Half of a Yellow Sun

TRUMPET FANFARE

-TV REPORTER:

-'Lagos, capital of Nigeria,

'prepares to give the welcome of its life to Queen Elizabeth II.

'Or, in its own language, to Oba Oberin, the King-Lady.

'A million Nigerians are here to greet her.

'Just 17 hours from the mists of London airport,

'the Queen's Argonaut comes to rest in the sunshine of Ikeja,

'the airport of Lagos.

'The Guard of Honour is mounted by the Nigeria Regiment,

'many of whom, like the Queen's husband, wear the Burma Star.'

ROUSING MARCHING MUSIC

'Governor General Sir James Robertson and Lady Robertson

'welcome the royal couple as they leave the Argonaut.

'In a temperature around the 100 mark, the queen still looks cool

'as the royal car makes its 13-mile journey to the capital

'at a steady 8mph.

'Every foot of the way, the road is packed with Nigerians.

'The welcome is as tremendous as any Her Majesty has ever been given,

'and it's a proud welcome.

'For this is no longer a people in colonial subjection,

'but a free nation with its feet already firmly on the road to self-government.'

MUSIC: The Naughty Little Flea Miriam Makeba

# Where did the naughty little flea go?

# Won't somebody tell me?

# Where did the naughty little flea go?

# Won't somebody tell me?

# Tell me now, where did the naughty little flea go?

# Nobody know, nobody know

# Tell me now, where did the naughty little flea go?

# Nobody know, nobody know

# There was a naughty little flea

# He climbed up on the doggie's knee

# He climbed some here He climbed some there

# He was climbing everywhere

# Tell me, where did the naughty little flea go?

# Somebody tell me

# Oh, nobody know

# Where did the naughty little flea go?

# Somebody tell me

# Nobody know, nobody know

# Well, he climbed some here He climbed some there

# He was climbing everywhere

# And now at last he found a nest

# Where he can get some food and rest

# Well, the doggie went to see a show

# And there he saw Brigitte Bardot

# The naughty flea said, "What a feast!

# "She really is a delicious beast"

# Tell me, where did the naughty little flea go?

# Nobody know, nobody know

# Tell me, now, where did the naughty little flea go?

# Nobody know, nobody know

# Tell me, now, where did the naughty little flea go? #

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

This programme contains some violent scenes

and some scenes of a sexual nature.

-WOMAN:

-Happy Independence Day!

-KAINENE:

-Are you going to help dad get his contracts?

What do you mean?

Will you be spreading your legs for the Right Honourable Minister

in exchange for daddy's contract?

What do you think?

Hurry up, you two. His Excellency's here.

-We'll be right down, Mum.

-Help me with this, will you?

I hope you've thought about coming to join us at the Ministry, Olanna.

We need first-class brains like yours.

How many people get offered jobs personally from the Finance Minister?

I've decided to go to Nsukka. I'll be leaving next week.

Is that right? You have decided to move to Nsukka?

I applied for a job as a lecturer in the Department of Sociology

and I got it.

Oh?

So you'll be leaving Lagos?

Er...why don't you all come to my house this weekend, eh?

If only to sample my cook's fish pepper soup.

The chap is from Nembe, he knows what to do with fresh fish.

Sounds wonderful, Honourable Minister.

I'd love to come, but I won't be here this weekend.

You won't be here?

I made plans to go to Kano to see Uncle Mbaezi and the family.

I see.

And what about you, Kainene?

What about me, indeed?

I, too, will be putting my newly acquired degree to good use.

I'm moving to Port Harcourt to manage daddy's businesses there.

So Kainene will manage the cement factory?

The cement factory, the bottling company,

the sawmills and the freight carriers, everything.

She'll oversee everything in the east.

Whoever said you lost out by having twin daughters is a liar.

-FATHER:

-Thank you, Minister.

Happy Independence Day!

ALL: Happy Independence Day!

-BOTH:

-Happy Independence Day.

-Are you all set?

-All set for what, Kainene?

It's Independence Day, Mummy.

There are 1,001 soirees in Lagos tonight.

Good evening, Chief.

You realise, don't you, that you've just cost daddy the contract?

It's not as if he'll get nothing.

Daddy will still give him 10% after all.

Well, the 10% is standard, so extras always help.

The other bidders probably don't have a beautiful daughter.

That horrid little woman, Richard, and right in my face, too.

-QUIETLY:

-Susan, I wasn't.

-I know you didn't mean to flirt.

-But you must understand...

-Susan, I wasn't flirting.

-Champagne, Madam?

-The gossip here is just vicious.

How are you, Olanna?

Happy Independence Day.

The Hausa in the north are a dignified lot,

the Yoruba are rather jolly, as well as being first-rate lickspittles.

-And the Igbo are...

-Surly and money-loving.

Hello, Graham.

Meet Kainene Ozobia, Chief Ozobia's daughter.

Kainene is a summa cum laude graduate of Yale

and an Oxford graduate to boot.

Kainene, this is Susan Grenville-Pitts,

-from the British Council.

-How do you do?

-And this is...

-I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch...

-Richard. Richard Churchill.

Now, I want to speak to you.

Hello.

I'm no relation of Sir Winston's, I'm afraid,

or I might've turned out a little cleverer.

How funny.

JAZZ BAND PLAYS IN BACKGROUND

Great music, don't you think?

It turns out Kainene and I have a mutual friend in London.

How lovely. I'll let you two catch up then. Back in a bit.

You just lied to your wife.

She's not my wife.

-Move out of the way, please.

-What?

There is a photographer behind you who's keen to take a photo of me,

and particularly my necklace.

-MAN:

-Thank you, Ma'am.

The necklace will be featured in tomorrow's "Lagos Life".

That will be my way of contributing to our newly independent country.

