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A mini-series.....

Title:

"THE INCISIVE : A coincidence"

Written by: Tugume Benon

Inspiration:

This is part of my life story. A true reflection of the society i was born, raised and live to date as a man; where poverty, vexation, retribution meet desperation and reveal the true characters of people.

TONE:

This is both idealistic and realistic yet romantic and menacing. Anger / irritation meets intense desperation: a venturesome plucky young man masterminds an ingenious raid; rallies his sharp witted best friend and his cunning young brother to attack his mothers work premises amidst impregnable security not only in pursuit for wealth but also to avenge his mother’s boss continuous carping and vituperative attacks.  Amidst all the adversities, he seems to have succeeded on the mission but before he knows it he is a wanted by the police dead or alive. With his crew, they decide to flee the country for safety; only to fall in love with his victim’s daughter, and find himself in his victim’s house overseas. He weathers the racial storms and his past, fate seemingly on his side, he succeeds marrying his victim’s daughter.

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THEME:

Story is about;

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For a very riveting pulse pounding drama, The INCISIVE: A coincidence addresses a number themes sincerely and it addresses them again and again. Those being: poverty, vexation, retribution, deception, desperation, racism, love and coincidence. 


The idea that people don’t belong or don’t feel like they belong or feel like they’re living a lie or out of themselves or other than themselves or not where they should be repeats throughout the entire series from episode to episode. Of course, in Episode one, wherein a society stricken by dire economic conditions is a central element, the idea of people being troubled, discontent, unemployment and exploitation recurs constantly. Not only Drake and Alpha having been unemployed four years after graduation but also Alpha’s mother – Annabelle working for pennies for a tycoon under a lot of ill-treatment. As if that’s not enough, Mr. Smith a wealthy business owner is forced to flee the country to escape arrest from a long overdue loan. The first episode’s villain, if one could call her that, Mrs. Perry, Mr. Smith’s wife a paranoid narcissist trapped at the helm of mistreating her employees.

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Adilyn, and may i remind you that she is Alpha’s only and young sister, is another ultimate example, a fresh Computer Science graduate down a crowded street littered with homeless people and panhandlers, a young lady, relatively clean and put together, is holding a sign: ‘CS DEGREE. HIRE ME’ job hunting. She has no idea how long she’s going to do that before she finds a job considering her bigger brother hasn’t found one in four years.


While some humans actually intentionally choose evil, some do not. They are more likely to give into temptation if it comes under the appearance of doing something good for others. And doing good can certainly bring more temptation: And for Alpha, it was the temptation to revenge, riches and rescue.

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Amidst all the temptations; how a number of coincidences queued up is also still a baffling affair. From Adilyn and Alpha visiting mom at work, then red handedly witnessing Mrs. Perry ill-treating their mother (this atrocious emotional moment triggers revenge), to glancing at Gold bars and ingot displayed in the office cabinets and then by good fortune land on the safe codes.


So every man living shall assuredly meet with an hour of temptation, a certain critical hour, which shall more especially try what mettle his heart is made of; But to go into temptation to find how strong you are, is as wise as to go before a mirror, with closed eyes, to find how you look when asleep. 
It doesn’t take really long, in episode three, poverty, desperation again and urge to revenge manifests itself when Alpha is narrowly caught but just escapes by a whisker. It doesn’t take him long to return for a second attempt. This is amidst him and crew very much aware that there’s very tight security including surveillance cameras at every corner.

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Coincidence still looms, but this time regretfully when Rommy stumbles on the Smith premises while looking for market of the Gold stolen from the same premises. He is instantly arrested.
Both fate and coincidence are beyond our control. They just happen. Fate is what's meant to be, no matter what you do, and coincidence is a matter of right place, right time.

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After Alpha and Crew running away from Uganda for fear of arrest, while at the beach on a sunny afternoon; Alpha meets the beautiful Carlita. Not so sure if I should call it fate or just a coincidence, but as we move the journey to the next episodes, am very optimistic you will have taken side.
Soof after that, in episode six; i would call it the extreme of coincidences, Alpha after heading off arrest, he finds himself in his victim’s house, Mr. Smith is aghast and this is of course a bizarre moment and drama ensues inevitably – even if it’s happening behind curtains. 
This possibility of an explanation creates the opportunity for saying “there are no coincidences." 
If a cause can be defined, then there is no coincidence. ... They are not coincidences, just random events. Those who believe in mystery are more likely to believe that coincidences contain messages for them personally.

