Today (30th September, 2013), I woke up to a friend’s unending attempt to get my attention. Something tagged as an “emergency”, she said, “can you help me write a script? A 30 minutes drama?” “Well, yes I can” I said to myself before she added, “we’ll need it by 8am”. I looked at the time, it was 6:34am, and I was like, wait a minute! Then I said to her, “Do you want to mix up my brain? I have a story I’ve been working on o…and if I don’t write it, I may not think properly on another one”. Of course my complain was ignored…the next thing I saw was “Abeg” [please], a medical story o… Medical related. We want to act it here”. She was in a Global Health Initiative program in a village in Anambra State, Nigeria. Well, since it was an emergency, it’s better I help than argue why I can’t help. So, I tried understanding what the story location looks like, how many people attending the program are willing to act, their ages, and the theme of the event… Well.. “No theme, no title, no campaigns! No special message to pass across, just write anything, we have two cameras here and we just want to have fun, that’s all.”
For a start, a 30 minutes drama should take up to 30 A4 pages when typed, it is not exactly “small” considering I have less than an hour to do it (Lol..yeah I actually complained for 30 minutes) 😀
I’m really slow at picking titles for stories, so, I didn’t waste my time dwelling on what the title should be. Since I’ve worked for more than two years in different hospitals (adding one month at a time), it will be easy to put together some of the things that happened while I was working… So… Here’s our 30 minutes drama.. It hasn’t been proof-read yet, and don’t worry about Mr Chikeluba’s english, he’s from his own village (I’ll edit that for this post though).
Title: A Morning At The Clinic *shrugs*
EXT – CLINIC COMPOUND – MORNING
CHIDI, an intern Radiographer arrives at the clinic. He’s carrying a backpack and four books in his hands, not forgetting a file of papers. He’s walking very fast thru the empty hospital compound.
INT – CLINIC RECEPTION – SAME
Chidi opens the front door of the clinic building and crashes into the pretty Nurse CHINELO. Her tray of drugs falls and the contents spill.
AS A SOFT TUNE PLAYS, WE’LL expect they gaze into each other’s beautiful eyes and ultimately fall in love of course… BUT… NO. Something unforgivable has just occurred and their mood changes immediately.
CHINELO
Chidi, are you always this stupid every now and then?
CHIDI
(Sarcastic)
No Chinelo… always now. Never then…
(Bends down to pick his books)
CHINELO
(Angry)
When chief comes, I’ll report him to you
CHIDI
(Corrects Chinelo quickly)
You to him…
CHINELO
(Echoes)
You to him
Chidi giggles.
CHINELO (CONT’D)
Clean this place up.
CHIDI
I thought you were the Nurse.
ANN, a Nursing student, comes in.
ANN
(To Chinelo)
Chinelo good morning.
CHINELO
(Still angry)
Help me and clean this place please.
(Leaves).
ANN
Chidi good morning.
CHIDI
Good morning Ann… how was your night?
ANN
Fine.
CHIDI
When are you ending your IT?
Nnenna walks in thru the front door.
ANN
Good morning Nnenna.
(Picking up the drugs on the floor)
NNENNA
What happened here?
(Helps Chidi to pick his things)
CHIDI
I ran into Chinelo.
NNENNA
I need to run some lab tests on you.
Chidi giggles
NNENNA (CONT’D)
You run into that girl every Monday morning.
Chidi laughs
CHIDI
Well, you’ve been my target. I don’t know when we’ll start falling into each other’s arms.
NNENNA
Hmm… I hope not when I’m trying to dispose some biohazards.
Both stand up and DR ILOCHUKWU comes in quickly thru the front door and hits the two of them. Chidi’s books fall again.
CHIDI/NNENNA/ANN
Good morning sir…
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
(Looks sternly at them)
Every Monday… every Monday.
(Walks away to his office).
NNENNA
Phew. Even Doctor Ilochukwu has noticed.
CHIDI
Yup… let’s just shift out of the door.
