INT. MUD HUT - NIGHT
Moonlight cuts through the cracked roof, streaking the dirt
floor.
TWO BLOODIED HANDS rise, trembling, clutching a worn
NOTEBOOK. HAYAT’s face appears streaked with mud and tears.
From the darkness, MU’AAT crawls forward, bruised, dirt-
streaked, lips dry, eyes swollen. He stops beside her, breath
ragged.
They lock eyes, exhausted, broken, still alive.
Silence.
FADE TO:
INT. NEWSROOM - CAPE TOWN - DAY - ONE YEAR EARLIER.
MU'AAT (30) faces AVERIL (40s). A folder marked "SUDAN - THE
SILENT VOICES" sits between them.
AVERIL
(pushing folder)
Ek weet jy het net 'n paar dae
gelede gearriveer, maar ons het dit
drie weke gelede ontvang van 'n
onderwyser in Suid-Soedan, Hayat
Hassan. Ná dit, niks.
I know you arrived just a few days
ago, but we received it three weeks
ago from a teacher in South Sudan,
Hayat Hassan. After that, nothing.
He opens the folder: photos of burned schools, mass graves,
handwritten testimonies.
MU'AAT
(In Cape Malay Afrikaans)
En dit is alles haar werk?
And this is all her work?
AVERIL
Elke bladsy, elke foto. Hierdie
een sê vir ons dat sy laas in Maban
was.
Every page, every photo. This one
tells us that she was last in
Maban.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 2.
MU'AAT
Maban?
AVERIL leans in, serious.
AVERIL
Ja en as daar iemand in hierdie
kantoor is wat 'person kan op spoor
en hulle stories kan vertel is dit
jy, Mu'Aat.
Yes, and if there is anyone in this
office who can track someone and
tell their stories, it is you,
Mu'Aat.
MU'AAT eyes a photo of children in a makeshift classroom,
with firm resolve.
MU'AAT
Ok, gee my 48 uur, dan gaan kry ek
ons storie.
Okay, give me 48 hours, then I'll
get our story.
He snaps the folder shut. Slides a crumpled Kabul guesthouse
receipt to Averil from his last assignment.
AVERIL touches MU'AAT's hand halfway.
AVERIL
Dankie. Ek weet ek kon op jou staat
maak.
Thank you. I knew I could rely on
you.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
2 -
A Heartfelt Farewell
EXT. AIRPORT - DEPARTURE GATE - DAY
A modest crowd gathers outside Departures. MU'AAT hugs his
mom FATIEMA (50s) goodbye. Her grip lingers.
FATIEMA
(in Cape Malay Afrikaans)
Mu’Aat, gaan jy nou weer na plekke
waar die bome val. My kind.
Mu’Aat, are you going again to
places where the bombs fall? My
child.
He places both hands gently on her shoulders. He looks deep
into her eyes.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 3.
MU’AAT
Mamie… dis net Soedan. Twee weke in
en uit.
(pauses, softer)
Ma ek belowe, wanneer ek terugkom,
gaan ons twee op Umrah. Ok?
(smiles faintly)
Want dis mamie se dua’s wat my
altyd veilig huis toe bring.
Mamie… it's just Sudan. Two weeks
in and out.
(pauses, softer)
But, I promise, when I come back,
we're going on Umrah together.
Okay?
(smiles faintly)
Because it's Mamie's duas that
always bring me safely home.
FATIEMA
(tearfully)
Belowe my jy gaan nie jouself
verloor in iemand anders se oorlog.
Promise me you won't lose yourself
in someone else's war.
She kisses his forehead fiercely. They hug tightly,
lingering.
MU'AAT pulls away reluctantly.
AVERIL clears her throat, drawing his attention.
AVERIL
Felix, ’n dorpsoudste, is jou
kontak in Sima. Hy ontmoet jou op
Juba lughawe. (hands him a
satellite phone) Noodgevalle
alleen. En as jy vir Hayat kry,
laat sy haar eie storie vertel.
Felix, a village elder, is your
contact in Sima. He will meet you
at Juba airport. (hands him a
satellite phone) Emergencies only.
And if you find Salma, let her tell
her own story.
MU’AAT
Okay.
AVERIL
Khanya Tekani gaan saam op die
assigment.
(MORE)
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 4.
AVERIL (CONT'D)
Khanya Tekani is going along on the
assignment.
MU’AAT
Khanya?
AVERIL nods toward the terminal’s far end.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
3 -
Departure and New Beginnings
INT. AIRPORT - DEPARTURE GATE - CONTINUOUS
KHANYA TEKANI (20s) dashes toward them, dragging a brand-new
suitcase. Behind him, his MOM and DAD follow, visibly
anxious.
KHANYA'S DAD
(in IsiXhosa)
Khanya, uthathe ipaspoti yakho na?
Khanya, did you take your passport?
KHANYA
(in IsiXhosa)
Ewe, tate, ndinayo yonke into.
Yes, Dad, I have everything.
KHANYA'S MOM
(in IsiXhosa)
Qinisekisa ukuba uqhakamshelana
nathi xa ufikile.
Make sure you contact us when you
arrive.
KHANYA skids to a stop, bouncing on his feet, adjusting his
camera strap.
AVERIL
Your assistant photographer. Fresh
out of university. He's got good
instincts.
KHANYA
(extending his hand)
Khanya Tekani. This is incredible,
working with you.
MU'AAT
(studying the young man)
First time traveling to a conflict
zone?
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 5.
KHANYA
Yes, it's going to be my first
time.
KHANYA'S MOM
Please keep him safe.
KHANYA shoots his mother an embarrassed look.
KHANYA
Ma, yima kakuhle. Ndiyakwazi.
Ukuzikhathalela mna.
Ma, seriously. I got this.
PA ANNOUNCEMENT (V.O.)
Final boarding call for Flight 221
to Juba, South Sudan...
Both families pull their sons into a final embrace.
FATIEMA pulls out a container of koeksisters.
FATIEMA
Vir goodluck.
For good luck.
MU'AAT
Mamie is die beste.
Mom, you're the best.
He takes one, gently touches his foot to hers. She places her
hand on his head.
KHANYA bites into a koeksister.
KHANYA
This Koeksister is nice! Aunty.
FATIEMA
Mag Allah jou protect, my kind.
May Allah protect you, my child.
MU'AAT
Lief vir jou, Mamie. Always.
Love you, Mom. Always.
He nods to KHANYA's parents.
They turn and walk away, suitcase wheels clattering.
KHANYA
Damn this is good.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 6.
MU'AAT glances at him with a small smile as they disappear
down the tunnel.
FADE TO:
INT. AIRPLANE - DAY
Through MU'AAT’s window, brown earth stretches to the
horizon, dotted with trees and glinting water. He listens to
Arabic phrases through earpods, practicing quietly.
KHANYA, beside him, fidgets, glancing from the window to his
camera bag.
KHANYA
Wait, you actually speak Arabic?
MU'AAT
Classroom Arabic. This... (gestures
to window) ...is different.
KHANYA
My gogo spoke Dinka. She used to
say language is like... it shifts--
Depending on the container, you
know?
MU'AAT
Smart woman.
KHANYA
She'd probably say we're the wrong
Color for this whole situation.
MU'AAT
Maybe. But we’re here for the right
reasons.
He gazes out the window, expression unreadable.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Adventure"]
Ratings
Scene
4 -
Navigating Danger at Juba Airport
EXT. JUBA AIRPORT - DAY
The plane rolls to a stop on the tarmac.
CUT TO:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 7.
INT. AIRPORT - ARRIVALS - DAY
Chaos of crowds and announcements. Armed SECURITY GUARDS loom
overhead. MU'AAT and KHANYA, wrinkled and tired, navigate the
arrivals crush, camera bags slung. Khanya grips his suitcase,
sweating.
KHANYA
Jesus, it's like an oven. How do--
People?
Distant gunfire echoes. Travelers pause, then move on. MU'AAT
tenses, alert.
KHANYA reaches for his camera.
MU'AAT
(sharp, quiet)
Not here.
FELIX, wiry, late 40s, in dusty boots, approaches.
FELIX
Mu’Aat Khan? Khanya Tekani? Welcome
to Juba. We move fast.
He heads for the exit, scanning.
FELIX (CONT'D)
Airport’s neutral. Streets aren’t.
KHANYA
How so?
FELIX
You’ll see.
CUT TO:
EXT. AIRPORT PARKING LOT - DAY (CONTINUOUS)
FELIX leads them to a dusty pickup with a faded "VILLA DA
PAZ" logo. KHANYA eyes a burned taxi and kids playing near
barriers.
KHANYA
This... everyday?
FELIX
Tuesday was worse. (checking truck)
Cameras in the back. Covered.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 8.
KHANYA
Wait, why? What happens if they
see?
MU’AAT
Electronics make us a target.
They climb in. FELIX starts the truck, weaving into chaotic
traffic. A UN convoy speeds by.
FELIX
Like Somalia. Same desperation,
different uniforms.
FELIX (CONT'D)
Checkpoint ahead. Passports ready.
You’re tourists.
KHANYA
But we.
FELIX
Not ‘til we reach Sima.
KHANYA
(fidgeting with camera)
So, like, how sketchy is this?
Actually? Scale of one to ten?
FELIX
Show them you're a journalist and
you'll find out the number.
MU'AAT smiles at FELIX.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
5 -
Checkpoint Tensions
EXT. JUBA CITY CENTRE - DAY (FEW MOMENTS LATER)
Traffic crawls at a CHECKPOINT with concrete barriers and
armed SOLDIERS. Felix grips the wheel.
FELIX
(muttering)
Not good. New faces.
A YOUNG SOLDIER, AK-47 slung, approaches.
SOLDIER
Destination?
FELIX
Sima. Family business.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 9.
The soldier checks FELIX’s ID, then KHANYA’s passport,
lingering.
SOLDIER
South Africa? Why Sima?
FELIX
Tourism. Traditional life.
The soldier eyes MU'AAT.
SOLDIER
Open the bags.
MU'AAT complies, revealing camera gear.
SOLDIER (CONT'D)
Journalist?
MU'AAT
Photographer. Family photos.
SOLDIER
Expensive photos.
FELIX
For cousins overseas.
The soldier studies them, then waves them through.
SOLDIER
No military photos.
They drive on in silence.
FELIX
He was weighing a bribe or
confiscation.
MU'AAT
Which is better?
FELIX
Bribe.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
6 -
A Tense Encounter in Sima Village
EXT. SIMA VILLAGE - MARKETPLACE - DAY (MIDDAY)
Red earth and scattered acacias stretch toward distant
mountains. The road shifts from asphalt to dirt.
KHANYA tweaks his camera settings.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 10.
KHANYA
The light’s different here.
FELIX
No smoke from burning buildings
helps.
Sima village appears compact, with mud brick buildings
surrounding a market.
FELIX (CONT'D)
Sima. Five hundred people, maybe a
thousand during harvest. It’s held
up so far.
MU'AAT
Survived the fighting?
FELIX
We bend, don’t break.
KHANYA
Meaning?
FELIX
You’ll see. Rules: no photos
without permission, no politics. If
shooting starts, follow me.
CUT TO:
EXT. SIMA VILLAGE - MARKETPLACE - DAY
The sun blazes. The market hums with grinding grain, kids
playing. FELIX parks the pickup.
FELIX
Stay with the truck. I’ll check in.
He vanishes into the crowd. KHANYA snaps a photo of kids
under an acacia. The shutter clicks loudly. The market noise
stops. A LOCAL WOMAN approaches, eyes sharp.
LOCAL WOMAN
(in Juba Arabic)
Kamu wanya? Mi bai baka?
Where are you from? What do you
want?
KHANYA
(stammering)
Foto... Sudan...
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 11.
Villagers close in, murmuring. MU'AAT steps forward.
MU'AAT
Foto for life. No harm.
FELIX returns, his face tight.
FELIX
(to Khanya)
What did I say about pictures?
KHANYA
I thought--
FELIX
Don’t think. Listen.
(to crowd, in Juba Arabic)
Dem journaliste. Camera man no
sabi. Mi teach him.
Them journalist. The cameraman
doesn’t know (anything). I’ll teach
him.
The LOCAL WOMAN nods, wary.
LOCAL WOMAN
(in Juba Arabic)
We watch dem.
FELIX takes KHANYA’s camera and removes the memory card.
FELIX
Permission first, pictures second.
Locals uneasy? Cameras gone.
(handing camera back)
Help, don’t tour.
He leads them to IBRAHIM (60s), weathered, kind-eyed.
FELIX (CONT'D)
Ibrahim, they’re here about Hayat
Hassan.
IBRAHIM
The teacher. You knew her?
MU'AAT
We’re here for her story.
IBRAHIM
Talk to my son, Salim. He worked
with her.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 12.
SALIM (30s), chopping wood, looks up. He approaches
cautiously.
SALIM
You’re the South African
journalists?
MU'AAT
Yes. What happened to Hayat?
SALIM
She taught in Maban, documented
everything, lost families, burned
schools. (lowers voice) She gave me
secret letters and photos. I kept
them hidden.
He pulls a package from his backpack and hands it to MU'AAT.
His phone BUZZES. He checks it, his face falling.
SALIM (CONT'D)
My wife’s sick. I have to go.
FELIX
But do you know what happened to
her?
SALIM
She went home when the war broke
out. I have to go.
(hurries off)
Sorry.
FELIX leads them toward the hotel.
FELIX
Don't worry, tomorrow will find the
source of the story. Tonight, study
those documents.
CUT TO:
INT. VILA DA PAZ HOTEL - DAY
MU'AAT and KHANYA enter the simple hotel lobby. ANA (20s)
smiles from behind the desk.
ANA
Welcome to Vila Da Paz! I’m Ana.
MU'AAT
Mu’Aat Khan. Reservation for two.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 13.
ANA
(checking ledger)
Rooms are ready.
She points down a hallway. MU'AAT nods. FELIX pulls KHANYA
aside.
FELIX
Sorry for earlier. That woman in
the market lost her husband to a
journalist’s questions last year.
KHANYA
So, can we relax now?
FELIX nods.
KHANYA heads to his room.
FELIX exits.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
7 -
Tensions Rising at Sunset
EXT. HOTEL - COURTYARD - EVENING (SUNSET)
Two LOCAL MEN at a table speak urgently.
MAN 1
(in Juba Arabic)
Militants dahru El Jebel, kulu
yomein.
Militants hit El Jebel two days
ago.
MAN 2
(in Juba Arabic)
Jeshi mako wani, halaka yawa.
Army did nothing. It’s getting
worse.
They leave quickly. MU'AAT approaches the BARTENDER.
MU'AAT
What were they saying?
BARTENDER
El Jebel militants burned houses.
Army didn’t act. People fear it’s
spreading.
His phone vibrates. AVERIL'S name appears on the screen. He
answers.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 14.
MU'AAT
Averil.
CUT TO:
INT. AVERIL'S OFFICE - EVENING
AVERIL sits at her desk.
AVERIL
Jou e-pos met Hayat se dokumente
lyk goed, maar kon julle haar op
spoor?
Your email with Hayat’s documents
looks good, but could you find her?
MU'AAT
Nee nog nie, maar dinge voel tense
hier. Militant aanval in El Jebel
twee dae gelede. Mense is bang.
No, not yet, but things feel tense
here. A militant attack happened in
El Jebel two days ago. People are
afraid.
AVERIL
Is julle veilig?
Are you safe?
MU'AAT
Vir nou. Maar Hayat se kollega het
verdwyn ná ons gesprek. Iets voel
verkeerd.
For now. But Hayat’s colleague
disappeared after our conversation.
Something feels wrong.
AVERIL
As dinge vererger, kom terug. Ek's
ernstig.
If things get worse, come back. I'm
serious.
MU'AAT
Nog een dag. As ons niks kry, kom
ons huis toe.
One more day. If we find nothing,
we’re coming home.
AVERIL
Net een dag. Ok.
Just one more day. Ok.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 15.
He hangs up.
CUT TO:
EXT. HOTEL COURTYARD - EVENING (CONTINUOUS)
KHANYA joins MU'AAT.
KHANYA
You look worried.
MU'AAT
Militant attack in El Jebel two
days ago. Salim bolted after
talking to us. Something doesn't
feel right.
KHANYA
Should we leave?
MU'AAT
Be careful tomorrow.
The BARTENDER approaches.
BARTENDER
Early breakfast? Safer for talks
before the market opens.
He slips away. MU'AAT and KHANYA sit in silence.
FADE OUT:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
8 -
Marketplace Tensions
EXT. MARKETPLACE - CAFE STALL - DAY
MU'AAT and KHANYA sit under a faded awning. MU'AAT reviews
camera photos, while KHANYA scans the crowd. FELIX
approaches.
FELIX
Hope you guys had a good nights
rest?
MU'AAT
I did. Khanya's been fighting
mosquitoes all night.
KHANYA
(rubbing arm)
Dude, they're actually vicious.
(Shows bite marks) Look at this.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 16.
MU'AAT
Heard about El Jebel. Can we get
there?
FELIX
Two days ago. Possible, but we move
fast.
MU'AAT
We’re in.
KHANYA
Can I check over there really
quick? Wanna grab something for my
ma.
She'd kill me if I came back empty-
handed.
MU'AAT
Stay sharp. We’ll wait.
KHANYA heads into the crowd.
FELIX
Sima’s changed. War’s made
neighbours distrustful.
MU'AAT
Militants killing sources doesn’t
help.
A small GIRL approaches with sweets.
GIRL
(In Juba Arabic)
Halwa, ya mudir?
Sweet, sir?
FELIX
(To Mu’aat)
Sweets. Good price.
He buys some and pays extra. The girl smiles.
MU'AAT
They look delicious, but no thanks.
The girl runs off. CRACK! Her tray hits the ground, sweets
scattering. She falls, blood on her dress.
MU'AAT (CONT'D)
No...
A VILLAGER screams.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 17.
VILLAGER
(in Juba Arabic)
Dahru! Run!
FELIX
(grabbing MU'AAT)
Stay down!
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
9 -
Chaos in the Marketplace
EXT. MARKETPLACE - CONTINUOUS
KHANYA browses at a fabric stall when the gunshot echoes
across the square.
He spins around, confused. The VENDOR grabs his goods and
runs.
KHANYA
What the... what's happening?
MOTORCYCLES and TRUCKS roar in from multiple directions.
MILITANTS pour out, firing indiscriminately.
Screams explode. Chaos erupts.
KHANYA freezes, his camera instinctively rising to his eye.
SNAP! The shutter sound seems impossibly loud.
A MILITANT turns toward the sound. Spots him. Points his
rifle at KHANYA.
MILITANT
(Shouting in Arabic)
!ﻗﻒ
Stop!
KHANYA looks at the militant. He runs.
Behind him, GUNFIRE erupts. People scream.
He stumbles over scattered fruit and crashes into a fleeing
WOMAN carrying a CHILD.
KHANYA
Sorry! Sorry!
He helps her up, but she's gone before he can say anything
more.
A MILITANT on horseback thunders past, machete raised.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 18.
KHANYA dives behind overturned baskets.
MILITANT #2
(in Northern Sudanese
Arabic)
!ﻳﺎ إﻧﺖ! ﻗﻒ
You! Stop!
KHANYA bolts, weaving between stalls as bullets chip away at
the wooden posts around him.
His camera bounces against his chest with each step.
He reaches a narrow alley blocked by another MILITANT.
MILITANT #3
(in Northern Sudanese
Arabic)
ﺑﺘﺮﻛﺾ وﻳﻦ؟،ﻳﺎ وﻟﺪ
Where you running, boy?
KHANYA raises his hands, breathing hard.
The militant grabs KHANYA's shirt and drags him back toward
the square.
CUT TO:
EXT. VILLAGE HOUSES - CONTINUOUS
MILITANTS storm mud houses, gunshots echoing. Screams pierce
thin walls. They shove OCCUPANTS into a house, lock it, and
set it ablaze. Smoke chokes the air.
VILLAGERS flee, some clutching wounds. CHILDREN scream, faces
streaked with dust. Animals scatter, bleating.
MILITANTS push deeper, leaving blood trails.
CUT TO:
EXT. ALLEYWAY - CONTINUOUS
FELIX yanks MU’AAT into a side alley, out of sight.
FELIX
Run! They’ll kill us!
MU’AAT
Khanya…
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 19.
FELIX
(shaking him)
Hey... hey these are Northern
militia! They are ruthless. Burn
villages, kill, take slaves! Now
move!
