FROM BLACK, Title flashes on screen: Nigeria 2085
FADE IN:
EXT. ATM BOOTH - DAY
We open to an extreme CU of a young man, RICHARD BADU, 27. He’s lost in his thoughts. We can hear muffled voices. A million things are going through his mind. The sound slowly becomes audible and its a bunch of people yelling at him to move forward. PULL OUT to reveal a group of people queued at an ATM. There’s a gap between Richard and the next person. The rest of the queue beckons Richard to adjust. Someone walks out the ATM booth and the next guy on the queue goes in. The queue adjusts. Richard looks around nervously, as if he’s trying not to be seen. He checks his watch and scratches his head. The lady in front of him enters the booth. The queue adjusts. A moment later, the lady walks out. Richard looks around nervously and enters the booth. He inserts his card and we go SUPER TIGHT on his face. Richard’s gaze is fixed on the machine. His face goes from nervous to disbelief to shock. He begins to hold his neck with his hands as he gasps for breath. He collapses on the floor still gasping for breath as two guys from the queue rushes to him. We slowly pull away from the scene as a small crowd begins to form.
FADE TO BLACK:
From black, we hear a news broadcast- “In world news today, a baffling story has emerged out of the western African territory of Nigeria...”
INT. MERIT METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL - DAY
Fade In to a close up of a hologram screen floating in air. A lady broadcasts the news. “...about an extremely rare case of panic. A young man by the name Richard Badu is said to have experienced what is now being identified as panic, when withdrawing from an archaic ATM. This is the first case of panic recorded in over eighty years...” Pull out to reveal a group of nurses gathered around the hologram watching the news in bewilderment, making side comments to themselves. A lady walks briskly into the room. She’s LADY MARGARET (early forties, composed and resolute).
LADY MARGARET
(To the gathered nurses)
Shut that thing off. Don’t you lot have any work to do?
One of the nurses waves a hand and the hologram fades into thin air. Lady Margaret waits for the nurses to disperse before moving. She walks to a door with a sign that reads “Quarantine,” composes herself and opens the door.
INT. MERIT METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL - QUARANTINE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Margaret enters the room and gently closes the door. Richard is laid down peacefully on the only patient bed in the room. Margaret wears a white lab coat, picks up a chart from a desk and walks towards Richard. She taps her wrist and a hologram pops up with a bunch of medical charts and readings on the interface. She taps something and Richard jerks back to consciousness. Richard wakes up confused. His eyes wander around the room trying to make sense of the situation. He instantly becomes aggressive.
RICHARD
Where am I?
LADY MARGARET
Relax, Richard. Take a deep brea-
RICHARD
-Where am I?
LADY MARGARET
Relax, Richard.
Richard still fumbles around his bed trying to let go. When he figures he’s been restrained he begins to struggle the more.
LADY MARGARET (CONT'D)
I said RELAX!
Richard chills. Margaret gives him a serious look.
RICHARD
Where am I? Who are you?
LADY MARGARET
I’m Margaret Elite. I’m the Chief Officer at the West African Intelligence Agency. Anthropology Department.
RICHARD
What am I doing here? Why... (he swallows) why are my hands tied?
LADY MARGARET
It’s precautionary. You’re not under arrest. I need you to answer some questions first.
RICHARD
How long have I been here?
Margaret gives him a stern look. She isn’t there to go back and forth with him.
LADY MARGARET
What’s the last thing you remember?
RICHARD
I was about to withdraw money from an ATM when all of a sudden... (he swallows) I blackout out. Or so.
She looks at him suspiciously.
LADY MARGARET
What I’m about to tell you will be really shocking.
Richard stares at her nervously. She sits on the side of his bed.
LADY MARGARET (CONT'D)
But you had a panic attack.
RICHARD
What? That's impossible. What the hell are you talking about?
LADY MARGARET
That’s what I told them. It’s impossible. And ridiculous. And I’m am I’m going to prove it.
RICHARD
(getting anxious)
Prove what?
She looks away into yonder.
LADY MARGARET
I don’t know what trick you have up your sleeve, or what exactly happened to you.
(Looks back at him)
But I am sure as hell you didn’t panic.
She stands up from the bed and walks over to a window, staring through the glass.
RICHARD
But... never in my lifetime has anybody been know to panic. Across all the territories, no one has ever...
