Play Denial Pension

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SCENE ONE

EFX:

BLEATING GOAT, CHIRPING BIRD, BARKING DOG

ETC. SOUND OF SWEEPING

PAPA:

I’m ready o.

MAMA:

So soon?

PAPA:

Yes.

MAMA:

Must it be today? I would have preferred we went to the

farm today. You can go to Abuja tomorrow.

PAPA:

I have to go today. he longer I delay! the longer it ta"es

for this pension money to be paid.

MAMA:

#a wa o$ %ow many times do they want you to go to

Abuja before this money thing is settled?

&



PAPA:

My dear wife! I don’t "now o. You need to see the old men

that come to wor" their money out. ired! hungry! wea"

old men. he last time I went! about si' of my fellow

pensioners fainted and died. (nly one of them came

around after he was given food.

MAMA:

)ood$ hat means it was hunger that made him faint.

PAPA:

Yes o.

MAMA:

his country eh$

PAPA:

*hat can we say? he rich get richer and the poor get

poorer. You wor" and at the end of the month your ta"e+

home pay can’t ta"e you home.

MAMA:

And the prices of things "eep going higher and higher

every day.

,



PAPA:

#ot to mention the unstable price of petrol. Maybe at the

par"! we’ll be as"ed to pay more that we paid the last

time I travelled. *e don’t have enough to eat but I must

use the little we have to travel to Abuja.

MAMA:

#a wa o$ After putting in so much time in serving our

country! this is what you get. #o appreciation. #o pity. #o

compensation. Must we su-er and shed our blood beforethe government even gets the hint that we’re human

beings? an’t you protest?

PAPA:

hat’s the worst of all. *ho’ll listen to you? /ven when

you complain! nobody cares. hey just ma"e noise but

nothing is done.

MAMA:

Angela is still preparing. Must she go with you?

PAPA:

If she doesn’t go with me! how do I ta"e care of myself

there? I can’t always cross the road to buy food. *ho will

be on the cue for me? She’s still young. She can

0



withstand the heat of the sun more that I can. I don’t

want to faint li"e those pensioners I told you about.

MAMA:

1ut that will be e'tra money. )eeding and transportation.

Shey you said you sleep outside.

PAPA:

Yes. (n the corridors.

MAMA:

I thin" it’s better she goes with you. After all there’s no

money for her to continue her education. #o money for

SS/. If she goes with you! you can stay in Abuja for as

long as those pension people want.

PAPA:

If they li"e! 2ve months o! we’ll stay. 3pata"pata! we’ll

start begging.

MAMA:

4od forbid$ You will not beg.

PAPA:

5



6et’s pray so.

MAMA:

*hat is this girl still doing in the room now? Angela! what

are you still doing in the room now? Your father is waiting

o. Shey you "now Abuja is very far from here.

SCENE TWO

Noisy ba!"#o$%&

KINGSLE':

(ooooooooooo$ You these old men! behave yourselves

now. 7ust see the way you acting. 6i"e children.

PAPA:

My son! please! tal" to us gently. *e’re old enough to be

your father. Some of us are even older than your father.

KINGSLE':8



Mr. Man! did I mention your name? /r? 9id I mention

anybody’s name? I don’t "now why you won’t respect

yourselves.

PAPA:

Young man! mind your tongue.

KINGSLE':

Ah ah$ (ga! what is your own now? Are you the only

person here? And for your information! this is my o:ce.

PAPA:

And so you should treat us as if we’re pigs?

KINGSLE':

(ga! when you were in o:ce! didn’t you do more? his is

my time. Moreover! I’m only doing my job. And if you’re

not comfortable! you may go hit your head against that

stone.

PAPA:

%ow dare you insult me? I don’t blame you. If the

government had paid me my pension! I wouldn’t be

standing in front of you. Small boy.

KINGSLE':;



%m$ (ld age is really a curse.

