Shomama episode 11

SHOMAMA – EPISODE 11
 
ARINZE S. CHIJI
 
 
 
SCENE 1
 
THE MAXWELL MANSION
 
THE KITCHEN
 
(Mariam absentmindedly pours water into a plastic cup from a jar. The water spills and she goes in search of a mop stick. She begins to mop the floor when Josephine enters)
 
Josephine
 
Fix me a plate of salad, I am starving.
 
Mariam
 
(Folds her arms)
 
There is nothing in the p-ntry. I haven’t gone grocery shopping today.
 
Josephine
 
Well, go shopping and make me a salad. I will be in my room. I need it in fifteen minutes.
 
Mariam
 
It might be longer than that.
 
Josephine
 
Is something wrong with you?
 
Mariam
 
I just returned from the hospital. Fikayo had a miscarriage.
 
Josephine
 
 
Who is Fikayo? Oh! Bam’s spoilt brat!
 
Mariam
 
The wh0le family is at St. Malens hospital. It is very painful.
 
Josephine
 
Interesting. Not the kind of report I expected considering the fact that I had a successful script conference and interests in my production company has peaked. I just need to find that boy and make him disappear. I shouldn’t have let her go the other day.
 
Mariam
 
(Shouts) You will do nothing to Julian’s boy!
 
 
Josephine
 
Did you just yell at me?
 
Mariam
 
…and I will do it again! What is wrong with you? How is it possible that you produce bitterness every second? You are inhumane! How is that possible?
 
Josephine
 
Are you asking me because you want to learn from me? Or are you turning against me?
 
Mariam
 
I am tired! I can’t keep up with this anymore! The guilt is killing me. Let’s confess…
 
 
Josephine
 
(Laughs hysterically and stops abruptly)
 
You dare not! If you turn against me. I will ruin you!
 
Mariam
 
No! It’s the right thing to do…
 
Josephine
 
(Angrily pushes the cup of water off the counter)
 
I will end you!
 
Mariam
 
I am not afraid of you.
 
 
 
SCENE 2
 
THE MAXWELL MANSION
 
JOSEPHINE’S ROOM
 
(Josephine sits on her bed. She taps her feet continuously, biting her lower lip)
 
Josephine
 
(Shakes her head)
 
Mariam! Mariam! This won’t end well. I promise you. I will crush anything or anyone that stands as a stumbling block. I am at the finish line and I will cross a winner!
 
(Her phone rings. It is Fatai)
 
Fatai
 
Hello… big mummy!
 
Josephine
 
You must be mad. I have told you never to reach me again! What is your problem?
 
Fatai
 
Your blood is always hot! Anyways… (Chuckles) I am out of cash. I need feeding money.
 
Josephine
 
Go to hell!
 
(Ends the call)
 
SCENE 3
 
THE MAXWELL MANSION
 
THE LIVING ROOM
 
(Josephine fl¡ps through a fashion magazine. A glass of juice is on a stool. The doorbell goes off.)
 
Josephine
 
Oh no! Who could that be? Did Mariam forget to take the keys?
 
(Stands and goes to open the door. It is Bam. She attempts to hug him. He shoves her roughly)
 
Bam
 
Stay away from me!
 
Josephine
 
Calm down now! I know you are grieving. It is not easy to lose a daughter.
 
Bam
 
What are you saying? Which daughter are you referring to?
 
Josephine
 
Fikayo of course! She was a vivacious lady.
 
Bam
 
I don’t know where you got that news from, but you are crazy to think Fikayo is dead.
 
Josephine
 
Oh really? Oh! Was it the baby she lost?
 
Bam
 
I know what you are trying to do. I know what you did! I know what you are about to do! Josephine I will kill you myself.
 
Josephine
 
Empty threats!
 
Bam
 
Is that what you think? I have seen my grandson. He looks just like Julian. Julian didn’t die in an accident. He was murdered and an investigation into his death has started. You have done more than enough. It is my turn to watch you burn in hell.
 
Josephine
 
I still have the Bamax doc-ments!
 
Bam
 
(Grabs her neck with his two hands as she struggles for her)
 
Go to hell…
 
(He let her go)
 
Josephine
 
(Coughing and rubbing her throat)
 
You’ve gone crazy! Bamidele Maxwell, you are mad!
 
Bam
 
Leave my house this minute!
 
(He goes to his room)
 
Josephine
 
You won’t get rid of me easily.
 
(Mariam enters shaking her head)
 
Josephine
 
What did you hear? What did you see?
 
Mariam
 
I have never seen Chief like this. We really messed up.
 
Josephine
 
Don’t you dare say another word! Moron! I will be back
 
(Exits the house as Mariam watch)
 
SCENE 4
 
THE MAXWELL MANSION
 
BAM’S ROOM
 
(A gentle knock on the door makes Bam leave the bed to open. It is Mariam. She has a folder in her hand)
 
Bam
 
What do you want?
 
Mariam
 
I made dinner.
 
Bam
 
Leave!
 
Mariam
 
I have the Bamax folder with me. (Hands him the folder)
 
Bam
 
I don’t need it.
 
Mariam
 
You need it sir. It is the only thing Ms Josephine has on you. You are free with this.
 
Bam
 
(Sighs)
 
Come in…
 
(He opens the door wide to let her in before closing it)
 
Mariam
 
I allowed myself to be used. You and late Mrs Adunni took me in. You gave me education and took care of me like I was yours. Josephine planted a dark seed in me. It was the genesis of my resentment. I was a fool.
 
Bam
 
Can I ask you a question? I need a sincere response.
 
Mariam
 
(Nods)
 
Ask me sir.
 
Bam
 
How did Julian die?
 
Mariam
 
Sir?
 
