ACT 1: MARTINA. Scene 2
2008
7:30 in the morning.
Martina is inside her new car with the kids waiting outside Angela's apartment building.
MARTINA:- (she brings her head out of her car window and shouts at the top of her voice) Oya oo!! Let's go oo!
ANGELA:- (quickly rushing to lock her apartment door with her dangling keys) Okay, I'm coming...(she locked the door and was a little bit shocked to see Martina in a new car) Wow! (her excitement quickly transformed into uncertainty as she stared more at the new car)
MARTINA:- (she happily stretched her head out of her car window) I know the car is beautiful. You can admire it later. Get into the car before we run late for work! (Angela continuously stared at the car as she got inside it) This one you are looking at my car like this, eh? Abi do you want to exchange? (they both laughed as she started driving)
ANGELA:- No. It's not like that. I'm just surprised. This is the reigning car in town now because people are just buying it, and the car is very beautiful.
MARTINA:- Yes oo... all thanks to my husband.
ANGELA:- Wow! You don't mean it.
MARTINA:- I'm telling you. I was so surprised when he showed up last night from his business trip with the car, after all the complaining, now finally.
ANGELA:- Yes oo... so happy for you. At least now we will be taking turns driving to work and picking the kids from school.
MARTINA:- Yes oo... and thank you so much for giving me and the kids some lifts when I had car troubles.
ANGELA:- Ah, no na. No problem. And before I forget...(she showed Martina her engagement ring)
MARTINA:- (she gasped) He proposed?!!
ANGELA:- And I said yes!
MARTINA:- (she increased the volume of the car radio as they began to jubilate) We need to celebrate oo.
ANGELA:- Yes oo, and as I promised, I will cook jollof rice for you and the kids in your house.
MARTINA:- Yes oo (she increased the volume even more as they drove to work)
4:57 p.m.
They all came out of the car parked in the compound as the kids ran inside the house.
SOLOMON:- (he closed the gate and walked towards Martina) Madam, welcome.
MARTINA:- Thank you, Solo. Is oga inside?
SOLOMON:- Yes, Madam.
MARTINA:- Okay. (she faced Angela) My husband is inside. Let's go and greet him.
ANGELA:- Okay (as they both walked into the house, they entered the living room) Henry?!!! (seeing Henry sitting on the couch, looking shocked and speechless) What's going on here?
MARTINA:- Angela, are you okay? You look like you have seen a ghost...
ANGELA:- This is Henry!... My Henry!! My boyfriend!! My fiancé!!!
MARTINA:- No, no, no... This man is my husband... (Angela's eyes were wide open with disbelief) ...and father of my children, Kuit and Tintina.
ANGELA:- No now... this can't be. Henry, tell me this is not true. (Henry still speechless as he put his hand on his head) Henry, look into my eyes and tell me it's not true. (Henry remained quiet as Martina calmly sat down on the couch, shamefully putting her hands on her face) I should have known. This explains all the stupid excuses. (she removed the ring from her finger and threw it at his face as it landed on the floor) Don't you ever try to see me again! (she walked out and left the house.)
HENRY:- (he knelt down and faced Martina) Baby, I can explain.
MARTINA:- (she took a deep breath and looked at him straight in the eyes) Okay... go ahead. Explain. (Henry was quiet) Oya na... EXPLAIN!
HENRY:- Baby, I'm sorry. I won't do it again.
MARTINA:- (she laughed as she picked the ring from the floor and pointed it at him) So this time you have upgraded from promising them marriage to actually proposing. Now see, you can't even control yourself; you have womanized your way to my workplace. So shameless... I know you don't have respect for me, and honestly, I don't care, but at least think about the children because it's only because of them I'm still in this marriage. (she peacefully dropped the ring back on the floor, stood up, and left Samuel in the living room)
The next day.
7 a.m.
ANGELA:- (lying on her bed as her eyes were red and swollen. She heard a car parking outside her apartment as she walked towards the window and raised the curtain to see Martina coming out of the car and walking towards her doorstep. She walked towards the door of her apartment and opened it.) Martina, I'm so sorry. I didn't kno...
MARTINA:- ...it's okay (she hugged her) I'm not mad at you. I am mad at myself.
ANGELA:- Why?
MARTINA:- Well...(they both sat down on the chair as she began to cry) I'm mad at myself because I saw this coming. (she cried even more) Before we got married, my twin sister, Helen, warned me that I shouldn't marry him. I thought she was just being jealous because he is rich and didn't want me to marry him so that she can have him for herself. I should have listened. Now she doesn't talk to me anymore. I was such a fool.
ANGELA:- (she hugged her, trying to console her) It's okay, don't cry.
MARTINA:- (she sniffed her nose) The only reason I'm still married to him is because of the children. I keep forgiving him every time and pretend as if everything is okay just for the children.
ANGELA:- But you can't continue to endure his unfaithfulness like this.
MARTINA:- I know. That is the real reason why I decided to start working so that I can save enough and leave him.
ANGELA:- But what about your children?
MARTINA:- I can't leave them now; they're still kids. I have to stay with them till they grow up. I don't want to leave my kids with this kind of man. (she cried even more)
ANGELA:- Oh no. Please stop crying...(she held her mouth as she ran to the toilet)
MARTINA:- Angela, are you okay? (she followed Angela to see her vomiting in the toilet seat) My God! (Angela finished vomiting and splashed water on her face) Angela, are you sure you are not...
ANGELA:- ...please don't say it. Just don't. (they looked at each other through the mirror in silence)... Oh God, I hope I'm not.
15th July, 1988
4 p.m.
YOUNG MARTINA:- (she locked the rusted iron gate carrying a blue Jerrycan of water on her head. As she walked towards the house, she noticed an army-patterned metal trunk under a mango tree in the middle of the big sandy compound. She walked towards the mango tree and dropped the Jerrycan next to the iron trunk.) Jojo?... (she began to smile as she happily ran into the house. The parlor is small with blue paint on the wall, with wooden oak chairs in four corners of the parlor. Then a wooden oak table in the middle of the room and a radio with a long antenna on top of it. She got inside the parlor to see their tall father standing still, all sweaty and looking upon his hands with his eyes wide open.) Papa? (She looked to the floor to see her brother Joshua lying down in between their father's legs as his eyes were staring up at the ceiling.) JoJo?... (she noticed Joshua was not moving as their mother ran into the parlor holding anointing oil, a rosary, and a Bible)
MAMA:- Kotin, hold him well, let's deliver him. (she faced Martina) Martina, leave here! (Martina did not move an inch) Are you deaf ?! Go outside now!
YOUNG MARTINA:- (tears began to pour out of her eyes) Mama... why is Jojo not moving?
MAMA:- (she turned to see Joshua on the ground as she called his name) Joshua?!... Jojo!! (she dropped her holy equipment on the table next to the radio as she pushed her husband's legs away from her son's body.) Jojo!!! ...JoJo no!!! Wake up!!! (she shook his body with all her strength, but all it did was close his opened eyes. Eyes that never opened again) JOJOOOO!!!!...
"OUR CHILDREN" Written By Isa Hafsat Hamtin...