CHAPTER 5 SCENE 33: Ext Frank House The Breaking point

When they arrived home, Frank stepped out without a word. He didn't help Selena.

It was Bisi, her maid, who rushed forward, concerned in her eyes.

From the entrance, Rita stood watching, arms crossed.

RITA:

 What happened? You seem… sad.

Frank exhaled sharply.

FRANK: 

She lost the baby.

Rita gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest.

RITA:

 Oh, no! A seven-month-old baby? Oh, this is terrible!

She watched as Frank walked past her. Then her gaze shifted to Selena, struggling toward the entrance.

Rita smirked.

RITA

 (mockingly): Sorry, oh… sorry.

Selena lifted her tired, bloodshot eyes to Rita.

And sighed.

She knew that tone.

That face.

She had lost this battle.

For now.

SCENE 34: The Ultimate AccusationMonths later, Mirabel and Abigail played in the compound. Mirabel slipped, falling to the ground. Abigail reached out to help her up.

And then—Rita came storming out.

RITA (furious): 

Don't touch her, you evil child!

Abigail froze.

RITA: How many times have I warned you, Mirabel?! I don't want to see you playing with her!

Selena, witnessing the scene, stepped forward.

SELENA:

 Rita, what is the problem? They're just kids—

RITA 

(cutting her off): Hey! Shut up! Who asked you to speak? Tell your daughter to stay away from mine!

She yanked Mirabel's hand. But as she turned, a sharp pain shot through her belly.

RITA 

(wincing, clutching her side): Ahh!

Selena instinctively moved forward.

SELENA: Are you okay?

RITA

 (snapping, eyes blazing): Get your hands off me, witch! You want to kill my baby, just like you killed yours!

Silence.

Frank's head snapped up.

FRANK:

 What did you say?

RITA: She attacked me. I felt it. It was an evil force!

Selena's jaw dropped.

SELENA: 

I did no such thing!

Frank's eyes darkened. The dream came back.

Selena… tying her own stomach.

Could it be?

His voice was cold.

FRANK:

 Selena, from now on, stay away from Rita and Mirabel. Stay on your own.

Selena's world shattered.

She stood frozen, watching Frank walk away.

And Rita…

Rita smiled.

SCENE 35 INT. FRANK'S HOUSE – LATE MORNING

(Rita is heavily pregnant, resting in the living room while her personal maid, ANGELA, tidies up. Suddenly, Rita clutches her belly, wincing in pain.)

RITA

(Gasping, panicked)

Angela! Angela, come here!

(Angela rushes to her side, eyes wide with fear.)

ANGELA

Madam, what is it?!

RITA

It's the baby… I think… I think it's time!

(Angela starts running around frantically, unsure of what to do.)

ANGELA

Oh God! Oh God! What do we do?!

RITA

My phone! Get my phone! Call Frank!

(Angela grabs the phone and hands it to Rita. Rita dials, but Frank is at the market, busy attending to customers. His phone rings unanswered.)

RITA

(Frustrated, shouting at the phone)

Pick up, Frank! Please!

(Moments later, SELENA enters the house and immediately sees the panic-stricken Angela and Rita in distress.)

SELENA

Jesus! What's happening?!

ANGELA

She's in labor!

(Without hesitation, Selena helps Rita to her feet and rushes her to the car.)

35 SCENE EXT. HOSPITAL – AFTERNOON

(Selena's car screeches to a stop in front of the hospital. Nurses rush forward as she helps Rita out of the car. Rita is sweating, clutching her belly in pain.)

RITA

(Breathing heavily, gripping Selena's hand)

Thank you… thank you…

SELENA

Don't talk, just breathe! We're here now.

(The nurses place Rita in a wheelchair and rush her inside. Selena pulls out her phone and dials Frank's number. This time, he answers.)

FRANK

(Over the phone, distracted)

Hello?

SELENA

Frank! It's Rita—she's in labor! We're at the hospital!

(A beat of silence. Then, the sound of something dropping on the other end as Frank scrambles.)

FRANK

I'm on my way!

