Screenplay for Inanna Episode One - Ninshubar's Love Song.

INANNA - NINSHUBAR'S LOVE SONG by John Joyce Baker

*Note:  Ninshubar's song is set to the melody of "Pilot of the Airwaves" by Charlie Dore.

(Ninshubar is seated in a garden, writing on a wax tablet.  She picks up a lute and plays while singing).

NINSHUBAR:  Goddess of the Orchard, here is my request / You don't have to share it, but I hope you'll do your best / I've been sampling all your yield in the golden field / And your bounty tastes good to me.

(Inanna skips up to Ninshubar with a jumprope).

INANNA:  Hey, Ninzy!  What'cha playing?

NINSHUBAR:  (Sighs) Oh, just a melody I've written for a friend...

INANNA:  What kind of friend?  I didn't know you have friends.

NINSHUBAR:  Well, believe it or not, not all my time is spent chasing you around.

(Inanna snatches up the wax tablet).

NINSHUBAR:  What are you doing?

INANNA:  Proofreading!  "Orchard... yield... golden field... tastes good?"  Oh, this sounds juicy!

NINSHUBAR:  "Juicy?"  This is not some vulgar tavern song that you like singing.

INANNA:  Oh, I know!  This is too lovey dovey!  Wait... I know who this is for!

(Inanna jumps up with the wax tablet and runs out of the garden).

NINSHUBAR:  Wait!  Come back here!  That is private!

(Ninshubar chases after Inanna).

(In the royal orchard, Nikkal - a young fruit picker - plucks figs from a tree supported by a ladder.  She places the figs into a basket and descends from the ladder.  Inanna rushes up to her).

NIKKAL:  Nonny!  Be careful!  What's that you're holding?

INANNA:  A love letter!  From a secret admirer!

(Inanna hands the tablet to Nikkal.  Nikkal takes it and examines it).

NIKKAL:  Is this supposed to be music?

INANNA:  Mm-hmm!

NIKKAL:  Well, I'm afraid I can't read music.  Who--

(Ninshubar rushes up to the two young women).

NINSHUBAR:  Nonny!  Haven't I told you that stealing is...

(Ninshubar sees Nikkal holding the tablet).

NINSHUBAR:  Oh, dear.

NIKKAL:  Did you write this?

NINSHUBAR:  Well... I...

INANNA:  She sure did!  It's a LOVE song.

NIKKAL:  Can I hear it?

NINSHUBAR:  You... I don't know.  It's a bit private.

NIKKAL:  There's no one else around.  This is as private as it gets.  Play it!

INANNA:  Come on, secret admirer!

(Inanna holds out the tablet in a music stand position.  Ninshubar takes her lute and plays it as she sings).

NINSHUBAR:  At the dawn, I see you ascend a tree / Up to the budding branch / Nearing dusk you slide down with your gain / Cradled like a newborn babe / Ooh, your smile it radiates / Oo-ooh, Stride through the orchard gate / With your comely face / You look so comely to me!

(Ninshubar goes down to one knee).

NINSHUBAR:  Goddess of the Orchard, please hear my request / You don't have to share it but I hope you'll do your best / I've been sampling all your yield in the golden field / And your bounty tastes good to me.

(Ninshubar rises).

NINSHUBAR:  And that's all I have right now.

INANNA:  Isn't she great?

NIKKAL:  And that was for me?

NINSHUBAR:  Um... yes.

INANNA:  She's not supposed to write songs like that.  She took a vow of celibacy!

NIKKAL:  Did you now?  So you're a little rebellious?

NINSHUBAR:  I wouldn't go that far.

NIKKAL:  I like rebels.

(Nikkal walks over to Ninshubar and kisses her lightly on the cheek).

NIKKAL:  And what you sang was really sweet.

NINSHUBAR:  Ah... well... thank you.

INANNA:  You two wanna hear me sing about my vulva?

NINSHUBAR AND NIKKAL:  NO!

- JJB