₦airaland Forum

Copyright (c) 2012




CHANGE

BY

MUONEKE CHIDIEBERE


08168473187, chiboymuoneke@yahoo.com



ACT ONE

The stage is arranged to suit a modern day sitting room.
There are couches, a center table,
chairs and a fan attached to the ceiling of the where the play is being staged.

MR. ANTHONY, a tall, grey-haired, heavy-set man, with gruff voice, is
sitting on a couch.
He is a successful businessman and his countenances shows that he is disturbed.
His long time friend, MR. FELIX enters the stage.
He is an obese, bald, bright-looking man. He is the senator representing
a senatorial district in _____ part of Nigeria.
He drags a "Ghana-must-go bag" along as he walks to MR. ANTHONY.

MR. FELIX
(Grinning warmly)
Good day, Tony...

MR. ANTHONY
Good day, Senator. What brings you to my home?

MR. FELIX
(Totes the "Ghana must go bag"
I brought the quarterly revenue allocation for my senatorial zone...

MR. ANTHONY
So funds have been allocated...?

MR. FELIX
Yes....two hundred million naira each...

MR. ANTHONY
That alot of money...

MR. FELIX
Yes, it is...I want you to transfer the money for me into that foreign account....

MR. ANTHONY
Swiss account..?

MR. FELIX
Yes...remember our 70/30 ratio still holds (Beat) conduct the transfer smoothly....I will call you this evening...

(Mr. Felix smiles at Mr. Anthony. He turns and tries to walk out of stage.)

MR. ANTHONY
(Calls calmly)
Mr. Felix. ..

(Mr. Felix turns around to listen to him)

MR. FELIX
What's it my friend?

MR. ANTHONY
I can't...

MR. FELIX
You can't what?

MR. ANTHONY
I can't transfer the money for you. My conscience tortures me....

MR. FELIX
(Puzzled look)
You conscience tortures you?

MR. ANTHONY
(Nods)
And weighs me down. Haven't you noticed that the state of the nation is deteriorating?

MR. FELIX
So you are not helping me as usual?

MR. ANTHONY
I can't comply any more. Every day I drive through the street, I see the poor masses on the road looking awful, you know...

MR. FELIX
....awful, how?

MR. ANTHONY
They look like overworked jade horses dressed in rags....

MR. FELIX
...jade horses? What does that mean?

MR. ANTHONY
Like old, wretched horses who have worked from dawn till dusk...

MR. FELIX
But that's not my fault (He walks to the couch and sits) I don't see them...

MR. ANTHONY
Of course, you don't. Probably because they drive you around
in SUVs' with tinted glasses and you don't get to see the thick population out there. Rising as if Nigerians have sex everyday...

MR. FELIX
...oh, that's because Nigeria women are fertile...

MR. ANTHONY
....but the National Assembly has to do something about it...

MR. FELIX
Yes, they are trying to pass a bill that will see condoms distributed to everyone in Nigeria freely,
especially the north....

(Frail barks are heard off the stage)

MR. FELIX
(Flinching)
What's that?

MR. ANTHONY
Oh. my dog, Farouk..

MR. FELIX
Your dog...?

MR. ANTHONY
....worry less about him, he is subdued in his cage without food.

MR. FELIX
(Exhales)
Umm, we have to be careful about animals
especially dogs we keep in our house these days....

MR. ANTHONY
...forget the dog. (Beat) Above all there are a lot of paupers living on the streets these days...

MR. FELIX
So politicians are the cause of their conditions?

MR. ANTHONY
Yes, we are. It's like we are sweeping away their dreams and aspirations like they are piles of dusts..

MR. FELIX
But you can't blame me alone. Most leaders had seven, some eight and even twelve years...

MR. ANTHONY
We know those previous leaders were hopelessly lazy like frogs...

MR. FELIX
...Tony, you are making me feel bad...

MR. ANTHONY
Sorry if I do. But not only politicians should feel bad, even pastors...

MR. FELIX
...pastors, how?

MR. ANTHONY
Pastors in Nigeria have combined evangelism with predicting football matches. Arsenal would win champions league and most of them own more planes than Virgin Nigeria...

MR. FELIX
...oh, that's true! (Pause) I feel so ashamed of myself.

MR. ANTHONY
I feel bad also. (Speaks with tinge remorse) Do you know that I have been running unusual business...houses of prostitutions of young girls and housewives who can't make end meets for fifteen years now?

MR. FELIX
Prostitutions of young girls and housewives?

MR. ANTHONY
Yes, and most recently some Chinese girls...

MR. FELIX
...oh, sweet Jesus that makes you a foreign sinner!

MR. ANTHONY
There is no local or international sin, a sin is a sin.... (Beat) I had a deep thought last night and early this morning...

MR. FELIX
...why? What could have been the reason?

MR. ANTHONY
.....we are sinking into a terrible age where terrorism has taken a better part of our world....

MR. FELIX
You speak as if life these days has a cruel look...

MR. ANTHONY
....yes, more like a zombie look...

MR. FELIX
(Shrugging his shoulders and fanning himself)
I am feeling hot. The weather burns...!

MR. ANTHONY
Hot?

MR. FELIX
(Wipes his brow with a finger)
Sweaty and extremely hot. Please turn on the fans or air conditioner...

MR. ANTHONY
...No electricity. I wonder why Nigeria don't have steady power supply...

MR. FELIX
...perhaps, because we are nearer to the sun.

MR. ANTHONY
...what's that suppose to mean?

MR. FELIX
...we are close to sun and sun is a natural source of light...

MR. ANTHONY
...is that a political reason?

MR. FELIX
Probably, P.D.P's reason...

MR. ANTHONY
That's a cheap reason.

MR. FELIX
You speak deeply like occupying a political office is evil...

MR. ANTHONY
....it's not. We have failed.

MR. FELIX
So what are you suggesting we should do?

MR. ANTHONY
Me and you?

MR. FELIX
Yes..

MR. ANTHONY
....I had thought deep in my sleep...

MR. FELIX
....And what did you conclude..?

MR. ANTHONY
...suicide...

MR. FLEIX
...that's sheer madness....sheer madness!

MR. ANTHONY
We have indirectly killed. Killing myself doesn't scare me one bit
(Indicates a half inch on his finger)
One bit!

MR. FELIX
But I have a son...

MR. ANTHONY
...yes and he is serving sentence in China prison. Accused of drug trafficking...

MR. FELIX
....what about your daughter Amara? Has she stopped using drugs?

MR. ANTHONY
No. Our children are no benefit to us, what do we have to live for?

MR. FELIX
Sex! Sex lightens all problems, you know...

MR. ANTHONY
....sex is a mortal thing...there is much more to life than sex....

MR. FELIX
...like what?

