Tussles. Collected Plays: Collected Plays

Scene 1. Late Libong’s dining room

94 The Will Scene 1 Late Libong’s dining room Its comfort reflects his wealthy status. His portrait is on the wall. Enter Ema and Bessoe. Their bearing and dress are of the learned middle class. Bessoe (In admiration.) Good taste. Ema Yes, very good taste. Bessoe Tells what kind of man he was. Ema The quiet colours, the neat patterning of things He had an ordered view on life. Bessoe My father always cited him as an example. Ema (With some regret.) Oh, not mine. He was not one to give credit where it’s due. Bessoe Libong was affectionate. Ema Yes, and society loved him for it. (Brief silence.) Ema Emm! Don’t you think we ought to call out? Nobody seems to know we are here. Bessoe Is anybody around at all? Maybe Lauretta has taken her girl out of town for a rest. Ema Leaving the house unattended? I’ll try calling out. (Moves towards exit and calls into backstage.) U! uuuuu! (Turning to Bessoe.) Response! Voices in the back quarters. (Enter Sabitout. Something of a simpleton. Small apron, big shorts, awkward gait.) 95 Tussles: Collected Plays Sabitout (Wiping hands on apron.) Are you knock we door womans? We no answer but wunna enter? Bessoe (Irritated.) Why does Lauretta continue to keep this specimen? Ever such an em… Sabitout (Cutting in sharply.) Wuna wan who? I get work for backside eh! Ema (Imploringly.) Sabitout! Are you seeing us for the first time? Sabitout Fes tam na which wan? Since my massa die are you come here? Answer me. Bessoe (Harshly.) Get us your mistress! Sabitout (Startled.) Wandas! Wandas! Aright ma! (Exit.) Bessoe What an embarrassment! Can’t count the number of times I have asked Lauretta to show this imbecile the door Ema She knows why she keeps him though you and I may not. (Enter Anta.) Anta Auntie Ema! Auntie Bessoe! What a surprise. I had given up on both of you. Ema (Stepping in to check Bessoe’s visible irritation) We’re sorry. 96 The Will Bessoe (In forced ease) We intended to come earlier, but just far too many things on our hands. (Tensing up again.) This your Sabitout here! Brrr! Anta Sabitout? Never mind him. Mother and I have been busy sorting out father’s papers. Ema We’re deeply sorry. Anta Thanks for the sympathy. I don’t know who to blame for this. My father for abandoning us so soon or death for claiming him so early. We’re trying to come to terms with the loss. Bessoe No easy matter, for sure. How do you replace a baobab tree? Anta I miss him so much. Bessoe And with reason. But tell me. Mendi: still in London? Anta No. He returned a few days ago. Ema And where is he? Anta At the Beach. That’s where he spends all his time. Bessoe Counting sand? Anta Counting and changing girls. Today this one, tomorrow that. Ema And the business? Anta Business? None of his business. (Enter Lauretta with a drooping face, wiping her hands with a white 97 Tussles: Collected Plays handkerchief) Ema (With some exuberance.) Ohhh! See how our lady looks! Bessoe Reminds me of her wedding night. Ema The smile…it still has to return. Anta Say it…let her hear it from you. I’m tired repeating it. Bessoe With time, with time. Ema With time, surely. Robert carried much of it to the grave with him. Lauretta I’m in shreds. (Calls out languidly for Sabitout. All four have been standing. They now sit) (Enter Sabitout.) Lauretta Drinks, Sabitout... drinks for the ladies. Sabitout (In a haughty manner at the ladies.) Yes? Lauretta (Admonishingly.) Sabi- t-o-u-t Address the ladies politely. Say: What can we offer you, Madam? Sabitout (Repeating with annoyance.) What we can offer for wunna… Madams? Lauretta (Smiling painfully.) He likes the English language… but the language does not like him. 98 The Will Bessoe The English language picks and chooses its speakers. (To Sabitout with some disdain.) Fruit juice for both of us. (Sabitout marches off) Ema The Will. Have you seen the Will? Hope he left one. Anta He did, yes. Lauretta Robert was a tidy man. The Will is in Barrister Ekobena’s safe keeping. (Enter Sabitout with two glasses of juice.) Ema And...