Shomama - Episode 7








SHOMAMA – EPISODE 7
ARINZE S. CHIJI


SCENE 1
THE MAXWELL MANSION
(Mariam receives a call from Josephine on her way to her bedroom)
Josephine
Have you gotten everything you need?
Mariam
Yes! I just cleared out Julian’s room. However, I discovered a safe behind a shelf. I don’t have a password.
Josephine
Ummm… have you tried his birthday?
Mariam
I did that first. I tried your birthday and Bam’s birthday too.
                                                                            Josephine
This is not good. I have a feeling what we need is in that safe. Find a sledgehammer or something. Rip that thing apart. We are close to the finish line. Do anything and fast. The driver will be at the mansion in five minutes.
Mariam
Yes ma!

SCENE 2
THE INTERMENT
(Outside the hall, Bam is surrounded by Tolu, Thelma and Shomama as he makes a call to Julian)
Bam
Julian, are you there yet?
Julian
No daddy. The traffic is terrible. I will jump on okada now!
Bam
Please do. Be careful.
Julian
I will. Just keep calm. I have this in control.
(The line goes dead)
Tolu
What did he say? Is he there yet?
Bam
Not yet. He is caught in traffic.
Shomama
He should get on a bike!
Bam
That’s what he said before he ended the call.
Thelma
I don’t like this at all. I just saw off Fikayo, Doyin and Ireti.
Bam
And the guests?
Thelma
Gone too.
Bam
Great! Let’s get to the house and see things for ourselves.
(Bam and Shomama walk arm in arm towards a waiting tinted black SUV)
Thelma
Tolu, I will understand if you don’t follow us right now. You have done more than enough.
Tolu
Chineke! Look at this girl o! You think I will not see the end of this drama. Think twice babe!
Thelma
(Smiles)
If I didn’t know you better, I would have thought you enjoy this.
Tolu
Of course, I enjoy this. It’s better than being stuck in that my make-up studio every day painting the faces of those fake instagram celebs. Plus, I get to see Julian’s handsome features.
Thelma
Get out!
(They laugh hard)

SCENE 3
JOSEPHINE’S CONDO
(Josephine is on the phone as she paces the length and breadth of her living space)
Josephine
So where are you now? I told her that you would be there in five minutes and it’s over ten minutes already! Pascal talk to me!
Pascal
Ma, it’s not my fault. The traffic is too bad. Cars are not moving. They said two tankers broke down on two lanes. It will take me time to navigate the area.
Josephine
Use alternative routes! Think like a driver! Why should I do your job for you?
Pascal
Ma, it’s not as easy as you think. I will get there soon.
Josephine
Rubbish! (Hangs up and screams) What kind of thing is this? The universe is working against me and she can’t win! Hell no!
(Dials a number)
Hello. Mariam? How far?
Mariam
Ms Josephine, I am in Julian’s room. I have tried every combination possible but the safe refuses to open. I got an axe to break it open, I ended up hurting my leg. What do I do? Can I leave with what I have? I am scared!
Josephine
Calm down! Now listen… the driver is running late. Lagos traffic….
Mariam
So?
Josephine
You have to take a cab.
Mariam
Oh no…
Josephine
Listen to me! Get a cab and meet me at my condo.
Mariam
Okay… should I start coming?
Josephine
Ummm… wait! Try one password for the last time. One nine one zero.
Mariam
(Punches in the password)
One nine one zero.
(The safe clicks open and Mariam squeals in excitement)
Josephine
What? Did it open?
Mariam
Yes!
Josephine
Wow! Julian is something else. It’s his son’s birthday.
Mariam
Did you say son? Julian has a son?
Josephine
I can’t go into details. What is in the safe?
Mariam
Ummm… more Bamax files.
Josephine
Pack them all and bring it to the condo. I will call Pascal now to know where he is.

SCENE 4
THE MAXWELL MANSION
(Julian enters the living room as Mariam is pulling two bags and a briefcase)
Julian
Where are you going with those bags and… my briefcase?
Mariam
(Falls to the floor in shock)
Ha! Mr Julian! I… I…
Julian
You can’t talk right?
Mariam
(Stands)
I… I… it was not my idea. I swear, your….
Julian
Shut up! I don’t want to hear anything from you.
(Grabs the suitcase and opens it to check its content meticulously)
Mariam
(Slowly grabs a flower vase)
I said I didn’t mean to do it sir.
Julian
(His back is turned to her as he continues checking the files)
You are done for!
Mariam
I don’t think so Julian.
 (Hits the flower vase on Julian’s head. Julian falls the floor unconscious. Mariam screams and begins to gather the files into the briefcase)
What have I done? What am I doing?
(Her phone rings, she jolts in shock and answers)
Hello. Ms Josephine.
Josephine
Pascal is outside the mansion. Where are you?
Mariam
I think I just killed your son…
Josephine
You did what?
Mariam
I don’t know. He caught me as I was about to leave and I grabbed a flower vase. I hit him hard in the head.
Josephine
He is not dead. Just get out of there now!
Mariam
Okay ma…
(Hangs up, grabs her bags and the briefcase)
Julian
(Coming back to consciousness)
Stop!
Mariam
(Screams and runs out of the house)
Julian
(Struggles to get on his feet, staggers and leans on the wall for support. His phone rings. It is Bam)
Hello, daddy.
Bam
Son, are you in the mansion?
Julian
Yes! But she… she… has the files. I am going… after her in… my car.
Bam
Are you okay? Why are you talking like that?
Julian
Mariam knocked me out with a flower vase… I think she is going to meet with Josephine. I am going after her.
Bam
We are close to the mansion. Mariam is dangerous. I need to alert the police.
Julian
It won’t be necessary. It would… only arouse unnecessary attention. I am going after her.
(Hangs up and heads for his room to get his car keys. In few seconds, he is in his car and driving out of the compound. His eyes swipes the street in search of Mariam. He sees her getting into a blue jeep. He grabs the steering wheel tight and accelerates to catch up with the jeep. The driver of the jeep is aware that he is being trailed and speeds up)
Julian
You are going nowhere!
(The vehicles are on a busy road and on high speed. At an intersection, the blue jeep accelerates again to prevent a motorcycle from stopping him. Julian doesn’t see the motorcycle quickly and steps on the brakes. His car doesn’t stop. He swerves to the right to avoid a collision but the motorcycle rams the bonnet, spirals in the air and crashes to the ground. Julian’s car crashes into a confectionery store. A crowd forms around the scene. Pictures and videos are taken and immediately posted on social media.)

