A Mother-in-Law Script - Essay Example

MOTHER IN-LAW” Affiliation Student name Big Five: Whose story is it? Mother’s What is the story about? It is about a mother in-law referred to as mother. She is self-centred and wants to make her children suffer because of her selfish gains. She is not happy with her daughter at home and always cross shoulders with her. On the other hand her son arrives from the city. She pretends to be sick only to go to the city. Once in the city, she mistreats her daughter in-law in her own house to the extent that she does not eat food prepared by her. Her son Brian arrives from work only to find his mother sitting at the car park. He is shocked on the revelation that she had not eaten anything that day yet she refused. He went straight to confront his wife with no inquiry of what has been going on during the day. He brought his mother chicken a beer upon which she started behaving weirdly singing of jealousy from her daughter in-law. This continued towards the night where she was requested to go for check up in the hospital. She was diagnosed with cerebral malaria and given medication. She become well and thereafter lived happily with her daughter in-law. What is the main dramatic question? Will Vivian and her mother in-law go on to live a happier and more comfortable life together? What is the prize and what price is paid? In this case, the prize is the comfort. Mother requires comfort. She needs to dominate in her children’s house. The son is struggling to make ends meet with his family but hampered by the behaviour of their mother. The prize is perseverance. Children must persevere with their parents despite their acts. Finding the cause of any occurance is the key issue. Why should we care? The audience should care about a young family newly married. A home is meant to keep you warm and safe from the many elements; however Mother is not doing that to her children. The audience ought to relate the incidences that Mother is doing to her children right in the countryside and in the city. In the end we establish that mother was sick and that might be the cause of her behaviour since she changed after treatment. The premise This is a story concerning a mother who mistreats her daughter in-law and does not hear anything from his own children.The end result is that mother is diagonised malaria, treated and live in hapiness with her children. CHARACTERS MOTHER is in her late 40’s. She is arrogant and rude. She dresses casually and asheet always tied on the waist. She puts on a scaff on the head. She cares more on herself with less attention to other’s feelings. BRIAN is in the early 30’s he is caring and loving to all his family members. He get cofused when caught is tight situations. He dresses neatly as an executive manager of the company. VIVIAN is in her mid 20’s; she cares much about fashion and like putting on attractive sexy clothes; she is an attractive and respectful woman. JANE is a beautiful woman in her late 30’s; she wears neatly, but not serious in life matters. She is noty serious in life matters. LOCATION The first location is in a mother’s house at the counryside; a mud house fitted with wooden unfurnished wooden furniture. The bedroom is not organised bedroom. The compound is not neat with no tarmaced veranda. The setting depicts abject poverty. The second location is in an urban setting where the house is self contain, well furnished, and well lite. There is the parking bay. FADE IN INT. MOTHER’S HOUSE/FRONT GARDEN – MORNING It is early morning. Sun start rising from the horizon. MOTHER wakes up and outside her house. The compound is filled with litter. It is very cold. MOTHER is in heavy attire. She starts sweeping the veranda, takes out a dustbin tray and proceeds to the rear corner of the compound with it. The scene outside is messy, litters are all over the yard, children are up naked and outside playing despite the cold. MOTHER looks overwhelmed with the task of cleaning the whole mess. From the look of her face she is tired and embarrassed as she is expecting his son and her daughter in-law to arrive from the city. She continues sweeping the veranda, but annoyed by the children littering the place again. MOTHER (Loudly) Stop! Stop! We are having visitors today. Go inside and dress up. She holds the waist with both hands. The expression on her face display annoyance. She went straight inside the house. Found kids dressed up and across the fire place waiting for breakfast. She put tea on the fire, left boiling and headed to JANE’s bedroom. FADE OUT INT/EXT. JANE’S BEDROOM/INSIDE THE HOUSE - MORNING JANE her daughter is still asleep. Lights are off. She is disparate, in her early 30’s, not married, and has no boyfriend. She is problematic. MOTHER enters and opens the windows. The scene is a disorganized room. Clothes are all over the entire