Yanga the Great

YANGA THE GREAT

Giovanni Vines

[email protected] WGAW and U.S. ©

YANGA THE GREAT

FADE IN TO PRESENT DAY:

EXT. YANGA MEXICO – DAY

SOUND: FAINT ECHOS OF TALKING DRUMS

In front of the statue of Yanga, a young black boy stares up at the towering figure.

From a point of view behind and slightly above the statue, the boy’s face is screened by Yanga’s form. We hear the voice of the grown-up, GASPAR YANGA, narrating.

GASPAR YANGA (V.O.) That’s my dad. Yanga. I’m Gaspar Yanga. Sometimes people get our names mixed up. I couldn’t see him after they took him away. But I can see him now.

FADE OUT

TITLE CARD:

“Gabon Africa - 1578”

SOUND OVER BLACK SCREEN:

RUMBLING BASS, CHEERING, CROWD EXCITEMENT, MEN STRUGGLING.

FADE IN:

EXT. AFRICAN VILLAGE – ANIMAL CORRAL – DAY

Two young boys, race towards a raucous crowd. They each choose nearby small trees and climb for a better view.

Within the corral, encircled with strong wooden fencing, two men are fighting and wrestling.

GASPAR YANGA (V.O.) That’s my dad, fighting. If you’re going to fight my dad, you better bring an army. You’ll need one. 3

YANGA is a tall, twenty-four-year-old man, with a powerful- looking physique. He has a look of determination permanently chiseled into his face.

His opponent, a FULANI CAPTIVE, grips a spear in his hands. He is smaller than Yanga, but well-built. He lunges the spear at Yanga, who deftly moves to avoid it. He lunges again and misses.

Yanga makes a move toward the opponent, who swings the spear at him. Yanga grabs the shaft of the spear, controls it, and kicks the captive in the knee. He buckles.

Yanga strikes him in the chin and he flies onto his back. Yanga raises the spear above his head and thrusts the tip at the captive’s face. The spear embeds itself into the ground, a few inches from the captive’s ear.

The crowd goes wild. Yanga saunters around the corral with a sinister grin. The captive picks up the spear, points it at Yanga, and throws it.

Yanga again deftly catches the spear out of mid-air and displays it above his head. The crowd goes wild. Many begin to shout out Yanga’s name.

Yanga tosses the spear back to the captive. He swings it at Yanga like a baseball bat.

Yanga ducks one swing, then another, and on the third, grabs the spear, wrests it out of the captive’s hands and tosses it to one of his comrades outside the corral.

Now the two men go at it in hand-to-hand combat, wrestling and slugging. While the captive displays some prowess, he is no match for Yanga.

Once exhausted, Yanga picks him up and throws him violently against the wood fencing.

Yanga’s COMRADES, from behind the fencing, drag the captive up onto his feet. They place the spear shaft against his throat and pin him back against the fencing. Yanga thoughtfully sizes him up.

COMRADE #1 Let’s feed him to the pigs. 4

YANGA He is too ugly. His ugliness might kill the pigs.

COMRADE #2 We could cut his arms and legs off and roll him around the village.

The crowd likes that idea.

YANGA (to captive) You’re a fighter?

The Fulani captive nods his head.

YANGA You’re no fighter. You’re weak. Are all Fulani warriors as weak as you?

He offers no response, then spits at Yanga. Yanga cold cocks him with his fist. His head whiplashes back and forth, with his chin resting against the spear handle.

COMRADE #1 Is he dead?

Yanga slaps the captive, who slowly regains his senses.

YANGA (to captive) Do that again.

He thinks better of it.

YANGA We’ve been watching the Fulani. Your clan attacks peaceful villages, one by one, expanding territory. But you attacked the wrong village. A member of our alliance. Now, the Fulani will be destroyed.

COMRADE #2 Let’s kill him now!

YANGA We will decide what to do with him later, at council. He may be useful.

EXT. AFRICAN VILLAGE – VILLAGE PERIMETER – DAY

A parade of sorts is underway, with a throng of well- wishers lining two sides of a parade route that circumvents the village.

KING MAGHAN, Yanga’s father, is atop a decorated white horse, being led by a cadre of young warriors. He waves and smiles warmly.

Walking directly behind King Maghan is a group of visiting dignitaries and tribal leaders, including King Kilonji.

As the procession moves along, voices from the crowd can be heard shouting, “fifty years”, and “fifty more years”.

Behind the visiting dignitaries is a drumming group of twenty men playing Djembes, Djun Djun’s, cow bells, wood blocks, and talking drums.

Behind the drummers is a troupe of female dancers, who dance with abandonment.

Behind the dancers is another large cadre of heavily armed warriors, displaying traditional African weaponry, along with a company of matchlock-armed musketeers.

The procession makes its way to the front of the council house. King Maghan remains atop his horse. The dignitaries stand beside him. The drummers surround the dancers and the remaining villagers crowd in behind to observe.

Then, male dancers take over the performance, and with their talking drums, engage in a call and answer. Finally, the drummers and dancers complete a choreographed sequence, with a big finale, then silence.

A visiting TRIBAL CHIEF, stands before King Maghan. Women scurry up, leave bouquets before King Maghan’s horse, and scurry away.

TRIBAL CHIEF Only the greatest of the great kings lives in this world fifty years. The council of the tribes of Gabon prays that our spiritual leader, King Maghan, may live fifty more, and fifty more beyond that!

Cheers from the crowd.

TRIBAL CHIEF (cont) We honor you, as we honor your family.

The Tribal Chief bows his head. The crowd cheers and shouts its approval. The vocal outburst quickly subsides when King Maghan raises his hand.

KING MAGHAN It is we who are blessed to have so many friends here, at one time. Some of you have journeyed great distances.

King Maghan makes eye contact with King Kilonji.

KING MAGHAN (cont) Our friend and ally, King Kilonji has traveled from Ndongo, and will introduce us all, to the princess, Nzinga. (to the crowd) You may stay here with us as long as you like. You will be well-fed and provided for. (sniffs the air) Is that your food I smell?

The crowd laughs with enthusiasm.

KING MAGHAN Enjoy the feast! Now, we will retire to the council house.

King Maghan swings his leg over the horse and dismounts.

INT. COUNCIL HOUSE – DAY

The Council House is a semi-permanent structure, with stone half-walls rising four feet from the earth, and large, open-air windows. The sides and roof of the Council House are constructed with bamboo and heavy thatching.

The interior is open with a wooden flooring. The King’s chair is ornate and prominently displayed. Around the perimeter of the interior are fifteen short tree stumps, padded and decorated, upon which council members sit.

Behind King Maghan’s chair is the trunk of a large, living tree which is incorporated into the building’s rear wall.

King Maghan is seated on his chair with his two sons, Yanga and Adjoa, seated on either side. Next to Yanga sits King Kilonji.

A few council members are still settling into their seats.

KING MAGHAN (to Yanga) Perhaps we should begin with the Fulani captive. (to group) What do we know about him?

COUNCIL MEMBER #1 He is a commander. We killed all his soldiers.

KING MAGHAN Then he knows much. He could be helpful. (to Yanga) Get him.

Yanga claps his hands twice. Two guards outside escort the captive into the council house. He faces the king.

KING MAGHAN (to captive) Do you know who I am?

FULANI CAPTIVE You are the King of Gabon. 8

KING MAGHAN Good. Do you know what day this is?

FULANI CAPTIVE The day of my death.

KING MAGHAN Perhaps. Today is my birthday. I’m fifty years old. Would you like to live to be fifty years old?

The captive stands silent and motionless.

KING MAGHAN Long ago, my ancestors established a tradition. At special times, like the king’s birthday celebration, the king makes a gesture of supreme grace. Such as sparing someone’s life. Or perhaps blessing the birth of a new foal. We are preparing for war. War against your people. This has created an opportunity for you. (to Yanga) Explain this to him.

YANGA Your army attacked one of our villages. The men are all dead or disappeared. (rises to his feet) When you attack one of our villages you attack me! You attack all of us. Look around you. Each one of these tribes commands an army larger than yours. Soon, your people will not exist and all of your lands will be ours!

KING MAGHAN There is nothing you can do to prevent this. You have some information that could be helpful to us. Number of fighters, movements, locations of armories and villages.

YANGA We will seize all of your villages on the same day. Then we will destroy your army.

KING MAGHAN With the right information, we could prevent the loss of many fighters. Fewer widows and orphans is always desirable. I realize that contributing to the destruction of your people is a distasteful thought. Tell me, do you have family in one of these villages?

The captive nods affirmatively.

KING MAGHAN Now, if you were to tell us which village your family lives in, we could see that their lives are spared.

YANGA You have a choice. You provide information and you live. Your family lives. Otherwise, you will hang in the morning.

KING MAGHAN In the spirit of celebration, I will sweeten your prospects. (to a nearby sentry) Bring in the woman. (to the captive) We recently lost a brave fighter. His widow now has no husband, and no way to fulfill her destiny as a mother of noble warriors.

The sentry walks a young woman into the council chamber and has her stand next to the captive. The two appear to be a good match. She sizes him up.

KING MAGHAN If you choose life, you will become this woman’s slave. You will serve 10

KING MAGHAN (cont) her day and night. You will father her children. Ten children. After you have fathered ten children, you will be given your freedom and the two of you will marry. Then, you will be accepted into our tribe. (to guards) Take him away. And let us know if we need to prepare the gallows.

The guards lead the captive out of the chamber and the woman follows the men outside. Yanga takes his seat.

KING MAGHAN (to the council) I have a matter of great importance to announce, and with all of you here, this is the most opportune time. I have established a new line of succession for Gabon. Upon my death, my two sons, Adjoa and Yanga, will both retain the title, ‘Prince of the Tribes of Gabon’, and will serve as co-regents. Yanga will command the army and will be our emissary to the tribes. He will live amongst you and help train your warriors. Adjoa will administer agriculture, mining and trade. Upon the death of my two sons, Yanga’s first-born son will succeed the co-regents as ‘King of the Tribes of Gabon’.

There is a stir amongst the council members as they process the news. Yanga and Adjoa both appear to have been previously informed.

KING MAGHAN Now, because our succession will depend on Yanga producing a son, he will, of course, need a wife. A wife that can help strengthen the kingdom, by reinforcing our alliance with Ndongo. Our ally and good friend, King Kilonji, has most 11

KING MAGHAN (cont) generously offered his daughter, Princess Nzinga, as a wife, for Yanga, to help produce Gabon’s future king.

King Maghan nods affirmatively at KING KILONJI.

KING KILONJI It is with great pride that I present my daughter, Nzinga, Princess of the Kingdom of Ndongo.

King Maghan motions to a sentry, and a moment later, NZINGA enters the council chamber and stands before him, her father, and Yanga, with hands on her hips.

Clad in a Zebra-skinned leotard, her neck, wrists, and ankles are wrapped in gold. Nzinga is a twelve-year-old girl with a boy’s profile and a boy’s physique. When she moves, there is something decidedly female about her; a lioness.

Nzinga does not speak at first, but she reacts to what the men are saying with animated facial expressions and body language, which leave no doubt as to how she feels about what is being communicated.

Yanga breaks the silence.

YANGA Where is the princess?

KING MAGHAN She is the princess. This is Nzinga.

Yanga rises to his feet.

YANGA How do you expect me to sire a king with a boy?

KING MAGHAN She is not a boy. She’s a she.

YANGA She’s a stick.

KING MAGHAN No, she’s young. She’ll grow. You know how women are. They expand… eventually.

Yanga begins pacing around as he speaks. Nzinga takes up a position immediately behind Yanga, so that he cannot see her.

Nzinga snatches a spear from the grasp of a tribal chief. While the men speak, she displays her prowess with the spear, swinging and twirling it with precision.

Whenever Yanga turns to observe her, she freezes in place until he turns back, then continues with her routine, occasionally lunging the spear at Yanga’s back.

YANGA And you expect I will live with this, girl-boy?

KING KILONJI Not now. She is in school, still, in Morocco. She will join you after five years.

KING MAGHAN Nzinga has had complete military training.

KING KILONJI Yes. Full training, with the boys, since birth. And she speaks Portuguese. She has been working for them as an interpreter.

KING MAGHAN You see? She has strategic military value. (to Nzinga) Say something to Yanga in Portuguese.

NZINGA (to Yanga) Pareces uma cabra e cheiras a peixe morto.

SUPER: ENGLISH SUBTITLE

“You look like a goat and you smell like dead fish”

YANGA Five years is too long. I will require concubines. At least five.

Nzinga’s expression broadcasts her extreme disapproval.

KING MAGHAN Yanga. Collecting concubines, in advance of a royal marriage is a gesture of disrespect. Your marriage to Nzinga will fortify our alliance with Ndongo. The question of concubines can be considered later on.

YANGA I will require concubines.

KING MAGHAN Handling a group of women is not as simple as you may think. Once a woman feels secure, she quickly develops problems. These problems then become your problems. It’s a bit like collecting horses. If you have one horse, the horse almost takes care of himself. It is effortless. But if you have five horses, you have five problems. You have to manage them, care for them. It becomes a job. It diverts your attention from more important matters.

YANGA We already have a strong alliance with Ndongo. I don’t need to marry this… 14

KING MAGHAN Yanga!

YANGA I refuse to marry this, stick-boy.

Nzinga has heard enough. She grasps the spear handle like a clean-up hitter, shouts a battle cry at the top of her lungs, and charges Yanga, leaping and swinging the spear.

At the sound of the battle cry, Yanga turns. The belly of the spear handle catches him squarely in the throat. His eyes cross from the shock of the impact.