SCENE 5
JOSEPHINE’S CONDO
(Josephine sits on a side tool, phone in hand. She taps her feet continuously and stares at the blank screen of her phone)
Josephine
Should I call them? The suspense is killing me.
(Her phone rings. She swipes the answer)
Caller
Please, it has happened. I need my balanace.
Josephine
Fatai? This is not your number.
Fatai
Madam, you have been avoiding my calls. Please, I need my money. It is all over social media and local television stations. Your son was involved in an accident.
Josephine
What!
Fatai
What is ‘what’? Is that not what you wanted? Please pay me my money.
Josephine
How is he doing? Is he okay? I hope it wasn’t too serious.
Fatai
(Hisses)
Oloshi! Give me my money!
Josephine
You are raving mad! Idiot!
 (Hangs up and her phone begins to buzz with messages and notifications)
I can’t open it. What have I done?
(Her doorbell goes off. She stands and walks to open the door. It is Mariam and Pascal with the bags and briefcase)
Mariam
(Falls to the ground and starts crying)
Oh! Ms Josephine. It was horrible! He couldn’t have survived it. We waited for a few minutes to see if help would come but people had to get the best angle for social media before alerting the emergency unit.
Josephine
(Grabs the briefcase)
Is everything in here?
Mariam
(Opens her mouth in shock)
Did you hear what I just said?
Josephine
(Moves to get her purse, pulls out a wad of naira notes and gives it to Pascal)
That’s fifty thousand naira. Thanks for your services. You can leave.
Pascal
Thank you ma for this act of generosity and I apologise for the inconveniences.
Josephine
(Nods)
That’s the door. Thanks.
(They watch as Pascal leave and the door closes)
Josephine
Will you stand up immediately? What is with all these drama? I am sure it was only a scratch. He will come out unscathed. It is a lesson he will never forget. Now to the next phase…
Mariam
(Shouts)
You don’t get it. You don’t get it. Julian couldn’t have survived that accident. It was terrible.
Josephine
Calm down! We have the news to tell us everything. Why don’t we watch and you will know you are just being paranoid!
(Grabs a TV remote and tunes to a local channel)
Mariam
Breaking news... oh God!
Josephine
(Increases the volume of the TV and sits slowly on the side stool)
Wait…
Newscaster
…the heir apparent to the Bamax group of companies, Mr Julian Maxwell is lying in critical condition at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital. His vehicle rammed into a motorcycle before swerving into a confectionery. The… sorry… News reaching us has confirmed Mr Julian Maxwell dead. He is survived by his billionaire father, Chief Bamidele Maxwell, Veteran actress mother, Ms. Josephine Okonji and step siblings. May his soul rest in peace.
Mariam
(Screams)
Oh noooooo!
Josephine
Julian can’t be dead. No, my son can’t die!
Mariam
I am out of here.
Josephine
You are going nowhere! It’s time to proceed to the next phase. Bad things happen and we get to move on.
Mariam
Are you really serious? How do you sleep at night?
Josephine
We have to leave Lagos right now.
Mariam
That would look suspicious.
Josephine
I don’t need your reaction at the moment. Just listen and obey. Grab your bags! We are leaving now!

SCENE 6
FIVE WEEKS AFTER JULIAN’S BURIAL
SHOMAMA’S HOUSE
(Thelma is at the dining table sipping chilled zobo. Shomama walks in and sits beside her)
Shomama
You’ve told me to be patient with Bam. It is difficult my dear. He snaps at every slight thing.
Thelma
(sighs)
He is going through a lot.
Shomama
We all are. Julian was like a son to me. We need one another in times like this. I wish he would just…
Thelma
He would just what? Try to be sensitive and give him space to grieve. It… (sobs)
Shomama
Oh dear! (pulls Thelma into an embrace) We loved him. He was a good man.
Thelma
Tolu has refused to return. She just left her poor husband and went to grieve for a crush in Mauritius.
Shomama
That one knows how to overdo things sha!
Thelma
(Smiles)
Leave my crazy friend alone.  Do you know that she still believes Julian was killed? That it wasn’t an accident. She was frustrated at the way investigation was carried out.
Shomama
I guess Bam wasn’t ready to deal with it.
(Thelma’s phone rings)
Thelma
It’s Tolu. (Swipes to answer) Hello T girl!
Tolu
T mama how far? Abeg wetin dey happen? What is this news I’m hearing o?
Thelma
What news?
Tolu
Na wa o! So you don’t know. Bam and Josephine are married.
Thelma
(Shouts)
What!
                                                                          Shomama
Thelma… what is it?
Thelma
Bam and Josephine just got married…

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