Devils In Disguise - Introduction

PREFACE

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   PREFACE
The whole system of marriage in contemporary cultures cannot be overemphasized. The society is cajoled by the obsessiveness of the social class associating with and only themselves. Bemoaned by such, the writer rose in condemnation of such prevalent beliefs and practices and as such,the society should be freewill. Marriage and relationships are one such practices held at high esteem among reputable families and social stratification where they consider marrying out of the circle abominable,unpalatable, debased and aren't deemed typical . The characters portrayed as Korsakoff,the protagonist, an aristocratic money centric man and his wife Anna, a submissive wife and an emblem of a good woman as worshipped by her husband tried to impose such principles on their daughter by getting her to be the bride of Alexander, the son of their social class family friend and Korsakoff childhood friend Jacob. Alexander was considered to be the perfect husband for Rebecca though,his flaws was later exposed during the course of the play. The Man known by the audience as an opportunist and a gold digger is portrayed indirectly as the consciousness and voice of the writer of this play who tried to breach the gap between the affluent and the low class by getting into a clandestine relationship with the wife of his employer who was way older than he is on the pretense of relieving the traumatized woman whose marriage was lingering in catastrophe.Thus,the conscience of the readers are caught and at this point several questions arise in their minds like why will a reputable woman turn to an employee for her comfort? The Man goes further in ridiculing the society by getting into a relationship with Rebecca, the affluent daughter of Korsakoff whom she thought was perfect unlike Alexander. Through out the play,a question like Character or personality,which is a factor to consider arises and though, the repentant "The Man" admitted to the fact that Rebecca was a wonderful woman who deserved better than he or Alexander and that she never imbibed the prevalent principle  existing among the social class, clearly attributed to him a man of character devoid of guilt and blames and not in the same stratification as the affluent Alexander who never admitted his guilt and kept on insisting he was the perfect groom for Rebecca even though his atrocities was beyond imagination and deserved crucifixion

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. Again,during the play, The Man plays a crucial part in Act two scene two at the house of the Korsakoff's which became the climax. His presence exposing the many secrets existing in the Craft's family,thereby debunking the supposed truth that Jacob and Lypi's marriage was an emblem of perfection and that Alexander was the perfect son-in-law. Thus, Lypi calling The Man a devil for alleged blackmail was equally debunked as what he did at the end of the play was saving it, thereby, exposing some secrets that wouldn't come out in the open under normal circumstances. 