MR. ANTHONY
...like eternity (Pause) There might even be re-incarnation...

MR. FELIX
(Puzzled look)
....Re-incarnation! What does that mean?

MR. ANTHONY
Re-incarnation means something coming back to life again...

MR. FELIX
...like Buhari or something like that?

MR. ANTHONY
No, not political reincarnation. But physical and spiritual re-incarnation...

MR. FELIX
Right now. It seems to me that I am Judas Iscariot.

MR. ANTHONY
Much like the two thieves...much like the two thieves in the bible...

MR. FELIX
I heard that one of them was forgiven, because he repented before his death...

MR. ANTHONY
...yes, that true. He repented at last minutes of his life...

MR. FELIX
...what should we do, Tony?

MR. ANTHONY
Pray and poison ourselves...

MR. FELIX
If we do that would God forgive us, and welcome us to heaven, will he?

MR. ANTHONY
I think so...

MR. FELIX
....are you sure?

MR. ANTHONY
(Vehemently)
Yes...sure...

MR. FELIX
Do you have a poison in your house now...?

MR. ANTHONY
...yes...

MR. FELIX
...what are you waiting for? Bring the poison, let us drink and sail to heaven......I can't wait...

MR. ANTHONY
....okay.

(Mr. Anthony rushes off the stage and comes back quickly with a bottle of poison)

MR. ANTHONY
(More)
This is it...

MR. FELIX
...the poison?

MR. ANTHONY
Yes....but we have to pray first...

MR. FELIX
...yes....yes.

(MR. ANTHONY and MR. FELIX sit abreast each and hold hands. They murmur words in undertone.
MR. FELIX concludes the whole ritual saying "AMEN"

MR. ANTHONY
Who drinks first..?

MR. FELIX
...you...

MR. ANTHONY
...me?

MR. FELIX
You...because you own the poison..and older...

MR. ANTHONY
Okay, then.

(MR. ANTHONY drinks the poison and hands the bottle of poison to MR. FELIX. MR. FELIX gulps the poison)

MR. FELIX
(Looks at MR. ANTHONY)
Umm....the poison is sweet....and tasty...

MR. ANTHONY
....I know....let’s wait for some seconds. We will be dead, and hopefully, we will be in heaven and see God....

MR. FELIX
(Rubs his palms together)
...okay.

(There is a big pause between both of them. They stare at each other steadily and not speaking to each few seconds)

MR. FELIX
Are we dead?

MR. ANTHONY
Are we?

MR. FELIX
I guess so...


MR. ANTHONY
Do you see God?

MR. FELIX
(Gloating)
Yes...

MR. ANTHONY
...how is he? I can't see him...?

MR. FELIX
(Staring directly at MR. ANTHONY)
He is standing in front of me. He has grey hair and speaking to me.....Seems like God has your face...

MR. ANTHONY
You know we were all made in image of God. Where is he? (Turns his neck abruptly, looks behind his back)

MR. FELIX
It seems like God is you...

MR. ANTHONY
(Furrows his brow)
Shut up! (Pause) Are we dead?

MR. FELIX
I think so...

MR. ANTHONY
But apart from me, what can you see?

MR. FELIX
I see, em, furniture..tables, chairs...and even a lighting bulb....I still see the money, are there "Ghana must go bags" in heaven, Tony?

MR. ANTHONY
No, forget the money for now....Can you check the window and look outside?
(Mr. Felix rushes off the stage; we hear sound of window being opened)
What do you see, Mr. Felix? What do you see...?

MR. FELIX
(Standing at right end of the stage)
...I see bad road...

MR. ANTHONY
Bad roads? Are there bad roads in heaven?

(MR. FELIX walks back to stage dejected. He sits on the couch)

MR. FELIX
(Weakly)
I guess we are still in Nigeria. Seems like we are refused passage into heaven because we are black...

MR. ANTHONY
Why...?

MR. FELIX
...because posters of Jesus we have in our houses are all white.

(REBECCA enters. She is MR. ANTHONY's wife)

REBECCA
(Sees MR. FELIX and her husband, MR. ANTHONY)
Good afternoon...!


(No response)

REBECCA
(Greets again)
Good afternoon...

(MR. ANTHONY and MR. FELIX stares at REBECCA in bewilderment)

REBECCA
(More)
Seems both of you are in bad mood...

MR. FELIX
(Stares at REBECCA, glances quickly at MR. ANTHONY, and then back to his REBECCA, and then stares at MR. ANTHONY)
Is your wife dead, too?

MR. ANTHONY
(Shocked)
I don't know...I am surprised like you, too.

REBECCA
(Sees the bottle on the table)
Are both of you drinking the bottle of syrup I bought this morning...?

MR. ANTHONY
...Syrup?

(MR. FELIX and MR. ANTHONY stare at REBECCA with widened eyes; little embarrassed)

MR. FELIX
So we are alive...?

REBECCA
...yes

MR. ANTHONY
What of the other bottle? Just like this one?

REBECCA
You mean the diluted acid in a bottle...?

MR. ANTHONY
Yes...the other bottle...?

REBECCA
I threw the bottle away...

MR. ANTHONY
(Contorts his face)
You threw it away?

REBECCA
...yes, outside...and it broke...

MR. FELIX
...Broke? Damn!

REBECCA
Why?

MR. FELIX
That bottle could have given us eternal life...

REBECCA
(Sarcastically, giggles)
Please did it drop from the sky?

MR. ANTHONY
No, sweetheart. You won't understand...

REBECCA
....what's wrong with both of you right now? I assumed that, the liquid in that bottle was harmful...

MR. ANTHONY
...how? How did you know? Did you drink liquid in the bottle?

REBECCA
No, I was sickened with cough this morning and I need a cough syrup to drink so I found your bottle in our bedroom....in the cupboard.
I wondered what it was, doubted if it was syrup or a hair dye. So I carried my experiment on a passing fly...

MR. FELIX
....housefly?

REBECCA
(Nodding)
Yes, a housefly....I drizzled the content in the bottle on a housefly...

MR. FELIX
...that's brutal...

MR. ANTHONY
That's inhumane...

MR. FELIX
(Jiggles his head)
Life is vain upon vain...

REBECCA
(Stares at both of them; confused)
What's wrong with you two?

MR. ANTHONY
Sweetheart, you killed an active thing...

REBECCA
It's just a housefly. I drizzled the content of the bottle on the housefly, and the housefly dried up....shriveling up like it was placed in fire...

MR. FELIX
That's barbaric...


MR. ANTHONY
That's insanity! My wife is so heartless....

REBECCA
...how?

MR. ANTHONY
...you took away the life and dreams of that poor creature...

MR. FELIX
You ended the poor creature enthusiasm to live...

