Scene 6

(This scene opens with Fredrick, his kids, Tomike and Dayo are seated at the dinner table while Titi comes in with a tray and lays the food out on the table and when she is done bringing everything out, she dishes out the food for each person).

Fredrick: So how are you guys doing, how was your day?

Tomike: Oh my day was...

Fredrick: Um Tomike, it was for the kids.

Tomike: Oh.

Fredrick: Yeah.

Tomike: (pauses). My son and I are doing great... just in case you were wondering.

Fredrick: I'll keep that in mind... So how was school today?

Isaac: Okay.

Fredrick: Do anything fun today? That's okay. (To Titi).

Isaac: The usual.

Fredrick: Jennifer, Whitney?

Jennifer: What was the question?

Whitney: (Mimics Fredrick). Do anything fun today?

Fredrick: That.

Jennifer: O h, the usual. Too much. (To Titi).

Fredrick: (Sighs). What about you Whitney? And if it's the usual just say nothing.

Whitney: It's not.

Fredrick: (Smiles slightly and turns his full attention to her). So what was it?

Whitney: The usual. (Giggles. Fredrick sighs).

Fredrick: Well I will be travelling tomorrow and will be gone for a few days... but I'll be back by Sunday. (Titi is done with serving). Thank you Titi.

(Titi is about to leave when Dayo stops her).

Dayo: Titi can I get some salt?

Fredrick: You don't need salt, you haven't even tasted the food yet. Besides Ene's cooking is good.

(Titi is about to leave again and Tomike stops her).

Tomike: Titi can you get me some water.

Fredrick: (Looks at Tomike). Tomike you have a full glass of water and there is also a full jug of water on the table, what is the problem.

Tomike: The water is no longer cold.

Fredrick: (Sighs and groans frustratingly). Titi thank you, you can leave. Just go.

Tomike: I want it directly from the fridge, I like it when it's chilled.

Fredrick: Then chill it yourself. Titi, go.

Tomike: And she is leaving.

Fredrick: Yes, because she works for me and I told her too. Tomike can we have dinner.

Tomike: No, no Fredrick. Cause I have some complains about these so called staff of yours. (Fredrick let's out an angry sigh). Can you imagine that, that nanny you hired, which is some nanny by the way. That nanny, I and my son told her to get us water, rice and some fresh fruits and she didn't do it. She didn't even come back to say why or sorry. I called her and she was waiting for me to come and meet her after she lazily got out of bed by 12 in the afternoon. Do you know it has been 12 hours since then and I have not seen her, my rice, my water or my son's fresh fruits...

Fredrick: Tomike again she is not your slave, she works for me. If you want fresh fruits there is a market across the mainland and the night is still young. So feel free to take an early trip. And Jennifer please put your phone down for Christ's sake, we are at the table! (Everywhere becomes quiet). Now can we have dinner, can I have dinner? (Nobody responds). Thank you.

(Kunle and Chuks are shown as they remove their heads from the small opening at the kitchen door, they close it gently and quietly before turning back with a smile heading towards Ene and Titi).

Chuks: Oga dey vex oh. (Ene and Titi laugh).

Titi: I'm not even surprised. That woman dey vex person.

Ene: I wish I was there o, to see her face when oga Fred said she should go and get it herself.

Kunle: That one sweet me too to hear. But no be small vex oga Fred vex o, see as in eye red.

Chuks: Which one be see as in eye red, you been see e eye...

Fredrick: Ene! (He shouts angrily from the dining table. Ene get shocked and startled. He calls her again and she is scared to leave but the others urge her to go and she leaves the kitchen and walks to the dning table. She stands beside him to his right and is nervous). Who prepared this food?

(Ene is fidgeting and is about to answer when Jennifer speaks up).

Jennifer: Anna. I saw her when she was preparing it. (Fredrick looks at Jennifer and the rest of his kids and they all nod. Ene remains silent, unable to speak).

Fredrick: Titi. (She runs out immediately).

Titi: Sir.

Fredrick: Get me Anna.

(Titi walks briskly to Anna's room. She knocks on her door repeatedly till Anna opens the door and she stops. She removes her ear piece).

Anna: What's up? (She asks very calmly, smiling).

Titi: Oga Fred is calling you and he doesn't look happy at all. Doesn't even sound happy.

Anna: Okay. (Anna follows her back to the dining table. Titi goes to stand beside Ene and Anna stands in front of Fredrick to his left). Sir you called me.

Fredrick: Taste this. (He points to the food and she looks at him then proceeds to taste the food. She cringes a bit when it touches her mouth). Wonderful right... I thought you were a cook, a head chef at that, care to explain what this nonsense is?

Tomike: And don't lie, we know you prepared it. (Anna looks at them each from Tomike then to Dayo. Then to the kids, then to Titi and lastly Ene. She saw the fear in her eyes then she looked back at Fredrick).

Ene: Sir...

Anna: Sir I'm sorry. I apologise, it will never happen again.

Fredrick: Sorry... (Sighs and shakes his head slightly). I just wanted to have dinner. I had a very long, stressful day at work and I wanted to come home and have a nice and peaceful dinner, is that too much to ask! I mean I can't even have that in my own home! (He throws his napkin on the table and walks away, heading to his room). I just wanted to have dinner.

(Kunle and Chuks are peeking through the kitchen door and when Fredrick is no longer in eyes sight they come out and meet everyone at the dining table. Every other person leave after they hear the door of his room get slammed. Tomike looks at her and hisses).

Tomike: Just be spoiling somebody's mood. You better go and look for what I will eat this night and be fast about it. Bring it to my room ASAP. (She walks out).

Dayo: Please that includes me. Peace guys. (Follows his mother behind).

Jennifer: Next time you should taste your food before you serve it.

Isaac: I totally agree.(Jennifer pushes the main bowl with the food in it and it pours on the floor and Isaac pushes his plat down too).

Jennifer: Opps. The excess salt and pepper is making my hand slippery. Don't forget to come wake us up tomorrow.

(She walks past it so does Isaac. Whitney smiles cheerfully as she steps on it and some splash on Anna. Whitney plays in it for some seconds then stomps her foot as she goes up stairs, leaving a print of her shoe covered in the food behind. Kunle and Chuks look between Anna, Titi and Ene, mouthing to Titi asking how does the food taste but she shushes them. Seconds later Ene speaks up).

Ene: Anna I... Mbok I'm sorry. See oga was very angry and I just did not know what to say...

Anna: You froze, I get it.

Ene: (Sorry).

Anna: No worries. So who said it? (The rest of them look at each other).

Ene: Um?

Anna: Who said it was me?

Ene: Jennifer, then everybody shake head join.

Anna: (Smirks). Chuks, how are things, were you able to get me those things I asked you to help me get?

Chuks: Yes, some hard to find but I been get them. Them dey for my room.

Anna: Alright, I'll collect them from you tomorrow. Thanks, night.

(She smiles at them, puts her ear piece back in her ear and leaves humming and moving to the song she is listening too. They all stand confused as they watch her leave).

Kunle: Wetin she say make you buy?

Chuks: They plenty. Na the kind thing wey for Obodos they go ask say you be serial killer. (They all stay quiet, then they hear her room door close).

Ene: Sure say she well so?

Titi: I no sure.

(Everybody nods as they remain standing, looking confused).

Scene closes.