  ACT ONE  SCENE ONE


The clock struck 8.30 am, yet the weather was still as cozy as it would be by 2.am.Temperature running at 12°c on the outside of the paint house in the Couches Boulevard.Embedded in the cool colours of blue and white for the preference of its quality of cool headedness, the castle was old fashioned built like the early 1900 French style, a dimer window on the slate roof with a chimney, a balcony proximal to the sash window and the door, on the left wing, half a hectare of garden with beauteous evergreen trees, bringing a beauteous sunshade in the lucent green coloured terrace up until the driveway, an Olympic size swimming pool by the left gazebo.The inside controvert the outside.The decor stylishly put in a more contemporary manner, with the same painting of the outside on in the inside with the exception of the yellow cushion thit gave the sitting room a more revealing bright appearance. A glass table was placed in the centre on a blue and white stripped mat with a bunch of rose flower vase on it and a folded newspaper on it.White coloured curtains hung on each exit.In the dinning table by the left hand side of the kitchen, a maid servant carries a tray of porridge, scrambled eggs, cutleries and pancakes, along with two others that aided in the setup.A relatively short man in his early sixties with a protruded stomach, roman nose and broad face, of about 4ft 9 inches clad in three piece English brown coloured suit walked to the dinning trailed by a tall ebony woman approaching half a century in age supposedly his wife, still looks like she was in her early thirties. Fifteen minutes later, a belle advances to the table of the couple in her pyjamas. She is in her early thirties probably, curvaceous body type, gorgeous medium sized eyeball, immaculate curved lips and appealing red cheeks.
(REBECCA): (excited) Bonjour Dad and mum.(she sits).
(MR KORSAKOFF): Becky, you are not in Lyon but Pretoria.
(REBECCA): It's just an uncomplicated good morning dad.
(MRS ANNA): Don't listen to your dad.He's so obsessed about you staying away so long from him.How was your first night here in eight years or so?
(REBECCA):8 years,7 months,3weeks and five days to be precise. I had a swell night.One of the best I have had in a long while.I must admit it's a bit colder here even up till this morning.I could barely behold a little ray of the sun pass through the window to warm my room, the fog wouldn't let me see that.I miss the early morning song that is being played to steer people out of their beds that would want me to get hold of my pillow.It was all loving by the way.I already miss Lyon.
(MR KORSAKOFF): I reckon you have been away for a long time my dear.Have your breakfast and maybe we will discuss about our company later
(REBECCA): What do we have here?Pancakes,porridge. Oh no! I miss the bouillabaisse I get to take at Manon restaurant after my morning jogging.
(MR KORSAKOFF) : (To Mrs Anna) Why is your daughter so obsessed with Lyon?This is the second time she is comparing the two cities.
(MRS ANNA): My dear, this is your home.You can't take that away from you. Your beautiful Lyon isn't your city.
(REBECCA): Well, it's my second home.I have been there for eight years now.(Turning to one of the maids) I will preferably, take a cup of coffee and not these.
(MRS ANNA): You used to love porridge and pancakes when you were little, reminisce.
(REBECCA): Oh mum! I used to but not any more.I just need to keep myself warm.I will eat later.(The maid returns with a cup of coffee and she takes it in one gulp, to the wonderment of her parents, returning the empty cup on the table).
(REBECCA): I feel a lot better.Get me more.(The maid returns with another jug and departs).
(MR KORSAKOFF): (Clears his throat) Becky, I think it's the right time you walk down the aisle.(Rebecca spills her coffee on the table cloth, Mrs Anna drops her fork in a noisy behaviour).
(MRS ANNA): (Staring at her husband) Darling, don't you think this is a clumsy moment to debate this.The lady just got back home and needs time to rest. It's untime
(MR KORSAKOFF): It isn't my dear, moreover, Becky has had sufficient repose. She has been sleeping since when she got back last night and this is 9.13 am.So the time is now.
(MRS ANNA): I still think it isn't the perfect time.
(MR KORSAKOFF): Well, Becky, your boyfriend and his parents would be dropping by later today.So I would like you to get prepared.
(REBECCA): Am receiving no one and beside, he isn't my boyfriend.

Read " Ruth Vicissitudes " by the same author ( Reginald Obette )