REBECCA
(Forces a plastic smile on her lips)
Ummm.
(Sees the "the Ghana must go bag"
What's in the bag?

MR. ANTHONY
In what?

REBECCA
In the bag?

(MR. FELIX and MR. ANTHONY looks at the bag and remembers there is money in the bag)

MR. FELIX
(Gazing at the "Ghana must go bag"
Oh, the bag?

REBECCA
Umm-hmm!

MR. FELIX
Money
(He looks at MR. ANTHONY and raises his forefinger like he has a genius plan)
Tony! Tony, I have an idea...

MR. ANTHONY
(Highly interested)
....what's it, senator?

MR. FELIX
I am going to boast employment with this money...


MR. ANTHONY
Boost employment...?

MR. FELIX
Yes (grinning like crazy) Thereby reducing the number of poor people with dried lips and milky eyes...

MR ANTHONY
Very ingenious....very perfect...

MR. FELIX
And that money I own in Swiss bank. I going to withdraw them
and start a charity home for homeless kids.

MR. ANTHONY
Serious?

MR. FELIX
Yes, God has touched my soul today...

MR. ANTHONY
...I am going to do the same, too. I am going to do something for Nigeria...and going to assist you in any way beneficial to our country.

MR. FELIX
Yes... I believe we have uprooted trees of greed in us.

MR. ANTHONY
We are bringing them down.

MR. FELIX
(Glances at his watch)
I have to go now...

REBECCA
(To MR. FELIX)
Senator, wait a bit let me prepare something for both of you...

MR. FELIX
...sorry, I have to leave now. Most of youths and graduates need to be employed and empowered...

MR. ANTHONY
Indeed. Senator, I am going with you...

MR. FELIX
Thanks. Let's go and provide employment for the youths...

REBECCA
(To MR. ANTHONY)
My husband, are you not eating now?

MR. ANTHONY
Not yet. Until youths on the streets have food on their tables to eat.

(Mr. Anthony and Mr. Felix stand form the couch)

MR. FELIX
(To ANTHONY)
Yes, it's time to provide employment for youths and reduced the misery in Nigeria...

MR. ANTHONY
Yes, the time is now.

(They shake hands and exits)

REBECCA
Umm...God is always with us and never sleeps. (She smiles)

(THE CURTAIN FALLS)

i just finished poetic drama.....but it is blended with simple poetry and ordinary dialogue. It is a stage play......i am wondering if you guys would want to look at it...

MY MOM

My childhood was very memorable
Because of my mom
She rejoiced with me when i was glad
And was depressed also when i was sad.

She taught me showing love was good,
And she said; "Give to the poor who starve,
And appreciate whatever you have."

She also said to me "There are lessons learnt when you cry,
And cease procrastination because it is the twin of failure
So son just try."

So tell me a woman of wisdom and understanding,
I will imagine my Late mom standing;
She was my mother, my coach, and my Berlin wall!
She was simply my all.

@MOLEK ....your love poem...


HIT BY A CUPID

I am in love finally in love now,
I write down for you to know;
You are like a glittering star
Like those sprinkled in heaven in afar.

My love for you is sweet as wine
Very unique and divine;
Never doubt my love for you
But I hope you love me, too.

Like gentle whispers of easy wind
Your Voice soothes my troubled mind,
Come with me and be my queen
The finest lady ever been;
Blessed with finest character ever seen

I make you a vow
Deep the base of my heart and pray for our love to grow
Like fresh, lovely rose,
And after death if suppose.

LAMENTATION OF A GENTLEMAN

Lady, I am tired of your complains!
Your nagging is causing me excruciating pains,
And darkening my skin;
I am growing lean and thin.

You always said my sisters’ behaviors are poor,
And always threw my pet dog on the floor;
You continuously defend yourself with blames,
And even set pictures of my Ex in flames!

You abandon all the dirty plates to pile up to the ceilings,
And the kitchen to reek from rotten tomatoes and oranges’ peelings;
Recently, you have become annoyingly loud,
Pompous and proud!

These days, you request for new, luxurious things,
Brazilian wigs and guitar with golden strings;
Strawberries and blackberries;
I have emptied my savings and purse,
And you have made the state of my mind worse,
Please leave my life and close my door;
I was better off before!

you are improving day by day......your rhymes are so lovely....nice poem!

you are very talented, but u have to do alot of editing.....ur rhythm is fine, imagery very good....but u say too much. best of luck, bro.

DO you write song? Cos' you are so lyrical.....take me away please.....

Hmmm....amazing! You write like Christopher Okigibo, but with better rhythm.....and above all you write everyday which is so nice....Keep it up!!

powerful imagery.......nice poem...

lol......

thanks alot, bro...

Lol......

Sorry....and take heart. ....very lovely and touchy poem.

LOVE POEMS

SHE MAKES EVERYMAN FALL IN LOVE

May be you have seen her face—
When she strolled down your street;
Her beauty made your heart race,
And her elegance swept you off your feet!

May be you stood firm and stared closely,
Her eyes are strong and firm like heated coals that burns!
When she smiled at you brightly—
Her teeth well arranged like summer hybrid corns.

May be you peeped and watched her sing,
As you listened with your ears pointing up;
She began to play her guitar string,
You marvelled and wished she shouldn't stop.

May be once you jogged with her,
You noticed her sweats glittered like silver;
And the more you glanced at her,
Her skin shoned like the sun lightening over a river.

May be you have seen her,
She is full of virgin joy;
Lovely and different,
She makes every man fall in love!




MY MUSIC OF LOVE

My music is deep,
So deep you will hear in your sleep,
My music will take you to a dreamland
To a far away land
On wings like a dove
Oh, my love.

Scent of rose will one day go,
Flowers can shrink from head to toe;
My music will subdue your fears,
And bring melodies to your ears.

My music will kiss you like morning sun rise,
Sail you to paradise;
Warm you at night,
And keep you away from plight.
It would be in your feet guiding you from dangers that befall,
My music will be your all.


LET SPEAK THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE

Fresh red petals flew around town,
Rains drizzled gently down;
Lovely stars shone like diamonds in the skies,
Atmospheres lit with millions lightening fireflies.
They all spoke in language of love....

The spring flowed
Summer flowers bloomed—
Chirping birds sang melodies,
And delicate evening moon glowed
They all spoke in language of love....

Please sweetheart hold my hands—
Let’s sail to beautiful lands;
Travel over mountains
Swim in purest fountains
Let’s speak in language of love





SAD POEMS

LOVE IS NOW AN UGLY CRIME

I was knocking on your door—
I was hungry and sore,
Knocking weakly with my wounded hand
But you wouldn’t understand

Hearts of men are dark like night,
But unlike nights’, they aren’t speck of starlight;
Brothers’ are locked in war,
And none of men seems to care.


