NO ONE RIGHT WAY

Written by
Olumide Holloway

Ebony Life Creative Academy

10 Engineering Close, VI, Lagos.
Olulu4ever@gmail
Lecturer: Karima Effendi (Screenwriting)
 FADE IN:

1 INT. SITTING ROOM. NIGHT 1

"Every man has a price.." MAJIYAGBE (male, 30) in tee shirt
and shorts, types on his laptop. He stands to stretch and
yawns loudly. His wife (RUTH, 28, 7 months pregnant) comes to
hug him from behind.
RUTH
Are you typing a new blog post?
MAJIYAGBE
I'm trying to write a book about a
man who refuses to compromise on his
integrity despite financial pressure.
But the words are not coming.
RUTH
Relax Mr. Integrity. Remember you are
the best personal blog of the year.
MAJIYAGBE
Nominated my dear, I've not won yet.
Right now, I just need inspiration.
RUTH
Let's go to bed and I'll inspire you.
MAJIYAGBE
I'll like that very much.
He turns to kiss her.

2 INT. BANK, GENERAL OFFICE. MORNING 2

Majiyagbe, in suit and tie, walks into the office. His
colleague (YUSUF, male, 28) is already seated.
YUSUF
The HOD said you should see her at
once.
Majiyagbe frowns but he says nothing.

3 INT. BANK, HOD'S OFFICE. MORNING 3

The HOD, MRS. OGUNDELE (51, corporate attire) sits with her
back to the desk. The designation on the desk reads "Chief
Internal Auditor". Majiyagbe takes a seat opposite her.
MRS. OGUNDELE
(Sarcastic)
Congratulations on your blog
nomination.
 2.

He squirms nervously on the chair. She swivels around to face

him.
MRS. OGUNDELE (cont'd)
Your Unit Head says you haven't met
your account opening targets. Can you
tell me why?

MAJIYAGBE
The quarter is still open and I'm
working on meeting them ma.

MRS. OGUNDELE
You are working on it? We don't pay
you to work on it, we pay you to
deliver. (pause)
Why are some of the stories on your
blog about the bank?

MAJIYAGBE
They are not ma. They are all works
of fiction.

MRS. OGUNDELE
As an internal auditor, you're
exposed to loans approved by
management. Sometimes the non-
repayment of such loans raises
suspicion. Your stories talk about
these. And you say they're works of
fiction. Do I look like a fool?

MAJIYAGBE
You don't look or sound like one ma.
That's why you should know these are
mere coincidences. I would never
expose information about the bank.

MRS. OGUNDELE
So you say- but your blog says
otherwise. Did you not sign a Non
Disclosure Agreement when you joined
the bank?

MAJIYAGBE
I did. But ma, this is a personal
blog and my stories are made-up. They
show different people in authority
needing to be above board in their
dealings. I believe everyone should
strive to be a model of rectitude.

MRS. OGUNDELE
Rectitude, abi? Well I believe
management cannot continue to pay the
salary of someone whose loyalty to
the bank is questionable.
(MORE)
 3.

MRS. OGUNDELE (CONT'D)

Hence, you will be put on suspension
for three months without pay. After
which, Management will decide if
further disciplinary measures should
be taken.
MAJIYAGBE
(Sighs)
I'm sorry ma.
MRS. OGUNDELE
I'm sorry too. Ensure you handover
all the bank's documents and items in
your possession. And try not to do
anything you might regret.
She swivels on her chair and turns her back on him.
MRS. OGUNDELE (cont'd)
Good day Mr. Majiyagbe.

4 INT./EXT. CAR PARK. EVENING 4

Majiyagbe is about to enter his car when a man in suit and

tie (KELECHI, 34) walks up to him.

KELECHI
Maji, how far na?

They shake hands and bump shoulders.

KELECHI (cont'd)
I heard about your encounter with
Mrs. O.

MAJIYAGBE
Who tell you?

KELECHI
I heard it from the grapevine.
MAJIYAGBE
Well, na so we see am o. She doesn't
like or trust me. It's crazy,
but...it seems my stories
unintentionally described the
cupboards where management hide their
skeletons. I've probably figured out
something I'm not supposed to know.

Kelechi smiles.

KELECHI
So what's the plan now?
 4.

MAJIYAGBE
Omo, na to go finish my book and
start selling. God fit do am make I
become a bestselling author. (pause)
And my car is good enough to use for
Uber runs.
KELECHI
Look I know an investigative
journalist who is writing about bank
executives involved in internal
fraud - dishing out bad loans. She
needs documents showing names and
amounts to expose the rot. She is
willing to pay.
Majiyagbe starts to turn back to his car.
MAJIYAGBE
I'm not for sale.
KELECHI
Five thousand dollars. Half now, half
when you deliver.
Majiyagbe stops and turns back to Kelechi.
KELECHI (cont'd)
I hear you're expecting a baby. New
baby go eat o, landlord no go hear
story and the bank will repossess the
car once you default. This is easy
money.

MAJIYAGBE
Thanks ore, but the answer is no.

