ST.

JOSEPH’S OF ALAMANO PARISH PRESENTS

VOICES
SYNOPSIS

She hears voices in her head, voices of good and of evil both demanding space in her
teenage, student headspace. Voices is a play about Victoria’s battle with the voices. What
voice will she heed to? How? Watch to find out.

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 SCENE 1- SHE IS A DANGER

(At a school classroom)

TRACY: (To Chelsy, trailing her) Chelsy, Chelsy, have a look at what Sr. FRANSISCA
bought you this time round. 

CHELSY: Crisps as usual, What of you? kwani you did not ask him to buy you anything?

TRACY: Not really, but him being a good Daddy to us in this school, he bought me
some Oreo my favorite biscuits. 

CHELSY: Aww… Sister Fransisca is such a darling, I wonder how we will survive in this
school if he ever transfers.

TRACY: Great teachers like Sr. FRANSISCA are never easily transferred (Enter
FRANSISCA the teacher with Victoria) talking of the devil.

STUDENTS: Sister Fransisca.

CHELSY: Sister Fransisca. You are so sweet Sister Fransisca.

STUDENTS: Thanks for the snacks.

FRANSISCA: Anytime ladies, meet the newest girl in school. Chelsy , Tracy, make her feel
comfortable and at home, take her through the dos and don’ts of the school.
From today henceforth, you two are going to. Be her new induction buddies.

CHELSY/TRACY: (To Victoria) Hello new girl, we are glad to be your induction
buddies.

FRANSISCA: So, if you excuse me ladies, I have a briefing in the staffroom. (To Victoria) be
a good girl.

CHELSY: Nice to meet you… 

VICTORIA: Victoria. B

CHELSY: Aww! Victoria, Your parents gave you such a sweet name.

TRACY: Yooooh! Tracy is my name, daughter to the only female ambulance Driver in
the county, my mum.

VICTORIA: The only? Wow

TRACY: Yes, married to my dad, na yeye ni mtu wa chini tu.

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VICTORIA: Mtu wa chini?

TRACY: A hustler, The only Baba Mboga in the county hapa tu Kondele Market.

VICTORIA: Your Dad sells mboga?

STUDENTS: The only Baba mboga!

VICTORIA: The first Baba Mboga I have heard of.

TRACY: I am his only daughter. My dad supplies the same to schools all over Kisumu
County including our school, anytime he comes to school, he cannot miss
bringing me my favorite meal of fries and chicken.

VICTORIA: How caring of him.

TRACY: They are the best parents on earth, they create time for me and always make
sure anything I need is provided.

CHELSY: I still can never forget the day your mum, drove for 30 km to the neighboring
Kisii county, to my home to rush my brother to the county hospital. I will
forever be grateful, your mum risked her job, to save my brother’s life, my
single mother still sings praises of her generosity to date, she always prays.
May Mama Chelsea always be blessed.

MARIA G: Amen. In the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit. What
were you girls talking about?

CHELSEA: For once Maria Goretti mind your business.

TRACY: Must you poke your religious nose in everyone’s business?

MARIA G: Where two or more are gathered, there I will dwell. I see we have a new girl
in school. What is your name?

VICTORIA: Victoria is my name.

MARIA G: Peace be with you Victoria

VICTORIA: And who are you?

MARIA G: Haven’t they told you? I am her holiness, Maria Goretti. I am in charge of
spiritual wellbeing of students.

CHELSEA/TRACY: The self-appointed.

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MARIA: You got it all wrong sisters. I am appointed by faith. Sister Tracy, sister Gloria,
thou might not understand. Victoria let us whisper a welcoming prayer…

TRACY/CHELSEA: Hold your holy horses, Maria.

MARIA G: Go ye well. Peace be with you.

VICTORIA: She seems weird.

TRACY: Victoria, Don’t mind her.

CHELSEA: She is the daughter to the new chairman of the school management board.

TRACY: Ever since her father reverend, bishop, Doctor pastor Goretti was appointed
to that position, she as her daughter has taken it upon herself to be God’s
running mate in this school.

CHELSEA: Whenever spiritual matters are invoked; there she must be. She operates like
the virus; she is all over.

TRACY: She is omnipresent, poking her nose at everyone’s affairs in the name of God.

VICTORIA: She looks mysterious.

CHELSEA: You aren’t seen nothing yet girl, she’s an angle but from the other side. As I
was saying before that religious interruption, My mum promised to take care
of the bills if one day your parents decide to shop at the new Quickmart
supermarket where she works in.

TRACY: Like seriously!!!

CHELSY: For real for real. No single penny.

TRACY: My mom would be glad, so Victoria, tell us more about yourself, your hood,
your parents. 

CHELSY: Yeah, Pretty Vicky, tell us about you.

(Production. Victoria is anxious.)

VOICE 1: Poor Victoria, you do not fit here.

VOICE 2: She doesn’t fit where?

VOICE 1: Here.

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VOICE 2: You have no family, Victoria.

VOICE 1: No what?

VOCIE 2: No family.

VOICES : No sense of belonging!

VOICE 2: You will die a pauper. 

VOICE 1: A what!

VOICE 2: A pauper! 

VOICE 1: A what!

VOICES: A Pauper Victoria…. A Pauper a nobody, a nothing a nuisance.

VICTORIA: No, leave me, leave me alone, go away, get away from me. No, no, no.

(Victoria spills pills in confusion.)

STUDENTS: Oh my God.

