(For those still struggling to survive)
CHARACTERS
ZIMA-Husband to Mrs.
Zima
MRS ZIMA-Wife to Zima
WETO-Mrs. Zima’s son
MAGGIE -Mrs. Zima neighbor
MAMA LEO -Mrs. Zima
neighbor
CHIEF
[Previously on The
Crisis: Mrs. Zima has received numerous visitors who include the Chief of the
village. A ravaging hunger has swept across several households and citizens
seem to be giving up. However, beneath the predicament of the villagers is a
Chief with lewd motives; an act that will test to the core the limits of Mrs.
Zima’s husband].
Mrs. Zima: Run quickly
to Maggie’s place and tell them we are being attacked by the Chief. I am
helpless. Run quick, son. (As the boy
makes for the door, the chief hastily blocks him and threatens to cane him. He
recoils in terror and runs back to the door adjacent to the main door that
leads to the bedroom whimpering).
Chief: Look woman (Yelling). The relief food to be
supplied on Friday is under my supreme authority. I know you know. And if you
want to be on the right side then roll with me. (Beggingly). Look, nobody will discover about this. And Mama Weto
you know how I have always admired you. Do you want to embarrass me tonight.
Ladies night remember.
Mrs. Zima: You want to
blackmail me.
Chief: No that way. I cannot do such a thing. And you know.
Mrs. Zima: Then please leave my house before Zima storms in here. You know his drunken violence. Don’t you?
Chief: Look, only
tonight. You will get two tins plus the special package for the kid. I mean,
picture it this way: On Friday your other five or is it six children will be
coming around and are looking forward to the one ‘gorogoro.’ And you understand
only my command; my supreme authority will have the final say. Then you miss
it. (Long silence). Entire family.
Picture that scenario. Is it worth it? (Silence).
Yes, try to think of it. Now will you- I mean can we go there- (He gestures at the door of the bedroom)
and…you know these things mother of all the beautiful ones…(Mrs. Zima looks confused. The prospect of
missing the relief food has completely dazed her. She seems indecisive. She speaks inside her
mind:”Do or not do. Sleep with him and get the two tins plus the package or
refuse his sexual advances? O God help me make a sound decision.”). Think
wisely poor woman. Here is your chance. Make or break. They say opportunity at
times comes dressed in funny attire and you ignore only to regret later. Mark
my words: This is a godsend opportunity. Many women are dying to have this
chance before you right now. (Long
silence. Then suddenly the door is violently opened and Zima enters still
staggering then stops after banging it shut behind him).
Zima: So, so, so, who
do we have here? Is it the Chief? What are you doing in my poor house at this
hour?
Chief: (Completely shocked). I am the
authority. I can visit any household at any hour I like. Are you answered?
Zima: You steal relief
food and hide them in your home. Sacks upon sacks of government property.
Employ your relatives and children to the distribution committee. Steal bags
for your village sycophants. Fellow thieves. And still you are not satisfied.
You sleep with poor men’s wives. You exchange government aid for sex with our
wives, Chief. And you growl everywhere: I am the authority. I can visit any
household at any hour I like. So dark the con of man, no wonder it was said. Do
you think we are blinded by your abuse of office?
Chief: Don’t turn this
erstwhile peaceful forum into an insult ring. I said I am the overall authority
and it remains so because the law mandates that.
Zima: (Drawing nearer to the chief menacingly): Mandates to come and seduce my wife at night, huh? Tell me. I am ignorant. Prove me wrong that the Law is not an ass.
(Thoroughly
exasperated, the chief grabs Zima by his button less shirt and thumps his face
sending him sprawling on the floor. He then attempts to knock him in the
abdomen while accusing him of being behind a cartel dirtying his name in the
village. Mrs. Zima is now screaming and the boy has also joined her in the
chorus of wails. Zima fights his way on the ground and manages to rise and
knock his opponent on the chin with his right knee. He reaches to seize the
stool but the chief beats him on his game by jumping on both of his legs. Zima
falls with a heavy thud face first on the hard concrete. He takes times to
regain then espies a kitchen knife in the basin).
Mrs. Zima: Please you
are mature people. Stop this! Chief! Zima! Stop this! Please stop it!
Zima: He is going to
know what stuff I am made of. Wait. (He
crawls and finally grabs the knife. The chief pounces to snatch the knife but
it is too late. He hits Zima again on the face as Zima attempts to rise up. But
he before he complements with another last punch, Zima drives the knife twice
into his pot-belly. The Chief drops to the floor while blood profusely
decorates the floor). Go call the police. Call the police I have killed a
criminal Mama Weto. (Zima commands, the
knife still dripping of fresh blood).
Mrs. Zima: Murder! They
will call it murder! And they will not understand. A family of our standing,
only cold-blood murder will fit. Why? Why have you killed him? (She breaks into a wail).
Zima: It is better I go
to jail for it. If it is the price to pay for your dignity against all this suffocating
injustices, indignity, inequality, so be it. They take us for a ride always but
it cannot be all the time. I have done what every sensible poor man could have
done. And I have nothing left with except this burning pride of standing up for
our household. Mama Weto you are my only source of pride in this misery and
darkness of Life. (And he turns to the
audience solemnly: If you were me, what could you have done?)
Mrs Zima: And so you
kill the government?
Zima: My dignity! My
respect! (He walks to the door and opens
it then without further ceremony escapes into the dark night. Moments later
neighbors rush into the house all in wails. Weto is crying even louder than
before.)
THE CURTAIN FALLS
