DIRTY HANDS

SEASON 1 (EPISODE 41)

By

OZIOKO LILIAN GINIKA

E-mail:
ozioko.liliang@gmail.com
phone: 07018462366
INT. ALEX’S ROOM- DAY

Alex is staring out the window with a cup of coffee in her

hand. A knock is heard on her door.

ALEX
Come in.

Nana steps into the room and updates her.

NANA
Chelsea is all cleaned up, the doctor
just left and he says she will be
fine. Though she hasn’t said a word or
had anything to eat but I have been
able to get her to sleep.

ALEX
Just let her rest.

NANA
Okay. How are you holding up?

Alex nods her head and sips her coffee.

ALEX
I want you to let the church know that
we would be having a thanksgiving
service this Sunday. I would have
loved Savanna to handle the
preparation but it seems everyone
isn’t in the right frame of mind. So
you would have to get everything all
prepared before then.

Nana furrows her brows for two seconds, Alex catches it.

ALEX CONT’D
Will that be a problem? If you can’t
handle it get someone else to.

NANA
That’s not the issue.

ALEX
Then what is?

NANA
I do not think having a thanksgiving
service is what’s best right now.
Chelsea may be back home but this may

Created using Celtx

 2.

not be the end.

Alex drops her mug by her bed side

ALEX
What do you mean by “May not be the
end”? Xavier is dead and his body is
in a morgue.

NANA
All I am trying to say is, now is not
the time to announce victories over
little setbacks. There are still
enemies out there and heaven knows we
make the best of them in the church.
If you go further with the
thanksgiving service, you will be
letting them know that you are still
in a vulnerable place and an easy
target.

Alex returns back to the window to continue her stare.

ALEX
What do you suggest?

NANA
I think a thanksgiving donation would
be much appreciated and it passes the
same message.

Alex doesn’t move from the window.

NANA CONT’D
However, if you still want to go ahead
with the thanksgiving service I can
get to work right now.

ALEX
That service is long overdue. Get to
work.

She throws her hands backwards and dismisses Nana.

INT. CHELSEA’S ROOM- DAY

Chelsea lays awake in bed, looking all gloomy and down. There
is a knock on the door, Chelsea doesn’t respond. The knock is
heard again but she still doesn’t respond. The door is flung
open and a maidservant, with a tray of food walks in.

Created using Celtx

 3.

MAIDSERVANT 1
Miss.Chelsea your meal is ready

Chelsea doesn’t move an inch from were she lays. The

maidservant comes closer, drops the food by her side and taps
her. Chelsea ignores her, so she taps again. Chelsea still
doesn’t budge, Nana let herself in through the already open
door. She dismisses the maid and stands close to Chelsea.

NANA
Chelsea.

Nana rubs Chelsea’s back slowly.

NANA CONT’D
I had your breakfast sent to you
because you refused to join them
downstairs. You have to eat something,
even if it’s just a little.

Still rubbing Chelsea’s back gently.

NANA CONT’D
We need you to be strong Chelsea. Be
strong so you can strengthen others. I
will give you your privacy for now,
but I will be back and you must have
put something in your belly.

Nana places a soft kiss on her head and shows herself out.

Chelsea sits up and feels dizzy almost immediately, she rest

her back to feel at ease. She feels her way round her breast
and we can see that she is a tard bit confused as to why it’s
sore.

She leans her head back one more time and shut her eyes, few
seconds passes before she opens it in sudden shock. She
rushes and searches for her phone. She locates her period
calendar and places her free hand on her head.

CHELSEA
No! No! No! I better be wrong.

She panicks.

CHELSEA CONT’D
Okay so it’s just a few days late.
Nothing to worry about. Oh! Who am I

Created using Celtx

 4.

kidding?

She goes to her closet to get a jacket and throws it over her
night wear, grabs her purse and phone and is about to leave.
Then it hits her.

CHELSEA CONT’D
Shoot! I can’t leave the house.

She paces around the room for a little while then it comes to
her. She dials Caleb on her phone.

INT.SERWA & YAAYAA’S HOUSE- DAY

Serwa and Yaayaa are having a disagreement.

SERWA
If we didn’t send him there, this
would not have happened.

