Maestro - The Movie

MAESTRO – THE MOVIE
MAESTRO
STORY BY
FRANKLYN OGBIDI
PELICAN MEDIA PRODUCTIONS © MAY 2022

LOGLINE
This is the almost tragic story of two childhood friends, who

had dreams to become rich and famous through music.
Their journey was punctuated by many twists and turns

including attempted murder.
But fate intervened in the most unlikely way resulting in a

reunion of unimaginable expectations
and mind-blowing success

MAIN CHARACTERS
Castro - is a vibrant and gregarious young man from a financially less privileged
home. He lost his dad at a very young age. He is one of two (2) kids that must
depend on their mom who runs a small corner store selling provisions.
Max - on the other hand, is a young, energetic young man from a middle-class
family. His dad was a banker, and his mom was an insurance executive. He is
their only child. His parents have very high career expectations of him. They
hope that he will one day follow them into the world of business or finance.
OTHER CHARACTERS
Aisha – Castro’s Girlfriend #1
Bella – Castro’s Girlfriend #2
Nina – Max’s Girlfriend
Chi-Chi – Nina’s Friend
Deji – Castro’s Friend
Kevin aka K-Blast – Record Producer & Friend of Castro
Pascal – Assistant to K-Blast and hype man
Robert aka BobbyBeats – Record Producer & Friend of Max
Dee Benson – CEO of DeeBee Records
Maddog – Student & Member of a street gang called Busters
Soto – Member of a street gang called Busters
Lucky – Member of a street gang called Busters

THE CHILDHOOD BOND
Max and Castro have been inseparable since their days in

kindergarten. Their parents were once colleagues at the
bank. However, Castro lost his dad in a car crash while on
assignment for the bank when he was ten (10) years old.
The boys remained very close friends through primary and
secondary school and shared a lot of interests including
their mutual love for SPORTS and MUSIC.
While in secondary school, they formed a group called

‘DREAM BOYS’ and performed at events and parties
organized by students. They had ONE goal in mind –
To one day secure a record deal to showcase
their talent to the world on the biggest stage.

COMPREHENSIVE SYNOPSIS
The friends are now in university – their third year to be precise. Although Castro
has been able to keep up with good grades, paying his tuition fees and other
related costs of studies have been a struggle… The support he gets from his
mom had continue to dwindle as the economic situation in the country gets
worse.
GOODBYE TO CAMPUS LIFE – At the beginning of the final semester … Castro was
suspended from school for failure to pay his tuition fees. The news was
heartbreaking and devasting to him. Though it was expected, he wondered
how to break the news to his family … he knew his mom have done her best to
push him thus far.
Max felt bad for Castro … He could not imagine that his best friend was
dropping out of school due to no fault of his own. He wanted to be there for him
in his time of need … he promised to do his best to help sort out his fees… Castro
did not believe him because Max was just a student. But Max had a plan that
he kept in his chest – he wanted it to be a surprise.
Castro woke up the next morning feeling dejected … He called Sammy (his
younger brother) to inform him of the notice he received but warned him not to
tell their mother … She has been through a lot lately … the last thing she needed
was more bad news … He also called Aisha (his girlfriend) to inform her that he
will be home later that day … She was supposed to visit him in school the next
day … As the guys left for morning classes, Castro said goodbye to Max and
Nina (Max’s girlfriend) … he then left the university premises … not sure if it will
be his last … it was tough … The mood was somber.

CASTRO ARRIVES HOME – Castro arrived home to inform his mom about his
suspension from school. She felt helpless.
The next day was Saturday, an extremely hot day, … Castro have just returned
home after running some errands and helping his mom at the store. Although he
is very tired and had wanted to relax to be well-rested for church the next day,
he decided otherwise after receiving a call … it was from Deji (an old friend
from Junior Secondary School) … he reminded Castro of the birthday party of
his cousin who lived a few blocks away … Castro initially expressed his
unwillingness to attend, but Deji promised to leave early and drop him off before
11 pm. He reluctantly agreed. Castro called Aisha to join him, but she couldn’t
… she was babysitting her sister’s kids that night … but she promised to drop by
the next day.
When they arrived at the party, Castro was surprised to see Nina. She appeared
to have attended the party alone but in the company of Chi-Chi (a friend from
school). She looked tipsy and seemed to be having a lot of fun with her friends…
‘where is Max’ he asked … ‘he’s gone to visit his parents … he should be back
tomorrow’… she responded … Shortly After a brief chat with Nina, Castro went
to hang out with his friends.
About half an hour later, while standing outside and catching up with his friends,
Castro saw Chi-Chi running toward him, she appeared frantic and sought his
assistance to protect Nina from being harassed by two men. Castro rushed
inside to find Nina surrounded by two guys who were trying to convince her to
go home with them. One of them looked familiar – he was a fellow student in his
third year called Ray aka Maddog. As his pseudonym implies, he is known as a
roughneck around campus – The word on the street was that he belonged to a

local street gang called BUSTERS … the other guy’s name is Soto … his partner in
crime.
Castro interrupted their conversation and told them to stay away from Nina…
Maddog felt insulted by Castro’s presence …. He turned around and pushed him
… Castro fell to the ground … As Maddog and Soto moved to attack him,
Castro’s friends who had followed behind him jumped on them … One of them
slowly raised the bottom half of his shirt …and clearly visible was the grip panel
of a concealed gun tucked into his pants…
‘Do you want to leave here alive or have your family plan your funerals’? … he
asked...
‘Okay ... Okay’ … said Maddog with his hands up … ‘I am sorry … I am sorry’ he
continued …
‘You better be’ replied the guy with the gun … ‘But you’re telling the wrong
person … I want you to Apologize to her,’ he said, as he pointed towards Nina…
Feeling embarrassed and then turning to Castro, Maddog said ‘you will regret
this… I swear to God’ … and then, he reluctantly turned to Nina and apologized.
Castro felt uncomfortable that someone among his friends had a weapon …
‘you shouldn’t be carrying guns around … he said .. ‘thank God no one got hurt’
Castro offered to bring Nina home, but she refused … she did not want her
parents to see her drunk …. She had sent them a text earlier that evening that
she will be spending the night at Chi-Chi’s house. As they spoke, the bouncers
came to lead everyone involved in the brawl outside.
Castro left the party with Nina by his side… He had convinced his friends to bring

her home, but she had decided otherwise … they were both dropped off at his
house… Upon getting home, Nina thanked him for his kindness and promised to
leave in the morning. Castro offered his bed to Nina while he slept on the couch
in the living room…
THINGS FALL APART – Nina woke up the next morning and was planning to leave.
She ordered a ride and came out to the living room to confirm Castro’s address
when he saw him finishing up serving breakfast. She had a planned lunch date
with Max and wanted to get home early to freshen up. But Castro asked her to
have a meal before leaving ... She agreed.
After breakfast, she rushed to the bedroom to get ready. While getting dressed,
she realized she needed help to pull up the rear zipper of her dress …. Chi-Chi
had helped her the previous day … As she called on Castro to give her a hand,
there was a knock on the door – It was Max … With no idea who was at the front
door, Castro called on his younger sibling to get the door, while he proceeded
to help Nina with her zipper.
Max arrived at Castro’s house with what he hoped was good news. He had
gone home to speak to his parents about Castro’s situation and was able to
secure the funds needed to pay his fees. ‘Where is Castro?’ he asked Sammy ‘in
his room, he responded as he left for school.
Max walked to Castro’s room and opened the door; he saw Castro trying to pull
up the rear zipper of Nina’s dress – They appear to be in a compromising
position, even though Castro was just trying to help Nina with her zipper.
Max was struck with disbelief as he assumed Castro was having an affair with
Nina. He screamed in shock …. His rage ensued into a scuffle with Castro.

Although Nina had tried to explain the reason for her being in Castro’s house,
Max did not want to listen … he thought she was cheating on him. He later told
Castro the reason for the weekend visit to his parents … Max showed him the full
amount of his fees that his dad had transferred an hour earlier… ‘you can forget
receiving any assistance with your fees’ said Max … ‘you don’t deserve it …
because this friendship is over Max continued … he called Castro a snake …
and then he slammed the door behind him and left.
Castro could not believe what happened … A gesture of kindness to protect

Nina has now led to a major misunderstanding that appears irreparable… All
attempts to reach out to Max were futile. He had no choice but to accept the
fate of what happened.
RUDE AWAKENING – Castro’s hopes were dashed or so it seems. He spent the

next couple of days wondering what could have been – if only his father was
alive – he thought… Finally, he came to grasp the reality that life must go on…
and the only way to deal with his unfortunate situation was to man up, find a job
and move on.
BACK TO THE VILLAGE – Castro’s mom was also going through an extremely
challenging time with her business. She has not been able to replace inventory
in her corner store in the past months because she prioritized the welfare of her
kids … Her application for a small business loan was denied… To make matters
worse, she was unable to renew the lease of the apartment they lived in. The
grace period to renew for an additional year had elapsed the week before …
they could be evicted at any time without notice … She had no choice but to
move back to the village with her kids to live with relatives.

