1 TRENCHES TO RICHES - MICHELLE ENTONU INT.

- STORY BUILDING-BEDROOM-NIGHT 1
Elizabeth takes in a deep breath as she lays down on her bed. 'It's been a
really long day'' she thought. she once again spent the whole day trying to find
a suitable job for herself-but to no avail. In a few minutes, she received the
phone call that she had been dreading to receive.
Elizabeth

(Into phone)
hello? why are you calling me this late?

2 INT-HOUSE-SITTING ROOM-NIGHT 2
Mr. Njeru
Don't pretend, you know why I am calling you by this time. Have you
been able to secure the job? Or did you go lazing around as usual?
Elizabeth

For your information, I am not the carefree lazy Woman you still think I
am. and no I was not able to get any job today.
Mr. Njeru
So, you are telling me you were still not able to get the job? are you that
incompetent? I hope you know that this inheritance you have from your father is
not going to last forever and that you need to get income somehow.
Elizabeth

I know, I know. I will still try my best to get one soon. Just wait and be
patient
Mr. Njeru
You better if you want to be able to have a stable life. I don't want to call
you tomorrow and still hear that you have not been able to secure any job.
(Phone call ends)
CUT TO:

3 INT. SURBURBAN HUT-BEDROOM-NIGHT 3

Deborah goes back to her small dark bedroom after a long and tiring day of labor
and work. As she sits down on her bed, she begins to reflect on her daily
lifestyle, and how she has been basically forced into child labor at a young age
of 17 years. ''I've been facing such horrible and extreme conditions for a
really long time and I'm tired. I wish I could do something, but I just can't. I
have no power over him and no money''. Before she knew it, she had already begun
to cry. After almost an hour of crying she got tired and soon began to fall
asleep. not even a few minutes later she heard shouting from outside her room.
 (Shouting) Deborah!!!
Mr. Elijah, also known as Deborah's biological father, began to shout her name
out loud. He soon made his way downstairs to where Deborah's room was.
Mr. Elijah
(Drags the door open) Deborah ojek we!!! are you stupid or are you crazy?!
I told you to go outside and make sure nothing happens to the pots and our other
belongings, and you came here to stay?
Deborah
Sir please it is not what it looks like. I just came here to rest for a while
and then go back--
Before Deborah could even finish her sentence, Mr. Elijah had slapped her across
the face. It was so loud it was echoed across the whole room.
Mr. Elijah
Every time Deborah, every time you use this Excuse! In the kind of life, we have
been enforced to live in, there is nothing like rest. You will work 24/7 and
have everything done before night. Have you heard me?
Deborah
But sir--
Mr. Elijah

(Repeats himself) Have you heard me?

Deborah
(Sighs) Yes sir. I have heard
Mr. Elijah
Ok, if you like play a deaf ear and pretend you did not hear me tomorrow, you
will see what I will do to you.

Mr. Elijah leaves the room and slams the Door shut.

4 EXT-MLG PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY - NOON 4

Elizabeth was at her 10th try for a job that week. She already had no children
and no husband; she couldn't afford to lose her money especially since her
Inheritance was limited and would soon run out. Most importantly she didn't want
her immediate uncle, Mr. Njeru, to undermine her skills anymore. she went Inside
the office for her interview, praying for the best.

5 INT-OFFICE-AFTERNOON 5
clerk
Good afternoon, Ma, how may I help you?
Elizabeth
Good afternoon, I came here to apply for a job as an intern.
clerk
 Ok, so firstly can you tell me the things that you excel at majorly?
Elizabeth began to feel very nervous. she never really excelled at anything as a
child and was very spoilt. her parents always warned her that her bad behavior
was going to affect her in the future, but she never listened. now look at her
in the present; not having a significant other and ending up with no children.
She hoped that maybe one day she could get either a husband or children, but the
chances were very slim.
Her thoughts were interrupted when the clerk called to her attention
clerk

(Snaps his fingers loudly) hello ma??