MARIA G: (Makes a sign of cross) Holy Mary, drugs in school. Anew student! All these
pills, this is beyond normal. drugs! drugs in school! 

TRACY: Victoria! Victoria, are you on drugs.

VICTORIA: (Looking confused) yes.

CHELSY: Gooosh! What!

VICTORIA: I mean, no!

MARIA G: She must be from a rehab, a psycho hence a danger to us what else explains
this sea of pills? Can’t you see oh yee of little faith?

VOICE: Dangerous Victoria.

VOICE: On day one, you are already causing trouble.

VOICE: You are a threat!

VOICE: A What!

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VOICE: A Threat! 

MARIA G: Oh lord have mercy. New student, no weapon fashioned against our
sanity in this paradise called school shall prosper.

VICTORIA: People! I am not on drugs. (Noise. Enter FRANSISCA)

FRANSISCA: Victoria, what are all these pills? Are they all yours? Antidepressants! You
never told me you are on such pills.

VICTORIA: I never want to associate with them sir, I hate pills!

FRANSISCA: For how long have you been using the pills?

VICTORIA: Since age 12

FRANSISCA: (Shocked) All these heavy pills at age 12?

PILL 1: Fluoxetine

PILL 2: Paroxetine

PILLS: Dear patient, be patient, take us consistently and avoid recreational drugs.
Be patient, patient, from dust we have been picked, dirty and dusty hence
risky.

FRANSISCA: (To Victoria) You cannot have the pills Victoria look at the pills, they have
been contaminated. I need to take you home Victoria, you need other pills.

MARIA G: (Singing in a tune) She’s a danger.

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STUDENTS: A danger to all of us.

MARIA G : An ex-rehab patient.

MARIA G: She is possessed.

STUDENT 1: With withdrawal symptoms.

CHELSY: You guys are being unfair to the new student; she is not on drugs.

MARIA G: How do you defend her and yet the drugs dropped all over like manna
from heaven.

TRACY: Pills, they are pills the term drugs connotes something different as per
you reasoning.

MARIA G: Our school is a Christian founded school and drug such cases must be
condemned.

STUDENT1 : Victoria, the new Sheriff in school is a self-proclaimed drug user, her
body is like our chemistry laboratory, undergoing chemical reactions

TRACY: Guys! For the very last time, you all are being unfair to Victoria, she is
innocent, she is not a drug addict, the reason as to why Sr. FRANSISCA is
missing his lesson today.

CHELSEA: Instead of us attacking and talking ill of someone, can we talk of some topic
that will cover today’s Guiding and Counselling lesson?

STUDENT: EFFECTS OF DRUGS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE!

MARIA G: Tracy and Chelsea, instead of defending your so-called friend, tell her to
confess her sins to us and we will in return pray for her, that she may be
healed because the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is
working.

TRACY: Maria Goreti, are you really a Christian?

MARIA G: My name says it all and I go to church every Sunday and make huge
contributions. Your Victoria is experiencing withdrawal symptoms, she must
have stopped to use the drugs after her parents realized that she will be
coming to a boarding school.

CHELSY: You are a devil Maria G.

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MARIA G: Who cares. Victoria is a threat to our wellbeing in school and as such she
stands not to be part of this community. Brethren, did you not experience her
act possessed?

STUDENTS: Right before our eyes.

MARIA: There's no demon in her, she herself is the demon, and demons must be cast
out of our religious and prestigious school. (Cheers and jeers) I will cast out
the demon in Victoria by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God will
come upon her. (Scene changes, Boda boda men on stage, Kombo is
among them .)

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 SCENE 2- KOMBO THE SAVIOUR.

BODA 1: Kombo my guy, it’s time you came through for us with your new catch.

KOMBO: In what way?

BODA 1: You my guy are rolling with the CEO of the hustler SME, the boss behind
these metal beasts on wheels who’s loans we are yet to clear. You can surely
pull some romantic strings and make these loans be written off. AM ni aje
wasee?

BODA GUYS: You have spoken well.

BODA 1: Kombo mkombozi, tukomboe bana. Kombo eeeh.

BODA GUYS: Kombo aaah.

BODA 1: Kombo eeh.

BODA GUYS: Kombo aaaa

KOMBO: Shhhhh tone it down guys, here she comes. I’ll try my best but it’s not a
promise. (Bar scene, romantic ambiance)

KOMBO: Mama Vicky,the one and only.

MA VIC: Kombo of all the sweet pet names in this world, you just settled on mama
Vicky?

KOMBO: In fact, I meant to ask, Victoria, what are you doing here? This décor isn’t for
under eighteens like you.

MA VIC: oh stop with the flatter.

KOMBO: Man’s shooting his shot. Tell me he’s hit his young, beautiful target.

MA VIC: Right through her heart.

KOMBO: Kama mali ni safi ni safi you look so young.

KOMBO: (looks at Ma Victoria, MaVictoria blushes) Really now! Sasa mbona una
blush? Is she really your daughter or your twin sister?

MA VIC: She is my daughter, I fell in love with her father nikiwa high school, due to
the blindness, at 15 years old nikiwa form two, I got pregnant, am telling you
where the guy vanished to I still have no idea. I am yet to recover from the

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 mental torture I underwent, (getting emotional, Kombo moves close to her
to comfort her)

KOMBO: Relax baby girl I got you.

MA VIC: You make me feel loved Kombo.

KOMBO: That’s coz you are special.

