So I've been off here for a while, and that's because there's a whole lot of work I'm doing and cannot find spare enough time to write.
Anyways, I wrote a short play for Christmas and I think it is enjoyable. Enjoy and let me know what you think.
THE THERAPY
Cast
- Tayo: Joy/Bukola
- Angel: Tehinse
- Joseph: Amos/ Victor
- Mary: Eunice/Rebecca
- Therapist: Femi
Dressing: Casual
Set: Regular group therapy session
Scene opens with the Therapist seated with Joseph, both waiting for Mary and the Angel (Personified in this case) to come in.
Joseph: Boss, see what I’m saying right.. I don’t know who is worse between the girl I am Dating and the Angel, they just know how to make you wait and wait, and at the end of the day sef Angel would still get here before Mary.
Angel: (Walks in) Yen yen yen, so you expect me to be rushing abi?? How would you like it if I rush God to blow the trumpet too, because I am very sure you already know where you are going, or I should rush and shout noo joseph don’t cheat the man, give him the right price.. or maybe I can just scream Oleeeee thief, onijekuje. I speak calmly for a reason Mr. Man, don’t stress me.
(The Therapist Laughs a bit, the two look at him sternly and look back at each other, the noise of Mary and her Friend (Tayo) walking in calls everyone’s attention).
Tayo: Ohhh really, so this is what you brought me here for?? Didn’t I tell you not to listen to anything this one says (pointing at the Angel)… It’s only to be doing (mimicking the Angel) “My daughter, my daughter, slow down an accident is about to occur in front of you”.
Angel: Ohhhhh so it is my fault now that I did what I was sent and saved your pity self, infact let me tell you the truth just now, if you didn’t listen to me that day ehhh see my hand pointing up, they would’ve broken your side mirror and then you will fight and all this you fine face that is giving you big girl vibes would have had stiches like who fight tiger.
Tayo: (looks sternly at the Angel) Ehnnnn oya tell every body everything now
Mary: Good evening Sir (Greeting the Therapist) Hi Joe (sternly)
Joseph: Ohhh now, so it’s no longer hey boyfriend or Hello Darling, it’s now Hi Joe, because I asked questions??? God knows that if not for this oga that keeps disturbing my sleep I would’ve moved on. But no issues, boss please let’s do what we came here for and go.
Therapist: Alright Good evening everyone. (Everyone responds shabbily) I see that this session is very much needed, the moment you all walked in here, I noticed quite a rift between everyone of you, including those we expect to be friends. Before we start the session, I would love to address a point. You see peace is quite expensive, it means agreement and harmony among people at the expense of our different views and thoughts about one another. So for us to continue this session you all have to promise me that no one will be breaking bottles here (looking at Tayo, who looks like she’s about to beat Joseph up).
They all promise with murmurs.
Now let us begin…. Tayo, why do you think you are here.
Tayo: Thank you sir, Sir, you saw me since I came in here, I am a veryyyy peaceful person, infact I once won best in quietness when I was in secondary school, everybody knows me that I’m a peace maker.. (Angel murmurs “E rora ma paro”) But you see this case, ahh I’m not going to accept this one.
Therapist: (Calmly) What is it Tayo?
Tayo: Okay, so I’ve just been keeping quiet since, but Number 1, I just want to understand why Mary will be pregnant and Joseph will still be lying that they did not do anything.. Number 2, the uncle that will be talking like he cannot finish one bread is busy telling me that I should show love to someone that is not showing love to my friend. Number 3, Mary my friend is blind sir, because why will you leave all the big boys in town nd come and be dating this one that is taking us to booka, please help me ask him why he can’t take us to Chicken Republic or Burger King?
Therapist: Is this all?
Tayo: Yes Sir, let it not be asif I’m the only one that has issues with everybody.
Therapist: Okay Tayo it’s fine, I’ll address it, Joseph what really happened?
Joseph: Hello Sir, with all due respect, ask Mary.
Therapist: Alright Mary, please explain.
Mary: Hmmmm, Sir it’s true I am pregnant, and yes again and again, Joseph is not responsible, and at the same time, I didn’t get this from a man. Truth be told sir, I have never known a man in all my life even at this moment with this pregnancy sir I can swear with my….
Therapist: No Mary, there is no cause for that, and be calm I am here to listen to you.
Mary: (Wipes her cheeks of tears) Some few months ago Sir, Mr. slow motion here appeared in my dream like he does every other person’s and his exact words were.. “Mary, Daughter of Grace, blessed art thou before women”
Tayo: Osheyyyyyy Shakespeare, brother blessing…
Therapist: Tayo, do you want answers or not??
