Timbuktu Blues

1 Writer

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This story is also written as a three-episode series. See Desert Blues on Coverfly. THE PILOT Eve feels more at home in the Peace Corps than she felt in Minneapolis. She loves teaching music to her class of young children in Timbuktu, the birthplace of Desert Blues. She believes music will change the trajectory of her students’ lives. Instead, she comes face to face with evil when jihadis and Tuareg rebels abduct her students and murder her friends. Having been warned of violence in the North, Eve hides a friend’s gun in the school shed. When she comes face-to-face with evil, she doesn’t hesitate to shoot a jihadi even though she was unable to shoot an animal during shooting practice. Eve’s marginalized students are of no concern to the U.S. and Malian governments. Political agendas and red tape take priority over protecting children, which is both infuriating and compelling. This fortifies Eve’s resolve. Eve is kicked out of the Peace Corps for her outspoken call to action. Though she is escorted to the airport by Malian soldiers, she escapes by changing clothes with a local woman in the restroom. This sets the high stakes journey into motion. Eve looks to her former boyfriend, the U.S. AID Director, for help. She believes the best option to save the students is a world-famous African musician and philanthropist, Zara, who has reportedly hired mercenaries for humanitarian interventions in the region. Together Eve and Clay head to the Festival Au Desert, a world-famous music festival in Timbuktu, to see Zara. While Eve and Clay work to circumvent two national governments and enlist Zara’s support, an additional story line involves the terrorists they are hunting. The script reveals the agendas and motivations of both antagonists and protagonists. An intricate web of political interests generates a sense of realism that keeps the stakes high. Viewers get a fascinating window into complicated narratives. The script’s voice is original. Muslim characters have a nuanced approach to religion and make difficult choices to protect themselves and their families while the so-called good guys, the people in a position to do something, refuse to do anything. The audience witnesses heartbreaking brutality by the jihadi extremists when the children are forced to beat one another. These haunting images accurately portray the horror of crimes against children in conflict zones. Eve’s prickly relationship with Clay, a diplomat who is estranged from his powerful mother, the U.S. Secretary of State, evolves as they go rogue and embark on their mission. Clay is in love with Eve. He believes the children deserve justice but doesn’t condone the use of violence to stop violence. Other options are limited. Ultimately, he would follow Eve to the end of the Earth. Ultimately Clay bargains with his mother, the Secretary of State. He agrees to take the assignment of her choice in exchange for arranging an unofficial rescue operation. Aaron sends his team to Northern Mali. The rescue goes better than expected until Eve is captured and forced to set fire to the lorry with the students in it. Barely alive, the students huddle together and….