MA VIC: (She is moved to tears and breaks down) Imagine that idiot even had the
audacity of sending my late mum, a pastor, pesa za kufanya abortion, my
mum got mad, she could not believe it .

KOMBO: That’s so evil of him .What did your mum do?

MA VIC: she prayed over it.

KOMBO: The money?

MA VIC: No, The pregnancy Komboo, gaaai. She could not imagine ati mtoto wake, a
pastor kupewa ball na mtoto then suddenly huyo mtoto ako na ball ya hako
katoto, si ingekuwa utoto aki, ingekuwa the talk of the village halafu plus
abortion is a sin.

KOMBO: A big one!

MA VIC: That is how I ended up kuwa a single mum at the age of 15. The guy being the
son to the area MCA and having rich brothers in the city, decided to leave
me!!!(Breaks down again)

KOMBO: Sorry for that baby girl.

MA VIC: He left me Kombo, Imagine! With nothing, no message of goodwill Kombo

nothing. He just left me a mother. After my mum’s death, no one ever dared
to check on me, I was abandoned with my baby.

KOMBO: You are doing fine now. Things are working out for you.

MA VIC: Yes we can say so. I provide for her everything, she is in a good school, she
never lacks anything just as a teen she has become a pain in the neck.Thank
God schools have reopened after COVID. At least I can breathe.

KOMBO: Usijali, I am here for you,I got you! will always be here for you, to comfort
you, to sooth you, to give you a shoulder to lean on. (Embracing again)

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MA VIC: (Still on Kombo’s shoulder) Gaai! Kombo huyo ni wewe umepiga kizungu
hivyo?

KOMBO: Hizo ni mistari niliandikiwangwa na my friend, nikiwa form two fankie ya

Drama, there was this chile nilikuwa nimemkufia mbaya but guess what, she
never turned for the festivals.

MA VIC: But why?

KOMBO: Kumbe shule yao ilipigwa till number counties, haikupenya for the regionals.
(the two laugh as they stand up to dance, Kombo orders for more drinks
as the lights dim as Kombo and Mama Vic dance their way out the bar the
musicians change the scene to mama Ma Victoria’s living room, a posh
looking living room with a girlish touch . We see Victoria and FRANSISCA,
seated) 
VICTORIA: Welcome mwalimu

FRANSISCA: What a beautiful house your parents have Victoria.

VICTORIA: What a beautiful house my mum has Mr FRANSISCA.

FRANSISCA: Oh okay, she clearly has taste. I mean look at the artwork . It gives a sense of
living. It is indeed a living room.Oh a portrait!

VICTORIA: That is Maria’s (Getting bored) Sir, can we just go back to school? Cause the
woman you are waiting for won't show up anytime soon.

FRANSISCA: Is your mother the one referred to as ‘The Woman?’

VICTORIA: Is she not one? 

(Moving closer to her) Some patience Victoria, first we need to get your pills
before going back to school (holding her by the shoulders) and you should
treat your mum with respect as well .(A male and female voices of
drunkards are heard OS, all of a sudden, the door is opened with
FRANSISCA’s hands still on Victoria’s shoulders, Ma Victoria goes directly
and starts attacking Sr. FRANSISCA )

MA VIC: What ,what are you doing with my school going daughter, in my house
(Kombo attacks FRANSISCA as well)

KOMBO: (holding FRANSISCA by the collar and pushing him to the wall) Heeey!
Wewe ni nani? Na unafanya nini na under 18 kwao?

FRANSISCA: The situation is not what it seems like.

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VICTORIA: Stop it,.This is Sr. FRANSISCA, my chemistry and Biology Teacher who
doubles up as the Guiding and Counselling patron (they stop attacking, Ma
Victoria is not remorseful after knowing Mr FRANSISCA's identity) 

MA VIC: Aren't you supposed to be in school? (Shouting)what are you doing at

home ?

FRANSISCA: She is at home because….

MA VIC: I was talking to my daughter. (FRANSISCA keeps quiet) Why are you home?
Oooooooh let me guess…, the pills. Girl, you threw your pills away! Again!
why are you always careless? (voices get on stage) 

VOICE: Your mum says you're careless.

VOICE: You're what?

VOICE: careless!

VOICE: Careless Victoria

VOICE: You are careless.
MA VIC: You are very Careless, Sr..

FRANSISCA: FRANSISCA. Sr. FRANSISCA is my name.

MA VIC: Sr. FRANSISCA your student is careless. (goes for other pills locked in a
drawer) Mwalimu, I spend a lot of money to buy the antidepressants, my
medical cover is maxed out due to your careless student’s visits to the
therapist. (When Ma Vic stretches her hand to take the pills, her wrist
exposes a watch. Her tattoos can also be seen) 

VICTORIA: (Astonished) What! Mum, is that my watch you’re wearing?

MA VIC: Where?

VICTORIA: On your wrist of course.

MA VIC: (Moving close to her placing the drugs on Victoria’s arms in an awkward
manner) yes it is.Am I not the one who bought it? act like an adult, little girl.

VICTORIA: Mum my necklace as well! you access my closet when I am away at school.it
is you who should act as an aduilt grow up .

FRANSISCA: Victoria calm down.Mama…

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MA VIC: Mwalimu I demand that your student shuts up.

FRANSISCA: (Confused)My student is your daughter madam.

VOICES: Ignore her Victoria, IGNORE!

VICTORIA: No, I demand you should act like an adult Ma’, for heaven’s sake, you are soon
turning thirty years old and not fifteen. 

