How to Write a Radio Serial Drama for Social Development- PDF

172 Chapter Twelve: The Finished Script and Writer’s Check List
Life in Hopeful Village Page 3 of 10
Episode #36
Draft: Final
Writer: Elaine Perkins Date: July 1992
34. ROY: I left her this morning lowing like
thunder corked up in a grave.
35. LJ: I’ve never yet heard of or seen a cow
serviced with an injection. Bound to
give birth to a seven foot monster, or a
thing with three heads. It can’t be good.
36. ROY: Well the man from the Agricultural
Department said....
37. LJ: Cha! White collar type. Like the judge
there. What do they know about
anything I told you to mate that cow
with my Redpole bull...then you would
be sure of getting a first rate calf. But no!
Artificial insemination, hah! But maybe
you believe what Sawyers says...that I’m
illiterate. That’s why you never count on
my advice.
38. ROY: Illiterate Littlejohn You Hie, Miss
Birdie...bear me witness.... Doesn’t the
entire district of Tydedixon hang on
every word from this man’s mouth
39. MISS B: On the word of the Bible! Littlejohn was
born brilliant. His mother ate nothing
but fresh fish when she was carrying him.
40. ROY: Just the same, the Bible says you’re never
too old to learn. And I want to upgrade
my stock....Get a better breed.
Understand me, Miss Birdie
41. LJ: I’m going to lodge a complaint about
what took place here today...with the
Supreme Court. We’ll see who’s
illiterate...when I sign my name. Hmm!
Have you got the court order, Birdie
42. MISS B: Right here in my purse.
43. LJ: Let’s go then. I have to study it from top
to bottom.
44. ROY: So what about my cow, Littlejohn
45. LJ: The extension officer got you into this.
Let him get you out. Come on, Birdie.
46. MISS B: You go on...I’ll catch up with you.
47. LJ: (GOING OFF) He who won’t listen
must suffer.
48. FX. DOOR BANGS IN DISTANCE.
Figure of speech (simile) is typical for a person in
this culture.
Sub-plot is revealed and secondary theme,
artificial insemination, is brought in very naturally.
A new conflict is introduced, this time between
Roy and Littlejohn.
Longest speeches and bulk of information are
contained in the middle of the scene.
Characters reveal themselves further. Littlejohn is
the doubter as well as being stubborn. Roy is the
seeker after new information. Miss Birdie’s
support of Littlejohn encourages the audience to
see the good in him.
Overall theme of improving your own life is
repeated.
Emotion of pride is present throughout the scene.
The tension mounts towards the end of the scene.
The conflict between the two men is unresolved,
and the audience is left with the question, “Will
Littlejohn help his friend or not”
The scene transition is marked by Littlejohn
banging the door behind him. It is clear that Birdie
and Roy did not leave the scene.