Our Christmas Miracle
Our Christmas Miracle
Arinze S. Chiji
Synopsis
Thelma wants a
Christmas dress for her daughter. She beats herself up for not being able to
make Justina’s desire a reality. Justina helps her mother to reveal the mystery
behind her sudden financial mess. Thelma’s trusted and close persons are
implicated and exposed, only a Christmas miracle will make Justina’s wish come
true.
CHARACTERS
Thelma - CEO
Plandotte cosmetics
Justina Ladipo –
Thelma’s fifteen year old daughter
Shomama – Thelma’s
mum
Kunle Ladipo –
Justina’s father and Thelma’s ex husband
Mr Femi – Thelma’s
accountant
Ebube – Plandotte
store manager
Joyce – Owner, Ivory
boutique
Tolu
Bimpe
Bisola Ladipo
Police officers
SCENE 1
IVORY BOUTIQUE
Thelma
I don’t think I can afford this at the moment.
I will get back to you.
Joyce
Come on Thelma,
you’ve had a wonderful year. You opened two stores on the island and that trip
to Dubai in August? What do you mean? Buy this thing for your little princess.
Thelma
You won’t understand.
I will get back to you. Don’t push it, please.
Joyce
Okay… if you say so.
I will return this gorgeous dress to the rack and maybe someone will buy it
tomorrow. I mean… it’s the Christmas rush.
Thelma
(nods)
Thanks. I will see
you soon.
(Thelma walks out of
the store. She dips her hand in her handbag to grab her phone. She dials a
number)
Hello. Kunle…
Kunle
Hey… Thelma.
Thelma
I was wondering if
you got my message.
Kunle
(sighs)
Yes I did…
Thelma
And…
Kunle
See… Thelma, this is
a bad time. I am kind of tied at the moment.
Thelma
What do you mean? I
haven’t asked you for anything before. It is not even for me. It’s for our
daughter.
Kunle
You should try to
understand. My hands are tied.
Thelma
You know what? Just
forget it. (Hangs up)
SCENE 2
SHOMAMA’S HOUSE
(Thelma sits on the
sofa staring at the ceiling. Shomama stands over her)
Shomama
Thelma!
Thelma
(Jolts)
Mum…
Shomama
You will kill
yourself with this thinking. I don’t like this. You can’t help the situation,
why ponder over it for so long?
Thelma
Mum… you don’t
understand. I promised to be everything for my princess. Why should I start
failing now?
Shomama
Welcome to life!
Things don’t always go the way we plan. You should know this by now.
Thelma
I have let my
princess down.
Shomama
(Shakes her head)
Justina is a good
girl. She will understand. You shouldn’t be too hard on yourself. So what? You
had a bad year… re strategize!
Thelma
I did not have a bad
year! It was just this December. I don’t know what happened. My money just
vanished.
Shomama
Think hard! The trip
to Dubai and other frivolous spending must have caused it.
Thelma
(Rolls her eyes)
It is not that. One
minute I have so much in my bank account, the next minute it’s all gone. Some
bad business deals, that’s what Femi said.
Shomama
(Sighs)
You will be fine.
When will you be going to pick Justina?
Thelma
Tomorrow…
Shomama
Cheer up. Let me make
you pasta and fish sauce. (Smiles and walks away)
SCENE 3
(In front of Pinewood college)
(Thelma parks her SUV
and waits a few seconds before Justina arrives with her luggage. Thelma still
in the car smiles as Justina opens the passenger’s door)
Justina
You are late! Won’t
you help me with these bags?
Thelma
She is already giving
orders!
Justina
(Smiles)
I know you missed me.
Thelma
(Smiles)
Yes my princess. Hop
in with your luggage, let’s get out of here. I’m sure you are starving.
Justina
Yes!
(They laugh hard)
SCENE 4
(DE MONDE HOTEL, RESTAURANT)
(Justina watch Thelma
use the fork to play with the salad. She is not eating)
Justina
You don’t like the
salad? You can order something else.
(No response)
Justina
(Snaps her fingers in
Thelma’s face)
Hey!
Thelma
That’s rude!
Justina
What is going on? You
are not listening to me.
Thelma
Of course I heard
you. I don’t think Wizkid should release an album at the moment.
Justina
(Fold her arms)
Really?
Thelma
(Rubs her face with
her palm)
Tina… please finish
your food. I will drop you off at Grandma’s.
Justina
Grandma’s? Why? What
is wrong? Did I do something bad?
Thelma
No… no… no… it’s not
you. It’s just that… the house is a mess. I need… I mean… I’m renovating the
place.
