La Femme Anjola (2021) Movie Script

[UPBEAT AFRICAN MUSIC]

[MOMENTARY STRING MOTIF]

[WAVES CRASHING]

DEJARE:

Give me the bag! Give it!

Hey!

Hold on! Hold on! Hold on!

Hold on! Grab my hand!

ANJOLA:

Help! DJ!

[ANJOLA SCREAMING]

DEJARE:

Hold on!

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORING]

♪ ♪

[DESPERATE CRIES]

[BODY THUDS ONTO ROCKS]

[DEJARE SCREAMING FADES OUT]

♪ ♪

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORING ENDS]

DEJARE [VO]:

That was 3 months ago,

not so long is it?

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORING]

Yet it seems like a lifetime now

You see before all this wahala,

things were good.

I was a young Lagos "big boy",

dabbling in the pool of power.

I had good job

working as a stockbroker

in the Central Business

district in Lagos.

♪ ♪

[OFFICE SOUNDS]

Eiish! Come on, come on.

Come on!

Dejare, Nigertek is going

to fall. Drop it! Close now!

It's holding steady!

You're pushing it!

Drop at seventeen,

before they call S.E.C for you.

No!

You have a responsibility to

your clients to close now!

I'm holding it at eighteen and a

half

all the way to the

finish line.

The index closes below 17--

Look, I'm the senior trader on

this account,

and I've got it covered.

It's fine...

Back off!

It's fine.

19...19!

Wow, Nigertek is on full bid...

Yes!

[CLAPPING AND CHEERING]

You know...you're not only

dangerous...you're reckless.

I'm in it to win it!

This is no place for people with

liver issues.

One day, that liver of yours

is going to fail.

I'm hot...

and you're not.

I'm hot...and he's not!

And I'm hot...and he's not!

DEJARE [VO]:

The job came with a

penthouse apartment

in affluent Victoria Island.

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORING

TRANSITIONS TO UPBEAT JAZZ SAX]

VI, with the stylish nightclubs,

lounges, and dollar

spending clientele.

♪ ♪

Let's just say...

life was good,

and I was living it.

[UPBEAT PARTY MUSIC WITH

AFRICAN RHYTHM]

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[CHILDREN SHOUTING]

YEJIDE:

You know how children

are, they're just so excited.

DEJARE:

Hey!

THABISA:

Babe, hurry up.

We are gonna ruin the surprise.

DEJARE: I'm just getting my sax.

THABISA: Okay, okay.

DEJARE:

Oh! Hey!

YEJIDE:

You're early!

DEJARE:

Oh, please Sis, don't start,

don't start!

YEJIDE:

Our beautiful,

and very patient fiancée.

DEJARE: Come on! Come on!

YEJIDE: Yes you know she's

special

because you are always,

always late!

DEJARE: Good to see you.

YEJIDE: Go and say hello.

Go introduce her to everyone.

DEJARE: Alright.

YEJIDE: Okay...

This is my fiancée.

AUNTIE: Yes...

DEJARE: Yes, yes...

AUNTIE:

You are lucky to have her.

DEJARE:

Thank you, thank you,

thank you so much.

ETIDO:

Dejare...late comer!

Brother. I'm coming, I'm coming!

Alright, I'll see you soon,

I'll see you soon.

I'll be right back.

ETIDO:

Finally!

Please, please, please,

don't start!

My sister's already read me

the riot act. I can't!

Hu--uh, thank you, thank you!

And what are you mixing here?

Young man, this here is the

mother-of-all rum punches.

Ah, hmm...

We're all gonna die here

today...sleep...die!

So, how's the Stock Exchange?

You know, same old,

same old wheeling and dealing.

The stock market right now...

is not for the faint of heart.

At all.

So, how about your music?

Are you still looking for gigs?

Every now and then, when I can.

Um, there's this joint called

The BassMent--

Okay!

--advertising for a saxophonist.

Where's that?

They are at this...

very popular street in Ikeja GRA

DEJARE: Ikeja?

EKIDO: Mm-hmm.

DEJARE: Mainland?

EKIDO: Mmm...

Traffic!

ETIDO: Look...

DEJARE: Me?

I wrote their number down,

somewhere for you.

[MUSIC ENDS]

[CAR HONKING]

YEJIDE:

Quick, quick, everyone

Quick, he's coming, he's coming.

Quiet!

[banging on gate]

GATEMAN:

Good evening, Sir.

KOLAPO: What is wrong with you?

GATEMAN: I'm sorry, Sir.

KOLAPO: Where've you been?

GATEMAN: I'm sorry, Sir.

KOLAPO: I've been

knocking since...

GATEMAN:...I'm sorry, Sir.

Where were you?

Here I am. Sorry Sir.

GATEMAN: Here?

KOLAPO: Yes, Sir.

And why is everywhere dark?

I will put on the gen.

Turn on the generator please,

and get that car inside.

Alright, Sir.

EVERYONE:

Surprise!

[UPBEAT PARTY MUSIC WITH

AFRICAN RHYTHM]

Welcome home, welcome home!

KOLAPO: Very nice to see you.

MAN: We are pleased to see you.

Thank you very much.

[SAX PLAYS NIGERIAN

NATIONAL ANTHEM]

Six months at sea and that's

when they

choose to give you a

promotion, eh?

I swear!

Lieutenant-Commander, Sir!

Congratulations!

Welcome home, soldier.

Well, at ease, Thabisa.

You're still running around

with this guy?

Ah--ha! Better still.

Oh...

So nice!

Congrats, man!

Thank you.

Yeah!

So have you-- have you guys

picked a date?

Ah, there's no rush now,

there's no rush.

Ahhh DJ, No rush what?

There is no rush.

You will never change.

She is right here.

Well, Thabisa, don't worry.

I'll work on him.

KOLAPO:

Let's go inside.

KOLAPO:

Thank you everybody,

thank you!

[TRAFFIC NOISE, HONKING]

[DISTANT STREET NOISE]

[DRAMATIC AMBIENT MUSIC]

Uh-ha?

I'm here to audition.

Enter nah.

I'm Dejare, but people

call me DJ.

Biggie.

[UPBEAT RHYTHMIC MUSIC]

Keep it moving please.

[POOR SAX PLAYING]

OSCAR:

It's ok. It's ok.

We will keep in touch.

Don't call us.

We'll call you.

Well done!

OSCAR: Dejare, right?

DEJARE: Yes.

Are you going to play, or what?

Any particular requests?

Music.

[UPBEAT RHYTHMIC SAX]

[MYSTERIOUS WOODWIND UNDERSCORE]

Where did you learn how

to play like this?

It's something I picked up

from my dad.

Aah...

Oh, that's great.

My name is Oscar.

I run this joint.

There's not much money,

so don't go buying a piece of

land quite yet

Two rehearsals per week.

Thursdays, and Saturdays.

So I take it I got the gig?

We're rehearsing tomorrow.

Congratulations.

Drinks?

[MUSIC BECOMES UPBEAT JAZZ]

A.D!

Biggie, Biggie!

Ah, this is Adanna.

Don't mind this Warri boy.

Fine boy, no pimples...

Adanna, hi.

What's your poison?

Name it, I can fix it.

Hmmmm...

How about a stout?

What's that? Please!

DEJARE:

Can we close it at fifty?

Deal.

Thank you.

[office ambience]

What's up?

What do you think?

How about you buy it instead of

watching me like Instagram feed!

[DRUM ROLL]

Ah, Frank...when do we start?

When her Ladyship gets here.

[SMOOTH JAZZ IN BACKGROUND]

Her Ladyship?

[DOOR SQUEAKS OPEN]

[SENSUAL BASS & PERCUSSION]

DEJARE [VO]:

Thinking back,

I can't say it was love,

the first time I saw her,

but it was certainly lust.

FRANK:

The vocalist.

