In the Banda household, Stella Banda has put the children to sleep and joins her husband in his bible study room. Sunday evening. 9 pm.

STELLA: (Leaning on the door frame) Homework’s done, tomorrow’s bags are packed, and they are snoring away.

PASTOR BANDA: That’s lovely. You are an amazing mother. I love you, Stella.

STELLA: I’m beat, night night. (Disappearing from the door)

PASTOR BANDA: Wait.

STELLA: (Walking back into the room) Yes?

PASTOR BANDA: (Closing his bible) How about you join me?

STELLA: I would rather not, I really have a long day tomorrow and

PASTOR BANDA: (Crossing his hands across his chest) What exactly does your day look like tomorrow?

STELLA: Well, I have to get Naledi and Junior ready for school and go to church to plan for the upcoming competition, then-

PASTOR BANDA: (Interjecting) You have been spending a lot of time preparing for the competition, how far along are you?

STELLA: (Stuttering) Well, we have the uniforms, you know… To pick a design and matching colors and-

PASTOR BANDA: When you say we, you mean with Natasha?

STELLA: Yes, she is the lead sing-

PASTOR BANDA: (Banging his fists on his desk) Stop it Stella, stop it.

STELLA: (Closing the door, agitated) I just put the kids to sleep, lower your voice.

PASTOR BANDA: Your lover told me everything, why didn’t you tell me you were seeing Natasha? We could have prayed for-

STELLA: (Interrupting) Pray for the demons possessing me? Spare me the lecture.

PASTOR BANDA: How could you do this to me? I did not marry a liar, cheater, or a murderer! Are you out of your mind?

STELLA: I never married a man I loved, but here we are.

PASTOR BANDA: (Shaking his head angrily) Is it not enough that I am raising children that aren’t mine? You are who you are today because of me and the sacrifices I have made to make you a reputable member of the church and this community.

STELLA: By lying to your church? I never asked you to do any of those things for me, I never even asked you to accept the twins as your own. You have always known that I do not love you! After all my attempts to leave this sham of a marriage, you have continuously coerced me to stay. I love Natasha wholeheartedly, the same way I loved James, he would’ve married me if you hadn’t put your big nose where it doesn’t belong. Why don’t you leave me? I am a murderer, after all.

PASTOR BANDA: (Wiping his face with his handkerchief) James never loved you the way you loved him, you know that. He chose his wife the minute he found out you were pregnant. Stop insulting my righteousness. This is not the daughter your father raised? Are you not ashamed?

STELLA: (Raising her voice) You know nothing. The same father who forced me into this marriage knows nothing about the daughter he raised, I never loved you and you have always known this. You can never buy my love or my children’s love and you cannot-

PASTOR BANDA: (Snarky) And what exactly is your smart idea here? That you will break our family apart, disturb our… your… children’s lives and divorce me for Natasha? To live where? With what money? You may hate me and hate to admit it, but you need me.

(Child coughing in the other room)

STELLA: (Storming out of the room) I don’t have time for you.

PASTOR BANDA: If you know what’s good for you, you will break things off with Natasha, Or I will personally make sure you both go down for the murder of Mlungisi.

STELLA: (Quickly walking back) What did you say to me?

PASTOR BANDA: (Angrily) You heard me, you will either be trapped in this relationship or trapped in jail, pick your poison.

STELLA: (Walking away and slamming the door, teary) I don’t need this

PASTOR BANDA: (Rushing towards the door and shouting into the hallway) You’re right, what you need is to stop this nonsense with Natasha and focus on being a good mother and an even better wife.