This confirms Chioma’s suspicion. The words ‘didn’t make it alive’ dropped on her heart like enemy missiles dropping on foreign soils.
She wraps herself up in her arms and shed a few QUIET tears.
EXT. OBALENDE BUS PARK - SAME TIME
We arrive at the sight of sweaty fast-walking pedestrians breezing through a BUSY, DUSTY, and CHAOTIC park, packed with DERELICT yellow commercial buses with black stripes painted across their entire length. The park is disturbingly NOISY with bus conductors calling out the destinations of their buses.
Screen Caption: FEBRUARY 15, 2016 01:34 PM
Screen Caption: OBALENDE BUS PARK
Petty traders, mostly WOMEN, young and old, carrying large bowls of soft drinks, table water, and ‘pure’ water sachets, are roaming around the park, while some are standing put, in front of bus’ entrances, yelling out the names of the items they sell. Young men, carrying cartons of sausage, and locally-made showcase of candies and mint gums, are standing in group, by a corner, chitchatting in Hausa and laughing.
BUS CONDUCTOR #1 (yells repeatedly)
Mile 2! Cele Ijesha!! Mile 2!!! Four hundred Naira Bus! Mile 2!!!
Tega walks straight into the bus, and takes a seat by the edge of the entrance.
BUS CONDUCTOR #1 (CONT’D) (to the Bus Driver)
Pilot, bus don full. Fire down!
The Bus Conductor hops on the already moving bus, dangerously hanging by the bus’ entrance, as the poorly-maintained bus inches away from the park, leaving a trail of black smoke in its path.
BACK TO:
INT. ROOM 7, WING C, ST. NICHOLAS HOSPITAL - CONTINUOUS
Femi dips his hand into his pocket. He pulls out his phone and navigates to a saved photograph in its gallery.