I'm giving fellow Nigerians something to aspire to,

an incentive to work hard.

-It's a lovely necklace.

-Of course it's not lovely!

My father has obscene taste in jewellery.

But it's his money.

I see my sister looking for me. I should go.

Don't go...

please.

Shall I introduce you? Everybody wants to meet her.

I'd rather talk to you. If you don't mind.

-Here comes the wife you denied.

-Darling?

-How lovely to meet you.

-How lovely to meet you.

(What did I just say?)

Don't tell me you're interested in him.

-What if I was?

-What about Okafor?

You know that ended long ago. Now we're just good friends.

-And Iain with the dimples?

-No, it's over with Iain.

-Robert!

-Robert is history.

No, he's here. Hello, Robert!

Ha-bloody-ha! You're not funny.

SHE GIGGLES

I just don't get what you see in these English boys.

Watch out, though. This one is married.

No. That's just a woman who doesn't know when to cut her losses.

Did he say as much?

Operator?

For you, Ma'am. Mr Churchill on the line.

Churchill?

Hello? Who is this?

It's me, Richard.

-We met last night at...

-'Yes.'

The man who denied his wife. Hello, Richard.

MUSIC AND RAUCOUS LAUGHTER

SINGING IN NATIVE LANGUAGE

Did you come to Nigeria to run away from something?

No.

I've always wanted to see Africa...

..so I took leave from "The Spectator"

and a generous loan from my aunt and...

-And here you are.

-Here I am.

A modern-day explorer of the "Dark Continent".

I've accepted an offer to join the Faculty of English at Nsukka.

Splendid. My sister's there.

She'll introduce you to her revolutionary lover

and his band of drinkers.

And you can come visit me in Port Harcourt.

Ah, I can't believe it's you. You've come to help.

All right. Let's go to Aunt Ifeka's.

SCREAMS OF DELIGHT

You have been on my mind.

I knew you would come and see us soon.

Uncle, good afternoon.

And how is Lagos treating my sister?

-Lagos is treating mother well.

-And your sister and your father?

-How is your father?

-Daddy is well.

Kainene is well.

See who is here!

-Ah!

-Olanna!

-My auntie!

-How is your mother?

-She's good.

Oh!

May another person do for you.

May another person do for you.

Ahh...

Cousin!

You should've warned us that you were coming.

At least we would've swept the yard better.

-Cousin, you look well.

-Thank you.

There are stories to tell.

So you are going to Nsukka to marry Odenigbo, Sister?

I don't know about marriage yet, but I want to be closer to him.

And I want to teach.

The way you describe him, you had better not wait!

-ODENIGBO:

-A special woman is arriving this weekend.

Very special.

Make sure the house is clean. I'll order the food from the staff club.

But, sah, I can cook.

She likes her rice a certain way. Fried rice, I think.

I'm not sure you can make something suitable.

I can make that, sah. Let me make the rice.

And you get the chicken from the staff club.

Artful negotiation.

All right, you make the rice.

-Did you go to school?

-Standard two, sah.

-But I learn everything fast.

-Standard two? How long ago?

Many years now, sah. But I learn everything very fast.

-Why did you stop school?

-My father's crops failed, sah.

Why didn't your father find someone to lend him your school fees?

Sah?

I will enrol you in the staff primary school.

Yes, sah. Thanks, sah.

I suppose you'll be the oldest, starting standard three at your age.

But the only way to get their respect is to be the best.

-Understand me?

-Yes, sah.

-What's your name again?

-Ugwu, sah.

Ugwu...

Yes. Call me Odenigbo.

Sah?

My name is not "Sah".

Call me Odenigbo.

It's quite tasteless.

Which is better than bad-tasting, of course.

I'll show you how to cook rice properly, Ugwu,

without using so much oil.

-Ugwu told me he could cook rice.

-He can't.

My God.

Quick, drink coke.

SEXUAL MOANS

You should eat first. Ugwu is making a stew.

I know what I want to eat.

So, what happened here?

Your older books are in the second bedroom.

I needed the space for my books.

-Why can't they go to your flat?

-Because I want them here.

You've really moved in, haven't you?

KNOCKING AT DOOR

-UGWU:

-We have visitors, sah.

-Can't they leave? MAN:

-Odenigbo!

-I can't wait for them to meet you.

-MAN:

-Is she here? Come out, now!

Stay just a little longer.

-MAN:

-Ugwu, go and fetch your master. Tell him to come out now.

My friends. This, finally, is Olanna.

How are you?

You must be Lara Adebayo. Faculty of Medicine?

Yes. He did not tell us you were illogically beautiful.

-I will take that as a compliment.

-And what a proper English accent.

I'm Okeoma. I thought Odenigbo's girlfriend was a human being.

-He didn't tell us you a water mermaid.

-Thank you.

-Victor Patel. Nice to see you finally.

-Olanna.

-And what's your discipline?

-Sociology.

Voodoo science! You should've studied one of the proper sciences.

Didn't the great thinker Hegel call Africa a land of childhood?

Nobody can take Hegel seriously. Have you read him closely?

He's funny, he's very funny.

KNOCKING AT DOOR

You are the one that is Ugwu. How are you?

I'm fine, Mama. Did your journey go well?

Yes. God led us.

-How are you?

-I'm well, Mama.

My son has told me how well you're doing.

-When will my son be back?

-They will return in the evening.

They said you should rest, Mama, when you come.

I'm cooking rice and chicken.

Rest?

I have brought ingredients to make proper soup for my son.

I know you try, but you are only a boy.

What does a boy know about real cooking?

Is that not so, Amala? Does a boy belong in the kitchen?

Mama, no.

You see, Ugwu? A boy does not belong in the kitchen.

Yes, Mama.

Eh? My son wastes money on these expensive things.

-Do you not see, Amala?

