Act# 10 “How to Rebrand Village Pow Pow?”

Listen to this play on the radio! 

Cast
Mayor Moi Moi
Prof. Pepe
Brainy
Brilliant

MAYOR MOI MOI: Prof. Pepe our village has very bad image outside the village.  Let’s do something to create good image of Pow Pow.

PROF. PEPE: Yes, I know.  Mayor Moi Moi, Let’s rebrand our village Pow Pow. A few bad villagers had painted black the image of Pow Pow by committing 419 for years.  Don’t worry I will do that. I will let the Ministry of Agriculture to cultivate the land and make a lot of yam, cassava and ground nuts. People in the outside village will see how we are very productive.  I will also ask the Ministry of Fishery to make a big fish pond so that we make a lot of fish.  Finally, I will tell the Ministry of Music & Dance to create a song and dance for Pow Pow, the good people, good village.

MAYOR MOI MOI: That is a good idea!  Please do so that we make good images of Pow Pow!  You are doing great job, Prof. Pepe.   This will reduce people disliking Pow Pow village from outside the village.

(Sound of walking)

BRAINY: Mayor Moi Moi, I have graduate degree on Biology but I cannot find any jobs—in fact, looking for jobs for years after graduation.

Mayer Moi Moi: Sorry Brainy.  We spent so much money for making our village look good.

BRILLIANT: Mayor Moi Moi, I had the highest scores on Psychology but the schools are not hiring me.

MAYOR MOI MOI: Oh dear you too, Brilliant?

BRILLIANT: Brainy, let’s get out of this village. There is no opportunity here.

BRAINY: Yah, we have nothing to do here.

MAYOR MOI MOI: OK Go wherever!

(After three months)

PROF. PEPE: Mayor Moi Moi, look at this newspaper!

MAYOR MOI MOI: Brainy and Brilliant were caught in the Village CHAITEE! They have track records in the Village GREENTEE and ENGLISHTEE! They committed 419 in all these villages!  The article is about their 419!

PROF. PEPE: We did all we could to make our village look good, but it is no good that our children continue committing crimes outside!   Maybe we should paint gold on our Federal Secretariat. It may help our village to look better from outside. Or let’s make a huge monument made of precious stone in the court yard.

MAYOR MOI MOI:  Here are the kids just brought back from the Village CHAITEE.

BRAINY: Hello (ashamed)

BRILLIANT: Hi…(depressed)

PROF. PEPE: You are the shame of our village, Brainy and Brilliant!  Don’t you know we are working very hard to bring our image better?

BRAINY: In the village Chaitee, We had nothing to eat…

BRILLIANT: No one wanted to hire us in Englishtee and Greentee village…

PROF. PEPE: Well, you two went on your own.  These children should be in the prison, right?  Mayor Moi Moi?

MAYOR MOI MOI:….Wait Prof. Pepe.

PROF. PEPE: Mayor Moi Moi!?

MAYOR MOI MOI: No, no, no,…we need to think about how to keep those kids from running away from our village.  Prof. Pepe, we really need to build good village for them to live happily.  It is far better than spending so much on outside looks of the village Pow Pow.  Don’t you think so, Prof. Pepe?

Act#9 ”Business Grow-down Program”

Listen to this play on the radio! 

(In the Office)

GREED: Sorry for keeping you wait, you have a program to show us?

MR SUFFER: Oh yes, let me show you. In these photos, you can see the oil expeller machine I bought from India.

GREED: Wow, it is big. It must be very expensive.

SUFFER: Sure it is 5000 dollars with shipping.

GREED: It has three parts, and can be assembled?

SUFFER: Yes, it is also durable under heavy rain and wind.

GREED: You are applying the Commercial Agriculture Grow-down Fund, correct?

SUFFER: Yes, sir.

GREED: This sure looks good. In fact, it is the best among all others. I can promise you now, the fund will be granted to your company.

SUFFER: Thank you Mr. Greed.

GREED: So…how much are you going to give?

SUFFER: Give what?

GREED:   You know what I am talking about…

SUFFER: No, I don’t

GREED:   (Whisper something)

SUFFER: What….! Bribes! God forbid!  How much do you want?

GREED:   Only 20% will do,…

(1 Month later)

SUFFER: Excuse me,… MR. Greed you said that the fund will be ready this month.

GREED: I am sorry the money is not ready. Next month, I promise it will be ready.

