The Summary of The Samaritan Acts and Scenes
Act I Scene II Summary
His Worship Hon. Mayor Mossi convenes an urgent meeting of key leaders in the Municipal administration at the Maracas Municipal Headquarters in his Boardroom, following the damaging headlines carried in the major newspapers - The Caribbean Watch, The Sentinel, The Insight and The Spotlight. The leaders present include Mr Harvester, Municipal Chief Executive Officer; Inspector Bembe, the Municipal Inspector General of Police; Inspector lan Jaden, the Principal Judge; Hon. Ted King, Secretary, Department of Planning and Development; Hon. Ramdaye, the Deputy Mayor and the Mayor himself.
The Mayor notes that such damaging headlines have been coming their way for the last one month but Jaden tells him that such are usual problems leaders must have with the media from time to time, and all they need is to give the editors more boxes of chocolate. The Mayor refutes Jaden's opinion, claiming that the problem was The Samaritan, not the mainstream media since all the information in the newspapers had its source from the App.
Hon. Ted and Inspector Bembe do not appear to have knowledge of The Samaritan and Mr. Harvester explains to them about the App. The Mayor informs the Municipal leaders that he had been invited to Sagrada Secondary School during the closing day of the previous year to launch the innovation officially and present an award to the two innovators but declined, for fear that the innovation might be a problem for them, and the damaging headlines were now a confirmation of his fear.
The Mayor informs the leaders that the information in the media was a cause for alarm, for it appeared meticulously researched and the media carefully choreographed. He tells Seymour and Ted that the recent public outcry implicates them in supplying air to the Municipal Council, and Harvester adds that more allegations including drug trafficking. grabbing of public land, use of proxies to secure municipal tenders, undertaking shoddy public works, murder and gang warfare have been levelled against them. The Mayor also tells Bembe that questions had been raised over the source of money that he had used on the Madingo Golf Club.
Mossi informs the Municipal Council leaders that the situation was not rosy and an immediate proactive move was necessary. Seymour suggests that The Samaritan could be hacked while Bembe suggests the App could be banned. Jaden, however, quashes the suggestions of the two on legal grounds. Jaden leaves the meeting after making it clear that he does not wish to be part of criminal proposals the officials were making. In their determination to shield themselves from blame, Seymour suggests that the two students could prevailed upon to drop the innovation, but Mayor Mossi feels dealing with Nicole and the Principal was of more assistance but it would not be easy especially with the principal since she had a very strong personality. Seymour further suggests enough money could be mobilised to deal in other ways with those who insisted on pursuing them. Mr. Harvester, the Municipal's Chief Executive Officer, suggests that they conduct a truth and reconciliation exercise in the Municipality, an idea objected to by Ted, Seymour and Ramdaye.
Accusations and counter-accusation ensue the Mayor's declination to grant Ted's and Seymour's suggestion to have the Municipality fund their endeavour to cleanse themselves of the damaging corruption allegations. He, however, candidly tells the two that he would not yield to their demands as he had done in the past, misallocating funds for their selfish gains. As Seymour and Ted leave the meeting. in a huff, they warn Mayor Mossi that he will not get away with his crimes, for they will mobilise the members of the Council Chamber against him, and that he will ultimately take responsibility for the rot in the municipality. Mossi, however, is, uncowered, and warns them that they will soon know that he is the smoke that thunders.
Study Questions on The Samaritan Act 1 Scene 2
a. Why has Mayor Mossi convened an emergency meeting of the Municipal Council leaders?
b. Justice Jaden proposes that all they need is to give the reporters and the editors of the media houses more boxes of chocolate. What does he imply?
c. Single out and illustrate the main theme raised in this scene.
d. Identify and illustrate two weaknesses of the character portrayed by Hon. Seymour in this scene.
e. Pick out and illustrate any two features of style used in the scene.
f. What do we learn about the personality of Mayor Mossi on pg. 35?