What spell is mankind under?
Envy rumbling in eyes of men like thunder,
Love hanging all alone on an edge,
Like wreck paradise of lost age.


In news’, these days cities tumbling every time,
Showing love is now an ugly crime;
We are torn apart by greed,
When love and brotherhood are all we need.


MAIDUGURI IN NIGERIA

In Maiduguri, I walked through a street;
No cars so I trudged on my feet
Walking wearily alone
Just like a rolling stone.

My ears are deafened by booms of guns,
My eyes have seen enough
And my face reddened with anger,
To be part of a city filled with unspeakable danger.

It’s a shame to see a great city in woes,
Beauties of an admired city taken away by foes;
And vultures hovering the skies,
Smiling and watching with colorful eyes.

Nights, likewise Days are silent and cold;
Children orphaned and the old
Brushed away and made to live in pain,
Their last years of their lives in pain!

We know that the greatest crime in life is neglect,
But why did Government treat such a great city with disrespect;
And allowed monuments of Maiduguri to rust,
A great tourist center fallen to dust!

sorry.....

Thanks.....I appreciate.

Play writing tips, from Jose Rivera..

1. Good play writing is a collaboration between your many selves. The more multiple your personalities, the further, wider, deeper you will be able to go.
2. Theatre is closer to poetry and music than it is to the novel.
3. There's no time limit to writing plays. Think of play writing as a life-long apprenticeship. Imagine you may have your best ideas on your deathbed.
4. Write plays in order to organize despair and chaos. To live vicariously. To play God. To project an idealized version of the world. To destroy things you hate in the world and in yourself. To remember and to forget. To lie to yourself. To play. To dance with language. To beautify the landscape. To fight loneliness. To inspire others. To imitate your heroes. To bring back the past and raise the dead. To achieve transcendence of yourself. To fight the powers that be. To sound alarms. To provoke conversation. To engage in the conversation started by great writers in the past. To further evolve the artform. To lose yourself in your fictive world. To make money.
5. Write because you want to show something. To show that the world is shit. To show how fleeting love and happiness are. To show the inner workings of your ego. To show that democracy is in danger. To show how interconnected we are. (Each "to show" is active and must be personal, deeply held, true to you.)
6. Each line of dialogue is like a piece of DNA; potentially containing the entire play and its thesis; potentially telling us the beginning, middle, and end of the play.
7. Be prepared to risk your entire reputation every time you write, otherwise it's not worth your audience's time.
8. Embrace your writer's block. It's nature's way of saving trees and your reputation. Listen to it and try to understand its source. Often, writer's block happens to you because somewhere in your work you've lied to yourself and your subconscious won't let you go any further until you've gone back, erased the lie, stated the truth and started over.
9. Language is a form of entertainment. Beautiful language can be like beautiful music: it can amuse, inspire, mystify, enlighten.
10. Rhythm is key. Use as many sounds and cadences as possible. Think of dialogue as a form of percussive music. You can vary the speed of the language, the number of beats per line, volume, density. You can use silences, fragments, elongated sentences, interruptions, overlapping conversation, physical activity, monologues, nonsense, non-sequiturs, foreign languages.
11. Vary your tone as much as possible. Juxtapose high seriousness with raunchy language with lyrical beauty with violence with dark comedy with awe with eroticism.
12. Action doesn't have to be overt. It can be the steady deepening of the dramatic situation or your character's steady emotional movements from one emotional/psychological condition to another: ignorance to enlightenment, weakness to strength, illness to wholeness.
13. Invest something truly personal in each of your characters, even if it's something of your worst self.
14. If realism is as artificial as any genre, strive to create your own realism. If theatre is a handicraft in which you make one of a kind pieces, then you're in complete control of your fictive universe. What are its physical laws? What's gravity like? What does time do? What are the rules of cause and effect? How do your characters behave in this altered universe?
15. Write from your organs. Write from your eyes, your heart, your liver, your ass -- write from your brain last of all.
16. Write from all of your senses. Be prepared to design on the page: tell yourself exactly what you see, feel, hear, touch and taste in this world. Never leave design to chance, that includes the design of the cast.
17. Find your tribe. Educate your collaborators. Stick to your people and be faithful to them. Seek aesthetic and emotional compatability with those your work with. Understand your director's world view because it will color his/her approach to your work.
18. Strive to be your own genre. Great plays represent the genres created around the author's voice. A Checkhov genre. A Caryl Churchill genre.
19. Strive to create roles that actors you respect will kill to perform.
20. Form follows function. Strive to reflect the content of the play in the form of the play.
21. Use the literalization of metaphor to discuss the inner emotional state of your characters.
22. Don't be afraid to attempt great themes: death, war, sexuality, identity, fate, God, existence, politics, love.
23. Theatre is the explanation of life to the living. Try to tease apart the conflicting noises of living, and make some kind of pattern and order. It's not so much and explanation of life as much as it is a recipe for understanding, a blueprint for navigation, a confidante with some answers, enough to guide you and encourage you, but not to dictate to you.
24. Push emotional extremes. Don't be a puritan. Be sexy. Be violent. Be irrational. Be sloppy. Be frightening. Be loud. Be stupid. Be colorful.
25. Ideas may be deeply embedded in the interactions and reactions of your character; they may be in the music and poetry of your form. You have thoughts and you generate ideas constantly. A play ought to embody those thoughts and those thoughts can serve as a unifying energy in your play.
26. A play must be organized. This is another word for structure. You organize a meal, your closet, your time -- why not your play?
27. Strive to be mysterious, not confusing.
28. Think of information in a play like an IV drip -- dispense just enough to keep the body alive, but not too much too soon.
29. Think of writing as a constant battle against the natural inertia of language.
30. Write in layers. Have as many things happening in a play in any one moment as possible.
31. Faulkner said the greatest drama is the heart in conflict with itself.
32. Keep your chops up with constant questioning of your own work. React against your work. Be hypercritical. Do in the next work what you aimed for but failed to do in the last one.
33. Listen only to those people who have a vested interest in your future.
34. Character is the embodiment of obsession. A character must be stupendously hungry. There is no rest for those characters until they've satisfied their needs.
35. In all your plays be sure to write at least one impossible thing. And don't let your director talk you out of it.
36. A writer cannot live without an authentic voice -- the place where you are the most honest, most lyrical, most complete, most creative and new. That's what you're striving to find. But the authentic voice doesn't know how to write, any more than gasoline knows how to drive. But driving is impossible without fuel and writing is impossible without the heat and strength of your authentic voice. Learning to write well is the stuff of workshops. Learning good habits and practicing hard. But finding your authentic voice as a writer is your business, your journey -- a private, lonely, inexact, painful, slow and frustrating voyage. Teachers and mentors can only bring you closer to that voice. With luck and time, you'll get there on your own.

