A HUSBAND FOR BREAKFAST
Cast: Mary Jones
Isaiah Jones
Mrs. Morris
Moses Rogers
Capt. Hughes
(Scene: A simple drawing room, few chairs, table and sofa.
Enter Mary.)
Mary: (shouts)
Sai. (No answer). (Louder) Isaiah! (No answer) (Goes about her house work,
mumbling) Give that man three glasses of beer and he’ll sleep until tea- time.
I never saw such a man, or heard one either, snoring away like thunder in the
mountains. ISAIAH!
(Enter Mrs. Morris)
Mrs. Morris: Good morning,
Mary Jones. May I come in?
Mary: Of course, Mrs. Morris. And what brings you here so early
this morning?
Mrs. Morris: Yes,
it is early, but I thought I’d like to be the first to congratulate you, before
everyone else.
Mary:
Congratulate me??? And what do you mean, “before everyone else”? Are there
others going to come here this morning?
Mrs. Morris: Is Isaiah still in bed?
Mary: I’ve been
hollering for him so loud you’d hear it from your own kitchen, and that only a
minute before you came in.
Mrs. Morris: I suppose Isaiah didn’t tell you anything about what
happened last night?
Mary: He didn’t need to. I
could smell it on him before he was halfway up the hill.
Mrs. Morris: Well, we all had a little drop to drink, of course.
And sponsored by Isaiah!
Mary: Don’t be silly. Isaiah doesn’t have that much money.
Mrs. Morris: Oh, he sold you for 50 rupees.
Mary: He’s crazy! And don’t tell me that the offer was accepted.
Mrs. Morris: Yes, it was. By Moses Roberts.
Mary : And the money’s gone?
Mrs. Morris: Oh no. It’s safe in Captain Hughes’ cash box. I saw it drop there with my own eyes.
Mary: And you all stood
around and didn’t raise a finger to stop it happening?
Mrs. Morris: How
could we help it? Besides, we were the witnesses, and it wasn’t our place to
interfere.
Mary: The whole
thing is ridiculous, and I’ll give them both
a piece of my mind! He’s got no right to sell me for anything. He
doesn’t own me, I own him!
Mrs. Morris: I don’t think anybody would give you 50 rupees for
Isaiah.
Mary: I’m certain
they wouldn’t, drunk or sober. Not that I’d ever try. Isn’t there something in
the Bible about not selling your husband or wife?
Mrs. Morris: I don’t remember…(Enter Isaiah, sheepishly.)
Isaiah: Good
morning, ladies.
Mary: So you’re
up, you lazy scumbag! You made a fool out of yourself last night, and, what’s
more, a fool out of me. So you sold me, did you? You sold me for 50
rupees. And to Moses Roberts, of all
people – a skinny bag of bones you wouldn’t give a sick dog!
Isaiah:
(protesting) No, no, my dear! Listen. That was only a joke. You don’t think I’d
–
Mary: Oh, a joke, was it! Show me the 50 rupees you had in payment!
Mrs. Morris: Yes, indeed.
Isaiah: I haven’t got it.
Mary: Where is it?
Isaiah: It’s in the Millennium Pub.
Mary: So you did sell me!
Mrs. Morris:
(aside, to the audience) I told you he’d catch it.
(Moses Roberts appears in the doorway, and behind him Capt.
Hughes).
Isaiah: We weren’t serious. Moses has probably forgotten everything
that happened.
Moses Rogers: Oh, I have, have I?
Mrs. Morris:
Goodness me! (All three in the room turn round at the angry, rasping voice of
Moses Rogers.)
Moses Rogers:
Well, let me tell you, I haven’t forgotten the way you swindled 50 bucks out of
me last night.
Isaiah: I didn’t swindle you.
Moses Rogers: I’ve brought my witness. Didn’t I hand Isaiah 50
rupees last night?
Capt. Hughes and Mrs. Morris: (together) You did.
Mrs. Morris: We all had a drink on it.
