Episode Summaries – Series 1
| Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4 |
| Episode 5 | Episode 6 | Episode 7 | Episode 8 |
| Episode 9 | Episode 10 | Episode 11 | Episode 12 |
| Episode 13 |
Episode 1: Arrivals
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Nancy and Albert (husband and wife) are arguing; Albert has just started a university course and cannot afford to pay for Nancy’s sick father’s medical treatment. Nancy resents this. | Responsibility for elderly relatives. Earning money vs further education. Woman earning more than man – gender roles questioned. | Citizenship 1.2 Human RightsSocial JusticeValues and PerceptionsConflict Resolution |
| We meet Maspeedy for the first time, talking to a donkey. He is clearly confused/ a bit slow. | |||
| Mr Baraka chastises PP for playing football when he should be working in the fields. Red and her friend walk past and snigger at PP. | Adolescence – responsibilities. | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Dr Washington is collecting payment from his patients. One elderly man cannot pay his bill and so is forced to clean the clinic until his bill is settled. Nancy and Albert arrive and it transpires the elderly man is Leonard, Nancy’s father. | Cost of healthcare/drugs. Wealthy couple (Nancy and Albert) receive priority treatment. |
Citizenship 1.1 |
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| Mrs Mulani visits Mama Mboga, whose daughter has been sent home from school for having no uniform. She explains that this was a mistake and will not happen again. The teachers are all adjusting to Free Primary Education (FPE). | Schools adjusting to Free Primary Education – Millennium Development Goals | ||
| Part ii): | PP’s father (Harrington Baraka) catches Maspeedy eating bananas and makes him dig for the rest of the day. Maspeedy complains of a sore hand. Karis Mabuki (bar owner) hears Nancy arguing with Dr Washington. He is attracted to Nancy and settles Leonard’s bill. Karis then drives Leonard and Nancy home. Albert decides to walk and is clearly put out. | ||
| Nancy decides to stay in Makutano and look after Leonard. Leonard disapproves of Albert’s constant studying. | Daughterly duties. | ||
| Mr Baraka is having trouble with a cow and Maspeedy calms it down. Baraka offers Maspeedy a job as a milkman. | |||
| Nancy tells Albert she’s staying in Makutano. She wants Albert to get a job but he leaves to attend his university course. | Further education versus employment | ||
| Maspeedy tells Mr Baraka he needs new milk containers as the small plastic ones harbour germs. Mr Baraka gets metal ones and makes sure the milk isn’t contaminated. | Milk hygiene | ||
| Karis refuses to lend Cheryl any more money for her market stall. He is clearly interested in Nancy. He sees Albert and gives him a lift home, leaving a disgruntled Cheryl behind. |
Episode 2: Money Matters
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Nancy plans to open a pharmacy but needs money. | Enterprise and investment | |
| PP is having girl trouble; Red has been ignoring his letters. Maspeedy claims to understand women and offers advice. | Teenage relationships | ||
| Mama Mboga is planning to get her hair done as it’s her turn to receive the merry-go-round (small-scale credit union) money. The two Sharons discuss Mama Mboga’s alcoholic husband, and Cheryl’s airs and graces. | Credit union, enterprise, money Alcohol | ||
| Dr Washington is having his hair done at the barbers. He’s unhappy with the service – Bill and Ben are talking too much. | |||
| Fiona (one of the market ladies) hasn’t paid Mama Mboga, so she can’t afford to go to the hair salon. ‘Friendship and money don’t mix’. | Money problems – prioritising spending etc | ||
| Nancy is on the phone to Albert who wants her to come home. Nancy asks for money to open the pharmacy but Albert has spent it on university courses. ‘I should never expect anything from you’. Nancy is not going home and Albert can’t visit this weekend as planned. Karis starts flirting with Nancy and asks her to come to the bar later. | |||
| Maspeedy likes Small Sharon but isn’t having much luck! Big Sharon likes him. | Relationships | ||
| Part ii): | PP manages to make a fool out of himself in front of Red. | ||
| Fiona is in the hair salon! Mama Mboga takes Fiona’s and throws her out of the merry-go-round. | Money matters | ||
| Diana Baraka is chased away from school by some of the new children . PP and Bernadette take Diana back to school. Bernadette doesn’t trust Maspeedy with money. Maspeedy is upset: I’ll always be stupid’. | Bullying | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.3, 2.2 |
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| Karis loans Nancy the money for the pharmacy. It turns out Karis remembers her from high school. Karis lived in UK for a while but has no plans to go back yet. | Links with UK |
