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The Weeping Bride
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Filmscript
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Umoru Haruna
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10/18/2017
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INT. DAY.TAYOS HOTEL ROOM
FADE IN
Solemn sound
A bride (TAYO) paces, sits softly
on the floor leans by the bed, bows her head. Wedding paraphernalia dots the
room; Quran, bouquet, gifts items hand fan flowers decorations bow tie, shoes
male and female mans suit etc. on bed! TAYO raises her head to reveal her
tears. She is about twenty five years of age, Beautiful. Door opens to reveal
DEJI. DEJI is a man of thirty years of age. He is not properly dressed. TAYO
puts her hands around her tummy to reveal a baby bump. TAYO laments
TAYO
Oh! Oh! Oh! On my wedding night!
TAYO bites her finger shakes her
head in anguish. DEJI looks on
BEGINNING FLASHBACK 1
INT. NIGHT. ROSES HOTEL ROOM
DIMLIGHT
EROTIC MUSIC
Door slowly opens to reveal TAYO in
a wedding dress. She slowly widens her eyes at the sight before her. Dim light
from window reveal DEJI and ROSE on bed. Flashlight drops from TAYO’s
hand. TAYO covers her mouth. ROSE opens
her eyes from her ecstasy tries to
cover her face with the sheaths. DEJI turns back suddenly to face TAYO. DEJI
sweats profusely. Tayo gaps for breath staggers backward hits the wall screams turns
swiftly and runs off.
END OF FLASHBACK 1
INT. DAY. TAYO’S HOTEL ROOM
DEJI kneels down by TAYO’s side
DEJI
Tayo! Tayo! T-love!
DEJI’s touch on TAYO’s shoulder
wakes her up. TAYO looks over her shoulder removes DEJIS hand from it gently
DEJI (CONT.)
You weren’t in the mood…! …I!
TAYO
So you jumped to her bed
My ….! My…! Oh God…!
DEJI
You declined my advances
TAYO rises
TAYO
Stop-it…! I am four
months pregnant. Couldn’t you have waited for one night?
Pause 6 beats
TAYO (CONT.)
Tell me, since when have you been…!
ROSE is by the door. TAYO realizes
that DEJI is distracted catches ROSE exchange gestures with DEJI. ROSE makes
apologetic gestures at TAYO. DEJI signals her to leave. TAYO tenses up! ROSE
leaves.
TAYO
… chiefbride's maid!
TAYO scoffs turns taps her head
sits at the edge of the bed. TAYO turns against DEJI, bows her head.
BEGINNING FLASHBACK 2
INT. DAY. WEDDING HALL
TAYO and DEJI by alter. TAYO is
distracted UNCLE BALO makes way to seat with MUMMY. MUMMY and UNCLE BALOchat
and giggle. MUMMY excitedly points at TAYO and DEJI. UNCLE BALO looks at TAYO
stops smiling,leans forward removes his glasses he is wide eyed. MUMMY tugs
UNCLE BALO’s garment making him to sit. DEJI notices TAYO’s distraction looks
toward her gaze sees UNCLE BALO leans to TAYO whispers into her ears
DEJI
That is my dad!
TAYO
Your…! Your…! …D…D…Dad?
TAYO staggers rests on DEJI for
support ROSE assists TAYO. ROSE fans TAYO as TAYO is offered a seat.
END OF FLASHBACK 2
INT. DAY.TAYO’S HOTEL ROOM.
TAYO is still in bowing position
TAYO
Oh! I am ruined!
TAYO raises her head clutches her
hands behind her head.
TAYO
This marriage is ruined!
DEJI closes on TAYO
DEJI
Don’t say that! It will not …!
MUMMY ( O.S.)
Iyawo mi da? I- ya-wo!
MUMMY appears by the door
MUMMY (CONT.)
Newly weds’ door opened this early! Why?
MUMMY walks in
TAYO
Good morning ma!
MUMMY
How are you my daughter! How was your night?
MUMMY winks at TAYO. TAYO starts
sobbing.
DEJI
Mummy!
MUMMY
Deji! What is the matter? …my daughter why this
moping since yesterday? Deji!