PAPA:

KINGSLE':

Mr. Man! are you cursing me? See. Your 2le will remain on

this table until you come bac" ne't time. And for those of

you who met me yesterday! you "now what to do for your

2le to move fast. Abeg (ya! you! where is your 2le? (ld

man! you over there! I said where is your 2le?

SCENE THREE

(i))a"* s*++i%".

Po%* #i%"s. C)i!.

MAMA:

%ello?

POLICE:

4ood day. Am I spea"ing with Mrs. Ambrose Ameh?<



MAMA:

*ho are you?

POLICE:

I’m Inspector Ade Shola. Is this Mrs. Ambrose Ameh?

MAMA:

Yes? %ow may I help you?

POLICE:

9o you "now any Mr. Ambrose Ameh?

MAMA:

Yes. %e’s my husband. *hat is it?

POLICE:

*here is he now?

MAMA:

%e travelled with my daughter last wee". hey should be

on their way to the village by now. *hat is it? *hy areyou as"ing?

POLICE:

=



I > I’m > 6isten to me! Mrs. Ambrose Ameh! you have to

come to Ape' are 4eneral %ospital tomorrow.

MAMA:

*hy? *hat is it? *hat happened to my husband and

daughter? Are they all right?

POLICE:

You must calm down! please. he said people were

involved in an accident two hours ago.

MAMA:

*hat?$ *hat do you mean? Are they all right?

POLICE:

I’m really sorry to say this. 1ut madam! you have to come

to the morgue to identify the bodies of your people by

morning tomorrow. Youll have to come with >

-Maa o%)y )a*%+s o$+ o/ so!0

SCENE FOUR

Mo#%i%".

PAULINE:

@



9arling! are you not ta"ing brea"fast? You’ve already

pic"ed your bag.

KINGSLE':

#o! I don’t want to eat this morning.

PAULINE:

*hy? You wo"e up this morning complaining of hunger.

#ow you won’t eat?

KINGSLE':

I said I don’t want to eat this morning?

PAULINE:

And I as" why?

KINGSLE':

*ho are you to uestion me about my actions?

PAULINE:

(o$ I’m sorry o. #o problem. *hat about the money for

that wrapper?

KINGSLE':

I don’t have any money for any wrapper.

PAULINE:

&B



*hat do you mean by that? /very other woman in my

family meeting has bought her own. It’s just me. And I’ve

been singing it into your ears for the past three wee"s

now.

KINGSLE':

I’ve told you that I don’t have any money right now. *hen

I get some! you’ll bye your own wrapper.

PAULINE:

I’m not going to wait for ever o. 9o you want people to

laugh at me?

KINGSLE':

*hy won’t people laugh at you when all you do is spend

money on unnecessary things?

PAULINE:

Cnnecessary things?

KINGSLE':

Cnnecessary things. /veryday I ma"e sure I come bac" to

this house with money. 9o you "now how I get it? It’s not

even part of my salary. 1ut what do you do? You sit down

at home and spend it li"e water drawn from a well.

&&



PAULINE:

Is it my fault that I spend money? *hat do I buy! anyway?

Is it not what will "eep me healthy? Is it my fault that I’m

always visiting the hospital? You never allowed me do

family planning. Mary was three months old when I got

pregnant. *hat did you do?

FLASHBACK EFFECT.

KINGSLE':

-H*a+*& a#"$*%+0 Dauline! you must abort this

pregnancy.

PAULINE:

#o! I won’t. his is my baby and I’m going to have him

whether you li"e or not. Deriod.

KINGSLE':

You have to abort it. My colleagues will laugh at me.

4osh$ %ow can I have two babies in one year?

PAULINE:

And how can you sleep with your wife more that once in

one year?&,



KINGSLE':

6isten to me! Dauline. You must abort this thing you’re

carrying.

PAULINE:

9on’t you dare call my baby this thing. %ow dare you?

You’re concerned about your reputation. %ave you

stopped to thin" about what could happen to me?

