Scene Overview

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Show Type
Play
Age Guidance
Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
Genders
  • Female: 0
  • Male: 2
Style
Dramatic
Length
Medium
Time Period
Contemporary
Time/Place
A barred cell in the cellar beneath the European Club in Oyo, Nigeria. Early 1940s.
Act/Scene
Scene 5

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Context

Text

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START: A wide iron-barred gate stretches almost the whole width of the cell in which Elesin is imprisoned. His wrists are encased in thick iron bracelets, chained together; he stands against the bars, looking out [. . .] Pilkings now in a police officer’s uniform enters noiselessly, observes him for a while. Then he coughs ostentatiously and approaches. Leans against the bars near a corner, his back to Elesin. He is obviously trying to fall in mood with him. Some moments’ silence.

Pilkings: You seem fascinated by the moon.

Elesin: (After a pause) Yes, ghostly one. Your twin-brother up there engages my thoughts.

[... ... ...]

END: Elesin: Make yourself clear, white one.

Pilkings: I have lived among you long enough to learn a saying or two. One came to my mind tonight when I stepped into the market and saw what was going on. You were surrounded by those who egged you on with song and praises. I thought, are these not the same people who say: the elder grimly approaches heaven and you ask him to bear your greetings yonder; do you really think he makes the journey willingly? After that, I did not hesitate.

For full scene please see Soyinka, Wole, Death and the King’s Horseman, Eyre Methuen Ltd, 1975, pp. 62-64.

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