DEJARE:

I wanted to break every

single commandment with her...

La Femme Anjola.

ADANNA: Baby girl.

The usual?

Yes, please.

I got you.

[BASS GUITARIST PRACTICES]

Thanks, Darling.

Any time.

[BAND REHEARSES]

Traffic was a bitch.

FRANK:

No shaking.

We're just tuning up.

What number are we doing?

Dejare Johnson,

DJ for short--

he's on sax.

What number are we doing?

Let's start from the top

of the set list.

Thank you.

[UPBEAT JAZZ]

[SINGING IN SWAHILI]

[DEJARE IMPROVISES ON SAX]

[BAND STOPS PLAYING]

What the hell does he

think he's doing?

Playing sax.

You said you were going to

hire a saxophonist...

not some roadside act!

Anjola, both of you are sounding

very good together.

His timing's awful,

and he's out of key.

Excuse me!

Hold on a minute.

I may have tried some

improvisation but I was

not off-key!

I'm never off-key.

Was I talking to you?

Well maybe that's the

problem then.

Maybe if you stop playing

Queen diva for some seconds,

you can hear the rest of us

play.

Ok guys, calm down.

Calm down, okay?

Dejare, all of us generally tend

to stick to the sheet.

My bad.

I'm sorry.

Ah, we go, time is money, huh?

Let's go back to

rehearsals, please.

[STREET SOUNDS, RUSHING WATER]

[HONKING, CROWD CHEERING]

COMPERE: Ladies and gentlemen..

La Femme Anjola, and the

Honey Band!

[UPBEAT AFRICAN RHYTHM]

[CHEERING]

[SCATTING]

[CROWD CHEERING]

You are so kind!

ANJOLA: Thank you!

PATRON: We love you!

[CHEERING & APPLAUSE CONTINUE]

You are playing very well!

Ah, thanks! [laughing]

Fine boy...

I like the way your fingers

work that sax...Nice.

Run for your life Dejare,

or Adanna will tap you like

palm wine.

FRANK: Don't let Anjola

intimidate you.

Intimidate me?

I work with sharks all day,

I'll be fine.

No, I mean...

she hates sharing the attention.

Well, she shouldn't believe

her own hype.

No hype, man, no hype.

The guys here, they love Anjola.

That guy?

Mr. Odera Kalu...

aka Mr. Remedy,

aka, owner of The BassMent,

aka...Anjola's husband.

I know what you're thinking,

and you're wrong for

thinking it.

DEJARE:

What am I thinking?

That money can make an

ugly man fine.

CLUB SINGER IN BACKGROUND:

♪ ...Tuzanza, Black bird,

Black bird ♪

♪ Tuzanza, tuzanza, what are you

doing there? ♪

♪ Tuzanza, tuzanza,I am picking

pepper for my mother... ♪

[NIGHT SOUNDS, INDISTINCT

CHATTER]

[JAZZY NOIR BACKGROUND MUSIC]

You have a very nice voice.

I know.

Sorry, I can be blunt sometimes.

Have you been singing for long?

I crack jokes sometimes,

but I'm not that funny.

I expected you to be more

original while toasting me.

Ah...look Madam,

don't get it twisted,

I'm just trying to be polite.

Especially since we got off

on the wrong foot.

Yeah, right!

That's why your eyes were all

over me all evening...

If you had looked anymore, I'm

sure I would have had a hole in

my back of my head.

Gosh.

You're really full of yourself.

Oh?

Just when I thought we were

starting to get along.

Lady...

ODERA:

Odanna.

Oscar.

Thabisa?

Thabisa!

[OMINOUS UNDERSCORING]

Hi, baby.

Hey.

I wasn't expecting to see you.

Thought I would surprise you.

I'm pleasantly surprised.

I just took a bath.

DEJARE: Hmm...

THABISA: How did the gig go?

What?

♪ ♪

THABISA:

What's got into you tonight?

All we did was make love.

It was great.

That...was making love?

I'm going to go have a shower.

What's going on with you

tonight?

Okay, so we did it a little

different this time.

I don't understand.

What's the problem?

You're acting weird.

I'm acting weird?

So, because we didn't have an

accompanying twelve-piece

symphony orchestra.

Huh...or Aretha Franklin

serenading every thrust.

Huh...that's how you like

it, huh.

C'mon, Babe, live a little!

Okay...just calm down.

I will calm down,

when you stop fussing!

THABISA: Wait, are we fighting?

DEJARE: I don't understand!

I don't understand!

If I don't initiate love-making,

you become insecure.

And here I am, showing some

initiative,

and you're still nagging!

I'm not nagging...

I'm making a valid observation.

Most chicks will be, will be

happy about what I did.

They will love it.

In fact, most chics will

hail me!

Most chics?

Who are we talking about here?

Me, Thabisa, your fiancée,

or someone else?

I'm not in the mood to fight.

I think you should stay at

your place tonight.

You want me to leave?

[DOOR BANGS CLOSED]

DEJARE [VO]:

Thabisa was right...

that wasn't me.

I had never made love to her

that way before,

with another woman...on my mind.

Yes...

Okay.

Our asking price is in the

region of twelve million naira,

2 million deposit, ten per cent

agency and legal fees,

and one million annual

service charge...

The Lagos state tenancy law

applies but Oga, this is a prime

location the landlord doesn't

care about that rule.

Yes, Mr. Garuba.

Okay, I will have the

agreement drawn up.

Thanks.

I see you got the flowers?

I'm the envy of the office.

Am I forgiven?

Please.

How about lunch?

How about I take you out to

lunch so I can beg

you some more?

No can do. I have to show a

client property on Banana

Island.

Dinner?

We could grab a bite at your

favorite place.

Sweet.

But I have an early morning

flight to Abuja tomorrow.

Yeah, we have a whole new

housing complex in Asokoro.

Which was the reason

I came over last night.

I was hoping we would spend

some time before I left.

I know...I know.

I'm sorry.

I was hoping we could talk about

setting the wedding date.

It's been dragging.

I know...I know.

It's this job!

It's really stressing me out.

That's the reason you were

so wound up last night?

Babe, don't let that place

burn you out.

'Cos last night...

[UNDER HIS BREATH]

I'm sorry.

[PHONE BUTTON CLICKS]

You were the last person I

expected to see here.

How did you find--

You're such a bad liar!

You know you've been willing me

to your doorstep

from the first day you met me.

You are really arrogant,

you know?

I can't seem to help myself.

Enough for two?

[PLATE CLATTERS]

Suya and shawarma.

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORING]

Hmm...yummy...

But I'll need to work up an

appetite first.

I'm with someone.

If it makes it any easier,

we can pretend

you put up a most gallant fight.

[VEHICLE ENGINES RUMBLE]

What's wrong?

I've never done this before.

I'm engaged to be married,

for crying out loud!

She doesn't deserve this.

That's so cute.

C'mon, you're not shackled yet.

I'm taking a risk here too--

So let's pretend like this

wasn't what we both know it

was then.

A one-night stand?

A sexual healing?

Safest option all round.

I'm married to a man who

wouldn't think twice killing me

[CELL PHONE RINGS]

for looking at another man.

Or killing another man

for looking in my direction.

[CELL PHONE RINGS]

I have to go.

Don't worry, we've had our fun.

It won't happen again.

Hi, Darling.

[UPBEAT JAZZ]

ANJOLA: Yes.

♪ ♪

[BEGINS SINGING]

[GLASS SHATTERS]

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORING]

[PAINFUL MOANING]

TEKENA:

Odera! Odera,

you're a dead man!

Odera, you're a dead man!

Odera, dead man!

ODERA:

Okilo, remove this watch.

[PUNCH THUDS]

Idiot.

♪ ♪

[CHOKING]

[PUNCH THUDS]

The band, the band.

Okay, Okilo...

My brother will kill all of you.