As they move, a 20 years old girl (NGOZI) comes in. She has a little stain of blood on her thigh. She’s dizzy, clinging on her stomach. WE notice she’s holding unto a paper (A referral letter).
NGOZI
Good morning. Please can I see a doctor?
CHIDI
Welcome. They’ll be here soon. What’s wrong? What’s your name?
NGOZI
Ngozi. I’m having malaria.
NNENNA
Have you done any test to confirm?
NGOZI
No…
NNENNA
Oh… k… that kind of malaria.
(Sees the paper Ngozi is holding)
Can I?
(Stretches her hand to take it)
NGOZI
It’s from our family doctor…
NNENNA
You’ve seen a doctor before?
NGOZI
Yes, he said I should come for ultrasound scan.
CHIDI
Ah ah…
(Stretches to reads the note with Nnenna)
You should have said you came for ultrasound scan. The radiologist is around.
NNENNA
That’s Doctor Ilochukwu.
CHIDI
Yep.
Chidi and Nnenna are surprised at what they are reading.
CHIDI/NNENNA
Abortion?!
NGOZI
Shh… please na. People may hear you.
NNENNA
Well your timing is good enough. There are no people around.
NGOZI
(Lowly)
It doesn’t mean you tell the whole world I had an abortion.
NNENNA
Malaria abortion
(Nods)
Here
(Gives Ngozi back the note)
So your family doctor performs abortions?
NGOZI
Can you stop using that word?
NNENNA
Ok, so your family doctor performs malaria?
NGOZI
(Groans in pain)
Please can I sit?
CHIDI/NNENNA
Sorry dear.
CHIDI
Let’s take her to Doctor Ilochukwu for the scan.
They hold her and take her to the Radiology department. Chidi is holding his book in one hand.
INT – RADIOLOGY WAITING ROOM – SAME
Chidi and Nnenna arrive with Ngozi. They see Doctor Ilochukwu and Nurse Chinelo comforting a gunshot victim (CYNTHIA) in the radiology waiting room. Chinelo had just finished dressing her wound; Cynthia was shot on her leg.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
(Sees Chidi and Nnenna bringing Ngozi)
(To Chidi)
What have you been doing there? This lady needs to take a leg x-ray. She was shot this morning.
CHIDI
Sorry I didn’t know anyone was waiting for me.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
What’s she for?
(Referring to Ngozi)
NNENNA
Ultrasound scan.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Where’s her request card?
(To Ngozi)
What’s wrong with you?
NNENNA/CHIDI/NGOZI
Malaria.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
(Nnenna points him the note).
I see. Chinelo should form the soprano part of that malaria chorus.
(Takes the note from Nnenna)
So your doctor thinks an ultrasound scan is important in diagnosing malaria or in treating malaria?
(Reads the note).
Hmm… most amusing. This is…
NGOZI
Doctor please, we’ll talk inside.
CHIDI
She’s very dizzy too sir.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Hmm. Chinelo help her into the ultrasound room. Chidi take Miss Cynthia (points at Cynthia) in for her X-ray.
Chinelo takes Ngozi from Chidi and Nnenna. Chidi’s books fall again and he bends to pick them.
CHINELO
Just leave them on the floor. Cynthia needs to be x-rayed now.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Yes, now please.
(Enters the ultrasound room with Chinelo and Ngozi).
A heavily limping man with a walking stick comes into the radiology waiting room.
CHIDI
(To Nnenna)
Please help me let’s take her inside.
NNENNA
Sure.
The two help Cynthia up. They greet the limping man as they enter the x-ray room.
INT – ULTRASOUND ROOM – SAME
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
(Scanning Ngozi)
So, when did you have the abortion?
NGOZI
(Looks uncomfortable as she glances at Chinelo)
Two days ago.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
And you waited for two days for this your “malaria” to cure itself.
(Looks at the images on the screen)
Look at this. Are you married?
NGOZI
No…
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
How old are you?
NGOZI
20 sir…
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Please, you’ll have to call your parents or guardian to come over.
NGOZI
No doctor… I can’t tell them about this.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
About what?