Citizenship 1.3 |
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| Bernadette accuses Mrs Mulani of slipping standards; Rose explains she had to let lots of children in because of FPE. She invites Bernadette to the next school committee meeting. | UPE School leadership and governance | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Mama Mboga is counting her money but Erasmus husband walks in drunk and takes it all. He threatens her. Peggy walks in and tries to stand up to her father. Erasmus accuses her of being a prostitute. Peggy has to work because of her father’s drinking. | Alcohol and poverty Prostitution and poverty | ||
| Nancy bumps into Dr Washington and takes pleasure in teling him she has money to open the pharmacy! |
Episode 3 Parental Control
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Schoolchildren are truanting at the video shack. Rose finds them and tells off Snake, saying that the children belong in school. | Truancy | Citizenship 1.2 |
| Karis wants to open a casino and is talking to his father about it. Bernadette tells Winston about the chaos at the school (he is chairman of the school management committee). | School management | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Red heard PP singing and invites him to choir practice after school. | |||
| Winston isn’t sure about the casino; he’s worried about potential gambling problems. Mabuki’s bar has been so successful because Makutano is a natural stopping place for travellers on the road to and from Nairobi. Winston agrees to think about Karis’s idea. | Gambling | ||
| Bernadette tells the townspeople about the school management committee meeting, but tries to dissuade Mama Mboga from going. Bernadette thinks she’s beneath her. | School governance and representation Prejudice | ||
| Rose find Jonathan asleep in the bookshop and asks him to attend the meeting. Red asks her father for ‘science trip’ money. Jonathan clearly dotes on her. | |||
| Winston says no to the casino idea – for now. Priscilla tells Karis to give it time. Cheryl sees him flirting with Nancy and is jealous. Karis asks Nancy for lunch. | |||
| Part ii): | Cheryl pays Nancy a visit in the pharmacy. She wants a spot cream that will also whiten her skin. She finds out Nancy’s married. | Beauty treatments, skin whitening | |
| School management committee meeting. Rose wants to build a special needs classroom. FPE has led to an increased number of SEN children at the school. | School management SEN in school | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Karis and Snake are doing some sort of dodgy deal. Snake was in prison. | |||
| PP liked choir practice. Red is flirting with him and they’re now going out. | |||
| Rose sets up a school finance committee. Winston will sit on it and parents’ reps need to be elected. They also need reps for the teachers and SEN pupils. Rose: It is our govt. It is our school. They are our children. It is up to us. It is our responsibility.” Mama Mboga turns up late and Bernadette is not happy. | Representation on school committees | Citizenship 1.1 |
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| Baraka is angry with PP for going to choir practice and not working. PP has to sleep in Maspeedy’s room as punishment and is forbidden to go to choir again. | Responsibilities vs socialising | ||
| Mama Mboga suggests a second hand uniform scheme. Rose likes the idea. Bernadette is still sceptical. Winston offers to help. Is he interested in Rose? | Economising |
Episode 4: Milk and Lingala
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i) | Maspeedy is having a nightmare. PP wakes him. He’s late for his milk rounds. | ||
| There is going to be a party later at Mabuki’s bar. | Socialising | ||
| Maspeedy tells PP to wash his hands and the cow’s udder before milking to stop infection. PP complains about not being allowed to go to choir practice. Baraka doesn’t want to throw away the evening milk even though it’s 12 hours old. He tells Maspeedy to mix it with fresh milk but he’s worried. Baraka says Mabuki’s bar could use evening deliveries so the milk wouldn’t be wasted. Maspeedy agrees. | Food/ milk handling hygiene and advice | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 2.2 |
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| Maspeedy must dip the cow’s teats in antiseptic to prevent mastitis. | |||
| The barbers fancy Nancy. Karis plans to seduce her. | |||
| PP asks Maspeedy to deliver a love letter to Red and tells Maspeedy not to read it. He wishes he had a mobile phone. | Adolescence: relationships | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.4 | |
| Mama Mboga is being teased by the other market women about her old clothes. MaSpeedy delivers the milk but Mama Mboga doesn’t have enough money and asks for credit. He tells her to boil the milk to kill bacteria. | Money problems. Milk hygiene. | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 2.2 |
