Wednesday 12 October 2011







THE FOOLS PARADISE




WRITTEN BY





DANIEL APPIAH-ADJEI









SEPTEMBER, 2011


DRAMATIST PERSONAE
1. Mr. Adomako
2.Mrs Adomako
3. Mr. Sarpong
4. Mrs. Sarpong
5. Adomako Junior
6. Karikari – Cousin of Mr. Sarpong
7.  Policemen


The play opens in the apartment owned by Mr. Adomako and Mr. Sarpong (these are very good friends who share almost everything together) the hall is furnished to suit a modern man of average status. The door up-centre leads to the bed-rooms of the men. There are two stair-cases indicating the various entrances to the inner-bedrooms. At the main bed-room doors hang two beautiful wedding pictures of Mr. and Mrs Adomako as well as Mr. and Mrs Sarpong. The door down-right leads to town while the door down-left leads to the kitchen. The dinning-table is placed centre left of the stage and the settee and other arm-chairs are well arranged in the middle of the hall.it is evening, Mrs Adomako and Mrs Sarpong are preparing the table for their husbands. Both of them are seriously pregnant, waiting to be wheeled to the hospital sooner or later. It looks like they got pregnant at the same time in the same month. When they finish setting up the table amidst conversation, they begin to decorate the hall with white hangings. You can guess what that means.
Mrs Adomako:          (Placing food on the table) Hm! At long last, God has listened to our prayers. The witches and wizards are ashamed.
Mrs Sarpong:             As if they planned together. I mean the witches in your family and those in my family.
Mrs Adomako:          Ei haven’t you heard from any source that they have some kind of telepathic symbols on their foreheads and they easily recognize one another when they meet?
Mrs Sarpong:             You are telling me.
Mrs Adomako:          Hm, you are a child. They say they have the power to fly to any country they choose to.
Mrs Sarpong:            No wonder they travelled to America to frustrate Paulina Osei when she was in labour. God will punish them paa!
Mrs Adomako:          Ah! Have you forgotten so soon when the child of Nyamekye died at birth?
Mrs Sarpong:             But that was the fault of the wicked nurse who refused to attend properly to her.
Mrs Adomako:          Part of the problem is bestowed on Nyamekye’s wicked mother who insulted the nurse at the hospital.
Mrs Sarpong:             But that nurse deserved insults. How can you, a nurse I mean a professional nurse trained at the nursing school be impatient with a patient? Her lackadaisical attitude toward the pregnant woman was appalling.
Mrs Adomako:          I heard that uncalled for attitude of hers caused the break of her relations with Nyamekye’s brother.
Mrs Sarpong:             But Nyamekye’s brother also contributed to the nurse’s foolish behaviour that fateful day.
Mrs Adomako:          How?
Mrs Sarpong:             How?
Mrs Adomako:          Yes, I mean how. I don’t understand.
Mrs Sarpong:             The fact of the matter is that the nurse was confused that morning before going to work when she found another woman in Nyamekye’s brother’s car.
Mrs Adomako:          Ei men... men. One does not satisfy them...ehe?
Mrs Sarpong:             Then she wanted to stop the car and ...
Mrs Adomako:          Whimm, the car was gone...
Mrs Sarpong:             Oh, As if you were right there. The dust, I mean the dust from the road coupled with the smoke  from the engine nearly pushed the nurse down.
Mrs Adomako:          No wonder... Ah so it was not the nurse’s fault after all. She had a good reason.
Mrs Sarpong:             A good reason she had but it is unprofessional to go to work with your sentiments from home. Especially if your job is as sensitive as that of a nurse, or a teacher.
Mrs Adomako:          But that is what they do. Take Teacher Peters for instance. Remember when he had a quarrel with his wife. He went to school and punished one of his pupils severely when the pupil used a piece of chalk to write his name on his table. The poor boy was admitted at the hospital. Infact if those we are carrying come into the world, teachers should be warned. Now Dear, tell me, did the nurse know that the boyfriend was Nyamekye’s brother?
Mrs Sarpong:             That is the saddest part of the story. The gentleman had promised to send the nurse to be introduced to his parents for the first time on that fateful day.
Mrs Adomako:          What a coincidence? And what happened?
Mrs Sarpong:             After the child had died at the hospital, the poor Nyamekye and her mother went home. Apparently, in the evening Nyamekye’s brother went to the nurse’s house to apologise to her, and re-affirmed the formal introduction.
Mrs Adomako:          Hei ... Fireworks.
Mrs Sarpong:             Dear, be quiet and listen. The nurse bought all the beautiful dresses in the world, posh shoes, you name them and asked one of her friends to accompany her to the house of the parents of the boyfriend. On reaching, they met the boy’s father who received them nicely. After sometime the father cleared his throat. “Mansa, Mansa” and the mother responded from within “yes Kwaku, I will be with you in a jiffy” then the father again ...”your in-law is here... I mean Donkor’s fiancee and the mother... “that is very good I am coming right away... “Portia, Portia...get ready and come out your sister-in-law to-be has arrived. And Portia within ... yes mother, I will be with you in a moment... Then the father told the nurse and the friend to exercise patience as they waited patiently for the other members of the family.
Mrs Adomako:          And where was Donkor the boy in question?
Mrs Sarpong:            He came in just as the father spoke and hugged the nurse and kissed her... hm... just after that, Dear, Mansa the boy’s mother emerged from her room and discovered the nurse. The nurse also recognised her and suddenly rose up. Tension galore.
Mrs Adomako:          Ei, and what happened?
Mrs Sarpong:             She called her daughter and she came out to discover the nurse standing. Infact, what happened, you need to be told. You should have been there yourself. When the boy heard about the story, they drove the nurse away like a dog.
Mrs Adomako:           Oh ... It was the day the nurse will never forget. Infact the unforgetable day in the life of a nurse. It is a big lesson to all nurses.