MU'AAT stumbles.
A MILITANT with an AK-47 appears, firelight on his face.
MU'AAT freezes. A hand drags him back, wrenching his arms. He
gasps, vision blurring—gun oil, smoke, sweat.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller","War"]
Ratings
Scene
10 -
Forced March Through Chaos
EXT. CENTER SQUARE - MARKETPLACE - DAY
Smoke thickens. MU'AAT is dragged through bloodied dirt,
bodies strewn around.
KHANYA stumbles from another alley, coughing. Their eyes
meet, sharing horror.
CAPTIVE WOMAN, children, elderly shuffle forward, dazed. A
mother lunges for her infant, struck down by a rifle butt. A
young woman screams as a militant’s blade flashes; she
crumples.
MU'AAT freezes as the woman's blood sprays his face.
MU’AAT
(to Khanya)
Breathe. Just breathe.
KHANYA nods, trembling. FELIX is pushed into an execution
line. Gunfire. He falls.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
(Whispering)
Look at me, Khanya. We’ll survive.
FADE TO:
EXT. MARKETPLACE - CENTER SQUARE - DAY (LATER)
ABBAS (50s), heavyset, blood-spattered, steps forward,
silencing the chaos.
ABBAS
(in Northern Sudanese Arabic)
!ﺷﻴﻠﻮ ﻛﻠﻮ! اﻟﺤﺎﺟﺎت دي! ﺷﻴﻠﻮﻫﺎ ﻫﺴﻲ
Pick it up! All of it! These
things! Pick them up now!
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 20.
MU'AAT, KHANYA, and the captives hesitate, then bend to
gather goods. MILITANTS shove them, barking orders.
CUT TO:
EXT. SIMA - ROAD - DAY
CAPTIVES trudge down a dusty road, carrying market goods,
fabrics, baskets, and sacks. MU'AAT and KHANYA walk silently,
dust clinging to sweat.
MILITANTS flank them, guns ready. Sima burns behind, black
smoke rising. Ahead, empty land stretches.
FADE OUT:
Genres:
["Drama","War","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
11 -
Separation in the Shadows
EXT. FOREST - CLEARING - NIGHT
CAPTIVES shuffle from the dark forest into a moonlit
clearing. MILITANTS split them: STRONG MEN on one side,
women, children, and the elderly on the other.
A MILITANT grabs KHANYA, eyeing his slight build.
MILITANT
(In Northern Sudanese Arabic)
ً ﻫﺬا ﺿﻌﻴﻒ.
ﺟﺪا ﻟﻠﺸﻐﻞ
Too weak for labour.
He shoves KHANYA toward the women and children.
KHANYA
(panicked)
Mu’Aat! No!
MU’AAT lunges. A rifle butt slams into his stomach. He
crumples, gasping.
KHANYA (CONT'D)
(sobbing)
Don’t leave me!
ABBAS, on horseback, watches from the shadows, eyes on
MU'AAT.
ABBAS
!ده
This one!
A MILITANT pushes MU'AAT forward.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 21.
MU’AAT
We’re South African journalists!
ABBAS dismounts, grabs MU'AAT’s camera, and snaps the strap.
ABBAS
ﺻﺢ؟، ﺑﺘﺼﻮر وﺣﺸﻴﺘﻨﺎ...ﺻﺤﻔﻲ
Journalist... photographing our
violence, right?
MU’AAT
We’re here to tell people’s
stories.
ABBAS
(bitter laugh)
!ﺻﻮت؟ ﺑﺘﺒﻴﻊ أﺻﻮاﺗﻨﺎ
A voice? You sell our voices!
(smashes camera)
ا ﻟﺔ دي ﺑﺘﺴﺮق أرواﺣﻨﺎ.
This machine steals our souls.
KHANYA
No! That’s our work!
ABBAS
(To Khanya)
ﺷﻐﻞ؟ ا ﻟﻢ ﺷﻐﻠﻚ؟Work?
Pain is your work?
(to Mu’aat)
، ﺗﻜﺴﺐ ﺟﻮاﻳﺰ، ﺑﺘﺼﻮر أﻟﻤﻨﺎ.أﻧﺎ درﺳﺖ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺨﺮﻃﻮم
وﺗﻨﺴﺎﻧﺎ.
I studied in Khartoum. You capture
our pain, win awards, forget us.
MU’AAT
No understand Arabic. Please just
let us go.
ABBAS
(cutting him off)
اﻟﻤﺮة دي ﺣﺘﺒﻘﻰ ﺟﺰء ﻣﻦ اﻟﻘﺼﺔ.
This time, you’re part of the
story.
MU’AAT looks over to KHANYA.
ABBAS notices.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
اﻟﻮﻟﺪ ﺣﻴﺘﻌﻠﻢ زي ﻣﺎ اﺗﻌﻠﻤﻨﺎ.
The boy will learn, like we did.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 22.
MILITANTS tighten MU'AAT’s ropes. ABBAS mounts his horse,
rope in hand.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
ﺑﺘﺤﺐ ﺗﻮﺛﻖ ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻨﺎ؟ زم ﺗﻌﻴﺸﻬﺎ.
You want to document our life?
You’ll need to live it.
The rope pulls taut. MU'AAT stumbles, dragged into the dust,
his eyes locked on KHANYA’s.
KHANYA
(panicked)
Mu'Aat! Wait... no, please!
(sobbing)
Don't I can't please don't leave me
here!
MU'AAT vanishes into the dust, leaving KHANYA among the
captives.
FADE OUT.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
12 -
Breaking News: Crisis Unfolds
INT. TELEVISION STUDIO - EVENING
A FIRST PRODUCER answers a phone, his face paling. He hangs
up and rushes to Averil’s office.
CUT TO:
INT. AVERIL'S OFFICE - CONTINUOUS
AVERIL reviews MU'AAT’s expense reports; her coffee is cold.
The FIRST PRODUCER bursts in.
FIRST PRODUCER
Averil, Felix’s contact called.
Sima was attacked. Our guys are
missing.
AVERIL’s mug freezes mid-air.
AVERIL
Missing how?
FIRST PRODUCER
Village raid. Felix is dead.
Witnesses say foreign journalists
were taken north.
The mug crashes, coffee splattering.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 23.
AVERIL
Source?
FIRST PRODUCER
Village imam. Knew Felix for years.
AVERIL
Get the Foreign Ministry. Prep the
anchor live in twenty.
FIRST PRODUCER
Angle?
AVERIL
Two of our own, prisoners of war.
She dials her phone, moving.
AVERIL (CONT'D)
(Into phone, in Afrikaans)
Kom aan, Fatiema, tel op.
Come on, Fatiema, pick it up.
CUT TO:
EXT. FATIEMA’S FRONT HOUSE - EVENING
FATIEMA serves soup to NEIGHBORS. Her phone vibrates:
"AVERIL." She hesitates.
KHADIJA
Is alles ok? Jy lyk bekommerd?
Is everything ok? You look worried?
FATIEMA
(forcing a smile)
It's Averil. Ek bel later terug.
It's Averil. I'll phone her later.
She silences the phone, hands trembling.
FATIEMA (CONT'D)
Dis niks. Meer brood?
It's nothing. More bread?
CUT TO:
MU'AAT & HAYAT 24.
AVERIL
(frustrated)
Still voicemail.
(to Producer)
Try Khadija Abrahams.
PRODUCER
Why isn’t she answering?
AVERIL
She doesn’t know yet.
A SECOND PRODUCER hands her a printout.
SECOND PRODUCER
Foreign Ministry: "South African
citizens missing in South Sudan."
AVERIL
“Missing,” not captured. They’re
cautious. (to Second Producer)
Report the truth: two journalists
taken captive. Prep a press freedom
feature.
CUT TO:
INT. FATIEMA’S LIVING ROOM - SAME EVENING
FATIEMA grabs cups from the cupboard. The TV plays evening
news. Her phone rings: "AVERIL." She answers.
FATIEMA
Averil, sorry ek.
Averil, sorry, I.
AVERIL (V.O.)
(interrupting)
Fatiema, sit down. It’s Mu’Aat.
FATIEMA sinks into a chair.
FATIEMA
Wat’s verkeerd?
What's wrong?
AVERIL (V.O.)
There was an attack in Sima. Mu’Aat
and Khanya were taken by militants.
We’re doing everything we can with
the Foreign Ministry and embassy.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 25.
FATIEMA stares at the TV. A BREAKING NEWS banner reads:
"SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNALISTS MISSING IN SUDAN." MU'AAT's press
ID photo appears.
FATIEMA
(whispered)
Ya, Allah my kind.
Ya, Allah my child.
AVERIL (V.O.)
Fatiema? Is jy daar?
Fatiema? Are you there?
The phone slips from her hand. KHADIJA enters, sees the TV
and FATIEMA’s face.
KHADIJA
Fatiema.
FATIEMA
(broken)
My kind ontvoer, Khadija.
My child has been kidnapped,
Khadija.
KHADIJA embraces her as the TV drones on.
NEWS ANCHOR (ON TV)
South African photojournalist
Mu’Aat Khan and assistant Khanya
Tekani, captured in a Sudanese
village raid.
FADE OUT:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
14 -
Oppression in the Market Square
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - AL-FASHIR - DAY
The sun blazes over a crowded square. Traders mix ammo with
grain, and fuel drums sit beside spices. MU'AAT, wrists raw,
stumbles behind ABBAS’ horse, a torn press badge dangling.
ABBAS dismounts at a TEA STALL, addressing MILITANTS.
ABBAS
ﺟﺒﻨﺎﻫﻮ ﻣﻦ ﺳﻴﻤﺎ.اﻟﺼﺤﻔﻲ ا ﺟﻨﺒﻲ.
The foreign journalist. From Sima.
MU'AAT catches "journalist," hearing the contempt. He scans
the square: women in hijabs and tobes hurry past, eyes
darting. Female vendors fall silent as militants approach,
veiling their faces. Mothers adjust their daughters' hijabs.
A MILITANT climbs a crate with a megaphone.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 26.
MILITANT #1
(In Northern Sudanese Arabic)
اﻟﻨﺴﻮان زم ﻳﻠﺒﺴﻮا اﻟﺒﺮﻗﻊ ﻗﺒﻞ ﻣﺎ ﻳﻄﻠﻌﻮ ﺑﺮة.
Women must be fully covered before
stepping outside.
Women comply, pulling their shawls up and packing goods. Men
take over the stalls.
MILITANT #1 (CONT'D)
اﻟﺒﻴﻊ ﺑﻴﻦ اﻟﺮﺟﺎل واﻟﻨﺴﺎء ﻣﻤﻨﻮع.اﻟﺰﻧﺎ ﻋﻘﻮﺑﺘﻮ اﻟﻤﻮت.
Adultery means death. Trading
between men and women is forbidden.
A MOTHER hands her toddler to her HUSBAND, veiling fully.
MILITANT #2
(grabbing megaphone)
!أي زول ﻳﺮﻓﺾ اﻟﻀﺮﻳﺒﺔ ﺣﻴﺘﺠﻠﺪ ﻗﺪام اﻟﻨﺎس
Refuse the tax, get flogged in
public!
Shopkeepers pay up. An OLD MAN fumbles coins under a rifle’s
nudge.
ABBAS remounts. MU'AAT is dragged forward, glancing back:
women are shadowed, children are segregated, the "market" is
a controlled cage.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
15 -
Oppression at the Farmhouse
EXT. ABBAS'S FARMHOUSE – DAY
The sun scorches golden fields. ABBAS and MILITANTS arrive,
some on horseback, others in trucks.
MU’AAT, wrists bound, stumbles behind ABBAS’s horse, his
clothes torn.
MILITANTS herd captives to outbuildings.
CUT TO:
INT. HAYAT'S ROOM - CONTINUOUS
HAYAT (late 20s) writes in a NOTEBOOK on a woven mat.
HAYAT
(writing, voice over in Arabic)
اﻟﻴﻮم اﻟﺜﺎﻟﺚ ﻋﺸﺮ ﻣﻦ اﻟﺸﻬﺮ...
(MORE)
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 27.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
اﻟﻨﺴﺎء ﻓﻲ اﻟﻘﺮﻳﺔ ﺧﺎﺋﻔﺎت ﻣﻦ اﻟﺨﺮوج ﺑﻌﺪ اﻟﻈﻬﺮ...
Day thirteen of the month... women
in the village are afraid to leave
after noon... and a few days ago,
my friend Salma....
Horses and voices interrupt. She hides the notebook under her
mat, adjusts her scarf, and hurries out.
CUT TO:
EXT. ABBAS'S FARMHOUSE - DAY (CONTINUOUS)
HAYAT emerges as HUSNA (50s) greets ABBAS, adjusting her
scarf.
HUSNA
(in Northern Sudanese Arabic)
ﺟﻴﺖ ﺑﺎﻟﺴ ﻣﺔ؟... ﻋﺒﺎس،ﺳ م ﻋﻠﻴﻜﻢ
Salaam Alhulaikum, husband...
you’re safe?
ABBAS
اﺷﺘﻘﺘﻠﻜﻢ...وﻋﻠﻴﻜﻢ اﻟﺴ م.
Wa Alaikum Salaam... I missed you.
CHILDREN (8-12) rush out, spotting MU’AAT.
YOUNGEST BOY
(in Northern Sudanese Arabic)
أﺑﻮي ﺟﺎب ﻋﺒﺪ؟
Father brought a slave?
BOY
!ﺷﻮﻓﻮا! اﻟﻌﺒﺪ
Look! The slave!
They poke MU'AAT with sticks. A MILITANT KHALID MID (40s)
watches, amused.
MILITANT KHALID
ّ ﻣﺎ ِﺑ.
ُﻣﺪرب.ﻌﺾ
He won’t bite. Trained.
HAYAT
(firmly)
!اﻣﺸﻮا ﻣﻦ ﻫﻨﺎ
Go away!
The CHILDREN hesitate. HUSNA glares at HAYAT.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 28.
HUSNA
ﻟﻴﻪ ﺗﺨﺘﻔﻲ ﻟﻤﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺷﻐﻞ؟،ﻳﺎ ﺑﺖ
Why vanish when there’s work?
HAYAT
ﻟﻴﻪ داﻳ ًﻤﺎ اﻟﻤﺮأة...أﻧﺎ ﺳﺎﻋﺪت! ﻣﺸﻴﺖ أﺟﻴﺐ ﻣﻮﻳﺔ
ﺗﺸﺘﻐﻞ أﻛﺘﺮ؟
I helped! I fetched water... why
always women working harder?
HUSNA
(frustrated, hitting Hayat’s arm)
!دي ﻃﺮﻳﻘﺘﻚ! ﻣﺎ ﺑﻘﻴﺖ ﻗﺎدرة
That’s how you talk! I can’t
anymore!
ABBAS
!ﻛﻔﺎﻳﺔ
Enough!
(to Husna)
اﺣﺘﺮﻣﻲ أﻣﻚ.
(to Hayat)
ﺧﻠﻴﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ ﺣﺎﻟﻬﺎ.
Respect your mother. Leave her be.
HUSNA eyes MU'AAT.
HUSNA
ﻟﻴﻪ ﻣﺎ ﺑﻌﺘﻮش ﻓﻲ اﻟﺴﻮق؟
Why not sell him at market?
ABBAS
ﻟﻜﻦ ﻋﺎﻳﺰو ﻟﺸﻐﻞ. ﻳﺸﺘﻐﻞ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺤﻮاﺷﺎت،زول ﻗﻮي
أﻗﺘﻞ.
Strong, good for fields. But I need
him for more.
ABBAS and militants head inside. HUSNA follows.
HAYAT looks at MU'AAT before disappearing inside.
ABBAS reappears and walks towards MU'AAT.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
ده ﻣﺎ ﻋﺎﻟﻤﻚ...أذﻛﺮ.
This isn’t your world.
He drags MU'AAT toward a mud shelter.
CUT TO:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 29.
EXT. MUD SHELTER - NIGHT
ABBAS stops at a crude wooden door and shoves it open.
CUT TO:
INT. MUD SHELTER – NIGHT
Bare walls, dirt floor, one worn mat. ABBAS points.
ABBAS
إﻧﺖ ﺣﺘﻨﻮم ﻫﻨﺎ.
You sleep here.
MU’AAT hesitates.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
!ﻧﻮم
Sleep!
The door clangs shut. MU'AAT curls up on the mat. Silent
tears fall.
FADE OUT.
INT. MUD SHELTER - EARLY MORNING
Morning light seeps through cracks in mud walls. MU’AAT lies
on a worn mat, his face sunken and body stiff. He blinks
slowly, his breath shallow.
ABBAS appears with a MILITANT KHALID, who is holding rice and
water.
ABBAS
ﻋﻨﺪك ﺷﻐﻞ ﻛﺘﻴﺮ اﻟﻴﻮم. ُﻛﻞ.
Eat. There is much to do today.
He sets the bowl and mug on the dirt floor. The militant
unties MU'AAT’s raw wrists. MU'AAT eats carefully, his hands
trembling.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
أﺳﺮع! اﻟﻐﻨﻢ ﺑﺘﺴﺘﻨﻰ.
Hurry! The sheep wait.
MU'AAT scrapes the last of the rice. The militant takes the
bowl. ABBAS hands him a SHEPHERD’S STAFF. MU'AAT hurls it to
the floor. It CLATTERS.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
(cold)
وري اﻟﺰول ده ﺷﻨﻮ ﻳﻌﻤﻞ...
(MORE)
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 30.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
ﻗﺒﻞ ﻣﺎ أﻧﺪم اﻧﻲ ﺧﻠﻴﺘﻮ ﺣﻲ.
Show this infidel what to do...
before I regret keeping him alive.
ABBAS grabs MU'AAT, dragging him out.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","War","Captivity"]
Ratings
Scene
16 -
Desperation in the Pen
EXT. ABBAS'S FARMHOUSE - ANIMAL PENS - CONTINUOUS
ABBAS shoves MU’AAT through the gate. He crashes into straw
and dung, while sheep scatter. He throws the staff next to
MU'AAT. Points at a frail captive mending a fence.
ABBAS
ّ ﻟﻮ ﻋﻤﻞ ﻟﻴﻬﻮ ﻣﺸﻜﻠﺔ… إﻧﺖ.
ﺗﻮرﻳﻪ
If he makes trouble… you're in
trouble.
He mutters under his breath as he heads toward the farmhouse.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
ﻳﺎ رب أدﻳﻨﻲ ﺻﺒﺮ… ﻗﺒﻞ ﻣﺎ أﺿﺮﺑﻮ ﺷﺪﻳﺪ.
Oh God, give me patience… before I
beat him too hard.
The CAPTIVE trembles as he opens the pen. MILITANT KHALID and
two other MILITANTS watch from the shade, rifles across their
knees, indifferent.
MU’AAT struggles to stand upright, sweat streaked with dust.
His vision blurs. Goats bleat nervously in the heat.
He reaches for the trough. It's empty. He drags his dry
fingers across cracked lips.
From a doorway, HAYAT watches, hidden. Concern flickers. She
seizes a chance; scoops water from a clay jar into a cup.
CUT TO:
EXT. ANIMAL PENS – CONTINUOUS
HAYAT slips forward, cup in hand.
HAYAT
ﻣﻮﻳﻪ.
Water.
MU’AAT turns, disbelief giving way to hope. She holds the cup
at arm’s length, avoiding his gaze. He takes it with shaking
hands.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 31.
MU’AAT
(weak)
ً ُﺷ.
ﻜﺮا
Shukran.
She nods, ready to leave.
ABBAS (O.S.)
!ﺣﻴﺎت
Hayat!
She jolts and drops the jar. It smashes, soaking the dirt
with water.
ABBAS storms over, suspicion etched sharply on his face.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
إﻧﺘﻲ ﺑﺘﻌﻤﻠﻲ ﺷﻨﻮ ﻫﻨﺎ؟
What are you doing here?
HAYAT
(quick, defensive)
ﺟﻴﺖ أﺟﻴﺐ ﻣﻮﻳﻪ.
I came to fetch water.
ABBAS eyes the broken jar, the wet soil, then MU’AAT still
clutching the cup.
ABBAS
ﻫﻮ ﻣﺎ ﺿﻴﻔﻨﺎ ﻳﺎ ﺣﻴﺎت.
He’s not our guest, Hayat.
He grips her arm, dragging her away.
MU’AAT sinks to his knees, scooping up muddy water from the
ground. He drinks greedily.
A goat presses its head against his shoulder.
