Shomama - Episode 1
SHOMAMA
Copyright, Arinze S. Chiji 2019
Synopsis
When a sixty three
year old widow decides to be a third wife, it unleashes a chain of unending
drama. Will Shomama go ahead to marry Chief Bamidele Maxwell in the middle of
the chaos? Find out in this intriguing drama series.
Characters
Soyemi ‘Shomama’
Thelma Ladipo
Chief Bamidele
Maxwell
Julian Bamidele
Maxwell
Adunni Maxwell
Josephine Okonji
Ireti Maxwell
Fikayomi Maxwell
Abiodun
Justina Ladipo
SCENE 1
SHOMAMA’S HOUSE
(Thelma knocks on the
front door. There is no response. She dips her hand in her purse and pulls out
her phone. She dials a number)
Thelma
Hello? Shomama?
Shomama
Thelma... I…
Thelma
I told you I was
coming over na… where are you?
Shomama
Emmm… sorry. I went
down the road. I mean faraway to get something… for my… emmm… you know what,
just go home. I will be home late.
Thelma
Excuse me? I can
wait… I mean by 8pm you should be home. I mean, that’s your policy.
Shomama
Not this time dear… I
am taking care of some issues. I will call you back soon. Take care. Bye!
Thelma
Don’t hang up! (The
line goes dead) What is going on?
(She turns to leave
when she bumps into Mr Bala)
Thelma
Good evening sir.
Bala
(Smiles)
Good evening. How are
you Thelma?
Thelma
(In Hausa)
I am fine.
Bala
(In Hausa)
Very good. Are you
here to see Shomama?
Thelma
Yes… but she is not
home and I called her. She told me that she would be coming home late.
Bala
(Laughs)
Oh! Shomama! She is
really taking this serious.
Thelma
Taking what serious?
Bala
I shouldn’t be
telling you this, but your mother is enjoying life again. It’s really good for
her.
Thelma
Please… explain. I am
confused.
Bala
A car comes here to
pick her and brings her back late at night.
Thelma
Okay?
Bala
Come on! You are
smart! It’s a man!
Thelma
(Laughs)
No… My mum would have
told me about it. I don’t believe it.
Bala
(In Hausa)
Haba Thelma! What do
I stand to gain from telling lies? You are hardly around. Just ask her whenever
you see her.
Thelma
(Shakes her head)
I find this hard to
believe.
Bala
It’s a good thing.
She now moves around with a glow (smiles and walks away)
Thelma
Shomama? Man?
SCENE 2
SHOMAMA’S HOUSE
THE DINING TABLE
(Shomama serves
Thelma rice from a bowl humming and sits after serving. She stops humming and
begins to eat. Thelma watch her eat)
Shomama
Won’t you eat? Or are
you going to keep on staring?
Thelma
Where were you last
night? And every other night in the past few weeks…
Shomama
(Smiles)
Police officer!
Detective Thelma! Please eat your food.
Thelma
Mum?
Shomama
(Sighs)
I went out. Okay?
With a friend!
Thelma
Who is he? I mean how
come I didn’t know about it. How can you just carry on shamelessly without
thinking? Your neighbours have been watching your show of shame.
Shomama
(Bangs the table)
Now you listen! I
don’t know who told you what! You have no right to eat from my table and talk
shit about me. You are my daughter and here you are entertaining gossips from
my neighbours. Are you sick?
Thelma
I am sorry mum.
Shomama
You better be! I am a
grown woman and I deserve all the attention that I’m getting. You haven’t been
here in weeks and I understand that you have a business to run. I get to live
life again while you mind your business.
Thelma
I’m sorry.
Shomama
Its fine…
Thelma
Who is he?
Shomama
(Sighs)
Remember last
Christmas? The mysterious gift from Bam?
Thelma
Okay?
Shomama
(Nods)
I have been going out
with him.
Thelma
Do I know this Bam?
Is he young?
Shomama
No!
Thelma
Thank God! I would
kill myself if you go out with someone of my age.
Shomama
It’s chief Bamidele.
Thelma
Chief Bamidele
Maxwell? Ireti and FIkayo’s father? Your best friend’s husband?
Shomama
Correction. Former
best friend. Bam and Adunni are no longer together. Adunni lives in Canada.
Thelma
(Shakes head)
This is not good.
Shomama I don’t know how this will end nicely.
Shomama
I don’t know what you
mean. I am pretty sure it will end well. Bam is everything.
Thelma
(Suddenly stands)
I think I have lost my appetite. I need to
process this.
Shomama
Quit this drama I
beg. It’s not cool. Can’t you at least pretend to be happy for me? For once I
feel alive again!
SCENE 3
PLANDOTTE COSMETICS
THELMA’S OFFICE
(Tolu sits in front
of Thelma)
Tolu
Honestly, Shomama
deserves to be happy.
Thelma
Why are you talking
like this? She deserves to be happy, yes. But it is the person she chooses to
be happy with that is the problem! Chief Bamidele’s daughters were my childhood
friends. Shomama was besties with their mum. I don’t know what happened but
they stopped talking and it sort of restricted my friendship with the girls
too. This cannot end well.
Tolu
Stop sounding like a
prophet of doom.
Thelma
I am worried. Tolu, I
am worried.
Tolu
Don’t let it consume
you o… I can see you have a new store manager.
Thelma
After that Ebube
incident, trusting people has been difficult for me. This one has been here for
two weeks now and she is doing well. She came highly recommended.
Tolu
What is that her
unique name again?
Thelma
Godspower
Tolu
(Laughs)
Yeah… some parents
are wicked o! It’s just like those one that will call their children Fortune,
Salvation, Miracle, Success…
Thelma
(Laughs)
…Goodnews, Goodness,
Testimony, Worship. I beg I don tire!
