love and betrayal episode 43

??Love and betrayal ??
?? ???????
??Episode 43??
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From U.S Bah ❤✌?

Effe rides the elevator to the ground
floor.
Eyram and her father are beside her.
She has just been discharged by the new
CEO of Eden Hospital, Doctor Gabriel
Anaman, and asked to take things cool
and slow.
She is still terribly worried.
Mr. Ntim has called her early in the morning that Chris would be discharged
from his private hospital that evening.
He said Chris plans to travel outside the
country the next night for a very long
time. Mr. Ntim promised he would come
for Effe and take her to see Chris early in the morning.
When they get to the ground floor they
exit the elevator, cross the reception and
go outside towards the car park.

KEN KEDEM
Wait here, my dears, whilst I go and bring the car.

EFFE
(smiling)
I’m okay, Daddy. I’m fine!

KEN KEDEM
You stay put, young lady! Let that granddaughter inside there rest for me!
Effe and Eyram both laugh.

EFFE
I don’t want a girl now, Daddy! First a boy,
a junior for my Chris, and then a girl!

KEN KEDEM
A girl! A girly! Girly, girly, girly, girl!!!

They all laugh, and then Effe’s eyes fall
on the hu-ge, pink building across the car
park.
The EDEN ASYLUM
The laughter dies from her face and her face suddenly becomes sad.
She looks at her father and sister.

EFFE
Can you guys wait for me, for a while?
There’s something I must do.

EYRAM
(looking concerned)
What, Ef? Something about Chris?

EFFE
No, Rammy. Elaine. I haven’t seen her
since she was taken to the Asylum for
post-partum psychosis. I think I must see her.
She’s still family, you know? I’m
going to see her!

KEN KEDEM
(horrified)
My sweet pumpkin, are you absolutely
out of your mind? That girl hated you,
even when she was sane! Now that she’s
raving-mad, the sight of you could make
her go absolutely bonkers and attack
you!

EFFE
Dad! She’s not mad! She’s just sick!

KEN KEDEM
What sick? The hospital is for sick
people. Asylum means madness! She can
hit you with something! Look, we’re all
sorry for her, but come on… don’t do this!

EFFE
(sadly)
I must, Dad, I must. To err, they say, is
human, and to forgive, divine. I’m going
to see her! She nee-ds all the love that
she can get. That’s the only medicine for
her condition.

Eyram and Ken exchange glances, but
they know nothing will distract Effe once
her mind is made up.

KEN KEDEM
Fine, fine, fine! But I’m coming with you!

EYRAM
Yeah, me too!

They pas-s throu-ghthe formalities at the
EDEN ASYLUM.
Since Effe is well-known and loved, they
are ushered into the serene gardens of
the asylum. Some of the inmates are here, being
attended to by caring nurses.
The doctor in charge is a portly fifty-eight-year-old
veteran called Dr. JOE DUNCAN.

JOE DUNCAN
I’m glad you’re here, Effe. Elaine’s
malaise is a very complex one, and I
believe you’re key to her healing. I left
voice messages for you. I even booked
an appointment with your Secretary, and
she fixed me for tomorrow.

The garden is very beautiful indeed. The
objects are few, but the green park is
wide and well-kept. There are benches
and huts, and miniature animal statues.

EFFE
Really? Sorry. Things have been a bit hectic for me.

KEN KEDEM
You sure Effe is safe here, Doctor? I
don’t trust the people here at all! I just
saw a woman screaming in the corridor
that her pe-nis is missing!

EFFE
Dad!

EYRAM
Daddy!

JOE DUNCAN
(unsmiling) Really, Mr. Kedem!

KEN KEDEM
But it’s true! See that man over there with
the bald head who’s looking over his
shoulder and trying to see something at
his back? I asked if I could help him,
because I thought his back was itching
him, or there’s something there! Do you
know what he said? He told me he’s just
trying to ki-ss his bu-ttocks and see if his
bu-ttocks will marry him! What kind of
madness is-

EFFE/EYRAM
DAD!!!

Joe Duncan stops walking and looks at
Ken Kedem with ba-rely restrained anger.