(He hangs up. Cut to Frank rushing out of his shop, barely locking up before jumping into his car.)

---

36 SCENE INT. HOSPITAL – WAITING AREA – LATER

(Selena sits in the waiting area, exhausted. She looks up as Frank rushes in, out of breath.)

SELENA

(Standing up, relieved)

Frank!

FRANK

(Panting)

Where is she? How is she?

SELENA

She's inside. The doctors are with her.

(Frank sighs, running a hand over his face. He turns to Selena, his expression softening.)

FRANK

Thank you… for bringing her here.

SELENA

It's nothing. She's family.

(A brief, warm moment between them. Then, Selena checks the time and exhales.)

SELENA

I should head home… I'll cook something for when she comes back.

(Frank nods, grateful. As Selena leaves, Frank sits, rubbing his hands together anxiously. Moments later, a DOCTOR emerges.)

DOCTOR

Mr. Amadi?

(Frank jumps to his feet.)

FRANK

Yes! How is she?

(A smile spreads across the doctor's face.)

DOCTOR

Congratulations. Your wife has delivered a healthy baby boy.

(Frank exhales in relief, a smile breaking through his tension.)

FRANK

A boy… I have a son!

(He clasps his hands together in joy before pulling out his phone to call Selena.)

FRANK

(On the phone, excited)

Selena! It's a boy!

(Selena, now back home, smiles as she stirs a pot in the kitchen.)

SELENA

That's wonderful news, Frank. I'm so happy for you.

(Cut to a celebratory montage—Selena cooking, Frank watching over his newborn son, Rita resting peacefully.)

TWO WEEKS LATER –SCENE 38 INT. FRANK'S HOUSE

(The house is busy with preparations for baby Igwe's naming ceremony. Selena has taken charge of cooking, ensuring everything is perfect. Meanwhile, Rita, Frank, and Madam Sarah take Igwe to church.)

(As Selena finishes cooking, she takes a nap with her daughter, ABIGAIL. While she sleeps, a mysterious FIGURE, cloaked in darkness, appears in her room, placing a sinister charm inside her wardrobe. Moments later, the figure moves to the kitchen, turning on all the gas knobs before vanishing.)

 SCENE 39 EXT. ROADSIDE SHOP – ON THE WAY HOME

(Frank is driving the family back from church after baby Igwe's naming ceremony. Rita, holding their son, sits beside him, while Madam Sarah is in the backseat. Rita suddenly turns to Frank.)

RITA

Frank, can you stop at that shop? Let's buy some bottled water.

(Frank nods and pulls over. As he steps out, a WHITE GARMENT PROPHETESS, an elderly woman with piercing eyes, suddenly appears in his path. She blocks his way, staring straight into his soul.)

PROPHETESS

Son of Amadi… You are blind to the danger in your own home.

(Frank frowns, confused.)

FRANK

Excuse me?

(Rita and Madam Sarah exchange a quick glance in the car, pretending to be unaware of what's happening.)

PROPHETESS

You have a household enemy! A woman who eats with you, sleeps under your roof—yet she plots your downfall.

(Frank stiffens, suddenly uncomfortable.)

FRANK

What are you talking about?

PROPHETESS

The second woman in your life… she is a witch! She envies your happiness and wants to destroy your home.

(Frank's face darkens. He clenches his jaw, shaking his head.)

FRANK

No… Selena? That's impossible.

PROPHETESS

(Smirks knowingly)

You doubt my words? I will give you a sign. When you get home, watch closely. You will see something strange… then you will know I speak the truth.

(Frank swallows hard. The prophetess turns and walks away without another word. Frank stands there, lost in thought, before shaking it off and buying the water. He returns to the car, silent. Rita studies his face, pretending to be concerned.)

RITA

Frank, is everything okay?

(Frank exhales, starting the engine.)

FRANK

Let's go home.

(Rita exchanges a secret, satisfied look with her mother as the car pulls away.)

---

EXT .SCENE 40 FRANK'S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

(Frank pulls into the compound. As he steps out, the GATE MAN approaches, sniffing the air suspiciously.)

