RELOAD

A Written Creative Work submitted to the faculty of San Francisco State University In partial fulfillment of < the requirements for theDegree

XO16, ETMC,CU Master of Arts

• S 3 5 4 In English: Creative Writing

by

Branden Edward Balenzuela

San Francisco, California

August 2016 Copyright by Branden Edward Balenzuela 2016 CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL

I certify that I have read Reload by Branden Edward Balenzuela, and that in my opinion this work meets the criteria for approving a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree Master of Arts in English: Creative Writing at San Francisco

State University.

Michelle Carter Professor of Creative Writing

Andrew Joron Professor of Creative Writing RELOAD

Branden Edward Balenzuela San Francisco, California 2016

Reload is a play that revolves around themes of gang life, love, youth, & family. In 2011 Reload was bom first as a poem, and now, 5 years later, has become a full length play. What you are about to read is the preliminary draft of the full length play, Reload. The story follows a young romance caught in the middle of close encounters and the chaos of trying to maintain balance and position in a world, cutthroat and hunting for power.

I certify that the Written Creative Work is a correct representation of the content of this written creative work.

/ 2- -

Chair, Thesis Committee Date ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I’d like to thank, first and foremost, the streets of San Francisco’s Mission District for raising me to write this play. The events within are drawn either from memory, experience, or second hand account of life growing up in The Mission, where the gangs were very much a part of the everyday life of the people. While crafting this play, I drew almost all inspiration from the neighborhood I grew up in. I’d also like to thank my professors Anne Galjour & Michelle Carter for bringing me into the world of playwriting, as well as good friends Kat Evasco, Anna Maria Luera, Ramon Jackson, & Omar Osoria for helping me along the way with this play.

This is for all youth lost to the streets, all those losing their homes in The Mission, our

Mission. For all those who are stuck in cycles like these, making something from nothing, as well for all of those who made it out.

Peace

v Timeline

Past The First Reload...... 1 Thursday Cutting Class...... 7 Housing The Outlaw ...... 19 Hit or Run ...... 25 Circumstances of Birth ...... 28 Friday Principal’s Office...... 33 Outside Looking I n ...... 39 Isolation...... 47 Walls of Purpose...... 50 Saturday Barrio Date...... 57 At the Park ...... 64 Eddy’s Death...... 73 The Bus Ride...... 77 Ready, A im ...... 85 Sunday R eload...... 90 Thursday Jaqui’s Peace...... 96 Characters

There are 11 Male characters and 6 Female Characters For production, actors & actresses take on multiple, non-overlapping roles

Jimmy aka The Dropout - M -16 Jaqui - F -17 Eddy - M -18 Seven aka The OG - M - 43 Said -F-43 Javi aka The Young Gun — M - 21 Maka aka The Outlaw - M - 25 Theresa - F - 25 Jr. -M -10 Angelo - M - 7 Niko -M - 21 Gonz -M -17 Jessica - F -18 Elderly Woman - F -6 0 ’s or early 70’s Substitute Teacher - M - 30’s Security Guard - M - 30’s Maka’s Mother - F - 40 1

The Past The First Reload At Rise: Center stage, a younger Seven & Said are there, waiting, staring intently around the crowd. Jimmy, Eddy &Jaqui(dressed in their younger versions) are running around[stage left]. The speakers are playing Spanish music from that side of the stage, the vibe being Ritmo Latino. There’s conversation, there’s laughing, there’s music. They continue running, playing tag or something. This is stage left. Downstage, younger versions of Javi, Maka, Niko, & Gonz, on bikes, roll up, still down center, as if standing on opposing street comers at an intersection from Said & Seven. The scene breathes for a long long beat. A sound like a car going, a sound like another car intercepting it as Seven & Said Pull Up, stopping it, slight collision, breaks the music. Jaqui & Eddy run off stage right, Jimmy slowly moves towards center[backdrop: now posted in front of the store]. Gun shots, Jimmy freezes. Javi & crew freeze. Seven & Said are walking towards the car that pulled up, firing shots. Over the sound system ‘Lock the doors! Lock the doors! 2

Everyone inside!’ All noise cuts. Jaqui is at Jimmy’s back on the other side of the glass window of the storefront.

JIMMY It’s Sunday I’m with moms, or I mean, GiGi I call her mom, but she’s Jaqui’s mom

It’s me, GiGi, Jaqui, & Eddy He’s my cousin, but really He’s like my brother

JAVI My brothers in arms at my back Niko, Gonz, y Maka Short 4 Makaveli, like 2 Pack Pero, Maka’s loco More loco than that 2 Pack

MAKA It’s just like I saw in the movie I was listening to my brother on the phone

I don’t know who he was talking to But all I heard was ‘paga el tirador’ Which means, pay the shooter

My eyes were fixed on the TV He was running for his life through the alley Then BOOM, shot in the back... 3

SEVEN It’s done... The last of los pinche Guerillas Those insurgent insects Gunnin for my throne My reign atop the distribution chain Here I am, king of the bullets! Nobody else standing in front of me

I look down staring into the empty chambers & I wonder; Who’s at my back...

JIMMY A brother I love, & Jaqui A good good friend, who I love &moms, GiGI, she’s probably worried the speakers just said lock the doors &here we three are running around like crazy kids &here I am outside the store... locked out...

JAVI Maka es so loco He’d run out into the intersection &shank that foo wit the gun

But he’s dumb for that blindness Cause he’d get shot by those other foos hella quick

MAKA &now this guy, he’s right here I mean, he didn’t get shot in the back with a fatass shotgun &he wasn’t running through an alley... But yo! He just got fucked up! Straight Bam Bam! Boom! Buh buh buh! All 6 shots yo! To the chest!

SEVEN It just got real silent... Like.. .deafening

JIMMY I see her screaming in my head But I can’t hear the scream No echo, no car horns, no underground train I can’t hear anything

JAVI [shouting] YO WHY’S IT HELLA QUIET RIGHT NOW WHAT’S THAT RINGING YO, YOU FUCKERS HEAR THAT?

MAKA You ever see something shine or shimmer in the sunlight &hear the sheen of it? Like steel? Or have you ever seen an image stretch out of a sliver of a surface reflection?

Yo.. .I’m high as fuck Why you standing there like you seen a ghost Gonz? [laughs] 5

SEVEN A chill surges from my neck through my spine &splits at my legs &trickles to my toes... I freeze, staring down at the body The holes in his chest Until the echoes of Said’s words break the silence & I hear the sirens [sirens faintly fade in over sound system. Said’s voice from offstage ‘Yo, we gotta go. Now! Vamos!’ They exit stage left]

JIMMY I wanna run But where? I wanna be held by my mom But where is she? Where’s Jaqui? Where’s Eddy? Are they ok? Where’s GiGi... [yells]

Gigi! Mommy! Momma! Mom where are you GiGi [cries out]

MOMMY! MAMA! MAMA!! MAMA!!!

JAVI [still yelling] OH SHIT, LOOK AT THAT BOY YO FUCKERS, LET’S GO! THOSE FOOS ARE LEAVING! [turns around]

YO WHERE’D YOU FUCKERS GO! MAKA VAMOS! [runs off stage left] MAKA [walking towards the body] Holy fuck... he’s really dead &all I can hear over the sirens over the cries &echoes of everything bouncing off buildings all I can hear ‘paga el tirador’

JIMMY Mommy.. .where are you... Nobody’s coming... No GiGi. No one...

So I’ll do all I knew I could. I breathe Deeply, and then I’ll run Towards the park So I could hide by my tree With my hill at my back Where I’ll be alone in my castle But safe, where everyone else Will be safe -BLACKOUT- 7

Thursday. 11:10 a.m

Cuttin ’ Class

Performance Notes: Jaqui: All italics are to be in mimicry to voice of Jimmy. Lighting instructions: When lights drop, stage crew must work swiftly to reset the stage, props & people. At Rise: Two tables and a desk. One table is downstage center, the other upstage left. There’s a desk downstage right, sub sitting at desk, magazine wide open, covering face, bag of chips on table. Eddy & Jimmy are at the center stage, Jaqui at the left one. Eddy is rappin along with the Beats Pill, Jimmy is in the comer of the table, writing in his notebook. Jessica is sitting on her desk entranced by Jimmy. Jaqui sits at the studipusTt^V/ rir* A > taWerThere is a clock on the projector, it reads 11:1 Oa.m

EDDY My shit go, yeah my shit so dope Shit so tight, you need a rope Aiye! This my slap bra [looks at Jimmy, who’s staring at his writing, pauses, looks up]

JIMMY Bra that stuff is garbage beat 8

EDDY Fuck you homie! [Eddy flicks off jimmy, double birds. Jimmy swallows a laugh. Jimmy looks over at Jaqui, who is talking with another student about the assignment. She catches Jimmy’s gaze and smiles. Jimmy gives her a head nod.]

JESSICA Yo, y’all tryna dip? This boring as hell Fuck this sub, he won’t do shit anyway [They look over at sub.]

EDDY Shit, I’m down with that We could get a early jump on lunch. How bout you Jimmy? [Jimmy is watching Jaqui work, and smirks, proud of his new idea. Looks back to Eddy, shrugs his shoulders, then jumps back into his writing] LIGHTS DROP

LIGHTS UP [The clock reads 11:16 a.m. Eddy in same place. Jessica is now sitting on the table, in front of Jimmy, trying to distract him from his writing.]

EDDY Damn Jimmy hurry up with your shit so we can go!

JIMMY Even when I finish this I gotta hand in the assignment before we dip out That way even if dude threatens to leave a note saying we dipped out, we can just come back later and toss his note that way our assignments are still turned in.

EDDY Man fuck all that shit, look at the foo! He’s not concerned with a damn thing [Sub sitting at desk, magazine now spread open on the desk, bag of chips open, hand constantly in and out.] Let’s just go! 9

JIMMY Yo, you tryna at least make it to Sr. year aren’t you foo? Don’t even trip, we ain’t gonna do the assignment but I’ma get us the work bra. Don’t trip.

JESSICA And how do you plan on doing that mister, ‘I got it all figured out’ [Staring at Jimmy, giving him a gaze - laced with flirtatiousness and sarcasm- and a wide smile. Jimmy gets up, staring down Jessica with indifference, walks towards the studious table. Jaqui looks up and sees Jimmy coming over, her pen goes awry on the page.]

JAQUI Hola Jimmy, que tal?

JIMMY Whatsup Jaqui. Look, we’re about to dip out and uh, I mean, next period is lunch anyways so it’s not that bad and I was -

JAQUI Wondering if you could borrow my work? So you could turn something in before you dip?

JIMMY [looks confused] uh.. .yeah? How’d you -

JAQUI Pinche Jimmy. Que? Como yo no lo sabes?

JIMMY Claro, I mean, you do.. .of course. But I -

JAQUI [laughs at Jimmy’s tongue-tied-ness] I’m messing with you foo You can borrow my work.. .but that depends. 10

JIMMY Depends on what?

JAQUI What you’re buying me for lunch

JIMMY You’re coming?

JAQUI Were you not inviting me?

JIMMY You usually always -

JAQUI I know, but -

JIMMY So why this -

JAQUI Shhh. Cause. Your ‘friend’ over there been staring with evil eyes since you walked over here

JIMMY [Looks back at Jessica, who freezes at being caught staring, eyes widen, and quickly spins head around, acting like she wasn’t just staring at them] Wow, you’re vicious. Where’s that side of you been hidin?

JAQUI Mmmm, no se? Somewhere. [laughs] MediumBeat...

JIMMY So the - 11

JAQUI I’ll bring it over when I finish? only a few more questions. Claro?

JIMMY Claro.

LIGHTS DROP

LIGHTS UP

[The clock reads 11:25 a.m. Jaqui walks over to Jimmy’s table, he’s in his writing, Eddy still bumpin his music & scrolling through his phone. As Jaqui approaches, Jessica is muggin. She rolls her eyes, walks by, and gives a head not and a pound to Eddy then hands Jimmy the paper, placing it directly in front of his notebook, blocking him from continuing his writing. He looks up with an annoyed look on his face. Jessica laughs it off, smiles, and walks on. As she peers over at Jessica, still muggin, she gives her a wink and a smile and walks over to the sub, who’s pouring chip crumbs into his mouth from the bag. She asks if he can call security so she can use the restroom. He gets up, walks over to the door. As he’s calling out in the hall for security, Jaqui looks to see if Jimmy or his people are looking at her they aren’t. She goes through the desk & grabs the Hall Pass Slips. The sub gestures for her to come over. She slides the slips in her back pocket and heads to the hall.] LIGHTS DROP

LIGHTS UP [The clock reads 11:31 a.m. Jaqui returns to table and talks with her friends, starts packing books into her backpack. The backpack is bright sky blue.]