Moses Rogers: And have I had anything in return?
Capt. Hughes: no.
Moses Rogers: Just an offer, that’s all. And such an offer that no
man in his right mind would accept.
Mary: Is that so?
Moses Rogers: You keep out of this, Mary Jones. This has nothing to
do with you.
Mary: Hasn’t it indeed? Not when I’ve just heard that I was sold
like a sheep of a pound of butter.
Moses Rogers:
Sold? You weren’t sold. He just dragged you in to get my 50 bucks out of me,
and because be couldn’t think of anything else he could call his own. You
didn’t think I’d stick to the bargain, did you, and land myself until my dying
day with a woman who’s known all over the village as a bully and the biggest
gossip ever?
Mrs. Morris: Well done, Moses Rogers!
Capt. Hughes: (gleefully) Go on, Mary Jones! Tell him what you
think of him now.
Mrs. Morris: you
are the fool, Moses Rogers, for giving up your 50 rupees when you didn’t mean
to hold to the bargain. You shouldn’t have let it out of your pocket last
night. It’s too late to want it back now.
Mrs. Morris: That’s true.
Moses Rogers;
That’s plain stealing – holding on to my money and giving me nothing for it.
Give me back my 50 bucks and I won’t say any more about it.
Mary: Don’t ask me. You get it from the man you gave it to.
Moses Rogers: Isaiah Jones, give me back my 50 rupees.
Isaiah: How can I? Didn’t I spend it on drinks in your pub, Capt.
Hughes?
Capt. Hughes: You did, indeed. We all saw you do it.
Moses Rogers: Can’t you borrow it ? Mrs. Morris, can’t you lend him
50 rupees?
Mrs. Morris: To
pay you? No, indeed! I’d have to get it out of him myself then, instead of
watching you.
Moses Rogers: ( to Isaiah) You can get it from your wife, can’t
you?
Mary: (to Isaiah) Don’t you dare!
Moses Rogers:
Mary Jones, won’t you give your own husband 50 rupees to buy yourself off
from a bargain that was made when the
two of us were drunk?
Mary: But he’s not my husband any more. He sold me..
Moses Rogers: Don’t be silly! That was a joke.
Mary: Oh no, it
wasn’t. He sold me to you for fifty
rupees, and he can’t pay you back, so the bargain holds, and you’ll have to
take me instead.
Moses Rogers; Take you? For a wife? I’d throw myself off the mountain first.
Mary (to the others): Isn’t it right, wasn’t the bargain made with
you as witnesses?
Capt. Hughes and Mrs.
Morris: Yes, it was. (delighted at the unexpected and sensational trend of
events.) You’re caught now, Moses.
Moses Rogers: She’s joking.
Mary: Why should
I be joking? Take a look at Isaiah there. Wouldn’t any woman want a change,
even if it’s only to Moses Rogers?
Moses Rogers: I don’t believe you. You’ve always hated me. You’ve
always called me names.
Mary: Only because deep down, all the time, I loved you, dear
Moses.
Moses Rogers: (rising with a yell of alarm) No, no! Let me go! Let
me go!
Capt. Hughes: (seizing him): No, no. You brought us here. You stay
and see this through.
Moses Rogers: I
didn’t know she felt that way about me, or I’d never have mentioned her name.
I’d have left the country; I’d have taken the first boat to America.
Mary: You’ll grow
to love me, Moses Rogers, even if it doesn’t seem so easy now.(She takes his
hand. He screams and tries to escape. Capt. Hughes and Mrs. Morris block his
way.)
Capt. Hughes: A bargain’s a bargain, Moses.
Mrs. Morris: And we’ll see that you stick to it.
Isaiah: And what’s going to happen to me?
Mary: You can do
whatever you like. (Isaiah quietly goes to the armchair, and after sometime,
drifts off to sleep.) Now Moses, cut me a slice of bread. I’m hungry.
Moses Rogers;
What! You can’t order me about like that!
