EPISODE 27 – THE BRIDEGLOOM
DERIC: I had thought we would spend the day together since we were too drun!kto do anything last night. Where are you getting dressed to go to?
CHARLOTTE: awww! I un-derstand but Nina is so ill the doctors want her to come get some medications today and she can’t go alone
DERIC: is Nina more important than our goal of saving our marriage? I’m sure she can get herself there by cab
CHARLOTTE: you want me to stay with you?
DERIC: plea-se….It’s actually been so long and that $h!t is not easy.
CHARLOTTE: okay. Let me text her (Picks up her phone)
??
Hey, babe. Sorry can’t make it
Deric is ‘excited’ plea-se get me
Some of the tablets and I’ll take
Them when I come to work tomorrow
*deletes text from s£nt item**
CHARLOTTE: I’ve texted her, let me undress and come to you, okay?
DERIC: plea-se. Can’t wait any longer (phone rings)
Ha! This little witch again!
(Picks up the phone) hello! …..hello, doctor Xandra can you hear me
XANDRA: ??hello, good morning. Immigration has just gotten back to us. They seem to have no problem with our application but you’ve actually failed to include your mum’s pas-sport in the do¢v-ments you were asked to submit. They want that immediately so they can grant her application.
I am not supposed to be here this morning. Like I told you I am in Wuse all week so if you can pop in as soon as possible, that will be great.
DERIC: oh blimey! How did I even forget it. I got it all when I went to her house in Lagos and I have it here! I’ll make my way immediately plea-se. Thanks, doctor
XANDRA: one more thing! Could you also bring some food for her as she complained of being very hungry and didn’t eat last night. Thanks
DERIC: oh My! I believed she had some food left
XANDRA: well, she said otherwise. plea-se be fast I nee-d to leave here as soon as possible. Thanks.
Bye ???????
CHARLOTTE: ?who was that?
DERIC: I made a very silly mistake in the application! I failed to include her pas-sport! I nee-d to take it to them right away.
CHARLOTTE: don’t be ha-rd on yourself. You have been all over the place so it’s not uncommon to get things wrong.
quic-kly drop it off and come back to your girl. That will even afford me the time to make us some breakfast with lots of strawberries and creamy chocolate….you know what I mean…*wi-nks*
DERIC: that’s a familiar language, babe! I nee-d some candy p@rt of the M&N chocolate in my life *wi-nks
CHARLOTTE: hehehe things are getting too raunchy here. Start going before circu-mtances beyond our control st©p you.
DERIC: you are right! I must go now! (Jumps out of be-d, gets dressed and drives off)
DERIC: I am so so sorry, mama! Never knew you had no dinner when I left. Don’t know how I made such mistake!
MADAM NNENA: don’t kill yourself. I knew you must have been busy to remember so I didn’t bother to call you.
If my doctor friend was on duty last night, she would have bought me some food, but some other doctor worked last night, so i drank enough water and sle-pt
DERIC: I’m sorry nnem. I and Charlotte went shopping for your travelling. You know it’s cold in London so you nee-d some thick jackets, gloves and hats
MADAM NNENA: I can’t believe Charlotte hasn’t come to see me or even called. Thinking of it breaks my heart. It just shows where she placed me in her life. This is a girl I love so much and treats like my own daughter?
DERIC: mama, we are going to st©p the tears now and focus on you getting well. Charlotte has been busy with work and putting money together for your medical bills
MADAM NNENA: don’t lie to me, Deric! Xandra is picking up the bills!
DERIC : ermm, yes she is….but we nee-d other things. But not to worry, she’ll come see you tomorrow. I got you some pepper soup and white rice. Get up and eat before it gets cold while I go see the doctor.
(Goes to Xandra’s office and found her waiting)
So so sorry to keep you!
XANDRA: no problems. Got it?
DERIC: yes. Here.
XANDRA: thanks (puts it in her bag and tries to walk out)
DERIC: (gently pu-lls her back)
XANDRA: what are you doing! Get your hands off me!!!?