JIMMY Hurry your dumbass up it shouldn’t take this long to copy some work.

EDDY Aiye man, fuck you alright! [Jessicalaugh] 12

JIMMY Well fuck, I aint about to cause a scene and walk out with you 3 idiots. Meet me & Jaqui be -

JESSICA Why’s she coming? None of us invited her? [Eddy looks up at Jimmy, glaring at Jessica]

JIMMY I invited her, you ain’t gotta come if you don’t wanna come it’s as simple as that. [Eddy looks away to hide his smirk, Jessica sits with a red face, biting her bottom lip.]

Y’all can meet us behind the parking lot. [Jimmy Shakes Eddy’s hand then walks over to Jaqui’s table, notebook in hand]

Yo, you ready?

JAQUI Yeah, but you know Sometimes I wonder why I let you talk me into this stuff boy!

JIMMY What!? You invited yourself!

JAQUI No! [pauses and thinks] You... You enticed me!

JIMMY What!? How? 13

JAQUI You! [pauses and thinks] You just did!

JIMMY Enticing was what I did to get you to hop the fence -

JAQUI Don’t eve -

JIMMY AND convincing you how dope it’d be to throw up some dope pieces on all the boards of our old middle school.

JAQUI Alright, enou -

JIMMY AND reveling in your happiness about the art AND that you got to add those to your -

JAQUI Alright alright! You made your point foo. [both laugh] Beat

So what are you buying me sir?

JIMMY Who knows? We’ll have a whole 30 minutes of time to find something good Assuming those idiots hurry their asses up I’ma distract the sub, just get up and go when he walks on by you aite? Gimme your work, I’ll put it on his desk. [Jimmy walks over with papers in hand, towards the subs desk. He points over to a table in the far comer, where a bunch of kids are asleep with their heads on the desk. The sub walks over to that table, downstage left. As he passes Jaqui, she gets up at Jimmy’s signal, and they walk out to the hall] LIGHTS DROP [all props striked from stage] LIGHTS UP [Jimmy & Jaqui walking through the hall slowly, headed stage right]

JAQUI What was the sub’s name?

JIMMY Mr. Wright, why?

JAQUI Hold up [Jaqui pulls out the hall passes, forges the signatures, and hands one to Jimmy, looking confused]

So we’re excused for an early lunch, duh loco. What? You think I’d risk getting in trouble? JIMMY Look at you all smart & ish, but wait how’d you get these?

JAQUI Took em from his desk when I asked to use the bathroom earlier, duhfool

JIMMY Look at you. You a lil badass now huh?

JAQUI Yeah I know [Brushes off shoulders, flossing.]

It’s cause I hang out with you too much! [Pokes Jimmy in chest. Security comes down the hall, entering stage left]

SECURITY Why aren’t you two in class!?

JAQUI We have passes to go get more, uh paper& supplies for class Josh, look. JIMMY [under his breath to Jaqui] to get paper? That’s what you wrote?

JAQUI [under her breath back to Jimmy] shh, callate. It’s the best I could think of.

SECURITY Uh-uh, right, lemme see them. [staring at Jimmy, they hand over the slips.] What, did you take these from the sub Mr. Chavarria?

JIMMY Man I didn’t do a da -

JAQUI No Josh, we didn’t steal anything. You can go ask him if you want! He sent me and Jimmy cause we already turned in our work and were just sitting around. Why would I lie about that? [Josh sizes up Jimmy one more time, Jimmy glaring back at him.] Beat [Then he looks over to Jaqui.]

SECURITY Alright Miss Paz. I can trust your word. You guys are good. [Exits stage left. Jimmy & Jaqui continue on down the hall]

JIMMY Man, fuck that guy. Always tryna fuck wit me.

JAQUI Well you know why... just forget about it. Woo-sah look, there’s the theater, then we go through the stage doors and we’re gone! 16

JIMMY Yeah, til we gotta come back after lunch. Beat [walking up to the theater door, Jimmy is about to reach and open it]

JAQUI I mean, we don’t have to?

JIMMY pssh, yeah right you ain’t bout that life girl.

JAQUI Well that depends.

JIMMY On what? [opens the door to the theater, lets Jaqui in]

JAQUI If you rather we go out for lunch tomorrow.

JIMMY Well then, what are you tryna do now?

JAQUI How about you take me to the bandos on the island?!

JIMMY And what about Eddy and -

JAQUI Fuck that girl you don’t like her, I don’t like her Let Eddy deal with her annoying ass all day &you take me to see the art! And then we can do lunch Saturday? [Jimmy laughs]

JIMMY Cold blooded girl, cold blooded. 17

JAQUI What are you talking about, I’m so nice! I got you out of class didn’t I? &passed Josh too!

JIMMY You’re right [They get to the side door. Jimmy pauses before opening the door, his back towards the door, while he sizes up Jaqui] Beat

Alright. [Pushes open the door with back]

Let’s go. I’ll txt Eddy and let em know we got ourselves a date. I mean, it was kinda my plan all along

JAQUI Oh! Was it now? [walks through the door staring up at Jimmy as she passes]

JIMMY Claro. And so far, my plan is working to perfection... with the exception of you switching everything up

JAQUI Claro? Ok foo, let’s just see about all that. Oh! I wanted to ask, what were you writing in class!?

JIMMY Oh, mmm... nothing too serious Maybe I’ll show you later

JAQUI Pinche maybe, damn right you will! Watch foo one of these days I’m gettin your ass on a stage 18

JIMMY Ok foo, let’s see about all that [Jimmy walks out of the door after Jaqui, the door closes behind the two. We can see their smiles just before the door closes shut.] -BLACKOUT- 19

Thursday. 9:28 p.m Housing the Outlaw

At Rise: Theresa is rocking a baby girl, crying (baby cries over sound system). Eldest son, Jr. is watching T.V, sitting on the floor while an older lady, Maka’s mother, is knocked out on the couch. Angelo is drawing at the table.

MAKA [enters through the door, stage right] Hola mamita, whatsup wit my angel!

THERESA

It’s about time! Here, hold her. She’s been crying for 30 minutes. She just wants her papa. [hands the baby over]

MAKA Mi amor! ^Que paso con mi angelita? [he swings her around in the air. Her blanket flies off. The baby laughs, & crying stops as he cradles her into his arms.] lY mis soldados? How’d the lil one do in skoo today?

THERESA [holding the shoulders of the younger son at the table] He did very good today. Got a B on his vocabulary test &no outbursts in - 20

MAKA Callate con esa mierda. Outbursts [stares intensely at Theresa] Mijos, go clean my office please, I got something for y’all when you done. [the boys exit stage left. He watches them leave. A door closes in the distance. His gaze focuses back on Theresa. He takes a deep breath.] I told you with that shit -

THERESA I’m sorry... You know what it is though. He’s upset that he has to be in school &his brother gets to stay home all -

MAKA Yeah, but you know why. Member last time we tried putting him in a school? How many times he gotta get expelled for you to get it. Mami, te amo, but he’s not like you... [pauses, looks down at the ground in retrospect] ...he’s my boy. Through n through...

THERESA [Walks over to Maka, looks up at his face for a few seconds. She lifts up his shirt around his waist and removes his guns from their holsters. She looks back at him, and grabs his head while holding the guns, brings it down to her, and kisses his forehead. She walks over to the table.] Yo se... [places guns on table, and pulls hers from behind her back, tucked into her jeans under her shirt. She holds it in her hands for a small beat, staring at it. She places it on the table, in between his two.] What’re we -

MAKA Don’t ask me that... You know what we’re doin... You givin him the love he needs While I get us what we need to get out this place... Soon mami, soon... 21

THERESA Y ella? [pointing to his mother, passed out on the couch.] She’s not coming with us when we out, is she?

MAKA [he stares at his mom, holding his daughter tighter to his chest now.] BEAT

How longs she been der?

THERESA At least 5 hours. She must’ve came in when we went to pick up the little one

MAKA [He bites his tongue and clenches his fist. He looks at his baby-girl, cradled in his arm. He loosens his fist, and his tension dissipates.] Broken windows again?

THERESA No, the backdoor was open... unlocked [Maka stares at her, tension returning.] Don’t worry, everything’s still there...

MAKA How much did you bring in today?

THERESA Almost a thousand. No issues either. Steve came by Offered to clean the yard again.

MAKA You tell him yeah?

THERESA Hell no, I told him to go find you. You know I don’t like that fucker. 22

MAKA Well let’s hope he finds me on a good day...

THERESA i, y hoy? ^fue un buen di'a ?

MAKA [He walks over to the crib, kisses baby-girl on the forehead before placing her in, and wrapping her in a blanket. He walks over to the kitchen cabinet, above the sink, and pulls out a bottle of tequila, and a double shot glass. He pours the shot, holds it in his hands for a few seconds, then shoots it. He goes into the drawer and pulls out a box of bullets, and takes it with him to the table. He unloads the remaining bullets from his guns(3 from one, and 4 from the other) and reloads them will fresh bullets. As he begins doing this, Theresa gets a kettle and begins boiling water.]

No shots fired back. I was gone before the sirens. No bystanders did or said a damn thing... As usual.

SMALL BEAT

But I did see the cutest thing While we were driving away... [He looks up from his guns, smiles, lets out a laugh] It reminded me of us.

THERESA Oh really now? [She walks over to him, standing behind him with her hands massaging his shoulders]

What was it? Two young kids with guns and babies 23

MAKA pssh, callate! I saw deez two teens, flirtin wit each-oder in el barrio, Waitin on dey food... Duh looks in their eyes [he looks up at her, who’s now embracing him from behind, arms wrapped around his chest. He grabs her hands in his, kisses them.]

It made me smile, made me tink. Bout life, our dreams, before all dis.

THERESA Before all this? Before my ass. We’ve been doing this forever Juan Carlos.

MAKA Yeah I know, but before I became the outlaw. Before duh body count was too much to remember. Before we had a son who’s my exact mirror. Before -

THERESA Before my ass Juan Carlos. We’re almost out, right? Almost out... [They lock eyes.] SMALL BEAT l,Y la bruja?

MAKA [he puts his face in his hands, elbows on the table.] No se... Mi hermano —

THERESA Is gone. He did what we shoulda done, before Jr. was bom. 24

MAKA I know I know... I messed up, we shoulda -

THERESA But you’re making it right... It’s okay mi amor, it’s okay... We’re almost out...

MAKA Do you regret dis? What I turned you into?

THERESA Boy, if you dont stop thinking I’m not here and I don’t got your back, then shit, I’ll drop these guns and take my babies elsewhere [She grabs his face in her palms. Kisses his eyelids]

Your eyes belong to me and our vision is shared You got me?

MAKA Yeah I -

THERESA Nah nah nah, DO YOU GOT ME!?

OUTLAW [Pops out of his chair and picks up Theresa, his arms holding her up by her thighs, her arms around his neck. He spins her around] Si mamita, my angel I got you! -BLACKOUT- 25

Thursday. 11:12 p.m Hit or Run At Rise: Javi is on stage, gun tucked into the back of his pants. He is pacing around, nervous. He begins to talk to himself. There’s a fence stage left to left center, and a bush more centered. This is th front lawn for the man’s house. JAVI Fuckin Javi. Fuck it, gotta do what I gotta do, I just hope it goes smooth. Fuckin’, last time was crazy. Almost lost my head. Thank God I ducked or else. Shit, I’d be sleepin’ right now... That fool knew we were coming. He had like, two three maybe six people waitin’ on us Someone’s a fuckin’ traitor. I bet it’s Niko, that punkass. It best not have been him or else he’s a fuckin’ dead man. Where the fuck is my ride man. It’s getting’ hella cold out here. Fuckin’ windy ass weather. Thank god it aint rainin’ or I’d just go home. Chuy better not be drivin’ tonight or I’ma be pissed. That pendejo cant drive for shit. He don’t know how to creep slowly down the block. I bet that puto couldn’t even drive a prius quietly. [Lights from offstage flash at Javi]

Man fuck finally someone’s coming. That’s a sick ass El Camino, I bet its Vince’s whip. [Crouches down to look in through the back window]

Oh shit it’s Niko! Where’d he get this shit I can just lay in the bed. This fool better have a blanket or something so I don’t freeze before I gotta lay these people out. Shit, do I got my gun on me? [checks for his gun]

Yep, strapped right here... [truck bed of an El Camino backs onto stage right. Javi gets in, sits. Engine roaring over the sound system. Volume lowers as Javi continues]

LONG BEAT 26

Fuck. And I thought Chuy couldn’t drive. Man these putos needa driving lesson from me or something. Who the fuck gave them these clean ass whips without even testing their driving out, fucking ridiculous. I almost popped out of this bed like 5 times already man! I might as well drive. Shit, want something done right do it yourself. Shit... Why not give Chuy’s dumbass the gun. He’ll go all cowboy on these putos... like, what if.. .nah, nah man. Fuck it man blood in blood out homie. I aint no punk. Gotta earn my stripe.. .shed this blood......

