5 TENTS

By

OBIORAH MICHAEL UCHENNA

FICTION

obiorahmichaeluchenna@gmail.com
1.INT. MAXWELL’S HOUSE - DAY

MAXWELL picks up a photo as TYLER’S message ends. on the

picture we see MAXWELL, TYLER, GREG and CHRIS. He drops it
and looks up at a family photo.
UNKNOWN VOICE
At what cost Max, at what cost?
MAXWELL
At no cost at all.
MAXWELL goes to the bathroom to get freshened up.

2.EXT. MAXWELL’S HOUSE - DAY

MARILYN and DAVID are seated on a bench and are deep in
conversation when MAXWELL walks out of the house. He moves
straight for the garage.
MARILYN
Hey young man. You don’t just
pass your parents like that
without a word.

MAXWELL
I’m sorry mother, I was carried
away. Good morning mummy.

MARILYN
What about your father?
MAXWELL
Mom I don’t want my day ruined
this early.

DAVID starts to talk but is cut short by MARILYN. She

stands up from the bench and walks up to MAXWELL.
MARILYN
Your Dad has apologized countless
times and I have forgiven him.
You should do the same honey, he
loves us deeply and wouldn’t hurt
us if he could help it.
MAXWELL
I have heard you ma. I have an
appointment to catch up with. We
might continue this conversation
when I get back.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

MAXWELL goes to the garage, enters his car, revs up the

engine and drives out of the compound. MARILYN looks on at
her son with her hands on her waist and sighs.

MARILYN
It’s going to be fine Dave.

3.EXT. OLD AIRPORT ROUNDABOUT DAY

TYLER, CHRIS and GREG are seen waiting for MAXWELL to turn
up. CHRIS crosses the road to get roasted corn, he is a
chubby fellow and is almost always seen munching
something.
GREG
Look at how he takes the form of
whatever he eats, all I see is a
fat roasted corn crossing back.
TYLER is bent over in hard laughter and is clutching his
sides.
TYLER
Abeg leave me, which kind dark
yan be dis.

GREG
No nau, just look at him. If I
hadn’t stopped him from
collecting that meat from that
lady, he was ready to just fire
the thing.

TYLER
For someone who doesn’t talk
much, you have a very bad mouth.
GREG
You still wonder why?
CHRIS crosses back to where they are.
CHRIS
Omo the woman wanted to use my
head, she didn’t know I had
already sighted the fat corn.
TYLER and GREG exchange looks and TYLER stifles a giggle.
GREG carries one corn from the nylon bag.

CHRIS
Anyway the corn is sweet sha.
Tyler how far, call Maxwell so
we’ll know whether he’s coming or
not.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

TYLER
That’s true sef, because he
sounded cold over the phone.

GREG
He better not stand us up.
TYLER takes out his phone and calls MAXWELL.
TYLER
Oh ok ok, you’re close already.
Alright alright.
TYLER(CONT’D)
(Hanging over the call)
He is coming and is almost here.
For peace to reign, I’m driving
from here to the spot o.
CHRIS
No o, that’s how you almost
killed us the last time. "march
brake, march brake" Tyler no gree
hear. It’s not me you will drive
to glory.
TYLER
(laughing)
You no well. Yeye boy. You no
know say speed de make person
lose weight.
GREG
Ahn ahn Tyler, Yabaleftonline is
beginning to affect your
reasoning o.
A car parks in front of them. MAXWELL winds down the
glasses. CHRIS starts hailing him, TYLER stops him and
does the hailing himself.GREG just looks at MAXWELL and
nods as their eyes lock.
CHRIS
Forget all these tactics, you
will stil not drive us, no way o.
Tyler abeg don’t agree. Abi you
don’t want Stella to see you in
one piece when school resumes?
MAXWELL smiles and comes out of the car to hand over the
key to TYLER.
CHRIS
Ahhh Tyler don charm our half
oyibo boy. I’m enetring keke, you
guys can go.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

They look at him for a while and TYLER starts the car. He
moves forward but CHRIS screams.
CHRIS
Where are you people going? Hot
yam fall on that leg that you
want to use and drive off, come
on open door let me enter jare.
TYLER
You for trek de come small small
make I call your mama say your
weight loss regime don start.
They all laugh as the car drives away.

4.EXT. CLEARING - DAY

MAXWELL’S car enters the clearing entrance. TYLER parks by
a tree.

TYLER
We’ll use legedes benz for the
remaining walk boys, Chris you
can use your Lorry.
CHRIS stones TYLER with a small bag, TYLER attempts
ducking but is hit.
TYLER
Yeee this bag is heavy nau. Is it
your underw...

CHRIS
(lifting a bigger bag)
Complete the sentence.
TYLER
(raisng his hands in
defence)
Oya sorry, no vex. Let us behave
like civil people that have
sense.

MAXWELL opens his side of the car and opens the boot. GREG
follows him out and they start removing things from the
car. CHRIS picks up the food cooler and TYLER starts
laughing.

5.EXT. WOODS - DAY

TYLER, GREG, CHRIS and MAXWELL are carrying things while
walking into the woods. CHRIS falls down and rolls. He
gets up and dusts himself before picking up what he was
initially carrying.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

MAXWELL
Sorry bro. Hope you’re not
injured.

CHRIS
No, it’s fine. I’m okay. Thank
God my mom’s cooler is good if
not the whole food would have
been to waste.

GREG
Guys I think I have found the
right spot.
They all come to where GREG is standing. There is the look
of satisfaction on their faces.

MAXWELL
This will do. We set our tents in
a circle and the campfire woods
in the middle.

CHRIS AND TYLER

Yeahhh
GREG
Makes sense. I’ll go get some
firewood.
TYLER
I’m coming with you.

6.EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

MAXWELL puts up his tent and then lies on the bed. He

brings out his phone and frowns then plays a voicenote
from STELLA on WhatsApp.
STELLA (O.S)
Hey Max. I wanted to talk to you
the other day but you were in a
hurry to get back home. I’ve
tried talking to you on countless
occasions but something seems to
be stopping the conversation. Max
you know how much I love you and
cherish what we have and that is
why sending this message has been
ten times harder. Max I think we
should have a break from each
other, with what is going on
around you, I’m not helping
matters at all. I’m a total mess
right now and with me being
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.

STELLA (O.S) (cont’d)

around, things would only get
more chaotic for you. I love you
Max.

MAXWELL laughs dryly. CHRIS OPENS THE TENT.

CHRIS
Was that Stella? Sorry I couldn’t
help it.

MAXWELL doesn’t respond, he just sits up.

CHRIS
You know, I always thought you
two were lovely together. I mean,
she was the only girl that truly
didn’t follow you for the money.
MAXWELL
I really don’t understand how she
can think like this. I never
complain.
CHRIS
Do you really have to? You’ve
been withdrawn for weeks now. I
honestly thought you would not
show up today, I’m glad you did
though.
MAXWELL
I...I just ahhhh been having a
lot going on and I didn’t want to
be a burden to anyone.
CHRIS
I think that’s the same thing
Stella just said. Yeah before you
look at me like that I heard
everything, your phone’s pretty
loud.
Something passes swiftly outside. MAXWELL and CHRIS look
at each other.

CHRIS
What was that?
MAXWELL
Yeahhh cast a big shadow for
something so fast, is your torch
outside?
CHRIS
Maybe it’s a rat that went too
close to the torch. As I was
saying...

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.

MAXWELL
(in shock)
Chris look back

A skeletal shadow rises on the tent wall amd seems to be

moving closer to them then vanishes. CHRIS and MAXWELL
peep outside the tent, they see nothing then they come
out. CHRIS goes to pick up his torch and with MAXWELL
close behind, scan the area with light. They see a figure
ahead and when CHRIS turns the torch to that direction, it
disappears.
CHRIS
What was that thing? Did we drink
too much?