FADE OUT.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
17 -
Secrets in the Courtyard
EXT. MUD SHELTER - COURTYARD - DAY (ANOTHER DAY)
HAYAT writes carefully in her notebook. ZAHRA (17) enters
quietly.
ZAHRA
(In Northern Sudanese Arabic)
ﺣﻴﺎة؟،إﻳﺶ ﺑﺘﻜﺘﺒﻲ
What are you writing, Hayat?
HAYAT startles, covering the page.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 32.
HAYAT
أﻓﻜﺎر...ﺣﺎﺟﺎت ﺑﺴﻴﻄﺔ.
Simple things... thoughts.
ZAHRA sits, curious.
ZAHRA
ﺑﺎﺑﺎ ﻳﺪور ﻋﻠﻴﻜﻲ.
(reading over shoulder)
وﻫﻴﺒﺔ؟ ﻣﻦ دي ﻋﺎﺋﺸﺔ؟،دﻳﻞ ﻣﻨﻮ
Baba’s looking for you. Who’s
Wahiba? Aisha?
HAYAT
ﻗﺼﺼﻬﻦ ﻣﻬﻤﺔ.ﻧﺴﺎء ﻣﻦ اﻟﻘﺮﻳﺔ.
Village women. Their stories
matter.
ZAHRA
ﻟﻴﻪ؟
Why?
HAYAT
ن ﻣﺎ ﺣﺪ ﺑﻴﺴﻤﻌﻬﻦ ﻏﻴﺮﻧﺎ.
No one listens to them but us.
ABBAS calls HAYAT’s name. She closes the notebook.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
أوﻛﻲ؟،ﺗﻘﻮﻟﻲ ﻟﺤﺪ ﻋﻦ اﻟﻜﺘﺎﺑﺔ دي
Don’t tell anyone about this
writing, okay?
ZAHRA nods.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","War","Journalism"]
Ratings
Scene
18 -
Tensions at the Farmhouse
INT. ABBAS'S FARMHOUSE - COMMON AREA - DAY
HUSNA brings tea to ABBAS, brooding by the window.
HUSNA
اﻟﻮﺿﻊ ﺑﻴﺴﻲء ﻳﻮم ﺑﻌﺪ ﻳﻮم.ﺷﺎﻳﻚ ﻳﺎ ﻋﺒﺎس. Your
tea, Abbas. The situation worsens
daily.
ABBAS
ﻗﻮات اﻟﺤﻜﻮﻣﺔ ﺑﺘﺤﺎﺻﺮ اﻟﻘﺮى.
Government forces are cutting our
routes.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 33.
HUSNA
اﻟﻤﺠﻠﺲ ﺣﻴﻔﻌﻞ ﺣﺎﺟﺔ؟.اﻟﻨﺎس ﺗﻌﺒﺖ
People are tired. Will the council
act?
ABBAS just looks at HUSNA.
ABBAS
ﻟﻮ ﺣﻴﺎة ﻣﺤﺘﺎﺟﺔ...ﻧﺼﻴﻒ ﺳﺄل ﻋﻦ ﺗﺮﺗﻴﺒﺎت اﻟﻌﺮس
ﺣﺎﺟﺔ.
Oh, before I forget, Naseef asked
about wedding plans and if Hayat
needs anything.
HUSNA
ﻟﺴﺎ ﺑﺘﺴﺘﻮﻋﺐ.ﺣﻴﺎة ﻣﺎ ﺟﺎﺑﺖ ﺳﻴﺮة اﻟﻌﺮس. Hayat
hasn’t mentioned it. She’s still
processing.
HAYAT enters, wiping sweat.
ABBAS
ﻧﺼﻴﻒ ﺳﺄل ﻋﻦ اﻟﻌﺮس...ﺣﻴﺎة.
Hayat... Naseef asked about wedding
plans.
HAYAT
ﻟﺴﺎ ﻣﺤﺘﺎﺟﺔ وﻗﺖ،ﺑﺎﺑﺎ.
Baba, I need time.
ABBAS
زم ﻧﺤﺪد اﻟﺘﺎرﻳﺦ
.اﻟﻮﻗﺖ ﻣﺶ ﻛﺘﻴﺮ.
Time’s short. We must set a date.
HAYAT touches her notebook, then speaks.
HAYAT
ﻣﻤﻜﻦ أﻣﺸﻲ ﺳﻮق اﻟﻨﻮﺑﺔ؟
Can I go to Souq al-Nuba?
ABBAS
ّ ﺧﻠﻲ ﺧﺎﻟﺪ،ﺗﻤﺎم
ورﺟﻌﻲ، ﻏﻄﻲ ﻧﻔﺴﻚ ﻛﻮﻳﺲ.ﻳﻮدﻳﻚ
ﺑﺪري.
Fine, Khalid will arrange a driver.
Cover up well, return early.
ABBAS’s phone VIBRATES. He checks it.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
(into phone)
ً ﺟﺎي ﺣﺎ.اﻟﺨﻄﺔ ﺟﺎﻫﺰة.
Plan ready. Coming now.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 34.
He stands, with a hard expression.
FADE OUT.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
19 -
Ambush at Dusk
INT. TRUCK - EVENING (SUNSET)
HAYAT sits between TWO MILITANTS, clutching a cloth bundle.
Her face is tense. The DRIVER navigates a rutted track, dust
rising toward Abbas’s compound.
MILITANT #1
(in Northern Sudanese Arabic)
اﻟﻄﺮﻳﻖ ﻣﺶ آﻣﻦ ﺑﺎﻟﻠﻴﻞ.
Road isn’t safe at night.
MILITANT #2
ﻋﺸﺎن ﻛﺪه زم ﻧﻮﺻﻞ ﻗﺒﻞ اﻟﻤﻐﺮب.
We must arrive before sunset.
HAYAT grips her bundle tighter.
CUT TO:
EXT. DUSTY TRACK - CONTINUOUS
The truck nears the compound. Three captives shuffle, hands
bound. MU’AAT herds goats nearby.
TWO MOTORBIKES burst from rocks. MASKED ATTACKERS fire at the
truck’s tires.
ATTACKER #1
(in Northern Sudanese Arabic)
!أوﻗﻒ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻴﺔ
Stop the vehicle!
A bullet shatters the windshield. The driver slumps. The
truck veers into a ditch.
CUT TO:
INT. TRUCK - CONTINUOUS
The truck tilts. Militants grab rifles.
MILITANT #1
(to Hayat)
!إﻧﺒﻄﺢ
Stay down!
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 35.
HAYAT braces, her bundle spilling wedding supplies.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
20 -
Chaos and Rescue
EXT. CRASH SITE - CONTINUOUS
Steam rises from the wrecked truck. MU’AAT, seeing the chaos,
runs toward it. An OLDER CAPTIVE (60s) grabs him.
OLDER CAPTIVE
(in Juba Arabic)
! ﺗﺴﻮي! دا ﻣﺎ ﻗﺘﺎﻟﻨﺎ
Don’t! Not our fight!
MU'AAT breaks free, dodging goats. MILITANTS fire back at
attackers. A MOTORBIKE RIDER circles, weapon raised.
ATTACKER #2
(in Northern Sudanese Arabic)
وﻳﻦ ﺑﻨﺖ ﻋﺒﺎس؟
Where’s Abbas’s daughter?
CUT TO:
EXT. TRUCK WRECKAGE - CONTINUOUS
MU’AAT reaches the truck, spotting HAYAT trapped under a
militant’s body.
MU’AAT
Can you move?
HAYAT’s eyes widen. She freezes.
MU’AAT drives his fist into the glass. It shatters, slicing
his hand. Blood streaks across the frame.
He pulls her free, unharmed. They duck behind the truck as
gunfire erupts.
An ATTACKER approaches.
ATTACKER #1
(In Northern Sudanese Arabic)
اﺣﻨﺎ ﻋﺎرﻓﻴﻦ اﻧﻚ ﻫﻨﺎ.
We know you’re here.
HAYAT
(whispered)
ﻳﺴﺘﻌﻤﻠﻮﻧﻲ ﺿﺪ أﺑﻮي.ﻋﺎﻳﺰﻳﻦ ﻳﺨﻄﻔﻮﻧﻲ.
They want to kidnap me. Use me
against my father.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 36.
MU’AAT shushes her, finger to lips. Their eyes meet.
An ATTACKER spots them, raising his rifle. A wounded MILITANT
shoots him down. The attacker falls.
HAYAT stares at the body, shaken.
ABBAS’S REINFORCEMENTS arrive in jeeps. Militant KHALID spots
them.
MILITANT KHALID
(to Hayat)
إﻧﺖ ﻣﺘﻀﺮرة؟
ِ
Are you hurt?
He points his rifle at MU'AAT.
HAYAT
ﻫﻮ ﺳﺎﻋﺪﻧﻲ. .
No. He helped me.
Militant KHALID nods, lowering his rifle. HAYAT and MU'AAT's
eyes meet briefly.
CUT TO:
EXT. ABBAS’S COMPOUND – LATER
Jeeps pull in. Through a window, HAYAT sees ABBAS pacing,
shouting into his phone. She exits the jeep and enters the
house.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
21 -
The Price of Truth
EXT. ABBAS'S FARMHOUSE - MOMENTS LATER
ABBAS scans the horizon.
MU’AAT and TWO CAPTIVES herd sheep and cows toward the farm,
moving slowly with sticks.
ABBAS
ﺟﻴﺐ اﻟﺼﺤﻔﻲ ﻫﻨﺎ.
Bring the journalist.
MILITANT KHALID grabs his rifle and heads toward them.
CUT TO:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 37.
EXT. ANIMAL PENS - NIGHT
Moonlight bathes the pens. MU’AAT herds animals, eyes down.
KHALID approaches.
KHALID
! َﺗﻌﺎل ﻫﺴﺎ
Come now!
MU’AAT hesitates, glancing at the captives. Their eyes meet,
then drop.
KHALID (CONT'D)
(swinging rifle)
!ﻣﺎ ﺗﺨﻠﻴﻨﻲ أﺻﺮخ ﺗﺎﻧﻲ
Don’t make me shout again!
MU’AAT drops his stick and shuffles forward. Khalid marches
him to the farmhouse.
CUT TO:
INT. ABBAS’S FARMHOUSE – COMMON AREA – NIGHT
ABBAS sits on a woven mat, a folder in his lap, a knife at
his side. KHALID shoves MU'AAT inside. MU'AAT stumbles, dirt
streaked.
ABBAS
ً
ﺷﻜﺮا ﻟﻴﻚ ،إﻧﺖ أﻧﻘﺬت ﺑﻨﺘﻲ.
ﻟﻜﻦ ﻣﺎ ﺗﺘﻮﻗﻊ أي ﻣﻌﺎﻣﻠﺔ ﺧﺎﺻﺔ.
You saved my daughter. Thank you.
But don't expect any special
treatment.
He spins the knife, eyes on MU'AAT.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
اﻟﺤﻘﻴﻘﺔ. ﺻﺮاﻋﻨﺎ.اﻛﺘﺐ.
Write. Our fight. The truth.
HAYAT enters with a tea tray, hands trembling. She sets it
down, eyes meeting MU'AAT's briefly.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
(to Hayat)
ﺗﺮﺟﻤﻲ.
Translate.
HAYAT
My father says… the world forgets
us. Write what is real.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 38.
ABBAS
و ﻳﻜﻮن. ﻳﻜﺘﺐ اﻟﺤﻘﻴﻘﺔ، ﻟﻮ ﻋﻨﺪو ﺷﺮف:ﻗﻮل ﻟﻴﻪ
زي اﻟﻜ ب.
Tell him: if he has honour, he’ll
write the truth. Not like the other
dogs.
HAYAT
He says… write the truth. Not like
others.
ABBAS glares, suspicious. MU’AAT leans toward Hayat.
MU’AAT
His truth kills people.
HAYAT
ﺣﻘﻴﻘﺘﻚ ﺑﺘﻜﺘﻞ اﻟﻨﺎس...ﻫﻮ ﺑﻘﻮل.
He says... your truth kills people.
ABBAS slams the tray, shattering glass. Hayat flinches.
ABBAS
(to Khalid)
ﻫﺴﻪ.ﻃﻠﻌﻮا.
Take him out. Now.
KHALID yanks MU'AAT toward the door. HAYAT's eyes follow,
fear mixed with defiance.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
22 -
A Fragile Connection
INT. MUD HOUSE - NIGHT (MUCH LATER)
Twilight seeps through cracks in mud walls. A distant gunshot
echoes. MU’AAT sits on his mat, struggling to eat rice with
bandaged hands; fresh injuries make it hard to grip the
spoon.
HAYAT appears in the doorway, her eyes wide with gratitude
and fear, holding a small basket.
HAYAT
Your hands bleed. You, okay?
َ .ﻳﺪﻳﻚ ﺑﺘﻨﺰف
إﻧﺖ زﻳﻦ؟
MU’AAT
I’ve had worse.
She kneels, offering a trembling hand.
HAYAT
I am Hayat Hassan. Your name?
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 39.
MU’AAT
Mu’Aat. Mu'Aat Khan--
(pause)
Wait, are you Hayat Hassan? The
teacher.
HAYAT looks at MU'AAT, confused.
HAYAT
Yes, I send newspapers around the
world. No answer.
MU'AAT (CONT’D)
My company sent me to come to find
you.
Her eyes widen. The full realization hits.
HAYAT
You came looking... for me?
MU'AAT
Yes, so that you could tell your
stories.
She opens the basket: clean cloth, herbal salve, and fresh
bandages.
HAYAT
Nobody knows. That I wrote stories
of our people's suffering.
He extends his hands reluctantly, knuckles scratched. She
applies salve gently.
MU’AAT
Your secret’s mine.
A DOG BARKS distantly. They freeze, listening. The sound
fades. An ENGINE HUMS faintly. HAYAT tenses, glancing at the
door.
HAYAT
Don't break promise, ok?
MU'AAT nods. Hayat slips into the night.
FADE OUT.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
23 -
Water, Words, and Woes
EXT. FARMHOUSE - WELL - DAY
HAYAT lowers a plastic bucket into a cracked stone well,
straining to pull it up. MU’AAT approaches.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 40.
HAYAT
How's hand?
HAYAT indicates MU'AAT's hand.
MU'AAT
Much better. Thanks to your herbs.
HAYAT smiles shyly.
MU'AAT (CONT'D)
I... help.
HAYAT
(in Northern Sudanese Arabic,
gently teasing)
ﻣﺘﺄﻛﺪ ﺗﻘﺪر ﺗﺸﻴﻞ اﻟﻤﻲ؟.إﻳﺪﻳﻚ ﻧﺎﻋﻤﺔ زي اﻟﻨﺴﻮان
MU'AAT looks at Hayat, confused.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
(smile)
I say, your hands soft like women.
You sure you can pull water?
He laughs faintly, pulls the bucket up smoothly.
MU’AAT
When can I start my first Arabic
lesson, and in return, I will teach
you Afrikaans, my language?
HAYAT
(intrigued)
Af...Afrikaans?
MU'AAT
My mother's language.
HAYAT
Never heard of such language you
speak here in Africa.
MU'AAT
Yes.
HAYAT
I guess that makes Africa so
unique.
Their smiles are interrupted by distant goat bleats.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 41.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
(nods)
ْي َﺪﺟ
… (Jady).
English?
MU'AAT
Kid. In South Africa, we call it
bok-kie.
HAYAT
Bok-kie. Afrikaans is a very--
Strange sound.
MU'AAT mangles "Jady." She laughs, covering her mouth. Their
laughter is low and shared.
FADE TO:
EXT. DIRCO BUILDING - CAPE TOWN - DAY
A crowd of fifty protests outside a glass building, holding
signs: “BRING THEM HOME,” “OUR JOURNALISTS, OUR SONS.” A TV
crew sets up.
FATIEMA, defiant, organizes placards. KHADIJA stands by her.
MR. and MRS. TEKANI linger, uneasy.
FATIEMA approaches them.
FATIEMA
Thanks for coming. The cameras are
for our sons.
MRS. TEKANI
Khanya hated a fuss.
KHADIJA
A fuss makes the government move.
MR. TEKANI
This is our son, not a political
banner.
FATIEMA
He’s my only son too. But the world
needs a spectacle.
A YOUNG MAN chants, “Journalists are not a game!” The crowd
swells.
A REPORTER approaches, but Mr. TEKANI shields his wife.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 42.
FATIEMA steps forward.
FADE TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
24 -
A Lesson in the Courtyard
EXT. VILLAGE COMPOUND - COURTYARD - NORTHERN SUDAN - MORNING
VILLAGE CHILDREN, ages (6-12), sit in a circle under a tree.
Some draw letters in the dirt with sticks.
HAYAT kneels among them, gently correcting their Arabic
script. Her voice is patient, encouraging.
HAYAT
ﻪﻜﻫ...ﻪﻜﻫ سﻣ
Not like this... like this.
She guides a YOUNG BOY's hand, helping him form letters.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
ﻢﻌﻧ ﻪﻜﻫ...ﺔﺸﻣ
Beautiful... yes, like that.
Nearby, MU'AAT herds sheep past the courtyard. He slows,
hearing her gentle voice.
He stops, pretending to adjust a rope while listening.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
(to the children)
تﻴﺑ... ﺔﻄﻗ...ﺐﻠﻛا
Dog... cat... house.
The children repeat the words. Their voices create a soft
chorus.
MU'AAT recognizes some words. Under his breath, he attempts:
MU'AAT
Kal-ab... bit...
His pronunciation is terrible. One of the children giggles,
pointing.
CHILD
!ﻒﻳﻮﺧ نﻛﺎ
He's afraid!
The CHILDREN laugh. HAYAT turns and sees MU'AAT. Their eyes
meet.
She tenses, uncertain. He raises a hand, not threatening,
apologetic.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 43.
MU'AAT
Mu'allima?
Teacher?
His pronunciation is clumsy, but the effort is clear.
HAYAT
Mu'allima.
MU'AAT
Mu'allima.
She nods once. Almost a smile.
A MILITANT calls from across the compound. MU'AAT quickly
moves on with the sheep.
HAYAT watches him go, something shifts in her expression.
FADE OUT.
Genres:
["Drama","Character Study"]
Ratings
Scene
25 -
Whispers of the Night
EXT. OUTSKIRTS - ANIMAL PEN - PRE-DAWN
Goats bleat, bells jingling.
MU’AAT approaches the pens, a sack of feed over his shoulder,
bandaged hands straining. A faint GLOW flickers from another
shelter.
He crouches by a wall, peering inside. HAYAT sits writing in
a notebook by a small lamp, Toub loose.
A GOAT BLEATS loudly. Hayat startles, shielding the lamp.
HAYAT
ﻣﻴﻦ ﻫﻨﺎك؟
Who's there?
MU’AAT
Hayat, it’s Mu’Aat.
She exhales, her grip on the notebook tightening. She
gestures him inside the shelter.
HAYAT
(broken English + Northern Sudanese
Arabic)
ﻟﻴﻪ ﻫﻨﺎ؟...ﻣﻌﺎط
You... here? Mu’Aat, why here?
MU’AAT
(setting the sack down)
Bringing feed for the animals.
(MORE)
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 44.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
But also saw light.
(nods to notebook)
Writing again?
HAYAT nods, her eyes flickering to the pages.
HAYAT
Stories... village women.
MU'AAT kneels beside her, his hands resting on the sack. The
lamp casts shadows over the tight Arabic script in her
notebook.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
I read... for you. Okay?
She traces the Arabic, translating haltingly.
MU'AAT watches her intensely, studying her lips, her furrowed
brow, the flicker of pain in her eyes as she reads.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
Aisha... her husband beat her. She
hides... children safe. Wahiba ...
lose home in war. She walks
miles... no food.
She stops at “SALMA,” face tightening, and shuts the
notebook.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
ﻣﺎ أﻗﺪر.
...ﺳﻠﻤﻰ.
Salma... no. Can’t read.
MU’AAT
It’s okay. I’ll help them be heard.
HAYAT
It's getting late. I need to get
back.
MU'AAT watches HAYAT disappear into the night.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Character Study"]
Ratings
Scene
26 -
Melodies of Longing and Loss
EXT. HILLSIDE – DAY
MU’AAT watches goats.
HAYAT approaches with a tambur and a bundle of bread, dates,
and water.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 45.
HAYAT
ﺟﻌﺎن؟
Hungry?
MU’AAT
Yeah.
They eat, watching the goats.