(getting really anxious)
...A panic attack is a myth for Christ’s sake!
Lady Margaret turns and slowly walks back to him.
LADY MARGARET
Look, everyone is asking for your execution. The media, masses, the territory heads.
RICHARD
What? Why?
She sits on the bed.
LADY MARGARET
You know why. But we’re not going to let them. I am on your side. Okay?
Richard’s eyes spins in confusion.
LADY MARGARET (CONT'D)
Look at me.
(Richard looks at her)
The scans and results from your brain analysis says you had a panic attack. But I believe the results are false. As you rightly said, no one has panicked in almost a hundred years...
LADY MARGARET (CONT'D)
LADY MARGARET (CONT'D)
Hell, the machines don’t even know what a true panic should be like.
She touches him slightly.
LADY MARGARET (CONT'D)
The territory have given me forty eight hours to find out what made you experience fear at the ATM. And I have to prove that it wasn’t a panic.
(beat)
Are you with me?
Richard nods.
LADY MARGARET (CONT'D)
I’m going to loose you now. Don’t do anything stupid.
Richard nods again. Lady Margaret walks over to the door and presses a button. A few seconds later, two nurses come in and untie Richard’s arms and legs. Richard and Margaret look at each other as the nurses give him a substance to drink, and then leave the room without saying a word. Ricard sits for the first time. As he stretches his body, Margaret brings a chair and sits next to his bed. She opens up a book and paper and begins to write.
LADY MARGARET (CONT'D)
So, tell me what happened that day.
EXT. ATM BOOTH - DAY - FLASHBACK
Richard is in line at an ATM queue.
RICHARD (V.O.)
Well I was just standing at the queue as usual. Then all of a sudden-
INT. MERIT METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL - QUARANTINE ROOM - DAY
Back at the hospital room.
LADY MARGARET
No, no. I don’t mean when you...
(she gesticulates, looking
for the right word)
LADY MARGARET (CONT'D)
LADY MARGARET (CONT'D)
...Passed out. Start from the beginning. What happened throughout the day, that morning. If we can figure what might have triggered the false fear, I’ll know how to help you.
Richard sighs.
RICHARD
Okay.
Margaret readies her pen to start writing. Angle On an analogue clock on the wall. It reads 11: 25. The seconds hand moves as it tick tocks.
RICHARD (CONT'D)
I woke up that morning. Wednesday morning...
CUT TO BLACK:
We continue to hear the clock tick tock as a supertitle flashes on the screen. Supertitle: WHY THE SAPIEN PANICKED
INT. RICHARD’S APARTMENT - MORNING - FLASHBACK
Richard lies sleeping on his bed. We go close on his face as he wakes up. His left eye is bloodshot. He tries to get out of bed, grunting in the process. He’s clearly in some sort of pain. Richard clutches his side torso and walks over to a desk mirror and checks his eye out. He picks up a trouser from a couch and brings his phone out. We see twelve missed calls and a couple of messages. He navigates to an app and plays a voice mail.
ANGELA (O.S.)
(From the phone)
What the hell Richard? Why aren’t you answering your calls? Mummy is really pissed at you! Uncle Aaron has sworn he’s going to call the police. Call me back!
Richard throws the phone on the bed and sits on the couch. He scratches his head.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. MERIT METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL - QUARANTINE ROOM - DAY
Richard and Margaret as they were.
LADY MARGARET
Wait, wait, wait a minute. Why were you in pains? Who sent the voice mail? What happened?
Richard sighs.
RICHARD
My sister sent the voice mail. Her name is Angela. Something happened the day before...
LADY MARGARET
Yes? What happened? Is that why you were injured?
RICHARD
Yes.
LADY MARGARET
Where you in a fight? Who’s uncle Aaron?
RICHARD
(Looking away)
I don’t want to talk about it.
Lady Margaret sighs.
LADY MARGARET
Listen, Richard. This is not a therapy session. You cannot choose what and what not to tell me. In case you haven’t figured it out, I’m trying to save your life.
(Beat)
Now tell me what happened the day before... why did you wake up in pains?
Richard rolls his eyes.
RICHARD
Well uh, it was Monday night...
