EPISODE 2

1 VOICES: EPISODE TWO SCENE I: PHILO’S SHOP. MARKET. MORNING 1. SFX: GENERAL AMBIENCE OF THE MARKET. WE CAN HEAR THE VENDOR, OKADA HORNS AND ENGINE. MR TITUS APPROACHES, GREETING FRIENDS PASSING BY. SANI COMES ALONG AND WE HEAR HIS SHOE BOX’S CLICK CLICK Ah Oga Titus! Sani, Sani! Sani the master cobbler! Oga Titus. You ,good person. Make I shine am for ya shoe. Ah Sani. Not to worry. It is still early. We will shine it later. Oga Titus! Good person! 2. BUGUGU: 3. TITUS: 4. BUGUGU: 5. TITUS: 6. BUGUGGU: 7. SANI WALKS AWAY. WE HEAR HIS TOOLBOX CLICKING AWAY. 8. TITUS: 9. SFX: What a fellow. [HE WALKS ON] MARKET AMBIENCE UP A SHORT WHILE AND IT GOES DOWN AS PHILO SOLLEMLY SINGS, GOD WIL MAKE A WAY. TITUS ARRIVES. Well madam philo, God had better make a way and fast too. Because your shop is the next part of a call. Tour contribution please! Oga Titus won’t you greet me first? Business before pleasure my dear. 10. TITUS: 11. PHILO: 12. TITUS: 13. THEY LAUGH 14. TITUS: 15. PHILO: Any way, how is the family? SIGHS AND PAUSES A WHILE. 2 16. TITUS: 17. PHILO: 18. TITUS: I hope nothing is wrong madam Philo? Everything is fine Titus.We thank God at least we are still alive. Philo agreed January is the longest month of the year. The days drag slower than a snail. But it seems what is bothering you goes beyond… (CALLS) FLORENCE! FLORENCE! What has Florence go to do with this? Is she ill? I am the one who is ill. I am sorry Philo. Is it malaria? It’s my stomach dear. I did not sleep a wink last night. If kept me awake, rolling from side to side. And I sent that girl ages ago to Ahmadus shop to get some herbs. Why Adamu;s shop? I mean you could have gone to see nurse mabel at her chemist to better still, go to the hospital. This is not a case for the hospital Titus. Why? How do you know it is not serious enough? It is only stomach disorder Titus and the herbs work better for me. Fine. Different strokes for different folks…Madam Philo. So are you telling me, which was the only reason you were singing that song when I arrived. (SIGHS) Titus, it is a common saying that the chicken does sweat. It is it’s feathers that convince us other wise. Ah! Ah! So there is more to it that meets the eye. FOOTSTEPS APPROCHING, FLORENCE ARRIVES. Mummy here is the herbal mixture. Alhaji said… 19. PHILO: 20. TITUS: 21. PHILO: 22. TITUS: 23. PHILO: 24. TITUS: 25. PHILO: 26. TITUS: 27. PHILO: 28. TITUS: 29. PHILO: 30. TITUS: 31. SFX: 32. FLORENCE: 3 33. PHILO: 34. FLORENCE: 35. PHILO: 36. FLORENCE: 37. PHILO: 38. TITUS: 39. PHILO: Where are you coming from? Ma? Sir? I said where are you coming from? But mummy you sent me to…. (CUTS IN) No! It could have been where I sent you. Take it easy philo. Anyway, we will discus that later. Bring the herbs…I know I have done my own, as a good mother should do. If you live a useless life like your elder sister, the blame will all be yours. The bible says’ train up a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it’. I have done my own. If you want to turn from the way I have shown you, that is your headache. Here is your pocket money. Now to school. If you like sleep there till tomorrow. It’s your life. (MURMURING) Thank you ma. Mummy I want to check on mimik on my way back from school. Okay. Take this money and buy some chocolates for her. Okay mummy. Bye bye! FOOTSTEPS. FLORENCE EXITS. I think you were a bit too hard on that girl. Adamu’s shop is quite a distance from here. Titus I can not afford to have that girl go astray. if she turns out like Tami, I don’t know what I will do. Well Philo (HEAVING AS HE GETS UP) I should be on my way. Let me have your contribution. (SIGHS) Titus, I am afraid I cannot give you anything today. Infact not for a while to come. Ahah! Why? Why does the chicken seat Titus? 40. FLORENCE: 41. PHILO: 42. FLORENCE: 43. SFX: 44. TITUS: 45. PHILO: 46. TITUS: 47. PHILO: 48. TITUS: 49. PHILO: 4 50. MUSIC BRIDG SCENE 2: FRIDAY’S SPOT. NOON. 51. SFX: TRAFFIC AMBIENCE. FELA’S MUSIC WAFTS IN FROM EASY RECORDS CLOSE BY. FRIDAY IS ASLEEP SNORING IN A CORNER. WE HEAR VULCANIZER’S TOOL IN USE. OGA JOHNNY ARRIVES. Major! Wey your oga? They asleep sir! Eh-en! They asleep. Anyway, no be your fault. When one person sleep full ground so, why eh no go plenty. [CALLS] Friday! Friday! Ummm? FRIDAY STRETCHING AND YAWNING See am… you leave work for dis small boy to do, you come dey sleep… lazy man! Ah! [STILL STRETCHING] Oga Johnny, I get small malaria that is why. Na everytime you dey get small malaria. Wey my tyres? Tyres… Which tyre oga? Friday! E pass sleep? No be vulcanizer you