The Secret Laughter of Women Page #4

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Jenny. Matthew's wife.

Would you like to come to lunch?

Nothing formal.

Jenny, no!

Isn't that normal practice

in these circumstances?

This isn't one of these

circumstances.

Oh, Matthew, spare me...

Yeah, drinks, twelve, for one.

Oh, super!

I really wish you

hadn't done that.

You'll rise above it.

Morning.

Matthew's poor widow, the mother

of his 'good deed' is coming for lunch.

He insisted tha t I read his story.

It was worse than anything I ever read.

Mrs da Silva.

And to think I was actually in fear

he was taken up good works.

Mrs da Silva!

You look wonderful.

Thank you for taking care

of my husband.

Let's get you a drink.

Stay where you are. Matthew...

Mrs da Silva, I hear you've

created a garden of Eden.

Uhm... Must we keep

calling you Mrs da Silva?

We believe that names have a very special,

almost magical significance.

And calling someone by their first

names is a very intimate act.

As intimate as making love?

Sometimes.

It's really very pretty. You've done

a wonderful job! Hasn't she, darling?

- Let's play a game!

- Ah, well, what are the rules?

For a game to work everyone

must play by the same rules.

- Okay, Truth Session.

- Ah-h!

Would you rather be successful

or healthy?

Successful, who want to be

a hundred-year old loser?

Your turn, Mrs da Silva.

Would you rather be

successful or good?

Good at what?

These aren't

doing very well.

You shouldn't waste time

on the weaker strains.

- That what Mr Field says.

- I know.

They're not ready, Jenny.

I'll take them back to London with me,

they can ripe on the windowsill.

There you are...

- I must go. My son.

- Oh, what a shame.

What, did I say

something wrong?

Listen, about tomorrow...

I think it's better

if you don't come.

Explain to him...

I'm sorry.

C'mon, Sammy, dance!

Matt, you came!

Come and look at my presents!

- Sammy!

- Yes, sir?

Where are your manners!

Welcome to our house, Mr Field!

Is there peace with you?

Not particularly.

I'm Fola Kayode.

You are welcome!

What a surprise!

My daughter says your wife was happy,

very happy with her work.

- It's not finished.

- My work in the garden is finished.

- No.

- Yes.

Do you mean my

last photographs?

Would Tuesday be convenient

for Mrs Field?

Well, she won't care either way,

she'll be back in England.

Excuse me. Sweet Potato,

take care of your guest.

Matt, come and look

at my presents!

What are you doing in here?

Snooping.

Nimi.

Your name is Nimi.

I've never known.

My name is Matthew.

I know.

Say it. Say my name.

Say "Matthew".

- Say it, say my name.

- Matthew...

Matthew.

Fola, why don't you to take

the place of honour.

We have a stranger among us.

He must take it.

Thank you.

Let us thank

God for the food.

For what we are about to receive,

may the Lord make us truly thankful.

Amen.

Do not mind the use of the word

"stranger", Mr Field.

It has no negative connotation

in our culture.

An outsider is always

welcome at our table.

Especially on feast days.

You don't put

your left hand into food!

I'm left-handed.

It's unclean. You wipe your bottom

with your left hand!

Not necessarily.

I must go.

No one get up.

You're leaving us so soon!

Please come again.

Are you coming

back with me?

I can't, I'm working

on something new.

Novel or short story?

I can't tell.

- New York, September?

- As usual.

Say my name!

Matthew.

I had you pecked

as a weeper.

What do you mean?

That afterwards you'd cry

and say 'what have I done'?

And instead you're laughing.

Isn't that what you do

when you're happy?

Your were late last night.

Where's your head tie?

- I'm not wearing it anymore.

- Has Fola called you?

- Why?

- Ah, there's an emergency.

You've got to be home early tonight.

For a family meeting.

- Is this about Sammy?

- No-o, it doesn't concern that.

- Sleep well?

- Yes.

Come and have lunch.

- I'm working!

- And I'm your biggest client.

Come and have lunch.

Please!

Yes.

If this really was Eden,

what would you leave out?

Shame and judgement.

You?

Fear.

Self-loathing.

As long as we stayed in here,

we'd have no problem.

So you understand

the boundaries?

Yes.

Mamma Sammy!

Sweet Potato is with Sugar.

We asked Dr Ade to come to the meeting,

because we are only women.

At Fola's family meeting

we need a man's wisdom. Ade...

The situation as

I see it is this...

Fola's parents did not come

to Sweet Potato's party!

- That's the emergency?

- Well...

- What does it mean?

- I don't know.

How can you not know,

you're the one being courted?

I don't know! Every time

I see him you ask me,

what does this mean,

what does that mean?

I feel like...

I feel like a Kremlin watcher!

If you want to know, why don't you

just phone him up and ask him?

Ask him?

As if we have no shame?

God have mercy!

As if we have no pride?

- If you want to kno...

- Ade, please, this is important.

The situation is ridiculous!

All these investigations...

All those who ask too many questions

in the market place, never buy!

Yes, but what can we do?

If you all be quiet for just one moment,

I know the problem!

The Reverent Fola's father

came to my surgery this afternoon.

Why didn't you say

so before now?

This is what he always done!

He says:
if they're to take Sammy...

there should be no dowry.

This again?

Now?

- It seems fair.

- Foolish girl!

You want to make yourself

a cut price bride?

What respect will he have for

you in his house afterwards?

I must go home and consult

with the family.

After all they must know:

you also have a family!

Rosa, second daughter,

take care of her for me.

Thank God, you have finished

at the white man's house.

Otherwise that is something else

for me to worry about.

It is bad he came

to the party.

Mamma, all this fuss...

Please don't go!

Beautiful Eyes,

it's for the best.

- Matt!

- In here.

- What's that?

- Careful, it's new.

Saracen's Space Station.

Where's your mother?

I know a good game.

But you have to have one of these.

- And why are they good games?

- They are educational.

You can get the life and music,

of Beethoven on one of them.

What on earth for?

What good is a game,

unless you can blow something up,

or shoot something down, uhm?

Hello!

Where did you go?

- Matt, my story?

- Your story?

- Yes!

- Careful, Sweet Potato.

Well, a woman saw

the magazine photos,

and she wants me to design

a garden like this for her!

- Good.

- Aren't you surprised?

No.

Neither are you.

You do think about things,

don't you?

You mean I'm not

just a carpenter?

Do you mind...

- You're doing it wrong!

- Oh.

The Saracen brings justice with a

body count, and then he goes away!

I thought you wanted

me to marry her.

Well, not forever!

Run along, Sam.

Do you want to hear

the rest of my story?

Not particularly.

I don't like being crowded,

I don't like being moved in on!

Shame on you!

Jealous of a child!

It's always about

you and him, isn't it?

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