Why? 3 || Shackled to the Heart 41

EPISODE 42

Unannounced

CONTINUATION FROM LAST EPISODE

INT. ANN’S PENTHOUSE- NIGHT (CONTINOUS)

BANKOLE

Whatever it is you are doing right now, Ann. You made your choice

ANN

I know that

BANKOLE

Then, you don’t get to be mad that I am moving on

ANN

(Jealous) Moving on? Are you seeing someone?

BANKOLE

(Sharply) No, am not

ANN

You answered pretty quickly

BANKOLE

That is because am not, even if I am, it is none of your goddamn business

ANN

The fuck is not my business, I have invested too much in you for to end up with just any girl

BANKOLE

(Scoff) Invest in me?

ANN

(Getting emotional) Yes, I have and I am still doing that. As old as you are, Wemimo is still investing in you. Your stakes in KINGS makes you a millionaire, now with all of that, I am not about to let you marry a woman not good enough for you

BANKOLE

And what is your definition of a woman good enough for me? Someone like you? Someone who will abandon me?

ANN

(Shocked) Abandon you?

BANKOLE

Yes, abandon me. I gave you my heart, Ann and then, you ripped it apart

ANN

I thought you said you forgave me

BANKOLE

I did but that does not mean I forgot. How can I forget the pain you put me through?

Ann looks away

BANKOLE

You remember coming to visit me in Boston two days before your wedding

ANN

Of course, I do

BANKOLE

You just showed up unannounced and I knew something was wrong. I kept asking you what the matter was and you just kept lying to my face

ANN

What did you want me to say? Hey! Bankole, I am leaving you for another man, is that cool with you?

BANKOLE

Yes, you should have told me that because it would have given me a fighting chance

ANN

There was no fighting chance, it was a done deal

BANKOLE

Maybe but I would still want to have a chance to fight for the woman I loved but you denied me that. You didn’t even had the decency to break up with me, Brother Wemimo had to do that for you after he was finally done with your nonsense

ANN

I didn’t want to hurt you

BANKOLE

Well, you did and do you know what the funny thing was, after I came back to Nigeria and you started destroying my relationships, you have no idea how that made me happy? I thought to myself that you were doing that because you still loved me and you were going to come back to me but you never did and you are never going to, I know that now. So Ann, I don’t want a woman like you, I just want a woman who will stay with me and love me

He stands up and pick his suit off

BANKOLE

Thanks for dinner, I will talk to Brother Wemimo and get back to you. I will just say goodnight to the kids

He turns to leave

ANN

(Softly) you think I don’t love you?

BANKOLE

I don’t think your love is strong enough

He takes few steps

ANN

You and Wemimo have been punishing me for something I have no control over, is it a bad thing that I don’t want to be disowned by my father

BANKOLE

Like I said your love is not strong enough

ANN

What can I do to make you forget?

BANKOLE

Come back to me

ANN

I have two kids, Bankole, I can’t just…

BANKOLE

That was why I said that because I know it is never going to happen. There is nothing you can do to make me forget and I don't want to forget. It will serve as a reminder never to repeat the mistake I made with you with someone else

Carol suddenly rushes in

CAROL

Bankole, you are still around

BANKOLE

I was…

Olamide strolls in

OLAMIDE

(Sensing the tension in the room) Is everything okay?

BANKOLE

Good evening, Mr. Olakija

OLAMIDE

Good evening, Bankole

The man walks up to his wife and kisses her deeply on the lip. Bankole looks hurt at the sight unfolding before him. He takes his eyes off when he could not watch anymore

BANKOLE

I am going to go

He hurriedly leaves. Ann forcefully removes herself from her husband’s grip and runs after Bankole but her mother stops her from leaving

CAROL

Let him go, it is late

Ann runs her hand through her hair frustrated, then she turns to her husband upset

ANN

(Upset) I didn’t know we are big on PDA now

OLAMIDE

I was kissing my own wife in our home, I didn’t know that was so bad

She sighs deeply as she goes back to clearing the table

ANN

You look tired, you should freshen up while I set the table

OLAMIDE

Don’t worry, I am just going to go to bed

He leaves

CAROL

I warned you, I warned you not to fall into your father’s trap

ANN

I have had enough tonight, mother, please don’t start again

CAROL

It is not too late, you know

ANN

Mother, please

CAROL

That man still loves you

ANN

I am not going to destroy my marriage over some youthful love

CAROL

You are miserable, Ann, I can see that. You are drowning

ANN

I have two kids, I can’t…

CAROL

You have one kid, Loveth belongs to Bankole

Ann freezes up and slowly turns to her. On seeing Ann’s reaction, Carol opens her mouth in surprise

CAROL

She is really his?

ANN

(Confused) You didn’t know

CAROL

I had my suspicion, you just confirmed it

Ann looks around checking that no one is around as she lunges to her mother

ANN

Mother, you can’t tell anyone

CAROL

I won’t but how can you give another man’s child to someone else

ANN

What would you have me do? I thought she was Olamide’s. It was after she was born that I knew she was Bankole’s. I couldn’t say anything

CAROL

Your happiness is what I have always wanted, you need to leave this marriage

ANN

I can’t, Father…

CAROL

Your father can rot in hell… God, I am so stupid. I should have seen this, I should have seen what getting your father’s approval will do to you. It is destroying your life and I allowed it

ANN

There is nothing you could have done

CAROL

I should have taken you away but instead I stayed because I love him and I was treated like trash because of that decision

ANN

You can leave, mother, you just don’t want to

CAROL

It is too late for me

ANN

Mother…

CAROL

But it is not too late for you, get out of this marriage and be with the man you love. That man won’t wait forever