Love and boundaries.

A story about love and choices.

Love and Boundaries. 1.int house.

The story is set in the early twentieth century around the colonial era. Right in a major city, Lagos in Nigeria where they were busy with many projects and job creation for rural dwellers and repatriates. You could alter just a few information but keeping the same time to suit any location. Time is the nineteen forties.

A tall, and slender woman in her middle ages sits outside her house, and stands and looks far off.                  

CUTS TO Two women alight a lorry carrying loads, one is pregnant. She waves towards them and they wave with their scarves. She walks down to greet them and take their bags.

CUTS TO

She mounts a horse and goes out to get them. When she gets out there she hugs them and takes their bags and asks one of them to sit on the horse. She leads them both to the house. The house is a bungalow, with three rooms on each side and a sitting room, a kitchen and a store behind. The mother of the two women is wearing a pair of glasses. One of them is wearing maternity gown of fashioned in that time while the other is looking more fashionable.

MARYANN: Mother we are back!

ANN: Oh! Am I not the luckiest mother in the world. You are all back again for the long summer break.

MARYANN: Yes, but I might stay longer, My husband got a job at the rails. He is very busy these days.

JESSICA: For me it is that job at the steel plant. My husband is really busy too. I just stay at home and do nothing, Unlike Dora. Now wait, I hope she would not fail to come home as well, We would love to see her.

MARYANN: It has been a long time I saw her. I hope she comes, or what if she chooses to stay with a friend for the holiday.

JESSICA: I hope she does not do that. We all forget Sheila and that queer girl who went to live with her, Rita. Rita is so queer.

MARYANN: Please dont say that of your sister. You are still pretty childish.

JESSICA: Dont scold me. I left my children with their grandmother, I feel worried for them, mum.

MARYANN: I also left my two daughters with their mother.

JESSICA: Look at you heavily pregnant. I had two and left it at that, times are hard these days.

MARYANN: Does your husband know that you intend to not have another child. I am sure he does not.

JESSICA: Mother please you can put in a word for me at least. Now I am back home for some rest.

MARYANN: All through on the way she told me how life is for her now. She seems so happy, but the stress of being a mother is weighing a lot on her.

JESSICA: Obviously. A mother to two sons, I bet you it is not easy.

MARYANN: Let me take some time to rest.

ANN: When you have taken a shower, you can come and eat what I left for you, it is nice meal, you are going to love it.

MARYANN: What else is there to eat but rice and beans?

ANN: Ha, Maryann what would you have me prepare instead, because it is rice that I cooked.

MARYANN: I would eat rice, I am not like those pregnant women that eat anything and any unthinkable thing in sight. I eat what I eat.

INT kitchen.

MARYANN: This is a really nice meal mother. The sauce is good.

ANN: Thanks daughter. Jessica what do you think?

JESS: Its a nice meal. Let me have some salad.

MARYANN: Sure. I thought we might wait for your other daughters.

ANN: Is there need. I am only slightly worried. Now you two don't begin to worry your poor heads over nothing. They would all be back.

CUT TO CORRIDOR.

Two women walk into the place dressed in fashionable clothes. They have their hairs bonded in colourful ribbons. They carry loads and they hum.

DORA: Mum we are back, we are so glad to be home. Mum! Mum?

CUT TO BLACK

Women go into a room and drop their luggage. They come towards the kitchen. The women stand and embrace them and hug and they all chat.

MARYANN: We are all so glad to see you.

JESS: Certainly. Now we can all eat together.

ANN: I get the feeling we should wait for our little girl.

JESS: Really, I am already eating.

JESS: Rita is not a little girl. I am beginning to think that maybe she chose to go to a friend's.

ANN: Where else is more comfortable than here? I am glad that the first thing we did once we got our gratuity was to build this house. If there is anything we have that we are grateful for it is this wonderful house.

JESS: Indeed. Our late father, he was so very hardworking.

ANN: Yes indeed. A life lesson daughters, being successful might be a thing that runs in the veins. You see it involves a lot of resilience and perseverance and that is really how people make it to the top.

SHEILA: Rita left before me. I went all the way to Dora's place at Abeokuta before I came this way. I wonder why Rita is not here before us.

ANN: Leave my poor daughter with her odd luck. Look she is the only daughter I have here past the age of eighteen.

CUT TO OUTDOOR.

Rita drags her load and walks in. She is a beautiful girl, with short brown hair she combs to the side with a centre part on it. She has a pale complexion. She looks outwards before walking in.

CUT TO.

A young woman who is tall and has a dark orange complexion. She has long black hair with red sprinkles of hair and bright set of teeth which she flashes towards her and then replaces it with an unfriendly frown. She seems to have been talking to someone but what she says is inaudible. Rita who had smiled back realises the smile is not for her and turns away.

ANN: Rita, is here at last.

JESS: Finally.

SHEILA: I was beginning to fear that she has chosen to not be around, I wonder.

JESS: I feared too that would not return. Here she is at last with all her load. Baby Rita, welcome, we all missed you.

RITA: I am back. How is mother. Mum, mummy I am back.

ANN: I am here daughter. I missed you a lot.

RITA: I missed your stern attitude mother, but not so much Sheila did not spoil me anyway.

ANN: You know why I had been unbearable to you, surely you know why, I am surprised you did not find anyone.

RITA: Mother I have not even dropped my bag, and this is all you have to say, wait please. Mum!

ANN: It is not that, I have my worries as a mother and I was hoping you would understand, there is no mother who would not be worried. alright daughter like you say, I should welcome you first.

RITA: Yes and give thanks for me, because i have so much good news.

SHEILA: I am going to break the news.

RITA: Wait let me drop my things and have a bath.

CUT TO.

CAMERA reveals Rita's head and shoulders, bathing in bathroom and pouring water on a head from a bucket. She sings a love song.

CUT TO.

Ann pinches Sheila and appears to be talking about the song. Sheila shakes her head and smiles. Ann folds her arms and keeps on bringing the food forward for them to eat.

ANN: I am sure she has found someone or Sheila am I wrong.

MARYANN: Is mum wrong?

SHEILA: I am afraid she might be wrong, but there is no telling that. However I think we better ask her for ourselves, she might be in a better position to tell us.

MARYANN: I think so too. When she comes out we would ask her.

CUTS TO
Rita walks into the kitchen at the door and all are faces turn towards her but they are all silent and pause from the eating for a while. She shakes her head and looks in wonder and they all continue.

RITA: what? I get the feeling you are all planning something and you are not telling me. Like I can’t help but worry for Sheila.

ANN: Why is that.

CUTS TO.

Maryann looks to her sister's faces and continues eating slowly. She nods slowly. I said I was going to put on a front so that you all dont know and get hurt. It is true, my husband is gone to fight! (Tears flow from her eyes.

CAMERA CUTS to

The face of jess. she is in tears too. Slowly they each begin to burst out one after the other except Rita who holds her mother.

ANN: enough girls. what do you expect of me if you do this. I am a widow and I live here all by myself. I sent my daughter away to find a man for herself. My daughters happen not to be as comfortable as me because my dear husband left all this property. 

RITA: I knew. Now it seems you were all pretending to each other. Mother I have an aim to go and read outside the country instead of marrying and having my heart broken like that.

MARYANN: Mother surely they would return and it was not a war that father died.

RITA: Shakes her head. I don't know. I got back from Sheila's last two years to learn that father is no more. What do you think was said at the burial, you were here. Father was not called upon to go to any war, I doubt it. he is whey much older than all the others who were called upon to fight in the war.

ANN: The war would soon be over would we pray about that. Let us all prepare our minds that we would be in prayer for a long time in this home so that our husbands can come back home safely.

RITA: But you have to be strong no matter what. I suggest you don't think about it.

3. int sitting room.

ANN: sings. It is me. it is me oh lord. standing in the need of prayer. It is me, it is me oh lord. Standing in the need of prayer. Not my father or my mother lord it is me oh lord, standing in the need of prayer. It is me, it is me oh lord, standing in the need of prayer.

RITA: It is me it is me oh lord, standing in the need of prayer. it is me, it is me oh lord, standing in the need of prayer. Not my father nor my mother lord it is me oh lord standing in the need of prayer. it is me it is me oh lord. standing in the need of prayer.

All sing too.

CUT TO

Sheila and her other sisters are there but seated while Rita and Ann stand. They are weeping profusely. Mother goes over to them and hug them each and begins to rock Sheila.

SHEILA: Mother you have heard what Rita said. I could not agree more and this is why I accepted to return. I am here to forget all about the worries of being back there waiting every minute for news from my husband that never comes. I am worried sick and I thought it was time for me to give it up and rest. I thought about it well and I think prayer only makes me more sad.

MARYANN: who cares about prayer anyway?

DORA: We pray as though we expect something to happen instantly, I was looking around to see if Desmond would appear somewhere in this room, but I did not see him anyway. what I am trying to say is that I would rather just sit down and chat and forget what has happened. Look at how each of us hid that our husbands were gone and that is why we so eagerly sent message that we were coming.

MARYANN: It is true indeed. I thought I should hide it so that I can forget it at once and live my life, but here we are, four good daughters.

ANN: Please be merciful, don’t remind me that all my son in-laws are gone to fight in some war.

RITA: There are other men like them who have gone, we have to stop feeling bad and like victims so that we can overcome the feeling and move on. Mum listen, I have never seen anything so painful as the way Sheila weeps at night. Please  I am begging you stop the talk about my marriage until this war is over and I am sure I can have my husband to myself if I get married.