But Castro decided to stay back in Lagos. He knew his best chance of getting a
job was in a big city… Although his mom did not agree with him, she decided to
let him remain in Lagos after Castro promised her that he will join them in the
village if he could not find a job in the next three (3) months.
A FRIEND INDEED – As his mom and siblings left for the village, Castro reached
out to Deji ... Castro knew he lived alone. He told him what happened and that
he needed a place to stay for a few months. Deji was willing to help and
immediately asked him to come over. He remembered how Castro had
protected him from bullies while they were in Junior Secondary School. Although
it was a long time ago, he had always wanted to return the favor.
He told Castro that he could stay for as long as he wants. His job as a personal
assistant to the Chief Marketing Officer of a small manufacturing company took
him out of town a lot. In other words, Castro could have his place alone to
himself most of the time.
RELIVING THE PAIN – Following the fallout with Castro, Max had gone back to
school believing that his actions were justified. He had exams to prepare for but
could not fully concentrate. The constant thought of losing his best friend
haunted him – but the images of Castro standing behind Nina with his hand on
her back and neck area kept replaying in his mind. It was mentally excruciating
… In the days that followed, he saw several calls from Nina and Castro but kept
rejecting them. He wanted to be left alone by people he had concluded were
backstabbers.
A few days later, there was a general message on the student portal - The
Academic Staff Union of the university was going on strike. This meant that the
upcoming exams will not hold, at least temporarily. The students were asked to

go home as lectures were canceled ... Max was relieved because he knew that
he was not mentally ready. He called his parents to inform them that he was
coming back home.
DEEP REMORSE – The next day he returned home from school … He was about to
start unpacking his stuff when he heard a knock on the door – As he opened the
door … He was surprised to see Chi-Chi … and then Nina walked in …
‘What are doing here?’ he asked … ‘Castro is too busy or was it just a fling?’ …
‘Nobody is too busy and there was no fling’ … Nina replied …
‘Max … it’s been two weeks … you’ve not been picking up my calls’ said Nina
‘Why should I? ... you tell me … why should I pick up calls from anyone that
thinks I am not good enough for her? … you tell me’ … said Max …
‘Max … you don’t have to listen to me … just lend your ears to what Chi-Chi has
to say’ … She pleaded with him, and Max decided to listen to Chi-Chi’s story…
She recounted the events of the night of the party and explained how Castro
had saved Nina from being harassed or even raped…She also told Max that it
was Nina’s Idea to spend the night at Castro’s because she was tipsy - she did
not want her parents to see her drunk.
When Chi-Chi was done, Max turned to Nina and asked her – ‘is that really what
happened?’ ... ‘one hundred percent … responded Nina … ‘that was what I
have been trying to tell you for the past two weeks, she added, “Max, it might
also please you to know, that I was on my period on that day, there is no way
anything could have happened” she continued ‘if you recall… I also sent you a
message that afternoon, that I needed to go to the pharmacy to get some

sanitary products... Max was speechless…. He checked his phone to confirm

Nina’s text message ... she was right … he sat down on his bed … motionless. …
‘Oh my God’… he sighed … He apologized to Nina and thanked Chi-Chi for her
assistance. ‘I lost my best friend’ – he said repeatedly … Nina tried to console
him … he begged her to accompany him to Castro’s house to plead for his
forgiveness … she agreed…. Max tried reaching out to Castro with no luck. He
kept trying and after multiple attempts, someone answered and told him that
he had dialed the wrong number.
Max hurriedly left his dorm room with Nina to head to Castro’s house… He felt
Castro had someone else answer the phone because he did not want to talk to
him … And that made him feel even worse …
THE STRANGE VISITORS – As Max was heading to Castro’s house … Two strange
men dressed in hoodies were already there looking for him … They approached
a neighbor who told them that the family had moved out … They belonged to a
local gang called Busters … It was Maddog and Soto … and this time … they
were armed … They have been asking around the neighborhood and
eventually found out where Castro lived … They wanted to take revenge after a
member of Castro’s entourage threatened them with a gun … such an act is
UNFORGIVABLE in the underbelly of gang warfare… It is often equated to pulling
the trigger … The men from BUSTERS were out for murder … Does Castro have 9
lives? … Dangerous times ahead …
TWO WEEKS TOO LATE – Max and Nina arrived at Castro’s by noon … just as the
strange men were leaving … Max and Maddog gave each other a brief stare …
‘that face looks familiar’ said Max to Nina … ‘Do you know him?’ asked Nina …
‘Maybe from school … not sure … c’mon, let’s go see Castro’ … when they got
to Castro’s apartment, … they found the front door was locked … the house

also appeared void of any furniture … in other words ... empty... Max asked the
same neighbor who confirmed that the family had moved out a week earlier.
He was utterly devastated… He knew deep inside that he had made a major
mistake

SURVIVAL
OR BUST

Castro’s had no idea that his life was in danger … In the weeks following the
incident with Max and subsequently moving in with Deji, he was temporarily
employed multiple times … doing several odd jobs to support his mom and
brother in the village … First, he worked at a car wash and later at a private
security firm … he is currently unemployed … waiting hopefully for some positive
response from job interviews he had attended the previous week … the most
promising was as a waiter in a high-end restaurant called VILLAS.
BITTER PILL – Castro’s current predicament also took a toll on his private life … his
relationship with Aisha was going south … she has been so demanding lately …
it was always humiliating whenever she started with her tantrums … she was
upset with Castro for not having his own place … she constantly nagged him
about always being broke … the most painful was her disdain for his belief in
having a potential career in music … ‘you’re living a fantasy, she told him … the
relationship was becoming tumultuous at best.
But Castro always kept his cool … he hoped his situation will improve quickly
enough to save his relationship … or maybe Aisha will at least recognize his
efforts in trying to turn things around … He was wrong … One evening he
received a call from Aisha … she has decided to end the relationship … Castro
pleaded with her for more time to sort himself out …she refused … ‘it’s over
Castro’ … she said … ‘it’s been over a long time … I don’t see any future with
you and me together’ … ‘besides, I am already seeing someone else’ … as
Castro tried to plead with her …. She told him to get a life and move on … and
then she hung up
THE LIFESAVER – A week after the breakup with Aisha, Castro was offered a job
at VILLAS … although it was just a six-month temporary gig … it was still a

lifesaver … the ambiance at VILLAS was exactly what he needed to re-establish

belief in himself and regain his self-confidence. It gave him a sense of fulfillment,
given his journey thus far. It also guarantees that he is sure of at least a well-
balanced meal whenever he is at work … as well as occasional ‘tips’ from
customers … To him, this was an opportunity of a lifetime … he could not afford
any slip-ups.
A NEW BEGINNING – It has been three (3) months since Castro started working at
VILLAS. During this period, he has managed to be a model employee and has
earned the respect of his colleagues as well as the trust of his supervisor and
manager … From his monthly salary, he made sure the bills were paid at Deji’s …
He was also able to support his brother and mother with a monthly stipend … He
had also developed a romantic relationship with a female employee … a
beautiful young lady called Bella … she was a third-year student from the
university of Benin on an optional gap year as part of her major in hospitality
management … the experience she believes, will give her a better chance of
securing employment after her studies … At VILLAS, she was on a rotational
inter-departmental supervisory role … which makes her Castro’s boss whenever
she was assigned to oversee the waiters.
MUSIC ON HIS MIND – Castro devoted every minute of his break time at work to
writing lyrics and creating beats with an app on his phone ... He is always on
social media checking out what is new in the world of music and entertainment
… From the occasional tips he got, he was able to make weekly payments for a
multi-track demo to a music producer called Kevin aka K-Blast - He owned a
recording studio where Castro spent his off-days from work perfecting his
songwriting and beat-making skills. He has never given up on his DREAM to be
an entertainer… He knew deep in his gut, that if he will ever bring his family out
of poverty, it will be through his first love – Music.

THE CHANCE MEETING – It is Friday morning. Castro has the day off. He had
planned to do his laundry and hang out with K-Blast and other artists at the
studio. But all that changed when his supervisor called to ask if he could fill in for
a colleague that called in sick. He immediately agreed and headed for VILLAS.
Castro had barely spent 10 minutes at his job when he noticed a wallet on the
floor next to a guest who was on his phone. The wallet might have slipped out of
his back pocket he thought … He picked up the wallet and approached the
guest … ‘I assume this might be yours, sir? he asked … “Oh my goodness, yes, it
is. Where did you find it? the guest asked … ‘right here… on the floor, I guessed it
might have slipped off your back pocket’ ... Castro replied… ‘It must have,’ said
the guest, who then thanked Castro for his kindness and continued with his call
while Castro went on with his job.
A Few minutes later, as the guest was about to leave, he called Castro … ‘I
would love to show my appreciation, but I don’t have any cash on me’ … he
tried transferring funds to Castro’s account, but the network from his bank was
down … He then handed Castro his business card and told him … ‘call me
whenever you need anything … and then, he left the restaurant.
THE UN-SOLO ACT – It has been three months since the university shut its doors.
From the news on Television and other media sources, there seems to be no
resolution anytime soon. Max has been trying to keep himself busy at home. The
unfortunate incident that happened three months ago, left him without his best
friend… it filled him with regret… if only he could turn back the hands of time…
He had contacted every mutual friend of his and Castro ... but no one has
Castro’s number… Castro’s social media handles have also been deactivated
… He seems to have vanished from the face of the earth.

