A Nigerian story screenplay part one

Somewhere in the village Okezie the fisherman is on his way back from fishing when he meets his friend Ndukwe on the way.

NDUKWE: Okezie nwoke oma I greet you o.

OKEZIE: Ndukwe my friend how are you today?

NDUKWE: Ah, we thank God for another day my brother. It is only 1pm I thought you would still be fishing by now.

OKEZIE: Ndu, my only brother Jonah is coming back from USA today. You remember Jonah don’t you?

NDUKWE: of course I remember Jonah, he went to America almost 12 years ago.

OKEZIE: Yes you do remember. I am going to the house to welcome him back and prepare a room for him.

NDUKWE: Haa, Okezie you are a lucky man o, I know your brother is a rich man now and he will finally help you in opening your new business in the city.

OKEZIE: Ndu my friend, I can’t explain how happy I am today, I have been dreaming of going to the city and starting a business for a long time now. I know my brother Jonah will surely help me.

NDUKWE: Your brother’s son is living with you, right?

OKEZIE: Yes his son Nnamdi has been living with us since he left for America.

NDUKWE: What about his mother?

OKEZIE: 12 years ago before Jonah left for USA, Nnamdi’s mother Juliet left him with his father Jonah and took off to Lagos with another man.

NDUKWE: Hm, na waa o.

OKEZIE: Well, Ndu my friend I should get going, I think he’s on his way back from the airport.

NDUKWE: Okay, I will be at your house later to welcome your brother.

OKEZIE: Okay my friend, I will see you later.

Okezie and Ndukwe part ways and the scene ends.

Scene 2

In front of Okezie’s two bedroom bungalow, four young children are playing football when Okezie’s wife comes out of the house with a broom in her hand.

ANNA: Nnamdi!! Nnamdi!!

NNAMDI: Yes maa!

ANNA: Come here you stupid boy. Your father is coming back today and you can’t even help me clean the house!

NNAMDI: Sorry maa.

ANNA: Sorry your head, come on go inside and start cleaning before I slap you now!

Nnamdi calmly leaves his friends and heads back inside the house while his friends go back to their various houses. Anna starts to sweep the front yard when her friend Ezinne walks into the compound.

EZINNE: Anna my sis, how are you?

ANNA: Hm, I’m fine o, I’m just cleaning up before Jonah comes back.

EZINNE: Who is Jonah?

ANNA: oh, he is my husband’s brother who has been in the USA for twelve years now.

EZINNE: Eehh and he is coming back today?

ANNA: Yes o, he’s coming back today and it is about time my sister.

EZINNE: I didn’t know that your husband has a brother who is in the USA. Una own better o.

ANNA: Hmm, He has abandoned his brother and son for twelve years and nobody heard from him until last week when he sent message that he was coming back today.

EZINNE: His son?

ANNA: Yes his son Nnamdi whom we have been taking care of since he was one year old.

EZINNE: Oh, Nnamdi is his son? I thought he was your son.

ANNA: No he is not my son. Years ago my husband convinced me not to tell anybody but since his father is coming back there is no harm in telling the truth.

EZINNE: Aaanaaa, I thought you would regard him as your own since you don’t have any children of your own.

ANNA: Hmm, Ezinne it doesn’t matter now o. All I want now is for Jonah to give my husband a reasonable amount of money so he can start a good business in the city. Me I want to live in the city o, I’m tired of living in the village plus I’m still too young to spend the rest of my life in the village.

EZINNE: Anna, Make you take am easy my sister. How do you know he will have enough for you and your husband to move to the city?

ANNA: Hmm, he better have enough, since he has been in the USA for over twelve years, he better do o, hmm.

EZINNE: Okay o, whatever you say. By the way I came by to borrow your filter for the cassava.

ANNA: Ok wait let me bring it but remember to bring it back in the same condition o.

EZINNE: Ahh when did you start to worry about me not bringing back your filter in good condition?

ANNA: I’m just saying because that is the only filter that I have.

EZINNE: Okay o, don’t worry I will take care of it.

Anna goes inside the house and brings out the filter and hands it to Ezinne. Scene closes.

Scene 3

Okezie and his wife Anna is sitting at their outside porch when a blue 504 car pulls into the compound. When the car comes to a stop Jonah steps out of the back seat of the car as Okezie and Anna walks towards the car.

OKEZIE: Chei, my brother Jonah, welcome home o!

ANNA: Welcome sir.

JONAH: Thank you Big brother, how are you all doing?

OKEZIE: We thank God o!

Okezie and Jonah gives themselves a warm embrace as the driver carries out the bags from the boot of the car. Anna also helps with some of the bags.

OKEZIE: Chei! Jonah my brother, long time o, we thought we weren’t going to see you again o.

JONAH: Hey, brother I understand, God forbid me to forget you all, it’s just that I have been struggling and working very hard in America.

