The Target — A Screenplay
ACT 1 — Scene 1 INT. TIGER’S BEDROOM- NIGHT
TIGER stretches as he gets up from the bed to pick up the ringing phone.
TIGER
(into the receiver)
Ok boss, you got it. Just send me her details — picture, address, and any other information that will be helpful. I will start tomorrow.
TIGER puts down the phone. He walks to the full-length mirror at the other end of the room and taking off his robe, he looks at his dark-skinned, beautifully chiselled, naked body with a mischievous smile on his face.
ACT 1 — Scene 2 EXT. STREET CORNER- DAY
LOVE is walking down the street and just as she turns a corner, she runs into TIGER, spilling her books on the pavement. Her eyes widen, and her jaws drop slightly as she stares at Tiger bend down to gather her books
TIGER
(to Love as he is gathering the books)
I’m so sorry ma’am, I didn’t see you coming.
He stands up to hand the books back over to her. As he hands her the books, his hands lightly brush her hands and she shudders, not noticing as he slips a tracking device in her handbag.
LOVE
You can make it up to me by taking me out to lunch.
TIGER does a double-take, obviously caught unawares by her request. LOVE notices his hesitant expression and her face flusters as she hurriedly turns around and starts walking briskly away. Tiger stares at the sway of her retreating hips for a few seconds before running after her.
TIGER
I accept. I’ll love to take you to lunch.
LOVE smiles sheepishly as she turns around and walks away with TIGER.
ACT 1 — Scene 3 INT. OGA’S LIVING ROOM- DAY
Tensions are visibly heated between OGA and LOVE. Love has tears streaming down her cheeks while Oga is rapidly pacing the room, sweating profusely.
OGA
(to Love as he continues pacing the living room)
I’ve told you time and again that you can’t keep that child and you also need to stop coming here. You know my wife can come back from her salon or school runs anytime and I can’t afford her running into you like this.
LOVE
(now visibly shaking, with a shrill and cracked voice)
Oh, now I’m an inconvenience, right? When you were having sex with me and promising me heaven and earth, you didn’t remember your wife and children but now that you’ve gotten me pregnant, you suddenly want nothing to do with me again.
OGA
You know that’s not true. I just need some time to sort out some things so that we can truly be together. Just trust me. But right now, you really need to leave before my wife gets back.
ACT 1 — Scene 4 INT. LOVE’S CAR- DAY
Tears are still streaming down her cheeks as she places a call while driving away from OGA’s house. Her phone is on the loudspeaker as we hear the outgoing ring and after about 15 secs, the call was picked up and we hear TIGER’s voice.
TIGER
Hello?
LOVE
(to Tiger with tears still streaming down her cheeks and voice still shrill and broken)
Please can I come over? I really need someone to talk to after the sort of annoying day I’m having.
TIGER
Sure. You’re welcome to come.
ACT 1 — Scene 5 INT. TIGER’s LIVING ROOM- DAY
TIGER is sitting on a couch while LOVE lying with her head on his laps.
TIGER
Wait, wait. Slow down. You’re just unloading all sorts of new information at the same time. Let’s take them one after the other, starting with Tunji. Did you say Tunji is your cousin? As in the Tunji Akinlagbe that was my very good friend back in secondary school.
LOVE
Yes, Tunji is my cousin. When we ran into each other the other day, I could tell you looked familiar, but I couldn’t identify how I knew you. It was not until I stumbled upon these pictures of you and Tunji while trying to help clean up that I realised you were friends with Tunji.
TIGER
Ok. So, you’re Tunji’s cousin. How does that relate to other information you were unloading on me?
LOVE
It doesn’t. They’re all separate pieces of information that I want to share with you. I’m Tunji’s cousin, I fell in love with a man whose biography I’m helping write and got pregnant for him but now, he’s insisting that I lose the baby.
TIGER
Hmmm… Tell me about this man, will you?
LOVE turns her head to look up at TIGER. Tears beginning to gather in her eyes.
LOVE
You may know him, but I doubt you will as he’s a very reserved man despite his immense wealth and political influence. His name is Ifeanyi Nwoko, a billionaire tech and business mogul.
TIGER’S eyes widen in surprise at the mention of OGA’S name.
