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SPECIAL PROVISIONS (a play by R.C Ofodile)

<body><div class&equals;"booster-block booster-read-block">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"twp-read-time">&NewLine; &Tab;<i class&equals;"booster-icon twp-clock"><&sol;i> <span>Read Time&colon;<&sol;span>19 Minute&comma; 48 Second <&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine;<pre class&equals;"wp-block-verse"><strong><u>CHARACTERS<&sol;u><&sol;strong>&NewLine;Jimmy                      male&comma; 20s to 30s&NewLine;Tobe                         male&comma; 20s to 30s&NewLine;Victor                       middle-aged man <&sol;pre>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong><u>SCENE  ONE<&sol;u><&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>A humble tailor’s shop&period;  Two sewing machines and other equipment feature&comma; some folded fabrics are hung&period;  Present are the two tailors&comma; Jimmy and Tobe&comma; men in their 20s or 30s&period;  Tobe is at a sewing machine&comma; while Jimmy is with a third man&comma; Victor&period;  Victor is middle-aged&comma; and exudes an affluence which contrasts with the pervasive drabness&period;   As the scene begins&comma; Jimmy is finishing taking Victor’s measurements&period;  Conspicuous on a table or chair is a gorgeous folded material&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Victor <&sol;strong><em>&lpar;handing over the folded cloth to Jimmy&comma; and also giving him a card&rpar;<&sol;em> That’s where you can reach me&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy  <&sol;strong>            Ok sir&period;  I’ll finish it in two days&period;  It’s senator style I will sew for you&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Victor <&sol;strong>            Take your time&comma; Buddy&period;  Just do it well&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy <&sol;strong>             Ok Sir&period;  Thanks Sir&period;  <em>&lpar;Victor exits&period;  Tobe leaves his machine and comes downstage to stand with Jimmy&comma; gazing outside at what the audience can’t see&period;  Both men evince awe&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe<&sol;strong>                You’ve seen this kind motor before&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy   <&sol;strong>           Na Lexus jeep&period;  <em>&lpar;The sound of a car door shutting and the purr of the vehicle driving off&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe  <&sol;strong>              As I see this jeep&comma; na cool fifty million naira&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy <&sol;strong>             I don’t doubt you&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe<&sol;strong>                All my life&comma; I never hold fifty thousand in my hand&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy    <&sol;strong>          Fifty thousand&quest;  I never hold five before… ok&comma; once I pay rent&comma; even if I hold ten&comma; e finish&period;   <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe <&sol;strong>               <em>&lpar;He lifts and feels the fabric left by Victor&comma; his expression and gestures showing that he is dazzled&rpar;  <&sol;em>This is the highest Italian cashmere&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy <&sol;strong>            I think it is hundred percent raw silk&period;  Maybe…  <em>&lpar;becoming brisk&rpar; <&sol;em> Let’s work and enjoy what we can&period;  This corona thing has started&comma; who knows if there will be business for tailors&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe  <&sol;strong>              Corona&comma; <em>ke<&sol;em>&quest;  Na for overseas <em>abeg<&sol;em>&period;  No spoil my day&comma; <em>abeg<&sol;em> you o&period;  E no go reach <em>Naija<&sol;em>&period; <em> &lpar;He gazes at the card left by Victor&rpar;  <&sol;em>The man dey craze o&excl;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy   <&sol;strong>           How&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe  <&sol;strong>              You no see his position&quest;  Na him own that big Victory International Hotel&period;  You see his jeep&period;   And he come here come find tailor&period;  People like him find the big esigners… why he come to this our <em>nyama-nyama<&sol;em> shed to find tailor&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy <&sol;strong> &lpar;<em>joyous<&sol;em>&rpar; Na the Lord do am&period;  The Lord don find me better customer&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><em>&lpar;His elation peaks and he kneels&period;  Tobe watches&comma; amazed&comma; then