Obase (The Orphan) – Part Six

Scene 31
EXT – DAY – CELIA’S COMPOUND
CASTS: Kama, Kute, Celia
camera opens on Celia seated on a bench and weeping bitterly as she rushes out on seeing Kama and Kute.

Celia: Kama! Did you find Obase? (kama remained mute as he walked straight into the house)
Celia: Kute! Please talk to me. Did you find anything?
Kute: mama but you’re wicked. Shebi you know that you”re very wicked. If you were my mother eeh! I would have since. In shot! Let me just go to my house jhare! (he departs)
Scene fades……..

Scene 32
EXT – DAY – BUSH PATH
CASTS: Prince Zed, Paula, Two palace guards, Celine
Camera opens on Paula standing under a tree and waiting for prince Zed who arrives surprisingly and tickles her from behind.

Paula: (screams with fear but notices the prince) My love you startle me. Naughty Naughty
Prince Zed: Paula my angel, I didn’t call you out here only to startle you, but I have a surprise for you. Now close your eyes
Paula: my eyes? My prince!
Prince Zed: don’t you trust me? Just close your eyes (Paula closes her eyes and prince Zed brings out a ring, kneels before her) now open your eyes…. Paula will you make me the happiest man in this life till death do us part? Will you marry me?
Paula: (screams with excitement) Yes my prince! Yes (slides ring into her finger)
Celine: (bumps into them) What the hell is going on here? My prince what are you still doing with this pig when I Celine is ready to give up my life for you my prince? (tries to seduce him)
Prince Zed: stop it Celine! Stop. Look, you’re a very beautiful maiden and I’m sure Kama loves you so much. Don’t allow your emotions ruin you. I don’t love you. I have chosen Paula and she’s already engaged by me as you can see!
Celine: what! Engaged? O my God I can’t breathe. I can’t take this anymore (cries away while prince Zed receives an urgent call about the king)
Prince Zed: (on a call) What? My Dad? I’ll be there immediately
Paula: My prince what’s the matter?
Prince Zed: Paula I have to rush now… my dad! I’ll see you please. Guards let’s go ( they hurry away)
Paula: my prince just be careful. I love you…..
Scene fades as she admires her ring.

Scene 33
EXT – DAY – CELIA’S COMPOUND
CASTS: Celia, Kama
Camera opens on Celia lost in deep thoughts while Kama comes out of the house with his luggage.

Celia: (on seeing karma with his luggage) Kama? What are you doing? My son where are you going to? please say something. Please
Scene fades as Kama gives her a horrible look and departs as Celia weeps bitterly

Scene 33B
SAME DAY – KUTE’S COMPOUND
CASTS: Kama, Kute
Camera opens on kute cracking kernel as kama walks in with his luggage.

Kute: Kama? Are you traveling? So with all this things happening to you, you think the best option is running away?
Kama! Kute please offer me a seat. If I was running away I won’t even come to your house (scene fades to both casts seated on a bence)
Kute: kama you know we are now friends and I won’t reject you coming to stay with me. After all I’ve been longing for company all this while. But don’t you think running away from your mother is not the best thing to do? You know that she’s still your mother no matter what.
Kama: that’s my exact point kute. How did I come to this world through such a wicked woman?
Kute: please don’t say that. But have you ever asked her why she treated Obase with such hatred?
Kama: severally Kute. Several times and she keeps saying Obase is responsible for my sister’s death. How, I don’t know
Kute: it’s ok my friend. You’re always welcome to my house. At least I will have someone to talk to and eat my kernel with.
Scene fades as they both laugh………

Scene 34
INT – DAY – BEDROOM
(Continuity from 32)
CASTS: Queen Sheda, King Zuba, Prince Zed
Camera opens on king Zuba lying critically ill on his bed with queen Sheda by his side.

Prince Zed: mom what happened to dad?
Queen Sheda: My love I don’t know o! I left him here some minutes ago to check the kitchen only to return and meet him like this.
Prince Zed: let me get the ambulance ready let’s rush him to the hospital immediately
Queen Sheda: wait! I have already called Doctor mike. He’s on his way
Prince Zed: (seats by king Zuba) Dad don’t worry. You will be fine. Mom is here, we won’t let anything happen to you
Scene fades………..

Scene 35
INT – DAY – THRONEROOM
CASTS: Queen Sheda, Prince Zed, chief Eko, chief Zaga, kinsmen
Camera opens on all casts seated around the throne room in wait of the priestess.

Priestess: (chanting and coming out to meet others) The great hero shall embark on a journey of no return in no time, so the prince must prepare to take over and to introduce to us the new queen to be before leboku festival. The gods have spoken. (departs from the palace as she chants)
Scene fades as there is pandemonium in the throne room.

Scene 35b
EXT – DAY – CELINE’S COMPOUND
CASTS: obal, celine, chief eko
Camera opens on celine seated on a bench looking sad while obal walks towards her with a plate of food covered.

Obal: my daughter you have been like this for the past few days, you won’t even eat your food
Celine: that is because I am not hungry mama!
Obal: who said you are not hungry? I know this is all about the prince. My daughter you can’t force love on someone, he doesn’t love you so let go. Kama is a handsome man who loves you from the depth of his heart, I think you should go back and apologize to him.
Celine: mama will kama ever forgive me, what about paula I wronged them will they ever forgive me, will they?
Obal: my daughter I am sure the will understand so now give me a smile and eat your food
Chief eko: (walks into shot) zuma! Argh!! our great hero
Celine: papa welcome
Obal: obandi what is the matter
Chief eko: my dear our king is about to join his ancestors
Obal: the gods forbid. How?
Chief eko: the priestess of light just confirmed it
Scene fades on reactions as chief Eko walks into the house.

