No hope is lost

By Rev. Stanley Ihedigbo

It is a powerful and inspiring Christian drama that explores faith, perseverance, and God’s unfailing grace in the midst of life’s trials. Through engaging characters and touching scenes, the play reminds audiences that no matter how difficult the situation may appear, hope remains alive for those who trust in God. It is a compelling message of restoration, redemption, and the triumph of faith over despair.

ACT ONE
Scene One

Early in the morning, in the home of Mr. Dan and Mrs. Mary, who have been married for some years, with repeated cases of miscarriages and infant mortality occasioning loss of many children. They wake from sleep and start preparing to go out for the daily activities.
Dan: (Sighing)
Mary: Good morning, my dear!
Dan: (He doesn’t respond to his wife’s greeting)
Mary: (After greeting her husband good morning several times without any response) My dear husband, what is the problem early this morning!
Dan: (Nettled (irritable) Woman! I believe you must have something very important to do with your time this morning than wasting your time standing idle before me.
Mary: Yes, Sir. But…!
Dan: (Angrily snaps at her) But what…? Please, go and do what you have to do this morning, if you know what is good for you!
Mary: (Soberly) I didn’t think that what I’m going to do or where I’m going is more important than what you, my husband, have to tell me. Because your problem is my problem as long as we are still married.
Dan: (Stood up and walked into his bedroom, leaving his wife in the sitting room)
Mary: (Soliloquising) I believe there is a problem and I don’t know why my husband doesn’t want to tell me about it. Is it something that has to do with me?
Dan: (Comes out into the sitting room, seeing his wife still standing there.) (In a more relaxed manner) Okay! Sit down.
Mary: (Settles down in one of the seats)
Dan: I had a sleepless and restless night…
Mary: (Interrupts to express her observation) Because of what my dear, surely your eyes must still be heavy.
Dan: (Apologetic) My dear! I’m very sorry about that. I should have told you this last night, during dinner time. But I have not been happy, and I don’t know how to tell you about it.
Mary: Whatever is the matter? Is everything alright in the village?
Dan: I got a letter from my mother yesterday in the office through our town union chairman, who traveled home for a burial in the village…
Mary: (Interrupts him) Is she okay?
Dan: My mother is okay. But she wrote in the letter that we shall soon see in our home. That’s what she’s seeing in the pot is no more soup.
Mary: My dear, I thank God Mama is healthy… erm… but and what’s the meaning of her proverb?
Dan: (Getting irritated again) What kind of knowing question is that! I just told you that my mother wrote in the letter that we should be expecting her within the week, and you’re busying yourself interrogating me, instead of preparing for her visit.
Mary: (Sobering) Is that so?
Dan: (More irritated) Yes, it is so!
Mary: (Gaining some composure) I don’t think you mentioned any of the contents of the letter to me before. But is that what caused your sleepless and restless night? Your mother’s visit to our home is not a bad idea, and I will welcome her with open arms. She’s always welcome to our home anytime.

Dan: (Scowls) Yes… and she is coming for a great purpose!
Mary: (Whimpering resignedly) Okay, o! I will not stop your mother from coming to Lagos or my home for any reason. So, tomorrow, the news will not go around that I don’t want my mother-in-law to come to her son’s home.
Dan: (Silent)
Mary: (Feigning annoyance) My dear husband! I’m sure you actually know the reason behind your mother’s visit, but you don’t want to tell me. She must have written it to you in the letter she sent to you.
Dan: (Carelessly) Of course, she did. She mentioned it in her letter.
Mary: (With a tone of resignation) She’s always welcome here anytime, like I said before, and as I always say! I believe your mother is my mother, too. (Calls out) Baby, Baby, where are you?
Baby: Yes, ma, I am coming.
Dan: Baby, have you put the warm bathwater for your father in the bathroom?
Baby: (She enters the sitting room) Yes, ma, I have taken the water to the bathroom.
Dan: Baby! Won’t you go to school today? Or you want to go to school late?
(Exits Dan to the bathroom)
Baby: (Notices Mary’s pensive look) Mom! What is the problem? Did daddy beat you?
Mary: Baby! Just go inside the room and prepare to go to school right now.