MOMENT OF REGRET

MOMENT OF REGRET

Act 1 :Scene 1: At Home (The Village)

(The stage opens with the sound of birds and light farm work noises. Mama and Papa are seen at one side of the stage, wearing farming clothes, carrying hoes and a basket of cassava. They look tired but hopeful. Favorite enters from the other side, holding a brown envelope tightly to her chest.)

MAMA: (wiping sweat from her forehead, looking

at Papa) Eh, my husband, these hands are tired,

but my heart is full. Every day we farm for small

money… but if God helps us, Favorite will change

this story.

PAPA: (leans on his hoe, smiling faintly)

Yes, my love. We have eaten from this soil all our

lives. But maybe—just maybe—our daughter will

eat from knowledge, not sweat.

(Favorite runs in, breathing heavily, excited.)

Favorite: Mama! Papa! See what I have here! (She waves the letter in the air, her face glowing.)

MAMA: (drops her basket, rushes to Favorite)

What is it, my child? Don’t make my heart run faster than my legs.

FAVORITE: (opens the envelope, almost crying with joy) I have been admitted… to campus!

(Mama lets out a loud ululation. Papa raises his hands to the sky, shouting in joy.)

PAPA: Glory be to God! Our hard work is not in vain.

MAMA: (embraces Favorite tightly) My daughter, you will be the star of this family. You will rise higher than we ever dreamed.

PAPA: (looking serious now, placing his hand on

Favorite’s shoulder) But remember, Favorite—. books first, boys later. Do not let friends distract you. Remember the sweat on our foreheads.

MAMA: Yes ooo. Don’t forget where you came from. You carry our hope, child.

FAVORITE: (kneels, holding both their hands, with tears in her eyes) Mama, Papa, I promise. I will make you people proud.

PAPA: (smiled at her) I trust you my daughter

MAMA: my husband please today work is enough already, let's go home and rest.

PAPA: ah my wife we can't go know oo we need to work hard in order to save money to send our daughter to school.

FAVORITE:: papa listen to mama let's us go home rest and celebrate this thing they lord has done for us (showing him the envelope with a smile).

PAPA: okay have heard you.

(exist the stage).

ACT 1 SCENE 2: The Home (Early Morning)

( The stage opens in a small, modest sitting room. A bag rests by the door. The Parent stands with hands raised, eyes closed. Favorite kneels in front of them.

PAPA: (praying aloud) Lord, we place her journey in Your hands. Protect her on the road. Give her wisdom and favor in her studies.

FAVORITE: (softly) Amen.

(father lays hands gently on her shoulders, then lets go. A moment of silence. Parent forces a smile.)

PAPA: Go well, my child. Remember where you came from.

FAVORITE:: (picking up her bag) I will, papa. Thank you for everything.

MAMA : please my daughter don't forget the advice and training we have given you.

FAVORITE: I won't mama ( tears drop off her eyes) I will miss you and papa.

MAMA & PAPA :( huge her) miss you too our daughter

(She exits. Parent watches her leave, wiping tears away quietly. Lights fade.)

The Park (Later that Morning)

(The station was already buzzing with voices—conductors calling out destinations, buses honking, hawkers weaving through the crowd with snacks and water. Favourite adjusted her bag on her shoulder, scanning the lineup of buses. She looked a little nervous, clutching her admission letter as if it were a passport to another world. Just then, a voice beside her broke the noise.)

EMMANUEL : [smiling lightly] “You look like you’re trying to solve a math problem with all that staring. First time heading out?”

FAVORITE : [turns, slightly startled, then laughs “Something like that. Just making sure I don’t enter the wrong bus and end up in another city.”

EMMANUEL: “Don’t worry, that happens only in movies. Where are you heading to?

FAVORITE : [hesitates, not wanting to give too much away yet] “Towards campus side. You?”

EMMANUEL: [raises an eyebrow] “Campus side too. Looks like we’re fellow passengers already.”

(They both moved closer to the line forming for the bus. For a moment, silence hung between them, broken only by the conductor shouting.)

FAVORITE : [glancing at him] “You look too relaxed for a first-timer. Don’t tell me you’ve done this before.”

EMMANUEL: [chuckles] “Guilty. I’ve been around. But I still remember my first day—eyes wide, heart beating like a drum. You’ll be fine.”

