An
Extraordinary 'Mother'
Characters:
♥ Lisa -- by Libby
♥
Lisa's Mother -- by Cheong Woan
Shin
♥
Lisa's Father -- by Lenny
♥
Lucy ~ the maid -- by Yong Kah Ying
♥
Sofia ~ the maid -- by Goh Yen Sin
♥
Doctor -- by Sugumaran
♥
Businessman 1 -- Lim Shing Wei
♥
Businessman 2 -- Ngai Pei Pin
♥
Child 1
♥
Child 2 -- Yeo Lee Ming
♥ The
Handicapped man
♥ The
old woman with baby -- by Chua May Gee
♥ The
sick woman -- by Carls May
♥
Voice 1 -- by Foo Chin Ying
♥
Voice 2 -- by Bakavathy
Scene 1
Lisa is sleeping comfortably in the middle of the
night in her room in a big mansion . She hears voices in her sleep.
Voice 1 : Lisa, you've been leading a very
luxurious life since the day you were born in this
mansion. You laze around in the day time. You do not have to raise a
finger to get what you want. At night, you curl up in your comfortable bed and
sleep through till the next day.
Voice 2 : Wake up, Lisa! Wake up , Lisa! Go out
into the streets. Go out into the streets to see for yourself what is happening
there.
Voice 1 : You
can't spend your whole life in the confines of the tall walls and see the world
go by.
Voice 2 : You
do not see the world outside. You choose
to live in your comfort zone where there is nothing to worry about.
Voice 1 : Go out of this house, Lisa. Go out to see the streets. Go out to
what is happening outside. There is no meaning living life this way. Lisa! Go
out, Lisa ! Go out!!.............
The voice fade away . She awake and surprised.
Lisa : Haisshhhaa~! ( surprised and look around) Who were those two
talking to me?!
( wear glasses and stand
up ) [ Go out of this house. Go
to the street…..]
( cover my ears) There is nobody else in this room…..Was I dreaming??...... Why
go out of this house to see the streets? What is so interesting in the streets?
Hey Lucy, Lucy.. Wake Up! Lucy , Wake UP!
Lucy : what's the problem? Why at this hour??
Lisa : I need to go into the streets, but ,…. I don't know the way.. I
want you to show me around……
Lucy :
What?! You must be crazy! All the shops are closed by now. The Streets are
deserted. The people are sleeping.
Lisa : I don't know…. I mean a
voice told me to go into the streets. It's sooooo compelling! I have to go out
to see for myself.
Lucy : But, you can go out to see it tomorrow.
It's pitch dark outside. You won't be able to see a thing.
Lisa : [go
out of this house. Go into the streets….]
The voice
keeps ringing in my ears . I have to go out now. I must go. Please go out with
me… You know I have not ventured outside on my own before. I won’t be able to
find my way… Please…………….( pulling
Lucy's hand)
Lucy : What
about your parents? I've been told to take good care of you. If anything were
happen to you, my head. MY HEAD would be chopped off!
Lisa : Aw … come on! Don’t you worry. They are now in another part of
the world. If you don't tell anybody, nobody will know it.
Lucy : But……..
Lisa : ( put
my hand on Lucy's shoulder) I'll be very careful.
Don't worry..
Lucy : Alright.
since you are so eager to go out into the streets. I'll show you the way. Pray
hard that nothing bad will happen.
Scene 2
Lisa and Lucy put on sweaters and sneak out of the
mansion, heading towards the streets. They walk slowly and carefully in the
street. Everything seems so quiet.
Lucy : I
told you there's nothing to see here. The whole street is dead. Furthermore
it's not safe for two of us to walk at this hour. This place is notorious for
robbery and rape. We better go back before something bad happens.
Lisa : NO! there must be a reason why the voice asked me to see the
streets. I can't turn back now. I must walk all over the street before I go
back!
