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Thursday, 22 September 2011

THE BOY IS MINE (SCREEN PLAY EXCERPT)


FADE IN:

INT. KUNLE’S OFFICE - EVENING

Kunle stuffs papers into his briefcase. He prepares to leave his office. The phone on the table buzzes. He looks at it, contemplates and reluctantly picks it up.
A smile adorns his face.

                   KUNLE
Hey! What’s up with you Gbenga?

INTERCUT BETWEEN KUNLE AND GBENGA

          GBENGA (O.S)
Nothing much, Kunle. I was
wondering if you would like to
escort me to the campus this night.

          KUNLE
You bet I will. The last time was
nice. I enjoyed every bit of it.
Man! That Nneka babe is fine.

Kunle moves around the room as he speaks with Gbenga, while he gathers his belongings ready to leave the office.

          GBENGA (O.S)
I will drive down to your home, so
we can leave together in your car
this time. That way you can impress
her. I mean Nneka.

          KUNLE
You know I will not want to impress
her by flaunting my wealth. She might
be after it, not me.

          GBENGA (O.S)
Come on Kunle, women are all the
same, they love comfort, money,
material things.

          KUNLE
They do, but not all of them will do
anything to date a man for his money.
Gbenga don’t let me burn your credit,
we shall see later at my home, bye.

         
GBENGA
All right Kunle, see you later.

Kunle disconnects the line, picks his briefcase up and leaves the office.

EXT. IN THE CAR – DRIVING – EVENING

Kunle meanders his way through traffic.

                   KUNLE (V.O)
Would this girl be the homely type?
Will she possess the characters of
my dream woman? Hmm! At least one
thing for sure is her beauty.

He drives homewards

INT. KUNLE’S HOME – EVENING

A tastefully furnished duplex.

LIVING ROOM

Kunle walks into his apartment. He goes straight to his room.

BEDROOM

He drops his briefcase on the bed, removes his clothes and throws them on the bed. He goes into the bathroom.

He comes out of the bathroom, changes into a casual denim jean trouser and T-shirt, puts on a sneaker, straps on his wristwatch, picks his phone and walks out of the room as he quickly glances at his untidy bed.

LIVING ROOM

Kunle strolls gaily into the living room and then to the kitchen

KITCHEN

He opens the fridge and brings out a half-filled bottle of wine.
He takes the bottle towards the glass rack, picks up a glass and without washing it, pours himself a glass full.

He takes a gulp of the glass and pours the remainder of the wine into it. He drops the bottle in the waste bin and leaves the kitchen.

LIVING ROOM

He sits down on one of the sofas. He reaches for the TV remote controller and switches it on as he gradually sips his wine.

A few minutes later, the doorbell rings. He gets up and goes to open the door. Gbenga stands at the door.

                   KUNLE
Hi, Gbenga. What’s up?

          GBENGA
Nothing much Bro. I want us to go
and check those babes. Kunle, how do
you see Nneka?

The two of them move back into the house and chat on.

          KUNLE
She is fine Gbenga, but the things
I hear about these girls on campus
these days are terrible.
Do you think I can cope with her?

          GBENGA
Why bother man, you have the dough?

          KUNLE
It is not about the cash man; I don’t
want some girl thinking I am a cow
to be milked period. Have you never
heard of the word love?

          GBENGA
I have, Kunle. I have. The last time
I saw it was in the dictionary.
Please forget love matter for now
and have fun. When you get to the
department of marital affairs, God
will provide a woman for you. You
never could tell she might be your
Miss right. Let us shift base, they
are expecting us.

          KUNLE
Don’t you want to drink something?

GBENGA
              (Impatiently)
Leave something for later man,
I say the babes are waiting.

          KUNLE
All right, all right, let’s go
before you tear me apart.

While still standing they turn back towards the entrance. Kunle quickly gulps the remaining of his wine and puts the glass cup down on the closest stool to him and follows Gbenga

                   GBENGA
We will take your BMW.

          KUNLE
Come on let us go Gbenga; what is
wrong with your Mercedes Benz?
Is it not good enough for them?

          GBENGA
It is, but your BMW is a knock out.

They leave the house.

INT. HOSTEL ROOM - NIGHT

Remi and Nneka chat in their hostel room.

                   NNEKA
Do you think Kunle has enough pepper?
         
          REMI
Pepper! What pepper Nneka?

          NNEKA
Remi, sometimes you amaze me.
Cash now. Enough to flow around.

          REMI
Nneka when will you stop this money,
money affair. Your beauty might hold
the magic for you now Nneka. We fade
quickly where men are concerned.

          NNEKA
Remi, leave that matter for now.
He looks and smells rich.

The door opens and a girl walks in with books in hand.

Nneka gazes at her with contempt.

                   NNEKA (CONT’D)
Bookworm, you think you are the only
one that knows how to read.
Good girl on campus.

The girl drops her books on her bed and sits.
She does not answer Nneka.

                   REMI
Nneka leave Labake alone. Allow her
to lead her life the way she wants.
We all cannot be the same.

          NNEKA
     (Irritably)
Remi, she is a spoilt sport.

A knock on the door interrupts the conversation

                   REMI
              (Inaudibly)
That must be Gbenga.

They both quickly gaze at the mirror to make sure they look okay.

The knock is louder on the door again.

Labake is unmindful of the drama that goes on. She arranges her books neatly on her cupboard, keeps her bag by her bed and lies on her bed resignedly.

                   REMI (CONT’D)
              (Loudly)
          Come in

They sit calmly on their beds with eyes glued to the door. Kunle and Gbenga walk into the room.
Labake turns her face away and faces the wall.
The girls exchange greetings with their male visitors.

GBENGA
          Where do we head to babes?