NGOZI
The malaria…
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Young lady, you don’t have malaria… in fact you have something worse. I am even surprised you are feeling strong enough to think of more lies to tell. What this abortion has done to you will kill you if you don’t act fast.
(To Chinelo)
Her whole womb is perforated.
Chinelo shakes her head.
CUT TO:
INT – X-RAY ROOM – SAME
Chidi is done positioning Cynthia for an AP leg X-ray. He walks to the x-ray console to set the exposure factors. Nnenna is standing beside the patient.
{{FOR CYNTHIA AND CHIDI: MONITOR the x-ray columination light, once it goes off, say this—
CYNTHIA: The light has gone off.
CHIDI: Don’t worry about the light.}}
CHIDI
Nnenna, please come.
NNENNA
Ok
(Walks to Chidi in the cubicle)
Anything?
CHIDI
No, you can’t stay there while I make an exposure. You don’t need the x-rays.
NNENNA
Oh… so here is safe?
CHIDI
Yep that’s the word… it is safer here.
(Makes the exposure).
Chidi comes out of the cubicle and Nnenna follows him very closely.
CHIDI
(Giggles)
What are you doing?
NNENNA
Well you are the safest spot I suppose.
Chidi laughs.
CYNTHIA
I hope nothing will happen to me?
CHIDI
From the gunshot?
CYNTHIA
No, from you two. This one you guys ran away.
CHIDI
We didn’t run away, we went to take the x-ray.
(Positions her for the lateral view)
How did this happen?
CYNTHIA
Don’t mind all those criminals in this town.
NNENNA
It was a robbery?
CYNTHIA
Yes, just my small phone o, you can imagine.
NNENNA
They shot you because of your phone?
CYNTHIA
He shot me… just one person shot me.
CHIDI
You didn’t give him the phone or he shot you before asking?
CYNTHIA
I gave him the phone o
NNENNA
Then he still shot you?
CYNTHIA
Not exactly…
Chidi is leaving for the cubicle after the positioning.
NNENNA
What exactly…
(Notices Chidi leaving and moves quickly to him)
NNENNA (CONT’D)
(To Cynthia)
What exactly happened?
CYNTHIA
I don’t like the way you people are leaving me here.
CHIDI
(Giggles)
Cynthia we are here. We need to control the machine.
(Makes the exposure)
You can sit up now.
Cynthia sits up as the two medics walk towards her.
NNENNA
So, what exactly happened?
Chidi drops the cassette in the dark room.
CYNTHIA
Well, he took the phone and left.
NNENNA
After shooting you?
CYNTHIA
He shot my leg, not me.
CHIDI
(Giggles)
Your leg is a part of you na…
CYNTHIA
When you say he shot me, it sounds as if I’m dead. He shot my leg.
NNENNA
(Smiles)
Ok
(Giggles)
Funny one. Why don’t you want to tell us what happened?
CYNTHIA
Because I don’t want you guys to laugh.
CHIDI
(Giggles)
Really?
NNENNA
Wait wait… him shooting your leg was a funny thing?
CYNTHIA
Well… somehow.
NNENNA/CHIDI
Hmm…
CYNTHIA
Ok, I was going for morning mass, so he jumped out of nowhere, pointed a gun at me, asked for my phone, I gave it to him immediately and he left… and… ok.
(Mute)
NNENNA/CHIDI
And?
CYNTHIA
Ok he didn’t leave… he was leaving actually then I called him back…
NNENNA/CHIDI
What?/How?
CYNTHIA
(Sighs)
Yeah
(Speaks quickly)
I, I thought he only wanted the phone, so I called him back and I asked him for my SIM card.
NNENNA
(Calmly)
Jesus.
Chidi bursts into laughter.
NNENNA (CONT’D)
Damn
(Laughing)
That was crazy!
CHIDI
(Still laughing)
How exactly did you call him? “Hey gunman, my SIM please”
CYNTHIA
I told you I don’t want you guys to laugh.
