DUNNI

INT.DAY.HOSPITAL ROOM

Dunni is on hospital bed. Doctor examines her

Doctor

Seven months!

DUNNI

Yes sir!

DOCTOR

Why did you delay registering for ante natal clinic?

DUNNI

Money sir!

DOCTOR

Money!

SILENCE

DOCTOR

Ante natal sessions are good training grounds for expectant mothers. Furthermore the earlier you present yourself for examination the easier we can checkmate any complication!

Silence, DOCTOR operates gadgets makes notes

DOCTOR

Thank god the baby is well positioned. But, you! We may have you detained for further observation!

DUNNI

Detain?

DOCTOR

OBSERVATIONS! Just for some few hours. A day or two!

DUNNI

Admission!

DOCTOR

Well, we don’t have a choice do we? Your blood pressure is too high for your condition. Furthermore you seem to be anemic. You require blood transfusion. You’ll deposit some money so

DUNNI

Deposit!

DOCTOR

Yes … for bed and a few tests!

DUNNI

I have no money. my…! my… husband, travelled!

DOCTOR

Oh I see! Sincerely, this is a government hospital. What is free is free. But what is not free has to be paid for. Certainly not by the doctor!

Phone rings. DOCTOR picks the phone

DOCTOR

Yes! Emergency! Ward c okay!

DOCTOR completes his writing gives DUNNI the note picks his stethoscope leaves. DUNNI sits up goes through the DOCTOR’s note, heaves and looks on straight.

BEGINNING FLASHBACK 1

INT. DAY. DUNNI’S HOUSE.

DADDY

Rubbish! Both of you need to be well schooled. Get decent jobs. Perhaps, then, you can marry. Marriage! How do you manage when the children start coming?

TAIYE

I’ll work harder.

DADDY

Harder! At school or you’ll drop your education for work? What work can you get with a diploma? Boy, …em …em …wale…

TAIYE

Taiye sir

DADY

Taiye. I admire your courage. If you love my daughter hold on may be in four years time you‘ll be ready. Dunni

DUNNI

Sir!

DADDY

What is the hurry? If you marry now finance would be your first problem. Do you…?

DUNNI

Daddy, we would manage!

DADDY

Enough of that! Taiye, am not against your relationship, but marriage? Don’t fall into poverty

FADE OUT

END FLASHBACK 1

INT.DAY. HOSPITAL ROOM.

DUNNI looks at the prescription note. She wears her slippers and walks out

EXT. DAY. FRONT GENERAL HOSPITAL BUS STOP.

DUNNI comes out of the hospital crosses the road  stands at the bus stop. Tricycle stops at her front.

TRICYCLIST

Gate!

DUNNI Moves closer

TRICYCLIST

Hundred naira!

DUNNI

Fifty!

Tricycle zooms off. DUNNI avoid all other tricycles tha come. A bus comes.

CONDUCTOR

Gate-fifty naira!

DUNNI enters

EXT. DAY. INSIDE BUS

DUNNI  is seated .she peeps through the window. DUNNI

Looks at her baby bump looks at the prescription note she is transfixed

BEGINNING FLASHBACK 2

EXT.DAY.DUNNIS HOUSE

DUNNI runs out of the house to the gate. Daddy comes out too but stops at the passage.

Daddy

Don’t ever come here again. After all my effort my talk… my…! … Oh my God! You dare get pregnant oh! What have I done wrong? Look, don’t enter this house with that bastard you’re carrying!

MUMMY goes out to placate DADDY

MUMMY

Please! Dear, lets be cautious

DADDY

What caution

MUMMY

You don’t throw away the baby with the bath water. Lets…!

DADDY

Don’t tell me that! You encouraged her. Now this!

DADDY stomps into the house brushing past MUMMY. MUMMY looks at DUNNI signals her and goes inside the house. DUNNI is left outside

END FLASHBACK 2

EXT. DAY.INSIDE BUS

CONDUCTOR

Megida! Megida bus Stop!

Iya ibeji! Oya now!

CONDUCTOR taps DUNNI

CONDUCTOR

Bus stop

DUNNI wakes up from her thoughts

DUNNI

Owa oo! O nbole!