Yanga grasps his throat and drops to his knees. Nzinga continues her spear routine, swinging, twirling, and thrusting at Yanga.

Somebody needs to call nine-one-one, because Yanga needs medical attention. His throat is collapsed and he is fighting for air.

Nzinga squares her stance and takes another swing at his head.

SLO-MO CLOSE-UP:

Yanga’s eyes enlarge as the end of the spear handle misses his nose by an inch.

END SLO-MO:

The men in the council house react with concern over Yanga’s condition as they delight in Nzinga’s antics. Yanga continues to hold his throat as he struggles for air.

KING KILONJI (to King Maghan) Nzinga has collected information from the Portuguese. Nzinga!

Nzinga stands before the two kings.

KING KILONJI (cont) Tell the council what you have learned.

NZINGA The Portuguese and the Spanish now have the same king.

King Maghan raises is hand.

KING MAGHAN Wait. (to King Kilonji) Is this true?

KING KILONJI Yes.

KING MAGHAN So now, the Portuguese and Spanish are friends.

NZINGA Best friends.

KING MAGHAN This changes some things. We will discuss this later. What else?

NZINGA The Portuguese now have another island. They do not farm this island. It is a port.

KING MAGHAN A port. A port for what?

NZINGA Captives. They have large stockades where they have collected thousands of captives.

KING MAGHAN Thousands? For what purpose? Are they forming an army?

NZINGA They load captives onto Spanish ships. When the ships depart, they don’t travel north or south. They sail due west. 16

KING MAGHAN West!

KING KILONJI And these ships, heading west, they do not return.

KING MAGHAN Hmm…west. It’s not an army. Slaves. (to Nzinga) What else?

NZINGA The Spanish prefer English guns. They’re more reliable, more accurate, and they last longer. The entire Spanish army is changing to English matchlocks.

KING MAGHAN English guns. (to Yanga) Some traders were here. They claim to have armaments. We will need more weapons for our campaign. We’ll discuss this later.

Yanga, still nursing his throat, nods in the affirmative.

KING MAGHAN (cont) (to Yanga) What do you think?

Yanga takes a moment to consider, tests his voice to make sure it’s working, then answers;

YANGA All…alright, I’ll marry her.

The room erupts with approval. Nzinga stands at attention beside Yanga, pounds the end of the spear against the wooden flooring, and pats him on the head like a puppy. Yanga swats her hand away.

YANGA Just keep her away from me.

EXT. OPEN FIELD - FIRING RANGE – DAY

Yanga is leading a group of soldiers in archery target practice with a combination of European crossbows and heavy longbows. Their targets are 12-inch-long stumps, placed and hung at various heights and distances.

Yanga and the others suddenly hear the exotic call of a talking drum. Yanga turns to see one of his GABONESE WARRIORS, walking towards him from across the field, striking a drum. A SPANIARD in light armor walks beside him.

Yanga grabs a nearby talking drum, stuffs it into his armpit, grabs an arced stick, and answers back. He and his lieutenant engage in a call and answer, until the three men are face to face with each other.

YANGA (to Spaniard) Where are these weapons? And what kind of guns do you have?

SPANIARD (to Lieutenant) How does he know we have guns?

GABONESE WARRIOR I told him.

He strikes a short rhythm.

GABONESE WARRIOR (cont) That means gun.

He strikes a different rhythm.

GABONESE WARRIOR (cont) That means trader.

SPANIARD You communicate with these?

YANGA The talking drum can be heard, from a great distance. Our soldiers share information. 18

GABONESE WARRIOR The traders are here, with the King.

YANGA Spanish?

GABONESE WARRIOR (nodding) They want to see you. They asked for you.

YANGA They asked for me, by name? (to Spaniard) How do you know my name?

SPANIARD King Maghan, your father. Famous warrior. Conqueror of many tribes. His name is feared and respected up and down the African coast. They say you have become an even greater warrior. Now they fear you.

Yanga’s face shows curiosity, concern, and skepticism.

YANGA (to Spaniard) Show us what you have.

EXT. COUNCIL HOUSE – DAY

King Maghan, King Kilonji, and Yanga are seated outside the council house, as two SPANISH TRADERS present their wares. Other tribal leaders observe from nearby, including Nzinga, who stands behind her father.

On a large skin, spread on the ground, are a half dozen weapons, including four types of guns, a sword, and a battle axe. The lead trader hands a wheel-lock pistol to Yanga, who inspects it carefully.

SPANISH TRADER This is a new gun. Called a wheel-lock. It uses no match.

YANGA No match. So there is no smell, no smoke from the match.

SPANISH TRADER (nodding) One of its advantages.

KING MAGHAN How does it light the powder?

SPANISH TRADER With a spark from a piece of flint.

KING MAGHAN Better in the rain.

SPANISH TRADER And, they take half the time to reload.

YANGA What about English matchlocks?

SPANISH TRADER Yes, we have English guns too. And many types of armaments…swords and battle axes…only the finest steel.

The second trader picks up the sword and battle axe and displays them for the prospective buyers.

YANGA How many rifles do you have?

SPANISH TRADER Hundreds. They’re on our ship, of course. (to King Maghan) It would be best to have Yanga come aboard, to see everything. We will demonstrate the guns on deck.

KING MAGHAN And you want gold?

SPANISH TRADER Yes. Bring gold.

KING MAGHAN (to Yanga) And mules to carry everything.

EXT. COASTLINE TRIBUTARY – DOCKSIDE – DAY

In a sheltered inlet, in a private setting with nearby dense jungle foliage, the Spanish have constructed a crude- looking dock, large enough for one ship.

Yanga and two of his soldiers have arrived at the edge of the dock, near the boarding ramp, along with their five pack mules. Six Spanish soldiers are on duty, dockside.

YANGA (to soldiers) Stay here. When our business is complete, I will signal you.

From the ship, the Spanish trader waves at Yanga.

SPANISH TRADER Come aboard!

EXT. SPANISH SHIP – DECK – DAY

The ship’s crew is scattered around the deck. Several crewmembers are atop masts, inspecting rigging. Draped discreetly against one of the sails is a large piece of heavy cargo netting.

The trader meets Yanga and walks him toward the bow.

SPANISH TRADER Come with me. We’ll fire the guns off the starboard side.

YANGA Where are the guns?

SPANISH TRADER Below deck. We’ll have them brought up.

The trader maneuvers Yanga to the mast directly below the cargo netting.

The crewmembers atop the mast, near the cargo netting, spread the netting out and drop it directly onto Yanga.

The weight of the cargo netting knocks Yanga off balance. He shouts and screams, as he struggles with the netting.

Yanga is rushed by crewmembers, who secure the netting around him.

From inside the netting, Yanga grabs at crewmen, chokes one, then takes a swing at another.

EXT. COASTLINE TRIBUTARY – DOCKSIDE – DAY

Spanish soldiers struggle with Yanga’s men and take them captive.

EXT. SPANISH SHIP – DECK – DAY

The crewmen have secured a rope to the netting. Yanga continues to scream and shout, as he kicks and swings at crewmen and struggles with the netting.

They raise the netting enough so that Yanga is now suspended just above the deck.

SPANISH TRADER (to Yanga) Yanga. The great Yanga. You’re a valuable commodity. Oh, I should tell you. We don’t trade in arms. We trade in men.

Yanga spits at him. The trader signals a crewmember.

SPANISH TRADER (to crewmember) Bring them up. (to Yanga) You’re worth a hundred men. A real treasure. (laughing) Gaspar Yanga.

Yanga reaches through the netting and grabs at the trader.

From the hold below, six FULANI TRADERS emerge onto the deck and approach the netting. They take a close look at Yanga.

FULANI TRADER (to Spanish Trader) It is him. That’s Yanga.

YANGA Fulani!

One of the Fulani traders walks to the side of the vessel and signals his comrades at the edge of the clearing.

EXT. COASTLINE TRIBUTARY – DOCKSIDE – DAY

Fulani warriors begin walking a hundred captives to the ramp and up onto the deck. The captives have their hands bound behind their backs and are tethered to a long rope, secured tightly around each of their necks.

EXT. SPANISH SHIP – DECK – DAY

Once on deck, Spanish soldiers take control of the procession of captives and lead them down below, into the ship’s hold.

One of the GABONESE CAPTIVES being loaded onboard recognizes Yanga.

GABONESE CAPTIVE Yanga! Look, it’s Yanga!

SPANISH TRADER (to Yanga) We traded you for them. I believe it’s the best trade we’ve ever made. (laughing) And your gold!

YANGA You’re a whore. The Fulani’s whore. They are the lowest. Not even human. They are animals. Ruthless, scavenging dogs! 23

SPANISH TRADER To you, animals. To us, partners.

YANGA (to Fulanis) Those are my people. The village you raided. You will pay for this.

The Spanish and Fulanis laugh.

SPANISH TRADER (to Yanga) We’ve already been paid. (to Fulanis) You want him?

FULANI WARRIOR Take him with you.

SPANISH TRADER Very well. He should fetch a handsome price.

YANGA (to Fulanis) You’re all cowards. You could not take me, not without your Spanish whore. This whore, she has a disease. Now, you will get this disease, and all of your people will die!

The Spanish and Fulanis muse at Yanga’s threat.

INT. SPANISH SHIP – HOLD – DAY

Below deck, a hundred men are chained together, with some chained to the sidewall of the ship. Light streams into the hold from openings around the ship’s sidewall.

The men can stand and move about a few feet, but they are tightly packed. Yanga has been placed in an isolated, barred cage, a short distance away from the other men.

Two of the men fiddle with the iron restraints around their ankles, using a short piece of metal as a prybar. 24

One of them manages to spread the restraint apart to slip his foot through. Then his friend does the same.

KOOFOO is a thin, wily-looking man with wide eyes and an expressive face. He laughs like a monkey. When he moves, he appears to be highly limber, almost contortionist.

BABAJI is a large, strong-looking young man who seems confident. He is highly attentive to Yanga, appearing eager to please and follow his leader.

Koofoo and Babaji hand the prybar to another man, then rise to their feet and cautiously approach Yanga’s cage.

BABAJI (to Yanga) Why do they have you here?

YANGA Because they’re afraid of me.

KOOFOO We pried the iron apart. Maybe we can free everyone.

BABAJI We could jump them and take over the ship. We outnumber them.

KOOFOO I’m Koofoo! He’s Babaji.

BABAJI Where are they taking us?

YANGA The morning light comes from the stern. We’re heading west.

KOOFOO We’re slaves now. For the rest of our lives.

YANGA No. Only for now.

The three men hear a noise from above. The hatch opens and a Spaniard climbs down into the hold. Babaji and Koofoo scurry back to their places.

The sailor is carrying a five-gallon bucket, with a wooden ladle.

SPANISH SAILOR (to the men) Corn soup! Pass it around.

He places the bucket at the feet of some men.

YANGA (to Spanish sailor) What about me?

SPANISH SAILOR You don’t look like you need any.

YANGA Where are we going?

The sailor approaches Yanga’s cage. As they speak, Yanga picks his pocket through the bars, pulling out some jerk.

SPANISH SAILOR What difference does it make?

YANGA How long?

SPANISH SAILOR How long. You’ve got a lot of questions for a man in a cage. Three moons, give or take. That is, if you’re still alive.

The sailor sports a sinister grin, and climbs back toward the deck.

Babaji and Koofoo return to Yanga’s cage. Yanga bites into the jerk.

BABAJI Where’d you get that?

KOOFOO Did he give that to you?

YANGA (nodding) He doesn’t know yet.

The men share a smile.

YANGA (cont) We will have our chance, when the time comes. For now, we have to stay alive, stay strong.

KOOFOO What should we do?

YANGA I will tell you, and then you go around and tell the other men.

BABAJI We can hear your voice.

YANGA No. (looking above) They will hear me. There are three things. First, be nice to them, to the Spanish. Do everything they say. Smile at them.

BABAJI But they are the enemy.

YANGA If we make them angry, they might stop feeding us. We need food and water to stay alive.

The men regard each other and nod affirmatively.

YANGA (cont) Second, steal. Anything you can grab, grab it, and hide it. Everything has value. Everything can be used for something. 27

The men nod.

YANGA (cont) Also, tell everyone to pay attention. Watch the Spanish. How many are there? Who are their leaders? How many weapons do they have? Where do they keep them? When do they eat? When do they sleep? What do they do the same every day?

KOOFOO But if we can’t take the ship, why do we need to pay attention?

YANGA So you will have the habit. Pay attention to everything. Always. One day, this habit will help secure your freedom.

Captive #2 regards the inner wall of the hold and sees a gap between the top of the wall and the ceiling.

KOOFOO What’s behind the wall?

YANGA Climb up and see.

Koofoo shimmies up the wall and peers into the adjacent hold, followed by Babaji. Koofoo squeezes through the gap and disappears.

BABAJI (to Yanga) I think there’s food and water.

Koofoo passes food through the gap to Babaji.

BABAJI It’s jerk…and dried fruit.

YANGA Pass it around.

Babaji and Koofoo climb down the wall, bearing armfuls of food, wearing wide grins.

EXT. SPANISH SHIP – CROWS NEST – DAY

A SEAMAN is high up in the rigging, with a spyglass, looking westward. A bird lands on the mast nearby. He notices the bird, then looks again.

INT. SPANISH SHIP – HOLD – DAY

Two men, free from their shackles, are trying to corner a rat. One of them snares the rat under some sackcloth. The rest of the men relish in their success.

Two birds begin flying around in the hold.

KOOFOO Birds! Catch them!

YANGA We have reached land.

EXT. SPANISH SHIP – CROWS NEST – DAY

His mouth gapes, and while pointing, declares:

SEAMAN Land ahoy!