END OF ACT 1
ACT 2 — Scene 1 INT. OGA’S OFFICE- DAY
OGA is visibly angry. He is holding the phone receiver to his ear with his brows furrowed and his other hand clenched into a fist. He shouts into the receiver
OGA
(over the phone)
What do you mean you quit?! No, in this line of business, you don’t get to quit!
TIGER
(through the phone speakers)
Oga, I really can’t carry on with this task. Something has come up which means that I will not be able to do an effective job of it. You know I wouldn’t quit a job if it wasn’t critical.
OGA
So, what is this thing that came up?! Why are you quitting and what do you expect me to do now?!
TIGER
I’ll tell you what came up if you tell me who she is and why you want her out of the picture.
OGA
You know I can’t tell you that. The whole point of our transactions is that we don’t ask questions –
TIGER
(Cuts in)
And yet you’re asking why I’m quitting. Do you see? that’s exactly the point. This seems more personal than professional and I’ve been in this business long enough to know that person means trouble.
OGA
Fine! Quit if you want!
OGA slams the phone receiver back in place and hurls his bottle of water across the room.
ACT 2 — Scene 2 INT. TIGER’S BEDROOM- DAY
LOVE steps out of the adjoining bathroom into the room, a towel wrapped around her hair and another around her chest. The towel was very short and most of her legs were visible — thick thighs and long smooth legs that bent in a slight bow. She drops the towel and picks up an oversized t-shirt that was hanging on the chair in the room, putting it on as she gives him a peck on the cheek and sits on the side of the bed.
LOVE
(to Tiger as he drops the call)
What was that about? It was clearly an uncomfortable call, I could hear it in your voice. Why are you quitting your job and who is she you were talking about?
TIGER
There is something I need to tell you. Please promise me you’ll let me finish, even if you don’t believe me
LOVE
Nawa o! Why won’t I believe you? Oya, I promise. What do you want to tell me?
TIGER
IFEANYI NWOKO, the billionaire tech and business mogul, hired me to assassinate you.
LOVE’S eyes widened in shock
TIGER (CONTD.)
The day I bumped into you wasn’t an accident. That is one of the ways I scout my targets before executing the mission. The only reason you’re still alive is that you asked me to take you to lunch the day we met as I started falling for you since that day. I just got off the phone with Ifeanyi Nwoko, telling him that I was no longer interested in the job and he obviously didn’t take it too well. I now understand why he wanted me to assassinate you — because you’re carrying his child and have refused to get rid of it. What an evil man.
By the time TIGER was done, LOVE was staring blankly at the wall across from her, tears running down her cheeks. Tiger picked her up, kissed her forehead and squeezed her against him in a very tight hug.
ACT 2 — Scene 3 INT. OGA’S OFFICE- DAY
OGA’S phone is ringing and he walks into the office. He picks it and listens for about a minute before speaking.
OGA
(into the phone)
I see you got my message. Yes, those details are accurate. I know you’re surprised but you know the rules, “don’t ask, don’t tell”.
OGA listens again for about 10 seconds.
OGA (CONTD.)
Good. Don’t let me down, Hunter.
OGA puts down the receiver and sits on his swivel chair. He relaxes into the chair and looks up at the ceiling, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the table.
ACT 2 — Scene 4 EXT. HUNTER’S PARKING LOT- DAY
HUNTER is seen walking briskly but noiselessly towards his car, a grey BMW salon car. He is an intimidating specimen: huge, dark-complexioned and dressed in a black T-shirt, pair of black jeans and black sneakers. His head was shaved clean and he was holding a black briefcase. He gets into the car, turns on the ignition, checks the time — it is 6:15 pm and drives off.
END OF ACT 2
ACT 3 — Scene 1 INT. OGA’S LIVING ROOM- DAY
OGA is just returning from work. There is a hop and a skip in his step and he is humming Linkin Park’s Numb as he opens the door to his living room. He walks in, switches on the light and the look on his face immediately changes to shock, and then horror.
TIGER
Welcome home, Oga.
OGA
(quickly gathering himself)
What are you doing in my home?! Who let you in?!
TIGER
I let myself in. Your security system is surprisingly weak for someone so evil and paranoid.
OGA
And you, Love, how do you know this man?! What are you doing moving about with such a man?!