OKEZIE: I see….. You know when Nkem’s brother came back from Lagos and gave us the message that you were coming home, I almost fell to the ground because it’s been a long time o and I have been thinking of when to see you again.

JONAH: I am finally here my brother and I give all glory to God because it is not easy at all.

ANNA: Brother, we are glad to see you o.

JONAH: Thank you…. You are Anna right?

ANNA: Yes sir, you remember your brother married a year before you went to USA.

JONAH: O yes I remember and brother you remember when I told you that you married a very beautiful wife.

OKEZIE: Hmm, I thank God my brother.

Anna smiles with great joy.

ANNA: Thank you sir.

Nnamdi comes out of the house and walks towards the Jonah and he was paying the driver who is about to drive off after dropping the bags on the front porch.

NNAMDI: Welcome sir.

JONAH: Is this my boy? Oh my God! You are all grown up, how are you?

NNAMDI: I am fine sir, thank you.

Jonah warmly embraces his son and excitedly checks him out.

JONAH: you are 12 years old now right?

NNAMDI: Yes sir.

JONAH: You are now a big boy o.

OKEZIE: Your son has been a very good boy and he is quite a strong reader like you.

ANNA: Yes he is.

JONAH: Chei! Brother I thank you and your wife for taking care of my son all along.

OKEZIE: Ah, don’t worry, that’s what brothers are for.

ANNA: You are welcome sir.

OKEZIE: Okay lets go inside, I know you must be hungry. Nnamdi bring all the bags inside.

NNAMDI: Okay uncle.

Okezie and Jonah heads inside the house while Anna and Nnamdi follows with the luggage. Scene closes.

Scene 4

The next morning Okezie and Jonah is sitting at the front porch of the house discussing about various things as the drink some palm wine.

JONAH: Big brother I would like to thank you again for taking care of my son all this time.

OKEZIE: Ah, don’t worry about it, and like I said what are brothers for? So what are your plans for the future?

JONAH: Well brother, I am planning to take Nnamdi my son back to USA so he can get a better education.

OKEZIE: eehh? Okay when are you planning on doing that?

JONAH: I have a friend in Lagos who will help with the visa. Next week I will take Nnamdi to Lagos so that after we get his Visa then we will go from there.

OKEZIE: Okay, it is all a good plan especially for the boy, but what about me and my wife?

JONAH: Ah, big brother, don’t even worry about anything. You know I can’t forget now.

OKEZIE: I don’t know anything o, you have to prove to me that you still care for your brother. Imagine since 12 years ago that you left nobody had heard from you until recently. I really thought that you had forgotten us.

JONAH: Brother please don’t say that.

OKEZIE: What do you mean don’t say that? I was very upset when I didn’t hear from you in years and you didn’t bother to know how your son was doing.

JONAH: Okay I hear you brother but I am here now. And also things are very hard in America.

OKEZIE: If you really want to see hard life then stay back home and then see.

JONAH: Okay I get your point and by the way I have something for you.

Jonah reaches inside his bag and brings out an envelope and hands it to Okezie.

JONAH: Brother this is one thousand dollars and I think it is equivalent to one hundred thousand naira. Please manage this for now.

After Jonah gives his brother the money Anna suddenly storms out of the house where she was ease dropping.

ANNA: You see! I knew it, what is one hundred thousand naira? Useless brother! After 12 years in USA this is all you can come up with!

OKEZIE: Woman! Shut up and sit down!

JONAH: Anna please calm down.

ANNA: Calm down for what? Your brother have been suffering in the village for a long time now taking care of your son too for 12 years and this is all you give him. What do you think he will do with one hundred thousand naira?

JONAH: Please don’t be angry, this is what I can do for now. The rest of what I have is for Nnamdi’s visa and transportation money for going back to America but I promise I will send something when I get back.

ANNA: I don’t believe you! You are a useless brother! So you will just go back to America with your son and live us here to rote. God go punish you!!

OKEZIE: Okay Anna it is enough! Now go back into the house, I’m talking to my brother here! So you don’t have any more respect for me heh?

Anna later sighed and hastily walked back into the house.

Scene 5

Later that day Anna went to her friend Ezinne’s house.

ANNA: Ezinne my friend are you home?

EZINNE: Anna yes I’m home o.

Ezinne comes out of her house and meets her friend Anna.

ANNA: Hmm, nne do you know that Jonah came back from America and all he gave my husband is only one hundred thousand naira.

EZINNE: one hundred thousand naira?

ANNA: Yes o, one hundred thousand naira o, what is my husband going to do with that much money?

EZINNE: Hmm, maybe he didn’t come back with much.

ANNA: Ezinne what do you mean by that? 12 years in America and that is all he can do.

EZINNE: So what about his son, did he give something for him?

ANNA: He is even trying to take his son to America with him.

EZINNE: Well that’s good o.

ANNA: Ezinne you really want to anger me o.

EZINNE: Anger you kwa, for what?

ANNA: Hmm, so you mean that it is good for him to take his son and leave us with only one hundred thousand naira ehh?