MAXWELL
We didn’t drink at all.
A hand stretches and touches CHRIS from behind on his
shoulders, he throws the torch into the air and shouts.

GREG
Stop shouting, it’s me.
TYLER
So you’re a sissy. Small touch
you’re screaming like that your
crush, Amanda. Birds of the same
feathers scream together.
MAXWELL
(addressing GREG)
Don’t do that again man, we saw
something.
CHRIS
Don’t mind them. They think
everything is play.

GREG
Sorry about that. It was probably
goats. We saw some along the way
earlier on.

MAXWELL and CHRIS exchange look but keep quiet.

TYLER
So what are we cooking?
CHRIS
Yam porridge, I need something to
warm my body from the fright and
all.
 8.

7.EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

Everyone is gathered around the campfire which has goat
roasting on it. TYLER is tearing at a piece of meat in his
hands. MAXWELL walks over to the goat and cuts another
piece off it.
CHRIS
Who knew this good goat would be
so gracious to give up itself for
us.
TYLER
It didn’t agree until you forced
it to.

CHRIS
I only saw that it wasn’t
fulfilling purpose and asked it
to.
TYLER
Oh lovely, animal seer.
GREG
(laughing)
The way you two go at each other
is always fun. Chris tell us
about Amanda.
CHRIS’ face lights up, he smiles widely and chokes a
little bit on his meat. MAXWELL comes back to his seat.
TYLER throws the bone left of the meat he was eating.

CHRIS
Well, she is the girl of my
dreams. I don’t want to rush
things though but two days ago
she called me ’bighead’.

The rest burst into laughter.

CHRIS
What? don’t you know that when a
girl likes you she calls you
’bighead’?
TYLER
Come on shut up. Mrs Dalyop calls
me that all the time.

They all look at TYLER questioningly.

TYLER(CONT’D)
No no no no absolutely no.
Nothing is going on between us,

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.

CHRIS
Both of you keep looking at each
other in a strange way in class.

GREG
(sucking at the marrows of a
bone)
That I noticed too.
TYLER
(feeling uneasy)
Is this still about Amanda?

8.EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

TYLER
Man I get tired sometimes. I
mean, everyone thinks I’m the guy
who doesn’t have sad moments. I
just do well to keep them at bay.

CHRIS
What about me? I hear the talks
about how fat I am, I see lips
moving everywhere I go. But you
guys are the best.

MAX smiles, TYLER looks at GREG and bows his head.

GREG
Max, you mind telling us why
you’ve been so distant these past
weeks?
MAXWELL
(shrugging)
Uhmm nothing really, just been
extra busy and all.

GREG looks at him for a while and picks a twig from the
floor, stripping it of its leaves.
A scrawny young man approaches them and they all get up in
a start.

TYLER
What the hell. Where did you just
come out from?
ABEL
My name’s Abel. I was also
camping around.
GREG
Alone? Who camps alone?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 10.

ABEL
I’ve been living here for a
while, I got evicted from my
house a few weeks back.

MAXWELL
You’re the one who’s been
sneaking on us all night.
ABEL
Well yeah, I wasn’t sure you guys
were the good bunch until I saw
you guys out here.
MAXWELL
You want to join us?

ABEL
Sure sure, we could play a game
too.

9.EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

They are all laughing at a joke.
ABEL
I’m telling. The landlord wanted
to disgrace me but I refused to
be shamed openly.
GREG
You did yourself sha, if you had
begged you might probably still
be there on a warm bed.
ABEL’S face stiffens for a moment then he smiles again.
ABEL
Let’s play a game, I’ll start
though.
CHRIS
What’s the game all about? Hope
it’s not truth or dare? before
somebody will make me swear for
his father.
TYLER
You no wan kiss me?

CHRIS stones TYLER with the others laughing.

ABEL
It’s a creepy game.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.

TYLER
Creepy ke.
ABEL
If you don’t have the heart you
can back out o yea fearful one.
TYLER
(laughing)
See this guy.

MAXWELL
Start the game.
ABEL
I will predict all your deaths
exactly as it will happen.
GREG
Sorry what? How’s this a game?
ABEL
Relax man, wouldn’t you want a
novelty of a death?
GREG
Hell no.

CHRIS
See who de fear for common game.
GREG
It’s when you hear you’ll die
from falling inside hot jollof
rice you’ll calm down.
ABEL
I’m starting with you, what’s
your name again.

TYLER
Tyler, you can call me fresh ice.
ABEL looks at him questioningly and shakes his head in a
laugh.

ABEL
You will die like a vampire in an
epic movie.
TYLER
How exactly?
ABEL
Staked through the heart with a
wood.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.

CHRIS
Ouch, so dark.
ABEL
In a heroic way though, you’ll be
protecting Greg from the same
fate.
TYLER
Now that’s what I’m talking
about, taking a bullet emmmm
stake for a friend.
CHRIS
This one you’re looking at me
like that, give me something more
honourable ooo.
ABEL
You’ll eat yourself.
TYLER
(laughing really hard)
Omoooo this one touch me ooo.
ABEL
(laughing)
Honourable enough? I tried abi.
CHRIS
You de mad, abeg get out. You
people have seen me finish . It’s
my fault now, if I starve to
death your eyes will clear.
GREG
As if it’ll affect anybody.(to
ABEL) Just get over with my own
death, I’m already dead from the
vibe of this game.
ABEL
Oh you. Quite unclear to be
honest, one thing I know is fire
is involved but I don’t know how
exactly.
GREG
(pushing his glasses back)
Great.

MAXWELL
I’m going inside my tent.
ABEL
I haven’t said yours.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.

MAXWELL
I think I’m good. I’ll hear mine
tomorrow. I’m so tired right now.

ABEL
Okay I’ll just write it down on a
piece of paper and slip it under.
ABEL stands up and walks away. CHRIS goes to pick a big
chunk of meat from a pile cut on a mat.

TYLER puts on a radio and tunes to a music playing

channel.
GREG just keeps on looking at the fire burning in the
middle.

GREG
Fire.
CHRIS
Truth be told, that was creepy as
hell and that doesn’t mean I’m
scared or anything.
TYLER
At least I get to be a hero.

A HOODED FIGURE materializes at CHRIS’S right hand side

and is eating his hand, which he was using to hold the
meat, without him feeling it or the others noticing. He
lifts his hand to chew meat and instead chews his own
hand.

CHRIS
Why this meat suddenly wet now?
CHRIS touches his mouth with his left hand, looks down and
sees blood, looks at his right hand and screams.

GREG and TYLER look and see the hooded figure before it
runs into the woods. CHRIS is screaming with blood gushing
out of his right hand, MAXWELL runs out of his tent
wide-eyed.

MAXWELL grabs a cloth and rushes to CHRIS’ side before he

looses too much blood. TYLER looks pale and shaken.
GREG
(holding CHRIS)
You’ll be fine Chris, you’ll be
fine.
TYLER
We need to get to a hospital. We
need to get out of this place.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.

MAXWELL
I know but what do we tell them
happened? Four boys and the
police would be called in on us
for some wild crime we dont’t
even...
TYLER
(shouting)
We need to bloody get out of here
man, I don’t know what we’re
going to say and I don’t care
what comes next.
MAXWELL
You think I don’t care about
Chris?
GREG
(suddenly tapping CHRIS)
Chris!

CHRIS murmurs weakly.

GREG
He’s lost too much blood and is
getting weak.

