CAMOUFLAGED SECRETS

ACTS 6, SCENE 3: AVERSION

MEANWHILE OVER TO HOLOI's MAIDEN HOME:

Toby barges into Arlene's bedroom. He finds her in tears with his late father's photo frame on her laps. She admires her late husband's face in bitter tears. This angers Toby even more

TOBY: Mum!

Arlene stands pretends to be alright and stylishly wipes out her tears before Toby could see her, she also gently drops her husband's photo on her bed.

TOBY: There's no need to wipe out your tears. I am even glad I met you like this

Arlene is confused

TOBY: I am glad you can see that girl. That Holoi girl is doing absolutely nothing to apprehend our father's killers. This' her true color!

ARLENE: (Confused) What are you spewing, Toby?

TOBY: Mum it would be better if you stop feigning ignorance. You know what I am talking about. (Anger) That girl! That good for nothing girl got married. Is marriage the next thing?! Did you train her to get married whilst father's murder case remains unsolved?! That good for nothing, lowly, orphan girl

Arlene gets irritated by his words and gives Toby an echoing tight slap. Her fingerprints from the slap are vividly evident on his light, spotless, smooth cheeks making a pink fingerprint. He looks at his mother in disbelieve

ARLENE: Don't you dare! Don't you dare call her an orphan. How could you Toby? (She pauses) Oh.... I get it now... So your apology to us on her wedding was fake?! They weren't real?!

Toby shouts in anger

TOBY: (Peeved) YES! They weren't real. Mum why don't you remove the blindfold this girl has placed on your eyes.

He holds his mum by both her shoulders as he expresses his grief

TOBY: Can't you see that girl is not working on your husband's case?! She's the best undercover spy in not only the whole of Seronski but some other rich countries. Rumors have it that she has absolutely no single case unsolved. Then why hasn't she solved our father's own?!

ARLENE: That girl in question is my only daughter, she's your elder sister.

TOBY: (Shouts) No! SHE IS NOT MY SISTER!

Arlene again angrily gives Toby another tight slap on his other cheek. She then holds his hands into one of her hands while the other, she placed on his cheek lovingly

ARLENE: What has come over you my son? Where is this anger coming from? Why do you hate her all of a sudden because you found out she isn't your blood? She has always looked after you like an elder sister would and after me like my daughter. She has cared for you way more than Seth who is even your own blood and flesh would! What am I even saying? She loves you more than Seth!

Toby releases himself from her affections

TOBY: (Irritated) Stop it! Stop it! Just stop it mum! Stop it already! Stop calling her your daughter! She's nothing but an orphan! She's an orphan you have tried placing on a presidential bed, I can promise you, she will fall off the bed! Stop treating her as a queen that she is not. Matter of fact, mother! I wish she just gets killed! Or she goes and never returns!

Arlene out of anger again gives him the third slap. Her ears have heard enough. She looks at Toby in anger and he looks at her in return in bitterness

TOBY: ((In disbelief) You slapped me? Again? You slapped your own son? For that orphan? How much lower will you stoop for that brat, mum?

Arlene raises her hand again to give him another resounding and resetting slap but Toby holds her wrist in suspension and tears before she could give him the fourth slap.