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But like they say, men will always be men; it doesn’t take forever before Alpha and Mr. Smith get to talking terms. I think both believe that any type of open and truthful disclosure reduces stress and helps them come to terms with their behaviour. It is not coincidental that some of the most powerful people in many cultures encourage people to confess their transgressions and these two foes were no exception. They confess and share lots of surreptitious information between them, but it’s just the beginning…

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While the romance between a black African Alpha and a Latina-Asian Carlita blossoms, it is definitely not going down well for some “colour-blind’ relatives; the racial / colourism confrontations begin led by Carlita’s aunt Chandrakanta. Interestingly this discrimination or attacks aren’t only directed to Alpha and Carlita but fiercely to her father Mr. Smith too. This creates a lot of anxiety and drama leaving the relationship in balance.

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Every deception, according to Whaley, is comprised of two parts: dissimulation (covert, hiding what is real) and simulation (overt, showing the false). In episode seven & eight both parts are demonstrated. For instance, Mrs. Perry ascertains that Alpha the alleged mastermind of a heist that swept her family riches away and almost took her life is being housed by her hubby Mr. Smith overseas, even if Mr. Smith denies. She also mistakenly believes Carlita her step daughter is her co-wife – because her hubby kept her a secret from her, Mr. Smith still denies and insists she’s a nanny in his house. Whereas Carlita is hearing all this talk, she’s shocked to know that Mrs. Perry doesn’t know about her existence contrary to her father’s account.

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Everyone suffers at least one bad betrayal in their lifetime. It's what unites us. The trick is not to let it destroy your trust in others when that happens. Don't let them take that from you – that’s what they say. But for Mrs. Perry it seems like she’s at a point of no return, she can’t believe her hubby again, she’s angry, grieving, totally betrayed and evidently broken. Unfortunately, in her relentless quest to know the truth, amidst all the drama; even after surviving a plane crash, she still tragically perishes in a motor accident.

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Its drama after drama, tragedy after tragedy. They say our true nationality is mankind but a one Chandrakanta says no, for her it’s about skin colour. Like she vowed not to let that relationship between Alpha and Carlita work, she was determined to achieve her motive and indeed she poisoned Alpha. Luckily enough, he survives by a whisker. On her second attempt to poison him again, she’s exposed.


With all this happening, at this point Mr. Smith is a person who when you meet him has trapped himself in a labyrinth of lies, deception, and self-loathing. And inside of this has felt safe for years; however, his house is coming down upon him if not now, eventually, and in the worse way possible. Mr. Smith cannot maintain what is happening to him. In fact, in episode eight, we witness him receive the first of many recompenses for previous sins when his wife tragically dies. 


In our last episode, yes, you might believe or not but fate brings soulmates together. Although it may seem like chance, meeting your soulmate is destiny – it's the universe working its magic and orchestrating your meeting.
 

With all the trials and tribulations, amidst all the storms along their journey; Alpha and Carlita still end up husband and wife against all odds.
 

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MAJOR CHARACTERS:


MR. ABRAM SMITH (60's): 
A hearty and florid gentle man, jolly dad, bald head, grizzled, medium sized and a visibly successful business man very much defined by his constant trademark smile.


Mr. smith is a ‘fat cat’ or you may call him a tycoon if you like. He is of Indian origin but born and raised in the USA trading and living in Uganda until he was forced to return to California when business went sour. He runs a multi-million precious metal (Gold) business empire he inherited from his father. Abram Smith is the father to Jo Smith and a husband to Perry Smith.


Mr. Smith is very secretive, and a man of very few words but also very kind. This character makes him a great administrator and that’s reflected in the success of his business. He is loved by his employees. But obviously this has worked against him at some point with both his clients and his close family. It is no wonder he has a beautiful daughter from a clandestine relationship called Carlita that he has kept a secret from his son and wife for close to three decades.


MRS. PERRY SMITH (40's): 
Abram’s wife, beautiful, imp-thin bodied, bubbly outlook, her hair is magma-red, plunged over her shoulders; wears gothic clothes in a rebellious way. Always bitter about something.


She hasn't got a sidekick personality; she has a "don't go on adventures in any capacity" personality, to the ironic extreme that it's always led her into problematic situations.  A natural narcissistic grump whose passive manner hides a biting wit and a sharp mind, Perry always attempts to solve things with the fewest steps possible; despite being a compassionate, sweet, smarter- than-average woman, Perry often finds herself at the intersection of morally grey crossroads. Thus, her bad habits of always complaining, quarrelling, ranting and whining have dire consequences that she can't put off forever, even though she tries.  

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JO SMITH (mid 20’s): 
Son of Mr. Abram and Perry Smith. Wears wire rim glasses, a t-shirt and scruffy jeans guy. He’s the Smith business empire accountant.


Under normal circumstances, a responsible solid citizen; hardly dangerous, perhaps even meek. But these circumstances are from the real normal. He loves his drink especially on weekend evenings; he is disheveled, unshaven, and very drunk. A cigarette smolders in his mouth, his eyes flinty and hard. Jo on an ordinary Monday at work, it isn’t a surprise that he can be two valiums and three stiff drinks into the afternoon. Regardless, he is an incredible lad.


