Our Christmas Miracle – Episode 2

Our Christmas Miracle – Episode 2
 
SCENE 7
(SHOMAMA’S ROOM)
 
(Thelma rests her head on Shomama’s laps. Shomama strokes her hair gently)
 
Shomama
 
You have bottled up so many things. You allowed your thoughts to consume you. It was eating you up my child.
 
Thelma
 
Mum… I don’t know how to be strong again.
 
Shomama
 
Thelma… you are talking nonsense. You are a strong woman. These tears make you strong. You are allowed to cry. You left Kunle and built a dynasty. Look at how far you’ve come. A little bump on the road cannot wipe out your history of enduring strength. You are the strongest and toughest woman I know.
 
Thelma
 
I messed up!
 
Shomama
 
You are allowed to mess up. It is what you do after the mess that matters.
 
(A knock on the open door startles them. It is Justina with some office files. Thelma sits up and wipes her tears)
 
Justina
 
Can I come in?
 
Shomama
 
You are in already.
 
Justina
 
Mum, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I am very sorry. Please forgive me.
 
Shomama
 
(Looks at Thelma)
 
Thelma?
 
Thelma
 
(Nods)
 
What do you have in your hand?
 
Justina
 
Oh! It’s your financial records. I took it from your briefcase…
 
Shomama
 
Justina? What is wrong with you?
 
Justina
 
No… you have to hear me out. I was concerned when mum said her money vanished. It’s not right.
 
Shomama
 
She has a very good accountant in Mr Femi. He has managed her finances well. Things just went bad. It happens.
 
Justina
 
No! Not this one. I noticed some anomalies. If you would let me run them by you, I will be very glad.
 
Shomama
 
(Shakes her head)
 
This girl is stubborn.
 
Thelma
 
(Smiles and stands)
 
Mum, I will be with my daughter for a while.
 
Shomama
 
Okay o… mother and daughter.
 
(Shomama watch them leave the room)
 
SCENE 8
THE NEXT DAY
 
(SHOMAMA’S HOUSE)
 
(Thelma and Justina head to the front door, Shomama tags behind)
 
Shomama
 
 
Where are you going this early?
 
Thelma
 
The store. Justina was right. There are some anomalies in the records. We are going to investigate and get to the root of it.
 
Shomama
 
Ha! Please be certain of what you are doing. Femi has been your accountant for years. Could he be reckless after all these years?
 
Thelma
 
Mum, I’m afraid it’s not just him. Ebube has some explaining to do.
 
Shomama
 
Ebube … your store manager?
 
Thelma
 
Yes. I have been careless.
 
Shomama
 
Those two are criminals. You better inform the police immediately.
 
Thelma
 
Not yet. We are still investigating.
 
Shomama
 
So… Tina is going with you?
 
Thelma
 
Yes mum. We are in this together.
 
Shomama
 
(Sighs)
 
Okay… just be careful and call me from time to time. I need updates. I can call your Uncle to start putting his boys on alert.
 
Thelma
 
I won’t be needing the commissioner now.
 
Shomama
 
You will not hear word now. I will call him.
 
Thelma
 
Okay… we are running late. Later mum.
 
(They exit)
 
SCENE 9
(TOLU’S MAKE UP STUDIO)
 
(Thelma is parked outside the studio)
 
Thelma
 
She will be here any minute.
 
Justina
 
You should have called.
 
Thelma
 
No, it’s better this way. I don’t want the culprits to be alerted. Tolu will be here any minute. She doesn’t joke with her studio. Look! There she is!
 
(Points to a lady who alights from a bike. She pays the bike man and he zooms off. She walks to the studio’s door. Thelma horns)
 
That should get her attention. Here she comes.
 
(Tolu approaches the SUV, Thelma winds down)
 
Good morning Tolu.
 
Tolu
 
Thelma! This is a big surprise o! What are you doing here?
 
Thelma
 
Good question. I need your help.
 
Tolu
 
Why don’t you come into the studio let me attend to you properly.
 
Thelma
 
No… it won’t be necessary.
 
Tolu
 
Okay… (Waves to Justina) Isn’t that little Tina? She is no longer little o. look at her br-asts.
 
Justina
 
(Rolls her eyes)
 
Good morning Aunty Tolu.
 
Tolu
 
How are you?
 
Justina
 
Very well. Thank you.
 
Thelma
 
She just came back from school.
 
Tolu
 
You just sh¡pped her off to boarding school so that all those men can be servicing you with no disturbance.
 
Justina
 
Mum… the receipts!
 
Thelma
 
Tolu, do you still have the receipts for August to December purchases? The one Ebube gave you.
 
Tolu
 
Of course. Is that what this is all about? You didn’t need to drive all the way down here. I could have sent it online or something. I hope all is well.
 
Thelma
 
Ummm… let me just see the receipts.
 
Tolu
 
I think I have it snapped on my phone already.
 
Thelma
 
She didn’t give you the electronic receipt?
 
Tolu
 
Electronic receipt ke? For some months now, I have not gotten electronic receipts. She said the IT Company generating the receipt is currently undergoing an upgrade. So it’s been paper receipts o!
 
Thelma
 
Okay… let me see the pictures or quickly send it to my whatsapp number.
 
Tolu
 
(Brings out her phone, swipes for a few seconds)
 
Done!
 
Thelma
 
Thanks.
 
(She winds up as Tolu walks away. She checks her phone immediately)
 
Justina
 
Found anything?
 
Thelma
 
Oh my goodness. Ebube has not been remitting all the money to the account. The receipts here says one hundred and twenty thousand naira, but the one in the file says seventy thousand naira.
 
