Opener  00:08-00:11

00:11-00:18

00:18-00:31

00:31-00:38

One day she’s a child. The next she’s a wife.

UPSOT HERE OF BEEZLY SOBBING UNCONTROLLABLY TO TEASE IT FOR LATER???

That’s the reality for one in three girls in Bangladesh. At best they lose their childhood and a chance for education.

At worst they face dangerous child birth, violence and virtual slavery.

I’m Steve Chao. On this episode of 101 East, we enter the world of Bangladesh’s child brides

Scene setters of Bangladesh…

00:50-00:57

1:05-1:12

Day 1 Clip 1-7, Clip 10/11

1:22-1:30

 farmers working in the field sequence

Day 1 Clip 168 farmer shoveling on the ground in the fields

A time of plenty, a time for .. marriage..

But, but, but….

school shots, children walking

Two shot in the classroom.

CAN WE USE ANY OF THE CLASSROOM PIX ANYWHERE?

This is one of Bangladesh’s poorest regions. More than half the population live below the poverty line.

But right now it’s harvest-time.

A time of plenty,

A time ... for marriage.

But And all too often the brides come from here--the local school---young girls…. like Beezly.

Interview with Beezly about being a doctor

Beezly Day 9 Clip #49

1:31-1:47

I want to be so many things when I grow up. I want to be a doctor so I can help people. I want to study i want to become someone big when i grow up.

1:50-2:06

day 9 clip 41 00:00-00:09 (Tania)

day 9 clip 44, 45 00:00-00:12 (beezly quiet)

day 9 clip 57-clip 61 chalkboard

But today is her last day of childhood.

Tomorrow, Beezly is marrying an older man that she has met only once.

Her groom is 25.

Beezley is just 13.

Under Bangladeshi law, the wedding will be illegal.

2:07-2:27

Clip 46 00:23-00:41

clip  46 01:00-01:05

I didn’t want this wedding. I agreed under one condition that I would continue my studies after marriage. They are marrying me off forcefully.

2:30-2:35

2:36-2:41

2:42-2:52

2:53-3:00

3:01-3:09

3:15-3:17

Start of the pre-ceremony

(cutting up vegetables etc? grandmother helping her put on sari, undo hair)

day 9

3:30-3:41

3:47-3:50

clip 72: 11.37.45 - MS, father of bride wringing girl bride’s hands to put on bracelet/ pan - WS, girl and man surrounded by people

clip 94- 11.49.27 - MS, woman shows sari, pan to her putting it on girl bride

clip 95- 11.51.12 - MS, girl bride and woman interact

clip 96- 11.51.36 - MS, woman de-braids her hair and puts it into a bun

clip 107- 11.56.11 - MS, girl bride looking into mirror, woman helping

clip 189 (lots of sad pix of Beezly with Tania and also closeups of her

When she gets home from school the preparations for her wedding have already begun.

Beezly’s father has saved up enough money for a dowry to pay the groom’s family.

Because of this tradition, girls in Bangladesh are seen as a burden - no matter whether the families are Muslim - like most of the population here - or Hindu like Beezly’s family.

For Hindus, marriage is full of rituals -

the first of these symbolises her future as a married woman..

Beezley grimaces as bangles are forced over her wrists….

Binding her to her future husband forever.

Then, Beezly’s school uniform is traded in for her first sari. This marks her as a woman ----even though she’s still just a young girl.

The last step is to unbraid her hair and tie it in a traditional knot.. the symbol of a Bengali bride.

Her transformation is complete.

3:57-4:08

As everyone prepares for the festivities, I sit with Beezly and sense her helplessness...it’s hard to know what to say..

UPSOT- short silence

Beezly SOT

4:12-4:22

clip 178- 12.35.09 - CS, Tania talking to child bride about her wedding, her feelings (3)

SOT

Does anyone want to leave their parents house? No one wants to do that. But they’re forcing me. What can I do - they are forcing me.

Tania PTC

clip 194

4:23-4:45

PTC

She’s shaking and she’s terrified and she has no idea what’s going on around her. She has no control over the situation. A bride is supposed to be the central theme for any ceremony like this but for the first time what i’m seeing is her being the last person being asked about anything.

4:46-4:57

Outside, her aunt grinds tumeric into a paste.

It will be rubbed onto Beezly’s skin so she glows at her wedding tomorrow.

5:00-5:09

UPSOT ULLULATING

5:10-5:23

5:23-5:31

5:31-5:41

Then, her aunts  bless her with oil and water.

