The man, the myth, the legend

Act II, Scene I

(Recess)

(The awaited period by the participants however Eric sat alone. He then jerks and looks about the auditorium in confusion; only finding empty seats)

Eric : Philip?

(Stares around again to confirm the surroundings.

Ann enters along with others. While they sat far behind Eric, Ann stops and faces him before seating ahead of him)

Ann: (To Eric) What are you doing here again?

Eric: (flippant) Who are you talking to?

Ann: (sombre) What are you here this early?

Eric: (flippant) What else are we here for!

Ann: You don't answer a question with a question.

Eric: Then don't bother asking. Just shut up!

(Ann becomes quiet)

Eric: (calls out) Hey! Where's your clique? I thought you can't exist without them.

(Ann remains quiet. Eric stares in annoyance expecting an answer. He notices her collar is stained brown and looks closer)

Ann: I'm sorry I made you think we're close. You can shut up as well.

Eric: (annoyed) Hey ! (attempts to tug at her collar)

(Ann turns immediately and Eric hands brushes swiftly across her face: leaving brown stains all over before Eric jerks back to his seat)

Ann: (stands and faces him. Calls out affectionately) Eric

(He looks at her in surprise as she stares at him intensely; a mix of surprise and affection)

Eric: (shocked) What the heck was that? Are you alright ?

(Ann starts to cry creating an awkward situation for indecisiveness and inaction to seize Eric. He looks at the stain now caked in his nails and finger. He stands and faces Ann who now looks at him)

Eric: I don't know what's going on right now. But if you're not feeling yourself…..I mean alright. I can take…(offers a hand but realizes it's the smeared one but Ann grabs and pulls it; holding it firmly)

Ann: (looks at him. Tears now dried) You're here

Eric: (surprised but tolerant. Breaks from her gaze) Yes. I was (pulls his arm back) I sat there (points) And you were there

Ann: I just got here

Eric: I don't think you're ok

Ann: (calls out) Eric

(She pulls him to his surprise and he stumbles on the seat before him while Ann moves back)

Eric : What the…….

Ann: I'm sorry (about to reach for him but stops)

Eric: (bewildered) If you go see a doctor, I won't consider this an assault.

Ann: You are…… (interrupted)

Eric: (loud) Is everything ok?

Ann: (retorts loudly) No, everything is not……(pause). Don't you remember anything….. Do you remember me…

(Eric looks about him for support but everyone is nonchalant. He then looks at Ann in shock)

Eric: Who are you?

(Ann becomes agitated and pulls Eric's hand to her face and rubs desperately. Eric mildly struggles and takes his hand away. A layer of brown stains is on his palm while Ann's face was distorted as some of the makeup was rubbed off revealing a portion of skin polarized into fair and irregular pattern of pink spots)

Ann: Remember now? Eric . You said (points at her face) You said I was beautiful. I shouldn't hide what I'm a victim of…that no one should hide what they're a victim of….. Do you know now? About me? Everything?

(She looks at him expectantly but sees a blank expression on his face as he looks at his smeared hand. She hands him a handkerchief which he uses while she covers her mouth and cries silently.)

Eric: (sombre) So what about the make up? Is this a prank( cleans his hand) Is this you guys definition of amusement (looks at her in anger)

Ann: (muffled) You think this is a joke?

Eric: I know it's no longer funny. It won't be (tosses the handkerchief at her face) You can clean up the ‘act’

(Ann turns back and sits down while Eric watches. For a long while, silence passes between them until she suddenly faces him startling Eric as her face was back to normal,appearing more surprised before turning away)

(They both kept quiet again for a brief moment)

Eric: (looks at her) Now that we have each other's attention. Let's start again ( pause as he waits for a reaction then continues) What are you here for? Is it singing or choreography…… no that wouldn't work . I just saw first hand how good you're at acting. No doubt, that's what you are here for.

(Ann keeps quiet)

Eric: Hello. (waves at her face)

Ann: So why do you care?

Eric, you can't answer a question with a question.

Ann: It's a retaliation.

Eric: (laughs) Okay, I'm sorry

Ann: Apologize again

Eric: Not happening

Eric: (pause for a brief while) Why do you have them as friends

(Notices her silence)

Eric: (Frustrated ) Sorry for asking

Ann: (taunts) Alright, you have apologized so you're worth my time for now. (Looks at him)

Eric: (still frustrated) What's the difference, you all seem alike.

Ann: So why do you care?( turns away) You never know how to read the room, do you?. Senseless and tactless as well

Eric: Ok I've had enough

Ann: You're not any better. You are stubborn and proud as well. The only difference is I have a sense of direction. I know what I want. (Stares intensely) I have a future.

