A -ONE ACT PLAY ON LEPROSY
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- A -ONE ACT PLAY ON LEPROSY
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THE
WELL-WISHER
(Hitaishi)
a one—act play on leprosy
by
DR. MARGARET OWEN
The Leprosy Mission Health Education Centre
Muzaffarpur. Bihar-842 002
CO'”'UNITY HF.AI.TH CELL
326.
Main, I Clock
Koramr-ngMa
Bangalore-560034
Cast :
India
Sunil Prasad
—
A bank clerk
Mrs. Prasad
—
Mother of Sunil
Nagina
—
The Dhobi (washerman)
Asharfi
—
Dhobi’s assistant
Dr. Vijay Kumar
—
General Practitioner
Kamala Prasad
—
Sunil’s wife
SCENE SETTINGS ;
Scene
1
The stage is divided into two halves by a wall.
the living room of the Prasad's house.
One side shows
The other side shows the
verandah.
In the living room
is a table and two chairs.
The
verandah
is empty, except for a chair and some plants in pots.
Scene 2
The Doctor’s Office.
The Doctor's desk and chair with two chairs
for patients at one side.
Scene 3
As Scene 1.
SCENE 1
(As the curtain opens Mrs. Prasad is laying the table for breakfast
and generally tidying the room.
Sunil enters.)
Sunil
Good morning Mother.
Mrs. Prasad
(annoyed) Oh, you are late again for breakfast.
or you'll be late for the office too.
Sunil
Sit down and hurry
(Sunil sits at the table)
What is for breakfast then ?
(Mrs. Prasad brings in a plate with his breakfast.
She slams it
down in front of him.)
Mrs. Prasad
Your omelette was ready an hour ago.
You take so long in the
bathroom.
(Sunil starts eating.
Sunil
«
Let me see what is today's news.
(He reads as he eats.
out a cup for him.)
1
He picks up the newspaper).
Mrs. Prasad brings in the
teapot & pours
(On the verandah the Dhobi and his assistant enter.
is carrying a bundle with clean clothes.)
Dhobi
(in a harsh whisper).
This is the house 1
told you about.
Young Sahib is all right.
He works in a bank.
man ; but his mother!
Oh, what a woman I
(he imitates a woman's voice).
this shirt is not clean I
The assistant
The
He’s a
peaceful
Always
nagging I
Dhobi-you’re late again I
Dhobi-where are the buttons I
Dhobi-
She's
always complaining and angry.
Asharfi
(shrinking back in alarm and shaking with fear).
Oh, I'm afraid to
meet this woman.
Dhobi
(putting out his hand to pull Asharfi back).
No, don't be afraid.
You just say (in a mocking tone) yes Madame 1
No Madame I So
sorry Madame ! and she will be alright.
(He shouts in a loud voice)
The Dhobi is here Madame.
(Mrs. Prasad comes out to the verandah carrying a large bundle of
dirty clothes which she throws to the ground.)
Mrs. Prasad
(scornfully)
Oh, the Dhobi is here, but one
week late as usual.
Are the clothes really clean and well-ironed ?
Dhobi
Yes Madame, you will be really satisfied this time
(turning to
2
Asharfi). Show the Madame her clothes you slow top.
(Asharfi holds out the clothes but his hands are shaking with fear.)
Mrs. Prasad
Who is this new fellow ?
Dhobi
He is my new assistant.
Mrs. Prasad
Ho, you save so much of soap and starch that you
1 haven't seen him before ?
can afford an
assistant now can you 1
Dhobi
No, no, Madame.
My son used to help me but he is studying for
his matrlc so now he can not spare the time.
1 have had to take on
(To Asharfi) Count the dirty clothes you dim wit.
this new man.
(Asharfi counts the dirty clothes).
Mrs. Prasad
How many ?
Asharfi
(Stuttering)
Mrs. Prasad
Th...thirteen madame.
Well, at least he can count.
time next week,
Now see that you come
(She turns to go
inside
but
is
at the right
halted
by
the
Dhobi's voice).
Dhobi
(very humbly)
say.
Madame please excuse me, but 1 have something to
(He turns to Asharfi) you go on, I'll catch you up at the next
house (Asharfi picks up the bundle of clothes & goes offstage).
3
Mrs. Prasad
What is it now ?
Another advance ?
It can't be your sister's
wedding again, she must have been married twice already !
Dhobi
(very humbly)
No, no, please forgive me Madame, but 1 couldn't
help noticing it—that patch on your arm, and now 1 see you have
another on your neck.......
Mrs. Prasad
Oh that I
That’s nothing !
never troubled me.
I've had it for
many months and
it's
(She again turns to go but again the dhobi's
voice stops her).
Dhobi
Please listen to me Madame.
arm.