HAYAT
(showing photo)
This... Salma and me.
(in Arabic)
ﻛﻨﺎ أﺣﺮار...ﻗﺒﻞ اﻟﺤﺮب.
Before war... we were free.
MU’AAT
What happened?
HAYAT
(in broken English)
My village silenced her.
ﻗﺮﻳﺘﻲ ﺳ ّﻜﺘﻬﺎ.
Tears fill her eyes. She plays a melody on her tambur.
MU'AAT
It's beautiful. Makes me miss home.
My mom, she doesn't even know if
she is dead or alive.
HAYAT
The world can be a very hard place.
But, come, we sing a little bit,
make the heart feel lighter.
MU'AAT
You here? Now?
HAYAT
Nobody hears us.
MU'AAT hums a melody quietly, both mournful and hopeful.
African rhythm, but different from her tambur.
When he finishes, HAYAT nods appreciatively.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
What words?
MU'AAT
No words, just humming.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 46.
HAYAT
Ok.
HAYAT plays a few notes on the tambur, trying to match his
melody.
MU'AAT hums along, learning. Their voices blend different
languages, with the same longing.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
Music same everywhere.
MU'AAT
Language of the heart.
She looks at him directly for the first time in their
conversation. Something shifts between them.
HAYAT
When you go home you still remember
Sudan music?
MU'AAT
When I go home... I will remember
the teacher who played tambur.
Their eyes meet and hold.
For a heartbeat, the world stills.
MU'AAT blinks, catching movement over HAYAT’s shoulder--
A militant vehicle tears down the dirt road, dust billowing
behind it.
MU’AAT
Hayat…
She sees it too. Without a word, Hayat disappears toward the
farmhouse, just as the vehicle roars closer.
CUT TO:
EXT. FIELDS - DAY
Captives shuffle under watch. A TRUCK roars up. KHALID and
MILITANTS jump out, rifles raised.
KHALID
ّ ، إﻧﺖ! ﺗﻌﺎل،!ﻳﺎ
ﻫﺴﺔ
You! Come now!
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 47.
They shove MU’AAT into the truck.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","War"]
Ratings
Scene
27 -
Captured Truth
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - AL-FASHIR - DAY
The truck stops. MU’AAT stumbles out, dust in his eyes. A
tense CROWD watches, some praying, others clutching children.
ABBAS stands on a platform, rifle raised, beside a bound
FOREIGN HOSTAGE.
ABBAS
ّ …!ﺻﺤﻔﻲ
ﺳﺠﻞ
Journalist… record!
KHALID shoves a camera into MU’AAT’s chest.
KHALID
Now!
HOSTAGE
(whisper)
Please.
ABBAS
دا اﻟﺒﺤﺼﻞ ﻟﻤﺎ ﺗﻜﺘﺐ ﻛﺬاﺑﺔ ﻋﻦ.أﺑﻘﻰ ﺷﻮف اﻟﻌﺎﻟﻢ
ﺣﺮﺑﻨﺎ.
Let the world see. This is what
happens when you write lies about
our war.
He fires into the air. The crowd flinches.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
!ﻗﻮل ﻟﻠﻌﺎﻟﻢ… اﻟﺤﻖ ﻟﻨﺎ
Tell the world… justice is ours!
MILITANTS
أﻛﺒﺮ !ا
Allahu Akbar!
MU’AAT steadies the camera, catching a CHILD’s wide eyes in
the crowd. He presses RECORD, capturing Abbas, the hostage,
the terror.
CUT TO:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 48.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
28 -
Whispers of Hope in the Shadows
INT. MUD HOUSE - NIGHT
Candlelight flickers on mud walls. HAYAT writes in her
notebook, pausing to reread. The door CREAKS. MU'AAT is
surprised to see Hayat.
Hayat looks up.
HAYAT
ﺧﻠﻮك ﺗﺼﻮر؟
They made you film.
MU’AAT
Yes.
She closes her notebook.
HAYAT
(broken English + Arabic)
My heart breaks. War cruel to
women.
دي ﻗﺼﺺ اﻟﻨﺴﻮان… ﻗﻠﺒﻲ ﻳﺘﻘﻄﻊ.
MU’AAT
You’re brave. Someone will hear
their story because you gave them a
voice.
HAYAT
Thank you.
She hands him sketches of women with Arabic notes.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
Stories from the market… daughters,
mothers. Hunger took her life.
(pointing)
دي أﺣ ﻣﻬﺎ… اﻟﺤﺮب ﻗﺘﻠﺘﻬﺎ.
MU’AAT
Politicians don’t care, as long as
they win.
HAYAT
ﺻﺢ… اﻟﺒﺮﻳﺌﺔ ﺑﺘﺘﺄﻟﻢ.
Yes… the innocent suffers.
She touches the notebook.
They share a gaze, candlelight dancing.
DISSOLVE TO:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 49.
EXT. MARKET SQUARE - AL-FASHIR - DAY
CALL TO PRAYER echoes across the square. Villagers kneel in
rows.
CAPTIVES huddle separately, bowing in the dust.
HAYAT moves through the praying crowd. She slips MU'AAT a
folded note as she passes. Their fingers don't touch.
He opens it: "Cell phone. One chance."
She nods toward the market alley, then disappears into the
crowd.
CUT TO:
EXT. MARKET ALLEY - CONTINUOUS
MU'AAT dials with shaking hands. It RINGS. And rings.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. CAFÉ – CAPE TOWN – DAY
AVERIL's phone buzzes on the table. She laughs with FRIENDS.
She doesn't notice. The call goes to voicemail.
BACK TO ALLEY:
MILITANTS approach. HAYAT grabs the phone, pushing MU'AAT
deeper into shadow.
HAYAT
No answer?
MU'AAT
No.
They lock eyes a moment the world stands still.
Hayat presses the phone back into his hand.
HAYAT
Keep trying. If they find it...
She rushes off. MU'AAT pockets the phone.
CUT TO:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 50.
Genres:
["Drama","War","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
29 -
Confined Hearts
INT. HAYAT'S ROOM - NIGHT (PASSAGE OF TIME)
The NOTEBOOK lies open on the dirt floor. HAYAT's hand writes
in Arabic script by candlelight.
HAYAT (V.O.)
ﺟﻮز إﺑ ِﺘﻬﺎل رﺑﻄﻬﺎ ﻓﻲ...اﻟﻴﻮم اﻟﺘ ﺗﺔ وﻋﺸﺮﻳﻦ
وﺧ ّ ﻫﺎ ﻣﻜﺴﻮﻓﺔ...ﺷﺠﺮة.
Day twenty-three... Ibtihal's
husband tied her to a tree ... she
was left humiliated.
The page turns. More entries. Days pass.
HAYAT (V.O.) (CONT'D)
ﻗﻠﺒﻲ ﻣﻜﺴﻮر ﻋﺸﺎن ﺧﺎﻟﺔ ﺳﻤﻴﺔ ﻣﺎ...25 أﻛﺘﻮﺑﺮ
ّ .ﻗﺪرﺗﺶ ﺗﺠﻴﺐ دواﻫﺎ ﻣﻦ اﻟﻌﻴﺎدة اﻟﻤﺤﻠﻴﺔ
رﺟﻌﻮﻫﺎ
ﻋﺸﺎن ﻫﻲ أرﻣﻠﺔ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻘﺮﻳﺔ.
October 25... my heart is breaking
because aunt Somaya couldn't get
her medication at the local clinic.
She was turned away because of her
widow status in the village.
INTERCUT WITH:
EXT. FIELDS - DAY
HAYAT and MU'AAT tend goats. Their hands brush as they reach
for the same animal. A quick, shared smile.
BACK TO NOTEBOOK:
Another page turns. The handwriting is tighter and more
urgent.
HAYAT (V.O.)
ﻋﻴﻮﻧﻪ ّﻟﻤﺎ...ﻣﺮت ﺳﺘﺔ ﺷﻬﻮر ﻣﻦ ﻳﻮم ﻣﺎ وﺻﻞ ّ
ّ
ﻛﺄﻧﻲ ﺑﺸﻮف ﻛﻞ ﺣﺎﺟﺔ.ﺷﺎﻓﻮﻧﻲ ﺣﺴﻴﺖ ﺑﺸﻲ ﻣﺨﺘﻠﻒ
اﻟﺒﺮﻳﻖ ﻓﻲ ﻋﻴﻮﻧﻪ ﻟﻤﺎ، ﺻﻮﺗﻪ ﻟﻤﺎ ﻳﻨﺨﻔﺾ:ول ﻣﺮة
وﻣﺎ ﺑﻘﺪر أﺑﻌﺪ ﻋﻴﻨﻲ، ﻗﻠﺒﻲ ﺑﻴﻌﻤﻞ ﻗﻔﺰة ﻏﺮﻳﺒﺔ.ﻳﻀﺤﻚ
ﻫﺎدي وﻣﺶ ﺛﺎﺑﺖ، ﻓﻲ ﺷﻲ ﺑﻴﺘﻐﻴﺮ.ﻋﻨﻪ،
It's 6 months now since his
arrival...his yes caught my mine in
a way that felt… different. It’s
like I’m noticing every detail for
the first time the way his voice
dips, the spark in his eyes when
they laugh. My heart does this odd
little jump, and I can’t look away.
(MORE)
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 51.
HAYAT (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Something’s shifting, soft and
unsteady, and I’m not sure what to
make of it yet.
INTERCUT WITH.
INT. VILLAGE HUT - NIGHT
MU'AAT writes while HAYAT speaks softly. Their heads lean
close.
Together over the page. Candlelight flickers across their
faces.
BACK TO NOTEBOOK:
The pages are fuller now. Dozens of entries. Margins cramped
with
Words fill the margins.
HAYAT (V.O.)
ّ .ﻗﺮب ﺑﺴﺮﻋﺔ
ﺑﺤﺲ ّ زواﺟﻲ ﻣﻦ ﺷﻴﺦ اﻟﻘﺮﻳﺔ ﻧﺎﺻﻴﻒ
ﻛﻞ ﻳﻮم اﻟﻤﺴﺎﺣﺔ ﻋﺸﺎن أﺗﻨﻔﺲ.ﻋﻠﻲ
ّ اﻟﺠﺪران ﺑﺘﻀﻴّﻖ
ﺑﺘﺼﻐﺮ.
My wedding to the village elder
Naseef is fast approaching. I feel
the walls closing. Every day the
space to breathe grows smaller.
INTERCUT WITH:
INT. WOMEN'S ROOM - DAY
HUSNA and village women prepare wedding fabrics: red silk and
gold thread.
WOMAN
َ
ﻒﻴﺼﻧ ﻚﻴﺑ ظﻮﺤﻈﻣ، نﻟﺼﻴف ﺎﻳ.
Naseef is lucky with you, Hayat.
HAYAT forces a smile, but her gaze drifts to the window.
Outside.
MU'AAT works with the animals.
HUSNA sees this. Her expression tightens with worry.
INTERCUT WITH:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 52.
EXT. CAPE TOWN - PARLIAMENT GATES - DAY
FATIEMA holds a placard: "BRING MY SON HOME." KHADIJA stands
nearby.
Beside her. A small crowd of SUPPORTERS chants behind them.
Media CAMERAS document the protest.
BACK TO NOTEBOOK – FINAL PAGE:
Genres:
["Drama","War","Journalism"]
Ratings
Scene
30 -
Whispers of Truth at Sunset
EXT. TREE - EVENING (SUNSET)
The notebook is nearly full. HAYAT's hand pauses over the
last empty space.
HAYAT (V.O.)
ّ زواﺟﻲ ﻣﻦ ﻧﺎﺻﻴﻒ ﻣﻤﻜﻦ
اﻟﻠﻴﻠﺔ.ﻳﻜﺸﻒ اﻟﻘﺼﺺ دي
زم ﻳﻌﻴﺸﻮا ﺣﺘﻰ ﻟﻮ إﺣﻨﺎ.ّﺑﺪي اﻟﺤﻜﺎﻳﺎت دي ﻟﻤﻌﺎذ
ﻣﺎ ﻋﺸﻨﺎش.
My marriage to Naseef risks these
stories being discovered. Tonight,
I give Mu'Aat these stories. They
must survive even if we don't.
HAYAT's hand closes the notebook slowly.
She looks at MU'AAT sitting and leaning against the tree,
watching her.
Their eyes meet. Everything unsaid hangs heavy between them.
The silence stretches, loaded and inevitable.
END MONTAGE
HAYAT
Why you write... stories?
MU’AAT
People need to know. Truth makes
people understand... even if it
hurts.
HAYAT
I read many stories about South
Africa. Mostly the women who have
achieved great success.
MU’AAT
My boss Averil runs one of the
biggest media houses back home.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 53.
HAYAT
That’s big. You like her?
MU’AAT
I respect her. She fights hard...
doesn’t wait for permission.
HAYAT lowers her eyes, thinking.
HAYAT
Here, women not read in public.
Only at home... only Quran.
But my Babu don’t know I secretly
read what happens outside our
village.
MU’AAT
Your father... Abbas? Tell me more
about him.
Her smile fades.
HAYAT
Babu not bad man. He is good
educated worked for government,
mostly military. But when war
start... something changes inside
him.
MU’AAT
War does that. Breaks things you
don’t even see.
HAYAT
True yes... you know my country
might not be up there as the best.
But I still believe Sudanese people
are beautiful with warm hearts
capable of building their own
country.
MU’AAT
You will make a good ambassador for
your country.
She smiles a quiet, shy smile.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
What is your dream, Hayat?
HAYAT
Teach children... in a real school.
With books. Make their future
strong.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 54.
A long silence. The night hums around them.
MU’AAT
In South Africa... you could.
Real school, real books.
HAYAT
(bitter laugh)
Dream only. I have no passport.
MU’AAT
Dreams start first... papers come
after.
She studies his face, trying to believe him, but afraid to
hope.
HAYAT
Why do you say this?
MU’AAT
Because... someone once believed
that for me.
Voices and footsteps can be heard nearby. Hayat looks down,
trembling slightly. She hands him her notebook.
HAYAT
Take this. Stories of women... must
not stay in shadow.
MU'AAT takes the notebook, looking at it and at her as if
holding something sacred.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
31 -
Secrets and Scoldings
INT. CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - OFFICE - EVENING
AVERIL sits at her desk, files piled high. She scrolls
through her phone, pauses at an unknown number, and dials.
CUT TO:
EXT. ABBAS'S FARMHOUSE - YARD - CONTINUOUS
ABBAS, talking with Khalid, freezes as a cellphone rings from
the mud shelter.
CUT TO:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 55.
INT. MUD SHELTER - CONTINUOUS
Dark, empty. A CELL PHONE RINGS. ABBAS bursts in. The ringing
stops. Silence, save for the insects.
ABBAS prowls, boots scraping. He spots a phone half-buried in
dust and grabs it. The screen flickers, then fades. His eyes
narrow.
He pockets it and storms out. Silence returns.
CUT TO:
EXT. TREE - EVENING (MOMENTS LATER)
HAYAT
ﺑﺎﺑﻮ وأﻣﻮ ﺣﻴﻘﻠﻘﻮا.أﻧﺎ ﻣﺎﺷﻴﺔ دﻟﻮﻗﺘﻲ.
I go now. My Babu and Ammu will
worry.
MU'AAT nods. She tucks her scarf tighter, masking her face
again.
Before leaving, she teases with a shy, almost defiant smile:
HAYAT (CONT'D)
Your good person.
She hurries back toward the village path.
MU'AAT watches with a faint smile before turning back to the
herd.
FADE TO:
EXT. FARMHOUSE - COURTYARD - EVENING (MUCH LATER)
HAYAT walks slowly toward ABBAS, who stands rigid, eyes fixed
on her.
ABBAS
ﻛﻨﺖ وﻳﻦ؟
ِ . اﺗﺄﺧﺮﺗﻲ،ﻳﺎ ﺣﻴﺎة
You’re late, Hayat. Where were you?
HAYAT
ﻣﺸﻴﺖ أﺗﻤﺸﻰ ﻳﺎ أ ّﺑﺎ.
I was walking, Abba.
ABBAS
ﻣﺎ ﻓﻴﻪ ﺣﺠﺔ! واﺟﺒﺎ ِﺗﻚ ﻫ ّﻨﺎ.
No excuse! Your duties are here.
(MORE)
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 56.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
(firmly)
ﻓﺎﻫﻤﺔ؟. داﻳﺮك ﻓﻲ اﻟﺒﻴﺖ،ّﻟﻤﺎ اﻟﺮﺟﺎل ﻳﺮﺟﻌﻮا
When the captives return, I want
you home. Understand?
HAYAT nods, gaze lowered.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
اﺑﺪا ﺗﺘﺼﺮف ﻛﻮاﺣﺪ ﻣﺘﺰوج.ﻗﺮﻳﺒًﺎ ﺣﺘﺘﺰوج.
Soon you’ll be married. Start
behaving like one.
HAYAT heads to the house.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
32 -
Whispers of Responsibility
INT. ABBAS'S FARMHOUSE - KITCHEN - EVENING
HAYAT stands by the window, peering out. HUSNA enters.
HUSNA
ﻛﻠﻮ ﺗﻤﺎم؟،ﻳﺎ ﺣﻴﺎة
Hayat, everything alright?
HAYAT steps back, forcing a smile.
HAYAT
ﺑﺲ ﺑﺴﺘﻤﺘﻊ ﻓﻲ ﻫﻮاء اﻟﻠﻴﻞ،آه.
Just enjoying the night air.
HUSNA follows her gaze, expression tightening.
HUSNA
إﻧﺖ ﺗﺎﻧﻲ ﺑﺘﺘﻔﺮﺟﻲ ﻓﻴﻬﻮ؟
ِ
You’re watching him again.
HAYAT
(fidgeting)
ﺷﻔﺘﻮ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺤﻘﻞ ﻣﺮة... .
No, I saw Mu'Aat in the field once.
HUSNA
ﻛﻴﻒ ﻋﺮﻓﺘﻲ اﺳﻤﻮ؟
How do you know his name?
HAYAT
ﺳﻤﻌﺖ ﺧﺎﻟﺪ ﻳﻘﻮل اﺳﻤﻮ.
I heard Khalid say it.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 57.
HUSNA
ِ ﻓ ّﺘﺢ ﺑﺎب...اﻟﻮﻟﺪ دا.
ﺧﻄﺮ
That boy… opens a dangerous door.
HAYAT
ﺗﻘﺼﺪ ﺑﺎﺑﻮ؟
You mean Babu?
HUSNA
ﺳﻤﻌﺘﻨﺎ، اﺳﻤﻨﺎ.ﻣﺶ ﺑﺲ ﻫﻮ.
Not just him. Our name, our
standing.
HAYAT
ﻣﺎ ﻗﺼﺪت ﺷﻲ.
I didn’t mean anything.
HUSNA
"اﻟﻤﺸﺎﻋﺮ ﻣﺎ ﺑﺘﻜﻮن "ﻗﺼﺪ.
Feelings don’t ask permission.
(softening)
أﻣﺎن...ﻧﺎﺻﻴﻒ رﺟﻞ ﻣﺤﺘﺮم.
Naseef is respected… safe.
HAYAT
ﻟﻴﻪ ﻓﻲ ﻛﺘﻴﺮ ﻣﺴﺆوﻟﻴﺎت ﻏﻴﺮ واﻗﻌﻴﺔ ﻣﺘﺮﺗﺒﺔ.ﻣﺎ ﻋﺎدل
ﻋﻠﻴﻨﺎ ﻛﺒﻨﺎت؟
It’s not fair. Why are there so
many unrealistic responsibilities
placed on us as girls?
HUSNA
ﺧﻄﺎﻧﺎ ﻣﺤﺴﻮﺑﺔ.ﻣﺎﻓﻲ ﻋﺪاﻟﺔ ﻟﺒﻨﺎﺗﻨﺎ.
No fairness for our girls. Every
step is watched.
(gently)
رﻛﺰي ﻓﻲ اﻟﻤﻬﻢ.ﻋﺮﺳﻚ ﻗﺮﻳﺐ.
Your wedding’s soon. Focus on what
matters.
HUSNA cups HAYAT’s cheek, then leaves. HAYAT sits staring
into the darkness.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
33 -
A Moment of Solace
EXT. FARMHOUSE - COURTYARD - EVENING
ABBAS waits, arms folded.
MU’AAT quickly hides the notebook under his clothing as he
herds the sheep in.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 58.
ABBAS
ﺗﺎﻧﻲ اﺗﺄﺧﺮت.
