Why? 3 || Shackled to the Heart 61

PREVIOUSLY ON WHY?

IJoy turns to fear when a sonogram reveals Imade is expecting triplets and one has a weak heartbeat, threatening to unravel her carefully guarded composure. Amid past regrets, lost love, and lingering tragedy, she must confront the weight of secrets, lives at stake, and the fragility of everything she holds dear.

EPISODE 61

Starve me

INT. KINGS MANOR- EVENING

Inside her bedroom, Imade sits at the edge of her bed loss in thought with a look of horror as she stirs into nothing

FLASHBACK

CUT TO

INT. HOSPITAL- EARLIER THAT DAY

Earlier that day with the doctor

IMADE

How did you not see her in the sonogram?

DOCTOR PALOMA

She was hiding behind her sister, she is identical and probably because her heartbeat is…

WEMIMO

Weak

IMADE

What?

DOCTOR PALOMA

I don’t think it is anything serious

IMADE

What do you mean it is nothing seroius? Her brother and sister have really strong heartbeat, I can barely hear hers

DOCTOR PALOMA

But it is not strange when it comes to triplet. It is absolutely normal for a child to be smaller to her sibling

CUT TO

12 years ago

INT. TEACHING HOSPITAL, IBADAN- AFTERNOON

The day Wemi was almost discharged

IMADE

How is he, doctor?

DOCTOR EJIRO

If he remains like this till Saturday, then he can go home

MAAMI

Loto Doctor? (Really doctor?)

DOCTOR EJIRO

Beeni ma (Yes ma’am) he is breathing on his own again, that is a good sign

CUT TO

12 years ago

INT. TEACHING HOSPITAL, IBADAN- MIGNIGHT

The day Wemi died

WEMIMO

You said he was fine, you said he was okay, you said he can go home today. What happened between yesterday and today?

DOCTOR EJIRO

I am so sorry for your loss

ANN

I am so sorry

Imade watch Wemimo turn towards her with tears dropping from his eyes

WEMIMO

We lost him, I am sorry, Imade

BACK TO PRESENT

INT. KING’ S MANOR- EVENING

Imade forcibly takes a sharp breath and holds her head in anguish as her past pain floors into her mind.

WEMIMO

(In a cool soft voice) Hey!

Imade looks up to see her husband walking towards her with a concerned look. He places his phone next to her on the bed and squats in front of her, holding her hand

WEMIMO

Doctor Paloma does not think it is anything serious, I am she will be okay

IMADE

That was the same thing Doctor Ejiro said about Wemi before he was proclaimed died

WEMIMO

The situation is different, Wemi died of drug overdose

IMADE

Because he was been treated for an heart defect, now, we have another kid with heart defect

WEMIMO

Pump your brake, we don’t know that yet

IMADE

Yet? You have thought of it

WEMIMO

She has a weak heartbeat

IMADE

Exactly, weak heartbeat. If her heart is functioning properly, why will she have a weak heartbeat?

WEMIMO

It could be a symptom of an underlying disease, which we don’t know if that is what it is yet. Doctor Paloma assured us that this is normal with triplet

IMADE

One child with heart defect is a coincidence but for another child to have it is certainly not normal. Something is wrong, Wemimo, I think I am distributing heart defects to my children

Imade grips the bed frantically

WEMIMO

You are thinking too much into this, Imade, calm down

IMADE

I can only calm down when I see the result of the test

Wemimo sighed deeply

WEMIMO

How about I take your mind off this?

IMADE

(Annoyed) How are you not concerned?

WEMIMO

Trust me, I am

IMADE

Wemi’s death almost broke us and finally, we are trying to move on from him and this happened… Wemimo, I can’t go through the death of another child.

WEMIMO

Neither, do I but what will change if I decide to spiral down the rabbit hole like you are doing right now?

He takes a sharp breath and caress her hands

WEMIMO

How about you join me in the bathroom? I am sure I can take your mind off it for a little while

Imade looks into Wemimo’s eyes intensely

WEMIMO

What do you say?

Her unhappy look switches into a hard one in a matter of seconds

IMADE

The fact that I might lose another child did not make me forget that we are in a fight

WEMIMO

(Exclaims) Oh, come on Imade! You want to keep fighting in this situation

IMADE

(In a loud emotional voice) This fight is needed now, more than ever. We don’t know what the diagnosis will be. I need to know if I can trust the father of my kids to stay by my side and fight with me for our baby girl

WEMIMO

You know I will stay by your side, Imade

IMADE

I don’t know

WEMIMO

What?

IMADE

Prove it to me, all you have to do is give me your phone

Wemimo opens his mouth in bewilderment, baffled at his wife’s behaviour

WEMIMO

I am not giving you my phone

IMADE

Then consider this a war

WEMIMO

(Scoffs) Suit yourself

He turns towards the closet

IMADE

Since you won’t give me your phone, then consider my body off to you too

Wemimo turns to her and chuckles loudly

WEMIMO

Now, you want to starve me of sex?

IMADE

Forgive me, but that is kind of the only power I have over you

WEMIMO

You have become really mad

IMADE

Maybe but on the other note, maybe it is not my only weapon against you

Her face brightens up

IMADE

Give me your phone and I will sign another deal with KINGS

WEMIMO

(Chuckles) My answer is still no

IMADE

Now, I know you are definitely cheating on me.

