Jailbird
Episode 6
Elaine wheels on him, her face filled with the wrath of
a real angry woman.
ELAINE
Don’t tell me to calm down! You’re not the one who
got raped! I don’t care what it takes, but I’m going
make sure Chris Bawa is taken back to jail to serve the
rest of his sentence! You watch me!
She picks up her handbag and snatches her car keys
from a hook on the wall.
She storms out of the house without another word.
Steve walks to the beautifully-designed bar and pours
himself a tall glass of scotch.
He uses a spatula to scoop ice from an ice bucket into
his drink.
He swirls it thoughtfully and drinks half of it.
STEVE
Want a drink, Princess?
Effe shakes her head. She walks almost unsteadily to an
immaculately-finished sofa and sits down.
Steve watches her carefully.
STEVE
Is he going to be a problem for us?
Effe looks at him almost numbly.
EFFE
What?
STEVE
Chris. He’s back. He used to be your husband, and
my best friend. I was his best man at your wedding.
You’ve divorced him, and we’re planning our wedding.
Now he’s back. I want to know if he’s going to be a
problem to our plans.
Effe looks at him for a long time, and then she stands
up and walks towards him.
She stands very close to him. Her eyes are steady as
she looks at him.
EFFE
Chris is dead to me, Steve. I chose you. You and I
were friends before he came along. Your parents and my
parents have always wanted you and I to marry, to seal
the friendship that has existed between our two families
for ages. You went to school, brought your school mate
home, and I ended up falling in love with your friend.
He turned the script on its head, and strained the
relationship between our two families. He had his
chance, and he not only humiliated me, he tore my
heart to shreds. You were there, you helped me, and
you were a rock and a fortress for me. Finally, we’ve
decided to get together again. I keep my promises,
Steve. Chris is dead to me. And I will marry you!
Steve smiles with happiness. He empties his glass and
sets it down.
A step brings him close to Effe. He takes her in his
arms, and she does not protest when he kisses her.
However, when his hand moves up to cup her delicious
right bre@st, she stands back away from him, and
shakes her head sadly.
STEVE
(exasperated and sad)
Why, Effe? Why? He’s out now! I saw the way he
looked at you! We need to make love, Effe, my
darling! You need to give me that assurance! You need
to be mine in every way, so that it makes you
committed! I was prepared to wait until our wedding
before touching you, but you said it yourself: Chris is
back, and he’s turned the script on its head! Let me
make love to you, my darling! I love you so, Effe.
Tears brim in Effe’s eyes as she takes another step back
from him.
EFFE
(tremulously)
I can’t Steve, darling! You know I can’t!
STEVE
(hurt, pained)
And why the hell not, Effe? Why? Are you still
playing games with me? Does he affect you that much?
D–n it! Why not?
EFFE
(voice trembling)
Oh, Steve! No, he doesn’t affect me! But you know
me. I’m a hundred percent faithful to my partner!
Before I make love to you my marriage to Chris must
end!
STEVE
(exasperated)
But it has ended! You have been granted your divorce by
the court! You have signed the d–n papers! What else
do you need?
EFFE
(voice breaking down)
Oh, Steve! Please don’t do this! You know Chris
refused to sign the divorce papers! Until he signs them,
I’m still his wife, much as I hate it, and I can’t be
unfaithful in that capacity!
STEVE
That is bullsht, darling, and you d–n well know it!
Once the divorce was granted you’re free! You don’t
need his signature! Once you’ve signed yours, it’s
over! Hell, are you saying if he refuses to sign the
d–n papers in twenty years you still wouldn’t marry
me? That’s a d–n excuse!
EFFE
I want him to sign those divorce papers, darling. You
know me well, and you know how important some little
things like these are to me.
STEVE
For five years I told you to take the d–n papers to him
in prison and make him sign them, but you refused to
visit him in prison! So what are you going to do if he
refuses to sign the papers? Check into the nearest
Catholic Church as a nun, maybe?
EFFE
(in pain)
Stop hurting me, Steve, please! Look, it’s good he’s
back. I’ll send the papers to him myself, and I’ll let
him sign them! And then we’ll get married,
sweetheart.
Steve pours more drink. His hand is not steady, and he
spills some of the drink.
He drinks it straight and walks towards her.
STEVE
Do that, darling. Do that for me. Let’s get married.
I can’t wait any longer, ok?
He brushes his lips against hers, and then he takes his
car keys from the hook.
He turns towards the door.
EFFE
Good night, Steve.
He pauses and looks at her darkly, grinding his teeth.
He is suddenly so filled with fury that it shocks her.
STEVE
(in a furious snarl)
Oh, it’s like that now, is it?
EFFE
(puzzled)
Like what? What’re you talking about?
STEVE
Instead of ‘Good night, darling’ you now say ‘Good
night, Steve’? Just because Chris is back?
She sees that his extreme jealousy has come to the fore.
She is getting angry herself, but she strives to keep her
cool.
EFFE
Stop being childish, Steve. Good night.
He glowers at her for moment, and then he nods and
opens the door furiously, slamming it shut behind him.
Effe sinks into a chair and hugs herself.
She shuts her eyes, and she sees those eyes!
Eyes that had always held love! Eyes that used to
worship her! Eyes that she used to love so much!
Chris’ eyes!
But she sees the shock in them now. The excruciating
pain! The unbelievable explosion of bitter gall as he asks
her again why she had taken a restraining order against
him!
The tears seep beneath her eyelids, and with a tiny cry
of despair she gets up and pours herself a drink.
She takes a sip, and another, and then grimaces with
disgust.
She walks to the beautiful kitchen and pours the drink
down the drain.
She returns to the living-room and picks her phone.
She dials. A grumpy, sleepy voice answers.
It is the voice of JOSHUA DARKWA, their family
attorney of many years.
He is 57 years old, and more of a family member now.
JOSHUA
(sleepily)
Effe, my dear. Is it about that Chris issue ?
EFFE
Sorry to wake you up, Uncle Josh, but yes, it is. Dad
told me he’ll inform you to get Chris out. I was just
wondering if you were able to see to it.
JOSHUA
Well, I tried. It seems the arresting officer walked off
with the key to the cell, and there was no way to get
him out. They promised me, though, that as soon as
the officer returned they would release him.
EFFE
(horrified)
But that’s so unfair, so unlawful! What if they don’t
release him?
JOSHUA
Calm down, my dear. I’m sure they would. Early
tomorrow morning I’ll go over there myself and verify.
EFFE
(softly)
I’ll like to come along, Uncle Josh, if you don’t
mind.
JOSHUA
No problem, dear. I’ll come pick you up.
EFFE
Thank you. Thank you very much.
JOSHUA
Always a pleasure. Please get some sleep now.
Effe walks dejectedly up the stairs to her room. She
undresses and takes a long bath.
Naked, she walks to her bed and slides under the
sheets.
Sleep takes a long time to come, because she keeps
seeing his eyes …filled with pain, filled with torture.
She keeps hearing his voice, over and over again: you
took a restraining order against me?
Why did you do a thing like that?
She buries her head in her pillow. Her shoulders shake
as the sobs slowly rocks through her soul.
EFFE
(sobbing softly)
D–n you, Chris Bawa! D–n you to hell!
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