Act II
Scene II. In the living room
The next day
Enter RHODA and ZOEY
Zoey: So what is it you wanted to tell me, aunt Rhoda?
Rhoda: (peers around and speaks in low tones) I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be telling you this, or if you know about it already.
Zoey: (lowers her tone) About what?
Rhoda: (peers around again) While cleaning your parents' bedroom earlier, I came across a file. I know I wasn't supposed to look at it, but I wanted to make sure what kind of documents they were so as to keep them in the proper place.
Zoey: (half chuckles) How has a file in my parents' room become my business, aunt?
Rhoda: There were divorce papers in them.
Zoey: (expresses shock) What did you say?
Rhoda: (shushes her urgently) Your parents are filing for a divorce.
Zoey: B-But that's not possible. Mummy says she has been with daddy for twenty years now. They can't possibly be filing for a divorce. Are you sure of this, aunt Rhoda?
Rhoda: If you think I'm lying, why don't you go and take a look for yourself while they're both out?
Exit ZOEY and RHODA
(Scene fades and opens again in the same location)
Enter DEBBY and GEORGE
Debby: (stares at her daughter who is mulling on the couch) Is everything alright, Zo?
Zoey: (in a flat tone) Hi, mummy.
Debby: Hi. What's this I hear about you interacting with Linus's nephew?
Zoey: Where did you hear that?
Debby: Your brother told me.
Zoey: (turns to George) Snitch!
George: Sorry. I didn't know when I spilled it.
Debby: Zoey, I don't want you interacting with that teenager.
Zoey: Why?
Debby: Because he's a teenager. And he's not your class.
Zoey: What do you mean he's not my class? Nobody cares about bourgeois anymore.
Debby: He's beneath you, and you will stay away from him, Zoey. Do you hear me?
Zoey: No. Stop being such a bigot.
Debby: It's impressive that your vocabulary is improving rapidly, Zo, but don't use them as bullets against your mother. Boys are bad news.
Zoey: Is daddy included?
Debby: (visibly uncomfortable) Excuse me?
Zoey: I saw the divorce papers, mummy. You and daddy are getting a divorce, aren't you? When were you going to tell me?
George: (to his mother) What's a divorce? Can I get one?
Zoey: It's not a video game, George. It's a breakup. Mom and dad are breaking up.
Debby: Shut up, Zo. Don't say such things to your brother.
Zoey: He has every right to know. I'm not going to lie to him as you've done to me.
Enter DEAN
Dean: What's all this racket about?
(Silence)
George: Zoey says you and mummy are getting a divorce.
Dean: (to Zoey) Who told you that?
Zoey: Nobody. I found the papers myself.
Debby: What were you doing in our room, and how did you know where to find. . . (her eyes widen in realization. She shouts) RHODA!!!
Enter RHODA
Rhoda: Yes, Ma.
Debby: You ingrate! (Slaps Rhoda)
Dean: (offended) You don't just hit people like that, Debby. What the hell?
Debby: (to Rhoda) How dare you reveal such a delicate, personal matter to my daughter without my consent? You senseless, irritating, poke nosing gossip of a housemaid! You wretch! Insipid lowlife!
Dean: Debby, that's enough! What has come over you? Can you hear the sort of words you use for a fellow human being in the presence of your young childre? Can you get any worse than this, Debs? Can you?
Debby: (to Rhoda) You are fired! Get your trash of belongings and GET OUT OF MY HOUSE.
Dean: It's MY house, Debby. She's not gonna go anywhere. (to Rhoda) Back to your room, okay?
Exit RHODA
Zoey: (in tears) Daddy, is it true you're getting a divorce?
Dean: (sighs heavily) It is true, my darling. But I promise that it's not the end of our relationship, okay?
George: Will you leave us here and return to Lancaster?
Dean: No, no. I won't. If I have to, then you'll be coming with me.
Debby: You want to take the kids from me?
Dean: Stop interrupting. You see I'm trying to talk to them.
Zoey: Why can't you work things out instead?
Dean: I've tried, hundreds of times, Zo. It's just not possible. I'm sorry, I'm really sorry.
Exeunt all but DEBBY and DEAN
(Scene closes)
YOU ARE READING
The Eye of Broken Things
General FictionA Nigerian Play A rich and narcissistic, self-indulgent Nigerian wife faces the consequences for neglecting her marriage and children. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written perm...