(Next month)

SUFFER: Excuse me,… MR. Greed you said that the fund will be ready this month.

GREED: I am sorry the money is not ready. Next month, I promise it will be ready.

(Next month)

SUFFER: Excuse me,… MR. Greed you said that the fund will be ready this month.

GREED: I am sorry the money is not ready. Next month, I promise it will be ready.

(Next month)

SUFFER: Excuse me,… MR. Greed you said that the fund will be ready this month.

GREED: Mr. Suffer, I understand that you have been waiting for the Fund but Honorable Horrible does not want this loan to be released very quickly.

SUFFER: Why?

MR.GREED: Mr. Suffer, this is between you and I because you are my friend. The money you are waiting for is kept in the bank for purpose.  Everyone knows this but keep quiet. The more they extended the waiting period on the loan, the more money they’d rake interest in to line his pockets.

SUFFER: Mr. Greed, what none sense is this? Once the money is released, we hire people and produce with this machine at least 1 million naira a month!

MR.GREED: My friend, they care more about their small money in their pocket than business development to create employment in the country. The government is against economic development.

SUFFER: So you people are offering the Business Grow-Down program just to save petty naira in their pocket?

GREED: Positively, yes.

SUFFER: How many people can wait this long after you said you will grant the fund.

GREED: Not many, and in that case, we return the fund to the Federal Government.

SUFFER: Will you look at the outside through the window. Do you see these youth having nothing to do and wondering around?

GREED: Yes,

SUFFER: They need jobs. All they do is to take marijuana and commit crimes. If our project really starts, I can hire them all.

GREED: Hummm.

SUFFER: Mr. Greed, please give them something to do. They are our future.

GREED: I know that…

SUFFER: What if you are getting old and weak, who will take care of you?

GREED: …

SUFFER: Mr. Greed, let us make good future for youth in Nigeria. Let us not chase them out to do wrongs in any way. We don’t want them commit crime and we don’t want them to leave the country.

ACT#8 “What is so Bad about Climate Change?”

Listen to this play on the radio! 

CAST

Traveler1
Traveler2

(Sound of walking and sudden rain)

TRAVELER1: “Holly caw!  Rain again!  Let’s go there under the tree!”

TRAVELER2: “Isn’t it so strange we get so much rain in this season?”

TRAVELER1: “Yah, this is what they call climate change.  Things normally do not happen, like draught, heavy rain and storm, early blossom, and earthquake happen.

TRAVELER2: “I am not so sure what is so bad about it.”

TRAVELER1: “Do you know what is called Ozon Layers?”

TRAVELER2: “Isn’t that some layers of air covering the earth?”

TRAVELER1:: “Yah, it is supposed to be covering the earth for protection.”

TRAVELER2:: “What kind of protection?”

TRAVELER1:: “From too much harmful UV radiation from the sun.”

TRAVELER2:  ”OK, that is the one brokeng up these days.”

TRAVELER1:: “It has been broken up for decades now to the serious extent.”

TRAVELER2:“In what way?

TRAVELER1:”Breaking up of the layer is causing much of the over-heating on the earth.”

TRAVELER2: ”That is what they call Global Warming!  But can we die from it?”

TRAVELER1: ”Yes, you can die from it. In fact, there have been serious damages and death around the globe.  The problem is you cannot predict what and how will happen.  You hear the story on land slide, earthquake, increase of sea levels, sudden spread of disease because of the heat.”

TRAVELER2: “Have they not been there all the time?”

TRAVELER1: “They were but at the predictable level.  Now you cannot predict how it is going to damage the community earth.  Vulnerable ones are the ones getting the worst hits.”

TRAVELER2: “So how can we prevent it?”

TRAVELER1:”We just need to slow down the depletion of the ozon layer. To do that you need to reduce the amount of waste, environmental pollution, and cutting of woods.   You want to reduce driving cars, use of electric appliance,  coal and plastic, using light bulb or even flashing toilet too. “

TRAVELER2: “Why?”

TRAVELER1: “Because it is part of producing carbon dioxide.”

TRAVELER2: “I don’t think it is possible to live without them.”

TRAVELER1: “That is the thing.  We are heading for destruction.  The best way to live is to live like cave men.”

TRAVELER2:”Hunting and fishing? “

TRAVELER1: “And farming—without using chemicals.  Looks like the sun is coming…”

TRAVELER2:”Humm, now I get the picture.  Human beings have caused much harm to themselves by inventing technologies.  All those inventions are creating destruction, like cars, train, electric goods and ships, etc.”