♪ ♪

Damn! Wow!

FRANK:

Dejare. Sit.

Sit down.

You're doing good.

Thank you.

But I quit.

I took this job to relieve

myself of stress.

I don't need this.

If you quit now...

it won't look too good.

Chill small.

Ok, chill small.

Next month, if you feel like a

change of scenery,

then you can leave.

[MUSIC INTENSITY INCREASES]

[MUSIC ENDS]

[STREET SOUNDS]

[UPBEAT RHYTHMIC MUSIC]

And they call me reckless!

Would you believe me if I said I

was just passing by the area?

Oh yeah?

Yeah!

Hmm.

Okay.

[MUSIC ENDS]

DEJARE:

You said you weren't going

to see me again.

ANJOLA:

I believe I said I wasn't going

to sleep with you again.

From what I saw at the club

the other day, not doing either

seems like a pretty smart way of

staying alive.

ANJOLA:

Odera is in the car business.

when you move in those kind

of circles,

there's bound to be beef.

It's really beautiful here.

ANJOLA:

My dad passed when I was

a toddler.

My mom struggled to keep a roof

over our heads

and food on the table.

I managed to finish

secondary school.

Performed very well.

Got admission into

university, but...

there was no money.

So, I got a job instead.

And Odera?

That was the job.

I was a receptionist at his

car sale showroom in Surulere.

He walked in one day...

took one look at me,

and married me three

weeks later.

Somewhere in there, I missed the

part where you fell

in love with him.

What's love got to do with it?

He had me in his bed every night

and I went from eating one

packet of noodles

a day to three

square meals.

From buying used clothing

at "bend down selects",

to having Lanre Da Silva

design for me.

It was an arrangement that

worked for both parties.

He was really good to me

at first.

Paid for my mom's hospital bills

before she passed.

Paid for me to go to university.

[EMOTIONAL MALE VOCALIST IN

BACKGROUND]

But that was just foreplay.

A kick here...

a punch there...

a slap when I go, or act out

of line.

He often reminds me that

I'm his property.

His possession.

That he owns me.

DEJARE:

How do you manage to sneak

away from him?

Salon...

Spa appointments, gym...

fitting of clothes.

A girl will always find excuses

to leave the house.

Odera knows I am terrified

of him.

If he ever found out I cheated

on him,

he would kill me!

♪ ♪

[ROMANTIC UPBEAT MUSIC]

♪ Baby, oh baby, yeah, ♪

♪ Yeah, yeah! ♪

♪ I can make you feel, baby ♪

♪ I can make you feel ♪

♪ Oh, baby, ♪

[MUSIC ENDS]

Why don't you leave him?

I did.

Three years ago.

I got fed up.

So I headed south.

Made it as far as Port Harcourt

before Odera tracked me down.

He walked into my hotel room

and told me that...

if I didn't return home

before nightfall,

he would have me killed.

He left the plane ticket on the

dresser, and walked out.

I thought of heading north

to Kaduna,

but I know Odera.

He would have left someone

behind to track me.

So I caught the flight.

The beating he gave me!

It took me a whole month

to recover.

[CELL PHONE RINGS]

[MALE VOCAL RINGTONE]

I'll be rid of him some day, DJ.

[STREET SOUNDS, ECHO OF MUSIC]

[CLUB MUSIC]

DEJARE: Frank.

FRANK: Yeah.

Do you mind if Anjola and I do

a duet?

Umm...Okay...but keep it short

DEJARE: Short...that's fine.

FRANK: Yeah. Okay.

[APPLAUSE, SULTRY

JAZZ SONG BEGINS]

ANJOLA:

Thank you, thank you.

ANJOLA:

♪ I can't help but lovin' you,

my darling ♪

♪ 'Cause you bring sun and joy

in my life ♪

♪ I can't help but lovin' you,

oh yes I do ♪

♪ And I don't wanna fight my

feelings for you ♪

♪ with all the little

thing you do ♪

♪ The little words you say,

they got me crazy over you ♪

♪ Darling, oh I love you ♪

[DEJARE PLAYS SAX SOLO]

♪ You are more than my lover ♪

♪ You are my friend... ♪

♪ The best friend I've

ever had ♪

♪ I feel precious with you ♪

♪When you look upon me reminding

me my beauty and truth♪

♪ with all the little things

you do ♪

♪ the little words you say,

they got me crazy over you ♪

♪ Darling, darling I love,

I love you ♪

[DEJARE PLAYS SAX SOLO]

[SOLO CONTINUES]

♪ ♪

♪ The little things you do ♪

♪ The little things you say ♪

♪ ♪

♪ The little things you do ♪

♪ The little things you say ♪

♪ Oooh, can't help but

lovin' you ♪

[SONG ENDS]

[APPLAUSE]

ADANNA: Baby Girl!

Baby Girl!

Thank you!

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORING]

FRANK:

Umm, DJ...

When did you guys rehearse that?

[LOWKEY CLUB MUSIC]

Oh...We were just improvising.

FRANK:

That was an improv?

Do you know what an

improv means?

Eh?

Dis guyyyy...

DEJARE:

Hey!

Hey, baby...

I thought you weren't back from

Abuja until tomorrow.

I decided to come early to

watch you perform.

You guys were really great

out there.

Yeah.

Thanks. Not a bad band, yeah?

She's a really good singer.

DEJARE:

Umm...yeah.

Your housing complex thing in

Abuja. How is that coming along?

What?

You tell me.

You've lost me!

Are you sleeping with her?

With who?

The singer.

Are you sleeping with her?

Of course not.

Of course not!

She's married to the boss.

Ah, this is ridiculous, come on.

I just play sax here.

You're not playing sax.

You're playing sex!

S.

E.

X.

Thabisa!

Thabisa...

DEJARE:

Thabisa!

Thabisa, you are really going

off the deep end.

Nothing happened!

A woman knows!

Thabisa, is this how low you

think of me?

That I would run after

some woman...

Thabisa, nothing is going on!

So, what drove you to her?

Huh?

The orchestra was too slow?

I was too boring in bed, you had

to go search for it elsewhere?

It's not like that.

Uh...You have been dragging your

feet on setting a wedding date

for months now!

And here I was, thinking...

that maybe you just didn't want

to settle down yet.

You didn't want to settle down

with me!

Thabisa, don't do this--

Don't touch me!

Never touch me!

[TAXI PULLS UP]

Thabisa, please let's talk

about this.

Thabisa, we can talk about this.

[ENGINE TURNS OFF]

Last chance.

Look me straight in the eyes

and tell me you're not sleeping

with that woman!

Thabisa, I'm not shagging her.

Liar!

You know...

for a second...

just for one second,

I thought you were going

to be truthful

and give this relationship the

last slim chance it had.

Thabisa...

Thabisa, please don't leave like

this. Thabisa! Please!

[engine starts]

Thabisa. Thabisa?

DEJARE:

I met her when I was

living in South Africa. School.

Yeah.

Cape Town.

Um.

Oops!

I messed that up for you.

Truth be told...

I was never really ready to

settle down like she was.

She moved to Lagos and

fit right in.

Perfectly.

Great job.

My family--ah, they love her.

They love her!

But, I always wanted more from

life y'know?

More than just the norm.

And I came along...opened the

door and you walked right in.

Not exactly kicking and

screaming.

Sometimes, I wish I had a family

that loved me.

I wish I could take risks and...

leave Odera to be with you.

But I still have to sleep

with him...

his hands all over me.

Now and again, I imagine what it

would feel like

to finally be free of him,

you know?

Just for a week.

Just for even a day.

Is there really no way to

leave him?

The only way I'd be able to

leave Odera is if he were dead!

DEJARE: No!

ANJOLA: Yeah!

That's my one-way ticket out

of this prison sentence

he calls a marriage.

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORING]

Help me!

I wouldn't know how.

I feel like being reckless.

