The Only Exception

By Nadiah Mahamud
Written for:

SMK Karak Setia (English Language Drama Competition

 Actor

Sarah

Aliff

Pak Ali

Makcik Siah

Pak Hamid

Mr. Hakim

Teacher Ainun (Tcr. Ainun)

Farid

Aunt 1/Extra

Village 1/Extra

Narrator
 Scene 1

Actor : Sarah

Narrator: Irony, that’s what this story is about. A neighbourhood known as Kampung Harmoni.
But you know what they say, distance lends enchanment. And whether or not it reflects the
name, I’ll let you be the judge of it....

*lights off, spotlight on the girl*

*props entree*

Girl sits alone in the middle of the stage.

Audio of villagers, gossiping.

Sarah : *frustrated/crying* How much longer do I have to bear this? Why am I the only one
suffering and excluded from everything as if I dont exist. Oh God, am I unworthy of your love?
Am I unworthy of even an ounce of happiness? Why am I the only exception..

Scene 2

Actor : Sarah, Aliff, villagers, Pak Hamid, Makcik Siah, Aliff’s mother (Teacher Ainun)

Place : The village market

In a place full of strangers, a 17-year-old girl was made alien by the villagers and although she
had no business with people around and never did she ever ask for anything from them; to the
villagers, she was nothing but a disease that must be cast off more sooner than later.

Lights On

*sounds of villagers selling goods*

Makcik Siah : *Talking to Pak Hamid* Eh.... look that girl is here again. Doesnt she know
that everyone dislikes her and thinks she brings bad luck to the village? The
audacity this girl has is truly admirable.

Pak Hamid : *Arranging veges on the table* Not again Siah..... We already know where this
is going. Can we actually stop her from leaving her house? *Looks at Makcik
 Siah* No, right? So just ignore her. She will be gone once she gets what
she needs.

Makcik Siah : HUH! *Glares in dissatisfation at Pak Hamid*

*Sarah stops at a poultry stall*

Sarah : Excuse me Pak Ali, can I have some eggs, please?

Pak Ali : Hey!!! Did we not make it clear to you before? We sell everything to everyone
EXCEPT for you. We dont sell anything to you. Do you understand?

Sarah : But please Pak Ali.. I have nothing else to eat at home. I need this for me and
my--

Pak Ali : STOP IT! I dont want to hear your sad story! Take it and be gone this instance!

*Sarah takes the eggs and quickly leaves*

*Aliff enters the scene while running and almost bumps into Sarah*

*Romantic music on*

*Aliff looks at Sarah in admiration* *Everyone freeze*

Aliff : I’m sorry.. I was in a hurry, I didn’t mean to...

Makcik Siah : *scream* Eh boy.....!!! Dont get close to her! She’ll latch her bad lucks onto
you.

*Sarah quickly walks away*

*Aliff walks over to Makcik Siah*

Aliff : Assalamualaikum Makcik Siah, I’m Aliff. I just moved here last week as my
mother just got transferred to SMK Sri Harmoni here. That’s my mother,
Teacher Ainun. *pointing to Teacher Ainun*

Makcik Siah : Yes.. yes I heard. Welcome to Kg Harmoni.

Aliff : Can you please tell me why does everyone seem to be hating that girl, I dont
know her name, but she doesnt look like a bad person.

Makcik Siah : Aliff, listen here.. everyone in this village knows about her. And she isnt
someone you want to keep as friend.
*Pak Ali and several villagers gather at Makcik Siah stall*

Pak Ali : Yes boy... her father was a drug addict.. Now look at her daughter. She’s also
suspicious and doesnt minggle around with us.

Aunt 1 : Trust me, she must have something up her sleeves to be acting that way. We
have been keeping a close eye on her and warn her not to cause anymore
problems here. But she is such a rebel.

Aliff : But that doesnt make her a bad person, does it? *Looks at Mak Siah* You
mentioned just now that she brings bad luck... how so? What happened?

*Teacher Ainun joins the gathering*

Pak Ali : *Sigh* When her father started to be involved in that filthy business, the
neighbouring villages refused to visit our village anymore. This village used to
be merrier than this; a lot of people especially from the neighbouring village
would come and shop here.

Tcr. Ainun : Is this regarding that girl just now?

Aunt 1 : Yes.. And the story spread and things were out of hand. Since then, Kg
Harmoni was never the same anymore.

Makcik Siah : Some said that the girl was so mad at her parents that she killed her own
mother. Nobody has even seen her mother anymore. Rumour has it that her
father caught HIV and that she has it too. That’s why she’s been avoiding us.

Tcr. Ainun : That’s really serious, we must do something about it. We must investigate
further as to avoid more conflicts in the future.

Pak Ali : Dont worry.. I will talk to the Chief about this.

Lights Off

Narrator : And just like that, the story of Sarah spread even further. Oh the story spread, it
did. But never the truth....
 Scene 3

Actor : Sarah, Teacher Ainun, Farid, Classmates

Place : Classroom

Lights On

Tcr. Ainun : Ok class, you will be sitting for SPM in less than week. I hope you are fully
prepared now. I must also remind you about the scholarship that I’ve mentioned
before. Tomorrow is the last day for you to submit your application form. The
scholarship is open for everyone to apply.

All students : Ok teacher. *Everyone stands* Thank you, Teacher Ainun.