With anticipation, all seamen on deck gaze westward, trying to spot land for themselves.

EXT. VERACRUZ PORT – DAY

The line of captives, with hands bound behind their backs, and shackled together with leg restraints, marches slowly along a muddy pathway, with Spanish soldiers guarding and leading the way.

EXT. VERACRUZ VILLAGE - DAY

As the procession slowly moves along, they witness the scene around them. Naturals labor for Spanish overseers. Africans carry heavy loads. One is being whipped.

They pass by a row of rustic shops. Tanners dry their skins. Traders display their wares.

The procession halts. Yanga sees an open-air butcher shop, with carcasses hanging, including human bodies. Butchers chop and cut for patrons.

A SHORT SLAVE carrying a load on his head nearby, approaches Yanga, and sees his interest in the butcher shop.

YANGA (to short slave) Human bodies?

SHORT SLAVE Dead slaves. Dog food now.

A ravenous dog nearby begins growling and barking, ferociously.

The procession continues moving. The short slave walks along beside Yanga.

Off in the distance, Yanga sees a group of soldiers holding swords. Ten naturals are on their knees, blindfolded, with their hands bound behind their backs. Nearby is a pile of bodies.

Two of the soldiers drag a natural up onto his feet and walk him toward his fellow soldiers.

One soldier polishes his blade, then stands beside the natural, swings with all his might, and beheads him with one swing.

The procession stops.

YANGA (to short slave) What’s that?

SHORT SLAVE Testing their blades.

EXT. SPANISH MINE – DAY

The procession, now reduced to about thirty Africans, reaches a mining operation. Yanga sees dead bodies of naturals being piled onto a cart.

YANGA (to short slave) Who are they?

SHORT SLAVE Aztecs. They’re all sick, dying. That’s why we’re here.

The slaves around the mine include Aztec men and women. A group of African women are seen washing cloth.

A group of Africans pounds large chunks of rock into small pieces. Others shovel the pieces into a cart.

Yanga notices a row of tall wood spikes, with African heads displayed on top, half rotted away.

While the Spanish soldiers unlock the chains and restraints, a young African WATER BOY approaches the new arrivals with a bucket of water and ladle, and offers each a drink. Yanga queries him.

YANGA What is this?

WATER BOY Silver mine. Where are you from?

YANGA Gabon. Some from Angola. Whose heads are those?

WATER BOY Runaways. Ones that were caught.

Soldiers begin to separate the new arrivals. They march ten of them off.

WATER BOY (cont) Better to be out here. It’s hell in there. 31

YANGA How many guards?

The water boy shrugs his shoulders.

YANGA (cont) Count them. Every day, count the guards. Count their weapons. Where do they sleep?

WATER BOY (motions discreetly) There.

Yanga sees a row of log structures with soldiers milling nearby.

YANGA How many in each cabin?

The water boy shrugs again.

YANGA (cont) Find out.

INT. MINE SHAFT – DAY

Inside the mine, torches provide light for twenty laborers. A short distance from the Africans, six soldiers mingle together, and occasionally glance at the ongoing work.

Africans hammer away at the rock wall of the mine interior. Others pound boulders into smaller pieces, while others load raw ore into heavy carts.

An officer approaches the soldiers. He motions to them and they follow him, away from the laborers, and out of view. Yanga gets Babaji’s attention.

YANGA Babaji, keep an eye on them.

The laborers put down their tools and sit for a break.

AFRICAN #1 Yanga, we know who you are. You’re a prince. You have lost much. 32

YANGA We have all lost much. Families, friends, villages.

KOOFOO Our freedom.

AFRICAN #1 But you have lost a kingdom.

YANGA I have lost my family’s kingdom, in Gabon. But I will have my kingdom. I will establish it here.

KOOFOO You’re going to escape!

YANGA No, we will escape. All of us.

AFRICAN #2 When? Tonight?

YANGA No, not now. We must devise a plan. A plan that will result in freedom. We’ll serve them for now. We need information. Everything that happens here. Weapons, tools. When they are most vulnerable.

KOOFOO We want you to lead us.

The rest of the men express their consensus.

AFRICAN #1 Others have escaped. Many. They say they fled, up into the mountain. The Spanish can’t find them. They call them, maroons.

YANGA When our day comes, we will go and find these maroons, and join them.

Babaji races back to the group.

BABAJI They’re coming!

YANGA (to the group) Back to work.

EXT. SPANISH MINE – DAY

Yanga and three fellow laborers push a heavy cart, filled with large chunks of ore, toward the area where slaves are pulverizing the chunks into gravel.

The cart hits a bump and a large chunk falls off, onto the foot of one of the laborers. He tries to continue, but he is injured and trips and falls. A soldier whips him.

Yanga grabs a chunk of rock, but Babaji restrains his forearm to stop him. A soldier brandishes his sword. Another lights the match to his gun and points it at Yanga.

The laborers continue to push the cart, while the injured man is dragged off.

INT. MINE SHAFT – DAY

One of the African laborers has his shirt off, while his comrades secure a spade against his back with rope. Then he puts his shirt back on, over the spade.

EXT. SPANISH MINE – DAY

The laborers are marched, single file, away from the mine to a small stockade, where they are secured for the night.

EXT. SLAVE STOCKADE – NIGHT

Inside the stockade, Babaji and some fellow laborers work to dig a tunnel under the wall. A nearby campfire provides light and warmth.

When ready, Koofoo crawls through the short tunnel to the outside. Once outside, he does reconnaissance, observing soldiers eating, drinking, smoking, relaxing, and abusing native and African women. 34

He notices where the soldiers have collected their guns. He observes the soldiers who are guarding the stockade.

The laborers inside the stockade pass a prefabricated and disguised wooden hatch through the tunnel. As Koofoo crawls back inside the stockade, he positions the outside hatch in place.

Then they place another hatch over the hole inside the stockade, and cover it with dirt.

YANGA (to Koofoo) How many guarding the stockade?

KOOFOO Six.

YANGA Armor?

KOOFOO Yes.

YANGA Helmets?

KOOFOO No.

Yanga nods.

EXT. WOODLAND – DAY

Yanga and ten laborers are felling trees with saws, axes, and hatchets, preparing mining timbers. The water boy arrives with his bucket. He cautiously removes four loaves of bread from beneath his shirt and hands them to Yanga.

WATER BOY I’ll get more. When are we going?

YANGA A few days, when the moon is right.

WATER BOY The women want to come. 35

YANGA Women are slow. They’ll have to keep up. We will not wait for them.

EXT. SLAVE STOCKADE – NIGHT

A bonfire provides light for Yanga as he reveals his plan to his men. Babaji is sharpening a shiv against a stone.

With a stick, Yanga scrapes the ground, creating a diagram of the mine layout.

YANGA Six soldiers here, guarding the stockade. Six cabins, four asleep in each. Their long rifles are here. Their armory with powder here. We are sixty, a two-to-one advantage. Our initial weapons will be tools, hammers, shovels, axes. And these.

Babaji hands his shiv to Yanga.

YANGA (cont) We have six of these. One for each guard. They must be killed quietly. Take their swords. Eight men will be assigned to each cabin. If we still have the advantage of surprise, you will rush into the cabins and kill them as they sleep. If not, we will kill them as they escape through the doors and windows. They will all be killed. Then we will collect weapons and supplies.

INT. SPANISH MINE – DAY

Yanga and his men strap tools against each other’s backs and torsos with ropes.

EXT. SLAVE STOCKADE – NIGHT

Yanga gives his militia of maroons their final marching orders. 36

YANGA Tonight, we take back our lives. These soldiers stand between us and freedom. They will be destroyed. You all have your assignments. If every man does his job, soon, we will celebrate victory.

EXT. SPANISH MINE – NIGHT

A soldier, followed by a dog, exits one of the cabins and enters a crude outhouse.

Forty crouched maroons, slowly and cautiously make their way, single file, toward the cabins.

Twelve maroons crawl toward the six guards.

The soldier in the outhouse, completes his business and exits.

Out of the darkness, the twelve assassins jump the guards. The struggle creates a stir, which alerts the dog. The dog growls loudly. The OUTHOUSE SOLDIER sees what’s going on, and runs toward the cabins, shouting.

OUTHOUSE SOLDIER Attack! Attack! Attack! Attack!

The twelve assassins struggle with the six guards, fighting with shivs, shovels, rocks, and clubs. Two maroons are killed. Two guards are killed. Their swords are secured by the maroons. The four remaining guards kill two more.

A soldier rushes out of a cabin and is met with a sledge hammer to the face. His sword is secured.

Two soldiers fight their way out of another cabin with swords. Four maroons fight them with clubs and shovels. The maroons fight valiantly, but are killed.

Yanga appears with a sword and kills both soldiers.

A soldier tries to crawl out through a window and is met by two maroons, who pound his skull with clubs.

Another soldier attempts to crawl out of a different window, and is beheaded by Yanga.

Five of the guards have been neutralized. The sixth takes off running, chased by six maroons. They overtake him and stab him with shivs.

As Yanga surveys the battlefield, he is jumped from behind by a soldier, and his sword falls to the ground. The soldier picks up the sword and swings it at Yanga.

Yanga picks a club up off of the ground, and uses it to defend himself. He waits for an opening, clubs the soldier in the head, secures his sword, and makes mincemeat of his face, then plunges it into his heart.

Yanga sees his men struggling with four soldiers. He runs over and engages two in a sword fight. His fighters overwhelm the other two. Then they swarm one of Yanga’s opponents, while Yanga kills the fourth.

The maroons have surrounded a cabin, with two soldiers trapped inside, who are pleading with them. Babaji calls out to Yanga.

BABAJI Yanga! Two inside. They want to surrender.

Yanga goes to a nearby campfire, grabs two burning branches, and heads for the cabin. Other maroons follow his lead and grab burning logs.

The fiery logs are tossed into the cabin through the door and windows and the interior ignites. As the soldiers exit the flames, they are met with swords and axes.

Yanga surveys the field, looking for soldiers.

YANGA (to the maroons) Groups of four. Search the area. There may be more, hiding.

The four-man squads canvass the mine grounds.

EXT. VERACRUZ - CAMINO REAL – DAY

A series of shots shows Yanga’s fifty-three maroons trekking along the rustic roadway, followed by ten African women and ten native women. The men are dressed in Spanish garb, including a few in armor.

The men are bandaged, with some limping. They are laden with guns, swords, tools, and backpacks. The women carry satchels and balance loads on their heads.

The group is resting and drinking water beside a river, at the confluence of two converging streams.

Yanga addresses his men.

YANGA We have to get away from the road. (to Koofoo) Lead everyone up this stream. Stay in the streambed, or on rocks. Don’t disturb any plants.

KOOFOO It will be very slow.

YANGA Slow, but safe. I’ll take two men with me. We’ll create a false trail up there, to that hilltop. Then we’ll join you upstream.

EXT. FOOTHILL – DAY

As Yanga, Babaji and another maroon climb the hill, they use sticks to disturb the foliage.

EXT. HILLTOP – DAY

The men are on a rocky hilltop, carefully surveying the terrain.

BABAJI I don’t see any Spanish.

YANGA Not yet. We’ll have two days. 39

He points toward the northwest.

YANGA (cont) See that ridgeline? Let’s go and see what’s behind it.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN - RIDGELINE – DAY

Yanga and his companions walk carefully, stepping on rocks, intentionally avoiding plants.

Yanga stops and looks downward. He points.

YANGA Looks like a village.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN - JUNGLE VILLAGE – DAY

The three maroons walk slowly through a small, abandoned Aztec village. An old dog cautiously approaches them and sniffs.

They look inside huts and discover personal objects.

BABAJI Where are these people?

Yanga visually surveys the compound.

YANGA Hiding. Leave everything. Let’s go.

The men leave the village on a trail.

EXT. JUNGLE TRAIL – DAY

As the men walk, Yanga occasionally turns to look behind. They approach an area of large rock outcroppings and boulders.

YANGA We’re being followed. Keep going.

Yanga darts off the trail. He climbs a large boulder, and waits.

Suddenly, he jumps down to the ground. As he lands, he finds himself amidst five native women.

The women are alarmed, but do not run. As Yanga sizes them up, they size him up.

An OLDER WOMAN, apparently the oldest of the five, takes a step toward Yanga, reaches into her satchel, pulls out a guava, and offers it to Yanga.

Yanga accepts her offering, and bites into the fruit. He smiles and continues eating.

Yanga’s men have backtracked, and find him with the women.

BABAJI Yanga, are you alright?

YANGA These women have taken me captive.

The women and men size each other up, smiling. The older woman pats Yanga on the stomach and motions for everyone to follow her into the jungle.

She finds a guava tree. One of the younger women shimmies up the trunk, pulls fruit and drops them down below.

Everyone enjoys the guavas, as they stash more for later. Babaji points to the fruit and asks one of the women:

BABAJI What is this?

NATIVE WOMAN Guava.

BABAJI Guava. We don’t have these in Africa. (to Yanga) Where are their men?

YANGA Probably taken by the Spanish.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN - JUNGLE STREAM – DAY

The women have joined Yanga and his men, and the group makes their way up a streambed.

Now the group is hiking along a ridgeline, above a small gorge. Below is a stream. They hear the voices of their fellow maroons below.

EXT. JUNGLE STREAM – WATERFALL – DAY

Yanga’s maroons have dead-ended into a waterfall and are taking rest. One of them spots Yanga above them at the top of the gorge.

Yanga extends his arms.

YANGA Freedom!

The maroons answer back.

MAROONS Freedom!

