INT. MOVING VEHICLE - DAY
MR. SHOLA is seated in the owner’s corner of a moving vehicle. He’s glancing through the pages of a newspaper as his driver DAVID drives. Shola is smartly dressed with a suit and tie. A briefcase rests beside him alongside a gift pack. The clock on the dashboard reads 3:30PM. Shola flips through the newspaper pages nonchalantly, checks his wristwatch and sighs.
MR. SHOLA
Can’t you go faster, David? Do you want us to sleep on the road?
DAVID
I’m trying, sir.
Shola shakes his head and returns to the newspaper. He checks his watch again, anxiously. He removes his phone from inside his suit pocket and dials “LOML.” The line connects.
LOML (O.S.)
My love.
MR. SHOLA
Hey baby.
LOML (O.S.)
I’m surprised you’re calling. Aren’t you supposed to be in a meeting?
MR. SHOLA
It got postponed. I decided to take the rest of the day off. I thought I’d surprise my love.
LOML (O.S.)
(Chuckles)
Ummmm... Where are you?
MR. SHOLA
On my way home to you.
LOML (O.S.)
Baby! Oh my God. I’m jumping up and down right now.
MR. SHOLA
Hahaha. My baby... you’re so cute.
David smiles sheepishly at his oga as he drives.
MR. SHOLA (CONT'D)
I have a surprise for you.
LOML (O.S.)
Oh my God, wait! Don’t tell me. No! Tell me.
MR. SHOLA
Hahaha. Don’t worry my love. You’ll see.
LOML (O.S.)
Okay baby. I’ll heat up the shower for us.
MR. SHOLA
You better.
LOML chuckles and the line disconnects. Shola notices David peering through the front mirror.
MR. SHOLA (CONT'D)
Any problem?
DAVID
Ah, no sir. I didn’t know madam has returned from her journey.
Shola stares at him with a straight face.
DAVID (CONT'D)
Sorry, sir.
EXT. SHOLA’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
The car pulls up outside an apartment and Shola steps out. David opens the door to carry the briefcase but Shola stops him. Shola gestures to David to leave.
DAVID
Sir, I want to greet madam. It’s been long.
Shola gives him the straight face.
DAVID (CONT'D)
Sorry, sir.
INT. SHOLA’S APARTMENT - DAY
CLOSE UP on a bedside stand - A cute picture frame of Shola and a beautiful lady. Another frame of a selfie of Shola and the same beautiful lady. CLOSE UP on a lady’s neck tattoo. It spells “Shola” in beautiful cursive. The owner of the neck is BIANCA. She’s facing the bathroom mirror as she touches up her makeup. She is LOML, the beautiful lady in the photos. As she applies lip stick, a bell ding dongs. She lines her lips once more and gets up. She’s wearing a cropped tank top and shorts. The bell ding dongs once more. Bianca walks to the door and composes herself. She opens the door to Shola smiling at her. She swallows him in a hug.
BIANCA
Baby!
MR. SHOLA
My love.
BIANCA
I’ve missed you so much.
MR. SHOLA
You have no idea, my love.
She collects his suitcase and is about is about to collect a gift pack from his hand but Shola refuses.
MR. SHOLA (CONT'D)
No, no, no, no my love. Let’s go inside first.
Bianca giggles and hurries inside like a little child. Shola tags along. They enter into the bedroom and Bianca puts the briefcase aside. She claps her hand in anticipation. Shola finally gives the gift pack to her. Bianca opens the pack to reveal a lingerie. She gives him a seductive look.
BIANCA
Oooh... Victoria Secret.
MR. SHOLA
Go put it on and come out.
BIANCA
Okay, baby.