Village elders only gave the go-ahead for Beezly to marry one day ago.. she didn’t have time to tell her friends at school.

She’s playing the role that’s expected of her in Bangladeshi society.. maintaining family honour by, marrying young.

The whole community is here

but no one seems concerned about what Beezly wants..

...or that her marriage will be against the law.

5:51-5:57

5:57-6:07

6:07-6:24

Music under Beezly looking reflective

GVs  Thought track- Tania wandering

clip 135- 21.55.47- MS, pensive Tania sitting in field (4)

clip 140- 21.58.51- MS, pensive Tania sitting in field, sun setting, silhouette (2)

clip 141- 21.58.57- MS, pensive Tania sitting in field, sun setting, silhouette (3)

Cultural mindset… 

On the morning of Beezly’s wedding, I can’t help but think how familiar this feels.

I spent a large part of my childhood in Bangladesh and was nearly forced to get married at the age of 16. My grandmother was married when she was just 10 in a village like this one..

I want to understand why this keeps happening.. generation after generation.. and if there’s any hope for girls like Beezly who would rather make their own choices, like I did.

Transition???

MUSIC / traffic

6:26-6:40

6:40-6:46

context on Bangladesh

clip 94- 18.32.48- garment workers walking

clip 95- 18.33.23- garment workers enter building (2)

clip 96-18.33.46- pedestrian foot traffic

clip 97- 18.34.10- garment workers exit building

There are organisations who are trying to stop child marriage since it was outlawed in the eighties.   But today, Bangladesh still has the highest rate of child marriage in Asia.

The laws are hard to enforce… Families defy the ban by making fake birth certificates.

Senait Gebregziabher

Cut the part ‘as I said to you first of all’

6:46-7:10

It’s illegal...but as I said to you first of all, who knows the child’s age?  Her birth registration is not happening, yeah, so you can’t take them to the law or to the court or anything because you cannot prove the age of the child...so there is no way that the government can take action

Office shots- includes tight shots of Gebregziabher face and wide from the door

7:10-7:20

Senait Gebre---gziabher works for Plan International, an NGO which is working to keep girls in school.  But they are fighting against strong cultural beliefs.

Senait Gebregziabher … expert from plan international.

7:20-7:40

They do it from all over… most places in Bangladesh..  and It has societal implication as well. Because you know, if one child does not get married at the early age society talks about it… why she is not getting married.

Transition - Majeda in village

7:42-7:57

Experts like Senait say a government proposal to lower the legal marriage age from 18 to 16  will be a disaster for many more  Bangladeshi girls..

 girls like Majeda who lives in a remote village in the country’s north.

Majeda and Tania in the car

7:57-8:04

8:04-8:15

(Also a ptc in there)

Majeda is only 13 and was forced to marry last year.

 She can’t talk openly in front of her husband, but after a great deal of persuasion, he gives permission for us to go for a drive,

Majeda grab (VOICE OVER THIS GRAB)

8:15-8:29

End of Clip #106, Day 3

Majeda and Tania in car

I grew up and worked in my uncle’s house because my parents were too poor to afford me, then after he died my parents married me off, i studied till the second grade.

8:30-8:43

Walking to the tree (Majeda smiling), Tania and Majeda sitting down, shots of them together under the tree

The further we go from her home, the more happy Majeda seems.

But when she talks about life with her husband, she can’t look me in the eye.

Majeda SOT: Day 3, Clip #116

8:43-9:01

GET MAJEDA TALKING

I didn’t feel good getting married. I thought, how am I going to live with this man? Then 3 months later.. I realised I have to stay here, I have to stay at my husband’s house for the rest of my life.

9:02-9:10

Majeda is already a mother to a little boy.

Doctors told her she’s malnourished and is too young to deal with a baby.

Majeda

9:10-9:45

It’s hard.  I’m learning how to be a mother. Having a kid is so tough.  The baby eats…but my milk isn’t enough. the baby cries..  When i was giving birth, the doctor wanted to do a c section but my husband said no. The doctor said I was married so young how can I even have the baby? I had nothing in my body.

9:46-9:52

…

At home, there are other problems.

Majeda says she feels like a slave..

Majeda SOT: Day 3, Clip

9:52-10:11

CUT THE TOP OF THIS SOT

When he wants it, I have to listen to him. i can’t disobey. When he wants sex i have to give it to him. I tell him i don’t like it. then he says if you stay in my house you have to give it to me. He comes grabs me all of a sudden when I’m sleeping, then he attacks me.

