Patrick :

Shingi, you must be careful. Now you help your mother clean it up.

Shingi :

Sorry dad.

Patrick :

I must go now.

Shingi :

Where.

Patrick :

To finish my table.

Shingi :

Can I came   ?

Patrick :

I’ll bring you a sweet.

Mavis :

Mammy, can I start now   ?

Neria :

Have you done your home work   ?

Mavis :

Yes, I have.

Neria :

Correctly   ?

Mavis :

Yes, mom.

Neria :

Ok, you can start.

Mavis :

Oh, thanks mom.

Patrick :

Start what   ?

Neria :

Cooking a special meal for a new table.

( They both laugh ).

Patrick :

(Showing his wife how his mother is dozing in the chair)   : tell her I’ve gone !)

( Patrick goes to work and Neria goes to continue her painting work while at work, painting Connie comes and begins talking to Neria from outside the fence).

Connie :

Neria, don’t you ever get tired   ? It is going to look beautiful when you finish  !

Neria :

I hope so, but it cats me a lot  !

Connie :

How do you do it   ? After work, I’m steered; I just want to sleep, and the dreams

Ambuya

Ma Mavis.

Connie :

The queen is calling  ! Tomorrow you take her back home.

Ambuya

Ma Mavis oh !

Neria :

I’m coming maman ye. (And she rushes towards her).

Ambuya :

I’m  so cold ! Where is the son of mine   ?

Neria :

It has gone to his office. He didn’t want to wake you maman ye.

Ambuya :

She can’t even let him say good bye to his own mother  !

Neria :

What did you say, Ambuya   ?

Ambuya :

Eeeh  ! Nothing. You know, we dying ones, always sleeping or talking to ourselves.

(Neria puts the chair in front of house and Ambuya sits down, shouting).

Ambuya :

Aii we  !

Neria :

( Afraid)   : What is it, maman ye   ?

Ambuya :

My back  ! So stiff  !

(Neria wants to going but her mother-in-low calls her).

Ambuya :

And now, ma Mavis, my stomach is complaining. I can do a cup of tees.

( In the her, Phineas, Patrick’s young brother is taking been and watching singers

but he wants to disturb the persons who are singing one comes stop him disturbing them but Phineas wants to fight).

Phineas :

Do you know who I am   ?

( Neria’s brother, Jethro, interviews ).

Jethro :

What do you want   ?

Phineas :

Nothing. I just came to see you.

Jethro :

Come on, Phineas  ! you never want nothing; speak  !

Phineas :

If you insist, you may take me to your sisters. I have some provision from the store.

Jethro :

Ok, well. I’m finishing back then come.

Phineas :

You mean, you can’t even spare a minute with your family  !

Jethro :

Come on, Phineas. Just one more song and then I go on break. I’m serious. Just hanger out.

Phineas :

Ok, (Phineas returns to his place and Jethro continues singing).

Neria :

Uuuh, looks nice  ! Meat every day   ? Expensive  !

(Mavis brings a box of spice waiting to put some in the food but Neria doesn’t

like it).

Neria :

Uh  ! uh  ! a han, ok use it. At least I’m not getting tired complaining.

Mavis :

(she laughs, putting her finger on her mother’s molten so that she can’t comment).

Neria :

You laugh ! You will see where you grow up. When there is not enough food in the house. It is even the father’s thought   ?

Mavis :

Eeeh, no  !

Never :

It is always mothers. (Neria turns her back and goes in the living room, laughing. Mean while, a car arrives and Mavis abandons everything and runs outside).

Mavis :

Eeeh; it’s uncle Jethro.

( In front of the car ).

Mavis :

Hello uncle Jethro; good evening Phineas.

Neria :

( Ashing Phineas about the boxes they bring in the car ).

Phineas :

Supplies for the store. Give her a hand please (Phineas orders Jethro).

Shingi :

Uncle, uncle; I heard your new song on the radio. (Shingi begins singing and his uncle helps him).

Phineas :

( Giving a box to Shingi)  : Shingi, grab this box.

Jethro :

Shingi, if you pass this year, I will buy you some shoes.

Shingi :

I don’t want shoes. I want to sing with you.

Jethro :

Yeah, tomorrow I have gig, I have to wait Dombo; sure  !

