OREOLUWA'S DILEMMA
1638 Words
CUT TO
EXT. BASKETBALL COURT - NOON
Child is on a basketball court with two other guys practicing shots and dribble among themselves.
His best friend lucky, 23, approaches the court. CHIDI dribbles the ball, takes a shot—SWISH. He wipes the sweat off his face. Breathing hard.
LUCKY
(Waves his hand)
Oya pass the ball.
CHIDI
What pass? You've come to check out my training pattern yea?
He passes the ball to him.
LUCKY
Training pattern how? I've been blowing up your phone since yesterday. Why didn't you reply my messages?
CHIDI
What messages?
LUCKY
WhatsApp now! I sent you one tik tok post. Didn't you see it?
Makes a shot for the rim. He misses. Sighs
CHIDI
(At the bench, picks up his phone)
My w******p has not opened for About two days now. I've been trying. It keeps saying number already registered or verification failed.
I have reinstalled two times.
LUCKY
Two days? Omo. What about your sim. Does it still work?
CHIDI
Yes. I'm still making calls, even SMS works but I can't get w******p to verify me.
LUCKY
Bro, I've warned you about all this "claim your prize" link you are very fond of clicking.
CHIDI
It's not that, maybe someone stole my code
LUCKY
Uh—yea. By having you click on a"claim your prize" link. See eh. Your account has probably been hacked.
If you're not getting codes, someone must have registered your number on another device.
CHIDI
(Scratching his head)
Omo. But why? For what?
LUCKY
Keep playing. When they take over your account, they start chatting your people, asking for money. Spreading misinformation.
They did something like this to my popsi. If not for timely intervention.
CHIDI
Oh boy! My whole family is on w******p.
LUCKY
You need to warn them fast. Start calling them now. Tell them to ignore any message from your number for now. Then later contact w******p support.
CHIDI
(Scrolling)
Let me call my momsi first.
Phone ringing
CHIDI
Mommy, how you doing?
Okay, there's something I have to tell you...
LUCKY
(Watches him, shakes his head)
This boy will never learn.
Runs after a lose ball.
CUT TO
INT. AKOMOLAFE'S RESIDENCE
Oreoluwa is inside the kitchen with a maid. They're preparing lunch. Her phone rings. She picks up and walks out the kitchen.
CHIDI
(Voice urgent)
Oreoluwa, thank God you picked. I just want to tell you what's going on with my w******p. In case you've noticed anything...
OREOLUWA
(Interjects)
Please! Finally. You decided to call, after ignoring my messages. Since I sent you those...
Lowers voice
CONT'D
You know—photos. You didn't even say anything.
CHIDI
What! Ore no. That wasn't me. My w******p was hacked two days ago. I've been logged out.
The last time we chatted was Saturday night, when i sent you that movie app.
OREOLUWA
(Confused)
Hacked? What're you talking about? You messaged me day before yesterday asking for photos.
CHIDI
That wasn't me baby girl. Don't chat with that person again. And what photos did you send to the person?
OREOLUWA
(Voice Breaks)
Oh my God CHIDI, I thought it was you. I can't believe this.
A knock is heard at the Akomolafe's gate.
OREOLUWA (CONT'D)
Wait! Someone is at the gate.
She looks through the living room window. She sees the security man closing back the gate. Now walking towards the main building.
She moves to join him outside.
OUTSIDE THE MAIN BUILDING
SECURITY
Oreoluwa, delivery man dey outside. Him say package dey for you.
OREOLUWA
Ehen! But I didn't order anything.
Outside the gate. Ore signs and receives a large envelope. Closes the gate and walks back inside.
She tore it open.
Brings out the content. Her face pales. Inside are hard copies of the pictures she sent on w******p.
OREOLUWA(CONT'D)
(Whispering to herself)
No...no no no. This can't be happening. Oh my God. What is going on?
A brief moment of confusion and panic ensues. Then she brings out her phone from her pocket. Hands shaking, she calls her friend, Faith.
FAITH
(Cheerful)
Hey darling! Whats up?
OREOLUWA
(Voice trembling, sobbing)
Faith, I've messed up. I need to see you right now please.
FAITH
Ore, what's wrong? Are you okay?
OREOLUWA
It's......it's Chidi's w******p. It was hacked, I sent private photos to the person. And now, they just delivered the hard copies to my house.
I'm confused. I don't know what to do.
FAITH
Wait. Private photos as how? Okay, okay. Are your parents home?
OREOLUWA
Just me and our maid.
FAITH
Okay don't move. I'm on my way. Give me 15 minutes.
OREOLUWA
(Crying softly)
Hurry please.
FAITH
I'm coming. We'll figure it out.
