SOUL MATES
(OLD UNCLE DOORSAT COMES VISITING)
UMORU HARUNA
+234-08033214226
15.11.’14
[OLD UNCLE DOORSAT COMES VISITING]
BOLA
SCENE
1.INT.SOULMATES HOME.DAY
DOORSAT
and NUURUL enter the apartment .the housemates are into different activities; ironing,
playing cards and eating.
DOORSAT
Kuala
Lumpur has actually changed there are now better roads and buildings and a lot more
people than there were before!
NUURUL
That
is development and modern civilization. The government had work assiduously
over the year to make the economy developed. Uncle this is where I stay. Meet
my friends and house mates.
HASSAN
Welcome sir!
BOLA
How was your journey sir!
NUURUL
Hassan and Bola are from Nigeria ladin is an Arab from UAE. Chinedu
is from Nigeria too.
DOORSAT
Black men! They were rare in those days. Now all sorts
of foreigners have taken over our land our country.
NUURUL
Don’t say that. That is hate talk. Prejudice, it is uncivilized.
DOORSAT
But that is the truth. They have taken over our land haven’t the
NUURUL
In your absence these are my
brothers and relatives.
BOLA
Don’t forget sir, we contribute to the economy and
growth of the nation!
LADIN
Malaysia! Multi ethnic and multiracial society! I love Malaysia.
DOORSAT
If you say so! You’re welcome boys just pulling your legs. Boys!
How do you hang out on weekends? I hate dull weekends. Back in the seventies,
when boys were boys, we never missed our Saturday night fever. One would always
get drunk on a few pennies!
DOORSAT chuckles lightly
ALL HOUSE MATES
Paps, the papa
CHINEDU
This weekend we will take you on a ride around town.
NUURUL
Uncle, you need to rest. Don’t forget the doctor said you must
rest when we get home.
DOORSAT
Come on, the doctor has no right to curtail or direct my
movement. Who is he? I must confess though, that my legs ache, I can even see
them trembling! Look, they are swollen.
CHINEDU
Just take paps to the room.
DOORSAT
Alright boys bye before the United Nations lay sanctions on me!
HOUSEMATES
Bye sir!
BOLA
“Baba ni nyen!”
NUURUL
(Coming out)
Old-uncle-Doorsat. He has always been like that: Blunt, flippant
and boisterous. He is a happening man that enjoys parties and feeling good. He
never wanted to leave the city even after retirement. We had to beg him
severally before he agreed to go home to the village! He went home when it
suited him and now…!
NUURUL is downcast he bows
his head in helplessness.
HASSAN
And now…! What?
NUURUL
He has been diagnosed of that old peoples sickness; diabetes.
They say he has type2 diabetes. I’m confused!
LADIN
You don’t have to be.
LADIN picks up his phone
Let’s call Nurse Asita she will explain better. Hello, Ladin
upstairs, please come. There is an issue. Not serious but come if you can
please. Thanks!
Some minutes later NURSE ASITA an Indian Malaysian
comes in already dressed for work.
NURSE
Hi all. Ladin. I am on my way to work. What is the emergency?
LADIN
Thanks for coming. It is not really an emergency per se, just a
little issue, Nuurul‘s uncle is
diagnosed of having diabetes type 2. We want to be educated.
NURSE
Diabetes is not a little issue. That means the man is a P.L.D.
His diet has to be regulated and he must not be far from his drugs and care
giver.
HASSAN
Why the type? Are there many types of diabetes?
NURSE
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 and type 2. Type one is
hereditary if one is born with it he has it. Type 2 is not hereditary it is
acquired.
NUURUL
I still don’t get it.
NURSE
Where is your uncle now?
NUURUL
Inside! Resting! We just came in from hospital and he travelled
all night so he needs to have a rest.
NURSE
You know what; I don’t want to be late for work. When I’m done
with work I will come later in the day to enlighten you. I will come with some
sugar testing kit for your uncle and you especially. The earlier you know your
status the better.
NUURUL
I don’t have it! I’m not sick.
NURSE
Wrong! This is why the disease persists and is spreading like
wild fire in Malaysia. If you don’t check your status you assume you are okay
you refuse to be educated. You go about with your ignorance and continue all
the habits that ensure that your sugar level is high. One day complications set
in and you are helpless.
BOLA
What habits and what complications?
NURSE
You know what. ‘Google’ it. You will be amazed at the
information you’ll get! Meanwhile I am off to work. When I’m back I will be
better prepared and more patient to clean up your doubt concerning diabetes.
