Curtain - open
Curtain - open
Intro Projection showing the story in the form of cave paintings
0101 (Pan) Mbali: “Since the beginning of time, the earth has been the
mother-goddess who rules all people, and who is the mother of all
creatures. She lives and gives birth to ever new generations of beings.
She will make the grass grow when heaven gives her rain and if there is
no rain, she withdraws into her own depths, waiting for better times to
come.”
0101 (Fairlight) Nakisisa: “Over time, she created many different
creatures, keeping the world in a perfect balance so that everyone would
receive a fair share of what the land provided. She created predators
and prey. Creatures of the day, and creatures of the night.”
0101 (Pan) Mbali: “But it was a very delicate balance. So the goddess
also created the lords of the sky. They would soar above them all, and
speak justice wherever there was dissent. For they could see everything
from above and always knew what the truth was.”
0101 (Fairlight) Nakisisa: “In the savannah however, where life's
circumstances where rough, the people of two tribes were particularly
reluctant to share their wealth equally among each other. No amount of
intervention by the lords of the sky seemed to help, and the lords'
patience began to wear out.”
0101 (Pan) Mbali: “Eventually, they gave the leader of the tribes their
final offer. They would continue to speak truth and justice to them only
under two circumstances: The lords would now merely speak to the
shamans, and no longer to anyone else. And secondly, there was to be a
new rule governing the use of the common land. One tribe should
henceforth be known as “the tribe of the sun”, as the land would be all
theirs during the day. The other tribe was to be “the tribe of the
moon”, since they should own the same land, but only during the night.”
0101 (Fairlight) Nakisisa: “During the twilight, the land would be owned
by everyone, allowing both tribes to hunt for food with equal chances.”
Light fades in slowly
01 - Savannah Day Ambience
0101 (Pan) Mbali: “Tired of the endless war, the leaders of the tribes
agreed. The shamans and the lords then agreed on a secret symbol, so
that impostors would not be able to abuse the power of the lords. And
so, the pact was sealed, and from that day on the two tribes lived in
peace.”
Nakisisa and Mbali sigh wistfully.
Mbali: “Oh, Nakisisa. This is such a beautiful story. I so wish it were true.”
Nakisisa: “Oh yes, so do I … so do I. *SIGH* But I'm afraid it's getting late, I have to go home. See you tomorow, Mbali! I love you!”
Mbali: “Oh, can't you stay just a little bit longer?”
Nakisisa: “I wish I could. But if my mother finds out I'm meeting with a lion every other night, she'll have me grounded for the rest of my life!”
Mbali: “And what do you think my father is going to say if he finds out I'm dating a hyena?”
Nakisisa: “I know, I know. But today mother gave me another of those lectures about how the situation between the tribes is getting worse and worse, and that I'm not supposed to meet with strangers under any circumstances, yadda yadda yadda. I don't think she knows it's you I'm meeting with, but we'd better not push our luck.”
Mbali sighs, sadly, standing up, making herself look like she's about to leave.
Mbali (pronounced): “I see. So I'll have to tell you the new story I heard from Uncle Makane tomorrow. Good night, sweetheart!”
Mbali kisses Nakisisa on the nose and turns to leave, teasing him.
Nakisisa: “What? You've got a new story? Stop! Please stay! I just changed my mind!”
Nakisisa runs after Mbali, getting in front of her, stopping her.
Mbali (smug): “Aha! How interesting! Everytime I mention a new tale, you suddenly have all time in the world!”
Nakisisa (humble): “Uhhh … well … that's because … I LOVE stories. And nobody tells them better than you!”
Nakisisa and Mbali walk back to the tree, sitting down again next to each other.
0102 - suspense
Mbali (all important): “All right. Then sit down, and listen. It's another story about the two tribes that Uncle Makane told me last night. After the pact with the lords of the sky was sealed, the tribes lived in peace. Whenever trouble arose between them, the shamans of both tribes would join and perform a secret ritual. By pure magic, they would rise themselves up to the sky and meet the Lords who would then serve justice. But effectively, this made the shamans the most powerful members of the tribe. Even more powerful than the kings. This is how it was for many generations. But you might ask yourself, why didn't the peace last, why doesn't the twilight belong to everyone any more? That is because, one fateful day, when a very severe situation had to be solved, the shamans went up to the sky as usual, and …”
Mbali makes a dramatic pause
Mbali (whispering): ”… never returned!”
Nakisisa gasps: “WOW!”
Mbali: “They sent out a search party, but the shaman's tracks just ended at the place where they had vanished into the sky. Nobody ever found out what had happened to them. War broke out the same day, and ever since, lions and hyenas were doomed to be enemies again, for all eternity! Uncle Makane told me the names of the last shamans, and that they shall never be forgotten: Jojo and Ndale.”
Nakisisa (in awe): “Unbelievable! Jojo and Ndale?”
Mbali: “You've heard their names before?”
Nakisisa trembles, and shows Mbali the pendant he's wearing around his neck
Nakisisa: “Yes, I did! Do you remember this?”
Mbali: “Of course, your pendant. You've been wearing it for as long as I've known you. It's very nice!”
Nakisisa (interrupting): “It's more than just nice. It's a gift from my mother. It's ancient, and it has been in the family for a long time. Mother told me the name of the one who made it. And his name was … Jojo!”
Mbali (in awe): “Wow! What a coincidence!”
Mbali and Nakisisa are getting all worked up about the issue
Nakisisa: “What if it's not a coincidence? Maybe you - lions - are really the tribe of the sun! And we - hyenas - are really the tribe of the moon!”
Mbali (rolls her eyes): “Oh come on! It's just a fairytale!”
Nakisisa: “But wouldn't it make perfect sense?”
Mbali: “Our tribes don't share the twilight. And if the lords of the sky really existed, don't you think there should be at least SOME evidence of some sort?”
0102 STOP
0103 hope
Nakisisa: “Who says fairytales can't have some hidden truth in them? And what about my pendant?”
Nakisisa starts to whisper, looking up at the sky
Nakisisa: “Maybe the Lords of the Sky are still out there … watching us!”
Mbali cuddles up to Nakisisa and SIGHS.
Mbali (whispering): “Oh, Naki … that would be SO ROMANTIC!”
Nakisisa: “If I found a way to rise up to the sky like the shamans did … would you go with me?”
Mbali: “Of course! I love you! I would go ANYWHERE with you!”
Nakisisa: “Together we would return as heroes and bring back peace to our tribes! Wouldn't that be wonderful?”
Mbali: “And there would be no more need for us to hide! We would officially be allowed to be together! You and me … a lion and a hyena … united in love forever. Wouldn't THAT be wonderful?”
Mbali and Nakisisa sigh
01 - STOP
0103 - STOP
Lights out
Curtain - close