Scene 36
EXT – DAY – KUTE’S COMPOUND
CASTS: Celine, Kama, Kute
Camera opens on Kute and Kama coming into the compound from the search for Obase kama seats sorrowfully on a bench as kute drops his cutlass to join kama.

Kute: gods of our land! gods of our land!! where could Obase be? Where on earth could this boy be? The king has sent search parties, we have even gone beyond okolowi, yet no trace of him. Please keep Obase safe.. (kama sorrowfully stands up from his seat in tears as he walks a little) Kama! Kama where are you…… (background scream from Celine)
Celine: Kama! Kute!! Kama….. (on top of her voice as she falls before them)
Kama: what are you doing here Celine? Have you come to humiliate me?
Celine: Kama you must follow me now. Your mother! Your mother Kama!
Kama: what? My mother?
Scene fades as they all run out of shot………..

Scene 36B
SAME DAY – CELIA’S COMPOUND
CASTS: Kama, Kute, Celine, Celia
Camera opens as they run into shot and we see Celia lying critically ill on a mat.

Kama: mama! Mama!! (seats by her as he places her head on his body and faces celine) What did you do to my mother celine? What did you do to her?
Celia: Kama! My son (in a sickly tone) she has done nothing to me. Kama I am very sorry for everything I ever did to Obase I was carried away by the death of your sister and the circumstances surrounding the birth of Obase. I was totally wrong my son and now I have to pay for my sins.
Kama: I forgive you mama, I forgive you (crying) you need to be strong for me, you need to be strong for Obase mama. You are all we’ve got left.
Celia: Kama I killed Obase. I killed my grandchild
Kama: no mama you didn’t kill Obase. Obase is not dead.
Celia: Kama my son. I want you to forgive Celine as well my son. She has learnt her lesson and she’s been the one taking care of me while you were away. Please forgive her (she joins their hands together as kama places celine’s head on his chest and kute smiles foolishly)
Scene fades……………….

Scene 37
INT – DAY – THRONEROOM
CASTS: king Zuba, Queen Sheda, Obase, Prince Zed, chief Eko, Chief Zaga, Kinsmen, Kama, Kute, Paula, Celine, Celia, palace guards and maids, Pastor Frank.
Camera opens on the throne room with all characters seated aside the king and his family. They all mutter words respectively as the king arrives with his family members including pastor Frank and Paula.
All rise to greet the king as he takes his seat.

King Zuba: you’re all welcome. I called all of you here due to a matter that is of utmost importance to us and our entire kingdom. Our people say (speaks a local parable) now Celia…
Celia: your Highness
King Zuba: I want you to tell us everything you know about your missing grandchild Obase and why you inflicted such hatred on him.
Celia: my king it all started in the year 2005, my daughter Elia was working for Zeba hotels in the city and one night, she was molested and raped by a customer who was drunk. Few months later, she discovered she was pregnant and couldn’t return home due to the shame
and velocity of what has happened. She had to cut off totally from everyone who knew her in Zuba kingdom including myself and her brother. my daughter never came home after that incident. She also quit her job and relocated to a small town near the city where no one could find her. She later had her baby and when things became unbearable she committed suicide and left a note on the baby pointing that he was responsible for everything she went through to death. Security officials brought the child following the address that was written on the suicide note and that child was Obase. Your highness I did all I did because I couldn’t bear it. But I’ve come to realize that no matter what, family is very important. I wish Obase will forgive me wherever he is now.
King Zuba: Obase is my Son! (every one became shocked and echoed in one voice WHAT!)
King Zuba: yes! He’s my son. I was that drunk man who molested your daughter.
Prince Zed: Dad!
Queen Sheda: Your Highness!
King Zuba: Yes! I searched everywhere for her to apologize for my evil doing, I even went back to the hotel and management told me she resigned and no one knew her where about. (makes a signal as the chief made brings Obase into the throne room and everyone became shocked)
Kama: Obase!
Celia: Obase My child
King Zuba: yes! This is Obase… Pastor Frank here Picked him up lifeless between the boundaries at Okolowi, took care of him and trained him in the ways of God. When the prince brought Obase to heal me, as I opened my eyes I saw the mark of the sons on him. (flashback) The same mark which the prince bears (prince Zed Looks at his mark)
So I requested the presence of pastor Frank who told me how he picked Obase who was lying lifeless and lost in the bush. (flashback 2) and when I asked Obase he confirmed it and told me he was Celia’s grandson which is why I summoned you all here. Obase is my son and celia please forgive me for your daughter. I wish I could find a way to make amends. Please
Celia: your highness I’m the one who owes Obase an apology. My child, please….. (obase runs towards celia and hugs her passionately as kama joins in)
King Zuba: from now henceforth, you and your family are now royalty. And you will live and dine with us here in this palace. I have spoken scene fades as everyone hugs each other in celebration including Queen sheda and prince zed)

FLASH BACK 1
INT – DAY – PALACE
CASTS: King Zuba, Queen Sheda, Prince Zed, Obase.
Camera opens on king Zuba lying critically ill on his bed while we see obase placing his hands on the king’s chest and saying a word of prayer to heal the king. The king saw a dark mark on the left hand side of Obase on getting up which got him startled as he grabs Obase firmly by the hand when he tried to leave the room.

FLASHBACK 2
EXT – DAY – BUSH PATH
CASTS: Obase, Pastor frank.
Camera opens on Obase who was lying lifeless in a thick forest as we see pastor frank singing but stops at the sight of Obase. He checks on him and finds out that he’s alive but weak so he carries him away.

THE END