MA VIC: Girl you have no right to lecture me in my own house (In confusion and
anger, she makes as if to address FRANSISCA then turns To Mkombozi)
Baby talk to this baby girl.
KOMBO: Yes you absolutely have no right to talk to her like that.

VOICES: Voice your anger Victoria, Voice your frustration, pour it all out on her, do
not give in.

VICTORIA: And yeah, it is always about him, your so-called KOMBO MKOMBOZI (To
Kombo) can I tell you something Ben 10? You have no moral authority.

MA VIC: Victoria, watch your mouth.

VOICES: Hate! Hate! Hate!

VICTORIA: I hate you two! You took Maria away from me, she’s not here because of you
two. I will never forgive you for snacthing Maria away from me. Never.

MA VIC: (almost crying and to FRANSISCA ) Mwalimu. Iook at your student. how can
she dare blame me?

FRANSISCA: Both of you need to calm down and address things with clarity!

MA VIC: (To Victoria) Victoria I am your mother.

VICTORIA: (pause)My mother … the child you despise,! Other than that, to you, I am like
a ghost worker period .

VOICES: Go! Go! Go Victoria Go!

VICTORIA: (To FRANSISCA) Sr. FRANSISCA, I got what I wanted, my depression pills, I
can no longer tolerate extra bitter pills from her and her Ben 10. (smiles)
You know what, the school environment is a sane environment to help me
fight the voices in my head compared to her insane voices (the mother) are
the proverbial double-edged sword destroys the inner me. (All along, as the
two have been arguing, FRANSISCA and Kombo have been dead silent not

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 knowing what to do, Victoria walks out mumbling some words as the
voices accompany her with words of ‘go Victoria go’) 

MA VIC: (Getting emotional and running towards Kombo) She hates me Kombo,
she hates me.

KOMBO: Give her space.

MA VIC: But I am her mother.

KOMBO: Let her be. She’s just a young teenage girl. You need to rest. You got a
professional duty to attend to in a sober mind. (Dramatic pause taking her
head off his shoulder and holding her hands they exit)

SCHOOL SCENE – EVENING

(Victoria gets in with Sr. FRANSISCA in trail. She is crying and appears anxious)

VICTORIA: Sir, I cannot take me anymore.

FRANSISCA: First, you need to calm down. Here have your pills they should reduce the
severity of your anxiety. (Hands her the pills. She pushes his hand away)

VICTORIA: Sir, like I said, I cannot take it anymore. Everything including these pills.

FRANSISCA: Without them, the situation will not ease.

VICTORIA: Sir, it has been three years of pills. Three years of daily dosage of these pills.
Sir they kill me from within. I know no peace. Please spare me the pills sir.
Something else but the pills. (All this while Victoria is ladened with heavy
breath)

FRANSISCA: Breath in with me. Out. In once more, out. How does that feel?

VICTORIA: There is a slight difference.

FRANSISCA: Cool. Make it a habit to inhale and exhale anytime anxiety knocks at your
door.

VICTORIA: But sir…

FRANSISCA: (Cuts her shirt and gestures to her to stop) I want you to Inhale in the
name FRANSISCA and exhale out the title Sir. Drop the formality and address
me as FRANSISCA.

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VICTORIA: Well, noted sir, oh sorry FRANSISCA. A times there is so much chaos in my
head. Too many voices each fighting for space to express itself. My head feels
like a bottle under pressure but tightly corked. (A human prop of a bottle
emerges) The pressure from the exterior brews anxiety on the inside
rendering me restless. (The bottle agitates. The human props making up
the bottle make noises and move about agitated) These voices in my head
Are too powerful. When under their spell, they dictate my every move. I
cannot quiet them FRANSISCA, they are too powerful.

FRANSISCA: In such cases you need to let out those voices.

VICTORIA: But how sir? How do I do that when nothing, but chaos will spill out of me?
My tongue becomes the proverbial double-edged sword.

FRANSISCA: Here (Hands her a notebook). Take this notebook. This notebook will listen
to you without judging you.

VICTORIA: How so FRANSISCA?

FRANSISCA: Anytime the voices in you head fight for expression, express them in writing
here. This way, you will ease your mental space. The voices will quiet one by
one (The human props making up the bottle walk out one by one) Your
head will then be clear to only accommodate the necessary positive voices
that is positive talk. (Maria Goretti who has been eavesdropping walks in
and joins the conversation she is in her sleeping pajamas,)

MARIA G: There is nothing positive that c

an ever come out of an evil soul.

FRANSISCA: What? Maria Goretti. Have you been eavesdropping our conversation?

MARIA G: I couldn’t help it sir, but my heart is not at peace in her presence.

FRANSISCA: That is very unbecoming of you. This warrants a severe punishment. Victoria
kindly excuse us. (Victoria exits)

MARIA G: Sir, she is a danger to us.

FRANSISCA: Stop it with your conclusion. The incident that occurred was neither
intentional nor evil.

MARIA G: Excuse me Sr. FRANSISCA, I am deeply convinced that she is possessed.

FRANSISCA: I am deeply convinced that you are becoming rude to your teachers. Victoria
not possessed. 

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MARIA G: But she was found with drugs in her school bag on her first day in school.

FRANSISCA: Medically prescribed drugs. Maria Goretti, the fact that you are the daughter
to the Chair of the Board of Management, that does not give you permission
to oppose your teachers. Now listen and am telling you this for the last time,
Victoria was only going through some health problems, she is now in fairly
good shape. You all should give her time to relax. I should not hear anything
regarding Victoria again, understand me? (Silence) I am talking to you, young
girl.

