AfroFantasy: Episode 3

By Channing Chea

After earning the King's favor, Darren and Asa begin their training in Umoya, the Final Treasure of Africa. However, Tau is worried for the couple's safety, afraid that the Curse will catch up to them...

• Language: English
• Publisher: C1GNUS STUD1O
• Release date: Mar 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9780578889634

Book preview

AFROFANTASY

103 - The Final Treasure

Written by

Channing Chea

AFROFANTASY

THE FINAL TREASURE

TEASER

FADE IN:

EXT. KATSE DAM - CONTROL ROOM ENTRANCE - DAY

DARREN and ASA sit on the rear fender of an AMBULANCE. They are tired, but their eyes glint with wonder as they process what they just heard.

DARREN Umoya...

KING KOPANO and TAU stand before them. Tau checks to make sure no one else is within earshot.

KING KOPANO

Consider it a token of appreciation for saving the Kingdom of Lesotho. But remember, whatever you learn must remain a secret, understand?

DARREN Yes, sir! Definitely!

TAU

We’ll get started tomorrow morning. I’ll be busy today cleaning up around here.

ASA

No problem. I think we could use a break anyway...

(to Kopano)

We’ll take you up on your hotel offer, if you don’t mind.

GERALDINE steps into frame, pocketing her PHONE.

KING KOPANO

Of course it is! Geraldine, please get our guests squared away in the nicest hotel in Maseru! They deserve a good time.

GERALDINE Yes, Your Majesty.

She beckons for the couple to follow her.

2.

The couple says their goodbyes and follows Geraldine to one of the King’s limousines. Kopano and Tau watch them as they dip into the vehicle.

TAU

So maybe they’re trustworthy, but do you think we should really be telling them about this?

KING KOPANO

I’ll take responsibility. I won’t let you fall into harm’s way.

TAU

But what about them? We’re putting them in even more danger...

Kopano softly glances at Tau, processing his words. He turns back to watch the couple drive away.

KING KOPANO

With the path they’re on, such danger is inevitable.

INT. QUAINT URBAN BAR - JOHANNESBURG - DAY

CAUTION TAPE divides THREE large spots of HUMAN-SHAPED BURN MARKS from the rest of the bar. The patrons there ignore the scene--all except for one.

KING KOPANO (V.O.)

At least this way, they might be able to defend themselves against the Curse.

MYSTERIOUS MAN, wearing a darkened and unassuming wardrobe inspects the marks from his seat at the bar, attempting to not appear too interested... but he is.

He takes a sip of his DRINK, turns back to the bar. The TV is turned to the news. The current story gets his attention.

Images of Lesotho are on display; from the King’s Palace to the Katse Dam. The Man is most concerned about the images of the erected pillars at the foot of the dam. Suspicious...

MYSTERIOUS MAN That’s not natural...

FADE OUT.

END OF TEASER

3.

ACT ONE

FADE IN:

INT. TAU’S HUT - DAY

Tau pulls a SHEET--a makeshift curtain--from his windows, flooding his hut with beams of natural light. He then clears space on a table and places THREE TINY CANDLES on it.

He pinches the wick of one, and as he releases, it is lit. Tau takes a moment to observe the table, making sure everything is ready, but he sighs. He’s not satisfied. He blows out the flame with the flick of a finger.

Tau pulls a small CHEST from beneath his bed. He kneels on the floor beside it, strokes the wood in reflective reverence. It brings back a memory. He opens the chest...

INT. TAU’S HUT - DAY - THIRTEEN YEARS AGO, FLASHBACK

The chest opens, and inside it is an aged PAPYRUS SCROLL. A man with TWO HANDS pulls the scroll from the chest and turns around. We see a man who looks like Tau, but he’s much older. This is THABO LANE, 30s--Tau’s father. He wears the blue blanket with a corncob pattern that we recognize from Tau.

THABO LANE

This is an ancient tool to find out what you two can do, but we can’t use it just yet.

Thabo is speaking with a Caucasian