Stanlee Ohikhuare's

IDAHOSA Trails

A MIGHTY JOT STUDIOS PRODUCTION

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SIDES
FOR ACTORS' SELF TAPING.

ACTOR IN CONSIDERATION:

READING FOR THE ROLE OF THOMAS

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CHARACTER BIBLE FOR THOMAS:

Thomas was once a celebrated Journalist back home until a

series of unforeseen tragedies swept his pride and status into

a sea of forgetfulness.

Today, he is just an infamous and perceptively inglorious

failure. His father is a lawyer and his mother is a

charismatic Christian novelist of repute. He is an only child.

Thomas' nap moments are plagued by ATONIA (Sleep Paralysis)

which causes him to endure spates of hallucinations, coupled

with the fact that he also sleepwalks occasionally. He is

constantly on medication for these two conditions.

His misfortune started on a rainy night when he sleepwalks and

leaves the balcony door open. His little son crawls to the

balcony from the bed and falls to his death two floors

beneath.

After a prolonged court case, Thomas is acquitted on the pleas

of health disorder but his distraught wife leaves him for

good. The separation from his wife causes his health to

worsen.

His career was not spared either; thanks to his open defense

of a certain man accused of racially motivated assault against

an African immigrant in the USA.

He even went as far as uploading a short documentary online -

in which he scrutinized the available evidence and shifted

empathy towards the accused, to the admiration of many.

The man was a family friend and his religious outlook fooled

Thomas further.

But when fresh evidence emerged, the man confessed to the

crime and Thomas' staggering reputation took the final blow.

He became both Infamous and Inglorious.

His family was not spared either as his father (A lawyer who

also featured in Thomas' short Documentary) also came under

attack. He eventually developed a heart condition and later

slipped into a coma.

With medical bills to pay to keep his father alive, Thomas

embarks on this journey to Nigeria in search of a befitting

story that he expects to bring about the redemption of his

career.

His quest is simple - "Get a great, unique story and a chance

to start afresh"

MOVIE'S PREMISE:

A wrongly perceived miracle sets an inglorious journalist on a

quest to interview a dead preacher.

LOGLINE:

On the trail of a Story, an anxious mind finds glory.

 1.

SCENE 17 - INT. NIGHT (Pool side & Bar at Hotel)

Cut to:

Thomas by the pool side in the hotel. He spots a beautiful

lady across and walks up to her.

As he approaches her, she proceeds to the pool side bar.

Thomas walks up to her and sits on a high stool beside her.

THOMAS:

Hi

OSAS:

Hi

THOMAS:

(stretching out his hands) Thomas. Can I buy you a drink?

OSAS:

(smiling and nodding to suggest a NO) Osas

Thomas breaks into laughter and the lady looks surprised.

 THOMAS:

Im so sorry. I truly am but does everyone in Benin City bear

the name Osas?

OSAS:

I dont understand.

THOMAS:

I mean, I recently got acquainted with some guy called Osas

and here you are again another Osas.

OSAS:

Its abbreviated. It depends on what the full name is. Mine is

Osamuede.

THOMAS:

So sorry, I hope I didnt embarrass you but my job is that of

an inquisitive mind.

OSAS:

so, what do you do for a living?

THOMAS:

Im a journalist
 OSAS:

oh, I see.

THOMAS:

yeah, you do (He giggles then pauses for a few seconds before

continuing.)

(Thomas looks at Osas in a flirtatious manner)

you know, I have been asking a lot of questions since I got

into town and Ive heard two things

OSAS:

okay

THOMAS:

one has proved to be right but Im still yet to verify the

other.

OSAS:

so, what have you concluded?

THOMAS:

That the girls in Benin are fine (He giggles)

The lady looks on with a feigned smile on her face.

THOMAS:
 but my little puzzle is about (he gesticulates) you know

OSAS:

No, I dont

Thomas giggles again and tries sustaining it till he cant

anymore. Then he clears his throat and whispers into her ears

THOMAS:

I hear you ladies are "Hot!

Osas looks at him expressionlessly

THOMAS:

you know what I mean like (He makes sexual gesticulations)

hum hum

The ladys expressionless face morphs into a mild smile then

she addresses him.

OSAS:

come here (Stretching her hands towards him) Give me your

hands.

Thomas smiles and giggles as he stretches his hands towards

her. He adjusts himself as he begins to warm up towards her as

they eventually sit face to face.

OSAS:
(holding Thomas hands) Father in the name of Jesus. I commit

your son Thomas into your hands, I ask father that you reveal

yourself to him and point him in the direction of his purpose.

Have mercy on him and show him your grace and mercy in Jesus

name. Amen.

Thomas face reveals his bewilderment.

OSAS:

Would you like to say the sinners prayer with me and give

your life to Christ?

THOMAS:

(scoffs as he tries to comport himself) Nay... not this

night. Maybe some other time; you know - it is way past my bed

time.

OSAS:

Oh, what a big baby...

(A male voice calls out to Osas in Bini dialect from off the

frame)

OSAS' FATHER:

Osas! Lets go.

OSAS:
(As she stands up to leave): Heres my card. Feel free to call

me at any time. Remember, Hes right there at the door of your

heart; knocking. Good night.