YAAYAA
You can’t be that certain, the girl is
infamous for her bad choices.

SERWA
How can you be so insensitive?

YAAYAA
Ohh please! I don’t stand a chance
next to her mother.

SERWA
I have to tell Ozi.

They both didn’t see when Ozi comes through the front looking
all tired and exhausted.

YAAYAA
Serwa she is back home, safe and fine.
You don’t have to tell him nothing.

OZI
What aren’t you two telling me?

Yaayaa throws a piercing look at Serwa.

YAAYAA
What you don’t know would not kill you
Ozi. Just pretend not to have heard
anything.

Created using Celtx

 5.

OZI
But I did hear. Serwa? What did you
not tell me.

Serwa is silent, he walks up to her and looks her in the

eyes.

OZI CONT’D
Tell me.

She doesn’t speak but he doesn’t retract his eyes and she
breaks.

SERWA
I sent Xavier to your house to spy on
your mum and get necessary
information. I didn’t know that he
would ever go this far, as a matter of
fact I fired him way before this
happened.

Ozi is quiet, he looks at her and then Yaayaa in disgust. He

doesn’t say anything before he leaves.

INT. ALEX’S OFFICE- DAY

She is sitted in her chair, going through her mail. She

clicks on a specific one and it is the statement of account
for the week. She sees that 20million had been transferred in
Savanna’s name for an unnamed project. She rubs her temple
and sighs. She picks up her phone and calls Savanna

ALEX
(Over the phone)
I want to see you in my office... Now!

She drops the call, looks at the mail again, picks up the
phone and calls SHOLA, the head of the account department.

SHOLA (V.O)
Good day ma.

ALEX
Savannah takes a sum of twenty million
naira from the company and I get to
know through bank statements?

SHOLA (V.O)
Ma she made it known that it would be
a quick loan. Moreover,the last
project she worked on recovered half

Created using Celtx

 6.

of the money.

Alex takes in a deep breath.

ALEX
Whose payroll are you on?

SHOLA (O.C)
Yours ma!

ALEX
Good! If you want to remain on it,
this should not repeat itself.

She drops the call. Almost immediately there is a knock on

the door.

ALEX CONT’D
Yes?

Savannah is in our view. She goes straight for a sit so she

could rest her back.

SAVANNAH
You asked to see me.

ALEX
Twenty million naira from the
company’s account was withdrawn in
your name. Care to explain?

SAVANNAH
I am working on something

ALEX
What something?

SAVANNAH
A project.

ALEX
Savannah don’t play with me, out with
it already!

SAVANNAH
I... I can’t.

Alex’s temper is slowly rising.

ALEX
You better speak while I am still

Created using Celtx

 7.

being nice.

SAVANNAH
I would love to share but it is
actually kind of private.

ALEX
Anything that requires touching my
money automatically becomes my
business. I would ask you for the last
time Savannah, what did use that money
for?

Savannah feels the pain in her back and she readjusts her
sitting position and rubs her back subtly. She shuts her eyes
briefly and she sees Arthur’s dead son, she opens her eyes
immediately and meets her mother’s eyes. She burst out in
tears.

SAVANNAH
(Sobbing)
There are just some things that are
too embarrassing to share. I really
don’t know if I can bring myself to
tell you or anyone at all.

Alex gets up and places herself close to her daughter.

ALEX
Sweetheart, I am first your mother
before your boss. There is nothing to
be ashamed of, we all do things that
we aren’t proud of. I can’t count the
number of things I have done wrong.
You can tell me about it, if it’s
something you can’t handle I promise
to help you.

Savannah wipes off her tears and smiles a little.

SAVANNAH
Thanks mum.

Savannah gets up and hugs her mum.

SAVANNAH CONT’D
I promise to tell you when I am ready.

She releases her from the hug and excuses herself, crossing
paths with Nana on her way out. They both exchanged
greetings. Nana walks into the office and stands few feet

Created using Celtx

 8.

away from Alex's table. Alex has returned back to her work
and has her head buried in her system

ALEX CONT’D
Yes, Nana? Is there problem with the
preparation?

NANA
Not at all. The church has already
been informed and I have made
arrangements for the gift baskets and
the catering service already have
their down payment.

ALEX
Means you are here for something else
then, spill it.

