University of Benin

Department of Theatre Arts

RHYTHM OF OUR FATE

By Favour

Cast

Eddy

Paul

Junior

Osakpolor

Mama Eddy

Joe

Frank
 Prologue

The street are bombarded with people as he tries to fight his way through the crowd, hands shaking
vividly. He tries to scream, but no words would come out. His heart panted so hard that he could hear it
within the noisy crowd. He holds back the tears that has finally found it way outside his eyes. He fights,
struggles and pushes further until he's finally in the open square where he saw the body laying lifeless
on the ground. He looks through the faces of the crowd and saw the joy in their faces for the wicked
deeds they have just committed. He walks slowly, staggering towards the body to confirm if it's really
him. He needs no more confirmation as his eyes quickly lands on the farmiliar marking on his legs. “It's
him", he whispers softly to himself as he screams out loud.

Act 1

Eddy is busy packing up his stuff into a medium sized box as he whistles along. His mother quietly
watches him from her stool, her face in a mood. She slaps off the flies that constantly Perch her feet.
She looks around the rumbled apartment once again and sighs.

Mama Eddy: Do you really have to go?, ehn Eddy

Eddy: Mama are you still at this?, what else would I be doing here if I choosed to stay eh?

Mama Eddy: You can always assist me in the farm of course

Eddy: You see, it's doesn't get beyond that for you, but there's actually more to life than just farm.
There's a whole different world out there and that's why we must go to Lagos to explore it.

Mama Eddy: Hmm, (she sighs) I guess you and your friends have made up your mind already. But my
son, please be careful of the people you mingle with, avoid bad friends and focus on what is taking you
there. I know I can vouch for you to be a good man as well as Osakpolor, but the same cannot be said of
your other friends, I don't really know them personally. So I will advice you be careful and if possible try
and get your own apartment as soon as possible. All heads might be the same but not all thought are
the same.

Eddy: Mama, you worry over nothing, don't worry, we'll all be fine. We're all like minded in the same
course. We'll definitely find our way.

Mama Eddy: When do you plan on leaving?

Eddy: First thing tomorrow morning, the journey is quite a long one so we must leave on time.
Mama Eddy: Please don't forget all you have learnt so far and all you have been told. Always remember
to say a word of prayer everyday. May the peace of the lord go with you all. (She say a short prayer for
him and light slowly fade out).

Act 2

Scene 1

It is a small dingy apartment with faded paint on the wall. The room is barely empty as only a few
properties can be seen. Two beds are stacked to a corner on the floor and on it Paul, Junior and Eddy are
playing a ludo game, screaming excitedly to the game. Osakpolor walks in absent mindedly .

Osakpolor: ah!, Omo lagos don tire me.

Eddy: How did it go?

Osakpolor: Worst!. How difficult can it be to get a Job in Lagos na. This thing is so frustrating o. If I knew
it will be this stressful, I would have stayed back home

Paul: And be doing what..? E be like you never tire to de suffer o. Even if na just the big buildings and the
flashy cars wey u de see everyday, that one never reach you?. You want go back village go de see
cassava farm and kabukabu motor abi??

Osakpolor: At least there, am never hungry na, unlike here that we barely eat two square meal .

Eddy: You should understand that this is just a phase we're passing through and definitely it will pass us
by. Nothing is forever o, all these is just for the time being.

Junior: Tell am.

Osakpolor: It doesn't seem like it. Let's pray this hunger should not kill us before that time comes.

Junior: So you go sit down let hungry kill you for inside house abi??. Na wow for you o.

Osakpolor (fuses) I'm tired of this place o, I'm tired. (He quickly remembers something). Ehm eh,.. Paul

Paul: What?

Osakpolor: That our Neighbhour guy wanted to see you, he told me to call you just now

Paul: That my guy?

Osakpolor: Yes
Paul: (rushes to his feet)See this one o, you nor fit even tell me since. (He rushes out shutting the door
behind him. The others continue in their game as Osakpolor undresses. Paul walks in minutes later with
a bright smile on his face).