be? Okay, na me Johnny. I give you money say make you buy me four SECOND HAND tyres for the past 2 weeks. Na the tryes I come collect. Oh! Ooooo…okay those tryes. Oga Johnny, sit down. Major! Sir! That place wey I send you, you don go? You no send me go anywhere o. 52. JOHNNY: 53. MAJOR: 54. JOHNNY: 55. FRIDAY: 56. SFX: 57. JOHNNY: 58. FRIDAY: 59. JOHNNY: 60. FRIDAY: 61. JOHNNY: 62. FRIDAY: 63. MAJOR: 64. FRIDAY: 65. MAJOR: 5 66. FRIDAY: 67. SFX: 68. JOHNNY: 69. FRIDAY: 70. JOHNNY: 71. FRIDAY: 72. JOHNNY: Eh! I no wetin? [ATTACKS MAJOR] I no do wetin? I no send you…? MAJOR CRYING OUT UNDER HEAVY BLOWS OF THE CANE. If you like beat am die, no be today you don dey do am. as I dey so, I go collect my tyres. Ah ah! But Oga Johnny, no be because of you I dey beat am. Because of me!? You wey you don chop my money, you come dey post me. [PITIFULLY] Ah Oga Johnny, how I go do dat kain thing? You dey ask me question? No worry, I never get your time now. Make I go come the place wey I dey go. Try ask me that kain question when I come back… criminal element. 73. JONNY EXITS 74. FRIDAY: Major, as I train you reach, you see person wey I owe, you no fit come tell me. I still give you sign you dey do sweswe. Oga, I think say we rent the trye to Area. Shut up! Mu-mu! Oya come quick, quick come go find Area for Motor Park. Tell am say yawa don gas o! Tell am say I wan see an now now. You hear wetin I talk? Yes sir! Run go now now. 75. MAJOR: 76. FRIDAY: 77. MAJOR: 78. FRIDAY: 79. MUSIC BRIDGE SCENE THREE: ROADSIDE. MOTOR PARK ENTRANCES. MORNING. 80. SFX: SOUND OF ENGINES AND HORNS BARING. GENERAL MOTOR PARK AMBIENCE OF TRAFICC.WE CAN HEAR HAWKERS. BUGUGU APPROACHES SINGING TO BEAT 6 ON A RHYTHM FORM HIS TOOLBOX, HE REFLECTS GOGO ZULAIS ROAD SIDE STALL. 81. BUGUGU: 82. ZULAI: 83. BUGUGU: 84. ZULAI: 85. BUGUGU: Kai Gogo Zulai! Noise are to plenty for this place fa! I for get you for shop inside market. Bugugu, to get shop for inside market na money. Kai! Money, I no…. Bugugu, no worry, KO? You see this place wey I dey, I dey sell small, small, Allah be praised. Ok! No problem, but I never forget am for your ram. Gogo Zulai, I go chop ram for this sallah. Wallahi I don find am for ram. I go bring am. Bugugu, which ram you, go find? (ALARMED) Na who get ram wey you find? Make you no worry Gogo. I go bring am. You go see. SOUND OF A LORRY TRYING TO MANOUVER WITH IT’S ENGINE RAISED FROM TIME TO TIME. THERE IS A LOUD BALRRING OF HORN. (FROM A DISTANCE) Cut your hand, come this side now. Montu, you hear so? SOUND OF RAISED LORRY ENGINE.IT DIES DOWN. Montu, na like this you come! Monami, come like this how? You want me to enter the refuse? Nah my friend? You no say you son de cause hold up for here. Your are not serious man. Is it my fault? See how much road the refuse has eaten. It wasn’t this bad when I left the West Coast man. HORNS BLARE IMPATIENTLY 86. ZULAI: 87. BUGUGU: 88. SFX: 89. AREA: 90. SFX: 91. AREA: 92. MONTU: 93. AREA: 94. MONTU: 95. SFX: 7 96. AREA: Look Montu, this hold up don dey plenty o! Make you try your other side. Cut your hand go the other side. SOUND OF ENGINE RAISED AS MONTU ATTEMPTS AREAS SUGGESTION. Yeh! Where dis lorry wan pass? Hei, hei, hei! You dey craze? You no get sense? Una don blind? Una no see am? I no get wahala, if una jam am for Gogo Zulai. Plenty, plenty wahala go dey fa! Hey monami. Stop shouting and move that woman’s table back. This table, I no go anywhere. DOOR OPENS AND SLAMS SHUT. WE HEAR MONTU ALIGHT. Bros, e be like you go climb dat dirty pass enter garage o. Monami, see what you have all done. You dump so much refuse, it takes half of my road and then you take the other half with your illegal structure. No be me dey pack dirty for road. You are just dey talk nonsense. Gogo Zulai e no dey irresponsible. Na local council government get a responsible. PEOPLE RAISE AN ALARM AS A BUS KNOCKS DOWN A MOTOR BIKE. Chie! E don jam am. This is crazy man. How can you cut into another lane with out checking for other vehicles first. People don’t respect this road at all. They go on her without understanding her basic rules. 97. SFX: 98. ZULAI: 99. BUGUGU: 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. MONTU: BUGUGU: SFX: AREA: MONTU: 105. 106. ZULAI: BUGUGU: 107. 108. 109. SFX: AREA: MONTU: 8 110. 111. 