SETTING: Mangisa’s residence in Lunzu.
(It’s 7 o’clock on sunday morning, Mangisa is visited by Tchete, eight armed policemen and Zinzi in handcuffs. The policemen start searching Mangisa’s house.)
MANGISA: What is going on?
TCHETE: (Introduces his ID to her) Madam, we’ve a warrant to search your house. Look, this cuffed man is Zinzi. He might be a fish seller to you but he’s also a drug dealer. Recently, he has been stuffing small grams of cocaine in fresh chambo fish. Some of the fish he sold to your son.
MANGISA: Ooh, that’s shocking… (Sighs deeply) He is my late sister’s son but he has been rude to me so he left.
(Policeman signals to Tchete that they are done searching and it’s all clear.)
TCHETE: Okay madam, but I’m sorry to break it to you, your nephew was stabbed and died on the spot yesterday in Mount pleasant. We need you to come with us to give you better explanation.
MANGISA: Ohhhhh (Cries louder with regrets)
(The police leave with Mangisa)
3 weeks later…
SETTING: Buchanan’s residence in Mount pleasant.
(Buchanan is back and has been trying to revive his traumatically depressed daughter for two weeks. It’s 8:15 on monday morning, Buchanan finds Dr. Juli with Norah in Norah’s newly allocated bedroom.)
BUCHANAN: How’s she this morning?
DR. JULI: She’s avoiding me… I think she’s pregnant.
BUCHANAN: Oh no… can you excuse us?
DR. JULI: Okay sir.
Bang!
(The doctor leaves them.)
BUCHANAN: (Sits close to Norah on her bed) Sweet daughter, again I’m so sorry that I sold your freedom to that monster. I thought he was my trusted friend, wealthier and matured man to take care of you forever. But he’s a cheater and he took advantage of our friendship to run an illegal business inside my own house…that was so stupid. I regret that I betrayed you because of one good thing he did to me, you’ve been a good daughter. (Sighs) But is she right that you’re pregnant?
NORAH: (Looks away) Yes daddy.
BUCHANAN: (Sighs again and puts his hand on Norah’s shoulder) It’s okay… it’s okay… forget about Richard, that bastard will keep rotting in jail. I’ll-
NORAH: (Interrupts her father) Daddy, I never slept with Richard… it is for someone I told you he saved my life from him before himself died.
BUCHANAN: What!? The boy with cooler box was responsible!?
NORAH: Yes daddy.
(Buchanan stands up and goes straight to the curtains blowing window in disbelief. He resumes talking while looking outside.)
BUCHANAN: You’ll abort it tomorrow. I don’t want any seed from the poor, do you hear me!?
NORAH: Daddy, I’m so scared.
BUCHANAN: You’ll do exactly as I say! Do you think your mum would be happy to see you suffering with poor man’s child!?
NORAH: No, but she always respected my choices. (Sobs)
BUCHANAN: (Turns to her angrily) Shut up! Tomorrow you’ll abort it!
NORAH: (Crying) Daddy, all that was your fault, why do you always treat me like a slave?
BUCHANAN: No… Richard was my fault and the boy was your fault. I dealt with problems caused by Richard and now I need to deal with problems caused by the boy, simple!
Bang!
(Buchanan walks out leaving Norah crying helplessly.)
22 hours later…
(Next day at 7:00am, Buchanan enters Norah’s room but she’s not there. She has left the following hand written note on her bed;
Dear daddy,
I have left because I have been always sad, feeling insecure and you treat me like your slave. I will take care of my own because you have been the worst dad ever since mum died 3 years ago. I don’t need money, mansions, and luxurious cars to be happy. I will find the source of happiness on my own. Bye!
Not your daughter anymore,
Norah.
——–
(Buchanan desperately dials Norah’s phone number immediately but it can’t be reached. He sits on Norah’s bed in self disappointment and regret.)
***End***