My sister had marks like that on her
1 took her to the Doctor who said it was serious.
He said
that she had come in time, but that if she had not taken treatment
early her hands might have become deformed.
(Mrs. Prasad is now very interested and turns to hear more).
Mrs. Prasad
What happened to her ?
Dhobi
The
Doctor
gave her
tablets
to
take.
The
patches
slowly
disappeared.
Mrs. Prasad
Did he say what it was ?
Dhobi
Yes Madame.
He said it was leprosy.......
4
Mrs. Prasad
(recoiling in horror)
leprosy ?
family.
Leprosy I
Don't be a fool.
Are
you
saying
that
1
have
We have never had leprosy in our
Why, we are decent, religious folk.
1 couldn’t possibly have leprosy !
Dhobi
The Doctor told us that leprosy is a disease like any other.
It
is
caused by a germ which can attack anyone, rich or poor, good
or
bad.
Mrs. Prasad
But it is easily curable in the early stages.
Oh go away ?
1 don't believe you at all.
Leprosy indeed—huh I
(She goes indoors and the Dhobi goes off stage rather sadly).
Sunil
(looking up from newspaper).
Oh Mother, have you been quarrelling with the Dhobi again ?
What was it this
time ?
Is his
sister getting
married again ?
Surely she must have two or three children by this time I
Mrs. Prasad
No, it wasn't his sister this time.
It was some thing else.
(She sits on a chair & begins to cry quietly).
Sunil
(astonished)
But why are you so upset ?
worry you like this I
5
He can't be allowed to
I’ll beat the life out of the man for this 1
Mrs. Prasad
No, no, he was trying to help.
He told me his sister used to have
patches like this one on my arm.
She got cured, but the Doctor
told them it was leprosy
Sunil
Oh, please God, no I
Not leprosy 1
You've had that patch on your
arm for ages, but I didn't know you had others.
What can we do ?
Mrs. Prasad
The Dhobi said this is an early sign of leprosy but if I don’t take
treatment it could get worse.
Sunil
Mother don't worry I
full examination.
work).
This evening I will take you to the Doctor for
(He gets up and collects his brief case ready for
He will tell us what is wrong.
Mother
(brightening). Could we go to that nice young Doctor you met
last week ? What was his name ?
Sunil
Doctor Vijay Kumar, yes, I’ll phone him from the office and make
an appointment for this evening.
I must go now or I'll be late.
(He goes out-on to the verandah. Mother remains at the table with
her head on her hands).
Sunil
(Speaking to himself)
Oh this is terrible.
And at such a time too I
I'm getting
My mother with leprosy!
married next month.
What
would my in-laws say to this ? (He moves off as the curtains close).
COW’MUNITY HEALTH CELLCurtain
, '■ ’’rin 1
rg 'a
Kois
--!f, ,-CCOOi>r»r ■
6
SCENE
2
(Dr. Vijay Kumar is sitting at his desk in the clinic.
Sunil & Mrs.
Prasad appear in the doorway).
Oh, it's Sunil and Mrs. Prasad.
Please sit down.
Doctor
Come in please.
Sunil
Doctor, we have come to consult you about my mother.
Doctor
Well Mrs. Prasad.
Sunil
See Doctor, (he lifts Mrs. Prasad's arm & shows it to Dr.).
What is the trouble ?
has had this pale mark on her arm for some years.
a new one on her neck.
Now
Mother
she has
We would like your advice about it.
Doctor
Oh, yes.
Mrs. Prasad
No, it doesn't itch.
Doctor
1 am going to touch it with this cotton wool. Can you feel anything ?
Mrs. Prasad
No.
Doctor
Can you feel this pin prick ?
Mrs. Prasad
No, 1 cannot feel anything there, It is quite numb.
7
Does this patch itch at all ?
Occasionally 1 get tingling in my arm, that’s all.
Doctor
Let me see the back patch (he again tests with cotton and pin but
Mrs. Prasad feels nothing).
Now I'd like to feel the nerves in your
arms & legs, (does so) Right.
(To Sunil)
It is very good that you brought your mother now.
disease has been growing very slowly, but if she
The
does not take
treatment regularly there may be paralysis and further loss of
feeling due to damage in the nerves.
Sunil
So it is not leprosy Doctor ? We were told that it might be leprosy.
Doctor
Oh yes, it is leprosy, but it will be cured.
All leprosy can be cured,
even in the later stages, but of course some of the
remain if there has been any paralysis.
damage
may
How good that your mother
came before serious damage had been done.
Now Mrs. Prasad, you will have to take these Dapsone tablets daily
for the next four years.
they are quite small.
(He shakes out a tablet on his hand). See
One tablet each day will put you right.