DUNNI gets up makes her way to the exit

EXT. DAY MEGIDA BUS STOP

DUNNI comes out of the bus. Okada(bike-men)swarm around DUNNI

OKADA(variously)

Omo deacon! Dunni-girl! Na you be this? Iya ibeji! Na wa oooo! How are you?

DUNNI

Fine ooo! I no get money today oo!

OKADA

Climb! Omo deacon! No be you!

DUNNIsmiles and climbs the motor cycle. They zoom off. On the journey people show familiarity to DUNNI

EXT. DAY. DUNNI’S HOUSE GATE

DUNNI disembarks thanks the OKADAMAN crosses to her house stops suddenly close to the gate. DUNNI looks at the gate. Moves slowly knocks softly and slowly on the gate.peeps gently inmto the compound.

BEGINNING FLASHBACK 3

EXT. NIGHT. DUNNI’S HOUSE GATE.

DUNNI sobs by the gate. DUNNI holds the bars of the gate.

DADDY (v.o)

Don’t tell me that? No daughter of mine would bear a bastard in my house! What do I tell people? Daughter of a deacon , an elder in the church. 'His daughter is pregnant before marriage'!

MUMMY(V.O)

Daddy Dunni, this is too much. I can’t bear it. It is late in the night. I’ll go and open the door!

DADDY

Open the door and don’t ever come in here again!

DADDY and MUMMY continue wrangling DUNNI turns seats on a stone while she rests her back against the gate. The road becomes lonely. MAMA ROSA comes touches DUUNNI. DUNNI shudders

MAMA ROSA

My daughter! Daddy dey vex. Come stay my place till morning.

DUNNI

Looks at MAMA ROSA looks into the compound

MAMA ROSA

Come my pikin.

DUNNI

Gets up slowly and follows MAMA ROSA.DUUNNI takes a look at her daddy’s compound. They enter the next building

INT. NIGHT. MAMA ROSA’S ROOM

One room apartment the children are already asleep. MAMA ROSA clears a space and spreads a mat for DUUNNI

MAMAROSA

Sorry my pikin, manage this place God go cool ya daddy belle before morning.

DUNNI does not talk she lies down and looks on speechlessly in thoughts.

END FLASH BACK 3

EXT. DAY. DUNNI‘S HOUSE

DUUNNI is at the gate her brother comes out.

ADE

Aunty!

DUNNI’s brother runs down to open the gate .MUMMY dashes out of the apartment to meet DUNNI. They meet at the center of the compound. MUMMY takes a good look at DUNNI as DUNNI approaches

DUNNI

‘The-Boy’! How are you?

ADE

Fine! Why don’t you come home again? Where did you go? Did you buy me something?

DUNNI

Oh! So many questions! Well… tomorrow I’ll get you something!

ADE

You promise!

MUMMY

Let your sister rest. DUNNI how are you?

DUNNI

How is daddy

MUMMY

Daddy is fine! …but you! How are you?

DUNNI

Mummy I’m… it’s not easy! …it’s tough…!

MUMMY

Boy go and watch catoon

The boy dashes off.

MUMMY (CONT)

Let’s sit here!

DUNNI

What of daddy?

MUMMY

He is fine.

DUNNI

Mama, you too! You didn’t even try to look for me. Am I the first to get pregnant before marriage? Nobody cared for me. People even think that I have no family. That I run away from home! …May be they are right!

MAMA

Don’t talk like that! Your father… your father forbade me from looking for you. Even if I wanted to where would I have started from?

DUNNI

You could have started from the supermarket where I worked -my neighbors. They have all visited me. Five months maaa…mma! …Haba!

MUMMY

Sorry my daughter, sorry!

MUMMY begins to cry soon DUNNI joins the sobbing

DUNNI

It’s okay mummy. Its okay

FADE

FLASHBACK

EXT. DAY DUNNI HOUSE.

DUNNI has just ravishingly finished a plate of rice. She drinks water

DUNNI

This is the first good meal I’ve eaten in three months! Ma-a-ma. I have a bigger problem mama.

MAMA

Bigger problem! Oh Lord!

DUNNI

I‘m seven months pregnant and today is my first day at antenatal.

MUMMY

Why?

DUNNI

Why? No money! I sneaked from the hospital. Doctor said I need blood, I need money. Taiye has gone to lekki so I had to sneak out! Right now I have a blasting headache and I’m tired!

MUMMY

With this condition you came all by yourself! That is dangerous!

