Scene 21

Scene 21

(This scene opens with Anna in the kitchen, humming as she is using her phone and her ear pods, resting her arms on the kitchen counter when the kids walk in. Isaac goes to stand at the end of the counter to her left, Jennifer goes to stand at the end of the counter by her right, and they start to draw her attention, then Whitney goes to stand opposite of her, in front of the counter. She removes her ear pods and looks at them weirdly. She watches as Whitney raises her hands and moves them lie she's coordinating and orchestra. When she does begin, Isaac and Jennifer begin to mimic Fredrick and Anna).

Jennifer: Thanks for tonight, it was nice. I enjoyed myself.

Isaac: Did you now. (Anna starts smiling).

Jennifer: (Laughs). Yes I did.

Isaac: Well it was my pleasure. I enjoyed myself as well.

(Pauses).

Jennifer: Fine, I'll be your girlfriend, let's date.

Isaac: I haven't said anything yet.

Jennifer: You were thinking it. So are you accepting or what.

Isaac: Whoa, slow your horses... of course I am. (Pauses). I told you that one date will do the trick.

Jennifer: Hmm, you didn't dazzle me, but I guess luck is on your side after all. (Then both of then kiss in the air).

Whitney: The end. Oh no...

All three of them: The beginning.

Anna: (Smiles then claps). Wonderful performance, simply breathe taking. Now if you would just remain where you are, let me just reward you for your performance. (She brings out a cooking spoon and starts chasing them round the kitchen. As she is chasing them, they hear Fredrick shout for everybody to come out).

Whitney: Oh,oh.

Jennifer: That's not good.

Anna: Obviously not. Let's go.

Isaac: Daddy is boiling... (He sings).

(They get to the living room and everybody comes out and stands in the living room. Susan is standing next to Fredrick, not too close to him).

Fredrick: (Looks at all of them). Everybody in this house knows my stand on stealing. (They all nod and Tomike and Dayo smile to each other). Yet someone still decided to go against. Someone still decided to go against it, knowing fully well my take in it.

Ene: Sir what happen?

Fredrick: What happened is that my secretary here Susan comes to collect the money paid for a contract and her being her, she does what she always does, count the money. God bless her soul she is that way, because when she counted it, (chuckles), she noticed that we were a few hundreds short. 3 to be precise. Someone took 300,000 out of this envelope. (Laughs nervously). Now I don't know how you did it or why neither do I care all I want it for you to bring it out this instant or someone will be out a job today. (They start to look between themselves).

Tomike: (Whispers to Dayo). I think it would happen so fast. (They both smile).

Dayo: I know right. (Fredrick sees them as they are whispering and smiling).

Fredrick: Forgive me if I'm boring you Tomike and Dayo, maybe you have a 300,000 that you would like to give me then we can all go our way. (They keep quiet and stop smiling).

Jennifer: Dad who will steal from you? (They all nod their heads as they exchange glances).

Fredrick: Jennifer this is not the moment to act smart, if I knew I would be here, now would I?

Isaac: No dad what's she's saying is that, none of us would steal from you, we have no reason.

Fredrick: And what I'm saying is that Kunle and Chuks will start a comprehensive search of every room and inch of this house and will be supervised by Susan. What I'm saying is that if you are the one who took the money, so help you God that you hid it well, because if they find it before you tell me it was you, ... let's leave it at that. Now go.

(Kunle and Chuks and Susan start to go but Fredrick stops them).

Fredrick: You know what, no, we won't leave it at that. The money is found on you, you are done, just pack your things and leave, I don't care if you've worked here since I was 5, I will not go back on my word. So whoever you are it would be in your best interest to come clean now and not add lying to the list. Or better still just go start parking your bags because the lie and the stealing has already happened. Now go. Start from upstairs.

(They move on while the others keep looking between themselves and are wondering between themselves who it could be. Tomike and Dayo smile briefly to each other. Then others look at them suspiciously along the line and she eyes them and faces Dayo. The search goes on and when they get down stairs, after a while they come back out with a black bag in Susan's hand. Fredrick is still standing with his head bowed down.).

Susan: Sir we found it. (Pauses). In Anna's room. (Fredrick raises his head up with a shocked expression on his face and then Anna looks at her. Everyone looks at her).

Anna: My room is the third on the left so check again. You must have gotten the wrong room.

Fredrick: Did you get the right room?

Susan: Yes sir, as she said third room on the left.

Anna: (Chuckles). That's impossible.

Fredrick: That it's your room? It is your room Anna. I gave you the room so I know that. (He starts to walk to her).

Anna: It is impossible because I did not take the money.

Fredrick: So how did it get there?

Anna: I don't know, I've never seen that bag before in my life.

Fredrick: Lies, lies, lies, (chuckles), lies. Anna they are not going to do you much good.

Anna: Lies... what are you talking about, don't tell me you are believing this.

Fredrick: I believe that things, money doesn't just up and one day starts a disappearing act, they don't move themselves, someone does.

Anna: And I'm that someone? This is unbelievable. What would I want to do with your money, what do I need 300,000 for what could I possibly gain from stealing from you.

Fredrick: I don't know you tell me. I'm not the one wo had 300,000 stuffed away in a black bag in God knows where.

Anna: I didn't take it for God's sake I didn't take it!

Fredrick: Then how did it get there!

Anna: I don't know!

(Everyone is looking tensed and worried while Tomike and Dayo silently laugh and smile to themselves).