Late again.
MU’AAT
(broken Northern Sudanese Arabic)
ّ ...اﻟﻐﻨﻢ ﻣﺸﻮا ﺑﻌﻴﺪ.
رﺟﻌﺘﻬﻢ
The sheep wandered… I brought them
back.
ABBAS
ﺗﻮﻗﻒ، ّﻟﻤﺎ اﺗﻜﻠﻢ.
When I speak, you stop.
He shoves MU'AAT down, kicks his ribs, and pulls out the
CELLPHONE.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
ﻛﻨﺖ ﻋﺎرف… ﻏﻠﻂ أﺛﻖ ﻓﻲ ﺻﺤﻔﻲ.
I knew… trusting a journalist was a
mistake.
He SMASHES the phone into the dirt.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
رﺟﻊ اﻟﺤﻴﻮاﻧﺎت.اﻟﺤﺮ َﻛﺔ دي ﺗﺎﻧﻲ
َ ﺗﻌﻤﻞ
ِ ﻣﺎ.
Don’t try that again. Take the
animals.
MU'AAT limps to the pen, silent defiance in his eyes.
CUT TO:
INT. MUD SHELTER - NIGHT (MOMENTS LATER)
A candle flickers on the dirt floor, shadows dancing. MU’AAT
sits hunched, wincing as he touches his bruised ribs. The
door creaks. HAYAT slips in with a cloth bundle, her eyes
wide with fear.
She kneels, setting down clean cloths and salve.
HAYAT
(whispered, in Northern Sudanese
Arabic)
دﻋﻨﻲ أرى ﺟﺮاﺣﻚ.
Let me see your wounds.
MU'AAT nods stiffly. She lifts his tunic, her breath catching
at his bruises.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 59.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
َ .ده ِﺑ ُﻜ ّﻤ َﻞ.
إﻧﺖ َﻣﺎ َﺑ َﺮاك
This will heal. You’re not alone.
She applies salve gently. He flinches but stays still.
MU’AAT
Do you know what it’s like, Hayat?
Waking here, knowing they might
kill you by sunset?
His voice cracks, his chest heaving.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
ﻛﻴﻒ زول ﻳﻌﻤﻞ زول ﺗﺎﻧﻲ ﻛﺪه؟ ﻣﺎ ﺑﻴﺸﻮﻓﻮ إﻧﻲ ﺑﺪم
زي ﻫﻢ؟
How can one person do this to
another? Don’t they see I bleed
like them?
Tears fall. He grips his knees.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
(whispered)
ﻛﻨﺖ ﻣﻬﻢ...أﻧﺎ ﻛﻨﺖ زول ﻗﺪﻳﻢ.
I used to be someone. I mattered.
HAYAT’s tears fall. She cups his face, her thumbs brushing
his cheeks.
HAYAT
My heart breaks when your eyes are
sad.
MU'AAT collapses, his head in her lap, sobbing. Her hand
threads through his hair.
MU’AAT
(thick with tears)
ن ﺣﺘﻰ أﻧﺎ وﻟﺪ زول...ا ﻳﺴﺎﻣﺢ أﺑﻮك.
May Allah forgive your father...
because I too am someone’s son.
HAYAT
(broken English)
I bleed too... here, no one cares.
The candle flickers. They sit, not alone.
FADE OUT.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 60.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
34 -
A Heartfelt Reunion in the Fields
EXT. FIELDS - DAY
Dry grass sways in the heat. MU’AAT drives the herd, his
sweat dripping. An OLDER CAPTIVE watches.
OLDER CAPTIVE
(In Northern Sudanese Arabic)
أﻧﺖ اﻟﻤﺴﺆول ﻫﺴﻪ.
You’re in charge now.
He leaves. MU'AAT nods, then spots a ragged figure limping,
KHANYA, bearded, eyes hollow. MU'AAT hides the herd in brush
and slips to him.
Behind a rock, KHANYA clutches his ribs.
MU’AAT
Khanya...
KHANYA
Mu’Aat?
They embrace, sobbing, collapsing in dust.
KHANYA (CONT'D)
They beat the shit out of me.
Cut my...
(shows mangled hand)
They fucking sold me, bru. Like I
was... like I was nothing.
Was... like I was nothing.
MU'AAT grips it, horrified.
MU’AAT
Ya Allah what monsters.
KHANYA
We have to go. Like now. There's a-
-
Way south, I heard them Naseef's--
Back for some wedding. Abbas's--
Daughter. Hayat or whatever.
MU’AAT
(stunned)
Hayat...
KHANYA
Bro, I stole a map. Actual map.
It's hidden by the water drum. I'll
get it to you at the wedding, I
swear.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 61.
A SHOUT cuts through.
CAPTIVE (O.S.)
ﻣﻌﺎذ! وﻳﻨﻚ؟
Mu’Aat! Where are you?
They clasp fiercely.
MU’AAT
Try to stay alive…
KHANYA
See you soon.
MU'AAT returns to the herd. A CAPTIVE approaches.
CAPTIVE
أﻳﻦ ﻛﻨﺖ؟
Where were you?
MU’AAT
Dead tree. Took a piss.
The CAPTIVE glares, walks off. MU'AAT drives the herd, face
raw but burning with resolve.
FADE OUT.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
35 -
Torn Between Tradition and Love
EXT. AL-FASHIR (THE SQUARE) – DAY – HAYAT’S WEDDING
Drums. Stick dances. Toubs swirl. Zaghareet pierce the air.
A dusty pickup halts. The crowd stills.
KHANYA, worn, nudged out by a MILITANT, scans the square.
NASEEF (50) steps down in white. Drums resume, tense.
NASEEF
(In Northern Sudanese Arabic)
اﻟﺴ م ﻋﻠﻴﻜﻢ ﻳﺎ رﺟﺎل اﻟﺨﻴﺮ.
Peace be upon you, men of goodness.
ELDER #1
وﻋﻠﻴﻜﻢ اﻟﺴ م.
And upon you.
KHANYA’s eyes snap to MU’AAT. Their gaze locks. KHANYA
exhales sharply.
NASEEF and ABBAS clasp hands. The crowd murmurs.
ABBAS
اﻟﺬي ﺟﻤﻌﻨﺎاﻟﺤﻤﺪ.
Praise God who gathered us.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 62.
NASEEF
اﻟﻴﻮم ﺑﺪاﻳﺔ اﻟﺒﺮﻛﺔ.
Today marks blessing.
NASEEF sits beside ABBAS. KHANYA lingers, alert.
CUT TO:
INT. WEDDING PREP ROOM - DAY
The room glows with red and gold. Laughter fades as the last
of the women leave, their bangles clinking in retreat.
HAYAT sits before the mirror. Her red TOUB shimmers, but her
reflection doesn’t smile back.
HUSNA adjusts a gold pin in her daughter’s hair, her voice
soft.
HUSNA
ﻧﺎﺻﻴﻒ ﻣﺤﻈﻮظ.ﺑﺘﺸﺒﻬﻲ اﻟﻤﻠﻜﺔ
ِ .
You look like a queen. Naseef is
lucky.
HAYAT’s lips barely move.
HAYAT
Ammu.
Husna stills, eyes lifting to the mirror.
HUSNA
ﻣﺎﻟﻚ ﻳﺎ ﺑﺘﻲ؟
What’s wrong, my child?
HAYAT turns, eyes glistening.
HAYAT
ﻣﺎ ﻗﺎدرة أﻋﻤﻞ ﻛﺪه.
I can’t do this.
HUSNA lets out a light laugh that doesn’t reach her eyes.
HUSNA
ﻛﻞ ﻋﺮوس ﺑﺘﻘﻮل ﻛﺪه.
Every bride says that.
HAYAT turning to face her, eyes brimming with tears.
HAYAT
)اﻟﻨﺺ اﻟﻌﺮﺑﻲ اﻟﺴﻮداﻧﻲ )اﻟﺸﻤﺎﻟﻲ:
ده ﺗﺎﺑﻊ ﻟﺰول ﺗﺎﻧﻲ... ... ﻗﻠﺒﻲ. .
(MORE)
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 63.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
No. My heart… it belongs to someone
else.
The air tightens. HUSNA’s smile dies.
HUSNA
(Whispering)
ﺧ ص.
Stop.
HAYAT grabs her wrist.
HAYAT
ُﻫ َـﻮ ﻣـُﻌـﺎت.
It's Mu'Aat.
HUSNA yanks free, her gaze darting to the door.
HUSNA
ﻋﻨﺪك ﻓﻜﺮة إﻧﺘﻲ ﺑﺘﻘﻮﻟﻲ ﺷﻨﻮ؟ اﻟﺠﻮاز ده.ﻛﻔﺎﻳﺔ
ﺑﻴﺠﻤﻊ ﻛﻞ ﺣﺎﺟﺔ.
Enough. Do you have any idea what
you’re saying? This marriage— it
holds everything together.
Her breath trembles.
HUSNA (CONT'D)
ﻛﻞ ﺣﺎﺟﺔ ﺑﺘﺤﺘﺮق،ﻟﻮ ﺗﻤﺸﻲ.
If you walk away, everything burns.
Hayat says nothing. Her eyes fall to the floor.
Husna reaches out, steadies her daughter’s chin, forcing her
to look up.
HUSNA (CONT'D)
. وﺣﺘﺨﺮﺟﻲ ﻫﻨﺎك ﻛﺄن ﻗﻠﺒﻚ ﻣﺎ ﻏﺎب ﻟﺤﻈﺔ.ﺣﺘﺒﺘﺴﻤﻲ
ده اﻟﺤﺎﺟﻪ اﻟﺒﺘﻌﻤﻠﻬﺎ ﻧﺴﻮاﻧﺎ داﻳ ًﻤﺎ.
You will smile. You will walk out
there as if your heart never
strayed. That’s what our women have
always done.
A ZAGHARIT bursts outside — sharp, celebratory.
Husna wipes the tear before it smudges Hayat’s makeup. Then
she turns, composes herself, and opens the curtain.
The crowd’s noise floods in.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 64.
HAYAT stands. The daughter her mother demanded.
FADE TO: THE WEDDING PROCESSION.
EXT. AL-FASHIR SQUARE – CONTINUOUS
HUSNA parts a curtain. HAYAT appears in a red Toub, adorned
with gold pins, moving slowly in the Zaffa. Her eyes find
MU'AAT. Tears glint.
HUSNA steadies her arm. They reach the platform. HUSNA drapes
silk over Hayat and NASEEF for the Jirtig.
SHEIKH MAHMOUD
(In Northern Sudanese Arabic)
ﻫﻞ ﻳﻘﺒﻞ أﻫﻞ اﻟﻌﺮوﺳﻴﻦ ﻫﺬا اﻟﺰواج؟
Do both families accept this union?
ABBAS and NASEEF nod.
The SHEIKH prays. The crowd murmurs “Ameen.” Drums rise.
MU'AAT edges toward the market perimeter. KHANYA follows,
silent.
CUT TO:
EXT. MARKETPLACE - PERIMETER - CONTINUOUS
HUSNA sees MU'AAT move and steps away from the platform.
CUT TO:
MU'AAT & HAYAT 65.
HUSNA (CONT'D)
Today as a mother, I beg you to
forget my daughter. Here, tradition
dictates a woman’s life. If her
father suspects, he will kill you
both. If you really love Hayat,
then please leave.
HUSNA folds her hands together, pleading.
MU'AAT clasps them gently, reluctant.
MU’AAT
ﻳﻤﻜﻦ ﻣﺎ ﺑﻔﻬﻢ ﺗﻤﺎم ﻋﺎداﺗﻜﻢ و ﺗﻘﺎﻟﻴﺪﻛﻢ،
ﻟﻜﻦ اﻟﺒﻔﻬﻤﻮ ﻛﻮﻳﺲ ﻫﻮ دﻣﻮع ا م.
I might not fully understand your
tradition or culture. But what I do
understand is a mother's tears.
HUSNA nods, tears she won’t let fall.
HUSNA
(nods)
ﻳﺠﺎزﻳﻬﻢ ﺧﻴﺮ ا،أﻫﻠﻚ ر ّﺑﻮك ﺗﺮﺑﻴﺔ ﻃﻴﺒﺔ.
Your parents raised you well. May
Allah reward them.
She turns back toward the music and light. MU'AAT stays
behind.
CUT TO:
EXT. SIDE ALLEY – MOMENTS LATER
KHANYA presses a MAP into MU'AAT’s hand.
KHANYA
Naseef and his men stay till
morning. We move at sunrise.
MU'AAT tucks the map away, heading off.
CUT TO:
EXT. MARKETPLACE – CONTINUOUS
HAYAT dances beside NASEEF, distant. She sees MU'AAT vanish.
Her breath hitches. HUSNA, returning, follows her gaze and
then turns away.
FADE TO:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 66.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
37 -
Storm of Confessions
INT. MU’AAT’S MUD SHELTER - SAME DAY
MU’AAT stuffs a MAP into his bag. The NOTEBOOK peeks from
under the mat, unnoticed. The door CREAKS. HAYAT stands,
trembling, her wedding Toub soaked.
HAYAT
ّ .
ﺧﻠﻴﺘﻨﻲ أﻏﺮق ﻓﻲ ُدﻧﻴﺎﻫﻢ
You left me to drown in their
world.
MU’AAT
You’re married now.
HAYAT
ﺷﺮاﻳﻌﻨﺎ واﺿﺤﺔ ﻳﺎ ﻋﺒﺎس.
They made me.
Silence. Tears well in her eyes.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
ّ .
أﻓﻀﻞ أواﺟﻪ اﻟﺤﺠﺎرة و أﻋﻴﺶ ﺑﺎﻟ َﻜ ِﺬب
I’d rather face the stones than
live a lie.
MU'AAT steps toward her. She reaches for the door.
MU’AAT
Don’t go.
CUT TO:
EXT. MU’AAT’S MUD SHELTER – CONTINUOUS
MU’AAT grabs her arm gently in the rain. He struggles with
the words.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
Hayat--
HAYAT gently touches MU'AAT's face.
HAYAT
Mu'Aat...
MU'AAT
I promised myself I wouldn't. I
can't. But-
HAYAT
؟...ﻟﻜﻦ ﺷﻨﻮ
But what...?
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 67.
MU'AAT
I have fallen in love with you.
When you first taught me your
language, your smile totally stole
my heart.
Rain gently falls down on them.
MU'AAT (CONT'D)
I also fell in love with your
courage, how you risk everything
for others, and how you laugh when
you forget to be careful.
HAYAT
ﻗﻒ.
Stop.
MU'AAT
No. Look at me. You are
intelligent… and you question the
world.
HAYAT
Please stop.
MU'AAT
Why?
HAYAT
Before you came, life for me just
went without meaning. But when you
came, I started to feel alive
again.
MU'AAT reaches for her hand. She doesn't pull away.
MU'AAT
Then let's make this moment about
us, Mu'Aat, and Hayat. My truth and
your life, our love story.
He touches her face gently. She leans into his palm.
HAYAT
دا ﺟﻨﻮن.
This is madness.
MU'AAT
Yes.
HAYAT
It will end badly.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 68.
MU'AAT
Probably.
Rain intensifies.
They kiss urgently, inevitable, then move inside.
CUT TO:
INT. MUD SHELTER - CONTINUOUS
The storm builds.
MU’AAT closes the door.
HAYAT stands there, drenched in her wedding dress, fragile
and defiant.
He wipes rain from her cheek. Gently, he loosens her wedding
dress.
They kneel together on the blanket, kissing tenderly. Their
breath merges; the storm fades to quiet.
CUT TO:
INT. MU’AAT’S MUD SHELTER - LATER
Rain patters softly. HAYAT, dressed, heads for the door.
HAYAT
I go with you.
MU'AAT gazes at the rain-streaked window, silent.
FADE OUT.
Genres:
["Romance","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
38 -
Dawn of Heartbreak
EXT. VILLAGE - OUTSKIRTS - MORNING
Pink light edges the sky. Mist clings low.
MU’AAT slips from the mud shelter, a worn bag on his back.
His steps are quick, measured.
At the village edge, KHANYA waits, tense, bag in hand. Sweat
beads his brow.
Their eyes meet. A nod. No words — only resolve.
CUT TO:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 69.
INT. FARMHOUSE - BEDROOM - SAME TIME
HAYAT'S eyes snap open.
NASEEF is asleep.
She quietly gets out of bed. Exiting the bedroom.
CUT TO:
EXT. VILLAGE OUTSKIRTS - CONTINUOUS
Pink light breaks through mist. MU’AAT slips from the mud
shelter, a bag on his back, stepping quickly. KHANYA waits at
the village edge, tense, with a bag in hand. They nod,
resolute.
CUT TO:
EXT. FARMHOUSE - CONTINUOUS
HAYAT runs from the farmhouse.
CUT TO:
EXT. VILLAGE OUTSKIRTS - DAY
MU’AAT and KHANYA move along the tree line. FOOTSTEPS pound.
HAYAT tears across the field, her dress whipping.
HAYAT
!ﻣﻌﺎط! اﺳﺘﻨﻰ! ﻣﺎ ﺗﺘﺮﻛﻨﻲ
Mu’Aat! Wait! Don’t leave me!
She slaps MU'AAT, then shoves him, desperate.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
(gasping)
ﻛﻴﻒ ﺗﻘﺪر ﺗﻤﺸﻲ وﺗﺨﻠﻴﻨﻲ؟
How can you leave me?
MU’AAT
Hayat…
HAYAT
(tears falling)
ﻗﻠﺒﻲ وﻋﺎﻟﻤﻲ ﻣﻌﺎك. ﻣﺎ ﻋﻨﺪي ﺷﻲ ﻫﻨﺎ.ﺧﺬﻧﻲ ﻣﻌﺎك.
Take me. I have nothing here. My
heart, my world is with you.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 70.
KHANYA
Mu’Aat, now! They’ll find us!
HAYAT grabs his arms.
HAYAT
أﺣﺒﻚ… ﻣﺎ ﺗﺨﻠﻲ ﺣﻜﺎﻳﺘﻨﺎ ﺗﻤﻮت ﻫﻨﺎ.
I love you… don’t let our story die
here.
MU’AAT
Your father will kill us.
HAYAT
ﺧﻠﻴﻬﻢ ﻳﻘﺘﻠﻮﻧﻲ… أﺣﺴﻦ ﻣﻦ ﺣﻴﺎة ﻣﻴﺘﺔ.
Let them kill me… better than a
living death.
MU'AAT touches her cheek, then lets go.
MU’AAT
ﺳﺎﻣﺤﻴﻨﻲ.
Forgive me.
KHANYA
!ﻧﺮوح
Now!
MU'AAT runs with KHANYA into the dawn. HAYAT’s scarf slips.
She clutches it, trembling, tears streaming. She takes a
step, stops, then turns back to the village, heartbreak
etched on her face.
FADE OUT.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
39 -
Desperate Escape
EXT. ROAD - DAY (SAME DAY)
A cracked path cuts through the plain. Wind stirs dust.
MU’AAT and KHANYA jog, their breaths ragged.
KHANYA
Faster.
MU'AAT nods, scanning the horizon, then freezes. A vehicle
approaches, dust trailing.
MU’AAT
(whisper)
Vehicle.
KHANYA
Militants.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 71.
A MILITANT van climbs the ridge. They dive into a ditch. The
engine nears. A SCAR-FACED MILITANT spots something and
shouts.
The van swerves, tearing toward them.
MU’AAT
Run!
They sprint, bags slapping. SHOUTS and RIFLE SHOTS erupt.
Bullets whiz past, kicking up dirt.
KHANYA
They’ll kill us!
A SHOT grazes KHANYA’s shoulder. He stumbles but continues
running. A militant tackles MU'AAT, dust exploding. Another
grabs KHANYA.
Pinned, MU'AAT sees KHANYA’s despairing eyes. They’re
wrenched upward, arms bound and shoved into the van. Bags are
tossed in.
The doors SLAM shut. The van speeds off, dust swallowing
them.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
40 -
Chaos in the Marketplace
EXT. AL-FASHIR MARKETPLACE - CENTER SQUARE - DAY
The marketplace buzzes. Merchants raise tents; elders murmur
in the shade. ABBAS sits with NASEEF, sipping tea.
ABBAS
زم ﻧﺸﺪد ا ﻣﻦ
.اﻟﻮﺿﻊ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺠﻨﻮب ﺑﻴﺘﺪﻫﻮر. The
South worsens. We must strengthen
security.
