Shomama - Episode 6
SHOMAMA – EPISODE 6
ARIN
SCENE 1
ATAN CEMETERY, YABA
(Bam, Shomama,
Fikayo, Ireti, Doyin, Julian, Mariam, Thelma, Tolu and a few others watch as
Adunni’s casket is buried. A choir of six sing a hymn. The hole is covered and
everyone starts to move leaving Bam, Thelma, Shomama and Ireti)
Ireti
Till we meet again,
mum.
Shomama
(Rubs Ireti’s
shoulder lovingly)
Yes… till we meet
again.
(They watch as
Josephine dressed in black fur approach them)
Josephine
(Removes her sunglass
to reveal a red and puffy eyes)
Hello? I came to pay
my last respect.
Ireti
You had the guts!
Josephine
Guts! Adunni was
someone I admired and despite our differences I can say that she was a woman I
respect.
Ireti
This is not one of
your movie location, stop acting! Let those who truly love her mourn her in
peace! You know how much your presence irritated her. She only tolerated you
because of Julian and her deep love for my father. Please stay away from this
family.
Josephine
Watch how you talk to
me! Secondly, I am a part of this family. There is nothing you can do about it.
The sooner you realise it, the better.
Shomama
Ireti, calm down.
Don’t let her get to you.
Josephine
If I didn’t know
better, I would have thought you to be humane. You were about to marry your
friend’s husband before she died. Who knows? You must have been one of the
reasons she couldn’t stay on earth! Shomama, you are the worst of them all!
Bam
Enough! You are not
welcomed here.
Thelma
Mum, let’s go. Ireti…
leave your father to handle this (Thelma leads Shomama and Ireti away)
Josephine
We need to talk.
Bam
I don’t have anything
to say to you.
Josephine
(Laughs)
Oh! Think again! The
only thing you will be saying to me is ‘yes, I do’.
Bam
You must be out of
your mind.
Josephine
I know what I am
saying and I know what I want. I want to be Mrs Maxwell and there is no
stopping me.
Bam
I wish you could hear
yourself. You sound like a delusional old hag!
Josephine
I have documents that
can put you behind bars forever. You will spend your miserable old age in a cold
prison and I will watch you crumble. It’s your choice.
Bam
You have gone full
blown crazy. You have nothing on me.
Josephine
I have the documents.
Bamax auditors covered up the three hundred million naira Ministry of Tourism
fraud amongst other shady deals. I have it all. The EFCC will be inviting you
soon.
Bam
What do you want?
Josephine
I want to be Mrs
Maxwell. You can’t marry that thing!
Bam
Okay
Josephine
Is that a yes?
Bam
(Laughs)
Go to hell Joe! You
are raving mad! Marry you? I can never marry you. I dare you to do your worst!
Now get lost! Sick puppy! I don’t want to ever see you in my life or near
anything or anyone attached to my name!
(He walks away as
Josephine open her mouth in shock)
Josephine
You will pay for
this. I swear! (Dials a number) Hello? Mariam… I need those documents now!
Mariam
It won’t be possible
o. I am attending to guests at the interment.
Josephine
This is the right
moment. Nobody is at the mansion. You have enough time to ransack Julian’s
room. Get anything associated with Bamax. Files, folders, anything! Get out of
there now! Bamidele is going down!
Mariam
But….
Josephine
No buts! If you want
to remain alive, just do as I say!
SCENE
3
THE INTERMENT AT AGELESS HALL
(Josephine walks in
to see friends and family of the Maxwell clan being entertained. A live band is
playing. Julian sights Josephine and walks to meet her)
Julian
Why are you doing
this? You are creating an unnecessary scene.
Josephine
Where is Mariam? Is
she around?
Julian
I don’t know! She
should be around somewhere. You need to leave now!
Josephine
Back off! You are a
disgrace! You have forgotten how I worked hard to make Bam accept you. You make
me regret it every day!
Julian
Cut that out! You
were just selfish and wanted me to be your pawn. It wasn’t because you wanted
me to know my father. You wanted Bam’s money and you got it! Stop this badly
executed blame game.
Josephine
Look! Your father
needs you.
(Julian turns to see
Bam at another end of the hall beckoning on him)
Julian
You have five minutes!
Just… go!
(He walks away to
meet Bam)
Josephine
Stupid boy! (Her
phone rings, she swipes to answer)
Hello? Fatai… I
thought I told you not to call me.
Fatai
It’s been three days
since you asked me to cut the brakes on Julian’s car… I need my balance.
Josephine
Why are you so crude?
I am a woman of my words. Julian hasn’t used his car in days. Don’t call me
again! I will call you! Got it?
Fatai
See! I am not a teenager
o! I want my money. You can’t …
Josephine
Get lost! (Ends the
call and dials Mariam’s number)
Hello? Mariam? Where
are you?
Mariam
Madam… I am in the
mansion already. I am about to enter Julian’s room.
Josephine
Perfect! Hurry up and
pack everything. Meet me at my condo in an hour.
Mariam
Okay ma.
(Ends the call)
Josephine
(Smiles)
This will be my
redemption. (Walks to the table that accommodates Fikayo, Ireti, Doyin, Thelma,
Tolu, Shomama, Julian and Bam)
I am very sure the
lord will comfort us. It is what our family needs at the moment. What do you
all think?
Fikayo
You…
Doyin
Babe… calm down!