(Tayo keeps quiet)
Mary: He said I was going to have a son, someone who would save us all from this life of sin, a son who would heal the sick, raise dead people back to life, a son that would bring down God’s glory from the heavens and enrich the heart of all people with God’s love.
(Angel throws a proud funny face)
Therapist: Uncle (Looking at the Angel sternly).
Mary: He said a whole lot more, about how by the power of God, he would cast out demons and even take the power of death off the hand of satan. The only condition was that, the baby was going to come without me doing theee..
Tayo: Sir shey you see what I’m saying, you see how he sit down like who cannot eat beans??
Therapist & Joseph: Tayooo
Therapist: Please go on my dear.
Mary: So I agreed, I mean look at all the great things he mentioned now, it was going to be the greatest thing to happen in the history of humanity. I didn’t know it was going to be this complicated, I even explained it to Joseph but he wasn’t even going to..
Joseph: Going to mile 12 fruit market ni.. Aunty better let’s know what we are doing… How do you expect me to just agree like that, where did you hear it before that somebody had baby just like that. How do you think the society will look at me, plus what will my friends even think of me? And this one too will be intruding somebody ever time, Joseph this Joseph that.
Angel: So you want to say that I’m disturbing abi?? The society doesn’t know God’s plans for you do they, even your so called friends are busy insulting you at the back right now so oga.
Joseph: I’m not saying you’re disturbing, no be every time you go dey change am for me boss, no vex.
Angel: heheh Sir, please continue.
Therapist: we have heard from Mary and Joseph, Uncle can you explain your own part??
Angel: Okay Sir, thank you sir. First of all I want to say thank you for the opportunity to talk in this occasion. You see I don’t talk when the person I want to talk to is not ready to listen, and I like taking my time to say what I have to say.
Tayo: He don start oo, He has started again, oga is 2 minutes you have.
Angel: Yen yen yen, come and collect the mic now, small thing now you will want to tell your boss you’re sick that’s why you can’t come to work but you’re at home cooking jollof and dodo. FFO.
(Turns back to the therapist) Sorry for the interruption sir, as I was saying… Sir my only job in this life is to do what you tell me to do.
(Everyone looks at the Therapist and exclaims)
Angel: You told me to save this one’s life (Pointing at Tayo), upon how she use to vex me everyday.. I still did it, you asked me to tell Joseph not to do yahoo and also not to cheat the man that gave him contract and now by tomorrow they’ll send him the first $1 million for a contract he thought was like 100k. (Everyone shouts again), Sir I explained everything you told me to Mary and to Joseph, but Tayo with her coconut head doesn’t want them to listen to me. That’s all.
Therapist: Hmmm, soo Tayo you were saying?
Tayo: (Too shocked to talk) Ahhhh mummy ooo
Therapist: The reason we are here kids, is to celebrate… I have taught you to always obey this man, he is the still calm voice that tells you the right thing to do, he’s the one that makes my word stick to your heart. Especially Tayo, one second you’re about to have an accident, the other second you’re about to loose your job because of stubbornness, does he speak to you or not.
Tayo: (Quietly) He does sir
Therapist: My friend answer me when I’m asking you a question.
Tayo: Yes sir, he’s always talking.
Therapist: Good. Joseph, did you hear what he said again?? He’s always telling you what Is wrong and what to do even in the most difficult of situations.
Mary, I am happy with you, and I want this to be a lesson to others. (obedience is better than sacrifice…) in addition to that, you have to love one another.
Angel: Sir, Tayo does not love me
Therapist: Ngbo Tayo??
Tayo: Ahhh uncle meee… Haa
Therapist: I thought as much, children, my advice for you today is that you love one another, and let my light shine through you to everyone around you, give gifts of love to one another, and again remember the reason Mary is with this child is because I want to do a new thing, I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, I will open portals of wisdom and I will pour out my spirit within you, I will also enlighten your hearts and give power and access to all that I have. Do you want this? Do you?
All: Yes Sir (Angel smiles)
Therapist: Great, I have work to do, take care of yourselves. (walks out).
Tayo: Soooo uncle (talking to the Angel) Ashey all this while you gan you know that Joseph will make it and you didn’t tell us.
Angel: Patience, and long suffering tayo, long Sufffreingggg
Tayo: Wo, Joe joe, my guy (meanwhile Mary shows signs of labor pains and screams out) .. Help oooo
(Women come in and cover her with a wrapper)
Choir: Hark now hear, the angels sing……..
The End !!!