Eric: Sure, you do. And hanging out with idiots is a way to approach it.

Ann: For the meantime. (Turns away)

Eric: (Sighs and grabs a seat with his back behind it) So …tell me more. Else you're getting a comeback and intense disses. I'm good with my words than works and that's IS MY FUTURE

Ann: (looks at him in jest) What rubbish are you saying…. (spurts into laughter. Looks at him again and laughs briefly) Ok, I'll tell you , you have begged enough. (Pause before chuckling mildly). Youuuuu know (rubs her hips) when I was new to this school, I couldn't find my way around and when I did, it was with those who have their way with things at their level. It was simple: be quiet, blow their ego and get the benefits……

Eric: (interrupts) I understand but where does you ‘future’ come in.

Ann: (looks at him in anger) Oh my ….. Are you this dense ?!. You really don't have any sense of tact?! You didn't even try to picture what I just said that just …. that just sums up your stupidity ! I see why you don't……. (cut off)

Eric: (interrupts. Sombre) So… why do I have to change myself when I know I'm right and they are in the wrong and even if the reverse was the case ... .even if…. there are others who call out to me regardless of which side they are on. I'll be the one to decide whether to save myself.

(His countenance changes and he jerks back)

Eric: That was corny as hell( grips his neck and gags comically ) You see… what I was trying to say…. (regains composure) is you can't let such people like that change you. Yeah, you have to mature but this one isn't it. Take me for example. You see this cool artist in the making talking to you right now. I have a big dream and everyone talks smack about it but I don't give up. Well, I don't even care about what they say. You see, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Ya dig?

Ann: Where did you get all this from…

Eric: I didn't read this … I listened to people's stories through songs. The music speaks for them except you know….the slurs and the wild part

Ann: I don't always like being the dogged i***t.

Eric: Well a word is enough for the wise but we both know how long I have talked to you.

Ann: (curtly) Well silence is the best answer……

(The bell rings announcing the end of recess)

Eric: (standing up) I can show you some of my music: lyrics written by Yours Truly: ‘OG- Lowe’. Since I'm getting major actress vibes from you, I'm more than cool sharing my works with you but they're off limits to one certain ‘hater’.....(cut off)

Ann: (interrupts) I don't prefer hip hop songs so you can as well keep them to yourself.

Eric: Just read it

(He then brings out a binded piece of octave paper from his bag and extends it towards her. As she curtly reaches for it, he withdraws his arm slightly)

Eric: Between us, it's obvious that this talent hunt is only for musicians so you best be ready. (hands it to her)

Ann: You still wouldn't make it. Your performance wasn’t out of the ordinary. (receives it)

(Mr. Clement walks in holding a strap bag, loaded to the brim with white papers)

Both: Good morning.

Mr Clement: Good morning. (Stops and stares past them exchanging with other students who return cold gazes before breaking from their sights) Sorry I'm late , I was in a meeting with the Principal which was productive as we can now rehearse till dismissal time.

Eric: (excited) Yeah, let's go.

(Mr Clement takes a seat and drops the bag underneath)

Eric : (stands up) They'll be here soon when they see the lights (start walking towards the platform )

Ann: Are you serious… (looks at Mr Clement)

Eric: About giving an out-of-the-ordinary performance, yes.

Mr Clement : (still dejected) You can roll however you want just don't let it be a waste of time.

Eric: (ascends the platform) I got this

(He clasps his hands and blows at it before dispersing it into his pockets, which was unnecessary, as he let one rub his face and close his eyes. He later opens his eyes and exhales concluding the absurdity)

Eric: Ayy, yeah, Ayy yeah. Ayy, yeah. With my heart and my soul, I look in your eyes. And the way that I feel, girl, I can't deny. With my gang and my dawgs, we live in the wild. Girl, I send a lot of texts but you don't reply. Why? Yeah. I just wonder why. I just wonder why. And I traveled miles. Damn. Girl, you know I traveled miles. I want you in my life. I want you in my life. Even if it's for a little while, I want to see you smile. I want to see you smile. See you smile, yeah. For a while, yeah. Can you try? Yeah. Hold you tight? (Slightly rapid) Yeah Ayy. I said hi. Ayy. She said who you is? Ayy. I said OG lowe, uuh, she said we don't fit , ayy. Girl, give me a chance, ayy. Because of that, I'll burst off the ground, ayy. I know I wasn't in school, uuh, she been like, what do you do? Ayy, you ain't got no cash. You look so, so rags, ayy. I am not your type, ayy. (slows) Damn, I almost cried, ayy. And I know you are hard to get and I'm not the one. I know you would find me when I'm moving on. Maybe cuz I had no cash and I wasn't cool. And you treated me so bad, I felt like a fool. Why? Yeah, I wish you was mine. I wish you was mine. I wish you you was mine. With my heart and my soul. I look in your eyes and the will that I feel, men, I can't deny, all my gangs, all my dawgs will live in the world. Girl, I send a lot of text, but you don't reply, why? Yeah, I just wonder why. I just wonder why, and I traveled miles, damn. Girl, you know, I traveled miles. I want you in my life. Girl, I want you in my life, even if it's for a little while. I want to see you smile. I want to see you smile. See you smile. Yeah. Can you for a while? Yeah, can you try? Yeah, hold you tight. Yeah. (pause and stops singing) Thank you. (Raises his two fingers and exits)