They continue to roam the streets. Lisa strains
her eyes to see what is around her. She sees something moves in front of her
and moves towards the object.
Lisa : I
see some movement over there! Let's go near it!( point @ the woman)
A woman is huddling her child who is crying softly
in her arms. Lisa is shocked.
Lisa : Oh My Goodness! What are you doing here? Your baby is crying!
It's so cold out here. You should stay home!
Woman : I've
no place to go. This is my home. My baby is hungry and sick.
Lisa : You can't possibly stay here day and night?! You must find a
proper place to stay and take care of your baby.
Lucy : Lisa
, She's right. This is her home. You should not disturb her. It's a common
sight on the street. Let's go home.
Lisa : (shrugs
her shoulder ) NO! not until I see all
the streets!
They move on. Lisa sees some children under the
bridge. She stops and talks to them.
Lisa : OH
poor children! (
wake them up ) Why are you not at home
with your parents?
( cover my
nose and behave smell badly) This
place is so dirty and filthy. Only animals live here.
Child 1 : We
have no parents. We're on our own. We live here. This is our home.
Child 2 : We
used to living in the company of other animals .We've no other choice. This is
the only place that gives us a roof over our heads.
Child 1 : We
long to have a house, to be hugged and to have a decent meals.
Child 2 : We
wish to go under a warm blanket and to have uninterrupted sleep.
Lisa : (
shakes her head ) But.. But you're too young
to be on your own. You need adults to take care of you and give you food.
Child 1 :
We can take care of ourselves. We've no other people to turn to.
Child 2 : We're
happy here. We're the children of the street.
Lisa : I
have a comfortable house to live in. I have more than enough food to eat. I can
have anything under the sun. But, what about these people? The orphans, the
single mother, the dying, and the handicapped ? Where will they go when the sun
rises? What about their food?
Lucy : They're
a regular feature on the streets. They know how to take care of themselves.
Don't worry about them. Can we go home now?
Lisa : ( nods
her head ) OK.
They walk back home. Lisa keeps her head down,
deep in thought.
Scene 3
In a spacious and luxurious sitting room, a couple
is sitting on the settee. Lisa enters and walks straight towards them. It's
early in the morning.
Mum : ( stands up ) Lisa, your face is pale. You look sick. Quick ! Quick!
Get a doctor to come here immediately to check on her!
Lisa : ( removes mum's hand ) Mum~ there's nothing wrong with me.
Dad : Our
precious jewel, you do not look happy . Is there anything that bothers you? Let
me know. I'll do everything for you.
Lisa : I…… I wish to leave this
house……..
Mum :
What?! You want to leave this house?...but why?
Dad : I'm
the richest man in this town. You're everything you want. You don't have to
work. You have maids to take care of you. You have everything you want. You can
go anywhere you want in big cars.
Mum : (Try to console Lisa)
You're our only child. We love you dearly. Why do you want to leave this
house? What do you want to do outside?
Dad :
Money is never a problem. You can have any amount you want. You do not have to
lave this house.
Lisa : ( hesitating…..) It's not about the money. It's something to
do with…… hmm…….
Mum : come
on. Tell me your problem. I'll do what I can to help you, my dear daughter. Don't you like this
house?
Lisa : no. I like this house. I
love you mummy and daddy.
Mum :
then, you should continue to live here. Why bother to leave? You're lucky to be
born into this family where you have everything you want.
Dad : your
mother is right. There are so many out there who do not have a home, who are
hungry, who are sick and who are neglected. They live on the streets.
Lisa : that's exactly why I want
to leave this house!!
Mum : you
live in this big house. They live on the streets. They do not encroach into
your life. What have they done to you that you want to leave this house?
Lisa : ( look @ the judgers ) Last night, a voice asked me to venture into
the streets. I did as I was told. That was my first trip on the streets. I saw
with my own eyes human suffering in the darkness . It was a real eye-opener for
me to see the reality of life, the harshness of human race , the uncaring
attitude of the society … ( at a long pause ) I have to help them to
release their suffering!