ANN: No, They all have children. You need to get married so that you an have a child yourself. These years I spend I keep wondering about my health in all of it, death never announces its coming.

ALL: Mum, no! Stop!

MARYANN: Mother wishes to shock us all, she is so strong now that she has lost her husband. I am worried about this kind of strength. I wonder where it comes from.

ANN: Thank heavens you are all back. Surely it comes from worry, it comes from loneliness. I worry for you all the time and no Sheila, I am going to pray. I am going to pray on behalf of you all who have lost the strength to pray.

MARYANN: Please do mother. Let me go and out and see the sun. I have missed a good walk for long. Let me get my hat. it is quite sunny out there.

ANN: Look at that family over there. They have a young son. God if you do this for me I would be so glad. if my daughter could marry that man who lives close by and live here close to me for the rest of my days. My favourite daughter Rita who is also perfect in doing things.

MARYANN: Mother please don’t say it loud enough for anyone to hear especially them. He might already have some person in mind. However I also don’t want him to see Rita as desperate. You know she is just nineteen.

ANN: You each found a man at eighteen once you were ready to marry.

MARYANN: That is true.

EXT HOUSE.

The four sisters are outdoor. Sheila, Jess and Dora walk around the yard while Rita and Maryann go the horse space in the yard and take the horses out.

RITA: you can sit on the other horse too, so that we can take a ride down the yard. I love these horses. Mother has good property. One day she could sell this for a lot.

MARYANN: Certainly sister. Only I should not ride. I am going in. Let you and Jess or Sheila and Dora ride the horses.

RITA: Indeed we could do that. I really want a horse ride.

CUT TO.

Rita sits on a horse and so does her sister. As they both down. Their other sisters watch them ridding the horses.

the horses move fast and they all laugh and smile. Then Rita shakes her head.

RITA: Mother it seems this horse is not quite domesticated, or both horses anyway. It is so fast and I am loving it. I have never ridden a horse that is this fast.

SHEILA: Rita has been the best sister in the world. All that she makes she gives to me. I am the luckiest sister in the world. She makes a lot from the school where she teaches. She also teaches extra hours to make more, so that she can have enough to give me her sister.

MARYANN: I noticed. You don’t look like you had the slightest stress. if not that, that job is indeed running away, we would have said that she should be coming from time to time to help out.

RITA: Oh mother what a small yard we have this morning...

MARYANN: it is true look at that.

CUT TO.

JOY comes out of the house and walks around as though on a stroll.

RITA: Mother is surely going to say something tough. I suggest you all pacify her a little.

MARYANN: Indeed she looks very angry.

JOY: Brother please, come and help me with this. I have been mending this horse shoe all day. I think I need your help.

CUT TO

FRED gets out of the house and walks to his sister. He raises her face up.

FRED: is this why there are tears in your eyes.

JOY: Not true, that woman hurled a stone at me because I did not listen to her. Flash back to the mother.
She picks a stone and hurls it at the girl. After calling her twice.

JOY: OH brother it hurts so much. Now I am sure we are going to hate our new neighbours who don’t know how to be friendly.

CUT TO.

They all walk to the fence.

MARYANN: Seems someone had been busy all morning without telling us.

RITA: What are you all wondering about.

MARYANN: too bad. I am still thinking this man would have made you a fine husband. But we have all started off on the wrong footing. You know how mother is.

DORA: (COVERS HER MOUTH) Mother just hurled a stone at that tin god over there.

SHEILA: oops now I am sure there is going to be trouble, but there has to be. Who owns a horse without a yard. Look at that.

JESS: I am still wondering if we should not take things a little easy. This man would make our sister a fine husband. He is very healthy and looks good. I think Rita feel so too.

CUT TO.

RITA turns to her and shakes her head. That woman over there must be his wife, they are so close.

JESS: No, it is his sister. I am sure. Look at their faces. They are both good-looking and look the same anyway.

SHEILA: yes indeed, I can see that.

CUTS TO.

JOY and FRED start off towards them. They have a heavy frown.

FRED: Now I can hear a little of what you say and I wonder what mother has so many unmarried girls who are already mothers, because I am thinking you don’t have husbands if you are out here with your mother doing nothing.

RITA: (holds mother aside) Mother I don’t think you should have done that.

FRED: I think it is a little two late, your rather ravenous mother has hurt my sister, you are just so lucky you did not do anything to her eyes.

SHEILA: Please don’t be rude to my mother, your sister was so rude, when my mother called she did not reply.

MARYANN: I can see her reason, to you she is a goddess out here.

RITA: Oh, She is your sister.

FRED: That is still your concern. Well she is my sister. Madam, why did you do such a thing, I thought you would know better than a young girl who still had angry passions for a cat fight.

RITA: Please pardon my mother and let this end in peace.

ANN: I cant believe you would say that. (Pulls Rita behind) it is good thing young man you have those muscles anyway, but you...

FRED: You must be seriously looking for a husband for your dear daughter, how old is she, Thirty?

ANN:I would ignore that and ignore that you also interrupted me like that and go on. You are rather rude because of this sister of yours. Fine listen to this, This yard was not this small, you moved the fences.

FRED: If you came out here in search of a land space with good horses running about, to be a land lady of high standing, you should have bought some more land. Do you think this place is some range where you can build a tent and have the whole wilderness to yourself.

ANN: I cant believe anyone could be so rude. And I can’t believe you are laughing Maryann.

FRED: I guess she is yet to understand what that means. it means you should be grateful you have that house, you should also be wondering who you paid the money for this house to.

ALL GASP.

ANN: I can't believe this. Daughters please go in, I need to talk some sense into this annoying stranger we call our neighbour.

CUT TO.

They all walk in. Except Rita. She looks embarrassed. She bends her head downwards and counts the grasses with her legs.

ANN: I am sure you know that you are not the only one who has pride and a dear family. I have mine and you were so rude to my daughter.

FRED: No matter what my sister did. You should never have stoned her. She is not obliged to reply you, besides why would she, when your voice must have betrayed nothing but anger and hate.

ANN: I don’t have either. If I did I would have jumped over this place and slapped you.

FRED: Oh really. Madam I am only being polite. I could kindly ignore you.

ANN: don’t think I am a weakling of a woman. I am going to deal with you, if you try to make my daughters more unhappy than they already are. Do you know all we have been through. (BREAKS DOWN IN TEARS) I guess you don’t know what we have been through. You could not possibly know. We have been torn apart these two years. Forget it, you monster.

RITA: Mum I waited for you. Please lets go in.

int house. Sitting room.

The girls sit on their chairs. Mary bends her head on the chair and dozes slowly. Jess bites her lower lip. Dora holds her hand atop her forehead, Sheila holds her jaw. Rita walks in.

ANN: Daughters please cheer up so that I would not be too senselessly angry not to know what to do.

RITA: I feel so bad. It makes me worry. I wonder what those conceited people would do next. I am just watching.

ANN: If we were duped and this space is not ours then what are we to do?

MARY: Aww. My husband does not send anything. Mother, I know that i miss my husband but that is not all, my children are going to suffer more. They have been out of school this year.

ANN: Oh no. I have saved something. You should have asked me?

DORA: that makes four of us. Leaning on our mother again, at this age when we should be the ones enriching her. What a life?! I was so happy before all this.

ANN: I am feeling the pinch for you. I am going to take off all the burden from you. All my grandchildren would be fine from now on.

MARY: We have to forget the yard. I wanted to tell you this. we have more pressing matters. i just did not know where to start.

ext house.

RITA dusts the front door frame with a broom and looks out.

CUT TO.

People chatter and there is Joy and fred with some of their friends talking. One is ridding a horse and they all watch. They are also playing some music over the radio.

RITA: (SAYS TO HERSELF) They seem to be having such a nice time.

Rita gasps. The space is cut off to their house only. They have only the house space and the rest if gone to the other side. The clothes she spread have been packed to a corner and placed on the iron setting for spreading them. Tears brim in her eyes.

RITA: Mother please come and see this. You have to. This man is really a monster like you say, though I hate to say this.

ANN: No! we have to do something about this.

ALL SISTERS COME IN They stand a corner watching. They look angry and stamp their feet. ANN goes to a corner and uses the iron setting to break the fence.

RITA: Wait mother you cant do that. Else we might get into more trouble. We have to find out if what he said the other day is true and if it is true, it is not them that are to blame.

CUT TO.

They all turn towards them. Joy spits out angry words at her and hurls a stone at her.

RITA: Oh no!

MARY: Oh no! I hate that man and his overbearing sister. They are sent from hell to break our souls but they would not succeed. Rita if you play peace keeper again, I would break your bones.

RITA: Please I am only asking you all to calm down. I am going to talk to them they are talking to us.

JESS: Oh Rita please don’t go there, don’t you understand, They hate us that is it.

RITA: Why? It is not that, they say they paid for a whole land and let us keep this house.

ANN: don’t ever say that you silly girl, except you have no shame.

CUT TO.

Camera shows that they leave the venue one by one. They are angry and they have a frown all on their faces. They say goodbye to Joy however who seems to be asking them to forget the ugly scene. Rita marches closes, and the more she does they leave. Joy stands and gives her an awful look.

JOY: Now where do you think you are walking to trespasser. You should be happy you can keep that house.

ANN: Oh no you little imp. Don’t ever say that of my family or may the memory of my husband place a curse on you, you evil creature.