(The telephone rings) Dear, pick the phone.
Mrs Sarpong:             (Picking the receiver) Yes, (laughs) it is ready ... why not. She is right here. Putting things right for the final show. Buying things two, two for the children? Aren’t you darlings. Dear, he wants to talk to you (Mrs Adomako takes over the receiver).
Mrs Adomako:          Yes, Dee. We have done the deed. Hoping that you come home quickly... Yes sir... (hangs up) Oh I forgot, I should have told him to buy beverages, we are almost running short of them.
Mrs Sarpong:             As if you don’t know your husbands. Let us bet they will come home with those items.
Mrs Adomako:          You and your absolute trust for your husbands.
Mrs Sarpong:             They are all our joy and happiness.
Mrs Adomako:          Are they not bothered about us not working at all?
Mrs Sarpong:             No, I don’t think so. We are happy here and so they are. Ah! That day when they will come to the hospital in one car, pay the nurses and you will be behind Adomako while he drives and I behind Sarpong as he sits on Adomako’s right-hand side and our babies on our laps smiling at our faces. How happy the day, (sings)
                                    O happy day, O happy day, the day that we will have babies, we will sing and be happy more, and our children will smile at us (both of them) happy day, happy day, the day that our children shall come. A A A meen! (they laugh).
Mrs Adomako:          Dee ... today, let us hatch a plan and at least listen to the conversation that ensues between these two “love – Animals” when they are alone.
Mrs Sarpong:             Yes, yes ... God has a way of uniting people. To think that these two friends have lived for not less than twenty years, going to school together, doing everything together and planting the seeds in their fertile lands on the same day may be the same time. Wonders will never cease. What is their secret at all? Mrs Adomako: That is what we have to find out. (the door bell rings). They are here...
Mrs Sarpong:             Exactly, (goes to open the door). Noble looking young men of 36 years. Mr Adomako embraces Mrs Sarpong while Mr Sarpong embraces Mrs Adomako.
Mrs Adomako & Mrs Sarpong:       Welcome home, sweet home...
Mr Adomako & Mr Sarpong:         (Responding) No where sweet than home. (They all laugh) Our food!
Mrs Adomako:          Ever ready!
Mrs Sarpong:            On the sweet table.
(The women remove the shirts of their husbands and they start their meals)
Mrs Adomako:          I shall be in the bed room waiting for you. Don’t forget sooner or later you cannot taste my sweet lips again...
Mrs Sarpong:             And I shall be right on top of the loving – table opening branches of smooth touchable ingredients (they laugh) Right?
Mr Adomako:            Even after that, I will sacrilegiously plant my well shaped moustache on your nose.
Mr Sarpong:              And I will fuse myself right in the middle of the hot ocean. No mistake, (the ladies laugh and move to the main entrance of the bed room and part at the stair-case)
Mr Sarpong:              It is great to have friends when one is young but indeed it is still more so when you are getting old. When we are young, friends are like everything else, a matter of course. In the old days we know what it means to have them. I have really been enjoying our friendship. (the women are seen behind)
Mr Adomako:            A friend should be one in whose understanding and virtue we can equally confide and whose opinion we can value at once for its justness and its sincerity.
Mr Sarpong:              I have made the acquisation of a judicious and sympathizing friend, I have doubled my mental resources.
Mr Adomako:            Friendship improves happiness, and abates misery by doubling our joy and dividing our greif.
Mr Sarpong:              My father used to say “let me live in a house by the side of the road and be a friend to man”. We were laughing at him but now I have realized that better are the blows of friends than the kisses of an enemy and old friends are the best. King James used to call for his old shoes, they were easiest to his feet.
Mr Sarpong:              Our beautiful wives allowed their friendship to creep gently to the top. They now are closely knitted together that sometimes I feel they have too many things in common, than the two of us, possess.
Mr Adomako:            You’ve said it. They decided to carry our babies at the same time. Isn’t that wonderful. I will not be surprised when one day, they give birth together.
Mr Sarpong:              I think they have the same  plans. I wish at the end of the day they deliver a baby boy and a baby girl. We will surely bring them up together and get them married to each other instantly.
Mr Adomako:            That would be God’s own plan. The plan of the millenium.
Mr Sarpong:              Everything that looks to the future elevate human nature; for life is never so low or so little as when occupied with the present. It is only the thought of the future that makes us great.
Mr Adomako:            The golden age is not in the past but in the future, not in the origin of human experience but in its consumate flower. Not opening in Eden but out of Gethsemane.
Mr Sarpong:              The best preparation for the future is the present well seen to and the last duty well done. The future is our goal and the last is the only method for the first. (Enter Mrs Adomako and Mrs Sarpong).
Mrs Sarpong:            Ei, philosophers at their best.
Mr Sarpong:              Darlings come and feel comfortable here. We have really enjoyed the meals.
Mr Adomako:            Exactly. Straight to the point. I thank the night worker who moulded you for me.
Mrs Adomako:          And I also feel blessed for having such a caring husband and his extra-caring friend. Godbless none can curse.
Mr Sarpong:              Dee, I am feeling drowsy, my legs are becoming weak... Ah...
Mr. Sarpong:             Why is the thing dropping.
Mr. Sarpong:             Oh... Hold me don’t leave me, I will fall ashhh...
Mr Adomako:            What is the matter? ( Moves to them. Mrs Adomako shouts) And you too? Mrs Adomako: Yes, our time is up quick... quick... Let.us be quick to the Hospital. (The men hold them and go out to the hospital). Lights off.