Phineas :

( Talking to Neria)  : With any own transport.

Jethro :

Hello Ambuya. (He puts the boxes down and sits near Ambuya). How are you Ambuya   ?

Ambuya :

As well as an old women can be under these conditions !

Jethro :

What else can a mother ask for when her son sends her wonderful wear to put. ( Patrick arrives at him work; Jethro and Neria join him on the door to welcome him. He comes with a table).

Patrick :

There he comes  !

Jethro :

Eh, Patrick  ! Hard works; nice work !

Neria  : Oooh, It is so beautiful.

( Phineas doesn’t move from his seat where he is taking beer with his legs on the table). Patrick caries the table in the house and Neria pulls chairs around it.

Neria :

(Touching the new table)  : You put much love into this, Patrick.

Patrick :

Is this possible   ?

Neria :

( Colling Ambuya)   : Maman ye, come and take a seat.

Ambuya

Don’t you know that I cannot sit eating on those high places.

( Mavis brings him grandmother food ).

Phineas

(He now stands up and goes to sit on the new table. He does the contrary of all other persons who congratulate Patrick for the table) : Aaah, that table is too small. How can the whole family sit on such a small table ? (And he immediately sits down a though Patrick and Neria are still arranging the table).

Patrick :

We will manage, uncle.

Ambuya :

(Addressing her grand-daughter who brings food on the new for her parents and uncle)  : Uurih, Mavis Sukuru, you cook like this   ? One day you will be able to get a husband as good as your father.

( At night, Neria begins praying before she sleeps ).

Neria :

Dear lord, help me in this. I know …. is infest to get home. It is very difficult when she is here. For her and for me. I’m sure that she is watching my eve_ry move. Oh Lord, give me the wisdom to know how to keep her happy.

Ambuya :

( When Neria is praying in her bedroom, she is poling the some in hers) : Amen. The prayer finishes and she immediately begins speaking about Neria  : She is just not doing her duty, she is not doing her work. I will show him, I’m going to fix her. (Parley morning, everybody is still skipping, Ambuya wakes up and goes to sweep the ground. Neria hears the broom’s noise from her bed room, and looks

through the window. She understands that her mother-in-low is doing this because her son is at home).

(Morning, Work time, everybody goes to their business. Neria arrives at the women’s crocheting-cooperative where she works).

Francisca :  (One of the women)  : Hello Neria.

Neria : Hello.

Francisca :  How is your mother in low   ?

Neria : She is fine. We are taking her back home today. Francisca :  oh  ! so soon  ! You mustn’t talk like that.

Neria : It is always difficult when she comes. She just doesn’t understand citizen life.

Anyway, a visit home would be nice. Francisca :  I just don’t understand.

( Neria takes a box and goes back home. At home, she finds Patrick, their children and Jimmy, a mechanic, repairing the car for the trip).

Jimmy :            Patrick, Patrick; I want you to try your car now. Give it a try.

Patrick :           Thanks jimmy; It’s a success.

Phineas : ( Coming in front of inside the house) : Everyone’s ready. Except Neria of course  !

Neria :

Just give me two minutes.

( In the car ).

Phineas :

So, what do you say about it, Patrick.

Patrick :

Neria and I have already talked it over.

Phineas :

Aah  Neria  ! You just cannot make up your mind without calling that name of Neria   ? if she objects, she can say it right here.

Patrick :

That is not the point, Mukoma.

Phineas :

Patrick, Patrick.

Patrick :

you know, a bull costs a lot of money.

Patrick :

What   ?

Phineas :

How about it, Patrick   ?

Patrick :

What   ?

Phineas :

Buy us the bull and we will have milk to be drinking  !

Patrick :

You know, I’d like to help but we have spent so much money on the house.

Phineas :

Yeah, I know.

Patrick :

Any way; I’ll talk to Neria.

Phineas :

look man, she is your wife, our Wife  !This paddock here, I point for her. Since when do you ask your wife permission for anything  ?

Patrick :

Neria also learns money. Sometimes more than I do. There is a new world out there and you refused to see it !

Phineas :

What I know, It’s your own suffers, your own suffers.

Patrick :

What do you means ?

Phineas :

Didn’t you see Neria this morning ?

Patrick :

What ?