NNENNA
Jeez babe… you are really funny.
Cynthia giggles.
INT – ULTRASOUND ROOM – SAME
Ngozi is sitting while Doctor Ilochukwu writes her report. Chinelo is standing beside the table.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Have doctors John and Nwoye come this morning?
CHINELO
I’ve only seen Dr Nwoye. He said he’s covering for Dr Obi today too.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
These NYSC people. So Dr Obi won’t come? And I was going to send this lady to him. Anyway, you’ll send her report to Dr Nwoye, tell him to draw up a referral and send her to the Teaching Hospital to see the specialists… It’s really an emergency now. (Ngozi’s phone rings). Just a moment let me finish writing the report.
CHINELO
Ok.
NGOZI
(Picks the call)
Hello. Mummy good morning.
(Pauses)
Yes
(Pauses)
Yes I’m still at the hospital.
(Pauses)
No I’ll be fine. The doctors said it is just malaria.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU/CHINELO
What?
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Which doctors?
NGOZI
(To Dr. Ilochukwu)
Shh… stop please.
CHINELO
Ah ah? Doctor I thought you said this was an emergency case?
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Of course…
Chinelo grabs Ngozi’s phone and gives it to Dr Ilochukwu. Chinelo holds back the weak Ngozi
NGOZI
No no! Give me my phone.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Is this Ngozi’s mother? Please try and come to hospital.
(Pauses)
No, it’s just a little problem, just that we need her parents to be here, we don’t trust these young people. When you come we’ll explain everything to you. Do so quickly please.
NGOZI
MUMMY DON’T …
(Chinelo covers Ngozi’s mouth her hand)
… come.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Yes, Iris Clinic ma. Ok, bye.
(Continues writing the report)
Ngozi bites Chinelo’s hand out of her mouth.
CHINELO
Ouch!
NGOZI
Why did you tell my mom?
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Young lady… Listen to me ok? Your womb has been badly damaged. To be frank, I’m surprised you are still alive. You shouldn’t be doing this… Try and be with the people who love you, it could well be the last time you’ll be seeing them.
NGOZI
(Sobs)
I can’t tell my mom, I can’t. She’ll kill me.
CHINELO
You are already dying.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
(To Chinelo)
Oya Chinelo, you can go.
(Gives her the report)
Tell Nwoye to hurry up, as fast as he can.
CUT TO
INT – X-RAY WAITING ROOM – SAME
Chidi stands by the door and calls on the Limping man.
CHIDI
Ude Chikeluba
The limping man responds and stands. Cynthia sits in the waiting room and Nnenna is about to leave as the limping man makes his way towards the x-ray room.
CHIDI
Chill na, let me finish with this man
NNENNA
I want to go and eat
CHIDI
Me too. We’ll go together.
NNENNA
I’ll get to the lab first, be sure no one is waiting there. I’ll be back in 10minutes.
CHIDI
Ok.
Nnenna leaves.
INT – X-RAY ROOM – SAME
Chidi shuts the door.
CHIDI
Mr. Chikeluba, good morning. What happened to you?
CHIKE
I fall..come break my leg.
CHIDI
You’ve taken an x-ray of the leg before?
CHIKE
No…
CHIDI
So who told you the leg is broken?
CHIKE
Native na him tell me.
CHIDI
You went to the native doctor after you fell?
CHIKE
Ehn nu… the fall wasn’t ordinary. And the leg come dey pain me…so I had to go to them
CHIDI
And the pain hasn’t stopped
CHIKE
Yes.
CHIDI
And now you are here..
CHIKE
You don see am o
CHIDI
For us to do the usual miracle. Anyway… Welcome to our miracle centre. Go into that changing room, pull off your trousers, wear the gown you’ll see there and come back out
INT – HOSPITAL CORRIDOR – SAME
DOCTOR JOHN and Ann are helping a migraine patient (JACOB) towards the patients’ room. John is carrying his bag. Jacob’s eyes are closed tightly as he groans in pain, holding his head restlessly. Nnenna sees them and helps Dr John with his bag.