TRAVELER1: “It’s time to look at ourselves and live the way we are suited naturally—after all, technologies are used to advance ourselves for selfish gain without much of the thoughts for balancing the earth.”

(Stopping the rain and the sound of birds singing)

ACT#7 “Clean up begins from your kitchen!”

Listen to this play on the radio!

CAST
Hamburger
Coke bottle
Plastic Container
Fried Chicken

(Sound of Rain)

HUMBURGER: “You are pushing me too much!  Step back, step back!”

COKE BOTTLE: “Sorry, I know I can be hard…Who are you?”

HAMBURGER: “I am a left over hamburger, the kid who bought me at a first food restaurant did not finish me and threw me into this plastic bag.  Who are you?”

COKE BOTTLE: “I am the coke bottle, the same kid was drinking.  You start to smell real bad, hamburger…”

HAMBURGER: “Sure, I am.  I am trying to die but cannot die in this plastic bag..”

COKE BOTTLE: “Why can’t you die?”

HAMBURGER: “I am a half-dead but because I am not in the soil, I cannot be decomposed.”

COKE BOTTLE: “What is decomposed?”

HAMBURGER: “To go back to the soil, or ground.  If I am outside and beaten in this rain, I should be able to go back soil easy.  And I can feed  plants and trees, but inside this plastic…”

COKE BOTTLE: ”Why don’t I go back to the ground?”

PLASTIC CONTAINER: “You are made of chemical.  So am I.”

HAMBURGER: “Who are you?

PLASTIC CONTAINER:”I am the plastic box that you were inside when the boy bought you.”

COKE BOTTLE: ”I am made of chemicals?  I cannot die?”

PLASTIC CONTAINER: ”Nope.  We stay like this forever.  We are what they call, environmental pollution because we cannot decomposed.  We are just unwanted forever.”

HAMBURGER: “No wonder the community earth is getting dirtier and dirtier.  There are so much unwanted materials that cannot go back to earth.”

PLASTIC CONTAINER: “Well, we will just increase in number because human beings like to make us.  But in your case, you cannot go back to the earth well since you are inside plastic bag.”

HAMBURGER:”I know I can just create bad smell.  I wish I was outside so that I can be the soil again and nurture the trees and plants.  Because I am inside I stay a half-dead…”

PLASTIC CONTAINER: “Yah, if human beings have sense to separate bottles, plastic, and leftover food, that will help.”

COKE BOTTLE: “They won’t understand, they will like to increase the waste…”

HAMBURGER:  “What will happen if the waste continues to increase?”

PLASTIC CONTAINER: “No good..this is the reason why the climate change happen. If they can separate bottles, plastic and leftover food…it will slow down.”

HAMBURGER:  “Yah, and return the food to the ground, you know, people in the old age used to dig pit and throw unwanted food in there.  Oh looks like a new residents arrived here..”

FRIED CHICKEN:  “Hi, I am a leftover chicken…how do I get back to the ground?”

Act#6 Witch-craft: The Blame Game?

Listen to this play on the radio!

CAST:

DAD
MOM
JOHN
JAMES
NATIVE DOCTOR
NARRATOR
CLEAN-UP PERSON

DAD: I am home.

MOM: Welcome, did you catch any fish?

DAD: No.

JAMES: Daddy, I am hungry.

MOM: What are we eating today?  We have eaten all the plantain.

DAD: What about yam you were making in the backyard?

MOM: None of them are good.

DAD: What?  You had all the 50 yard not producing any yam?

MOM: I don’t know.  I did all I could.

DAD: You must have been lazy, you dirty rat.

MOM: How could you call me like that!

DAD: Look at, we have nothing to eat tonight!

MOM: You didn’t bring any fish!  What were you doing at the lake?

DAD: I don’ know what is happening.  The river was all darkish.

DAD: Fish are no more swimming there.  I am working day and night looking for food, but you!  Look at you!   You haven’t made anything to eat from the farm.

MOM: The land is no good.  Lately, the vegetable or yam are not produced well.

JOHN:I am home.

DAD: John is back!

MOM: John!  How was your new job!

JOHN: I don’t know.  I am exhausted…

(He fall down on the chair)

MOM: What happened?  John?  John?  You look all burned up!

DAD: He doesn’t look good…he looks terrible.  Let us call the doctor.