Justina
That’s a lie!
Thelma
Just eat!
Justina
I’m done!
Thelma
Fine! Get into the
car (stands and leaves Justina at the table)
SCENE 5
(SHOMAMA’S HOUSE)
(Thelma hands over
Justina to Shomama and exits the house hurriedly)
Shomama
(Smiling)
You should take your
bags to the guest room and settle in. we have a lot to catch up on.
Justina
(Fold her arms)
I am not stepping an
inch.
Shomama
(Sighs)
Your mum… she needs to
sort out a few things. She will come for you soon.
Justina
No! Something is
wrong and I am being left in the dark on purpose. I am fifteen not five!
Shomama
Watch your tone
princess! You should try to understand.
Justina
Understand what? What
are you trying to make me understand? Is there a man? Is mum leaving me like…?
Shomama
No… no… your mum will
never do that to you. She loves you too much and has been by your side. She is
just going through a lot and needs to sort out things.
Justina
Grandma?
Shomama
Oh! Tina!
Justina
Just say it. What is
going on? You know I will figure it out on my own.
Shomama
(Sighs)
Please… Tina, just
let it be. Your mum is handling the situation.
Justina
(Smirks)
Okay… I will take my
bags to the room now.
Shomama
I don’t like that
look. I don’t like that look Tina.
SCENE 6
(SHOMAMA’S HOUSE)
(GUEST ROOM)
(Justina lay on the
bed with a phone pressed to her ear)
Justina
Bimpe, I had to
borrow Shomama’s phone to call you. My phone is in the house.
Bimpe
Okay. Yeah the house
is out of bounds.
Justina
I wonder when the
renovation will be over so that I can storm the hood.
Bimpe
What renovation?
Justina
The house was sealed
because of renovation works.
Bimpe
Was that what your
mum told you? The bank sealed your house. I heard she has some financial
troubles.
Shomama
(Calls from the
living room)
Justina! Your mum is
here!
Justina
Uuum… Bimpe, I will
call you back. My mum is back. (She hung up and jumps to her feet. She walks
fuming all the way to the living room)
Thelma
My princess!
Justina
When did you plan on
telling me that we are poor!
Shomama
Hey! Young woman!
Thelma
Who told you that?
Justina
I just spoke with
Bimpe from the neighbourhood and she said the bank has sealed our house.
Thelma
Where did you get a
phone?
Shomama
Oh dear! She said she
wanted to call the matron at Pinewood that she left her sweaters. I should have
known better.
Justina
(Shouts)
That is not the
point! Imagine hearing that you are poor from a total stranger. Everyone knows
but me! I thought we promised to be each other’s best friend. Best friends
don’t keep secrets!
Thelma
Its adult stuff.
Justina
Is that all the
explanation you can give?
Thelma
Shut up! Don’t you
dare talk to me like that! I am your mother and I deserve some respect! Do you
think I am fine with all these? My money’s vanished just like that! All I need
is your understanding and not all these unnecessary drama. I didn’t raise an
ungrateful brat! I owe you no explanation!
(Runs out sobbing)
Shomama
Are you satisfied?
She lost everything and all she was worried about was the Christmas dress she
promised you! Nothing else!
SCENE 7
(SHOMAMA’S ROOM)
(Thelma rests her
head on Shomama’s laps. Shomama strokes her hair gently)
Shomama
You have bottled up
so many things. You allowed your thoughts to consume you. It was eating you up
my child.
Thelma
Mum… I don’t know how
to be strong again.
Shomama
Thelma… you are
talking nonsense. You are a strong woman. These tears make you strong. You are
allowed to cry. You left Kunle and built a dynasty. Look at how far you’ve
come. A little bump on the road cannot wipe out your history of enduring
strength. You are the strongest and toughest woman I know.
Thelma
I messed up!
Shomama
You are allowed to
mess up. It is what you do after the mess that matters.
(A knock on the open
door startles them. It is Justina with some office files. Thelma sits up and
wipes her tears)
Justina
Can I come in?
Shomama
You are in already.
Justina
Mum, I’m sorry. I
didn’t mean to hurt you. I am very sorry. Please forgive me.
Shomama
(Looks at Thelma)
Thelma?
Thelma
(Nods)
What do you have in
your hand?
Justina
Oh! It’s your
financial records. I took it from your briefcase…
Shomama
Justina? What is
wrong with you?
Justina
No… you have to hear
me out. I was concerned when mum said her money vanished. It’s not right.
Shomama
She has a very good
accountant in Mr Femi. He has managed her finances well. Things just went bad.
It happens.
