Shomama episode 2

SHOMAMA – EPISODE 2
 
Arinze S. Chiji
 
SCENE 1
 
MAXWELL MANSION
 
THE LIVING ROOM
 
(Shomama is wrapped in Thelma’s arms. Julian and Mariam look on. Bam enters, obviously furious)
 
Bam
 
She is gone. Can I have a word with you in private, Soyemi?
 
Julian
 
Dad, I swear… I didn’t tell my mum anything.
 
Bam
 
(Waves him off)
 
It’s nothing son… she was going to find out anyway.
 
Thelma
 
(To Shomama)
 
I will be around if you need me. (Stands and walks towards Bam) I don’t like seeing my mother this way. Fix it!
 
Bam
 
(Nods)
 
I will
 
Julian
 
 
Thelma, please let me take you upstairs.
 
(Thelma follows Julian out of the living room)
 
Bam
 
(To Mariam)
 
Get us water.
 
Mariam
 
Yes sir
 
 
(Bows and walks away)
 
Shomama
 
You have not been honest with me.
 
Bam
 
I have… Soyemi. Josephine is just a mad cow.
 
Shomama
 
…Adunni has cancer. You left out that part.
 
Bam
 
 
It never came up.
 
Shomama
 
It never came up? Are you listening to yourself? It took me time to accept your advances because of Adunni. You told me she was living her life in Canada and that you guys are finalising your divorce. She is not living her life! She is dying!
 
Bam
 
This was before the cancer issue. We have been separated and I only got to know about her health condition.
 
Shomama
 
When? Yesterday? A week ago? Last Christmas?
 
Bam
 
Two years ago!
 
Shomama
 
(Opens her mouth in shock)
 
I need to go home.
 
Bam
 
No… Soyemi. Listen to me… I am sorry I kept that away from you. I should have told you from the onset. I wanted to start on a fresh slate. I would never do anything to hurt you
 
Shomama
 
You just did! I can’t live with the guilt of marrying my dying friend’s husband. You are not even divorced. What was I thinking?
 
Bam
 
No… Soyemi. This is not what it seems.
 
Shomama
 
You are right! It is not… I was blinded by… I don’t know. Now I see clearly and all I feel is disgust. Disgust for myself!
 
(Mariam enters with a jar of water and two glass cups)
 
Mariam
 
I have water.
 
Bam
 
(To Mariam)
 
Leave this place!
 
SCENE 2
 
MAXWELL MANSION
 
JULIAN’S ROOM
 
(Thelma is pacing back and forth, checking her phone. Julian is in bed under the covers)
 
Julian
 
You will wear out the rug with your pacing.
 
Thelma
 
(Startled)
 
I’m sorry… it’s just that…
 
Julian
 
Calm down. They will sort out their differences. They are s€×agenarians and should know better.
 
Thelma
 
(Stops pacing and folds her arms)
 
How are you so calm? Why are you cool with all these?
 
Julian
 
(Smiles)
 
At first, I wasn’t. You are this way because you just found out. They are our parents and should know better.
 
Thelma
 
…I find this hærd to believe. So you didn’t call your mother to start up a fight?
 
Julian
 
(Laughs)
 
I try as much as possible to stay away from my mother. You saw her! (Whispers) don’t tell her. She is toxic.
 
Thelma
 
(Smiles)
 
Hmm… interesting.
 
Julian
 
Just relax. They will be fine. Your mum is nice.
 
Thelma
 
Thanks.
 
(Mariam knocks on the door and enters before a response)
 
Mariam
 
(To Thelma)
 
Your mum is ready to leave
 
Thelma
 
Okay… thanks.
 
Mariam
 
(Smiles)
 
You are welcome (leaves)
 
Julian
 
I guess I will be seeing you around sis.
 
Thelma
 
(Chuckles)
 
Sis? You bet bro! Good night. (Leaves)
 
SCENE 3
 
SHOMAMA’S HOUSE
 
(Thelma and Shomama meet Bala at the front door)
 
Bala
 
(Smiles)
 
Good evening mother and child.
 
Both
 
Good evening
 
Bala
 
(In Hausa)
 
How did today’s outing go?
 
Shomama
 
(In Hausa)
 
Bala, learn to mind your business please. (Opens the door and enters)
 
Thelma
 
(Smiles)
 
She is very tired. (Enters the house)
 
Shomama
 
Why can’t Bala mind his business? He should go back to his farm in Kaduna!
 
Thelma
 
Shomama! Calm down! Bala doesn’t own a farm in kaduna, he works in advertising. You are just over reacting and transferring unnecessary aggression.
 
