EPISODE 15- “Deal or no Deal”
Written by ADONG Lucy Judith
SCENE I
LOCATION:HEALTH CENTRE-MORNING
B/G SFX:DISTANT CRIES OF CHILDREN
CHARACTERS:NURSE MILDRED, WALUSIMBI, SUNDAY
MILDRED:(AS NARRATOR) They say adversity is the true test of love. Walusimbi and Sunday were greatly in love; and it was that love that was now challenged as never before when Sunday tested HIV positive. But before they could make any major decisions about their lives, Walusimbi had to take the HIV test as well. The outcome of that test would change their lives forever….
SFX:FADE UP SOUNDS OF CLINIC
WALUSIMBI:What? But that can’t be.
SUNDAY:Are you sure about this, Nurse Mildred?
MILDRED:The test result shows Walusimbi is HIV negative.
WALUSIMBI:But Sunday is positive…
MILDRED:Yes, I know. And you are negative, Walusimbi. When one partner is HIV Negative and the other is HIV Positive, we say that you are Discordant.
SUNDAY:(FAINTLY) Oh my gosh! I don’t know what to say.
WALUSIMBI:Neither do I. Discordant?
MILDRED:I know this can be overwhelming but discordant couplesare more common than people think.
SUNDAY:So what does this mean?
MILDRED:I counsel a number of discordant couples and they live happily together.
SUNDAY:Happily, Nurse Mildred?
MILDRED:Yes, Sunday. Of course, you will have to use condoms or abstain from sex altogether.
SUNDAY:Abstain from sex altogether?
MILDRED:Or use condoms. Otherwise the HIV can still be passed on to Walusimbi.
WALUSIMBI:You mean I can still get HIV?
MILDRED:Yes, Walusimbi – if you haveunprotected sex. HIV is not passed on every time an HIV positive person has unprotected sex.But, it only takes one time…
SUNDAY:So what you are saying is that I can still give HIV to Walu?
MILDRED:Not if you use condoms… every time.
WALUSIMBI:What if we forget?
MILDRED:If there is not much HIV in Sunday’s body, then the chances of giving you HIV are reduced.
SUNDAY:But, how can we know that... oh my!
MILDRED:There is no need to get alarmed, Sunday. All you have to do is stay healthy by...
SUNDAY:Stay healthy? Nurse Mildred,how can I stay healthy when I already have AIDS?
MILDRED:That’s not true, Sunday. You don’t have AIDS. You would only have AIDS when the virus has spread so much that you become ill. But you can control the HIVby taking one Septrin tablet every day, and by doing other things I will explain to you. And that will help stop the HIV virus from multiplying…
SUNDAY:All this is too confusing for me. I don’t understand it. I don’t understand anything.
MILDRED:It’s a lot to take in at first, I know. Walusimbi, you are quiet.
WALUSIMBI:I don’t have anything to say, Nurse. I don’t know what to say and what not to say.
MILDRED:I can understand.
WALUSIMBI:What I want is to get out of here. I need to digest this.
SUNDAY:Me too, Nurse. This is all just too... too much.
Mildred:No problem at all. I do understand. But should you want to consult about anything, anything at all, please do not hesitate to come back.Now let me give you a script so you can pick up your Septrin at the dispensary.
SFX:MUSIC TRANSITION UP AND SLOWLY FADES OUT
SCENE II
LOCATION:WALUSIMBI AND SUNDAY’S HOME-AFTERNOON
B/G SFXSOFT RADIO MUSIC
CHARACTERS:WALUSIMBI, SUNDAY
SUNDAY:You’re awfully quiet, Walu.
WALUSIMBI:Am thinking, Sunday.
SUNDAY:What about?
WALUSIMBI:Nothing.
SUNDAY:Walu, please…
WALUSIMBI:I don’t want to talk about it.
SFX:SILENCE
SUNDAY:I think it is best to go our separate ways.
WALUSIMBI:What?
SUNDAY:We can end it here, Walu.
WALUSIMBI:Is that what you want?
SUNDAY:I couldn’t possibly ask anything of you. You have been such a...a good husband and I have let you down. How could you live with me knowing am HIV positive and you’re HIV negative.
WALUSIMBI:Did you cheat on me, Sunday?
SUNDAY:What? No!
WALUSIMBI:Were you sneaking out with this Rocky boy when wewere already together?
SUNDAY:NO! I wouldn’t have done that. I can’t even believe you are thinking of that.
WALUSIMBI:But what I am supposed to think, Sunday?
SUNDAY:Walu, please stop.
WALUSIMBI:Then answer me. What are we supposed to do?