But life goes on … he thought to himself…. In between going out with Nina on a
few dates and running errands for his parents, he devoted his free time to
MUSIC. He started writing songs and perfecting beats with a popular producer
he met at the gym called Robert - aka BobbyBeats. Although he was having fun,
he missed his sidekick – Castro, with whom he has always made music and
performed as a duo. Amidst his constant feeling of regret, he kept working with
BobbyBeats with one goal in mind …. To reunite and perform with his best friend
on the biggest stage.
VILLA BLUES – Castro Arrived to begin his shift on a Thursday morning – six months
to the day that he started working at VILLAS. Things have been going so well,
that he had forgotten about his temporary status… Bella had the day off and
planned to meet up with Castro at home later that day … By noon, Castro was
invited to meet with the HR manager… he wondered why… And then it
dawned on him ... It has been 6 months ... there was a 50/50 chance that he
could be retained… fingers crossed.
Castro went into the HR manager’s office ... unsure of his fate… The manager
told him that VILLAS was extremely impressed with his work ethic and
personality… But his contract could not be extended at this time … He promised
to stay connected and give him a call as soon as there was an opening … he
presented Castro with an envelope containing two months’ salary in cash… as
appreciation for his service to VILLAS.

DÉJÁ VU

Castro came home feeling dejected… It’s now back to the case of What Next?
… A new job search marathon? … What happens if he runs out of money? … is
there any hope on the horizon? … who will support his mom and brother?... He
felt like the world was crashing down on him … it was a feeling of déjá Vu.
Amid his misery, a thought occurred to him … it was the chance meeting with
the customer at VILLAS three months earlier… he told Castro to call him if he
needed anything … now is the time, he thought … He needed a job really …
really …bad … he rushed for his wallet and prayed that the business card was
still there… it was … Gosh, he felt relieved…
DESTINY BECKONS – Castro reached into his wallet and pulled out the business
card … What he saw was eye-popping – The name on the card was Dare
Benson aka Dee (owner of DeeBee Records). He has had the card in his wallet
for three months and never looked at it… Is this a dream?, he wondered … He
had just lost his job earlier that day … and now he is about to have a
conversation with one of the most influential and powerful people in the
entertainment space … this is simply unbelievable … he thought.
DeeBee RECORDS – DeeBee Records is one of the nation’s leading record labels.
They were responsible for producing and managing some of the biggest
Afrobeat/Afropop artists in the country. Some of DeeBee’s artists were bonafide
international box office acts. The word on the street was … Anything DeeBee
touches turns to GOLD.
The auditions at DeeBee Records started six years ago and take place every
other year. Their standards are very high and well publicized. Five of their top
acts were discovered during these auditions. Their performance mantra is
entrenched in raw creativity… PERIOD

BELLA NEWS – Castro was about to make the call to Dee when there was a
knock on the door – It was Bella … She came with some groceries and a bottle
of wine … She had planned for a romantic evening … as she started to unpack
the bags … Castro told her what happened at VILLAS earlier that day … she felt
bad but could not understand why he was upbeat …
‘You have just lost your job … why are you smiling’ asked Bella
‘Because when one door closes, another one opens’ replied Castro
‘What do you mean… she asked
Then Castro started to narrate the story of the chance meeting he had with Dee
… Bella was cautiously optimistic … ‘call him now’ she said … ‘I want to hear
everything
PERFECT TIMING – Castro called Dee to re-introduce himself… He recounted the

incident with the wallet at VILLAS to joggle his memory … Dee remembered and
thanked Castro once more …. He wondered why Castro have not reached out
earlier … Castro explained that it was due to work pressures… He also told Dee
that he was no more working at VILLAS … He informed him that he was laid off
earlier that day due to non-extension of his temporary working status … Dee
expressed his sympathies and asked how he could help.
Castro told Dee that he would appreciate it if he could help him with a job … he
also told him that he was an up-and-coming artist that has been performing
since he was fourteen. He asked for a meeting to showcase his talent… ‘Perfect
timing,’ said Dee … DeeBee Records have two days of auditions scheduled for
the next week … in their search for the next BIG act … They currently have 5
registered slots, 5 more to go … “Send me your full details … I will forward them

over to the audition panel,” said Dee … I hope you come prepared … ‘Bring
your ‘A’ game … Good luck’ … and then… he hung up.
THE LAST SLOT – Meanwhile, on the other side of town, BobbyBeats was in the
studio with Max when he received a phone call – It was from a friend called AJ
who works at DeeBee Records … He wanted to know if he had any promising
talent that he could recommend to be part of DeeBee’s next audition … The
phone was on speaker ... Max could hear the conversation loud and clear… He
immediately jumped and made gestures with his fingers pointing to himself …
BobbyBeats told AJ that he has a top talent that he has known for years … They
have just finished work on his demo … “Great” said AJ … “I hope he can make it
happen … Please send his details asap … We have ONLY ONE slot left’ …
So, it was… Max has just secured the last spot for the auditions at DeeBee
Records … He could not hold back his excitement… He thanked BobbyBeats for
the assist … Although, he didn’t yet know about it … He was now set up for a
showdown with his lost best friend.
GAME ON

THE AUDITIONS
The auditions took place as scheduled over two days… Max did his
performance on the first day while Castro was among the final five on the
second day. They both performed exceptionally well but never crossed paths.
Interesting times ahead.
DAY 1 DAY 2
Contestant A Contestant F - CASTRO
Contestant B - MAX Contestant G
Contestant C Contestant H
Contestant D Contestant I
Contestant E Contestant J
AUDITIONS ARE OVER … THEY WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE RESULTS
FINGERS CROSSED

CLOSE CALL

ONE DOWN, ONE TO GO – Two days after the auditions, Castro was back to work
in the studio with K-Blast, and a few other artists … They have just finished a great
session and decided to take a break …K-Blast needs his weed to wind down …
while Castro opened a can of Heineken… ‘Pascal,’ said K-Blast... calling on his
assistant … ‘Pass me some Morocco Red’ ...pointing to his weed pack …K-Blast
loves Morocco Red because of its high THC content … ‘It’s a special blend,’ he
said as they form a ‘smoke circle’.
Castro was about to chug down his beer when he received a text message – it
was from DeeBee records, he has been selected among the finalist to perform
in two weeks … He was so excited to make the cut … he almost broke his phone
as he leaped for joy …
‘We made it K-Blast … We made it ... he screamed in excitement …
‘Wetin happen? … We made what?’ asked K-Blast …
‘We made the final four at DeeBee’s audition’ … Castro replied …
‘ooh yeah, Let’s Goooo’ yelled K-Blast …
‘The final audition is in two weeks … We need to go for the kill’ … said Castro …
‘No worry … I got you, buddy … Masterplan activated … Trust me’ … said K-Blast
They all got up … embraced each other … and started jumping in celebration
shouting ... yes ...yes …yes ...yes to the background beat blasting from the
speakers in the studio.
FINAL FOUR MAX – Meanwhile, Max was at home with Nina watching a movie…
They were both at the gym earlier that day and were too tired to cook…They
opted for a meal delivery service and placed an order for dinner. His parents
were on vacation, so he had the house to himself… It was about 6.30 pm when

there was a knock on the door … it was the food delivery service … Max went to
the door and returned with the pizza they ordered … As he went towards the
Refrigerator to get some drinks … there was a beep sound on his phone
indicating an incoming text message …
‘I don’t want to leave this house tonight … Can you please see who’s sending
me a text?’ he asked Nina …
‘sure … you’re going nowhere … Tonight, you are mine Nina said … laughing…
‘Maxwell … Maxwell’ ... Nina screamed
‘What’s going on?’ ... Max asked
“Only my mom calls me Maxwell and that’s when she’s pissed at me’ said Max
‘Believe me, babe … You want to see this,’ said Nina as she rushed towards Max
‘What is it?’ … he asked
‘Well … Look,’ said Nina as she gave the phone to Max with a beaming smile on
her face.
Max took the phone from Nina and there it was … a text message from DEEBEE
Records … It read:
CONGRATULATIONS -,
This message is to inform you that you have been selected to be part
of the four finalists for our final audition in two weeks. A second
message will be sent within 24 hours with your name and the
assigned timeslot. Good luck