FAVORITE : [smiling now, easing into the moment] “Easy for you to say. You’re standing there like you own the road.”

EMMANUEL: “Not really. I just know where to sit in the bus to get the best breeze.”

FAVORITE : [as the bus rumbled forward] “At least, if I get lost, I’ll blame you.”

EMMANUEL: [grinning] “Deal. But something tells me we’re heading in the same direction—literally.”

(The bus rolled on, carrying them both toward a campus they didn’t yet realize they’d soon share.)

ACT 1 SCENE 3– The Hostel Revelation

(Lights come up on the hostel room. Beds are neatly arranged. RITA is folding clothes, MIRACLE is scrolling on her phone, and LOVETH is applying lip gloss. The door opens slowly. FAVORITE enters with her box, looking a little lost.)

RITA: (looks up, smiling warmly) Ah, you must be the new girl. Welcome.

FAVORITE: (smiles shyly) Yes… I’m Favorite. Just got in.

MIRACLE: (jumps up) Favorite? Cute name! You’ll fit in perfectly here.

LOVETH: (teasing) We’ll see if she can survive this hostel first.

(They laugh. Rita pats the bed beside her, inviting Favorite to sit.)

RITA: Don’t mind them. Sit down, let me tell you how things work here. Every room has its rules. Ours are simple:

1. Don’t scatter the room.

2. Respect everyone’s things.

3. And most importantly—always stand by your roommates. We are sisters here.

FAVORITE: (nods eagerly) That sounds fair. I’ll do my best.

MIRACLE: (smiling) Good girl. You’ll learn quickly.

(Lights dim slightly to show the passage of time. Evening. The girls are now busy dressing up—spraying perfume, putting on heels, giggling. FAVORITE, in her nightwear, looks confused.)

FAVORITE: (puzzled) Wait… why are you all dressing like this? Where are you going?

LOVETH: (grinning) Ah, the innocent one asks. We’re heading out. There’s a birthday bash tonight.

FAVORITE: (shocked) Tonight? But… aren’t we supposed to stay in after lights out?

RITA: (calmly, while fixing her earrings) That’s the official rule. But I already told you—our most important rule is to stand by your roommates. If we’re going out, we go out together. That’s how we roll.

MIRACLE: (twirling in her dress) Favorite, this party will be unforgettable. Music, dancing, food—you don’t want to miss it.

FAVORITE: (hesitant) But… it’s my first night. What if we get caught?

LOVETH: (teasing) Get caught? Please, we’ve been doing this since last term. Nobody catches us.

RITA: (soft but firm) Listen, Favorite. In this hostel, you either play safe and stay invisible… or you roll with us and shine. The choice is yours.

(FAVORITE looks from one girl to the other, torn between fear and curiosity. The girls laugh softly, putting finishing touches on their outfits. The room grows louder with excitement. FAVORITE slowly lowers her eyes, uncertain of what to do.)

[Lights fade out.]

The Morning After (University Hostel)

(Lights rise on the hostel room. A pair of high heels lies abandoned near the door, handbags tossed across the chairs. FAVORITE, already dressed neatly for lectures with her books in hand, is adjusting her hair in front of a mirror. The door bursts open — RITA, MIRACLE, and LOVETH walk in noisily, still in their party clothes, tired but buzzing with excitement. They collapse onto the beds, laughing.)

MIRACLE: (flops on the bed, fanning herself) My God! That party last night? E choke! I’ve never seen vibes like that in this school before.

LOVETH: (kicking off her shoes) Na true you talk. The DJ almost killed me with those back-to-back jams. My body is still vibrating.

RITA: (sitting upright, eyes shining) But let’s be serious—did you people see that guy? The tall one that walked in wearing a white shirt?

MIRACLE: (snaps her fingers excitedly) Yes! That’s the one I was even trying to tell you about on the way back. The whole place shifted when he entered.

LOVETH: (squints, confused) Wait, which one exactly? There were plenty fine guys there oh.

RITA: (leans forward) No, no—this one was different. He didn’t even need to talk much. He just stood there, calm, like he owned the place. You can’t miss him.