Foreground shot of hubby combing hair

10:13-10:19

Majeda says her husband is often violent and beat her when she was pregnant.

Majeda SOT: Day 3, Clip #116

10:19-10:27

He beats me with his hands on my back. ..

When he beats me, I feel sad.

10:29-10:38

But there’s little sympathy here for girls like Majeda..

One of the village elders tells me, girls should be married young, for their own protection.

Village elder  day 14 clip

10:38-11:02

Getting a girl married young is a good thing. Even if they die, at least they are married.  It’s also a good thing because some run away.  They leave the house and mix with boys.  How do we stop this problem?   Marry them off at an early age.

11:03-11:08

11:08-11:13

11:13-11:19

11:19-11:26

11:26-11:34

Child brides aren’t just at risk of domestic violence.

Pregnancy and childbirth can cause significant damage to their undeveloped bodies.

Dr Beatrice Berger is a doctor at Bangladesh’s only clinic dealing with fistula…

a complication during birth that causes the reproductive organs, rectum and bladder to split.

The condition leaves young women incontinent, and in pain .. living as outcasts in their community.

11:34-11:47

it’s really hard to live near a patient who’s really full of urine. It’s like we wilter when we see them it’s like honestly, when we see them, it’s really hard to tolerate the smell. 

The worst case is that they die. I mean many are dying

11:47-11:53

VO: Anjuara is one of Dr Berger’s patients she’s been suffering fistula for 9 years

11:53-12:15

People would cover their faces as I walked by. I felt so bad. I felt so alone.

People said all kinds of things about me.

For that reason I went through a lot, these last 9 years.

And after all my struggles, I ended up here.

Dr Beatrice talking to Anjuara

12:15-12:21

UPSOT:

You have no trouble eating? You’re not feeling nauseous are you?

12:21-12:30

UPSOT: Dr Beatrice: You got married after the 5th grade right? Then you were about 13-14 when you had 2 pregnancies?

12:30-12:35

Dr Beatrice talking to Anjuara or other shots?

Anjuara’s just had an operation that will stop her living a life of shame.

Dr Beatrice

12:35-12:53

It’s very amazing to have the chance to help them in this situation, to see them when they are dry.

She got operated yesterday and after many years, she spent a dry night.  That’s so amazing for her.

12:53-12:59

It’s too late for Anjuara’s marriage though. Her husband left her and married someone else.

Transition

13:05-13:20

In these villages, girls like Anjuara can lose their childhood in a blink of the eye.

But one young man KESHAB ROY  is on a mission to stop girls from being married off so early.

13:20-13:26

13:28-13:37

He takes his message door to door.

Today, he’s visiting a family who are planning to marry off their 13 year old daughter.

With him, is a group of boys, who Keshab is training to prevent child marriages.. He thinks that’s the best way to create change in the next generation.

13:37-13:41

13:44-13:48

13:48-13:53

13:54-13:58

13:58-14:00

Keshab: i heard you were going to marry Shanu off?

Mom: She’s old enough (says off camera so will need to be overlaid)

Keshab: Even if she is old enough. How old is she? She’s taking her exams in the 8th grade.  She’s taking her exam, she’s not old enough to get married.

04:49:09:03 Kids in his group say: She’s not old enough…

Keshab: No, she’s not old enough. She’s 12-13 years old. I don’t want you to marry her off. I’m going to put a stop to it.

Are you going to marry her off or not? Please talk to us.

Mom: I’m going to marry her off

Keshab: so you’re going to marry her off?

Mom: Yes

14:00-14:07

14:08-14:14

14:14-14:17

14:17-14:25

Keshab:

She’s 12-13 years old. We are here to stop the marriage

Please don’t try to marry her off. If you make arrangements, we will prevent and try to break it.

Mom: If it makes sense to take her to school then we will, but if not...

Keshab: you will marry her off?

Mom: yes, marry her off.

Everyone Everyone take my  mobile number…and let me know as soon as this marriage is going to happen and I will make sure I break it

14:25-14:29

VO: Keshab is determined to change her mind.

14:29-14:34

14:34-14:35

14:35-14:39

We want what’s best for you, not what’s bad for you. Everyone wants your daughter to be educated.

Mom: She is studying.

Keshab:

No problem then, Shanu will get a job and take care of your family.

14:40-14:46

Tania and Keshab walking

Keshab hopes he’s made a difference, BUT It’s not easy to change long-held cultural beliefs

14:46-14:52

Keshab and Tania walking

It was a tragedy in his own family that drives him to try and stop child marriages.