-Yes, Mama.

Those belong to my madam, Mama. She brought many things from Lagos.

SHE SIGHS

-Amala, come and make the cocoyams.

-Yes, Mama.

Mama, welcome! Nno!

I'm Olanna. Did you go well?

-Our journey went well.

-Good afternoon.

Is this Odenigbo's relative from home, Mama?

Amala helps me in the house.

Come, Mama, let's sit.

You shouldn't bother in the kitchen. You should rest. Let Ugwu do it.

I want to cook a proper soup for my son.

Of course, Mama.

At least let me help you, Mama.

I'll go and change.

I hear you did not suck your mother's breasts.

What?

They say you did not suck your mother's breasts.

Please go and tell those who sent you

that you did not see my son.

Tell your fellow witches that you did not see him! Do you hear me?

Tell them that nobody's medicine can work on my son.

He will not marry an abnormal woman,

unless you kill me first.

Only over my dead body!

Mama...

Don't "mama" me. I said, do not "mama" me.

Leave my son alone.

Go and tell your fellow witches that you did not see him!

-Neighbours!

-Ugwu Mama, will you stay inside?

Neighbours! There is a witch in my son's house!

Neighbours!

Tell your master I've gone to my flat.

Neighbours!

I'm so sorry she acted that way.

-I just had to leave.

-No, no. You didn't have to, Nkem.

You should've ignored her, really.

I've decided to talk to Okeoma about the Labour Strike.

-We have to show support...

-Your mother made a scene.

You're angry, Nkem?

I didn't think you'd take this so seriously.

You can see my mother doesn't know what she's doing.

She's just a village woman.

You never talk about your mother.

You've never asked me to come to Abba with you to visit her.

Stop it, Nkem ,it's not as if I go that often to see her,

and I did ask you the last time you were going to Lagos. Huh?

-What did you cook?

-Rice.

-Aren't you going to play tennis?

-I thought you would come.

I don't feel up to it.

Why is your mother's behaviour acceptable

because she's a village woman?

I know village women who do not behave this way!

My mother's entire life has been in Abba.

Do you know what a small bush village that is?

Of course she'll feel threatened by an educated woman

living with her son. Of course you'd have to be a witch!

It's the only way she can understand it.

-Did you talk to her about this?

-I didn't see the point.

-You didn't see the point?!

-I want to catch Okeoma at the club.

Let's discuss this when I get back.

-I'll stay here tonight.

-No.

-What?

-I said no.

What's wrong with you, Olanna?

Go. Go and play your tennis and don't come back!

PHONE RINGS

Olanna?

Did something happen?

OLANNA: 'Nothing happened.

'I just wanted to say hello, find out how you are.'

How's Nsukka? How's your revolutionary lover?

'Odenigbo is fine. Nsukka is fine.'

Richard seems taken by it.

He even seems taken by the revolutionary, but I forgive him.

'You should come and visit.'

Soon.

You sound rather subdued.

Are you sure nothing's happened?

Out with it, Olanna.

'It's nothing much. Just a little misunderstanding with...'

The revolutionary?

'No. His mother.

'But there's nothing to it. Really.'

You reek of brandy.

Are you still angry?

Get dressed, we'll go back together.

I will talk to Mama.

No, you don't have to do that.

Stay here.

If you won't marry me...

..let's have a child.

Let's have a child, Nkem.

A little girl...just like you.

We'll call her Obianuju.

Because she will come into a place where there is plenty.

Or a little boy.

Let's have breakfast in bed.

Or is this one of your Sundays of faith?

I won't go in today.

Good.

Because we have work to do.

We will have a beautiful child, Nkem.

We will have a brilliant child.

-RADIO:

-'Our enemies are the political profiteers, the swindlers...'

Nkem! It's happened. There's been a coup.

Major Nzeogwu is speaking from Kaduna.

What's happening in Lagos?

Did they say what's happening in Lagos?

Your parents are fine. Civilians are safe.

Operator...

-It's not going through.

-They're fine. It's just for security.

The lines will come back once they've fully taken control of the government.

LAUGHTER

-Those soldiers are true heroes.

-This is the end of corruption.

That's the Finance Minister. They said he shit in his trousers before they shot him.

I knew Okonji. He was a friend of my father's.

The BBC is calling it an Igbo coup. And they have a point.

It was mostly Northerners who were killed, after all.

It was mostly Northerners in government.

The BBC should ask who put the Northerners in government

to dominate everybody.

If we had more men like Major Nzeogwu,

we would not be where we are today.

-Isn't he a communist?

-MEN LAUGH

-ODENIGBO:

-You Americans are so predictable.

Do we have time to worry about that?

-TV REPORTER:

-'The coup did not succeed in Lagos itself.

'Those politicians that survived asked the army to take control.

'And Major General Ironsi, an Igbo, took over.

'He concentrated authority in Lagos

'and cut down the power of the regions.

'It looked as if the Igbos were beginning to run the whole country

'and the north was suspicious.'

MAMA SINGING NATIVE SONG

My son told me you had gone to the village to see your mother?

Yes, Mama. Welcome, Mama. Welcome, Auntie Amala.

Go and rest, Ugwu. I am preparing my son's dinner.

I will stay in case you need help, Mama.

Do you cook Ofe Nsala well?

-I have never cooked it.

-Why? My son likes it.

My madam has never asked me to cook it.

"Madam." She is not your madam, my child.

She's only a woman who's living with a man

who has not paid her bride price.

Richard, did you say you were going to Lagos tomorrow?

Yes. Yes, I am.

To give Kainene moral support?

Not quite, Lara.

It's Chief Ozobia's 60th birthday, and they're having a party at...

See? Richard is a gentleman.

He's going all the way to Lagos to give Kainene, who doesn't need it,

moral support.

