TV Series Title:
EKO
Episode 000:
“Reflections”
Story: ‘Shéun and Bebe Ominira-Bluejack
Written by: ‘Shéun Ominira-Bluejack
“A Note On ‘Reflections’ by ‘Shèun and Bebe Ominira-Bluejack”
“Reflections” is a piece that we wrote a number of years ago. Taking the form of a webisode, it was intended to serve as a promotional teaser for our original series “Eko”. Teaser episodes such as these have since been written by us for a number of our other high concept speculative TV series. They are based on the format of the Issue “0” comics that were such ubiquitous parts of sequential art in the 1990s – when we grew up.
A good teaser episode is meant to drum up interest in a series without overtly affecting its internal narrative, which would typically officially commence with the said series’ pilot. This particular piece was intended to introduce our audience to our first season’s three principal characters – the clairvoyant Dr. Alala Coker, the police officer Taslim Ademola Adebayo, and the masked man of mystery known as Ojiji. The following are their bullet point character biographies.
Character Bios:
Dr. Alala Coker MD: A hopeful optimist, Alala returns to the country to find her sister Bolaji following the latter’s disappearance. A trained general practitioner that would have been a comic book artist if her parents had thought that it was a sensible profession, her time in Nigeria – and her friendships with the members of the online comic book geek community known as the Meltdown – will give her the courage to start a comic book of her own called “Eko”. At the same time, her psychic abilities (hitherto hidden from all besides Bolaji) will begin to rage out of control in response to her disappearance.
Ojiji: A silent, solitary figure, Major Michael Kuku first became the “masked man of mystery” known as Ojiji when his then wife Moremi was brutally gang-raped in front of him. After claiming vengeance on those responsible, he continued to operate as a vigilante in the hopes of atoning for his abiding sense of responsibility for what happened (the rapists – a gang of ruthless armed robbers – had wanted to get back at him for foiling an operation in his capacity as a military officer).
Officer Taslim Ademola Adebayo: A fifty-year-old, thoroughly decent man, Taslim finds himself in the grip of what a Westerner would call a mid-life crisis. Bored at home and stymied at work by the Coker case, he lusts after his protogée Dorcas for weeks before he even realizes that he’s doing so. As he struggles with whether to leave his wife Oyinkan, we see his innate goodness – which other characters even comment on – put to the
test.
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EXTERIOR. SOMEWHERE IN LAGOS. DAY.
A COMMOTION is heard a short way off – people shouting, frantic shuffling, angry excitement. A young woman is standing across the street from a police station. She looks up at the building with an unreadable look on her face. This is ALALA COKER, 26.
ALALA (V.O.)
There’s an old philosophical conundrum that I remember from college… It’s called Plato’s Cave. Basically, it asks the question of whether you can ever comprehend something beyond your limited perception.
The NOISE from across the street grows more intense. Alala looks at both sides of the deserted road.
ALALA (V.O.)
The fact that I’m now faced with the ridiculousness of there being an apparent riot in a police station leads me to perceive that I’m back in Nigeria – my ancestral home…
Alala crosses the street, heading in the direction of the commotion.
ALALA (V.O.)
The fact that my last memory is of being back in my apartment in Atlanta causes me to perceive that this is a dream…
A LOUD GUNSHOT is heard in the police station, followed by a cacophony of angry talking. Alala pauses briefly in the middle of the road.
ALALA (V.O.)
This isn’t real… Which means that I have nothing to fear.
She continues to the other side of the road. Once she arrives there, she finds police officers running up and down in obvious confusion. Without asking for permission from any of them, she goes inside.
ALALA (V.O.)
My inferences are logical, but I still find myself wondering… Am I seeing the whole picture?
CUT TO
INTERIOR. THE POLICE STATION. CONTINUOUS.
There is unadulterated SILENCE inside the building. The desk officer that usually welcomes visitors in the reception area and helps them find who or what they’re looking for is nowhere to be found.
ALALA (V.O.)
Plato suggested that seeing a truth that’s beyond that which you have always perceived to be true would lead you to react violently to the person that showed it to you.
Tentatively, Alala proceeds further into the station. As she does so, she comes across more officers trying to escape it. Another GUNSHOT is then heard, this time coming from above her.
ALALA (V.O.)
He really was a cynical old fart.
Alala comes to a staircase and hesitates. A third GUNSHOT is then heard, again coming from above. A group of officers, weapons drawn, come rushing from the opposite end of the corridor a split second later and run up the staircase. Making up her mind, Alala follows them.
ALALA (V.O.)
Whenever I’m in situations such as these in my dreams, I always find myself thinking of Plato and his cave…
Coming out of the staircase, Alala finds herself in another corridor. A shout of surprised indignation is heard off to the side of her, followed by a series of MORE GUNSHOTS.
ALALA (V.O.)