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| Nancy is browsing at Cheryl’s stall. Cheryl asks Nancy how things are with Albert and tells her to sleep with Karis. Nancy says she’ll stay faithful. Cheryl tells Nancy that Karis broke her heart. | Love affairs – long distance relationships | ||
| Ben fixes Mama Mboga sewing machine. She rents it from him. | Enterprise, struggling to make ends meet | ||
| Maspeedy is late delivering Rose’s milk. He tells her not to mix the milk. He gives Red PP’s love letter and has read it! | |||
| Hair salon. There’s a rumour that Karis was married. | |||
| Mama Mboga has fixed the second-hand uniform. Margaret is less disparaging now! | Re-use/ recycle | ||
| Part ii): | Maspeedy has become the town messenger! Karis asks him to deliver flowers to Nancy in exchange for 2 beers at the party. | Relationships | |
| Maspeedy gives Nancy the flowers; Cheryl thought they were for her. Nancy leaves the room and her phone rings. Cheryl answers. Albert won’t make it to the party tonight and will call soon. Cheryl doesn’t pass on the message to Nancy. | Lying; friendship vs relationships | ||
| Snake asks Maspeedy to fill up a dirty milk container. Maspeedy does but reluctantly. Maspeedy is scared of Snake. | Milk hygiene | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 2.2 |
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| PP meets Red in a deserted building and they kiss. They hear a noise – is the building haunted? Snake is outside and sees them running away. He has a stomach bug because of the dirty milk container. | Red’s relationship. Consequences of not sticking to milk hygiene! | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 2.2 |
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| At the Mabuki party, Cheryl accuses Karis of avoiding her and flirting with Nancy. Rose congratulates Winston on such a good party. W apologises for grabbing Rose’s hand at the meeting. Agree to be friends. | |||
| R and PP escape from the party but Bernadette sees them and separates them. | Adolescence – relationships | ||
| Karis asks Nancy to dance. She says no. | |||
| Jonathan’s asleep again. | Alcohol | ||
| Karis and Snake aren’t supposed to be seen together in public. Karis is clearly using the building for dodgy dealings. | Corruption in business. | ||
| Nancy finally agrees to dance with Karis. | |||
| Bernadette tells Rose that Red was kissing PP and calls Red a ‘loose woman’. Both parents stop them from seeing each other. Rose and Red leave the party. | Adolescence – interfering parents. | ||
| Cheryl sees Karis dancing with Nancy and leaves. Karis and Nancy go upstairs together. Cheryl rings Albert and tells him. | Infidelity. |
Episode 5: Husbands
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Nancy wakes up next to Karis. Full of regret: What have I done?’ She leaves him asleep. | Infidelity | |
| Red is listening to music but Rose says she should be revising for her exams. She tells her to stay away from PP and not to disgrace the Mulani family. | Revision versus socialising | ||
| The barbers see Nancy and wonder where she spent the night. | |||
| Mama Mboga reassures the other market women they won’t get laughed at if they go down to the school. She tells them to go to the school committee elections. | Standing up for the right to participate despite poverty | Citizenship 1.1, 1.2 |
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| Bernadette wants to be the chairperson on the committee but Rose explains that she (as headteacher) is. The parents’ reps will be democratically elected and Bernadette will stand. | Democracy in school leadership | Citizenship 1.1, 1.2 |
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| Karis visits Leonard and Nancy. Leonard is feeling much better. Karis wants to talk about a relationship but Nancy sees it as a mistake and a one-off. She won’t ever leave Albert. | Marriage | ||
| PP is banned from seeing Red but goes to see her anyway. She sneaks out. | Interfering parents and rebellious teenagers | ||
| Karis asks Maspeedy to deliver a gift to Nancy. | |||
| Red and PP complain about their parents who don’t believe singing is a career prospect. PP asks Red if she wants to have sex. She’s shocked. | Relationships between parents and teenagers. Sex | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.4 |
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| Part ii): | Bernadette is canvassing in the market but is not popular with the market tradespeople. | Politics and popularity. | Citizenship 1.1 |
| Nancy is trying to call Albert. Maspeedy delivers the earrings from Karis and Nancy storms off. | |||
| PP goes to see Red again but Rose catches him. He runs away. | |||
| Nancy finds Albert and Karis talking. Albert plans to move in to the ‘haunted’ building and agrees to have lunch with Karis. He doesn’t believe in hauntings. | Superstition versus scheming | ||
