Shomama - Episode 2
SHOMAMA EPISODE 2
Arinze S. Chiji
SCENE 1
MAXWELL MANSION
THE LIVING ROOM
(Shomama is wrapped
in Thelma’s arms. Julian and Mariam look on. Bam enters, obviously furious)
Bam
She is gone. Can I
have a word with you in private, Soyemi?
Julian
Dad, I swear… I
didn’t tell my mum anything.
Bam
(Waves him off)
It’s nothing son… she
was going to find out anyway.
Thelma
(To Shomama)
I will be around if
you need me. (Stands and walks towards Bam) I don’t like seeing my mother this
way. Fix it!
Bam
(Nods)
I will
Julian
Thelma, please let me
take you upstairs.
(Thelma follows
Julian out of the living room)
Bam
(To Mariam)
Get us water.
Mariam
Yes sir
(Bows and walks away)
Shomama
You have not been
honest with me.
Bam
I have… Soyemi.
Josephine is just a mad cow.
Shomama
…Adunni has cancer.
You left out that part.
Bam
It never came up.
Shomama
It never came up? Are
you listening to yourself? It took me time to accept your advances because of
Adunni. You told me she was living her life in Canada and that you guys are
finalising your divorce. She is not living her life! She is dying!
Bam
This was before the
cancer issue. We have been separated and I only got to know about her health
condition.
Shomama
When? Yesterday? A
week ago? Last Christmas?
Bam
Two years ago!
Shomama
(Opens her mouth in
shock)
I need to go home.
Bam
No… Soyemi. Listen to
me… I am sorry I kept that away from you. I should have told you from the
onset. I wanted to start on a fresh slate. I would never do anything to hurt
you
Shomama
You just did! I can’t
live with the guilt of marrying my dying friend’s husband. You are not even
divorced. What was I thinking?
Bam
No… Soyemi. This is
not what it seems.
Shomama
You are right! It is
not… I was blinded by… I don’t know. Now I see clearly and all I feel is
disgust. Disgust for myself!
(Mariam enters with a
jar of water and two glass cups)
Mariam
I have water.
Bam
(To Mariam)
Leave this place!
SCENE 2
MAXWELL MANSION
JULIAN’S ROOM
(Thelma is pacing
back and forth, checking her phone. Julian is in bed under the covers)
Julian
You will wear out the
rug with your pacing.
Thelma
(Startled)
I’m sorry… it’s just
that…
Julian
Calm down. They will
sort out their differences. They are sexagenarians and should know better.
Thelma
(Stops pacing and
folds her arms)
How are you so calm?
Why are you cool with all these?
Julian
(Smiles)
At first, I wasn’t.
You are this way because you just found out. They are our parents and should
know better.
Thelma
…I find this hard to
believe. So you didn’t call your mother to start up a fight?
Julian
(Laughs)
I try as much as
possible to stay away from my mother. You saw her! (Whispers) don’t tell her.
She is toxic.
Thelma
(Smiles)
Hmm… interesting.
Julian
Just relax. They will
be fine. Your mum is nice.
Thelma
Thanks.
(Mariam knocks on the
door and enters before a response)
Mariam
(To Thelma)
Your mum is ready to
leave
Thelma
Okay… thanks.
Mariam
(Smiles)
You are welcome
(leaves)
Julian
I guess I will be
seeing you around sis.
Thelma
(Chuckles)
Sis? You bet bro!
Good night. (Leaves)
SCENE 3
SHOMAMA’S HOUSE
(Thelma and Shomama
meet Bala at the front door)
Bala
(Smiles)
Good evening mother
and child.
Both
Good evening
Bala
(In Hausa)
How did today’s
outing go?
Shomama
(In Hausa)
Bala, learn to mind
your business please. (Opens the door and enters)
Thelma
(Smiles)
She is very tired. (Enters
the house)
Shomama
Why can’t Bala mind
his business? He should go back to his farm in Kaduna!
Thelma
Shomama! Calm down!
Bala doesn’t own a farm in kaduna, he works in advertising. You are just over
reacting and transferring unnecessary aggression.
Shomama
I am not.
