STRAINED LOVE
(Screenplay by Samuel Akinola—6th Aug. 2024)
The scene opens in a beautifully furnished bedroom, and Eddie is seen sitting on a mini sofa close to the double-sized bed, untidy with female items. He looks sad and sober, fidgeting with his mobile phone absent-mindedly. The bathroom door flings open, and Loy saunters into the room, wrapped in a white towel. She unwraps the towel from her and throws the wet material on the untidy bed. Eddie flinches and looks disapprovingly at his girlfriend.
Eddie:
You know you should not have done that.
Loy:
Did what? (She stares at him accusingly).
Eddie:
Throw the wet towel on the bed. All your items are spread over the bed, and the white linen bedspread is becoming brown. (He gestures helplessly). At least you could have dried out the towel on the towel hanger in the bathroom.
Loy:
Baby, don’t get started on this. You can dry-clean the bedspread, right? So, do it and don’t whine like a girl. (She hisses and continues dressing up).
Eddie gets up and starts tidying up the bed grudgingly. He removes the wet towel and dumps it on the floor.
Loy:
Don’t expect me to use that towel again after you dump it on the floor. What’s gotten into your head, Eddie? (She screams at him.)
Eddie ignores her, finishes tidying up the bed, picks up the wet towel, and turns towards the bathroom door.
Eddie:
I never heard the flush water; did you flush down the toilet after use?
Loy:
Good lord, there you go again, baby. You ask stupid questions often. Of course, no (she gestures with her hands). I forgot to flush the toilet. You can do that for me when you get to the bathroom.
Eddie:
(Shakes his head). Your bad habits are getting on my nerves, Loy. Can’t you just…just… (he struggles for the word).
Loy:
Just what? (Fire in her eyes). Just what, Eddie? (She claps her hands on his face). Say it, baby, just say the word. You are ashamed of me, right? Are you? Do you find me disgusting? (She screams in his face)
Eddie:
(Splutters for words), just do the right thing, baby. Work on your habits. (He turns away from her and heads into the bathroom.)
Loy:
You love my big ass, don’t you? (She grabs her bum). Then don’t be shy to take care of what the big ass dumps in the toilet! (She screams after him and bursts with laughter).
A few minutes later, Eddie comes out of the bathroom and finds Loy fully dressed. He ignores her and takes his seat on the sofa, while Loy looks at him in wide-open eyes.
Loy:
I’m waiting for you, Eddie.
Eddie:
For what? (Genuinely confused).
Loy:
Don’t be daft, Eddie, you are taking me out for lunch!
Eddie:
I can place the order and have it delivered if that’s okay with you.
Loy:
No! It’s not okay. We are going out for lunch right now. Why is it that you don’t like hanging out with me anymore, Eddie? (She screams at him.) You are acting as if ashamed to be seen with me in public, and in private, you find me disgusting. Why, Eddie, why?
Eddie:
Now you are overacting. Stop being dramatic, Loy, you are still my girlfriend!
Loy:
Oh, I’m still your girlfriend! (She mimics a man’s voice, scorn in her tone of voice). You think I don’t see how you looked at Sade yesterday, huh? I swear, you are already falling in love with her!
Eddie:
Now you are getting on my nerves. Sade is my colleague, and we are on good terms, nothing more.
Loy:
(Starts to sob), You don’t love me anymore. Tell me to my face and I will walk away from you forever!
Eddie:
Oh God, baby, stop that. (He shoots to his feet and reaches for her). Don’t get me wrong, I still love you. You don’t have to cry (He consoles her). Alright, let me get the car keys, and we’ll go out for lunch. Okay?
Loy:
(Nods her head in agreement), okay, baby. (She cleans off her tears and follows him).
The scene opens in a restaurant, and Loy and Eddie are seen seated at a table for two. Loy is having a good time, eating sumptuously and nosily to the embarrassment of Eddie and the other couples around the table. She grabs another lap of chicken and bites it off while her mouth is still full of rice, groaning in delight, bits and pieces of rice and meat scatter over the table. Eddie keeps his cool, looking at Loy, incredulity in his eyes, while his food remains untouched.
Loy:
(Looks at Eddie) Why are you not eating, baby? (Says between a mouthful of meat and rice).
Eddie:
Baby, can you eat quietly? (He whispers to her)
Loy:
(Eyes flare up in fury) Are you saying I can’t eat the way I like? (pieces of meat fly off her mouth into Eddie’s face).
Eddie:
No, not at all, I don’t mean that. Enjoy your meal. (He fakes a smile to please her). Can I excuse myself for a moment?
Loy:
Go ahead. (She continues her meal).
A few minutes later, the scene opens outside the restaurant, and Eddie is seen chatting happily with a lady. Loy comes out and sees the lady and Eddie together. Jealousy sweeps through her, and she runs at the lady, grabs her violently with a threat in her eyes.
Loy:
How dare you hang out with my man! (She screams angrily and shakes the lady vigorously).
Eddie:
(Eyes wide with fury, tries to separate Loy from the lady) What’s wrong with you, Loy? Leave her alone at once (He screams).
Loy:
(Screaming and sobbing at the same time) You cheat on me with her, Eddie. How dare you cheat on me! I will naked her for the world to see. (Struggles to tear off the lady’s clothes).
Eddie:
(Finally succeeds in freeing the lady from Loy, but Loy still struggles to fight her). Leave my younger sister alone, Loy! What has come over you? What is the meaning of this Loy? You are so embarrassing, I’m tired and ashamed of you. Get a grip on your temper! (He screams at her, anger in his eyes.)
Loy:
(Burst into tears) Every girl I see you with is always your sister. You liar! It’s now over between us, Eddie; you don’t have to be ashamed of me anymore or cheat on me.
Loy pulls away from Eddie’s grip and runs away, weeping as she runs. Eddie runs after her, calling her name, but she ignores him. He stops running and heads back to his stunned sister.
Eddie:
(Looks flustered and sad) I’m sorry for what you just went through, Janet. I’m very sorry, I wish you had never had to go through all that.
Janet:
That should be your girlfriend you told me about, brother Eddie. She needs a lesson in manners if she hopes to join the family.
Eddie reaches for his sister and consoles her. Scene Ends
Three days later. The scene opens with Eddie sitting quietly outside his apartment, sad and lonely. Shortly, Loy appears on the scene, sober and sad, full of regret. On seeing her, Eddie hisses and turns away from her. Heartbroken, she runs up to him and goes down on her knees.
Loy:
Baby, my darling, please…please forgive me. I can’t do without you (She begs, sobbing at the same time).
Eddie:
You cut off the relationship, Loy. Why are you here now?
Loy:
I love you, Eddie. I can’t stop thinking of you.
Eddie:
(Turns away from her again). Leave me alone, baby, just leave me alone, (pain in his tone of voice).
Loy:
(She leans on him, sobbing) Forgive me, baby. I will work on myself to be better. Please give me another chance, I love you. (She touches his face and turns to look at her) Look at me, my darling, tell me you don’t love me anymore. Just…say so and I will walk away.
Eddie:
(Struggles for words). I…I still love you, Baby. I…I…I have missed you. I will try to be more patient with you too…
Loy:
Oh my love!
They wrap themselves in each other’s arms and seal their love with a kiss. Scene Ends.
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