INT. UNKNOWN WAREHOUSE.

"Zino walks into a room filled with high-class computers."

ZINO
How is it going?
(Gazes at the screen, trying to read the present situation.)

ELLA
A little patience.
(Runs her fingers through the keyboard.)
Damn it!

ZINO
(Gazes at the access denied sign being displayed on the screen)
What is the problem?

ELLA
A software on her device is preventing me from overriding the security system.

ZARA
Can't it be deactivated or something?

ELLA
I'm trying, but it's a stubborn software
I Have never seen anything like it before.
It's like they knew someone would try hacking into her device.

ZINO
So, what's the way forward?

ELLA
(Sighs)
We keep trying.
It's just going to take a little more time.

ZINO
(Breaths heavily.)
I told you already, we don't have time!
I need this woman tracked down in thirty minutes.

ELLA
(Turns to Zino.)
I get it!
But this is the tech world, not your usual hitman job where you can just gun people down and get your way easily.

ZARA
Fine, just do what you have to do as fast as you can.

ELLA
I have tried every cheat and coding pattern I know. This thing is hard to crack.

ZINO
Oh, God.
(She drops her hands on the chair before her; she appears frustrated.)

ELLA
But there is something else I can try.

ZARA
Then what are you waiting for?

ELLA
I have never tried it on a sophisticated system like this.
I will have to initiate a rare virus into her operating system, hoping it weakens the software, preventing us from getting what we want.

ZINO
(Raises her head and hand from the chair)
Do whatever you have to do to get in.

ELLA
I would have to warn you that there are some risks involved.

ZARA
What kind of risk?

ELLA
It's a rare and strong virus that could get the job done or ruin everything we try to do here.

ZINO
Ruin everything?
How?

ELLA
The virus is cohesive, but for it to work, enough time is needed to incubate and weaken the software.

ZINO
Okay, just get it done.

ELLA
Okay, let's hope her system survives the incubation time.

ZARA
Wait!
What?

ELLA
Yeah
We just have to hope the operating system is strong enough to accommodate the virus long enough to take down the weird software.

ZINO
And if it doesn't?

ELLA
We lose our only chance of getting what we want from her phone.
In worse cases, it might damage both systems beyond repair.

ZINO
(Sighs)
Is there any other way we can do this?

ELLA
In thirty minutes or even an hour, no, there isn't!
However, there are other methods that could take days or even weeks to get the job done.

ZINO
Von will be far gone by then.
(Turns to Ella)
Do it!

ZARA
What?
Zino, we have to think this through.
What if this virus ruins everything for us?

ZINO
Then, we find another way.
Time is not on our side.
(Turns to Ella)
Do it now!

ELLA
Alright
(Rolls her chair back to the big projected screen before her.)
Okay, let's do this
(Cracks her fingers before dropping them on the keyboard)
Okay, I have initiated the virus.

ZINO
So, what next?

ELLA
(Turns to Zino)
We wait!

ZARA
For how long?

"The screen in front of Ella begins to crack and glitch."

ELLA
Oops!

ZINO
What is it?

ELLA
I don't know

"The whole screen turns white."

ZARA
What is happening, Ella?

ELLA
I think the worst we feared has happened.

Zino
Shit!
(Pushes the chair in front of her to the floor)

ELLA
I'm sorry; I tried my best.

ZARA
(Turns to Zino)
I warned you; we should have thought this through!
Now we have lost everything!
Damn it!
(Drops her frustrated fist on the wall behind her.)

"Ella turns to the screen and sees the screen slowly return to normal."

ELLA
Guy's!

"Zara and Zino turn to the screen."

ZARA
What is happening?

ELLA
(Has her eyes fixed on the screen)
Access Granted!

ZARA
What does that mean?

ELLA
Yes!!!
(Turns to them with a bold smile on her face)
It worked.
We are in!

ZINO
(Sighs in relief)
Finally.

_____________________________________

EXT. BUHIGH PRISON

"Efe's eyes meet with that of Big Shark."

EFE
He's getting closer, guys.

"Tom drops his hand on Big Shark's shoulder."

TOM
Brother!
Shagba wants to see you.

BIG SHARK
(Turns to Tom)
Tell Shagba I will be with him in a short while.
(Turns to continue his walk towards Efe.)

TOM
It's urgent!

BIG SHARK
Didn't you hear me?
Tell Shagba I will be with him shortly.

TOM
He asked that you come with me.

BIG SHARK
Then you wait for me here; I will join you once I'm done with that animal
(Points towards the direction Efe and others are standing.)

TOM
I believe your issue with Efe is one of the reasons Shagba wants to see you.

BIG SHARK
And I will be with him shortly.

TOM
This can wait!
Shagba won't wait, and you know it!
Patience is not one of his strengths.

BIG SHARK
(Pull out a knife)
Right now, I care more about slicing the throat of that idiot than I do about Shagba's patience.
(Turns to leave.)
Where the fuck is he?
(Scans through the field in search of Efe.)

TOM
Let's go, bro.
You can finish this later. The kid can't run forever.

"Big Shark reluctantly follows Tom to Shagba's chambers."

___________________________________

INT. SHAGBA'S CELL.

"Shagba offers Big Shark a glass of whisky."

SHAGA
How was your time in the darkroom?
(Sits opposite Big Shark)

BIG SHARK
Frustrating.
I couldn't wait to get out and make that boy pay.

SHAGBA
Hmm, I can only imagine how you feel.
And I apologies for not getting you out earlier.
I was busy thinking of ways to make the boy useful to the Cartel.

BIG SHARK
Boy?

SHAGBA
Yes, the boy you are about to kill.