… And wondering what it is that I don’t perceive…
An OPEN DOOR leads to a roof top beyond. That is where the commotion seems to be concentrated. After hesitating for another brief period, Alala goes through it.
CUT TO
EXTERIOR. POLICE STATION ROOF. CONTINUOUS.
Alala sees a gaggle of officers with their backs to her, pointing their guns at something on the opposite side.
MALE OFFICER (O.S.)
For the final time, this is over… You are on the second floor of this building… You can’t jump to safety, and my men have you covered, so you can’t go back the way you came. Give up now and come quietly, or we’ll shoot you where you stand.
OTHER MAN (O.S.)
What in the short time that you’ve known me has happened that would make you think that that will make me surrender to you?
MALE OFFICER (O.S.)
You have been sufficiently warned! All of you men, if he moves again, cut him down!
OFFICERS
Yes, sir!!!
Walking to the side of the brace of officers, Alala is faced with a surprising sight: a pitch black YORUBA MASQUERADE is standing on the edge of the roof. He catches sight of her, and although masked, is noticeably surprised.
MASQUERADE
A female officer… I’m surprised. I thought that you just had those for photo opportunities, Taslim.
MALE OFFICER (TASLIM)
What are you talking about?
(then, seeing Alala where she is standing)
Wetin you dey find for here?
ALALA
(Still staring at the masquerade)
I was looking for a police officer.
MASQUERADE
Well, you’ve come to the right place.
(Then, turning to look at the ground)
And thank you for distracting them. With that, the masquerade leaps into the air.
TASLIM
You fools! Fire!!!
The officers fire at the masquerade, but he’s already on the ground by now. He turns back, gives them a dramatic bow, then runs down the street, turns a corner and disappears.
TASLIM
Ten policemen versus a madman in an outfit, and you people somehow manage to let him get away! Get down there and find him!
AN OFFICER
Yes, sir… Sorry, sir.
Taslim walks to the edge of the roof and peers down.
TASLIM
(Muttering to himself)
A second storey jump, and he didn’t even limp afterwards.
(then, turning to Alala)
I ought to arrest you for aiding and abetting… What possessed you?
ALALA
Who was that?
TASLIM
I’m the one that asks the questions… Who the hell are you?
ALALA
Alala Coker.
STYLIZED, SHUTTER EFFECT TRANSITION TO
INTERIOR.ALALA’S APARTMENT IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA. MORNING.
Alala wakes up with a start. She looks around her darkened bedroom and tries to calm her breathing.
ALALA
(Pre-lap)
I’m sorry that I’m late, Dr. Moss…
CUT TO
INTERIOR. OUR LADY OF MERCY HOSPITAL, ATLANTA. DAY.
Alala – now wearing scrubs and a doctor’s coat – is in a shiny new hospital room. A group of doctors, all about her age, are staring at her with a combination of pity and amusement playing on their faces. Another one, older and more distinguished than the rest, stands before her and regards her in the way that one looks at a worm. This is their instructor DR. MOSS.
DR. MOSS
Your child was sick? Your mother was being buried? Little green men abducted you?
ALALA
(Rather pathetically) I overslept…
DR. MOSS
(After a pregnant pause)
Quite frankly, I would’ve preferred a lie.
ALALA
It won’t happen again, sir.
DR. MOSS
Dr. Coker, if it does happen again, don’t bother coming in afterwards… The business of saving lives requires unshakable dedication. I need to know that all of my interns are capable of pushing themselves.
ALALA
(Earnestly)
I am capable of that… I promise.
DR. MOSS
(While sneering)
You will forgive me if I don’t take your word for it.
(then, turning back to his patient)
As I was saying, Mr. Kwan here has been asymptomatic ever since he first got to this hospital…
Alala falls in with the other interns. One – a pretty goth girl with a shocking dash of hot pink in her otherwise black hair – comes to stand next to her. This is her best friend ASTER.
ASTER
Wouldn’t want to be you right now…
ALALA
I wouldn’t want to be me right now.
ASTER
(Giving her the once over) Man, you look like hell…
ALALA
I love you too.
CUT TO
INTERIOR. OUR LADY OF MERCY FLOP HOUSE. LATER IN THE DAY.
A spare room in the hospital – which the interns have dubbed “the flop house” because it is where they get what little sleep that they can manage while in the building – is currently occupied by a sleeping Alala.
CUT TO
EXTERIOR. THE POLICE STATION’S ROOF, LAGOS. DAY.
We’re back in Alala’s dream.
TASLIM
Okay, Alala Coker… What are you doing here?
ALALA
I was looking for a police officer…
TASLIM
(Impatiently)
Yes, you mentioned that before… What for?
ALALA
(Tilting her head slightly and frowning in confusion)
I don’t know…
ASTER (O.S.)
Ally!
CUT TO
INTERIOR. THE FLOP HOUSE. AS BEFORE.
