Scene 16

Scene 16

(This scene opens with the kids sitting in the living room, it's evening and they just finished dinner. As Isaac and Jennifer are using their phones and Whitney runs around the living room, the doorbell rings. Seconds later, Titi comes out of the kitchen and heads for the door. She opens the door to reveal two people. A woman in her late 40's and a man in his early 50's).

Titi: Ah, good evening ma, good evening sir. (She takes the things in their hands as she steps aside for them to come in. They head to the living room while Titi heads to the guest room. As Whitney sees then she runs towards them shouting.

Whitney: Grand ma, grand pa. (This causes Isaac and Jenifer to turn around as Whitney jumps on her grand pa. Isaac and Jennifer get up and go to meet their grandparents).

Solomon: Take it easy on the embrace princess, grand pa is old.

(They all laugh).

Jennifer and Isaac: Welcome grand ma, welcome grand pa.

Carol: Thank you my lovelies. Where is your father?

Jennifer: He is up stairs, I'm sure Titi has gone to tell him you are here.

Carol: Alright. (They go to seat). So where is this woman you guys say is in this house, the Anna. (Solomon smiles and Carol smirks).

Jennifer: Oh, Anna is her room, we just had dinner but... (As she is talking, Anna walks into the living room). There she is. Anna.

(Anna looks up to Jennifer and removes the ear-piece from her ear and heads over to her).

Anna: Good evening sir, good evening ma. Jennifer?

Jennifer: Yes I wanted you to meet my grandparents. Grand peeps Anna, Anna grand peeps.

Anna: Oh, evening, nice to meet you sir and ma. (They shake hands and Carol and Solomon share a glance as Fredrick comes down).

Carol: Fredrick, your parents are around, when are you going to come down stairs.

Fredrick: Worry no more mother for I have arrived.

Carol: Finally he grace's us with his presence.

Solomon: uh, you are too dramatic Carol, come here my boy.

(They laugh as both of them hug. When he is done he goes to hug his mother. She hits him on his back first and he laughs. And before she releases him from the hug she hit him on the back of the head).

Fredrick: Ow, what was that one for?

Carol: I'm your mother boy, I don't need a reason to hit you.

(They laugh).

So Anna, you and Fredrick, tell me about both of you.

(Anna looks between Carol, Solomon and Fredrick who has his face bent down. She rests her glance on Fredrick. She taps him and he looks at her. She motions her head to the direction of the kitchen. They excuse themselves and give broad smiles to Solomon and Carol as they leave and enter into the kitchen).

Anna: Talk.

Fredrick: Look it's not what you think. And I didn't mean for things to be like this. It was just a simple conversation that I didn't think they would take seriously and if I knew they were coming I would have found a way to stop them or make this situation a bit better than what it is. Like I said I didn't expect them to hold me to it. With that said I might have implied to them that we are sleeping together.

Anna: You did what?

Fredrick: Maybe you can bring the volume down a little.

Anna: You did what!

Fredrick: Okay then the volume remains the same. I'm truly sorry. I was just trying to proof them wrong so I said I was in a relationship and that I had moved om so my mom won't set up dates for me anymore and at the time saying there was a woman in my house, new and her name was Anna was the easiest thing I could get my kids to confirm for me without having to lie about it.

Anna: Okay fine. It's okay I hear you. (Pauses for a while). So what now?

Fredrick: Well she will expect us to behave like people who are sleeping together.

Anna: Sharing the same room and all? (Fredrick nods his head and she sighs). Oaky whatever, let's get back out there before they start thinking God knows what.

Fredrick: Yeah.

(They turn around and start to walk out of the kitchen).

Anna: Just so you know, I'm only doing this because I like you.

Fredrick: You like me, really.

Anna: No, not like that, I like you cause you are nice, like in a friendly way, you know what forget it.

(Fredrick laughs and as Carol looks at them, Anna gives a tight smile on her face and they sit and they all chat. Anna and Fredrick are then shown in Fredrick's room, laying on his bed facing each other).

Fredrick: I'm really sorry for the in convince.

