Zatimah: This is great news! I’m so happy for you! Then why are you crying? You should be jubilating right now.
Akeelah: (tears streaming down) Because I’m leaving you behind, aunt… I don’t want to. I never imagined a moment like this. I thought I would take my last breath beside you in this prison. I never believed I could ever make it out of here alive.
Zatimah: Maybe that’s exactly why God sent this opportunity your way. I always knew you were special for a reason. I’ll miss you—but I’m not leaving this prison alive. Remember, I told you—I’m serving a life sentence. This is your chance to start over, my dear. (tears up, touches her face) I already love you like my own… like my own daughter. And today, I’m the happiest I’ve been in years.
Akeelah: But I don’t want to leave you. I love you so much. I feel so connected to you in a way I can’t even explain. You gave me hope in this prison. I would’ve been long dead without you. I don’t want to go without you.
Zatimah: (wipes her tears) You have to go. Live well—for my sake, at least. Your brother will be happy to see you again. Go out there and get a life. Get a job. Save some money. Start a business. And maybe—just maybe—you’ll meet a man who’ll love you despite your past, even if you’ve promised yourself never to love again. This is your chance to fulfill your dreams, my girl.
Prison Officer: It’s time for you to leave! You are no longer needed here. (his voice draws murmurs from the other prisoners)
Zatimah: Go! My child… go!
Akeelah: (sobbing hard) I don’t want to go! Please! I don’t want to leave you here!
Prison Officer: (rolls his eyes) I don’t have time for this shit. (drags her out)
Akeelah: (screaming in tears) Nooooo! I don’t want to go! Please! Let me stay! Aunt!!! Please!!
Prison Officer: Ogbeni shut up jare! Your mates dey pray to get out, you dey cry to stay. (pushes her out and locks the gate) Nonsense!
Zatimah: (closes her eyes sadly, her face sinks as she walks slowly back to her spot) Hmmmm...
Akeelah: (outside, banging on the gate, crying out) Please! I want to talk to her… please… I just want to tell her something… (melts to her knees, sobbing)
SAME MORNING – SCHOOL CAMPUS
(Habibah reaches her department, climbing the stairs with her practical file in hand. She hums a nasheed softly. As she nears her lecture room, she overhears students gossiping about Sefinat. The classroom is noisy and filled with people. She carefully pushes through the crowd.)
Aishat: You know I told you guys—she’s a snitch and an imposter! How does a new student join us second semester? I knew something was off!
Suraj: It’s obvious now—she came to avenge her brother’s death. I can’t believe we didn’t see the resemblance. They actually look alike.
Aminah: I never liked that girl from day one. She got what she deserved. I just hope she makes it out alive. Ziko doesn’t play.
Aishat: I don’t even pray she survives. She’s been a pain in the butt since she got here.
A.Z: Yoh! Guys—chill. She lost her twin brother. She’s here for justice. I don’t see anything wrong with that. If you were in her shoes, you’d do the same. And you, Aishat—stop acting like the bitch you already are. You piss me off sometimes.
Aishat: (steps forward to confront him) What did you just say to me? Say it again!
A.Z: Or what? (stares her down)
Aishat: I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget.
A.Z: Oh! I forgot—you’re Ziko’s bitch too.
Aishat: (about to jump on him when the girls restrain her) Leave me! Let me deal with this riff-raff! How dare you?! Leave me!!
Joshua: Can you guys, for once in your lives, act mature? Submit your damn manuals and let those of us still working focus!
Aishat: And who the hell are you?
Khalid: (enters the room, voice stern) That’s enough.
Aishat: (turns, shocked, quickly composing herself) Oh! Hey… I didn’t notice you were there.
A.Z: (spots Habibah submitting her manual, hurries to her) As-salam alaykum, Hajia. How have you been?
Habibah: (turns and looks up at his height) Wa alaykum salam. Good day. (focuses on her submission)
Aishat: (moves closer to Khalid) What happened to your neck? (reaches to touch it)
Khalid: (pushes her hand away sharply) What the hell is your problem, girl? Are you cursed or something? Why can’t you take “no” for an answer? Are you dumb?! (all eyes on them) Get a life! (drops his manual with the rep and storms out of the class)
Habibah: (heads out too as A.Z follows her, muttering) A life full of chaos…
A.Z: I know right?