Tolu
Please… where is
Mariam? She has been gone for a while now. I think the caterers need her
direction. They’ve not been serving the guests on the east wing. They have
angry faces.
Thelma
I think I saw her
leaving the venue.
Josephine
Oh! She was in the
restroom when I went to touch up my face. I think she has a stomach upset.
Probably food poisoning. I will go check up on her.
(She leaves)
Julian
That was strange. A
few seconds ago, she was looking for Mariam.
Tolu
Your mum is… sorry to
say… a little bit loko.
Julian
No offense taken.
Bam
Julian, I need to
speak with you. Please excuse us everyone.
(Bam and Julian leave
the table to a secluded part of the hall)
Julian
Dad, is anything
wrong?
Bam
Son, I think your mum
is up to something. She…
Julian
What is it?
Bam
The ministry of
Tourism account. Did you get rid of everything that might incriminate the firm?
Documents, software or hardware.
Julian
There is nothing at
Bamax. I made sure I left no trail. i have them in a safe place.
Bam
Where if I may ask? A
bank?
Julian
No! My room!
Bam
Your room?
Julian
Yes… no one would
ever break into the mansion.
Bam
You have a point.
Julian
So, what did
Josephine say?
Bam
She was making
threats. She wants to involve the EFCC.
Julian
Wow! It is all bluff,
no substance. I left no trail in the office.
Bam
(Pulls Julian into an
embrace)
Let’s go back to the
table. It’s time for my speech.
SCENE 4
INTERMENT AT AGELESS HALL
OUTSIDE THE RESTROOM
(Tolu looks out for
Mariam or Josephine)
Tolu
There is something
going on here. I can’t place a finger on it. Where is Mariam? Where is
Josephine? Something is not right.
(A tap on the
shoulder startles her, it is Thelma)
Thelma
Babe, come inside.
Bam is about to give his speech.
Tolu
When I left the
table, I had a strange feeling and I decided to sort it out. Something is not
right.
Thelma
Detective Tolu!
Tolu
I am serious. Mariam
has suddenly disappeared. The caterers said they’ve not seen her in what feels
like an hour. Josephine claimed to have spot her in the restroom. This is the
restroom and there is no sign of Mariam and Josephine. If this doesn’t raise a
flag, then I am not my mother’s daughter. The way you are just looking at me
like some crazy person is making me mad!
Thelma
Calm down babe! I am
not doubting your psychic power, but it doesn’t work all the time.
Tolu
It works all the
time! You need to start acknowledging my gift!
Thelma
I have heard you. Can
we go inside now?
Tolu
Look! It’s Josephine!
(Points to Josephine getting into a car) Follow me!
(Tolu sprints with
Thelma trailing behind and soon they are in front of the car)
Tolu
Hey! Joe! Leaving so
soon?
Josephine
Oh! Sorry ladies, I
can’t wait to enjoy the party. I need to be somewhere else.
Thelma
…and Mariam?
Josephine
Oh! Awful! I had to
send her back to the mansion in an uber. The lady is in bad shape. I will have
my doctor call at the mansion in a few minutes to attend to her. I am happy to
relieve Bam of the headache of caring for his domestic staff at this sad time.
Send my love to Bam and every one.
(The car zooms off,
Julian walks up to the ladies)
Julian
Who was that?
Tolu
Your mother.
Julian
Oh! Thank goodness
she left! Bam just gave his speech and he cried. I have never seen him cry. It
was painful to watch.
Thelma
I guess he tried his
best to remain strong. He eventually broke.
Tolu
It doesn’t make him a
weak man. He is one of the strongest men in the world. A man that is not afraid
to be vulnerable.
Thelma
You are right.
Julian
Yeah… so, where is
Mariam? Did she overcome the stomach upset?
Tolu
I guess not.
Josephine just sent her home to rest.
Julian
Home? The mansion?
Thelma
Yes dear. Sounds
risky right? Like why didn’t she get her to the hospital instead? Anyways, she
will have her doctor go check up on her at the mansion.
Julian
The only doctor my
mum visits is a plastic surgeon.
(Tolu and Thelma look
at each other)
Tolu
Are you saying she
lied? But why? And if Mariam is at the mansion, what could she be doing there?
She is needed here.
Thelma
Detective Tolu calm
down abeg!
Julian
No! She is right!
Josephine and Mariam are…
Tolu
…working together! I
have been trying to let make my dumb friend realise it for some time now. She
thinks I am crazy!
Julian
What do you mean?
Please, explain.
Tolu
So, you don’t know
that Mariam is a mole. She feeds Josephine with anything that goes on in the
mansion. Josephine has Mariam working for her and I caught her in the act!
Thelma
Let us not be too
hasty! We might be wrong!
Julian
No! Tolu’s revelation
is the missing puzzle. I need to get to the mansion now! Tell Bam I will be
back. I will call him as soon as I get to the mansion (leaves them hurriedly)
Tolu
Did you hear that? Tolu’s
revelation! Someone has given me credit at last.
Thelma
I don’t like this at
all. What if you are wrong?
Tolu
I am not wrong. Let’s
inform Bam and others.
AUTHOR’S NOTE
We are close to the
end (I guess), about six episodes. I would love to hear from you. Tell me your favourite
character(s) so far and maybe a few predictions. I have enjoyed bringing these
characters to life and thanks for letting them into your space. More drama in
the next episode…
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