LIFE IS VAIN UPON VAIN

Today I lay on my bed weak,
Alone and unable to speak;
And my body and muscles stiffen with cold,
I was young, but now lonely and old.

I have worked hard as I can
To be a successful, accomplished man,
I have seen many relatives grow
Even a Siamese cat, a Tortoise and Crow

I have sailed through oceans and seas,
Flew over the land and tallest trees
To England, Portugal, Egypt and Spain;
With the intention to avoid the world’s pain!


Then I got married and it was good,
Never felt my soul in such passionate mood;
I held her hands I wanted more,
I kissed her lips I wanted more;
Never have I felt that way before.

She loved me and I love her so much,
I appreciated her affections and golden touch;
Her fragrance like lilies hung in the air
And I adored her wavy, astonishing hair.
Our love was sealed in heaven,
And not like Adam and Eve in Garden Eden.

One dull afternoon, death came and knocked on my door,
And left me sad and sore;
With its evil hands took my wife away,
My beautiful bride was dead that very day.

I mourned and wept every night,
My wife, whose eyes were dazzling and bright;
Who I cherished was dead,
And my heart bled.

I wait for the angel of death
To take away my breath
And save me from this grieve and pain
Because life is vain upon vain!

A COMEDY PLAY

IRONY OF LOVE

BY


MUONEKE CHIDIEBERE









ACT 1


SCENE ONE:
The curtain rises up;
Tunde is seen sitting on a chair located at the right side of the stage.
He is writing down a letter on the table and on the table, there is also a little rose flower.
He is a dark, round faced, broad-shoulder, handsome young man in his late twenties.
Tunde is the butler of a district head's household.




TUNDE (V/O) (V.O means we hear voice or thought of a actor wihout the actor actually moving his/her lips or mouth)
(Aside; Writing a note)
Jumoke, my love,
Whose beauty is excess;
Smiles are lovely bright
And demeanor is always right.
Your eyes reminds me of glittering stars---
Stars sprinkled in skies at night like diamonds.
I love everything about you.



Tunde smiles, stands up and walks to the left of the stage.
He calls Lekan, who is lowest ranked worker in the household.



TUNDE
(Calls)
Lekan! Lekan!


MAN’S VOICE
(Loudly)
Sir! Yes, sir!



Lekan appears quickly.

LEKAN
Yes, sir! You called for me!


Lekan is tall, gaunt man, with tooth-brush moustache and hanger-like shoulders


TUNDE
(Jiggles his head)
Please, I have told you a lot of times to stop calling me sir.
Just call me by my first name; ‘Tunde’


LEKAN
(Nodding)
I won’t sir!


TUNDE
But you just did!


LEKAN
I won’t again, sir!


TUNDE
(Wagging his finger; Droops his head)
Please, stop including the sir!


LEKAN
(In a subdued voice)
If I have wronged you, please forgive me, sir.


TUNDE
Okay. Never mind. I want you to call Bola.
Please tell her, she should come straight away.


LEKAN
(Bows)
Yes, sir!



Lekan exits.
Tunde takes a deep breath and ambles to the chair.
He sits.
Bola and Lekan enters and walks to the right of the side of the stage where Tunde is sitting.



BOLA
(Obese and puffy faced)
I heard news and rumors about you!
Gossips about you that would make you smile.


TUNDE
And what is it?


BOLA
(Smiling)
Ladies are gossiping that you are very handsome.


TUNDE
Ah! Is that it?


BOLA
Umm-Hmmm!


TUNDE
(Turns to Lekan)
Thank you, Lekan. You can now leave.


LEKAN
(Bows)
Yes, sir.


Lekan exits.


BOLA
(Sitting on the table; to Tunde)
And some ladies—


TUNDE
(Glares at Bola sitting on the table)
Bola, where are your manners?


BOLA
Ugh, Oh, I am tired of faking it!


TUNDE
(Defeated; Speaks weakly)
You will never change.


BOLA
More importantly, some ladies said that you have olive-oil looks
(Beat)
And they love your chest…

TUNDE
My chest?—


BOLA
Yes, they said it is as broad as barrel.


TUNDE
It surprises me that you are talking about handsomeness.
It seems like you have found a man? Have you?


BOLA
Why? No!


TUNDE
Aren’t you thinking of getting married some day?


BOLA
Ugh…for that only the lord knows.


TUNDE
(Surprised with her response)
But, it will be fine if you fall in love with someone
Like connect with the person’s soul and make mountains roll.


BOLA
But that’s sorcery!


TUNDE
Love is like sorcery.
It bond two persons together.
They dream of each other.
They want to be with each other
And drench one another with kisses!


BOLA
(Warily)
Are you in love with someone?


TUNDE
Yes, i am.


BOLA
(Gesticulates her arm)
I hope the person it’s not me!


TUNDE
(Wagging his finger)
Oh, It is not you.


BOLA
Who?


TUNDE
(Speaks slowly)
Jumoke.


BOLA
The district head’s only daughter?


TUNDE
Yes. our master’s daughter, Jumoke.


BOLA
(Look at Tunde. Nods her head respectfully)
You definitely have high taste! How did you pull it off?


TUNDE
Don’t worry about that.
I am writing her a sonnet and I want you to please give it to her.


BOLA
Hmmmm….


Bola peeps into the sonnet on the table.


BOLA
(Reads a line aloud)
"Your eyes reminds me of glittering stars---
Stars sprinkled in skies at night like diamonds."
(Looks at Tunde; shaking her head)
Seems, you do exceedingly well in this trade.
(After an awkward beat)
Can you write me a sonnet praising my inner virtues?
Oh, I know I don’t have eyes shaped like diamonds,
but I have nice, amazing set of teeth so strong like chainsaw.


TUNDE
Maybe some other time.
(He picks up little rose on the table and sniffs it)
Little, beautiful rose flower,
Blessed with amazing power,
Beautiful from head to toe;
Just like Jumoke,
Splendid from head to toe!


BOLA
(Gazing at Tunde; Very amazed)
Love is indeed like sorcery!


TUNDE
I told you.


BOLA
Is it actually possible to fall in love with anyone…..like connect with someone like how you just did?


TUNDE
Oh, yes!


BOLA
To anyone?


TUNDE
Anyone except our master.


BOLA
Oh, don’t worry about that; his face scares me.
His eyes can make cheetahs run slow
most time, when he is talking to me my heart stops beating.


TUNDE
(Laughs softly)
Ok. Please can you give the letter to Jumoke?
It’s a lot easy because you are her personal maid.


BOLA
No, problem.


