MINI PLAY

I Like To Live The Love

Chioma Onwuka Ofodile

Cast

Arinzechukwu: 30’s

Chiamaka: 30’s

Nnamdi: less than 10

Setting: Present day somewhere on a luxurious ship

Scene 1

(Chiamaka and Arinzechukwu are on the roof of the ship)

CHIAMAKA

Arinze, thank you for planning this trip for the family.

ARINZECHUKWU

Anything for you Amaka.

CHIAMAKA

After all these years I didn’t think you would remember my dream of wanting to have a New Year’s Eve party on a ship. I know things have been shaking between us and I appreciate you doing this.

ARINZECHUKWU

Our marriage hasn’t being good lately and I promise to-

(Sound of Orca whales in the distance)

ARINZECHUKWU

What is that sound?

CHIAMAKA

You were about to say something

ARINZECHUKWU

I can’t focus with that annoying sound they keep making. What are those? Orca whales?

CHIAMAKA

Can you please focus? We were about to have a serious conversation about our marriage and here you are pointing out irrelevant things. Besides I think they sound peaceful

ARINZECHUKWU

They sound like chaos. We never agree on anything do we?

CHIAMAKA

Wasn’t it just last week our therapist told us not to use words like never? Here you are using it

ARINZECHUKWU

What was the point of having this event? It’s only five minutes in and we are already butting heads

CHIAMAKA

You see your secretary more than you see me

ARINZECHUKWU

We may have our problems but I would never pay attention to another woman

(Chiamaka appears self conscious)

CHIAMAKA

You think I am sexy? I haven’t been able to loss the baby fat since I gave birth to Nnamdi

ARINZECHUKWU

Amaka, you are the only woman I want. We have to get your toothache situation fixed. I think that’s what makes your breath stink

CHIAMAKA

That mouth of yours is so sour. You are not wrong but we were having a moment and you had to say that and ruin it

ARINZECHUKWU

You said I should be honest with you, didn't you?

(Nnamdi steps from backstage)

NNAMDI

Mummy, daddy are you fighting again?

CHIAMAKA

Nnamdi, why don’t you go eat? Mummy and daddy are having an adult discussion

NNAMDI

Are you going to get a divorce? Dick Ch-

ARINZECHUKWU

We did not raise you to use such words

NNAMDI

Dick Cheney is my friend

CHIAMAKA

If you were home more often you would know who Dick Cheney is. It’s his best friend for crying out loud! It’s his only friend for that matter. All he does is talk about him

ARINZECHUKWU

If I was home more often we wouldn't be able to afford renting a ship for the weekend. You should be grateful-

(Nnamdi starts crying)

ARINZECHUKWU

What did I tell you about crying? You better man up and take the world by its horns.

NNAMDI

My teacher says it’s okay for boys to cry. He said we have feelings and should express them so we don’t become spiteful and miserable human beings. What does spiteful and miserable mean?

ARINZECHUKWU

These American schools and the nonsense they teach. Nnamdi I have told you many times, you are born in America but you are not from here. You are Nigerian. Your flag is green white green. Not blue, white and red. Repeat after me green, white, green

NNAMDI

Green white green

CHIAMAKA

Stop scaring the boy. He is only seven years old. A good father doesn’t just provide financially for his child but also emotionally. This is why Nnamdi doesn’t come to you with his problems

ARINZECHUKWU

What do you mean I don’t provide for him emotionally? I am teaching him the importance of resilience. Life is going to get tough at times and he can’t break down every time things don’t go his way.

CHIAMAKA

All I am saying is that-

ARINZECHUKWU

Children of his generation don’t know how to feel pain and sit with their sadness. They expect to be happy all the time and everything to work out as planned. And when it doesn’t they say they are depressed. Nnamdi you understand where I am coming from right?

CHIAMAKA

Nnamdi it’s okay to feel how you feel and to express it in a healthy manner such as crying. You are only-

ARINZECHUKWU

Amaka, I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to my son. Nnamdi-

CHIAMAKA

Can you quit cutting me off?!

ARINZECHUKWU

You just did it to me

NNAMDI

Are you going to get a divorce? Dick Cheney's parents got a divroce and everyone at school bullies him for it. He lives with his father four days a week and mother three days a week. Will that happen to me? I want to live with both of you. Please forgive each other and don’t divorce.

Scene 2

(Roof of ship. Nnamdi is sitting down and blowing bubbles in the corner but visible. Arinzechukwu and Chiamaka are present center stage)

ARINZECHUKWU

Amaka, what happened to us? We shouldn’t have our child trying to be peacemaker for our marriage

CHIAMAKA

Before we got married we agreed we would never argue in front of our children and now look at us

ARINZECHUKWU

We were so in love and insparatable and now we can’t be in the same room peacefully

(Silence)

ARINZECHUKWU

Obi(heart) I have missed you.We probably went to every club in Port Harcourt. Dancing has always been our thing hasn’t it? Chiamaka, dance with me

(Arinzechukwu cues the singer. She sings I like to live the love BB Kings Chiamaka picks up an orange on the table there for decor)

CHIAMAKA

From far one would think this is a real orange. It’s quite heavy. What is it made out of? Metal?

ARINZECHUKWU

Amaka I am trying here. Please take my hand

CHIAMAKA

Look at that flight, go into the moonlight. It’s beautiful. Imagine if the flight was never created and we had to immigrate here on water?

(Chiamaka chuckles and says)

Maybe I would have had my new year’s eve party earlier considering we came here around that time ten years ago

(Singer has on a color blind outfit that doesn’t match or go together)

SINGER

You too are not dancing oh. I heard the pepper soup is hot and tasty. Since you two are not dancing I will go eat real quick and will be right back.