EXT. SPANISH MINE – DAY

Six Spanish soldiers on horseback, move slowly through the mine grounds, surveying the carnage. The SPANISH CAPTAIN is angry.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Count the bodies. And find Lieutenant Guerrero!

The captain remains atop his horse. His men dismount.

One of the SOLDIERS finds Guerrero’s head next to a cabin. He picks it up by the hair to display to the Captain.

SPANISH SOLDIER #2 Capitan! The lieutenant!

SPANISH CAPTAIN (angry) How did this happen?

He dismounts.

Two soldiers show the Captain the tunnel under the stockade wall. Another soldier approaches.

SPANISH SOLDIER #3 Thirty dead, capitan. And seven slaves.

SPANISH CAPTAIN (fuming) Thirty and seven.

Another soldier approaches.

SPANISH SOLDIER #4 The weapons are gone, and powder.

SPANISH SOLDIER #2 They took all the tools.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Of course. This was organized. (enraged) I will have this organizer’s head on a spier! (to himself) The new Viceroy isn’t going to like this.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN – DAY

Now, the older woman is leading the long line of maroons. She occasionally looks back and smiles at Yanga and he returns the gesture.

The old woman leads Yanga up a hill.

From an elevated prominence, she points to a secluded valley in the distance. Yanga appears awed. The rest of the maroons are excited. The old woman nods knowingly.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN - SECLUDED VALLEY – DAY

Yanga and his maroons march out of jungle foliage and into a large, open meadow. In the distance they see smoke rising. He looks at the old woman who smiles and nods. 43

EXT. SECLUDED VALLEY - MAROON VILLAGE – DAY

A group of maroons goes about their daily routine, working, cooking, and socializing. They are mostly males, both Africans and natives, with a few children running about. A dozen crude huts are clustered together.

A young VILLAGER comes running, pointing.

VILLAGER #1 Runaways! Runaways! Coming this way. Many of them!

The entire village excitedly comes to life, and everyone hustles toward Yanga and his entourage.

VILLAGER #1 (to Yanga) Where were you? In the cane fields?

YANGA Silver mine.

VILLAGER #1 Welcome. We will make food and celebrate!

LATER:

The villagers celebrate with the new arrivals. Five men beat out a rhythm on crude drums. The women pass out food. Native women tend to the wounds of the new arrivals.

The villagers surround Yanga and his men. One of the villagers is an INTERPRETER.

YANGA (to Villager #1) How many are you?

VILLAGER #1 About thirty here. But there are more. Nearby.

BABAJI Yanga is the prince of Gabon. It is because of him that we are here with you now, free.

YANGA (to village men) Who is your leader?

The village men look at each other.

VILLAGER #1 No one, really.

INTERPRETER You will be our leader.

The men voice their consensus.

INT. OFFICE OF THE VICEROY – DAY

In his well-appointed office, VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO appears anxious, gazing out a window, as he awaits his lead general, GENERAL LOPEZ. There is a knock, and a LIEUTENANT opens the door, admitting the general.

LIEUTENANT Your excellency, General Lopez!

Lopez enters and stands before the Viceroy. The lieutenant exits.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Thirty dead? An idle mine?

The two men gaze at each other in silence.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO (cont) Why weren’t they secured for the night?

GENERAL LOPEZ They followed protocol. Shall we go after them?

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Of course, go after them! Take a platoon! Bring back as many as you can find. We’ll execute them in front of the other slaves.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – NIGHT

The maroons relax around a large bonfire. The old woman is seated nearby.

YANGA (to the men) Does anyone speak their language?

INTERPRETER I do.

YANGA Ask her what happened at her village, to her people.

The interpreter and the woman converse back and forth.

INTERPRETER Some Spanish came and took everyone away. She escaped.

YANGA Were they soldiers? Did they wear uniforms?

He asks her and she shakes her head, no.

YANGA (cont) Where did they take the men?

The interpreter asks and she answers.

INTERPRETER To a sugar plantation.

YANGA Does she know where it is? Can she lead us there?

He asks her and she nods affirmatively. 46

YANGA Tell her we will get her people back.

INTERPRETER You want to go there?

YANGA We will all go there.

The surprised villagers react as if Yanga is crazy.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN – RIDGELINE - DAY

The Spanish Captain and the Lieutenant wait patiently atop horses, while their men search for the trail. A soldier approaches them to report.

SPANISH SOLDIER #5 We’ve lost their trail.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Lost! Where?

SPANISH SOLDIER #5 Here. There is no trail.

SPANISH CAPTAIN (angry) Where are these phantom maroons?

EXT. AFRICAN HILLTOP – DAY

King Maghan and his son, ADJOA, are atop horses on a hilltop surrounded by their personal guards. Down below, they survey a village. The king nods to three archers, who light their arrow tips, and fire them into the air.

EXT. AFRICAN VILLAGE – DAY

Gabonese soldiers see the flaming arrows and swarm the village.

The villagers are taken by surprise. Those who resist are killed. The rest are quickly rounded up.

LATER: 47

The male captives have their hands bound behind their backs, and are linked together with ropes, secured around their necks.

The unbound women and children are lined up behind, closely guarded by soldiers.

In the rear, are cows and mules, with pigs, goats, and chickens loaded onto mule-led wagons.

King Maghan signals to one of his officers, who orders the long procession of captives to begin their march.

ADJOA What shall we do with them?

KING MAGHAN Keep the children. Some of the women for slaves. The rest, we will sell to the Portuguese.

ADJOA Maybe they have information about Yanga.

KING MAGHAN Yanga is gone. Now, the Fulani are gone.

ADJOA We can enjoy peace.

KING MAGHAN No, there will be no peace. The Europeans stir up these wars. It creates captives for them.

ADJOA Slaves.

KING MAGHAN (nods) It is them we should be fighting.

ADJOA But they have many friends here.

KING MAGHAN Yes. That’s why we’ll never get rid of them.

EXT. VERACRUZ SUGAR PLANTATION – DAY

Yanga and his maroons observe the plantation layout from a vantage point. The native women, looking like plantation raiders, are nearby with the interpreter.

Koofoo crawls behind fencing, bushes and work carts, to survey the Spanish plantation hacienda.

Another maroon cautiously surveys log structures, with Spanish men resting and milling about.

Babaji observes armed Spanish guards, who lead African and Aztec slaves away from the cane fields, and toward the slave stockade.

With sunlight waning, using sugar cane to hide behind, three maroons observe a group of Spanish men, as they secure the slave compound for the night.

EXT. VERACRUZ SUGAR PLANTATION – HILLTOP - NIGHT

From an elevated vantage point, armed with swords, shovels, axes, hatchets, and spears, Yanga and his fifty fighters observe the plantation below.

They can see campfires, and lights from the windows of the plantation house.

YANGA We’ll attack at first light. The guards will be killed or captured. We’ll secure the family inside the slave compound. Then we’ll collect everything of value.

EXT. VERACRUZ SUGAR PLANTATION – DAY

As first light of the new day glows on the horizon, on Yanga’s signal, five maroons rush the plantation house and quickly break in through doors and windows.

From the cane field, Yanga leads the charge against the Spanish guards. They are overwhelmed from surprise and the maroons’ superior numbers.

The Aztec women cautiously enter the plantation house, with the interpreter.

Babaji and Koofoo tear off the timbers that are locking the slave stockade shut, and African and Aztec slaves pour out joyously.

Some maroons escort the family from the plantation house to the slave stockade, along with some Spanish guards taken captive. The interpreter approaches Yanga, with the Aztec women looking on.

INTERPRETER They want food and water to be put in the stockade, with the family.

Yanga regards the women, who nod sincerely.

YANGA Do it.

EXT. CAMINO REAL – DAY

Yanga’s procession has doubled in size. Behind the long line of maroon fighters are freed African and Aztec slaves, plus a line of animals and wagons, piled high with tools, weapons, and provisions.

At the front of the procession, Yanga and his men relish their victory.

Directly behind Yanga, the Aztec women walk amidst a crowd of their fellow villagers, who treat them like rock stars.

BABAJI Twelve Spanish dead, eight captives. (looks around) And I don’t think anybody is hurt.

KOOFOO Two wounded. 50

TAYANNA, one of the freed Aztec women, breaks off from her group, then hustles up to the front and walks behind and to the side of Yanga, as if she is eavesdropping.

BABAJI I think we have about seventy new maroons.

KOOFOO And weapons.

YANGA How many women?

BABAJI Around twenty, I think.

YANGA Good. We need women.

KOOFOO We caught them completely by surprise!

YANGA Yes, this time. Next time will not be so easy.

Babaji and Koofoo regard each other, surprised.

BABAJI AND KOOFOO Next time?

Tayanna is about twenty years old. She quickens her pace slightly, so that she is beside Yanga.

Yanga notices her and turns forward. They walk together, side by side, both apparently at ease.

He turns and smiles at her and she smiles back.

TAYANNA Who are you?

YANGA What do you mean?

TAYANNA Are you Francisco Matosa?

YANGA No.

TAYANNA Last night I contemplated ending my life, and now I’m going home.

They continue to walk side by side, silently.

TAYANNA (cont) Where did you come from? Why did you do this?

YANGA I like to have a lot of people around, especially Africans. But all the Africans here are slaves. So, if I’m going to have African friends, I have to go to the plantations and get them. You understand my language.

TAYANNA Yes. I know many languages. When ever I meet someone and I don’t know their language, I learn it.

YANGA How did you learn African languages?

TAYANNA We had twenty African men living in our village. That’s why the Spanish came. Because they were there. When they came, they just took everybody.

YANGA So now, we just took everybody back.

TAYANNA Yes, yes you did. 52

They continue to walk together, at ease with each other.

YANGA Why do you learn languages?

TAYANNA To get to know people and what they’re like, and where they come from. They say Africa is a lot like this.

YANGA It’s true, except for the mountain.

TAYANNA Orizaba. My name is Tayanna.

Yanga smiles at her and continues walking. She looks like she’s waiting for him to introduce himself, but he doesn’t.

TAYANNA (cont) When you were born, did your parents give you a name?

Yanga breaks out in laughter, and she joins him.

YANGA Yanga.

TAYANNA (smiling) Yanga.

They process the moment.

YANGA Will you teach me Spanish?

TAYANN (smiling) Yes, I will teach you Spanish.

YANGA All of you will join us in our valley. We’ll build a community together.

TITLE CARD: 1581 – TWO YEARS LATER

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAINSIDE – VISTA POINT - DAY

From a prominent vantage point, Yanga, Babaji, and Koofoo survey the 270-degree vista before them. In the distance is the Gulf of Mexico and Veracruz. Below them, they see the winding Camino Real highway.

BABAJI We can see them coming, (points) about two miles off.

YANGA That only gives us an hour to prepare. We need two. We’ll use drums. How many soldiers?

KOOFOO It depends. Sometimes ten, sometimes thirty.

YANGA Thirty means valuable cargo. Maybe people, maybe powder and guns. We’ll start with a small one. What about locations?

BABAJI There are many.

YANGA Good.

The men hear a talking drum in the distance.

YANGA (cont) Everyone is here.

The men turn and walk away.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – DAY

Yanga and his three companions march through a cornfield. As they exit the corn, they encounter a group of cows. Then the rhythm of drums and cowbells begins. 54

The men approach their large stockade, constructed with vertical timbers. The stockade has three sides, with sentry posts atop each corner. Around the top of the stockade interior wall is a wide catwalk.

Many villagers, two-third Africans and one-third native Aztecs, have lined the path to the stockade entrance. They offer their sincere respects as Yanga passes, then fall in behind him.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE - STOCKADE – DAY

As Yanga enters the stockade, he encounters Tayanna, who is elegantly dressed and very pregnant. He bows to her humbly. She smiles broadly. He takes her hand and they walk together toward the center of the compound.

YANGA You are the most beautiful queen in all of the New World. And you carry a future prince in your belly.

TAYANNA Or princess, perhaps.

They share a warm smile.

Around the perimeter of the compound interior are dozens of small, tightly-packed huts. The council house, in the center of the compound, is the largest, and most well-built structure, and is positioned against a large tree.

A small stream runs through the middle of the compound, with a foot bridge spanning across.

When they reach the front of the council house, the couple finds two chairs. They continue to stand, enjoying the drumming and festive atmosphere. Some women move and sway to the beat. Then the drumming stops.

Yanga and Tayanna take their seats. Most of the throng of three hundred sits cross-legged at their feet, with some men standing behind. Several of the women cradle babies in their arms.

Yanga takes a moment to quietly gaze around at everyone. He stands, and takes a deep breath.

YANGA (cont) This is our mountain!

The crowd cheers wildly.

YANGA (cont) Our land!

More cheers.

YANGA (cont) We are a tribe, we are an army! We will be no man’s slave!

Wild cheers. Yanga waits until everyone is settled down.

YANGA (cont) The stockade is now complete. Our defenses are in place. We are secure. The Spanish don’t know where we are. And if they find out, they will pay a heavy price! We’ll continue to increase our numbers with raids.

Yanga helps Tayanna to her feet.

YANGA (cont) And with children.

The men smile while the women cheer and clap.

YANGA (cont) Now, I invite the commanders into the council house. We will make plans for the future.

INT. COUNCIL HOUSE – DAY

Yanga and Tayanna are seated in prominent chairs, which abut a large tree, built into the backwall of the structure. Thirty African warriors are packed within, most sitting cross-legged, with a few standing around the rear.

YANGA Up to now, we have assigned one fourth of the men to the army. Now that the stockade is built, we will increase the army to one half. The natives work well with crops and animals, so the army will be mostly Africans.

BABAJI We need more weapons.

KOOFOO And supplies.

BABAJI Are we planning more raids?