. Not anymore.
(MRS ANNA): And why is that?
(REBECCA): We got disengaged over the phone.
(MR KORSAKOFF): Well well well.I cannot remember sanctioning that insane protocol as far as my intellectuals are complete, you are still in this with him.Besides, he never disclosed to me about that.
(REBECCA): Don't pin this on me.Why can't you hear what I have to say before putting me on the cross.
(MR KORSAKOFF): Your opinion at this juncture doesn't matter and am putting no one on the cross.You just have to compromise everything to marry him.
(REBECCA): Am not walking down the aisle with that man.A man that betrayed my trust and love.I don't love him anymore.
(MR KORSAKOFF): What do you know about love?
(MRS ANNA): Honey, please let's hear her reason for refusing.
(MR KORSAKOFF): (Furious) Here what Anna.Her stupid reason for refusing a man of high reputation and social class and of a family of integrity.Surely don't tell me you support her clueless statement.
(MRS ANNA): Am supporting no one here.All am saying is that she deserves a fair hearing.
(MR KORSAKOFF): What fair hearing? Tell me.She's a daughter to you as mine and am treating her the way it ought to be and whatever her reason is, it's invalid.That engagement still stands.
(REBECCA): I feel nothing for him anymore. Not what he did behind my back.
(MR KORSAKOFF): Do you really know what you want my dear? Tell me.How old are you gonna be this year.
(REBECCA): Thirty two and I know what I want.
(MR KORSAKOFF): I bet you don't and still immature. You see, love is like an invaluable jewel hidden in a box under the ground, you search with a headlamp looking for that spot where it is day after day and night after night digging so deep in the process and when you find it eventually, you hold it close to your chest and run to the nearest jeweller to know the worth.You have that priceless jewel and don't be foolish to throw it in the bin least someone picks it up at your expense.
(REBECCA): I see no jewel in Alexander.You're insinuating on what is not.
(MRS ANNA): Becky please, I don't know why this is happening but I assure you your dad and I want the best for you.You just put away your differences and marry Alexander. He is a good man and will surely learn from whatever mistakes he has done.You deserve a highly reputable man by your side to run your father's company with you.That what's paramount.
(REBECCA):(Surprised) You too mum with dad.I can't go back on my decision.
(MR KOSAKOFF): Then who is the man after your heart? Surely there is a man worthy of my blessings, of high reputation and social stratification, a man who has a hundred of maids and owns businesses in every continent. Tell me Becky.Who is the lucky man?
(REBECCA): No, he doesn't have all those exuberance and acclaim of wealthiness. I can swear he is much more of a perfect gentleman than Alexander or any of his clown friends.
(MR KORSAKOFF): I forbid you insulting the son of my childhood friend.
(REBECCA): I mean no insult but the indelible facts.He is wonderful, kind, forbearing, full of smiles and vibrant. He has all the qualities a woman needs in a man.I think I am in love with him.He is by a distance, the best man I ever knew, so different from so called social class men.(Smiling) I think am going to be his bride.
(MR KORSAKOFF): You know that is very impossible. The only difference existing between him and the reputable men is the tremendous gap of wealth. He neither dines with Kings nor with Queens, the President nor the Governors. He neither belongs to the fidalgo nobility in Portugal nor that of the hidalgo in Spain.
(REBECCA):Wealth or nobility doesn't matter any more to me.It has placed wrinkles on my face just because you want me to marry no common man.
(MRS ANNA): Where did you meet him?
(REBECCA): Oh mum, I met him some months ago here prior to your calling me back home.
(MRS ANNA): Oh you have been on a frequent visit here just to see him right?And you didn't care to stop by or give us a call.That is bad of you.
(REBECCA): No mum, on the contrary, I was on a business visit to Graham Steel Company, and after the visit, I left in my car for the airport only for the car to break down after a mile or two.Luckily, he passed by and helped me out in  seconds, and that's when I realised we had a chemistry. It was pure love at first sight.For a moment, I never believed it really existed until he came, and now I can testify it really exists.You and dad gave me the backing to do anything and go any where as far as is profitable to our company.
(MR KORSAKOFF): We did give you the backing but not to flirt with a common man like...
(REBECCA): Oh please stop dad.Don't insult him please.You have to respect him.He is an auto mechanical engineer.
(MR KORSAKOFF): A man like that doesn't deserve the respect of even a chicken.By the way, you won't marry him.Not as long as am still blinking my eye lashes and half a billion dollars from reaching my first twenty billion.He isn't going to be my son in-law.Tell me, who is his father?
(REBECCA): His Father is late and it doesn't matter who he was.My intentions are clear dad and...
(MR KORSAKOFF): Listen ,You won't find a man that's so into you like Alexander, a rare gem and jewel for my beautiful daughter.
(REBECCA): (Remonstrating).Oh stop dad.Don't infest me with those antagonising words.They itch my pinnae.You can't enforce Alexander on me.I have made up my mind.
(MR KORSAKOFF): You are going to be Alex's bride.
(REBECCA): No dad.Not in this life or after.
(MR KORSAKOFF): If you go against my will, you will lose everything you have and I will disown you as my own flesh and blood because I can see you no longer have the Korsakoff blood running through  your veins.
(MRS ANNA): Don't do that honey, I beg of you.It hasn't really come to that.I believe she would change her mind.Don't treat her like a total stranger.
(REBECCA): Why? Because am on the verge of disobeying you.I need no wealth nor riches to be happy.Am sorry, I have lost my appetite.(Exit Rebecca).
(MR KORSAKOFF AND MRS ANNA):(Calling out) Becky! Becky! (Both exit).

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