NASEEF nods silently. A VAN skids in. HAYAT, with HUSNA,
turns and runs. MILITANTS drag MU’AAT and KHANYA out.
ABBAS stands. His face is like stone. He strides toward them.
ABBAS (CONT'D)
ﻇﻨﻴﺖ إﻧﻚ اﺗﻌﻠﻤﺖ.
I thought you’d learned.
Without hesitation, he STRIKES MU’AAT’s arm with his SLIPPER.
Once. Then again.
SOUND the slap echoes like thunder.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 72.
MU’AAT recoils, then catches the slipper on the third swing.
MU’AAT
!
No!
ABBAS jerks back, stunned at the defiance.
HAYAT VOICE (O.S.)
!!ﻛﻔﻰ
Enough!
HAYAT bursts into the circle. Breathless. Furious.
HUSNA trails behind, terrified.
HAYAT
ﻫﻮ ﻣﺎ ﺑﺴﺘﺤﻖ دا،ﺑﺎﺑﺎ.
Baba, he doesn’t deserve this.
ABBAS raises the slipper again.
HAYAT rushes forward--
MU'AAT and HAYAT grab the slipper together.
Together:
MU’AAT & HAYAT (CONT'D)
!
No!
The crowd gasps. Silence spreads like smoke.
ABBAS glares.
Then--
HAYAT (CONT'D)
ﻛﻔﻰ. ﺧﻠﻴﻪ ﻳﻤﺸﻲ.أﺣﺒﻪ.
I love him. Let him go. Enough.
Gasps ripple across the square.
NASEEF, lifting his cup, stops mid-motion. His hand lowers,
stiff.
HUSNA stumbles to a stop. She clutches her chest.
HUSNA
ﻛﻔﻰ،ﺣﻴﺎة.
Hayat, no! Stop it?
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 73.
HAYAT
ﻣﺎ ﻋﻨﺪي ﺧﺠﻞ أﻗﻮل إﻧﻲ ﺑﺤﺐ اﻟﺰول ده،ﻳﺎ ﻋﻤﻮ .
No Ammu. I have no shame to say
that I love this man.
ABBAS’s face crumples into rage. He points at MU'AAT,
shouting:
ABBAS
!ﺷﻨﻮ؟! ﺣﺘﺸﻮﻓﻮ ﻏﻀﺒﻲ
What?! You’ll, you both see what
I'll do.
NASEEF stands slowly, says nothing, and walks toward Hayat.
Smack her across the face.
NASEEF
اﻟﻌﺎر ﻟﻴﻚ ﻳﺎ ﺑﻨﺖ اﻟﻜﻠﺐ.
Your shameless little bitch.
Naseef turns and passes KHANYA without a glance.
Militants GRAB Khanya. He screams.
KHANYA
(sobbing)
No no no no Mu'Aat!
I don't wanna please I don't wanna
die! Mu'Aat please!
He thrashes.
A soldier YANKS his arm.
KHANYA FALLS, scraping the dirt.
MU’AAT lunges.
CRACK.
ABBAS lashes him across the back with a CATTLE WHIP.
MU’AAT collapses.
HAYAT screams, throwing herself over him.
HAYAT
! ﺑﺎﺑﺎ،!ﻛﻔﻰ
Baba! No, please!
ABBAS
! ِاﺑﻌﺪي
Move!
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 74.
He SHOVES her away. She crumples into HUSNA’s arms.
KHANYA is dragged to the van. Still shouting. Still fighting.
KHANYA
I don’t want to die! Please!
Mu'Aat--
MU’AAT begins to CRAWL across the dirt toward him, fingers
bloody, reaching.
CRACK.
ABBAS strikes his outstretched hands.
MU’AAT SCREAMS. FINGERS TREMBLE.
The militant van pulls away.
KHANYA falls violently to the ground as he is dragged away in
the dust behind the van.
KHANYA disappears behind the van.
MU’AAT
(hoarse)
No!
ABBAS RIPS MU’AAT’s shirt off, exposing his back.
ABBAS
(roaring)
ّ !اﻟﺴﻴﺮك دا ﺑﻴﻨﺘﻬﻲ
ﻫﺴﺎ
This circus ends now!
ABBAS strikes again.
CRACK.
A red WELT appears on his skin, then BURSTS open, blood
streaking down.
Blood is streaking down.
MU'AAT
MAMIE!
CUT TO:
INTERCUT. FATIEMA'S PRAYER ROOM – DAY (CAPE TOWN)
FATIEMA kneels on a prayer mat, fingers on prayer beads.
SOUND: CRACK (echoing from Sudan)
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 75.
Her hands JOLT. Beads scatter across the floor.
She gasps, clutching her chest.
FATIEMA
(whispered)
Mu'Aat...
BACK TO SUDAN:
CRACK. Another whip strike and another.
MU'AAT's scream tears through the square.
BACK TO CAPE TOWN:
FATIEMA doubles over, as if struck herself.
FATIEMA (CONT'D)
(tearful, urgent)
ا ﺎﻳ، يﻟﺪو ِ ﻢﺣا.
Ya Allah, protect my kind.
BACK TO SUDAN:
HAYAT SCREAMS in anguish, her hands reaching out toward
MU'AAT. Held by HUSNA, watching in horror.
HAYAT
أرﺟﻮك اﻃﻠﺐ ﻣﻦ ﺑﺎﺑﺎ. ﻣﺎ ﺑﻘﺪر أﺗﺤﻤﻞ،ﻳﺎ ﻋﻤﻮ
أرﺟﻮك، ﻳﺎ ﻋﻤﻮ.ﻳﻮﻗﻒ.
Ammu, I can't take it anymore.
Please make Baba stop.
Ammu....please.
HAYAT collapses to the ground, looking at MU'AAT.
MU'AAT lies bloodied. ABBAS looms.
ABBAS
اﺗﻮﻧﺲ ﺑﻠﻴﻠﺘﻚ ا ﺧﻴﺮة ﻓﻲ.ﻗﻠﺖ ﻟﻴﻚ دي ﻣﺎ دﻧﻴﺎك
ا رض.
()ﻟﺤﻴﺎة
أﺑﻮك،ﺧﺴﺮت ﺣﻘﻚ ﻓﻴﻲ
ِ واﻧﺘﻲ.
I told you this is not your world.
Enjoy your last night on earth.
(to Hayat)
And you have lost the right to me
your Abba.
Men lift MU'AAT. Others seize HAYAT and drag them both to the
mud house.
FADE OUT.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 76.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance","Conflict"]
Ratings
Scene
41 -
Silent Suffering
INT. MUD SHELTER – NIGHT
The door bursts open.
MU'AAT and HAYAT are thrown inside.
They hit the ground hard, gasping. Mud streaks their faces.
A lantern sways overhead, shadows crawling across the walls.
ABBAS stands in the doorway. He looks at his daughter.
A pause.
Then he spits on the dirt and walks out.
The door SLAMS. The bolt LOCKS.
Silence.
MU’AAT stirs, barely conscious. His body trembles.
HAYAT crawls to him, her hands hovering over his torn shirt.
Blood seeps through the whip marks on his back.
She pulls off her HEADSCARF, presses it against the wounds.
Blood spreads through the fabric, soaking her fingers.
Their eyes meet: pain, exhaustion, understanding.
She looks around. Nothing. Then she spots the NOTEBOOK under
the mat.
Her breath catches. She pulls it free. Flips through the
pages... Finds a few blank ones. Tears them out.
The sound of paper ripping cuts through the silence. She
presses the sheets against his wounds.
The white turns red.
MU’AAT watches her through half-closed eyes.
The notebook lies open beside them, blood seeping into what
remains.
HAYAT pulls back, looks at MU'AAT. EYES fill with tears.
Hayat reaches for the notebook, her bloodied fingers
trembling.
She writes slowly, deliberate, each stroke catching in the
thin light.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 77.
MU'AAT watches, silent.
FADE OUT.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
42 -
Confrontation of Honor
INT. ABBAS'S FARMHOUSE - LATER
FOUR ELDERS. OMAR, KHALID, YUSUF, NASEEF.
They sit opposite ABBAS, whose shoulders are rigid.
He stares at the dirt floor.
ELDER OMAR
ﺣﻴﺎة. ﻋﺒﺎس،اﻟﻠﻲ ﺳﻤﻌﻨﺎه اﻟﻴﻮم ﻓﻲ اﻟﺴﻮق ﺧﻄﻴﺮ
إﻧﻬﺎ ﺑﺘﺤﺐ ﻋﺒﺪك وزواﺟﻬﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻧﺎﺻﻴﻒ...ﻗﺎﻟﺖ ﺑﻨﻔﺴﻬﺎ
ﻟﺴﺔ ﺑﻴﺘﻌﻤﻞ ﻟﻴﻪ اﺣﺘﻔﺎل ﻓﻲ اﻟﻘﺮﻳﺔ.
What we heard today at the market
is serious, Abbas. Hayat said it
herself... that she’s in love with
your slave while her marriage to
Naseef is still being celebrated in
the village.
ABBAS doesn't speak. His jaw tenses.
ELDER KHALID
ﻛﻴﻒ ﻳﺤﺼﻞ دا. وﻗﺎﺋﺪﻧﺎ ﻓﻲ اﻟﻘﺘﺎل، ﺷﻴﺨﻨﺎ،أﻧﺖ ﻛﺒﻴﺮﻧﺎ
اﻟﻘﺮى اﻟﺘﺎﻧﻴﺔ.ﻓﻲ ﺑﻴﺘﻚ؟ اﻟﻜ م وﺻﻞ ﻛﻞ زول
ﺣﺘﻀﺤﻚ ﻋﻠﻴﻨﺎ.
You are our elder, our sheikh, our
war leader. How could this happen
under your roof? The whole village
talks. The other villages will
laugh at us.
ABBAS
أﻧﺎ ﺑﻜﺘﻠﻮ ﺑﻜﺮة.
I will kill him tomorrow.
ELDER OMAR
وﺣﻴﺎة؟ ﺑﻨﺘﻚ؟ ﺣﺴﺐ ﻋﺎداﺗﻨﺎ؟
And Hayat? Your daughter? What
about our customs?
ELDER YUSUF
. ﻏﻄﻴﺘﺎ. ﻛﻨﺖ ﺳﺎﻛﺖ ﻋﻦ ﻓﻀﻴﺤﺔ ﻓﻲ ﺑﻴﺘﻲ...زﻣﺎن
ﺧﺒﻴﺖ اﻟﺒﻨﺖ.
Once... I stayed quiet about a
scandal in my own house. I covered
it. Hid the girl.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 78.
YUSUF (CONT’D)
ﻟ ن. اﺳﻤﻲ ﺑﻘﻰ ﻣﺮﺑﻮط ﺑﺎﻟﻌﺎر.ﺑﺲ اﻟﻨﺎس ﻋﺮﻓﻮا.
But people found out. My name is
still tied to that shame. Even now.
YUSUF leans forward slightly.
YUSUF (CONT'D)
اﻟﻐﻔﺮان ﻫﻨﺎ ﺿﻌﻒ.ﻣﺎ ﺗﻌﻴﺪ ﻧﻔﺲ اﻟﻐﻠﻄﺔ.
Don’t make the same mistake.
Forgiveness here is weakness.
ABBAS’s knuckles whiten against his knees.
Then, from the side, NASEEF, silent until now, places his
teacup down on the table with a soft but definitive clink.
NASEEF
ﺷﺮاﻳﻌﻨﺎ واﺿﺤﺔ ﻳﺎ ﻋﺒﺎس.
Our laws are clear, Abbas.
ABBAS’s eyes flick toward NASEEF. That calm verdict hangs
heavy.
A sound, the faintest gasp, comes from the doorway.
HUSNA, clay pot in hand, stands frozen in the frame. Her face
pale. The pot slips, shattering on the floor.
ABBAS
!ﺟﻮه ﻳﺎ ُﺣﺴﻨﻰ
Inside, Husna!
She flinches. Then flees.
ELDER KHALID
ّ زم.
ﻗﺒﻞ ﻣﺎ اﻟﻨﺎس ﻳﻄﻬﺮوﻧﺎ. ﻋﺒﺎس،ﺗﻄﻬﺮ ﺑﻴﺘﻚ
Clean your house, Abbas. Before the
people come to clean it for you.
ELDER OMAR
وإ اﻟﺘﺎرﻳﺦ ﻣﺎ ﺑﻴﺮﺣﻤﻚ... ّﻧﻔﺬ اﻟﻘﺎﻧﻮن.
Carry out the law... or history
won’t forgive you.
ELDER KHALID
،ﺑﻘﻴﺔ ﺷﻴﻮخ اﻟﻘﺮﻳﺔ ح ﻳﺘﺠﻤﻌﻮا ﺑﺨﺼﻮص اﻟﻤﻮﺿﻮع ده
ّ
اﻟﻤﺘﻌﻠﻖ وح ﻳ ّﺘﺒﻊ ﻟﻴﻚ ﺧﻄﺎب ﺑﻌﺪﻳﻦ ﺑﺨﺼﻮص اﻟﻘﺮار
ﺑﺤﻴﺎة واﻟﻌﺒﺪ.
(MORE)
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 79.
ELDER KHALID (CONT'D)
The rest of village elders will
gather on this matter and a letter
will be delivered to you later
regarding the outcome on Hayat and
the slave.
The elders rise one by one. Only ABBAS remains seated,
staring down at a worn prayer mat. His jaw works; his eyes
shine not with tears, but with fury.
FADE OUT.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
43 -
A Prayer in the Darkness
INT. MUD SHELTER - NIGHT (HOURS LATER)
Moonlight cuts through the cracked roof, streaking the dirt
floor.
Two bloodied hands rise, trembling, clutching a WORN
NOTEBOOK. HAYAT’s face appears streaked with mud and tears.
From the darkness, MU’AAT crawls forward, bruised, dirt-
streaked, lips dry, eyes swollen. He stops beside her, breath
ragged.
They lock eyes, exhausted, broken, still alive.
SOUND: The faint call to prayer drifts from the distance,
soft, mournful, barely reaching the shelter.
HAYAT places the WORN NOTEBOOK between them. She helps MU'AAT
onto his knees. Together, they prepare to pray.
HAYAT helps MU'AAT lift their hands slowly into the still
air.
MU’AAT / HAYAT
(in Arabic)
ِﺑ ْﺴ ِﻢ ا ِ اﻟﺮ ْﺣ ٰﻤ ِﻦ اﻟﺮ ِﺣ ِﻴﻢ
ﺑﺎﻟﻐﺪ وﻛﻞ ﻣﺎ ﻗﺪ ﻳﺠﻠﺒﻪ ِ اﻟﻠﻬﻢ إ ّﻧﺎ ُﻧﻮﻛﻠﻚ.
َ واﻣﻨﺤﻨﺎ اﻟﻘﻮة،اﻟﺮﺣﻤﺔ واﻟﺨ ص ِ َ
أﺑﻮاب اﻓﺘﺢ ﻟﻨﺎ
ﻟﻤﻮاﺟﻬﺔ ﻣﺎ ﻳﺄﺗﻲ،
ِ
واﺟﻌﻞ ﻟﻨﺎ ﻧﻮ ًرا ﻓﻲ اﻟﻈ م.
In the name of Allah, the Most
Gracious, the Most Merciful.
O Allah, we entrust You with
tomorrow and all that it may bring.
Open the doors of mercy and
salvation for us. Grant us strength
to face what comes, and light in
the darkness.
They lower their hands.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 80.
MU'AAT takes the WORN NOTEBOOK, opens it, and reads.
His face changes. He looks at her. Shocked.
She meets his gaze.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
44 -
Silent Grief
INT. HAYAT’S BEDROOM – NIGHT
HUSNA sits on the bed, tearfully, surrounded by scattered
photos.
She lifts a photo of HAYAT and SALMA, arms around each other,
smiling. Her thumb traces Hayat’s face. Presses the photo
against her chest.
CUT TO:
INT. MUD SHELTER - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS)
MU'AAT and HAYAT collapse into each other's arms. Their
bodies shake with silent sobs. They rock gently, foreheads
pressed together.
CUT TO:
INT. ABBAS’S SITTING ROOM - NIGHT
ABBAS sits alone at a low table, staring into the middle
distance.
An ELDER enters, places a sealed LETTER before him, bows, and
exits.
ABBAS opens it.
INSERT – THE LETTER:
Written in Northern Sudanese Arabic:
ﺗﻨﻔﻴﺬ ﺣﻜﻢ ا ﻋﺪام ﻓﻲ ﺣﻴﺎة ﺣﺴﻦ وا ﺳﻴﺮ ﻣﻌﺎط ﻋﻨﺪ اﻟﻔﺠﺮ
(Execution of HAYAT HASSEN and the captive MU'AAT at dawn.)
He reads. Closes his eyes briefly. Tears fall.
Sets the letter down. Exits the room.
HUSNA enters quietly. Her eyes fall on the letter.
She picks it up, reads. Her hand covers her mouth in shock
and disbelief. Then she steadies herself.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 81.
She adjusts her headscarf quickly, deliberate.
She sets the letter back exactly where she found it. Then
slips out the door.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Romance","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
45 -
Midnight Escape
EXT. COURTYARD - NIGHT
A full moon hangs high.
Its pale light washes over the courtyard and the mud shelter
roof.
SOUND: Soft footsteps approaching.
HUSNA moves quickly, eyes scanning the darkness.
CUT TO:
INT. MUD SHELTER - NIGHT - CONTINUOUS
SOUND: The bolt scrapes metal on metal.
It opens slowly.
MU'AAT and HAYAT’s eyes snap toward the door.
HUSNA appears in the doorway, breathless and urgent.
She slips inside, breathless and urgent. Her face tightens at
the sight of MU'AAT'S state.
HAYAT quickly stands up.
HAYAT
Ammu?
HUSNA presses a finger to her lips: silence.
She gestures for them to come. Now.
HAYAT (CONT'D)
ﻟﻜﻦ ﻣﻌﺖ..
But Mu'Aat..
HUSNA cuts her off with a look. Points at the door. No time.
MU'AAT winces as he tries to push himself up.
They immediately put their arms around him, helping him to
his feet.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 82.
MU’AAT
ً .
ﻋﻠﻴﻜﻢ...ﺷﻜﺮا
Thank you.
HUSNA
زم ﻧﻤﺸﻲ َﻫ ّﺴﺎ
.ﺑﻌﺪﻳﻦ.
Later. We must go now.
He sags between them, leaning heavily.
HAYAT quickly grabs the NOTEBOOK.
They move as quickly and quietly as his injuries allow,
heading for the door.
CUT TO:
EXT. FARMHOUSE - COURTYARD - CONTINUOUS
They emerge from the shelter, three figures moving low and
fast across the courtyard, seeking the cover of the receding
pre-dawn shadows.
HUSNA leads the way, constantly checking their surroundings.
CUT TO:
EXT. VILLAGE PATHWAYS - CONTINUOUS
HUSNA yanks MU'AAT and HAYAT into the shadows as men's voices
pass.
They slip through the narrow passage, steps quick and hushed.
MU'AAT limps between them, slowing their pace.
HAYAT glances back, fear in her eyes.
HUSNA pushes them forward.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
46 -
A Heartfelt Farewell
EXT. VILLAGE - EDGE - NIGHT
SOUND of hushed footsteps, MU'AAT's pained breathing.
HUSNA, HAYAT, and MU'AAT (injured, leaning heavily on them)
reach the village edge.
They stop behind a cluster of low bushes, scanning back
toward the sleeping village.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 83.
Tension is visible in their posture.
A short distance away, a small, inconspicuous TRUCK sits
idle.
A cloaked figure, the REBEL GUIDE, stands beside it.
The Guide steps forward, moving quietly.
REBEL GUIDE
Good evening.
HUSNA
ّ .
اﻟﺴﻔﺎرة ﻫﻨﺎك. ﻋﻠﻰ اﻟﻤﺪﻳﻨﺔ،ﺧﺪﻫﻢ ﺟﻨﻮب
Hello, please take them south,
towards the city. The Embassy is
there.
The Guide nods. He moves to the back of the truck, opening it
quietly.
HUSNA and HAYAT work quickly, helping MU'AAT toward the
truck.
MU'AAT winces with every step, biting back cries of pain.
They have to move quickly to help him climb into the back of
the truck. It's a struggle.
HUSNA steps back. Hayat faces her.
