One Day of Remembrance for All Neg'Marrons

By Linda Marie-Joseph

When Anthony returns to Martinique to become a farmer, he finds more than he bargained for, when he unearths a safe full of ingots and an old skeleton.

Anthony is living his life in present day Paris, until an accident forces him to return home to Martinique and become a farmer. He uncovers a safe full of ingots and an old skeleton whose bones will not rest until their story is told. Anthony finds himself transported back in time to 1789, when slavery was at its peak and witnesses the birth of a revolution.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Aug 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781291988567

Book preview

One Day of Remembrance for All Neg'Marrons

ONE DAY OF REMEMBRANCE

FOR ALL NEG’MARRONS

Original screenplay

by

Linda Marie-Joseph

Copyright 2001, Linda Marie-Joseph

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-291-98856-7

CHARACTERS

Anthony: black, machinist in the rail track company, married, two young children, living in Paris.

Vera: half cast married to Anthony, doesn’t work, look after the children. She is sweet and always comforting her man in his misery.

Ronald: trader, had exploitation with hundreds of slaves, travel from Martinique to Colombia, gold fanatic, greedy, abusive, alcohol and women addict, in love with his brother’s wife Caroline, would not hesitate to kill anyone standing on his way. Had about a third of Martinique with lot of fruits like avocados, coffee, cotton, sugar, and cocoa.

Penny: is a slave who is a war prisoner from Sudan, won a great position in the master esteem as built like a fridge, strong as a horse and secretive as a grave. Did not trust the master, was trying to organise a revolt in secret. He could write and read, and was a very good sailor.

Quentin: Ronald’s brother, a mulatto, his mother was a free black woman. He is a terrible fighter. He   loves his wife and he is the head of  business for his brother. He doesn’t like slavery but go along with it. He does not have a great relation with his brother. And he is working a lot alongside Penny.

Caroline: white rich daughter of ship owner, married for love to Quentin. Ronald had molested her from day one.

Monique: penny ‘s girlfriend. She is the daughter of a maid and a maid herself. She works in Ronald’s house. She is longing to marry her man. She want her man to be free. She knows lot of things as she is always in the house.

January 2 2001.

INT. COUNCIL FLAT. PARIS. DUSK.

Small kitchen and sparsely furnished with items from Martinique.  Pictures of Martinique, the beaches, a girl dressed in the traditional costume, folkloric scenes.

EXT. PARIS. DUSK

A train goes fast on the rails while another drags along the station and stops.

INT. BEDROOM. COUNCIL FLAT. PARIS.

A tape water is turned on. somebody is throwing up. ANTHONY, Antillean in his late thirties is lying in bed still asleep. He opens his eyes and then gets out of bed and walks towards the bathroom.

His wife VERA, a Caucasian in her early thirties is in the toilet, vomiting.

INT.BATHROOM. COUNCIL FLAT. PARIS

His wife VERA, a Caucasian in her early thirties is in the toilet, vomiting. She is disheveled, and looks tired. He puts his hand up and gently caresses her cheek. Her head is down in the bathroom sink. She straightens and meets his gaze.

ANTHONY

Honey, what is wrong?

VERA grins and then smiles at him.

VERA

I am gonna be ok. I am just

feeling sick and dizzy right now.

She puts her hand on her stomach and hugs him as he puts

his arms around her.

VERA

I think I might be pregnant,

darling.

INT. DINING ROOM.PARIS. DUSK.

He jumps, puzzles by the news. VERA manages a shaky smile

and looks at him straight in the eyes. They are standing

now in each other's arms in the dining room.

INT. COUNCIL FLAT.DINING ROOM. PARIS.

His face is devoid of joy. He looks at a picture of his two daughters on the television set. He smiles back at her and then comforts her.

ANTHONY

Honey! That is marvelous! That

is why you have been so poorly

lately!

He tries to inject some happiness in his voice. He is

faking joy but his face cracks up with cramps.

VERA

Hmmm. Are you happy about the news,

Anthony? It could be a baby boy!