KINGSLE':

#othing will happen to you. You won’t be the 2rst to

commit an abortion. And you won’t be the last. And if you

choose to have this baby! you’re (Y(. (>.Y>.(. (n your

own.

FLASHBACK EFFECT

PAULINE:

I aborted it and since then! I’ve not been able to have

another baby.

KINGSLE':

Is it my fault that you can’t have another baby?

PAULINE:

&0



#o. It’s because something happened. 1ecause Y(C

pushed me into it. 1ecause 4od is angry with me for

"illing > no > slaughtering my own baby.

KINGSLE':

It’s enough$

PAULINE:

#o! it’s not enough. I spend that money on a monthly

basis because I want to have more children. If you hadn’t

forced me to do it! I would have two! or maybe four!

children now. 3insley! give me the money I need now or

you’re not leaving this house today.

SCENE FI(E

MAMA:

-C#yi%"0 4od! what is this that you have done to me?

%ow can I survive without my husband? %ow could you

ta"e two souls from me in a day? *hat have I done to

deserve this from you?

-C#i*s bi++*#)y0

&5



here’s no food in the house. he children have been sent

home because they haven’t paid their school fees. My

husband’s farmland has been ta"en away from me by his

brother. And Eeuben can’t go to the university because

there’s no money. %e passed his 7AM1. 4od! my son

passed his 7AM1 after writing it for the third time. /ven

the little business I was doing has died down completely.

*here would I get the money to start afresh? *here?

*here? If only my husband hadn’t left me$ If only >

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES. FOOTSTEPS COME ON

MIC.

REUBEN:

Mama! are you crying?

REUBEN:

Is it because hristmas is coming ad there’s no money to

celebrate it? Is that why you’re crying?

MAMA:

#o. I’m not crying. *hy would I cry now? Eeuben! your

food is in the "itchen.

REUBEN:

&8



Mama! you’ve been crying again. *hat is it now? 9o you

want to die and leave us too? Is it not enough that papa

and >>>>>>>. Are no longer with us? *hat is it now?

MAMA:

Eeuben! I’m sorry. It’s just that the problems are so many

I don’t "now where to start. Eeuben! where are you

going? Eeuben$

FOOTSTEPS GO OFF MIC. DOOR OPENS AND

CLOSES.

MAMA:

Ah$ 4od! please! help me.

&;



SCENE SIX

KINGSLE':

his meal was delicious. *ho prepared it?

MAR':

I did! dad.

KINGSLE':

Mary! my Sweety! you did?

PAULINE:

It’s a lie. She only helped me do some things.

MAR':

Mum! it’s not fair. I coo"ed this meal.

KINGSLE':

("ay! you did! honey. Yes! you said you wanted to tell us

something.

MAR':

Yes. 9ad! mum! I > you see> I want you to meetsomeone.

KINGSLE':

My baby’s in love. I can feel it.

&<



MAR':

9ad$ 9on’t jump the gun! please.

KINGSLE':

("ay.

PAULINE:

*ho’s the luc"y guy?

MAR':

%e’s name is Eeuben. %e’s a nice guy. Fery caring. %is

father is dead but his mother is alive. %e has three

younger ones.

KINGSLE':

*hat does he do for a living?

PAULINE:

Is he rich?

MAR':

Ahm> *ell > #ot really. 1ut he’s a very bright guy. %e

got admission into the university but >

KINGSLE':

&=



1ut what?

MAR':

%e couldn’t continue his education because there was no

money. 1ut he intends to. %e’s trying to get a job now

with his diploma result and he intends to further his

studies later.

KINGSLE':

4od forbid$

MAR':

*hat?

PAULINE:

4od forbid$ Mary! how could you ever thin" that >

KINGSLE':

Mary! how long have you "nown each other?

MAR':

)our months now.

KINGSLE':

You will stop seeing that church rat immediately.

MAR':

&@



9ad$

PAULINE:

Yes. If I ever see you with any beggar! I will cut his head

o-.