And you, what are you doing

when Olanna has had to rush to Lagos all by herself?

How's your book coming along?

-I'm ploughing on.

-It's a novel, isn't it?

-Yes. ODENIGBO:

-More wine?

Yes, please.

Odenigbo, you're not trying to get me drunk, are you?

What's it about?

As soon as it's finished, you'll be the first to read it.

Ugwu, more wine!

Ugwu!

I brought fresh palm wine for my son.

Our best wine-tapper brought it to me this morning.

Ugwu!

MAMA SINGS TRADITIONAL SONG

My point is, the only authentic identity for an African

is his tribe.

I am a Nigerian because the white man created Nigeria

and gave me that identity, and I am black

because the white man constructed black

to be as different from his white as humanly possible.

But I was Igbo before the white man came.

But you became aware that you were Igbo because of the white man.

-The Pan-Igbo idea itself...

-Go ask your elders in your village!

The problem is that Odenigbo is a hopeless tribalist,

we need to keep him quiet.

I will go powder my nose.

Sorry, Richard.

She doesn't look as though she wants to go home today.

Sure you're not planning to do something with her?

-Don't talk rubbish.

-Nobody in Lagos would know.

Look, look, look.

-I know you're not interested in her.

-I'm not. And that's that.

THUNDER RUMBLES

SEXUAL MOANS

I can't wait for Tuesday.

I can't wait either.

Tell Ugwu to air the rug in the bedroom.

-'Why?'

-Why what?

'Why do you want the rug in the bedroom aired?'

Because it hasn't been aired for some time.

You sound so glum. Are you all right?

'Oh, my mother is here. I had no idea she was coming.'

-Will she be gone before Tuesday?

-'I don't know.

-'I wish you were here.'

-Well, I'm glad I'm not.

Did you have a conversation with her

about breaking the spell of the educated witch?

'I'll talk to her, Nkem...

'I'm sorry.

'I'm so sorry.'

-Richard.

-Yes, dear?

You were in Nsukka two days ago. You saw the revolutionary.

Did you notice anything unusual about him?

Was he anything other than his smug, self-righteous self?

I'm not waiting till Tuesday. I'm leaving for home today.

Olanna, do you want me to come with you?

Let me come with you.

No.

KNOCK AT DOOR

Nkem?

Nkem. What a pleasant surprise.

It's good to have you back. So good.

-Good afternoon, Mama.

-Olanna, how are you?

Mama and Amala are just leaving. I'm taking them to the motor park.

Amala, how are you? I didn't know you came, too.

Have you got your things? Come on, let's go.

-Have you eaten, Mama?

-My morning meal is still in my stomach.

-I have a game scheduled for later.

-Amala?

-I hope you ate something.

-Yes, Auntie, thank you.

Let's go.

Give Amala the key to put things in the car.

OK.

-Go well.

-Mm-hmm.

-UGWU:

-Mah, will you eat? Should I warm rice?

Not now.

Go and see if any avocados are ripe.

Yes, ma'am.

Did anything happen?

Yes. Yes, indeed.

One of my students missed the last test,

and this morning he tried to offer me money to pass him,

the ignoramus.

I didn't know Amala came with Mama.

Yes.

You touched Amala?

You touched Amala?!

Olanna...

Olanna.

PHONE RINGS

PHONE CONTINUES RINGING

Nkem?

Nkem?

Nkem, please open. Please!

FRANTIC KNOCKS

Nkem!

Nkem, please open!

Please open, Nkem.

Nkem!

Nkem, please. Please open!

LOUD KNOCKING

Nkem!

I was drunk, Nkem.

I was drunk, and Amala forced herself on me!

It was brief...rash...lust.

It meant nothing, Nkem, nothing!

Get out.

I think I'm going to postpone my programme at Nsukka

and stay here in Kano.

No. Mba.

You will go back to Nsukka.

I can't just go back to his house, Auntie.

I am not asking you to go back to his house.

I said you will go back to Nsukka.

Do you not have your own flat and your own job?

Odenigbo has done what all men do and inserted his penis

in the first hole he could find when you were away.

Does that mean somebody died?

When your uncle first married me,

I worried because I thought all those women outside

were coming to displace me from my home.

I now know that nothing he would ever do would make my life change.

My life will change only if I want it to change.

What are you saying, Auntie?

He is very careful now,

since he realised I'm no longer afraid.

I have told him that if he ever brings disgrace to me in any way,

I will cut off that snake between his legs.

You must never behave as if your life belongs to a man.

Do you hear me? Your life belongs to you and you alone.

SHE SPEAKS IGBO

You will go back on Saturday.

Let me hurry up and make some abacha for you to take.

Would you like to read this?

Yes. Thank you.

They have finally removed that Igbo vice-chancellor

from the University of Lagos, it's on the back cover.

Oh?

The problem with the Igbo people is that they want to control everything

in this country, everything.

They own all the shops, they control the Civil Service,

even the police.

If you are arrested for a crime, as long as you can say "keda",

they will let you go.

And now, with this coup, they control the army.

We say "kedu", not "keda".

It means, "How are you?"

-Are you Igbo?

-Yes.

-But you have the face of a Fulani.

-Igbo.

Master looks like somebody that is crying every day...

-Put my blender in the carton.

-Yes, mah.

Mah, please forgive Master.

-Put the blender in the car.

-Yes, mah.

Do the guests still come in the evenings?

Not like before, mah, when you were around.

-But they still come?

-Yes.

And your master still plays tennis and goes to the staff club?

Yes.

Good.

What is it?

Amala is pregnant.

What?

Mama just came to tell me that Amala is pregnant with my child.

SHE SOBS

Please, let me come in.

Please.

We will do whatever you want.

Whatever you want, let's do it together.

You said it happened just once.

Just once and she got pregnant.

