Why? 3 || Shackled to the Heart 23

EPISODE 23

15 Years

INT. SOMEWHERE IN JOHANNASBURY- NIGHT

Imade walks into a small auditorium is tightly fitted, knee length, sleeveless white gown on a striped white heels with a black purse. Looking as radiant as ever, Imade looks around the small auditorium void of people until she sees a nicely dressed Micheal waving her over to the front with a bright smile on his face

Imade sighs deeply as she makes her way down the stairs, passing the rows of seats to the front where Micheal is waiting for her.

MICHEAL

You made it, as usual you look radiant

He moves to hug her but then she step back avoiding his embrace. She looks around nervously and then she spots a chair at the middle of the podium

IMADE

Am I too early?

MICHEAL

No, you are just in time

She looks at him strangely

IMADE

But there is no one here

MICHEAL

I told you it was a private recital, it is just the two of us

IMADE

(With farrowed eyebrow) Just the two of us?

He nods

IMADE

(Sarcastically) What is this? A date

MICHEAL

If you want to call it that, it is fine by me

IMADE

I will be not le…

A young man comes onto the podium from the backstage

A YOUNG MAN

The recital will be starting

MICHEAL

Come, let sit

He told her arm but she forcefully withdraws it from his grip

IMADE

Please refrain from touching me

He throws his hands up in surrender and goes to sit in the middle of the rows of seats. Imade sits at the extreme end, far away from him

MICHEAL

Come on, Imade

DEBBY, a young pretty lady in her twenties come onto the stage with a violin in hand. Imade smiles and waves to this young lady with a bright smile and this young lady reciprocate with a really bright smile of her own

Then, Debby brings out her violin from the violin case as she sits on the chair in the middle of stage. For the next thirty minutes, Debby entertained her audience with different melodious tunes with the violin and when she finally stops performing. She bows to her audience, though just two people but compliments her with a loud resounding claps

She jumps down the stage the moment she finishes to hug Imade. Imade hold the young lady tightly in her arms

IMADE

(In excitement) Oh my God! When did you get so good?

DEBBY

It is so good to see you again, Sister Imade

IMADE

Girl, you are amazing with violin. I wish the other kids will see you now, well they are not kids anymore but I bet they will regret calling you windscreen Debby then

The young lady chuckles

MICHEAL

Oh! trust me they do

He moves closer to them

DEBBY

I think they will regret not meeting you today, Sister Imade. Nigeria’s own self-made billionaire, you are royalty now

IMADE

(Chuckles) Royalty? Thanks for the flattering, Debby

DEBBY

I am not flattering you Sister Imade, it seems you don’t know what you mean to the others and I, what your husband mean to us

IMADE

(Confused) My husband?

DEBBY

Though we never met the man but he contributed a lot to our lives with his frequent donations

IMADE

(In surprise) Donations, Wemimo was donating to the orphanage?

DEBBY

Yes, he was, he didn’t tell you

MICHEAL

You didn’t know?

IMADE

No, I did not

DEBBY

God used him for us big time

Imade nods

IMADE

So, how are the other kids?

DEBBY

They are good and Sister Imade, it was not nice the way you abandoned us

IMADE

That was not my intention, after I came back from Paris, you guys were no longer there anymore. Some of you were in school while those that are not in school moved out and with Sister Elizabeth out of the country, there was nobody I knew there anymore

DEBBY

The last time I talked to the good sister, she told me of her illness, how is she now?

MICHEAL

(In surprise) The sister is ill?

IMADE

You didn’t know?

MICHEAL

I am not exactly in the Sister’s good books

DEBBY

She was diagnosed of pancreatic cancer

MICHEAL

What?

DEBBY

How is she now? Will she make it?

IMADE

We are hoping but do you know what will make her really happy?

DEBBY

What?