MAXWELL
I have glucose and sprite in the
car, that’ll help.
MAXWELL goes to the car to pick and returns with a bottle
of sprite and a glucose tin. GREG forces CHRIS’ mouth open
and puts in glucose. CHRIS opens his eyes and looks
around.
GREG
Here, drink up. The sprite would
help for lost fluid and give you
strength till we can locate a
hospital.
Something passes in the woods and passes swiftly near the
campfire, putting it off in the process. TYLER quickly
turns on his phone light and flashes it towards the
direction of the sound.
TYLER
Who’s there? Show yourself. Max I
don’t like this place at all.

CHRIS struggles to his feet and they all run to the car.
The HOODED FIGURE from earlier on starts coming towards
the car. GREG sees it first and alerts the others.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.

GREG
(frantically)
Start up the car.

MAXWELL
I’m trying man.
The car starts and then turns off. The HOODED FIGURE is
coming really quick now and just as the car comes alive
again, the figure grabs GREG.

GREG
Noooooo
GREG is kicking at the HOODED FIGURE with all his strength
but the figure’s grip is too strong. CHRIS tries to grab
his hand and falls out of the car himself. The HOODED
FIGURE leaves GREG and grabs CHRIS instead. CHRIS and the
HOODED FIGURE disappear into the woods.
TYLER
Oh God.

MAXWELL
We have to get him back.
MAXWELL turns off the car and comes down alongside TYLER.
They help GREG to his feet and head into the woods. GREG
seems to be injured as he’s limping.

10.EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

MAXWELL’s phone begins to ring and we see the name ’MY

HERO’ on the screen.
MAXWELL
(muttering)
I need to change that.

TYLER
Who’s calling?
MAXWELL
My Dad. I’m not picking it
anyway.
TYLER looks at him and nods in agreement, TYLER’S eyes are
sad.
GREG
I would have gone instead, he
shouldn’t have tried to save me.
MAXWELL
Nothing will happen to him.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 16.

GREG
You don’t know that. Maybe if we
had gone earlier and you didn’t
start arguing with Tyler he would
still be here.

MAXWELL
I care Greg, I care. Whatever you
have with me, just know I care
about what happens to all of you.

ABEL comes from behind them, all bloodied and exhausted.

TYLER
(grabbing TYLER by the neck)
You bloody bastard. What are you
not telling us? Who are you
really?
ABEL
I swear I know nothing. Look at
me, I was attacked too but I got
away.
GREG
That game of yours,how did you
know Chris would eat himself.

ABEL
I kept hearing these voices in my
head and I thought it was only my
mind because I watch dark stuffs
a lot.

MAXWELL
What attacked you?
ABEL
A demonic looking hooded figure
with peeled flesh, tried to take
flesh off my stomach, I suspect
it would have opened me up but
only succeeded in scatching my
arms and neck as I ran.

MAXWELL turns away and looks really worried. TYLER

releases ABEL and collapses with sadness on the floor.
GREG rests on a tree.
TYLER
(crying)
Chris is gone because of this
stupid camp and I kept making fun
of him evry single time I had the
opportunity to. He was a good
one, always there for every
single one of us.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 17.

ABEL
Stop the crying bro, what’s
important right now is how we get
out of here. And for the record,
Chris is still alive.
TYLER
What do you mean?
ABEL
I’ve heard of that creature from
folklores. It doesn’t kill its
victims, more or less like it
keeps them for sport and lives
off their screams. Another reason
I’m sure is because that’s not
the death I predicted for him.
TYLER and GREG look horrified but MAXWELL starts to walk
with the others following behind.
ABEL begins to hum an old celtic tune.

MAXWELL’s phone rings again, this time we see ’MOM’. He

answers the phone.
MAXWELL
Hello mom.
MARILYN
Max my darling. I and your father
(MAXWELL snorts), you can’t keep
on being like this Max. He has
apologized a thousand times.
MAXWELL
And it’s still not enough mom, I
don’t think it will ever be.

There’s silence on the other end.

MAXWELL
I have to go now ma.
MARILYN
We both love you Max, don’t ever
forget that. How are your
friends?
MAXWELL looks around at GREG, TYLER and ABEL.

MAXWELL
Good good good good, we’re doing
fine. We were joined by another
fella and we’re having a really
good time.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 18.

MARILYN
Alright, just what we...I wanted
to hear. Tell Chris his mom has
been calling him and he should
call her back quickly.
MAXWELL
Oh of course I will tell him
that. Talk to you later, bye.

GREG
She asked about Chris right?
MAXWELL nods in acknowledgment and fidgets with his phone.
They continue walking with GREG stumbling occasionally as
a result of his injured leg.
TYLER and ABEL are talking quietly.
They are still walking when they hear a scream. They begin
to run towards the direction it came from.

TYLER
I de very sure say na Chris
scream be dat.

ABEL
From his laugh I heard I can tell
that scream is from the same
mouth.
GREG falls and is unable to instantly get back up. The
others stop to help him but he refuses.
GREG
Go on, go and get him. I will be
here when hyou guys get back.
This injury is weighing me down.
I don’t want to slow you down and
we end up losing Chris.
ABEL
He’s right, let’s keep on moving.

MAXWELL
There’s only so much Chris can
take considering he’s already
weak and badly injured. Be safe
bro, stay under that tree right
there.

They continue running.

GREG crawls to the tree MAXWELL pointed at and sits there.

More screams are heard and then quiet.

 19.

11.EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

CHRIS is seen in the middle of a clearing and the hooded
figure is circling him.

HOODED FIGURE
(shrill voice)
If you think you can be saved and
go home then you’re pathetic.
CHRIS
What do you want from us? We are
not your enemies.
HOODED FIGURE
I take what is mine.

CHRIS
I am not yours.
The HOODED FIGURE laughs loudly and screams.

HOODED FIGURE
You don’t seem to know what you
and your friends just walked
into. An ancient loop that goes
on and on. Every season souls
become drained and it is with
pleasure that I dry them up.
CHRIS
Why are you telling me all these?
Just let us go.

HOODED FIGURE
(touching Chris’ chin)
I would love to see what your
soul looks like, the force
draining out slowly.

CHRIS
(sobbing)
Please I beg you, our parents
would be devastated, all our
loved ones would.

HOODED FIGURE
Is this the part you become a
hero and tell me to take you and
let your friends go?

CHRIS
Will that work?
HOODED FIGURE
In a story with a villain and
hero but this is just me and four
lost people.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 20.

CHRIS’ head slumps from exhaustion. the HOODED FIGURED

removes its hood and begins peeling its skin off and
making strange sounds,blood streams down as raw flesh is
revealed. It walks to where CHRIS is and starts chewing at
his arm.
TYLER, MAXWELL and ABEL are standing behind a tree and are
horrified by what they see. ABEL carries a stick from the
ground and urges the others on.

TYLER
What do you intend to do with
that? this is a monster or demon
or whatever.
ABEL
I have come across a demon like
this in a book I once read. It
has been summoned by someone and
will not go until it has done
what it’s supposed to do.

TYLER
What is it supposed to do?
ABEL
Drain souls and not just any soul
but souls bustling with life.
MAXWELL
Who the hell summoned it? How
does one summon such a thing.

The HOODED FIGURE looks up and scans the area before

disappearing into the woods. TYLER, MAXWELL and ABEL run
quickly to CHRIS and pick him up.
TYLER takes off shirt jacket and tears the arm part off
and uses it to wrap CHRIS’ arm.

ABEL
Oh God look at his arm. Even in
my imaginations I never
envisioned this.

TYLER shoots him a very dark look. MAXWELL picks CHRIS up,
blood is everywhere.
TYLER
We need to hurry before it comes
back then we get the hell out of
these woods.
MAXWELL
(suddenly exclaiming)
Greg!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 21.

