Love in trial

MORNING 3

Sidi:: ( with amazement) ls not Obama's image in the book at all?

second girl:: ( contemptuous ) oh yes, it is. but it would have been much better for the Bale if the stranger had omitted him altogether. his image is in a little corner somewhere in the book, and even that corncer he shares with one of the village latrines.

Sidi:: Is that truth? swear! ask Ogun to strike you dead

Girl:: Ogun strike me dead if l lie

Sidi:: if that is true, then l am more esteemed

than Bale Odama

the lion of llujinle

this means that l am greater than the fox of the undergrowth,

the living god among men...

Lunle ( previously) and devil among women.

Sidi:: Be silent, you

you are merely filled with spite

Lunle:: l know him what he's . this is divine justice that a mere woman should outstrip him in the end

Sidi:: be quiet!!

or l swear, I'll never speak to you again

( affect sudden coyness)

in fact, l am not so sure I'll want to wed you now

Lunle:: sidi!

Sidi:: well, why should l?

known as l am to the whole wide world,

l would demean my worth to wed a mere village school teacher.

Lunle:: ( in agony) Sidi!

Sidi:: And one who is too mean to pay the

bride price like a man

Lunle:: oh, sidi, don't!!

Sidi:: ( plunging into an enjoyment of Lunle misery)

well, don't you know?

sidi is more important even than the Bale

more famous than that panther of the trees.

he is beneath me now....

your fearless rake, the scourge of womanhood!!

but now, he shares the corner of the leaf

with the lowest of the low

with the dug out village latrine!

while l .. how many leaves did my own image take?

First girl:: two in the middle and....

Sidi:: No, no let the school teacher count!

how many were there, teacher man?

Lunle There leaves.

Sidi::( Threateningly) one leaf for every heart that l shall break.

Beware!

( Leaps suddenly into the air)

Hurray! I'm beautiful!

Hurray for the wandering stranger!

Crowd:: Hurray for Lagos man!

Sidi:: ( wildly excited) l know let us dance the dance of the lost traveller

Shouts:: yes, let's

Sidi:: Who will dance with the devil _ horse?

you, you you and you

( the fire girls fall out )

a python. who will dance the snake?

ha ha! your eyes are shifty and your ways are sly.

( The selected youth is pushed out amidst jeers)

the stranger. we've got to have the being

from the mad outer world.. you there,

no, you have never felt the surge

of burning liquor in your milky veins.

who can we pick that knows the walk of drunks?

you?... No, the thought itself

would knock you out as sure as wine... Ah!

( Turns round slowly to where Lunle is standing with a kindly, fatherly smile for the children at play)

come on book_worm, you'll play his part.

Lunle:: No no l've never been drunk in all life

Sidi:: we know. but your father drank so much, he must have drunk your share, and that of his great grandsons.

Lunle:: ( tries to escape) l won't take part

Sidi:: you must

Lunle:: I cannot stay. it's nearly time to take primary four in Geography

Sidi:: ( goes over to the window and throws it open.

Did you think your pupils would remain in school

Now that the stranger has returned?

The village is on holiday, you fool

Lunle:: ( as they drag him towards the planform )

No no l won't. this foolery bores me

it is a game of idiots. l have work of more importance.

Sidi:: ( bending down over Lunle who has been seated forcibly on the plain from)

You are dressed like him

you look like him

you speak like him

you think like him

you're just as clumsy

in your Lagos ways_

you'll do for him!

( this chant is taken up by all a.d they begin to dance round Lunle speaking the words in a fast rhythm. the drummers join in after the first time, keeping up a steady beat as the others whirl round their victim they go faster and faster and chant faster and faster with each round by the sixth or seventh, Lunle has obviously had enough)

Lunle:: ( raising his voice above the din. )

All right! I'll do it .

come now, let's get it over with

( A terrific shout and clap of drums. Lunle enters into the spirit of the dance with enthusiasm. he takes over from sidi, station his cast all over the stage as the jungle, leaves the right top stage clear for the four girls who are to dance the motor car. a mime follows of the visitor's entry into llujinle, and his short stay among the villagers.

the four girls crouch on the floor, as four wheels of a car. Lunle direct their spacing, then takes his place in the middle, and sits on air, he alone does not dance. he does realistic miming. soft throbbing drums, gradually swelling in volume, and four wheels begin to rotate the upper halves of their bodies in perpendicular circle. Lunle Clowning the driving motions, obviously enjoying this fully. the drums gain tempo, faster sudden crash of drums and the girls quiver and dance the stall. another effort at rhythm fails . and the ' stalling wheel's give a corresponding shudder, finally, and let their face fall on their laps. Lunle tamper with a number of controls, Climbs out of the car and looks underneath it. his lips indicate that he is swearing violently. Examines the wheels, pressing them to test the pressure, betrays the devil in him by seizing his chances to pinch the girls ' bottoms. one yells and bites him on the ankle he climbs hurriedly back into the car makes a final attempt to restart it, gives it up and decided to abandon it. picks up his camera and his helmet. pockets a flask of whisky from which he takes a swing before beginning the trek

the drums resume beating, a different darker tone and rhythm varying with the journey. full use of ' gangan' and lya ilu' The trees ' perform a subdued and unobtrusive dance on the same spot. details as a snake slithering out the chances and poising over Lunle's head when he leans against a tree for s rest. he flees restoring his nerves shortly after by a swig. a monkey drops suddenly in his path and gibbers at him before scampering off. A roar comes from somewhere, etc his nerves go rapidly and he recuperate himself by copious draughts. he is soon tipsy, battles violently with the undergrowth are curses silently as he swats the flies off his tortured body.

suddenly, from somewhere in the bush comes the sound of a girl singing. the traveller shake his head but the sound persists. convinced he is suffering from sun stroke, he drinks again. his last drop, so he tosses the bottle in the direction of the sound, only to be rewarded by a splash, a scream and a torrent of abuse, and finally, silence again. He tip toes, clears away the obstructing growth, blinks hard and rubs his eyes. whatever he has seen still remains. he whistles softly unhitched his camera and begins to jockey himself into a good position for a take. Backwards and forwards, and his eyes are so closely glued to the lens that he puts forward a careless foot and disappears completely. There is a loud splash and the invisible singer alter her next tone to a sustainable screen. quickened rhythm and shortly afterwards, amidst sounds of splashes, Sidi appears on the stage with a piece of cloth only partially covering her