LONG BEAT

Shit fool we been drivin’ hella long already, where the fuck is this shit goin’ down? [Driver taps on back window four times]

Oh fuck, spoke too soon. That’s the signal. We slowin’ down now. Low and slow Niko, keep it steady. [Javi peeks through the blanket, staring out at the crowd and sees three little girls playing on the lawn of the house he‘s about to hit.]

Fuck this fool has kids... what the fuck man Chuy told me this mothafucka had nothing. That he was just a pinche pendejo wit nothing. No family, no kids, no nothing man. Fuck... I can’t shoot this fool..he’s got kids. Three little girls bro. A wife I’m sure too. Fuck Javier what the fuck have you gotten yourself into. [Javi stares at the gun as the car stops, break noises from offstage]

Fuck... What the fuck would abuelita say... I know damn straight she woulda never let me even kick it with these goons... fuck man. I don’t know what the fuck to do. I can’t just hop out the car. I can’t shoot the foo wit his kids right there just watching. Fuck. What the fuck. What the fuck do I do! Shit this motherfucker’s coming to the door. Scoop your fucking kids in the house so I can just spray your ass and move on homie.

NIKO [offstage] Are you gonna do this or what puto? Andale pues.

JAVI This fool does not needa be talkin’ to me right now 27

[yells offstage at Niko]

I know what the fuck I’m doing ok, fuck. Fuck!

SMALL BEAT

Fuckin’ finally this foo got his kids in the house. [Javier creeps out of the bed of the El Camino and runs over to the lawn, creeping by the bushes, right-center.]

Where is this puto. He better be ready for this. If I’m doin this shit he better not just stand there and take this shit he better put up a fiickin fight. [The man comes out with an MP5K sub-machine gun and starts spraying the car with bullets.]

Oh shit this mofo is crazy. Fuck I gotta duck. I can’t let this fool see me. Fuck. If he gets outta here alive I’m a fuckin’ dead man. Shit. Fuck this fool has to reload now. Shit! What the fuck! [the man starts reloading his gun while Niko gets out of the car, enters stage left He pulls out a revolver and aims it at the crowd. Bang, Rotate. He misses. Bang, Rotate.Bang, Rotate.Two to the chest.]

NIKO Pinche Javi, get in the fuckin car. Otra vez con esa mierda. Fuckin pussy, pull the fuckin trigger already. Vamos, get in the car. JAVI [Javi gets back in the bed] Fuckin Javi. When are you gonna fuckin man up... -BLACKOUT- 28

Thursday. 11:50 p.m Circumstances of Birth

At Rise: There is a record player center stage down. In dead center there are two couches facing each other with a coffee table in between. On the table is a stack of vinyl records, an ashtray, a giant jug of water, ajar of weed, packets of backwoods, a grinder, a notebook, a blackbook, and Seven’s gun. Jimmy is sitting across from Seven

JIMMY Yo unc, why do you call yourself Seven?

SEVEN Good question. I got one for you too But lemme answer yours first [reaches for the grinder, and begins to roll a backwood]

Seven, that’s the number for god more specifically, the god particle within us all [Jimmy laughs, kind of dismissing the statement. Seven looks up at him, continuing to roll the backwoods. Jimmy gets silent.] SMALL BEAT

JIMMY My bad unc...go ahead

SEVEN Simultaneously, seven is the number that represents the jewel for food you remember the jewels right? [Jimmy nods] 29

Well the jewel for food does double duty not only is it the food to nourish your body but it’s food for the mind [he finished rolling the backwood, gives it its final licks]

JIMMY Unc, I dont mean to steer from the convo but how the fuck do you roll those things so proper!

SEVEN [laughs a bit, hands the backwood over to Jimmy, hands him a lighter from his pocket] Spark that Jimmy [he begins to file through the record stack in front of him]

Now god is just 3 letters Representing an immortal idea, right? [Jimmy nods while lighting the backwood]

Well, this immortality lies within every heart It’s the tiny spec of space within us Keeping us connected through a beat Every heart has its own rhythm and beat Every mind has its own will to speak &every person their own heavens to complete, claro? [Jimmy nods, inhaling the smoke]

Now, I’m not thinking of myself as a god, that’s too much ego and that... that’s ego I buried with my old title... [he finds the Amigos album, Santana, walks over to the record player, and sets the track to Europa]

But people started calling me Seven cause i fed them cause I protected them, grew them Once I reached the peak I realized that war wasn’t the best way to get there so I’ve been trying to reverse my damage [Jimmy continues to smoke, gaze and attention focused on Seven]

Now [Seven walks back to his couch] 30

my question for you, Do you know the circumstances of your birth?

JIMMY [Jimmy takes a long hit, holds for a small beat, releases while replying] My birth? I mean, I know my parents -

SEVEN Before your parents even conceived you You were bom elsewhere Did you know that? [As Jimmy takes another strong hit, Seven finds a pencil & grabs the notebook to hand to Jimmy]

Dame esa Take this [they switch, Jimmy sits there holding the weight of the pencil in one hand and the notebook in the other. Seven takes a long hit]

Learn the circumstances of your birth connect with your universe talk to your G Jimmy [Jimmy looks at floor, creeps down into couch, wipes face, begin to write, recite under breath as he’s writing his lines. He writes for about a minute or so, Europa still playing in the background]

Go ahead Jimmy, spit it

JIMMY Shit man, you called me out at the perfect time I just finished 16

SEVEN Vamos, andale, spit that shit homie! JIMMY [stands up]

Before the idea o f me, I was the breeze You could hear me ticklin trees, whispering these Remedies, brushing da shoulders o f my soldiers Marchin to the top, crackin rocks n the boulders, who’s bolder? Not me, I ’m young Knowledge passed down from the sun I run wild, a child wit no limits Crossing continents, I ’m confident That one day I will manifest I took a breath now I ’m able to see, I see light This lighting be too bright, can’t see much, so Ifeel fright, let out a came in that way, won’t be how I die When I supernova, I become the sky Again, my wind begins, born to fly U C me in every guy N lady Tales from the unborn baby, I ’m here to save thee.

SEVEN Claro, ok, I see you Jimmy So you the wind huh?

JIMMY Swift, unnoticed, and underappreciated... yes sir that’s me

SEVEN Swift & witty, yes Unnoticed, by the systems & society, yes By us?By your familia?never You know your worth to our kin Jimmy Never lose sight of that, claro

JIMMY Claro... right on unc I appreciate you [they stand up, embrace] 32

SEVEN I appreciate you Jimmy, and i appreciate how you’ve learned

JIMMY And how i bum the sacred fern?

SEVEN Claro que si! Mira, its that right there that’s whats gonna bridge the gap That’s what’s gonna reach em!

I know, it was me who started these wars, or rather me who loaded and supplied these wars Pero war is war and any hand I had in it I, I can’t condone anymore man... Jimmy you, your the voice of a generation I can’t reach with my words Don’t nobody wanna listen to what rhymes an OG has But you can reach em!

JIMMY [walks off to the side, in thought] beat yeah... yeah i know unc, I know Seven

SEVEN Be safe, stay up, eyes up at all times Aware always Jimmy You’ll be fine Keep it leveled Keep it balanced Learn your talents and mind the pebbles Stones only weigh you down, skip em or drown

I appreciate you my brother You will do amazing things for our people Jimmy our hermanos y hermanas. Vamos, let’s get how you be sayin? hellavated foo -BLACKOUT- 33

Friday. 3:35 p.m Principal’s Office At Rise: two chairs are facing the audience. Placed behind and to the left is a door that says principal on the window. Maka is sitting on the chair closest the door, and Angelo sits next to him arms crossed and upset.

MAKA Hijo, que paso? This aint like you [he doesn’t say anything]

What they say this time huh? Talkin’ more shit bout tu abuela? [silence]

Tu mama? [Angelo peers sideways at him with angry eyes]

Tu hermano? Your baby sister? [Angelo’s anger continues to boil, you can see that he’s bottling up everything]

Shit... I remember when I was your age If anyone, and I mean anyone If anyone would ever say anything bout your abuela or your tio, whooo [laughs a little as he reminisces over the times. He realizes what he is saying, and where he is.] 34

Well, ya know what I probably shouldn’t be telling you all that I mean.. .that’s why you here in the first place Getting in a fight But I mean it’s nothing bad, I mean The school’s they look down on it Sayin shit like there more proper ways of expressin your anger n shit But I mean, sometimes, we just You know we let our beasts out -

ANGELO Why do they call you the outlaw [Maka’s face drops while his son is staring him in the eyes] beat

Is it cause you beat people up? Cause they were saying that people know you I mean, by that name

MAKA Who knows me by that name?

ANGELO Some of the boys in my class They say their dads know you as the outlaw That they recognize your tattoos from the stories And they ask why I’m not a bad ass like you And why I don’t beat people up And it’s annoying Cause they all hear the stories of Jr. too And they say ‘why are you a pussy? Your brother was a beast ’ Or they say ‘you ’re weak, not like your dad, who’s a bad ass who whoops on people ’ And so today, I mean I lost it I was tired of it dad Tired of them constantly trying to tell me to be someone else So I said fine, I’ll be like Jr. & be like The Outlaw And I swung And I hit him in the nose, and he started to bleed So I swung again and he fell down beat 35

And then I was ontop of him, swinging away And everyone was around us Cheering 1 Outlaw, outlaw, outlaw!’ And it felt good To be you beat [Angelo gets all cheery and excited for this next part]

And then! His brother came! And his brother’s a 4 grader And he picked me up and tossed me off him And that’s how I hit my head, but it didn’t hurt And I just bounced up and charged him dad Like a bull! And dug my shoulder into his gut And tackled him! And then, I started whooping on -

MAKA Callate! Callate! No more! [Angelo shrinks into his chair. Maka is checking himself, mad that he is yelling at his son. He gets out of his chair and drops onto a knee, taking his son off the chair and standing his son in front of him, while holding his arms]

Hijo... You shouldn’t wanna be like me

ANGELO But why dad, they say you’re a -

MAKA What I am and what you are are not the same Who I am is not who you are Neither is it who you have to be

ANGELO But I liked -

MAKA But you shouldn’t like being someone else You needa be who God made you to be small beat Just cause you think someone else is cool Or because someone is a bad ass Or tough cause they’re violent Doesn’t mean you have to be that way to be cool Or tough Man, shit. I thought I was tough back then Always fighting Always hurting people But you? You’re the real tough one here

ANGELO How, I don’t even like hitting people

MAKA Exactly! It sounds hella cliche

ANGELO What’s cliche?

MAKA Like corny, but listen!

ANGELO Corny like when you buy mom flowers and write her little love notes?

MAKA [laughs] Yeah son, corny like that But look, It may sound corny, but it’s way tougher to not hit someone To avoid the conflict all together To look at someone who’s talking shit And understand They only doing that cause they looking for that violence Looking to act like a tough guy When really, they ain’t processing their emotions Me entiendes? [Angelo nods] Good. [he hugs his son, kisses him on the forehead]

You the toughest lil man I know, aite? Remember that.

ANGELO I’m sorry I got suspended And sorry you have to meet with the principal And mommy too.

MAKA Well you can tell your momma you sorry on your own No guarantees that she won’t whoop on you though [Angelo gets a little scared]

How about this, you promise me you’ll stop trying to be your brother Or trying to be me And I’ll just tell your mom you got suspended for lying to the teacher She’ll be cooler with that Your momma can’t stand that lady

ANGELO Yeah, me either [Maka laughs a little]

Ok, deal [They shake on it] MAKA Pues, vamos. Let’s go, momma cookin somethin good tonight But hold up, who told you flowers and love letters are corny? Boy, that’s romance! You kids know nothing bout that stuff

ANGELO Oh...uhm... Jezebel

MAKA Jezebel? Who’s Jezebel? ANGELO Oh, uhm... she’s just this girl in my class I wrote her a note and taped it with a flower to her desk And she wrote me back, saying I was corny But that it was cute and she liked the note

MAKA Word!? Look at you!? You are like me after all, you lil bad ass Go ahead witcha bad self! [Maka puts his hand down for a low-five]

I gotta show you how to write some poetry Then you’ll really have all the ladies on you

ANGELO I don’t want em all...just.... Just the one

MAKA Boy, you’re more like me than I thought. C’mon, lets get outta this place I hate principal’s offices [they exit stage right]

-BLACKOUT- 39

Friday. 4:50 p.m Outside Looking In At Rise: Jimmy & Jaqui are sitting in an office lobby. The set up is centered, facing stage right. There’s a row of chairs stretching from the front of the stage towards the back, at the end of that row(maybe 8 chairs) another row of the same amount faces the crowd, going stage right. There’s a small desk facing stage left, across the first row. The decor is warm and inviting, but bland as most offices are. Jimmy is wearing a nice black button up shirt, nice slacks, nice shoes, and a black & red patterned tie, held down with a tie clip. There could be some smooth Jazz playing in the background. There is a receptionist, and a few other interviewees. Jimmy feels out of place, like the walls are staring at him. Jaqui is resting her head on his shoulder.