SCENE II ( SAME SET)

WHEN THE LIGHTS COME UP, MR. ADOMAKO AND MR SARPONG ARE IN THE FUNERAL CLOTH SEATED IN THE SETTEE. THE ATMOSHERE IS TENSED WITH SOUNDS OF CALAMITY IN THE HOUSEHOLD. A SONG IS HEARD FROM A DISTANCE.

SONG:                        WHEN SHE IS DEAD
                                    WHEN SHE IS DEAD
                                    AND ALL THINGS HAVE SUBSIDED
MR. SARPONG PICKED THE PORTRAIT FROM ITS HANGING PLACE AND LOOKS AT IT.
Mr Sarpong:              So. Akosua at last you have left us alone. The lonely birds without a nest. You should have told me before this. Ah! Who will lend me a pair of powerful wings to fly to my dear wife’s funeral. I envy the birds that fly in the skies. They have no transport difficulties. The world is nothing to me without my beloved wife. Can any physical stab be more painful than this?
Mr Adomako:            May be that is how God has designed it. Sarpong please weep not.
Mr Sarpong:              There is no such thing as a natural death, every death is an accident.
Mr Adomako:            Death will come as it will. Don’t forget you are blessed with a son. What about me?
Mr Sarpong:              Without a wife, who is going to look after the child?
Mr Adomako:            Sarpong, that day which you fear as being the end of all things is the birthday of your eternity. Mrs Sarpong is dead. My wife has lost her child at birth. There are two great losses in this house but do we have to weep all the time? Though lovers be lost love shall not, and death shall have no dominion.
Mr Sarpong:              Well what can I say? What can I do but to take what has happened as a man. I therefore name my baby boy after you. He will be called ADOMAKO JNR.
Mr Adomako:            Then have I been immortalised. Do you not think we can allow my wife to breastfeed the child before you marry agin.
Mr Sarpong:              I have almost forgotten the desire for marriage. My child is now my world. Please, call Mrs Adomako and inform her about our plans.
Mr Adomako:            Victory for us all. Akua, Akua... please come out...
(Mrs Adomako enters). We have agreed that since you have the unspoilt breastmilk, you start feeding the child until Mr. Sarpong gets a new wife. And the best of all the news is that Mr Sarpong has named his son after me. You have now a new husband called Adomako junior.
Mrs Adomako:          That is a nice idea. I shall take proper care of the child.
Mr Sarpong:              I have decided to employ a maidservant to come and help Mrs Adomako in the upbringing of the child. You know ...
Mrs Adomako:          No, I can manage it. These days you know how the maid servants behave. They snatch people’s husbands with ease.
Mr Adomako:            In order to bring equality and sanity in the house, I want to suggest that from this day until the baby is weaned from breastmilk, I shall sleep in the same room with Sarpong, while Mrs Adomako sleeps alone with the baby.
Mr Sarpong:              That will be too much for her. At least she will need your affection and comfort.
Mr Adomako:            The baby is ours. I don’t think that would be difficult for Akua, besides she doesn’t want to taunt you in any way. Akua what do you say to that?
Mrs Adomako:          That is okay for me. All what I demand from you is attention and care.
Mr Sarpong:              That, I assure you.
Mr Adomako:            Yesterday’s beauty never fades it only changes to reflect our inner radiance, lets’s forget about what has chanced. Life must go on.
Mr Sarpong:              When you have only two choices “yes” or “no”, it is possible that “may be” would be the better decision. Maybe I can forget about my beloved wife if I get a new one like her.
Mrs Adomako:          Someone could always replace her but that is no reson to hurry it. Hm! Mr. Sarpong, have you already found the key to another door?
Mr Sarpong:              Please, never ask the question for which you cannot accomodate the answer.
Mr. Adomako:           There is little cause to worry about losing a lover. You may be lucky and time will tell.
Mrs. Adomako:         The most complicated problems are often best solved in bits. Do not waste sympathy on yourself. (THE CRY OF A BABY IS HEARD). Let me go in and feed the baby. (exits)
Mr. Adomako:           That’s good of you. Sarpong, let’s go out and find a new shelter elsewhere. For it has been well said that “man shall be held to account for all the permitted pleasures he failed to enjoy”. (They laugh). You are never a loser if you succeed the second time. There is little chance you can change yesterday but what is done today organises tomorrow’s success.
Mr. Sarpong:             Your kindness will always find welcome time in my heart.
Mr. Adomako:           Retire today’s worry until tomorrow and it may oversleep.
Mr. Sarpong:             Thank you very much. You have really demonstrated the kind of love the Maker wants us to offer. But my problem is how to contract another kind of marriage.
Mr. Adomako:           That is really simple.
Mr. Sarpong:             How simple is that. Apart from the societal disaproval that another and another woman will die when they marry me, the tedious nature of engagement and wedding is a problem to admit.
Mr. Adomako:           These days are different. Don’t forget that even as people file around your dead wife laid-in-state, the women will be winking at you. They will seriously be proposing to you.
Mr. Sarpong:             So you think. They only do that to make you a victim to their ploys. Look at what happened when we were engaging our wives. I thought it was going to be once in a life’s time.
Mr. Adomako:           Twice is better than once so they say.
Mr. Sarpong:             I wish I could stay without any woman in my life again. These days after spending so much money on the girl and reserving some for the parents on the D- day, they dramatise the whole ceremony to extort more money from you, the prospective husband.
Mr. Adomako:           How?
Mr. Sarpong:             Before the main girl will come to you, they call some people “flower girls” who are brought by the brothers of your wife to be unveilled. You can unveil about 5 flower girls and none of them is your wife. On each occassion too, you will have to give money to the “driver” who brings the “flower”.
Mr. Adomako:           Oh! But that is the normal thing to create enjoyable atmosphere at the   
                                    occassion.
Mr. Sarpong:             One day, the suitor will pick one of the “flower girls” as the one he is going to marry and they will learn their lessons.
Mr. Adomako:           Interesting. Let us get moving old-boy. There are a lot outside there. (SHOUTS) Mrs. Adomako we are out to town, okay?
(EXIT, MRS ADOMAKO COMES OUT WITH THE BABY IN HER HANDS COVERED WITH WHITE CALICO)
Mrs. Adomako:         There were ninety and nine that safely lay shouting the infants shout in the  shelter of the Baby’s cults. But mine was out on the hills away far off from the gates of gold. Away on the mountains wild and bare. Away on the mountains wild and bare. Away from the tender sheperd’s care. But here is another smiling at my face. Come o you traveller unknown, whom I still hold but cannot possess and I am left alone with you. With you all night and day I mean to stay.
                                    And my reward? (pauses) Where lies my reward. My shrinking flesh demands my reward after feeding you for all these number of days, weeks, months or years? Tell me, I beseech you tell me now. (TO THE AUDIENCE) The secret of my love unflods and do I sit comfortably in this house for another woman to come and claim ownership? I  will rise superior to my pain. I will make assurance doubly sure and take a bond of fate, the unspeakable now I decern and I shall not make a mistake.
 (TURNS SHARPLY INTO THE BED ROOM. THE BABY CRIES).