Looks at her watch and is
about to dash out.
NURSE CONTD
Bye for now!
HASSAN
Nuurul, Egbon, let’s drop her off at her hospital on our way to
campus. Or are you not ready?
NURSE
Thanks I’ll appreciate, but hurry I ‘m late.
CHINEDU
Ladin! What are you doing let’s see what information is on the
net.
HASSAN, BOLA, NUURUL dash
out after NURSE.
SCENE 3 INT SOULMATES
APPARTMENT.NIGHT
CHINEDU and LADIN are still
on their gadgets
CHINEDU
WONDERFUL! LISTEN TO THI. In Malaysia 15% of the population is affected
by diabetes that is 2.6million people. This figure is progressively increasing
at the rate of 8.6% annually. There is still another 2.5% of the population that
is affected but remains undiagnosed annually.
LADIN
Scrolling his I pad
Diabetes is a disease that invites other sickness ailments to
come and settle with it in the host’s body. The complications of diabetes could
result into lost of limbs lost of sight, hypertension nerve damage… the list goes on
this is really serious... if not managed properly it could lead to sudden
death!
HASSAN and BOLA come into
the house.
BOLA
Her guys! How far?
CHINEDU
This is serious!
HASSAN
What?
CHINEDU
Diabetes now! The information here is scary!
LADIN
Reading
Diabetes which is easily preventable disease has the ability to
damage any body part of the host. The complications ranges from renal failure,
stroke, blindness, numbness of body parts, lost of sense of taste and nerve
damage.
BOLA
It’s okay please! Stop scaring me!
NUURUL
(Entering)
Hi guys. Chine how about your research?
I'm getting more information than I can manage! We got to take
this your uncle Doorsat’s sickness serious.
LADIN
Don’t say it as if it is contagious. It is not and it is
preventable.
NUURUL
Where is him anyway?
DOORSAT
Coming out
I’m coming. With all the noise excitement and key pad punching
going on in this your apartment one cannot get a descent sleep.
DOORSAT goes to seat on the sofa at the centre of
the living room.NURSE comes fully clad in body hug and trainers.
NURSE
Hi guys are you ready for
me?
CHINEDU
Please come in.
HOUSEMATES
Ooooh oooh la laaa hhhh
DOORSAT
Oh my God! That is a sweet
apple pie.
BOLA
I've never seen you this
sumptuous.
NURSE
Cut that out
CHINEDU
I'm seeing diabetes from a new angle today!
NURSE
Good! And you sir must be old uncle Doorsat.
DOORSAT
I am Doorsat but I don’t know about the “old uncle”
bit. You wanna try me?
NURSE
Lovely! But, no sir! At least not now! Right now we
wanna discuss diabetes. Can I have maker and a white board?
HASSAN goes to fetch the
items
NURSE
First I need to test and know your blood sugar
level!
DOORSAT
Needles! Oh no! Not again I hate needles.
NURSE
You shouldn’t anymore. From now on they got to be
your friends. They are the only way to get your blood sample for test. You need
to do that as many times as possible depending on the stage of your diabetes.
Without knowing your blood sugar level you cannot manage the disease properly.
This may result to complications and sudden death!
They all cringe in different
forms. HASSAN brings the board.
NURSE
Thank you! Put it aside for
now!
DOORSAT
DOORSAT cringes as the
injection is brought closer to him.
Oh no, not again?
NURSE
It doesn't pain just a sharp
prick.
NURSE takes his blood sample puts it on the small
machine. She reads the result.
You are a P.L.D. need to take whatever we do here today
seriously.
NURSE goes to CHINEDU takes his blood sample. She
goes through the same procedure through all of them.
Time lapse
NURSE checks the result of the last person
NURSE
Free! None of you is diabetic except uncle Doorsart
They are joyous. They go grab junk food to
celebrate their sugar free status
NURSE CONTD
Stop!
They all freeze. Line and
movement NURSE goes to collect the junk food from them.
NURSE
The fact that you are free today does not give you license
not to watch your diet or not to keep a healthy life style. You need to watch
your diet and lifestyle as much as old uncle doorsat needs to
DOORSAT gives a light
chuckle
NURSE CONTD
Junk food is not good for you. Let’s start our
lesson. White board and marker please!
HASSAN goes to fetch them. On the board nurse
rites a big diabetes at the center of the board
NURSE
We are going back to class. I will be as brief and simple as
possible!