Shomama
 
I am not.
 
Thelma
 
Did you and Bam conclude? You refused to say anything in the car. The driver is not here. You can talk.
 
Shomama
 
I don’t want to talk at the moment.
 
Thelma
 
Is the wedding still on?
 
Shomama
 
Of course! (Walks away)
 
SCENE 4
 
PLANDOTTE COSMETICS
 
THELMA’S OFFICE
 
(Godspower enters sweating)
 
Godspower
 
Madam… someone is here to see you.
 
Thelma
 
Why are you sweating like this? And stop calling me madam
 
Godspower
 
Okay ma.
 
Thelma
 
Is the cooling unit in your office not working?
 
Godspower
 
No ma.
 
Thelma
 
Okay… I will call the technician to fix it. So… who is here to see me?
 
Godspower
 
A woman.
 
Thelma
 
She doesn’t have a name?
 
(The door opens and a tall light skinned woman enters)
 
Godspower
 
(To the woman)
 
I thought I told you to wait.
 
Woman
 
I am not a waitress dear. I am in a hurry. (To Thelma) Hello Thelma Crayfish!
 
Thelma
 
(Stands in shock)
 
Wait a minute! Fikayomi Maxwell?
 
Fikayo
 
(Smiles)
 
Fikayomi Maxwell Abiodun.
 
(Godspower leaves the office)
 
Thelma
 
What has it been? Twenty years?
 
Fikayo
 
Twenty five years and three months.
 
Thelma
 
Wow! Detailed! This is a pleasant surprise! Your skin is glowing.
 
Fikayo
 
I know. Thanks to lightening creams and good matrimonial s€×.
 
Thelma
 
(Laughs)
 
Oh my goodness! You still have sharp mouth. How is Ireti?
 
Fikayo
 
(Smiles)
 
She is fine and that brings me back to why I’m here. Why is your mum interested in being Mrs Maxwell?
 
Thelma
 
(Stutters)
 
I… I… I… I mean…
 
Fikayo
 
You have always been a crayfish. Look at you stammering like a thief caught after a botched heist.
 
Thelma
 
Excuse me?
 
Fikayo
 
I didn’t plan on meeting you again after two decades under this kind of circ-mstance. It is pathetic! If you and your mum have any bit of dignity left, this would be the appropriate time to use it. My mum is dying and you people are very inconsiderate! You couldn’t wait for her departure?
 
Thelma
 
Calm down Fikayo. I wouldn’t have you throw insults at us in my office.
 
Fikayo
 
Crayfish! Crawl back into the cave you came from and let us live in peace.
 
Thelma
 
Get out of my office!
 
Fikayo
 
(Laughs hysterically)
 
This stinking cubicle is what someone refers to as office. My dear, I’m sure you are desperate for an upgrade! Newsflash, my father is not your pay check. Tell your mother to stay away or she might lose a limb.
 
Thelma
 
Is that a threat?
 
Fikayo
 
Interpretation is yours to do.
 
Thelma
 
You are cynical.
 
Fakery
 
Goodbye crayfish! (Leaves the office)
 
SCENE 5
 
TWO DAYS LATER
 
OUTSIDE IKEJA CITY MALL
 
(Thelma and Tolu watch as a group of paparazzi surround a lady in sunglasses)
 
Thelma
 
That must be a celebrity! These paparazzi won’t let them breathe.
 
Tolu
 
(Squints)
 
Wait o! Is that not Josephine the actress? Your step brother’s mother
 
Thelma
 
Stop it! Which one is step brother again? I know I shouldn’t have told you about my dysfunctional family.
 
Tolu
 
Oh please! As if you have anyone else to talk to.
 
Thelma
 
What is she doing here?
 
Tolu
 
Which kind question be that? Is this not an entertainment centre? A mall that houses a cinema amongst other recreational and commercial things. Madam it’s a public place and…
 
Thelma
 
It’s enough!
 
(They watch as Josephine enter a tinted Benz and speed off. The paparazzi disperse in different directions)
 
Tolu
 
Her skin is flawless o!
 
Thelma
 
(Looks away to see Julian approaching them)
 
Julian?
 
Tolu
 
What?
 
Thelma
 
Look… its Josephine’s son.
 
Tolu
 
Your step brother? Where?
 
Thelma
 
Look ahead. He is approaching us.
 
Tolu
 
(s₱0ts Julian)
 
He is fine o! Chai! Is s€× with a step brother incest?
 
Thelma
 
(Hits Tolu’s head)
 
What is wrong with you? Gutter mind!
 