112. SFX: ZULAI: AREA: MOTORCYCLE CRASHING Kai! Wayo Allah! See blood! But why dis motor cycle man come drive like that now? Na him fault? Na that yeye bus driver. Because hold up dey for this side, he just cut lion land enter one way without trafficating without nothing. If to say motor dey come from the side, he for be trouble wahala. Even the motorcycle sef follows one way. Na dem they do I am pass. Dem think say because dem small, dem fit do anything for road. See am now. I say it before, I say it again. Government should just take away half the drivers license on the road today. Aha! Montu, why dem for do that one? Cant you see? Manami, it is obvious they are not framed to make a living on the road. But if government do am, how dem go survive now? Kai! Dem go dey punish shoe like me. 113. ZULAI: 114. MONTU: 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120. AREA: MONTU: ZULAI: BUGUGU: THEY ALL LAUGH MONTU: People, good people. Listen tome please think the road is a life line. She wants to feed our blood with life. Not drink it. Now lady, you and some of the people selling, you gonna have to help me. My tomatoes are late already there are people waiting for them. We go just shift all this table back small, small and… 121. 122. AREA: MUSIC BRIDGE SCENE 4: PHILO’S SHOP 9 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. SFX: PHILO: TITUS: PHILO: TITUS: PHILO: GENERAL MARKET AMBEIENCE. IT FADES TOTEH BACKGROUND Now that you have read the letter, tell me where do I get for, fifty thousand. Can’t you pay it piece meal? They say I have to clear it all at once, otherwise i will have to wait till next Season to graduate. Oh, that sounds not good at all. I have been on this thing for too long…a part time programme originally designed to take five years eh. This is my eight-year. All because of all manner of strike and internal university problem. And now that I can finally graduate, no money to clear tuition. (SIGHS) This is another of life’s irony don’t know whether to say this good news or bad news. I am just tired. I am sorry Philo, but hold faith. God is in control. 129. 130. 131. 132. TITUS: PHILO: TITUS: MUSIC BRIDGE. SCENE FIVE: RASHEEDS OFFICE SFX: AMBIENCE OF A MOTOR PARK. WE HEAR CONDUCTORS, PASSENGERS, CAR HORNS, ENGINES AND SOFT DRINKS SOUNDS. 133. 134. 135. RASHEED: DENDE: RAHEED: Dende! The Shairman! You go carry this election form go submit am for council. Na union council office o. except you no wan make I win this coming election. D Shair! D Shair!! Na you for ever Shairman. Na you we go vote for. You stand gidigba! You stand well well! Tell dem! 136. DENDE: 10 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142. 143. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. RASHEED: Carry am go. And make you check dat printer. SFX: TRUCK ARRIVES. SHOUTS OF MONTU. MONTU ENTERS DENDE: RASHEED: DENDE: DENDE EXITS MONTU: RASHEED: MONTU: RASHEED: MONTU: RASHEED; MONTU: Rasheed… bonjour mon ami… Montu, what do you want? What is your problem? Problem? Cesa le’ problem. Me no get problem. It is your rubbish refuse that block my trailer. It is your father’s rubbish refuse! Hey, Mon Ami… qu'est que le problem? I resemble Local Government Chairman? If rubbish block your trailer, na me cause am? Hey, Rasheed, why fight? Me come tell you about refuse everywhere, blocking everything. causing big problem. [FLARES UP] Get out of my office, get out! Get out! I no get your time today. Mon Ami, you give me fight, I give you beaucoup beaucoup fight. Look, I will call the boys to bundle you out if you don’t get out. Bastard of no fixed address Rasheed! You call me bastard? What is the wrong I have done? Monami me come to tell you about the refuse threatening to block the road and our gate and you call me bastard. That is not good monami. Montu Montu! International driver! Importer and exporter of Tomato and potato! My friend will you leave this place, make you go where I send you. Shair Sir! 150. 151. 152. 153. RASHEED: MONTU: RASHEED: MONTU: 11 154. 155. 156. RASHEED: MONTU: RASHEED: Okay sorry Mr monami.what do you want me to do? Pack the refuse to my house? Petition the councilman. Are you not the motor chairman? Oh! So you are now the one to teach me my job ah! Or maybe you’re even interest in the job sef. if you are Montu, don’t challenge me in my stead, meet me on the election ground. Oh! Monami, me not interested in your office. It’s your job me want you to do. And have I not been doing it? Do you know how many times I have writing letters to the local government? And maybe the government has been giving you money to clear therefore, who knows? I don’t know. Are you trying to say I have been embezzling money? Thai have been spending government money for myself? What do I know Rasheed. Montu, get out of my office (SHOUTS) GET OUT NOW! (CHUCKLES) Okay, okay Monami.But tell your wife that her tomatoes where delayed because of the refuse (WALKING AWAY). Will you leave this place? Homeless vagabond and bastard. Beast of no nation. Chao! Monami, chao. Aruwa dechi! Will you leave this place? Homeless vagabond and bastard. Beast of no nation. Chao Mon ami, Chao. Aruwa dechi! 