CHAPTER 3. SCENE 17 INT. FRANK'S AUTO SHOP – DAY
(Frank's large auto parts shop is bustling. Several of his apprentices and workers are outside, calling for customers. But inside, FRANK is dozing off on a chair behind the counter.)
(A man, CHUKWUMA, Frank's longtime friend and business associate, enters. He looks around and notices Frank asleep. He steps closer and taps him awake.)CHUKWUMA (chuckling)
Oga Frank! Sleeping on duty? What's going on?
FRANK
(rubbing his face, sighing deeply)
My brother… My house is on fire.
(Chukwuma laughs heartily, shaking his head.)
CHUKWUMA
Hahaha! My guy, na so e be! You see, even though I marry only one, my house still dey hot. Talk less of you, wey carry two wives under one roof!
FRANK
(groans, shaking his head)
It's impossible to have peace with them. Every day, fight, fight, fight.
CHUKWUMA
(seriously)
Omo, if you ask me, I will tell you to rent an apartment for the second wife. Separate them before they kill themselves—or you.
FRANK
(considering it)
Hmm… you really think so?
CHUKWUMA
I know so, my friend. If you love your sanity, do it.
FRANK
(nods slowly)
I will see about that.
---
SCENE 18 INT. DINING ROOM – NIGHT
(Frank sits at the dining table, unusually quiet as SELENA serves his food. She notices his silence and frowns, worried.)
SELENA
(softly, placing a hand on his shoulder)
Honey… are you okay?
FRANK
(flatly)
Yes, I am.
SELENA
No, you're not. Talk to me.
(Frank takes a deep breath before speaking.)
FRANK
(calmly but firmly)
Selena, I'm planning to get you an apartment. A nice place, where you can stay in peace… where nobody will trouble you.
(Selena freezes, then slowly steps back. She blinks, processing his words. Then—)
SELENA
(coldly, glaring at him)
Frank… I am not interested.
(She turns and walks away, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. Frank watches her leave, stunned.)
(For the first time, she called him by his name—not "baby" or "honey." Frank exhales, rubbing his temples. He knows trouble is coming.)
---
SCENE 19 INT. DINING ROOM – SATURDAY AFTERNOON
(SELENA has just finished serving Frank his meal. He sits at the table, ready to eat, when RITA suddenly enters, followed by her CHEF, who carries a covered dish.)
RITA
(commanding)
What is this nonsense? Please shift that to a corner. Put my food here instead.
(SELENA glares at her, arms crossed, while FRANK looks up, already sensing trouble.)
FRANK
(tiredly)
Rita, I'm already eating. Let me finish this one first.
RITA
(ignoring him, dramatically lifting the lid off her dish)
No, no, no, baby. You don't need to eat this—what is this? Chaff! Eat this. It's nutritious.
(She scoops a spoonful and raises it to Frank's mouth.)
RITA
(coaxing)
Come on, have a taste.
(Frank hesitates, clearly uncomfortable with the tension between the two women. But after a long pause, he sighs and takes a bite.)
FRANK
(chewing, nodding slowly)
Hmm… it tastes nice.
RITA
(smugly, sitting beside him)
I told you.
(Just then, SELENA walks back in, holding a bottle of wine. She stops in her tracks, taking in the scene—Rita seated beside Frank, feeding him like a king.)
SELENA
(furious)
What is going on here?!
(Rita smirks mockingly, placing another spoonful in Frank's mouth, deliberately ignoring Selena.)
SELENA
(snapping, marching forward)
What nonsense—
(Before Frank can react, SELENA grabs the plate of food Frank is eating from and throws it to the ground.)
FRANK
(shocked, standing up abruptly)
What is this—?!
RITA
(furious, shooting up from her chair)
You witch!
(Without thinking, RITA lunges at SELENA, slapping her across the face. The impact echoes in the dining room.)
(SELENA, stunned for only a second, retaliates—grabbing Rita's hair and pulling hard. A full-blown fight erupts, the women throwing plates, cutlery, and food at each other.)
(FRANK watches in disbelief for a moment before shaking his head. Without a word, he grabs his car keys and walks out.)
FRANK
(muttering as he exits)
I'm done.
---
EXT. FRANK'S HOUSE – NIGHT
(Frank gets into his car, slams the door, and speeds off. Inside the house, the sounds of crashing plates and screaming continue.)
---
SCENE 20 INT. FRANK'S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – THREE DAYS LATER
(The house is unusually quiet. RITA and SELENA stand apart, their phones pressed tightly to their ears. There is no fighting today—just worry. For the first time, they are united in one thing: their husband is missing.)
(Rita dials a number.)
SELENA
(to Rita, anxiously)
Is it ringing?
RITA
(shaking her head, frustrated)
No, it's still not connecting.
SELENA
(determined)
Let me call Mama.
(She dials FRANK'S MOTHER, MRS. CHIKA. After a few rings, the older woman picks up.)
MRS. CHIKA
(over the phone, sternly)
Yes, Selena? What is it this time?
SELENA
(hesitant)
Mama… Frank has been gone for three days. We haven't heard from him.
(There is a long pause on the other end.)
