What Happened To Us

UTRA 7

INT. TRAIN.

"Chidinma screams to consciousness."

CHIDINMA
No!
(Cries out.)

STEPH
Chidinma, calm down.

CHIDINMA
The beasts are here.

STEPH
Relax, you are fine.

CHIDINMA
I dreamt something happened to our train and the world left us behind.
Beasts were everywhere and your mother died.

STEPH
(Tears stream down her cheeks)
My Mum is gone, Chidinma.

CHIDINMA
How?

FRANK
It wasn't a dream.
You were beaten by one of the beasts when we arrived at your home.
(Chidinma slowly recalls the event.)
But you weren't infected.
Turns out that you are a resistant.

CHIDINMA
I don't understand because for a second I thought none of this happened.
I was on the train, and everyone was fine.

Dr. JERRY
That never happened.
That was your brain and body fighting off the virus that was introduced into your system when you were bitten
You have been unconscious for days.

KUNLE
I warned you guys, but none of you listened to me.
Now even the three guys that followed you are not yet back.

CHIDINMA
(Turns to Steph.)
Steph, were you able to find your father?

STEPH
No!
He's gone, Chidinma
The house was empty.

CHIDINMA
Do not give up, Steph.
Maybe he made it to Lagos before all of this happened.

STEPH
That is what am scared of, Chidinma.
Lagos is gone.

CHIDINMA
How?
What happened to Lagos?

FRANK
Seventy percent of Lagos's population was affected by the virus.

KUNLE
In other words, Lagos is a dead zone.

___________________________________

EXT.  HENREY'S RESIDENCE.

"Cries out as he gazes at Rita's old necklace."

"Togu walks into the room."

TOGU
Bro, you have to put yourself together.
It's not the end of the world.

HENRY
It is for me.
Ijeoma is gone!
(Puts the necklace back into his chest pocket.)

TOGU
I know but there is nothing we can do about that.
Spending one more night in this house is too risky.
We have to leave!

HENRY
Where do we go, bro?

TOGU
To the train at least there are people there.
We have barely seen a human around here.

"Sam walks into the room."

HENRY
What do you think, Sam?

SAM
(Sits on the bed.)
I don't know but the train is safer than being out here.

HENRY
(Gets up.)
There is nothing out here for me so I guess we should go back.

__________________________________

INT. MILITARY BASE, ABUJA.

"Captain Bola salute General Emeh."

CAP BOLA
Sir, I have good news.

GEN EMEH
What is it, Captain?

CAP BOLA
There have been some unverified rumors about the missing train.

GEN EMEH
How is that good news, Captain?
I hate rumors and you know this!

CAP BOLA
I'm sorry, sir I just thought you should know.
Permission to take my leave.

GEN EMEH
Permission granted.

"Captain Bola walks out of the scene."

COL LINDA
Gen, I think we should verify these rumors.

GEN EMEH
Hmm, this is not the first time we have heard such rumors.

COL LINDA
So, what do we do?

GEN EMEH
Hmm, send some troops over there.

COL LIDA
Yes, sir.
(Salutes Gen Emeh before walking out of the room.)

"Gen. Emeh pulls out a picture of Steph and Mrs. Emeh, and keeps gazing at the picture till tears roll down his cheeks."

_____________________________________

INT. TRAIN.

"Frank offers Mrs. Ajayi a roasted corn wrapped in a newspaper."

FRANK
Ma, you haven't eaten anything since morning.

Mrs. AJAYI
What did I tell you?
I am not hungry.

FRANK
But you have to eat.

Mrs. AJAYI
(Turns to Frank.)
What for?

FRANK
To stay alive!
What if something happens to your baby?

Mrs. AJAYI
At this point, I do not care what happens.
The worst has happened to me I am not scared of anything.
(Turns towards the side window.)

FRANK
I understand how you feel, ma.

Mrs. AJAYI
(Turns to Frank.)
No, you do not!
You only care because you pity me.
And I do not want that.
Leave me alone!
(Tears roll down her cheeks.)

FRANK
Alright, ma.
But I will leave the corn here whenever you are hungry, please eat.
(Walks out of the scene.)

"Dr. Jerry noticed Chidinma is shivering."

Dr. JERRY
You will be fine; your immune system is still recovering.

CHIDINMA
Thank you, sir.
How come you know so much about what is happening?

Dr. JERRY
Because I am a neurologist I have spent more time in the outside world.
I wasn't on the train. I met Steph and Frank on their way back to the train.

CHIDINMA
Oh, that explains it.
I knew it because I did not recognize your face.

STEPH
So, can you explain what neurologise means...?

CHIDINMA
(Turns to Steph.)
Doctors who specialize in treating sickness relating to the brain.
And it's "Neurologist!" madam!

STEPH
Oh, a brain doctor.

Dr. JERRY
You can also call it that.
So, in the last three months, I and some doctors have been doing some research on the viral virus and we discovered that it is a rare category of virus that attacts the brain cells and causes a bridge between your logical reasoning and emotions. That is why those who are infected appear to be very aggressive and dangerous.

CHIDINMA
Okay but what does neurology have to do with shape-shifting?
What could be the reason why they turn so ugly and unrecognizable?

Dr. JERRY
Hmm, that is a very good question, Chidinma but sadly we haven't been able to figure that out.
A possible guess could be that the virus also has some properties in it that cause the human muscles to shrink and change shape.

CHIDINMA
What if it has something to do with a bone infection that causes deformity?

Dr. JERRY
Hmm, that could be another possible reason.
Although we believe our government especially the military knows more than they are telling us about the virus.

"Frank seats opposite Kunle."

FRANK
Bro, I'm worried about that pregnant woman.

KUNLE
Why?

FRANK
She hasn't eaten anything since yesterday.

KUNLE
So?
(Bites on the corn in his hand.)

FRANK
She's pregnant, Kunle.

KUNLE
That's on her, Frank.
This is the problem I have with you.
You do not know when to stop with all this unnecessary kindness besides we both know you are only interested in her wellbeing because she reminds you of what happened to Tobe, but you need to understand that she is not Tobe. And everyone on this train are stranger to us.

FRANK
As usual, you wouldn't understand any of this.

KUNLE
Have you stopped to think and see that maybe you are the one who doesn't understand the situation we are in?
Look around you, do you think these people care about you?
Or do you think if it were the other way around, that woman would risk her life to look for your child?

FRANK
Kunle, stop!

KUNLE
No, you stop!
Quit being stupid!
I have told you times without number that we should take the car and get out of here.
Just because those predators haven't been able to penetrate the train yet doesn't mean they won't do that someday.

FRANK
That car only works because of Chidinma and her friend's decision to leave the train. A decision you were fairmly against, so you do not have the right to do that.

KUNLE
We can't stay here forever.
That car is our only way to get out of here.

FRANK
That car is the only reason why you have that corn in your hand it's why we are all still alive.
How do you expect others here to survive?
How will they be able to get food and supplies?

KUNLE
That is none of our business, bro
This is survival of the fittest every man for himself.

FRANK
Why are you so heartless?
I can't even recognize you anymore.
I miss my friend and I want him back
(Walks away.)