room. The time is about 9.am. MOTHER is angry about her daughter. JANE is always lazy. She wakes up late. She does not assist her mother in any household chores despite the fact that MOTHER provides her everything. MOTHER holds her gin in disappointment. Her face displays a sad mother. MOTHER (Angry) Wake up! Wake up! When will you be a good woman? Wake up and assist me clean the house. The compound is full of litter. JANE is on her bed snoring as if deep asleep. She is rude and does not care what she is being told. MOTHER angry, she took a bucket of water and pours on JANE on her bed. JANE (Shouting) iiih!!iiih!! Mum what’s up? JANE jumped out of the bed. In her night dress full of water dripping down. Annoyed; she cried. JANE (Weeping in tears) MOTHER returns back to the kitchen. INT/EXT MOTHER’S HOUSE/FRONT GARDEN - MID MORNING A car hoots at the gate. A young child runs towards the gate. BRIAN alights and opens the gate. The child stares on the side of the gate. BRIAN gets back to the care and drove right in front of the house. The environment is not welcoming. Silence all over. Nobody comes out. BRIAN (Jovially and loudly) Hallo, anybody at home! The child at the gate arrives. The child is in tethered clothes. He is looking malnourished. BRIAN greeted him, BRIAN embracing the child asks about grand ma. The child points with his hand toward the house with no word. MOTHER comes out of the house looking sick. She went straight to greet BRIAN. Looking at him is agony. VIVIAN comes out. She went straight to greet MOTHER. Dressed neatly, her hair plaited very well. MOTHER in her direction looked at her unhappily. VIVIAN (Smiling and extending the hand to greet her) Hallo mother. How are you? MOTHER scowls her face in disgust. BRIAN observes the moods and he interjected. BRIAN disappointed with the move. BRIAN (Remorseful) Darling, she is not feeling well. Do not worry. VIVIAN went closer to MOTHER. In a respectable manner tried to talk to MOTHER. VIVIAN All will be well mother. When did it start? MOTHER in a disrespectful way interjected. She blames VIVIAN of hiding and holding her son in the city until she forgets her. The scene is outside MOTHER’s house. Everybody is unhappy. BRIAN is quite and shocked. MOTHER pretends to be very sick. Children are outside. JANE is now up and she comes outside. She stares at the car mouth widely open. She does not believe that BRIAN is owning a car. BRIAN is shocked more in learning that JANE is at home and blames her. VIVIAN is silent; astonished with the welcome they received. FADE OUT EXT. OUTSIDE MOTHER’S HOUSE - AFTERNOON The scene is in the outside garden. Everybody is around. The mood is sombre. BRIAN is ready to go back to the city. MOTHER is preparing herself to accompany them for treatment. JANE is not happy. She is sad on realising that MOTHER is going to the city. VIVIAN proceeds straight to the car with a bag. She sat on the front seat. BRIAN follows and went straight to the driver’s seat. MOTHER comes in a little bit later. She went straight to the car with no bidding goodbye her daughter and children. She went for the front seat. She confronts her daughter in-law. MOTHER (Seriously looking) I am sitting here. VIVIAN looks on in disbelieve. BRIAN is looking on calmly but mesmerised. BRIAN (Politely) Mother, my wife is sitting with me here in front. Please take the back seat. VIVIAN respectfully alight, proceeds to take the back seat. BRIAN started the ignition. Drive out of the compound. Drive off to the city. FADE OUT INT.BRIAN’S HOUSE/SITTING ROOM - MORNING VIVIAN wakes up early, prepared breakfast in the kitchen. BRIAN is taking a bath ready for work. Mother still a sleep in her room. VIVIAN proceeds to the dining table with breakfast. BRIAN follows her there. The atmosphere is full of happiness and romantic mood. VIVIAN dressed in pyjama. They both took breakfast. VIVIAN is expectant and BRIAN is not aware. She experiences some discomfort, rise up, and quickly rushes to ladies and vomit. BRIAN surprised, proceeds to ladies to check what is up. BRIAN (Worried) Darling my sweet honey. Are you alright? VIVIAN (Slowly) I am okay sweetie. All is well. Both proceeded to take breakfast. BRIAN is off to work. VIVIAN escorted him to the car park, bid him goodbye wishing him a good day. MOTHER had already up. On hearing that BRIAN is out to work, quickly rushes to the car park. She meets with VIVIAN at the door. VIVIAN (Respectfully) Good morning mum. MOTHER annoyed. MOTHER (In a harsh voice) You idiot! Why didn’t you wake me up? MOTHER brushed her daughter in-law aside with her shoulder almost knocking her down. She runs shouting to BRIAN. MOTHER (Loudly) Brian! Brian! Wait! Wait! Wait! BRIAN halted and waited. MOTHER requested for money. BRIAN shocked, BRIAN (Politely) What do you need the money for? MOTHER For my food. BRIAN Mother, VIVIAN is