EXT. AKIN’S APARTMENT - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
Richard walks behind his cousin CHRIS (27, athletic physique, assertive) as they approach a door. They both have a pack of beer in their hands. Chris knocks twice and the door opens. Welcoming them is AKIN, 26, the type of guy everyone loves to be around, cheerful with a large smile.
CHRIS
My man!
Chris and Akin shake hands and bro hug.
AKIN
Bro what’s good? I thought you weren’t gonna turn up.
CHRIS
You know me now. I’m a man of my words.
They both laugh and Chris gestures towards Richard.
CHRIS (CONT'D)
Yo, this my cousin Richard. He’s the one I told you about.
AKIN
Uh, Angela’s brother?
CHRIS
Yeah.
Akin shakes Richard.
CHRIS (CONT'D)
(To Richard)
He likes your sister.
AKIN
Oh, c’mon man, I just met the dude!
RICHARD
(Laughing)
That’s your own problem bro.
They all laugh as Akin leads them inside.
INT. AKIN'S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS
Akin enters first. Its a small sitting room, fitting for a bachelor.
AKIN
Please take off your shoes. Don’t bring your dirty lifestyle inside here.
CHRIS
(Scoffs)
No shit.
Richard and Chris remove their shoes. As they enter, we see a guy seated, flipping through channels on TV. He’s RAHEEM (27, somewhere in-between buff and chubby). He notices them enter.
AKIN
(To Raheem)
Yo, Abdul!
(Points at Chris)
This is my homeboy, Chris. And his cousin, Richard.
Raheem throws them the peace sign, doesn’t say a word.
AKIN (CONT'D)
(To Chris and Richard)
And that dummy is my friend from back in the day. Call him Raheem.
Richard nods at Raheem.
AKIN (CONT'D)
What’s good bro.
As they have their seats, a lady walks into the sitting room from the kitchen, carrying a bunch of party cups. She’s BOJU (19, petite and pretty, way past her curfew time).
AKIN (CONT'D)
Yeah, this is Boju.
BOJU
(With a British accent)
Bu Jew.
AKIN
Don’t mind her.
Boju goes and sits beside Raheem. Snuggles him.
AKIN (CONT'D)
(Towards Chris)
Boju, Chris and Richard.
They all settle. Raheem flips the channel.
CUT TO:
INT. MERIT METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL - QUARANTINE ROOM - DAY
Richard cuts his story short.
RICHARD
(Sympathetically)
I need to see my parents.
Lady Margaret sighs in disgust.
LADY MARGARET
Look, I told earlier. You’re not in a position to request for anything! You better tell me the whole thing once and for all and lets get this over with.
RICHARD
But I really need to see them. Anyone of them, please. Do, do they even know I’m here?
LADY MARGARET
The whole world knows you’re here.
(Leans closer to him)
And they all want you dead. They’re scared of you. Even your parents.
Richard stares at her. The horror on his face is clear to see.
CUT TO:
INT. AKIN'S APARTMENT - NIGHT - FLASHBACK
All the guys have bottles of beers in their hands. Boju uses a cup. Raheem changes the TV to a sports channel. A football match is about to commence.
CHRIS
Yo, Arsenal all the way.
AKIN
(Laughs)
There’s more chance of me panicking than Arsenal winning this match.
CHRIS
(Shakes his head)
You better take that back.
Akin and Boju laughs.
RICHARD
(To Akin)
C’mon man, you don’t really believe Chelsea can win this match.
AKIN
We shall see.
CHRIS
For real though. Chelsea hasn’t won Arsenal in the last thirty years. And you think it will happen tonight? C’mon bro.
Akin shakes his head. He still doesn’t agree. We hear Raheem for the first time.
RAHEEM
Well, if you guys are so sure why don’t you bet on it? Put your money where your mouth is.
AKIN
And who are you supporting?
Raheem turns and faces them.
RAHEEM
You guys are the ones arguing. I don't care who wins or loses. But if you’re gonna be a fan, you should be willing to bet on your team.
The room falls silent.
AKIN
You’re crazy man. It’s not that deep.
Raheem shakes his head and turns back to the TV.
CHRIS
I agree. Let’s bet on it.
Richard gives him a look.
RICHARD
Are you crazy?
CHRIS
Chill out bro. Hear me out. We’re five here. I say we drop 10k each. Whichever party wins, takes the whole 50k.
Boju bursts in animated laughter.
RICHARD
Something must be wrong with you.
