Acme of Greed: A One-Act Play

PLOT

Acme of greed is a play about a chief who is desperately in need of a son and could go any length to ensure that he gets a son. In the process of searching, He decided to get a new wife, His friends Agu and Kachi helped him in the search of the wife. After getting the lady, and finally being able to bear him a son. On the day of the naming ceremony, Chief and his entire household was poisoned, except the newly married wife and son.

They posed a lot of controversies in the village and they had to consult the Chief Priest to find the person responsible. It was later discovered that it was his friend Kachi who poisoned Chief and his family.

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## CHARACTERS Chief – Nwaolisa 1st Wife – Nkechi 2nd Wife – Nneoma 1st Chief – Agu 2nd Chief – Kachi Dibia – Chief Priest Udoka – Chief’s Mother Chinwe – Chief’s Daughter 1st Girl – Passer by 2nd Girl – Passer by

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Act One: Scene one

In the morning, in a market place. Traders hawking their goods, sounds of vehicles in the background. The scene shows Agu and Ike sitting and drinking.


AGU: My brother, I don’t understand what this economy is turning to (takes a sip of his drink)

KACHI: You are not the only one complaining, its all over the country.

AGU: The most annoying part is that my wife seems not to see things as it stands.

KACHI: (takes a sip of his drink and taps Agu). You should know now that women are short sighted, they don’t see things the way we men do.

AGU: I know…. But you see (A commotion goes on in his store and he calls on his boy). Sunday! Ogini na eme ebe ghu (what is happening there).

SUNDAY: Oga, hin talk say the goods wey hin buy last week no good and….

AGU: (cuts in) Eh! Change am for am. (Turns to Kachi). You see what I’m talking about another loss. When would this end?
(Chief Nwolisa walks in).

AGU: Chief Chief! O me kao dimma (hailing him).

CHIEF: Agu na echemba (hailing back)

KACHI: Ome ka o dimma

(Agu beckons on Sunday to bring a seat for Chief to sit)

CHIEF: It seems you guys are having a good time.

KACHI: Chief, do you consider a good time by a few bottles of drink?.

CHIEF: That’s not what I imply, you know it’s too early for one to stuck his belly.

AGU: What do you expect, when the government is making life a living hell for the people?

CHIEF: E go better

AGU: That is the word of people, we’ve been saying this word ‘E go better’, when will it cease?

KACHI: I guess we can never ascertain because life on its own is unpredictable.

CHIEF: (cuts in) My friends, it’s of no use turning water into a basket, every government comes into power with her own strategy, I don’t see things getting any better and moreover that’s not why I’m here

KACHI: Chief, I was about asking you that question.

AGU: Yes, we all know Chief to be a very busy man, seeing you here this morning is quite surprising.

CHIEF: (takes a deep breath) I am not happy.

AGU: What’s the matter Chief, you know old friends are most times the best place to shed your worries.

KACHI: Chief don’t tell us the current condition of the country also has an effect on you.

CHIEF: Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Even the King sometimes shed tears.

AGU: We know Chief but…

CHIEF: I am not getting any younger and I honestly don’t know what else to do.

AGU: You are talking in parables.

CHIEF:Am beginning to doubt the gods we all claim to worship.

KACHI: Hmm… I guess this was the kind of situation Wole Soyinka found himself, that pushed him into becoming an atheist.

AGU: Be quiet Kachi… Chief that’s blasphemy o, you know the gods are always true and wise.

KACHI: Do you also believe in the powers of the oracle?

AGU: Yes I do, They are the wise ones, our forefathers have always depended on them and till date they never failed.

CHIEF: So if the gods are wise and true as you say, why can’t they give me a a son? Why can’t they bring me my misery to justice, just this one request I ask from them.

AGU: Chief be patient.

CHIEF: (In a rage). How long shall I be patient?

KACHI: When the roots of a tree begin to decay, it spreads death to the branches.

AGU: What do you mean by that?

KACHI: The gods has failed us, you don’t expect us to join in their folly. Chief, I think its about time you shifted for yourself.

CHIEF: I’ve been thinking about that for a while now.

KACHI: " So what do you have in mind, Chief?

CHIEF: I’m thinking about getting a second wife.

AGU: Hmm! A bird that flies off the earth and lands on an anthill is still on the ground.

CHIEF: I’m not interested about how the child comes, as far as we can get the son, am satisfied.

KACHI: Chief, I’m fully in support with you. You know, he that beats the drum for the mad man to dance is no better than the mad man himself.

AGU: (Annoyingly) are you calling me a mad man?

CHIEF: (cuts in). It’s alright, Agu please have your sit. This does not call for fight.

AGU: Chief, I’m not against you getting a second wife but is it the right thing to do?

CHIEF: Nobody knows what the right thing is, You two are my friends and you honestly need to support my decision.

AGU: Chief, we don’t have a choice, but I’m…

CHIEF: Alright, I think I have to be on my way now.

KACHI: Chief, we are fully in support with you, if you need assistance don’t forget to call on us.

CHIEF: I definitely will not (Chief Exits)
[Kachi and Agu gulps their drinks and Agu beckons on his boy, Sunday]

AGU: Sunday, I’m going home, when it is time you close the store. Do so and go home
[Agu and Kachi exit]

Watch out for next scene👏😎

- @aauthespian1