Fredrick: (Pauses). What was it? You were broke, you were tempted, your restaurant was in a mess, you had debts. (She keeps saying I did not take it in between the things he is listing). Daddy cut you off, you just felt like it, what was it!

Anna: I didn't do it! You have to believe me Fredrick, your money won't do anything for me.

Fredrick: Okay so now you got caught it won't but when you were taking it was. You are such a liar. It has been about the money all along right?

Anna: What? No, no...

Fredrick: Accept it Anna. You are a liar and thieve and an opportunist, just own it would you and stop with all the denial.

Anna: I'm not accepting nothing. I didn't do it so I won't say I did. You know what believe what you want, but I'm not going to stand here and listen to you insult me, so I will show myself out. 300, 000, I'm better than that.

(She storms out).

Fredrick: Yes, you better. Leave. (Everyone is looking scared and worried and confused on what to do. Anna comes back out seconds later with her bag, hung across her shoulder and storms past them and the kids as they try to stop her). That's right, you know the way. Get out, I never want to see you again. Leave and never come back.

Anna: Wasn't planning on it.

(She bangs the door as she leaves and then hurriedly walks to the gate, opens it and leaves. Kunle goes after her. As she is walking briskly on the road, trying to stop a cab amidst tears, a car pulls up close to the gate and Loretta comes down. She sees Anna and starts calling her happily. Anna doesn't respond so she walks up to her).

Loretta: bae, what is worrying... Anna, are those tears, why are you crying, what happened?

Anna: Nothing.

Loretta: Anna you are crying what happened?

Anna: Not now Loretta. I said nothing, I'm fine. Now please leave me alone.

Loretta: No I'm not. Did Fredrick say something, did Tomike do this. It was Tomike right, just wait here for me, I'll be back please wait for me or come in let's go back and I'll set her straight.

Anna: I'm not going back in there.

Loretta: Okay then, just wait here for me, I'll be quick I promise. (She leaves Anna meets Kunle as he is about to close the gate but she stops him and he lets her in). What happened to Anna?

Kunle: Hmm. (Remains quiet).

Loretta: Was it Tomike. (No response). Fredrick? (Kunle looks at her then she walks away and storms into the house). Fredrick, Fred. Fredrick!

Fredrick: Why are you shouting my name like that, did I steal from you, cause it seems to be the happening thing.

Loretta: Fred I just saw Anna right now and she looked like she was about to cry her eyes out.

Fredrick: Good for her.

Loretta: Anna rarely cries, what happened.

Fredrick: Like I said, stealing seems to be the happening thing.

Loretta: You are telling me Anna stole from you.

Fredrick: You seem to be losing your hearing. Yes she stole from me, that's what I'm telling you.

Loretta: Kids go to your room now I want to insult your father... I said now! (They quickly go upstairs but all enter Jennifer's room and leave the door ajar as they peep from it). You are a fool.

Fredrick: She stole from me she had to go.

Loretta: You are stupid.

Fredrick: I said anyone who did it would leave and I could not go back on my word.

Loretta: Coward. Could not or would not.

Fredrick: You know my stance on stealing and lying. She stole and lied and kept lying to my face. I gave her a chance to come clean and she refused to take it, that's not on me.

Loretta: You are mad.

Fredrick: There was proof Lorry, the money was found in her room.

Loretta: And so, that's nonsense.

Fredrick: no it's not. The money was found with her, she took it. Money doesn't just runaway from it's original position into somewhere else.

Loretta: Maybe the more you say it, you will believe it, but the more you say it won't make it true. You said it yourself, money doesn't just appear somewhere, so did you even consider the fact that someone might have put it there. (She looks at Tomike).

Tomike: why are you looking at me. Everything is Tomike. If somebody drops dead in the village, Tomike. Somebody's cat ran away, Tomike. Someone's calabash broke Tomike, must I be responsible for everything? Loretta please respect yourself and don't drag me into this.

Loretta: to think that you would even believe that she took your money is appalling. Her father is a billionaire, she owns a well to do restaurant that serves both international and local dishes and she is well paid by you, what the hell does she need your money for think Fredrick, think. For once use that brain of yours, open your eyes. You just lost a very special and one in a kind woman because you are too blind to see, too stupid to think, too much of a coward to man up and follow your heart.

Fredrick: Loretta if you only came here to insult me, in my own home, then leave because I wasn't the one who called you, and I'm sure you remember the way you came in.

Loretta: This Fredrick, this is the reason you will continue to be alone. And when the truth finally comes out and gets past that thick skull of yours that don't for one second think that I will help you get her back. (Turns to Tomike and Dayo). If I find out that the either or the both of you had something to do with this, so help you God.

(She storms out and Kunle follows her and closes the gate behind her. She looks around and notices that Anna has gone). Damn it Anna I told you to wait for me. (She brings out her phone and calls her, Anna picks up).

Anna: Loretta I'm not in the mood to talk right now, I'm...

Loretta: I understand. Anna I am so sorry for what happened. Where are you?

Anna: I'm heading back to my place

Loretta: You shouldn't be alone right now.

Anna: That's exactly what I want.

Loretta: Don't worry okay we are going to fix this. We're going to get to the bottom of this.

Anna: I doubt that. (She ends the call).

Loretta: Anna, hello. Great.

(Anna is being shown in a moving car as she is seated in the back seat and tears rolls down her eyes as she looks out the window).