DUNNI

What will I do? Mama I need some money I need to go back to the hospital!

MUMMY

I don’t have much on me myself. When your daddy comes we’ll...

DUNNI

Daddy again! I can’t wait o!

DUNNI(continued)

Daddy! I dare not wait for him!

DUNNI gets up

MUMMY

Ok! Let me see what I can gather for you,

MUMMY goes inside the house. ADE comes out to meet DUNNI

ADE

Aunty D! Why did you leave us?

DUNNI

Aunty has gone to bring you a brother

ADE

I want a sister!

DUNNI

So a si-i-ister! It could even the two…!

(OS)

Car horn blasts off screen

ADE

That is daddy!

DUNNI is startled

Daddy! Mummy!

ADE runs to the gate

ADE

Daddy! Daddy! Aunty Dunni has come!

DADDY

Aunty-who?

ADE

Aunty Dunni

DADDY heaves. He is silent. Drives vehicle into the compound gets to dunni who is already standing.

DADDY

What are you doing here?

No answer. DADDY drives to the packing spot, stops vehicle looks straight ahead.

BEGINNING FLASHBACK 4

INT. DAY. DUNNI HOUSE

DADDY, DUNNI is seated BABA KEKERE is standing.

DADDY

Dunni is still young. Too young to marry! The boy is still a student- a fingerling! What is the hurry?

BABA-KEKERE

Baba dunni. Think o! You are not older than this boy when you married Dunni’s mother? She herself was much younger than you!

DADDY

What is this? That was then. Moreover I know what we went through to live by the day. I don’t want that for any of my children!

BABA-KEKERE

Let the children chart their way!

DADDY

Stop this talk!

BABA-KEKERE

They were at my place yesterday and I am sure they’ll make a great couple! In fact…!

DADDY

I say stop this talk! Don’t encourage them

BABA-KEKERE

Better we guide them so that they succeed.

DADDY

Guide them! In this foolishness!

BABA-KEKERE

Deacon the children have decided! Dunni is two months on the way!

DADDY

Decided as how…? What did you say?

BABA-KEKERE

Bababa Dunni! Dunni is two months pregnant

DADDY is speechless he sits down softly

BABA-KEKERE

The children have made their mistakes. They‘ll learn their lessons and grow –that is experience! That is why we need to guard and guide them so they don’t make further errors!

DADDY is speechless

BABA-KEKERE

What they did is wrong but we cannot call it an abomination! So long we get them together and quickly arrange a sort of family introduction …!

DADDY

Please I have heard you!

BABA-KEKERE

After introduction…!

DADDY

I’ve heard you!

BABA-KEKERE

Ehn…!

DADDY

You may leave!

BABA-KEKERE

What we will do…!

DADDY

I know what I’ll do. Leave my house!

BABA-KEKERE

You say…! Me…!

Daddy

Leave!

BABA-KEKERE

Okay ooo!

BABA-KEKERE gets up and leaves.

FADE

END OF FLASHBACK 4

EXT. DAY. DUNNI HOUSE

DADDY wakes up from his reverie shakes his head awake. DADDY comes out of the car and walks towards the corridor.  DUNNI is already by the gate standing.

DADDY

You are still here with your bastard!

DADDY looks at DUNNI intently. MUMMY comes out holds DADDY.

MUMMY

Easy daddy… easy…!

DADDY looks at MUMMY flings her hand off him goes in angrily. MUMMY signals DUNNI to calm down and wait. MUMMY goes in after DADDY.

MUMMY (OS)

This not how we should handle this issue.

DADDY (OS)

Oh…! Oh…! I hear. You even gave her my rice. She comes to my house with a bastard…! And you…!

MUMMY (OS)

Don’t call our grandchild a bastard. We know the father. Let’s accept him!

DADDY (OS)

Nonsense!

DUNNI waves bye to ADE she softly moves out takes a bike and leave. MUMMY comes out meets that dunni has disappeared. MUMMY hastens into the house

MUMMY

You scared the poor girl away again! -Your daughter.

DADDYcomes out

DADDY

Best for her!

MUMMY

If anything happens to her!

DADDY

Shut up! You encouraged her to defy all the trainings I gave her!

MUMMY

The poor girl summoned courage to come home despite her condition. And what did you…?

