A TOUCH OF DESTINY (intro & act 1; scene 1-4)

Hi Loves, I felt it wise to formally introduce you to my very first baby; “A touch of destiny”

This piece re-ignited my love for writing and bore in me an unflinching zeal for story telling. Now at the time of writing this, I was unsure of the outcome, especially since I had never delved into the genre. Looking back though I think I did just fine or you be the judge. I had a great time putting it together and I do hope you enjoy reading ‘A touch of destiny’ as much as I enjoyed writing it.

A TOUCH OF DESTINY (The three act play)

Key note Description

A depressed patient with several failed suicide attempts tries desperately to forget her childhood memories of psychological trauma and emotional abuse.

A psychiatrist succeeds in breaking her carefully built barriers, nurtures her to good health and convinces her that her life is worth living for.

Her doctor’s secret love for her however causes a strain on her clinical management as it negates the ethics of the medical profession.

Cast of Characters

DEWUNMI FALADE: A patient in her mid 20s

TIMILEYIN BANJO: A psychiatrist in his early 30s

(Dewunmi’s doctor)

BIMPE SCOTT: A woman in her late 20s

(Dewunmi’s friend)

MOPE ALAO: A woman in her early 50s

(Dewunmi’s stepmother)

VELMA MAJID: A woman in her late 30s

(Dewunmi’s nurse)

LOVELYN BANJO: A teenage girl

(Timileyin’s daughter)

KOLA BANJO: A man in his mid 30s

(Timileyin’s brother)

SUSAN BANJO: A woman in her late 20s

(Timileyin’s sister)

DR WILLIAM: A psychiatrist in his mid 50s

(Dewunmi’s doctor)

SECRETARY 1: A woman in her mid 20s

(Timileyin’s secretary)

SECRETARY 2: A woman in her early 30s

(Dr William’s secretary)

SCENE BREAKDOWN

ACT I

SCENE 1-4: A private ward at a Mental Institution

ACT II

SCENE 1: Dr BANJO’S reception area/consulting room

SCENE 2: Dr WILLIAM’s reception area/consulting room

SCENE 3-6: DEWUNMI’S apartment

ACT III

SCENE 1-2: DEWUNMI’S APARTMENT

SCENE 3: Dr BANJO’S APARTMENT

TIME

Fifteen years before DEWUNMI’S hospital admission. The present.Six years after DEWUNMI’S Hospital admission.

ACT I

SCENE 1

SETTING: At the private ward of a mental institution sparsely furnished with a big bed and two chairs. The room is quite bright and neat however, it is anything but colorful evident by the wall painting and lack of any form of decoration. There is a large stack of newspaper on a small table close to the bed.

AT RISE: A young lady sitting on the bed staring blankly with a seemingly sad facial expression and dressed unceremoniously with scattered hair.

(Enters a young man smiling)

TIMILEYIN

Good day Miss FALADE

DEWUNMI

(Continues staring blankly with no answer)

TIMILEYIN

Top of the morning to you madam

DEWUNMI

I want to be left alone please

(Avoids eye contact)

TIMILEYIN

I am here to help, I mean no harm

DEWUNMI

(Bursts into tears)

Why prolong this misery, I want out please

TIMILEYIN

You can talk to me, it is time to let go, no need to keep it all bottled in

DEWUNMI

Who do you think you are?

(She asked with a puzzled look on her face)

TIMILEYIN

Pardon me¸ I forgot to introduce myself

I am Dr TIMILEYIN BANJO; your psychiatrist

DEWUNMI

(Evidently irritated)

I presume I should be excited a psychoanalyst is here with claims of trying to help?

Just how do you think you could make this misery that has taken over my life disappear?

TIMILEYIN

I want you to know that a problem shared is half solved

(He spoke calmly with a warm smile)

DEWUNMI

Get out of here before you regret it

(With rage she moves towards him, almost loosing her balance)

TIMILEYIN

Relax DEWUNMI, I am not the bad guy here

(He mentioned with a startled expression on his face)

DEWUNMI

(She burst into tears again)

Everyone would be better off without me, why won’t they just let me end this

TIMILEYIN

You are wrong dear, nobody would be better off with you dead.

