The Bleak Rainbow

By Taiwo Olaniyan

Bola falls in love with Peter, a young man from across the River Niger and shortly thereafter gets married to him. Peter's comes from a culture that believes and practices despicable wife-hospitality, as an integral part of their culture. Charles, Peter's friend and kinsman comes on a night visit and according to their culture demands that Peter should entertain him with his..............

• Language: English
• Publisher: Taiwo Olaniyan
• Release date: Jul 17, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463993361

Taiwo Olaniyan

Teacher, educationist, poet, playwright, writer and author

Book preview

Bleak Rainbow

Taiwo Olaniyan

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all my readers

TableOfContent

Dedication

Table_of_Contents

Characters

Part_One_(The Early Ages)

Act_One

Scene_One

Scene_Two

Scene_Three

Scene_Four

Act_Two

SceneOne

SceneTwo

SceneThree

Act_Three

Scene_one_

Scene_Two_

Scene_Three_

Part_II (The Mid-Ages)

Act_Four

Scene_One_a

Scene_Two_b

Scene_Three_c

Act Five

ACT_FIVE_SCENE_ONE

ACT_FIVE_SCENE_TWO

ACT_FIVE_SCENE_THREE

PART_III(The Latter Ages)

Act_Six

Act_Six_SCENE_ONE

ACT_SIX_SCENE_TWO

ACT_SIX_SCENE_THREE

Act_Seven

Act_Seven_Scene_One

Act_Seven_Scene_Two

Characters

BOLA

CYNTHIA

STELLA

LINDA

PETER- Bola’s husband

ANCHOR

PETER’S FATHER

PETER’S MOTHER

BOLA’S FATHER

BOLA’S MOTHER

MID-WIFE

ROSE-Bola’s daughter

CHUKWUDI-A bully

ALERO-Rose’s friend

DENZEL

JOSEPH

KUNLE-Rose’s husband

GBEMISOLA- Rose’s daughter

KOLAWOLE-Kunle’s friend

CHARLES

CLERIC

CROWD

OFFICER

FAMILY HEAD

IN-LAWS

PRINCIPAL

GUESTS

Back_to_TableOfContents

Part_One

THE EARLY AGES

ENTER ANCHOR

ANCHOR: All the world is a stage

And all the men and women merely players

They have their exits and their entrances

And one man in his time plays many parts

His acts being seven ages, At first, the infant mewling and puking in the nurse’s arms

Then the whining school boy with his satchel

And shining morning face, creeping like snail

Unwillingly to school.

‘ All the world is a stage’ by

Williams Shakespeare.

Back_to_TableOfContents

Act_One

Scene_One

[Parker University matriculation examination tutorial college, Lagos. Enter Cynthia, Stella, Bola and Linda, a group of four female friends in their late teens. Their classmates are seated on chairs on stage.]

CYNTHIA: Hey! You came early today how are you all? Did you sleep well?

STELLA: My dark eyed night was lovely and I guess it is the same for

everybody else.

BOLA: Let’s go and sit down before the tutorials start.

LINDA: Very well then.

[They all take their seats. They do not greet anyone already

Seated ENTER Peter Johnson. He was a young handsome man in his early twenties.]

PETER: Hello, girls.

[No response. Peter moves towards the girls and sits on a chair close to them.]

CYNTHIA: (Furious.) Are you mad? How dare you? Have you gone insane like a hen whose only chick has just been abducted by a hawk?

PETER: What is the matter?

STELLA: How can a worthless nobody like you sit beside us in the class? You are filthy like a piece of household rag.

LINDA: How dare you take your seat near us?

BOLA: Take it easy friends, he has done nothing wrong.

LINDA: I’m surprised that you can talk like this, Bola.

PETER: I have every right to sit where I wish to sit.

[Linda moves closer to him and hits him across the face]

PETER: What? You slapped me?

STELLA: What if she did? Fuck off you idiot.

[Sadly, Peter starts to walk away.]

BOLA: Peter, please forgive them if you can.

PETER: Thank you.

STELLA: Peter, come back here!

[Peter stops walking and turns to look at her.]

STELLA: You have to prostrate in apology to us girls for what you did.

PETER: What did you say?

STELLA: You heard me.

PETER: Why all these reactions that is like the physiological reactions of antibodies to an antigen in the body?

CYNTHIA: If you don’t want massive embarrassment and trouble, you better comply immediately.

LINDA: We are waiting for you to comply, you son-of-a-bitch.

BOLA: Don’t you girls think your behavior is unbecoming of well brought up girls?

STELLA: What?

LINDA: I take that as an insult, Bola.

CYNTHIA: Enough of your attitude, Bola.

PETER: Bola, it is okay, let me prostrate