| School management committee elections. Bernadette and Mama Mboga are both proposed. Mama Mboga is elected with a huge majority. | Democratic elections | Citizenship 1.1 |
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| Albert likes Karis. Nancy feels sidelined by Albert’s studies. She refuses to spend the night with Albert and uses the ‘haunted’ building and Leonard as an excuse. He is not convinced. | Secrets in relationships | ||
| Mama Mboga’s drunk husband (Erasmus) finds out about the election and beats her. He takes her money. We find out she has eight daughters and one son. | Alcohol and domestic violence. Money worries. | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Maspeedy sees Albert entering the haunted house and thinks he’s a ghost. Maspeedy is upset when he finds out that Nancy’s married! | Superstitions | ||
| Nancy confronts Karis about the gift. Karis refuses to accept that Nancy’s turned him down. He hints that Albert might not be safe tonight. | Karis’s plotting | ||
| Albert is in the haunted house and hears strange noises... |
Episode 6: Dirty Tricks
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Albert hears voices in the night and finds a dead chicken. He realises someone’s playing tricks. Karis finds Albert outside in the morning and is clearly surprised he’s not run away. Karis invites him to a card game later but Albert doesn’t like gambling. | Superstitions and ticks. Gambling | |
| Karis tells Peggy and Snake off for not scaring Albert away. | |||
| Rose sees Jonathan closing his bookshop early. She had to send child home from school with malaria. Mr Mulani is being evasive. | Malaria | ||
| Albert finds an old painting and letters in the house. | |||
| Baraka is going to play cards but has told Bernadette he’s meeting the vet. | Gambling | ||
| No-one is sure who first owned haunted house. Karis doesn’t own it. Nancy accuses Albert of having an affair. She finds out Cheryl spoke to Albert on the phone and didn’t pass on the message. | |||
| Karis asks Nancy for his money back and threatens to tell Albert about their night together. | Blackmail | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Dr Washington treated the schoolchild with malaria. Mama Mboga’s baby boy (Joni) is ill but the doctor refuses to treat a baby after hours. He is going to play cards. | Malaria and medicine | ||
| Part ii): | Baraka, Jonathan and Dr Washington arrive at Mabuki’s bar. Karis tells Peggy to spike the others’ drinks. | Spiking of drinks, dodgy deals | Citizenship 1.2 |
| Albert catches Snake playing a prank. | |||
| Dr Washington accuses Karis of cheating. Peggy is holding the money. | |||
| Albert tells the barbers of his plan to catch Snake. He finds out the man and woman who used to live in the house died of Aids. The mystery is solved. | HIV AIDS | ||
| Rose finds Jonathan playing cards and tells him off. | Drinking and gambling | ||
| Snake‘s hand gets caught in a mouse trap. Albert’s plan worked. | Justice! | ||
| Nancy confronts Cheryl. They fight in the marketplace. The barbers break them up. |
Episode 7: Too Little Too Late
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Mama Mboga’s son is getting sicker. She thinks it’s malaria but they have no money for treatment because Erasmus spent it all on drink, and he sleeps under the only mosquito net. | Malaria Malaria and poverty Poverty and alcohol Malaria prevention Status of men, women and children in families | Geography 1.7 Science 1.2 |
| Red asks Maspeedy to deliver a love letter to PP. He takes it reluctantly. Rose wants to increase her milk order. As Maspeedy cycles off, Red’s letter falls out of his pocket and Rose picks it up. | Adolescence and privacy | ||
| Mma Mboga visits Erasmus at the school and he finally gives her money for Joni’s treatment. She takes him to Doctor Washington who tests for malaria. | |||
| Part ii): | Albert is at the barbers and hears about Nancy and Cheryl’s fight. Later, he overhears Karis and Nancy talking. He confronts Nancy but she denies anything happened. | Secrecy in relationships | |
| Albert has contacted the owners of the ‘haunted’ house and is moving to Makutano permanently. | |||
| Joni does have malaria. Dr Washington prescribes chloroquine, which isn’t the most effective treatment, but Mama Mboga can’t afford the new expensive drugs. His condition gets worse and Mama Mboga goes to find Nancy. | Science 1.2, Geography 1.7 |
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| Dr Washington asks Peggy to reveal how Karis wins at cards. He promises better medicine for Joni if she tells him. | Access to medicines | Science 1.2 Geography 1.7 |
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| Maspeedy takes Mama Mboga to the hospital. | Adolescence and parents | ||
