The Talent Show; A Must Win 1

The next morning;

   [Hodrien is sleeping on his back in his bed. Not long after the scene begins, he gets up and heads towards the bathroom door in staggering, sickly steps. His room is partially dark yet the sweat beads on his forehead are visible. He holds on to the bathroom door post and pushes on the door with the remaining energy in him. While he enters, he slips falls and not an exclamation of pain is heard.]

   [Not long after that, his phone rings and the screen shows up as it spells the name EUGENIA.]

  Eugenia[In her home;]- Why is this guy not answering? ... Maybe he is asleep... No he can't be asleep by this time on a big day like this... Or he's keeping cool... Let me check on him later.

   [Just then, Elyon calls and there's no response from Hodrien and he calls again.]

   Elyon- I have to go there and check on him.

[He gets out and hops into a black Hyundai Elantra and speeds off out of sight in a matter of seconds. When he gets to Hodrien's apartment, he bangs on the door and calls out his name but there is no reply. While he was still at the door he pulls out a bunch of keys from his pocket and picks one particular key. He inserts it into the lock, turns it and it breaks open on just one turn. He steps in and gasps at the sight of Hodrien lying there seeming lifeless. 

   Let's fast forward to when Hodrien wakes up and he's lying in his bed around 11 AM.]

  Hodrien [In a sickly voice]- What time is it? Wait, how did you get in here?...

  [He lifts up his cover sheet, looks inside and turns back to Elyon]...

  I hope you didn't see me naked.

  Elyon- I didn't and even if I did, why would I say yes?

  Hodrien- You, let's forget about it. And what happened to me?

  Elyon- How am I supposed to know? When I came I saw you lying there, at the bathroom door, seemingly lifeless.

  Hodrien- Yes yes I remember that I tried to go into the bathroom and wash my sweaty face off, I remember getting to the door though but I don't remember anything since then.

  Elyon- Are you in pain?

  Hodrien- Yes, some small headache. Go downstairs to the pharmacy and get me some paracetamol and get the summer shirt from the laundry. The laundry tag is A77Hod.

  Elyon- Where is the tag itself?

  Hodrien- I left it for the guy he's cool he will know it's me.

  Elyon- Okay, I'll be back soon.

[Elyon walks out and bumps into Eugenia as he descends the stairs.]

  Eugenia- Why can't I reach Hodrien? I have been calling since morning.

  Elyon- It's still morning, it has not been long since you entered your state of dilemma about him.

  Eugenia- Stop making mockery of what I am saying...

  Elyon- Whatever, if you think I'm making mockery then so be it but please let me go get Hodrien's shirt. Wait for him on the porch you don't want to enter the room now. I'll be back soon.

  Eugenia- Ok I will be waiting here.

  [Elyon leaves and comes back not long after with a summer shirt on a hanger in one hand and a drug bag in the other hand.]

   Eugenia- Who is the medicine for?

  Elyon- It's mine.

  Eugenia- When you go inside tell him I'm waiting here.

  [He walks past her and enters the room without response]

  Hodrien- Who were you talking to outside?

  Elyon- It was Eugenia. I told her you're fine and that the drugs are mine. Don't spill it.

  Hodrien- Okay I won't. How much did it cost by the way?

  Elyon- Don't worry about that.

  Hodrien- Who says I would have paid for it?

  Elyon- What the ... do you mean? Okay young mister that will cost you 2 bucks.

  Hodrien- I already told you I would not pay a single penny. Do you know how to mount my guitar in my bag.

  Elyon- Yes yes what do you think I am, a first grader...

  Hodrien- Sorry, Mr pro.

  Elyon- Are you sure you can take the pressure on the stage today? You don't seem fit, wait till your manager sees your condition.

  Hodrien- And what will she say, huh?

  Elyon- ok oo when it happens, I won't say I warned you oo.

   Hodrien- Nothing will happen, don't worry mister.

Elyon- Ok if you say so, let's get going.

[They step out of the room and upon setting eyes on them Eugenia dives into Hodrien's arms.]

  Eugenia- You've had me worried since morning, I've been calling you time and again.