DEWUNMI

(Rolls her eyes)

Mr know it all! What else do you know about me?

TIMILEYIN

Far from it DEWUNMI, I do not know it all, I can say though that I know you can get help and live a happy and fulfilled life. I also know that you have a wonderful friend that cares deeply for you

DEWUNMI

Oh! So BIMPE put you up to this?

First she gets me checked into this institution and then subjects me to a Psychoanalyst who thinks he can fix everything

(Laughs sarcastically)

Great! Just great!

TIMILEYIN

Do not see me as only your psychiatrist; I also want to be a friend but that is if you don’t mind.

DEWUNMI

Nobody can endure friendship with a worthless being like me.

I always bring bad luck to everyone I get close to

TIMILEYIN

Do you mind sharing?

Why do you see yourself as worthless that you even attempted to take your life.

DEWUNMI

(Stares blankly ahead)

FLASHBACK TO PARK TOWN – 15 years back

(Crossfade to another light setting on stage; a dining

room with tables, chairs and an empty dish)

MOPE

(Shouting at young DEWUNMI)

You are nothing but a failure!

So worthless!

Sorry to disappoint you but you cannot kill me like you killed your mother

YOUNG DEWUNMI

(Turns to beg MOPE)

YOUNG DEWUNMI

I am sorry mother, I was very hungry that was why I took the pasta

MOPE

(Speaks sternly)

I am not your mother!

You killed your mother just because she was trying to bring an evil child like you into the world

YOUNG DEWUNMI

(Murmurs to herself)

I meant no harm

I was only hungry

PRESENT DAY (crossfade to the previous light setting)

TIMILEYIN

(Calls out her name)

DEWUNMI! DEWUNMI! Are you ok?

DEWUNMI

(Suddenly aware her name was being called)

O Lord! What do I have to do to get you out of here?

TIMILEYIN

I just want to talk to you that’s a start

DEWUNMI

(With a slightly raised voice)

Fine! What is it you want to talk about?

You would like to know why I am so messed up right?

Well I am a murderer, I have always been one

I killed my mother at child birth and oh no!

I did not stop there I also killed my father

with a more quiet and subtle tone)

I just had to be the only survivor in that car crash; my father and the driver were quite unfortunate because I was in the car that day

(Sobbing)

TIMILEYIN

I am now aware that you had it quite rough as a child

I am grateful you finally let me in on some of your problems

DEWUNMI

(Still quite devastated with teary eyes)

So can you please leave now?

TIMILEYIN

I would leave soon but before I go I want you to know that you are quite wrong DEWUNMI, you are no murderer

I say this because I lost my wife 7 years ago……………

DEWUNMI

(Looks quite confused)

Why are you telling me this?

TIMILEYIN

Well I thought you should know that she lost her life while trying to bring our beautiful daughter into the world.

My daughter is no murderer; on the contrary she is the most beautiful young girl and I love her very much.

I would be here tomorrow, enjoy the rest of your day.

(Parts with a warm smile)

LIGHTS FADE

(END OF SCENE)

ACT I SCENE 2

SETTING: DEWUNMI’S private ward (the next morning)

AT RISE: VELMA enters into the private ward to check on

DEWUNMI who is standing by the window

VELMA

Good morning Miss FALADE I hope you slept well

DEWUNMI

Good morning

VELMA

(Quite surprised)

It is lovely to finally hear you speak you have never spoken to me in the five days you have been on admission

DEWUNMI

Well, do not expect too much from me, I only thought it would be polite to return your greeting for a change

(Looks away)

VELMA

I want you to know dear that I am here to tend to your every need

I would also like to inform you that we all care about you here and we are ever ready help you on your journey to recovery

DEWUNMI

(Murmurs to herself)

You cannot care about someone you do not know

VELMA

I didn’t get that……………………do you have a request or perhaps something you want me to help with?