157. 158. MONTU: RASHEED: 159. 160. MONTU: RASHEED: 161. 162. 163. MONTU: RASHEED: MONTU: 164. 165. 166. 167. RASHEED: MONTU: RAASHEED: MONTU: 12 168. RASHEED: My friend, leave this place. Anything you say, same to you too. You too chao! Bastard! Am I the local government chairman? Everytime we contribute money, dem go chop am. Now you come meet me. If you like make your trailer fall for gutter, that is your problem. This no identity fool is getting to obig for this motor park. I will cut him to size bastard. Chao! SCENE 6: MAMA RISI’S BUKA. DAY 169. SFX: MARKET AMBIENCE. FADES AND IS REPLACED BY THE AMBIENT OF A BUKATERIA. SOUNDS OF PLATES AND CUSTOMERS. BEGGAR BOYS ARE HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND. Cecilia come here… wey your second. I think sey you send am ma Since when? She never come? No ma… Hey! Where dis girl wey I send go buy groundnut oil from Zulai. Customers go begin come now and food don nearly finish. 170. 171. 172. 173. 174. MAMA RISI: CECILIA: MAMA RISI: CECILIA: MAMA RISI: 175. 176. 177. 178. 179. 180. 181. SFX: JOHNNY ENTERS MAMA RISI: JOHNNY: MAMA RISI: JOHNNY: MAMA RISI: JOHNNY: Ah Johnny, no break my chair O! my chair never offend you… Sorry. Johnny wetin happen? Nothing! (beggars' chant fades) If nothing happen, why you squeeze face like person wey him wife born six girls without a boy? My problem dey too much. Mama Risi wetin, for here I get problem, for work I get problem. I go village sef problem pursue me reach there! 13 182. 183. 184. 185. 186. 187. MAMA RISI: Take am easy Johnny. Wetin happen now? SFX: BEGGAR’S CHANT FADES MAMA RISI: JOHNNY: MAMA RISI: JOHNNY: Johnny, why you squeeze face like this? Problem dey too much. Na only me dey this life? Wetin happen now? Na only me dey? You do this one, dem say you no do am well. You do that one, dem say the thing no good. Manager talk say I talk say bank people na thief na him dem give me query. Eh, I talk anything? You hear anything from my mouth? I no just understand. To come add to the palava, dat useless Friday, dat nonsense boy. Manager give me money make I buy tyre. I give Friday make em buy am. e carry the money chop. Hmn, and I go show am. im think say I go call police. I no go call police o. I go show am so tay im no go ever forget. Na me an am go wear one trouser… I go show am sey khaki no be leather! Johnny take am easy. Make you no go take your hand cause another problem for yourself. Nobody wey no dey get problem. Na talk dem no dey talk am nothing wey dey come from heaven wey no dey touch ground o. 188. MAMA RISI; 189. 190. JOHHNY SIGHS. PAUSE. JOHNNY: Na only me? My children dey give me problem. For work, dem carry problem give me again. Na only me? Johnny, no kill yourself. Wetin you go chop? 191. MAMA RISI; SCENE 7: AHAMDU’S SHOP. DAY 192. 193. SFX: BEGGAR BOYS: GENERAL MARKET AMBIENCE. BEGGAR BOYS CHANT FADES IN [CHANT] Give us money 14 Make we take chop Make we take wash Make we give papa Make we give mama Make you give us money Because of God 194. 195. 196. 197. 198. 199. AHMADU: SFX: SHERI: AHMADU: SFX: BEGGAR BOYS: No money today. Ali, no money today. Tell your friends. Unless una go take wetin I dey sell, herbs EVERYBODY LAUGHS. [CUTS IN] Baba, let me give them some money. Ehn, that na your wahala. MONEY [COINS] DROPS INTO THE PLATE [CHANT] Thank you, thank you God go bless you Auntie Sheri, God go bless you Auntie Sheri, God go bless you CHANT FADES AS THEY GO Baba, I have Finnish cooking your food is ready. Good! But I go chop later. Ok baba. 200. 201. 202. 203. 204. 205. 206. 207. 208. SFX: SHERI; AHMADU: SHERI: PAUSE SHERI: AHMADU: SHERI: AHMADU: Baba I have pounded the herbs for the sores. It is in the black nylon on top o f the shelf. Ah you do well. The person wey get that one go soon come. And the medicine for stomach trouble finish this morning. So na the one wey remain wey Florence come buy for mama dis morning. Dat means say I go mix another one. 15 209. 