YANGA Yes, but not plantations. Veracruz is too far. We need horses and cows, and cows are too slow. We will begin raiding the caravans that use the Camino Real. They will provide us with weapons, animals, and provisions.

BABAJI And more fighters.

YANGA Yes.

KOOFOO If we grow the army large enough we can defeat the Spanish.

YANGA No. We cannot defeat them. They have unlimited soldiers and superior weapons. We want them to tolerate us, to fear us. We will prepare battlefields in the jungle, that we create, with trails leading to them.

BABAJI Traps.

YANGA Yes. They will come looking for us. We want them to realize they cannot defeat us and give up trying.

Suddenly, Tayanna begins moaning and holding her belly, clearly in severe pain. Yanga stands.

YANGA (to the men) Get the women! Hurry!

EXT. COUNCIL HOUSE – DAY

Yanga paces about frantically, with anxious villagers looking on.

They hear an infant’s loud cry. A NATIVE WOMAN emerges from the council house.

NATIVE WOMAN It’s a boy!

Cheers from the crowd.

NATIVE WOMAN (cont) What will you call him?

KOOFOO What’s his name?

YANGA Gaspar Yanga.

NATIVE WOMAN (beaming) Treasure of Yanga!

INT. VILLAGE HUT – NIGHT

Candles illuminate the interior of their dwelling, as Yanga and Tayanna cuddle in bed with their baby.

TAYANNA He looks like you. See his curls?

YANGA I hope he looks like you.

TAYANNA Lucky boy. Son of a great man.

YANGA Son of a great woman. This community depends on you, the interpreter. The girl I was going to marry, in Africa, she was also an interpreter. Portuguese.

TAYANNA What was her name?

YANGA Nzinga.

TAYANNA Nzinga. Were you two in love?

YANGA No. I didn’t like her.

TAYANNA (amused) You didn’t like her?

YANGA No. I respected her.

TAYANNA Was she pretty?

YANGA No.

TAYANNA Why were you going to marry her?

YANGA To please my father. Nzinga is a princess. One day, a queen. In her 59

YANGA (cont) country, women can rule. She’ll make a good queen. So will you.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN - JUNGLE – DAY

A platoon of twenty Spanish soldiers, plods through the dense jungle, with the Spanish Captain and Lieutenant on horseback at the rear. The horses are impeded by the thick foliage.

The procession stops. Soldier #5 walks back to address the officers.

SPANISH SOLDIER #5 The trail ends. It’s just jungle ahead.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Keep moving forward. We’ll pick up the trail.

The soldiers continue to fight their way into the jungle. Monkeys appear in the trees overhead.

The soldiers break through into an open area, with monkeys suddenly surrounding them.

The monkeys begin jumping on the soldiers and onto the two horses. The horses react and one rears up, throwing the officer off.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Go back! Retreat!

With monkeys hanging all over them, the soldiers retreat out of the area, post-haste.

INT. OFFICE OF THE VICEROY – DAY

The Viceroy interviews General Lopez and the Spanish captain.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Monkeys! Monkeys? You were defeated by monkeys?

SPANISH CAPTAIN No, not defeated. Just chased off.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Chased off. (to General Lopez) They were defeated by monkeys?

He stands and shouts.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Find these maroons! And bring me the head of this man.

He looks to the General Lopez.

GENERAL LOPEZ Yanga.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Bring me the head of this Yanga!

EXT. CAMINO REAL – DAY

A Spanish caravan is making its way westward along the rustic highway. Six mounted Spanish guards lead the caravan, with ten foot-soldiers marching at the rear.

Directly in front of the soldiers are six African men carrying large loads, and six African women carrying small loads. Another six African men are paired up, pulling three small wagons, like two-horse teams.

The caravan is comprised of a variety of rolling stock, including six horse-drawn wagons piled high with goods.

There is one fancy enclosed carriage and two open-air passenger wagons filled with Spaniards.

There is also an open buggy with three passengers, a young Spanish dandy, with his two well-dressed, African female companions on either side.

EXT. JUNGLE HILLSIDE – DAY

Koofoo is watching the caravan, as it passes him by. He strikes a short rhythm on his talking drum. 61

Up ahead, another maroon, who is poised with his comrades atop a large boulder, answers back with his drum.

EXT. CAMINO REAL – DAY

At the front of the caravan, the mounted guards regard each other curiously, then two turn around to observe the caravan behind.

In the buggy, the DANDY has heard it too. He regards his two lovely African female companions, ZOLA and ANIKA.

DANDY (to companions) What was that? Did you hear that?

Zola and Anika regard each other and snicker. The dandy turns to the driver of the fancy carriage behind him.

DANDY (cont) Did you hear that? That odd noise?

The six mounted guards at the head of the caravan procession, move under a canopy of trees, with rocks and foliage off to either side.

Suddenly, a dozen maroons fall from the trees, onto the horses, while six more attack the guards from nearby hiding spots. They pull the guards off of their horses, pin them to the ground, and relieve them of their weapons.

The caravan halts. Forty maroons rush the ten soldiers at the rear of the caravan. Yanga and Babaji, both armed with lit matchlocks, emerge from the trees atop horses.

The maroons at the rear are able to subdue eight of the soldiers, but two draw their swords, ready to fight.

YANGA Drop your weapons! Drop your swords! We will not harm you!

One of the sword-wielding soldiers is rushed from behind by two maroons, who secure his sword. The other engages in a sword fight with a maroon, and is seriously wounded. His sword is secured.

From atop one of the open wagons, full of Spanish travelers, a man rises to his feet with a rifle and points it at Yanga. An arrow finds his neck, and he falls off the wagon, to the ground.

YANGA (to maroons at rear) Armor, uniforms, boots, weapons… bind their hands.

Maroons are busy securing the slaves and hurrying them off. Other maroons have begun unloading wagons.

Yanga and Babaji ride to the front of the caravan. The guards have been laid out, prone.

YANGA Weapons, uniforms, boots, and horses. Tie them securely.

Yanga and Babaji turn their horses, and walk slowly toward the rear of the caravan, surveying all of the wagons and carriages. They stop at the dandy’s buggy and dismount.

YANGA (to Zola and Anika) You’re coming with us.

He holds out his hand, as a gesture to help them out of the buggy. The dandy grabs both women by the hair and yanks them back against the seat.

DANDY No you don’t! These two are mine.

YANGA (to Babaji) They don’t look like they belong to him. They’re the wrong color.

Yanga takes the pistol-sized matchlock from Babaji’s hand, grasps it by the barrel, and whacks the dandy in the throat with the pistol butt. The dandy screams, lets go of the womens’ hair, and holds his throat.

YANGA (to Babaji) A little girl taught me that.

Yanga and Babaji help Zola and Anika off of the buggy and Babaji walks them away. Yanga removes the Dandy’s befeathered hat and tries it on for size.

Yanga walks to the fancy carriage, opens the door, and peers inside.

YANGA Step out of the carriage.

INT. FANCY CARRIAGE – DAY

Inside the carriage are two OLDER MEN, an older woman, plus a YOUNG WOMAN, all finely dressed.

OLDER MAN Don’t. Stay where you are.

EXT. CAMINO REAL – DAY

Yanga is patient, but firm.

YANGA I insist you step out. You will not be harmed.

There is a short delay, and then the young woman steps out first, followed by the rest.

Maroons enter the carriage to search it. Other maroons stand at the ready. He points to the older men and woman.

YANGA (to maroons) See what they have.

They search the pockets of the men and remove jewelry from the woman. Yanga sizes up the young woman.

YANGA (to young woman) Remove your dress.

She wriggles out of her dress. Then she begins removing her undergarment.

YANGA No. I don’t want that.

He looks to a maroon, who is holding a blanket.

YANGA (cont) (to maroon) Put that around her.

The maroon drapes the blanket around her shoulders.

YOUNG WOMAN How gallant. What’s her name?

YANGA Who?

YOUNG WOMAN The woman who will be wearing my dress later. It’s a bit small for you.

YANGA Tayanna.

YOUNG WOMAN Give Tayanna these.

She removes a string of pearls from her neck.

YOUNG WOMAN (cont) I have lots more. You’re Yanga.

YANGA You’re mistaken.

YOUNG WOMAN (smiling) You know, half of the women in Veracruz can’t sleep at night for fear you and your maroons will come charging through their windows and spirit them away to your den. 65

YANGA We don’t take white women. White women are trouble.

YOUNG WOMAN Not even me?

YANGA Especially you.

Maroons are draining large wine barrels at the roadside.

OLDER MAN That’s the finest Castilian wine!

YANGA We need the barrels.

LATER:

Along the side of the road, the maroons have consolidated their haul.

The caravan has been reconfigured, as it begins the remainder of its journey. The guards and soldiers are all in their underwear, barefoot, walking.

Six of the soldiers have taken the place of the six Africans who were pulling the three small wagons. The Spaniards have just enough horses in order to continue on with their journey.

The maroons watch the caravan move slowly away from them.

YANGA (to Babaji) How many guns?

BABAJI Forty. And two barrels of powder.

They share a satisfied smile.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – DAY

A rowdy, festive celebration is underway throughout the village. 66

Drummers drum and women dance. The villagers roleplay with each other, donned in Spanish garments.

Yanga, still wearing his Spanish dandy hat, regards Tayanna as she models her new dress and pearls.

As a native woman holds her baby, Tayanna tries some Spanish dance steps. She snaps her fingers over her head, and Yanga snaps his fingers in unison.

Zola and Anika are seated on hay bales, while being doted upon by eight excited, adoring YOUNG MAROONS. Two more rush up, offering flowers to the women.

MAROON #1 For you. Not beautiful enough.

ZOLA Oh, they are beautiful.

ANIKA Thank you so much!

A boy offers them a plateful of fruit. They both reach for bananas.

ZOLA Thank you.

ANIKA I’m so hungry.

These exotic beauties know how to peel a banana. As they bite into their fruits, one can almost hear the bananas moan with pleasure.

MAROON #2 What else can we do?

MAROON #3 Can we get you anything?

Zola and Anika regard each other.

ANIKA We need to get out of these hot dresses and clean up. 67

ZOLA Is there water anywhere?

The excited boys repeat ‘water’ and ‘the waterfall’.

MAROON #4 We have a waterfall.

ZOLA Oh, a waterfall.

ANIKA That’s perfect!

ZOLA (to the boys) Will you take us there?

The boys enthusiastically nod their heads.

MAROON #4 Of course, yes!

Zola and Anika rise to their feet and the boys lead them away.

ANIKA (to Maroon #4) I could use some help. Will you wash my hair?

MAROON #4 Oh, yes, yes, it will be so clean.

ZOLA (to Maroon #3) Maybe you could wash my back.

Six Maroons answer.

MAROONS Yes! Yes!

The women share a naughty grin.

ZOLA When we woke up this morning, we 68

ZOLA (cont) were slaves. Now, we have our own slaves.

ANIKA Would you boys like to be our slaves?

The maroons answer in chorus.

MAROONS Yes! Yes! Yes!

ZOLA Who wants to rub my feet?

Hands go up.

MAROONS Me. Me. I will.

Anika picks her hair playfully with her hand.

ANIKA (to Maroon #4) You realize, I have hair in two places.

His eyes widen.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – COUNCIL HOUSE - DAY

Yanga and Tayanna appear ecstatic.

TAYANNA This dress makes me too beautiful for this place. What if I were to run off and marry a rich Spaniard in Veracruz?

YANGA I would come and find you, and take you back.

TAYANNA But you would have to find me.

She takes a nearby cloth and throws it into Yanga’s face. Then she takes off running.

Yanga removes the cloth and sees her sprinting off, toward the jungle canopy. He walks after her for a few paces, then begins jogging.

INT. JUNGLE – DAY

Tayanna tears through the jungle, occasionally looking back for Yanga.

Yanga follows the path she creates as she runs through the thick foliage.

He stops, looks around, then continues. As he walks past a boulder, Tayanna jumps off, onto his shoulders. Her dress blinds Yanga, and they fall into some tall grass.

They share a laugh, a smile, and a kiss.

TAYANNA Everyone is so happy. You should raid more caravans.

YANGA We have to be careful. We’ll raid caravans when we need supplies. If we attack too many, the Spanish will come.

She cuddles in close to him.

TAYANNA They’ll never find us.

YANGA They will find us. One day, they’ll send an army up here.

TAYANNA I don’t like it when you go off, with the men. I feel better when you’re here with me, with the baby.

YANGA We have to stay ready. If I had someone, someone who could lead, but no one is ready.

Yanga takes a moment to reflect on his exchange with Tayanna.

YANGA (cont) I would rather not fight. If we could make peace them, with the Spanish. There is some good land down by the river. They don’t use it. We could build a community there.

TAYANNA Take me there.

EXT. ROLLING PLAIN – DAY

Yanga, Tayanna, Koofoo, and Babaji and two maroon fighters are all on horseback, walking the horses through the grassy river bottom.

YANGA This goes for miles. We could develop a large village here. Everyone in the same place. Crops, animals. We have the river and we could trade from here.

BABAJI A nice dream, but the jungle is our advantage.

YANGA Everything begins with a dream.

TAYANNA It is truly paradise.

YANGA I want this to be Gaspar’s land.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN - JUNGLE – DAY

Twenty Spanish soldiers make their way through the jungle, with the Captain and the Lieutenant taking up the rear. The procession stops.

LIEUTENANT What’s the holdup?

SPANISH SOLDIER #5 We’ve lost the trail.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Keep going.

The soldiers plod ahead, through the thick foliage.

They march into an opening in the foliage, and a snake drops from a tree. Then a second snake drops. The men look at the ground around them and see dozens of snakes.