-It was just once.

-Just once, I see.

I told Mama I'd send Amala to Dr Okonkwo in Enugu.

She said it would be over her dead body.

She said Amala will have the child

and she will raise the child herself.

Mama planned this thing from the beginning.

I see now how she made sure I was dead drunk

before sending Amala to me.

I feel as if I have been dropped into something that I...

I don't entirely understand.

Nobody dropped you into anything!

SHE SOBS

-I thought it was you.

-Oh!

How are you? Are you all right?

I'm very well.

I can't decide whether to get the Bordeaux or the Burgundy.

Can I help?

Why don't I buy both and if you'll share them with me,

we can decide which is better.

Can you spare an hour? Or do you have to run back to your writing?

I would hate to impose on you, really.

Of course you wouldn't be imposing.

Besides, you've never visited me...

..in my flat.

You really must write about the horrific things

the British did in Kenya.

Didn't they cut off testicles?

-Didn't they?

-Yes.

You should write about it then.

-Do you have a title for your book?

-"The Basket of Hands."

"The Basket of Hands"...

Sounds macabre.

It's about labour. The good things we achieved.

The railways, for example, but...

..also how labour was exploited

and the lengths the colonial enterprise went to.

-My glass isn't quite empty.

-No, it's not.

Come and sit on the floor with me.

I should leave.

MUSIC: Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt

Do you want anything, mah?

These look very well. Did you use fertiliser?

-Yes, mah.

-And on the peppers?

Yes, mah. Mah?

Mama used bad medicine on my master, mah.

Rubbish!

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

MUFFLED SEXUAL MOANS

Let's get married.

Mama will leave us alone then.

I slept with Richard.

No.

Yes.

Do you have feelings for the man?

No.

You have no feelings for him, then why?

Olanna?

DOOR SLAMS

HORN BLARING

TYRES SCREECH

Is your master in?

-Is your master in?

-RICHARD:

-Thank you, Harrison.

I want you to stay away from my house! Do you understand me?

Stay away!

Are we still trying to have a child?

Of course we are.

Or aren't we?

Get me some brandy, my good man.

Give that to Odenigbo. Tell him Amala has refused to touch her.

Mama doesn't want to keep the baby.

There's a young man doing timber work in Ondo

that Amala is to marry.

Mama doesn't want to keep the baby?

She wanted a boy.

I've spoken to Amala's people.

We've agreed that the baby will stay with them.

I'll go to Abba next week to see them and discuss...

We'll keep her.

Our relationship is the most important thing to me, Nkem.

We have to make the right decision for us.

You weren't thinking about our relationship

when you got her pregnant.

Let's think about this.

-How noble of you.

-I'm not being noble.

-Will you adopt her formally?

-Yes, I think so.

What will you tell her?

-What will I tell her?

-Yes, when she's older.

The truth... that Amala is her mother.

And I'll have her call me Mummy Olanna or something,

so that if Amala ever comes back, she can be Mummy.

You're doing this to please the revolutionary.

-I'm not.

-Why are you doing it, then?

She was so helpless.

I felt as if I knew her.

I think this is a very brave decision.

Will you come back for her christening?

Yes. Of course, I will.

-This is excellent, Harrison.

-Thank you, madam.

He doesn't deserve you, you know.

This tart tastes better than the one I had the last time I was in London.

Thank you, madam.

My master is telling me that everybody in Mr Odenigbo's house says the same.

You made it for them?

I used to make it for my master to take there,

but I'm not making anything again for Mr Odenigbo's house

since that time he's shouting at my master.

Shouting like a madman and the whole street is hearing.

The man's head is not correct.

I hope you won't say, "Forgive me."

There is nothing more trite.

Please don't leave.

Leave?

That would be too easy, wouldn't it?

-I'm sorry, Kainene.

-It would be forgivable

if it were somebody else, not my sister!

I am so sorry.

You should sleep in the guest room.

Yes. Yes, of course.

-TV:

-'In May, Major General Ironsi abolished the regions by decree.

'This was the last straw for the north.

'There were riots and Ironsi's regime fell after barely six months.

'At Ibadan, among northern troops, he was killed.

'Looting, rioting, ambushing left thousands of Igbos dead.

'Northerners took advantage of the confusion

'to work off their long pent up anger at the economic success

'of the Igbos who migrated into their own region.'

Anything to declare, sir?

No. I'm going on to London.

OK. Well done, sir.

-RICHARD:

-Where are you from?

-GUARD:

-I'm from Obosi.

My fiancee is from Umunnachi, not far from you.

-Your fiancee, sir?

-Yes. Her name is Kainene.

-You speak Igbo, sir?

-HE REPLIES IN IGBO

You speak... My name is Nnaemeka.

-Nice talking to you...

-Thank you, sir.

MAN SHOUTS

We have here a little technical difficulty!

A small problem that can be resolved very simply!

SPEAKS IN FRENCH

I want all our foreign visitors together over here.

HE SPEAKS FRENCH

SOLDIER: This way, sir.

Passports! Bring out your passports!

Where's your passport?

It's at home, sir. I haven't got it on me here, sir.

-You are Igbo?

-Yes, sir.

-Come, my brother.

-Yes, sir.

-SOLDIER:

-Turn the page.

Show me your passport!

-Which church you go to?

-I'm Catholic.

You're Catholic? That's nice. What is the name of the church?

-Saint Dominic's.

-Saint Dominic's, ah...

Listen, just wait for me a minute over here.

Passport!

EVERYONE SCREAMS

Get up! Come on!

Move! Right now!

-WOMAN:

-Please, please. Please, don't.

OK, line them up!

GUNSHOT

SCREAMING AND SHOUTING

OLANNA: Let me out of the car. Stop the car!

What's happening here? What's happening?

No, no!

-Madam!

