A SHORT PLAY

ABDUCTION OF A YOUNG GIRL BY AN OLD MAN.

A PLAY IN TWO ACTS.

CAST OF CHARACTERS.

ESTHER: THE GIRL WHO HAS BEEN ABDUCTED.

JUNE: MOTHER TO ESTHER.

JOHN: FATHER TO ESTHER.

JOHNSON: THE CRIMINAL CHARGED FOR ABDUCTING ESTHER.

MIKE: THE OLD MAN WHO WANTED TO MARRY ESTHER.

MARKS: JUDGE IN CHARGE OF THE CASE.

PHILIP: PROSECUTOR.

GORGE: SERGEANT AT ARMS.

PETERSON: POLICEMAN1

JACKSON: POLICEMAN 2.

DAVIE: WATCH DOG.

SCENE

THE PROCEEDINGS ARE HAPPENING IN BRADLEYSON COURT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TWO CITIES.

TIME:

THE PRESENT TIME.

SETTING: We are in the basement of the Bradleyson court, a nice looking court in a residential area in the city. The entire court room is taken up by two policemen together with Davie an oversize dog, a dog that you would expect to find in the basement of every home yard; who are on watch and look out to maintain peace and order during the court proceedings. There is a young girl by the name Esther who is the reason as to why a huge crowd is silently seated waiting for the court proceedings. She is seated together with her mother and father. There is also an old man who wanted to marry this young girl and also the man who abducted the girl. The huge crowd is eagerly waiting to hear who wins the case. Esther is seen worried and sad.

AT RISE: The judge walks majestically together with some two lawyers and prosecutor and everybody stands up as a sign of respect. The judge hits the table and sits down. The prosecutor bows as a sign of respect to the judge and beckons to the crowd whereby everybody gets seated.

JUDGE: The judges stands up and all the crowd stands then he orders it to sit down. He reads the case and officially opens it then hands over to the prosecutor.

PROSECUTOR: (The prosecutor opens it and calls upon the defendant who is Johnson. He too calls the plaintiff who is Esther the 15 ear girl who was abducted. The two are all escorted by the sergeant at arms into their various chambers. He then reads the case for the defendant ;)

According to the file no 500/2016 the defendant who is Johnson is said to have abducted a 15 year old girl by the name Esther. You went to her homestead after making sure that she was alone at her homestead. You were send by an old man by the name Mike to go and abduct the girl since she had denied a hand to marrying him since she wanted to continue with her studies. Neither of her parents were at home at that time and so you took that advantage and forced her out. You went and locked her up in a room where her parents could not trace her. Kindly tell this court whether you are guilty or not guilty of the accusations.

JOHNSON: (Defending himself.)Thank you sir. I am not guilty sir.

PROSECUTOR: (He calls upon Esther).Esther,

ESTHER: Yes sir.

PROSECUTOR: Kindly tell this court what happened on 15/2/2015 at around 3:00 pm.

ESTHER: Thank you your honor. It is a day that lingers vividly in my mind and I cannot forget what happened to me on 15/2/2016. I was at home alone since my mother had gone to the market while my father had gone for a journey. The other siblings were looking after the cattle and so I was alone at home. Suddenly a man came and commanded that if I made any noise he would kill me instantly and so I obeyed. The man was tall, dark and scary. He took a black cloth and wrapped it round my face. I fell unconscious and found myself lying inside an empty house which was totally dark. The man told me that he has abducted me because I failed to marry the rich old man and promised that I will never see my parents. He locked up the door and disappeared. At around 10:00 pm in the following day, I heard some knocks at the door. The door was opened and some two people walked in. I could not see them since my eyes were closed. They unwrapped the cloth in my face and I was happy when I saw two policemen who told me that they had come to rescue me. They untied me since I had been tied both the legs and hands. They took me to the police station and called my parents who came for me. Thank you your honor.

CROWD: (Murmuring and whispering as a sign of dissatisfaction. The judge hits the table and everybody keeps quiet. The prosecutor then stands up to give the court direction.…..)

PROSECUTOR: I therefore call upon Esther’s mother to say whether what Esther said was correct.

JUNE: Your honor, I affirm that all what Esther has said is the correct matter of what happened. (She then coughs as a sign of finality and sits down)

PROSECUTOR: I call upon the old man who wanted to marry Esther to tell this court whether he had send Johnson to abduct the girl and also tell this court why you wanted to marry a 15 year old girl when you are already 70 years of age.

MIKE: (Clearing his throat), your honor sir, I had send Johnson to take some money to Esther so that she may accept my request. He pocketed the money, abducted the girl and went missing. This is something that is not acceptable by the law and therefore I could not force her to marry me. Her parents were not aware of this but I say I am very sorry to the court, Esther and her parents. Thank you your honor. (Once he sits down, the crowd starts murmuring and shouting, arrest him, arrest him, suddenly the judge hits the table and silence is observed.)

PROSECUTOR: I therefore call upon the judge to make his judgment and conclusion over this case. (He then sits down. The judge stands up and everybody stands as a sign of respect and then orders it to sit down).

JUDGE: (Clearing his throat as the crowd observes silence and listens keenly).The final judgment is that, this court finds Johnson guilty of abducting the young girl and will be arrested for two years with a fine of $1000 since he conducted an unlawful act. Secondly Mike will be arrested for 4 years for attempting to shun the little girl’s dreams and paying someone to abduct her. The last thing, I urge all the parents in this court to be watchful after their children since these kind of crimes are increasing in great numbers. I officially close this meeting. (The judge hits the table, bows and walks out. The sergeant at arms directs the crowd out of the court. Esther is taken by her parents and walks out cheerfully. Mike and Johnson are directed to cells where they will wait for the final direction. Everybody is seen talking happily as a sign of satisfaction by the final judgment.)

(BLACKOUT).

(END OF SCENE).