14:52-15:23

Keshab and Tania SOT

BADRUL PLS REVOICE AND SAY ‘TAKING POISON”

I had a niece who committed suicide by taking poison because her family was forcing her to marry as a child.  She never wanted to marry so young. 

Everyone was screaming when we took her to hospital.  I took her on a rickshaw but halfway down the road she began to choke.

I felt sick.   I keep thinking of her. Why isn’t she here? How many more girls are going to die like this?

** CHANGE THIS LINE

15:24-15:29

Since then, Keshab has stopped dozens of child marriages in his village.

15:30-15:32

15:32-15:36

Keshab: Right now we are going to Ashfia’s house

Ashfia are you home?

Open your door

Asfhia is one of dozens of girls Keshab has saved from child marriage.

15:40-15:44

15:44-15:46

15:46-15:48

15:49-15:51

UPSOT

Tania: Are you doing well?

Ashfia: I’m fine

Tania: Is this your home?

Ashfia is one girl he’s saved.

Tania: Oh there are your books

Asfia Speaks

15:51-16:13

Without him I would be married off at 13.   He came to my house and asked my parents why they are they doing this?  I told them i want to study and do something for my community.  When my parents knew I could be something big, they understood and my marriage proposal was broken.

BROLL ASFIA

16:13-16:21

When she finishes school,  Ashfia wants to join the police force.

But that still doesn’t impress her mother.

16:21-16:43

Well daughters are expensive.  While she goes to school, I have to buy her books so having a daughter is a problem.  If she had a husband ...there’d be no issue with expenses.  These days, girls have the same rights as boys but i could have gotten rid of the educational expenses if I married her off.

16:43-16:51

Keshab wants to reach even more people with his message and he knows how to draw a crowd

16:51-16:59

UPSOT Clip 249 Keshab back of head on microphone:

Do we want this in our community? Do we want this? No we don’t want it.

Keshab What do we have to do then? We have to prevent it.

16:59-17:13

Tonight, thousands of people have come from all over the area/district to a special film screening he’s organised.

In villages with no access to electricity, TV or entertainment…the audience is hooked.

But

 it’s a fictional film with a message - about the dangers of marrying young.

17:15-17:24

PSOT Day 2, Clip 19—Little girl speaks on video

Brother: I’m going to send you there, there’s a lot of money.. you won’t have to struggle.

Girl I don’t want to go…

Brother: hey girl, you don’t need it but we do.

Girl: I’m not a bad girl what wrong have I done?

Is there another shot we can put in before the drumming starts to help with the transition?

nice nat sot of celebrations before vo

UPSOT - Drumming (AMBIENT NOISE)

17:34-17:39

17:47-17:56

It’s Beezly’s wedding day,  and celebrations are beginning at her groom’s house.

UPSOT: drums/horns music playing (musicians walking into the courtyard?)

This is the man Beezly is marrying

25 year old Shyamol picked 13-year-old Beezly because he says she’s easy to control

17:56-18:05

Shyamol tells me he was offered a lot more dowry money to marry other girls, but he wanted the youngest and most innocent bride.

(less happy nods from Tania)

18:05-18:27

I like her behavior so I picked Beezly.  She’s pure.  Most girls mix with other boys and have relations. I don’t like that.  I’ve had better proposals but i didn’t like the girl’s behavior.  A good girl goes to school and straight home...and that’s it.

18:27-18:35

Beezly dreams of being a doctor and wants to stay at school, but Shyamol seems to have other plans for her.

Shyamal SOT:

18:35-18:56

When I come home she can cool me down and relieve me of my tension.  A good wife takes care of me when I come home from my shop.  She will make me food and get along with my parents.  Then our community will consider her a good wife.

14:09:14:19

UPSOT: music with little girls dancing in front of crowds outside Shyamal’s house

18:59-19:10

19:10-19:17

As the wedding draws closer, Shyamol’s family is in full celebration.

They are looking forward to the arrival of a new bride who can help them with household chores.

I can’t help but feel how different it is from the sombre mood at Beezley’s house yesterday.

Shyamol on the phone

19:17-19:20

19:21-19:31

19:31-19:40

(Shyamal talking on phone)

I don’t want to go another location.

But for Shyamal…. not everything is  going well.

Local authorities have discovered his plans to marry a child.. so they are going to have to hold the ceremony in secret.

It’s a bit demeaning and dishonoring for us. This wedding isn’t not going to be happy or joyous.