WEMIMO

Because I won’t agreed to that stupid deal, I don’t have to Imade because KINGS own the copyright to your designs

IMADE

What?

WEMIMO

You really need to start reading contracts, if you attempt to sell your designs or give them for free to another party, you shares will be collected

IMADE

That is not true, you said that was not part of the contract

WEMIMO

That was about your position as CEO, not your designs

IMADE

What?

WEMIMO

Even if you leave KINGS, your designs still belongs us

IMADE

Bullshit! You are lying because if that was part of my contract, why were you begging me not to sell my designs?

WEMIMO

Because as your husband, I was trying to reason with you without pulling out my gun but you keep acting stupid and more stupid every day

IMADE

Excuse me!

WEMIMO

(Mimics her) That is the only weapon I have against you (chuckles) You have nothing against me, Imade

He walks back towards the door

IMADE

(With defiance) Not even if I divorce you?

Wemimo stops in his track and turns back to her again

WEMIMO

You will stoop to that level

IMADE

You give me no choice

WEMIMO

The point of all this fight is it not to prevent a divorce

IMADE

Don’t dare me, Wemimo

WEMIMO

I don’t have to because you won’t. You can’t do anything without me

IMADE

What?

WEMIMO

(Chuckles mockingly) I am sorry to tell you this but you are not on my level and you will never be

IMADE

Excuse me?

WEMIMO

Good luck with your sex strike, because you will need it

He enters into their closet

IMADE

What just happened?

Then she scream out loud in frustration

IMADE

I am not on his level? I can’t do anything without?

Then his phone starts to ping. She picks it up and flings it at wall. The phone scattered into different part. Wemimo comes out of the closet and sees the severed part of the his phone on the floor

WEMIMO

(Angry) What the fuck, Imade?

IMADE

You are right, I can’t divorce you and I won’t give that bitch the chance to have you. You are mine but I will find a way, Wemimo and you will dance to my tune

WEMIMO

Is that why you broke my phone

She ignores him and leaves the room.

WEMIMO

(Barks) Imade, come back here

Imade goes down the stairs, she looks back when she hears Wemimo’s footstep. Then she starts to run, she enters her atelier and bangs the door on Wemimo’s face, then lock it. Wemimo bangs on it angrily. Few seconds later, it stops

WEMIMO

(In a calm voice) This has gone far too, Imade

IMADE

Oh really! But I think we just started

WEMIMO

I am sorry for what I said, I should never have said that

IMADE

Go fuck yourself, Wemimo

WEMIMO

Imade, I am sorry

IMADE

Someone once told me, there is no point crying over spilled milk…. All you had to do was give me your phone but no. You started it, Wemimo but I promise you I will finish it and enjoy watching you suffer

WEMIMO

I said I am sorry

IMADE

Go away, I have nothing to say to you again

She goes to one corner of her atelier and sits on the bare floor, letting the gravity of her conversation with Wemimo sink into her brain. She stands up and opens the door. Wemimo shows up in her face looking remorseful and tries to touch her but she draws back

IMADE

I don’t know about tomorrow, Wemimo but you are annoying the shit out, so stay away.

She walks away and goes up the stairs into their room. She picks up her phone and dials Ann’s number

ANN

Hey!

IMADE

Hello, please send over my contract with KINGS

ANN

Hello, Ann, how was your day?

IMADE

(Snap) I am not in the mood for pleasantries, Ann

ANN

(Chuckles) Oh! You are in a mood, who ate your cake?

IMADE

(Becomes frustrated) Ann, send my contract with KINGS

ANN

What do you need it for?

IMADE

I don’t remember answering to you, Ann

ANN

Okay, I will let that go, you are angry but you need to watch the way you speak to me

IMADE

Ann, my contract

ANN

You have a copy of it

IMADE

If I could find it, I won’t call you

ANN

Ask Wemimo, I am sure he knows where it is

IMADE

(Shouts in an angry voice) Ann, my fucking contract

ANN

(Pissed off herself) Okay, you need to watch yourself, what is your problem?

IMADE

You are my fucking problem, Ann…. You are supposed to be my friend but on several occasion you have only reveal yourself as my foe

ANN

(In a calm voice) Wh…what is wrong?

IMADE

You have 10 minutes to send my contract over, if I don’t receive it, I am coming over to your place and trust me, you don’t want me in your house this night. Your time starts now

She hangs up the call, she turns towards the door and she finds Wemimo resting with his wall on the wall listening to her conversation.

IMADE

(Scoffs) She is going to call you soon, tell her to send my contract

Imade leaves the room again and walks down the stairs. At the base of the stairs, she removes her foot wear and tip toe upstairs back to the front of her room and places her head on the door

WEMIMO

It is nothing serious, it is nothing, I can’t handle (pause) are sure there is no way out of her contract? (Pause) She will reach out to Bankole for help (Pause) There is no need for that, you already said there is no way out, there is no magic Bankole can perform. Send her the contract.

Imade clenches her hand in fury and she gently tip toe back down

Next on Why?

BANKOLE

I actually understand the kind of man your husband is, I know he is no longer the Brother Wemimo who was selling akara back in the day with us

IMADE

What do you know?

BANKOLE

I know he is powerful, powerful enough to be selecting our president

IMADE

(Baffled) How did you…

BANKOLE

Know? How I know does not matter and Brother Wemimo is not a man without a controller