DADDY

Silly girl! Didn’t I warn her?

MUMMY

She has low blood pressure. She is not eating well and she is heavily pregnant with our first grandchild! If anythimg happens to her I‘ll not forgive you!

DADDY softens as mummy goes inside the house.DADDY softly sits at the balcony. Daddy bows his head. MUMMY comes out

MUMMY

The girl made an error a mistake you can even call it a misdeed! Must we hasten her to her grave? No! We need to correct her!

MUMMY walks past DADDY

DADDY

Mama Dunni!

MUMMY

Leave me alone! I am going after my daughter!

MUMMY goes out of the compound.

EXT.DAY. ROAD

DUNNI is on okada ride

OKADA-MAN

Omo deacon

Silence

OKADAMAN

Sorry for what happened. We know your story. The lord is your strenghth you’ll deliver like the Hebrew woman!

DUNNI

Amen sir!

OKADAMAN

You dey go supermarket?

DUNNI

Yes sir! But you can stop me at the bus stop I don’t have enough to get me to the supermarket!

OKADAMAN

In this condition you want to walka! I’ll take you to the supermarket jare!

DUNNI

Thank you sir!

EXT.DAY. ROAD

OKADAMAN and DUNNI zoom past

EXT. SHOPPING COMPLEX. DAY

OKADA stops in front of the complex. DUNNI gets down she wants to pay

OKADA-MAN

No be you! Forget the money. If I get, I for even give you!

DUNNI

Thank you sir!

DUNNI smiles weakly OKADA-MAN zooms off. DUNNI walks to the supermarket peeps into a store.

DUNNI

Debo!

DEBO (VO)

Hey..ey! Au…nty! Au…nty Dunni!

DEBOH comes out gives DUNNi a healthy hug

DUNNI

Please take it easy don’t make me fall! I don’t have power!

DEBOH separates from DUNNI. Esther comes out from the store

ESTHER

Whose voice is that? Aunty Dunni?

DUNNI

Its me ooo! Aunty Esther! How is market

AUNTY ESTHER

Business is as it is oo jare!

DUNNI

What of chi-boy?

AUNTY ESTHER

He is fine we are all fine!

DUNNI

I really miss all of you!

ESTHER

We miss you too!

DUNNI

Deboh please give me satchet water.

ESTHER

Oh add minerals I’ll pay you.

DEBOH

Okay ma!

DEBOH goes into the store

EXT. DAY. OYEKOLA COMPLEX

DUNNI and AUNTY ESTHER are sitted chating.

AUNTY ESTHER

Dunni! You’ve really gone through a lot. Being pregnant and not having money is a terrible combination. What about mummy and daddy? Surely, they should be of help!

DUNNI

I say daddy sent me out since he discovered I am pregnant

AUNTY ESTHER

Since five months ago!

DUNNI

He even called my baby a bastard. My own father! Am I the first girl to get pregnant outside marriage? Others will still have a befitting marriage ceremony. Not my father! He‘ll rather I die!

AUNTY ESTHER

What of Taiye

DUNNI

Taiye. He never abandoned me! …but my father…! Even mummy didn’t bothered to look for me.

DUNNI sobs

AUNTY ESTHER

May be you should go to them now!

DUNNI

Daddy!

DUNNI hisses

DUNNI

I’m coming from there! He sent me away! I don’t have a daddy!

DUNNI starts to sob

ESTHER

Why? …With this your condition! Well let me see what we can do about this situation. Calm down things will be okay. This lamentation is not good for your condition.

ESTHER gets up goes into her shop! DUNNI softsly bows her head then clutches on her chest and stretches her hand as she gasps.

DUNNI

Aunty! …aun…ty…!

DUNNI stands in attempt to go to ESTHER but she slumps. DEBOH sees her.

DEBOH

Aunty…! Aunty…! Aunty, aunty has collapsed! Please come!

AUNTY ESTHER comes out people gather around take DUNNI to a waiting vehicle

ESTHER

Deboh! Take care of the shop! Lock UP when it is 6 pm. Padlock is behind the door! See you tomorrow

DEBOH

Yes ma!

Aunty and three other enter the vehicle and zoom off!

INT.DAY. MAIN ROAD OYEKOLA COMPLEX

MUMMY crosses the road comes into the complex goes straight to DEBOH’s shop. DEBOH comes out

MUMMY

Deboh! Deboh!