*****************************************
INT. CHIDI'S ROOM - AFTERNOON
Chidi, Oreoluwa, Faith and lucky are all inside Chidi's room. Oreoluwa is calmer from the photo delivery but still very much worried.
Chidi remains standing with his back against the wall, looking up.
FAITH
This is bad, really really bad. we have to admit, but it's still under control. The hacker has named the amount.
I mean it's a good thing all he wants is money right?
OREOLUWA
(Moody)
Yes, but i'm just really scared. Ehn. What type of thing Is this?
Sobbing and talking slowly.
OREOLUWA(CONT'D)
And i tried to confirm it's really Chidi, i should have known when he didn't pick up the call.
Drops her body on the mattress.
FAITH
Relax Ore. Knowing you too well, i'm sure you hesitated. That creep of a hacker must have been very persuasive.
OREOLUWA
(Flares up)
As in. He sounded just like Chidi. The way he talks to me, the pet names, the places we went to recently.
I had no reason to doubt he wasn't the one.
Calms her voice
OREOLUWA(CONT'D)
The only thing is even though I'm certain it's him, i should have maintained like I did at first that it's a bad idea. Ah Jesus!
FAITH
I understand you dear. But Chidi, for over forty eight hours, your w******p was hijacked and you just (shrugs) oh well, I will deal with that later?
CHIDI
Like i said, I thought it was a glitch. Sometimes f*******:, i********:, X. These apps shut down for hours all around the world. Then returns to working normal again.
It didn't occur to me I've been targeted by a criminal in a cyber cafe in God-knows-where.
LUCKY
Okay, but before that, you lose guard abi? Or didn't you? I have told you before, your love and agility for anything that has to do with free cryptocurrency go put you for Trouble. Didn't I?
Maybe that's what you clicked on. Maybe that's how they got you.
CHIDI
(Breathes out heavily, wiping his face)
I know I lose guard sometimes.
LUCKY
And ore, you should have insisted that you hear his voice. Or even a twenty seconds video call. Could have saved this.
Ore closes her eyes while Shaking her head in regret.
The silence hangs heavy.
Faith wraps a arm around Oreoluwa's shoulders.
CHIDI
(Remorseful, looks at Oreoluwa)
Lucky's right. This is on me. My carelessness left the door open. I'm sorry.
OREOLUWA
It's on me too. I was carried away. Trusted without thinking.
FAITH
(Gets up)
Okay. Lets all abandon the blame game. So we can figure out the way forward.
The creep messaged Ore this morning and asked for five hundred k within forty eight hours. Am I right?
Confirming from Oreoluwa.
OREOLUWA
Yes. And that if I fail, I will trend so much on Meta platforms, Zuckerberg will offer me a deal.
LUCKY
(Almost laughs)
That guy na mad man.
OREOLUWA
He also said no bank accounts , it has to be a drop off.
LUCKY
The question now Ore is, do we involve your parents?
FAITH
Absolutely. They should know. This is serious, they can help.
Oreoluwa's head snaps up in panic.
OREOLUWA
NO! No. No parents. Not my mom. Abeg. She can never find out what I'm being blackmailed for.
CHIDI
I agree with her.
LUCKY
(Nods slowly)
I really don't like going against common sense, but I'm with them Faith. For now
FAITH
(Looks at the three of them)
Are you guys thinking at all. This is a crime. We need adults. We need resources.
OREOLUWA
(Gets up)
You don't understand Faith. My mom—she's not just a mom. She's Pastor Mrs Gloria Akomolafe.
FAITH
(Interjects)
I know her name.
OREOLUWA
Founder, city of grace ministries. Convener, women of virtue yearly conference. Finding out her daughter is sending.....those kind of photos.
She will be crushed.
The disappointment. God no. And my starpath TV audition, I will need her to sign the consent form.
She already thinks it's a worldly distraction. This would be all the proof she needs.
CHIDI
(To Faith)
And that door will slam shut forever. She has been rehearsing over a year for it. Lets keep her parents out of it.
Glances at Oreoluwa.
CHIDI
I'm also prepared to contribute to the payment, since its part my fault.
FAITH
So, she just pay the thief? Just like that?
LUCKY
She's lucky the hacker is actually considerate. Asking for 500k. He must have known she's still a student. Kept it within her tax bracket.
OREOLUWA
I will get the money. I have part of it. I will wait for him to contact me again. Like he instructed. For where I'll bring the money.
LUCKY
(Walks slowly in the middle of the room)
The blackmailer gets his money, we get our silence, and we never speak of this again.
That's the plan. Do we all have an understanding?
Chidi and Ore nods.
Ore keeps staring at Faith.
FAITH
(Hesitates, low voice) Yes we do.
The last look on their faces. Faith's forced approval. Chidi's guilt. Lucky's concern and Oreoluwa's terrified determination to keep it all a secret.
- Writer