Max could not believe what he has just read … ‘Oh Yessss’ he screamed at the
very top of his lungs … ‘We are on our way baby … this has always been our
dream’ … ‘Absolutely’ said Nina … It has always been your dream’ … as she
held him close and gave him a passionate kiss … ‘I am so proud of you,’ she
said … ‘I know ... Thanks’ … Max responded … ‘I must call BobbyBeats to share
the good news he continued as he searched for BobbyBeats number on his
phone …
“Hey Bobby, guess what … Just got a text from DeeBee … we didn’t make it …
he joked while signaling to Nina to shut up
‘Too late you f**ker … I just got off the phone with AJ … we’re in baby … You
made it’ … said BobbyBeats …
“Yes… Yes… Yes …Hey Bobby … Thank you for all your support and for
submitting my name to AJ … this wouldn’t have happened without you … I
promise, I won’t let you down” ... said Max …
‘no worries, Max … we are in this together said BobbyBeats
Max and Nina started singing “we are the champions” by Queen
‘Not so fast … For now, you’re just Final Four Max’ said BobbyBeats … ‘we have
one more to go ... in two weeks … I say we meet at the studio by noon
tomorrow’ he suggested BobbyBeats
“Absolutely my guy… We need to nail this one … Need your maddest beats …
Mr. BobbyBeats … I have got the lyrics … see you tomorrow” … max responded
as he laughed…

After he hung up the phone, Nina pulled Max close to her and looked straight
into his eyes … she asked him
“Tell me the truth Max ... Were you referring to Castro when you said, ‘this has
always been our dream’? Without saying a word … Max responded by nodding
his head to signal ‘YES’ …
‘Don’t worry … if it is meant to be … it absolutely will happen … and you will

reunite with him again’ ... said, Nina
‘Thanks, Nina … That was very helpful,’ said Max
‘I am so happy that you are happy’ said Nina ‘Now is time for you to make this
mama happy’ as she took Max’s hands and led him to the bedroom.
BOYS’ NIGHT OUT – Castro called Bella to share the good news … she was at
work and could not take the call … He left her a voice note and proceeded to
call Deji … before he could finish speaking … Deji interrupted his excitement to
give him more good news …. He has been on a one-week break from his job …
earlier that day he secured a student visa sponsored by his company … to study
Accounting and Financial Management at Wharton Business School at the
University of Pennsylvania in the United States… One of the best in the world…
Castro was so excited for his friend… ‘we need to celebrate this’ he said … he
suggested they go on a bar-hopping spree … ‘sounds like a plan’ said Deji as
they all agreed to meet at a local bar called TONY’S JOINT later that night.
Deji Arrived at TONY’S to join Castro and the guys … ‘Here comes the Yankee
boy,’ said Castro as Deji walked towards their table … ‘Castro … Castro … the
next BIG thing to happen to Afrobeat’ responded Deji, … They all hugged each
other, and ordered some drinks to start their evening

WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME – As Deji walked into the bar and yelled out
‘Castro … Castro … the next BIG thing to happen to Afrobeat’ … unbeknownst to
him, there was someone … having a drink with his girlfriend … sitting by the bar
entrance that took notice… It was Maddog … That name rings a bell … he
thought … He has always wanted his revenge against Castro … now, a clear
opportunity has presented itself… Castro has just walked into the lion’s den.
Maddog walked closer to be sure … wearing his sunglasses to conceal his stare
and eye movements … he could see Castro smiling … fully engaged in a fun
moment with his friends… he was filled with rage … this time he won’t miss… he
thought to himself.
But he was alone with his girlfriend … there is no way he could pull this off in a fist
fight … one man against four men? …he didn’t stand a chance … he needed his
gang buddies to show up fast … and armed…. He immediately walked outside
to make a phone call to his buddy – Soto … ‘Hey, Dude ... remember the sissy
guy at the party six months ago … The guy whose family moved out of town
before we got to his house … Well guess what? … I have him in my crosshairs …
he is literarily 20 meters away ... We can’t miss … I am at TONY’S Joint … We
need to end this … Bring an extra baby (he meant an extra gun) … Come Now’
… he concluded the call and hung up
He walked back to his table and told his girlfriend that there has been a change
of plans … He lied to her about a prescheduled appointment with some friends
that he forgot about … ‘You can go back home … My friends will pick me up …
I will catch up with you later he told her … “okay ... don’t get into trouble” she
said as she left the bar.

FUTURE TALK – Castro was still having fun with his friends … totally unaware of the
danger brewing around him …
‘When are you traveling to the states?’… He asked Deji
‘In a month’ Deji responded … “Classes start in the first week of September … I
need to arrive at least two weeks before … to go through all the preliminaries”
… Deji explained.
‘Oh boy, remember me when you get to Yankee ooo’ … Castro said jokingly
‘I will remember to buy a ticket … maybe the next time I see you might be at
your concert … when you are on tour in America” said Deji
‘I pray ooo … touring Yankee … I don blow be that’ said Castro
‘You dey forgot someone,’ said K-Blast …
‘Who?’ asked Deji
‘Pascal of course … Nah him go be Castro hype man na’ ... said K-Blast
They all yelled … ‘Amen’ as they raised their glasses … ‘To Castro and Deji’ …
and then turning to Pascal … ‘To Castro ... Deji and Pascal,’ said K-Blast …
proposing a second toast… ‘Now, you are talking,” said Pascal … they all
laughed and ordered more drinks.
DEADLY ARRIVAL – As Castro and his friends were finishing up their drinks with the
intent of going to the next bar …. a car pulled up outside TONY’S … It was Soto
… he had company - a fellow gang member called lucky … They were there at
the request of Maddog for ONE purpose only … To Kill Castro

He sent Maddog a text message … ‘we’re here’ … Maddog was glad to see
the posse … He walked to the car and instructed Soto to stay behind and be
ready …
‘You brought my baby?’ he asked
‘Absolutely my guy’ responded Soto as he reached for the glove compartment

… he pulled out a gun and handed it over to Maddog
‘who’s the newbie?’ asked Maddog referring to the guy on the passenger seat
‘This is Lucky … he’s new to the brotherhood … he’s safe’ …said, Soto
‘Okay Lucky, let’s go’ said Maddog … ‘I want you to wait by the entrance and
watch my back … The sissy is mine’.
A TWIST OF FATE – As Maddog was walking back inside the restaurant with a gun
concealed in his jacket … Castro and his friends were getting ready to leave…
As they asked the waiter for the bill … a call came in from Bella … She had
received a voice note from Castro with the good news … Castro excused
himself to use the bathroom while talking to Bella on the phone.
As the waiter approached the table to present the bill … Maddog shoved him
aside and yelled ‘Castro … f**king sissy … have a goodnight’ … The guys saw
the barrel of a gun and started screaming ... no ...no …no …Who are you? … as
they ducked for cover …. Maddog fired his gun multiple times … but it
appeared to be jammed.
He fled in a panic towards the entrance and instructed Lucky to finish the job …
‘My gun jammed on me’ he screamed,’ … ‘Go get him’ … ‘Get who?’ … asked
Lucky … ‘the guy in the hoodie’ said Maddog … pointing to the direction where

Castro and his friends were sitting … ‘Let me grab Soto’s baby’ … Lucky rushed
into the bar not sure who Castro was … He could see a bunch of guys trying to
get back up … two of them had hoodies on … For a moment he looked
confused … He assumed one of them must be Castro … he then fired several
shots aiming at everyone at the table … and then he ran away towards the
entrance.
Castro heard the first sound of people screaming ... He assumed it was from a
group of guys who were watching the soccer game … A few minutes later … he
heard some popping sound that sounded like fireworks … or was it gunshots? …
What could that be? … he wondered … He told Bella that he will call her back
as he rushed out of the bathroom to witness the horror that has befallen his
friends … He was just with them a few minutes ago … he thought to himself … it
was a nightmare
‘What the hell happened?’ he screamed … Who the F**k did this?? … He rushed
to his friends to render help … ‘Call the ambulance’ he screamed … ‘Call the
Police … We need help’ he yelled … ‘My friends are dying … Please help’ …
Castro got on his knees to perform CPR … He looked helpless… as other
customers and workers joined him to render assistance …
Pascal has been hit… He is motionless ... but breathing
Deji has also been hit... he is barely breathing
K-Blast is in pain … A bullet has grazed his upper arm … He is bleeding badly
THE ESCAPE – Maddog and Lucky ran out of TONY’S into the waiting car and
sped off… As they drove, Maddog turned around and noticed that Lucky had
no jacket on …

‘Where is your jacket?’ ... he asked
‘At the bar’ ... replied Lucky
‘What?’ said Maddog …
“I was attacked by security … an ambush …he came from behind … I didn’t

see him … he hit my wrist and my gun fell … he grabbed my jacket … I had to
take it off to free myself’ … Lucky explained … ‘I am so sorry … It won’t happen
again’ he begged …
‘No worries’ said Maddog … ‘did you get the sissy?’ he asked
‘Yes, I did’ said Lucky … ‘I took out all of them …
‘Good job, you are really safe’ said Maddog as he gave him a fist bump …
Maddog finally got his revenge … or so he thought.
A NAME FROM THE PAST – Minutes after the shooting incident, there were cops
all over at TONY’S … From the first set of interviews they conducted, … they were
able to get a name for one of the shooters … It was Ray (aka Maddog) … he
was a regular at the bar and most of the waiters knew him … Castro was stunned
to find out that Maddog was one of the shooters … He couldn’t believe that the
guy from the party brawl still had a vendetta against him … He explained to the
police what happened six months earlier … He also informed the police that
Maddog swore to him that he (Castro) will regret what happened.
LEFT BEHIND – After conducting preliminary interviews … The police got

information on the plate number … make … and model of the getaway car…
They also took the gun and jacket including a wallet that contained an ID and
ATM card as physical evidence. It was more bad news for Maddog.

