THE ROAD THAT LED TO LOVE _ EPISODE 1 — “THE STRANGER ON THE ROAD”

SCENE 1 — THE STORM EXT. LAGOS–IBADAN EXPRESSWAY — NIGHT Heavy rain pounds the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. Cars rush past, their headlights reflecting across the wet road. A luxurious black Range Rover moves steadily through the storm. DANIEL'S OUTFIT: Charcoal-gray three-piece suit, crisp white shirt, black tie, polished black shoes, silver wristwatch. KUNLE'S OUTFIT: Black chauffeur suit, white shirt, black tie. CAMERA: Wide low-angle shot of the Range Rover moving through the rain. MUSIC: Slow emotional piano with soft African strings. CUT TO: INT. RANGE ROVER — CONTINUOUS Kunle grips the steering wheel. Daniel sits quietly in the back, staring through the window. KUNLE This rain is serious tonight, sir. Daniel continues looking outside. DANIEL Hmm. KUNLE We should be home in about forty minutes if the traffic stays like this. DANIEL Take your time. The road is dangerous. Kunle glances at him through the mirror. KUNLE Long day? DANIEL Very long. KUNLE Another business problem? Daniel gives a tired smile. DANIEL When you have money, Kunle, people think you don't have problems. KUNLE And when you don't have money, sir, people know you have problems. Daniel looks at him. A small smile appears. DANIEL You always have an answer. KUNLE That's why you haven't fired me. Daniel almost laughs. Suddenly, Kunle's expression changes. KUNLE Sir... CAMERA: Daniel turns toward the window. Through the rain, he sees a woman standing by the roadside. DANIEL Who is that? KUNLE I don't know, sir. CUT TO: SCENE 2 — THE WOMAN IN THE RAIN EXT. LAGOS–IBADAN EXPRESSWAY — NIGHT Amara stands beside the road, completely soaked. AMARA'S OUTFIT: Mustard-yellow blouse, dark-brown ankle-length skirt, brown flat sandals, small brown handbag. Her long black braids and clothes are soaked. She waves desperately at passing cars. AMARA Please! A vehicle passes. Water splashes near her. She steps back. AMARA Please! Somebody help me! Another car passes without stopping. Amara looks at her dead phone. AMARA Come on... She presses the power button. Nothing. Her eyes fill with frustration. AMARA Not tonight. Please, God. Not tonight. She opens her handbag and checks a small medicine bag. CLOSE-UP: Her father's medication. Amara holds it tightly. AMARA Daddy is waiting for me. Headlights appear in the distance. She steps closer to the roadside. AMARA Please stop! She waves both hands. MUSIC: The emotional score rises. CUT TO: SCENE 3 — DANIEL SEES AMARA INT. RANGE ROVER — NIGHT Daniel sees Amara through the rain-covered window. DANIEL Kunle, slow down. KUNLE Sir? DANIEL Slow down. Kunle does. Daniel looks back at Amara. KUNLE It's late, sir. We don't know her. Daniel continues watching. Amara tries desperately to flag down another vehicle. It passes her. Daniel's expression changes. DANIEL Stop the car. KUNLE Sir, we're on the expressway. DANIEL I can see that. KUNLE It could be dangerous. Daniel looks at him firmly. DANIEL And leaving a young woman alone here isn't dangerous? Kunle pauses. DANIEL Stop. KUNLE Yes, sir. SFX: Tyres moving across wet asphalt. The Range Rover pulls over. CUT TO: SCENE 4 — THE STRANGERS MEET EXT. EXPRESSWAY — NIGHT Daniel steps from the Range Rover holding a large black umbrella. Amara watches cautiously. Daniel approaches her. CAMERA: Wide shot. Daniel and Amara are separated by the heavy rain. DANIEL Miss! Amara takes a step backwards. DANIEL Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you. AMARA Please... I need help. Daniel moves the umbrella over her. DANIEL Are you injured? AMARA No. DANIEL What happened? AMARA The bus I was travelling in broke down. She points into the distance. AMARA Everyone started looking for another way home. I couldn't find anything. DANIEL Why are you still standing here? Amara holds up her phone. AMARA My battery died. Daniel notices her shaking. DANIEL You're freezing. AMARA I'll be fine. DANIEL You're clearly not fine. Amara looks at him suspiciously. AMARA I just need transportation. DANIEL Where are you going? AMARA Home. Daniel raises an eyebrow. DANIEL That narrows it down. Despite everything, Amara almost smiles. AMARA Abeokuta side. Daniel turns toward Kunle. DANIEL We'll take her. Amara immediately shakes her head. AMARA No, sir. Daniel looks surprised. DANIEL You were asking for help. AMARA Yes, but I don't know you. Daniel pauses. DANIEL Fair enough. He gestures toward the vehicle. DANIEL My driver is there. You can sit on the other side of the car. We will take you home. Amara hesitates. MUSIC: Soft piano. ightly. DANIEL Money solves many problems. He looks out the window. DANIEL It doesn't solve all of them. Amara senses pain behind his words but doesn't ask.