PART 1

"NGONO AND HER PEOPLE" - Credits. "MISSIONARIES AND NATIVE AFRICANS AS ACTORS - CHARACTERS FICTITIOUS - STORY BASED ON FACT". "THE AFRICAN FOREST VILLAGE OF METRET - ELDERS NEGOTIATE OVER THE BRIDE PRICE FOR NGONO, WITH NGELE" a chief of the neighboring village (village scene). "A BAG OF PALM KERNELS AND A LITTLE CLOTH - NOT ENOUGH". If a goat were added! - Goat dragged it, and it is agreed. "YOU MAY TAKE NGONO WITH YOU". She is dragged away screaming. "ACCORDING TO THE CUSTOM THE SENIOR WIFE IS IN CHARGE IF THE CHILD BRIDE". Hoeing the garden. Ngono stops working for a rest and is beaten by the senior wife, who is bad tempered because it is noted that "NOW SHE IS ONLY A NURSEMAID FOR A CHILD WIFE". The chief playing a game is disturbed by his senior wife, but he doesn't want to know, so she beats Ngono with branches. Ngono goes back to hoeing and then leaves to get a drink as Western visitors arrive. One of the visitors sees the marks on the beating on Ngono and decides to take her with them to the mission for medical care. After she is bandaged, Ngono pleads "PLEASE DON'T SEND ME BACK!" The missionaries confer. "IF WE ANGER NGELE, IT MAY HINDER OUR WORK IN HIS DISTRICT. COULDN'T THE MISSION REFUND THE BRIDE PRICE".

PART 2

A deal is made with Ngele who is paid in cash. "NGONO FOUND LIFE AT THE BOARDING SCHOOL VERY DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE COMPOUND". "IN THE MISSION SCHOOL GARDEN". Ngono takes a break from hoeing and when a woman arrives expects to be beaten. "DON'T BE AFRAID, WE HAVE TIME FOR REST AND PLAY AS WELL AS WORK". Games, dancing, lessons. Ngono completes school and decides to become a nurse. A government employee, Eman, arrives and wants to take Ngono as his bride and offers to repay the Mission. But she only wants to spread the word of god and will only marry a missionary or teacher. Eman goes to see Ngele whose son Nsim is possessed by an evil spirit. "NSIM IS MADE SICK BY FEAR OF AN EVIL SPIRIT, NOT BY THE SPIRIT ITSELF". Eman tells them that if they believe in god, then god may save his son. "I MUST GO NOW BUT I SHALL RETURN"

PART 3

Eman and Ngono meet under a tree. "WHEN NGELE ASKED ME TO STAY, I KNEW THAT I TOO OWED A DEBT TO OUR FATHER GOD. THE MISSION HAS AGREED TO LET ME TEACH NGELE'S VILLAGE". If we can marry "WE CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR THE TRIBE OF GOD". They marry at the mission and then go to the village. Eman talks to Nsim "BUT THE FEAR OF EVIL SPIRITS WAS HARD TO UPROOT. EMAN PRAYS FOR NSIM - BUT AS THE TIME OF THE NEW MOON DRAWS NEAR NSIM WAS TORN BETWEEN FEAR AND FAITH". Nsim has a fit and faints. Eman and Ngono comfort the family. When Nsim comes round, he announces "OUR FATHER GOD HAS SAVED ME". - "HAVING WON THE FAITH OF THE VILLAGERS EMAN AND NGONO CONTINUE WITH THE CHOSEN WORK". Some months later Ngono has a school and Ngele's wives still quarrel. "MEANWHILE EMAN HAS ESTABLISHED A CHURCH". Hymn singing, and Eman and Ngono continue to do religious work, "ONE COUPLE FROM ONE MISSION SCHOOL".