| Rose confronts Red about the letter. She doesn’t approve and grounds Red. Red answers back and Rose slaps her. | Gambling | ||
| Dr Washington challenges Karis to another card game the following night. Red auditions to perform in Mabuki’s bar but Karis says she’s too young and naive to be a pop star. | |||
| There’s a long queue for treatment at the hospital. Nancy threatens the nurse and gets moved forward in the queue but Joni is already dead. | Inadequate healthcare – long waits | Global Dimension |
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| Erasmus is drunk. Maspeedy tells him about Joni and he is distraught. | Alcoholism | ||
| Albert confronts Karis and hits him! Red runs to find Nancy. | Relationships – jealousy | ||
| Joni’s funeral. Mama Mboga blames herself for not getting him treated in time. | Importance of early treatment and diagnosis | ||
| Nancy runs into the bar and sees Albert and Karis fighting. |
Episode 8: Explanations
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i) | Baraka’s maize yield is lower than expected. | Farming – poor harvest | Geography 1.4 |
| Nancy finds her pharmacy closed. Dr Washington gloats. | |||
| Maspeedy is milking. Baraka has 25 fewer bags of maize than expected. Bernadette blames Maspeedy and says he will have to be sacked to save money. | Economising – job cuts | ||
| Nancy tries to explain to Albert. | |||
| Red wants to spend time with PP but PP’s worried about his exams. Red accuses him of being scared of his father. Maspeedy comes along crying. PP promises to talk to Baraka. | Adolescence – education vs socialising | ||
| Albert calls Nancy a prostitute. He’s worried about STDs. Nancy says she and Karis used a condom. | Infidelity and safe sex | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.4 |
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| PP tries to convince his father to let Maspeedy stay. Baraka accuses him of being spoilt. | |||
| Nancy tells Albert she slept with Karis because she felt unwanted. | |||
| Part ii) | Margaret and Mama Mboga discuss a mobile phone sharing scheme where they buy airtime. | Business idea | |
| Albert doesn’t know if he can forgive Nancy; he needs time to think. | |||
| Nancy tells Mama Maboga about the importance of mosquito nets. | Malaria prevention | ||
| PP tells Maspeedy the bad news. Albert offers to help. It could be stalk borer that’s destroying the maize. | Growing maize | Geography 1.4 |
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| Dr Washington gives Peggy money. He plans to beat Karis at his own game. | Bribery | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Mosquito net demonstration in the market. Treated mosquito nets are much more effective. They’re very expensive but Mama Mboga buys enough for her whole family. | Malaria prevention and awareness | ||
| Albert confirms it is stalk borer. Baraka must plant napier (?) around the maize to kill them. Baraka apologises for doubting Maspeedy. | Growing maize and pest control | Geography 1.4 |
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| Mama Mboga’s daughter Mary comes home from school early because she has started her period. | Adolescence and puberty | ||
| Dr Washington raises the stakes in the card game. | |||
| Albert is on the phone asking for money. Baraka gives him money to thank him for the maize advice. | |||
| Maspeedy gets back to work. | |||
| Albert tells Karis to ‘get out of our lives’. Pays Karis to unlock Nancy’s pharmacy. Karis finds out Peggy accepted a bribe from Dr Washington. Dr Washington wins the card game. | More blackmail/bribery | Citizenship 1.2 |
Episode 9: Cooking the Books
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Jonathan cooks Rose breakfast. The bookshop accounts are doing well. Rose asks Jonathan to talk to Red about sex and contraception. | Safe sex and adolescence | |
| MaSpeedy asks Albert to help him with a sick donkey. | Farming – animal welfare | ||
| Jonathan asks Rose to give him the book contract for the school. She says it’s up to the school committee. Her loyalty to her family/job is questioned. | Professional v family responsibilities | ||
| Karis’s cheque to Dr Washington bounced. Karis is also bidding for the school book contract under a false name. Washington wants his money by tomorrow, or he’ll tell the police about Karis. | Money problems and blackmail | ||
| Albert’s reopened the pharmacy as a surprise for Nancy. | |||
| Albert says the donkey needs drugs, and fresh fruit. | Animal welfare | ||
| Erasmus is drunk again. Rose finds him and sends him back to class. Children make fun of him, including Diana Baraka. | Alcoholism at work | Citizenship 1.3 |
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| Karis asks Winston for money. Winston refuses; Karis needs to learn the meaning of hard work. | Earning money legally | ||