Justina
No! Not this one. I
noticed some anomalies. If you would let me run them by you, I will be very
glad.
Shomama
(Shakes her head)
This girl is
stubborn.
Thelma
(Smiles and stands)
Mum, I will be with
my daughter for a while.
Shomama
Okay o… mother and
daughter.
(Shomama watch them
leave the room)
SCENE 8
THE NEXT DAY
(SHOMAMA’S HOUSE)
(Thelma and Justina
head to the front door, Shomama tags behind)
Shomama
Where are you going
this early?
Thelma
The store. Justina
was right. There are some anomalies in the records. We are going to investigate
and get to the root of it.
Shomama
Ha! Please be certain
of what you are doing. Femi has been your accountant for years. Could he be
reckless after all these years?
Thelma
Mum, I’m afraid it’s
not just him. Ebube has some explaining to do.
Shomama
Ebube … your store
manager?
Thelma
Yes. I have been
careless.
Shomama
Those two are
criminals. You better inform the police immediately.
Thelma
Not yet. We are still
investigating.
Shomama
So… Tina is going
with you?
Thelma
Yes mum. We are in
this together.
Shomama
(Sighs)
Okay… just be careful
and call me from time to time. I need updates. I can call your Uncle to start
putting his boys on alert.
Thelma
I won’t be needing
the commissioner now.
Shomama
You will not hear
word now. I will call him.
Thelma
Okay… we are running
late. Later mum.
(They exit)
SCENE
9
(TOLU’S MAKE UP STUDIO)
(Thelma is parked
outside the studio)
Thelma
She will be here any
minute.
Justina
You should have
called.
Thelma
No, it’s better this
way. I don’t want the culprits to be alerted. Tolu will be here any minute. She
doesn’t joke with her studio. Look! There she is!
(Points to a lady who alights from a bike. She
pays the bike man and he zooms off. She walks to the studio’s door. Thelma
horns)
That should get her
attention. Here she comes.
(Tolu approaches the
SUV, Thelma winds down)
Good morning Tolu.
Tolu
Thelma! This is a big
surprise o! What are you doing here?
Thelma
Good question. I need
your help.
Tolu
Why don’t you come
into the studio let me attend to you properly.
Thelma
No… it won’t be
necessary.
Tolu
Okay… (Waves to
Justina) Isn’t that little Tina? She is no longer little o. look at her
breasts.
Justina
(Rolls her eyes)
Good morning Aunty
Tolu.
Tolu
How are you?
Justina
Very well. Thank you.
Thelma
She just came back
from school.
Tolu
You just shipped her
off to boarding school so that all those men can be servicing you with no
disturbance.
Justina
Mum… the receipts!
Thelma
Tolu, do you still
have the receipts for August to December purchases? The one Ebube gave you.
Tolu
Of course. Is that
what this is all about? You didn’t need to drive all the way down here. I could
have sent it online or something. I hope all is well.
Thelma
Ummm… let me just see
the receipts.
Tolu
I think I have it
snapped on my phone already.
Thelma
She didn’t give you
the electronic receipt?
Tolu
Electronic receipt
ke? For some months now, I have not gotten electronic receipts. She said the IT
Company generating the receipt is currently undergoing an upgrade. So it’s been
paper receipts o!
Thelma
Okay… let me see the
pictures or quickly send it to my whatsapp number.
Tolu
(Brings out her
phone, swipes for a few seconds)
Done!
Thelma
Thanks.
(She winds up as Tolu
walks away. She checks her phone immediately)
Justina
Found anything?
Thelma
Oh my goodness. Ebube
has not been remitting all the money to the account. The receipts here says one
hundred and twenty thousand naira, but the one in the file says seventy
thousand naira.
Justina
That’s a little above
fifty percent unaccounted for! Let’s check on other customers before heading to
the store.
Thelma
I think I need to
call Shomama to alert the commissioner.
Justina
I think so too.
SCENE 10
PLANDOTTE COSMETICS STORE
(Thelma and Justina
walk into the manager’s office. Ebube jumps to her feet)
Ebube
(Checks her
wristwatch and grins)
Good afternoon ma.
Ha! Miss Justina, you are back from school.
Thelma
Ebube I trusted you!
You have ruined me!
Ebube
I beg your pardon
Thelma
Save it! I know
you’ve been stealing from me. All morning, I have been visiting our customers
and cross checking the figures on the receipt with what is in the official
records. I have seven point eight million naira unaccounted for! How did this
happen?
Ebube
(Kneels)
Madam, I can explain.