Like most cities in Nigeria … Lagos has police checkpoints at almost all major
intersections at night to combat the surge in criminal activities … The police
issued a BOLO (be on the lookout) to all patrol teams and checkpoints within a
40km radius … with a detailed description of the car and at least two of its
occupants.
NO TIME TO WASTE – Although calls were made for immediate medical attention
… Castro knew there was no time to waste … the lives of his friends hung in the
balance … He was told there was a hospital less than three blocks away… so he
took the keys to Deji’s car and rushed his friends to the hospital … They have all
sustained gunshot wounds …K-Blast’s injuries appear to be the least critical … he
was conscious and alert … There is a chance Deji might make it, if they can get
him to a doctor on time … Pascal appears to be in very bad shape…he was still
motionless … No one can tell the severity of his injuries … Time was of the
essence.
LEAVE NO TRAIL BEHIND – Maddog was very worried … he felt the evidence that
was left behind at TONY’S will make it easier for the police to effect an arrest ...
He was also disturbed by the possibility that Castro’s friends could all be dead …
His instruction to Lucky was to take out Castro NOT Castro and his friends … He
sent a text message to Kilo about what happened … and asked him what he
should do … Kilo was troubled as well ... He told Maddog to take out Lucky
immediately … and dispose of his body in a landfill … ‘He is a runway from Jos
with no family members in Lagos … If he disappears … no one will look for him’
… communicated Kilo in a text message … Maddog agreed.
BELLA ON THE ROAD – Bella was very worried about Castro … He has been
unreachable since he dropped the call while using the bathroom at TONY’S …
She lied to her supervisor that she was ill … her request was granted to go home

and take the next day off to recuperate … She ordered a cab and left VILLAS
for TONY’S … hoping that Castro was still there … or maybe he’s just drunk while
celebrating with his friends … she wondered.
Bella arrived at TONY’S a few minutes after Castro left … she was surprised at the
chaotic scene at the otherwise quiet bar … she was told about the shooting
that took place … the waiters told her that Castro was okay, but his friends were
in bad shape … they told her that Castro took the victims to the hospital ... she
left for the hospital immediately.
While on her way … she called the hospital … she was told that Castro had left
with a friend who had a minor gunshot wound … he has been treated and
released … she was confused and still scared about the whereabouts of Castro
… who was treated and released?... she thought … then a call came in … It was
Castro … she was glad he was okay … he was surprised that Bella was at TONY’S
… He told her to come over to Deji’s.
NO MERCY – A few minutes after the text exchange with Kilo … Maddog asked
Soto to stop the car and open the trunk … he told Lucky to get out of the car for
a brief conversation on an assignment he just received … Lucky quickly jumped
out to join him … he felt a new assignment meant he was trusted by the leaders
of the ‘so called’ brotherhood … As soon as he came out of the car … Maddog
told him to get a bag from the trunk of the car … As Lucky opened the trunk
and leaned over, Maddog brought out his gun and shot him twice … he then
pushed his body inside the trunk and got back into the car … ‘orders from the
boss’ he told a surprised and scared Soto … ‘don’t worry, I will explain later …
let’s find a landfill … let’s go’
THE FLASHBACK – Castro finally got home at about Midnight … K-Blast was with
him … Bella was already there … she was so happy to see him … She also felt

sorry for K-Blast … he was still in pain and decided to spend the night at Deji’s …
Castro checked his phone and saw a message from DeeBee Records … a date
and timeslot for his Final Four audition has been confirmed … It was two weeks
away ... He was emotionally torn and physically exhausted from the tragic
events at TONY’S … He didn’t bother telling K-Blast about the date for the
auditions … Although the Final Four meant everything to him, he wasn’t sure if
he was mentally ready with Deji and Pascal fighting for their lives in hospital.
Castro recounted to Bella what happened at TONY’S … He also told her how he
met Maddog at the party seven months earlier … and his attempt to rescue
Nina from a potentially dangerous situation … how Maddog felt humiliated
when one of his friends made him publicly apologize by brandishing a gun …
and how he swore to make him regret what happened that night… He never
knew that Maddog was still on his case … It was chilling to relive … He can only
hope he is arrested soon and taken off the streets for good.
TRICKY DOG – Maddog and Soto have been searching for a landfill for over an
hour … they were two kilometers away from a major dump when they
approached a police checkpoint … ‘oh shit’ said Maddog … ‘you got your
driver’s license… right?’ he asked ‘yes … in my back pocket’ replied Soto …
‘good … get it out … be calm and just play along’ he said … ‘one grand will
solve the problem … all they want is some money … just tell them that we are on
our way back from the club’ … then he hid his gun under the seat … He had no
idea that a BOLO has been issued for their getaway car.
SOME GOOD NEWS – Castro has been restless since he got back … He called
the hospital for updates … he was told that they have been trying to reach him
… He was surprised because he never received a call … it was later confirmed
that the receptionist missed a digit… The doctor told him that his friends have

both survived the shootings … they were already out of surgery … Deji was very
lucky, the bullet missed his spine by an inch … while Pascal’s injuries were also
not life-threatening … he was knocked unconscious because he hit his head on
the floor when he fell… The doctor assured Castro that both men will be well
enough to leave the hospital within 10 days … Castro was relieved… This was
very good news
END OF THE ROAD – The officers at the checkpoint have been on the lookout for
the vehicle in the BOLO that was issued two hours earlier … they spotted the red
Toyota Camry with matching number plates and immediately braced
themselves for a potential confrontation… they have been warned in the BOLO
that the men were armed and dangerous…
The officer at the backend of the checkpoint gave an eye-piercing stare at

Maddog and Soto and waved them through … but he immediately
communicated to the officers in front through radio that the suspects were
approaching … it was a strategy to make the fugitives feel less suspicious and
reduce any chance of a violent confrontation … it worked.
Soto approached the front end of the checkpoint looking very calm and poised
… ‘Good morning young man said the officer…
‘Good morning officer’ responded Soto … ‘where are you coming from?’ …
asked the officer …
‘From the club’ responded Soto …
‘Which club?’ he asked …
‘BASELINE’ said Soto ...

‘Enjoyment guys … Can I see your driver’s license please? … the officer asked …
‘Absolutely sir’ said Soto as he presented his driver’s license to the officer …
‘Were you drinking tonight?’ asked the officer
‘No sir’ … responded Soto …
‘Do you mind coming out of the car for a sobriety test? … if you are clean … off
you go’ ….
‘No problem, sir’ … said Soto as he came out of the car ... a second officer
asked
Maddog if he had any drugs on him …
‘No sir’ responded Maddog …
‘Okay ... please come out for a quick pat down’ said the officer
Maddog felt relieved since he had no drugs on him … he was expecting a quick
pat down and be subsequently released … As both men came out of the car,
they were arrested by the officers with guns drawn out … Maddog and Soto had
no chance.
THE LUCKY CALL – The BOLO that was issued had stated that there were three
occupants in the car … but the Camry had only two occupants when they got
to the checkpoint … the officers asked Maddog for the third man … he told
them that he had no idea what they were talking about … as they continued
pushing him to come clean … they heard a phone ringing … it appears to be
coming from inside the car … but as the officers got closer … the sound appears

to be from the trunk of the car … when they opened the trunk … they were
shocked to see a young man in a pool of blood … he has been shot but was still
alive… he matched the description of the third occupant … it’s finally over … the
lucky call might have saved Lucky’s life … they rushed him to the hospital and
took Maddog and Soto into custody.
In the days that Followed
• Deji was released from the Hospital and recuperating well at home.
• Pascal has also been released and was back in the studio.
• Bobbybeats has fully recovered and is already back working with Castro in
the studio.
The focus was back on nothing else but the Final Four

THE FINAL
FOUR AUDITIONS

FULLY LOCKED-IN - Max woke up fresh and ready to go … the Final Four audition
was the next day … From the confirmation text message, he received … he
knew he was going first … his performance will be the benchmark for others …
he expects the competition to be intense … he knew that he has only one
chance to make an impression … talk about butterflies in your stomach.
He had a blitz breakfast and headed straight to the studio … Nina will join him
later with lunch for him and the boys … that has been his routine for the past
week … he has been spending as much time with BobbyBeats as possible …
They have collectively written two new songs the previous week … each with a
master hook that they hope will sway the judge’s decision in their favor ... Max
was fully locked-in on preparations…
CREATIVE OVERDRIVE - Castro knew that securing a slot as part of the Final Four
was like winning a lottery ticket out of the ghetto into stardom … maybe
superstardom … There are no words to describe it … This was his chance.
Over the past few days … He has been on a creative overdrive with K-Blast …
working … eating … and sleeping in the studio …. Together, they plan to push
the envelope … to cross boundaries with the production and performance of a
lifetime … There are no shortcuts.
K-Blast has finetuned his production to reflect a more contemporary sound that
was carefully crafted in raw creativity … They wanted a unique mix … Castro
was able to infuse intensity and emotions to create that perfect feel … Before
settling for any song … they invited very close friends and artists to a listening
session … the new songs were well received … they were well on their way to
making history … they hoped.

