INT. ZINO'S WAREHOUSE.
"Zino paces around the room."
ZINO
But why?
How could he be so stupid?
KOME
Sister, you have every right to be angry, but he was only doing it to clear Mama's debts.
ZINO
That doesn't justify anything.
He knew what they were doing was dangerous and illegal, yet he jumped in!
OVIE
(Turns to Kome)
How long have you known about this?
KOME
Just a few weeks before Efe left the country.
OVIE
That's over a month, Kome.
You had a month to speak up.
You could have said something all this while.
KOME
I know, but I promised Efe that I would....
ZINO
(Interrupts Kome)
You promised Efe what?
You should have said something!
KOME
I'm sorry I was just scared.
ZINO
(Holds the chair in front of her tight as she struggles with her rage.)
How did he come in contact with them?
Answer me!!!
"Kome appears frightened."
OVIE
(Turns to Zino)
Zino!
ZINO
(Ignores Ovie)
I'm talking to you, young lady.
How did Efe come in contact with the New Gate?
KOME
I don't know!
(Burst into tears.)
I'm not Efe! How would I know?
(Runs out of the room in tears.)
ZINO
(Pushes the chair in front of her.)
Damn it!
OVIE
Watin dey do you? Calm down, na!
ZINO
How can I be calm?
That your brother nor get sense?
How can someone be so smart and at the same time dumb?
OVIE
Well, I won't completely blame him. He was only trying to help the best way he could.
ZINO
(Turns to Ovie in shock)
What did you just say?
OVIE
You heard me right, Zino.
And you and I know none of this would have happened if you had just listened to me and cleared up those debts years ago.
ZINO
So now it's my fault?
OVIE
No one is blaming you. All I'm saying is that all of this started because of you!
And you had a chance to stop this from happening to Efe if only you had listened a single word, I have been saying to you all these years.
ZINO
That money was and is dirty, Ovie. I wanted nothing to do with it.
Don't you get it?
Everything that comes from that company is dirty!
OVIE
Now look where we are.
Look around you. We wouldn't be able to do any of this without that money.
(Goes closer to Zino)
Look, I understand why you wanted nothing to do with the money, but I would never understand that you failed to realize how those debts were hurting, Mama!
(Walks out of the scene.)
____________________________________
EXT. HIGHWAY.
"Ella turns to Cheta."
ELLA
Abeg drive a bit faster!
CHETA
Can't you see I'm struggling to see?
I don't know how you drive this garbage without lights.
ELLA
Watin that one mean?
Abeg abeg, nor call my car garbage. Nor try am.
CHETA
Sorry, nor vex.
But try fix your light!
ELLA
The lights are okay.
Na you nor get eyes.
"Uche rolls his eyes and shakes his head".
CHETA
(Turns Ella)
Na this thing you dey call light?
(Points out towards the front glass of the 2004 Toyota Collora)
ELLA
Yes, Oga, if e too pain you, go buy your own.
UCHE
(Interrupts their petty argument.)
That's enough, guys!
Inside this tension una still dey fight.
Nawa, oh!
ELLA
He started it!
CHETA
How?
UCHE
E don do!
I don't care who started, let's just get rid of this body and get on with our lives.
CHETA
(Gazes at Uche from the rear mirror in front of him.)
Relax bro we will soon be there.
(Turns the car starring to the right.)
ELLA
Are we close?
CHETA
Yes.
(Sights men in black)
Omo!!!
UCHE
Watin be that?
ELLA
Police, oh.
UCHE
Reverse the car na!
CHETA
They don see us already.
(Park the car in the direction as instructed by one of the officers.)
Act normal, guys. Nor fear.
(Rolls down glass.)
_____________________________________
INT. THE AZUKA'S HOUSEHOLD.
"Mrs. Azuka walks into Ngozi's room with a basket of clothes in her hands."
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...