JIMMY Why’d GiGi think this was a good idea Jaqui?

JAQUI Cause she thinks it’ll help you stay away from Seven and spend less time worrying about -

JIMMY For someone who says she my mom Why would she ever assume I could spend less time worrying about - 40

JAQUI Shhh, ya Yo se Pero like, I don’t know Jimmy?! [sits up, faces him, one leg crossed, the other foot planted on the floor]

I mean I’ve met Seven? He seems hella cool? JIMMY He is! All I can think is that maybe GiGi knows about him? Well I mean shit, I’m sure she does They’re about the same age Grew up in the same barrio So I know she knows the stories, ya know?

JAQUI Claro que si, pero... [she pauses while some of the other interviewees, real business type up n coming professional types, are staring in their direction]

JIMMY Yo man! [to the observers] Can I help y’all? [raises his arms] You want a photo? You got a camera? Come on, 5 dollars Take a pic with the token Latino in a suit! That’s right y’all, we ain’t all gang bangers [the receptionist,, a mid-aged Latina woman, picks up the phone as if to call the security, Jaqui notices her]

or gardeners, or dish washers, or cooks laborers, movers, that’s right y’all! JAQUI Jimmy! 41

JIMMY Nah man, why are they fu - [Jaqui covers Jimmy’s mouth with her hand, stands them both up, walks them stage left, towards the bathrooms of the office. As they walk, she looks towards the receptionist]

Lo siento. Perdonanos [the lady puts down the phone]

Jimmy, what the fuck man! What is wrong with you!?

JIMMY This isn’t where I wanna be! I don’t need an internship for no business men I don’t needa work for no pay, and play a role I’m not You saw them in there! Looking at us like we’re nothing more than kids from the hood Me, I’m use to that shit, but you -

JAQUI But me what? Oh! Am I not from the same streets? Did you not live - JIMMY JaquiI -

JAQUI No Mr. Big Bad Gang Banger, tell me? Am I not hood enough for you? Cause I get the good grades? And work in a nice office like this answering the phones? Or cause -

JIMMY Jaqui calm a-

JAQUI Pinche Jimmy, calmate my ass! He wasn’t even looking at you! He was looking at - 42

JIMMY Yeah you I know! Why you think I trip! [Jaqui pauses]

I’m use to looks, they don’t phase me But you?

JAQUI But me what? Am I not strong like you?

JIMMY That’s not what I’m saying!

JAQUI Then what the fuck are you -

JIMMY Claro! Let me finish then! [he takes her hands in his]

Jaqui, you’re a fuckin honor roll student You’re a young leader who does work with city council You’re working and saving green to get you & your mom out. Out of a hood that molded you into the powerful woman you are [Jaqui is looking at the ground, Jimmy takes a hand and lifts her face by the chin]

And all those idiots see is a brown skin lady... Small beat [Jaqui drops her head again. Jimmy holds the melody for Brown Skin Lady by Black Star]

Brown skin lady.. .where you goin? Brown skin lady.. .what you doin? Brown skin lady.. .how ya feel? I like the way you walk... [Jaqui smiles, friendly shoves Jimmy in the chest]

I like the, I like the way you move [he takes her hands and starts dancing around, Jaqui starts laughing] 43

JAQUI You’re so stupid! [she wipes away the tears forming in the comers of her eyes]

You gonna make me fuck up my mascara Pinche Jimmy... [she hugs him tight, at first his arms are just in the air, and then he embraces her, kisses the top of her head]

I appreciate you Jimmy. But you gotta remember, I’ve been doing this. Role swapping, playing the part, whatever you wanna call it. I’m just as use to the stares as you, even though it’s a different context You’re right, they probably see you and think banger Or street hustler Or something. But they see me, and I fit behind the secretary seat Cause they think that’s the highest I’ll get Above scrubbing floors and toilets Or watching somebody’s baby. But you know what? [she pulls back from the hug, holds Jimmy at his sides, they look at each other]

Let em look, I aint hiding nothing Nor am I faking nothing And plus when it’s guys staring I like to pretend they just checkin me -

JIMMY Jaqui !

JAQUI For real though! I know I’m bad, c’mon now who you tryna lie to!? [they laugh]

But remember what you said? You don’t wanna be playing a role, being someone you’re not? [he nods] 44

Well then don’t. Look, this would be a solid opportunity for you That’s why GiGi set it up. She doesn’t want you running around anymore She wants you to -

JIMMY I know, come home early, eat dinner, and stay safe

JAQUI And I want that too... So [checks her phone]

So look, it’s almost time for me to get to the youth council meeting You’ll be fine... Stay here if you WANT. If you don’t want to.. .go ahead and leave, I won’t tell my mom BUT YOU WILL!

JIMMY I’ll sit down and wait... No promises though!

JAQUI Pinche Jimmy... Fine, well, I’ll be done with my meeting at like 7. Hit me? Maybe we eat before we go home.

JIMMY Claro. [they hug for a good while]

Thank you Jaqui... I appreciate you.

JAQUI I know you do foo [she smiles] I gotta go [she begins to walk towards the exit, passed the desk stage right]

Hit me! 45

JIMMY [Jimmy stands there by the bathrooms for a minute. Hands on his head, pacing back and forth. One of the interviewees walk on by, passed him and into the bathroom, stage left. He walks back over to the seating area, looks at the receptionist]

I’m sorry, didn’t mean to startle you. [he pulls his mini notebook out of his back pocket]

Can I borrow a pen? [she holds one out to him, he walks over and takes it]

Thank you. [back in his seat, Jimmy begins writing. His voice reads the words over the sound system as he writes]

Who’s reflection stares back, grinning Who’s reflection is winning Concealing a reality A face o f fallacy Disgrace the powers that be The uniqueness o f we

I ’m pressed down, creases tight Feeling all the pressure Tie straight, fit clean No one else is fresher Mean mugs, am I a thug? Is that all the world sees? What does my reflection read?

The words on my forehead They tell a story most cant read In my breath My words hold the seed I let em free A mirror to the me inside Let em mingle with the wind And get sewn in line 46

Watch the forests o f my meanings manifest People will judge until the death Remain fresh, Free Reigning Eternity Solidified Here Ever moment spent as me Is a moment without fear

Peace

[phone vibration over the sound system. Jimmy looks at his phone, it’s Seven. He looks up to the receptionist. Looks downstage, where the interviewer awaits. He looks at his phone again. He gets up and walks over to the receptionist. There’s an exchange, she writes down something. He thanks her, returns the pen, runs off, stage right.]

-BLACKOUT- 47

Friday. 8:10 p.m Isolation At Rise: Javi is sitting on the floor, with cushions, against his bed. In front of him is a small tv(like very tiny, it could fit ontop of an Xbox 360) sitting ontop of an Xbox 360. He has a remote in his hand, and a headset on his head. Behind him, projected is the game Call of Duty MW2, and it plays throughout the duration of the monologue. Sound Notes: Sound effects of the game are alive and present when lights up on Javi.

THE YOUNG GUN Watch out, watch out, watch it now BANG, reload muhfiicka reload! [His attention streamlined to the tv.] medium beat

Damn, man. What fuckin time is it? Where the fuck is that Chinese I ordered? [lifts his phone from his right side]

Man it’s already 8:37? Fuck! I’m hella hungry man. Shit! Ay, hold up [yelling behind to his right] 48

A-yo!? A-yo Niko, Gonz, anyone there? [He’s facing the screen again, back to the game, ear perked towards his back vision still glued to the tv] beat

Fuckas...

Man fuck them idiots, they don’t know how to cook for nothin anyway Man, fuck this game! [attention streamlined on tv again] long beat

Man, if they could hurry up n figure out to do what that Willy Wonka fucka did and shrink me into pixels, and send me into the tv so I could go murk these fuckas for real BANG BANG muhfucka! Small beat

Man, fuck I’m hungry small beat

Yo man, Yo this game is legit man, huh!?... yo? Yo man you still there? Yo! Small beat

Helloooo!? beat

Man! [takes off headset and throws it to his left]

Man, fuck you too! Muhfucka, can’t even listen to a dude vent

[Goes back to focusing on his game] long beat 49

Man, watch...

One of these days, I’ma take off Like one of these marine murderin muhfucka types I’ma have my squad of assassins N we gonna fuckin mob up on a place like this [points to screen with his remote]

N infiltrate the systems, frame the soldiers, murk the mayor control the bank & markets set it all up and then BANG [gunfire sound eq heightened]

BANG BANG BANG! [it silences, Javi is back to focusing solely on the game] medium beat

Pop em off one by one by one Until we got the position Then BANG Small beat

Now who’s in charge? Muhfucka...

[Back to focusing on the game, he’s menacing, looks like a maniac on a rampage, he’s going, going going, and the spotlights begin to fade slimmer and slimmer, and when they look like they’re about to go off, a doorbell rings and all lights up on the bedroom, a door frame to the right of the bed.]

Man, muhfiickas, I was on a roll! Fuckin, terrible ass timing ass shit... it’s about damn time with my fuckin food! [he gets up and walks to the door frame, as he enters through, spotlight off]

-BLACKOUT- 50

Friday. 10:00 p.m Walls of Purpose At Rise: Jimmy & Seven are stage right, with spray cans in milk crates at their feet, and a table with a record player in the background, playing . They have an imaginary wall in front of them, it could be some kind of screen? Or not. They are passing a blunt amongst each other. Javi & Maka are stage left, sitting at Maka’s kitchen table. Maka is sitting on the far stage left side of the table, doing math on some paper, and very high adrenaline. He just finished a job.and Javi is sitting facing the audience completely. The scene starts with the music playing, it fades low as scene starts...

JIMMY A split second of pure love is worth an eternity, right? So it has to be a melody you can hear with the ear, louder than, louder than —

SEVEN To shoot at an idea like that, Jimmy is a far more effective way to spend seconds rather than regretting all the seconds spent looking down the -

JIMMY Can sir, pass it! Down the what? The streets? Sirens? The shots? The whistles! SEVEN Her essence... in that split second.. .it’s gravity. More magnetic than this metal, and the aerosol

JIMMY HOLD UP the only thing greater than aerosol is the words we paint in it

SEVEN Claro, but this weight? what’s greater than this weight we bare? than this weight, this this burdenous, that’s what it fucking is. It’s heavy carrying it, this power. So much of it, power, haunt, regret... There’s so much potential for - medium beat life... life. So much life that could’ve persevered. If I wasn’t out playin God of the Gunrunners... Am I too far gone in the realm of the Street Gods to, to even begin thinking about rerouting the youngsters to shoot for stars instead of firing permanent stop signs at their brothers

JIMMY this pressure.. .the pressure to protect mine. My family, kin, love & ambitions... I don’t carry this for no block, or greed, or green like you did, and you understand that Unc

Shit I carry this for them! For you!

If you not friend, you’re foe &gotta go!

[lights dim on them, they continue conversating in silence, painting the wall front of them, lights get brighter on Maka & Javi. All italics should be in the imitation of Maka.] 52

MAKA Man, you know what? How the fuck you gonna be assassin if you can’t even pop off? Stomp muhfucka stomp!

JAVI stomp muhfucka stomp! Fuck outta here, for I stomp on yo ass in front of Jr. [starts laughing like a fool]

MAKA Man, you think you’re funny. [he splits a swisher with a huge knife]

Junior could take you in 2 rounds, fair ones [he guts the swisher, and Javi looks over his shoulder at Junior watching TV]

JAVI Yeah well that’ cause Junior’s your shadow man How tall is that fool now, I haven’t even seen him stand in like... fuckin forever, give him a book or -

MAKA Man you better shut your fuckin mouth Javier [gun shots go off in the distance, faintly, and Junior reaches at his side and turns from the TV, towards his right(back of stage) in the directions of the shots]

Before I tell that boy to fill it with his fist for all that shit you -

JAVI chill chill chill! I’m playin wit -

MAKA Yeah, play my ass, this aint no game ain’t no controllers, no respawns Watch your words Shit Always talkin bout wantin to be a king [starts laughing]

Shit, you couldn’t even negotiate your way outta a spar with Junior. Or Angelina! 53

[starts cracking up, this goes on for about 10-15 seconds, Javi is annoyed throughout]

JAVI Yeah yeah, you’re hilarious [the dim lighting shift comes back, now we’re focused in on Jimmy & Seven again]

SEVEN Yeah yeah, you got some good points Jimmy [ Jimmy hands him the blunt]

Bringing it back to a point you stated earlier, you gotta remember the thing about classifying people Friend, Foe, Enemy,Frenemy, Family, Kin It’s all one in the same because we’re all one in the same at least in our mathematical design [takes a long hit of the blunt and passes it]

And you know I’m talking biologies

JIMMY Yeah, the only class I pay attention in is English

SEVEN Con Jaqui, no?