She sways into the bathroom, moving her hips seductively. Shola starts undressing. He takes off his suit, looses his tie and removes his shoe. A call rings on his phone. He picks up the phone - the caller ID reads “Lucy.” He hisses and drops the phone. In the bathroom, Bianca has started undressing. As she’s about to remove her top, a notification chimes on her phone. She looks at it. It’s a WhatsApp group message from “Kiki” to the group “Asokoro Angels.” The message reads, “Pastor don request me for hotel oh” with a laugh out loud emoji. Bianca raises her eye brows and starts chuckling. Another message follows from another group member called “Antonia.” It reads, “Wahala for who no dey read Bible oh” followed by a bunch of laughing emojis. Other group members immediately drop laughing emojis. Bianca laughs to herself, trying not to raise her voice.
MR. SHOLA (O.S.)
Are you alright my love?
Bianca locks the phone.
BIANCA
Yes, baby. I’ll soon be right out.
In the bedroom, Shola now has his shirt off. He walks to the mirror and takes off his wedding ring. He stares at closely for a couple of seconds and drops it on the mirror stand. The bathroom door opens and Bianca steps out. As soon as Shola sees her, he becomes short of words. Bianca does a couple of sexy poses, revealing the lingerie to Shola who just stares.
BIANCA (CONT'D)
Well?
MR. SHOLA
Damn, my love. Whatever secret Victoria’s hiding, I’m sure as hell your body will reveal it.
Bianca blushes. Bianca gestures with her finger for Shola to come closer. He obliges. Shola plants a kiss on her lips and traces her curves with his fingers. They begin to make out and as it gets intense, their clothes drop one by one like breadcrumbs on the floor until they finally land on the bed.
CUT TO:
INT. SHOLA'S APARTMENT - EVENING
Trace their clothes and under wears on the floor, slowly tilting up to reveal Shola and Bianca sleeping on the bed. Bianca is perched uncomfortably on one edge while Shola is spread across the whole mattress, with one hand resting awkwardly on Bianca’s face. Bianca slowly removes Shola’s hand from her face and begins to get up. She wraps the bedsheet around her body and slowly creeps out of the bed. She walks to the bedside stand and gently carries the two picture frames.
MR. SHOLA
You don’t have sneak out you know.
She stops right in her tracks, slowly turns and gives Shola a somber look. As she proceeds into the bathroom, focus on a name tag resting on the table. It reads “Asokoro Angels: Bianca Angel 07.” REMAIN on the shot for a beat. Bianca’s hand enters the frame and snatches the tag. She walks into the bathroom. Return to Shola. He sits on the edge of the bed and cups his face with his palms. His phone rings again. He ignores it once more. When it stops ringing, he picks it up. 15 missed calls from “Lucy.” He hisses and puts the phone down again. In the bathroom, Bianca has dressed up. She zips her bag and wears her shoe. She walks out of the bathroom but stops just before opening the door. She walks to the mirror and carries a towel. She wets it and slowly cleans the “Shola” tattoo on her neck. Bianca walks back into the room. Shola’s phone is ringing again. He carries it and is about to answer-
BIANCA
I’d ignore that woman if I were you.
Shola just stares at her. Doesn’t say a word.
BIANCA (CONT'D)
Bye, then.
Still no word from Shola. He idly waves her off. She leaves the room.
EXT. SHOLA'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Bianca walks out of the house and as she walks away, switch to aerial view. The camera keeps zooming out aerially until Bianca disappears into yonder. The rest of the city looms out large.
VOICE OVER (V.O.)
“Blue, green, red, yellow. Fragrances, like odours, our scents precede us, hello. Our minds, are, land mines; Let me find a way, I’ll fly away, two more rows...”
INT. DINNING ROOM - DAY
We open to a the inside of a refrigerator. A carton of opened milk has poured over the other contents in the fridge. A young man in his early thirties, KUNLE, stares at the milk furiously. He’s in the dining area of the house. All the lights in the room are off. The glow from inside the fridge illuminates Kunle. A lady emerges from the darkness. She’s ADAEZE. She yawns as she approaches Kunle.
ADAEZE
Have you seen your son’s report?
Kunle just stands, peering into the fridge.
ADAEZE (CONT'D)
Have you seen William’s school report?