SPANISH SOLDIER #5 Snakes!

LIEUTENANT Snakes?

Without waiting for a command, the soldiers evacuate the area.

INT. OFFICE OF THE VICEROY – DAY

General Lopez and the anxious Captain are seated.

GENERAL LOPEZ Don’t worry, the viceroy will understand.

The viceroy enters and the officers jump to attention.

GENERAL LOPEZ AND SPANISH CAPTAIN Your excellency!

De Velasco takes his seat behind his ornate desk.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Now what? 72

SPANISH CAPTAIN We found their trail, and we followed it. And then we encountered snakes.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Snakes? Snakes this time.

GENERAL LOPEZ And the lions.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Lions.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Yes, two actually.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Two lions. And did you shoot them?

SPANISH CAPTAIN Well, no, you see…

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Why not!

SPANISH CAPTAIN Everyone was running.

De Velasco stands, grabs a nearby helmet, and slams it down onto his desk. Then he ponders.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Alright. No patrols for now. Find me two naturals who have lived on that mountain. I don’t care if you have to go to Mexico City, find me two native guides!

GENERAL LOPEZ AND SPANISH CAPTAIN Si your excellency, si!

INT. MAROON VILLAGE – YANGA’S HUT – DAY

Yanga and Tayanna are just waking up to the morning light, streaming in through the window. 73

Yanga hears a talking drum in the distance. He hurries out of the hut.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – COUNCIL HOUSE - DAY

Yanga rings a bell, mounted to a post outside the council house. Villagers emerge from their huts.

The men surround Yanga.

YANGA Listen.

They hear the distant drum.

YANGA What is that?

MAROON #4 It’s Angolan.

YANGA What is he saying?

MAROON #4 (listens intently) They are a group of maroons. Forty of them. They want to meet with us.

YANGA Matosa. It has to be Matosa. Tell him to come, now.

Maroon #4 takes a talking drum from a nearby man and pounds out a series of short rhythms. Then he repeats the rhythms.

They listen for the Angolan to answer back.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – DAY

The villagers watch, as forty tired, rag-tag maroons emerge out of the jungle foliage, and into the village. They are heavily-laden with weaponry and supplies.

The group includes thirty African men and ten Aztec women. The villagers greet them warmly, yet cautiously.

The physically-fit women are clad in trunk hose and knee- high boots. On top, they wear leather tunics, with large arm holes.

Yanga approaches their leader, FRANCISCO MATOSA, a large, rugged-looking man, with a hard expression.

YANGA You’re Francisco Matosa, the Angolan.

MATOSA (nods) We’ve been trying to find you.

YANGA You made it past our sentries.

Matosa smiles.

MATOSA We want to join you. We are forty, all with guns and bows.

Yanga regards the women.

YANGA You have women.

MATOSA (laughing) Yes. Forty fighters in all.

Yanga nods, then addresses the villagers.

YANGA Our numbers have increased. Please welcome our new friends! (to Matosa) Have something to eat. We’ll talk later.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAINSIDE – VISTA POINT - DAY

From their prominent vantage point, Yanga and Matosa survey the 270-degree vista, the Camino Real below, and Veracruz and the Gulf of Mexico off in the distance. 75

YANGA Troop movements can be seen from here. Also caravans.

MATOSA How many fighters, in all?

YANGA We have about two hundred men. Half are assigned to the army. But every man is trained. They can all fight. There are also natives, living on the mountain. We can rely on them.

MATOSA Your stockade is well-built.

YANGA We have two more, higher up. Half our people live up there. If this one is breached, we retreat up there.

MATOSA Planning?

The two men walk as they talk, as they begin their trek back to village.

YANGA We have four battlefields.

MATOSA Lure and trap.

YANGA Right. We use height advantage. Never make trails through the jungle. When we travel long distances, we use ridgelines.

MATOSA Weapons?

YANGA A hundred and twenty guns. With yours, a hundred sixty. We need musket balls. And of course, powder. Everyone is trained in everything. Even rock throwing.

MATOSA Atlatls?

YANGA I’ve seen them. We don’t use them.

MATOSA I’ll show you.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE - TARGET RANGE – DAY

Yanga and Matosa have gathered a group of their fighters, including all ten of Matosa’s Aztec women. They have various targets set up, including Spanish chest armor, secured around hay bales.

One of Yanga’s men holds a spear in his hand, aims at one of the armored bales, and throws. His spear barely penetrates the armor, and the spear drops to the ground.

Then one of Matosa’s women positions a spear in her atlatl, aims, and whips the spear toward the armor. The spear penetrates through the armor, all the way into the hay and remains there.

Yanga takes the atlatl and hands it to Koofoo.

YANGA Make fifty of these. (to Matosa) Let’s try the arrows.

Babaji positions an arrow into his heavy bow and fires at the armor. The arrow dents the armor and bounces off.

Then one of Matosa’s women takes the same bow, and using her own arrow, fires at the armor. The arrow penetrates through and sticks into the hay bale.

Yanga nods and regards the woman. 77

YANGA Let me see.

She hands him an arrow. Yanga inspects the tip.

MATOSA Very hard stone. Easy to sharpen. They’re all over.

Yanga hands the arrow to Koofoo.

YANGA A thousand of these.

Koofoo’s expression suggests that a thousand may be a lot.

Yanga and Matosa drift away from the maroons. They watch as Matosa’s women show Yanga’s men how to use the atlatl. One of the women spars playfully with one of Yanga’s men.

As Yanga and Matosa converse, two of Matosa’s men, standing off to the side, observe Yanga cautiously. Yanga occasionally glances over at them.

YANGA Tell me about the women.

MATOSA Rescued them from a Spanish brothel. Had them in shackles. Beaten. One of them escaped and found us.

YANGA They’re skilled warriors.

MATOSA Especially with knives. In their religion, they’re priests. Very high.

YANGA Women priests?

MATOSA The Spanish are shutting down the Aztec religion, so they can 78

MATOSA (cont) introduce their own. They came from a temple, south of here, with a tall pyramid. When the temple was attacked, the men were killed, the women captured.

YANGA They sacrifice people, in their religion.

MATOSA (nods) Hundreds, thousands. These women were worshipped by their own people. Communicated directly with the gods. They performed the rituals.

YANGA On top of the pyramid.

Matosa nods. As he describes how the women butchered their captors, he waves an imaginary knife, and holds an imaginary heart.

MATOSA When we raided the brothel, we took six captives alive. The women laid them out on a table, one by one, cut their chests open, four cuts. Then they pulled the man’s heart out of his chest, so he could see it. Then they ripped it out of his body and held it up to the gods. I’ve never seen anything like it.

Yanga takes another good look at the two men who have been cautiously watching him. He walks toward them. The men begin to walk off.

Yanga runs at them and grabs them both by their necks.

YANGA Fulani! You’re Fulani, both of you!

The men struggle with Yanga. He wrestles both to the ground and pins their necks. Matosa hurries over. Maroons surround the spectacle.

YANGA These two are Fulani. They leave or they die!

MATOSA Yanga, they are good fighters.

YANGA They are my enemy.

Matosa drops to one knee. Babaji, Koofoo, and other maroons have gathered around to witness the commotion.

MATOSA Africa is gone. Here, there are three tribes. Black, brown, and white.

Still fuming, Yanga takes a moment to process.

YANGA Keep them away from me!

Yanga shoves the two Fulanis away from him. They stand off to the side. Matosa sits on the ground next to Yanga.

MATOSA There’s a lot of them now, in the cane fields. Fulani.

Matosa has Yanga’s attention.

MATOSA (cont) Your father put them there.

Yanga considers the implications.

YANGA He should have killed them all. They can all stay in the cane fields.

MATOSA The Spanish are the enemy. Everyone’s enemy.

BABAJI (to Yanga) There are two more here. Two of ours are Fulani.

Two of Yanga’s men emerge from the nearby group of maroons and face Yanga. He considers the situation.

YANGA You know who I am.

They nod.

YANGA (cont) All right, they can stay. All Fulani will all be assigned to the upper stockade.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN - JUNGLE – DAY

Two native guides lead thirty Spanish soldiers up a creek bed.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – DAY

Yanga and some of his men listen to a distant talking drum. Yanga beats out a return rhythm. Yanga rings the alarm bell, and men come running.

YANGA (to his men) Thirty of them. They’re too close. Number four, above the ravine.

The men scurry to grab weapons. Yanga sees Zola and Anika and waves them over.

YANGA Zola, Anika!

The women hurry to his side.

YANGA We have a mission for you.

The women look excited.

YANGA (cont) It’s very dangerous.

The women nod willingly and apprehensively.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN - JUNGLE – DAY

The guides lead the Spanish platoon into a level area, with patches of dense foliage. They hear a distant drum rhythm and stop. The lieutenant raises his hand for quiet. The Spanish Captain joins him from the rear.

SPANISH CAPTAIN (pointing) That way. A few hundred yards.

LIEUTENANT Maybe they’ve seen us.

SPANISH CAPTAIN They can’t see us, in all this. We have the advantage of surprise. Proceed, quietly.

They continue through the patches of foliage.

They hear the drum again, and the lieutenant signals to alter course, slightly.

A short distance ahead, Zola and Anika stroll leisurely down a hillside, right in the path of the soldiers. They appear shocked and frightened and take off running. The soldiers pursue.

Up ahead, Zola and Anika disappear behind bushes, where maroons shelter them, as the soldiers continue on past.

The soldiers quickly find themselves boxed in with boulders and debris. The maroons spring their trap.

Twenty maroons, armed with short and long muskets, dart out from behind jungle foliage, and fire point blank into the heads and faces of the two guides and twelve soldiers at the front of the column.

After firing, they drop their guns and finish the soldiers off with knives.

Simultaneously, the ten Aztec women fighters drop out of overhead trees, onto the shoulders of six soldiers nearest the rear. They quickly secure nooses around their necks, and the soldiers are hoisted a foot above the ground.

With the help of maroons, the women secure iron restraints onto the wrists of the swinging men. Then maroons hold the men aloft, just enough to keep them from strangling.

The captain and lieutenant, who are in the rear, realize it’s an ambush and turn and run.

After a few paces, Yanga and Matosa dart out from behind foliage and grab their throats, stopping them in their tracks.

YANGA Where are you going?

MATOSA You’ll miss the ceremony.

Yanga and Matosa drag them back toward the others and maroons slam them against trees. Then they bind their wrists and ankles around the tree trunks.

YANGA These women are priests. You will now witness them sacrifice these men to the gods.

The women cut away and rip at the men’s garments with knives.

From the point of view of Yanga and Matosa, the officers’ faces react with horror, as they witness the apparent atrocity taking place before their eyes.

MATOSA They collect the blood.

YANGA Then they drink the blood.

The captain and lieutenant appear to be in shock, trying to look away.

One of the women brings a bowl of blood to Matosa and he takes a swig. He offers the bowl to Yanga.

YANGA I only drink the blood of generals.

He gets in the face of the captain, and shouts.

YANGA (cont) Send me a general!

MATOSA (to woman with bowl) Which one do you want?

She sizes up the two men, then licks the neck of the lieutenant. Matosa regards the captain.

MATOSA (to maroons) Untie him. (to captain) You’re the lucky one. (to lieutenant) They like you. White men are a delicacy.

With Yanga looking on, Koofoo and three other maroons secure the captain atop a mule. The lieutenant can be heard in the background, wailing from terror and pain.

YANGA (to captain) This is our mountain. This is where white men go to disappear. (to Koofoo) Take him all the way down.

A maroon covers the captain’s head with a black hood. Yanga swats the mule.

YANGA (cont) (smiling) Koofoo, bring back the mule.

EXT. JUNGLE STREAM BED – DAY

Yanga and Matosa are walking back to the village, followed by Babaji and a few maroons, including Zola and Anika.

YANGA Fear is a good weapon.

MATOSA The best weapon. I’m afraid of them.

YANGA Both of us.

INT. OFFICE OF THE VICEROY – DAY

The viceroy has been joined by two SPANISH NOBLEMAN, as they evaluate the ambush. The noblemen sit with the viceroy behind the desk, with General Lopez and the captain standing before them.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO How long did this skirmish last?

SPANISH CAPTAIN Your excellency, I wouldn’t call it a skirmish.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Well, how long? A minute, a few minutes?

SPANISH CAPTAIN A few seconds.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Seconds.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Yes, perhaps five or ten. The men that were hanging, were alive, for a minute or so.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO How is that?

SPANISH CAPTAIN They kept them alive, intentionally. I believe it hastened the drainage of blood.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO And they drank this blood?

SPANISH CAPTAIN Yes sir. Except for Yanga.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO And why is that? Do you think?

SPANISH CAPTAIN He said he only drinks the blood of generals.

The viceroy and two noblemen regard each other.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO What else did he say?

SPANISH CAPTAIN He said Mount Orizaba is where white men disappear.

There is an uncomfortable silence in the room.

SPANISH NOBLEMAN So, he sends a messenger, and the message is, we can destroy a platoon of men in a matter of seconds.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO We come here, conquer an established empire in a few months, yet we can’t round up a band of 86

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO (cont) runaway slaves? After four years?

GENERAL LOPEZ My lord, we’re dealing with a military strategist. Who has a jungle to hide behind. We’re going to need a bigger army.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Bigger army? We control half of the New World. Our armies occupy half of Europe. We have colonies in Africa and the far east. Yet we’ve allowed these heathens to ransack caravans, shelter slaves, and terrorize half of New Spain!

GENERAL LOPEZ We load and unload ships. We don’t have enough men now, to keep these slaves from running off to the mountain. With native guides and enough men, I think we could go in there.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO How many men do you need for this?