JOE DUNCAN
Do you realize, Mr. Kedem that you’re INSIDE an ASYLUM, and things here are
a bit different from what pertains outside
this building?

KEN KEDEM
That’s what I’m talking about, Sir! Is this
place safe for my daughters?

JOE DUNCAN
I can as-sure you, Mr. Kedem, that your
daughters are perfectly safe!

Effe puts a hand on Dr. Duncan’s arm.

EFFE
Please, doctor, don’t take my father’s words to heart.

Joe Duncan nods and gives Ken Kedem a
very dark look.

JOE DUNCAN
Here, Elaine is just over there.

They find Elaine dressed in a pretty pink dress, and not one of the white gowns of
the inmates.
She’s sitting un-der the shade of a tree,
and she is making drawings in a drawing
book.
She does not look up when the little group of people reach her.
Effe sees that the drawings are all
pictures of headless babies, and her
heart immediately goes to Elaine, and
gentle tears prick her eyes.

EFFE
(whispering) Can I speak to her?

JOE DUNCAN
(nodding)
Elaine, dear, look who’s here to visit you.

Elaine does not mind him, but turns a
new page and starts sketching another baby.

EYRAM
(gently)
How’re you, Elaine baby?

She still does not respond.

KEN KEDEM
Well, we tried. Can we leave now, before
somebody comes and tries to marry my
bu-ttocks?

JOE DUNCAN
(irritated)
What at all is wrong with you, mister?

KEN KEDEM
(irritated too)
I’ve never seen a more impatient doctor
like you ever!

Effe slowly sits down besides Elaine, and
speaks.

EFFE
Elaine, hello!

Elaine goes rigid suddenly. Her whole
body becomes so still as if she is carved
from stone.
She remains like that for a very long time, and she does not look up.
Effe looks at the doctor, concerned.
Joe Duncan motions to her to go on
speaking.

EFFE
Well, I’m sorry I’ve not been able to come and see you until now, Elaine!

Elaine grips the colour pen she is using
so ti-ghtly that veins stand out on her
arms.
Suddenly she begins to tremble quite
violently, and she shakes her head fiercely.

KEN KEDEM
(scared)
She’s starting, Effe! She’s beginning to
CHARGE, dear, you better-

JOE DUNCAN
(angrily cutting in)
Oh, just shut up already!!! Haaaaba! If
you can’t stand the heat just get out!

KEN KEDEM
(also angrily)
Are you sure you’re a doctor? Are you sure your patience level is apt for an
establishment like this?

EFFE
You’re still my sister, Elaine. Yes, I was
angry at you at first, but it all turned out
beautifully, and I came to say I love you!
Elaine looks up suddenly, and her face is
screwed up with emotion! She is
remorseful, she is scared, and she is
crying.

ELAINE
No, Effe, you don’t love me!
You don’t miss me! I’m terrible! I did you wrong!
You hate me! Go away, you hate me! YOU
HAAAATE MEEEEE!!

Effe is crying now, and she holds out her
arms to Elaine.

EFFE
Oh, Elly! I don’t hate you! I can never
hate you, dear! I hate seeing you like this!
I love you, Elly! I love you! Whatever
happened is behind me now, and I can’t
hate you, dear!

ELAINE
(shaking her head violently, weeping)
Nooooo! Noooo!! NOOOOOOO!!! DON’T
LOVE ME! HATE ME, EFFE, DON’T LOVE
ME. HATE MEEEEE!!!!

She moves away from Effe, scrambling
on her bu-ttocks, shouting and screaming.
Effe feels a touch on her shoulders and
looks up. It is Eyram, and she’s pointing
at Doctor Duncan.
The doctor is standing behind Elaine,
holding a piece of paper on which he has
written some words hastily in block letters:
TELL HER YOU HAVE FORGIVEN HER.
Effe leans forward and grabs Elaine’s
hands.

EFFE
I forgive you, Elaine! I’ve forgiven you!!

Elaine goes very still, but the tears are
like great rivers that fall down her cheeks.
Effe has never seen such a torrential
outpour of tears ever in her life, and it
burns her heart to the core.

ELAINE
(in a little lost voice)
You forgive me, Effe? You really forgive
me?

