“A Note On ‘Joy’ by Bebe and ‘Shèun Ominira-Bluejack”
‘Joy’ is a vignette, an excerpt of an episode that my sister Bebe and I are developing for our original series “Joy”, which we first created for television after a friend suggested elements of the story to my sister many years ago. Like our previously published teaser episodes ‘Reflections’ and ‘Birthday’, it is published here in order to serve as a proof-of-concept for the finished work.
Characters appearing in the piece will later feature in the completed series; the millennial heroine Miss Joy Oluwatoyin Oshodi, her younger sister Miss Deborah Biodun Oshodi, and their aristocratic parents Chief Olatunbosun Oshodi and Prof. Emmanuella Taiwo Oshodi. The following are their bullet point character biographies. It is hoped that it will give our readers a sense of what we have planned for the series.
Miss Joy Oluwatoyin Oshodi: Our 28 year-old lead character, Joy is earnest and
eager to please. Her outer life – in which she’s something of a walkover – pales in
comparison to her inner one, in which her wit and irreverence shine through in
almost all that is said. As our story progresses she grows as a person, lets
herself out of her cage as she does so, and is therefore almost unrecognizable
as the timid ingenue of the pilot by the point that we get to our season finale.
Miss Deborah Biodun Oshodi: Joy’s younger sister and only sibling, Biodun is the
epitome of everything she’s not: Where Joy wears her heart on her sleeve,
Biodun’s feelings are hard to discern, where Joy is taken advantage of by others
(Biodun included), Biodun is assertive and self-confident, and where Joy is still
trying to find herself, Biodun knows what she wants out of life and is intent on
getting it.
Professor Emmanuella Taiwo Oshodi, PhD: Joy’s mother and constant critic, Prof.
Oshodi makes no secret of the fact that she favours her younger daughter over
her older one, and constantly uses Biodun to criticize Joy and question her life
choices. A professor of history at the University of Lagos, Prof. Oshodi is one of
Nigeria’s most prominent intellectuals.
Chief Olatunbosun Oshodi: Joy’s beloved father, a widely-respected retired bank
manager who now serves as a member of the court of the Oba of Lagos. A direct
descendant of the colonial-era Lagos aristocrat Oshodi Tapa, Chief Oshodi is
Joy’s soulmate and confidant. As a result, he constantly defends her from his
wife’s varied barbs, and also fends off Biodun as well whenever she’s being
particularly terrible to her.
=============
JOY
Story by
‘Shèun Ominira-Bluejack
and
Bebe Ominira-Bluejack
============
Written by
Bebe Ominira-Bluejack
============
FADE IN.
EXTERIOR. OUTSIDE THE OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL BLESSINGS CHURCH, IKOYI. DAY.
We open on an upscale church. After a moment of undisturbed tranquility, a young woman in a bridesmaid’s gown – JOY (28, beautiful, eager to please) – comes out of a taxify at the curb and begins to hurry across the lawn. Her pencil skirt has robbed her of the ability to run properly, and so she is waddling quickly more than actually running.
After arriving at the double doors of the church, she stops to catch her breath. As she then raises her fist to knock, the doors are thrown open from the inside, and Joy finds herself confronted by her FRIENDS.
FRIEND ONE
We were wondering where you were.
JOY
I know… Late for your own sister’s wedding. It’s unforgivable.
FRIEND TWO
Especially when said sister is in the throes of a nervous breakdown.
JOY
(After letting out an audible
gasp)
When what?!
FRIEND ONE
Flipped! Gone bonkers! Lost the plot!
FRIEND THREE
That’s what happens when you stay up for five days straight.
(then, after turning to face Friend Two)
Pay up!
FRIEND TWO
You won’t even wait until after the ceremony? Don’t you have any shame?
FRIEND THREE
(Looking at Joy conspiratorially)
FRIEND THREE
People only ever ask that when they lose, I find. Abeg, pay me so that I can contribute to the big pot.
Seeing her father CHIEF OLATUNBOSUN OSHODI (70, regal but kind) approaching, Joy breezes past them and enters the church. She goes to kiss him. After doing so, she turns back to face her friends.
JOY
You should ALL be ashamed of yourselves. Biodun is stressed… Anybody would be on a day like today… Rather than helping her to not be so, you’re here betting money on how long it’ll be before she cracks under the pressure.
CHIEF OSHODI
Joy is absolutely right… This is not how adults should behave.
While Joy and the chief are speaking, Friend Three collects money from Friend Two. She adds it to a BIG WAD OF MONEY that she’s holding, then walks over to Chief Oshodi. She curtsies without preamble, then gives him the pot. He takes it, then puts it in the pocket of his agbada.
JOY
(Shocked) Daddy!
CHIEF OSHODI
(Smiling sheepishly)
At least this way, it stays in the family.
PROFESSOR OSHODI
(O.C.)
Ah, there you are… I’ve been looking everywhere for you.