TYLER
Damn it.
They start running. MAXWELL is slower as a result of
carrying CHRIS.
They get to the tree where GREG was and he is not there.
TYLER kicks the tree out of frustration.
TYLER
Shit shit shit, ahhhhhh. God
knows I had my reservations about
this camp night.
ABEL
Calm down bro, we’ll find him.
They can’t have gone far.
GREG
We could have been anywhere from
the Grand canyon to the Great
Wall of China, it’s a bloody
demon for goodness sake.
TYLER
Oh my. Bro I’ve never been this
hopeless, thought you were gone.

GREG
We’re not safe here, I saw it
pass here and I followed it for a
while before it vanished.

MAXWELL
Did you say vanish?
GREG
Yeah right before my...oh my God,
is that Chris all bloodied like
that.
TYLER
That monster was eating him
alive, it was horrible.

GREG
Let’s go guys, let’s leave this
place as quickly as possible.
ABEL
I hate to say this but we can’t
leave this place.
GREG
What do you mean we can’t leave
this place?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 22.

ABEL
It has to be sent back to Hell.
It has put a force around this
place such that we can’t get out
until its mission is complete.
GREG
Sorry I’m lost here. What
mission?

TYLER
Abel here believes someone
summoned that thing to earth.
GREG looks at ABEL with a confused look.

CHRIS wakes up, his eyes are dark and lost. MAXWELL gently
puts him on the ground and sits beside him to support him.
GREG limps to where they are and also sits down.
GREG
(talking to CHRIS)
I promise we’ll be out of here.
We’ll go home.
CHRIS doesn’t reply, he just looks at GREG and nods his
head. His face is expressionless and pale.
TYLER
How do we send that monster back
to where it belongs?

ABEL
An ancient incantation is
required and some blood.
GREG
How do you know all these things?

ABEL
We don’t have time for questions
like this. What is important is
getting to know the incantation.

TYLER
I’m sorry what? how are we
supposed to know the incantation?
ABEL
I think I can remember what it
was.
ABEL begins to chant some words and loud rumbling of the
clouds can be heard. A strong wind begins to blow as ABEL
gets louder and louder. He collapses to the ground.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 23.

TYLER
What happened?
ABEL
There is something wrong with the
incantation. Whoever summoned it
doesn’t want it to go back, I
could see images of a closed door
while I was doing the
incantation.

CHRIS
(weakly)
We are all dead except I
sacrifice myself. We can only
leave here when a death occurs
and let’s face it, I won’t last
long.
GREG
Don’t even say such a thing. Once
we’re out of here you’re getting
treatment.
MAXWELL gets up, lifts CHRIS up and hangs him on his
shoulder.

MAXWELL
We can stay here and talk about
the many ways we can’t get out of
here or get the hell out of here.
He starts walking away. ABEL wants to say something but
keeps quiet. GREG gets up and follows MAXWELL before
turning to face TYLER and ABEL
GREG
What are you guys waiting for?

12.EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

MAXWELL, CHRIS, TYLER, GREG and ABEL are seen walking
swiftly. They can see the place they setup earlier on to
camp and they increase pace.

MAXWELL
Don’t worry Chris, we’re almost
there.
They get closer and see that a fire has been put on where
they roasted meat earlier on.
MAXWELL
Somebody put the fire back on and
it’s none of us.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 24.

GREG is the first to see the HOODED FIGURE resurface and

quickly alerts the others.
The HOODED FIGURE is coming at them from behind at top
speed. They all begin to run and CHRIS falls.

CHRIS
All of you should get out of
here! Run!
TYLER
(trying unsuccessfully to
pick CHRIS up)
What about Amanda bro? Your mom
and your sisters?

The HOODED FIGURE is inches away and MAXWELL drags TYLER

away.
ABEL and GREG are already some distances away.
The HOODED FIGURE grabs CHRIS by the neck and drags him
away with TYLER screaming as he sees from afar.

13.EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

The HOODED FIGURE and CHRIS can be seen. The HOODED FIGURE
is still dragging CHRIS through the woods and CHRIS looks
close to death.
They reach the same clearing the HOODED FIGURE brought him
to before.It drops CHRIS in the middle and begins to make
inscriptions on the ground and chant.

HOODED FIGURE
Finally I can eat.
CHRIS
(with sad eyes)
Let my friends go and I will give
you myself.
HOODED FIGURE
You don’t have much of a choice
but if it will make you juicier
then yes, I will let them go.
CHRIS closes his eyes and bows his head. The HOODED FIGURE
dives at CHRIS and begins to tear at his clothes. It rips
off the makeshift bandage on the eaten arm and begins to
tear off flesh.
CHRIS opens his eyes and has a blank look. The HOODED
FIGURE suddenly possesses CHRIS and CHRIS starts eating
his own arm voraciously, blood drippng from the corners of
his mouth. He carries a sharp stick and begins digging
into his chest.
 25.

14.EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

GREG, MAXWELL, TYLER and ABEL are seen walking slowly.
They are all exhausted from the running.

GREG
Let’s stop a little bit.
TYLER
Chris is gone this time for good,
(starts crying) he is gone and
it’s all our fault. He was the
nicest of us and cared for every
single one of us like a brother.
GREG
I regret every single time I made
fun of him, every single time I
called him names. All he ever did
wrong was trust us.
ABEL
We can still vanquish the demon.
There is still time.
GREG
We don’t know the words of the
incantation so how do we do that.

ABEL
Now we do. I brought the book
with me, remember I packed all my
belongings.

TYLER
Then why didn’t you say so from
the beginning? Maybe we would
have saved Chris.
ABEL
Sorry but no. My camp is at the
other end and we would have had
to go through the demon to get
there. Now that it carried Chris
away the path is open for us.

MAXWELL
What are we waiting for then?
Let’s go get the book.
They all start moving very quickly, a screechy sound is
heard from behind.
ABEL
It’s coming.
TYLER steps on MAXWELL in the course of the hurry an
MAXWELL pushes him off.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 26.

They break into a run.

The HOODED FIGURE is seen getting close. Chasing very
fast, brushing aside leaves.

ABEL
(pointing at clearing)
That’s my camping ground. We can
make it there and hide, it won’t
know we’re there.

TYLER
Are you sure? doesn’t a demon see
through things?
ABEL
Not every demon has that ability
and this one certainly doesn’t
have that ability. Reason it’s
been missing us by whiskers.
They run to the clearing and duck just in time into a hole
and ABEL covers the opening with a bush.
GREG
Did you dig this or it’s always
been here?

ABEL
Took me three days.
TYLER, MAXWELL and GREG look at each other, their faces
showing surprise.

The HOODED FIGURE gets to the clearing and looks around,

it sniffs the air suspiciously.ABEL can see it from behind
the bush. It looks at the bush and is about to pull it
away when a sound is heard from a distance, it turns to
the direction of the sound and dashes towards it.

ABEL
It’s gone. Probably thought it
was us. Confused demon
TYLER
(laughing)
That was close. If it had opened
this hole we would all be dead.
GREG
I would rather be dead than
Chris.
Silence falls.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 27.

MAXWELL
Yeah. Which is why we should get
rid of this bastard thing. Abel
where is this book or whatever.

ABEL
A book, it’s a book and it’s
right here.
ABEL moves inside the space, MAXWELL gives way for him to
pass.
TYLER sits on the ground and surveys the place, he sights
bones hanging from the roof. GREG picks up another book
from the floor and dusts it.

ABEL finds the book and picks it up.

ABEL
This is it, this is where we
learn how to get rid of that
thing and go home, well not all
of us but I will be able to live
here in peace.
TYLER
It doesn’t have a title, that’s
strange.