KUNLE
(Without looking at her)
How many times have I told you not to leave any opened milk in the fridge?
ADAEZE
The teacher said he hasn’t been attentive in class. I thought she was exaggerating until he started the Zoom classes on Monday. Its like he can’t sit in one-
KUNLE
(Interrupting)
-Listen to me
(turns to face her)
I’ve had a long day. I don’t need to hear all that stuff. That is your duty. Keeping the house clean and tidy isn’t suppose to be difficult. Why can’t you just-
ADAEZE
(Interrupting)
Excuse me? My duty? What the hell does that even mean? We have a son together! How the hell is his upbringing
(quotes with her fingers)
My duty?
Kunle stares at her. He’s about to speak but just sighs. He picks an untouched apple from the fridge and walks away. As he passes her, he slightly pushes her out of the way with his shoulder.
KUNLE
I’m not in the mood for this your feminist talk now.
He walks into the kitchen. She follows him from behind.
INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
ADAEZE
Me wanting us to raise our kid together is not feminist talk, Kunle! You barely spend any time with him. He’s your child for Christ sake!
Kunle picks up a knife and starts cutting the apple. He chews it methodically.
ADAEZE (CONT'D)
Listen, I don’t care how you choose to live your life. But please be reasonable because of your son.
KUNLE
How I choose to live my life?
ADAEZE
You’re barely at home! He never sees you. He hears all these rumours about you in school and in church but I keep telling him to ignore them. It was fine when you were chasing all those pesky secretary girls but then you decided to go after his school teacher. Like what the hell is really wrong with you Kunle?
That grabs his attention. He shoots her death stare and drops the knife and apple.
KUNLE
Listen. That will be the last time to speak to me like that, do you understand?
ADAEZE
Listen Kunle I’m just-
KUNLE
-You can make whatever assumptions you want about me, but never in your life look at me face to face and speak to me like that again.
Adaeze looks at him unperturbed.
ADAEZE
You know, for someone who’s so critical of the government; always shouting “corruption, corruption, corruption,” its amazing how hypocritical you are.
KUNLE
You better watch your mouth.
ADAEZE
Or else what? And come to think about it, one will think with the lockdown you’d probably start spending some time with your son, but no...
Kunle proceeds to leave the kitchen.
ADAEZE (CONT'D)
... You’d rather sleep during the day and stay up all night.
(Beat)
You’re just like your fatherland.
Just as he’s about to exit, he stops on the spot. She continues.
ADAEZE (CONT'D)
You have everything a man could need, but you’re too corrupt and short-sighted...
All of a sudden, Kunle turns and SMACKS her across the head. He pounces her repeatedly as she shouts.
KUNLE
Look what you’re making me do!
He hits her one more time and gets up. He walks furiously out of the kitchen and as he moves, in one quick motion, Adaeze gets up, grabs the knife beside the apple and launches at Kunle. Kunle turns as he hears her raging towards him with a pointed knife. He instinctively tries to block his face with his arm. As his arm covers his face,
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
Adaeze jumps into consciousness from her sleep. She breathes heavily and sweats profusely. Beside her, Kunle wakes up too. She stares around the room frantically and at her husband. When she realises she had been dreaming, she starts to sob. Kunle wraps his hand around her and starts to comfort her.
KUNLE
It’s alright dear. Just relax. I’ll get you something.
He climbs out of the bed and walks to the dining room. He opens the fridge and picks out a pack of salad. This time, the fridge is neatly arranged. Kunle walks to the kitchen, empties the salad into a plate and puts the plate in the microwave. He sets the timer to two minutes and pushes the start button. The microwave kicks to life. He wanders into the sitting room and picks up the TV remote. He flips the TV on and scrambles through the channels. A channel catches his attention. He flips back. Its a news channel. Kunle stares curiously at the TV.
NEWS CASTER
(From the TV)
And in a fresh murder case, a lady who goes by the name of Adaeze Michael, has been arrested for stabbing her husband, Kunle Michael, to death. The police are reporting the case as domestic violence gone wrong. This adds to the growing number of domestic murder cases that have been occurring during the lockdown...