Anna: Na, it's nothing. If I was your mom I will make you move on and get married. You've got three kids and they are still young, it will do them good to have a mother around while growing up.

Fredrick: Um, agreed.

Anna: Besides, this bed is a very big, nice consolation. I forgot I held a grudge the instant my back touched this bed, it's so soft. (Fredrick smiles). Are you sure you don't want to change, like you don't want to switch beds with me?

Fredrick: No thank you I'm good.

Anna: Sure, it's never too late to change your mind.

Fredrick: (Laughs). I bet it isn't.

Anna: Okay, as you wish. But just so you know the offer still stands till I leave this house.

Fredrick: I'll keep that in mind.

(They laugh. As they are laughing, Anna hears someone singing, with a terrible voice).

Anna: Goodness what is that?

Fredrick: Sister Tomike the chorister.

Anna: Jesus, hasn't anyone told her her voice is terrible.

Fredrick: Countless number of times, but I think her brain has refused to register that beautiful truth. (Smiles).

Anna: (Gets up and opens the door then shouts). Keep it down Donna Summer, people are trying to sleep. (She shuts the door as Fredrick laughs).

Fredrick: Donna Summer?

Anna: It was just the first thing that came to my head. (Laughs).

(They continue to laugh and chat as they laid on the bed).

Scene 16b

(This scene opens with Tomike being shown from behind as she is singing. Dayo, Fredrick, Loretta, his parents and the kids are seated in front of her, listening to her sing. They start to whisper to each other).

Loretta: How long is this going to take?

Jennifer: It can go on for ever.

Loretta: Mummy do something.

Carol: You know how this thing goes now. One word and she start crying that her dead sister's family are plain evil. (Loretta sighs).

Loretta: What are we going to do. I can't stand it anymore, I might just as well pass out if she goes for song number 5.

Whitney: My ears.

Loretta: I know baby.

Solomon: Is she hearing herself?

Fredrick and Dayo: No.

Jennifer: Where is Anna? She is the only person that can handle her.

Isaac: And she is not dad's family, so it won't bounce back to us.

Loretta: Isaac your brain is blessed. Where is Anna? (To Carol).

Carol: Where is Anna? (To Solomon).

Solomon: Where is Anna? (To Fredrick).

Fredrick: She is still sleeping. She usually wakes early, but it's a weekend.

Dayo: I'm still surprised that all this hasn't woken her up.

The staff are shown in the kitchen).

Kunle: This woman never sabi say she suppose no dey sing.

(The rest shrug, sigh and hit the back of their palm on the front of each. As they all hear the sound of a door opening, Kunle rushes to peep through the kitchen door and sees Anna coming down the stairs).

Kunle: Anna don show

(They start thanking God. Kunle goes on his knees and waves his hand. The rest in the living room smile as they see Anna coming).

Anna: Beyoncé our hearing is very important to us.

Tomike: Someone who appreciates my talent. Because I'm the next Beyoncé, the next Whitney Huston.

Anna: That's sad and very insulting to those legends. What you should be thinking about is will you blow the ears of those listening to your demo or the crowd that will gather to hear you sing... na you'll never reach the crowd stage so demo it is. Just don't blow ours out and save that special package for the demo. (She enters the kitchen. As she goes for a bottle of water, the staff come to hug her and are thanking her. She smiles lightly then Kunle carry's her. Titi hits his shoulder and he drops her down and she smiles as she leaves the kitchen as Tomike leaves the living room and Dayo follows).

Anna: Sorry ma, sir. Good morning sir, ma.

Carol: Uh, just call us mummy and daddy. You are an angel sent from above. (Anna smiles and they nod).

Loretta: No she has a gift.

Anna: (Laughs). Gift for what? You've started again. Come what are you even doing here?

Loretta: Bae na brother house be this na?

Anna: I know you just came to see me. Don't lie, I know, you don't even need to admit it, I know. (The others smile).

Loretta: You are a proud child. Na only you dey this house, comot for here jor.

All the kids: Aunty Lorry you speak pigin?

Anna: Before, this one na small thing. Your Aunty is a boss o. This babe na area girl.