CHRIS
It makes sense.
RICHARD
Count me out.
RAHEEM
I say yes. Let’s do it. But it’ll be 40k. Count Boju out.
Boju jumps to her feet.
BOJU
Wait, wait, wait.
(To Raheem)
You don’t decide for me. Count me in!
AKIN
I’m in too.
CHRIS
(Rubbing his hands)
Now we’re talking.
RICHARD
Listen you guys. Count. Me. Out. I’m not doing.
CHRIS
Bro, chill out man. What’s up with you?
RICHARD
I don’t have that kinda money to throw around.
CHRIS
Bro calm down. You owe me 15k remember? We’ll take 10k out of it.
Boju resumes her animated laughter. Richard palms his face and shakes his head.
AKIN
Now we’re talking.
RAHEEM
So who’s doing the honours?
Akin brings his phone out of his pocket and opens an app. He types some things and then presses a button. A hologram hand pops up and they each give the hand a high five except Richard. He hesitates until Chris takes his hands and presses it on the hologram. It makes a sound and disappears.
AKIN
Now the fun begins.
They all sit back and the match kicks off.
MOMENTS LATER Richard picks up a bottle of beer from a crate on the floor. Boju shouts “goal” and he looks up to see Chelsea has scored. Akin also celebrates. Chris scratches his head worryingly. Richard turns and looks at Raheem who gives him a taunting smile. Richard sighs and turns back to the TV.
MOMENTS LATER The match is almost over. Chelsea still leads. Boju excuses herself and leaves the parlour.
AKIN (CONT'D)
(Laughs cynically)
Five more minutes.
MOMENTS LATER Chris taps his fingers nervously on the couch. He leans and whispers something to Richard. Richard looks uncomfortable. He sips his beer and leans back into his seat. Raheem watches them suspiciously in the background. Chris stands all of a sudden.
CHRIS
I need to pee. Be right back.
STAY on Chris as he walks slowly towards the door.
RAHEEM (O.S.)
The toilet is that way.
Chris turns around and sees Raheem pointing towards the kitchen area.
CHRIS
Oh, right.
Chris disappears into the kitchen. Something is off and Raheem can sense it. He gulps his remaining beer, bangs the bottle on a side stool with a noise. He shoots a piercing gaze at Richard who throws his face away. In the TV, the referee blows the final whistle and Akin immediately jumps to his feet in joy. Richard ducks his face and shakes his head.
RICHARD
(Whispering)
Damn.
Raheem gulps another bottle of beer.
RAHEEM
Time for retribution.
From inside the house, we hear Boju’s animated laughter off screen.
BOJU (O.S.)
Woah, woah, woah, where you going?
She walks into the parlour, nudging Chris.
BOJU (CONT'D)
You weren’t trying to escape, abi?
CHRIS
Escape what?
AKIN
Yo bro, Chelsea lost haha.
BOJU
(Spraying imaginary cash)
Time for pay up.
Raheem walks gently and stands in front of the door. Richard keeps scratching his head.
CHRIS
No big deal now. Is it because of ordinary 10k you think I’ll run?
RAHEEM
Nobody’s leaving here until the bet is settled.
CHRIS
And who’s supposed to stop us? You?
RICHARD
(To Akin)
Look man, this was a friendly bet. You don’t really expect us to give you guys 20k right?
Akin raises his hands. Pontius Pilate washing his hands off Jesus’ case. Raheem and Chris exchange a fierce look. Raheem walks away from the door and stands directly in front of Chris. Neither say a word for a moment.
CHRIS
Yo Richard lets go. Its even getting really late.
(He turns and faces Akin)
Thanks for tonight bro. I’ll holla you when I’m home.
As he’s about to walk, Raheem stops him with his shoulder.
RAHEEM
You need to pay up man.
Raheem now looks like a bouncer.
CHRIS
Yo, get the fuck out of the way. What the hell do you think this is?
BOJU
(Melodiously)
Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. It’s time to pay up!
Richard steps into her face like he’s about to smack her.
RICHARD
Yo, shut the fuck up! What the hell is your own problem.. Do you see your mate here?
She puts her hand on her chest in shock.
AKIN
(Holding back Richard)
Yo, relax man, Jeez. Everybody calm down.
Raheem and Chris are practically in each other’s face at this point. A beat. Everywhere settles for a moment.
