
So I said to her. Look it’s not sex if I just put the tip in. Half an inch is all. It has to be more than an inch to be considered penetration. And then I have another 9 and a half to go!
The three teammates are laughing except for Karim
Karim frowns.
Teammate 1
What’s your problem?
Karim
I’m good, you’ve just been talking about this girl for the last 2 hours and I’m just wondering if your ever gonna get around to lashing her.
Teammate 2
Yeah man. What the fuck? Did you even get it.
Teammate 1
Well… (kmt)
All the guys start laughing except for teammate 1. He looks at Karim with anger.
Cut To-
Exterior-College Corridor
Students are walking from class to class. Karim and his teammates are huddled together like usual laughing and cutting up outside the men’s room. Matt walks by the group where Karim can see him and he thinks no one else is looking. Matt winks at Karim who is standing behind teammate 1. Matt walks into the men’s room.
Teammate 1
What the fuck? Did you see this guy? That was bare gay what he just did. I gotta talk to this bitch.
Teammate 1 pushes the other teammates who are getting pumped up for an ass kicking laughing and jumping up and down following teammate 1 into the bathroom. Karim is unsure of what just happened, and what is about to happen.
Karim
C’mon guys. Allow it.
No one pays attention to Karim as they walk into the bathroom.
Scene 4
Interior- Public Restroom
Teammate 1
What you sayin cuz? Why you watchin’ me like that?
Matt is looking past the group of boys at Karim hoping he will do something or say something. Karim avoids eye contact. Teammate 1 whips out a pocket blade to scare him. He walks towards him to hold to his neck. Even the other teammates look surprised at teammate 1’s aggressive behavior.
Teammate 1
Blud, I’m fucking talking to you. You need to learn to keep that arse tickling to yourself you understand.
Karim approaches the two and reaches out for teammate 1’s shoulder.
Karim
Allow it man. He…
Teammate 1 swings his arm around pushing Karim off of him with the hand that has the knife in it. From Matt’s view it looks like a precarious position for Karim to be in with the boy and his knife. Matt calls out.
Matt
Karim. NO!
Teammate 1 pauses for a minute looking back and forth at the two lovers. He is putting it together in his head.
Teammate 1
How do you know his name?
Pauses. Turns to Karim
Teammate1
How does HE know YOUR name?!
The two are silent.
Teammate 1
You weren’t just gesturing at me were you then? Itmakes sense now! You two are batty init! I knew there was something wrong with you!
Matt
You bastard
Rest of Teammates back out looking apprehensive. Teammate 1 laughs and backhands Matt who holds his face. Karim lunges towards Teammate 1 bringing all three of the boys down to the floor. In a quick instant Karim rolls over and starts to bleed on the bathroom floor. Matt cries out for him and pulls him close.
Matt
You bastards. You bastards. You fucking bastards. Look what you’ve done.
Matt starts to panic and rock Karim who is coughing up blood back and forth. The rest of the teammates quickly exit the bathroom leaving Karim to die in Matt’s arms.
Matt
Don’t go.
Matt sobbing while Karim tries to get his last words out. Matt leans forward and tears trickle down on to Karim’s face. Students and security guards come running down the corridor to see the commotion. Karim’s phone drops out of his hand and Matt sees his dad is ringing again.
Cut to- Television studio camera monitor filming Benjamin on political debate show.
Benjamin
Look what I can tell you is this. I’m a proud father, who knows that his son was born a boy, and my daughter like her mother was born a girl. That’s it. They were not born with the homosexual condition that has infected our youth. Somewhere along the way I taught them right, and when they came of the age when one makes the decision to live a wholesome lifestyle, and do God’s will, or decide to be a homosexual. I was fortunate enough that they made the right choice. That’s all it is. A choice. A choice that is guided by loving parents, and God’s blessings. If we as parents, teachers, politicians, church leaders, and peers show acceptance of these lifestyle choices we offer these choices to our children, and that is not only a violation to our community but a crime against humanity.
There is silence in the studio. Benjamin’s assistant is partially blocking the camera interrupting his speech.
Benjamin
What is it?
The aid leans forward and whispers in Benjamins ear. Benjamin looks up at him with a very confused look. The aid leaves out of the camera view.
Host
Is everything allright?
The Camera zooms in on Benjamin’s face. He stares down at the floor not knowing what to do for a prolonged moment. He tries to take his microphone off and stands. His knees buckle and he sits back down and sinks back into the chair tears now starting breach his eyes. The host speaks off camera to crew.
Host
Can we cut the lights and camera please
Monitor cuts to static screen
Fade to black-
The End
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