The Voices…

by: Tolu Ayo-Farinloye

Synopsis: A time travelling story of failing love. Two young people fall in love, and due to circumstances of life, fall out of love. A story of faith, abuse, hope and love. 

Time period: The present. 

Characters: Man and Woman. 

Set: A bed with an extravagant headboard, two sidetables, the dining table from Afterimage. 

Costumes: Man- Brown pyjama pants, a white tshirt, light brown or gold robe.

Woman- Black silk nightgown, black silk robe, silk scarf. 

Scene One – Intro

 

Both: Once upon a time we were in love.

Woman: I try to believe he still loves me.

Man: I try to love her every day.

Woman: I try to find my husband every day. 

Man: Life would be easier if you would listen to me and just do what I say. 

Man slaps her and she falls while next line is being said. 

Both: But every day push comes to shove. (breath) Once upon a time we were in love. 

Woman: And love looked like this.

 

Scene Two – Memory 1

 

Lights shift to a brighter cyc and they’re laughing and Man is helping her up. 

Man: I told you that robe was too long.

Woman: Hey, it looks good and it was on sale. 

Man: And you have two left feet. 

Woman: Hey that’s not fair. I didn’t get eight years of dance lessons. 

Man: And I thought we agreed not to bring that up.

Woman: Desperate times baby. Desperate times. 

Man: Oh come here. 

He pulls her back up and into an embrace and is hugging her from behind. 

Man: I can’t imagine losing you.  

Woman: Well, keep making fun of my dancing and you might just live your imagination. 

Man spins her around and they are now facing each other with close faces. 

Man: You should have seen yourself. It was funny. 

Woman: Oh shut up. 

They laugh then kiss. 

Both: I love you so much. 

They laugh again

Man: Or so I thought. 

 

Scene Three – Reality 1

Lights shift to the darker cyc 

 

Man: Look, you can’t go about doing things like these without telling me. 

Woman: Things like getting pregnant? 

Man: Yeah but this just isn’t the time. 

Woman: Your time isn’t God’s time baby. 

Man: We just can’t have a baby now. 

Woman kisses his cheek and walks to sit down. 

Woman: You need to stop underestimating the Lord, Pastor. Jeremiah 32:27, “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

Man: Well there are things too hard for me. I can’t do this. And do you think now is an appropriate time for sarcasm?

Woman: I’m just trying to lighten the mood. (pause) Look, this might be a blessing in disguise.

Man: There’s no lightening this mood. And what kind of blessing comes as a financial burden? 

Woman: The Bible says children are the Lord’s heritage. I refuse to think of this child as a financial burden. 

Man: It’s not about what you think. We just can’t do this. 

Woman: Yes we can. Have a little faith, “Pastor”. Isn’t that what you preached on Sunday? 

Man: (snaps) Don’t use my words against me in this. This is your fault.

Woman: (patiently) This isn’t my fault, you just need some time to process this. 

Man: I don’t need any time to process that we can’t do this. 

Woman walks over to him and holds his face while saying her line

Woman: We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. 

Man: Enough with your faith and preaching. I don’t wanna hear it. We can’t have this baby. 

Woman tries to hold on to him but Man pushes her away from him and she trips on her robe and falls again. He rushes over to her and tries to pacify her. 

Man: I’m so sorry baby. I didn’t mean to push you. I’m just very upset. I’m sorry princess. I love you. 

Woman: I’m sorry. My robe was too long.

Man: This stupid robe. I’ve warned you about it several times. 

Woman: I’m sorry. I’ll get a new one. But I never got around to it.

 

Scene Four – Memory 2

Cyc changes to brighter coloured cyc

Man: Okay that robe has officially been declared a safety hazard.

Woman: Uh-uh. This is my favourite one. You’re just jealous that you don’t have a black robe.

Man: Wow you really got me there. 

Woman: Yes I did. 

Man: Well, let me get you here. 

Woman: Huh what? 