MOM: Oh, no.  I told him not to work near the oil well…

JAMES: Mom, he is working for the Shell.  He has to go to the oil well.

DAD : No, Mummy, we cannot afford doctors.  We should call a preacher near by.

(Sometime later)

PREACHER: He is very sick.

DAD : Preacher, what do we need to do?

JAMES: Daddy, he is not breathing.

MOM: Oh No! (Cries out)

PREACHER: I knew that he will not last long…

DAD : Why?  Why did you know he would not last?

PREACHER: Because there is a witch in this house.

DAD : Who!

MOM:  Noooo!

PREACHER: You should be very careful of..

MOM: Who is causing all this problems in this house!!!???

DAD : We cannot catch fish, no yam from the yard, sickness of our son…

PREACHER: It is your youngest son, James.

DAD : James!

MOM: How could you do all this horrible thing!

(Sound of slapping the son)

(Sound of child’s cry)

PREACHER: I will pray for the child.  This will be 50,000 naira.

DAD : Oh No!

MOM: If you can get the witch out of James, please do! We will pay the amount no matter whatever it takes!

PREACHER: OK let me take your son.  I will beat the Devil out of him.

(Sound of child’s cry)

(Narrator’s voice)

The poor people in the Niger Delta do not know any better.  Their farm, river are producing no food, there is no heath care facilities and besides they are not educated.  With all the predicament they cannot do better than having wrong doctors and preachers to blame the helpless and vulnerable. But who is to really blame?  Is this the child fault? Or….

(Knock on the door)

Clean-up Person: Hello, hello, anyone at home?  Our community, earth is getting very dirty.  Especially, this Niger Delta, petroleum pollution is causing to kill fish, damage agriculture produce and creating bad health.  Women and children are the worst victims.  As a resident on earth, cleaning up the earth is required for all the residents!

Act#5 “How to Help the Sick Child, Niger Delta?”

 

Listen to this play on the radio!

Cast:

Madam Liberty–a woman with American accent

Mr. Royal–a man with British accent

Mr. Green White–a man with Nigerian accent

Miss Fuji–a woman with Japanese accent

Accountant–a man

(Sound of office environment)

Mr. Green White: Madam Liberty, PLEASE help us.  I have many poor children especially this child, his name is Niger Delta.  This one is sick for very long, look at him, he is lean, hungry and got under the influence of worst type of pollution.

Madam Liberty: Mr. Green White, I thought that you are making money from the oil well that you discovered years ago?

Mr. Green White: (Laughing) Madam. Liberty., my friend, I am very sorry.  But the oil well was under the attack of military groups far too long.  We are trying to manage.  Terrorists have disturbed our operation.

Madam Liberty: Mr. Green White, my brother in Africa.  I am sorry to hear all these problems.  Since you are the biggest seller of oil to us, here, take this 600 million dollars.

Mr. Green White: Thank you, thank you Madam Liberty.

Madam Liberty: Mr. Green White, I give you credit for at least trying to work things out.

Mr. Green White: Thank you, Madam.

Mr. Royal : Hello, (With British accent) I am Mr. Royal, I will certainly donate this 260 million euro to you, Mr. Green White.  But I would love to do it in proper way.  I will send it by registered mail delivery to the British Council office in Nigeria by tomorrow 11 AM.  That is all I can do for now. What are you giving to Mr. Green White, my sister, Miss Fuji?

Miss Fuji: Mmmm.   I gave Mr.Green White 1 billion yen last year and asked him to give it to the poor child, Niger Delta.  But Mr. Green White, instead of giving it to his poor child, he took it to himself and bought Rolls Royce, Big houses, and gave a big wedding anniversary for his sister.

Mr. Royal.: What?  How did you find out?

Miss. Fuji: I checked his accounting books.  The auditing was not done properly.  The corrupt auditor certified corruption.

Madam Liberty: Let me see the accounting book.  Mr. Green White, what is this calculation? Are you making fun of your donors?

Mr. Green White: Oops!   I am very, very sorry!

Miss. Fuji: This is what I mean, he had this right here, one office chair, 500,000 dollars.  This is way too much.

Mr. Royal: This is totally improper!

Mr. Green White: Oops!

Madam Liberty: Mr. Green White, so now you got just two office chairs for 1 million dollars.  This is the money for building 3 big houses in the U.S.  It’s not a joking matter.  I am not happy.  We may need to cut down the fund for the poor children.

