Love in trial

MORNING

A clearing on the edge of the market, dominated by an immense 'Odan' tree.

It was the village center. The wall of the bush school flanks the stage on the right, and a rude window opens on to the stage from the wall. there is a chant of the 'Arithmetic Time ' issuing from this window. It begins a short while before the action begins. Sidi enters from left, carrying a small pail of water on her head. she is a slim girl with plaited hair. A true village belle. she balanced the pail on her head with accustomed ease. Around her is wrapped the familiar broadcast cloth which is folded just above her breasts, leaving the shoulder bare

Almost as soon as she appears on the stage, the schoolmaster's face also appears at the window. ( the chanting continues _ 'Three times two are six' ' Three times three are nine; etc)

The teacher Lunle, disappears. He is replaced by two of his pupils, aged roughly eleven, who made a buzzing noise at Sidi, repeatedly clapping their hands across the mouth. Lunle now re-appears below the window and makes for Sidi, stopping only to give the boys admonitory whacks on the head before they can duck.The vanish with a howl and he shuts the window on them , the chanting dies away. The schoolmaster is nearly twenty. He is dressed in an old_Style English suit, threadbare but not ragged, clean but not ironed, obviously a size or two too small. His tie is done in a very small knot, disappearing beneath a shiny black waist_coat.

He wears twenty_ three_inc_bottom trouser and blanco- white tennis shoe

Lunle:: Let me take it

Sidi:: No

Lunle:: Let me ( seizes the pail, some,

water spill on him)

Sidi:: ( delighted)

There, wet for for your pains

don't you have shame??

Lunle:: That is what the stewpot said to

the fire

have you no shame... at your age

licking my bottom? but she was

tickled just the same.

Sidi:: The school teacher is full of stories

this morning. and now if the lesson

is over, may l have the pail?

Lunle:: No. l have told you not to carry

loads on your head, but you are

stubborn as an illiterate goat

it is bad for the spine

and it shortens your neck, so that

very soon you will have no neck at

all

Do you wish to look squashed like

my pupils drawing?

Sidi:: Why should that worry me?

Haven't you sworn that my looks

do not affect your love?

yesterday, dragging your knees in

the dust you said, sidi, if you were

crooked or fat, And your skin was

scaly like a......

Lunle:: stop!!

Sidi:: l only repeat what you said.

Lunle:: yes, and l will stand by every word

l spoke.

But must you throw away your

neck on that account?

Sidi, it is so unwomanly. only

spiders carry loads the way you

do.

Sidi:: ( huffily, exposing the neck to

advantage)

well, it is my neck ont your spider.

Lunle:: ( looks, and gets suddenly

against)

and look at that! look, look at that

( makes a general sweep in the

direction of her breasts)

who was it talked of shame just

now?

how often must l te'l you, sidi, that

A grown - up girl must cover up her

her... shoulder? l can see quite...

quite

A good portion of that! And so l

imagine, can every man in the

village. Idier

All of them, good for nothing

shameless men

casting their lustful eyes where

they have no business....

Sidi:: Are you at that again? why, l've

done the fold so high and so tight,

l can hardly breathe.. and all

because you keep at me so much

I have to leave my arms so l can use them... or don't you know that??

Lunle:: you could wear something

most modest woman wear. but you,

no . you must run about naked in the streets

dose it not worry you.... the bad names,

which girls, uncovered like you,

draw after them?

Sidi:: This is too much. is it you, Lunle

telling me that l make myself common talk?

when the whole world knows of madmam of llujinle, who calls himself a teacher!!

is it sidi who makes the men choke in their cups, or you, with your big loud words and no meaning? you and your ragged books

Dragging your feet to every threshold

and rushing them out again as curses

great you instead of welcome, is it Sidi they call a fool even the children or you with your fine airs and little sences!

Lunle:: ( first indignant, then recovers composure)

for that, what is a jewel to pigs?

if now l am misunderstood by you

and your race of savage, l rise above taunts

and remain unruffled

Sidi:: ( furious, shakes both fists at him)

O.... oh, you make me want to pulp your brain.

Lunle:: ( retreats a little, but puts her aside with a very lofty gesture)

a natural feeling, arising out of envy;

for, as a woman, you have a smaller brain

than mine

Sidi:: ( madder still)

again! I'd like to know

just what gives you these thoughts of manly conceit

Lunle:: ( very very, patronizing)

no no. l have fallen for that trick before

you can no longer drawe into arguments

which go above your head

Sidi:: ( can't find the right words, chokes back)

give me the pail now. and if you ever dare to stop me in the streets again...

Lunle:: Now, now ,sidi...

Sidi:: give it or I'll..

Lunle:: ( holds on to her)

please, don't be angry with me

I didn't mean you in particular

and anyway it isn't what l said

The scientists have proved it. it's in my books.

women have a smaller brain than men.

that why the are called the weaker s*x.

Sidi:: ( throws him off)

the weaker s*x, is it?

is it a weaker breed who pounds the yam

or bends all day to plant the millet with a child strapped to her back??

Lunle:: that is all part of what l said

but don't you worry. in a year or two you will have machines which will do your pounding, which will grind your papper without it getting in your eyes

Sidi:: o..oh you really mean to turn the whole world upside down

Lunle the world? Oh, that, well maybe later

charity, they say, beings at home

for now, it is this village l shall turn inside out. beginning with that crafty rogue, your past master of self indulgence baroka

Sidi:: are you still on about the Bale?

what has he done to you?

Lunle:: He'll find out soon enough, I'll let him know

Sidi:: These thoughts of future wonder do you but them or merely go mad and dream of them ?

Lunle:: A prophet has honour except

in his own home, wish men have been called mad before me and after

manyore shall be so abused, but to answer you, the measure is not entirely of my own coinage

what l boast is known in Lagos, that city of magic, in badagry where Saro women bathe in gold, even in smaller towns less than

twelve miles from here..

Sidi:: well go there, go to these places where women would understand you

if you told them of your plans with which you oppress me daily. do you not know

what name they give you here?

have you lost shame completely that jeers

pass you over.

Lunle::: no l have told you no. shame belongs only to the ignorant

Sidi:: well l am going

shall l take the pail or not??

Lunle:: not till you swear to marry me

( takes her hand, instantly soulful)