CUT TO.

Joy points towards their house and looks at Rita, in a way of asking her to go back. Rita stands there for a while and turns to go.

FRED: I am going to mend that broken fence because of you.

RITA: (IN TEARS) why are you starting this whole thing now.

FRED: are you crying to me. What do I look like, Your husband or what? It seems you are very unrealistic and soft. well that is your business, you should have told that to your tough and strong headed mother who went and took the house near by this place without being sure, who owned the land at all.

RITA: You heard what I said, This is the worse time in the world for you to do this.

FRED: why do you think I should care. (MOVES CLOSE AND WIPES HER FACE).

He looks around and sees no one in sight outdoor they are all gone.

RITA: Stop, don’t, just give us back the space we had before.

FRED: I am just stating a fact.

RITA: Then I and my mother would find out.

FRED: Can we talk later. (HE LOOKS AROUND AGAIN).

RITA: well I don’t know, my mother hates you a lot. We are going to find out what went wrong together.

FRED: Seems you are very innocent. It is a good thing. ELse I would have had to feel very embarrassed.

RITA: I dont understand you. Bye. Remember what you said.

INT HOUSE. SITTING ROOM.

The room is modern: With soft cushions on the settee and a large table in the centre with flowers on it.

JOY: Brother I could not help it. I saw you outside the window talking to that girl Rita. She might be soft-spoken but just know it, all girls who have no morals can be that way when they hope to end an argument with their feminine looks, but I am rather disappointed would be even more like that if she could in anyway pass for a temptation because she does not look half as good as I do or the girls that you know.

FRED: Sister, It is not that. I just wanted to be a gentleman ever since she is the only woman out there who was not acting like a fighter. I think I could do that.

JOY: did you not hear their discussion or how shameless they are. She is like that for a reason. Acting the good girl and take home to mama, because she is still in search of a husband. Don’t fall for it brother. I am glad I saw, so that we can call it quits. They are on our land remember that.

FRED: I know. But we have to take things easy. Reason being we cant be so unfriendly, it is not a nice thing to be like.

JOY: Alright brother for once we disagree over a girl like that. Please whatever bothers they have they can keep it to themselves. Who says we don’t have problems too. we just don’t cry them out to the top of our roofs and look for others to lean on, on account of this. Really I am no body's nurse.

FRED: Sister how can we disagree.

JOY: My husband is dead. Imagine me, a young woman in tears (TEARS) a widow at this age. NO child to even bear the name. Not even one year to remember as an anniversary. we all have our bothers. Yes indeed. Now I am here again, Like someone who barely went on a short holiday, just like those women, in my house. After losing the love of my life in such a ghastly manner. I can't wait to tell you this again, those people are the kind who think they must draw concern and consideration from others. Sadly for them, they have to look this time around.

FRED: Oh sister. Please sister calm down. I know how you feel. Please don’t remember it no! Don’t!

JOY holds her head and screams.

JOY: Just let those people know it. We all have our problems. I heard her yell out at me and call me a family disgrace. Imagine the words. My mother told me before she left that I was going to be a disgrace, if I married and did not go to school oversees as she promised to send me. I disobeyed her, my dear mother, Ada. I am broken. I am shattered. I am finished. I am dead. Cant somebody hear and send me back my husband. I did everything for him.

FRED: you cant keep crying like that. Please stop.

JOY: There is misery everywhere and soon they are going to take you. we have a quiet home here, but when these noise makers start, you might leave me. life is nothing, nothing but a place to feel the pinch and feel it more and more, on and on. Life pities no one. Death is the only sure escape. You are all I have now brother. Please don’t leave me. Please! Please.

FRED: You have sleep now dear. I am going to take you to your room.

int house sitting room.

Mother gets dressed walks down the corridor and goes to call her daughter Rita. Rita comes out of the room and wears a hat. They walk away from the place and wait for a bus. Rita is wearing a gown with a slim bodice, long flay downwards and puff arms. but it is sleeveless. She wears a jacket too, it is read one, it is like a suit.

CUT TO OFFICE.

They find the door locked with a sign. If you don’t find me here, look on Sunday.

RITA: Oh mother it is a joke.

ANN: Indeed it is. we can go back home to your sisters so that we can go on chatting and forget what has just happened. I feel like fainting.

RITA: Oh no.

ANN: To be living at someone else's mercy is not quite a good thing. How much more when you have serious issues with this person.

RITA: Don’t bother mother, let us go back home. we would be alright.

ANN: We have to come and look some other day. This person has taken away our money and gave us a place that belonged to someone else and there we built with all the money we had, our house. Goodness, save us lord! No! You see daughter, I too have my strength. We would just be silent at those people from now on. For buying that much land and coming to throw it into our faces at a time like this. They are not even trying to understand at all. Now we don’t have a yard at all.

RITA: The thing is they asked for the whole land and that is what they bought.

ANN: But our house is just grassland. They did not buy all the grassland too did they or are they trying to stress their contract. It seems this rascal looks for land that nobody asked for and sells to unsuspecting people.

RITA: I wanted to say that we were quite close to the road.

ANN: (CRIES) Yes, but we could afford it and we built a home and we are happy yes until these people arrived, to make our lives a hell and remind us of what we owe them, leaving our space for them.

RITA: Everyone is so unhappy now. I think that is what it is. They have so much grassland and they never wanted this land, maybe they were thinking of gaining more once they saw how happy we were with our land.

ANN: It is not true. I hope it is not. I pray so. I hope they just never say anything about the house itself as well. AH! Heaven help me. Don’t talk so softly right now dear daughter, at a time like this. Listen, they are so mean and like you say are looking for someone to hate.

RITA: Maybe they have problems of their own too.

ANN: Don’t think you know everyone daughter. Wait till you go and have an education oversees before you say things you do not know about. That is if we have the money?

RITA: Mother please don’t turn your anger towards me. I am sad too. Why? Why do things have to be so awful why?

CUT TO.

Camera shows RITA sits by the cloth railing which is now close to the house and weeps.

ext outdoor.

ENTER SHEILA.

SHEILA: oh Mine, what a harvest of tears. You are out here weeping again. why all the tears now, and we thought this was going to be our way of getting away from all the sorrow till he comes and tells us there could be more.

RITA: I wanted to become a nurse. I really wanted to be one. Now I am never going to be able to fulfill my ambition. we have to find a way to pay them something sometimes soon anyway, since we cant say who we paid to. The crook is gone. I dreamt, all my dreams don’t matter.

SHEILA: of course they do dear. of course. we are going to find a way. The children need to get basic education anyway. Let us look up to skies and to where our hope lies and pray on, because there can be a way.

RITA: Oh how I want their children to have basic education, of course I am not talking about that, it is the house, I mean.

SHEILA: This space is so little now and they don’t need it. We have no yard and yes, we can sell the horses.

RITA: Oh no, Not the horses. no, We meant to ride and ride and feel better, why does this have to happen now.

SHEILA: I know that our prayers are taken up to God everyday and that when his light shines upon anyone and he sends good fortune and blessings their way, it is going to be so beautiful. Let us hope for that. Well thanks for being the best sister in the world first and foremost. You have been a light where there was none and a star to me. To me even if you dont become a nurse that you dream to become you are the biggest of stars to me dear.

THEY HUG EACH OTHER AND SHEILA LEAVES HER.

SHEILA: I am going now to help mother. We are going to have chickens for supper.

int house kitchen dinning room.

They all eat and chat as they eat and drink. First they pray for each other.

DORA: I pray that God would bring his light into our lives and that more and more we would be visited with his blessings that we hope for.

JESS: I cant hide it. I pray that God would send back our...

MARYANN, JESS, DORA, SHEILA: husbands! Safely!

JESS: Safely! We love them and we miss them so much. And we pray that God understands all this. We hope.

ALL SISTERS: baby what do you pray for.

ANN: Yes dear what do you pray for.

RITA: I pray that when the children get back to school they would be able to learn so much and be so good at their studies Amen.

JESS: I am praying so too. For my dear daughter who is in primary school.

They all serve each other and begin to chat.

JESS: come to think of it we don’t need to pay them anything except they are so heartless. They don’t even need this space, we are not in their way at all. I could almost say, those crooks I don’t blame them for taking advantage of this land besides the main road.

RITA: God they are so cruel. Imagine asking us to come back on sunday. besides that the sign looked old and dusty. it is obvious it had been there for a while.

ext house.

RITA is outdoor, watching.

CUT TO

Fred rides a horse and looks her way. he then beckons on her to join. He rides the horse her way and looks at her face.

She smiles.

FRED: we need the ranch anyway. Yes, don’t think that we are so mean and hateful.

RITA: I am not joining you thanks.

FRED: We have just one horse and you have two Maybe someday we can let you ride on our ranch.

RITA: Really.

FRED: think at least for once. (Whispers) I never knew you had so many tears. Anyway, I moved this a day after you arrive. Think about it. Well you cant guess good. Because there seems to be no reason anyway. It seemed you are so happy. Well I wanted you to face facts.

RITA: Oh really. We smile and we are happy, so you think we don’t have problems?

FRED: Please don’t tell anyone what I told you anyway. I would let you keep the house here and besides we could let you have some space who knows.

RITA: Really, so why did you move this.

FRED: I moved it because I wanted us to talk about something. (STOPS)No... you are right, I could have talked to you if I wanted to.