DEBOH

Ma!

DEBOH comes out

DEBOH(CONTINUE)

Eka bo ma!

MUMMY

Is your uncle in?

DEBOH

No ma! He hasn’t co…!

MUMMY

Have seen Dun…!

DEBOH

They just carried aunty to the hospital now!

MUMMY

Which aunty?

DEBOH

She was here as she was speaking she held her chest and fell down

MUMMY

DUNNI?

DEBOH

Yes ma! AUNTY-DEE!

Mama removes her headgear sits on the floor and starts lamenting in Yoruba

MUMMY

I told this man! I warned him

NEIGHBOUR

What again?

NEIGHBOUR 2

Who is she?

DEBOH

AUNTY-DEE’s mummy

NEIGHBOUR1

Oh! I see! This woman…! You abandoned your daughter in

NEIGHBOUR1(continued)

that condition! Na wa…a…a…aoo!

NEIGHBOUR2

Now she is crying!

MUMMY

I told this man! I warned him! Now everybody blames me!

NEIGHBOUR2

Better go to the health center if you want to meet her alive!

DEBOH

Aunty Esther is with her.

MUMMY gets up picks her phone and starts to make calls.she leaves the complex take an okada they zoom off.

INT. DAY. HOSPITAL

DUNNIis on bed. Doctor is attending to her. ESTHER and two other men are with her.

DOCTOR

She one lucky young lady! A slump like that could be fatal in the third trimesta of pregnancy

NEIGHBOUR3

Thank God!

DOCTOR

Are you her husband?

NEGHBOUR 3

No sir!

DOCTOR faces neighbour 4

Who is?

ESTHER

He is not around. We are her neighbours.

DOCTOR

Oh! I see! Please gentlemen you may wait outside!

NEIGHBOURS

Okay sir!

NEIGHBOUR 2 & 4 go out of the room.

DOCTOR

Please only her close relations shoul see her! Sisters , mother, fath…!

ESTHER

 Her father drove her out of the house. She has not seen her mother for some five months ago!

DOCTOR

No wonder the enlarged heart! Pity! Well, she is under sedatives. I suggest we allow her rest a while! Take!

DOCTOR gives Esther the prescription note they leave.

INT. HOSPITAL RECEPTION. NIGHT.

MUMMY hurries in sees ESTHER

MUMMY

Dunni! …Dunni! Esther! Where is my daughter?

ESTHER

She is inside

DOCTOR

Whose is she?

ESTHER

Dunni’s mummy

DOCTOR

Madam why did you abandon your daughter?

MUMMY

It’s her father! God knows it’s him! I want to see my daughter!

DOCTOR

You could have insisted a little more. She needed advice, guidance. None came her way she developed a large heart at her age and seven months pregnant! Imagine she is just resuming ante natal after seven months of pregnancy. She is one lucky young lady! Any way I’ve stabilized her. Allow her rest till tomorrow then she’ll be alright.

MUMMY

Thank you doctor.

DOCTOR

No! …Not me! Thank these two men and lady for their quick response!

MUMMY

Thank you sirs! Esther o sheoooo!

DOCTOR

Esther get those drugs immediately so she can commence on them tomorrow morning!

ESTHER

Thank you sir! I’ll do that this night!

MUMMY

Thank you sir!

DOCTOR goes away. Mummy discusses with ESTHER and the two GENTLEMEN.

INT. DAY. HOSPITAL BED.

NURSE comes in checks dunni’s drip injects a substance into the bag. DUNNI stirs.

DUNNI

Taiye! Taiye!

NURSE

How are you feeling?

DUNNI

My head…! How…? …where…?

NURSE

Calm down! You were brought here yesterday.

DUNNI

Yesterday!

NURSE

Who is taiye

DUNNI

My head aches!

NURSE

Anyway there is a young man and your mother waiting for you outside!

DUNNI

My head!

NURSE

It’s the effect of the drugs. That will wear out soon!

DUNNI

Taiye!

NURSE

Let me call them in right away.

NURSE goes out. TAIYE enter the room.

DUNNI

Taiye

TAIYE

Yes love! I didn’t meet you at home this morning so I on my way to your house I met deboh! How are you now?

DUNNI

…Fine! …my head! Nurse says mummy is outside.

