The play discusses how false prophets prey on gullible people.
SCENE 1 : John and Maria are both devoted Christians. At the beginning of this scene, Maria rebukes Janet for singing worldly songs. John can be extreme at times. He blames Sunday's teachers for teaching them about Jesus' conversion of water to wine (John 2: 1-11), instead of the dangers of drunkenness (Proverbs 20:1). Jimoh is John's younger half-brother who has converted to Islam from their common Christian background. He lives with them and often twists John's words in jest, but John can't eject him from their father's house. He also smokes and drinks.
SCENE 2: Jeremiah (a prophet) and Solomon (his deputy) come to John's house to rent 2 rooms. They have bought a neighbouring plot of land to build their church and claim that God led them specifically to John's house. Jimoh objects to their tenancy. "In this 4-room house, you and your wife use 1 room, your children use the second, the third is the store and guest room, while I use the 4th room. When I get married, my wife will use the guest room. We are each entitled to 2 rooms. Don't cheat me". Nevertheless, John lets out the guest room and the prophet move in the next day.
SCENE 3: A month later, John complains about Maria's watery soup. She reminds him that he hasn't increased the housekeeping money despite offering free meals to the prophet and his entourage. They also pay no rent. John says she should continue the free feeding and that he will put up with any inconvenience because of God.
SCENE 4: Jeremiah complains to Michael (a more experienced false prophet) about inadequate offerings, an unfriendly neighbour,etc. Michael decides to take him to a herbalist the next day. Jeremiah's wife (Abigail) is in Ilesa and he wants to pretend to be single and make Janet his second wife. One of Jeremiah's church members has bribed him to select his (the member's) choice on the list of suitors his daughter will bring. The daughter is unhappy and Jeremiah consoles her that prayer may reverse the situation. He hopes to lure her to his bed.
SCENE 5: While the prophets are with the herbalist, Jimoh watches them from the window and overhears their conversation. Jimoh enters the herbalist's house after their exit. They both discuss the hypocrisy of some prophets . Jeremiah and Michael have obtained crowd-pulling, self-defence, drop-dead and womanising charms.
SCENE 6: Oluwole (Janet's fiance) tells Jimoh about her reduced interest in him. Jimoh reveals she is now very close to the prophet. They plot to catch him red-handed and report him to John. They see Janet and Jeremiah coming from church and decide to hide in Jimoh's room. Jeremiah plays with Janet's hair before trying to drag her by force into his room. At this point, Jimoh and Oluwole come out and beat Jeremiah. When John arrives, Jeremiah denies the seduction attempt and Janet supports him. Jimoh calls Jeremiah a "prophet with charms", in an aside.
SCENE 7: Michael visits Jeremiah and promises to get him a charm that will make people forget his misdeeds. Jeremiah says Maria has come to him to solve her secondary infertility problem and he has invited her for a 3-day spiritual retreat (Abẹ́ ààbò) in the church's uncompleted building. Jimoh overhears this before he and Oluwole enter the house. They sing mocking songs in Jeremiah's hearing . For example, they use the tune of "Christian, seek not yet repose" to sing "Wòlíì, jọ̀ọ́ lọ ọ fẹ́'bìnrin. Máṣe gb'aya aláya. Bí o kò bá ṣọ́ra rẹ, wà á j'ọrẹ́" (Prophet, go and get married. Don't snatch another man's wife. If you don't caution yourself, we will beat you). They also call him Prophet "Toromáyà" (cling to breast).
SCENE 8: After a church service , Jeremiah tells 3 women "under spiritual retreat" to wait behind. Maria is to be prayed for that same night, Abigail the next night and Rachel the last night of the 3-day prayer session. While praying for Maria, he uncovers and plays with her hair and later caresses her shoulders and her back. Jimoh and Oluwole watch them from a window behind them. John later joins them in their watch. As she rebuffs Jeremiah's advances, he points out that John may be the infertile one and that she should try him (Jeremiah) for a change. Maria refuses, especially since she already has 2 children. When he tries to undress her by force, the men come out of hiding and start beating him. When he takes out his drop-dead charm (ońdè), they run back. He manages to take the offering basket before running away. At last, John's eyes are opened to the realities of life.
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