Tolu
It is well. How is
Justina?
Thelma
Her eyes is set on
UCLA. The girl has been dreaming of life in the US.
Tolu
She is a smart girl.
She will scale all the hurdles and be in Los Angeles in no time.
Thelma
Amen o!
(Thelma’s phone
rings. She swipes to receive)
Hello Shomama?
Shomama
My love… I need you
to clear your schedule this evening. Bam wants to meet with you.
Thelma
For what?
Shomama
Come on! Is it bad
that he wants to meet with you? His driver will pick you in front of your store
by 6pm.
Thelma
I can drive
Shomama
Stop being stubborn.
The driver will come around by 6pm. Okay?
Thelma
Okay
(The phone line goes
dead)
Tolu
What does she want?
Thelma
A dinner date with
her lover
SCENE
4
MAXWELL MANSION
THE DINING TABLE
(Shomama, Bam and
Thelma eat with the expensive silverware. Three Servers attend to them when
necessary)
Thelma
The food is
delicious.
Shomama
Table manners dear…
Don’t talk with food in your mouth.
Bam
Come on Soyemi, she
is free to express herself. (To Thelma) Credit goes to Mariam, she has been our
caterer for ten years.
(Julian walks in)
Julian
Good evening
everyone.
Bam
Hey! Son! You are a
little bit late. Have a seat.
Julian
I would pass. I am a
little bit tired and need to rest my head.
Bam
Come on son! Just a
bite or two. Mariam served her special.
Shomama
Bam… I think Julian needs
to rest.
Bam
…and miss our big
announcement?
Shomama
Oh!
Thelma
What announcement? (Takes
a tumbler and sips water)
(Shomama and Bam
exchange knowing glances)
Shomama
(Squeals and claps
excitedly)
We are engaged!
Thelma
(Spews water all over
the table and shouts)
What!
Julian
Wow! Congratulations
dad (moves to hug a standing Bam)
Bam
Thanks son.
(Julian moves to hug
Shomama)
Julian
Congratulations.
Great news!
Bam
You are excused son.
Go and rest that head of yours.
Julian
(Smiles)
Thanks dad. Enjoy your
dinner (he walks away)
(Shomama and Bam look
at a dishevelled Thelma)
Bam
Thelma… is everything
fine?
Thelma
(Stands)
I need some air.
Please, excuse me. (Leaves the dining room for the balcony)
Shomama
She will be fine.
SCENE 5
MAXWELL MANSION
THE BALCONY
(Thelma folds her
arms as Shomama approach her. She places a hand on her shoulder)
Shomama
You’ve been outside
for thirty minutes. You should come in.
Thelma
Why? Why are you
getting married again?
Shomama
(Sighs)
Bam makes me feel
good.
Thelma
Do you love him?
Shomama
Thelma… I thought you
would be happy for me.
Thelma
Not this mum, I have
a bad feeling about this.
Shomama
You are wrong. This
was meant to happen. Everyone in this mansion is excited but you. It doesn’t
speak well of you.
Thelma
I don’t want to share
you. You are leaving me (sobs)
Shomama
Oh dear! Is that what
this is all about? Baby girl, I am always going to be here for you. (Hugs
Thelma) you have nothing to worry. I love you.
Thelma
Julian likes you. I
didn’t know Adunni Maxwell had a son. I thought she had just Fikayo and Ireti.
Shomama
Julian is not
Adunni’s son. He is Bam’s lovechild
Thelma
What?
Shomama
For someone who is
into the beauty line, you obviously don’t keep tab with society and celeb news.
Thelma
I mind my business
and sell my products. Who is Julian’s mother?
Shomama
Josephine Okonji
Thelma
The same Josephine
Okonji? The actress? I didn’t know she had a child. I thought she was just an
old spinster.
Shomama
It happened a long
time ago. They are civil about the whole thing. She gets monthly allowance and
Julian works in Bam’s auditing firm. A possible heir to his fortune.
Thelma
…and your friend
Adunni? Fikayo and Ireti?
Shomama
Honestly, I don’t
know…
(They hear noises in
the living room)
Thelma
What is going on?
Shomama
Let’s find out…
(They walk into the
living room to find Bam and Josephine)
Josephine
(Looks at Shomama and
Thelma)
So… your mistress
brought her mother.
Bam
Stop it Josephine! Go
home!
Thelma
(Chuckles)
She thinks I’m the
lover? Oh great!
Josephine
Who said you can
talk?
Thelma
Wow! And I loved your
movies o!
Shomama
Thelma, stop it!
(Julian enters)
Julian
What is the commotion
about? Mum, what are you doing here?
Bam
(To Julian)
Stop acting like you
didn’t tell her.
Julian
Chief! You should
know me by now.
Josephine
He didn’t tell me a
thing! I have my contacts! I was told you have been playing around with someone
these few days. I thought it was one of your numerous flings but for you to get
engaged and preparing a wedding? That can never happen. I have waited for
thirty years to be Mrs Maxwell. Adunni having cancer and ready to die was going
to seal it! This woman cannot come into the picture!
Julian
(Shouts)
Mother!
Josephine
Leave me! Let me be!
Bam
Josephine get out!
Josephine
Bamidele Maxwell,
this won’t end well. I tell you (moves closer to Shomama) watch your back every
second, something terrible might happen to you
Bam
Enough of this
nonsense! Now get out!
Josephine
(Turns to Thelma)
Under a better
circumstance, an autograph would be given to you. Keep watching my movies. You
can learn one or two things, including teaching your mother how to close her
legs so that she can make heaven!
Bam
I said enough! Get
out!
(Grabs Josephine by
the arm and drags her out as she laughs hysterically)
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