Man: Since you’re already on the ground, I guess I’ll join you. 

Woman: (sarcastically) I mean, the ground in this apartment is breathtakingly comfortable. You lavish in exquisite comfort young man. The Lord has been good to you. 

Man pulls out ring box from his robe pocket. 

Man: Will you be my wife? 

Woman: I-I- I don’t know what to say. 

Man: Say yes baby. Make me the happiest man alive and say you’ll be my wife. I love you so much and I can’t imagine not having you in my life. It would mean everything for us to fulfil God’s will for us together. I’ve never met a better suited person for me and okay I’m gonna stop rambling but please marry me.

Woman: Yes. yes. Yes. A thousand yeses. Oh I love you so much. 

She hugs him and the kiss. 

Man: Wait I forgot to put the ring on your finger. 

They laugh and he puts the ring on. 

Woman: Way to mark the moment. Good thing I marked the moment. It was the beginning of our end. 

 

Scene Five – Reality 2

Cyc changes to darker cyc. They appear to be searching for something on the ground. 

Man: I swear to God if you lost this earring-

Woman: You slapped it off my ear. Are you kidding me? 

Man: Drop the attitude. 

Woman: Oh no no no. You will not blame your temper tantrums on my “attitude”. Because I am nothing but respectful and understanding and you keep hitting me. 

Man: Okay don’t make me out to sound like some abusive bitch. I hit with reason. 

Woman: Are you kidding me? Not even a word of sorry? You’re not even going to take responsibility? Look, we’ve barely been married two years, I’m not ready to be a daily punching bag for some big baby who can’t handle his feelings so you need to get your shit together. Yes. Shit. Because “crap” won’t suffice. And I found it. (she reaches under the table and picks the earring up) 

Man: I’m sorry. 

Woman: Show me you’re sorry. When you come back tomorrow and work was a bitch to you, handle yourself like a big boy and I’ll know you’re sorry. 

Man: I really tried to be sorry. I wanted to be. 

 

Scene Six – Memory 3 

Cyc changes to nighttime look. They’re sitting down and stargazing. 

Woman: My apartment has a better view. And a balcony so we don’t have to sit on the ground by the window. 

Man: But you can’t see these stars. 

Woman: It’s the same sky sir. 

Man: Damn, you really got me there.

Woman: Yes, yes I did. Okay I’m gonna go get ready for bed. 

She gets up and walks over to the table and starts moisturizing. 

Man: Are you sure? 

Woman: About what? 

Man: Letting me do ministry full-time? 

Woman: I mean. God called you right? 

Man: Yeah…

Woman: Well, who are we to argue with the plans of the Lord? Hebrews 13:5, “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. If he truly called you, he won’t let us suffer. (looks at him) We’re in this together. Always. 

Man: Always. (pause) “By grace through faith” right? 

Woman: By grace through faith baby. Always. 

Man: How did I get so lucky? 

Woman: I mean, you’ve always been God’s favourite right? 

Man: Damn right I am. I’m gonna sleep baby. Good night. 

Woman: Good night. Turned out God did actually have favourites. And I wasn’t one of them.

 

Scene Seven – Woman’s Mind 1

Cyc changes to darker look

 

Woman: One night, he was sleeping before I was. I wanted to go to the bathroom and I heard a voice. Actually, I heard multiple. I thought it was the kids but there’s no way my toddler sons sounded like grown women, I checked all the Tv’s. All off. All the phones. Not them. I got worried. So I sat down to pray and I heard one of them clearly. 

Voiceover 1: Why do you let him treat you like that? 

Woman: Then I heard another one. 

Voiceover 2: You need to leave him. 

Voiceover 3:  Stand up for yourself.

Voiceover 4: Tell him to stop.

Woman: I wanted to stop but I couldn’t seem to find the dial. They kept talking all night and they just kept getting louder and louder and louder and I couldn’t stop them and so I listened to them! I listened to them and I decided to stand up to him. I was so stupid. Very stupid. 