Kunle and Adaeze’s photos are displayed on the screen. Close UP on Kunle as looks so shocked. He can’t understand what he’s seeing.
KUNLE
What the...
The microwave timer rings and it startles him. He turns around and sees Adaeze emerge from the darkness holding a knife.
KUNLE (CONT'D)
What are you doing, Ade? What, what is happening?
She immediately points the knife and launches at him. He raises and hand to defend himself and yells-
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. SITTING ROOM - DAY
Kunle jerks into consciousness and starts panting. He’s lying with his head on Adaeze’s laps. He sits up straight as he continues to find his breath. Adaeze looks concerned.
ADAEZE
What happened? Are you alright?
KUNLE
Yeah, I think I, I think I had a bad dream.
ADAEZE
In broad day light like this? What’s up with everybody having bad dreams like this today?
He shoots a suspicious look at her.
ADAEZE (CONT'D)
What happened in the dream?
Kunle just shakes his head.
ADAEZE (CONT'D)
Let me get you something to drink.
As she stands up, Kunle notices something about her.
KUNLE
What’s the meaning of this?
ADAEZE
What?
KUNLE
Your hair.
ADAEZE
What about it?
KUNLE
I made it clear to you that I don’t want to see you in this hairstyle.
ADAEZE
(Sighs)
Kunle, please not now.
KUNLE
Is it that you just want to piss me off on purpose or you’re just plain selfish?
Adaeze hisses and walks towards the kitchen. Kunle follows her from behind.
KUNLE (CONT'D)
I keep telling you that hairstyle reminds me of my late mom. Of all the styles you could make, you decide to do this one.
INT. KITCHEN - CONTINUOUS
ADAEZE
I’m being selfish? Me? I’ve been making this hairstyle all my life and suddenly you want ME to stop because YOU can’t let go of your past. And I’m the selfish one?
KUNLE
My past? You do realise I’m talking about my mother.
ADAEZE
Oh please get over yourself. She wasn’t the only one the Virus killed. I guess we should ban everything sentimental to everybody abi?
Kunle looks at her with disgust.
KUNLE
You’re so heatless.
ADAEZE
Right back at you.
Kunle studies her for a moment. She looks straight into his eyes, unafraid. He turns to leave but then she murmurs something. We don’t know what she said. But he launches at her. She sharply picks up a knife and points it at him as he reaches her.
ADAEZE (CONT'D)
Don’t you dare!
The camera starts slowing pulling away from them. Kunle considers her for a second.
KUNLE
Put the knife down.
Adaeze doesn’t comply. Kunle reaches for the knife and they begin to struggle. The camera pulls out of the room and steadies at the door. We can’t see them but we hear them struggling. All of a sudden, we hear the blade swish and blood splashes on the wall, into our frame. Everything goes silent. A beat. An then the word flashes O.S.
“LUCKDOWN.” Our viewing frame suddenly changes to digital, with scan/pixel lines. We then ZOOM OUT slowly, out of a TV screen into a room. The whole thing we’ve been seeing has been taking place in the TV.
INT. RANDOM ROOM - DAY
Two guys are in the room. One of them OYIN, stands facing the TV holding the remote. The other guy, OLA sits on a chair facing watching the TV.
OYIN
So? What do you think?
Ola looks at him.
OLA
Oh wait, you’re serious?
He bursts into laughter.
OLA (CONT'D)
This is the worst shit I’ve ever seen. Like? What is the point?
Oyin just shakes his head in disappointment.
OYIN
I knew you wouldn’t get it.
Off Ola dying in laughter,
CUT TO:
INT. MOVING VEHICLE - NIGHT
David driving as usual. Behind him are EZE and CYNTHIA, an urban couple in their 20s. Cynthia is sobbing as her boyfriend berates her. David peers through the front mirror as usual.
EZE
Why are you now crying? What is this one? Did I touch you?