It was not me o. I should have reported this to you a long time ago but I was
afraid. He made me do it the first time and threatened to expose me when I
refused the second time. My conscience has been killing me and I cannot even
carry out my duties as the leader of prayer warriors in my church with this guilt.
Justina
Who are you talking
about?
(No response)
Thelma
You won’t talk right?
The police is outside waiting for you. You will spend Christmas behind bars.
Ebube
(Screams)
Ha! No ma! I beg! It
was Mr Femi… your accountant. He was the one o! He got me into this trouble.
Please ma, I am sorry.
Thelma
Aaargh! Femi! (To
Justina) Did you record everything?
Justina
(Waves a phone in the
air)
All of it!
Thelma
(Collects the phone
and dials a number)
Hello? Femi? Meet me
at De Monde hotel. I’m meeting with an investor. Thirty minutes. Thanks. (Hangs
up)
Let’s get out of
here. Ebube…
Ebube
Ma?
Thelma
You are fired! Leave
this office!
(Ebube stands crying
and leaves)
Justina
Are you all right?
Thelma
Do you want the
truth?
Justina
(Nods) Best friends
don’t keep secrets.
Thelma
I am devastated. I
don’t think I can handle all these.
Justina
Mum. You are strong.
I am inspired by you. You can do this.
Thelma
Thanks princess.
(Hugs Justina) you don’t have to come to De Monde.
Justina
I won’t miss the
grand finale! (Laughs)
Thelma
(Laughs)
Naughty girl!
SCENE 11
DE MONDE HOTEL, RESTAURANT
(Femi sips wine from a glass. He checks his wristwatch and looks up to
see Thelma and Justina approaching his table. He smiles as they sit)
Femi
Good afternoon
ladies.
Thelma
Good afternoon, so
sorry we are late. Lagos traffic.
Femi
No worries, I just
got ten minutes ago. And the investor?
(Thelma and Justina
look at each other)
Femi
Oh! Is Justina the
investor?
Thelma
Let us make this
quick… there are police cars outside ready to pick you up. I just want you to
clear the air on some issues for me before it happens.
Femi
Excuse me?
Justina
You’ve been stealing
from my mother. We found out and your accomplice Ebube confessed.
Thelma
We have it recorded.
Femi
I’m sorry. There must
be a mix up somewhere. I suggest you two order something cold from the bar to
calm down.
Thelma
(Bangs the table)
The only cold and
cruel thing here is you! I trusted you and I pay you well. Why would you steal
from me? You didn’t just steal from me. You ruined my life. Femi where the hell
is my money?
Justina
(Brings out a phone
and dials a number)
Hello? Shomama… let
them come in.
Femi
No! No! No! I am sorry.
Look… Thelma, it wasn’t me. I didn’t know he was going to be this greedy. It
was supposed to be a one off thing but he became so greedy and devised means of
siphoning money from you.
Thelma
Speak up. Say
everything you know.
(Shomama enters with
ten police officers)
Shomama
Officers! Arrest him!
Thelma
No! Wait… he is yet
to confess. He was about to tell me something.
Shomama
Thelma, let the
police handle this. You have tried.
Justina
(To Femi)
Who is behind it all?
How did you steal from my mother with no alarm raised?
Femi
(Shakes his head)
It was Kunle.
Thelma
Which Kunle?
Femi
Kunle Ladipo… your
ex-husband. He came to my office some months ago. He had a business proposal.
He approached me because you obviously didn’t want to have anything to do with
him.
Thelma
I gave you an express
order not to entertain Kunle.
Femi
Yes you did… but his
proposal was too juicy and I invested some of your money in the business. It
yielded profit the first and second time.
Justina
…and crashed the
third time?
Femi
Yes! I couldn’t tell
you about it and Kunle capitalised on it. He blackmailed me and gave me
strategies to siphon money from Plandotte. He came up with the receipt scheme
and other shady contracts tied to his current wife’s company. It was never
enough for him. He spent the money lavishly. He decided to take everything from
you and relocate to Sweden in the New Year with his wife and two sons. I am
sorry.
Thelma
(Stands and shouts)
Kuuuuuuuunnnnle!
(She pulls off her
shoe and smacks Femi on the head. Femi falls to the floor unconscious. Shomama
screams. The officers move to revive him. Thelma storms out, Shomama and
Justina running after her)
SCENE 12
CHRISTMAS EVE
MARYLAND MALL
THE PARKING LOT
(Kunle is in his car
swiping his phone. A knock on the window startles him)
Kunle
Bisola!
(He winds down)
Bisola
Some men are
following us.
Kunle
Stop being paranoid.
Where are the boys?