CHRIS
(Nudging Raheem out of the
way)
Man, fuck this I’m outta here.
He shoulders Raheem out of his way and Richard follows him behind. As Richard walks off, Boju pulls his hand, trying to drag him back.
BOJU
Come back here.
Richard shakes his hand off and pushes her away. She flies to the ground, yelling in the process. Richard and Chris head for the door with Richard now in front then all of sudden- Nobody sees how quickly Raheem picks up a beer bottle. With one move, he smashes the bottle into Chris’ temple from behind. Chris yells and falls to the ground holding his bleeding head. Akin immediately rushes to help him. And then all hell breaks loose. Richard launches at Raheem with a punch. They lock shoulders, each struggling to overpower the other. Raheem manages to twist and he turns on Richard, holding him in a head choke. Akin rushes in to separate the two but Raheem kicks him away. Raheem throws punches all over Richard’s body and face. Chris seems to have passed out by now. He remains on the floor unmoving. Boju recovers and joins Raheem in the beating.
SMASH CUT TO:
INT. MERIT METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL - QUARANTINE ROOM - DAY
Richard is seated up in his hospital bed. He throws away his face, obviously embarrassed. Lady Margaret just stares at him in disgust. Or pity. She’s not sure. We’re also not sure. She writes somethings down in her notebook.
RICHARD
Well?
LADY MARGARET
(Still writing)
Did you end up paying the money?
Richard throws his face away. Margaret stares at him for a moment.
LADY MARGARET (CONT'D)
Excuse me.
She gets up and heads for the door.
INT. MERIT METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS
Margaret closes the quarantined door. She looks around - nurses are busy with their own stuff. One nurse swipes the hologram TV to another channel. This catches Margaret’s attention. In the TV, a lady is being interviewed, surrounded by a bunch of protesters echoing her sentiments. She’s ANGELA BADU, 24. Richard’s sister. Doesn’t look one bit like a protester.
ANGELA
(From the TV)
No, no, no, no, no, that’s not how these are done!? You can’t just lock up a man without any due process. Who told you he panicked? Is there any evidence? Why won’t there let us see him? What else is next? Will they...
Lady Margaret steps to the side and carries a phone from a tray. Dials. A man answers. He speaks with a thick villainous voice.
MAN (O.S.)
(Through the phone)
Well?
LADY MARGARET
I think I have something.
MAN (O.S.)
You think?
LADY MARGARET
(Sighs)
He accompanied a cousin to another friend’s house to watch a football match. They all placed a bet. Richard lost, refused to pay, things went sour...
Her voice tails off as she’s distracted by a noise from outside. It seems the protesters are in the hospital.
MAN (O.S.)
How can we leverage on that?
LADY MARGARET
Well, we say... He lost the fight and was forced to pay the money. Probably had nothing left in his account so when he went to withdraw... He realized he was bankrupt. Panicked.
MAN (O.S.)
Hmm.
The noise grows louder. A little chaos is coming. Margaret hangs up the phone and rushes back into Richard’s room.
INT. MERIT METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL - QUARANTINE ROOM - CONTINUOUS
Richard seems to be hearing the noise too as he looks alarmed.
RICHARD
What’s wrong? What’s going on?
LADY MARGARET
Lie back, everything is fine.
She rushes and looks out the window. The noise is now right outside the room. Richard is uncomfortable.
ANGELA (O.S.)
Richard!
We hear Angela yell for her brother off screen. Richard is confused. He looks back and forth between the door and Margaret - The door bursts open and Angela storms in, followed by a bunch of nurses trying to stop her.
ANGELA (CONT'D)
Don’t tell them anything, Richard!
RICHARD
Angela!
Angela is wrestled to the ground by two nurses.
RICHARD (CONT'D)
Leave her alone!
He tries to stand up but is held back by Margaret.
ANGELA
Don’t tell them anything, Richard!
The nurses try to shut her up.
ANGELA (CONT'D)
They have mom and dad!
One of the nurses brings her to her feet. She’s NURSE DARA. Angela punches her and as they struggle, Angela bites Nurse Dara on the hand. The other nurses overpower her.
ANGELA (CONT'D)
(Struggling)
Everything they tell you is a lie! I’ll try and get you ou...
