Bebe’ Muke’

YINDJA is now a man in his mid-twenties. He is very handsome and very tall. He is now a successful engineer in the city of Kinshasa. We see Yindja followed by his kinsmen as he approaches the front door of the Demonja house. As they walk along, the local villagers come outside to the streets following behind the men curious to know their business and who they've come to see. Yindja gives three loud knocks at the door. Andre’ who'd been sitting in the front room, rises to answer the door. ANDRE’ (reaching for the door) Who is it? YINDJA Yindja Wembo, of the Opombo village. I've come to take my daughter home. ANDRE’ (opening the door) Who? Displaying marked surprise upon seeing Yindja's face.  ANDRE’  You! YINDJA Yes me. I have come to claim my child of which I have been deprived of for the last eight years. At this time YaBazil is coming down the hall. YABAZIL Andre’ who is it? Who comes to visit so early in the day? Andre’ steps to the side revealing the visitor at the door. YaBazil recognizes him immediately and steps outside closing the door behind him. YABAZIL How dare you show yourself here! I can see that you have moved up in life. Did you think that your status would forgive the sins of your youth? No matter. Josephine is married now, to a professor from the university. I'm afraid you've wasted your time, and your fine clothes. YINDJA Yes it is true, my lot in this life has changed. But I did not return for Josephine as you suspect. In fact, I would have come a lot sooner were it not for this change. I have come to you fully prepared in every way to claim my daughter. Since we last met I have earned a degree in engineering and now live in the city of Kinshasa. I am well equipped to provide for my child and because of this I am here to claim a fathers right. YABAZIL What? No! It has been our burden for the last eight years now to provide for your daughter. As you well know this is no small matter. We fed her, clothed her, and supplied her every need. We have invested a great deal in her as a daughter in the Demonja house. How can you then propose to come in and steal the cow that we fattened? Who you are now and what you have is of no consequence to us. We are well  YABAZIL (CONT'D) within our rights. The child will stay here. YINDJA I am not the boy I once was of many years ago. I will not be cast aside as in my earlier days. I have come prepared for such a response as this and I tell you the truth, I will not go on without my child. To deny me my right, is to loose a wild beast. I am crouching at your doorstep. Tell me then, What shall I do? YABAZIL (obviously shaken) Come now, do not be unreasonable. We only meant to express our great expenses in raising the child. You cannot deny such a hardship. How then can you remain noble and within right to demand another man's crop which he's tended and cared for? And not just me but our entire house! We have all invested in the care of the child. YINDJA If repayment is what you seek, repayment you shall have. What is your price? YABAZIL Friend, you have come upon us unexpectedly today. A calculation of this measure is a task too great for this hour on this porch. Give us some time to meet with our elders and determine a price, and then we shall send for  you. YINDJA Fine. Agree upon your terms. I will expect to hear from you soon. Yindja then turns away from him and starts back down the path from which he came while the men with him follow close behind. Ì We see Bebe’ waking from her sleep and crawling out of  bed. She dresses and heads for the kitchen where she finds Ekindo and Mama’ Veronic’ standing together talking in hushed voices. BEBE’ Good morning. The two women turn to see Bebe and separate quickly to return to their usual kitchen duties. Each one obviously trying to hide the mornings earlier events. MAMA’ VERONIC’ Good morning Bebe. Did you sleep well?  BEBE’ Well enough I guess. EKINDO Hungry? BEBE’ Not really. MAMA’ VERONIC’ Oh come now child, sit, eat. Bebe’ seeing from the window a lot of people in the road becomes anxious to go outside. BEBE’ No thank you Mama’. Then hurrying off to the front door she speaks to them without looking back. BEBE’ (continuing) BEBE (CONT'D) Supposed to build a nest with Anyese for an egg we found. Be back soon, bye. As she heads for the door she can see her uncles in a back room conversing. Bebe’ steps outside looking around for the cause of all this commotion when she sees Anyese, Mami’ and Coset’ calling to her. ANYESE Bebe’ come  here. BEBE’ What's going on? COSET’ Bebe’ did you know your father  came here this morning looking for you? MAMI’ My Papa said, he came to take you  to live with him but your uncle would not allow it. ANYESE Your father lives in Kinshasa. He works there as an engineer and by the way he was dressed,he's probably rich too. BEBE’ What? We hear COSET'S MOTHER calling. COSET'S MOTHER (O.S.) Coset’! Coset’! Your mukate’ is ready! COSET’ (yelling) Yes Mama’, coming! Then turning to her friends. COSET’(CONT’) Come on, my mother has made mukate’, lets go get some. Coset’, Mami’ and Anyese dash off to Coset's house. Bebe’ stays behind still not comprehending exactly what happened at her fathers visit. As she tries to make sense of she's been told she starts walking down the road towards the cemetery.