LIGHTS OFF.


SCENE 3

THE SAME SET.
IT IS EARLY DAWN AND LIGHT OFF IN THE VICINITY.
ALL IS QUIET.
MRS. ADOMAKO IS SEEN WITH A LANTERN.
SHE SHAKES HER HEAD AND DROPS HERSELF IN THE SETTEE.
MR. ADOMAKO COMES OUT OF THE ROOM TO JOIN HER.

Mr. Adomako:           You said, my dear, that you want to speak to me on an important issue. Here. I am all body and soul to listen to you.
Mrs. Adomako:         Is he sleeping, I mean Sarpong. He should not hear what we are going to discuss.
Mr. Adomako:           When you told me about our meeting, I made sure he sleeps deeply so yesteday in the evening. I made him take a lot of liquor.
Mrs. Adomako:         But why has he taken to drinks like that? He was a nice man.
Mr. Adomako:           He still is But you can imagine how he feels about his dead wife. He needs another woman now.
Mrs. Adomako:         Darling, I am not happy at all. My worthless heart needs to gain                                                  something. Something precious, but I am not going to get it I know.
Mr. Adomako:          What is it that I cannot provide?
Mrs. Adomako:         Everything but one thing.
Mr. Adomako:           What thing? Tell me and I shall make sure.
Mrs. Adomako:         Oh. When shall my wandering soul return again to its eternal rest? My husband. Make me a happy woman till life’s short journey ends. In all my helplessness, all weaknesses, on you alone I alone depend for strength. My main target as a woman has eluded me. I cannot have what I want because you are too loving.
Mr. Adomako:           You make my heart bleed if you speak like that. I have promised already to rescue you from woes and troubles. Remember “for better or for worse”.
Mrs. Adomako:         “FOR BETTER FOR WORSE”, that is the biggest problem. What about childlessness? You know our society, the child is more important thatn the ring. The child is the symbol of union.
Mr. Adomako:           Don’t worry, Akua, another seed will be planted very soon.
Mrs. Adomako:         How soon? How soon as I continue to look after somebody’s son... look at his picture, how handsome he looks. I wish I had my own baby like that ... But I can’t, oh!, husband, I can’t.
Mr. Adomako:           Why can’t you. Your womb is not receded. You are as fertile as the loamy soil. Well I shall inform Sarpong to find someone to marry and relieve you off all the burdens.
Mrs. Adomako:         And that is where my trouble begins.. with all truth and grace, I must admit that I have developed the greatest love ever for the small boy. I cannot part with him.
Mr. Adomako:           But the child belongs to Mr. Sarpong... and whoever he marries. Akua, don’t forget that we agreed that you look after the child untill Mr. Sarpong re-marries.
Mrs. Adomako:         So we agreed upon. I know. But now that I am in need of a child and having tasted how sweet motherhood is I am not going to allow that to happen.
Mr. Adomako:           You talk like this? As if I am not a man ... not a strong man that you’ve known. What is coming over you, my wife?
Mrs. Adomako:         We are in a desperate state if you don’t know. The secret, when it comes out will strike a hammer on the victim.
Mr. Adomako:           And who is the victim?
Mrs. Adomako:         You and I. We are the victims. We are going to be the talk of the town. We are going to be the objects of ridicule...
Mr. Adomako:           What do you mean? Please, tear the envelop and feed my ears with the news.
Mrs. Adomako:         We have no child and we are not going to have one. Please sprinkle your blood upon my heart and melt it by your dying love for me. This rebellious heart of mine will subdue and be made soft if that small boy in this house would be mine forever and ever.
Mr. Adomako:           We have every right to acquire our own babies. It is just a matter of time. Excersice restraints my love... I...
Mrs. Adomako:         You don’t understand, my husband. I am afraid another child and another will die at birth.
Mr. Adomako:           Eat back your words immediately! Walls have ears. Evil spirits are hovering around. The tongue that eat pepper and salt should not say words full of curses. I say eat them back.
Mrs. Adomako:         No. I have the feeling that no child born by us will survive.
Mr. Adomako:           You make me feel weak and prone to carbonic acid. I am a strong man. No witch or wizard can be killing my children like that. If you have a curse on your head why did you not tell me?
Mrs. Adomako:         It is now too late. For better or for worse.
Mr. Adomako:           Then we have to pray.
Mrs. Adomako:         Prayers will not do. The issue is simple. That child should be mine. (GOES TO THE DINING TABLE AND PICKS A FORM AND HANDS IT OVER TO MR. ADOMAKO). Read it and you will understand me. This is from the medical doctor. In fact, your medical doctor...