(She walks away then pops back up)

SINGER

Actually I need to change my shoes into something different. It might take longer than expected. I could have lied but I am being professional by being honest.

(Singer walks away then pops back up)

SINGER

Look at the moon. Isn’t it lovely?

(Chukwuemeka and Chiamaka make a face at her)

SINGER

I am sorry I will go now

CHIAMAKA

Well there is no music so we can’t dance

ARINZECHUKWU

Chiamaka, when has that ever stopped us? We know how to find the rhythm and beat in each other’s arms

CHIAMAKA

Arinzechukwu please stop this. You know I can’t resist dancing with you. I don’t want to let my guard down for another night only for us to start barking at each other in an hour

ARINZECHUKWU

What Nnamdi said opened my eyes up. Maybe us fighting isn’t a bad thing. It means we care. I think we should be more worried when we get too tired of each other to quarrel.

(SIlence)

I am not sure how we got here but we need to start somewhere to repair our marriage. I am honestly not sure how to but I have a feeling dancing is a step in the right direction

(Amaka hesitates)

ARINZECHUKWU

I even wore the fabric from that famous British haberdasher you like

CHIAMAKA

Yes I see. It shows your muscles. They look scrumptious. Arinzechukwu I have missed you. I know you work so much to take care of us. I appreciate every sacrifice and sleepless night you’ve had as a result.

(Chiamaka moves closer to Arinzechukwu)

CHIAMAKA

You were my best friend. I miss just sitting down and talking to you for hours and hours. I want you home more often. I have a husband but I miss having a lover.

(Arinzechukwu pulls closer to Chiamaka as she rests her head on his shoulder and they  dance for several moments. Arinzechukwu hums I like to live the love by BB Kings )

Scene 3

(Chiamaka and Arinzechukwu are sitted and cuddled up on a different part of the roof. They look visibly affectionate towards each other and are talking. Nnamdi observes them for a while then walks towards them)

NNAMDI

Daddy, I have a performance for you

ARINZECHUKWU

Nnamdi, your mother and I were having mummy daddy time. Can we do this later?

(Nnamdi grabs his food and throws it on the floor. He repeatedly steps on the spilled food)

ARINZECHUKWU

Young man I did not raise you to be a brat. Why did you do that? Now you have everywhere smelling like garlic

NNAMDI

Raise me? You are never home!

CHIAMAKA

Nnamdi stop it! Never in your life raise your voice at your father like that. I don’t know what they teach you at school but we are Africans. We do not speak to our parents or elders with disrespect. You hear me?

(Arinzechukwu pulls Chiamaka to the side)

ARINZECHUKWU

Let me speak to him privately then we will continue what we were doing

CHIAMAKA

Okay I will. You too are due for some father son time. I will be in the kitchen to see what the chef has for dinner

(Chiamaka walks off stage)

ARINZECHUKWU

Nnamdi do not talk to me like that ever again. You hear me?

NNAMDI

That’s how you and mummy talk to each other

ARINZECHUKWU

Nnamdi-

NNAMDI

I am sorry daddy. I just wanted your attention. You are always working. And when you are home and I ask to do something together you say later. You always say later.

ARINZECHUKWU

Nnamdi I work so much because I like you. Because I love you and want you to have the kind of present and future I didn’t get.

NNAMDI

Daddy nobody wants to play with me in school because I am African. They say I am dirty and poor.

ARINZECHUKWU

I pay thousands of dollars a year for that school. Why would they think you are poor?

(Arinzechukwu almost to himself)

Maybe you will be better off going to a school with people who look like you. Or maybe a public school like I went to so you get exposed to a variety of backgrounds

NNAMDI

Only Dick Chimney took a chance on me. And now even my own father doesn’t like me. Mummy is the only one who likes me. Daddy, why don’t you love me anymore?

ARINZECHUKWU

Nnamdi what does your name mean?

NNAMDI

My father lives

ARINZECHUKWU

I named Nnamdi because I love you. I wanted you remember that your father lives as long as I am around you will lack nothing especially not money

NNAMDI

You didn’t come to my talent show last month

ARINZECHUKWU

You might be too young to understand this but I will be honest with you. My father was a drunk often sleeping his life away. My mother took on the financial burden of feeding a family of six. I am not around so you and your mother can lack nothing. Nnamdi, do you understand what I am saying?

NNAMDI

Daddy can I show you something? Mummy saw my performance but you didn’t get to see it because you had a meeting

ARINZECHUKWU

Sure son. Give me the VIP show

(Nnamdi slides from side to side)

ARINZECHUKWU

Is that the Michael Jackson slide?

NNAMDI

Who is Michael Jacskon?

ARINZECHUKWU

You don’t know him? I must be getting old

NNAMDI

For our talent show the theme was a throwback. One of the options was physical comedy and I chose that one because it’s funny. Daddy I am going to show you the french clown one

(Nnamdi mimics a silent french clown. Arinzechukwu chuckles)

NNAMDI

I told you it was funny

ARINZECHUKWU

You are not supposed to talk while mining. That’s the whole point

NNAMDI

I am sorry daddy, I forgot. I was just so happy I made you laugh. You don’t laugh much

ARINZECHUKWU

I don’t?

(Arinzechukwu to himself)

I can’t remember the last time I laughed out loud. I have been so caught up on work I haven’t made time for myself, my wife or child. I don’t want my son to remember me as the father who was never there

NNAMDI

Daddy is everything okay? You were talking to yourself like the mad people do in movies

ARINZECHUKWU

Listen to me. From now one daddy will be at all your events. I will ask my company to station me at home so I don’t have to travel as much. I won’t make as much money but I will be there for my family. Nnamdi take my hand, let’s go to your mother