by KM Cory
It is a sunny afternoon now, and the weather is just rational for any type of dress code.
The students who are at the pitch are dressed casually though some are wearing their school uniforms and carrying their heavy schoolbags. They are engaged with one another in groups of two’s or three’s and more to enjoy the on-going practice.
LIHANDA is among those doing the drill, and he is a creditable candidate for the game of basketball as his peers, OBAN and CASANOVA, are watching him play with the rest, including BOYO, who is also on the pitch. A male games MASTER can be seen wearing a tracksuit, and he is readily giving out instructions, and whoever doesn’t heed to them is sent to rest outside the court towards the stands and enjoy the session with those who are just good at spectating. Unfortunately, BOYO is one of them, and he is seen approaching the spot while cheering the rest of his team-mates to keep going where OBAN and CASANOVA are sitting, thereby joining them.
BOYO [to his colleagues]
You are still talking about the DH?
OBAN
Yes, nwa.
BOYO
He is an easy man to float over. He isn’t hard as I thought he would be.
OBAN
I trust you on floating over people, nwa, especially to your agreement and side of view.
CASANOVA
He really punctured my debate progress! By now I would be representing the school at the nationals!
OBAN [bullish]
You never know, you might be destined for something else, nwa.
CASANOVA [tender]
And what could that be?
OBAN
I cannot really tell, nwa.
[BOYO instantly shouts upon seeing LIHANDA having made a score for his side in the practice sessions and LIHANDA rejoices too with his teammates]
OBAN
LIHANDA is just good at playing basketball when given some space. He is multi-talented somehow.
BOYO
He once thought of being a truck driver.
OBAN [laughing]
Really?
BOYO
True. Then he desired to become a pilot after his dad telling him that being a truck driver isn’t prestigious in this academic country.
[OBAN and CASANOVA share a mild laughter]
CASANOVA
And does he still want to be a pilot?
[The trio laughs a little]
BOYO
I guess he doesn’t desire to be one. He is now so passionate about music, and I don’t know how all that happened.
OBAN
There is something magical about the practice room that gets you entangled. So, Lin must have been a victim just like you, nwa.
BOYO
To me, it wasn’t like that. I had been into music since kindergarten, nwa.
CASANOVA
Speaking of music, there is a karaoke night today, and I want us to experience it.
BOYO [fearful]
Really? So, you want to find trouble again, yet you’re very aware that we are under the keen eye of the DH?
CASANOVA
This is well planned, nwa!
BOYO
Like the escape to the dance party, right?
CASANOVA
I don’t want you to be idealistic, nwa! Besides, we are not going to mess up this time. Not a thing will go wrong like last time, nwa. We learn through mistakes.
BOYO
I don’t think I would love to be part of anything that would make me face the DH, nwa.
OBAN
But you’ve just told us he is easy to float over. And now you’re seeking to take back your admission, nwa?
BOYO
I am not meaning that way.
OBAN
Then what were you trying to mean?
BOYO
I mean to say that he is easy to float over when you are good at it.
CASANOVA
And you can help us on that! Besides, you very well know that it is every Johnson People’s dream to escape for karaoke nights or else you don’t cease being a coward of the college, nwa.
BOYO
I have heard about that phrase even before we got oriented.
CASANOVA
So why don’t you and us try it out?
[BOYO remains silent]
OBAN
Well, you still have time to think about it before the sun goes down.
BOYO
I cannot think over it because even if I do so, you’ll shove out my thoughts to your eagerness to go out for the karaoke. So, I cannot think.
[And the school bell RINGS]
CASANOVA [getting to his feet]
I will take that as a ‘Yes’ from you!
OBAN [as he follows CASANOVA]
See you later, nwa. And say hi to FASSIE!
BOYO
I won’t, nwa.
LIHANDA [joining in after practice]
What is it, nwa?
BOYO
Nothing, nwa. Let us get going for supper.
The court is now being bereft of any activity by the practitioners to go for an evening meal and do some revision as well.
GAME MASTER
I am requesting you to come back tomorrow as both the male and female students will be versing the amateur team of both boys and girls, which I will come along with from my home county.
An Eager STUDENT
What time will all that take place, Sir?
GAME MASTER
After the middle of the day, please
He readies himself to pack up all his belongings to leave the courtyard too.
GAME MASTER
I hope you shall be through with the morning classes as well as doing your respective roaster activities before coming here. I wouldn’t want to see you at the pitch for the game to kick-start and then at the same time be called by the respective teachers to first go and accomplish what you were meant to; it will just upset me for real.
STUDENT
We promise to be here when we are through with everything we are meant to do in our classes and clubs, Sir – a seemingly serious student answers on behalf of the rest who appreciate it.
