: The village thief**
**Episode 1: The Beating**
*Setting:
A dusty village square under a blazing sun. The sounds of laughter and chatter are quickly replaced by shouts and commotion.*
*Scene opens with a thief,
A scruffy young man, being dragged by a group of village youths. They are furious,
Youth Leader
(gritting his teeth) You think say you fit steal Coco for our village, abi? Today, you go learn lesson!
The thief is visibly scared.*
*They start beating him. The sound of slaps and kicks fills the air.*
**Thief:** (crying out) Abeg oooooo forgive me please oooooo
*After the beating, the youths pull him up, dirty and bruised.*
*Youth Leader:*
I get just two questions to ask you one
Where you drop the Coco that is if the coco still dey if e no dey again Who you sell am give?
**YOUTH**
Small small o make Una no go kill person pikin oooo when e reach indigen turn Una no dey beat am the way Una dey beat strangers o.
**Youth**
Who talk that thing I say who cap that careless capping
(The youth president turning slowly as his face is furious.)
**Youth president**
who be that idiot ?
**Youth**
you fit call me anything but I know say the truth dey bitter
**Youth 2**
oya comot for hear dey go your house before I change am for follow you.
**YOUTH**
Na my community be this and I follow among the youth no be you go tell me where I suppose dey.
**Youth**
Why you dey talk like this abi your hand dey inside
**Youth**
I dey crazy with all the coco farms way my p man die leav me with
**Youth president**
then zip that your mouth and mind your words make hand no touch you
(Attention switch back to the Thief)
**Thief:** (sobbing)
**Second Youth.*
( You no go open that your mouth begin talk before we kill you for here?
**Third youth**
guy on a normal you be my maniple, joy soap no gum my inner Chester as them dey panel beat you like this.
See how them done colour grade your fine body. Cap them the ske ske oshodi now.
*CAM CUT TO ONE LITTLE BOY RUNNING TO THE THIEF PARENTS HOUSE*
**Forth youth* if we no upgrade this drilling this maniple no go cap us the truth make we just burn am fire.
(Thief looks at the faces of the youth with fear)
**Thief**
I go talk,
( there was absolute silence everywhere as they all listened to hear what the thief wants to say)
**Thief**
I sell the Coco give chief akopi.
*The youths look at each other, suspicious but satisfied for now.*
(Police vehicle drove in with some police men. There senior officer step down and walk towards the crowds, the entire youth looks at him with surprises as the officer walked towards the youth president other police men took position ready for any action)
**Police**
good day, I am inspector okwo from bateriko police station. I want you to hand over the criminal to us let the law take it course to prevent you and the entire youth of this community from facing the punishment of taking laws into your hands
**Youth president**
with due respect sir, we are only adhering to our community by laws we are not taking laws into our hands.
**Police**
(Raise his voice) Do not push me to do it under duress hand over the criminal to us now.
**Youth**
Oga e be like say you no look the face well (holding and trying to show the police man his face)
**Youth leader**
You know how many times we done bring this thief to una station abi na this time way una wen work?
(The atmosphere grows high as the entire village youth begin to grow angry then the police men left the scene)
**Youth Leader:**
(Looking at his face) Make we carry am go show the elders! This time, e no go fit escape!
*CAM CUT TO THE LITTLE BOY ARRIVING THE THIEF PARENTS HOUSE.
**Little boy**
mama mama papa papa your pikin
( Mama with some items she was having on her hand with fear in her eyes, then papa run out of the house, they both ask wetin happened to our son again)
**Little boy**
the youth wan kill am, him go thief,
**Mama**
( screaming loud throwing the the things she was holding)
my enemies is at work o
(As she try run out her husband)
**Papa**
( looking disappointed and furious at his wife)
Agatha if you cross your leg for that place no ever come back to my house again
**Mama**
(pause in shock) you say wetin,our pikin my pickin weh me (calling her name) I carry for this my belle for good 9 months?
That one na lie I say na lie you talk I will go there and come back nothing will happen.
**Papa**
It seems you have forgotten what I can do
**Mama**
it seems you have also forgotten the kind of wife you marry.
I owe you every atom of respect not when it has to do with my child. My only child at that matter.
**Papa**
try me then ( he walks back into the house as the wife follows the little boy*
*Scene fades as they drag the thief away, the sounds of the village coming back to life.*