(Sound of Restaurant)

Mr. Green White:  How could you do this stupid calculation?  Anyone can see that two chairs cannot possibly 1 million dollars!  I am terribly embarrassed!

Accountant: Sir, I am sorry.  I will do better job next time.

Mr. Green White:  At least make it look like it is accurate.

Accountant:  How much are you giving me to make it look like accurate?

(Monologue spoken by Miss Fuji with echo sound)

After all we found one way or another, something wrong with Mr. Green White’s  accounting book.  We could see visibly his child, Niger Delta is becoming lean and lean daily.

We are in dilemma, we cannot give much money to Mr. Green White, but we cannot let Niger Delta die because the child Niger Delta holds key to calming down the climate change…

~The End~

Act#4 ‘Why Is It Tough to Clean Up Niger Delta?’

Listen to this play on the radio!

Casts:

CLEANING PERSON
POLICE OFFICER
HONORABLE ABACHANJO
LOCAL LADY
LOCAL MAN

‘Why Is It Tough to Clean Up The Niger Delta?’

(Sound of walking)

CLEANING PERSON: The earth is getting dirtier and dirtier. And along with that, it’s getting warmer and warmer everyday!  The climate is changing everywhere!  What can I do? H-m-m-m-m-m.  Ok, I know what I should do!   I am going to start by cleaning up the dirtiest mess.  They say the Niger Delta is dirtiest.  Let me start cleaning up there…  (Pause) Wow, it is really dirty.  The river looks like blackish oil and the air is filled with dark smoke…

POLICE OFFICER: Hey, you!  Stop! Stop right there!  I’m talking to you!

CLEANING PERSON: You mean, me?

POLICE OFFICER: Yes! You.  What do you think you’re doing here?  Don’t you know that this area is reserved for the Local Government?

CLEANING PERSON: But I’m not causing harm. I’m cleaning up the dirtiest mess on earth…

POLICE OFFICER: You need permission from us.  Come to the police station!

CLEANING PERSON: Why do I need permission?  We can all get sick from pollution. You can get sick from the pollution.

POLICE OFFICER: It doesn’t matter.  You need to get permission from the state government.  Don’t you know that you’re required to pay fees?

(Sound of walking on gravel)

HONORABLE ABACHANJO: What’s happening here?

POLICE OFFICER: Huh?  Honorable Abachanjo!   This man is trying to clean up the area without permission.  I don’t know where he comes from…

HONORABLE ABACHANJO: Where are you from? China?  U.S.?

CLEANING PERSON: I’m a resident on earth just like you.  I am worried about the filthy mess here, and you should be worried, too. This is the dirtiest place in Africa and its causing climate change and green house effects, and breaking up the ozone layers.

HONORABLE ABACHANJO: How much are you going to pay me?  If you give me 50,000 naira I will let you clean it up right away.

CLEANING PERSON: Honorable Abachanjo, I do not have any money.  Why do I need to pay?

HONORABLE ABACHANJO: Without money you cannot do anything in this country—even cleaning up.

(Sound of running)

LOCAL LADY: Honorable!  Honorable! My son jumped into the dirty water, and he is very sick!  Please help us!

HONORABLE ABACHANJO: Police!  Come and help her!

POLICE OFFICER: Yes, Your Honorable Abachanjo!

LOCAL LADY: Please help my son quickly! The dirty water has poisoned him!

POLICE OFFICER: How much are you giving me?  We need gas money.

LOCAL LADY: I have no money.

HONORABLE ABACHANJO: Here, Madam, take this money.  You see, we must charge for every operation, even cleaning up.

CLEANING PERSON: I am cleaning up the area to help your people.  Why are you taking money from me?  You should pay me because I am giving service.  This cleaning tool is very expensive.  I got it from Japan.

HONORABLE ABACHANJO: From Japan?  Then you must have a lot of money.

CLEANING PERSON: No, someone with a good heart gave it to me.

HONORABLE ABACHANJO: You can stay there all day but you cannot clean the area without paying the money!

(Someone is running and shouting)

LOCAL MAN: Help! Help!  There was explosion at the oil well.  Please come and help!  Some children were playing there and have been seriously injured.

HONORABLE ABACHANJO: What!?

LOCAL MAN: One of your children looks like your son, Honorable Abachanjo.

HONORABLE ABACHANHO: No! Not my own son!

(Sound of ambulance)

CLEANING PERSON: So you see, anyone and everyone can be affected. We must all work together to clean up the Niger Delta for future generations, for our children.