JIMMY Anyways, hand me that red can please [Jimmy takes another hit, passes the blunt to Seven, who hands him the spray can. Jimmy shakes it a bit, feels the weight.]

Unc, can you go back to the weight from earlier But, can you get mathematical with it, but like star math that real stuff again [Seven takes a hit, walks over to the record player, turns it off, puts out the blunt in the ashtray.]

SEVEN Well it’s like this That pressure you were talking about Think about two things Coal & Cans 54

[He walks back to the wall, stops about midstage and examines the wall as he sizes up his speech.]

Coal with pressure heating it creates shiny diamonds, no? Pressure within this can, sucking it’s air dry and allowing only one funnel out is what gives it its strength forward right? You following?

JIMMY uhm... yeah I think I’m good

SEVEN Claro, ok so think about that pressure harnessing power and beauty and think about the expulsion of that power. When a star bursts, that death that death is what brings us the light we see It couldn’t take the pressure anymore and combusts

But the star isn’t conscious of it’s wake It doesn’t know what it creates, beautiful and chaotic Or just fucked from the jump, legacies get crooked on you every now and then, or so it seems via my example

JIMMY Yeah but you’re not a star! You’re you! And you’re aware of what you’ve done! But that’s why you’re working with the problem to find solutions just like hypothesis stuff that you’re always talkin theories and shit man, c’mon, always tellin me about excuses!

SEVEN Excuses?! What excuse!?

JIMMY Spewin your poetry is your power and you as a poet are burdened with the pressure to tell it the stories, the times, the feelings, that’s what I do, everything else is -

SEVEN A result of my action, the reaction, the wake! 55

JIMMY Claro Unc, but that’s not my excuse for doing what I do it’s the circumstance just like everything you did left you today’s scenario so you could discover what you have to do amidst what is constant [Seven is speechless. He looks at Jimmy. The dim lighting shift comes back, now we’re focused in on Javi & Maka. Jimmy & Seven continue talking for a few seconds, and then head off stage right, their spotlights fade as they head off. Maka is lighting the blunt now.]

MAKA Junior, go to your room now hijo. [Junior gets up and walks off stage left]

I didn’t have to teach that kid a thing He came out knowing what he had to do, or somehow picked it up maybe all that damn tv, he started putting the puzzles together

JAVI Man, it’s all one big puzzle! We gotta get all the right pieces aligned and then -

MAKA Right pieces, shit muhfucka I’m the right piece

JAVI I ’m the right piece, muhfucka muhfucka [Maka throws the swisher wrapper at Javi, who flinches]

MAKA OH, am I wrong? Did the mighty king flinch at a wrapper? How the hell you think you gonna lead me into a war you haven’t even mapped out yet! [Maka hands Javi the blunt] 56

JAVI You think too much, I told you that’s bad for you Man, since we were little muhfucka, [takes a long hit and hands it back. Javi stands up]

MAKA Man, not thinking and firing blindly is what gets your pieces confused you thought you were putting down a comer but you were lost in the middle [takes a long hit, hold it] medium beat

Position & power that’s what we do, what we use Purpose Javi Remember your purpose [takes a long hit]

Remind yourself what you want to serve calm your nerves, decisions must be a mind made up not a spark running wild [Javi looks at him for a while, turns stage left to exit through the Door frame. He walks towards it, and as he does his spotlight drops. Only light remaining on Maka. He sits there, smoking his blunt. He puts his gun on the table. Stares at it, head in his hands.]

-BLACKOUT- 57

Saturday. 5:20 p.m Barrio Date

At Rise: Jimmy & Jaqui enter stage right. Chambacu by Aurita Castillo is playing faintly as they walk in.The two walk, passing the storefront that has the speaker bumping the song. As they pass, they dance together, and start friendly pushing each other as they continue to walk on. When they reach mid stage Niko & Gonz enter stage left, post up by the storefront with the speaker. Jimmy takes note of them, as him & Jaqui come to a stop in the back of the line to the mediterranean joint. Jaqui notices Jimmy...

JAQUI Hey, you, focus over here fuck those guys Don’t let em spook you

JIMMY Pssh, aint nobody spooked foo I’m just -

JAQUI Yeah yeah yeah, I ’m just keeping you safe Ay, what would I do without you My bodyguard [throws herself into Jimmy]

Hold me, keep me from harm!

JIMMY Oh you got jokes now huh!? [wraps his arms around her, starts tickling her sides] 58

JAQUI Ay! Jimmy stop! [she fights back. Jaqui tries to free herself from the lock, doesn’t have the strength, so she bites Jimmy on the forearm. Now that she’s free, she goes straight for Jimmy’s ribs, tickling him, he squirms away, his hands up, Jaqui’s got her fists up]

Whatsup you don’t want none of this!

JIMMY You right! I don’t truce, no violence no violence [he extends his hand for a shake]

JAQUI Oh now you don’t want war huh Mmmhmmm, I see you foo [she grabs Jimmy by the wrist and pulls him towards her. She wraps herself around him. Jimmy waddles over with Jaqui on him, as they inch forward in line. Jimmy holds her tight, kisses her forehead. Eddy runs in stage left, waving his hands to get Jimmy’s attention. Jimmy takes a while to notice, but finally does. They try signaling, Jaqui notices Jimmy and looks back, waves over at Eddy trying to signal for Jimmy to go somewhere else because... Jessica enters stage left. Jimmy’s face drops, Jaqui’s get sour. As Jessica passes by Niko & Gonz, she does a little twirl to the music for the purpose of showing herself off to them, her gaze never leaving Jimmy.]

JIMMY Fuck...

JAQUI Here comes your fan club. Did you tell -

JIMMY Yeah Eddy knew but how’d she squeeze it out of - [Jaqui looks at Jimmy with that ‘you really asking’ face]

Fuckin Eddy. [Jessica arrives and lines up behind Jimmy. Eddy follows behind her] 59

JESSICA Hey Jimmy! I didn’t know you like Meditation foods!

JAQUI Mediterranean... It’s Mediter -

JESSICA Oh Hey Jaqui! I didn’t see you there That’s a nice color on you! It hides your -

EDDY Hey! What’s good Jimmy [Jessica rolls her eyes]

Yo since when this play have a line on a -

JESSICA On a Saturday! Right I was just thinking that!

JAQUI Really? You come here before? Tell me, what do you order here? [Jimmy staring straight at Eddy, trying to smile his way out of it, until he looks over his shoulder and notices Niko & Gonz]

EDDY Yo, you watching those two

JIMMY Tryin not to [nods his head over to Jaqui]

JAQUI Yeah Eddy, we’re trying to have a drama free date today You know, avoid all disasters and headaches [stares at Jessica when she says headaches]

JESSICA Jaqueline, no need to be -

JAQUI Aiye keep me name out your mouth you little - 60

EDDY Aiye ! You guys are next in line!

BEAT [During this beat, Jimmy & Jaqui order their food, Niko & Gonz begin to move towards the line. As Jimmy turns around, he sees them coming, nods at Eddy. They walk right by Eddy and walk up to Jessica, Niko & her lock eyes, Gonz checks out Jaqui]

NIKO Yo mami, what’s good.

GONZ Yeah Ladies what’s goin on why y’all runnin with these lil bustas over here

EDDY Busta? Who the tuck you -

JESSICA I’m Jessica, pero You can call me princessa Where y’all from?

NIKO Where we from? Do you know where we are?

GONZ Check the intersection, cause I should be askin ya man here Where you from? Busta? [Eddy about to pop off and proclaim his set, but...]

JIMMY Man we ain’t from nowhere homie We just here gettin some food Not every brotha in a black hoody bangs understand? [Jessica looks over at Jimmy disappointed and angry] 61

NIKO Well, if y’all aint from nowhere Why ya boy gettin hot? & Why your fine ass girl wearin red shoes [Jimmy advances towards them when they say ‘fine ass’, Jaqui and Eddy hold him]

Oh, touchy touchy You gonna have to take them shoes off princess

JESSICA Hey hey hey, only princess over here is me Now what you boy, you rather play wrestle with them or you wanna wrestle wit me huh? [Jimmy & Niko staring each other down. Eddy turns around to face them too] BEAT

NIKO [still staring down Jimmy] Shieet, you right mami Vamos Gonz, we’ll catch em later. It was Jessica right?

JESSICA Princessa Jessi, si that’s me baby [Niko puts his arm around Jessica]

NIKO Vamos, let’s go, you smoke? [they exit stage left]

We got all the good green boo

JESSICA Good, get me high baby [as they’re exiting, she peeks over her shoulder, looking at Jimmy, looking sad & full of regret for what she just caused. Jimmy is staring at her with pure intensity]

EDDY Yo man, I’m - 62

JIMMY Yeah, sorry, you right you are foo JAQUI Jimmy!

EDDY Nah, he’s right Jaqui I am, I ruined y’all time together My bad aight?

JAQUI It ain’t ruined, we still here [looks up at Jimmy, still staring intensely, now at Eddy]

Right, Jimmy! [snaps out of it, looks at Jaqui, holds her to his chest, kisses her head]

JIMMY Yeah, yeah we’re all good [extends his hand to Eddy]

You just gotta stop fucking rollin with those girls man you know that chick is straight slippery like a fuckin snake man You know she just did that shit -

EDDY Yeah I know! I mean shit man! Maybe if she wasn’t in love wit you so fuckin heavy!

JAQUI Poor girl. She doesn’t see it

EDDY I mean aiye, it helps me out! Makes it easier for me!

JAQUI Eddy you’re such a pig! [she punches him in the arm. Jimmy walks over to the food stand and gets their food.]

JIMMY Whatsup brother, you gonna eat wit us? EDDY Nah man, it’s good I’ll let y’all have your -

JAQUI Pssh, /oo, shut up and come on We can’t leave your busta ass out here alone You might get whopped [Jimmy shoves Jaqui]

Aiye, I’m only playing! Come on you big foo Come chill wit us That way afterwards I got my two bodyguards to walk me home [gives Jimmy a kiss on the cheek]

You still my secret service VIP though

JIMMY Come on y’all, let’s go to the park

EDDY Vamos, n Jimmy [Jimmy nods his head]

My bad again

JAQUI Yeah you right your bad! Ruining my date and shit! Asshole! [they walk to exit stage right] -BLACKOUT- 64

Saturday. 9:00 p.m At The Park

At Rise: Jimmy & Eddy are standing amidst the palm trees of the park, center stage. They’re in good spirits, joking around and laughing. There’s a pause for a second, and each of them look around. Eddy sits himself on the ground and pulls a blunt from behind his ears. He gestures it to Jimmy, who sits down next to him as Eddy sparks it.

EDDY This that good shit man got it from Unc’s supply lady that floral girl who stays in the Excelsior

JIMMY Oh you talking bout Luna? [Eddy bobs his head and shimmies his shoulders in confirmation while taking a long toke of the blunt]

Word, yeah she always got good shit Did you take a walk in her yard?

EDDY Hell yeah! Roses, Tulips, Sunflowers, Dragon Lilies, Regular Lilies AND OF COURSE /THE SACRED GREEN

JIMMY /THE SACRED GREEN [they both laugh, Eddy takes another hit and passes it off to Jimmy, Jimmy takes a hit] EDDY Yo man, sorry again for earlier I really didn’t mean to

JIMMY Yo, it’s over, we survived, nothing popped off It’s all good brotha

EDDY Yeah I know but I mean, I hella ruined y’alls time together

JIMMY Nah man, you’re good I actually like when Jaqui gets all fiesty like that man It’s funny, she gets all cute and defensive and stuff It, i dont know, it it really shows you know [passes blunt]

/shows that she cares EDDY /shows that she cares Yeah man, she really do... that’s whatsup man Small Beat

You’re lucky man... but aiye be real, do it feel a little weird at all?

JIMMY Weird how so?

EDDY I mean, after all GiGi raised us like family man! So it’s like... bro that’s your cousin! 66

JIMMY Man, shut up You’re stupid foo We were shelter kids bra They brought you in, I escaped And they was like well fuck it, we’ll watch him too

EDDY Man, it’s deeper than that, you know GiGi love you like a son too man... Well hey, i guess that’s perfect then, no? Since you tryna marry Jaqui & all [passes blunt]

JIMMY Chill chill chill! Lemme make her my girl first man!