-Auntie!

Auntie!

No! Auntie!

Please, Madam, please. We have to go!

There's only troubles here. We have to go.

Murderer!

Get in the car!

You have to get in the car. Get in the car!

We have to go now, Ma'am. I'm sorry. We have to go.

Please, please, leave us alone. Leave us alone.

Sorry, Auntie.

SHE SOBS

-TV:

-'The Military Governor of the Eastern Region, Colonel Ojukwu,

'was questioned about the extent of the killing.'

'I can't give you the total figures, but this I know,

'that the May 29th rioting

'did in fact take toll

'of some 3,300 easterners in the north.

'I know that on the first night of the September rioting...

'..in Zaria alone there were 670.

'In Kano, definitely over 1,000 to 1,500.'

And what about our university colleagues in Ibadan and Zaria?

They kept silent while white expatriates encouraged the killing!

You would be one of them if you didn't happen to be in Igboland!

How much sympathy can you have?

Don't dare say I do not have sympathy!

To say secession is not the only way to security

-doesn't mean I have no sympathy!

-Did your cousins die?

Did your uncle die? You're going back to your people in Lagos,

and nobody will harass you for being Yoruba.

Is it not your own people who are killing the Igbos in Lagos?

Didn't your chiefs go north to thank the emir

for sparing the Yoruba people? So what are you saying?

How is your opinion relevant?

You insult me, Odenigbo.

Then the truth has become an insult. Olanna.

This is unacceptable, Odenigbo. You owe her an apology.

It is not a question of whether or not I owe her an apology.

It is a question of whether or not I spoke the truth!

You owe her an apology!

All right, I will.

SHE TUTS

When you are ready, mah, your food is here.

What did you cook, Ugwu?

I used fresh tomatoes from the garden.

-Has baby eaten?

-Yes, mah. She's playing outside.

-KAINENE:

-'Is love this misguided need to have you beside me

most of the time?

'Is love this safety I feel in our silences?

'Is it this belonging, this completeness?'

'Operator, I'd like to make a trunk call, please.'

-'Where to?'

-Nigeria.

-'Charged to yourself, sir?'

-Yes.

'One moment, please.'

PHONE RINGS

-RICHARD:

-'Hello? Hello? Kainene?

-'Is that you Kainene?'

-Hello, Richard.

-How was your cousin's wedding?

-It was fine. Are you all right?

I miss you, Richard.

I'm flying home tomorrow.

Are you all right?

Hurry home.

THEY CHEER AND LAUGH

-HE SINGS:

-This is our beginning!

-This is our beginning!

-BABY CRIES

Don't cry, baby, you're a Biafran now.

-OJUKWU:

-'..Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria,

'by virtue of the authority,

'and pursuant to the principles recited above,

'do hereby solemnly proclaim

'that the territory and region known as and called Eastern Nigeria,

'together with her continental shelf and territorial waters,

'shall henceforth be an independent sovereign state

'of the name and title of The Republic of Biafra.'

War is looming.

Port Harcourt is going crazy.

It's the oil.

They can't let us go easily with all that oil.

There won't be a war.

-OJUKWU:

-'If civil war comes, and I do think it is imminent,

'our people have for a long time been prepared for this eventuality.

'And I am confident of their readiness.

'I think...

'..that when it does come...

'..the people on the other side will be surprised...

'..as to what they're going to get.'

HEAVY ARTILLERY EXPLOSIONS

What is that? Did you hear it? Ugwu!

-What is that? Odenigbo!

-The Federals are advancing.

I think we should plan on leaving today.

-MAN:

-Evacuate! Evacuate now!

-Let's go. Let's go now.

-SCREAMING

Evacuate now. The Federals have entered Nsukka!

We are evacuating now. Right now. I am going to all the other houses.

Lock up quick. Don't forget the Boys' Quarters.

Put a few things together, Nkem. I'll check the engine.

What things? What will I take?

It won't be for long, we'll be back soon. Just a few things, clothes.

-I was still cooking.

-Put it in the car.

DISTANT EXPLOSIONS

WOMAN SCREAMS

DISTANT EXPLOSIONS

Ugwu!

Ugwu!

I'm fine. Are you a little early?

Yeah, we finished early because there's going to be

a general meeting in the square tomorrow.

-Why?

-The elders decided it was time.

There's all kinds of silly rumours about Abba evacuating soon.

Some ignoramuses even say the federal troops have entered Awka.

Will you come?

To the meeting? I'm not from Abba.

But you could be, if you married me.

You should be.

-We're fine as we are.

-We're at war.

My mother will have to decide what will be done with my body

if anything happened to me.

-You should decide that.

-Stop it! Nothing will happen to you.

I know nothing will happen to me. I just really want you to marry me.

We should marry.

It no longer makes sense.

It never made sense.

You'll have to take wine to my father, then.

Is that a yes?

Yes. It is a yes.

HORN BLARES

Mum.

I wasn't sure you got my message about the wedding.

What wedding? Where is he?

Odenigbo? He's at work.

Mum, what is all that for?

I carry them everywhere I go now. My diamonds are inside my bra.

Nobody knows what's going on.

We are hearing that Umunnachi is about to fall

and that the Federals are very close by.

The vandals are not close by.

Our troops are driving them back around Nsukka.

But how long is it taking to drive them back?

Anyway, your father and I have finalised our plans.

We have paid somebody who will take us to Cameroon

and get us a flight from there to London.

We paid for four places.

Your father's gone to Port Harcourt to tell Kainene.

You know I won't go.

But you and daddy should go, if it'll make you feel safer.

I'll stay with Odenigbo and Baby. We'll be fine.

We are going to Umuahia soon for him to start work at the Directorate.

What's that?

The Directorate of Labour and Manpower.

As soon as Nsukka is recovered, though, we're going back.