KOLAPO:

Engaged to someone

like Thabisa,

someone that lovely,

and you had to go and

mess it up.

DEJARE:

I didn't mean to hurt her.

I didn't.

She came over last night.

Very upset and all.

Your sis' had a few choice words

about your conduct.

What more can I do?

I've tried to reach out to her,

she won't see me,

she won't take my calls.

Mm-mhm! You go there. You

grovel. You die there!

That girl is special.

Ok, Bro, Thabisa respects you.

Do you think you can speak to

her for me,

persuade her to see me?

I don't expect her to take

me back.

Take you back?

Lower your expectations.

Cancel it.

Enter the gate first--

Is this meat ready or what. The

rice and everything else

is ready.

Hey, Sis...

I guess you are staying for

dinner too, Dejare!

I am staying.

Hmm...

I am staying.

Love you, Sis.

Hey! Forget Thabisa, your sister

will kill you first.

[SAX PLAYING]

What...

Dejare...

DEJARE:

Oh!

How far?

I'm good.

Just while you're here, today is

supposed to be your day off.

OSCAR: Why are you here?

DEJARE: I know...

I know. I was just passing

and I thought...

Oh!

Anjola. I didn't see you there.

Hi DJ...

Hope you're cool?

OSCAR:

Yeah, you were saying?

I was just passing by and

I thought to come and

pick up my pay.

Big Stockbroker like you,

can't wait until tomorrow to

pick up a lousy fifty thousand

naira?

I just move the money around.

I don't make it.

[MONEY FLAPS DOWN]

That's it.

I won't count it.

Of course.

Meanwhile, you and Anjola played

very well together the

other night.

And it's great to see that both

of you are getting along.

[PAINFUL GASPS]

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORING]

OTOBO:

Don't even think about it...

OTOBO:

Show me some respect

before you open your mouth

to talk rubbish.

BIGGIE:

Ahhh!

You rat!

[BIGGIE GROANING]

Otobo. What is going on here?

When I pay for a service,

I expect delivery.

I have paid.

But no delivery.

Imagine!

I will send my younger brother,

Tekena to come collect my money.

No money!

BIGGIE:

Maybe he ran away

with the money!

OTOBO:

Shut up your mouth!

My own brother?

Same mamma, same papa...

Otobo...

I don't know anything

about your delivery,

your money, or even your

brother.

I'm just an ordinary

club manager.

Please!

If you have beef with Odera, why

don't you take it up with him

and leave us alone.

Where is he?

Huh?

He is not here.

He travel...

Now...

We'll carry Odera's woman.

Eh?

Yes...

When I see my money,

and my younger brother,

Tekena...

we'll bring her back.

Otobo...

that's a wrong move,

in a very wrong direction!

I asked you a question.

You, grab that bitch!

Hey!

Leave her alone!

Jesu o.

Your father!

Otobo, you cannot take

Anjola away.

Odera likes her within

network coverage.

[PAINFUL SCREAMS]

Tell Odera, I'll be back.

BIGGIE:

Fuck!

You fool, come on.

[BIGGIE LAUGHING]

Are you okay?

I'm fine.

FRANK:

Dejare...

Don't play with my

intelligence, boy.

Did you ever hear what they say

happens to the child that

peers at his father's balls,

and then have the audacity to

ask why they are bigger than

his?

You'll soon find out.

You see...

Our former sax player,

Tayo Kalejaye,

he used to do the exact

same thing.

He will hang around here

during his days off,

like a pastor waiting for

his tithes.

Until, one day,

poooof...

he disappeared from Lagos.

[FOOTSTEPS APPROACH]

The boss called...

he says he wants to see you.

Oscar?

Odera.

So all these cars belong to

Odera?

Yes.

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORING]

You are the one banging my wife?

♪ ♪

See the look on his face!

OSCAR:

Dejare...

calm down, ok, our guy is

only joking with you!

I didn't find it funny.

It was not meant to be funny

to you.

Sit!

Did you witness the incident

at the club yesterday?

You mean in the bar?

You tell me.

There seemed to be some sort

of a misunderstanding.

OSCAR:

Dejare...

The Boss means that,

maybe when that misunderstanding

happened yesterday,

you were not in the club?

Yesterday, maybe,

you were not around?

Yes Boss, I was somewhere

else too.

I was somewhere else.

This boy got drunk and

decided to practice for the

Olympic diving team.

By smashing through my

office window.

ODERA:

Boom!

I was somewhere else.

Maybe he is not dull after all.

I hear you work at the

stock market?

I'm a trader.

I'm a trader too.

We are all traders.

Tell me...

Isn't there are law against

insider trading?

It's a federal offense.

Punishable by jail term.

The same applies here.

Insider talking.

And the offense is punishable

by a lifetime...

in the wheelchair.

Get out of my office.

[SUSPENSEFUL UNDERSCORING]

[KNOCKING AT WINDOW]

Fine boy...

My name is small but mighty,

but they call me container...

I can take anything.

I am here for you.

Fine boy...

What's wrong with you?

I want to help your life,

but you are acting up.

[ROMANTIC MUSIC]

So that joke your husband

cracked...

you obviously don't take it

as seriously as I do?

I just wanted to check on you.

Make sure you are okay.

I took a risk coming here

tonight.

Too much of a risk if

you ask me.

Frank warned me to stay away

from you.

That big fool.

I beg, don't mind him, Dejare.

You're not afraid he might talk?

He wouldn't dare!

Oscar would if he found out.

Oscar doesn't know.

How can you be so sure?

Because you and I

would already be dead.

We've got to stop this.

I can't...

I'm already falling in love

with you.

I don't need this drama in

my life.

And you think I do?

This was meant to be a one night

stand.

I didn't figure on

falling in love with you.

We can't be together!

We could be...

if Odera wasn't around...

if he was dead.

You're not kidding this

time, are you?

I wasn't kidding the first time.

[CUTLERY BANGING]

DEJARE: Hey!

ANJOLA: Hey.

Oh...

You cooked?

I did.

Looks good.

Here.

Thanks.

Ah, I don't need this.

Oh, this looks good.

It does!

Like?

Good!

So, whatever happened to your

old sax player?

Tayo?

Mm-hmm.

He was a loser with a

capital "L".

He became infatuated.

With you?

I warned him, he didn't listen.

Oscar found out he was pestering

and reported him to Odera.

He got fired, and,

that was the last I saw of him.

Hmm...

Some men want me,

and others just want

to dominate me.

Then you Dejare,

what do you want?

Me?

I love you.

I want to love you.

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORE MOTIF]

[UPBEAT AFRICAN DRUMMING]

ETIDO:

Wow!

ETIDO: I am enjoying myself.

DEJARE: I'm glad.

ETIDO:

Nice!

Everyone feels how you do.

Dejare Johnson?

Yes?

Osanyede Osunde...

A and R consultant,

for Platinum Plus Music.

You sent me your demo?

Yes...yes!

Yes, yes!

Please, sit.

Thank you.

Hello.

This is my brother-in-law, Etido

Oh, how do you do?

Nice to meet you.

Man, I'm impressed!

Look, the reciprocity between

you and the vocalist...amazing!

And then having to see you guys

perform live on stage tonight...

the power dynamic between voice

and instrument...

off the charts!

Thank you, thank you.

We'd like for you and Anjola

to come in, and

talk to us about signing

on to our label.

You mean like a recording deal?

Hey! That's the business I'm in.

ETIDO: Wow!

OSANYEDE: Yes!

Tell you what...

Why don't you give

us a call, yeah?

Let's make this happen.

Yes, yes!

I look forward to it.

Yes, yes.

OSANYEDE: Alright, thank you.

DEJARE: Thank you!

Thank you very much.

No problem.

Wow.

OSANYEDE: Call me!

DEJARE: I will!

What just happened?