Thelma
Did you and Bam
conclude? You refused to say anything in the car. The driver is not here. You
can talk.
Shomama
I don’t want to talk
at the moment.
Thelma
Is the wedding still
on?
Shomama
Of course! (Walks
away)
SCENE 4
PLANDOTTE COSMETICS
THELMA’S OFFICE
(Godspower enters
sweating)
Godspower
Madam… someone is
here to see you.
Thelma
Why are you sweating
like this? And stop calling me madam
Godspower
Okay ma.
Thelma
Is the cooling unit
in your office not working?
Godspower
No ma.
Thelma
Okay… I will call the
technician to fix it. So… who is here to see me?
Godspower
A woman.
Thelma
She doesn’t have a
name?
(The door opens and a
tall light skinned woman enters)
Godspower
(To the woman)
I thought I told you
to wait.
Woman
I am not a waitress
dear. I am in a hurry. (To Thelma) Hello Thelma Crayfish!
Thelma
(Stands in shock)
Wait a minute!
Fikayomi Maxwell?
Fikayo
(Smiles)
Fikayomi Maxwell
Abiodun.
(Godspower leaves the
office)
Thelma
What has it been?
Twenty years?
Fikayo
Twenty five years and
three months.
Thelma
Wow! Detailed! This
is a pleasant surprise! Your skin is glowing.
Fikayo
I know. Thanks to
lightening creams and good matrimonial sex.
Thelma
(Laughs)
Oh my goodness! You
still have sharp mouth. How is Ireti?
Fikayo
(Smiles)
She is fine and that
brings me back to why I’m here. Why is your mum interested in being Mrs
Maxwell?
Thelma
(Stutters)
I... I... I… I mean…
Fikayo
You have always been
a crayfish. Look at you stammering like a thief caught after a botched heist.
Thelma
Excuse me?
Fikayo
I didn’t plan on
meeting you again after two decades under this kind of circumstance. It is
pathetic! If you and your mum have any bit of dignity left, this would be the
appropriate time to use it. My mum is dying and you people are very
inconsiderate! You couldn’t wait for her departure?
Thelma
Calm down Fikayo. I
wouldn’t have you throw insults at us in my office.
Fikayo
Crayfish! Crawl back
into the cave you came from and let us live in peace.
Thelma
Get out of my office!
Fikayo
(Laughs hysterically)
This stinking cubicle
is what someone refers to as office. My dear, I’m sure you are desperate for an
upgrade! Newsflash, my father is not your pay check. Tell your mother to stay
away or she might lose a limb.
Thelma
Is that a threat?
Fikayo
Interpretation is
yours to do.
Thelma
You are cynical.
Fakery
Goodbye crayfish!
(Leaves the office)
SCENE 5
TWO DAYS LATER
OUTSIDE IKEJA CITY MALL
(Thelma and Tolu
watch as a group of paparazzi surround a lady in sunglasses)
Thelma
That must be a
celebrity! These paparazzi won’t let them breathe.
Tolu
(Squints)
Wait o! Is that not
Josephine the actress? Your step brother’s mother
Thelma
Stop it! Which one is
step brother again? I know I shouldn’t have told you about my dysfunctional
family.
Tolu
Oh please! As if you
have anyone else to talk to.
Thelma
What is she doing
here?
Tolu
Which kind question
be that? Is this not an entertainment centre? A mall that houses a cinema
amongst other recreational and commercial things. Madam it’s a public place
and…
Thelma
It’s enough!
(They watch as
Josephine enter a tinted Benz and speed off. The paparazzi disperse in
different directions)
Tolu
Her skin is flawless
o!
Thelma
(Looks away to see
Julian approaching them)
Julian?
Tolu
What?
Thelma
Look… its Josephine’s
son.
Tolu
Your step brother?
Where?
Thelma
Look ahead. He is
approaching us.
Tolu
(Spots Julian)
He is fine o! Chai!
Is sex with a step brother incest?
Thelma
(Hits Tolu’s head)
What is wrong with
you? Gutter mind!
Tolu
(Rubs her head
gently)
Ouch! That was
painful!