SUNDAY:Honey, there hasn’t been anyone else ever since we got together. Not Rocky, not anyone. Please let’s not end this bitterly, Walu.
WALUSIMBI:I love you, Sunday. But am afraid I don’t know how to remain dignified in the face of this.
SUNDAY:Then let’s end it now. Let’s end it now before it all gets nasty, Walu.
WALUSIMBI:I don’t… I can’t end it. I don’t know how to end, Sunday. And I don’t know how to live with it either.You’re Positive. I am Negative. What can we do now?
SUNDAY:I don’t know.
WALUSIMBI:Can we do this, Sunday? Can we use condoms for the rest of our lives?
SUNDAY:Maybe we can try, Walu.
WALUSIMBI:But how would we have a family?
SUNDAY:I don’t know, Walu. But Nurse Mildred says these things are possible.
WALUSIMBI:(AS THOUGH POSSESSED) How is anything possible, Sunday? How? You have HIV for goodness sake!
SUNDAY:(STRICKEN, UNBEARABLE) I am sorry…
WALUSIMBI:This is just too much, Sunday. If only we hadn’t walked down that aisle together, I wouldn’t have married you at all. I wouldn’t!
SUNDAY:You don’t mean that, honey.
WALUSIMBI:I need to be alone. I need to think about this.
SUNDAY:(BREAKS DOWN) Please, honey, don’t walk out on me now… not now…
WALUSIMBI:I don’t want to talk about it anymore.
SUNDAY:I can’t face this on my own.
WALUSIMBI:(MOVING FROM MIC) I can’t stand you right now.
SFX:DOOR BANGING BEHIND.
SUNDAY:(SOBBING) Walu, don’t leave me all alone. Please don’t.
SFX:MUSIC TRANSITION UP AND OUT
SCENE III
LOCATION:MEDDIE AND TEACHER CLAIRE’S HOME-NIGHT
B/G SFX:FROGS AND CRICKETS CHIRPING
CHARACTERS:TEACHER CLAIRE, SUNDAY.
SUNDAY:(BESIDE HERSELF) Claire, I messed up, I messed up big.
T.CLAIRE:Please have a seat, Sunday.
SUNDAY:Is Meddie in?
T.CLAIRE:No, they’re offloading cement at the store tonight. He won’t be back until late.
SUNDAY:Oh God, I messed up. I messed up big time.
T.CLAIRE:Could you please calm down and start from the beginning?
SUNDAY:He is gone, Claire.
T. CLAIRE:Walusimbi?
SUNDAY:He has left me, Claire.
T. CLAIRE:What… just talk slowly, Sunday…
SUNDAY:I shouldn’t have told him, Claire. I shouldn’t have. Now he is gone.
T. CLAIRE:Walusimbi left home?
SUNDAY:Earlier today. When we came back from the health centre.
T. CLAIRE:You went to the health centre.
SUNDAY:Yes. He tested. And now he is missing… Gone! I hope he’s ok!!
T. CLAIRE:I see. (TRYING TO GIVE A COMFORTING HAND) Walusimbi is a mature man so I am sure he will take care of himself wherever he is. So, you both went to the health centre and tested and now he has left…? Is that right?
SUNDAY:Oh, Claire! He said he couldn’t stand me.
T. CLAIRE:Nonsense. Maybe all he needs is time away to think.
SUNDAY:You didn’t see him when he left, Claire. He had such hatred in his eyes… Everything’s fallen apart.
T.CLAIRE:I am so sorry, Sunday. He must be coming to terms with the fact that he has HIV.
SUNDAY:(SHORT PAUSE) No. He doesn’t, Claire. We are a discordant couple.
T. CLAIRE:What? What does that mean?
SUNDAY:He doesn’t have HIV, Claire. Walusimbi is HIV negative and I, his wife, am HIV positive.
T. CLAIRE:Oh my…
SUNDAY:Now you know why he has left me.
T. CLAIRE:Walusimbi is HIV Negative?
SUNDAY:Yes. I told you! And I am Positive! And I have lost him!
T. CLAIRE:I am sure he will come back home. He will come back to you.
SUNDAY:I wish I’d never met Rocky. I wish I’d never tested… or told the man I love… Walusimbi! I wish I’d lived in total ignorance.
T. CLAIRE:(NOW PUTS AN ARM AROUND HER) You did everything right. It may not seem so now, Sunday, but if you’d said nothing to Walusimbi it would have eventually caught up with you. And that would have been worse. It’s better to know.
SUNDAY:Better how?
T. CLAIRE:Then you can take steps early enough.
SUNDAY:Well, Walusimbi has no doubt taken his step. He has left me.