REMI
          Anywhere cool and romantic.

WHO KILLED MRS JOHNSON (EXCERPTS)



EXT. MR JOHNSON’S RESIDENCE - MORNING

A beautiful duplex. Two saloons and one SUV parked in front of the house. A Neat surrounding. A well kept garden.

INT. MR JOHNSON’S RESIDENCE – LIVING ROOM - MORNING

Martha hurries to get her lovely three years old twin daughters, Irene and Maureen ready for school. She neatly arranges their meal into their food flask.

Dapo comes into the living room, dashes into the kitchen to pour a cup of hot coffee from the percolator.
He comes back into the living room, coffee in hand, stands and watches his beautiful wife as she hurriedly prepares their daughters so he could take them to school on his way to work as usual.

                 MARTHA
I’m all set, I am sorry I woke up
late, honey. I was so exhausted from yesterday’s restocking at the store.
         
DAPO
Its okay sweetheart, I am so
fortunate to have such a wonderful
woman as you. 
Where would I be without you?

          MARTHA
Time to go girls.

She holds on to her daughters and with Dapo right behind her they all walk out of the house.

EXT. MR JOHNSON’S RESIDENCE - LATER

She still holds on to her daughters, each on either side as she walks towards the car. She admires her beautiful daughters, darting glances between them and then starts to recollect the first time she set eyes on Dapo, her husband.

EXT. CINEMA - EVENING

FLASHBACK

Martha and a female friend walk out of the cinema hall and approach an eatery located within the same premises as the cinema, Dapo walks over to her.

DAPO
Hello, beauty. We meet again.

          MARTHA
(Stares surprisingly)
Hi.

DAPO
Have you forgotten me?

          MARTHA (V.O)
He thinks I’m Mary.

                   MARTHA
              (Teasingly)
I’m sorry I don’t think I know you.

She turns her face away, smiles and covers her face with one hand to shield her amusement.
         
                   DAPO
 A flat tyre, a few days ago.
 Does that ring a bell?

          MARTHA
 No, it does not.

          MARTHA (V.O)
So this is the Good Samaritan Mary
said help her change her flat tyre
some days back.

          DAPO
     (Confused)
 I am sorry to have bothered you.
 It’s just that you look very much
 like her. It’s been nice talking
 to you.

He turns and is about to walk away.

                   MARTHA
You have mistaken me for my sister.
                
                 DAPO
Your sister!

          MARTHA
Yes, my twin sister, Mary.

DAPO
Wow! You got me fooled their lady.
I thought I was beginning to imagine
things. If she is Mary, then you must
be…

          MARTHA
     (Interject)
Martha, and meet my friend Christina

Her companion bursts into laughter.

                   DAPO
Mary and Martha, huh! That’s nice.
Our good Lord’s favorite women.
Both of you look every bit the
same. I’m Dapo Johnson. How is Mary?

          MARTHA
She is fine.

          DAPO
I promised to call on her but I
have not been able to do so. Please
apologize to her on my behalf. I
will visit as soon as I am able to
do so. May I have the honor of
buying for the ladies?

                 MARTHA
        Actually, we just wanted to pop in
for ice cream.
         
          DAPO
        All the same, I can buy you that
cup Of ice cream? Don’t worry I
have enough cash to buy for us.

                   MARTHA
If you say so. Sure, why not?

The three of them stroll into the eatery.

EXT. MR JOHNSON’S RESIDENCE – MORNING

BACK TO PRESENT

Irene and Maureen get into the car; she closes the back door, whispers parting words and waves them off as Dapo drives the vehicle out of the compound.
She turns around and goes back into the house to complete her chores, and then prepare to go to her shop.

SUPER IMPOSE – 7. 20 A.M.

INT. MR JOHNSON’S RESIDENCE – BATHROOM

Martha takes her bath. She hears the bedroom door open and someone walk in.

                   MARTHA
              (Beat)
Who is it?

INTERCUT BETWEEN DAPO AND MARTHA.

          DAPO
It’s me sweetheart, I forgot
Something.

          MARTHA
What is it?

          DAPO
Some documents.

He opens his drawer and rummages inside. He finds the document, peruses and closes it.

                   DAPO (CONT’D)
I’m off, see you later.

SUPER IMPOSE – 8. 30 A.M

          MARTHA (V.O)
Sometimes I wonder how Dapo manages as a lawyer, he is so forgetful. Today car key, tomorrow cheque book, receipts, a client’s document.

She smiles and continues to take her bath.

INT. MR JOHNSON’S HOUSE – KITCHEN

Martha eats breakfast and is about to wash the dish when a sound emanates within the house.

She pauses briefly and hears nothing. She continues with her chores wondering what it might be but did not bother going to check because she is running out of time.

The sound becomes more audible. Someone is roaming about the house arbitrarily. She decides to leave the dish she is washing to find out the source of the noise. She turns,

MARTHA
               (Startled)
Oh, my God!

SUPER IMPOSE - 9.05 A.M

INT. DAPO’S OFFICE – DAY

Phone rings, Dapo glances at his phone on the table, views the number on the screen.

                   DAPO
              (Frowns)
Hello, Alhaja.

EXT. MARKET - DAY
                            
She stands in front of a closed shop. Two young girls stand beside her chatting. A few other women are around.

                   ALAHAJA
Good morning, sir.

INTERCUT BETWEEN DAPO AND ALHAJA

          DAPO
Yes, Alhaja. What can I do for you
this morning?

          ALHAJA
We are still outside, sir. We have
been waiting for Madam to come and
open the shop, but she has not come
and our customers are annoyed with
us for delaying them.

DAPO
Why didn’t you call her instead,
Alhaja? You have her number, don’t
you?