Habibah: (startled, turns around sharply) Are you following me?
A.Z: Not really… I mean… maybe yes. I just want to talk to you about something.
Habibah: Whatever it is, please keep it to yourself. You can’t be following me like this—I am married!
A.Z: Oh! My bad. I’m so sorry. I thought you…
Habibah: Now you know. So please, stop following me. (about to walk away)
A.Z: But… are you happy in your marriage?
Habibah: (shockingly turns around) Excuse me? What did you just say?
A.Z: I’m so sorry… but I overheard your conversation with that strange lady the other day, on the stairs. I’ve been meaning to talk to you. I know I have no right to say this or even approach you.
Habibah: Yes, exactly! Mind your own business and face what brought you to this school. Whether I’m happy or not is none of your concern. Let this be the last time you ever approach me. As-salam alaykum. (walks away quickly)
A.Z: (smiles faintly) Very mature woman… I like that. (turns and heads back inside)
(CURTAIN)
SCHOOL PARKING LOT
Khalid: (reaches the parking lot and is about to hop on his bike)
Sefinat: (standing behind him) Hi.
Khalid: (turns around, surprised) What the hell are you doing here?
Sefinat: I came to see you. I’ve been waiting for like thirty minutes under that tree.
Khalid: You shouldn’t be here. After all the chaos you caused—if anyone sees you, you’ll be cooked for sure. Just leave.
Sefinat: (steps closer) Khalid… I know I’ve hurt you in so many ways. I’ve caused a lot of trouble since I arrived here. You’ve done nothing but protect me—and in return, I insulted you. Right when you were saving me. You have every right to hate me. But now, I’m leaving. I’m going back to my state—for good. No coming back. That’s why I came to ask for your forgiveness.
Khalid: Good for you. (climbs his bike and starts the engine) Now leave. I don’t ever want to see your face again.
Sefinat: Khalid, please… I know you’re mad. I’m sorry. I took too long to realize everything. I let my emotions blind me. Please… forgive me. (tears fill her eyes)
Khalid: (sighs heavily) You’re not safe here. Just leave. It’s better that way. (drives off)
Sefinat: (watches him leave sadly)
Khalid: (glances at her through his mirror, then speeds up)
Sefinat: (stands there lost in thought, still at the spot he left her, staring sadly at the ground)
Habibah: (spots her from afar and approaches cheerfully) Fine girl!
Sefinat: (turns around slowly, still sad)
Habibah: What happened? Why the long face? Did you see him?
Sefinat: I feel terrible. I don’t think he can ever forgive me. He doesn’t even want to look at me… like I disgust him.
Habibah: It’s okay. Come on, let’s get out of here. This place isn’t safe for you. Let’s go. (grabs her hand)
Sefinat: (follows her quietly) I’ve never seen that side of him before.
A.Z: (watches them quietly from the top floor window) Hmmmm...
AT THE FILM VILLAGE ENTRANCE
(Akeelah drops from a bike wearing a nose mask. She pays the bike man, enters through the gate, and adjusts her scarf to better cover her ears.)
Munir: (at the back of his shop on a phone call) Guy, I tell you make you calm down now! Why you dey do like this? I promise I go pay you—just no cast me. Shebi na five hundred thousand? I go pay. Please. (listens) Ehn? So because say na you bring the idea, now you wan put everything on my head? We were three that raped her, remember? I know I messed up—I should’ve thought this through. But my sins are haunting me now… just don’t expose me. Please! I’ll pay you, give me till the end of this month. No cast me, abeg. (pauses as he hears a sound inside the shop, waits a second, then continues) This thing no good, oh. Okay, okay! I go pay you. Oya na. (ends the call and walks back inside) Today’s market self... see as everywhere dry. (suddenly notices someone moving toward the gate) Huh? Why does that lady look like Akeelah from afar? Mtchewww! I must be going mad. That one dey prison—how on earth would she be here? (stands by the door) Madam! Wetin you wan buy? We get everything—different movies. Come now!