THE HEART OF A MOTHER ACT 1 SCENE I

EPISODE TWO

(The next day Mrs Arubogwu looking all cheerful and more beautiful whispering silently to her daughter Oloma who is trying her best not to show any sign of discomfort while waiting chief. Few minutes later chief okozuwa arrived in the sitting room smiling happily as he sees his future daughter in law looking all pretty)

MRS ARUBOGWU: (Smiling as she stands to exchange greetings with chief) Good afternoon chief Okozuwa we are happy to be here.

CHIEF OKOZUWA: Good afternoon madam Arubogwu my future in law I can see that you have brought my daughter in law for me to see.

MRS ARUBOGWU: Sure I brought her for you to see how beautiful she is. In short I have prepared her specially for you and my son in law so you don't have to worry.

CHIEF OKOZUWA: (nods his head as he smiled) There is no need explaining anything to me cause I can see that she will make a good wife for my son. So what is her name.

OLOMA: my name is Oloma (she said as her voice cracks)

CHIEF OKOZUWA: Why are you talking like that are you afraid, Don't worry there is no need for you to be afraid you are completely safe.

MRS ARUBOGWU: Ah in law afraid kei, she is just shy cause this is her first time coming here so that is why she is stammering like this.

CHIEF OKOZUWA: Oh, I understand there is no need for you to be afraid.

( After the maid serves the food, she hurriedly announced the food is ready, while chief Okozuwa rises from his sit and asked Mrs Arubogwu and Oloma to come and eat while they wait for his son Richard to return).

(Few hours later, Richard walks into the house with a lady as they cuddle and kissed, he noticed his father had a visitor he quickly asked her to wait for him inside while he attends to his father's call)

RICHARD: (sits quietly as he observed his father's visitor and rolls his eyes in disgust). Hi Dad it's looks like you have visitors.

CHIEF OKOZUWA: Oh yes meet Mrs Arubogwu my childhood friend and her daughter Oloma, so beautiful and matured.

RICHARD: Oh nice to meet you all it's my pleasure.

OLOMA: Same here.☹️

RICHARD: So papa what is so important that you called me here please make it quick I have a visitor waiting for me in my room so I need to attend to her cause I can't leave her alone.

CHIEF OKOZUWA: Okay son well Oloma here is our soon to be daughter in law.

RICHARD: Wait what are you getting married again or what, what is happening her cause I don't understand

MRS ARUBOGWU: Not exactly my son.

CHIEF OKOZUWA: (laugh gently) Well she is going to be your wife very soon.

RICHARD: (Laughs) Papa you are joking right, I hope what you just said is a joke right because if it's not then it's can't be possible at all sorry( he rolls his eyes)

CHIEF OKOZUWA: hmmm the decision is not for you to make we only told you but the decision had already been made by both of us here, The village council and the Igwe. And Mrs Arubogwu and I had already planned right for time that once both of our children are off age then they will both get married, so it's not a joke and as you can see am not joking.

RICHARD: Look papa I already have a girlfriend at hand who am planning to engage by the two months time so i can't date Oloma because she is not even my class, she is not up to my standard and status so we can't work

CHIEF OKOZUWA: Richard remember the promise you made to your late mother my wife. so you want to break that promise.

RICHARD: Papa stop using my late mom to blackmail it cause it won't work at all not at all.

CHIEF OKOZUWA: well whatever you have with that lady upstairs you better end things with her cause a new wife is coming in. And don't act funny cause like I said earlier both the village council and the Igwe are aware of the wedding so don't act funny.

RICHARD: So papa you had the mind and the audacity to plan wedding without my consent like who does that just because you and this woman want to fullfil your childhood promise then why didn't you just marry her once because all I can see is wickedness. And besides I don't love her, she is not my type of girl.

OLOMA: Mama honestly am not also interested in this marriage cause I have dreams to fulfill.

MRS ARUBOGWU: (Looks at her and gives her a sign to shut up) My friend will you shut up your mouth what do you know (she turns to chief) em my inlaw don't be offended by what she said, she is just parnoid that's all.

CHIEF OKOZUWA: There is no need to worry children of now a days think they are wise they think they are better than us.

MRS ARUBOGWU: That's is it ohh

CHIEF OKOZUWA: So my people are coming next week to collect the list of her bride price so we can start the preparation of the wedding on time.

MRS ARUBOGWU: No problem my in law our gate is opened you can come whenever you want, that not an issue I think we will take our leave now( MRS Arubogwu and her daughter stood up and left while Richard angrily storms out of the living room)

(Jessica, Richard girlfriend who has been waiting for him was surprised as he walks in angrily and sits on the bed with his head down, she quickly went to comfort him)

JESSICA: Babe what's the problem why are you looking so angry and stressed up

RICHARD: Of cause am angry why would my dad do such a thing without asking me if that is what I really want.

JESSICA: My love, what happened what did he say(Stays silence for while and breaks the silence) Sweetheart your scaring me what did he say that changed because you were happy when you came in and that reminds me who was that woman and that young lady.

RICHARD: (Took a deep breath, pause for a while as he looks at his surroundings and then Jessica before deciding to break the silence) Babe imagine my father went behind my back to arrange for my wedding.

JESSICA: (Screams in shock) Wait I don't understand is it our wedding or what. Talk to me babe make me understand

RICHARD: Those people you saw in the sitting room are here to initiate on the bride price to be paid, that young girl is the lady my father and her stupid mother wants me to get married very ugly human being, someone that is not my class at all.

JESSICA: Wait hold on your father wants you to marry that smelling thing that chimpanzee.( laughs for a while) oh no no no this must be a prank it has to a prank because if that girl mistakenly marry into this family I will turn her life into a living hell.

RICHARD: That's if she will even enter this house as a while. And the most shocking part is that she herself is not even interested in this marriage she herself was forced.

JESSICA: But babe can't you protest against this marriage, you can refuse to marry her afterall you are a full grown up man so you have every right to decline this marriage.

RICHARD: Hmmm the village council and the iqwe are aware of the wedding and has given his blessings to go ahead with the wedding so even if I plan to run away with you that won't work because it will be a risk to you.

JESSICA: So you are going to get married, please think.

(They both sat on the bed thinking of what to do)