ANJOLA:

They're going to offer

us a deal?

DEJARE:

Yes...

He really loved the demo,

and he was really feeling our

performance tonight.

You know, I can't believe this!

He wants to sign us,

he wants to sign us!

On the dotted line!

Wow.

You sent out a demo?

As far back as I

can remember, DJ,

I've always wanted to perform.

But I never thought--

DEJARE: I know!

This is big for me too,

'cause...

I've got two, three years tops,

before the Stock exchange

burns me out, so...

This is big.

Hey?

We've hammered!

You've been good for me, DJ.

You're an angel.

YEJIDE:

I don't care, Kolapo,

it is just wrong!

KOLAPO:

Listen to me!

YEJIDE:

I am listening,

and I'm not...

Thanks for the ride home,

I really enjoyed myself today.

No problem. I just wanna say

goodnight to Sis

and Kolapo before

heading home.

Ah, Yejide will be

in bed by now.

No, I don't care, Kolapo.

Yeah?

YEJIDE:

This is just not right.

KOLAPO: Why won't you listen

to me?

YEJIDE: This is wrong--

I am listening! There's nothing

like that, okay?

I say it's not right, now you

have to do something about it.

KOLAPO: You can't make me!

YEJIDE: No, no, you have to!

KOLAPO: I must tell you, it's

not going to happen.

KOLAPO: No, I can't do

anything...

YEJIDE: No, you must, you must

you must...

What's happening here?

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORING]

Nothing.

I could hear you guys all

the way from there.

Look, I have an early start

tomorrow.

Nothing!

OSANYEDE:

Hey, Dejare!

DEJARE:

Hey, Osanyede.

Good to see you.

OSANYEDE:

Good to see you.

This is my lawyer, Iniobong.

Oh, hello, Iniobong.

You know, your lawyer drives

a hard bargain?

Yes, yes she does.

So, did you get the final drafts

we forwarded this morning?

Yes, we received them.

Ah, cool, cool.

Um, where's Anjola?

Oh, she's running late.

But, she will join us shortly,

I'm sure.

Ah, cool, cool, cool.

She can meet with us

in the boardroom.

DEJARE: Yes...

OSANYEDE: Shall we?

[ANJOLA SINGING DEMO TRACK]

♪ I can't help but lovin' you,

my darling ♪

Brilliant!

Where is she?

Dejare, I am super excited

you are signing with us.

Are we still...expecting

someone?

It seems Anjola has

been held up.

Um, Dejare, maybe you should

give her a call?

We are really sorry about this.

CEO:

No, it's fine, it's fine.

I need you to get the Platinum

Plus in the back.

Dejare, are you joining us

for pictures?

I'm sorry, Anjola is not going

to be able make it...

You guys are a duo,

so I need both signatures.

You know, in the past, I've lost

one or two artists by not

dotting the 'i's and

crossing the 'T's.

We can be patient, um,

everything good will come.

Let's shake up the Gram,

let's take some pictures, umm...

Join us!

[SUSPENSEFUL UNDERSCORING]

Let's take these pictures

and blow the Gram!

Please, hashtag

Platinum Records.

Hashtag Beauty and sax player...

Fantastic!

♪ ♪

[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]

Fine boy!

How far now?

Oh.

Ah...

No greeting today?

No!

Where the hell were you?

Anjola!

We were all there waiting

for you!

What happened?

I was counting on this deal to

give us both a new start.

Why didn't you show up?

What happened?

Odera got upset.

And he beat you like this?

He found out about the

record deal.

He didn't want to hear it.

He starts yelling...

punching...

kicking me.

He wanted to know who hooked me

with the record label.

I didn't dare mention your name.

So I told him it was me.

Then he beat me some more.

I must have passed out.

I woke up on the living room

floor a couple of hours ago.

[EMOTIONAL UNDERSCORING]

I can't stand this anymore, DJ!

I just can't!

Just name the day.

Are we talking about the

same thing here?

Whatever it is we need to do...

Name the day.

[BACKGROUND UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC]

FRANK: It was great, you know?

DEJARE: Yeah!

Who's that guy?

Let's go.

Hold on.

[UPEAT NOIR SUSPENSE MUSIC]

[VEHICLE STARTS]

Gun! Gun! Everybody get down!

Get down! Gun!

Go, go, go!

[VEHICLE SPEEDS OFF]

Hey, are you ok?

It's over, it's over.

Are you ok?

You should have just kept quiet.

Maybe one of those bullets

would've done the job for us and

destroyed that ugly hand

he hits me with.

One of those bullets

could've hit you!

ODERA:

Those are Otobo's men.

I love you.

But this Friday...

with or without you.

ODERA:

Are you ok?

[BRIEF DRAMATIC

UNDERSCORING MOTIF]

[OFFICE SOUNDS,

BACKGROUND CHATTER]

No!

No, this is bad.

This is bad, this is...

DEJARE [VO]:

I lost 4.8 billion naira

that day...

[SUSPENSEFUL RHYTMIC

UNDERSCORING]

Enough money to build portable

water infrastructure in every

village in Nigeria;

enough to place a computer on

every secondary

school classroom desk.

They placed me on immediate

suspension, pending an enquiry.

I was in deep shit!

[CELL PHONE CHIMES]

[TRAFFIC SOUNDS, CAR REVVING]

[MUSIC FADES OUT]

[NIGHT SOUNDS, DOG BARKING]

[SUSPENSEFUL RHYTMIC

UNDERSCORING RETURNS]

Thabisa.

♪ ♪

What are you doing here?

How did you get in?

I have your spare.

I'm sorry to bust in on you

like this,

you wouldn't have agreed

to see me otherwise.

Look, we need to talk.

We've have nothing to talk

about. Now, please just go!

Did I come at a bad time?

There is no good time

for us, remember?

Please, just go!

Alright, alright, ok.

DEJARE: Let me get my keys.

[DRUM ROLL]

[DRAMATIC ORCHESTRAL UNDERSCORE]

Hey, hey, bro'.

How're you doing?

♪ ♪

KOLAPO:

Can we talk?

[KEY CLATTERS ONTO FLOOR]

KOLAPO:

Adejare!

[GRUNTING, SCUFFLING]

KOLAPO:

Will you calm down,

Adejare, please!

KOLAPO:

Wait for a second.

Please Dejare, please wait!

Get off me! Go to hell!

We were going to tell you.

We didn't mean for you to

find out like this.

Fuck!

Fuck! Jesus!

Please, please!

Kolapo! You and Thabisa?

My fiancée!

It just happened. It just

happened. We were going

to tell you!

How long has this been going on?

A few weeks.

Okay?

We're in love.

We were going to tell you.

Wait, is this what you and

sister were arguing about the

other night?

Huh?

Haa!

You are my brother!

I still am, Adejare!

Alright, but you told me you

found yourself another woman.

Oh! Oh! And that was your

cue to jump in!?

I was going to talk to her into

giving you another chance...

I swear!

And while you were talking

to her,

you tripped...

and fell on her bed?

DEJARE: Right?

KOLAPO: Brother...Dejare...

Look, look, will you hold on for

a second!?

Will you hold on for a second,

please!

[PUNCH]

You are dead to me!

Dejare!

KOLAPO: Dejare!

DEJARE: Come on, big brother!

KOLAPO: Dejare, be careful!

DEJARE:

Come on!

Take it easy!

DEJARE: Come on!

KOLAPO: DJ, ok, hold on, alright

Stop this!

Hold on, I said hold on!

I said wait!

THABISA:

Okay, okay!

Stop...

Dejare, please, just leave.

You made your bed!

[MUSIC FADES]

Yes, I made my bed...

But my brother is laying in it!

[MUSIC RETURNS BRIEFLY]

Dejare!

[STREET NOISE]

Anjola, where did you get that?

It's just an old piece of junk

I picked up.

I'll get rid of it afterwards.