DERIC: why are you being dismissive? Okay! I apologise for the way I spoke to you the other day. Come on! We can’t be enemies!
I had a bad day that day. I didn’t mean to hurt you, okay?….I said I am sorry!!!
XANDRA: ?just let me go, plea-se
DERIC: not with those teary eyes. I said I am sorry, plea-se. I was wrong. I was harsh and I regret it all!
XANDRA: apologies accepted. Let me go now. I’m running late for work. I nee-d to be in Wuse within an hour.
DERIC: I’ll drop you
XANDRA: no. I’ll get an uber
DERIC: I insist.
XANDRA: okay!
(Deric and Xandra got into the car and drove off. as they approached a quiet path, Deric slowed down….)
XANDRA: I have 20 minutes to get to work! Can you plea-se drive this car. Thanks!
DERIC: I’m actually looking for a good sp©t to park
XANDRA: what for?
DERIC: I nee-d us to talk
XANDRA: you don’t get it. Do you! I am running late for work and you are looking for a good sp©t to park so we can talk! What is wrong with you!
DERIC: curiosity. (parks the car and turns off the ignition) tell me, who are you?
XANDRA: doctor Xandra Ekeh!
DERIC: where do you get your super powers from?
XANDRA: what do you mean?
DERIC: are you jealous of my wife at all? Why do you always call when I am about to make love to her?
XANDRA: what a load of ru-bbish! Mtcheew! Why would I be jealous of a woman I don’t even know! A woman you are not even proud to talk about.
Probably an ugly woman. Mtcheew!
DERIC: hehehehe! My wife is actually very beautiful. She looks mixed because her mum is from the fulani tribe and her dad is Igbo. Nob©dy believes she is purely Nigerian.
She has curly long hair and just the figure every woman dreams of.
Actually, let me show you a picture! (brings up a picture of Charlotte on his screen and shows to Xandra )
Here is my babe?
XANDRA: *shocked* huh????? Oh my God! No way!!! Lord Jesus! Deric you must drop me to work right now, plea-se!
DERIC: hahaha! You ain’t seen nothing yet. She’s actually prettier in person. c@m£ras don’t do her justice
XANDRA: when was the last time you sle-pt with her?
DERIC: about 4 months ago. That’s only because we went throu-gh some crises but we are trying to put everything behind us now and move on. Yeah! I admit I am S-x starved but I would rather starve than get it somewhere else and that’s the reason it appears I am blind to your advances..
XANDRA: I didn’t want to tell you this but i won’t forgive myself if I don’t. You must be by your mother’s side constantly until she travels. I checked her vitals this morning and I am very concerned.
I don’t want you to miss an important moment in your life. Take me outta here!
DERIC: Jesus Christ! Xandra! What’s happening to my mum???
XANDRA: well, you nee-d to be a man now and do as you have been told! Enough of the cry baby ru-bbish!
(Deric dropped Xandra off and drove back to the hospital to stay with her mum as advised by Xandra. He also called Charlotte to inform her that he will not be coming home any time soon.
Xandra got to work and decided to speak to her manager about Charlotte and Deric’s case)
DOCTOR KEN: I’m surprised you are even asking this question. Come on Xandra, you are smarter than this!
Patient’s confidentiality is paramount! You cannot disclose or discuss a patient’s health history with any other person, regardless of his or her relationsh!pwith the patient, without the patient’s cons£nt!
XANDRA: but he is my friend!
MR KEN: when you signed up for this job, I’m sure you were told we leave our emotions at home when we come to work, and throw them in the bin when we have to make decisions!. Go back to duty, plea-se.
Your licence to practice is at stake..
Have a nice day!
**************************************************
JUDITH:????hello… hello… who’s calling???
CALLER: hello! My name is doctor Richa-rd s Peters. I am calling from the accident and emergency unit of st Geralds pri-vate hospital. Do you have a minute?
JUDITH: yes, I do. How can I help?
CALLER: do you know one Ms Chioma?
JUDITH: oh my Jesus! Is she okay? Yes, I Do!!