RITA: We don’t have all the time to talk. I don’t want my mother to see you talking to me.

FRED: you are not so innocent after all. Seems you like me.

RITA: now please don’t say that and I am not getting on your horse with you. Where are you going to, out there on the grassland. Be careful.

FRED: How could you be worried for me, your torturer.

RITA: I don’t know. Just be careful. There is this hill around the corner there. I saw it with mother.

FRED: that is not really a Hill. I can take you to see one. Just come.

RITA: No I cant do that. Look over there and see who is watching with the most murderous gaze, I have ever seen it is your sister. She looks so hateful. She is so angry.

FRED: Come with me and let us go and see what it is like to ride close to a hill.

RITA: On the horse with you. (shakes head) No...

FRED: Fine. I am off. Now don't you worry about me. And that is not a hill.

RITA: Fine, maybe tomorrow.

FRED: Okay, I would take that as a promise.

Rita watches as he rides off over the grassland with a few shrubs around and out of the yard. She stays there for a while then looks towards their house to see Joy frowning but she cant see her clearly.

CUT TO
Joy is confused she appears not to know what they have been talking about and seemed eager to know.

INT HOUSE. SITTING ROOM.

Maryann sits on the chair while Jess comes and joins her. Shiela comes in next then Jess.

SHEILA: Look mother is retired but not we. We have to think of someway to make money whilst we are here and when we get back. I was through with secondary school and we all did finish, it is so sad we all stayed at home and now we are confused about what to do, since our husbands are away.

JESS: Indeed there are things we could do. Besides urging mother on to sell her things, we could do something and keep ourselves busy that way as well.

SHEILA: There are not many houses around, all we need two do is to walk to where there are other houses and look for people who want to patronise us.

JESS: but mum has not been idle she had been making clothes.

ANN: Daughters, hello. Yes I have been making clothes, but it has not been easy. I would need some other machine. This machine I did not get so I could not make clothes for many people. I only made curtains and people buy their curtains too.

JESS: Fine, we would have to think of getting the machine for embroidery.

RITA: I have some change. I wanted to use it to buy some clothes, but I could do with these clothes for one more year. why would I be changing clothes every year when we need a machine to make some and I could make some instead.

JESS: Indeed. Thank you so much.

SHEILA: this is how you sent this blessing to me and that is why I did not just break down and die.

JESS: Okay now look at that. It is also the clothes you send to me and all the other things that cheered me up a lot.

MARYANN: Me too.

DORA: Same with me. It has been a blessing to have Rita as a sister. She is so hardworking and you told us that she teaches extra to make more money.

RITA: That is the best I can do for the time since I took the teachers training. As for becoming a nurse, i would have to wait till that is possible.

DORA: Oh mine that requires you going to a university. Oh mine.

JESS: So who and who are going to get the machine.

RITA: I can go and get it on my own first thing tomorrow.

JESS: Thank goodness.

int house sitting room.

All are busy working. Rita goes to ask for people who want to make clothes. She begins to take clothes for mending.

DORA: What I don't understand you. Why did you bring this dresses for mending now.

RITA: it was just an act of kindness, the poor woman really wanted the dress mended so I brought it.

MARYANN: I wanted to say she could leave it, maybe you are anxious for us to make some more money no matter how. Dear do you often times worry about your education. Furthering your education as you hoped to do.

RITA: Please forget it so that we can go on making the clothes. Just don't think about me, I am fine.

MARYANN: I can imagine how she might feel that is why I am asking.

DORA: Please don’t remind her. I am hoping that maybe when she gets married her husband might be kind enough to help her go there.

JESS: if he is a good man and he has the money he would do that, but I am really wondering. Who is that nice these days. I cant see anyone really taking note of how much this means to her. It takes a lot of kindness. he might just want a home.

MARYANN: No, If it were your husband would he not do that? I am wondering.

JESS: His job is quite simple. Thats the reason he might not do that. Of course my husband is so kind and he does care a lot for me and about how I feel.

RITA: I have decided to not try or bother anyone by asking if they would be able to send me abroad for the education.

JESS: Why would you not try at least. Don’t you believe in Love. I am sure that someday you would find out what Love is. A bright light that shines out of darkness.

RITA: I just feel so down.

MARYANN: so we don’t know any fine young man who might want a wife soon. I am wondering what we can do for our sister.

DORA: that is not how we married. I met someone and married. I hope that happens for her too.

int house sitting room.

He walks in. He is carrying a bag and also came with a car.

The car is packed outside. He walks into the house whistling.

DORA: Hello. So you came to take the clothes.

MARYANN: I guess you are here to get your clothes. let me see if it is ready.

JESS: They must be ready by now. We don’t have any clothes on our hands right now, so we hoping to ask for more work.

SHEILA: I am looking through. You are?

MR RALPH: I am Mr Ralph.

SHEILA: You are welcome Mr Ralph. Here are the clothes from the house of MR Ralph, we mended them all.

MR RALPH: My mother told me she wanted it mended by machine and asked you and you accepted. So what name does your clothing company go by.

SHEILA: Oh no, we use our house, we are just starting.

MR RALPH: Oh really. I thought my mother gave the clothes to a clothing company staff. So this place is not the company?

SHEILA: No we are using out house at the moment. Who knows with the good feedback we got, we might get ourselves as new place.

MR RALPH: Your daughter is so beautiful and a pleasant girl so people would think highly of your company and hand you clothes. Besides this is done very well. I hardly know where the tear was.

SHEILA: Indeed we are just doing the best we can.

MR RALPH: You have succeeded. Only I have friends I could tell about you, but they would have loved you to have a name.

SHEILA: Rita girls come there is something that has come up.

SHEILA: really so we should just have a name and a tag and your friends would patronise us.

MR RALPH: There are so many of them and they are party clothes. They would obviously pay you well.

The girls are excited and whisper.

SHEILA: Well I have come up with something, Why don’t we call it. ANN’S clothing line. Because when we are all gone, our mother would be here.

MR RALPH: Oh I thought you were workers.

MR RALPH: fine I would tell them of ANN's clothing line and give them the address.

SHEILA: I am very excited and grateful. I feel happy about this.

MR RALPH: Fine I would tell them. So bye and thank you so much. Rita you are such a wonderful girl for doing my mother the favour. My mother hates needles a lot. I don’t forget a favour.

The man leaves and the girls chatter excitedly.

SHEILA: See he is such a successful man and did I see a car.

DORA: I went out to take a look at it. The car is so nice. It is a tricycle.

MARYANN: He seems to like you a lot. God and to think we were worried about you finding a husband.

SHEILA: to think I thought she would find a husband back there where we lived.

JESS: Yes Shee girl, why did she not find a husband back there with you. It surprises me too. well...

RITA: I don’t want to remember it.

CUT TO

EXT ROAD SIDE.

ROAD SIDE in front of a plant. Men screaming words and talking aloud. She walks fast. She looks about and walks fast. One takes her coat and does not return it. They all chatter, laugh, some are drinking. They are chattering and talking.

ONE MAN: Look at how prim she is. Who would take her for a wife?

CUT TO.

SHEILA nods to what Rita says and then says herself aloud.

SHEILA: Even I avoid the men. They are ever singing and some are so very local.

CUT TO. The road side scene, to what the men say.

ANOTHER MAN: Who wants to marry a woman who is so prim. everyone wants a woman who loosens up a bit of course.

CUT TO SITTING ROOM.

SHEILA: I am glad that this man takes a liking to her. Maybe we would all find some peace now knowing that she is married and happy. Oh the thought makes my heart rest a great deal. I am getting excited.

JESS: I am excited too.

DORA: Let us not be too quick to conclude. Dear Rita is so pretty but we cant say if he really wants to marry her or not. It is only with time that we would be able to say that.

JESS: You see when one thing turns upside down, another turns the right way up. Soon we would have to discuss with the family close by and come to a conclusion about our house.

MARYANN: Indeed we would have to talk with them. However, we have to pray that things go well. That man has a horrible temper and so does his sister.

ext house. backyard.

Rita picks cloths outdoor. NEXT Rita watches Fred who has come out with his horse, admiringly and not casually. Soon she meets his eyes then she turns around and hums as she picks the clothes from the line. Fred drops the horse by the corner and comes close.

FRED: You are busy? You can come and take the clothes in later. Remember your promise, it is time for you to fufil.

RITA: I would not feel comfortable ridding on the horse next to you.

FRED: Please you can come and fee comfortable.

RITA: My mother would be mad if she saw me talking with you. I am sure you know that.

FRED: Your mother does not have to know. Do you have any friends. You are going to die an old maid.

RITA: I am not afraid of that. I am only afraid that I might ie without becoming a nurse which I dreamt I would become.

FRED: My sister is going to read to become a Doctor. Do you think she would succeed?

RITA: I pray for her that she does.

FRED: you are so nice or is it that life has made you such a weakling. Come along.

RITA: I would.

They ride along the way and when they get far off the camera fades.

 

int sitting room.

MARYANN calls out to the others.

MARYANN: Mother, sisters, please come out and hear the news we got.

JESS: What is it.

They all come out one by one and stand in the sitting room. Soon they take their seats one by one except Maryann.

MARYANN: We have an invitation to the home of Ralph. I think tomorrow evening which is Saturday.

JESS: I feel so excited. Now Rita you have to look really beautiful.

DORA: What is going on girls? Rita seems sort of reluctant. It seems she does not know that she was mentioned especially.