there and she will take care of all your needs. She will prepare your best favourite food. MOTHER (Angry) Don’t I ask money nowadays? BRIAN reaches into his pocket and gives some money to the mother. MOTHER (Smiling) I knew you would give me. BRIAN drives off to work. FADE OUT INT. INSIDE THE HOUSE - NOON VIVIAN is sweeping the house. MOTHER is at the sitting room watching TV. Her legs are on the couch. As VIVIAN sweeps the sitting room, MOTHER intentionally bring down her legs to meet with the broom. MOTHER hit VIVIAN hard on the head, accusing her of sweeping her legs. VIVIAN proceeds to her bedroom crying. FLASHBACK: VIVIAN is at the bedroom crying. Her thoughts went back to their unwelcomed visit at the countryside, quarrel over the front seat on their way to the city. Brian almost lost control because of all these incidences, and now what is happening at the house. No peace at all. VIVIAN regains her strength. Went to the kitchen and started preparing lunch for mother in-law. MOTHER went out to the nearest shopping centre. Lunch is ready. VIVIAN is looking for her mother-in law in her room. She found nobody. She comes to the sitting room, nobody. She comes outside. Saw her from the gate coming to the house. MOTHER return with a bottle of beer. VIVIAN is staring. VIVIAN (Fearfully) Mother, lunch is ready. I have prepared your favourite food. MOTHER (Harshly) Who told you I will eat what you prepared? Idiot! I will not eat anything till my son comes back. MOTHER proceeded to her room. VIVIAN went to the kitchen disappointed. INT/EXT. BRIAN’S HOUSE – EVENING MOTHER is seated at the parking bay. She looks hungry, pale, and mistreated. VIVIAN is in her bedroom making up her hair. BRIAN arrives and parks the car. He is shocked to see her mother outside unhappy. BRIAN (Surprised) What is happening? Why are you here? MOTHER (Sadly) I am hungry. Nobody gave me food. BRIAN angry; headed straight for VIVIAN. VIVIAN is at the bedroom. She slapped her on the face. He comes back to check her mother. BRIAN Mother, what would you like to eat? MOTHER (Smiling) Chicken and beer BRIAN went straight and brought chicken and beer for her mother in the dining room and went back to change his clothes. MOTHER laughing, eating and singing slowly MOTHER (Singing and munching chicken) Let annoyance kill her... Let annoyance kill her... Let her die of her jealousy Let her die of her jealousy VIVIAN emerges from the bedroom to the sitting room; heard her mother in-law singing. She is hurt. She went back to the bedroom crying. BRIAN went to the bedroom. He found VIVIAN crying. He extends his hand over her. VIVIAN (Crying) Let go of me. BRIAN I am sorry sweetie. VIVIAN (Still crying) Did you marry me or not? Why don’t you ask what is happening before you act? BRIAN not knowing what next, disturbed, and confused. VIVIAN told him what has been happening the whole day. BRIAN high tempered went straight to the sitting room. MOTHER eating chicken and singing. He confronts his mother. BRIAN (Shouting) Mother!! What is wrong? What is going on? Are you ok? MOTHER continues singing as if she heard nothing. BRIAN shocked, he sit down opposite MOTHER. He stares at her in disbelieve. BRIAN (Softly) Are you feeling sick mum. MOTHER get up from the couch, went slowly to her bedroom singing the same song. BRIAN went to their bedroom and told VIVIAN what has happened. VIVIAN (In low tone) I think mother is not well. You have to call for a doctor or take her to hospital for examination. BRIAN with no hesitation went to mother’s room. He found mother still singing the same song. He requests her to be taken to hospital. MOTHER stops singing and angrily responded MOTHER Are you mad? I am sick? You must be sick yourself. BRIAN continues begging her mother to go only for check up and be back. MOTHER stares angrily at him. BRIAN (Politely) Mum, kindly hear me. This is for your health. We are going for check up and back. MOTHER accepts after long persuasion. Both BRIAN and VIVIAN take MOTHER to hospital. MOTHER diagnosed with mild cerebral malaria and given medication to take at home. They come back home. Everybody retired to bed. INT/EXT. BRIAN’S SITTING ROOM – MORNING VIVIAN awake in the kitchen preparing breakfast. BRIAN is preparing himself ready to go for work. VIVIAN set breakfast on the dining table and went to MOTHER’S room VIVIAN (Respectfully) Good morning mum. How are you feeling? MOTHER Good morning my daughter. I am feeling better. VIVIAN requested MOTHER to go and take breakfast together. MOTHER agrees, wakes up and proceeds to wash her face. VIVIAN proceeded to the dining table and found BRIAN seated. MOTHER joins them. They all take breakfast happily. MOTHER and VIVIAN escorted BRIAN to the car park as he proceeds to work. MOTHER and VIVIAN returns to the house holding each other’s arms talking happily. THE END Read More