Mary: Oh, can’t
I? You’re my husband now of your own free choice. Cut that bread this minute,
or I’ll give you such a whack on the head with this chappatti roller, you won’t
forget to do what I say again.
Capt. Hughes; You’d better do it, Moses. She means it.
Mrs. Morris:
Isn’t this fun. We’ve never enjoyed ourselves so much since the Mayor’s suspenders snapped
during his Republic day address.
Mary (moves to
the table, sits) : I’ll have my breakfast here. Milk and sugar on the dresser.
(Moses brings the bread, and seeing no escape, goes for the
milk and sugar.)
Capt. Hughes: Isn’t it good to see an old bachelor being caught
this way?
Moses Rogers:
Mary Jones, I won’t say anything more about those fifty rupees if you’ll let
things stand where they are now, and stop the joke this minute. I’ll forget the
fifty-rupee debt.
Mary: Oh dear,
I’ve already forgotten it. What’s fifty measly rupees, Moses dear, between
husband and wife?
Moses Rogers: I’ll give you a sack of wheat if you’ll stop this
nonsense.
Mary: Ha, ha!
That’s funny. You’re offering me a sack of wheat when all you have and you too
are mine now.
Moses Rogers:
Hey, it was I who bought you, not you
who bought me! I’ll make that 5 sacks of wheat. Please??
Mary: Don’t waste time, driveling like a rabid dog. Now clean those
boots down there.
Moses Rogers: (defiantly): I won’t.
Mrs. Morris: Good for Moses!
Mary: ( rises threateningly) What’s that you said, Moses?
Moses: (frightened) Well, just this once. But never again, mind
you, never again. (Works on the boots.)
Capt. Hughes: Offer her more, Moses. Why not try those 6 hens you
bought last Saturday?
Moses: Do you think I’m going to hand over half a dozen of my fat
hens to her?
Mrs. Morris: You’d better let your hens go, or she’ll be having the
brown cow.
Capt. Hughes: And the litter of pigs just born last week.
Moses: Don’t
remind her, you fools, of what I’ve got. You’re just putting ideas into her
head. I’d have got out of this long ago if it wasn’t for you all cheering her
on.
Mrs. Morris: We’re not cheering anybody on. We’re impartial.
Mary: Pick up those boots, Moses, and don’t throw tantrums on your
wedding day.
Moses: Wedding
day be damned! I’m not marrying you, Mary Jones, no, not if my dead body was
dragged to the altar itself and the priest bribed.
Mary: If you’ve
finished the boots, Moses, you can begin cleaning the furniture and wipe the
knives and forks. You’ve got a choice.
Moses: I’ll give you the chickens and the sacks of wheat. Let me
go!
Capt. Hughes: She won’t relent unless you give her the cow as well,
Moses.
Moses: I won’t let the brown cow go – not if I’m kept here till
Doomsday.
Mrs. Morris:
You’ll find yourself feeding the pig and cleaning out the sty when you’re an
old, old man.
Capt. Hughes: I’d sooner part with a brown cow than let that happen
to me.
Moses: (in tears): If I let the cow go, Mary Jones, will you call
it even?
Mary: Make it 5
sacks of wheat, 6 fat hens, the brown cow and the new litter of pigs and I’ll
consider it. Of course, if you think I’m asking too much of you, there’s the
washing up you can do and the windows to clean. And –I think you have a pondful
of ducks and –
Moses: (hastily):
No, no! I’ll take your offer if you’ll let me go now and swear before these
witnesses that you’ll never claim me as your husband again.
Mary: I swear. It’s a bargain. And Capt. Hughes and Mrs. Morris are
witnesses.
Moses: Then I’m not your husband any more. (dancing) Thank God. I’m
free!
Capt. Hughes: You’re a big fool, Moses, to have donated your new
litter of pigs
Mrs. Morris: And your brown cow and 6 plump hens.
Capt. Hughes: And 5 sacks of wheat.
