TOPIC: THE BONDAGE OF LOVE
CHARACTERS
Elder Gabriel - Susan’s Father
Madam Ayelaagbe - Susan’s Mother
Ayegbege - Gabriel’s 1st child (now deceased)
Susan - Gabriel’s 2nd child
(The bride)
Tomson - Gabriel’s 3rd child
Pa James - Held of Gabriel’s
compound
Ojo - Gabriel’s friend
Adesewa - Madam Ayelagbe’s friend
Prince George - Groom's Father
(enemy of Elder Gabriel)
Daniel - Prince George’s son
(groom, is now in bondage of love)
Daniel's mother
Jacob - Daniel’s friend
David - Dr Prince George’s friend
John - chairman school disciplinary committee
Female Standing chair - Program facilitator
The king
King Guard
Pastor
Drummer
Congregation
PRELUDE
In front of Elder Gabriel’s house, three canopies, one canopy is for groom family and the one that opposite it is for bride family, and the third canopy is meant for intending couples decorated with different flowers, groom is sitting quietly looking gentle, flanked by him his friend Jacob standing, in all cultural attire, members of the both Elder Gabriel’s extended family and prince George’s family looking at each other. Drummers are entertaining the guests sitting under the canopies. Suddenly, a perfect silent reign. A female standing chair holding pamphlet containing list of items to be addressed.
FEMALE STANDING CHAIR
(To begin a program)
Please somebody who led by spirit should give us opening prayer
PASTOR
Praise the Lord
CONGREGATION
Halleluiah!
PASTOR
Let all eyes be closed for prayer. Our father Lord in heaven, we thank you for your love and interest in us. We particularly thank you for the life of these intending couple. Father, we commit everything into your powerful hands to take control of this program, and at the end of all God let your name be glorified in Jesus name.
CONGREGATION
Amen.
FEMALE STANDING CHAIR
Now, we would like to introduce groom family to the bride family one by one because time is not on our side. We have to make it faster because many people are travelling to far places and we have to be time conscious about that.
JACOB
(consults female standing chair)
Madam, this is the list of groom family which contain names and their position in the society so to facilitate your program ma.
FEMALE STANDING CHAIR
(thank you)
I will be calling names and if you hear your name please stand up for proper recognition.
First of all, I would like to introduce groom father in person of Dr. Prince George who we all knows to be the only person that hold the key of Law department at University of Nwosu for many years. (Ojo whispering to Elder Gabriel’s hear, that is the person who responsible for the death of your son Ayegbege).
ELDER GABRIEL
(cuts in)
He was furious and breading heavily angry that no way. We cannot continue with this engagement any more.
MADAM AYELAAGBE
(interrupted).
Why my husband? What is the matter? Today is our daughter’s day. Whatever that can happened after ceremony let would discuss it later.
ELDER GABRIEL
I said no way, I cannot give my one and only daughter to the person that cause the death of your son Ayegbege in school. I cannot open my eyes and allow his family kill this one as well because the trait of wickedness will be running in the blood of their family. And he was the one that also responsible for my inability to be chosen for the post of trade leader in this town. He said I didn’t have the money to spend and he sponsored my opponent with his money to attain that position. So, who can do all these can-do unthinkable things. (everybody takes their leave immediately and heading for their homes).
SUSAN
(busted into un-control tears)
Why daddy? Today is my day and you are doing this to me. What have I done to you to deserve this treatment? Is it a crime to have you as a father? Why?
ELDER GABRIEL
No, my daughter you cannot understand. It is clear to me and your mother. I love you Susan and your happiness suppose to be mine, I cannot fold my arm and allow bad things happen to you. Do you want to hear?
SUSAN
Yes daddy, I want to hear. What is it?
ELDER GABRIEL
You see the father of yourhusband to lie against your brother that he uses fake result to gain admission into university and it was what led him commit suicide by hanging himself in his room. Likewise, he was the one caused my inability win election for the position of trade leader. He said it to my face that I cannot contest and he would rather use his money to push another person up than render any assistant for me. If God says that you are r going to marry you will definitely marry. I give birth you, you will also have children of your own by God’s grace. So, my decision is final.
ACT ONE
SCENE ONE
The same day at the resident of Prince George, Daniel was sitting alone in the living room sobered. Dr. prince George and his wife entered, both of them are holding something in their hands.
DANIEL
Daddy what is the matter? Because I did not know what is going on now. I observed that Immediately the woman mentioned your name the whole story changed completely, and I don’t know what is going on. Daddy as you know that I love Susan and marry will grant my stay in US or else expect your son back home. Have you snatched mummy from him? Or you have dated any one in their family and disappointed her that will made him furious at you like that?