MUMMY looks
at DEJI. DEJI moves away, raising his shoulder. TAYO looks at DEJI hisses
lightly and turns away from MUMMY and DEJI. TAYO still sits on the floor.
MUMMY
Common, cheer up! The Akarakirifamily takes
good care of their women!
MUMMY
stands up to display her body
MUMMY(CONT.)
Can’t you see me? I tell you just three weeks
with my son you will be amazed at your size and look! Relax! You are in a good
house!
MUMMY sits
MUMMY(CONT.)
By the way, I saw your friend, the chief brides
maid, leave in such a hurry, Unannounced. Why?
DEJI
School work!…Earlymorning test?
MUMMY
Test? Otio…! Even at that you should have…! The
girl really tried yesterday. She is a very responsible girl!
TAYO
Don’t mind him. I caught them in bed!
MUMMY
Otio?
TAYO
DEJI and ROSE. Can you imagine? Deji cheated on
me on our wedding night with my…! My….! With her!
MUMMY
No wonder! DEJI why? Olosholomo yen ooo! And I
thought she was very responsible. Well she is gone. The important thing is that
your husband is here with you. That is men for you even his father, you’ve
never met him! Uncle balo here! Uncle balo there! Wogbagbeeee! We only need to
be patient for them!
MUMMY goes
to TAYO hugs her
MUMMY (CONT.)
Cheer up! Hold on to your husband
TAYO looks
at MUMMY heaves and stares ahead of her. MUMMY rocks TAYO playfully.
BEGINNING
FLASHBACK 3
INT.
DAY.WEDDING HALL
TAYO is
seated looks back at to see UNCLE BALO. UNCLE BALO RISES
TRANSITION
UNCLE BALO
moves away by the isle
TRANSITON
UNCLE BALO
by exit
TRANSITION
UNCLE BALO
looks back at TAYO and DEJI turns away bows his head shakes his head as he
walks out of the hall. ROSE and TAYO exchange glances with each other.
END FLASHBACK 3
INT. DAY.
TAYO’s HOTEL ROOM
Tears wells
up TAYOP’s face
MUMMY
Tayo! Tayo! Tayo!
TAYO wakes up from her
trance
MUMMY
This is serious. DEJI!
TAYO sobs DEJI
and MUMMY stand watching.
OLORI-EBI (OS)
Deji! Deji! Deji! Open this door!
DEJI
Baba agba!
DEJI opens
the door OLORI-EBI and UNCLE BALO enter. OLORI-EBI looks straight at TAYO
intently. UNCLE BALO stone faced goes to sit down.
DEJI
Daddy. E ka aro sir!
MUMMY
E karo baba. E je unomope. E
pe fun wa!
OLORI-EBI
O kare! Aya mi!
TAYO rises
DEJI
Daddy! You
are here !you’ll finally meet my wife-tayo!
TAYO wants
to greet
OLORI-EB
His is not
your wife?
MUMMY DEJI
Ah! Ah! Baba!
MUMMY and
DEJI look at OLORI-EBI, each other then at TAYO.
OLORI-EBI
Oh yes! …Tayo
or whatever you call yourself. You will, this instant, pack your things and go
to your parents or wherever Deji picked you from! Deji you can’t go home with
this harlot!
MUMMY
Baba!
Mummy and
DEJI look at TAYO. TAYO is in tears. TAYO looks at UNCLE BALO. UNCLE BALO turns
away!
BEGINNING
FLASHBACK 4
INT. DAY.
HOTEL ROOM
UNCLE BALO
gives money to TAYO. TAYO collects it goes on to count it. They are both in
towels. UNCLE BALO renders a haughty laughter
UNCLE BALO
Good girl.
I enjoyed every second of your performance. You are superb!
UNCLE BALO
hugs TAYO from behind
UNCLE BALO
(CONT.)
TAYO
Giggling.
Like…
seriously…! Eeeyaaaah! But it will take a while before you see me again!
UNCLE BALO
Oh! You said you are getting married!
UNCLE BALO
muffles a sinister laughter
UNCLE BALO
MH…! Mh!
Mh! M-a-rr-ie-d! I pity and envy the poor lad.