TUNDE
Thanks. Please, don’t let our master see the sonnet.


BOLA
Sure.




SCENE TWO


In Jumoke’s room, Jumoke and her cousin, Bisi are lying on a bed.
Jumoke is reading one of the sonnets Tunde wrote for her.
Bisi is lying on the bed few inches from Jumoke and filing her nails.


JUMOKE
(Reads from the sonnet)
“I love the way you tread softly when you walk,
I adore your sweet voice when you talk;
I love your teeth arranged like hybrid corns,
And adore your lovely dark eyes like coals that burns…..”


Jumoke laughs.



BISI
What’s the matter?


JUMOKE
Oh, sorry.


BISI
Tell me, what’s the matter?
You have been reading a poem,
smiling and laughing habitually.
And you look extremely happy.


JUMOKE
Is it obvious?


BISI
With your mouth giving out those rumbling laughs
like a Hyena even a deaf person will know that you are obviously excited.
so tell me what makes you so happy?


JUMOKE
This note—


BISI
Notes?!


JUMOKE
(Raises the note slightly high)
Yes, this note—

BISI
(Scoffing)
Ugh, note! Oh, please don’t tell me madness runs in our bloodline!


JUMOKE
Note…..not this note exactly. I mean the writer of this note.


BISI
Are you fooling around with Shakespeare?


JUMOKE
No…..


BISI
Chimamanda?


JUMOKE
That’s gay…


BISI
Soyinka?


JUMOKE
(Voice slightly louder)
No……he has a big nose!


BISI
Then, who dead or alive on earth would touch your heart with the right words?


JUMOKE
Someone…


BISI
Who?


JUMOKE
A handsome man—


BISI
Is he rich? Is he—


JUMOKE
Rich? Cousin, love doesn’t have any criterion.
Wealth isn’t a criterion in falling in love with someone.
Love is very unpredictable, you know.


BISI
But poverty is very predictable.
Love doesn’t just go alone with words or kisses.
It also comes with goodies, too.
(Dreamily)
Nice robes, nice jewelries, lipsticks, and so on.


JUMOKE
(Scowling)
Haven’t you fallen in love before, have you?


BISI
No!


JUMOKE
(Compassionately)
Sorry, but why? You look beautiful…


BISI
Because men in our district aren’t rich enough
and marrying a poor fellow is like living with a scarecrow…….impotent and toothless.


JUMOKE
(With a digusted look on her face)
Eh…


BISI
Please worry less about me and tell who you’re in love with?


JUMOKE
(Flicks a smile)
Tunde….


BISI
Tunde? Is he the son of the president of Nigeria or a legendary prince?


JUMOKE
(Jiggles her head)
No!


BISI
(Sharply)
Who’s he? Oh, wait a minute; does he work under your father? The butler?


JUMOKE
(Proudly)
Yes, Tunde…..the cute, handsome Tunde you know in the palace—


BISI
Please don’t tell me that throughout your married life you want to have sweet nights
but miserable mornings and sorrowful afternoon?


JUMOKE
I love him dearly. Moreover, love is blind, you know.


BISI
(Contemptuously)
Oh, that’s sad! Thank God, you still have eyes!


JUMOKE
Seriously, I do love him.


BISI
Please, Jumoke be realistic!
You’re supposed to know riches and poverty don’t go in the same direction.
Masters and slaves don’t involve in romantic Mingling!
This has been the basic rule since the beginning of life and this has always kept the world together.


JUMOKE
(Suddenly petulant)
I think I have my life to live, and whosoever I decide to love is none of your business.


BISI
But uneven love on earth makes angels in heaven mad.


JUMOKE
Thank good lord; we are still on earth and not in heaven, are we?


BISI
…cousin I am trying to save you from future poverty occurrence or something close to that…..


JUMOKE
But this is what I want. Can you keep it a secret?
Don’t tell anyone not even the birds?


BISI
Just that?


JUMOKE
Yes.


BISI
Then consider my lips sealed!


**************************************************************************************************************

SCENE SEVEN:
On the stage, there is a long couch and Eames chair.
Chief Adewole and his mother, Mama Yetunde, are sitting on the long couch;
while Baba Tunji is sitting complacently on the Eames chair with his head thrown backward.
There is a table directly opposite them and on top of the table, is saucer which contains Kola nuts and drinks.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(Clears his throat)
Welcome, Mama
[Glances at Baba Tunji]
Baba Tunji, thank you so much for coming.
I really needed your advice urgently on this matter I called both of you on….this matter has been bothering me for some time now.


Mama Yetunde nods.


BABA TUNJI
Thank you very much, my son.
Your father was very nice to me, but I can’t remember his face, but can recall his voice and it’s just like yours’


MAMA YETUNDE
Baba, it is okay. Let’s listen to what my son called us for.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(Clears his throat again)
I got reports that my daughter is in love with a slave……my butler—


MAMA YETUNDE
Is it with Tunde?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Mama, how do you know it was with Tunde?


MAMA YETUNDE:
Jumoke told me.


CHIEF YETUNDE
I know you will always be against the whole idea. So I dealt with Tunde miserably.


MAMA YETUNDE
You did what?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(Proudly)
I dealt with him. I locked him up for days without food
and made him work in excruciating pains in my farms under blistering sun.


MAMA YETUNDE
What?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(Gloats proudly)
Yes, I even thought of hacking a hatchet through his head tomorrow morning,
but needed advise from both of you whether breaking through his head or piercing the hole of his genital is more appropriate.


MAMA YETUNDE
Is this all you learnt from university?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Me? No!
(Speaks in different tone)
I am trying to prevent atrocities from happening.
I once heard that marriage of uncommon status bear weird children like sheep with human head or frogs with human eyes.


MAMA YETUNDE
Son, love has no boundary.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Ho, mama, we are not travelling now.


MAMA YETUNDE
See, my son. What I am saying is that, love is an attraction.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
And then what?


MAMA YETUNDE
And good things in life appeals to both the rich and a common man.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
And what are you suggesting?


MAMA YETUNDE
Free Tunde.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Why?


MAMA YETUNDE
Because he and Jumoke love each other.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
If that’s love, then love is a terrible thing.


MAMA YETUNDE
Why?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
It’s making my daughter reason like a swine.


MAMA YETUNDE
And so?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(Making a hand gesture)
It’s like she’s being controlled with a rein or something
(To Baba Tunji is awfully quiet)
What are you suggesting Baba Tunji?


There is silent. Baba Tunji is asleep and snoring.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(To his mother nearer to Baba Tunji)
Please, mama wake him up.


MAMA YETUNDE
(Taps Baba Tunji on his thighs)
Wake up! Baba, wake up!