210. SHERI: AHMADU: I have Baba. Ah, good! Well done my daughter. Your head sharp well well (CHUCKLES) you be my pickin now, how your head no go sharp. Baba Can I go now? Where? I tell you say I wan go do my hair today. Oh! (LAUGHS) So because you don finish all your work, you wan to make me I sidon for there alone. But Baba, I have been sitting in the shop since morning…Now that you are around, please just give me this little time let me quickly go and do my hair. Wetin you wan go do for that hair? Dis hair wey be say na everytime you dey cover am. Baba, I’ ve been carrying this hair for almost a mouth and it’s itching me already. Alright.Just go. Make you no tey oh! Yes baba. 211. 212. 213. 214. 215. 216. SHERI: AHMADU: AHMADU: SHERI: AHMADU: SHERI: 217. 218. 219. 220. 221. 222. 223. 224. 225. 226. AHMADU: SHERI: AHMADU: SHERI: PAUSE SHERI DOES NOT MOVE AHMADU: SHERI: AHMADU: SHERI: AHMADU: Ahah! Wetin you come dey wait for again? I need money to do my hair. (HISSES AND SIGHS HEAVILY) If you no dey care full sef…I fit cut the hair. Baba! I no talk say I go cut am. I say if you no dey careful. Just take, make your hair and buy some meat. Come quick o. 16 227. MUSIC BRIDGE. SCENE 8: FRIDAY’S SPOT 1. AMBIENCE OF MOVING TRAFFIC ,SOUND OF SCISSORS CLICKING FADES INAND OUT. WE HEAR A PURE WATER HAWKER. MUSIC FROM EASY RECORDS SWOOPS IN. MAJOR IS ALONE WITH EBENEZER. 2. EBENEZER: 3. MAJOR: 4. EBENEZER: 5. MAJOR: 6. EBENEZER: 7. MAJOR: 8. EBENEZER: 9. MAJOR: 10. SFX: 11. EBENEZER: 12. MAJOR: 13. EBENEZER: 14. MAJOR: Major are you not going to close today? My oga. Never come. I no fit close unless he come. But four o’clock don pass now. I know where him go sef. The other boys go don choose now. Abeg make you just wait for me, we dey the same side. But Na you go choose o! Don’t worry, I go wait wan make we dey the same side. But Na you go choose o. (HISSES) Dem for don choose all the players before we go reach there now. A CAR SPEEDS PAST. IT OVIUOSLYRAN OVER A POTHOLE Dust too much for here. I no where that yeye man dey run go. He no say this part of the road don chop oh! But e never tey when dem do this road. Dem no do am well, well, now. Since harmattan start just dey baf dust everyday. And na becos of that place wey don chop reach ground. A CAR APPROACHES 15. SFX: 17 16. MAJOR: 17. EBENEZER: 18. MAJOR: 19. SFX: 20. JOHNNY: 21. MAJOR: 22. JOHNNY: 23. EBENEZER: 24. JOHNN: 25. MAJOR: 26. JOHNNY: Ye! Na oga Johnny dey come so. And my oga no dey. Wetin una do am? My oga collect money from… CAR ARRIVES. DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES. Small boy, wey your oga? He don commot tey tey, I don dey wait for am. You don dey wait am or hin see say I dey come, come go hide. True sir, e no dey here since. Na only major and me. My friend shut up! Who ask you anything? Look here, Major, or what is it they call you… My name na Major. Even if ya papa na colonel I go count to three .If you know tell me where Friday dey hide, I go begin land you hot slaps. Abeg, oga make you wait am small, hin go soon come. Me Wait! So two of una wan play me wayo? No worry, the bitter leaf way your oga suppose chop na you go chop, lick mouth well well. You hear. One! (QUAVERING VOICE) Oga I no know where my oga de o! Na true I dey talk. Two! KOLO APPROACHES. WE HEAR THE CLICK, CLICK SOUND O FHIS TOOL BOX. HE CHANTS TO IT. Bonanza, bonanza! Shine ya shoe bonanza! Shine one leg, I shine the other leg for you. 27. MAJOR: 28. JOHNNY: 29. MAJOR: 30. JOHNNY: 31. SFX: 32. BUGUGU: 18 33. MAJOR: 34. JOHNNY: 35. MAJOR: 36. JOHNNY: 37. BUGUGU: 38. JOHNNY: 39. BUGUGU: Oga abeg. You no go answer me now. You think say I get una time? True, true oga, me sef dey wait am. I go woz you oh! Na wetin? Why you begin massacre small boy wey no even read ya belle? Craze man, no worry me o. This one concern you. Who dey craze? Na mi abu Na you? You wey no know say vulcanizer no be the same as tyre seller. Siddon there dey woz small picken. When Friday, don carry ya tyre rent for area boy. (CHUCKLES) Area boy wey no get motor sef. Bugugu, na true be dis thing wey you talk? Na me you go ask? Mumu? 40. JOHNNY: 41. BUGUGU: 42. MUSIC BRIGDE SCENE 9: ROADSIDE 1. SFX: LIGHT TRAFFIC AMBIENCE. MARKET AMBIENCE AFFS IN THEBACKGORUN. WE HEAR CECILIAS FOOTSTEPS FALLS AS SHE WALKS ON. WE HEAR ‘SSSS’ SOUND FORM AFAR, SOME ONE APPROACHES, RUNNING.IT IS AREA. ‘SSSS’ Hey Cecelia! O baby! CECELIA’S FOOFALLS HAVE STOPPES. AREA REACHES HER. (SNAPS) Na wetin? O baby, wetin dey now? Na you suppose answer that question. 