Mr. Adomako:           (READING) Weak sperms? That, I cannot give birth? How... I say how? Why did he not tell me when I had the test? That doctor be cursed.........
Mrs. Adomako:         Don’t shout. You will invite attention ...people...........
Mr. Adomako:           My trembling body demands that I shout. I cannot give birth, the cheek of it. How come?
Mrs. Adomako:         That, you can answer. Our past joins us in the present and projects us into the future....
Mr. Adomako:           You are right ...(Thinking) that may be the cause. But I blame the same doctors who did not cure my sickness during my youthful days.
Mrs. Adomako:         So when you behaved like an angel who had not tasted good and bad in the church and won me to your side you were carrying such a dreadful veneral disease. Men, men... they waste their time on different women and then share their suffering with innocent wives.
Mr. Adomako:           I am sorry. My wife, but I thought it had been cured forever at least, I was made to believe that by the doctor.
Mrs. Adomako:         Now, you understand why I say I cannot give birth again? Mr. Adomako, tell me, tell me why you hid that from me.
Mr. Adomako:           It is too late now. FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE.
Mrs. Adomako:         In my redeemer’s name I pray you give me a child. A child nothing more, nothing less.
Mr. Adomako:           Where do you want me to get a child for you? I am incapable, there wouldn’t be any remedy. That is our lot.
Mrs. Adomako:         I am not so gospelled to live without a child especially as I am the only daughter of my parents who are dead. You are my only brother, friend and husband. We must live with a child and a handsome one like Adomako Junior.
Mr. Adomako:           I know you have developed an insatiable love for the boy but don’t forget that he is not our legitimate child. The father of the child will marry again and take the child away.
Mrs. Adomako:         Oh! The foolish raiser of children. The one who prepares the food and doesn’t taste it. Sarpong is going to marry a new wife and take the child away. That will be over my dead body.
Mr. Adomako:           Then, what do you want me to do?
Mrs. Adomako:         I suggest we see the priest of our church and discuss this with him.
Mr. Adomako:           Discuss what? Our inability to have children?
Mrs. Adomako:         Yes.
Mr. Adomako:           For him to broadcast it to the whole world. Their duty if you don’t know, is to spread the news  and it is not only the Good news but the Bad news as well. (THE BABY CRIES, MRS. ADOMAKO GOES TO ATTEND TO HIM)
mR. adomako:          (ALONE) Days of darkness still come over me. sorrows and misery are my lot. Now, what can I do? But I must confirm my heart’s desire to possess a child. I cannot have babies. Should I allow her to sleep with Sarpong? No, Sarpong will brand me insane. How can he do that? Should I suggest to her to go out at odd times? No ... She would be mad. As Shakespeare said Mark Anthony’s was by Caesar. Yes... I have a plan.
(ENTER MRS. ADOMAKO WITH THE BABY. MR. ADOMAKO GOES TO HER AND LOOKS AT THE BABY)
He bears my name. Hm! Adomako Junior. Then, he is my son. My son... Is he? Hm. Darling I have a plan. (LOOKS AROUND) Let us stop the breathing tunnel of ..er ..er.. Sarpong and this beautiful child who bears my name will be ours for good? After all, none of his relatives knows the child. And none of them even knows where Sarpong lives. I bind unto myself today the strong name “Adomako” to unite us both after his death.
Mrs. Adomako:         I give my heart to you my wonderful husband who can read in between lines and propose the appropriate solution for an impossible situation. Thank you for your plan.
Mr. Adomako:           It is the only plan that would make us happy. You know, I cannot leave you for another woman and so you also cannot leave me for any other man. “FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE UNTIL DEATH DO WE PART”.
Mrs. Adomako:         Amen. When do we effect the activity? Mechanically or chemically?
Mr. Adomako:           Anytime you propose my darling. (THE CHILD CRIES) Our glorious sun’s life-giving object. Do not cry, you are our source of hapiness and hope.
Mrs. Adomako:         And our source of long-life afar beyond the stars. (SINGS) Baby little boy don’t cry. I love you, you love me, baby little boy don’t cry... (SHOUT FROM WITHIN BY MR. SARPONG) What is wrong Mr. Sarpong? (HE RUSHES OUT) What is the matter with you?
Mr. Sarpong:             Oh you are here. I dreamt, I dreamt that some people wanted to take my child away and they wanted to kill me. Bad dreams....
Mr. Adomako:           Fever, malaria causes that. Adomako Junior is in safe hands. (MRS. ADOMAKO LEAVES FOR THE BED-ROOM) Don’t worry our Lord is in control.
Mr. Sarpong:                         Amen..