NNENNA
Let me help you with the bag.
(Collects the bag and smiles as their eyes meet briefly)
DOCTOR JOHN
Thanks dear.
NNENNA
What’s wrong with him?
DOCTOR JOHN
A known case of recurrent migraine.
NNENNA
That’s painful.
DOCTOR JOHN
Very
Chinelo is walking past.
CHINELO
Doctor John good morning
(Smiles happily)
Nnenna dims her eyes jealously.
DOCTOR JOHN
Yes Chinelo, please help me get Diazapam and IM paracetamol.
CHINELO
Ann can do that, I’ll join you guys shortly. I need to help Dr Nwoye prepare a dying patient. (Moves on)
DOCTOR JOHN
(To himself)
Prepare a dying patient.
They enter the patient’s room.
JACOB
(Groaning)
Please the lights..
They switch off the lights and close the curtains.
DOCTOR JOHN
(To Ann)
Get me the drugs please.
Jacob gets really restless and Nnenna tries to calm him down. Jacob holds her hands.
JACOB
(Speaks gibberish)
NNENNA
What’s he saying?
DOCTOR JOHN
You may not understand all he’s saying. It happens sometimes. Just keep talking to him, let him know you are here. His name is Jacob. I’ll go get those drugs myself.
Immediately John opens the door, Jacob groans louder and stretches. Dr John pauses and tries coming back. Nnenna sees the light coming in.
NNENNA
No, Doctor John, keep going, it is the light from outside.
DOCTOR JOHN
That’s true. Please bolt the door. Open it only when I knock.
INT – ULTRASOUND ROOM – SAME
Ilochukwu is counseling Ngozi
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
With God all things are possible. It doesn’t matter how many wrongs you’ve done, just submit yourself back to him. When your parents come, a good way to start is by confessing everything.. Trust me, no matter how angry your mom gets, she can’t make you feel worse. You are already in a critical situation. In your heart, do reconcile with God at least, pray He forgives you…
Chinelo and Dr Nwoye come in with a wheelchair.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
… Doctor Nwoye…
Chinelo goes to help Ngozi sit in the wheelchair.
DOCTOR NWOYE
Dr Ilochukwu good morning. The ambulance is ready.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Ok good. Hope you enclosed the report in her case file?
DOCTOR NWOYE
I did.
DOCTOR ILOCHUKWU
Please do accompany her to the Teaching Hospital, it’ll help get the surgeons attend to her as soon as they can.
DOCTOR NWOYE
Ok sir.
(To Chinelo)
Let’s go.
INT – X-RAY ROOM – SAME
Mr. Chikeluba is still lying on the x-ray couch. The dark room technician comes out with a wet radiograph of Chikeluba’s thigh and shows it to Chidi
CHIDI
Is the film ok?
DARKROOM TECHNICIAN
X-ray’s good. Come and see the man’s thigh.
Chidi looks at the radiograph. The fractured bones are growing along side each other (mal-union)
CHIDI
Hmm… Mr. Chikeluba, you really should have come here from day one. How long did this happen?
CHIKE
Since January.
CHIDI
That’s nine months ago?!
CHIKE
January last year.
CHIDI
One year and nine months ago?!!! Ha! Your native doctor must have been really good with his English language.
EXT – JACOB’S ROOM – SAME
Ann and Dr John approach Jacob’s room. Dr John is carrying syringes and drug bottles; Ann is carrying a chair.
DOCTOR JOHN
Sit right in front of the door. Don’t let anyone knock at all. The patient won’t be needing any disturbance. We’ll be out once he falls asleep.
ANN
Ok.
John knocks.
INT – JACOB’S ROOM – SAME
Nnenna leaves the restless Jacob and goes to the door.
NNENNA
Who’s there?
DOCTOR JOHN
Dr John.
Nnenna unbolts the door and opens the door slightly. Dr John squeezes himself in and they lock the door.
DOCTOR JOHN
Got the drug.
NNENNA
How will you see what you are doing? Here’s dark.