Moses: I don’t
care. Anything is worth what I’ve got myself free of. Being Mary Jones' husband for 10 minutes is
the worst
thing that’s ever happened to me, and when I think of being
it for the rest of my life-
Mary: (rising and
facing Moses): Do you suppose for one minute, you brainless scarecrow, that I’d
have you for a husband a minute longer than I could frighten you into handing
over some of your ill-gotten riches?
Moses: You can’t
say that now when you –
Mrs. Morris and Capt.
Hughes (rising and coming between them). Let’s have no harsh words. Not
after such a lovely morning. Come on, we’ve got work to do.
Moses: The sooner
I leave this house the better. And may God punish me if I ever enter it
again!(Runs out. The other 2 leave, talking excitedly. Mary shakes Isaiah.)
Mary: Sai, wake up!
Isaiah: What’s the matter? Where have all the others gone?
Mary: Gone home.
I sent Moses Rogers packing. Sai, you’re
my husband again. Now what shall I get you for breakfast?
Isaiah: (suspiciously): What’s made you so obliging all of a
sudden?
Mary: Don’t be so
sour, Isaiah. Before Moses Rogers backed out, I made him pay me 5 sacks of
wheat, 6 hens, his new litter of pigs, and his fine brown cow. So, we’re rich,
Isaiah, we’re rich!
Isaiah: (a grin lighting up his face) Then it wasn’t so bad what I
did last night after all?
Mary(chuckling):
So bad? Let me tell you this, Isaiah. The next time we’re hard up and don’t
know which way to turn, you just go and sell me again.
Isaiah: For 50 rupees?
Mary: For anything you like. And leave the rest to me.
* * *
MAGIS
Scene: Manresa, a cave. Darkness, diffused light. Inigo
dressed in sackcloth, hair and beard tangled and wild, squats meditating. Enter
Evil Spirit.
Evil Spirit: Is it you, Inigo? The handsome youth with eyes
alight with laughter, with scented hair so carefully, carefully combed – what
have you done with him? Where is Inigo the spirited soldier spilling fire with
every drop of blood, weilding the soldier’s sword? And now, Inigo, you sit here
in a cave in Manresa and meditate – HA! (pause) Do you miss the taste of wine,
I wonder?
Inigo (stands): Those things are finished, all finished. I
have known them and loved them and set them aside.
Evil Spirit: What a contradiction! Inigo, the vain knight in
shining armour, the brave soldier who dreamed great dreams. You wished to
conquer lands, bring glory and win the love of a countess. Or is she a queen?
Inigo: A greater queen has waited for me all this while.
At Montserrat, her image stands enshrined. I knelt in vigil all night long
before her beauty.
Evil Spirit: Oh, Inigo! How her light blinds you, you fool! You
– you who wanted to do great things, you who could have got so much glory, you
who could have got so much power – I pity you.
Inigo: Pity yourself, evil one. I still desire to do
great things, but not the way your crooked mind thinks. I wish to do great
things for HIM. (looks up). I desire to put all my natural and spiritual
resources at the service of the Lord. He who has given me so much, who
has forgiven me so much. To seek my own glory is worthless – no, it is
the glory of God that matters.
Evil Spirit: Be sensible, Inigo! This life is not for you. The
rigor of the saints is for the saints. The long litanies, the black fasts, the
cruel whippings, the loneliness, the lack of love – these are not for
you. Do you think that you can live so harsh a life for the forty years
that are left to you?
Inigo: Wretched tempter! I see your serpent’s tail. Can
you promise me even a single hour of life? You would have no power over me at
all, had it not been given you from above. Go!
Evil Spirit (shrugs): Have it your way then, but what waste,
Inigo, what waste. (backs away, slowly exits)
Inigo: (raises his hands): Waste - it is not. For I dream
of the pearl of great price. And I will give up everything to get that pearl,
to realise my dream. Lord help me to give without counting the cost, to work
only for your greater glory. Let me not be half-hearted in what I do, but let
me do MORE for You.