LIGHTS OFF
SCENE FOUR
SAME SET
MR SARPONG IS SEEN STANDING BY THE PICTURE OF HIS SON ON THE WALL. HE MOVES TO THE WEDDING PORTRAIT AND STANDS BY IT FOR A BRIEF MOMENT THERE IS A KNOCK AT THE DOOR.
Mr. Sarpong:             Yes come in. (ENTER MR. KARIKARI). K.K. what do you want here? Who  showed you our house? Come, come and embrace me (THEY EMBRACE EACH OTHER).
Karikari                     My brother, it is a very long time ago. For years I haven’t seen you. I thought I should search for you and I saw in a photo studio your picture which has been displayed I asked the photographer who directed me to this house.
Mr. Sarpong:                         How is home and everybody?
Karikari:                    Infact, I do not know what has been hapenning back home. I also left just as mother died. I have been working in the city for sometime now. I am glad that God has brought us together again. (SEEING THE PICTURES) are you married? And this child looks like you. Your son?
Mr. Sarpong:             Hm! I married but ... I have lost my wife. I lost her when she was delivering this child.
Karikari:                    And where is the child? Who is looking after him? You see when I drink you people say I shouldn’t. The world is a sad place to live. Look I will continue to drink till thy kingdom come. Give me some hot stuff before we continue.
Mr. Sarpong:             You will drink but,  please let me introduce you to my other co-tenants. (CALLING) old boy... old boy and Mrs. Please come. (THEY ENTER) K.K. meet my best friend in this universe Mr. Adomako and his lovely wife Mrs. Adomako. (TO MR. AND MRS ADOMAKO). This is my senior brother, Mr. Karikari who I have not seen for more than 15 years now.
Mr. Adomako:           You are welcome to this place. And how did you get the direction to this place?
Karikari:                    By the Almighty God and the ancestors. It is through some miracle that transcends my understanding.
Mr. Adomako:           Well... welcome once again. Mrs. Adomako, some drinks for our august visitor (MRS. ADOMAKO SERVES THEM). How about the family back home?
Karikari:                    They are also missing from my memory because like Sarpong, I have also been away from home for a very long time.
Mrs. Adomako:         Your brother has been a good friend all these years. He loves us and we love him too.
Mr. Sarpong:             Your love for me and my child beats the common understanding of man. You have been a sweet mother for the child and on this note I would ask my brother to congratulate you for me.
Mrs. Adomako:         There is no need to thank me. It is my duty to cater for our child. Our only hope and aspiration.
Karikari:        Oh! This woman is caring for the baby? How excellent (A BIT DRUNK), beautiful... beautiful. Well... well... in order to relieve some of the load, we have to find you another wife preferably from our hometown for you. And it should be very soon.
Mr. Adomako:           You have spoken well. We thank you. Mr. Sarpong is not ready for a wife now.
Mr. Sarpong:             But I am. I was about to inform you of my intention of getting a new wife before the close of the year.
Mr. Adomako:           Oh! That is the best decision. You can make. I think Akua will be happy with that (MRS. ADOMAKO LEAVES)  are you going to spend some days with us?
Karikari:                    No, no, I shall go back very soon. I don’t know this area but I hope to call again. I have enjoyed my visit to you. Sarpong don’t worry, you will be okay.
Mr. Sarpong:             I know. If you are ready to go tell me so that I can drop you at the station.
Karikari:                     Alright. And where is the lady of the house? Madam I should be leaving now. I have to join my other colleagues at our usual spot.
Mr. Sarpong:                         Let me drop you.
Karikari:                    Don’t worry, I brought my own car.
Mr. Adomako:           We are grateful to you Mr. Karikari... Goodbye...
Mr. Sarpong:                         Let me see you off (THEY EXEUNT)