MARYANN: yes.

ANN: A very responsible young man. He reminds me of your father.

RITA: Someone thinks he is snobbish and rude.(Covers her mouth)

ANN: And who is that?

RITA: Never mind who it is mother. Forget what I just said.

ANN: He seemed rather shocked that we were not a company and showed it.

RITA: Yes, I felt sort of awkward and panicky.

ANN: Talking about rudeness, maybe our neighbour is the worst for that. Oh how I hate those people, they are so cruel and proud. TO them they own the entire country and they can come here and make me feel like a refugee or a fugitive of some sort. Really to be exact, a destitute. I feel horrible, they have no consideration. Please let me not spoil our evening by talking about those people.

MARYANN: Rita you have to tell us why you seem so uninterested. Why do you act this way.

SHEILA: If I had not seen her I must have thought someone was joking if they told me. I thought I was dreaming yesterday. She rode off on his horse with him! I saw them through the window. She left me to take in the clothes and did not wonder when she came back smiling that the clothes were not there.

THEY ALL GASP.

ANN: I might have problems now but please, not this kind. I am going to lose my mind. Please don’t start this nonsense, I hope you understand me. I feel heartbroken that you would defy me and even talk with that man so that his sister can come here, screaming her lungs out. Yesterday if you did not notice even the back yard got cut in. We are surrounded now, like a little store house with no yard and yet you don’t know how to be cold to the right people.

RITA: Mother I am so sorry. Please nothing happened between us. He just took me to see the hill over there.

ANN: I am so disappointed in you, to be talking to those people with all they do to us. They are so cruel. I am beginning to wonder who is worse, them or the masters who are so hard in their policies. They are our people and they act like this. I just dont know why they can be like that with no notice at how they chose to ruin our lives one faithful morning.

RITA: I understand. Mother it is never going to happen again.

int house of ralph.

They all get invited. They sit and chat. Ralph comes out to the dinning without his mother. The house has nice furniture and cushions and the house is well furnished.

RALPH: My mother lives in the east. She has gone back there.

RITA: This place is the center of all the new projects. I thought she might want some peace and quite somewhere else.

RALPH: Not quite the east is also so busy, Only she can go back to her husband.

ANN: Well we are happy to be here. If you ever feel lonely weekends we would be glad to welcome you to our home. There is six of us in the house and we would not mind inviting a neighbour.

RALPH: The problem is that those weekends I have some appointments and friends who come over. I am an engineer.

ANN: Congratulations. You read to become an engineer. That is so remarkable.

RALPH: Indeed all my friends think so. I am currently working in this state.

RALPH: I am going to go to the point about why i called you all together. It might seem to quick but I want to formerly annouce that I am seriously interested in your daughter, Rita. She is such a kind girl and from a very good background and I think she would make me a wonderful wife.

ANN: Oh I am so excited.

RITA: Drops her fork at once.

RALPH: (Turns to her) Rita are you in shock, is anything the matter.

RITA: No nothing really. it is just that, you said things a little too quick.

RALPH: It seems you have someone on your mind, or you have been talking with someone already?

RITA: No...em.

RALPH: You seem unsure. well you still have all the time to think about it well. I understand if you show such reluctance.

ANN: No there is no one and she would not mind. Of course we are so grateful, we have made enough money from the business and are still making more. You have been so nice to us.

RALPH: Now I was wondering does your family have any problems. It was such a nice house I saw.

RITA: Well we are fine whatever it is. Mother is retired. We are trying to put things together.

RALPH: I see.

They all continue eating.

MARYANN and the others look towards her in wonder.

They all continue eating.

RALPH: Maybe if I took her out once or twice she would get to know me better before I ask her this question.

ANN: Yes I agree. Thank you so much for inviting us to your place.

INT HOUSE SITTING ROOM. |Evening same day.

They are in the house busy with the clothes. A woman comes to their door and knocks.

WOMAN: I have message.

ANN: what is it?

WOMAN: My boss says, You both need to discuss. if you stay here, you go pay money for the land or you leave.

ANN:We paid for this land only we paid to the wrong people. Please this woman leave this place now before I throw hot water on your uneducated face.

WOMAN: I will go but remember him dey serious and im dey warn that he go remove the house.

ANN: Oh goodness. What does he mean. Money for the land we stay on! What, how much would that be now! Why is this happening to us now! Why?! I thought we had made enough money to buy clothes for the children and take care of their schooling and buy things and now this comes up. Why must this happen.

CUT TO.

Woman opens both arms and shakes head and leaves as ANN closes the door.

WOMAN: (Murmurs)na the thing when im tell me to say.

CUT TO.

MARYANN: This is too much. Now this man is taking too much. What does this nonsense mean.

ANN: I am going to get really angry. Imagine how this family that I thought we could get friendly with has become our greatest headache in this neighbourhood. I am sick and tired of this whole problem.

SHEILA: Oh no mother what are we supposed to do. Who really did you pay the money to. This is very crucial now, else we are really at their mercy. To think we thought we were going to have less cost.

ANN: Wait till we learn the amount he is talking about. He must be joking. I don't know what to do? (Sits down and calls daughter.) This man is a monster. I cant believe anyone could act this way.

SHEILA: Lets forget about it. Surely he is not going to come here and ask us any odd questions because we are surely not going to pay anything.

ANN: Today was such a lovely day. We finished working early and the next thing is something as annoying as this happens.

MARYANN: Don't mind him. He has to be joking, all our money is not going to go into something like this. And it might require a loan. How much is he going to ask us to pay to have our house on this land. Why is he doing this?

ANN: Don't you worry a bit about this. It is a hopeless matter and it is non of your concern for now. Please take the clothes in and let us have some rest.

RITA: I cant believe he would say a thing like this.

ANN: And why is that. It seems you have become so friendly with the young man and you are going to get into trouble for it. You have to be out of your mind to be talking to a man like that who is so unfair to us. I cant understand this whole thing.

RITA: I am so confused. I cannot believe that he would say a thing like this but it is not because we are close or anything of that sort.

ANN: How could you both even be close with him at all. I hope you are aware that we are still expecting an explanation from you about the way you were so reluctant when that kind man asked you before me and your sisters that he is interested in marrying you.

RITA: (MOVES CLOSE AND HOLDS HER FACE) Mother you know how much you are worth to me and how worried I am about the issue of the land ownership. I feel utterly disturbed and I don't know who to cry to.

JESS: (WEEPING) mother I did not tell you, how I begged for money from neighbours. I went begging literally. My dear husband has abandoned me or something has happened to him out there.

CUT TO.

Jess holds a four year old and walks to the front door of a house. She is in tears. As she gets near. She drops the child at the door of the house and knocks. She keeps knocking and no one comes to the door. She sits at the foot of the house in tears. She covers her face in her hands.

MARYANN, DORA and SHEILA mummur: YES.

MARYANN: As soon as it got that bad I started coming back.

SHEILA: I have been living fine thanks to dear Rita. She is a blessing. Oh poor Jess, so you have had to beg.

JESS: Yes, you needed to see how cold they were, as I did I wept so badly, I am not used to being in such a pathetic state. I wept so badly as I also had other things in mind like what I said. Mother please can you tell me for certain if my husband is fine?

ANN: Please let this incident of today not remind you all of all that has gone wrong. Please, Okay I don’t want to see your tears. I just want you all to cheer up and realise that we are going to get to the bottom of this problem.

RITA STARTS to say something and stops she begins again.

RITA: He almost accepted that he simply wants to make life tough for us. I asked him that maybe he had his bothers and he was pouring out so much hate and anger at us.

ANN: You took the time to discuss with him and what could his problems be? What are those problems that he feels is enough to turn a happy holiday into a fest of tears?

MARYANN: I don't want to talk about that man. Mother because of your health, I think it is also a good idea for you to forget this so that we can all relax and have some peace.

ANN: Pack up the clothes. It is evening and we all need some rest.

EXT OUTDOOR.

Rita walks to the house of Fred and knocks. It his sister at once, Camera swings to her face and then she has a murderous frown.

JOY: What are you doing here?

RITA: I am here for a reason. I am here to see Fred.

JOY: Why do you want to see Fred?

RITA: It is very important. We have to talk.

JOY closes the door without saying a word. Rita turns around and then Fred opens it and calls her.

RITA: Fred. (she looks surprised first them a smile bursts from her face)

FRED: (Frowns.) Rita...

RITA: I am here to talk with you about what you said. More like to plead with you.

FRED: Lets go and sit down at the porch over there.

RITA: Fine.

FRED: why did you have to come? You think we are friends now and for that reason I am supposed to let things that are so serious be.

RITA: (Tears form in her eyes) I don’t know why you are doing this. I really don’t know. It is so unfair. I did not expect you to be like this.

FRED: Look are you here to plead with me or what?

Cuts to.

He moves close to her and she does not move back. He bends and takes her hair in his hand and breathes it in and then lets it down and takes her face in his hand and kisses her and then she holds his back. He turns her around and takes her to chair which they collapse in. He is still lying atop her. He kisses her again and then she throws her head back. She feels his arms with her palms to wrists. He kisses her all over with his hand upon her clothing. She tries to get away at intervals and sighs at intervals. When they hear a sound they move away from each other and stand in and adjust clothing in the sitting room.

RITA: I am here to ask you to kindly stop bothering a poor woman and her family who are clearly a victim of fraud. You dont need that land and you know it, you dont need that part of the land. Kindly show some mercy.

