Movie -:- Stand By You

SCENE 1 INT. MODELLING AGENCY 1 DAY
The JUDGES scan the beautiful LADIES standing before them.
It’s a casting for models.
Among the beautiful ladies is DIAMOND, mid-20s, beautiful
and confident.
One after the other the ladies catwalk for the Judges. It
gets to Diamond’s turn and she does it with great finesse.

SCENE 2  INT. MODELLING AGENCY 1 LATER
Diamond and the other ladies are before the Judges. Judge 1
speaks.

JUDGE 1
First of all, I want to thank all
of you for coming for this casting.
(beat)
We wish we could take all of you,
but we can only take five models.
(beat)
For those of you that won’t be
selected, please it shouldn’t deter
you from pursuing your modelling
dream. Okay?
The ladies respond okay.

JUDGE 1
With that being said, let me call
out the numbers of those that were
selected.
At this point all the ladies are nervous.

JUDGE 1
The models are.

Beat.
JUDGE 1

Four two one.
Four two one celebrates.

JUDGE 1
Next is six five three.
Six five three celebrates.

JUDGE 1
One seven two.
One seven two celebrates.

JUDGE 1
Nine eight two.
Nine eight two celebrates.

JUDGE 1
Last but not least is….
Diamonds gazes at her number. Her number is five two one.

JUDGE 1
the model with the number tag five….
Diamond’s face lights up.

JUDGE 1
two…
Her lips curve into a smile.

JUDGE 1
four.
The smile on Diamond’s face disappears.

JUDGE 1
That all. I’m sorry. Like I said
earlier, this shouldn’t deter those
of you who weren’t selected for
pursuing your modelling dream.
Diamond leaves, disappointed.

SCENE 3 EXT. ROAD LATER
Diamond stands by the road waiting for a cab. Soon a car
comes to a halt in front of her.
The front door glass winds down revealing the driver. It’s
one of the judges. Let’s call him George.

GEORGE
Hi.
DIAMOND

Good afternoon.
GEORGE
Good afternoon. I’m sorry we didn’t
pick you. Please don’t let it break
your spirit.

DIAMOND
It’s fine. Thank you .

GEORGE
I have connections in this
industry. I can link you with other
modelling agencies.

DIAMOND
I’ll really appreciate that.

GEORGE
Let me have your number. So we can
keep in touch.

DIAMOND
Okay.
They exchange numbers.

GEORGE
My name is George.

DIAMOND
Diamond.

GEORGE
Okay, Diamond. As soon as something
comes up I’ll give you a call.

DIAMOND
Okay. Thank you .

GEORGE
You’re welcome.

GEORGE
What direction are you going?

DIAMOND
I’m going towards blue gate.

GEORGE
Auch! That’s not my route at all. I
wanted to give you a lift.

DIAMOND
It’s fine. I’m actually waiting for
a cab. I’ve booked it already.

GEORGE
Okay…. Take care.

DIAMOND
You too.

Judge 2 drives off. She continues to wait.

SCENE 4 INT. DIAMOND’S APARTMENT LIVING ROOM NIGHT
EMILY, early-30s, is seated watching TV. Diamond walks in.

EMILY
Welcome.

DIAMOND
Thanks, Emily.

EMILY
How was it? Were you selected?

DIAMOND
For where? I wasn’t ooo.

EMILY
Sorry.

DIAMOND
(hisses)
I just wasted my time and money.

EMILY
Don’t worry soon you’ll blow.

DIAMOND
When, Emily? When? I’ve been doing
this modelling thing for many
years, but I still haven’t blown.

EMILY
Patience, Diamond. Patience. It
won’t happen in one day, but one
day it’ll happen.
Diamond nods in agreement.

DIAMOND
It won’t happen in one day, but one
day it’ll happen.
(beat)
That’s deep. You’ve given me hope.
Thanks, sis.

EMILY
You’re welcome.

SCENE 5 INT. DIAMOND’S APARTMENT LIVING ROOM DAY
Diamond is seating scrolling through comments on a picture
she posted on Instagram. She reads some of the comments.

DIAMOND
(reading)
Diamond, watch your weight you’re becoming fat.
She examines herself.

DIAMOND
Am I becoming fat?
Just then Emily comes to meet her.

DIAMOND
Emily, am I becoming fat?

EMILY
No.

DIAMOND
Are you sure?

EMILY
Yeah.

DIAMOND
So why are they saying I’m becoming fat?

EMILY
Who are the they?

DIAMOND
People on Instagram.

EMILY
How many times have I told you to
stop taking comments on social media serious.

DIAMOND
I need to take their comments
serious 0000. I need their validation.

EMILY
No, you don’t. You don’t need the
validation of a stranger on social
media to know you’re beautiful.
You’re a beautiful woman in and out.

Diamond nods in agreement. Just then her phone rings. It’s
George. She accepts the call.

DIAMOND
(into phone)
Hello. Good evening.

