Episode 1: Heavy burden

[00:00:02] Speaker A: Locks in The Box Volume 1 Episode. [00:00:07] Speaker B: 1. [00:00:10] Speaker C: It started with a dream. More likely a nightmare. Where am I? So hot. How. What is this? The heat. I'm thirsty. But there is something over there. From a distance, I can't really see. A shadow. Someone. [00:00:56] Speaker B: Who. [00:00:57] Speaker C: Who is this? A man in a robe. A black robe. And. And he has. Water. You. Jug of water. Hey. Hey. Hello. Excuse me, please, sir. Hello? The man stops. Kwame with what left of his strength, runs toward the man. Kwame is now few feet from him. The man is dressed as a Catholic priest with a long black robe. Hi. Hello. Sorry, sir. Father. Mr. Priest. I. I'm not sure how to call you. You're wearing a very long black robe. Like a. Hello. [00:02:01] Speaker D: Are you all right? [00:02:06] Speaker C: You're an American. I. I was wondering if you could give me some water, please. [00:02:14] Speaker D: Of course. [00:02:15] Speaker C: As a priest, extend his hand holding the bottle of cold water. A metallic rosary falls out of his sleeve. With a crucifix and shining stones hanging on it. I. I think I'm okay. I'll be alright. [00:02:36] Speaker D: Not thirsty anymore. Okay. Good day then. [00:02:42] Speaker C: The priest resumes his walk. Kwame hardly swallows his saliva. Wait. Wait. What? What do you want? Me? [00:03:00] Speaker D: Nothing. [00:03:02] Speaker C: No, no. Foreigners come to Africa in exchange of nothing. What do you really want? When you come in here, you take and take and. And take some more. And yes, you also give. But what you give is either rotten right away or will get rotten in the years to come. So. [00:03:25] Speaker D: Pretty strong statement. But I understand bad apples are everywhere. I presume. [00:03:35] Speaker C: Another missionary, trained to evangelize people. To add on your curriculum. Huh? [00:03:44] Speaker D: I'm here to warn you. Perhaps to help you. [00:03:49] Speaker C: Help me? [00:03:52] Speaker D: Yes. Help you. It will be up to you. Though mankind so often chooses the rash and abrasive route to solve its issues. Going astray from the pathway of wisdom. Leading to tremendous suffering and grief. Just warning you. [00:04:18] Speaker C: What are you talking about? [00:04:20] Speaker D: First, I do believe that you have something for me. [00:04:24] Speaker C: Here you go. I knew it. [00:04:26] Speaker D: Something to confess to. [00:04:28] Speaker C: Conf. What? [00:04:31] Speaker D: I'm waiting. [00:04:34] Speaker C: I have never seen you before. You must have mistaken me for someone else. [00:04:40] Speaker D: Have I? My apologies, then. Good day. [00:04:49] Speaker C: That's crazy. He's crazy. Never seen him before. But really thirsty. Hey. Hey, wait. What about this water? I'm so thirsty. May I have some, please? [00:05:15] Speaker D: Sure. [00:05:26] Speaker C: Ah. Feels. Feels so great. [00:05:32] Speaker D: Water is the best beverage in the world. [00:05:35] Speaker C: You got that right. [00:05:37] Speaker D: Like after repentance, you'll feel great as well. Have a good day now. [00:05:45] Speaker C: Wait. Wait. Please. I. I have. I must ask you. [00:05:57] Speaker D: Listening. [00:05:59] Speaker C: What. What are you doing? Here? By yourself? I mean, in this heat? This is no place for stranger nor priest. [00:06:12] Speaker D: I'm here to help, as I said. [00:06:15] Speaker C: Helping with what? [00:06:16] Speaker D: Mission. [00:06:18] Speaker C: Mission? [00:06:20] Speaker D: I'm on a mission to people who need my help. Like people who need to confess. [00:06:26] Speaker C: Okay. Okay, I. I get it. I. Do I need to kneel or what do I need to do? [00:06:39] Speaker D: It doesn't matter. Just speak. [00:06:41] Speaker C: It's easy for you to say. [00:06:46] Speaker D: Heavy burden. I get it. Rage sometimes gets the best of us. Maybe. Maybe you're not ready. Then. [00:07:00] Speaker C: Rage. Why don't you ask me then? [00:07:04] Speaker D: Free will. [00:07:06] Speaker C: Free will. All right? I. I just wanted to make a difference. I'm a hunter, not a poacher. Forgive me, Please. Please. I killed a man. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm. Truly am. Hello? Hello? Fatima? Fatima? [00:08:17] Speaker B: Hello? [00:08:19] Speaker C: Hi. [00:08:20] Speaker B: No, no, it's not Fatima. May I speak with Mr. Kwame Guadillo, please? Do you. Do. Do you speak English? Do you. [00:08:41] Speaker C: Do I what? [00:08:44] Speaker B: English. Do you speak English? [00:08:50] Speaker C: Yes. Yes, I speak English. Who is this? [00:08:57] Speaker B: My name is a non profit. Do you have a worm? [00:09:09] Speaker C: Who? I'm sorry. Who? [00:09:13] Speaker B: I know, but like they say, right? Anyway, guarding the locks. [00:09:24] Speaker C: Sorry, you. You're breaking up. Who do you say you work for? From. From where? What? Oh. Need to get up in 10 minutes. This woman. The priest. Was I dreaming? These people, they messed up my sleep again. Hello? [00:10:16] Speaker B: Hello? Mr. Cuadrio? Sorry, bad connection earlier. This is me again. I hope you can hear me clearly now. [00:10:24] Speaker C: Yes, I can. [00:10:25] Speaker B: Good. I forgot to tell you that our company would generously compensate you with US$3,000. That's US$3,000. Of