amused&rpar; <&sol;em> Lord&comma; two things I begged of you in this my life&period;  I pray&comma; &OpenCurlyQuote;let me not beg&comma; and let me not thieve&period;’ Lord&comma; you answer me well well&period;  These my hands with this tailor business I learned&comma; will always provide my needs&period;  Amen&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<hr class&equals;"wp-block-separator is-style-dots">&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<div class&equals;'w3eden'><&excl;-- WPDM Link Template&colon; Default Template -->&NewLine;&NewLine;<div class&equals;"link-template-default card mb-2">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"card-body">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"media">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"mr-3 img-48"><img class&equals;"wpdm&lowbar;icon" alt&equals;"Icon" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wrr&period;ng&sol;wp-content&sol;plugins&sol;download-manager&sol;assets&sol;file-type-icons&sol;pdf&period;svg" &sol;><&sol;div>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"media-body">&NewLine; <h3 class&equals;"package-title"><a href&equals;'https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wrr&period;ng&sol;download&sol;con-scio-the-lockdown&sol;'>CỌ́N-SCÌÒ MAGAZINE&colon; THE LOCKDOWN &lbrack;ISSUE 1&comma; VOL&period; 1 &vert; JANUARY 2021&rsqb;<&sol;a><&sol;h3>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"text-muted text-small"><i class&equals;"fas fa-copy"><&sol;i> 1 file&lpar;s&rpar; <i class&equals;"fas fa-hdd ml-3"><&sol;i> 8 MB<&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"ml-3">&NewLine; <a class&equals;'wpdm-download-link download-on-click btn btn-primary ' rel&equals;'nofollow' href&equals;'&num;' data-downloadurl&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wrr&period;ng&sol;download&sol;con-scio-the-lockdown&sol;&quest;wpdmdl&equals;39480&refresh&equals;6932459541fec1764902293">Download<&sol;a>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<hr class&equals;"wp-block-separator is-style-dots">&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong><u>SCENE  TWO<&sol;u><&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>A large and luxurious sitting room&period;  Visible through an open door is a dining table&period;  Victor is in popular men’s lounging garb – a caftan&period;  Jimmy is seated&period;  There are two glasses of wine and a partially empty bottle&period;  Jimmy is sipping wine as the scene opens&period;  He hands a bag to Victor&period;  Victor brings out and appraises its contents – the ensemble that Jimmy made for him&period;  He takes off his caftan and puts on the new attire&comma; Jimmy helping him&period;  It is a two piece outfit&comma; called &OpenCurlyQuote;senator style&period;’<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Victor  <&sol;strong>            &lpar;<em>pleased<&sol;em>&rpar; My hunch was right&period;  This is spot on&period;  <em>&lpar;He strides about&comma; strikes poses&period;  Jimmy is amused&rpar;<&sol;em>  My hunch was sooo right&excl;  <em>&lpar;his phone rings&period;  He expresses exasperation&rpar;<&sol;em>  Not now&period;  <em>&lpar;he takes the phone&comma; sees the caller’s name&comma; and is instantly joyful&rpar; <&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>Ah&comma; Nene&period;  You bad babe… Why call me now&quest;  Three naked babes are here with me&comma; and we’re just about to have an orgy… I’m serious&comma; Nene&period;  You called at a terribly inconvenient time…&period; Me&comma; drunk&quest;  You don see me drunk before&quest;  A whole CEO of Victory International Hotels&comma; drunk&quest;… You’re defaming me&period;  I’ll call my lawyer now… <em>&lpar;he laughs heartily&rpar; <&sol;em> Actually&comma; Nene&comma; I’m happy&period;  I’ve been proved right&period;  That material we got  last week&comma; I said I’d find a tailor in some out of the way place&period;  Some of these big name tailors have only the name… I found this boy that’s sewing in a shack&comma; and you should see the senator style he made me&period;  Ok&comma; come round tomorrow&period;  Six pm&period;  I’ll be in the hotel lobby&period;  Bye sweetie&period;  I’ll send you my photo now&period;  <em>&lpar;end of call&period;  To Jimmy&rpar;<&sol;em> Please get a good shot&period;  &lpar;<em>Jimmy photographs Victor&rpar;<&sol;em>  Thank you&period;  <em>&lpar;He sends the photograph to Nene&rpar;<&sol;em>&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>            Women&excl;  Always wanting attention&period;  That my babe&comma; Nene&comma; she’s really nice&period;  