THE WRITER

(HEART AS DARK)
[Episode 1]

Written by
Nelly Donald
ABSTRACT 1.
FADE IN:
INT. OLD TACH HOUSE – NIGHT

We hear an old typewriter click sound from the BG as it starts faintly then gradually to loud.
We open on written squeeze paper on the floor. We smart cut to an old African constructed lamb as it
burns with dirt smoke up. We smart cut to female fingers as the hit the typewriter keys. We smart cut to
the woman’s face. She is DASH, late 50. She is on lens glasses. She type awhile, pull off her glasses, she
cleans the sweat from her face and put the glasses back. Breeze blows off the light at once.
She strikes out matches and put on the light. Mike spirits stands by the wall already.

DASH
Who are you? What did you want?
What’s your story?

We can hear a ghosting whisper sound from the BG. Dash starts typing at once.

1.
FADE IN:
EXT. ADORA’S RESIDENCE – DAY
ADORA, Female, Late 28, MADONNA, Female early 19. Sits out on a matt under a veranda. Both sob
bitterly for the passing away of their mother. Awhile,
DEEP TO BLACK:
2.
FADE IN:
EXT. ADORA RESIDENCE – DAY
KAMBALI early 30, female, and Adobe sits under a shade in conversation, while the peel melon seed.

ADORA
(Stop peeling)
I don’t know…
I just feel empathy.
I just feel like…
Everything about me is gone.
(Sob)
Mom, it shouldn’t have been soon,
Because you promised to take care of
us when dad answers the call God few years back.
Why so soon? Why?
(Sob)

KAMBALI
(Flatly)
It okay my dear.
God gives, so he takes.
 Who are we to question him when he is the writer?
and has such, has the right, to erase us at anytime.

Beat and hold Adobi by the hand.

KAMBALI (COUNT’D)
I urge you to be strong my friend.
Just stay steadfast
For things are going to be fine soon.
(Deep breath)

ADORA
Thank you.
I don’t know what I will have done without you.

KAMBALI
You’re welcome always.
Emm!
I think I need to be going now

ADORA
So soon?
KAMBALI
Yeah!
I need to get things ready.
You know my younger brother will be travelling
back to school as early as possible.
And I haven’t gotten his food stuffs ready.

ADORA
Okay, let me see you off.

2. EXTEN’N
Both stand and take a walk, we follow them as the discuses along.

KAMBALI
So, has the funeral date been decided upon?

ADORA
th
Yes. It’s fixed for next month 15

KAMBALI
th
15 is not bad, it will help us prepare well.
(Beat)
That remains me, what about Mike?
I hope he has been frequently coming here?

ADORA
Not actually, but it’s fine, I understand.
 He travels out of the state to hustle for
money for the funeral. Since he has no job anymore.

KAMBALI
(Surprise)
Traveled? When?

ADORA
That was two days after my mother’s death.

KAMBALI
(Clears her troth)
Okay o!
I pray he should get what he went for.

ADORA
Amen o! Amen my sister.

Both walk passes the lens as it fades to the cloud.

DEEP TO BLACK:
3.
EXT. KAMBALI RESIDENT – DAY
Kambali sits under a shade outside lost in her thought. Shortly, she smile and shack her head in surprise.

KAMBALI
Men……
Men and their canny ways.
(use Nigeria pidgin L)
Wetin Kambali no go see for relation and marriage gate?

FLASH OUT:
4.
EXT. EATERY – DAY
Kambali sits in an eatery pressing her phone. Awhile, she makes a call. Speak to the phone, end the call
and continue operating.
Shortly, we follow MIKE, Early 32 and JOB late 32 and Judith Female, early 22 as they walk into the
eatery and met with Kambali. She stands and gives Joe a worm hug as all sits. (Inaudible)

JOE
I’m sorry for keeping you waiting.
It was actually Mike’s idea of bringing with
him Judith, that kept me behind.

KAMBALI
Apologies accepted my love.

JOE
That reminds me. Honey, meet mike my friend.
And beside him, is Judith his fiancée.
 The woman, that by God grace,
he’s getting marrying to soon. And Mike, meet
Kambali, the woman after my heart I told you about.

KAMBALI
(Clears her troth)
Hi! Nice meeting you two.