Thomas simply waves.

BARTENDER:

smiling at Thomas) She is the daughter of the Bishop of my

church.

THOMAS:

(nodding) I see.
 2.
SCENE 22 - INT. DAY. The Akporeros' residence.

The two men walk into a house and sit. Thomas looks around and

sees the pictures of the Akporero family members. A call comes

through to Pastor Osas phone and he excuses himself and goes

out to receive the call.

THOMAS:

The man has got to be very modest to live in this

Someone walks into the room

JOY:

good afternoon

THOMAS:

hey, hi Im sorry, I hope you dont mind, I was just looking

at the pictures.

JOY:

No problem at all. Welcome to our home

THOMAS:

You must be
 JOY:

Joy

THOMAS:

Joy Idahosa?

JOY:

No. Joy Akporero

THOMAS:

Is this not Idahosas house?

JOY:

(questioningly) No

SCENE 23 - EXT. DAY (Akporeros Residence)

Cut to:

Thomas storms out of the house just as pastor Osas is about

to enter.

PASTOR OSAS:

Hey, Oyinbo. wetin happen? (What's the matter?)

THOMAS:

the man is dead.

 PASTOR OSAS:

of course, he is dead. He died 19 years ago.

THOMAS:

(Frustrated) and you just kept wasting my time?

PASTOR OSAS:

I wasnt wasting your time. I was leading you to him.

THOMAS:

(Sarcastically)really to his graveside or what?

PASTOR OSAS:

No! To the things, he did. His legacy. I thought that's what

you wanted to...

THOMAS:

(Cutting in abruptly)

All I wanted was to talk to him so I can figure out the role

he played in the life of the man I met at the hospital

PASTOR OSAS:

which man?
 Joy steps outside from the doorway

JOY:

Is there a problem?

PASTOR OSAS:

No, not at all

THOMAS:

yes, there is a problem. This prankster has been fooling

around with me for the past two days!

PASTOR OSAS:

calm down Brother Thomas

THOMAS:

(Angrily)Im not your brother! Im not even your friend!...

Thomas paces across the shot, trying to calm down. Then he

turns to Pastor Osas.

No! not cool at all!

PASTOR OSAS:

Brother Thomas

THOMAS:

Now, dont you ever refer to me that way all that brother

crap! Im not like you bloody folks.

 (Then stepping up to Pastor Osas with fast paced breaths)

I will never be like you! Born again crap!

PASTOR OSAS:

I reject that on your behalf.

THOMAS:

(Angrily)no, I reject you!

As Thomas turns around to walk away, he finds himself on a

collision course with an oncoming vehicle.

Just as the vehicle is about to hit him, pastor Osas jumps in

and pushes him out of the way; receiving the impact of the

collision in his stead.

The vehicle swerves off the road and rams into trash cans and

refuse bins by a fence.

Realizing what had happened, Thomas runs towards pastor Osas

on the ground and begins to call for help, while trying to

revive him.

Sheets of paper from Thomas' journals litter the place with

some still floating in the air.

From Thomas' confused face, Camera pulls upwards overlooking

him and Pastor Osas on the ground. People begin to flank them

slowly as he screams. His scream is inaudible as it gets

drenched within an emotional score.

 3.
SCENE 29 - INT. NIGHT (HOSPITAL WAITING ROOM)

Cut to:

Thomas and Osamuede are seated together.

OSAMUEDE:

Im sure he wanted to reveal the man to you through his

miracles, and the lives he affected through the things he did

in his lifetime.

THOMAS:

(Thomas is sober.)

I was impatient and I said a lot of terrible things to him. I

wish I could help.

OSAMUEDE:

(In an assuring tone) You can pray for him

THOMAS:

But I dont know how to.

OSAMUEDE:

Ill teach you.

 Camera pulls out to show Osas leading Thomas to Christ. He

falls on his knees and bends over as he cries.

AFFIRMATIVE NARRATIVE:(IN THOMAS' VOICE)

No greater love can there be, than for a man to lay down his

life for his friend

I still lack the befitting word to describe what I felt that

night. I felt hopeless yet, I was overwhelmed by such peace

that words fail me to describe

CONTINUATION:

Looking back at the events of my short stay in Benin, I still

feel like it was all a set up. Everyone Id met so far was

playing a crucial role in this new plot in which I was fast

becoming a lead character.

I had set out to meet the Man called Idahosa and I did meet

him.

Yes, I met him when I met the living miracles of his

lifetime.

When I met the little girl, he raised from the dead Inuwata

Now in her sixties with 8 children and 10 grandchildren.

When I met another little girl, he raised from the dead Joy

who the doctors said would never be normal even though she

lived again. Shell be getting married in a couple of weeks.

When I met his wife - Margaret; whom he had come to visit on

the day he raised her cousin Inuwata from the dead. He

showed her his faith by his works and she followed him to

Christ.

Today, she is the presiding Bishop of the Church he founded.

His favorite scripture pretty much tells you everything about

his faith.

The late Archbishop Benson Andrew Idahosa often said: "I and

they whom God have give me, are made for Signs and Wonders"!