course, after checking the fact that these tusks really do exist. US$3,000. That's way more than you can make on a single guided tour, right? You have my number. Call me. [00:10:50] Speaker C: Okay, but what. How? Hello? Hello? She hung up. Who is this woman? What does she want? Did he hire her to follow me? It wouldn't surprise me. Nah, that's not his story. What day is it today? All right. Okay. I have four more days. I came back last night. Went up to my dad's hut to see if I could remember exactly this. These moments. To see if I can find more clues on how to catch it. Did I make a promise that I. No. I need to try harder. I have to do this. But for the life of me, I can't remember what my father exactly said about how to find it. I must find it. No. I have to. Fatima. Oh, Fatima. Traveling back from Abuja and standing in a Savannah, for an entire night took a toll on me. I'm so tired. Exhausted, actually. Okay, let's focus. Four days. Only four days? Oh, man. How am I to do this? How am I going to do this? I need to find more clues, need to remember. But I can't just recall. First I need to rest. Just few minutes. Then I go back out. Let me set up my alarm for an hour, Huh? Oh, yes, yes, yes. I'm up. I'm up. Someone calls me a woman. She had an accent. What did she want? I don't have time for that right now. A reporter of some sort. Reporters? Reporters ask too many questions. Investigate. Wait a minute. Maybe she can. Yeah, maybe. Yes. I'm not ready to lose everything yet. To lose Fatima. So let's see. This woman might be helpful. What was the number? She died from malaria. Okay, good. [00:14:19] Speaker B: Hi. So glad he called. You made a great decision, Mr. Claudio. [00:14:25] Speaker C: How did you know it was me anyway? Hold on now. Who are you again? And what do you want? Tell me the truth. Did he sent you? [00:14:36] Speaker B: Who sent me? [00:14:37] Speaker C: Sharp teeth. [00:14:39] Speaker B: Sharp who? [00:14:41] Speaker C: Sharp. Never mind. I. I don't have a lot of time to. Let's cut to the chase. How does this work? I just tell you what I know and I get the money. [00:14:56] Speaker B: That's it. Simple. [00:15:01] Speaker C: Simple. Sounds like another scam. And you. You sound Asian, Chinese to me. [00:15:10] Speaker B: That's very stereotypical, but yes, I am Chinese. Chinese American, actually. Representing the two biggest and most powerful economies in the world. Would be silly not getting bed with me, wouldn't you agree? [00:15:26] Speaker C: In bed? [00:15:28] Speaker B: Yes, in bed. Business. In business, I meant. Figure of speech. No, not getting it. Nothing. Different culture, I suppose. [00:15:46] Speaker C: Anyhow, how do you know about the locks? [00:15:49] Speaker B: Well, how do you know about the locks? [00:15:52] Speaker C: Ma'? Am? You're the one looking for information. You called me, remember? Anyway, no one. No one hasn't seen it for years. [00:16:06] Speaker B: My dad. My dad's one who kept talking about it. My dad loved Africa. He also loved the game. The big games of hunting. He always said he wouldn't go where life began. [00:16:22] Speaker C: Africa? [00:16:23] Speaker B: Yes. Then one day he heard of a game where people could hunt a fantastic specimen. [00:16:30] Speaker C: Of course, you guessed it. What? Why anyone not talking about my dad? All people care is the locks. [00:16:44] Speaker B: Isn't weird? I'm talking about my dad and you're talking about yours. Father's, huh? Anyhow, well, no offense to your dad, but for the fact that these tusks will be. No. These tusks are monumental, Scientifically speaking. Not only for understanding nature, but also for the whole humanity, science stuff and so forth. From what I heard, they're huge, as close as it can be to a mammoth's tusks and that. That's rare to say the least. Although we had a tumultuous relationship, my dad and I haven't heard back from him in quite some times. So you're saying your dad. [00:17:41] Speaker C: Yes. He's the one who saw it first, who put his life on the line for it. $3,000, right? [00:17:51] Speaker B: Yes. I'm all years, Mr. Cuadillo. [00:18:01] Speaker A: You have been listening to Locks in the Box, Volume 1A Patrick Cavarty presents Production. Box in the Box has been created, written and produced by Patrick and Wendy Caberty. Recorded at Soundbox la, West Hollywood, California. Executive producer Wendy Cabertee. Original sounds by Pixabay and upbeat IO Edited by Miguel Sol at Soundbox LA Casting by Patrick Caberty Directed by Patrick Caberty Starring Kirk Taylor as the priest J. Teddy Garces as Young Baba Baba and Tony Joanima Diaby as Harris Frances Eddimobi as Youssef Shalimar Garba as Mother Fatima Young woman in Catalia Emma Garba as Young Kwame Omri Cavarty as Young Harris Mel Uche as Sharpteeth and Huliao AJ Lubskin as Suggest Charlotte Chang as Zhao Patrick Caberti as Kwame and narrated by Patrick Cabertee. Credits read by Sydney and Omri Caberty. Special thanks to Tim, Michelle and Miguel at Sandbox la, West Hollywood, California. Box in the Box is a Patrick Caberty Presents production. For a full cast list, go to Patrick Cabertee Presents and listen to the next episode. Follow us on Social media Thank you for supporting Patrick Cavarty Presents Production and thank you for listening to Locks in the Box.