Episode 1 – “Water & Hustle”

Episode 1 – “Water & Hustle”

Scene 1: The Streets of Lagos

(Sun blazes overhead. Ebere Winfrleid, 19, walks through the busy market with a large bowl of pure water sachets balanced on her head. She wears a simple wrapper, faded from use, her feet covered in worn-out slippers. Sweat glistens on her dark skin as she moves through the crowd.)

Customer 1 (Man in his 30s, grinning): "Fine girl! Give me two pure water. How much?"

Ebere: "It’s 100 naira for one, 200 naira for two."

(The man hands her the money, but his eyes aren’t on the water—he’s staring at her chest.)

Customer 1 (chuckling): "Ah-ah, see as your front full. You sure say you never born?"

Ebere (deadpan): "Do you want change or should I keep moving?"

Customer 1 (laughs, waving her off): "Go jare, but no forget me when you blow. Fine girl like you no suppose dey sell water."

(Ebere sighs and moves to another part of the market. Another customer, a woman, waves her down.)

Customer 2 (Older woman): "Abeg, give me one. Ah-ah, see as you fine! Your face be like person wey suppose dey television!"

Ebere (smiles faintly): "Thank you, ma."

(She sells more water, her head high, but inside, she feels the sting of their words. Why does everything have to be about her body?)

Scene 2: Ebere’s Small Apartment

(Ebere enters a cramped one-room apartment. The walls have cracks, the fan barely turns, and a small mattress sits on the floor. Clothes—mostly wrappers—hang on a string by the window. The air is hot, stuffy.)

(She places the empty bowl on the table, stretches her back, and sits down. Just as she begins to rest, there’s a loud bang on the door.)

Landlord (GREEDY, 50s, potbelly, loud voice): "Ebere! Open this door!"

(Ebere groans, stands up, and opens the door. The landlord, Mr. Ojo, barges in.)

Mr. Ojo: "Where my money? Na end of the month be this!"

Ebere: "Sir, I just came back from work. I will give you something tomorrow."

Mr. Ojo (frowns, eyes scanning her wrapper): "Which tomorrow? You dey wear wrapper like village girl, but you never fail to find food chop. You think say I be mumu?"

Ebere (firmly): "I will pay you. Just give me time."

Mr. Ojo (scoffs): "If you no pay by tomorrow night, you go pack commot. No money, no room!"

(He storms out, slamming the door behind him. Ebere sighs, rubbing her temples. She looks around her tiny space—her reality. But she refuses to let it define her.)

(She sits down, picks up an old notebook, and starts writing. It’s a script—her escape, her dream. One day, she won’t have to sell water. One day, she’ll own her own movie studio.)

(FADE OUT.)

End of Episode 1.

Episode 2 – “Rent & Reality”

Scene 1: Ebere’s Small Apartment

(The sun rises over Lagos. Inside her cramped apartment, Ebere sits on her mattress, staring at a crumpled piece of paper in her hand. It’s her rent notice—bold red letters at the bottom read: “PAY BY TOMORROW OR LEAVE.”)

Ebere (muttering): "25,000 naira... Where will I find this money?"

(She sighs, rubbing her forehead. Selling pure water barely gives her enough for food. Now, she has to come up with 25,000 naira overnight? Her stomach growls, but she ignores it. No time for hunger—she has to hustle.)

(She stands up, ties her wrapper tightly, and grabs her bowl. She steps out, ready to hit the streets again.)

Scene 2: The Busy Streets

(Ebere walks through the bustling market, the large bowl of pure water balanced perfectly on her head. She moves with purpose, ignoring the catcalls, the stares, the whispers.)

Customer 1 (Young man, grinning): "Ah-ah, my water seller don come again! How much today?"

Ebere: "100 naira per one."

(He hands her 200 naira and takes two sachets but doesn’t move.)

Customer 1 (smirking): "Ebere, why you no dey smile for me? You too fine to dey frown like this."

Ebere (flatly): "I’m working."

Customer 1: "Leave work small, make we talk—"

Ebere (cuts him off): "Do you want more water or not?"

(The man laughs, waves her off. Ebere moves on.)

(An older woman calls her over.)

Customer 2 (Mama Nkechi): "My daughter, give me three pure water."

(Ebere hands them over. Mama Nkechi gives her 300 naira and pauses, looking at her closely.)

Mama Nkechi (softly): "You look tired, my dear. Have you eaten today?"

Ebere (forcing a smile): "I’m fine, ma."

(The older woman nods but doesn’t look convinced. She pulls out a small bag of puff-puff and hands it to Ebere.)

Mama Nkechi: "Take this. A strong girl like you needs energy."

(Ebere hesitates, then takes it, touched by the kindness.)

Ebere (softly): "Thank you, ma."

(She eats one puff-puff as she continues walking. She needs to sell everything before nightfall. She needs that 25,000 naira—or she’ll be sleeping on the street tomorrow.)

(FADE OUT.)

End of Episode 2.

Episode 3 – “Desperation & Determination”

Scene 1: The Market Hustle

(Ebere is back in the market, pure water bowl balanced on her head, determination in her eyes. She hasn’t made enough money yet—she’s still far from 25,000 naira. The sun blazes down, sweat dripping down her face, but she keeps moving.)

Customer 1 (Middle-aged man, smirking): "Ebere! You dey shine today! Give me three pure water."

Ebere: "300 naira."

(He hands her the money but doesn’t take the water immediately. Instead, he leans closer.)

Customer 1: "You sabi say you fit make plenty money if you use your beauty well? This your naysh and front no suppose dey waste."

(Ebere stiffens, forcing herself not to react.)

Ebere (calmly): "Take your water."

(The man laughs, finally taking his sachets. Ebere walks away quickly, jaw clenched. She’s heard it all before. She’s tired of it. Tired of people thinking her body is more valuable than her mind.)

(She continues selling, pushing through the exhaustion. As night starts to fall, she counts her earnings—only 9,500 naira. Not even half of what she needs.)

Scene 2: The Greedy Landlord Returns

(Ebere enters her small apartment, drops the empty bowl, and sinks onto her mattress. Before she can even breathe, there’s a loud knock at the door.)

Mr. Ojo (Landlord, impatient): "Ebere! Open this door before I break am!"

(Ebere groans, dragging herself up to open the door. Mr. Ojo stomps inside, arms crossed.)

Mr. Ojo: "Where my money?"

Ebere (quietly): "I have 9,500. I just need time—"

Mr. Ojo (laughs mockingly): "9,500? You dey joke? My friend, if you no get my complete money by tomorrow night, you go pack your load commot!"

(He eyes her up and down, a greasy smirk forming.)

Mr. Ojo (lowering his voice): "Unless… we fit make small arrangement."

(Ebere tenses. She knows exactly what he’s implying. Her stomach twists in disgust.)

Ebere (firmly): "I will pay you. The right way."

Mr. Ojo (scoffs): "Na you sabi. No money, no room. Tomorrow night—last chance."

(He storms out, slamming the door. Ebere sinks onto the mattress, staring at the ceiling. Her heart pounds. 25,000 by tomorrow? Impossible. She grips her fists, tears stinging her eyes—but she refuses to cry.)

(She sits up, thinking fast. There has to be another way. She won’t let this greedy man win. She won’t let her dreams die here. And she definitely won’t let anyone take advantage of her.)

(FADE OUT.)

End of Episode 3.

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