Phineas :

Sleeping ! Sleeping while your mother was busy sweeping yet. Is this the new world you are talking about ?

Patrick :

no, she can’t do that !

Phineas :

I’m telling you the truth. Ever since you moved to town, she controls you.

Patrick :

Phineas, you are talking no sense (And he goes away but Phineas stops him).

Phineas

Patrick.

Patrick :

What ?

Phineas

look; I sometimes ask myself why this boy never comes home where he belongs. Look Patrick; please, don’t be tray us.

Patrick :

No, no !

Phineas :

Come on. Let’s go and enjoy Jethro’s show. I don’t often have the pleasure of a car. (They go laughing).

(In the show, they meet other friend and sit on the some table with them).

Phineas :

Patrick, let us buy something, or you need Neria’s permission, to buy beer.

Patrick :

No, What ?

Phineas :

He died ! He died a couple of months now.

Patrick :

What happened  ?

Phineas :

No one really knows.

Friend :

He had heart attack, Phineas. The doctors confirmed that !

Phineas :

Come one, fit man ! Look, there is a fishy story there. You know, the last time we were together, he told us he had just written a will. After a while we know he is dead.

Friend 1 :

He probably know that he didn’t have long to live; so, he wrote a will  : What is wrong with that ?

Phineas :

I don’t think it’s that simple !

Patrick :

Phineas, what do you mean  ?

Phineas :

You don’t understand ? He must have told his that he had just written a will !

Patrick :

So; Why do you think she could kill him ?

Phineas :

For money, of course ! The money !

Patrick :

But he earns money to take care of the family ! If he is dead, there will be no more money coming.

Phineas :

Patrick, I’m beginning to get worried about you  ! You put too much faith in there women ! I suppose, when you and Neria got married, you wrote a will !

Patrick :

No  ! ! ! We don’t have a will. But, that’s a good idea !

Patrick He is still young, you know  !

Friend 2 : Yeah ; very young  !

( Patrick comes back to the table ).

Phineas :

Come on, guys  ! Let forget about these awkward stories and celebrate ! (Mean while, a girl comes to ask him for a dance, she confuses him with a friend of hers).

Girl :

Charly  ! Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you were Charly.

Phineas :

(He looks dazed) :  That’s strange  ! You know, you look like a friend of mine too.

How about a dance please   ? (And he immediately Patrick and the friends are astonished. They laugh).

(At night is sitting round the fire with her grand children and Patrick is in the car with his young brother Phineas, going back home).

Shingi :

Ambuya, please, tell us one more story; please  !

Mavis :

yes, Ambuya, please, tell us one more.

Ambuya :

Alright, alright, alright  !

Once upon a time, there was a poor man and poor women. The man was called Charly Mukaranga.

( Mean while, Patrick is telling his drunk busthen the some story in the car ).

Ambuya :

( The story continues)  : Charly decided to go to town to look for work and learn money to send home. But he could not find the job. But, when Charly was away, his wife worked hard, grooving crops as she was young and without child, and Charly was away. She soon found out that she had more food that she could even give the while village food to eat. So, she sold some at the market.

Patrick :

( Telling the story)  : With her money from …, she bought goats, chickens, almost everything.

Phineas :

Why are you telling me all this, Patrick.

Patrick :

Phineas, there’s a point to every story.

Phineas :

get to it, Patrick, get to it.

(At home, Ambuya with her grand children).

Shingi :

Did she buy any cattle   ?

Phineas

Patrick, since when does one loose brothers, except in death.

( Patrick and his young brother begin singing in the car; Ambuya and her grand Children are home, singing as well. Phineas and they join the atmosphere).

( In the morning, Neria and Maria, Patrick wife, at the water stream ).

Neria :

Why don’t you just come sometimes when Phineas comes.

Maria :

Are you forking  ? Phineas, Phineas might be going any time. He keeps me here. He has got his other women in town.

Neria :

Why don’t you come at home.

Maria :

At home ? He found out then he threw me out   ? Then where would I go ?

( Neria slips and the calabash falls from her and it’s broken ).

(At home, Patrick is sitting outside and Ambuya, his mother comes to sit near him).

Ambuya :

In town, you are always so busy. Though Ma Mavis, she can’t keep a good house hold in the city.

Patrick :

It’s difficult sometimes.