EZINNE: I’m just saying that it is good for the boy that’s all.

ANNA: In short nne I don’t even know why I came here. It is like you are siding with them.

EZINNE: I’m not siding with anybody.

ANNA: You are! By the way I am going to meet Pastor Richard. I have to do something about this.

EZINNE: No, No, No, you don’t mean the forbidden pastor. The fake one.

ANNA: you can call him whatever but he takes care of problems

EZINNE: Anna you are trying to play with fire o. That man is not really a pastor o. He is a criminal.

ANNA: He will take care of this problem for me once and for all.

EZINNE: Please don’t go to that pastor Richard o, he is bad luck o!!

ANNA: I don’t care about that, I will surely go. He has helped madam Nkechi before and he will help me.

EZINNE: Well Anna just do what you want to do but don’t say I didn’t warn you o!

ANNA: Okay o, I hear you so don’t worry about me. Bye Bye.

Anna left Ezinne and then headed towards the streets.

Scene 6

Anna made her way to pastor Richard’s compound.

ANNA: Pastor Rich I greet you o.

PASTOR RICH: Ehen my daughter how are you?

ANNA: I’m okay sir?

PASTOR RICH: you sound distressed, are you sure you are okay?

ANNA: well, pastor rich that’s why I’m here o.

PASTOR RICH: what is the problem?

ANNA: Pastor Rich, you remember when I came here with my friend Nkechi and you helped with her problem.

PASTOR RICH: yes I remember your friend Nkechi.

ANNA: remember you told me if I ever had a problem of that sort that I should also come to you.

PASTOR RICH: Yes I remember.

ANNA: Well I need someone to be kidnapped for a ransom.

PASTOR RICH: Okay, hold on woman. Before you jump into all that you have to first water my mouth a little and also give me some details of your problem before moving further.

ANNA: Okay pastor rich, this is ten thousand naira and you will get thirty percent from the deal.

PASTOR RICH: ehen, now you are talking but first you know the confidentiality of this meeting. Even your best friend shouldn’t know about this meeting.

ANNA: Of course pastor rich, I remember the last time you told us the rules. I understand my mouth is sealed.

PASTOR RICH: Okay, that is good to know and also I want fifty percent not thirty.

ANNA: Pastor Rich please take forty percent. That is all I can do and remember the deal is supposed to be three million naira.

PASTOR RICH: Okay, in that case it is all good. Now tell me what it is.

ANNA: My husband’s brother just came back from USA and he is planning on taking his son whom we have been taking care of since 12 years he left to America and all he is giving us is one hundred thousand naira. I would like to get more money from him by kidnapping his son for three million naira.

PASTOR RICH: Are you sure he has that type of money.

ANNA: O yes, I’m sure he has up to that amount.

PASTOR RICH: Okay then I will call my boys Rambo and Jimmy to handle that but remember, if these guys don’t see their money they will end up killing the child. They are serious killers so make sure he will pay up.

ANNA: No problem, he will pay up.

PASTOR RICH: Okay it is done. Just go home and around 2pm tomorrow send the boy on an errand somewhere outside the house and we will handle the rest.

ANNA: Okay, thank you pastor Rich.

PASTOR RICH: No problem, go well.

Scene 7

Around 2pm the next day, Anna came out in front of house and started calling Nnamdi.

ANNA: Nnamdi! Nnamdi!

NNAMDI: yes ma!

ANNA: come here!

Nnamdi hurried out in front of the house to meet Anna.

ANNA: Nnamdi, take this money, run to the market and buy some kerosene for tonight.

NNAMDI: But auntie, I thought we bought two full gallons of kerosene yesterday.

ANNA: and so what?

NNAMDI: Those two gallons normally lasts us for two weeks.

ANNA: Shut up and run to the market now! You lazy boy, is that the excuse not to go on this errand ehh?

NNAMDI: No ma I was just….

ANNA: shh! Now go and get the kerosene and stop talking before I deal with you now.

NNAMDI: Okay ma.

Nnamdi quickly runs off to the market to buy the kerosene.

Scene 8

Few hours later, Okezie and his brother Jonah was returning back into the compound when Anna quickly rushed out of the house with a note in her hands.

ANNA: Oh my God! Okezie my husband, Nnamdi has been kidnapped o!

OKEZIE: kidnapped kwa!?

JONAH: What!? My son kidnapped?

OKEZIE: Woman! How did you know he was kidnapped?

ANNA: See now, somebody left a note on the door when I was cooking.

JONAH: Let me see the note.

OKEZIE: what is written on it?

JONAH: it says “if you want to see your son again, you have to leave three million naira under the orange tree by the side of your house at 11pm tonight. After you drop the money there, you will see your son in the morning at 5am, but if you don’t, you will never see your son again”.

OKEZIE: Chei! God, what kind of thing is this ehh?

ANNA: owww, poor Nnamdi. God will punish these people that kidnapped him!

The end of part one.