TAIYE

Oh! Yes! She has been panicky since yesterday. They would not allow her see you since you were unconscious! Let me call her in she‘ll be very happy.

TAIYE goes out to call mummy.

INT.DAY.RECEPTION.

MUMMY and DADDY are standing TAIYE meets them

TAIYE

Mummy! Oh daddy! Good morning sir!

DADDY looks away hisses

MUMMY

Daddy! Someone is greeting you.

DADDY

Oh! How are you?

TAIYE

Fine sir! She has woken up! She’ll be glad to see you!

MUMMY

Thank God!

Mummy walks in followed by DADDY then TAIYE

INT. DAY. HOSPITAL ROMM.

DUNNI stares turns sees DADDy goes into a frenzy.

DUNNI

No! no! taiye! Nurse! Go! Go! I don’t want to see him!

TAIYE

Don’t want to see who?

DUNNI

THAT man!

TAIYE

Daddy?

MUMMY, TAIYE and DADDY are shocked. NURSE comes in

NURSE

Please! Please! Go out! Sir! Madam!

MUMMY

We are her parents!

NURSE

I know! We don’t want a relapse. It will be catastrophic!

MUMMY, DADDY and TAIYE go out

DUNNI

Tlove! Don’t leave me! I don’t want to see that man. You said mummy was outside…!

TAIYE

Daddy joined her. I can’t possibly send him away! He is concerned too!

DUNNI

No-o-o-o! He hates me! I don’t want to see that man!

TAIYE

That man? “that man” is your father you can’t deny that!

DUNNI

He is not! No father wants his daughter dead!

TAIYE

Common! Don’t be silly! Are you getting another father tomorrow?

Silence. DUNNi raises her shoulder in defiance.

TAIYE

Daddy did what he did out of shock! I believe it is over! Let it go! Please no more drama!

TAIYE waits a while before going outside. Soon MUMMY and DADDY follow TAIYE into the room.

MUMMY

How are you dunni

DUNNI

Fine! How is ‘The-Boy’?

MUMMY

Your brother is fine…! Won’t you greet your daddy?

Silence. DADDY moves closer to DUNNI

DADDY

Dunni.

DUNNI is still silent.she looks away. TAIYE goes to DUNNI nudges her

TAIYE

Dunni!

DUNNI

Good morning …sir!

DADDY

How are you?

DUNNI

Fine…Sir!

DADDY

Dunni! I …I am sorry for…!

TAIYE

Excuse me sir. I’ll be outside!

DADDY

No! Wait! Come here!

TAIYE

Sir! Me?

DADDY

Yes! Let me do this!

DADDY takes DUNNI’s hand places it on TAIYE’s hand.

DADDY (CONT)

Taiye! Today I hand over Dunni to you, take care of her. I‘m sorry for my silly behavior!

TAIYE

Not silly sir!

DADDY

Let me talk! My ego took a better part of my reasoning. My actions were selfish, hasty and uncivil.

DUNNI

Daddy!

DADDY

I could have lost my precious jewel because of ego! -What would people say!

Pause.

DADDY

Let them say what they will! What happened has happened! If it is God’s will we only need to adjust to it! Or else we will lose badly! Taiye, Dunni is my jewel, take care of her!

TAIYE

I will sir! I’ll do my best!

DADDY

I believe you. And if you need my assistant, you know my house!

DUNNI

Thank you Daddy! Daddy I …I …’m sorry for disappointing …!

DADDY

Forget about that! You’ll always be my Sweet Dunni! You are a grown up girl now! Even while I was angry I still saw you as my three year old Adunni that put chalk in her nostril some yesterday!

MUMMY

The girl can’t even remember that.

DADDY

That is the lot of parents! They never know when their children have grown!

I stand here as a minister of God. I rebuke all I’ve said to you in my moments of anger. Whoever curses you shall do no good in life!

TAIYE        DUNNI      MUMMY

Amen!

DADDY

Taiye!

TAIYE

Sir!

DADDY

Arrange your family for an introduction soonest!

TAIYE

I’ll do that sir. I promise to take care of Dunni more than you expect of me!

DADDDY

I trust you will!

MUMMY

God will assist you!

TAIYE and DUNNI

Amen! In Jesus name!

                FADE OUT

The End

              Umoru Haruna.

Dec.04.2017.