ABEL
Not for occult books.
MAXWELL
Open this damn thing and let’s
know what to do.
GREG
Calm down Max.
MAXWELL
I want to get the hell out of
here.
GREG
We all want to bro, so chill out
so we don’t make mistakes. You
weren’t talking much before
things got out of hand so calm
down.
MAXWELL
(angrily)
What is that supposed to mean? I
just lost my friend and I should
calm down? I should act like it’s
still a very normal evening with
us drinking soda and making
merry.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 28.

GREG
This isn’t about Chris and you
know it.
MAXWELL throws a punch but TYLER catches his hand in time.

TYLER
What is going on here? We are
trying to do something really
important and you guys think this
is the best time to get your egos
out, getting at each other’s
throat.
MAXWELL
I’m sorry. I just can’t handle
the amount of pressure I’m going
through right now. This was not
what I was imagining when I
agreed to this get together and
Chris...

MAXWELL breaks down.

ABEL is flipping through the book and stops at a page
with the title ABANAROG. An illustration of the demon is
on the page.

ABEL
Yes I knew I had seen it before, an ancient demon of the
14th century and it was known to drain souls out of
humans, it could possess the body of someone and evacuate
the person’s spirit. Wow what a wicked thing.

TYLER
Does it say how the incantation
is done?
ABEL
Yes it does but there’s also an
entry here of how it became a
demon.
GREG
How it became a demon? You mean
it was something else before?
ABEL
It was a man before and it is
written here he was fooled into
this predicament or rather he
agreed to an evil alliance and
this is his punishment, to be a
servant of destruction for
eternity. The gods cursed him and
refused every plea of
forgiveness.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 29.

TYLER
Does it say what happened to
cause such a punishment?

ABEL
Apparently Abanarog, as he was
called, was a skilled warrior who
was...

15.EXT. ABANAROG’S HOUSE - NIGHT 14TH CENTURY AD

ABANAROG is seen standing near rocks, he is a tall
muscular man with beards and is in his early thirties. He
is seen holding a staff and is tapping it on the ground
gently.

Another man comes into view, he is short and storky and

should be anywhere between late twenties and mid thirties.
ABANAROG lifts his gaze to the man, his face tightens.
DERU
I thought you would chicken out
and decide not to come. You’re a
true friend.
ABANAROG
I am only here because of what
you said, Mba cannot be our king.
I had my reservations but in the
end, what is to be done must be
done.

Eerie sounds can be heard, an owl hoots from a nearby

tree.
DERU
Exactly. Mba’s blood will be a
red stream in the forest this
night, I want to watch his eyes
go still, watch his body shake
until life is drained from him. A
king indeed.
ABANAROG
The gods must be funny to even
consider him.
DERU
(his eyes turning black)
He dies tonight, the rooster that
perches on the wall falls before
dawn.
 30.

16.EXT. MBA’S HOUSE - DAY 14TH CENTURY AD

MBA is seen peeling yam nad humming a tune, a tall and
lanky mid-twenties man. He has markings on his body.

He stands up and is suddenly gutted with a knife by

ABANAROG and staggers back with a look of shock. Blood
gushes out of his stomach.
MBA
(holding his stomach)
Why? What did I do to you ?
DERU comes from behind and slashes his neck with a knife.
ABANAROG and DERU begin to stab him continuously until he
is a bloody mess. Blood is splattered all over thheir
faces, DERU licks blood off his lips.
DERU
King indeed. Look at who wanted
to rule us, couldn’t even stop a
knife attack.

ABANAROG
What do we do with this body?
DERU
We eat it.
ABANAROG
I’m sorry what?
DERU snaps his fingers and ABANAROG’S eyes become black,
he rushes to the ground and starts eating the body. DERU
bends down too and rips the heart out and eats it.
ABANAROG and DERU begin to laugh uncontrollably, using
their hands to splatter blood on each other, on their
bodies and the ground.

ABANAROG uses his staff to repeatedly put holes in the

body and licks the end of the staff after he is done.
AYAO appears before them.

AYAO
(extreme shock)
What are you two doing! what have
you done!
DERU
Ayao goddess of the air what
brings you to our world?
AYAO
The heavens are troubled because
of what two of you have done. You
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 31.

AYAO (cont’d)
killed a chosen one of the gods
and in such a barbaric manner.

ABANAROG
You can also be part of this
great feast.
ABANAROG grabs AYAO by the arm but she wrestles free. DERU
throws a big chunk of flesh at her which misses.

AYAO
Because of what you have done the
gods have decided to punish you
two. My job is to carry you
before the council.

ABANAROG
(pointing at Mba’s body)
Like Deru said, there was no king
in this...this...flesh. He is all
flesh and bones, mostly bones and
yet the gods chose him above all
of us.
DERU
The gods have no rght to
interfere in human...
ABANAROG and DERU are teleported before the gods and
silence befalls the small gathering.
OLORUN
As the creator god, I curse you
to live forever but as vile
creatures of the dark. Abanarog
you will become a monster that
can be summoned by one who bears
the dark mark.Deru you will be
given the dark mark and will be
the summoner. You will be reduced
to a spirit that keeps possessing
a body every generation just to
summon Abanarog. Both of you
servants to each other. Failure
to do these things and
excruciating pain will be your
punishment.
ABANAROG
but my lord I can’t be punished
so severely. It was Deru that
possessed me.
OLORUN
The actions were of a clear mind.
Be gone.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 32.

ABANAROG begins to scream as he painfully transforms to

the HOODED FIGURE.
DERU is frozen in place and a black pitchfork is carved
into his back.
A black book is summoned out of thin hair where an
incantation is written by olorun.
OLORUN
Here take it.
OLORUN snaps his fingers and DERU disappears.
OLORUN
First of many summonings begins.
(to ABANAROG) a creature of doom
and disgust you shall be through
time and space.
ABANAROG also disappears.

17.INT. ABEL’S ABODE - NIGHT

ABEL has his hands running through the pages and looks to
be deep in thought.

GREG picks a picture from the floor, on it can be seen a

young ABEL and another man.
GREG
Your father?

ABEL
(turning with a frown)
Ah yes, that’s him.
ABEL quickly turns back to the book.

GREG
He wasn’t a very friendly man,
was he? You act like you didn’t
like him.

ABEL
(closing the book)
As a matter of fact, I hated him.
He was a very abusive father and
he would beat my younger sister
for hours on end. I remember this
one time she ate her lunch left
for her at home by my mom and he
came back and beat her for eating
it one hour too early.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 33.

TYLER
Omooo the guy...sorry your father
was a real beast.

ABEL
A living nightmare and what hurt
the most was me not being able to
stand up to him and defend my
sister. Maybe she’d still be
alive today.

GREG
Oh shit, he killed her!
ABEL
I want to see it that way. She
committed suicide two years ago
but not before telling me she had
been suffering from depression
and having serious traumas.

MAXWELL sighs and bows his head.

GREG
I am so sorry about your sister.
She must have been a beautiful
soul even in all that.

ABEL
She would always say everything
would be over one day. Now I just
have suppressed rage and see his
face everywhere.

TYLER
Hmmmm.
ABEL
Let’s get back to getting this
incantation.
ABEL reopens the book and begins to mutter some words,
rumblings can be heard outside.
TYLER looks at MAXWELL and is visibly scared.

TYLER
What is that noise?
ABEL
Haranaku shubalele rimanti bizlar

GREG
Sorry?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 34.

ABEL
It’s the incantation.
GREG
Oh, for a minute there I thought
you were doing some Bollywood
shit.
TYLER
(laughing)
Abeg guy I no wan laugh for this
kind serious thing.
ABEL
How about you laugh after ebing
eaten.

