ACT 3 : HELEN. Scene 1

January 14, 2017

Rain pours down outside. Helen, seated by the window, appears to have been reading a book but loses focus by gazing at the cold, wet city of London. The apartment is filled with abstract and landscape artworks hanging on the wall. She regains focus and turns to the last page of the book, which reveals an unopened blue envelope. The envelope, made of blue cardboard paper, looks dirty and old. She stares at the envelope for a while and closes the entire book immediately as the apartment door opens. Her wife, Xander, enters wearing a raincoat and holding a medical kit with an antiandrogen injection.

XANDER: - (squeezing out the water from her long, wet blonde straight hair while wearing a loving smile) Babe, the rain outside isn't funny, but I managed to get my prescriptions from the mail. (They hug and share a passionate kiss.)

HELEN: - God damn, you're soaking wet. (She then helps Xander take off her raincoat as Xander looks into her eyes.)

XANDER: - You were reading as usual, I see.

HELEN: - Yes, and with a bit of daydreaming, also thinking about how much I will make when I sell my art collection to the gallery and send some money to my brother Samuel back home to build a chicken poultry for his farm.

XANDER: - Oh, I see. Speaking of Samuel, didn't you intend to invite him to come stay with us here in the UK?

HELEN: - I did, but he refused. He has some sort of sentimental attachment to our family house back in Nigeria, and besides, his agricultural business is kicking off well.

XANDER: - Oh, I see. (still smiling as she whispers) Will you help me with my injections? (Helen nods, and they move to the bathroom for better lighting. Helen carefully administers the antiandrogen injection to Xander's thighs as Helen's phone, which she left by the window, begins to ring.)

HELEN: - (she walks back to the window and picks up the phone) Hello, Patrick?

PATRICK: - (voice on the phone with a somber tone) Helen, I have bad news. Very bad news.

HELEN: - Ah! What's going on?

PATRICK: - You remember last year when I told you that Victor left my place?

HELEN: - Yes, I remember clearly.

PATRICK: - Since then, I hadn't heard from Victor, not until last month. He called me that he needed a lawyer, that he has been arrested.

HELEN: - AH! Arrested for what?!!

PATRICK: - For online fraud. For a month now, we have been battling with his case. The court found him guilty because all evidence was against him; now he has been sentenced to 12 years in jail. (devastated as the phrase "12 years in jail" echoed in her head. Her hands tremble as she clutches the phone. In shock, she accidentally drops it, letting it fall to the floor. Helen breaks into tears as the rain outside intensifies, accompanied by a loud thunderclap.)

XANDER: - (she rushes out of the bathroom, seeing her in distress) Babe, what's wrong?

HELEN: - My... my bro... (she couldn't find the words, only sobbing uncontrollably)

XANDER: - Hey, hush... it's going to be okay. (She holds her close, trying to console her as the storm rages on.)

"OUR CHILDREN" written by Isa Hafsat Hamtin

1994

Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja.

The room is dimly lit by two candles. Esther and Helen are alone in Helen's room, and they are both on a small bunk bed as they make the blanket on them move zealously. Despite being concealed beneath blankets, moments of passion still result in some glimpses of exposed skin. The intensity heightens as they both change positions, with Helen ending up on top. As the passionate kiss on the neck continues, Esther then suddenly...

ESTHER: - (whispered) Stop.

HELEN: - (she pulls back, concern in her eyes as she also whispers) Are you okay?

ESTHER: - (sighs) Helen, we... we need to talk.

HELEN: - (confused) Okay?

ESTHER: - (they both get off each other, cover themselves with surrounding clothing, and sit upright) I have been thinking...

HELEN: - About what? (She stretches out her arm and holds Esther's hand.)

ESTHER: - About us... What... what do you think our future will be like together, Helen? You know it's forbidden for two women to marry here.

HELEN: - (smiling) Well, you know my parents are no more. We'll move to my family house in Shintaku. It's quiet and friendly there, and we'll stay with my younger brother Samuel. He turned our backyard into fertile farmland. We'll grow our own food, plant our own trees, and live happily together until we grow old.

ESTHER: - (still looking worried and conflicted) But what if people start asking questions? What if we get caught?

HELEN: - Esther, don't worry about that. If people ask, you tell them that you are Samuel's wife. I will talk to Samuel; he will understand and cooperate. No one will ever know. So please, trust me.

ESTHER: - (teary-eyed) Helen... I can't be with you.

HELEN: - (the phrase "I can't be with you" echoed in her head as she began to tear up) What?

ESTHER: - You know my family, I've been struggling financially, so my father has arranged for me to get married to a rich man. I have no choice.

HELEN: - Esther, no! Esther, please!

ESTHER: - (she placed her hand on Helen's face as they both stared into each other's teary eyes) It's never going to be safe for us to be together in this place. In this country. But you can find a way out. I've heard it is more accepted overseas.

HELEN: - Then we will find a way out together. Esther, we have been together since primary school; we can make this work. Please don't leave me.

ESTHER: - I can't, Helen. I'm the only child of my parents. I can't just abandon them. (She wipes her tears with the blanket and sniffs her nose. She gathers her clothes and dresses up. She grabs Helen by the neck and kisses her so passionately before she heads for the door. She locks it behind her, leaving Helen alone in the room. Helen covers herself with the blanket as she continues to cry even more until the candlelight fades completely.)

The next morning

Helen sits by the window, focused and intently reading a newspaper with a headline that reads, "ABACHA HAS ISSUED A DECREE MAKING HIS GOVERNMENT ABOVE THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS." She jots down notes in a notebook, then Martina enters the room looking all dressed up.

MARTINA: - Helen, what are you doing with a newspaper this early morning?

HELEN: - (still focused on the newspaper) I'm looking for scholarships abroad for both of us, and then when we get there and settle down, we will find a way to bring our brothers along because, eh... my sister, this country is falling apart. We need to get out of here.

MARTINA: - (excited) Well, no need to search for me. I'm staying here.

HELEN: - Eh! (She focuses her attention on Martina.) And where did you go last night that made you all dressed up?

MARTINA: - (smiling) Oh, Helen, you won't believe what happened last night. He cooked for me in his apartment. We drank very expensive wine, and then he went on one knee and asked me to marry him, and I said yes!

HELEN: - (face falls with disappointment) You what?! Martina, listen to me. You know I have been telling you I don't trust that Henry guy.

MARTINA: - You say that because you don't know him.

HELEN: - At this point, it doesn't matter whether I know him or not. I've been waiting for you to come back so that I'll tell you face to face. Coming back from lectures a day before yesterday, I caught Henry at Mr. Bigg's with another girl. He kissed her, and then she entered the car with him and drove off. You can't marry him! He is cheating on you!

MARTINA: - What?! He can never do that! How can you say such a thing? After all the good things he has done for us. He loves me!! (raising her voice) I knew it! You have always been jealous of me dating a rich guy while no men have come your way!

HELEN: - Me?! Jealous of you because of a man?

MARTINA: - Yes! You are just jealous! Stop making up stories about Henry!

HELEN: - Martina, you are my sister. I will not lie to you. Henry is cheating on you!

MARTINA: - (furious) Stop lying! (She pushes Helen, making her hit her back against the bunk bed.)

HELEN: - (angry) Fine! You go ahead and marry Henry. I won't stay here and watch you marry that cheating man. (She, equally furious, starts packing her belongings. She storms out of the room, leaving Martina in a state of shock and anger.)