NANA
Something has to be done about
Chelsea.

She raises her head from her system.

ALEX
Is she okay?

NANA
Health wise? Yes, she is. But she is
still not eating and that might be an
issue.

Alex is back at her system, carrying on with her work.

ALEX
Food consumption is the only thing
Chelsea knows how to do effortlessly,
so you don’t have to worry.

NANA
I know but this time there is a way
she looks, like she is dead inside...

ALEX
Nana, you worry too much. Chelsea will
be fine, let her just get the whole
experience all out of her system. Just
give her time, I bet she will come
around.

Created using Celtx

 9.

NANA
I still think needs someone to talk ey

Alex closes her system.

ALEX
Alright, I would go talk with her when
I am done and if she doesn’t respond I
will get her a session with my
therapist. Is that fine?

Nana nods her head and is about to leave but Alex stops her.

ALEX CONT’D
Keep a watchful eye on Savannah. She
is dipping her hands in company funds
without my consent. She might be
cleaning up her fiancé’s mess with my
money.I don’t know what it is but it
must stop before it goes any further.

Nana exits the room.

INT. WAREHOUSE- DAY

There are cartons that some men are offloading behind. The
DEALERA who is a bit muscular moves further from the men. He
brings out his phone from his pocket and calls Alex.

INT. ALEX’S OFFICE- SAME TIME.

Alex is standing next to her table with a file in hand when

her phone rings. She drops the file and picks up the call.

ALEX
Is it here yet?

INTERCUT- PHONE CONVERSATION

DEALER
Yes Ma, it arrived this Morning. You
would have to come down to the
warehouse for confirmation.

ALEX
I am afraid that would not be
possible. I have a full desk today but
if you can get some samples to my
house that would be very much
appreciated.

Created using Celtx

 10.

DEALER
Alright ma. I should be there in an
hour.

END INTERCUT.

INT.CHELSEA’S ROOM- DAY

Chelsea is looking at herself in her bathroom mirror,

checking out her stomach and other delicate parts. There is a
knock on the door and she rushes to get it. On the other side
of the door is Caleb, she looks through the hallway to know
if he is being monitored before she pulls him in.

CHELSEA
Do you have it?

He wraps her in a tight hug and then starts checking her body
for injuries.

CHELSEA CONT’D
Get a hold of yourself.

He stops, then hugs her again. She stretches her hand out to
him, he stares at it confused.

CHELSEA CONT’D
The test kit?

CALEB
Ohuu! Yeah

He reaches into his pocket and pulls it out.

CALEB CONT’D
Sorry I had to get rid of the pack I
didn’t want it to be suspicious.

She grabs it without thinking twice and disappears into the

bathroom. Caleb moves to the bathroom door.

CALEB CONT’D
Even at that I was still praying not
to run into Nana, sometimes it feels
like she sees through everything. If
she were an animal, no doubts she
would be an owl.

He waits for her patiently, she gets out of the bathroom with
tears in her eyes. She shows Caleb the kit and he wraps his
arms around her as she weeps. She peels herself off him and

Created using Celtx

 11.

dries her tears.

CHELSEA
I have to get an abortion.

CALEB
(In shock)
No you don’t.

CHELSEA
My mum mustn’t hear of this. I have to
get rid of it.

She starts pacing.

CALEB
No you don’t

CHELSEA
Can’t you see it, I am pregnant for
dead man who put my life at risk for
his own selfish interest. I can barely
clean up after myself, talk less of
another human being.

She picks up a pillow and screams in it.

CALEB
You need to calm down Chelsea.

CHELSEA
I am as calm as I can get.

CALEB
You know getting an abortion could
take your life right?

She crumbles to the floor and sobs, Caleb joins her.

CALEB CONT’D
If you could just hold of the thought
of having an abortion for now. I can
think of some other way to get you out
of this.

He envelopes her in an embrace.

CALEB CONT’D
Trust me on this one. I will get you
out of it.

Created using Celtx

 12.

EXT/INT. CAFE- DAY

Savannah locks her car and walks right into the cafe. A
little overdressed for a cafe meet up, she goes straight to
the table where the Instagram Ambassador sat. The table is at
the far end of the room.