MIRACLE: (dreamily) And the way he smiled… chai! Loveth, if you had seen it, you for understand why we’re talking about him.

LOVETH: (laughs) Abeg, abeg. You girls have started again. Did he even collect your number?

MIRACLE: (pouts) No, he left early. But trust me, he’s unforgettable.

(The girls giggle and keep gossiping. FAVORITE, who has been quietly packing her bag, slings it over her shoulder. She turns toward them with a small smile.)

FAVORITE: You people really enjoyed yourselves. Anyway, I have a lecture by eight. If I don’t leave now, I’ll be late.

RITA: (waves her off) Go, bookworm. Don’t worry, one day we’ll drag you along to one of these things.

LOVETH: (teasing) Who knows? Maybe she’ll even meet Mr. White Shirt before us.

(They all laugh. FAVORITE smiles faintly, shakes her head, and exits. The three girls keep chattering about the mysterious guy — Emmanuel — unknown to them that his path will soon cross with Favorite’s. Lights fade slowly to black.)

[End Scene]

The Unspoken Truth

( The scenes open at the University Campus, afternoon. Students bustle around. Favorite walks quickly with books in hand. Emmanuel notices her and approaches.)

EMMANUEL: (warmly, with a smile) Hey… I know you.

FAVORITE: (startled, then softens) You do?

EMMANUEL: (nods) The park. That morning you were rushing like the world depended on it.

FAVORITE: (laughs lightly) Oh… yes. That was me.

EMMANUEL: (extends his hand, finally) I’m Emmanuel.

FAVORITE: (hesitant for a beat, then accepts his hand) Favorite.

EMMANUEL: (holding her gaze) That suits you.

FAVORITE: (quickly pulling away, a bit flustered) You flatter easily.

[They share a laugh, but it’s short-lived. Silence lingers for a moment, as if something unsaid hovers between them.]

EMMANUEL: (gently) How’s school been so far?

FAVORITE: (sighs, a little weary) Overwhelming. Everything feels too big. Too fast.

EMMANUEL: (nodding) You’ll get through it. I can tell you’re stronger than you think.

[Favorite smiles faintly but checks her watch, anxious.]

FAVORITE: I… really need to go.

EMMANUEL: (hiding disappointment) Sure. But I’m glad I finally know your name.

FAVORITE: (softly, almost like a confession) Me too.

[She walks away. Emmanuel watches her go. From the background, Rita appears — unseen by them — her eyes fixed sharply on the scene, suspicion building.]

( later in the evening at home Favorite is on the couch, scrolling her phone. Rita comes in with a playful but sharp energy, clearly curious.)

RITA : (plopping onto the couch) Soo… anything interesting happen on campus today?

FAVORITE: (without looking up) Not really. Same old lectures.

RITA: (leaning forward, eyes narrowed) Don’t lie to me. I saw you.

FAVORITE: (freezes, lowers her phone slowly) Saw me?

RITA: (grinning knowingly) With him. The tall guy. The one from the birthday party Miracle, Loveth, and I couldn’t stop talking about.

FAVORITE: (tries to brush it off, nervously) Oh… that? It was nothing.

RITA: (scoffs, crossing her arms) Nothing? Favorite, you were smiling like you won a scholarship.

FAVORITE: (groans, flustered) Rita, please—Rita: (cuts in, pressing) Who is he? What’s his name?( hesitates, then softly) Emmanuel.

RITA: (repeats it with excitement) Emmanuel… I knew it! He even has the perfect name.

FAVORITE: (sighs, hugging a pillow to her chest) You’re making a big deal out of nothing.

RITA: (leans closer, insistent) Nothing? Favorite, that guy is popular. Everybody knows him. And not just popular — he’s nice. You don’t just bump into someone like him for no reason.

FAVORITE: (looks down, voice barely above a whisper) Maybe that’s why I should stay away.

RITA: (taken aback, curious) Stay away? Why would you say that?

FAVORITE: (shakes her head quickly, forcing a smile) Forget it. It’s nothing.

RITA: (watching her carefully, suspicious but still playful) Mhm. You can pretend, but I’ll find out. Don’t think you can keep this from me forever.

[Favorite turns away, pretending to laugh, but her face betrays unease. Lights fade as Rita continues studying her, a sly smile forming.]