FRED: why did they send you to me?

RITA: Actually my mother does not know I am here. I thought you understood, after all I told you about my family.

FRED: Well, I heard it all but you did not listen to my own story. Did you care. DO you know anything about my dear sister.

RITA: I did not know anything about her.

FRED: Her husband is dead and word has been sent her that her husband died in the war and they had just been married for a year before a left and they had no child.

RITA: I understand how hurt she feels.

FRED: I listened to you talk about your dear sisters who are so afraid to lose their husbands and become widow and realised how selfish you were.

RITA: it is not that, I really did not know you had that kind of heartache.

FRED: Indeed it is a heart ache. He was more than a brother to me. (tears in his eyes)

RITA: it is okay. I feel so sorry about what happened really.

They kiss.

FRED: I am going to think about what I said about the house. BUt I am not going to do that because of you. I just want you to think of some possible reason I might want to be like this. DO you think I am doing this for no reason, since you cant guess you must realise how deep the reason is.

RITA: Oh mine. I just kissed you. I feel scared. My mother, my sisters, they would all hate me.

FRED: I knew you felt something for me from the first moment we talked.

RITA: I dont understand. I hope that you explain everything. Please dont ask my mother about this anymore till we can find some solution. I promise you that we would.

FRED: I take that and I ask you to also note that I am not a greedy extortionist and I have my own reason for being like this towards you and your mother and it is not, dear psychologist because I feel hurt and I am trying to overcome the feeling. It surely is not.

RITA:Whatever it is I am sure going to find out. I feel awkward. Please let me leave. Maybe we would get the time to talk another time.

He takes her hand and gets her to stand and holds her two hands by the palm up and stares into her eyes. she tries to leave but he still holds her close. She puts her hands down finally and hurries away, walking fast.

INt house evening.

Girls run about excited. While Maryann nods hopefully.

JESS: I have a message from my husband! Mother come and see this. I am so excited. God thank you for everything.

SHEILA: Mine too has sent me a message. It seems they found each other and decided to send us the message. I wonder why they have all come together.

DORA: today is the happiest day in my life. I am so excited. Look at all that he sent.

MARYANN: Oh, I just cant wait maybe by next week we would get a message from him.

ANN: I asked my friend two doors away, do you know her own husband sent her a message as well. They were all so excited. With so much money.

DORA: The money would be enough to buy so many things for half a year.

ANN: Indeed I am excited. So what did he say in the letter please who is going to read out first.

DORA: Dear dora, I have missed you so much. (They all yell at each point) I have been trying to move on this past months and it has not been easy without your smile and your laugh to make each day worth the while.(yell again and shouts of aww) I have however kept you in my heart so that I can reach back there and remember you again and again and feel the warmth in my soul. How is my little boy and how is my mother and family. He is probably missing his mother, because I got your letter that you were going to stay with your mother and leave the boy with my mother. Let it not be more than a year. Please remember this...

ANN: (laughs) I see. I am sure I would soon be saying good bye to you all. Girls remember something, when we thought the man across was such a gentleman and I fantasized that our dear daughter might marry him and then I would be so close to family.

They all nod and laugh derisively.

MARYANN: If most people are getting letters today why did mine not arrive. I am beginning to get worried. (SOLEMN MUSIC FOLLOWS HER AS USUAL AND THEN SHE WALKS IN. DORA PUTS DOWN THE LETTER AND LOOKS SOBER)

int sitting room. Morning

They all walk about in pajamas and night robes. They are cooking and getting things ready in the house. ANN is fully dressed and announces.

ANN: Rita you are going to finally get the chance to give the young man a reply. A week has gone by now and he must be waiting. That handsome, eligible young man. He is surely waiting to get a reply from you at last.

RITA: Mother please I am not ready to give Ralph a reply now. (Looks up and then down)

ANN: And dear daughter could you give your dear mother a reason for this.

RITA: Mother it is not compulsory that I wed a man who has asked me, I have my own personal reasons.

ANN: Ralph looks good enough, he is responsible and he is even very successful, so what is the bother. He is from a very good background, so what are we talking about here. His self respect and conduct is matchless, so what indeed is the problem?

RITA: Mother there are other matters.

SHEILA: (Looks up from the table she has been cleaning.)Other matters like what? It must be number one is this, he is not as handsome as the man next door and it seems you have your eyes on him and you both always don’t care that someone might be watching you.

ANN: But Sheila why do you say things when it is almost so late. God, what kind of thing is this. This man hates us so much and then he can also disgrace my daughter. Oh the gods of this land, answer me since God has turned his face from me. Why are you doing this.

SHEILA: It is just I often hope that things could go away and solve themselves but look at when a thing like this stands in the way of what would have been a blessed union. I knew. I was waiting for her to say so herself. I just do not like to bother anyone with the news. The truth is I was hiding her from your fury.

ANN Slaps Rita.

ANN: Wait you kissed that man? Are you insane. I don’t even want that kind man to have a promiscuous wife like you. What a shameless you have turned out to be and with that monster of all people. Oh God (weeps and screams) Let all the girls in this house come out now and listen to this. If I die of a heart ache, you should know why. This girl does not pity her mother, she does not care about how much misery we have been through in the hands of this man. She just goes ahead and does what she likes.

MARYANN and DORA stop giggling and go to console their mother. JESS walks in with tears in her eyes.

JESS: mother I heard all that you have said. I feel shocked. it all started like a joke.

MARYANN: Oh mine what a disgrace. I just don’t know what to do. i feel awkward. But mother do not conclude, if she loves this man then let us hope they marry.

ANN: Never. Not until someone has cried all the tears that I cried all this nights. It can never happen!

RITA: (Tears) Mother yes I feel so ashamed. I am leaving the house.

She runs out and goes by herself. Under a tree shade some distance from the house and sits there on her own in tears. He hands her a hankie and she looks up and sees him.

outdoor. Underneath the tree.

RITA: Thanks.(says so in a low voice)

FRED: I can see there is something worrying you. I saw you run out here.

RITA: My mother, and sisters, they say I am getting so close to you and are right. I cant afford to be close to a man who has brought nothing but harm to my family. Look, a gentleman like Ralph expressed interest in having my hands in marriage and then what do I do, I show utter reluctance. They are not silly, they guessed it had something to do with you and it does. I just cant kick the feeling of an idea of the two of us together. I dont know who to blame. I feel so stupid. I feel so stupid because it is not even a good idea but here I am still thinking that way.

FRED: Really. (he sits beside her)

RITA: Yes.

FRED: What makes you think I am not also interested in you.

RITA: That's not what I am talking about. How can you want us to be together and be so cruel to

my family. I just don't know what to say to you now. I am not pleading the course of my poor family, on the contrary I am out here, trying to find comfort from someone who is the cause of our entire headache. How can this be?

FRED: (HOLDS HER AND TRIES TO COMFORT HER, RITA RESTS HER HEAD AGAINST HIS CHEST)See I am going to stop bothering you family so long as you also think about the reasons I might be against you.

RITA: Only yesterday you sent someone to the house to tell mother that we might have to pay to keep staying here. Now really why are you doing this?

FRED: I just want you to know that if you stay here, you owe having this home to me and you have been here all this while out of my kindness.

RITA: Really so that is it.

ENTER ANN.

ANN: Rita here you are in your love nest. I caught you this time, myself. (TO FRED) Young man, why do you want to destroy our happiness so much. I became the happiest mother when my last daughter was about to get engaged as well and here you are to destroy everything. You let the house go on till it got built until lately you realised that the land is all yours and we have our own headache to worry about which happens to be none of your business.

FRED: Madam, I am sorry that we had such a disagreement over the land but you failed to understand that you had us to thank for this land, when I saw that you already got the things to build and you had been misled, I saw no point telling you then, it was out of kindness that I left you to go on with your plans that had already started.

ANN: Do you think that kindness is not a curse now that you have destroyed the holiday with my children. we all have just a month together, Kindly leave my daughter alone, because I am sure you think you could make a joke of everything even my daughters happiness but I am not going to let you. Get up Rita.(She reaches out her hand to her)

FRED: Now, I have told her the reason for all this, I expected some gratitude, but since you want trouble, then that is what it is going to be.

ANN: Oh, are you saying you ever wanted peace, or what you want is not to destroy my daughter’s future just like our happiness which was so easy for you to bring to ruin.

FRED: Madam remember it is not my fault you were duped anyway.

ANN: Sure I know that. I know. You are so right and we are so wrong. If I feel indebted to you, I would let you know but please leave my daughter, it is not my daughter, we are talking about here, young man take note of that.

ENTER JOY.

JOY: Now you ask your daughter to keep away from my brother, because she is the one who has been trying to get close to him. She is the one who came and asked to talk to my brother. Please keep her to you.

FRED: Dont be rude to her.

ANN: Oh, really. Leave her to rain her rude and uncouth mouth at me, we are victims.

JOY: Victims of your own carelessness, please don’t give us that much credit for your problems, how about the people who duped you for a change.

ANN: Don’t be so saucy, you don’t own the world young lady, whatever is bothering you, you don’t have to let it out on others.

JOY: Brother look at what she said, the other day, it was that I am a disgrace, just because I ignored you.

ANN: Maybe you ignore your mother when she is talking to you. See I have already made a decision, if this house is going to take away my peace as well as a chance for me to quietly mourn the possible death of a son in law now, then I would rather leave and have peace. Yes, Rita, did you not wonder why Maryann's husband was the only one who did not write, you probably did not ask yourself a good question.