  Hodrien- Sorry, it's something for mornings I don't usually talk to others when I'm relaxing to face pressure.

  Eugenia- Well I hope you're ready now to face the whatever you were preparing for.

  Elyon- The talent show is a must win, he's well aware of that and he's going to give his best shot at it.

  [When they get downstairs and outside Elyon pulls out his car keys and unlocks it, he hops in first and Hodrien and Eugenia follow suit. It's normal to see Elyon speeding off in a car and he does just so to reach the Accor Main Hall in a matter of five minutes. When they get in, Lodamok welcomes them, Hodrien especially, and takes him to the high table to file his presence and participation. The stage is already set and it might just be that Hodrien is late for the event.]

  [After getting filed, Hodrien straps his guitar to his back, handshakes Elyon and Lodamok and hugs Eugenia goodbye. He's then given escort backstage.]

  [While backstage, he's taken to one of the cabins meant for the various performers. He unstraps his guitar bag and sets it to stand just behind the seat in front of his cabin, he then sits looks around and recollect his thoughts. I presume he's thinking about how he will do this in front of the largest crowd he's ever performed in front of.]

  [Outside, in the main auditorium, Causara, Seshie and Juana catch up with Elyon and Eugenia.]

  Causara- Hey guys, we just saw you escort Hodrien inside.

  Eugenia- I'll catch up with you later Elyon. 

  Elyon- Yeah he's of full mind and is ready to give his all.

  Seshie- What's wrong with Eugy miss perfect? Why did she leave.

  Elyon- I don't have any idea. And besides you guys really put class in your outfits. The pair is stunning and you single is amazing Juana

  Juana- Thanks Elyon.

  [She smiles, lets of a few blushy blinks and the female trio leave the gentle guy alone. Just then, A guy and one other lady climb onto the stage with an intriguing entry. They are the MC's for the event.]

  Male MC- Ladies and gentlemen, we would like you all to be seated for the commencement of this year's annual Pent Senior High New Academic Year Talent Fest.

  Female MC- As we well know, this year's edition is under the prime sponsorship of Accor Entertainment. And so be it that we thank them so much for granting us this opportunity to use their new and refurbished hall for this event. I am in the person of Roxan Nightingale Kayode, An old student of Pent SHS and the Student President for last year, I'll be MCing this ceremony with my brother,

  Male MC- I am Fortune Kiva Kenzani, Old student of Pent SHS and the Pent Most Talented from last year.

  [He then goes backstage leaving Roxan alone to take over.]

  Roxan- As per tradition, the first person to perform at today's event is last year's talent of the year Fortune Kenzani also known as Arodyaf. Let's give him a round of applause.

[The gentleman who had been on the stage previously comes back in a more rapper like outfit. Immediately he steps on stage, the lights dim and the smoke machines get active, the screen behind him depicts a light work of flashes and perfection, he pulls into the front, microphone in hand and head down. It takes some time but the rising beat reaches its peak and the silence is acclaimed. He is a rapper and that is shown in the rhymes and speed nature of the music he flows with it's quite rhythmical and he knows just how to involve his audience in the performance. He flows for up to ten minutes switching between his different raps and making some direct transitions. When he reaches tiredness he descends the flow and Roxan climbs up to take over.]

  Roxan- That's Arodyaf, let's give it to him again. Thank you Arodyaf, I'll see you backstage. Now it's time to witness the main event, The talent fest, we will begin with the final year classes as usual and we shall start with the form 3 Arts and Crafts department. We will start with 3AC1 their performer is  a street dancer and today he'll be performing something he calls "Crack and Drop".

  [Let's speed forward through the performances, there are some solo and group dances, choreography, aerobics stunts, magic tricks of  smartness, acapella groups solo and group singers, instrumentalists, amongst others. The events file through till one dancehall artiste puts the Judge table on its feet. She is a 2HE3 student and her feminine prowess is just a marvel. Backstage, Hodrien looks on with a surprised face and it seems like those yet to perform would wish to forfeit. In towards the end of the scene, Hodrien is seen standing lost in thought as he might be next to perform.