Omollo Binairo (Play Series) Act 1- Beyond Constriction

Beyond Constriction

(In a town with tall erected buildings; busy streets, congested roaring engines, all-type people trickling up and down the streets, each minding own business apart from kamageras who'd grab people they make eye contact with asking them to board their nganyas by force. Opposite Old Tuskys Mall, there stands a restaurant decorated with chicken chips offer adverts. Inside; room UO17, on a bed, sat Omollo in his late 30s; well built man, dressed formally and his face covered with well-done blackish beards. He had just arrived and was unpacking his suitcase. He neatly set clothes aside and reaches a pistol and loads it with a bullet.)

Omollo: I can't hold it anymore. (Holds the pistol to his throat and pulls the trigger, he nearly blows his throat).

Knock! Knock! Knock! (Door knocks). (Hides the pistol under the clothes and gets the door).

Ms Kamau: Here are your bathroom attires. (Enters and places them carefully on a stool close to a bathroom door). I'm at your service sir. Incase you need anything just press this button. (Points at the button by the side of the main door) and I'll be here to attend to you. (Omollo nods, the chambermaid exits).

Tu-tururu-tu-tururu-tuuu (phone rings) 

Omollo: I told you, I'll give your money back. Just give me time!

Musyoka: Since 3 months and you have strength to ask for more time? My brother stop that nonsense and bring my money now! Or I send my goons for your head! (He angrily hangs up) 

Omollo: For my head? Hello! Hello! Argh! (He throws the phone on the bed) Nkt! (Kicks the bed and hurts his foot) Ouch! Ouch!

Tu-tururu-tu-tururu-tuuu (phone rings)

Omollo: (Checks who's  calling) I'm not ready for this! (Ignores the 1st 2nd and 3rd call) 

Tu-tururu-tu-tururu-tuuu (phone rings again, incoming call from a new number, he accepts the call this time).

Karanja: Hello Mr Omollo, it is Kopeshwa Pesa debt collector, Karanja Wairimu. We just discovered the land you presented for your loan security is an ancestral land and we cannot claim ownersh...tiiiii! (Omollo hangs up!)

Omollo: Aaargh! Enough of this calls. (Turns on the flight mode and lays meditatively on the bed.)

SCENE 2

(Early that same evening in the same restaurant in the same room; Omollo is lying on the bed silently asleep).

Wall 1: Do you remember the 2 ladies who were here last week?

Wall 2: The 2 who demonstrated rainbow pride and were actually not gays?

Wall 1: Exactly! Such a confused generation. All they did was brag how much they had sex with different boys.

Wall 2: Oh! Those two who ended up stabbing each other dead after discovering they had contracted super gonorea and HIV/Aids? 

(Omollo turns while still asleep)

Wall 4: This man in here tried suicide, let's end his life.

Wall 3: I can help him kill himself.

Wall 1: Let me do it.

Wall 2: No. Let me kill him and end his troubles. (Tries to reach for the gun and accidentally drops a wall art with noise that wakes Omollo).

Omollo: (Walks his heavy eyes around the room, notices a wall art had fell on the floor, picks his phone, turns off the airplane mode, turns on the flashlight, flashes under bed and retires back to bed after noticing nothing moving).

(As he slowly doze off, walls start

 whispering indistinguishably in low tones).

Wall 4: (Clears its throat and catches other walls' attention). It is our culture to gossip humans... 

Wall 1, and Wall 3: (grumbles) 

Wall 4: ...aahm ahh... I didn't mean that, though, since I was erected here I've seen a lot, with my own naked eyes, and, I enjoy when we talk what we see and hear. 

Wall 1: The day before yesterday, we all saw what happened... Some people are so heartless!

Wall 3: Heartless? I think it's their culture.

Wall 2: Uh. Culture to do evil?

Wall 4: I think wicked suits whoever has ever been in this room.

Wall 1: Including the other self claimed man of God who had his workmates were here rehearsing for the healing service. Acting mad, sick and then healed.

Wall 3: Hahaha! The acting was extremely believable! I stake my existence if his followers didn't believe the so called miracles!