 

Scene Eight – Reality 3

Cyc shifts to darker look. Man wakes up and sees woman standing in the middle of the room.

Man: What are you doing awake? And standing?

Woman: Uhh uhh, my face. My face was hurting  so I got up to find some Aloe Vera gel. I didn’t want to turn on the lights so I won’t wake you.

Man: Well, you did anyways. Come to bed. 

Woman: I-I-I haven’t found the gel yet.

Man: I asked you to come to bed. Not argue with me. 

Woman: Yes I know but my face needs to feel better. We have an event tomorrow.

Man: Well, you shouldn’t have gotten me angry tonight. 

Woman: Where did we go wrong? 

Man: What did you say? 

Woman: Nothing. I’m coming to bed. Sorry for waking you. 

Man: Well, it’s too late now. I’m already awake. 

Man gets up and walks over to her. 

Woman: I’m so sorry. I really didn’t mean to wake you. 

Man: It’s okay. You can make it up to me. On the table. 

Man is backing Woman up to the table and she escapes at the last minute. Voice-overs are played together in a mumbled whisper.

Woman: I actually don’t feel like it tonight. I don’t know why I said that. Those voices came back

Man: Excuse me? Did you just reject me?

Woman: I just don’t feel like it tonight. I’m sorry. 

Man: And you’re repeating it? 

Woman: I’m sorry love. Maybe tomorrow. 

Man slaps her.

Man: Let’s see how much better your face feels tomorrow. 

Woman: It never felt better, so I reminded myself of a happier time. 

 

Scene Nine – Memory 4

Cyc shifts to lighter look. Phone on table rings. Woman walks over to get it. 

Woman: Hello? Yes, this is she….he’s right here…..No no it’s not too late? Is anything the matter?

Man: Who is it? 

Woman covers receiver and shoos him away. 

Woman: It’s the real estate agent. (into the phone) Sorry, I missed that…..Mhmm. Mhmm …Oh my God. That’s absolutely fine…Not a problem. Thank you so much…..We’ll see you tomorrow. (hangs up) They accepted our offer. We’re getting the place.

They hug and they’re celebrating. Whoop whoop!!

Man: Oh thank you Jesus. 

Woman: We’re finally getting our own place. 

Man: I can’t believe this. Let’s say a word of prayer. (they hold hands and bow their heads) Heavenly Father, we come before you today with hearts of thanksgiving. We humbly proclaim that you alone are God. You alone are capable of doing such a wonderful thing for us today. 

Woman chips in with the occasional “yes Lord”, “mhmm”, “thank you father” and “amen”. Man’s voice trails off but still appears to be praying. Woman looks up at the audience and says her lines when his voice trails off. They are still holding hands.

Woman: I wanted to stop the hands of the clock and freeze time. Make moments like these last forever. I wanted to engrave these times on our hearts. But it was getting too late. He was starting to change, Something was going wrong. I could not stop it no matter how hard I tried. It was like a bowling ball was coming at us in full speed and I couldn’t keep the pins from falling, not because I wasn’t trying but because the ball was too much for us to handle. He changed and hell broke loose. 

Woman goes back to prayer and Man’s voice increases. 

Man: We thank you Lord for answering our prayers. All these we ask in the name of Jesus. 

Both: Amen. 

They hug again. 

Woman: I wish things wouldn’t change. But he changed and therefore we changed and life was never the same. 

 

Scene Ten – Reality 4

Man: What’s this smell on your hand? 

Man pulls her wrist up to his nose and smells it

Man: Why do you have male perfume on your wrists? 

Woman: I was trying to get you a present. To surprise you. 

Man: Stop lying to me. How dare you? You think you can cheat on me and go scot-free? 

Woman: I would never do that. I was just trying to get you a new perfume and so I put some samples on my wrist. 

Man: Oh now you don’t like the way I smell? You think I smell bad? 

Woman: I never said that. I don’t think that. 