Mr. Adomako:            (MAKING SURE THEY ARE GONE) Akua, Akua... (MRS ADOMAKO ENTER’S FROM BED-ROOM). What do we do now? Who the devil directed this drunkard to this house. Now, someone from the family knows here. Our plans are in jeopardy... Well, we still will have to proceed. Nothing can hold us back and we vacate the house, with the child the next minute. Tonight should be the night no two ways. We will use the chemical method?
Mrs. Adomako:         As you wish.
Mr. Adomako:           If that is the plan then I shall go to town and buy some dead- powder to be used . (EXITS)
Mrs. Adomako:         When the child is taken away, what becomes of me? I would rather prefer death to life. (RE-ENTER MR. SARPONG) Erm Mr. Sarpong your brother is nice.
Mr. Sarpong:             Where is the old boy? I wanted to discuss the marital issue with both of you.
Mrs. Adomako:         He says he is going to buy some medicines for one of his staffs. But I guess we can discuss it before he comes.
Mr. Sarpong:             That’s nice with me. Sit down please. Mrs. Adomako, you will agree with me that after the death of my wife, you have been very helpful to me...
Mrs. Adomako:         Go on.
Mr. Sarpong:             I have sought the treasure of your love and closely at hand it lies. I mean your tender love, care and affection rises above all contemporaries.
Mrs. Adomako:         I know ...
Mr. Sarpong:              I have always thought of relieving you from the strenuous duties in this house. Catering for the baby as well as two strong – men in this house. You need some rest.
Mrs. Adomako:         And so?
Mr. Sarpong:            I have decided to marry a certain lady by name Doris at my work place.
Mrs. Adomako:         What about me?
Mr. Sarpong:             What about you?
Mrs. Adomako:         Yes. What about me?
Mr. Sarpong:             I don’t understand.
Mrs. Sarpong:            You won’t understand. I know you won’t but I always thought you were very considerate.
Mr. Sarpong:             I have been very considerate but... you want me to marry you?
Mrs. Adomako:         Yes and it is an emphatic yes.
Mr. Sarpong:             What about your husband?
Mrs. Adomako:         That is his own business.
Mr. Sarpong:             What is coming over you Mrs. Adomako?
Mrs. Adomako:         I am mad. Stark raving mad.
Mr. Sarpong:             Excuse me, madam. What abominable talk is that? How can I snatch you from a faithful friend like Adomako?
Mrs. Adomako:         Just as you snatched Akosua from him.
Mr. Sarpong:             That is blasphemy. I cannot do any such thing. Mrs. Adomako are you serious about what you are saying?
Mrs. Adomako:         Certainly. I want you to marry me.
Mr. Sarpong:             Now, tell me. Why do you want me to marry you?
Mrs. Adomako:         To have more children like Adomako junior.
Mr. Sarpong:             But your husband is not impotent. He looks stronger than myself.
Mrs. Adomako:         Appearances are sometimes deceptive.
Mr. Sarpong:             And even that. I cannot stab at the back of a friend like that.
Mrs. Adomako:         Mr. Sarpong, please, listen to me. My fainting soul revolves around the love I have developed for your son, Adomako junior. I cannot simply part with him.
Mr. Sarpong:             If that is your only problem, forget it. I will always allow the boy to stay with you.
Mrs. Adomako:         I know but I want to have babies apart from him. I also need a baby of my own.
Mr. Sarpong:             Mr. Adomako, your husband can help you.
Mrs. Adomako:         No. It is you I need. My love for your son has moved me into loving you the more. That boy is a symbol of union for me and you.
Mr. Sarpong:             But not when you husband still lives. We are very good friends and ...
Mrs. Adomako:         Hold my hand and feel the perfect love, perfect wisdom which is working within me.
Mr. Sarpong:             I cannot do that, it is somebody’s bonafide and precious thing. To touch it, I dare not.
Mrs. Adomako:         Please, don’t shut your doors and darken your room. Remember I have loved you and your boy. I continue to love you. I cannot simply rescind my decision.
Mr. Sarpong:             Loneliness is dangerous. It’s bad for me to be alone. You have your husband, please, concentrate on him and he will give you nice children.
Mrs. Adomako:         If you insist, I will tell you. My husband cannot give birth to children. He suffers from the third thing. I mean the the “third leg”
Mr. Sarpong:             What?
Mrs. Adomako:         Therefore, I have decided to have you and avoid him so that we can keep the boy and add one or two to him. I cannot go in for any other man. I have known you. You have also known me. We have always shared secret love from all over the place. Please, think about the child and our precious future.
Mr. Sarpong:             I know no one in any time who has succeeded in loving every man he meets...
Mrs. Adomako:         You are not every one. You are you, the Special Sarpong of my heart (ABOUT TO KISS HIM).
Mr. Sarpong :            (MOVES AWAY) Mrs. Adomako, don’t forget that love can do all things but not to kill. You will be killing your husband.
Mrs. Adomako:         Don’t worry yourself about him. I can tell you things but ... hm.
Mr. Sarpong:             You can give me all you like on earth. I can also give you everything but this decision is dangerous, suicidal. I cannot succumb to that.
Mrs. Adomako:         Are you saying you cannot stay with me?
Mr. Sarpong:                         Yes.
Mrs. Adomako:         And that you will marry another woman and give your child to her?
Mr. Sarpong:             Not exactly but... yes.
Mrs. Adomako:         Oh I now understand how foolish I have been. The blood of sweetness which your son has sucked from me has been a waste. How can I allow the boy to leave my hands for another woman.
Mr. Sarpong:             It is unfortunate...
Mrs. Adomako:         One more question and I will be out of the scene. Assuming my husband and your wife died together, would you have married me to cater for your child?
Mr. Sarpong:             That is a different issue.
Mrs. Adomako:         The question is very simple, would you keep me to yourself to look after your child?
Mr. Sarpong:             Yes and No.
Mrs. Adomako:         Alright... I thank you very much for throwing away my love for you. Right in my face...
Mr. Sarpong:             Friendship are fragile things which need care to handle. Mr. Adomako has been my friend for a long time. I can eat his food when he is absent but not when he is alive and present.
Mrs. Adomako:         No need to brood over this. TIME WILL TELL. But before we part forever and ever, let me embrace you. (THEY EMBRACE EACH OTHER, MR. ADOMAKO OPENS THE DOOR, HE SEES THEM AND COMES CLOSER TO THEM).
Mr. Adomako:           What is this?
Mrs. Adomako:         To say the last bye-bye to Mr. Sarpong. Do likewise my friend. (HE DOES) Did you get some of the medicine?
Mr. Adomako:           Yes, and very potent and powerful.
Mr. Sarpong:             Old boy, I have discussed everything with Mrs. Adomako. My marital arrangements with Doris. It wouldn’t be too long a time. We shall discuss the programme later into details.
Mr. Adomako:           (SARCASTICALLY) Alright we shall see... (THE TELEPHONE RINGS, MRS ADOMAKO PICKS IT)
Mrs. Adomako:         (STERNLY) Who are you? Doris ... From... I see, he is not in... Aha? ... He is around. Mr. Adomako, your call.
Mr. Adoamko:           I see (RUSHES TOWARDS THE PHONE)

