Tara What do you want me to do? Do you want me to beg?

I’ll get down on my knees. Whatever you want. I want this.

Leah I’m sorry about your uncle. It’s awful. I can’t imagine! I’m not trying to hurt you. But these aren’t the right circumstances for starting again.

Tara Why not?

Leah Because we can’t get married because your uncle died. We can’t do that.

I still need some space. I love you and I’m so glad you came. I want to be there for you. You can call me anytime. But we just can’t get back together like this.

Tara But we will get back together? Eventually?

Pause.

Leah I’ll talk to you soon. Call anytime.

Tara (beat) OK.

Leah exits.

Scene Sixteen

London, the Akindeji home.

Tara Why didn’t you tell me?

Segun Omo.

Tara You made me think I was the only one. My whole life!

Segun I’m sorry. I don’t have time right now. I need to organise my flights. The funeral.

Tara You made me feel like I was different from everyone!

Segun This isn’t about you, Omotara. My brother has just died!

Tara You made me think that there was something wrong with me. That I was wrong!

Segun You are! It is!

Tara There we go.

Segun I’m busy right now.

Tara You’ve finally said it!

Segun This isn’t the time for this.

Tara You always made out like you were the more tolerant one. But you’re worse than Mum! At least she wears it on her sleeve. Why didn’t you help him? Mum said he was on trial.

Segun I did! I offered him money.

Tara Why didn’t you bring him here?

Segun It wasn’t a good idea.

Tara Why not?

Segun I was doing what I thought was best.

Tara You thought it was best for him to stay in a country where his existence wasn’t legal?

Segun It was just one party, Tara! One mistake in over twenty years. I thought he could restrain himself –

Tara It wasn’t about a party, Dad. If Uncle Teju was gay, he wasn’t safe there.

Segun He wasn’t gay!

Tara What? Mum said.

Segun He wasn’t! He’d just slipped up, once – in the past. And again, with this party. I thought if he worked hard enough, he could put it behind him.

Tara Wow.

Segun He didn’t need to do it again, Omo! He could repair his marriage. Start afresh. He had a choice.

Tara I can’t believe you!

Segun This was just a setback.

Tara Why would he choose it? Why? In Nigeria. Where he could be sent to jail – beaten to death. Why would he choose to be gay?

Segun I don’t know! I didn’t understand –

Tara Even if you didn’t understand it, you could have helped him. Let him back come to London with you.