He has in front of him, a cup of milkshake that he had drank

halfway. Savanna joins him.

SAVANNAH
Sorry for the delay.

IG AMBASSADOR
Yeah, yeah! I need a picture for the
Gram, could you take one of me?

He hands her his phone, she hesitates a little before taking

it. As she takes the picture, he tries to look all sexy
smoldering up and smirking.

She hands him back his phone when she is done.

SAVANNAH
I planned on giving some money to
different charity organizations,
foundations and non-governmental
organizations for people with
disabilities.

She reaches in her bag brings out a file. She pushes it to

him but he is engross in his phone that he didn’t see. She
snatches the phone right out of his hands.

IG AMBASSADOR
Hey!

SAVANNAH
Focus, I am not taking much of your
time here. I have things to do to.

IG AMBASSADOR
Okay, you were saying?

He opens the file.

SAVANNAH
You will follow it up. Aside the
donations you will go to at least five
of them bearing gifts, food stuffs,
clothes and art supplies. The pictures

Created using Celtx

 13.

will be good for your brand and it

will reflect well on us.

He nods his head and closed the files.

SAVANNAH CONT’D
When it is all ready I would let you
know.

She picks up her bag to go but he stops her.

IG AMBASSADOR
Hold on... I have a foundation too,
since you are in the sprit of giving,
why don’t you add us to your list. Not
unless you are after these specific
set of needy people for a reason.

She releases her hand from her bag, they start to shake so
she puts them under the table. She brings out her Cheque book
from her bag amd starts writing.

SAVANNAH
What’s the name of your foundation?

IG AMBASSADOR
Uhh... umm... you want to write the
Cheque in their name?

SAVANNAH
How else am I to write it? What type
of foundation is it anywhere?

IG AMBASSADOR
Ohhh! Emm, it’s for the blind and...
blind and widowed!

SAVANNAH
Blind and widowed?

IG AMBASSADOR
Yes, blind and widowed. We actually
just started out. So generating a name
has been a tough one for us. The first
name we picked was “gifted spirit” but
that is already in use. Why don’t you
just write it in my name instead.

She looks at him funny for a while before finishing up the

writing, rips out the page and hands it to him.

Created using Celtx

 14.

The IG Ambassador is grinning from ear to ear.

SAVANNAH
Umm! Since we are here already, you
might need to come with me to the
hospital.

IG AMBASSADOR
What for?

SAVANNAH
I need you to do a coverage on a
single mother and her de as son. She
was attacked and her son was shot dead
in one of our properties. She's in a
coma, so she won’t be doing any
talking. However, we are taking care
of all her hospital bills until she is
out.

IG AMBASSADOR
So what does that have to do with me?
You can call the news.

SAVANNAH
You will be letting the public know
how we have upgraded and intensified
our security in our properties and how
humane it is of us to cover her bills
even though we didn’t have to.

IG AMBASSADOR
At the end of today I should be
getting something right?

He smiles and uses his hand to mimic counting money. She

looks at the hands and then stands up.

SAVANNAH
In your dreams. Let’s go.

They leave the cafe together.

INT. ALEX OFFICE- DAY

Nana places a knock on the door, the CONSIGNMENT DEALER is

with her. He has a briefcase in his hands. Alex responds and
Nana goes in first.

NANA
Your guest is here.

Created using Celtx

 15.

ALEX
Let him in.

Nana excuses them and the dealer goes in and shuts the door.
He goes straight for Alex’s table and places the briefcase on
it. He opens it.

DEALER
It’s all here, a sample of each.

He lifts one of the wrapped up bags for her to see. She takes
it from him and examines it.

ALEX
How do I know it’s the real thing?

DEALER
(Laughs)
I am not 100% certain, I can only tell
with my eyes but I think it is.

ALEX
(Sighs)
I can’t put my money on mere
speculations. Get someone to come
check it out tomorrow by 10am.

DEALER
Alright Ma’am

She waves her hand in the air and dismisses him, closes the
briefcase and puts it under her table.

INT. HOSPITAL- NIGHT

Savannah has the IG Ambassador tailing her as she walks

through the halls of the hospital. She gets to a private
room, opens the door and sees Arthur sitting close to the
bed. Flora who is plugged in to different things, lay there
unconscious.