Junior: This one wey u de smile like small pikin wey dem just buy ice cream for so, wetin happen?

Paul: (he ignores his comment) una know that my guy for this compound na?

All: Yes

Paul: You know say I be tell am say I sabi drive well, so if e fit get work make e let me know. So e con tell
one of e friend wey get money well well about me. So the guy say e need driver wey go de drive am
around and he say make I come tomorrow.

Junior: Seriously?.. that your guy na correct guy o.

Osakpolor: He's a good friend o, I wish I had people like that here.

Eddy: (they exchange a handshake) I'm happy for you man. But be careful o

Paul: Thank you man, I will.

Scene 2.

Paul and Joe are patiently waiting in a well furnished Class A apartment with cool music playing off the
stereo. They nod silently to the rhythm of the music. Frank walks in.

Frank: Joe my man, wassup na (they exchange a friendly handshake).

Joe: My chief!..(raises his hand to salute him) anytime I de see you, I de get this feeling say everywhere
go good. You de gimme morale wey de burst my head

Frank:(smiles softly) nor come hype me this morning o. Na ur guy be this? ( He shakes paul)

Paul: Good morning boss

Frank: How e b na?, e clear?

Paul: Everywhere good boss

Joe: This na the guy wey I tell you about. E de capable for the work, I don already brief am for everything
and he say e de game.

Frank: Is that so?

Paul: Yes sir. I sabi the work 100 percent

Frank: You get experience before?

Frank: Nice one, clearly you have the experience, but make we see how your hand strong reach
tomorrow na. So tomorrow you go come start work in the morning. We go discuss payment later

Paul: No wahala baba. Thank you boss

Joe: Thank you Frank, I really appreciate

Frank: No wahala.

Scene 3

Paul and Junior are having an engaging discussion inside the room.

Paul: Omo, that guy de try for me oo. I know how much I don collect since I start that work. Money de
the work die

Junior: Guy, make them show me way na. See how you come de fat for body na, you don even de fair.
Wetin you de chop 4 there sef??

Paul: Dem want use chicken and beef spoil me o. Anything wey I want na e I de chop

Junior: For real??, na so the guy get money?

Paul: I say the guy na secret billionaire e

Junior: Which kind work e de do?

Paul: (looks around suspiciously, as he reduces his voice to a minimal level) Na drugs and highnesses e
de sell

Junior: Jesus!

Paul: You nor go suffrey shout?... Wetin de do you na?

Junior: Na e you still get mind dey the work?, Police nor de hold una

Paul: Even the police sef dem know na, e be like dem de settle them monthly. Dem nor de even stop us
again sef. E nor get wetin money nor fit do brother o. In less than 2 months wey I de there, I don chop
reach like 500k o

Junior: Omo the work sharp o. U de get am clear there. So your own na just to de drive am around abi
wetin?
Paul: Yes oh, na me de drive am if he want go run delivery na. Na e delivery boy I de drive everytime sha.
Na only sometimes if he want do he own personal waka or he want go run delivery to Vip customers I
take de drive am o.

Junior: Sharp! Sharp!. I go like work, vacancy nor de?

Paul: Dem be need another delivery guy o, I go try talk to my boss say I get guy wey go fit de package the
work.

Junior: No yawa, u too sharp. ( They shake hands as the scene fade out).

Scene 3

It's the middle of the night as all was quite and dark except for the constant croaking of the frog nearby.
The whole neighborhood is fast asleep. A loud knock is heard continuously on the door and it grows
louder until a voice answers from the inside

Eddy: (sweating, his eyes heavy with sleep) Who is there?

Junior: Come and open the door it's us

Eddy: Who?

Junior: It's us, Junior and Paul

(He hesitates a bit before he goes to open the door. They stagger in smelling of smokes, drinks and of
course women as they enter).

Eddy: Where do you think you're coming from at this ungodly hour of the night?

Both: (looks at him) Work!

Eddy: Drunk?. What has gotten into you two, ever since you started working for that Frank guy months
back, you've literally thrown away your senses, clubbing, partying and smoking all night.

