SCENE 1
(A university campus is shown, Debisi and Tope are seen, seated beside each other under a big tree)
Tope: (Moody).
Debisi: Hey, Tope, what's it again?
Tope: (Sighs deeply). It's about the balance of my school fees. Honestly, I'm...
Debisi: (Cuts in) You have to stop these complaints, ok? I've always been telling you that problems shared is half solved!
Tope: I can't be disturbing you at all times, Debisi. You have done a lot for me!
Debisi: Did I ever complain?
Tope: It's true you didn't, but...
Debisi: (Interrupts) I will get you the money in three days, ok?
Tope: Oh, thank you very much. Honestly, I can't thank you enough, but I pray God will duly reward you In Jesus Name!
Debisi: (Jokingly) Hey, hey, Mr. Pastor, that's ok. You have to stop now before you start cursing, please!
The two friends laugh together at once, and light fades.
SCENE 2
(Three weeks later, Tope is narrating his experience to his mother)
Tope: It was indeed a terrible experience, mum. But thank God for Debisi as usual, she was just exceptional for me!
Mrs Debo: Oh, may God Almighty continue to bless her for me. She has been so good to you from your year two, even up till this your final year!
Tope: Yes mum, you are right.
Mrs Debo: Please tell me, what's the exact relationship between you and this young girl?
Tope: We are just friends. (Smiles).
Mrs. Debo: (Chuckles) Are you sure?
Tope: Believe me, mum.
Mrs Debo: My wish for you is to marry from our home town, ok?
Tope: When it is time, God will show me the way.
Mrs Debo: Amen. (Gets up and heads to the kitchen) Let me check the okro soup on fire so that it won't get burnt.
Tope: Oh, yes!
Light fades
SCENE 3
(Two years later, Mrs Debo and Tope are in their little apartment, discussing)
Tope: Honestly, I'm fed up with this Country! It's more than eight months now that I'm back from the North where I did my Youth Service, and since then, no job!
Mrs Debo: My son, you have to take things easy, ok? Joblessness is a general issue in this Country, we can only beg God to please come to our rescue.
Tope: (Suddenly dips his hand into his right pocket).
Mrs Debo: What's that?
Tope: My phone is ringing. Please allow some minutes.
He's on the call for up to five minutes, and later returns to his mother
Tope: I'm sorry mum, it was Debisi.
Mrs Debo: Oh, what about her?
Tope: She's fine. She wanted me to come and see his uncle tomorrow morning.
Mrs Debo: Is everything ok with her uncle?
Tope: I think so. I guess she has discussed with her uncle about me.
Mrs Debo: That's good. Please always thank her for me.
Tope: I will deliver, mum.
Light fades
SCENE 4
(A large and beautiful sitting room is seen. Mr Raphael sits on the longest chair, Debisi sits beside him, and Tope sits on another long chair adjacent to them)
Mr Raphael: Young man, it's my pleasure to congratulate you for this wonderful luck of yours.
Tope: Tha...n...k you sir. (Stammers). But sir, I don't know the reason behind this congratulatory...
Mr Raphael: (Interrupts) I submitted your credentials to a close friend of mine last month, and he brought your appointment letter to my office yesterday. (Stretches forth his hand to Tope and hands over a white envelope to him) Here is it. Once again, congratulations! (Stretches forth his hand again for a handshake).
Tope: (Quickly accepts Mr Raphael's handshake offer) Thank you very much sir! I so much appreciate you sir! (Prostrates and continues showing endless appreciations).
Mr Raphael: Please get up, and return all appreciations to God.
Debisi: (Genuflects) Thank you very much sir.
Mr Raphael: Now that both of you have been fully employed, you can now continue living your lives the best way it pleases you.
Tope and Debisi: (Chorus) Sure, sir.
Light fades
SCENE 5
(Tope and his friend, Paul are refreshing in a small restaurant - each of them having a bottle of Fanta in front of them)
Paul: (Surprised) You don't mean it!
Tope: I'm serious! When the man handed over the employment letter to me, it was like a dream! I couldn't believe it!
Paul: Just like that?