EDDY Ya know something man, I kinda wish I was Unc’s son [Jimmy looks at him weirdly, trying to figure what he means, takes another hit, and then passes it over]

I’d be like The crown prince of da streets man

JIMMY I mean ain’t it good enough that we under his wing? That he making us question our commitments to ‘da streets’

EDDY Man I don’t know what you talkin bout [Takes a long hit. Talks as he’s exhaling the smoke]

I mean, think about it, everything he’s told us It only strengthens my determination Like, everything gets -

JIMMY Strengthens your commitment? Do you listen to what he says foo? How does it strengthen your chain to the block yo 67

EDDY Think about what he was tellin us the other day about Chess moves, and being steps ahead in planning Think about moving weight or planning raids man You gotta be always on the defensive But solid as a striking unit when you ready to attack [Takes another long hit as Jimmy begins to speak]

JIMMY Ok, but think about the defensive of the castle Who’s the king? [Eddy passes the blunt and responds]

EDDY We are

JIMMY Exactly! So your defense has to be constant always, yeah you heard that But your strike squad should never be too far from the crown Cause you never know how sly your enemies really are foo [takes a long hit]

And then there’s this other thing, away from Chess [takes another long hit, holds it in and passes off the blunt. Talks through his exhale of smoke. Eddy starts taking his hits]

Think about Pac’s poem bruh We’ve already bloomed into roses yo, we’ve already gotten the damaged petals We’ve already seen the sunlight, and we above the concrete Seven set us free man, he gave us the growth mind we need to be above the concrete Why do you wanna - 68

EDDY Why do I wanna what? Stay in the streets? Cause what else do I know man I’m good at this shit, I’m good at organizing moves At organizing strikes and raids I’m fucking beast at this shit. I’m like fuckin Sun Tzu man! I’ve mastered this art of war It’s embedded in my core Wit my wings I soar &reign down like a thunder’s roar Mudafuuuck!!! [Eddy takes another hit and passes the blunt. Jimmy takes his two long hits & passes it back] beat

JIMMY Even the wisest warrior knows when to recline If he’s got himself a castle, he’s already divine If he’s got a bunch of hassle in his life, then he lyin To him kin or his army, and even worse to his mind

EDDY Yeah yeah with all that bull -

JIMMY Bullshit? But is it? Riddle me this

If you had/ the opportunity to miss/ the battlefield N B/ far from evil/ no weighin down of pistols/ Wouldn’t your vision be crystal clear?/ Wouldn’t you live life without the fear?/ EDDY Mudafucker fuck puttin down the gat You never know when someone wanna come at you, tryna blast you Tryna catch you, slippin and put a limit on your past foo Me & my history? legendary already You see my name on the walls and on the trucks movin the heavy Dropout I hear you, but we ain’t all you We ain’t all gifted wit a vision beyond doom

JIMMY Beyond doom? I’m mortal too I know I’ll expire eventually but at the hands of a foo? Spooked? Afraid? what damage to his mind I can do? We aint bulletproof but I don’t want no bullet shootin through me My flesh is divine, like yours could be when you see

EDDY When I see what? You think I’m blind!? You think I don’t see the signs? You think I’m fallin behind? You think Unc hasn’t been a light? Yeah I hear ‘em And maybe you right, maybe I’m still fearin the change, making the jump from soldier to king Cause a warrior with a cause is what I needa be being But I’m in sync with the streets still hearin em breathe I wish I could be like you n be the breeze Be the breath tellin the soldiers aint nothing left, out here But concrete, & cop cars, & steel bars, & steel shards Sharpened and aimin for our hearts, in the dark Whether on the streets or the park small beat 70

Man fuck you Jimmy, callin out my heart Thinkin I’m stuck, I mean I am, but show me the start? Fuckin Seven gave me knowledge of me &understanding of being But how the fuck do I become free? See true justice & equality? When left & right is wrongin me Thinking bout being longer, me, isolated and alone Ain’t nobody at home in my throne... LONG BEAT [Eddy takes a long hit, holds it in for a BEAT, and takes another. He offers it to Jimmy, he shakes his hand to signify no]

JIMMY I’ll never question the heart of my brother We both don’t know our mothers And are pretty sure they wouldn’t even recognize each other They sisters I wonder if they stuck in a twisted world like we Or is it easier to be a feind? Stuck in the bliss of not seeing Unaware of every action and the consequence they bring But we were gifted with the sight We use to run around at nights and bomb walls like B52’s DROPOUT & KEMA, we felt like kings & we ruled &we still do, but now we know what jewels fit the crown we know it’s not always a uphill battle but sometimes we roll down the hill, like we did as kids before we made our way into this biz [Eddy takes another long hit and looks straight into the audience. Jimmy continues]

I’m just tryna figure why you still wanna wither in a wasteland It’s a small chain, invisible, between ya waist & ya hand Don’t reach if you don’t got a plan for after The aftermath is faster and you’ll be a master of the end But what kin await you in the den? What new start do you got from then? 71

EDDY Man... [he takes a final long toke and offers it again to Jimmy. He takes it and takes hits]

Unc made a new start, did he not? He knows the damage he started and has been working on reversing it Maybe I’m not him, and I’m sure as hell not you I’ll just do what I do Jimmy Trust me, I’ll be good Just understand I can’t be fully understood

JIMMY That’s bullshit cause I know you and know your mind I know you’re tryna find a new path to align with But yeah, you are afraid and it’s a dark pit your in Cause fear is a friend that’ll guide you to the end Then leave you there with no one else That aint good for your health Even a king needs a queen and advisors to his throne I don’t wanna see you all alone foo, I don’t

EDDY Shit Jimmy! You won’t! I’ll be fuckin fine! [stands up]

& You right! I am divine! So fuck it, I ain’t a warrior to no cause I’m a God in these fuckin streets and I make the laws [looks around, screams]

YOU HEAR ME! I’M A GOD IN THESE STREETS AND I MAKE THE LAWS [looks at Jimmy]

And even if I fall from grace, the world’ll know this face I know my place in this space, I aint afraid of my fate

SO FUCKIN BRING IT WORLD [back at Jimmy, offers his hand, they shake, snap]

I’ll catch you later Jimmy Eyes up 72

JIMMY [takes a long hit, nods his head] Yeah, aware always Watch yourself foo

EDDY Claro. Peace

JIMMY Peace. [Jimmy walks off stage left, Eddy stays in place, and Javi, Niko, Gonz Enter downstage right]

-BLACKOUT- 73

Saturday. 9:57 p.m Eddy’s Death

At Rise: Jimmy is center stage, on his knees, holding Eddy in his arms. Eddy has a stab wound below his left ribcage. Spotlight on them.

JIMMY I never got the time Sometimes I’d say this 2 ya When all you needed was this Shared silence that soothes ya Now you scuba wit tubes of ya own blood No rag left but the death done [stands up]

Wh-why, how’d it go down? Wonder what rat clowns of da underground found da courage to be- Belief dat dey could de-jewel a crown [small beat]

They took you Took a life too soon [Bus backs up onto the stage entering from stage left. Jimmy starts walking backwards to the door of the bus. Before he goes onto the bus, he’s paused, in motion but still]

Who Found the courage? [Jimmy has his back to the audience, facing the doors of the bus. Enter Javi, Niko, Gonz stage right. They stand single file lined up downstage, facing the audience. All have hoods up. Javi has his face uncovered, the others rock their colors.]

JAVI [yelling] OH! Tonight’s the night!

EDDY [opens eyes] Been lookin 4 da fight too long! 74

JAVI You won’t bomb!

EDDY [stands up] You won’t drop

JIMMY [Faces Eddy] Who’s soul got lost? Who got robbed? [Gets on bus, sitting in the window seat, headphones on, he looks out the window]

What do I see when I pause [BEAT] [Lights go down, and pop back on, he’s now in his music world, completely calm and relaxed, vibing with the sounds. Eddy is walking in place facing offstage right. This goes on for a short while. Javi puts his bandana over his face, him & the crew start walking slowly towards Eddy, still walking in place. He stops as Javi speaks and steps up in front of his vision. Niko & Gonz get behind Eddy at a distance]

JAVI Yo! What you got on you? You got colors on you? Cash for my pocket? What’s good!?

EDDY Man, who the fuck you checkin? You got anything for me foo? Hand it over, or you rather I take it from you Along wit that whack ass grin you wearin

[They begin to fight, grappling, throwing body shots, Javi is losing. Javi pushes Eddy back and Niko & Gonz come up, grab him. Eddy flails, an elbow catches Niko in the face. Eddy pushes Gonz away. Javi pulls his gat out and holds it. Eddy reaches at his back for his, but Niko recovered from the blow, grabs his arm, and pulls his shank, getting Eddy below his left ribcage. At the moment of stabbing, Jimmy on the bus takes off his headphones, the stab moment stands frozen for Jimmy’s monologue.] 75

JIMMY What the fuck was that... What the... I thought I...wa Was I in a dream? [Looks behind him, out the back window of the bus]

Why’d that feel What was that... [Pulls the bus string alarm]

I know I... I know I didn’t Didn’t just see you... you You died? [small beat]

What was that glit in your eye? A slice of light? What did it sigh?

Was that...this? [small beat. Jimmy stands up, faces back of bus, and walks backwards to the door]

How many times have i seen those eyes move Break ya neck to swoon at moons Howlin like dogs, we hunt in the fog When bombin walls or rollin logs Callin calls to sacred odds Mathematical magic, solid rods [by this line he is at the door, walks backwards down the steps, faces the scene of the fight.]

How many times did we embrace? How many nights did we escape? [He turns and faces stage left, starts walking backwards to Eddy. The fight scene unfreezes, Javi & crew walk backwards off stage right, Eddy walks backwards to the Bus Stop, the bus exits stage left. They’re now side by side, facing the audience. They stay like this for a little while, then they face each other. Eddy’s hand shoots up ready to receive Jimmy’s for a shake. Eddy freezes like this. Jimmy circles him, observing all the nuances of Eddy. He faces Eddy, staring into his eye for that glit.] Who really seals our fate, Is it really preordained? [small beat]

EDDY [animated] Yo bra! Sometime this week After you get out of class Or sometime whenever! let’s go bomb bra! The 3 of us! [Eddy goes frozen again hand still up]

JIMMY I never got the time Sometimes I’d say this to you But when we’re glued we’re glued [they embrace then separate]

In another time, another plane too Peace foo, I’ll see you soon -BLACKOUT- 77

Saturday. 10:34 p.m The Bus Ride

At Rise: 13 chairs are arranged to look like the back of a bus. The first two rows are facing each other, and the back row facing stage right. There is a prop-wall of windows downstage along the far seating. The windows don’t open, but there is an emergency latch that lifts the window wall up. The bus should be elevated on a small stage, about 2-3 feet high. Jimmy sits in row 2, first seat closest to audience. An elderly woman is sitting in row 2, seat 3. Jimmy is on the phone dialing Jaqui, who is seen stage left, with a spotlight on, as she stands, elevated to the same height as the bus, in front of a sink full of dishes, washing and placing in a strainer to dry, facing audience. - - Stage Right J - W - A

JIMMY [dialing the phone, calls, looks at it for a few seconds before he puts it to his right ear with his right hand. He waits.. .waits.. .waits...]

JAQUI [feels the phone vibrate in her back pocket. She takes her left hand and wipes it dry on her jeans, and reaches for the phone, back left pocket. When she sees it’s Jimmy, she smiles, picks it up, puts it to her ear, holds it with her shoulder, continues the dishes.] Hola foo, que pa - 78

JIMMY Where are you?

JAQUI Hi Jaqui, how are you, what’s -

JIMMY Jaqui I need you right now. Where are you? [the elderly woman looks at jimmy after he says this. She continues to look, smiling softly at the idea of young love.]

JAQUI What do you mean? I’m at home doing dese pinches dishes. que? you need my homework again? [she continues washing, with a flirtatious smirk on her face. Jimmy doesn’t reply at first. It’s silent.]

Jimmy?

JIMMY [Jimmy struggles to get these words out. He has his mouth open, as he’s about to say something. He does this at least twice.]

He’s dead Jaqui.. .they fuckin... they got ‘em. [the elderly woman looks at him with sadness, and then with shame. She faces forward immediately after, pretending not to listen, but eavesdropping.]