CALLER: erm, you nee-d to stay calm, plea-se. She was brou-ght in by a good Samaritan. From what we were told, she was knocked down by a car whilst trying to cross the road. And she sustained very serious injuries to her head and possibly to other p@rts of her b©dy
When she was brou-ght to us, she was still conscious and gave us your number.
After a while she bec@m£ unconscious and we had to induce coma. She is currently on induced coma but we are concerned about the baby as it is becoming weak.
We must induce labour as quic-kly as possible to save the baby.
We nee-d someone to sign for it before we proceed. Since she mentioned you earlier, we thought it wise to contact you.
JUDITH: Jesus Christ the righteous!!!! Chioma, plea-se don’t do this to me!!! Hieeee!!! What are they talking about!!
CALLER: hello…..hello…
JUDITH: I am on my way o!! Jesus o!
EPISODE 28 – THE BRIDEGLOOM
JUDITH: Hello, my name is Judy, can I speak with Mr Ambrose, plea-se?
Mr AMBROSE: Yes, how can I help?
JUDITH: well, your wife has just put to be-d. Does that mean anything to you at all?
MR AMBROSE: Oh my God! Chioma? Where…Where is she??? When? Who are you and where do you stay?
JUDITH: she’s been living with me
MR AMBROSE: but I have been calling the number they gave me in London when I went looking for her there!
JUDITH: Oh! I lost my phone last week so I changed my number.
MR AMBROSE: I’m getting re-ady. Can I speak with her???
JUDITH: ermm, no. Actually, Chioma had an accident and labour was induced. She was also induced into coma…So…yeah …(starts crying)
MR AMBROSE: excuse me! Why are you crying? Is my wife alive? Hian! Which hospital is she in?
JUDITH: when you get to Abuja, give me a call
(Judith went back to where Chioma was lying and started talking to her even when she was not responding)
JUDITH: Chy, plea-se keep fighting. You have a gorgeous little boy to nurse. plea-se don’t give up. Remember your daughters. I know they mean so much to you.
Refuse to die, my love plea-se. I know you can hear me but can’t respond
Fight this, darling plea-se. Your son nee-ds a mother. I can’t do it, babe plea-se. Hold on ti-ght ???
(Mr Ambrose arrived at the hospital a few hours after speaking with Judith. Judith introduced him to the doctors and they allowed him to go see her)
MR AMBROSE: don’t tell me this is my wife! Now this is beginning to feel like a nightmare. Can I be woken up from this, now!!!!!
DOCTOR: I’m sorry sir, but you must keep your voice down. For her sake and the sake of other patients. Thanks.
MR AMBROSE: what happened to her?
DOCTOR: she was hit by a car
MR AMBROSE: and then!
DOCTOR: unfortunately, her spinal cord is broken and she also sustained br@in injuries. As we speak, there is a lot of fluid in her br@ins and we are hoping they drain without us opening the skull. That is usually our last resort as it is not always a great idea.
We induced coma so she can be relaxed and see if the fluid drains. If by Sunday, nothing positive happens, we are going to have to carry out br@in surgeries , I’m afraid.
I’m sure you know she was pregnant when the accident happened. Fortunately, we were able to save the baby. He is in the neonatal unit. Doing rather fantastic and eating a lot hehe
MR AMBROSE: (hits his head) uhhuuu! My head is spinning! I can’t make s-en-se of anything! Is she going to be fine??
DOCTOR: ermmm, I wish I can answer that but we will do our very best. Unfortunately though, she may never walk unaided because of her spine
MR AMBROSE: I don’t care whether she walks with the aid of 10 men or becomes a vegetable all I want is the life of my wife! Give me a letter, I am flying her abroad, plea-se!
DOCTOR: sure! If you think that is a good idea. I am a UK trained doctor myself and as you know, we are the best in the country. Ninety percent of our doctors studied abroad and we give the same quality of care they render abroad. But it’s up to you anyway
MR AMBROSE: (kneels by Chioma’s be-d) baby plea-se? life without you has been miserable. Nothing is the same anymore.
This was my fault.?????I did this to you, Chy????