MARIA G: Yes sir.

FRANSISCA: Now go to sleep. We both have had a hectic day. Off you go to bed. (Maria G
leaves) Goodnight (in the background, we can see students preparing
their beds ready to go to sleep, Victoria is seen being welcomed by Tracy
and Chelsy. FRANSISCA exits and the celestial bodies of the night recite
poetry to echo Sr. FRANSISCA’s words to Maria Goretti.) 

Celestial beings Poem

A Good night indeed, time to sleep
A night, starry night, dim lights,
the moon, all full for the night to bloom
and the chirp of crickets, nature’s symphony is check.
An owl, butterfly of the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies, the peace it brings
Sleep students. Sleep, deep into the land of slumber
Deep into the pot of dreams, the subconscious mind!
Like an owl, Nightmares! Nightmares! Nightmares glare!
Horror in slumber!

FLASHBACK (THE DREAM) - MAMA VICTORIA’S HOME

 (The full moon fractures, the stars dim and Victoria and Maria, her small sister
appear from them, she is bleading dying. Victoria is worried, she is shouting for help
because her sister is dying) 

C BEINGS: Your mum Victoria, your mum.

(She goes to check her mother’s bedroom, she is missing. Her bed is intact with the
lights still on)

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C BEINGS: (Invoking her to check the car, it is missing) Think Victoria Think! The car
keys. (She takes her phone and dials her mum’s number… Downstage left,
the gym is opened by Kombo, Victoria is doing some exercises at the Gym,
she looks excited, her phone is placed on the side, it rings but she ignores
it)

KOMBO : Your phone is ringing. 

MA VIC: Not now Kombo Mkombozi. I have for long postponed shedding off this baby
fat. I must fix my dilapidated tummy. Baby Maria left my tummy in a
dilapidated state like the public offers, I must fix this body to regain my
beautiful shape, Kombo Mkombozi. (A mime of Maria collapsing to death
held by Victoria as Ma Victoria collapses in Kombo’s hands)

C BEINGS(Poetry)
“Dreams, of past realities strike
Dreams of past pains attack
Nightmare of memories emerge,
They cry out in pain; they cry in pain of loss. They cry for the dead!

VICTORIA: Maria, Maria, Maria don’t go, Come back Maria… ( Victoria calls on Maria’s
name again and again and again Maria G upon hearing her name wakes
up, she goes ahead and wakes everyone up, she turns the lights on as
Victoria still calls on Maria’s name. Maria G is seen making a short
prayer as the other students watch, she then takes water from a cup and
splashes the water on Victoria who is awakened from her dream with the
Word ‘Mariaaaaaa’)

SCHOOL - HOSTELS

MARIA G: Why are you shouting my name? (Victoria is still in shock, sweating and
breathing heavily)

STUDENT 1: The drugs must be at work, yet again. 

STUDENT 2: calling your name Maria G in her sleep is unusual and dangerous to you as
well.

MARIA G: Victoria, why mention my name at night. 

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STUDENT 3: She must be possessed by the demons Maria G.

(Maria G starts speaking in tongues, other students join in, Tracy and Chelsy are
attracted by the same.)

TRACY: What is going on here? (The students who had surrounded Victoria reveal
her to Tracy)

CHELSY: You guys you haven't heard enough of Victoria yet?

MARIA G: It is she who is possessed with my name.

TRACY: What do you mean?

MARIA G: Victoria here woke us all up deep in the night crying out for my blood. She
was sleeping talking with the devil. I fear for my life.

CHELSY: It can’t be.

MARIA G: Brethrens is it not written in our memories what just transpired?

STUDENTS: Vividly written.

MARIA G: Did you not hear the voices?

STUDENTS: Voices of evil.

VICTORIA: They are voices in my head I do not understand…

MARIA G: Here comes the confession. What more proof do you need oh Yee
doubting Thomas’s? This time round we have evidence that indeed
Victoria is intoxicated and that she is a threat to the rest of the school
and thus must be… 

STUDENTS: Expelled!

MARIA G: Cast out from this holy paradise that is school with immediate effect…..
(Noise…. Maria G calms them down and as if opening pages of the bible,
to the students she addresses them) Brethren, be strong in the Lord and in
the strength of his might… Come on brethren, put on your whole armor
(students turn their bedding into armour) brethren, for you to be able to
stand against her devilish schemes we must wrestle against her cosmic
powers of darkness, stand therefore brethren, fasten the armor of
righteousness (to Victoria) hello demon, It is finished. I cast you out of the
school, leave demon leave and go to the swine’s, leave! (students start

18
 speaking in tongues as they attempt to attack her, Tracy and Chelsy
protect her. Victoria’s voices urge her to run away)

VOICES: Run Victoria run, run find peace and rest

VICTORIA: Run, I must run, but where?

VOICES: Run to Maria, she awaits you! Run Vicky run.

(she runs out of the stage, the other students upon realizing that start celebrating
while causing chaos and others packing Victoria’s belonging, Sr. FRANSISCA arrives in
haste dressed in sweatpants and a sweatshirt and a marvin. He tries to calm them
down)

MARIA G: Sr. FRANSISCA we can no longer tolerate Victoria, we have heard enough of
her, in fact we have already packed her belonging (students drop Victoria’s
belonging at FRANSISCA’s feet), Sr. FRANSISCA, Victoria must leave the
school, she must be expelled. (Maria Goretti reveals a note bearing her
name and gives it to FRANSISCA) Here, another exhibit, I found this note
with my name in BOLD under Victoria’s pillow.