2. AREA: 3. SFX: 4. CECILIA: 5. AREA: 6. CECELIA: 19 7. AREA: 8. CECELIA: 9. AREA: Cece, Cecelia why you strong face like that. Yarn me now. (HISSES) Starts to walk off area follows Kai! O baby you tear today o! (Sings) Cecilia, I dey for my knees, I dey begi you please talk me. Oh! Baibe! (HISSES) Abeg Area I know get your time .you don chop belle full so tey you dey sing! Okay, okay no say I don vex you…Come take this money I get am here. (STOPS) So you even sabi wetin you do, you come dey follow me dey yarn dust, you come dey sing sef. Baibe! Coolu temper now. I tell you say the money don ready. Oya take am. Why you come dey slack before? Oh! Baibe! Business slow small today. you no see the kin go slow wey that dirty today cause? Abeg no vex you hear? Uhm! I don hear! No take sorry kill me. Cece –Cecelia. Hard babe. The hardest babe.she you know say na me and you for dis valentine. Eh? You and who? Ah! Abeg Cecilia no miss yarn o! So idon dey miss yarn now? Know be like that baby. 10. CECILIA: 11. AREA: 12. CECELIA: 13. AREA: 14. CECELIA: 15. AREA: 16. CECELIA: 17. AREA: 18. CECCILIA: 19. AREA: 20. CECILIA: 21. AREA: 22. FRIDAY BBREAKS INTO THE CONVERSATION, CALLING AREA. 23. AREA: Oh! Wetin dey worry tis guy sef? 20 24. FRIDAY: 25. CECELIA: 26. FRIDAY: 27. AREA: 28. FRIDAY: (STILL APPROACHING) Area, wait oh! Na waka I dey so. Make una settle una self. (ARRIVES) AH! Area, I don find you tire today. Why you come find me? Any body wey hear as you dey talk now go think say I thief for your hand. Alrigth.No vex. Abeg wey the tyres wey I give you? Come give me abeg. Your money don expires. Abeg Abeg. Bros cool down now! Cool temper abeg. Cool wetin? Abeg, I no get time for all this kind nonsense. Person wey get am don dey find me with police sef. Oya, make we go quick, quick carry am. A beg cool down now? Look bros, where dem dey far small…I go bring them to your shop tomorrow. Ehn? Wetin you talk? Bros I say I go bring them for you tomorrow. Look Area, I no dey for this your tomorrow yarn. You fit waka now and I no go see you till for another two weeks. Abeg I go follow you now, now no mind. See becos of you, I no gree reach my shop since. Okay, okay…We go follow reach there. Oya make we go.time don dey go. But e get one small thing o! Wetin be dat? Relax now. You go die because of one small thing? I say wetin be dat? No tell me say thief don pack am go. Katakata go burst for here o! This man coolu now? 29. AREA: 30. FRIDAY: 31. AREA: 32. FRIDAY: 33. AREA: 34. FRIDAY: 35. AREA: 36. FRIDAY: 37. AREA: 38. FRIDAY: 39. AREA: 40. FRIDAY: 41. AREA: 21 42. FRIDAY: 43. AREA: Oya tell me wetin happen. The man wey live am, na travel him travel when him come dey come, he go jam armed robber for road. Dey don set nail for road, him no know. Na so him march am. But him no gree stop. If na me sef I no go stop.in short two tyres don condemn. Yeh! 44. FRIDAY: 45. MUSIC BRIDGE INSTRUMENTAL 46. SFX: GENERAL MARKET AMBIENCE COMES UP AND FADES UNDER WEAVERS CALLING FOR CUSTOMERS. WE HEAR A CUSTOMER ASKING THE PRICE OF A PARTICULAR WEAVE-ON. CUSTOMERS DESCRIBING HAIRSTYLES THEY WANT. Sister, good afternoon. Ah Florence, how are you? Fine Sister. No customer today? Oh, I’ve done some hair today and I’m still expecting some customers. Oh, that’s good. [PAUSE] Sister, we didn’t see you at home last night. Hope no problem? Is this the first time am sleeping out? If it’s mama who asked you to come and find out, go back and tell her it’s none of her business. I can take care of myself. Sorry Sister. [PAUSE] Where’s Mimi? She’s playing with other children outside. [PAUSE] So how is school? Fine Sister [PAUSE] Sister, mama needs money o. For what? 47. FLORENCE: 48. TAMI: 49. FLORENCE: 50. TAMI: 51. FLORENCE: 52. TAMI: 53. FLORENCE: 54. TAMI: 55. FLORENCE: 56. TAMI: 22 57. FLORENCE: 58. TAMI: She has just received a letter from the university asking her to come and complete her project. [SIGHS DISMISSIVELY] Me I don’t have money o. [PAUSE] How will she have after giving all her savings to the church in the name of one sacrificial offering or the other….me I don’t have money o. [PAUSE] I have to go now Sister. I told mama I won’t be long. She said I should give Mimi this chocolate 59. FLORENCE; 60. SFX; SLIGHT RUSTLING OF CHOCOLATE WRAPPER 61. TAMI: 62. FLORENCE: 63. TAMI: Tell her thank you. Okay Sister…Are you coming home tonight? I don’t know yet. 64. FLORENCE LEAVES. TAMI’S FRIEND ONE ARRIVES 65. FRIEND ONE: 66. TAMI: 67. FRIEND ONE: 68. TAMI: 69. FRIEND ONE: 70. TAMI: 71. FRIEND ONE: Tami! Tami! Hey, how you dey now? Body dey inside cloth. Ah ah, see your hair. Hmn, my sister, and it’s just one-week-old o. One week? See how old it looks. Who made it for you? Did I not come to you? Did you have my time? You didn’t have my time now. 72. SFX: FRIEND TWO ARRIVES 73. FRIEND 2: 74. FRIEND ONE: 75. TAMI: Where’s that Tami, the one and only of Montu, the importer and exporter of tomato and potato. Wife be hairdresser, husband