RITA: Oh mother please don’t say that. I hope it is not true.

JOY: Rita, you know what you want, but you are not going to get it. My brother is not letting you and your family stay and your mother has finally got the message.

int sitting room. evening.

Rita sits on the sitting room chair while her mother comes in heaves takes a drink of water and walks to her.

RITA: Mother goodevening.

ANN: Goodevening to you Rita.

RITA: Mum do you want to talk with me.

ANN: Yes I have to talk with you about certain things. (PAUSES) You know what it means to hurt someone. I am sure you know. I am not going to let you hurt Ralph like that by turning him down.

RITA: But mother, you can't force me to make a decision. I feel bad too about this, that I am going to turn Ralph down but...

ANN: Oh no Rita, you are not going to turn Ralph down, I assure you. Not while I am here. What do you want me to do to you before you realise how much you can turn down a man like that.

RITA: Mother, I would try to explain to him that I am confused right now and that I cannot accept his proposal and that he should understand. I am sure that it would go a long way.

ANN: There is no way in the world I am going to let you do that. Tomorrow we are going there. I want to remind you that i expect you to accept his proposal when we get there tomorrow.

RITA: Mother I am sorry but I dont think I would do that...scratches her hair.

ANN: Look your sisters all got married, you were there at the marriage of you dear sister and you know better. No daughter of mine is going to be a disgrace and come in here with a pregnancy and live under my roof. I am not going to ever let such a thing happen.

RITA: I never talked about getting pregnant.

ANN: Who ever talks about that. I wonder what you think.

INT HOUSE OF RALPH.

They all dine and chat. Rita is silent. Ralph and Ann look at Rita suspiciously at intervals and continue chatting. The sisters do not come along. CUT TO>
They are in the house working.

RALPH: Now I am turning to her before all of you to ask her again what she thinks about my request.

RITA: (She turns her hand away at once from his side). Well please I still would em need some more time to think about what you are saying.

RALPH: I can wait for as long as you want, so long as you think about it well and come out with the right answer. I cant wait to become a part of your loving and happy family. I did not tell you, while we dine here, my mother is in the hospital, but I am here with you because I was anticipating your answer.

ANN: (gives her a cold and hard stare) Oh, We are sorry about that. Hope there are people to take care of her.

RALPH: I might go there myself, so when I return who knows she might have an answer that would be so gladdening.

RITA: (silent and drops cutlery)Emm Who knows.

ANN: Surely.

RITA: Look mother you cant be so cold. I don’t even know this man.

RALPH: That is the reason I came up with this idea. What about you coming with me, to go and see my mother.

RITA: Emm, I.

ANN: She would leave with you. I am sure she would be glad to accompany you.

RITA: I am sorry Ralph but I don’t think it is such a good idea. There are other ways we can get to know each other.

RALPH: Fine, when I am back, I would visit more often and we can talk and get to know each other better.

RITA: Yes indeed.

They chat to end the visit.

CUT TO.

They leave and walk together.

ANN: I cant believe that you could be so rude to me, just because of that man. I am going not ask you to come here more often so that you can get to know Ralph.

RITA: Mother, please stop trying to bring me and this man together. I don’t know him.

ANN: I have an idea why don’t you spend the day with Ralph.

ANN Walks back to the house and appears to be talking with Ralph about this. Ralph nods and Ann calls Rita.

RITA walks back and sits on a chair in the balcony.

 

EXT HOUSE of FRED.

JOY is outdoor with brother talking to him, they have an argument.

JOY: Why are you so agitated about Rita and where she went. I guess now it is all about Rita, I cant believe you. So this is how it is.

FRED: Yes, it is all about Rita. I love Rita.

JOY: Really you love Rita I cant believe you.

FRED: Since it had been about you. Can it be about someone else for a change. It cannot be about you all the time.

CUT TO.

MARYANN Crying tears of joy.

MARYANN: Oh I am so excited. He has written at last. Mother these are tears of Joy.

ANN: Read it aloud.

CUT TO.

Joy walks back into the house sadly.

JOY: (Murmurs an in tears) I was waiting for a letter but what I got was news about the death of my husband.

MARYANN: NO! NO! Please someone help me. This is no letter. it is a death certificate! no! she runs away towards the woods.

JOY turns around in tears and closes the door.

ALL sisters cry and run around. Ann holds the door and cries and sits on the floor. Maryann collapses on the floor.

MARYANN: They took my husband from me and now they are be sending me a death certificate. No! Why did this happen. NO! NO!

ANN: Lets help the poor woman she is pregnant. SO she does not lose her baby. Goodness! Save us Lord. I thought you were going to save this poor man. Look at his wife here oh lord! What do we do?

ANN: (To fred) Look young man, please I am in no mood for any of your problem. Please keep away from us. We are just not ready for this. Maybe you did not hear what just happened. I lost a son in law, look at my entire family.

FRED: Where is Rita?

ANN: You want to see Rita, go and take her, just go, she is four houses away from here, towards the street. Four buildings from this one, just leave me and my poor daughters alone. Apparently Rita is also thinking of you too.

CUT TO

Rita sits in the house thinking she nods to whatever Ralph says but is not listening.

FRED: Rita come with me. You cant kiss me and then come out here and pretend that you can marry someone else but me.

RITA: (Covers her face with her hands) oh Fred! What is the matter.

FRED: Anyway, something bad just happened. Yes you may want to leave this house and come back home, your sister Maryann got new that her husband died.

RITA: (shakes) NO!

RALPH: Come young man what is the matter. How can you just come to my place and be on the top of your voice like that and second of all say something like this to her, cant you see how she feels now.

FRED: (Drags Rita) Come.

RITA collapses in his hands and he shakes her and puts his hand over her head. She wakes and is in bitter tears.

FRED: Rita I am sorry I spilled things like that.

RITA: How is my sister now. I am sure she feels destroyed by the news. Oh no! Why did this have to happen.

FRED: I feel bad.

RITA: (Weeps profusely) Oh no. Oh.

Fred gets into the horse and sits on the back and carries her behind as well. She rests in his hand while he rides the horse. Rita sits in front.

CUT TO.

MARYANN Keeps walking about with tears in her eyes. She looks disheveled. Only Sheila is strong enough to console her. She refuses to be consoled and pushes everyone aside. She walks about talking to herself.

MARYANN: Misfortune has found me and death has taken away everything from me. My whole life is ruined. My heart is torn apart.

RITA: (Gets down from the horse with the help of Fred) Rushes to Maryann and holds her in a place. Maryann turns to her and weeps profusely in her hand.

INT HOUSE next day.

Maryann sits on the chair and says nothing looking about. Ann and sisters are silent. Fred sits on the chair with them holding Rita and then the rest of them weep silently.

FRED: You all would have to stop weeping. The crying has to come to end so that you can console her.

JESS: It is just that I can imagine how she feels now and once I do I can't help but pity her a great deal. It is just so sad. I thought we were going to be lucky and he was going to return, I just feel so hurt right now and I dont know what to do.

FRED: Cheer up so that we can console her. My sister lost her husband and the news came just like this, we were all about to celebrate the letter when the news came forth. AH! i hate to remember that day.

RITA: Oh poor you. (She pats his shoulder)

CUT TO.

ANN frowns but says nothing then says.

ANN: But why are you here now, after destroying our holiday and now this has come to put an end to any peace we planned to have this holiday.

FRED: I am sorry about that. I just want you to know that you can trust me.

FRED: Rita, all i ever did then I feel sorry about besides wanting you to understand the way we felt which you said, I also did this all because of you. When i set my eyes on your dear daughter, I just wanted you and your family to become a part of mine in an important way by you all relying on me just like family and totally. I really wanted you then to note that you had the house because of me.

MARYANN: (giggles a little with tears still in her eyes) Oh, Now that is so romantic. But I have never heard a thing like that. However, I think mother can forgive you. I feel cheered up for the day. Let us still give thanks to God for all his mercies and for everything because no matter what, we all have his blessings in some other ways, like this child I am carrying. I pray he is going to be blessing somehow. Amen.

FRED: Don't bother about giving thanks Just relax. I am happy you are talking now.

RITA: Oh Fred you are so difficult.

CUT TO.

Joy follows two men closely. They are in uniforms and they are walking fast.

JOY: I told you her traveled. He is not around. There is no need to go and check him there.

FIRST MAN: Then there is no reason  for you to be bothered that we are asking them. Just leave us madam and go back to your house.

JOY: Sirs I said he traveled...

SECOND MAN: Knocks.

ANN: Hello.

SECOND MAN: I am here in search of a young man for service to the country and the world that is important. He like many others were designated but he has not been seen.

FRED: Joy would not let me go. She actually hides my bags and things whenever I try to leave three months ago when I got called up.

RITA: Shush! Don't be loud.

ANN: He has no reason to be here. SO why do you look here. (Swallows hard)

SECOND MAN: If we find him here we would be very tough on you.

ANN: You can do absolutely whatever if you get back and find him here.

SECOND MAN: We are not coming back and that is the reason we want to be sure.

int house evening.

RITA and the other sisters lead Fred out and they look around. The police guard walks to them and they are startled.

FIRST MAN: You lying ladies. We were sure he had to be here, we did not have to wait out here, we got all the rest, about forty of them and he was left and all we had to do was come back and there he is.