Justina
 
That’s a little above fifty percent unaccounted for! Let’s check on other customers before heading to the store.
 
Thelma
 
I think I need to call Shomama to alert the commissioner.
 
Justina
 
I think so too.
 
SCENE 10
PLANDOTTE COSMETICS STORE
 
(Thelma and Justina walk into the manager’s office. Ebube jumps to her feet)
 
Ebube
 
(Checks her wristwatch and grins)
 
Good afternoon ma. Ha! Miss Justina, you are back from school.
 
Thelma
 
Ebube I trusted you! You have ruined me!
 
Ebube
 
I beg your pardon
 
Thelma
 
Save it! I know you’ve been stealing from me. All morning, I have been visiting our customers and cross checking the figures on the receipt with what is in the official records. I have seven point eight million naira unaccounted for! How did this happen?
 
Ebube
 
(Kneels)
 
Madam, I can explain. It was not me o. I should have reported this to you a long time ago but I was afraid. He made me do it the first time and threatened to expose me when I refused the second time. My conscience has been killing me and I cannot even carry out my duties as the leader of prayer warriors in my church with this guilt.
 
Justina
 
Who are you talking about?
 
(No response)
 
Thelma
 
You won’t talk right? The police is outside waiting for you. You will spend Christmas behind bars.
 
Ebube
 
(scre-ms)
 
Ha! No ma! I beg! It was Mr Femi… your accountant. He was the one o! He got me into this trouble. Please ma, I am sorry.
 
Thelma
 
Aaargh! Femi! (To Justina) Did you record everything?
 
Justina
 
(Waves a phone in the air)
 
All of it!
 
Thelma
 
(Collects the phone and dials a number)
 
Hello? Femi? Meet me at De Monde hotel. I’m meeting with an investor. Thirty minutes. Thanks. (Hangs up)
 
Let’s get out of here. Ebube…
 
Ebube
 
Ma?
 
Thelma
 
You are fired! Leave this office!
 
(Ebube stands crying and leaves)
 
Justina
 
Are you all right?
 
Thelma
 
Do you want the truth?
 
Justina
 
(Nods) Best friends don’t keep secrets.
 
Thelma
 
I am devastated. I don’t think I can handle all these.
 
Justina
 
Mum. You are strong. I am inspired by you. You can do this.
 
Thelma
 
Thanks princess. (Hugs Justina) you don’t have to come to De Monde.
 
Justina
 
I won’t miss the grand finale! (Laughs)
 
Thelma
 
(Laughs)
 
Naughty girl!
 
SCENE 11
DE MONDE HOTEL, RESTAURANT
 
(Femi sips wine from a glass. He checks his wristwatch and looks up to see Thelma and Justina approaching his table. He smiles as they sit)
 
Femi
 
Good afternoon ladies.
 
Thelma
 
Good afternoon, so sorry we are late. Lagos traffic.
 
Femi
 
No worries, I just got ten minutes ago. And the investor?
 
(Thelma and Justina look at each other)
 
Femi
 
Oh! Is Justina the investor?
 
Thelma
 
Let us make this quick… there are police cars outside ready to pick you up. I just want you to clear the air on some issues for me before it happens.
 
Femi
 
Excuse me?
 
Justina
 
You’ve been stealing from my mother. We found out and your accomplice Ebube confessed.
 
Thelma
 
We have it recorded.
 
Femi
 
I’m sorry. There must be a mix up somewhere. I suggest you two order something cold from the bar to calm down.
 
Thelma
 
(Bangs the table)
 
The only cold and cruel thing here is you! I trusted you and I pay you well. Why would you steal from me? You didn’t just steal from me. You ruined my life. Femi where the hell is my money?
 
Justina
 
(Brings out a phone and dials a number)
 
Hello? Shomama… let them come in.
 
Femi
 
No! No! No! I am sorry. Look… Thelma, it wasn’t me. I didn’t know he was going to be this greedy. It was supposed to be a one off thing but he became so greedy and devised means of siphoning money from you.
 
Thelma
 
Speak up. Say everything you know.
 
(Shomama enters with ten police officers)
 
Shomama
 
Officers! Arrest him!
 
Thelma
 
No! Wait… he is yet to confess. He was about to tell me something.
 
Shomama
 
Thelma, let the police handle this. You have tried.
 
Justina
 
(To Femi)
 
Who is behind it all? How did you steal from my mother with no alarm raised?
 
Femi
 
(Shakes his head)
 
It was Kunle.
 
Thelma
 
Which Kunle?
 
Femi
 
Kunle Ladipo… your ex-husband. He came to my office some months ago. He had a business proposal. He approached me because you obviously didn’t want to have anything to do with him.
 
Thelma
 
I gave you an express order not to entertain Kunle.
 
Femi
 
Yes you did… but his proposal was too juicy and I invested some of your money in the business. It yielded profit the first and second time.
 
Justina
 
…and crashed the third time?
 
Femi
 
Yes! I couldn’t tell you about it and Kunle capitalised on it. He blackmailed me and gave me strategies to siphon money from Plandotte. He came up with the receipt scheme and other shady contracts tied to his current wife’s company. It was never enough for him. He spent the money lavishly. He decided to take everything from you and relocate to Sweden in the New Year with his wife and two sons. I am sorry.
 
Thelma
 
(Stands and shouts)
 
Kuuuuuuuunnnnle!
 
(She pulls off her shoe and smacks Femi on the head. Femi falls to the floor unconscious. Shomama scre-ms. The officers move to revive him. Thelma storms out, Shomama and Justina running after her)
 
To be continued
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