T. CLAIRE:That is not what I meant. You can get ARVs.
SUNDAY:I know, Claire. I know. Wait till his family gets to know about it.
T. CLAIRE:Sunday...
SUNDAY:It’s true, Teacher Claire. And then there is the small matter of my family. They will disown me. Oh Claire, where am I going to go? Who will I turn to?What do I do now, Claire? What do I do?
SFX:MUSIC TRANSITION UP AND SLOWLY FADES OUT
SCENE IV
LOCATION:WALUSIMBI’S FAMILY HOME-NIGHT
B/G SFX:FROGS AND CRICKETS CHIRPING
CHARACTERS:PENINA, WALUSIMBI, IVAN
PENINA:That slut! I am glad you came and told us, Walusimbi… And I thought she was such an angel.
IVAN:People are not always what they seem, Penina; you should know that, sis.
WALUSIMBI:One whole year we have been together and I am HIV negative! I don’t know how it happened, Penina.
PENINA:Sounds scary. I am all goose bumps.
WALUSIMBI:Or maybe I am not really negative. Maybe I have the virus but it just hasn’t shown.
PENINA:You can’t think like that, big bro. Evil spirits have such sharp ears.
WALUSIMBI:But we also have to be realistic, sister. I still have to go for another test, so who knows? It could all change.
IVAN:No way, Walu.
WALUSIMBI:Anything is possible, Ivan. Sunday insists she has not been cheating but who knows if she is telling the truth?
IVAN:I think if you tested negative, Walu, then it is because you have a stronger blood type. A blood type that the HIV virus can’t touch.
WALUSIMBI:Are you sure, Ivan?
IVAN:Of course. I hear there are people who the virus just can’t attack. You might belucky, big bro. Maybe you are immune to HIV.
PENINA:ULULATES
WALUSIMBI:Really? You know what this could mean?
IVAN:What?
WALUSIMBI:This could mean that I don’t have to lose Sunday.
PENINA/IVAN:WHAT! You’re not serious.
WALUSIMBI:Just think about it. If I can’t get HIV, then I don’t have to leave Sunday. She can’t give it tome.
IVAN:Oh no, big bro. It’s not certain that you are immune…
PENINA:Don’t even dare go there, Walusimbi. This is a miracle from God.
IVAN:Exactly brother. For your good nature.
PENININA:When God has smiled on you, DON’T you try and tempt fate.
IVAN:You must run away fast from Sunday.
PENINA:I say divorce her NOW!
WALUSIMBI:Maybe you two are right.
IVAN:Maybe?
PENINA:Of course we are right. Nothing about that girl can help you now. Get far, far away from her.
WALUSIMBI:Maybe I should.
IVAN:Will you stop saying maybe?
PENINA:Just leave her, simple.
WALUSIMBI:It’s not that simple.
PENINA:Why not?
WALUSIMBI:Because I…Look, she is my sweetheart.
IVAN/PENINA:WHAT!
PENINA:After what she did to you!
WALUSIMBI:What has she done to me? Nothing. She got HIV before she knew me. And… I still love her.
PENINA:What is there to still love about her?
WALUSIMBI:She is... she has been a good wife to me. We are like...like soul mates.
IVAN:Come on, big bro.
WALUSIMBI:Yes, Ivan. Everything about us suggested we should be together forever. We were going to start a family.
PENINA:And live together happily forever no doubt! What is wrong with you, Walusimbi? Surely you can find another soul mate?
IVAN:Wake up, big bro. God obviously doesn’t share the same feeling with you, and this HIV is obviously God’s way of telling you to leave her.
WALUSIMBI:Is it? Or is this a misfortune…that could happen to anyone?
SFX:MUSIC TRANSITION UP AND OUT
SCENE V
LOCATION:WALUSIMBI AND SUNDAY’S HOME AFTERNOON
B/G SFX:SOFT RADIO MUSIC
CHARACTERS:WALUSIMBI, SUNDAY
SFX:DOOR KNOB TURNING, KEYS RATTLING
SUNDAY:(SURPRISED TO SEE HIM) Walu… I was worried about you.
WALUSIMBI:You shouldn’t have, Sunday. You know I can’t get lost in Bukulu.
SUNDAY:You have been away for two whole days…I was worried about you. And missed you.
WALUSIMBI:Sunday.
SUNDAY:(ACCUSING) You thought I wasn’t home… you just wanted to sneak in and take your stuff ...without facing me.
WALUSIMBI:I don’t want to fight, Sunday. I just came to pick my...
SUNDAY:I don’t want to fight either, Walusimbi dear. But we can’t resolve this if you just run away from it.