Loretta: Which kind, me wey dey learn work. I dey learn from you na, na your footsteps I dey follow.

(They start laughing).

Whitney: Wait I know why Aunty Lorry is here, I know why everybody is here including grand ma and grand pa, it's for my birthday tomorrow, I bet it was a surprise! (She squeals).

(Anna looks from Carol to Solomon to Loretta to Fredrick. Seeing as they remain quiet and the expression of shock on their faces, she tries to hide her smile and faces Whitney).

Anna: Now if we answer that it will no longer be a surprise.

(Whitney's face lightens up and she starts to jump).

Whitney: Okay, I don't know anything. I don't at all.

(They laugh nervously while Anna smiles and Jennifer and Isaac try to hold their laughs as they feel the tension in the room).

Jennifer: Okay, we would be going up now. If you excuse us.

Fredrick: Sure.

Anna: Wait, my money. (She stretches her hand out. They look at, Carol, Solomon and Loretta look a bit confused but the kids and Fredrick start to smile).

Jennifer: Anna, Anna. Please.

Anna: No famzing, please no famzing and no begging. Only payment acceptable is cash.

(They start bringing out their money).

Solomon: What's going on.

Isaac: She charges us for anything she does for us. Even when she is receiving salary.

Carol: What did she... oh. (Her and Solomon laugh).

Jennifer: It's extortion.

Anna: It's earning an honest living. (They give her their money, when Whitney wants to drop hers she looks at Anna). No cute faces accepted. (She drops the money as they laugh and the kids go up stairs. She moves her hand to Loretta. Loretta looks at her and she looks back to Loretta). Why you dey look me, you no dey for this house drop jor. (Loretta brings out five hundred naira). Ehn 5h, bae you don pass that level na. (Loretta, looks at her and chuckles then brings out one thousand naira). Babe wey sabi. (As she moves to Fredrick Solomon brings out some cash to drop in her hand). Ah, no daddy you and mummy are not included, haba no.

Solomon: (Laughs). We insist.

Anna: (She collects the money and smiles and reaches for Carol's and Solomon's feet's). Daddy, mummy, I'm loyal. (They laugh and she gets up). Loretta be like this. God loves a cheerful giver ehn. (She moves her hand to Fredrick and he smiles as he drops his money). God bless you all richly. And yeah (she looks at Fredrick). You forgot didn't you.

Fredrick: I forgot.

Carol: We all did.

Fredrick: It's her 10th birthday and she has been talking about it for a long time now. What am I going to do?

Anna: Don't worry, I got you covered. I was planning something either ways, we can make the party happen.

Fredrick: Thank you Anna. So we should order the cake now or what?

Loretta: What are you ordering when my girl is here. She said she got you covered na. Bro you got Anna, you got everything. (Carol and Solomon smile slightly).

Carol: Is that so?

Loretta: Yes oh mummy. This babe works magic in the kitchen. (Carol and Solomon share a look and smile).

Anna: (Smiles). Dey whine me. Let me get started, Titi you guys should please come. (They start to come out from the kitchen).

Loretta: Don't mind her, she's just being modest.

(The come and stand next to Anna).

Anna: How far we get work wey we go do o. We have a party to prepare for, for tomorrow, it's for Whitney's birthday. Small stuff, nothing too serious, I already told mama what I had in mind so Chuks you go help us run somethings for outside and you too Kuns. The rest of us go hold the forte here. (They nod, then she stretches her hand to them).

Kunle: You no dey fit forget something? (Anna shakes her head in s no and they laugh as he squeezes his face and pays and the rest pay. She doesn't collect Ene's money but Ene still gives her).

Anna: Kuns una sabi price na, or make Titi follow una?

Kunle: No na, I sabi wella. (They leave and go back to the kitchen).

Fredrick: Thank you Anna, you are a life saver.

Anna: Oh it would cost you. A lot.

Fredrick: I think I can handle the cost no matter how much.

Anna: Okay Mr Billionaire.

(He winks at her then smirks and she smiles slightly as Loretta, Solomon and Carol look at them and they smile then look at themselves and smile).

Scene closes.