Bisola
They are coming.
(Two boys approach
the car with grocery bags)
Boy 1
We didn’t get
anything. Mum just stopped us from shopping.
Kunle
Bisola?
Bisola
Kunle… I know what I
saw. Please, let’s get out of here.
(Justina emerge from
a dark part of the lot)
Justina
Daddy!
Bisola
(To the boys)
Get into the car now!
(Fifteen men in mufti
appear from the darkness with guns and surround the car)
Officer 1
Kunle Ladipo step
down from the vehicle! Slowly!
Bisola
(Screams)
Jesus!
(Bisola is handcuffed
as Kunle steps down from the car. Thelma and Shomama appear from the darkness.
They watch as Kunle is handcuffed. A crowd had gathered. Thelma approaches
Kunle)
Thelma
Why did you do it?
Why?
Kunle
You left me and lived
like I didn’t exist.
Thelma
I don’t remember it
that way. You left me to be with another woman. You thought I was going to crumble
and come back to you, begging.
Kunle
I am sorry.
Thelma
You are a beast! You
almost ruined my life and your daughter’s. You will rot in hell!
SCENE 13
IVORY BOUTIQUE
(Thelma walks in with
Justina. Joyce hugs them at the entrance)
Joyce
Merry Christmas
dears.
Thelma and Justina
Merry Christmas
Thelma
(Smiles)
You know why we are
here!
Joyce
(Sighs)
Of course I do!
Thelma
Is there a problem?
Joyce
The dress has been
sold.
Thelma
What!
Joyce
I told you na. That
dress is hotcake.
Thelma
No! Can you get in
touch with the person? I don’t know maybe we can work something out.
Joyce
(Shakes her head)
Not at all. I’m so
sorry. You can pick something else from the rack. I’m sure Justina won’t mind.
Excuse me… let me attend to other customers while you make your choice.
Justina
Mum!
Thelma
Princess? I’m sorry.
Justina
You don’t need to be.
I really wanted that dress but I can get something else. I am just glad we
worked as a team to cage our monsters. Femi, Ebube and Kunle will spend
Christmas in prison. It’s enough consolation for me.
Thelma
You have a dark and
twisted mind! (Smiles)
Justina
Oh! I’m pained
(clutches her chest)
Thelma
Drama queen!
(They burst into
laughter as Joyce approach them)
Joyce
Have you made a
decision?
Justina
Oh! Yes!
Joyce
Perfect! So which
dress are you picking?
Justina
Not today… we are
just going to settle for some ice cream at the creamery down the road. Right
mum?
Thelma
Sure darling! Joyce,
thanks for the troubles.
Joyce
Whatever! (Walks
away)
SCENE 14
CHRISTMAS DAY
SHOMAMA’S HOUSE
(Shomama, Thelma and
Justina are under the Christmas tree unwrapping gifts)
Shomama
(Hugs a knitted
sweater)
Oh! Thanks Princess
for this work of love.
Justina
I spent my spare time
in boarding school carefully knitting with love.
(Thelma gives Shomama
a box)
Shomama
(Unwraps it to find a
gold necklace)
Thelma! This must
have cost a fortune.
Thelma
Remember? Frivolous
spending? I got it in Dubai.
Shomama
Oh dear! What did I
do to deserve this?
Thelma and Justina
Drama!
(Laugh)
Shomama
(Laughs and gives
Justina a box)
Your turn. Unwrap.
Justina
Yes! (Unwraps the box
and reveals a dress)
Thelma
(Shouts)
The dress from Ivory
boutique! Shomama!
Justina
Grandma… you... You…
Shomama
Yes. Your mum was
really killing herself because she couldn’t afford it. You two were too
engrossed in the case and I decided to save the day.
Justina
(hugs shomama)
I love you Grandma.
Shomama
I love you too,
Princess.
(A knock on the door)
Thelma
(jumps to her feet)
I will get it…. And
thanks mum.
Shomama
Go and open door
jare!
(Thelma goes to open
the door. It’s a delivery man. She signs the acceptance form, collects the box
and closes the door)
Thelma
It’s for you Shomama
Shomama
Me? From who? Open
it.
Thelma
(Opens the box,
reveals a diamond bracelet, sees a note and reads)
Ololufe mi, it’s been
a while. You never left my heart. I miss you. From Bam.
Justina
Ha! Shomama!
Shomama
Who asked you to read
the note?
Thelma
(laughs)
Yeeeaaah! Grandma is
hooked o! Who is Bam?
Shomama
Be asking question
that sango cannot answer. Mind your business!
(They laugh hard)
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