D-DAY – Castro came fully prepared and confident about his chances … he
was the first to arrive at the auditions … Bella was also there to give him support
… He ran into Dee in the lobby … made some quick introductions … had a brief
conversation … and then proceeded to confirm his timeslot at the registration
desk … he was later ushered into a room where he is supposed to wait until his
name is called … Bella was asked to remain in the waiting room until he was
done … Over the next fifteen minutes, other finalists arrived in succession
including Max … He was escorted by Nina … They all signed in and went to their
assigned rooms.
THIS CAN’T BE TRUE – While the auditioners were doing their final preparation …
Bella and Nina were both in the waiting room … they appear to be focused on
their phones for a while until Nina broke the ice with a question -
‘Are you here with a finalist?’ asked Nina …
‘Yes… I came with my boyfriend’ said Bella …
‘Oh nice … I came here to support my boyfriend as well … he will be the first to
audition’ … said, Nina … ‘I am so nervous … I don’t know how they do this’ she
continued.
‘Tell me about it … he is the one going for the audition … but I am the one who
couldn’t sleep last night … said, Bella
As Bella was speaking, … Dee walked in … ‘sorry to interrupt ladies’ he said…

‘Bella ... Castro asked me to tell you to call the nurse and remind her not to
forget about Deji’s refills … he has just one set of medications left in his regimen’
… Thanks …and he walked back in

‘Thank you, sir,’ said Bella …’ I will call to remind her immediately’ … as she
brought out her phone to call the nurse … Nina could not help but eavesdrop
on her conversation …
‘I am sorry … but I just couldn’t help it … What did you say your boyfriend’s
name was?’ asked Nina looking totally flabbergasted …
‘Castro’ repeated Bella … ‘Why? … Do you know him?’… she asked …
‘Wait … wait … is his full name Castro Oyedun?’ … asked Nina
‘Yes … do you know him? … are you related? … childhood friends? … asked
Bella in an inquisitive tone
‘Yes, I do … I know him very well … I am sorry …I am Nina’ she said …

introducing herself formally…
‘Nice meeting you Nina … My name is Bella’ … ‘you know him very well? … how
come? … if I may ask?
‘I met Castro through my boyfriend’ said Nina after a deep sigh … ‘His name is
Max … Maxwell Obi’ she continued … ‘we met at the university … and your
boyfriend was his best friend … they’ve known each other since kindergarten …
they were inseparable … I mean they did everything together … even
performed together as a group … I think Max told me they use to call
themselves the dream boys … but earlier this year … an unfortunate incident
split them apart ... it’s been very sad … very very sad …
‘Dream boys … Really? … are you sure we are talking about the same person??
… asked Bella

‘I am positive’ replied Nina as she brought her phone and searched for a
picture of Castro and Max … she found one and showed it to Bella
‘This is Castro and the guy beside him is Max … see? … we are talking about the
same guy … she said
‘Wow ... but what happened? Asked Bella
‘It has been a tough stretch … seven months … Castro was like family … in fact
… he was family … said, Nina
‘Nina … please tell me what happened … what was this incident seven months
ago? … Asked Bella
Nina then told Bella about the incident at the party seven months ago … as well
as what happened the next morning at Castro’s house …
PROPHETIC MAX? – Max had just finished his audition … He felt his songs were
well received … the judges asked him how long he has been singing and if he
self-produced his records … they also wanted to know more about his creative
skills and what inspires his writing … a critical question was when he was asked ‘if
you have an opportunity to do a song or perform with anyone in the world …
who will that be’ … his response was ‘with my best friend’…
‘Your best friend?’ repeated a judge
‘Yeah … with my best friend’ said Max …
the judges were expecting a famous name … they were surprised at his answer
… ‘okay … thank you Max’ … you will be hearing from us in three days … ‘thank
you sirs and madam’ … said Max as he walked off the stage

Meanwhile, in the waiting area … Nina was finishing up her story when Max
walked in … she was surprised to see him … she wasn’t expecting him for at
least another 30 minutes …
‘Hey, Babe … you’re done … how did it go?’ … asked Nina
‘Great … went well … did my best … We’ll see what happens … said, Max
‘Fantastic’ … ‘I am sure you will be just fine,’ said Nina
‘Guess what?’ Nina continued … I have a surprise for you … I will like you to
meet Bella … Bella, this is Max my boyfriend’
‘How are you doing Max? ... Nice to meet you … said Bella
‘Nice to meet you too Bella,’ said Max
Max turned to Nina, and asked, … ‘you two know each other?’
‘Nope … said Nina … we just met an hour ago … she continued
‘Nice’ said Max … ‘Are you here with an auditioner as well?’ asked Max
‘Yes’, responded Bella
‘Well good luck to him and you as well … said Max
‘Thank you so much… I wish you the same,’ said Bella
‘Thanks … so… babe… I say we leave ... Nice meeting you Bella,’ said Max
‘No Max … I don’t think you want to leave ... said, Nina
‘You sure about that ... you know Bobby is waiting anxiously to hear how the
audition went ... Max said … ‘can’t wait to tell him what happened … he
continued
‘Trust me Max … I think you want to wait … said, Nina

‘Soooo ... what’s the story here? … tell me something I don’t know … I’ve been
with you long enough to know when you’re on a sugar high’ … said, Max
‘Max … Bella is Castro’s girlfriend … She came here with him … Castro is in one
of those rooms … Max … Can you believe it? … Castro … Your Castro is in this
building … said, Nina
‘What? … Castro is here … you mean Castro is part of this … This can’t be true ...
said, Max
‘But it is true … said Bella … ‘Castro has been part of this all along
THE HOOK – Castro was done with his audition feeling great about his chances
of coming out on top … the vibe from the judges looked great … He believed
that his second song was the killer … midway through his performance… he was
asked to stop and start all over … he wasn’t sure why … but there seems to be
no other reason but the judges recognizing pure creativity… the feel of a
somewhat unique sound that was quasi mainstream but true to its origins … he
felt they were hooked on the hook.
‘Well delivered’ said one of the judges

‘Absolutely … I agree,’ said another judge
‘Okay Mr. Castro … you will hear from us in three days
‘Thanks a lot, said Castro as he left the room
BELLA’S SONG – Castro walked towards the waiting area in high spirits … he was
looking forward to meeting up with Bella … He couldn’t wait to share his
experience with the judges … especially their feel for the second song … it was
Bella’s favorite … she had handpicked the song when Castro asked her opinion
… she has always danced to it in the studio … kept it on replay at home and her
phone … it was simply Bella’s song

THE REUNION – As Castro walked into the waiting room … Bella ran to him and
gave him a long passionate kiss … she then looked into his eyes and told him
‘you are a great man … a dependable man … a true example of what it takes
to be a reliable friend … Castro, I love you so much … now even more than ever
before …
‘okay … I like …great… dependable … true example … I love you too … Don’t
you want to hear about the audition? … I think I killed it,’ said Castro
‘of course, babe … but before you give me all the good news … look to your
left said, Bella
Castro turned to his left … he was shocked to see Nina … and then he saw Max,
who slowly rose from his chair and just stared at him …. his eyes looked empty …
maybe surprise … guilt?
‘Castro’ said Max in a low tone
‘Max’ ...Castro responded in a similar tone ‘what are you doing here?’… he
asked…
‘Believe it or not … same as you brother … Final Four … audition’… said Max ‘I
thought I will never see you again … I thought you will forever be my lost
brother… he continued
‘You mean you’ve been part of this? … is this a dream? … said Castro ... and
then turning to Bella he said … babe, this was … no ...no ... I am sorry … this is my
best friend - Max …
‘Yes, I know … we’ve already met …said, Bella … as they both turned to Max
‘I don’t even know what to say … Castro, I am so sorry … said Max …

‘You have said it all … apology accepted,’ said Castro
‘I was wrong … I was so wrong … said Max as he walked towards Castro and
hugged him … ‘I am sorry … I am so sorry … said, Max.
‘This is one of the happiest days of my life’ said Nina as she wiped the tears from
her eyes

THE BIRTH
OF MAESTRO

IT’S ALL GOOD – In the days after the Final Four audition, Max and Castro were
inseparable … catching up for lost time … Nina and Bella have also gotten to
know each other better … they have grown close … most people describe
them as best friends … others thought they were sisters …
During the countless private conversations they had … Castro had told Max
about the incident at TONY’s … ‘it was a close call’ he said … Max was so sorry
… he felt he was wrong and insensitive for not trusting his best friend … he also
felt Maddog’s vendetta against Castro was triggered when he stood up to him
to protect Nina … and then it dawned on him … the guy that walked past him
at Castro’s house … it was Maddog … his motive must have been sinister …
thank God Castro’s family has moved out … he thought … it was sobering to
imagine what could have happened.
‘That’s what friends are for … said Castro … He repeatedly told Max to leave the
past behind … ‘I am sure you would have done the same for me’… he told him
… ‘but now we have much more to look forward to … we must now move on
and learn from the past.
IT’S A TIE GAME – Three days after the audition …a text message was sent out …
there will be a delay in the result … No reason was provided … Neither was a
new date given … suspense was building.
Although it was not communicated … the reason behind the delay was
because the judges could not decide on a clearcut winner … There was a tie
between two contestants …. #1 and #3 … It was Max and Castro … they were
the top two contestants in the Final Four … both scored 21 out of the maximum
25 points available … it was a tough decision … the judges could not settle for
one over the other … it has never happened before.