PRINCE GEORGE
No, I didn’t remember we have met in the past not to talk of having anything together. Even me I don’t understand. One thing you will help me find out now, call Susan and make enquiry of what can led to such decision. (David enters, holding a cap weaving with different colors).
DAVID
Peace be unto this house.
PRINCE GEORGE
You are welcome.
DAVID
Anything the matter? I mean what is going on with you? Because I don’t understand the situation at all. He supposes to be happy for see somebody that ready to marry his daughter, despite the fact that he knows your status in the society.
DANIEL
(cuts in)
Thank you, sir, it is what am asking my father before you get in. I have been to their house many time, even all their domestic animals knows me very well and I have been treated like king in that place until today they met my father before things turn out. Please sir, help me ask daddy if there is something he knows which I didn’t know so that we can discuss it and settle it amicably. Do you know what is there? It is this girl that will guarantee my stay in oversea because that is part of option being given to me there.
DAVID
(Agitated)
What do you mean? Is it the money problem? Or what? She should thank God that she meets fine boy like you that ready to marry her because boy of nowadays are not ready to take responsibility. There are many girls out there looking for a man that will marry them.
DANIEL
(interrupts David)
Is like you don’t understand what am saying. I love Susan and I can kill myself if I don’t marry her, even the other time we came home I was the one that took her to the shrine and I made oath that “if I disappoint her gods of our land should strike me to death”. And I don’t want to die please.
DANIEL'S MOTHER
(furious)
What did I hear you saying? You have taken that girl to the shrine of Obatala because of stupid love. You have killed me Daniel. My husband should go and make peace with them please because I don’t want to lose my son, as you know that I don’t have any other babies except him. I don’t know your own you might have baby outside without my knowledge. My own should not be in vain.
PRINCE GEORGE
(cuts in)
This woman watches your tongue, I don’t have any baby outside. David please you will do something for me, help me to investigate what is going on because I am confused and I cannot say this or that cause Elder Gabriel's decision.
DAVID
Alright, but Daniel should also go and talk to Susan maybe she knows the reason behind this action. And her parents might have told her something because it was her day of joy. She should have clue of what happened.
SCENE TWO
Elder Gabriel’s house. In the afternoon of the next day, Madam Ayelaagbe is discussing with Susan, Tomson her youngest child about life that one should be thinking of future not only what they are going to achieve now, but because nemesis of today’s action can catch up with you in the future. Adesewa enters and walks towards Madam Ayelaagbe.
ADESEWA
(holding madam Ayelaagbe’s hands)
My friend, what is the matter? Why things turned out like this? The day that suppose to be your daughter’s day and your husband sent the person that should be your daughter’s suitor away. Please confide in me if it is something I can hear. Your child is my child and I cannot fold my arm and watching.
MADAM AYELAAGBE
(hmm)
Can you imagine, you cannot believe it? The father of that boy caused the death of Ayegbege. In fact, he was the one that led the intrigues in the school then, and he also block my husband’s chances to become trade leader in our town with the allegation that my husband is not financial buoyant, he later financed my husband’s opponent. Even me I cannot give my daughter to that kind of people. He can do anything with his wickedness. The way am looking at that family, wickedness is running in their blood stream. (Nocking! Nocking!! Nocking!!! At the door). Who is that? Come inside. David enters with one of his friends accompany him to Elder Gabriel’s resident.
DAVID
Good day ma, we are here to see Elder Gabriel.
MADAM AYELAAGBE
From where sir?
DAVID
From these town.
MADAM AYELAAGBE
Okay, have your sit. Tomson go and call your father in the room. Just tell him that he has visitors. What can we offer you?
DAVID
We are okay ma. Thank you.
ELDER GABRIEL
Hello gentlemen, it seems that I don’t know you. How am I owing this visit?
DAVID
(responds with humble voice)
Yes, you don’t know us but we came here in respect of Daniel our son that seek your daughter hand in marriage.
ELDER GABRIEL
(furious)
Wow! Bravo. So that man asked you to come to me. Please I don’t want to offend you, you may take your leave when you are ready. Thank you.
DAVID
(cuts in)
Sir, we are here to plead with you to allow our son marry your daughter Susan. Both of them love each other and it is you that will give them your blessing as father of the bride, even our tradition allows it.
ELDER GABRIEL
Hmm, when you are ready you will use the exit door. He leaves.
DAVID
Madam, please help us tall to your husband on our behalf so that these children can get marry because Daniel is not feeling fine again.