HAYAT
ّأﻣﻲ ﻣﺎ ﺟﺎﻳﺔ ﻣﻌﺎﻧﺎ؟
Ammu, are you not coming with?
HUSNA
ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻲ ﻫﻨﺎ ﻣﻊ أﺑﻮﻛﻲ...ﻳﺎ ﺑﺘﻲ
.
No, my child...my life is here with
your Abbu.
HAYAT
ﻟﻜﻦ ﺣـ ﻳـ
But they will ki-
Tears start filling HAYAT's eyes.
HUSNA
ﻣﺎ ﺗﻔ ّﻜﺮي ﻓﻲ دا... ِﺷ ْﺸ ْﺶ.
Shhhhh don't think about that.
HUSNA reaches out, clasps HAYAT’s hand. She removes her
bracelet and clasps it around HAYAT’s wrist. It gleams
faintly in the breaking light.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 84.
HUSNA (CONT'D)
اﻣﺸﻮا َﻫ ّﺴﺎ.ﻳﺤﻔﻈﻜﻢ اﻧﺘﻮ ا ﺗﻨﻴﻦ
ا.
May Allah protect you both. Go now.
They embrace tightly. Their foreheads touch in silence.
HAYAT
ﺑﺤﺒّﻚ ﻳﺎ ّاﻣﻲ.
I love you, Ammu.
Tears well in HUSNA’s eyes.
She steadies herself, wiping her face quickly, gives Hayat a
final push toward the truck.
She turns to MU'AAT, who is still watching.
HUSNA
َﺑﺲ ﺷﺎﻳﻔﺎك.ﺑﺘﻬﻤﻚ ﺷﺪﻳﺪ
ّ ﺑﻨﺘﻲ دي،ﻳﺎ وﻟﺪي
ﺑﻴﻮﺟﻊ ﻗﻠﺒﻬﺎ
ِ ...ﻣﻮﺟﻮع.
My son, this daughter of mine cares
deeply for you. But seeing you in
pain… it wounds her heart.
She gently cups his face.
HUSNA (CONT'D)
ﻣﺎ.وﻋﺪﻧﻲ ﺣﺘﻌﻤﻞ أي ﺷﻲ ﻋﺸﺎن ﺿﺤﻜﺘﻬﺎ ﺗﻔﻀﻞ
ﺣﺘﺠﻴﺐ دﻣﻮع ﺣﺰن ﻟﻌﻴﻮﻧﻬﺎ.
Promise me you’ll do anything to
keep her smiling. Promise me no
more tears.
MU’AAT
أﻋﺪك.
I promise.
She brushes his cheek. A tender farewell.
HUSNA
ﺳﺎﻣﺢ ﻗﺴﺎوة راﺟﻠﻲ ِﻟﻴﻚ
ِ .ﺳﺎﻣﺤﻨﻲ ﻳﺎ وﻟﺪي
ِ .
Forgive me, my son. Forgive my
husband’s cruelty. Not all of us
share his way of life.
MU’AAT
THERE IS NOTHING TO FORGIVE.
Thank you for helping us.
HUSNA
ﻗﺒﻞ أي زول ﻳﻨﺘﺒﻪ...اﻣﺸﻮا َﻫ ّﺴﺎ.
Go now... before anyone notices.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 85.
The REBEL GUIDE gives a short, respectful nod to HUSNA before
climbing into the cab.
The truck RUMBLES softly, pulling away as HAYAT clutches
MU'AAT's hand.
HUSNA stands behind, arms raised in prayer.
HUSNA (CONT'D)
ﻳﺎ اﻃﻔﺎﻟﻲ، ﻛﻮﻧﻮا ﺑﺨﻴﺮ. اﺣﻤﻴﻬﻢ، ﻳﺎ ا.
O Allah, protect them. Be safe, my
children.
She watches until the truck vanishes into the horizon.
FADE OUT.
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
47 -
A Plea for Sanctuary
EXT. SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY - DAY
The truck rumbles to a halt. Before them stand the gates of
the South African Embassy, tall and solid against the growing
light.
The REBEL GUIDE steps out of the truck bed. He gestures for
MU’AAT and HAYAT to follow.
REBEL GUIDE
ﻳﺤﻔﻈﻜﻢ اﻧﺘﻮ ا ﺗﻨﻴﻦ
ا. اﻣﺸﻮا ﺑﺎﻟﺴ ﻣﺔ.ﻣﻦ ﻫﻨﺎ.
This way. Go in peace. May Allah
protect you both.
MU’AAT climbs out, favoring his injured side, Hayat helping
him. He stands leaning on Hayat slightly.
HAYAT
ً .
أﻧﻘﺬت ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻨﺎ.ﺷﻜﺮا
Thank you. You’ve saved our lives.
The Rebel Guide nods, dips his head in a brief farewell
gesture.
He climbs back into the truck cab.
The truck ENGINE rumbles, pulls away, leaving a cloud of dust
hanging in the air.
HAYAT and MU'AAT turn around, walking towards the gate of the
Embassy.
A GUARD approaches the gates cautiously, rifle slung. His
gaze is assessing.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 86.
GUARD
ﻗﻮﻟﻮ ﺟﺎﻳﻴﻦ ﺗﻌﻤﻠﻮ ﺷﻨﻮ.اﺳﺘﻨﻮا.
Hold on. State your business here.
HAYAT steps forward slightly.
HAYAT
ﺧﻄﻔﻮه ﻗﺒﻞ ﻛﻢ ﺷﻬﺮ ﻓﻲ.ﻫﻮ ﻣﻦ ﺟﻨﻮب أﻓﺮﻳﻘﻴﺎ
أرﺟﻮك ﺳﺎﻋﺪﻧﺎ... ﺟﻴﻨﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻃﺮﻳﻖ ﺑﻌﻴﺪ.ﺳﻴﻤﺎ.
He’s South African. They kidnapped
him a few months ago in Sima. We’ve
come a long way... please help us.
The Guard studies their faces, their worn clothes, and
MU'AAT's visible injuries.
His gaze softens. He nods slowly.
GUARD
(in Juba Arabic)
اﻧﺘﻈﺮوا ﻫﻨﺎ.
Wait here.
He disappears behind the gates.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
48 -
A Safe Haven
EXT. EMBASSY GATE - MOMENTS LATER
The Guard returns, holding the gate open.
An EMBASSY OFFICIAL stands behind him, a middle-aged man,
neatly dressed, his expression calm and assessing.
He looks from the Guard to Hayat and MU'AAT, his gaze
lingering on MU'AAT's battered appearance.
OFFICIAL
Can I help you?
MU’AAT leans more heavily on Hayat, but his voice is steady
and determined.
MU’AAT
I... I was kidnapped and we
escaped. Please, you have to help
us.
The Official's eyes narrow slightly as he processes this.
He looks at MU'AAT's injuries, then back to his face. His
expression softens with understanding.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 87.
OFFICIAL
Quick, come inside. We’ll assess
your situation.
He steps back.
The Guard opens the gate wider.
The Official gestures for them to enter.
HAYAT and MU'AAT look at each other briefly, a silent
acknowledgment, then step forward, entering the Embassy
grounds.
CUT TO:
INT. EMBASSY - ROOM - DAY
HAYAT and MU'AAT sit in a modest room. Exhaustion shows in
their slumped postures and lined faces.
The OFFICIAL sits across from them. His voice is calm and
reassuring.
OFFICIAL
You’ve been through a lot. You’re
safe here. We’ll do what we can to
assist you.
MU’AAT
Thank you.
OFFICIAL
Our aim is to provide shelter for
those seeking peace.
He slides some identification papers across the table.
OFFICIAL (CONT'D)
We’ll arrange temporary residence
for you while we process your case.
He gestures to the papers.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
49 -
A Heartfelt Reunion
INT. EMBASSY - PHONE BOOTH - MOMENTS LATER
MU'AAT stands near a small phone booth provided by the
embassy.
An EMBASSY OFFICIAL approaches, holding a simple cell phone.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 88.
EMBASSY OFFICIAL
Here, Mr. Khan. A secure line for
your call.
MU'AAT accepts the phone gratefully.
He dials a number. It rings.
A voice answers.
MU'AAT
(in Cape Malay Afrikaans)
Mamie.
MU'AAT's breath catches, tears welling instantly. His voice
breaks as he speaks.
FATIEMA (V.O.)
(voice sounds shaky,
tearful, over the phone)
Mu’Aat... Bieta! Is dit djy?
Mu'Aat... Bieta! Is that you?
MU’AAT
(voice cracking)
Ja mamie... is ek. Ek's safe. Ek's
by die South African Embassy in
South Sudan.
Yes, mom....is it's me. I'm safe.
I'm at the South African Embassy in
South Sudan.
A gasp of joy, followed by muffled sobs, comes through the
line.
MU'AAT pauses, his breath trembling.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
Ma da is nog nuus. Ek is nie
alleen. Ek's saam met iemand haar
naam is Hayat en ek bring haar saam
huis toe sodat mamie ha kan
ontmoet.
But there is more news. I'm not
alone. I'm with someone her name is
Hayat and I'm bring her home with
me so that you can meet her.
A stunned silence. Then FATIEMA’s voice breaks through,
filled with joy.
FATIEMA (V.O.)
Praise be to Allah! My boy, my hart
is bly...
(MORE)
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 89.
FATIEMA (V.O.) (CONT'D)
laat ek met haar praat en vir
welkom in ons klein family.
Paise be to Allah! My boy, my heart
is very happy....let me talk with
her and welcome her into our small
family.
MU’AAT lowers the phone slightly and turns to Hayat with a
soft smile.
MU’AAT
ﻣﺮﺣﺐ ﺑﻴﻚ ﻓﻲ ﻋﺎﻳﻠﺘﻨﺎ اﻟﺼﻐﻴﺮة:ﻗﺎﻟﺖ.
دي ﻧﻌﻤﺔ ﻣﻦ ا.
She said: welcome to our small
family. This is a blessing from
God.
He switches the phone to speaker mode and places it between
them.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
(in English)
You can both speak now.
HAYAT takes a breath, her fingers trembling slightly.
HAYAT
(shyly, voice quiet)
Hello...
FATIEMA (V.O.)
Hayat, my dear daughter. Welcome to
our family. You’ve given me back
the greatest gift: my son’s life.
HAYAT listens, tears filling her eyes. She looks at MU'AAT,
who nods encouragingly.
MU’AAT
ّ اﻧﺖ
ﺣﻴﺎة وﻟﺪﻫﺎ،رﺟﻌﺘﻲ ﻟﻴﻬﺎ أﻋﻈﻢ ﻫﺪﻳﺔ ِ .
She said: you have given back her
greatest gift—her son's life.
Hayat wipes her eyes, gathering courage.
HAYAT
أﻧﺎدﻳﻚ ﻳﺎ ّأﻣﻲ؟
I call you Ammu?
MU’AAT smiles warmly and looks at the phone.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 90.
MU’AAT
(to the phone, softly)
Mamie, sy vra of sy vir Mamie Ammu
kan noem? Meaning Mom.
Mom, she asks if she can call you
Ammu? Meaning Mom.
A pause, then FATIEMA’s voice returns, even softer and full
of warmth.
FATIEMA (V.O.)
Yes, my daughter. I would be
honoured.
MU’AAT
ﻛﻨﺖ ﺑﻨﺘﻬﺎ
ِ ﺣﺘﺒﻘﻰ ﻣﺒﺴﻮﻃﺔ ﻟﻮ،ﻗﺎﻟﺖ آه.
She said yes, she would be happy to
have you as her daughter.
HAYAT smiles through fresh tears.
HAYAT
(softly)
Shukran... Ammu.
MU’AAT watches HAYAT, quiet contentment on his face.
FATIEMA (V.O.)
Ek kan nie myself in dink waardeur
jy mos gegaan het my kind. My hart
is net bly om weer jou stem te
hoor. Kan wag om julle te sien nie.
I can't imagine what you must have
been through my child. My heart is
happy to hear your voice. Can't
wait to see both of you.
MU’AAT gently squeezes Hayat’s hand, steadying them both in
the quiet moment.
MU’AAT
(softly, voice trembling)
Soon, Mom.
MU’AAT ends the call. He looks at Hayat, her face soft with
emotion. They share a quiet smile, standing together in the
small booth.
FADE OUT.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 91.
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
50 -
A Mother's Joy
INT. FATIEMA’S LIVING ROOM – DAY
FATIEMA sits holding her cell phone. Her hands tremble
slightly.
Tears stream down her face, but a radiant smile spreads
across her lips.
She murmurs softly.
FATIEMA
Ya Allah. Dankie vir my kind se
lewe.
Ya Allah. Thank you for my child's
life.
Her fingers, still trembling, dial a number. The phone rings.
Once... twice... A familiar voice answers.
AVERIL (V.O., CAUTIOUS)
Fatiema? Is jy Ok?
Fatiema? Are you Ok?
FATIEMA’s voice is shaky but bright with unspeakable joy.
FATIEMA
Averil, Mu'Aat is safe. My kind is
lewe. Hy het nou net gebel.
Averil, Mu'Aat is safe. My child is
alive. He just called.
AVERIL (V.O., STUNNED PAUSE)
Wat? Is Fatiema seker?
What? Are you sure Fatiema?
FATIEMA
Yes. Hy is by die South African
Embassy in South Sudan.
Yes. He is at the South African
Embassy in South Sudan.
AVERIL (V.O.)
Embassy? That’s...
KHADJA enters the living room and starts listening curiously
to FATIEMA's conversation.
FATIEMA
En hy is nie alleen nie. Hy het ook
liefde gevind. Haar naam is Hayat.
And he is not alone. He also found
love. Her name is Hayat.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 92.
AVERIL (V.O.)
Hayat? Escape--
FATIEMA’s smile widens, tears still falling freely.
FATIEMA
Yes! en, Averil...
Yes! And Averil...
(voice dropping with awe)
...sy het hom gehelp escape.
... she helped him escape.
A stunned silence on AVERIL’s end.
AVERIL
Dis great Fatiema. Die wêreld moet
weet van hulle Love storie.
This is great news Fatiema. The
world needs to know of their love
story.
FATIEMA
Dankie Averil.
Thank you, Averil.
FATIEMA hangs up. She sits back, the phone cradled to her
chest, eyes lifted gratefully to the ceiling.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Romance","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
51 -
Breaking News: Love Beyond Barriers
INT. NEWSROOM – DAY
The newsroom is a hive of activity. Screens flash, phones
ring, keyboards clatter.
AVERIL enters rapidly, phone still in hand. Her face is
flushed with urgency and wonder.
AVERIL
OK, everyone, listen up! Stop what
you’re doing! We have BREAKING
NEWS!
Activity stops. Heads turn. Faces look toward AVERIL,
expectant.
AVERIL (CONT'D)
Mu'Aat Khan, the South African
photojournalist taken hostage one
year ago, has been reported alive!
He's safe at the South African
Embassy in Sudan.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 93.
Gasps ripple through the room. Some reporters lean forward. A
PRODUCER stands, stunned.
AVERIL (CONT'D)
But that’s not all. He’s with
Hayat, the daughter of one of his
captors. They escaped together...
A pause. Averil lets the impact land.
AVERIL (CONT'D)
...and they are expecting a child.
A brief, shocked silence, then exclamations erupt.
PRODUCER
Are you serious?!
AVERIL
(voice firm, unwavering)
Dead serious. We’re going to
broadcast this. Get ready to make
it viral.
She pauses as the room stills slightly.
AVERIL (CONT'D)
(softer, with meaning)
This story will be their voice.
Let’s make sure the world listens.
Put it in bold caption:
MU'AAT & HAYAT:
#LoveBeyondBarriers.
Then the newsroom EXPLODES into action. Producers scramble.
Editors shout. Keyboards fly.
AVERIL (CONT'D)
(to a nearby camera crew)
I want this on air the next minute!
Prep the social media team, this
needs to reach every corner of the
globe.
She walks forward slowly through the chaos, eyes shining, a
quiet smile growing on her lips.
CUT TO:
INT./EXT. WORLDWIDE MONTAGE - VARIOUS LOCATIONS - DAY/NIGHT
– A family in Cape Town watches the breaking news broadcast
on a television in their living room.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 94.
– A university class in London sees the story trending on
Twitter: #MuAatAndHayat.
– A radio DJ in Nairobi interrupts a playlist to share the
developing headline.
– A protest banner in Berlin reads: LOVE TRANSCENDS WAR.
– In a refugee camp, a teenage girl scrolls through a
translated version of the article on her phone, eyes wide
with hope.
CUT TO:
INT. NEWSROOM - DAY
AVERIL watches the first broadcast video playing silently on
a nearby screen. Her hand rests over her heart.
FADE OUT.
Genres:
["Drama","Romance","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
52 -
Clash of Honor and Compassion
INT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT
SOUND of a door slamming.
ABBAS storms in, face twisted with fury. He stands before
HUSNA, who is in the center of the room, her posture steady,
gaze meeting his rage directly.
ABBAS
ﺳﺎﻋﺪﺗﻴﻬﻢ.دﻓﻨﺘﻲ ﺷﺮﻓﻨﺎ ﺑﻴﺪك اﻧﺘﻲ ﻳﺎ ُﺣﺴﻨﻰ
!ﻳﻬﺮﺑﻮا؟
You buried our honour with your own
hands. You helped them escape?!
HUSNA
ﻳﺎ،ﻫﻢ ﻳﺴﺘﺎﻫﻠﻮا ﻓﺮﺻﺔ ﻟﺤﻴﺎة ﺑﻌﻴﺪة ﻣﻦ اﻟﻌﻨﻒ ده
ﻋﺒﺎس.
They deserved a chance at a life
free from this violence, Abbas.
ABBAS begins to pace, heavy-footed, fists clenching and
unclenching like a cornered animal.
ABBAS
ﻳﺎ ُﺣﺴﻨﻰ! ﺧﻴﺎﻧﺔ ﻟﻲ وﻛﻞ ﺷﻲ ﺑﻨﻴﻨﺎه،!دي ﺧﻴﺎﻧﺔ
This is betrayal, Husna! Betrayal
to me and everything we’ve built!
HUSNA
ﻣﺎ ﺣﻴﺎة،ﺑﻨﺘﻨﺎ ﺗﺴﺘﺎﻫﻞ ﺗﻌﻴﺶ ﺣﻴﺎة ﺗﺨﺘﺎرﻫﺎ ﻫﻲ
ﻣﻔﺮوﺿﺔ ﻋﻠﻴﻬﺎ.
(MORE)
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 95.
HUSNA (CONT'D)
Our daughter deserves to live a
life she chooses, not one imposed
on her.
ABBAS stops pacing. His eyes blaze.
ABBAS
!اﻟﺤﺐ ﻣﺎ ﺑﺘﺤﺪى ﺗﻘﺎﻟﻴﺪﻧﺎ و ﻃﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻨﺎ
Love doesn’t defy our traditions or
our way of life!
HUSNA
ﻃﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻨﺎ ﻣﺎ ﻣﻤﻜﻦ ﺗﺘﺒﻨﻲ ﻋﻠﻰ ﻣﻌﺎﻧﺎة ا ﺧﺮﻳﻦ
ً
وﺧﺎﺻﺔ ﻋﺎﺋﻠﺘﻨﺎ.
Our way of life can’t be built on
the suffering of others, especially
our own family.
ABBAS
أﻧﺎ ﻣﺎ ﺑﻘﺪر أﺣﻤﻴﻚ ﺗﺎﻧﻲ.ﻫﺴﺎ ّ اﺧﺘﺮت
ّ ﺻﻔﻬﻢ ِ .
You’ve chosen their side now, I
can't protect you anymore.
HUSNA
ﻟﻮ اﻟﻤﻮت ﻫﻮ اﻟﻌﻘﺎب.أﻧﺎ اﺧﺘﺮت اﻟﺮﺣﻤﺔ وا ﻧﺴﺎﻧﻴﺔ
أﻗﺒﻠﻮ ﺑﻜﻞ ﺳﺮور،ﻋﻠﻰ ﻓﻌﻞ زي ده.
I chose compassion and humanity. If
death is the punishment, I accept
it gladly.
ABBAS glares, seething but saying nothing. He turns sharply
and storms out.
SOUND of the door slamming again.
HUSNA stands motionless. Silent. Tears fall. She watches the
empty doorway, her eyes haunted, but her posture unbroken.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Family"]
Ratings
Scene
53 -
Tension and Relief
EXT. ABBAS'S VILLAGE - COURTYARD - MORNING
The courtyard is alive with tension.