Savannah remains at the door way, her backache intensifies.

She quietly shuts the door and let out a small cry as she
winces.

IG AMBASSADOR
Are you okay?

She puts herself together and nods her head.

Created using Celtx

 16.

SAVANNAH
I guess we would just have to come
back some other time.

INT. CHELSEA’S ROOM- NIGHT

Chelsea is lying in bed when Alex walks in. She goes straight
to her bedside and sits. The food the maidservant brought in
earlier still remained untouched.

ALEX
Nana tells me that you have refused
eating.

Chelsea doesn’t respond.

ALEX CONT’D
Is this some sort of hunger strike or
you are mourning Xavier?

Tears dropped down Chelsea’s cheeks.

ALEX CONT’D
Baby you deserve better, you have not
come this far to fall back down...
Sometimes we meet the bad ones so we
can be prepared for the worst that is
to come.

Her eyes continue to leak but she doesn’t say a word.

ALEX CONT’D
I will have Nana bring you something
fresh. Try and eat something, okay
honey?

She plants a kiss on her forehead and leaves the room.

INT. STAFF QUARTERS - NIGHT

Caleb is in his room, practicing in front of a mirror.

CALEB
Chelsea, let me father your child...

He slaps himself on the head

CALEB CONT’D
That sounds really stupid. Okay...
Phew...Let me help you through this.
Instead of getting an abortion, why

Created using Celtx

 17.

don’t you let me take full

responsibility. I will be the father
of your child. Nobody has to know that
it isn’t mine, I will send in my
resignation letter so we can have a
live together. What do you say?

He smiles.

CALEB CONT’D
Much better! Okay Caleb, let’s do this
one more time.

INT. CHELSEA’S ROOM- NIGHT.

The room is dark but we can see Chelsea’s face with the help
of the light from her phone, her eyes are puffy from all the
crying. She dials a number and the receiver picks up.

CHELSEA
Hello

INT. MINA’S ROOM- SAME TIME

MINA is in bed with a phone over her ear. She rubs her eyes
slowly.

MINA
Chelsea? This better be important,
it’s past midnight!

Chelsea sniffles

MINA CONT’D
Are you okay?

Chelsea resumes her sobbing.

MINA CONT’D
Chelsea talk to me.

CHELSEA
I am pregnant

They were both silent for a little while.

CHELSEA CONT’D
I don’t know what to do. Just when
things starts going well for me, there

Created using Celtx

 18.

is always something that comes

crashing it down. I just wish I could
take things back or... or... or... I
don’t know and that son of a bitch had
the audacity to die.

She continues crying.

MINA
Calm down. It’s going to be alright

CHELSEA
How? My mum is going to kill me.

MINA
She doesn’t have to know. What do you
think about an abortion?

CHELSEA
I thought about it but then Caleb said
to hold it off for a while and trust
him to work it all out.

MINA
Hold on a minute! The same Caleb who
lied to you about being married? You
can’t be serious. Look I have someone
you can get that fetus out of you
right now as we speak. All you have to
do is meet up with me and we would go
to the clinic together, I will handle
the arrangements

Chelsea is dead silent.

CHELSEA
Would he be in the clinic at this
hour?

MINA
Chelsea it’s a clinic! Besides he
basically lives there. Are you in?

Chelsea hesitates a little.

CHELSEA
(Low tone)
Yes.

MINA
Do I text you the address or you would

Created using Celtx

 19.

rather come over to my place then we

can go?

CHELSEA
I will come to your place.

MINA
Okay.

Mina ends the call.

END INTERCUT

MONTAGE-

- Chelsea packs up the things she needs

- Chelsea writes a letter to her mum and leaves her room.

- Chelsea moves quietly around the house so she doesn’t get

cut

- Chelsea gets to the front of her mum’s door and wants to

just slip the letter under her door but something stops her.

- She goes to the office instead and carefully places it on

the table, she is about to go before she sees the briefcase.
She curiously opens it.

CHELSEA
I hope it’s money cause I could really
use it.

She see the content in the briefcase.

CHELSEA CONT’D
(Smiles)
Even better.

She grabs a few and closes the briefcase, then returns it to

its previous position.

Created using Celtx