Alala wakes up and finds Aster hovering over her with a look of terror on her face.
ALALA
(Groggy) Wha..?
ASTER
Are you trying to get us both fired?! Moss booked us for surgery upstairs!!
ALALA
I know… It’s at five…
ASTER
It’s ten to five!
ALALA
Oh, God…
CUT TO
INTERIOR. THE UPSTAIRS CORRIDOR. CONTINUOUS.
Alala and Aster are racing down the corridor.
ASTER
What is WITH you lately?
ALALA
I haven’t been sleeping well… Weird dreams about a masquerade and a bunch of cops…
ASTER
A masquerade?
ALALA
From my country… Kind of like a person who cosplays for religious or cultural purposes…
The pair enter a room.
CUT TO
INTERIOR. THE OUTER O.R. CONTINUOUS.
They begin scrubbing for surgery.
ASTER
Have you ever seen one of those before?
ALALA
When I was young… My grandmother took me to a festival. Those masquerades weren’t anything like this one, though…
ASTER
Well, you said that they were religious, right?
ALALA
Yes, why?
ASTER
Maybe you can pray to the one you saw for help, because Moss will have both our hides if we’re even a minute late.
ALALA
Have a little faith, Asty.
CUT TO
INTERIOR. THE CAFETERIA. NIGHT.
Caption: Three hours later…
Alala is reading a comic book at one of the tables. Aster comes and plops down on one of the other chairs.
ASTER
What happened to the dream about George Clooney?
ALALA
(Smiling)
No… That one hasn’t come in a while. I think that him being married now takes the fun out of it.
ASTER
Well, at least that one makes sense.
ALALA
Yeah… The lead cop’s name is Taslim, by the way.
ASTER
You stuck around long enough to get names?
ALALA
I got his… Still don’t know what the other one’s name is.
ASTER
I only ever seem to have surrealist massacres masquerading as dreams. You really do have the best dreams, Ally.
ALALA
(After a brief pause) You have no idea.
The pair sit in silence for a bit. Aster then smiles.
ASTER
You’re thinking about the cosplayer, aren’t you? What is it with you and guys in costumes? Every time we do comic-con, you always come back from San Diego with a new lover in tow.
ALALA
Who doesn’t like a little mystery?
ASTER
I just know that that’s why you like “Batman and Robin”…
ALALA
The nipples really didn’t bother me.
ASTER
That, and Clooney…
ALALA
(Laughing) What’s not to love?
The pair sit for a bit and stare at another table’s occupants.
ASTER
Why don’t you use Taslim and the cosplayer as templates for characters in that comic book that you’ve been thinking of starting?
ALALA
“Eko”? What, you think I should?
ASTER
Yeah… With any luck, your next iteration of this dream will give you a name for the cosplayer too.
ALALA
I would’ve had one if Taslim had just answered my question.
ASTER
What, he was being cagey?
ALALA
This last time, he was insisting that I tell him what I was doing there… It was only then that I realized that I didn’t know.
ASTER
Just start your book… Maybe if you find a creative outlet for all that you see, you’ll finally be able to get some sleep…
(then, after a brief pause)
When you collect your Eisner, I’ll say that I knew you when.
ALALA
Aren’t you going to be there when I collect my Eisner?
ASTER
It depends…
(then, after another pause)
… I might be Netflixing that night.
CUT TO
EXTERIOR. THE APAPA WHARF, LAGOS. NIGHT.
Caption: The Following Day…
A brace of police cars and black marias arrive at the wharf. A number of officers jump out of them, including one that we come to recognize as TASLIM ADEMOLA ADEBAYO, 50. He has an unreadable look on his face. He turns to DORCAS FADAHUNSI, 25, one of his subordinates.
TASLIM
Give me the facts, Dorcas.
DORCAS
The nightwatchman called us in, O.C… He resumed earlier this evening and found a present in front of his office… A bunch of smugglers.
A group of officers make way for Taslim and Dorcas. We are then shown what they see: a group of hogtied tough guys on the floor. They have all been tied to each other and are gagged, but their eyes display unbridled terror.
TASLIM
Who did this?
DORCAS
As usual, we don’t know… All we’ve gotten are the same cryptic descriptions of a masquerade…
Taslim walks over to the man that’s closest to his feet. He bends over and removes the gag.
TASLIM
Who come do dis to una?
MAN
Im say im name na “Ojiji”.
Straightening back up, Taslim surveys the eerie darkness of the surrounding wharf.
DORCAS
Ojiji?
TASLIM
At least now he has a name.
CUT TO
EXTERIOR. ELSEWHERE ON THE WHARF. CONTINUOUS.
OJIJI watches the police establish a perimeter about half a mile away through a pair of binoculars. After seeing Taslim looking in his direction, he gets back into his black BMW – which we will come to know as the Shadowmobile – and drives away.
END OF EPISODE.
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Image: Copilot AI remixed