DIAMOND
(into phone)
I’m fine. And you?

DIAMOND
(into phone)
Okay.

DIAMOND
(into phone)
Yes I’m available. Where and when
do you want us to meet?

DIAMOND
(into phone)
Okay. Thank you.
She ends the call.

EMILY
Who was that?

DIAMOND
An agent I met at the casting the
other day. He said he has a
modelling job for me.

EMILY
Okay.
Emily stands.

EMILY
I’m going to make noodles. Should I
make for you?

DIAMOND
I’m not eating. I’m watching my
weight.

EMILY
Na you sabi.

Emily leaves to make noodles.

SCENE 6 INT. RESTAURANT DAY
Diamond is seated before George, mid-conversation.

DIAMOND
Thank you so much, George. It has
always been my dream to walk on the
runway of the Lagos fashion week.

GEORGE
This will take your career to the
next level.

DIAMOND
Yes, it will.

GEORGE
There are two conditions you must
meet if you want me to give you this job.

DIAMOND
What are the conditions?

GEORGE
Since I’m the middleman in this
deal, I’ll take twenty percent of
whatever you’re paid.
She takes a moment to think.

DIAMOND
Okay. No problem.

GEORGE
Good.

The second condition is…
He rubs her hand and licks his lips lustfully. She knows
what it means. She removes her hand.

DIAMOND
I’m sorry, George. I can’t.

GEORGE
What do you mean you can’t?

DIAMOND
I can’t sleep with you. It’s
against my principles.

GEORGE
(scoffs)
Which yeye principles.

How do you think the top models
you’re aspiring to be like did it?

Do you think the five models we
selected were selected because
they’re the most beautiful of all
of you that came for the casting that day?

DIAMOND
They might be doing it, but I can’t.
She walks out on George.

GEORGE
You’11 never make it in this
industry with your yeye principles.

EMILY
Whatever thing you choose to do,
you know I’ll always support you.

DIAMOND
Since we lost our parents you’ve
been looking out for me. Thank you.

EMILY
You’re all I’ve got.
They hug.

SCENE 7 EXT. ROAD DAY
JAMAL, early-30s, is on a call as he walks to his car.
He gets to his car and brings out his car key from his
pocket. In the process of bringing out the key, his wallet
falls but he doesn’t notice.
Diamond who was passing by sees the wallet and calls his attention to it.

DIAMOND
Excuse me. You dropped your wallet.
Jamal picks up the wallet.

JAMAL
Thank you.

DIAMOND
You’re welcome.
He offers her some money. But she doesn’t collect it.

DIAMOND
Thank you .

JAMAL
Please collect it. Some people
would’ve waited for me to leave
then they would take the wallet.

DIAMOND
That’s stealing. I’m not a thief.

JAMAL
I need to appreciate your kindness.
Please collect it.

JAMAL
Thank you.
Still, she doesn’t collect it.

JAMAL
Since you don’t want to collect
money. Can I at least give you a lift?
She takes a moment to think.

DIAMOND
Okay. No problem.

JAMAL
Thank you. Where are you going?

SCENE 8 EXT/INT. ROAD/JAMAL’S CAR LATER
Jamal’s car comes to a halt in front of Diamond’s gate.

DIAMOND
Thanks for the lift.

JAMAL
Don’t thank me I should be the one
thanking you. Good people like you
are rear in this country.
She acknowledges his compliment with a smile.

JAMAL
DO you mind giving me your number?

DIAMOND
No, I can’t give you.

JAMAL
Why?

DIAMOND
Nothing.

JAMAL
Please, give me your number. I’d
like to be friends with someone
like you. Just friendship nothing
me, nothing more.
She takes a moment to think.

DIAMOND
Okay.
They exchange numbers.

JAMAL
Thank you.

DIAMOND
Bye.
She alights his car and enters her compound. He drives off.

SCENE 9 INT. DIAMOND’S APARTMENT LIVING ROOM DAY
Diamond and Emily are seated at the dining table eating.

EMILY
My visa interview is this weekend.

DIAMOND
You’ll get the visa in Jesus name.

EMILY
Amen.
Diamond’s phone rings. It’s Jamal . She accepts the call.

DIAMOND
(into phone)
Hello.

JAMAL (V.O)
Hi, Diamond. How are you?

DIAMOND
(into phone)
I’m fine. And you?

JAMAL (V.O)
I’m cool.
Will you be busy tomorrow?

DIAMOND
(into phone)
No. Why do you ask?

JAMAL (V.O)
I want us to hang out.

DIAMOND
(into phone)
Okay, no problem.

JAMAL (V.O)
Awesome. I’ll see you tomorrow.

DIAMOND
(into phone)
Okay. Bye.
She ends the call.

EMILY
Who was that?

DIAMOND
One guy like that I met the other
day. He wants us to hang out tomorrow.

EMILY
Don’t forget to bring takeaway for me OOO.

DIAMOND
You too like food.
They laugh.