(There was an applause that rang from every corner as the auditorium was now filled. Mr Clement turns instantaneous at the crowd; greatly surprised. He later stood up and silence followed as he mounted the platform)

Mr Clement: Okay, what you just witnessed was an opening presentation. So let's get on with what we agreed on. If you have the gift of singing, please stand up and stand at the left corner of this platform.

(Chairs were drawn back as some students obliged. Mr. Clement walked back to his seat and carried two bags. The students turned to face him as they watched him coming back, drawing out white sheets from his bag.)

Mr Clement: What you see right now, is the sheet music for a song I've selected. So we're adopting a choir form because I believe that a combination of different voices, or a cacophony of such will provide a splendid result beautiful to the ear….

Eric: (interrupts) Sir, I don't understand what you just said and I don't think I'm the only one.

(Murmurs of agreement)

Mr Clement : (annoyed in a rush of words) What I meant is that the combination of different voices is best and a time manageable way of making music hence we will sing in a choir (calms down, To Eric) Why aren't you here?

Eric: I don't vibe too well with others. (crosses his hands by the thumbs and waves it) I fly alone.

Mr Clement: That concerns you only (faces the assembly and hands them sheets). Share amongst yourself, and I'll explain more.

(As some of them receive, complaints were launched)

Student one: (confused) I don't understand these symbols. Wetin alphabets dey find here.

Student two: What is rem, rem, fa soh, la, la, la?

(Other students also took a cue to create rowdiness)

Student three: Be like the algebra way we never learn dey here I

Student two: (exclaims) Maths keh?!! Abeg I no follow again. (Throws paper and walks out)

Student four: It's not like this on TV o. Wetin be this man problem?

Mr Clement: (angry and shouts) Be quiet.

(They all oblige but they were still some murmurs)

Mr Clement: (still angry and yelling) Shut up each and every one of you, I said I will explain now but you're all making a fuss out of everything. Do you think I'm here for fun and games? (Notice the silence and calm down) Now look at your sheets, everyone.

(They obeyed)

Mr Clement : You see words like ‘Re’, ‘Mi’, ‘Fa’. Those are called sofa notations. They are important because the lyrics can be sung in an appropriate harmony. Every song you hear in any language have solfa notations. For our rehearsals, we shall be working with them and it's only a matter of time you will know the lyrics by heart. (pause and close the streets. Now if you look below the table , you see words this time in normal English. They are separated by lines. These are the lyrics, and above them are the sofa notations they fall under. Is that understood?

Students : Yes

Mr Clement: Okay, let me brief you a bit about the sofa notations. (Calls loudly while waving his finger) Doh, Re, Mi, Fa, Soh, La, Ti, Doh. There are two ‘Doh’; one lowered in the beginning and the other higher. You understand ?

Students: (amazed by demonstrations) Yes,

Mr Clement: ( pulls a mini sound box). Here's the song we will sing. Listen to it and hold your paper close enough so that you see how the lyrics rhyme with the solfa notes.

(He switched on the sound box and a loud somewhat Arabian chord ushers out gently for a brief moment during our two actions from the students, the lyrics then pause out, silencing the din)

I have a dream, a song to sing

To help me cope with anything.

If you see the wonder of a fairy tale. You can take the future, even if you fail

I believe in angels, something good in everything I see.

I believe in angels.

When I know the time is right for me, I will cross the stream.

I have a dream.

I have a dream, a fantasy

To help me through reality

And my destination makes it worth the while

Pushing through the darkness, still another light.

I believe in angels, something good in everything I see.

I believe in angels.

When I know the time is right for me, I'll cross the stream.

I have a dream.

Across the stream.

I have a dream.

I believe in angels, something good in everything I see.

I believe in angels when I know the time is right for me

Across the stream.

I have a dream.

(The song ends and another music, this time secular, plays in a frenzy beat. The student reacts loudly and joyfully but soon the music is switched back to the previous one, and they groan. The scenario meant nothing to others who were not involved : staring blankly neither for Eric as he also stared blankly)