JAQUI [she takes the phone from her shoulder and holds it to her ear, she is no longer doing the dishes, as she speaks she raises her backhand]

Pinche Jimmy, that’s not funny.. .you better be fucking with me. [there’s silence. Neither of them says anything.] small beat [she tries to fight back a rush of emotion rising up through her abdomen. She catches her breath, the one that rose to the eyes and watered them, preparing for the tears] 79

Jimmy tell me you’re fucking with m e... [Jimmy is still silent. He is seen clenching his left fist in the air, against where the window would be on his side of the bus. He’s biting his bottom lip, trying to control his emotion, suppress the rage, sadness, uncertainty, and the unbelievably inevitable. The elderly woman is looking at him again, sorrow and sympathy on her face. Jimmy takes a breath, and switches ears, phone now on his left side.]

JIMMY I’m not... I didn’t see it, but but I saw him, and I heard the shot, but it wasn’t them, it was his gun, and he was stabbed, three times in the side and once over the heart, so I know it was those fuckin’ ratas, those fuckin’ punks rollin around in threes, cause they’re fuckin cowards, cause they can’t fight one on one, cause all they do is fuckin mob on people and then we retaliate, and then more fuckin blood and more fuckin family and more fuckin tears and it all fuckin repeats and it never fuckin stops, reload after reload after fuckin reload then it all comes back around, it all fuckin comes back around and knocks on your fuckin door and takes your fucking brother [Jimmy slams his right fist on the seat next to him. The elderly lady is startled, she turns away, looks back, then faces forward again. He breathes normally, trying to relax. It’s silent again.] beat

Jaqui where are you... I need you.. .1 can’t be out here... I don’t know what I’ll -

JAQUI Come to my house. My dad, I don’t know where the hell he went And my mom is in the other room. I’ll tell her what’s -

JIMMY No, you can’t tell her about - 80

JAQUI Pinche Jimmy, what? He’s not our family too? My mom helped raise both of you idiots didn’t she? He called her mama just as much as you called her tia... I’m gonna tell her. [there’s silence again. It holds. The elderly woman pulls out a rosary and it praying under her breath] beat JIMMY I’m sorry... I know, I’m just -

JAQUI I know... it’s fine. Just, get here soon, yeah?

JIMMY Yeah, I’m on the bus now.

JAQUI Claro... I’ll see you soon Jimmy. [she hangs up the phone. Puts it on the counter next to the sink. She turns off the water, stares into the sink full of dishes. She puts her face in her hands. Her spotlight goes out, and she & the sink exit stage left]

JIMMY [Jimmy puts the phone in his pocket. He sits there in silence. He looks around the bus, notices the elderly woman praying to her rosary. He stares at her, in her trans. Then he leans forward, elbows on his knees, face in his hands. The elderly woman finishes her prayers. Pulls the string along the window, a buzzing noise is heard over the sound system. She waits, a noise like a bus coming to a stop plays over the sound system. She gets up she looks at Jimmy. He senses her stare, and looks up. They make eye contact, she struggles to smile, doesn’t.]

ELDERLY WOMAN Hijo, ten cuidado mi amor. Mucho te quieren Tu hermano esta en mis oraciones, al igual que tu, hijo. Por favor, ten cuidado. [she makes the sign of the cross at Jimmy, then exits stage right. There is a small beat. After this, Gonz enters, eyeing Jimmy, who is staring right back. Gonz takes the elderly woman’s seat. Jimmy looks back out his window, hands folded in his lap. Gonzo stares at Jimmy the whole time. This goes on for anywhere from 20-40 seconds] 81

GONZ [he looks forward to the front of the bus, which is the offstage, and gives a head nod. Then he whistles at Jimmy. Jimmy doesn’t respond.]

Aiye, homeboy. I see your red belt. [Jimmy stays silent, looking out the bus window]

You bang cuz? [Jimmy turns to face him, sizes him up, they stare.]

Well? [Jimmy turns back to his thoughts]

Pinche mierda [whistles to his boys at the front of the bus. They come to the back section. Jimmy watches each of them as they take their seats. The new seating arrangement is as follows] -NIK -- JIM - GON- - JAV - - -

NIKO [police sirens off in the distance, over the sound system. Jimmy looks out the window at the blue and red lights, shining into the scene from offstage right, crossing some blocks ahead] Red belt? I don’t like red very much cuz. Rojo es mierda to me.

GONZ So why don’t you just take it off? I mean, if you don’t bang or nothin’ it aint no thang then, is it puto?

JIMMY [Jimmy smirks. He turns his body to face Gonz] If I take my belt off, my pants gonna fall down. Is that why you want me to take it off?

JAVI [slaps the back of Jimmy’s Head] Who you gettin smart with ?

GONZ Relax we ain’t - 82

JIMMY [now facing Javi, staring intensely in his eyes] Someone who isn’t very smart.

NIKO [pulls a shank from his side, flashes the steel at Jimmy, who turns to face him now.] Not smart? [Jimmy is unaffected, now staring down Niko, who loses a little confidence as Jimmy stares him down. There’s silence, a small pause before Gonz speaks.]

GONZ I really wasn’t tryna start no shit witchu homie. Honest. [Javi & Niko laugh] Callate! But now you showin disrespect. And to be real, I don’t think you’re very smart. In case you didn’t notice, there 3 of us and one of you.

JIMMY [still staring at Niko] Your point?

JAVI [stands up] The point is you either say you bang or you don’t. Then you take the fuckin belt off, and we leave your punk ass alone instead of whoopin on you right now.

JIMMY [stands up and turns to face Javi] You want me to take the fucking belt off? That’s what you want?

[Javi stares back, their gaze is thick. Nobody is making any moves, there’s stillness and silence. Javi licks his lips, thirsty for action. You see him slowly bring his right hand to the back of his pants.]

GONZ Hey! [Javi looks at Gonz, freezes his hand behind his back]

Not here with that. Not this situation, pendejo, pinche idio - 83

JIMMY [still staring at Javi] Que? Mama no le permite jugar con espadas ?

JAVI You wish it was a sword.

GONZ Shut your ass up Younggun. [stands up. Jimmy turns his head to stare Gonz down]

Be smart. Do the math. It’s a small task considering your life

JIMMY [still staring at Gonz, begins to take his belt off. After he does, he holds it in his right hand] beat

^entonces? Now what punk?

GONZ Punk?

NIKO Pinche. [stands up.]

We already hadda handle your homie, Now you? [Jimmy’s face falls, his anger rises, the lights on bus go out and bus comes to a stop, screeching tires are heard over the sound system. All men, minus Jimmy, shake with the stop of momentum. Jimmy swings his left elbow at Niko, who falls to the seat and drops his knife on the floor. Directly after the impact of his elbow, Jimmy charges at Gonz, grabbing him by shirt collar and slamming him into the window of the bus, and throwing him over the seat, into the far back row. He falls and stays down on the floor] 84

JAVI Fuckin dead puto. [rushes over to Jimmy, and slams him into the window. Niko gets up, gets the knife and walks over to the scuffle. Jimmy breaks out of Javi’s collar hold, and delivers a blow with his right to the face of Javi, pushes him back into Niko, who’s walking with knife forward, and stabs Javi in his right side]

Aaah! Mother-fucker! [Jimmy turns around, undoes the emergency lock of the window. Turns back around and throws his belt at Javi, hitting him in the face with the buckle. He then hops out the window. A spotlight on him as he rounds the back of the bus, running off stage left.]

-BLACKOUT- 85

Saturday. 11:05 p.m Ready, Aim At Rise: Seven is playin chess with Said, down stage left-center,, there’s some 4 count cumbia playing in the background, vocals may be lowered so instrumental is highlighted. They are at a tall wooden table, maybe below the chest high, with comfy chair-stools as seats(should be hand made for effective relativity in my wording). Anyways, back to this thing, they are playin chess, and it’s Seven’s turn. Jaqui is standing far stage right, small spotlight on her, pacing back and forth, on the phone trying to reach Jimmy.

SAID C’mon, apurate, hurry up que? you want i should just grow older and die i mean then you’d avoid having to move your

SEVEN Aye Aye, hold up now Don’t go talkin bout that queen my queen SAID Before what?my SEVEN Yeah yeah, my ass watch this [moves a piece with a stare down at the smiling OG] {next few lines read in simultaneous pairs}

SAID Ya? Ok I see you /

SEVEN Damn right you see that! / 86

SAID I mean I ain’t blind yet/

SEVEN I mean yeah I got glasses on/

SAID But mira, peep this boo/

SEVEN I can still see/ Ooooh.... [breathe]

SAID Ya? See that? [They laugh, enjoying their company, enjoying the game, the music gets a tiny bit higher in volume. Jimmy storms in through the door(spotlight directly in doorway) and rushes over to where the records are, down center stage(set up is Seven’s Crib) He files through some things, and grabs his gun. At this point, Seven& Said are on their feet headed towards Jimmy] [[ RULES FOR RHYMES: / means next rapper comes in at that word. - means cut at the end, no linger. — means let it linger.

THE DROPOUT Revenge, sweeter than abysmal black I lack the care for consequence, no common sense To make ends meat, whose deplete after my compete? Confess the best of thoughts, thought I lost the test Never tossed at sea but life got me -

SAID Gone like you shootin down coffee dark& desireable like death in her rawly raw material shaded pretty red who’s got you feelin like the feelins / death

SEVEN Threat to breath, overes-timated ya ref, rush too much and too much is left inside ya chest, take a breather slow it down what’s got your moon / headed for da ground 87

THE DROPOUT Runnin round Eddy, was heavy Movin wit chub, weight, no dub levy chillin by walls, tall, no heaven telly height we were just ninjas markin all our sights insights inside minds, but now lost his key can’t find the box it was cursed from the beginning but now now....

SEVEN I know you don’t mean -

SAID G we must intervene -

SEVEN Hold your fuckin knight, let the castle get shook?

THE DROPOUT Y’all don’t worry I got it in my book The cards dealt are page marks The scenes wrote are still sparks the things quote they feed starved The rages rung and round and reloaded If i had a breath i had to hold it

SAID See, Dropout knows the way to the show knows the way to the hope of still seein the smoke clouds of ice & snow & some of heat Let’s make that cosmic leap come closer

SEVEN Calmate, both yall needa take a second n think Who’s chamber is isolated when the metal go clink Who smile back wit a devious wink Who bouta sink into an empty vase / bleak

THE DROPOUT Week! / [Jimmy tucks the gat at his back] 88

Week is a reinforcement to weak grind is just another endorsment for freak slave another word for a foo frosty from school unless the systems he crewked, are the ones of his jewels [breathe] Vase is empty to be filled again Revenge is there to avenge a friend Not a thug or a goon or a dude wearin rags but a homie who’s a brother or a sister that nags always driven you passed ya ass, get u up to make things crash atoms in the sacred path, workin with the sacred math So yeah i multiply my odds and calculate no mistakes maybe leavin behind a date, or overestimatin fate tippin 8’s on their side, tryna stamp myself great when the pen is the weapon to make my voice create...

I’m sorry Seven, sorry uncle Said

sorry that the bull stormed to announce he saw red Sorry that we never finished what we started Salvations departed retaliation is target I didnt start shit, i just shot back It’s not the first to shoot, it’s the clack of the reload the bang of a pop Brothers, i’ll see u at the top [Jimmy jets out of the house door still open behind him. Said &Seven look at each other, Said rushes out the door, closing it behind him, Seven rushes to grab his phone from his love seat. Jaqui lights up, thinking Jimmy is calling. Answers.]

JAQUI Jimmy!?

SEVEN Jaqui? Where is GiGi? Where’s your mom? Jimmy’s in - 89

JAQUI Yeah I know, I was trying to get a hold of him But he wasn’t answering his phone I just talked to him And I don’t know where he is Or what he’s going to do I need him here, he needs to be here -

SEVEN That’s what I’m saying! Go, apurate Get your mom on the phone

JAQUI Ok, Ok hold on [screams offstage right]

Mama! GiGi! Seven needs you! It’s Jimmy! [runs off stage right]

-BLACKOUT- 90

Sunday. 12:04 a.m RELOAD At Rise: From stage right to left, Jimmy, Javi, Seven, Outlaw. Lights are up on Jimmy. Javi has a chair to his left, this is the passenger seat of Gonz’s car. Seven has a chair to his left, this is passenger seat of Said’s car. Jaqui is in a black hoody, hood up, enters stage left, and walks to Jimmy. There is some music playing, that builds the suspense for Jaqui’s hand off of the gun. It fades lower as Jimmy gets his gun. Jaqui fades down stage and stays there. Timing: Jimmy’s shots are Sunday, 12:04a.m. Javi’s shots are Sunday, 2:50 a.m. Seven’s shots are Sunday, 4:30p.m. Maka’s shots are Sunday, 11:23p.m.

THE DROPOUT [Holding the gun in his right hand, he looks down at it, feels it’s weight] one inda chamber for his bitch ass,Colt .38 ready? unload a bronco’s rage to face He got Eddy, took my brother My only brother...