DOORSAT
Oh God! Spare me !
Rises to go
NURSE
Sit your butt right there! You need this lecture more than
anyone else in this room. This lecture could be your saving grace! You don’t
need to take notes just be attentive and swallow the picture on the board.
HOUSEMATES
Ooooh yea!
The housemates exclaim at
the sudden show of authority by the NURSE.DOORSAT sits down slowly.
BOLA
Order
NURSE
Be serious! Diabetes! Diabetes! Diabetes is a
disease marked by too much sugar in the body. A diabetic or PLD as they are
called this days may live with it for five years before realizing it. The
person lives a normal life until the symptoms manifests by which time the a
time bomb has been set and any sudden complication may arise to set it off!
NUURUL
P.L.D
CHINEDU
Person Living with Diabetes!
NUURUL
Okay!
NURSE
This feeling of “okayness” makes it difficult
to manage. People don’t know they have it or are candidates for it until they
are already affected.
Most of the food we eat are carbohydrates
which eventually turn to sugar. Nature provides us with pancreas that produce
insulin. Insulin help to regulate the sugar level which must not get to or go
beyond 6mMol/litre(millimoles per liter)for too long. If it consistently gets
beyond this level a ticking time bomb is started. This happen s when the
pancreas is over powered and it can no longer produce enough insulin to
regulate the massive build up of sugar in the blood!
Doorsat
Spare me these jargons
NURSE
I’ll try. There are two kinds of diabetes
these are type 1 and type 2
NURSE marks the encircled
“DIABETES” ON THE BOARD WITH TW ARROWS directed to type 1 and type2
respectively. Diagram(a).
NURSE
Type 1 diabetes is hereditary. It is
discovered early in childhood. This cannot be prevented. If one inherits it
then he must have it. In this type the patient is born with pancreas that does
not produce insulin. Thus from birth to death such persons must be supported
with insulin injections to regulate the blood sugar level!
Type 2 the type uncle Doorsat has is the one
that concern. Why? Despite being preventable and not contagious it is still the
most rampant. It constitutes 90%of diabetic cases. It use to be common among
the elderly but it is growing among the younger generations of Malaysians. Many
young people are developing it more than the elderly.
CHINEDU
It increases at the rate of 8.6%. The result
is that one-in-five adult Malaysians over 30 already a diabetic.
LADIN
It of general importance to the Malaysian government to the
extent that it spends 15%of health budget on diabetes!
NURSE
Thanks Profs for the statistics .let’s stay with the specifics.
She goes to the board adds
to the diagram
NURSE
As I said when the sugar level consistently remains
high that is above 6mmo1/l complications may arise at any time.
NUURUL
Prevention, prevention! How do we prevent it?
NURSE
Let’s know the complications first. So we will know
why we must be attentive to the prevention and be determined to change our
lifestyles. Complications include renal failure, lost of sight lost of hearing,
numbness of bodily parts leading to amputations, un-healing wounds, damage to
nerves and many others.
CHINEDUM
Psychiatric disorders, Foot complications
LADIN
Gastroparesis, Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic
Syndrome (HH
NURSE
Thanks this shows you’ve gone far.
BOLA
I beg don’t confuse us. let’s hear the prevention.
NURSE
All these can be avoided if we refuse to be host to
diabetes.
Are there no cure for it
NURSE
Unfortunately diabetes is incurable hence the term PLD
(Person Living with Diabetes).gladly enough this life threatening disease can
be prevented and even when already affected as in uncle Doorsat’s it can still
be managed properly and avoid complications.
DOORSAT
Thank God!
NURSE
The question is, are people ready to prevent it by
changing their lifestyle? Some people do things that would make them host to
diabetes. These things include taking too much sugary diet. Most of the food we
eat in Malaysia such as kui-mui is made of sugar and carbohydrates which
eventually turn to sugar. Another cause is living a sedentary inactive life.
LADIN
The ministers of health, Dr Subramaniam summarize it
this way “Besides genetic predisposition,
diabetes is a lifestyle disease brought on by unhealthy eating habits. We have
also had a change in the nature of our jobs from one that was labour-intensive
to a sedentary one where there is little physical activity”
NURSE
Most Malaysians don’t engage in exercises or sweat
it out any longer. Thus excess sugar gets accumulated. This sedentary lifestyle
also brings about obesity. Obesity on its own makes management of blood sugar
level more difficult!