MAR':

Mum! why do you hate him so? You don’t even "now him.

KINGSLE':

I don’t need to "now him to "now he’s not good for you.

MAR':

*hy?

KINGSLE':

1ecause he’s a pauper. A beggar. A nobody. A ri-ra-.

PAULINE:

%e doesn’t even have a job.

MAR':

9ad! that was why I wanted you to meet him now. You

could connect him with your friends who can get him a

decent job. Dlease! dad. Mum! please.

,B



KINGSLE':

#o! Mary.

PAULINE:

#ever. Ah ah$

KINGSLE':

My daughter must marry an already established man. A

man who will give her the life that she deserves. You

must not stoop so low! Mary.

MAR':

1ut dad >

KINGSLE':

hat’s 2nal. And don’t ever bring this topic up again.

PAULINE:

Mary! I "now what I su-ered marrying a man who was

trying to start life from the scratch. You will not go

through the same thing.

KINGSLE':

Dauline! what do you mean by that?

PAULINE:,&



3ingsley! you "now e'actly what I mean. /'cuse me.

FOOTSTEPS GOING OFF MIC.

KINGSLE':

-Goi%" o1 i0 Dauline! you won’t wal" out on me until

you tell me what e'actly you meant by that statement.

ome bac" here.

DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES

MAR':

My 4od$ *hat do I do now? I love Eeuben so much I

would rather die that live without him. %is mother has

been nice to me. Dlease 4od! tell me what to do. I have to

call Eeuben.

PHONE BUTTONS BEING PRESSED. DIALING TONE.

CLICK.

REUBEN:

%ello. Mary! how are you? Is the road clear?

MAR':

#o. It’s very croo"ed. I’ll see you at <.BB (’cloc" this

evening. I’ll come to your house.

,,



SCENE SE(EN

Lo$& $si. M$si $%&*# 2oi*.

RAMBO:

Eeuben! you can’t continue li"e this. You’ll destroy

yourself.

REUBEN:

Eambo! we’re su-ering. My family is dying. *e don’t have

anything to eat. My mother used all her savings to bury

my father when he died last year. Since then she’s not

been able to bounce bac". My younger ones are out of

school. And worst of all! my only sister is dying in thehospital. he doctors have refused to treat her because

there’s no money. hey want us to deposit money 2rst.

RAMBO:

,0



hen do something. Eemember that hristmas is around

the corners.

REUBEN:

Eambo! what do I do. I can’t live to see my family su-er

li"e this.

RAMBO:

4uy! you see why you must join us? I’ve tried to ma"e

you understand that we love you. *e want the best for

you.

REUBEN:

My mother would die if she 2nds out that I’m >

RAMBO:

hen she must not "now. My people only "now that I wor"

in the city. #obody "nows what I do for a living. It’s a dent

on your manhood if your people continue to su-er while

you live. Your father would never want that for then! you

"now.

REUBEN:

If only they had paid my father his money the way they

pay those in the new pension scheme$ My father wouldn’t

,5



be dead. My sister would be alive. And we’d all be in

school. 9am the old pension scheme$ 9am it$

RAMBO:

So what do you say to my proposal? Are you in or out?

REUBEN:

*hen do I meet your friends?

RAMBO:

4ood boy$

SCENE EIGHT

Hos3i+a)

MAMA:

-C#yi%"0

STELLA:

,8



Mama! I’m sorry. I never intended for it to turn out li"e

this.

MAMA:

1ut why! Stella? *hy?

STELLA:

Mama! I wanted to help. I needed to help. I really wanted

to write my SS/. And there was no money. *hat could I

do? All my friends had paid their fees but I hadn’t.

MAMA:

Stella! you’ve not told me who did this to you. *ho got

you pregnant?

STELLA:

(ne of my teachers. #o! three of them.

MAMA:

hree?