(The song “To dream the impossible dream” is sung, Inigo humbly exits)
*
* *
HE COMES, COMES, EVER COMES…
Cast: Trinity –
God the Father and Mother
Jesus
Holy
Spirit
Wise
Students: John, Paul, Lucy and Julie
Beggars:
2
Dalit family: 2
High Caste/ Dancers: 4 + 1
drummer
Child
Narrator: One
fine day, the Holy Trinity walk the streets of heaven and discuss…
God-Fr: So the
world is celebrating the Jubilee year this year.
God-Mom: All in
honour of you, Jesus.
HSp: Have you
any idea what’s going on?
Jesus: I hear
that there are a number of prayer meetings, exhibitions and so on being
organized. There is even talk of the Second Coming. (Laughs)
God-Fr: Well,
Christians do seem to be renewing themselves. However it can be a pain in the
neck for others, like the Jews, RSS and others.
God-Mom: Just
the other day, 3 men were lamenting about these very Christian activities. The
Jewish Rabbi said: “I sent my son, my only son to USA, and they made him a
Christian.” The Muslim Mawli said: “I too trained my son for many years to
master the Holy Quran, then my son was invited to a dialogue with Christians,
and he returned home a Christian, baptized.” The Hindu swami cried: “My
friends, my son has met with the same fate. These meat-eating missionaries came
to my village, and made my son a Christian.”
God-Fr: So they
cried out to us: “O God! Look at what these Christians have done. They have
made our sons Christian. Why don’t you do something.”
HSp: So what
did you do?
God-Mom: We
told them: “We can’t help you. We sent our son to earth. They made him a
Christian too! (All laugh).
HSp: Well, I
suggest we go to earth and see for ourselves what’s going on.
God-Fr: Great
idea! Where shall we go?
Jesus: Well, I
was in Palestine, so there’s nothing new about that. Besides, there’s too much
fighting going on at the moment. Rome would be nice, but with Ratzinger’s new
document “Dominus Iesu”, we may get into further controversy. Let’s forget
about America – they still haven’t really recovered from the month-long
counting of votes. Well, what about India?
God-Mom: That
would be nice. It seems there is a college of theology there, where a lot of
new and interesting theories about us are taught. Shall we? (They agree, start
moving to earth)
Song:
Scene II
(The Trinity watch
from a distance)
Music soft, distant: Gloria
in excelcis Deo!
John: Listen!
Did you hear that? The Lord is coming at last. Perhaps he is going to be born
somewhere or maybe he will just appear in all his glory, as it is mentioned in
the book of Revelations. All our waiting and searching has not been in vain.
Paul: We better
hurry or we may miss the great event.
Lucy: But we
can’t go empty-handed. We should give him some gifts.
Julie: I will
bake a delicious cake, filled with raisins, nuts and iced with chocolate. I’m
sure the Messiah will enjoy it. Come on, you brilliant theologians, get your
gifts together and let’s begin our search.
Scene III
(The 4 students begin their search.)
Paul: According
to my calculations, we are on the right road. If we keep on due West, we should
encounter the Saviour sooner or later.
Beggars:
Bhaiya, kuch de do…
John: Move on.
We are on our way to meet the Lord.
Julie: They’re
starving. They don’t seem to have eaten for days. We must help them.
Lucy: Don’t be
silly. We don’t have time to waste.
(Julie removes the cake she baked and gives it to them.)
Julie: Here,
take this. I wanted to give it to the Lord when we find him, but I suppose I
will be able to get something else on the way.
Scene IV
A Dalit girl goes to draw water from the well. The higher
caste girls beat, insult and throw her and her family out of the village. The
4, as they continue their search, encounter the Dalit family sitting
sorrowfully.
Lucy: What has
happened to all of you?
Dalit: We have
been branded untouchables and thrown out of our village.
John: We’d love
to help but we just don’t have the time. You see, we believe that the Lord has
come and we are rushing to meet him.
Julie: We can’t
leave them like this, we must do something.
Paul: Julie,
you’re delaying us. I don’t think this is as important as meeting the Saviour.