I love her to death&period;  Problem is&comma; she wants marriage&period;  I tell her&comma; &OpenCurlyQuote;no&period;’  It’s one idea I’ll fight in this society of ours&comma; the idea that if you’re not married&comma; you’re irresponsible&period;  Bollocks&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>            How much do I owe you&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy <&sol;strong>            <em> &lpar;hesitantly&rpar;<&sol;em> Sir&comma; anything… anything…<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Victor  <&sol;strong>            Tell me the cost&period;  I don’t want to cheat you&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy<&sol;strong>  <em>&lpar;tremulous&rpar;<&sol;em>  Is five ok&quest;  <em>&lpar;Victor brings out his wallet&comma; counts out ten notes&comma; and hands the cash to Jimmy&period;  Jimmy checks the sum&comma; and is ecstatic&rpar;<&sol;em> <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>                        Sir&comma;<em> hei<&sol;em>&excl;  You don bless me today&period;  I say five and you give me ten&period;  Sir&comma; you will go straight to heaven… <em>&lpar;he kneels in adoration…&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Victor  <&sol;strong>                        <em>&lpar;making deterring gestures&rpar;<&sol;em> No&comma; no&comma; no… I’m not ready to die yet&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><em>&lpar;Victor makes a call on his phone and speaks&rpar;  <&sol;em>Akpa&comma; that your lunch never ready&quest;  &lpar;pause&rpar; Put one extra plate&period;  I have a guest&period;  <em>&lpar;to Jimmy&rpar;<&sol;em>   Let’s go and eat&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy <&sol;strong>             <em>&lpar;incredulous&rpar;<&sol;em>  Sir&comma; me eat with you&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Victor <&sol;strong>                         Yes&period;  <em>&lpar;Jimmy rises&comma; looking through the door at the dining room&period;  He is nervous&rpar;<&sol;em> Come&comma; man&comma; there are only chairs and a table in there&quest;  You think there’s a lion there&quest; <em>&lpar;Jimmy shrugs in amazement&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>                        Where is your babe&quest;  Or you don’t have a babe&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy<&sol;strong>              <em>&lpar;in mild embarrassment&rpar;<&sol;em> I get oh&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Victor  <&sol;strong>                        Ok&period;  On Saturday&comma; bring your babe here to eat and drink&period;  I’m serious&period;  Four o’clock&period;  You can stay till the following day&period;  Come and enjoy&comma; man&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>                        We suffer&comma; make money&comma; make money… next moment&comma; we die&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>                        I don’t invite just anybody to my house&comma; but I can tell your mother raised you well&period;  <em>&lpar;He leads the way into the dining room&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<hr class&equals;"wp-block-separator is-style-dots">&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<div class&equals;'w3eden'><&excl;-- WPDM Link Template&colon; Default Template -->&NewLine;&NewLine;<div class&equals;"link-template-default card mb-2">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"card-body">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"media">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"mr-3 img-48"><img class&equals;"wpdm&lowbar;icon" alt&equals;"Icon" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wrr&period;ng&sol;wp-content&sol;plugins&sol;download-manager&sol;assets&sol;file-type-icons&sol;pdf&period;svg" &sol;><&sol;div>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"media-body">&NewLine; <h3 class&equals;"package-title"><a href&equals;'https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wrr&period;ng&sol;download&sol;con-scio-the-lockdown&sol;'>CỌ́N-SCÌÒ MAGAZINE&colon; THE LOCKDOWN &lbrack;ISSUE 1&comma; VOL&period; 1 &vert; JANUARY 2021&rsqb;<&sol;a><&sol;h3>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"text-muted text-small"><i class&equals;"fas fa-copy"><&sol;i> 1 file&lpar;s&rpar; <i class&equals;"fas fa-hdd ml-3"><&sol;i> 8 MB<&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"ml-3">&NewLine; <a class&equals;'wpdm-download-link download-on-click btn btn-primary ' rel&equals;'nofollow' href&equals;'&num;' data-downloadurl&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wrr&period;ng&sol;download&sol;con-scio-the-lockdown&sol;&quest;wpdmdl&equals;39480&refresh&equals;693245954ad441764902293">Download<&sol;a>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<hr class&equals;"wp-block-separator is-style-dots">&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>SCENE  THREE<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The tailor’s shop&period;  It is bare&comma; save for the machines and the basic furniture&period;   There are no cloths waiting to be cut and sewn&period;   In the corner is a pile of personal effects – battered suitcase&comma; cassette player&comma; electric fan – obviously belonging to someone who suddenly became homeless&period; Tobe is slumbering on a wooden bench&period;  He stirs&comma; rises&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe   <&sol;strong>             <em>&lpar;looking around&rpar;<&sol;em>  Jimmy&period;  Jimmy… <em>&lpar;to himself&rpar;<&sol;em> Maybe the car-washing work don good for him today&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><em>&lpar;Jimmy enters holding washing equipment for car windscreens&period;  He is dejected&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy  <&sol;strong>           E no work at all&period;  Just running in this sun&comma; sun dey bite like fire… dodging cars… some drivers are crazy&period;  I nearly die today… this bus&comma; <em>fiam<&sol;em> <em>&lpar;he mimes the speeding of a bus which bore down on him&rpar;<&sol;em> I for die today&period;  Na the Lord just say it’s not my time&period;  After that&comma; I decide to come back&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe<&sol;strong>                You no go die&period;  The Lord forbids&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy<&sol;strong>              This life now&comma; what’s in it&quest;  <em>&lpar;waving at the dreary shop<&sol;em>&rpar;  No customers&comma; no work&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe <&sol;strong>               Money no dey for country now&period;  People can’t even hustle to eat&period;  How can they make new shirts and trousers&quest;  Even the city market is closed&period;  I never see that kind thing before&period;  <em>Keke<&sol;em> drivers&comma; off the road&period;  This kind starvation&comma; I never see before in my life&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><em>&lpar;he pauses&comma; then speaks&rpar;<&sol;em> E go better&period;  Corona go end&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy  <&sol;strong>           When will it end&quest;  Three months don pass now&period;  <em>&lpar;he goes to gaze mournfully at his pile of personal effects in the corner&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe<&sol;strong>                You wan kill yourself because your landlord throw you out&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy <&sol;strong>             That my landlord wicked&comma; I swear&period;  Four years I lived in his house&comma; I no owe am one day&period;  Now&comma; because of corona&comma; I just owe am two-month rent and he throws me out&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe<&sol;strong>                I know&period;  Even landlords too need money&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy<&sol;strong> <em> &lpar;rages&rpar;<&sol;em>  Shit&period;  So now you support him… You support a man who make me to sleep in this shop&comma; with all the mosquitoes wey dey harass me for night and…<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe <&sol;strong>               You want to take your revenge on me&period;  Na me be your landlord&quest; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><em>&lpar;Jimmy begins to calm down&comma; then sits in forlornness&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>                        That rich man you carry your girlfriend go him house… The man who owns Victory Hotels&comma; why don’t you go to him&quest; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy  <&sol;strong>            I passed his big hotel today when I was trying to wash car windscreens… the hotel was closed&period;  I didn’t try to see him&period;  I just passed&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe  <&sol;strong>              Go to him&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy <&sol;strong>             Why&quest; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe   <&sol;strong>             Why&quest;  For help&period;  He’s a big man&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy     <&sol;strong>         When I begin sew&comma; I pray that I will never beg or steal&period;  Every time&comma; the Lord