Tope: O boy, na so I see am oo.
Paul: Congratulations bro!
Tope: Thank you friend.
Paul: But why can't you propose marriage to this lady, she loves you! Don't you love her?
Tope: (Sighs deeply). Honestly, I've seriously fallen in love with Debisi, but our friendship is so close to the extent that I don't know how to present this kind of proposal before her.
Paul: You just have to be a man, ok? Be confident, and be determined to express your mind to her. I'm sure she won't turn you down.
Tope: Ok, thank you very much. I will try my best.
Tope later proposed to Debisi, and expectedly, she couldn't turn him down. But shockingly, Mrs Debo refused to easily give her consent.
SCENE 6
(Mrs Debo and Tope are seen arguing in their little apartment)
Mrs Debo: I will never take this, you won't marry that girl! Because I'd asked you several times about her, and you kept on saying you were just friends!
Tope: Yes, I said so. But now, I'm in love with her!
Mrs Debo: No, it won't work! I've been telling you that I want you to marry a native of this town! Moreover, her uncle who stands as her father is a rich man, and there is no way someone from rich background can respect a man from a wretched home. She would definitely want to rule over you!
Tope: You know Debisi very well, mum, she's not a type of girl you are talking about! She's humble!
Mrs Debo: (Reluctantly) Ok, ok, I've heard you. But if you encounter any problem in this marriage, please count me out!
Tope: There won't be any problem, mum. You only need to give us your blessings, and that's all!
Light fades
SCENE 7
(Some years later. Debisi is shown, seated at an edge of a large bed in a beautiful bedroom)
Debisi: (Moody).
Tope: (Walks in). Why are you not sleeping yet?
Debisi: I don't just feel like sleeping.
Tope: (Sits beside her and places a hand on her shoulder). Is it because of this childlessness issue?
Debisi: (Sighs very deeply and loudly).
Tope: You have to take it easy, ok? My faith is that our time has come, and God has answered us. Let's have that strong faith, and everything will be fine. Please!
Debisi: Ok! (Still in sad mood)
Tope: Can you now sleep?
Light fades
SCENE 8
(Some months later, Mrs Debo is seen receiving a phone call in the visitor's room at Tope's house)
Mrs Debo: Don't mind her, she's a useless woman! I warned Tope seriously against marrying her, but he didn't listen! The last time he came home, Baba Jawesi gave him a herbal medicine to give his wife, but I took it away from him and broke the bottle in his presence! She won't have a baby in this house, until Tope listens to me and marry from our home town.
Debisi: (Overhears. Shivers) Haa! What have I done wrong to this woman? After I'd helped her to sponsor her son in school and even got him a job! She must pay for this! She has to die! (Heads to the kitchen in anger and brings up a knife).
Mrs Debo: (Still on the call) I will deal with her in this house!
Debisi: (Enters forcefully and angrily). You this wicked and old witch, you must die today. You must pay for your wickedness!
The two women start dragging the knife, and in the process, Tope comes in.
Tope: What is going on here? (Runs towards them and tries to collect the knife).
But accidentally, they knife Tope at his stomach and he starts bleeding profusely. Unfortunately, he can't get to the hospital before he dies.
SCENE 9
(A court room is shown, where Mrs Debo and Debisi are waiting for their judgements in sober mood)
Judge: After listening carefully to all the lawyers, and base on the evidences before me, I have no doubt in my mind that Debisi brought the knife into the room with the sole intention of killing her mother in law, and that Mrs Debo was only defending herself when the unfortunate incident happened. (Adjusts his glasses and gets more balanced in his seat). This is my judgement; this court hereby sentence you, Debisi to life imprisonment, while Mrs Debo is set free and advised to return home in peace. I rise! (Stands up and exits the court room at once).
Debisi: (Crying regretfully)
Mrs Debo: (Crying painfully as well). I used my own stupidity to kill my only child. What else am I waiting for on earth? Oh, my God! (Bites her finger in regret) Aaahh!!!!!
Light fades
THE END
Play written by Odunayo Ogunmodede,
isaacodunayo35@gmail.com, 07033504020
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