Everybody turns around to face PROFESSOR EMMANUELLA TAIWO OSHODI (67, formidable), Joy’s mother. The friends then all make their exit, curtseying to the professor as they do so. She waits for them to leave, then faces the chief.
PROFESSOR OSHODI
’Tunbosun, we need for you to get in position… The ceremony is about to start.
CHIEF OSHODI
(With mock exasperation)
A father’s work is never done.
With a wink to his daughter, the chief makes his exit as well. Once they’re alone, the professor turns to Joy.
PROFESSOR OSHODI
I don’t suppose that you’ve been told about Biodun?
JOY
Just that she’s finally snapped… Or something to that effect.
PROFESSOR OSHODI
The girl has gone and locked herself in the rectory, and she won’t tell me what the problem is.
JOY
Oh, no.
PROFESSOR OSHODI
You know that you’re the only one that can talk to her whenever she gets like this. I need for you to go in there and get her to come out for the ceremony. You have… (checks watch) … Thirty minutes until it’s supposed to start.
JOY
Yes, mummy.
CUT TO.
INTERIOR. THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE RECTORY. DAY.
Joy comes up to a door with a large crucifix on it. She does the sign of the cross, then knocks on it.
BIODUN
(O.C.)
I’m still not coming out.
JOY
Biodun, it’s me.
BIODUN
(O.C.)
Where in Christ’s name have you been?!
JOY
It’s a long story… Let me in and I’ll tell you what happened.
For a long moment, nothing happens. Just when it begins to look like Joy has failed, the door clicks open. Joy looks up to Heaven and mouths a silent thank you, then she goes into the room.
CUT TO.
INTERIOR. THE RECTORY. CONTINUOUS.
Joy enters a large room and finds a mess of gowns there. Amongst the piles of discarded wedding dresses is her sister BIODUN OSHODI (22, fresh faced even when stressed), who is dressed in a beautiful couture gown.
JOY
(Gasping at the sight)
You look beautiful.
BIODUN
You HAVE to think so. You’re my sister.
JOY
(While walking towards her)
No, really… I’ve never seen you look more beautiful.
BIODUN
Well, that’s kind of the problem… THIS is the dress. It has to be.
JOY
You bought more dresses than should be legal… That’s not a problem, though. At least you’ve finally decided which one it’s going to be.
BIODUN
(Almost inaudibly)
I ripped it.
JOY
What? Where?
BIODUN
(Holding up the skirt)
Right here.
Joy kneels down in front of her and begins to frantically look for a tear. She does this for a minute before stopping.
JOY
(Looking up at her)
I don’t see anything.
BIODUN
(Somewhat impatiently)
It’s right there.
JOY
(Looking closely at the skirt)
You mean this?
BIODUN
Isn’t it awful?
JOY
But Biodun, nobody would be able to see this!
BIODUN
All that matters is that I’d know that it’s there!
JOY
Well, then why didn’t you wear one of the HUNDREDS of other dresses here?!
BIODUN
Because this is the best one! Look, just go and tell mummy that the wedding is off!
JOY
There are far better reasons to call off this wedding than because of a stupid dress!
BIODUN
And what’s THAT supposed to mean?
JOY
(While taking a needle and
thread from the table next to her)
Just forget that I said anything.
BIODUN
(While crossing her arms)
No, I want to know… What did you mean by that?
Joy looks up at her sister’s face for a long moment, then begins to sew the dress.
JOY
(Almost inaudibly)
’Dimeji is cheating on you.
There’s silence for a long time. Joy looks up at Biodun and sees an unreadable look on her face. After a bit more time, she shrugs.
BIODUN
I knew that… With Supafly, right?
JOY
You knew?!
BIODUN
Of course, I knew… That’s why you’re the maid of honour and she’s not. I found out about two months ago.
JOY
Then why are we even here?
BIODUN
Oh, I’m still marrying him…
JOY
(After stopping her sewing)
But why would you..?
BIODUN
Because he’s ’Dimeji Williams… What else am I to do? Leave him and let Supafly have him? I don’t think so.
JOY
But…
BIODUN
(Cutting her off, matter of
factly)
Besides, it really doesn’t matter… Because I’m cheating on him too.
Joy stares up at her sister in shock. Biodun meets her gaze and holds it.
BIODUN
(After a moment, gently)
Keep sewing.
After a further moment of contemplation, Joy begins to sew again.
CUT TO.
INTERIOR. THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE GREAT HALL. DAY.
A short while later. THE WEDDING MARCH begins to play offscreen. As Biodun and Joy are rushing towards the Great Hall, Joy stops them.
BIODUN
Joy, we’re late!
JOY
I just want to know… Are you happy?
Biodun looks at her sister for a bit. She then sighs.
BIODUN
What IS happiness?
With that, Biodun turns on her heel and enters the Great Hall. Joy stares at her receding back in apparent surprise, then regains her composure and follows her in.
FADE TO BLACK.