Broken Vows – Episode 7 (Finale)

BROKEN VOWS EPISODE 7 FINALE

Location: THE DIVORCE COURT

The stranger looks at the faces of his listeners with a great grin on his face.

They all look stunned.

Naa Shormei is visibly the worst affected as tears slowly course down face.

Afia is staring, horrified, shaking her head numbly.

AFIA

(shattered)

She died? They killed that poor lady? Oh, Lord! That is so sad!! My heart is broken!

NAA SHORMEI

(weeping)

Please, this can’t be! Oh, please! Tell me it’s just fiction! This is terrible!

TAKYI

(shaken)

C’mon, sir! You mean these wicked people got away with the murder of that poor Christian woman and took her money? No, it’s fiction! I won’t believe it’s real! That is not a good story, sir! It is a tragedy!

The stranger laughs softly and reaches for another apple from his bowl.

THE STRANGER

Life is full of unfair circumstances, my friends! That is what you must always keep in mind! You see how two people faced the same ugly situation you are facing now, and reacted in such an entirely different way? Anyway, my friends, my time is way spent. I must be on my way, so let me tell you the conclusion of the matter quickly and be on my way home!

NAA SHORMEI

(shaking her head)

No, no, no! Enough! I don’t want to hear more! It is a terrible story!

THE STRANGER

Of course it is, dear, of course it is! But then again, every story, no matter how nice or beautiful, has some terrible aspects too. Right, where was I? Oh, yes, Yaw Kuntu. Well, he got drunk again and slept. The next morning, he left a message for Adwoa Timtim on her phone, then a written one in the hotel room, left for the hospital to identify the dead body of his wife, Mrs. Kwansema Kuntu…

TAKYI

(devastated)

What a terrible turn of events. I’m sure that Uncle Ato turned out to be Adwoa’s lover!

Location: THE EDEN HOSPITAL

Yaw Kuntu was taken to the consulting room of DOCTOR OSSOM KATOTO.

He identified himself, and the doctor tried to counsel him, his demeanour sad and strangely uptight.

YAW KUNTU

(calmly)

I’m okay, really, Doctor. Please, can I go and see the body of my dear Kwansema?

DOCTOR KATOTO

(frowning, puzzled)

Kwansema? Is that one of your wife’s names?

YAW KUNTU

(sighing)

Yes. Her only name. Mrs. Kwansema Kuntu.

The doctor looked at the folder on his desk and looked at Yaw, his frown deepening, his face looking confused.

DOCTOR KATOTO

(confused)

Okay. I see. But something must be wrong, somewhere. The name we have on this folder isn’t Kwansema…she is listed as Adwoa. Adwoa Timtim, to be precise.

Kuntu’s body jerked as if a thousand bullets were entering his body.

He gasped and began to sweat suddenly, his whole body going extremely cold.

YAW KUNTU

(dazed)

What? WHAT DID YOU SAY, DOCTOR?

DOCTOR KATOTO

(alarmed)

Calm down, calm down, sir!

Yaw Kuntu got to his feet and grabbed the doctor by the lapels, shaking him hard.

YAW KUNTU

(screaming)

DON’T YOU f**k WITH ME, DOCTOR!! WHAT DID YOU SAY? REPEAT WHAT YOU SAID!!!

DOCTOR KATOTO

(scared)

Please, please, please!! Calm down! I just said the name your wife used to check in is Adwoa Timtim, not Kwansema Kuntu, sir!

Yaw Kuntu threw the doctor against the wall and suddenly dropped to his knees, sweating profusely, unable to breathe!

YAW KUNTU

(wailing)

No, no, no, no!! You liar! YOU BLOODY LIAR!! NOT ADWOA!! OH, LORD, NOOOOOOO!! YOU LIAR!!!

And just then the doctor’s office door opened, and a distinguished man with grey hair and beard walked in.

He was dressed in very black attire, and his face was mean as he looked at Yaw Kuntu.

That man’s name was ATO DADZIE.

He was Kwansema’s friend and colleague at the law firm. He and Kwansema were senior partners of the firm, and he had always been coming to visit Kwansema at home.

Ato Dadzie had really never liked Yaw, and the feeling was mutual because Yaw Kuntu hated Ato fiercely.

With a bleak expression on his face, Ato Dadzie closed the door, leaned against it, and regarded Kuntu through his spectacles.

ATO DADZIE

(sadly)

They’re not lying, Yaw. It is true. Adwoa Timtim is dead!

Yaw Kuntu screamed in agony!

He got to his feet and pulled a filing cabinet down, ripped off a television mounted on the wall and threw it across the office in his pain.

YAW KUNTU

No, no, NOOOOO! HOW DID YOU KNOW, ATO? HOW THE f**k DID YOU KNOW A.T.?

Ato folded his arms across his chest and looked at Kuntu without pity.

ATO DADZIE

(fiercely)

Adwoa was my niece, Yaw. Her late mother was my sister. Has she ever mentioned an Uncle Ato to you?

Yaw got to his feet, trembling, his face screwed up with pain and horror and everything in-between.

YAW KUNTU

(agonized)

You? YOU? YOU’RE THE UNCLE SHE WAS TAKING ME TO MEET IN ACCRA??

ATO DADZIE

Yes, my friend. On Saturday she told me she had arrived in Accra. I had promised her some time ago to take her to my new home, and so I picked her up at the hotel. I was taking her to my new home, but I had some documents that Kwansema needed. Thus I told Adwoa I was taking some documents to a friend, and then we would continue our journey.