Elizabeth
(Comes back to her senses) oh! I'm so sorry, I was just in a deep state of
thought.
Clerk
It's ok ma, so could you please answer the question; what do you feel that you
excel at?
Elizabeth
(Nervously speaking) well, I don't feel that there is anything I generally excel
at, I hope that is not a problem?
Clerk
(He puts the file application on the table) No ma, that is actually a very big
problem. Are you sure there is nothing that you are majorly good at?
Elizabeth
Sadly, I can't think of anything. I am sure that there should be other areas
that can help me get this job, I am really desperate. (She shifts awkwardly in
her seat)
Clerk
(He sighs loudly) well thank you for coming. We will get back to you.
Elizabeth
Thank you. I hope to hear from you soon. (She proceeds to leave the office and
the building).

6 INT. STORYBUILDING-EVENING 6
Elizabeth Arrives back at her house, tired and worried from what had just
displayed at the office. she was beginning to heavily lose hope in herself. She
had no standout quality that made any company to like her, she stood out like a
sore thumb. And after all of this, she felt so lonely. No husband, No children.
she decided block her uncle, as she was not in the mood for unnecessary
shouting.
(Internal monologue)" God I am so hopeless; I should have listened to my parents
when they warned me to change my bad habits. Now I don't have anything to show
for it rather that a lousy 30-year-old woman with no family anymore. I really
hope that somehow, God can be able to turn this around for me. (Monologue over)
 Elizabeth began looking around her room for her high heeled shoe which she had
been searching around the whole house for since yesterday. She ruffled bags,
looked around her drawer and everywhere but she still could not find it. It was
getting late already, so she just decided to call it a day and take a rest.

7 EXT. OUTSIDE THE HOUSE-AFTERNOON 7

(Narration) It was another grueling day for the young girl Deborah. She had
finished all the work for that day surprisingly she had been awake since 3am
working. she just wanted an escape, away from all of this work that she was
subjected to. Deborah had grown up in a poor family, her mother died at the age
of 32. Deborah was just 10 years old when that happened,7 years later she is now
17 years old. All she had left was her father who had mistreated her, because he
felt that she was worthless. According to him, anytime he saw Deborah he was
instantly reminded of his wife. That brought a lot of pain to his heart and that
is why he could never bring himself to truly like and cherish Deborah.

Deborah was outside walking through their compound. She felt that she just
needed a break away from everything. She wishes she could just get an escape for
once in her life. As she was just passing by and greeting the neighbors, she
encountered something on the road. It was a black designer high heel which was
left along the side of the road. Despite being born in a poor family and not
being able to receive adequate education, she still grew up with good morals to
always return all the stuff she sees are not hers. She brought up the high heel
and looked at it closely. Returning it to the owner was going to be a struggle
since she doesn't know most people in the estate. but she still decided to look
and search for the owner.

Deborah
Hello, excuse me, please do you know who the owner of this shoe could be? (She
brings it up closely for the person to see)

Passerby 1
No sorry I am not sure. Try asking others if they know.

Deborah
ok thank you

Deborah
(Waves to get the person's attention) Hello, please do you know who the owner of
this shoe could be?
Passerby 2

No sorry I do not know. try asking the people living in the chaebol (chaebol
means rich) estate. Maybe one of them might own it.

Deborah
(Sighs in disappointment) ok. thank you for the advice! (She proceeds to head to
the chaebol estate)

8 EXT. OUTSIDE-LATE AT NIGHT 8

Deborah was still on the way to the chaebol estate when something tragic
happened
(Loud gunshots heard from afar) hey! you! get on the floor now!
Deborah almost felt her life flashing through her eyes. The two-armed men
pounced on her trying to take the shoe in her arm. it was late in the night so
this was expected to happen. Arms clenched, mouth wide open, Deborah could not
believe her eyes. this was here first time being assaulted.
Armed robber 1

(Speaks aggressively) Can you tell us where you are going young lady?!
Deborah

(In a shaky voice) Sir p-please I-I am just going to return something to someone
Armed robber 2

(Speaks in an even more aggressive voice) Don't you know you are not supposed to
be going out around this time?! (Takes a look at the shoe) (chuckles) well this
looks like it has good value, hand it over!