General Lopez glances at the captain, then continues.

GENERAL LOPEZ I think we could do it with five hundred.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Five hundred?!

De Velasco regards the noblemen who are both frowning.

SPANISH NOBLEMAN We have mercenaries in Jamaica and Hispaniola, but they’re tied up. They’re experiencing the same problems there. Our armies are engaged in the West and South, expanding territories. 87

De Velasco rises from his seat and pushes the chair back violently. He slumps over his desk, then straightens up. Then he addresses General Lopez and the captain.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO All right, that will be all.

General Lopez and the captain turn and leave the office.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO (cont) (angry) Strategist. We’ll see. We’ll see. This heathen, this Yanga. One day he will taste the wrath of the empire. I will see him hang! We will all see him hang! This is New Spain!

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – YANGA’S HUT - DAY

Tayanna is seated in a chair in front of their hut next to the council building, mending a garment with needle and thread. Drumming is heard faintly in the distance.

She has a ready-to-eat papaya next to her on a thatched plate.

The now, four-year-old Gaspar, sneaks up behind his mother, grabs the papaya off of her plate, and runs off, grinning.

TAYANNA Gaspar, you little thief. Bring that back!

After a few paces, Gaspar is suddenly accosted by his father, who snatches him and raises him over his head. He carries Gaspar back to his mother.

TAYANNA If he wants a papaya, he can go get his own. He knows where they are.

Yanga gives Gaspar a little swat on the rear and he runs off. YEWANDE, one of Tayanna’s African girlfriends, walks up as Gaspar is running off. Yanga offers her a smile.

TAYANA (cont) (to Yewande) Did you get the help you needed, for your project.

YEWANDE Oh yes, my new oven is all set. Cookin’ right now.

TAYANNA You can always count on Yanga to round up some manpower.

YEWANDE Go to Yanga? Hmph! When I need manpower, I go to them.

She motions over across the field, where Anika and Zola are holding court with their cadre of adoring young men.

YEWANDE (cont) Those two monopolizing all the manpower around here.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – MEADOW – DAY

Anika and Zola are seated in wicker chairs, as a group of their male admirers dote on them.

An African percussion ensemble, comprised of West Africa’s finest musicians, provides a scorching soundtrack for a group of young male and female maroons. Some dance.

One of the young maroons walks around the perimeter of the group, smudging with burning sage.

Two maroons hold bowls full of flower blossoms near Anika and Zola, while another two maroons use little hand-held fans to fan the aroma toward them. Another maroon is on one knee, giving Anika a manicure.

ANIKA (to manicurist) Like claws. But rounded at the tips. Not too sharp.

ZOLA The flowers are divine. The sage is like the canvas, and the flowers are the images of the painting.

They both enjoy a deep breath.

ZOLA (cont) The lilies are intoxicating.

ANIKA (to manicurist) Let me see.

She checks out her nails.

ANIKA (cont) Oooh, I like. (to manicurist) Here, sit here, let me try them out. I’ll scratch your head.

The manicurist turns and sits. Anika scratches his head.

ANIKA (cont) He’s smiling. (to Zola) This will make him smarter.

ZOLA (to manicurist) Do you feel smarter?

They all giggle.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – YANGA’S HUT – DAY

Yanga and Tayanna watch Gaspar play with a playmate.

TAYANNA You’ve created a community.

YANGA Not me, everyone, especially you.

Will the Spanish leave us alone now, do you think?

YANGA No. They’ll be back. They are a proud, arrogant people. They see this land as theirs. And they see us as lost property.

TAYANNA I don’t know why they even care about this mountain. What do they need it for?

LATER:

Tayanna and Yanga are sharing a meal together with friends. The sound of the talking drum suddenly echoes into the village from a distance.

Yanga stands and listens with rapt attention. He announces the news to the people nearby.

YANGA They have two captives, unarmed.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – COUNCIL HOUSE – DAY

Yanga, Matosa, Koofoo, Babaji, and other maroon commanders watch, as the black hoods are removed from the heads of two FRANCISCAN PRIESTS.

YANGA This mountain is a dangerous place for white men.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 We’re priests. Franciscans. We’re here to minister to the people of the mountain.

YANGA You are spies. We will take you back. If you return, you will be killed.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #2 We may be able to help you, help your cause.

MATOSA Your cause is slavery and violence.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #2 Our mission is to spread the message of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

YANGA They’re here. Unarmed. Let’s hear them out.

INT. MAROON VILLAGE – COUNCIL HOUSE – DAY

The two priests are seated, facing Yanga and his fellow maroons. As they speak, Tayanna enters the council house with three native women, who sit quietly off to the side.

YANGA Your religion is confusing. You say it’s about love.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 And forgiveness.

YANGA Forgiveness. And the Spanish, they are all Christian?

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #2 Yes.

YANGA But the Spanish have no love. Your religion is weak.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 We’re all sinners. That’s why we’re baptized, so that Christ will forgive us of our sins.

Yanga signals Tayanna and she coaxes one of the women to stand and face the priests.

YANGA This woman here, she was taken by Spanish soldiers. They wanted to 92

YANGA (cont) use her body for pleasure, but she was nursing her baby. So they took her baby by its ankles and bashed its brains out against a rock, so her baby wouldn’t interfere. And you say they will be forgiven for this?

The two priests share an awkward moment.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 That’s why baptism is so important.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #2 Some of our sins are very grave.

YANGA So, if we become baptized, we can do anything. We could remove your heads from your bodies and send them back to Veracruz in a sack, and it would be alright, we’d be forgiven.

Again, the priests share an awkward moment.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #2 Christ would forgive you.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 The soldiers would not forgive you.

MATOSA If the soldiers come onto our mountain, we will remove all of their heads.

YANGA We would like to live in peace with the Spanish. We want our own land, no slaves.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 I think that may be possible, eventually.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #2 But there are some issues. The raids on caravans and plantations, the stealing must stop.

YANGA We are not stealing! We are taking payment for our labors. Some of these men worked for years, in the mines and fields. They were never paid.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #2 But you were all slaves.

YANGA We were not slaves! We were husbands and fathers and brothers living in tribes of people who looked like us. The stealing began when our lives were stolen.

FRANCICAN PRIEST #2 But it’s allowed, in Christianity. Slavery is acceptable, as long as they are heathen.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 Non-baptized.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #2 Baptism is the place to start. If you’re seen as fellow Christians, then perhaps there is hope for peace.

Yanga and Matosa make eye contact. Matosa nods.

YANGA We will allow you to baptize our people.

MATOSA Tell your generals, we will be no man’s slave. We choose death over captivity.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN – DAY

As the grown-up Gaspar Yanga narrates, a series of overhead and ground-level shots shows the Maroons going about their daily routines, with drumming in the background.

- A line of armed, maroon fighters marches single-file through the jungle.

- A group of women bakes bread in a large oven.

- A group of young people enjoys their waterfall.

- A group of armed, maroon fighters does reconnaissance on a caravan.

- Village women teach crafts to young people.

- The villagers enjoy drumming and dancing around a bonfire at sunset.

GASPAR YANGA (V.O.) I grew up on the mountain. It was a good life. My father didn’t want me to be a warrior. He prepared me to lead our people. We occasionally had to battle the soldiers, but they mostly left us alone. That is, until the Viceroy recruited the army for General Lopez. That’s when everything changed.

INT. MAROON VILLAGE – YANGA’S HUT – DAY

Yanga and Tayanna are asleep in bed. In the distance, a faint musket round is heard. His eyes open. He hears another faint shot. He bolts out of bed.

TAYANNA What is it?

YANGA Trouble.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAINSIDE – VISTA POINT - DAY

Yanga and Matosa peer into the distance, where they see a sizable army assembled.

YANGA Hundreds. Must have marched all night.

MATOSA This is it.

YANGA Assemble everyone.

INT. MAROON VILLAGE – YANGA’S HUT – DAY

Yanga and Gaspar are arguing. Gaspar is now twenty years old, tall, but not as intimidating as his father.

GASPAR YANGA I don’t want to get stuck with women and children. I want to fight!

YANGA We have five hundred warriors who can fight. I only have one son. I can’t risk the future of this community. Each man has a duty. How many times have we prepared for this day? Go on! Get them ready and get them out of here!

MATOSA (O.C.) Yanga!

Yanga hears Matosa and exits the hut.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – DAY

Matosa’s men have captured two Spaniards.

MATOSA They were scouting. The main army is still down at the Camino Real.

YANGA Alright, keep one for questioning. We’ll send the other one back.

LATER:

The villagers are assembled.

YANGA As soon as the women and children are ready, Gaspar will lead you up to the secure stockade. Matosa will prepare the battlefield. If necessary, we will fall back and defend the village.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN - HILLSIDE – DAY

Yanga, Koofoo, and Babaji lead one of the Spaniards down the mountainside to a creek bed. Maroons are hiding off to the side behind rocks and shrubs. They stop to untie him.

YANGA (to Spaniard) This creek leads down. Now you know where we are.

Yanga points and the Spaniard walks away alongside the creek. Some more maroons join Yanga from nearby.

BABAJI You made it too easy for them.

YANGA Maybe. This way, we control the battlefield. Get some sleep. They’ll be here early. The Spanish don’t fight at night.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN - JUNGLE – DAY

Hundreds of Spanish fighters plow their way through the thick jungle, near the creek. The uniformed army regulars are armed with matchlock rifles and swords. The others are in plain clothes, some with guns, some with swords, bows, and axes.

Above them, positioned on the mountainside, are the maroons, lying in wait behind boulders, trees, and foliage. The maroons are similarly armed, except for their atlatls. The Aztec women are poised in the trees.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAIN – HILLSIDE - DAY

A long line of soldiers marches up the overgrown terrain. Suddenly, they are met with arrows, spears, rocks, and gunfire. The Spanish captain commands his men.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Charge! Charge!

As the soldiers charge through the hail of projectiles, many fall. The maroons continue the barrage until the Spanish close in on them.

From above, maroons roll huge boulders down the slope toward the soldiers. Some are able dodge the stones, while others are unable.

Talking drums begin to call and answer, and the Maroons retreat.

The maroons reach a ridgeline precipice and disappear. As the soldiers struggle to reach the top, hundreds of maroons fly over the top of the precipice and attack the soldiers in hand-to-hand combat.

Aztec females swing down from the trees onto soldiers and cut their throats with garottes and knives. Other maroons, from strategic positions, fire on the armor-less mercenaries with muskets.

From trees, maroons fire arrows. From atop boulders, they hail spears. Men fight with swords and axes. Some struggle to quickly reload their guns and are cut down.

At first, the maroons have a clear advantage. But soon into the fray, the two sides’ losses appear comparable.

The Spanish captain orders his men.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Retreat! Retreat!

As the soldiers turn and retreat, they encounter more maroons, from their flank. They fight their way past the new line of maroons, and continue their retreat.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAINSIDE – NIGHT

Yanga, Matosa, Babaji, and Koofoo are assessing the day’s battle by a campfire. Talking drums are heard in the background.

KOOFOO Maybe they’ve had enough.

YANGA They didn’t come for one fight. They came to kill us or enslave us.

MATOSA They won’t come up the same way.

YANGA (nods) Spread everyone out. Try to lure them to our locations. When we know their position, we’ll move everyone there.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAINSIDE – DAY

The soldiers march up the mountainside. Talking drums are heard in the distance.

Suddenly, they are met with a hail of arrows, spears, rocks, and gunfire. The soldiers answer with rifles and arrows, but can’t see the maroons clearly.

In spite of early losses, the soldiers continue up the mountainside. They fight their way up to an open, grassy field, and the maroons scatter into the jungle foliage.

A SERGEANT looks around. No maroons are in sight.

SPANISH SERGEANT (to captain) Which way?

The captain has no immediate answer. His men take a break. 99

SPANISH CAPTAIN Send out three teams. Find them.

As they organize reconnaissance teams, their question is answered. Maroons charge them from behind the jungle foliage from three sides.

Now the two sides go at it in open combat. The losses appear equal on both sides.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAINSIDE - VANTAGE POINT – DAY

Yanga and Matosa observe the battlefield.

YANGA In the open, we lose our advantage. Retreat to the stockade.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – STOCKADE – NIGHT

Armed Maroon sentries walk along the catwalk near the top of the stockade walls, peering into the dark jungle.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – STOCKADE – DAY

The catwalks are full of armed maroons, including Yanga and Matosa.

MATOSA What are they waiting for?

YANGA (pointing) Look.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – OPEN MEADOW - DAY

Three Spanish soldiers walk out into the open with a white flag. One of them approaches the wall.

WHITE FLAG SOLDIER We accept your surrender!

He moves back to stand aside his two comrades.

100

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – STOCKADE – DAY

Yanga and Matosa appear confused.

MATOSA They accept our surrender. Is that what he said? Did we surrender?

YANGA (mildly amused) I don’t think so. They don’t want to fight. I’ll answer.

Yanga takes a longbow and arrow from a maroon. He lights the tip on a nearby lamp, and fires at the white flag. The arrow rips the flag from its pole and embeds itself into the ground, where the flag continues to burn.

MATOSA Good shot. (to his men) Get ready!

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – OPEN MEADOW – DAY

Soldiers charge the stockade walls, firing musket rounds at the maroons on the catwalk and arrows over the stockade walls. They are met with a hail of musket balls, arrows, spears, and rocks. The Spanish incur heavy initial losses.

A dozen soldiers charge the stockade walls carrying tall ladders for scaling the wall. As they reach the rampart, they fall through trap doors, into a deep pit with vertical, spikey wooden spears, where they are impaled.

