by KM Cory
CASANOVA [impatient]
Come on, nwa! Don’t make me cry out loud for having to wait here; you say something like I’ve just said right here!
OBAN
Only on one condition then –
CASANOVA [hesitant]
Any condition, I’m in.
OBAN
You let me love, MODERN!
The statement suddenly creates a terrible situation, and its unwarranted impact soon grips the bearers of it and out of nowhere, BOYO falls into ghastly laughter that has no recipe of happiness neither bears any sensibility at this moment as he sits down on the floor and
CASANOVA
Are you serious, OBAN?
OBAN [defiant]
Absolutely, I am serious, nwa!
CASANOVA [shakes his head in disbelief]
LIHANDA
At least another condition, nwa.
OBAN
But he agreed to any condition I say, nwa.
BOYO
It is now a battle of innocence and guilt, and it’s too bad!
OBAN
And I am not drifting away from the innocence.
LIHANDA
But—
CASANOVA
It is okay, nwa!
[He turns his attention towards OBAN]
CASANOVA
You win on this one, nwa!
OBAN [jubilant]
Yes! Yes! Yes!
[He does a frog jump, a scene that captures the web of laughter out of his friends, including defeated-like CASANOVA]
BOYO [serious]
I had better not ever show anyone of you my person of interest to avoid harsh conditions of acceptance over anything!
OBAN
You ought to take every chance that comes your way as a sign of victory!
CASANOVA
I am not letting you win over again next time, nwa. I will be cautious with you from now onwards.
BOYO [joking]
Well, apart from CASANOVA, who else is not willing to bet with success again like this?
[A moment of laughter ensues]
OBAN
What happened to that betting-guru after such an escapade?
LIHANDA
He ran as fast as his feet could carry him, and we lost him in the multitude, nwa. He became invisible, indeed, in such a jiffy!
CASANOVA
So, you’ve never seen him again?
LIHANDA
Me, not at all. Maybe BOYO did see him again.
BOYO
Only once, and that was when I went to the cinema hall in Soraya Town with some friends of mine. He looked smart and ready for work somewhere in town, and I envied him. He waved at me, and I did so before he joined a street within the corner of a food market.
OBAN
As fate had seemed to bring us together, I only wish he was here with us, nwa!
LIHANDA
Me too, nwa.
BOYO [comedic]
Perhaps he would have been the one conditioning you to be the one in love with MODERN!
[And the clique falls into laughter as the bell ring]
CASANOVA
I guess it is time for us to depart, nwa.
BOYO [leading the exit already]
I had better see the meals and refreshments MASTER. First, before you do, nwa.
CASANOVA [amid laughter and exits]
You want to take everything away from me, nwa?
BOYO [at the door like an usher]
Only if you are no longer interested in betting with success.
CASANOVA
OBAN’s luck cannot make me quit, just like that.
OBAN [passes BOYO at the exit now]
BOYO should show us his P-O-I, nwa!
LIHANDA
He is already out and betting with success.
BOYO
Not really, nwa.
LIHANDA
Then expose her!
BOYO [closing the door]
Only if you do first, nwa!
SCENE 7
[DAYS LATER THE ENTRANCE OF THE PRACTICE ROOM]
[The hour of the day is almost approaching sunset]
The members of the school choir are lining up outside the practice room and are wearing their respective club uniforms ranging from green to blue and purple. They are chattering away due to excitement of being away from attending classes, and amongst them are CASANOVA and OBAN in the company of their friends who cheered them to come over and join the school choir, BOYO, and LIHANDA. At this moment, Mr. BONOLO is seen approaching from one end of the practice room and some of the students curse at his presence as
LIHANDA [determined]
If he dares to speak up, I’m answering him.
CASANOVA
Of course, he will seek attention from me and OBAN, the dark horses here.
BOYO
We are all dark horses, nwa!
[But to their amusement, Mr. BONOLO just passes by and continues to the path leading to the main buildings of the school without looking at anyone while pretending to be reading something in a small notebook held in his hands]
OBAN
He is a good pretender!
LIHANDA [laughing with other students]
I hope he is the only one good at it.
[More laughter from the nearby students]
BOYO [impatient]
Someone should knock and let those who are already inside, know that we’re outside!
[A fellow student as well as choir member who is almost nearer to the closed entrance adheres and decides to knock politely on the door. She even opens it and peeps inside then]
STUDENT [turning back to the rest]
I think we’ve been wasting time outside!
[She leads the entourage of choir members who cannot cease talking and expressing their excitement at entering the practice room]
SCENE 8
[INSIDE THE PRACTICE ROOM]
[The room is already under effective occupation for rehearsals]
The lights are falling freely on the stage set up and the school choir members who are beautifully graced in them, thereby exposing their mixed character, appearance, demeanor, etiquette, and varying hairstyles, especially among the female students.
