Playlist

PLAYLIST
Episode 1: Start
by Triumph Brown

FADE IN:

BLACK SCREEN

The thump of a nightclub, muffled, as if
heard through a wall. It fades behind the
sound of footsteps.

EXT. STREET, ENUGU – NIGHT

A quiet residential street. Somewhere, a
generator hums.

NEWMAN (early 20s, glasses, loose button-
down) walks alone, earphones in. A neon
paper wristband still hangs from his
wrist.

He takes out his phone. On the screen: a
playlist titled PLAYLIST. Dozens of songs.
The newest at the top: "Turn Me Up –
Tems."

A message slides down over it.

            SOFIA (TEXT)
      Text me when you get home 🙂

Newman reads it. Smiles. Swipes it away
without replying.

He stops at a gate. Bass leaks from
inside, softer than the club's. He pulls
off the wristband, pockets it, and goes
in.

INT. HOUSE PARTY – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

A small living room, furniture pushed to
the walls. A dozen people, warm lamps,
fairy lights. A Bluetooth speaker on a
shelf plays something loud and
forgettable. On the floor, four friends
play Whot.

CHIDI (20s, the host) spots Newman and
gives him a half-hug.

            CHIDI
      You made it. I thought you had
      somewhere to be.

            NEWMAN
      I did. It ended.

Chidi waves him toward the kitchen.
Newman's eyes find ANGEL (early 20s) by
the window, an untouched cup in her hand,
glancing at her phone, visibly counting
the minutes until she can leave.

Newman pours a drink and walks over.

            NEWMAN
      Hi. How are you?

            ANGEL
      I'm alright. Thanks for
      asking.

            NEWMAN
      You needn't thank me. I'm just
      being a good friend.

            ANGEL
      Friend? We just met. I
      wouldn't be friends with
      someone who says "needn't."

They laugh.

            NEWMAN
      What if I changed how I talk?
      Would we be friends then?

            ANGEL
      Maybe.

            NEWMAN
      Then I'll hope the "maybe"
      turns into a yes. You didn't
      look like you were enjoying
      yourself.

            ANGEL
      Parties aren't really my
      scene. My friends dragged me
      out. They thought I'd spend
      tonight in my room being sad.

            NEWMAN
      Why would you be sad?

            ANGEL
      I found my boyfr— ...my ex,
      with someone else.

            NEWMAN
      That's a lot to carry into a
      party.

            ANGEL
         (a dry laugh)
      He had a way with words too.
      "I love you," and then...
         (shrugs)
      Words are just words until
      someone does something with
      them.

            NEWMAN
      I would never--

            NEWMAN & ANGEL (TOGETHER)
         (booming, mock-aggressive)
      DO SUCH A THING!

They burst out laughing. Newman's laugh
catches in his throat and turns into a
cough, dry and a little too long. He turns
away, fist to his mouth.

            ANGEL
      You good?

            NEWMAN
         (clearing his throat)
      Club smoke. It's nothing.

            ANGEL
      That didn't sound like
      nothing. Here. I haven't
      touched it.

She hands him her untouched cup. He
drinks.

            NEWMAN
      You needn't have--

            ANGEL
      Don't.

He grins, handing the cup back.

            ANGEL (CONT'D)
      And don't promise me anything.
      You've known me ten minutes.

            NEWMAN
      That was a bit, not a promise.

            ANGEL
      It sounded like a promise.

            NEWMAN
      Then no promises. Can I give
      you something else instead?

            ANGEL
      Like what?

            NEWMAN
      A better song.

He crosses to KAMSI (20s), who holds the
aux cable.

            NEWMAN (CONT'D)
      Aux?

            KAMSI
      You'll ruin the vibe.

            NEWMAN
      It's a living room. There's no
      vibe to ruin.

Kamsi hands over the cable. Newman plugs
in his phone. "Start" by Asake begins. The
Whot players groan. Newman returns to
Angel.

            ANGEL
      Why "Start"? Why not something
      everyone knows?

            NEWMAN
      You'll see. Just wait.

The beat builds. Angel listens, caught off
guard. Her shoulders loosen. One of the
Whot players starts nodding along. Then
another.

            ANGEL
      Ohhh. Okay. I get it. (beat)
      You actually know your
      afrobeats. With that accent, I
      assumed your playlist was all
      Coldplay.

            NEWMAN
      I live and breathe it. What's
      your name, by the way?

            ANGEL
      Angel. Yours?

            NEWMAN
      Newman.

            ANGEL
      That's an odd name. Where are
      you from?

            NEWMAN
      I'll tell you when you give me
      your number.

            ANGEL
      Okay, Mr. Mysterious.

She takes his phone and types. We see the
screen: a new contact, "Angel." She hands
it back.

            ANGEL (CONT'D)
      You still owe me where you're
      from.

            NEWMAN
      Next time.

Angel drifts back toward the window,
swaying slightly now. Newman watches her
go.

EXT. HOUSE – FRONT STEPS – LATER

Newman steps outside. The song drifts
through the door. He takes out his phone.
On the lock screen, two new messages from
Sofia.

            SOFIA (TEXT)
      Home yet?

He swipes them away. Opens PLAYLIST. Adds
"Start – Asake." It slots in at the top.
"Turn Me Up" slides down one place.

He locks the phone and goes back inside.
The song keeps playing.

FADE OUT.

END.