By Owie Aideyan
Title: Because Sometimes, Love’s Greatest Test is Time
Genre: Romance / Drama
OPENING SCENE – UNIVERSITY OF LAGOS, 1999 – NIGHT
(Heavy rain pounds the campus. Students run for cover. A dim library light flickers. IFOMA OKEKE, 20, in scrubs, scribbles notes at a desk. TOSIN AJAYI, 22, lanky with kind eyes, stacks engineering textbooks.)
TOSIN
(looking out the window)
Looks like the rain’s not quitting anytime soon.
IFEOMA
(smiles faintly)
It never does when you have somewhere to be.
TOSIN
(laughing)
Well, in that case… (offers umbrella) Let me walk you.
(They share the umbrella. The rain becomes their first soundtrack.)
MONTAGE – FALLING IN LOVE
-
Tosin and Ifeoma study under trees.
-
Dancing at hostel parties.
-
Eating suya at 2 a.m.
-
Tosin writing “Forever” in chalk on the engineering block wall.
EXT. CAMPUS STREETLIGHT – 2002 – NIGHT
(Tosin’s luggage by his side. A taxi idles.)
TOSIN
Germany’s not forever. Just… for now.
IFEOMA
(tears in her eyes)
For now feels like forever when you’re gone.
TOSIN
(gripping her hand)
If time tries to steal me from you… remember — I’m coming back.
(They kiss. The taxi drives off.)
THE DISTANCE
SERIES OF CALLS & LETTERS
-
Tosin, in snowy Berlin, grins at her on a grainy webcam.
-
Ifeoma opening letters with doodled cars in the margins.
-
Missed calls… emails unanswered for weeks…
INT. IFEOMA’S APARTMENT – 2007 – NIGHT
(Her phone rings. She freezes.)
VOICE (on phone)
Are you Ifeoma Okeke? I’m calling about Tosin Ajayi. There’s been… an accident.
(Cut to Ifeoma on the floor, hand over mouth. Her suitcase half-packed, passport open.)
GERMANY – HOSPITAL HALLWAY – WEEKS LATER
(Ifeoma approaches Tosin’s family. They block her way.)
TOSIN’S SISTER
He’s in a coma. He needs peace. You being here… it’s not the time.
IFEOMA
But I—
TOSIN’S MOTHER
(soft but firm)
Please. Go home.
(Ifeoma walks away, sobbing into her scarf. The sound of her footsteps fades into silence.)
THE SILENCE
MONTAGE – 13 YEARS LATER
-
Tosin in a lab, launching electric prototypes.
-
Ifeoma in scrubs, saving lives, turning down proposals.
-
Newspaper headlines: “Engineer Tosin Ajayi Returns to Nigeria.”
-
Ifeoma’s eyes widen as she sees him on TV.
THE REUNION
INT. MEDICAL INNOVATION SUMMIT – LAGOS – DAY
(Ifeoma walks into a hall. At the podium — Tosin. Mid-speech, his voice falters.)
TOSIN
(seeing her)
… and that’s why— (pauses) … why innovation… is…
(The audience laughs softly, thinking it’s stage nerves. But his eyes are locked on her.)
LOBBY – LATER
(They stand inches apart. The world disappears.)
TOSIN
I searched for you in every city I visited. They told me you’d moved on.
IFEOMA
(tears streaming)
And they told me you didn’t want me.
(Silence. Their breaths shake. Then Tosin pulls her close.)
TOSIN
We lost thirteen years… I won’t lose another day.
THE TEST OF TIME
EXT. GARDEN WEDDING – LAGOS – DECEMBER 2021 – SUNSET
(Close friends. Flowers. The hum of Lagos traffic in the distance.)
TOSIN
Time tried to test us. We passed.
(He kisses her. Fade out as guests cheer, some crying, others holding hands tighter than before.)
TEXT ON SCREEN:
“Because sometimes… love’s greatest test is time.”