DOCTOR JOHN
Use the pillow case to blindfold him. I’ll switch on the lights and then inject him quickly.
NNENNA
Ok
(Goes to Jacob)
Jacob… sorry… just try and relax a little ok?
EXT – X-RAY ROOM – SAME
Chidi comes out of the x-ray room and looks at his wrist watch.
CHIDI
15minutes gone
(Picks up his books from the floor and drops them on the table before heading for the clinic corridor; now approaching Jacob’s room from one end)
INT – CLINIC CORRIDOR – SAME
Chinelo is hurrying with a tray of drugs towards Jacob’s room from the other end. Ann sees them coming and speaks up…
ANN
You two should slow down sha, its still Monday… before something else happens.
Chidi giggles and walks closely to the wall.
CHIDI
You have all the space in the world.
They both stop beside Ann
CHINELO
Where is Dr John?
ANN
He’s inside this room.
They all look at the room and the room light goes off.
ANN (CONT’D)
With Nnenna…
Chinelo and chidi raise their eyebrows in surprise
ANN (CONT’D)
And the patient that is having a migraine.
CHINELO
Let me give him these drugs.
ANN
No, he said no one should knock.
CHINELO
I won’t knock. I’ll simply go inside.
Chidi nods in agreement.
ANN
The door is locked, you’ll have to knock.
CHIDI
We’ll just shake the door handle, they’ll know someone wants to come in. (Walks towards the door)
ANN
(Stands)
Please don’t. Dr John gave me clear instructions not to let anyone in. The light disturbs the patient.
CHINELO
Well I have to give him these drugs.
ANN
He has all the drugs he needs
CHINELO
What drugs did you bring for him?
ANN
I don’t know, he…
CHIDI/CHINELO
(Interrupts Ann quickly)
You don’t know?!
ANN (CONT’D)
He…
(Sighs)
He took them himself
CHIDI/CHINELO
Oh…
Chidi tucks in his lips; Chinelo nods in defeat.
CHINELO
I’ll just wait around then.
CHIDI
Yeah me too.
CHINELO
The x-ray room is over there Chidi.
Chidi
Nurse Chinelo, I know. You are not exactly seeing a patient here.
CHINELO
I’m carrying drugs.
(To Ann)
Shift please…
Ann shifts and Chinelo shares the seat with her.
INT – JACOB’S ROOM – SAME
Jacob is still restless.
NNENNA
The drug is not working.
DOCTOR JOHN
It’s just to help him sleep. It will do that soon.
NNENNA
My elder sister normally has migraine attacks. She takes Optalidon sometimes, with Lexotan, or Cafegot. We heard there are more specific drugs for migraine, but, never found them in any pharmacy.
DOCTOR JOHN
Well, we are in that part of the world where we all manage to survive.
NNENNA
You know, it’s so agonising. Most times we are just helpless, all we did then was to sit around her and cry bitterly with her. (Jacob is quiet now). I almost could touch the pain she was feeling, it was expressing itself so loudly. Jacob is really trying, he’s even quiet.
DOCTOR JOHN
Well, he’s just being a man.
NNENNA
No, not that… I think he has fallen asleep finally.
DOCTOR JOHN
Oh
(Checks his pulse)
Yeah, finally.
Brief pause.
DOCTOR JOHN/NNENNA
So…
NNENNA
(Sighs)
You can “so” on…
DOCTOR JOHN
No, you go on.
NNENNA
Nah I have nothing to say.
DOCTOR JOHN
You were going to say something.
NNENNA
Yes, I mean, not really, I was going to think as I talk..
Dr. John giggles.
NNENNA (CONT’D)
Yeah I was almost going to ask you if you are married then I remembered I know you beyond that level…and there’s nothing new to ask about… You know, on a first meeting basis.
DOCTOR JOHN
Really… so I am the old Johnny now.
NNENNA
(Giggles)
No na… How old can you be?
DOCTOR JOHN
I’m doing my youth service now
NNENNA
And I’m an intern. That’s virtually one year difference if you want to claim youth service is a sign of old age.