Paul: (raises a finger at him) Look young man, I didn't come back here just so I could take insult from
you. How dare you talk to us in that manner, wetin de bring that rubbish talk na. If you nor get job wey
de keep you till night, you nor go find.

Junior: (muttering nonsensical words as he staggers) If nor be say I de in a good mood this night, I for
don put slap for your face (he makes to slap Eddy, but he loses balance and crashes to ground, landing
on Osakpolor who is still fast asleep).

Osakpolor: Yah, who be this??

Eddy: (shakes his head angrily) I can't tolerate this any longer, not any more
Paul: No need to tolerate us, nor worry since we de disgust una, we go find our way first thing
tomorrow morning. I nor fit follow una stay this crap again.( He hisses out).

Fade out

Act 3

Scene 1

Eddy and Osakpolor are outside their room on a cool evening chitchatting.

Osakpolor: But wait o.., I can't believe those guys just left us like that, no call, no visit, nothing nothing.
Omo na wow for them o.

Eddy: It's for the best. They have clearly lost focus on why they came to Lagos in the first place. God
knows I did my very best to set them straight but they objected to my every move. I just pray they
realize on time that they're on the wrong path before it's too late, that would be really bad considering
where we're all coming from.

Osakpolor: But don't you think we should go find them and drag them back here?

Eddy: (looks at him weirdly) Back Where? And where do you even propose to start searching for them.
We don't know where they work or the supposed Mister Frank resident and the only person that could
have known the place is Joe, our old neighbor but he parked out months ago already and besides,
they're not children that we should go drag them here. They're old enough to make decisions for
themselves as well as live with the consequences.

Osakpolor: I just have this feeling that they're doing great out there without us, you know having their
best lives, going nice places and the rest. That should be it since they haven't called yet.

Eddy: Anywhere they're, I just hope they're fine and healthy, though I can only say that for the now as I
do not see anything promising in whatever they do.(Pause) They just changed over night and because of
what? Little money that just entered your hand or whatever made him feel like he was on top of the
world.

Osakpolor: It is well o, we go all make am for this lagos sha, na one thing wey I know.

Scene 2
Osakpolor is sitting all alone with both his hands on his chin. His eyes are weak and dry as he stares
deeply at nothing in Particular. He is clearly unconscious of his environmental as he fails to notice
Eddy's presence who is just returning from work.

Eddy: Osakpolor!!! (He goes closer and shakes him off his little day dreaming). Osakpolor wetin de do
you, why you carry face like person wey e person die (pause a while, trying to rephrase). Wait, hope say
person nor die o (he nods). Then wetin de happen na, this one wey you sit down here like person wey e
destiny run leave am.

Osakpolor: I just received a very troublesome news earlier today

Eddy: What troublesome news?

Osakpolor: You know, Funmilayo na, my girl

Eddy: Yes wetin happen? (Curious)

Osakpolor: She just called me today and told me that she is pregnant.

Eddy: Gba gam... Game don set o. For real? What is she planning to do with it?

Osakpolor: Which one is what is she planning to do with it, you nor know Funmilayo again, that one be
like person wey go fit do abortion. Abortion is not even in the picture.

Eddy: Has she confirmed that it's yours?... I mean...

Osakpolor: Eddy why you de talk like this na, confirm wetin? Na only me that girl know. I'm her first love,
first boyfriend, first everything.

Eddy: Ok ok..(raises his hands in surrender). So why are you bothered, you guys should have the baby na

Osakpolor: See the way you just say it as if it's one easy thing “have the baby"(mimicks him). Nor be
money dem want spend, abi you think say e easy to born pikin or train pikin for this country. (He pause
and moves around slowly, sweeping his feet on the ground) I'm not ready to be a father yet, not now, I
can't even fend properly for myself talkless of a mother and her child. Where do I even start from?

Eddy: See, everything will fall in place at the right time, just do the right thing and life will take its full
course. Don't worry bruh, everything is going to be just fine (patting him gently on the shoulder) Just
believe. (Slaps his head gently after fully convincing him) Here I was thinking maybe one bad thing or the
other happened, not knowing it was even a good news. Don't you know you're over due enough to
become a father, your mates don born like four already.

