Galago

STORY-
Congo has been ravished by WAR for decades, something we do not hear much about in the west. Other conflicts closer to home seem more worthy of news, this needs to change.

The piece opens with JACKSON, who is 18 and lives in LA with his family, lying in a freshly dug grave having a discussion with his mother who is buried in the adjacent grave. He is broken and unable to move on, angry at his father MARC, who has found someone else and has recently welcomed a new addition to the family, Jackson’s baby sister- WILLOW.

The only comfort in Jackson’s life is his girlfriend EVA, but she too has her own demons. Jackson talks Eva into moving in with him to escape her abusive stepfather. While at her home collecting her belongings Eva gets into a violent altercation with her stepfather. Her mother tries to intervene and he shoots them both before turning the gun on himself. Jackson now spirals out of control, blaming himself for Eva’s death. When Marc calls his brother Tyler, who is working to bring clean water to remote areas of the African continent, Jackson’s uncle suggests he travel to Africa to help with the project and hopefully overcome his grief.

On the flight over the small plane hits really bad turbulence and crashes into the Congo jungle, Jackson and an older man called MASSON are the only survivors. The next day, during a mission to explore the jungle, Mason is killed by crocodiles. Now alone, Jackson is petrified. He makes up a safe area to rest in the wreckage where he falls asleep and awakens to find himself surrounded by KADOGOS(child soldiers). A young charismatic KADOGO named BABY RAMBO is the leader of the scout party, they take Jackson back to their camp and their rebel general, ISSAC.

Issac decides to hold Jackson for ransom. He videos an execution of hostages already being held and sends the chilling recording to Jackson’s father, demanding two million dollars; Marc agrees to bring it to him. When the rebel camp is infiltrated by a Congolese army general called- POPE, Issac, with his lust for blood, sets off charges hidden around the perimeter, heedless that his own Kadogos will also be killed. Seeing how dispensable Issac thinks they are, Baby Rambo is sickened by his actions. The ill matched trio manage to escape the camp as it goes up in flames. Pope is never too far behind.

At the new camp set up, Issac’s resentment for Jackson grows. When he attempts to execute him Baby Rambo steps in and kills him instead, the fact that Issac killed his kadogo brothers has continued to sit ill with Baby Rambo and has added fuel to his anger, he frees the other child soldiers urging them to go home. With their bond growing stronger Baby Rambo and Jackson decide to head back to his village to rescue his mother and little brother who is now the same age Baby Rambo was when he was recruited. He doesn’t want his brother to suffer his fate. During their journey, they hear gunfire. Marc and the group’s camp is being attacked by the young rebels looking for the ransom money but they are overpowered. When Jackson and Baby Rambo decide to investigate they stumble into one of Marc’s men, VIC, who leads them back to the camp where Jackson is reunited with his relieved father.

The next day Baby Rambo gathers his gear, anxious to find his family, Jackson is reluctant to let him go alone so Marc and the group accompany them. When they finally reach BAKA village, most of the area is under siege, but they manage to rescue Baby Rambo’s family. On route to getting everyone to safety their small convoy is ambushed by rebel forces led by Issac, who is still alive, he takes them all prisoner and leads them back to BAKA village.

As dawn breaks Issac decides to execute the prisoners, starting with Baby Rambo. As Issac is about to finish Baby Rambo off, Pope’s army emerges from the forest and fires on Issac and his rebel forces. As both factions do battle, Jackson, Baby Rambo and the rest of the prisoners manage to find cover. Isaac is killed in the ensuing fight, Pope seeks out Baby Rambo as he is intent on killing him but Jackson manages to talk him out of it, Pope eventually being persuaded that Baby Rambo has reformed.

Two years later, Baby Rambo is helping at a hospital named THE REINER-MADDEN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, built in memory of Jackson’s mother and Eva. Pope rolls past in a Humvee, he sees Baby Rambo, they acknowledge each other with a nod of newfound respect.

Meanwhile in LA, Jackson and Marc are standing where it all began - at his mother’s graveside, he is holding his little sister Willow. As he lays down some flowers, his phone vibrates: a picture/message flashes up of Baby Rambo outside the hospital supporting a young kadogo amputee - he shows his father and they smile.