FRANSISCA: Students, Victoria needs nothing but care, she is sick and that she depends on
the pills for survival. 

STUDENT: Sr. FRANSISCA with due respect we cannot take good care of a demon, this is
a Christian founded school.

MARIA GORETI: Brethren… Go yee and search for the demon, fish her out of her hiding
place and bring her forth to the altar of Truth and Justice. . (Maria
Goretti instructs the others to go fish her out from her hiding)

FRANSISCA: Stop it Maria Goreti. You are inciting the others.

MARIA GORETI: Sir this is a spiritual warfare. The spirit leads me as it will.

(FRANSISCA remains behind with Tracy and Chelsy to try to figure out where she could
be.) 

FRANSISCA: Where could she have possibly run to? she must be hiding? (The students
and FRANSISCA take the center stage, they are facing different directions
and deep in thoughts as they create, a mind map on Victoria’s
whereabouts)

FRANSISCA: She must have gone home to confront her mother again. (Freeze Frame as
Mama Victoria sets the scene DSR, she is dressed to kill and just waiting

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 for her love Kombo Mama Victoria apppears anxious and to be waiting
for someone, she checks her phone and freezes.) 
 
TRACY: She was calling on Maria,... the saint. She must have gone to the chapel to
pray to the Hail Mary to intervene (A chapel is set DSL with extras kneeling
and praying in front of a white cross, Stacy and Chelsy get down to the
Chapel in search of Victoria and freeze.)

FRANSISCA: (As they head to the chapel) Go and check on her at the school chapel, I will
head to her home and try check on her as well,quick, time waits for no man.
Find her before Goreti and her disciples do. (FRANSISCA exits as the two
girls go check at the chapel. They don’t find Victoria. They invoke a short
prayer to “ hail Mary Mother of God Have Mercy on Victoria”  they walk
out of the chapel, then Chelsy.)

CHELSY: Ooooh My God!

TRACY: What?

CHELSY: The Maria she was mentioning in her sleep is the name of her late sister.

TRACY: Exactly! She must have gone to seek solace at the cemetery. (Victoria walks
in the voices of Maria Goretti, the mother’s voice and her internal voices
are there to help develop the plot. Victoria approaches the cemetery, the
mood is somber, incoherent voices are heard in the background, she is
nervous)
VICTORIA: Maria, Maria, Maria, is that you little siz?
MARIA : Yes siz, it is me can’t you see?
VICTORIA: I can only perceive death all around.
DARK VOICE 1 (Formerlly Maria) : Yes death, Dead she is, siz died.
VICTORIA: No, It can’t be I can hear her, I have just seen her.
MARIA: I am here siz, in this paradise.
VICTORIA: Oh siz I missed you so much. (Makes as if to go hug her, but
the figure dissapears)
DARK VOICE: Gone, dead, siz is gone.
VICTORIA: No Maria you can’t be gone, you cannot leave me here all alone.
BACKGROUND VOICES: powerless, useless, Just a nuisance.
VICTORIA: Maria, take me with you, take me with you, they are after me. I can
hear their voices in my head.

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MAMA VICKY: You are a careless useless girl.
VICTORIA: I feel less. It is true, I am less, without you, I am a lesser human.
MARIA GORETTI: Inhuman, demonic.
VICTORIA: Diminishing voices all over me.
MAMA VICKY: It is over! On the cross of your sins, the work the devil in you started,
though shall not finish.
VICTORIA: I should vanish.
MARIA GORETTI: Begone ye demon, vanish from the paradise that is school for ye are
not welcome in the kingdom.
MAMA VICKY: I know not peace at home. All because of you, you are not welcome.
Begone for home there is no peace
VICTORIA: These voices are banishing, Maria, take me home. For like the flowers
on thy bed, I too want to flourish?
MARIA: Come See them, see how beautiful they flourish. (She follows the
imaginary Maria who shows her around)

VOICES : Unlike you!

MARIA: See, see how they are all evidently beautiful
VOICES : Unlike ugly you!
MARIA: Feel them Victoria, feel how the flowers are all part of nature.
VICTORIA: I feel, deep within me that I am part of…
VOICES : Nothing! You are nothing (Maria lies on a grave with flowers all around
it)
VICTORIA: What a beautiful bed.
VOICES : (smiling): Beautiful bed for the rejected.
VICTORIA: What a peaceful bed.
MARIA G: There shall be no peace for the wicked still alive.
VICTORIA: The silence is all soothing.
MARIA: Come join me in this beautiful paradise, the peace, bright lights of hope
shining

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VOICES: (Singing first in English then in dholuo)
There’s a land that is brighter than day
And by Faith, you can see it afar
For thy sister waits over the way
To prepare you a dwelling place there
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on the beautiful shore
In the sweet by and by
We shall meet on the beautiful shore ( Tracy and Chelsea on a motorbike riding at high
speed towards the cemetery, Victoria gets ready to do self harm. Dead Maria is seen
infront of death
VICTORIA: I want to rest right next to you in this beautiful paradise.
MARIA: Come join me.
VICTORIA: But first, I need to plant and water my own flowers.
MARIA: You want to give them life?
VICTORIA: They are worthy of my earthly life given their beauty; I have no
beauty to offer the world like these flowers.
DARK VOICES: Here (Hand her a penknife) Use this to water the flowers.
VICTORIA: To these flowers I give life.(She does self harm and starts bleeding)
No more strife, they shall thrive,
Oh Maria, look, nature is happy, it is shedding tears of joy.
MARIA: Tears of life. Water on Victoria, prepare your beautiful bed of flowers right
next to mine. Soon you will be with me.
VICTORIA: Yes, I am coming Maria. For I am tired of the voices in my head and around
me.
VOICES: Tired? Here have some one, two, three, four a stream of energy, energy
boosting pills. (She starts overdosing on her pills)
VICTORIA: OH the voice so reassuring. I am coming to your voice of life. The voices in
this world are discouraging.
VOICES: Here, a pill, two pills, three pills a sea of pills to quiet your depressive voices.