EFFE
Oh, Elly! Yes, yes, yes! I’ve forgiven you!!
I’m not holding anything against you!

ELAINE
And I’m still your sister, Effe? Am I still
your favourite?

EYRAM
(scowling)
Huh?

Doctor Duncan touches Eyram’s arm.

JOE DUNCAN
(whispering)
Please. Please.

EFFE
You’ve never stopped being my sister, Elly.
But you know Eyram is my fav! That
one I’ve never lied to you about that! But
you’re my second fav, as I always tell
you, Elly!

Elaine suddenly smiles, and it is a
beautiful smile, but the tears still flow,
like a burst dam that cannot be plugged.

ELAINE
Yes, Rammy is fav, then Elly is second
fav!

EFFE
(also smiling) Then you, Elly, then you!
Suddenly Elaine rushes forward and
hu-gs Effe fiercely, and she begins to
bawl very loudly in a heart-breaking way.

KEN KEDEM
Ei! Why is she screaming like that?
What have you been giving her?

ELAINE
Effe! I sinned against you! I was greedy
and ungrateful and evil! Forgive me Effe,
please forgive me!! I took your husband!
Forgive me, please forgive me!
I slapped you! Forgive me Effe, please forgive me! I
insulted you! Forgive me Effe, please
forgive me! I –

KEN KEDEM
Ei! My God! She can’t stop!!

JOE DUNCAN
(shouting)
Mr. Kedem! You’re really trying my
patience!!!

Effe pats Elaine’s back and hu-gs her
ti-ghtly.

EFFE
I hold nothing against you, Elaine!! I’ve
forgiven you! I love you.

Even Eyram is crying now.
Doctor Duncan takes out his hankie and
dabs at his eyes. Ken Kedem squints at
the doctor with an expression of shock on his face.

KEN KEDEM
What? Are you also crying? Are you
kidding me? What’s the matter with you?
Are you sure you’re a qualified doctor?

There is sudden applause,
and Effe realizes quite suddenly that they are
surrounded by quite a number of the
staff.

ELAINE
Thank you, Effe! Thank you so much!!

JOE DUNCAN
(heaving a great sigh)
Well, that’s the end of the battle.

EFFE
(wiping her tears)
She’s okay. Right?

Elaine takes a look around her,
and suddenly she scowls slightly.

ELAINE
Where am I?

JOE DUNCAN
Well, come with me, dear. I nee-d to have
a little conversation with you.

ELAINE
(looking suddenly scared)
What’s happening, Effe? Where am I?

EFFE
(hu-gging Elaine again)
Trust me, go with Doctor Duncan.
He can explain better.

ELAINE
(uneasy)
You will be here, please?

EFFE
I’m not going anywhere without you, Elaine.
I’ll be waiting right here.

Doctor Duncan takes Elaine’s hand and
slowly walks away with her.
The staff present applaud again, and
they begin to shake Effe’s hand one after
the other. Ken Kedem is staring at one woman in
particular. She is a tall, slim staff, and she
is extraordinarily beautiful although she
is elderly.
Her eyes are very sad indeed, and she
turns away slowly. When she begins to walk away, Ken
quickly grabs Effe’s arm.

KEN KEDEM
(in an awed voice)
Effe, Effe, darling, did you see that
woman? He is pointing, and Effe looks at the back
of the retreating woman, and a little
frown breaks her face.

EFFE
No, Dad. What about her?

KEN KEDEM
Come with me! Come with me quickly!!

The woman is headed for a little hut
where an inmate, a woman, is trying to
lic-k her own elbow.
Ken Kedem quickly catches up with the
woman, touches her arm, and stops.
The woman turns around slowly, and
when Effe sees her face she goes cold all
of a sudden, and goose pimples cover
her whole body.
Eyram, who is also following, gasps with
absolute shock!

EYRAM
My God! My Sweet Jesus!!!

The woman looks at them with
uncomprehending eyes.

STRANGE WOMAN
What’s wrong now?

The three people cannot speak at first.
The woman’s face looks exactly like Chris Bawa.
Effe knows, even before speaking,
that she is looking at the mother of Chris Eden Bawa.

To be continued….