GREG and TYLER both go quiet. MAXWELL grins.

ABEL
That’s much better. We don’t have
time, any moment from now
Abanarog would be here.
MAXWELL
I have been thinking since. What
about Deru? The book says he is
the only one that can summon
Abanarog.
TYLER
Yeah that’s a very important
observation. Deru must be
somewhere around.
ABEL
True but we can’t go looking for
him and luckily we don’t need him
to send the beast back to
oblivion.
MAXWELL
Alright. But the incantation
didn’t do anything as you said
it.

ABEL
I’m stll trying to get a hang of
the words, maybe I didn’t say it
right.

GREG
Maybe we need to calm down and
relax. He is not going to find us
here and we have a couple of
hours before dawn.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 35.

TYLER
I agree but if we don’t have our
heads clear we will be stuck here
till morning.

ABEL
Alright alright.
TYLER
You know I always wished I had
friends like you guys before I
moved to town 9 years ago.
GREG
Really? The coolest kid in the
block.

TYLER
All that was just cover up, a
hard shell to cover my many
insecurities. My Mom and Dad, of
course, got me everything I
wanted.
GREG
But, I know there is always a
’but’.

TYLER
(smiling)
But...
They all break into laughter.

GREG
I told you it was coming.
TYLER
And because of that alot of other
kids disliked me, said I had it
easy easy and so I was proud.
ABEL
But you’re so friendly I wonder
how they’ll think you are proud.

TYLER
Well, I don’t entirely blame
them. I used to be so withdrawn
and into myself that it was
mistaken for pride and me being
pompous.
GREG
You could say you were me. I hear
people say I’m too full of
myself, I think I’m better than
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 36.

GREG (cont’d)
everyone else but that’s not it
at all.
TYLER
And when we moved to Jos I made
up my mind I was going to start
on a new slate.
MAXWELL
I wish new slates were easy to
come by for everyone.

GREG
You can have yours and get away
from whatever has been plaguing
your mind.

MAXWELL shrugs.
TYLER
I remember the very first day I
met you guys in the school
caffeteria. My money was lost and
I was on the brink of having the
most embarrassing day of my life
because I had already ordered
stuffs.
MAXWELL
Until I stepped in. I saw the
dread in your eyes and how you
were frantically checking your
pockets because at that moment I
and Chris were talking about you.

TYLER
Funny thing is I wanted to come
to where you guys were and make
friends. What’s to be...

GREG
Will be.
They all smile.
ABEL
(to GREG)
How did you get into this gang?
GREG
Sports. I was the best footballer
back in High school and Maxwell
was the school captain. Always
found a way to put me in his team
and we became best friends and of
course his friends became mine.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 37.

MAXWELL
Before you ask about Chris, he
was my friend from Kindergarten.

ABEL
So in essence you’re the glue of
this group. Wow. And I thought
you were the tag-along friend.
MAXWELL
Not hard to see why you thought
so really.
TYLER
Max isn’t normally like this but
he’s decided not to tell us
what’s been going on.
MAXWELL
I want to but I can’t.
GREG
You can’t or you won’t?
MAXWELL opens his mouth to talk but closes it back.
CHRIS(O.S.)
Anybody here?
TYLER
What the fuck? That’s Chris.
MAXWELL
Yesss he’s alive. Let me go get
him.
GREG
Wait first, it could be anyone.

TYLER
I’ll check.
TYLER gets up from the ground and peers through the grass
covering. CHRIS can be seen looking around.

CHRIS
Max, Tyler, where una de now?
TYLER
(to the others)
This is crazy. It’s him, I can
see his half eaten hand.
MAXWELL and GREG also look through the grass.
ABEL looks on.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 38.

TYLER pushes the grass aside and steps out. CHRIS turns
and comes towards him. TYLER hugs him and visibly has
tears in his eyes.

TYLER
How did you...how manage?
CHRIS
I go explain everything when we
get inside. That thing is still
around.
TYLER supports CHRIS as they walk to the dugout.
MAXWELL and GREG make way for them.

CHRIS lets himself fall to the ground, TYLER stretches to

cushion the fall but he holds up his hand to indicate he
is okay.
GREG
I thought you were gone. I
thought I would not even get the
chance to say goodbye.
CHRIS
It’s fine now.

GREG
I’m so sorry for every single
time I mocked you, called you
names behind your back and...

CHRIS
(laughing)
Don’t be a drama queen bro. I
forgive you.
GREG slaps his back playfully.

CHRIS
This thing pulls me into the
forest, I’m all covered in
bruises and bleeding from
everywhere. It puts me in the
centre of a symbol it drew on the
ground and started telling me
that he needs to claim all of us,
I begged him to take me instead
and let you all go but what am I?

ABEL
Wait did you say symbol?
CHRIS
Yes, a pitchfork.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 39.

TYLER
Just like the one in the book.
ABEL
Exactly.
CHRIS
I passed out, I don’t know for
how long but when I opned my eyes
he was gone and my arm was
somehow dried up and the bleeding
had stopped. I think a strange
force was in that place, a power
I can’t even explain but I felt
hopeful. I dragged myself on the
ground ad gradually picked myself
up and ran.
ABEL
Whatever he is planning, Deru is
in on it and is around.

CHRIS
It mentioned that name, said Deru
would be coming for them to
finish what has started for the
season. Wait you guys call it a
he?
GREG
Abanarog was a man before.
CHRIS
For a moment there I saw a glint
of humanity in those eyes, like
he knew pain, suffering and
regret.
ABEL
Trust me he knows all those
things.
MAXWELL
Which is why we need to get him
away before he wrecks havoc and
brings down chaos.
GREG
Abel let’s try that incantation
again.

ABEL mutters the words in the book a couple of times

before raising his head.
ABEL
I hope it works this time around.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 40.

TYLER
It has to. We’re doomed if it
doesn’t and I want to see my
mother again, I never told her
how much I appreciate all she has
done for me.
ABEL looks at him and sighs.
ABEL
Haranaku shubalele rimanti
bizlar.
Nothing happens. They all look at each other.
CHRIS
How do we know when or if it
works?
ABEL
A dark cloud is supposed to
appear with lightning.

MAXWELL
Try again.
ABEL
Haranaku shubalele rimanti
bizlarrrrr
A loud sound is heard outside, everywhere becomes very
dark and lightning is heard.

TYLER
Is that it? We can go home now?
GREG
I think so. The book said so.

MAXWELL
We did it. We sent it back to
where it came from. We can now go
back to our old lives of boredom
and shit.

They laugh in relief. CHRIS looks at ABEL and nods, ABEL

nods back.
TYLER
I can always tell my kids this
story, how we fought a demon and
won.
CHRIS
(raising his eaten arm)
I would not exactly call this a
fight but I am glad that I was
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 41.

CHRIS (cont’d)
born in this times were we have
prostethic arms.

ABEL
I will be here a little longer.
Maybe I will have some luck in
the coming days.
MAXWELL
You can stay at my house in the
meantime. Nobody will mind.
ABEL
Thanks man, I owe you one.

MAXWELL curtly nods.

TYLER, MAXWELL, CHRIS and GREG come out of the hole while
ABEL gathers his things.

TYLER
Who knows the road to the car?
ABEL
I’m coming, I do.

MAXWELL
(to Chris)
Your mom called and said you
should bring her flask back.
CHRIS
What flask?
MAXWELL
The one you almost broke.
CHRIS
Ohh of course. I think there is
still food in it.
TYLER
All gone. I tripped on it while
we ran.

GREG
Before you ask, Goat meat is
finished too.