Man slaps her again. 

Man: Stop lying to my face. What do you take me for? A fool? 

Man keeps beating her up while saying the following lines. 

Man: You think this is a joke right? All a big joke? This is a marriage. And you must stay faithful. You don’t go around making a fool of me by being unfaithful. (Man gets down and grabs the neck of her robe and pulls her towards himself) Have I made myself clear?

Woman: I would never do that okay? I didn’t cheat. 

Man: And you’re still lying. What do you take me for? A fool? Look, the disrespect has reached its peak. You will not disrespect me in my house. I will not be fooled by a measly woman. Go get me some water. 

Woman gets up. Man sits at the table.

Woman: Well here’s the beginning of our end. 

Woman exits stage 

 

Scene Eleven – Memory 5

Woman re-enters stage holding a gift box. 

Woman: Close your eyes. 

Man: Do I have to? 

Woman: I think that’s what makes it a surprise. 

Man: Okay okay fine. They’re closed. 

Woman brings box to table and opens it

Woman: Okay open up. 

Man opens his eyes to see an expensive watch. He doesn’t look particularly excited. 

Man: Why would you give me this? 

Woman: It’s your one year anniversary tomorrow. One year in ministry. 

Man: We can’t afford things like this. You can’t afford to be stupid like this. 

Woman: Did you just call me stupid? 

Man: Yes, because that was a very stupid decision you just made. 

Woman: How is a woman trying to do something nice for her husband a stupid thing? What is wrong with you? I was just trying to do something nice okay? I’m sorry it wasn’t good enough for you. 

Man: Yeah you should be sorry. How would you think this was appropriate?

Woman: How am I supposed to know what’s appropriate and what’s not when I don’t know anything about our financial situation? All I hear is “The Lord will take care of us” whenever I ask what’s wrong. 

Man: I lost my job okay? I got fired. And I thought I could manage but I can’t. We’re sinking. 

Woman sits down at the table with her head in her hands and tries to process the news. 

Man: Well aren’t you going to say something? 

Woman: What do you want me to say? Why didn’t you tell me? 

Man: You clearly can’t handle it anyways.

Woman: So this is somehow still my fault?

Man: I mean you’re being all weird and getting quiet. That thing you do when you’re disappointed. And that’s the cause of all our problems. You’re always so judgemental of me. Having these high standards that I can never meet. Expecting me to be perfect. 

Woman: I have never done that. I have always supported you and let you know it’s okay to fail. The only disappointment right now is that you didn’t tell me. 

Man: I don’t know what you want me to say. I’m gonna get a drink.

Man leaves stage

 

Scene Twelve – Woman’s Mind 2

Woman: He blamed me for everything. Everything. I felt as though it was all my fault. And I loved him so much. So much. I believed everything he said. It started to weigh me down and I couldn’t take it anymore. So on this night, I had enough. I said I was going to get painkillers but really they were just killers. I was going to end it all. I put 22 pills in my left hand. I know because I counted them. 22 white pills. 22 was his lucky number so I chose 22 pills. I was getting myself ready to take it when it happened again. The voices. 

Voiceover 1: What are you doing?

Woman: And again.

Voiceover 2: Why are you letting him win? 

Voiceover 3: If you take those pills you will only become one of us. 

Voiceover 4: Another face in the news. 

All the Voiceovers: (echoing) Don’t do it. 

Woman drops all the pills and is shaking visibly. She drops to her knees. 

 

Scene Thirteen – Reality 5

Man walks back on stage. 

Man: What are you doing?

Woman: (quickly tries to pick up the pills) I was taking some painkillers for my shoulder and I accidentally spilled some. 

Man: That’s more than “some”. What were you doing? 

Woman: (head down and speaking to the ground) I just accidentally spilled the container. I’m sorry. 

Man: (walks towards the table) So stupid. 

Woman: (looks up towards the audience) Why did you marry a stupid woman?

Man: What did you say? 

