Scene Eight – “Murderrah”

From The First Fall: A Musical Origin of Humanity

Setting

Before dawn. The campfire still glows — coals pulsing beneath gray sky. Cain stands alone, unmoving, his eyes locked on the flame that never died. The repaired staff rests across his knees, faintly reflecting firelight. Jack Righteous lingers nearby, pacing slow and low, sensing a storm of spirit rising. The distant wind growls — the ghost of the lion within the flames.

From the nearby hut, Abel emerges, his limp light but visible. Behind him follows The Girl, smiling, carrying water. They see Cain at the fire. Abel waves, unaware of the storm waiting before him.

Stage Note: Lighting begins warm gold, fading slowly into crimson. Every heartbeat of the drum matches the fire’s pulse.

Dialogue

ABEL:
(calling, cheerful)
Cain! You found it — the staff! You fixed it?

CAIN:
(rising slowly)
Fire fix all things... even heart.

THE GIRL:
(approaching, smiling)
I told you Jack would lead the way. See? It was never lost.

CAIN:
(low, almost whispering)
No... not lost. Just changed.

The fire flares suddenly, light bleeding into red. Distant thunder rolls. The drums begin to rise beneath Cain’s breath as he steps forward, shadow swallowing his face.

Song – “Murderrah”

🎧 Listen on Suno

[INTRO – SPOKEN WRATH]
(WOI!)
(BOOM—BOOM)
(BOOM—BOOM)
Oh Jah... hear dem now.
Mi step cold — like storm comin’.
War — inside mi blood.
BOOM! BOOM! WAR!
BOOM! BOOM! WAR!

[HOOK INSTRUMENTAL DROP]
[Fierce drum roll, rising FX, stone strike percussion]
BOOM! BOOM! WAR!
BOOM! BOOM! WAR!
[Thunder echo — fading into silence]

[VERSE 1 – KILLER COMPOSURE]
Dem seh mi born wid fire in chest,
But dis flame nuh sleep — it refuse rest.
Mi walk like storm-breath, eyes like flint,
When Brudda cross mi path — creation went still.
Mi nah bluff, mi rage nuh fake,
Mi grin like death — make devil shake.
Try hold peace — mi silence roar,
Earth baptize mi in dust and war.
He shine too pure — mi burn too true,
Yuh favor him light — but blood now due.
[Adlib: “Light di sky!”]

[CHORUS – WARCHANT MODE]
🎤 DEM CALL I: MURDERRAH! (Murdda—Murdda!)
🎤 DEM CALL I: MURDERRAH! (Murdda—Murdda!)
🎤 DEM CALL I: MURDERRAH! (Murdda—Murdda!)
LET DEM KNOW! WOI!

[VERSE 2 – BROTHER CONFRONTATION]
Mi own blood stand before mi still,
Eyes of peace — but mi heart want kill.
Not for hate — but for right mi see,
A shadow rise same shape as mi.
One step closer — creation hold breath,
Brother to brother — life to death.
[Silence bar — then drums slam back in.]

[VERSE 3 – REDEMPTION WITH CLAWS]
Mi spirit crack, mi soul get torn,
Mi bloodline blaze where wrath was born.
Mi vex wid mi self, still Jah seh:
“Bend nuh break — mi clear yuh way.”
But mi heart beat rough — like iron stone,
Half is mine — half not mi own.
Voice fulla curse, hand fulla sin,
One voice whisper: “Spare him, kin.”
But di lion growl: “Yuh tek di crown.
Di fire choose — strike him down.”
[Adlib: “Last breath now.”]

[CHORUS – LOUDER, DEADLIER]
🎤 DEM CALL I: MURDERRAH! (Murdda—Murdda!)
🎤 DEM CALL I: MURDERRAH! (Murdda—Murdda!)
🎤 DEM CALL I: MURDERRAH! (Murdda—Murdda!)
LET DEM KNOW! WOI!
(Let di sky crack, blood flow slow...)

[FINAL VERSE – THE STRIKE]
Mi see him tremble, soft like clay,
Mi slay di beast — him hide away.
She watch mi fight, still choose him weak,
Now she gon’ learn what strong men speak.
Yuh talk of love — mi talk of flame,
Mi heart still burn — mi call his name.
Mi hand nuh shake, mi blood nuh cold,
Dis world belong to di brave, not those who fold.
[Instrumental build up]

[FINAL CHANT – THE BLOWS]
🎤 BOOM—BOOM! (Mi take mi claim!)
🎤 BOOM—BOOM! (Mi break di shame!)
🎤 BOOM—BOOM! (Mi rage, mi right!)
🎤 BOOM—BOOM! (Mi own di night!)
🎤 BOOM—BOOM! (Yuh fall, yuh fade!)
🎤 BOOM—BOOM! (Mi mark now made!)
🎤 BOOM—BOOM! (Mi roar, mi crown!)
🎤 BOOM—BOOM! (No turnin’ down!)

[OUTRO – QUIET, AFTER THE BLOWS]
Dust rise slow, di air still red,
Mi breath like stone, di silence spread.
No angel speak, no thunder cry,
Only mi heart — she ask, “Why?”
Mi look ‘pon her — mi voice done dry,
Now dem all must die.
(WOI… Murdda… Murdda…)

Staging & Cues

• Lighting: The fire shifts from dawn gold to blood red as the song builds. By the final chant, all light comes from the flames.
• Abel: Reaches for his staff — a silent act of trust. It’s the last thing he ever does.
• The Girl: Cries out midway through the chant, her voice blending with the drums. Her scream becomes part of the rhythm.
• Jack Righteous: Brays once at the first blow, then retreats into shadow. Symbol of spirit departing.
• Sound Design: Each “BOOM” matches a percussive strike or thunder roll. The final “BOOM” hangs — no echo, just silence.
• Closing Image: Cain stands over Abel’s fallen body, staff raised above The Girl. Firelight flickers on his face — eyes empty, breath steady. The dawn is red.

Lights fade to near-black. The staff glows faintly in Cain’s hand as the sound of fire fades to wind. Silence reigns — until the mark.

Next: Scene Nine — “The Mark.”