JUDITH
Same here. You look beautiful.
FLASH IN:
3 (COUNT’D)
EXT. KAMBALI RESIDENT – DAY
KAMBALI
(Lament in surprise)
Ah!
Men! You people would not kill us before our time.
CUT TO:
5.
EXT. ADORA’S RESIDENCE – DAY
Kambali and Adora sit close each other.

ADORA
I don’t understand.

KAMBALI
Your husband sits comfortable with
that girls head place on his shoulder
while Joe did the introduction right in my face.

ADORA
Wait a minute! You mean, Mike my husband is in
town with another woman as we speak?

KAMBALI
Yes he is…
He never travelled as you said.
He fooled you Adora!
That dog of a man you called your husband is
out there gallivanting with a different woman
while you sit here and mourn.

ADORA
Nah!
I will not have you insult him by
addressing him as a dog.
He is still my husband, no matter what.

KAMBALI
 Like seriously?
You’re taking side as usual?
(Beat)
I shouldn’t have told you.
Excuse me!

Stand and leave in anger as Adora sits in devastated. Awhile, tears drops slowly from her eyes. Lens
tracks out slowly from her face.

DEEP TO BLACK:
6.
FADE IN:
SUPERIMPOSE: three months later.
EXT. MIKE RESIDENCE – DAY
We follow Adora and Madonna as they move with their luggage into the compound and stops by the
door, Adora brings out the key, opens the door as both enters.
DEEP TO BLACK:
7.
EXT. MIKE RESIDENCE – DAY
Adora and Mike sits face each other around the veranda.

MIKE
You don’t have to say…
You are my wife, so anything that affects
you do affect me too.
Beside, Madonna is not a stranger but
like a younger sister to me.
So she’s welcome to stay as long as she can.

ADORA
Thank you so much my love.
I blessed the Lord for making you come my path.
If not, I wonder what would have been of me by now.
Thank you.

MIKE
It’s okay!

ADORA
Okay………
You will excuse me.
Let me go prepare something for the evening.

DEEP TO BLACK:
8.
FADE IN:
EXT. MIKE RESIDENCE- DAY
Madonna dresses on a short skin tight gown. She listens to music from the headset. We follow her as she
sweeps around the compound. We follow her awhile from behind as lens suddenly starts tracking
backward slowly until Mike’s image is fully seen. He is brushing his teeth at same time looking keenly
and lustfully at Madonna. We wait awhile on both of them. He’s done brushing. We follow him as he
move and caress Madonna by the ass.

MADONNA
Jesus!

She quickly removes the headset and turn at once.

MADONNA
Uncle!
What is the meaning of what you just did?

MIKE
Adjusting your shirt down to cover you of cause!

MADONA
(High pitch)
You were not adjusting my shirt to cover me!
You were caressing me!
Caressing my ass Uncle!
(Beat in surprise)
Gush!
This is Awkward!
This is weird.

Drop the broom and leave inside at once. Mike, lick his tong.

MIKE
(Fake smile)
It was soft sha!
St to leave…
DEEP TO BLACK:
9.
FADE IN:
IDA. Early 21, draws water from a wheel, awhile, Madonna walks devastated into the lens and sits at the
bench outside.
Ida is done fetching and drops the container. She moves and sits beside Madonna with keenly looks.

IDA
(Flatly)
You look gloomy.
Is everything alright?

MADONNA
Ida, everything is not right.

IDA
Why? What is it again? Your sister or-
 MADONA (CUT IN)
Him!
It him again Ida. My Uncle… no! Maybe useless should be
the expression to describe him.

IDA
(Inhale)
What again this time?

MADONNA
I was just sweeping…
Early this morning.
And the next thing was his hands on my ass.

IDA
Jesus Christ! You don’t say…
And what was that for? A jock or what?

MADONNA
The idiot said…
He was adjusting my dress down to cover my ass.

IDA
Ah!
This is bad, this is getting too bad.
I suggest you tell your sister before
it gets out of hand.

MADONNA
Nah!
That’s not a good idea.
You want me to kill her before her time?
It will break her down Ida!
Beside, how do I even express it to her?
(Mimic voice)
That… your husband is torching… Awush! No! no!! No!!!
That’s sound creepy.
He spanks my ass! Oh shit! Bad idea!
They should be another way na Ida!
They should…
Just Think!