They had a meeting with Dee to discuss what next … it was a zoom call … he
told them to review the audition tapes for both contestants … but this time, they
should focus on their personalities and creative potentials … ‘we will meet to
share your results in three days … he said … ‘I am sure someone will have an
edge’ he concluded and then ended the call.
Three days later, the panel presented their results … in a completely inexplicable
moment… there was another tie … this time, both contestants scored 13 of the
15 points available… no one saw this coming … ‘this is simply unbelievable’ said
Dee … ‘I guess we must go with the results and inform the guys … they have
both earned it … it won’t hurt us to have two top talents … he concluded.
BREAKING NEWS – It is a Thursday night … exactly one week to the day after the
Final Four auditions … Bella and Nina had just left the house to get dinner …
Castro and Max were home watching a soccer game … they have been at the
studio all day … but decided to end their session early … it was a Champions
League match between Manchester United and FC Barcelona … A Big Game
… they were fans of opposing teams … talk about tension in the house …
A few minutes into the game … Castro received a text message … He thought it
was from Bella … but when he checked, it was from DeeBee Records … He was
nervous … but when he read it … he was shocked …
‘Max, DeeBee just sent a text … it says ‘Congratulations, your audition was
successful, and we are glad to welcome you to DeeBee Records’ … at first his
reaction was indifferent … he didn’t know whether to scream for joy or cry … he
has just won the Final Four … but that meant Max didn’t make it … he felt sorry
for him …

‘I know you gave it your best efforts and so did I … but there can only be one
winner… congratulations brother’ said Max … ‘I am so happy for you … I know it
is well deserved’ … he continued … Castro told Max that no matter what
happened … he will be there for him … ‘we have always been the ‘dream boys’
and we will always remain the dream boys he said … it was a mixed feeling …
As they were wondering how to break the news to Bella and Nina … a text
message came in on Max’s phone … he assumed it was from Nina … he was
wrong … it was from DeeBee Records … the same congratulatory message …
Max could not believe it … there was supposed to be just one winner … now
they have both been declared winners … how could that be? … was it a
mistake? … is fate working in their favor? … something must be wrong … they
wondered … nevertheless they are both winners of the big price … a potential
contract with DeeBee Records … it was an unimaginable dream.
Castro and Max could not hold back their excitement … they called K-Blast and
BobbyBeats with no luck … time to celebrate … they thought … Castro brought
out cans of Heineken from the refrigerator to spice up the vibe … as they started
singing ‘we are the champions’ … Nina and Bella walked in … they wondered
why the guys were having so much fun … they assumed it was because of the
game.
‘Dinner is here … I am starving,’ said Bella … ‘the queue at Ekaete’s Kitchen was
unbelievable’
Sensing no reaction from the guys … ‘men … I still don’t understand why football
can just take over someone’s emotion’ said Nina …
I mean totally... right’ said Bella …

‘Guys … you want to join us or not? said Nina …
‘Just don’t stand there staring at us, said Bella.
‘Well ladies you are looking at the winners of DeeBee’s Final Four’, said Castro
holding his hands stretched out so that Bella and Nina could read the
congratulatory message from DeeBee on his phone …
‘What?’ … said, Bella …
‘Oh my God … you both won … I mean the two of you?’ asked Nina
‘Yes … Yes’ ... said Max
it was an unbelievable moment as the girls joined the guys in celebration singing
‘we are the champions … it ended in a great and romantic evening.
THE MORNING AFTER – The audition at DeeBee records was designed to

produce one winner ... But now, they have two amazing talents who are ready
to go and off to the races … Dee held a meeting with his team earlier that day
and accepted their recommendation to sign both acts as solo artists … It was
the only option on the table. He called both Castro and Max to personally
congratulate them … and then invited them to his office the next day … he was
unaware that they were best friends.
Castro and Max arrived at Dee’s office on a high … they wanted to show their
appreciation for the opportunity … they also felt the need to personally thank
Dee for the confidence of the judges of DeeBee Records in their talents … Dee
was happy to see them … He informed them that they had tied twice in the
points assigned by the judges at the audition … DeeBee Records has decided to
sign each of them as solo artists … they were told to come back the next week
for a formal introduction.

Max and Castro left DeeBee Records feeling excited about the meeting … they
have both been offered the chance of a lifetime to fulfill their lifelong dreams ..
a career in music … but as solo artists … they would have preferred performing
as a duo … but that decision was above their pay grade …
They met with K-Blast and BobbyBeats to share the news … Pascal and Deji were
now strong enough to join the posse … there was a lot of drinking and smoking
… BobbyBeats could sense the mood between Max and Castro …
‘Have you guys given the solo thing a thought? … I know you have always
wanted to perform together as a duo’ he said …
‘I know … but DeeBee is offering a solo contract … I mean that’s what we were
told’ responded Max …
‘why don’t you ask Dee … I am sure he will understand’ said K-blast … ‘or do
you want me to ask on your behalf? … he asked ….
‘no…no…no please don’t’ said Castro ... ‘we will figure it out … he continued ...
‘I will call him and ask for a meeting in the morning … and then we will see what
happens’ …
SOLO OR DUO? – Castro called Dee the next morning … he asked if he and Max
could perform together as a group … but Dee was not comfortable with the
idea … He was in search of a solo artist, not a group … he wanted to know why
… Castro told him the story of their friendship and how they have always
performed as a duo … ‘this is news to me said Dee … ‘no one told me you knew
each other … let alone best friends’ he continued … ‘if it is not possible, we will
respect your decision’ said Max ... ‘Okay guys … I will have a seat down with my

people and get back to you … ‘but I don’t think this idea is going to fly … we’ll
see what happens’ he concluded …
REQUEST APPROVED – Three days later … Dee called Castro with some good
news … the team at DeeBee Records have approved their wish to perform as a
duo … in a phone conversation with Dee, … one of the judges recalled the
answer that Max gave … when he was asked to name anyone in the world
that he would love to perform with … Max’s response was … my best friend …
and that made the difference in their decision to approve their request ... it was
prophetic … He invited them to come for a meeting to decide on a name for
the group … Max and Castro have always performed as the DREAM BOYS, but
this time … Dee will have the last word.
MAESTRO IS BORN – Max and Castro arrived at DeeBee Records wearing T-shirts
with DREAM BOYS written on them … they hoped Dee will be sold on the name
… but they were wrong … they walked into Dee’s office while he was on a call
… he signaled to the boys to have a seat … when he hung up … he turned to
Castro and Max …
‘Guys’ he told them … ‘this is going to be quick … … I spent the whole

of yesterday and part of today searching for the perfect name for a perfect
duo and I think I finally found it ...
‘Okaaaay … what is it sir… if I may ask’ said Max …
‘You ready? ... said Dee … ‘Well, I said to myself … these guys are so good at
what they do … Your energy is raw and unique … you are the masters of your
craft … your drive is hard to duplicate … your creative prowess is very potent …
and most of all … the love you have for each other is real … it is official … the
name of your group shall be called MAESTRO

‘Wow MAESTRO … Damn … I love it’ …
“Oh yeah … better than your dream boys huh? … said Dee in a chuckling voice
‘How did you come about the name sir’ … asked Castro … shaking his head in
awe …
‘Simple’ … said Dee … I merged your names … Max and Castro equals
MAESTRO … you are the best’ …
‘that’s simply genius’ ... said Max … ‘everything about you is legendary … we
promise to live up to the name’ …
‘You better … said Dee
‘Dee … we promise never to let you down ... said, Castro
No worries, my friend…’ said Dee … and then he told Castro and Max … ‘before
any contract signing, our team will meet with you to answer any questions that
you might have … they will explain every step of every process … … the goal is
to prepare you for the journey that you are about to embark on … it is not
always going to be a smooth sail … sometimes it can be fun … sometimes it can
be hard … our goal is to guide you … prepare you … protect you … and
manage you as you progress in your careers … any questions?
‘No sir,’ said Castro
‘Okay … now let’s get to work, said Dee as the meeting ended

DeeBee Records
TAKES OVER

THE LIFE CHANGER
DeeBee Records celebrated the contract of MAESTRO

with some fanfare … Dee wanted as much publicity
as possible for the new addition to his label.
The guys were both given individual apartments
on the island as well as a 10 million naira signing bonus …
It was a Life Changing moment for
Castro and Max.