[The students have acknowledged the scheduled event already]
SCENE 7
[SENIOR CLASSROOM]
[AT EARLY SUNDOWN - We are in a classroom of senior students. Some of them are busy reading, while others are talking and discussing anything]
CASANOVA steps inside the room, and no sooner does he do so than some of the senior students engage him to stop at the entrance. The student is standing next to the chalkboard with a textbook in one of his hands since he has been engaged in calculating some numerical problems and thereby gets acknowledgment
MALE SENIOR
Are you forgetting that this is a classroom for senior candidates and that you have to first introduce yourself as well as explaining why you’re here?
CASANOVA [Confident]
I am here to see BENJIE!
FEMALE SENIOR [getting CASANOVA’s attention]
Do you see him around?
CASANOVA
Absolutely not, but he told me to find him here!
FEMALE SENIOR [approaching CASANOVA]
Then you will only find him here when he is around
[Her insults receive short applause from the seniors]
FEMALE SENIOR
So, you cannot wait for him here too!
[CASANOVA shakes his head, sees it fit not to linger around anymore inside the bully-like atmosphere and decides to retreat but hardly does he reach at the entrance of the room when a voice pelts out]
Male Voice [BENJIE]
You are in the right place where you want to meet your friend, CASANOVA!
CASANOVA’s attention is captured, and so does his motion come to a halt, and he turns around to see who it is that has spoken to him.
The owner of the voice is none other than BENJIE as he stands up for recognition and visibility, and the students laugh loudly at CASANOVA, who had given up. He has b
een hiding among the desks at one extreme back of the large classroom, almost acting like he has been engaged in something illegal and requests the relieved CASANOVA to approach him where he is situated.
CASANOVA [upon reaching BENJIE]
You people can really tease!
BENJIE [sitting atop the desk]
That’s how seniority teaches us how to behave in this school, kid. You will feel it when you get here.
CASANOVA [after looking around]
So, what is the program like tonight?
[BENJIE asks him to sit closer to him, and when he does]
BENJIE
You are not escaping tonight, kid! You are going to use the main gate and exit with the day scholars. There you will find my pet, SMARTER. Do you know him?
CASANOVA
Your partner in crime, right?
BENJIE
Good. True.
CASANOVA
What about him?
BENJIE
You will find him in the company of other kids like you who are freshmen.
CASANOVA
And?
BENJIE
And that is it.
CASANOVA
Sounds like a big deal!
BENJIE
Karaoke nights are always a big deal. They expose you to the other side of the best nightlife in Lantana if you’re cautious of your lives. And you plus your other kids will find it awesome since you like dancing and singing.
CASANOVA [as a female student approaches]
You and SMARTER must have had it best back then when you were kids like us!
BENJIE [to the female student]
Yes, AMRA.
AMRA is quite stunning in her uniform, almost revealing every curve of her slender body from the waist down to the feet protected in nice black shoes and quite an unusual happening of a girl owing to her graceful movement as she opens up her mouth to speak.
AMRA [peering at CASANOVA]
Who could this young boy be? Friend of your friend’s friends or?
[Her voice is remarkable]
BENJIE [smiling]
He can express himself, beautiful!
CASANOVA [looking at AMRA]
I am CASANOVA.
AMRA [pleasantly]
Nice to meet you.
AMRA [to BENJIE]
I need to talk to you. Hope you don’t mind.
BENJIE [to CASANOVA]
Is there anything else, nwa?
[CASANOVA shakes his head in the negative while admiring AMRA who has just left]
BENJIE
Then I will see you later on.
CASANOVA
Good.
[He retreats and passes right next to AMRA before exiting the room]
ACT THREE
SCENE 1
[DOWNTOWN LANTANA]
[LATE SUNDOWN]
[The bustling activity of sounds and engagements are at their peak now in the heart of Lantana town]
There is a shop that is dealing in mechanics located at another parade of small businesses, and SMARTER is standing nearby while talking to the men dealing in the mechanical shop, and it looks like he is familiar with these men already. Because of his physique, it is hard to know that he is a student, for he is wearing like a street-hustler who needs some money to make ends meet. He is even smoking quietly, which he decides to quench out to the other side of the road. As he throws away the cigar, he notices his much-awaited-allies in a clique of eight approaching where he is, being led by the one and only CASANOVA and his usual colleagues. Upon coming into contact with SMARTER, who is now washing down the scent of the cigar with a bottle of water and swallowing a gum as well
BOYO
So, you are the mastermind of this game?
[SMARTER laughs lightly]
SMARTER
Looks like you are ready to me that small man again!
BOYO
He had better store some witnesses this time round.
CASANOVA
So, what are you two talking about? Do you mind filling us in?
SMARTER
Your ally knows better!
OBAN
I hope it doesn’t affect us in anyway, nwa.
BOYO
Not at all, nwa.
SMARTER
I see you are many tonight.
CASANOVA
I did the best mobilization, I guess.
SMARTER
I had a feeling about that.
He then fishes out some silvered cards from the backside of his trouser pockets and begins to distribute them out!
