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?