My /nglish! Maths and 6iterature teachers. /ach of them

promised to give me the money I needed. I also wantedthem to tutor me privately in those subjects so I would

pass them in my SS/. I didn’t want to sit for any e'ams

the second time.

MAMA:,;



1ut during wee"ends you washed clothes and cleaned the

houses of three families.

STELLA:

%ow much did they pay me? hey only used me because

they "new I was desperate. All those times I said I was

going to wor"! I didn’t go to them. I went to my teachers’

houses. And the little change I get from my boyfriend is

what I bring home.

MAMA:

So you don’t even "now who got you pregnant.

STELLA:

#o! Mama. And a uac" performed the abortion on me.

MAMA:

he problem now is! how do we get the money to treat

you? he doctor I should ta"e you out of the hospital on

)riday if we still can’t get the money.

STELLA:

9on’t worry. Eeuben said he would come with the money

on Monday. I’ll be 2ne. You’ll see.

MAMA:,<



4od! I’ve lost my husband and 2rst daughter. Dlease!

don’t let anything happen to Stella! I beg You in the name

of your Son.

SCENE NINE

,=



Ni"+. C)a%"i%" 3)a+*s a%& s3oo%s.

La$"+*#.

Ki%"s)*y:

So much food.

PAULINE:

7ust ma"e sure you 2nish it. 1oth of you told me you were

very hungry and I prepared so much food. #ow you won’t

eat much.

MAR':

Mum! it’s not our fault now. he food too" so long to

come. So we dran" some juice before it came. #ow we

can’t even eat anything.

PAULINE:

7ust ma"e sure you 2nish it.

DOGS BARK OFF MIC.

MAR':

*hy is Du-y bar"ing?

KINGSLE':

6et me chec".

,@



DOOR OPENS FORCEFULL' AND SHUTS.

FOOTSTEPS.

RAMBO:

/verybody down.

-Co%/$sio%0

KINGSLE':

*hat do you want? Dlease! don’t touch us. a"e whatever

you want and go.

REUBEN:

#ot so fast. You 3ingsley! do you recogniGe me?

KINGSLE':

#o! sir.

REUBEN:

ome on! loo" at me. 6oo" at my face! stupid man.

KINGSLE':

My son! I can’t. Dlease! go to the bedroom on your right!

there are three bundles of one hundred thousand naira

just beside the bed. a"e it and go! please.

RAMBO:

%eh girl! your face down.0B



MAR':

Eeuben! please! don’t do this to us. 9on’t do this to me.

REUBEN:

4osh$ Mary! what are you doing here?

MAR':

his is our house. Dlease! don’t hurt my parents.

RAMBO:

#onsense$ 4uy! this girl "nows you.

REUBEN:

#o! she doesn’t. I don’t "now her. She’s only >

RAMBO:

*e can’t let her live.

GUNSHOTS. SHOUTS FROM PAULINE AND

KINGSLE'.

REUBEN:

#oooooo$ 4uy! why did you do that? I didn’t as" you to

shoot her.

RAMBO:

0&



She’s a threat to us.

REUBEN:

3elvin! all this is your fault. You refused to pay my dad

and many other pensioners their monies e'cept they

bribed you. My father and sister are dead because of you.

My younger sister had to sleep with men to ma"e ends

meet. All my siblings are out of school. And now I’m li"e

this. Struggling to ma"e ends meet. See what you’vedone to me? See what you’ve done to yourself? Madam!

I’m sorry your daughter is dead.

POLICE SIREN

REUBEN:

3elvin! you called the police on me? %ow dare you?

GUNSHOTS.

-Pa$)i%* so$+s0

POLICE:

his is the #igeria police. his house is surrounded. You

have no option but to surrender and come out now with

your hands on you heads. ome out now.

RAMBO:

0,



My guy! this is the end of the line. See you in hell.

REUBEN:

My mother$ My mother$ 4od! my mother$

POLICE:

ome out now. Your hands on your heads. All of you.

Date post:	03-Mar-2016
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