DEWUNMI

(Still reticent about her personal affairs)

DEWUNMI

I would like to know when Dr BANJO would be here today for my session

(Stuttering)

You know, so I can plan my time

VELMA

Well, your session is scheduled for 11am this morning but that would be after you have breakfast and freshen up

DEWUNMI

Alright, thank you

(DEWUNMI whispers as she watches the nurse leave the room)

LIGTHS FADE

(END OF SCENE)

ACT I SCENE 3

SETTING: DEWUNMI’s private ward (1:00pm)

AT RISE: VELMA walks into the ward to find DEWUNMI

sitting on the bed with an obvious frown

DEWUNMI

It is 1:00pm, what sort of doctors do you employ in this institution?

VELMA

Any problem DEWUNMI?

DEWUNMI

(Rolls her eyes)

I thought you said Dr BANJO would be around for my session today by 11:00am well it is 1:00pm

VELMA

Oh! I am so sorry I forgot to mention, Dr BANJO called to inform us about his slight delay.

DEWUNMI

Wow! Two hours is what you call ”slight”

(She replied in a low but sarcastic tone)

(Dr BANJO walks in)

TIMILEYIN

Good day Miss FALADE

(Smiles)

VELMA

Oh! Great

(Turns to address Dr BANJO)

We were just talking about you

TIMILEYIN

Really?

VELMA

Yes Doctor, Miss FALADE was asking when you would arrive for her session today.

DEWUNMI

(Speaks sternly)

That would be all VELMA thank you

VELMA

Alright

(Exits the room)

DEWUNMI

You do know that it is quite unprofessional for a doctor to keep a patient waiting.

TIMILEYIN

I am sorry for the inconvenience, I had a minor malfunction with my car on the way.

DEWUNMI

There is no need for the excuse Doctor.

I really don’ t care about your car or its malfunction

Please can we start the session?

TIMILEYIN

Yes we can. My apologies again

So can you tell me how you are feeling today?

Is there anything you want to tell me or share with me?

DEWUNMI

Why would I share anything with you?

I barely know you!

TIMILEYIN

Ok! DEWUNMI let’s make a deal I would tell you more about myself if it would make you comfortable enough to confide in me.

DEWUNMI

(Pauses for a moment)

Ok sounds like a fair deal

TIMILEYIN

As I mentioned when we first met, my name is Dr TIMILEYIN BANJO; Consultant Psychiatrist.

I come from a family of doctors

(Laughs)

Well, I mean both my parents are doctors as well as two of my siblings, now your turn.

DEWUNMI

(A bit hesitant)

You know my name already.

I have no fancy title attached to it like you do

I also do not have the luxury of a loving family.

(Rolls her eyes)

TIMILEYIN

It is quite unfortunate you lost both parents as a child.

Like I mentioned yesterday, it was not your fault, I am however curious, who cared for you as a child?

(He noticed some rigidity in her body language)

DEWUNMI

I would rather not talk about that

(Avoids eye contact)

TIMILEYIN

My apologies DEWUNMI, I had only honest intentions. It is part of the getting to know you process.

DEWUNMI

(She remained quiet)

TIMILEYIN

Ok on a lighter note what are your hobbies?

DEWUNMI

(Still quiet and timid)

TIMILEYIN

Would you like us to take a break?

It seems I have made you quite upset

(Stands to leave)

DEWUNMI

She hated me!

So full of hate!

TIMILEYIN

(Takes his sit)

Who hated you?

DEWUNMI

MOPE; my stepmother

TIMILEYIN

Is it fine to discuss MOPE?

TIMILEYIN

There is nothing much to discuss, she got married to my father after my mother’s death and she never failed to remind me of the circumstances surrounding my birth..

In her words, I am a worthless murderer and a failure in all ramifications.

(She burst into tears)

TIMILEYIN

Oh! I see

How did her behavior towards you make you feel?

DEWUNMI

Hurt! Frustrated!

I believe it also contributed to my low self esteem

TIMILEYIN

How long did you stay with her?

DEWUNMI

About ten years after the death of my father