Shots of dark road driving to house

19:40-19:53

it’s a bad omen to break the tradition of marrying at the bride’s house… but there’s no choice.

We head to a location where many child weddings take place away from prying eyes.

Beezly getting dressed

19:59-20:07

20:07-20:13

20:31-20:35

20:38-20:41

20:41-20:44

Everyone is racing to get the marriage started.

Beezly is already here.

Her aunts help dress her in her wedding sari.. and transform turn her into a bride.

UPSOT: 14:32:25:28

Beezly seems resigned to her fate.

“She’s ready” aunt says

She’s quiet and sad.

20:50-21:06

Beezly looking sad

DON”T HAVE MUSIC OVER HER LONG PAUSE SO IT”S EVEN MORE EMPTY/STRONG

■        Did you sleep well? 14:36:45:16

■        Just a little. 14:36:48:06

■        How do you feel about seeing your husband? 14:37:06

■        LONG Pause14:37:10

14:38:01 Tania asking questions (counter)

-Shyamol arrives

21:07-21:09

21:20-21:26

21:33-21:34

21:49-21:52

21:58-22:04

Shyamol is also getting dressed.

UPSOT: Put This on

He seems a lot happier than Beezly.

UPSOT: Do it quickly

……………….

Soon When they are both ready - the wedding can begin.

The priest is told to hurry to get the rituals done in case the police come.

22:08-22:20

22:24-22:30

The couple began the day as strangers, now after the ritual of circling a fire 7 times, they are married  - bound together for 7 lifetimes.

(Badrul what are the best ritual shots that we can use here?)

There’s a big sense of relief all round.

Except for Beezly who hangs her head

UPSOT UPSOT: Lets hurry (shemol) 15:50:32:03

closeup of Beezly looking very downcast at 15:50:38:09 (her eyes are closing and opening)

22:37-22:42

As she says goodbye to her parents it all becomes too much.

(Badrul - Let this run more before bring in line about family pulling them apart)

22:42:-22:49

As She sobs in her mother’s arms, Family members pull them apart

22:56-23:01

Beezly collapsing

23:06-23:13

For a 13 year old...this is an overwhelming moment.

UPSOT:

15:56:25: Shemol stand there….(grandma says this)

 15:56:31: Put their hands together!

15:56:39:15 Stand behind her! *mans voice*

During the final blessing, she collapses to the floor.

UPSOT OF BEEZLY CRYING

Bow down… crying continues…

15:56:49:22

Beezly cries… “mom” … Dad…

Uncle carries Beezly out

15:57:21:05

UPSOT: Take everything, all the clothes..!

Beezly’s uncle has to carry her

15:57:31:04 Fence is there.. be careful…

UPSOT: Who’s going to get into the car.

15:59:05:24 Shemol’s brother screams; You are going to grandmas house right!

Others screaming: Let’s go! Let’s go!

15:59:55:19 Did you take her sandals and her clothes?? Give some space, give some space 16:00:07:10

23:19-23:26

23:28-23:34

23:47-23:53

As Beezley continues to sob. A relative lifts her up.

(DON’T SAY THE BOTTOM SOT UNTIL SHE IS NEAR THE VAN)

Then she’s bundled into a waiting van with her husband and new in-laws.

And just like that… Her married life has begun.

FADE TO BLACK.

Find shots of Tania and Beezly together

24:10-24:16

24:16-24:22

24:22-24:28

A week later…  I go back to visit Beezly.

Her life is already very different.

As a new bride, her friends can no longer visit her and she can’t stay with her family..

Her husband had promised he would allow her to return to school.. but now that’s not happening

day 14 21:45:33

24:28-24:31

24:31-24:37

**tania asks do you still want to be a doctor?

Do you want to be a doctor?

Ask in Bangla -

Do you want to be a doctor?

I don’t know. No.

I can’t be a doctor now. Shakes head

MOVE THIS HERE

24:39-24:43

It’s sad to see how quickly a girl’s dreams can be crushed.

Shyamal

24:46-24:52

Day 14, Clip 128

Don’t you know you’re a little girl? (laughs)

(SHOTS OF BEEZLY AND HER AND SHYAMOL TOGETHER)

Bit of Beezley…

24:54-25:04

Montage of girls staring at the camera…

25:08-25:22

For thousands of girls like Beezley, the Bangladeshi culture of marrying young has continued generation after generation.

In this world of grinding poverty, girls have little value.

Until that changes, it’s hard to see how future generations can break free.