Woman: (still looking at the audience) If I was so stupid, why did you marry me? Didn’t you think that you’ll have to spend the rest of your life with this “stupid woman”?

Man: Don’t start this nonsense. Let’s go to bed. 

Woman: No. 

Man: What did you say? 

Woman finally looks at him

Woman: I said no. 

Man walks towards her as if to beat her up and she backs up

Woman: You don’t want to beat me up the night before Mother’s Day. Not when I have to preach a sermon on Loving Your Husbands in less than 12 hours. 

Man backs up and slams his fist on the table. 

Man: You crazy bitch. 

Woman: You are crazy. Most definitely.

Man: The things I would do to you. 

Woman: (gets up) It’s nothing you haven’t done before. 

Man: Ephesians 5:24, “Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything”.

Woman: Ephesians 5:25-28, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself”. 

Man: I will deal with you later. 

Man grabs a pillow and leaves the stage. 

Woman: (calling out behind him) Goodnight! (pause) Thank you Lord Jesus for the strength you gave me tonight. I worship you lord because tonight didn’t go otherwise. I am deeply thankful. I am so grateful o Lord that you have chosen to spare my life tonight. Lord, give me even more strength as time goes on. Help me father- 

Man walks back in because he forgot something. 

Man: (has been eavesdropping) You have involved God in this disrespect of yours? You think that the Heavenly Father has time for you? You think you have His ear? You think He cares for you? You think you’re important to Him? 

Man continues talking in the background but the voices start playing and they get louder and the woman is covering her ears as if to shut them out but eventually they get too loud. The next couple of lines are said through heavy breathing and Man is in too much shock to react.

Woman: Stop! Stop! Stop! (points at man) Yes, you. Stop it. I’ve had enough. Enough. Please stop it. I can’t okay? I am done. I am exhausted and I am spent. I am tired of you. I am tired. You do not respect me. You do not care about me. I am nothing but an accessory to you. And you know, I have no issue with you not loving me anymore. People fall out of love all the time. I have an issue with you not letting me go. You keep me here, in this bondage of a marriage. You beat me, mistreat me, belittle me. And you claim to love me? You stand before congregations and preach to men to love their wives yet yours is a punching bag with no rights. And that punching bag is done. She is so done with you. She is beyond done. 

Woman is panting heavily. There is a moment of silence as Man just takes in what he has heard. 

Man: Do you have any idea what you’re accusing me of? 

Woman: I’m stating facts. I am not accusing. These aren’t allegations, these are truths. And I have proof. Years and years of medical reports. What? Do you think the children couldn’t hear me screaming and crying through these walls? The game has changed, and I’m winning this round. 

Woman takes out a knife from her bedside drawer. 

Man: Woah woah woah. A knife? Now you’re being crazy. 

Woman: Oh I’ve been crazy for years. I’ve been very very crazy. 

Man starts walking up to her. 

Man: Okay. Something is clearly wrong. Now just give me the knife and everything will be fine. I promise. 

Woman: Step away from me. Now. 

Man: Give me the knife. Give me the damn knife. 

Woman: No. Get back or I will hurt you. I am not afraid of anything. Look in my eyes right now and you will see that I fear nothing. Absolutely nothing. 

Man: What has come over you?

Woman: The voices. They told me to do this.

Man: What voices? What are you talking about?

Woman: Step back!!

Man: Will you calm down and drop the knife? What voices? Do I need to call Dr. Frank?

Woman: The only number you may need to call tonight is 911 because one of us is dying tonight and it’s not me. 

Man: Stop with the threats and put the knife down then we can talk about the voices.

Woman: I’m not putting anything down but I’ll tell you about the voices. Sit. I said sit! 

Woman is still pointing knife at him

Man: Okay okay I’ll sit. 