Richard sees his sister getting restrained. As he tries to get up, Lady Margaret injects him and he instantly starts losing consciousness. His sight becomes blurry. Angela keeps yelling “Richard” as she’s dragged away. With his eyes almost closed, we hear Angela yell “Richard” in muffled tone one more time.
CUT TO BLACK:
FROM BLACK,
ANGELA (O.S.)
(Calmly)
Richard. Richard.
INT. MERIT METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL - RICHARD'S ROOM - DAY
Richard’s POV: Richard opens his eyes to Angela petting him by the hair. As she sees he’s awake her eyes begin to glow. Angela has a regular cloth on and is her normal self. No sign of any protest. All the gloominess of the room is gone too. Its a normal cheerful hospital ward. Get Well Soon balloons are scattered around. 2019.
ANGELA
Richard! Oh my God he’s awake!
She stands and excitedly motions for someone to come. A woman comes into frame. She’s GLORIA BADU, 60, typical Nigerian momma. She shoves her daughter aside and gives Richard a tender hug. End POV.
GLORIA BADU
(Tearing up)
Ah! My son! My son!
They both stare at him as if they’re seeing a newborn baby for the first time.
RICHARD
(Confused)
Where, where am I? What’s going on?
GLORIA BADU
You’re fine now baby. You’re fine.
A nurse shows up and begins to do nurse shit. Checks his pulse, eyes, temperature and the likes. The nurses goes away and carries a medical chart. Stands in a corner.
RICHARD
(Sits up)
I don’t, I don’t get it.
ANGELA
You don’t get what?
RICHARD
(Getting anxious)
A minute ago I was... You were yelling, reaching out for me. Right here.
ANGELA
What?
The nurse comes back and gives him a pill to swallow.
NURSE
Please you need to let him rest. He’s still disoriented.
Gloria cradles her boy and begins to pray. She gets up and starts praying dramatically. Richard pulls Angela closer and looks her deep in the eyes.
ANGELA
Are you okay Richard?
RICHARD
I don’t understand. Was it... Was it all a dream?
KAIJE
What? Listen Richard. You had a panic attack and collapsed during your final maths paper. When you fell, you hit your head your head on the concrete ground and had a concussion.
RICHARD
(getting really anxious)
Me? Panic? I was at an ATM when I...
His voice tails off. Gloria comes back to the bed side.
RICHARD (CONT'D)
Look... Panicking is a sin alright? Its, its banned. And I panicked. That’s why I was at the hospital... Everything in this room was white. They said they’ll kill me if...
His voice tails off again. He seems to have realized how absurd he sounds.
GLORIA BADU
Panic, sin ke? Read for your exams you won’t listen. That’s how you went to fall. Listen Richard. Your father is very angry with you!
ANGELA
Mum, not now.
GLORIA BADU
Its true, now.
RICHARD
Angela. You told me they had arrested mum and dad. They were dragging you away!
GLORIA BADU
Blood of Jesus! Nobody will arrest me in Jesus name! What kind of dream is that, ehn, Richard?
Angela looks at Richard with tender pity. She moves really close to him and hold his hands. Almost whispering.
ANGELA
I don’t know what happened to you when you were unconscious, but you’ve got stop saying these things.
(She moves even closer)
If the nurse hears you, she could recommend psychiatry.
Richard is now super anxious. He begins to gasp for breath and scratch his hair. He’s like a drug addict in need of a hit. A Machine in the room begins to beep.
GLORIA BADU
Call the nurse!
Angela dashes out of the room, a moment later she’s back with the nurse. Richard’s breathing is now frantic. The nurse does all her nurse shit to try and stabilize him but its all to no avail.
NURSE
He’s having a panic attack!
GLORIA BADU
Again!?
Richard’s vision becomes blurry. As he fades out of consciousness, the last thing he sees is Kaije yelling his name as the nurse tries to stabilize him and his mum pacing back and forth.
CUT TO BLACK:
FROM BLACK,
LADY MARGARET (O.S.)
Richard! Richard!
INT. MERIT METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL - QUARANTINE ROOM - DAY
Back to 2085. Richard jerks into consciousness, breathing hard. Lady Margaret stares at him cautiously. His eyes scan the room desperately. His mum and sister are nowhere to be seen. The cheerfulness of the ward is gone; back to its gloomy nature. He immediately becomes apprehensive.