answered my prayer&period;  Anytime it’s like I no go eat&comma; something comes to me&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe<&sol;strong>                This is corona&period;  There’s no shame in asking somebody to help you&period;  It’s called palliative&period;  Even we who didn’t finish school know that word&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>            Serious&comma; bro&period;  Go to his house&period;  Ask for help&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><em>&lpar;Jimmy takes a long look at Tobe&comma; obviously struggling with his thoughts&period;  He suddenly goes to his suitcase&comma; fishes out a shirt and changes into it&comma; and spruces himself up&period; Tobe gives him encouraging looks and gestures&period;  Jimmy exits&period;   Tobe looks reflective for a moment&comma; then suddenly appears resolute&comma; picking his phone and dialing a number&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe<&sol;strong>    Mummy&comma; Good afternoon&comma; Ma&period;  Ma&comma; it’s Tobe&comma; the man who make school uniform for your son… Yes&comma; Mummy… <em>&lpar;pause&rpar; <&sol;em> Mummy&comma; I get problem o&excl;  This Covid&comma; corona… I no see food chop&comma; Mummy&period;  I no go lie&period;  No work&period;  Customers don vamoose… <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><em>&lpar;suddenly elated&rpar;<&sol;em>  Thank you&comma; Mummy&period;  I dey come now now… thank you… <em>&lpar;he is almost breathless at the end and rushes to leave&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<hr class&equals;"wp-block-separator is-style-dots">&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<div class&equals;'w3eden'><&excl;-- WPDM Link Template&colon; Default Template -->&NewLine;&NewLine;<div class&equals;"link-template-default card mb-2">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"card-body">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"media">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"mr-3 img-48"><img class&equals;"wpdm&lowbar;icon" alt&equals;"Icon" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wrr&period;ng&sol;wp-content&sol;plugins&sol;download-manager&sol;assets&sol;file-type-icons&sol;pdf&period;svg" &sol;><&sol;div>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"media-body">&NewLine; <h3 class&equals;"package-title"><a href&equals;'https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wrr&period;ng&sol;download&sol;con-scio-the-lockdown&sol;'>CỌ́N-SCÌÒ MAGAZINE&colon; THE LOCKDOWN &lbrack;ISSUE 1&comma; VOL&period; 1 &vert; JANUARY 2021&rsqb;<&sol;a><&sol;h3>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"text-muted text-small"><i class&equals;"fas fa-copy"><&sol;i> 1 file&lpar;s&rpar; <i class&equals;"fas fa-hdd ml-3"><&sol;i> 8 MB<&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"ml-3">&NewLine; <a class&equals;'wpdm-download-link download-on-click btn btn-primary ' rel&equals;'nofollow' href&equals;'&num;' data-downloadurl&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wrr&period;ng&sol;download&sol;con-scio-the-lockdown&sol;&quest;wpdmdl&equals;39480&refresh&equals;69324595511051764902293">Download<&sol;a>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<hr class&equals;"wp-block-separator is-style-dots">&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>SCENE  FOUR<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The shop&period;  Scene begins as Tobe enters from outside&comma; carrying a large food bowl <em>&lpar;a cooler&rpar;<&sol;em>&comma; and another bag which is seen to contain raw food and drinks&period;  He opens and appraises the cooked food&comma; begins to wolf it down&comma; then pauses to bring out and gape at the other food items and cans or bottles of drinks&period;  He again eats hurriedly&comma; then springs up to raise his hands in rapturous adoration&period;  &OpenCurlyQuote;Lord&comma; you are good&comma; Lord&comma; you are good… Bless that Mummy&comma; bless that good Mummy that give me all this&period;’  He resumes eating&comma; and after a while stops&comma; dances and again raises his hands in adoration&period;  &OpenCurlyQuote;Lord&comma; you are good&comma; Lord&comma; you are good…’  Jimmy enters&comma; miserable&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy   <&sol;strong>          It will not be well with them&period;  It will not be well with Victor&period;  His generations will be cursed&period;  Na people like him thief Nigeria naked… He no go die well&period;  The Bible says&comma; the rich cannot enter the kingdom of heaven&period;  Victor and his people no go see heaven <em>lai