INT. BUHIGH PRISON.
"Efe appears frustrated."
EFE
There must be some way out of this.
JUDE
There was a way out.
MOHAMMAD
Jude!
JUDE
What is it?
The kid deserves to know why he is in this mess in the first place.
EFE
What?
DANTE
It's nothing, Efe.
JUDE
Dante, tell him the truth or I will.
EFE
(Gets up and walks towards Dante who was leaning against the wall.)
What is going on Dante?
DANTE
Efe...
EFE
And do not lie to me!
I want the truth!
What is he talking about?
(Points at Jude.)
DANTE
(Breaths heavily)
There was a way out, but I blew it off.
The only way to avoid facing the giant is to pay an exemption fee which the company made provision for, but I lost it in a chess game a few days ago.
EFE
(Turns around and places both his hands on his head.)
What the f?
(Turns back to Dante.)
Why the hell would you do that?
DANTE
I thought it was a good game.
Mohammad was leading the game out of no way the idiot checkmated Mohammad.
Look, I only did it because I was certain it was the perfect opportunity to make good money which you would have benefited from.
EFE
Oh, don't give me that crap!
You did that because you wanted to make some money for yourself out of it!
MOHAMMAD
(Turns to Efe)
Just so you know I wasn't part of this.
I only knew about it after the game.
EFE
(Appears frustrated.)
How good was your opponent?
MOHAMMAD
One of the best I have met in my entire life.
EFE
Well, I have yet to meet anyone who can break me in chess.
Am going to win my money back.
MOHAMMAD
(Chuckles)
You may be smart, but this is Buhigh I sincerely doubt that.
EFE
I'm ready to take a chance on that.
JUDE
Even though you could win the money back, it still wouldn't be possible.
EFE
(Turns to Jude)
And why is that?
DANTE
Because games are only played on Thursdays which was yesterday, and we have till 7 pm tonight to pay that fine or you face the giant.
EFE
Alright, how about we find a way to come up with this fine maybe someone with some rank or money could lend it to us then we pay back later?
That shouldn't be hard to do I mean how could the money be?
DANTE
That's the problem, Efe.
No one will lend us a thousand dollars without some kind of equivalent leverage.
EFE
What?
You gambled a thousand dollars in the middle of a chess game hoping that he would win?
Who be this guy self?
You normal so?
DANTE
Efe, look it's....
EFE
I don't even want to hear it.
(Walks out of the scene.)
___________________________
INT. UFUOMA'S HOUSEHOLD.
"Ovie turns to Zino."
OVIE
You know the company is behind this, right?
ZINO
I know Ovie.
OVIE
And what are you going to do about it?
(Sits upright)
ZINO
Well, I have spoken to some of my contacts abroad they are presently investigating what really happened.
OVIE
Really?
Efe is paying for a crime he didn't commit because of your link with the company, and this is the best you could come up with.
ZINO
I'm doing the best I can, Ovie.
What do you want from me?
OVIE
What do I want from you?
ZINO
Yes!
I am doing the best that I can to get him out of this and...
OVIE
(Interrupts her)
Your best?
You are doing nothing, Zino!
ZINO
(Gets up angrily)
Meaning what?
Which kind talk be that one?
I don reach out to people when I swear for my life say I nor want anything to do with them again.
I don dey break all my rules just to make sure say I commot Efe from this mess.
So, you nor get right to tell me say I nor dey do anything. If the matter too stress you, carry gun go fight the company yourself because I am not going to break any law or kill anyone to resolve this.
When I said I was done with that life, I meant it.
"Mama walks in."
MAMA
Watin, they happen here?
Why una dey fight?
"Kome walks in."
KOME
(Drops the newspaper on the table.)
When were you guys going to tell me about this?
OVIE
Kome, we were only trying to protect you.
KOME
Protect me from what?
I'm not a child and I'm tired of you guys treating me like one.
OVIE
Yes, you are a child, and it is my job to protect you!
KOME
You are not my father I do not need your protection.
You all talk about honesty every day at morning devotion and yet you are the ones lying to me.
(Turns to leave.)
ZINO
Kome try and understand us, biko.
KOME
(Turns to Zino)
He is my brother too, sister.
I have the right to know.
OVIE
We had no choice, Kome.
We just wanted to protect....
KOME
(Interrupts Ovie)
You always have a choice.
(Screams at the top of her voice as tears roll down her cheeks.)
You taught me that.
You had a choice and you choose to keep this from me,
(Rushes to her room.)
"Zino goes after her."
______________________________
YOU ARE READING
Behind Bars
Teen Fiction"Behind Bars" is a screenplay that tells the story of Efe a 19-year-old genius who was framed for a drug-related crime while on his way to pursue a better life abroad. Efe is sentenced to prison, plunging him into a world of despair and misery. The...
