Fiction, series

GOOD GIRL GONE BAD (Episode 4) by Solomon Enweremmadu

EXT. DAVID’S PLACE – DAY

We see a taxi driving off as Rita walks towards the gate.

INT. DAVID’S LIVING ROOM

David is painting.

Rita opens the front door and let’s herself in.

David turns to see her.

DAVID

Hi babe, you closed early today?

RITA

Yeah I had to check on a new client I’m working on so I just thought to go home from there.

DAVID

New client? That’s good.

RITA

Well yeah, it’s not a big one. I just hope it pulls through this week.

DAVID

Your Deadline. Babe just do your best and leave the rest. Things will always work themselves out.

Rita drops her bag on the sofa and heads towards the kitchen.

RITA

Guess who I saw today?

DAVID

(enthusiastic) Babe, hold that thought right there.

David grabs the painting and runs to show her.

What do you think?

FULL SCREEN PAINTING

A very beautiful painting.

RITA (O.S.)

Wow this is amazing. ( still staring at the painting.) Dave this excellent, it’s the best I’ve seen you do.

DAVID

(passionately)

You asked if this was the one. Well I think it is. I can’t sell this for anything less than N1million naira in Nigeria! But we take this

abroad, where art is well appreciated? We’re talking millions baby, right here. I mean its bye, bye struggles I’ll tell you that.

RITA

That’s if you’ll get anyone to pay for it quick enough. Not all those your customers that would be pricing it for N50,000.

DAVID

No, no not this one. The least I would sell this in Nigeria and only because I’m desperate is 750K.

RITA

(sarcastically) I’m sure they’ll pay even N10million.

DAVID

Babe come on. Have some faith please.

RITA

Dave, I have too many deadlines in my life right now, I don’t think I have time for wishful thinking.

Rita takes some juice out the fridge and pours in a glass cup.

DAVID

don’t worry. You’ll see. Oh yeah, who was it you saw today?

RITA

(pauses for a moment) don’t worry, No-one important.

DAVID

Okay. Well let me put some cool finishing touches to this stuff ‘cos it’s hot right now.

David heads back to his paint stand.

Close shot: Rita is drinking some juice, lost in thoughts,

almost like she’s staring at the ceiling.

DAVID (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Naija here we come. This is Da Vinci on the west coast.

(mimics an American female reporter)

Hey Mr. David. How does it feel to be called the African Da Vinci? (mimics a deep male voice) Well, you know, I just do what I do

man.

Rita turns to look towards Dave. She watches him with a sorry look of pity as she shakes her head.

DAVID (O.S.) (CONT’D)

Some people call me this and some people call me that but you know, I just do what I do man you na wha’ am

saying?

EXT. A RESTURANT. – DAY

INT. RESTURANT

Jenny is sitting at a table and Rita approaches the table.

RITA

Jen, Jen. What’s good?

Jenny gets up for a quick hug with Rita.

JENNY

Rita baby, sit down, sit down.

RITA

I’ve only got like half an hour, that crazy Boss of mine is on my neck.

JENNY

don’t mind him. (inhales) Meanwhile, I’ve met him.

RITA

Met who?

JENNY

Richard.

RITA

Who’s Richard?

JENNY

The guy I told you about on the phone. Abiola’s friend?

RITA

Oh sorry, him. When? Where? Where did you meet him?

JENNY

At his office.

RITA

(puzzled) Okay. What were you doing at his office?

JENNY

No. I just had some business at the bank next door so I called him up and asked if I could pop in say hello.

RITA

(closes her eyes) Jenny, don’t, don’t push yourself on this man. Let him, (pause) let him work for it.

JENNY

No, I’m not pushing, I was just, (moment of realization) Yeah, I guess you’re right. See why

I needed to talk to you quickly, before I go and mess things up again.

RITA

No you won’t mess it up.

JENNY

I will.

They are interrupted by a waitress laying out dishes on their table.

I ordered your favorite, roasted chicken with chips.

 RITA

Ah ah, Jenny, you didn’t have to now.

JENNY

Rita do you know how it feels for a young woman like me to go for years now without a tangible toaster except for all those useless okada

boys near my house. Even our security man toasted me last week because he has seen me trekking about like a lonely goose.

RITA

(chuckles) Stop it.

JENNY

I’m serious. Sometimes I envy you so much. Correct guys are toasting you right left and center and you’re bouncing them. In a few weeks time you’ll be married to Mr. Cool himself. What wouldn’t I give to be in your shoes.

RITA

Different strokes, ‘cos I envy you. How you could stay so happy and funny with or without a man in your life. It doesn’t matter what’s going on around you, you just seem to know how to keep your head above the waters. Jenny, you’ve been an inspiration to me, don’t let anyone or anything change you.

(pause)

Let’s eat quick, I’ve got to go.

JENNY

Oh yeah.

They start to eat.

RITA

Talking of men, can you believe that Steven Idoko was at my office yesterday?

We hear the SOUND of Jenny’s spoon as it drops on her plate.

JENNY

(mouthful) What? Who?

RITA

I’m telling you.

JENNY

Be serious. What does he want? Did he attack you? Did he create a scene?

RITA

No not at all, in fact quite the opposite really. There was something so calm and mature about him. He’s changed a lot, yes his still funny as ever but there was something real manly about him.

JENNY

Well let him go and manly himself somewhere else, we have a wedding to plan.