| Mama Mboga tells Rose about Mary’s period. They agree the school should do more to prepare children for adolescence. | Sex education and puberty | ||
| Part ii): | Erasmus shuts Diana in a cupboard in anger. | Alcoholism, capital punishment | |
| The committee meet to discuss the book bid. Rose doesn’t vote for Jonathan as there’s a personal connection. | Professional accountability | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Nancy and Albert make up. | |||
| Priscilla lends Karis money behind Winston’s back. | Family deception | ||
| The committee encourage parents to visit the school and play a part in their children’s education. Bernadette interrupts the meeting to say Diana is missing. | Community participation in education | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Mama Mboga reveals that Erasmus put Diana in the cupboard. Rose sacks him. | Consequences of alcoholism | ||
| Winston confronts Karis about entering the book bid illegally. | |||
| Erasmus threatens Mama Mboga. | Domestic violence | ||
| The donkey is better. Maspeedy names her Bernadette! | |||
| Albert encourages Nancy to apply for a medical scholarship to the States. | Further education – high aspirations | ||
| Karis sneaks into his father’s office and steals some title deeds. | Dodgy dealings | Citizenship 1.2 |
Episode 10: Joining Forces
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Dr Washington is looking for Karis. He wants his money. Priscilla is also looking for him. A band is setting up for a concert in Mabuki’s bar tonight. | ||
| Nancy is trying to decide whether to apply for the scholarship. She feels loyalty to Makutano. Dr Washington accuses Nancy of marking down drug prices to steal his business. Albert asks him to leave. | Further education vs community loyalty. Competition in business | ||
| Rose decides to give the school secretary a supply of sanitary pads and to build some extra toilets for the girls. She will also organise classes for the children to educate them about puberty. | Puberty – education | ||
| Red is helping Jonathan in the bookshop because she’s grounded. She manages to convince him into letting her leave for a while. | Parents spoiling children | ||
| Erasmus asks Mama Mpima to give him liquor on credit. She refuses and sends him away. | Alcoholism and debt | ||
| Maspeedy thinks men at the bar are trying to abduct Red and goes to find PP. | |||
| Rose wants to take Jonathan on a romantic night out. He says they’re too old. | Relationships – romance | ||
| PP and Maspeedy go to the bar. It turns out Red’s going to perform with the band at Mabuki’s bar. | |||
| Erasmus takes all Mama Mboga’s money. She and the other market women plan to destroy the liquor shop. | Domestic violence and money | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Part ii): | Erasmus is drinking at Mama Pima’s. The market women arrive and chase everyone away. | Alcohol and the community | |
| Red is shopping for stage clothes. PP doesn’t like her flaunting herself. | Adolescence and fashion | ||
| Nancy and Mama Mboga find Snake’s money. Nancy tells her to keep it and they don’t say anything. Nancy decides to set up a women’s group to improve things in Makutano. They want to set up a new medical centre. Snake tells Karis of the women’s plans. Dr Washington arrives with policeman but Karis distracts Washington with news of the medical centre. | Women in power and women’s rights Evading justice |
Citizenship 2.2 |
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| Rose and Jonathan are out at Mabuki’s bar. So are Albert and Nancy. Albert tells Nancy to collect signatures for the medical centre proposal. | Community participation – petitions | Citizenship 1.1, 2.2 |
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| Karis tells Washington of his plans to set up a motel on the land that the women want for the medical centre. He convinces Washington to join forces with him to stop the women’s medical centre. | Jobs vs healthcare |
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| Red is performing. Jonathan is proud but Rose still disapproves. |
Episode 11: The Choice
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | Snake threatens a market woman and tells her not to sign the petition for the medical centre. | Blackmail | Citizenship 1.2 |
| Washington and Karis put forward their proposal to the chief of Makutano. The bribe him with free use of all facilities once the motel is built. | Bribing the authorities | Citizenship 1.1 |
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| Rose says Red can sing, but tells her off for lying. She doesn’t want her to get hurt. She tries to talk to Red about boys; ‘you can always say no’. PP is invited in to meet the parents! | Red’s relationship and her parents | ||
| Mama Mboga hasn’t seen her husband since the liquor shop incident. She had a nightmare that he was back. She asks Albert ensure he has left for good. Albert agrees but refuses to take her money. | Helping neighbours | Citizenship 2.3 |