Ignorance is another causative agent. Most people
are ignorant of their status they simply believe they don’t have it and that
they can’t have it simply because they are not having any symptom. Get tested!
Such unconfirmed people would continue their unhealthy habits until the
symptoms manifest by which time they would have become PLDs
ALL HOUSE MATES
Persons Living with Diabetes!
NURSE
Thanks. You are with me!
NUURUL
How do we prevent it?
NURSE
Patience! Prevention is simple
First, watch your diet avoid or reduce your intake
of food high on sugar and carbohydrates. Secondly, engage in activities that
would induce sweat. These include physical exercises, jogging sports and hobbies
that entail physical movement of your body. Exercises would help to burn off
accumulated fat reduce sugar content in the body and make it easy to manage the
diabetes. Finally you need to get informed. When you are informed you make the
right decisions.
HASSAN
Are there particular exercises we need to do?
NURSE
No particular exercise. Just get involve in physical
exercises that induce sweat and ensure that all parts of the body are moved.
Like tennis, dancing, football
DOORSAT
I love that,
CHINEDU
Football?
DOORSAT
Dancing!
NURSE
That is very suitable for you sir. But the dance
does not have to be strenuous.
So having done with the theory let’s do some
exercises
They clear the apartment in
readiness for exercises and dancing. Nurse goes to assist DOORSAT
NURSE CONTD
Uncle Doorsat your exercise does not have to
strenuous. It could be lifting your hands above your head and dropping them. It
could be moving you waist to the left, right, front and back.
DOORSAT
This is really refreshing!
BOLA
You said there is no cure for diabetes.
NURSE
Yes no cure for now.
BOLA
Back in Africa our parents use 'agbo' to cure diabetes
NURSE
Habooo!
BOLA
Yes 'agbo'! Herbs and leaves from the bush I still
know some of them but I don’t know if they are available here, in Malaysia. I
would have prepared some for paps!
NURSE
Well I don’t know about that! And I don’t know if
uncle agree to be you guinea pig!
DOORSAT
Oh no not me!
NURSE
Seriously if you have leaves or bushes that you
believe will cure diabetes beautiful submit them for scientific verification
and confirmation, the world is waiting.
BOLA
'Ngbo' Hassan that is an idea for a business bank roll
the business. We can bring in bitter-leaf from Abeokuta to Malaysia here.
In yoruba language
We will sell well!
HASSAN
Brilliant! That business would require government
approval and authorization. Moreover, such product may be mistaken for Indian
hemp or any other illegal drug. I don’t think we want that!
BOLA
True but I will investigate it all the same!
NURSE
So guys prevent diabetes. Diabetes is a lifestyle disease brought on by unhealthy eating habits. Control
your life style. If you are already a PLD like uncle DOORSAT you’ve not gotten
a death sentence, simply maintain a good life style do a lot of exercise and
take your medications regularly. With that we will all live normal life. Don’t
allow complications to set in. when that happens the PLD, his relatives and
health care giver becomes helpless.
LADIN
Thank you Asita. I think we have
enough information to build on.
NURSE
Feel free to call me if you need
further clarifications.
The
housemates go to pick different drinks for refreshment themselves.
NURSE
Not again say most of these contain
sugar avoid them. It may take some time getting used to but- try! These for
instance have sugar in them disguised in many different beautiful names such as
sucrose, lactose, caramel etc. read the labels and avoid such disguises.
She picks a
bottle of table water
NURSE CONTD
After an exercise this is all that
you need to refresh your system! See you later I must go now.
DOORSAT
You spoke well. Thanks!
HOUSEMATES
Thanks very much.
NURSE
leaves
LADIN
Men! This diabetes is a complicated
disease. Virtually all food are carbohydrate and sugar . so what do we eat?
DOORSAT
Don’t eat!
DOORSAT
giggles.
BOLA
Be selective read labels ofprocessed
food before you consume them.
HASSAN
Do a lot of exercise. Have days you
don,t drive or ride simply walk!
NUURUL
Uncle what do you have to say to
what the nurse just taught us?
DOORSAT
Just three words.she is a terrific
PLD.
HOUSEMATES
What?
DOORSAT
Terrific Pretty Little Doll
NUURUL
Uncle!
Uncle
simply gets up walks away
NUURUL
You are an old rascal.
DOORSAT
Let me go and continue exercise in
the room bye boys.
DOORSAT
goes off to the room as NUURUL follow him.
HOUSEMATES
Old rascal and his nephew!
The End.
Umoru Haruna