She sights with relief. She hugs him tight, and

rests her head on his shoulder.

ANTHONY

We needed another man in this

family.

VERA

Yeah?  I know you will love

that, a small handsome boy just

like you. Anthony Jr.

INT. COUNCIL FLAT KITCHEN. PARIS.

They are now seated at the kitchen table nesting a cup of tea in their hands.

ANTHONY

Weren't you on the pill?

She nods and pulls her clothes around her.

ANTHONY

Can't really trust medicine and

technology? Hum?

ANTHONY

Great news

Anyway! Can we tell the kids

about it together?

He kisses her hard on the lips and starts to caress her.

The clock chimes 5 a.m. He stands up.

ANTHONY

I have to go, darling. Will you

be ok? I will try to get home

early today, alright.

He picks his keys and bag. Vera is watching him with love

and tenderness. ANTHONY walks towards the door.

INT. COUNCIL FLAT. HALL.PARIS

He hesitates and put his thumb up.

ANTHONY

A new year, a new beginning,

some new resolutions and a

brand new baby!

He fiddles with the keys in his hands.

ANTHONY

Forty and two and a half kids

just like the statistics.

She shreds a tear, then smiles at him.

VERA

Yes. Have a nice day, darling.

I love you.

Vera kisses him goodbye.He leaves the flat, locking the door behind him.

INT.  TRAIN STATION. STILL DUSK.  PARIS.

ANTHONY is on the 5.30 a.m train on his way to work. He is wearing his bright blue uniform and a cap. The train is packed with west Indians or Africans.

EXT. PARIS.

Paris landscape from the Eiffel Tower to the

Invalides, Concorde and the Arch of triumph the national

treasured landmarks. Expensive shops on the Champs-Elysees.

INT.TRAIN. PARIS.

Anthony gazes outside deep in thoughts then frowns and touches his forehead.

EXT.PARIS

Landscape of big industrial estates, council estates, some ugly buildings.

INT. TRAIN STATION.

The train finally stops.

VOICE

Terminus. Everybody out.

Last stop. Last stop.

Everybody rushes out. Anthony gets off the train.

INT. RAIL WORKSHOP. NEAR PARIS.

Trains on deck, parts and tools everywhere. Cleaners walk in and out. Day shift replacing night shift.

INT. CHANGING ROOM. RAIL WORSHOP. NEAR PARIS.

A cupboard door is open. Pictures of soccer team of 84 with Jean Tigana, Jose Toure, and Michel Platini. Picture of Yannick Noah winning Roland Garos. Job advertisement from France-Antilles NOVEMBRE 1983: Needed menial labor in railways station in Paris, free flight and accommodation. Flight ticket Martinique to Paris dated 1984.

INT.CHANGING ROOM. RAIL WORKSHOP. NEAR PARIS

ANTHONY gets ready and closes his cupboard. A colleague and Antillean friend gets ready next to him too.

MAN.

Salut. 1984, Best year

of my life.

ANTHONY.

Hmm. Mine too. In 1984,

I had so much hope then.

MAN.

Ah! It is not so bad! You do have

a better life than in Martinique,

don’t you?

ANTHONY

Well, more money, yes.

Family, yes. But nothing

has changed, really.

ANTHONY sighs.

ANTHONY

Still doing the same job

for 17 years.

MAN

I know. But it is paying

the bill. Society has changed

since 1984. The youth get loads of

diplomas but there is no works.

Unemployment is the cancer

Of the modern French society today.

ANTHONY

You are right. I am just anxious

about making more money.

If there were trains

in Martinique, I would ask

for a transfer.

I would love to go back there.

MAN

You know there are not that many

jobs there either? What is wrong with ya?

You sound down, that is not like you.

ANTHONY

VERA is pregnant. Can barely

live on one salary with four mouths.

Anthony shrugs his shoulders and sighs again.

MAN

Congratulations. Kids are

a blessing, you know!

Besides, it is a good

sign! At 45 you are still

Virile and not shooting blank.

ANTHONY

Yes! Mister marathon lover, right here!

They both laugh out