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| PP is having tea with Red’s parents. He’s very nervous! They allow him to take Red out. | Red’s relationship and her parents | ||
| Nancy and Mama Mboga put forward their proposal for the medical centre to the chief. They say they can get money from the government to cover some of the costs. | Legal campaigning. Government funding. | Citizenship 1.1 |
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| Karis offers the barbers premises in the motel complex if they convince the community to back the bid. | Bribery | Citizenship 1.1 |
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| Part ii): | Nancy tries to convince the hairdressers to sign her petition. | Jobs vs healthcare | Citizenship 1.1, 1.2 |
| Albert looks for Erasmus. Finds his shoe and wallet. | |||
| K plans to blackmail Nancy so that she pulls out of the bid. He asks Snake to threaten Leonard, but not to hurt him. | Blackmail | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Baraka plans to spray his crops with pesticides but Albert explains the dangers of using chemicals. He suggests crop rotation. | Environmentally-friendly pest control | ||
| Red tells PP she’s not ready for sex – at least not in a field! She tells PP to find somewhere private and comfortable. | Adolescence and sex | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.4, 2.2 |
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| Snake goes to Leonard’s house and threatens him. He pushes Leonard, who bangs his head and falls to the floor. Snake flees, frightened. | Violence | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.4, 2.2 |
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| Dr Washington pronounces Leonard dead. Nancy is devastated and says that proves the need for a medical centre. | Bereavement |
Episode 12: Betrayal
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | A week after the funeral, Nancy is clearing out her father’s things. Albert brings her food but she’s not hungry. The bank is going to loan them the money for the medical centre. Albert encourages her to leave the house and tells her the women’s group want Nancy as her leader. | Coping with bereavement Women leaders | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.1,1.4 |
| Karis and Washington have lost the bid. Karis is looking for more land but Washington wants nothing more to do with it. Washington wants to refuse to treat the women who signed Nancy’s petition. Karis writes Dr Washington a cheque for the money he owes him. | Money-lending and dodgy deals | PSHE (economic wellbeing) 1.4, 2.4 |
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| Nancy finds a letter from Leonard to her mother, Rita, telling her about Nancy and what an amazing woman she’s grown into. She decides to leave the house. | |||
| Snake tells Karis he’s being questioned about Leonard’s death. Says he’ll take Karis down with him unless he drives him to Ugandan border. Karis tells him to pack a bag and meet him later. | Running away from the law | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Bernadette the donkey is doing well. Albert brings Maspeedy a pannier to help her carry things. | Efficient deliveries | ||
| Snake is arrested! Karis has framed him. | Betrayal | ||
| Winston discovers Karis has stolen the title deeds. Priscilla professes innocence. | Family loyalty | ||
| Maspeedy has started delivering milk using the panniers. It’s much easier. | |||
| The women’s group are discussing vegetables. Nancy joins them, and tells them about the bank loan. The women are excited but Nancy suddenly rushes off to be sick. | Women’s group | PSHE (economic wellbeing) 1.4, 2.4 |
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| Part ii) | Winston talks to the chief about the title deeds, and says he suspects Karis. | Family loyalty and the law | |
| Nancy is pregnant! She tells Maspeedy not to tell anyone. Albert doesn’t know; he has told Nancy that he doesn’t want children yet. | Pregnancy | ||
| Winston talks to Karis. He is disappointed in his son but now says he agrees to the casino idea. Then he confronts him and sends him to the police, who take him to the cells. | Family loyalty and justice | ||
| Maspeedy tells Big Sharon that Nancy’s pregnant. The two Sharons tell the barbers but not Albert. | Gossip | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Karis joins Snake in the cells. Snake hits him and Karis falls to the floor. Snake calls for help and escapes as the guards rush in. | Fleeing the law | Citizenship 1.2 |
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| Albert receives gifts for Nancy from Cheryl and Mama Mboga. He is getting suspicious. | Secrets in relationships | ||
| Maspeedy has delivered the milk in record time thanks to the panniers. | Efficient deliveries | ||