CHRIS laughs.
ABEL comes out of the hole and they begin walking.
ABEL
This way.
 42.

18.EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

They are all see moving towards where the car is parked.

They start packing the tents.

MAXWELL rolls up his tent and a paper falls out, he picks
it up but can’t see the writing well so he pts it into his
pocket.

CHRIS opens the car unk and throws in the remaining cans
of drink.
GREG
Pass me the torch Tyler. See the
batteries right next to it on the
floor.
MAXWELL
I think we’re all good. Who is
driving?

TYLER
I will drive. We’re going to my
place first right? My parents are
out of town so there’ll be no
shock this night for anyone.

MAXWELL throws TYLER the car keys.

MAXWELL
Makes sense.

ABEL is about to open the back door but he trips and falls
to the ground, his shirt is raised at the back and a
pichfork symbol can be seen.
GREG sees it and is shocked.

GREG
Abel is Deru!
TYLER turns back to look and sees CHRIS raising a sharp
mouthed wood to impale GREG from behind, he rushes and
pushes GREG out of the way. The wood impales TYLER instead
in the chest, he looks at CHRIS with pain all over his
face and blood starts pouring out of his mouth.
TYLER
(mouthing the words)
Why Chris?

CHRIS transforms into ABANAROG.

ABANAROG
Because Chris is dead and so are
you.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 43.

TYLER dies and drops to the ground with a tud, his eyes
are still. ABANAROG pulls the stake out of his chest and
licks the bloodied end.

MAXWELL and GREG are cornered. GREG runs into the car and
ABEL follows him.
ABANAROG starts chasing MAXWELL.
GREG closes the car door just in time before ABEL grabs
his leg. ABEL opens his mouth to reveal bloodied teeth.
ABEL
Yes I summoned Abanarog and I
lured you all into trap. Yes I
knew what was coming for all of
you, what type of death. Yes I am
Deru, destined to walk the face
of the earth for eternity with
nothing but extreme pain and
suffering

GREG
You can change, you can turn a
new leaf and show the gods that
you are worthy of forgiveness.

ABEL
This isn’t a fairy tale.
GREG
You know I always knew there was
something off about you, too
creepy even for me. I always
wondered what you were doing with
such a book and coincidentally a
demon from that book was
summoned. But how comes nothing
happened when you said the
incantation?
ABEL
Ahh that’s easy, the incantation
was for summoning and not sending
back but of course...

GREG
He was already there.
GREG opens the door forcefully, knocking ABEL on the
ground. He comes out of the car and runs into the woods.

ABEL
There’s only so far you can run
and fire will always burn.

ABEL laughs hysterically with serious malice.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 44.

ABANAROG corners MAXWELL by a tree. MAXWELL picks up a

stick and stabs ABANAROG with it but it just breaks
easily.
ABANAROG stretches his fingers and is about to touch
MAXWELL.

19.INT. MAXWELL’S HOUSE - DAY

MAXWELL wakes up with a jolt, he is seen sweating
profusely.
MAXWELL
Just a bad dream, just a bad
dream Max. It’s probably the
food, beans and its issues.
He turns to the left and looks at himself in the mirror
and suddenly smiles.
MAXWELL
What will Stella say if she saw
you like this?
MAXWELL gets off the bed and walks to the bathroom, he
picks up his toothbrush and looks in the mirror.

ABANAROG is seen standing behind MAXWELL from the mirror

and MAXWELL turns but sees no one behind him.
MAXWELL
At what cost? Why that question?

MAXWELL goes into the shower and blood starts dropping

into the sink from an unseen source.

20.EXT. MAXWELL’S HOUSE - DAY

MARILYN and DAVID are seen seated on a bench. MARILYN is

holding a cup and laughing and DAVID is saying something.
MAXWELL walks out of the house and goes to meet them.
MARILYN smiles at him and drinks from the cup in her hand.

DAVID
Big man you’re up.
MAXWELL
Yeah, it was a short night
anyway.
MARILYN
You don’t like sleeping early. I
have told you countless times
that a good sleep makes you
active in the day.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 45.

MAXWELL
Don’t worry mummy I will start
doing so. I just had to finish up
an article for the school
magazine and today is the last
day for submission.
MARILYN
Am I allowed to ask what it’s
about?

MAXWELL
Oh no you’re not allowed.
MARILYN and DAVID laugh.

MAXWELL
I’ll be back early today so just
drop the keys under the stone
outside.
DAVID
Can you help me check Shola. Tell
him I didn’t see any message from
him again o.
MAXWELL
(walking away)
Alright then. Should I also
collect one plate of amala on
your behalf and eat it too on you
your behalf?
DAVID
(laughing)
Come on get out of this place.
MARILYN
Like father like son indeed, you
people can eat half of Nigeria’s
budget and still ask for more.

21.EXT. SCHOOL - DAY

MAXWELL is seen looking for someone. He spots a tall guy

and runs towards him.
MAXWELL
Nyam how far?

NYAM
Heyy Odogwu.
MAXWELL
No de whine me jare. Omo cold
just de anyhow this morning o.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 46.

NYAM
No talk am too much. This Jos
suppose de another country but no
wahala, we go manage. Ehen you
don finish your article?
MAXWELL
Yes o. Las night I no sleep sef.
You don see Stella today?

NYAM
No o, she say she de come our
faculty later sha. You gerrit, if
you don’t gerrit forget abourit.
MAXWELL
Na article she wan collect oga, I
no get anything.
MAXWELL looks up and sees NYAM bleeding from his mouth.
MAXWELL
Guyyy why blood de your mouth?
NYAM
(With no blood in his mouth)
I no understand.

MAXWELL looks again and the blood is gone.

MAXWELL
No mind me abeg, e be like say
this sleep wey I no sleep well de
make me see things.
NYAM
Na hunger join too.
STELLA can be seen coming towards them. She is holding a
small handbag with a handout visible. She is walking very
fast.
STELLA
Max.

MAXWELL turns and opens his arms to hug her but she
brushes him aside.
STELLA
Do you know how many times I
called?

MAXWELL
I swear I didn’t see anything o.
NYAM walks away.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 47.

STELLA
Hand me the article sharp sharp
I’m getting late for class.

MAXWELL brings out the artcle from his back and hands it
out to her.
STELLA reads the heading and looks questioningly at it.
STELLA
This is it?
MAXWELL
Yes this is it. I also have a
class, I’ll catch up with you
later.

MAXWELL kisses her on the cheeks and starts walkking off.

STELLA
At what cost?

MAXWELL turns abruptly.

MAXWELL
Sorry?
STELLA
I didn’t say anything.

22.INT. MAXWELL’S HOUSE - DAY

MAXWELL enters the house, everywhere’s quiet. He goes to

the kitchen and opens the fridge.
DAVID walks in.
DAVID
Oh Max you’re back...early.
MAXWELL
Yeah I said I would be back early
but I got back earlier because
class was canceled. I thought it
was actually mom who was at home
when I didn’t see the keys under
the stone.
DAVID
(stammering)
Well yes, I decided to uhmmmm do
some work at home.
DAVID laughs nervously. MAXWELL looks at him.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 48.

MAXWELL
Is there anything you want to say
to me Dad?

DAVID
Ehhh no not at all.
LADY (O.S.)
Babe hurry before I come out of
the mood.

MAXWELL
(confused)
Who’s that?
DAVID
That’s emmmm that’s...
MAXWELL
You brought a woman into our
home?

MAXWELL brushes past DAVID in anger and heads for his

parents’ room. DAVID unsuccessfully tries to hold him.
DAVID
Max, Max wait.

MAXWELL opens the door and sees a lady in pant and bra. He
turns in disgust.
DAVID comes behind him.