LOVE
Ifeanyi, you no longer control me. I have been a fool for too long, thinking you loved me, meanwhile, you only needed me for your sexual satisfaction! And what do you mean by “such a man”? He is more of a man than you will ever be! You hired an assassin to kill me because I refused to kill your baby? Your own blood? You should be ashamed of yourself!
Tears start streaming down LOVE’S cheeks and she is visibly shaking and fuming simultaneously. TIGER walks over to her and holds her in his arms to comfort her. Just then, OGA attempt to back out of the room when Tiger brings out a gun and points it at him.
TIGER
Where do you think you’re going? Come and sit down here
Tiger gestures toward a 3-seater couch with the gun. As OGA sits down, TIGER takes LOVE’S right hand in his hand and wraps it around the gun, with his index finger on hers and her index finger on the trigger. He lifts her hand up with the gun, pointed it at Oga’s forehead and gently squeezes the trigger. The sound of the gunshot is muffled by the silencer attached to the gun as Oga drops to the chair. The bullet had penetrated his forehead so there is a puddle of blood around his head but there is also a puddle of urine around his waist as he has apparently wet himself in fear.
TIGER (CONTD.)
Coward.
ACT 3 — Scene 2 EXT. TIGER’S CAR- NIGHT
TIGER looks at the dashboard clock as they get into the car — 7:43 pm. He turns toward LOVE who looks pale and shaken and smiles at her
TIGER
My Love let’s go celebrate our new life.
LOVE
What’s there to celebrate? We just killed that Ifeanyi in cold blood!
TIGER
Baby come on, we have lots to celebrate. We have each other, we have a beautiful little baby on the way and we’re rid of that vile man. Don’t worry, after a few bottles of beer, you will feel better and if you dance, we just might end it with the best sex you ever had!
TIGER takes her left hand and starts kissing her from her fingertips, inching forward gradually. When he gets to her neck, she lets out a soft moan and he stops, sporting a mischievous smile.
TIGER
You’ll get the rest after you dance.
With that, he closed the door and they drive off.
ACT 3 — Scene 3 INT. TIGER’S BEDROOM- NIGHT
TIGER and LOVE giggle as they enter the bedroom, kissing and smooching each other rather noisily.
TIGER
(whispering to Love in a raspy tone)
You’re such a seductress. You turned almost all the guys in that bar on with your dancing
LOVE
(talking in between giggles)
Who cares about the guys in the bar? The only guy I want to turn on is you.
TIGER pushes her onto the bed, kneels at the foot of the bed, picks up her left foot and starts kissing it from her little toe. He unbuckles her sandals as he kisses each of her toes one after the other. From the toes, he goes up to her heels, then her ankles, then up her calves to the back of her knees. LOVE is already writhing and twisting in pleasure, moaning softly as he moves his kissing upwards along the inside of her thighs. She has already pulled up her gown and is reaching to pull down her panties when he stops her hand.
TIGER
(rising and whispering into her ears)
Not so fast, seductress.
He bites her ear lobe as he says this, inserting his tongue into her left ear and slowly swirling it around 3 times as she twists and turns her neck. He gently slides his tongue out her ear and down along the side of her face to her neck, planting kissed all around the circumference of her neck. By this time, her moans have become much louder as she continues to twist and squirm. He turns her over and starting at the nape of her neck, gently kisses her down the middle of her back until he gets to her waist where he lingers slightly. She has stopped moaning as she turns back around, takes his hand and places it on her pant which is already soaked. He gently rubs it in slow, circular movements before sliding his hands up along her sides, taking her gown with it up and over her head. Her moaning has resumed and increases in intensity as brings his lips down over first her left nipple, then her right nipple. She pulls him on top of her, squeezing his butt with her legs and digging her nails into his back.
LOVE
(whispering to Tiger in a now coarse voice)
Fuck me!
As he reaches down to her panties, he stops abruptly. Standing over them is Hunter, holding a long sword that has pierced through Tiger and Love, reaching out under the bed. He has an evil grin on his face.
ACT 3 — Scene 4 INT. OGA’S LIVING ROOM- NIGHT
The phone is ringing beside OGA’S lifeless hand. The screen shows “HUNTER”
END OF ACT 3.
THE END.