Julie: Why
don’t all of you carry on. I’ll catch up shortly.
(Julie meets and discusses the issue of the “untouchables”
with the higher caste. Some walk out in anger, the others accept the family
back into the village with a symbolic tribal dance of acceptance/welcome.)
Scene V
(The 4 keep walking and searching…)
Paul: I do hope
your calculations are accurate, John. We have been searching for so long and we
are yet to find the Lord. Do you think there is some mistake?
John: No
mistake, I’m sure. We must be patient. I know the Lord is near and we will not
miss him, of that I’m confident.
(Meet a small child/baby abandoned on the road, crying.)
Lucy: It looks
as though somebody doesn’t want this child and has abandoned it.
Paul: Don’t
look at it, or else you may feel compelled to do something. I don’t suppose any
serious harm will fall upon this kid. God takes care of all of them.
Julie: That
won’t be right. If we don’t do something, this child will surely die. We need
to look after him until we find some place/institution that can look after him.
John: Don’t be
stupid, Julie. You heard what Paul said. God will take care of him. Now let him
be there. It’s not your fault that somebody abandoned this child.
Julie: I cannot
go forward. We must care for this child immediately.
Lucy: You can
wait and do what you want. But we cannot wait any longer for you. We’re on our
way. When we meet the Lord, we’ll give him your regards.
(The 3 leave. Julie picks up the kid and cares for him.)
Scene VI
Paul: I think
you have made some mistake, in your calculations, John. We have been searching
for so long but we are yet to find the Lord. Who are those people standing
there? (Encounter the Trinity)
John: Excuse
me, but can you help us find the Messiah. We have been searching for a long
time, but we have lost our way.
God-Mom: Your
search will be in vain. You have eyes but you do not see, ears but you do not
hear, minds but you do not understand.
Lucy: What is
that supposed to mean? Who are you?
God-Fr: We are
God. The Holy Trinity, you know!
Paul: Don’t be
silly. How can one God be so many of you?
HSp: Well, You
remember the example your professor gave you? The analogy of the ‘idli’. The
essence is the same…
Jesus: Stop
searching with your eyes. Now let your heart do the seeing. Then you will
realize why some like your friend Julie have found the Saviour. For the Son of
Man came to his own and they did not receive him. Every time you help the
needy, fight for justice, let your heart do the seeing.
(The Trinity move on.)
John: Is there
something we missed? Somehow I feel as though we missed the bus? Do you think
Julie was right after all?
Paul: Let’s go
find Julie and help her care for the kid.
Song: Awake from
your slumber…
(They meet Julie and the child. Share their gifts with the
child)
Song: Joy
to the world.
ME, MYSELF AND JESUS
Cast: Anthony: A well to do youth
Rina: His neighbour, very “religious”
Paul: friend to both of them
Policeman
(Scene: Anthony’s
house. Loud music. Anthony dances. Enter Rina.)
Rina: (angrily
puts off the music) Don’t you have any sense, Anthony? Your music can be heard
even in my house, which is at least 100 meters away. Today we have begun the
novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and I can’t concentrate because of this
terrible noise you are making.
Anthony: You’re
crazy! Rina, they should lock you up in the mental hospital. The whole day and
night all you think of is novenas and going to Church. You think the Church
will collapse without you. Listen, I have every right to do whatever I like in
my house, you please stay in your house without disturbing me. (Switches on the
music again. Increases the volume.)
Rina: (Switches
off the music): You heretic! You have no respect for the Church and all her
customs. You have not been to Church for the last 5 years. Every time we have
Charismatic meetings in my house, you put your noise-box on to disturb our
prayer. I’m sure you will go to hell.
Anthony:
(sarcastically) O holy, saint Rina! The gates of heaven are already open to
you. I hope you will not wait but go up fast to take your place there, and
leave me in peace! Listen, you mad woman – I may not go to Church, but I
certainly do more than simply praying meaninglessly all day. Just now I am
practising for a programme for poor children. I can’t waste my time praying.