TAYO
Eyinlemo!
UNCLE BALO
Have this to remind you that I await your
pleasure as a married woman!
UNCLE BALO tucks
a wad of money into TAYO’s bosom.
TAYO
Ehn….ehn!
you mean it?
TAYO and
UNCLE BALO laugh as UNCLE BALO rocks TAYO back to bed.
END
FLASHBACK 4
INT.DAY.
TAYO’S HOTEL ROOM
Close up
UNCLE BALO with tayo at background
OLORI-EBI
Ooooh! Yes!
Sound stops
suddenly
OLORI-EBI
I am putting this marriage a-sun-der!
Deji! Would you marry a girl that sleep with another man when she is already two
months pregnant for another whom she engaged to be married to in a fortnight?
DEJI MUMMY
What? O tiooo!
OLORI-EBI
I’ve not finished! More so
when the wo men are father and son!
DEJI
What!
DEJI looks
at UNCLE BALO . UNCLE BALO shakes his legs looks away. DEJI looks at TAYO
silence UNCLE BALO rests on his seat shuts his eyes leans backward with hands clutched
behind his head.
MUMMY
Daddy deji!
MUMMY DEJI
gives UNCLE BALO a scornful look. MUMMY looks at TAYO scoffs and claps her hand
in wonder.
DEJI
T-love…!
Tell me it is not true!
Pause. TAYO
lowers her head. Tear drops cascade her face. DEJI drops his hands, Moves
backward from TAYO. He shakes head in bewilderment.
OLORI-EBI
I guess
not. O kare!
Tayo LOOKS
AT deji
OLORI-EBI
(CONT.)
So you see
why you must immediately return to wherever you came from with your pregnancy!
TAYO puts a
hand on her tummy as she looks at the baby bump. OLORI-EBI rises
OLORI-EBI
(CONT.)
I ekun baba
were the head of the warrior family of Akarakiri family of ikareekiti will not
seat and allow abomination to soil or even dwell in Akarakiri lineage. Never!
That bastard in your tummy who owns it? Is it my son or his father? It could
even belong to another man! I don’t care!
TAYO opens
her mouth as if she wants to talk but her voice fails her. Slowly TAYO begins
to pack her things in succession. Action
continues she ends by going to the toilet to change.MUMMY moves to UNCLE BALO
MUMMY
Daddy Deji.
You see yourself? Just because you could not ti your shokoto. Uncle Balo here!
Uncle Balo there! Uncle B!Se o tan! Agbaya!
UNCLE BALO
looks at MUMMY
OLORI-EBI
Woman! Are
you starting that while I am still standing here?
MUMMY
E ma bi nu
si mi babba!
OLORI-EBI
Better!
Don’t mind him! Agbayalon se! We have reprimanded him before coming here.
UNCLE BALO
bows his head forward.
OLORI-EBI
(CONT.)
Not that
what he did was good. We will not kill him! Had he not had the courage to
confess, we would not know the harlot that she was. The ‘iseku se’ may even
continue ! Abomination!
DEJI SHUTS
his eyes in pains. TAYO comes out of the bathroom she picks the marriage
certificate OLORI-EBI snatches it from her. Slowly begins to tear it into
shreds
OLORI-EBI
(CONT.)
Take all
the gift , the shoes, the gown
MUMMY picks
the wedding gown throws it at TAYO
OLORI-EBI
(CONT.)
Even, the
wedding ring.‘Saaaraahni yen’! You’ll need them in your next wedding. That is
if it will happen!
OLORI-EBI
throws the pieces at TAYO. TAYO stiffens she is in silent tears.
OLORI-EBI
(CONT.)
….but, not
the marriage certificate!
TAYO holds
her bag picks the Quran surveys the surrounding then resumes her movement. DEJI
rises.
DEJI
T-love!
Tayo! Tayo!
TAYO stops,
does not look back. Silence. OLORI0-EBI, MUMMY and UNCLE BALO look at DEJI. Silence.DEJI looks at them TAYO resumes. TAYO walks out of the room.
FADE OUT
The End
Omar
18.10.17
Ejigbo.