MRS. CHIKA
(scoffs)
Oh! So you two have finally chased him out of the house with your madness? Congratulations!
SELENA
(pleading)
Mama, please, we're worried. We checked his shop, but his apprentices said he hadn't been there.
MRS. CHIKA
(serious now)
Hmmm. Wait, let me call him.
(SELENA cuts the call. She and RITA exchange a glance, both nervous.)
---
SCENE 21 INT. HOTEL ROOM – NIGHT
(A phone rings on the bedside table. FRANK, lounging on the bed in a hotel room, picks it up.)
FRANK
(relaxed tone)
Hello, Mama.
MRS. CHIKA
(on the phone, suspiciously)
My son, where are you?
FRANK
(chuckling)
Mama, I just needed some peace of mind. So I checked into a hotel.
MRS. CHIKA
(scoffing)
Hmm. So they called me?
FRANK
(laughs lightly)
Of course. They're worried sick.
MRS. CHIKA
(firmly)
Frank, go back home. These women are your responsibility.
FRANK
(sighs, rubbing his forehead)
I will talk to them, Mama.
MRS. CHIKA
Good. They need to understand that a home isn't built on chaos.
(They exchange pleasantries before ending the call. Frank exhales deeply, staring at the ceiling. He knows he has to face them sooner or later.)
FADE TO BLACK.
SCENE 22 INT. LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
(SELENA paces anxiously, holding her phone to her ear. RITA sits on the couch, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. The tension between them is thick. Finally, SELENA stops pacing and turns to RITA.)
SELENA
(urgently)
Frank wants to talk to both of us.
(RITA raises an eyebrow but doesn't move. SELENA sighs and gestures for her to come closer. Reluctantly, RITA gets up and walks over.)
FRANK
(over the phone, firm but calm)
Listen, both of you. If I'm coming back home, there has to be peace in that house.
(RITA scoffs slightly but says nothing. SELENA listens intently.)
FRANK
(continuing)
From now on, there will be a schedule. The days will be divided—you'll take turns cooking my meals and sleeping in the master bedroom. No more fighting, no more drama. You both have to respect the roster.
(SELENA glances at RITA, waiting for a reaction. RITA remains silent, then finally lets out a slow exhale.)
RITA
(gritted teeth)
Fine.
SELENA
(quickly, eager for Frank's return)
I agree.
FRANK
(satisfied)
Good. Then I'll be home tonight.
(The call ends. SELENA and RITA exchange a wary glance—an unspoken truce, though neither fully trusts the other. They turn away from each other, both lost in thought.)
SCENE 23 INT. FRANK'S HOUSE – NIGHT
(The front door opens, and FRANK steps inside, suitcase in hand. He scans the house—silent, calm, exactly how he wants it. SELENA and RITA stand near the staircase, waiting.)
FRANK
(softly, but firmly)
I hope you two keep your word.
(Neither woman responds, but they both nod. FRANK exhales in relief, then heads upstairs. SELENA and RITA exchange one last glance before walking in opposite directions.)
INT. FRANK'S HOUSE – ONE WEEK LATER – NIGHT
(For the first time in a long while, there is peace. The house is running smoothly—no shouting, no fights. RITA serves her meals on her days, SELENA does the same on hers. They take turns in the master bedroom. On the surface, everything seems perfect.)
(But peace, as always, is fragile… and behind closed doors, resentment still lingers.)
(FADE TO BLACK.)
SCENE 24 INT. RITA'S BEDROOM – NIGHT
(The room is dimly lit. RITA lies in bed, tossing and turning. From the master bedroom, muffled moans and laughter seep through the walls. She grits her teeth, eyes wide open in the darkness.)
RITA
(muttering to herself, frustrated)
This woman… What does she think she's doing?
(She clenches her fists, breathing heavily. She knows that during her turn with Frank, she makes the same noises to make Selena feel bad. But this time, it's her turn to feel the pain. And she hates it.)
(She sits up, rubbing her temples, deep in thought. Then, something shifts in her expression—her eyes darken with realization.)
RITA
(whispering to herself)
What am I doing? Why am I just lying here? I have forgotten who I am… what I'm capable of.
(Her lips curl into a smirk as a sinister thought forms in her mind.)
RITA
(determined, cold)
No more. We shall go spiritual about this.
(She exhales deeply, forcing herself to lie back down. The sound from the master bedroom continues, but now, it no longer bothers her. She knows she has a plan.)
INT. RITA'S BEDROOM – MIDNIGHT
(The clock strikes 12:00 AM. RITA's eyes snap open. She moves with eerie precision, stepping out of bed and walking straight to her wardrobe. She reaches deep inside and pulls out a small black pot, wrapped tightly in red and black cloth.)
(She carries it reverently to the bed, placing it in front of her. Then, she climbs onto the bed, folding her legs beneath her. Closing her eyes, she begins to chant in a low, rhythmic tone.)
(A heavy wind suddenly rushes through the room, though the windows remain shut. The candles flicker violently. Her voice grows deeper, her body trembling slightly as the air thickens with dark energy.)
(Then, in a flash, her body shifts—her form twisting and morphing until she disappears, leaving behind a shadowy silhouette of a bat before it vanishes into thin air.)