Woman: So there’s Clara. She was 21. She was killed by her ex-boyfriend when she tried to break up with him. Oh, he also killed her 6 year old daughter. Then there’s Stella. Stella was killed by her husband of 16 years because dinner wasn’t hot anymore when he returned from a late night. Then we have- Sit down or I will use this knife and I will show no mercy. Where was I? Yes, we have Kiesha, she was killed by her alcoholic husband who burned so many cigarettes into her face she was unrecognizable. Would you like me to keep going or do you get my point? 

Woman has gotten very close to him at this point. 

Man: I get it. I get it. Please take the knife away from my face. 

Woman: No no you don’t get my point. I’m not doing this just because I heard the voices. I’m doing this because I can’t afford to be a voice okay? I can’t be a voice in another woman’s head telling her she has to leave when I can leave. And I was going to do that, you know, just up and leave. But I can’t do that to my children. To my babies. So I thought, why leave when he can leave? Why lose when you should lose? So I checked all our documents to see what I would get in a divorce. Then I stumbled upon the prenup your parents made us sign when we still had nothing. I was so in love I thought we would never need it but things change right? And I couldn’t leave with nothing so here we are. This is the only way. 

Man: You can’t get away with this. 

Woman: Oh trust me, I will. I have Tasha on speed dial. I called her ten minutes ago to get her ready to call 911. She will say that I was scared for my life because you pulled a knife on me so I called her. It will also be in self-defense because I have enough injury from this afternoon to validate signs of a struggle. Dr. Frank also has reports of me coming in with several bruises and cuts and scars and everything nasty you’ve done to me. So don’t think this wasn’t planned. I have thought every single detail of this through because I am so ready for this to end. I have never been readier for anything in my life. You have no idea. 

Man: Look, I’m sure we can talk this out. Just put the knife down and let’s sleep. We’ll talk this out in the morning. Please.

Woman: How long do you think it took me to get here? It wasn’t this afternoon. It wasn’t last week. I wasn’t last year either. It was our entire marriage. It was everything leading up to this moment. 

Man: Okay okay I’m sorry. Please. I’m sorry.

Woman: You’re not sorry. You knew what you were doing. This afternoon when you hit me so hard I almost passed out. Last week when you rammed my head against this very table so hard I got concussed. When you dislocated my shoulder last year. When I miscarried last year because you broke a lamp on my stomach. You knew. Exactly what you were doing. You didn’t feel sorry then? But you feel sorry now? 

Man: You need to be reasonable doll-

Woman: Don’t call me doll. Don’t call me your doll. I am not your doll. Dolls are cared for. Dolls are adored, cherished and loved. Yet you annihilate and tear me apart with your words and your actions and you’ve done everything but kill me. 

Man: Can you just stop talking like that? Just please. Put the knife down and be realistic. This is no way to resolve conflict. 

Woman: I’m not resolving anything. I’m killing you. Before you kill me. Because you will eventually, so I’m just beating you to it. 

Man: Baby girl, please. I am so sorry. You have to understand. I never meant to hurt you. I-

Woman: Shut up! Shut up! Just stop. You’re not sorry. Stop. Please. 

Man: Please baby I’m sorry. I really am. Please let’s be rational. You’ll regret this. You’ll wake up and everything will be different. You won’t get away with this. I promise. Just put it down and we’ll resolve this. You’ll go to jail, the kids will go into the system and when you get out, no one will love you like I did. You’ll be unlovable. You’ll be unlovable and a criminal. So please, put the knife down. 

Woman starts crying hysterically and drops the knife. She falls to her knees and has her face buried in her hands. Man picks the knife up as if to put it away but conceals it behind him. He gets down to embrace Woman with his other hand

Man: I’m so sorry. So so sorry. You may never forgive me but I did this for you. It was the best thing. 

Woman: What? What are you saying? 

Man: I’m sorry. 

Man pulls the knife from behind him and hold her still with this other hand. He stabs her. We see the flashing lights and hear the sirens of the police arriving. Man looks out to the audience. 

Man: Once upon a time, we were in love. 

 

The End…