CYNTHIA
You know I get emotional when you accuse me of something I didn’t do!
EZE
Accuse keh. I caught you red-handed when you were online playing that stupid game... uh, uh, uh-
CYNTHIA
- And so? It’s just a game now-
EZE
- Man Of Your Dreams!
CYNTHIA
What kind of person gets jealous over a game. What is even wrong with you, Eze?
Eze is disgusted. He catches David starring.
EZE
Will you mind your fucking business and focus on the road?
DAVID
Sorry, sir.
David focuses back on the road.
EZE
Let me get this straight. You have a boyfriend that you claim to love, but then you buy your way into a virtual game literally called “Man Of Your Dreams,” but I’m just being jealous abi?
CYNTHIA
Abeg, abeg, abeg, abeg. How is it any different from all those stupid PS 7 games you play. Ahn, ahn.
EZE
Are you mad? Who are you talking to like that?
He catches David starring again.
EZE (CONT'D)
Ah, ah. Is this guy normal? Hey you, are you mad?
(He taps David’s seat)
Pull over.
DAVID
Sir, I’m sorry.
EZE
Pull over!
DAVID
Oga, it’s not like that now. Calm down.
CYNTHIA
Yeah baby. Calm down.
Eze looks at Cynthia and back at David.
EZE
Are the two of you mad?
He swiftly reaches into his jacket and brings out a pistol and points it at David. Cynthia jumps as she sees the gun. David screeches the car to a halt.
DAVID
I’ve stopped, sir.
EZE
Get out.
(He points the gun at Cynthia)
You too.
DAVID
Sir, please sir.
EXT. CITY ROAD - CONTINUOUS
David comes out of the car with his hands in the air. Cynthia grudgingly exits the car. They move to the side of the road.
EZE
(Pointing the gun at David)
You! This your eyes will kill you one day.
DAVID
Sir, I said I’m sorry! Please.
CYNTHIA
Yeah, baby. Please leave him out of this. Ah, ah, you’re taking it too far.
Eze considers both of them for a second. He points the gun at Cynthia.
EZE
You... I’ll come back to you later.
He turns and points the gun at David. Cocks it. David starts sobbing, pleading for his life.
EZE (CONT'D)
Tell me one thing before I blast you here.
DAVID
Sir, please...
(Sobs)
Please...
EZE
Just a simple yes or no answer.
David sobs. Cynthia rolls her eyes.
EZE (CONT'D)
Was she cheating on me or she wasn’t?
DAVID
What..?
Eze moves closer with the gun.
EZE
Simple YES or NO.
David looks at Cynthia helplessly.
DAVID
Uh, Yes. YES! Ah, she cheated oh. Ah, ah, madam no be so now. Try and be loyal once in a while.
Eze considers him for a second. He shakes his head.
EZE
Oya. Get back in your car and drive off.
David is confused.
EZE (CONT'D)
I said fuck off!
David runs back into the car and shuts the door close, locks the doors, starts the ignition and zooms off.
INT. MOVING VEHICLE - CONTINUOUS
David fires the car as fast as possible. He stares at the couple from behind the windshield one last time. He does the trinity prayer.
DAVID
Omo. That one choke.
EXT. BUKKA - NIGHT
David’s car pulls over and he gets out. He walks into the bukka and takes a seat. A girl drops a cup with cutleries, bowl of water for washing and leaves. David unbuckles his belt and removes his phone from his pocket.
DAVID
Omo.
He scrolls to a dating app called “Konji” and taps the icon. One of his matches stares back at him with her name and phone number boldly on the screen. She’s LUCY, from episode 2. He dials the number. The line connects.
LUCY (O.S.)
Hey you.
DAVID
Hello, Angel.
LUCY
You finally called.
DAVID
Yes. I told you I’m willing to do anything to take you out.
LUCY
Oh yeah?
DAVID
Where will my angel like to go?
LUCY
Well, there’s this park I’ve been hearing of. We could go there...
Pan away to yonder and fade their voices off.
THE END.