LIGHTS OFF

SCENE FIVE

THE SAME SET. MRS. ADOMAKO IS SEEN ARRANGING AND DECORATING THE ROOM. IT IS THE 1ST ANNIVERSARY FOR ADOMAKO JUNIOR. PAT THOMAS’ SONG “Odo MENE W’ATENA AKYE MENHU ADEE A MEDE AYE WO W’AYI ME ASI AMA ATANFO ANYAME” IS HEARD IN THE BACKGROUND. MRS. ADOMAKO GOES TO THE PORTRAIT OF ADOMAKO JUNIOR, LOOKS AT IT. GOES TO THE TABLE FOR A GLASS OF WINE AND SIPS. FOR A MOMENT, MR ADOMAKO COMES IN.
Mrs. Adomako:         During the party, you will sit on my left here (indicating the arm chair on her left) And he will sit on my right.
Mr. Adomako:           What about Junior?
Mrs. Adomako:         With me, he sits. It is settled... yesterday in the night, I nearly did it for him, but any time I made the move, junior screams... (sobs) Oh! Junior...
Mr. Adomako:           Don’t do that. All will be finalised today. Cheer up. Wise people would suspect you of evil intentions. You should be a happy woman...
Mrs. Adomako:         How can I? He loves you and I love him.
Mr. Adomako:           I know. He is bent on introducing his new wife to us tomorrow and in two weeks the wedding follows. The preparation is superb.
Mrs. Adomako:         I see. No wonder he is showering on me with gifts as a form of compensation. Tomorrow... a wife for Sarpong and a new mother for Junior. This small birth-day party is the answer. (LEAVES FOR THE BED-ROOM, ENTERS MR. SARPONG)
Mr. Sarpong:             Old boy (Embraces him) today is the birthday of our son and I have made all preparations towards our outing after this small party.
Mr. Adomako:           Akua, is ever ready for the outing. But tell me, how do you find your new wife?
Mr. Sarpong:             Well, not to the standards of Mrs. Adomako but we will still manage with her. From the look of things I guess she is quite beautiful and and...
Mr. Adomako:           Serciveable. That is the most important aspect of it.
Mr. Sarpong:             Exactly. Mrs. Adomako, we are ready... Ever ready for the last supper.
Mr. Adomako:           Amen. (ENTER MRS. ADOMAKO CROSSING TO THE KITCHEN).  Do we still wait for you, my dear?
Mr. Sarpong:             Yes of course.
Mr. Adomako:           Old boy let us drink. Let us drink. How I wish your senior brother, Karikari were here.
Mr. Sarpong:             We will see him tomorrow.
Mrs. Adomako:         (PLACING THE MEALS ON THE COFFEE TABLES) He is a character.
Mr. Adoamko:           Are we not going to eat on the dining table?
Mr. Adomako:           No, we want to break the constitution today.
Mr. Sarpong:             That is great. (SITS ON THE LEFT ARM-CHAIR) Here, will I sit to enjoy my meals.
Mrs. Adomako:         No, please, I will sit in the middle with Adomako Junior on my right side and the big teddy-bear on my left side. Adomako Junior, will be between you and me. And the teddy-bear will be between Mr. Adomako and me. Therefore change positions at once. It is my command. (THEY ALL LAUGH AND OBLIGE). Please, eat, eat the food prepared with my own hands...
Mr. Sarpong:             Before we eat, I have something to say.
Mrs. Adomako:         Meals first. Abinkyi before pleasure.
Mr. Sarpong:             Please, let me talk first.
Mr. Adomako:           Let us give him the chance to talk infact the last chance.
Mr. Sarpong:             Thank you, old boy. If we cast our minds back we can feel within our hearts how how happy we have been. God has blessed us with a handsome boy. Today is his 1st anniversary. I therefore declare him a hero and to have an endowment fund of ten million cedis accounts to be opened for him. I have finished that with the Bank of SEWAGE AND PROTECTION.
Mr. Adomako:          Very Good, good one there.
Mrs Adomako:          Well done.
Mr. Sarpong:             And to you Mrs. Adomako, you have been a loving mother to junior. I hand this envelop to you as a sign of my appreciation. I cannot thank you. The Lord will do that. There is this song I want to sing before we settle to eat.
 (MENSI DEN MENKAMFO WO ME NYAME
MENSI DEN MENKAMFO... NYAME W’AYE BI AMMA MEOO
MENSI DEN MEKANFO, NYAME W’AYE BI AMMA ME OO
MESI DEN MENKA FO WO)
(PICKS ADOMAKO JUNIOR AND DANCES WITH HIM. HE THEN SETTLES DOWN TO EAT) The best of meals I have taken all my life.
Mr. Adomakoh:         By the best cook in the world (They laugh) Ah, ugh, My tommy, hold me...
Agyei... I am dizzy... poison... I am dying... Why, Akua was it a mistake? Ooo I am suffering.
Mrs. Adomako:         No, it was intentional. You are a block in my life. I cannot kill Sarpong for your sake. I love him and I want to live with him forever and ever.
Mr. Sarpong:             What is the meaning of this?
Mrs. Adomako:         It is for the love I have for you and Adomako Junior.
Mr. Adomako:           Old boy hold my hand... I have wronged you. Forgive me... Hooold me... (dies)
Mr. Sarpong:             Oh, old boy... how... old boy come back to me...
Mrs. Adomako:         Come my love.. I did that to protect you... He wanted to kill you.
Mr. Sarpong:            Me?
Mrs. Adomako:         Oh yes!. You, because of Junior.
Mr. Sarpong:             I have now realised how powerful your love for me is. Let me call the ambulance for his body to be deposited at the mortuary. (GOES TO THE PHONE). Yes, come here immediately, it is serious, yes, no 277280 Nyankwa street... thanks. (HANGS UP) What did you use in doing the act?
Mrs. Adomako:         He bought it from town and he said it is potent and very powerful. (SIREN IS HEARD) Hold me my dear (HOLDS HER TIGHT)
ENTER 2 POLICEMEN IN UNIFORM. MR. SARPONG THROWS MRS. ADOMAKO TO THEM. SHE IS HAND-CUFFED.
Mr. Sarpong:             Please, take her away. She is a murderer. She deserves to be in prison custody for a good work done.
Mrs. Adomako:         My love has killed me. The love I have for You, Sarpong and Adomako Junior. Junior bye... bye it is because of you. “THE SYMBOL OF UNION”
(THEY ALL FREEZE)

THE END

Dedicated to Mr. & Mrs. Asante (Shiefield, U.K)

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