MADAM AYELAAGBE
I am a woman, and I can’t be involved with the men matters just spear me. (David and his friend take their leave).
ADESEWA
Hmmm, look at them bird of the same feather. My friend, you should not mind them so he does not know that we can be useful to each other. He forgot that whatever we are doing today is going tell in the future either negative or positive. We should mind our todays behaviors because it can hot our children tomorrow. This indicates that whatever one sow, it is what one will reap in the future. Let us treat people with care. We should not let power forget where we were coming from. Especially our back ground. I am going somewhere, I just branch here before going there so that you won’t say I did not look after what happened yesterday. (Adesewa leaves).
SCENE THREE
Prince George’s house. Prince George was about to step out for cooperative meeting. David and his friend are coming to feed Prince George back out come of where they went to.
PRINCE GEORGE
Eh! Welcome. I am about to go to the meeting, you are fortunate to meet me at home. How far about that place? Any good news?
DAVID
Hmmm, the place was not fine at all. Susan’s father did not give us audience not to talk of allow us ask for his action behind what he did yesterday.
PRINCE GEORGE
Really, is it up to that? What do we do now? I need your suggestions. Don’t watch me, this boy has done silly thing behind my back. Can you imagine he has taken Susan to Obatala’s shrine and made oath there that gods of our land should strike him to death if he does not marry Susan, and as you all know that Daniel is only child, we have no other child.
DAVID
(surprised)
Wow, children of nowadays they can do unthinkable things. But my advance to you now is that you should inform king about new development so that he can summon him to the palace for question. And you must tell king what these children had done which can cost their lives. You are important figure society there is nothing you want in these town that should be difficult for you. Just do what I said let us see result first. Even I believed you will get support from the king, he is not the people that allows nonsense which Elder George is doing and if care is not taken, he would be scolded in the present of the whole cabinet and call him to order. Where is your wife? Is she at home?
PRINCE GEORGE
No, she is not at home. She has gone to the market and buy food stuff, but she is supposed to be coming by now.
DAVID
Okay, I want to take my leave. I and my friend want to reach somewhere. Please update me the outcome of the palace. (both of them start going………)
PRINCE GEORGE
Of course, I must feed you back definitely. Extend my greeting to your family.
ACT TWO
SCRENE ONE
King Adegoroye’s palace. King and his council of elders are discussing import issues which will bring development to the town. Prince George enters, he meets them in the meeting.
KING ADEGOROYE
(Adjourned meeting till next day)
Ah! Who is this? Professor of emeritus. This is August visitor my people, can you see what am seeing? Look at the person we used to beg before we can see him. If we call him on phone, he will be saying I am not around all the time. Today Germany, tomorrow United State of America and we are seeing him without visa or booking appointment. Any thing the matter?
PRINCE GEORGE
Good day Sir. Council of elders am greeting you Sir.
KING ADEGOROYE/ ELDERS
You are welcome. Are you just passing by and just deem it fit to say hello to us in the palace, or you are coming back from a journey?
PRINCE GEORGE
Am in town for some time. It is the economy. Things are not easy, it is one struggle after the other; am very sorry. I have important things to discuss with you Sir.
KING ADEGOROYE
No wonder, I know that your visit is not ordinary. Can we discuss it here or we should go to my mini chamber and discuss it there?
PRINCE GEORGE
No, it is what elders can hear. Recently, my son Daniel just returned from European country with aim to get marry with the lady he met there and when I heard the girl in question is from our town, I am happy about it that my son will be getting from this land. But to my surprise, the father of the lady refused to allow his daughter get marry to my son. Even, we have been to their house for the mini introduction and low-key engagement before he sent us out. And as a person I did not know transpired. If it what I know clue of it I would have done something about it. What is matter now is, some time ago my son Daniel has taken this girl to Obatala’s Shrine in order to make oath there that if he did not marry her gods of land should strike him dead. Daniel is the only child that I have. Please, come to my aid.
COUNCIL OF ELDERS
(cut in)
Who is that person? What is the name of their compound? He should have thanked his star that your son find suitor in his house. What is wrong with him? Is he crazy or what? King, you shall live long. We have to summon him to the palace for the interrogation first. Does he what to die in poverty? our Lord, it is left to you.