Osakpolor: (joking) Which one you con get?

Eddy: Nor be lie o, we suppose pop wine for this good news o. When people de find pikin sef, na e u put
hand for head de think like Papa Ajasco. (They both laugh outloud)..
Scene 3

Eddy and Osakpolor are in the market to shop for some wares. While Eddy is inside the supermarket
making purchase, Osakpolor is outside receiving a call. He is on his call when he sees a man accidentally
drops his wallet. He tries to signal him but he's in a hurry walking off speedily. He picks up the wallet in
hope to find the man but he loses sight of him by the time he raised his head. Opening the wallet to
explore it contents, he found a bundle of new naira notes along with some vital id cards and passport.
He closes it back in amazement and chugs it into his pocket running in the direction of the man with
hope to find him. He had only ran ahead for some time when he notices some touts holding sticks and
other weapons pointing to him, chasing from behind. Feeling intimidated and under the pressure of
fear, he doubled up as he ran as fast as his legs could carry him screaming and wailing continuously. He
had only run for some time along the busy market street before he was hijacked. He was swept off his
feet in no time and sent to the ground with blow and wood landing hard on him.

He couldn't fanthom what was going on until he heard some people screaming thief! thief! He wanted
to explain the whole situation, but he wasn't given any room for any. His clothes we're stripped off in no
time as he was paraded round the market receiving slap, whips and blows from unknown direction.
Something really hard landed on his head that swept him back to the ground. He felt blood gushing out
from the spot as his eyes began to swing in different direction. With his face to the ground and his eyes
closed, all he could think of was his unborn child and all he could hear was the promise he made to his
mother not to bring shame to her house but only Respect, and honor. As he lay there helpless it played
repeatedly in his head like a movie. So many things landed on him but he could feel none as he felt his
life slowly drift away from his body. He heard the cry and wailing of a dear friend as hot tears blazed
down his eyes, he could only hear his voice and he wished he could say a word to him,.. he need say only
one word to him before he dies, just one word, but his mouth would not move, just one word, he
thought to himself, just one.. as all turns to black out and light fade

Act 4

Light comes up on Eddy who is on a podium addressing a massive audience He is well suited on a black
fancy suit with black shoes to match. He's holding a paper on his right hand which he raises to the
audience.

Eddy: Seven years ago, I and three other friends with like minds journeyed unto this land with hope to
go back home and become a figure to be proud of, a figure everybody would look up to as a perfect role
model, a figure that would define the next era of our community. But that dream was cut short because
we bacame lost in the process, obstacles shifted us apart, It drained the love we once shared among
each other, It pushed us to farther ends that we can ever recover from, it broke us. (He pause a while as
he takes a deep breath). Paul Thompson,.. Mentally distabilized due to excessive intake of dangerous
drugs and narcotics. Junior Odin,... Sentenced to prison for the illegal transport of Illegal drugs and
firearms. Kalu Osakpolor,.. died in the hands of angry Nigerians under a clear misunderstanding. Ladies
and gentle men, I come before you today as a broken man, traumatized by the experiences of my
friends especially late kalu Osakpolor, who was crucified on the street of Lagos for a crime knew not of,
for good he meant to do. I was lucky enough to hear him whisper two things into my ear that day before
he passed on. He said HOME DREAM AND MY CHILD. And today I stand before you as a testament
fulfilling those dreams which we all built years ago. In here (raising the paper) are list of achievement we
set before ourselves before journeying to this land and I urge you all today, go get a dream, if you don't
have one, because it's the only thing that drives a man, it's your steering to life success. Ladies and
Gentle men, I'm glad to announce to you that the child in question in kalu's dying word is the little boy
who just broke national record last week. If you haven't seen it, go tune on your tv. Know this Ladies and
gentle men that your dreams will definitely one day give birth to a child and that is your legacy, so don't
lose it. Thank you (the audience are all standing as a loud deafening clapping and hailing sweeps
throughout the hall as he walks down the podium and the scene gradually fade out.