BABA MUFU’S SHOP,
DAY
A small crowd cheering,
laughing and mocking in a circle.
Harry leading the circle on with his bottle
of beer with him....
HARRY
Smallie na you I
put money on, no
fall my hand...
In the middle of
the circle is Bunmi an eighteen year old
and Oga Charles, a
potbellied man with his shirt on his shoulder playing draft. Oga Charles is
tensed up, because Bunmi is obviously winning.
HARRY
Smallie finish
am.
She lets a silly
smile out at Oga Charles, takes her piece and uses it to take what is left of
Mt Charles’ game, leaving the crowd to run wild.
Harry immediately
carries her on his shoulder as his winner,
with every one
chanting her name.
CROWD
Smallie!
Smallie! Smallie.
BUNMI’S HOUSE..
EVENING
Uncle Mike is
training with his punching bag at the corner of the sitting room. The sitting
room is scanty, just a long couch and a T.v on the wall with a center table to
add a little colour to the gloominess of the room.
Bunmi enters
gently, she tries to sneak in, her seeing that
her uncle is
distracted with his boxing training.
UNCLE MIKE
You are late.
He does not let
her distract him however.
BUNMI
(She is
obviously scared of
him)
I am sorry, I
was busy.
UNCLE MIKE
Doing what
exactly?
She does not
respond. Uncle Mike irritated holds his Punching bag.
UNCLE MIKE
(cont’d)
What the hell
were you busy doing?
BUNMI
Nothing.
Uncle Mike walking
towards her, she is scared, shrinking in herself as he gets closer. He holds
her face up.
UNCLE MIKE
Go to the room,
pick up the
package, deliver
it, and be back in
an hour. Can you
do that.
BUNMI
(Mumbling
softly)
Yes.
He gives her a
good tap on her head and goes to continue his training. Bunmi leaves to the
room.
CLUB. MX’S OFFICE,
NIGHT.
Bunmi walks in, Mx
is playing PS4 with a friend, he sees
Bunmi, and snaps
his finger for his friend to leave.
He walks up to her
takes the bag and heads to his table.
MX
How is my
brother?
BUNMI
Boxing as usual,
he is getting better
MX
Have a sit come
on. Don’t be a
stranger.
She sits.
MX (cont’d)
You know you
could work here if you
want.
BUNMI
(Giggles)
As what?
MX
You are a pretty
good dancer.
BUNMI
I have to leave
now uncle Max.
MX
Think about it.
BUNMI
You should check
what’s in the bag.
MX
Nah, no worries,
it’s my stuff from
my Ex-wife.
BUNMI
Then why was it
with Uncle Mike.
MX
Good question,
you need to leave
now.
BUNMI
You are all
wired from mummy’s
part of the
family.
MX
Your mom loves
you, you know that.
BUNMI
Sure.
She makes to leave.
MX
Hey
(Brings out
bundle of money
from his drawer
and throws
this to Bunmi)
Get something
good to wear.
She leaves,
smiling. He opens the bag, and smells it giddy.
OUTSIDE THE CLUB,
NIGHT
The song from the
club still lingers in the air. Bunmi comes out. Harry is outside standing at
the entrance, apparently he is a bouncer.
HARRY
Smallie.
BUNMI
Harry.
HARRY
Drop something
for boys.
BUNMI
The bet you won
on me isn’t enough.
HARRY
More money should
be made. Go home,
it’s late.
The sound of a
girl struggling with some guys in the not too far.
Harry and Bunmi
looking listening, trying to know exactly what’s happening.
GUY ONE
Guy hurry, get
it.
GIRL
Please... Help.
Bunmi already
irritated by the guys bullying the young lady.
BUNMI
Hey, that’s
enough.
HARRY
Hey Bunmi stay
out of that, you
don’t want to
mess with those guys.
They have guns.
Bunmi ignores
Harry and goes towards them.
BUNMI
I said stop.
GUY ONE
Who the hell are
you.
HARRY
Bunmi!
BUNMI
Why don’t you
pick on someone your
size, instead
messing around with
little girl.
GUY TWO
Oh chill, and
that would be you.
BUNMI
No. Him
Bunmi points to
Harry, Harry immediately looks away.
HARRY
(To himself)
This girl is
going to have me
killed.
GUY ONE
Run along now.
They continue
harassing her.
BUNMI
I said stop.
Bunmi tries to get
in between the girl and them, one of them
in the middle of
the struggle accidentally shoots Bunmi.
Everyone around
the street takes off. The girl scared, let’s
out a scream as
Bunmi falls on her, struggling to catch her
breath.
HARRY
Nooooooo.
Harry running over
furious.
GUY TWO
(Panicking)
What the hell man,
why would you do
that.
GUY ONE
I slipped.
GUY TWO
(Dragging his
friend)
Let’s get out
here.
They take off
before Harry gets there.
GIRL
You would be
alright.
She pulls off her
jacket and uses it to put pressure on the wound. Harry is shocked standing
looking.
GIRL
(To Harry.
Shouting)
Get a cab.
He takes off.
Bunmi’s vision is
blurry, the voices echo the only thing she
can hear is her
heart beat and her breath.
GIRL
Don’t give
up on you.