Act ll Scene I – A New Day, Old Fears
303 Words
Setting: The Adeyemi family house. Early morning. The dining room. Breakfast is being served.
(At rise, Mrs. Adeyemi arranges plates on the dining table. Deacon Adeyemi reads his Bible while waiting for everyone. Tayo and Kehinde enter one after the other.)
TAYO: Good morning, Daddy.
DEACON ADEYEMI: Good morning, my son.
KEHINDE: Morning, everyone.
MRS. ADEYEMI: Sit down. Breakfast is ready.
(Grace enters quietly.)
GRACE: Good morning.
ALL: Good morning.
MRS. ADEYEMI: Where are your sisters?
GRACE: Esther is praying.
MRS. ADEYEMI: And Bella?
(Grace hesitates.)
GRACE: She's still in her room.
MRS. ADEYEMI: Bella? Still sleeping at this hour?
(Esther enters with her Bible.)
ESTHER: Good morning, everyone.
ALL: Good morning.
MRS. ADEYEMI: Grace, go and call your sister.
GRACE: Yes, Mum.
(Grace walks to Bella's bedroom and knocks gently.)
GRACE: Bella... it's morning.
(No response.)
GRACE: Bella?
(She opens the door slowly.)
Bella is still curled up on her bed.
She hasn't changed her clothes.
Her phone lies beside her.
She stares blankly ahead.
GRACE: (Softly.) Bella...
(Bella looks up slowly.)
BELLA: Did you tell anyone?
GRACE: Tell them what?
BELLA: About last night.
GRACE: No.
(Bella lets out a quiet breath of relief.)
GRACE: Bella... who called you?
(Bella lowers her head.)
BELLA: I don't know.
GRACE: Then why are you so frightened?
(Bella remains silent.)
MRS. ADEYEMI: (Calling from the dining room.) Grace! Is she still in there or she left through the window?
GRACE: (Without taking her eyes off Bella.) We're coming, Mum!
(Grace kneels beside Bella.)
GRACE: Whatever it is... you don't have to carry it alone.
(Bella finally looks at her sister.)
For a brief moment, it seems she is about to speak...
Instead...
She forces a weak smile.
BELLA: Let's go before Mum comes in herself.
(The two sisters leave the room together.)
LIGHTS OUT
- Writer
