The Right Side
Episode 3
INT. HIGH COURT, IBADAN- MORNING
In a quiet corridor, Ann sits on a long bench watching Imade’s interview on her cell phone. Few seconds later, TEMI, Ann’s young female PA walks to her
ANN
(Without looking up) What is it?
TEMI
The court is back in session
Ann sits upright immediately, pressing a side button on her android before standing up and walks into the courtroom majestically. Reporters are everywhere in the court recording the events. Taking her seat at the back, she watch Bankole stand up from his seat and walks to the front of the court, where he looks around. With every camera in the court room focused on him
BANKOLE
(Breathes in and out lightly) Cancer? We all know what that is. It is a stranger that comes unannounced without invitation, turning people’s lives upside down. It kills thousands of people every year and yet, there is no cure for it. About five years ago, the country’s heartthrob, Clement Adeoye suffered from leukaemia and died from it. He battled it for some years and lost the battle. For those of us who were his fans, myself included who loved the musician knew how lively Clement was and towards the end, we saw how weak and defeated he looked. He was in a terrible pain and because he didn’t anyone else to suffer what he did, he donated more half of his life savings to the fight against cancer
Ann looked around at how people were focused on Bankole and she smiled softly
BANKOLE
His donation alone amounts to about 12 million US. Dollars and not just him alone, there are so many beneficiaries who has donated huge sum of money to the cause. In the course of five years since Clement died, the All Things Cancer Foundation has received a total of 5 billion USD for the fight against cancer and yet no research has been funded. Where is this money? Even five million naira cannot just disappear without a trace not to talk of five billion USD
He faces the judge with a determined look
BANKOLE
I really hope this court will ask the director of the foundation to provide the five billion USD. About two years ago, the director purchased a jet, a year ago, a ship. His kids are seen in different kinds of expensive cars, Lamborghini, porche, Aston martin, you name it and other acquisition of luxuries the director’s salary cannot pay for. It is going to be a thing of pity if the billions of dollar the good people of our country donated is been diverted to things like these while people die a horrible death from this disease. I urge the court to call on the director to show the public the money and if the money is still intact, the court should command him to do the needful with it. I rest my case
Bankole bowed and there was a loud applause for him from the court. He makes an eye contact with Ann and she gives him a thumbs up. His face give way a soft smile that disappears a second later before he takes his seat
When the clapping gets louder, the judge had to hit his gavel
JUDGE
Please be quiet the court is still in session
The clapping gently reduces. The Judge faces the opposing lawyer
JUDGE
Your closing address
As the other lawyer stands up, Ann takes her hand bag and goes out with her PA, Temi walking behind her. As they walk down the long corridor
ANN
It is best go through the back, I will prefer not to meet the press
TEMI
Yes, Ma’am
Passing through the back, they meet a couple of reporter who swarm round her car. In a matter of seconds, they flocks round her
1st REPORTER
Anike Wada, how do you feel about today’s victory?
Ann sighed loudly
ANN
There is no victory yet, the court is yet to give a verdict
2nd REPORTER
With the evidence your boy has found against the director, he is screwed, he will have no choice but to provide the money
ANN
As far as I am concerned, the verdict has yet to be made, so no victory yet
1st REPORTER
So you know the verdict will swing in your favour
Ann becomes pissed
3rd REPORTER
Please talk to us, how do you feel about today’s victory?
ANN
It is not my victory, it is Bankole Babade’s
3rd REPORTER
He is your protégé, his victory is your victory
2nd REPORTER
A lot of people have tried to bring the director to justice but no one succeed but your boy, that must make you proud
ANN
(Blurts out) He is not my boy, he is a grown ass man
Temi look down and sees her boss’s clenched fist
PA
Okay, that is enough
She paces way for Ann to move through, Ann follows her. Opening the door for her boss, Ann sits at the owner’s corner in the car, while Temi sits in front of the car next to the driver.
Minutes later, the car drives through the streets of Ibadan. Ann presses her cell phone
ANN
It seems the interview has ended
Looking at Ann through the right side mirror
TEMI
What interview?
ANN
My friend’s
TEMI
Ms King’s
Ann nods
TEMI
Yeah, it has ended… she really did well
Ann chuckles as she presses her phone
ANN
I will tell her you said that
TEMI
I envy her
Ann looks up and makes eye contact with her PA
ANN
You do?
PA
Yes, I do… I mean she is talented and super rich. She also has an amazing husband who took the back seat and assist her. Men like Wemimo King are rare, he is also super into her. I want a marriage like theirs
Ann put her cell phone to her ear
ANN
(Smirks) Be careful of what you wish for
TEMI
(In confusion) What?
ANN
Hello Imade
Imade’s voice sound through the phone
IMADE
(In a lukewarm voice) Hey
ANN
Are you okay? You don’t sound well
IMADE
I am well, am just stressed
ANN
I saw your interview, you did well
IMADE
Well, I was prepped by the best but thank you
ANN
You sure you are okay?
IMADE
Yep, I am
ANN
So, how do you feel?
IMADE
I told you am okay
ANN
I mean about the milestone you just achieved, Imade, you are a billionaire
She hears Imade sigh deeply on the phone
IMADE
What if I tell you that I still feel the same as I did when I was 20 and been a billionaire has changed nothing
There was silence for a few seconds
IMADE
Are you there?
ANN
Yes, I am… I just don’t know what to say
IMADE
Of course, you don’t, you probably think I am ungrateful
ANN
Imade, back when we were university students, if anyone had told me that you, Imade, will one day be richer than I am, I will tell the person he or she is crazy but today, you are, you should take comfort in that
IMADE
You are never on my side
ANN
I am always on the right side
IMADE
Which is always Wemimo’s side, for once, be on my side and support now
ANN
Okay now, do you want to divorce him?
IMADE
No, I don’t want to divorce him, I have two kids with him already
ANN
So, what are you ranting about?
IMADE
I just… This is not what I thought my life will be. I have always wanted a simple life and not this life Wemimo has forced me into. I can’t freely do anything, I can’t go anywhere I want alone because I might be kidnapped, I can’t even make a mistake because everyone is looking up to me, everyone sees me a role model, I am no one’s role model, Ann
ANN
How about we eat dinner together today, say we make it a congratulatory dinner about your achievement and we talk more about this here
IMADE
(Sigh deeply) I will pass, I am eating dinner with Wemimo and the girls
ANN
Then enjoy your night with your family, we will talk about this another day
IMADE
Okay, I will text you
ANN
Bye
She hangs up the call and makes another eye contact with her PA who has her mouth open in surprise
ANN
I did told you to be careful of what you wish for
Next on Why?
ANN
Since when do you care about what people say?
BANKOLE
Since I hear people saying I slept my way to the top
ANN
You didn’t
BANKOLE
Well, they don’t know that
TO BE CONTINUED NEXT MONDAY, 9.00PM WAT
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