Ambuya :

Why can’t you just come home   ? And live here   ?

Patrick :

( He laughs)  : Aehehehe  ! we can’t Amoye  !we have built a life there. A home,

Patrick :

Don’t worry Amoye, sometimes I don’t understand it too.

( Patrick begins remembering when they were sitting on a rock with Neria, not married yet; still friends).

Neria :

When I’m here with you, it’s like we never lived.

Patrick :

It’s a special place, darling.  Our hearts will always be here.

( Patrick goes to visit the star with Phineas ).

Patrick :

It is almost empty !

Phineas :

Not an more !

Patrick :

Phineas, aren’t we making a dead horse ?

Phineas :

You are talking about the shop that prayed Neria’s bride price  ?

It’s hard to make a profit where a hungry family eats up all the store.

( At night, Neria and Patrick in their bedroom, sitting on the bed, Patrick is reading a book. Neria touches in her case and brings their wedding photo).

Neria :

Patrick, look. I had forgotten this was in hers. I will take it home.

Patrick :

(Touching Neria’s shoulders a learning her on his chest)  : You something ? I’m a lucky man  ! How many mew have a women who works so hard and still look so beautiful ? If we have enough after we finish pointing, lets buy that bull for Phineas.  It would please my mother.

Neria :

Why not ? If it stops Amaye blessing me for everything !

Patrick

You understand everything.

( They smile. They both are happy, then they sleep ).

(The following day, in the morning, they go back to the city. Already home, Patrick wants to go work but car has a problem. It can’t move. So, he is obliged to take a bicycle).

Patrick :

(To Neria)  : I’ll send Jimmy to look at the car. If I’m delayed, tell him to go right ahead. I’ll pass to the shop and pick up the glass.

Neria :

Will you manage with the bicycle ?

( Patrick goes and Neria takes her way to the women’s crocheting cooperative. He meets her friend Connie on their way).

Neria :

(To Connie) :  You are right. Patrick’s mother was so happy to see me standing all time doing house work. For Phineas, making demands as usual. (They see a big snake in front of them ; they shout and run back from where they are from).

Connie :

Shadow  !

Neria :

I hate snakes.

Connie :

What’s the nature of that   ?

Neria :

I don’t know  !

Neria :

Avoid those Nories ! (Connie stays dazed).

Neria :

Connie, what is wrong  ?

Connie :

Nothing.

( At work ).

Connie :

( Fails to work)  : It terrifies me  !

Therida

( She stands up quickly)  : Eeeh ! I don’t want to see any of you here  !

( Neria at hers, waiting for her husband. She has already made the table but her husband can’t come. She hears somebody outside and thinks that it’s Patrick, so, she goes outside quickly but she finds not home. It’s the mechanic, Jimmy who comes to repair the car).

Jimmy :

Hello ma Mavis. How are you ?

Neria :

Alright.

Jimmy :

Rhum ! So ?

Neria :

Patrick should be here. He is very hate !

Jimmy :

Well !

Neria :

He sayed, you should have started with the car.

Jimmy :

Anyway, That’s just the reason why I am here !

( Neria goes back in the house and Jimmy goes towards the car ).

Jimmy :

(Calling Neria). Mama … (Neria comes outside).

Jimmy :

It was just a small problem.

( Neria doesn’t answer. She goes towards the gate and sees Connie on the rood.

When Connie sees her, she runs back and Neria runs after her shouting).

Neria :

Connie, what’s wrong  ?

(Jimmy sends the children to bring hem water and soap so that he can wash his hands. The place where Neria and Connie were running to, they find Patrick short dead, heat by a car. The bereavement begins in Patrick’s house. Ambuya and Patrick’s relatives arrive from the village).

Ambuya :

( At the fence gate)  : I won’t go in.  I didn’t ever want to come here. A witch lives here. A witch ! One of Neria’s friends goes outside to take Neria mother-in-low by the hand but she refuses. Ambuya sits down not wanting to arrive in the house. Other persons come to help her in. When they are in the living room morning Patrick, Phineas is already in his brother’s bedroom, steals all Neria’s money and takes his brother’s clothes. Then all of the persons go to the village for the bur_ial.

Phineas :

( Talking to his brother Joël)  : So, how long can you stay ?