Dejare?

You're still with me?

I don't know, there's...

there's got to be another way.

There is no other way!

This is the only way.

ANJOLA [VO]:

Odera stays in drinking

every Friday night.

[STREET NOISE, SIRENS]

It will take you a while to get

house in Magodo,

so time it to get there, say,

around one a.m.

[RAIN, THUNDER]

[WINDSHIELD WIPERS SQUEAK]

[ENGINE RUMBLING LOUDLY]

[ENGINE SWITCHES OFF]

[SUSPENSEFUL PERCUSSIVE MUSIC]

ANJOLA [VO]:

Park your car at the

corner of my street,

and make the rest of the way

by foot.

It should take you, say like,

ten minutes to get there.

Nobody should be around at

that time of the night.

I'm going to give the guard

a bottle of something as a

belated birthday gift.

Trust me, he'll be dead drunk

by the time you get there.

The side gate will be left

unlocked.

On the right side of the

compound is a narrow pathway.

Use that to get around

to the back of the house.

There's a plantain tree at

the far left corner.

Take cover under it.

Whatever happens, DJ, make

sure you are there by

one a.m. latest.

I'm going to start a fight

with Odera,

to lure him to the backyard.

[ARGUING IN BACKGROUND]

I've taken the light bulb out.

That way, it'll be too dark for

him to see you coming at him.

Remember to hit him hard!

He needs to be dazed, DJ,

he's very strong.

That's why I need you for that

element of surprise.

I can't face him one-on-one.

[FIGHTING AND SHOUTING]

[THWACK OF PIPE]

[PIPE CLATTERS ONTO GROUND]

[PAINFUL GROANING]

ANJOLA:

Finish him, he's getting up!

He's getting up, let's

finish him off!

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

[METAL CLANG, THUD]

[ODERA CRIES OUT]

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

[MUSIC RETURNS]

[METAL CLANG, THUDDING]

That's enough.

That's enough!

[ANJOLA BREATHES HEAVILY]

[PIPE CLATTERS ONTO GROUND]

I'm free...

I'm free!

[THUNDER RUMBLES]

[DOOR ALARM BEEP]

[EMOTIONAL MUSIC]

[DEJARE SOBBING]

[MUSIC FADES OUT]

[BAND PRACTICES]

[HUSHED CHATTER]

Will you stop playing!

Huh?

Club is not going to open

this night!

Show some respect, nah!

Guys, pack up, okay?

[INSTRUMENTS CLATTERING]

[BACKGROUND CHATTER]

See police.

It's a good thing you took

my advise

and stayed away from Anjola.

[INDISTINCT CHATTER]

[NIGHT SOUNDS]

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORE]

Not here.

We could be seen.

Can I get you anything?

I'm good, I'm good.

How are you holding up?

♪ ♪

I miss you badly, DJ.

The police questioned me

all day yesterday.

I think I convinced them that

Timipre Otobo is their man.

It's dangerous for us to be

seen together.

We need to lay low for a while.

I understand.

Oscar has gone AWOL.

No one has seen or heard

from him since.

Really?

He probably thinks Timipre

is after him as well.

I am sure he'll come

back eventually.

Ok so, what's the plan?

Look, I think we should

give it a few weeks,

in order not to arouse suspicion

after that, that's it...

we head to Accra, just you and I

I can't believe we actually...

It was dreadful!

We did the right thing, DJ!

Did we?

Yes!

I love you!

You love me.

Otherwise what was the

point of it all?

You being permanently in my life

gave me all the strength I

needed to get away from

Odera for good.

Don't lose faith.

But did you have to hack off his

fingers?

The man was already dead.

I had to make it look like he

was tortured or something.

You worry me sometimes, Anjola.

You won't be saying that if

he used the same fingers

to beat you

into submission many times.

I've got to go.

Just a little while then,

and we'll be together for good.

I love you, DJ.

[MUSIC ENDS]

[BACKGROUND CHATTER]

[KNOCKING ON DOOR]

Yeah!

Mr. Dejare Johnson?

Yes, that's me.

I'm Detective Chief

Superintendent Annie Nwosu.

My partner here,

Detective Inspector Danladi.

Area 'F' CID.

Can we come in?

[SUSPENSEFUL UNDERSCORE]

Umm, Area, Area 'F'?

Ikeja division.

We're on the island

investigating the murder

of Odera Kalu.

Do you work in Mr. Kalu's club?

I play sax twice a week.

How long have you been

working there?

About a few months.

Whilst working there, did you

notice anything

out of the ordinary?

Superintendent, I only play

the sax.

Have you any idea who might have

wanted Mr. Kalu dead?

To be honest, I hardly knew

the man.

ANNIE NWOSU:

When last did you

see him?

About a week ago...at the club.

ANNIE NWOSU:

Were you outside the

club on Saturday night

when a drive-by shooting

occurred?

No.

You worked with his wife,

Anjola, right?

Amongst other members

of the band.

How were things between

Mr. and Mrs. Kalu?

From what I saw, they

seemed okay.

but for the most part,

I was an outsider.

The club manager...Oscar Nnamani

we'd like to talk with him,

but his whereabouts are unknown.

Any idea why or where

he might be missing?

I never saw him

outside the club.

Okay, that will be all for now,

thank you.

If you don't mind,

can I get a glass of

water, please?

I'd like to take my medication.

DEJARE:

Of course.

For a man who plays two nights

a week at a local bar,

you have quite a nice apartment.

Playing the sax is my

downtime hobby.

I'm an Investment banker with

a top securities company

here on the Island.

Island big boy, eh!

Thank you.

Were you having sex

with Anjola Kalu?

What?

She's a very beautiful woman!

I just wondered if that fact

ever caught your attention?

My relationship with Anjola...

My relationship with Mrs. Kalu..

is strictly professional.

Did you ever think of

hitting it?

No.

She is my boss's wife!

Yeah.

We questioned her a few days ago

And I won't lie to you...

All the while we were with her..

all I was thinking of,

is what it will be like...

to get in between her soft,

yellow, moist thighs.

Oh well, but as you said, ah,

she's your boss's wife.

And, such thoughts, naturally,

would never have

crossed your mind.

Right?

We won't take up any more

of your time.

And, if you please come by

Mr. Oscar Nnamani...

please call me.

[DOOR OPENS]

[DOOR CLOSES]

[MUSIC ENDS DRAMATICALLY]

Packed all your stuff?

Yup.

Have one last drink.

ADANNA: Fine boy!

DEJARE: Ok.

With Odera dead, I knew Anjola

wouldn't leave the club open,

Wait...

What do you mean?

Anjola is gone?

Biggie went up to Magodo GRA

this morning to see her.

The whole place was packed up.

Anjola left without saying

bye-bye.

Small goodbye letter, you know?

She did not write.

Waste my time...

I was just telling Dejare about

Anjola leaving Lagos.

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORE]

What money?

Give me.

The five million U.S dollars

Odera was keeping for

Timipre Otobo.

The boss used to keep it in

his office safe.

The morning after he got killed,

Anjola comes in here

and takes all of it!

Everything.

That woman!

We didn't even realise the money

was missing until today.

BIGGIE:

When we went to Magodo GRA,

Anjola done cleared everything

and disappeared!

Thief!

Biggie...

Earlier you said "they"...

Who are "they"?

Anjola and Oscar.

ADANNA:

Like, I don't even know how

the boss didn't realize

those two were banging

right under his nose.

Huh?

You didn't know?

How could he know?

He was hardly ever here.

BIGGIE: I mean, the boss did not

even know!

When the boss found out about

that other sax player, Tayo

Kalejaye,

he puts him in Igbobi Hospital

straight...No time.

I have to go.

Correct guy!

I will miss you too much.

Call me, yeah?

Take care.

[MUSIC ENDS]

[STREET NOISE, HONKING]

AUTOMATED VOICE:

"The line is switched off,

please try again later."