When I got to your place Kwansema informed me that you already left for a symposium. I gave her the documents, and commented that there was a nice jollof aroma in house. She laughed and told me you prepared some jollof rice for her before leaving. She knew I loved jollof, and so she went to the kitchen to get me some, and soon after she came back with packaged jollof.

Trust Kwansema for a kind heart! Although she was so hungry, she packaged the jollof for me, because evidently you didn’t cook a lot. So she gave me hers, saying she didn’t really feel for jollof but noodles instead. I took the jollof to the car where Adwoa Timtim was waiting, planning to eat it when we got home.

YAW KUNTU

(wailing, broken, shattered)

No, no, no, no!!! NO NO, NOOOOO!!!

ATO DADZIE

(fiercely)

Yes, yes, yes! You filthy little bas***d! Adwoa began eating the jollof the moment she saw it, because she was hungry, and the jollof smelled good! She didn’t know then that I knew you, or that Kwansema was a tight friend! Twenty minutes later she began having palpitations after eating the food!

She couldn’t breathe! I brought her to thevhospital, but I called Kwansema on the way to the hospital. When Adwoa heard that name she asked if I was speaking to Kwansema Kuntu, whether it was her home we visited! I confirmed it, and then, weeping, she told me about the terrible and wicked evil plan she hatched with you to ki*ll Kwansema! She died barely thirty minutes after we got her to the hospital. You vile murderer!

.

****************

Location: THE DIVORCE COURT

BAILIFF

(loudly)

The Honourable Judge Kwansema Quaicoe sitting…court riiiiise!

As the families of Takyi and Afia get to their feet, the two of them exchange startled looks.

Naa Shormei gasps besides Afia, and they all stare at the beautiful elderly judge who had been sitting on their case for almost a year now.

She sits down, and looks at them with a kind smile on her face.

JUDGE KWANSEMA QUAICOE

Please have a seat.

They all sit down, but Afia Agyeibea remains standing.

Suddenly she rushes forward and stands in front of the Judge, looking at her, her heart beating with unconcealed wonder and amazement.

AFIA

Judge Kwansema? Kwansema Quaicoe?

The Judge looks at her with an amused smile on her lips.

JUDGE KWANSEMA QUAICOE

Mrs. Barima, is this the first time you have heard my name? We’ve been here for almost a year!

AFIA

(subdued)

I know, Your Honour, but please indulge me because I’ve just heard a most incredible tale, and I thought it was all a fairy tale of sorts. Please are you married to a man called Kweku Quicoe?

The judge laughs softly to herself then.

JUDGE KWANSEMA QUAICOE

Yes, my dear, I am. He has the name of a misfit, yes, but I can assure you he is a most remarkable man, and I wouldn’t exchange him for all the men in the world… and I definitely won’t divorce him if he confesses to me that he had been unfaithful, although I know he’ll never be capable of that. But I would probably poke out both of his eyes, though.

There is general laughter in the courtroom.

Takyi moves forward and stands besides his wife.

He is equally humbled, staring at the judge with unbridled wonder.

TAKYI

And you were once called Kwansema Kuntu, married to the late Mr. Yaw Kuntu?

The judge now looks startled, and a worried little frown puckers her brow.

JUDGE KWANSEMA QUAICOE

Well now, as true as that is, I’m beginning to freak out a little here. What’s going on? Where did you hear all that?

AFIA

Please, please! We don’t want to bother you! And you’re now living with the mother of your first husband, named Madam… oh, pardon me, I forgot her name.

JUDGE KWANSEMA QUAICOE

Madam Nyinaa, yes, my former mother-in-law, but she’s more of a mother to me now. Is there a place this sudden interest is headed?

Afia Agyeibea is weeping now.

AFIA

We heard your story from a total stranger outside, Your Honour, and it removed the dust from my eyes, and inspired me to give my marriage another chance.

The beautiful woman smiles beautifully.

JUDGE KWANSEMA QUAICOE

Well now, isn’t that simply great?

Takyi Barima and all the people present are whooping with joy.

He sweeps Afia into his arms, and tears stream down his face.

TAKYI

Oh, Afia my love, my breath, my everything! Thank you, thank you, my love! I’m so sorry for hurting you! So, so, so sorry! Please, Afia, it will never, ever, ever happen again!

Afia is weeping as she winds her arms around his neck and kisses him deeply.

More whoops of joy!

Adobea screams, runs forward and hugs her parents.

AFIA

(tremulously)

If you ever repeat that again, I’ll poke out your eyes!

JUDGE KWANSEMA QUAICOE

(smiling)

Call me, dear. I’ll help you blast out his eyes!

They all laugh again.

ADOBEA

Thank you, Jesus! Thank you God Lord!

JUDGE KWANSEMA QUAICOE

(puzzled)

And the man that told my story to you. Where is he?

TAKYI

Sitting at the lounge, ma’am.

JUDGE KWANSEMA QUAICOE

(curiously)

Bring him in. I want to see him!

Laughing and happy and extremely relieved, Mr. and Mrs. Barima rush towards the entrance with Adobea behind them.

But of course, by the time they all come out, the stranger is long gone.

There is no sign of him.

He seemed to have vanished into thin air!

AFIA

(totally disappointed, tearful)

Oh, he left. Thank you, stranger, whoever you are! GOD BLESS YOU!!

TAKYI

(unsteadily, gratified)

I’M INDEBTED TO YOU MAN! Thank you very much for saving my life! Whoever you are, dear Stranger, we thank you. We thank you very much!

The End of BROKEN VOWS

©Aaron Ansah-Agyeman

All Rights Reserved.

 

ALL EPISODES