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MARIA: Come with me to paradise.
VICTORIA: Calm, peace, the peace devoid of anxiety.
MARIA: Are you anxious?
VICTORIA: Yes, I feel anxious, the voices in my head make me anxious. Are we in
paradise? I can see the light, all bright, brighter. Maria , Maria…
TRACY/CHELSEA: Victoria, Victoria,
VICTORIA: Maria is that you? you came to welcome me in paradise. Wow.(Tracy
and Chelsea shout out to her and rush to her, the motorbike rider
removes his helmet and joins them in the rescue, it is Kombo,
Maria faints in Kombo’s arms. Freeze. back to Victoria’s home, her
mother is all set for a dinner date and is making a phone call. We
hear the phone ring, lights center on Kombo’s face on stage, he is
in shock, all sweaty. Lights go off and we hear the doorbell at
mama vickys’s door)
MAMA VICKY: Sigh! Babe, I thought you stood me up. Glad you are here (Opens the
door ready to hug and kiss Kombo, it is Mr FRANSISCA) Mwalimuh
MAMA VICKY: Mwalimu your timings surely mwalimu, your timings, did it have to
be today? Did it have to be at this hour? Ai yawa . People, can’t a young
single mother like me just have a good time? Aki me I can’t.
FRANSISCA: (Clears throat) Sorry for the intrusion but I am here for Victoria’s
sake
MA VICTORIA: What has she done this time round? (Silence, FRANSISCA is
surprised at her reaction) Mwalimu I am talking to you, can’t you
teachers just do your job? Does CBC recommend midnight visits by
teachers?
FRANSISCA: Mama Victoria Victoria, I am a teacher, and as such, I instruct and
parent at the same time. I am here in my capacity as a deputy parent
to Victoria.
MA VICTORIA: Did you come to my house at midnight to give me a TED talk on
parenting?
FRANSISCA: (An aside) These are the same parents who will judge us in the court of
public opinion as a Kenyans on twitter. Quick to accuse, blame and shame
without even the slightest idea of the real issue at hand. What a shame.
Parents, we can do better. (To mama Victoria) Is Victoria home?

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MA VICTORIA: The last time I checked; the spoilt princess left home for school,
swearing never to be back again. For the records, you remained quiet
mwalimu.
FRANSISCA: And here comes the blame game. Parents we can surely do…. better.
MA VICTORIA: Mwalimu stop wasting my time, as you can see I was just about to
have a good time.
FRANSISCA: Having a good time when your daughter Victoria is missing/ That will
surely not be a good time.
MA VICTORIA: Oh she missing? Isn’t she?
FRANSISCA: She is, and I thought she might have come home.
MA VICTORIA: She will come around. You see Mwalimu I know my daughter.
FRANSISCA: Do you mama Victoria?
MA VICTORIA: Trust me mwalimu, simple mathematics I have known her for sixteen
years, inclusive of the nine month I carried her in my 15-year-ol
womb. you’ve only known her for only one term?
FRANSISCA: Less than two weeks to be precise.
MA VICTORIA: Spare me the precision. As I said, said I know my daughter.
FRANSISCA: Indeed, you do.
MA VICTORIA: And she will come around after her emotional hide and seek game
(Doorbell rings)
Mwalimu does that sound ring a bell in your mind?
FRANSISCA: Yes it does. that Victoria is home after her emotional hide and seek
game.
MA VICTORIA: What subject do you teach?
FRANSISCA: Biology and chemistry.
MA VICTORIA: That explains why you cannot perceive things in the same way a lover
of literature does
MA VICTORIA: My lover is waiting outside so….(Shows him the way out, opens the
door and a sad Kombo gets in) Babe why aren’t you picking up my
calls? You stood me up? Three hours, three hours waiting for you,
where have you been? (Silence from Kombo) You dare keep quit
when I am talking to you? (Makes an aggressive move)