GATE MAN

Oga, welcome o! But… I dey perceive gas o.

(Frank freezes. His mind immediately flashes back to the prophetess's words.)

FRANK

Gas? From where?

(The gate man points toward the kitchen window. Frank's pulse quickens. He glances at Rita, suspicion creeping in, then rushes to the front door. The moment he opens it, the strong smell of gas engulfs him.)

(His eyes widen in horror. He bolts to the kitchen, turning off all the gas knobs and throwing open the windows.)

FRANK

Jesus Christ! What the hell happened here?!

(His breathing is ragged, his hands shaking. His mind races, and then… anger surges through him. The prophetess's words echo in his ears.)

(His expression darkens. He storms toward the stairs, voice booming through the house.)

FRANK

Selena!!!

(Upstairs, Selena jolts awake at the aggressive call of her name. She quickly gets up, opening her door just as Frank appears in the hallway, his face twisted with fury…)

SELENA

(Confused, rubbing her eyes)

My husband, welcome—how was—

(Before she can finish, Frank SLAPS her across the face. The sound echoes through the house. Rita and Madam Sarah, standing at the bottom of the stairs, exchange pleased glances.)

(Selena stumbles, her hand flying to her burning cheek, eyes brimming with tears.)

SELENA

(Shocked, voice trembling)

Frank… what have I done?

FRANK

(Fuming)

You want to burn down my house?! You left the gas open to kill us all?!

(Selena's face crumples in confusion and despair.)

SELENA

No! No, I didn't! Frank, I swear—

FRANK

(Pointing angrily at her room)

Pack your things! You're leaving my house today!

(Frank storms into her room, yanking open her wardrobe to throw out her belongings. But as he does, something catches his eye—a small, eerie-looking pot hidden in the corner. His breath hitches.)

FRANK

What… is this?

(Selena, still clutching her sore cheek, stares at him, confused.)

SELENA

What is what?

(By now, everyone has gathered in Selena's room. Frank slowly lifts the small pot, his hands shaking with rage and disbelief.)

FRANK

A charm… in my house?!

(Madam Sarah gasps dramatically, clutching her chest.)

MADAM SARAH

Haaa! The prophet was right!

(Frank's face hardens, his mind racing back to the words of the WHITE GARMENT PROPHETESS, who warned him of an enemy in his home. His grip tightens on the charm.)

FRANK

(Voice low and dangerous)

So it's true… You are my household enemy.

(Selena steps forward, shaking her head, tears falling freely now.)

SELENA

Frank, please! I don't know how that got there! You have to believe me!

(Frank doesn't respond. Instead, he calls out to the gate man.)

FRANK

Yusuf! Bring me a shovel. Take this thing out of my house!

(As the gate man hurries to obey, Selena looks around at the faces surrounding her—judging, accusing. Her world is crumbling, and no one is willing to hear her side of the story…)

SCENE 40 – EXT. AMARACHI'S APARTMENT – NIGHT

(A dimly lit sitting room. Selena sits on a couch, looking lost. Her eyes are swollen from crying. Abigail, her little daughter, leans against her, tears in her own eyes. Amarachi paces angrily, her hands on her hips.)

AMARACHI

This is wickedness! After everything, Frank threw you out like that? Just like that?!

without proper investigation. Hey this is bad oooh hey. 

But tell me the truth, did you do it?

Selena raise her head in disbelief.

SELENA 

So you don't trust me? You know I don't do such things. I don't believe in it….I didn't do it. 

She cried.

SELENA (voice shaky)

He wouldn't even listen, Amarachi. He believes I killed our child. My enemies have finally succeeded.

ABIGAIL (softly, afraid)

Mummy, why did Daddy send us away? Did we do something bad?

(Selena hugs Abigail tightly, trying to hold back fresh tears.)

SELENA

No, my love. You did nothing wrong.

AMARACHI (clenching fists)

We can't let this slide. Tomorrow morning, we're going to see Frank. He must listen to you.

SELENA (whispers)

I just want my home back.

(Selena buries her face in her hands as Amarachi sits beside her, holding her hand for comfort.)