SMALL BEAT [he crouches into position, A real slow strut, creepin’ on ‘em. Niko enters from stage right. Jimmy cocks back, Peek left, Look right]

Aiye bra! [He stares dead into the audience, raises his gun, and over the Sounds system; Bang, rotate. Bang, rotate] 91

I know one woulda done it But fuck it who’s counting the mountains of metal shells hollow in the holes of hell heaven where i dwell on my shit stained streets a castle where family retreats [Lights down on Jimmy, up on Javi, waiting there, as the old lady from the bus , wearing a black hoodie, brings him his gun. She enters from stage left, and then fades to the background. Same musical cue. Time now reads Sunday, 2:50a.m.]

THE YOUNG GUN

1 feed my Python, Her quick bite eager, her venom sizzles as each bullet gets layored in a chamber He gave Niko 2, so I guess 4 is proper .357 magnum, waitin, itchin yearning for me to squeeze her [Vibrating cell phone sounds. He pulls a cell phone out of his pocket]

Que paso? Donde esta? 2 4? You sure it’s him? Straight, I’ll be right there. [ Gonz enters with his chair, driver’s seat. He sits, Javi takes a seat next to him.]

Cruise down to 24th

LONG BEAT [During Beat, Javi looks down at his gun, plays with it in his hands, his face worried, but also on the hunt, looking to his right, as if out a car window. After the BEAT, he looks to his left]

Alliesta! Stop Stop! [gets out of the seat like he is exiting the car]

Aye pendejo! [Light back up on Jimmy, who looks over his shoulder. Javi aims at the left knee. Bang, rotate. Jimmy drops, trying to reach for his gun behind his back]

One for the knee bone [Javi aims to the shoulder of his reaching arm; Bang, rotate]

Don’t worry you won’t need dat one [Javi aims for the back of his other knee; Bang, rotate] 92

ultimas palabras? [Aims at forehead; Bang, rotate]

Oops, too slow for my snake tongue [Lights down on Javi, up on Seven, waiting there, as Jaqui brings him his gun. Jaqui fades back into background..]

THE OG Its been a while since I loaded this Smith & Wesson model 625, .38 caliber [He holds the gun in his hands, looks at it in retrospect]

All this senseless violence He got so they get They got got, So I gotta go get them

4... 4 bullets to freedom... ay, Jimmy... One bullet does the trick, when placed proper [He pulls out a cell phone, calls Said, who enters stage right with his seat.]

Vamos, let’s roll We’ll catch em cruisin [He puts phone away, tucks his gun into his back.]

LONG BEAT [During the beat Seven is intently staring in all directions, looking like a hawk for prey.]

Peep that car, matches the description A polished scrap, pimped out Camry Spinners, lifted body No kinda class... not like this Bel Air

Pull up in front of them! Hurry they on red! kill the lights! [Lights back up on Javi & Gonz cruisin. Seven hops out of the car, aims at the driver’s head; audio plays, integrated with the bang, rotates]

Lurkin, BANG. Rotate. I ’d pull up in the murkiness o f street lights, [Seven aims and fires at Javi’s heart.] like death on a healthy man, BANG. Rotate. [Seven walks over to the door, Javi falls out, on his knees, facing Seven.] 93

who knew death was coming. [Seven creates a 5 dot sign on Javi.]

BANG. Rotate. BANG. Rotate. BANG. Rotate. BANG. Rotate. But afterwards [Seven aims again between Javi’s eyes, pulls trigger.] CICK. [Seven opens chamber, stares down]

I ’d always open the chamber, peering into it’s darkeness staring at death, grinning back.

SMALL BEAT [Seven stares at Javi’s lifeless body, kneels down, pulls out a small handgun from his right ankle holster, he aims. CAR HORN. Seven hops back into the car, lights down on him &Said, up on Outlaw. Said & Seven arrange their seats facing forward. They now wait in the background. Time reads Sunday, 11:23p.m. Theresa, in a black hoody, brings him his guns, tucks it into his back for him, and kisses his cheek. Outlaw is standing on a motorcycle prop.]

OUTLAW Damn Javi & Gonz... The fuck did they get themselves into man... and where the fuck is Niko!

Luckily this contract been out on these two for a minute Got me ready with the sittin’ bulls Two knockouts for this job, dealing with some crazy OGs [Holds his guns above his face in awe]

Taurus model 731 Compact killers, they see red [ he clicks the two guns together]

Stompin’ they hooves!

Some call me Rambo Others The Mariachi Dirty Hairy de Mexico Overkill isn’t in my vocabulary [Party music is played faintly in the backdrop] 94

That’s the Bel Air right there, chrome, baby blue My informant gave me that info on the car He better be right This seems like a nice lil party goin on! [Looks stage right]

Nice pit bulls yo I got two bulls myself Mind if I hit that? [Reaches out, as if to take a blunt from the party goer, takes a hit]

Oh, there are my friends [Takes another long hit, hands it back. Smiles to them. Lights up on Seven & Said grabbing his keys from his pockets walking to the car. They get to the door. Outlaw whistles, Seven Looks over, Said turns around. Outlaw pulls out his right gun, aims at Said’s legs Bang, rotate. Bang, rotate. Seven drops to his knee, pulls out his ankle gun, ducking behind the car]

Stompin’ on his legs! [Outlaw pulls up the left gun, Bang, rotate. Said falls flat]

Stomp the dome! [He aims over to Seven with the left. Bang, rotate]

Stop duckin! [Aims using both, Bang Bang, rotate Bang Bang, rotate]

Its like Pamplona tonight! You Can’t outrun me! [Seven pops up, fires at outlaw twice, BANG. BANG.]

Close pops! Close! [Aims over again Bang Bang, rotate]

You can’t duck forever old man, vamos, ya. Hurry up so I can go home [Sirens in the backdrop. Seven pops up, fires twice again, BANG. BANG. Outlaw is hit in his side, holds it with his left] 95

Fuckin shit. Ok fuck this. [He runs up to the driver’s side of the car, down on the floor, peeks underneath, and fires from his right at Seven’s leg. BANG, rotate. Seven drops, face first, he rolls over, picks up his dropped gun, and fires underneath the car at Outlaw. BANG. BANG. Outlaw crouches and walks behind the car, Seven is still looking underneath, Outlaw stands over him, aims, whistles, Seven looks over, raises his gun. Bang, rotate. Seven Drops. Sirens get louder.]

Fuck! Fuck! Fuck Fuck Fuck! [He tucks his revolvers into the back. Goes to the storage on the back of his bike, pulls out a new pair of pistols, tucks them at his side.]

Who wanna fuck with me and my herd? Huh!?! [As outlaw stands alone on stage amidst the piles of dead bodies, sirens get louder and louder as stage lighting begins to fade out]

-BLACKOUT- 96

Friday. 12:30p.m. Jaqui’s Peace At Rise: There is a podium center stage, nothing else. The screen projects the time and two pictures, one of Eddy & one of Jimmy. The sound system plays...

Students, as some o f you may know. Over the weekend there was a lot o f gang activity that resulted in 5 deaths. Sadly, two o f the deceased were members o f our community here, your fellow classmates. Jimmy Chavarria and Eduardo Paz. Some o f you knew these two young men well, others o f you didn’t. Regardless o f your connections with them, I ’d like us to take a few moments o f silence for them, and all the other victims o f this weekend’s terrible outburst o f violence. Beat

Thank you. I ’d like to call up to the podium Jaqueline Paz, Eduardo’s sister, and also good friend to Mr. Chavarria. [silence as Jaqui enters stage right, takes her place at the podium with a piece of paper. She gets there, and takes the time to compose herself before she speaks]

JAQUI Some of you know that my family adopted Eddy when he was still real young. We found him and Jimmy stealing from a store. And... and my mom, mama GiGi, acted like their mother to avoid them getting into any kind of trouble. That’s when we found out they were living at a shelter. My mom wasn’t gonna let them run around and get into some trouble, so she took in Eddy. The shelter wouldn’t let us take Jimmy as well... but.. But he found his way out, and he would crash with us most nights. Other’s he’d kind of just wander around for days...always came back though. Him and Eddy, they’re cousins, half cousins. But they grew up like brothers... Eddy couldn’t help but find trouble, and sure enough he did. Started affiliating himself with red, and rolling wit those pendejos and getting into all kinds of bad shit... Jimmy followed suit, not cause he wanted to bang but because he wanted to keep eyes on his brother. See, even though Jimmy was younger, he was always a little wiser. Always looking forward... I remember, I remember one time we were out bombing this alley with one wooden fence and one blank wall. And Jimmy was helping me with my piece right, and... and I remember some dudes tried to come start some shit. Sayin this and that and whatever, and Eddy was quick to blow up and wanna throw down but Jimmy, I don’t know he was witty...Wise and he made those fools feel hella stupid... words were Jimmy’s real weapon.... See though, a lot of you wouldn’t have known that cause of how he dressed. Or cause he was always rollin wit Eddy, people thought he was a banger too. The only reason he stayed around that shit was to protect his brother... & now look at em... 97

[she looks back at their pictures. Takes a pause.]

A lot of people here called Jimmy the dropout. Cause he was always cuttin. Or always asleep in his classes. Or writing something in his notebook and avoiding the work... Like I said. Words were Jimmy’s weapon... stronger than that steel he wielded on Sunday morning... Jimmy rarely shared his gift, only to those he trusted. And those he knew wouldn't judge him, how so many of y’all did on a daily basis. He left this gift with m e... I have all his notebooks, all his deep thoughts, all his memories written into poetry or raps or just diary entries... It was inspiring to watch him when he was in the zone... writing away in his notebooks, nothing around phasing him at all... all his attention streamlined into what his next words would be... [she stops... catches herself before she goes overboard with emotion. Breathes]

I, I... I loved them both very much.... Eddy was my brother, and Jimmy was his cousin, which made him like family... But me & Jimmy, we...we understood each other, you know? I loved Jimmy, as more than a friend. As more than my brother’s half cousin... Jimmy was... Jimmy was my wings. He showed me how to fly. How to bomb a wall, how to get the bubble on my letters just right. He taught me how to talk with my mind, how to get it on paper... [looks back at Jimmy’s picture again]

So I... I wrote some shit... so, I’ll just. I’ll just read it... It’s called Red for You [takes a long breath. Holds it...exhales. The stage lighting and background adjusts to the lines that proceed]

Red in my veins, there’s gold under these sidewalks Treasure o f ya life outlined in the white chalk Blood dripping on cold asphalt Bloody diamond shinin on the cold city block

Stop signs telling time to take 5 Me & GiGi on our knees, crying by ya side Blood on our hands, we can’t stand the sight O f ya diamond eyes laying here without life And for what?

Cause y ’all wore the wrong shade today? Ironic now it’s right, how y ’all drenched a proper shade o f grey Cliche, raindrops crystalize like heavy tears The ambulance rushin to get ya the fuck outta here Time is still like crystal rain, frozen ice Iced body cold, fading white Raining might drown out my cries Bashee arrives, singinya song Asks us to remember ya face tagya, bagya, take ya away...

Y ’all kill each other over some colors When unified they smother the masses Our people get our ass kicked By the black stick

Someone has us right where they want us Our hands on the guns like the robbas Cops can’t shoot us, quick, let’s do it for em Death stats and prison tracks soarin

Put em in a school that don’t engage Take away their wisdom o f the day Focus on the proper way, copper fake, contemplate Don 7 think too hard & find a way, just make it play, no delay

But red helped em find his vision, the softness The sweetness & smooth kiss, fire lips & spray tricks True muse siren songs & thorn pricks

Red use to be my favorite color Fiery red, like the lipstick I ’d wear to get your attention Calming red, like aerosol on brick, trips w e’d never mention Safe red, like a firetruck, rushin out from the station Strong & Innocent red, like a rose growing amazin Sweet red raspberries and smooth red velvet Red like a Valentine’s blush kit, your kiss Your hands held & innocence Red like ya blood breathin Creating an ether for ya diamond soul to shine through Sway with, as if inside the smoke From the barrel to the sky Red use to be my favorite color... 99

Red use to be my favorite color Cause as much as it smothered us in innocence and love Red was the reason you were sent above

Red threw you in rage, Red hat on your brain Somebody else was tired O f the red that you claim

D on’t run to the light, please turn from the bright white Come back to your body and hold me in this cold night I feel your spirit present, please gimme one more sight Before the rain washes away this night... Crystals clean the chalk As storm drains do lines Somebody played god wit demons lost in their mind

The gold under the sidewalk high off the white Drunk o ff the blood Feedin the greed Stealin our love

It pains me more to say You ’re not the only one

-BLACKOUT-