RITA: Yes you are so lucky and we are so finished. Look at how you come back to take someone away. No way. he is not going anywhere with you.

JOY: Rita you have killed me. I hid him safely at the house these three months. I am finished. I am never going to let this matter die down. You would have to go there with my brother and see that he returns. (IN tears)

RITA: Joy I really could do that. I could leave to the states with him if I have to. Please, listen it is not my fault.

MARYANN: what is going on.

RITA: (IN Tears) Oh now you want to talk to everyone, I think it is your fault. I cant bear the blame. I am finished. What are we to do now.

SECOND MAN: We are waiting get your things fast and come.

JOY: Please don't leave me Fred. I am going to die before you return. Honestly I am going to die of fear and worry. Have pity for me. Have pity for a poor widow.

RITA: (Weeps and falls into mother's arms) Mother I too. I don't know what I am going to do before he returns. I feel so scared.

ANN: Oh no. I did my best. Who was to think they would really return and right when we were taking him out. Don't fear, there is going to be victory to replace this loss. I know that is what this is about he is going to come back safely.

RITA: Don’t tell me about God and your prayers. I am in so much fear.

JOY: You cant love my brother so much like that. Something serious happened between you outside the hills, something you kept secret. Stop crying, we would all have to face the fear. oh no. I am going too. I also wanted to go for an education.

JESS: Rita we would stay and pray with you.

RITA: He truly loves me and he thinks I am precious and beautiful. He loves me for who I am. I cant let him go.

Rita and the rest of them stay outdoor and cry while he is taken off.

 

INT HOUSE morning.

Rita lies in bed in tears. Head on her pillow. As a sad dirge is on. Her mother brings in food. The food remains on the table for two hours and she does not eat.

ANN: Girls we cant leave her alone because, I have tried to make her eat but she refuses. Please help me talk to her so that she would eat and relax. She is so sad and she has refused to talk to anyone.

JESS, DORA AND SHEILA, come in with tears in their eyes.

SHEILA: Oh Rita please relax and talk to us. Please, everything is going to be alright. Think of Maryann and think of our husbands who returned too.

RITA: I feel that I could talk to Maryann.

MARYANN: Rita you could not imagine how I feel. The hurt in my heart cannot be explained. I just feel like it is all over. I am not going back to my house. He left enough money to take care of the children and their education and bought our house, but I just feel like going back to that house would kill me. I know I am going to spend the rest of my life remembering my wonderful husband. I however cannot but pray for you.

RITA: I understand how you feel now. I know. I feel like  dark cloud has come over my world and that cannot move away. I feel empty and broken.

MARYANN: That is just the way I feel too. I just think of my child and I try to be happy. I got a letter three days ago that my two daughters are missing me badly and want the holiday to end so that I can come back to them. I was so glad when they were excited about the money we sent. It was all by your help.

RITA: This is such bad week. At once we learn one thing and then they come looking for him and take him away and Joy goes along and leaves me back here.

MARYANN: When I saw you trying to go too and saw how Joy was asked to stay behind I felt so bad for you.

RITA: I am going to see Joy, so that i could find out if I could go too.

MARYANN: We can bear the cost. The sad thing is that right now, going there might not count. You can't be in the same location or know where he is. I guess that is why I saw Joy this morning weeping profusely, but she said she would still go to get her degree.

RITA: I see.

INT House of fred.

Joy packs things about the house and looks about when Rita knocks. She goes and opens the door.

JOY: What are you doing here?

RITA: I am here to ask you to stay so that your brother can send letters and so when he sends them he would send them to you.

JOY: Really, So I thought he cared about you more and would send you the letters or are you beginning to doubt already.

RITA: I know he would want to send letters to me. I believe he would. I hope so.

JOY: So stay out of this house and let me go. I cant stay here, there are too many memories. I just don’t want to stay here and worry so much. You see how bad news comes.

RITA: It is never going to happen to me.

JOY: Yes, that is what everyone hopes for. and all this would never have happened if he stayed in the house and did not go to console your annoying, sick pregnant sister.

RITA: Harsh words would not help anyone now. We have our hurts but we can still try to keep all the misery away and face the hope. I am sure he is coming back to me. (WEEPS)

JOY: (WEEPING) Okay I am fed up already. You are nice girl and you did not hurt anyone and who knows when they turned up I hardly knew it was them. We have this hole in the door and who knows it might have helped but all the same I could not hide my brother indoors like a prisoner too, somehow he would have come out. I feel bad about the way I talked to you and it is an honour to know that a nice girl like you is grieving too. But I have to l

eave. You surely dont know how it feels to be a widow. I sink into moments and bouts of sorrow that I cannot describe.

RITA: We are going to have that moment of victory my mother talked about, you would see.

JOY: I can't wait here. Maybe the moment of victory is going come but I want to leave and be busy.

RITA: You can come and stay with us. At a time like this, we need to stay around family. You can share my room with me.

JOY: No...no, Dont worry. I still want to leave. It is okay.

Camera shows Rita each day, looking around hopefully and praying. Then her sisters depart and they all say goodbyes and watch them leave. Dirge goes on as she looks about from dawn to dusk waiting.

EXT HOUSE.

Rita runs about and her mother rushes to hold her.

ANN: Rita come back. I said we are going to get a letter from him. Please I am the only one here with you, Please don’t cry like this. Your sisters said that this Christmas they would be here too. We are all worried but we are sure that if he did not write like others there must be a reason.

RITA: No, Ralph is even back and he has been nagging about my choosing Fred over him but yesterday he boasted to my face that I could come and be his wife rather than wait around for a silent man. Mother I am finished.

ANN: Wait Rita, Wait there is a letter from Joy. It came in this morning. Let us read it. Please listen to me, Let us read this letter.

RITA: (SHAKES HEAD AND WEEPS) No I am not going to read, it. I expected a letter yesterday evening from him, when the letters came but did not get a letter from him.

ANN: Come and see what is in the letter! Joy is with her brother and they are having parties to celebrate their reunion and they cant wait to come back together. They wanted to inform you so that you could get ready.

RITA comes close to her mother and grabs the letter.

She reads it aloud.

RITA: Oh I am going to break his neck when he returns. HI Rita it is me joy but really its my brother too. We have been touring for some time now because there is news that the war is going to be over soon, Only some battle between troupes in Japan and France still continue but most of the people fighting have dropped their arms and the war would soon come to an end and I am returning with all my life and health intact. I cant wait to tell you all the things that I have seen here and how much I thought of you every second of the stay...OH mother I cant go on...oh! oh! I am going to write them... yes...

RITA takes a pen and writes.

Camera shows.

Dear Fred.

I cant wait for you to return. I was so torn apart with misery and I almost lost my mind, Only for Joy's letter to come the next day. Why did you not write. I know what you wanted. You wanted me to wait and be patient or something, you must have a reason...

Ralph knocks on the door.

RALPH: I have seen that you and Fred are really lovers.

RITA: What, did you do. You took the letter send me. You almost cost me my life.

RALPH: Oh really, you chose that brute who cost you so much worries over me a perfect gentleman. What could your reason be, you improperly bred girl.

RITA: You can rain all the insults on me. I am simply overjoyed. Something good has happened and it makes me so happy.

RALPH: Let me guess, Fred is coming back.

RITA: I am sorry to tell you this, but I am hoping for that. I never told you I liked an overbearing snobbish gentleman anyway and if you care to know we are not the landowners, he is the landlord.

RALPH: Yes, I read that is what he wanted to own your house and be in charge of your whole life. How wonderful I guess that is what love is called. What a crazy fantasy of a life?

RITA: Please leave. I plan to build on that fantasy for the rest of my life.

RALPH: I never knew you could be so rude.

RITA: I am sorry but you are being too apprehensive. I am sorry that it did not work out between us but I am sure you would find some other girl, but for me, I think that I have found the man that I want to live each moment of my life with and I am sure we are going to be happy. I did not want to tell my mother how your mother handed the clothes over to me without any politeness at all and I could have dropped them but I took them out of kindness because she said she hated needles and I should 'have the clothes mended'.

RALPH EXITS.

int house of fred.

They are all in a festive mood as they bring out thing from a bag. It is things he has bought. They are joined by two other neighbours. They all chat and laugh excited. Fred comes and twirls Rita around and they collapse on the rug and hug and kiss each other. He knees before her and presents a ring. Maryann, Jess, Dora, Sheila and Ann and the two neighbours as well as Joy look their way.

FRED: The first thing I did once I arrived was to buy this ring. I was sure that God would bring me back to share my life with you.

RITA: Oh, I am so glad. Sure, I would take the ring. I am going to marry you Fred and I am sure that no one can take away our happiness.

FRED: Surely.

RITA: What Ralph did needed to be punished so I let my mean angry mother in on what happened and...

Flashback.

RITA Pours hot water on Ralph when he turns. While her mother slaps him with a pan on the back of his head then he falls unconscious then they close the door.

RITA: I felt so bad about what he did. He took the letter out and made me worry so badly for a whole sleepless night. That night was like hell.

ANN: But I told you not to give up hope.

JOY: I am so happy brother that you have found love where and when we hardly expected. No I mean Rita. Thank heavens.

END.

 

Reviews

[Amadi Judith]

It is a story about love that has "the pace of any detective story." It is fun filled and interesting. Please if you need a screenplay of any sort. one that you would ask me to write by choice or you ask of any one that I have got I would be glad. I write screenplays. Thanks.