(Enter Paul, out of breath.)
Paul: Come quick,
both of you. There’s a fire burning at the municipality office. We can help to
slow the fire before the fire fighters arrive.
Rina: I would
like to come and watch. A building on fire is so exciting to watch. But I must
continue with my novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. I shall come after an
hour.
Anthony: I too
would like to help you, Paul, but I have to practise my dance for the charity
programme which will be held at Nehru hall tomorrow. 1000 people are expected
to watch and I want to perform superbly.
Paul: I can’t
wait. I must go before the fire spreads. (Runs out)
(Rina also leaves; Anthony puts on the music, pours a soft
drink.)
(Some time later…
Enter Policeman, Paul and Rina, who is crying bitterly.)
Policeman: Come
here, Anthony. Sit down. I have some bad news for you.
Anthony: What bad
news? Why is Rina crying? Stop crying, you silly girl.
Policeman: Did
you hear about the fire at the municipality office. Well, the fire spread
quickly and trapped those who were attending the meeting with the governor
today. Most of them escaped, but six of them were burnt to death. Since today’s
meeting concerned your area, Rina’s father and yours too, were present. I’m
sorry, but both of them could not escape. Perhaps they could have been saved if
more people were there to help. But only Paul and three other youth worked to
stop the fire. Those who were saved owe their lives to these four, brave, young
men. (Exit Policeman.)
Rina: O Anthony!
If only we had listened to Paul and gone to help them, then surely we could
have saved all the people and our fathers too. Why was I so selfish and blind?
I could have prayed later.
Anthony:
(sorrowfully) very true, Rina. I thought I was helping the poor, but actually I
wanted to show-off my talent of dancing.
Paul: Rina and
Anthony, there is a lesson we must learn from this incident. Rina, Church
activities and prayers are certainly good, but they must be shown in action.
I’m sure Jesus wants us to show that we love him by helping others in need.
Anthony, doing good deeds is great, but you cannot disregard prayer totally. By
spending a little time with Jesus everyday, I think he will help you make the
right choices in life. It’s up to you to decide, it’s up to you to balance both
prayer and action to help others feel the love of Jesus.
(They hold hands together, and silently exit.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Social Justice
in the house?
Characters: Mother; Geeta (daughter); Mala (servant)
Tea time: Geeta at the table
breaks a teapot
Mother: What is that?
Geeta: Nothing Mummy, the teapot slipped from my hands and fell
down. What can I do?
Mother: Don’t worry, my girl, we shall buy a new one. (to the
servant) Mala, run and get the cups from the kitchen. (In her hurry, Mala drops
a cup.)
Mother: (Runs towards Mala, shouts at her and slaps her) What have
you done, you careless woman? I shall cut it from your pay. (Mala starts
crying)
Geeta thinks aloud: Mummy did not even scold me when I broke the
teapot . But poor Mala. Why did she get such a scolding and beating for
breaking just a small cup - not fair at
all; Am I not to be blamed as she? Does she deserve it because she is a
servant?
* * *
Social Justice
among classmates?
Cast: Raju, Suresh and Arati (rich friends); Basu (a poor lad);
headmaster
Raju: C’mon, Suresh and Arati. Let’s bunk classes and see “Josh”.
It’s running house-full, people say.
Suresh: Great idea! And I’ve
got plenty of cash to enjoy. So let’s go and have a great time. (Enter Basu)
Basu: Please give me twenty rupees, guys. I’ll repay you after a
week.
Arati: Get lost, Basu. You are worse than a filthy beggar. You
won’t get a single paisa from us. (Basu moves away dejectedly.)
Suresh: Let’s get our bags and start moving. (They go to get their
bags)
Raju: Help! Somebody has stolen my money.
Arati: How much is missing?
Raju: Twenty bucks. I think that dirty rat Basu must have stolen
it.
(They catch Basu, search his
pockets, find the money, and start beating him without questioning him.