EXT – JACOB’S ROOM – SAME
CHIDI
What are they doing?
CHINELO
They are eating the patient.
CHIDI
We have to call someone..
CHINELO
Who now? A professor of neurology to manage a migraine case? Even sunshades can take care of that.
CHIDI
I don’t have your time now Nelo, I’m very hungry.
CHINELO
My dear go and eat.
CHIDI
I… Anyway.
CHINELO
So… I get.
CHIDI
You get what?
CHINELO
Never mind
CHIDI
Never mind what?
CHINELO
Never mind what I got.
Chidi hisses.
CHINELO
Yeah yeah.
CHIDI
Yeah yeah yeah.
CHINELO
Hunger will kill you before she comes out.
Ann giggles.
CHIDI
Before who comes out?
CHINELO
Please we all know you are waiting to take Nnenna out for breakfast.
CHIDI
Big head!
Ann and Chinelo laugh.
CHIDI (CONT’D)
Well, let’s hope jealousy doesn’t kill you too.
CHINELO
What will I be jealous of?
CHIDI
We all know too you are waiting for Dr John to notice you.
CHINELO
(Shocked)
Chidi I hope you perish!
Chidi and Ann laugh.
ANN
Good one Chidi…
CHINELO
Will you stand up from this seat?
Ann stands up and falls into Chidi’s arms, laughing. They see Dr Nwoye walking sadly towards them. They stop laughing.
DOCTOR NWOYE
Is Dr Ilochukwu in his office?
ANN/CHINELO/CHIDI
Yes…
CHINELO
What happened?
DOCTOR NWOYE
That girl, Ngozi… She died before she was operated on
CHINELO/CHIDI/ANN
Oh no/Jesus/My God
DOCTOR NWOYE
Well…
(Raises his shoulders)
Dunno… Life can be so strange.
CHIDI
See what abortion caused.
CHINELO
And the girl’s mom is on her way to this place. She should have just kept that pregnancy.
DOCTOR NWOYE
What can be done? The girl is dead…
(Walks away)
Chinelo, Ann and Chidi are speechless.
TIME CUT
INT – JACOB’S ROOM – SAME
Nnenna is laughing.
DOCTOR JOHN
Shh.. Easy. You’ll wake Jacob up.
NNENNA
Can a simple laughter reverse the effect of the drug?
DOCTOR JOHN
(Giggles)
Of course… Especially when it is a beautiful laugh from a beautiful princess.
NNENNA
(Scoffs)
Dr John, you must have read a lot of books from the writer of the Frog Prince where pretty princesses reverse a whole lot of strange things thru odd means.
DOCTOR JOHN
At least we are now certain Nnenna is a pretty princess.
Nnenna laughs quietly
EXT – JACOB’S ROOM – SAME
Chinelo is sharing the seat with Chidi. Ann is sitting on Chidi’s laps.
CHIDI
Are you sure we shouldn’t knock? What if something has gone wrong?
Chinelo stands and gives Ann the tray. She goes to the door and pulls the handle.
INT – JACOB’S ROOM – SAME
Dr John and Nnenna see the door handle shaking.
DOCTOR JOHN
I almost forgot I kept Ann outside.
NNENNA
Hunger…
DOCTOR JOHN
What?
NNENNA
Hunger o… I forgot I was going to eat…
DOCTOR JOHN
I haven’t eaten too. Let’s go together.
NNENNA
Uhm…
DOCTOR JOHN
Come on…
(Takes Nnenna’s hand and opens the door)
EXT – JACOB’S ROOM – SAME
Chidi and Ann stands as the door opens.
DOCTOR JOHN
Nelo… the patient is sleeping. Don’t switch on the lights unless he tells you to.
Dr John is still holding Nnenna’s hand as they leave for the canteen. Chidi dims his eyes and smirks; Chinelo tries not to frown.
BLACK OUT
Prince-Ody
30-September-2013.
Prinsedira, Wuzybury
Dira: The Quills 