RITA

Jenny, don’t be like that. He just came back from the States and decided to find me and see how I’m doing. He looks quite boxed up sha.

JENNY

I’ve said my own. If he doesn’t stay away from you, he’ll be boxed up.

They laugh.

INT. N.G.I.T OFFICE HALLWAY

Rita is walking into the office on the phone.

RITA

Sure, just tell me what time and I’ll be ready. (pause) Okay, bye.

INT. RITA’S OFFICE DESK

Rita’s POV: Rita’s PC MONITOR has a yellow sticker note smack

in the middle of the screen. Rita rips it off. It reads: ‘FOUR DAYS TO GO’ and a smiley. We see Stephanie and Uche in their corner laughing at Rita.

Stephanie comically signals Rita to run and go make some money. Rita settles into her seat slowly. She pulls out her wallet from her hand bag and slowly slips out the same photo of a

man. We see tears rolling down her eyes as she tries to hide her face with one hand.

MUSIC CUE: GENTLE KEYBOARD NO SINGING.

We hear the SOUND of Rita’s phone. A text message. Close shot on Phone screen: Message reads: HEY BEAUTY QUEEN,

I’LL PICK YOU UP OUTSIDE YOUR OFFICE BY 5:30. STEVE.

Rita places the phone on her desk and pulls up a file that read: PROSPECTIVE CLIENTS. Her phone text SOUND goes off again. Another text message

titled DAVE reads: HI BABE, HOPE YOU’RE OK. SHALL WE MEET AT YOURS OR MINE TODAY? XX.

Rita types a response. We read as she types: SORRY BABE, I’M MEETING WITH A CLIENT

AFTER WORK. I’LL CALL YOU TONIGHT. X.

EXT. N.G.I.T OFFICE BUILDING

Rita is waiting by the stairs. We hear Mekus SINGING, coming closer to her.

MEKUS (O.S.)

Ifeoma, Ifeoma, Ifeoma, I want to marry you, give me your love. Give me your love.

Rita turns around.

Baby, this song is specially for you.

RITA

Come Mekus or whatever your name is. Leave me alone now, stop embarrassing me in public like this.

We see a Black Range Rover Sport pull up on the road behind Rita.

MEKUS

O baby, I don’t want to embarrass you not at all. But you are my graduate wife.

RITA

Graduate wife. O, you want to marry a graduate? My brother there are so many graduates in Lagos who I’m sure will love to be your wife, but…

Mekus POV: We see Steven step out of the Range Rover and

walks towards them behind Rita.

STEVEN

(loud) Rita, is everything okay?

MEKUS

Who be that?

Rita turns.

RITA

Steve, Hi. I’m alright.

Rita walks towards Steven.

MEKUS

(to himself) Hew Baby. Mmuonso si na owu eba ka mm ga hu nwanyim.

English subtitle reads: The Spirit said I would meet my wife right here.

Mekus POV: Steve and Rita drive off in the Range Rover.

 

INT. RESTURANT

Jenny sits across the table from RICHARD, early thirties.

JENNY

You know, I think I remember you now from that night. You were sitting alone most of the night near the TV.

RICHARD

Yep that’s me. I didn’t really know anyone there so I just kept to myself most of the time.

JENNY

Or are you a shy guy?

RICHARD

Me? No, well not really.

JENNY

Ah, you’re a shy guy, but don’t worry, your secret is safe with me. They laugh. Richard points his finger at Jenny

RICHARD

You’re really funny, you know that?

JENNY

(giggles) I try my best.

 

EXT. STEVEN’S HOUSE – EVENING

A very expensive mansion. The gates are opened by a security man in uniform. We see the Black Range Rover drive in. Rita hops down and looks around in awe of the house.

INT. STEVEN’S LIVING ROOM

Rita is extremely excited. Steven is smiling.

RITA

What on earth did you say you’re doing for a living?

STEVEN

(laughing) You can say my office job is just a cover, I do a lot of importation of goods. But come let me show you the real surprise.

Steven drags her by the hand to the dining area.

INT. STEVEN’S DINING ROOM

A beautiful display of assorted meals and dishes with starters and a bottle of champagne in a silver bucket.

RITA

(stunned) Wow. Steve, what is this?

Steven pulls out a chair for her.

STEVEN

Sit down and enjoy.

Rita and Steven settle down to dinner.

 

INT. RESTURANT

Jenny and Richard are just rounding up their meal and Richard is paying the waitress.

RICHARD

Let’s go to my place.

JENNY

Really?

RICHARD

Yeah, let’s go have some more fun.

JENNY

(recollects herself) Oh no, I can’t. I mean it’s only our first date and besides I have a lot of work to catch up on.

RICHARD

(very disappointed) Okay, okay.

JENNY

I’m so sorry, don’t worry we’ll go next time.

Richard is not answering. Obviously very unhappy.

Why don’t you take me home and we can chill a bit at my place before you go?

RICHARD

(mustering a smile) Okay let’s go.

 

INT. STEVEN’S DINING ROOM

Steven and Rita are done with the meal.

RITA

That was out of this world.

STEVEN

I’m glad you liked it but before you say anything, come with me.

Steven rushes round to pull her chair out and takes her by

the hand.

RITA

(amused and suspicious) Steve, what is going on here?

STEVEN

Just follow me.

Steven leads Rita back towards the living room.

similar post–> GGGB 3, GGGB 2, GGGB 1

Sally

Author. Screenwriter. Blogger

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