But what if Nsukka is not recovered? What if this war drags on and on?

It won't!

How can I leave my children and run to safety?

We'll be fine, Mum.

You can still change your mind, the four places are paid for.

Wedding? What wedding?

Good evening, Mama.

Odenigbo's not back yet.

Smoking is bad for you, Mama.

That may be so, my daughter,

but I am too old to die young from smoking.

Is my grand-daughter well?

Baby is well.

-She's inside, asleep.

-That's good.

I have not come to see Odenigbo.

It is you, my daughter, that I have come to see.

Supposing Odenigbo's cousin, Aniekwena,

were to take wine to your father, how would you feel?

-I am asking...

-I know what you're asking, Mama.

..if you would marry my son.

But why, Mama?

What has changed about me?

Did Odenigbo put you up to this?

Did he come to you on his way home last night?

Did he tell you that he was going to ask me?

I have not seen my son in three days, my daughter.

Will you marry Odenigbo?

Yes.

Yes, I will marry Odenigbo.

It's too good to be true, don't you think? Where's the catch?

There's no catch, Nkem.

It's Mama's way of saying sorry.

We are ready to go, Odenigbo,

and your mother has refused to pack her things and come.

Mama? I thought we agreed you are going to Uke.

Hm-mm. Don't say that! You told me that we have to run,

that it is better that I go to Uke.

But did you hear me agree?

Did I say 'oh' to you?

You want to come with us to Umuahia, then?

But why are you running? Where are you running to?

Can you hear any guns?

Mama, people are fleeing Abagana and Ukpo,

which means the Hausa soldiers are close and will soon enter Abba.

Who am I running away from my own house for?

Do you know that your father will be cursing us now?

We are going to Umuahia soon for him to start work at the Directorate.

There will be nobody left in Abba.

The news is not good.

I am leaving for Uke. Send word when you get to Umuahia.

Go, go and pack your things.

I will wait and watch the house.

After you all have run, you will return. I will be here.

Mama, will you not come with us?

Please, come with us!

Give me the keys to your house. I might need things there.

Come with us, Mama.

You'll miss the wedding.

Give me the key. This is my home.

Mama...

Come with us.

Please come with us, Mama.

-TV:

-'Seven weeks ago Colonel Ojukwu was on the receiving end

'of a federal police action to prevent

'his pulling the former eastern region out of the federation.

'Now, it's a full-scale civil war.'

Where's Baby? She hasn't gone out to play, has she?

I don't want her getting any dirt on that dress.

She is in the living room.

I sent a message to Port Harcourt for Kainene.

She won't come. I just wanted her to know.

It's still too big.

-KNOCK AT DOOR

-Olanna, are you ready?

Yes, I'm ready. Please come in.

Did you bring the flowers?

What is this?

I wanted fresh flowers, Okeoma.

Nobody grows flowers in Umuahia. People here grow what they can eat.

I won't hold flowers then.

SHE SIGHS HEAVILY

THEY SPEAK IGBO

AFROBEAT MUSIC

I caught you dancing.

FANFARE AND PERCUSSION INTRO

LAUGHING AND WHOOPING

ALL: Hail Biafra!

AFROBEAT TUNE PLAYS

Ah, the cake.

Come with me now.

Was it you?

Come on, get some.

Everybody, I want you together. OK, let's do one, two...

SCREAMING AND SHOUTING

AIRCRAFT OVERHEAD

-ODENIGBO:

-Okeoma! Okeoma!

No!

No!

-BABY:

-Mummy!

Enunciate. Ike, you say it.

Setru.

Ah, "set-tle".

"Set-tle". The word has no R in it.

OK, let's try...

-B for?

-CHILDREN: Ball.

-C for?

-Cat.

-D for?

-Dog.

-E for?

-Egg.

-F for?

-Fish.

-G for?

-Golf.

-H for?

-House.

It's impossible! You can't go back to Abba!

I have to bury what the vultures left behind.

-Sah...

-Yes, yes, yes.

Somebody must have buried her!

CAR STARTS

We have to leave tomorrow.

The landlord doesn't want us because we can't pay our rent.

What am I going to do?

Why are you using the kerosene stove? Are you stupid?

Haven't I told you to save our kerosene?

But, mah, you said I should cook Baby's food.

I did not say that! Go outside and light a fire!

Do you know how much kerosene costs?

Just because you don't pay for the things you use

does not mean you can use them as you like!

Is firewood itself not a luxury where you come from?

Sorry, mah.

His mother is dead.

They shot her in Abba.

The Biafran soldiers at the roadblocks

kept asking me to turn back.

So I parked the car, hid it, and began to walk.

Finally, one Biafran officer...

..cocked his gun...

..told me he would shoot me...

..and save the vandals the trouble if I didn't turn around.

I'm fine, Nkem.

I'm fine.

I hear there's a lot of free sex here,

but the girls got some kind of disease.

The Bonny disease?

Guess you guys gotta be careful what you bring back home.

This refugee camp is run by my wife.

-Really? How long she been here?

-She's Biafran.

-Do you speak Igbo pretty well?

-Yes. Kedu.

There is food in Sao Tome

crawling with cockroaches because there's no way to bring it in.

Would it be all right if I gave you some letters?

To my wife's parents in London.

We'll get something better soon.

SHE SOBS

KNOCK AT DOOR

-Welcome. Nno.

-Thank you.

I live down the corridor. Your husband is not here?

He's still at work.

I wanted to see him before the others do.

It is about my children. Three of them have asthma.

-Asthma?

-The landlord called him "Doctor".

Oh!

No, he has a doctorate.

He's a doctor of books, not a doctor for sick people.

Oh...

Erm...there is a woman in a car asking for you.

Kainene?

I went to your old house and somebody told me to come here.