[SMARTER pulls out the tickets]
SMARTER
These are your entry tickets. You just need to present them to the guy at the entrance so that he can stamp on your palms, and then you enter the hood.
[There are a few murmurs of appreciation and then]
CASANOVA [to SMARTER]
You are coming with us, right?
SMARTER
Not at all. I cannot be allowed inside, nwa.
CASANOVA
Why?
SMARTER
It is a matter for those that know and not those who wish to know.
OBAN
We are now doomed!
SMARTER
Not at all. One of you will represent me tonight.
BOYO
I hope it is not me.
SMARTER [to the rest]
He has just spoken for himself, kids!
[A little laughter]
BOYO
You are giving me a hard task!
SMARTER [puzzled]
So, what are you going to do when you don’t have a ringleader? You are very well aware that you need someone to lead you back to school.
CASANOVA
Let me take up the task.
SMARTER
I should reward you, kid!
[He picks out his wallet and checks for some hard cash and then]
SMARTER [gifting CASANOVA]
This should be able to make you have some fun, kid!
[CASANOVA appreciates with a huge smile]
SMARTER [checking the watch on his arm]
You had better get going, kids. It is almost time for those tickets to expire.
[And as they get delighted to begin motioning away]
SMARTER [cautious]
Enjoy the night, but make sure you are out of there before midnight!
CASANOVA [confident]
Point noted.
SMARTER [waving them off]
Alright, let us meet tomorrow.
[And the meeting is dissolved]
SCENE 2
[INSIDE THE VESPAR NIGHT CLUB]
[It is a night house that invites both the privileged and the under privileged]
The space inside is a bit crowded with party life people trying to dance to the song of Guyanese-British singer Eddy Grant, ‘I Don’t Wanna Dance’ amid the few bright lights that keep on crisscrossing the dance floor, which is made of hardened cement and over the heads and glasses of liquor as well as clothes worn by the people inside from the counter to the back and forth of the night house.
Our group of freshmen from college has arrived while in unison inside, and CASANOVA is seen directing them to scatter out into different directions after giving some little hard cash to his fellow freshmen to which the request falls on attentive ears.
Just then, a chocolate skinned man with a slender height is seen taking center stage with a huge afro hairstyle over his small head, having no beards at all and looking ready to lead the night house into his sense of direction. He decides to wear some dark glasses over his eyes that are now glittering in the bright light focusing on him right now from the audience after facing it with a sumptuous smile that exposes his teeth looking so white as snow on the Kilimanjaro. He is wearing classical tropical hand-woven clothes from top to bottom with nice boots. And then he gets hold of the Sony ‘Superscope’ brand microphone raised on a three-legged stand and turns it on. We now hear him speakin
g
GENTLEMAN
Thank you, our favorite DJ, for that wonderful classic song to dance, and I am sorry for interrupting.
[A few murmurs of understanding]
GENTLEMAN
Since it is karaoke night and knowing that it is my duty to speak who I am, I hereby let our new visitors know me, if any, that I am familiar as—
[Those who know him cheerfully interrupt by sounding out in a fun-filled chorus with voices mixed into intoxication and sober-mindedness]
SMALL CROWD
You are MC DADDY FLASH!
Mc DADDY FLASH [brisk tone]
Oh yeah, ladies and gentlemen.
[And there follows a vivid handclap with whispers tagged along, especially from the ladies and girls who are inside the building already]
Mc DADDY FLASH [beaming]
I am hoping tonight we have the best of each other, ladies and gentlemen.
[A big cheer of recognition and gratification]
Mc DADDY FLASH
I will take that as a sign of readiness. Well, I have been sent to tell you about tonight’s karaoke theme, and it is known as ‘JUST SING IT,’ ladies and gentlemen!
[There arises a beholden moment of appreciation]
Mc DADDY FLASH
I think we can get into this right now!
[The audience clap and cheer]
[The MC pulls out a small piece of paper from his afro hairstyle, which he looks at.]
Mc DADDY FLASH
Tonight, we have three groups of ladies who are going to mime and one group of fresh kids!
[A little nod of eagerness from the audience comes through]
Mc DADDY FLASH [reading from the paper]
And the first group to perform tonight is—
[He stares at the audience]
Mc DADDY FLASH
Make some noise for the KARAOKE GIRLS!
[And the audience doesn’t hesitate to do so]
[We see three beautiful girls appearing on the small stage]
They are of the same height, size, and skin complexion and, if possible, the same age. They are having large hairdos, and one of them has a puffed hairstyle. Their dresses comprise of short tight spandex mini-skirts, and over their faces, they all have small faux-gold earrings accompanied with pearl necklaces. The trio is wearing bright make-up, and their lips are lightly colored with dark and thick eyelashes.
[One of them who is standing in the middle gets hold of the microphone]
GIRL [rave-like tone]