BABA TUNJI
(Wakes and yawns)
Yes! Yes. I was in a meeting in my dream and here also I am in a meeting.
It’s splendid being in two places at the same time. Growing old has many advantages and…
(Sees Chief Adewole’s mean, frowning face)
Oh, your face truly reminds me of a soldier’s face, who haven’t had s*x for a long time.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(Frowning like a bull dog)
What are you suggesting I should do after I found out my daughter is in love with a slave?


Baba Tunji fully awake.


BABA TUNJI
(Half-wittedly)
Chief, I have grown quiet old
and I have seen many things because grey hair is very unique like gold.


MAMA YETUNDE
Yes…….


BABA TUNJI
And as I grew older I realized new things and I saw things differently—


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Which are?


BABA TUNJI
Now, I am older when I see bald headed men I think they are vanished white men.


MAMA YETUNDE
May be it is cataract affecting your sight.


BABA TUNJI
No. No—


CHIEF ADEWOLE
That’s not important in this issue! I asked a simple question.
“I found out that my daughter and my slave are secretly courting; and I called on you, Baba Tunji for advice.”


BABA TUNJI
Is he a man?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
If having a moustache makes him so. Then, he is.


BABA TUNJI
Then if he is man……a Man and a woman courting has always been a blessing.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Won’t a slave and my daughter’s relationship yield negative consequences? my daughter is of noble birth, you know?


BABA TUNJI
Noble birth?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Yes….


BABA TUNJI
Did she fall from skies?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
No!


BABA TUNJI
Did she come off a sea that ran out dry?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
No!


BABA TUNJI
Does she have a moustache and a pen*s?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
No….what?
(Shrugging off the question)
Please don’t ask me that!


BABA TUNJI
Sorry about that.
But I will tell the truth; a marriage between a man and a woman is always blessed by our ancestors.
(Beat)
The only affair that was despised,
and will always be condemned is a man and a man marriage or a woman and a woman
(Spits on the floor)
I wonder how they enjoy that!
Horses are taking over the world!


MAMA YETUNDE
Baba Tunji has said it all. Moreover, Tunde is like a holy saint.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
How?


MAMA YETUNDE
How he talks and the way he walks like it is written on his forehead:"I am an honest man."


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(Deep gruffly voice)
Eh!


MAMA YETUNDE
And he is obedient and handsome like a rainbow.
You know obedient, handsome men are difficult to come across these days.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(Looks at his mother warily)
Please, Mama don’t tell me you want to make him my Step-son soon.


MAMA YETUNDE
No! I am trying to say I would be happy to have Tunde as a son-in-law if that will make Jumoke happy.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
But he doesn’t have any money?


BABA TUNJI
Ha, my dad didn’t have so much and my mom didn’t ask much either.


Mama Yetunde nods agreeably.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
And he doesn’t have class, too? Or style?


BABA TUNJI
Style? Is that a new brand of alcohol sold in markets these days?
If he doesn’t drink at all I guess that is good.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Ugh! No! I meant he doesn’t have roots or prestige.


BABA TUNJI
Oh, don’t worry about that he will buy it like they do these days.


MAMA YETUNDE
Is possible, Baba Tunji?


BABA TUNJI
Ha, he can buy it.


Mama Yetunde nods agreeably again.


MAMA YETUNDE
[With admiration]
Baba, you are indeed a wise man.


BABA TUNJI
Ho, wisdom comes into a man if he has died many times.


MAMA YETUNDE
[Baffled look]
How? How did you die many times?


BABA TUNJI
Ho, every night I close my eyes to sleep.
So 365 days times my Sixty-five years. Indeed, I have died lot………lot of times!


Mama Yetunde Laughs.


BABA TUNJI
[To Chief Adewole]
So call the man so I could see if he is a proper man or an apparition.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
[Shrugs his shoulders]
Okay.
[Calls loudly]
Guards! Guards!


Bayo and Seun enter.


BAYO
[Bowing]
Sir, did you call us?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Yes, that’s why you are here!


BAYO
So we should come only when you call us and worry
less about guarding your house at night and battling mosquitoes?



CHIEF ADEWOLE
I think you should worry more about getting fired,
because if you ask me any irrelevant question I will fire both of you.


SEUN
[Winces; speaks in a stage whisper to the other]
Please be quiet I don’t want to be roasted like a chicken.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Both of you should go and bring Tunde here.


BAYO
We should do what sir?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
[Irritably]
Ugh! How on earth did I employ guards without brain?


BAYO
Brain? Don’t worry we will acquire some.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Oh, my God! You don’t buy BRAINS!


BAYO
We will grow to them, then.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
May be until when both of you are Seventy-five!
(Squeezing his brow)
Hey, Orangutans I said both of you should go and bring T-U-N-D-E here!


SEUN
Should we bring him on a boat or a train?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
[Sarcastically]
No, boats and trains are too cheap.
Both of you should bring him on yacht or jet!


SEUN
That would be very expensive, sir.


BAYO
[Nods agreeably]
Umm-Hmm! Very………..very expensive, sir.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Fools! Will both of you leave and come back with Tunde?


Bayo and Seun exit.


MAMA YETUNDE
(In a soft, comforting voice)
Son, easy, easy. Too much shouting makes a man bald quickly.
(To Baba Tunji)
Isn’t it, Baba Tunji?


There is silent. Baba Tunji is asleep and snoring as usual.


BABA TUNJI
(Wakes)
What did I miss?


MAMA YETUNDE
Nothing!


BABA TUNJI
Was I sleeping or closing my eyes and thinking?


MAMA YETUNDE
I guess you were sleeping unconsciously.


BABA TUNJI
Oh, please don’t blame me because sleeping unconsciously is one of disadvantage of growing old.


Bayo and Seun enter without Tunde.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(To Bayo and Seun)
Where is Tunde?


BAYO
Um, we, um….um…we lost him.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(Makes a phone gesture to his right ear)
You lost him, and then redial his number.


Seun and Bola guffaws.


SEUN
God, bless our master! Master is very comical.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(Sarcastically)
Fools! This is one of the reasons of raising kids today with cow milk is very detrimental.
I guess your mothers nursed both of you with cow milk.


BAYO
(Dreamily)
Cow milk! Delicious cow milk!
I wonder what life will be without cows! I miss days I was a baby.


Seun nods agreeably.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
(Fuming)
Hush, idiots! I said go and bring Tunde!


BAYO
We, um, lost the k-key, sir.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
What?


MAMA YETUNDE
(Gentle voice)
Easy. Easy, son.
(To Bayo and Seun)
Check your pockets, sons.


They dip their hand into their pockets and one of them finds the key.


SEUN
Eureka! I found it! A woman is naturally SMART!