Mum : I
understand your feelings. But as a young woman, what can you do to help them?
There are thousand and thousand of them out there. Forget about them. It's
impossible for you to help them.
Lisa : I've already set my mind
to help them. I want to make the first move so that others will follow.
Dad : you
are only a small girl. This is not your problem. Let government handle it.
Lisa : there thousand of them on
the streets. That shows nobody has been doing anything to help them. Let alone
the government. We can't prolong their suffering.
Dad : you
need a very big amount of money to help them. Do you have the money and what
about a place to put all these people?
Lisa : I'll start with whatever
means I have
Dad : you
can't possibly do this all alone. It's going to be a mammoth task . You're
going to inherit all my property which is worth a few million dollars. You can
enjoy life.
Lisa : I'm not after your money.
You can do whatever you want with your money. Let me fulfill what I wish to do.
Lucy : I
volunteer my services. I'll help in whatever way I can. It's too shameful for
us not to help the people on the streets.
Sofia :
count me in. I'll help in whatever small way I can to help these people. Lisa
is right. Somebody has to start something somewhere.
( Lisa
, Lucy and Sofia start to leave …. Move slowly )
Mum : Lisa
, you can't leave this family. You're our only child.
Dad :
Lisa! If that is what you wish for, I'll not stop you in anyway. You can leave
this house at this moment and NEVER RETURN ! I'll not help you!
Mum : Lisa
, think over it , think over it, don't get emotional. This is the safest place
in this town.
Lisa : (
feel sad and
sorry , shakes head ) I'm sorry mummy and daddy. But, I have to go into the
streets. I'll not take anything from this house and I'll not trouble you.
Dad :
stupid daughter! You can step out of this house now and never return!
Lisa : Lucy and Sofia, we must
start work right from this moment. Let's go into the streets now.
Mum :
Lisa, don't leave this house, don't leave me…...
Scene 4
They convert and old building into temporary home
with the help of some kind people. They begin their mission to put the street
people in the home to lighten their suffering . Lisa is sweeping the floor and
cleaning the building.
Lucy : I
found this baby near the rubbish dump. A few dogs surrounded her ready to bump
on her. I quickly snatched her from the hungry dogs. Perhaps we can keep her in
this home.
Lisa : ( takes the baby from Lucy ) Oh poor little girl!
Whatever has happened ? She's innocent. Why threw her away like rubbish?
Lucy :
there are too many poor mothers here. Raising a baby is a big burden. So they
sacrifice the baby so that other can survive.
Lisa : Go, make her some milk.
This will be her new home.
Sofia :
they were sleeping under the bridge. I managed to persuaded them to leave the
dirty place .
Child 1 :
why bring us here ? It's time for us to roam the streets to ask for money and
look for food.
Child 2 :
we can't leave our hideout for long. Other boys would take over the place. It's
not easy to find a hideout here.
Lisa : forget about the hideout !
This is your new home. You can live as long as you like .we'll take care of
everything.( nod
head)
Child 1 :
this is our home? No kidding!
Child 2 :
we've never lived in a house all our life. It's like a dream.
Sofia :
this is not a dream. Without and education, you'll remain what you are forever.
Child 1&2
: now we can join the other kids to go to school.
Lucy : she
was lying on the five-foot-way. She's too weak to get up.
Sick woman
: I … too … sick. I … belong … to … the … street. Let … me …. Die… there …
Lisa : the streets is not the
place to die. If you want to die. Die here. We'll take care of you and give you
a proper burial.
( Lisa
gives a drink to he sick woman)
Sick woman
: nobody….bothers….about….me ….out…there….nobody…has…touched
….me…so……tenderly…before..
Lucy : lie
down here. We'll get a doctor to treat you.
Sofia : he
was asking for money on the street. The meddling crowd simply brushed him aside
and he fell a few times.
