A Good Wife Turns Bad (STORY) -- Part 4

This is a story about how a young couple blindly gets into what is termed as one chance marriage and, as a result of their carelessness, they mess up everything.

With too many divorce stories flying around in the social media these days, the once honourable institution of marriage is being gradually turned into a playground for absurdities by many young couples.

Story continues from Episode 3…

SCENE OPENS TO ADEWALE'S LIVING ROOM - SUNRISE 

Amanda rushes from the living room to the bathroom, clutching her stomach. She starts retching, a sign of morning sickness.

AMANDA
(whispering to herself) No, it can't be...

Her face pales as the realization sinks in. She might be pregnant.

On her return to the living room, Adewale observes Amanda closely, his suspicions growing stronger.

ADEWALE
(serious) Darling, are you sure all is well?

AMANDA
It's nothing. I'm just stressed...

ADEWALE
(cuts in) Stress now leads to throwing up? Amanda, are you pregnant or something?

AMANDA
(a bit restless) I can't tell, dear. Maybe I will just visit the hospital later in the day, so they can run some tests.

ADEWALE
Please do so, and let me know the result.

SCENE SHOWS THE COUPLES' BEDROOM - DAY

Amanda sits alone, lost in thought, contemplating her next move with a positive pregnancy result in her hand. After confirming that she's pregnant, her next dilemma is that she can't tell if the baby belongs to her husband, to Mr. Donald or to her ex-lover, Austin.

A single tear rolls down her cheek as she reflects on her wild ways.

AMANDA
(voiceover) No, I can't allow this issue to give me high blood pressure. Adewale is my husband and I will give him this child, no matter who's responsible for the pregnancy... My Ade, wherever you are, please come home soon so I can give you the good news. It doesn't matter who amongst the three of you are responsible for my pregnancy, you are my husband and you will be the father of this child.

FADE OUT.


SCENE OPENS TO A BAR - SUNSET
A dimly lit bar filled with the sound of laughter and clinking glasses. ADEWALE, a worried-looking man, sits at a table, sipping his drink. His friend TONY, a confident and outspoken man, joins him.

TONY
(sits comfortably) How far, Ade. You look like a man who's in search of money to pay his house rent and children's school fees, all at once. Want to tell your guy the koko of what's bothering you?

ADEWALE
(sighs) I dey alright, my guy. It's just that family life has been tough lately. And the Nigerian economy is really taking its toll.

TONY
(nods) I hear you, my friend. It's an issue for everyone. But the way you look worried, it's like yours is more than issue of the economy.

ADEWALE
(lowers his voice) You're right, Tony. There's something else. I suspect Amanda might be pregnant, but she's been avoiding intimacy with me. I can't really place what she's up to.

TONY
(raising an eyebrow) What? You think she's hiding a pregnancy from you? My guy, I dare say you've given Amanda too much freedom.

ADEWALE
(defensively) I trust my wife. But her ways have been strange lately. In fact, I don't even know what to think anymore.

Adewale and Tony move to a private corner of the bar, deep in conversation.

TONY
(slyly) I blame you, Ade, for being too soft. If our fathers behaved like you women would have finished them... But it's ok, you can get yourself a girlfriend now. Just for peace of mind, you know. What is a man without peace?

ADEWALE 
(surprised) What? Are you jocking or what? I can't do that. To cheat on my wife? No way!

TONY
(grinning) Listen Ade, most men who marry city girls are just living with Runs Girls, thinking they have a wife… Believe me, if we investigate Amanda very well, she will have two or three different men she's committing adultery with, but you're here saying 'I can't cheat on my wife'... By the way, men don't cheat. A man can marry more than one wife.

ADEWALE
(slightly upset) No nau, Tony. How can you even imagine such a thing about my wife? She's a good girl… anyway, she's a bit bad but that little badness is only for me in the bedroom.

TONY
(in a low voice) I can see that Amanda has used her Front and Back load to confuse you… Now tell me, has there not been a time when she sneaked out of your presence to receive a call? Has she not also refused to pick some calls on her phone, just because you were there?