Our landlord kicked us out.

Come in.

Sit down.

So, how have you been?

Things were normal until Port Harcourt fell.

I was an army contractor, and I had a licence to import stock fish.

I'm in Orlu now. I'm in charge of a refugee camp there.

Oh...

Are you silently condemning me for profiteering from the war?

Somebody had to import the stockfish.

No, no, I wasn't thinking that.

You were.

I was so worried when Port Harcourt fell.

-I sent messages.

-Yes, you said you were teaching.

Do you still? Your noble win-the-war effort?

The school's a refugee centre now.

Sometimes I teach children in the yard.

And how's the revolutionary husband?

He's still with the Manpower Directorate.

You don't have a wedding photo.

There was an air raid during our reception, and...

I came to give you this. Mum sent it through a British journalist.

I also brought two dresses for Baby.

A woman who came back from Sao Tome

had some good children's clothes for sale.

-You bought clothes for Baby?

-How shocking, indeed.

It's about time the girl began to be called Chiamaka.

-This Baby business is tiresome.

-SHE GIGGLES

Will you drink some water? It's all we have.

No, no, I'm fine.

Yes, please.

I'd like that.

I thought about changing your money for you.

But you can do it at the bank and then deposit, can't you?

Haven't you seen all the bomb craters around the bank?

My money's staying under my bed.

Make sure the cockroaches don't get it.

Life is harder for them these days.

I'll come on Wednesday.

-Will you drive?

-No. Look, it's not that far.

Greet the revolutionary for me.

Madam. I am bringing drinks?

The way he goes on, you'd think we had a grand cellar

in this half-built house in the middle of nowhere.

-Madam?

-No, Harrison, don't bring drinks.

We're leaving now. Remember, lunch for three.

Yes, Madam.

Harrison is the most pretentious peasant I have ever seen.

-I know you don't like the word peasant.

-No.

-But he is, you know.

-We're all peasants!

Are we? It's the sort of thing Richard would say.

Odenigbo, too.

Grandfather used to say about difficult things

he had gone through, "It didn't kill me, it made me knowledgeable."

I remember.

There are some things that are so unforgivable...

..that they make other things easily forgivable.

'At precisely half past one every day, they come over the town

'as the market place is full, as patients are sitting out

'on the lawns at hospitals.

'Here comes the next one.

'He's flying the other side of the Mission Church.

'Sweeping to the right. Strafing the ground as they move.

'Dropping incendiary bombs and fragmentation bombs

'in the market places around here.'

SINGING: We are sure to win the war, we are sure, we are sure...

-REPORTER:

-'The war was going quite badly.

'In desperation, Ojukwu mobilised the country's Boys' Brigade

'to raise morale by showing a new generation was training

'to take its place at the front line.'

-OJUKWU:

-'Fight on, brave boys, fight on!

'Heroes of our fatherland

'pursue the enemy, harass him, destroy the invader.

'March on, brave boys, now that victory is in sight.'

You! Stop there! Stop there!

GUNSHOT

Stand up, stand up, you bloody civilian!

Join them there. Join them there.

Inside the van!

My sister, hold your head, be strong.

Ugwu has died.

Ugwu was with the field engineers,

and they suffered massive casualties.

Only a few came back.

Come with me. Bring Chiamaka.

Come and stay in Orlu. Olanna!

Have you drunk enough, eh?

Ugwu has died.

Do you hear me? Ugwu has died.

Drink and don't stop! Drink!

Ugwu has died!

SHE SOBS

EXPLOSION

CLOSER EXPLOSION

GUNFIRE

LOUD SCREAMS

Get the boxes. Leave the clothes.

Baby.

-Odenigbo!

-We'll take this one. OK.

EXPLOSIONS AND GUNFIRE

ENGINE STALLS

Odenigbo!

Start walking! I'll catch you up when the car starts.

If we are walking, we'll walk together!

ENGINE STARTS

SCREAMING

Stop it! Stop it right now. Leave him alone.

Leave him alone!

-WOMAN:

-He's a thief!

-He's not a thief. Do you hear me?

He is not a thief! He is a hungry soldier.

Have you come from the front?

Are you running? Have you deserted?

Come. Come and have some garri before you go.

We're here until we find a place to rent.

Harrison, bring some more palm oil for Chiamaka.

What an interesting beard. Are you trying to copy His Excellency?

I never try to copy anyone.

Of course. I'd forgotten how original you are.

Harrison roasted a fantastic bush rat for us last week.

But you would've thought it was a rack of lamb

the way he went on about it.

-OJUKWU:

-'...border towns and zones they've captured by treachery.

'Our people are determined to fight to the last man,

'confident of eventual success.

'May God bless you all, fellow Biafrans,

'and keep and protect Biafra.'

What do you think accounts for the success

of the white man's mission in Africa, Richard?

The success?

Yes, the success, I think, in English.

Perhaps you should first account for the failure of the black man

to curb the white man's mission.

Who brought racism into the world?

I don't see your point.

The white man brought racism into the world.

He used it as the basis of conquest.

It's always easier to conquer a more humane people.

So, when we conquer the Nigerians, we will be less humane?

I've got some Nigerian coins.

I want to go to Ninth Mile and see what I can buy.

If that goes well, I will sell some of the things our people have made.

-That's trading with the enemy.

-It's trading with

illiterate Nigerian women who have what we need.

It's dangerous, Kainene.

That sector is free. Our people are trading freely there.

-You're going, too?

-No.

At least not tomorrow. Maybe the next time Kainene goes.

-Tomorrow?

-Yes, Kainene is going tomorrow.

Yes.

But don't mind Olanna, she will never come with me.

She's always been terribly frightened

of honest free enterprise.

Ninth Mile Road has been occupied on and off.

-I don't think you should go.

-It's all decided.