(Julian stands in front
of the lady grinning)
Thelma
(Smiles)
Hey! Hi!
Julian
Hi!
Tolu
Hello! (Waves
excitedly)
Thelma
What are you doing
here?
Julian
Oh! I was meeting up
with my mum. I guess you just saw her.
Tolu
(To Thelma) How does
this chocolate candy manage to stay out of the spotlight?
Thelma
Chocolate candy is
right in front of you. He can hear you loud and clear…
Julian
(Laughs)
This is interesting.
Thelma
Julian… meet Tolu.
Tolu... Meet Julian.
(Tolu and Julian
shake hands)
Tolu
Strong hand! Nice to
meet you. I have heard so much about you!
Julian
(Laughs hard,
clutching his abdomen)
This is really
interesting.
Thelma
Don’t mind this
thirsty woman!
Julian
I need to return to
the office. I will see you around. Take care ladies
(He walks away as
they watch)
Tolu
See handsome man!
Chai! Thelma, I just pity you. You can’t have anything to do with him.
Thelma
…and you too! You are
married!
Tolu
(Rolls her eyes)
Please don’t remind
me. Sometimes, I wonder if I was drugged when I said yes to my husband. I have
been seeing so many handsome men these days! Where were they when I was
hunting?
Thelma
Hunter! Please, calm
down madam!
Tolu
But wait o! Why was
Julian meeting with Josephine? I thought you said he confessed to you that he
doesn’t relate with his mother. He also denied calling her to the house. Why is
he meeting with her?
Thelma
She is his mother.
Please don’t come up with all these thoughts to rile me up this afternoon.
Tolu
You better let them
rile you up. Think deeply and know the people you are dealing with. Julian
might be double faced.
SCENE 6
THELMA’S HOUSE
THE KITCHEN
(Thelma is emptying
the content of the grocery bags on the island. She makes to put some of the
items in the freezer when her phone rings)
Thelma
(Swipes right to
answer)
Hello Shomama
Shomama
Baby girl, how are
you?
Thelma
I am fine.
Shomama
That’s good. I just
spoke with Justina. She said you should call her. I’m sure you know what that
means.
Thelma
(Rubs her fore head
gently)
She has run out of
provision abi? This girl will not wreck me. I can’t wait for her to leave
boarding school.
Shomama
Won’t she eat again? Na
wa for you o!
Thelma
Her own is too much. I have told her to manage
herself. Things are hard and preparations for her study abroad is gulping
millions already.
Shomama
Calm down. You will
get around it somehow. Where are you now?
Thelma
I am home… I just got
back from the mall.
Shomama
Okay… come for dinner
at the Maxwell mansion to cool off.
Thelma
Hell no!
Shomama
(Sighs)
I am with Bam at the
moment. We are heading for the mansion and he wants to see you. At least to
apologize for the last time. Don’t refuse him the opportunity to make amends.
Thelma
Oh mum!
Shomama
Please T baby.
Thelma
Okay… I will be there
soon. (Ends the call)
SCENE 7
MAXWELL MANSION
THE LIVING ROOM
(Thelma enters to
meet Fikayo and Julian discussing)
Thelma
(Clears throat)
Hello?
Julian
(Smiles)
Hi Thelma.
Fikayo
I guess I have to be
on my way. Julian tell daddy I visited. (Stands and walks out without looking
back)
Julian
Why are you looking
at me like that?
Thelma
Where are they?
Julian
On their way, I guess.
Come and sit beside me. You look stressed.
Thelma
Number one. Never tell
a lady she looks stressed. Two. You are a two faced backstabbing beast!
Julian
Whoa! Where is that
coming from?
Thelma
First, it was
Josephine and now it’s Fikayo. The universe is just pointing me to one thing. I
am very glad it showed me earlier.
Julian
What are you talking
about?
(Mariam enters
suddenly)
Mariam
Mr Julian! The security
man at the gate just rang the kitchen. Fikayo just collapsed!
Julian
(Jumps to his feet)
What?
Thelma
(Opens her mouth in
shock)
My goodness.
Please drop your comments. I would love to hear from you.
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