RICHARD
Stay away from me!
LADY MARGARET
Calm down, Richard!
She tries to go close to him.
RICHARD
I said stay away from me!
LADY MARGARET
Richard, calm down!
RICHARD
Where’s my sister? My mum? Oh God, what did you do!?
LADY MARGARET
Calm down, Richard! You’ve been hallucinating.
RICHARD
What? No, no, no, no.
LADY MARGARET
Listen to me. You had a bad dream. Relax.
Richard calms down. His face is full of dread.
RICHARD
(Sobbing)
No, no, no, no. No, now. Angela was here and your nurses bundled her away! You injected me with something... I, I-
LADY MARGARET
- Listen to me Richard. It’s not real.
RICHARD
Huh?
LADY MARGARET
It’s not real. We haven’t left this room since yesterday. You were telling me about the football match you were watching with your cousin and then you passed out.
Richard throws his head back in frustration.
RICHARD
Oh God, no. You, you... I woke up in a friendly room and, and.
(He swallows)
My mum and sister were there. They, they told I had been dreaming. All these was a dream.
He scratches his head desperately. Lady Margaret just stares at him.
LADY MARGARET
Your family is safe, Richard. Once we figure out what happened to you, you’ll be free to return to them.
Richard begins to cry silently. Mans having an existential crisis.
LADY MARGARET (CONT'D)
The medication is triggering your hallucinations. I’m going to instruct the nurse to reduce your dose. Is that okay?
Richard nods without looking at her. His breathing has steadied. Lady Margaret walks over to the door and presses a button. It opens and a nurse walks in with a tray. We somehow don’t see her face. Richard still has his face down, but he’s stable now. The nurse walks over to Richard. She does one or two nurse shit on a table. We’ve still not seen her face. Angle On the clock on the wall as the seconds hand tick tocks. It still reads 11:25. The nurse grabs Richard’s hand to give him an injection. As she raises his hand, her sleeve falls backwards and Richard sees a bite mark. He looks up at her and we see her face for the first time. Its Nurse Dara. Richard immediately pushes her away and she falls to the ground.
RICHARD
Stay away from me!
LADY MARGARET
Richard!
Richard tries to scramble to his feet but can’t seem to get up. One of his hands is tied. He desperately tries to lose the rope but the nurse has already recovered. She drags his free hands and begins to tie it. He struggles but doesn’t have the strength. The health machine beeps faster and faster as Richard begins to gasp for breath. He stops struggling.
NURSE DARA
We’re losing him!
Margaret walks to his side and slaps his face, trying to keep him conscious. The machine does a long continuous “beep.”
CUT TO BLACK:
FROM BLACK,
LADY MARGARET (O.S.)
(Hushed tones)
Richard! Richard!
A BEAT. The beep continues along with the clock’s tick tock.
ANGELA (O.S.)
Richard. Richard wake up.
INT. MERIT METROPOLITAN HOSPITAL - RICHARD'S ROOM - DAY
Richard opens his eyes to Angela smiling at him. She taps him gently. Get well soon balloons around. We’re back to 2019.
ANGELA
Hope you haven’t been dreaming again?
(Laughs)
The match has started.
Richard sits up and takes the room in. Chris is standing in a corner beside him with his hands folded. Richard notices a scar on his temple, the same place Raheem struck him. The shock returns to his face. Angela points to the TV.
ANGELA (CONT'D)
I bet Chris that Arsenal will win Chelsea.
(Scoffs)
Like how can you seriously think Chelsea would beat Arsenal?
Richard looks at the TV screen. Its the exact same match from the other night. His heart begins to pump faster.
ANGELA (CONT'D)
Just know you owe me a full chicken, Chris.
In the TV, Chelsea scores a goal. Exactly like the other night. Angela begins to moan and grumble. She throws the remote away in disgust. Richard, looking like he’s expecting the worse again, looks at Chris. Chris looks back. A background music builds up to a crescendo and we expect something bad about to happen. But then Chris smiles. Richard smiles back. Chris puts a finger to his mouth and shushes Richard quietly. They both share a knowing smile and continue watching the match. Pan and Angle On a clock on the wall. It reads 11:25. The second hand tick tocks on the same spot without moving.
FADE TO BLACK:
We continue to hear it tick tock.
THE END.