MAXWELL leaves.
DAVID
Come on stand up from there and
leave.

the lady stands up from the bed and starts dressing up

hurriedly.
DAVID
Oh shit, my family.

MAXWELL returns with a mallet.

DAVID
What are you doing son? Put that
down.

MAXWELL
Did you think of what would
happen if any of us saw you? No
you didn’t.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 49.

DAVID
This is not you Max, let’s talk.
I’m sorry, I really am.
The lady tries to leave through the door and MAXWELL clubs
her face, blood sprays on the floor and she starts
jerking.
DAVID
(in shock)
Haaaa, please Max. It was a
mistake. This is my first time of
doing such.
MAXWELL
Shhhhh.

DAVID falls silent and is visibly shaking.

MAXWELL picks up a paper from the ground and DAVID
suddenly lunges forward, he grabs MAXWELL’S hand and
wrestles off the mallet.

MAXWELL kicks him in the leg and pushes him to fall on the
bed. DAVID quckly gets up and kicks the mallet away before
MAXWELL can grab it.
MAXWELL stands upright and waits for DAVID to do the same.

MAXWELL
(punching DAVID)
You disappoint me.
DAVID falls to the ground and MAXWELL picks up the mallet
and starts bludgeoning his father.
MAXWELL
My...mother...loves...you and
you...do this to her.

DAVID lies lifeless on the floor in a pool of blood.

ABANAROG(O.S.)
At what cost I ask again?
The room gets really dark.

MAXWELL can be heard shouting

23.EXT. WOODS - NIGHT

MAXWELL is seen shouting as ABANAROG scratches his arm.

ABANAROG walks into the woods leaving MAXWELL who is
breathing heavily.

STELLA comes into the light.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 50.

STELLA
It’s okay Max. I’m here now.
Let’s go home.

MAXWELL
How did you know I was in
trouble?
STELLA
You sent me a message, check your
phone.
MAXWELL looks down and sees his phone. He picks it up and
plays a voicenote sent recently to STELLA on whatsapp.
MAXWELL’S VOICE
Stella please we need your help,
we were attacked at the camping
site and...and Chris and Tyler
are...

MAXWELL
I didn’t know I sent this.
STELLA
I’m glad I found you. Where are
the others?

MAXWELL
I don’t know where Greg is but
Chris and Tyler were killed.
STELLA gasps and MAXWELL breaks down into tears.

MAXWELL
It’s all my fault. I should have
convinced them not to allow this
getaway go through.

STELLA
(standing up)
It’s really your fault. You
sacrificed all your friends.
MAXWELL
No I didn’t. How can you say such
a thing.
STELLA
(in ABANAROG’S voice)
I found all of them through you.
MAXWELL
Abanarog.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 51.

STELLA/ABANAROG
You saw me in your thoughts, my
presence lingered.

MAXWELL
Thoughts that weren’t real. I
didn’t kill my father or anyone.
ABANAROG
(laughing)
Doesn’t matter, you killed him in
your mind and the rage that
flowed, my goodness.
MAXWELL stands upright and balls his fist.

ABANAROG laughs very hard and uses his powers to make

MAXWELL still.
MAXWELL starts screaming and making strange body shapes.
ABANAROG forces him to sit on the ground.

STELLA/ABANAROG
There is still one more death for
you to see.
MAXWELL
(in realization)
Greg...fire.
GREG and ABEL are seen coming out of the woods. GREG is
looking very scared and is bruised, his clothes are also
torn.

GREG
Maxwell is it true you brought us
here to die?
MAXWELL
No Greg I could never.
STELLA/ABANAROG
But you did anyway?
GREG looks at STELLA.

GREG
Stella?
STELLA/ABANAROG
Look again.

GREG looks again but sees ABANAROG instead.

Memory flashes of CHRIS turning to ABANAROG surfaces.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 52.

GREG
Max this is it then. This is
where we end.

GREG scoffs.
GREG
I always thought I would die a
more painless death. I guess
that’s what we get for hoping too
much. I really beleived you were
my friend.
ABEL adds wood to a fire he has started.
GREG looks at the fire and smiles.

GREG
(to ABEL)
You know you should have seen a
different thing for me, maybe
falling into a hole with spikes
in it.
ABEL
Oh that would have been to
tedious to carry out. Fire works
best for someone like you.
ABANAROG
I wonder what you will smell like
and taste like too.

GREG
Like all your worst nightmare.
ABEL stiffens, ABANAROG growls.
GREG
Vile creatures, no wonder nobody
wanted you as kings.
MAXWELL attempts standing up but he can’t, he tries to
speak too but nothing comes out of his mouth.

ABEL
Fire is all set. Let the game be
brought forth.
GREG’S eyes goblank and he starts walking towards the fire
as if being pushed by an unseen force.

MAXWELL struggles on the ground.

GREG steps into the fire and is aflame.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 53.

ABEL and ABANAROG hold hands and begin to chant words and
do a wild demonic dance around the fire. They both fall to
the ground and bow.
ABEL
A burnt offering to you o gods,
to cleanse us of our wrongdoings.
ABANAROG
Welcome us back into your
kingdom.

ABEL and ABANAROG start laughing uncontrollably.

ABEL
You think we will beg for mercy?
We don’t care anymoreeeee. What’s
the worst you can do?

MAXWELL gets up from the ground and runs to his car, he

searches for the key around and sees it on TYLER’S body,
he takes the key, sneaks into the car and turns the car
on.

ABEL turns only to be hit by the car.

ABANAROG jumps out of the way and gets up quickly.
The car stops. MAXWELL tries to turn it back on but it
doesn’t come on.

ABANAROG walks to the car, opens the door and drags

MAXWELL out.
ABEL gets up from the ground. ABANAROG is still dragging
MAXWELL across the ground.
ABEL
Do you know what comes with this
kind of punishment we got?
Invulnerability.

ABANAROG
The fool only knows so much.
ABEL
We can’t die or be killed but you
can and you will be killed.
MAXWELL
Let me go.
ABANAROG throws him.

MAXWELL
You didn’t predict a death for me
so.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 54.

ABEL
It doesn’t really matter if I did
or did not, you still die anyway.
I just think it’S fun saying what
I see before it happens.
MAXWELL
So you knew you were going to
bring about all our deaths. Why
trick us into the friendship
thing and not just kill us
quickly.
ABEL
I just made you understand I like
games, killing over the centuries
can get boring so one has to be
creative about it.
MAXWELL
Kill me already please.

ABEL
Before I do I need to tell you
what becomes of eveything. No one
to stop us this time, every
century there is always soemone
who stops us from finishing our
work and I really thought it was
you but there’s always an end to
everything.
MAXWELL
You’ll go on a killing spree.
ABEL
When you put it like that. Just
simply a way to tell the gods
they were right in meting out
such a foolish punishment. And
for the records, I predicted your
death. Check your pocket.
MAXWELL brings out a paper and reads what’s on it.

Flasback of ABEL putting the paper under MAXWELL’S tent.

MAXWELL looks up and sees ABANAROG advancing on him.
ABEL begins to laugh as MAXWELL screams.

MAXWELL/ABANAROG
Feels good, this body.
ABEL and ABANAROG in MAXWELL’S body walk away.
 55.

The paper brought out from MAXWELL’S pocket is seen o the

ground and on it is written, "Your body will be relieved
of you and occupied by another".

24.EXT. WOODS ENTRANCE - DAY

STELLA can be seen in a car, she is pressing her phone
frantically.

STELLA
Come on pick your phone.
STELLA raises her head and sees two men advancing.
Through the side mirror the men can be seen by the side of
the car.
STELLA’S side of the window is seen and blood splatters on
it inside.