TRESPASS

Description

A catastrophic event has thrown the world into the dark ages. ALIKA holds a shotgun at two figures approach her shack. She thinks they are from a tribe she believes to be dangerous. Her husband ISAAC tries to convince her those are just rumours. They should help them - ‘we cannot lose who we are.’ Blinded by fear, Alika refuses to trust them. She sees one of them reach for a gun and fires. But Alika discovers the dead man was holding a stick and piece of white fabric - Wasn’t it a gun? The dead man’s daughter KAI, runs off crying. She hides and watches Alika with unforgiving eyes. Guilt-stricken, Alika admits to Isaac that he was right. The world has collapsed but we cannot lose our humanity, we cannot lose who we are. Alika finds Kai hiding in the bushes and tries to make amends. But Kai only wants vengeance. She plunges a spear into Alika. Devastated, Isaac captures Kai and brings her back to the shack. Faced with his wife’s killer, Isaac’s beliefs are put to the test. Will he lose his humanity and kill her? Or can he forgive Kai and end the cycle of vengeance?

Biblical Connection

My story is inspired by the Book of Romans. Paul’s drive in Romans is to redemption, to a new way of thinking and living - to be "transformed in their minds" (Rom 12:1-2). TRESPASS raises questions about the dangerous time we live in. It shows how that danger is being fueled by prejudice and fear of the other. This is embodied in Alika, who passes judgment on others and ultimately condemns herself. "For at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.” (Rom 2:1) Isaac represents Paul’s plight to flee the broken and fear driven reactions; “not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good” (Rom 12:21). But when he is truly tested and is faced with his wife’s killer, he is plunged into a battle of hypocrisy and uncertainty. It is my intention to invite the viewer to consider what they would do, which is why the final act is focused on Isaac and his inner conflict. Sometimes the only way to end the cycle of violence is to forgive.