On the road from Lagos 10: Coward! 1



Oba-Abass watches Cece and the bus conductor leave and smile sadly

OBA-ABASS's FLASHBACK -EIGHT YEARS AGO
INT- UNKNOWN ROOM IN BENUE- NIGHT
OBA-ABASS follows CLARA, a tall light skinned black woman in her early 50s into a room

OBA-ABASS
(With a pleading look) Please Clara

CLARA
(Turns back to Oba-Abass) stop begging me Oba, I am not following you this time around. I am tired of moving around, I need some stability in my life

OBA-ABASS
I promise you, this is the last time we are moving

CLARA
That was the same thing you told me when we left Akwa Ibom for Taraba, you also said the same thing when we were leaving Taraba for Benue and now you are saying the same thing when we are leaving for Ogun State (pause and sighs) I correct myself, you are leaving for Ogun State

OBA-ABASS
This time is different, after I am done wi…

CLARA
(Cuts in sharply) with this job, they will make you the regional director. Yeah you said that the other time too

OBA-ABASS
I understand you Clara but we need each other

CLARA
(In a loud tearful voice) then stay, Stay Oba. Do you think I want to do this? You are the love of my life. I love you so much but I can’t do this anymore. I am tired of moving all the time, you know how hard it is for me to settle down in a new environment and when I finally settle down, we move again. I am tired of that, so stay with me Oba

OBA-ABASS
If I stay, I will have to quit my job

CLARA
Then quit, you have been slaving yourself for this ungrateful company. You are in your 50s, you should resting and have other people answer to you but instead they sent you to different places to do the job meant for a man in his 20s. I already told you, they don’t deserve you

OBA-ABASS
We need the money to take care of your treatment 

CLARA
We have more than enough money to take care of my health, infact we have the money to go on vacation in exotic hotels in different part of the world if we want to. It is not about the money

OBA-ABASS
I built this company, hell will freeze over before I let someone else take my position

CLARA
Can you hear yourself talk? News flash, different people are in your position (chuckles sadly) this is pointless isn’t it? No matter what I say, you are never going to stay

OBA-ABASS
I need you

CLARA
I know you do but for once I am going to be selfish and chose me. I am going to do what is best for me

OBA-ABASS
So staying with Stephanie is what is best for you?

CLARA
Yes, she is a widow and alone. So am I because you are never around.

OBA-ABASS
Please Clara

CLARA
If you ask me to choose between going with you to Ogun State, seeing you once in a while and be alone and staying back here in Benue with Stephanie, see you once in a while and be with someone who cares about me, I will chose the latter. So go to Lagos or Ogun and continue building the career you have been building for the last 35 years, come see me when your master let you

OBA-ABASS
Clara!

CLARA
We are done talking about this, I will go park your luggage (she leave)

**************************
The old man is not without his own baggage too.

I know you guys are wondering when the journey will start, don't worry, it will start soon. we are waiting for one last traveller, the sun of the journey 

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