AfroFantasy: Episode 1

By Channing Chea

Darren Davenport, a Black American starved of his heritage, ventures across Africa to stop a genocidal ideologue from obtaining an ancient relic of cataclysmic power.

• Language: English
• Publisher: C1GNUS STUD1O
• Release date: Jan 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9780578848853

Book preview

AFROFANTASY

Pilot

Written by

Channing Chea

AFROFANTASY

PILOT

TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. WESTERN SAHARA - DAY

...to a BLAZING SUN in a clear sky, beating down on vast PLAINS of sand. All that can be seen are dark desert bushes scattered about the expanse. A virgin layer of sand covers the ground until a TRUCK drives into view, leaving tracks that reveal a sorry excuse for a ROAD beneath the sand.

IN LOWER THIRD

CHYRON: The Sahara Desert

There are two men inside the truck. First is the DRIVER, a native Mauritanian wearing a DARAA. For him, this is just another ride through the desert with a tourist. But this is something very different for his passenger...

Riding shotgun is OSAS PHARAOH, an African man in his mid-thirties. He’s sharp; better dressed for a TV appearance than the excursion he’s on, but he makes due with rolled up sleeves.

His face rests in a steely-eyed, heated glare, as if constantly revisiting sins trespassed against him. However, as he fiddles with his NECKLACE, there’s only one thing he’s focused on right now. He doesn’t plan on resting until he finds it.

They approach a sign that reads STOP - EXTREMIST ACTIVITY BEYOND THIS POINT, and the car halts in front of it.

DRIVER

All right, sir, this is as far as we go.

Pharaoh says nothing, but he pulls from his pocket a roll of CASH. He hands it to the Driver. Driver offers token resistance, but eventually caves. They resume the journey, past the sign and into a rocky mountain range.

LATER

On the other side of the mountains, the two pass several shacks with the inhabitants paying no attention to them.

2.

Hardly even a village. They finally stop again at a large chasm.

DRIVER We are here.

Pharaoh exits the truck and walks to the edge of the chasm, studying it. All he sees is a wide valley that extends for a mile out; multicolored STONES of black, red, and white; more flat-topped mountains to the North; and SEASHELLS... though there is no body of water to be found. He must be close...

DRIVER

Take your pictures and we will return to Nouakchott. We will leave in ten minutes.

PHARAOH

You were paid for the entire day. Going back on your commitments because of a little adversity?

DRIVER

That sign we passed was new! Things have changed. It is not safe to be out here for this long!

Pharaoh reaches for another roll of cash.

DRIVER

I do not want more money! The Waalisha have been expanding their territory. I cannot let myself get killed out here and leave my family alone to go hungry.

Pharaoh looks around and points to the mountains.

PHARAOH

Take me over there, to the top of the mountains. Ten minutes there, and then we can leave.

Driver relents and they both get back into the truck, driving away.

ON THE MOUNTAIN

They arrive at the mountaintop. While struggling with the off-road terrain, the vehicle’s tire gets caught in a groove in the land. They both exit the vehicle and check the tire.

3.

DRIVER

It’s fine, but I will need to use the jack to lift it out.

PHARAOH

Handle that, please. I’ll be back shortly.

Pharaoh keeps walking, soon arriving at the edge of the mountain, where eroded grooves in the steep cliffs show evidence of ancient waterfalls. Pharaoh looks at the view and his jaw drops. For the first time he is able to see the land’s geography in all its glory.

The RICHAT STRUCTURE’s three concentric circles, delineated by three, mile-wide valleys, stretch farther than the eye can see.

Meanwhile, Driver has just managed to remove the vehicle from its rut. He wipes the sweat from his brow before he catches sight of someone out of the frame. Before he can react or shout for help, a MACHETE digs into his neck, keeping him silent.

Pharaoh pulls a necklace from under his shirt. He takes it off and holds it in the way of his view. The three circles of the Richat Structure are echoed in the necklace’s design, where three metal rings float within each other, as if magnetically held in place. Satisfaction overwhelms him.

PHARAOH

It’s real... It’s been right here the whole time.

He is distracted by approaching footsteps, too many to be from Driver.