19. INT PRECIOUS’ BEDROOM SAME NIGHT
STEPHEN IS SEATED INSIDE THE ROOM WITH A THOUGHTFUL EXPRESSION IN HIS EYES. IN FRONT OF HIM IS A SMALL NOTEPAD AND A PEN. MOMENTS LATER, THE DOOR OPENS AND PRECIOUS WALKS IN. SHE CLOSES THE DOOR AND STANDS BY THE DOOR TO FACE HIM WARILY. THEN SHE SIGHS AND SPEAKS…
PRECIOUS
We need to talk, Stephen.
STEPHEN
Yes, we do need to talk. When were you planning to tell me about the terrible life you led while much younger?
PRECIOUS
(Shocked) Excuse me!
STEPHEN
There is no need to get uptight. Your step-mother just splashed the fact that you led a very terrible life that resulted in some dark secrets at some point in your life and she expected me to be in the know through you.
PRECIOUS
That witch! Why does she keep butting her nose into my affairs?
STEPHEN
I think that is a question you can ask her whenever you like. I just want to know about this dark secret right now.
HE BENDS AND PICKS UP THE PEN TO START WRITING, LOOKING AT HER EXPECTANTLY…
PRECIOUS
(Eyes him coldly) That is none of your business!
STEPHEN
None of my business? You brought me here to do a job and I am damn well going to do that job well. You won’t spoil my work by refusing to tell me everything I need to know about you to be effective in my job.
PRECIOUS
I don’t care! My past is none of your business! So stay out of that!
STEPHEN STARES AT HER COLDLY FOR A SECOND OR TWO IN SILENCE BEFORE HE SIGHS AND RISES TO HIS FEET TO STARE INTO HER EYES AS HE SPEAKS…
STEPHEN
What did you do, Precious? Kill someone? Steal? Prostitute yourself or…?
PRECIOUS
(Cuts in with an angry cry) Stop it! I don’t want to discuss my past with you! And I want you to know that it is time you tone your show of affections down a bit. It is starting to get on my nerves and I don’t like that!
STEPHEN
Really? Is that because you are not used to being doused with affections by the men you date?
PRECIOUS
Like I said earlier, it is not any of your business. (Sighs). We have two more nights to spend here before we leave. Please behave the way I want. Thank you.
SHE WALKS TO A CORNER OF THE ROOM IN A HUFF AND STARTS TO PULL DOWN THE BUTTONS OF HER DRESS BEFORE SHE REALISES HE IS ALSO IN THE ROOM. SHE TURNS TO FACE HIM WITH A COLD LOOK AND SNAPS…
PRECIOUS
Do you mind?
STEPHEN SIGHS AND TURNS TO GIVE HER HIS BACK AND SHE STARES AT HIS BACK WITH THE SAME COLD LOOK BEFORE SHE TURNS AND STARTS TO UNDRESS WITH THEIR BACKS TURNED TO EACH OTHER, THE TENSION IN THE ROOM HANGING THICKLY IN THE AIR BETWEEN THEM…
CUT
20. INT LIVING ROOM SAME NIGHT
CHIEF UWAH IS SEATED IN A CORNER OF THE LIVING ROOM AND WATCHING TV, A HAPPY SMILE ON HIS FACE. HE HAS A GLASS OF WINE IN HIS HAND FROM WHICH HE SIPS. MOMENTS LATER, CATHERINE WALKS IN TO MEET HIM FROM THE DIRECTION OF THE KITCHEN…
CHIEF UWAH
Ha, darling. Get yourself a glass and pour some wine for yourself. I am in a celebratory mood right now.
CATHERINE
(Smiles) That’s nice. But I don’t think I am up for any wine right now. But I must say it is nice to see you so happy. You look a lot younger, you know?
CHIEF UWAH
(Laughs) Thanks, dear. I just had a nice chat with Precious. Everything she told me about Stephen has gladdened my heart and I can’t help but thank God for her.
CATHERINE
That’s true. Stephen looks like a nice young man. And with his job of importation of electronics and cars, I don’t think they would have a problem with money.
CHIEF UWAH
Importation of cars?
CATHERINE
Yes. Stephen told me he has been into the importation of cars and electronics for the past seventeen years.
CHIEF UWAH
That cannot be true.
CATHERINE
Why do you say so?
CHIEF UWAH
Because Precious told me Stephen is a top movie producer. How does that relate in any way to importing electronics and cars?
CATHERINE
(Sighs) I don’t know. But I am beginning to feel we might have rushed to accept the young man into our home without doing some serious digging into his person.
CHIEF UWAH
(Sighs worriedly) True. But Precious has known him for more than a year and six months since they met at her mechanic workshop and…
CATHERINE
(Cuts in again) Mechanic workshop? Hold on a minute there, darling.
CHIEF UWAH
What is it?
CATHERINE
Stephen told me he met Precious nine months ago in a supermarket!
CHIEF UWAH
What? Are you sure about that?
CATHERINE
Yes, darling. I am very sure! He described a pretty graphic story of how he had forgotten his wallet before going to the studio and Precious saved him from embarrassment by helping him pay for the items he had picked.
CHIEF UWAH
(Worriedly) What could all these mean? How come Precious told me one thing and Stephen told you another?
CATHERINE
I don’t understand the whole thing myself. But I am starting to worry about the whole situation.
CHIEF UWAH
How do you mean?
CATHERINE
I am talking about the effusive manner Stephen, if that is his real name, has been showing his love for Precious. If you ask me, I think his show of love and affection for Precious is overenthusiastic!
CHIEF UWAH
(Sighs gravely) That is true. Quite true. I allowed my happiness and joy at seeing her with a man cloud my reasoning. There truly is something fishy about Precious and that young man, Stephen.
HE SIGHS AND THINKS AWHILE BEFORE HE RISES TO HIS FEET WITH A DETERMINED EXPRESSION IN HIS EYES…
CATHERINE
Where are you going?
CHIEF UWAH
I am going to talk to the two of them! If they are playing a game with me, I must find out now! Tonight!
CATHERINE
No! I don’t think that is a good idea.
CHIEF UWAH
Why?
CATHERINE
Because you would just be handing them a chance to cook up some more lies and stories for us. Besides, it would make them know we are suspicious of them.
CHIEF UWAH
I don’t care about that!
CATHERINE RISES TO HER FEET AND HOLDS HIS HANDS GENTLY…
CATHERINE
Please, darling! Let us sleep over this matter and talk more about it tomorrow. They still have two more nights to spend with us. I have no doubts that something will give within that period and we’ll find out the truth! Okay?
CHIEF UWAH SIGHS GRAVELY AND SHAKES HIS HEAD FROM SIDE TO SIDE AS HE CONTEMPLATES BRIEFLY BEFORE HE SIGHS AGAIN AND SPEAKS…
CHIEF UWAH
Okay. I will sleep over it. But if I find out that Precious has lied to me over that young man she brought to my house, we would have to revisit our father-daughter relationship once and for all time!
CATHERINE
Please, chief, don’t make any pronouncements until we get to the bottom of this matter. Please.
CHIEF UWAH
Okay. I will do as you have just said. (Sighs). I will do as you have just said. Can we go inside and sleep? I am very tired all of a sudden.
CATHERINE
I understand. Let’s go inside.
THEY BOTH WALK OFF INTO THE BEDROOM…
FADE