A few stragglers try to position the ladders from the edge of the pit, but the ladders are not tall enough at this angle, and they are forced to retreat, with arrows and spears flying at and around them.

Soldiers try to use a battering ram to break open the main entrance to the stockade, but are killed with rocks, arrows, and spears.

Ultimately, the soldiers give up and retreat behind the jungle foliage.

101

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – STOCKADE WALL – DAY

Yanga and Matosa wait patiently for a second wave attack.

MATOSA Why don’t they charge?

YANGA They don’t want to die. Order the men to fire at will.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – COUNCIL HOUSE – NIGHT

Yanga is meeting with his main commanders.

YANGA Now they’ll try to wait us out.

BABAJI We have good provisions.

KOOFOO We’ve lost many men.

MATOSA They have lost more.

YANGA Every time they charge the walls, we will kill more.

EXT. MAROON VILLGE – COUNCIL HOUSE – DAY

Yanga and his top commanders take rest outside of the council house. Babaji approaches them.

BABAJI The stream. It stopped running. It’s drying up.

YANGA They dammed it. How much storage?

BABAJI Four barrels, I think.

102

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – STOCKADE WALL – NIGHT

Yanga and Matosa gaze into the night.

MATOSA Now what?

YANGA We’ll know soon. They can’t sustain a siege, not without food and weapons.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – STOCKADE WALL – DAY

Babaji and other maroons keep vigil along the catwalk. Suddenly, twenty soldiers rush the stockade walls, carrying armfuls of dry brush. Other soldiers fire arrows into the compound.

BABAJI Fire! Fire!

The maroons fire at the soldiers, and many are hit. Still, they are able to position much of the dry brush at the base of the stockade wall. Then, the soldiers retreat back behind the foliage.

Yanga and Matosa climb a walkway up to the catwalk to survey the situation.

Flaming arrows steam out of the jungle and into the dry brush. The maroons watch as the walls begin to burn.

MATOSA We should go out there and finish this.

YANGA No. Fall back to the upper stockade.

MATOSA We can end this right now.

YANGA No! Fall back.

103

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAINSIDE - UPPER STOCKADE – DAY

Outside the upper stockade walls, Yanga and his commanders look for the soldiers below. Koofoo spots some of them.

KOOFOO (pointing) There.

YANGA If they try to come up here, it will be like target practice.

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAINSIDE – DAY

The Spanish captain confers with his SCOUTS and ADVISORS.

SCOUT There appears to be only one way up to that ledge. Only wide enough in some places for two or three men. Solid rock behind them.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Bottleneck.

ADVISOR If we can get them out in the open, we can defeat them easily.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Easily? How many men have we lost?

ADVISOR Over half, I think.

SPANISH CAPTAIN We didn’t come prepared for them, and we aren’t prepared for this. We’re going back to the Camino Real. We’ll send for reinforcements.

ADVISOR But sir.

SPANISH CAPTAIN That’s an order! 104

EXT. ORIZABA MOUNTAINSIDE – UPPER STOCKADE – DAY

Yanga, Matosa, and their top commanders are seated, eating and drinking. They hear a drum from a distance, and listen.

YANGA They’re retreating. They’re leaving. (to Babaji) Go down there. Find out what’s going on.

LATER:

The sun is beginning to set, as Yanga and his commanders anxiously await more news. They hear a drum and listen.

YANGA They’re camped, at the river. Many wounded.

Yanga thinks for a moment.

YANGA (cont) (to Matosa) Get everyone ready. We’re going down there.

Matosa signals his men and they scramble to spread the news.

YANGA (cont) Get torches. March everyone down there. Rest the men for twenty minutes. Then attack. We’re going to end this now.

EXT. CAMINO REAL – NIGHT

The two hundred or so soldiers have made camp in an open field near the river. Campfires and moonlight provide the only light. Most are asleep. Some of those who are awake, appear seriously wounded.

105

EXT. CAMINO REAL – JUNGLE – NIGHT

Behind jungle foliage, the maroons are poised to strike, awaiting Matosa’s signal.

MATOSA Alright, go. Go! Go! Now!

Maroons charge across the field to the Spanish encampment.

The soldiers are taken completely by surprise, and at first, are cut down quickly. Soldiers in their underwear, without boots, grab their weapons and try their best to ward off the attack.

Some of the soldiers begin to run. Then more run. Then more. Ultimately, the battle turns into a rout, with maroons chasing soldiers down the Camino Real in the moonlight.

INT. OFFICE OF THE VICEROY – DAY

De Velasco is in his office pacing, a madness seething from his eyes, with the two noblemen standing patiently, calmly observing him. General Lopez stands at attention.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO We’ll call in regulars from the West!

GENERAL LOPEZ They’re heavily fortified, your excellency.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO We’ll lay on a siege.

GENERAL LOPEZ That would commit hundreds of men, perhaps for months.

VICEROY How many are left?

GENERAL LOPEZ About fifty. Most of them wounded.

106

NOBLEMAN The crown wants this settled. It’s gotten back to Madrid. Here’s what troubles us. We still have tribes of naturals in the area, many actually, who are considered rogue. Who would love nothing more than to see us all dead and buried. Now, if these tribes were to rally around a fighting force, like these maroons, they could seize Veracruz.

GENERAL LOPEZ My lord, they may not need any support from native forces.

NOBLEMAN Indeed. Let’s send someone up there. Find out what they want, apart from their freedom.

GENERAL LOPEZ Some Franciscans have been up there.

NOBLEMAN Good, send them.

EXT. MAROON VILLAGE – YANGA’S HUT – DAY

The village is back to normal, with women and children moving about. A large work crew labors to restore the stockade walls.

Yanga and his cohorts hear a drum. They listen.

YANGA Visitors. Priests.

INT. MAROON VILLAGE – COUNCIL HOUSE – DAY

The maroon commanders, along with Gaspar, have convened to query the Franciscan priests.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 You have stated in the past that you would like to live in peace, 107

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 (cont) have your own community.

YANGA We have a community. What we don’t have is peace.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 What do you want for your people?

YANGA Better land. There is land down by the river, between the Rio Blanco and the Ribadeneira grant. It’s good farmland.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #2 But the Camino Real passes through that land. That would make it easy for you to raid caravans. The Crown may not agree to that.

YANGA We raid caravans because we need things. Now, we have no way to trade. Down there, we could trade. We would not need to attack caravans.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 Alright, what else?

YANGA All maroons will be granted amnesty. Slavery will be forbidden. And we don’t want the Spanish coming into our village. Only people who we agree to allow in, once a week, and only to trade.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 What else?

YANGA My family will be designated as governors. After me, my son, Gaspar, will inherit my authority. 108

INT. OFFICE OF THE VICEROY – DAY

The two noblemen are seated around a large table with the viceroy and the two Franciscan priests. A scribe takes notes.

NOBLEMAN Alright, draw up an agreement of armistice. Include these terms. They will present themselves with their arms every time His Majesty has need of them to defend the land. They will pay an annual tribute to the crown.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO And all runaways that reach them, after signing, will be returned to their owners.

NOBLEMAN Yes, and for each returned slave, the maroons will be paid twelve pesos. If they are not returned, the maroons must compensate their owners with fair market value.

INT. MAROON VILLAGE – COUNCIL HOUSE – DAY

The maroon leadership, along with Gaspar, has convened to discuss terms with the priests.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #1 The process will take time. Years. It has to be approved by the crown, first. And then a formal charter will be written.

FRANCISCAN PRIEST #2 But once we receive approval from His Majesty, you could move. The rest is just administrative.

YANGA (to Babaji) Take them outside.

109

Babaji escorts the priests out of the council house.

MATOSA We can’t agree to this. It’s a trap. You’re not going to return slaves.

YANGA No. Consider this from their point of view. Down there, it will be easy for slaves to find us.

GASPAR YANGA It will encourage them to run.

YANGA (nods) We can’t have them in the new village. When they appear, they will have to live up here. If the Spanish ask, we don’t know.

MATOSA I say we stay here, at least for now.

YANGA We’ve outgrown the mountain. Even if we wait to act…the Spanish will never agree without this provision.

The men in the council house regard each other as they ponder their decision.

FADE OUT

FADE IN:

EXT. NEW MAROON VILLAGE – DAY

As Gaspar narrates, a series of shots shows everyday life in the new village.

- A long line of people and animals, all laden with goods, plods its way through the jungle terrain.

- Maroons plant banana trees. 110

- Maroons build new buildings.

- Women sew garments and turn clay on a wheel.

- Maroon field workers wave to a caravan as it passes by.

- A platoon of Spanish cavalry on horseback passes by farm fields. Maroon workers regard them with suspicious looks.

GASPAR YANGA (V.O.) So we signed. The king approved the armistice, and we moved. Over a thousand people, and I don’t know how many animals. We couldn’t move the banana trees, but we got new ones in the ground, right away. Everybody went to work, building everything. The army was suspended for a year. Some of the women began producing clothing and pottery for us to trade. When the caravans came through, we waved at them, and they waved back. We were finally accepted as free men. The Spanish wanted to keep an eye on us, so they built their own town. Cordoba. At first, everything went well.

SUPER: “1612”

INT. OFFICE OF THE VICEROY – DAY

The viceroy has four noblemen in his office, along with General Lopez and the captain. They are standing, smoking, laughing, and drinking wine. The atmosphere is festive. The viceroy calls for a toast.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Gentlemen, a toast to tomorrow, and a successful hunt.

The men raise glasses and drink.

111

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO (cont) (to captain) How many are you?

SPANISH CAPTAIN Thirty.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO All cavalry.

SPANISH CAPTAIN Yes, your excellency.

VICEROY LUIS DE VELASCO Good, good. March them all the way there in bare feet.

The viceroy chuckles sadistically.

EXT. CORNFIELD – DAY

The fifty-eight-year-old Yanga is showing his age. He and Gaspar are picking ears of corn and tossing them into a bin mounted on a pushcart. Yanga wipes his brow and sits on a barrel.

GASPAR YANGA You’re just going to sit there?

YANGA Age has certain privileges, as you’ll one day come to know. Your mother keeps asking about you and your personal life, females and all of that. Producing an heir, a successor?

Gaspar gives his father a look like its none of his business.

YANGA (cont) I think she wants to be a grandmother.

GASPAR YANGA Tell her not to worry.

112

YANGA Oh, I can’t tell her that. That will lead to interrogation. She’ll want to know exactly what, not to worry, means.

GASPAR YANGA Then just ignore her.

Yanga laughs.

YANGA Ignore Tayanna. In twenty-five years…not a woman easily ignored. You know, she’ll eventually pry the facts out of you.

Suddenly there is a chatter of talking drums. Then the alarm bell goes off. Yanga stands and both men look around.

A company of Spanish cavalry gallops into and swarms the cornfield. They find Yanga. Ten soldiers dismount and take him to the ground. They quickly shackle him in wrist and leg irons.

GASPAR YANGA No! No! No!

Gaspar tries to tear soldiers off of his father, but he is taken and thrown off to the ground.

YANGA (to Gaspar) Don’t. We can’t win this.

Gaspar is beside himself with grief and anger. He yells at the Spanish Captain atop his mount.

GASPAR YANGA Why are you taking him?

SPANISH CAPTAIN He has a date with the viceroy.

GASPAR YANGA Why? He has done nothing! 113

A cavalryman walks his horse into the midst of the men. Behind the horse, Matosa’s hands and legs are shackled and he is tethered behind the horse with a long chain.

Soldiers secure Yanga to another horse with a long chain.

Matosa and Yanga regard each other. Their facial expressions say it all.

YANGA (to Soldiers) You’re all cowards.

SPANISH CAPTAIN (smug) You’re a condemned man.

The Spanish captain signals his men and they walk their horses away from the field, with Yanga and Matosa in tow.

Gaspar races through the field to his hut. He straps on his sword, grabs a bow and quiver, and mounts his horse.

Tayanna comes running up.

TAYANNA What happened? Why are they taking him?

Gaspar does not answer and gallops off toward the cavalry. Tayanna runs behind him.

As Gaspar nears the line of soldiers, the three at the rear see him approaching and turn their horses, and maneuver them to block Gaspar’s path.

Gaspar is forced to pull up. He watches with angst, as Yanga and Matosa are led away.

Tayanna catches up with Gaspar. With a terrified expression, she witnesses her husband for the final time.

114

EXT. MEXICO CITY SQUARE – DAY

A large, raucous crowd, shouting and laughing, has gathered in front of a long platform, with a row of thirty gallows stretched side-by-side, with nooses jostling about in the breeze.

As Gaspar narrates, Spanish guards march thirty Africans toward the platform, with their hands bound behind their backs. They are marched up a set of stairs and along the platform, until all thirty are in place.

GASPAR YANGA (V.O.) I owe my life to my father. I owe my freedom to my father. I owe everything to him. He kept his promise to us. We lived peacefully after that. The day after Easter, thirty-three Africans were hanged in the main square in Mexico City in front of a crowd of thousands. Yanga and Matosa were the main attraction. Most of the Africans were charged with petty crimes or suspicion of petty crimes. Yanga and Matosa were charged with harboring runaway slaves.

DRUMMING builds in the background, as Yanga and Matosa reach their appointed places. They appear proud, fearless and resolute.

EXT. YANGA MEXICO – DAY

SOUND: DRUMMING CONTINUES AND GRADUALLY FADES

In front of the statue of Yanga, the young black boy stares up at the towering figure.

GASPAR YANGA(V.O.) My father lives. He lives everywhere now. I see him everywhere. He lives in the heart of every African. He lives in the beat of every drum. I remember him with every breath I take.