| Albert tells Nancy he knows about the pregnancy... and is delighted! | Pregnancy |
Episode 13: New Beginnings
| Storyline | Issues/Themes | Activities/Curriculum | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Part i): | PP’s dad is practising his speech for the function. PP asks if he can go to the singing rehearsal but Bernadette sends him to work. | Adolescence – work vs music | |
| Rose does not like Red’s revealing clothes. She says they’re not appropriate for the function as she is performing for older people, but says it’s Red’s decision. | Adolescence and appearance | ||
| Karis is still in prison. He confesses to the chief and offers him a bribe. The chief is outraged. Karis then offers to do community service. He begs not to go to court. The chief tells him to find his father and ask for forgiveness, and sets him free. | Bribery | PSHE (economic wellbeing) 1.4, 2.4 |
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| PP is worried about his schoolwork and doesn’t want to help Maspeedy save the cow from being sold at auction. | Exam pressure | ||
| The pool hall has been turned into an Internet cafe in K’s absence. Mama Mboga and Albert are running it. Albert tells Mama Mboga not to be rude to the customers. It’s very different from running a market stall. | Local business | ||
| Albert and Nancy discuss malaria. Pregnant women are more likely to catch it, and risk low birth weight or death of baby. She must be treated twice with a prophylactic during pregnancy and sleep under a treated net. | Malaria and pregnancy | ||
| Karis enters the Internet cafe, confused. | |||
| Maspeedy is with the cow and sees the bed PP has made in the field. | |||
| PP finds Red in the internet cafe. PP says they were supposed to have sex but she wants time to herself. Red denies they ever made plans to sleep together. | Adolescence and sex | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.4 |
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| Bernadette is looking for Maspeedy. She asked him to deliver the cow to the function but he is hiding. He’s worried he’ll lose his job. | Animal welfare | ||
| PP is embarrassed about buying condoms from Nancy. He is trying to find an excuse. In the end he’s too nervous and buys cotton wool instead. Winston and Karis watch. | Safe sex | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.4 |
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| Part ii): | Albert is becoming the town consultant. He explains Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It’s economical and doesn’t use dangerous chemicals. | Eco-friendly pest control | Geography 1.6 |
| PP asks the barbers about condoms. They tell him not to be embarrassed. They give him one but it’s expired, so tell him he musn’t use it. | Condom use | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.4, 2.2 |
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| Winston and Karis have made up. Karis feels sorry for PP and gives him some condoms. | |||
| Red asks Cheryl about sex. She tells her she doesn’t have to go all the way if she’s scared. Cheryl gives Red a condom. | Women and sex | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.4, 2.2 |
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| PP finds Maspeedy sleeping and tells him the whole town is looking for him. | |||
| Function. Baraka is giving a very long speech. Some people are bored. Bernadette the cow is going to be auctioned off to raise money for the Health Centre. | Community events | Citizenship 2.3 |
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| PP has missed his rehearsal with Red. Now they have to perform without a rehearsal. | |||
| Winston explains to Karis that he now owns the old pool room and is renting it out as an Internet cafe. When Karis has paid off his debt Winston will reconsider. Winston is going to extend Albert’s tenancy. Karis still has his job at the bar. Winston is planning to stand for the local elections. Cheryl goes to the bar and sits down for a drink with Karis. They kiss. | Earning approval. Local elections | Citizenship 1.1 |
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| Red and PP sing at the auction. Red is wearing more suitable clothes. Nancy buys the song for 5000 shilings. When they’ve finished, PP and Red run off. | |||
| The chief auctions off the cow. Maspeedy bids 30 000 shillings by mistake. Bernadette and Baraka will have to pay for their own cow! | |||
| Red and PP are in the field. Red is worried that sex will hurt. They agree to take it slowly. | Adolescence and sex | PSHE (personal wellbeing) 1.2, 1.4, 2.2 |
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| Everyone is dancing at the function. | |||
| Peggy needs to talk to Mama Mboga. She’s pregnant. | Pregnancy | ||
| There’s a fire in the pharmacy. Nancy rushes in and someone (Snake?) locks her in!! | Arson | Citizenship 1.2 |