*Teacher Ainun arranges her books on her desk, students leave that scene while chatting*

*Sarah stands and hesitates to see Teacher Ainun, walks to her slowly *

Sarah : Excuse me Teacher.. I would like to ask you about the scholarship. May I still
fill in the forms and send it to you by tomorrow?

*Aliff and Farid enter the scene, observe and eavesdrop*

Tcr Ainun : *Looks at her in disbelief* I’m sorry. The scholarship is open for everyone,
EXCEPT, for you. The teachers in charge and the school Principal have decided
to not let you apply considering your past history and family background. So
you can just forget about it OK?

*Sarah nods, leaves the scene looking disappointed and sad*

Aliff : Farid, do you really think that all the rumours are true? She doesnt seem like a
girl who could harm even a cat—

Farid : I believe what everyone believes.

Aliff : Oh you simple minded boy. *giving farid the side eye* *leaves the scene*

Farid : Oh you’re giving me the bombastic side eye..... *imitates him* Bombastic side
eye...

Lights Off
 Scene 4

Actor : Villages, The Village Chief

Place : Coffee stall

Narrator : Meanwhile, at the coffee shop where everyone always gathers, Mr Hakim, the
Village Chief is having a quiet time sipping his coffee when he was approached
by Pak Ali.

Lights On

Pak Ali : Assalamualaikum Mr Hakim. Am I disturbing you? May I join you here? I
have something to discuss with you...

Mr Hakim : Waalaikumussalam, eh Pak Ali.. come, come and join me. What can I help you
with?

Pak Ali : Mr Hakim, I’m sure you are aware of the issue we, the villagers are having
right now.... *worried face* This is regarding the bad rumours spreading around
about the girl whose father was a drug addict. If we do not do anything about it
now, it’s going to spread further...

Mr Hakim : I’m aware of it, yes.... but I thought that was just a rumour, no?

Pak Ali : No, those rumours are true. I have asked someone to tail on her and recorded
this video. *shows Encik Hakim his phone* I have shared this video on FB and
a lot of my followers suggested that we remove her from this village and send
her to the welfare home.

Mr Hakim : Does she live alone at home?

Pak Ali : Yes..... and she seems to be doing something bad in that house of hers. Very
suspicious..

Mr Hakim : Very suspicious indeed. If that’s the case, forward to me the video.. and we’ll
go to her house tonight and get her to leave this village as soon as possible.

Pak Ali : Very well... I will gather some of my friends and we’ll see you tonight after
isya’. I will have to go to the mosque for isya’ prayer.. I never skip isya’ prayer
at the mosque you see...*smilling*
Mr Hakim : Very well.. see you tonight.

Lights off

Scene 5

Actor : Villagers, Mr Hakim, Sarah, Aliff, Farid

Place : Sarah’s house

Narrator : As the saying goes, wisdom is born, stupidity is learned. Just like that, the most
powerful man in the village, whose power could have been used for something
far more beneficial, was deceived by a mere video.. Later that night, the men...
with kopiah and songkok as a symbol of religiousness on their heads, marched
from the mosque to Sarah’s old house.

Lights on

*Villagers, Pak Ali, Mr Hakim arrive at Sarah’s house*

Mr Hakim : *Looks furious* Assalamualaikum.. Sarah! Sarah! Come out of the house.

*Sarah looks suprised and walks to them*

Sarah : Waalaikumussalam.. yes.. What can I help you with? Why is everyone
gathered here at this hour?

Mr Hakim : I’m sure you know what has been happening in this village and how much
problems you have caused. We are here to kindly ask you to leave this place as
soon as possible.

Sarah : *Upset* But what exactly have I done? Why does everyone hate me so much?
Nobody has ever come and talked to me or ask me for the truth....and now you
simply want to remove me from this place?!!! This is the only place I can come
back to!!!

Pak Ali : Watch your words! Dont be disrespectful!!!!

Sarah : *Synical laugh* I am being disrespectful? Am I really? You are the one who
wants me gone from this place! I ---- *interrupts by someone*
*Aliff enters the scene*

Aliff : Please everyone, let’s not do this. What we see with our own two eyes can be
deceiving and could cause misleading. Let’s clear this once and for all.

Villager 1 : Hey boy.. you are new here! You stay out of this matter!

Aliff : But this is wrong.. what you’re doing is wr--- *Sarah interrupts*

Sarah : I know!!! I know every single thing you have said about me. I know about the
video. But because I dont have the power to fight all of you and this hatred, I
chose not to say anything. Is it fair that I have to fail because of my situation or
because of my living conditon? Should I keep blaming my father and fail in life?
Please, my father has received his punishment. *Starts sobbing slowly* And I
didnt choose to be born as his daughter. My mother is not dead. *A villager tries
to interrupts, stop by Sarah* Let me finish. She’s still here.

*Shows her mother to them*

Aliff : What happened to her?

Sarah : She’s paralyzed. It’s been 3 years now and she will leave me any time now...
there’s nothing the doctors could do anymore..

*Everyone looks apologetic*

Lights Off

Narrator : From that day onwards, everyone swore in front of Sarah and her mother, that
they will do anything they could to help her. And that my friends... is a story of a
girl who was greatly misunderstood but was strong enough to keep standing
because she refused to let her situation nor her family backgroud to be the
reason for failing in life.

*Scene where Sarah receives her result, waves to everyone.*

On the day of the SPM result announcement, the girl who everyone made
exception, received the most exceptional result. And although her mother has
safely crossed the rainbow bridge, Sarah is finally ready to write her own fate. If
she could do it, so does everyone. The end.