One Virgin, Many Deaths

A Stageplay

By Geoff Adeleye (Nigeria)

Act 3, Scene 2

          

ACTIII
Scene II
Palace
                                  Enter RENATE, MOBOLA and TELEBO

MOBOLA [pointing to a seat]: Be seated there, our Queen. We’re
   blissful to hoist you.
TELEBO: The greatest, most cherished guest of our time!
MOBOLA: With a moment of hospitality, we shall make your
   sorrow efface off your heart.
TELEBO: We shall make your nights remarkable as I regale you
   with beautiful, whole-being-held stories!
MOBOLA: Madam, trust her to that; she has the mouth of an old woman.
TELEBO: Tonight we shall kick off the merriments of new world
   through moonlight tales!
MOBOLA: Cheer up! Your lord soon turns up! Here’s a place
   where everybody is somebody: no pride, please.
TELEBO: No one is big; no one is small.
MOBOLA: No one is a slave; no one is a servant.
TELEBO: Everyone is equal. We don’t leave you alone.
                                                             [Exeunt TELEBO and MOBOLA
RENATE [fearfully runs her eyes round the palace]: The feel is cool
   and lovely, the walls are well-garnished; I can see hands of wealth
   and comfort imprinted everywhere, but can I ever love?
                        Enter BADEDIRAN, KEYISODE and BADERO
BADERO [espies RENATE, wildly runs to her, standing before her
   with crude gaze]: As a hawk hops gently at the sight of a feeble prey,
   so my heart leaps for joy at remarkable defeat of my lady’s
   pride! Victory is never a fluke; it’s a child of set goals. With
   urbanity, I’m accomplished. [throws his hands into the air and
   shouts] Victory at last!
KEYISODE [moves to sit beside RENATE, winds her arms around
   her neck]: A snap with you gets me to the top of the world!
   Meanwhile, why did you choose to turn down our offer? It cost us a
    pain and a stain.
RENATE [kneels down]: Queen, please, pardon my rudeness.
KEYISODE: Get up, you’re absolved.
BADEDIRAN: But why?
RENATE: Illusion of fame though haunts, it fails to bring me to my knees.
BADEDIRAN: No, it’s delusion of beauty.
KEYISODE: And for that you were summoned to disillusion it.
BADERO: Please, I beg you, don’t tease her further; she may
   become infuriated. What’s the use thereof when she has crawled back?
KEYISODE: Son, pun could be fun!
BADERO: Renate, please, don’t be annoyed. They mean to tickle you
   to feel at home.
KEYISODE: See, daughter, we’ll be irresponsible if we make your visit
   a damp squib. We intend entertainment.
BSDEDIRAN: And to present to you our ineffable love.
KEYISODE: Renate, what meal delights you?
RENATE: I think I haven’t right to choice. Please, you needn’t bother.
KEYISODE: Are we still fighting?
RENATE: No! Mother wasn’t at home when the massagers came
   and father would’ve returned from the farm; he hasn’t control over
   his stomach when it’s void. Deny him his food on time he gets wild.
   But to honour you I’d come.
KEYISODE [To RENATE]: You can’t just skip off like that.
BADERO: Let’s give her freedom of will. We won’t do anything
   capable of annoying her.
KEYISODE: To your whim we submit. You’re released.
RENATE [shocked]: Submitting to me? Am I not a mere subject?
KEYISODE: We’ve got to follow you with all malleability and docility
   as you lead.
BADEDIRAN: That shows how powerful, important you’re in
   the kingdom.
BADERO: We’ve been very fair to you. I hope you won’t let us down.
RENATE: It isn’t possible any more. Excuse my leaving now.
BADERO: We believe it of you.
KEYISODE: Let’s see her off.                                                [Exeunt]