ANTONIO (40’s):
Mineralogist, tailored, loyal, reserved and yet friendly to those close to his heart.


Urbane man with a boring blazer and boring khaki pants, the same outfit he wears every day of the week. Lost in his own imaginary world. Antonio has divorced a number of times but still patriarchally respectable. He is respectable and much respected, mainly because he is a man of his word. He is one of the longest serving employees of Mr. Smith.


ALPHA (late 20’s): 
Law graduate, unemployed, medium, muscular, reserved, tattoo, casual, football fanatic, neatly shaped beard, capable and strong willed. He is a close and childhood friend to Drake.


When faced with a problem, Alpha is always, with rare exception, present the smarter and more practical solution than Drake, whose “solutions” usually make the problem worse.  But where Drakes solutions worsen bad situations, Alpha often only make them “different” -- or simply put off the inevitable.  Alpha is crazy like a fox, and by this i mean he is a go-getter and will chew his own foot off to escape a trap.


DRAKE (late 20’s):
A more conservative look, suite and a usually a loosened neck tie with studied casualness, clean shaven.


Drake should initially be presented as an everyman, in muted colours, living a muted life; talks less but acts more.  But as we get to know him, even within the first episode, an edge starts to shine through; his “quit before it starts” attitude is slowly stripped away to reveal a lion of a man intent on the safety and happiness of the people he cares about.  As stakes rise, Drake's a fellow unafraid of putting the fate of the world on is shoulders.

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EVRIN (20’s): 
Naturally creative, fresh computer science student, medium size, scruffy beard, street clothes, younger brother to Drake. 


Evrin is a young man with a wild and woolly appearance that goes hand-in-hand with his wild and woolly personality. Evrin doesn’t seem bothered by his job, he lives one day at a time. He’s a hilarious funny character with a solution for every impossibility. His rumpled look and relaxed manner suggest a man in whom casualness runs deep, he will crack your ribs with his jokes and playfulness anywhere any time. But he clearly knows what he wants in life.

 

ANABELLE (mid 50’s):
Her rosary is her identity, spiritual, house keeper outfit. 


Annabelle is mid-fifties and has embraced that fact. She’s the mother to Alpha and Adilyn. She knows 50 is not the new 40 and because of that, she is still described by all who know her as beautiful. Everything about this woman's appearance screams "solid." She’s a widow for many years and has got so many responsibilities but this does not reflect on her appearance. Annabelle is a calm and religious woman, you can call her spiritual as well and this has kept her going all her life amidst all the challenges.


ADILYN (mid 20’s):
Athletic and enthusiastic, computer science fresh graduate and sister to Alpha. 


Addy as many will call her, is a generally warm personality but with a very specific brooding, dark energy at the same time.  She has an easy snarl to her, a sneer in her voice at the slightest provocation, a jagged, clipped way of speaking that lends itself to functionality, and, if provoked, biting deadpan sarcasm.  She can't help feel a twinge of bitterness about her current unemployment situation.


Addy is, above all else, a survivor, not much different from her brother Alpha.  She’s very quickly drawn to take on challenges – possibly because she’s naturally an intelligent girl having been one of the best preformed student in her academic year; it excites her, and offers her an escape, a possible way out from the anxious autopilot. A girl who knows more about living inside a computer than living outside but the strangeness in anything is nothing new to her, she’s already on the streets looking for a job.

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ROMMY (early 20’s): 
He is Evrin and Drakes cousin. 


Heedless, emotional, a look of astonishment on his face.  It’s not the face of a thief, it is the face of a man totally not in control of his world. Rommy is the ‘yes man’, he will accept whatever assignment or deal you offer him without thinking. He is the always up to something guy.


CARLITA (mid 20’s): 
Curvaceous, cheerful, wasp-waisted, soothing voice, midnight-black hair that flows over her shoulders, university student and a freelance professional writer. A clandestine daughter to Mr. Abram Smith.


Pretty in a flawed, accessible way. She doesn’t stop the party when she walks in, but you’d like to get to know her.  She is devilishly beautiful. Born to a Puerto Rican mum and American father of Indian origin but raised in California, Santa Monica, USA. Maybe being a ‘cocktail’ of races describes her ravishingly beautiful look.


Carlita is very ambitious and so down to earth, very much a liberal personality who will struggle to achieve whatever she has set.


CHANDRAKANTA (70's): 
Abram’s older sister, wears the traditional bindi (dot) on her forehead.


Chandra is 101% Indian, i mean born and raised in India. She leaves India about only once or sometimes not at all in an entire decade, that i guess explains why she is extremely conservative and exceedingly racist. The traditional Indian Sari is her daily uniform throughout the week. She has got a typical Indian accent and a ‘sinister’ look.
 

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