Deborah
(Fed up and starts screaming) No! I will not give you--

Before she could even finish her sentence, she received a blow on her face which
knocked her out immediately. She almost felt her whole life flashing before her
eyes. She got not one, not two, but three knockouts. blood started to come out
of her nose and mouth. She felt she was going to die at that moment when a loud,
feminine voice echoed through the area yelling: ''Stop''!

Armed robber 1
(Confused and annoyed) (proceeds to turn around) who is that? --

Elizabeth
Are you people out of your mind!? what are you doing to this poor girl?

Armed robber 1
(Rolls his eyes) young lady, I don't think this should concern you in any way.
If you know you also don't want to get into trouble, please step away--

Elizabeth had punched him hard on the face before he finished his sentence.

Elizabeth
(Fuming in anger) Don't mess with me (Takes a look at the second armed robber)

Do you want the same thing also?

Armed robber 2

(Quivers in fear) n-no p-please (Proceeds to run away)

Elizabeth

(Smiles in contentment) (takes a look at Deborah who is currently crying on the

floor) are you ok my dear?
Deborah

(Looks up in shock and Suprise) (Stammers) t-thank y-you so much. You are a
Saviour!

Elizabeth
Don't worry about it, always helping my fellow female in need. (Looks at the
shoe she is holding in her hand) (Realizes) Wait, is that my shoe? (Takes a
closer look at the shoe) It is my shoe!
Deborah

(Stammers in fear) I-it's not what it looks like--

Elizabeth

(Cuts her off) No don't worry I don't think you stole anything, I'm just shocked
because I have been looking for this shoe for a long time.
Deborah

(Sighs in relief) oh ok, I have been looking for the owner for such a long time,
and that is how I ended up in such a stupid situation like this. But I am so
happy I found you now.
Elizabeth

(Smiles warmly) well that is nice to know. I'm not the most useful person in
life right now, I currently don't have any children neither do I have a husband,
so it is really lonely for me.

Deborah
(Looks up in Suprise) Oh wow.

Elizabeth
I hope you don't mind me asking but, where are you from? your background?

Deborah
(Breaths in as she tells her story) well I come from a poor family. My mother
died when I was just 10 years old, and now I am 17 years old. I have been
subjected to so much kind of abuse throughout my life, from child labor to child
abuse.my father heavily mistreats me because he feels I am worthless to him and
the cause of my mother's death. (Tears start to flow down her face)

Elizabeth
Oh wow, I am truly shocked and sorry for you. Well for me, it is kind of the
inverse. (Sighs) I grew up in a rich family but had a pretty bad start. I was
spoilt and never listened to my parents when they talked to me. I ended up
dropping out of school and growing up with no sort of useful skills in my life.
One thing I always wished for was to have a husband or children, but no one
wanted to marry me. My parents eventually died, and I am still well off because
of my father's inheritance, but it will soon wear off one day, I hope I can be
able to get a job one day.

Deborah
(Sighs as she takes in everything she just heard) well I guess we all went
through our own things. (Thinks of something) I hope it is not too much to ask
but, is it ok if you could take me under your care? Since you want a child and I
want a good and stable life. It is a win for the both of us.
Elizabeth

(Thinks about it) well I guess that could be a good idea. I would love to take
you under my care.

And so, from that day moving forward, Deborah's life turned around for the
better. Her father was taken to prison and was charged by Deborah and Elizabeth
for child abuse. Her uncle was surprised to hear she had adopted a child, but
was still happy for her, nevertheless. She had still not gotten the job yet, but
she continued to pray to God to get her one before her insurance runs out. she
was able to send Deborah to a good school for her to properly finish her
education. And like that Deborah went from trenches to riches.

(Story ends)
main characters:

Main character 1: Elizabeth Oneka, the 30-year-old rich woman without a family
or job.

Main character 2: Deborah Olema, the poor 17-year-old girl who was subjected to
child abuse at a young age.
Side characters:

Mr. Njeru: Elizabeth's immediate uncle

Mr. Elijah: Deborah's abusive father