truck driver. Na una sabi. E dey una body. 23 76. FRIEND 1: Sit down there make you dey talk Montu Montu Montu. You don know your sister Florence is under threat. What kind of threat? You don’t know that that boy Ejike has been trying to get his hands on your sister. No be small matter o. 77. TAMI: 78. FRIEND 1: 79. FRIEND 2: 80. SHERI ARRIVES 81. SHERI: 82. TAMI: 83. SHERI: 84. TAMMI: 85. SHERI: 86. SFX: 87. TAMMI: 88. FRIEND 1: 89. FRIEND 2: 90. MONTU ARRIVES 91. MONTU: Good afternoon Auntie Tami. How are you Sheri? You want to do your hair? [HESITATES] Yes….But if you’re busy i…. Oh no dear, come inside and let me start loosing it. Okay. WOODEN STOOL SCRAPS THE GROUNDS. Ehen,, my friend, you were saying…..About my sister. Abeg g, forget that one Tammi.We go jam later. Wait make me sef follow body. See why I like this town? In one small room (COUNTING) 1,2,3, and …(STOPS) Mama mia! Who is this one? She is my sister’s friend. Florence? How come I never eh…(with a French accent) eh See you before? Hmm! This one, she never goes out. 92. TAMMI: 93. MONTU: 94. TAMMI: 24 95. MONTU: 96. TAMMI: Oh! Mon Sheri! Beautiful name for a much pretty face. And where do you live Mon Sheri? Eh sheri, I think you should come but I think you should come back later. I have a visitor s you can see. Okay anti bye bye ( SHE EXITS) Good bye, pretty angel… What are two still waiting? I think say una go tey tey? Na true you talk… Make wey jam later 97. SHERI: 98. MONTU: 99. TAMMY: 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. FRIEND 1: FRIEND 2: THEY EXIT. MONTU: TAMI DOESN’T ANSWER MONTU: TAMI: MANTO: TAMMI: MONTU: TAMMI: Hey, Tami Bebe, your friends, they leave because of me? Mon Sheri, something wrong? Come talk to me Bebe. Montu, what was that you were doing? What are you talking about Mon Sheri? (RAISES HER VOICE) You know exactly what I am talking about. Don’t even try to deny it. Deny what Mon Sheri? Look Montu, I saw how you were going about with her. (ALMOST SCREAMING) For goodness sake she is just a small girl, Sixteen years old for that matter when did you arrive? Bebe, I somebody for you forever…Me just admire joli bebe…Joli bebe b elk e coke bottle…. Oh! mon Sheri you I know say I love you beacuop, beucoup! 111. MONTU: 25 112. BBRIDGE MUSIC SCENE 11: PATH WAY IN THE MARKET SFX: UP MARKET AMBIENCE PEOPLE EXCHANGINF GREETINGS, BEGGERS SINGING IN THE BACKGROUND. , IBRAHIM HAWKING HIS ORANGES AND SHOUTING ‘BUY ORANGE’’. SHERI ON THE PATH. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. IBRAHIM: SHERI: IBRAHIM: SHERI: SFX: Ah! Aunty Sheri, please buy my oranges sweet well. Infact I have binta sugar orange. Kai! Ibrahim not today. I will buys some other time. Please now? I go we sell am well well for you. Infact I go put gyara for you. (sighs) Ok! Put am down make I see... SOUND OF TRY ON THE GROUND…HURRIED FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING. (HARSHLY) Commot this thing for road. Ah! Ah! Foolish boy, dorti dey block road up and down the place, you sef kukuma come carry your yeye, dry oranges block road. (MURMURING) My orange no dry oh! Na harmattan . Abeg comot that crooked tray form the road…. you even am get mouth to answer me. Clear make I pass bo! (HISSESE AND KICKS THE TRAY,IBRAHIM BGEINS TO CRY) Haba Sister, please take it easy with him now…. (AMIDST TEARS) See my orange! You go pay for am, I no go gree oh! Hey! See this small boy hold my cloth oh! I go woz you one dirty slap now o! Ibrahim, please let her go okay…It’s jus tone orange I will pay for it. Don’t worry. 118. CECELIA: 119. 120. IBRAHIM: CECELIA: 121. 122. 123. 124. SHERI: IBRAHIM: CECELIA: SHERI: 26 125. CECELIA: (HISSES AND WALKS OFF) Nonsense! Agbero go block road, uniform go block road, dorti go block road, people wey dey sell go block road, small rat like you sef go come block road. Na where person go come pass sef? UP MARKET AMBIENCE…. SHARPING OF KNIVES FADES IN…WE HEAR BELLO SINGING. Ah! Fine girl sheri, welcome.Kai yarinyamai kyau! You wan buy meat? I give you better meat…. Ganda, cow meat, shake and even round about, all dem dey. how much is this cow meat? 500 hundred Ah! Mallam Bello…E too much now. Sell am 300 hundred. (CHUCKLES) O! well, for that amount I go sell am if only you go marry me. Haba mallam Bello, please sell am for me now. Ah! Sheri, you think say I dey joke? I remember the time wey you dey small, wey your mother dey back you come buy meat. See you now, you don fine well, well. (ANGRY) Mallam Bello, I go go somewhere else go buy the meat oh! Okay, tak am like that. (HISSES) I no buy the meat again sef 126. SFX: 127. BELLO: 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. SHERI: BELLO: SHERI: BELLO: SHERI: BELLO: 134. 