WALUSIMBI:Am I the problem now because I am running away? What do you want?
SUNDAY:NOTHING. I want nothing from you. I have no expectations, Walu. Whatever you decide, I will abide by it.
WALUSIMBI:Why did you have to go and mess up such a beautiful thing, Sunday?
SUNDAY:Forgive me, Walu. Forgive me.
WALUSIMBI:Forgiveness is not going to cut it, Sunday.
SUNDAY:I know but you can try. I am sorry, Walusimbi. I am SO SO sorry.
WALUSIMBI:Will you stop being sorry? (MOVING AWAY) This is stupid.
SUNDAY:Please don’t go. Don’t leave me, not like this. Not this time, Walu. I didn’t ask for this you know. (BREAKS DOWN CRYING)
WALUSIMBI:(GENTLE: THIS HURTS HIM SEEING HER LIKE THIS) Come on, don’t be like this. Come here. (TAKES HER IN HIS ARM) Don’t cry now, Sunday. Please don’t cry.
SUNDAY:I wish I could take all this back. I really wish I could.
WALUSIMBI:Me too… but I don’t know how. I am a mess myself. I need help, Sunday.
SUNDAY:We can get help together, Walusimbi. Can’t we?
WALUSIMBI:I don’t know, Sunday. I don’t know.
SFX:SILENCE
WALUSIMBI:Why do you think God has done this to us? We can’t even make love…
SUNDAY:I don’t know. But, Walusimbi, there are ways to still be together...
WALUSIMBI:What are you saying?
SUNDAY:We can use condoms.
WALUSIMBI:(DEJECTED) How? A waste of time…
SUNDAY:We used condoms when we dated. We had fun.
WALUSIMBI:But we are married now.
SUNDAY:But it’s still the same us.
WALUSIMBI:And how do we start a family with that? How can we have children using condoms? I don’t think I can continue with a woman who can’t have children, Sunday.
SUNDAY:But I can... we can have children. That’s what Nurse Mildred told me. I don’t know if I can explain it like her but if I am healthy enough and there is little of the virus in me, I can have a baby without the baby being infected.We can have a baby-our own baby with a little me and a little you in him or her.
WALUSIMBI:You are so... so passionate about this.
SUNDAY:Because that was the dream, Walu. OUR DREAM!
WALUSIMBI:And what about me? If we have unprotected sex, I can get it…
SUNDAY:Nurse Mildred says you would not if there is not much HIV in my body.
WALUSIMBI:And we would be together?
SUNDAY: Yes.
WALUSIMBI:And have healthy children?
SUNDAY:Yes.
WALUSIMBI:And it would be amazing?
SUNDAY:(LAUGHING) Sure, it would be amazing.
WALUSIMBI:JOINS HER LAUGHING.
SFX:SILENCE
WALUSIMBI:You know what I like the most about us?
SUNDAY:No.
WALUSIMBI:We have always been able to talk about anything and that is a precious gift not easy to find. You are... you are like my best friend.
SUNDAY:And so are you, Walu. My very best friend. My sweetheart.
WALUSIMMBI:I love you, my sweet Sunday.
SUNDAY:I love you too, Walu.
SFX:KISSING
SFX:MUSIC TRANSITION UP AND OUT.
Mildred:(AS NARRATOR) And just like thatWalusimbi and Sunday found each other again. I guess what my mother used to say was right-when you find your relationship in trouble, the best is to go to the beginning. Walusimbi and Sunday found their way again by re-sounding the dream. But it was not that simple…
SCENE VI
LOCATION:HEALTHCENTRE-MORNING
B/G SFX:DISTANT CHILDREN’S CRIES
CHARACTERS:NURSE MILDRED, WALUSIMBI, SUNDAY
MILDRED:Walusimbi,I am happy to inform you that you’re indeed HIV negative.
SUNDAY:BREATHES HEAVILY
WALUSIMBI:Thank you, Nurse Mildred. I have been asking God for this.
MILDRED:So, have you two talked about what it would mean if Walusimbi tested negative again today?
SUNDAY:Somehow.
MILDRED:And?
WALUSIMBI:Things have been tough, Nurse Mildred.
MILDRED:I know.
WALUSIMBI:But not entirely impossible like I had thought.
MILDRED:That’s good to hear, Walusimbi. So, you two are going to give it a try.
SUNDAY:Yes we are. We have been using condoms.
MILDRED:That’s good to hear.
WALUSIMBI:We are giving it more than just a try, Nurse Mildred. It’s not going to be easy but we want to… we were made to be together. I must admit though that the biggest obstacle to staying together is what other people think.