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KOMBO: Nyar Sembo stop it.
MA VICTORIA: wow did you just refer to me like that? What has come into you babe?
FRANSISCA: Let’s be calm.we …
MA VICTORIA: Mwalimu mind your business, this is not about Victoria.
FRANSISCA: I am a teacher and as such, a mediator in case of conflict. You two
could use some diplomacy.
KOMBO: Mama Victoria. Watch your tone woman. I stood you up because I had
to stand up for Victoria.
MA VICTORIA: Victoria? My daughter? What has she done to you?
KOMBO: Enough with your pessimism woman. She has done nothing to me.
Who hurt you? Must you see the black on every white canvas?
MA VICTORIA: Then what’s up with her?
FRANSISCA: The right question here is where is Victoria?
KOMBO: (Suspense. He removes his jacket to reveal a blood stained t-shirt)
MA VICTORIA/FRANSISCA: Oh no.
FRANSISCA : Is she safe? What misfortune befell her? Come on be quick young man.
MA VICTORIA: Oh my daughter, my Victoria.
KOMBO: She is fighting for her dear life in hospital. Death was eyeing her.
Ready to pounce on her and devour.
MAMA VICTORIA: (In tears) Death, please do not mention death. Death, look at the
wreck you made of me. Wasn’t Maria enough for you? You took my
little one Maria and with her, my sanity as a mother. What more do
you want of me. How thirsty are you for my children’s blood? Tell me
she is fine, tell me that my daughter, my only child is still with me.
FRANSISCA: Calm down mama Victoria, death hasn’t striked yet.
KOMBO: Only when death winks do we question our actions. Only when the
voices turn into action do we learn to listen. Only when we listen can
we salvage a soul crying out for help.
FRANSISCA: Young man, in which hospital is she?
KOMBO: She is recuperating at the county hospital, a parent to one of her close
friends came through with an ambulance and she was rushed to

25
 hospital. She wanted you to read this before visiting her. (Hands a
letter to FRANSISCA)
MAMA VICTORIA: Take me to her, take me to my daughter.
KOMBO: Mama Victoria, this is the end of the road for my journey with you.
You need Victoria just like she needs you. This is her blood, it cries out
to you in actions, heed the call before it is too late. (Kombo leaves)
FRANSISCA: Her diary of voices. (Shocked)
MA VICTORIA: A diary of voices? From Victoria? What does it say Mwalimu?
FRANSISCA: These are the voices in her head captured in words. I gave her this
notebook and urged her to write down her thoughts as a form of
therapy.
FRANSISCA: It is titled VOICES. (Reads on)
I have found my voice, voice of my words
I have found my voice, voice of my worlds.
A voice of hope I am now
To my voice of hope, the voice of depression shall bow.
The dark voices are silent.
MA VICTORIA: Dark voices that heard of mental health when my voice shouted
loneliness. (Doctor and nurses get on stage and contain her. Mama
Victoria says these words amid tears)
Medical voices that prescribed pills when all my voice shouted was
attention from my motherly voice. (The doctors prescribe a
medication)
Voices of stubbornness were heard when all I voiced was a voice of
loss from my beloved Maria.
With Maria’s death. I too lost myself and ended up in a dark pit of dark
voices. The voices of loneliness, loss of direction, depression all came
flooding in .(Students come in slowly led by Maria Goretti, in hand
she has a letter that she reads from.)
MARIA GORETTI: Voices that didn’t know my story couldn’t understand my voices.
Theirs were voices of beautiful hymns depicting love and mental
sanity. Those voices crucified me on the cross of my internal struggles.
(Victoria poses on the cross that is in front of Maria. )

26
 My voice, cushioned from dark voices, had never had a voice of a
depressed soul.
My voice, under the mask of religion, heard the voice of evil in the
voice of anxiety.
My voice, raised from a well-knit family, heard the voice of a bastard
in the voice of a neglected soul.
VICTORIA: This soul I forgive for it spoke in the darkness that is ignorance
MARIA GORETTI: The ignorance that comes from having a perfect world. (Maria
Goretti breaks down in tears) I am sorry Victoria, I was so blind to
the light of truth but now, now I see the light in awareness of mental
health
TRACY/CHELSEA: Only those who listened carefully and with care heard a cry of and for
help.
Only they voiced the hope that my dark mental voices were desperate
for.
Only they, strengthened by their unity outmatched the dark voices.
(Tracy and Chelsea remove Victoria from the cross and the cross
with Maria leaves the stage. They pass the letter to Victoria who
continues reading it aloud.)
VICTORIA: These voices shouted hope during depression.
These voices shouted belonging amid rejection. (Holding Tracy and
Chelsea by their shoulders)
(Referring to FRANSISCA) These voices shouted responsibility.
Together these voices became a refuge, my refuge.
FRANSISCA: Victoria here is speaking to us in her own personal voice. A voice that
comes from her journey with mental health. A voice that speaks for
most of us. It is time we step up and let the voices out of our head.
Step up and silence the voices.
MA VICTORIA: (Steps forward) Victoria my daughter.
VICTORIA: Mum.
MA VICTORIA: Forgive me for being too deaf to your voice. I too have been hearing
voices since the death of Maria, the voices have dictated my actions
some of which have impacted you. If only we gave each other an ear
the together we shall quieten the dark voices in our heads. All we

27
 needed was to be by each other and share our voices. Sr. FRANSISCA
here has been the voice of reason without which we wouldn’t have
survived. Mwalimu how may I repay your acts of kindness?
FRANSISCA: As the teacher in charge of guiding and counselling, the task is
daunting. Silencing the voices in student’s life is supposed to be a
shared responsibility. For this reason, mama Victoria. I suggest that in
you support a mental health training program in school.
MA VICTORIA: Say no more mwalimu. (Music as a cheque is brought in) With this
mental health training program, I give voice to hope. May we voice the
voice of hope to all. Young and old. (They shake hands as Victoria
and mother embrace)

ALL:
Come, to the voice of hope
Come to the voice of awareness
That voice of destruction shall stifle.
That voice of depression shall silence.
With the voice of hope, care, and awareness.
For these are the true (Dramatic Pause) V-O-I-C-E-S.
A BISHOP OKOTH OJOLLA PRODUCTION!

THE END

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