ADEWALE
(taken aback) Wait o, Tony, how did you know about this? I started suspecting Amanda when all the things you mentioned started happening. And I can say they've been more frequent in the last few weeks.

TONY
(serious) Guy wise up abeg. Most city girls are wild wives. One mumu man will marry them and be feeding them, but they are busy running things with different men secretly due to their insatiable greed for money.

Adewale sits back, looking even more troubled as he listens to Tony.

TONY
Ade, my guy, let me clear you for old times sake. You don't have a wife yet. Amanda is a public property...

ADEWALE

No, I don't believe you. She can't be that bad.

TONY

Mister man wake up... I know a lady who just arrived in the city a few months back. She's a Teacher at the community school; she's reserved and responsible. That's the kind of lady you will have and be rest assured that she respects her body and won't be doing Runs or Hookup in secret... If you want, I can talk to her for you.

ADEWALE
(calmly) Slow down, Tony. I have to think this through and it's getting late already, let me get home. I want to know the result of the pregnancy test I asked Amanda to run.

TONY
(stretches his hand) Alright then, we'll catch up later.

FADE OUT.

SCENE OPENS TO ADEWALE AND AMANDA'S DINING AREA - NIGHT

Amanda prepares Adewale's favorite meal, Vegetable soup and Rice. Adewale walks to the dining area, looking calm.

AMANDA
(smiling) Honey, I have something important to tell you. Sit down my Ade.

Adewale forces a smile, trying to hide his suspicion.

ADEWALE
(slightly tense) What is it, dear?

AMANDA
(excited) Eat your food first. I made your favorite... Can you guess, Ade?... Well, the good news is that I'm pregnant! You're going to be a father!

Adewale feigns excitement but his suspicion lingers beneath the surface.

FADE OUT.


SCENE OPENS TO SHADE'S APARTMENT - SUNSET

A small and cozy apartment. Adewale stands at the door, nervous. TONY introduces SHADE, a 30-year-old tall brown skin lady with a warm smile.

TONY
(grinning) Adewale, meet Shade. She's from the Yoruba tribe just like you. I can vouch for her as a humble and responsible lady. I've told her everything about you and, trust me, Shade will give you peace and more.

ADEWALE
(relieved) Nice to meet you, Shade.

Shade greets him with a handshake and a friendly smile, as he steps into the room and Tony walks away.

SCENE SHOWS SHADE'S ROOM - NIGHT

Adewale and Shade share an intimate moment in her small apartment. They lie on the bed, post-intimacy, looking content.

ADEWALE
(sincere) Shade, I appreciate your calm and respectful demeanor. I really want peace in my life, I'm tired of drama.

SHADE
(smiling) I understand you, Mr. Ade. I'm a lover of peace myself. I hope your suspicions about your wife turn out to be wrong though.

ADEWALE
(determined) If my fears are confirmed, I will divorce Amanda and settle down with a better lady. I hope that will be you, Shade.

They share a tender moment.

FADE OUT. 

SCENE OPENS TO ADEWALE AND AMANDA'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Amanda opens the door with anger written all over her, as Adewale steps in.

AMANDA
Just look at the time. 11pm, Ade! Your wife is pregnant and you're coming home by past 11pm?

ADEWALE
(casually) Sorry. I was watching football with some friends. It was a late evening match.

AMANDA
(hisses) Can you hear yourself? You were watching football… After putting me in this condition abi? I just hope it's not what I'm suspecting.

ADEWALE
(slightly angry) Suspecting what? Amanda! Amanda! Amanda! How many times did I call you?... Are you trying to deny me my peace again tonight?

AMANDA
(raises her voice) Look here Ade, are you shouting at me, your pregnant wife? In case you don't know, I'm suspecting you. And I just hope you're not cheating on me with another lady. I hope so o! I hope so! Because if I find out that you're cheating on me ehn… I will kill you. I will kill myself! And I will burn down this house!

FADE OUT 🎬

 See other episodes of 

A GOOD WIFE TURNS BAD: 

>> Part 1 Here

>> Part 2 Here

>> Part 3 Here 

>> Part 5 Here

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