MY OWN BLOOD

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“HM FILMS PRESENTS MY OWN BLOOD Genre: Nigerian Family Drama | Mystery | Betrayal | Suspense Visual style: Photorealistic live-action Nollywood movie Language: Natural English Setting: Lagos, Nigeria Target runtime: 60 minutes SCENE 1: THE NIGHT EVERYTHING CHANGED TIME: 11:47 p.m. LOCATION: The Ade family mansion, Lagos. WEATHER: Heavy rain and occasional thunder. CHARACTER OUTFITS AMARA, 27: Medium-dark brown skin, oval face, expressive brown eyes, long black braids worn down. She wears a burgundy long-sleeve top, black trousers, small gold earrings, a gold wristwatch, and black flat slippers. DAVID, 34: Medium-dark brown skin, short black hair, neatly trimmed beard, tall and athletic. He wears a navy-blue button-up shirt with the sleeves slightly rolled up, black trousers, a black leather belt, a black wristwatch, and black dress shoes. MAMA GRACE, 58: Dark brown skin, round face, short black-and-gray natural hair. She wears a deep-purple blouse, a matching purple-and-gold wrapper, small gold earrings, and a gold necklace. SHOT 1 — THE HOUSE AT NIGHT CAMERA: A wide establishing shot of a large, elegant Nigerian family home at night. Heavy rain falls against the windows. The camera slowly approaches the house. SOUND: Heavy rainfall, distant thunder, and low suspenseful instrumental music. DIALOGUE: None. The camera moves inside the house and slowly reveals the staircase leading to the upstairs bedrooms. SHOT 2 — AMARA’S BEDROOM Amara sits on her bed holding an old family photograph. The warm light from her bedside lamp illuminates her face. She looks at the photograph of herself, her parents, and David. A small smile appears on her face. AMARA: (softly, looking at her father’s photograph) “Daddy, I miss you. Sometimes I wish we could go back to the way things used to be.” She runs her fingers over the photograph. AMARA: “You always told us that family was the most important thing in the world. I believed you. I still believe you.” Suddenly, a loud bang comes from downstairs. Amara freezes. SOUND: A loud crash, followed by a brief silence. The suspenseful music stops. AMARA: (whispering) “What was that?” She places the photograph on her bed and stands up. SHOT 3 — THE STAIRCASE Amara slowly opens her bedroom door and walks toward the staircase. CAMERA: Follow her from behind as she carefully descends the stairs. SOUND: Her footsteps, heavy rain, distant thunder, and a faint creaking sound from downstairs. As she reaches the bottom, she sees Mama Grace standing beside the sitting-room table, crying. David stands nearby, looking tense. Mama Grace quickly wipes her face. AMARA: (concerned) “Mummy? David? What’s going on?” Neither answers immediately. AMARA: (looking from one to the other) “Why are you both awake? I heard something fall. Is everything okay?” MAMA GRACE: (avoiding her eyes) “Amara, my daughter, why are you awake at this time?” AMARA: “I heard a loud noise, Mummy. I thought something happened.” David steps forward. DAVID: (firmly) “Nothing happened. Go back to your room.” Amara looks at him in disbelief. AMARA: “David, I’m talking to Mummy. Why are you answering for her?” David’s jaw tightens. DAVID: “Because it’s late, and you need to sleep. That’s all.” Amara looks at her mother again and notices the tears in her eyes. AMARA: (gently) “Mummy, look at me. Why are you crying?” Mama Grace looks at her daughter, struggling to speak. MAMA GRACE: (her voice trembling) “I’m fine, Amara. Please, just go upstairs.” AMARA: “You’re clearly not fine. Is Daddy okay?” At the mention of her father’s name, Mama Grace looks away. David immediately interrupts. DAVID: (sharply) “Amara, enough!” Amara takes a step backward, startled by his tone. AMARA: (hurt and confused) “Why are you shouting at me? I’ve done nothing wrong.” David takes a slow breath and tries to control himself. DAVID: (forcing a calmer tone) “Look, I’m sorry. I’m just tired. Please go upstairs. We’ll talk tomorrow.” AMARA: “I don’t understand. Both of you are acting strangely. If something is wrong with Daddy, I deserve to know.” Mama Grace begins crying again. MAMA GRACE: (almost whispering) “Please forgive me, my daughter.” Amara moves toward her. AMARA: “Forgive you for what, Mummy?” Mama Grace covers her mouth, unable to answer. David steps between them. DAVID: (coldly) “You shouldn’t have come down.” SHOT 4 — THE MYSTERY CAMERA: Close-up of Amara’s frightened face. Cut to David’s tense expression, then to Mama Grace’s tearful eyes. Amara looks down and notices a broken glass beside the sitting-room table. Near it lies a small, dark stain on the floor. She looks up at David. AMARA: (quietly) “David… what happened here?” David follows her gaze. For a moment, fear flashes across his face before he hides it. DAVID: (low voice) “Go upstairs, Amara.” AMARA: “Tell me the truth.” DAVID: “I said go upstairs!” His voice echoes through the room. Mama Grace”