{The scene shows mercy's mom, mercy and Georgina (mercy's paternal grandma),mercy and her mom both sit on the thatched,dirty looking three sitter couch while georgina sits on the one sitter crossing her legs and as if letting mercy and her mom know i might be in your house but I'm always a queen}
Georgina
{Looks around the house like it's a dumpster, shaking her head slightly with a look of disgust and disapproval on her}
How do you manage to lay your head here every night and sleep peacefully?(She ask still looking around)
MOM
(She scoffs loudly)We sleep peacefully at night because we neither kill nor have a chip on our shoulders (eyes her)will you tell me why you are in my house now?and also by this time of the day?
Georgina
(She smirks coldly,still eyeing the room)
I didn't come hear to exchange words with you lily,I'm here for mercy the stubborn goat you call a daughter.
MOM
(Fakes amusement) It's been long I've heard that name lily, it's been a while I've been called that but even at that i don't really appreciate it coming from you,you calling me that feels like a hundred soldier ants are biting me it's torturing (she fakes shudder)well my daughter is not a goat and you can't take her, she's mine and she's going nowhere(she said with finalty in her tone)
Georgina
Well i don't think you're ready for this fight you want to begin "the stranger might hold the key,but the child still belongs to the father(she said sternly with a hint of warning)
Mercy
(Glaring hard at her)What are you implying?what do you mean, I'm i a piece you guys can claim whenever it suits you? I'm i a bag of potatoes you can just move anyhow and anywhere you want (raising her voice slightly)
Georgina
(She cleary didn't appreciate her tone)Don't raise your voice at me kid,i might be old but i still smack real good,
Your mother might not have taught you manners but I'll teach you that you won't be able to forget any of it.(Faces Mercy's mom) look how much do you want for you to release her to me?name your price
Mom
(She started to fume at the statement)
Name my price?well if you want to know my daughter is priceless,you think you can put a price on my child? like she's for sale? someone i carried for nine months(with a calm tone)you can empty your entire kingdom at my feet and it won't ne worth a single breath she takes(heart broken a strand of tear ran down her left eye which she quickly wipes away)i may be poor and starving but I'll rather starve with my daughter by my side than sell her to someone like you that only has fat pockets but empty soul(with a more fierce and powerful stance)She's not something you can buy, she's my blood,my heart,my legacy and you're not worthy of her (she breathes out,chest raising and falling as she locks eye with her, unbroken)
Mercy
(Glaring at her grandma,voice low but lathal) just so we're clear I'm not an object and I'm precious and precious than any precious artwork in this world,I don't care if this world calls us poor… if people laugh at our torn clothes and empty plates.
I'd rather die a thousand deaths with her than live a single day with a you or the man that calls himself my father.She's the one person who's ever fought for me, bled for me, prayed for me when no one else cared if I lived or died.
And you think you can name a price for that?
You could gather all the riches under the sun, kneel at our feet, and it still wouldn't be worth the warmth of her hands or the sound of her voice when she calls me 'my child.'
(her voice steadies, sharp like a blade)
You don't get to speak of her… you don't get to breathe in her presence… and you sure as hell don't get to buy me.
We may have nothing… but we have each other.
And that, grandma is something you'll never afford.(Maintaining her cool even though she's boiling on the inside)
Georgina
(Scoffs unbelievably) Child, did you just say that she bled for you?,prayed for you?stood by you?fought for you?tell me one good reason she shouldn't do all those? that's what a mother does for her child
A mother takes care of her child when no one else will,she carries her child even if she has aches all over,she pats her child and strokes her child's cheeks even if her hands has wounds so don't give me stories,she took care of you so? it's not extraordinary when your grandfather died i took care and cater for you father
Mercy
You're wrong,she didn't just do all that
She did it with love,care and attention,she did it with her heart and what you just said is not just a person responsibility, it's the responsibility of two people, it's not only a woman that takes care of a child that father is also suppose to be in the picture showing the child with love, making the child feel safe, supported,and strong-willed but whenever i look back the only person i see is my mother,she makes sure of those things, without a father in my life i am strong, happy and safe so why is he looking for me now, unlike how your husband died which led him to become fatherless my so called dad is very much alive but abandoned me he is more or less a living dead.
My mom never abandoned me,she was always there since she day she found out she's pregnant with me, so there's nothing you can say to change my mind
Georgina
Like i said earlier , I'm not here to exchange words and definitely not with you,your father wants you home and even if i have to drag you by your hair, I'll make sure you follow me
Mom
(She rubuked it almost immediately)
Over my dead body is she following you
Georgina
(Faces her)Wait,who do you think you are?you should be careful with your words you already have one foot in the grave living in this misery, don't tempt death to hurry(turns to mercy)and you, do you know how many people will kill to be in your position even to be merely recognised by a man like your father?
Mercy
(Scoffs loudly)If they know how heartless and soulless he really is am sure they won't even think of seeing his face not to talk of living with him (she said with much hatred)
Georgina
(Laughs mockingly)All both you and your mother knows how to do is talk,fire in your head but nothing in your pocket,all mouth,no value
Mom
(She replied sharply, smirking)And still you people chase after the same girl you claim has no value.pathetic
Georgina
(glances away, pissed but pretending not to be)
I've delivered my message. Mercy, your father wants to see you by sunset tomorrow. Refuse, and you'll answer to him yourself.
(to Mom)
Lily,Next time, sweep this pigsty you call a home before a person like me steps in.
(She heads for the door)
MERCY
(glaring, voice steady)
Tell the poor excuse of a father not to hold his breath.if he really is in need of a daughter you can as well birth him one, you're his mother anyways.
GEORGINA
(pauses at the door, then chuckles darkly)
You'll come. Pride will only carry you so far, girl. This world isn't built for stubborn bastards like you.
(She stands up dusting her body,She leaves, slamming the door)
MOM
(lets out a heavy sigh, leans back on the couch)
Mercy…
MERCY
(sits quietly, jaw clenched, eyes on the door)
I won't let them win, Mama.
{Lights out}