IMADE

You and the others’ visit, it will make her day

DEBBY

I will arrange it, we will come and see her

MICHEAL

You have seen her

IMADE

Of course she is in my care

DEBBY

Sister Imade, please, can we do dinner together?

IMADE

I have an early flight back home tomorrow

DEBBY

Please, I want to talk to you

IMADE

If you come to see the Sister like you promised, you will see me

DEBBY

You are the CEO of a big company, you might not have my time anymore

IMADE

Oh! Trust me, I will

DEBBY

Then, it won’t be between us

IMADE

You just want me to say yes

DEBBY

Then, say yes

IMADE

Fine, yes

The young lady jumps up in excitement

DEBBY

Thank you

IMADE

But just for an hour

DEBBY

That is more than enough, I will pack my things

The lady dances walks from them to the backstage with her violin. Imade sighs as she looks at her

IMADE

(Without turning to face him) She is so grown

MICHEAL

You are a part of her growth

IMADE

No, my husband is. Our marriage will clock 15 this year and yet at every corner, he still manages to surprise me

MICHEAL

Sister Elizabeth…

Imade turns her face to him

MICHEAL

Will she survive?

Imade gives him a blank expression

MICHEAL

You don’t know

IMADE

Like I said earlier, we are hoping

MICHEAL

If you need any assistance with her care…

IMADE

I won’t, my husband is handling it

MICHEAL

(Scoff) Since does Wemimo care for Sister Elizabeth or even the orphanage?

IMADE

Since when have you fallen out of the Sister’s good grace?

He looks away

IMADE

Now that I think about it, she never mentions you. I thought it was because of our past… but it was because of you, what did you do?

MICHEAL

We exchanged some words after Wemi died

IMADE

What kind of words?

MICHEAL

I found out that you left home and was residing at the orphanage. I wanted to see you, talk you, console you but she won’t let me. I thought it was because she was giving you space but I found out that Wemimo started sponsoring the orphanage

IMADE

Was that when he started?

MICHEAL

I think so, then her refusal to let me see you suddenly made sense

IMADE

(Exclaim) What are you talking about?

MICHEAL

Think about it, Imade, if she wants to keep getting money from Wemimo, she has to keep licking his feet and doing everything he tells her

IMADE

Excuse me?

MICHEAL

It is the logical explanation

IMADE

Let me guess, you told her that

MICHEAL

Because it is the truth

IMADE

(With spite) Did you ever think it was I didn’t want to see you?

MICHEAL

You love me, Imade, no matter how much you try to deny it, you still do and I can see it. There is no way you won’t want to see me especially after our son died

IMADE

I didn’t want to see you and I still don’t want to see you but I have no choice. Did you even think it was because she was trying save the marriage I almost destroyed because of my stupidity?

MICHEAL

Our love is pure and real

IMADE

But at the expense of other people’s happiness, at expense of my future

MICHEAL

You would have had a good future with me too

IMADE

I am billionaire, Micheal, would I have been one with you?

MICHEAL

But you will be happy, you would not lack and would also be happy. Are you a happy billionaire?

IMADE

It might not be the same kind of happiness I would have with you but I have found happiness with my husband and did ever think that my son just died and I need some space to myself before you opened your big mouth to that virtuous sister

MICHEAL

(in a loud angry voice) Yes, Wemi died, our son, a boy that I didn’t get to meet died and I was not even allowed to be his father even after his death. Wemimo didn’t even let me mourn him with you, he shat over everything that was us and came between us

IMADE

Your parent did that, your mother called me a slum slut and said I was not the right woman for you. In case you forgot, I remembered, so stop blaming my husband. Your parent destroyed our relationship (Sighs) where is this girl, I don’t have all the time in the world?

She turns to walk away

MICHEAL

Did you know my family wanted to take Wemi from you?

She suddenly turns back to him in surprise

IMADE

(Exclaims) What?

MICHEAL

Of course, he did not tell you

IMADE

What are you taking about?

Next on Why?

MICHEAL