Handicapped man
: I need money to buy food. I've no home to go to. I've to brave myself
.there's not other way out.
Lisa : From today onwards, you do
not have to beg for money. Stay here and we'll take care of everything.
Handicapped man
: how kind of you to offer me a roof over my head and to take care of me. I'll
be glad to accept your offer. But … I might be a burden.
Lisa : you're not a burden. It's
my duty to take care of you.
Sofia :
we'll get you a wheelchair so that you can move about easily.
A doctor enters and goes straight to Lisa.
Dr : I'm
Dr. Ramesh . I heard of your noble mission. You come from a well-to-do family.
You sacrifice all the luxurious and riches to help the people on the streets. I
come here to see for myself what I can do to help.
Lisa : ( slightly claps her hands) I'm glad you came here.
We need a doctor urgently to treat these people. But, I'm afraid I won't be
able to pay you for your services.
Dr : It's
my moral obligation to offer my help for free. You've done so much for them. I
should compliment your effort to see a less suffering society. I'll come here a
few times a day to treat them. I'll also rope in more doctors and nurses to
help you in your cause.
The Doctor proceeds to treat the sick people
Two businessmen walk in with a few boxes of
groceries.
Businessman 1
: I'm a businessman in this part of the town. I know the town like the back of
my palm. These people have occupied the streets for as long as I can remember.
In fact, the number keeps increasing. Nobody has done anything to help them,
not even the government! They suffer in silence. I noticed some of them have
disappeared from the streets. Later, I came to know your mission.
Lisa : it's my small way of helping mankind. It our civilized society,
nobody should lead a life on the streets. We welcome help in whatever form to
ease their pain.
Businessman 2
: you're doing a big service to the city. I'll rally my fellow businessmen to
chip into help you. Tell me what I can do . Together we'll make a big impact.
Lisa : I'm so happy I'm not alone
in this noble cause. YES! Together we can do more . There is hope for the
people on the streets.
The children go near to Lisa
Child 1 :
we've never lived in a house. We've never tasted suck delicious food .
Child 2 :
We've never worn clean clothes . We've never been showered with love,
Child 1 :
since our mother passed away, we have been on the streets.
Child 2 :
you enabled us to feel mother's love. We shall call you, ' MOTHER LISA'
The handicapped man and the old woman join in.
Man :
Mother Lisa, you picked me up from the street where I endured so much pain and
suffering. You're my savior. I'm indebted to you.
Woman :
you do not ignore the dying. In my last moments, you made me as happy as
possible. The best of all, I'm ensured of a proper burial .
All :
Mother Lisa! Mother Lisa! We love you!
Lisa : ( Moved to tears ) I'm merely spreading the seed of love.
Everybody is entitled to love in one way or another. I'm so happy that my
effort has finally borne fruit, fruit of love. There will be more homes for the
people of the streets. I want to see the streets free of suffering people.
Lisa's parents walk into the house.
Lisa : Mum? Dad ? What are you
doing here?
Dad :
Lisa, you'll not be alone in your effort to help these people. I'm so selfish
to stop you from helping these people. Your effort has been noted in the
newspaper and the television. You make me proud. I'm so ashamed of myself.
Mum : My
daughter, I missed you so much. We looked everywhere for you until we read in
the papers. I'll stay in this house to help you to take care of these people.
Lisa : Am I dreaming again? I
miss you and I love you so much , mummy and daddy. I'm so sorry I walked out of
the house.
Dad : I can see the changes in you. You're no
longer the helpless girl you used to be. You've made a good decision. Now I'm
with you. I'll fulfill your wish to expand the home to take in as many
suffering people as possible.
Lisa : Money cannot make a person
happy. The real happiness is to see smiles on the faces of the people you help.
Dad : Yes,
that's exactly what I'm going to do
Lisa : I love you mummy and
daddy. My sacrifice has changed the lives of the people on the streets and the
people around me, my family…………....
The End
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