Here
are enough tablets for one month.
Mrs. Prasad
But Doctor, leprosy is very infectious isn’t it ?
married next month.
Doctor
Never fear.
My son is getting
What should we do about the wedding ?
Your leprosy is not the infectious kind. Most people
with leprosy are never infectious, only a small number are infectious
community health cell
3?6. V Main, 1 Block
Koramonga'.’,
Bangalore-560034 •
Indi -
8
before taking treatment, and can spread the disease to others.
When they are on regular treatment the germs die out and they too
become
non-infectious.
You can
certainly
ahead
go
with
the
wedding arrangements.
Mrs. Prasad
Oh thank you Doctor.
We are so relieved.
I hope you will
come
to the wedding.
Sunil
Yes Doctor, please come to my wedding,
Doctor
Send me a nice invitation card and I will certainly come. Good bye.
Sunil
Good bye Dr. and thank you.
Mrs. Prasad
Good bye
(Sunil & Mrs. Prasad exit.)
CURTAIN
SCENE
3
(Setting of living room and verandah as in scene I.
working in the living room.
She is singing to
Mrs. Prasad is
herself.
Sunil is
just finishing his meal at the table. Kamala is standing shyly in the
background).
9
Sunil
(Rising from chair).
case.
I'm off to the bank now.
Where is my brief
Oh thankyou (as Kamala hands it to him).
are going to the Doctor’s tonight mother.
It is
Don't forget
we
six months since
you started treatment, he will be pleased to see the
patches have
gone.
Mrs. Prasad
I'll be ready when you get home from the bank.
Sunil
(Putting his hand on Kamala’s shoulder as he passes her).
Have a
pot of tea and some of your nice special dishes ready for me when
1 come home darling.
(Kamala shyly hides her head, Sunil exits).
(The Dhobi and Asharfi arrive on the verandah).
Dhobi
The Dhobi is here madame.
Mrs. Prasad
(To Kamala)
Oh the dhobi has come.
to the kitchen and start the
work there
I'll see to him, you go out
(Kamala
leaves
&
Mrs.
Prasad goes out on to the verandah with a bundle of dirty laundry).
Oh Dhobi here you are 1
You have actually come on
time today
(smiles).
Dhobi
Yes Madame.
(To Asharfi)
Give madame her clean laundry,
(he
hands it to her).
Mrs. Prasad
Oh how nicely it is ironed.
How much do 1 owe you ?
(She takes
money from the corner of her sari)
10
Dhobi
The total is Twenty three rupees and fifty paise madame.
Mrs. Prasad
Here is twentyfive rupees,
(She hands it
The Dhobi feels
over.
in all his pockets for change).
Dhobi
Sorry madame, 1 do not have any change...........
Mrs. Prasad
Oh, that's all right.
You keep one rupee for
50 paise to your assistant here.
clothes on the ground.
(Asharfi
yourself and
give
is counting the dirty
He looks up startled)
How many dirty clothes today ?
Asharfi
Oh thank you madame.
Dhobi
(To Asharfi)
Tie up the dirty clothes & go on home.
speak to madame.
happy today.
Mrs. Prasad
There are fourteen pieces.
(Asharfi goes of).
1 wish to
Madame, you seem very
1 see the patches have gone from your arm.
Yes Dhobi, thanks to your wise advice and the doctor's good treat
ment.
Of course 1 am still taking the tablets but 1 am being cured.
Isn’t it amazing that this frightening disease can now be cured so
easily by eating one small tablet a day.
(Asharfi creeps back and tries to listen into the conversation).
Dhobi
God has been very merciful
medicines to heal people.
11
to
supply
doctors
with
new
good
__
COMM’JMity health cell
47/1. (Fiist floor st. toarks Road
Bangalore - 560 001.
Mrs. Prasad
Yes indeed I am most grateful and thank God in my prayers every
day, but also I am glad you had the courage to tell me and not wait
Thankyou Dhobi, my well-wisher.
until my hands were deformed.
Dhobi
Good day madame.
(He turns & bumps into Asharfi)
What are you doing here.
Asharfi
I told you to go on home I
Whew I—you told me that Madame was bad-tempered, but I over
heard her saying thankyou to you I I heard her I She’s the only one
of our clients who says thankyou to a dhobi for washing her dirty
clothes
Dhobi
(Thinking aloud to
himself).
That’s
if
we
tried
helping people more, being kind to them, wishing them
well,
we
would bring out the best in them and
Look
at
true.
Perhaps
not the worst.
Madame, she is well now and she is certainly much more happy
and friendly since I spoke to her.
months.
Such
If only more people were aware
a
change
in
only six
of the early signs of
leprosy, how much sorrow and deformity could be saved.
CURTAIN
THE
END.
12
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