Tolu
 
(Rubs her head gently)
 
Ouch! That was painful!
 
(Julian stands in front of the lady grinning)
 
Thelma
 
(Smiles)
 
Hey! Hi!
 
Julian
 
Hi!
 
Tolu
 
Hello! (Waves excitedly)
 
Thelma
 
What are you doing here?
 
Julian
 
Oh! I was meeting up with my mum. I guess you just saw her.
 
Tolu
 
(To Thelma) How does this chocolate candy manage to stay out of the s₱0tlight?
 
Thelma
 
Chocolate candy is right in front of you. He can hear you loud and clear…
 
Julian
 
(Laughs)
 
This is interesting.
 
Thelma
 
Julian… meet Tolu. Tolu… Meet Julian.
 
(Tolu and Julian shake hands)
 
Tolu
 
Strong hand! Nice to meet you. I have heard so much about you!
 
Julian
 
(Laughs hærd, clutching his abdomen)
 
This is really interesting.
 
Thelma
 
Don’t mind this thirsty woman!
 
Julian
 
I need to return to the office. I will see you around. Take care ladies
 
(He walks away as they watch)
 
Tolu
 
See handsome man! Chai! Thelma, I just pity you. You can’t have anything to do with him.
 
Thelma
 
…and you too! You are married!
 
Tolu
 
(Rolls her eyes)
 
Please don’t remind me. Sometimes, I wonder if I was drugged when I said yes to my husband. I have been seeing so many handsome men these days! Where were they when I was hunting?
 
Thelma
 
Hunter! Please, calm down madam!
 
Tolu
 
But wait o! Why was Julian meeting with Josephine? I thought you said he confessed to you that he doesn’t relate with his mother. He also denied calling her to the house. Why is he meeting with her?
 
Thelma
 
She is his mother. Please don’t come up with all these thoughts to rile me up this afternoon.
 
Tolu
 
You better let them rile you up. Think deeply and know the people you are dealing with. Julian might be double faced.
 
SCENE 6
 
THELMA’S HOUSE
 
THE KITCHEN
 
(Thelma is emptying the content of the grocery bags on the island. She makes to put some of the items in the freezer when her phone rings)
 
Thelma
 
(Swipes right to answer)
 
Hello Shomama
 
Shomama
 
Baby girl, how are you?
 
Thelma
 
I am fine.
 
Shomama
 
That’s good. I just spoke with Justina. She said you should call her. I’m sure you know what that means.
 
Thelma
 
(Rubs her fore head gently)
 
She has run out of provision abi? This girl will not wreck me. I can’t wait for her to leave boarding school.
 
Shomama
 
Won’t she eat again? Na wa for you o!
 
Thelma
 
Her own is too much. I have told her to manage herself. Things are hærd and preparations for her study abroad is gulping millions already.
 
Shomama
 
Calm down. You will get around it somehow. Where are you now?
 
Thelma
 
I am home… I just got back from the mall.
 
Shomama
 
Okay… come for dinner at the Maxwell mansion to cool off.
 
Thelma
 
Hell no!
 
Shomama
 
(Sighs)
 
I am with Bam at the moment. We are heading for the mansion and he wants to see you. At least to apologize for the last time. Don’t refuse him the opportunity to make amends.
 
Thelma
 
Oh mum!
 
Shomama
 
Please T baby.
 
Thelma
 
Okay… I will be there soon. (Ends the call)
 
SCENE 7
 
MAXWELL MANSION
 
THE LIVING ROOM
 
(Thelma enters to meet Fikayo and Julian discussing)
 
Thelma
 
(Clears throat)
 
Hello?
 
Julian
 
(Smiles)
 
Hi Thelma.
 
Fikayo
 
I guess I have to be on my way. Julian tell daddy I visited. (Stands and walks out without looking back)
 
Julian
 
Why are you looking at me like that?
 
Thelma
 
Where are they?
 
Julian
 
On their way, I guess. Come and sit beside me. You look stressed.
 
Thelma
 
Number one. Never tell a lady she looks stressed. Two. You are a two faced backstabbing beast!
 
Julian
 
Whoa! Where is that coming from?
 
Thelma
 
First, it was Josephine and now it’s Fikayo. The universe is just pointing me to one thing. I am very glad it showed me earlier.
 
Julian
 
What are you talking about?
 
(Mariam enters suddenly)
 
Mariam
 
Mr Julian! The security man at the gate just rang the kitchen. Fikayo just collapsed!
 
Julian
 
(Jumps to his feet)
 
What?
 
How to grow your business while you stay at home
Thelma
 
(Opens her mouth in shock)
 
My goodness.