THE NEXT BIG ACT – One week after the contract signing … the DeeBee
marketing team was already up and running … MAESTRO was quickly branded
as the next BIG act … In the first few months, they were featured in multiple
collaborations with several artists as an introduction to the BIG stage … this was
followed by a string of photo sessions and interviews with highly acclaimed
media outlets and online blogs … MAESTRO was on their way.
In an unusual move that was contrary to their tradition, BobbyBeats and K-Blast
were brought in to join DeeBe’s team of excellent producers … They have
worked with Castro and Max in the past and Dee was a fan … he felt the
addition was not only an infusion of new ideas … but also a necessary ingredient
needed to create an environment where Max and Castro will be more
comfortable … Dee was ready to make MAESTRO the next BIG act…
PRELUDE TO THE MANIA – In the months that followed – the team at DeeBee was
fully locked in on the MAESTRO sound … they have NEVER launched a group or
duo prior to working on the MAESTRO project … It was a big deal and Dee was
pulling no punch in his quest to take MAESTRO to the mountain top … He
wanted the upcoming debut to match the hype … ‘I want nothing BUT the best’
he told his production team repeatedly … ‘leave no stone unturned’ …. they
got the message … and delivered what proved to be a masterpiece
THE DEBUT – MAESTRO the self-titled EP was released on all platforms ten months
to the day after signing with DeeBee Records … the success was instant … they
had five top ten singles … three of which went to number one … they had over
seventy million streams globally … an anthem that led to a dance craze … a
band of followers on social media who were religiously committed fans … sold-
out concerts all over the country and continent … this was monumental for a
new group … Castro and Max could not have asked for a better start …
MAESTRO it seems has arrived.

MAESTRO MANIA – The excitement triggered by the launch of MAESTRO was real
… It was an explosion waiting to happen … an overnight success that no one
saw coming … their songs were the most requested on radio stations and
nightclubs … it seems the fans could not have enough … social media was
awash with the duo … MAESTRO merchandise such as hoodies, t-shirts, hats,
posters, and pin badges were flying off the shelves … everyone seems to want a
piece of the action ... the MANIA was getting bigger by the day.
But Dee made sure he kept the guys grounded … he constantly advised them
on how to manage their newfound fame … he knew the pitfalls, if new artists
are not well prepared, especially in today’s environment of social media … This
became even more imperative after an incident that happened the week prior
… word had gotten to Dee that Max and Castro were part of an after-party that
ended in a brawl … there was also allegations of hard drug use as well as
manhandling of some female escorts … Dee had no choice but to summon the
guys for a pep talk …
THE PEP TALK – ‘You are no more the guys you once were’ he told them … ‘you
are now public figures … with a name to protect … a brand … with everything
to lose … some people might call you celebrities … while that might be true …
don’t let it get into your head … one of the richest men in the world was once
quoted as saying … It takes years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.
If you think about that, you'll do things differently … always remember where
you are coming from … always be yourself and you will be just fine … he said
Castro and Max clarified why they were at the party … it was an invitation from
a fellow artist with whom they did a collaboration months earlier … they arrived
late and had no idea of the presence or usage of illicit drugs until they walked
into the room … they left after 30 minutes and did not witness the brawl … they
promised Dee that it will never happen again.

Dee also encouraged them to get competent financial advisers to provide

guidance on how to manage their money … If you fail to plan … you are
certainly planning to fail … money comes and goes’ … he said ‘but if you can
manage it properly … it’s going to stay and grow … always remember that’ …
he concluded.
KEEPING THE PROMISE – The success of MAESTRO has completely transformed

the lives of Castro and Max … they now have more money than they could
spend … Castro was able to bring his mom and brother back to Lagos … he
made sure they were comfortable – he bought them a house and a car … he
also gave his mom enough money to start a new business … ‘you will never
have to worry about money again’ ... he told her ... Max also assisted his parents
– they have always wanted to start their own company … He was able to
provide the start-up funds for the new business.
ALL IN THE FAMILY – After a year of MAESTRO mania … Dee had a meeting with
Max and Castro … he told them how stability in their personal lives will be a
major component to having successful careers … he suggested adding Bella
and Nina to the team as co-managers of the group … they have been part of
every process … they have been in every meeting … every concert … almost all
studio sessions … simply put … they have been extremely supportive of MAESTRO
… Max, and Castro agreed
DeeBee Records will now be strictly in charge of production and all industry-
related matters … the management team of Bella and Nina will now take over
the day-to-day running of MAESTRO including media matters … marketing and
promotion … the idea from Dee was a perfect fit like a hand in a glove

DOUBLE DOSE – The guys were getting ready for the release of their second EP …
a twenty-city tour was already planned to kick off in 4 months … Bella and Nina
have been working around the clock to make sure everything was in place for
the big launch … Dee was blown away at the pace at which the ladies caught
up with their new roles … he suggested releasing the first single from their
upcoming EP before going on tour … it will be great to have new songs to
sustain the mania and grow the fanbase … he thought
BELLA BELLA – Two months before the tour began, Bella had some good news to
share … she had missed her period … she did an HCG test … it was positive …
she was pregnant … the news was like an earthquake in the MAESTRO circle of
friends … everyone was happy, especially Nina.
A week after finding out that Bella was pregnant, Castro and Max were in the
studio when a package arrived … it was addressed to Castro … Max wondered
why Castro used DeeBee’s address for his private mail.
‘it’s a secret … You are not supposed to tell anyone … said, Castro
‘But how can I keep a secret when I don’t know what is in the package,’ said
Max
‘It’s an engagement ring’ … said Castro in a whispering tone … ‘I have decided

to propose to Bella … and I want to do it in front of the world … at our next
concert’ … said Castro
‘Wow ... that will be great … what an idea’ … ‘are you sure Bella knows nothing
about this?’ he asked
‘Nothing … I can’t wait to see her reaction,’ said Castro

THE SURPRISE – Two weeks later … the much-anticipated single was released
with great success … the global numbers surpassed their debut EP … MAESTRO
MANIA was alive and well … they planned to have a release concert in a much
smaller venue … it will be live-streamed to a global audience … no one knew
what was planned … except Castro and Max.
After performing the second song … Castro told the crowd that he would like to
introduce someone special … he called Bella to join him on stage … she was shy
at first … but reluctantly joined him and Max … As she got closer …. Castro went
down on his knee to propose to her … Bella tearfully said yes … the crowd
exploded in a big burst … the DeeBee team could not believe it … Dee was
beyond happy for the couple … K-Blast and BobbyBeats could hold back their
excitement … Nina joined them on stage … it was beyond ecstatic as they
performed the first single off their upcoming EP aptly titled – Thank you
THE END

Maestro - The Movie

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Maestro - The Movie

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MAESTRO – THE MOVIE

PELICAN MEDIA PRODUCTIONS © MAY 2022

This is the almost tragic story of two childhood friends, who

Their journey was punctuated by many twists and turns

But fate intervened in the most unlikely way resulting in a

PELICAN MEDIA PRODUCTIONS © MAY 2022

Aisha – Castro’s Girlfriend #1

Bella – Castro’s Girlfriend #2

Nina – Max’s Girlfriend

Chi-Chi – Nina’s Friend

Deji – Castro’s Friend

Kevin aka K-Blast – Record Producer & Friend of Castro

Pascal – Assistant to K-Blast and hype man

Robert aka BobbyBeats – Record Producer & Friend of Max

Dee Benson – CEO of DeeBee Records

Maddog – Student & Member of a street gang called Busters

Soto – Member of a street gang called Busters

Lucky – Member of a street gang called Busters

PELICAN MEDIA PRODUCTIONS © MAY 2022

THE CHILDHOOD BOND

Max and Castro have been inseparable since their days in

While in secondary school, they formed a group called

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PELICAN MEDIA PRODUCTIONS © MAY 2022

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Castro could not believe what happened … A gesture of kindness to protect

RUDE AWAKENING – Castro’s hopes were dashed or so it seems. He spent the

PELICAN MEDIA PRODUCTIONS © MAY 2022

PELICAN MEDIA PRODUCTIONS © MAY 2022

‘Nobody is too busy and there was no fling’ … Nina replied …

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sanitary products... Max was speechless…. He checked his phone to confirm

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lifesaver … the ambiance at VILLAS was exactly what he needed to re-establish

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‘What do you mean… she asked

PERFECT TIMING – Castro called Dee to re-introduce himself… He recounted the

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‘We made it K-Blast … We made it ... he screamed in excitement …

‘Wetin happen? … We made what?’ asked K-Blast …

‘We made the final four at DeeBee’s audition’ … Castro replied …

‘ooh yeah, Let’s Goooo’ yelled K-Blast …

PELICAN MEDIA PRODUCTIONS © MAY 2022

me a text?’ he asked Nina …

‘Maxwell … Maxwell’ ... Nina screamed

‘What’s going on?’ ... Max asked

‘What is it?’ … he asked

PELICAN MEDIA PRODUCTIONS © MAY 2022

‘no worries, Max … we are in this together said BobbyBeats

PELICAN MEDIA PRODUCTIONS © MAY 2022

‘Don’t worry … if it is meant to be … it absolutely will happen … and you will