KING ADEGOROYE
(surprises)
Oh! What these children have done is serious matter. Obatala’s shrine is not a place any how person can just go without being initiated into our court. It is really serious. I will send guards with the staff of Authority to his house that he should see me before sun set tomorrow. One thing that I know is that Daniel must marry that girl. Or else things can boomerang. Head of guards, go and call Elder Gabriel for me. Tell him that I want his presence in my palace tomorrow before sun set. (guards left palace for Elder Gabriel’s resident)
PRINCE GEORGE
Thank you, elders and my king. You shall live long. (Prince leaves)
SCENE TWO
Elder Gabriel’s resident. Susan and her younger sister are sitting in the living room watching television. Bell is ringing from door step of their house. Susan moves towards the door in order to check what it can be, but she meets king’s messengers.
KING’S GUARD
(Guards remain outside)
Peace unto this house. We are here to see owner of this house.
SUSAN
Okay, let me go and call my father inside. She leaves….
KING’S GUARD
Alright, we are waiting for him here.
SUSAN
(shaking)
Daddy, mummy, King guards are outside of our house looking for my father. I hope you did not commit offence. They are waiting……. (Elder Gabriel goes out to hear what they came for).
ELDER GABRIEL
Hello guard, I was told that you are looking for me. What is the matter?
KING’S GUARD
Yes, our Lord wants your present at the palace tomorrow before sun set.
ELDER GABRIEL
Alright, I heard you. Extend my regards to the entire palace that king shall live long. (guards start going back to the palace).
MADAM AYELAAGBE
Eh! I hope some thing else is not happening. God, it is you I commit everything into your care to take control of whatever they are calling my husband for.
ELDER GABRIEL
Don’t worry yourself, I will go and hear what is happening there tomorrow.
SCRENE THREE
King Adegoroye’s palace. king and council of elders are performing their responsibility as tradition allows them. Prince George already there sitting on the chair flanked by him his friend David and entire members of his family, Elder Gabriel enters with fear due to caliber of people he meets at the palace.
ELDER GABRIEL
(frown face)
Good day my Lord, you shall live long and enjoy fortune of this land. I got your message yesterday that my attention is needed here in the palace. I hope everything is alright my Lord.
KING ADEGOROYE
(happy)
Amen. You are welcome. There is no much, but I heard some thing that you don’t want your daughter marry Daniel son of prince George. What is the matter?
ELDER GABRIEL
Eh! Yes, it is true. Some years back, my son Ayegbege was in university where prince was working then before he retired from service. My son was about to participate in mandatory youth service in order to serve our Government and from there he may be fortunate to get job, but to his surprise the same prince George complained to the management that result he used to get admission was fake and they should not allow him to participate in youth service corps which led to his untimely death because he promised us his parents that he will bring us out of poverty. All his efforts to do as promised proved abortive.
However, the same prince George blocked my chance of getting to be trade leader of this town with allegation that am not fit to be in that position because I did not have money to spend of which he was the one that sponsored my opponent for the same post and he eventually emerged the position with the help of prince George. I have been to his house time without number trying to beg him so that he can elevate me to enable attain this position maybe poverty will varnish in my family but instead to support me financially, he was making gest of me that instead to assist he would rather spend it on prostitute and enjoy himself. Since then I put my hope in God not in any man for assistant, and I made vow to gods of our land in shrine that nothing will join us together again. Any day such thing happens gods of our land should take Susan. That was reason and I cannot allow my daughter marry his son. I will not have cause to shed tears on my children.
PRINCE GEOAGE
Oh God! That was then. I did not know what I was doing that time. Please forgive me and forget everything, allow these children marry each other please. If you don’t allow Susan to marry Daniel, it would back fire for me because bad thing can happen to Daniel. I don’t want my son dead.
ELDER GABRIEL
(more furious)
Wow! Bravo so you don’t want your own son to die. Likewise, me, I don’t want my daughter die.
KING ADEGOROYE
(king’s judgement)
Now, the whole things has opened to us. All what transpired between both of you. As you can see. This is difficult situation which required caution. That is why elders used to say “when you are happy don’t make promise. At the same time, when you are hangry guide your utterances” because no one can tell what is going to happen in the future. As for you Prince George, this is a BIG lessons for you and people 👫 like you. If you think you are in authority today, tomorrow, you may find yourself in the same trap which you set for your enemy. And I will implore everybody in this gathering , especially price George’s family and his friends to advise him against disrespecting people because he can need all these people tomorrow.
However, Truly you are talk of the town, but how many people lives have you influenced positively with your wealth and opulence because, some were also in vogue just like you are presently but they are no where to be found again because they didn’t use their affluence well. George, use your affluence to impact lives because one can never tell, if things are not working well for you again, it is those you have helped and impacted that will rally round you, and come to your rescue but if you refused to influence lives when you are also in dare need, and you go bankruptcy you won’t see 20amount of money to talk of 200 people that will come to your rescue I just want to advice you.
THE END
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