Headmaster enters.)
Headmaster: What’s going on?
Suresh: Basu has stolen twenty rupees from Raju’s bag, Sir.
Headmaster: Basu! I can’t believe this. You have always been an
exemplary student. Even after you’re father died, you have done well in studies
and earned a scholarship every year. So why did you steal this money?
Basu: I’m sorry Sir. My mother is sick, she cannot do her work as a
peon, and now we don’t even have money to buy medicines. I stole this money to
buy her a few tablets so that she may get well soon and feed our family!
(Stunned silence among the group)
* * *
Social Justice
in the Neighbourhood?
Scene 1: a mochi’s house.
Wife: There’s no money for tomorrow, Harish. How will I manage for
food for the three children. They all had to share only one chappati between them
today.
Harish: If only people would pay me for the work I do, it would be
alright, at least we’d manage, but everyone forgets that the price of things
like nails and leather has gone up.
Wife: You’ll just have to make them understand, otherwise we’ll starve.
===
Scene 2: A group of schoolgirls rather fashionably dressed, pass
the mochi on the roadside – one girl’s chappal breaks, they pause.
Usha: oh dear, my chappal’s broken.
Deepa: Well, you’re lucky, here’s a mochi.
Usha: (rudely) Here, mend this.
Harish: The strap is broken, it will have to be changed.
Usha: Alright, hurry up.
Deepa: We’ll be late for the movie.
Usha: I know, this lazy fellow is taking so long. As though he’s
making a new pair.
Harish: (handing back the chappal) That will be Rs.2.
Usha and Deepa: What! You’ve hardly done any work.
Harish: The leather costs Rs.1.50. Surely I can make 50 paise
profit?
Usha: What rubbish! 1 rupee is quite enough for your work. Here
take it. Come on, we’ll be late for the movie.
* * *
Social Justice
in the Country?
Minister’s Office.
Minister: Come in, Mr. Jaswant. What can I do for you?
Mr. Jaswant: Good morning, Minister Saab. This is my daughter,
Lata, who is seeking admission in the medical college.
Minister: I’m very sorry. I have been informed that there is not
even ONE seat left.
Mr. Jaswant: But I was told you could help. There are a few seats
left, which can be got only with influence.
Minister: Yes……… but………you know……….
Mr. Jaswant: Of course, I know, I understand. How much?
Minister: Well, five will be quite enough.
Mr. Jaswant: (very happy) Thank you, thank you very much. I shall send you the money in cash tomorrow
morning. When shall I send Lata for the admission?
·
* *
…
And out flowed blood and water
Broken spirits!
Wounded souls!
Look beyond hill and valley
And see lush green fields
Smoke shyly leaving the warm kitchens
Village damsels prancing around the river
Animals sipping the morning dew
Nature in all her pristine glory.
But rub the eyes and look again
And the mirage is removed
Where once stood trees tall and thick
And animals gamboled in glee
Exalting God’s splendorous creation
Now – only water,
Damned dammed water
Not allowed the freedom to flow.
And what of life…
Life –an eager candle flame
Snuffed out by the wind
That blows over the huge monstrosity
Of the concrete bulwark
Life –from silky cocoon to pretty butterfly
But dainty wings mangled beyond recognition
So much promise of beauty
Squelched
By the power and tentacles of
“Progress”, “modernisation”, “globalization”.
Do ends justify the means?
Should I benefit at the cost of you?
Surely some will dance and sing and clap
Fattened by the “basic necessities of life”
Seeded, manured, watered
And paid for
With the crushing of bones and skulls
Of tribals, adivasis, the voiceless
Broken spirits!
Wounded souls!
Already tears drop fall like rain
Little drops of blood
Trickle down the cheek
To quench the thirst
Of parched desert land.
O Hope! All seems hope-less.
Did you not suffer similar injustice?
Have you not experienced the same
Heartlessness and hopelessness?
Rise, O Love! Return, O Saviour!
Let even the tear –ducts dam up!
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