IDA
(Deep breath)
Okay it’s fine. I agree with you.
But you have to give me
some time to come up with a plan.
 MADONNA
Anything! Anything Ida.
So long it’s not the first plan.

IDA
No wahala!
Let me go get you watermelon to
eat so it could clam your brain.

MADONA
No wahala! Just do! abeg

Ida leaves inside as we wait with Madonna awhile,

DEEP TO BLACK:
10.
EXT. MIKE RESIDENCE- DAY
We see Madonna as she opens the port, turn the sup, test the sup with her hand, pick up salt about adding
to the sup as we see Make’s hand touches her ass. Madonna springs up in surprise and discovers Mike’s
stands behind her.

MADONA
(Babbles)
Uncle, Jesus!
did you… Did you touch my… my…

MIKE
When would you start behaving like an adult?
Don’t tell me you don’t like what happened or say enjoyed it?

MADONA
Uncle, I don’t like it.
I don’t like it at all!
Please just stop this, stop this nonsense!
otherwise you would leave me with zero option to
report you to my sister.

MIKE
It okay!
No need to shout it. I have had you.
Since you said you don’t like the play, I will stop.
(About leaving inside as he stops and step back outside)
Lets I forgot,
Please come along and collect the mood fish
So you can add into the sup.
.

MADONNA
 Okay Uncle!

Cover the sup, drop the salt and follow him inside. We see the door shot at once. We can hear the bolt
luck as we hear a struggle between Mike and Madonna. Few seconds, we hear Madonna as she screams
for help and ask him to stop until she starts crying. Shortly, Adora walks into the lens and meet with the
scene. {COUNT’D ON SET}

She cries and hit the door in pains, begging for husband to open the door but to no avail. She sits slowly
by the door as the cry from inside gradually decreases to sob. Awhile, Mike opens the door and comes out
{COUNT’D ON SET} Adora holds Madonna to herself as she cries out in pains.

DEEP TO BLACK:
11.
FADE IN:
EXT. MIKE RESIDENCE - DAY
SUPERIMPOSE: Few weeks later.
Adora sits alone outside in a sob mood. Awhile, Mike walks out from the house and meets with her.

MIKE
(Sit)
My love
You know we can’t continue like this?
I understand I have hurt you.
But… I’m sorry
Please forgive me.
I promise it won’t happen again.
Please!

ADORA
You think saying sorry over and over
can clear this mess out?
(Beat)
You slept with my younger sister.

MIKE
I know-

ADORA
(High pitch)
No! You don’t know!
You don’t tell me you know Mike!
Because you know nothing than been such a coward!
(Sob)

MIKE
(Beat)
It okay! But still same, I’m sorry.
Find a place in your heart and forgive me.
Mike stand about to leave back inside as Adora calls out.

ADORA
Michel!

Mike stop at once, Adora stand as we follow her and stop at mike. She stands face to face with
him on tears.

ADORA
(Sob)
I have forgiven you again Michel.
After all,
everyone is fallible to some degree.
But change…
change your ways, or doom awaits you.
(Look at him keenly, Inhale)

Leave in at once as Mike stands at confuse and regret start.

12
EXT. RESIDENCE – DAY
Mike sits under the shade. He is reading magazine, awhile, Adora comes out from inside and stand by the
door.

ADORA
Your food is ready.

MIKE
Oh! That’s nice of you my love.
Please bring it outside for me.

Shortly Adora brings the food and place on a side stool in his front. And leave inside. Mike eats awhile,
feel shape pains in his abdomen, wait awhile, set to eat again as the pains increases. He cries out for help
till he finally falls to the ground, gushes out blood from his moth and died slowly. {COUNT’D ON SET}.
Adora comes out, she walks slowly to the scene. Look at him keenly…
Crosses him and sit, she brings out an old phone, she starts sobbing, dial few 911,
FROM PHONE

This is 911 How may we help you?

ADORA
(Beat awhile, she clean her tears)
I just killed my husband, with poison
BLACK OUT:
Typewriter end sound on BLACK BG:

BACK TO:
1
Dash just finish typing, she drags out the last sheet. Lens focus on the she sheet zoom slowly as we can
see the inscription on it (The Writer, hearth as dark) then suddenly black out.