I’m asking just one thing from you, stay???? stay, plea-se baby. Stay for Shasha. Stay for Tatiana. Stay for our home. Stay for me.
I promise to treat the child like mine
plea-se, my girl, stay????( prostrates on the floor and began to wail)
JUDITH: that’s enough, sir plea-se. You nee-d to pu-ll yourself together. Instead of crying, talk to God about your wife.
MR AMBROSE: I can’t ????? I want her to say a word to me..or just some facial expression. I want a reaction. Look how swollen she is. My wife is in so much pain!
DOCTOR: ermm, sir, after seeing the baby, I’ll like to have a word with you pri-vately, plea-se.
JUDITH: stand up sir, let’s go see the baby
(Judith held Mr Ambrose and took him to where the baby was. Because he was very unstable on his feet.)
JUDITH: that’s him
MR AMBROSE: ?????
JUDITH: are you okay, sir?
MR AMBROSE: the Mark! The…mark? that Mark (starts taking off his shi-t)
JUDITH: excuse me sir! You are undressing! Jesus what is happening!
MR AMBROSE: (pointing to his birth Mark which looks exactly like the one on the baby and is situated right on the same sp©t above his belly bu-tton)
JUDITH: what!!!! I knew she didn’t lie to me!!!???? Chioma, God has vindicated you! That was your prayer day and night while you were in my house!! Wake up and see the salvation of the Lord!! Chioma wake up!!!!!!!!!?????
The defender of the defenceless has defended you!
The righteous judge has acquitted you! You are guiltless! All charges dropped!
Who can condemn whom he acquits!!!
Chioma, it’s time to arise and shine for the glory of the Lord is ris£n upon you!
It is not time to l@ymotionless on that be-d???
My friend is innocent.
MR AMBROSE: (with shakey hands, lifted the baby) Im sorry, son?? I’ll spend the rest of my life apologising to you. You are so perfect, my son. Oh your big sisters will love you! ??
You are mine. I am your daddy???? forgive me, son.
I shouldn’t have believed a lie???. Thank you for choosing me. I’ll do everything humanly possible to save mummy. May your God, the God of the innocent save mummy for your sake??
JUDITH: sir, st©p bathing him with tears, plea-se. They pick up emotions quite quic-k. And the doctor is waiting to see you.
MR AMBROSE: I’ll take him to the doctor’s office with me.
(Judith went back to where Chioma was and Mr Ambrose took the baby with him Into the doctors office)
DOCTOR: awwww! Isn’t he such a bundle of joy and he is the spitting image of you!
MR AMBROSE: (opens his shi-t to reveal his birth Mark) Look, he got that from me.
DOCTOR: what a wonder! Nature carried out a DNA test and handed you the result. This is the most authentic DNA result. Ours is 99.9% accurate, this one is 100% accurate.
Erm, sir you nee-d to put yourself together. I un-derstand how difficult it is for you especially because of the things that happened before this. plea-se stay strong for your kids
MR AMBROSE: she is my strength, I can’t be strong when she is weak.
DOCTOR: phewww! Tough! Ermmm, when she was brou-ght here, she was conscious for up to an hour or so. Having perfect conversation whilst we cleaned her up until she started vomiting and bec@m£ unconscious.
She did ask for a pen and paper and she wrote you and the baby a letter..
MR AMBROSE: ????
**************************************************
DERIC: good morning Xandra
XANDRA: morning. How did mama sleep last night?
DERIC: not very well. Are you working here today?
XANDRA: yes. Why didn’t she sleep well last night?
DERIC: she was running temperature all night
XANDRA: I’ll bring her some tablets in a minute
DERIC: plea-se do. Also, immigration got back to me and they have granted her visa. But my wife wants to come with us and you only wrote my name as the person she is travelling with. Is it possible to get a letter from you, naming my wife as someone mama will be travelling with too, plea-se?
XANDRA: I will write no such letter!
DERIC: why are you full of hatred towards a woman who did nothing to you! I married her because I met her long before you!
What exactly is your problem!
XANDRA: Deric, I’m done with this conversation. I have ward round and I am going now. See you later!