BAYO
They are gift to mankind.
I guess when they came to earth the air of the world became purer and lighter. [Sniffs the air]


CHIEF ADEWOLE
[Annoyed]
Clap your hands, stand on your heads and sing a song “We have found it” Idiots, who lost the keys in the first place.


SEUN
[Unintelligently]
We, sir!


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Then will both of you get out from here! And make sure you bring Tunde along, this time around!


Seun and Bayo exit.


MAMA YETUNDE
Son, easy…easy.


Bayo and Seun enter the stage, dragging Tunde. Tunde’s hands are tied together.


BAYO
[Gloats proudly]
Here he is, sir! Trodden and blue-beaten like he is from HELL! We made sure he was tortured and ridiculed.


They both smile
Tunde sees Chief Adewole, Mama Yetunde, and Baba Tunji.
He bows.


TUNDE
[Lift his head]
Good afternoon, sir. Welcome maa. Welcome Baba Tunji.


Baba Tunji is listening attentively.
His ears shoot up.


BABA TUNJI
Do I know you?


TUNDE
Not in person, sir. But everybody in Lagos knows about you, sir.


BABA TUNJI
[Walks to Tunde]
Speak again? Your voice sound very familiar.
Very persuasive and alluring, more like Oba Anikulapo! What’s your name?


TUNDE
Tunde, sir.


BABA TUNJI
Say it again.


TUNDE
Tunde, sir.


Everybody’s eyes are fixed on Baba Tunji and Tunde.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
What’s this MADNESS?!


BABA TUNJI
Madness? This is not madness; this young man has similar voice of Oba Anikulapo….


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Is it Oba Anikulapo, the great elephant?


BAYO
Is it the great elephant that ate humans alive?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
[To Bayo]
Shut up and don’t say a word.
[To Baba Tunji]
Is it the great elephant that ate humans alive?


BAYO
But that’s exactly what I said.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Boy, shut up!
[To Baba Tunji]
Is it Oba Anikulapo, The Oba of all men?


BABA TUNJI
Yes, my chief. His voice so similar to Oba Anikulapo;
You know blood and voice don’t lie.


MAMA YETUNDE
Sure, they don’t.


BABA TUNJI
I remember Oba Anikulapo’s voice clearly.
Those days when we fought wars against the Ijaws---those annoying land snatchers and when our men were demoralized, Oba Anikulapo was the one, who cheered us on with his inspiration words:

“Brothers, let’s move onward,
Your eyes steady and forward;
Don’t flinch, shake or hide,
The gods of our ancestors are on our side;
And let’s defend our children, wives and lands,
Grains, fruits and sands…..”


Everybody gazed at Baba Tunji.


MAMA YETUNDE
[Highly interested]
Was it the last war we fought with the Ijaws?


BABA TUNJI
We? No! It was only men and horses. During time of war, horses are braver than women.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Tunde? Oba Anikulapo’s son!


SEUN
[Speaks to Bayo]
I once heard he defeated hundreds of soldiers with his both hands tied to his back.


BAYO
[Nodding agreeably]
Me, too. I heard he is a distant cousin of Sango!


CHIEF ADEWOLE
[To Tunde]
Young man, who is your father?


TUNDE
I can’t recall his name.


BABA TUNJI
[To chief Adewole]
But how did he get here?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
I bought him from a caravan trader. Ten years ago.


BABA TUNJI
Exactly! Oba Anikulapo was looking for his lost son ten years ago.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Are you sure?


BABA TUNJI
Yes. [To Tunde]
Can’t you remember anything ‘bout him?


TUNDE
Oh, yes. I can recall one of his advices.
He always said to me: “Son, be strong like a lion only bravery
and self-belief can help you in your troubles and every passing day takes something away from you so learn to influence people around you positively.”


BABA TUNJI
[Joins in completing the last lines]
“So learn to influence people around you positively.”
I remember that speech, too. So how did you get here?


TUNDE
I came here ten years ago, sir.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
[Glance at Bayo and Seun]
Untie him!


BAYO
We should do what, sir?


CHIEF ADEWOLE
I have to get rid of these MAROONS!


SEUN
Please don’t sir. Please, my mom is a widow and she will starve.


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Don’t worry about that. Just tell her to apply for your post.
That’s if she doesn’t have any of your hearing deficiency. Untie Tunde before I lose my temper!


SEUN
Sorry, sir.


Bayo and Seun men rushes to untie Tunde and bumps into each other.


BABA TUNJI
I suggest we should go to Oba Anikulapo’s palace right away,
because I think Tunde is his biologggiccaa….


CHIEF ADEWOLE
Biological son?


BABA TUNJI
Yes, that what I was trying to say. [Shakes his head] Old age indeed has disadvantage of word pronunciation.

Pls. I am a Nigerian, but I am based in Ghana. I want to join. Please.
My e-mail is chiboymuoneke@yahoo.com

SHE MAKES EVERYMAN FALL IN LOVE

May be you have seen her face—
When she strolled down your street;
Her beauty made your heart race,
And her elegance swept you off your feet!

May be you stood firm and stared closely,
Her eyes are strong and firm like heated coals that burns!
When she smiled at you brightly—
Her teeth well arranged like summer hybrid corns.

May be you peeped and watched her sing,
As you listened with your ears pointing up;
She began to play her guitar string,
You marvelled and wished she shouldn't stop.

May be once you jogged with her,
You noticed her sweats glistened like silver;
And the more you glanced at her,
Her skin shoned like the sun lightening over a river.

May be you have seen her,
She is full of virgin joy;
Lovely and different,
She makes every man fall in love!


I TURNED THE LYRICAL POEM INTO A SONG FOR YOU
SHE MAKES EVERYMAN FALL IN LOVE

May be you have seen her face
When she strolled down your street
Her beauty made your heart race
And her elegance swept you off your feet

May be you have seen her,
She is full of virgin joy;
She makes every fall in love..



May be you stood firm and stared closely
Her eyes are strong and firm like heated coals that burns
When she smiled at you brightly
Her teeth well arranged like summer hybrid corns

May be you have seen her,
She is full of virgin joy;
She makes every fall in love..
(She makes every man fall in love)

May be you peeped and watched her sing
As you listened with your ears pointing up
She began to play her guitar string,
You marvelled and wished she shouldn't stop

May be you have seen her,
She is full of virgin joy;
She makes every fall in love..

May be once you jogged with her
You noticed her sweats glistened like silver
And the more you glanced at her
Her skin shoned like the sun lightening over a river


May be you have seen her,
She is full of virgin joy;
She makes every fall in love..

I don't even know her name
But she makes love blooming in me
Like an endless river is flowing in me


May be you have seen her,
She is full of virgin joy;
She makes every fall in love..
(She makes every man fall in love)

YOU 'RE GOOD! dime good!