As the students take up their positions in a tone of voices and laughing, standing in front of them is a small man who is wearing a pair of casual blue jeans and an adorable casual white shirt with the words ‘SCARLET SONG.’ He has a multitude of dark hair over his oval-shaped head and a scanty beard that is seemingly unkempt. He is reading some notes on a paper as some senior students in the choir assemble everyone, and once he feels he is ready for the show, he claps his finger three times loudly so that there is a total organization at once and silence as well in the room. He is the CHOIR GUIDE by the reflection thrown upon his commandant-like clapping while looking through his pair of eyeglasses.
CHOIR GUIDE
Before we commence today’s practice, I have two specials to deliver to your colorful minds. But first of all, I would like to welcome you back from the long holidays!
[A few murmurs of appreciation rise through]
CHOIR GUIDE [radiant]
I hope you had a good time all of you and that we are all ready to pick up from where we stopped before the closure of the last academic year.
[A few murmurs of agreement and cheering]
CHOIR GUIDE [motioning]
Can I see those who don’t know me raising up their arms?
[Almost all the choir members raise their arms up while laughing]
CHOIR GUIDE
I will take that as an affirmation that you all know me!
[A seemingly huge reply with the word ‘No’ applauds through dramatically and the CHOIR GUIDE gets elevated into laughter]
CHOIR GUIDE
Well, I know you know who I am and—
Female student [interrupts]
Is there anyone who doesn’t know our trainer’s name?
STUDENTS [united]
> No, SOPRANO!
SOPRANO
Then let’s say out the name! The name of our CHOIR GUIDE is—
STUDENTS [chorus]
Mr. BHAVANA, the people’s choice, our choice!
[And this is followed by frenzy and frantic noise plus a major handclap that seldom softens simultaneously upon the request of the CHOIR GUIDE]
Mr. BHAVANA [thrilled]
Now I can truly say that we are ready to pick up from where we stopped last academic year, my people!
[A few murmurs of concurring and perception]
Mr. BHAVANA
So that was the first special I wanted to deliver, and I appreciate the fact that you have been able to receive it with a lot of discipline and understanding.
[A few handclaps]
Mr. BHAVANA
The second special I wanted to deliver as well as bringing to your ears and eyes is cordially welcoming our new members who have just joined this term and today!
[A few moments of applause arise]
Mr. BHAVANA
I don’t know them, but someone does.
SOPRANO [jolly-like]
Who could it be, Sir?
Mr. BHAVANA
It is none other than LIHANDA!
[And as a simultaneous handclap and excitement arises from within the choir members]
Mr. BHAVANA [summoning LIHANDA]
May you please come in front and introduce to us your colleagues!
LIHANDA steps forward and receives a warm handclap from his colleagues, including the CHOIR GUIDE who takes up his position in the back row and once LIHANDA positions himself right where we can see him from the front and the back
LIHANDA
Thank you all for that welcome. Well, this place smells so well, looks so clean, appears so much arranged and amiable to us all because of the two people I am tasked to introduce to all of you here this day.
[A little handclap with few murmurs]
LIHANDA
I can see some of you are already speculating who are these two new entrants but let me save you from the burden by introducing to you all, our CHOIR GUIDE and to myself as well—
The two handsomest friends I’ve ever needed, CASANOVA and OBAN!
No sooner do the names mentioned echo into the ears of the listeners than the whole practice room gets filled with a sweet cadence of welcome from the choir members coupled with a lot of excitement and affection as the two stand before the choir.
CHOIR [Chant]
CASANOVA and OBAN!
There is whistling from the corners at the back too. And from nowhere, the entourage is stirred up with a request.
SOPRANO
We need to welcome our brothers in style like we did to the rest! Come on, everybody!
SOPRANO applauds, and there is a positive reception from the choir members as we get to hear the sound of Letta Mbulu known as ‘Everybody Sing Along.’ It plays through from the music cassette and gets projected through the newly fixed loudspeakers, thereby creating a strong impact of getting jiggy on the floor. BOYO does not hesitate to join his colleagues LIHANDA, OBAN, and CASANOVA, who are already ushering in a new dance style that involves stepping left and right for a few steps and on and on. The dance moves are easy to follow through, courtesy of CASANOVA and his team. Those who know the lyrics of the song sing along like the command from the music playing itself, and the voices are meticulous.
[The moment is so exhilarating that it captures the attention of the students]
SCENE 9
[CLASSROOM]
[It is a hot afternoon, and the class is already filled to capacity for a general class]
Students are making a lot of noise from all the four corners of the room, including laughing and gossiping about anything as they wait for the teacher to come in. Some of the students can be seen converged nearby the windows of the classroom to enjoy the view and perhaps alert their fellow colleagues about the appearance of the tutor. There are one or two students getting in and out of the classroom.