lai<&sol;em>… Dem go…<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe  <&sol;strong>              Jimmy&comma; you don craze&quest;  Wetin&quest;  What&quest;  Tell me now now&period;  Wetin happen&quest;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy <&sol;strong>             That man&comma; Victor&period;  That rich man of Victory Hotels&period;  His money is shit money&period;  I    went to knock on his gate&comma; said I want to see him&period;  His gateman remember me&period;  The gateman said&comma; &OpenCurlyQuote;no be you carry one fat girl come here&quest;  That girl nyarsh na wa o&excl;’  Then the gateman told me&comma; &OpenCurlyQuote;visitor no dey enter here since Covid&period;’  I said&comma; &OpenCurlyQuote;make I just stand outside talk to <em>oga<&sol;em>&comma; abeg&comma; I dey die… Then I saw <em>oga<&sol;em> Victor come out on the veranda upstairs&period; I shouted&comma; &OpenCurlyQuote;good afternoon sir&period;  Please&comma; your boy is dying… no work&period;  Covid has finished me&period;’  You know what he did&quest; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><em>&lpar;Now Victor’s words might be a voice-over&comma; or recited and performed by Jimmy&period;  In a sophisticated production&comma; there could now be a change of lights&comma; with Victor appearing on a balcony in lounging attire&comma; and raging<&sol;em>&rpar;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>                        &OpenCurlyQuote;Go away&period;  Just vanish&period;  You’re not going to infect me with Covid&period;  I haven’t lived enough&period;  I haven’t been outside my gates in three months&period;  Don’t you know everyone should stay at home&quest;  I haven’t even seen any of my girlfriends in three months&period;  At my level in life&comma; I am reduced to having wet dreams&period;  Terrible&period;’ &lpar;<em>Return to the present<&sol;em>&rpar;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy <&sol;strong>             He don stay home for three months&period;  People like him can be home for a whole year&period;  They don’t know there are those who have to hustle every day&comma; just to put <em>garri<&sol;em> in their mouths&period;  <em>&lpar;he becomes tearful&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe<&sol;strong>                This big man Victor is not your god&period;  Whatever the Lord wants to give you&comma; he will let you have it somehow&period;  See food&period;  Your share is here&period;  See everything&period; Na one madam I sew for her son&comma; na she give me all this&period;  Even money&period;  Stop crying and eat&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><em>&lpar;He strives to cheer Jimmy&period;  Jimmy might respond after a while&period;  Suddenly comes the sound of a car making a swift stop&period;  Tobe glances outside&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Tobe      <&sol;strong>          Who carry this kind car come here&quest;  Jimmy&comma; maybe we don get customer&period;  &lpar;<em>Jimmy is listless&period;  He hisses&period;  Tobe moves outside&period;  Jimmy begins halfheartedly to eat&period;  Suddenly&comma; Tobe enters with heavy bags and packages of food and cooking ingredients&comma; including live chickens if available&period;  The quantity far exceeds what he brought in earlier&rpar;<&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>                        Jimmy&comma; what your problem&quest;  Person bring all this for you&period;  Come help me&period;  <em>&lpar;Jimmy appears bemused&period;  Then Victor walks in carrying more packages&period;  He is wearing a facemask&comma; and only when he shifts it to speak is he fully recognized&rpar; <&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Victor<&sol;strong> <em>&lpar;to Jimmy<&sol;em>&rpar; Ah&comma; there you are&period;   Your coming to mind showed me I’d become a prisoner in my house&period;  Your juju has worked on me&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy<&sol;strong> <em>&lpar;reality dawns on him&period;  He throws himself at Victor&rpar;<&sol;em>   Sir&comma; thank you&comma; thank you&comma; all this you bring for me&period;  <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Victor  <&sol;strong>            No&comma; no&comma; no physical contact&period;  Covid protocols&comma; young man&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><em>&lpar;Victor brings out a wad of notes which he hands to Jimmy&rpar;<&sol;em>  Palliative&comma; my boy&period;  Good days will come<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Jimmy  <&sol;strong>            Sir&comma; Sir&comma; you will