MILITANT MEN gather, weapons in hand. VEHICLES and HORSES are
readied.
SOUND of boot heels, whispered orders, engine murmurs.
ABBAS, still seething, paces in front of the fighters.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 96.
ABBAS
اﻟﻜﺎﻓﺮ دا و ﺣﻴﺎة ﻓﺎﻛﺮﻳﻦ ﻳﻘﺪرو ﻳﻜﺴﺮو ﺷﺮﻓﻨﺎ؟
!ﺣﻨﻮرﻳﻬﻢ اﻟﻌﻘﺎب اﻟﺤﻘﻴﻘﻲ
That infidel and Hayat think they
can break our honour. We’ll show
them real punishment!
MILITANTS
!ا أﻛﺒﺮ
Allahu Akbar!
ABBAS turns to Khalid.
ABBAS
ً ﻟﻜﻦ ﻫﻮ؟ ﻣﺎ ﻳﺮﺟﻊ...رﺟﻌﻮﻫﺎ ﺣﻴﺔ.
أﺑﺪا
Bring her back alive... but him? He
doesn’t return.
NASEEF and a few of his militants drive into the courtyard,
his face a mask of cold resolve.
NASEEF
أﻧﺎ ﺟﺎي ﻣﻌﺎﻛﻢ.
I am coming along.
FADE TO:
INT. FARMHOUSE - LIVING ROOM - LATER
HUSNA sits alone, motionless in front of a small TV.
On screen: a NEWS ANCHOR delivers a broadcast in Juba Arabic.
TV ANCHOR (V.O.)
ّ
"...اﻟﻤﺼﻮر اﻟﺠﻨﻮب اﻓﺮﻳﻘﻲ ﻣﻌﺎت :أﺧﺒﺎر ﻋﺎﺟﻠﺔ
وﺻﻞ ﺳﻔﺎرة ﺟﻨﻮب، اﻟﺬي ﻛﺎن رﻫﻴﻨﺔ ﻟﻤﺪة ﺳﻨﺔ،ﻳﻮﺳﻒ
اﻓﺮﻳﻘﻴﺎ ﻓﻲ اﻟﺴﻮدان.
ﺑﻨﺖ واﺣﺪ ﻣﻦ آﺳﺮﻳﻪ، ﺑﺮﻓﻘﺘﻪ ﺣﻴﺎة،وﺻﻞ ﺑﺎﻟﺴ ﻣﺔ...
Breaking news: South African
photographer Mu’Aat Khan, held
captive for a year, has reached the
South African Embassy in Sudan. He
arrived safely, accompanied by
Hayat, the daughter of one of his
captors...
HUSNA stares at the screen. Her hand covers her mouth.
A sob escapes.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 97.
HUSNA
ﻟﻘﺪ ﻧﺠﺤﻮا ﻓﻲ ذﻟﻚ.
They made it.
She leans back in her chair. Her hands tremble in her lap.
For the first time in days, her breathing eases.
FADE TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
54 -
Love Beyond Barriers
INT. EMBASSY - TEMPORARY RESIDENCE - MORNING
The room is small, simply furnished with a bed, a table, and
two chairs. It is clean, quiet.
HAYAT sits on the edge of the bed, leaning back, her posture
relaxed.
MU'AAT sits beside her. For the first time, his shoulders are
not tense. His breathing is slow, steady.
MU'AAT gently places a hand on HAYAT’s.
MU’AAT
ً
أﻧﺎ، ﺑﻄﺮﻳﻘﺔ ﻣﺎ.ﺷﻜﺮا ﻧﻚ ﺣﺎرﺑﺘﻲ ﻋﺸﺎن ﻗﺼﺔ ﺣﺒﻨﺎ
ّ ّ
ﻧﻪ دا ﺧ ﻧﻲ أ ﻗﻲ ا ﻧﺴﺎﻧﺔ،ﻣﺒﺴﻮط إﻧﻪ ﺧﻄﻔﻮﻧﻲ
ﺣﻴﺎة...اﻟﺠﻤﻴﻠﺔ واﻟﺤﻨﻮﻧﺔ دي.
Thank you for fighting for our love
story. In a way, I'm glad I'm taken
because I got to meet this
beautiful, loving person named
Hayat.
HAYAT
ﻣﻜﺘﻮب.
It was destiny.
They sit in quiet stillness.
FADE OUT:
EXT. SOUTH AFRICAN EMBASSY - DAY (LATER)
The South African Embassy gates are mobbed.
A sea of MEDIA VANS and REPORTERS fills the street outside.
CAMERAS flash, JOURNALISTS scramble, microphones are thrust
forward.
CUT TO:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 98.
INT. EMBASSY - TEMPORARY RESIDENCE - DAY
The room is quiet, a stark contrast to the noise outside.
MU'AAT and HAYAT sit on a sofa.
They still look tired, but a sense of fragile peace surrounds
them. A small TELEVISION is on.
On a nearby TV SCREEN, the headline scrolls: "MU'AAT & HAYAT:
#LOVEBEYONDBARRIERS."
NEWS ANCHOR
(on screen, voice amplified by a
nearby speaker)
...The South African Embassy in
Sudan has become a focal point. It
is the center of a story that has
captivated international attention.
MU'AAT points at the screen.
MU'AAT
"MU'AAT & HAYAT:
#LoveBeyondBarriers." They're
telling our story.
HAYAT looks at the screen, then at MU'AAT. She smiles
faintly.
HAYAT quietly reaches to the small coffee table beside the
sofa and takes a small South African flag that had been
standing there.
She holds it for a moment.
MU'AAT reaches out.
Their hands clasp briefly, a silent connection passing
between them as they look at the screen showing the
headlines.
A quiet smile is shared.
MU'AAT glances at HAYAT's notebook resting on the coffee
table beside the flag. His expression shifts slightly, with
curiosity mixed with tenderness.
MU'AAT (CONT'D)
Hayat...
She looks at him, waiting.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 99.
MU'AAT (CONT'D)
(gently)
That last page you wrote... before
we left. Can we talk about it? What
did you—
A KNOCK at the door interrupts him.
They both turn. The moment suspended.
The door opens. An EMBASSY OFFICIAL stands in the doorway,
clipboard in hand, expression professional but kind.
EMBASSY OFFICIAL
Mr. Khan, Ms. Hassan, the convoy is
ready. We're transporting you to
the border crossing now.
MU'AAT and HAYAT exchange a look. The unspoken conversation
hangs heavily between them, unfinished.
HAYAT
ﺑﻌﺪﻳﻦ ﻧﺘﻜﻠﻢ.
We'll talk after.
MU'AAT nods slowly, though something in his eyes suggests he
senses they won't get another chance.
EMBASSY OFFICIAL
We should move quickly. The
situation is stable now, but we
don't want delays.
HAYAT stands first, steadying herself. She tucks the notebook
carefully under her arm.
MU'AAT rises beside her, his hand finding the small of her
back—protective, grounding.
They move toward the door together.
As they pass the TV screen, the NEWS ANCHOR's voice
continues:
NEWS ANCHOR (V.O.)
...A story of survival, forbidden
love, and the courage to defy...
The door closes behind them, silencing the broadcast.
The room sits empty. The South African flag still rests on
the coffee table.
CUT TO:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 100.
EXT./INT. DIPLOMATIC VEHICLE - DAY
A convoy of embassy vehicles moves steadily along a dusty
road.
Inside one vehicle, MU'AAT and HAYAT sit.
Dust coats the windows.
They are quiet, watching the landscape pass.
HAYAT glances at MU'AAT, exchanging a shared look.
HAYAT
ﻗﺼﺘﻨﺎ ﺣﺘﻮﺻﻞ ﻟﻠﻌﺎﻟﻢ.ﺟﻴﻨﺎ ﻣﻦ ﻃﺮﻳﻖ ﺑﻌﻴﺪ ﻳﺎ ﻣﻌﺎت.
We've come a long way, Mu'Aat. Our
story is going to the world.
MU'AAT nods, pointing at the road ahead.
MU'AAT
ﺑﺪاﻳﺔ ﺟﺪﻳﺪة ﻳﺎ ﻣﺪام ﺧﺎن.
To a new beginning, Ms. Khan.
HAYAT smiles and rests her head on his shoulder with the
NOTEBOOK on her lap.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Romance","Drama"]
Ratings
Scene
55 -
Betrayal at the Border
EXT. CHECKPOINT - BORDER - DAY
A convoy approaches a fortified border. Barbed wire fences,
armed guards, and military vehicles frame the landscape.
Media vans line the approach road.
Cameras roll; reporters whisper updates.
Among a small crowd of onlookers, several figures cloaked in
headscarves stand unnervingly still.
NEWS ANCHOR (V.O.)
...This is a historic moment as
Mu'Aat and Hayat approach freedom
under the protection of the South
African Embassy...
CUT TO:
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 101.
EXT. BORDER CROSSING - CONTINUOUS
MU’AAT and HAYAT step out of the embassy vehicle, weary but
upright.
A GUARD guides them forward. Their expressions are a mixture
of hope and dread as they approach the gate.
Suddenly, a group of cloaked figures in front of the gate
whip off their scarves. ABBAS, NASEEF, and MILITANT MEN are
revealed.
ABBAS
!ﻳﺎ ﻛﻔﺎر
Infidels!
He raises his rifle, aiming it directly at Hayat.
A SHOT rings out.
Hayat GASPS, clutching her abdomen. Blood on her fingers.
She stumbles, collapsing into MU'AAT’s arms.
ABBAS stumbles, his eyes wide with shock. He turns around,
looking in disbelief at NASEEF, who has his rifle still
raised.
NASEEF shoots ABBAS directly in the head.
ABBAS collapses to the ground.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Thriller"]
Ratings
Scene
56 -
A Heartbreaking Farewell Amidst Chaos
EXT. BORDER - CONTINUOUS
GUNFIRE erupts. The border explodes into chaos.
BORDER PATROL GUARDS return fire. Crowds scatter.
Militants are hit.
NASEEF and KHALID make a quick exit for his truck and speeds
off.
MU’AAT AND HAYAT – GROUND LEVEL
MU'AAT cradles HAYAT, the world around them blurred by chaos
and grief.
A UN OFFICIAL rushes forward.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 102.
UN OFFICIAL
(shouting)
We have to go! Now!
MU’AAT
(screaming)
No! Leave us! Hayat!
The official ducks away.
HAYAT’s lips tremble. Her hand brushes MU'AAT’s cheek.
HAYAT
(whisper, Arabic)
ﻣﺎ ﺗﻘﻠﻖ ﻋﻠﻲ...
Don’t worry about me…
MU'AAT weeps, shaking his head.
MU’AAT
No. I won’t let you go.
She smiles faintly.
HAYAT
(softly, fading)
ﺑﺪون ﺻﺪﻗﻚ "ﻣﻌﺎت" ﺣﻴﺎﺗﻲ. ﺑﺤﺒﻚ...اﻣﺸﻲ
"ﺣﻴﺎة" ﻣﺎﺑﺘﻜﻮن ﻟﻴﻬﺎ ﻣﻌﻨﻰ.
Go…… I love you. Without your truth
"Mu'Aat" my life "Hayat" will have
no meaning.
MU’AAT face is streaked with dust, tears, and blood. He sobs,
rocking her gently.
Around them, the chaos fades. No more gunfire. Only the soft
hiss of wind.
HAYAT's bloody fingers reach for his face.
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Action","Romance"]
Ratings
Scene
57 -
A Heartbreaking Farewell
EXT. BORDER ZONE - DAY
Global broadcasters capture the image of MU’AAT clutching
HAYAT, still and broken.
The world watches. Aerial drones and news crews document the
aftermath.
The screen slows.
FLASHBACK MONTAGE – SLOW MOTION
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 103.
HAYAT is offering MU'AAT water while he’s chained.
HAYAT and MU'AAT locking eyes in the alley.
HAYAT playing the tambur.
They laugh under a flickering lantern.
They kiss in the rain, drenched.
HAYAT and MU'AAT praying together.
On the way to the embassy, she holds him close.
It was their last smile before the border.
END FLASHBACK SEQUENCE
CUT TO:
EXT. BORDER CROSSING - DAY (PRESENT DAY)
HAYAT’S LAST MOMENTS.
Her eyes flutter half open. Her lips tremble with her final
breath.
She hands the NOTEBOOK to MU'AAT.
HAYAT
ﺑﺼﻮت واﻃﻲ ﺑﺎﻟﻜﺎد ﻣﺴﻤﻮع،ﻫﺎﻣﺴﺔ
إﻧﺖ ﺣﺮ...أﻣﺶ ِ .
Go... You’re free.
Her fingers loosen, her eyes lose focus, and her body goes
still.
MU’AAT clutches the NOTEBOOK and HAYAT. Sobs erupt from him,
shaking his entire body.
MU’AAT
(shattered, raw)
NOOOO... HAYAT... NOOOO--
AUDIO OVERLAY: MU'AAT’s scream pierces the stillness.
CUT TO:
INT./EXT. GLOBAL LOCATIONS - DAY (SIMULTANEOUS)
NEW YORK, TIMES SQUARE: Crowds watch the news. The screen
freezes on MU'AAT cradling HAYAT.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 104.
MU'AAT's scream echoes faintly across the screen.
LONDON STREET CORNER TV: A man removes his hat. A woman
places her hand over her heart.
CAPE TOWN: A bar. Patrons stare, stunned.
CUT TO:
INT. FATIEMA’S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
FATIEMA falls to her knees, sobbing into her hands.
FATIEMA
وﻟﺪي... ﻳﺎ ا...
Ya Allah... my son...
CUT TO:
INT. HUSNA'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT
HUSNA crumples to the floor, her mouth open in a silent
scream.
HUSNA
(crying out)
... ﺣﻴﺎة... ...
No... Hayat... No...
CUT TO:
EXT. BORDER CROSSING - DAY
MU’AAT kneels in the dust, holding Hayat’s body.
Camera shutters click. Guards move cautiously. The media
captures the devastation.
A breeze lifts a SOUTH AFRICAN FLAG PIN from a hand. It
flutters upward, drifting across the barbed wire, toward open
sky.
NEWS ANCHOR (V.O.)
What began as a journey of hope...
ends in unspeakable tragedy. Mu’Aat
and Hayat, symbols of love in war,
separated by violence, united in
sacrifice.
The camera PULLS OUT to reveal Khalid and the other fallen
militants, the world watching.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 105.
The flag flutters far into the distance.
FADE OUT.
TWELVE (12) MONTHS LATER
Genres:
["Drama","Romance","Tragedy"]
Ratings
Scene
58 -
Voices of Courage: A Tribute to Hayat
INT. AUDITORIUM - CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA - DAY
Wall displays show photographs and testimonies.
A banner reads: “THE HAYAT PROJECT – AMPLIFYING UNHEARD
VOICES.”
The room is packed, with standing room only. BRIGHT LIGHTS
are aimed at the podium. CAMERAS line the back wall. Hundreds
of EXPECTANT FACES wait in near silence.
Camera shutters click softly.
MU’AAT stands at the podium. Hayat's NOTEBOOK—now a
professionally bound book. HER HANDWRITING is reproduced
across the cover. The title reads: 'MU'AAT & HAYAT: TRUTH +
LIFE = LOVE.'
In the front row, FATIMA and AVERIL sit close together. A few
seats away, KHANYA’S PARENTS.
A quiet tension fills the hall.
MU’AAT
(steady, into the mic)
Thank you for being here. Speaking
today is… hard. But silence would
be worse.
(beat)
Two years ago, I thought I was
going to Sudan to tell other
people’s stories.
(soft)
I didn’t know I was going to become
one.
He lifts the notebook slightly.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
For two years, I was held captive.
Stripped of freedom. But what I
fought hardest to protect… was my
spirit.
(beat)
Khanya was with me. Young. Brave.
We endured the same darkness. We
were brothers in hope.
He looks toward the back, locking eyes with KHANYA’s parents.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 106.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
Khanya Tekani, twenty-six, from
Johannesburg. I was entrusted to
mentor him and take care of him,
but even today my world is
shattered.
(voice soft)
Because I still don’t know what
became of him. But I hope he’s
alive. I still pray.
(to his family)
I carry his strength with me.
Always.
KHANYA’s mother nods, tears glinting.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
Then came a light. Her name was
Hayat. A teacher. Twenty-eight.
Forced into a marriage she didn’t
want, in a village she couldn’t
escape.
(his voice catching)
In a place where nothing grew… she
gave me reason to believe. She
risked everything.
He breathes, steadying himself.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
At the border, when freedom was
finally within reach... it took
Hayat. And part of me died with
her.
A murmur ripples through the audience.
MU'AAT
I see her face constantly. Not the
way I photographed strangers'
pain... but the way you see someone
you truly love.
He opens the TORN NOTEBOOK to a DRY BLOODSTAINED marked page.
His voice trembles, then strengthens.
MU’AAT
She wrote her final words in a mud
house: "Salma died for my words. I
let her take my punishment. I was a
coward. But every woman I've
documented since... they taught me
that courage isn't the absence of
fear.
(MORE)
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 107.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
It's moving forward despite it. I
started writing from guilt. I
continued from love. For Salma. For
them. For you, Mu'Aat. And
finally... for myself. So even if
this land Sudan won't let me leave,
at least the stories of the
Sudanese women will be free."
(looking up)
Hayat gave the women of her country
a voice. Let's honour her bravery.
(beat)
This story isn’t just about war. Or
captivity. Or grief. It’s about
what survives.
(stronger now)
Love. Memory. And the freedom we
must never take for granted.
He closes the notebook, presses it against his chest.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
We are the lucky ones. We sit here
free to speak, free to choose our
tomorrow. Hayat never had that
chance.
(beat)
But through these pages, she
speaks. Through us, she chooses.
Through our freedom, hers finally
has meaning.
MU'AAT steps back from the microphones.
For a long moment nothing. The silence is cathedral-heavy. No
one moves.
Silence. Then a single person begins to clap slowly,
deliberately. Others join. Not celebration. Witness.
In the front row, FATIMA and KHADIJA weep. AVERIL clasps her
hand. Across the aisle, Khanya’s parents bow their heads,
overcome.
FADE TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Romance","Tragedy"]
Ratings
Scene
59 -
Continuing the Legacy
INT. COMMUNITY CENTER - LATER
MU’AAT packs books for shipment. FATIEMA approaches.
FATIEMA
In hoeveel tale is nou al?
How many languages now?
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 108.
MU’AAT
Al paar. Arabic, French, Spanish,
English en Afrikaans. Die stories
travel vinnig.
Quite a few. Arabic, French,
Spanish, English and Afrikaans.
FATIEMA
Sy sal so trots gewees het op jou.
Sy would've been proud of you.
MU’AAT
Ek mis haar Mamie. Verskriklik
baie.
I miss her mom. A lot.
They hug, share a bittersweet smile.
KHADIJA enters, holding a letter.
KHADIJA
From Sudan. "A Friend."
MU’AAT opens it. A photograph: ZAHRA teaching children under
a tree. The back reads: “The story continues.”
MU’AAT looks at the photo, then at FATIEMA.
MU’AAT
Book her a visa interview.
FATIEMA
Mu’Aat…
MU’AAT
The Hayat Project needs more
voices. Zahra needs to be s--
CUT TO:
Genres:
["Drama","Family","Tragedy"]
Ratings
Scene
60 -
Legacy of Words
EXT. CAPE TOWN CEMETERY - EVENING (SUNSET)
MU'AAT kneels at a headstone: "HAYAT HASSAN KHAN –
JOURNALIST, BOKKIE, TRUTH-TELLER."
Fresh flowers and visitors’ notebooks lie beside it.
MU’AAT
(to the grave)
The twelfth translation is
launching tomorrow. Your words are
reaching places you never imagined.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895
MU'AAT & HAYAT 109.
He places his notebook beside the others.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
I'm glad Allah put me on your path.
Oh, before I forget.
MU'AAT takes out a golden bracelet.
MU’AAT (CONT'D)
I'll give this to Zahra when she
arrives.
A breeze stirs the pages.
MU’AAT (CONT'D) (CONT'D)
Now rest well, Ms. Hassen Khan.
Your work continues.
As he walks away, the cemetery hums with others leaving their
own stories.
FADE TO:
TITLE CARD: "The Hayat Project has published testimonies from
over 2,000 women affected by conflict across Africa. Their
stories, in their words, continue to reshape how the world
understands war."
FADE TO BLACK.
Script Registration No: WGSA00871_3/19/2024_00895