Wall 4: They are very wicked. The other day, a young man installed socks into another man's mouth, stalking them in his mouth choking him dead.

Wall 1: They were not just men, they were couples!

Wall 3: The man was jealous of his boyfriend meeting up with his female friends!

Wall 2: Insecurity issues! He was afraid of losing his man!

(They all crack a laugh that awakens Omollo which is followed with grave silence).

SCENE 3

(Omollo walks to the bathroom).

Door knocks. He slides it open).

Ms. Kamau: Hello sir. Doing good?

Omollo: Oh yes, hectic and okay.

Ms. Kamau: Uh, sounds nice! Brought you some food. If you don't like my diet, you can place your own order on this number (gives him a card along with food packs).

Omollo: (Unpacking food pack) Mchele, one full cooked carrot, potato and a litter of  soup? I don't like gikuyu's soup thing, let me just place my order.

Ms Kamau: (Taking back her food). Thought the soup was good for your skinny bones. You know calcium. (Omollo stares at her feeling intimidated). Sir, I can take your order.

Omollo: Ugali, nyama choma and salad vegetables. (Closes the door on chambermaid's face, she takes it with a smile).

Ms. Kamau: Well noted. Sir!

(Omollo in the bathroom; turns on hot shower. Warm water bath tajes him 20 years back when he accidentally settled with his expectant wife while still in highschool. You know unplanned pregnancies! Besides, before love grew old; before each started taking separate baths, they would bath each other and together they'd manifest stupidity in the bathroom. He remembered their wedding day; how much he invested for that particular day, how he sold his only apartment for her wife's visa to work in USA. He sobs when he counts 16 years since he last saw his wife in physique and he confidently walks with his wedding ring on saying he is married).

Omollo: Oh me! I have been single and faithfully married for 16 years!

"Door knocks!" 

Omollo: (Wrapped in towel, opens the door) Argh.

Ms. Kamau:  (Enters) So, these are your favourites? (Puts the dish on the table). 

Omollo: I suppose it is not goat.

Ms. Kamau: Oh no! You said beef.

Omollo: Yes that's it! At least tonight I'm escaping goat meat monotony. 

Tu-tururu-tu-tururu-tuuu (phone rings)

Ms. Kamau: (As she exits) Enjoy your meal.

Omollo: Thank you for your service!

SCENE 4

(In the congested  ghettos of Umoja, a congested bedsitter apartment in one of the bedsitters, Musyoka is in a black suit and sneakers, trots here and there. With him is Bura, a strong man in casuals with tinted spectacles standing close to a young woman who is plastered on the wall).

Musyoka: Where is her phone? (Sees it lining in the woman's side pocket, he gets it, forces her to unlock and call his dad.) (He squeezes a blade on her chest, she gives in).

In the room at the restaurant

 (Used plates and glass are lying on the sink just like that. Omollo locks the door after the chambermaid exits).

Tu-tururu-tu-tururu-tuuu

Tu-tururu-tu-tururu-tuuu (phone rings) (Omollo ignores the call with fixing the wall art). 

Tu-tururu-tu-tururu-tuuu (phone rings again)

Omollo: Argh! Let me just answer it. (After confirming the caller, he quickly touches the green cellphone icon). 

Akoth: Daddy! Daddy! Help me!

Omollo: Baby girl daddy is com...

Akoth: (Musyoka runs his hands on her) Stop it! Don't touch me!

Omollo: AAARGH! 

Musyoka: I like her, she can help my first wife.

Omollo: If you dare touch my daughter I will skin you alive!

Musyoka: Bring my money or I... (to Akoth with aggressive voice) Young woman spread your legs!

Omollo: Enough! I'm bringing your money.

Musyoka: If the sun sets without my cash, I will burry her alive in my cottage and hunt you down! (Looks at Bura) We're taking her with us. Wrap her up and throw her in the boot. (Hangs up the call). (Bura does as instructed, Musyoka ignites the engine, turns on the music, music fills the air, Bura joins him and they drive off as the lights fade out).