[BACKGROUND CHATTER]

I'm looking for Tayo Kalejaye.

I play the sax at

The BassMent Club

What took you so long?

Got any smokes?

Weed?

DEJARE:

I don't do drugs.

"I don't do drugs".

Just murder...right?

Well, what do you have for me?

You got to give me something!

You can't come here and not

give me something!

You have to tell me what I need

to know,

and there will be more

where that came from.

[MONEY THUDS ONTO BED]

I can't play anymore!

My hands...they're just

not steady.

So...

I hear you had a thing

for Anjola?

Bullshit!

It was she who had a

thing for me!

Oh?

You don't believe me?

Look oh, don't judge a book

by its cover!

I wasn't always this messed up.

I once looked as good as you...

Mister GQ!

Anjola was the one

on your case?

24/7.

Uh-huh!

The woman...Anjola.

La Femme Anjola!

I gave her that stage name,

you know? Me!

I felt the French in it would

make it more...exotic, edgy

We used to hang out after

rehearsal.

Nothing happened at first...

but gradually,

it got physical.

Until she started dropping hints

about knocking off her hubby,

saying it was the only way

she could leave him...

the only way she could

escape his beatings.

Odera is a bastard.

An asshole even!

But, walahi, I swear,

I never for once saw him lay a

finger on her.

So I got to thinking that she

was making it all up

just to get my sympathy.

The babe is really pretty.

But I beg...I wasn't going to

kill anybody!

Seriously now, for what?

I can hustle here and there,

even sleep with another

man's wife

But...murder?

Murder shall not be my case!

So what happened next?

Next thing I know,

I'm being summoned to Odera's

car sales office in Surulere.

As I entered the place,

Odera rushed me,

and beat the hell out me.

Apparently she had reported me

to him that I was toasting her!

How now...how?

Odera ordered Okilo...

to smash my knees, bro!

Now I'm in this damn wheelchair

for the rest of my life!

When I heard about Odera's

murder in "City People",

I knew...that Anjola had finally

pulled it off.

But how?

How?

She needed an accomplice.

But I guess...

that was you, huh?

Mhm...right?

Mr. GQ...

Bad guy! Bad guy!

Anjola is missing.

I thought you might

know where she is.

Why are you looking for her?

Guy!

She's bad news!

Bad news!

It's a lie!

You loved her?

You fell in love with Anjola!

GQ, you're screwed, man!

TAYO KALEJAYE:

You're screwed, man!

TAYO KALEJAYE:

She screwed you!

[SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC]

♪ ♪

[MUSIC INTENSIFIES]

[DI DANLADI CHUCKLES]

[MUSIC ENDS]

Do you know how we catch

chimpanzees in Adamawa?

The trapper puts juicy nuts in a

glass bottle with a narrow

opening...and ties it to

a tree branch.

Along swings the chimp.

It sees the nuts,

and he tries to retrieve it.

How? By putting his paw

in the bottle.

The only problem is, the

chimpanzee cannot withdraw its

paw whilst still holding onto

the nuts

So what does he do?

Give up and leave the nuts?

Uh-uh, no.

He keeps trying.

And trying, until, wham...

the trappers net falls on it...

caught!

DI DANLADI:

Were you looking for

something?

Huh?

You know where you messed up?

[PIPE BANGS ONTO TABLE]

When I asked if you had ever

thought of sleeping with Anjola.

You replied "no"!

Oh...

Stupid answer, boy.

Are you not a full blooded

Nigerian man? Huh?

That told me you had

something to hide.

So I kept digging.

Until I discovered that Odera

had double-crossed his

business partner, Otobo,

in a five million dollar

money laundering deal.

Yes, well...

Anjola must have discovered

where he stashed the money.

So she convinced you to help her

take Odera out of action,

by stealing the money.

Almost a perfect plan...

Everybody will have thought

that it was Timipre that

killed Odera,

for killing his younger brother,

Tekena...

and that would have left you and

Anjola free

to hammer five million

American dollars!

Wow, you guys!

You were no joke, you know!

A whole 5 million lalas.

And it could have worked,

had I not discovered

the murder weapon,

with Odera's brains and

your fingerprints on it.

And that glass of water you gave

in your apartment,

well I cross-checked

the fingerprints on it--your

fingerprints on it,

alongside that of

the murder weapon.

And will it interest you to know

they match?

Hey? I have got my murderer!

I have got my motives.

I have got my case.

Yes, I have!

So am I under arrest?

I want half.

Half of what?

Are you messing with me,

big Island boy?

Half of the bloody

money, of course!

DEJARE: I haven't got any money.

DI DANLADI: Oh...

You know what's an investment

past anything, Dejare?

that look down on the rest of us

I have put in 32 years in

the Police Force...

I have a partner who has not

even done ten,

yet is my superior.

Why...all because of a

fancy law degree.

I am an analogue in a

digital world.

Okay!

I agree oh, but I have

decided on something.

I am taking an early retirement.

And half of five million

dollars will put plenty

food on my table.

[DEJARE GRUNTS IN PAIN]

[GUN CLICKING]

DEJARE: Oh, God!

DI DANLADI: Ssh, ssh...

God help me!

God only helps those who

help themselves. Half...

You hear me?

Friday, otherwise I turn in the

evidence,

and you will go down for murder!

THABISA:

I think you should go

to the police.

That's the only way you can

clear yourself.

DEJARE:

But I'm guilty.

Thabisa, I'm guilty!

My fingerprints are all over

the weapon!

Jesus...murder!

Did you love her that much?

I don't even know

who you are anymore.

I don't know who I am.

Thabisa, please help me, please.

What do you need me to do?

Look, "Ocean View Properties".

The mainland office is

handling the sale

of Anjola's house in Magodo GRA.

There's got be a forwarding

address.

Right, just hold on.

If we are lucky,

then my position allows me

access to the database from

my computer.

Kolapo's a good guy.

Ok, here we are: Anjola Kalu.

Ok, it's a private mailbox

in Cape Town.

It's a foreclosure...

The property doesn't belong to

Mr. and Mrs. Kalu anymore.

It seems the bank ceased it

as collateral against

her loan default.

I don't understand...if the

property's not theirs,

how come they're selling it?

Because if the bank makes the

sale then they can let it go

for whatever amount, as long as

they recovered their loan.

It seems the Kalu's were having

financial difficulties.

So Anjola is trying to sell the

property for an amount

higher than the loan?

So she can pocket the extra cash

Yes.

Cape Town, huh?

No imagination whatsoever

that woman.

She's going to have to check

her mail someday, won't she?

[BLUESY WESTERN GUITAR]

DEJARE [VO]:

I was on a SAA flight

the next day.

I wasn't going to let that woman

ruin my life, and get

away with it.

And she took it to Cape Town...

Of all places in the world!

My town...nah...

♪ ♪

[SONG FADES OUT]

[CAP SMACKS GROUND]

[MUSIC FROM INSIDE COTTAGE]

[ANJOLA AND ODERA LAUGH]

[THUNDER & RAIN]

[ANJOLA YELLING]

[PIPE CLANGING]

[MUSIC FROM INSIDE

COTTAGE CONTINUES]

[SUSPENSEFUL UNDERSCORE]

[SOUND OF WAVES]

♪ ♪

[MUSIC ENDS]

[INTENSE SUSPENSEFUL

UNDERSCORING]

ODERA:

Anjola!

ODERA: Anjolaaa!

ANJOLA: Yes...what?

ODERA:

Where is my money?

ANJOLA:

I don't understand?

ODERA:

Look, it is not here!

ANJOLA:

You were the last

person to open this case,

why are you asking me where

the money is?

ANJOLA:

What did you do with

your money?

ODERA:

Don't joke with me!

ANJOLA:

Please!

ANJOLA:

Get your hands off me!