Bam
 
(Kneels)
 
Mariam, I am begging you. I am shattered. Julian was my world. I have been concealing the pain and I can’t take it anymore. I might find solace in knowing the details. I just need closure.
 
Mariam
 
Sir, you don’t have to kneel. I will tell you everything.
 
Bam
 
(Stands and sits on the bed)
 
I am listening.
 
Mariam
 
Josephine wanted to teach Julian a lesson for turning his back against her. She wanted the Bamax files desperately but Julian wasn’t forthcoming…
 
Bam
 
Okay?
 
Mariam
 
So… she made me contact the family mechanic, Fatai. Fatai went to her condo where they discussed. She didn’t give me the details of the meeting. She said the less I knew, the better. I was to find the perfect time when the mansion was practically empty for Fatai to come work on the car. I did. That is all I know…
 
Bam
 
Fatai? I was never bad to the young man. Why would he kill Julian?
 
Mariam
 
I didn’t say he killed Julian o. I said he worked on the car. I don’t know what he did.
 
Bam
 
Mariam, I am not a kid! I want to see Fatai right now! Put a call across to the young man this minute.
 
Mariam
 
(Nods)
 
I will, but what do you want to tell him?
 
(Pulls out a phone and dials Fatai’s number)
 
Bam
 
Call him. Invite him over!
 
Mariam
 
Okay.
 
(A few seconds pass)
 
Hello. Fatai…
 
Fatai
 
You and your madam are mad o! I have been calling her and she is talking nonsense! Tell her that…
 
Mariam
 
Shut up and listen! Stop running your mouth like tap! Ode!
 
Bam
 
Put him on loudspeaker.
 
Fatai
 
Who said that?
 
Mariam
 
(Puts the phone on speaker)
 
Chief is here now. He is listening.
 
Fatai
 
Ha!
 
Bam
 
Fatai, come to the mansion now. We have things to discuss.
 
Fatai
 
Sir?
 
Bam
 
You heard me. You better come here immediately or else you are as good as dead. I know what you did to my son’s car. Be here in fifteen minutes!
 
Fatai
 
Sir? I am … I am far from the mansion
 
Bam
 
I don’t care! (Grabs the phone from Mariam and ends the call)
 
Mariam
 
I don’t think that was the right move sir. He won’t come.
 
Bam
 
Trust me, he will be here. I need to call Shomama and Thelma.
 
SCENE 5
 
ONE HOUR LATER
 
THE MAXWELL MANSION
 
THE LIVING ROOM
 
(Bam, Shomama, Thelma and Mariam sit round a sweating Fatai)
 
Shomama
 
(In tears)
 
Poor Julian! He didn’t deserve to go that way!
 
Fatai
 
(Crying)
 
I am so sorry. I warned Ms Josephine about the consequences but she was adamant. I told her it could be fatal.
 
Thelma
 
You agreed to do something so devilish! So evil! It shows how morally bankrupt you are! A life is not worth even a million dollars.
 
Bam
 
So, you tampered with the brakes on Josephine’s orders.
 
Thelma
 
Josephine is terrible! Her own flesh and blood! (Her phone beeps, it’s a text message. She reads it)
 
Its Tolu, she said Chiwendu and Somto are at my place.
 
Bam
 
Tell them to come over. I’d like to see my grandson.
 
(Thelma begins to text)
 
Shomama
 
…and where is Josephine?
 
Bam
 
I don’t know and I don’t care. She knows better not to show her face here again.
 
Fatai
 
Chief…
 
Bam
 
(Punches Fatai’s l-ips)
 
b******!
 
Fatai
 
(On the floor, gro-ning in pains)
 
I am sorry…
 
Shomama
 
(Hugs Bam tight)
 
Bam! Let the police deal with him (plants a k-ss on his l-ips)
 
(The doorbell goes off. Mariam goes to open. It is Josephine. She walks in and freezes when she sees everyone in the living room)
 
Josephine
 
What is going on here? I was only out for a minute and you brought in your mistress! Soyemi or Shomama or whatever they call you. Don’t you have dignity! You are in my matrimonial home!
 
Bam
 
(Shouts)
 
I thought I told you never to show your face here again! Murderer!
 
Josephine
 
I knew you were angry because of Fikayo’s death but calling me a murderer is out of line.
 
Thelma
 
When did Fikayo die? Am I missing something?
 
Josephine
 
I want these people out of this place immediately! Bamidele, this was not our agreement!
 
Shomama
 
Are you stupid or choosing to act stupid? The game is over. Wait for the police to come pick you up. You are spending the rest of your life behind bars for the murder of Julian.
 
Josephine
 
(Chuckles)
 
You don’t know what you are saying.
 
Fatai
 
(Coughs)
 
I confessed! You paid me to tamper with Mr Julian’s car.
 
Josephine
 
I don’t know you. I have never met you in my life!
 
Mariam
 
What?
 
Bam
 
Nobody should say anything!
 
Josephine
 
Chief Bamidele Maxwell. You can’t win this one. I won’t let you. You use people and trample over them. You claim to help them but you are just using them for your selfish gain! I decided to change the narrative. Others might tremble and bow before you, but Josephine  Okonji will do nothing like that!
 
Bam
 
Get out of my house!
 
Josephine
 
(Pulls out a gun from her handbag and points it at Bam. Shomama, Thelma and Mariam scre-m)
 
Let’s end this!
 
AUTHOR’S NOTE
 
How to grow your business while you stay at home
Thanks for following. This has been a challenging but interesting journey. The next drama series – Dew Burn Dreams comes after the concluding part of Shomama. Yes! Shomama episode 12 ends this series. There is a one thousand naira giveaway question in episode 12, so stick around.