At this point a small circle of GOSPEL SINGERS, who sit at the table with PASTOR JEGEDE, stand up and begin singing the refrain ‘True poverty sings, in reality’ in a Gospel style. At first it seems beautiful – a renouncing of the logic of capital, in which a person’s worth is determined by their wealth. But, as PASTOR JEGEDE – who we might notice looks conspicuously wealthy, with many gold rings and chains – stands on a table to give his smug homily, and CHURCH USHERS move around the Colin Campbell with plates, collecting money from variously willing people, ALVITA – and the audience – begins to suspect that the radical vision of Christ is being transformed into something else entirely. ALVITA, we notice, refuses point blank to put money on the plate, and the next thing she says is said with a certain irony:

ALVITA

And Pastor speaks of it so pos’tively:

PASTOR JEGEDE

One great blessing of poverty is when

A thief comes near a poor man, well, then,

That poor man has no reason to worry.

No thief comes to his door! He’ll be merry!

Yes, in some ways it’s awful, poverty.

But it’s motivating! Keeps you busy.

It can be very educational

Especially if you are rational

And patient in accepting it. It may

Seem miserable. But at least you can say:

‘Poverty’s mine: you can’t take it from me!

I’m perfectly poor, and poor perfectly!’

And often poverty brings you so low

It actually brings you to God! Also,

You’ll find out a lot about the real you.

It’s like a mirror – I find this so true –

In which you find out who your real friends are.

The collection finished, PASTOR JEGEDE steps down from his pulpit. He notices the OLD WIFE waiting for a blessing, and gives her a cursory one – though he seems more interested in the plate that is being returned to him and which he now smoothly empties into his pockets, before sitting back down, satisfied. The OLD WIFE looks unsure of his sermon – and the sincerity of his blessing – but shrugs and decides to use its dubious message for her own purposes.

OLD WIFE

As you’ve heard, I’ve done nothing to you, sir!

Even if I’m poor, I won’t let you scold

Me for it. Now, you blame me cos I’m old.

I can’t find where it says it in the books,

But I know polite people say when you look

’Pon an ol’ man, try to be kind with him.

Say: ‘sir’ or ‘uncle’ – show respect to him.

And them who write books say the same, I guess …

You say I’m old and ugly. But confess

That means you don’t need to worry I cheat.

Cos being poor and ugly is a sweet

Way to keep a person faithful always

Until the bitter end of both of your days.