ANJOLA:

Oloshi!

ANJOLA:

Odera?

ANJOLA:

Ha...

Jesus! Oh my God!

[MUSIC ENDS]

Heyyyy!

ANJOLA:

Jesus!

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORE]

["LOVING YOU" DEMO PLAYS FROM

INSIDE HOUSE]

[UNDERSCORE ENDS]

[DEMO PLAYS FROM SPEAKER]

ANJOLA [ON DEMO]:

♪ I can't help but lovin' you ♪

♪ My darling ♪

[ANJOLA SINGS ALONG]

♪ Because you bring sun and joy

in my life ♪

♪ I can't help but lovin' you ♪

[PLAYER TURNS OFF]

La Femme Anjola!

[DEAJARE LAUGHS]

We're good together.

For sure.

Our guy...

decided to rise from the dead!

After Jesus, this has got to be

the best case of

resurrection I've ever seen.

Well, he's certainly dead now.

So who did we really

kill that night?

Come...

what is it about me that makes

guys think I need saving?

DEJARE:

Guys...?

"Knights in shining armour".

Come to save poor, weak,

Anjola Titilayo Bakare.

Oscar, it was Oscar's body.

I guess you are looking

for some answers.

Well, I did help you commit

murder, so...

It's the least you could do.

[DRAMATIC UNDERSCORE]

I see you've got my money?

So, all of this...all of this,

is just about money to you?

Hmm? Dollar bills.

Don't take it personal, DJ.

It wasn't entirely business

with you.

Thank God!

So...

Why Oscar?

We needed a body.

And Oscar had the same

build as Odera.

ANJOLA:

It was easy, as usual.

I called him, and told him

Odera wasn't around.

He rushed over to the house

for a quick one.

I caused a scene,

just in time for you.

I bet you didn't

know I could act.

So why fake Odera's murder

in the first place?

Odera was broke.

The houses, car shop, the club,

all na wash.

He dipped Timipre Otobo

out of a deal.

And if Odera wanted

a chance to keep that money...

he had to play very dead.

[MUSIC FADES OUT]

That was my five million

dollar idea.

And my involvement?

We needed a fall-back guy.

Anjola, me?

Me?

Any guy who would allow a

woman talk him into

committing murder, dear.

So...

so while I serve a life-sentence

in Kirikiri Maximum,

you and Odera would have

jetted off to Dubai,

to start a brand new life.

All expenses paid by moi?

Well, I'm sure I would

have gotten bored with him

eventually.

Just like you got bored of

Thabisa.

You may have come from

a better background, Dejare,

but you and I are very

much alike.

[INTENSE UNDERSCORE]

I really loved you, you know?

Then come with me, DJ.

There's 4.5 million dollars

in that bag.

With that kind of money,

we can go anywhere in the world.

Make a good life for ourselves.

Finance our own music label.

Until you get bored of me!

Thanks, but no thanks!

[MUSIC ENDS]

This money is coming

home with me.

There's a police officer in

Lagos waiting for it.

Don't try me, DJ!

See you vibrating!

You've been messing with my life

this whole time.

Well, it's payback time!

[MUSIC RETURNS]

Come on, leave that money!

DEJARE: Anjola! Anjola!

ANJOLA: Leave this money

you idiot...give this to me!

DEJARE: Anjola!

ANJOLA: Get off!

Anjola!

[STABBING SOUND]

[DEJARE CRIES OUT]

You fool!

[DRAMATIC MUSIC]

Anjola!

Shit!

Anjola!

Hey...

Anjola!

Anjola.

You should have let it go,

you piece of shit!

I don't want to hurt you.

You should've just stayed away!

What are you talking about?

You set me up!

I don't care!

I worked hard for this money,

and I'm not going to give it to

you or anybody else!

ANJOLA: Not for anybody else!

DEJARE: Anjola!

Get away from me.

ANJOLA: Get away!

DEJARE: Anjola!

ANJOLA: Get away! Aah!

DEJARE: Anjola!

Anjola!

ANJOLA:

Help, DJ!

Give me the bag!

Hold on!

Hold on! Hold on!

Anjola!

What are you doing?

I took the money out!

DEJARE: I took the money out!

ANJOLA: You liar!

Hold on! Grab my hand!

Help, DJ!

Hold on, Anjola!

Drop the bag, I'll reach you!

I can't swim, DJ!

[BODY THUDS INTO SEA]

[DEJARE WAILING]

[DRAMATIC MUSIC ENDS]

DI DANLADI:

Last flight from here.

[DI DANLADI LAUGHS]

Rough time in Cape Town, hey?

Now ah...

This woman don't mess up

with your head, well well!

What of my money?

DI DANLADI:

Huh?

How much is in there?

Enough!

Ah, alright...here.

A deal is a deal.

Danladi...

"Born on Friday", right?

That's what your name means?

A--ha.

Do you know the meaning

of my name, "Dejare"?

Oh, you tell me.

"Innocent".

Yeah, right!

Here you are today...Oga Police.

You know...

Crooked police officer!

You say what?

Change of plan!

I've been through so much

hell today.

So tell me what you have done

to deserve two and a half

million dollars?

Your name may be "innocent',

but right now, there is nothing

innocent about you.

It's your job to take

me to jail.

But, no, here you are,

just another corrupt police

officer,

no different from the one's

that stand at check-points

harassing drivers for

twenty naira!

Twenty naira!

Mr. Johnson,

all I want is my share, ok?

You are not getting one single

naira from me.

This woman, Anjola,

has really driven you mad!

I'm tired!

DI DANLADI: I say you're mad!

DEJARE: I'm tired!

I'm tired of being a fool!

I'm tired of doing all the

work, and everybody else

comes to take!

Not this time!

Not...

[TIRES SKIDDING]

[BASS DROP]

[GLASS SHATTERING]

[CAR SLAMMING INTO GROUND]

[INTENSE ACTION MUSIC]

[DEJARE MOANING IN PAIN]

[MUSIC SLOWS, BECOMES

DRAMATIC]

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

DEJARE [VO]:

I managed to get out

before the police got there.

They called it a

"Ghastly accident that killed

a veteran police detective".

Needless to say,

I was fired from my job.

The apartment on the island gave

me the job,

and they gave me three days

to pack out.

I'm back to the family house.

Umm, come on...come, let's go.

DEJARE [VO]:

Kolapo and I made up.

For some reason, him

dating my ex

didn't feel like such

a big deal.

KOLAPO:

Check up on you later,

little bro.

DEJARE [VO]:

Blood is definitely

thicker than water.

Thank God for my family.

[DEMO PLAYS]

You're probably wondering what

happened

to the rest of the money, right?

I figured 2.5 million dollars is

enough to set me up for life.

Plus, I could put the rest

of it to good use.

"Mother Teresa" kind of

good use.

That's better than those two

would ever have done.

Don't you believe me?

I still think about her

sometimes.

I wonder...

what was real, and what wasn't.

What could have been,

and what never was.

But one thing I know.

It only takes a second

to change the course of a life.

♪ I feel precious with you ♪

♪When you look upon me reminding

me my beauty and truth♪

♪ with all the little things

you do ♪

♪ the little words you say,

they got me crazy over you ♪

♪ Darling, darling I love,

love you ♪

[SAX SOLO]

♪ ♪

♪ The little things you do ♪

♪ The little things you say ♪

♪ ♪

♪ The little things you do ♪

♪ The little things you say ♪

♪ Ooh, can't help but

lovin' you ♪

[SONG ENDS]

[UPBEAT RHYTHMIC MUSIC]

FEMALE SINGER:

♪ One time ♪

♪ ♪

[MELODIC WHISTLING]

[WHISTLING CONTINUES

ACCOMPANIED BY WOODWIND]

♪ ♪

[SONG FADES OUT]

La Femme Anjola (2021) - full transcript