– END

Act #3 Communal Work for the Residents on Earth

Listen to this play on the radio!

Roles

Clean up Woman on Communal Earth-  Sarah (unless someone else can join us)

Yoruba Woman – Victoria

Japanese Lady – Hideko

British Lady – Kabu

(knocking on a door)

CLEAN-UP WOMAN: Hello, hello, anyone at home?  (more knocking)Are you a resident on Earth?  Our community, earth is getting very dirty.  Cleaning up the earth is now required for all residents of the planet.

YORUBA WOMAN: Who are you?  Where are you from?  I am Yoruba! I am not Japanese! We Yoruba people do not require doing that.  I have nothing to do with it.

CLEAN-UP WOMAN: It doesn’t matter what tribe or nationality you are! Are you ready to do your share of communal activities?

YORUBA WOMAN:  “Yoruba tribe is very clean people.  I am also a Pentecostal.”

CLEAN-UP WOMAN: “Excuse me, but…this is not about religion…”

YORUBA WOMAN:“Madam, I tell you what, go to China or U.S. to tell them to reduce carbon dioxide.   I am busy.  I have work to do.”

(Slams the door)

JP WOMAN: “What happened here?”

CLEAN-UP WOMAN: Oh hello neighbor!  I am going around in the neighborhood on this community earth.  I am a CLEAN-UP WOMAN and am asking everyone on earth to join our communal activity.

JP WOMAN: What is that communal activity?

CLEAN-UP WOMAN: Cleaning up the earth, madam.

JP WOMAN: Oh sorry, I am a Japanese.  See the British lady over there…?  You should talk to her.”

CLEAN-UP WOMAN: No, no, I am looking for any residents on earth.  Will you do the communal activities together?  See, our community is getting very dirty.  We need to clean up the earth urgently or climate change will get to us!

JP WOMAN:  “I do community work with Japanese in my village like making sushi rolls.  Here is the British lady.  You work with her ok? Hello”

BRITISH WOMAN: What is it?

KENYAN WOMAN: “Please listen to her, she needs to do some community work.”

BRITISH WOMAN: Sorry dear, I am very busy and don’t have time for anything.

CLEAN-UP WOMAN: We have to hurry on cleaning up the earth together!  Or you will suffocate yourself with too much carbon dioxide.  (cough)”

(Everyone starts coughing violently and falls to the ground)

Act#2 The Exodus

Listen to the play on the radio!

Roles to play:
Moses
Ibeatyou Tribe Wife
Mr. Johnson
Mrs. Leina
Narrator

(telephone rings)
MOSES: Hi, my name is Moses.  I am your online business partner.

IBEATYOU TRIBE WIFE: I do not know you.  How do you say you are my business partner?

MOSES: Because we are going to be partner very soon.  You will not refuse what I am going to offer you.

IBEATYOU TRIBE WIFE: What are you offering?

MOSES: Would you like to be free from beating of your husband, who believes that you are witch, and stigmatizing you in the rest of the family?

IBEATYOU TRIBE WIFE: Humm.  Your offer is impossible my dear.  I was born into this Ibeatyou Tribe and I cannot be free from it.

MOSES: Actually you can.  In fact, you do not have to deal with all that non sense of serving abusive husband while no police ever come to rescue you when you cry out for help—only because you are woman.

IBEATYOU TRIBE WIFE: How could that be possible.  I do not get it.

MOSES What I mean is that you are going to start making your own money without depending upon your husband and one day you pack all belongings and take off for freedom. I will teach you step by step how to get out of all this misery in your life.

IBEATYOU TRIBE WIFE: Let me hear what you are offering.

(telephone rings)

MOSES: Hello, Mr. Johnson.  I am your online business partner.

MR. JOHNSON: I do not know you.  How do you say you are my business partner?

MOSES Because we are going to be partner very soon.  You will not refuse what I am going to offer you.

MR.JOHNSON: What are you offering?

MOSES Would you like to be free from unreliable work force?  I mean they have not paid you, have they?  The government office you worked for does not provide your needs but demand you to do too much work?

MR. JOHNSON: How did you know all that?

MOSES Well I know in this economy.  I will teach you step by step how to get out of all this misery in your life.

MR. JOHNSON: Let me hear what you are offering.

(telephone rings)

MOSES Hello, Mrs. Leina.  I am your online business partner.

MRS. LEINA: I do not know you.  How do you say you are my business partner?