135. 136. 137. 138. SHERI: BELLO: SHERI: SHE WALKS AWAY BELLO: ( ON TO OFF) Come back now,come take am like that now (HISSES) Shegiya kawai, er iska! 27 139. SFX: UP MARKET AMBIENCE… CARRY LOADS CALLING FOR CUSTOMERS, MUSIC FROM A RADIO ( I.K DAIRO,OLD SCHOOL). SHERIS FOOT FALLS. ARRIVES AR PHILO’S SHOP. Mummy I have finished arranging the wrappers on the rack…Ah! Sheri, Sheri! GOOD EVENING MA! Good evening in my daughter how are you? And how is your father? I am fine thank you ma. My father is well too. Good! Come inside now? No thank you ma. I was just passing by so I decide to stop and greet Florence. Enh! Okay…mummy,please let me go and excort Sheri Okay…But don’t be long oh! You know I am going for prayer meeting today. Bye bye ma! 140. 141. 142. 143. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150. FLORENCE: SHERI: PHILO: SHERI: PHILO: SHERI: FLORENCE: PHILO: SHERI: THEY LEAVE. PHILO: Oh! Jehovah Jireh!I am trusting you to provide for this my school (SHE SINGS) I don’t worry about my school fees , favor is my name. Jehovah jire, Favor is my name 151. MUSIC BRIDGE. SCENE 12: AHMADUS SHOP 152. SFX: UPMARKET AMBIENCE, OKODA HORNS BLARING…BEGGARS CHANTING…CHILD CRYING. AHMADU AND RASHEED DISCUSSING. (HUSHED TONES) Sow then did you say you first noticed this problem? 153. AHMADU: 28 154. 155. 156. 157. RASHEED: AHMADU: RASHEED: AHMADU: Three months ago (WORRIED) Three months ago? Why you no come see me tey tey? Ah! I think say dey thing dey play You mean say for three months now you never…(CLEARS HIS THROAT THREE TIMES) Even sef Fati don dey suspect me. But how you sef come allow this thing? Hmmm! Alhjaji Ahmadu. You know say before before I been dey do long distance travel...and that time man no be fire wood now…You know…You know… Okay, ni problem. I go mix some herbs for you now. And within three days you will see a change, if and only if you gree follow the instructions. Ah! No wahala! Anything wey you talk I go do am. MOVEMNETS AND SHUFFLINGS OF NYLON BAGS. Okay! Nahim be dis…. You go mix am with Akamu for morning and for evening. That is all? Yes that is all You mean say after three days I go fit…(CLEARS HIS THROAT THREE TIMES) Kwarai Rasheed! You go remove all the doubts from Fati. GIGLES OF YOUNG GIRLS AND FOOT STEPS. 158. 159. 160. RASHEED: AHMADU: RASHEED: 161. AHMADU: 162. 163. 164. 165. 166. 167. 168. 169. RASHEED: SFX: AHMADU: RASHEED: AHMADU: RASHEED: AHMADU: SFX: 29 170. 171. 172. 173. 174. 175. 176. 177. 178. 179. 180. 181. 182. 183. 184. 185. 186. 187. 188. AHMADU: RASHEED: That must be Sheri…. Ah! Thank You Ahmadu…Make I begin dey go. SHERI/FLORENCE ARRIVE. SHERI/FLORENCE: RASHEED: SHERI/FLORENCE: AHMADU: Good evening sir! Ah! Sheri, Florence how are you? Fine sir! Sheri I dey come. AHMADU AND RASHEED EXIT… SHERI: FLORENCE: SHERI: FLORENCE: SHERI: FLORENCE: SHERI: FLORENCE: SHERI: FLORENCE: SHERI: Hmm! Florence, you see that medicine wey My father give Oga Rasheed… Eh! I see am dey try hide something. Why e no go hide am Ah! Na wetin him be? Ah! No be for mouth you go hear say oga Rasheed in fit…. (EXCITED) Hey! No fit do, Can not do what? Hey! Shshshshhshs! Ehe! I be one ask you something (CURIOUSLY) Eh! What? Who is that nice man I saw in your sister’s shop? Which nice guy is that? I can’t remember his name…Ha! He is so sweet. e get as he take call my name….(dreamy) He called me mon Sheri. (SHOCKED) HEN! S-H-E-R-I!!!!!!! 189. 190. FLORENCE: MUSIC BRIDGE 30 SCNENE 13: TAMMYS SHOP 191. 192. 193. 194. TAMMI: (SULKING) But Montu you came back since and you didn’t come to see me… MONTU: TAMI: MONTU: Tami, ceci le …au...au refuse dump. Refuse dump block my lorry. Which refuse dump? Which refuse dump? Hey Tami, don’t be difficult. Come see, what I buy for you. Mon Sheri, see what I buy for you. Pretty dress eh? [GIGGLES] It’s fine Montu. [GIGGLES AGAIN] I want you to wear it on Valentines Day, the day of love. I take you to cool spot, to show you that I love you beocuop beucoup (GIGLES EXCITEDLY) Oh! Thank you montu, I love you too. [OFF MIC, SHOUTING] Tami! Tami ooooooo! [ALARMED] Ah! Montu, please hold this dress, I’m coming. 195. 196. TAMI: MAMA MAJOR: 197. TAMI: 198. 199. 200. MAMA MAJOR: TAMI: TAMI RUN OUT AND ALMOST RUNS INTO MAMA MAJOR CARRYING MIMI WHO IS CRYING AND CALLING FOR HER MUMMY, QUITE FRIGHTENED MAMA MAJOR; Tami see Mimi O, I no know where she go cut her leg o! TAMI: [CREAMS IN FRIGHT] God o! Mimi! See blood! I don die o! Mimi! 201. 202.