BIG SHARK
(Sighs)
I guess it wasn't a rumor.
You are thinking of recruiting him.
Boss, it's not a g....

SHAGBA
(Interrupts Big Shack)
Not thinking.
He has already been recruited.

BIG SHARK
(Chuckles)
You are kidding, right?

SHAGBA
I kid you not, son.

BIG SHARK
Why?

SHAGBA
Because we need people like him in our system.

BIG SHARK
(Gets up in anger)
No, we don't!

SHAGBA
And what are your reasons?

BIG SHARK
Is that even a question, boss?
He is an idiot!
Have you seen his physique? That boy is as tiny as an ant.

SHAGBA
And yet he nearly defeated you in a fight.

BIG SHARK
Boss.....

SHAGBA
(Interrupted Big Shark)
I learned he did that with bare words.
The boy brought my strongest of the strongest to his feet with just silly words.
Do you know what that means?

BIG SHARK
That he is an idiot!

SHAGBA
No, idiot!
It means he understands a simple but rare game theory rule: The strongest things are often the things that cannot be seen or touched! He got to you through your imagination and thoughts.
That is the kind of power and influence we need if we want the Cartel to keep striving.

BIG SHARK
That boy will bring us nothing but chaos.
We should get rid of him now that we still can!
We were doing just fine without him, boss.
Give me the go-ahead, and I will get the job done.

SHAGBA
You will not harm that kid.
He is part of us now! You have to find a way to live with that!
(Leans forward towards Big Shark.)
You touch him; I kill you myself in broad daylight.
Have I made myself clear?

BIG SHARK
(Sighs)
But Boss...
(Notice Shagba was growing impatient.)
Yes, boss.

SHAGBA
Good!
Now, organize your boys; they've messed up many things while you were gone.

BIG SHARK
Yes, boss.
(Gets up to leave.)

SHAGBA
Shark!
I understand how embarrassed and frustrated you were when he nearly defeated you. It is something that no one can easily recover from.
(Get up and walk towards Big Shark's direction.)
But you swore an oath to put the needs of the Cartel above your personal needs.
(Wrap his right hand around the back of Big Shack's neck.)
You are still my guy! Trust me and let the boy be.

BIG SHARK
Whatever you say, boss.
(Walks out of the room.)

SHAGBA
(Drops his glass on the table.)
Keep an eye on him.

TOM
Sure, boss.
(Walks out of the room.)

___________________________________

EXT. UNKNOWN LOCATION.

"Ella comes out of the building."

ELLA
So, what do you plan on doing with the lady once you get to Lagos?

ZINO
(Turns to Ella)
You mean when we get to Lagos?

ELLA
We?

ZINO
Yes, you are coming with us.

ELLA
No, I'm not!
That wasn't our deal.
You said all you needed from me was her location and other details I provided. I have done my job.

ZINO
Half the job, lady.
We will need to keep tabs on her till we get to Lagos.

ELLA
I can do that from here; you do not need me.

ZINO
I can't take chances, lady.
You are coming with us, and that's final.

ELLA
No, I'm not.

ZINO
Then you are not going to get your five million.

ZARA
(Steps in)
Alright, that's enough.
(Turns to Ella)
All she's trying to say is that getting to this woman is very important to us.
We can't take any chances.

ELLA
I get that, but I do not want to get involved with your war with the company.
It's not my fight.

ZINO
(Chuckles)
It's too late for that.
You are already involved.

ELLA
I mean, not more than I already am.

ZARA
Ella, we know this wasn't the deal, but please, you have to come with us.
If not for anything but for Efe. He needs us now more than ever.
(Goes closer to Ella)
He needs you!

ELLA
(Sighs)
Fine, for Efe.
But I will have to go home and park up my stuff.

ZINO
No need for that, we have to get to the airport.

ELLA
But I need my stuff.
My identity card, too.

ZINO
You won't need any of that.
(Opens the door of her car.)
Get in.

ELLA
What about my car?

ZINO
It's safe here, just get in.

"Ella goes into the car."

____________________________________

INT. AIRPLANE.

"Zino sits opposite Ella."

ZINO
Are you keeping track of the location?

ELLA
Yeah, it's stable for now.

ZINO
(Notice Ella's uneasy look.)
I wouldn't have involved you if I could do this without you.
But I can't. I hate dragging any of you into this, but I have no choice.

ELLA
We always have a choice!
You don't force people to act against their will.

ZINO
(Smiles)
It's okay to feel that way, but I can bet on my life that Zara and others are here only because they want to be here.
I want to do this alone, trust me!

ELLA
(Chuckles)
Trust you?
Maybe the Reverend sister version of you that I have known for years, but this you?
Not a chance!

ZINO
(Sighs)
I understand.

ELLA
So, how did you get access to a private jet?

ZINO
I purchased it after I left the company.

ELLA
Why?

ZINO
For times like this.

ELLA
So, you knew the company would still come for you even after you left them?

ZINO
It crossed my mind, I wasn't certain.
So, I just prepared myself for the worst.

ELLA
So, was being a reverend sister an act?

ZINO
Sadly, that was real.
I genuinely wanted to move on from my ugly past and be as clean as possible.

ELLA
But here you are, back to where you are coming from.

ZINO
Yeah, for Efe!
I will do anything for my family, even if it means returning to my old ways.

ELLA
I don't even know how to respond to that.

ZINO
(Chuckles)
Thank you for coming with me.
(Gets up to leave.)

ELLA
Just so you know, I didn't do this for the money; I did it for Efe.

ZINO
I know, and I am thankful for that.
(Walks away.)

"Ella sighs and relaxes her back on the soft leather chair."