MOSES Because we are going to be partner very soon.  You will not refuse what I am going to offer you.

MRS. LEINA: What are you offering?

MOSES Would you like to be free from your husband.  I mean he has not given you much attention, has he?  And then he says that he will get another wife?

MRS. LAINA: How did you know all that? Yes, he is polygamous.

MOSES: Well I know in this country. I will teach you step by step how to get out of all this misery in your life.

MRS. LEINA: Let me hear what you are offering.

NARRATOR: Moses, the man of God, today’s prophet, taking the leadership of oppressed in Nigeria started on-line business by a piece of mobile phone and Moses rescued them out of slavery to fate, where he encountered the God of Israel in the form of a “burning bush“. After some discussion with God, he came out and contacted this radio show, Global Eco Theater, and now here he is.

(Theme music begin)

EKO: …so we have a guest today. His name is Moses. Moses, will you tell us about yourself?

MOSES “(clearing his throat) Ladies and gentleman, my name is Moses, a prophet in Nigeira. I got a message from God the other day, and here is the deal. God want you to help the oppressed in Nigeria. Particularly, those live under the $1 a day. Please give them some business to do on mobile so that they can make money by using the mobile telephone. Oh, if you give money to government, the money gets lost before it reaches them. Many don’t have computer but only mobile phones. God says he will bless those who can do the needful. Thank you.”

~the end~

Act #1: What is this?

Listen to this play on the radio!

Roles:

Narrator/Director–Sarah Whitten

Nigerian Husband–Ibukun Onitiju

Japanese Wife/Script–Hideko Nagashima

American Waitress–Victoria Adellegan

Scene I: In Nigerian House

Nigerian Husband: What is this?

Japanese Wife: What is what?  This is just a stout beer bottle right?

Nigerian Husband: You buried this here—in this yard?

Japanese Wife: Oh, yes.  I didn’t know where to throw it so I dug the ground and buried.

Nigerian Husband: Why!?  Don’t you know this will bring bad luck?

Japanese Wife: Oh sorry.  I didn’t know.

Nigerian Husband: What is that?

Japanese Wife: My necklace.  I was cleaning the room and needed to hang it here.

Nigerian Husband: Why!?  Don’t you know this is taboo to hang the necklace at the door?

Japanese Wife:  Sorry…what is wrong with it?

Nigerian Husband: It means very bad…I forgive you since you are Japanese.

 Scene II: In Japanese House

Japanese Wife: What is this!?

Nigerian Husband: What?

Japanese Wife: Why are you sticking the chopsticks on the rice?

Nigerian Husband: I am just keeping them here…

Japanese Wife: Don’t you know it is taboo?  It is bad luck, stop, stop, stop!

Nigerian Husband: Oh…sorry..

Japanese Wife: We are traveling to U.S. next week.  You said you reserved hotel, what is the room number?

Nigerian Husband: No. 4

Japanese Wife: Did you reserve hotel room no. 4?

Nigerian Husband: Oh yah.  There are windows with wonderful views.

Japanese Wife: Don’t you know it is terrible bad luck!  Don’t reserve the room No.4 !  Change it right away!  It is non sense!

 Scene III: In restaurant in Grand Canyon, U.S.

Nigieran Husband:  Look at this Ground Canyon!  Wonderful!

Japanese Wife: It sure is.  Ah!

(Her hand mirror slides off her hands and is broken on the floor.)

American Waitress: Oops, bad luck!

Japanese Wife: Is it a bad luck?

American Waitress: Oh yes.

Japanese Wife: Is there any way to cancel out the bad luck? We have been doing too much bad luck lately.

American Waitress: Oh, yes.  Just keep this.  This will do.

Nigerian Husband: What is that?

American Waitress:  This is a rabbit foot.  We keep it on the key chain to protect us from bad luck.

Nigerian Husband: We have plenty of those at home…I catch rabbits—that is my profession.

American Waitress:  Then you don’t need to worry.  This will cancel all out.

Nigerian Husband:  Cancel all?  Whoa, then why did we worry so much about getting bad luck all this time?

Japanese Wife:  Rabbits’ foot?  Isn’t it a bad luck for rabbits themselves?

Nigerian Husband:  After all, whole things are ridiculous to even think about. Let’s live life without getting involved.

Japanese Wife:  You are right.  I wasted so much time worrying about nothing.

Narrator: Thus, the Nigerian husband and Japanese wife lived life happily ever after without worrying….