Creative Notes:
just changed the ending. Made it more tighter and powerful.
Running For Dear Life
Wrongly accused of being cohorts with rebels who want to overthrow the government in his home country, Elias sets out on a harrowing journey in order to make his way to the U.S.
Project collaboration:
By Permission
Synopsis:
Elias and Solomon are best friends who work at their local village bar as waiters. Soon their life changes drastically when they're thrown in prison for being cohorts with rebels who want to overthrow the existing government. But luckily, after Elias' uncle bribes the prison warden, they're freed from prison and given a chance to escape the country which is on the verge of civil war.
The two friends escape to a neighbouring country, Nairobi, Kenya, and claim refugee status. But once they get there, things are much worse than the country they just left. The local thugs and crooked cops, armed with the knowledge of refugees' situation in their country, begin taking advantage of the countless refugees who have flooded into their city. Those refugees who get caught roaming outside their rented apartment face several choices: pay money, get jailed, risk getting deported, or even face death. The two boys just begin to comprehend the danger they've just put themselves in. But Elias assures his skeptical and petrified friend that this ordeal is temporary and for a short period of time. But soon they notice Kana, the leader of the crooked cops, throwing a fellow-countryman of theirs off his balcony to his death for refusing to give up the money he just received from his relative in America. Elias convinces his terrified friend, who decides to leave Nairobi for good, to stay put for a little longer and promises him to watch his back till they make it to their destination.
Their interview goes well and now they’re just to wait till visa is granted. But soon things get more complicated when Elias puts a stop to a mugging in progress, involving his best friend, by breaking a full bottle of coke on the head of a local thug and viciously beating him. Things go even more awry when they learn the man they put in a coma is the brother of Kana, the leader of the crooked cops. But luckily, soon they're both granted visa. And they're just days away from leaving this god forsaken land when someone, who has a grudge against them, points them out to the crooked cops. Solomon is first to depart. Disguised in a full Islamic women dress -- from head to toe -- begins his escape to the IOM office (United Nation), but soon, as he is inches away from the gate to the UN run office, Kana catches up on him and shoots him in the back, killing him instantly.
Furious with the whole thing, Elias blames himself for failing on his promise -- to protect his best friend till they make it to America. With time running out, Elias makes a bold decision: Avenge his best friend’s death and escape to America.
The two friends escape to a neighbouring country, Nairobi, Kenya, and claim refugee status. But once they get there, things are much worse than the country they just left. The local thugs and crooked cops, armed with the knowledge of refugees' situation in their country, begin taking advantage of the countless refugees who have flooded into their city. Those refugees who get caught roaming outside their rented apartment face several choices: pay money, get jailed, risk getting deported, or even face death. The two boys just begin to comprehend the danger they've just put themselves in. But Elias assures his skeptical and petrified friend that this ordeal is temporary and for a short period of time. But soon they notice Kana, the leader of the crooked cops, throwing a fellow-countryman of theirs off his balcony to his death for refusing to give up the money he just received from his relative in America. Elias convinces his terrified friend, who decides to leave Nairobi for good, to stay put for a little longer and promises him to watch his back till they make it to their destination.
Their interview goes well and now they’re just to wait till visa is granted. But soon things get more complicated when Elias puts a stop to a mugging in progress, involving his best friend, by breaking a full bottle of coke on the head of a local thug and viciously beating him. Things go even more awry when they learn the man they put in a coma is the brother of Kana, the leader of the crooked cops. But luckily, soon they're both granted visa. And they're just days away from leaving this god forsaken land when someone, who has a grudge against them, points them out to the crooked cops. Solomon is first to depart. Disguised in a full Islamic women dress -- from head to toe -- begins his escape to the IOM office (United Nation), but soon, as he is inches away from the gate to the UN run office, Kana catches up on him and shoots him in the back, killing him instantly.
Furious with the whole thing, Elias blames himself for failing on his promise -- to protect his best friend till they make it to America. With time running out, Elias makes a bold decision: Avenge his best friend’s death and escape to America.
Latest Work
-
Script 1 - Eskender's Original Draft05/30/11