Majiyagbe gets into the car and drives off.

5 INT./EXT. OUTSIDE AN OFFICE BUILDING. MORNING. 5

SCREEN TEXT: Two Weeks Later.

A company’s signage shows it records and produces audio-

books. Majiyagbe (smart casual) exits the building with
copies of his “published” audio-book, with the title, THE
DILEMMA OF DISLOYAL MORALISTS BY MAJIYAGBE WILLIAMS.

6 INT. INTERIOR OF MAJIYAGBE’S CAR - DAY 6

Majiyagbe’s adjusts his phone mounted to the dashboard as an

Uber GPS.

Montage of different passengers responding to his question.

 5.

MAJIYAGBE
(Turns around)
You're welcome. Would you like to
listen to my audio book on your trip?
PASSENGER 1
No.
PASSENGER 2
Ok, go ahead.
PASSENGER 3
For wetin na? Abeg I no want noise.
At the end of the trip. Majiyagbe turns around.
MAJIYAGBE
(smiling nervously)
Would you like to have a copy of my
audio book?
Passenger 2 smiles ruefully and shakes her head. Passenger 3
responds with a blank, silent glare.

7 INT. SITTING ROOM. NIGHT 7

Majiyagbe, tired and dishevelled, shuts his laptop. Ruth
comes from behind and starts to massage his shoulders.
RUTH
The doctor said we need to make a
deposit of half a million naira for
our baby. Considering that I might
end up doing a caesarean section.
MAJIYAGBE
When?
RUTH
As soon as possible. The baby can
decide to come earlier than
anticipated.
MAJIYAGBE
Ok, I'll see what I can do.
She kisses him on the head and leaves the room.
Majiyagbe gets a phone text from the LANDLORD: Dear tenant,
with effect from the 1st of next month, your rent has been
reviewed to eight hundred thousand Naira per annum...
He stares into space, in deep thought.
He reopens his laptop, removes an external hard drive from
his desk drawer and inserts it. He opens up a folder clearly
marked CONFIDENTIAL AUDIT REPORTS.
 6.

He sifts through a list of names and loan amounts amounting

to billions of Naira. He sits back in his chair and stares at
the screen.

8 EXT. EATERY. AFTERNOON 8

Majiyagbe drops off a customer. He makes a call on his phone.
MAJIYAGBE
K, how far na? Is the deal with your
journalist friend still good to go?
KELECHI
Maji, she don almost conclude with
someone else o. But I can still make
it happen.
Majiyagbe does a deep sigh and rubs his head.
MAJIYAGBE
Let's meet tomorrow.
KELECHI
Guy, it must be today or no deal.
MAJIYAGBE
Ok. Where and when?
KELECHI
7pm at Rendezvous hotel in Lekki
Phase 1. I'll book a room.
MAJIYAGBE
Ten thousand dollars and you have a
deal.
KELECHI
Haba, that's double the offer na.
MAJIYAGBE
I'm taking all the risk. If
management trace it back to me, they
can make me disappear forever.
KELECHI
No issue, money is not a problem.
MAJIYAGBE
Ok. Then I need five thousand dollars
upfront.
Pause - then -
KELECHI
Send your account details. Bring the
documents on a flash drive. I'll text
you the room number.
 7.

9 INT./EXT. HOTEL. NIGHT 9

Majiyagbe enters the hotel lobby and heads for the room. He
knocks twice. The door opens and he walks in.
KELECHI
Maji, hope no issues getting here.
They shake hands as Kelechi closes and locks the door.
MAJIYAGBE
No issues. It was a smooth ride.
(Looks around)
Where is she?
KELECHI
She is in the loo. She will be out
soon. Do you want a drink?
MAJIYAGBE
No thanks.
KELECHI
Pass the flash drive.
Maji hands him the drive. Kelechi inserts this into a laptop
and flips through the files.
MAJIYAGBE
It's all there.
KELECHI
No wahala. (smiles) I just
transferred your last payment. Mr.
Rectitude.
Maji flinches and looks at him warily. His phone beeps
confirming the transfer of five thousand dollars into his
domiciliary account.
MAJIYAGBE
You said?
A woman steps into the room. Majiyagbe looks at her in shock
and glances at Kelechi, who smiles at him.
MRS. OGUNDELE
(Wicked smile)
I think he means Mr. above board in
all dealings. Hello Majiyagbe.
MAJIYAGBE
I don't understand...
 8.

MRS. OGUNDELE
I have your recorded conversations
and money transfer receipts showing
you sold the Bank's information to
3rd parties. If you don't want to end
up in jail, you will do whatever I
say from now on. In other words, I
own you.
She and Kelechi head towards the exit. At the door, she
turns.
MRS. OGUNDELE (cont'd)
You may resume work next Monday. If
you cooperate with me, no more
disciplinary measures will be taken
against you. Consider this a favour
from me to you.
Seems every man has a price after
all. Yours is a mere ten thousand
dollars.

They exit the room. Majiyagbe sits in silence with his head
in his hands.

FADE OUT