The Identical Triplets

Act l Scene Vll - Under One Roof

Setting: The Adeyemi family house. Early evening. Mrs. Adeyemi is in the kitchen preparing dinner while Grace helps her. The aroma of soup fills the house.

(At rise, Grace is slicing vegetables as Mrs. Adeyemi stirs a pot on the fire.)

MRS. ADEYEMI: Grace, add the crayfish.

GRACE: Yes, Mum.

(The front door opens. Tayo and Kehinde enter, looking tired after work.)

TAYO: Good evening, Mum.

KEHINDE: Good evening, Mum.

MRS. ADEYEMI: Welcome. Go and freshen up. Dinner will soon be ready.

TAYO: Thank you, Mum.

(They head inside.)

A few moments later, Esther enters with her Bible.

ESTHER: Good evening, everyone.

GRACE: Welcome back.

MRS. ADEYEMI: How was the fellowship?

ESTHER: Wonderful. We had a powerful teaching on living a holy life.

MRS. ADEYEMI: That's good.

(The sound of a car horn is heard outside.)

KEHINDE: (Peeping through the window.) Bella is back.

(Bella walks in carrying her handbag.)

BELLA: Good evening.

MRS. ADEYEMI: (Looking up.) So you finally remembered this house?

BELLA: I was busy.

MRS. ADEYEMI: Busy doing what?

BELLA: Living my life.

(The room falls silent.)

ESTHER: Bella, you can answer politely.

BELLA: Did I ask for your correction?

ESTHER: I'm only saying—

BELLA: That's the problem. You're always saying something.

DEACON ADEYEMI: (Entering from outside, having just arrived home.) What's going on here?

GRACE: Nothing, Daddy.

BELLA: Exactly. Nothing.

DEACON ADEYEMI: Then let it remain nothing.

(Bella walks past him towards her room.)

MRS. ADEYEMI: Bella!

(Bella stops but doesn't turn around.)

MRS. ADEYEMI: Come back here.

(Bella slowly turns.)

MRS. ADEYEMI: Where were you?

BELLA: Out.

MRS. ADEYEMI: With who?

BELLA: People.

MRS. ADEYEMI: Bella!

BELLA: Mum, no matter what answer I give, you'll still be angry. So why waste both our time?

(Mrs. Adeyemi drops the cooking spoon on the table in frustration.)

MRS. ADEYEMI: This girl will be the end of me!

DEACON ADEYEMI: (Calmly.) Enough. She's home now.

MRS. ADEYEMI: That's your problem! You always defend her.

DEACON ADEYEMI: I'm not defending her. I'm asking for peace.

BELLA: (Quietly.) Thank you, Daddy.

(For a brief second, Bella looks at her father. He smiles gently at her... but Bella's smile disappears almost immediately, as if an old memory has flashed through her mind.)

GRACE: Bella?

BELLA: (Shaking herself back to the present.) I'm tired.

(She walks into her room and quietly closes the door.)

The rest of the family remain standing in uneasy silence.

LIGHTS FADE.