go to heaven&period;  That gate will be wide open for you&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>Victor   <&sol;strong>           Not yet&period;  I’ve many more years to spend on earth&period; <&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p>The end&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p><strong>©R&period;C&period; Ofodile&comma; 2020 <&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<pre class&equals;"wp-block-verse">GLOSSARY&NewLine;<em>ke<&sol;em>                                 really&sol;truly&sol;indeed&sol;as if&quest;&NewLine;<em>abeg<&sol;em>                            I beg&sol;please&NewLine;<em>Naija<&sol;em>                           popular term for Nigeria&NewLine;<em>nyama-nyama<&sol;em> substandard&sol;decrepit&sol;an apology&NewLine;<em>hei<&sol;em>                               Expression of surprise or dismay&NewLine;<em>Keke<&sol;em>                            popular&comma; three-wheel conveyance&NewLine;<em>lai-lai<&sol;em>                           ever&comma; never&NewLine;<em>nyarsh na wa<&sol;em>               buttocks are amazing&NewLine;<em>oga<&sol;em>                              boss&sol;master &NewLine;garri                           grainy food made into edible mas<&sol;pre>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<hr class&equals;"wp-block-separator is-style-dots">&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<div class&equals;'w3eden'><&excl;-- WPDM Link Template&colon; Default Template -->&NewLine;&NewLine;<div class&equals;"link-template-default card mb-2">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"card-body">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"media">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"mr-3 img-48"><img class&equals;"wpdm&lowbar;icon" alt&equals;"Icon" src&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wrr&period;ng&sol;wp-content&sol;plugins&sol;download-manager&sol;assets&sol;file-type-icons&sol;pdf&period;svg" &sol;><&sol;div>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"media-body">&NewLine; <h3 class&equals;"package-title"><a href&equals;'https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wrr&period;ng&sol;download&sol;con-scio-the-lockdown&sol;'>CỌ́N-SCÌÒ MAGAZINE&colon; THE LOCKDOWN &lbrack;ISSUE 1&comma; VOL&period; 1 &vert; JANUARY 2021&rsqb;<&sol;a><&sol;h3>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"text-muted text-small"><i class&equals;"fas fa-copy"><&sol;i> 1 file&lpar;s&rpar; <i class&equals;"fas fa-hdd ml-3"><&sol;i> 8 MB<&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine; <div class&equals;"ml-3">&NewLine; <a class&equals;'wpdm-download-link download-on-click btn btn-primary ' rel&equals;'nofollow' href&equals;'&num;' data-downloadurl&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;wrr&period;ng&sol;download&sol;con-scio-the-lockdown&sol;&quest;wpdmdl&equals;39480&refresh&equals;69324595581a51764902293">Download<&sol;a>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine; <&sol;div>&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;<&sol;div>&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<hr class&equals;"wp-block-separator">&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;&NewLine;<p class&equals;"has-text-align-right has-very-dark-gray-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background has-medium-font-size"><em><em><em><em><em><em><em>Reginald Chiedu Ofodile is an award-winning author and international actor&period; Ofodile has been a very prolific and versatile writer&comma; producing three novels&comma; two books of plays&comma; two poetry collections and a collection of short fiction&comma; as well as essays and criticism&period; His awards include the Warehouse Theatre International Award in 1997&comma; the BBC African Performance Award&comma; the World Students’ Drama Trust’s Awards and the 2015 ANA&sol;Abubakar Gimba award for a short story collection&period; He has also appeared across nations on stage and screen in many productions and coached actors&period;<&sol;em><&sol;em><&sol;em><&sol;em><&sol;em><&sol;em><&sol;em><&sol;p>&NewLine; &NewLine; <div class&equals;"booster-block booster-author-block">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"be-author-details layout-square align-left">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"be-author-wrapper">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"booster-row">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"booster-column booster-column-two booster-column-mobile">&NewLine; <div class&equals;"be-author-image">&NewLine; <img 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