OBAN, CASANOVA, and BOYO are sharing the same desk with books opened in front of them whilst LIHANDA is in the company of one male and female student on a desk opposite, and the two groups are engaged in conversation.
CASANOVA
I am quite certain those senior students know every escape route out of the school and how to return without being noticed by the night watchmen.
BOYO
You must be sure about that, nwa.
CASANOVA
I have friends who confide in me. And they tell me everything I ask. So, the deal is on tonight!
OBAN
Which deal, nwa, fill me in?
CASANOVA
Will you be able to be part of it?
OBAN
As long as it doesn’t get us into trouble, I am in!
CASANOVA
This one already does. So, you cannot be part of it.
OBAN [resolved]
Then fill me in!
[CASANOVA and BOYO share laughter]
OBAN
What is the matter with you? I am serious to be filled in!
CASANOVA
On condition, nwa.
OBAN [laughing]
What is that condition?
CASANOVA
On condition that you agree to the condition too!
OBAN
If it is not involving MODERN, I will agree to the condition.
BOYO
Oh, so you’re already into her?
OBAN
Trying, nwa.
BOYO
Then you should be able to do anything for her sake, nwa.
CASANOVA
Absolutely!
OBAN
You are conniving against me both of you. I should involve Lin on my side too.
BOYO [intercepting him]
No-no, please. Just listen.
OBAN [fascinated]
I am listening. And what is the deal?
Before any attempt to reply is made by either BOYO or CASANOVA, Teacher BILES enters the class without being noticed by most of the students, and the classroom slowly fades into silence as students settle in their respective positions, trying to avoid being seen. Those who have been in groups with their colleagues disband to go to their desks.
Teacher BILES is a man of tough expressions by the look on his face and skin color, which is dark as he walks towards the classroom window and positions himself there while pretending to mind his own business. He can now see every student and what they are doing, for he has looked at them as they look back at him. He is holding a small textbook, red in color like blood, which he decides to place on the window bars and waits until the silence in the room is almost like that of symmetry. This is what makes him proud by the look on his face that extends caution waves to his subjects.
Teacher BILES [observing]
Good afternoon class!
STUDENTS [chorus]
Good afternoon Teacher BILES!
Teacher BILES
Fine art is the topic today, and I am going to require each one of you to sketch anything on paper that you like most.
[A female student raises her arm, thereby getting attention]
Teacher BILES
Yes, what is it?
FEMALE STUDENT [up on her feet]
Even our boyfriends, Sir?
[The whole class is plunged into laughter]
Teacher BILES [serious]
Enough! Enough!
[And the class settles to silence]
Teacher BILES [to the class]
Can I get to know your name, please?
Students [murmuring]
Lovely…!
Teacher BILES [serious]
Alright, Lovely. You are not yet eighteen years to think of such things like a boyfriend. And this applies to all ff you girls thinking like Lovely. The same applies to the boys too. You very well know that the scourge of the AIDS virus is rampant in this country, and our town and those surrounding us are the wo
rst hit! So, I am here to help you mature. Anything you like most than your education and you choose boyfriend and girlfriend issues, you are joking!
[And then we see another ardent female student raising her arm]
Teacher BILES
I hope you’re not joking too!
STUDENT [standing up]
I am not, Sir.
Teacher BILES
So, what is it you wish to ask or speak to us?
STUDENT
If we are to sketch anything of our choice like you’ve requested us—
Teacher BILES
Yes—
STUDENT
Am I free to sketch you, Teacher BILES?
As soon as the question is heard, the students in a flash fall into a mixed uproar of reactions, and the whole classroom is deepened into shouting and laughing as Teacher BILES is quietly left speechless, and he decides to walk away from the presence of the entire room. He receives a few sympathetic requests from the students who are not part of the ordeal that has just happened to keep behind, but the INSTRUCTOR is already at the door and exits the room.
Feeling that the noise is going to become wild, CASANOVA volunteers to get out of his comfortable seat and walks to the front row. He requests the students sitting on one of the desks in the front to give him space, which he receives as he decides to step on it and towers over the heads of his fellow classmates and begins to call for order and silence in the room. His plea falls on fertile ears, and soon he achieves the status of gaining every student’s attention in the room.
CASANOVA [attention-seeking]
Good afternoon to you all, once again.
STUDENTS [chorus]
Good afternoon, CASANOVA!
CASANOVA
Thanks for responding like that, and I appreciate it. Well, today, we’ve fallen short of being exemplary students as freshmen in this school. I thought it would stop with the morning classes, but here it is again, in the afternoon class, and it is a weird thing to deal with. We have angered our teacher, and he might make a bad report on our grades, which will affect our privileges as freshmen.
STUDENT [back bencher with a–bully-like voice stands]
So, what are you trying to say, freshman?
CASANOVA
We sketch anything of our choice, and then the class monitor will hand over our work on paper to the teacher at his office.
