Something of Value

Henry's Son - Peter:
Kimani's guilty of only one thing, Captain. Guilty of being born black.

Crown Consul:
Swear him in.

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
Which god, please?

Crown Consul:
The Christian God.

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
I worship Ngai, the god who lives on Mount Kenya. I will swear by our sacred Githathi stone.

Crown Consul:
Your word will suffice.

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
Oh, no, no. If I lie before this symbol of God... my children and their children and my home and my land will turn to dust. And when I die... I will have no life hereafter except to live forever in eternity... by the cursed hyena, cowardly eater of the dead. i speak the truth.

Crown Consul:
You're the father of the dead baby in question?

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
Yes.

Crown Consul:
Did you tell the midwife to kill the baby?

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
Yes. It was born feet first, it was cursed.

Crown Consul:
Then what was done?

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
What is always done according to custom.

Crown Consul:
Tell His Honor what that is.

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
We smothered the child and buried it under a pot.

Crown Consul:
You know that killing is against the law?

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
God says to murder is wrong.

Crown Consul:
And when you had that newborn baby smothered, was that not murder?

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
No. A child cannot join the tribe until he is 1 year old. Therefore, he's not really born until his second year. What was killed was a demon, not a child.

Crown Consul:
And then what did you do?

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
We sacrificed a young ram.

Crown Consul:
Mm. And that , I suppose, got rid of the curse.

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
No, no sir. Not yet. I am still here, therefore the curse is still at work.

Crown Consul:
Would you do the same thing if another child were born to you feet first?

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
[very slowly looks around at everyone] Yes... yes... It would be my duty.

A White Settler - Henry McKenzie:
What in the name of Almighty God are we trying to do to these people?

Crown Consul:
Preserve the law, Henry, that's all.

A White Settler - Henry McKenzie:
Law? Whose law? Not theirs, surely.

Crown Consul:
All men are equal before the law.

A White Settler - Henry McKenzie:
Except some are more equal than others.

Crown Consul:
That man is an accomplice to murder. H's admitted that.

A White Settler - Henry McKenzie:
But can we make him understand it? We take away their customs, their habits, their religion. We stop their tribal dances, we stop them circumcising their women. Then we offer them our way of life, something they can't grasp. We say, "Look how clean and rich and clever we are." For the Africans... different wages, different life. We mock their wise men. Take away the authority from their fathers. What are the children going to do? They'll lose respect for their elders and fathers... and when they do, look out. maybe they'll lose respect for our white Jesus too. Turn to something else for help... It won't be to us.

Crown Consul:
You understand , don't you Peter? If we don't make the African respect the Law... well, the next thing you know, he'll be wanting to rule this country.

Henry's Son - Peter:
Imagine that, now. [sarcastically says] Whatever could give him that idea?

Kimani Wa Karanja:
I told you. He will not help you.

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
Our Mathanjuki will purify you. he will drive the curse from your body... and I will be free.

Kimani Wa Karanja:
No!

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
You do not believe in god?

Kimani Wa Karanja:
Yes, yes! But I do not believe in our witchcraft and black magic.

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
When Bwana Jeff struck you...

Kimani Wa Karanja:
He struck a black man to prove that the white man is master, nothing else! You are not in jail because of a curse... but only because we are judged by their laws! And that is the truth. And I must follow where then truth leads me.

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
And where does it lead you?

Kimani Wa Karanja:
To strike back! We're men, not animals.

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
You have much to look forward to my son. You will become headman as I was.

Kimani Wa Karanja:
Is that to be my life? Headman for a white boss? "Yes, bwana. No, bwana. Yes, bwana." This land can serve me too. I want my own land.

Karanja - Father of Kimani:
Then you must earn it.

Kimani Wa Karanja:
I will, Father... I will!

Leader - Intellectual in Suit:
We are beggars and slaves in our own land. The British allow us in their homes and hotels, yes. But how? As servants! We are millions, they are a handful. We are strong, they are weak. How then are they the masters and we the slaves? Is it white magic? Is it God's will? No. They have the guns. We too shall have guns. Are we ready for this? The whole colored world burns with the fever of revolt... with the fire for freedom. Do any of you have any questions? Is there a doubt in your hearts? What troubles you?... [points at Kimani]

Njogu - Oath Giver:
Kimani. His name is Kimani wa Karanja. For five years, he has been in the mountain with us. He is ready for leadership. He is very strong and loyal.

Leader - Intellectual in Suit:
Strong men have betrayed us before. You have a question Kimani?

Kimani Wa Karanja:
Yes sir. This talk of guns. Is this the only way we can get freedom? By spilling blood?

Leader - Intellectual in Suit:
Yes! We will never drive the British out with words. And not with doubts and not with friendship. It can only be done with guns.

Kimani Wa Karanja:
The white man did not take this land with guns. He bought this land. This is truth. And I must follow where the truth leads me.

Leader - Intellectual in Suit:
You were educated in white missionary schools?

Kimani Wa Karanja:
Yes, sir.

Leader - Intellectual in Suit:
Long, long ago, to whom did the land belong?

Kimani Wa Karanja:
The people.

Leader - Intellectual in Suit:
Yes! Not one person, but the entire clan! And therefore only the clan can sell the land... correct?

Kimani Wa Karanja:
Yes, sir.

Leader - Intellectual in Suit:
No man of any other tribe can buy our land... unless he becomes, in our religion, a Kikuyu. And have the British ever become Kikuyus? Or have you become one of the British?

Njogu - Oath Giver:
Your father was a friend of the British. But your father died in their prison.

Leader - Intellectual in Suit:
There is only one way to drive out the British. By terror and death!

Njogu - Oath Giver:
Everyone must either be for us or against us. Those who be with us, stand!

Leader - Intellectual in Suit:
[everyone in the room stands except Kimani, who reluctantly stands after he sees that he is the only one sitting] Good! We will need a symbol, a sign, a name. Here it is... [shows them a stamp and stamps the table with the words... ] Mau Mau! Use it, live by it, die for it! Mau Mau is the machinery that will carry us to freedom and independence. All repeat after me, Mau Mau! I swear to kill a Englishman or may this oath kill me and my family!